  THE
ORTHODOX
 STUDY
 BIBLE
    With gratitude to the
 individuals who made this
Orthodox Study Bible possible



  Dr. John and Helen Collis
         and family
The Orthodox Study Bible
Copyright © 2008 by St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology



Old Testament Text:
St. Athanasius Academy Septuagint™
Copyright © 2008 by St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology



The text of the St. Athanasius Academy Septuagint™ (SAAS™) may be quoted or reprinted
without prior written permission with the following qualifications:

      (1) Up to and including 1,000 verses may be quoted in printed form as long as the
      verses quoted amount to less than 50% of a complete book of the Bible and make up
      less than 50% of the total work in which they are quoted; (2) all SAAS quotations must
      conform accurately to the SAAS text.

Any use of the SAAS text must include a proper acknowledgment as follows:

      “Scripture taken from the St. Athanasius Academy Septuagint™. Copyright © 2008 by
      St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology. Used by permission. All rights
      reserved.”

However, when quotations from the SAAS text are used in church bulletins, orders of service,
Sunday School lessons, church newsletters and similar works in the course of religious
instruction or services at a place of worship or other religious assembly, the following notice
may be used at the end of each quotation: “SAAS.”



New Testament Text:
New King James Version®
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.



The text of the New King James Version® (NKJV®) may be quoted or reprinted without
prior written permission with the following qualifications:

      (1) Up to and including 1,000 verses may be quoted in printed form as long as the
      verses quoted amount to less than 50% of a complete book of the Bible and make up
      less than 50% of the total work in which they are quoted; (2) all NKJV quotations
      must conform accurately to the NKJV text.

Any use of the NKJV text must include a proper acknowledgment as follows:

      “Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas
      Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

However, when quotations from the NKJV text are used in church bulletins, orders of service,
Sunday School lessons, church newsletters and similar works in the course of religious
instruction or services at a place of worship or other religious assembly, the following notice
may be used at the end of each quotation: “NKJV.”

For more information regarding the quotation permission policy for the New King James
Version, please visit thomasnelson.com.

Printed in the United States of America
All Rights Reserved
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10—12 11 10 09 08
T A B L E OF C ON T E N T S

             Acknowledgments

            Special Recognition

  Introduction to The Orthodox Study Bible

The Old Testament Books Listed and Compared

           Source Abbreviations

     Overview of the Books of the Bible

      Introducing the Orthodox Church

            The Old Testament

            The New Testament

     The Bible: God's Revelation to Man

           How to Read the Bible

                 Lectionary

                  Glossary

              Morning Prayers

              Evening Prayers

           Index to Annotations

           Index to Study Articles

                The Seventy

                Illustrations
Endnotes
                                  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Academic Community at St. Athanasius Academy is chaired by Fr. Jack N. Sparks, Dean,
and includes Frs. Richard Ballew, Jon E. Braun, Michel Najim, John Finley, Polycarp
Whitcomb, and Paul Goetz. Also included are Jerry Cripe, Howard Lange, Dr. David Lewis,
Carol McFarland, Christina Tassos, and Alan Wallerstedt.

  A number of clergy and lay scholars worked on the study material for one or more books of
the New Testament and on the other supplemental sections, including Bishop KALLISTOS
Ware and Frs. David Anderson, James Bernstein, David Barr, William Caldaroni, Marc
Dunaway, John Elias, Antony Gabriel, George Gray, Peter Kreta, Michael Laffoon, John
Morris, Constantine Nasr, Paul O’Callaghan, Jonah Paffhausen, Gregory Rogers, and Gordon
Walker. Lay scholars Dr. Apostolos Athanassakis, Dr. George Cronk and Paul DeMerritt
provided valuable input. Special thanks goes to Dr. Petros Vasiliadis for his work on the
initial draft, and later editing by him and his colleagues at the University of Thessalonica.
Additional help was supplied by the American Bible Society.

  Providing help with the Old Testament text, notes and supplemental materials were:
Bishops BASIL, JOSEPH, and KALLISTOS; together with Frs. Philip Armstrong, Richard
Ballew, Michael Barclay, Jon Braun, William Caldaroni, Ross Caldwell, Joseph Corrigan,
Thomas O’Dea, Dale Dickerson, John Elias, John Finley, Titus Fulcher, Sam Gantt, Michael
Gillis, Isaiah Gillette, Peter E. Gillquist, George Gray, Daniel Griffith, David Hester, Benjamin
Henderson, Don Hock, John Kalantzis, Nathan Kroll, Stephen Lilley, John Morris, Michel
Najim, Patrick O’Grady, John Peck, Eugen Pentiuc, Theodore Petrides, John R. Probish,
Gabriel Rochelle, Gregory Rogers, Patrick Henry Reardon, John Reeves, Robert Sanford,
David Sedor, Jack N. Sparks, Allyne Smith, Gordon Walker, Bartholomew Wojcik,
Christopher Wojcik, Thaddeus Wojcik, Stefan Zencuch; Deacons John Chryssavgis, Stephen
Holley, Polycarp Whitcomb, Moishe Zorea, Steve Ackley; and lay scholars Peter Bouras, Renie
Carr, Andrew Copeland, Shaun Daugherty, Dr. David Ford, Dr. Mary Ford, Dr. George S.
Gabriel, Anastasia Goetz, Paul Goetz, Denise Greaves, Beryl Wells Hamilton, Margaret Hock,
Mickey Hodges, Joel Kalvesmaki, Mark Kern, John Lamberes, Dr. David Lewis, Theron
Mathis, Martin McGinty, James Miller, Samuel G. Miller, Tatiana Miller, Newman Nahas, Dr.
Michel Quenot, Reader Cyrl Shartz, Dr. Donald Sheehan, Gregory Gray Smith, John Stamps,
Dr. Matthew Steenberg, Nancy Tentzeras, Nicholas Tentzeras and Gary Yee.

  Special thanks to Fr. Robert Sanford, of Thomas Nelson Publishers, for his careful
guidance, and to Katherine Hyde for her extensive and thorough copy editing. Computer
entry for the final manuscript was done by Shirley Dillon and Carolyn Tanguay, who both
deserve sincere gratitude.

  Undergirding all these efforts were more than three hundred individuals, churches, and
organizations who served as benefactors for this historic project. Their gifts were contributed
to underwrite the costs of biblical and patristic research, organizational meetings and
manuscript preparation. Thanks are due to all these donors including Mr. Sam Moore, retired
chairman of Thomas Nelson, Inc., who established a generous matching gift program which
motivated the great breadth of financial support for this effort. It is in the memory of his
mother, Marie Ziady, that the New Testament edition was published.
                                  SPECIAL RECOGNITION

  Special thanks to the following major donors who, along with hundreds of others,
underwrote the preparation of the Orthodox Study Bible Old and New Testament
manuscripts:

Charles and Marilee Ajalat

Kevin Allen Family

Reagan & Connie Amerine

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church

Richard Ayoob

John Bahas

Daniel & Judy Braun

Fr. Jon & Mary Ellen Braun

Dean Brunner

Dr. John and Helen Collis

William Craig & Family

John & Cina Daskalakis Family

George & Brenda Farah

Fr. Peter and Marilyn Gillquist

Greek Ladies Philoptochos Society–Grand Rapids, MI

Andrew and Katherine Kartalis

Spero & Stacy Kinnas

Mark Mellis
Sam and Peggy Moore

William and Josie Morrison

Bill & Hazel Nassir

Louis & Eleni Nicozisis

The Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch

His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese

Kathleen Pinson

Mike Ryan

Katherine Strakes

John & Patti Truslow
                                 INTRODUCTION TO THE
                               ORTHODOX STUDY BIBLE

The last decade of the twentieth century saw an historic event. In 1993, The OrthodoxStudy
Bible: New Testament and Psalms was released as the first English Bible with study material
reflecting the ancient faith of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

  St. Athanasius Academy, which had organized this effort, began receiving requests for the
completion of the Old Testament—a monumental task which involved not only preparation of
the study notes and outlines, but also the presentation of an acceptable Old Testament text.
Though the Orthodox Church has never officially committed itself to a single text and list of
Old Testament books, it has traditionally used the Greek Old Testament of the Septuagint
(LXX). However, in Orthodoxy’s 200-year history in North America, no English translation of
the LXX has ever been produced by the Church.

  The contributors used the Alfred Rahlfs edition of the Greek text as the basis for the
English translation. To this base they brought two additional major sources. The first is the
Brenton text, a British translation of the Greek Old Testament, published in 1851. The
availability of this work, and the respect accorded it, made it an obvious choice as a source
document. Secondly, Thomas Nelson Publishers granted use of the Old Testament text of the
New King James Version in the places where the English translation of the LXX would match
that of the Masoretic (Hebrew) text. The development team at St. Athanasius Academy
carefully studied these sources, along with other documents, to produce an English Old
Testament text suitable for the project.

  The organization of the Old Testament books, that is, their canonical order, was taken from
The Old Testament According to the Seventy, published with the approval of the Holy Synod
of the Church of Greece. The first edition was released in June, 1928. The Old Testament text
presented in this volume does not claim to be a new or superior translation. The goal was to
produce a text to meet the Bible-reading needs of English-speaking Orthodox Christians.

  In some Old Testament books, including the Psalms, the numbering of chapters, and
sometimes individual verses is different in the LXX version from the English translation of
the Hebrew text (such as the New King James Version and New Revised Standard Version).
To help the reader, the LXX psalm number appears first, followed by the alternate number in
parentheses, such as Psalm 50 (51).
  In addition to the difference in the numbering of the Psalms, the books of Jeremiah and
Malachi show differences in the chapter and verse numbering when comparing The
OrthodoxStudy Bible alongside English translations based on the Hebrew Old Testament
text. The following shows how the Hebrew and LXX texts compare in the books of Jeremiah
and Malachi.

Jeremiah

                        Hebrew                  LXX
                        1 :1 —2 5:1 3           1 :1 —2 5:1 3
                        2 5:1 4                 ——
                        2 5:1 5–3 8             3 2 :1 –2 5
                        2 6 :1 —4 3 :1 3        3 3 :1 —50:1 3
                        4 4 :1 –3 0             51 :1 –3 0
                        4 5:1 –5                51 :3 1 –3 5
                        4 6 :1                  ——
                        4 6 :2 –2 5             2 6 :1 –2 4
                        4 6 :2 6                ——
                        4 6 :2 7 , 2 8          2 6 :2 5, 2 6
                        4 7 :1 –7               2 9 :1 –7
                        4 8:1 –4 4              3 1 :1 –4 4
                        4 9 :1 –5               3 0:1 7 –2 1
                        4 9 :6                  ——
                        4 9 :7 –2 2             3 0:1 –1 6
                        4 9 :2 3 –2 7           3 0:2 8–3 2
                        4 9 :2 8–3 3            3 0:2 2 –2 7
                        4 9 :3 4 a, 3 5–3 9     2 5:1 4 –1 9
                        4 9 :3 4 b              2 5:2 0
                        50:1 —51 :4 4           2 7 :1 —2 8:4 5
                        51 :4 5–4 9             ——
                        51 :50–6 4              2 8:4 6 –6 0
                        52 :1                   52 :1
                        52 :2 –3                ——
                        52 :4 –1 4              52 :2 –1 2
                        52 :1 5                 ——
                        52 :1 6 –2 7            52 :1 3 –2 4
                        52 :2 8–3 0             ——
                        52 :3 1 –3 4            52 :2 5–2 8


                        Malachi
                        1 :1 —3 :1 8            1 :1 —3 :1 8
                        4 :1 –3                 3 :1 9 –2 1
                        4 :4                    3 :2 4
                        4 :5–6                  3 :2 2 –2 3

  The New Testament of The Orthodox Study Bible is taken from the New King James
Version of the Bible. It is a translation of the Received Text of the Greek New Testament,
with notes showing major variants in the Majority Text and the critical text of Nestle-Aland
and the United Bible Societies.

  The introductory material, commentary and notes accompanying the Old and New
Testament books are presented in a vocabulary understandable to a high school graduate.
This is not a book of scholars addressing other scholars, but rather scholars clearly
communicating the treasures of the Orthodox biblical tradition with clergy and laypeople
desirous of understanding their Christian beliefs and making them accessible to others.

  Further, the decision was made that the notes and commentary which clarify the biblical
text would emphasize the major themes of the Christian faith. Thus, the notes give primary
attention to:

  1. The Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit

  2. The Incarnation: The Divine Son of God becoming Man

  3. The Centrality of the Church, the “dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph 2:22)

  4. The Virtues: God’s call to His people to live righteous and holy lives in Christ

  To attain these goals, specific attention was given to the biblical interpretations of the
fathers of the ancient and undivided Church, and to the consensus of the Seven Ecumenical
or Church-wide Councils of Christendom, held from the fourth to eighth centuries.

  The Holy Scriptures have always been integral to the life of the Church. The liturgical cycle
of the year and the days of feasting and fasting are accompanied by Scripture readings from
throughout the Bible. The lectionary in the back of The Orthodox Study Bible guides the
reader along this biblical path through the Church year. Further, liturgical notes at the foot of
the pages of The Orthodox Study Bible relate specific readings to the yearly cycle of prayer
and worship. These notes are designated with the symbol ω.

  The prayer of the editors and contributors of The Orthodox Study Bible is that it presents
an understandable Bible text and commentary to (1) English-speaking Orthodox Christians
the world over and to (2) non-Orthodox readers interested in learning more about the faith of
the historic Orthodox Church.

Lent, 2008
                           THE OLD TESTAMENTBOOKS
                              LISTED AND COMPARED

                                     Orthodox
                                   Old Testament

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel)

2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel)

3 Kingdoms (1 Kings)

4 Kingdoms (2 Kings)

1 Chronicles (1 Paraleipomenon)

2 Chronicles (2 Paraleipomenon)*

1 Ezra**

2 Ezra** (Ezra)

Nehemiah

Tobit
Judith

Esther

1 Maccabees

2 Maccabees

3 Maccabees

Psalms (151 in number)

Job

Proverbs of Solomon

Ecclesiastes

Song of Songs

Wisdom of Solomon

Wisdom of Sirach

Hosea

Amos

Micah

Joel

Obadiah

Jonah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah
Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Baruch

Lamentation of Jeremiah

Epistle of Jeremiah

Ezekiel

Daniel ***

* Includes the Prayer of Manasseh

**Also known as 1 & 2 Esdras

***“Susanna” is at the beginning of Daniel, “Bel and the Serpent” at the end. Also includes the
“Hymn of the Three Young Men.”
                                  Roman Catholic
                                  Old Testament

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Kings

2 Kings

3 Kings

4 Kings

1 Chronicles (1 Paraleipomenon)

2 Chronicles (2 Paraleipomenon)

1 Esdras

2 Esdras (Nehemiah)

Tobit

Judith

Esther

1 Maccabees
2 Maccabees

Psalms (150 in number)

Job

Proverbs of Solomon

Ecclesiastes

Canticle of Canticles

Wisdom of Solomon

Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)

Hosea

Amos

Micah

Joel

Obadiah

Jonah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

Isaiah
Jeremiah

Baruch*

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel

*Includes Epistle of Jeremiah
                          Protestant
                         Old Testament

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther*

Job

Psalms (150 in number)

Proverbs
Ecclesiastes

Song of Solomon

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel**

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

*Esther does not include those sections called “Additions to Esther.”

**Daniel here does not include those sections separately labeled as the “Hymn of the Three
Young Men,” “Susanna,” “Bel and the Serpent.”
                              SOURCE ABBREVIATIONS

Source                                               Abbreviat ion


Am brose of Milan                                    Am bM
Antony of Egy pt                                     AntEg
Aphrahat the Persian                                 AphP
Athanasius the Great                                 AthanG
Augustine of Hippo                                   Aug
Aurelius                                             Aur
Basil the Great                                      BasilG
Caesarius of Arles                                   Caes
Cassiodorus                                          Cass
Clem ent of Alexandria                               Clem A
Cy prian of Alexandria                               Cy pA
Cy prian of Carthage                                 Cy pC
Cy prian of Jerusalem                                Cy pJ
Cy ril of Alexandria                                 Cy rAl
Cy ril of Jerusalem                                  Cy rJer
Diony sius                                           Dion
Elias the Presby ter                                 ElPres
Ephraim the Sy rian                                  EphS
Epistle of Barnabas                                  Barn
Eusebius                                             Eusb
Eustathius of Antioch                                Eust
Gregory of Nazianzus                                 GrgNa
Gregory of Ny ssa                                    GrgNy
Gregory Palam as                                     GrgPal
Gregory the Great (Pope)                             GrgGt
Gregory the Theologian                               GrgTheo
Hesy chius                                           Hesy ch
Hilary of Poitiers                                   Hilry P
Hippoly tus                                          Hippol
Ignatius of Antioch                                  IgnAnt
Irenaeus                                             Iren
Isaac the Sy rian                                    IsaacS
Jerom e                                              Jerom e
John Cassian                                         JohnCas
John Chry sostom                                     JohnChr
John Clim acus                                       JohnCli
John of Dam ascus                                    JohnDm
Justin Marty r                                       Justin
Leo the Great                                        LeoG
Mark the Ascetic                                     MkAsc
Maxim os the Confessor                               MaxCon
Methodius                                            Meth
Neilos the Ascetic                                   Neilos
Nicetas                                              Nic
Seraphim of Sarov                                    SerSar
Sy m eon the New Theologian                          Sy m New
Theodore of Mopsuestia                               TheoMop
Theodoret                                            Theod
Theophy lact of Bulgaria                             Theoph
Vincent of Lerins                                    VincLer
Nicene Creed                                         Creed
Canon of St. Andrew                                  CanonAnd
Akathist Serv ice                                    Akath
                              OVERVIEW OF THE BOOKS
                                      OF THE BIBLE

     By The Right Reverend BASIL, Bishop of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America

                                   THE OLD TESTAMENT

  This introduction is a brief description of each of the forty-nine books of the Old
Testament. It is helpful to keep in mind that, like the earliest Christian community, the
Orthodox Church of today continues using the Greek version of the Old Testament known as
the Septuagint (LXX). The Septuagint—referencing the seventy finest Jewish scholars, from
all twelve Jewish tribes, who made the translation from the Hebrew into Greek—became the
universally accepted version of the Old Testament since the time of its appearance some
three centuries before the birth of Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ, together with His apostles
and evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and also Peter and Paul, used this Greek
version when quoting the Old Testament in their gospels and epistles. These inspired Old
Testament books tell the story of God’s dealings with ancient Israel, from approximately
2000 BC until the time of Jesus.

  A study of the Old Testament in the light of the authentic apostolic tradition will lead the
reader to Him Who fulfilled the Law and the Prophets as He promised: Our Lord and God
and Savior, Jesus Christ. This collection of forty-nine Old Testament books is traditionally
subdivided into four sections: 1) the five books of the Law; 2) the books of history; 3) the
books of wisdom and; 4) the books of prophecy.

                               The Five Books of the Law

  First there are the books of the Law: Genesis, meaning “beginning,” since it recounts the
beginning of God’s creation; Exodus, which means “exit” or “departure,” referring to the
journey of the Hebrews from out of slavery in Egypt; Leviticus, a book detailing worship as
led by the priests ordained from the tribe of Levi; Numbers, whose title is derived from the
book’s opening account of the census or numbering of the people of Israel; Deuteronomy,
meaning “second law,” since it gives a detailed listing of the additional laws given by God
through Moses.

  These first five books of the Old Testament, known jointly as the Pentateuch (penta means
“five” in Greek) describe God’s creation of the world, the rebellion of Adam and Eve and the
fall of man, and the history of God’s people from the days of Abraham, about 2000 BC,
through the days of Moses, dated by many scholars at approximately 1250 BC.

                                   The Books of History

  The second section of the LXX Old Testament is known as the historical books. This group
begins with the book of Joshua, the leader of the children of Israel following the death of
Moses, who brings God’s people into the promised land after their forty years of wandering in
the wilderness. Judges relates to the traditions of the various Hebrew tribes and the exploits
of their own particular heroes, the Judges of whom the title speaks, who ruled the nation.
The book of Ruth is the charming and heroic account of a Gentile woman who placed herself
under the protection of the one true God, and in the process became an ancestor of King
David, and of his descendent, Jesus Christ the Messiah of Israel.

  First and Second Kingdoms (First and Second Samuel), whose principle characters are
Samuel the faithful prophet, Saul the first king to rule over God’s people, and David, Saul’s
successor and the first king of Judah in the south of Palestine, and Israel to the north. The
books of Third and Fourth Kingdoms (First and Second Kings) opens with the enthronement
of David’s son Solomon and ends with the fall of the kingdom, including the destruction of its
capital city of Jerusalem, and the exile of God’s people from Palestine to Babylon.

  First and Second Chronicles (First and Second Paraleipomenon) expand on the history
recorded in Third and Fourth Kingdoms. The word Paraleipomenon is transliterated from
the Greek and means “that which is omitted” in the two preceding books. The books of First
and Second Ezra and Nehemiah continue this chronicle of divine history, focusing on the
Jewish religious community after its return to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon.

  The final books in the historical section of the Old Testament reveal the stories of people
who lived heroic and God-directed lives under foreign domination and during the exile: Tobit,
who was taken into captivity by the Assyrians; Judith, the pious and beautiful widow who
saved her people from massacre by the invading Assyrian general; Esther, the Jewish queen
of Persia who achieved the revocation of Haman’s decree that would have allowed the
persecution and mass murder of God’s people; and the Maccabees, the family of the
Hasmoneans and their followers, the faithful people who began the revolt and fought the
wars of independence against foreign armies occupying their land.

                                  The Books of Wisdom
  The third section of the Old Testament is known as the books of Wisdom. The magnificent
Psalms is the hymnal of both ancient Israel and of the Church. The book of Job, which in the
canonical Greek LXX comes between Psalms and Proverbs, probes the depths of a man’s
unshakable faith in the face of tragedy and innocent suffering. Proverbs is a collection of
moral and religious instruction taught to young people after their return from exile in
Babylon. Ecclesiastes tells of the preacher who philosophically seeks to understand the
meaning of human existence that the good man can find in this life. The moving Song of
Songs by Solomon is a collection of lyric poems, written in the language of human love and
courtship, which also speaks prophetically of God’s love for His beloved Bride, His Church.
The Wisdom of Solomon promises reward and immortality to the righteous, praises wisdom
and condemns the folly of idolatry. The Wisdom of Sirach consists of lectures to young
people on ethical and religious themes.

  These seven books of Wisdom literature—The Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the
Song of Songs, the Wisdom of Solomon, and the Wisdom of Sirach—proclaim that happiness
(or “blessedness,” in the language of the Bible) is possible only through faith in and
obedience to the one true God.

                                  The Books of Prophecy

  The fourth and final section of the LXX Old Testament includes the books of prophecy,
which appear in an order different from the Hebrew and Vulgate collections.

  Hosea gives a message of God’s own redeeming love for His chosen people, even when they
spurn Him and prostitute themselves to false gods. Amos is the simple shepherd called by
God to denounce a self-satisfied nation for its grave social injustice, abhorrent immorality
and its shallow and meaningless piety. Micah foretells the day when nations shall beat their
swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. He speaks of peace reigning over
all who do justice, who love kindness, and who walk humbly with God. Joel is the prophet
who foretells the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh. Obadiah prophesies the return
of the exiles from Babylon. Jonah unwillingly accepts God’s command to preach His mercy
and forgiveness to a foreign nation.

  Nahum prophesies the defeat of the powerful Assyrian enemy. Habakkuk deals with the
perennial question, “How long, O Lord, shall I cry out to You, and You will not hear me?”
(Hab 1:2). Zephaniah prophesies the dark days of Judah’s destruction, but promises comfort
and conciliation to those who wait patiently for the Lord and serve Him. Haggai, following
the return of the exiles, exhorts them to rebuild the destroyed temple in order to unify their
disrupted religious life and, more importantly, to prepare for the coming of the long awaited
Messiah.

  Zechariah prophesies the image of the messianic Prince of Peace, the Good Shepherd who
would lay down His life for the flock. Malachi exhorts God’s people to faithfulness and
asserts the fatherhood of God over all nations. He foretells that God will appoint a
forerunner, similar to the ancient prophet Elijah (or Elias) who will appear before the
Messiah and prepare the world for the coming Day of the Lord.

  Isaiah exhorts the people of God to place their confidence in the Lord, and to lead private
and public lives which manifest this reliance. From Isaiah, we hear the prophecies of a Son to
be born of a virgin, and of the Suffering Servant—the Messiah—who would be led as an
innocent sheep to the slaughter, and by whose stripes we would be healed. Jeremiah severely
criticizes God’s people for abandoning the one true God and turning instead to the worship of
idols. Baruch was appointed to be read on feast days as a confession of sins. In Lamentations,
the author Jeremiah mourns the destruction of the holy city of Jerusalem by the
Babylonians. The Epistle of Jeremiah is addressed to those about to be carried off into exile in
Babylon.

  Ezekiel, the prophet of the exiles, assures his hearers of the abiding presence of God
amongst them, even in exile and servitude. Finally, Daniel writes an apocalyptic or mystical
end-time prophecy which is filled with difficult and often obscure signs and symbols. In the
Greek LXX, Daniel begins with the heroic story of Susanna and ends with the fascinating
account of Bel and the Serpent.

  These forty-nine God-inspired Old Testament books divided into four sections—books of
the Law, of History, of Wisdom, and of Prophecy—which serve as an introduction to John the
Baptist’s preparation of the world for the coming of the Messiah, who is Isaiah’s Suffering
Servant, Zechariah’s Prince of Peace, and the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the
flock.

                                  THE NEW TESTAMENT

                                     The Four Gospels
  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John recall the events in the life of Jesus Christ, Son of God and
Son of Man. The first three are called the Synoptic Gospels, in that they set forth a “common
viewpoint” of the chronology of events and the message of Christ in His life and ministry.
Matthew addresses his gospel primarily to fellow Jews. Mark is likely the first gospel to be
written, and speaks of Christ as servant of all (Mk 10:45). Luke, himself a physician, reveals
the Incarnate Christ and His earthly ancestry. This Son of Man saves and heals the fallen
race.

  John, the last of the four gospels to be written, emphasizes the divinity of Christ, the
eternal Son and Word of God, who became Man. John’s gospel further reveals seven miracles
of Christ, not all of them in chronological order.

                                              Acts

  Written by St. Luke, these are the Acts (or accomplishments) of the Apostles, but mainly of
Peter (chapters 1—12) and Paul (chapters 13—28). Acts chronicles the earliest history of the
Church from Pentecost through approximately AD 65.

                            The Letters (or Epistles) of St. Paul

  The first nine of Paul’s letters are written to churches. Romans, which begins this section,
was the only letter Paul wrote to a community he had not previously visited. Thus, the
implication is that much of what he wrote to the church at Rome he preached in other places.

  Most prominent of the cities of first century Greece was Corinth, a center of commerce,
immorality and false religion. Predictably, this fledgling church would have to deal with these
same matters. First Corinthians is therefore a corrective epistle calling for unity, virtue,
forbearance, Eucharistic order and proper use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In contrast
Second Corinthians recognizes the repentance within the church on the part of many, and St.
Paul defends his apostolic authority.

  In Galatians, Paul addresses several churches in Asia Minor, defending his apostleship and
calling the faithful to live their lives in the strength of the Holy Spirit instead of in
submission to the laws of the old covenant. Ephesians is a marvelous discourse on how the
Church should conduct itself. This community is rich in dedication to Christ. Yet just a few
decades later the Lord tells them, “you have left your first love” (Rev 2:4).
  Philippians is the epistle of joy. Paul writes from a Roman prison, “Rejoice in the Lord
always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Php 4:4). Colossians presents Christ as “the head of the
body, the church . . .” (Col 1:18), preeminent in all things.

  First Thessalonians, the first letter St. Paul penned, was written to the believers at
Thessalonica, a beautiful coastal city of Greece in about AD 51, shortly after Paul planted that
Church. This is a letter of encouragement. Second Thessalonians acknowledges persecution
and warns of lawlessness, urging the Christians to “stand fast and hold the traditions which
you were taught . . .” (2Th 2:15).

  Next, Paul addresses the following letters to individuals. In First Timothy, the aging
apostle speaks to his youthful understudy about effective oversight of the church. In Second
Timothy, the last letter St. Paul wrote (see 2Ti 4:6–8), he encourages Timothy to “be strong
in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2Ti 2:1). Paul is already in prison in Rome (1:8) awaiting
martyrdom.

  Titus is sent by Paul to Crete to set the church “in order,” and “appoint elders in every city”
(Tts 1:5). If this sounds like the work of a bishop, it is (Tts 1:7, 8), and Titus is consistently
named in early Church records as the first bishop of Crete. Philemon is a Christian slave-
holder, and Paul writes him to receive back Onesimus (Phm 10—16), his runaway slave, who
has become a Christian with Paul in Rome.

  Hebrews is the last of the epistles attributed to St. Paul, but with little evidence it was
actually written by Paul. It is a general letter to Jewish believers in Christ to continue on in
the Faith. It assures them that Christ, the great High Priest in the heavenlies (Heb 8:1), is
their once for all sacrifice for sin (Heb 10:10) and victor over death (Heb 12:1, 2).

                                     The General Epistles

  James, the brother of the Lord and first bishop of Jerusalem, writes to fellow Jews, “the
twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (Jam 1:1). His message? “Faith without works is
dead” (Jam 1:20). Christianity is a belief that behaves.

  First Peter, written by the first among the apostles, urges obedience to God and man,
willingness to suffer for Christ’s sake, and effective pastoring of the flock. In Second Peter,
the apostle discusses divine power for the faithful (deification), divine judgment for false
teachers and the Day of the Lord.
  Next, John the Theologian offers three general epistles. First John is a stirring personal
testimonial to God’s forgiveness, His love for His children and His gift of eternal life. In
Second John, he addresses an “elect lady and her children” (v. 1), urging them to obey the
Lord’s commands and beware of deceivers. Third John commends Gaius and Demetrius, and
warns against Diotrephes.

  Finally, Jude, the Lord’s brother, writes a short letter exhorting the faithful to contend for
the truth and to beware of the devil’s servants. He finishes with a stunning benediction.

                                         Revelation

  Written by St. John the Theologian, he entitles his book “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”
(1:1). What the book of Daniel is to the Old Testament, Revelation is to the New Testament.
Another title is the Apocalypse, which is a transliteration of the Greek word for “revelation”
or “unveiling.” The book speaks prophetically both to current and future events, to judgment
and salvation, and ends with the glorious New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven “as a
bride adorned for her husband” (21:2).
                                    INTRODUCING THE
                                   ORTHODOX CHURCH

The publication of The Orthodox Study Bible begs a question: exactly what is the Orthodox
Church? Many people have heard of the Russian Orthodox Church which celebrated its
1000th birthday in 1988, or the Greek Orthodox Church which was born centuries earlier.
But Orthodoxy itself—what is it, and what are its historic roots?

                       THE CHURCH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

  To answer the question, let us go back to the pages of the New Testament, specifically to
the Book of Acts and the birth of the Church at Pentecost. For on that day the Holy Spirit
descended on the twelve apostles in the Upper Room, and by afternoon some 3000 souls
believed in Christ and were baptized. The Scriptures record that when the first Christian
community began, “they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and
to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

  From Jerusalem, the faith in Christ spread throughout Judea, to Samaria (Acts 8:5–39), to
Antioch and the Gentiles (Acts 11:19–26). We find new converts and new Churches
throughout Asia Minor and the Roman Empire as recorded in Acts and the Epistles.

  The Church, of course, was not simply another organization in Roman society. The Lord
Jesus Christ had given the promise of the Holy Spirit “to lead you into all truth” (Jn 16:13).
With the fulfillment of that promise beginning with Pentecost, the Church was born far
beyond mere institutional status. She was not an organization with mystery, but a mystery
with organization. St. Paul called the Church “a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph
2:22). The Church was a dynamic organism, the living Body of Jesus Christ. She made an
indelible impact in the world, and those who lived in her life and faith were personally
transformed.

  But we also discover in the New Testament itself that the Church had her share of
problems. All was not perfection. Some individuals even within the Church sought to lead her
off the path the apostles established, and they had to be dealt with along with the errors they
invented. Even whole local communities lapsed on occasion and were called to repentance.
The Church in Laodicea is a vivid example (Rev 3:14–22). Discipline was administered for the
sake of purity in the Church. But there was growth and maturation, even as the Church was
attacked from within and without. The same Spirit who gave her birth gave her power for
purity and correction, and she stood strong and grew, eventually invading the whole of the
Roman Empire.

                                  THE EARLY CENTURIES

  As the Church moves from the pages of the New Testament and on into the succeeding
centuries of her history, it is helpful to trace her growth and development in terms of specific
categories. We shall look first at a category important for all Christian people: doctrine. Did
she maintain the truth of God as given by Christ and His apostles? Second, what about
worship? Is there a discernible way in which the people of God have offered a sacrifice of
praise and thanksgiving to Him? Third, we will consider Church government. What sort of
polity did the Church practice?

1. Doctrine: Not only did the Church begin under the teaching of the apostles, but she was
also instructed to “stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word
or our epistle” (2Th 2:15). The apostle Paul insisted that those matters delivered by him and
his fellow apostles, both in person and in the writings that would come to be called the New
Testament, be adhered to carefully. Thus, followed such appropriate warnings as “in the
name of Jesus Christ . . . withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not
according to the tradition which he received from us” (2Th 3:6). The doctrines taught by
Christ and His disciples are to be safeguarded by “the Church, the pillar and support of the
truth” (1Ti 3:15) and are not open for renegotiation.

  Midway through the first century, a dispute had arisen in Antioch over adherence to Old
Testament laws. The matter could not be settled there; outside help was needed. The leaders
of the Antiochian Church, the community which had earlier dispatched Paul and Barnabas as
missionaries, brought the matter to Jerusalem for consideration by the apostles and elders
there. The matter was discussed, debated, and a written decision was forthcoming.

  It was James, the brother of the Lord and the first bishop of Jerusalem, who put forth the
solution to the problem. This settlement, agreed to by all concerned at what is known as the
Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:1–35), set the pattern for the use of Church councils in the
centuries ahead to settle doctrinal and moral issues that arose. Thus, throughout the history
of the Church we find scores of such councils, and on various levels, to settle matters of
dispute and to deal with those who do not adhere to the Apostolic faith.

  The first three hundred years of Christian history were marked by the appearance of
certain heresies or false teachings such as secret philosophic schemes for the elite
(Gnosticism), dazzling prophetic aberrations (Montanism), and grave errors regarding the
three Persons of the Trinity (Sabellianism).

  Then, in the early fourth century, a heresy with potential for Church-wide disruption
appeared, propagated by one Arius, a presbyter in Alexandria, Egypt. He denied the eternal-ity
of the Son of God, claiming contrary to the apostles’ doctrine that the Son was a created being
who came into existence at a point in time and thus was not truly God. This deadly error
struck the Church like a cancer. Turmoil spread almost everywhere. The first Church-wide, or
Ecumenical, Council met in Nicea in AD 325 to address this issue. Some 318 bishops, along
with many priests, deacons and laymen rejected the new teaching of Arius and his associates,
upholding the apostles’ doctrine of Christ, affirming the eternality of the Son and His
consubstantiality with the Father. Their proclamation of the Apostolic teaching concerning
Christ included a creed, which, with the additions concerning the Holy Spirit made in 381 at
the Council of Constantinople, forms the document we today call the Nicene Creed.

  Between the years 325 and 787, seven such Church-wide conclaves were held, all dealing
first and foremost with some specific challenge to the Apostolic teaching about Jesus Christ.
These councils, meeting in the cities of Nicea, Ephesus, Chalcedon, and Constantinople, are
known as the Seven Ecumenical Councils.

  For the first thousand years of Christian history, the entire Church, save for the heretics,
embraced and defended the New Testament Apostolic faith. There was no consequential
division. And this one faith, preserved through all trials, attacks and tests, this Apostolic
doctrine, was called “the Orthodox faith.”

2. Worship: Doctrinal purity was tenaciously maintained. But true Christianity is far more
than adherence to a set of correct beliefs alone. The life of the Church is centrally expressed
in her worship, adoration of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It was Jesus Himself Who
told the woman at the well, “the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will
worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (Jn
4:23).

  At the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Eucharist, the communion service, when He took
bread and wine, gave a blessing, and said to His disciples, “This is My body which is given for
you; do this in remembrance of Me” and “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is
shed for you” (Lk 22:19, 21). From the New Testament we know the Church participated in
communion at least each Lord’s Day (Acts 20:7, 11). From such first and second century
sources as the Didache, the letters of St. Ignatius of Antioch, and St. Justin Martyr, we are
assured the Eucharist is the very center of Christian worship from the Apostolic era on.

  And just as the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets were read in the Temple worship and the
synagogue in Israel, so the Church also immediately gave high priority to the public reading
of Scripture and to preaching in her worship, along with the Eucharistic meal.

  Even before the middle of the first century, Christian worship was known by the term
liturgy which literally means “the common work” or “the work of the people.” The early
liturgy of the Church’s worship was composed of two essential parts, (1) the liturgy of the
word, including hymns, Scripture reading, and preaching and (2) the liturgy of the faithful,
composed of intercessory prayers, the kiss of peace, and the Eucharist. From virtually the
beginning, Christian worship has had a definable shape or form which continues to this day.

  Modern Christians advocating freedom from liturgy in worship are usually shocked to
learn that spontaneity was never the practice in the ancient Church! A basic pattern or shape
of Christian worship was observed from the start. And as the Church grew and matured,
liturgy matured as well. Hymns, Scripture readings, and prayers were intertwined in the basic
foundation. A clear, purposeful procession through the year, marking and joining in word,
song, and praise the birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and sancitfying crucial aspects of Christian life and experience, was forthcoming. The
Christian life was lived in reality in the worship of the Church. Far from being routine, the
worship of the historic Church participated in the unfolding drama of the richness and
mystery of the Gospel itself!

  Further, specific landmarks in our salvation and walk with Christ were celebrated and
sanctified. Baptism and the anointing with oil, or chrismation, were there from the start.
Marriage, healing, confession of sin, and ordination to the ministry of the Gospel are other
early rites in the Church. On each of these occasions Christians understood, in a great
mystery, grace and power from God were being given according to the individual need of each
person. The Church saw these events as holy moments in her life and called them mysteries
or sacraments.

3. Government: No one seriously questions whether the apostles of Christ led the Church
at her beginning. They had been given the commission to preach the Gospel (Mt 28:19, 20)
and the authority to forgive or retain sins (Jn 20:23). Theirs was by no means a preaching-
only mission! They built the Church itself under Christ’s headship. To govern it, three
definite and permanent offices, as taught in the New Testament, were in evidence.

  a. The office of bishop. The apostles themselves were the first bishops in the Church. Even
before Pentecost, after Judas had turned traitor, Peter declared in applying Psalm 108:8, “Let
his bishopric another take” (Acts 1:20). The word “bishopric” refers, of course, to the office of
bishop and its use indicates the apostles themselves are bishops. Some have mistakenly
argued the office of bishop was a later invention. Quite to the contrary, the apostles were
themselves bishops, and they appointed bishops to succeed them to oversee the Church in
each locality.

  Occasionally, the objection is still heard that the office of bishop and presbyter were
originally identical. The terms are used interchangeably in the New Testament while the
apostles were present, the bishop being the presiding elder in a local church. But after the
apostles’ deaths, the offices of bishop and presbyter soon became distinct throughout the
Church. Ignatius of Antioch, consecrated bishop by AD 70 in the Church from which Paul and
Barnabas had been sent out, writes just after the turn of the century that bishops appointed
by the apostles, surrounded by their presbyters, were everywhere in the Church.

  b. The office of presbyter. Elders or presbyters are mentioned very early in the life of the
Church in Acts and the Epistles. It is evident that in each place a Christian community
developed, elders were appointed by the apostles to pastor the people.

  As time passed, presbyters were referred to in the short form of the word as “prests,” then
as “priests,” in full view of the fact that the Old Covenant priesthood had been fulfilled in
Christ and that the Church is corporately a priesthood of believers. The priest was not
understood as an intermediary between God and the people nor as a dispenser of grace. It
was the role of the priest to be the presence of Christ in the Christian community. And in the
very capacity of being the presence of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, the priest was to
safeguard the flock of God.

  c. The office of deacon. The third order or office in the government of the New Testament
Church was the deacon. At first the apostles fulfilled this office themselves. But with the
rapid growth of the Church, seven initial deacons were selected (Acts 6:1–7) to help carry the
responsibility of service to those in need. It was one of these deacons, Stephen, who became
the first martyr of the Church.

  Through the centuries, the deacons have not only served the material needs of the Church,
but have held a key role in the liturgical life of the Church as well. Often called “the eyes and
ears of the bishop,” many deacons have become priests and ultimately entered the episcopal
office.

  The authority of the bishop, presbyter, and deacon was not anciently understood as being
apart from the people, but always from among the people. In turn the people of God were
called to submit to those who ruled over them (Heb 13:17), and they were also called to give
their agreement to the direction of the leaders for the Church. On a number of occasions in
history, that “Amen” was not forthcoming, and the bishops of the Church took note and
changed course. Later in history, many Church leaders departed from the ancient model and
usurped authority for themselves. In the minds of some this brought the ancient model into
question. But the problem was not in the model but in the deviation from it.

  It should also be mentioned that it was out of the ministry and life of the apostles that the
people of God, the laity, were established in the Church. Far from being a herd of observers,
the laity are vital in the effectiveness of the Church. They are the recipients and active users
of the gifts and grace of the Spirit. Each of the laity has a role in the life and function of the
Church. Each is to supply something to the whole (1Co 12:7). And it is the responsibility of
the bishops, the priests, and the deacons to be sure that this is a reality for the laity.

  The worship of the Church at the close of its first 1000 years had substantially the same
shape from place to place. The doctrine was the same. The whole Church confessed one
creed, the same in every place, and had weathered many attacks. The government of the
Church was recognizably one everywhere. And this One Church was the Orthodox Church.

                    DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN WEST AND EAST

  Tensions began to mount as the first millennium was drawing to a close. While numerous
doctrinal, political, economic, and cultural factors were working to separate the Church in an
East-West division, two giant divisive issues ultimately emerged above others: (1) that one
man, the Pope of Rome, considered himself the universal bishop of the Church and (2) the
addition of a novel clause to the Church’s creed.
1. The Papacy: Among the Twelve, Saint Peter was early acknowledged as the leader. He
was spokesman for the Twelve before and after Pentecost. He was the first bishop of Antioch
and later bishop of Rome. No one challenged his role.

  After the death of the apostles, as leadership in the Church developed, the bishop of Rome
came to be recognized as first in honor, even though all bishops were equals. But after nearly
300 years, the bishop of Rome slowly began to assume to himself a role of superiority over
the others, ultimately claiming to be the only true successor to Peter. The vast majority of the
other bishops of the Church never questioned Rome’s primacy of honor, but they patently
rejected the Roman bishop’s claim as the universal head of the Church on earth. This
assumption of papal power became one major factor in rending the Roman Church, and all
those it could gather with it, from the historic Orthodox Church.

2. The Addition to the Creed: A disagreement concerning the Holy Spirit also began to
develop in the Church. Does the Holy Spirit proceed from the Father? Or, does He proceed
from the Father and the Son?

  Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches, “But when the Helper comes, Whom I shall send to you
from the Father, the Spirit of truth Who proceeds from the Father, he will testify of Me” (Jn
15:26). This is the basic statement in all the New Testament about the Holy Spirit
“proceeding,” and it is clear: He “proceeds from the Father.”

  Thus, when the ancient council at Constantinople in AD 381 reaffirmed the Creed of Nicea
(AD 325), it expanded that Creed to proclaim these familiar words: “And in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and Life-Giver, Who proceeds from the Father, Who is worshipped and glorified
together with the Father and the Son. . . .”

  But two hundred years later, at a local council in Toledo, Spain (AD 589), King Reccared
declared, “the Holy Spirit also should be confessed by us and taught to proceed from the
Father and the Son.” The King may have meant well, but he was contradicting Jesus’
teaching, confessed by the entire Church, concerning the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, that
local Spanish council agreed with his error.

  Because of the teaching of the Holy Scriptures, believed by the Church at Nicea and at
Constantinople and for centuries beyond, there is no reason to believe anything other than
that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father.
  But centuries later, in what was at least partially a politically motivated move, the Pope of
Rome unilaterally changed the universal creed of the Church without an ecumenical council.
Though this change was initially rejected in both East and West, even by some of Rome’s
closest neighboring bishops, the Pope managed to eventually get the West to capitulate. The
consequence, of course, in the Western Church has been the tendency to relegate the Holy
Spirit to a lesser place than God the Father and God the Son. The change may appear small,
but the consequences have proven disastrously immense. This issue, with the Pope departing
from the Orthodox doctrine of the Church, became another instrumental cause separating
the Roman Church from the historic Orthodox Church, the New Testament Church.

                                   THE GREAT SCHISM

  Conflict between the Roman Pope and the East mounted—especially in the Pope’s dealings
with the bishop, or patriarch, of Constantinople. The Pope even went so far as to claim the
authority to decide who should be the bishop of Constantinople, in marked violation of
historical precedent. No longer operating within the government of the New Testament
Church, the Pope appeared to be seeking by political means to bring the whole Church under
his domination.

  Bizarre intrigues followed, one upon the other, as a series of Roman popes pursued this
unswerving goal of attempting to control all Christendom. Perhaps the most incredible
incident of these political, religious, and even military schemes occurred in the year 1054. A
Cardinal, sent by the Pope, slapped a document on the altar of the Church of Holy Wisdom in
Constantinople    during    the   Sunday   worship,   excommunicating      the   Patriarch   of
Constantinople from the Church!

  The Pope, of course, had no legitimate right to do this. But the repercussions were
staggering. Some dismal chapters of Church history were written during the next decades.
The ultimate consequence of the Pope’s action was that the whole Roman Catholic Church
ended up dividing itself from the New Testament faith of Orthodox Christianity. The schism
has never been healed.

  As the centuries passed conflict continued. Attempts at union failed and the Roman Church
drifted farther and farther from its historic roots. There are inevitable consequences in
deviating from the Church. The breaking away of Rome from the historic Orthodox Church
would prove no exception.
                          FURTHER DIVISIONS IN THE WEST

  During the centuries after AD 1054, the growing distinction between East and West was
becoming indelibly marked in history. The East maintained the full stream of New Testament
faith, worship, and practice—all the while enduring great persecution. The Western or Roman
Church, crippled because of its schism from the Orthodox Church, bogged down in many
complex problems. Then, less than five centuries after Rome committed itself to its unilateral
alteration of doctrine and practice, another upheaval was festering—this time not next door to
the East, but inside the Western gates themselves.

  Though many in the West had spoken out against Roman domination and practice in
earlier years, now a little-known German monk named Martin Luther inadvertently launched
an attack against certain Roman Catholic practices which ended up affecting world history.
His famous Ninety-Five Theses were nailed to the Church door at Wittenburg in 1517. In a
short time those theses were signalling the start of what came to be called in the West the
Protestant Reformation. Luther sought an audience with the Pope but was denied, and in
1521 he was excommunicated from the Roman Church. He had intended no break with
Rome. Its papal system of government, heavy with authority, refused conciliation. The door
to future unity in the West slammed shut with a resounding crash.

  The protests of Luther were not unnoticed. The reforms he sought in Germany were soon
accompanied by demands of Ulrich Zwingli in Zurich, John Calvin in Geneva, and hundreds
of others all over Western Europe. Fueled by complex political, social, and economic factors,
in addition to religious problems, the Reformation spread like a raging fire into virtually
every nook and cranny of the Roman Church. The ecclesiastical monopoly to which it had
grown accustomed was greatly diminished, and massive division replaced its artificial unity.
The ripple effect of that division impacts even our own day as the Protestant movement itself
continues to split and shatter.

  If trouble on the continent were not trouble enough, the Church of England was in the
process of going its own way as well. Henry VIII, amidst his marital problems, replaced the
Pope of Rome with himself as head of the Church of England. For only a few short years
would the Pope ever again have ascendency in England. And the English Church itself would
soon experience great division.

  As decade followed decade in the West, the many branches of Protestantism took various
forms. There were even divisions that insisted they were neither Protestant nor Roman
Catholic. All seemed to share a mutual dislike for the Bishop of Rome and the practice of his
Church, and most wanted far less centralized forms of leadership. While some, such as the
Lutherans and Anglicans, held on to certain forms of liturgy and sacrament, others, such as
the Reformed Churches and the even more radical Anabaptists and their descendants,
questioned and rejected many biblical ideas of hierarchy, sacrament, historic tradition, and
other elements of Christian practice, no matter when and where they appeared in history,
thinking they were freeing themselves of Roman Catholicism. To this day, many sincere,
modern, professing Christians will reject even the biblical data which speaks of historic
Christian practice, simply because they think such historic practices are “Roman Catholic.” To
use the old adage, they threw the baby out with the bathwater without even being aware of it.

  Thus, while retaining, in varying degrees, portions of foundational Christianity, neither
Protestantism nor Catholicism can lay historic claim to being the true New Testament
Church. In dividing from the Orthodox Christianity, Rome forfeited its place in the Church of
the New Testament. In the divisions of the Reformation, the Protestants—as well-meaning as
they might have been—failed to return to the New Testament Church.

                            THE ORTHODOX CHURCH TODAY

  But that original Church, the Church of Peter and Paul and the apostles—despite
persecution, political oppression, and desertion on certain of its flanks—miraculously carries
on today the same faith and life of the Church of the New Testament. Admittedly, the style of
Orthodoxy looks complicated to the modern Protestant eye, and understandably so. But given
an historical understanding of how the Church has progressed, it may be seen that the simple
Christ-centered faith of the apostles is fully preserved in its doctrines, practices, services, and
even in its architecture.

  In Orthodoxy today, as in years gone by, the basics of Christian doctrine, worship, and
government are never up for alteration. One cannot be an Orthodox priest, for example, and
reject the divinity of Christ, His virgin birth, resurrection, ascension into heaven, and second
coming. The Church simply has not left its course in nearly 2000 years. It is One, Holy,
Catholic, and Apostolic. It is the New Testament Church. The gates of hell have not prevailed
against it.

  But Orthodoxy is also, in the words of one of her bishops, “the best kept secret in America.”
Though there are more than 225 million Orthodox Christians in the world today, many in the
West are not familiar with the Church. In North America, for example, the Orthodox Church
has, until recently, been largely restricted to ethnic boundaries, not spreading much beyond
the parishes of the committed immigrants that brought the Church to the shores of this
continent.

  Still, the Holy Spirit has continued His work, causing new people to discover this Church of
the New Testament. People have begun to find Orthodox Christianity both through the
writings of the early Church Fathers, and through the humble witness of contemporary
Orthodox Christians. Significant numbers of evangelicals, Episcopalians and mainline
Protestants are becoming Orthodox. And Orthodox student groups are springing up on
campuses worldwide. The word is getting out.

  What, then, is the Orthodox Church? It is the first Christian Church in history, the Church
founded by the Lord Jesus Christ, described in the pages of the New Testament. Her history
can be traced in unbroken continuity all the way back to Christ and His Twelve apostles.

  And what is it that’s missing in the non-Orthodox Churches—even the best of them?
Fullness. For the fullness of the New Testament faith is to be found only in the New
Testament Church. Being in the Church does not guarantee all those in it will take advantage
of the fullness of the faith. But the fullness of the faith is there for those who do.

  For persons who seriously desire the fullness of Orthodox Christianity, action must be
taken. There must be a return to this Church of the New Testament. Being aware of this
ancient Church is not enough. In our time people have had ample opportunity to investigate
and decide about the Roman Catholic faith, the Baptist, the Lutheran, and so on. But
relatively few have taken a serious look at the Orthodox Church. Three specific suggestions
will provide those interested with a tangible means of becoming acquainted with Orthodox
Christianity on a personal basis.

1. Visit: Look up “Orthodox” or “Eastern Orthodox” in the “Church” section of your Yellow
Pages. Ask the whereabouts of the nearest Orthodox parish. Pay a visit—several visits. Meet
the priest, and ask him to help you study and learn. And be prepared to exercise patience—
sometimes a portion of the Liturgy is not in English! But the Service Book in the pew will
help.

2. Read: There are a number of books and periodicals immensely helpful to people seeking
to learn about the Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Church by Kallistos Ware (Penguin); For
theLife of the World by Alexander Schmemann (St. Vladimir Seminary Press); The Apostolic
Fathers edited by Jack N. Sparks (Light and Life Publishers), and Becoming Orthodox by
Peter E. Gillquist, Divine Energy by Jon E. Braun, and AGAIN Magazine (all by Conciliar
Press).

3. Write: The people at Conciliar Press (P.O. Box 76, Ben Lomond, CA 95005-0076) have
volunteered to answer questions regarding the Orthodox Church from Orthodox Study Bible
readers, and to suggest further reading. Send your name and address, with a request for
information.

  In a day when Christians are realizing anew the centrality and importance of worship, of
the Church as the body of Christ, and the need to preserve true Christian faith, the doors of
Orthodoxy are open wide. The invitation is extended to “come and see.” Examine her faith,
her worship, her history, her commitment to Christ, her love for God the Father, her
communion with the Holy Spirit.

  For two thousand years the Orthodox Church has by God’s mercy kept the faith delivered
once for all to the saints. Within her walls is the fullness of the salvation which was realized
when “God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16).
       T HE
OL D T E ST A M E N T
            Genesis

             Exodus

            Leviticus

            Numbers

          Deuteronomy

             Joshua

             Judges

              Ruth

     1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel)

     2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel)

      3 Kingdoms (1 Kings)

      4 Kingdoms (2 Kings)

 1 Chronicles (1 Paraleipomenon)

 2 Chronicles (2 Paraleipomenon)

        1 Ezra (2 Esdras)

     2 Ezra (Ezra/2 Esdras)

           Nehemiah

              Tobit

             Judith

             Esther
   1 Maccabees

   2 Maccabees

   3 Maccabees

      Psalms

        Job

Proverbs of Solomon

    Ecclesiastes

   Song of Songs

Wisdom of Solomon

 Wisdom of Sirach

      Hosea

       Amos

      Micah

       Joel

     Obadiah

      Jonah

      Nahum

    Habakkuk

    Zephaniah

      Haggai

     Zechariah
                                    Malachi

                                     Isaiah

                                   Jeremiah

                                     Baruch

                            Lamentations of Jeremiah

                               Epistle of Jeremiah

                                    Ezekiel

                                     Daniel

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                                G E NE SIS
                                Home   Next

Chapters in Genesis
Introduction

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40

41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 1
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 2
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 3
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 4
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 5
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 6
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 7
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 8
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 9
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 10
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 11
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 12
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20


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Verses in Genesis Chapter 13
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 14
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 15
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 16
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 17
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 18
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 19
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 20
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 21
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 22
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 23
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20


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Verses in Genesis Chapter 24
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40

41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50

51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60

61,62,63,64,65,66,67

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 25
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 26
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 27
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40

41,42,43,44,45,46

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 28
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 29
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 30
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40

41,42,43

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 31
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40

41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50

51,52,53,54

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 32
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 33
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20


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Verses in Genesis Chapter 34
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 35
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 36
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40

41,42,43

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 37
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 38
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 39
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 40
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 41
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40

41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50

51,52,53,54,55,56,57

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 42
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 43
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 44
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 45
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 46
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 47
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 48
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 49
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33

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Verses in Genesis Chapter 50
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26

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                                   T HE OL D T E ST A M E N T
                                                           The Book of Genesis

    Author   —Traditionally, both Jews and Christians believe Moses is the author and
  compiler of Genesis and of each of the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch.

    Date   —Genesis was written during Israel's forty years of wandering in the wilderness, in
  the time between the crossing of the Red Sea and the entrance into Canaan.

    Major Theme      —The early history of man and of Israel. Genesis, which means “origin,” is
  divided into two parts. The first is the account of the creation of the world and the
  beginning of the human race with Adam and Eve, and the history of their descendants.
  The second part of Genesis concerns the early history of Israel, starting with the three
  patriarchs of the Hebrews, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the twelve tribes that were
  their descendants. God created all things good, and although His creation rebelled and
  sinned against Him, He still loves and cares for His people.

    Background     —Genesis covers the longest time span of any book in the Bible, stretching
  from the creation of the world to the coming of the Hebrews to Egypt. The first three
  chapters of Genesis are reflected in the last three chapters of Revelation, the Alpha and
  Omega of writings “given by inspiration of God” (2Ti 3:16).

 Outline

  I. The Early History of Man (1 :1 –1 1 :2 7 )

         A. Creation and the Fall of m an (1 :1 –5:3 2 )

         B. Judgm ent of m an by the Flood and the Tower of Babel (6 :1 –1 1 :3 2 )

  II. The Early History of Israel (1 2 :1 –50:2 6 )

         A. The patriarchs and tribes of Israel (1 2 :1 –3 6 :4 2 )

         B. Israel in Egy pt (3 7 :1 –50:2 6 )



                                                                CREATION

“We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and of all things
visible and invisible.” These opening words of the Nicene Creed, the central doctrinal
statement of Christianity, affirm that the One True God is the source of everything that exists
—both physical and spiritual, both animate and inanimate. The Holy Scriptures begin with a
similarly striking assertion: “In the beginning God made heaven and begin with a similarly
striking earth.” St. Basil the Great declares:

    In the fear that human reasonings may make you wander from the truth, Moses has
    anticipated inquiry by engraving in our hearts, as a seal and a safeguard, the
    awesome name of God: ‘In the beginning God created.’ It is He—beneficent Nature,
    Goodness without measure, a worthy object of love for all beings endowed with
    reason, the beauty the most to be desired, the origin of all that exists . . .—it is He
    who ‘in the beginning created heaven and earth.’

  The ever-existent Almighty God was not forced to create the universe. Rather, in His
goodness and lovingkindness, He freely chose to do so. And the fact that the Lord created the
universe out of nothing stands in clear contrast to the creation myths of the surrounding
cultures in the ancient world.

  The central role of Jesus Christ, the Word of the Father, in the creation of all things is
plainly stated in the first chapter of the apostle John’s gospel, where it is written, “In the
beginning was the Word, . . . All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing
was made that was made.” And the specific role of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the
Undivided Trinity, in the creation of the world is seen in Genesis 1:2 (see also Ps 103:30;
32:6).

  Regarding questions about the scientific accuracy of the Genesis account of creation, and
about various viewpoints concerning evolution, the Orthodox Church has not dogmatized any
particular view. What is dogmatically proclaimed is that the One Triune God created
everything that exists, and that man was created in a unique way and is alone made in the
image and likeness of God (Gn 1:26, 27). The Church Fathers also consistently affirm that
each species of the animate creation came into existence instantaneously, at the command of
God, with its seed within itself.

  The development of life was not by accident. Rather, Supreme Intelligence and
Impenetrable Wisdom were at work in the creation and sustenance of all that exists. In
discussing various scientific theories of his day, St. Basil the Great declared, “If there is
anything in this [or any other] system which seems probable to you, keep your admiration for
the source of such perfect order—the wisdom of God.” He also wrote, “We must still remain
faithful to the principle of true religion and recognize that all that exists is sustained by the
Creator’s power.”

  The repeated affirmation “and God saw that it was good” in Genesis 1 underscores the
intrinsic, fundamental goodness of matter and the whole created order, even after the Fall.
This understanding is the basis for a sacramental world-view—that the created order not only
is good, but also can be a means for communion with God, by virtue of being created by the
All-Good God. Moreover, the astounding beauty, intricate order, and sublime harmony of all
aspects of Creation, as well as the tremendously vast expanse of the universe, are intended to
draw mankind to an awareness of and appreciation for the Creator, and to the worship of Him
—and Him alone (see Ps 18:1-4; Rom 1:20).


                                        The Creation

            beginning God made heaven and earth.†ω 2The earth was invisible and unfinished;
1 Inandthedarkness was over the deep. The Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the
water.† 3Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.† 4God saw the light; it was
good; and God divided the light from the darkness.† 5God called the light Day; the darkness
He called Night; and there was evening and morning, one day.

  6Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the water, and let it divide the

water from the water”; and it was so. 7Thus God made the firmament, and God divided the
water under the firmament from the water above the firmament. 8So God called the
firmament Heaven, and God saw that it was good; and there was evening and morning, the
second day.

  9Then God said, “Let the water under heaven be gathered together into one place, and let
the dry land appear”; and it was so. The water under heaven was gathered into its places, and
the dry land appeared. 10So God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the
waters He called Seas; and God saw that it was good. 11Then God said, “Let the earth bring
forth the herb of grass, bearing seed according to its kind and likeness. Let the fruit tree bear
fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind on earth.” It was so. 12Thus the earth
brought forth the herb of grass, bearing seed according to its kind and likeness. The fruit tree
bore fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind on earth. God saw that it was good.
13So evening and morning were the third day.
  14Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven for illumination to divide

day from night.ω 15Let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years. Let them be for
illumination in the firmament of heaven to give light on the earth.” It was so. 16Then God
made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.
He made the stars also. 17God set them in the firmament of heaven to give light on the earth,
18and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God

saw that it was good. 19So evening and morning were the fourth day.

  20Then God said, “Let the waters bring forth creatures having life, and let birds fly above

the earth across the face of heaven's firmament.” It was so. 21Thus God made great sea
creatures and every living thing that moves with which the waters abounded, according to
their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. God saw that it was good. 22God
blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds
multiply on earth.” 23So evening and morning were the fifth day.

  24Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: the
quadrupeds, the creeping things, and the wild animals of the earth according to their kind.” It
was so.ω 25So God made the wild animals of the earth according to their kind, the cattle
according to their kind, and all the creeping things on earth according to their kind. God saw
that it was good. 26Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our
likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of heaven, over the
cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that moves on the earth.”† 27So
God made man; in the image of God He made him; male and female He made them. 28Then
God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue
it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of heaven, and over every living
thing that moves on the earth.”

                                  THE HOLY TRINITY

The Holy Trinity is revealed both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. In the Old
Testament, the Trinity is revealed in subtle ways; in the New Testament, the Trinity is
revealed fully and plainly, beginning at the Baptism of our Lord.

  The Holy Trinity is one God in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These Persons
are distinct, but not separate, and are not three gods. They are One God because They are one
in essence or nature. The Father is the unbegotten Fountainhead of Deity. The Son is
eternally begotten of the Father (Jn 1:18; 3:16; 16:28). The Holy Spirit is the Helper (Jn 14:16)
and Spirit of Truth (Jn 14:17; 16:13), Who proceeds from the Father (Jn 15:26).

                     THE HOLY TRINITY CREATED THE WORLD

  Genesis 1:1—God the Father created the heavens and the earth. The Creed says: “I believe
in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.”

  Genesis 1:2—The Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit. He hovered over creation in creative
power and equality with the Father. He co-created with the Father.

  Genesis 1:3—As the Word of God, the Son made the light (Jn 1:1–3). With creative power
and equality with the Father, He also co-created with the Father and the Spirit.

  Genesis 1:26—The pronouns “Us” and “Our” reveal a plurality of divine Persons. These
Persons are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit operating in complete unity out of the one divine
Nature.

                       THE HOLY TRINITY SAVES THE WORLD

  Isaiah 63:16—The Father is our Redeemer. He not only created the world but redeems it as
well.

  Psalm 2:7, 8—The Father’s decree reveals the Son as inheriting the world. This inheritance
is the people saved by the Son.

  Isaiah 6:1–3—The words “Holy, Holy, Holy” declare the three Persons who save us. The
name “Lord” declares the one essence of the Three.

  Isaiah 44:3—The Father pours out His Spirit on people like water on dry ground. The Holy
Spirit quenches the thirst of the person who thirsts for salvation.

  Isaiah 48:16, 17—The Son declares that the Father and the Spirit sent Him to redeem the
world. Although the Son alone became a Man, all three Persons save mankind.

               THE NEW TESTAMENT AFFIRMS THE HOLY TRINITY
                                  IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
  John 1:1–3—The Word is the Son of God, who was present with the Father at the beginning
of creation. He was Co-worker with the Father in creating the world.

  John 8:58—Jesus identifies Himself as having existed before Abraham. Before His coming
in the flesh as Man, Jesus existed as the eternal Son of the Father, for He is begotten from
the Father before all time and ages. He appeared to Moses in the burning bush and
proclaimed Himself as “I Am” (Ex 3:1).

  Acts 2:17—The Holy Spirit’s descent at Pentecost affirms His presence in the Old
Testament (Joel 2:28–32).

  Hebrews 1:8–10—This Scripture affirms the Father is speaking to the Son in Psalms 44:7
and 101:26–28, in which the Father acknowledges the Son as God and Creator of the world.
For the Son was the Father’s Co-worker in creation.

            THE INCARNATE SON FULLY REVEALS THE HOLY TRINITY

  Luke 1:35—At the Annunciation, the Holy Spirit, the “power” of God the Father (“the
Highest”), overshadowed the Virgin Mary; and she gave birth to the Son of God in His flesh.

  Matthew 3:16–17—When the Son of God was baptized in the Jordan by John, the Father’s
voice was heard from heaven, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove. As the main
hymn for the Feast of Theophany says, “When You, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan, the
worship of the Trinity was made manifest.”


  29Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing herb that sows seed on the

face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30I also
give every green plant as food for all the wild animals of the earth, for all the birds of heaven,
and for everything that creeps on the earth in which is the breath of life.” It was so. 31Then
God saw everything He had made, and indeed, it was very good. So evening and morning were
the sixth day.†

   Thus heaven and earth and all their adornment were finished.† 2And on the seventh day
2 God finished the works He made, and He rested on the seventh day from all the works He
made. 3Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all
His works God began to make.
  4This is the book of the genesis of heaven and earth when they were made, in the day the

Lord God made heaven and earth,†ω 5before any plant of the field was on earth and before
any herb of the field sprang up. For God had not sent rain on the earth, and there was no man
to till the ground; 6but a fountain came up from the ground and watered the whole face of
the earth. 7Then God formed man out of dust from the ground, and breathed in his face the
breath of life; and man became a living soul.†

                                     The Garden of Eden

  8Then the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man He

formed.† 9Besides this, God caused every tree beautiful to the sight and good for food to grow
from the ground. Also, in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of
learning the knowledge of good and evil. 10Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden,
and from there it separated into four heads. 11The name of the first is Pishon. It circles all the
land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12And the gold of that land is good. The carbuncle and
the emerald are there as well. 13The name of the second river is Gihon. It circles all the land
of Ethiopia. 14The name of the third river is Tigris. It flows over against the Assyrians. And
the fourth river is Euphrates.

  15Then the Lord God took the man He formed and put him in the garden to tend and keep

it. 16And the Lord God commanded Adam, saying, “You may eat food from every tree in the
garden; 17but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may not eat; for in
whatever day you eat from it, you shall die by death.”

  18And the Lord God said, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make him a helper

comparable to him.”† 19Also, God formed out of the ground all the wild animals of the field
and all the birds of heaven, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. Thus
whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20So Adam gave names to all
the cattle, to all the birds of heaven, and to all the wild animals of the field. But for Adam
there was not found a helper comparable to him.ω 21Thus God brought a trance upon Adam,
and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and filled up the flesh in its place. 22Then the Lord
God built the rib He took from Adam into a woman, and brought her to him. 23So Adam said,
“This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called Woman, because
she was taken out of Man. 24For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be
joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.” 25Now the two were naked, both
Adam and his wife, and were not ashamed.

                                    The Fall of Mankind


3 Now  the serpent was more cunning than all the wild animals the Lord God made on the
  earth. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat from every tree
of the garden’?”† 2And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees of
the garden; 3but from the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You shall
not eat from it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4Then the serpent said to the woman,
“You shall not die by death. 5For God knows in the day you eat from it your eyes will be
opened, and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil.” 6So when the woman saw the tree
was good for food, was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree beautiful to contemplate, she took its
fruit and ate. She also gave it to her husband with her, and he ate. 7Then the eyes of the two
were opened, and they knew they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made
themselves coverings.

                                   ANCESTRAL SIN

In the Old Testament account of creation, God created mankind and established a place for
him called Paradise. He also gave him a commandment regarding the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil: “And the Lord God commanded Adam, saying, ‘You may eat food from every
tree in the garden; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may not eat; for in
whatever day you eat from it, you shall die by death’ ” (Gn 2:16, 17). In that Adam and Eve did
not physically die the day they ate from the tree, the words “you shall die” indicate a spiritual
death through separation from God.

  Ancestral sin is the disobedience of Adam to God’s command regarding the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil. Adam willingly disobeyed this commandment and diverted
himself, or fell, from God’s path to perfection, thus separating himself from His Creator, the
Source of life.

                  WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FALL?

  1 This Fall of Adam caused mankind to become subject to mortality. While this is often
seen mainly as a punishment, or penalty, the emphasis concerning God’s judgments on Adam
and Eve at the Fall is best understood in terms of His mercy. So, for example, concerning
man’s mortality (Gn 3:19), St. Gregory the Theologian states, “Yet here too He provides a
benefit—namely death, which cuts off sin, so that evil may not be everlasting. Thus His
punishment is changed into a mercy.”

  2 We who are of Adam’s race are not guilty because of Adam’s sin, but because of our own
sin. However, because all of mankind fell away from the grace of God through Adam’s
disobedience, man now has a propensity, a disposition, an inclination towards sin, because
just as death entered the world through sin, now sin enters through fear of death.

  3 Mankind’s strong propensity to commit sin reveals that in the Fall, the image of God in
man (Gn 1:26, 27) is also fallen. However, the ancient Fathers emphasize that the divine
image in man has not been totally corrupted or obliterated. Human nature remains
inherently good after the Fall; mankind is not totally depraved. People are still capable of
doing good, although bondage to death and the influences of the devil can dull their
perception of what is good and lead them into all kinds of evil.

  4 Adam’s Fall not only brought mortality and sin into the world, but also sweat, toil,
hunger, thirst, weariness, sorrow, pain, suffering, sickness, tribulations, tragedy and tears.

  5 Even after the Fall, the intellectual, desiring and incensive (forceful or driving) aspects of
the soul are natural and therefore neutral. They can be used in a good way, or in a bad,
harmful way. For instance, desire is very good when one directs it towards God. But when
desire is out of control, one may use it in very inappropriate ways, such as becoming
gluttonous or desiring another person’s spouse. The classic analogy is that these powers of
the soul are like iron, which can be made into a plow to help grow food, or into a sword to be
used to kill someone.



  Christ, by His Death and Resurrection, conquered the devil and death, freeing mankind
from the fear of death (Heb 2:14–15) and making possible a more complete communion
between God and man than was ever possible before. This communion allows people to
become “partakers of the divine nature” (2Pt 1:4), to transcend death and, ultimately, all the
consequences of the Fall.


  8Then they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden that afternoon, and
Adam and his wife hid themselves within the tree in the middle of the garden from the
presence of the Lord God.† 9So the Lord God called Adam and said to him, “Adam, where are
you?” 10He replied, “I heard Your voice as You were walking in the garden, and I was afraid
because I was naked; so I hid myself.” 11Thus He said, “Who said you were naked? Have you
eaten from the one tree from which I commanded you not to eat?” 12Then Adam said, “The
woman You gave me, gave me of the tree, and I ate.” 13So the Lord God said to the woman,
“What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14Thus
the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all
cattle, and more than all the wild animals of the earth. On your breast and belly you shall go,
and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. 15I will put enmity between you and the
woman, and between your seed and her seed. He shall bruise your head, and you shall be on
guard for His heel.”†

  16To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your pain and your groaning, and in pain
you shall bring forth children. Your recourse will be to your husband, and he shall rule over
you.” 17Then to Adam He said, “Because you heeded the voice of your wife, and ate from the
one tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it,’ cursed is the ground
in your labors. In toil you shall eat from it all the days of your life.† 18Both thorns and
thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. 19In the sweat of
your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground from which you were taken. Earth
you are, and to earth you shall return.” 20So Adam called his wife's name Life, because she
was the mother of all living.

  21Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made garments of skin, and clothed them.ω
22Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and
evil. Now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever—”
23therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of pleasure to cultivate the ground from

which he was taken. 24So He cast out Adam, and made him dwell opposite the garden of
pleasure. He then stationed the cherubim and the fiery sword which turns every way to guard
the way to the tree of life.†

                                        Cain Kills Abel


4 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired
a man through God.”† 2Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a
shepherd of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3Now in the process of time Cain
brought a sacrifice to the Lord from the fruits of the ground.† 4Abel also brought a sacrifice
from the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. The Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5but
He did not respect Cain and his sacrifices. So Cain was extremely sorrowful, and his
countenance fell.† 6So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you extremely sorrowful? And why
has your countenance fallen?† 7Did you not sin, even though you brought it rightly, but did
not divide it rightly? Be still; his recourse shall be to you; and you shall rule over him.”†

  8Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field,

that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.†ω 9Then God said to Cain, “Where
is Abel your brother?” He replied, “I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?”† 10Thus God
said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the
ground. 11So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your
brother's blood from your hand. 12When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its
strength to you. You will be groaning and trembling on the earth.” 13Then Cain said to the
Lord, “My guilt is too great to be forgiven!† 14Surely You have driven me out this day from
the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be groaning and trembling on
the earth. Then it will happen if anyone finds me, he will kill me.” 15So the Lord God said to
him, “Not so! Whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” Thus the Lord
set a sign on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. 16Then Cain went out from the
presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod opposite Eden.†

                                        Cain's Family

  17And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and

called the name of the city after the name of his son Enoch. 18To Enoch was born Irad; and
Irad begot Mehujael; and Mehujael begot Methushael; and Methu-shael begot Lamech.
19Then Lamech took two wives for himself: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the

second was Zillah. 20So Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and
have livestock. 21His brother's name was Jubal. He is the one who invented the psaltery and
harp. 22As for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, a smith and a manufacturer of bronze and
iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah. 23Then Lamech said to his wives Adah and
Zillah:

    “Hear m y v oice, y ou wiv es of Lam ech,

    And listen carefully to m y words,

    Because I killed a m an for wounding m e

    And a y oung m an for hurting m e.

    24
         If Cain shall be av enged sev enfold,

    Then Lam ech sev enty -sev enfold.”

  25Again Adam knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore a son, and he named him

Seth, saying, “God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.”†
26As for Seth, to him also a son was born. He named him Enosh, and he hoped in the Lord

God and called upon His name.†

                                                 The Descendants of Adam


5 This is the book of the genesis of mankind in the day God made Adam, whom He made in
  God's image.†ω 2He made them male and female, and blessed them; and the day He made
them He called his name Adam. 3Now Adam lived two hundred and thirty years, and begot a
son according to his form and image, and named him Seth.† 4After he begot Seth, the days of
Adam were seven hundred years; and he begot sons and daughters.† 5So all the days Adam
lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died.

   6Now Seth lived two hundred and five years, and begot Enosh. 7After he begot Enosh, Seth

lived seven hundred and seven years, and begot sons and daughters. 8So all the days of Seth
were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.

  9Now Enosh lived one hundred and ninety years, and begot Cainan. 10After he begot

Cainan, Enosh lived seven hundred and fifteen years, and begot sons and daughters. 11So all
the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years, and he died.

 12Now Cainan lived one hundred and seventy years, and begot Mahalalel. 13After he begot

Mahalalel, Cainan lived seven hundred and forty years, and begot sons and daughters. 14So
all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died.

  15Now Mahalalel lived one hundred and sixty-five years, and begot Jared. 16After he begot

Jared, Mahalalel lived seven hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters. 17So all
the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years, and he died.

  18Now Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and begot Enoch. 19After he begot

Enoch, Jared lived eight hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. 20So all the days of
Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years, and he died.

  21Now Enoch lived one hundred and sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. 22After he
begot Methuselah, Enoch was well-pleasing to God for two hundred years, and begot sons
and daughters. 23So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24Thus
Enoch was well-pleasing to God, and was not found, for God translated him.

  25Now Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot Lamech. 26After
he begot Lamech, Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years, and begot sons and
daughters. 27So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years, and he
died.

  28Now Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-eight years, and begot a son. 29And he called
his name Noah, saying, “He will give us rest from our work and the toil of our hands, because
of the ground the Lord God cursed.”† 30After he begot Noah, Lamech lived five hundred and
sixty-five years, and had sons and daughters. 31So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred
and fifty-three years, and he died.

  32And Noah was five hundred years old, and he begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth.ω

                                      Man's Wickedness


6 Now  it came to pass that men began to exist in great numbers on the earth, and daughters
  were born to them. 2So when the sons of God saw the daughters of men were beautiful,
they took wives for themselves of all they chose. 3Then the Lord God said, “My Spirit shall
not remain with these people forever, for they are flesh. So their days shall be one hundred
and twenty years.”† 4Now there were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward,
when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those
were the mighty men of old, men of renown.

  5Then the Lord God saw man's wickedness, that it was great in the earth, and every intent

of the thoughts within his heart was only evil continually.† 6So God was grieved that He had
made man on the earth, and He thought this over.† 7Then God said, “I will blot out man
whom I created from the face of the earth, from man to cattle, and from the creeping things
to the birds of heaven, for I am grieved I made them.”† 8But Noah found grace in the
presence of the Lord God.†

                             Righteous Noah Builds the Ark

  9This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, who was perfect in his

generation and well-pleasing to God.†ω 10So Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and
Japheth.

  11Now the earth was corrupt before God and filled with unrighteousness.† 12Thus the Lord
God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh corrupted their way on the
earth. 13Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is
filled with unrighteousness through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
14Make yourself an ark of square timber. You shall make the ark in compartments, and cover

it inside and outside with pitch.† 15Thus you shall make the ark: three hundred cubits in
length, fifty cubits in breadth, and thirty cubits in height. 16Now when you assemble the ark,
you shall gradually finish it up to a cubit at the top, and set the door in its side. You shall
make the ark with lower, second, and third stories. 17And behold, I am bringing a flood of
water on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life.
Whatever is on the earth shall die. 18But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall
go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19From every living
thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you;
they shall be male and female. 20Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and
of every creeping thing on the earth after its kind, two of every kind, they will enter into the
ark with you, male and female, to keep them alive. 21You shall also take for yourself all kinds
of food to eat, and you shall gather it both for yourself and for them.” 22Thus Noah did
according to all the Lord God commanded him, so he did.

                                          The Flood


7 Then  the Lord God said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your family, because I have
  seen you righteous before Me in this generation.†ω 2You shall also bring with you into the
ark the clean cattle by sevens, male and female; and the unclean cattle by twos, male and
female;† 3and the clean birds of heaven by twos, male and female, to keep seed alive on the
face of all the earth. 4For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days
and forty nights, and I will blot out from the face of the earth every living thing I made.” 5So
Noah did all the Lord God commanded him.

  6Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came on the earth.ω 7Then
Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, entered the ark because of the flood waters.
8Also the clean and unclean birds, the clean and unclean cattle, and everything that creeps on

the earth, 9entered with Noah into the ark, two by two, male and female, as God commanded
him. 10Then it came to pass after seven days, the waters of the flood came upon the earth.
11In the six-hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of
the month, on that day, all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the floodgates
of heaven were opened.ω 12Then it rained on the earth forty days and forty nights. 13On the
very same day Noah and his wife, his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives entered
the ark. 14Also, all the wild animals after their kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping
thing moving upon the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, 15entered the ark
with Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. 16So those that entered, male
and female of all flesh, went in as God commanded him. Then the Lord God shut him in the
ark.†

   17Now the flood was on the earth forty days and forty nights. The waters increased and

lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18So the waters prevailed and greatly
increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters. 19The waters
prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the whole heaven were
covered. 20The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and covered all the high mountains.
21And all flesh died that moves on the earth: birds and cattle, wild animals, and every

creeping thing that moves on the earth, and every man. 22Thus all things in whose nostrils
was the breath of life, and everything on dry land, died. 23So He blotted out all living things
on the face of the earth: both man and cattle, creeping things and the birds of heaven. They
were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah and those with him in the ark remained alive.
24Now the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days.

                                       The Flood Ceases
8 Then  God remembered Noah, and whatever was with him in the ark: all the wild animals,
  all the cattle, all the birds, and all the creeping things. And God made a wind to pass over
the earth, and the waters subsided.† 2The fountains of the deep and the floodgates of heaven
were also stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. 3And the waters receded
continually from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters decreased.
4Then the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the

mountains of Ararat.ω 5And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month. In the
tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.

 6So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, Noah opened the window of the ark he had

made. 7Then he sent out a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters dried up from
the earth. 8He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the
face of the ground. 9But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she
returned to him in the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. So he put out
his hand and took her, and brought her to himself in the ark. 10Then he waited yet another
seven days, and again he sent out the dove from the ark.† 11The dove returned to him in the
evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew the
waters had receded from the earth. 12So he waited yet another seven days and again sent out
the dove; however, she did not return to him any more. 13And it came to pass in the six
hundred and first year of Noah's life, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the
waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked,
and indeed, the surface of the ground was dry. 14Now in the second month, on the twenty-
seventh day of the month, the earth was dried.

  15Then the Lord God spoke to Noah, saying, 16“Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and

your sons and their wives with you. 17Also, bring out with you every living thing of all flesh:
birds and cattle and every creeping thing that moves upon the earth, so they may abound on
the earth, and increase and multiply on the earth.” 18So Noah went out, along with his wife
and his sons and their wives. 19Every animal, every bird, and every creeping thing that moves
upon the earth, according to their kind, went out of the ark. 20Then Noah built an altar to
God, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered whole burnt
offerings on the altar.† 21So the Lord God smelled a sweet aroma. Then the Lord God thought
it over and said, “I will never again curse the earth because of man's works, although the
mind of man is diligently involved with evil things from his youth; nor will I again destroy
every living thing as I have done.†ω 22While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold
and heat, summer and spring shall not cease by day or by night.”†


9 Thus  God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Increase and multiply, and fill
  the earth, and have dominion over it.† 2For the dread and fear of you shall be upon all the
wild animals of the earth, all the birds of heaven, all that move upon the earth, and all the
fish of the sea. I have put them under your authority. 3Every moving thing that lives shall be
food for you. I have given you all things, even as I did the green herbs. 4But you shall not eat
flesh with its lifeblood. 5Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand
of all the wild animals I will require it; and I will require the life of man at the hand of his
fellow man. 6Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; because I made
man in God's image. 7So then, increase and multiply; and fill the earth and have dominion
over it.”

                                 God's Covenant with Noah

  8Then God spoke to Noah and his sons with him, saying,†ω 9“Behold, I am establishing My

covenant with you and with your seed after you, 10and every living creature with you: the
birds, the cattle, and all the wild animals of the earth, of all that came out of the ark with you.
11Thus I will establish My covenant with you, and never again shall all flesh be cut off by the

waters of the flood; nor shall there ever again be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12Then the
Lord God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you,
and every living creature with you, for perpetual generations: 13I am setting My rainbow in
the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14It shall be, when
I bring a cloud over the earth, the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 15and I will remember
My covenant between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never
again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16My rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will
certainly remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all
flesh on the earth.” 17Again God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I established
between Me and all flesh on the earth.”

  18Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and Ham

was the father of Canaan.ω 19These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole
earth was populated.

  20Then Noah began to be a husbandman, and he planted a vineyard. 21So he drank of the

wine and was drunk and naked in his house. 22Now Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the
nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23But Shem and Japheth took a
garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walking backwards they covered their father's
nakedness. Since their faces were turned away, they did not see his nakedness. 24Thus when
Noah became sober and knew what his younger son had done to him, 25he said:

    “Cursed be Canaan;

    A serv ant of serv ants shall he be to his brothers.”

  26 He also said,

    “Blessed be the Lord God of Shem ,

    And Canaan shall be his serv ant. †

    27
         May God enlarge Japheth,

    And let him dwell in the habitations of Shem .

    Let Canaan be his serv ant as well.”

  28Now Noah lived three hundred and fifty years after the flood. 29So all the days of Noah
were nine hundred and fifty years, and he died.

                                                    The Genealogy of Noah


10 Now  this is the genealogy of Noah's sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and sons were
   born to them after the flood.†

  2The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Elisa, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
3The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4The sons of Javan were

Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittim, and Rhodians. 5From these the coastal nations were separated
into their lands, each according to his language, in their tribes and nations.

  6The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 7The sons of Cush were Seba,
Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.
8Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a giant on the earth. 9He was a giant, a hunter before
the Lord God; therefore they would say, “As Nimrod the giant, the hunter before the Lord.”
10And the beginning of his kingdom was Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of
Shinar. 11From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, 12and
Resen between Nineveh and Calah (the principal city). 13Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim,
Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 14Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and the
Caphtorim). 15Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and the Chettite; 16the Jebusite, the
Amorite, and the Girgashite; 17the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite; 18the Arvadite, the
Zemarite, and the Hamathite. Afterward, the tribes of the Canaanites were dispersed. 19And
the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; then as
you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20These were the
sons of Ham, according to their tribes, according to their languages, in their countries and in
their nations.

  21Now sons were also born to Shem himself, the father of all the sons of Eber, the brother

of Japheth the elder.† 22The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram and
Cainan. 23The sons of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. 24Arphaxad begot Cainan, and
Cainan begot Salah, and Salah begot Eber. 25Two sons were born to Eber: the name of one
was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. 26Joktan
begot Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28Obal, Abimael,
Sheba, 29Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. 30And their dwelling
place was from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east. 31These were the
sons of Shem, according to their tribes, according to their languages, in their countries,
according to their nations.

  32These were the tribes of Noah's sons, according to their genealogy, in their nations; and

from these the coastal nations were divided on the earth after the flood.ω

                                    The Tower of Babel

                                                                2
11 Now the whole earth was one language and one speech. And it came to pass, as3 they
     journeyed from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and dwelt there. Then
they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them with fire.” They had brick
for stone and asphalt for mortar. 4They also said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a
tower, whose top will reach to heaven; and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be
scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” 5But the Lord came down to see the city
and the tower the sons of men built. 6Then the Lord said, “Indeed, the people are one race
and one language, and they have begun to do what they said. Now they will not fail to
accomplish what they have undertaken.† 7Come, let Us go down there and confuse their
language, so they may not understand one another's speech.”† 8So the Lord scattered them
abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city and the
tower.† 9Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the languages of
all the earth; and from there the Lord God scattered them abroad over the face of all the
earth.

                                 The Genealogy of Shem

  10Now this is the genealogy of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old, and begot

Arphaxad two years after the flood.† 11After he begot Arphaxad, Shem lived five hundred
years, and begot sons and daughters; and he died.

  12Now Arphaxad lived one hundred and thirty-five years, and begot Cainan. 13After he
begot Cainan, Arphaxad lived four hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters;
and he died. Now Cainan lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot Salah. So after he
begot Salah, Cainan lived three hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters; and
he died.

  14Now Salah lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot Eber. 15After he begot Eber,
Salah lived three hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters; and he died.

  16Now Eber lived one hundred and thirty-four years, and begot Peleg. 17After he begot
Peleg, Eber lived three hundred and seventy years, and begot sons and daughters; and he
died.

  18Now Peleg lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot Reu. 19After he begot Reu,
Peleg lived two hundred and nine years, and begot sons and daughters; and he died.

  20Now Reu lived one hundred and thirty-two years, and begot Serug. 21After he begot
Serug, Reu lived two hundred and seven years, and begot sons and daughters; and he died.

  22Now Serug lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot Nahor. 23After he begot Nahor,
Serug lived two hundred years, and begot sons and daughters; and he died.

  24Nahor lived seventy-nine years, and begot Terah. 25After he begot Terah, Nahor lived
one hundred and twenty-nine years, and begot sons and daughters; and he died.

  26Now Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

                                 The Genealogy of Terah

  27Now this is the genealogy of Terah: Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran

begot Lot. 28So Haran died before his father Terah in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans.
29Then Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of

Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah. 30But Sarai was
barren, and had no child. 31Now Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of
Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and led them out from Ur of the
Chaldeans, to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there. 32So the
days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah died in Haran.

                                 God's Promise to Abram


12 Now  the Lord said to Abram, “Get out of your country, from your kindred and from
   your father's house, to a land I will show you.†ω 2I will make you a great nation; I will
bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 3I will bless those who
bless you, and curse those who curse you; and in you all the tribes of the earth shall be
blessed.” 4Then Abram departed as the Lord said to him, and Lot went with him. Now Abram
was seventy-five years old when he de-parted from Haran. 5So Abram took Sarai his wife and
Lot his brother's son and all their possessions and every soul they acquired in Haran, and
they departed for the land of Canaan. Thus they came to the land of Canaan. 6Abram passed
through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the oak of Moreh. And the Canaanites
were then in the land. 7Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your seed I will give
this land.” And there Abram built an altar to the Lord, who appeared to him. 8So he moved
from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west
and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the
Lord.† 9Then Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.

                                      Abram in Egypt

  10Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for
the famine was severe in the land. 11So it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt,
that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know you are a beautiful woman. 12Therefore it will
happen, when the Egyptians see you, so they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me,
but they will let you live. 13Therefore say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for
your sake, and I may live because of you.” 14So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, the
Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful. 15The princes of Pharaoh also saw her
and commended her to Pharaoh. Then the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house. 16Now he
treated Abram well for her sake, and gave him sheep, oxen, donkeys, male and female
servants, mules and camels. 17But the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great
plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife.† 18So Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this
you have done to me? Why did you not tell me she was your wife? 19Why did you say, ‘She is
my sister’? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and
go your way.” 20So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning Abram; and they sent him
away, with his wife and all he had.

                                   Abram and Lot Part Ways


13 Now  Abram went up from Egypt to the South, he and his wife and all he had, and Lot
   with him.† 2Abram was very rich in cattle, silver, and gold. 3So he went on his journey
from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent was at the beginning, between
Bethel and Ai, 4to the place of the altar he made there at the beginning. There Abram called
on the name of the Lord. 5Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents.
6But the land was not able to support them, so they might dwell together, for their

possessions were so great they could not dwell together.† 7So strife arose between the
herdsmen of Abram's livestock and those of Lot. Now the Canaanites and the Perizzites dwelt
in the land at that time. 8So Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me,
and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 9Is not the whole land
before you? Separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or if you go to
the right, then I will go to the left.”

  10Thus Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered
everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah), like the garden of God, like
the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.† 11Then Lot chose all the plain of Jordan for
himself, and journeyed east. So they separated from each other. 12Abram dwelt in the land of
Canaan, but Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.ω
13Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful before God.

  14Then God said to Abram, after Lot separated from him, “Lift your eyes now and look

from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward;† 15for all the
land you see I give to you and your seed forever. 16And I will make your seed as the dust of
the earth; that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your seed also could be
numbered. 17Arise, walk in the land through its length and its breadth, for I will give it to
you.” 18Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the oak of Mamre in Hebron, and
built an altar there to the Lord.

                                    Lot's Capture and Rescue


14 Now it came to pass in the reign of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar,
   Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations, 2that they made war with Bera
king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim,
and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is,
the Salt Sea). 4Twelve years they served Chedor- laomer, and in the thirteenth they rebelled.
5Now in the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings with him came and cut down the
giants in Ashteroth Karnaim and strong nations with them: the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in
Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in the mountains of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by
the wilderness. 7Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and cut
down all the princes of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon Tamar.

  8Now the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim,
and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of
Siddim 9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar,
and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of
asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and fell in there; but those left fled
to the mountains. 11Then they took all the cavalry of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their
provisions, and went their way. 12They also took Lot, Abram's brother's son who dwelt in
Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

  13Then one who escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who at that time dwelt by the
oak of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with
Abram. 14Now when Abram heard his brother Lot was taken captive, he armed his three
hundred and eighteen trained servants, born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as
Dan.†ω 15So he divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked
and pursued them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16So he brought back all the cavalry
of Sodom, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the
people.

                               The Blessing of Melchizedek

  17Then the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's

Valley), after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings with him. 18Now
Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most
High.† 19He blessed Abram and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Creator of heaven
and earth;† 20and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hands.”
Then Abram gave him a tithe of all. 21Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the
people, and keep the cavalry for yourself.”† 22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have
raised my hand to God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23that I will take nothing of
yours, from a thread to a sandal strap, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’—
24except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men with me: Aner,
Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”

                               God's Covenant with Abram


15 After these things the Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be
   afraid, Abram. I am your shield and will be your exceedingly great reward.”†ω 2But
Abram said, “Lord, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is
Eliezer of Damascus, the son of Masek, my domestic maidservant?” 3Then Abram said,
“Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed, my household servant is my heir.”

  4And immediately the Voice of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your

heir, but the One who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”† 5Then He brought
him outside and said to him, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to
number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your seed be.”† 6And Abram believed God, and
He accounted it to him for righteousness.† 7Then He said to him, “I am the God who brought
you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”† 8And he said, “Master and
Lord, how will I know I will inherit it?”† 9So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old
heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
10So he brought all these to Him and cut them in half, down the middle, and placed each

piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11And when the vultures came
down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

  12Now around sunset, a trance fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell

upon him. 13Then He said to Abram, “Know for certain that your seed will be strangers in a
land not their own, and will serve them; and they will afflict and humble them four hundred
years. 14Also, the nation they serve I will judge; and afterward, they shall come out with great
possessions. 15But as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace, buried in a good old age.
16Then in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the sin of the Amorites is not yet
filled up.”

  17And it came to pass, when the sun went down, that there was a flame, and behold, there

appeared a smoking oven and lamps of fire that passed between those divided pieces. 18On
the same day, the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I will give this land to your
seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates— 19the Kenites, the
Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, 20the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21the Amorites, the
Canaanites, the Euaites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

                                    Hagar and Ishmael


16 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children, but she had an Egyp-tian maidservant,
   whose name was Hagar.† 2So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me
from bearing children. Go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” Thus Abram
obeyed the voice of Sarai. 3Then Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and
gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram dwelt ten years in the land of
Canaan. 4So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw she had conceived,
her mistress became despised in her eyes. 5Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon
you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw she had conceived, I became
despised in her eyes. May God judge between you and me.” 6Thus Abram said to Sarai,
“Indeed, your maid is in your hand; do with her as you please.” So when Sarai dealt harshly
with her, she fled from her presence.
  7Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring

on the way to Shur.† 8Then He said, “Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from, and
where are you going?” She replied, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”†
9The Angel of the Lord then said to her, “Return to your mistress, and humble yourself under

her hand.”† 10Again, the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will surely multiply your seed
exceedingly, that it may not be counted because of its multitude.”† 11Once again, the Angel of
the Lord said to her:

    “Behold, y ou are with child,

    And y ou shall bear a son.

    You shall call his nam e Ishm ael,

    For the Lord has taken notice of y our hum iliation. †

    12
         He shall be a rustic m an,

    And his hand shall be against ev ery m an,

    And ev ery m an's hand against him .

    He shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

 13Then Hagar called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees-

Me”; for she said, “I have seen the One who appeared to me face to face.”† 14Therefore, she
called the well the-Well-of-Him-I-Saw-Before-Me; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

  15So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son whom Hagar bore Ishmael.
16Now Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

                                         Circumcision: Sign of the Covenant


17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I
   am your God; be pleasing before Me and blameless.†ω 2I will establish My covenant
between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”† 3Then Abram fell on his face, and
God talked with him, saying, 4“As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a
father of many nations. 5No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be
Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.† 6I will make you exceedingly
fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7I will establish My
covenant between Me and you and your seed after you in their generations, for an everlasting
covenant, to be your God and the God of your seed after you.† 8Also I will give you and your
seed after you the land you are occupying as a sojourner, all the land of Canaan, as an
everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

  9Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your seed

after you throughout their generations. 10This is the covenant you shall keep, between Me
and you and your seed after you throughout their generations: Every male child among you
shall be circumcised;† 11and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It shall be
a sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12A child of eight days old shall be circumcised
by you—every male child throughout your genealogy, he who is born in your house or bought
with money from any foreigner not of your seed. 13He who is born in your house, and he who
is bought with your money must be circumcised; and My covenant shall be in your flesh for
an everlasting covenant. 14And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the
flesh of his foreskin on the eighth day, that soul shall be cut off from his people; for he has
broken My covenant.”

  15Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but

Sarah shall be her name. 16And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; and I will bless
him, and he shall become nations; and kings of peoples shall be from him.” 17Then Abraham
fell on his face and laughed, and said in his mind, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one
hundred years old, and shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18And Abraham
said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” 19Then God said, “No, Sarah your wife
shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with
him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.† 20As for Ishmael, I have heard
you. Behold, I have blessed him and will increase and multiply him exceedingly. He shall
beget twelve nations, and I will make him a great nation. 21But My covenant I will establish
with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” 22So God finished talking
with Abraham and departed from him.

  23So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were
bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised
the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God said to him. 24Now Abraham was
ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25And Ishmael
his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26That
very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son Ishmael. 27Also, all the men of his
house, born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

                               The Hospitality of Abraham


18 Then  God appeared to him at the oak of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door
   during the noon hour.† 2So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood
before him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed
himself to the ground, 3and said, “O Lord, if I have now found grace in Your sight, do not pass
by Your servant. 4Let water be brought, and let them wash Your feet, while You cool
Yourselves under the tree.† 5And I will bring bread for You to eat. After that You may pass by,
inasmuch as You have come to Your servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.” 6So Abraham
hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal;
knead it and make cakes.” 7Then Abraham ran to the herd, took a young calf, tender and
good, gave it to his servant, and he hastened to prepare it. 8He also took butter and milk and
the calf he prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.

                                      Promise of a Son

  9Then He said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” He replied, “Here, in the tent.”† 10Again
He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your
wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door behind him.) 11Now Abraham
and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
12Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “I have not yet had a child until now, and

my lord is old also?” 13Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh within herself,
saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ 14Is anything impossible with God? At the
appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”†
15But Sarah denied she had laughed, for she was afraid, saying, “I did not laugh”; but He said,
“No, but you did laugh.”

                             Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

 16Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and Abraham

went along and escorted them on their journey. 17Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from
Abraham, My servant, what I am about to do?† 18But Abraham shall surely become a great
and populous nation, and in him all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. 19For I know he
will order his sons and his house after him. They will keep the way of the Lord, to do
righteousness and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken to
him.” 20Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah has been completed,
and their sins are exceedingly great.ω 21Therefore, I will go down now and see whether or not
they are carrying out the outcry coming to Me concerning them.”

  22Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained

before the Lord.† 23So Abraham drew near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous
with the ungodly?† 24Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also
destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous in it? 25Far be it from You to do such
a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that the righteous should be as the
wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” 26Then the Lord
said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their
sakes.” 27So Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have
taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: 28But suppose there were five less than the fifty
righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” He replied, “If I find there forty-
five, I will not destroy it.” 29Again he spoke to Him and said, “But suppose there should be
forty found there?” So He said, “I would not destroy it for the sake of forty.” 30Then he said,
“Let not the Lord be offended, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?” So He
said, “I would not destroy it if I should find thirty there.” 31Again he said, “Since I have
permission to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty should be found there?” So He said, “I
would not destroy it for the sake of twenty.” 32Then he said, “Let not the Lord be offended,
and I will speak but once more, suppose ten should be found there?” So He said, “I would not
destroy it for the sake of the ten.”

  33So the Lord went His way as soon as He finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham

returned to his place.†

                                  The Wickedness of Sodom


19 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of
   Sodom. So when he saw them, he rose to meet them, and bowed with his face toward
the ground.† 2Then he said, “Behold, my lords, turn in to your servant's house and rest and
wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” But they said, “No, but we will
spend the night in the open square.”† 3But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and
entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

  4Now before they went to sleep, the men of the city, the Sodomites, both old and young, all

the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. 5Thus they called to Lot and said to
him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have
relations with them.” 6But Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind
him, 7and said, “By no means, my brethren, do not act wickedly. 8I have two daughters who
have not known a man; let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish;
only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the protection of
my roof.”

  9But they said, “Stand back! You came in to sojourn among us. Was it also to be making
judgments? Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” So they pressed hard against
the man Lot, and came near to break down the door. 10But the men reached out their hands,
pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. 11Then they struck the men at the
doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, and they became weary trying to
find the door.

  12Now the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here in the city: sons-in-law, sons,

daughters, or anyone? —then take them out of this place! 13For we will destroy this place,
because their outcry has become great before the Lord, and the Lord sent us to destroy it.”†
14So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said,
“Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord is about to wipe out this city!” But to his sons-in-
law he seemed to be joking.

  15Now when the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your
wife and the two daughters you have, and get out, lest you be destroyed with the
transgressions of the city.” 16But they were thrown into confusion, and the Lord being
merciful to him, the angels seized his hand, and the hands of his wife and two daughters, and
brought them outside the city.†

  17So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, they said, “Escape for your life!
Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be
overtaken.” 18Then Lot said to them, “I pray, O Lord,† 19since Your servant found mercy in
Your sight, and You magnified Your righteousness which You showed me by saving my life,
nevertheless, I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. 20See
now, this city, which is small, is near enough to flee to for refuge, and I shall escape there (is
it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” 21And He said to him, “See, I have acquiesced to
you on this matter also, in that I will not overthrow this city, concerning which you have
spoken.† 22Therefore, hurry to escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.”
For this reason he called the name of that city Zoar.†

  23Now the sun rose upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. 24Then the Lord rained

brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah from the Lord out of heaven.†† 25Thus He
overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and whatever grew on the
ground. 26But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.†

  27Then Abraham rose early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood

before the Lord. 28Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of
the plain; and he saw, and behold, a flame was ascending from the land, like the smoke of a
furnace. 29So it came to pass, when God wiped out all the cities of the plain, that God
remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the destruction, when the Lord
overthrew the cities where Lot had dwelt.

                                       The Sons of Lot

  30Then Lot with his two daughters went up from Zoar and settled in the mountains; for he

was afraid to dwell in Zoar; and he dwelt in a cave with his two daughters. 31Now the
firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come in
to us, as is the custom of all the earth. 32Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we
will lie with him, that we may raise up seed from our father.” 33So they made their father
drink wine that night, and the elder went in and lay with her father, and he did not know
when she lay down or when she arose. 34It happened on the next day, the elder said to the
younger, “Indeed, I slept with our father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also,
and you go in and lie with him, that we may raise up seed from our father.” 35So they made
their father drink wine that night also, and the younger went in and slept with him; but he
did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 36Thus both the daughters of Lot
conceived by their father. 37Then the elder bore a son and called his name Moab, saying, “He
is from my father.” He is the father of the Moabites to this present day. 38Now the younger
also bore a son and called his name Ammon, saying, “The son of my family.” He is the father
of the Ammonites to this present day.

                                 Abraham and Abimelech


20 Now  Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and
   Shur, and sojourned among the Gerarites.† 2Then Abraham said of Sarah his wife,
“She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” lest at a given time the men of
the city should kill him because of her. Now Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.†
3But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed, you are a dead
man because of the woman you have taken, for she is a man's wife.”

  4Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “O Lord, will You destroy an ignorant

and just nation? 5Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and did she not say to me, ‘He is my
brother’? I did this thing with a clean heart and righteous hands.” 6Then God said to him in a
dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clean heart, and I spared you that you might not sin
against Me; therefore, I did not allow you to touch her. 7Now therefore, restore the man's
wife, for he is a prophet; and he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return
her, rest assured you shall die, you and all who are yours.”

  8So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told all these things in

their hearing; and the men were very much afraid. 9Then Abimelech called Abraham and said
to him, “What have you done to us? How have I offended you, that you have brought on me
and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done.”
10Again Abimelech said to Abraham, “What possessed you to do this thing?” 11Abraham
replied, “Because I thought, surely the worship of God is not in this place; and they will kill
me on account of my wife. 12But indeed, she truly is my sister. She is the daughter of my
father, but not of my mother; and she became my wife. 13So it came to pass, when God
caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, ‘This righteousness shall you do
for me: in every place we enter, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”

  14Then Abimelech took one thousand pieces of silver, sheep, oxen, and male and female

servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him. 15Thus
Abimelech said to Abraham, “See, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” 16Then
to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver, which will
vindicate your honor before all those with you. But tell the truth in all things.” 17So Abraham
prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore
children; 18for the Lord closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah,
Abraham's wife.

                                     The Birth of Isaac

       the Lord visited Sarah as He said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken.†
21 Now
   2  For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in old age, at the set time, of which God
had spoken to him.† 3So Abraham called the name of his son born to him—whom Sarah bore
to him—Isaac. 4Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God
commanded him. 5Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to
him. 6And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh; all who hear will laugh with me.” 7She also
said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne a
child in my old age.”

                              Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away

  8So the child grew and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the same day Isaac

was weaned. 9Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, who was born to Abraham,
playing with Isaac her son. 10Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this maidservant and
her son, for the son of this maidservant shall not be heir with my son Isaac.”† 11And the
matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight because of his son. 12But God said to
Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of your son and your
maidservant. Whatever Sarah said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be
called. 13Yet I will also make a great nation of the son of your maidservant, because he is
your seed.”

  14So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it
on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and
wandered in the wilderness, near the Well of Oath. 15When the water in the skin was used
up, she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. 16Then she went and sat down across from
him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the
boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept.
  17But God heard the voice of the lad from the place where he was. Then the Angel of God
called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not fear, for
God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.† 18Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with
your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”† 19Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a
well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. 20Thus
God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the desert, and became an archer. 21He dwelt
in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

                          Abraham's Agreement with Abimelech

  22Now it came to pass at that time that Abimelech, and his friend Ochozath, and Phichol,
the commander-in-chief of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all you
do. 23Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, or with my
offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the righteousness I did to you, you will
do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.” 24So Abraham said, “I swear.” 25Then
Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water Abimelech's servants had seized.
26Abimelech replied, “I do not know who did this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard
of it until today.”

 27So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them

made a covenant. 28Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. 29Thus
Abimelech asked Abraham, “Why have you placed these seven ewe lambs by themselves?”
30He replied, “You must take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, to witness that I dug this

well.” 31Therefore he called that place, the Well of Oath, because the two of them swore an
oath there. 32Thus they made a covenant at the Well of Oath. So Abimelech rose with
Ochozath his friend and Phichol, the commander-in-chief of his army, and they returned to
the land of the Philistines.

  33Then Abraham planted a field at the Well of Oath, and there he called on the name of the

Lord, the eternal God. 34So Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days.

                                  Abraham Offers Isaac


22 Now  it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him,
   “Abraham! Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”†ω 2Then He said, “Take now your
beloved son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a
whole burnt offering on one of the mountains I tell you.”†

  3So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young
men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split firewood for the whole burnt offering, and
arose and went to the place God told him.† 4Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes
and saw the place afar off. 5Thus Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the
donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”

  6So Abraham took the firewood of the whole burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son.

Then he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7Then
Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the firewood, but where is the sheep for a whole burnt
offering?” 8And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the sheep for a whole
burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. 9They came to the place where God had
told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the firewood in order; and he bound
Isaac his son hand and foot and laid him on the altar, upon the firewood.

  10Then Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11But the Angel
of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham! Abraham!” So he said, “Here I
am.” 12He then replied, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him, for now I
know you fear God, since for My sake you have not spared your beloved son.”† 13Then
Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him a ram was caught in a thicket by its
horns. So he brought it for a whole burnt offering in the place of his son. 14Thus Abraham
called the name of the place The-Lord-Has-Appeared; as it is said to this day, “In the
mountain the Lord was seen.”†

  15Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16and said,
“By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you did this thing, and for My sake did not
spare your beloved son,† 17I will certainly bless you, and assuredly multiply your seed as the
stars of heaven and as the sand on the seashore; and your seed shall inherit the cities of their
enemies.† 18In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you obeyed My
voice.” 19So Abraham returned to his servants, and they rose and went together to the Well of
Oath; and Abraham dwelt at the Well of Oath.
                                   The Children of Nahor

  20Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, “Indeed, Milcah

also has borne sons to your brother Nahor: 21Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the
father of Aram, 22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23And Bethuel begot
Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother. 24His concubine, whose
name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Ma-achah.

                              The Death and Burial of Sarah

        Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years.† 2Then Sarah died in the city of
23 Now
   Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for
Sarah and to weep for her. 3Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the
sons of Heth, saying, 4“I am a sojourner and a stranger among you. Give me therefore a
burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”† 5So the sons of Heth
answered Abraham, saying, 6“Hear us, my Lord, you are a king from God among us; bury
your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold his burial place from
you, to bury your dead there.” 7Then Abraham stood and bowed himself to the people of the
land, the sons of Heth. 8Thus he spoke with them, saying, “If you have it in mind for me to
bury my dead out of my sight, then listen to me, and speak on my behalf to Ephron the son of
Zohar,† 9that he may give me the cave of Mach-pelah, which he has at the end of his field. Let
him give it to me at the full price, as a burial place among you.”

  10Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered
Abraham in the presence of the sons of Heth, and of all who entered at the gate of the city,
saying, 11“No, my Lord, hear me, I give you both the field and the cave within it; I give it to
you in the presence of all my fellow citizens. Bury your dead.” 12Then Abraham bowed
himself before the people of the land, 13and he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people
of the land, saying, “If you are for me, hear me. I will give you money for the field; take it
from me and I will bury my dead there.” 14Ephron then answered Abraham, saying to him,
15“My lord, listen to me, the land is worth four hundred silver drachmas; but what is that

between you and me? So bury your dead.” 16So Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham
weighed out the silver for Ephron, which he had mentioned in the hearing of the sons of
Heth, the four hundred silver drachmas, currency of the merchants.
  17Thus the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was opposite Mamre, the field and the
cave in it, and all the trees in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were
deeded 18to Abraham as his possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who
entered the city. 19Then after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of
Machpelah, which was opposite Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.† 20So the
field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial
place.

                                    Isaac and Rebekah


24 Now  Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all
   things. 2So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he
had, “Put your hand under my thigh, 3and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of
heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son Isaac from the
daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell;† 4but you shall go to my land where I was
born, and to my tribe, and take from there a wife for my son Isaac.”

  5And the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this

land. Must I then take your son back to the land you came from?” 6But Abraham said to him,
“Beware that you do not take my son back there. 7The Lord, the God of heaven and the God
of the earth, who took me from my father's house and from the land where I was born, and
who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To you and your seed I give this land,’ He will
send His Angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.† 8And if the
woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath; only do not take
my son back there.”† 9So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his lord, and
swore to him concerning this matter.

  10Then the servant took ten of his lord's camels and some of all his goods and departed,

and he went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 11And he made his camels kneel down
outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw
water. 12Then he said, “O Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, give me success this day, and
show mercy to my lord Abraham.† 13Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the
daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14Now let it be that the virgin
to whom I say, ‘Let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also
give your camels a drink’—let her be the one You appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by
this I will know You have shown mercy to my lord.”†

  15Thus it happened, before he finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, the daughter of
Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her pitcher on
her shoulder. 16Now the virgin was very beautiful to behold, and she was a virgin, for no man
had known her. She went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. 17Then the
servant ran to meet her and said, “Let me drink a little water from your pitcher.” 18So she
said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a
drink. 19When she finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your
camels, until they finish drinking.” 20Thus she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough,
ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

  21And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the Lord had

made his journey prosperous or not. 22So it was, when the camels finished drinking, the man
took golden earrings, each a drachma in weight, and two bracelets for her wrists, ten pieces of
gold in their weight, 23and said, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, is there room in your
father's house for us to lodge?” 24So she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah's
son, whom she bore to Nahor.” 25Moreover she said to him, “We have both straw and feed
enough, and room to lodge.” 26Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord.
27And he said, “Blessed is the Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, who has not allowed His
righ-teousness and His truth to forsake my lord. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me
to the house of my lord's brethren.”† 28So the young woman ran and told her mother's
household these things.

 29Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and he ran out to the man by the

well. 30So it came to pass, when he saw the earrings and the bracelets on his sister's wrists,
and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, “Thus the man spoke to me,” that
he went to the man, as he stood by the camels at the well. 31Laban said to him, “Come in, O
blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place
for the camels.” 32Then the man came to the house and unloaded the camels, and provided
straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men with him.
33Bread was then set before them to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told my
business.” And he said, “Speak on.”
  34So he said, “I am Abraham's servant. 35The Lord has blessed my lord greatly, and he has
become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female
servants, and camels and donkeys. 36And Sarah my lord's wife bore a son to my lord when he
was old; and to him he has given all he has. 37Now my lord made me swear an oath, saying,
‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I
sojourn; 38but you shall go to my father's house and to my tribe, and take a wife for my son.’
39And I said to my lord, ‘Perhaps the woman will not return with me.’ 40But he said to me,
‘The Lord, before whom I walk, will send His Angel with you and prosper your way; and you
shall take a wife for my son from my tribe and from my father's house. 41You will be clear
from this oath when you arrive at my tribe; for if they will not give her to you, then you will
be released from my oath.’

  42“So I came to the well today and said, ‘O Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, if You will

now prosper the way I go, 43behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass
that when the daughters of the men come to draw water, and the virgin to whom I will say,
“Give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,” 44and she says to me, “Drink, and I will
draw for your camels also,”—let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for His own
servant Isaac; and in this I will know You have dealt mercifully with my lord Abraham.’ 45But
before I finished speaking in my mind, there was Rebekah, coming out with her pitcher on
her shoulder; and she went down to the well and drew water And I said to her, ‘Let me drink.’
46And she made haste and let her pitcher down from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will

also give your camels a drink.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels a drink also. 47Then I
asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel,
Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the earrings on her and the bracelets on her
wrists.

  48“Thus being well pleased I worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord, the God of my lord
Abraham, who led me in the way of truth, to take the daughter of my lord's brother for his
son. 49Now if you will deal mercifully and justly with my lord, tell me. But if not, tell me, that
I may turn to the right hand or to the left.”

  50Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The command comes from the Lord; we

cannot speak to you either good or bad. 51Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and
let her be your lord's son's wife, as the Lord has spoken.” 52And it came to pass, when
Abraham's servant heard their words, that he bowed to the earth and worshiped the Lord.
53Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver and gold and clothing, and gave them to

Rebekah. He also gave gifts to her brother and her mother. 54And he and the men with him
ate and drank and stayed all night.

  Then they arose early in the morning, and he said, “Send me away to my lord.” 55But her
brother and her mother said, “Let the virgin remain with us about ten days; after that she
may go.” 56And he said to them, “Do not hinder me, since the Lord has prospered my way;
send me away that I may go to my lord.” 57So they said, “We will call the young woman and
ask her personally.” 58Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this
man?” She said, “I will go.”† 59Thus they sent away Rebekah their sister and her goods and
Abraham's servant and those with him. 60They blessed Rebekah their sister and said to her,
“Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of myriads, and may your seed possess
the gates of their enemies.” 61Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and rode on the camels
and went with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.

  62Now Isaac came through the desert to the Well of the Vision, for he dwelt in the South.†
63Isaac then went out to meditate in the field in the evening, and he lifted his eyes and saw

camels coming. 64Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted
from her camel; 65for she had said to the servant, “Who is that man walking in the field to
meet us?” The servant said, “It is my lord.” So she took a veil and covered herself. 66Now the
servant told Isaac all the things he had done. 67Thus Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother
Sarah's tent, and he took her and she became his wife. So he loved her, and was comforted
concerning Sarah his mother.

                                  Abraham and Keturah

                                                           † 2So she bore him
25 Now Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
                                                    3
      Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.          Jokshan begot Sheba and
Dedan. Thus the sons of Dedan were Ragouel, Nabdeed and the Asshurim, the Letushim, and
the Leummim. 4And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All
these were the sons of Keturah.

  5Now Abraham gave all his possessions to Isaac.† 6But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of
his concubines; and while he was still living, he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son,
to the country of the east.

                                          The Death and Burial of Abraham

  7After these things, the sum of years Abraham lived were one hundred and seventy-five

years.† 8Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, old and full of days and
was added to his people. 9So his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah,
opposite Mamre, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, 10the field and the cave
Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife.

  11Thus it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and

Isaac dwelt at the Well of the Vision.†

                                        The Genealogy of Ishmael and Isaac

  12Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar, Sarah's maidservant,

bore to Abraham. 13These were the names of Ishmael's sons, by their names, according to
their families: Ishmael's firstborn, Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14Mishma,
Dumah, Massa, 15Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kede-mah. 16These were the sons of
Ishmael, and these were their names, by their towns and settlements, twelve princes
according to their nations. 17These were the years of Ishmael's life: one hundred and thirty-
seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was added to his people. 18(He dwelt
opposite Egypt, from Havilah as far as Shur, as you go toward Assyria, and dwelt separate
from all his brothers.)

  19Now this is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham begot Isaac.† 20Isaac was
forty years old when he took Rebekah as his wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of
Mesopotamia, and the sister of Laban the Syrian. 21Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his
wife, because she was barren; and God granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like

this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23And the Lord said to her:

    “Two nations are in y our wom b,

    And two peoples shall be separated from y our body .

    One shall be stronger than the other,

    And the older shall serv e the y ounger.” †
  24Thus, when her days were fulfilled to give birth, indeed, there were twins in her womb.
25Now the firstborn came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so she named him

Esau. 26Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau's heel; so she called
his name Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah bore them.

                                 Esau Sells His Birthright

  27So the boys grew. Now Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a

simple man, dwelling in tents.† 28Now Isaac loved Esau because he ate his venison, but
Rebekah loved Jacob. 29Then Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and was
weary. 30So Esau said to Jacob, “Let me taste this red stew, for I am exhausted.” Therefore
his name was called Edom. 31But Jacob said to Esau, “Sell me your birthright today.” 32Esau
replied, “Look, I am about to die. What good then is this birthright to me?” 33Then Jacob
said, “Swear to me today.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
                                    Isaac and Abimelech


26 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the first famine in the days of Abraham;
   and Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, in Gerar. 2Then the Lord
appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I will tell you.†
3Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your seed I give all

these lands; and I will perform the oath I swore to Abraham your father.† 4And I will make
your seed multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give your seed all these lands; and in your
seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed;† 5because Abraham your father obeyed My
voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My ordinances, and My laws.”† 6So Isaac
dwelt in Gerar.

  7Now the men of the place asked about his wife, and he said, “She is my sister,” for he was
afraid to say, “She is my wife,” lest the men of the place should kill him for Rebekah, because
she was beautiful to behold. 8Now it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that
Abimelech king of Gerar looked through a window and saw Isaac, showing endearment to
Rebekah his wife. 9Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Quite obviously she is your wife;
so how could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to him, “Because I said to myself, ‘Lest I
should die on account of her.’ ” 10Thus Abimelech said, “Why have you done this to us? One
of the people could easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us.”
11So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife shall
surely be put to death.”

  12Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord

blessed him. 13The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very
prosperous; 14for he had herds of sheep and oxen and many fields. So the Philistines envied
him. 15Now the Philis-tines had stopped up all the wells his father's servants had dug in the
days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth. 16Then Abimelech said to
Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.” 17Then Isaac departed from
there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

  18Again, Isaac dug the wells of water they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for
the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the
names his father had called them. 19Also, Isaac's servants dug in the valley of Gerar, and
found a well of fresh water there. 20But the herdsmen of Gerar fought with Isaac's
herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Injustice, because
they quarreled with him.† 21Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one
also. So he called its name Enmity. 22So he moved from there and dug another well, and they
did not fight over it. Thus he called its name Room, because he said, “Now the Lord has made
room for us, and has increased us in the land.”

  23Then he went up from there to the Well of Oath. 24Now the Lord appeared to him the
same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I
will bless you and multiply your seed for My servant Abraham's sake.”† 25So he built an altar
there and called on the name of the Lord; and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac's
servants dug a well.† 26Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his friend,
and Phichol the commander-in-chief of his army. 27Isaac said to them, “Why have you come
to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28But they said, “We have
certainly seen the Lord is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us,
between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you, 29that you will do us no harm,
since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good, and have
sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.’ ” 30So he made them a feast,
and they ate and drank.

  31Then they arose early in the morning and swore an oath with one another; and Isaac sent

them away, and they departed from him in peace. 32It came to pass the same day, Isaac's
servants came and told him about the well they dug, and said to him, “We have found water.”
33So he called it, Oath; therefore, the name of the city is the Well of Oath to this day.

  34Now when Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the

Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite.† 35But they were contentious with
Isaac and Rebekah.

                                    Isaac Blesses Jacob


27 Now  it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim he could not see, that
   he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” And he answered him, “Here I
am.”ω 2Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death.† 3Now
therefore, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt
game for me. 4Then make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat,
that my soul may bless you before I die.”

  5Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son; and Esau went to the field

to hunt game for his father. 6So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her younger son, saying, “Indeed, I
heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, 7‘Bring me game and make savory food
for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’† 8Now
therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you. 9Go now to the sheep
and bring me from there two kids, choice and good, and I will make savory food from them
for your father, such as he loves. 10Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it
and bless you before his death.”

  11Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a

smooth-skinned man. 12Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to
him; and I shall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.” 13But his mother said to him,
“Your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.” 14So he went
and got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother made savory food, such as his
father loved. 15Then Rebekah took the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which were with
her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16She also put the skins of the kids
on his hands and on the exposed part of his neck. 17Then she gave the savory food and the
bread she had prepared into the hands of her son Jacob.

  18Thus he went to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you,

my son?” 19Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told
me; arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” 20But Isaac said to his son,
“How is it you have found it so quickly, my son?” He said, “Because the Lord your God
brought it to me.” 21Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near, that I may feel you, my son,
whether you are my son Esau or not.” 22So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt
him and said, “The voice is Jacob's, but the hands are Esau's.” 23Thus he did not recognize
him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him. 24Then
he said, “Are you my son Esau?” He said, “I am.”

  25He said, “Bring your game to me, my son, and I will eat from it, that my soul may bless
you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.
26Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” 27So he came near
and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing.

  Thus he blessed him and said:

    “Surely , the sm ell of m y son

    Is like the sm ell of a field the Lord has blessed.

    28
         Therefore, m ay God giv e y ou of the dew of heav en

    And of the fatness of the earth,

    And plenty of grain and wine.

    29
         Let peoples serv e y ou,

    And nations bow down to y ou.

    Be lord ov er y our brethren,

    And let y our m other's sons bow down to y ou.

    And cursed be ev ery one who curses y ou,

    And blessed be those who bless y ou.”

                                                          Esau's Lost Blessing

  30Now it happened, as soon as Isaac finished blessing Jacob his son, and Jacob had
scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from
his hunting. 31He also had made savory food, and brought it to his father, and said to his
father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son's game, that your soul may bless me.” 32And
his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” So he said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”

  33Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, “Who? Where is the one who hunted game
and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him—and indeed, he
shall be blessed.” 34When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly
great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me—me also, O my father!”† 35But he said,
“Your brother came with deceit and has taken away your blessing.” 36Then Esau said, “Is he
not rightly named Jacob? For he supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright,
and now look, he has taken away my blessing.” So he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing
for me?”

  37Then Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Indeed, I have made him your lord, and all his
brethren I have given to him as servants; with grain and wine I have sustained him. What
shall I do now for you, my son?” 38Esau said to his father, “Have you only one blessing, my
father? Bless me—me also, O my father!” But when Isaac was troubled, Esau lifted up his
voice and wept. 39Then Isaac his father answered and said to him:

    “Behold, y our dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth,

    And of the dew of heav en from abov e.

    40
         By y our sword y ou shall liv e,

    And y ou shall serv e y our brother;

    And it shall com e to pass, when y ou becom e restless,

    That y ou shall break his y oke from y our neck.”

                                                        Jacob Sent to Laban

  41Thus Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him; and
Esau said in his mind, “Let the days of mourning for my father draw near, then I will kill my
brother Jacob.” 42So the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah, and she sent and
called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, “Surely, your brother Esau is threatening to
kill you. 43Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee to Mesopotamia to my brother
Laban in Haran. 44And stay with him a few days, until your brother's anger 45and wrath turn
away from you, and he forgets what you did to him; then I will send and bring you from
there. Why should I be bereaved also of you both in one day?”

  46Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; if
Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of this land, what good will my life be to me?”

                                            Isaac Sends Jacob to Mesopotamia


28 Now  Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, saying, “You shall not take a
   wife from the daughters of Canaan. 2Arise, go to Mesopotamia, to the house of Bethuel
your mother's father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your
mother's brother. 3May God bless you, and increase and multiply you, that you may be an
assembly of nations; 4and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and your seed with you,
that you may inherit the land of your sojourning, which God gave to Abraham.”† 5So Isaac
sent Jacob away, and he went to Mesopotamia, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the
brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.

  6Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Mesopotamia to take
himself a wife from there, and as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, “You shall not
take a wife from the daughters of Canaan,” 7and Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and
had gone to Mesopotamia. 8Also, Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan did not please his
father Isaac. 9So Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael,
Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife in addition to the wives he had.

                                       Jacob's Ladder

  10Now Jacob went out from the Well of Oath and went toward Haran.ω 11So he came to a
certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. Then he took one of the
stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12Then he
dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and
there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.† 13So behold, the Lord stood
above it and said, “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. Do not
fear, the land on which you lie I will give to you and your seed. 14Also, your seed shall be as
the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the
south; and in you and in your seed all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed. 15Behold, I am
with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will
not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

   16Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “The Lord is in this place, and I did not know

it.” 17So he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the
house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”† 18Now Jacob rose early in the morning, and
took the stone he put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it.† 19Thus
Jacob called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city was Luz previously.

  20Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If the Lord God will be with me, and keep me in this

way I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, 21and bring me back in
safety to my father's house, then the Lord shall be my God. 22And this stone I set as a pillar
shall be God's house to me, and of all You give me I will surely give a tithe to You.”†

                                     Jacob and Rachel

        Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the east, to Laban. 2So he
29 Now
   looked and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by
it, for out of that well they watered the flocks; and a large stone was on the well's mouth.
3Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well's
mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well's mouth.

 4So Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from

Haran.” 5Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We
know him.” 6So he said to them, “Is he well?” They said, “He is well. Look, his daughter
Rachel is coming with the sheep.” 7Then he said, “It is still high day; it is not time for the
cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.” 8But they said, “We
cannot, until all the shepherds are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the
well's mouth; then we will water the sheep.”

  9Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she

was a shepherdess. 10And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his
mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, Jacob went near and rolled
the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban, his mother's brother.
11Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. 12So Jacob told Rachel he was

her father's relative and Rebekah's son, and she ran and told her father these words. 13Then
it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob, his sister's son, that he ran to meet
him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all
these things. 14Now Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed
with him for a month.†

  15Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me

for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?”† 16Now Laban had two daughters: the
name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17Leah's eyes were
delicate, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. 18Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he
said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.” 19So Laban said, “It is
better that I give her to you than to another man. Stay with me.” 20So Jacob served seven
years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.
21Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to
her.”

  22Now Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a wedding feast. 23Thus
it came to pass in the evening, he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he
went in to her. 24So Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a handmaiden.
25Then it came to pass in the morning, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban, “What is
this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you
deceived me?” 26Laban replied, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger
before the firstborn. 27Fulfill her week, and I will give you this one also for the service you
will render me still another seven years.”†

  28Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife

also. 29Laban also gave his handmaiden Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a handmaiden.
30Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah; and he served
with Laban still another seven years.

                                        Jacob's Children

  31But when the Lord saw Leah was hated, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
32So Leah conceived and bore Jacob a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said,
“The Lord has surely looked on my humiliation. Now therefore, my husband will love me.”
33Then she conceived again and bore Jacob a second son, and said, “Because the Lord heard I

was hated, He has therefore given me this son also.” So she called his name Simeon. 34She
conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be on my side,
because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore she called his name Levi.† 35Now she
conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will give thanks to the Lord.” Therefore she
called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.


30 Now   when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and
   said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die.” 2So Jacob's anger was aroused against
Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the
womb?” 3She replied to Jacob, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear on my
knees, that I also may have children by her.” 4She then gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and
Jacob went in to her. 5Thus Bilhah, Rachel's handmaiden, conceived and bore Jacob a son.
6Then Rachel said, “God has judged me; and He has heard my voice and given me a son.”

Therefore, she called his name Dan.† 7Now Rachel's handmaiden Bilhah conceived again and
bore Jacob a second son. 8Then Rachel said, “God has helped me, and I have wrestled with
my sister; and indeed, I have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.†

  9Now when Leah saw she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her handmaiden and gave

her to Jacob as wife. 10So Jacob went in to her, and Zilpah, Leah's handmaiden, conceived
and bore Jacob a son. 11Then Leah said, “Good fortune!” Thus she called his name Gad.†
12Now Zilpah, Leah's handmaiden, bore Jacob a second son. 13Then Leah said, “I am blessed,

for the women will call me blessed.” So she called his name Asher.†

  14Now Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field, and
brought them to his mother Leah. Thus Rachel said to Leah, “Give me some of your son's
mandrakes.” 15But she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my
husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes also?” So Rachel said, “Not so! Let him
lie with you tonight for your son's mandrakes.” 16Now when Jacob came out of the field in
the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have surely
hired you with my son's mandrakes.” So he lay with her that night. 17Thus God listened to
Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18Then Leah said, “God has given me my
wages, because I have given my handmaiden to my husband.” So she called his name
Issachar.† 19Now Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. 20Then Leah said, “God
has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will choose me, because I have
borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun.† 21Afterward she bore a daughter, and
called her name Dinah.

                           The Agreement of Jacob and Laban

  22Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. 23Thus

she conceived and bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.”† 24So she called
his name Joseph, and said, “The Lord shall add another son to me.”

  25Now it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me

away, that I may go to my own place and to my country. 26Give me my wives and my children
for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know the service I rendered you.” 27Then
Laban said to him, “If I could find grace in your eyes, I would seek for it divinely, for God has
blessed me by your coming.” 28So he said, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.” 29Jacob
replied, “You know how I have served you and how numerous your cattle became with me.
30For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the Lord
has blessed you since my coming. Now therefore, when shall I also establish my own house?”

  31Thus Laban said to him, “What shall I give you?” Jacob replied, “You shall not give me

anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your sheep: 32Let me
pass through all your flocks today, removing from them all the gray sheep, and all the spotted
and speckled among the goats; and these shall be my wages. 33So my righteousness will
answer for me in time to come, when the subject of my wages comes before you: every one
that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and gray among the sheep, will be
considered stolen, if it is with me.”† 34Then Laban said to him, “Let it be according to your
word.” 35So he removed that day all the male goats that were speckled and spotted, all the
female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had some white in it, and all the
gray ones among the sheep, and gave them into the hands of his sons. 36Then he put three
days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.

  37Now Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees,
peeled white strips in them, tearing off the bark. So the white strips he had peeled appeared
on the rods as spotted. 38Then he placed the rods he had peeled in the gutters of the watering
troughs where the flocks came to drink, so they should conceive at the rods as they came to
drink. 39So the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth speckled,
spotted, and ash-colored speckled. 40But Jacob separated the male lambs, and placed a
speckled ram before the sheep and all that were spotted among the male lambs. Then he
separated for himself flocks by themselves and did not mix them with the sheep of Laban.

  41Thus it came to pass, whenever the sheep conceived, that Jacob placed the rods before

the sheep in the gutters, so they might conceive according to the rods. 42But whenever the
sheep had already given birth, he did not put them in. Thus it came to pass, that the
unmarked were Laban's and the marked were Jacob's. 43So the man became exceedingly rich,
and had many cattle and oxen, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.

                                 Jacob Flees from Laban


31 Now  Jacob heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was
   our father's, and from our father's property he acquired all this wealth.” 2So Jacob saw
Laban's countenance, and indeed, it was not favorable toward him as before. 3Then the Lord
said to Jacob, “Return to your father's land and to your family, and I will be with you.”†ω

  4So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field where the flocks were, 5and said to
them, “I see your father's countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the
God of my father has been with me. 6Now you know that with all my might I served your
father. 7Yet your father deceived me and changed my wages ten times with respect to the
male lambs, but God did not allow him to harm me. 8If he said thus, ‘The speckled shall be
your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. But if he said thus, ‘The white shall be your
wages,’ then all the sheep bore white. 9So God has taken away all your father's cattle and
given them to me. 10Now it came to pass, when the flocks conceived, I lifted my eyes and saw
in a dream, and behold, the male goats and the rams that were speckled, spotted, and ash-
colored speckled were mating with the sheep and the goats. 11Then the Angel of God spoke to
me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ Thus I said, ‘Here I am.’† 12So He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and
see, all the male goats and the rams mating with the sheep and the goats are speckled,
spotted, and ash-colored speckled; for I have seen everything Laban is doing to you. 13I am
the God who appeared to you at Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a vow to Me.
Now then, arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your nativity, and I will be with
you.’ ”†

  14Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there still any portion or

inheritance for us in our father's house? 15Are we not considered strangers by him? For he
sold us, and also completely consumed our money. 16For all the riches and glory God has
taken from our father are really ours and our children's; now then, whatever God has said to
you, do it.”

  17Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18And he carried away all his
livestock and all his possessions acquired in Mesopotamia, everything belonging to him, to go
to his father Isaac in Canaan. 19Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had
stolen her father's idols. 20But Jacob had hidden from Laban the Syrian his intention of
running away. 21So he fled with all that he had, and crossed the river, and headed for the
mountains of Gilead.

                                    Laban Pursues Jacob

  22Then Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. 23So he took all his brethren
with him and pursued him for seven days’ journey; and he overtook him in the mountains of
Gilead. 24But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be
careful that you do not speak evil things to Jacob at any time.”† 25So Laban overtook Jacob.
Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the
mountains of Gilead. 26Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have stolen
away unknown to me, and robbed me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken with
the sword? 27Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I
might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp? 28And you did not
allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters. Now you have done foolishly in so doing. 29It is
in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be
careful that you do not speak evil things to Jacob at any time.’† 30Now you have surely gone
because you greatly long for your father's house, but why did you steal my gods?”

  31Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you

would take your daughters and all my possessions from me by force.’ 32With whomever you
find your gods, let him not live in the presence of our brethren. Identify what I have of yours
and take it with you.” For Jacob did not know Rachel had stolen them. 33Thus Laban went in
and searched Leah's tent, but found nothing. Then he searched Jacob's and those of the
handmaidens, but found nothing. Then he entered Rachel's tent. 34Now Rachel had taken the
idols, put them in the camel's saddle, and sat on them. 35Then she said to her father, “Let it
not displease my lord that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is with me.” So
he searched the entire tent but did not find the idols.

   36Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban, “What

is my injustice? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued me? 37Although you
searched all my things, what part of your household goods have you found? Set them here
before my brethren and your brethren, so they may judge between us. 38These twenty years I
have been with you; your sheep and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I
have not eaten the rams of your flock. 39That which was caught by wild animals I did not
bring to you; I bore the loss of any stolen by day or by night. 40There I was. In the day the
drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes. 41Thus I
have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters,
and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times with respect to the
female lambs. 42Unless the God of my father Abraham and the fear of Isaac had been with
me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God saw my affliction and
the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.”†

                                  Jacob's Pact with Laban

  43Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, and these
sons are my sons, and these sheep are my sheep; all you see belongs to me and my daughters.
But what can I do for them today or for the children they bore? 44Now therefore, come, let us
make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.” Then he said, “Look,
there is no one with us. God Himself is witness between you and me.”

  45So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.† 46Then Jacob said to his brethren,
“Gather stones.” So they took stones and made a heap, and they ate and drank there on the
heap; and Laban said to him, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.”† 47Laban
called it the Heap of Testimony, but Jacob called it the Witness Heap.

  48Then Laban said, “This heap and this pillar are a witness between you and me this day.”

Therefore its name was called This-Heap-Witnesses,† 49and also The Vision, because he said,
“May God watch between you and me when we are absent one from another. 50If you
humble my daughters, or if you take other wives besides my daughters, although no man is
with us—see, God is witness between you and me.” 51Then Laban said to Jacob, “Listen, this
heap and pillar are a witness. 52This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will
not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and
this pillar to me, for harm. 53The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor judge between us.”
Thus Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac. 54Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the
mountain, and called his brethren; and they ate bread and drank and stayed all night on the
mountain.

                               Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau


32 So early in the morning, Laban arose, and kissed his sons and daughters and blessed
   them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.ω

  2So Jacob went on his way, and saw the hosts of God encamped. 3When Jacob saw them,
he said, “This is God's encampment”; and he called the name of that place Encampments.
  4Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the

country of Edom. 5And he commanded them, saying, “Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your
servant Jacob says, “I sojourned with Laban and stayed there until now. I have oxen, donkeys,
sheep, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in
your sight.” ’ ” 6Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother
Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men with him.” 7So Jacob was
greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people with him and the oxen and sheep into
two companies. 8Thus Jacob said, “If Esau comes to the one company and destroys it, then
the other company will escape.”

  9Again Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who

said to me, ‘Return to the land of your nativity, and I will deal well with you,’ 10let me be
satisfied with all the righteousness and all the truth You have shown Your servant; for I
crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. 11Deliver me
from the hand of my brother, Esau; for I am afraid of him, lest he come and attack me and
the mother with the children. 12For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your seed
as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”†

  13So he lodged there that same night, and took some of the things he had brought as a

present for Esau his brother: 14two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two
hundred sheep and twenty rams, 15thirty milk camels with their offspring, forty cows and ten
bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. 16Then he delivered them to the hand of his
servants, each flock by itself, and said to his servants, “Go on before me, and put some
distance between successive droves.” 17And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau
my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you
going? Whose are these going before you?’ 18Then you shall say, ‘Your servant Jacob's. These
things are a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’ ” 19So he
commanded the first, the second, and the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In
this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; 20and also say, ‘Behold, your
servant Jacob is coming behind us.’ ” For he said to himself, “I will appease him with the
present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.”
21So the present went on before him, but he himself lodged that night in the encampment.
                                 Jacob Wrestles with God

  22And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven

sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. 23He took them and crossed over the brook, and
sent over what he had. 24Then Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until the
breaking of day.† 25Now when He saw He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket
of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was dislocated as he wrestled with Him. 26Then He
said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me.”
27So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” 28And He said, “Your name

shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have prevailed with God and with men.”†

  29Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And he said, “Why do you ask

about My name?” And He blessed him there. 30So Jacob called the name of that place, the
Form of God: “For I saw God face to face, and my soul was saved.”† 31When the Form of God
passed by, the sun rose on him, but he limped on his hip. 32Therefore to this day, the
children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He
touched the socket of Jacob's hip, in the muscle that shrank.

                                   Jacob and Esau Meet


33 Now  Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau his brother was coming, and
   four hundred men with him. So Jacob divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and
the two maidservants. 2Then he put the maidservants and their sons in front, Leah and her
children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3He then crossed over before them and bowed
himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4But Esau ran to meet
him, embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him; and they wept. 5Then he lifted his
eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?” He replied, “The
children God mercifully gave your servant.”† 6Then the maidservants came near, they and
their children, and bowed down. 7Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed
down. Afterward Rachel and Joseph came near, and they bowed down.

  8Then Esau said, “What are these things to you, all this company I met?” So he said, “That

your servant might find grace in the sight of my Lord.” 9But Esau said, “I have enough, my
brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10But Jacob replied, “If I have now found grace in
your sight, receive the present from my hands, inasmuch as I have seen your face, as though
someone might see the face of God; and you were pleased with me. 11Receive my blessing I
brought you, because God has shown me mercy; and I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and
he took it.

  12Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.” 13But Jacob
said to him, “My lord knows the children are weak, and the flocks and herds with me are
giving birth. If therefore the men should drive them hard one day, all the cattle would die.
14Let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace the children are

able to bear, until I come to my lord in Seir.” 15Then Esau said, “Let me leave with you some
of the people with me.” But he said, “What need is there? It is enough that I found grace in
my lord's sight.” 16So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

  17Then Jacob journeyed to Succoth, built houses, and made booths for his cattle.

Therefore, he called the name of that place, Succoth. 18Then Jacob came safely to Salem, a
city of Shechem, in the land of Canaan, when he came from Mesopotamia of Syria; and he
took up a position in front of the city. 19He then bought the parcel of land where he pitched
his tent from Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred male lambs.† 20There he set up an
altar and called on the God of Israel.

                                   The Violation of Dinah


34 Now  Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob, went out to see the
   daughters of the land. 2But when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, a ruler of the
land, saw her, he took her, lay with her, and violated her.† 3Now his soul was strongly
attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and sought to win
her heart. 4Then Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get this young woman as a
wife for me.”

  5But Jacob heard Hamor's son had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his

cattle in the field; so Jacob held his peace until they came. 6Then Hamor the father of
Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. 7Now the sons of Jacob came in from the field
when they heard it; and the men were stunned and extremely grieved, because he had done a
disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, something that should never have
happened. 8But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “My son Shechem is passionately in love
with your daughter. Give her to him as a wife.† 9Make marriages with us; give us your
daughters, and take our daughters for your sons. 10Dwell among us, and behold, the land
before you is spacious. Dwell therein and trade, and acquire possessions in it.”

  11Then Shechem said to her father and her brothers, “Let me find grace in your eyes, and

we will give whatever you ask. 12Make the dowry as great as you wish, and I will give it; only
give me this young woman as a wife.” 13But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor
his father, and spoke deceitfully to them, because he had defiled Dinah their sister. 14So
Simeon and Levi, the brothers of Dinah and the sons of Leah, said to them, “We cannot do
this thing, to give our sister to a man who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to
us. 15But on this condition we will consent to you, if you will become as we are, if every male
of you is circumcised, 16then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your
daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 17But if you will
not heed us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughters and be gone.”

  18Now their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor's son. 19So the young man did not
delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob's daughter. He was the most esteemed of
all those in his father's house. 20And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their
city, and spoke with the men of their city, saying, 21“These men are at peace with us.
Therefore let them dwell in the land and trade in it. For indeed, the land is large enough for
them. Let us take their daughters as wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22Only on
this condition will the men consent to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us
is circumcised, as they are circumcised. 23Will not their livestock, their property, and every
animal of theirs be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us.” 24Thus all
who went out of the gate of their city heeded Hamor and Shechem his son; every male was
circumcised in the flesh.

  25Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, two sons of Jacob, Simeon
and Levi, Dinah's brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all
the males. 26They also killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and
took Dinah from Shechem's house, and went out. 27Then the sons of Jacob came upon the
slain, and plundered the city in which Dinah their sister had been defiled. 28They took their
sheep, their oxen, and their donkeys, what was in the city and what was in the field; 29and
took captive all their wives, their children, and their servants and plundered whatever was in
the city and in the houses.

  30Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You made me an object of hatred, so as to be evil
to all the inhabitants of the land, both among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since I
am few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me. I shall be
destroyed, my household and I.” 31But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a
prostitute?”†

                                      Jacob at Bethel


35 Now God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there
   to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”†
2Then Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods

among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. 3Let us arise and go up to Bethel
and make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my tribulation, and was with
me and saved me on the road I traveled.” 4So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods in their
hands, and the earrings in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree near
Shechem.

  5Then Israel departed from Shechem, and the fear of God was upon all the cities around

them. Thus they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 6Now Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel),
in the land of Canaan, he and all the people with him. 7He built an altar there and called the
place Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother
Esau. 8Now Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak.
So Jacob called its name the Oak of Mourning.

  9Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Mesopotamia, and blessed him.†
10God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not any more be called Jacob, but

Israel shall be your name.” 11God also said to him, “I am your God. Increase and multiply; a
nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your
body.† 12The land I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your seed after you I give
this land.” 13Then God ascended from him in the place where He talked with him.† 14So
Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a
drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it. 15Thus Jacob called the name of the place where
God spoke with him Bethel.
                                     The Death of Rachel

  16Then Jacob departed from Bethel, and when there was but a little distance to go to

Ephrath, Rachel labored with much difficulty in childbirth. 17Now it came to pass, when she
was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Take courage; you will have this son also.”
18So it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), she called his name Ben-Oni; but his

father called him Benjamin. 19Thus Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that
is, Bethlehem). 20Then Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel's grave to
this day.

  21Now Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder. 22So it happened,
when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine.
Israel heard about it, and it was seen as evil in his sight.

                                  The Twelve Sons of Jacob

  23Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: the sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and

Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; 24the sons of Rachel were Joseph and
Benjamin; 25the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant, were Dan and Naphtali; 26and the
sons of Zilpah, Leah's maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who
were born to him in Mesopotamia of Syria.

                                      The Death of Isaac

  27Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron), where

Abraham and Isaac sojourned. 28Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years.
29So Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of
days. Thus his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

                                    The Genealogy of Esau

        this is the genealogy of Esau, who is Edom. 2Esau took his wives from the
36 Now
   daughters of the Canaanites: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite; Aholibamah the
daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; 3and Basemath, Ishmael's daughter,
sister of Nebajoth. 4Now Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel, 5and
Aholibamah bore Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau who were born to
him in the land of Canaan. 6Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the
persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods he gained in the
land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob. 7For
their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their sojourning
could not support them because of their abundance. 8So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is
Edom.

  9Now this is the genealogy of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir. 10These were
the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, and Reuel the son of
Basemath the wife of Esau. 11The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and
Kenaz. 12Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau's son, and she bore Amalek to Eli-
phaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau's wife. 13These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath,
Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife. 14These were
the sons of Aholibamah, Esau's wife, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon. She bore
to Esau: Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.

  15These were the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau,

were Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz, 16Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, and
Chief Amalek. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the sons of
Adah. 17These were the sons of Reuel, Esau's son: Chief Nahath, Chief Zerah, Chief
Shammah, and Chief Mizzah. These were the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom. These were
the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife. 18These were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau's wife: Chief
Jeush, Chief Jaalam, and Chief Korah. These were the chiefs from Aholibamah. 19These were
the sons of Esau, and these were their chiefs, the sons of Edom.

  20These were the sons of Seir the Horite who inhabited the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon,

Anah, 21Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir, in
the land of Edom. 22And the sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Lotan's sister was Timna.
23These were the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 24These were
the sons of Zibeon: Ajah and Anah. This was the Anah who found the hot springs in the
desert, as he pastured the donkeys of his father Zibeon. 25These were the children of Anah:
Dishon and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah. 26These were the sons of Di-shon: Hemdan,
Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 27These were the sons of Ezer: Balaam, Zucam, Jucam and
Ucam. 28These were the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 29These were the chiefs of the
Horites: Chief Lotan, Chief Shobal, Chief Zibeon, Chief Anah, 30Chief Dishon, Chief Ezer,
and Chief Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, according to their chiefdoms in the
land of Seir.

  31Now these were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over

the children of Israel: 32Balak the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was
Dinhabah. 33So when Balak died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.
34When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. 35When
Husham died, Hadad the son of Barad, who attacked Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in
his place; and the name of his city was Gethaim. 36When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah
reigned in his place. 37When Samlah died, Saul of Rehoboth-by-the-River reigned in his
place. 38When Saul died, Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place. 39And when
Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor died, Harad the son of Barad reigned in his place; and the
name of his city was Phogor. His wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the
daughter of Mezahab.

  40These were the names of the chiefs of Esau, in their tribes and places, and in their

countries and nations: Chief Timnah, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth, 41Chief Aholibamah, Chief
Elah, Chief Pinon, 42Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar, 43Chief Magdiel, and Chief
Zaphoim. These were the chiefs of Edom, in their dwelling places in the land of their
possession. Esau was the father of the Edomites.

                                      Joseph's Dream


37 Now  Jacob dwelt in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan.
   2This is the genealogy of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the
sheep with his brothers. Now the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his
father's wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father. 3Now Israel loved
Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age. He also made him a
tunic of many colors.† 4But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all
his brothers, they hated him and could not speak civilly to him.

  5Then Joseph had a dream, and reported it to his brothers. 6Thus he said to them, “Hear

this dream I dreamed: 7There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf
arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to
my sheaf.” 8So his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed
have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.†

  9Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have
dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down
to me.” 10So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to
him, “What is this dream you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers
indeed come and bow down on the ground before you?” 11And his brothers envied him, but
his father kept the matter in mind.

                                 Joseph Is Sold into Egypt

  12Then his brothers went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. 13And Israel said to
Joseph, “Are not your brothers shepherding the sheep in Shechem? Come, I will send you to
them.” So he said to him, “Here I am.” 14Then Israel said to him, “Go and see if it is well with
your brothers and well with the sheep, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the
Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.

  15Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. So the man

asked him, saying, “What are you seeking?” 16He replied, “I am looking for my brothers. Tell
me where they are feeding their sheep.” 17The man said to him, “They have departed from
here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.”’ So Joseph went after his brothers and
found them in Dothan. 18Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them,
they conspired against him to kill him. 19Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer
is coming. 20Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall
say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams.”

  21But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, “Let us not kill

him.” 22Again, Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit in the desert;
and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him
back to his father. 23So it came to pass, when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped the
tunic of many colors off him. 24Then they took him and cast him into a pit, which was empty;
for there was no water in it.

  25They then sat down to eat a meal, and lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a
company of Ishmaelite wayfarers coming from Gilead with their camels bearing spices, balm,
and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. 26So Judah said to his brothers, “What
profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?† 27Come and let us sell him to the
Ishmaelites, but let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh”; and his
brothers listened. 28Thus the Midianite traders passed by, and the brothers pulled Joseph up
and lifted him out of the pit; and they sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of gold.
So they took Joseph to Egypt.† 29Then Reuben returned to the pit, and when he saw Joseph
was not in there, he tore his clothes. 30So he returned to his brothers and said, “The lad is
not there; and I, where shall I go?”

  31Thus they took Joseph's tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood.
32Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and had it brought to their father and said, “We

found this. Do you know whether it is your son's tunic or not?” 33So he recognized it and
said, “This is my son's tunic. A wild animal has devoured Joseph and carried him off.” 34Then
Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
35Thus all his sons and daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and
he said, “I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.” So his father wept for him.
36Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of
the guard.

                                       Judah and Tamar


38 ItAdullamite
       came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain
                whose name was Hirah. 2Then Judah saw there a daughter of a certain
Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. 3So she conceived
and bore a son, and called his name Er. 4She conceived again and bore a son, and called his
name Onan. 5She conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. She was at
Chezib when she bore them.

   6Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7But Er, Judah's

firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, and God killed him. 8So Judah said to Onan, “Go
in to your brother's wife and marry her, and as her brother-in-law raise up seed to your
brother.” 9But Onan knew the seed would not be his; and it came to pass that whenever he
went in to his brother's wife, he emitted his semen on the ground, lest he should give seed to
his brother. 10But the thing he did appeared evil in the sight of the Lord; therefore, He also
put him to death. 11Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your
father's house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.”
So Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

  12Now in the process of time, the daughter of Shua, Judah's wife, died; and Judah was
comforted and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his shepherd, Hirah the
Adullamite. 13So it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah
to shear his sheep.” 14Thus she took off her widow's garments, covered herself with a veil,
made herself beautiful, and sat down near the gates of Ainan on the way past Timnah; for she
saw Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. 15When Judah saw her, he
thought she was a prostitute, because she had covered her face and he did not recognize her.
16Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Let me come in to you”; for he did not know
she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to
me?” 17He replied, “I will send a young goat from the flocks.” So she said, “Will you give me a
pledge till you send it?” 18Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your
ring and cord, and the staff in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and
she conceived by him. 19So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the
garments of her widowhood.

  20Thus Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his shepherd the Adullamite to receive

his pledge from the woman, but he did not find her. 21Then he asked the men of that place,
saying, “Where is the prostitute who was in Ainan by the roadside?” They replied, “There was
no prostitute here.” 22So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of
the place said no prostitute had been there.” 23Then Judah said, “Let her have them, lest we
should become a laughingstock; for I sent this young goat but you did not find her.”

  24Thus it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your
daughter-in-law has committed fornication and is pregnant because of her adultery.” So
Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned.”† 25When she was brought out, she sent to
her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” So she said,
“Determine whose these are—the ring, the cord, and the staff.” 26So Judah acknowledged
them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my
son.” But he never knew her again.
  27Then it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb.
28So it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a

scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29Then it
happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said,
“How did you break through? This breach be upon you.” Therefore she called his name Perez.
30Afterward his brother came out, with the scarlet thread on his hand; and she called his
name Zerah.

                               Joseph Imprisoned in Egypt


39 Now   Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, and Potiphar, Pharaoh's eunuch and
   captain of the guard, an Egyp-tian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had
taken him down there. 2The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was
living in the house of his lord the Egyptian. 3So his lord saw that the Lord was with him and
the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4Thus Joseph found grace in his sight and
was pleasing to him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and put everything he had
under Joseph's authority. 5So it was, from the time he made him overseer of his house and
all he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyp-tian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of
the Lord was on all he had in the house and in the field. 6Thus he left all he had in Joseph's
hand, and did not know what he had except for the bread he ate. Now Joseph was handsome
in form and appearance.

  7Then it came to pass after these things that his lord's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph,

and she said, “Lie with me.” 8But he refused and said to his lord's wife, “Look, my lord does
not know what is with me in the house and has committed all he has to my hand. 9There is
no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because
you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”† 10So it was,
as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to have
relations with her. 11But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do
his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, 12she caught him by his garment,
saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.

  13So it was, when she saw he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, 14she
called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he brought in to us a Hebrew
to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15Thus it
happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, he left his garment with me,
and fled and went outside.” 16So she kept his garment with her until his lord came home.
17Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant you brought to

us came in to me to mock me; 18so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, he left his
garment with me and fled outside.” 19So it was, when his lord heard the words his wife spoke
to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” his anger was aroused. 20Then
Joseph's lord took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were
confined.†

  21But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him grace in the sight

of the chief prison keeper.† 22So the chief keeper of the prison put under Joseph's authority
both the prison and all the prisoners, and whatever they did there. 23The chief keeper of the
prison did not look into anything under Joseph's authority, because the Lord was with him;
and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.†

                    Joseph Interprets the Dreams of the Prisoners


40 Now   it came to pass after these things, that the king of Egypt's chief cupbearer and
   chief baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt. 2So Pharaoh was angry with his two
eunuchs, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. 3Thus he put them in custody with the
chief bodyguard in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. 4Then the chief jailer
committed them to Joseph, and he attended them; so they were in custody for a while.

  5Then the king of Egypt's chief cupbearer and the chief baker, who were confined in the
prison, had a dream, both of them, each man's dream in one night and each man's dream with
its own interpretation. 6So Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and
saw they were troubled. 7Thus he asked Pharaoh's eunuchs, who were with him in the
custody of his lord, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?” 8So they said to him, “We each
had a dream, and there is no one to interpret it.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not
interpretations belong to God? Therefore, relate them to me.”† 9Then the chief cupbearer
related his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “Behold, in my dream a vine was before me,
10and in the vine were three branches; it was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth,

and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. 11Then Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I took
the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.”

  12And Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three

days. 13Now within three days Pharaoh will remember your position and restore your office
of chief cupbearer; and you will put Pharaoh's cup in his hand according to the former
manner, when you were his cupbearer. 14But remember me when it is well with you, and
have mercy on me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this prison. 15For
indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and I also have done nothing for
them to put me into the dungeon.”

  16When the chief baker saw the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also had a

dream, and there were three white baskets on my head. 17In the uppermost basket were all
kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.” 18So
Joseph answered and said, “This is the interpretation of it: The three baskets are three days.
19Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head from you and hang you on a tree; and the
birds will eat your flesh from you.”

  20Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast
for all his servants; and he remembered the positions of his chief cupbearer and chief baker
among his servants. 21Then he restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the
cup in Pharaoh's hand. 22But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.
23Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.†

                       Joseph Interprets the Dreams of Pharaoh


41 Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and
   behold, he stood by the river. 2Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows,
fine-looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. 3Then behold, seven other cows came up
after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the
river. 4But the ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine-looking and fat cows. So Pharaoh
awoke. 5He slept and dreamed a second time; and suddenly seven ears of corn came up on
one stalk, plump and good. 6Then behold, seven ears of corn, thin and blighted by the east
wind, sprang up after them. 7But the seven thin ears of corn devoured the seven plump and
full ears. So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream.
  8Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for
all the interpreters of Egypt and all its wise men. Thus Pharaoh told them his dreams, but
there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh. 9Then the cupbearer spoke to
Pharaoh, saying, “I remember my sin this day. 10When Pharaoh was angry with his servants,
and put me in custody in the house of the chief bodyguard, both myself and the chief baker,
11we each had a dream in one night, both he and I. Each had a dream regarding himself.
12Now there was with us a young Hebrew servant of the chief bodyguard, and we related our

dreams to him; and he interpreted them for us. 13And it came to pass, just as he interpreted
for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, but he hanged him.”†

  14Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon;

and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. 15Thus Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I
had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I heard it said of you that you can
understand a dream, to interpret it.” 16So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me;
God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”

  17Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river.
18Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine-looking and fat; and they fed in the

meadow. 19Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt,
such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20And the gaunt and ugly cows ate
up the first seven, the fat cows. 21When they had eaten them, no one would have known they
had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke and fell asleep
again. 22Again, I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven ears of corn came up on one stalk, full
and good. 23Then behold, seven ears of corn, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind,
sprang up after them. 24But the thin ears of corn devoured the seven good ears. So I told all
this to the interpreters, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

  25Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh

what He is about to do: 26The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears of
corn are seven years; the dreams are one. 27But the seven thin and ugly cows that came up
after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven
years of famine. 28This is the thing I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what
He is about to do. 29Indeed, seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of
Egypt; 30but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten
in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. 31So the plenty will not be known
in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. 32Now the dream was
repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring
it to pass. 33Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a sensible and intelligent man, and set him
over the land of Egypt. 34Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint governors over the land, to
collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. 35So let
them gather all the food of the seven good years that are coming, and store up grain under
Pharaoh's authority, and let them keep food in the cities. 36That food shall then be as a
reserve in the land for the seven coming years of famine in the land of Egypt, that the land
may not perish during the famine.”

                               Joseph Made Ruler of Egypt

  37Now this advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.†
38Thus Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a man as this, who has the Spirit of

God in him?” 39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this,
there is no one as sensible and intelligent as you. 40You shall be over my house, and all my
people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater
than you.” 41So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

  42Then Pharaoh took the signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he

clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43Then he had
him ride in the second of his chariots; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he
set him over all the land of Egypt. 44Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without
your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45Then Pharaoh
called Joseph's name Zaphnath-Paaneah, and he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of
Poti-Pherah, priest of On.

  46Now Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. Then
Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
47Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly. 48So he gathered
up all the food of the seven years of prosperity in the land of Egypt, and stored the food in the
cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields that surrounded them. 49Joseph gathered
very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable.

  50Now two sons were born to Joseph before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the

daughter of Poti-Pherah, priest of On, bore to him. 51Joseph called the name of his firstborn
Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my troubles and all my father's house.” 52And
the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land
of my humiliation.”†

  53Then the seven years of plenty in the land of Egypt ended, 54and the seven years of
famine began to come, as Joseph said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt
there was bread. 55So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh
for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you,
do.” 56The famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses
and sold to the Egyptians. 57Then all countries also came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain,
because the famine was severe in all the earth.

                            Joseph's Brothers Come to Egypt


42 When  Jacob found out there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are
   you standing idle?”† 2Then he said, “Indeed, I heard there is grain in Egypt; go down
there and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.” 3So Joseph's ten brothers went
down to buy grain in Egypt. 4But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his
brothers, for he said, “Lest some calamity befall him.”

  5Thus the sons of Israel went to buy grain with those who were going there, for the famine

was in the land of Canaan. 6Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold
to all the people of the land. So Joseph's brothers came and bowed down before him with
their faces to the ground. 7Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a
stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, “Where do you come
from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.” 8So Joseph recognized his
brothers, but they did not recognize him.

  9Then Joseph remembered the dreams he dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are

spies. You have come to map out the roads of the country.”† 10But they said to him, “No, my
lord, your servants have come to buy food. 11We are all one man's sons; we are men of peace;
your servants are not spies.” 12But he said to them, “No, but you have come to map out the
roads of the land.” 13Then they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man
in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.”
14But Joseph said to them, “It is as I spoke to you, namely, ‘You are spies!’ 15In this manner
you shall be manifested: By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your
youngest brother comes here. 16Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you
shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in
you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.” 17So he put them all together in
prison three days.

  18Then Joseph said to them the third day, “Do this and live, for I fear God.† 19If you are
men of peace, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry
grain for the famine of your houses. 20But bring your youngest brother to me; so your words
will be verified, and you shall not die.” So they did so. 21Then they said to one another, “We
are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded
with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.” 22Reuben then
answered them, saying, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy,’ but you
would not listen? Therefore, behold, his blood is now required of us.”† 23But they did not
know Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter.

  24Then Joseph turned himself away from them and wept. So he returned to them again,
and talked with them; and took Simeon from them, and bound him before their eyes.
25Joseph then gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man's money to
his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them.

                            The Brothers Depart for Canaan

  26So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there. 27But as one of
them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and
there it was, in the mouth of his sack. 28So he said to his brothers, “My money has been
returned to me, and there it is, in my sack.” Then their hearts failed them, and they were
afraid, saying to one another, “What is this God has done to us?”

  29Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that

happened to them, saying, 30“The man who is lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took
us for spies of the country. 31But we said to him, ‘We are men of peace; we are not spies.
32We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is with our

father this day in the land of Canaan.’ 33Then the man, the lord of the country, said to us, ‘By
this I will know you are men of peace: leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for
your households, and be gone. 34Now, bring your youngest brother to me; then I shall know
you are not spies, but men of peace. I will then grant your brother to you, and you may trade
in the land.’ ”

  35Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man's bundle of
money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were
afraid. 36So Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more;
Simeon is no more; and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.” 37Then
Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put
him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” 38But he said, “My son shall not go down
with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any calamity should befall him along
the way in which you go, then you would bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.”

                   Joseph's Brothers Return to Egypt with Benjamin

       Now the famine was severe in the land. 2So it came to pass, when they had eaten the
43 grain they brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back, and buy us a little
food.” 3But Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not
see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4If you send our brother with us, we will go
down and buy you food. 5But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said
to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ ”

  6Then Israel said, “Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you

had yet another brother?” 7But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and
our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ Thus we replied to
him according to these words. Could we possibly have known he would say, ‘Bring your
brother down’?” 8Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will
arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and all we have. 9I myself will be
surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set
him before you, then let me bear the blame all my days. 10For if we had not lingered, surely
by now we would have returned this second time.”

  11Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best
fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a
little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. 12Take double money in your
hand, and take back in your hand the money returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it
was an oversight. 13Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. 14May God give
you grace before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am
bereaved, I am bereaved.”†

  15So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand,

and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph. 16When Joseph saw
Benjamin, his brother by the same mother, with them, he said to the steward of his house,
“Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will
dine with me at noon.” 17Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men
into Joseph's house.

  18Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph's house, and they said,
“It is because of the money returned to our sacks the first time, that we are brought here to
make a case against us and fall upon us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.”† 19When they
drew near to the steward of Joseph's house, they talked with him at the door of the house,
20saying, “We entreat you, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food; 21but it
happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there to our
surprise, each man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we
have brought it back in our hand. 22And we have brought down other money in our hands to
buy food. We do not know who put the money in our sacks.” 23But he said, “Mercy be on you;
do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks;
and I am receiving your genuine money as full payment.” Then he brought Simeon out to
them.†

  24So the man brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed

their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. 25Then they made the present ready for Joseph's
coming at noon, for they heard he would eat bread there. 26Thus when Joseph came home,
they brought the present in their hand to him in the house, and bowed down before him to
the earth.ω 27Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your father well, the
old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28So they answered, “Your servant our father
is in good health; he is still alive.” Then he said, “Blessed be that man in God”; and they
bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves.†

  29Then Joseph lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, “Is
this your younger brother you said you would bring to me?” So he said, “May God grant you
mercy, my son.” 30Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought
somewhere to weep. Then he went into his inner chamber and wept there. 31He then washed
his face and came out; and he composed himself, and said, “Serve the bread.” 32So they set
him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by
themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an
abomination to the Egyptians. 33Now they sat before him, the firstborn according to his
birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at
one another. 34Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin's serving was
five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.†

                                    Joseph's Stolen Cup


44 Now  Joseph commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men's sacks with
   food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack.
2Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain

money.” So he did according to the word Joseph had spoken. 3As soon as the morning
dawned, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. 4When they had gone out of the
city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow the men; and when
you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? 5Why have you stolen
my silver cup? Is not this the cup from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed
practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.’ ”

  6So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words. 7But they said to him,
“Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do such a
thing. 8Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money we found in the
mouth of our sacks. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord's house? 9With
whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord's servants.”
10Then he replied, “Now as you say, so it will be; he with whom it is found shall be my

servant, and you shall be blameless.” 11Then each man speedily let down his sack to the
ground, and each opened his sack. 12So he searched the oldest and left off with the youngest;
and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13Then they tore their clothes, and each man
loaded his donkey and returned to the city.

  14So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, and he was still there; and they fell

before him on the ground. 15Thus Joseph said to them, “What is this thing you have done?
Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?” 16Then Judah said,
“What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God
has found out the wrongdoing of your servants; here we are, my lord's slaves, both we and he
also with whom the cup was found.” 17But Joseph said, “Far be it from me that I should do
so; the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my servant. And as for you, go up
in peace to your father.”

                             Judah Speaks Up for Benjamin

  18Then Judah came near to him and said, “O my lord, let your servant speak a word in my
lord's hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like
Pharaoh. 19My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ 20Then we
said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, who is young; his
brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother's children, and his father loves him.’
21Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’
22But we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father,

his father would die.’ 23But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes
down with you, you shall see my face no more.’

  24“So it was, when we went up to your servant my father, that we told him the words of my

lord. 25And our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little food.’ 26But we said, ‘We cannot go
down; if our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we may not see the man's
face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27Then your servant our father said to us, ‘You
know my wife bore me two sons; 28and the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he was
eaten by a wild animal”; and I have not seen him since. 29But if you take this one also from
me, and calamity befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.’
30Now therefore, when I come to your servant our father, and the lad is not with us, since his

life is bound up in the lad's life, 31it will happen, when he sees the lad is not with us, he will
die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to
the grave. 32For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring
him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my days.’ 33Now therefore,
let your servant remain instead of the lad as a servant to my lord, and let the lad go up with
his brothers. 34For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see
the evil that would come upon my father?”

                         Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers


45 Now   Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried
   out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made
himself known to his brothers.†ω 2Then he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of
Pharaoh heard it. 3Joseph then said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?”
But his brothers could not answer him, for they were stunned in his presence.

  4But Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said, “I

am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5Now therefore, do not be grieved or
angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to save life.†
6For this is the second year of famine in the land, and five years still remain in which there

will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7For God sent me before you to preserve you as a
remnant on the earth, and to sustain you as a great remnant. 8So now, it was not you who
sent me here, but God; and He made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and
ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

 9“Hurry then and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, “God

made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry.† 10You shall dwell in the land of
Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children's children, your
sheep and oxen, and all you have. 11There I will provide for you, lest you and your household,
and all you have, come to poverty; for five years of famine still remain.’ ” 12And behold, your
eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13Therefore,
you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all you have seen; and you shall hurry
and bring my father down here.” 14Then he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and
Benjamin wept on his neck. 15Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and
after this his brothers talked with him.

  16Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, “Joseph's brothers have

come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. † 17So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to
your brothers, ‘Do this, load your conveyances and depart; go to the land of Canaan. 18Bring
your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt,
and you will eat the fat of the land. 19Now you are commanded—do this, take carts out of the
land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. 20Also do not
be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

  21Thus the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of

Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22He gave to all of them, to each man,
two changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of gold and five
changes of exceptionally fine garments. 23He also sent to his father these things: ten donkeys
loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten mules loaded with grain, bread, and food for his
father for the journey. 24So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to
them, “See that you do not become angry with each other along the way.”

  25Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father.
26Thus they told him, saying, “Joseph your son is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land

of Egypt.” But Jacob's mind was completely stunned, for he could not believe them. 27But
when they told him all the words Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph
had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.† 28Then Israel said, “It is a
great thing to me that my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

                                  Jacob Journeys to Egypt


46 Now  Israel took his journey with all he had, and came to the Well of Oath, and offered
   a sacrifice to the God of his father Isaac.†ω 2Then God spoke to Israel in a vision of the
night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” So he said, “Here I am.”† 3So God said to him, “I am the God
of your fathers; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. 4I
will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again, and Joseph will put
his hand on your eyes.” 5Then Jacob arose from the Well of Oath, and the sons of Israel
carried their father Jacob, their baggage, and their wives in the carts Pharaoh had sent to
carry him. 6So they took their livestock and their goods which they had acquired in the land
of Canaan and went to Egypt, Jacob and all his seed with him. 7His sons and his sons’ sons,
his daughters and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed he brought with him to Egypt.

  8Now these were the names of the children of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to

Egypt: Reuben was Jacob's firstborn. 9The sons of Reuben were Enoch, Pallu, Hezron, and
Carmi. 10The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of
a Canaanite woman. 11The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12The sons of
Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan).
The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Job,
and Shimron. 14The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15These were the sons of
Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, and his daughter Dinah. All the
souls, his sons and his daughters, were thirty-three.

  16The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17The sons of
Asher were Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and Serah, their sister; and the sons of Beriah were
Heber and Malchiel. 18These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his
daughter; and these she bore to Jacob: sixteen souls. 19The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife, were
Joseph and Benjamin. 20Also, to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and
Ephraim, whom Ase-nath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. Sons were
also born to Manasseh: Machir, whom his Syrian concubine bore to him; and Machir begot
Gilead. Also, the sons of Ephraim, Ma-nasseh's brother, were Shuthelah and Tahan. 21The
sons of Benjamin were Belah, Becher, Ashbel, and the sons of Belah were Gera, Naaman, Ehi,
Rosh, Muppim, Huppim; and Gera begot Ard. 22These were the sons of Rachel, who were
born to Jacob: all the souls were eighteen. 23The son of Dan was Hushim. 24The sons of
Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25These were the sons of Bilhah, whom
Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to Jacob: seven souls in all. 26All the
souls who went with Jacob to Egypt, who came from his loins, besides Jacob's sons’ wives,
were sixty-six souls in all. 27The sons of Joseph born to him in the land of Egypt were nine.
Thus all the souls of Jacob's house who went to Egypt were seventy-five.

                              Joseph Meets Jacob in Goshen

  28Now he sent Judah before him to Joseph, that he might meet him in Goshen in the land
of Rameses. 29So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father
Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept a good while.

  30Then Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die in peace, since I have seen your face,

because you are still alive.”† 31Joseph then said to his brothers, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh,
and say to him, ‘My brothers and those of my father's house, who were in the land of Canaan,
have come to me. 32But the men are shepherds, for they are pastoral men; and they have
brought their flocks, their herds, and all they have.’ 33So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you
and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34that you shall say, ‘Your servants are pastoral men
from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,’ that you may dwell in the land of
Goshen in Arabia; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”


47 Now  Joseph went and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, their flocks
   and their herds and all they possess, have come from the land of Canaan; and indeed,
they are in the land of Goshen.” 2So he took five men from among his brothers and presented
them to Pharaoh. 3Then Pharaoh said to Joseph's brothers, “What is your occupation?” So
they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers.” 4They also said
to Pharaoh, “We have come to dwell in the land, because your servants have no pasture for
their cattle, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, let your servants
dwell in the land of Goshen.” 5Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Let them dwell in the
land of Goshen, and if you know of capable men among them, make them overseers of my
cattle.”

  Thus Jacob and his sons came to Egypt, and Pharaoh king of Egypt heard about it. So
Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6The land
of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land.” 7Then
Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
8Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?” 9Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of
my sojourn are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have they been; but they have not
attained to the days and years of my father's sojourn in life.”†

  10So Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before him. 11Thus Joseph settled his
father and brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land,
in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh commanded. 12Then Joseph provided his father, his
brothers, and all his father's household with bread, according to the number of individual
persons.

                                Joseph Confronts the Famine

  13Now there was no food in all the land; for the famine was very severe; and both the land

of Egypt and the land of Canaan were devastated by the famine. 14So Joseph gathered up all
the money found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain they bought
and all he doled out to them; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15Thus
when the money ran out in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians
came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For our
money has run out.” 16Then Joseph said, “Bring your cattle, and I will give you bread for
them, if your money has run out.” 17So they brought their cattle to Joseph, and he gave them
bread in exchange for their horses, sheep, oxen, and donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread
that year in exchange for all their cattle.

  18When that year ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide
from my lord that our money has run out; and my lord also has our possessions and cattle.
There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. 19Why should we
die therefore before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we
and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the
land may not be desolate.”

  20So Joseph bought all the land of the Egyptians for Pharaoh; for every man of the
Egyptians sold his land to Pharaoh, because the famine was severe upon them. Thus the land
became Pharaoh's. 21Now as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of
the borders of Egypt to the other. 22Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests
had rations allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their rations Pharaoh gave them;
therefore they did not sell their land. 23Then Joseph said to all the Egyptians, “Indeed, I have
bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow
the land. 24Then it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh.
Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your
households.” 25So they said, “You have saved our lives; let us find grace in the sight of my
lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants.” 26Then Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt
to this day, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth, except for the land of the priests only, which
did not become Pharaoh's.

                                Joseph's Promise to Jacob

  27So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen; and they acquired

possessions there and increased and multiplied exceedingly. 28Now Jacob lived in the land of
Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob's life was one hundred and forty-seven years.
29Thus when the time drew near for Jacob to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him,
“If I have found grace in your sight, put your hand under my thigh, and deal with me in mercy
and truth. Do not bury me in Egypt,† 30but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out
of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” So he said, “I will do as you say.”† 31Then he said,
“Swear to me.” And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the top of his staff.

                               Jacob Blesses His Grandsons


48 Now   it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, “Indeed your father is
   sick”; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and went to Jacob.
2Thus Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you”; and Israel strengthened

himself and sat up on the bed. 3Then Jacob said to Joseph, “My God appeared to me at Luz in
the land of Canaan and blessed me† 4and said to me, ‘Behold, I will increase and multiply
you; and I will make of you a gathering of nations, and give this land to your seed after you as
an everlasting possession.’†

  5“Now therefore, your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land

of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.†
6Your offspring whom you beget after them shall take possession of their inheritances within

the tribes of their brothers. 7But as for me, when I came from Mesopotamia of Syria, Rachel
died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was but a little distance to go to
Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).

  8Then Israel saw Joseph's sons, and said, “Who are these with you?”† 9So Joseph said to
his father, “They are my sons God gave me here.” Jacob then said, “Bring them to me that I
may bless them.” 10Now the eyes of Israel were dim by reason of old age, and he could not
see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed and embraced them. 11Then Israel
said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your
seed.” 12So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and they bowed down with their face
to the ground.

 13Then Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and

Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him. 14Thus
Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and
his left hand on Manasseh's head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the
firstborn. 15Then he blessed them and said:

    “God, before whom m y fathers Abraham and Isaac were well-pleasing,

    The God who has fed m e all m y life long to this day , †

    16
         The Angel who redeem ed m e from all ev il,

    Bless these lads;

    Let m y nam e be nam ed upon them ,

    And the nam e of m y fathers Abraham and Isaac;

    And let them grow into a great m ultitude in the m idst of the earth.”

  17Now when Joseph saw his father put his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased
him; so he took hold of his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's
head. 18So Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your
right hand on his head.” 19But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also
shall become a people, and he also shall be exalted; but truly, his younger brother shall be
greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.”

 20So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will be blessed, saying, ‘May God

make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’ ” Thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21Then
Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and bring you back
to the land of your fathers.† 22Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers;
I am giving you Shechem, which I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and
bow.”

                                            Jacob's Final Words to His Sons


49 Now   Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall
   befall you in the last days:†ω

    2
        “Gather together and hear, y ou sons of Jacob,
And listen to Israel y our father.

3
     “Reuben, y ou are m y firstborn,

My m ight and the beginning of m y children;

You are hard to bear;

You are hardened in y our self-will. †

4
     Unstable as water in y our insolence,

You went up to y our father's bed;

Then y ou defiled it.

5
     “Sim eon and Lev i are brothers;

They accom plished their injustice from their free choice.

6
     Let not m y soul enter their council;

Let not m y honor be united to their assem bly ;

For in their anger they slew a m an,

And in their self-will they ham strung an ox.

7
     Cursed be their anger, for it was self-willed;

And their wrath, for it was hardened.

I will div ide them in Jacob,

And scatter them in Israel. †

8
     “Judah, y ou are he whom y our brothers shall praise;

Your hand shall be on the neck of y our enem ies;

Your father's sons shall bow down before y ou. †

9
     Judah is a lion's cub;

From being a shoot, m y son, y ou hav e grown up.

He bows down, and slept as a lion and a cub;

And who shall rouse him ?

10
     The scepter shall not depart from Judah,

Nor a lawgiv er from his loins,

Until Shiloh com es;

And to Him shall be the expectation of the nations.

11
     Binding his colt to a v ine,

And his donkey 's colt to its branch,

He will wash his garm ents in wine,

And his clothes in the blood of grapes.

12
     His ey es are gladdened from the wine,

And his teeth are whiter than m ilk.
13
     “Zebulun shall dwell by the seacoast;

He shall be near a hav en for ships,

And his border shall adjoin Sidon.

14
     “Issachar. desired what was good,

Resting between the inheritances;†

15
     And seeing his resting place was good

And the land was fertile,

He set his shoulder to hard work,

And becam e a farm er.

16
     “Dan shall judge his own people

As one of the tribes of Israel.

17
     Dan shall be a serpent by the way ,

A v iper ly ing in am bush by the path,

That bites the horse's heels,

That its rider m ay fall backward,

18
     Waiting for the Lord's salv ation.

19
     “As for Gad, a raider gang shall raid him ,

But he shall raid them in close pursuit.

20
     “As for Asher, his food shall be abundant,

And he will furnish dainties for rulers.

21
     “Naphtali is a spreading stem ,

Bestowing beauty by its produce.

22
     “Joseph is a grown-up son,

A grown-up son that was env ied.

Oh m y y oungest son, return to m e.

23
     They dev ised ev il plans against him and rev iled him ,

And the archers were taking aim at him .

24
     But their bows were broken by force,

And the sinews of the arm s of their hands were enfeebled

On account of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob.

Thence, he who strengthened Israel

25
     Is from the God of y our father,

And m y God has helped y ou and blessed y ou

With a blessing from heav en abov e

And with a blessing of the earth containing ev ery thing.
    By reason of the blessing of breasts and the wom b,

    26
         He m ade the blessings of y our father and m other

    Stronger than the blessings of stable m ountains and ev erlasting hills.

    They shall be on the head of Joseph

    And on the crown of the brothers he led.

    27
         “Benjam in is a rav enous wolf;

    In the m orning he will still be eating,

    And in the ev ening he will prov ide food.”

                                               The Death and Burial of Jacob

  28All these are the twelve sons of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them and

blessed them; and he blessed each one according to his own blessing. 29Then he charged
them and said to them, “I am to be added to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave
in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30opposite Mamre in the land of Canaan, which Abraham
bought from Ephron the Hittite as a possession for a burial place. 31There they buried
Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried
Leah. 32The field and the cave there were purchased from the sons of Heth.” 33Thus when
Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last,
and was added to his people.ω

       Joseph fell on his father's face and wept over him, and kissed him. 2Then Joseph
50 Now
   commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians
embalmed Israel. 3Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those
embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

  4So when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the princes of Pharaoh,
saying, “If now I have found grace in your sight, speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying,
5‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, in the grave I dug for myself in the land of
Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, let me go up and bury my father, and I will
come back.’ ” 6Then Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”

  7So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh,

the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8as well as all the house of
Joseph, his brothers, and his father's house. Only their sheep and oxen they left in the land of
Goshen. 9There also went up with him both chariots and horses, and it was a very great
gathering. 10Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and
they mourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of
mourning for his father.

  11So when the inhabitants of the land of Canaan saw the mourning at the threshing floor of
Atad, they said, “This is a deep mourning of the Egyptians.” Therefore its name was called the
Mourning of Egypt, which is beyond the Jordan. 12Thus his sons did for him just as he
commanded them. 13For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the
cave of the field of Machpelah, opposite Mamre, which Abraham bought from Ephron the
Hittite as property for a burial place. 14After he buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt,
he and his brothers and all who went up with him to bury his father.

                              Joseph Comforts His Brothers

  15When Joseph's brothers saw their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate

us, and may actually repay us for all the evil we did to him.” 16So they came to Joseph,
saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “I
beg you, forgive the injustice of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.’ ” Now,
forgive the injustice of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they
spoke to him. 18Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said,
“Behold, we are your servants.”

  19So Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for I belong to God. 20But as for you, you
meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to
save many people alive. 21Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your
households.” Thus he comforted them and spoke to their heart.†

                                    Joseph Dies in Egypt

  22So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his brothers. Then Joseph lived one hundred and ten

years. 23Joseph saw Ephraim's children to the third generation and the children of Machir,
the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph's knees. 24Then Joseph said to his
brethren, “I am about to die; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to
the land God swore to our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”† 25Thus Joseph took an oath
from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones
from here.” 26So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him,
and put him in a coffin in Egypt.†
                                           E XO DUS
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Chapters in Exodus
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30


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Verses in Exodus Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10


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Verses in Exodus Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 23
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 25
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40


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Verses in Exodus Chapter 26
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 27
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 28
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 29
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 30
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 31
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 32
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 33
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 34
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 35
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 36
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 37
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 38
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 39
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Exodus Chapter 40
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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                                                            The Book of Exodus

   Author   —According to Hebrew and Christian tradition, Moses is the author of Exodus.
This is the teaching of Christ (Mk 1:44), of His disciples (Jn 1:45), and of the book itself
(17:14).

   Date   —Exodus, which means “departure,” was written during the forty years of Israel's
wandering in the wilderness, from the crossing of the Red Sea to the entrance into the
land of Canaan.

   Major Themes       —God's covenant with Israel and the judgment of her oppressors. God
reveals Himself and His Name “YAHWEH,” meaning “I AM the Existing One.”

   Background      —Exodus immediately follows in the timeline after Genesis. God brought
about a series of miracles to release His people from slavery in Egypt. The nation of
Egypt was judged by God for its treatment of the Hebrews and its rejection of Him as
the One True God. The forty years of wandering in the wilderness is the consequence of
Israel's sins, as well as a necessary time of preparation to inherit the promised land as a
people set apart for God.

Outline

 I. Deliv erance from Bondage in Egy pt (1 :1 –1 5:2 1 )

        A. Israel's life in Egy pt (1 :1 –2 2 )

        B. Moses’ y outh (2 :1 –2 5)

        C. God calls Moses (3 :1 –4 :3 1 )

        D. The plagues in Egy pt (5:1 –1 1 :1 0)

        E. The Passov er (Pascha) (1 2 :1 –1 3 :1 6 )

        F. Departure from Egy pt and crossing the Red Sea (1 3 :1 7 –1 5:2 1 )

II. Wandering in the Wilderness (1 5:2 2 –1 8:2 7 )

III. God's Cov enant with Israel (1 9 :1 –2 4 :1 8)

        A. The cov enant and the Decalogue (1 9 :1 –2 0:2 1 )

        B. The book of the cov enant (2 0:2 2 –2 3 :3 3 )

        C. Ratification of the cov enant (2 4 :1 –1 8)

IV. Instructions for Building the Sanctuary and for Its Ministers (2 5:1 –3 1 :1 8)

V. The Golden Calf (3 2 :1 –3 4 :3 5)
        A. The people's sins (3 2 :1 –3 5)

        B. Renewal of the cov enant (3 3 :1 –3 4 :3 5)

 VI. Instructions for Building and Furnishing the Sanctuary (3 5:1 –4 0:3 2 )



                                                         Israel Suffers in Egypt


1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his
  household came with Jacob:ω 2Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; 3Is-sachar, Zebulun,
and Benjamin; 4Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5All those who were the seed of Jacob were
seventy-five persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already). 6Now Joseph died, as well as all his
brothers and all that generation.† 7Then the children of Israel increased and multiplied,
became numerous, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.

  8But there arose a new king over Egypt who knew not Joseph. 9Then he said to his nation,

“Look, the race of the children of Israel is a great multitude and is stronger than we; 10come,
let us outwit them, lest they multiply, and it happen in the event of war that they also join
our enemies and fight against us and so escape out of the land.”† 11Therefore he set
taskmasters over them to afflict them in their works; and they built for Pharaoh strong cities
—Pithom and Raamses and On, which is Heliopolis. 12But the more they humbled them, the
more they multiplied and grew; and the Egyptians greatly abhorred the children of Israel.†
13So the Egyptians tyrannized the children of Israel by force. 14They made their lives bitter
with hard labor—in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their labor in
which they made them serve was by violence.

  15Then the king of the Egyptians spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one

was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah;† 16and he said, “When you do the duties of a
midwife for the Hebrew women and see they are about to give birth, if it is a male, then you
shall kill him; but if a female, let her live.” 17But the midwives feared God and did not do as
the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.

  18So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this

thing and saved the male children alive?” 19Thus the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the
Hebrew women are not like the women of Egypt; for they are lively and give birth before the
midwives come to them.” 20Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people
multiplied and grew very mighty. 21So it was, because the midwives feared God, He provided
households for them. 22So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every male born to
the Hebrews you shall cast into the river, but every female you shall save alive.”

                                     The Birth of Moses

   Now a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. 2So the woman
2 conceived and bore a son; and seeing he was a beautiful child, they hid him three
months.† 3But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes, daubed it
with asphalt, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank. 4Now his sister
was watching from a distance to learn what would be done with him.†

  5Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, and her maidens walked

along the riverside; and seeing the ark among the reeds, she sent a maid to get it.ω 6So when
she opened the ark, she saw the child crying, and the daughter of Pharaoh had compassion on
him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7Then his sister said to Pharaoh's
daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse
the child for you?” 8So Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Go.” Then the maiden went and
called the child's mother. 9Pharaoh's daughter then said to her, “Take this child and nurse
him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the child and nursed him.† 10Now when
the boy was grown, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son; and she
called his name Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

                                   Moses Flees to Midian

  11Thus it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his
brethren and saw their burdens. He also saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his
brethren of the sons of Israel.†ω 12So he looked this way and that, and when he saw no one,
he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.† 13When he went out the second day, he saw
two Hebrew men fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you hitting
your neighbor?” 14He replied, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to
kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” So Moses was alarmed and said, “Surely this thing is
known.” 15Thus when Pharaoh heard this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled
from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.†

  16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, who fed the sheep of their father Jethro;
and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 17Then the
shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered
their flock.

  18When they came to Reuel their father, he said to them, “How is it you came so soon

today?” 19They replied, “An Egyptian delivered us from the shepherds; and he also drew
enough water for us and watered our sheep.” 20So he said to his daughters, “And where is
he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21Then Moses dwelt with
the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses. 22So the woman conceived and bore
Moses a son, and he called his name Gershom; for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a
foreign land.”†

  23Now in the course of time, it happened that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of
Israel groaned because of their labors and cried out; and their cry came up to God because of
the labors. 24So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob.† 25Then God looked upon the children of Israel and was made known to
them.

                                    The Burning Bush


3 Now  Moses was tending the sheep of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. Then
  he led them to the back of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.ω 2Then
the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he saw
the bush burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.† 3So Moses said, “I will now turn
aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not consumed.”†

  4When therefore the Lord saw him turn aside to look, God called to him from the midst of

the bush and said, “Moses! Moses!” Then he said, “Here I am.”† 5So He said, “Do not come
any closer. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”†
6Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and

the God of Jacob.” Moses then hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.†

  7Then the Lord said, “Indeed, I have seen the affliction of My people in Egypt, and have

heard their cry because of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrow.† 8So I came down to
deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a good
and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the
Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Gergesites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9Now
therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the
affliction with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10Come now, I will send you to Pharaoh, to
bring My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt.”

  11But Moses said to God, “Who am I to go to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring the children

of Israel out of the land of Egypt?” 12Then God said to Moses, “I will be with you, and this
shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt,
you shall serve God on this mountain.” 13So Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I go to the
children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers sent me to you,’ and they ask me,
‘What is His name?’ what shall I tell them?”

  14Then God said to Moses, “I AM the Existing One.” He also said, “Thus you shall say to

the children of Israel: ‘The Existing One sent me to you.’ ”† 15Moreover God said to Moses
again, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers—the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—sent me to you.’ This is My name forever,
and My memorial to all generations. 16Go then, and gather the elders of the children of Israel
together and say to them, ‘The Lord God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob—appeared to me, saying, “I have surely looked upon you and all
the things that happened to you in Egypt; 17and I will bring you up out of the affliction of
Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Gergesites,
the Hivites, and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.’ ”

  18“Then they will heed your voice; and you shall go, you and the elders of Israel, to the
king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The God of the Hebrews met with us; and now, let us
go three days’ journey into the desert to sacrifice to our God.’ 19But I know Pharaoh the king
of Egypt will not let you go, not even by a mighty hand. 20Thus I will stretch out My hand
and strike the Egyptians with all My wonders which I will work among them; and after that
he will let you go. 21Then I will give this people grace in the sight of the Egyptians; and when
you go, you shall not go empty-handed. 22But every woman shall ask of her neighbor,
namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, gold, and clothing; and you shall
put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

                                     Attesting Miracles
4 Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe or listen to my voice;
  suppose they say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’ ” 2So the Lord said to him, “What is in
your hand?” He said, “A rod.”† 3Thus He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the
ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. 4Then the Lord said to Moses,
“Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” (so he reached out his hand and caught it, and it
became a rod in his hand), 5“so they may believe the Lord God of their fathers—the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—appeared to you.”

  6Furthermore, the Lord said to him, “Now put your hand in your bosom.” So he put his

hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, it was leprous like snow. 7Again He said, “Put
your hand in your bosom” (so he put his hand in his bosom again and then removed it; and it
was restored to the complexion of his other flesh),† 8“then it will be, if they do not believe
you, nor heed the message of the first sign, they may believe the message of the second.
9Then it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall
take water from the river and pour it on the dry land; and the water you take from the river
will become blood on the dry land.”

  10Then Moses said to the Lord, “I pray, O Lord, I am not capable, neither before nor since

You spoke to Your servant; but I am weak in speech and slow of tongue.” 11So the Lord said
to him, “Who made man's mouth? And who made the mute, the deaf, the seeing, and the
blind? Did not I, God? 12Now therefore, go, and I will open your mouth and teach you what
you shall say.” 13But he said, “I pray, O Lord, appoint another capable one whom You may
send.”

  14Then the Lord was very angry with Moses, and He said, “Is not Aaron the Levite your
brother? I know he will speak for you, and indeed, he will come out to meet you; and indeed,
when he sees you, he will be glad in heart.† 15Now you shall speak to him and put My words
in his mouth, and I will open your mouth and his mouth; and I will teach you what you shall
do. 16So he shall be your spokesman to the people, and he himself shall be your mouth; and
you shall be to him as God. 17Now you shall take in your hand the rod that was turned into a
serpent, with which you shall work miracles.”†

                                  Moses Returns to Egypt
  18So Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “I will go and
return to my brethren in Egypt and see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to
Moses, “Go in peace.” 19Now in those days, after some time, the king of Egypt died. So the
Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return to Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are
dead.” 20Then Moses took his wife and sons and set them on beasts of burden; and he
returned to the land of Egypt, and Moses took the rod of God in his hand. 21Again, the Lord
said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you work before Pharaoh all the wonders
I put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, and he will not let the people go.† 22Then you
shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My firstborn son.† 23So I say to you, ‘Let
My people go so they may serve Me.’ But if you refuse to let them go, indeed, I will kill your
firstborn son.” ’ ”

  24Thus it came to pass on the way, at the inn, that the Angel of the Lord met him and

sought to kill him. 25Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son,
and fell at His feet and said, “The flow of blood from my son's circumcision is stopped.” 26So
He departed from him, because she said, “The flow of blood from my son's circumcision is
stopped.” 27Now the Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the desert to meet Moses.” So he went and
met him on the mountain of God, and they kissed one another. 28Then Moses reported to
Aaron all the words of the Lord which He sent to him, and all the signs which He commanded
him. 29Thus Moses and Aaron went and gathered together the elders of the children of Israel.
30Aaron then spoke all the words the Lord spoke to Moses, and he did the signs in the sight

of the people.† 31So the people believed and rejoiced because God had visited the children of
Israel and because He had seen their affliction. Then the people bowed and worshiped.

                            Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh


5 Now  after this Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of
  Israel: ‘Let My people go, so they may hold a feast to Me in the desert.’ ” 2Then Pharaoh
said, “Who is He, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor
will I let Israel go.”† 3So they said, “The God of the Hebrews has called us to Him. Let us go
three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest at any time death or
slaughter happen to us.” 4Then the king of Egypt said to them, “Why, Moses and Aaron, do
you take the people from their work? Get back to your work.” 5Again Pharaoh said, “Look, the
people of the land are many now, so let us not give them rest from their work.”
  6So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their clerks,

saying, 7“You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks as yesterday and the day
before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8Furthermore, you shall lay on them a
daily quota of bricks they are to do each day. You shall hold them to it. You shall not reduce
it, for they are loafers; therefore they cry out, saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ 9Let
the labors of these men be oppressive and cause them anxiety; and let them not pay attention
to empty words.”

  10So the taskmasters of the people and their clerks went out and spoke to the people,

saying, “Thus says Pharaoh: ‘I will not give you straw. 11Go, get it yourselves wherever you
can find it; yet nothing will be reduced from your workload.’ ” 12The people were then
dispersed throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13The taskmasters also
forced them to hurry, saying, “Fulfill your daily quota of work as when straw was given you.”
14Also the clerks from the race of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters set
over them, were beaten and questioned, “Why have you not fulfilled your task in making
bricks both yesterday and the day before, and also today?”

  15Then the clerks of Israel's sons entered and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why are you

dealing thus with your servants? 16No straw is given your servants, and they say to us, ‘Make
bricks!’ and indeed, your servants are beaten, but the fault is with your own people.” 17But he
said, “You are loafers! You are loafers! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’
18Now therefore, go and work; for no straw shall be given you; yet you shall deliver the quota

of bricks.” 19So the clerks from the children of Israel saw they were in trouble after it was
said, “You shall not reduce any bricks from your daily quota.”

 20Then as they departed from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron, who stood there to

meet them. 21They said to them, “Let the Lord look on you and judge, because you have
made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in
his hand to kill us.”†

                             God Promises Israel's Deliverance

  22So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have You brought trouble on this

people? Why is it You sent me?† 23From the time I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name,
he has afflicted this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.”


6 Then  the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a
  strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them from his land.”

  2God also spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord.† 3I appeared to Abraham, Isaac,

and Jacob as their God, but I did not reveal to them My name, Lord. 4I also established My
covenant with them to give them the land of the Canaanites, the land of their sojourn, in
which they were strangers.† 5I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom
the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I remembered My covenant. 6Therefore say to the
children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the Egyptian tyranny; I will
rescue you from their bondage and redeem you with an outstretched arm and great
judgments. 7I will take you as My people and be your God. Then you shall know I am the
Lord your God who brought you out from under the Egyptian tyranny.† 8I will also bring you
into the land I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you as a heritage:
I am the Lord.’ ” 9So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they paid no heed to
Moses because of their faintheartedness and cruel bondage.†

  10Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 11“Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to send forth

the children of Israel from his land.” 12Moses then spoke before the Lord, saying, “The
children of Israel have paid no heed to me. How then shall Pharaoh heed me, for I am not
eloquent?” 13Thus the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them a command for the
children of Israel and for Pharaoh king of Egypt, to send forth the children of Israel out of the
land of Egypt.

                            The Families of Moses and Aaron

  14Now these are the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of

Israel, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. This is the family of Reuben. 15Now the sons
of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite
woman. These are the families of Simeon. 16Now these are the names of the sons of Levi
according to their genealogy: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and Levi lived one hundred and
thirty-seven years. 17The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimi, the houses of their family.
18The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel; and Kohath lived one hundred

and thirty-three years. 19The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of
Levi according to their kindreds. 20Now Amram took as his wife Jochebed, the daughter of
his father's brother; and she bore him Aaron and Moses and Miriam their sister; and Amram
lived one hundred and thirty-seven years. 21The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and
Zichri. 22The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Zithri. 23Now Aaron took as his
wife Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon; and she bore him Nadab,
Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. This is
the genealogy of Korah. 25Eleazar, Aaron's son, took as his wife one of the daughters of
Putiel; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the families of the Levites
according to their genealogy. 26Now these are the same Aaron and Moses to whom God said,
“Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt with their army.” 27These are the
ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt.
These are the same Moses and Aaron.

                        God's Instructions to Moses and Aaron

  28In the day the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29the Lord said to him, “I am

the Lord. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you.” 30But Moses said before the
Lord, “Behold, I am weak in speech; and how shall Pharaoh heed me?”


7 Now  the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you a god to Pharaoh, and Aaron your
  brother shall be your prophet.† 2You shall speak all I command you, and Aaron your
brother shall speak to Pharaoh to send the children of Israel from his land. 3I will harden
Pharaoh's heart and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.† 4But Pharaoh
will not heed you; and I shall lay My hand on Egypt and bring My people, the children of
Israel, out of the land of Egypt with My power and great vengeance. 5Then all the Egyptians
shall know I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of
Israel from among them.”† 6Thus, as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.
7Now Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to
Pharaoh.

  8Again the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 9“When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying,
‘Show us a sign or a wonder,’ then you shall say to Aaron your brother, ‘Take your rod and
cast it on the ground before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.’ ”† 10So Moses and Aaron
went before Pharaoh and his servants, and they did so, as the Lord commanded them. Aaron
cast down his rod before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11In response,
Pharaoh called together the wise men, the sorcerers, and the charmers of Egypt, and in like
manner, they did the same with their sorceries. 12For each man threw down his rod, and they
became serpents. But Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. 13But Pharaoh's heart was
hardened, and he did not give heed to them as the Lord commanded.

                          The Plague of Water Turned to Blood

  14So the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh's heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. †
15Go to Pharaoh early in the morning, when he goes to the water, and you shall stand by the
river's bank to meet him; and you shall take in your hand the rod that turned to a serpent.
16Then you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, “Let

My people go, to serve Me in the desert”; but indeed, until now you would not hear. 17Thus
says the Lord: “By this you shall know I am the Lord. Behold, I will strike the water in the
river with the rod in my hand, and it shall be turned to blood. 18Then the fish in the river
shall die, the river shall stink, and the Egyptians will be unable to drink water from the river.”
’ ” 19Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron your brother, ‘Take your rod in your hand
and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over their rivers, their canals, their
ponds, and all their standing water, so they may become blood. There shall be blood
throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and of stone.’ ”

  20So Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded them. Aaron lifted his hand with
the rod and struck the waters in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants. Then all
the waters in the river were turned to blood. 21The fish in the river died, the river stank, and
the Egyptians could not drink water from the river. So there was blood throughout all the
land of Egypt. 22Then the sorcerers of Egypt did the same with their sorceries; and Pharaoh's
heart was hardened, and he did not heed them, as the Lord said. † 23Pharaoh then turned and
went to his house. Neither was his heart moved by this.† 24So all the Egyptians dug around
the river for water to drink, because they could not drink water from the river. 25Then seven
days passed after the Lord struck the river.

                                     The Plague of Frogs

 26Now the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let

My people go to serve Me. 27But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your
territory with frogs. 28So the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and
come into your house, into your bedroom, on your bed, into the houses of your servants, on
your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls. 29The frogs shall come up on
you, your people, and all your servants.” ’ ”


8 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron your brother, ‘Stretch out your hand with
  your rod over the rivers, the canals, and the pools, and cause frogs to come up on the land
of Egypt.’ ” 2So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up
and covered the land of Egypt. 3Then the sorcerers did the same with their sorceries and
brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.

  4Pharaoh then called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, and let Him
take away the frogs from me and my people; and I will let the people go and sacrifice to the
Lord.”† 5Moses replied to Pharaoh, “Appoint me a time when I shall pray for you, for your
servants, and for your people to make the frogs disappear from you, your people, and your
houses. Only in the river will they remain.” 6So Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow.” Moses then said,
“Let it be according to your word, that you may know this is none other than the Lord.† 7Now
the frogs shall depart from you, your houses, your servants, and your people. They shall
remain in the river only.”

  8Then Moses and Aaron departed from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the Lord about the

time He had agreed to, concerning the frogs He had brought against Pharaoh. 9So the Lord
did just as Moses said, and the frogs died away from the houses, the villages, and the fields.
10Then they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. 11But when Pharaoh saw

there was relief, his heart was hardened; and he did not heed them, as the Lord said.†

                                      The Plague of Lice

  12Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod and strike the dust of
the land, that it may become lice on men, on four-footed animals, and throughout all the land
of Egypt.’ ” 13Thus Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth,
and it became lice on man and four-footed animals; and there were lice in all the dust of the
land. 14Now the sorcerers so worked with their sorceries to bring forth lice, but they could
not; and there were lice on man and four-footed animals. 15Then the sorcerers said to
Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not heed
them, as the Lord said.†

                                     The Plague of Flies

  16Again the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he
goes to the water. Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let My people go to serve Me in the
desert. 17Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send the dog-fly on you and
your servants, and on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be
filled with the dog-fly, and also the ground on which they stand. 18Now on that day I will set
apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no dog-fly be there, that you may
know I am the Lord, the Lord of all the earth.† 19I will make a difference between My people
and your people. Tomorrow this shall be a sign in the land.” ’ ” 20So the Lord did thus; and
the dog-fly came in abundance into the houses of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and
into all the land of Egypt, and the land was destroyed by the dog-fly.

  21Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God in the

land.” 22But Moses said, “It is not right to do so, for we would be sacrificing the abomination
of the Egyptians to the Lord our God. If we should sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians
before their eyes, they would stone us. 23We will go three days’ journey into the desert and
sacrifice to the Lord our God, as He said to us.” 24Pharaoh then said, “I will send you away,
and you shall sacrifice to the Lord your God in the desert; only you shall not go very far away,
and then pray for me to the Lord.” 25Then Moses said, “Indeed, I will go out from you and
pray to God, and tomorrow the dog-fly will depart from you, and from your servants and your
people. But let Pharaoh not deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go sacrifice to
the Lord.”

  26So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to God. 27Thus the Lord did as Moses said
and removed the dog-fly from Pharaoh, his servants, and his people. Not one remained.
28But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go.†

                              The Plague of Diseased Cattle


9 Now the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord
  God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go so they may serve Me. 2But if you refuse to let
them go and still hold them, 3behold, the hand of the Lord will be on your cattle in the fields
—on the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the oxen, and the sheep—a very severe pestilence.
4Then I will make a clear distinction between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt. So
nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.” ’ ”

  5Then God appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.”
6So the Lord did this thing on the next day, and all the cattle of the Egyptians died; but of the

cattle of the children of Israel, not one died. 7Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one
among the cattle of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he
did not let the people go.†

                                      The Plague of Boils

  8So the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a

furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward heaven in the sight of Pharaoh; 9and let it become
dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils to break out in sores on man and beast
throughout all the land of Egypt.” 10So they took ashes from the furnace and stood before
Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven; and they caused boils to break out in
sores on man and beast. 11Now the sorcerers could not stand before Moses because of the
sores, for the sores were on the sorcerers and in all the land of Egypt. 12But the Lord
hardened Pharaoh's heart; and he did not heed them, as the Lord said to Moses.

                                       The Plague of Hail

  13Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and
say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, so they may serve
Me, 14for at this time I will send all My plagues into your very heart, and on your servants
and your people, that you may know there is not another such as I in all the earth.† 15For
now I will stretch forth My hand and smite you and kill your people, and you will be cut off
from the earth. 16But for this very reason were you preserved, that I might display in you My
strength, and that My name might be declared in all the earth. 17As yet, you exalt yourself
against My people in that you will not let them go.† 18Behold, tomorrow about this time, I
will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until
now. 19Therefore, hurry now and gather your cattle and all you have in the fields, for the hail
shall come down on every man and animal found in the fields; and whatever is not brought
home shall die.” ’ ” 20Thus he who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of
Pharaoh gathered his cattle into the houses.† 21But he who did not regard the word of the
Lord left his servants and cattle in the field.

  22Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, and there shall be
hail in all the land of Egypt—both on man and cattle, and on every herb of the field,
throughout the land of Egypt.” 23So Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the Lord
sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. Thus the Lord rained hail on the land of
Egypt. 24This hail and the fire mingled with it were so very heavy, there was none like it in all
the land of Egypt since it became a nation; and 25throughout the whole land of Egypt it
struck both man and cattle and every herb of the field, and broke every tree of the field.
26Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.

  27Then Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron and said to them, “I have sinned this

time. The Lord is righteous, and my people and I are ungodly. 28Therefore, pray for me to the
Lord, and let Him cause the thunderings of God to cease, and the hail and fire, for I will let
you go and you shall stay no longer.” 29So Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of
the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease, and there will be no
more hail and rain, that you may know the earth is the Lord's. 30But as for you and your
servants, I know you will not yet fear the Lord.” 31Now the flax and the barley were struck,
for the barley was ripe and the flax was beginning to seed. 32But as for the wheat and the rye,
they were not struck, for they were late crops.

  33So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to the Lord; then

the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth. 34Thus when
Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder ceased, he sinned yet more; and he
hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants. 35So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened;
neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord said to Moses.

                                    The Plague of Locusts


10 Now  the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the
   heart of his servants, that these signs may come upon them;† 2and that you may tell in
the hearing of your children and your children's children, in how many things I mocked the
Egyptians, and My wonders I wrought among them; and you shall know I am the Lord.”†
  3So Moses and Aaron came in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord God of the
Hebrews: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go so they
may serve Me.† 4Or else, if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring an
abundance of locusts into your territory. 5And they shall cover the face of the earth, so no
one will be able to see the earth; and they shall eat the residue of what is left of the land's
abundance which remains to you from the hail, and they shall eat every tree which grows up
for you out of the field. 6They shall fill your houses, the houses of all your servants, and the
houses of all the Egyptians—which neither your fathers nor their forefathers saw, since the
day they were on the earth to this day.’ ” So Moses turned and went out from Pharaoh.

  7Then Pharaoh's servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the
men go so they may serve their God. Do you not yet know Egypt is destroyed?”

  8So Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve the

Lord your God, but who are the ones going?” 9Moses replied, “We will go with our young and
old; with our sons and daughters, with our sheep and oxen, for we must hold a feast to the
Lord.” 10Then he said to them, “Let the Lord be with you when I let you and your little ones
go, but not your belongings, for evil lies before you. 11Not so, but let the men go and serve
God, for that is what you desired.” Then they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.

  12Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt, and let the
locusts come upon the land of Egypt and eat every herb of the land—everything the hail left.”
13So Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven, and the Lord brought a south wind on the

land all that day and night. When it was morning, the south wind brought the locusts; 14and
the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested in very great abundance on all the
territory of Egypt. Previously there were no such locusts as they, nor shall there be such after
them. 15For they covered the face of the land, and the land was wasted. They ate every herb
of the land and all the fruit of the trees left by the hail. There remained nothing green on the
trees or on the plants of the field throughout all the land of Egypt.

  16Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and said, “I have sinned against the

Lord your God and against you.† 17Now therefore, pardon my sin yet this time, and pray to
the Lord your God that He take away from me this death.” 18So Moses went out from
Pharaoh and prayed to God. 19Then the Lord brought in from the opposite direction a strong
wind from the sea, which took the locusts away and blew them into the Red Sea. There
remained not one locust in all the territory of Egypt. 20But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's
heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.

                                   The Plague of Darkness

  21Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven and let there be

darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that may be felt.”† 22So Moses stretched out his
hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.
23No one saw his brother for three days; nor did anyone rise from his bed for three days. But
all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

  24Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord your God; only let your

sheep and oxen be kept back. Let your belongings also go with you.” 25But Moses said, “No,
but you must give us whole burnt offerings and sacrifices that we may sacrifice to the Lord
our God. 26Thus our cattle shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind. For we must take
some of them to serve the Lord our God, and even we do not know in what manner we shall
serve the Lord our God until we arrive there.”

  27But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. 28Then Pharaoh
said to him, “Depart from me. Take heed to yourself that you see my face no more. For in the
day you see my face, you shall die.” 29So Moses said, “You have spoken well. I will never see
your face again.”

                             Death of the Firstborn Announced


11 Now  the Lord said to Moses, “I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt.
   Afterward, he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out
of here. 2Speak now secretly in the hearing of the people, and let everyone ask from his
neighbor articles of silver and gold and clothing.” 3So the Lord gave the people grace in the
sight of the Egyptians, and they lent to them. Moreover, the man Moses was very great before
the Egyptians and before Pharaoh and all his servants.†

 4Then Moses said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the

midst of Egypt; 5and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of
Pharaoh who sits on his throne even to the firstborn of the female servant behind the
handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. 6Then there shall be a great cry throughout all
the land of Egypt such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. 7But against not
even one of the descendants of Israel, be it man or cattle, shall a dog snarl its tongue, that you
may know the Lord shall make a wide distinction between the Egyptians and Israel.’ 8And all
these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Go from here, and
all the people who follow you.’ After that I will go out.” Then he went out from Pharaoh in
great anger.

 9But the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not heed you, that I may multiply My signs and

wonders in the land of Egypt.” 10So Moses and Aaron did all these signs and wonders in the
land of Egypt before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the
children of Israel depart from the land of Egypt.†

                                         The Passover

                                                                                   2
12 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, “This month†
     shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.
3Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth day of this
month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the family households, a lamb
for each home.† 4If there be too few in a household, let him and his neighbor next to his
house take it according to the number of souls; he will make his count in lambs according to
the needs of each one. 5Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You
shall take it from the sheep or the kids. 6Then you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of
the same month, and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.
7Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of

the houses where they eat it.† 8They shall eat the flesh on that night, roasted in fire; with
unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with
water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrails. 10You shall let none of it
remain until morning, nor shall you break a bone of it; and what remains of it until morning
you shall burn with fire.† 11Thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on
your feet, and your staff in your hand. You shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Pascha.† 12For
I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night and will strike all the firstborn in the land
of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute vengeance: I am
the Lord. 13Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I
see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I
strike the land of Egypt.† 14So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a
feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting
ordinance.†

                            CHRIST OUR PASSOVER

Passover, the central rite and symbol of Judaism, is based on the experience of the liberation
of the Hebrew people from bondage in Egypt (Ex 12:1—15:21). It is called Passover both
because the Lord passed over the homes of the Hebrews, sparing them from the death that
came to the first-born in Egypt, and because the Hebrews passed over the Red Sea as if it
were dry land. Passover celebrates God’s steadfast love and devotion to His people and their
freedom in Him.

  Throughout the rest of the Old Testament, Passover preeminently signifies God’s rescue
and forging together of His chosen people, Israel. The Lord repeatedly brings this event to
mind as He encourages and exhorts His people to return to their covenantal responsibilities
(Jdg 6:7–10; 1Kg 10:17–19; Ps 80:10, 11; Jer 11:1–8; Mic 6:1–8).

  Through His saving work, Christ becomes our Passover (pascha in Greek). Through Him
we experience liberation from sin, death, and the devil. St. Paul exclaims, “Christ, our
Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast” (1Co 5:7, 8). He is the Paschal
Lamb (Is 53:7; Jn 1:29; Rev 5:6–14) who gave Himself up in sacrifice “once for all” (Heb
10:10–14) to reconcile us with God. At every Pascha—“Easter”—the Church sings:

  Today a sacred Pascha is revealed to us, a new and holy Pascha, a mystical Pascha, a Pascha
worthy of veneration, a Pascha which is Christ the Redeemer.

  In many typological details, the Passover of the Jews clearly points towards Christ as our
Passover.

  1 The Passover lamb, whose blood was smeared by the Hebrews on their doorposts in the
sign of the Cross, was a male without blemish; Jesus was a male without blemish who died
on the Cross.

  2 The blood of the Passover lamb saved the first-born of the Hebrews from death; the blood
of Christ saves all those believing in Him from eternal death (Rom 5:8–10; 1Pt 1:17–19).
  3 The Passover lamb had none of its bones broken (Ex 12:10, 46); Jesus also had no bones
broken as He was sacrificed (Jn 19:31–36).

  4 The Hebrews escaped from the burden of slavery in Egypt by passing through the Red
Sea; Christians pass “from Egypt, from the burden of sin,” being “set free and saved” through
the waters of Holy Baptism (GrgNy). For in the waters of Baptism, we are “baptized into His
death,” “crucified with Him,” and raised up “in the likeness of His resurrection” to “walk in
newness of life” (Rom 6:3–11).

  St. John Chrysostom marvels at the power of Christ’s blood:

    If the type of it had such great power . . . in the midst of Egypt, when smeared on the
    doorposts, much more the reality. . . . if death so shuddered at the shadow, tell me
    how would it not have dreaded the very reality? This blood is the salvation of our
    souls; by it the soul is washed, and made beautiful and . . . more gleaming than gold
    (see Rev 7:13, 14).

  Sustained and strengthened by the blood of Christ our Passover, we resume daily our
journey to the eternal promised land, the promised kingdom to come.


  15‘Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven
from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day,
that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 16On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and
on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No servile work shall be done on
them; and whatever must be done by each soul, this only shall be done by you.† 17So you
shall keep this commandment, for on this same day I will bring your army out of the land of
Egypt. Therefore, you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting
ordinance. 18In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat
unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19For seven days no
leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that soul shall be
cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land. 20You
shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.’ ”

  21Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go away and take a lamb

for yourselves according to your families, and sacrifice the Pascha. 22Then you shall take a
bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts
with the blood in the basin. But none of you shall go out from the door of his house until
morning.† 23For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the
blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass by the door and not allow the
destroyer to come into your houses to strike you.† 24Now you shall observe this thing as an
ordinance for you and your children forever. 25So if you enter the land the Lord shall give
you, as He promised, you shall keep this service. 26Thus it shall be, when your children say to
you, ‘What does this service mean?’ 27that you shall say, ‘This is the Paschal sacrifice of the
Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the
Egyptians and delivered our households.’ ” So the people bowed down and worshiped.
28Then the children of Israel went away and did as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron;
so they did.

                        The Plague of the Death of the Firstborn

  29Now it came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of
Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive
woman in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the cattle. 30So Pharaoh rose in the night, he,
all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in all the land of Egypt, for
there was not a house where there was not one dead.† 31Then he called for Moses and Aaron
by night and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel.
Go and serve the Lord as you said. 32Take also your sheep and oxen and go, and bless me as
well.” 33The Egyptians also urged the people so as to send them out of the land in haste. For
they said, “We shall all be dead.”† 34So the people took their dough before it was leavened,
having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35Thus the
children of Israel did as Moses commanded them, and they asked from the Egyptians articles
of silver, gold, and clothing. 36Now the Lord gave the people grace in the sight of the
Egyptians, who lent to them. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

                                         The Exodus

  37Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred

thousand men on foot, besides their belongings. 38A mixed multitude also went up with
them, along with sheep, oxen, and a great deal of cattle.† 39Then they baked unleavened
cakes of the dough which they brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because the
Egyptians drove them out; and they could not remain, nor had they prepared for themselves
provisions for the journey. 40Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt
and in the land of Canaan was four hundred and thirty years. 41Then it came to pass at the
end of the four hundred and thirty years that the entire army of the Lord went out from the
land of Egypt by night. 42It is a night of vigil to the Lord for bringing them out of the land of
Egypt. This is that night of vigil to the Lord for all the children of Israel throughout their
generations.

                                    Paschal Regulations

   43Now the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the law of Pascha: no foreigner shall eat

it. 44But every man's servant bought with money, when you circumcise him, then he may eat
it. 45A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it. 46In one house it shall be eaten; you
shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. 47All
the congregation of the children of Israel shall keep it. 48But when a stranger dwells with you
and wants to keep the Lord's Pascha, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come
near and sacrifice it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person
shall eat it. 49One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among
you.” 50Thus all the children of Israel did; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so they
did. 51So it came to pass, on that very same day, that the Lord brought the children of Israel
out of the land of Egypt with their army.ω

                              Sanctification of the Firstborn

        the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 2“Sanctify to Me all the firstborn, the first-
13 Now
   begotten, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both man and cattle;
it is Mine.”

                              The Feast of Unleavened Bread

  3Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day, in which you went out from the land
of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from
this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. 4On this day you are going out, in the month of
new grains. 5And it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of the
Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Gergesites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, and the
Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey,
that you shall keep this service in this month. 6Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread,
and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. 7Unleavened bread shall be eaten
seven days, and no leavened bread shall be seen among you; nor shall leaven be seen among
you in all your regions. 8Then you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done
because of what the Lord my God did for me when I came up from Egypt.’ 9It shall be as a
sign to you on your hand and as a memorial before your eyes, that the Lord's law may be in
your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord God brought you out of Egypt. 10You shall
therefore keep this law according to the times of the seasons from year to year.

                                Tradition of the Firstborn

  11“Then it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as

He swore to your fathers, and gives it to you, 12that you shall set apart to the Lord all that
open the womb, that is, every male, everything that opens the womb from the herds or
among your cattle; as many as you shall have, you shall sanctify the males to the Lord. 13But
every offspring that opens the womb of a donkey you shall exchange for a sheep; but if you
will not exchange it, you shall redeem it; and every firstborn of man among your sons you
shall redeem. 14So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’
that you shall say to him, ‘With a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the
house of bondage. 15Thus it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go,
that the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the
firstborn of cattle. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all males that open the womb, but all the
firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 16It shall be as a sign on your hand and immoveable before
your eyes, for with a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”

                               Pillar of Cloud, Pillar of Fire

  17Thus when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the
Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their
minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” 18So God led the people around by way of the
desert to the Red Sea, and in the fifth generation the children of Israel went up from the land
of Egypt. 19Now Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of
Israel under solemn oath, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones
from here with you.” 20So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham by the
desert.ω 21Moreover, God led them, by day in a pillar of cloud to show them the way, and by
night in a pillar of fire. 22Thus the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not
depart from before all the people.†

                                     Crossing the Red Sea

      Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Speak to the children of Israel that they turn
14 and camp at the village between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall
camp before them by the sea. 3For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are
wandering in the land; the desert has closed them in.’ 4Then I will harden Pharaoh's heart,
and he will pursue them; and I will be glorified in Pharaoh and over all his army, that the
Egyptians may know I am the Lord.” So they did.†

  5Now it was told the king of the Egyptians that the people had fled, and the heart of
Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, “Why have we done
this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6So he made ready his chariot and took his
people with him. 7Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with
captains over every one of them. 8Thus the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt
and his servants, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out
with a high hand. 9So the Egyptians pursued them, all the cavalry and chariots of Pharaoh,
his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the village opposite Baal Zephon.

  10Now when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the
Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to
the Lord. 11Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken
us away to die in the desert? Why have you so dealt with us to bring us up out of Egypt? 12Is
this not the word we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the
Egyptians’? For it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert.”

  13Then Moses said to the people, “Be of good courage. Stand still and see the Lord's
salvation which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you
will never see again. 14The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

  15Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go
forward.†ω 16Now lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it; and
let the children of Israel go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17I indeed will
harden Pharaoh's heart and all the Egyptians, and they will go in after them. So I will be
glorified in Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horses. 18Then the Egyptians
will know I am the Lord, when I am glorified upon Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horses.”

  19Now the Angel of God who went before the camp of Israel moved and went behind them;

and the pillar of cloud also went from before them and stood behind them.† 20So it came
between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel, and the night passed; but there
was such darkness and blackness, they did not come near one another all that night. 21Then
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord carried back the sea by a strong
south wind all that night and made the sea dry ground. Thus the waters were divided.† 22So
the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a
wall to them on their right hand and on their left.† 23Then the Egyptians pursued and went
after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and horsemen. 24Now it
came to pass, in the morning watch, the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians
through the pillar of fire and cloud; and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. 25He bound
the axles of their chariot wheels and caused them to proceed with difficulty; and the
Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the
Egyptians.”

  26Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so the waters may

come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots and the riders.” 27So Moses stretched out
his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth,
while the Egyptians were trying to flee. But the Lord shook off the Egyptians in the midst of
the sea.† 28Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all of
Pharaoh's army that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained.
29But the children of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea. The waters were a

wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 30So the Lord saved Israel that day from
the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31Thus Israel
saw the Lord's mighty hand and the things He did to the Egyptians; therefore, the people
feared the Lord and believed God and His servant Moses.

                                    The Song of Moses
15 Now Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to God and spoke, saying:
    “Let us sing to the Lord, for He is greatly glorified.

    Horse and rider He has thrown into the sea. †

    2
         The Lord becam e m y helper and the shield of m y salv ation;

    He is m y God, and I will glorify Him ;

    My father's God, and I will exalt Him . †

    3
         The Lord brings wars to nothing;

    The Lord is His nam e.

    4
         Pharaoh's chariots and arm y He cast into the sea;

    His chosen captains also were drowned in the Red Sea.

    5
         The sea cov ered them ;

    They sank to the bottom like a stone.

    6
         “Your right hand, O God, is glorified in strength;

    Your right hand, O God, dashed the enem y in pieces. †

    7
         In the greatness of Your glory

    You broke the adv ersaries to pieces;

    You sent forth Your wrath;

    It consum ed them like stubble.

    8
         By the Spirit of Your anger the waters were gathered together;

    The wav es stood upright in the m idst of the sea;

    The depths congealed in the heart of the sea. †

    9
         The enem y said, ‘I will pursue, I will ov ertake, I will div ide the spoils;

    I will satisfy m y soul;

    I will destroy with m y sword;

    My hand shall hav e dom inion.’

    10
         You sent forth Your Spirit;

    The sea cov ered them ;

    They sank like lead in the m ighty waters.

    11
         “Who is like You, O Lord, am ong the gods?

    Who is like You, glorified in holiness,

    Marv elous in praises, doing wonders?

    12
         You stretched out Your right hand;

    The earth swallowed them up.

    13
         In righteousness You guided Your people whom You redeem ed;
    In strength You called them to Your holy resting place.

    14
         “The nations heard and were angry ;

    Pangs seized the inhabitants of Philistia.

    15
         The princes of Edom

    And the chiefs of the Moabites were dism ay ed;

    Trem bling took hold of them ;

    All the inhabitants of Canaan m elted away .

    16
         Fear and dread fell upon them ;

    By the greatness of Your arm , let them becom e as stone

    Till Your people pass ov er, O Lord,

    Till Your people pass ov er, whom You purchased. †

    17
         Bring them in and plant them in the m ountain of their inheritance,

    In Your prepared habitation, O Lord, which Your hands m ade ready ;

    The sanctuary , O Lord, which Your hands established.

    18
         “The Lord reigns forev er and ev er and ev er.”

  19For Pharaoh's horses went with his chariots and horsemen into the sea, and the Lord
brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel walked on dry
ground in the midst of the sea.

                                                           The Song of Miriam

  20Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all

the women went out after her with timbrels and dances. 21So Miriam led them:

    “Let us sing to the Lord, for He is greatly glorified.

    Horse and rider He cast into the sea.” †

                                                    Bitter Waters Sweetened

  22Thus Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of

Shur. They went three days in the desert and found no water to drink.† 23Now when they
came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore he
named that place Bitterness.† 24Then the people complained against Moses, saying, “What
shall we drink?” 25So he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it
into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for
them. There He proved him† 26and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your
God and do what is pleasing in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His
ordinances, I will put none of the diseases on you that I brought on the Egyptians; for I am
the Lord your God who heals you.”†

   27Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve fountains of water and seventy palm

trees; so they camped there by the waters.†

                                      Manna and Quail


16 Now  they journeyed from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came
   to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the
second month after they departed from the land of Egypt. 2Then the whole congregation of
the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron.† 3The children of Israel said to
them, “Would we had died, smitten by the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots
of meat and ate bread to the full. For you brought us out into this desert to kill this whole
assembly with hunger.”† 4Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread out of
heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may
test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.† 5So it shall be on the sixth day, they
shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.”

  6Then Moses and Aaron said to all the congregation of the children of Israel, “At evening

you shall know the Lord brought you out of the land of Egypt. 7In the morning you shall see
the Lord's glory; for He hears your complaints against God. But what are we, that you
complain against us?” 8Also Moses said, “The Lord's glory shall be seen when He gives you
meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to the full; for the Lord hears your
complaints you make against Him. But what are we? Your complaints are not against us but
against God.”

  9Then Moses spoke to Aaron, “Say to all the congregation of the children of Israel, ‘Come

near before God, for He has heard your complaints.’ ” 10Now when Aaron spoke to the whole
congregation of the children of Israel, they looked toward the desert, and behold, the Lord's
glory appeared in the cloud. 11Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12“I have heard the
complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat,
and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know I am the Lord your
God.’ ”
  13So it was that quail came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the

dew lay all around the camp.† 14But when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the
desert, was a small round substance, white like coriander seed, like frost on the ground. 15So
when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is this?” For they did not
know what it was. Thus Moses said to them, “This is the bread the Lord gives you to eat.
16This is what the Lord has ordered, ‘Let every man gather it for his family, one omer
according to the head count and number of souls among you. Each one should gather it with
those who share your tents.’ ”

  17Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. 18So when they
measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered
little had no lack. Each one gathered according to the need of those sharing the tent with
him.† 19Moses then said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” 20Notwithstanding, they
did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and
stank. So Moses was angry with them.† 21Thus they gathered it every morning, every man
according to his need, and when the sun became hot, it melted.

  22So it was, on the sixth day, they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one;

and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. 23Then he said to them, “This is
the word the Lord has spoken: ‘Tomorrow is the Sabbath, a holy rest to the Lord. Bake what
you will bake, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains to be
kept until morning.’ ” 24So they laid it up till morning as Moses commanded them; but it did
not stink, nor were there any worms in it. 25Then Moses said, “Eat that today, for today is a
Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26Six days you shall gather it, but
on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, there will be none.”

  27Now it happened that some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they

found none. 28Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep My
commandments and My laws? 29Behold, for the Lord has given you this day as the Sabbath;
therefore, on the sixth day He gives you bread for two days. Let every man remain in his
house; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.”† 30Thus the people rested on the
seventh day.

  31Now the children of Israel called its name manna, and it was white like coriander seed,
and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. 32Then Moses said, “This is the thing the
Lord commanded: ‘Fill an omer with the manna to be kept for your generations, so they may
see the bread you ate in the desert when the Lord led you out of the land of Egypt.’ ” 33Moses
then said to Aaron, “Take a golden pot, put one full omer of the manna in it, and lay it up
before God to be kept for your generations.”† 34As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid
it up before the testimony to be kept. 35Thus the children of Israel ate the manna forty years
until they came to an inhabited land; they ate the manna until they came to the border of
Phoenicia. 36Now an omer was the tenth part of three measures.

                                   Water from the Rock


17 Now  all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the Wilderness of Sin,
   according to their encampments and by the word of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim;
but there was no water for the people to drink. 2Therefore the people contended with Moses,
saying, “Give us water, that we may drink.” Moses then said to them, “Why do you contend
with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?” 3Thus the people thirsted there for water, and the
people complained against Moses and said, “Why is it you brought us up out of Egypt to kill
us, our children, and our cattle with thirst?” 4So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What
shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

  5Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go before this people and take with you some of the elders

of Israel. Also take in your hand the rod with which you struck the river and go. 6Behold, I
will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will
come out of it so the people may drink.” So Moses did so before the children of Israel.† 7Thus
he called the name of that place Temptation and Abuse, because of the abusive language of
the children of Israel and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or
not?”

                                   Victory over Amalek

  8Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9So Moses said to Joshua,
“Choose for yourself some mighty men and go out, and set the army in array against Amalek.
Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10So Joshua did
as Moses said to him and set the army in array against Amalek. Then Moses, Aaron, and Hur
went up to the top of the hill. 11And so it was, when Moses held up his hands, that Israel
prevailed; but when he let down his hands, Amalek prevailed.† 12Now Moses’ hands became
heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur
supported his hands, one on one side, and one on the other; and his hands were steady until
the going down of the sun.† 13So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the
sword.

  14Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in a book and recount it in the
hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under
heaven.” 15Now Moses built an altar and called its name The-Lord-My-Refuge; 16for with a
secret hand the Lord wars with Amalek from generation to generation.

                                Jethro's Visit and Counsel


18 Now Jethro the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard about all God did for
   Moses and for Israel His people—that the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt. 2Then
Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he sent her back 3with her
two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, “I was a sojourner in a foreign
land”)† 4and the name of the other was Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father is my help,
and He rescued me from the hand of Pharaoh”); 5and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came
with his sons and his wife to Moses in the desert, where he encamped at the mountain of
God.

  6Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife

and two sons with her.” 7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and
kissed him. Thus they greeted one another, and he brought them into the tent. 8Then Moses
told his father-in-law all the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to all the Egyptians for Israel's
sake, and all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the Lord had
delivered them out of the hand of Pharaoh and from the hand of the Egyptians. 9Then Jethro
was amazed at all the good things the Lord had done for Israel, whom He delivered out of the
hand of Pharaoh and from the hand of the Egyptians. 10Then Jethro said, “Blessed be the
Lord, who delivered you out of the hand of Pharaoh and from the hand of the Egyptians.
11Now I know the Lord is great above all the gods; for this reason they did not prevail over

them.” 12Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for
God, for Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before
God.
  13So it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood

before Moses from morning until evening. 14So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all he did for
the people, he said, “What is this thing you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit,
and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”† 15Then Moses said to his
father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to seek judgment from God. 16When they
have a dispute, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known
the ordinances of God and His laws.” 17So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing you
are doing is not good. 18Both you and these people with you will surely wear yourselves out.
For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.

  19“Now listen to me; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God

for the people that you may bring their concerns to God. 20Teach them God's ordinances and
laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the works they are to do.
21Moreover, you shall select from all the people able men such as fear God, just men, hating
covetousness; and set them over the people to be rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and
tens. 22Let them judge the people at all times. Then every great matter they shall bring to
you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they
will relieve and help you. 23If you do this thing, God will strengthen you; then you will be
able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”

  24So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all he said. 25Thus Moses chose
able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands,
hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26They judged the people at all times; all the hard cases they
brought to Moses, but the small ones they judged themselves. 27Then Moses let his father-
in-law depart, and he returned to his own land.

                                         Israel at Sinai


19 Now  in the third month after the children of Israel departed from the land of Egypt, on
   the same day, they came into the Sinai Desert. 2For they departed from Rephidim,
came into the Sinai Desert, and camped in the desert. So Israel camped there before the
mountain.

  3Then Moses went up to the mountain of God, and God called to him from the mountain,
saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the children of Israel: 4‘You have
seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to
Myself.† 5Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall
be a special people to Me above all nations; for all the earth is Mine. 6You shall be to Me a
royal priesthood and a holy nation.’ These are the words you shall speak to the children of
Israel.”†

 7So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these

words the Lord commanded him. 8Then all the people answered with one accord and said,
“Everything the Lord said we will do and hearken to.” So Moses reported these words to
God.† 9The Lord then said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the pillar of cloud, that the
people may hear when I speak with you and believe you forever.” So Moses reported the
words of the people to the Lord.

  10Again the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and solemnly charge the people and sanctify

them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.ω 11Let them be ready for the
third day, for on the third day the Lord will descend upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the
people. 12You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves that
you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall
surely die. 13Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow;
whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the thunders, the trumpets, and the cloud
depart from the mountain, they shall ascend the mountain.”

  14So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified them, and they

washed their clothes.† 15Then he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not come
near your wives.”

  16So it was that on the third day in the morning, there were thunderings and lightnings and
a dark cloud on Mount Sinai; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, and all the people
in the camp trembled. 17And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God,
and they stood at the foot of the mountain.† 18Now Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in
smoke, because God descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a
furnace, and the people were exceedingly amazed. 19And when the blast of the trumpet
sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.†
  20Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain, and the Lord

called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21Then God spoke to Moses,
“Go down and solemnly charge the people, lest they break through to gaze at God, and many
of them perish. 22Also let the priests who come near the Lord God sanctify themselves, lest
He destroy some of them.” 23But Moses said to God, “The people cannot come up to Mount
Sinai; for You solemnly charged us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and sanctify it.’
” 24The Lord then said to him, “Go! Go down and then come up, you and Aaron with you. But
do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to God, lest the Lord destroy
some of them.” 25So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

                                The Ten Commandments

      Now the Lord spoke all these words, saying:†
20
  2“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of

bondage.† 3You shall have no other gods before Me.†

  4“You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in heaven above, or in

the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth.† 5You shall not bow down to them or
serve them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, recompensing the sins of the fathers
on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me;† 6but showing
mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

                            THE GRACE OF CHRIST
                           AND THE LAW OF MOSES

The Apostle John wrote, “The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ” (Jn 1:17). The grace of Christ and the Law of Moses are
complementary, not contradictory. The following helps explain both.

                   FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND MOSES

  Christ and Moses were friends and conversed as friends. The pre-incarnate Christ gave
Moses the Law; in turn, Moses gave it to Israel (Ex 20:1–26). As the Lawgiver, Christ, not
Moses, was the Author of the Law. Moses was His servant.

  In the New Testament, Moses and Elijah appeared with Christ on the Mount of
Transfiguration, and they conversed with Him as friend with friend (Mt 17:1–8). The
presence of Moses shows Christ as the fulfillment of the Law. The presence of Elijah shows
Christ as the fulfillment of the Prophets.

                     CONTRAST BETWEEN CHRIST AND MOSES

  Christ is incomparably greater than Moses, for Christ, the Son of God, who brought all
creation into existence from nonexistence, is building His Church. When Christ gave Moses
and Israel the Law, He spoke as the Lord their God. Moses, however, spoke to Israel in the
name of the Lord their God, not in his own name (Ex 20:22). When the Son of God became
incarnate, He continued to speak to Israel, but now directly and not through a prophet.
Although during His three-year ministry in Israel, He did works and spoke words in His
almighty power, Israel refused to believe Him, their own Lord God. But to those Jews who
did believe, He gave authority to become His children (Jn 1:11, 12).

  Christ also gave authority to believing Gentiles to become His children. In the Old
Testament, He made it clear through Moses and His prophets the Gentiles would be included
in promises to Israel (for example, Gn 12:1–3; Is 49:5, 6). Both would be in His Church. Race
is not the issue, but rather faith in Christ. His Church is one, composed of every nation,
tongue and tribe (Rev 5:9).

                        HARMONYBETWEEN LAW AND GRACE

  Christ is the Lawgiver in both Old and New Testaments. Therefore, there is no opposition
or contradiction between the old and new laws. In His Incarnation, the Lawgiver Himself
fulfilled the old Law, making it obsolete (Heb 8:13).

  Christ gave His written Law through Moses to make sin known (Rom 3:20; 7:7). Man’s
God-given natural law, written in the conscience, was dulled through disobedience in the
years between Adam and Moses. The Mosaic Law helped renew this knowledge of sin to lead
man to repentance. After His Ascension, Christ sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to convict
the world of sin (Jn 16:8), to renew the natural law in man’s conscience (Heb 8:10), to lead us
into all truth (Jn 16:13), and to make it possible for us to become partakers of the divine
nature (2Pt 1:4).

                              GRACE FROM THE LAWGIVER
  Christ is the Incarnate Lawgiver who offers us remission of sins through His precious
blood. The old Law could never remit sins (Heb 10:1–4). Christ not only forgives sins, but
also heals the damage done through sinning. This is the unspeakable grace of the Lawgiver.


  7“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him
guiltless who takes His name in vain.

  8“Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. 9Six days you shall labor and do all your

work, 10but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work:
neither you, nor your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, your cattle,
nor your stranger who sojourns with you. 11For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed
the Sabbath Day and hallowed it.

  12“Honor your father and mother that it may be well with you, and your days may be long

upon the good land the Lord your God is giving you.†

  13“You shall not murder.†

  14“You shall not commit adultery.

  15“You shall not steal.

  16“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

  17“You shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his house, and neither shall you covet his
field, nor his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, any of his cattle, or
whatever belongs to your neighbor.”†

                                   The People Tremble

  18Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the
trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw this, they trembled and stood
afar off. 19Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God
speak with us, lest we die.”† 20And Moses said to the people, “Be of good courage, for God is
come to test you, that His fear may be among you so you may not sin.” 21So the people stood
afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.†

                                      Making an Altar

  22Then the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and report it to

the children of Israel: ‘You have seen that I talked with you from heaven. 23You shall not
make for yourselves gods of silver, and gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves. 24An
altar of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your whole burnt offerings,
your peace offerings, your sheep and your calves. In every place where I record My name I
will come to you and bless you.† 25If you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of
hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you defile it. 26Nor shall you go up by steps to My
altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.’
                                      Buying a Servant

        “Now these are the ordinances you shall set before them:† 2If you buy a Hebrew
21 servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay
nothing. 3If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in married, then
his wife shall go out with him. 4If his lord gave him a wife, and she bore him sons or
daughters, the wife and her children shall be her lord's, and he shall go out by himself. 5But if
the servant plainly says, ‘I love my lord, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’†
6then his lord shall bring him to the judgment seat of God, and also to the door, or to the
doorpost, and his lord shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.

                             IMAGES AND IMAGERY

Many people have been taught that the second of the Ten Commandments prohibits icons.
However, if correct, all artistic representations of anything would be forbidden. The Lord
Himself in the same book of Exodus commanded Moses to make two gold cherubim (angels)
“of hammered work,” and to place them at each end of the mercy seat on the ark of the
covenant (Ex 25:17–21). The Lord also stipulated that the ten curtains of the tabernacle be
woven with images of cherubim on them (Ex 26:1), and likewise the veil (Ex 26:31).

  When King Solomon built the temple, the huge basin, or “sea,” was set upon twelve statues
of oxen (3Kg 7:13, 30). And upon the ten bases of the sea were cast or engraved “lions, oxen,
and cherubim” (3Kg 7:16), as well as palm trees (3Kg 7:22). The Lord bestowed His blessing
upon all these artistic representations first by filling the new temple with His Glory (3Kg
8:10, 11), and then by declaring to Solomon, “I have consecrated this house which you have
built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually” (3Kg
9:3).

  Perhaps a most striking example of an image made at God’s command in the Old
Testament is the bronze serpent that God ordered Moses to make and put on a pole in order
to protect the Hebrews bitten by the deadly serpents (Nm 21:4–9; see Jn 3:14, 15). Hundreds
of years later, when the Israelites were offering incense to this same bronze serpent in a kind
of idol-worship, King Hezekiah, who “did what was right in the sight of the Lord,” had the
serpent smashed into pieces (4Kg 18:3, 4).

  So it is not the image itself which is faulty or prohibited, but rather its improper use. The
prohibition in Exodus 20:4 is not against all artistic representations. Rather, it is against
images, whether in human form or not, which would be worshipped as gods and goddesses
—“gods of silver, and gods of gold” (Ex 20:23). For the Lord knew that such images would
tempt the Hebrews to depart from worshipping Him, the One true God (Ex 20:3–5).

  Certainly, before the invisible and limitless Lord God of Israel became incarnate, it was
impossible to make an image of Him. However, after God the Son assumed a visible and
tangible human body, it was natural and beneficial for the Church to create artistic
representations of Him—and of His holy Mother, and of the saints and angels—from the
earliest times. According to tradition, St. Luke the Evangelist made at least three icons of
Christ and His Mother.

  Every image, or icon, of Christ has significant theological content. For it proclaims anew
the Incarnation of God, who “became flesh” for our salvation (Jn 1:14). Recognized icons of
our Savior, prayerfully made, provide us with inspired, trustworthy representations of Him.

  The Seventh Ecumenical Council, held in Nicea in AD 787, condemned the heresy of
iconoclasm (the rejection, and even destruction, of icons). These Holy Fathers articulated the
critical distinction between the worship reserved for God alone, and the veneration/honor/
reverence given to the icons. In addition, this Council declared that “the honor given to the
image passes on to that which the image represents.”

  Through icons, Orthodox Christians are drawn closer to Christ. A hymn sung the first
Sunday of Great Lent, which commemorates the restoration of icons in AD 843, declares:
“the icons that depict Thy flesh lead us to the desire and love of Thee.”


  7“If a man sells his daughter to be a domestic, she shall not go out as the maidservants do.
8If she does not please her lord who betrothed her to himself, he shall let her go free. But he

has no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has dealt deceitfully with her. 9If he
betrothed her to his son, he shall deal with her according to the right of daughters. 10But if
he takes another wife, he shall not deprive her of necessities, clothing, and marriage rights.
11If he will not do these three things for her, she shall go out free, without paying money.

                                  Responding to Violence

  12“He who so strikes a man that he dies shall surely be put to death. 13However, if he did
not willfully lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hands, I will appoint for you a place
where the slayer may flee.† 14But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor to
kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar that he may die. 15He who strikes his
father or his mother shall surely be put to death. 16He who curses his father or mother shall
surely be put to death.† 17Whoever kidnaps one of the children of Israel and overcomes and
sells him, and he is found with him, let him surely die.

  18“If two men revile one another, and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist,

and he does not die but is confined to his bed, 19if the man rises again and walks about
outside with his staff, then he who struck him shall be acquitted. He shall only pay for his
loss of time and for his healing. 20If a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, and
he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. 21Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a
day or two, the lord shall not be punished; for he is his property.

  22“If two men fight and hurt a woman with child, and her child is born imperfectly formed,
he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman's husband imposes on him; and he
shall pay as the judges determine. 23But if the child is perfectly formed, he shall give life for
life, 24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,† 25burn for burn, wound for
wound, stripe for stripe. 26If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant and destroys
it, he shall let them go free for their eye's sake. 27If he knocks out the tooth of his male or
female servant, he shall let them go free for their tooth's sake.

                                      Owners of Animals

  28“If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, then the bull shall surely be stoned, and its

flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the bull shall be acquitted. 29But if the bull tended
to gore in times past, and it was made known to its owner, but he did not keep it confined,
and it killed a man or a woman, the bull shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to
death. 30But if a sum of money is imposed on him, then he shall pay the amount imposed so
as to redeem his life. 31If a bull gores a son or daughter, it shall be done to him according to
this ordinance. 32If a bull gores a male or female servant, he shall pay their lord thirty
shekels of silver, and the bull shall be stoned.

  33“If a man opens a pit, or digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into
it, 34the owner of the pit shall make it good; he shall give money to their owner, but the dead
animal shall be his. 35If any man's bull gores his neighbor's bull, and it dies, they shall sell
the live bull and divide the money; and the dead bull they shall also divide. 36But if the bull
was known to gore in times past, and its owner did not keep it confined, he shall surely pay
bull for bull, and the dead animal shall be his own.

                                        Stolen Property

  37“Now if a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he shall restore five oxen
for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.


22 “If a thief is found breaking in at night and is killed, there shall be no guilt for his
   blood. 2But if the sun rises on the thief, there shall be guilt if his blood is shed.
However, he should make full restitution; but if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his
theft. 3If the thing stolen, from a donkey to a sheep, is found alive in his hand, he shall
restore double. 4If a man allows his field or vineyard to be grazed upon, but lets loose his
animal and it feeds in the field of another man, he shall make restitution from the best of his
own field and the best of his own vineyard.

  5“If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, but sets threshing floors, stacked grain, or a field

on fire, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution. 6If a man gives his neighbor
money or goods to keep, but it is stolen out of the man's house, the thief shall pay double if
he is found. 7But if the thief is not found, then the lord of the house shall be brought before
God; and he shall swear he played no wicked part with regard to any of his neighbor's deposit.
8For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or any
alleged loss of whatever kind, the cause of both parties shall come before God; and he that is
convicted by God shall repay double to his neighbor. 9If anyone gives his neighbor a donkey,
an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies, is injured, or is taken, but no one knows it,
10then an oath of God shall be between them both, that he is not guilty with regard to the
deposit; and the owner of the deposit shall accept this. Thus no compensation shall be made
to him. 11But if, in fact, the deposit is stolen from him, he shall compensate the owner. 12But
if it is torn to pieces by a beast, he shall bring it as evidence and make no compensation. 13If
a man borrows anything from his neighbor and it becomes injured or dies, the owner not
being with it, he shall make compensation to the owner. 14But if its owner was with it, he
shall not make compensation; if it was hired, it came for its hire.

                                         Moral Laws

  15“If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall surely pay the

bride-price for her to be his wife. 16But if her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he
shall pay money to her father according to the bride-price of virgins. 17You shall not permit a
sorcerer to live. 18Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death. 19He who
sacrifices to any god except to the Lord alone, he shall be put to death. 20You shall neither
mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.† 21You shall
not afflict any widow or orphan. 22If you afflict them in any way and they cry out to Me, I will
surely hear their cry; 23and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword;
your wives shall be widows and your children orphans. 24If you lend money to any poor
brother among you, you shall not be hard on him or charge him interest. 25If you take your
neighbor's garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. 26For
that is his only covering, his only garment for covering his nakedness. What will he sleep in?
So it will be when he cries to Me, I will hear him, for I am merciful.

  27“You shall not speak against gods, nor curse a ruler of your people. 28You shall not delay
to offer the first of your threshing floor and fruit press. The firstborn of your sons you shall
give to Me. 29Likewise you shall do with your calf, sheep, and donkey. It shall be with its
mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me. 30Now you shall be holy men to
Me, and you shall not eat meat torn by wild animals in the field; you shall throw it to the dog.

                                            Justice


23 “Now  you shall not circulate a false report. Do not agree with the wicked man to be an
   unrighteous witness.† 2You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor join with them, so
as to turn aside with the majority to pervert justice.† 3You shall not show partiality to a poor
man in his dispute.† 4If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall
surely bring it back to him again.† 5If you see your enemy's donkey fallen beneath its load,
you shall not walk away from it, but shall surely help him with it. 6You shall not pervert the
judgment of your poor in his dispute. 7Keep yourself far from every unjust matter; do not kill
the innocent and the righteous; and do not justify the wicked for his gifts. 8You shall take no
bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes and corrupts just pronouncements. 9Also you shall not
oppress a resident alien, for you know the heart of a resident alien, because you were resident
aliens in the land of Egypt.

                                       Sabbath Laws

  10“Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce,† 11but in the seventh year
you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave,
the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive
grove. 12Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox
and donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed.

                                    Three Yearly Feasts

  13“Now in everything I said to you, be circumspect and do not invoke the name of other

gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth. 14Keep a feast to Me three times in the year:
15You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days,
as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of new grains, for in it you came out
of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty);† 16and the Feast of Harvest, the first fruits of
your labors you sowed in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when
you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field. 17Three times in the year all your males
shall appear before the Lord your God. 18When I cast out the nations from before your face
and expand your borders, you shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread;
nor shall the fat of My sacrifice remain until morning. 19The first of the first fruits of your
land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a lamb in its
mother's milk.

                                  An Angel of Protection

  20“Behold, I send My Angel before your face, to keep you in the way and to bring you into

the land I prepared for you.† 21Listen to Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He
will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him.† 22But if you will indeed obey
My voice and do all I command you and keep My covenant, you shall be My special people
above all nations, for the whole earth is Mine; and you shall be a royal priesthood and a holy
nation. You shall speak these words to the children of Israel; and if you shall indeed obey My
voice and do all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your
adversaries.† 23For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites, the
Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Gergesites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I
will cut them off.† 24You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according
to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred
pillars. 25So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread, wine, and
water; and I will take away sickness from you.† 26No one shall suffer miscarriage or be
barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.†

 27“I will send My fear before you; and I will cause confusion among all the nations to

whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. 28I will also send
hornets before you which shall drive out the Amorites, the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the
Hittites from before you. 29I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the
land become desolate and the wild animals of the field become too numerous for you.
30Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and inherit

the land. 31And I will set your bounds from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and
from the desert to the Euphrates River. For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your
hand and will drive them out from before you. 32You shall make no covenant with them, nor
with their gods. 33They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if
you serve their gods, it will surely be a stumbling block to you.”

                                  The Covenant Affirmed


24 Now  He said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and
   seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar.† 2Moses alone shall come near
to God, but they shall not come near; nor shall the people go up with them.”

  3So Moses came and told the people all the words of God and all the ordinances, and all the

people answered with one voice and said, “All the words the Lord spoke we will do.”† 4Then
Moses wrote all the words of the Lord; and he rose early in the morning and built an altar at
the foot of the mountain, and twelve stones according to the twelve tribes of Israel.† 5Then
he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered whole burnt offerings and sacrificed
peace offerings of calves to God. 6Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the
blood he poured on the altar. 7Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing
of the people; and they said, “All the Lord said, we will do, and be obedient.” 8Moses then
took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant the
Lord made with you according to all these words.”

                              Moses with God on Mount Sinai

  9After this, Moses went up, along with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and the seventy of the

elders of Israel; 10and they saw the place where the God of Israel stood. Under His feet was,
as it were, a paved work of sapphire stone and the appearance of heaven's firmament in its
purity. 11And of Israel's chosen men not one was missing. So they saw the place of God, and
ate and drank. 12Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be
there; and I will give you tablets of stone and the law and commandments I wrote, that you
may teach them.”† 13So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and they went up to the
mountain of God. 14But he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you.
Indeed, Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has a difficulty, let him go to them.” 15Then
Moses and Joshua went up the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.† 16Now the
glory of God descended on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. Then on the
seventh day the Lord called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17The sight of the Lord's
glory was like a burning fire on the top of the mountain before the children of Israel. 18So
Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up the mountain; and he was on the
mountain forty days and forty nights.†

                                 Offerings for the Sanctuary

      Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 2“Speak to the children of Israel, that they take
25 first fruits from everyone who gives it willingly from the heart. Thus you shall take My
first fruits. 3This is the offering you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze; 4blue,
purple, and scarlet cloth, fine spun linen; and female goats’ hair, 5ram skins dyed red and
skins dyed blue, and incorruptible wood; 6oil for the light, and incense for anointing oil and
for the composition of incense; 7sardius stones, and stones for the carved work of the
breastplate and the full-length robe. 8Also, you shall make Me a sanctuary, and I will appear
among you. 9According to all I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern
of all its furnishings, so you shall make it.†
                                  The Ark of the Covenant

  10“Thus you shall make the ark of testimony from incorruptible wood; two and a half

cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height.† 11You
shall overlay it with pure gold; inside and out you shall overlay it and shall make on it a
wreath of gold all around. 12You shall cast four golden rings for it and put them on its four
corners; two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 13You shall make poles of
incorruptible wood and overlay them with gold. 14You shall put the poles into the rings on
the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. 15The poles shall remain fixed in
the rings of the ark. 16Then you shall put into the ark the testimonies I will give you.

  17“You shall also make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length

and a cubit and a half its width. 18Then you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered
work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.† 19Make one cherub at one end
and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of
one piece with the mercy seat. 20And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above,
overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of
the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. 21You shall put the mercy seat on top of the
ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimonies I will give you. 22There I will make Myself
known to you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two
cherubim which are on the ark of testimony, about everything I will give you in
commandment to the children of Israel.†

                                The Table for the Holy Bread

  23“You shall also make a golden table of pure gold; two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its

width, and a cubit and a half its height. 24You shall make for it golden wreaths twisted all
around, and also a crown of a handbreadth all around, 25and you shall make a twisted wreath
of gold for the crown all around. 26You shall make four golden rings for it and put the rings
on the four corners of its four legs under the crown. 27The rings shall be bearings for the
poles, so they may bear the table with them. 28And you shall make the poles of incorruptible
wood and overlay them with pure gold, that the table may be carried with them. 29You shall
make its dishes, censers, bowls, and cups of pure gold, that you may offer drink offerings with
them; 30and you shall set the bread on the table before Me continually.
                                   A Lampstand of Gold

  31“You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold which shall be of hammered work. Its

shaft, branches, and bowls, and its stem and corolla shall be of one piece. 32Six branches
shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side and three
branches out of the other. 33Three bowls shall be made like almonds on each branch, with its
ornamental knobs and lilies—and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand.
34On the lampstand itself four bowls shall be made like almonds, and each with its

ornamental knob and lilies. 35There shall be a knob under the first two branches of the same,
a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches
of the same, according to the six branches that extend from the lampstand. 36Their knobs
and their branches shall be of one piece; all of it shall be one hammered piece of pure gold.
37You shall make its seven lamps, and you will lay the lamps upon them. From this one

presence they will shine outward. 38You shall make its funnels and dishes of pure gold. 39It
shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these utensils. 40And see to it you make them
according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.†

                                      The Tabernacle


26 “Now  you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen, with blue,
   purple, and scarlet fabric, and you shall weave them with artistic designs of cherubim.
2The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits and the width of each curtain four

cubits. Each curtain shall have the same measurements. 3Five curtains shall be coupled to
one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. 4You shall make
loops of blue yarn on the edge of the curtain of one set, and likewise you shall do on the outer
edge of the curtain of the second set. 5Fifty loops you shall make in the one curtain, and fifty
loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain at the end of the second set, that the loops
may be clasped to one another. 6You shall make fifty clasps of gold and couple the curtains
together with the clasps, that it may be one tabernacle.

  7“You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair skins to be a tent over the tabernacle. You

shall make eleven such curtains. 8The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the
width of each curtain four cubits; and the eleven curtains shall all have the same
measurements. 9You shall couple five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves,
and you shall double over the sixth curtain at the forefront of the tent. 10You shall make fifty
loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the
curtain of the second set. 11You shall make fifty bronze clasps, put the clasps into the loops,
and couple the tent together, that it may be one. 12The remaining remnant of the tent's
curtains, that is, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13A
cubit on one side and a cubit on the other side of the remaining length of the tent's curtains
shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and on that side, to cover it. 14You
shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and blue skins as coverings
above that.

  15“You shall make the tabernacle posts out of incorruptible wood. 16Ten cubits shall be the

length of each post, and a cubit and a half its width. 17Two joints shall be made in each post
for binding one to another. Thus you shall do for all the posts of the tabernacle. 18Thus you
shall make the posts for the tabernacle, twenty for the north side. 19You shall make forty
bases of silver for the twenty posts: two bases for each of the two joints of the posts. 20For
the second side of the tabernacle, the south side, there shall be twenty posts, 21and their forty
bases of silver: two bases for each of the posts’ two joints. 22For the far side of the
tabernacle, westward, you shall make six posts. 23You shall also make two posts for the two
back corners of the tabernacle. 24They shall be coupled together at the bottom and at the top
by one ring. Thus it shall be for both of them. They shall be equal. 25So there shall be eight
posts with their sixteen bases of silver, two bases for both sides of each post.

  26“You shall make bars of incorruptible wood: five for the posts on one side of the

tabernacle, 27five bars for the posts on the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the
posts of the side of the tabernacle toward the sea. 28The middle bar shall pass through the
midst of the posts from end to end. 29You shall overlay the posts with gold, make their rings
of gold as holders for the bars, and overlay the bars with gold. 30Then you shall raise up the
tabernacle according to its pattern shown you on the mountain.

  31“You shall then make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and fine woven

linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim.† 32You shall hang it upon the
four posts of incorruptible wood overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be gold upon four bases
of silver. 33You shall hang the veil on the posts. Then you shall bring the ark of the testimony
in there behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the
holy of holies. 34You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the holy of
holies. 35You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand across from the table on
the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side.

  36“You shall make a screen for the door of the tabernacle woven of blue, purple, and scarlet

fabric and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. 37You shall make five posts for the veil and
overlay them with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five bases of bronze
for them.

                                          The Altar


27 “Now you shall make an altar of incorruptible wood, five cubits long and five cubits
   wide—the altar shall be square—and its height shall be three cubits. 2You shall make
horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with
bronze. 3Also you shall make a crown around the altar; and its cover, its libation bowls, its
flesh-hooks, its incense bowl, and all its utensils you shall make of bronze. 4You shall make a
grate for it, a network of bronze; and on the network you shall make four bronze rings at its
four corners. 5You shall put them below under the grate of the altar, that the grate may be
midway up the altar. 6You shall make poles for the altar of incorruptible wood, and overlay
them with bronze. 7The poles shall be put in the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides
of the altar to carry it. 8You shall make it hollow with boards; as it was shown you on the
mountain, so shall you make it.

                               The Court of the Tabernacle

  9“You shall also make a court for the tabernacle. For the west side there shall be hangings

for the court made of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long for one side. 10And its
twenty posts and their twenty bases shall be bronze. The hooks of the posts and their bands
shall be silver. 11Likewise along the east side shall be curtains one hundred cubits in length,
with its twenty posts and their twenty bases of bronze, and the hooks of the posts and their
bands of silver. 12And along the width of the court on the north side shall be curtains of fifty
cubits, with their ten posts and ten bases. 13The width of the court on the south side shall be
curtains of fifty cubits, with their ten posts and ten bases. 14The length of the curtains on one
side shall be fifty cubits, with their three posts and three bases. 15On the other side shall be
curtains of fifteen cubits, with their three posts and three bases. 16For the gate of the court
there shall be a veil twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and fine
woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four posts and four bases. 17All the posts around
the court shall be overlaid with silver; their hooks shall be of silver and their bases of bronze.
18The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits on each side, the width fifty on each

side, and the height five cubits, made of fine woven linen, and its bases of bronze. 19All the
utensils, all the instruments, and all the pegs of the court shall be of bronze.

                                      The Lighted Lamp

  20“You shall also command the children of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for

the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually 21in the tabernacle of testimony, outside the
veil before the testimony. Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before
the Lord. It shall be an ordinance forever to their generations on behalf of the children of
Israel.

                                   The Priest's Vestments


28 “Now   take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of
   Israel, that Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar may minister to Me. 2Then you
shall make a holy garment for Aaron your brother, for honor and glory. 3So you shall speak to
all who are wise in understanding, whom I filled with the spirit of wisdom and perception, so
they may make Aaron's holy vestments for the sanctuary, in which he shall minister to Me as
priest. 4These are the garments they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a full-length robe, a
skillfully woven tunic with a fringe, a turban, and a sash. So they shall make holy garments
for Aaron your brother and his sons, so they may minister to Me as priests. 5They shall take
the gold, blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and fine linen, 6and they shall make the ephod of
fine spun linen, the woven work of a designer. 7The two parts of the ephod shall be joined
together, attached at their two hems. 8The woven joining of the ephod, which is on it, shall be
of the same workmanship, made of pure gold, and blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, and fine
woven linen. 9Then you shall take two stones, emeralds, and engrave on them the names of
the sons of Israel: 10six of their names on one stone, and six names on the other stone, in the
order of their birth. 11With the work of the stone-engraver's art, the engraving of a seal, you
shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. 12You shall put the two
stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron
shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial. 13You shall also
make bosses of gold, 14and you shall make two fringes of pure gold intermixed with flowers,
a braided work, and fasten the braided fringes to the bosses on the shoulder bands in front.

                                       The Breastplate

  15“You shall make the oracle of judgment. Artistically woven according to the style of the
ephod you shall make it: of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and fine spun linen you shall
make it. 16It shall be doubled into a square: a span shall be its length, and a span its width.
17Interwoven into this texture shall be a setting for four rows of stones. There shall be a row

for a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald. This shall be the first row.† 18The second row shall be
a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper; 19the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
20and the fourth row, a chrysolite, a beryl, and an onyx. They shall be set in gold settings,

bound together with gold, according to their row. 21The stones shall have the names of the
sons of Israel, twelve according to their names, as the engravings of seals, each one with its
own name; they shall be according to the twelve tribes. 22You shall make chains for the
oracle, a braided work of pure gold. 23Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel
upon the oracle of judgment on his breast, as a memorial before God for him as he goes into
the sanctuary. 24You shall put fringes upon the oracle of judgment, and wreaths on both
sides of the oracle. You shall put the two bosses on both shoulders of the ephod in the front.
25You shall put the revelation and the truth on the oracle of judgment, which will be on the
breast of Aaron when he enters the holy place in the Lord's presence; and on his breast Aaron
will discern the judgments for the children of Israel at all times.

                                 T H E P R I E S T H O O D,
                           HEBREW AND CHRISTIAN

                                OLD TESTAMENT PRIESTS

The Hebrew word for “priest” is kohen. He is the Levite who stood as intercessor for the
people before God. Old Testament priests offered up gifts and sacrifices to the Lord on behalf
of the people, that they might be reconciled to Him.

  The Lord directed Moses to construct the tabernacle (Ex 25:1—27:21). Then He established
a permanent, hereditary priesthood, beginning with Moses’ brother Aaron and continuing
through Aaron’s sons (Ex 28:1). The priests were sanctified, or consecrated, with holy oil (Ex
30:22–30). Their holy garments of finely woven and richly decorated material were for the
honor and glory of God (Ex 28:2–39).

  After Aaron’s death, “the Lord separated the tribe of Levi [Aaron’s tribe] to bear the ark of
the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord, to minister to Him, and to bless in His
name” (Dt 10:8). Besides the various sacrifices, the priests blessed the people (Nm 6:23–25),
maintained the tabernacle (later, the temple) and its grounds (Nm 18:1–7), received tithes
and offerings (Nm 18:8–32), supervised purification procedures (Lv 13:1—14:57), acted as
judges (Dt 17:8–13) and taught the Law (Dt 33:8–11). Only male Levites administered the
liturgical rites.

                              NEW TESTAMENT PRIESTS

  From the Christian perspective, the authority of the levitical priesthood ended when Christ
willingly offered Himself up to the Father as a perfect sacrifice on the cross, typified by the
curtain being torn asunder in the temple (Mt 27:51).

  Orthodox Christians believe the priesthood of the Church is Christ’s priesthood, with the
Eucharist as the first-fruit offering. Concerning the Eucharist, St. John Chrysostom notes, “It
is not men who sanctify this offering. It is the Same One who sanctified the first one [the
Last Supper] who also sanctifies this one . . . Christ even now is present, and even now acts.”
In the Divine Liturgy, the celebrant prays, “Thou Thyself art the One who offers and is
offered, who accepts and is distributed.” The Church retains the male priesthood because the
Man Christ Jesus, the Son of God, officiates at every Eucharistic service in and through His
bishops, priests and deacons. The clergy do not serve in the place of Christ; rather, Christ
Himself serves in them.

  St. John Chrysostom marvels at how the “fearful and awe-inspiring symbols” of the leviti-
cal priesthood are now “outshone by a splendor greater still” (see 2Co 3:10), namely the new
covenant priesthood. He writes:

     When you see the Lord sacrificed and lying before you, and the priest standing over
     the sacrifice and praying, and all who partake being instilled with that precious
     blood, can you think that you are still among men and still standing on earth? Are
     you not at once transported to heaven? . . . He who sits above with the Father is at
    that moment held in our hands, and gives Himself to those who wish to clasp and
    embrace Him . . . how great is the honor which the grace of the Spirit has bestowed
    on priests.

  While the ordained priesthood serves on behalf of all, every believer—baptized and
anointed—is a member of God’s royal priesthood. This priestly calling of all believers is
foretold in Exodus 19:6: “You shall be to Me a royal priesthood and a holy nation” (see also Is
61:6), and finds its fulfillment in the Church, the new Israel: “You are . . . a royal priesthood, a
holy nation” (1Pt 2:9; see also 2:5; Rev 1:5, 6). Thus, all Christians are called to offer all of
creation back to God, with praise and thanksgiving. And in this work, man and creation
become evermore reconciled with God.


                                   Other Priestly Garments

  26“To go underneath the ephod, you shall make a full-length robe, entirely blue. 27In the
middle of it there shall be an opening for the head, the collar bordered in sheepskin, a woven
piece. The hem shall be interwoven with the rest, to prevent ripping. 28Beneath the border of
the robe you shall make knobs as of a flowering pomegranate, constructed of blue, purple,
and scarlet fabric and fine spun linen, all around the hem of the garment. 29Hanging from
each golden knob will be a flower-shaped bell all around the hem of the garment. 30Its sound
will be heard when Aaron is serving as a priest, entering and leaving the holy place before the
Lord, that he not die. 31You shall also make a plate of pure gold and, as the inscription of a
seal, engrave on it: Holiness to the Lord. 32You shall put it on a blue cord, and it shall be on
the turban. It shall be on the front of the turban. 33So it shall be on Aaron's forehead. Aaron
shall take away the defilements of the holy things which the children of Israel might dedicate,
of their every gift of holy things. It shall always be on Aaron's forehead to make them
acceptable before the Lord.

   34“The appointments of the robes you shall make of linen. You shall make the turban of

fine linen, and you shall make a sash of woven work. 35For Aaron's sons you shall make
robes and sashes for them, and turbans you shall make for them for honor and glory. 36So
you shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him. You shall anoint them,
consecrate their hands, and sanctify them so they may minister to Me as priests. 37You shall
make for them trousers to cover their naked skin from loin to thigh. 38Thus Aaron and his
sons shall wear them when they come into the tabernacle of testimony or when they come
near the altar of the holy place to minister as priests, so they not bring guilt upon themselves
so as to die. It shall be an ordinance forever to him and his seed after him.

                       Aaron and His Sons Consecrated as Priests


29 “Now   this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them for ministering to Me as
   priests, to serve Me in the priesthood: Take one young bull and two rams without
blemish, 2and unleavened loaves kneaded with oil, and unleavened cakes anointed with oil.
You shall make them of wheat flour. 3You shall put them in one basket and bring them in the
basket, with the young bull and the two rams.

 4“Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doors of the tabernacle of testimony, and

wash them with water. 5Then taking the garments, you shall dress Aaron your brother with
the cloak, the ephod, the full-length robe, and the oracle, and you shall attach the oracle on
the ephod for him.† 6You shall put the miter on his head, and the sanctified golden plate on
the miter. 7You shall take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him. 8Then you
shall bring his sons and put the robes on them. 9You shall gird them with sashes, Aaron and
his sons, and crest them with turbans. Their priesthood to Me shall be for a continual
ordinance. So you shall consecrate Aaron and his sons.

  10“You shall also have the young bull brought before the tabernacle of testimony, and
Aaron and his sons shall put their hands on the head of the young bull before the Lord at the
doors of the tabernacle of testimony. 11Then you shall kill the young bull before the Lord at
the doors of the tabernacle of testimony. 12You shall take some of the blood of the young bull
and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour all the blood beside the base of
the altar. 13You shall take all the fat that covers the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the
liver, and the two kidneys and the fat on them and burn them on the altar. 14But the flesh of
the young bull, with its skin and offal, you shall burn with fire outside the camp. It is a sin
offering.†

  15“You shall also take one ram, and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands on the head of

the ram; 16and you shall kill the ram and take its blood and sprinkle it all around on the altar.
17Then you shall cut the ram in pieces, wash its entrails and legs, and put them with its

pieces and its head. 18You shall offer the whole ram on the altar. It is a whole burnt offering
to the Lord for a sweet aroma, an offering of incense to the Lord. 19You shall also take the
second ram, and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands on the head of the ram. 20Then you
shall kill the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron's right earlobe, on
the thumb of his right hand, on the big toe of his right foot, and on the earlobes of his sons,
on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. 21You shall take
some of the blood on the altar and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his
robe, on his sons and on his sons’ robes with him; and he and his garments shall be
sanctified, and his sons and his sons’ garments with him. But the blood of the ram you shall
pour all around on the altar.

  22“You shall also take the fat of the ram, and the fat that covers the entrails, the fatty lobe
attached to the liver, the two kidneys and the fat on them, the right thigh (for it is a ram of
consecration), 23and one loaf of bread, one unleavened cake from the basket of unleavened
bread set before the Lord; 24and you shall put all these things in the hands of Aaron and in
the hands of his sons, and you shall set them aside as a separate offering before the Lord.
25You shall receive them from their hands and offer them on the altar as a whole burnt
offering, as a sweet aroma before the Lord. It is an offering to the Lord.

  26“Then you shall take the breast from the ram of Aaron's consecration and set it aside

before the Lord. It shall be your portion. 27You shall sanctify the reserved breast and the
shoulder that was lifted (both that which was reserved and that which was lifted) from the
ram of consecration, both Aaron's portion and that of his sons. 28It shall be for Aaron and his
sons an ordinance forever among the children of Israel. For it shall be a special offering from
the children of Israel from their peace offerings, a special offering to the Lord.

  29“Moreover, Aaron's holy garment of the sanctuary shall be his sons’ after him, to be

anointed and consecrated in them. 30That son who succeeds him as priest shall put them on
for seven days when he enters the tabernacle of testimony to minister in the holy place.
31You shall then take the ram of the consecration and boil its flesh in the holy place. 32Then
Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram and the bread in the basket by the doors of
the tabernacle of testimony. 33They shall eat those things by which they were sanctified to
consecrate their hands. But an outsider shall not eat them, because they are holy. 34If any of
the flesh of the consecration offerings or of the loaves remains until the morning, you shall
burn the remainder with fire. It shall not be eaten because it is holy.
  35“Thus you shall do for Aaron and his sons according to all I have commanded you. Seven

days you shall consecrate their hands. 36You shall sacrifice a young calf for the sin offering
on the day of purification. You shall purify the altar when you perform a consecration on it,
and anoint it so as to sanctify it. 37Seven days you shall purify the altar and sanctify it, and
the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar will be holy.

                                       Daily Offerings

  38“Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two unblemished lambs of the first year,

day by day continually. 39One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you
shall offer in the evening. 40With the one lamb shall be one-tenth of a measure of fine flour
mixed with one-fourth of a hin of pressed oil, and one-fourth of a hin of wine as a drink
offering. 41The other lamb you shall offer in the evening, as at the morning offering, and
according to the drink offering of the morning lamb. You shall offer it as a sacrifice of sweet
aroma to the Lord.

  42“This shall be a continual sacrifice throughout your generations at the doors of the
tabernacle of testimony before the Lord, where I will be known to you to speak to you.
43There I shall give directions to the children of Israel, and I shall be sanctified in My glory.
44So I will sanctify the tabernacle of testimony and the altar. I will also consecrate both

Aaron and his sons to minister to Me as priests. 45I will be called upon among the children of
Israel and will be their God. 46So they shall know I am the Lord their God, who brought them
up out of the land of Egypt to be called upon among them and to be their God.

                                    The Altar of Incense

      “Now you shall make an altar of incense of incorruptible wood. 2You shall make it a
30 cubit in length and a cubit in width—it shall be square—and two cubits shall be its
height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. 3You shall overlay its grating, its sides all
around, and its horns with pure gold; and you shall make for it a rim of gold all around. 4Two
gold rings you shall make for it under the molded rim on both its sides. You shall place them
on its two sides, and they will be holders for the poles with which to bear it. 5You shall make
the poles of incorruptible wood and overlay them with gold. 6You shall put it before the veil
that is before the ark of the testimonies, where I will make Myself known to you. 7Aaron
shall burn on it fine compounded incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall
burn incense on it. 8When Aaron lights the lamps in the evening, he shall burn incense on it,
a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. 9You shall not offer
strange incense on it, or an offering made by fire, or a sacrifice; nor shall you pour a drink
offering on it. 10Now Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year, purging it with
the blood of purification throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.”†

                                       Gifts of Money

  11Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12“When you take the census of the children of
Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for his soul to the Lord, so there
may be no plague among them when you number them. 13This is what everyone among
those who are numbered shall give: half a drachma according to the drachma of the sanctuary
(a drachma is twenty obols). The half-drachma shall be an offering to the Lord. 14Everyone
included among those who are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an
offering to the Lord. 15The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half
a drachma when you give an offering to the Lord to make atonement for your souls. 16You
shall take the money of the offering of the children of Israel and shall give it for the ser-vice
of the tabernacle of testimony, that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before the
Lord to make atonement for your souls.”

                                     A Laver of Bronze

  17Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 18“You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its
base also of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of testimony and the
altar. You shall put water in it, 19for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and feet with
water from it. 20When they go into the tabernacle of testimony, they shall wash with water,
lest they die, or when they come near the altar to minister and to offer whole burnt offerings
to the Lord. 21So they shall wash their hands and feet with water when they go into the
tabernacle of testimony, lest they die. It shall be an ordinance forever to them—for him and
his genealogy after him.”

                                   Holy Oil for Anointing

  22Furthermore the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23“Also take for yourself aromatic spices,
the flower of costly myrrh—five hundred shekels’ worth—and fragrant cinnamon—half as
much, two hundred and fifty, and two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling calamus,
24and five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of

olive oil. 25You shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded
according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil. 26With it you shall
anoint the tabernacle of testimony and the ark of the tabernacle of testimony; 27and the table
and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense; 28and the altar of
whole burnt offerings with all its utensils, and the table and all its utensils, and the laver and
its base. 29You shall sanctify them so they may be most holy; whatever touches them will be
holy. 30You shall anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may minister to Me
as priests. 31You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘This shall be a holy anointing
oil throughout your generations. 32It shall not be poured on man's flesh; nor shall you make
any like it according to its composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. 33Whoever
compounds any like it, or whoever puts any of it on an outsider, shall be cut off from his
people.’ ”

                                            Incense

  34And the Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha and sweet galbanum,

and pure frankincense; there shall be equal amounts of each. 35You shall make of these
perfumed incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, mixed, pure, and holy.
36And you shall beat some of it very fine and put some of it before the testimonies in the
tabernacle of testimony, where I will make Myself known to you. It shall be a most holy
incense to you. 37You shall not make any for yourselves according to this composition. It
shall be to you a holy thing for the Lord. 38Whoever makes any like it to smell it, he shall be
cut off from his people.”

                            Craftsmen to Build the Tabernacle

      Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of
31
      Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3I have filled him with the divine Spirit of
wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, and in every manner of workmanship,† 4to design
artistic works, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5in cutting jewels for setting, in carving
wood, and to work in every manner of workmanship. 6Indeed I have appointed with him
Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put understanding in the hearts
of all who are gifted artisans, so they may make all I commanded you: 7the tabernacle of
testimony, the ark of the testimony and the mercy seat on it, and all the utensils of the
tabernacle— 8the altars and the table and its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its
utensils, 9and the laver and its base— 10the liturgical garments for Aaron and the garments
of his sons, to minister to Me as priests, 11and the anointing oil and the compound incense
for the holy place. According to all I have commanded you they shall do.”

                                    Keeping the Sabbath

  12Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 13“You shall direct the children of Israel, saying,
‘See to it that you keep My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your
generations, that you may know I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 14You shall keep the
Sabbaths, because this is holy for you to the Lord. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to
death; for whoever works on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15Work
shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath, a holy rest to the Lord. Whoever
works on the seventh day shall be put to death.† 16Therefore the children of Israel shall keep
the Sabbaths, to observe them throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17It is a
sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord created heaven
and earth, and on the seventh day He ceased and rested.’ ”

  18So when He made an end of speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him two

tablets of testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.†

                                       The Golden Calf


32 Now  when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the
   people gathered against Aaron and said to him, “Rise up and make us gods that shall go
before us. As for Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know
what has become of him.”† 2Aaron then said to them, “Remove the golden earrings in the
ears of your wives and daughters and bring them to me.” 3So all the people removed the
golden earrings in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4He received them from their
hands; and he fashioned them with an engraving tool and made a molten calf. Then he said,
“These are your gods, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt.” 5So when Aaron
saw it, he built an altar before it. Aaron then made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a
feast to the Lord.” 6Thus he rose early the next day and offered whole burnt offerings and
peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

  7But the Lord said to Moses, “Go quickly! Get down from here! For your people whom you

brought out of the land of Egypt are transgressing the law. 8They turned aside quickly from
the way I commanded them. They made themselves a calf and are worshiping and sacrificing
to it, and are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt.’
9Now therefore, let Me be, that I may burn in wrath against them and consume them.
10Then I will make of you a great nation.”† 11But Moses prayed before the Lord God and said,
“Why, O Lord, does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You brought out of the
land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12Why should the Egyptians speak and
say, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and to consume
them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath and be merciful to the
wickedness of Your people. 13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Your servants, to whom
You swore by Yourself and said to them, ‘I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of
heaven for multitude; and all this land I spoke about to give their seed, they shall inherit unto
the ages.’ ” 14So the Lord granted mercy for the harm He said He would do to His people.

  15Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the
testimony in his hands. They were stone tablets written on both sides, on one side and on the
other. 16Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God
engraved on the tablets. 17When Joshua therefore heard the noise of the people as they
shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.” 18But Moses said, “It is not
the noise of those that begin the battle, nor of those that begin the cry of defeat, but the noise
of those that begin the banquet of wine that I hear.” 19So it was, as soon as he came near the
camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. Thus Moses became very angry; and he cast the two
tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. 20Then he took the calf
they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder; and he scattered it on the water
and made the children of Israel drink it. 21Moses then spoke to Aaron, “What did this people
do to you that you brought so great a sin upon them?” 22Aaron replied, “Do not be angry, my
lord. You know how impulsive this people is. 23For they said to me, ‘Make us gods that shall
go before us; as for this man Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know
what has become of him.’ 24So I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let him remove it.’
Thus they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.”
  25Now when Moses saw the people were scattered (for Aaron scattered them, making them

a prey to their enemies), 26Moses then stood in the entrance of the camp and said, “Whoever
is on the Lord's side, come to me.” So all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to
him. 27He said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let every man put his sword on
his side and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man
kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’ ” 28So the sons of
Levi did as Moses said to them, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day.
29Then Moses said, “You filled your hands to the Lord today, each one on his son or brother,
that blessing be given you.”

  30Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people, “You committed a

great sin. So now I will go up to God to make atonement for your sin.” 31Then Moses
returned to the Lord and said, “I pray, O Lord, these people have committed a great sin and
have made for themselves a god of gold! 32Yet now, if You will forgive their sin, forgive it—
but if not, blot me out of the book You have written.” 33Then the Lord said to Moses,
“Whoever sins against Me, I will blot him out of My book. 34Now therefore, go down and
lead the people to the place of which I spoke to you. Behold, My Angel shall go before your
face. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will strike them for their sin.”† 35So the Lord
struck the people for making the calf which Aaron made.

                               God Orders Israel to Depart Sinai


33 Now  the Lord said to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people you brought
   out of the land of Egypt, to the land I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To
your seed I will give it.’ 2I will send My Angel before your face, and I will drive out the
Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Gergesite, the Hivite, the Jebusite, and the Canaanite.
3I will bring you into a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst,

lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”† 4When the people heard
this bad news, they mourned in lamentations. 5For the Lord said to the children of Israel,
“You are a stiff-necked people. Beware, lest I inflict another plague on you and consume you.
Now therefore, take off your bright clothes and ornaments, and I will show you what I will
do.” 6So the children of Israel stripped themselves of their bright clothes and ornaments by
Mount Horeb.
                                  Moses before the Lord

  7Moses then took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it
the tabernacle of testimony. Thus it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went
out to the tabernacle of testimony, which was outside the camp.† 8So it was, whenever Moses
went out to the tabernacle, which was outside the camp, all the people rose, and each man
stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he went into the tabernacle. 9Now it came to
pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the
door of the tabernacle, and God talked to Moses. 10All the people saw the pillar of cloud
standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man at his tent
door. 11Thus the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then he
would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not
depart from the tabernacle.ω

                               God Promises His Presence

  12Then Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You
have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you above all,
and you have also found grace in My sight.’ 13Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in
Your sight, reveal Yourself to me, that I may see You clearly and find grace in Your sight, and
know this great nation is Your people.”

  14So He said, “I Myself will go before you and give you rest.” 15Then he said to Him, “If

You Yourself do not go up with us, do not bring us up from here. 16For how then will it be
known that Your people and I found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So both I and
Your people shall be glorified beyond all the nations on the earth.” 17The Lord then said to
Moses, “I will also do this thing you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I
know you above all.” 18Moses replied, “Reveal Yourself to me.”

  19Then God said, “I will pass before you in My glory, and I will proclaim My name, the
Lord, before you. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion
on whom I will have compassion.”† 20But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man can
see My face and live.”† 21Moreover, the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me: you shall stand on
the rock.† 22So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the
rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by.† 23Then I will take away My hand, and
you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”†

                                 A Second Set of Tablets


34 Now  the Lord said to Moses, “Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and I will
   write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets you broke. 2So be ready
in the morning to come up on Mount Sinai and to present yourself to Me there on top of the
mountain. 3But no man shall come up with you, and let no man be seen throughout all the
mountain; let neither sheep nor oxen feed before that mountain.” 4So he cut two tablets of
stone like the first ones. Then Moses rose early in the morning and went up to Mount Sinai
as the Lord commanded him; and he took in his hand the two tablets of stone. 5Now the Lord
descended in the cloud; and He stood with him there, and he called upon the name of the
Lord.† 6Then the Lord passed before his face and proclaimed, “The Lord God, compassionate,
merciful, longsuffering, abounding in mercy and true,† 7preserving righteousness and
showing mercy unto thousands, taking away lawlessness, wrongdoing, and sins; and He will
not clear the guilty, visiting the lawlessness of the fathers upon the children and the
children's children to the third and the fourth generation.” 8So Moses made haste and bowed
his head toward the ground and worshiped. 9Then he said, “If now I have found grace in Your
sight, let my Lord go with us, for the people are stiff-necked; and You will take away our sins
and lawlessness, and we will be Yours.”†

                                The Covenant Is Renewed

  10The Lord then said to Moses, “Behold, I am establishing a covenant with you. Before all
your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation;
and all the people among whom you are shall see the works of the Lord, for I will do
awesome things for you. 11Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I am driving out
from before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the
Gergesite, and the Jeb- usite. 12Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the
inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a stumbling-block in your midst. 13But
you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their groves; and you
shall burn the graven images of their gods with fire 14(for you shall worship no other god, for
the Lord God, a jealous name, is a jealous God),† 15lest you make a covenant with the
foreigners of the land; and they indulge themselves in gross immorality with their gods by
making sacrifice to them; and they invite you, and you eat of their sacrifices; 16and you take
of their daughters for your sons and give your daughters to their sons; and your daughters
commit fornication with their gods, and your sons commit fornication with their gods. 17You
shall make no molten gods for yourselves.

  18“The Feast of Unleavened Bread you shall keep. Seven days you shall eat unleavened
bread, as I commanded you, at the season in the month of new grain; for in the month of new
grain you came out from Egypt. 19All that open the womb are Mine: every male firstborn
among your livestock, of oxen or sheep. 20But the firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem
with a sheep, and if you will not redeem it, you shall pay a price. All the firstborn of your sons
you shall redeem, and none shall appear before Me empty-handed. 21Six days you shall work,
but on the seventh day you shall rest. There shall be rest in seedtime and harvest. 22You shall
observe the Feast of Weeks, the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at
the year's end.

  23“Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God of Israel. 24For
I will cast out the nations before you and enlarge your borders; neither will any man covet
your land when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times in the year. 25You
shall not offer the blood of My sacrifices with leaven, nor shall the sacrifices from the Feast
of Pascha be left until morning. 26The first fruits of your land you shall bring to the house of
the Lord your God. You shall not boil a lamb in its mother's milk.”

 27Again the Lord said to Moses, “Write these words for yourself, for according to these

words I established a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28So he was there with the Lord
forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. He wrote on the tablets the
words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

                                     Moses’ Face Shines

  29Now when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets were in Moses’
hand when he came down from the mountain), he did not know the skin of his face was
glorified while God talked with Him.† 30So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw
Moses and the glorified appearance of the skin of his face, they were afraid to come near him.
31Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to

him; and Moses talked with them. 32Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he
gave them as commandments all that the Lord commanded him on Mount Sinai. 33When
Moses finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. 34But when Moses went in
before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would
come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever the Lord commanded him. 35So the
children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that it was glorified; and Moses put the veil on his
face again until he went in to speak with Him.

                            Regulations Regarding the Sabbath


35 Now Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together and said to
   them, “These are the words the Lord said for you to do. 2Work shall be done for six
days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. Whoever
does work on it shall be put to death. 3You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on
the Sabbath Day; I am the Lord.”

  4Again Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the

thing the Lord commanded, saying, 5‘Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever
is of a willing heart, let him bring his first fruits to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze;† 6blue,
purple, and scarlet fabric, fine linen, and female goats’ hair; 7ram skins dyed red, skins dyed
blue, and incorruptible wood; 8sardius stones and stones to be set in the ephod and the full-
length robe.

  9‘Every man wise in heart among you, let him come and do all the Lord has commanded:
10the tabernacle, its cords, coverings, rings, bars, and posts; 11the ark of the testimony, its

poles, mercy seat, and veil; 12and the curtains of the court and its posts; 13and the emerald
stones; 14and the incense and the anointing oil; 15and the table and all its utensils; 16and the
illuminating lampstand and all its utensils; 17and the altar and all its utensils; 18and the holy
vestments of Aaron the priest and the garments in which they shall do service; 19and the
priestly robes for the sons of Aaron and the compounded incense.’ ”

  20So all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.
21Then everyone came whose heart was stirred and whose soul was willing; and they brought
the Lord's offering for the work of the tabernacle of testimony, for all its service and the
garments of the holy place. 22They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing
mind, and brought signets, earrings, rings, and necklaces, all jewelry of gold to the Lord.
23Also every man with whom was found blue fabric and skins dyed blue and skins dyed red

brought them. 24Everyone who offered an offering of silver or bronze also brought these to
the Lord; and everyone with whom was found incorruptible wood for any work of the service
brought it. 25All the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands and brought
what they spun—of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen. 26Also all the women whose heart
stirred with wisdom spun yarn of female goats’ hair. 27The rulers brought emerald stones,
and the stones to be set in the ephod and in the oracle, 28and the compounds for the
anointing oil, and the compounds for the incense. 29Thus the children of Israel brought a
freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose minds were willing to bring
material for all kinds of work, which the Lord, by the hand of Moses, commanded to be done.

                               Artisans for the Tabernacle

  30Then Moses said to the children of Israel, “Behold, God has called by name Bezalel the

son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31and He has filled him with a divine Spirit
of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in all things† 32to design artistic works, to work in
gold and silver and bronze, 33in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all
manner of artistic workmanship. 34He has put in his mind and in that of Aholiab the son of
Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach. 35He filled them with wisdom,
understanding, and skill to do all manner of work of the holy place, and to weave the woven
and embroidered work with scarlet and fine linen, and to do all work of curious workmanship
and embroidery.”

                                 THE TABERNACLE

On Mt. Sinai Moses received not only the Ten Commandments, but also precise and detailed
instructions for building the tabernacle—a moveable tent—where God met the assembly of
the people Israel (Ex 25:1—27:21). Consequently, the tabernacle is built according to the
divine blueprints (Ex 35:4—40:33). Here God’s Presence, His Glory, will be made manifest
through the shining cloud filling the holy place (Ex 40:34–38).

  The importance of God’s Presence in the tabernacle is apparent in the prayers of the
Psalms, which express a longing to be with God, a fervent desire to be in His tabernacle (Pss
26:4–6; 60:4; 64:4; 83:1–4, 10; see also 22:6; 25:8). Indeed, the Lord promises that at the
tabernacle, “I shall be known to you to speak to you. There I shall give directions to the
children of Israel, and I shall be sanctified in My glory” (Ex 29:42–43; see also Ezk 37:26–
28). While the tabernacle is the specific place where God was encountered in Israel, this did
not exhaust His Presence, for as Almighty God, He has always been everywhere present,
filling all things.

  Israel’s most sacred objects were kept in the ark of the covenant, located in the holy of
holies (Heb 9:2–5). Each object it held was prophetic of Christ: the tablets of the Law
inscribed by God (Ex 25:15) prefigure Christ the Lawgiver; the manna (Ex 16:31–34) points to
Christ as the Bread of Life (Jn 6:30–58); and Aaron’s staff that budded (Nm 17:16–26)
prefigures the life-giving Cross of Christ. Further, the veil separating the holy place from the
holy of holies foreshadows the Incarnation (Heb 10:19, 20).

  The tabernacle as a whole prefigures Christ, the eternal Word of God, who “became flesh
and tabernacled (the usual English translation is ‘dwelt’) among us” (Jn 1:14; see also Col
2:9). St. Gregory of Nyssa observes, “Moses was earlier instructed by a type in the mystery of
the tabernacle, which encompasses the universe. This tabernacle would be Christ, who is the
power and the wisdom of God (1Co 1:24).” The tabernacle also prefigures Mary the
Theotokos, whose womb will be the tabernacle in which the Lord will dwell as He takes His
flesh from her.

  On the cross, Jesus offers the ultimate sacrifice of His body, which the New Testament
calls “the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands” (Heb 9:11). St. John
Chrysostom comments that by this greater tabernacle St. Paul “means the flesh [of Christ].
And well did he say, ‘greater and more perfect,’ since God the Word and all the power of the
Spirit dwell therein.”

  In time, the moveable tabernacle of the wilderness is superseded by the permanent temple
in Jerusalem. The temple, in turn, is superseded by Christ (Jn 2:18–21) and the Church,
which is His Body (Eph 1:22, 23). Moreover, in Baptism every Christian becomes a
tabernacle, a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. As St. Paul exclaims, “Or do you not know that
your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?” (1Co 6:19). St. Isaac of Nineveh declares, “Lord, I
give praise to Your holy nature, for You have made my nature a sanctuary for Your
hiddenness, a tabernacle for Your Mysteries, a place where You can dwell, and a holy temple
for Your divinity.”

  In his vision of the kingdom of heaven, St. John writes, “But I saw no temple in it, for the
Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Rev 21:22). All earthly types vanish as the
redeemed behold God and the Lamb in unmediated glory (2Pt 1:4). The ultimate promise of
the tabernacle, the temple and the Church is for God Himself to dwell in each believer forever
(Jn 14:16, 17, 23; 17:20–23; see also Rev 3:20).



36 Now Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whom the Lord put wisdom and
   knowledge to know how to do all manner of work for the service of the holy place, did
according to all the Lord commanded.

                                   The Gifts of the People

  2Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the Lord

put wisdom, everyone whose heart willed freely to come and do the work.† 3They received
from Moses all the offerings the children of Israel brought for all the works for making the
holy place, and they continued bringing him freewill offerings every morning. 4Then all the
wise men who were doing all the work of the holy place came, each according to the work he
was doing, 5and they spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for
the work the Lord commanded us to do.” 6So Moses gave a commandment and proclaimed it
throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering
of the holy place.” Thus the people were restrained from bringing more,† 7for the material
was sufficient for all the work to be done—indeed, too much.

                                Articles for the Tabernacle

  8Then all the gifted artisans among them who worked on Aaron's garments for the holy

places did as the Lord commanded Moses. 9He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, spun
scarlet, and fine twined linen. 10Thin plates of gold were then cut into threads to be woven
into the blue, purple, spun scarlet, and fine twined linen; and they formed it as a woven piece.
11He then coupled the ephod together from its two sides, a work woven by a mutual twisting

of the parts into one another. 12They constructed it according to the same workmanship of
gold, blue, purple, spun scarlet, and fine twined linen, as the Lord commanded Moses.
13Then they made two emerald stones, clasped together and set in gold, carved and engraved

as signets are engraved with the names of the sons of Israel. 14He attached these as
memorial stones to the shoulders of the ephod for the children of Israel, as the Lord
commanded Moses.

  15Then they made the oracle, a woven work of embroidery like the workmanship of the

ephod, of gold, blue, purple, spun scarlet, and fine twined linen. 16They made the oracle
square by doubling it; a span was its length and a span its width when doubled. 17Interwoven
into this texture was a setting of four rows of stones: the first row, a sardius, a topaz, and an
emerald; 18and the second row, a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper; 19and the third row, a
jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20and the fourth row, a chrysolite, a beryl, and an onyx,
set around with gold and fastened with gold. 21The twelve stones bore the names of the sons
of Israel, their names engraved like a signet, each one with its own name according to the
twelve tribes. 22Then they made on the oracle chains, plaited fringes of gold, a work of pure
gold. 23They also made two gold bosses and two gold rings. 24Then they put the two braided
chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the oracle. 25They also attached two golden
clasps to the rings on both sides of the oracle, the two clasps to the two couplings. 26Then
they placed the two gold bosses, joining them to the shoulders of the ephod opposite one
another in the front. 27They made two gold rings and attached them to two loops on top of
the oracle, near the back of it, the side toward the ephod. 28Then they made two gold rings
and attached them below the two shoulders of the ephod in front, woven into the ephod like
the coupling above.

  29Then they bound the oracle by means of its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue

cord. 30That way it would be above the intricately woven band of the ephod, and the
breastplate would not rip away from the ephod, as the Lord commanded Moses. 31He made
the undergarment of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. 32The collar of the undergarment
was plaited and interwoven, having a border all around that it would not tear. 33Beneath the
border of the robe there were knobs of flowering pomegranate, constructed of blue, purple,
spun scarlet, and fine twined linen.

  34Then they made bells of pure gold and put the bells on the hem of the robe all around

between the pomegranates. 35The golden bells and pomegranates, all the hem of the robe,
were for the ministry, as the Lord commanded Moses. 36They made fine linen robes, woven
work, for Aaron and his sons, and belts of fine linen, and turbans of fine linen, short trousers
of fine linen, 37and their sashes of fine woven linen, blue, purple, spun scarlet, made by a
weaver according as the Lord commanded Moses.
  38Then they made the plate of gold, a dedicated thing of the holy place, of pure gold, and

on it he wrote an inscription like the engraving of a signet: Holiness to the Lord. 39And they
tied a blue cord to it to fasten it above on the turban, in the manner the Lord commanded
Moses.

                              The Tabernacle of Testimony


37 Now they made ten curtains for the tabernacle. 2The length of one curtain
                                                                         3
                                                                             was twenty-
       eight cubits (and thus it was for all of them), and the width four cubits. They made the
veil of blue, purple, spun scarlet, and fine twined linen; a work woven with cherubim. 4Then
they put it on four posts of incorruptible wood overlaid with gold; and their capitals were
gold, and their four bases were silver. 5For the tabernacle of testimony, they made the veil of
the door blue, purple, spun scarlet, and fine twined linen, a woven work with cherubs; 6and
they made its five posts with their rings, and they gilded their capitals and bands with gold;
but their five bases were bronze.

  7Then they made the court toward the south, and its curtains were of fine twined linen, one

hundred cubits symmetrically. 8There were twenty posts for them with twenty bases. 9On
the north side they were a hundred cubits symmetrically. On the south side they were a
hundred cubits symmetrically with their twenty posts and twenty bases. 10On the west side
there were curtains of fifty cubits with their ten posts and twenty bases. 11On the east side,
there were curtains of fifty cubits: 12with one curtain on one side of the court entrance of
fifteen cubits, with its three posts and bases, 13and one on the other side of the court
entrance of fifteen cubits, with its three posts and bases. 14All the curtains of the court were
of fine twined linen. 15The bases of the posts were bronze, the hooks of the posts were silver,
and their capitals were overlaid with silver; and all the posts of the court were overlaid with
silver. 16The veil of the court entrance was a woven work of blue, purple, spun scarlet, and
fine twined linen. Its length was twenty cubits, and its height or width was five cubits,
corresponding with the curtains of the court. 17There were four posts and bases for the veil,
made of bronze with their hooks of silver, and their capitals overlaid with silver. 18The pegs
all around the court were made of bronze and overlaid with silver.

 19So this was the construction of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was commanded to

Moses, for the service of the Levites through Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest. 20Bezalel
the son of Uri, of the tribe of Judah, did as the Lord commanded Moses.

  21There was Aholiab the son of Ahisa-mach, of the tribe of Dan, who was a master
workman of woven and needlework in the scarlet and fine linen.

                                       Making the Ark

        Now Bezalel made the ark.† 2He overlaid it with pure gold inside and out. 3He cast for
38
        it four golden rings (two rings on one side and two on the other), 4wide enough for the
poles with which to carry it. 5He also made the mercy seat above the ark of pure gold,† 6and
two cherubim of pure gold† 7(a cherub at one end of the mercy seat and one at the other
end), 8spreading out their wings above the mercy seat.

                                    The Table of Offering

  9Then he made the table of offertory of pure gold 10and cast for it four rings (two on one

side and two on the other), wide enough for the poles with which to carry it. 11Then he made
the poles of the ark and the table and gilded them with gold.† 12He also made the utensils of
the table, the dishes, the censers, the cups, and the pitchers for pouring drink offerings, of
gold.

                                       The Lampstand

  13He then made the lampstand to give light, of gold,† 14both its solid stem and the

branches on each side thereof, 15and the blossoms projecting from its branches, three on one
side and three on the other, symmetrical to one another. 16As to the lamps on top of them,
almond blossoms budded from them; and there were sockets to hold the lamps, the seventh
of which was atop the lampstand itself at its summit, all of solid gold. 17The seven lamps,
their snuffers and funnels were also made of gold.

                                          The Altar

  18Then he overlaid the posts with silver and cast golden rings for the posts; and he gilded

the posts supporting the veil with gold and made the hooks of gold. 19He also made the rings
of the tabernacle of gold; and the rings of the court and those for drawing out the veil above
he made of bronze. 20He then cast in silver the capitals of the tabernacle, and in bronze, the
capitals of the door of the tabernacle and the gate of the court; and he made silver hooks to be
attached to the posts. 21He made of bronze all the pegs of the tabernacle and the court. 22He
made the altar of bronze from the censers used by the men engaged in Korah's rebellion.
23He made of bronze all the utensils of the altar, and also its grate, its base, its bowls, and its

flesh-hooks. 24As an appendage to the altar, he made a network under the grate, beneath it as
far as the middle of it; and he fastened four rings of bronze to the four sides of the
appendage, wide enough for the bars so as to carry the altar with them. 25He also made the
holy anointing oil and the composition of the incense, the pure work of the perfumer.

                                      A Laver of Bronze

 26He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze from the bronze mirrors of the

women who fasted by the doors of the tabernacle of witness on the day he set it up. 27He
made the laver that in it Moses and Aaron and his sons might wash their hands and feet.
Whenever they went into the tabernacle of testimony or came near to minister at the altar,
they washed in it, as the Lord commanded Moses.

                                  The Use of the Offerings


39 Now all the gold used in all the production of the holy places was that of the offerings:
   twenty-nine talents and seven hundred and twenty shekels, according to the holy
shekel. 2The offering of silver from the numbered men of the congregation was one hundred
talents and one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels (one drachma per head
being a half shekel, according to the holy shekel), 3for everyone surveyed in the tally from
twenty years old and up, to the number of six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and
fifty. 4The hundred talents of silver were used to cast the one hundred capitals of the
tabernacle and the capitals of the veil; a hundred capitals to the hundred talents, a talent to a
capital. 5Then from the one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels he made hooks
for the posts, gilded their capitals, and decorated them. 6The bronze from the offering was
seventy talents and a thousand five hundred shekels, 7and with it they made the bases for the
doors of the tabernacle of testimony, 8the bases for the court all around, the bases for the
court gate, the pegs for the tabernacle, the pegs for all around the court, 9the bronze
appendage of the altar, all the vessels of the altar, and all the instruments of the tabernacle of
testimony. 10So the children of Israel did as the Lord commanded; thus did they.
  11Also of the gold that remained from the offering they made vessels with which to

minister before the Lord. 12The remaining blue, purple, and scarlet cloth they made into
liturgical vestments for Aaron, to minister in them in the holy place.

                                    Presentation to Moses

  13So they brought to Moses the garments, the tabernacle and all its vessels, the bases and

their bars, the posts, 14the ark of the covenant and its poles, 15the altar and all its vessels, the
anointing oil, the incense compound, 16the pure lamp and its lamps (lamps for burning), the
oil for light, 17the table of offertory and the bread set forth upon it and all its utensils, 18the
garments of the holy place, which belong to Aaron and his sons for ministering as priests,
19the curtains of the court and their posts, the veil for the door of the tabernacle, the court

gate, all the utensils for the tabernacle and all its instruments, 20the rams’ skins dyed red,
the blue coverings and the other coverings, 21the pegs, and all the instruments for the work
of the tabernacle of testimony. 22Whatever things the Lord commanded Moses, thus the
children of Israel made and prepared in every respect. 23Then Moses looked over all the
work, and it was done in the manner the Lord commanded Moses. They did it in this way, and
Moses blessed them.†

                                  Setting Up the Tabernacle


40 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,†ω 2“On the first
                                                     3
                                                         day of the first month, the new
      moon, you shall set up the tabernacle of testimony. You shall put in it the ark of the
testimony and cover the ark with the veil. 4You shall bring in the table and lay out its
offering, and bring in the lampstand and install its lamps. 5You shall also set the altar of gold
for the incense before the ark, and put up the veil for the door of the tabernacle of testimony.
6Then you shall set the altar of the burnt offerings before the door of the tabernacle of

testimony. 7You shall put a cover over the tabernacle and consecrate everything pertaining to
it. 8You shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; and you
shall consecrate it and all its utensils, and it shall be holy. 9You shall anoint the altar of burnt
offerings and all its utensils and consecrate the altar. The altar shall be most holy.

                                    Entrance of the Priests

  10“Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doors of the tabernacle of testimony and
wash them with water. 11You shall put the holy garments on Aaron and anoint and
consecrate him that he may minister to Me as priest. 12You shall also bring his sons and put
garments on them. 13You shall anoint them as you anointed their father, so they may
minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood
throughout their generations.” 14Thus Moses did; according to all the Lord commanded him,
so he did.

                                   The Work Is Finished

  15Then it came to pass in the first month of the second year after their departure from

Egypt, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up. 16So Moses set up the
tabernacle, placed the capitals, inserted the bars, and set up the posts. 17He spread out the
curtains over the tabernacle and put the veil of the tabernacle on it above, as the Lord
commanded Moses.

  18Then he took the testimonies, put them into the ark, and inserted the poles under the

ark. 19He then brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung up the veil of the covering, and
partitioned off the ark of the testimony, as the Lord commanded Moses. 20He put the table
in the tabernacle of testimony, on the north side of the tabernacle of testimony, outside the
veil of the tabernacle. 21He also set the bread of the offertory upon it before the Lord, in the
manner the Lord commanded Moses. 22Then he put the lampstand in the tabernacle of
testimony, on the south side of the tabernacle; 23and he placed its lamps before the Lord, as
the Lord commanded Moses. 24He also put the gold altar in the tabernacle of testimony in
front of the veil; 25and he burned the incense compound on it, as the Lord commanded
Moses. 26Then he put the altar of burnt offering before the doors of the tabernacle. 27He also
set up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar. So Moses finished all the work.

                                The Overshadowing Cloud

  28Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of testimony, and the tabernacle was filled with

the Lord's glory.† 29But Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of testimony because the
cloud overshadowed it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 30Whenever the cloud
ascended from the tabernacle, the children of Israel prepared to depart with their belongings.
31But if the cloud did not ascend, they did not prepare to depart until the cloud ascended.
32For before all Israel, throughout all their journeys, the cloud was above the tabernacle by
day, and fire was over it by night.
                                          L E V IT ICUS
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Chapters in Leviticus
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23


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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20


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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30


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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 23
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 25
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 26
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46

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Verses in Leviticus Chapter 27
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34

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                                                        The Book of Leviticus

   Author  —Moses uses the phrase “and the Lord said to Moses” as many as thirty times,
usually to begin a chapter. Both Israel and the Church traditionally ascribe authorship
to Moses.

   Date   —The place and time at which this book was given is specifically defined as during
the sojourn at Mt. Sinai (7:38; 25:1; 26:46; 27:34).

   Major Theme      —How to worship God. This is our first-ever book of worship. It was
especially written for priests to teach the Israelites how to rightly worship God. This
book points out the differences between God's laws for His people and those of the
polytheistic, idolatrous, corrupt nations surrounding them. “You shall be holy, for I the
Lord your God am holy” (19:2).

   Background     —The opening statement (1:1) presupposes the Tabernacle has been erected,
as described in Exodus 40. God spoke to Moses from the “tabernacle of testimony” (1:1),
or “on the Mount” (Ex 25:1), or “upon the door of the tabernacle” (Nm 12:5). The
writing of this book took place five months after Israel left Mt. Sinai.

Outline

 I. Laws Gov erning Sacrifices (1 :1 –7 :3 8)

II. The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons (8:1 –1 0:2 0)

        A. Consecration by Moses (8:1 –3 6 )

        B. Aaron begins his office as priest (9 :1 –2 4 )

        C. Aaron's sons’ sacrilege and its consequences (1 0:1 –2 0)

III. Laws Regarding Uncleanness (1 1 :1 –1 5:3 3 )

        A. Uncleanness due to anim als (1 1 :1 –4 7 )

        B. Uncleanness due to childbirth (1 2 :1 –8)

        C. Uncleanness due to leprosy (1 3 :1 –1 4 :57 )

        D. Uncleanness due to issues (1 5:1 –3 3 )

IV. The Day of Atonem ent (1 6 :1 –3 4 )

        A. Aaron's preparation (1 6 :1 –4 )

        B. The sin-offering for the priests (1 6 :5–1 4 )

        C. The sin-offering for the people (1 6 :1 5–1 9 )
         D. The scapegoat (1 6 :2 0–2 2 )

          E. The offerings com pleted (1 6 :2 3 –2 8)

          F. Further instructions (1 6 :2 9 –3 4 )

  V. The Law of Holiness (1 7 :1 –2 6 :4 6 )

         A. The place of sacrifice and the sanctity of blood (1 7 :1 –1 6 )

          B. Sins against the m oral law (1 8:1 –2 0:2 7 )

          C. Instructions for the priests (2 1 :1 –2 2 :3 3 )

         D. The holy conv ocations (2 3 :1 –4 4 )

          E. The holy oil, bread of the Presence, the sin of blasphem y (2 4 :1 –2 3 )

          F. The sabbatical y ear and the Year of Jubilee (2 5:1 –55)

         G. Blessings and cursings (2 6 :1 –4 6 )

  VI. Laws Gov erning Vows and Tithes (2 7 :1 –3 4 )



                                                                Burnt Offerings


1 Now  the Lord called to Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of testimony, saying,
  2“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘If a man among you should offer gifts

to the Lord from the cattle—the oxen or the sheep—you shall offer your gifts.† 3If his gift
should be a whole burnt offering from the oxen, he shall offer a male without blemish. He
shall offer it at the door of the tabernacle of testimony as acceptable before the Lord.† 4Then
he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to
make atonement for him.† 5He shall kill the young bull before the Lord; and the priests,
Aaron's sons, shall offer the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar by the doors
of the tabernacle of testimony.† 6Then he shall skin the whole burnt offering and cut it into
its pieces. 7The sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar, and lay the wood on the
fire. 8Then the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head and the fat, upon the wood
and fire on the altar; 9but he shall wash its entrails and its legs with water. The priest shall
then put all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a sacrifice for a sweet aroma to the Lord.†

  10‘If his gift to the Lord should be from the sheep—from the lambs or the kids—as a whole

burnt offering, he shall offer a male without blemish, and put his hand on its head. 11He shall
kill it on the north side of the altar before the Lord; and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall
sprinkle its blood all around on the altar. 12Then they shall cut it into its pieces, with its head
and its fat; and the priests shall lay them upon the wood and fire on the altar; 13but he shall
wash the entrails and the legs with water. Then the priest shall offer all of it, and put it on the
altar as a burnt offering, a sacrifice for a sweet aroma to the Lord.

  14‘But if you should offer a gift to the Lord from the birds for a burnt offering, he shall

offer his gift from the turtledoves or young pigeons. 15The priest shall offer it on the altar,
wring off its head, and put it on the altar; its blood shall be drained out at the base of the
altar. 16Then he shall remove its crop with its feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east
side, into the place for ashes. 17Then he shall split it at its wings, but shall not divide it; and
the priest shall put it upon the wood and fire on the altar as a burnt offering, a sacrifice for a
sweet aroma to the Lord.

                                        Grain Offerings


2 ‘Now  if a soul should offer a gift for a grain offering to the Lord, his gift shall be of fine
  flour; and he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it.† 2He shall bring it to Aaron's
sons, the priests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all the
frankincense. Then the priest shall put it on the altar as a memorial, a sacrifice for a sweet
aroma to the Lord.† 3The rest of the grain offering shall be Aaron's and his sons. It is the
most holy of the Lord's sacrifices. 4But if you should offer a gift as a grain offering baked in
the oven, a gift of fine flour to the Lord, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with
oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.† 5But if your gift should be a grain offering fried
in a pan, it shall be of fine flour, unleavened, and mixed with oil. 6You shall break it in pieces
and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering to the Lord. 7If your gift should be a grain offering
from the grate, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. 8You shall offer the grain offering made
of these things to the Lord; and when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar.
9Then the priest shall take from the grain offering its memorial portion, and put it on the

altar as a burnt offering, for a sweet aroma to the Lord. 10But what is left of the grain offering
shall be Aaron's and his sons. It is the most holy of the Lord's burnt offerings.

  11‘No grain offering you offer to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no

leaven or honey in any burnt offering to the Lord. 12As for a gift of firstfruits, you shall offer
them to the Lord, but they shall not be offered on the altar for a sweet aroma. 13Now every
gift of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the Lord's
covenant to be lacking from your grain offerings. With every gift you shall offer salt to the
Lord your God.† 14If you should offer a grain offering of your firstfruits to the Lord, you shall
offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits green heads of grain roasted on the fire, grain
beaten from full heads for the Lord. Thus you shall offer your grain offering of firstfruits.
15Then you shall put oil on it, and put frankincense on it. It is a grain offering. 16The priest
shall then offer its memorial portion: its beaten grain and oil, with all the frankincense. It is a
burnt offering to the Lord.

                                        Peace Offerings


3 ‘Now  if his gift for the Lord should be a peace offering, and if he should offer it from the
  oxen, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord.† 2Then
he shall put his hands on the head of his gift, and kill it at the doors of the tabernacle of
testimony; and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood all around on the altar of
whole burnt offering. 3He shall then offer from the peace offering a burnt offering to the
Lord; and he shall remove its fat that covers the entrails, all the fat on the entrails,† 4the two
kidneys and the fat on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the
kidneys; 5and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall offer these upon the wood and fire on the altar
of whole burnt offering as a burnt offering, for a sweet aroma to the Lord.

  6‘Now if his peace offering should be a gift from the sheep, whether male or female, he

shall offer it without blemish. 7If he should offer a lamb as his gift, then he shall offer it
without blemish. 8Then he shall put his hands on the head of his gift, and kill it before the
doors of the tabernacle of testimony; and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall sprinkle its blood all
around on the altar.† 9He shall then offer from the peace offering, a burnt offering to God;
and he shall remove its fat, the whole fat tail close to the backbone, the fat that covers the
entrails, all the fat on the entrails, 10the two kidneys and the fat on them by the flanks, and
the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys; 11and the priest shall offer these on the
altar as a burnt offering, for a sweet aroma to the Lord.

  12‘Now if his gift should be from the goats, then he shall offer it before the Lord. 13He
shall put his hands on its head, and kill it before the Lord at the doors of the tabernacle of
testimony; and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall sprinkle its blood all around on the altar.
14Then he shall offer his burnt offering to the Lord; and he shall remove its fat that covers

the entrails, all the fat on the entrails, 15the two kidneys and the fat on them by the flanks,
and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys; 16and the priest shall offer these on
the altar as a burnt offering, for a sweet aroma to the Lord. All the fat is the Lord's.† 17This
shall be a perpetual ordinance throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall
eat neither fat nor blood.’ ”

                                        Sin Offerings

   Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a soul
4 should sin involuntarily before the Lord against any of the Lord's ordinances, which ought
not to be done, and does anything against them,† 3even if he should be the anointed priest,
and should sin to the detriment of the people, he shall offer to the Lord for the sin he
committed a young bull without blemish from the oxen as a sin offering.† 4He shall offer the
young bull at the door of the tabernacle of testimony before the Lord, put his hand on the
young bull's head, and kill the young bull before the Lord. 5Then the anointed and
consecrated priest shall take some of the young bull's blood and bring it to the tabernacle of
testimony. 6The priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven
times before the Lord, in front of the veil of the holy place.† 7Then the priest shall put some
of the blood of the young bull on the horns of the altar of the incense compound before the
Lord in the tabernacle of testimony; and he shall pour the remaining blood of the young bull
at the base of the altar of whole burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of
testimony. 8He shall take from it all the fat of the young bull as the sin offering. The fat that
covers the entrails and all the fat on the entrails, 9the two kidneys and the fat on them by the
flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove, 10as it was
taken from the young bull of the sacrifice of the peace offering; and the priest shall burn
them on the altar of burnt offering. 11But the young bull's hide and all its flesh, with its head
and legs, its entrails and excrement— 12the whole young bull he shall carry outside the camp
to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire; where the
ashes are poured out it shall be burned.†

  13‘Now if the whole congregation of Israel acts involuntarily in ignorance, and it is hidden
from the eyes of the assembly, and they did something against any of the Lord's
commandments, which should not be done, and committed sin;† 14when the sin they
committed becomes known, then the assembly shall offer a young bull for the sin, and offer it
before the doors of the tabernacle of testimony. 15Then the elders of the congregation shall
put their hands on the head of the young bull before the Lord. The young bull shall then be
killed before the Lord. 16The anointed priest shall bring some of the young bull's blood to the
tabernacle of testimony. 17Then the priest shall dip his finger in the blood of the young bull,
and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord, in front of the veil of the holy place. 18The priest
shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of the incense compound, which is
before the Lord in the tabernacle of testimony; and he shall pour the remaining blood at the
base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of testimony. 19He
shall take all the fat from it and offer it on the altar. 20Then he shall do with the young bull
as he did with the young bull of the sin offering; thus he shall do with it. So the priest shall
make atonement for them, and their sin shall be remitted them. 21Then they shall carry the
young bull outside the camp, and burn it as they burned the first young bull. It is a sin
offering for the assembly. 22Now if a ruler should sin, and do something against any of the
commandments of the Lord their God, which should not be done, and commits sin
involuntarily,† 23and the sin he committed comes to his knowledge, he shall offer as his gift
a kid of the goats, a male without blemish. 24He shall put his hand on the head of the kid and
kill it at the place where they kill the whole burnt offering before the Lord. It is a sin offering.
25The priest shall then take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the
horns of the altar of whole burnt offering, and pour its remaining blood at the base of the
altar of whole burnt offering. 26Then he shall offer all its fat to the altar, like the fat of the
sacrifice of the peace offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin,
and it shall be remitted him.

  27‘If any soul of the people of the land should sin involuntarily by doing something against

any of the Lord's commandments, which ought not to be done, and commits sin,† 28and the
sin he committed comes to his knowledge, then he shall bring a kid of the goats, a female
without blemish, for the sin he committed. 29He shall put his hand on the head of his sin
offering and kill the kid of the sin offering at the place of the whole burnt offering. 30Then
the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of whole
burnt offering, and pour all its remaining blood at the base of the altar. 31He shall remove all
its fat, as fat is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offering; and the priest shall offer it
on the altar for a sweet aroma to the Lord. So the priest shall make atonement for him, and it
shall be remitted him. 32If he should bring as his gift a sheep for a sin offering, he shall offer
a female without blemish. 33Then he shall put his hand on the head of the sin offering and
kill it as a sin offering at the place where they kill the whole burnt offering. 34The priest shall
take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of
whole burnt offering, and pour all its remaining blood at the base of the altar. 35He shall
remove all its fat, as the fat of the sheep is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offering.
Then the priest shall put it on the altar for a whole burnt offering to the Lord. So the priest
shall make atonement for his sin he committed, and it shall be remitted him.

                                      Trespass Offerings


5 ‘Now if a soul should sin in hearing the utterance of an oath, and is a witness, whether he
  saw or knew of the matter—if he does not tell it, he shall bear his guilt. 2Or if a soul
should touch any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean animal, or one torn by
a wild animal, or the unclean carcasses of creeping things, or the unclean carcasses of cattle;†
3or should touch human uncleanness—even by any uncleanness, which by touching it he is

defiled—and he is unaware of it, but afterwards becomes aware, he shall bear his guilt. 4Or if
a soul should swear, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or good, whatever a man
may pronounce by an oath, and it should escape his notice—and thus he should sin in one of
these things, 5then he shall confess his sin in that thing; 6and he shall bring for his trespass
against the Lord, and for his guilt, a female from the sheep, a lamb, or a kid of the goats as a
sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning the sin he committed,
and it shall be remitted him.†

  7‘But if he should be unable to afford a sheep, he shall bring for the sin he committed two
turtledoves or two young pigeons to the Lord: one as a sin offering and the other as a whole
burnt offering. 8He shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer the first one as a sin
offering. Then he shall wring off its head from its neck, but shall not divide it. 9Then he shall
sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, but the rest of the blood
shall be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering. 10He shall then make the
second one a whole burnt offering according to the prescribed manner. So the priest shall
make atonement on his behalf for the sin he committed, and it shall be remitted him. 11Now
if he should be unable to afford a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, he shall bring for
his sin a gift: one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it,
nor shall he put frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.† 12Then he shall bring it to the
priest, and the priest shall take his handful as a memorial portion and put it on the altar of
whole burnt offerings to the Lord. It is a sin offering. 13The priest shall make atonement for
him, for the sin he committed in any of these matters; and it shall be remitted him. The rest
shall be the priest's as a grain offering.’ ”

                                      Restitution Offerings

  14Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 15“Now if a soul should be oblivious and sin
involuntarily in regard to the holy things of the Lord, he shall bring to the Lord for his
trespass in which he transgressed a ram without blemish from the sheep, with your valuation
in shekels of silver according to the shekel of the holy place.† 16Thus he shall make
restitution wherein he sinned in regard to the holy things, and he shall add one-fifth to give
to the priest. So the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass
offering, and it shall be remitted him.

 17“Now if a soul should sin and do anything against the Lord's commandments, though he

may not know it, nevertheless, he trespassed and shall bear his guilt. 18So he shall bring to
the priest a ram without blemish from the sheep for a trespass offering, with your valuation
of silver. So the priest shall make atonement for him regarding his ignorance in which he
erred but did not know it, and it shall be remitted him. 19It is a trespass offering; he has
certainly trespassed against the Lord.”

  20Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 21“Now if a soul should sin and actually
disregard the Lord's commandments by lying to his neighbor about a deposit entrusted to
him for safekeeping, or about a joint-ownership, or about a robbery, or if he wronged his
neighbor in something, 22or if he found what was lost and should lie about it and swear
falsely—in any one of these things a man may do when he sins: 23then it shall be, whenever
he should trespass and is guilty, he shall restore what he stole, or the thing he extorted, or
what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or the lost thing he found, 24or everything about
which he swore falsely. He shall restore its full value, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to
whomever it belongs on the day his trespass is brought to light.† 25Then he shall bring to the
priest his trespass offering to the Lord, a ram without blemish from the sheep, with your
valuation. 26So the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and it shall be
remitted him for any of these things he did wherein he trespassed.”

                                The Law of the Burnt Offering
        the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘Now this
6 Then
  is the law of the whole burnt offering: The whole burnt offering shall be on the hearth
upon the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it; it
shall not be put out. 3Then the priest shall put the linen trousers on his body; then he shall
put on his linen garment, and take up the ashes of the whole burnt offering, which the fire
consumed on the altar; and he shall put them beside the altar. 4He shall then take off his
linen garment, put on another one, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. 5So
the fire on the altar shall be burning; it shall not be put out. The priest shall burn wood on it
every morning and put the whole burnt offering on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the
peace offering. 6A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out.

                               The Law of the Grain Offering

   7‘Now this is the law of the grain offering: The sons of Aaron shall offer it in front of the

altar before the Lord. 8He shall take from it his handful of the fine flour of the grain offering,
with its oil and frankincense which is on the grain offering, and offer it on the altar of burnt
offering for a sweet aroma, a memorial to the Lord. 9Then Aaron and his sons shall eat what
is left. It shall be eaten in a holy place, in the court of the tabernacle of testimony.† 10It shall
not be baked with leaven. I gave it to them as their portion of the Lord's burnt offerings; it is
most holy, like the sin offering and the trespass offering. 11All the males of the priests shall
eat it. It shall be an ordinance forever in your generations concerning the Lord's burnt
offerings. Everyone who touches them shall be sanctified.’ ”

  12Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 13“This is the gift of Aaron and his sons, which
they shall offer to the Lord on the day you anoint him: one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour as
a daily grain offering, half of it in the morning and half in the evening. 14It shall be made in a
frying pan with oil. When it is mixed, you shall bring it in. The baked pieces of the grain
offering you shall offer for a sweet aroma to the Lord. 15The anointed priest who takes his
place from among his sons shall make it. It is an ordinance forever. It shall be wholly
consumed. 16For every grain offering of a priest shall be wholly burned. It shall not be
eaten.”†

                                 The Law of the Sin Offering

  17Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 18“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘Now
this is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the whole burnt offering is killed, they
shall kill the sin offering before the Lord. It is most holy.† 19The priest who offers it shall eat
it. In a holy place it shall be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of testimony. 20Everyone
who touches its flesh shall be sanctified; and if some of its blood might have been sprinkled
on any garment, you shall wash that on which it was sprinkled in a holy place. 21But the
earthen vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken; and if it is boiled in a bronze pot, it shall
be both scoured and rinsed in water. 22Every male among the priests shall eat it. It is most
holy. 23But no sin offering whose blood may have been brought into the tabernacle of
testimony to make atonement in the holy place shall be eaten. It shall be burned in the fire.

                             The Law of the Trespass Offering

       this is the law of the trespass offering of the ram (it is most holy): 2In the place
7 ‘Now
  where they kill the whole burnt offering, they shall kill the ram of the trespass offering
before the Lord; and its blood he shall pour all around the base of the altar. 3He shall then
offer from it all its fat. The fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat above the
entrails, 4the two kidneys and the fat on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the
liver above the kidneys, he shall remove. 5Then the priest shall offer them on the altar of
burnt offering to the Lord. It is a trespass offering. 6Every male among the priests may eat
these things. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy. 7The trespass offering is like the
sin offering; there is one law for them both: the priest who makes atonement with it shall
have it. 8Now the priest who offers a man's whole burnt offering shall have for himself the
skin of the whole burnt offering he offered. 9Also every grain offering made in the oven, and
all that is made on the grate or in a frying pan, shall be the priest's who offers it. 10Every
grain offering, whether prepared with or without oil, shall belong to all the sons of Aaron, to
one as much as the other.

                               The Law of the Peace Offering

  11‘This is the law of the sacrifice of the peace offering, which he shall offer to the Lord: 12If
he should offer it for a thanksgiving, he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving loaves of
fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened cakes smeared with oil, and fine flour kneaded with
oil.† 13Besides the unleavened loaves, he shall offer with his gifts leavened bread with the
sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offering. 14Then from all his gifts he shall offer one
choice portion to the Lord. It shall belong to the priest who pours out the blood of the peace
offering. 15The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering for thanksgiving shall be eaten the
same day it is offered. He shall not leave any of it until morning.† 16Now if the sacrifice of his
offering is a vow or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day he offers his sacrifice;
and on the next day the remainder of it may also be eaten;† 17but the remainder of the flesh
of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned with fire. 18But if some of the flesh should be
eaten on the third day, it shall not be accepted for him who offered it, nor shall it be imputed
to him; it is a defilement; and the soul who eats from it shall bear guilt. 19The flesh that
should touch any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire, but all clean
flesh may be eaten.† 20But the soul who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering
which is the Lord's while he is unclean, that soul shall be utterly destroyed from among his
people. 21Moreover, the soul who touches any unclean thing, or some human uncleanness,
or an unclean animal, or any abominable unclean thing, and who eats some of the flesh of the
sacrifice of the peace offering which is the Lord's, that soul shall be utterly destroyed from
among his people.’ ”

  22Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘You

shall not eat any fat of oxen, sheep, or goats. 24Also the fat of an animal that dies naturally
and the fat of what is torn by wild beasts may be used in any other way; but you shall by no
means eat it. 25For whoever eats the fat from the cattle which someone is going to offer to
the Lord as a burnt offering, that soul shall be utterly destroyed from among his people.
26Moreover, you shall not eat any blood in any of your dwellings, whether of birds or cattle.
27Any soul who eats blood, that soul shall be utterly destroyed from among his people.’ ”

  28Furthermore, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 29“Speak to the children of Israel, saying,
‘He who offers the sacrifice of the peace offering to the Lord shall bring his gift to the Lord
from the sacrifice of his peace offering.† 30His own hands shall offer the burnt offerings to
the Lord. The lobe of the liver and the fat upon the breast, these he shall offer to place as gifts
before the Lord. 31Then the priest shall offer the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be
Aaron's and his sons’. 32Also the right thigh you shall give to the priest as a choice portion
from the sacrifices of your peace offerings. 33He among the sons of Aaron who offers the
blood of the peace offering and the fat shall have the right thigh for his portion. 34For the
breast from which the fat was offered and the thigh of the choice portion I took from the
children of Israel, from the sacrifices of your peace offerings, and I gave them to Aaron the
priest and to his sons from the children of Israel by an ordinance forever.’ ”

  35This is the consecrated portion for Aaron and his sons from the burnt offerings of the

Lord, on the day He presented them to minister to the Lord as priests. 36The Lord
commanded this to be given to them by the children of Israel on the day He anointed them,
by an ordinance forever throughout their generations. 37This is the law of the whole burnt
offerings, the grain offering, the sin offering, the trespass offering, the consecrations, and the
sacrifice of the peace offering, 38in the manner the Lord commanded Moses on Mount Sinai,
on the day He commanded the children of Israel to offer their gifts before the Lord in the
Sinai Desert.

                          The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons

      the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the
8 Now
  garments, the anointing oil, a young bull as the sin offering, two rams, and a basket of
unleavened bread;† 3and gather all the congregation together at the door of the tabernacle of
testimony.”

  4So Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the congregation was gathered together at

the door of the tabernacle of testimony. 5Then Moses said to the congregation, “This is the
word the Lord commanded us to do.” 6So Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed
them with water.† 7He put the tunic on him, girded him with the belt, clothed him with the
robe, and put the ephod on him; and he girded him with the intricately woven band of the
ephod, and with it tied the ephod on him.† 8Then he put the breastplate on him, and he put
the Urim and the Thummim in the breastplate. 9He also put the turban on his head; and on
the turban, on its front, he put the golden plate, the holy crown, as the Lord commanded
Moses.

  10Moses then took the anointing oil, 11and he sprinkled some of it on the altar seven
times, anointed the altar, and sanctified it, and all its utensils, and the laver and its base, to
sanctify them. He also anointed the tabernacle and everything in it, and sanctified it. 12Moses
then poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him, to sanctify him.†
13After this, Moses brought Aaron's sons and put tunics on them, girded them with the belts,
and put hats on them, as the Lord commanded Moses.
  14Then he brought the young bull for the sin offering; and Aaron and his sons put their

hands on the head of the bull for the sin offering,† 15and Moses killed it. Then he took the
blood, and put some on the horns of the altar all around with his finger, and purified the
altar. He poured the blood at the base of the altar, and sanctified it, to make atonement upon
it.† 16Moses then took all the fat on the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver, and the
two kidneys with their fat, and Moses offered them on the altar. 17But the young bull, its
hide, its flesh, and its offal he burned with fire outside the camp, as the Lord commanded
Moses.

  18Next, Moses brought the ram as the burnt offering. Aaron and his sons put their hands

on the head of the ram, 19and Moses killed the ram. Then he poured the blood all around on
the altar 20and cut the ram into pieces; and he offered the head, the pieces, and the fat.
21Then he washed the stomach and the feet in water and offered the whole ram on the altar.
It was a whole burnt offering for a sweet aroma, a burnt offering to the Lord, as the Lord
commanded Moses.

  22After this, Moses brought the second ram, the ram of consecration. Then Aaron and his

sons put their hands on the head of the ram, 23and Moses killed it. Also he took some of its
blood and put it on the tip of Aaron's right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big
toe of his right foot. 24Then Moses brought Aaron's sons; and he put some of the blood on
the tips of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their
right feet. Then he poured the blood all around on the altar. 25He took the fat and the fat tail,
all the fat on the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver, the two kidneys and their fat,
and the right thigh; 26and from the basket of consecration before the Lord, he took one
unleavened cake, a cake of bread anointed with oil, and one wafer and put them on the fat
and on the right thigh;† 27and he put all these in Aaron's hands and in his sons’ hands and
offered them as a choice portion before the Lord. 28Then Moses took them from their hands
and offered them on the altar for a whole burnt offering of consecration, which was a sweet
aroma and a burnt offering to the Lord. 29Moses also took the breast and removed it as a
deposit from the ram of consecration before the Lord. It was Moses’ part, as the Lord
commanded Moses.

  30Moses then took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood on the altar and
sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments with him; and he
sanctified Aaron and his garments, and his sons and their garments with him.†

  31After this, Moses said to Aaron and his sons, “Boil the flesh in the court of the tabernacle
of testimony, in a holy place, and eat it there with the bread in the basket of consecration as I
was commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’ 32What remains of the flesh and
the bread shall be burned with fire. 33You shall not go outside the door of the tabernacle of
testimony for seven days, until the days of your consecration are fulfilled. For seven days he
shall consecrate you. 34As the Lord did on this day, He commanded to do to make atonement
for you. 35Therefore you shall stay at the door of the tabernacle of testimony day and night
for seven days and keep the charge of the Lord, that you may not die; for the Lord God so
commanded me.” 36So Aaron and his sons did all the words the Lord commanded Moses.

                                The Priestly Service Begins


9 Now it came to pass on the eighth day that Moses called Aaron and his sons and Israel's
  council of elders. 2Moses said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a young calf from the oxen as a
sin offering and a ram as a whole burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the
Lord.† 3And to the council of elders you shall speak, saying, ‘Take one kid of the goats as a sin
offering, and a young calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, as a whole
burnt offering, 4also a young bull and a ram as peace offerings before the Lord, and a grain
offering mixed with oil; for today the Lord will appear to you.’ ”

  5So they brought what Moses commanded before the tabernacle of testimony, and all the

congregation drew near and stood before the Lord. 6Then Moses spoke this word, “This is the
thing the Lord commanded you to do, and the glory of the Lord will appear among you.”
7Moses then said to Aaron, “Go to the altar, offer your sin offering and your whole burnt
offering, and make atonement for yourself and for your house. Also offer the gifts of the
people and make atonement for them, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

  8Aaron therefore went to the altar and killed the young calf of the sin offering. 9Then
Aaron's sons brought the blood to him; and he dipped his finger in the blood, put it on the
horns of the altar, and poured the blood at the base of the altar. 10But the fat, the kidneys,
and the fatty lobe from the liver of the sin offering he offered on the altar, as the Lord
commanded Moses. 11The flesh and the hide he burned with fire outside the camp. 12Then
he killed the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons presented to him the blood, which he poured all
around on the altar. 13Then they presented the whole burnt offering to him, with its pieces
and head, and he put them on the altar. 14He washed the stomach and the feet and put them
on the altar for a whole burnt offering.

  15Then he brought the people's gift and took the young goat, which was the sin offering for

the people, and killed it and offered it for sin, like the first one. 16He also brought the whole
burnt offering and offered it according to the prescribed manner.† 17Then he brought the
grain offering, took a handful of it, and put it on the altar, besides the whole burnt offering of
the morning. 18He also killed the young bull and the ram as sacrifices of peace offerings,
which were for the people; and Aaron's sons presented to him the blood, which he poured all
around on the altar. 19The fat from the young bull and the ram: the fatty tail, what covers the
stomach and the kidneys, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver, 20they put on the breasts.
Then he offered the fat on the altar; 21but the breasts and the right thigh Aaron removed as a
choice portion before the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.

  22Then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people, blessed them, and came down from

offering the sin offering, the whole burnt offerings, and peace offerings.† 23After this, Moses
and Aaron went into the tabernacle of testimony, and came out, and blessed all the people.
Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people;† 24and fire came out from the Lord,
and consumed the things on the altar, both the whole burnt offerings and the fat. When all
the people saw this, they were amazed and fell on their faces.

                         The False Offerings of Nadab and Abihu


10 Now   Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense
   on it, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them.†
2So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. 3Then
Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying, ‘By those who come near Me I
shall be sanctified; and before all the congregation I shall be glorified.’ ” So Aaron was greatly
distressed. 4Moses then called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel, Aaron's uncle, and
said to them, “Come near, carry your brethren from the presence of the sanctuary outside the
camp.” 5So they came near and carried them by their tunics outside the camp, as Moses said.
6Then Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons, “Do not uncover your
heads, nor take off your garments, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the congregation.
But let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning the Lord kindled. 7You
shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of testimony, lest you die, for the anointing
oil of the Lord is upon you.” So they did according to Moses’ word.

                                     Conduct for Priests

  8Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying, 9“Do not drink wine and strong drink, you nor your
sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of testimony, or when you approach the altar,
lest you die (it shall be an ordinance forever throughout your generations), 10that you may
distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, 11and that you may
teach the children of Israel all the ordinances which the Lord spoke to them by the hand of
Moses.”

  12Then Moses spoke to Aaron, and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons who were left, “Take
the grain offering that remains from the burnt offerings of the Lord and eat it without leaven
beside the altar; for it is most holy. 13You shall eat it in a holy place, because from the burnt
offerings of the Lord, it belongs to you and your sons by ordinance; for thus I was
commanded. 14The breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the choice portion you shall
eat in a clean place, you, your sons, and your household with you; because it was given to you
and your sons by ordinance from the peace offerings of the children of Israel. 15The thigh of
the choice portion and the breast of the wave offering they shall bring with the burnt
offerings of fat to offer as a wave offering before the Lord; and it shall be yours and your
sons’ and daughters’ with you by an ordinance forever, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

  16Then Moses made careful inquiry about the young goat of the sin offering, and there it
was—burned up. So he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's remaining sons, saying,
17“Why have you not eaten the sin offering in a holy place, since it is most holy; and He gave
this to you, to bear the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the
Lord? 18For you did not bring its blood into the holy place; you personally should have eaten
it in a holy place, as the Lord commanded me.” 19Then Aaron spoke to Moses, saying, “If they
had offered their sin offering and whole burnt offerings today before the Lord, and these
things happened to me, and I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been acceptable
to the Lord?” 20So when Moses heard that, he was pleased.

                                Clean and Unclean Animals
       Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, 2“Speak to the children of
11
       Israel, saying, ‘These are the animals you may eat among all the animals on the earth:†
3Whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud—that you may eat.
4Nevertheless these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or have cloven hooves:

the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; 5the
rock hyrax, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; 6the
hare, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; 7and the
swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean
to you. 8Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. They are
unclean to you.

 9‘These you may eat of everything in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales,

whether in the seas or in the rivers—that you may eat. 10But everything in the water or in the
seas or the rivers that does not have fins and scales, from all these, and from every living
creature in the water which the waters produce, they are an abomination to you. 11They shall
be an abomination to you; you shall not eat their flesh, but you shall regard their carcasses as
an abomination. 12Whatever in the water does not have fins or scales—that shall be an
abomination to you.

  13‘Now these you shall regard as an abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten,

they are an abomination: the eagle, the ossifrage, and the sea eagle, 14the kite, and the falcon
after its kind; 15every raven after its kind, 16the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the sea gull, and
the hawk after its kind; 17the little owl, the fisher owl, and the screech owl; 18the white owl,
the jackdaw, and the carrion vulture; 19the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the
bat.

  20‘Now all flying insects that creep on all fours shall be an abomination to you. 21Yet these
you may eat of every flying insect that creeps on all fours: those which have jointed legs
above their feet with which to leap on the earth. 22These you may eat: the locust after its
kind, the destroying locust after its kind, the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after
its kind. 23But all other flying insects which have four feet shall be an abomination to you.

  24‘Now by these you shall become unclean; whoever touches the carcass of any of them

shall be unclean until evening; 25whoever carries part of the carcass of any of them shall
wash his clothes and be unclean until evening: 26any animal which divides the foot, but is
not cloven-hoofed or does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Everyone who touches it shall
be unclean. 27Now whatever goes on its paws, among all kinds of animals that go on all fours,
those are unclean to you. Whoever touches any such carcass shall be unclean until evening.
28Whoever carries any such carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. It is
unclean to you.

  29‘These also shall be unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth:

the mole, the mouse, and the large lizard after its kind; 30the gecko, the monitor lizard, the
sand reptile, the sand lizard, and the chameleon. 31These are unclean to you among all that
creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until evening. 32Anything
on which any of them falls when they are dead shall be unclean, whether it is any item of
wood or clothing or skin or sack, whatever item it is in which work is done, it must be put in
water. And it shall be unclean until evening; then it shall be clean. 33Any earthen vessel into
which any of them falls you shall break; and whatever is in it shall be unclean: 34in such a
vessel, any edible food upon which water falls becomes unclean, and any drink that may be
drunk from it becomes unclean. 35Everything on which a carcass falls shall be unclean;
whether it is an oven or cooking stove, it shall be broken down; for they are unclean and shall
be unclean to you. 36Nevertheless, a spring or a cistern where there is plenty of water shall
be clean, but whatever touches any such carcass becomes unclean. 37But if a part of any such
carcass falls on any planting seed which is to be sown, it remains clean. 38However, if water
is put on the seed, and if a part of any such carcass falls on it, it becomes unclean to you.
39Now if any animal you are permitted to eat dies, he who touches its carcass shall be

unclean until evening. 40He who eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean
until evening. He also who carries its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until
evening.

  41‘Now every creeping thing that creeps on the earth shall be an abomination. It shall not

be eaten. 42Whatever crawls on its belly, whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many
feet among all creeping things that creep on the earth—these you shall not eat, for they are an
abomination. 43You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that
creeps; nor shall you make yourselves unclean with them, lest you be defiled by them. 44For
I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I,
the Lord your God, am holy. Neither shall you defile your souls with any creeping thing that
creeps on the earth. 45For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be
your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I, the Lord, am holy.

  46‘This is the law of the animals and the birds and every living creature that moves in the

waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, 47to distinguish between the unclean
and the clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be
eaten.’ ”

                                 Purification After Childbirth

         the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 2“Speak to the children of Israel, saying to them,
12 Now
   ‘If a woman conceived and bore a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; she
shall be unclean as in the days of her menstrual isolation. 3Then on the eighth day, the flesh
of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4She will then continue in the blood of her uncleanness
thirty-three days. She is not to touch any hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until
the days of her purification are fulfilled. 5But if she bears a female child, she will be unclean
two weeks, as in her menstrual isolation, and she will continue in the blood of her
uncleanness sixty-six days. 6When the days of her purification are fulfilled, whether for a son
or a daughter, she is to bring to the priest a lamb of the first year as a whole burnt offering,
and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering, to the door of the tabernacle of
testimony. 7Then he shall bring it before the Lord and make atonement for her, and it will
cleanse her from her flow of blood. This is the law for her who bore a male or a female. 8But
if she is unable to afford a lamb, she may bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons—one as
a whole burnt offering and the other as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for
her, and she will be clean.’ ”

                                  Laws Concerning Leprosy

      Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2“When a man has a scar on the
13 surface of his skin, or a shiny spot, and it appears to be a leprous infection, he is to be
brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests.† 3The priest shall examine the
infection on the surface of his skin; and if the hair in the infection has turned white and the
infection appears deeper than the surface of his skin, it is a leprous infection. Thus the priest
shall examine him, and pronounce him unclean.† 4But if the shiny spot on the surface of his
skin is white, but appears to be no more than skin deep, and its hair has not turned white, but
is dark, the priest shall quarantine him for seven days. 5Then the priest shall examine him on
the seventh day; and indeed, if the infection appears as it was, and has not spread on the skin,
the priest shall quarantine him another seven days. 6Then the priest shall examine him again
on the seventh day; and indeed, if the infection is dark, and has not spread on the skin, the
priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only a spot, and he shall wash his clothes and be clean.
7But if the spot happens to spread at all on the skin, after he was seen by the priest for his

cleansing, then he must be seen by the priest again. 8So if the priest sees the spot has indeed
spread on the skin, the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy.

  9“When the leprous infection is on a man, he shall be brought to the priest.† 10The priest
shall examine him; and indeed, if the scar on the skin is white, and has turned the hair white,
and some of the flesh in the scar is healthy and alive, 11it is an old leprosy on the surface of
his skin. The priest shall pronounce him unclean and shall quarantine him, for he is unclean.
12But if leprosy breaks out all over the skin, and it covers from head to foot all the skin of the

one with the infection, according to the full examination of the priest, 13then the priest shall
consider; and indeed, if the leprosy covers the entire surface of his skin, he shall pronounce
clean him who has the infection; because it all turned white. He is clean. 14But in whatever
day an open wound appears on him, he shall be unclean. 15Thus the priest shall examine the
open wound and pronounce him unclean; for an open wound is unclean; it is leprosy. 16But if
the surface of the skin is restored and turns white again, he shall come to the priest. 17The
priest shall examine him; and indeed, if the infection has turned white, the priest shall
pronounce clean him who has the infection. He is clean.

  18“If one's body develops an ulcer in the skin, and it is healed, 19and in the place of the
ulcer there comes a white scar or a shiny or inflamed spot, it shall be shown to the priest.
20When the priest sees it, and indeed, it appears deeper than the skin, and its hair has turned
white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy which broke out in the ulcer.
21But if the priest examines it, and indeed, there is no white hair in it, and it is not deeper

than the skin's surface, but is dark, the priest shall quarantine him seven days. 22But if it
should spread over the skin, the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a leprous infection
which broke out in the ulcer. 23But if the shiny spot stays in one place and has not spread, it
is the scar of the ulcer; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
  24“Or if one's body receives a burn on its skin by fire, and the open wound of the burn

becomes a bright spot, reddish-white or white, 25the priest shall examine it; and indeed, if
the hair of the bright spot has turned white, and it appears deeper than the skin, it is leprosy
broken out in the burn. Therefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a leprous
infection. 26But if the priest examines it, and indeed, there are no white hairs in the bright
spot, and it is not deeper than the skin, but is dark, then the priest shall quarantine him seven
days. 27Then the priest shall examine him on the seventh day. If it has at all spread over the
skin, the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a leprous infection broken out in the ulcer.
28But if the bright spot stays in one place and has not spread on the skin, but is dark, it is a
scar from the burn. The priest shall pronounce him clean.

  29“If a man or woman appears to have a leprous infection on the head or the beard, 30the
priest shall examine the infection; and indeed, if it appears deeper than the skin, and there is
thin yellow hair in it, the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a lesion, a leprosy of the
head or beard. 31But if the priest examines the infection of the lesion, and indeed, it does not
appear deeper than the skin, and there is no thin yellow hair in it, the priest shall quarantine
seven days the one who has the infection of the lesion. 32Then on the seventh day the priest
shall examine the infection; and indeed, if the lesion has not spread, and there is no yellow
hair in it, and the indentation does not appear deeper than the skin, 33he shall shave himself,
but he shall not shave the lesion. Then the priest shall quarantine another seven days the one
who has the lesion. 34On the seventh day the priest shall examine the lesion; and indeed, if
the lesion has not spread over the skin and the indentation does not appear deeper than the
skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean. He shall wash his clothes and be clean. 35But if
the lesion happens to spread at all on the skin after his cleansing, 36the priest shall examine
him; and indeed, if the lesion has spread over the skin, the priest need not seek for yellow
hair. He is unclean. 37But if the lesion appears to be at a standstill, and there is black hair
grown up in it, the lesion has healed. He is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

  38“If a man or a woman has bright spots on the skin of the body, specifically shining white

spots, 39the priest shall look; and indeed, if the bright spots on the skin of the body are
shining white spots, it is eczema. He is clean.

 40“As for the man whose hair has fallen from his head, he is bald, but he is clean. 41He

whose hair has fallen from his forehead, he is bald on the forehead, but he is clean. 42Now if
there is on the bald head or bald forehead a reddish-white infection, it is leprosy breaking out
on his bald head or his bald forehead. 43Then the priest shall examine him; and indeed, if the
infection of the reddish-white skin on his bald head or on his bald forehead is like the form of
leprosy on the skin of the body, 44he is a leprous man. The priest shall surely pronounce him
unclean; his infection is on his head.

  45“Now the clothes of the leper on whom the infection is shall be torn and his head

uncovered; and he shall cover his mouth, and he shall be called unclean. 46He shall be
unclean. All the days he has the infection he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall
dwell apart; his way of life shall be outside the camp.†

                          Laws Concerning Leprous Garments

  47“Also, if a garment has a leprous infection in it, whether it is a woolen garment or a linen

garment, 48whether it is in the warp or woof of linen or wool, whether in leather or in
anything made of leather, 49and if the infection is greenish or reddish in the garment or in
the leather, whether in the warp or in the woof, or in anything made of leather, then it is a
leprous infection and shall be shown to the priest. 50The priest shall examine the infection
and quarantine him who has the infection seven days. 51Then he shall examine the infection
on the seventh day. If the infection has spread in the garment, either in the warp or in the
woof, in the leather, or in anything made of leather, the infection is an active leprosy. It is
unclean. 52Therefore he shall burn the garment with the infection, whether the warp or woof
in wool or linen, or in anything of leather, for it is an active leprosy; the garment shall be
burned in the fire.† 53But if the priest examines it, and indeed the infection has not spread in
the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, or in anything made of leather, 54then the
priest shall order that the object with the infection be washed; and he shall quarantine it
another seven days. 55Then the priest shall examine the infection after it is washed; and
indeed, if the infection has not changed its color, though the infection has not spread, it is
unclean. It shall burned in the fire, for it is firmly established in the garment, either in the
warp or the woof. 56If the priest examines it, and indeed, the infection is dark after washing
it, he shall tear it out of the garment, whether out of the warp or the woof, or the leather.
57But if it appears again in the garment, either in the warp or the woof, or in anything made
of leather, it is a spreading leprosy; and that garment with the infection shall be burned with
fire. 58But if you wash the garment, either warp or woof, or anything made of leather, and
the infection disappeared from it, then it shall be washed a second time, and shall be clean.
59This is the law of the leprous infection in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp or
woof, or in anything made of leather, to pronounce it clean or to pronounce it unclean.”

                          Laws of Purification for Healed Lepers


14 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“This shall3 be the law of the leper for the day of
      his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest. The priest shall go out of the camp,
and the priest shall examine him; and indeed, if the leprous infection is healed in the leper,†
4the priest shall give orders to take, for the one declared clean, two small birds, live and

clean, and also cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. 5Then the priest must give orders that
one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. 6As for the living bird, he
shall take it, the cedar wood, the scarlet and hyssop, and dip them and the living bird in the
blood of the bird killed over the running water.† 7Then he shall sprinkle the water seven
times on the one cleansed from his leprosy, and he shall be clean; then he shall send away
the living bird into a field. 8And the one who was cleansed shall wash his clothes, shave off
all his hair, and wash himself in water; and he shall be clean. After this, he shall come into
the camp, and shall stay outside his tent seven days. 9But on the seventh day he shall shave
all the hair from his head, his beard, and his eyebrows—all his hair he shall shave off. He
shall wash his clothes and wash his body in water, and he shall be clean.

  10“Then on the eighth day he shall take two one-year-old lambs without blemish, a one-
year-old sheep without blemish, three-tenths of the finest wheaten flour for a grain offering
mixed with oil, and also one cup of oil.† 11Then together with these things, the priest who
cleanses shall present before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of testimony the man to
be made cleansed. 12The priest shall then take one lamb and offer it as a trespass offering,
and the cup of oil, and set them apart as a wave offering before the Lord. 13Then he shall kill
the lamb in the place where he kills the sin offering and the whole burnt offering, in a holy
place; for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering. It is most holy. 14The
priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and put it on the tip of the right
ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right
foot. 15The priest shall also take some of the oil from the cup and pour it into the palm of his
own left hand. 16Then he shall dip his right finger in the oil in his left hand, and sprinkle
some of it with his finger seven times before the Lord. 17The priest shall then put some of the
remaining oil on the tip of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and also on the thumb of
his right hand, the big toe of his right foot, and on the blood of the trespass offering. 18Then
the priest shall put the rest of the oil on the head of the one to be cleansed. Thus the priest
shall make atonement for him before the Lord. 19Afterward, the priest shall offer the sin
offering, and by it make atonement for the one to be cleansed. Then he shall kill the whole
burnt offering. 20The priest shall offer the whole burnt offering and the grain offering on the
altar before the Lord. Thus the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

  21“But if he is poor and cannot afford it, he shall take one lamb as a choice portion for a
trespass offering, along with one-tenth of fine flour mixed with oil and a cup of oil as a grain
offering, and 22two turtledoves or two young pigeons, such as he is able to afford: one shall
be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering, to make atonement for him. 23He shall bring
them to the priest on the eighth day for his cleansing, to the door of the tabernacle of
testimony, before the Lord. 24The priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering and the
cup of oil and put them as a deposit before the Lord. 25Then the priest shall kill the lamb of
the trespass offering, and take some of its blood, and put it on the tip of the right ear of the
one to be cleansed, then on the thumb of his right hand, and the big toe of his right foot.
26The priest shall then pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand, 27and
sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil in his left hand, seven times before the Lord.
28Then the priest shall put some of the oil in his hand on the tip of the right ear of the one to
be cleansed, and also on the thumb of his right hand and the big toe of his right foot, on the
place of the blood of the trespass offering. 29The rest of the oil in the priest's hand he shall
put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before the Lord.
30After this, he shall offer one of the turtledoves or young pigeons, such as he can afford—
31one as a sin offering and the other as a whole burnt offering, with the grain offering. Thus

the priest shall make atonement for the one to be cleansed before the Lord. 32This is the law
for one who has a leprous infection, who cannot afford the usual cleansing.”

                            Laws Concerning Leprous Houses

  33Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 34“When you enter the land of Canaan,
which I give you as a possession, and I put the leprous infection in a house in the land of your
possession, 35and he who owns the house comes and tells the priest, saying, ‘It seems to me
there is an infection in my house,’ 36then before the priest goes into the house to examine
the infection, he shall give orders for them to empty the house, that everything in the house
may not become unclean. Afterward the priest shall enter the house to examine it. 37He shall
examine the infection; and indeed, if the plague on the walls of the house has greenish or
reddish depressions that appear to be deep in the walls, 38then the priest shall go outside the
house to the door of the house, and quarantine the house seven days. 39After this, the priest
shall come again on the seventh day to examine it; and indeed, if the infection has spread on
the walls of the house, 40then the priest shall give orders to take away the stones with the
infection; and they shall cast them into an unclean place outside the city. 41They shall then
scrape the house inside and outside, and the dust they scrape off they shall pour out in an
unclean place outside the city. 42Then they shall take other scraped stones and put them in
the place of those stones; and they shall take other mortar and plaster the house.

  43“Now if the infection comes back and breaks out in the house, after they took away the

stones and scraped and plastered the house, 44then the priest shall enter the house to
examine it; and indeed, if the infection has spread in it, there is an active leprosy in the
house. It is unclean. 45So they shall break down the house, its stones, timber, and all its
plaster, and carry them outside the city to an unclean place. 46Moreover, he who goes into
the house at all while it is quarantined shall be unclean until evening. 47Also the one who
lies down in the house shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening; and the one who
eats in the house shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening.

  48“But if the priest enters the house to examine it, and indeed, the infection has not spread
at all in the house after it was plastered, then the priest shall pronounce it clean, because the
infection is healed.† 49Then to cleanse the house he shall take two live birds, cedar wood,
scarlet, and hyssop. 50And he shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running
water; 51and he shall take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet, and the living bird and dip
them in the blood of the slain bird and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven
times. 52Thus he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, the running water, and
the living bird, along with the cedar wood, the hyssop, and the spun scarlet. 53Then he shall
send away the living bird into a field outside the city and make atonement for the house, and
it shall be clean.

  54“This is the law for any leprous infection and lesion,† 55and for a leprous garment, a

house, 56a scar, a mark, and a bright spot, 57to determine in which day there is the unclean,
and in which day it will be declared clean. This is the law of leprosy.”

                           Laws Concerning Bodily Discharges

     Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2“Speak to the children of Israel, and
15 say to them, to any and every man, ‘When any man has a seminal discharge from his
body, his discharge is unclean. 3This shall be the law of his uncleanness—whether his bodily
member flows with an involuntary discharge of semen, or is stopped up by his discharge, it is
his uncleanness. 4Every bed on which he who has the discharge lies is unclean, and
everything on which he sits shall be unclean. 5Whoever touches his bed shall wash his
clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. 6Whoever sits on anything on
which he who has the discharge sat shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean
until evening. 7Whoever touches the skin of him who has the discharge shall wash his
clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. 8If he who has the discharge spits
on him who is clean, he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until
evening. 9Any saddle of a donkey on which he who has the discharge rides shall be unclean
until evening. 10Whoever touches anything under him shall be unclean until evening; and
whoever carries any of those things shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean
until evening. 11Whomever he who has the discharge touches, and has not rinsed his hands
in water, he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. 12An
earthen vessel that he who has the discharge touches shall be broken, and every wooden
vessel shall be rinsed in water.

  13‘Now when he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, he shall count for
himself seven days for his cleansing. He shall wash his clothes, and bathe his body in water;
then he shall be clean.† 14On the eighth day he shall take for himself two turtledoves or two
young pigeons and bring these before the Lord, to the door of the tabernacle of testimony,
and give them to the priest. 15Then the priest shall offer them, the one as a sin offering and
the other as a whole burnt offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him before the
Lord because of his discharge.

  16‘If any man has an emission of semen, he shall wash all his body in water and be unclean

until evening. 17Any garment and any leather on which there is semen shall be washed with
water, and be unclean until evening. 18Also, when a woman lies with a man and there is an
emission of semen, they shall bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.

  19‘If a woman has a discharge, and the discharge from her body is blood, she shall be in her
menstrual period seven days; and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening.
20Everything she lies on during her menstruation shall be unclean; also everything she sits

on shall be unclean. 21Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in
water, and be unclean until evening. 22Whoever touches anything she sat on shall wash his
clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. 23If anything is on her bed, or on
anything on which she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until evening. 24If any
man lies with her, and her uncleanness is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every
bed on which he lies shall be unclean.

  25‘If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, other than at the time of her
menstruation, or if it runs beyond this time, all the days of her unclean discharge shall be as
the days of her menstruation. She shall be unclean.† 26Every bed on which she lies all the
days of her discharge shall be to her as the bed of her menstruation; and whatever she sits on,
it shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her menstruation. 27Whoever touches her shall be
unclean; and he shall wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. 28But if
she is cleansed of her discharge, she shall count for herself seven days, and after that she
shall be clean. 29Then on the eighth day she shall take for herself two turtledoves or two
young pigeons and bring them to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of testimony. 30The
priest shall offer one as a sin offering and the other as a whole burnt offering, and the priest
shall make atonement for her before the Lord because of the discharge of her uncleanness.

  31‘Thus you shall make the children of Israel ungodly because of their uncleanness, lest

they die in their uncleanness when they defile My tabernacle among them.† 32This is the law
for one who has a discharge and who emits semen and is unclean thereby, 33and for her who
is indisposed because of her menstrual period, and for one who has a discharge, either man
or woman, and for the man who lies with her during her menstrual period.’ ”

                                  The Day of Atonement


16 Now  the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron's two sons, when they offered
   strange fire before the Lord and died;† 2and the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your
brother not to come at just any time into the holy place inside the veil, in the presence of the
mercy seat on the ark of the testimony, lest he die; for I will be seen in the cloud above the
mercy seat.† 3Thus Aaron shall come into the holy place with a young bull of the oxen as a
sin offering, and a ram as a whole burnt offering.† 4He shall put the holy linen tunic and the
linen trousers on his body; he shall be girded with a linen sash, and with the linen turban he
shall be attired. These are holy garments. Therefore he shall wash his body in water and put
them on.†

  5“Then he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats as

a sin offering, and one ram as a whole burnt offering.† 6Aaron shall offer the young bull as
his sin offering, to make atonement for himself and his house.† 7He shall take the two kids
and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of testimony. 8Then Aaron
shall cast lots for the two kids: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat.†
9Aaron shall bring the kid on which the Lord's lot fell and offer it as a sin offering. 10But the
kid on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make
atonement upon it, to let it go as the scapegoat into the desert.

                                       SACRIFICE

In the Book of Leviticus and detailed further in Deuteronomy 12—26, the Lord commands
Moses to institute a comprehensive system of ritual sacrifices to be offered by the priests on
behalf of the people of God, thus giving the Hebrews a means to be reconciled with God and
to restore harmony amongst themselves, relationships disrupted by sin. The word “sacrifice”
means to make holy or sacred. These sacrifices and offerings—offered first at the tabernacle
and later in the temple—were basically of two types: animal (cattle, sheep, goats, doves) and
vegetable (wheat, barley, olive oil, wine, cereal, frankincense). The offerings were types
prefiguring a greater reality to be fulfilled in the coming Incarnation of Christ.

                                   THE OLD COVENANT

  In the Old Testament animal sacrifices, the blood shed and poured out represented the life-
force of the animal offered to God (Gn 9:4; Lv 17:11; Dt 12:23). The animal was more than
simply a substitute for the worshiper. There was also identification between the animal
sacrificed and the one on whose behalf it was offered, explaining the emphasis in the Old
Testament on the blood of the sacrifice (Ex 12:13; 24:4–8; 29:15–21; 30:1–10; Lv 14:24, 25;
Nm 19:1–4). These sacrifices point to the blood of Christ in the New Testament: “My blood of
the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Mt 26:28; see also Acts
20:28; Rom 5:8–10; Col 1:19, 20; Heb 9:11–14; 1Pt 1:17–19; 1Jn 1:7; Rev 1:4–6; 7:13–15).

  On the Day of Atonement, the preeminent Old Testament sacrifice was made. It was to
atone for all the sins the nation of Israel had committed that year (Lv 16:2–34). The
ceremony included (1) animal sacrifices as offerings for sins, and (2) the placing of “all the
transgressions of the children of Israel . . . on the head of the living kid”—the scapegoat—
which was then driven off into the wilderness (Lv 16:21). This event prefigures the once-for-
all self-sacrifice of Christ, our great High Priest (Heb 4:14—5:10; 10:19–22), who takes upon
Himself all the sins of all humanity (Is 53:11, 12; Jn 1:29; 2Co 5:21; 1Pt 2:24), tramples down
death by His voluntary Death on the cross, and thereby reconciles us to God (Is 53:5; Gal
3:13, 14; Col 1:13, 14; Tts 2:13, 14; 1Pt 3:18).

                                       THE NEW COVENANT

  Christ’s once-for-all offering of Himself is for all people for all time, and supersedes the
Mosaic sacrificial system. Accordingly, the mystery of the eucharistic service, accomplished
within the Divine Liturgy of the Church, is done “in remembrance” of Christ’s sacrifice (Lk
22:19) and is a “reasonable and bloodless sacrifice” to be understood as our sacrifice-offering
to God—“a mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise.” In the Divine Liturgy, instead of an animal or
grain offering, we offer the Body and Blood of Christ to God. In a mystery known only to God,
we thereby participate in the very Body and Blood of Christ offered once for all. And in this
substantial union between Christ—the One sacrificed—and the worshiper, we come to more
fully understand how we are united to Christ in our baptism and nurtured in our union with
Christ by the eucharistic offering. The Church prays, “Thine own of Thine own we offer unto
Thee, on behalf of all and for all.”

  Offering sacrifices never exempted the Hebrews from the duty to live prayerfully and
morally (Pr 15:8, 9). Moreover, Old Testament prophets stood against empty ritual and vain
sacrifice (1Kg 15:22; Pss 49:7–15; 50:15–17; Is 1:1–20; Hos 6:6; Am 5:9–27; Mic 6:1–8).
Hence, the Mosaic sacrificial system not only prefigures Christ’s own sacrifice, but also
points to the pouring out of ourselves in self-sacrificial service as detailed in Romans 12:1 and
1 Peter 2:5.


  11“Then Aaron shall offer the young bull as his sin offering, to make atonement for himself

and his house. Thus he shall kill the young bull as his sin offering. 12He shall then take a
censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, with his hands full of the
incense compound, beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil. 13He shall put the incense on the
fire before the Lord, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat on the testimonies,
lest he die. 14He shall take some of the young bull's blood with his finger and sprinkle it upon
the east side of the mercy seat seven times.

  15“After that, he shall kill the kid of the sin offering before the Lord on behalf of the
people, and bring some of its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood
of the young bull, and sprinkle it upon the east side of the mercy seat seven times. 16So he
shall make atonement in the holy place because of the impurities and injustices of the
children of Israel, for all their sins; and thus he shall do this in the tabernacle of testimony,
built among them in the midst of their uncleanness.† 17There shall be no man in the
tabernacle of testimony when he goes in to make atonement in the holy place, until he comes
out, that he may make atonement for himself, his household, and all the congregation of the
children of Israel. 18Then he shall go out to the altar before the Lord and make atonement
upon it; and he shall take some of the blood of both the young bull and the kid and put it on
the horns of the altar all around. 19Then he shall sprinkle some of the blood upon it with his
finger seven times, and cleanse and sanctify it because of the impurities of the children of
Israel.

                                        The Scapegoat

  20“When Aaron shall finish making atonement in the holy place, the tabernacle of
testimony and the altar, and shall also cleanse matters concerning the priests, then he shall
bring the living kid. 21Aaron shall place his hands on the head of the living kid, confess over
it all the transgressions of the children of Israel, and all their lawlessness, and all their sins;
and he shall put them on the head of the living kid, and send it away into the desert by the
hand of a suitable man.† 22The kid shall bear on itself all their wrongdoings to an
uninhabited land. Thus he shall send away the kid into the desert. 23Then Aaron shall come
into the tabernacle of testimony and take off the linen garments he put on when he went into
the holy place; and he shall leave them there. 24He shall then wash his body with water in a
holy place, put on his garments, and come out to offer his whole burnt offering and the whole
burnt offering of the people, to make atonement for himself, his house, the people, and in
matters concerning the priests. 25The fat of the sin offering he shall offer on the altar. 26He
who sent away the kid which was set apart for remission shall wash his clothes and bathe his
body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. 27The young bull and the kid for
the sin offerings whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place shall be
carried outside the camp; and they shall burn them in the fire: their skin, their flesh, and
their offal.† 28Then he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water;
and afterward, he may come into the camp.

                          Ordinances for the Day of Atonement

  29“This shall be an ordinance forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of
the month, you shall humble your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own
country or a resident alien who dwells among you. 30For on that day the priest shall make
atonement for you, to cleanse you from all your sins before the Lord. Thus you shall be clean.
31It is a Sabbath of Sabbaths, a rest for you, and you shall humble your souls. It is an

ordinance forever. 32So the priest who is anointed and consecrated to minister as priest in
his father's place shall make atonement and put on the linen clothes, the holy garments.
33Then he shall make atonement in the most holy place, the tabernacle of testimony and the
altar; and he shall make atonement for matters concerning the priests and all the
congregation.† 34So this shall be an ordinance forever for you, to make atonement for the
children of Israel, for all their sins; and he shall do this once a year,” as the Lord gave orders
to Moses.

                                    The Sanctity of Blood

                                             †2
17 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the
                                                                           3
                                                                               children
     of Israel, and say to them, ‘This is the thing the Lord commanded, saying, “Whatever
man of the children of Israel, or resident aliens dwelling among them, kills a young bull, a
sheep, or a goat in the camp, or kills it outside the camp, 4and does not bring it to the door of
the tabernacle of testimony, to offer it as a whole burnt offering or a peace offering to the
Lord, acceptable for a sweet aroma; and whatever man kills outside and does not bring it to
the door of the tabernacle of testimony, so as to offer it as a gift to the Lord before the Lord's
tabernacle, blood shall be reckoned to that man, for he has shed blood; and that man shall be
utterly destroyed from among his people, 5that the children of Israel may bring their
sacrifices they kill in the fields to the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of testimony, to the
priest, and offer them as peace offerings to the Lord. 6The priest shall pour the blood upon
the altar all around before the Lord at the doors of the tabernacle of testimony, and offer the
fat for a sweet aroma to the Lord. 7They shall no more offer their sacrifices to worthless
things, after whom they prostituted themselves. This shall be an ordinance forever for you
throughout your generations.’ ”†

  8“Also you shall say to them, ‘Whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the resident

aliens who dwell among you, offers a whole burnt offering or sacrifice† 9and does not bring it
to the door of the tabernacle of testimony, to offer it to the Lord, that man shall be utterly
destroyed from among his people.

  10‘And whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the resident aliens dwelling among
you, eats any blood, I will set My face against that soul who eats blood and will utterly
destroy him from among his people. 11For the life of all flesh is in its blood, and I give it to
you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for its blood makes atonement for the
soul.’† 12“Therefore, I said to the children of Israel, ‘No one among you shall eat blood, nor
shall any resident alien who dwells among you eat blood.’ 13Whatever man of the children of
Israel, or of the resident aliens dwelling among you, hunts and catches any animal or bird
that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with dirt;† 14for the life of all flesh
is its blood. Therefore, I said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not eat the blood of any
flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be utterly destroyed.’

  15“Every soul who eats what died naturally or what was torn by wild animals, whether a
native of your own country or a resident alien, he shall both wash his clothes, bathe in water,
and be unclean until evening. Then he shall be clean. 16But if he does not both wash his body
and bathe in water, he shall bear his guilt.”

                                    Laws of Sexual Morality


18 Now the Lord spoke to Moses,3saying,† 2“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to
      them, ‘I am the Lord your God. According to the way of life in the land of Egypt, where
you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the way of life in the land of Canaan, where I
bring you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. 4You shall do My
judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God.† 5You shall
therefore keep all My ordinances and My judgments, and do these, which if a man does, he
shall live by them; I am the Lord your God.† 6None of you shall approach anyone who is near
of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the Lord.† 7The nakedness of your father or
mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness.
8The nakedness of your father's wife you shall not uncover; it is your father's nakedness.
9The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother,

whether born at home or elsewhere, her nakedness you shall not uncover. 10The nakedness
of your son's daughter, or your daughter's daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover;
for theirs is your own nakedness. 11The nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, begotten
by your father—she is your sister—you shall not uncover her nakedness. 12You shall not
uncover the nakedness of your father's sister; she is near of kin to your father. 13You shall
not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, for she is near of kin to your mother.
14You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother, and approach his wife; she is

your aunt. 15You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law—she is your son's
wife—you shall not uncover her nakedness. 16You shall not uncover the nakedness of your
brother's wife; it is your brother's nakedness. 17You shall not uncover the nakedness of a
woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter,
to uncover their nakedness. They are near of kin to her. It is impious. 18Nor shall you take a
woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.

 19‘Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her

menstrual period of uncleanness. 20Moreover, you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's
wife, to defile yourself with her. 21Furthermore, you shall not give your offspring to worship
a ruler, nor shall you defile My holy name: I am the Lord. 22You shall not lie with a male as
with a woman. It is an abomination. 23Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself
with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion.

  24‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these ways of life the

nations are defiled, which I am casting out before your face. 25For the land is defiled, and on
its account I am repaying them for their wrongdoing. Thus the land became vexed with those
dwelling upon it. 26You shall therefore keep all My ordinances and My judgments and shall
not do any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any resident alien who
dwells among you 27(for the men of the land before you did all these abominations, and thus
the land was defiled), 28that the land not be vexed with you in your defilement of it, as it was
vexed with the nations before you. 29For whoever does any of these abominations, these
souls shall be utterly destroyed from among their people. 30Therefore, you shall keep My
ordinances, so as not to do any of these abominable customs which were committed before
you, and not to defile yourselves by them; for I am the Lord your God.’ ”

                                Laws of Morality and Justice


19 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 2“Speak to all the congregation of the children
                                                                                 3
      of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. Every
one of you shall reverence his father and mother and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your
God. 4Do not follow idols, nor make for yourselves molten gods: I am the Lord your God.
5And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, you shall offer it in a manner

acceptable for you. 6It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day, and if any
remains until the third day, it shall be burned in the fire. 7And if it is eaten at all on the third
day, it is not fit to be offered. It shall not be accepted. 8Therefore, everyone who eats it shall
bear his guilt, because he has defiled the holy things of the Lord; and the souls that eat it
shall be utterly destroyed from among their people.

   9‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your

field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10Also you shall not glean your
vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor
and the resident alien: I am the Lord your God.

  11‘You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. 12You shall not swear by My

name unjustly, nor shall you defile the name of your God: I am the Lord your God. 13You
shall not treat your neighbor unjustly, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not
remain with you all night until morning. 14You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling
block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the Lord your God.

  15‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor admire

the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor. 16You shall not go
about deceitfully among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your
neighbor: I am the Lord your God. 17You shall not hate your brother in your mind. You shall
surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear guilt because of him. 18You shall not take
vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your
neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.†
  19‘You shall keep My law. You shall not let your cattle mate with a different species. You
shall not sow your field with mixed seeds. Nor shall a garment of mixed linen and wool come
upon you.

  20‘Whoever lies carnally with a woman who is betrothed to a man as a concubine and has
not at all been redeemed nor given her freedom, for this there shall be an inquiry; but they
shall not be put to death, because she was not free. 21Then he shall bring his trespass
offering to the Lord, to the door of the tabernacle of testimony, a ram as a trespass offering.
22The priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the
Lord for the sin he committed; and the sin he committed shall be remitted him.

  23‘When you come into the land the Lord your God gives you and have planted all kinds of
trees for food, then you shall cleanse its impurity. Three years its fruit shall be impure to you.
It shall not be eaten. 24But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to the Lord.
25Then in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase: I am the
Lord your God.

  26‘You shall not eat upon the mountains, nor divine for omens, nor watch birds for omens.
27You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your

beard. 28You shall not make any gashing on your bodies for the dead, nor tattoo any marks
on you: I am the Lord your God. 29Do not defile your daughter, to cause her to commit
fornication, lest the land fall into fornication, and the land become full of lawlessness.

  30‘You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My holy things: I am the Lord. 31You shall
not follow ventriloquists, nor attach yourselves to enchanters, to be defiled by them: I am the
Lord your God. 32You shall rise before the gray-headed and honor the presence of an old
man, and fear your God: I am the Lord your God. 33And if a resident alien dwells with you in
your land, you shall not mistreat him. 34The resident alien who dwells among you shall be to
you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were resident aliens
in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. 35You shall do no injustice in judgment, in
measurement of length, weight, or balances. 36You shall have honest scales, honest weights,
and honest measures: I am the Lord your God, who brings you out of the land of Egypt.

  37‘Therefore you shall keep all My law and all My ordinances, and perform them: I am the
Lord your God.’ ”
                                 Penalties for Lawbreakers

       the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 2“Again, you shall say to the children of Israel,
20 Now
   ‘Whoever of the children of Israel, or of the resident aliens dwelling in Israel, gives any
of his children to worship a ruler, let him be put to death. The people of the land shall stone
him with stones.† 3I will set My face against that man and will destroy him from among his
people, because he gave his children to a ruler, to defile My holy things and profane the name
of those sanctified for Me.† 4But if the natives of the land disregard that man, taking no
notice of him when he gives his children to a ruler, and they do not kill him, 5then I will set
My face against that man and those of his kind. For since he and those in agreement with
him prostituted themselves to rulers, I will destroy them from among their people. 6Also the
soul who follows ventriloquists and charmers, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My
face against that soul and destroy him from among his people. 7Therefore, you shall be holy,
for I the Lord your God am holy. 8You shall keep My ordinances and perform them: I am the
Lord who sanctifies you. 9Whatever man curses his father or mother shall surely be put to
death. He cursed his father or mother. Thus he shall be guilty.†

  10‘The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, or who commits adultery with

his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death. 11The man who lies
with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness; both shall surely be put to death,
for they are guilty. 12If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both shall surely be put to death.
They are impious, and therefore guilty. 13If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman,
both committed an abomination. They shall be put to death, for they are guilty. 14If a man
marries a woman and her mother, it is wickedness. They shall be burned with fire, both he
and they, that there may be no wickedness among you. 15If a man mates with an animal, he
shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal. 16If a woman approaches any
animal and mates with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal. They shall surely be put
to death, for they are guilty.

  17‘If a man takes his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter, and sees her
nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a reproach. They shall be utterly destroyed in the
presence of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness. They shall bear their guilt.
18If a man lies with a woman during her menstrual period and uncovers her nakedness, he
has exposed her flow, and she has uncovered the flow of her blood. Both shall be utterly
destroyed from among their people. 19You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's
sister, nor your mother's sister, for that would uncover his near of kin. They shall bear their
guilt. 20If a man lies with his close relative, he has uncovered his relative's nakedness. They
shall die childless. 21If a man takes his brother's wife, it is uncleanness. He has uncovered his
brother's nakedness. They shall be childless.

  22‘You shall therefore keep all My ordinances and all My judgments and perform them,

that the land to which I am bringing you to dwell in not be provoked at you. 23Also, you shall
not walk in the ordinances of the nations I am casting out before you; for they commit all
these things, and therefore I abhor them. 24But I said to you, “You shall inherit their land,
and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your
God, who separated you from all peoples.† 25You shall therefore distinguish between clean
animals and unclean, between unclean birds and clean, and you shall not make your souls
abominable by animals or birds, or by any kind of living thing that creeps on the ground,
which I separated from you as unclean.† 26You shall be holy to Me, for I, the Lord your God,
who separated you from all peoples for Myself, am holy.

  27‘A man or a woman who is a ventriloquist or a charmer shall surely be put to death; they
shall stone them with stones, for they are guilty.’ ”

                                     Conduct for Priests


21 Now  the Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them,
   ‘They shall not be defiled by the dead among their people,† 2except for their nearest
relatives: their father, mother, sons, daughters, brother, 3and virgin sister near to him and
having no husband; for these he may be defiled. † 4Otherwise, he shall not be unexpectedly
defiled and profaned among his people. 5You shall not shave a bald spot on your head for the
dead, nor shall they shave the edges of their beard, nor make any cuttings on their flesh.
6They shall be holy to their God, and not defile the name of their God, for they offer the

sacrifices of the Lord as the gifts of their God; therefore, they shall be holy. 7They shall not
take a wife who is a prostitute and defiled, nor shall they take a woman divorced from her
husband; for a priest is holy to the Lord his God. 8Therefore you shall sanctify him, for he
offers the gifts of the Lord your God. He shall be holy to you, for I the Lord, who sanctifies
them, am holy. 9The daughter of any priest, if she defiles herself by playing the harlot, she
defiles the name of her father. She shall be burned with fire. 10The high priest who is great
among his brethren, on whose head the anointing oil was poured and who was consecrated to
wear the garments, shall not uncover his head nor tear his clothes; 11nor shall he go near any
soul who died, nor defile himself for his father or mother; 12nor shall he go out of the holy
places, nor defile the sanctified place of his God; for the consecration of God's holy anointing
oil is upon him: I am the Lord. 13Moreover, he shall take a wife in her virginity. 14But a
widow, a divorced woman, a defiled woman, or a prostitute—these he shall not marry; but he
shall take a virgin of his own people as wife.† 15Nor shall he defile his seed among his people,
for I the Lord sanctify him.’ ”

  16Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 17“Speak to Aaron, saying, ‘No man of your
descendants in succeeding generations who has any defect may approach to offer the gifts of
his God.† 18For any man who has a defect shall not approach: a man lame or blind, who has a
slit nose or ear, 19a man who has a broken hand or foot, 20or is a hunchback or has a defect
in his eye, or an inflammation with respect to the eyes, or a man who has a severe itch or a
single testicle. 21No man of the seed of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall come near to
offer the sacrifices to your God. He has a defect; he shall not come near to offer the gifts of
your God. 22The gifts of his God are most holy, and he may eat only the holy things; 23but he
shall not go near the veil or approach the altar, because he has a defect, lest he defile the holy
place of his God; for I the Lord sanctify them.’ ” 24Thus Moses told this to Aaron and his
sons, and to all the children of Israel.

                                               †2
22 Then  the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell Aaron and his sons to be careful for the
   holy things of the children of Israel, in what is sanctified to Me, so as not to defile My
holy name: I am the Lord. 3Say to them, ‘Throughout your generations, whoever of your seed
goes near the holy things the children of Israel sanctify to the Lord while his uncleanness is
upon him, that soul shall be utterly destroyed by Me: I am the Lord your God. 4Whatever
man of the seed of Aaron who is a leper or has an involuntary discharge of semen shall not
eat the holy offerings until he is clean. Also whoever touches any impurity of a soul who had
an emission of semen while asleep on his bed, 5or whoever touches any unclean creeping
thing by which he would be defiled, or anyone by whom he would be defiled, whatever his
uncleanness may be— 6the soul who has touched any such thing shall be unclean until
evening, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he washes his body with water. 7Thus
when the sun goes down, he shall be clean; and afterward he may eat of the holy things,
because it is his food. 8Whatever dies naturally or is torn by wild animals he shall not eat, to
defile himself with it: I am the Lord. 9They shall therefore keep My ordinances, lest they bear
sin for it and die thereby, if they defile these. I the Lord God sanctify them. 10No foreigner
shall eat the holy things; one who sojourns with the priest or a hired servant shall not eat the
holy things. 11But if the priest buys a soul with his money, this one may eat the priest's food;
and one who is born in his house may eat his food. 12If the priest's daughter is married to a
foreigner, she may not eat of the holy offerings. 13But if the priest's daughter is a widow or
divorced and has no child, and has returned to her father's house as in her youth, she may eat
her father's food; but no foreigner shall eat it. 14Also, if a man eats the holy things in
ignorance, then he shall restore the holy thing to the priest and add one-fifth to it. 15They
shall not defile the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer to the Lord, 16or
allow them to bear the guilt of trespass when they eat their holy things; for I the Lord
sanctify them.’ ”

                         Acceptable and Unacceptable Offerings

  17Again, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 18“Speak to Aaron and his sons, and to all the
congregation of Israel, and say to them, ‘Whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the
resident aliens dwelling among them in Israel, who offers his gifts in accord with any agreed-
on offering or any offering of choice which they offer to God as a whole burnt offering— 19to
be acceptable on your behalf, they must be males without blemish from the cattle, the sheep,
or the goats. 20Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer it to the Lord, for it shall not be
acceptable on your behalf. 21And whoever offers a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord
from the cattle or the sheep, to fulfill his vow, or a freewill offering, or in your feasts, it must
be without blemish to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it. 22Those blind, broken, or
with a cut tongue, or afflicted with warts, or having a bad itch or a skin disease, you shall not
offer to the Lord, nor make an offering by fire of them on the altar to the Lord. 23Either a
bull or a sheep that has any ears cut off or a shortened tail, you may offer for yourself, but for
a vow of yours it shall not be accepted. 24You shall not offer to the Lord what is castrated by
crushing, bruising, tearing, or extracting; nor shall you make any offering of them in your
land. 25Nor from a foreigner's hand shall you offer any of these as the gifts of your God,
because their corruption is in them, and defects are in them. They shall not be accepted on
your behalf.’ ”
  26Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 27“When a young bull, a sheep, or a goat is born,
it shall be seven days with its mother; and from the eighth day and thereafter it shall be
accepted as a gift made by fire to the Lord. 28Whether it is a young bull or a sheep, do not kill
both her and her young on the same day. 29Now if you offer a sacrifice, a vow of rejoicing to
the Lord, you shall offer it so as to be acceptable for you. 30On the same day it shall be eaten;
you shall leave none of its flesh until morning: I am the Lord. 31Therefore you shall keep My
commandments and do them. 32You shall not defile My holy name, but I will be sanctified
among the children of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctifies you, 33who brings you out of the
land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord.”

                                    The Feasts of the Lord

      And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 2“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to
23 them, ‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these
are My feasts. 3Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath rest, a holy
convocation to the Lord. You shall do no work on it; it is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your
dwellings.

                              T H E F E A S T O F W E E K S—
                                       PENTECOST

The Feast of Weeks was the festival celebrated at the beginning of the grain harvest (Ex
34:22). This was the feast at which the Hebrews offered their firstfruits of the harvest to the
Lord at the tabernacle. It was one of the three major Jewish feasts, along with the Passover
and the Feast of Tabernacles (see Ex 23:14–17; 34:18–23; Dt 16:1–17).

  According to Leviticus 23:15, 16, the Feast was celebrated for seven consecutive weeks
beginning “the morning following the Sabbath day” of Passover. Thus comes its title, the
“Feast of Weeks.” Later in the Old Testament this feast became known as “Pentecost”
(“fiftieth”), since it was celebrated on the fiftieth day after Passover (see Tb 2:1; 2Mc 12:32).

               PENTECOST: A FULFILLMENT OF THE JEWISH FEAST

  The Jewish Feast of Pentecost was fulfilled as described in Acts 2. On this Day of Pentecost
came the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ, as Christ Himself had
promised (Jn 14:16, 17). The descent of the Holy Spirit fulfills the Jewish Feast of Pentecost
in a number of ways.

  1 The reaping of the firstfruits of the grain harvest is fulfilled by the first harvest on the
Day of Pentecost, which consisted of the Jews who believed and were baptized. St. John
Chrysostom says the Holy Spirit “came down as the keen-edged sickle.”

  2 The offering of the two “deposit loaves” of leavened bread (Lv 23:17, 18) is prophetic of
the ingathering of both Jews and Gentiles (Bede). St. John Cassian says the preaching of the
apostles on the Day of Pentecost was “the true bread of the first fruits . . . when five thousand
men were filled with the gift of its food” (Acts 4:4).

  3 The fiftieth day—seven consecutive weeks following Pascha plus one day—indicates the
fullness of time in a mystery, similar to the Christian understanding of the eighth day.

  4 The giving of the Law to Moses by the Son of God is brought to completion by the giving
of the Spirit (see Rom 8:3–11; Gal 5:3–6; Eph 2:13–18) to the Church.

                             THE SERVICES FOR PENTECOST

  The Orthodox services for Pentecost place their emphasis on the descent of the Holy Spirit
in all His fullness. His descent means that the Mosaic Law, given by the Lawgiver and
honored on the Jewish feast day of Pentecost, is now transcended: “The All-Holy Spirit, who
freely distributes gifts to all, has descended and come to earth; not as He formerly had in the
Law’s dark shadow, shining in the Prophets, but now in very truth, He is bestowed in us
through Christ” (Vespers, Thursday after Pentecost).

  The worship services for Pentecost repeatedly emphasize how Old Testament prophecies of
the Holy Spirit are fulfilled on this day. Two of the greatest of these prophecies are found in
the Old Testament readings for this Feast—Ezekiel 36:24–28 and Joel 2:23–32. St. Peter
directly quotes the passage from Joel in his exhortation to the Jews on the Day of Pentecost
(Acts 2:16–21). A third reading—Numbers 11:16–17, 24–29—relates how the Lord commands
Moses to select seventy of the elders of Israel, who, when the Spirit comes upon them,
prophesy at the tabernacle. The comment of Moses regarding this event, “Would that all the
Lord’s people might be prophets when the Lord would put His Spirit upon them” (Nm 11:29),
is prophetic of the Day of Pentecost.

  A hymn for the Feast of Pentecost declares, “Once, when He descended and confounded the
tongues, the Most High divided the nations [Gn 11:1–9]; and when He divided the tongues of
fire, He called all men into unity; and with one accord we glorify the All-holy Spirit.”


                              Pascha and Unleavened Bread

  4‘These are the feasts to the Lord, holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at their

appointed times. 5On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Pascha to the
Lord.† 6Then on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the
Lord; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 7On the first day you shall have a holy
convocation; you shall do no service work on it. 8But you shall offer a whole burnt offering to
the Lord for seven days. The seventh day shall be a holy convocation; you shall do no ser-vice
work.’ ”

                                            Harvest

  9Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to
them, ‘When you come into the land I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring a sheaf of
the firstfruits from your harvest to the priest. 11He shall offer the sheaf before the Lord, to be
accepted on your behalf; on the morning after the first day the priest shall offer it. 12Then
you shall offer on that day on which you offer the sheaf a sheep of the first year, without
blemish, as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. 13Its grain offering shall be two-tenths of an
ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, a sacrifice to the Lord, for a sweet aroma to the Lord; and
its drink offering shall be of wine, one-fourth of a hin. 14You shall eat neither bread nor
roasted fresh ears until the same day you have offered gifts to your God; it shall be an
ordinance forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

  15‘Then you shall count for yourselves from the morning following the Sabbath day, from

the day you brought the sheaf of the deposit, seven full weeks.† 16Count fifty days to the day
after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord. 17You shall
bring from your dwellings two deposit loaves of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour. They
shall be baked with leaven. They are firstfruits to the Lord. 18Then you shall offer with the
bread seven lambs of the first year without blemish, one young bull, and two rams without
blemish. They shall be a whole burnt offering to the Lord, with their grain offering and drink
offerings, a sacrifice for a sweet aroma to the Lord. 19After this, you shall sacrifice one kid of
the goats as a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year as a sacrifice of a peace offering,
with the loaves of the firstfruits. 20The priest shall deposit them with the loaves of the
firstfruits as a deposit offering before the Lord, with the two lambs. They shall be holy things
to the Lord; and for the priest who presented them, his shall they be. 21Then you shall
proclaim the same day as a holy convocation for you. You shall do no service work on it. It
shall be an ordinance forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. 22When you
reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you
reap, nor shall you gather any gleanings from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor
and for the resident alien: I am the Lord your God.’ ”

                                 Trumpets: The New Year

  23Again, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘In the
seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a rest, a memorial of trumpets, a
holy convocation for you. 25You shall do no service work on it, and you shall offer a whole
burnt offering to the Lord.’ ”

                                     Day of Atonement

  26Moreover, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 27“Also, the tenth day of this seventh month
shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall humble your
souls and offer a whole burnt offering to the Lord. 28And you shall do no work on that same
day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God.
29For any soul who is not humbled on that same day shall be utterly destroyed from among

his people. 30Any soul who does any work on that same day, that soul shall be destroyed
from among his people. 31You shall not do any work; this is an ordinance forever throughout
your generations in all your dwellings. 32It shall be a Sabbath of Sabbaths for you, and you
shall humble your souls; from the ninth day of the month, from evening to evening, you shall
celebrate your Sabbaths.”

                                    Feast of Tabernacles

  33Again, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 34“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘The
fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the
Lord. 35On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no service work on it.
36For seven days you shall offer whole burnt offerings to the Lord. Then on the eighth day
you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer whole burnt offerings to the Lord. It is
the final day of the festival for you, and you shall do no service work on it.

  37‘These are the feasts to the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to
offer whole burnt offerings to the Lord, whole burnt offerings and their grain and drink
offerings, everything on its day— 38besides the Sabbaths of the Lord, and besides your gifts,
all your vows, and all your freewill offerings which you give to the Lord.

  39‘Also on the fifteenth day of this seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of
the land, you shall keep the feast to the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall be a
rest, and on the eighth day a rest.† 40And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the
ripe fruit of a tree, leaves of palm trees, the branches of leafy trees, and the pure willows of
the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. 41You shall keep it
as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be an ordinance forever in your
generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42You shall dwell in booths for
seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43that your generations may
know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land
of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.’ ”

  44So Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts of the Lord.

                                    Caring for the Lamps


24 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 2“Command the children of Israel to bring
                                                                              3
                                                                                    you
      pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually. Outside
the veil in the tabernacle of testimony, Aaron and his sons shall keep it burning from evening
until morning before the Lord continually; it shall be an ordinance forever in your
generations. 4Upon the pure lampstand, you shall burn the lamps before the Lord until
morning.

                                     Preparing the Bread

  5“You shall also take fine flour and bake twelve cakes with it. Two-tenths of an ephah shall

be in each cake. 6You shall set them as two deposits, six loaves in each deposit, on the pure
table before the Lord. 7Then you shall put pure frankincense and salt on each deposit, that it
may be on the bread for a memorial offering to the Lord. 8Every Sabbath day it shall be
placed before the Lord continually, in the presence of the children of Israel by an everlasting
covenant. 9It shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat these things in a holy place;
for this is most holy to him from the things sacrificed to the Lord, as a perpetual ordinance.”

                                    Punishment for Sin

  10Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the
children of Israel; and this Israelite woman's son and a man of Israel fought each other in the
camp.† 11Then the Israelite woman's son, by pronouncing the Name, cursed; and so they
brought him to Moses. (His mother's name was Shelomith the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe
of Dan.) 12Then they placed him in custody, to make a decision regarding him through an
ordinance of the Lord. 13Thus the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 14“Take the one who cursed
outside the camp; then let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the
congregation stone him. 15Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Whoever
curses God shall bear his guilt. 16Let him who pronounces the Lord's name be surely put to
death. Let all the congregation of Israel stone him with stones, the resident alien as well as
the native. Let him die when he pronounces the Lord's name. 17Whoever strikes a man and
he dies, let him surely be put to death. 18Whoever strikes an animal and it dies, let him
compensate life for life. 19If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so
shall it be done to him— 20fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused
disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him. 21Whoever strikes a man and he dies, let
him surely be put to death. 22You shall have the same judgment for what is right both for the
resident alien and the native; for I am the Lord your God.’ ” 23Then Moses spoke to the
children of Israel; and they took outside the camp him who had cursed, and stoned him with
stones. So the children of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses.

                                     The Seventh Year

         the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying,† 2“Speak to the children of
25 Now
   Israel and say to them, ‘When you come into the land I give you, then the land shall
keep a Sabbath to the Lord. 3Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune
your vineyard and gather its fruit; 4but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath rest for
the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard.
5What grows by itself in your field you shall not reap, nor gather the grapes of the vines you

dedicated, for it is a year of rest for the land. 6So the products of the land during the Sabbath
year shall be food for you: for you, your male and female servants, your hired man, and the
alien who dwells with you, 7and for your cattle and the wild animals in your land—all its
produce shall be for food.

                             The Year of Remission (Jubilee)

  8‘You shall also count seven years of rest for yourself, seven times seven years; and the

time of the seven weeks of years shall be to you forty-nine years.† 9Then you shall sound the
trumpet throughout your land on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of
Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land.† 10Then you shall
sanctify the fiftieth year, and proclaim remission throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It
shall signal the Year of Remission for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and
each of you shall return to his homeland. 11That fiftieth year shall be the Signal of Remission
for you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows by itself, nor gather its sanctified
things. 12For it is the Signal of Remission; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat its produce
from the field.

  13‘In this Year of Remission, each shall return to his possession. 14Also, if you should
make a sale of land to your neighbor or buy it from him, let a man not oppress his neighbor.
15According to the number of years after the Signal, you shall buy land tenure from your
neighbor, and he shall sell tenure to you according to the number of years of crops.
16According to the increase in years, his acquisition price for tenure should be increased, and
according to the fewer number of years his price should be diminished; for he sells to you
according to the number of the crops. 17Therefore, let not a man oppress his neighbor, but
you shall fear the Lord your God; for I am the Lord your God.

                                 Food for the Seventh Year

  18‘So you shall do all My ordinances and keep My judgments, and do them; then you will

dwell in the land in confidence. 19Then the land will yield its produce, and you will eat your
fill, and dwell there in confidence. 20But if you should say, “What shall we eat in this seventh
year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?” 21Then I will command My blessing
on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years. 22And you
shall sow in the eighth year, and eat from the old produce until the ninth year; until its
produce comes in, you shall eat of the old harvest.

                                     Redemption of Property

  23‘The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is Mine; for in my sight you are

resident aliens and sojourners. 24According to all the land of your possession, you shall grant
a ransom of the land. 25If your brother with you becomes poor and has sold some of his
possession, and his closest relative comes, then he may redeem what his brother sold. 26Or if
the poor man has no close relative to redeem it, but he himself becomes prosperous enough
to redeem it, 27then let him compute the years since its sale and return the remainder to the
man to whom he sold it, that he may return to his possession. 28But if he does not become
prosperous enough to return to it himself, then what was sold shall remain in the hand of
him who bought it until the Year of Remission; and in the Remission it shall be released, and
he shall return to his possession.

   29‘If a man sells a house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it

is sold; within a full year he may redeem it. 30But if it is not redeemed within the space of a
full year, then the house in the walled city shall belong legally to him who bought it,
throughout his generations. It shall not be released in the Remission. 31However, the houses
of unwalled villages shall be counted as belonging to the open country. They may be
redeemed and released at any time during the Remission. 32Nevertheless, the cities of the
Levites, and the houses in the cities of their possession, the Levites may redeem at any time.
33Even whoever purchases a house from the Levites, the house that was sold in the city of
their possession shall be released in the Remission; for the houses in the cities of the Levites
are their possession among the children of Israel. 34But the fields set apart for their cities
may not be sold, for this is their perpetual possession.

                                      Lending to the Poor

  35‘If your brother becomes poor and weak in strength among you, then you shall help him,

like a resident alien or a sojourner, that he may live with you. 36Take no usury or interest
from him; but fear your God—I am the Lord—that your brother may live with you. 37You
shall not lend him your money for usury, nor lend him your food at a profit. 38I am the Lord
your God, who brings you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, so as to be
your God.

                                     Relating to Slaves

  39‘Now if your brother with you becomes poor and sells himself to you, you shall not

compel him to serve as a slave. 40But as a hired servant or a sojourner he shall be with you,
and shall work for you until the Year of Remission. 41Then in the Remission he shall depart
from you—he and his children with him—and shall return to his own family. He shall return
to the possession of his fathers. 42For they are My personal servants, whom I brought out of
the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold with the sale of a household servant. 43You shall not
overwork him with labor, but you shall fear the Lord your God. 44As for the male and female
servants you may have from the Gentiles around you, from them you may buy male and
female servants. 45Moreover you may buy some of the children of sojourners dwelling
among you, and some of their families with you, which they beget in your land; and they shall
become your possession. 46You may also distribute them as an inheritance for your children
after you, to inherit them as a permanent possession. But regarding your brethren, the
children of Israel, you shall not overwork him with labor.

  47‘Now if a resident alien or sojourner with you prospers, and your brother becomes poor
and sells himself to the resident alien or sojourner with you, or to a member of the resident
alien's family, 48after he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his brothers may redeem
him; 49or his uncle or his uncle's son may redeem him; or anyone near of kin to him in his
family may redeem him; or if he is able he may redeem himself. 50Thus he shall compute the
years with him who bought him: The price of his release shall be according to the number of
years from the year that he was sold to him until the Year of Remission; it shall be according
to the time he was a hired servant for him. 51If there are still more years remaining to
someone, he shall pay his ransom from the money of his sale. 52Now if there remain but a
few years until the Year of Remission, then he shall compute with him, and according to his
years, he shall repay his ransom. 53He shall be with him as a hired servant year by year, and
you shall not allow someone to overwork him with labor in your sight. 54But if he is not
redeemed in these years he shall be released in the Year of Remission—he and his children
with him. 55For the children of Israel are personal servants to Me; they are My servants,
whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
                                   Blessing for Obedience


26 ‘Now  you shall not make handcrafted objects for yourselves; neither a carved image
   nor a pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up a distinctive stone in
your land, to worship it; for I am the Lord your God. 2You shall keep My Sabbaths and
reverence My holy things: I am the Lord.

  3‘If you walk in My ordinances and keep My commandments, and do them,† 4then I will
give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall
yield their fruit. 5Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last
till the time of sowing; and you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.
6War shall not pass through your land, and I will give peace in the land; and you shall lie
down, and none will make you afraid; and I will utterly destroy the bad wild animals from the
land. 7You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by slaughter before you. 8Five of you
shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies
shall fall by the sword before you. 9For I will look upon you and make you fruitful, and
multiply and establish My covenant with you. 10You shall eat the old harvest of the past two
years, and clear out the old because of the new. 11I will establish My covenant among you,
and My soul shall not abhor you. 12I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be
My people. 13I am the Lord your God, who brings you out of the land of Egypt, that you
should not be their servants; I broke the bands of your yoke and made you walk with
confidence.

                               Punishment for Disobedience

  14‘Now if you do not obey Me, neither do all these ordinances, 15but your soul disobeys
them and despises My judgments, so as not to do all My commandments but to shatter My
covenant, 16I also will do thus to you: I will bring difficulty upon you, both the itch, the
jaundice, the gangrenous eyes, and the withering away of your life. You shall sow your seed in
vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17I will set My face against you, and you shall fall before
your enemies. Those who hate you shall pursue you, and you shall flee when no one pursues
you.

  18‘Then after all this, if you do not obey Me, I will increase your punishment seven times

more for your sins. 19I will crush your excessive arrogance; I will make your sky like iron and
your earth like bronze. 20Your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its
produce, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruit. 21Then if after this, you walk
contrariwise and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues,
according to your sins. 22I will also send among you the wild animals of the land; and they
will eat you, and utterly destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your highways
shall be desolate.

  23‘Then if by these things you are not corrected by Me, but walk contrary to Me, 24then I

also will walk in hostility to you, and I will strike you yet seven times for your sins. 25I will
also strike you with the sword, exacting the vengeance of the covenant; and you will flee for
refuge to your cities. I will also send forth death among you, and you shall be delivered into
the hand of enemies. 26When you are afflicted by want of bread, ten women shall bake your
bread in one oven; and they shall dole out your bread by measure, and you shall eat and still
be hungry.

  27‘Now if after all this, you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me, 28then I also will

walk in hostility to you; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. 29Then you
shall eat the flesh of your sons and daughters. 30I will make desolate your pillars, and will
utterly destroy your wooden handcrafted objects; and I will put your carcasses on the
carcasses of your idols, and My soul shall abhor you. 31I will lay your cities waste, and bring
your holy things to desolation; and I will not smell the odor of your sacrifices. 32I will bring
your land to desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it. 33I will
scatter you among the Gentiles, and the sword shall suddenly destroy you. Then your land
shall be a desert and your cities deserts. 34Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it
lies desolate, and you are in your enemies’ land. Thus the land shall rest and enjoy its
Sabbaths. 35As long as it lies desolate it shall rest—for the time it did not rest on your
Sabbaths when you dwelt in it.

  36‘Now as for those of you remaining in the land, I will send faintness into their heart in
the land of their enemies; and the sound of the shaking leaf shall chase them. Then they shall
flee as though fleeing from a battle, and shall fall when no one pursues. 37Brother shall
disregard brother as in warfare though no one is in pursuit; and you will be unable to
withstand your enemies. 38You shall perish among the Gentiles, and the land of your
enemies shall devour you. 39Now those of you who are left shall be destroyed because of
their sins, and waste away in their enemies’ land.

  40‘But if they confess their sins and the sins of their fathers, that they transgressed and

disregarded Me and walked contrary to Me, 41and that I also have walked in hostility to them
and destroyed them in the land of their enemies, then their uncircumcised heart will feel
ashamed, and they will render satisfaction for their guilt. 42Then I will remember My
covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham I will
remember; and I will remember the land. 43The land also shall be deserted by them; and the
land will enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate because of them. Then they must take
responsibility for their lawless acts, because they disregarded My judgments, and their soul
abhorred My ordinances. 44Yet for all that, when they were in the land of their enemies, I did
not neglect them nor treat them with contempt, so as to utterly destroy them and break My
covenant with them; for I am the Lord their God. 45But I will remember their former
covenant when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, in the
sight of the Gentiles, to be their God: I am the Lord.’ ”

  46These are the judgments, the ordinances, and the law which the Lord made between
Himself and the children of Israel on Mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.

                         Laws Concerning Gifts Dedicated to God


27 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 2“Speak to the children of Is-rael, and3say to
      them, ‘When a man vows a vow to the Lord equivalent to the value of his soul, and if
your valuation is of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old, his valuation shall be
fifty didrachm of silver, according to the pure measure. 4But if it is of a female, your
valuation shall be thirty didrachm; 5and if from five years old up to twenty years old, your
valuation for a male shall be twenty didrachm, and for a female ten didrachm; 6and if from a
month old up to five years old, your valuation for a male shall be five didrachm of silver, and
for a female, three didrachm of silver; 7and if from sixty years old and above, if it is a male,
then your valuation shall be fifteen didrachm, and for a female ten didrachm. 8But if he is too
poor to pay your valuation, he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall set
a value for him; according to the ability of him who vowed, the priest shall value him. 9If they
bring from the cattle a gift to the Lord, whoever gives from these to the Lord, his gift shall be
holy. 10He shall not change it, good for bad or bad for good; and if he changes it at all, cattle
for cattle, then both it and that which is changed shall be holy. 11But if it is any unclean
animal which they do not offer as a gift to the Lord, he shall present the animal before the
priest; 12and the priest shall set a value for it, whether good or bad; and as the priest values
it, so it shall stand. 13But if he wants at all to redeem it, then he must add one-fifth to his
valuation. 14And when a man sanctifies his house to be holy to the Lord, then the priest shall
set a value for it, whether good or bad; as the priest values it, so it shall stand. 15If he who
sanctified his house wants to redeem it, he must add one-fifth of the silver of its valuation,
and it shall be his. 16Now if a man sanctifies part of the field of his possession to the Lord,
then the valuation shall be according to the seed required for it: a cor of barley for fifty
didrachm of silver. 17If he sanctifies part of his field from the Year of Remission, according to
his valuation it shall stand. 18But if he sanctifies his field subsequently after the Jubilee, the
priest shall reckon to him the silver due according to the years that remain till the Year of
Remission, and it shall be deducted from his valuation. 19And if he who sanctifies the field
ever wishes to redeem it, he must add one-fifth of the silver to his valuation, and it shall
belong to him. 20But if he does not want to redeem the field, or if he has sold the field to
another man, it shall not be redeemed anymore; 21but the field, when it is released in the
Remission, shall be holy to the Lord, as a field set apart; it shall be the possession of the
priest. 22But if a man sanctifies to the Lord part of a field he bought which is not the field of
his possession, 23then the priest shall reckon to him its full assessment from the Year of
Remission, and he shall pay its valuation on that day as holy to the Lord. 24Then in the Year
of Remission, the field shall return to the man from whom he bought it, to the one who
owned the land as a possession. 25Now all your valuations shall be according to the pure
measures: twenty obols to the didrachm. 26But the firstborn of your cattle, which shall be the
Lord's firstborn, no man shall sanctify, whether a young calf or sheep; it is the Lord's. 27Now
if it is an unclean four-footed animal, he shall change it according to his valuation; and he
shall add one-fifth to it, and it will be his. But if it is not redeemed, it shall be sold according
to his valuation. 28Nevertheless, any devoted thing a man may devote to the Lord of anything
he has, man or animal, or part of the field of his possession, shall not be sold or redeemed;
every devoted thing is most holy to the Lord. 29Furthermore, people devoted to the Lord
shall not be redeemed, but shall surely be put to death. 30Now all the tithe of the land,
whether seed of the land or fruit of the tree, is the Lord's. It is holy to the Lord. 31If a man
wants at all to redeem his tithe, he shall add one-fifth to it, and it will be his. 32Now
concerning the tithe of the oxen or the sheep, of whatever passes in the numbering under the
rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord. 33You shall not change good for bad; but if he
changes it at all, both it and that which is changed shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.’ ”

  34These are the commandments the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel on
Mount Sinai.
                                          NUM BE RS
                                    Previous   Home   Next

Chapters in Numbers
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80

81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35


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Verses in Numbers Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 23
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30


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Verses in Numbers Chapter 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 25
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 26
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 27
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 28
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 29
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39


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Verses in Numbers Chapter 30
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 31
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 32
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 33
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 34
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 35
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34

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Verses in Numbers Chapter 36
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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                                                      The Book of Numbers

  Author   —Moses is the author of this fourth book of the Pentateuch (Dt 31:9). He kept a
list of the stopping places on the journey from Egypt through the wilderness (Dt 33:2).

  Date   —After the Exodus from Egypt.

  Major Theme     —God dwells among His people, instructing, sustaining, and guiding them.
He never abandons them, in spite of their disobedience. He is setting His chosen people
apart from the ungodly nations that surround them.

  Background     —The journey from Egypt to the promised land was 40 years long. During
that time the older people passed away, replaced by a new generation. Though under the
able leadership of Moses, they continually grumbled against him. Even his own brother,
Aaron, and his sister, Miriam, turned against him. Moses was preparing the Israelites
for what they would encounter when they crossed over the Jordan to claim the land
God promised them.

Outline

I. Preparation for the Journey from Sinai to Canaan (1 :1 –1 0:1 0)

       A. The first census (1 :1 –54 )

       B. Position of the tribes in the cam p and on the m arch (2 :1 –3 4 )

       C. The census and duties of the Lev ites (3 :1 –4 :4 9 )

       D. Regulations of the Nazirites and the priestly blessing (5:1 –6 :2 6 )

       E. The offerings of the leaders and consecration of priests (7 :1 –8:2 6 )

       F. The supplem entary Passov er (9 :1 –1 4 )

       G. The fiery cloud and the silv er trum pets (9 :1 5–1 0:1 0)

II. The Journey from Sinai to the Plains of Moab (1 0:1 1 –2 2 :1 )

       A. Departure (1 0:1 1 –3 6 )

       B. Rebellion (1 1 :1 –3 5)

       C. Miriam and Aaron rebel against Moses (1 2 :1 –1 6 )

       D. Twelv e scouts (1 3 :1 –3 3 )

       E. The rebellion of priests, Lev ites, and people (1 4 :1 –1 7 :2 8)

       F. Duties and dues of the priests and Lev ites (1 8:1 –1 9 :2 2 )

       G. Final ev ents at Kadesh (2 0:1 –2 2 :1 )
  III. On the Plains of Moab (2 2 :2 –3 6 :1 3 )

          A. Balak and Balaam (2 2 :2 –2 4 :2 5)

          B. Apostasy at Peor (2 5:1 –1 8)

          C. The second census (2 6 :1 –2 7 :1 1 )

          D. Joshua succeeds Moses (2 7 :1 2 –3 0:1 7 )

          E. The holy war against Midian (3 1 :1 –54 )

           F. Settlem ent of two and a half tribes in Transjordan (3 2 :1 –4 2 )

          G. Forty stages on the journey (3 3 :1 –56 )

          H. Tribal boundaries; cities for the Lev ites (3 4 :1 –3 6 :1 3 )



                                                           First Census of Israel


1 Now  the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai in the tabernacle of testimony, on
  the first day of the second month in the second year after they came out of the land of
Egypt, saying,† 2“Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, and according
to their families by their fathers’ houses, and according to the number of names by their head
count, every male† 3from twenty years old and above—all who go out with the army of Israel.
You and Aaron shall number them by their armies. 4With you there shall be each man
according to the tribe of each ruler and their fathers’ houses. 5These are the names of the
men who shall stand with you: from Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur; 6from Simeon,
Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; 7from Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab; 8from
Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar; 9from Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon; 10from the sons
of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel the son
of Pedahzur; 11from Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni; 12from Dan, Ahiezer the son of
Ammishaddai; 13from Asher, Pagiel the son of Ocran; 14from Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;
15from Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.” 16These were chosen from the congregation, rulers
of their fathers’ tribes and chiliarchs in Israel.

  17Then Moses and Aaron took these men who had been mentioned by name, 18and they
assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month in the second
year; and they registered their ancestry by families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the
number of names, from twenty years old and above, every male according to their head count,
19in the manner the Lord commanded Moses. So he numbered them in the Wilderness of
Sinai.
  20Now there were the children of Reuben, Israel's firstborn son, and their families
according to their tribes by their fathers’ houses, and according to the number of names by
their head count, every male from twenty years old and above—all who were able to go out
with the army. 21Their census from the tribe of Reuben was forty-six thousand five hundred.
22There were the children of Simeon, and their families according to their tribes by their
fathers’ houses, and according to the number of names by their head count, every male from
twenty years old and above—all who were able to go out with the army. 23Their census from
the tribe of Simeon was fifty-nine thousand three hundred. 24There were the children of
Judah, and their families by their fathers’ houses, and according to the number of names by
their head count, every male from twenty years old and above—all who were able to go out
with the army. 25Their census from the tribe of Judah was seventy-four thousand six
hundred. 26There were the children of Issachar, and their families by their fathers’ houses,
according to the number of names by their head count, every male from twenty years old and
above—all who were able to go out with the army. 27Their census from the tribe of Issachar
was fifty-four thousand four hundred. 28There were the children of Zebulun, and their
families by their fathers’ houses, and according to the number of names by their head count,
every male from twenty years old and above—all who were able to go out with the army.
29Their census from the tribe of Zeb-ulun was fifty-seven thousand four hundred. 30There
were the children of Joseph: the children of Ephraim, and their families by their fathers’
houses, and according to the number of names by their head count, every male from twenty
years old and above—all who were able to go out with the army. 31Their census from the tribe
of Ephraim was forty thousand five hundred; 32and the children of Manasseh, and their
families by their fathers’ houses, and according to the number of names by their head count,
every male from twenty years old and above—all who were able to go out with the army.
33Their census from the tribe of Manasseh was thirty-two thousand two hundred. 34There
were the children of Benjamin, and their families by their fathers’ houses, and according to
the number of names by their head count, every male from twenty years old and above—all
who were able to go out with the army. 35Their census from the tribe of Benjamin was thirty-
five thousand four hundred. 36There were the children of Gad, and their families by their
fathers’ houses, and according to the number of names by their head count, every male from
twenty years old and above—all who were able to go out with the army. 37Their census from
the tribe of Gad was forty-five thousand six hundred fifty. 38There were the children of Dan,
and their families by their fathers’ houses, and according to the number of names by their
head count, every male from twenty years old and above—all who were able to go out with the
army. 39Their census from the tribe of Dan was sixty two thousand seven hundred. 40There
were the children of Asher, and their families by their fathers’ houses, and according to the
number of names by their head count, every male from twenty years old and above—all who
were able to go out with the army. 41Their census from the tribe of Asher was forty-one
thousand five hundred. 42There were the children of Naphtali, and their families by their
fathers’ houses, and according to the number of names by their head count, every male from
twenty years old and above—all who were able to go out with the army. 43Their census from
the tribe of Naphtali was fifty-three thousand four hundred. 44This is the census taken by
Moses and Aaron, along with the twelve rulers of Israel and their paternal households, each
man according to his tribe. 45So the entire census of the children of Israel, with their armies,
and from twenty years old and above—all who were able to go out to war in Israel— 46was six
hundred three thousand five hundred fifty.

  47But the Levites from their father's tribe were not numbered with the children of Israel,†
48for the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 49“See to it that the tribe of Levi is not numbered, nor

take a census of them among the children of Israel; 50but you shall appoint the Levites over
the tabernacle of testimony, over all its furnishings, and over all things that belong to it; they
shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they shall minister liturgically in the
tabernacle and camp around it.† 51When the tabernacle is to move, the Levites shall
dismantle it; and when the tabernacle is to make camp, the Levites shall set it up. The
foreigner who comes near, let him be put to death. 52But the children of Israel shall make
camp with their armies, each man according to his own rank, and each man according to his
own regiment. 53However, the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of testimony in the
Lord's presence, so there may be no sin among the children of Israel; and the Levites
themselves shall guard the tabernacle of testimony.”† 54Thus the children of Israel did
according to all the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

                           The Leadership and Tribes in Camp

       the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2“Let the children of Israel—each man
2 Now
  according to his division and military standard—camp according to their fathers’ houses,
around and facing the tabernacle of testimony.† 3Those camping first and on the east side
shall be the division of Judah with their army; and the ruler of the children of Judah shall be
Nahshon the son of Amminadab.”† 4His army was numbered at seventy-four thousand six
hundred. 5“Those camping next to Judah shall be the tribe of Issachar; and the ruler of the
children of Issachar shall be Nethanel the son of Zuar.” 6His army was numbered at fifty-four
thousand four hundred. 7“Also camping next to Judah shall be the tribe of Zebulun; and the
ruler of the children of Zebulun shall be Eliab the son of Helon.” 8His army was numbered at
fifty-seven thousand four hundred. 9“All those numbered in the armies from the camp of
Judah were one hundred eighty-six thousand four hundred—these shall break camp first.

  10“On the south side shall be the division of the camp of Reuben with their army; and the

ruler of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.” 11His army was
numbered at forty-six thousand five hundred. 12“Those camping next to Reuben shall be the
tribe of Simeon; and the ruler of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of
Zurishaddai.” 13His army was numbered at fifty-nine thousand three hundred. 14“Also
camping next to Reuben shall be the tribe of Gad; and the ruler of the children of Gad shall
be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.” 15His army was numbered at forty-five thousand six hundred
fifty. 16“All those numbered in the armies from the camp of Reuben were one hundred fifty-
one thousand four hundred fifty—they shall be the second to break camp. 17Then the
tabernacle of testimony shall move out with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the
camps; as they camp, so they shall break camp, each one next by regiment.

  18“On the west side shall be the division of the camp of Ephraim with their army; and the

ruler of the children of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.” 19His army was
numbered at forty thousand five hundred. 20“Those camping next to Ephraim shall be the
tribe of Manasseh; and the ruler of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of
Pedahzur.” 21His army was numbered at thirty-two thousand two hundred. 22“Also camping
next to Ephraim shall be the tribe of Benjamin; and the ruler of the children of Benjamin
shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.” 23His army was numbered at thirty-five thousand four
hundred. 24“All those numbered in their armies from the camp of Ephraim were one
hundred eight thousand one hundred—they shall be the third to break camp. 25On the north
side shall be the division of the camp of Dan with their army; and the ruler of the children of
Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.” 26His army was numbered at sixty-two
thousand seven hundred. 27“Those camping next to Dan shall be the tribe of Asher; and the
ruler of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.” 28His army was numbered at
forty-one thousand five hundred. 29“Also camping next to Dan shall be the tribe of Naphtali;
and the ruler of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.” 30His army was
numbered at fifty-three thousand four hundred. 31“All those numbered in the armies with
Dan were one hundred and fifty-seven thousand six hundred—they shall break camp last,
with their divisions.”

  32This numbering of the children of Israel was according to their fathers’ houses. All the
numbering of the camps with their armies was six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty.
33But the Levites were not numbered with them, as the Lord commanded Moses. 34Thus the
children of Israel did all the Lord commanded Moses; so they camped according to their
divisions. Thus they broke camp, each one by his family, according to their fathers’ houses.

                                       Sons of Aaron


3 Now these are the genealogies of Aaron and Moses when the Lord spoke with Moses on
  Mount Sinai. 2These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu,
Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom
he consecrated to minister as priests. 4Nadab and Abihu had died before the Lord when they
offered strange fire before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So
Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests with Aaron their father.

                             Levites Serve in the Tabernacle

  5Again, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 6“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them

before Aaron the priest, so they may minister liturgically with him.† 7They shall perform
duties for him and for the children of Israel before the tabernacle of testimony, according to
all the works of the tabernacle. 8They shall also perform duties for all the furnishings of the
tabernacle of testimony, and for all the children of Israel, according to all the works of the
tabernacle. 9Thus you shall assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons the priests; they are
given entirely to Me from the children of Israel. 10And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons
over the tabernacle of testimony, and they shall guard their priesthood and all the things
related to the altar and within the veil; but the foreigner who touches these things shall be
put to death.”

  11Moreover, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 12“Now behold, I Myself have taken the
Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb
among the children of Israel. The Levites shall be a ransom from them; therefore, they shall
be Mine, 13because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day I struck all the firstborn in the land
of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, from man to cattle. They shall be
Mine; I am the Lord.”

                                     Census of the Levites

  14Furthermore, the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15“Number the
children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their tribes, and by their families; you shall
number every male from a month old and above.” 16So Moses and Aaron numbered them
according to the voice of the Lord, in the manner the Lord commanded them. 17These are the
sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 18These are the names of the sons
of Gershon by their tribes: Libni and Shimei; 19and the sons of Kohath by their families:
Amram, Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel; 20and the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and
Mushi. These are the tribes of the Levites by their fathers’ houses.

  21From Gershon came the tribe of the Libnites and the Shimites; these are the families of

the Gershonites. 22Their census, according to the number of all the males from a month old
and above, was seven thousand five hundred. 23The children of the Gershonites were to
camp behind the tabernacle along the west side, 24and the ruler of the father's house of the
tribe of Gershon was Eliasaph the son of Lael. 25The charge of the children of Gershon in the
tabernacle of testimony included the overall covering of the tabernacle and the screen for the
door of the tabernacle of testimony, 26and the curtains of the court, and the screen for the
gate of the court by the tabernacle, and the rest of all its works.

  27From Kohath came the tribes of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the

Uzzielites; these are the tribes of the Kohathites. 28Their census, according to the number of
all the males from a month old and above, was eight thousand six hundred, keeping charge of
the holy things. 29The tribes of the children of Kohath were to camp along the south side of
the tabernacle, 30and the ruler of the house of the families of the Kohathite tribes was
Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31Their charge included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the
altars, the utensils of the holy place with which they ministered liturgically, the screen, and
all their works. 32Now the ruler over the rulers of the Levites was Eleazar, the son of Aaron
the priest. He was appointed to be in charge of those responsible for the holy things.

  33From Merari came the tribe of the Mahlites and the tribe of the Mushites; these were

the tribes of Merari. 34Their census, according to the number of all the males from a month
old and above, was six thousand five hundred, 35and the ruler of the house of the families of
the Merari tribe was Zuriel the son of Abihail. These were to camp on the north side of the
tabernacle. 36The appointed duty of the children of Merari included the pillars of the
tabernacle, and the bars, the columns, and the bases, and all their furnishings and works,
37and the pillars of the court all around, with their bases, pegs, and cords.

  38Those camped in front of the tabernacle of testimony on the east were Moses, Aaron,
and his sons, performing the guard duties of the holy place on behalf of the children of Israel;
but the foreigner who touches these things shall be put to death.

  39The entire census of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron numbered by the voice of the
Lord, by their tribes, all the males from a month old and above, was twenty-two thousand.

                       Levites Dedicated, Replacing the Firstborn

  40Again, the Lord said to Moses, “Take a census of all the firstborn males of the children of

Israel from a month old and above, and take the number of their names. 41You shall take the
Levites for Me—I am the Lord—instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and
the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn cattle among the children of Israel.” 42So
Moses took a census of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, in the manner the Lord
commanded him. 43Thus all the firstborn males, according to the number of names from a
month old and above from the census, were twenty-two thousand two hundred seventy-three.

  44Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 45“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn
among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. The Levites
shall be Mine: I am the Lord. 46But for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three
firstborn from the children of Israel who are more in number than the Levites, 47you shall
take five shekels for each one individually; you shall take them according to the holy
didrachm, the twenty obols of the shekel. 48Then you shall give the silver with which the
excess number of them is redeemed to Aaron and his sons.” 49So Moses took the silver, the
redemption of those who exceeded the number, for the redemption of the Levites. 50From
the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the silver, one thousand three hundred and
sixty-five shekels, according to the holy shekel. 51Then Moses gave their redemption money
for those in excess to Aaron and his sons, according to the voice of the Lord, in the manner
the Lord commanded Moses.

                             The Service of the Sons of Kohath

   Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,† 2“Take a sum total of the sons of
4 Kohath from among the children of Levi, by their tribes and the houses of their families,
3from twenty-five years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who enter liturgical service

to do all the works in the tabernacle of testimony. 4These are the works, the most holy
things, of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of testimony: 5When the camp prepares to
journey, Aaron and his sons shall enter, and take down the overshadowing veil and cover the
ark of the testimony with it.† 6Then they shall put on it a blue leather covering; and on top of
this they shall spread an entirely blue cloth, and then insert the carrying-poles. 7On the table
of presentation they shall spread a cloth all of purple and put on it the dishes, the censers, the
cups, and the bowls for pouring the drink-offerings; and the perpetual loaves shall be on it.†
8They shall spread over it a scarlet cloth; and they shall cover it with a blue leather covering

and then insert its carrying-poles. 9Then they shall take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand
of the light with its lamps, its wick-trimmers, its funnels, and all its oil vessels with which
they minister liturgically. 10Then they shall put it with all its vessels in a covering of blue
leather, and put it on a carrying-pole. 11Over the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth;
and they shall cover it with a covering of blue leather and then insert its carrying-poles.
12Then they shall take all the vessels for liturgical service with which they minister
liturgically in the holy things, put them in a blue cloth, cover them with blue leather covering,
and put them on carrying-poles. 13Also they shall put the covering on the altar and spread a
cloth entirely of purple over it. 14They shall put on it all its vessels with which they minister
liturgically there—the fire pans, the forks, the bowls, the cover, and all the vessels of the altar
—and they shall spread on it a covering of blue leather and insert its carrying-poles. Then
they shall spread on it a blue leather cover, and insert its carrying-poles. After this, they shall
take a purple cloth to cover the laver and its base, and put them into a blue leather cover, and
then put them on carrying-poles. 15Then after Aaron and his sons finish covering the holy
things and all the holy vessels, when the camp is set to go, then the sons of Kohath shall
enter to carry them; but they shall not touch the holy things, lest they die. These are the
things in the tabernacle of testimony the sons of Kohath are to carry: 16(the overseer is
Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest) the oil for the light, the incense compound, the daily
grain offering, the anointing oil, the oversight of all the tabernacle, and whatever is in it, in
the holy place with all its works.” 17Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 18“Do
not destroy the tribe of the Kohathite families from among the Levites; 19but do this in
regard to them, so they may live and not die when they approach the most holy things: Aaron
and his sons shall go in and appoint each of them according to his transport duty. 20But they
shall not go in unexpectedly to watch the holy things, lest they die.”

                               Service of the Sons of Gershon

  21Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 22“Also take a census of the sons of Gershon, by

their fathers’ houses according to their tribes. 23From twenty-five years old and above, even
to fifty years old, you shall take a census of them, all who enter to minister liturgically, to do
its works in the tabernacle of testimony. 24This is the liturgical service of the tribe of the
Gershonites, in serving liturgically and in carrying: 25They shall carry the curtains of the
tabernacle and the tabernacle of testimony with its covering, the covering of blue leather over
it, the screen for the door of the tabernacle of testimony, 26the curtains of the court, which
are around the tabernacle of testimony, and all the abundance of liturgical vessels, with
which they minister liturgically: so shall they do. 27Aaron and his sons shall assign all the
liturgical service of the sons of the Gershonites, according to all their liturgical service and all
the things to be carried by them. You shall assign them by name with all the matters to be
carried by them. 28This is the liturgical service of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of
testimony, and their duties shall be under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the
priest.

                                Service of the Sons of Merari

  29“As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their tribes and their fathers’

houses. 30From twenty-five years old and above, even to fifty years old, you shall number
them, everyone who enters the liturgical service to do the work of the tabernacle of
testimony. 31These things to be carried by them are their duties relative to all their works in
the tabernacle of testimony: the capitals of the tabernacle, and its bars, pillars, bases, and the
screen. They shall also carry the bases, the pillars, and the screen of the door of the
tabernacle, 32and the pillars around the court with their bases, and the pillars of the screen of
the courtyard gate, and their bases, pegs, and cords, with all their vessels and liturgical things;
and you shall assign them by name all the vessels they are responsible to carry. 33This is the
liturgical service of the tribe of the sons of Merari, in all their works for the tabernacle of
testimony, under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.”

                                    Census of the Levites

  34Thus Moses, Aaron, and the rulers of the congregation took a census of the sons of the

Kohathites by their tribes and their fathers’ houses, 35from twenty-five years old and above,
even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the liturgical service for work in the tabernacle
of testimony. 36Their numbering according to their tribes was two thousand seven hundred
fifty. 37This is the numbering of the tribe of the Kohathites, all who were serving liturgically
in the tabernacle of testimony, whom Moses and Aaron numbered by the voice of the Lord by
the hand of Moses.

  38Those numbered of the sons of Gershon, by their tribes and their fathers’ houses,
39from twenty-five years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone entering the

liturgical service to do the works in the tabernacle of testimony— 40those numbered by their
tribes and their fathers’ houses, were two thousand six hundred thirty. 41This was the census
of the tribe of the sons of Gershon, everyone serving in the tabernacle of testimony, whom
Moses and Aaron numbered by the voice of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

  42Those numbered of the tribe of the sons of Merari, who were numbered by their tribes

and their fathers’ houses, 43from twenty-five years old and above, even to fifty years old,
everyone entering the liturgical service for the works in the tabernacle of testimony—
44those numbered by their tribes and their fathers’ houses were three thousand two

hundred. 45This was the census of the tribe of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron
numbered by the voice of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

  46All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses, Aaron, and the rulers of Israel

numbered, by their tribes and their fathers’ houses, 47from twenty-five years old and above,
even to fifty years old, everyone entering for the task of works and the works of carrying the
things in the tabernacle of testimony— 48those numbered were eight thousand five hundred
eighty. 49By the voice of the Lord by the hand of Moses they were numbered, each man
according to his works and according to his task; thus were they numbered by him, in the
manner the Lord commanded Moses.

                                    The Unclean Are Isolated

   Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Command the children of Israel to put out of the
5 camp every leper, everyone who has an involuntary discharge of semen, and whoever
becomes defiled by a corpse.† 3You shall put out both male and female; you shall put them
outside the camp, so they may not defile their camps, in the midst of which I dwell.” 4So the
children of Israel did so, and sent them outside the camp; as the Lord spoke to Moses, so the
children of Israel did.

                                    Confession and Restitution

  5Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 6“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘When a
man or woman commits one of the sins that humans commit, and actually disregards a
neighbor, that soul has committed a trespass. 7Then he shall confess openly the sin he
committed. He shall make restitution for his trespass in the capital amount, plus one-fifth of
it, and repay the one he wronged.† 8But if the man has no close relative to make restitution
on his behalf for the trespass, the restitution for the wrong shall go to the Lord for the priest,
in addition to the ram of the atonement with which atonement is made for him. 9Every
offering that is sanctified among the children of Israel, which they bring to the Lord for the
priest, shall be his. 10So the sanctified offerings of each man shall be his; whatever any man
gives the priest shall be his.’ ”

                                        Unfaithful Wives

  11Moreover the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to

them, ‘If any man's wife commits transgression and disregards and despises him, 13and
someone has sexual intercourse with her, and she conceals it from her husband and keeps it
hidden, but she is defiled, and there was no witness against her, nor was she caught— 14and
if a spirit of jealousy comes upon him, and he becomes jealous of his wife, who is defiled; or
if a spirit of jealousy comes upon him, and he becomes jealous of his wife, although she is
not defiled— 15then the man shall bring his wife to the priest. He shall bring the gift required
for her, one-tenth of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil on it, and put no
frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering of jealousy, an offering for remembering, for
bringing sin to remembrance.
  16‘Then the priest shall bring her near and set her before the Lord. 17The priest shall take
clean running water in an earthen vessel, and take some of the dust on the floor of the
tabernacle of testimony and throw it into the water. 18Then the priest shall stand the woman
before the Lord, uncover the woman's head, and put the sacrifice for remembering in her
hands, which is the grain offering of jealousy; and the priest shall have in his hand the water
of conviction that brings a curse. 19Then the priest shall put her under oath, and say to the
woman, “If no man has lain with you, and if you have not committed transgression to be
defiled while under your husband's jurisdiction, be innocent from this water of conviction
that brings a curse. 20But if you committed transgression and defiled yourself under your
husband's jurisdiction, and some man other than your husband had sexual relations with
you”— 21then the priest shall put the woman under oath by the words of the oath of this
curse; and the priest shall say to the woman, “the Lord make you a curse and an oath among
your people, when the Lord makes your thigh rot and your belly swell; 22and may this water
that causes this curse go into your stomach, and make your belly swell and your thigh rot.”
Then the woman shall say, “May it be so.”

  23‘Then the priest shall write these curses in a book, and wipe them off into the water of

conviction that brings a curse. 24Then he shall give the woman a drink of this water of
conviction that brings a curse, and it shall enter her. 25Then the priest shall take the grain
offering of jealousy from the woman's hand, put the sacrifice before the Lord, and bring it to
the altar; 26and the priest shall take a handful of the sacrifice as its memorial portion, offer it
on the altar, and afterward give the woman the water to drink. 27So it shall be, if she is
defiled but kept it hidden from her husband, then the water of conviction that brings a curse
will enter her, and her belly will swell, her thigh will rot, and the woman will become a curse
among her people. 28But if the woman is not defiled, but is clean, then she shall be innocent
and may conceive children.

  29‘This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, while under her husband's jurisdiction,

transgresses and defiles herself, 30or when the spirit of jealousy comes upon a man, and he
becomes jealous of his wife; then he shall stand the woman before the Lord, and the priest
shall execute all this law upon her. 31Then the man shall be innocent of guilt, but that
woman shall bear her guilt.’ ”

                                    Law Concerning Vows
      the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them,
6 Now
  ‘When either a man or woman vows an extraordinary vow to sanctify himself as one of
purity to the Lord,† 3he shall separate himself from wine and intoxicants, and shall not drink
any wine and vinegar made from wine, and any vinegar made from intoxicants; neither shall
he drink anything made from grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins. 4All the days of his
separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, from seed to skin. 5All the
days of his vow of purification no razor shall come upon his head; until the days are fulfilled
for which he vowed to the Lord; he shall be holy. Then he shall let the locks of the hair of his
head grow. 6All the days of his vow to the Lord he shall not go near a dead body. 7He shall
not defile himself even for his father or his mother, for his brother or his sister, when they
die, because the vow of his God is on his head. 8All the days of his vow he shall be holy to the
Lord. 9But if anyone dies very suddenly near him on the spot, the head of his vow shall be
defiled; and he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing; on the seventh day he shall
shave it. 10Then on the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the
priest, to the door of the tabernacle of testimony. 11Then the priest shall make one a sin
offering and the other a whole burnt offering and make atonement for him, concerning which
he sinned in regard to the corpse; and he shall sanctify his head that day. 12He shall sanctify
to the Lord the days of his vow, and bring a male lamb in its first year as a trespass offering;
but the former days shall be null and void, because the head of his vow was defiled.

  13‘Now this is the law of vowing: When the days of his vow are fulfilled, he shall be

brought to the doors of the tabernacle of testimony. 14Then he shall offer his gift to the Lord:
one male lamb in its first year without blemish as a whole burnt offering, one ewe lamb in its
first year without blemish as a sin offering, one ram without blemish as a peace offering, 15a
basket of unleavened bread of fine flour, prepared with oil, and unleavened cakes mixed with
oil, and their grain offering with their drink offering. 16Then the priest shall bring these
things before the Lord and offer his sin offering and his whole burnt offering; 17and he shall
offer the ram as a sacrifice of peace offering to the Lord, with the basket of unleavened bread;
the priest shall also offer his grain offering and his drink offering. 18Then the one vowing
shall shave the head of his vow at the doors of the tabernacle of testimony; and he shall put
his hair on the fire, which is under the sacrifice of the peace offering. 19Then the priest shall
take the boiled shoulder of the ram, one unleavened loaf from the basket, and one
unleavened cake, and put these upon the hands of the one vowing after he has shaved the
head of his vow; 20and the priest shall bring these things as a deposit offering before the
Lord; they are holy for the priest, together with the breast of the deposit offering and the
thigh of the choice portion. After that, the one vowing may drink wine.’ 21This is the law of
the one vowing, who vows to the Lord his gift to the Lord concerning his vow; and the force
of his vow is not limited to what he could afford regarding his vow, which he vows according
to the law of purity.”

                                                        The Priest's Blessing

  22Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 23“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is
the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them (My name shall be put on the
children of Israel, and I the Lord shall bless them):

    24
         “The Lord bless y ou and keep y ou;

    25
         the Lord m ake His face shine upon y ou, and be m erciful to y ou;

    26
         the Lord lift up His countenance upon y ou, and giv e y ou peace.” ’ ”

                                                      The Leaders’ Offerings


7 Now  it came to pass, on the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and
  sanctified it and all its vessels, and the altar and all its vessels; thus he anointed and
sanctified these things. 2Then the rulers of Israel, the twelve rulers of their fathers’ houses
who were the rulers of the tribes and were in charge of the census, brought gifts.† 3They
brought their gifts before the Lord: six covered carts and twelve oxen, a cart for every two of
the rulers, and for each one a young bull; and they presented them before the tabernacle.
4Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 5“Receive these things from them so they may be
used in doing the works of liturgical service in the tabernacle of testimony; and you shall give
these things to the Levites, to every man according to his liturgical service.” 6Thus Moses
took the carts and the oxen and gave these things to the Levites. 7Two carts and four oxen he
gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their liturgical service; 8and four carts and eight
oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their liturgical service, under the authority of
Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 9But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because their
liturgical service had to do with the holy place, which they carried on their shoulders.

                                                   The Order of the Offerings

  10Now the rulers brought their gifts for the dedication of the altar on the day it was
anointed; so the rulers brought their gift before the altar. 11For the Lord said to Moses, “They
shall bring their gifts, one ruler each day, for the dedication of the altar.”

  12So the one who brought his gift on the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab,

ruler of the tribe of Judah. 13The gift he brought was one silver bowl; its weight was one
hundred and thirty shekels and one silver cup of seventy shekels, according to the holy
shekel, both of them full of fine flour prepared with oil for a grain offering; 14one gold censer
of ten shekels full of incense; 15one young bull from the oxen, one ram, and one male lamb
in its first year for a whole burnt offering; 16one male kid from the goats for a sin offering;
17and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two young heifers, five rams, five male goats, and
five ewe lambs in their first year. This was the gift of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

  18On the second day, Nethanel the son of Zuar, ruler of Issachar, brought his gift. 19The
gift he brought was one silver bowl, its weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one
silver cup of seventy shekels, according to the holy shekel, both of them full of fine flour
prepared with oil for a grain offering; 20one gold censer of ten shekels, full of incense; 21one
young bull from the oxen, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year for a whole burnt
offering; 22and one male kid from the goats for a sin offering; 23and for the sacrifice of peace
offerings: two young heifers, five rams, five male goats, and five ewe lambs in their first year.
This was the gift of Nethanel the son of Zuar.

   24On the third day, Eliab the son of Helon, ruler of the children of Zebulun, brought his

gift. 25The gift he brought was one silver bowl; its weight was one hundred and thirty
shekels, and one silver cup of seventy shekels, according to the holy shekel, both of them full
of fine flour prepared with oil for a grain offering; 26one gold censer of ten shekels, full of
incense; 27one young bull from the oxen, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year for a
whole burnt offering; 28one male kid from the goats for a sin offering; 29and for the sacrifice
of peace offerings: two young heifers, five rams, five male goats, and five ewe lambs in their
first year. This was the gift of Eliab the son of Helon.

  30On the fourth day, Elizur the son of Shedeur, ruler of the children of Reuben, brought

his gift. 31The gift he brought was one silver bowl, its weight was one hundred and thirty
shekels, and one silver cup of seventy shekels, according to the holy shekel, both of them full
of fine flour prepared with oil for a grain offering; 32one gold censer of ten shekels, full of
incense; 33one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year for a whole burnt
offering; 34one male kid from the goats for a sin offering; 35and for the sacrifice of peace
offerings: two young heifers, five rams, five male goats, and five ewe lambs in their first year.
This was the gift of Elizur the son of Shedeur.

  36On the fifth day, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, ruler of the children of Simeon,

brought his gift. 37The gift he brought was one silver bowl, its weight was one hundred and
thirty shekels, and one silver cup of seventy shekels, according to the holy shekel, both of
them full of fine flour prepared with oil for a grain offering; 38one gold censer of ten shekels,
full of incense; 39one young bull from the oxen, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year
for a whole burnt offering; 40one male kid from the goats for a sin offering; 41and for the
sacrifice of peace offerings: two young heifers, five rams, five male goats, and five ewe lambs
in their first year. This was the gift of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

  42On the sixth day, Eliasaph the son of Deuel, ruler of the children of Gad, brought his gift.
43The gift he brought was one silver bowl, its weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, and
one silver cup of seventy shekels, according to the holy shekel, both of them full of fine flour
prepared with oil for a grain offering; 44one gold censer of ten shekels, full of incense; 45one
young bull from the oxen, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year for a whole burnt
offering; 46one male kid from the goats for a sin offering; 47and for the sacrifice of peace
offerings: two young heifers, five rams, five male goats, and five ewe lambs in their first year.
This was the gift of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

  48On the seventh day, Elishama the son of Ammihud, ruler of the children of Ephraim,

brought his gift. 49The gift he brought was one silver bowl, its weight was one hundred and
thirty shekels, and one silver cup of seventy shekels, according to the holy shekel, both of
them full of fine flour prepared with oil for a grain offering; 50one gold censer of ten shekels,
full of incense; 51one young bull from the oxen, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year
for a whole burnt offering; 52one male kid from the goats for a sin offering; 53and for the
sacrifice of peace offerings: two young heifers, five rams, five male goats, and five ewe lambs
in their first year. This was the gift of Elishama the son of Ammihud.

  54On the eighth day, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, ruler of the children of Manasseh,

brought his gift. 55The gift he brought was one silver bowl; its weight was one hundred and
thirty shekels, and one silver cup of seventy shekels, according to the holy shekel, both of
them full of fine flour prepared with oil for a grain offering; 56one gold censer of ten shekels,
full of incense; 57one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year for a whole
burnt offering; 58one male kid from the goats for a sin offering; 59and for the sacrifice of
peace offerings: two young heifers, five rams, five male goats, and five ewe lambs in their first
year. This was the gift of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

  60On the ninth day, Abidan the son of Gideoni, ruler of the children of Benjamin, brought

his gift. 61The gift he brought was one silver bowl, its weight was one hundred and thirty
shekels, and one silver cup of seventy shekels, according to the holy shekel, both of them full
of fine flour prepared with oil for a grain offering; 62one gold censer of ten shekels, full of
incense; 63one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year for a whole burnt
offering; 64one male kid from the goats for a sin offering; 65and for the sacrifice of peace
offerings: two young heifers, five rams, five male goats, and five ewe lambs in their first year.
This was the gift of Abidan the son of Gideoni.

  66On the tenth day, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, ruler of the children of Dan, brought

his gift. 67The gift he brought was one silver bowl, its weight was one hundred and thirty
shekels, and one silver cup of seventy shekels, according to the holy shekel, both of them full
of fine flour prepared with oil for a grain offering; 68one gold censer of ten shekels, full of
incense; 69one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year for a whole burnt
offering; 70one male kid from the goats for a sin offering; 71and for the sacrifice of peace
offerings: two young heifers, five rams, five male goats, and five ewe lambs in their first year.
This was the gift of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

   72On the eleventh day, Pagiel the son of Ocran, ruler of the children of Asher, brought his

gift. 73The gift he brought was one silver bowl, its weight was one hundred and thirty
shekels, and one silver cup of seventy shekels, according to the holy shekel, both of them full
of fine flour prepared with oil for a grain offering; 74one gold censer of ten shekels, full of
incense; 75one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year for a whole burnt
offering; 76one male kid from the goats for a sin offering; 77and for the sacrifice of peace
offerings: two young heifers, five rams, five male goats, and five ewe lambs in their first year.
This was the gift of Pagiel the son of Ocran.
  78On the twelfth day, Ahira the son of Enan, ruler of the children of Naphtali, brought his

gift. 79The gift he brought was one silver bowl, its weight was one hundred and thirty
shekels, and one silver cup of seventy shekels, according to the holy shekel, both of them full
of fine flour prepared with oil for a grain offering; 80one gold censer of ten shekels, full of
incense; 81one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year for a whole burnt
offering; 82one male kid from the goats for a sin offering; 83and for the sacrifice of peace
offerings: two young heifers, five rams, five male goats, and five ewe lambs in their first year.
This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.

  84This was the dedication gift for the altar from the rulers of Israel, the day it was

anointed: twelve silver bowls, twelve silver cups, and twelve gold censers. 85Each silver bowl
weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and each cup seventy shekels. All the silver of the
vessels weighed two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the holy shekel. 86The
twelve gold censers, full of incense, weighed ten shekels apiece, according to the holy shekel;
all the gold of the censers weighed one hundred and twenty shekels. 87All the oxen for the
whole burnt offering were twelve young bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs in their first
year twelve, with their grain offering, and the male kids from the goats for a sin offering
twelve. 88So all the oxen for the sacrifice of peace offerings were twenty-four young heifers,
the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, and the ewe lambs in their first year sixty. This was the
dedication gift for the altar after it was consecrated and anointed. 89Now when Moses went
into the tabernacle of testimony to speak with Him, he heard the voice of the Lord speaking
to him from above the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony, from between the two
cherubim; thus He spoke to him.

                                   Arranging the Lamps

    Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Speak to Aaron, and say to him, ‘When you
8
    arrange the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.’ ” 3Aaron
did so; he arranged the lamps to face toward the front of the lampstand, and lit its lamps, as
the Lord commanded Moses. 4Now this construction of the lampstand was solid gold; its
stem and corolla were solid throughout, according to the form the Lord showed Moses; thus
he made the lampstand.

                         Cleansing and Consecrating the Levites
  5Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 6“Take the Levites from among the children of

Israel and consecrate them.† 7Thus you shall do to them for their purification: Sprinkle water
of purification on them, and a razor shall shave all their body; and they shall wash their
clothes; then they shall be clean. 8After this, they shall take a young bull from the oxen, with
its grain offering of fine flour prepared with oil, and you shall take a young bull one year old
from the oxen for a sin offering. 9Then you shall bring the Levites before the tabernacle of
testimony, and gather together the whole congregation of the children of Israel. 10So you
shall bring the Levites before the Lord, and the children of Israel shall put their hands on the
Levites; 11and Aaron shall set apart the Levites before the Lord as a restitution offering from
among the children of Israel, so they may do the works of the Lord. 12Then the Levites shall
put their hands on the heads of the young bulls, and you shall offer one for a sin offering and
the other for a whole burnt offering to the Lord, to make atonement for them.

  13“Then you shall stand the Levites before the Lord and before Aaron and his sons, and

offer them as a restitution offering to the Lord. 14Thus you shall separate the Levites from
among the children of Israel, and they shall be Mine. 15After that, the Levites shall go in to
do the works of the tabernacle of testimony. Thus you shall cleanse them and offer them as a
restitution offering before the Lord. 16For they are Mine as a restitution offering from among
the children of Israel; I have taken them for Myself instead of all who open the womb, the
firstborn from all the children of Israel. 17For all the firstborn among the children of Israel
are Mine, from man to cattle; on the day I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I
sanctified them to Myself. 18I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the
children of Israel. 19I have also given the Levites as a restitution offering to Aaron and his
sons from among the children of Israel, to do the works of the children of Israel in the
tabernacle of testimony, and to make atonement for the children of Israel. Thus there shall
be no drawing near of the holy things among the children of Israel.”

  20So Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel did to the Levites
as the Lord commanded Moses concerning the Levites; thus the children of Israel did to
them. 21Then the Levites sanctified themselves and washed their clothes; and Aaron
presented them before the Lord as a restitution offering; and Aaron made atonement for
them to consecrate them. 22After that, the Levites went in to minister in their liturgical
service in the tabernacle of testimony before Aaron and his sons; as the Lord commanded
Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.
  23Moreover, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24“This is what pertains to the Levites:
From twenty-five years old and above they shall enter to work in the tabernacle of testimony;
25and at the age of fifty years they shall cease doing liturgical service. They shall work no

more. 26His brother shall minister liturgically in the tabernacle of testimony, to do guard
duties, but he shall not do the works. Thus you shall do to the Levites regarding their duties.”

                                       The Second Passover


9 Now   the Lord spoke to Moses in the Sinai Desert, in the first month of the second year,
  after they came out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2“Speak, and let the children of Israel
keep Pascha at its appointed time. 3On the fourteenth day of this month, at eventide, you
shall keep it at its appointed time. According to its rule and practice you shall keep it.”† † 4So
Moses told the children of Israel to keep Pascha. 5Thus they kept Pascha beginning on the
fourteenth day of the first month, in the Sinai Desert; as the Lord commanded Moses, so the
children of Israel did.

  6Now there were men who were unclean on account of a dead man, and so were unable to

keep Pascha on that day; therefore, they came before Moses and Aaron that day.† 7So those
men said to him, “We are unclean on account of a dead man. Why then are we prevented
from presenting the Lord's gift at its appointed time among the children of Israel?” 8Moses
then said to them, “Stand here, and I will hear what the Lord commands concerning you.”
9Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If anyone
of you becomes unclean on account of a dead man, or is on a distant journey, or is among
your families, he shall keep the Lord's Pascha. 11On the fourteenth day of the second month,
at eventide, they shall keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
12They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. According to all the

rule of Pascha, they shall keep it. 13But the man who is clean and is not on a distant journey,
but fails to keep Pascha, that soul shall be utterly destroyed from among his people, because
he did not bring his gift to the Lord at its appointed time; that man shall bear his guilt. 14But
if a resident alien dwells with you in your land, he shall also keep the Lord's Pascha,
according to the rule and regulation of Pascha; you shall have one rule, both for the resident
alien and the native of the land.’ ”

                                       The Cloud and Fire
  15Now on the day the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the house
of the testimony; from eventide until morning it was on the tabernacle, like the form of fire.
16So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the form of fire by night. 17Whenever the
cloud ascended from the tabernacle, after that the children of Israel broke camp; and in the
place where the cloud stood, there the children of Israel made camp. 18At the command of
the Lord the children of Israel would make camp, and at the command of the Lord they would
break camp. All the days the cloud overshadowed the tabernacle, the children of Israel would
encamp. 19Even when the cloud would continue many days on the tabernacle, the children of
Israel would obey God's orders, and not break camp. 20So it would be, whenever the cloud
would overshadow the tabernacle a number of days, at the voice of the Lord they would
encamp, and at the command of the Lord they would break camp. 21So it would be, when the
cloud wou.ld continue from eventide until morning, and the cloud would ascend in the
morning, then they would break camp; and if the cloud would continue a day or a night,† 22or
a month, or an abundance of days overshadowing it, the children of Israel would encamp and
not break camp. 23At the command of the Lord they would break camp, and at the command
of the Lord by the hand of Moses they would obey the Lord's orders.

                                The Two Silver Trumpets

         the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you
10 Now
   shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them to call the congregation and to
break the camps. 3You shall blow the trumpets among them, and all the congregation shall be
gathered at the door of the tabernacle of testimony. 4But if they blow one trumpet, all the
rulers, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall gather to you. 5Then you shall blow the
trumpet signal, and the camps camping on the east side shall break camp. 6Again, you shall
blow the trumpet signal a second time, and the camps camping on the south side shall break
camp; and you shall blow the trumpet signal a third time, and the camps camping on the west
side shall break camp; and you shall blow the trumpet signal a fourth time, and the camps
camping on the north side shall break camp. They shall blow the trumpet signal when they
break camp. 7Then when you have gathered the congregation together, you shall blow the
trumpet, but not the trumpet signal. 8The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets;
and this shall be your custom perpetually throughout your generations. 9If you should go to
war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, you shall sound the trumpet signal,
and you will be remembered before the Lord, and you will be saved from your enemies.
10Also in the days of your gladness, and in your feasts, and at the beginning of your months,
you shall blow the trumpets over your whole burnt offerings and the sacrifices of your peace
offerings; and they shall be a remembrance for you before your God: I am the Lord your
God.”†

                                Moving On from the Camp

  11Now it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that

the cloud ascended from the tabernacle of the testimony. 12Then the children of Israel broke
camp with their household goods in the Sinai Desert; and the cloud stood in the Desert of
Paran. 13So the first ones broke camp at the Lord's voice by the hand of Moses. 14The
division of the camp of the children of Judah was the first to break camp with their army; and
over their army was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15Over the army of the tribe of the
children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar. 16Over the army of the tribe of the
children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. 17Then the sons of Gershon and the sons of
Merari took down the tabernacle and broke camp, carrying the tabernacle. 18After this, the
division of the camp of Reuben broke camp with their army; and over their army was Elizur
the son of Shedeur. 19Over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the
son of Zurishaddai. 20Over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son
of Deuel. 21Then the sons of Kohath broke camp, carrying the holy things (and they would
set up the tabernacle, before their arrival). 22After this, the division of the camp of the
children of Ephraim broke camp with their army; and over their army was Elishama the son
of Ammihud. 23Over the army of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son
of Pedahzur. 24Over the army of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of
Gideoni. 25Then the division of the camp of the children of Dan (the last of all the camps
with their army) broke camp; and over their army was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
26Over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. 27Over the

army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 28These were the
armies of the children of Israel, and they broke camp with their army.

  29Now Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are
breaking camp for the place the Lord spoke of, saying, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us,
and we will treat you well; for the Lord spoke good things concerning Israel.”† 30However, he
said to him, “I will not go, but I will depart to my land and to my relatives.” 31But he replied,
“Do not leave us, because you were with us in the desert, and you would be an elder among
us. 32It would also be, if you should go with us, that the good things whatsoever the Lord will
do for us, the same we will do for you.”

  33So they broke camp at the mountain of the Lord for a journey of three days; and the ark
of the covenant of the Lord went before them for the three days’ journey, to search out a
resting place for them.† 34Now it came to pass that when they broke camp with the ark,
Moses said, “Rise up, O Lord! Let Your enemies be scattered, and let all who hate You flee.”
35And when the ark rested, he said, “Return, O Lord, to the many thousands in Israel!” 36The
cloud also overshadowed them by day when they broke camp.

                                    The People Grumble


11 Now  the people were grumbling evilly before the Lord, and the Lord heard them and was
   provoked to anger. So the fire of the Lord burned among them and utterly destroyed part
of the camp.† 2Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord; and the
fire was quenched. 3So he called the name of the place Burning, because fire from the Lord
burned among them.

  4Now the mixed multitude among them hungered exceedingly; and sitting down, the

children of Israel were also weeping, and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?† 5We
remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, and the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the
onions, and the garlic; 6but now our soul is dried up; there is nothing before our eyes except
this manna.” 7Now the manna is like coriander seed, and its form is like the form of ice
pellets. 8The people would go about and gather it, and grind it on millstones or beat it in the
mortar, then cook it in pots, and make cakes of it; and its flavor was like the taste of a pastry
prepared with oil and honey. 9And when the dew descended on the camp in the night, the
manna descended upon it.

                                       Seventy Elders

  10Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their tribes, everyone at his door; and

the anger of the Lord was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. 11So Moses said to the
Lord, “Why have You maltreated Your servant? Why have I not found grace in Your sight,
that You lay the wrath of this people on me? 12Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget
them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing
child,’ to the land You swore to their fathers? 13Where am I to get meat to give to all these
people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ 14I am not able to
bear this people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. 15If You treat me like this, kill
me here and now—if I find mercy in Your sight—and do not let me see my maltreatment.”

  16So the Lord said to Moses, “Gather to Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom
you yourself know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the
tabernacle of testimony, so they may stand there with you.† 17Then I will descend and talk
with you there. I will take of the Spirit upon you and put Him upon them; and they shall help
you bear the wrath of the people, that you yourself may not bear them alone.† 18Then you
shall say to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you
have wept before the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in
Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat to eat, and you shall eat. 19You shall eat, not
one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 20but for a whole month
you shall eat, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you
disobeyed the Lord, who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we ever
come up out of Egypt?” ’ ”

  21Then Moses said, “The people I am among are six hundred thousand men on foot; yet

You are saying, ‘I will give them meat, so they may eat for a whole month.’ 22Shall sheep and
oxen be slaughtered for them, to provide enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be
gathered together for them, to provide enough for them?”

  23Then the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord's hand unable to provide for them? Now you

shall know whether or not My word will overtake you.” 24So Moses went out and told the
people the words of the Lord; and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people
and placed them around the tabernacle. 25Then the Lord descended in the cloud and spoke to
him, and took of the Spirit upon him, and put Him upon the seventy men of the elders; and
when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, although they never did so again. 26But
two men remained in the camp: the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other,
Medad, and the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those registered, but had not
come to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp. 27So a young man ran and told
Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28Then Joshua the son of
Nun, who was near Moses, one of his choice men, answered and said, “Lord Moses, forbid
them.” 29Then Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's
people might be prophets, when the Lord would put His Spirit upon them.” 30So Moses
returned to the camp, both he and the elders of Israel.

                                          The Quail

  31Now a wind went out from the Lord and brought birds from the sea that migrate together
with quail, and cast them upon the camp, about a day's journey on this side and about a day's
journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the
ground. 32Then the people stayed up all that day, all night, and all the next day, and gathered
the birds (he who gathered least gathered ten cors); and they spread the meat out to dry for
themselves all around the camp. 33But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it
was chewed, the Lord's anger was aroused against the people, and the Lord struck the people
with a very great plague. 34So he called the name of that place Graves of Lust, because there
they buried the people who lusted. 35Then the people broke camp to go to Hazeroth, and they
camped at Hazeroth.

                                   Miriam Is Disciplined


12 Now Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he
   married; for he married an Ethiopian woman. 2So they said, “Has the Lord indeed
spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” But the Lord heard it.
3(Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all men on the face of the earth.)
4Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the

tabernacle of testimony.” So the three came out to the tabernacle of testimony. 5Then the
Lord descended in the pillar of cloud, and stood upon the door of the tabernacle of testimony;
and He called Aaron and Miriam, and both went forward.† 6Then He said, “Hear now My
words: Should a prophet of yours belong to the Lord, I would make Myself known to him in a
vision; I would speak to him in a dream. 7Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all
My house. 8I speak with him face to face, even in visible form, and not in obscure sayings;
and he saw the Lord's glory. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant
Moses?” 9So the Lord's anger was aroused against them, and He departed.

  10But when the cloud departed from the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as
white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper.† 11So Aaron
said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, I beg you, do not lay an extra charge of sin on us, because we
were ignorant, and did not know we sinned. 12Do not let her be as one dead, like a
miscarriage with its flesh half consumed.” 13So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “Heal
her, I beg you, O God.” 14Then the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face,
would she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp seven days, and
afterward let her enter.” 15So Miriam was shut out of the camp seven days, and the people
did not break camp till Miriam was cleansed.

  16After this, the people broke camp at Hazeroth, and camped in the Desert of Paran.

                                         The Spies

        the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 2“Send men to spy out the land of Canaan,
13 Now
   which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall
send a man, every one a ruler among them.” 3So Moses sent them from the Desert of Paran
at the Lord's voice, and all the men were rulers of the children of Israel. 4Now these were
their names: from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur;† 5from the tribe of
Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori; 6from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh;
7from the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph; 8from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the

son of Nun; 9from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu; 10from the tribe of Zebulun,
Gaddiel the son of Sodi; 11from the tribe of Joseph, that is, from the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi
the son of Susi; 12from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli; 13from the tribe of
Asher, Sethur the son of Michael; 14from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi;
15from the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. 16These are the names of the men Moses
sent to spy out the land. Now Moses called Hoshea, the son of Nun, Joshua.

  17Then Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, “Go up to this

desert, and go up to the mountain;† 18and you will see the land, and the people who dwell
upon it. What are they? Are they strong or weak, few or many? 19Also, what is the land they
dwell in? Is it good or bad? Then too, what about the cities they inhabit? Are they walled or
unwalled? 20Then again, what about the ground? Is it fertile or neglected? Are there trees on
it? Persevere, and you shall receive some of the fruits of the land.” Now the days were the
days of spring, the forerunner of the grapes. 21So they went up and spied out the land from
the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, near the entrance of Hamath. 22Then they went up through
the desert and came to Hebron; Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were
there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23Then they came to the
Valley of Eshcol and surveyed it, and cut down a branch there with one cluster of grapes; they
carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and
figs. 24The place was called the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster the sons of Israel cut
down there.

  25Then they returned from spying out the land after forty days. 26Now they departed and
came back to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the children of Israel in the
Desert of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and
showed them the fruit of the land.† 27Then they told him and said, “We went to the land
where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28Nevertheless,
the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover
we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29The Amalekites dwell in the land toward the south;
the Hittites, the Evites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the
Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.” 30Then Caleb quieted the
people towards Moses, and said to him, “No, but let us go up at once and take possession of it,
for we are well able to overcome them.” 31But the men who went up with him said, “We are
not going up, for we are unable to go up against them, because they are stronger than we.”
32So they instilled a terror for the land which they spied out among the children of Israel,
saying, “The land through which we went as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and
all the people we saw in it are men of great stature. 33There we saw the giants; and we
seemed like grasshoppers to them, but so we actually were.”

                                    The People Murmur


14 Now   all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that
   night.† 2All the children of Israel were murmuring against Moses and Aaron, and the
whole congregation said to them, “Would we had died in the land of Egypt, or in this desert.
3Why did the Lord bring us to this land to fall in war? Our wives and children shall be

plundered. It is better for us to return to Egypt.” 4So they said to one another, “Let us select a
ruler and return to Egypt.”

  5Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the congregation of the children of
Israel. 6But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those
who spied out the land, tore their clothes;† 7and they spoke to all the congregation of the
children of Israel, saying, “The land we passed through to spy out is an extremely good land.
8Since the Lord chooses us, He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land that flows

with milk and honey.’ 9But do not apostatize from the Lord, nor fear the people of the land,
for they are our food; their time has come and gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not fear
them.” 10Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the Lord
appeared in the cloud upon the tabernacle of testimony before all the children of Israel.

                                      Moses Intercedes

  11Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people provoke Me? How long will

they not believe Me, with all the signs I performed among them?† 12I will strike them with
death and destroy them, and I will make you and your father's house into a great and more
numerous nation than this one.”† 13Then Moses said to the Lord, “But the Egyptians will
hear it for by Your might You brought these people up from among them,† 14and all the
inhabitants of this land heard that You are the Lord among these people, who is seen plainly
with the eyes, O Lord; and Your cloud stands upon them, and You go before them in a pillar
of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. 15Now You would wipe out this people as one
man, and the nations that heard Your name will speak, saying, 16‘Because the Lord was not
able to bring this people into the land which He swore to give them, therefore He spread
them out in the desert.’ 17Now then, let Your strength, O Lord, be exalted in the manner You
spoke, saying, 18‘The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth, taking away
lawlessness, wrongdoings, and sins; but He would not cleanse the guilty by repaying the sins
of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’ 19Remit the sin of this
people according to Your great mercy, as You were merciful to them from Egypt even until
now.”

  20Again the Lord said to Moses, “I am merciful to them according to your word; 21but

truly, as I live, and My name lives, and all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord;†
22assuredly, all the men who are seeing My glory and signs, which I did in Egypt and in this

desert, and put Me to the test now these ten times, and did not heed My voice,† 23they
certainly shall not see the land I swore to their fathers; but their children who are here with
Me and do not know good nor evil, every inexperienced youngster, to these I shall give the
land; however, all those who provoked Me shall not see it. 24Now My servant Caleb, because
he has a different spirit in him and followed Me fully, I will bring him into the land where he
went, and his seed shall inherit it. 25Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the
valley; tomorrow, turn and depart for the desert by the way of the Red Sea.”

                              The Murmurers Are Punished

  26Moreover the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 27“How long shall I bear with this
evil congregation who murmur against Me? I heard the murmuring the children of Israel
make against Me. 28Say to them, ‘As I live, says the Lord, surely in the manner you spoke in
My hearing, so I will do to you: 29your bodies shall fall in this desert, and all your census,
who were numbered from twenty years old and above, as many as murmured against Me;
30and you shall not enter the land upon which I stretched out My hand that you might settle

upon it, except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun; 31but your
children, whom you said would be plunder, I will bring them into the land, and they shall
inherit the land from which you apostatized. 32But your bodies shall fall in this desert;
33however, your sons shall be shepherds in the desert forty years, and shall bear your

fornication until your bodies are consumed in the desert. 34According to the number of the
days you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year,
namely forty years, and you shall know My fierce anger. 35I the Lord have spoken; surely I
will do so to all this evil congregation gathered together against Me. In this desert they shall
be utterly destroyed, and there they shall die.’ ” 36Now the men Moses sent to spy out the
land, and who when they returned murmured against him to the congregation by bringing an
evil report of the land, 37those very men who spoke evil words against the land died by the
plague before the Lord. 38But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh
remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land.

                                  The First Invasion Fails

  39Then Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned

exceedingly.† 40But they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain,
saying, “Here we are, and we will go up to the place the Lord spoke about, for we sinned.”
41So Moses said, “Now why do you transgress the word of the Lord? For this will not be easy

for you. 42Do not go up, for the Lord is not with you, and you shall fall before the face of your
enemies. 43For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by
the sword; because you have turned away from and disobeyed the Lord, the Lord will not be
among you.” 44But they rebelled and went up to the mountaintop; nevertheless, neither the
ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses moved from the camp. 45Then the Amalekites and
the Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came down and attacked them, and turned them
back and cut them down as far as Hormah. Then they returned to the camp.

                     Laws Surrounding Grain and Drink Offerings


15 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 2“Speak to the children of Israel and say3 to
     them, ‘When you come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving to you, and
you make a whole burnt offering to the Lord, a whole burnt offering or a sacrifice, to make a
great vow or a freewill offering, or in your feasts, to make a sweet aroma to the Lord, from the
oxen or the sheep,† 4then he who brings his gifts to the Lord shall bring a grain offering of
one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour prepared with one-fourth of a hin of oil; 5and one-fourth
of a hin of wine as a drink offering you shall offer with the whole burnt offering or the
sacrifice, and for each male lamb you shall offer the same amounts, a burnt offering as a
sweet aroma to the Lord. 6Or for a ram, when you offer it either as a whole burnt offering or
a sacrifice, you shall offer with it a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour
prepared with one-third of a hin of oil; 7and as a drink offering you shall offer one-third of a
hin of wine as a sweet aroma to the Lord. 8Now if from the oxen you offer a whole burnt
offering or a sacrifice, to make a great vow or a peace offering to the Lord, 9then one shall
offer with the young bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, prepared
with half a hin of oil; 10and you shall bring as the drink offering half a hin of wine as a burnt
offering, a sweet aroma to the Lord.

  11‘Thus you shall do for each young bull, for each ram, or for each male lamb from the

sheep or the goats. 12According to the number you offer, so you shall do with each one
according to their number. 13All native-born shall do these things in this manner in
presenting a burnt offering for a sweet aroma to the Lord. 14Now if a resident alien should
come in among you in your land, or whoever may be among you in your generations, and he
would offer a burnt offering as a sweet aroma to the Lord, thus in the manner you offer, so
shall the congregation offer to the Lord. 15There shall be one law for you and for the resident
alien who dwells among you, a perpetual law throughout your generations; as you are, so
shall the resident alien be before the Lord. 16There shall be one law and one ordinance for
you and for the resident alien who dwells among you.’ ”

  17Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 18“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to

them, ‘When you come into the land into which I bring you, 19then it will be, when you eat
from the bread of the land, that you shall take away the choice portion for the Lord. 20You
shall separate the choice portion of your bread as the firstfruits of the dough, as a choice
portion from the threshing floor; thus you shall separate it 21as the firstfruits of your dough,
and you shall give to the Lord the choice portion throughout your generations.

                                Laws for Unintentional Sin

 22‘Now when you utterly fail, and do not do all these commandments the Lord spoke to

Moses— 23as the Lord ordered you by the hand of Moses, from the day the Lord ordered you
and onward throughout your generations— 24then it will be, if it happened involuntarily out
of sight of the congregation, the whole congregation shall offer one young bull without
blemish from the oxen for a whole burnt offering, for a sweet aroma to the Lord, with its
grain offering and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and one male kid from the
goats for a sin offering. 25So the priest shall make atonement for the whole congregation of
the children of Israel, and it shall be remitted them, for it was involuntary; they shall bring
their gift, a burnt offering to the Lord, as their sin offering before the Lord concerning their
involuntary sin. 26So it shall be remitted for the whole congregation of the children of Israel
and the resident alien who dwells among them, because all the people did it involuntarily.
27Now if a soul should sin involuntarily, he shall bring a female goat in its first year for a sin

offering. 28So the priest shall make atonement for the soul who acts involuntarily and sins
involuntarily before the Lord, to make atonement for him. 29As for anyone who may have
acted involuntarily, there shall be one law both for the native-born among the children of
Israel and for the resident alien who dwells among them.

  30‘But the soul who may do something with a hand of arrogance, whether he is native-born
or a resident alien, that one is provoking God; and he shall be utterly destroyed from among
His people. 31Because he despised the word of the Lord and broke His commandments, that
soul shall be destroyed; his guilt shall be upon him.’ ”

                               Penalty for Sabbath-breaking
  32Now while the children of Israel were in the desert, they found a man gathering wood on

the Sabbath day. 33So those who found him gathering wood on the Sabbath day brought him
to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel. 34They put him
under guard because they had not decided what to do with him. 35Then the Lord spoke to
Moses, saying, “Let the man be surely put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with
stones.” 36So, as the Lord ordered Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp
and stoned him with stones.

                                       Tassels on Vestments

  37Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 38“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them
to make tassels for themselves on the corners of their garments throughout their
generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. 39Then it shall be, you
shall have the tassels; and you shall look upon these, and remember all the commandments
of the Lord and do them; and you shall not turn aside after your minds and your eyes by
which you prostitute yourselves, 40and may remember and do all My commandments, and
be holy for your God. 41I am the Lord your God, who brings you out of the land of Egypt, to
be your God: I am the Lord your God.”

                            Rebellion against Moses and Aaron


16 Now  Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram
   the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, spoke;† 2and they rose up
before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred fifty men of the children of
Israel, rulers of the congregation, chosen members of the council and men of note. 3They
gathered together against Moses and Aaron and said to them, “Let it be understood by you
that all the congregation are holy ones, and the Lord is in them. Why then do you exalt
yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?”†

  4So when Moses heard this, he fell on his face; 5and he spoke to Korah and all his
company, saying, “God examines and knows those who are His and who are His holy ones,
and He brings them to Himself; and those He chooses for Himself He brings to Himself. 6Do
this: Take censers, Korah and all his company; 7put fire and incense in them before the Lord
tomorrow, and it shall be that the man the Lord chooses, this is the holy one; and let this be
sufficient for you, O sons of Levi.”
  8Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear me, you sons of Levi: 9Is this a small thing to you, that
the God of Israel separated you from the congregation of Israel to bring you near to Himself,
to serve the liturgies of the Lord's tabernacle and to stand before the congregation to serve
them; 10and that He brought you near, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi with you?
Are you seeking the priesthood also? 11Thus you and all your company brought together are
against God. Furthermore, who is Aaron, that you murmur against him?” 12Then Moses sent
to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come up. 13Is this a
small thing, that you brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the
desert, and set yourself over us as a ruler? 14Even if you should bring us into a land flowing
with milk and honey, and give us an inheritance of field and vineyards, you would put out the
eyes of these men. We will not come up.”

  15Then Moses was very heavy of spirit and said to the Lord, “May You pay no attention to
their sacrifice. I have not taken a desirable object from any of them, nor have I harmed any of
them.” 16Then Moses said to Korah, “Sanctify your company and be ready tomorrow before
the Lord, you and they, as well as Aaron. 17Let each take his censer, put incense in it, and
bring his censer before the Lord, two hundred fifty censers; both you and Aaron, each with
his censer.” 18So every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and stood at the
doors of the tabernacle of testimony with Moses and Aaron. 19Thus Korah gathered all his
company against them at the door of the tabernacle of testimony. Then the glory of the Lord
appeared to all the congregation.

  20The Lord then spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 21“Separate yourselves from among

this congregation, and I will utterly destroy them at once.” 22Then they fell on their faces,
and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, if one man sinned, will the Lord's anger be
on all the congregation?”† 23Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24“Speak to the
congregation, saying, ‘Withdraw from around Korah's company.’ ” 25Moses then rose and
went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel went together with him. 26Then he
spoke to the congregation, saying, “Get away from the tents of these callous men. Touch
nothing of theirs, lest you perish together with them in all their sin.” 27So they got away from
around Korah's tent; and Dathan and Abiram went and stood at the doors of their tents, with
their wives, their children, and their little ones. 28Then Moses said, “By this you shall know
the Lord sent me to do all these works, and they are not from myself. 29If these men should
die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common visitation of all men, then the
Lord has not sent me. 30But the Lord will show by a sign from heaven that opening its mouth
the earth shall swallow them down with their houses, their tents, and everything belonging to
them; and they shall go down alive into Hades. Then you shall know these men provoked the
Lord.”

  31Now as he finished speaking all these words, the ground split apart under them, 32and
the earth opened and swallowed them down with their houses, and all the men with Korah,
and all their tents. 33So they and all with them went down alive into Hades, and the earth
covered them; and they perished from the midst of the congregation. 34Then all Israel
around them fled at their cry, for they were saying, “Lest the earth also swallow us down.”
35Fire also came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred fifty men offering
incense.

                                    The Copper Censers

       the Lord spoke to Moses 2and to Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, “Take up the
17 Now
   copper censers out of the midst of those burned up, and scatter the strange fire there, so
as to sanctify† 3the censers of those sinners—even the censers of the men who sinned at the
cost of their lives—and make them into beaten plates, as a covering for the altar; so they
might be brought before the Lord and sanctified, to become a sign to the children of Israel.”†
4And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest took the copper censers which those burned up had

brought, and they added these as a covering for the altar, 5as a memorial to the children of
Israel, that no outsider who is not of Aaron's seed should put incense before the Lord and be
like Korah and his insurrection, as the Lord said by the hand of Moses.

   6The next day the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You

killed the people of the Lord.”† 7Now it happened, when the congregation regrouped itself
against Moses and Aaron, they hastened to the tabernacle of testimony; and the cloud
covered it, and the Lord's glory was seen. 8Then Moses and Aaron entered the front of the
tabernacle of testimony, 9and the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 10“Get away from
the midst of this congregation, and I will utterly destroy them at once.” So they fell on their
faces. 11Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take the censer, put fire in it from the altar, throw
incense on it, and carry it quickly to the camp, and make atonement for them; for wrath has
gone out from the Lord's face, and is beginning to strike the people.” 12So Aaron took it as
Moses told him, and ran into the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the
people. So he threw in the incense, and made atonement for the people; 13and he stood
between the dead and the living; so the plague ceased. 14Now those who died in the plague
were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died because of Korah. 15Then
Aaron returned to Moses at the door of the tabernacle of testimony, and the plague ceased.

                                Aaron's Rod That Budded

  16After this, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 17“Speak to the children of Israel and get a
rod from them, a rod from each of their fathers’ houses, from all their rulers according to
their fathers’ houses—twelve rods. Write each man's name on his rod. 18You shall also write
Aaron's name on the rod of Levi, for there is one rod that shall be given according to the tribe
of their fathers’ houses. 19Then you shall put them in the tabernacle of testimony before the
ark of the testimony, where I will be known to you. 20So it shall be, the man I choose, his rod
will blossom; thus I will remove the murmurings of the children of Israel which they
murmur against you.”

  21Then Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their rulers gave him a rod
apiece, for each ruler according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods; and Aaron's rod was in
the midst of their rods. 22Moses then put the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of
testimony. 23Now it came to pass on the next day, Moses entered the tabernacle of
testimony, and behold, Aaron's rod for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds,
and had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds. 24Then Moses brought out all the rods
from before the Lord to all the children of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod.
25The Lord then said to Moses, “Bring Aaron's rod back before the testimonies, as a sign to
the sons of the disobedient, and let their murmurings cease from before Me, lest they die.”
26Thus did Moses; as the Lord ordered him, so he did.

  27So the children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “Behold, we are utterly destroyed, we

are ruined, we are consumed. 28Whoever touches the tabernacle of the Lord dies. Shall we
utterly die?”

                               Duties of Priests and Levites
18 Now  the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying, “You and your sons and your father's house with
   you shall bear the sins of the holy things, and you and your sons with you shall bear the
sins of your priesthood. 2You shall also bring your brethren, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of
your father, to yourself, and they shall be joined and added to you, and minister liturgically
with you and your sons with you before the tabernacle of testimony. 3They shall perform
your guard duties and the duties of the tabernacle, but they shall not come near the holy
vessels and the altar, lest they die—they and you also. 4They shall be joined to you and
perform the guard duties of the tabernacle of testimony, and all the liturgical services of the
tabernacle; but an outsider shall not come near you. 5Thus you shall perform the guard
duties of the holy things and the altar, so there may be no more wrath on the children of
Israel. 6Behold, I took your brethren the Levites from the midst of the children of Israel, as a
gift given to the Lord, to minister liturgically in the tabernacle of testimony. 7Therefore you
and your sons with you shall take care of your priesthood according to all the manner of the
altar and within the veil; and you shall minister liturgically as the gift of your priesthood; but
the outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”

                              Offerings to Support the Priests

  8Again the Lord spoke to Aaron, “I give you charge over the firstfruits from all the things
sanctified to Me by the children of Israel; and I give these things to you and your sons with
you as your share. This shall be an eternal ordinance. 9So let this be yours from the sanctified
holy things of the offerings: from all their gifts, from all their sacrifices, from all their
trespass offerings, and from all their sin offerings, and from whatever they return to Me—let
all these holy things belong to you and your sons. 10In a most holy place you shall eat these
things; every male shall eat these things. It shall be holy to you.

  11“This also shall be a firstfruit for you from their gifts—from all the deposit offerings of
the children of Israel—I give these things to you, and to your sons and daughters with you.
This shall be an eternal ordinance. Everyone who is clean in your house shall eat these
things. 12The firstfruits of oil, wine, and grain, all their firstfruits, whatever they may offer to
the Lord, I give these things to you. 13Whatever first ripe fruit is in their land which they
bring to the Lord shall be yours. Everyone who is clean in your house shall eat these things.
14Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours.

  15“Everything that first opens the womb of all flesh which they bring to the Lord, from
man to cattle, shall be yours; nevertheless, the firstborn of men you shall redeem, and the
firstborn of unclean cattle you shall redeem. 16Now as for its redemption at the age of one
month, the rate is five shekels according to the holy shekel (that is, twenty obols). 17But the
firstborn of young bulls, the firstborn of sheep, or the firstborn of goats you shall not redeem;
they are holy. You shall pour out their blood towards the altar, and offer their fat as a burnt
offering for a sweet aroma to the Lord. 18Their meat shall also be yours, just as the breast of
the deposit offering and the right shoulder are yours. 19Every choice part of the holy things
which the children of Israel offer to the Lord, I give to you and your sons and daughters with
you as an eternal ordinance; it is an eternal covenant of salt before the Lord with you and
your seed with you.”

                               Tithes to Support the Levites

  20Moreover the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall
you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance in the midst of the
children of Israel. 21Behold, I give the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an
inheritance in return for their liturgical service, whatever they minister liturgically in the
tabernacle of testimony. 22Hereafter the children of Israel shall not come near the tabernacle
of testimony, lest they bear guilt and die. 23But the Levite himself shall minister liturgically
in the tabernacle of testimony, and they shall bear their sins; it shall be an eternal ordinance
throughout your generations, that in the midst of the children of Israel they shall have no
inheritance. 24For the tithes of the children of Israel, whatever they may offer as a choice
portion to the Lord, I give to the Levites as an inheritance; therefore I say to them, ‘In the
midst of the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.’ ”

                                      The Levites’ Tithe

  25Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 26“Speak thus to the Levites and say to them, ‘If
you receive from the children of Israel the tithe which I give you from them as your
inheritance, then you shall remove from it the Lord's choice portion, a tenth of the tithe.
27Now your choice portions shall be reckoned to you as the grain from the threshing floor

and as the choice portion of the winepress. 28Thus you shall then remove the Lord's choice
portions from all your tithes, whatever you might receive from the children of Israel, and you
shall give from them the Lord's choice portion to Aaron the priest. 29From all your gifts you
shall remove the choice portion for the Lord, or from all the firstfruits that which is sanctified
from it.’ 30Therefore you shall say to them, ‘When you remove the firstfruit from it, then all
the rest shall be accounted to the Levites as the produce of the threshing floor and as the
produce of the winepress. 31You may eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is
your reward for your liturgical service in the tabernacle of testimony. 32Now you shall bear
no guilt because of it, for you removed the firstfruit from it. But you shall not defile the holy
things of the children of Israel, lest you die.’ ”

                                Laws Concerning Purification

       the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,† 2“This is the injunction of the law,
19 Now
   whatever the Lord ordered, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and let them bring
you a red heifer without blemish, in which there is no defect and upon which a yoke has
never been placed. 3You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and he shall take it outside the
camp to a clean place, and they shall slaughter it before him; 4and Eleazar the priest shall
take some of its blood and sprinkle it seven times directly in front of the tabernacle of
testimony. 5Then it shall be burned in his sight: its hide, its flesh, and its blood with its dung
shall be burned. 6The priest shall then take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and cast them
into the midst of the fire burning the red heifer. 7After this, the priest shall wash his clothes,
bathe his body in water, and come into the camp; the priest shall be unclean until evening.
8Also the one who burns it shall wash his clothes in water, bathe his body in water, and be

unclean until evening. 9Then a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the red heifer
and put them away outside the camp in a clean place; and they shall be kept in reserve for the
congregation of the children of Israel for a water of sprinkling; it is for purification.† 10Then
the one who gathers the ashes of the red heifer shall wash his clothes and be unclean until
evening. It shall be an eternal ordinance to the children of Israel and to the resident alien
who dwells among them.

  11‘He who touches the dead body of any person shall be unclean seven days. 12He shall
cleanse himself on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does
not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean. 13Whoever
touches the dead body of any person who has died and does not purify himself defiles the
tabernacle of the Lord. That soul shall be destroyed from Israel. He shall be unclean, because
the water of sprinkling was not sprinkled on him; his uncleanness is still on him.

  14‘Now this is the law if a man dies in a house: Everyone who comes into the house and
whoever is in the house shall be unclean seven days; 15and every open vessel which has no
cover fastened on it is unclean. 16Whoever in the open field touches one who is slain by a
sword or who has died a natural death, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven
days. 17So for the unclean, they shall take some of the ashes of the burnt offering of
purification, put them in a vessel, and pour running water on them. 18Then a clean man shall
take hyssop and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the house and upon all the vessels
and the souls who were there, and upon the one who touched the human bone, or the one
slain by the sword, or the one who died a natural death, or the grave. 19The clean shall
sprinkle the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day; and on the seventh day he shall
purify himself, wash his clothes, and bathe in water; and he shall be unclean until evening.
20But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself, that soul shall be utterly
destroyed from among the congregation, because he defiled the holy things of the Lord, and
the water of purification was not sprinkled on him; he is unclean. 21This shall be an eternal
ordinance for you: He who sprinkles the water of purification shall wash his clothes; and he
who touches the water of purification shall be unclean until evening; 22and whatever the
unclean one touches shall be unclean; and the soul who touches it shall be unclean until
evening.’ ”

                                   Contention at Kadesh


20 Now   the children of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the Desert of Sin in the
   first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died and was buried there.†
2But there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and

Aaron. 3So the people scoffed at Moses and spoke, saying, “Would we had died in the
destruction of our brethren before the Lord. 4Why have you brought up the Lord's
congregation into this desert to kill us and our cattle? 5Why did you also bring us up out of
Egypt, to bring us to this evil place?—a place where nothing is sown, neither figs nor vines
nor pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink.” 6So Moses and Aaron went from the
presence of the congregation to the door of the tabernacle of testimony and fell on their faces.
Then the glory of the Lord appeared to them.

  7The Lord then spoke to Moses, saying, 8“Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron
gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before them, and it will give its waters;
thus you shall bring them water out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their
cattle.” 9So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as the Lord ordered him. 10Then Moses
and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear
me, you disobedient ones. Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11Moses then lifted
his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the
congregation and their cattle drank.† 12But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you
did not believe Me, to sanctify Me before the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring
this congregation into the land I am giving them.” 13This was the Water of Contention,
because the children of Israel scoffed before the Lord, and He was sanctified among them.†

                                     Rejection at Edom

  14Now Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying, “Thus says your

brother Israel, ‘You know all the hardship that befell us, 15how our fathers went down to
Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers.
16But we cried out to the Lord; and the Lord heard our voice, and sent His Angel and brought

us up out of Egypt; now here we are in Kadesh, a city just outside your borders.† 17Let us
pass through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink
water from wells; we will go along the King's Highway; we will not turn aside to the right
hand or to the left until we pass through your borders.’ ” 18Then Edom said to him, “You
shall not pass through me, lest I come out against you in war.” 19So the children of Israel said
to him, “We would go along the mountainous area, but if I or my cattle should drink any of
your water, I would pay you. But the matter is nothing; let us pass along the mountainous
area.” 20But he replied, “You shall not pass through me.” So Edom came out against him with
a heavily armed multitude and with a strong hand. 21Thus Edom refused to give Israel
passage through his borders; and Israel turned away from him.

                                    The Death of Aaron

 22So the children of Israel, the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh and came to

Mount Hor. 23Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor by the borders of the
land of Edom, saying, 24“Let Aaron be added to his people, for he shall not enter the land I
am giving to the children of Israel, because you provoked Me at the Water of Controversy.
25Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor before all the

congregation; 26and strip Aaron of his robe, and put it on Eleazar his son; and let Aaron die
there and be added to his people.” 27So Moses did as the Lord ordered, and took him up to
Mount Hor before all the congregation. 28Then Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and
put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain, and afterward
Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.† 29Now all the congregation saw Aaron
was dead, and all the house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.
                                Defeating the Canaanites


21 Now   the Canaanite king of Arad, who was dwelling in the desert, heard the news—for
   Israel came by way of Atharim—therefore, he made war against Israel; and they carried
off captives from them as booty. 2Then Israel made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will
indeed deliver this people into my hand, I will anathematize him and his cities.” 3So the Lord
listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites; and they anathematized him
and his cities. Therefore, they called the name of that place Anathema.

                                   The Copper Serpent

  4Then they departed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea; and they went around

the land of Edom, and the people became discouraged on the way. 5So the people spoke
against God and against Moses, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to kill us in the
desert? For there is no bread nor water, and our soul is weary of this worthless bread.” 6So
the Lord sent venomous serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the
children of Israel died. 7Then the people came to Moses, and were saying, “We sinned, for we
spoke against the Lord and against you; therefore, pray to the Lord, and let Him take away
the serpent from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a
serpent for yourself and put it on a signal pole; and it shall be, if a serpent should bite
someone, when the one bitten looks at it, he shall live.” 9So Moses made a copper serpent
and put it on a signal pole; and it happened, when a serpent bit anyone, and he looked at the
copper serpent, he lived.†

                                From Mount Hor to Moab

  10After this the children of Israel broke camp and camped in Oboth. From there they broke

camp and camped on the other side of the Ar Oboth. 11Then they broke camp at Oboth and
camped at Ije Abarim, which is on the other side in the desert, that is, over against Moab,
toward the sunrise. 12From there they broke camp and camped in the Valley of Zered.
13From there they broke camp and camped on the other side of the Arnon, in the desert
which runs along the border of the Amorites; for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between
Moab and the Amorites. 14Therefore it is said in the book:

    “The War of the Lord:
    He set on fire Zoob and the brooks of the Arnon,

    15
         And He established the brooks

    For Er to inhabit near the borders of Moab.”

  16Then from there they went to the Well, which is the well where the Lord said to Moses,

“Gather the people together, and I will give them water to drink.” 17Then Israel sang this
song about the well:

    “Begin the song—

    18
         As for the well, rulers dug it;

    Kings of nations hewed it in stone,

    In their kingly rule, when they were the lords.”


 Then from the Well they went to Mattanah, 19and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from
Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20and from Bamoth to the valley, that is, the plain of Moab, which, from
the top of the quarried rock, looks out over against the desert.

                                           Defeat of King Sihon and King Og

  21Then Moses sent ambassadors to Sihon king of the Amorites with peaceful words,

saying, 22“Let us pass through your land. We will journey on the road, and not turn aside
either into a field or a vineyard; we will not drink water from your well. We will journey on
the King's Highway until we pass beyond your borders.” 23But Sihon would not allow Israel
to pass through his borders. So Sihon gathered all his people together and went out to engage
Israel in battle in the desert; so he came to Jahaz and engaged Israel in battle. 24Then Israel
struck him with slaughter by the sword and gained dominion over his land, from the Arnon to
the Jabbok, as far as the sons of Ammon; for Jazer is the border of the sons of Ammon. 25So
Israel took all these cities, and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in
all its villages. 26For Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who fought against
the former king of Moab and took all his land from Aroer to the Arnon. 27Therefore those
who speak in riddles say:

                                                       TYPOLOGY

Typology is the interpretation of certain historical events occurring in the Old Testament as
“types” that prefigure events to be fulfilled through the Incarnation of the Son of God, and in
His life and ministry as confirmed in the New Testament. In each case, the type—the first
event—is linked to its corresponding future event, called the “antitype.” It is a relationship
that begins with a promise and ends with a fulfillment in Christ.

  St. John Chrysostom explains, “The types, like patterns, anticipated and sketched out
beforehand the dispensations [the order of things] which would be accomplished under the
new covenant.” Types are in action what prophecy is in words: through them both, truths
about Christ, His Mother, the Church, the Sacraments, and the Kingdom of Heaven are
revealed.

                    THE OLD TESTAMENT, LOOKING FORWARD

  Typology was the primary lens used by the Church through which the Old Testament was
read and interpreted. St. Irenaeus writes concerning the Old Testament, “If anyone, therefore,
reads the Scriptures with attention, he will find in them an account of Christ, and a
foreshadowing of the new calling. . . . The treasure hidden in the Scriptures is Christ, since He
was pointed out by means of types and prophecies.” Christ indeed came to fulfill in reality
what had been in the Old Testament but “a shadow of the good things to come” (Heb 10:1).
Jesus told His apostles, “All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses
and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me” (Lk 24:44, 45; see also 24:27; Jn 5:38, 46).

  Sometimes Old Testament prophecies refer to past events as types—for example, the
reference in Psalm 109:4 to Melchizedek, and in Jeremiah 38:31–34 to the Old Covenant. Yet
it is the New Testament which confirms typology as the key to understanding the Old
Testament. This is evident in the famous exclamation by St. John the Baptist when Jesus
approached him at the Jordan: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world!” (Jn 1:29). Here John not only is asserting that Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy (Is
53:7), but he is also making the first recorded public declaration linking the Person of Jesus
with an Old Testament event—the sacrifice of the lamb at Passover (Ex 12:1–11; see also 1Co
5:7; 1Pt 1:18, 19). The ultimate sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God was also
foreshadowed in type by Abraham’s offering of his son, Isaac (Gn 22:1–14).

                       THE NEW TESTAMENT, LOOKING BACK

  In the Gospels, Christ sometimes refers to Old Testament events that typologically pointed
forward to Himself, such as the serpent in the wilderness (Nm 21:4–9; Jn 3:14, 15), the
manna in the wilderness (Ex 16:11–36; Jn 6:30–35, 47–51), and Jonah’s three days and
nights in the belly of the great fish (Jon 2:1–11; Mt 12:39, 40). Saints Paul and Peter, writing
under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, also reveal truths found in Old Testament types, such
as Adam/Christ (Gn 2:7–9, 15–17; 1Co 15:20–22), Melchizedek/Christ (Gn 14:18–20; Heb
6:19, 20) and Noah and the Flood/Baptism (Gn 7:1—8:19; 1Pt 3:20, 21).

  Typological revelation further plays an important role in the hymns of the Church. For
example:

    The bush on the mountain that was not consumed by fire (Ex 3:1–6), and the
    Chaldean furnace that brought refreshment as the dew (Dan 3:19–50), plainly
    prefigured thee, O Bride of God. For in a material womb, unconsumed thou hast
    received the divine and immaterial Fire (Matins, Nativity of the Theotokos).

  With the Old Testament looking forward to the New through types, theophanies, and
prophecies, and the New, in antitypes and fulfillment, pointing back to the Old, the essential
unity of the two Testaments within one comprehensive Testament is revealed. As St.
Maximus observes, “The Old and New Testaments together form a single mystery.”


    “Com e to Heshbon,

    So the city of Sihon m ay be built and m ade ready .

    28
         For fire went out from Heshbon,

    A flam e from the city of Sihon;

    It consum ed as far as Moab,

    And swallowed up the pillars of the Arnon.

    29
         Woe to y ou, Moab! You were destroy ed,

    O people of Chem osh!

    Their sons were sold to be kept aliv e,

    And their daughters are captiv es to Sihon king of the Am orites.

    30
         Their seed shall perish from Heshbon to Dibon,

    And their wom en again stirred up fire ov er Moab.”

  31Now Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites. 32Then Moses sent to spy out Jazer;

and they took it and its villages, and cast out the Amorites dwelling there. 33After this, they
turned and went up the road to Bashan. So Og king of Bashan and all his people came to meet
them in battle at Edrei. 34Then the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered
him into your hand, with all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to
Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon.” 35So they struck him, his sons, and all
his people until there was no survivor left him; and they inherited their land.

                                  Balak Seeks Out Balaam


22 Now  the children of Israel broke camp and camped west of Moab, by the Jordan across
   from Jericho. 2So when Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel did to the Amorites,
3and Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people, because they were many, and Moab was

irritated because of the children of Israel, 4then Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this
congregation will lick up everything around us, as a young bull licks up the grass of the field.”
Now Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5Then he sent
ambassadors to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the river in the land of the
sons of his people, to call him, saying, “Look, a people came from Egypt. See, they cover the
face of the earth and are settling next to me. 6Therefore, come at once, and curse this people
for me, for they are stronger than we. If we would be able to strike some of them, then I could
drive them out of the land, for I know he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse
is cursed.”

  7So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with their divinations in their

hand; and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. 8Then he said to them,
“Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back to you whatever words the Lord may speak to me.”
So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9God then came to Balaam and said to him,
“Who are these men with you?” 10So Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of
Moab, sent to me, saying, 11‘Look, a people came out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the
earth and are settling next to me. Therefore, come at once, and curse them for me; perhaps I
shall be able to strike them and drive them from the land.’ ” 12Then God said to Balaam, “You
shall not go with them; neither shall you curse the people, for they are blessed.” 13So Balaam
rose in the morning and said to the rulers of Balak, “Return to your lord, for God is not
allowing me to go with you.” 14Therefore, the rulers of Moab rose and went to Balak and said,
“Balaam is unwilling to come with us.”

  15Balak yet again sent rulers, more numerous and more honorable than these. 16When
they came to Balaam, they said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘I beg of you not
to hesitate in coming to me; 17for I will certainly honor you greatly, and I will do whatever
you say. Therefore come and curse this people for me.’ ” 18Then Balaam answered and said to
the rulers of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could
not go beyond the word of the Lord God, to make it little or great in my mind. 19Now
therefore, stay here tonight, so I may know what more the Lord will say to me.”

                                Balaam and His Donkey

  20Thus God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If these men are present to

summon you, rise and follow them; but the word I speak to you—that you shall do.” 21So
Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the rulers of Moab. 22Then
God was very angry because he went, and the Angel of God stationed Himself to divert him
from his purpose. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.†
23When the donkey saw the Angel of God standing in the way with His drawn sword in His
hand, the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field. So Balaam struck the
donkey with his staff to turn her back onto the road. 24Then the Angel of God stood in a
narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25Now
when the donkey saw the Angel of God, she pushed herself against the wall, and crushed
Balaam's foot; so he struck her again. 26Then the Angel of God went and stood in a narrow
place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27So when the
donkey saw the Angel of God, she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam became angry, and
struck the donkey with his staff. † 28Then God opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said
to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you struck me this third time?”

 29Balaam then said to the donkey, “Because you abused me. I wish there were a sword in

my hand, for now I would kill you!” 30So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey,
on which you rode from your youth to this very day? Did I ever show such utter disregard for
you?” He replied, “No.”

  31Then God opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way

with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed and worshiped. 32The Angel of God then
said to him, “Why did you strike your donkey a third time? Behold, I came out as your
adversary, because your way was not acceptable before Me. 33So when the donkey saw Me,
she turned aside from Me this third time. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would
have killed you by now, and let her live.” 34Then Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I
sinned, for I did not know You met me as an adversary on the road. Now therefore, if my way
is not acceptable to You, I will turn back.” 35The Angel of God then said to Balaam, “Go with
the men, but only the word I may speak to you, this you must be careful to speak.” So Balaam
went with the rulers of Balak.

                                                Balak Receives Balaam

 36Now when Balak heard Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of

Moab, which is on the borders of the Arnon, the boundaries of his territory. 37Then Balak
said to Balaam, “Did I not earnestly send to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am
I not actually able to honor you?” 38Balaam then said to Balak, “Look, I did come to you.
Shall I now be able to say anything? Whatever word God may put in my mouth, this I must
speak.” 39So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to unwalled encampments. 40Then
Balak sacrificed sheep and young bulls, and he sent some to Balaam and to the rulers with
him.

                                                Balaam's First Prophecy

  41When morning came, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the pillar of Baal; and he
showed him part of the people from there.


23 Now  Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare for me here
   seven young bulls and seven rams.” 2So Balak did just as Balaam had spoken, and he
offered a young bull and a ram on each altar. 3Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stand alongside
your sacrifice, and I will go; perhaps God will reveal Himself to me in a meeting, and I will
tell you whatever word He shows me.” So Balak stood alongside his sacrifice, and Balaam
went on a direct road to inquire of God. 4Thus God revealed Himself to Balaam, and Balaam
said to Him, “I prepared seven altars, and offered on each altar a young bull and a ram.”
5Then God put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall

speak.”† 6So he returned to him, and there he was, standing alongside his burnt offerings, he
and all the rulers of Moab with him. 7Then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up
his parable and said:

    “Balak the king of Moab sum m oned m e from Mesopotam ia,

    From the m ountains of the east, say ing,

    Com e, curse Jacob for m e, and com e,

    Call down a curse upon Israel. †
    8
         How shall I curse whom the Lord did not curse?

    Or how shall I call down a curse upon whom God did not curse?

    9
         For from the top of the m ountains I see him ,

    And from the hills I env ision him .

    Behold, the people shall dwell alone,

    And they shall not be reckoned am ong the nations.

    10
         Who can exam ine accurately the seed of Jacob,

    And num ber the tribes of Israel?

    May m y soul die with the souls of the righteous,

    And m ay m y seed be as their seed.” †

  11But Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I summoned you to curse my

enemies, and look, you have blessed them bountifully.” 12Then Balaam said to Balak, “Should
I not be careful to speak whatever God may put into my mouth?”

                                                    Balaam's Second Prophecy

  13So Balak said to him, “Yet come with me to another place, from which vantage points you
may not see him. You will see only a part, but not all, of him; then curse him for me from
there.” 14Then he took him along to a lookout point over the land, upon the summit of a
hewn rock, and built seven altars there; and he offered a young bull and a ram on each altar.
15Balaam then said to Balak, “Stand alongside your sacrifice, while I go and enquire of God.”
16Then God met Balaam and put a word in his mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and thus

you shall speak.” 17So he returned to him, and there he was, standing alongside his whole
burnt offering, and all the rulers of Moab were with him. Balak then said to him, “What did
the Lord say?” 18Then he took up his parable and said:

    “Rise up, Balak, and hear.

    Giv e ear as a witness, son of Zippor.

    19
         God is not like a m an, to be deceiv ed,

    Nor like a son of m an, to be threatened.

    Would He, hav ing spoken, not act?

    Or shall He speak, and not stand by it?

    20
         Behold, I receiv e to bless,

    And I shall bless, and not rev erse it.

    21
         There shall be no trouble in Jacob,
    Nor shall distress be seen in Israel,

    For the Lord his God is with him ,

    And the glorious acts of rulers are in him .

    22
         God brings them out of Egy pt,

    Like the glory of the unicorn for him .

    23
         For there is no portent in Jacob,

    Nor any div ination in Israel.

    In due tim e it will be told to Jacob

    And Israel what God will accom plish.

    24
         Behold, a people like a lion's cub will rise up

    And will exult like a lion.

    It shall not lie down until it eats the prey

    And drinks the blood of the slain.”

  25Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse him with curses for me, nor actually bless

him.” 26So Balaam answered and said to Balak, “Did I not tell you, saying, ‘The word God
may speak, that I shall do’?”

                                                     Balaam's Third Prophecy

 27Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, I will take you along to another place, if it will please

God to curse him for me from there.” 28So Balak took Balaam along to the top of Peor, which
extends into the desert. 29Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and
prepare for me here seven young bulls and seven rams.” 30So Balak did as Balaam told him,
and he offered a bull and a ram on each altar.


24 Now  when Balaam saw it was good before the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as he
   was accustomed to do, to seek and find omens; but he turned and set his face toward
the desert. 2Then Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes;
and the Spirit of God came upon him.† 3Then he took up his parable and said:

    “Balaam the son of Beor declares;

    The m an who truly sees declares;

    4
        The one who hears the say ings of God declares;

    The one who saw the v ision of God in a dream ,

    A rev elation seen by him :
    5
        How beautiful are y our dwellings, O Jacob,

    Your tents, O Israel.

    6
         Like wooded v alley s offering shade,

    And like gardens by the riv ers,

    Like tents the Lord pitched,

    Like cedars beside the waters.

    7
        A Man shall com e forth from his seed,

    And He shall rule m any nations;

    And His kingdom shall be m ore exalted than Gog,

    And His kingdom shall increase. †

    8
         God led Him out of Egy pt,

    And He has the glorious appearance of a unicorn.

    He shall consum e the nations of his enem ies

    And depriv e them of their strength.

    He shall shoot the enem y with His m issiles.

    9
         He lies down and rests like a lion,

    And like a lion's cub, who shall rouse Him ?

    Those who bless You are blessed,

    And those who curse You are cursed.” †

  10Then Balak was angry with Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to
Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemy, and look, you actually blessed him for a third
time. 11Now therefore, flee to your place. I said I would honor you, but in fact, the Lord
deprived you of glory.” 12So Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also tell your messengers whom
you sent to me, saying, 13‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could
not go beyond the Lord's word, to do good or evil of my own will. Whatever the Lord may say,
this I shall speak’? 14So now, indeed, I am going to my place. Come, I will counsel you as to
what this people will do to your people in the latter days.”

                                                 Balaam's Fourth Prophecy

  15So he took up his parable and said:

    “Balaam the son of Beor declares;

    The m an who truly sees declares;

    16
         The one who hears the say ings of God declares;
    And the one who knows the knowledge of the Most High,

    And who saw the v ision of God in a dream , a rev elation seen by him :

    17
         I will show Him , but not now;

    I bless Him , but He is not near.

    A Star shall rise out of Jacob;

    And a Man shall rise out of Israel.

    He shall break in pieces the rulers of Moab

    And plunder all the sons of Seth. †

    18
         Edom shall be His inheritance,

    And also His enem y shall be His inheritance;

    But Israel acts with strength.

    19
         He shall rise up out of Jacob,

    And destroy the surv iv ors of the city .”

  20Then seeing Amalek, he took up his parable and said:

    “Am alek was first of the nations,

    But their seed shall perish.”

  21Then seeing the Kenites, he took up his parable and said:

    “Your dwelling is strong;

    And if y ou should put y our nest in a rock,

    22
         And becom e dwellings of craftiness for Beor,

    Nev ertheless the Assy rians shall take y ou captiv e.”

  23Then seeing Og, he took up his parable and said:

    “Oh! Oh! Who shall liv e whenev er God m ay bring these things to pass?

    24
         Now these things shall com e to pass from the hand of the Kittians,

    And they shall also m altreat Asshur and the Hebrews,

    But they them selv es with one accord shall perish.”

  25So Balaam rose and departed and returned to his place; Balak also went to his own

place.†

                                                         Israel's Sin at Moab


25 Now  Israel remained in Sattin, and the people were defiled by committing fornication
   with the daughters of Moab.† 2They invited them to the sacrifices of their idols; and
the people ate their sacrifices and worshiped their idols. 3So Israel consecrated themselves to
Baal of Peor; and the Lord was very angry with Israel. 4Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take all
the rulers of the people and make a public example of them for the Lord, that the anger of the
Lord's wrath may be turned away from Israel.” 5So Moses said to the tribes of Israel, “Each
one of you kill any member of his household who was consecrated to Baal of Peor.”

  6Now behold, a man of the children of Israel came and brought his brother to a Midianite
woman in the sight of Moses and all the congregation of the children of Israel; and they were
weeping at the door of the tabernacle of testimony. 7Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar,
the son of Aaron the priest, saw this, he rose from among the congregation; and taking a
spear in his hand,† 8he went after the man of Israel into the chambers and thrust both of
them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her womb. So the plague was
stopped among the children of Israel. 9But those who died in the plague were twenty-four
thousand.

  10Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 11“Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron
the priest, stopped My wrath from among the children of Israel when he was zealous with My
zeal among them. So I did not utterly destroy the children of Israel in My zeal. 12Therefore
say, ‘Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; 13and there shall be to him and his seed
after him a covenant of an eternal priesthood; because he was zealous for his God and made
atonement for the children of Israel.’ ” 14Now the name of the man of Israel who was struck
down together with the Midianite woman was Zimri the son of Salu, the ruler of a house of a
Simeonite family. 15The name of the Midianite woman who was struck down was Cozbi the
daughter of Zur, the ruler of the nation of Ommoth, of the house of a Midianite family.

  16Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 17“Be at enmity with the Midianites and strike

them; 18for they themselves are at enmity with you in their deceit, inasmuch as they dealt
treacherously with you in the matter of Peor and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a
ruler of Midian, their sister, who was struck down in the day of the plague because of Peor.”

                               The Second Census of Israel


26 Now  it came to pass after the plague that the Lord spoke to Moses and Eleazar, the son
   of Aaron the priest, saying, 2“Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel
from twenty years old and above, by their fathers’ houses, all able to go to war in Israel.” 3So
Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the Araboth of Moab by the Jordan, across
from Jericho, saying, 4“Take a census from twenty years old and above, in the manner the
Lord commanded Moses.” Now the sons of Israel who came out of Egypt were:

  5Reuben the firstborn of Israel. The sons of Reuben were Enoch and the tribe of Enochites;

Pallu and the tribe of the Palluites; 6Hezron and the tribe of the Hezronites; Carmi and the
tribe of the Carmiites. 7These are the tribes of Reuben, and their census was forty-three
thousand seven hundred thirty. 8Now the son of Pallu was Eliab. 9The sons of Eliab were
Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These were the ones chosen by the congregation to form a
coalition against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, in their revolt against the Lord;
10and the earth opening its mouth swallowed them and Korah in the death of his company,

when fire devoured two hundred fifty men; and they became a sign. 11But the sons of Korah
did not die.

  12The sons of Simeon and the tribe of the sons of Simeon were: Nemuel and the tribe of
the Nemuelites; and Jamin and the tribe of the Jaminites; and Jachin and the tribe of the
Jachinites; 13and Zerah and the tribe of the Zerahites; and Shaul, the tribe of the Shaulites.
14These are the tribes of the Simeonites, and their census was twenty-two thousand two
hundred.

  15The sons of Judah were Er and Onan; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
16After these, Judah's sons according to their tribes were Shelah and the tribe of the
Shelahites; and Perez and the tribe of the Perezites; and Zerah and the tribe of the Zerahites.
17Now the sons of Perez were Hezron and the tribe of the Hezronites; and Hamul and the

tribe of the Hamulites. 18These are the tribes of Judah according to their census: seventy-six
thousand five hundred.

  19The sons of Issachar according to their tribes were: Tola and the tribe of the Tolaites; and

Puah and the tribe of the Puahites; 20and Jashub and the tribe of the Jashubites; and
Shimron and the tribe of the Shimronites. 21These are the tribes of Issachar from their
census: sixty-four thousand three hundred.

  22The sons of Zebulun according to their tribes were: Sered and the tribe of the Seredites;

and Elon and the tribe of the Elonites; and Jahleel and the tribe of the Jahleelites. 23These
are the tribes of Zebulun from their census: sixty thousand five hundred.
  24The sons of Gad according to their tribes were Zephon and the tribe of the Zephonites;

and Haggi and the tribe of the Haggiites; and Shuni and the tribe of the Shuniites; 25and Ozni
and the tribe of the Ozniites; and Addi and the tribe of the Addiites; 26and Arod and the tribe
of the Arodites; and Areli and the tribe of the Areliites. 27These are the tribes of the sons of
Gad from their census: forty thousand five hundred.

  28The sons of Asher according to their tribes were Jimna and the tribe of the Jimnaites;

Jesui and the tribe of the Jesuiites; and Beriah and the tribe of the Beriahites; 29and Heber
and the tribe of the Heberites; and Malchiel and the tribe of the Malchielites. 30Now the
name of Asher's daughter was Sara. 31These are the tribes of Asher from their census: fifty-
three thousand four hundred.

  32The sons of Joseph according to their tribes were Manasseh and Ephraim. 33The son of
Manasseh was Machir and the tribe of the Machirites; and Machir begot Gilead and by Gilead
the tribe of the Gileadites. 34Now these are the sons of Gilead: Jeezer and the tribe of the
Jeezerites; and Helek and the family of the Helekites; 35and Asriel and the tribe of the
Asrielites; and Shechem and the tribe of the Shechemites; 36and Shemida and the tribe of the
Shemi-daites; and Hepher and the tribe of the Hepherites. 37Now Zelophehad the son of
Hepher had no sons, but daughters; and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were
Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 38These are the tribes of Manasseh from their
census: fifty-two thousand seven hundred.

  39Now these are the sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah and the tribe of the Shuthelahites; and

Tahan and the tribe of the Tahanites. 40Now these are the sons of Shuthelah: Eran and the
tribe of the Eranites. 41These are the tribes of the of sons of Ephraim from their census:
thirty-two thousand five hundred. These tribes are the sons of Joseph according to their
tribes.

  42The sons of Benjamin according to their tribes were: Bela and the tribe of the Belaites;
and Ashbel and the tribe of the Ashbelites; and Ahiram and the family of the Ahiramites;
43and Shupham and the tribe of the Shuphamites. 44Now the sons of Bela were Ard and
Naaman: Ard and the tribe of the Ardites; and Naaman and the tribe of the Naamanites.
45These are the sons of Benjamin according to their tribes from their census: forty-five
thousand six hundred.

  46This is the son of Dan according to his tribe: Shuham and the tribe of the Shuha-mites.

This is the tribe of Dan according to Shuham's tribe. 47The entire tribe of the Shuhamites
from their census was sixty-four thousand four hundred.

  48The sons of Naphtali according to their tribes were: Jahzeel and the tribe of the

Jahzeelites; and Guni and the tribe of the Guniites; 49and Jezer and the tribe of the Jezerites;
and Shillem and the family of the Shillemites. 50These are the tribes of Naphtali from their
census: forty-five thousand four hundred.

  51This is the census of the sons of Israel: six hundred one thousand seven hundred thirty.

  52Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 53“To these the land shall be divided as an

inheritance based on the number of names. 54To a large tribe you shall give a larger
inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a smaller inheritance. Each shall be given its
inheritance based on its census. 55But the land shall be divided by lot; they shall inherit
according to the names of the tribes of their fathers. 56By allotment their inheritance shall be
divided between the larger and the smaller.”

  57Now the sons of Levi according to their tribes were: Gershon and the tribe of the
Gershonites; and Kohath and the tribe of the Kohathites; and Merari and the tribe of the
Merariites. 58These are the tribes of the sons of Levi: the tribe of the Libniites, the tribe of
the Hebronites, the tribe of the Korahites, and the tribe of the Mushites. Now Kohath begot
Amram. 59The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to
Levi in Egypt; and to Amram she bore Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam. 60To Aaron
were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 61But Nadab and Abihu died when they
offered strange fire before the Lord in the Sinai Desert. 62Now based on their census they
numbered twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and above; for a census was
not taken of them among the other sons of Israel, because there was no allotment given to
them among the sons of Israel.

  63This is the census of Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the sons of Israel in

Araboth of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. 64But among these, there was not a
man numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they took a census of the sons of Israel
in the Sinai Desert.† 65For the Lord said of them, “They shall surely die in the desert.” So
there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of
Nun.

                                    Laws of Inheritance


27 Now came the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of
   Machir, the son of Manasseh, from the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph; and these
were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2So they stood
before Moses, before Eleazar the priest, and before the rulers and all the congregation by the
door of the tabernacle of testimony, saying, 3“Our father died in the desert; but he was not in
the company of those who gathered together against the Lord, in company with Korah, but he
died in his own sin, and had no sons. 4Do not let the name of our father be wiped out from
among his tribe, because he had no son. Give us a possession among our father's brothers.”
5So Moses brought their case before the Lord.† 6Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 7“The
daughters of Zelophehad speak correctly; you shall surely give them a possession of
inheritance among their father's brothers, and assign the allotment of their father to them.
8Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, you

shall assign his inheritance to his daughter. 9But if he has no daughter, you shall give the
inheritance to his brother. 10But if he has no brothers, you shall give his inheritance to his
father's brother. 11But if his father has no brothers, you shall give his inheritance to the
relative closest to him in his tribe; and he shall inherit his possessions.’ ” So this shall be an
ordinance of judgment to the children of Israel, as the Lord ordered Moses.

                                  Joshua Succeeds Moses

  12Now the Lord said to Moses, “Go up into the mountain beyond the Jordan (this is Mount

Nebo), and see the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel for a possession.†
13Then you shall see it and be added to your people, even you, as Aaron your brother was

added on Mount Hor, 14because you transgressed My word in the Desert of Sin, when the
congregation was failing to sanctify Me, you did not sanctify Me before them.” (This was the
Water of Contention, at Kadesh in the Desert of Sin.)† 15Then Moses spoke to the Lord,
saying, 16“Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the
congregation,† 17who will go in and out before their face, and lead them out and bring them
in; then the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”†

  18Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man

who has the Spirit in himself, and put your hand on him;† 19and stand him before Eleazar the
priest and give orders to him before all the congregation, and give orders concerning him
before them. 20You shall then give some of your glory to him, that the children of Israel may
obey him. 21So he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, and they shall inquire before the Lord
for him by the judgment of the Urim. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall
come in, he and all the children of Israel in one accord, even all the congregation.” 22So
Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and taking Joshua, he stood him before Eleazar the
priest and before all the congregation. 23Then he put his hands on him and appointed him, as
the Lord commanded Moses.

                                       Daily Offerings

      Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,† 2“Command the children of Israel and say to
28 them, ‘My gifts, My presents, My burnt offerings, you shall take care to offer to Me as a
sweet aroma in My feasts.’† 3So you shall say to them, ‘These are My burnt offerings you
shall offer daily to the Lord: two unblemished male lambs in their first year, as a whole burnt
offering perpetually. 4The one male lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other male
lamb you shall offer in the evening; 5and you shall offer one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour
as a grain offering, mixed with one-fourth of a hin of oil. 6This shall be a perpetual whole
burnt offering, which came into being at Mount Sinai, as a sweet aroma to the Lord. 7Its
drink offering shall be one-fourth of a hin for each male lamb; in the holy place you shall
pour out the intoxicant as a drink offering to the Lord.

  8The second male lamb you shall offer toward evening; and you shall offer it according to
its grain offering and drink offering, as a sweet aroma to the Lord.

                                     Sabbath Offerings

  9‘Then on the Sabbath day you shall offer two unblemished male lambs in their first year,
and two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, with its drink
offering. 10This is the whole burnt offering for each and every Sabbath, in addition to the
regular whole burnt offering with its drink offering.
                                     Monthly Offerings

  11‘On the first of every month, you shall offer a whole burnt offering to the Lord: two
young bulls from the oxen, one ram, and seven unblemished male lambs in their first year,
12and a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for each young
bull, and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for the one
ram, 13and a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for each
male lamb, as a burnt offering of sweet aroma to the Lord. 14Their drink offering shall be half
a hin of wine for each young bull, one-third of a hin for the one ram, and one-fourth of a hin
for each male lamb. This is the whole burnt offering for the first of every month throughout
the months of each year. 15Also one young male of the goats as a sin offering to the Lord
shall be offered, in addition to the regular whole burnt offering with its drink offering.

                                      Paschal Offerings

   16‘Then on the fourteenth day of the first month is the Lord's Pascha. 17Then on the

fifteenth day of this month is a feast: unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; 18and
the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no service work. 19So you shall
offer whole burnt offerings: two young bulls from the oxen, one ram, and seven male lambs—
be sure they are unblemished—as burnt offerings to the Lord. 20Now you shall offer their
grain offering of fine flour, mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each bull, two-tenths
for the one ram, 21and one-tenth for each of the seven male lambs. 22You shall also offer one
young male goat as a sin offering, to make atonement for you. 23You shall offer these in
addition to the regular whole burnt offering of the morning, which is the perpetual whole
burnt offering. 24You shall make these offerings according to these directions each day for
seven days, as a gift and as a burnt offering for a sweet aroma to the Lord; and in addition to
the regular whole burnt offering you shall offer its drink offering. 25Then on the seventh day
you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no service work on it.

                                  Feast of Weeks Offerings

  26‘Then on the day of new grain, when you bring a new grain offering to the Lord at your

Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no service work. 27You shall
offer whole burnt offerings as a sweet aroma to the Lord: two young bulls from the oxen, one
ram, and seven unblemished male lambs in their first year, 28with their grain offering of fine
flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each bull, two-tenths for the one ram,
29and one-tenth for each of the seven male lambs; 30also one young male of the goats, to

make atonement for you. 31In addition to the regular whole burnt offering—be sure they are
unblemished—you shall offer to Me their grain offering with their drink offerings.

                                    Holy Convocations


29 ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy
   convocation. You shall do no service work. It shall be a signal day for you. 2You shall
offer a whole burnt offering as a sweet aroma to the Lord: one young bull from the oxen, one
ram, and seven unblemished male lambs in their first year, 3with their grain offering of fine
flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each young bull, two-tenths for the one
ram, 4and one-tenth for each of the seven male lambs, 5and one young male from the goats
as a sin offering to make atonement for you, 6in addition to the whole burnt offerings for the
first day of the month, with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and the regular whole
burnt offering, with their grain offerings and drink offerings, according to their
interpretation, as a sweet aroma to the Lord.

  7‘On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall

afflict your souls; and you shall not do any work. 8You shall offer whole burnt offerings,
burnt offerings as a sweet aroma to the Lord: one young bull from the oxen, one ram, and
seven male lambs in their first year—be sure they are unblemished, 9with their grain offering
of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each young bull, two-tenths for the
one ram, 10and one-tenth for each of the seven male lambs, 11and one young male from the
goats as a sin offering to make atonement for you, in addition to the sin offering of
atonement and the regular whole burnt offering, with its grain offering and drink offering,
according to the interpretation, as a burnt offering of sweet aroma to the Lord.

  12‘Then on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You

shall do no service work, and you shall keep a feast to the Lord seven days. 13You shall offer
whole burnt offerings, burnt offerings as a sweet aroma to the Lord.

  ‘On the first day offer thirteen young bulls from the oxen, two rams, and fourteen male
lambs in their first year—they shall be unblemished, 14with their grain offerings of fine flour
mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths for each of
the two rams, 15and one-tenth for each of the fourteen male lambs, 16and one young male
kid from the goats as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole burnt offering, with their
grain offerings and drink offerings.

 17‘On the second day you shall offer twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen unblemished

male lambs in their first year, 18with their grain offering and drink offering for the young
bulls, the rams, and the male lambs, according to their number, according to their
interpretation, 19and one young male from the goats as a sin offering, in addition to the
regular whole burnt offering, with their grain offerings and drink offerings.

  20‘On the third day you shall offer eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen unblemished male

lambs in their first year, 21with their grain offering and drink offering for the young bulls, the
rams, and the male lambs, according to their number, according to their interpretation, 22and
one young male from the goats as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole burnt
offering, with their grain offerings and drink offerings.

 23‘On the fourth day you shall offer ten young bulls, two rams, and fourteen unblemished

male lambs in their first year, 24with their grain offerings and drink offerings for the young
bulls, the rams, and the male lambs, according to their number, according to their
interpretation, 25and one young male from the goats as a sin offering, in addition to the
regular whole burnt offering, with their grain offerings and drink offerings.

 26‘On the fifth day you shall offer nine young bulls, two rams, and fourteen unblemished

male lambs in their first year, 27with their grain offerings and drink offerings for the young
bulls, the rams, and the male lambs, according to their number, according to their
interpretation; 28and one young male from the goats as a sin offering, in addition to the
regular whole burnt offering, with their grain offerings and drink offerings.

 29‘On the sixth day you shall offer eight young bulls, two rams, and fourteen unblemished

male lambs in their first year, 30with their grain offerings and drink offerings for the young
bulls, the rams, and the male lambs, according to their number, according to their
interpretation, 31and one young male from the goats as a sin offering, in addition to the
regular whole burnt offering, with their grain offerings and drink offerings.

  32‘On the seventh day you shall offer seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen unblemished
male lambs in their first year, 33with their grain offerings and drink offerings for the bulls,
the rams, and the male lambs, according to their number, according to their interpretation,
34and one young male from the goats as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole burnt
offering, with their grain offerings and drink offerings.

  35‘On the eighth day you shall have the final day of the festival. You shall do no service

work on it. 36You shall present whole burnt offerings, burnt offerings as a sweet aroma to the
Lord: one young bull, one ram, seven unblemished male lambs in their first year, 37with their
grain offerings and drink offerings for the bull, the ram, and the male lambs, according to
their number, according to their interpretation, 38and one young male from the goats as a sin
offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with their grain offerings and drink
offerings.

  39‘These you shall offer to the Lord at your appointed feasts, in addition to your vows and
voluntary offerings, as well as your whole burnt offerings, your grain offerings, your drink
offerings, and your peace offerings.’ ”

                                   Laws Concerning Vows


30 Now Moses told the children of Israel everything, as the Lord commanded Moses.†
  2Then Moses spoke to the rulers of the tribes of Israel, saying, “This is the word the Lord

commanded: 3If any man should vow a vow to the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul
with an obligation, he may not defile his word; he shall do everything that proceeds out of his
mouth. 4But if a woman should vow a vow to the Lord and bind herself with an obligation
while in her father's house in her youth, 5and her father should hear her vows and
obligations with which she bound her soul, and her father should pass over it in silence, then
all her vows and every obligation with which she bound her soul shall stand, and remain in
force for her. 6But if on the day her father should hear and disapprove all her vows and
obligations with which she bound her soul, then her vows shall not stand; therefore the Lord
will consider her blameless, because her father disapproved.

  7“But if she should actually be married, and she binds her soul with vows made by an

explicit statement of her own lips, 8and her husband should hear and pass over it in silence
the day he hears, then all her vows and obligations with which she bound her soul shall
stand. 9But if her husband should disapprove on the day he hears, then all her vows and
obligations with which she bound her soul shall not remain in force, because her husband
disapproved of her; therefore the Lord will consider her blameless. 10Also any vow of a
widow or a divorced woman, whatever she should vow concerning her soul, shall remain in
force for her. 11But if her vow should be made in her husband's house, or if her obligation
concerning her soul should be made with an oath, 12and her husband should hear and pass
over it in silence and not disapprove her, then all her vows shall stand, and every obligation
with which she bound her soul shall stand. 13But if her husband should cancel them on the
day he hears, then whatever proceeded from her lips concerning her vows or obligations
binding her soul, they shall not remain in force; for her husband canceled them; therefore the
Lord will consider her blameless. 14Every vow and binding oath to afflict her soul, her
husband shall establish, or her husband shall cancel. 15But if her husband should remain
silent for more than a single day, then he shall establish all her vows for her; and he shall
establish for her the obligations binding her, because he remained silent regarding her on the
day he heard them. 16But if he should cancel them the day after he heard them, then he shall
bear her guilt.” 17These are the ordinances the Lord commanded Moses between a husband
and his wife, and between a father and his daughter in her youth in her father's house.

                             The War against the Midianites

     Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Exact vengeance from the Midianites for the
31
     children of Israel. Afterward you shall be added to your people.” 3So Moses spoke to the
people, saying, “Arm some of your men to stand in battle array before the Lord against
Midian, to repay vengeance from the Lord on Midian. 4From all the tribes of Israel you shall
send a thousand from each tribe to stand in battle array.”

  5So from the thousands of Israel they counted a thousand from each tribe, twelve

thousand armed for the battle line. 6Then Moses sent them, a thousand from each tribe with
their army, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest with the holy vessels and the trumpets
for signaling in his hands. 7So they arrayed themselves in battle against Midian, as the Lord
commanded Moses, and they killed every male. 8They killed the kings of Midian, together
with their slain people: Evi, Zur, Rekem, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also
killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword, along with their slain people.† 9They also took
as plunder the women of Midian, with their households, their cattle, all their possessions;
and they plundered their army. 10They also set on fire all the cities where they dwelt and all
their unwalled villages. 11They took as well all their booty and spoils from man to cattle.
12Then they brought the captives, the spoils, and the booty to Moses, to Eleazar the priest,
and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, to the camp in the Araboth of Moab by
the Jordan, across from Jericho.

                                The Winning Army Returns

  13Then Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the rulers of the congregation went to meet them

outside the camp. 14But Moses was angry with the overseers of the army, with the captains
over thousands and rulers over hundreds, who were coming from the battle line of the war.
15So Moses said to them, “Why did you take every female alive? 16For on account of
Balaam's counsel, they were with the sons of Israel and caused them to depart from and
despise the Lord's word in the incident at Peor, when there was a plague among the
congregation of the Lord. 17Now therefore, kill every male among all the little ones, and every
woman who slept with a man. 18But keep alive for yourselves all the young girls who have
not slept with a man. 19But you remain outside the camp seven days, and everyone who
killed or touched someone killed, both you and your captives, shall be purified on the third
day and the seventh day. 20Purify every garment, everything made of leather, everything
woven of goats’ hair, and everything made of wood.”

  21Then Eleazar the priest said to the men in the army who came from the battle lines of

the war, “This is the ordinance of the law, which the Lord commanded Moses:† 22Besides the
gold, the silver, the brass, the iron, the lead, and the tin, 23everything that can pass through
fire shall be purified; otherwise, it shall be purified with the water of purification. Therefore
whatever cannot pass through the fire shall pass through the water. 24You shall also wash
your clothes on the seventh day and be clean, and afterward you may come into the camp.”

                                   Division of the Spoils

  25Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 26“Take the sum of the spoils of the captives,
from man to cattle, you and Eleazar the priest and the rulers of the families in the
congregation; 27and divide the spoils between the warriors who went out into the battle lines
and all the congregation. 28And levy a tribute for the Lord on the men of war who went out to
the battle lines, one soul of every five hundred men, and of the cattle, the oxen, the sheep,
and the goats. 29Then you shall take their tribute and give it to Eleazar the priest as a
firstfruits to the Lord. 30But from the children of Israel's half you shall take one of every fifty
of the men, the oxen, the sheep, the donkeys, and from all the cattle, and give them to the
Levites who keep charge in the tabernacle of the Lord.” 31So Moses and Eleazar the priest did
as the Lord commanded Moses.

  32The booty remaining from the plunder which the men of war took was six hundred

seventy-five thousand sheep, 33seventy-two thousand oxen, 34sixty-one thousand donkeys,
35and thirty-two thousand human souls, that is, the women who had not slept with a man.
36And the half, the portion for those who had gone out to war, was in number three hundred

thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep; 37and the Lord's tribute of the sheep was six
hundred seventy-five. 38The oxen were thirty-six thousand, of which the Lord's tribute was
seventy-two. 39The donkeys were thirty thousand five hundred, of which the Lord's tribute
was sixty-one. 40The human souls were sixteen thousand, of which the Lord's tribute was
thirty-two souls. 41So Moses gave the Lord's tribute, God's choice portion, to Eleazar the
priest, as the Lord commanded Moses. 42Then from the children of Israel's half, which
Moses divided from the men of war— 43that is, the half belonging to the congregation, was
three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep, 44thirty-six thousand oxen,
45thirty thousand five hundred donkeys, 46and sixteen thousand human souls— 47and from
the children of Israel's half Moses took one of every fifty, from men to cattle, and gave them
to the Levites who kept charge of the tabernacle of the Lord, in the manner the Lord
commanded Moses.

  48Then all those established in positions as commanders in the army, the captains over

thousands and rulers over hundreds, came near to Moses; 49and they said to Moses, “Your
servants took the sum of the men of war with us, and not a man of us is missing. 50Therefore
we have brought a gift to the Lord, what every man found of articles of gold: bracelets, rings,
armlets, and hair-clasps, to make atonement for us before the Lord.” 51So Moses and Eleazar
the priest took the gold from them, every crafted article. 52So every choice portion of gold
which they dedicated to the Lord, from the captains over thousands and rulers over hundreds,
was sixteen thousand seven hundred fifty shekels. 53(Now each of the men of war had taken
plunder for himself.) 54So Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the captains over
thousands and rulers over hundreds and brought these into the tabernacle of testimony, as a
memorial for the children of Israel before the Lord.

                           The Tribes East of the Jordan River


32 Now  the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle, and
   they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead; and they saw the place was a place
for cattle. 2So the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar
the priest, and to the rulers of the congregation, saying, 3“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah,
Heshbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo, and Beon, 4the country the Lord delivered over to the
children of Israel, is a land appropriate for feeding cattle; and your servants have cattle.”
5Therefore they said, “If we have found grace in your sight, let this land be given to your

servants as a possession. Do not make us cross over the Jordan.”† 6Then Moses said to the
sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben, “Your brothers go to war, and shall you sit here?
7Now why do you pervert the minds of the children of Israel from crossing over into the land

the Lord gives to them? 8Did not your fathers act in this way when I sent them away from
Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land? 9For they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and spied out
the land; and they turned aside the heart of the children of Israel so they would not enter the
land the Lord gave them. 10So the Lord was very angry that day, and swore an oath, saying,
11‘Surely these men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above and who
know good and evil, shall not see the land I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for they did
not follow after Me, 12except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who separated himself, and
Joshua the son of Nun; for they followed after the Lord.’ 13So the Lord was very angry with
Israel; and He made them wander in the desert forty years, until all the generation that did
evil before the Lord was utterly destroyed. 14Behold, You rose up in your fathers’ place, a
body of sinful men, to increase still more the fierce anger of the Lord against Israel. 15For
you will turn away from Him by again leaving Him in the desert, and you will act lawlessly
against this entire congregation.”

  16They came to Moses and said, “We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for

our children; 17but we will arm ourselves as the advance guard before the sons of Israel until
we bring them to their own place; and our children will dwell in the fortified cities because of
the land's inhabitants. 18Let us not return to our homes until each of the sons of Israel
should be distributed to his inheritance. 19Therefore, let us not inherit with them on the
other side of the Jordan and beyond, because we are receiving in full our portions on this
eastern side of the Jordan.”

  20Then Moses said to them, “If you do according to this word, if you arm yourselves before

the Lord for the war, 21and all your armed men cross over the Jordan before the Lord until
His enemy is destroyed before His face; 22and the land is subdued before the Lord, then
afterward you shall return, and be blameless before the Lord and before Israel; and this land
shall be your possession before the Lord. 23But if you should not do so, you shall be guilty
before the Lord; and you will know your sin when evils overtake you. 24So you shall build
cities for yourselves and for your children, and walled enclosures for your cattle, and do what
proceeded out of your mouth.” 25Then the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben spoke to
Moses, saying, “Your servants will do as our Lord commands. 26Our children, our wives, and
all our cattle will be there in the cities of Gilead; 27but your servants will cross over, all
armed and arrayed for battle before the Lord into the war, in the manner our lord says.”

  28So Moses appointed for them Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and rulers of

families in the tribes of Israel. 29Again Moses said to them, “If the sons of Gad and the sons
of Reuben cross over the Jordan with you, every man armed for war before the Lord, and you
subdue the land before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead as a possession.
30But if they do not cross over with you armed for war, you shall carry across their children,

their wives, and their cattle before you into the land of Canaan.” 31Then the sons of Gad and
the sons of Reuben answered, saying, “Whatever our Lord says to your servants, so we will
do. 32We will cross over armed before the Lord into the land of Canaan, but you shall give us
our possession on the other side of the Jordan.” 33So Moses gave to the sons of Gad, the sons
of Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of
the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land and its cities with its borders,
the cities of the surrounding country.

  34Then the sons of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35Shophan, and Jazer, which they

raised up, 36along with Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran, fortified cities and walled enclosures
for sheep. 37The sons of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kirjathaim, 38and Baal Meon,
encircled with walls, and Shibmah; and they named the cities they built after their names.
39Then the son of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead and took it, and destroyed the

Amorites dwelling in it. 40So Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh, and he dwelt
there. 41Also Jair the son of Manasseh went and took their farming villages, and named them
Havoth Jair. 42Then Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages, and he named them
Nobah, after his own name.

                          Israel's Journey from Egypt to Moab


33 Now  these are the stages in the journeys of the children of Israel who went out from
   the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.† 2So Moses
wrote their departures and the stages in their journeys by the word of the Lord.†

  3They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month;
on the day after Pascha, the children of Israel went out with a high hand before all the
Egyptians. 4But the Egyptians were burying from among themselves all who died, whom the
Lord struck down, every firstborn in the land of Egypt; and the Lord executed vengeance on
their gods. 5Then the children of Israel departed from Rameses and camped in Succoth.
6They departed from Succoth and camped in Etham, which is part of the desert. 7They
departed from Etham and camped at the mouth of Hahiroth, which is opposite Baal Zephon;
and they camped opposite Migdol. 8They departed opposite Hahiroth and passed through the
midst of the sea into the desert; and they went three days’ journey through the desert and
camped at Marah.† 9They departed from Marah and came to Elim. At Elim there were twelve
springs of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the water. 10They departed
from Elim and camped by the Red Sea. 11They departed from the Red Sea and camped in the
Desert of Sin. 12They departed from the Desert of Sin and camped at Dophkah. 13They
departed from Dophkah and camped at Alush. 14They departed from Alush and camped at
Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.†

  15They departed from Rephidim and camped in the Sinai Desert. 16They moved from the

Sinai Desert and camped at Graves of Lust. 17They departed from Graves of Lust and camped
at Hazeroth. 18They departed from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah. 19They departed from
Rithmah and camped at Rimmon Perez. 20They departed from Rimmon Perez and camped at
Libnah. 21They departed from Libnah and camped at Rissah. 22They departed from Rissah
and camped at Kehelathah. 23They departed from Kehelathah and camped at Shepher.
24They departed from Shepher and camped at Haradah. 25They departed from Haradah and

camped at Makheloth. 26They departed from Makheloth and camped at Tahath. 27They
departed from Tahath and camped at Terah. 28They departed from Terah and camped at
Mithkah. 29They departed from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah. 30They departed from
Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth. 31They departed from Moseroth and camped at Bene
Jaakan. 32They departed from Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Hagidgad. 33They departed
from Hor Hagidgad and camped at Jotbathah. 34They departed from Jotbathah and camped
at Abronah. 35They departed from Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber. 36They departed
from Ezion Geber and camped in the Desert of Sin; and they departed from the Desert of Sin
and camped in the Desert of Paran (this is Kadesh). 37They departed from Kadesh and
camped at Mount Hor, near the land of Edom.

  38Then Aaron the priest went up at the command of the Lord and died there, in the
fortieth year of the exodus of the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth
month, on the first day of the month. 39Aaron was one hundred and twenty-three years old
when he died on Mount Hor. 40Now this was the time when the Canaanite king of Arad (and
this man dwelt in the land of Canaan) heard the children of Israel were coming.

  41Then they departed from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah. 42They departed from

Zalmonah and camped at Punon. 43They departed from Punon and camped at Oboth. 44They
departed from Oboth and camped at Ije Abarim, at the borders of Moab. 45They departed
from Ije Abarim and camped at Dibon Gad. 46They departed from Dibon Gad and camped at
Almon Diblathaim. 47They departed from Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains
of Abarim, before Nebo. 48They departed from the mountains of Abarim and camped west of
Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho. 49They camped by the Jordan between Beth Jesimoth
as far as the Abel Acacia Grove, west of Moab.

                Instructions on Crossing the Jordan, Entering Canaan

  50Now the Lord spoke to Moses west of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho, saying,
51“Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘You are crossing over the Jordan into the

land of Canaan. 52Then you shall destroy all the inhabitants of the land before your face; and
you shall remove their high places, and as for all their molten idols, you shall destroy these;
and you shall remove all their pillars. 53You shall also destroy all the inhabitants of the land
and dwell in it, for I give you their land as an inheritance. 54Therefore you shall inherit their
land by lot among your tribes; to the larger you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the
smaller you shall give a smaller inheritance; there everyone's inheritance shall be whatever
falls to him by lot. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers. 55But if you do
not destroy the inhabitants of the land from before your face, it shall be that those whom you
let remain shall be thorns in your eyes and arrows in your sides; and they shall be at enmity
with you in the land where you dwell. 56Moreover, it shall be that I will do to you as I
thought to do to them.’ ”

                                The Boundaries of Canaan

       the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Command the children of Israel and say to
34 Now
   them, ‘You shall come into the land of Canaan, and it shall be your inheritance, the
land of Canaan with its borders.

  3‘Your southern border shall be from the Desert of Sin to the border of Edom; so your

southern border shall extend eastward to the end of the Salt Sea; 4and your borders shall go
around from the southern side of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Sin, and be on the
south of Kadesh Barnea; then it shall go on to Hazar Addar, and continue to Azmon; 5and the
border shall go around from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, and its termination shall be the
sea.

 6‘As for the western borders, you shall have the Great Sea for a border; this shall be your

western border.†

  7‘Now this shall be your northern border: from the Great Sea you shall measure your

border along the mountain range; 8and from the mountain range you shall measure your
border to Hamath; and its termination shall be the borders of Zedad; 9and the border shall
proceed to Ziphron, and its termination shall be Hazar Enan. This shall be your northern
border.

  10‘You shall measure your eastern borders from Hazar Enan to Shepham; 11and the
borders shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain; and the borders shall
go down to Bela behind the Sea of Chinnereth from the east; 12and the borders shall go down
along the Jordan, and its termination shall be the Salt Sea. This shall be your land with its
surrounding borders.’ ” 13Then Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, “This is the
land you shall inherit by lot, in the manner the Lord ordered Moses to give it to the nine
tribes and to the half-tribe of Manasseh. 14For the tribe of the sons of Reuben and the tribe
of the sons of Gad according to the houses of their fathers and the half-tribe of Manasseh
received their allotments. 15The two tribes and the half-tribe received their allotments
beyond the Jordan, opposite Jericho from the south towards the east.”

                               The Leaders Divide the Land

  16Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 17“These are the names of the men who shall
divide the land among you as an inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun.
18You shall take rulers, one from every tribe, to divide the land for the inheritance. 19Now
these are the names of the men: from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh;
20from the tribe of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud; 21from the tribe of Benjamin,

Elidad the son of Chislon; 22from the tribe of Dan a ruler, Bukki the son of Jogli; 23from the
sons of Joseph's tribe: a ruler from the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of
Ephod, 24a ruler from the tribe of the sons of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan; 25a
ruler from the tribe of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach; 26a ruler from the tribe of the
sons of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan; 27a ruler from the tribe of the sons of Asher,
Ahihud the son of Shelomi; 28a ruler from the tribe of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of
Ammihud.” 29These are the ones the Lord commanded to divide the inheritance among the
children of Israel in the land of Canaan.

                               Cities Assigned to the Levites

      Now the Lord spoke to Moses west of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho, saying,†
35    2“Order the children of Israel to give the Levites cities to dwell in from the allotment of

their possession, and to give the Levites the grazing lands around their cities. 3They shall
have cities to dwell in and grazing lands for their cattle and for all their four-footed animals.
4The grazing lands of the cities which you shall give the Levites shall extend from the walls of

the city outward two thousand cubits all around. 5So you shall measure outside the city: on
the east side two thousand cubits, on the south side two thousand cubits, on the west side
two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city in the middle of
this shall be for you, and the contiguous areas of the cities. 6You shall also give the Levites
six cities of refuge, which you will give them for a manslayer to flee there; and you shall also
give them forty-two cities in addition to these. 7So all the cities you shall give the Levites
shall be forty-eight, along with their grazing lands. 8Now concerning the cities you shall give
the Levites from the possession of the children of Israel: from the larger tribes you shall give
many cities, and from the smaller ones you shall give fewer. In proportion to its inheritance,
each tribe shall give from its inheritance some of its cities to the Levites.”

                                        Cities of Refuge

  9Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to

them, ‘You shall cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11and you shall separate cities for
yourselves to be cities of refuge, for any manslayer who kills someone involuntarily to flee
there. 12These shall be cities of refuge for you from the avenger of blood, that the manslayer
may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. 13So the cities you give
shall be six cities of refuge for you. 14You shall designate three cities beyond the Jordan and
three cities in the land of Canaan. 15These cities shall be places of refuge for the children of
Israel, and for the resident alien and the sojourner among you, that anyone who kills
someone involuntarily may flee there as a place of refuge. 16But if anyone should strike
someone with an iron tool, and that one dies, he is a murderer; so let the murderer be put to
death. 17Also if anyone should strike someone with a stone from his hand by which that one
could die, and that one does die, he is a murderer; so let the murderer be put to death. 18Or if
anyone should strike someone with a wooden tool by which that one could die, and that one
does die, he is a murderer; so let the murderer be put to death. 19The avenger of blood
himself shall kill the murderer; and whenever he meets him, he shall kill him. 20Or if anyone
should shove someone because of enmity, or should throw any tool at him from an ambush,
and that one dies, 21or if anyone should strike someone in anger with his hand, and that one
dies, let the one who killed him be put to death. He is a murderer. So let the murderer be put
to death. The avenger of blood shall kill the murderer when he meets him.

  22‘However, if anyone should shove someone unexpectedly, but not because of enmity, or

throw any tool at him, but not from an ambush, 23or is working with any stone by which that
one could die, and he threw it at him unknowingly, and that one dies, but he was not his
enemy, nor was he seeking to harm him, 24then the congregation shall judge between the
manslayer and the avenger of blood based on these judgments. 25So the congregation shall
deliver the manslayer from the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall return him to the
city of refuge where he fled; and he shall live there until the high priest whom they anointed
with the holy oil should die. 26But if the manslayer should go outside the boundaries of the
city where he fled, 27and the avenger of blood should find him outside the boundaries of his
city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he is not liable. 28So let him live
in his city of refuge until the high priest should die; then after the death of the high priest the
manslayer shall return to the land of his possession. 29So these things shall be ordinances of
judgment for you throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.

  30‘Whoever takes a life, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses;

but a single witness is not sufficient testimony for the death penalty. 31Moreover, you shall
accept no ransom for the life of a murderer subject to the death penalty, for he shall be put to
death. 32Also you shall accept no ransom from one who fled to one of the cities of refuge,
that he may again return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest. 33So you
shall not defile with murder the land in which you dwell; for blood defiles the land, and there
is no atonement for the land from the blood shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed
it. 34Therefore do not defile the land on which you dwell and on which I shall pitch My
tabernacle among you; for I am the Lord who tabernacles among the children of Israel.’ ”

                               Inheritance Laws for Women


36 Now the rulers from the tribe of the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of
   Manasseh, from the tribe of the sons of Joseph, came near and spoke before Moses
and Eleazar the priest and before the rulers of the paternal houses of the children of Israel.
2So they said, “The Lord commanded our lord to give the land of the inheritance by lot to the
sons of Israel, and the Lord ordered our lord to give the inheritance of our brother
Zelophehad to his daughters. 3Now if they should marry someone from the tribes of the sons
of Israel, their allotment would be taken from the possession of our fathers, and be added to
the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; so it would be taken from the portion of
our inheritance. 4But if the Remission of the children of Israel should come, their
inheritance would be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; and their
inheritance would be taken away from the inheritance of our father's tribe.”

  5Then Moses commanded the children of Israel through the ordinance of the Lord, saying,

“Thus speaks the tribe of the sons of Joseph. 6This is the word the Lord orders concerning
the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, ‘Let them marry whom they think best, but they may
marry only within their father's tribe.’ 7So the inheritance for the children of Israel shall not
go around from tribe to tribe, because each of the sons of Israel shall be attached to the
inheritance of his father's tribe. 8And every daughter who enters upon an inheritance in any
tribe of the children of Israel shall marry someone from her father's tribe, that each of the
sons of Israel may possess his paternal inheritance. 9Thus no inheritance shall go around
from one tribe to another, but each of the sons of Israel shall be attached to his own
inheritance.” 10So in the manner the Lord ordered Moses, the daughters of Zelophehad did;
11and Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, Noah, and Mahlah, the daughters of Zelophehad, married their

cousins. 12They were married into the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their
inheritance remained in the tribe of their father's family.

  13These are the commandments, the ordinances, and the judgments the Lord commanded
by the hand of Moses, west of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho.
                                         DE UT E RO NO M Y
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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 4
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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 5
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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 6
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 7
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 8
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 9
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 10
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 11
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 12
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 13
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 14
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 15
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 17
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 18
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 19
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 20
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 21
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 22
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 23
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 24
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 25
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 26
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 27
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 28
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 29
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 30
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 31
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 32
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 33
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Deuteronomy Chapter 34
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11, 12

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                                                 The Book of Deuteronomy

   Author   —Moses is the author, by the testimony of the book itself (1:5; 31:9, 22, 24) and
by the tradition and consensus of Israel and the Church.

   Date   —This book is dated near the end of Moses’ life, before the entrance into Canaan.

   Major Theme      —Loving God with all our heart and strength (see 6:5). This is a call to
commitment to the Lord in worship and obedience. Moses’ second address (chs. 4–26)
is the heart of this message. Another emphasis that is first introduced in this book is
the specific location, Jerusalem, in which worship of the Lord is to take place. Moses
frequently repeats the theme of reward for keeping the covenant and punishment for
ignoring it.

   Background     —The book was written in the territory of Moab where the Jordan River flows
into the Dead Sea. The end of Moses’ life is imminent. He has given his final addresses,
transferred his authority to Joshua, and is sending the Israelites into the promised land.
Their nomadic lifestyle is about to end, and Moses has prepared them for life in Canaan.
The narrative of Moses to the people of Israel has a different tenor now; the Book of
Deuteronomy, which means the “second lawgiving,” comes from Moses’ heart in a
warm, personal, homiletic form as compared to his other books.

Outline

 I. Introduction (1 :1 –5)

II. The First Address (1 :6 –4 :4 9 )

        A. Historical prologue (1 :6 –3 :2 9 )

        B. A call to obedience (4 :1 –4 0)

        C. Transjordan cities of refuge appointed (4 :4 1 –4 9 )

III. The Second Address (5:1 –2 6 :1 9 )

        A. The stipulations of the cov enant (5:1 –3 3 )

        B. Posterity to be instructed in the Horeb rev elation (6 :1 –2 5)

        C. Exhortations to fidelity and obedience (7 :1 –1 1 :3 2 )

        D. Statutes gov erning worship and holiness (1 2 :1 –1 4 :2 9 )

        E. Laws relating to specific dom estic, m oral, and religious situations (1 5:1 –2 6 :1 5)

        F. Concluding exhortation (2 6 :1 6 –1 9 )
 IV. The Third Address (2 7 :1 –3 1 :8)

         A. The law inscribed and obedience com m anded (2 7 :1 –1 0)

         B. Curses (2 7 :1 1 –2 6 )

         C. Blessings (2 8:1 –1 4 )

         D. Solem n curses (2 8:1 5–6 8)

         E. Stipulations (2 8:6 9 –3 1 :8)

  V. Leadership Succession under the Cov enant (3 1 :9 –3 4 :1 2 )

         A. Change of leadership (3 1 :9 –2 9 )

         B. Song of Moses (3 1 :3 0–3 2 :52 )

         C. Moses’ testam ental blessing on the tribes (3 3 :1 –2 9 )

         D. Death of Moses and succession of Joshua (3 4 :1 –1 2 )



                                                         Moses’ Instructions


1 Now  these are the words Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the desert, in the
  plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.† 2It is eleven
days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea.

  3Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the
month, Moses spoke to the sons of Israel according to all the Lord gave him as
commandments to them,† 4after he killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon,
and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei. 5Beyond the Jordan in the land of
Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying,† 6“The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb,
saying, ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain. 7Turn and take your journey and go to
the mountain of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the Arabah, in the mountains
and in the plain, to the south and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites, and to
Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates. 8Behold, I am delivering the land in
your presence; go in and inherit the land I swore to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob—to give it to them and their seed after them.’

                                                           Judges Appointed

 9“So I spoke to you at that time, saying, ‘I alone am not able to bear you. 10The Lord your

God multiplied you, and here you are today, as the stars of heaven in multitude. 11May the
Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times more numerous than you are, and bless
you, just as He said. 12How can I alone bear your labors, your burdens, and your lawsuits?
13Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will

make them leaders over you.’†

  14“Then you answered me and said, ‘The thing you told us to do is good.’ 15So I took from
you wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men and made them leaders over you: leaders
of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens; judges to interpret the law for you.

  16“Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your
brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the resident alien with
him.† 17You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall judge the small and the great;
you shall not shrink before any man's presence, for the judgment is God's. The case too hard
for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.’ 18So I commanded you at that time all the words you
should do.

                                        Spies Sent Out

  19“So we departed from Horeb, and went through all that great and fearful desert you saw
on the way to the mountains of the Amorite, as the Lord our God commanded us. Then we
came to Kadesh Barnea. 20Then I said to you, ‘You have come to the mountains of the
Amorite, which the Lord our God is giving us. 21Behold, the Lord your God is delivering the
land to you in your presence; go up and take it as an inheritance, in the manner the Lord God
of your fathers spoke to you; do not fear or be afraid.’ 22Then every one of you came near me
and said, ‘Let us send men before us, and let them spy out the land for us and report back to
us the way we should go up in it, and the cities into which we should come.’

  23“The plan pleased me well; so I took twelve of your men, one man from each tribe.
24Then they departed and went up into the mountain, and came to the Valley of Eshcol, and

surveyed it. 25They also took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down
to us; and said, ‘The land the Lord our God gives us is good.’

  26“Nevertheless you would not go up, but disobeyed the word of the Lord your God;†
27and you murmured in your tents, and said, ‘Because the Lord hates us, He brought us out

of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us. 28Where can
we go up? Our brethren caused our heart to revolt, saying, “The people are great and tall and
stronger than we; and the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover, we saw the
sons of giants there.” ’

  29“Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified or afraid of them.† 30The Lord your God, who
goes before your face, He will fight them with you in all things, as He did for you in Egypt
31and in this desert, where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his

son, in all the way you went until you came to this place.’ 32Yet, in all this matter, you did not
believe the Lord your God, 33who went in the way before you to choose a place for you,
leading you with the fire by night and the cloud by day and showing you the road, that you
might travel it.

                               Israel's Rebellion Is Punished

  34“So the Lord heard the sound of your words and was provoked to wrath, and took an

oath, saying, 35‘Not one of these men shall see this good land I swore to give their fathers
36except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he will see it, and to him and his sons I give the land

on which he walked, because he is attached to the things of the Lord.’ 37The Lord was also
angry with me for your sakes, saying, ‘Even you shall not enter there. 38Joshua the son of
Nun, who stands before you, he will enter there. Encourage him, for he will cause Israel to
inherit it. 39Thus every young child who today has no knowledge of good or evil, they will
enter there; to them I will give it, and they will have it as an inheritance. 40But as for you,
turn and camp in the desert road towards the Red Sea.’

  41“Then you answered and said to me, ‘We sinned before the Lord our God; we will go up
and fight, just as the Lord our God commanded us.’ So when every one of you girded on his
weapons of war and assembled together, you went up into the mountain.†

  42“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Tell them, “Do not go up or fight, for I am not with you; lest

you be crushed before your enemies.” ’ 43So I spoke to you; yet you would not listen, but
transgressed the word of the Lord and presumptuously went up into the mountain. 44Then
the Amorite who dwelt in that mountain came out against you, and chased you as bees do,
and wounded you from Seir to Hormah. 45Then you sat down and wept before the Lord, but
the Lord would not listen to your voice nor pay attention to you. 46So you encamped in
Kadesh many days, according to the days you spent there.
                                  The Years in the Desert


2 “So we turned and journeyed on the desert road along the Red Sea, as the Lord spoke to
  me, and we encircled Mount Seir for many days. 2Then the Lord spoke to me, saying,
3‘Let your encircling of this mountain be sufficient; therefore, turn northward. 4Also
command the people, saying, “You are about to pass through the boundaries of your brethren,
the sons of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you and will be in exceeding
dread of you.† 5Do not engage them in war, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so
much as one footstep, because I gave Mount Seir to the sons of Esau as an inheritance. 6You
shall buy food from them with money, that you may eat; and you shall also buy water by the
measure from them with money, that you may drink. 7For the Lord your God blessed you in
all the work of your hands. Consider how you crossed that great and fearful desert. Behold,
these forty years the Lord your God was with you, and you lacked nothing.” ’†

  8“Then we passed beyond our brethren the sons of Esau, who dwell in Seir, along the road
of the Arabah from Elath and Ezion Geber; and we turned and passed along the desert road
toward Moab. 9Then the Lord said to me, ‘Do not be at enmity with Moab, or wage war with
them, for I will not give you any of their land as an inheritance, because I gave Ar to the sons
of Lot to inherit.’ ” 10(The Emim dwelt there in times past, a people as great and numerous
and strong as the Anakim. 11They were also regarded as Raphain, like the Anakim, but the
Moabites call them Emim. 12The Horite formerly dwelt in Seir, but the sons of Esau rooted
them out and destroyed them from before their face, and dwelt in their place, in the manner
Israel did in the land of their inheritance, which the Lord gave them.) 13“ ‘Now rise, break
camp and cross over the Valley of Zered.’ So we crossed over the Valley of Zered. 14So the
days we took to come from Kadesh Barnea until we crossed over the Valley of Zered were
thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war died out of the camp, as the Lord
swore to them. 15For the hand of the Lord was on them, to destroy them out of the camp
until they were consumed.

  16“So it was, when all the men of war died from the midst of the people, 17then the Lord

spoke to me, saying, 18‘Today you shall pass by the borders of Moab at Seir, 19and you shall
draw near the sons of Ammon, but do not be at enmity with them or wage war with them, for
I will not give you any land of the sons of Ammon as an inheritance, because I gave it to the
sons of Lot as an inheritance.’ ” 20(Formerly, it was also regarded as the land of the Raphain,
for the Raphain dwelt upon it. But the Ammonites call them Zamzummim, 21a people great
and numerous and stronger than you, just as the Anakim. But the Lord destroyed them
before their face; and they dispossessed them and dwelt in their place to this day; 22just as
they did for the sons of Esau, who dwelt in Seir, when they destroyed the Horites from before
their face. They dispossessed them and dwelt in their place to this day. 23Also the Avim, who
dwelt in villages as far as Gaza—the Cappadocians, who came from Cappadocia, destroyed
them and dwelt in their place.)

  24“ ‘Now therefore, rise, break camp, and travel along the Arnon Valley. Behold, I give into
your hands Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Enter your inheritance and
engage him in war. 25On this day, begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the face of all
nations under heaven, who when they hear the report of you, they will tremble and be in
anguish because of your presence.’

                            Israel Victorious over King Sihon

  26“So I sent ambassadors from the Kedemoth Desert to Sihon king of Heshbon with words

of peace, saying, 27‘Let me pass through your land; I will keep strictly to the road, and I will
turn neither to the right nor to the left. 28You shall sell me food for money so I may eat, and
sell me water for money so I may drink; only let me pass through on foot, 29just as the sons
of Esau, who dwell in Seir, and the Moabites, who dwell in Ar, did for me, until I cross the
Jordan to the land the Lord our God is giving us.’ 30But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let
us pass through, for the Lord our God hardened his spirit and made his heart stubborn, that
He might deliver him into your hands, as on this day. 31Then the Lord said to me, ‘Behold, I
have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to inherit his land.’ 32So Sihon and
all his people came out to engage us in war at Jahaz. 33But the Lord our God delivered him
over to us; so we defeated him, his sons, and all his people. 34We conquered all his cities at
that time, and we utterly destroyed every city, one after the other, and we did not leave their
women and children alive. 35We took only the cattle as plunder for ourselves, along with the
spoil of the cities. 36From Aroer on the bank of the Arnon River, and from the city in the
ravine, as far as the mountain of Gilead, there was not one city that escaped us; the Lord our
God delivered them all into our hands. 37Only we did not go into the land of the sons of
Ammon—anywhere along the Jabbok River, or to the cities of the mountains, as the Lord our
God commanded us.
                                   Israel Defeats King Og


3 “Then  we turned and went up the road to Bashan; and Og king of Bashan came out against
  us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 2And the Lord said to me, ‘Do not fear him, for
I delivered him and all his people and all his land into your hands; you shall do to him as you
did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.’ 3So the Lord our God delivered Og
king of Bashan into our hands and all his people, and we struck him until none of his seed
remained. 4Also at that time we conquered all his cities; there was not a city we did not take
from them: sixty cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 5All these cities
were fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, besides a great many cities of the Perizzites.
6We utterly destroyed them, as we did Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every city,

one after the other, and the women and children. 7But all the cattle and spoil of the cities we
took as booty for ourselves.

  8“At that time we also took the land from the hands of the two kings of the Amorites

beyond the Jordan, from the Arnon River to Mount Hermon 9(the Sidonians call Hermon
Sirion, and the Amorite calls it Senir); 10all the cities of the plain, all Gilead, and all Bashan,
as far as Salcah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 11For only Og king of
Bashan remained of the Rephaim. Indeed his bedstead was an iron bedstead. Behold, it is in
the citadel of the sons of Ammon. Nine cubits is its length and four cubits its width,
measured by the forearm of a man.

                                 The Tribes East of Jordan

 12“So we inherited this land at that time, from Aroer, by the Arnon River, and half the

mountain of Gilead; and I gave his cities to Reuben and Gad. 13The rest of Gilead and all
Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to half the tribe of Manasseh. (All the region of Argob, all
that Bashan, will be reckoned as the land of the Rephaim. 14Jair the son of Manasseh took all
the region of Argob, as far as the borders of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and called
Bashan after his own name, Havoth Jair, to this day.)

  15“Also I gave Gilead to Machir. 16Now to Reuben and Gad I gave from Gilead as far as the
Arnon River, the middle of the river as the border, and as far as the Jabbok River, the border
of the sons of Ammon; 17and the Arabah and the Jordan are the border stretching from
Machanarath down to the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, to Pisgah in the east.
  18“Then I commanded you at that time, saying, ‘The Lord your God gave you this land as
an inheritance. All you men of valor shall cross over armed before your brethren, the sons of
Israel. 19But your wives, your children, and your cattle (I know you have much cattle) will
stay in the cities I gave you, 20until the Lord your God gives rest to your brethren as to you,
and they also inherit the land the Lord our God is giving them beyond the Jordan. Then each
may return to the inheritance I gave you.’

                              Moses Cannot Enter the Land

  21“Then I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, ‘Your eyes saw all the Lord our God did
to these two kings; so will the Lord our God do to all the kingdoms through which you pass.
22You must not fear them, for the Lord our God Himself fights for you.’ 23Then I pleaded

with the Lord at that time, saying, 24‘O Lord, O Lord, You have begun to show Your servant
Your strength and power and Your mighty hand and outstretched arm, for what god is there
in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds? 25Let me
cross over and see this good land, this good mountain, and Antilebanon.’

  26“But the Lord disregarded me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the Lord

said to me, ‘Enough of that. Speak no more to Me of this matter. 27Go up to the top of the
stony mountain and lift your eyes toward the sea, the north wind, the south wind, and the
sunrise; behold it with your eyes, for you will not cross over this Jordan. 28But command
Joshua, strengthen him and encourage him; for he will go over before this people, and he will
cause them to inherit the land you see.’† 29So we stayed in the valley opposite Beth Peor.

                               Moses Urges Israel to Obey


4 “Now, O Israel, listen to the ordinances and judgments I teach you today to observe, that
  you may live and become numerous and inherit the land the Lord God of your fathers is
giving you. 2You shall not add to the word I command you, nor take from it, that you may
keep the commandments of the Lord your God, all that I command you today.† 3Your eyes
saw all the things the Lord our God did at Baal Peor; for the Lord your God destroyed from
among you all the men who followed Baal of Peor. 4But you who held fast to the Lord your
God are alive today, every one of you.

  5“Surely I taught you ordinances and judgments, as the Lord commanded me, that you
should act according to them in the land you go to inherit.† 6Therefore be careful to observe
them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the Gentiles, who will
hear all these ordinances and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding
people.’† 7For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to
us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?†

  8“Also, what great nation is there that has such ordinances and righteous judgments as are

in all this law I set before you today? 9Only take heed to yourself and diligently guard your
soul, lest you forget all the things your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the
days of your life; and you shall teach them to your sons and the sons of your sons,†
10especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb on the day of
assembly, when the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me and let them hear My words,
so they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and may teach their sons.’
11Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with

fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, gloom, storm, and a great voice. 12The Lord spoke
to you from the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you
only heard a voice.† 13So He declared to you His covenant, the Ten Commandments, which
He commanded you to perform; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.†

                                       Avoid Idolatry

  14“Then the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you ordinances and judgments, so

you might observe them in the land you are crossing over to inherit. 15So be careful to guard
your souls, for you saw no form when the Lord spoke to you at Horeb on the mountain from
the midst of the fire. 16Do not act lawlessly and make for yourselves a carved form of any
image: the likeness of male or female, 17the likeness of any cattle on the earth, or the
likeness of any winged bird that flies under heaven, 18the likeness of anything that creeps on
the ground, or the likeness of any fish in the waters beneath the earth.

  19“Also do not act lawlessly when you lift your eyes to heaven and see the sun, the moon,
and the stars, all the adornment of heaven, and you thus go astray and worship and serve
them, which the Lord your God assigned to all the nations under heaven.† 20But the Lord
took you and brought you out of the iron furnace, from Egypt, to be His people, an
inheritance, as you are this day. 21Furthermore, the Lord was angry with me about what you
said, and swore I would not cross over the Jordan and enter the land the Lord your God is
giving you as an inheritance. 22But I am going to die in this land, thus I am not going to cross
over this Jordan; but you will cross over and inherit this good land. 23Take heed to
yourselves, lest you forget the covenant the Lord your God made with you and make for
yourselves a carved form of anything, concerning which the Lord your God forbade you.
24For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.†

  25“If you beget sons and the sons of sons and dwell a long time in the land, and act
lawlessly and make a carved form of anything, and do evil in the sight of the Lord your God to
provoke Him to anger, 26I call heaven and earth to witness to you today that you will be
utterly destroyed from the land you are crossing over the Jordan to inherit. You will not live
long on it, but will be utterly annihilated.† 27Then the Lord will scatter you among all the
nations, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will bring you.
28There you will serve different gods, the works of men's hands, wood and stone, which

neither see, hear, eat, nor smell. 29But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you
will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul in your
tribulation; 30and all these words will find you at the end of days, when you turn to the Lord
your God and obey His voice; 31for the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not forsake
you nor annihilate you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers, which He swore to them.

  32“For ask now concerning former days, before your day, in which God created man on the
earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other whether any great thing like this has
happened, or anything like it has been heard. 33Did any people ever hear the voice of the
living God speaking from the midst of the fire, in the manner you heard, and live? 34Or did
God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, in testing,
signs, wonders, and war, and by a mighty hand and outstretched arm, and by great visions,
according to all the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35To you it was
shown that you might know the Lord your God is God; there is none other besides Him.†
36Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; and on earth He

showed you His great fire, and you heard His words from the midst of the fire. 37Because He
loved your fathers, therefore, He chose you their seed after them; and He brought you out of
Egypt with His great strength, 38destroying from before your face nations greater and
mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land as an inheritance, as you have it
today. 39Therefore know today and bear in mind, the Lord your God, this God, is in heaven
above and on the earth beneath; there is no other besides Him.† 40You shall therefore guard
His ordinances and His commandments I command you today that it may be well with you
and with your sons after you, and may prolong your days in the land the Lord your God is
giving you to guard all the time.”

                                      Cities of Refuge

  41Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan, toward the rising of the sun, 42so
the manslayer who kills his neighbor without foreknowledge, without hating him previously,
might flee into one of these cities and live there: 43Bezer in the desert on the plateau for
Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead for Gad, and Golan in Bashan for Manasseh.

                                     The Law of Moses

  44Now this is the law Moses set before the sons of Israel. 45These are the testimonies, the
ordinances, and the judgments Moses spoke to the sons of Israel in the desert after they
came out of Egypt, 46beyond the Jordan, in the valley near Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon
king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel defeated
after they came out of Egypt. 47So they inherited his land and the land of Og king of Bashan,
two kings of the Amorites, beyond the Jordan toward the rising of the sun, 48from Aroer,
which is on the bank of the Arnon River, even to Mount Sion (that is, Hermon), 49and all the
Arabah beyond the Jordan toward the rising of the sun, below Asedoth hewn in the rock.

                                 The Ten Commandments


5 Now  Moses called all Israel, and said to them, “Hear, O Israel, the ordinances and the
  judgments I speak in your hearing on this day, and you shall learn them and be careful to
do them. 2The Lord our God made a covenant with you in Horeb. 3The Lord did not make
this covenant with your fathers, but with you, all of you alive here today. 4The Lord spoke to
you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire. 5I stood between the Lord and
you at that time to declare to you the words of the Lord; for you were afraid because of the
fire, and you did not go up the mountain. And He said,†

  6‘I am the Lord your God who brings you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of

bondage.† 7There shall be no different gods before My face. 8You shall not make for yourself
an image, neither any likeness of anything in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the
waters under the earth; 9you shall not bow down to them nor serve them, because I am the
Lord your God, a jealous God, repaying the sins of the fathers upon the children to the third
and fourth generation of those who hate Me,† 10but showing mercy to thousands who love
Me and keep My commandments.

  11‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not cleanse
him who takes His name in vain.

  12‘Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.† 13Six

days you shall labor and do all your works, 14but the seventh day is the Sabbath to the Lord
your God. In it you shall do no work—you, your son and your daughter, your male servant,
your female servant, your ox, your donkey, and all of your cattle, and your resident alien
dwelling among you; that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.
15Remember, you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you
out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore, the Lord your God
ordered you to guard the Sabbath day and to sanctify it.

  16‘Honor your father and mother in the manner the Lord your God commanded you, that it
may be well with you, and you may be a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

  17‘You shall not murder.

  18‘You shall not commit adultery.

  19‘You shall not steal.

                               T H E S A B B A T H D A Y,
                                S U N D A Y, A N D T H E
                                      EIGHTH DAY

                                   THE SABBATH DAY

When the Lord commanded the Hebrews, in the fourth of the Ten Commandments, to
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,” He also gave them the reason: “For in six days
the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them, and rested on the seventh
day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Ex 20:8, 11; cf. Gn 2:1–3).
When Moses restated the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy 5, he added another reason:
“Remember, you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out
from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore, the Lord your God
ordered you to guard the Sabbath day and to sanctify it” (5:15).

  The Hebrews were called to “remember” (Ex 20:8), to “keep” (Lv 19:3, 30), and to “hallow”
or “sanctify” (Jer 17:19–27; Ezk 20:19, 20; Neh 13:15–22) the Sabbath by resting from almost
every kind of work. God provided them this sacred time each week to help them contemplate
His awesome work in creation and their miraculous deliverance from Egypt. Stipulating the
faithful observance of the Sabbath was one of the main ways God ordained to reinforce the
people’s covenant with Him (Ex 31:12–17; cf. Lv 24:8). Originally, communal worship was not
linked with Sabbath observance; but with the development of the synagogue, probably during
the Hebrews’ exile in Babylon (sixth century BC), the Sabbath naturally became the day for
synagogue worship, as it is for the Jews today.

                           SUNDAY, THE DAY OF WORSHIP

  At first, early Jewish Christians continued to observe Sabbath regulations and to worship
on the Sabbath (Acts 13:13–15, 42–44; 18:1–4). But they also met for the celebration of the
Holy Eucharist on Sunday (Acts 20:7; 1Co 16:1–2), called “the Lord’s Day” (Rev 1:10), since
Jesus rose on a Sunday. St. Ignatius of Antioch, in about AD 107, confirms that Sunday was
the main day of worship for the early Church: “They have given up keeping the Sabbath, and
now order their lives by the Lord’s Day instead—the Day when life first dawned for us, thanks
to Him and His death.”

  St. Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, honored the Church’s practice of
celebrating the Lord’s Resurrection every Sunday by decreeing, in AD 321, that every Sunday
would be a holy day. For Orthodox Christians, Saturday is still the Sabbath, the day on which
the Church especially remembers the departed, since Christ rested in the tomb on Great and
Holy Saturday.

                              SUNDAY, THE EIGHTH DAY

  As the day after the seventh day (when God rested from His six days of creation) and as the
day of Christ’s Resurrection, Sunday early on came to be understood in a mystical way among
Christians as the “Eighth Day.” It was the day “beyond nature and time” (MaxCon), “the
beginning of another world” (Barn). “Whether you call it day, or whether you call it eternity,
you express the same idea” (BasilG).

   Fittingly, during the week after Pascha (Easter), called Bright Week, the Church celebrates
Pascha for eight days, almost as though it were one continuous day. By tradition, babies are
named on the eighth day after birth. And from ancient times, Christian baptisteries and fonts
have been built with eight sides, indicating the newly baptized are entering the realm of the
Eighth Day, the day of eternal rest (Heb 4:1–11) in Christ’s Heavenly Kingdom.


   20‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

   21‘You shall not covet your neighbor's wife; and you shall not covet your neighbor's house,
neither his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or his cattle, or
anything belonging to your neighbor.’

                             The People Fear God's Presence

   22“The Lord spoke these words to all your assembly in the mountain from the midst of the
fire; there was darkness, gloom, storm, and a loud voice, and He added no more. Then He
wrote them on two tablets of stone, and gave them to me. 23So it was, when you heard the
voice from the midst of the fire, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near
me, all the leaders of your tribes and your elders. 24Then you said, ‘Surely the Lord our God
showed us His glory and His greatness, and we heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We
saw this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives. 25Now therefore, let us not die,
because this great fire will destroy us; and if we continue to hear the voice of the Lord our
God any more, we shall die. 26For who of flesh heard the voice of the living God speaking
from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27You go near and hear whatever the Lord
our God may say, and tell us whatever the Lord our God says to you, and we will hear and do
it.’

   28“Then the Lord heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and the Lord said
to me, ‘I heard the voice of this people, whatever words they spoke to you. They are right in
whatever they said. 29Would they had such a heart in them so as to fear Me and guard My
commandments all the time, that it might be well with them and their sons forever.† 30Go
and say to them, “Return to your houses.” 31But as for you, stand here by Me, and I will
speak to you all the commandments, the ordinances, and the judgments you are to teach
them, so they may do them in the land I give them as an inheritance.’ 32Therefore you shall
be careful to do in the manner the Lord your God commanded you; you shall not turn aside
to the right hand or to the left. 33You shall walk in every way the Lord your God commanded
you, that He may give you rest, and it be well with you, and you prolong your days in the land
you are to inherit.

                                The Great Commandment


6 “Now these are the commandments, the ordinances, and the judgments the Lord our God
  commanded to teach you, that you may do them in the land you are crossing over to
inherit, 2and may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His ordinances and commandments I
command you today, you and your sons and the sons of your sons, all the days of your life, so
your days may be prolonged. 3Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to do it, that it may be
well with you, and you may multiply greatly as the Lord God of your fathers told you—‘to give
you a land flowing with milk and honey.’ ”

  4These are the ordinances and the judgments the Lord commanded the children of Israel
in the desert, when they came from the land of Egypt: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is
one Lord.† 5You shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart, from your whole soul,
and from your whole power. 6So these words I command you today shall be in your heart and
in your soul. 7You shall teach them to your sons, and shall talk of them when you sit in your
house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8You shall bind
them as a sign on your hand, and it shall be immovable before your eyes; 9and you shall write
them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.

                                      Do Not Disobey

  10“So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land He swore to your
fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities you did not build,
11and houses full of all good things you did not fill, and hewn-out wells you did not dig, and

vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—and when you have eaten and are full— 12then
beware, lest you forget the Lord who brings you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of
bondage.† 13You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and you shall cling to Him and
take oaths in His name. 14You shall not go after different gods, the gods of the nations
around you,† 15because the Lord your God is a jealous God among you, lest the anger of the
Lord your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth.

  16“You shall not tempt the Lord your God, as you tempted Him in the Temptation.† 17You
shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, His testimonies, and the
ordinances He commanded you. 18So you shall do what is pleasing and good before the Lord
your God, that it may be well with you, and you may go in and inherit the good land the Lord
swore to your fathers, 19to chase out all your enemies from before your face, as He said.

  20“Then it shall be when your son asks you tomorrow, saying, ‘What are the testimonies,

the ordinances, and the judgments the Lord our God commanded you?’ 21you shall say to
your son, ‘We were servants of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a
mighty hand and an outstretched arm; 22and the Lord set great and evil signs affecting Egypt,
Pharaoh, and his house before us. 23Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring
us in to give us this land He swore to give our fathers.† 24So the Lord commanded us to do all
these ordinances, to fear the Lord our God, that it may be well with us all our days, and we
may live as today. 25Then we shall have mercy, if we are careful to do all these
commandments before the Lord our God, as the Lord commanded us.’

                                    The Chosen People


7 “Now  if the Lord your God brings you into the land you go to inherit, and casts out great
  nations before your face, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the
Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you,† 2and
the Lord your God delivers them into your hands, you shall strike and utterly destroy them.
You shall make no covenant with them nor show them mercy. 3Nor shall you make
marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to his son, nor take his daughter for
your son. 4For she will turn your son away from Me, and he will serve other gods; so the Lord
will be very angry with you and destroy you suddenly. 5But thus you shall deal with them:
you shall destroy their altars, and break down their pillars, and cut down their groves, and
burn the carved images of their gods with fire.

  6“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God chose you to be a

people for Himself, special above all the nations on the face of the earth. 7The Lord did not
prefer nor choose you because you were more in number than all the nations, for you are the
least of all the nations;† 8but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the
oath He swore to your fathers, the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed
you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.† 9Therefore know,
the Lord your God, this God, is a faithful God, who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand
generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; 10and He repays those
who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with those who hate Him;
He will repay them to their face. 11Therefore, you shall keep the commandments, the
ordinances, and these judgments I command you today to do them.

                                Obedience Brings Blessing

  12“Then it shall come to pass, when you listen to all these ordinances and keep and do
them, the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy He swore to your
fathers; 13and He will love you and bless and multiply you; He will also bless the offspring of
your womb, and the fruit of your land: your grain, wine, and olive oil, and the herds of your
oxen, and the flocks of your sheep, in the land the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.
14You shall be blessed more than all the nations; there shall not be a childless male or a

barren female among you or your cattle. 15And the Lord will take away from you all sickness,
and He will not put on you the evil diseases you saw and knew in Egypt, but will put them on
all who hate you. 16Also you shall eat all the spoils of the nations the Lord your God gives
you; your eye shall have no pity on them; nor shall you serve their gods, for that would be a
snare to you.

  17“If you should say in your mind, ‘This nation is greater than I; how will I be able to

destroy them?’ 18you shall not be afraid of them, but shall remember well what the Lord
your God did to Pharaoh and to all the Egyptians: 19the great trials your eyes saw, those great
signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm by which the Lord your God
brought you out. So shall the Lord our God do to all the nations of whose face you are afraid.
20Moreover the Lord your God will send hornets among them, until those who are left, who

hide themselves from you, are destroyed. 21You shall not be terrified of their face; for the
Lord your God is among you, a great and powerful God;† 22and the Lord your God will
consume those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once,
lest the land become a desert and the wild animals increase against you. 23But the Lord your
God will deliver them into your hands and destroy them with a great destruction, until they
are destroyed. 24So He will deliver their kings into your hands, and will destroy their name
from that place; no one shall be able to stand against your presence until you destroy them.
25You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not desire the silver or
gold of theirs, nor take it for yourselves, lest you stumble because of it; for it is an
abomination to the Lord your God. 26Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house,
lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it
is an accursed thing.

                               Keeping the Commandments


8 “Every commandment I command you today you must be careful to do, that you may live
  and multiply, and go in and inherit the land the Lord swore to your fathers.† 2Now you
shall remember the whole way the Lord your God led you in the desert, to deal harshly with
you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His
commandments or not.† 3So He dealt harshly with you and weakened you with hunger, and
fed you with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might make you know that
man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word proceeding from the mouth of God man
shall live.† 4Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your feet become callused these
forty years.† 5You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your
God chastens you. 6Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God to
walk in His ways and to fear Him. 7For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good and
great land, where torrents of waters and springs of bottomless depths flow through the plains
and through the mountains; 8a land of wheat and barley, of vines, fig trees, and
pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; 9a land where you will not eat your bread in
poverty, and in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and from whose
hills you can dig copper. 10Thus you shall eat and be full and bless the Lord your God for the
good land He gave you.

  11“Watch yourself, that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His

commandments, judgments, and ordinances I command you today, 12lest—when you have
eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them, 13and when your cattle
and sheep multiply, and your silver and gold are multiplied, and all you have is multiplied,
14when your heart is lifted up and you forget the Lord your God who brought you from the

land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, 15who led you through that great and fearful
desert, with its biting serpent and scorpion and thirst, where there was no water, who brought
a spring of water for you out of the sharp-edged rock,† 16who fed you in the desert with
manna your fathers did not know, that He might deal harshly with you and might test you, to
do you good in the end of your days— 17then do not say in your heart, ‘My strength and the
might of my hand gained me this great power.’† 18Then you shall remember the Lord your
God, for He it is who gives you strength, that you may gain power, and He may establish His
covenant the Lord swore to your fathers, as it is today. 19Thus it shall be, if you forget the
Lord your God, and follow after different gods and serve and worship them, I testify against
you today, you shall surely perish. 20As the remaining nations the Lord destroys before your
face, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your
God.

                                     Israel's Rebellion


9 “Hear, O Israel, You are to cross over the Jordan today and go in to inherit nations greater
  and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to heaven,† 2a people, great and
large and tall, the sons of Anak, whom you know and of whom you heard it said, ‘Who can
stand against the face of the sons of Anak?’ 3Therefore understand today, the Lord your God
is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and turn them
from your face; and you will destroy them, as the Lord said to you. 4Do not say in your heart,
after the Lord your God consumes these nations before you, saying, ‘Because of my
righteousness the Lord brought me in to inherit this good land’; but because of the
ungodliness of these nations, the Lord will destroy them before your face.† 5It is not because
of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you are going in to inherit their
land, but because of the ungodliness of these nations, the Lord will destroy them before your
face, that He may establish His covenant He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. 6Thus you will know today, the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to
inherit because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people. 7Remember, do not
forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the desert. From the day you came
out of Egypt until you came into this land, you continued being disobedient to the Lord.
8Also in Horeb you provoked the Lord, and the Lord was angry enough with you to destroy

you, 9when I went up into the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the
covenant the Lord established with you; and I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty
nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water. 10Then the Lord delivered two tablets of stone to
me, written with the finger of God, and on them were all the words the Lord spoke to you on
the mountain, in the day of the assembly. 11And it came to pass, at the end of forty days and
forty nights, the Lord gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant.

  12“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Arise, go down quickly from here, for your people you
brought out of Egypt have acted lawlessly; they turned aside quickly from the way I
commanded them; they made themselves a molten image.’ 13Furthermore, the Lord spoke to
me, saying, ‘I told you once and twice, I see this people, and indeed they are a stiff-necked
people. 14Let Me destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make
of you a nation greater and stronger and larger than they.’

  15“So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire; and

the two tablets were in my two hands. 16Then I looked, and you had sinned against the Lord
your God and made for yourselves a molten image. You turned aside quickly from the way
the Lord commanded you. 17Then I took the two tablets and threw them down with my two
hands, and broke them before you. 18And I prayed before the Lord a second time, as at the
first, forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sins
you committed in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord your God to provoke Him. 19For I
was afraid because of the anger and the wrath, for the Lord was provoked by you to destroy
you. But the Lord listened to me at this time also. 20The Lord was also very angry with Aaron
and would have destroyed him; so I also prayed for Aaron at that time. 21Then I took the sin
you committed, the calf you made, and burned it with fire, and crushed it, and ground it very
small until it was as fine as dust; and I threw its dust into the brook that descended from the
mountain.

  22“Also at the Burning and the Temptation and the Graves of Lust, you provoked the Lord

your God to wrath.† 23Likewise, when the Lord sent you from Kadesh Barnea, saying, ‘Go up
and inherit the land I give you,’ then you disobeyed the word of the Lord your God, and you
did not believe Him nor listen to His voice. 24You were disobedient to the Lord from the day
He became known to you.

  25“Thus I prayed before the Lord; forty days and forty nights I kept praying, because the

Lord said He would destroy you. 26Therefore, I prayed to God, and said, ‘O Lord, O Lord, O
King of the gods, do not destroy Your people and Your portion You redeemed through Your
great strength, whom You brought from the land of Egypt with Your great strength, Your
mighty hand and Your outstretched arm. 27Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Your
servants, to whom You swore by Yourself; do not look on the hardness of this people, or on
their wickedness or their sins, 28lest those who inhabit the land You brought us from should
say, “Because the Lord was unable to bring them to the land He promised them, and because
He hated them, He brought them out to kill them in the desert.” 29Yet they are Your people
and Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your mighty power and outstretched arm.’

                                 The Second Set of Tablets


10 “At that time the Lord said to me, ‘Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first,
   and come up to Me on the mountain, and make yourself an ark of wood. 2And I will
write on these tablets the words of the first tablets you broke; and you shall put them in the
ark.’ 3So I made an ark of wood not liable to decay, and hewed two tablets of stone like the
first, and went up the mountain, with the two tablets in my hands. 4Then He wrote the Ten
Commandments on the tablets according to the first writing which the Lord spoke to you in
the mountain, from the midst of the fire; and the Lord gave them to me. 5Then I turned and
came down from the mountain and put the tablets in the ark I made; and they were there, as
the Lord commanded me.”

  6(Now the children of Israel journeyed from the wells of Bene Jaakan to Moserah, where

Aaron died and was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered as priest in his stead. 7From there
they journeyed to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land with rivers of water.
8At that time, the Lord separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord,

to stand before the Lord, to minister to Him, and to bless in His name, to this day. 9Therefore
Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, as He said
to him.) 10“I stayed in the mountain forty days and forty nights; the Lord also heard me at
that time, and the Lord chose not to destroy you. 11Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go, and lead
this people, so they may go in and inherit the land I swore to their fathers to give them.’

                                 The Lord's Requirements

  12“So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your
God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul,† 13and to keep the commandments of the Lord your God and His
ordinances I command you today for your good? 14Indeed, heaven and heaven of heaven
belong to the Lord your God, also the earth and everything in it. 15The Lord chose your
fathers to love them; and He chose their seed after them, you above all nations, as it is this
day. 16Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.
17For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and

awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. 18He administers justice for the resident
alien, the fatherless, and the widow, and loves the resident alien, giving him food and
clothing. 19Therefore, love the resident aliens, for you were resident aliens in the land of
Egypt. 20You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and hold fast to Him, and
take oaths in His name.† 21He is your boast and your God, who did these great and glorious
things for you, the things you saw with your own eyes. 22Your fathers went down to Egypt
with seventy-five souls, and now, the Lord your God made you as the stars of heaven in
multitude.

                                     God's Greatness


11 “Therefore, you shall love the Lord your God, and always keep His commandments, His
   ordinances, and His judgments. 2Know today, I do not speak with your children, who
have not known and seen the chastening of the Lord your God, nor His greatness and mighty
hand and outstretched arm— 3the signs and wonders He did in the midst of Egypt, to
Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to all his land; 4what He did to the army of Egypt, to their horse
and chariots; how He made the water of the Red Sea overflow them as they pursued you, and
how the Lord destroyed them to this day; 5what He did for you in the desert until you came
to this place; 6and what He did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben:
how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up in the midst of Israel, along with
their households, tents, and all the substance in their possession— 7but your eyes saw all the
great works the Lord did for you today.

                                     Inherit the Land

  8“Therefore, you shall keep all His commandments I command you today, that you may

live and increase and go in and inherit the land you are crossing the Jordan to inherit,† 9and
may prolong your days in the land the Lord swore to give your fathers, to them and their seed
after them, ‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’ 10For the land you go to inherit is not like
the land of Egypt from which you came, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as
a vegetable garden; 11but the land you are crossing over to inherit is a land of hills and plains,
which drinks water from the rain of heaven, 12a land the Lord your God looks upon; the eyes
of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the
year.

  13“So if you earnestly obey all His commandments I command you today, to love the Lord

your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14then He will give you
rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your
grain, wine, and olive oil. 15I will also send grass in your fields for your cattle, that you may
eat and be filled. 16Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you transgress
and serve other gods and worship them, 17lest the Lord's anger be aroused against you and
He shut up heaven, so there may be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish
quickly from the good land the Lord gave you.

  18“Therefore, you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind

them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be immovable before your eyes. 19You shall teach
them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house and walk by the way,
when you lie down and rise up. 20You shall also write them on the doorposts of your house
and your gates, 21that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied in the land the
Lord swore to give your fathers, like days of heaven on earth. 22For if you carefully keep all
these commandments I command you today—to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His
ways, and to hold fast to Him— 23then the Lord will cast out all these nations from before
your face, and you will inherit greater and mightier nations than yourselves. 24Every place
the sole of your foot treads shall be yours: from the desert and Antilebanon, and from the
great Euphrates River, even to the Western Sea, shall be your territory. 25No man shall be
able to stand against your face; the Lord your God will put the dread and the fear of you upon
all the land where you tread, in the manner the Lord said to you.

  26“Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: 27the blessing, if you obey the

commandments of the Lord your God I command you today; 28and the curse, if you do not
obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but go astray from the way I command you
today, to go after different gods you have not known. 29Now it shall be, when the Lord your
God brings you into the land you are to inherit, you shall put the blessing on Mount Gerizim
and the curse on Mount Ebal. 30Indeed are they not on the other side of the Jordan, toward
the setting sun, in the land of Canaan, the area that lies to the west near Gilgal, beside the
lofty oak? 31For you will cross over the Jordan and go in to inherit the land the Lord your
God is giving you; and you will inherit it all your days and dwell in it. 32Therefore, you shall
be careful to do all the ordinances and judgments I set before you today.

                                    The Place of Worship


12 “These are the ordinances and judgments you shall be careful to observe in the land the
   Lord God of your fathers is giving you to inherit, all the days you live on the earth. 2You
shall utterly destroy all the places the nations you will inherit served their gods: on the high
mountains, on the hills, and under the tree of the grove. 3So you shall destroy their altars,
break their pillars, cut down their groves, burn the carved images of their gods with fire, and
destroy their name from that place. 4You shall not do thus with the Lord your God. 5But you
shall seek the place the Lord your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name and to
be called on there; and you shall go and seek Him there. 6There you shall bring your whole
burnt offerings, sacrifices, firstfruits, prayers, voluntary offerings, and the firstborn of your
oxen and sheep. 7There you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all to
which you put your hand, you and your households, as the Lord your God blessed you.

  8“You shall not at all do as we are doing here today—every man doing whatever is right in

his own eyes— 9for as yet, you have not come to the rest and the inheritance the Lord your
God gives you. 10But when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land the Lord your
God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies round about, and
you dwell in safety, 11then there will be the place the Lord your God chooses to make His
name abide. There you shall bring all I command you today: your whole burnt offerings,
sacrifices, tithes, the first fruits of your hands, and all your gifts and all your choice gifts you
vow to the Lord.† 12And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you, your sons and
daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite within your gates, since he has no
portion nor inheritance with you. 13Take heed to yourself, do not offer your whole burnt
offerings in every place you see;† 14but in the place the Lord chooses, in one of your tribes;
there you shall offer your whole burnt offerings, and there you shall do all I command you
today.

  15“However, according to your every desire, you may slaughter and eat meat, according to
the blessing the Lord your God gave you in each city; the unclean and the clean may eat of it,
of the gazelle and the deer alike. 16Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it on the
earth like water. 17You may not eat the tithe in your cities: of your grain, wine, or olive oil, of
the firstborn of your oxen or sheep, of any of your offerings you vow, of your agreements, or
of the firstfruits of your hands. 18But you must eat them before the Lord your God in the
place the Lord your God chooses, you and your son and daughter, your male and female
servant, and the resident alien in your cities; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God
in all to which you put your hand. 19Take heed to yourself, do not forsake the Levite as long
as you live in your land.

 20“Now if the Lord your God enlarges your borders, as He told you, and you say, ‘I will eat

meat,’ because you desire to eat meat, you may eat as much meat as your soul desires. 21But
if the place the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, then you may
slaughter from your oxen and sheep the Lord gave you in the manner I commanded you, and
may eat in your cities according to your soul's desire. 22Just as the gazelle and the deer are
eaten, so you may eat them; the unclean and the clean alike may eat them. 23Only be sure
not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life; the life will not be eaten with the meat. 24You
shall not eat it; you shall pour it on the earth like water. 25You shall not eat it, that it may go
well with you and your sons after you, if you do what is good and pleasing before the Lord
your God. 26Only the holy things you have and your vowed offerings you shall take and go to
the place the Lord your God chooses for His name to be called upon there. 27You shall offer
your whole burnt offerings; you shall offer the meat upon the altar of the Lord your God; and
the blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of the Lord your God; and you
shall eat the meat. 28Keep, obey, and do all these words I command you, that it may go well
with you and your sons forever, if you do what is good and pleasing in the sight of the Lord
your God.

                                      Beware of Idolatry

  29“If the Lord your God destroys before your face the nations whose land you go to inherit,

and you inherit them and dwell in their land, 30take heed to yourself that you not seek to
follow them after they are destroyed from before your face, and do not inquire after their
gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ 31You shall not
do thus with the Lord your God; for every abomination the Lord hates they have done with
their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.
13 “Every word I command you today, be careful to observe; you shall not add to it nor
   take away from it.†

 2“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you, and he gives you a sign or a

wonder today, 3and the sign or the wonder he spoke to you comes to pass, saying, ‘Let us go
and serve other gods’ you have not known, 4you shall not listen to the words of that prophet
or dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the
Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 5You shall walk after the Lord your
God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall hold fast to
Him. 6But that prophet or dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken to
lead you astray from the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and
redeemed you from bondage, to entice you from the way the Lord your God commanded you
to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.

  7“If your brother, the son of your father or mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of
your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go
and serve different gods’ you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, 8of the gods of
the nations around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the
other end of the earth, 9you shall not consent to him nor listen to him, nor shall your eye pity
him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; 10but you shall make a report about him; your
hands shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the
people. 11So they shall stone him with stones until he dies, because he sought to turn you
away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of
bondage. 12So all Israel will hear and fear, and not again continue to do according to the word
of this evil among you.

  13“If you hear someone in one of your cities the Lord your God gives you to dwell in

saying, 14‘Lawless men have gone out from among you and enticed the inhabitants of their
city, saying, “Let us go and serve different gods” ’ you have not known, 15then you shall
inquire and search diligently. So if the report is indeed true and certain that this abomination
was committed among you, 16you shall surely strike all the inhabitants of that city with the
edge of the sword, utterly destroying it and everything therein. 17You shall gather all its
plunder into the middle of the street, and completely burn the city and all its plunder with
fire before the Lord your God. It shall be uninhabited forever; it shall never be built again.
18Thus none of the accursed things shall remain in your hand, so the Lord may turn from the
fierceness of His anger and show you mercy, and have compassion on you and multiply you
in the manner the Lord swore to your fathers, 19if you listen to the voice of the Lord your
God to keep all His commandments I command you today, to do what is good and pleasing
before the Lord your God.

                                         A Holy People


14 “You are the children of the Lord your God; you shall not engage in purificatory rites,
   nor shave your head between your eyes for the dead.† 2For you are a holy people to the
Lord your God, and the Lord chose you to be a people for Himself, a special people above all
the nations on the face of the earth.†

                                   Clean and Unclean Meat

  3“You shall not eat any abomination. 4These are the cattle you may eat: the young bull of

the oxen, the male lamb of the sheep, and the young male of the goats; 5and you may also eat
the deer, the gazelle, the antelope, the wild goat, the mountain goat, the gazelle, and the
mountain sheep. 6You may also eat every animal with cloven hooves, having the hoof split
into two parts, and that chews the cud among the animals. 7Nevertheless, of those that chew
the cud or have cloven hooves, you shall not eat such as these: the camel, the hare, and the
rabbit; for they chew the cud but do not have cloven hooves; they are unclean for you. 8Also
the swine is unclean for you, because it has cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud; you
shall not eat their flesh or touch their dead carcasses.

 9“These you may eat of all in the waters: you may eat all that have fins and scales. 10But

whatever does not have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean for you. 11All clean
birds you may eat. 12But these you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, 13the red
kite, the falcon, and the kite after their kinds; 14every raven after its kind; 15the ostrich, the
short-eared owl, the seagull, and the hawk after their kinds; 16the heron, the swan, and the
ibis; 17the cormorant, the hawk, the hoopoe, and the owl; 18the pelican, the plover after their
kind, and the purple coot and the bat. 19Also every creeping thing that flies is unclean for
you; they shall not be eaten. 20You may eat all clean birds. 21You shall not eat anything that
dies of itself; you may give it to the alien in your cities that he may eat it, or you may sell it to
a foreigner; for you are a holy people to the Lord your God. You shall not boil a lamb in its
mother's milk.

                                            Tithing

  22“You shall tithe all the increase of your grain the field produces year by year. 23You shall
eat before the Lord your God in the place He chooses to have His name called upon there;
you will bring in the tithe of your grain, wine, and olive oil, of the firstborn of your oxen and
sheep, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God all your days. 24But if the journey is too
long for you, so you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place the Lord your God chooses
to put His name is too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you, 25then you
shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hands, and go to the place the Lord your
God chooses. 26Then you shall spend that money for whatever your soul desires; for oxen or
sheep, for wine or strong drink, for whatever your soul desires; you shall eat there before the
Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household, 27and the Levite who is within
your cities, for he has no part or inheritance with you.

  28“At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce. 29Then the
Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the resident alien and the
fatherless and the widow who are within your cities may come and eat and be satisfied, so the
Lord your God may bless you in all the works you do.

                             Debts Released after Seven Years

                                                                              †2
15 “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts. So the order of
   the remission is as follows: every debt your neighbor owes you, you shall remit; you
shall not demand it back from your brother, because a remission is proclaimed for the Lord
your God. 3You may demand it back from a foreigner, but you shall grant remission of your
brother's debt, 4except when there may be no poor among you; for the Lord your God will
greatly bless you in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance—
5only if you carefully obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe with care all these

commandments I command you today. 6For the Lord your God blessed you in the manner
He told you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall rule over
many nations, but they shall not rule over you.

                                      Care for the Poor
  7“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren within any of the cities in your land
the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from
your poor brother; 8but you shall surely open your hands to him and willingly lend him
sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. 9Beware lest there be a hidden thought in your
heart, a transgression of the law, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is at hand,’
and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry out to
the Lord against you, and it be a great sin among you. 10You shall surely give him and loan
him as much as he needs, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him,
because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in everything to
which you put your hand. 11For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore, I
command you to do this word which says, ‘You shall surely open your hands to your brother,
to your poor and needy in your land.’

                                        Bondservants

  12“If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you six

years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. 13But when you send him
away free from you, you shall not let him go away empty-handed; 14you shall supply him
liberally from your sheep, wheat, and winepress. From what the Lord has blessed you with
you shall give to him. 15For you shall remember you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and
the Lord your God redeemed you from that place; therefore, I command you this thing. 16But
if he says to you, ‘I will not go away from you,’ because he loves you and your house, because
he is well off with you, 17then you shall take a small awl and pierce his ear at the door, and he
shall be your servant forever. Also to your female servant you shall do likewise. 18It shall not
seem hard to you when you send him away free from you; for he has worked the yearly wage
of a hired servant in serving you six years. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all you
do.

                                     Firstborn Animals

  19“All the firstborn males that come from your oxen and sheep you shall sanctify to the
Lord your God; you shall do no work with the firstborn young bull, nor shear the firstborn of
your sheep. 20You and your household shall eat it before the Lord year by year in the place
the Lord your God chooses. 21But if there is a defect in it, if it is lame or blind or has any
serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God. 22You may eat it within your
cities; the unclean and the clean person alike may eat it, as if it were a gazelle or a deer.
23Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it on the ground like water.

                                            Pascha


16 “Observe the month of new corn, and keep Pascha to the Lord your God, for in the
   month of new corn He brought you out of Egypt by night.† 2Therefore you shall
sacrifice Pascha to the Lord your God from the sheep and oxen, in the place the Lord chooses
for His name to be called upon there. 3You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days
you shall eat unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the
land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day you came out of the land of Egypt all
the days of your life. 4And no leaven shall be seen among you in all your borders for seven
days, nor shall any of the meat you sacrifice the first day at twilight remain until morning.
5You may not sacrifice Pascha within any of your cities the Lord your God gives you; 6but at
the place the Lord your God chooses for His name to be called upon there, there you shall
sacrifice Pascha at twilight, at the going down of the sun, at the time you came out of Egypt.
7You shall roast and eat it in the place the Lord your God chooses, and in the morning you

shall turn and go to your houses. 8Six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the
seventh and final day, there shall be a feast to the Lord your God. You shall do no work on it
except what must be done for life.†

                                     The Feast of Weeks

  9“You shall count seven complete weeks for yourself; begin to count the seven weeks from

the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain. 10Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to
the Lord your God, and according to your ability you may offer whatever you wish, as the
Lord your God blessed you.† 11You shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son
and daughter, your male servant and female servant, the Levite who is within your cities, the
resident alien and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where the
Lord your God chooses for His name to be called upon there. 12And you shall remember you
were a servant in the land of Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these commandments.

                                 The Feast of Tabernacles
  13“You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from

your threshing floor and winepress. 14You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and
daughter, your male servant and female servant, the Levite, the resident alien, the fatherless
and the widow who are within your cities. 15Seven days you shall keep a feast to the Lord
your God in the place the Lord your God chooses for Himself, and if the Lord your God
should bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, you will be rejoicing.
16Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place the
Lord chooses; at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of
Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord your God empty-handed. 17Every man
shall give as he is able, according to the blessing the Lord your God gave you.

                                     Appointing Judges

  18“You shall appoint judges and teachers in all the cities the Lord your God gives you,

according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment. 19They shall not
pervert judgment; they shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe; for a bribe blinds the eyes
of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. 20You shall pursue what is altogether just,
that you may live and go in and inherit the land the Lord your God gives you.

  21“You shall not plant for yourself any grove or any tree near the altar of the Lord your God

which you build for yourself. 22You shall not set up a pillar the Lord your God hates.


17 “You  shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God a young bull or sheep having any blemish
   or defect, for that is an abomination to the Lord your God.†

  2“If there is found among you, within any of your cities the Lord your God gives you, a man

or a woman who does evil before the Lord your God in transgressing His covenant, 3and who
went and served and worshiped different gods, either the sun, moon, or any ornamentation of
heaven, which He did not command, 4and it is told you, then you shall inquire diligently; and
if it is indeed true that such an abomination happened in Israel, 5then you shall bring out
that man or woman; and you shall stone to death that man or woman with stones. 6Whoever
is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he
shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness. 7The hand of the witnesses shall be
the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you
shall put away their evil from among you.†
  8“If there is some matter you are unable to judge, between degrees of guilt for bloodshed,
between one judgment or another, or between one punishment or another, matters of
controversy in your cities, then you shall arise and go up to the place the Lord your God
chooses for His name to be called upon there. 9So you shall come to the priests, the Levites,
and to the judge there in those days and inquire of them; and they shall pronounce the
judgment for you. 10You shall do according to the sentence they pronounce upon you in that
place the Lord your God chooses for His name to be called upon there. Thus you shall be very
careful to do according to all they order you. 11According to the law and the judgment in
which they instruct you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left
from the sentence they pronounce upon you. 12Now the man who acts arrogantly and will
not obey the priest or the judge who may be there in those days, and who stands to minister
in the name of the Lord your God, that man shall die. So you shall put away the evil from
Israel. 13Then all the people shall hear and fear, and no longer act impiously.

                                      Setting Up Rulers

  14“If you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you inherit
it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a ruler over me like the remaining nations around me,’
15you shall surely set a ruler over you whom the Lord your God chooses; one from among
your brethren you shall set as a ruler over yourself; you cannot set a foreigner over yourself,
because he is not your brother. 16Wherefore he shall not multiply a cavalry for himself, nor
cause the people to return to Egypt; for the Lord said to you, ‘You shall not return that way
again.’ 17Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart be changed; nor shall he
greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. 18Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of
his rule, that he shall write for himself a copy of this second law in a book, from the one
before the priests, the Levites. 19It shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his
life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all these
commandments and ordinances, 20that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that
he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left and may
prolong his rule, he and his sons among the sons of Israel.

                                   Caring for the Priests


18 “The priests, the Levites—all the tribe of Levi—shall have no part nor inheritance with
Israel; the burnt offerings of the Lord shall be their portion; these they shall eat. 2Therefore
they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the Lord is their inheritance, as He said
to them. 3Now this shall be the judgment concerning the priests from the people, from those
who offer sacrifices, whether it is a young bull or sheep: one shall give to the priest the
shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach. 4The firstfruits of your grain, wine, and olive oil, and
the firstfruit of the sheep's fleece you shall give to him. 5For the Lord your God chose him
out of all your tribes to stand before the Lord your God, to minister and to bless in His name,
he and his sons forever among the children of Israel. 6So if a Levite comes from one of your
cities, from where he dwells among all the children of Israel, as his soul desires, to the place
the Lord chooses, 7then he may minister in the name of the Lord his God, as do all his
brethren the Levites who stand before the Lord. 8They shall have equal portions to eat,
besides what comes from the sale of his paternal inheritance.

                                   Avoiding Wickedness

  9“Now if you enter the land the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to do the

abominations of those nations. 10There shall not be found among you anyone who purifies
his son or daughter in the fire, or one who practices divination, or a soothsayer, or one who
interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or
one who calls up the dead. 12For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord your
God, and because of these abominations the Lord your God will destroy them before you.
13You shall be perfect before the Lord your God. 14For all these nations which you will
dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not
appointed such for you.

                                 The Promise of a Prophet

  15“The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you

shall hear,† 16according to all you asked from the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the
assembly, saying, ‘Let us not hear again the voice of the Lord our God, nor let us see this
great fire any more, lest we die.’ 17Then the Lord said to me, ‘What they have spoken is
good.† 18I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and I will put
My word in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all I command Him.† 19Therefore,
whatever man will not listen to whatever the Prophet speaks in My name, I will require it of
him.† 20But whatever prophet speaks impiously in My name a word I have not ordered him
to speak, or who speaks in the name of different gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21Now if you
should say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word the Lord has not spoken?’—
22whatever word a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or
come to pass, that is the thing the Lord has not spoken; the prophet spoke that word
impiously; you shall stay away from him.

                                   J E S U S C H R I S T:
                                 P R O P H E T, P R I E S T,
                                       AND KING

Throughout the Old Testament, God raised up prophets, priests, and kings from among His
chosen people to serve and lead Israel. Not only did these servants minister in their own
right, many prefigured the coming of Christ our God, the promised Prophet, Priest, and King.

                                         PROPHET

  Deuteronomy 18:15–19 foreshadows Christ as the promised Prophet. The Lord speaks to
Moses: “I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and I will put
My word in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all I command Him” (v. 18). The words,
“like you” and “from among their brethren” speak of the preincarnate Word taking on human
nature to become the promised Prophet.

  The New Testament reveals several instances when Jesus is recognized and proclaimed as
this Prophet of whom Moses wrote. For example, after witnessing Jesus’ miracle of feeding
the five thousand, those present said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the
world” (Jn 6:14; see also Jn 7:40). Later St. Peter, while preaching to the Jews, quotes from
Deuteronomy 18:18, 19, showing Jesus Christ as the long-awaited Prophet, the fulfillment of
God’s promise (Acts 3:22, 23).

                                           PRIEST

  Psalm 109:1–4 foreshadows Christ as the great High Priest: “The Lord said to my Lord . . .
‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’ ” The Book of Hebrews leaves
no doubt as to whom this passage envisions: “Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our
confession, Jesus Christ” (Heb 3:1). And, “We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the
right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” (Heb 8:1). This long-awaited High
Priest is our Lord Jesus Christ. See also Hebrews 6:20.

  A priest is one “appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices” (Heb 8:3). As our eternal High
Priest, Jesus Christ freely offers Himself by willingly dying on the Cross for us. He did so as
the perfect sacrifice, fulfilling the requirements of atonement through the remission of sins.
By this gift, the promise of resurrection is offered, paradise is reopened, the Comforter is
sent, and the hope of eternal life is given. As High Priest, Jesus is both the offerer and the
offering.

                                            KING

  The Prophet Jeremiah records God’s promise of a coming King. The Lord says, “Behold,
days are coming when I will raise up for David the Righteous Orient, and a King shall reign.
He will understand, and bring about judgment and righteousness on the earth” (Jer 23:5).

  Isaiah promises His government will be not temporal, but eternal, ruling from the throne
of David (Is 9:6, 7). In Zechariah 6:13, a priest on His throne is foreshadowed.

  On Palm Sunday, Jesus enters Jerusalem as a humble servant-King on the foal of a donkey
(see Zec 9:9 and Mt 21:1–7). He willingly and without hesitation, doubt, or fear accepts the
extreme humiliation of the Cross. Above His head is written, “King of the Jews” (Jn 19:12–
22).

  At His Second Coming, foretold in Old Testament prophecy, Christ will come as the all-
conquering King of kings to execute judgment, destroy the forces of evil, and establish an
everlasting peace. Psalm 2:6 tells us the Father established His Son over the holy hill of Zion.
In Psalm 21:28, the kingdom belongs to the Lord, and He will rule over all nations. Isaiah
reveals the Gentiles as being included in His kingdom (Is 62:2, 3). Jesus Himself promised
the day when people “see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” (Mt 16:28). In the
apocalyptic vision of the Apostle John, Christ’s title is: “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF
LORDS” (Rev 19:16).

  We have a Prophet who is the Truth, a Priest whose eternal offering is accepted by the
Father and received by us, and a King who will rule and reign forever over His Kingdom.


                                       Cities of Refuge
19 “Now  if the Lord your God removes the nations whose land the Lord your God is giving
   you, and you inherit them and dwell in their cities and in their houses, 2you shall
separate three cities for yourself in the midst of the land the Lord your God gives you. 3You
shall prepare roads for yourself, and divide into three parts the boundaries of your land the
Lord your God divides into sections for you, that any manslayer may flee there. 4Now this
shall be the ordinance of the manslayer who flees there, that he may live: Whoever strikes his
neighbor involuntarily, not having hated him hitherto up until now— 5as when a man goes to
the woods with his neighbor to cut timber, and his hand swings a stroke with the ax to cut
down the tree, and the head slips from the handle and strikes his neighbor, that he dies—he
shall flee to one of these cities and live; 6lest the avenger of blood, while his anger is hot,
pursue the manslayer and overtake him, because the way is long, and strikes this soul, and he
dies, though there was no judgment rendered that he should die, because he had not hated
the victim hitherto up until now. 7Therefore I command you this word, saying, ‘You shall
separate three cities for yourself.’

  8“But if the Lord your God enlarges your territory in the manner He swore to your fathers,

and the Lord gives you the land He promised to give to your fathers, 9and if you hear and do
all these commandments I command you today, to love the Lord your God and walk in all His
ways all your days, then you shall add three more cities for yourself besides these three,
10lest innocent blood be shed in the midst of your land the Lord your God is giving you as an

inheritance, and thus the guilt of bloodshed be upon you. 11But if there should be a man that
hates his neighbor, and lies in wait for him, and rises against him, and strikes this soul, and
he dies, and then this man flees to one of these cities, 12then the elders of his city shall send
and bring him from there, and deliver him over to the hands of the avenger of blood, that he
may die. 13Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall cleanse the guilt of innocent blood from
Israel, that it may be well with you.

                                        Property Lines

  14“You shall not remove your neighbor's boundaries your fathers established in your
inheritance, which you will inherit in the land the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance.

                                          Witnesses

  15“One witness shall not rise against a man about any injustice or offense or sin
concerning which he may be guilty; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall
be established.† 16If an unjust witness rises against any man accusing him of impiety, 17then
both men in the controversy shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges
who serve in those days. 18Thus the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the
witness is an unjust witness who has testified unjustly against his brother, 19then you shall
do to him in the manner he maliciously intended to do to his brother; so you shall put away
the evil from among you. 20Then those who remain shall hear and be afraid, and hereafter
they shall not again commit such evil among you. 21Your eye shall not pity him: life shall be
for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
                                    Concerning Warfare


20 “Now if you go out to war against your enemies and see horse and rider and a people
   more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you
who brought you up from the land of Egypt. 2So it shall be, when you are on the verge of
battle, the priest shall approach and speak to the people, 3and he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O
Israel, today you are going out to war against your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do
not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of their face; 4for the Lord your God
is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’ 5Then the scribes
shall speak to the people, saying, ‘What man is there who built a new house, but has not
consecrated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and a different man
consecrate it. 6Also what man is there who planted a vineyard, but has not enjoyed it? Let
him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and a different man enjoy it. 7Then too,
what man is there who is betrothed to a woman, but has not married her? Let him go and
return to his house, lest he die in the war, and a different man marry her.’ 8Now the scribes
shall speak further to the people and say, ‘What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted?
Let him go and return to his house, lest the heart of his brethren faint like his heart.’† 9So it
shall be, when the scribes finish speaking to the people, they shall establish rulers of the
army to lead the people.

  10“If you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it. 11If indeed
they accept your offer of peace and open to you, then all the people who are found in it shall
be placed under tribute to you and obey you. 12But if the city will not make peace with you,
but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it. 13Then the Lord your God will deliver it
into your hands, and you shall strike every male in it with the edge of the sword. 14Besides
the women, the household, all the cattle, and whatever is in the city, and all its spoil, you
shall capture for yourself; and you shall eat all your enemies’ booty, which the Lord your God
gives you. 15Thus you shall do to all the cities very far from you, which are not of the cities of
these nations. 16But indeed, of the cities of these nations which the Lord your God gives you
to inherit their land, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive; 17but you shall utterly
destroy them: the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, the Jebusite,
and the Girgashite, in the manner the Lord your God commanded you; 18lest they teach you
to do all the abominations they did for their gods; and you sin against the Lord your God.
  19“Now if you besiege a city for many days to make war against it to take it, you shall not
destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them; but if you can eat from it, do not cut it down.
Should a man use this tree in the field to go before you as a battering ram? 20But the tree
you know is not a tree for food, this you may destroy and cut down to build a bulwark against
the city that makes war with you, until it is delivered over.

                                      Unsolved Murders


21 “If anyone is found slain in the land the Lord your God gives you to inherit, and is fallen
   in the open field, and it is not known who killed him, 2then your elders and your judges
shall go out and measure the distance from the slain man to the surrounding cities. 3Then it
shall be the elder of the city nearest to the slain man will take a heifer from the oxen which
has not been worked and pulled with a yoke. 4The elders of that city shall bring the heifer
down to a rocky valley, neither plowed nor sown, and they shall hamstring the heifer there in
the valley. 5Then the priests, the Levites, shall come near, for the Lord your God chose them
to be present for Him and to bless in His name; by their word every controversy and every
assault shall be settled. 6After this, all the elders of that city nearest to the slain man shall
wash their hands over the heifer which was hamstrung in the valley. 7Then they shall answer
and say, ‘Our hands have not shed this blood, nor have our eyes seen it. 8Be merciful, O Lord,
to Your people Israel, whom You redeemed from the land of Egypt, so there may be no
bloodguiltiness among Your people Israel.’ Thus the blood shall atone for them. 9And you
shall put away the guilt of their innocent blood from among you, if you do what is good and
pleasing before the Lord your God.

                                       Women Captives

  10“Now if you go out to war against your enemies, and the Lord your God delivers them

into your hands, and you take them captive, 11and you see among the captives a beautiful
woman, and desire her and would take her for your wife, 12then you shall bring her home to
your house, and you shall shave her head and trim her nails. 13You shall take the clothes of
her captivity from her; and she shall remain in your house and mourn her father and mother
a full month; after that you may go in to her and dwell with her, and she shall be your wife.
14But it shall be, if you do not want her, then you shall send her away free, but you certainly
shall not sell her for money; you shall not treat her brutally, because you humbled her.
                              Firstborn Rights of Inheritance

  15“Now if a man is married to two wives, one loved and the other hated, and they have
borne him children, both the loved and the hated, and the firstborn son is of her who is
hated,† 16then it shall be, on the day he bequeaths his possessions to his sons, he must not
bestow firstborn status on the son of the loved wife in preference to the son of the unloved,
the true firstborn. 17But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by
giving him a double portion of all he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of
the firstborn is his.

                                       A Rebellious Son

  18“Now if a man should have a disobedient and rebellious son who will not obey the voice
of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they chastened him, will not heed
them, 19then his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of
his city, to the gate of his city. 20So they shall say to the men of his city, ‘This son of ours is
disobedient and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21Then
all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones, and he shall die; so you shall put
away the evil from among you, and the rest shall hear and be afraid.

  22“Now if a man committed a crime under the sentence of death, and he is put to death,

and you hang him on a tree,† 23his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall
surely bury him that day; for he who is hanged on a tree is accursed of God; that you do not
defile the land the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance.


22 “When  you see your brother's young bull or his sheep wandering on the road, you
   should not ignore them; you shall certainly return them to your brother and restore
them to him.† 2But if your brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall
bring them to your own house, and they shall remain with you until your brother seeks them;
then you shall restore them to him. 3You shall do the same with his donkey, or with his
garment, or with any lost thing of your brother's which he lost and you found; you should not
ignore them. 4You shall not see your brother's donkey or his young bull fall down on the
road, and ignore them; you shall surely help him lift them up again.

  5“A woman shall not wear a man's clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment, for
all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God.†

  6“If a bird's nest happens to be before you along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with
young ones or eggs, with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take
the mother with the young;† 7you shall surely let the mother go and take the young for
yourself, that it may be well with you and you prolong your days.

  8“If you should build a new house, then you shall make a railing for your house, that you

may not be guilty of manslaughter in your own house, if anyone happen to fall from it.†

  9“You shall not sow your vineyard with different kinds of seed, lest the yield and the seed

you sow and the fruit of your vineyard become unholy.† 10You shall not plow with a young
bull and a donkey together. 11You shall not wear a garment of different sorts, such as wool
and linen mixed together.

  12“You shall make tassels on the corners of the clothing with which you cover yourself.†

                                Maintaining Sexual Purity

  13“If any man takes a wife and dwells with her, and hates her,† 14and lays reproachful
words upon her, and brings a bad name on her, and says, ‘I took this woman, and when I
came to her, I found she was not a virgin,’ 15then the father and mother of the young woman
shall take and bring out the evidence of the young woman's virginity to the elders at the gate.
16So the young woman's father shall say to the elders, ‘I gave my daughter to this man as

wife, and he hates her. 17Now he is laying reproachful words upon her, saying, “I found your
daughter was not a virgin,” and yet these are the evidences of my daughter's virginity.’ And
they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. 18Then the elders of that city shall
take that man and discipline him; 19and they shall fine him one hundred shekels of silver
and give them to the father of the young woman, because he brought a bad name on a virgin
of Israel; and she shall be his wife; he cannot divorce her all his days. 20But if his word is
true, and evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, 21then they shall bring
out the young woman to the doors of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone
her to death with stones, and she shall die, because she did a foolish thing among the
children of Israel, to commit fornication in her father's house. So you shall put away the evil
from among you.
  22“If a man is found lying with a married woman, then you shall kill both of them—the
man that lay with the woman and the woman; so you shall put away the evil from Israel.

   23“If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the

city and lies with her, 24then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you
shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry out in the
city, and the man because he humbled his neighbor's wife; so you shall put away the evil
from among you. 25But if a man finds a betrothed young woman in the countryside, and the
man forces her and lies with her, then you shall kill only the man who lay with her. 26But
you shall do nothing to the young woman; there is in the young woman no sin deserving of
death; for just as when a man rises against his neighbor and murders him, even so is this
matter. 27For he found her in the countryside, and the betrothed young woman cried out, but
there was no one to come to her aid.

  28“If a man finds a young woman who is a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and

lies with her, and they are found out, 29then the man who lay with her shall give to the young
woman's father fifty silver two-drachma coins, and she shall be his wife, because he humbled
her; he shall not be permitted to divorce her all his days.

                               Exclusion from God's People


23 “A man shall not take his father's wife, nor uncover what is covered of his father's.
  2“The eunuch and the castrated man shall not enter the assembly of the Lord. 3The child of
a prostitute shall not enter the assembly of the Lord.

  4“An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth

generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever,† 5because
they did not meet you with bread and water when you came out of Egypt, and because they
hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Mesopotamia to curse you. 6Nevertheless, the
Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a
blessing for you, because the Lord your God loved you. 7You shall not address them with
peaceful words and good wishes all your days forever.† 8You shall not abhor an Edomite, for
he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land.
9The sons of the third generation born to them may enter the assembly of the Lord.
                                 Guarding the Campsite

  10“If you should go out to encamp against your enemies, then keep yourself from every

evil thing. 11If there should be any man among you who is not clean from a flow in the night,
then he shall go outside the camp; he shall not come inside the camp. 12But it shall be, when
evening comes, he shall wash his body with water; and when the sun sets, he may come into
the camp. 13Also there shall be a place outside the camp, and you shall defecate there; 14and
you shall have a spike on your belt, and when you defecate outside, you shall dig with it and
turn and cover your excrement. 15For the Lord your God walks about in the midst of your
camp to save you and to deliver up your enemy to you; therefore, your camp shall be holy,
and no shameful matter shall be seen among you, and He turn away from you.

                                        Other Laws

  16“You shall not deliver to his lord the slave who fled from his lord to you. 17He may dwell

with you in the very place pleasing to him; you shall not afflict him. 18There shall be no
female prostitute among the daughters of Israel, or a male prostitute among the sons of
Israel; there shall be no female temple prostitute among the daughters of Israel, and there
shall be no male temple prostitute among the sons of Israel. 19You shall not bring the wages
of a prostitute or the price of a dog into the house of the Lord your God for any vowed
offering, for both are an abomination to the Lord your God.

  20“You shall not charge interest to your brother—interest on money or food or anything

you lend out.† 21You may charge interest to a foreigner, but you shall not charge interest to
your brother, that the Lord your God may bless you in all your works in the land you are
entering to inherit.

  22“If you should make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the

Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. 23But if you should
abstain from vowing, it is not a sin to you. 24That which proceeds from your lips you shall
keep and do in the manner you vowed your gift to the Lord your God; that which you spoke
with your mouth.

  25“If you enter into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your

hands, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor's standing grain. 26Now if you enter
into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes at your pleasure, but you shall
not put any in your container.

                                 Divorce and Remarriage


24 “If a man takes a wife and marries her, and it should be she finds no favor before him,
   because he found something shameful in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce,
puts it in her hands, and sends her out of his house,† 2and she departs from his house and
marries a different man, 3and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce,
and puts it in her hands, and sends her out of his house, or the latter man dies who took her
as his wife, 4then her former husband who divorced her cannot take her back to be his wife
after she was defiled; because that is an abomination before the Lord your God; and you shall
not defile the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.

                                         Other Laws

  5“If a man should take a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any
business; he shall be free at home one year and bring happiness to his wife whom he took.

  6“No man shall take the lower or the upper millstone in pledge, for he takes one's living in
pledge.

  7“If a man should kidnap any of his brethren of the sons of Israel and mistreats him or
sells him, then that kidnapper shall die; and you shall put away the evil from among you.

  8“Take heed to yourself in an outbreak of leprosy that you carefully keep and do according
to all the law, whatever the priests and Levites may proclaim to you, in the manner I
commanded them; so you shall keep and do. 9Remember what the Lord your God did to
Miriam on the way when you proceeded out of Egypt.

  10“If you should lend your neighbor anything, you shall not enter his house to get his

pledge. 11You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out
to you. 12Now if the man is poor, you shall not keep his pledge overnight. 13You shall return
the pledge to him again when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his own garment and
bless you; and it shall be for you an alms before the Lord your God.

  14“You shall not withhold wrongfully the wage of the poor and needy, whether one of your
brethren or one of the resident aliens in your cities. 15Each day you shall pay him his wage
and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his hope on it; lest he cry out
against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you.

  16“Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their

fathers; each shall be put to death for his own sin.†

  17“You shall not pervert judgment due the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, nor

take a widow's garment as a pledge. 18But you shall remember you were a servant in Egypt,
and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore, I command you to do this thing.

  19“If you should reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not
go back to get it; it shall be for the poor and the resident alien and the fatherless and the
widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the works of your hands. 20If you pick
olives, you shall not go back to glean what you left behind you; it shall be for the resident
alien, the fatherless, and the widow; and remember, you were a servant in Egypt; therefore, I
command you to do this. 21Now if you should gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall
not glean it afterward; it shall be for the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow. 22So
remember, you were a servant in the land of Egypt; therefore, I command you to do this
thing.


25 “Now  if there should be a dispute between men, and they come to judgment, and they
   judge and justify the one in the right but condemn the impious one, 2then it shall be, if
the impious man should deserve to be beaten, you shall set him before the judges, and one
shall beat him before them, according to his impiety, with a certain number of blows. 3Forty
blows he may give him and no more, lest he should exceed this and beat him with many
blows above these, and your brother be disgraced before you.

  4“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.†

                                     A Departed Brother

  5“If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead
man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband's brother shall go in
to her, take her as his wife, and dwell with her.† 6Then it shall be, the firstborn son she bears
shall be named by the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of
Israel. 7But if the man does not want to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go
up to the gate to the elders, and say, ‘My husband's brother does not want to raise up the
name of his brother in Israel; my husband's brother did not wish to do so.’ 8Then the elders
of his city shall call him and speak to him. But if he stands firm and says, ‘I do not want to
take her,’ 9then his brother's wife shall come before the elders, remove his brother's sandal
from his foot, spit in his face, and answer and say, ‘So they shall do to the man who will not
build up his brother's house.’ 10And his name shall be called in Israel, ‘The house of him who
had his sandal removed.’

                                    The Enemy Amalek

  11“If two men fight together, a man with his brother, and the wife of one draws near to
rescue her husband from the hand of the one attacking him and puts out her hand and seizes
him by the genitals, 12then you shall cut off her hand; your eye shall not pity her.

  13“You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a heavy and a light. 14You shall not

have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. 15You shall have a true and just
weight and a true and just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land the Lord
your God is giving you as an inheritance. 16For all who do such things, all who behave
unjustly, are an abomination to the Lord your God.

  17“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt,†
18how he met you on the way and cut off your rear guard, all the stragglers at your rear, when

you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. 19Therefore it shall be, when the Lord
your God gives you rest from your enemies all around in the land the Lord your God is giving
you to possess as an inheritance, you will blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.
You shall not forget.

                                    Offerings at Harvest


26 “And  it shall be, when you come into the land the Lord your God gives you as an
   inheritance, and you inherit it and dwell in it, 2you shall take some of the first of all
the produce of your land which the Lord your God gives you and put it in a basket, and go to
the place the Lord your God will choose for His name to be called upon there. 3Then you
shall go to the one who is priest in those days and say to him, ‘I declare today to the Lord my
God, I have come to the country the Lord swore to our fathers to give us.’ 4Then the priest
shall take the basket out of your hands and set it down before the altar of the Lord your God.
5So you shall answer and say before the Lord your God, ‘My father left Syria, and he went
down to Egypt and dwelt there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty,
and populous. 6But the Egyptians maltreated us, humbled us, and laid hard tasks on us.
7Then we cried out to the Lord God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice and looked

on our humility, our labor and our affliction. 8So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a
mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great spectacles and with signs and wonders.
9He brought us to this place and gave us this land, “a land flowing with milk and honey”;
10and now, behold, I brought the firstfruits of the produce of the land You, O Lord, gave me.’
Then you shall set it before the Lord your God and worship there before the Lord your God.
11So you shall rejoice in every good thing the Lord your God gave you and your house, you
and the Levite and the resident alien among you.

  12“Now if you should finish tithing all the tithe of the produce of your land in the third
year, you shall give the second tithe to the Levite, the resident alien, the fatherless, and the
widow; and they shall eat within your cities and be filled. 13Then you shall say before the
Lord your God, ‘I cleared out the holy things from my house and also gave them to the Levite,
the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments You
commanded me; I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor have I forgotten them.
14I have not eaten any of them when in mourning, nor have I cleared out any of them for an
unclean use, nor given any of them for the dead. I obeyed the voice of the Lord my God, and
did according to all You commanded me. 15Look down from Your holy habitation from
heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land You gave them, just as You swore to give
our fathers, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’

                                     The People of God

  16“This day the Lord your God commands you to observe these ordinances and judgments;

therefore, you shall be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul.† 17Today,
you proclaimed God to be your God, and to walk in His ways, to keep His ordinances and
judgments, and to obey His voice. 18Also today, the Lord proclaimed you to be His special
people, just as He said to you, that you should keep all His commandments, 19and to set you
high over all the nations; how He made you a name, a pride, and glorious, that you might be a
holy people to the Lord your God, just as He said.”

                               Commandments Set in Stone


27 Now Moses with the elders of Israel ordered the people, saying, “Keep all these
   commandments I command you today. 2Then it shall be, on the day you cross over the
Jordan to the land the Lord your God gives you, you shall set up for yourselves large stones
and plaster them with lime. 3You shall write on the stones all the words of this law when you
cross over the Jordan, at the time you enter the land the Lord God of your fathers is giving
you, ‘a land flowing with milk and honey,’ in the manner the Lord God of your fathers told
you. 4Therefore it shall be, when you cross over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones on
Mount Ebal, which I command you today, and you shall plaster them with lime. 5Now there
you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones; you shall not use an iron tool
on them.† 6You shall build with whole stones the altar of the Lord your God, and offer whole
burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. 7You shall sacrifice peace offerings there, and
shall eat and be filled and rejoice before the Lord your God. 8Then you shall write very
plainly on the stones all the words of this law.”

  9Then Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen, O

Israel: This day you became the people of the Lord your God. 10Therefore you shall obey the
voice of the Lord your God, and do all His commandments and ordinances I command you
today.”

                                  Curses on Disobedience

  11Then Moses commanded the people on that day, saying, 12“These shall stand on Mount
Gerizim to bless the people when you cross over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar,
Joseph, and Benjamin; 13and these shall stand on Mount Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher,
Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

  14Then the Levites shall speak with a loud voice and say to all Israel:

  15‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved or molten image, an abomination to the Lord,
the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ Then all the people shall
answer and say, ‘Amen!’
  16‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

  17‘Cursed is he who changes his neighbor's boundaries.’ Then all the people shall say,
‘Amen!’

  18‘Cursed is he who makes the blind wander on a road.’ Then all the people shall say,
‘Amen!’

  19‘Cursed is he who perverts the judgment of a resident alien, the fatherless, and the
widow.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

  20‘Cursed is he who lies with his father's wife, because he uncovered what is covered of his
father's.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

  21‘Cursed is he who lies with any cattle.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

  22‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his
mother.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

  23‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
‘Cursed is he who lies with the sister of his wife.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

  24‘Cursed is he who strikes his neighbor deceitfully.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

  25‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to slay the innocent blood of a soul.’ Then all the people
shall say, ‘Amen!’

  26‘Cursed is every man who does not abide in all the words of this law to do them.’ Then all

the people shall say, ‘Amen!’†

                                The Blessings of Obedience


28 “Now   it shall come to pass, as you cross the Jordan to the land the Lord your God gives
   you, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God to be careful and do all His
commandments I command you today, then the Lord your God will set you high over all
nations of the earth.† 2Then all these blessings shall come upon you and find you, because
you obey the voice of the Lord your God: 3Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall
you be in the country. 4Blessed shall be the offspring of your womb, the produce of your
ground and the herds of your oxen, and the flocks of your sheep. 5Blessed shall be your
storehouses and your reserves. 6Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall
you be when you go out. 7May the Lord your God deliver your enemies who rise against you
to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you
seven ways. 8The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to
which you set your hand in the land the Lord your God gives you.

  9“The Lord your God will establish you as a holy people to Himself, in the manner He
swore to your fathers, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God, and walk in His ways.
10Then all nations of the earth shall see you are called by the name of the Lord, and they

shall be afraid of you. 11So the Lord your God shall increase you in good things: in the fruit of
your womb, in the produce of your ground, and in the offspring of your cattle in the land the
Lord swore to your fathers to give you. 12The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the
heaven, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the works of your hands.
You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; and you shall rule over many
nations, and they shall not rule over you. 13So the Lord your God will make you the head and
not the tail; you shall be above only and not beneath, if you heed the commandments of the
Lord your God I command you today to keep and do them. 14You shall not transgress any of
the words I command you this day to the right or the left, to go after different gods to serve
them.

  15“But it shall be, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God to keep and do all His
commandments I command you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
16Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. 17Cursed shall be

your storehouses and your reserves. 18Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb and the
produce of your land, and the herds of your oxen and the flocks of your sheep. 19Cursed shall
you be when you go out, and cursed shall you be when you come in.

  20“The Lord will send on you poverty, hunger, and consumption in all you set your hand to
do, until He destroys you and lays you waste quickly, because of your evil habits in which you
forsook Me. 21The Lord will make death cling to you, until He consumes you from the land to
which you are going as an inheritance. 22The Lord will strike you with perplexity, fever,
shivering, irritation, murder, blight, and mildew; these things shall pursue you until you
perish. 23The heaven over your head shall be brass, and the earth under you shall be iron.
24May the Lord give dust as the rain of your land; and from heaven dirt shall come down on
you until it wears you out and destroys you.

  25“May the Lord give you over to slaughter before your enemies; you shall go out one way
against them, and flee seven ways before them; and you shall be in dispersion among all the
kingdoms of the earth. 26Your carcasses shall be food for all the birds of heaven and the
beasts of the earth, and no one shall frighten them away. 27The Lord will strike you with the
sores of Egypt on the buttocks, with furious itching and scratching from which you cannot be
healed. 28The Lord will strike you with madness, blindness, and confusion of mind. 29You
shall grope at noonday as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways;
you shall be only oppressed and plundered all your days, and no one shall help you.

  30“You shall take a wife, but a different man shall have her; you shall build a house, but

you shall not dwell in it; you shall plant a vineyard, but shall not gather its grapes. 31Your
young bull shall be slaughtered before you, but you shall not eat of it; your donkey shall be
violently taken away from before you, and shall not be restored to you; your sheep shall be
given to your enemies, and you shall have no one to help you. 32Your sons and your
daughters shall be given to a different nation, and your eyes shall look and fail with longing
for them all day long; and there shall be no strength in your hand. 33A nation whom you have
not known shall eat the fruit of your land and the produce of your labor, and you shall be
oppressed and crushed all the days. 34So you shall be driven mad because of the sight which
your eyes see. 35The Lord will strike you in the knees and on the legs with severe sores which
cannot be healed, and from the sole of your foot to the top of your head.

  36“The Lord will bring you and the rulers whom you set over you to a nation neither you

nor your fathers knew, and there you shall serve different gods of wood and stone. 37There
you shall become an obscure saying, a proverb, and a tale among all nations where the Lord
will bring you.

  38“You shall carry much seed out to the field but gather little in, for the locust shall

consume it. 39You shall plant vineyards and tend them, but you shall neither drink of the
wine nor enjoy it; for the worm shall eat it. 40You shall have olive trees throughout all your
borders, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil; for your olives shall drop off. 41You
shall beget sons and daughters, but they shall not be yours; for they shall go into captivity.
42Blight shall consume all your trees and the produce of your land. 43The resident alien
among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower.
44He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be
the tail.

  45“Moreover all these curses shall come upon and pursue you and overtake you until you
are destroyed and wasted, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep
His commandments and ordinances which He commanded you. 46So they shall be upon you
as signs and wonders, and among your seed forever. 47Because you did not serve the Lord
your God with joy and a good heart, for the abundance of everything;† 48therefore, you shall
serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness,
and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He destroys you.
49The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as

the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, 50a nation ruthless in
appearance which does not respect the elderly, nor is merciful to the young. 51They shall eat
the offspring of your cattle and the produce of your land; so as not to leave you grain, wine, or
olive oil, or the herds of your oxen, or the flocks of your sheep, until they destroy you 52and
wipe you out in all your cities, until your high and fortified walls in which you trust come
down throughout all your land; and He will afflict you in all your cities the Lord your God
gave you.

  53“You shall eat the offspring of your womb, the flesh of your sons and your daughters the
Lord your God gave you, in the distress and desperate straits in which your enemy shall
distress you. 54The tender and very refined man among you will turn a grudging eye toward
his brother, toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the rest of his children whom he leaves
behind, 55so as not to give any of them the flesh of his children whom he will eat, because he
has nothing left in your siege and desperate straits in which your enemies shall distress you
in all your cities. 56The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set
the sole of her foot on the ground because of her delicateness and sensitivity, will turn a
grudging eye toward the husband in her bosom, and upon her son and daughter, 57and
toward her placenta which came out from between her thighs and her child whom she might
bear; for she will eat these secretly for lack of everything in the siege and desperate straits in
which your enemy shall distress you in all your cities.
  58“If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law written in this book, to fear this

glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God,† 59then the Lord will bring upon you and
your seed extraordinary plagues—great and marvelous plagues—and evil and chronic
diseases. 60Moreover He will bring back on you all the evil pain of Egypt of which you were
in dread, and they shall cling to you. 61Also every sickness and every plague not written in
this book of the law will the Lord bring upon you, until He destroys you. 62You shall be left
few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not
obey the voice of the Lord your God.

  63“Thus it shall be, in the manner the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply
you, so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall
be taken from off the land you go to inherit. 64Then the Lord your God will scatter you
among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve
different gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers knew. 65But even
among those nations He shall give you no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting
place; but there the Lord will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul.
66Your Life shall hang before your eyes; and you shall fear day and night, and you will not

believe in your Life.† 67In the morning you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were evening!’ And at
evening you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were morning!’ because of the fear which terrifies your
heart, and because of the sight your eyes see. 68Then the Lord will take you back to Egypt in
ships, by the way of which I said to you, ‘You shall never see it again.’ There you shall be
offered for sale to your enemies as male and female servants, but no one will buy you.”

  69These are the words of the covenant the Lord commanded Moses to establish with the
sons of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He made with them in Horeb.

                                  The Covenant in Moab


29 Now  Moses called all the children of Israel and said to them, “You saw all the Lord did
   before you in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land—†
2the great trials your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. 3Yet the Lord your God

has not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day. 4He
also led you forty years in the desert. Your clothes did not grow old on you, and your sandals
did not wear out on your feet.† 5You did not eat bread, nor did you drink wine or strong drink,
that you may know He is the Lord your God. 6Then you came to this place; and Sihon king of
Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out against us in war, and we struck them. 7We took
their land, and gave it as an inheritance to Reuben, to Gad, and to half the tribe of Manasseh.
8Therefore heed all the words of this covenant, to do them, that you may understand all
these things you are doing.

  9“All of you stand today before the Lord your God: your chiefs, your elders, your judges and

your teachers, all the men of Israel, 10your wives and your offspring and the resident alien in
your camp, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water, 11that you
may enter into the covenant of the Lord your God and into His oath the Lord your God makes
with you today, 12that He may establish you today as a people for Himself and be God to you,
in the manner He told you, and in the manner He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob. 13I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone, 14but with those with us
here today before the Lord your God, as well as with those not with us here today 15(for you
know we dwelt in the land of Egypt, and came through the nations you passed by; 16and you
saw their abominations and idols among them—wood, stone, silver, and gold).

  17“Surely there is not among you man, woman, family, or tribe whose mind turns away
today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations? And surely there is
not among you a root bearing gall and bitterness?† 18So it shall be, if one should hear the
words of this curse and flatter himself in his heart, saying, ‘May holy things happen for me,
even though I go in the wanderings of my heart’ —lest the sinner destroy the sinless along
with him— 19God will not be merciful to him; for then the anger of the Lord and His jealousy
will burn against that man, and every curse written in this book will cling to him, and the
Lord will blot out his name from under heaven.

  20“So the Lord will separate him from all the children of Israel for evils, according to all

the curses of the covenant written in this book of this law. 21They will say, that is, the coming
generation of your sons who rise up after you, and the foreigner who comes from a far land,
and they see the plagues of that land and its diseases which the Lord sent upon it, 22‘The
whole land will be brimstone and burning salt; it will not be sown, nor will it bear, nor will
any grass grow there, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim,
which the Lord overthrew in His anger and His wrath.’ 23They and all the nations will say,
‘Why has the Lord done so to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?’
24Then they will say, ‘Because they forsook the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers,

which He made with their fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt; 25for they
went and served different gods and worshiped them, which they did not know, nor had He
allotted to them. 26Then the Lord was aroused in anger against that land, to bring on it all the
curses written in the book of this law; 27and the Lord uprooted them from their land in
anger, in wrath, and in great indignation and cast them into another land, as it is this day.’
28The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things revealed belong to us and to

our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.†

                               The Blessings of Repentance


30 “Now  it shall be, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse
   which I set before you, and you will reflect in your heart among all the nations where
the Lord your God scatters you, 2and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice
from your whole heart and from your whole soul, according to all I command you today,
3that the Lord will heal your sins, have mercy on you, and gather you again from all the

nations where the Lord your God scattered you. 4If any of you are scattered from one end of
heaven to the other end, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there the
Lord your God will bring you. 5Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land your
fathers inherited, and you shall have it as an inheritance. He will prosper and multiply you
more than your fathers. 6The Lord your God will purify your heart and the heart of your seed
to love the Lord your God from your whole heart and from your whole soul, that you may
live.

  7“Also the Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate

you, who persecuted you. 8As for you, you will once again obey the voice of the Lord your
God and do His commandments, whatever I command you today. 9The Lord your God will
take great care of you in all the work of your hands, in the offspring of your womb, in the
produce of your land, and in the offspring of your cattle. For the Lord will again rejoice over
you for good, as He rejoiced over your fathers, 10if you obey the voice of the Lord your God to
keep and do all His commandments, ordinances, and judgments written in this book of the
law, and if you return to the Lord your God from your whole heart and from your whole soul.

  11“For this commandment I command you today is not too burdensome for you, nor is it
far off.† 12It is not in heaven above, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us
and bring it to us, that we may hear and do it?’ 13Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should
say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear and do it?’ †14But
the word is very near you, in your mouth, in your heart, and in your hands, that you may do
it.†

  15“See, I set before you today life and death, good and evil. 16If you hear the
commandments of the Lord your God I command you today, to love the Lord your God, to
walk in His ways, and to keep His ordinances and judgments, then you shall live and
multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you go to inherit. 17But if your
heart turns away and you do not hear, but go astray and worship different gods and serve
them, 18I announce to you today, you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in
the land the Lord your God is giving you, into which you are crossing over the Jordan to
inherit. 19I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you: I set before you life and
death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live
20and love the Lord your God, obey His voice, and cling to Him. For this is your life and the
length of your days, that you may dwell in the land the Lord swore to your fathers, to
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

                                 Joshua Leads the People

     Now Moses finished speaking these words to the children of Israel. 2Then he said to
31 them, “I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come
in. Also the Lord said to me, ‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’ 3The Lord your God
Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall
dispossess them. Joshua himself is also crossing over before you, as the Lord said. 4Then the
Lord will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites who were
beyond the Jordan, and their land, when He destroyed them. 5The Lord gave them over to
you, and you will do to them as I commanded you. 6Be valiant and strong, do not fear nor be
afraid of them, nor be terrified before them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes
before you and with you and among you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”†

  7Then Moses called Joshua and said to him before all Israel, “Be valiant and strong, for you
must go before this people to the land the Lord swore to their fathers to give them; and you
shall cause them to inherit it. 8But the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be
with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not be afraid, nor be terrified.”

                             Read the Law Every Seven Years

  9So Moses wrote the words of this law in a book and delivered it to the priests, the sons of
Levi who carried the ark of the Lord's covenant, and to the elders of the sons of Israel.
10Then Moses commanded them on that day, saying, “At the end of every seven years, at the

appointed time in the Year of Remission, at the Feast of Tabernacles, 11when all Israel comes
to appear before the Lord your God in the place the Lord chooses, you shall read this law
before all Israel in their hearing. 12Gather the people together, men and women and
offspring, and the resident alien within your cities, so they may hear and learn to fear the
Lord your God, and may hear and do all the words of this law; 13and their sons who have not
known it may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as they live in the land you
cross over the Jordan to inherit.”

                                     Final Word to Moses

  14Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, the day of your death is near; call Joshua, and
stand at the doors of the tabernacle of testimony, and I shall give him My commandments.”
So Moses and Joshua went to the tabernacle of testimony and stood at the doors of the
tabernacle of testimony. 15Now the Lord came down in a cloud and stood at the doors of the
tabernacle of testimony; and the pillar of cloud stood at the doors of the tabernacle. 16Then
the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, you will sleep with your fathers; and this people will rise and
commit fornication with the gods of the foreigners of the land where they go to be among
them; and they will forsake Me and break My covenant I made with them.† 17Then I shall be
aroused in anger against them in that day; and I will forsake them and turn My face from
them. So he shall be a prey, and many evils and troubles shall find him; and he will say in
that day, ‘These evils found me because the Lord my God is not with me.’ 18So I will surely
turn My face from them in that day because of all the evil they did, and because they turned
to foreign gods.

  19“Now therefore, write the words of this ode and teach it to the children of Israel, and put
it in their mouths, that this song may be a testimony for Me among the children of Israel.
20For I shall bring them to this good land I swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing
with milk and honey; and they shall eat and be satisfied. Then they will turn to foreign gods
and serve them; and they will provoke Me and break My covenant. 21Then this ode will rise
up and testify against them; for it will not be forgotten from their mouth, nor from the mouth
of their seed, for I know the wickedness they do today, even before I brought them to the land
I swore to give them.” 22Therefore Moses wrote this ode on that day and taught it to the
children of Israel. 23Then Moses commanded Joshua the son of Nun and said, “Be valiant
and strong; for you shall bring the sons of Israel into the land the Lord swore to them; and
He shall be with you.”

  24So it was, when Moses completed writing all the words of this law in a book, and when

they were finished, 25he commanded the Levites who carry the ark of the covenant of the
Lord, saying, 26“Take the book of this law and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the
Lord your God, and it shall be there as a testimony against you; 27for I know your rebellion
and stiff neck. For if while I am yet alive with you today, you have been rebellious against
God, then how much more after my death? 28Gather to me your chiefs, your elders, your
judges, and your teachers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and
earth to testify against them. 29For I know that after my death you will become utterly
lawless and turn aside from the way I commanded you. Then evil shall befall you in the latter
days because you will do evil before the Lord, to provoke Him to anger through the works of
your hands.”

                                                          The Song of Moses

  30So Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this ode, until
they were ended:

    32 “Take heed, O heav en, and I will speak;
    And let the earth hear the words of m y m outh.

    2
        Let m y prov erbial say ing be awaited as the rain,

    And let m y words com e down

    As raindrops on the wild grass,

    And as snowfall on the sown grass.

    3
        For I inv oke the Lord's nam e:

    Ascribe greatness to our God.

    4
        He is God, His works are true;
And all His way s are judgm ent,

A faithful God and without injustice;

Righteous and holy is the Lord. †

5
     “They sinned; the blam eworthy children are not His,

A generation twisted and perv erse. †

6
     Is this how y ou repay the Lord,

O foolish and unwise people?

Is He not y our Father, who acquired y ou?

Has He not m ade and created y ou?†

7
     “Rem em ber the day s of old,

Consider the y ears of m any generations.

Ask y our father, and he will tell y ou;

Your elders, and they will tell y ou:†

8
     When the Most High div ided the nations,

When He scattered the sons of Adam ,

He set the boundaries of the nations

By the num ber of God's angels.

9
     For the Lord's portion becam e the people of Jacob;

The allotm ent of His inheritance is Israel.

10
     “He prov ided for him in the desert,

In thirst of heat in a waterless place.

He encircled him ; He instructed him ;

He guarded him carefully as the apple of His ey e.

11
     As an eagle cov ers its nest,

Yearns after its y oung,

Spreading out its wings, taking them up,

Carry ing them on its back,

12
     So the Lord alone led them ,

And there was no foreign god with them . †

13
     “He raised them on the strength of the land;

He fed them on the produce of the fields;

He suckled them on honey from the rock

And oil from the solid rock, †

14
     Butter of oxen and m ilk of sheep,

With fat of lam bs and goats,
Of sons of bulls and goats,

With the choicest wheat;

And y ou drank wine, the blood of grapes.

15
     “So Jacob ate and was filled, and the belov ed kicked;

He grew fat, he grew thick, he is obese.

Then he forsook God who m ade him

And stood back from God his Sav ior.

16
     They prov oked Me to wrath against foreign gods;

With their abom inations they em bittered Me.

17
     They sacrificed to dem ons, and not to God,

To gods they did not know;

New ones, recent gods arriv ed,

Which their fathers did not know. †

18
     You abandoned the God who begot y ou,

And forgot the God who nourished y ou.

19
     “So the Lord saw it, and was jealous;

And He was prov oked to anger by His sons and daughters.

20
     Then He said, ‘I will turn My face from them ,

And I will m ake known what their end will be;

For they are a perv erse generation,

Sons in whom is no faith. †

21
     They prov oked Me to jealousy by what is not God;

They m ov ed Me to anger by their idols;

But I will prov oke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation;

I will m ov e them to anger by a foolish nation. †

22
     For a fire is kindled in My anger,

And shall burn to the lowest Hades;

It shall consum e the land with its produce

And set on fire the foundations of the m ountains.

23
     ‘I will gather ev ils on them ;

I will spend My arrows on them .

24
     They shall be wasted with hunger,

Dev oured by birds and incurable disease;

I will also send against them the teeth of wild anim als

With the anger of things crawling on the earth.
25
     The sword shall m ake them childless outside,

And fear from the inner cham bers,

For the y oung m an and v irgin,

The nursing child with the elder of gray hairs.

26
     I said, “I will scatter them ;

I will m ake their m em ory cease from am ong m en,”

27
     But for the wrath of the enem y , lest they liv e long,

Lest their adv ersary m ake a joint attack,

Lest they should say , “Our hand is high;

And it is not the Lord who did all this.” ’

28
     “For they are a nation v oid of counsel,

Nor is there understanding in them .

29
     They were not wise to understand these things;

Let them be concerned for the com ing tim e.

30
     How could one chase a thousand

And two put ten thousand to flight

Unless God had sold them ,

And the Lord deliv ered them up?†

31
     For our God is not like their gods,

But our enem ies are foolish.

32
     For their v iney ard is of the v iney ard of Sodom ,

And their v ine is of Gom orrah;

Their grapes are grapes of gall;

Their clusters are bitter.

33
     Their wine is the wrath of serpents,

And the incurable wrath of asps.

34
     ‘Behold, is this not laid up in store with Me,

Sealed up am ong My treasures?

35
     I shall repay on the day of v engeance;

In tim e, when their foot shall slip;

For the day of their calam ity is at hand,

And is waiting, ready for them .’

36
     “For the Lord will judge His people,

And hav e com passion on His serv ants;

For He sees them disabled
    And left in distress and weakened.

    37
         The Lord said,

    ‘Where are their gods in which they trusted?

    38
         Who ate the fat of their sacrifices,

    And drank the wine of their drink offerings?

    Let them rise and help y ou

    And be y our defender.

    39
         ‘Now see, I, ev en I, am He,

    And there is no God besides Me;

    I kill and I m ake aliv e;

    I wound and I heal;

    Nor is there any who can deliv er from My hands. †

    40
         For I raise My hand to heav en,

    And I swear by My right hand, and say ,

    “As I liv e forev er,

    41
         for I whet My sword like lightning;

    And My hand takes hold on judgm ent.

    I will render v engeance on My enem ies,

    And repay those who hate Me.

    42
         I will m ake My arrows drunk from blood;

    And My sword shall dev our flesh

    From the blood of the slain and the captiv es,

    From the heads of the leaders of the enem y .” ’

    43
         “Rejoice, O Heav ens, together with Him ,

    And worship Him , all the sons of God;

    Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people;

    And let all the angels of God be strong with Him ;

    For He will av enge the blood of His sons

    And render v engeance to His adv ersaries;

    And the Lord will purify His people's land.” †

                                                     Moses’ Last Instructions

  44So Moses wrote this ode on that day and taught it to the children of Israel. Then Moses
came with Joshua the son of Nun and spoke all the words of this law in the hearing of the
people. 45Now Moses finished speaking to all Israel; 46and he said to them, “Take heed in
your heart to all these words I testify among you today, which you shall command your sons
to be careful to do—all the words of this law. 47For it is not an empty word for you, because it
is your life; and because of this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you are
crossing over the Jordan to inherit.”

  48Then the Lord spoke to Moses on that day, saying, 49“Go up this mountain of the
Abarim, Mount Nebo in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan,
which I give to the children of Israel as a possession;† 50and die on the mountain you ascend
and be added to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was added to his
people; 51because you disobeyed My word among the children of Israel during the Water of
Contention at Kadesh in the Desert of Sin, and because you did not sanctify Me in the midst
of the children of Israel. 52Yet you shall see the land at a distance, though you shall not go
there.”

                                                 The Last Blessing of Moses


33 Now  this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the sons of Israel
   before his death. 2Thus he said:

    “The Lord cam e down from Sinai

    And appeared to us from Seir;

    He hastened from Mount Paran

    Along with m y riads at Kadesh,

    angels with Him at His right hand;†

    3
        And He spared His people

    And all the sanctified ones under Your hands;

    And these are under You,

    And receiv ed the law from His words†

    4
        Which Moses com m anded us,

    A heritage of the congregations of Jacob.

    5
        And there shall be a Ruler am ong the belov ed people

    When the rulers of the people are gathered,

    Together with the tribes of Israel. †

    6
        “Let Reuben liv e, and not die,

    And let him be m any in num ber.”
7This he said of Judah:

  “Hear, O Lord, the v oice of Judah,

  And let him v isit his people;

  His hands will judge for him ,

  And m ay You be a help against his enem ies.” †

8To Levi he said:

  “Giv e to Lev i, to the holy m an, his Urim and Thum m im ,

  Him whom they tested with testing,

  Whom they rev iled at the Water of Contention,

  9
       Who say s to his father and m other, ‘I hav e not seen y ou’;

  Nor did he know his brothers or his own children;

  They guarded Your oracles

  And kept Your cov enant. †

  10
       They shall m anifest Your judgm ents to Jacob

  And Your law to Israel.

  They shall lay incense when You are angry

  Continually on Your altar.

  11
       Bless his strength, O Lord,

  And accept the works of his hands;

  Bring down the loins of those who rise against him

  And of those who hate him , so they rise not again.”

12To Benjamin he said:

  “Belov ed by the Lord, he shall dwell in hope,

  And God shall ov ershadow him all his day s;

  And he rested between his shoulders.”

13To Joseph he said:

  “Blessed of the Lord is his land,

  Of the seasons of heav en, of the dew

  And of the deep springs ly ing beneath,

  14
       And in due season of the produce of the solar cy cle

  And of the conjunction of the m onths,

  15
       Both from the top of the ancient m ountains
  And from the top of the ev erlasting hills;

  16
       And in due season of the fullness of the land

  And the things acceptable to the One rev ealed in the Bush.

  May these things com e ‘upon the head of Joseph,

  And on the crown of the one glorified am ong his brothers.’†

  17
       His beauty is like the firstborn of a bull

  And his horns like the horns of the unicorn;

  With them He will gore nations together

  Ev en to the ends of the earth.

  They are the ten thousands of Ephraim ,

  And they are the thousands of Manasseh.”

18To Zebulun he said:

  “Rejoice, Zebulun, in y our going out,

  And Issachar in his tents.

  19
       They shall annihilate nations,

  And there y ou will call upon the Lord

  And sacrifice a sacrifice of righteousness,

  For the wealth of the sea shall suckle y ou,

  And the trade of those dwelling by the sea.”

20To Gad he said:

  “Blessed is He who enlarges Gad;

  He rested as a lion

  And crushed the arm and the head.

  21
       He saw his firstfruit,

  Because the land of the rulers was apportioned there,

  When the rulers were gathered together

  With the rulers of the people.

  The Lord adm inistered righteousness

  And His judgm ents with Israel.”

22To Dan he said:

  “Dan is a lion's cub,

  And he shall leap from Bashan.”
  23To Naphtali he said:

    “Naphtali has an abundance of acceptable things,

    And let him be full of blessing from the Lord.

    He shall inherit the sea and the south.”

  24To Asher he said:

    “Blessed is Asher bey ond sons,

    And let him be acceptable to his brothers.

    He shall dip his foot in oliv e oil.

    25
         His sandals shall be iron and bronze;

    And as y our day s, so shall y our strength be.

    26
         There is no one like the God of the Belov ed,

    Who rides upon heav en and who is y our help,

    And the Magnificent One of the firm am ent, †

    27
         And the Protection of the rule of God,

    And who is under the strength of the ev erlasting arm s.

    He will cast out the enem y from before y our face,

    Say ing, ‘Destroy .’

    28
         Then Israel shall dwell in hope,

    Alone in the land of Jacob,

    With grain and wine;

    And heav en is cloudy with dew for him .

    29
         Blessed are y ou, O Israel.

    Who is like y ou, a people sav ed by the Lord.

    Your Helper will defend y ou as with a shield;

    And the sword shall be y our boast.

    Your enem ies shall speak falsely to y ou,

    And y ou shall tread on their neck.” †

                                                  Moses’ Death on Mount Nebo


34 Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah,
   which is across from Jericho; and the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead as far as
Dan, 2and all the land of Naphtali, and all the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the
land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, 3and the desert, and the plain of the Valley of
Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4Then the Lord said to Moses, “This is the land I
swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your seed.’ I show it to your
eyes, but you shall not go in there.”†

  5So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab by the word of the Lord.
6Then He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows

his grave to this day. 7Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes
were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished. 8Then the sons of Israel wept for Moses in
the plains of Moab at the Jordan near Jericho thirty days. So the days of weeping and
mourning for Moses ended.

  9Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the Spirit of understanding, for Moses had laid his

hands on him; so the sons of Israel heeded him and did as the Lord commanded Moses.†
10Now there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,†
11in all the signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh,

before all his servants, and in all his land, 12and by all those great wonders and the mighty
hand which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.
                                               J O SHUA
                                    Previous      Home    Next

Chapters in Joshua
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 5
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10


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Verses in Joshua Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 23
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Joshua Chapter 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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                                                          The Book of Joshua

   Author  —Traditionally ascribed to Joshua, whose name means “salvation.”

   Date   —Although the initial writing was done after entering Canaan, likely the work as is
comes down to us from sixth-century BC sources.

   Major Theme      —God is faithful to fulfill His promise to the children of Israel. The
Israelites will inherit the land of promise through (1) obedience to God's Law and His
commands, and (2) Joshua's leadership and God's intervention. The failures are the
result of Israel's disobedience.

   Background     —Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites are poised to enter the promised
land from the east side of the Jordan River, just north of the Dead Sea. Upon entering
the land they would meet Canaannites and Amorites, who had settled there some 500
years previously and had an established system of city-states. The geography the
Israelites would encounter consisted of both rugged, barren mountains and fertile
farmland. The pagan religion of the Canaanites consisted of numerous gods and
goddesses.

Outline

 I. Conquest of the Prom ised Land (1 :1 –1 2 :2 4 )

        A. Com m and and preparation for the crossing of the Jordan (1 :1 –1 8)

        B. Reconnoiter of Jericho (2 :1 –2 4 )

        C. Israel crosses the Jordan (3 :1 –1 7 )

        D. Reaffirm ation of the Mosaic Cov enant (4 :1 –5:1 6 )

        E. Defeat of m any kings and cities (6 :1 –1 1 :2 3 )

        F. Sum m ary of Israel's conquests (1 2 :1 –2 4 )

II. Div ision of the Land of Prom ise am ong the Israelites (1 3 :1 –2 2 :3 4 )

        A. Com m and and God's prom ise regarding territory not y et conquered (1 3 :1 –1 4 )

        B. Territories of the Trans-Jordanian tribes (1 3 :1 5–3 2 )

        C. Div ision of the territories west of the Jordan (1 4 :1 –2 2 :3 4 )

III. Settlem ent and Conclusion of Joshua's Ministry (2 3 :1 –2 4 :3 3 )



                                         God's Command to Conquer Canaan
1 After the death of Moses, the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses,
  saying,† 2“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all this people, and
cross over Jordan into the land I will give them.† 3Every place on which you tread with your
feet, I will give it to you, as I said to Moses.† 4Your territories shall be the desert and Lebanon
as far as the great river, the Euphrates River; and from the setting of the sun to the farthest
sea. 5No man shall be able to oppose you all the days of your life, and as I was with Moses,
thus I will be also with you. I will not forsake you nor disregard you.

  6“Be strong and courageous, for you will divide this land which I swore to your fathers to

give them.† 7Be strong, therefore, and courageous to guard yourself and to do as Moses My
servant commanded you; then you will not turn away from them, to the right nor to the left.
In this way, you will have understanding in whatever you do. 8The book of this law shall not
depart from your mouth, and you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may have the
understanding to do all the things written therein. Then you will both prosper, make your
ways prosperous, and have understanding. 9Behold, I have commanded you. Be strong and
courageous. Do not be cowardly or fearful, for the Lord your God is with you in all things,
wherever you go.”

                                   Cross the River Jordan

  10Then Joshua commanded the scribes of the people, saying,† 11“Enter the midst of the
people's camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare the supply of food, for yet three
days you shall cross this Jordan and enter the land to possess what the Lord God of your
fathers will give you.’ ”† 12Then to Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua
said,† 13“Remember the word of the Lord which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded
you, saying, ‘The Lord your God has caused you to rest and has given you this land.’ 14Your
wives, your children and your cattle shall dwell in the land He has given you; but you shall
cross over well-armed before your brethren, everyone who is strong, and you shall fight by
their side; 15until the Lord your God has caused your brethren to rest, and you as well, and
they have taken possession of the land which the Lord your God has given them. Then each
of you shall depart to his inheritance which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan eastward.”

  16Then they answered Joshua and said, “We will do all you command us to do, and we will

go everywhere you send us. 17We will heed you as we heeded Moses; only let the Lord our
God be with you as He was with Moses. 18But whatever man disobeys you and does not heed
your words as you command him, let him die; but you be strong and courageous.”

                                       The Two Spies


2 After this, Joshua the son of Nun sent out two young men from Acacia Grove to spy out
  the land, saying, “Go and see the land and Jericho.” So the two young men went and
entered Jericho; and they went into the house of a harlot named Rahab and lodged there.†
2This was reported to the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have

come to spy on the land.” 3So the king of Jericho sent and spoke to Rahab, saying, “Bring out
the men who came into your house last night; for they are here to spy on the land.”†

  4But the woman took the men and hid them, and she spoke to them, saying, “The men

came to me; 5but as the gate was being shut in the darkness, the men went out. I do not
know where they went. Pursue them, if indeed you may overtake them.” 6But she led them to
the roof and hid them in the stalk of flax she had piled together on the roof.

  7So the men searched for them along the road to the Jordan, to the fords, and the gate was

closed. Then it came to pass, when the men who pursued them went after them 8and before
the spies went to sleep, that she went to them on the roof 9and said, “I know that the Lord
gave you the land, for fear of you has fallen upon us. 10For we heard that the Lord God dried
up the Red Sea before you when you came out of the land of Egypt, and what you did to the
two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and to Og, whom you
utterly destroyed. 11So when we heard it, we were amazed in our heart, and there was no
longer any spirit in any of us because of your presence, for your God is in heaven above and
on earth below.† 12Now therefore, swear to me by the Lord God that as I showed you mercy,
you shall also be merciful to me in my father's house,† 13and capture alive all my house: my
father and mother, and my brothers, and everything they have, and deliver my soul from
death.”†

                                          The Oath

  14Then the men said to her, “Our life for your life, even to death.” She then said, “When the

Lord shall deliver the city to you, deal with me in mercy and truth.” 15After this, she let them
down through the window 16and said to them, “Go away to the hill country, lest the pursuers
happen to find you. Hide there for three days until your pursuers return from their search for
you. Afterwards, you shall depart and go your way.”

  17So the men said to her, “We will be without fault regarding this oath of yours. 18For
behold, we will come into a part of the city, and you will set a sign; you shall hang this scarlet
cord in the window through which you let us down. Then you shall gather yourself and your
father and mother and your brothers into your father's house.† 19Whoever shall go outside
the door of your house, his guilt shall be upon him, and we will be free of this oath of yours.
But we will be responsible for whoever is with you in your house. 20But if anyone injures us
or reveals these words of ours, we shall be free from this oath of yours.” 21Then she said to
them, “Let it be so according to your word.” So she sent them away.

  22They departed and went to the hill country and remained there for three days; and the

pursuers searched all the roads, but did not find them. 23So the two young men returned and
came down from the mountain. They crossed over to Joshua the son of Nun and told him
everything that happened to them. 24They said to Joshua, “The Lord will deliver all the land
into our hand, for everyone who inhabits that land cowers in fear because of us.”

                                    Crossing the Jordan


3 Then  Joshua rose early in the morning and departed from Acacia Grove; and he came to
  the Jordan and lodged there before crossing over.† 2After three days, it came to pass that
the scribes went through the camp 3and commanded the people, saying, “When you see the
ark of the covenant of the Lord our God, and our priests and Levites who carry it, then you
shall depart from your places; and you shall go after it;† 4but there shall be a distance
between you and it. You shall stand as much as two thousand cubits from it, and do not come
near it, that you may understand the way you are to go; for you have not gone this way
before.” 5Joshua then said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because
tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” 6Joshua also said to the priests, “Take up
the ark of the covenant of the Lord and go before the people.” So the priests took up the ark
of the covenant of the Lord and went before the people.

  7Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I shall begin to exalt you in the sight of all the

children of Israel, so they will know that I shall be with you as I was with Moses.ω
8Therefore now, command the priests who carry the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘As soon as
you enter a part of the water of the Jordan, then you shall stand in the Jordan.’ ” 9Joshua
then said to the children of Israel, “Come here and hear the word of the Lord our God.
10Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you and will utterly destroy before our
face the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,
and the Jebusites. 11Behold the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing the
Jordan. 12Choose for yourselves twelve men from the sons of Israel, one from each tribe.
13Then it shall come to pass that when the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the
covenant of the Lord of all the earth rest in the water of the Jordan, the water of the Jordan
will cease to flow, for the upstream water will stand still.”

  14So the people left their tents to cross over the Jordan, and the priests carried the ark of

the covenant of the Lord before the people. 15Now when the priests who carried the ark of
the covenant came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the
covenant of the Lord dipped in part of the water of the Jordan (now the Jordan overflowed all
its banks about the time of wheat harvest), 16then the upstream waters stopped flowing
downstream, and a solid wall of water formed over a very great distance, as far as the region
of Adam. The lower part came down to the Sea of Araba, the Salt Sea, until it came to a
complete stop; and the people stood opposite Jericho.† 17So the priests who bore the ark of
the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all the children
of Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the people crossed the Jordan.†

                                       Memorial Stones

                                                                                              †
4 Now
  2
      when all the people finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,
                                                     3
     “Take men from the people, one from each tribe, and command them, saying, ‘Take
twelve prepared stones from the midst of the Jordan and carry these together with you. Put
them in your encampment where you will set up camp tonight.’ ” 4So among the sons of
Israel, Joshua called twelve men of high repute, one from each tribe. 5He said to them, “Draw
near in front of me in the Lord's presence into the midst of the Jordan, and let each take up a
stone and carry it on his shoulders, according to the number of the twelve tribes of Israel, 6so
these might be an appointed sign for you continually, that when your son asks you tomorrow,
saying, ‘What are these stones to you?’ 7then you will declare to your son, saying, ‘The Jordan
River dried up before the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth when it crossed
over’; and these stones shall be a memorial for you, for the sons of Israel forever.”
  8So the sons of Israel did as the Lord commanded Joshua; and they took twelve stones
from the midst of the Jordan, as the Lord directed Joshua, when the children of Israel had
completely crossed over, and carried these stones with them into the encampment and set
them there. 9Then Joshua also set another twelve stones in the Jordan itself, in the place
walked on by the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord. They are
there to this day. 10The priests who carried the ark of the covenant stood in the Jordan until
Joshua had completed all the Lord commanded him to proclaim to the people; and the people
hastened and crossed over.

  11Then it came to pass, when all the people finished crossing over, that the ark of the

covenant of the Lord crossed over, and the stones before them. 12The sons of Reuben and the
sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh also crossed over, well-armed before the sons of
Israel, as Moses commanded them. 13Forty thousand men armed for war crossed before the
Lord for battle against the city of Jericho. 14On that day, the Lord magnified Joshua before all
the nation of Israel, and they feared him as long as he lived, as they did Moses.†

  15Then the Lord spoke to Joshua saying, 16“Command the priests who bear the ark of the

covenant of the testimony of the Lord to come up from the Jordan.” 17So Joshua commanded
the priests, saying, “Go out from the Jordan.” 18Then it came to pass, when the priests who
carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stepped out from the Jordan and set their feet on
land, the water of the Jordan returned to its place, and went as before over all its banks.

  19Now the people went up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and the

children of Israel camped at Gilgal in the region eastward from Jericho.† 20Then Joshua set
up at Gilgal the twelve stones he took from the Jordan, 21saying, “When your children ask
you, ‘What are these stones?’ 22then tell your children that Israel crossed the Jordan on dry
land; 23that the Lord our God dried up the water of the Jordan from before them until they
all crossed over, as the Lord our God did to the Red Sea, which the Lord our God dried up
before us until we crossed over; 24that all the nations of the land might know that the power
of the Lord is mighty; and that you might worship the Lord your God in every age.”


5 Then  it came to pass, when the kings of the Amorites on the other side of the Jordan and
  the kings of the Phoenicians near the sea heard that the Lord God had dried up the Jordan
River before the children of Israel when they crossed over, their minds fainted, they were
panic-stricken, and there was no more sense left in them because of the presence of the
children of Israel.

                                   Circumcision at Gilgal

  2At about this time, the Lord said to Joshua, “Make stone knives for yourself from a sharp

rock, and sit down and circumcise the sons of Israel.”† 3So Joshua made sharp stone knives
and circumcised the sons of Israel at the place called the Hill of Foreskins. 4In this manner,
Joshua completely purified the sons of Israel, as many as were born at any time along the
way and as many as were uncircumcised after they came out of Egypt. 5Joshua circumcised
all these. 6For Israel lived in the Madbarite desert for forty-two years; therefore, most of their
fighting men who came out of Egypt and who disobeyed the commandments of God were
uncircumcised. Concerning these, He also determined that they would not see the land which
the Lord swore to give to their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7But in their
place, He raised up their sons, whom Joshua circumcised because they were born during the
journey and thus were uncircumcised. 8So when they were circumcised, they rested there
and stayed in the camp until they were healed. 9Then the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun,
“Today I have removed the disgrace of Egypt from you.” Thus he called the name of that place
Gilgal.†

  10Then the children of Israel kept Pascha on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, to

the west of Jericho, across the Jordan in the plain.†ω 11They ate of the unleavened and new
wheat of the land. 12On this day, the manna ceased, after they ate from the wheat of the land.
Thus, the children of Israel no longer had manna, for they enjoyed the fruits in the land of
the Phoenicians in that year.

                                Captain of the Lord's Hosts

  13Then it came to pass, when Joshua was at Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing
before him with a sword drawn in his hand. So Joshua came near and said to him, “Are you
for us or on the side of our adversaries?”† 14He said to him, “I am now come, the chief
captain of the host of the Lord.” Then Joshua fell on his face upon the earth and said to him,
“O Master, what do you command your servant?” 15The chief captain of the Lord said to
Joshua, “Loose the shoe from your feet; for the place on which you stand is holy.”
                                   The Defeat of Jericho

   Jericho was enclosed and fortified, and no one went out of or into it. 2Then the Lord said
6 to Joshua, “Behold, I will deliver Jericho into your hand, its king and its army of soldiers
who are mighty. 3But place your soldiers around it, 4and it shall come to pass that when you
sound with the trumpet, let all the people shout together, and when they shout, the walls of
the city shall fall by themselves; and all the people will enter, each rushing throughout the
entire area of the city.”

  5So Joshua the son of Nun went to the priests† 6and he spoke to them, saying, “Command
the people to go around and surround the city, and let the men of war pass on armed before
the Lord. 7Let seven priests holding seven holy trumpets likewise pass by before the Lord,
and let them signal vigorously; and let the ark of the covenant of the Lord follow after them.†
8Let the men of war go in front; and let the priests be the rear guard behind the ark of the
covenant of the Lord as they proceed, and sound the trumpets.”

  9Now Joshua gave a command to the people, saying, “Do not shout, nor let anyone hear

your voice, until the day I myself tell you to shout, and then shout.” 10So when the ark of the
covenant of God went around the city, it immediately returned into the camp and lodged
there. 11Then on the second day, Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up
the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 12Seven priests carried seven trumpets and went on
before the Lord. The armed men followed after with the rest of the multitude behind the ark
of the covenant of the Lord. Then the priests sounded the trumpets, and all the rest of the
multitude encircled the city from close by, 13then again went back to the camp. They did this
for six days.

  14On the seventh day, they rose early in the morning and went around the city six times.†
15Then it came to pass that as they marched around the seventh time, the priests blew the
trumpets, and Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “Shout, for indeed the Lord has handed over
the city to you. 16For the city shall be accursed by the Lord, it and whatever is in it. However,
preserve Rahab the harlot and whatever is in her house. 17But be very careful to keep
yourself from what is accursed, lest you yourself consider to take from it what is accursed,
and then you shall make the camp of the children of Israel a curse and destroy us. 18But all
the silver, the gold, the bronze or the iron shall be holy to the Lord and brought in to the
treasury of the Lord.” 19So the priests sounded the trumpets, and when the people heard the
sound of the trumpets, all the people shouted together with a great and mighty shout. Then
the entire wall fell round about, and all the people went into the city.

  20Joshua put the city under a curse with the edge of the sword, and whatever was in it:

from man to woman, from young man to old man, and from calf to donkey. 21Then Joshua
said to the two young men who acted as spies, “Go into the house of the woman, and bring
her out from there, and whatever she has.” 22So the two young men who had spied out the
city went into the house of the woman and brought out Rahab the harlot, her father and
mother, and her brothers and kindred, and all she possessed. They set her outside the camp
of Israel,† 23and the city, with everyone in it, was set on fire; but the silver, the gold, the
bronze, and the iron they brought into the treasury of the Lord.

  24Thus Joshua kept alive Rahab the harlot and all the house of her father, and caused her

to dwell in Israel to this very day, because she hid the spies Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.†
25Joshua adjured Israel on that day before the Lord, saying, “Cursed be the man who
rebuilds that city. He shall lay its foundation in his firstborn son, and he shall set up its gates
with his youngest son.” Thus did Hiel from Bethel. He laid its foundation in Abiram, his
firstborn son, and he set up its gates with Segub, his youngest surviving son.

  26So the Lord was with Joshua, and his name was known throughout all the land.

                                       The Defeat at Ai


7 But the children of Israel committed a great offense, for they kept back for themselves
  something from what was accursed. Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of
Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took something from what was accursed, and the Lord was very
angry with the sons of Israel.† 2Then Joshua sent men into Ai, which is near Bethel, saying,
“Spy out Ai.” So the men went up, and spied out Ai. 3After this, they returned to Joshua and
said to him, “Let not all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and
force the city to surrender. Do not lead all the people there, for they are few in number.”
4Thus, about three thousand men went up, but they fled from the face of the men of Ai. 5The
men of Ai killed thirty-six of them and pursued them from the gate; and they crushed them
on the steep slope. So the hearts of the people were terrified and became as water.
  6Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the ground before the face of the Lord until

evening, both he and the elders of Israel, and they put dust on their heads.† 7Joshua said, “I
beseech You, O Lord. Why did Your servant lead this people over Jordan to deliver them to
the Amorite to destroy us? If only we had remained and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan.
8What shall I say, since Israel turned his back before his enemy? 9When the Canaanites and
all the inhabitants of the land hear this, they will surround us and destroy us from off the
land. Then what will You do for Your great name?”

                                        Achan's Sin

  10So the Lord said to Joshua, “Rise up. Why have you fallen upon your face? 11The people
sinned and transgressed the covenant I made with them; for they stole something from what
was accursed and put it among their goods. 12So the sons of Israel will be unable to stand
against the face of their enemies. They will turn their backs before their enemies, because
they are accursed; and I will not be with you until you remove the accursed thing from among
you. 13Rise up and sanctify the people; and tell them to be sanctified for tomorrow. Thus says
the Lord God of Israel, ‘The accursed thing is among you. You shall not be able to stand
against your enemies until you remove the accursed thing from among you. 14In the morning
you shall all be gathered together by your tribes, and it shall come to pass that the tribe the
Lord points out, you shall bring forward family by family. Then the family the Lord points
out, you shall bring household by household. After this, the household the Lord points out,
you shall bring man by man.† 15So whoever is pointed out, he shall be burned with fire along
with whatever he has, because he transgressed the covenant of the Lord and brought
lawlessness in Israel.’ ”

   16Now Joshua arose early in the morning and gathered the people tribe by tribe; and the

tribe of Judah was pointed out. 17Then he brought family by family, and the family of Zara
was pointed out. After this, he brought man by man, 18and Achan, the son of Zabdi, the son
of Zerah, was pointed out. 19Thus, Joshua said to Achan, “Give glory to the Lord God of Israel
today and make confession. Tell me what you did and hide nothing from me.”

  20So Achan answered Joshua and said, “Truly, I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel.

Thus and thus I did:† 21I saw a beautiful, multicolored garment in the spoil and two hundred
shekels of silver, and a wedge of fifty shekels of gold. I desired them and took them. Behold,
they are hidden in the ground in my tent, and the silver is concealed under them.”† 22Then
Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent in the camp. These things were hidden in
the tent, with the silver under them. 23They carried them from the tent; and they brought
them to Joshua and the elders of Israel and placed them before the Lord.

  24After this, Joshua took Achan the son of Zerah and led him up to the Valley of Achor,
along with his sons and daughters, and his calves, and all his donkeys and sheep, and his tent
and all his belongings. Thus he led them all to the Valley of Achor.† 25And Joshua said to
Achan, “Why did you destroy us? May the Lord destroy you this very day.” Then all Israel
stoned him with stones; 26and they put over him a great heap of stones, and the Lord ceased
from the wrath of his anger. Therefore and to this day, the place is named the Valley of Achor.

                                   The Destruction of Ai


8 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid, nor be cowardly. Take all the men of war with
  you and arise, go up to Ai. Behold, I have given the king of Ai and his land into your
hands. 2You shall do to Ai as you did to Jericho and its king, and you will plunder for yourself
the spoil of its cattle. Prepare for yourself an ambush from behind the city.”

  3So Joshua arose along with all the people of war to go up to Ai. Then Joshua chose thirty

thousand mighty men and sent them by night. 4He commanded them, saying, “You shall lie
in ambush behind the city. Do not be far from the city, and all of you be ready. 5But I and
everyone with me will approach the city, and it shall come to pass that as the inhabitants of
Ai come out to meet us, we at first shall flee from their face. 6Then as they come out after us,
we will draw them away from the city. They will say, ‘They are fleeing from us as before.’
7Then you shall rise up from the ambush and go into the city. 8You shall do according to this

word. Behold, I have commanded you.” 9So Joshua sent them out; and they went to the
ambush site and waited between Bethel and Ai, westward of Ai.

  10Then Joshua rose early in the morning and visited the people; and he and the elders

went up before the people to Ai. 11All the men of war also went up with him; and they
proceeded and came opposite the city eastward. 12But the ambush was on the west side of the
city.

  13Then it came to pass that when the king of Ai saw it, he hurried out and immediately
went to meet them in battle, he and all the people with him. But he did not know that an
ambush was set against him behind the city. 14So Joshua and Israel saw and retreated from
before them. 15They pursued after the sons of Israel, but were drawn further away from the
city. 16There was no one left in Ai who did not pursue after Israel. They left the city open and
pursued after them.

  17Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Stretch out your hand with the spear in your hand toward
the city, for I have given it into your hands; and the ambush will rise up quickly from their
place.” So Joshua stretched out his hand with the spear toward the city,† 18and when he
stretched out his hand, those in ambush rose up quickly from their place and went into the
city. They seized it and quickly set the city on fire. 19Then the inhabitants of Ai turned to look
behind them and saw smoke rising from the city toward heaven. They no longer had any
place to flee this way or that way. 20Then Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush
took the city, and that smoke from the city went up toward heaven; and they turned and
struck down the men of Ai. 21These came out from the city to meet them, and they were in
the midst of this army, some on this side and some on that side. The army struck them down
until there was not one of them left who survived and escaped.† 22But they took the king of
Ai alive and brought him to Joshua. 23Thus, when the sons of Israel ceased killing all those
in Ai who were in the plains and in the mountain on the slope, where they pursued them to
the end, then Joshua returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword.

  24Those who fell that day, both men and women, were twelve thousand—all the

inhabitants of Ai. 25But the cattle and the spoils in the city, everything which the sons of
Israel took as spoils, they did according to the ordinance of the Lord, in the manner the Lord
commanded Joshua. 26Then Joshua burned the city with fire; he made it an uninhabited
heap forever, even to this day. 27The king of Ai was hanged on a forked tree, and he remained
on the tree until evening. When the sun went down, Joshua gave orders, and they took down
the body from the tree and cast it into a pit. Then they heaped a pile of stones over him that
remains to this day.


9 When   the kings of the Amorites on the other side of the Jordan, and those in the hills and
  in the lowland, and in all the coasts of the Great Sea, and those near Lebanon, and the
Hittites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, the Amorites, the Girgashites and the
Jebusites heard what happened, 2they all came together in one place to war against Joshua
and Israel.
                               Israel Reaffirms the Covenant

  3Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal,† 4which Moses
the servant of the Lord commanded the sons of Israel as written in the Law of Moses
concerning an altar of whole stones, upon which an iron tool should not be laid. There they
offered whole burnt offerings to the Lord, and a sacrifice of peace offering. 5Joshua also
wrote on stones the second law of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the
sons of Israel.† 6All Israel and their elders and judges and their scribes also passed by on each
side of the ark. Then the priests and the Levites took up the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
The resident aliens and those born among them, half of them stood near Mount Gerizim, and
half of them near Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord commanded when he blessed
the people the first time. 7Thus after this, Joshua read all the words of this law, the blessings
and the curses, according to everything written in the Law of Moses. 8There was not a word
from everything Moses commanded Joshua that Joshua did not read in the ears of all the
assembly of the children of Israel, to the men, women, and children, and to the resident
aliens who came with Israel.

                                Deception of the Gibeonites

  9When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard everything the Lord did to Jericho and Ai,†
10indeed they also devised a crafty plan. So they went and supplied themselves with
provisions and prepared themselves. They took old sacks on their shoulders and old, torn,
and patched bottles of wine. 11The upper part of their shoes and sandals were old and crudely
patched on their feet; and the clothing they wore was worn out. The bread of their provision
was dry, dirty, and moldy. 12Then they came to Joshua at Israel's camp in Gilgal and said to
Joshua and Israel, “We have come from a far land. Now then, make a covenant with us.”
13The children of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us. How then can I

make a covenant with you?‘ 14So they replied to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua then
said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?” 15So they said, “Your servants
have come from a very distant land in the name of the Lord your God; for we heard of His
name, and everything He did in Egypt, 16and everything He did to the kings of the Amorites
who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon and to Og the king of Bashan,
who dwelled in Ashtaroth and Edrei.

  17“So when we heard this, our elders and all those who inhabited our land spoke to us,
saying, ‘Take provisions for yourselves for the road, and go to meet them and say to them,
“We are your servants. Now then, make a covenant with us.’ ” 18These are the loaves of
bread, and we took them hot for our journey on the day we left to come to you; but now they
are dried and have become moldy. 19These are the wineskins we filled when new; but they
are torn, and our clothing and shoes are old because of the very long journey.” 20Then the
rulers took some of their provisions, but they did not inquire of the Lord. 21Joshua then
made peace with them and established a covenant to keep them safe; and the rulers of the
congregation swore to them.

  22Now it came to pass that three days after they made a covenant with them, they heard

that they were near neighbors and that they dwelt among them. 23Then the children of Israel
departed and came to their cities. Their cities were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth, and
the city of Kirjathjearim. 24The sons of Israel did not fight with them, because all the rulers
had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel; but all the congregation complained against the
rulers. 25So the rulers said to all the congregation, “We swore an oath to them by the Lord
God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them. 26This is what we will do. We will capture
them alive and keep them safe, so no wrath will come upon us because of the oath we swore
to them. 27They shall live, but they shall be woodcutters and water-carriers for the entire
congregation, as the rulers direct them.”

  28Thus Joshua summoned them together and spoke to them, saying, “Why have you
deceived me, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you are fellow-countrymen of those
who dwell among us? 29Now therefore, you are cursed, and there shall not fail to be a servant
nor a woodcutter among you to serve me and my God.” 30So they answered Joshua, saying,
“It was reported to us what the Lord your God ordered His servant Moses, to give you this
land and to destroy us and all who dwell in it from before you. Thus we did this thing,
because we feared greatly for our lives before you. 31Now behold, we are in your hands, do to
us as it is pleases you and as it seems good to you.”

  32So they did this to them in this way, and Joshua delivered them on that day from the

hands of the children of Israel; and they did not kill them. 33On that day, Joshua appointed
them to be woodcutters and water-carriers for the entire congregation and for the altar of
God. Therefore, the inhabitants of Gibeon became woodcutters and water-carriers for the
altar of God until this very day, and for the place the Lord chose for Himself.†
                                             Defeat of the Amorites


10 When   Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and utterly
   destroyed it; and that as he had done to Jericho and its king, he did also to Ai and its
king; and that the inhabitants of Gibeon by their own accord had come over to Joshua and
Israel, 2then they feared greatly for themselves, for the king knew that Gibeon was a great
city, as one of the mother-cities, and that all her men were mighty.

  3So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of

Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4“Come up to me and
help me; and we will go to war against Gibeon, for they went over of their own accord to
Joshua and the children of Israel.” 5The five kings of the Jebusites: the king of Jerusalem,
the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, they and
all their people, went up and besieged Gibeon and forced it to surrender. 6Then the
inhabitants of Gibeon sent to Joshua in the camp of Israel at Gilgal, saying, “Do not abandon
your servants. Come up to us quickly. Help us and rescue us, for all the kings of the Amorites
who dwell in the hill country are gathered together against us.”†

  7So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all his men of war, everyone mighty in strength.
8For the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hands.

Not one of them shall remain before you.” 9Then Joshua came upon them suddenly, for he
had marched all night from Gilgal. 10The Lord routed them from the face of the sons of
Israel, and the Lord crushed them with a great destruction at Gibeon. They pursued them on
the road heading to Beth Horon and slew them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11But as they
fled from the face of the sons of Israel, on the descent of Beth Horon, the Lord cast down
hailstones on them from heaven as far as Azekah. More died from the hailstones than the
sons of Israel killed with the sword in the battle.†

                                              The Sun Stands Still

  12Then Joshua spoke to the Lord on the day God delivered the Amorites into the hands of
Israel, when he crushed them in Gibeon. They were crushed before the face of the sons of
Israel, for Joshua said:

    “Let the sun stand still ov er Gibeon,
    And the m oon ov er the v alley of Ajalon.” †

    13
         So the sun and m oon stood still

    Until God brought v engeance against their enem ies.

    The sun stood still in the m idst of heav en

    And did not set in the west until the end of one day .

  14There was no day like that day either before or after, that God should hear a man,

because the Lord joined in war with Israel.†

  15Then those five kings fled, and hid in the cave at Makkedah. 16So it was reported to

Joshua, saying, “The five kings were found hiding in the cave in Makkedah.” 17Joshua said,
“Roll stones against the mouth of the cave and set men to guard them. 18As for you, do not
stay there; but pursue your enemies and attack their rear guard. Do not allow them to enter
their cities, for the Lord our God will deliver them into our hands.” 19Thus it came to pass
that when Joshua and the sons of Israel ceased to strike them in an overwhelming slaughter,
those who escaped took refuge in the fortified cities. 20Then all the people returned safely to
Joshua at Makkedah, and not one of the sons of Israel grumbled with his tongue.

  21Then Joshua said, “Unblock the cave and bring out these five kings from the cave.” 22So
they brought out the five kings from the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the
king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 23When they brought them to
Joshua, he called together all Israel and the leaders of the army who went with him, saying,
“Come forward and put your feet on their necks.” So they came forward and placed their feet
on their necks. 24Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid of them, nor be fearful. Be
courageous, for the Lord will do thus to all your enemies against whom you wage war.”
25After this, Joshua put them to death and hanged them on five trees. They hung on the trees

until evening. 26Then it came to pass that towards sunset Joshua gave orders, and they took
them down from the trees and cast them into the cave where they had fled for refuge. They
rolled stones over the cave which remain to this day.

  27Then they took Makkedah that day and struck it with the edge of the sword. They utterly
destroyed every living thing in it. No one was spared or allowed to escape. So they did to the
king of Makkedah as they had done to the king of Jericho.

                                                    Victory in the Southland
  28Then Joshua and all Israel with him departed from Makkedah to Libnah and besieged

Libnah. 29The Lord gave it into the hands of Israel. They took it and its king and destroyed it
with the edge of the sword, along with every living thing in it. Nothing was spared or allowed
to escape. So they did to its king as they had done to the king of Jericho.

  30After this, Joshua and all Israel with him departed from Libnah to Lachish, and

encamped around it and besieged it. 31The Lord also gave Lachish into the hands of Israel.
On the second day, they took it and destroyed it with the edge of the sword. They utterly
destroyed it, as they had done to Libnah. 32Then Horam the king of Gezer marched up to
help Lachish, but Joshua smote him and his people with the edge of the sword, until not one
of them was spared or allowed to escape.

  33Then Joshua and all Israel with him departed from Lachish to Eglon, and encamped

around it and besieged it. 34So the Lord gave it into Israel's hand; and they took it on that day
and destroyed it with the edge of the sword. They utterly destroyed every living thing in it, as
they had done to Lachish.

  35After this, Joshua and all Israel with him departed to Hebron and encamped around it.
36He struck it with the edge of the sword, along with every living thing in it. No one was
spared. They destroyed it and everything in it, as they had done to Eglon.

  37Then Joshua and all Israel returned to Debir and encamped around it. 38They took it, its
king, and its villages, and struck it with the edge of the sword. They utterly destroyed it, along
with every living thing in it. They spared nothing in it, and as they had done to Hebron and its
king, so they did to Debir and its king.

  39After this, Joshua smote all the land of the hill country, and the South, and the plains of
the land, and Asedoth, and her kings; and not one of them was spared. They utterly destroyed
every living thing, as the Lord God of Israel commanded: 40from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza, and
all of Goshen, as far as Gibeon. 41Joshua smote their kings and their land once for all,
because the Lord God of Israel was fighting for Israel.

                                     Victory in the North


11 But when Jabin the king of Hazor heard this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon, to the
   king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph, 2to the kings from the north in the
mountains, and in the plain south of Chinneroth in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on
the west, 3to the Canaanites in the east and the west: the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite,
the Jebusite in the mountains, and the Hivite below Hermon in the land of Mizpah. 4They
and their kings with them, as many in number as the sand of the sea, went out with a great
many horses and chariots. 5All these kings came together to meet and camp together by the
waters of Merom to war against Israel.

  6Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Fear not before their presence, for tomorrow at this hour, I
will deliver them to you and put them to flight in the sight of Israel. You shall hamstring their
horses and burn their chariots with fire.”† 7So Joshua and all the people of war went against
them suddenly at the waters of Merom and attacked them in the hill country. 8The Lord
delivered them into the hands of Israel, and they defeated and chased them to Sidon, the
Great Sidon, to Brook Misrephoth, and eastward to the Valley of Mizpah. They attacked them
until there were no survivors. 9Thus Joshua did to them as the Lord commanded him. He
hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.

  10At that time, Joshua returned and seized Hazor and its king; for Hazor ruled over all

these kingdoms in previous times. 11They put to death every living thing in it with the sword.
They utterly destroyed them all, leaving no one alive, and set Hazor on fire. 12Joshua
captured all the cities of their kingdoms and their kings, and put them to death by the edge of
the sword. They utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord ordered them.
13But Israel did not burn any of the fortified cities. Joshua only burned down Hazor. 14The
children of Israel took all its spoils for themselves, and they completely destroyed everyone
with the edge of the sword, until there were no survivors. 15As the Lord ordered his servant
Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He did not deviate from all that
Moses commanded him.

                                  A Summary of Conquest

  16After this, Joshua took all the hill country of the land, all the South, all the land of
Goshen, the plains of the land, the land to the west, the mountain of Israel, the low country
17toward the mountain, from Mount Halak to the ascent to Seir, even as far as Baal Gad and
the plains of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He seized all their kings, took them away, and
put them to death. 18Joshua waged war with these kings for many days, 19and there was not
a city Israel did not take. They took them all in battle. 20For it was of the Lord to harden their
heart to wage war against Israel, that they might be utterly destroyed and be shown no mercy,
but that they might be utterly destroyed, as the Lord said to Moses.†

  21At that time, Joshua came and utterly destroyed the Anakim from the mountains: from
Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the nation of Israel, and from all the mountains
of Judah, including their cities. Joshua utterly destroyed them. 22No Anakim remained in the
midst of the children of Israel, but only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod. 23So Joshua took all
the land, as the Lord commanded Moses, and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel by
division, according to their tribes. Then the land rested from war.†

                                   The Victories of Moses


12 Now  these are the kings of the land whom the sons of Israel put to death, and whose
   land they inherited beyond the Jordan in the east, from the valley Arnon to Mount
Hermon, and all the land of Araba in the east.† 2These kings were Sihon, king of the
Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon and ruled from Aroer, which is in the valley, over part of the
valley and half of Gilead toward Jabok, the border of the sons of Ammon, 3and Araba towards
the sea of Chinneroth to the east, and as far as the Sea of Araba (the Salt Sea) from the east,
the way toward Beth Jeshimoth, and from Teman below Ashdoth Pisgah; 4and Og, king of
Bashan, who remained from the giants who dwelt in Ashtaroth and Edrei, 5and who ruled
from Mount Hermon and from Salcah, and all Bashan as far as the borders of the Geshurites,
and the Maachathites and half of Gilead, to the borders of Sihon the king of Heshbon.
6Moses the servant of the Lord and the sons of Israel struck them down, and Moses gave
them as a possession to Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

                                  The Victories of Joshua

  7Now these are the kings of the Amorites whom Joshua and the sons of Israel put to death
on the other side of the Jordan by the sea of Baal Gad in the plain of Lebanon, and as far as
Mount Halak and the ascent to Seir; and Joshua gave this to the tribes of Israel to inherit
according to their portion, 8in the mountain and in the plain, in Araba and in Ashdoth, in the
desert and in the South—the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the
Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9The kings of these were the king of Jericho, the king of Ai, which
is near Bethel, 10the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, 11the king of Jarmuth, the king
of Lachish, 12the king of Eglon, the king of Gezer, 13the king of Debir, the king of Geder,
14the king of Hormah, the king of Arad, 15the king of Libna, the king of Adullam, 16the king

of Makkedah, the king of Bethel, 17the king of Tappuah, the king of Hepher, 18the king of
Aphek, the king of Lasharon, 19the king of Madon, the king of Hazor, 20the king of Shimron
Meron, the king of Achshaph, 21the king of Taanach, the king of Megiddo, 22the king of
Kedesh, the king of Jokneam in Carmel, 23the king of Dor in the heights of Dor, the king of
the people of Gilgal, 24and the king of Tirzah—all these kings equaled thirty-one.

                               The Remaining Inheritance


13 Now  Joshua was old and advanced in days, and the Lord said to Joshua, “You are
   advanced in days, and much land remains to inherit.† 2The remaining land is the
territories of the Philistines, the Geshurites, and the Canaanites; 3from Sihor, east of Egypt,
as far as the borders of Ekron northward (which is counted as Canaanite); the five lords of
the Philistines—the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, the Ekronites; and
also the Avites; 4from the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to
the Sidonians as far as Aphek, to the border of the Amorites; 5the land of the Gebalites, and
all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon as far as the entrance
to Hamath; 6all the inhabitants of the mountains, from Lebanon as far as the Brook
Misrephoth, and all the Sidonians—them I will drive out from before the children of Israel;
only divide it by lot to Israel as an inheritance, as I have commanded you. 7Now therefore
divide this land by lot to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe of Manasseh; from the Jordan as
far as the Great Sea westward, you will give this to them, with the Great Sea as the boundary.”

                                 Land East of the Jordan

  8But to the two tribes, the Reubenites and the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh,
Moses gave an inheritance beyond the Jordan. Moses the servant of the Lord gave it to them
eastward, 9from Aroer which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and the city in the midst of
the valley, and the town in the midst of the ravine, and all the plain of Medeba as far as
Dibon; 10all the cities of Sihon, the king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, as far as
the border of the children of Ammon; 11Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites or the
Maachathites, all Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salcah; 12all the kingdom of Og in
Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants; for
Moses had defeated and cast out these. 13Nevertheless, the children of Israel did not drive
out the Geshurites or the Maachathites, but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell
among the Israelites until this day. 14Only the tribe of Levi he had given no inheritance,
because their inheritance is the Lord God of Israel, as the Lord said to them. So this was the
division Moses distributed to the sons of Israel in the plains of Moab, on the other side of the
Jordan towards Jericho.

                                         Land of Reuben

  15Now Moses had given an inheritance to the tribe of Reuben according to their families.
16Their territories were from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and the city in

the ravine, and all the plain of Medeba; 17Heshbon and all the cities in the plain: Dibon,
Bamoth Baal, and Beth Baal Meon, 18Jahaza and Kedemoth, Mephaath, 19Karjathaim,
Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the mountain of the valley, 20and Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah,
and Beth Jeshimoth— 21and all the cities of the plain and all the kingdom of Sihon, king of
the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses had struck with the princes of Midian:
Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, who were princes of Sihon dwelling in the country. 22The
children of Israel also killed with the sword Balaam the son of Beor, the soothsayer, among
those who were killed by them. 23The border of the children of Reuben was the bank of the
Jordan. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben according to their families, the
cities, and their villages.

                                            Land of Gad

  24Moses also had given an inheritance to the tribe of Gad, to the children of Gad according

to their families. 25Their boundary lines were Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half the land
of the Ammonites as far as Aroer, which is before Rabbah, 26and from Heshbon to Ramath
Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir, 27and in the valley Beth
Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of
Heshbon, with the Jordan as its border, as far as the edge of the Sea of Chinnereth, on the
other side of the Jordan eastward. 28This is the inheritance of the children of Gad according
to their families, the cities, and their villages.

                                    Land of (East) Manasseh
  29Moses had also given an inheritance to the half tribe of Manasseh according to their

families. 30Their boundary was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of
Bashan, and all the towns of Jair which are in Bashan, sixty cities; 31half of Gilead, and
Ashtaroth and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were for the children of Machir,
the son of Manasseh, for half of the children of Machir according to their families.

  32These are the areas Moses had distributed as an inheritance beyond the plains of Moab
on the other side of the Jordan, by Jericho eastward.

                              Land Divided West of Jordan


14 These are the areas which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which
   Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of
the children of Israel distributed as an inheritance to them. 2Their inheritance was by lot, as
the Lord commanded by the hand of Joshua for the nine tribes and the half-tribe. 3For Moses
had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe on the other side of the Jordan;
but to the Levites he had given no inheritance among them. 4For the children of Joseph were
two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim; and they gave no part to the Levites in the land, except
cities to dwell in, with common-lands for their livestock and their property. 5As the Lord had
commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did; and they divided the land.

                                  Hebron Given to Caleb

  6Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the
Kenezite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning
myself and you in Kadesh Barnea. 7For I was forty years old when Moses the servant of God
sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as he
wished,† 8but my brothers who went up with me turned aside the heart of the people, while I
continued to follow the Lord my God. 9So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘The land on
which you set foot shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you
continued to follow the Lord our God.’ 10Now the Lord has sustained me, as He said, these
forty-five years, since the Lord spoke this word to Moses, and Israel wandered in the desert;
and now behold I am eighty-five years old today. 11I am still as strong today as when Moses
sent me, as strong now to go out and come in for war. 12Now therefore, I ask you for this
mountain, as the Lord said in that day, since you heard this word in that day. For now the
Anakim are there with large and fortified cities; therefore, if the Lord is with me, I will utterly
destroy them, as the Lord said to me.”

  13So Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the Son of Jephunneh, the son of

Kenez, as an inheritance. 14Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of
Jephunneh the Kenezite to this day, because he followed the command of the Lord God of
Israel. 15But the name of Hebron was formerly Kirjath Arba, the capital of the Anakim. Then
the land rested from war.

                                     The Land for Judah


15 So this was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families: The
   border of Edom at the Desert of Zin southward was the extreme southern boundary.
2Their southern border began at the shore of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward.
3Then it went out to the southern side of the Ascent of Akrabbim, passed along to Zin,
ascended on the south side of Kadesh Barnea, passed along to Hezron, went up to Adar, and
went around to Karkaa. 4From there it passed toward Azmon and went out to the Brook of
Egypt; and the border ended at the sea. This is their southern border.

  5The east border was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan, and the border on the

northern quarter began at the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan. 6The border went up
to Beth Hoglah and passed north of Beth Arabah; and the border went up to the stone of
Bohan the son of Reuben. 7Then the border went up toward Debir from the Valley of Achor,
and it turned northward toward Gilgal, which is before the Ascent of Adummim, which is on
the south side of the valley. The border continued toward the waters of En Shemesh and
ended at En Rogel. 8The border went up by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom to the southern
slope of the Jebusite city (which is Jerusalem). The border went up to the top of the
mountain that lies before the Valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the Valley of
Rephaim northward. 9Then the border went around from the top of the hill to the fountain of
the water of Nephtoah, and extended to the cities of Mount Ephron. Then the border went
around to Baalah (which is Kirjath Jearim). 10Then the border turned from Baalah to Mount
Seir, passed along to the side of Mount Jearim on the north (which is Chesalon), went down
to Beth Shemesh, and passed on to Timnah. 11The border went out to the side of Ekron
northward. Then the border went around to Shicron, passed along to Mount Baalah, and
extended to Jabneel; and the border ended at the sea. 12The west border was the coastline of
the Great Sea. This is the boundary of the children of Judah all around according to their
families.

                           Caleb Occupies Hebron and Debir

  13Now to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a share among the children of Judah,
according to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, namely, Kirjath Arba, which is Hebron
(Arba was the father of Anak).† 14Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak from there: Sheshai,
Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. 15Then he went up from there to the inhabitants
of Debir (formerly the name of Debir was Kirjath Sepher). 16Then Caleb said, “He who
attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.” 17So
Othniel the son of Kenez, the younger brother of Caleb, took it, and he gave him Achsah his
daughter as wife. 18Now it was so, when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask her
father for a field. So she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you
wish?” 19She answered, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give
me also springs of water.” So he gave her the upper spring and the lower springs.

                                      Cities of Judah

  20This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.
21The cities at the limits of the tribe of the children of Judah, toward the border of Edom in

the South, were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 22Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,
24Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25Hazor, Hadattah, Kerioth, Hezron (which is Hazor), 26Amam,

Shema, Moladah, 27Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, 28Hazar, Shual, Beersheba,
Bizjothjah, 29Baalah, Ijim, Ezem, 30Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, 31Ziklag, Madmannah,
Sansannah, 32Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon: twenty-nine cities with their villages.

  33In the lowland: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,
35Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 36Sharaim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim:

fourteen cities with their villages; 37Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38Dilean, Mizpah,
Joktheel, 39Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 40Cabbon, Lahmas, Kithlish, 41Gederoth, Beth Dagon,
Naamah, and Makkedah: sixteen cities with their villages; 42Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43Jiphtah,
Ashnah, Nezib, 44Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah: nine cities with their villages; 45Ekron, with
its towns and villages; 46from Ekron to the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages;
47Ashdod with its towns and villages, Gaza with its town and villages—as far as the Brook of
Egypt and the Great Sea with its coastline.

  48In the mountain country: Shamir, Jattir, Sochoh, 49Dannah, Kirjath Sannah (which is

Debir), 50Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51Goshen, Holon, and Giloh: eleven cities with their
villages; 52Arab, Dumah, Eshean, 53Janum, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, 54Humtah, Kirjath
Arba (which is Hebron), and Zior: nine cities with their villages; 55Maon, Carmel, Ziph,
Juttah, 56Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah: ten cities with their
villages; 58Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, 59Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon: six cities with their
villages; 60Theco and Ephratha (which is Bethlehem), and Phagor and Aetan and Culon and
Tatam and Thobes and Carem and Galem and Thether and Manocho: eleven cities and their
villages; 61Kirjath Baal (which is Kirjath Jearim) and Rabbah: two cities with their villages.
62In the desert: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, 63Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En Gedi: six
cities with their villages.

  64As for the Jebusites who dwelled in Jerusalem, the sons of Judah were not able to
destroy them. So the Jebusites dwell in Jerusalem until this day.

                        The Land of Ephraim and (West) Manasseh


16 The  lot fell to the children of Joseph from the Jordan, by Jericho, to the waters of
   Jericho on the east, to the desert that goes up from Jericho through the mountains to
Bethel, 2then went out from Bethel to Luz, passed along to the border of the Archites at
Ataroth, 3and went down westward to the boundary of the Japhletites, as far as the boundary
of Lower Beth Horon to Gezer; and it ended at the sea. 4So the children of Joseph, Manasseh
and Ephraim, took their inheritance.

                                          Ephraim

  5The border of the children of Ephraim, according to their families, was thus: The border of

their inheritance on the east side was Ataroth Addar as far as Upper Beth Horon. 6The border
went out toward the sea on the north side of Michmethath; then the border went around
eastward to Taanath Shiloh, and passed by it on the east of Janohah. 7Then it went down
from Janohah to Ataroth and Naarah, reached to Jericho, and came out at the Jordan. 8The
border went out from Tappuah westward to the Brook Kanah, and it ended at the sea. This
was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim according to their families. 9The
separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of
Manasseh, all the cities with their villages. 10But Ephraim did not destroy the Canaanites
who dwelt in Gezer, and the Canaanites dwell among Ephraim to this day, until Pharaoh the
king of the Egyptians came and took it and burned it with fire. They massacred the
Canaanites and the Perizzites and those who dwelt in Gezer, and Pharaoh gave it to his
daughter as a dowry.†

                                      West Manasseh


17 There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph:
   namely for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, because he was a
man of war; therefore, he was given Gilead and Bashan. 2There was also a lot for the rest of
the children of Manasseh according to their families; for the children of Abiezer, the children
of Helek, the children of Asriel, the children of Shechem, the children of Hepher, and the
children of Shemida; these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according
to their families.

  3But Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of
Manasseh, had no sons, but only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah,
Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4They came near before Eleazar the priest, before Joshua
the son of Nun, and before the rulers, saying, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an
inheritance among our brothers.” Therefore, according to the commandment of the Lord, he
gave them an inheritance among their father's brothers. 5Ten shares fell to Manasseh,
besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side of the Jordan, 6because
the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance among his sons; and the rest of
Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead.

  7Now the territory of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethath, which lies east of

Shechem; and the border went along south to the inhabitants of En Tappuah. 8Manasseh had
the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of
Ephraim. 9The border descended to the Brook Kanah, southward to the brook. These cities of
Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh. The border of Manasseh was on the north side of
the brook; and it ended at the sea. 10Southward it was Ephraim's, northward it was
Manasseh's, and the sea was its border. Manasseh's territory was adjoining Asher on the
north and Issachar on the east. 11In Issachar and in Asher, Manasseh had Beth Shean and its
towns, Ibleam and its towns, the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, the inhabitants of En Dor
and its towns, the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and
its towns—three hilly regions. 12Now the sons of Manasseh were not able to destroy these
cities completely. So the Canaanites came to dwell in that land. 13Thus when the sons of
Israel grew strong, they subjected the Canaanites, but did not utterly destroy them.

                    Ephraim and West Manasseh Want More Land

  14Then the sons of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why did you give us only one lot and

one share to inherit? For I am a great many people, and God has blessed me.”† 15So Joshua
answered them, “If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place
for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim
are too confined for you.” 16But the children of Joseph said, “The mountain country is not
enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of
iron, both those of Beth Shean and its towns and of the Valley of Jezreel.” 17Then Joshua
spoke to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—saying, “You are a great people,
and have great power. You shall not have only one lot, 18but the mountain country shall be
yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for
you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong.”

                               The Rest of the Land Divided


18 Now  the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh and
   set up the tabernacle of testimony there; and they subdued the land.† 2But there
remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their
inheritance. 3Then Joshua said to the children of Israel, “How long will you neglect to go and
possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you? 4Pick out from among
you three men for each tribe, and I will send them. They shall rise and go through the land,
survey it according to their inheritance, and come back to me. 5They shall divide it into seven
parts. Judah shall remain in their territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall
remain in their territory on the north. 6You shall therefore survey the land in seven parts,
and bring the survey here to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the Lord our God.
7But the Levites have no part among you, for the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance;
and Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the
Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them.”

  8Then the men arose to go away, and Joshua charged those who went to survey the land,
saying, “Go, walk through the land, survey it, and come back to me, that I may cast lots for
you here before the Lord in Shiloh.” 9So the men went, passed through the land, and wrote
the survey in a book in seven parts by cities; and they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.
10Then Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord, and there Joshua divided the
land to the children of Israel according to their divisions.

                                    The Land of Benjamin

  11Now the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families,
and the territory of their lot came out between the children of Judah and the children of
Joseph. 12Their border on the north side began at the Jordan, and the border went up to the
side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the mountains westward; it ended at the
Desert of Beth Aven. 13The border went over from there toward Luz, to the side of Luz
(which is Bethel) southward; and the border descended to Ataroth Addar, near the hill that
lies on the south side of Lower Beth Horon. 14Then the border extended around the west side
to the south, from the hill that lies before Beth Horon southward, and it ended at Kirjath Baal
(which is Kirjath Jearim), a city of the children of Judah. This was the west side. 15The south
side began at the end of Kirjath Jearim, and the border extended on the west and went out to
the spring of the waters of Jephtoah. 16Then the border came down to the end of the
mountain that lies before the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, which is in the Valley of the
Rephaim on the north, descended to the Valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite city on
the south, and descended to En Rogel. 17It went around from the north, went out to En
Shemesh, and extended toward Geliloth, which is before the Ascent of Adummim, and
descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. 18Then it passed along toward the north
side of Arabah, and went down to Arabah. 19The border passed along to the north side of Beth
Hoglah; then the border ended at the north bay at the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan.
This was the southern boundary. 20The Jordan was its border on the east side. This was the
inheritance of the children of Benjamin, according to its boundaries all around, according to
their families.

  21Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, according to their families, were

Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, 22Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 23Avim, Parah,
Ophrah, 24Chephar Haammoni, Ophni, and Gaba: twelve cities with their villages; 25Gibeon,
Ramah, Beeroth, 26Mizpah, Chephirah, Mozah, 27Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28Zelah, Eleph,
Jebus (which is Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kirjath, fourteen cities with their villages. This was
the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

                             The Land of Simeon (with Judah)


19 The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to
   their families. Their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.
2They had in their inheritance Beersheba (Sheba), Moladah, 3Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem,
4Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah, 6Beth Lebaoth, and

Sharuhen: thirteen cities and their villages; 7Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan: four cities and
their villages; 8and all the villages around these cities as far as Baalath Beer, Ramah of the
South. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their
families. 9The inheritance of the children of Simeon was included in the share of the children
of Judah, for the share of the children of Judah was too much for them. Therefore the
children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of that people.†

                                    The Land of Zebulun

  10The third lot came out for the children of Zebulun according to their families, and the

border of their inheritance was as far as Sarid. 11Their border went toward the west and to
Maralah, went to Dabbasheth, and extended along the brook east of Jokneam. 12Then from
Sarid it went eastward toward the sunrise along the border of Chisloth Tabor, and went out
toward Daberath, bypassing Japhia. 13From there it passes along on the east of Gath Hepher,
toward Eth Kazin, and extended to Rimmon, which borders on Neah. 14Then the border went
around it on the north side of Hannathon, and it ended in the Valley of Jiphthah El.
15Included were Kattath, Nahallal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their

villages. 16This was the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families,
these cities with their villages.

                                    The Land of Issachar

  17The fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their

families. 18Their territory went to Jezreel, and included Chesulloth, Shunem, 19Haphraim,
Shion, Anaharath, 20Rabbith, Kishion, Abez, 21Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah, and Beth
Pazzez. 22The border reached to Tabor, Shahazimah, and Beth Shemesh; their border ended
at the Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages. 23This was the inheritance of the tribe of the
children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.

                                      The Land of Asher

  24The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
25Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, 26Alammelech, Amad, and

Mishal; it reached to Mount Carmel westward, along the Brook Shihor Libnath. 27It turned
toward the sunrise to Beth Dagon; and reached to Zebulun and to the Valley of Jiphthah El,
then northward beyond Beth Emek and Neiel, bypassing Cabul on the left, 28including
Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. 29The border turned to Ramah
and to the fortified city of Tyre; then to Hosah, and ended at the sea by the region of Achzib.
30Also Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob were included: twenty-two cities with their villages.
31This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families,
the cities and their villages.

                                    The Land of Naphtali

  32The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, for the children of Naphtali according

to their families. 33Their border began at Heleph, enclosing the territory from the terebinth
tree in Zaananim, Adami Nekeb, and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum; it ended at the Jordan.
34From Heleph the border extended westward to Aznoth Tabor, and went out from there
toward Hukkok; it adjoined Zebulun on the south side and Asher on the west side, and ended
at Judah by the Jordan toward the sunrise. 35The fortified cities are Ziddim, Zer, Hammath,
Rakkath, Chinnereth, 36Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 37Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, 38Iron, Migdal
El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh: nineteen cities with their villages. 39This was the
inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and
their villages.

                                       The Land of Dan

  40The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
41The territory of their inheritance was Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, 42Shaalabbin, Aijalon,
Jethlah, 43Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 44Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath
Rimmon, 46Me Jarkon, and Rakkon, with the region near Joppa. 47The border of the
children of Dan went beyond these, because the children of Dan went up to fight against
Leshem and took it; and they struck it with the edge of the sword, took possession of it, and
dwelt in it. They called Leshem Dan, after the name of Dan their father. 48This was the
inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, the cities and their
villages. 49But the sons of Dan did not press the Amorites who afflicted them in the
mountain; and the Amorites did not permit them to descend into the valley, but forcibly took
from them the border of their possession.

                                     The Land of Joshua

  50Now the sons of Judah marched and fought Lachish and laid hold of it. They struck it

with the edge of the sword, settled in it, and called it Lasendak. 51Now the Amorites
continued to dwell in Elom and in Salamin; but the hand of Ephraim prevailed against them,
and they paid tribute to them. 52So they proceeded to take possession of the land according
to their borders, and the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun
among them, according to the ordinance of God. 53They gave him the city he asked for,
Timnath Serah, in the mountains of Ephraim. So he built the city and dwelt in it. 54These
were the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the
fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel divided as an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before
the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of testimony. So they made an end of dividing the
country.

                                        Cities of Refuge

                                                 †2
20 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, “Say to the3 sons of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities
       of refuge of which I spoke to you through Moses, a place of refuge for a slayer who
kills a soul involuntarily. The cities will be a refuge for you, and the slayer shall not die by the
avenger of blood until he stands before the congregation for judgment.’ ” 4So he appointed
Kedesh in Galilee in the mountains of Naphtali, Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and
Kirjath Arba (which is Hebron) in the mountains of Judah. 5On the other side of the Jordan
he appointed Bezer in the desert on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead
from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh. 6These were the
cities appointed for the children of Israel and for the resident alien living among them, that
whoever killed a soul involuntarily should take refuge there, and not die by the hand of the
avenger of blood until he stood before the congregation for judgment.

                                    Cities of the Levites


21 Now  the heads of the fathers of the sons of Levi came to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua
   the son of Nun, and to the chiefs of the tribes of the fathers from the tribes of Israel,
2and spoke to them in Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “The Lord commanded through
the hand of Moses that we be given cities to dwell in, with the common-lands for our cattle.”
3So the children of Israel gave the Levites a portion of their inheritance at the command of

the Lord, cities and their common-lands. 4Now the lot came out for the family of the
Kohathites, and from the tribe of Judah, the tribe of Simeon, and the tribe of Benjamin, there
were thirteen cities given by lot to the sons of Aaron, who were priests among the Levites.
5For the remaining sons of Kohath, ten cities were chosen by lot from the tribe of Ephraim,

the tribe of Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 6For the sons of Gershon, there were
thirteen cities by lot from the tribe of Issachar, the tribe of Asher, the tribe of Naphtali, and
the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. 7For the sons of Merari according to their families,
there were twelve cities by lot from the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the tribe of
Zebulun.

  8So the children of Israel gave the Levites cities and their common-lands by lot, as the Lord

commanded Moses. 9From the tribe of the sons of Judah, and the tribe of the sons of
Simeon, and the tribe of the sons of Benjamin, they gave the cities, designated by name, 10to
the sons of Aaron from the family of Kohath, who were of the sons of Levi, because the lot
was theirs. 11They gave them Kirjath Arba, the capital of the sons of Anak (which is Hebron),
in the mountains of Judah, with the common-land surrounding it. 12But the fields of the city
and its villages Joshua gave to the sons of Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, as their possession.
13Thus to the sons of Aaron they gave Hebron with its common-land (a city of refuge for the

slayer), Libna with its common-land, 14Jattir with its common-land, Eshtemoa with its
common-land, 15Holon with its common-land, Debir with its common-land, 16Ain with its
common-land, Juttah with its common-land, and Beth Shemesh with its common-land: nine
cities from those two tribes; 17and from the tribe of Benjamin: Gibeon with its common-land,
Geba with its common-land, 18Anathoth with its common-land, and Almon with its common-
land: four cities. 19All the cities of the sons of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with
their common-lands.

   20Now the families of the sons of Kohath, the Levites, the rest of the sons of Kohath, had

cities of their lot from the tribe of Ephraim. 21For they gave them Shechem with its common-
land in the mountains of Ephraim (a city of refuge for the slayer), Gezer with its common-
land, 22Kibzaim with its common-land, and Beth Horon with its common-land: four cities;
23and from the tribe of Dan: Eltekeh with its common-land, Gibbethon with its common-

land, 24Aijalon with its common-land, and Gath Rimmon with its common-land: four cities;
25and from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with its common-land and Jebatha with its

common-land: two cities. 26All ten cities with their common-lands were for the rest of the
families of the sons of Kohath.

  27To the sons of Gershon, to the Levites, from the half-tribe of Manasseh, they gave Golan
in Bashan with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), and Be Eshterah with its
common-land: two cities; 28and from the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its common-land,
Daberath with its common-land, 29Jarmuth with its common-land, and En Gannim with its
common-land: four cities; 30and from the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its common-land,
Abdon with its common-land, 31Helkath with its common-land, and Rehob with its common-
land: four cities; 32and from the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its common-land (a
city of refuge for the slayer), Hammoth Dor with its common-land, and Kartan with its
common-land: three cities. 33All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were
thirteen cities with their common-lands.

  34To the family of the sons of Merari, the rest of the Levites, from the tribe of Zebulun,

Jokneam with its common-land, Kartah with its common-land, 35Dimnah with its common-
land, and Nahalal with its common-land: four cities; 36and from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in
the desert of Misor with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), Jahaz with its
common-land, 37Kedemoth with its common-land, and Mephaath with its common-land:
four cities; 38and from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its common-land (a city of
refuge for the slayer), Mahanaim with its common-land, 39Heshbon with its common-land,
and Jazer with its common-land: four cities in all. 40So all the cities for the sons of Merari
according to their families, the rest of the tribe of Levi, were by their lot twelve cities.

                                     Israel Takes the Land
  41All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the sons of Israel were forty-eight

cities with their common-lands. 42Every one of these cities had its common-land
surrounding it; thus were all these cities. 43So Joshua finished dividing the land according to
their borders, 44and the children of Israel gave a portion to Joshua according to the Lord's
command. They gave him the city he requested, which was Timnath Serah in the mountain of
Ephraim, 45and Joshua built the city and dwelt in it. 46Then Joshua took the stone knives
with which he circumcised the sons of Israel who were born on the way in the desert, and he
put them in Timnath Serah.† 47So the Lord gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give to
their fathers; and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. 48The Lord gave them rest all
around, as He had sworn to their fathers, and no one rose up against them from all their
enemies. The Lord delivered all their enemies into their hands. 49Not a word failed of any
good thing the Lord had spoken to the children of Israel. All came to pass.

                         Joshua Sends the Eastern Tribes Home


22 Then  Joshua called together the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the half-
   tribe of Manasseh,† 2and said to them, “You heard everything the servant of the Lord
Moses commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in everything I commanded you. 3You
have not left your brethren these many days, for until this day you have kept the
commandment of the Lord your God. 4Now then, the Lord our God gave our brethren rest, as
he said to them; now therefore, return and depart to your homes and to the land of your
inheritance, which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan. 5But be very careful to do the
commandments and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you to do, to
love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to adhere to
Him, and to serve Him with all your mind and with all your soul.” 6So Joshua blessed them
and sent them forth; and they went to their homes. 7Now to the half-tribe of Manasseh
Moses gave a possession in Bashan, and to the other half, Joshua gave a possession among
his brethren on the other side of the Jordan toward the sea. Indeed, when Joshua sent them
forth to their homes, he blessed them, 8and they departed with much wealth to their homes,
and with a great quantity of cattle, silver, gold, and iron, and with a great quantity of clothing;
and they divided the spoils of the enemy with their brethren.

  9So the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of the children of
Manasseh went forth from the children of Israel at Shiloh in the land of Canaan to go to the
land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, which they obtained through the ordinance of
the Lord by the hand of Moses.

                                  An Altar at the Jordan

  10Then they came to Gilgal at the Jordan, which is in the land of Canaan, and the children
of Gad, the children of Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the
Jordan, an altar great to see.† 11Now the children of Israel heard them saying, “Behold, the
children of Gad, the children of Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at
the borders of the land of Canaan, at Gilead by the Jordan, on the opposite side of the
children of Israel.” 12So all the children of Israel gathered together at Shiloh to go up to war
against them.

  13Then the children of Israel sent Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the high
priest, to the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the
land of Gilead, 14and ten rulers with him, one ruler each from the paternal house of all the
tribes of Israel; and they were the rulers of the paternal houses, the heads of a thousand, of
Israel. 15They came to the children of Gad, the children of Reuben, and the half-tribe of
Manasseh in the land of Gilead and spoke to them, saying, 16“Thus says the whole
congregation of the Lord, ‘What trespass have you committed against the God of Israel,
turning away this day from the Lord, building an altar for yourselves, and becoming rebels
against the Lord? 17Is Peor's sin too little for you? For we have not been cleansed from it to
this day, and there was a plague in the congregation of the Lord. 18Will you turn away from
the Lord today? If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow there shall be wrath upon all
Israel. 19Now if the land of your possession is too small for you, cross over to the land of the
Lord's possession, where the tabernacle of the Lord dwells, and take possession among us;
but do not become rebels against God, and do not rebel against the Lord by building
yourselves an altar besides the altar of the Lord our God. 20Behold, did not Achan the son of
Zerah commit a trespass in regard to the accursed thing, and bring wrath upon all the
congregation of Israel? But he was only one man, and he alone died in his sin.’ ”

  21Then the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh

answered and spoke to the captains of the thousands of Israel, saying, 22“God, even God is
the Lord, and God, even God the Lord Himself knows, and Israel himself shall know, that if
we transgressed against the Lord in rebellion, may He not deliver us in this. 23If we have
built ourselves an altar so as to depart from the Lord our God, and to offer upon it a sacrifice
of whole burnt offerings, or a sacrifice of peace offering, then the Lord will require it. 24But
we have done this thing as a matter of reverence, saying, ‘Lest hereafter your children may
say to our children, “What have you to do with the Lord God of Israel? 25The Lord made the
Jordan a border between us and you, and there is no portion of the Lord for you.” Thus your
sons shall alienate our sons, so they should not worship the Lord.’ 26So we told them to build
this altar, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, 27but as a witness between us and you, and
between our generations after us, that we do service to the Lord before Him with our burnt
offerings and sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; so your children shall not say to our
children hereafter, ‘There is no portion of the Lord for you.’ 28Therefore we said, ‘If ever it
shall come to pass that they should speak to us and to our generations hereafter, they shall
say, “Come and see the likeness of the Lord's altar which our fathers made, not for the sake of
burnt offerings or for sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you, and between our
children.” 29May we not therefore turn away from the Lord in these days and revolt from the
Lord, to build ourselves an altar for burnt offerings, for peace offerings, and for the sacrifice
of peace, besides the altar of the Lord, which is before His tabernacle.’ ”

  30Now when Phinehas the priest and all the rulers of the congregation of Israel who were
with him heard the words spoken by the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the
half-tribe of Manasseh, it pleased them.† 31Then Phinehas the priest said to the children of
Reuben, the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, “Today we know that the Lord is
with us, because you have not transgressed grievously against the Lord, and because you have
delivered the children of Israel out of the Lord's hand.” 32After this, Phinehas the priest and
the rulers returned from the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of
Manasseh, from the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and
reported to them these words; 33and it pleased the children of Israel. They spoke to the
children of Israel and blessed the God of the children of Israel. So they spoke no more about
going up against them in battle in order to utterly destroy the land where the children of
Reuben, the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt. 34Then Joshua named
the altar of the children of Reuben, of Gad, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, and said that it
is a witness in their midst, that the Lord is their God.

                                   Joshua's Final Address
23 Now it came to pass that after many days, the Lord gave rest to Israel from all their
   enemies round about, and Joshua was old and advanced in years.† 2So Joshua
summoned all the children of Israel and their elders and leaders and their scribes and judges,
and said to them, “I am old and advanced in years, 3and you have seen everything the Lord
your God did to all these nations before you, that the Lord your God is He who fought for
you. 4See, I have added to you these nations that are left to you by lots to your tribes,
beginning at the Jordan and bordered by the Great Sea westward, all the nations I utterly
destroyed before you. 5For the Lord your God, He will utterly destroy them before you until
they perish, and He will send wild animals against them until He utterly destroys them and
their kings from before you; and you shall inherit their land as the Lord your God said to you.
6Therefore strive diligently to keep and to do everything written in the Book of the Law of

Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right or to the left, 7and lest you go among these
nations, those that remain among you. The names of their gods shall not be mentioned
among you, and neither shall you worship them, nor serve them; 8but you shall cleave to the
Lord your God, as you have done to this day. 9For the Lord has utterly destroyed them before
you, great and mighty nations, and no one has stood against you to this day. 10One of you has
chased a thousand, for the Lord your God fought for you, as He said to you. 11Therefore take
great heed to love the Lord your God. 12For if you turn away and attach yourselves to the
remnant of these nations among you, and intermarry and become mingled with them and
they with you, 13know for certain that the Lord will no longer utterly destroy these nations
before you; but they shall be snares and traps for you, and nails in your heels and darts in
your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.

  14“But I am going the way of all those on earth, and you shall know in your heart and soul
that not one word has failed of all the words the Lord our God spoke concerning everything
that pertains to you. Not one word of them has failed. 15Therefore it shall come to pass that
as all the good things came upon you which the Lord promised you, so the Lord God will
bring upon you all the evil things, until He utterly destroys you from this good land which the
Lord has given you, 16when you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God which He
commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them.”

                                    Covenant at Shiloh


24 Then Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel to Shiloh, and summoned their
elders, scribes, and judges; and he set them before God.† 2Then Joshua said to all the people,
“Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘From the beginning your fathers dwelt on the other side
of the river, including Terah the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served
other gods. 3But I took your father Abraham from the other side of the river, led him into all
the land, multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac, 4and to Isaac, Jacob and Esau. I gave
Mount Seir to Esau as an inheritance, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. There they
became a great nation, both large and mighty.’ 5But the Egyptians maltreated them, so the
Lord smote Egypt for what it did to them. 6After that, you came out of Egypt to the Red Sea,
and the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horses to the Red Sea. 7So we cried
out to the Lord, and He placed a cloud and darkness between us and the Egyptians. Then He
brought the sea upon them, and it covered them. Thus your eyes saw what the Lord did in the
land of Egypt.

  “You were in the desert for many days. 8Then He brought you into the land of the
Amorites, who dwelt on the other side of the Jordan, and they fought with you; but the Lord
gave them over into your hands that you might take possession of their land, and He utterly
destroyed them from before you. 9Then Balak the son of Zippor, the king of Moab, arose to
make war against Israel, and he sent and called Balaam to lay a curse on you. 10But the Lord
your God would not destroy you, and greatly blessed you. He delivered you from their hands
and gave them over to you. 11Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The
inhabitants of Jericho fought against you—also the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites,
the Hivites, the Jebusites, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, but the Lord gave them into your
hands. 12He sent hornets before you and drove them out from before you, the twelve kings of
the Amorites, but not with your sword or with your bow. 13He gave you a land for which you
did not labor, and cities you did not build; and you dwelt in them. You ate from vineyards and
olive groves which you did not plant.

  14“Now therefore, fear the Lord, and serve Him in justice and righteousness. Remove the
foreign gods your fathers served on the other side of the river and in Egypt, and serve the
Lord.† 15But if it does not please you to serve the Lord, choose gods for yourselves today
whom you will serve, whether the gods of your fathers that were on the other side of the
river, or the gods of the Amorites, among whom you dwell in their land. But as for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord, because He is holy.”
  16Then the people answered and said, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord, so as to serve

other gods.† 17The Lord our God, He is God. He brought us and our fathers from Egypt and
preserved us on the whole journey where we went, and among all the nations through whom
we passed. 18The Lord cast out before us the Amorite and all the nations that inhabited the
land. But as for us, we will serve the Lord, for He is our God.” 19But Joshua said to the
people, “You cannot serve the Lord, for He is a holy God, and He being jealous will not forgive
your sins and your lawless deeds. 20Whenever you forsake the Lord and serve other gods,
then He shall come and deal harshly with you and will consume you, after He has done you
good.” 21Then the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.” 22So Joshua said
to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.
23Now therefore, remove the foreign gods from among you and make your heart straight

toward the Lord God of Israel.”† 24Again the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord,
and obey His voice.”

  25So Joshua established a covenant with the people on that day, and gave them a law and

judgment in Shiloh before the tabernacle of the God of Israel.† 26Then he wrote these words
in the Book of the Law of God; and he took a large stone and set it up under the terebinth tree
before the Lord. 27After this, Joshua said to the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness
among you, because it has heard everything said to it by the Lord, whatever He spoke to us
today. This stone shall be among you as a witness in the last days, whenever you lie to the
Lord my God.” † 28So Joshua sent the people away, and they went forth, each one to his
place. 29Then Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders, as
many as were with Joshua and saw all the works of the Lord which he did for Israel.†

                            The Death of Joshua and Eleazar

  30Now it came to pass after these things that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the

Lord, died at the age of one hundred and ten years. 31They buried him within the boundary
lines of his inheritance at Timnath Serah, on Mount Ephraim on the north side of Mount
Gaash. 32In his grave they placed with him the stone knives with which he circumcised the
sons of Israel at Gilgal, when he brought them out of Egypt, as the Lord ordered them. They
remain there to this very day. 33The children of Israel also brought up the bones of Joseph
from Egypt and buried them at Shechem, in the plot of land which Jacob purchased from the
Amorites who dwelled in Shechem for one hundred lambs, and which was given to Joseph as
his portion.†

 34After this, Eleazar the son of Aaron the high priest died and was buried in Gabaath,

which belonged to Phinehas his son, and which he had given him on Mount Ephraim. 35On
that day the children of Israel took the ark of God and carried it about among themselves, and
Phinehas held the office of priest in place of Eleazar his father, until he died and was buried
in his own place at Gabaath. 36But each of the children of Israel departed to his own place
and to his own city. Then the children of Israel worshipped Astarte and Astaroth and the gods
of the nations round about them. So the Lord gave them over into the hands of Eglon the
king of Moab, and he ruled over them for eighteen years.
                                               J UDG E S
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Chapters in Judges
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Judges Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in Judges Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Judges Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Judges Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Judges Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Judges Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40


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Verses in Judges Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Judges Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Judges Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57

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Verses in Judges Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Judges Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39


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Verses in Judges Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Judges Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Judges Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20


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Verses in Judges Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20


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Verses in Judges Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Judges Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Judges Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Judges Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30


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Verses in Judges Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48

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Verses in Judges Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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                                                          The Book of Judges

    Author   —Traditionally believed to be Samuel. The book was written in Palestine during
  his early ministry.

    Date   —Judges (meaning “rulers”) was written three centuries after the entry of the
  tribes of Israel into Canaan under Joshua, and covers the events of those centuries.

    Major Theme     —God's continual deliverance of a people that had forgotten Him and the
  Law. The book begins with compromise and ends in anarchy. It is a record of Israel's
  forsaking God and of His forsaking Israel because of their disobedience.

    Background     —The Israelites had been settled for nearly three hundred years in Canaan.
  This time coincides with the beginning of the Iron Age in the Middle East. The Israelites
  began their apostasy after the death of Joshua. They did not drive out the Canaanites as
  God had commanded them to do through Moses. Instead, they intermarried with their
  pagan neighbors and began worshipping Baal.

  The book is named for the thirteen judges of Israel: twelve raised up by God, one a usurper.
The judges were to bring deliverance, protection, and military leadership; to settle
differences, judge lawsuits, and administer justice. Israel was a theocracy; the judges were
not kings, but deputies of God sent to save the people from seven different apostasies. The
office was not continual; rather, judges were raised up as oppressive circumstances required.

 Outline

  I. Prologue: Failure to Com plete the Canaanite Conquest (1 :1 –3 :6 )

         A. Israel's failure to purge the land (1 :1 –3 6 )

         B. God's dealings with Israel's rebellion (2 :1 –3 :6 )

  II. Oppression and Deliv erance: Judges v s. the Nations (3 :7 –1 6 :3 1 )

         A. Othniel defeats Sy ria (3 :7 –1 1 )

         B. Ehud defeats Moab (3 :1 2 –3 0)

         C. Exploits of Sham gar (3 :3 1 )

         D. Deborah defeats Canaan (4 :1 –5:3 1 )

         E. Gideon defeats Midian (6 :1 –8:3 5)

         F. Abim elech, the anti-judge (9 :1 –57 )
          G. Tola and Jair: m inor judges (1 0:1 –5)

          H. Jephthah defeats Am m on (1 0:6 –1 2 :7 )

           I. Ibzan, Elon, Abdon: m inor judges (1 2 :8–1 5)

          J. Exploits of Sam son (1 3 :1 –1 6 :3 1 )

  III. Religious and Moral Disorder (1 7 :1 –1 8:3 1 )

          A. Micah's corruption (1 7 :1 –1 3 )

          B. The Danites’ departure from their tribal territory (1 8:1 –3 1 )

 IV. The War Against Benjam in (1 9 :1 –2 1 :2 5)

          A. Gibeah's corruption of m orals (1 9 :1 –3 0)

          B. The Benjam ites’ rem ov al from their tribal territory (2 0:1 –2 1 :2 5)



                                                       Ongoing Battles in Canaan


1 After Joshua died, the descendants of Israel asked of the Lord, saying, “Who shall be first
  to go up for us to fight against the Canaanites?”† 2And the Lord said, “Judah shall go up.
Indeed, I have delivered the land into his hand.”

  3So Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me to my allotted territory, so that
we can stand in battle formation against the Canaanites; and I will go with you to your
allotted territory.” And Simeon went with him. 4Then Judah went up, and the Lord delivered
the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand; and they killed ten thousand men at Bezek.
5And they overtook Adoni-Bezek in Bezek, and stood in formation against him; and they

slaughtered the Canaanites and the Perizzites. 6Then Adoni-Bezek fled, and they pursued him
and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes. 7And Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings
with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to gather the things under my table; God has
repaid me for what I have done.” They then brought him to Jerusalem, where he died.†

                                           Judah Defeats Jerusalem and Hebron

  8Now the sons of Judah fought against Jerusalem, and captured it by striking it with the

edge of the sword and setting the city on fire. 9Afterward the sons of Judah went down to
fight against the Canaanites who dwelt in the mountains, in the plains of the South. 10Then
Judah went against the Canaanites who dwelt in Hebron, and Hebron—previously called
Kirjath Arba—went out against them. And they struck Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai,
descendants of Enak.
                                     Othniel Captures Debir

  11From there they went up against the inhabitants of Debir—previously called Kirjath

Sepher, the City of Letters.† 12Then Caleb said, “Whoever attacks the City of Letters and
takes it, to him I will give my daughter Achsah as wife.” 13And Othniel the younger son of
Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it; so Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah as wife.
14And it came to be at the reception, Othniel urged her to ask her father for a field; and she
complained and cried out from her donkey, “You have delivered me into a southern land.”
And Caleb responded to her, “What is your request?” 15So Achsah said to him, “Give me a
blessing; since you have delivered me into a southern land, give me the water as well.” And
Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs, as was the desire of her heart.

                            The Efforts of Judah and Benjamin

  16Now the sons of the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, went up from the City of Palms with
the sons of Judah into the desert of Judah, in the south of Judah, at the descent of Arad; and
they went and dwelt with the people. 17And Judah went with his brother Simeon, and they
attacked the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath and utterly destroyed them. So the city was
called Accursed. 18And Judah did not inherit Gaza nor her coasts, nor Ashkelon with its
territory, nor Accaron nor her coasts, nor Ekron with its territory. 19The Lord was with
Judah, and he inherited the mountain; for they could not completely destroy the inhabitants
of the lowland, because Rechab prevented it. 20And they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had
said, and after this he inherited the three cities of the sons of Anak. 21But the sons of
Benjamin did not secure the Jebusites who dwelt in Jerusalem; so the Jebusites dwell with
the sons of Benjamin in Jerusalem until this day.†

                                     The Conquest of Bethel

  22And the sons of Joseph also went up to Bethel, and the Lord was with them.† 23Then

they set up camp and spied on Bethel—previously named Luz. 24And when the spies looked,
they noticed a man leaving the city and they seized him and said to him, “Show us the
entrance to the city and we will be merciful to you.” 25And he showed them the entrance to
the city, and they struck the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man and his
family leave. 26And the man escaped to the land of the Hittites, where he built a city he called
Luz. This is its name to this day.
                                 Campaigns Left Undone

  27However, Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean, a city of Scythians,
nor her towns and suburbs, nor Taanach and her suburbs, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its
suburbs, nor the inhabitants of Balak and its daughters, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and
its suburbs and its daughters, nor the inhabitants of Jeblaham and its suburbs and its
daughters; indeed, the Canaanites began to dwell in this land.† 28And when Israel became
strong, they put the Canaanites under forced labor, but they did not drive them out
completely.

  29Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; so the Canaanites dwelt in

the midst of them in Gezer and paid taxes. 30Nor did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of
Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Domana; so the Canaanites dwelt in the midst of them and paid
taxes.

  31Nor did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Acco, though they did pay taxes to them, nor
the inhabitants of Dor, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor the inhabitants of Ahlab, Achzib,
Helbah, Nai, or Ereo. 32So Asher dwelt in the midst of the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the
land; for he was not able to drive them out.

  33Nor did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth
Anath; but Naphtali dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless,
the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath paid taxes to them.

  34And the Amorites forced the sons of Dan into the mountains, for they would not allow

them to come down to the valley. 35And the Amorites began to dwell in the mountain of the
myrtle-grove, where there were bears and foxes; yet the hand of the house of Joseph was
heavy upon the Amorite, and he came to pay tribute to them. 36Now the boundary of the
Amorites went upward from the Ascent of Akrabbim, from the Rock.

                                   The Place of Weeping


2 Then  the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to the place of weeping, and to Bethel and
  to the house of Israel, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord: I led you up from Egypt and
brought you to the land I promised your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant
with you.† 2And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; nor shall you
worship their gods, but you will destroy their graven images and you shall tear down their
altars.’ But you did not obey My voice, for you did these things. 3Therefore I also said, ‘I will
not drive them out before you, and they shall become as snares, and their gods shall be a
cause for stumbling for you.’ ” 4When the Angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the sons
of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. 5And they called that place the Place of
Weeping; and there they made a sacrifice to the Lord.

                                      Death of Joshua

  6And when Joshua had dismissed the people, each man went to his inheritance to take

possession of his land. 7So the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days
of the elders who outlived Joshua, who saw every great deed the Lord did for Israel. 8Now
Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at one hundred and ten years old. 9And
they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Heres, on Mount Ephraim,
on the north side of Mount Gaash. 10And when all that generation were laid with their
fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord, nor the work He had
done for Israel.

                                 Israel Follows False Gods

  11Then the sons of Israel did evil before the Lord and served the Baals. 12They forsook the
Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; they followed
other gods from among the gods of the nations all around them, and they bowed down to
them. They provoked the Lord to anger. 13They forsook Him and served Baal and the
Ashtoreths. 14And the Lord was enraged with anger at Israel. So He delivered them into the
hands of plunderers, who ravaged them and sold them into the hands of their enemies all
around. As a result they could no longer stand before their enemies. 15Whenever they went
out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had spoken, and as the
Lord had sworn to them. He greatly distressed them.

 16Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges and the Lord saved them from the hand of those

who plundered them. 17But even so, they would not listen to their judges, but instead they
played the harlot with other gods and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the
way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did
not do so. 18And the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and
delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was
moved by their groaning because of those who besieged them and harassed them. 19And
when the judge was dead, they went back to their former ways and behaved more corruptly
than their fathers, by following other gods, serving them, and bowing down to them. They did
not reject their pursuits nor their stubborn ways.

  20Then the Lord was enraged with anger at Israel; and He said, “Because this nation set
aside My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not heeded My voice,
21therefore I will not drive away from your presence any more of the men Joshua the son of

Nun left in the land.” And the Lord left them, 22to test Israel by them, to see whether they
would keep the ways of the Lord, to walk in them and keep them as their fathers did.
23Therefore the Lord left those nations without driving them out immediately; and He did
not deliver them into the hand of Joshua.

                                    Nations Left in Canaan


3 Now these are the nations the Lord left so that He might test Israel by them, that is, all
  who did not experience firsthand any of the wars in Canaan† 2(only for the sake of the
generations of Israel, to teach them warfare; only those who did not previously experience it):
3the five provinces of the foreign nations, and every Canaanite, and the Sidonites, and the

Hivites who dwelt in Lebanon, from Mount Hermon to Laboemath. 4And it was so that He
might test Israel by them, to know whether they would hear the commandments of the Lord
which He commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5Thus the sons of Israel dwelt
among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the
Jebusites. 6And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their
sons; and they served their gods.

                                            Othniel

 7In this way the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their

God, and served the Baals and the sacred groves.† 8Therefore the Lord was enraged with
anger at Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Syria of the
rivers; and the sons of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim for eight years. 9When the sons of
Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a savior for Israel and saved them, that is,
Othniel the son of Kenaz, the younger brother of Caleb.† 10And the Spirit of the Lord came
upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war against Cushan-Rishathaim, and the Lord
delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Syria of the rivers into his hand; and his hand prevailed
over Cushan-Rishathaim.† 11Then the land remained at peace for forty years. Then Othniel
the son of Kenaz died.

                                            Ehud

  12And the sons of Israel again did evil before the Lord. So the Lord strengthened Eglon

king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord.† 13Then he
gathered to himself all the sons of Ammon and Amalek, and went and struck Israel, and took
possession of the City of Palms. 14So the sons of Israel served Eglon king of Moab for
eighteen years.

  15But when the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a savior for them,
that is, Ehud the son of Gera, the son of Benjamin, a man equally adept with both of his
hands. By his hand, the sons of Israel sent gifts to Eglon king of Moab. 16Now Ehud made
himself a double-edged dagger, a cubit in length, and fastened it under his clothes on his right
thigh. 17So he went forth and brought the gifts to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a fat
man. 18When Ehud had finished presenting the gifts, he sent away the people who had
carried the gifts. 19But he himself turned back from the carved images near Gilgal, and Ehud
said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” And Eglon said to him, “Keep silence!” And he
sent away all his attendants.

  20And Ehud went with him to the upper summer chamber, where he could sit by himself.
Then Ehud said, “I have the word of God for you, O king.” So Eglon arose from his throne
near him.† 21At the moment he arose, Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from
his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly, 22driving it in so the handle went in after the
blade, until the fat closed over the blade. He did not draw the dagger out of his belly. 23And
Ehud left the porch and passed by the guards stationed there, having shut the doors of the
upper room behind him and locked them. 24After he was gone, the king's servants went in
and noticed the doors of the upper room were locked. So they said, “He is probably relieving
himself in the summer chamber.” 25So they waited till they were embarrassed, and he had
still not opened the doors of the upper room. They took the key and entered, and there was
their master, fallen dead on the floor.
  26But Ehud had escaped while they were in confusion, and thus no one paid any attention

to him. So he passed beyond the carved images and escaped to Seirah. 27And when Ehud
came into the land of Israel, he blew the trumpet in the mountains of Ephraim, and the sons
of Israel went down with him from the mountains; and he stood before them. 28And he said
to them, “Come down after me, for the Lord God has delivered our enemies the Moabites into
our hand.” So they followed him and seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did
not allow anyone to cross over. 29At that time they struck about ten thousand men of Moab,
all men of strength; not a man escaped. 30So Moab was put to shame that day under the
hand of Israel. Indeed, the land remained at peace for eighty years. And Ehud judged them
until he died.

                                          Shamgar

  31After him, Shamgar the son of Dinach rose up, and he struck six hundred men of the
Philistines with the ploughshare of the oxen. He too delivered Israel.

                                    Deborah and Barak

      sons of Israel continued to do evil before the Lord, and Ehud was dead,† 2so the Lord
4 The
  sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander
of his army was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 3And the sons of Israel cried
out to the Lord; for Jabin had nine hundred iron chariots with him, and for twenty years he
oppressed Israel with his power.

  4Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judge of Israel at that time.† 5And
Deborah would sit under the palm tree between Ramah and Bethel on Mount Ephraim. And
the sons of Israel came up to her for justice. 6Then Deborah sent and called for Barak the son
of Abinoam from Kedesh Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not the Lord God of Israel
commanded, ‘Go to Mount Tabor and take with you ten thousand men of the sons of
Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun. 7and I will bring to you, at the brook of Kishon, the
captain of the army of Jabin, with his chariots and his multitude, and I will deliver them into
your hands’?” 8And Barak said to her, “If you go with me, then I will go; but if you do not go
with me, I will remain here, for I am unable to discern the day when the Angel of the Lord
will help me.” 9She said, “Certainly I will go with you; but know this: there will be no honor
gained by you on the journey you are undertaking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand
of a woman.”

  Then Deborah arose and went with Barak from Kedesh.† 10Barak called Zebulun and
Naphtali from Kedesh, and went from there with ten thousand men following him. Deborah
went up with him. 11Now Heber the Kenite, of the sons of Hobab, the father-in-law of Moses,
moved away from the Kenites and pitched his tent upon arriving at the oak tree of coveting,
which is near Kedesh. 12And they reported to Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone
up to Mount Tabor. 13So Sisera called all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all the
people who were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles to the brook of Kishon.

  14Then Deborah said to Barak, “Rise up. For this is the day the Lord will deliver Sisera into
your hand, because the Lord has gone out before you.” So Barak went down from Mount
Tabor with ten thousand men following him. 15And the Lord routed Sisera and all his
chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera got down from
his chariot and fled on foot. 16But Barak pursued the chariots behind the camp as far as
Harosheth of the Gentiles, and the whole camp of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a
man was left.

  17But Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, his friend; for

there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18And Jael
went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; do not fear.”
And when he had turned aside with her, entering into the tent, she covered him with a
blanket. 19Then Sisera said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So
she opened a jug of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him. 20And Sisera said to her, “Stand
at the door of the tent, and if any man comes to you and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there a
man here?’ you shall say, ‘There is not.’ ”

  21Then Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent peg and a hammer in her hand, and went quietly to
him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground. He was asleep, lost
consciousness, and died. 22And then as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him and
said to him, “Come, I will show you the man whom you seek.” And when he went in with her,
there lay Sisera, dead with the peg in his temple. 23So on that day God routed Jabin king of
Canaan before the sons of Israel. 24And the hand of the sons of Israel proceeded and
hardened against Jabin king of Canaan, until they had utterly destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
                                                The Song of Deborah and Barak

    Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying,†
5
     2
          A rev elation was m ade known in Israel

     To the people who were willing, bless the Lord!

     3
          O kings, receiv e the news! O princes, listen closely !

     I, ev en I, will sing to the Lord;

     I will sing a psalm to the Lord God of Israel.

     4
          Lord, when You went out in Seir,

     When You left from the field of Edom ,

     The earth trem bled and the heav ens poured dew,

     The clouds poured water;

     5
          The m ountains were shaken before the Lord Eloi,

     This Sinai, before the Lord God of Israel.

     6
          In the day s of Sham gar son of Anath, in the day s of Jael,

     They deserted the m ain road and trav eled the by way s,

     Corrupting the way as they went.

     7
          The m ighty of Israel failed, they cam e to an end;

     Until Deborah, whom He raised;

     Until a m other whom He raised in Israel. †

     8
          They chose new gods;

     Then the cities of the rulers waged war;

     Not a shield or a spear was seen

     Am ong the forty thousand in Israel.

     9
          My heart is with the leaders of Israel;

     To those am ong the people who freely sacrifice, bless the Lord!†

     10
          You who m ount upon a fem ale donkey at m idday ,

     Sitting on the seat of judgm ent,

     Who conduct y our life on the road, m ediating along the way ,

     11
          Turn back and shout out ev ery detail

     While drawing up water;

     There, in that place, what is rightful to the Lord is giv en,

     Spreading righteousness in Israel.

     Then the people of the Lord cam e down to the cities.
12
     Awake, awake, Deborah!

Awake, awake, sing a song!

Arise, Barak, O son of Abinoam ,

And lead y our host of captiv es captiv e!

13
     Then the rem nant cam e down to the m ighty ;

The people of the Lord cam e down to him , to the m ighty .

14
     My Ephraim rooted them out in Am alek;

O Benjam in, y our people were behind y ou.

Machir cam e to know m ore about Me,

And from Zebulun, those able to record with the pen of a scribe.

15
     And the princes in Issachar were with Deborah and Barak,

So she sent Barak into the v alley by foot.

Am ong the regions of Reuben

There were great resolv es of heart.

16
     Why go up to sit in the m idst of the sheepfold,

To hear the trum pet of the angels?

In the div isions of Reuben

There were great searchings of heart.

17
     Gilead is bey ond the Jordan, where he m ade his dwelling;

Why did Dan rem ain on the ships?

Asher sat down on the seashore,

And he will dwell at his seaports.

18
     The people of Zebulun reproached its soul unto death,

And Naphtali denounced the high places of the fields.

19
     Kings set them selv es in battle array ;

Then the kings of Canaan waged war in Taanach,

By the waters of Megiddo;

They took no gift of silv er.

20
     The stars of the heav ens were array ed for battle;

On their path they array ed them selv es to war against Sisera.

21
     The brook of Kishon swept them away ,

That ancient brook, the brook of Kishon;

My m ighty soul will tram ple him down.

22
     When the hoov es of the horses were fettered,

In earnest his m ighty ones hastened.
    23
         Curse Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse them ,

    Cursed is ev ery one who dwells there,

    Because they did not com e to the help of the Lord,

    To the help of the Lord against the m ighty .

    24
         Jael is blessed am ong wom en,

    The wife of Heber the Kenite;

    Blessed is she from am ong the wom en in tents.

    25
         He requested water, she gav e him m ilk in a dish;

    Surpassing this, she offered butter.

    26
         She stretched her left hand to the tent peg,

    Her right hand to the workm en's ham m er;

    She drov e the nail through his head with a ham m er;

    She put the nail into his tem ple.

    27
         He rolled down between her feet;

    He fell and lay between her feet;

    He bent ov er and fell;

    When he sat down there, he fell, departing life.

    28
         The m other of Sisera peered out through the archer's window;

    For his chariot is not where it should be,

    For the feet of his chariot's horses tarry . †

    29
         The wise of her leading ladies answered her,

    And she answered to herself,

    30
         Will they not find him div iding the spoil;

    The m erciful hav ing com passion for the head of a m an;

    Spoils of the dy ed garm ents for Sisera;

    The spoils of dy ed em broidery ,

    Em broiderer's dy es as spoils for his neck?

    31
         O Lord, let all Your enem ies perish in the way ;

    And those desiring Him , be as the com ing out of His sun in power.

    And let the land be at peace for forty y ears. †

                                          The People of Midian Oppress Israel


6 Then the sons of Israel did evil before the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the
  hand of Midian for seven years,† 2and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. The
sons of Israel made dens for themselves in the mountains and caves, and strongholds away
from the presence of the Midianites. 3So it was, whenever the sons of Israel had sown,
Midianites would come up, and the Amalekites and the sons of the East would come up with
them.† 4Then they encamped against them and destroyed the fruits of the earth until they
came to Gaza, and left no substance of life in the land of Israel, not even an ox or a donkey
among the herds. 5For they came up with their livestock and their tents, and appeared just as
numerous as locusts; they and their camels were without number; and they came into the
land of Israel and destroyed it. 6And Israel was exceedingly destitute before the face of the
Midianites, and the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord 7because of the presence of the
Midianites.

  8And the Lord sent a prophet to the sons of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says the Lord
God of Israel, ‘I am He who brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of
your bondage; 9and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all
who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. 10And I said to
you, I am the Lord your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.
But you did not obey My voice.’ ”

                                           Gideon

  11Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree in Ephrathah which
belonged to Joash the father of Esdri, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress
in order to hide from the presence of the Midianites.† 12And the Angel of the Lord appeared
to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, mighty one of the armies!” 13Gideon said to
Him, “It is I, my Lord? If the Lord is with us, why then have these evils come upon us? And
where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us
up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has driven us out and delivered us into the hands of the
Midianites.” 14Then the Angel of the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with this strength of
yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Indeed, I have sent you.”

  15And Gideon said to Him, “Be gracious with me, my Lord, for how can I save Israel? My

thousand is weakened in Manasseh, and I am the smallest in my father's house.”† 16And the
Angel of the Lord said to him, “The Lord will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites
as one man.” 17Then Gideon said to Him, “If now I have found mercy in Your sight, then You
shall do everything for me today that You have told me. 18Do not leave here, I pray, until I
come to You and I will bring out my offering and set it before You.” And He said, “I am. I will
wait until you come back.”† 19So Gideon went in and prepared a goat kid, and unleavened
bread from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot; and
he brought them out to Him under the terebinth tree and approached.†

  20The Angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on

this rock, and pour out the broth.” And he did so. 21Then the Angel of the Lord stretched out
the end of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and
fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of
the Lord departed out of his sight.

  22Now Gideon perceived this was the Angel of the Lord. So Gideon said, “O Lord, my Lord!

For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.” 23Then the Lord said to him, “Peace be
with you; do not fear, you shall not die.” 24So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and
called it the Peace of the Lord. To this day it is still in Ephratha of the father of Esdri.

  25Now that same night the Lord said to him, “Take your father's young bull, and the
second calf of seven years old, and tear down your father's altar to Baal, and destroy the
sacred grove beside it.† 26Build an altar to the Lord your God on top of this stronghold in the
proper arrangement, and take the second calf and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the
sacred grove which you cut down.” 27So Gideon took ten men from among his servants and
did as the Lord had told him. But because he feared his father's household and the men of the
city too much to do it by day, he did it by night. 28And when the men of the city arose early in
the morning, the altar of Baal was torn down; and the sacred grove beside it was destroyed,
and they saw the second bull being offered on the altar which had been built.

  29And one man said to his neighbor, “Who did this?” Then they inquired and learned that

Gideon the son of Joash had done it. 30Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out
your son and let him die, because he tore down the altar of Baal, and because he destroyed
the sacred grove beside it.” 31But Joash said to all the men who stood against him, “Are you
now going to plead for Baal? Do you want to save him? Let the one who wants to plead for
Baal be put to death by morning! If he is a god, because his altar is torn down, let him plead
for himself!” 32Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, “Let Baal plead against
him, for it is his altar that is torn down.”†
  33Then all the Midianites and Amalekites, the sons of the East, gathered together and

encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. 34But the Spirit of the Lord empowered Gideon, and he
blew the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were terrified behind him. 35And he sent messengers
throughout all Manasseh and to Asher, and to Zebulun, and Naphtali; and he went up to meet
them.

                                      The Dewy Fleece

  36So Gideon said to God, “If You save Israel by my hand as You said,†ω 37then look, I shall
put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on
all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You said.” 38And it
was so. And he rose early the next morning and wrung the fleece and from the fleece dropped
enough dew to fill a pan full of water. 39Then Gideon said to God, “Indeed, I pray, do not let
Your anger be aroused at me, and I will speak but once; I will yet make one more trial with
the fleece. This time, let it be dry on the fleece, but let there be dew all over the ground.”
40And that night God made it so; on the fleece it was completely dry, but there was dew all
over the ground.

                    Gideon's Three Hundred Defeat the Midianites


7 Then  Jerubbaal—that is, Gideon—and all the people with him rose early and encamped at
  the spring of Harod. To the north of him was the camp of the Midianites, stretching from
Gabaath Moreh in the deep valley. 2And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are
too numerous; I dare not deliver Midian into their hand, lest otherwise Israel boast against
Me, saying, ‘This my own hand, it saved me.’† 3Now therefore, proclaim within the hearing of
the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from
Mount Gilead.’ ” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand
remained.

  4But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many people; bring them down to the
water, and there I will purge them for you. And it will be that of whomever I say to you, ‘This
one shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you. And of whomever I say to you, ‘This one
shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go with you.” 5So he brought the people down to
the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps water with his tongue, as a dog
laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.”
6And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred

men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water. 7Then the Lord
said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the
Midianites into your hand. All the other people shall go, every man to his own place.” 8So
they took the provision of the people in their hand, and their trumpets; and he sent away
every man of Israel, every man to his tent, and he strengthened the three hundred. And the
army of Midian was below him in the deep valley.

  9On that same night the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have

delivered it into your hand. 10But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with
Purah your servant. 11Listen to what they shall say, and afterward your hands shall be strong
and you shall then go down into the camp.” And he went down with Purah his servant to the
edge of the camp of the fifty. 12And Midian and Amalek and all the sons of the East were
scattered as numerous as locusts throughout the valley; and their camels were without
number, as the sands on the seashore.

  13And Gideon came, and there was a man telling his companion a dream. He said, “Behold,
I had a dream. Hear me: A cake of barley bread rolling into the camp of Midian came as far as
a tent and struck it so that it fell, flipped over, and collapsed.” 14Then his companion
answered and said, “This is nothing but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of
Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the entire camp.”

  15When Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped the
Lord. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Arise, for the Lord has delivered the camp
of Midian into our hand.”† 16Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies
and put a trumpet into every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and torches inside the
pitchers.

  17And he said to them, “Watch me and do as I do; watch, and when I come to the edge of

the camp, do as I do. 18When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also
blow the trumpets on every side of the whole camp, and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’
” 19So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the edge of the camp at the
beginning of the middle watch, and they completely roused the guards. And they blew the
trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands, 20and the three companies
sounded the trumpets and broke the pitchers and held the torches in their left hands.
  In their right hands they held their trumpets to sound with, and they cried out, “A sword
for the Lord and for Gideon!” 21And every man stood in his place round about the camp; and
the entire army of men ran and sounded a warning and fled. 22They sounded with three
hundred trumpets, and the Lord set every man's sword against his neighbor throughout the
entire camp; and the army fled as far as Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of
Abel Meholah, by Tabbath. 23And the men of Israel, from Naphtali, from Asher, and from all
Manasseh, shouted out and pursued after the Midianites.

  24Gideon sent messengers throughout all Mount Ephraim, saying, “Come down to meet in
battle with the Midianites, and take for yourselves the watering places as far as Beth Barah
and the River Jordan.” And every man of Ephraim cried out, and they seized the water as far
as Beth Barah and the River Jordan.† 25And they captured Oreb and Zeeb, rulers in Midian.
They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the winepress of Zeeb. They
pursued Midian and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon from the other side of the
Jordan.

                         Israel Delivered from the Midianites


8 The men of Ephraim said to Gideon, “Why did you not tell us what you were doing when
  you went to war with Midian?” They reprimanded him sharply.† 2So he said to them,
“What could I do in comparison with what you now do? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of
Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? 3The Lord has delivered into your hands the
princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what could I do in comparison with what you do?”
Their spirit toward him became calm when he spoke this word.

  4When Gideon came to the River Jordan, he and the three hundred men with him crossed

over—hungry, but still pursuing.† 5Then he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give bread to
feed this army of men that follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and
Zalmunna, kings of Midian.” 6And the leaders of Succoth said, “Is the hand of Zebah and
Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”

  7So Gideon said, “Therefore when the Lord has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my
hand, I will then tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with the brier bush!”
8From there he went up to Penuel, requesting the same and in the same way. The men of

Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth previously answered. 9And Gideon said to the
men of Penuel, “When I return in peace, I will tear down this tower!”

  10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were at Karkor with their armies, about fifteen thousand, all
that remained of the entire army of foreigners; they that fell were one hundred twenty
thousand men who drew the sword.† 11Then Gideon traveled the road eastward of Nobah and
Jogbehah, to where they dwelt in tents. Here he smote the army, and the camp was
surrendering. 12Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them, capturing the two kings of
Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna. The last of the army was caught by surprise.

  13And Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle, down from the battle line of Ares.
† 14And he took prisoner a young man of the men of Succoth to interrogate him; and he
wrote down for Gideon the names of the leaders of Succoth and of their elders, seventy-seven
men.† 15Then Gideon came to the rulers of Succoth and said, “Look. Here are Zebah and
Zalmunna, about whom you reproached me, saying, ‘Is the hand of Zebah and Zalmunna now
in your hand that we should give bread to your army?’ ” 16And he seized the elders of the city,
with the thorns of the wilderness and with the sharp thorns, and with them he flailed the
men of the city.† 17Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

  18And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “Where are the men you killed at Tabor?” And they

said, “As you are, so they were in the appearance of a king's son.” 19Then Gideon said, “They
were my brothers and the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had kept them alive, I
would not kill you.” 20And he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise and kill them!” But the youth
would not draw his sword, for he was afraid; for he was yet very young. 21So Zebah and
Zalmunna said, “You rise up and face us, for your strength is that of a man.” So Gideon arose
and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments from their camels’ necks.

  22Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, for you

have delivered us from the hand of Midian.” 23But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over
you, nor shall my son rule over you. The Lord shall rule over you.”† 24Then Gideon said to
them, “I would like to make a request of you, that each man would give me an earring from
his plunder.” For they had gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites. 25So they said, “We
will gladly give them.” And he spread out his garment and each man threw down an earring
from his plunder. 26Now the weight of the gold earrings which he requested was one
thousand five hundred pieces of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, garments,
and purple robes worn by the kings of Midian, and the chains around the necks of their
camels.

  27Then Gideon made it into an ephod and made a memorial of it in his city of Ephratha.
Hereafter, Israel indulged in all types of sinful acts because of it. And to Gideon and to his
house, it became a thorn.† 28Thus Midian was reduced in stature before the sons of Israel,
and they lifted their heads no more. The country remained at peace for forty years in the days
of Gideon. 29Then Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelled in his own house.

                                      Death of Gideon

 30And Gideon begot seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. 31And his concubine

who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whom he called Abimelech. 32Now Gideon the son
of Joash died in his city, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ephratha of the
Abiezrites.

  33So it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the

Baals, and made a covenant for themselves with Baal that he would be their god. 34Thus the
sons of Israel choose to no longer remember the Lord their God, He who had delivered them
from the hand of all their enemies on every side; 35nor did they show mercy to the house of
Jerubbaal—that is, Gideon—in accordance with all the good he accomplished for Israel.

                               Abimelech Seeks to Be King


9 Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother's brothers, and he spoke to
  them and to everyone in the family of his mother's father, saying,† 2“I pray you to ask in
the hearing of all the men of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, for all seventy of the sons of
Jerubbaal to reign over you, or for one to reign over you?’ Remember, I am of your own bone
and flesh.” 3And his mother's brothers spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing
of all the men of Shechem; and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said,
“He is our brother.” 4They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the house of Baal-Berith,
and Abimelech hired for himself vain and cowardly men; and they followed him. 5Then he
went into his father's house at Ephratha and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of
Jerubbaal, seventy men upon one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left,
for he hid himself. †
                                 Jotham Makes His Plea

  6All the men of Shechem and all the house of Beth Millo gathered, and they went ahead

and made Abimelech king by the oak of Sedition at Shechem. 7It was reported to Jotham, and
he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and lifted his voice and wept, and said to them,
“Hear me, you men of Shechem, and God will hear you.† 8One day, the trees once went forth
to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’† 9But the olive
tree said to them, ‘Should I cease giving my richness, with which men will glorify God, and go
to be placed over the trees?’ 10Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over
us!’ 11But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to
be placed over the trees?’ 12Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us!’
13But the vine said to them, ‘Should I cease my wine, which cheers both God and men, and

go to be placed over the trees?’ 14Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign
over us!’ 15And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me as king over you,
then come and take shelter in my shade; but if not, may fire come from me and devour the
cedars of Lebanon!’

  16“And now, if you have acted in truth and integrity, and have made Abimelech king, and if
you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and with his house, and if you have done to him according
to the reward of his hand, 17as my father fought in war for you, and put his life in jeopardy,
and delivered you out of the hand of Midian; 18but you have risen up against my father's
house today, and killed his seventy sons upon one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his
bondwoman, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother. 19If then you have
acted in truth and faithfully with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in
Abimelech, and let him rejoice over you as well. 20But if not, let fire come from Abimelech
and devour the men of Shechem and the house of Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men
of Shechem and from the house of Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!” 21And Jotham fled
and ran away. He went as far as Beer and dwelt there out of the way of his brother Abimelech.

                                   Abimelech in Decline

  22After Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years, 23God sent a wicked spirit between
Abimelech and the men of Shechem. And the men of Shechem rejected the house of
Abimelech, 24to bring the injustice done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and to lay their
blood upon Abimelech their brother, who killed them; and on the men of Shechem, who
strengthened his hands to slay his brothers. 25And the men of Shechem set men in ambush
against Abimelech on the mountaintops. They robbed everyone who passed by them on the
way so it would be reported to King Abimelech.†

 26Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and they passed by Shechem, and the

men of Shechem trusted him.† 27And they went out into the fields and gathered their grapes,
and trod them and made merry. And they went into the house of their god, and ate and drank
and cursed Abimelech. 28Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is this
son of Shechem that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul
his steward, his servant with the son of Hamor the father of Shechem? And why should we
serve him? 29And if it were so that this people were under my hand, then I would remove
Abimelech. Indeed, I would say to him, ‘Multiply the strength of your army and come out!’ ”

  30When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Jobel, his anger was

aroused. 31And in secret he sent messengers to Abimelech, saying, “Listen carefully! Gaal the
son of Jobel and his brothers have come to Shechem; and be warned, in the area around the
city they stir up trouble against you. 32Now get up by night, you and the people with you, and
lie in wait in the field. 33And early in the morning, at the same time the sun rises, move your
battle line toward the city; and behold, he and the people with him will come out against you,
and you shall do to him as much as is in your power.”

  34So Abimelech and all the people with him rose by night, and, with four companies, they

lay in wait against Shechem. 35Gaal the son of Jobel went out and stood at the door of the
gate of the city, and Abimelech and the people with him rose from the place of ambush.
36And when Gaal the son of Jobel saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, a people are
coming down from the top of the mountain!” But Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of
the mountains as being men.” 37Gaal still continued to speak and said, “See, people are
coming down toward the sea from the center of the land, and another company is coming
from the way of Elonmaonenim.”†

  38Then Zebul said to him, “Where indeed is your mouth now, for you said, ‘Who is
Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out,
if you will, and fight with him now.” 39So Gaal went out before the men of Shechem and
warred with Abimelech. 40But Abimelech chased him, and Gaal fled before him; and many
fell wounded, even up to the door of the gate. 41Then Abimelech went into Arumah, and
Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, so they could not dwell in Shechem.

  42On the next day the people went out into the field and reported to Abimelech. 43So he
took the people, divided them into three companies, and placed them in ambush in the field.
He looked, and there were the people coming out of the city; and he rose against them and
attacked them. 44Then Abimelech and the leaders with him charged forward and stood at the
door of the city gate; and the other two companies charged forward against all those in the
fields and smote them. 45Abimelech fought against the city all that day and took the city,
killing the people in it. And he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

  46When all the men of the towers of Shechem heard that, they came to the meeting at

Bethelberith.† 47And it was reported to Abimelech that all the men of the towers of Shechem
were gathered together. 48Then Abimelech along with all his people went up to Mount
Hermon. And Abimelech took the axes in his hand and cut down a branch from a tree, and
took it and laid it on his shoulders. And he said to the people with him, “Quickly, do what you
have seen me do.” 49So each and every man cut down a branch and followed after Abimelech,
putting the branches against the stronghold and setting them on fire, burning down the
stronghold as well. And all the men of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and
women.

   50Abimelech then left from Bethelberith and encamped against Thebez and overpowered

it. 51But there was a strong tower in the middle of the city, and there all the men and women
of the city fled; and they locked themselves in and went up on the roof of the tower. 52And
Abimelech drew near the tower and besieged it; and Abimelech drew near the door of the
tower to burn it with fire. 53But a certain woman dropped a piece of a millstone upon the
head of Abimelech and broke his skull. 54He quickly cried out to the young man, his armor
bearer, and said to him, “Draw my sword and kill me, lest men say of me, ‘A woman killed
him.’ ” So his young man thrust him through, and he died. 55And when the men of Israel saw
that Abimelech was dead, they departed, every man to his place. 56Thus God repaid the
wickedness that Abimelech brought against his father by killing his seventy brothers. 57And
God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their own heads, and the curse of
Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came on them.
                              Tola and Jair, Judges of Israel


10 After Abimelech, Tola the son of Puah arose to save Israel, the son of his father's
   brother, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir on Mount Ephraim.† 2He judged
Israel twenty-three years; and he died and was buried in Shamir.

  3After him arose Jair of Gilead; and he judged Israel twenty-two years. 4He had thirty-two
sons who rode on thirty-two colts, and they had thirty-two cities, which are called the villages
of Jair to this day in the land of Gilead. 5And Jair died and was buried in Ramnon.

                                   Israel Again Afflicted

  6Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, serving Baals and the
Ashtoreths, the gods of Arad, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the sons of
Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook the Lord and did not serve Him.
7And the Lord was enraged with anger against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands

of the Philistines and into the hands of the sons of Ammon. 8And they afflicted and
oppressed the sons of Israel for a time of eighteen years, all the children of Israel beyond the
Jordan in the land of the Amorites, in Gilead. 9Moreover, the sons of Ammon crossed the
Jordan to war against Judah and Benjamin, with Ephraim. The children of Israel suffered
severely. 10And the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against You,
because we have forsaken God and have served the Baals!”

  11So the Lord said to the sons of Israel, “Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians and from

the Amorites and from the sons of Ammon and from the Philistines,† 12from the Sidonians
and Amalekites and Maonites who oppressed you when you cried out to Me, and I delivered
you from their hand? 13Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will
deliver you no more. 14Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen for yourselves; let them
deliver you in the time of your distress.” 15And the sons of Israel said to the Lord, “We have
sinned! Do to us whatever is good in Your eyes; only deliver us this day.” 16So they put away
the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord alone. And His soul was grieved by
the misery of Israel.

  17Then the sons of Ammon went up and encamped in Gilead. And the sons of Israel

assembled together and encamped at the lookout. 18And each of the leaders of Gilead said to
his neighbor, “Who is the man who will begin the fight against the sons of Ammon? He shall
indeed be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

                                Jephthah Takes Command


11 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was being exalted in power, but he was the son of a harlot
   who bore Jephthah to Gilead.† 2Gilead's wife bore sons, and when his wife's sons grew
up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall have no inheritance in our father's
house, for you are the son of another woman.” 3Then Jephthah fled before his brothers and
dwelt in the land of Tob; and vain men banded together with Jephthah, and they went out
with him.

  4And it came to be that the sons of Ammon made war against Israel, and the elders of

Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 5Then they said to Jephthah, “Come and
be our commander so that we may fight against the sons of Ammon.” 6So Jephthah said to
the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father's house, and exile
me from you? Why have you come to me now when you are in need?” 7And the elders of
Gilead said to Jephthah, “That is why we have turned again to you now, that you may go with
us and fight against the sons of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”
8So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you take me back home to fight against the sons

of Ammon, and the Lord delivers them to me, I shall indeed be your head.” 9And the elders of
Gilead said to Jephthah, “The Lord will be a witness between us, if we do not act according to
your word.” 10Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head
and commander over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord in Mizpah.†

  11Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, “What is there

between me and you, that you have come to fight against me in my land?”† 12And the king of
the sons of Ammon said to the messengers of Jephthah, “It is because Israel took away my
land when it came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon as far as the Jabbok, and to the Jordan.
Now therefore, restore those lands in peace, and I will go.”

  13So Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon 14and said to him,
“Thus says Jephthah, ‘Israel did not take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the sons of
Ammon; 15for when they came up from Egypt, Israel walked through the desert as far as the
sea of Siph and came to Kadesh. 16Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying,
“Please let me pass through your land.” But the king of Edom would not listen. And they sent
to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained in Kadesh. 17And they
went along through the desert and circled the land of Edom and the land of Moab, having
come from the rising of the sun to the land of Moab, and encamped beyond the Arnon. But
they did not cross the borders of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab. 18Then Israel
sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him,
“Please let us pass through your land into our place.” 19But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass
through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together, encamped in Jahaz, and
fought against Israel. 20And the Lord God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the
hand of Israel, and they smote him. Thus Israel inherited all the land of the Amorites, who
inhabited that country, 21from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the desert to the Jordan.
22And now that the Lord God of Israel has removed the Amorites from before His people

Israel, should you then inherit it? 23Will you not possess whatever Chemosh your god gives
you to inherit? And we will inherit everything the Lord our God removes before us. 24And
now, are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive
against Israel? Did he ever fight against them? 25While they dwelt in Heshbon and in her
borders, in the land of Aroer and in her borders, and in all the cities along the banks of the
River Jordan, for three hundred years, why did you not deliver them within that time? 26And
I have not sinned against you, but you wronged me by fighting against me. May the Lord
render judgment today between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon.’ ” 27However, the
king of the sons of Ammon did not heed the words Jephthah sent him.

                                      Jephthah's Vow

  28Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and
Manasseh, and passed by the lookout of Gilead; and from Mizpah of Gilead he advanced
beyond the sons of Ammon.† 29And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If You
deliver the sons of Ammon into my hand, 30then it shall be that whoever first comes out of
the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, he
shall be the Lord's. I will offer him up for a whole burnt offering.” 31So Jephthah advanced
toward the sons of Ammon to fight against them, and the Lord delivered them into his hand.
32And he struck them from Aroer until he came to Arnon, twenty cities in number, and as far
as Abel Keramim, with widespread destruction everywhere. Thus the sons of Ammon were
subdued before the sons of Israel.
                               The Daughter of Jephthah

  33When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, behold his daughter came out to meet him

with drums and dances, and she was his only child. He had no other son or daughter. 34And
when he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Ah, ah, my daughter! You have troubled me
greatly! It is you who are my trouble! For I have opened my mouth against you to the Lord,
and I cannot go back on it.” 35So she said to him, “My father, if you have opened your mouth
to the Lord, do to me as it came from your mouth, because the Lord has avenged you on your
enemies, the sons of Ammon.”

  36Then she said to her father, “Let my father do this one thing for me. Leave me alone for
two months to wander on the mountains and bewail my virginity along with my
companions.” 37So he said, “Go.” And he sent her away for two months; and she went with
her companions, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains. 38And at the end of two
months she returned to her father, and he carried out the vow he vowed, and she knew no
man. And it became a custom in Israel† 39that the daughters of Israel went four days each
year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

                               Jephthah Defeats Ephraim


12 Then  the men of Ephraim cried out, went by to the north, and said to Jephthah, “Why
   did you pass by to fight against the sons of Ammon and did not call us to go with you?
We will burn your house down around you with fire.”† 2And Jephthah said to them, “I and
my people were engaged in intense fighting with the sons of Ammon; and I called you, but
you did not deliver me from their hands. 3So when I saw that you were not a savior, I put my
life in my hands and passed on to the sons of Ammon; and the Lord delivered them into my
hand. Why then did you come to fight against me today?”

  4Now Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead and went to war against Ephraim.
Gilead defeated Ephraim, since those of Ephraim who escaped said, “You of Gilead are in the
midst of Ephraim and in the midst of Manasseh.” 5Gilead seized the fords of the River Jordan
needed to enter Ephraim. And those of Ephraim who escaped said to the men of Gilead, “Let
us cross over.” And the men of Gilead questioned, “Are you not of Ephraim?” If one said,
“No,” † 6they then said to him, “Say the word ‘stachys’!” If he was unable to repeat the word
in the same way, they seized him and killed him at the ford of the River Jordan. At that time,
forty-two thousand from Ephraim fell.

  7Jephthah judged Israel sixty years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in
his city in Gilead.

                                        Other Judges

  8After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. 9He had thirty sons and thirty daughters,
and he sent away thirty daughters in marriage, and brought in thirty daughters from without
for his sons. He judged Israel seven years. 10Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.

  11After him, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel. He judged Israel ten years. 12And Elon the
Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.

  13After him, Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel. 14He had forty sons and

thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy colts. He judged Israel eight years. 15Then Abdon the
son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the
mountains of the Amalekites.


13 Again  the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them
   into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.†

                                   The Birth of Samson

 2Now there was a certain man from Zorah, from the tribe of the family of the Danites,

whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and could not give birth. 3And the Angel
of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have not
given birth, but you shall conceive a son.† 4Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or
strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean.† 5For behold, you are pregnant and shall bear
a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the
womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”†

  6So the woman went in and told her husband, saying, “A Man of God came to me, and His
appearance was like the appearance of an Angel of God, very frightening. But I did not ask
Him where He was from, and He did not tell me His name. 7And He said to me, ‘Behold, you
are pregnant and shall bear a son. Now drink no wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything
unclean, for the child shall be holy to God from the womb to the day of his death.’ ” 8Then
Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, “Lord Adonai, please let the Man of God whom You sent
come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.”

  9And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God came to the woman again

as she was sitting in the field, but Manoah her husband was not with her. 10Then the woman
ran in haste and told her husband, and said to him, “Look, the Man who came to me the other
day has just now appeared to me!” 11So Manoah arose and followed his wife. When he came
to the Man, he said to Him, “Are You the Man who spoke to my wife?” And the Angel said, “I
am.” 12Manoah said, “Now let Your words come to pass! What is to be the decision regarding
the boy and his activities?”

   13So the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “The woman will guard herself from everything

I have told her. 14She may not eat anything that comes from the vine of wine, and let her not
drink wine or similar strong drink, nor eat anything unclean. All that I commanded her, let
her observe.” 15Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “Let us delay You here, and we
will prepare a young goat for You.” 16And the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Though you
delay me, I will not eat your bread. But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the
Lord”; for Manoah did not know he was the Angel of the Lord. 17Then Manoah said to the
Angel of the Lord, “What is Your name, so when Your words come to pass we may honor
You?” 18And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, is it
extraordinary?”

  19So Manoah took the young goat and the sacrifice, and offered it upon the rock to the
Lord. And the Angel wrought a distinct work, while Manoah and his wife were looking on.
20And it so happened when the flame went up above the altar toward heaven, that the Angel
of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell
upon their faces to the ground. 21When the Angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah
and his wife, Manoah knew this to be the Angel of the Lord. 22And Manoah said to his wife,
“We shall surely die, because we have seen God!” 23But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had
desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a meat offering from our
hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have made us hear such
things as these at this time.”
  24So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord

blessed him. 25And the Spirit of the Lord began to proceed out with him at the camp of Dan
between Zorah and Eshtaol.†

                             Samson Takes a Philistine Wife


14 Now   Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of
   the foreigners.† 2So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a
woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a
wife.” 3Then his father and mother said to him, “Are there not daughters of your brethren, or
a woman among all my people? Must you go and get a wife from the uncircumcised
foreigners?” And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.”

   4But his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord—that He was seeking
vengeance against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
5So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of

Timnah. And behold, a young lion came roaring against him.† 6And the Spirit of the Lord
leapt upon Samson, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat,
though he had nothing in his hands. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had
done.

   7Then they went down and talked with the woman, and she was pleasing to Samson's eyes.
8After a few days, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion.

And behold, a swarm of bees and some honey were in the mouth of the lion. 9He took some
of it in his hands and went along, eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave
some to them, and they also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of
the mouth of the lion.

  10So his father went down to the woman. And Samson gave a party there for seven days, as

young men do. 11And when they saw him, they brought thirty guests and they were with him.
12Then Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle. If you can correctly solve and explain
it to me within the seven days of the party, then I will give you thirty linen garments and
thirty changes of clothing. 13But if you cannot explain it to me, then you shall give me thirty
linen cloths and thirty changes of clothing.” And they said to him, “Tell the riddle; let us hear
it.”
  14And he said to them:

    “What m eat com es forth from the eater,

    And from the strong, sweetness?”

  But three days passed by and they could not explain the riddle.

  15But on the fourth day they said to Samson's wife, “Now trick your husband so that he
explains the riddle to you, or else we will burn you and your father's house with fire. Did you
invite us to do us violence?” 16Then Samson's wife wept before him, and said, “You hate me!
You do not love me! You told the sons of my people a riddle, but you have not explained it to
me.” And Samson said to her, “If I have not explained it to my father or my mother, why
should I explain it to you?” 17Now she wept before him for seven days while their wedding
banquet lasted. And on the seventh day he told her, because she annoyed him so much. Then
she explained the riddle to the sons of her people. 18And the men of the city said to him on
the seventh day before the sun rose:

    “What is sweeter than honey ?

    What is stronger than a lion?”

  And Samson said to them:

    “If y ou had not plowed with m y heifer,

    You would not hav e com e to learn m y riddle!” †

  19Then the Spirit of the Lord leapt upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck
thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave the changes of clothing to those who had
explained the riddle. So Samson's anger was aroused, and he went back up to his father's
house. 20And the wife of Samson was given to one of his companions, one whom he called
friend.


15 Soon after these days, in the days of the wheat harvest, Samson visited his wife with a
   young goat. And he said, “I will go to my wife in her private chamber.” But her father
would not permit him to enter.† 2Her father said, “I thought that you thoroughly hated her;
therefore I gave her to one of your friends. Is not her younger sister better than she? Please,
take her instead.”

                                         Samson Decimates the Philistines
  3And Samson said to them, “This once I shall be blameless regarding the Philistines, for I

will do mischief among them!” 4Then Samson went and caught three hundred foxes; and he
took torches, turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails, and tied
it. 5When he had set the torches on fire, he sent the foxes out into the standing grain of the
Philistines, and they burned from the threshing floor even to the standing grain, as far as the
vineyard and olive groves.

  6Then the Philistines said, “Who did this?” And they answered, “Samson, the son-in-law of
the Timnite, because he took his wife and gave her to one of his friends.” So the Philistines
came up and burned her and her father with fire. 7Samson said to them, “Whereas you dealt
thus with her, surely I will take revenge upon you for a month and I will finally stop.” 8So he
struck them upon the thigh of the leg with a great blow. Afterward he went down and dwelt in
a cave at the rock of Etam.

  9Now the Philistines went up and encamped in Judah, and they spread out across Levi.
10And the men of Judah said, “Why have you come up against us?” So the Philistines

answered, “We have come up to bind Samson, to do to him as he has done to us.” 11Then
three thousand men of Judah went down to the cave at the rock of Etam and said to Samson,
“Do you not know that the Philistines rule over us? Why did you do this to us?” And Sampson
said to them, “As they did to me, so I have done to them.”

  12But they said to him, “We have come down to bind you so that we may deliver you to the
Philistines.” Then Samson said to them, “Swear to me that you will not kill me yourselves.”
13So they spoke to him, saying, “No, but we will bind you securely and deliver you into their
hand; but we will surely not put you to death.” And they bound him with two new ropes and
brought him up from that rock. 14When they came to Lehi, the Philistines wailed loudly and
ran to engage him. But the Spirit of the Lord leapt upon him, and the ropes on his arms
became like flax burned with fire, and his bonds fell away from his hands. 15He found the
jawbone of an ass that had been cast aside, and he reached out and took it, and struck a
thousand men with it. 16Then Samson said:

    “With the jawbone of an ass I utterly destroy ed them ,

    For with the jawbone of an ass I struck down a thousand m en!”

  17And so when he had finished speaking, he threw the jawbone from his hand, and called
that place the Ramath Lehi. 18Then he became exceedingly thirsty, and wept before the Lord
and said, “You were well-pleased to grant this great deliverance by the hand of Your servant;
and now I shall die of thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised.”† 19And God broke
open a hollow in the ground, and out from it water came forth, and he drank. His spirit
returned and he was revived. Therefore he called it “the Spring of the One Who Called,”
which is in Lehi to this day. 20And in the days of the Philistines, he judged Israel twenty
years.

                                   Samson and Delilah

     Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her. 2When someone
16 told the Gazites, saying, “Samson has come here!” they surrounded the place and lay in
wait for him all night at the gate of the city. They were quiet all night, saying, “Let us wait
until dawn, and we will kill him.”† 3Samson slept till midnight and rose up, and at midnight
he took hold of the doors of the gate of the city with the two gateposts, and lifted them up
with the bar, and placed them on his shoulders. He then carried them to the top of the
mountain facing Hebron, and he set them there.

  4Sometime thereafter, he came to love a woman in Alsorech whose name was Delilah.†
5And the leaders of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Trick him and find out
where his great strength lies. Learn by what means we may overpower him, so that we may
bind him and humble him. If you do, every one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of
silver.” 6So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and with
what you can be bound that you may be subdued and controlled.”

  7And Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven damp cords, not yet spoiled, then I

shall become weak and be like any other man.” 8So the leaders of the Philistines brought her
seven damp cords, not yet spoiled, and she bound him with them. 9And with her in the
private chamber, an ambush was set. And she said to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon
you!” But he broke the cords as if someone should break a thread of flax when it touches the
fire. Thus the secret of his strength remained unknown.

   10Then Delilah said to Samson, “Indeed! You deceived me and told me lies. Now therefore,

tell me what you may be bound with.” 11So he said to her, “If they bind me securely with new
ropes that have never been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.”
12Therefore Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them, and those in ambush came
out of the private chamber, and she said to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But
he broke them off his arms like thread. 13And Delilah said to Samson, “Indeed! You have
mocked me and told me lies. Tell me, I entreat you, with what can you be tightly bound?”

  And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head into a braid, and secure them
together with a wall peg, I will be weak like any other man.” 14And so it happened when he
was asleep, Delilah braided the seven locks of his head and secured them with a wall peg, and
said to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” And he awoke from his sleep, and pulled
out the peg.

  15Then Delilah said to Samson, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with
me? You deceived me a third time; and you have not yet told me where your great strength
lies.” 16And it came to pass, after she pestered him continually with her words and pressured
him sorely, that his spirit failed him almost to death. 17Then he told her everything in his
heart, and said to her, “No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a holy one of
God from my mother's womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall
become weak and be like all other men.”

  18And Delilah discerned he told her all his heart, and she sent and called for the leaders of
the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he told me all his heart.” So the leaders of
the foreigners went to her and brought the money in their hands. 19Delilah lulled Samson to
sleep on her knees, and called for a man, and had him shave off the seven locks of his head.
Thus she could finally subdue and control him, for his strength departed from him. 20And
Delilah said, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” So he awoke from his sleep and said, “I
will go out as before, and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had departed
from him. 21Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to
Gaza. They bound him with fetters of bronze; and he was grinding grain in the prison house.

                                     Death of Samson

  22Soon the hair of his head began to grow as before it was shaven. 23And the leaders of the
Philistines met to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon and to make merry. And they said,
“Our god delivered our enemy, Samson, into our hands.”† 24When the people saw Samson,
they praised their god; for they said, “Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy, the
destroyer of our land; the one who multiplied our dead.” 25And when their heart was merry,
they said, “Call Samson out of the guard house, and let him play before us.” So they called
Samson from the prison house, and he played before them. And they slapped him and
stationed him between the pillars.† 26Then Samson said to the young man who held him by
the hand, “Let me feel the pillars that support the house, so that I can lean on them.” 27Now
the house was full of men and women, including all the leaders of the Philistines, with about
seven hundred men and women on the roof watching while Samson played.

  28Then Samson wept before the Lord, saying, “Lord, my Lord, remember me now. O God,
strengthen me just this once so I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my
two eyes.” 29And Samson took hold of the two pillars of the house, the very two which held
up the house, and he leaned himself against them. He grasped one with his right hand and
the other with his left, 30and then Samson said, “Let my life end with the Philistines.” And
with all his strength, he pushed on the pillars, and the house came crashing down on the
leaders and all the people in it. In his dying, Samson caused more people to die than were
brought to death in his life. 31And his brothers and all his father's household came there and
took him. They brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his
father Manoah. He judged Israel for twenty years.

                                  The Idolatry of Micah

        there was a man from Mount Ephraim whose name was Micah.† 2And he said to
17 Now
   his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels of silver you took for yourself, and about
which you cursed me and spoke it in my ears, behold the silver is with me; I took it.” And his
mother said, “Blessed be my son of the Lord.” 3And he returned the eleven hundred shekels
of silver to his mother, and his mother said, “I consecrated the silver to the Lord out of my
hand, for my son to make a carved and a molten image; and now I will restore it to you.”
4Micah returned the silver to his mother, and his mother took two hundred pieces of silver
and gave them to the silversmith, who made it into a carved and molten image. It was in
Micah's house. 5And to him, the house of Micah was a house of God, and he made an ephod
and idols; and he consecrated one of his sons, and to him he became his priest. 6In those
days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

  7There was a young man from Bethlehem of the family of Judah, who was a Levite,

sojourning there.† 8And the man departed from the city of Bethlehem in Judah to journey to
wherever he could find a place. As he made his way, he came as far as Mount Ephraim and to
the house of Micah. 9And Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?” So he said to him,
“I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I am journeying to wherever I might find a
place.” 10Micah said to him, “Dwell with me and be a father and a priest to me, and I will give
you ten pieces of silver a day, a change of clothes, and all your living needs.” So the Levite
entered. 11He began to dwell with the man, and the young man became like one of his sons to
him. 12So Micah consecrated the Levite, and to him he became his priest, and he took his
place in the house of Micah. 13Then Micah said, “Now I know the Lord will be good to me,
since a Levite has become my priest!”

                               Dan Embraces Micah's Idols


18 Initselfthose days there was no king in Israel. And in those days, the tribe of Dan sought for
              an inheritance to inhabit, because no inheritance had befallen it until that day in
the midst of the tribes of Israel.† 2So the sons of Dan sent five men of their family from their
territory, sons of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy upon the land and to search it out.
They said to them, “Go, search the land.” And they went as far as Mount Ephraim, to the
house of Micah, and there they lodged. 3While at the house of Micah, they recognized the
voice of the young Levite. They turned toward him and said to him, “Who brought you here?
What are you doing in this place? What do you have here?”†

  4He said to them, “This is what Micah did for me. He hired me and I became his priest.”
5So they said to him, “Ask now of God, so we may know if we will be successful on our

journey that we go on.”† 6And the priest said to them, “Go in peace. The way in which you go
is before the Lord.”†

  7So the five men departed and came to Laish. Here they saw the people in the midst of it,
dwelling securely, as the affairs of the Sidonians were quiet. Here no one was perverting or
shaming people or events in the land. There were no heirs extorting treasures; and the land
was far from the Sidonians, with no ties of mutuality between them. 8And the five men came
back to their brethren at Zorah and Eshtaol and said to their brethren, “Why do you sit,
preparing for nothing?” 9And they said, “Arise, let us go up against them, for we have seen
the land, and indeed it is very good, yet you are unmotivated. Do not delay. Go and enter the
land to possess it. 10When you go, you will meet a people at peace, and the land is extensive,
for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is nothing lacking in the land.”

  11And six hundred men of the family of Dan, armed with weapons of war, departed from

Zorah and Eshtaol.† 12They went up and encamped in Kirjath Jearim in Judah. Therefore
they call that place the camp of Dan to this day. There it is, behind Kirjath Jearim. 13And they
passed from there to Mount Ephraim and came to the house of Micah. 14Then the five men
who had spied upon the country of Laish spoke and said to their brethren, “Do you know that
in this house there is an ephod, idols, and a carved and molten image? Therefore, consider
what you should do.” 15So they turned aside there and went into where the young Levite man
stayed—into the house of Micah. In peace, they asked how he was. 16The six hundred men
armed with their weapons of war, who were of the sons of Dan, remained standing by the
door of the gate.

  17Then the five men who had spied upon the land went up, 18and they entered the house
of Micah. The priest stood up as they took the carved image, the ephod, the idols, and the
molded image, and said to them, “The priest asks what are you doing?” 19And they said to
him, “Be silent, put your hand over your mouth, and come with us; and be a father and a
priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest to the household of one man, or to be a priest to
a tribe and house for a family of Israel?”†

 20The heart of the priest was glad, and he took the ephod, the idols, and the carved and

molten image and came into the midst of the people. 21Then they turned and departed,
putting the children, the livestock, and the baggage in front of them. 22When they had
traveled far from the house of Micah, behold Micah and the men in the houses near the
house of Micah cried out and overtook the sons of Dan. 23And the sons of Dan turned their
face and said to Micah, “What is the matter with you that you cry out?” 24Micah responded,
“Because you took away the carved image which I made, and my priest, and left. What
remains for me? How is it you can say to me, ‘Why do you cry out?’ ”

  25And the sons of Dan said to him, “Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest men

bitter in soul fall upon us and take away your life and the lives of your household!” 26Then
the sons of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw they were far stronger than himself, he
turned back toward his house.†

  27So the sons of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who was with him, and
they came to Laish, to a people quiet and secure, and they struck them with the edge of the
sword and burned the city with fire. 28There was no deliverer, for the city was far from the
Sidonians, and no agreements of mutuality. It is in the valley of the house of Rahab, and they
restored the city and dwelt in it. 29And they called the city Dan, after Dan their father, who
was born to Israel. Formerly, the city was named Laish.

  30Then the sons of Dan set up for themselves the carved image; and Jonathan the son of
Gershom, the son of Manasseh, and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of
exile for the nation. 31So they set up for themselves, for as long as the house of God was in
Shiloh, the carved image Micah made.†

                               A Levite Takes a Concubine


19 And it was so in the days when there was no king in Israel, there was a certain Levite
   sojourning on the lower slopes of Mount Ephraim. He took for himself a concubine
from Bethlehem in Judah,† 2but his concubine left him and returned to the house of her
father, to Bethlehem in Judah. She remained there for four months.† 3Then her husband
arose and sought after her, to speak kindly to her and win her back to himself. His young
servant and a pair of asses were with him. So she brought him into her father's house, and
when her father saw him, he was well-pleased to meet him. 4Now his father-in-law, the
father of the young woman, delayed him, and he stayed with him for three days. And they ate
and drank and lodged there.† 5Then on the fourth day, they arose early in the morning to
depart; but the young woman's father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a
morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.”

  6So he sat down, and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the young woman's

father said to the man, “Please come lodge here, and let your heart be merry.” 7And when the
man stood to depart, his father-in-law urged him, so he sat and lodged there again. 8Then on
the fifth day, he arose early in the morning to depart, but the father of the young woman said,
“Please, strengthen your heart and camp here until the day starts to wane,” and the two men
ate a meal together. 9And when the man stood to depart—he and his concubine and his
servant—his father-in-law, the father of the young woman, said to him, “Look, the day is now
drawing toward evening: please spend the night. See, the day is coming to an end: lodge here
that your heart may be merry, and tomorrow go your way early, so that you may get home.”
  10However, the man was not willing to spend that night. So he rose and departed, and
came to a place opposite Jebus—that is, Jerusalem. There with him were the two saddled
donkeys and his concubine. 11They had come as far as Jebus, and the day was far advanced,
and the young servant said to his master, “Come, let us turn aside into this city of the
Jebusites and lodge in it.”† 12But his master said to him, “We will not turn aside into a
foreign city where there are no sons of Israel. We will go onward as far as Gibeah.” 13So he
said to his young servant, “Come, let us draw near to one of these places and lodge in Gibeah
or in Ramah.” 14And they passed by and went on their way. The sun went down on them near
Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. 15There they turned aside to find lodging in Gibeah. And
when he went in, he sat down in the open square of the city, and there was not a man who
would take them into his house to lodge.

  16And behold, an old man came in from his work in the field at evening. He was from
Mount Ephraim and he sojourned in Gibeah. The men of this place were sons of Benjamin.
17And his eyes looked upward, and he saw the traveler in the street of the city. The old man

said to him, “Where are you going, and where do you come from?” 18So he said to him, “We
are passing from Bethlehem in Judah toward the lower slopes of Mount Ephraim. I am from
there and I traveled as far as Bethlehem of Judah. But there is no man to take me into his
house, 19yet we have straw and food for our donkeys, and bread and wine for me and my
handmaid, and for the young man with your servant. There is no lack of anything.”

  20And the old man said, “Peace be with you. And let all your needs be upon me, only do not

lodge in the open street.” 21So he brought him into his house and made a place for the asses.
And they washed their feet, and ate and drank.

  22As they were comforting their heart, men of the city, sons of lawlessness, surrounded the
house and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying,
“Bring out the man who entered your house, that we may know him!”† 23But the man, the
master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brethren! I beg you, do not
act so wickedly! Seeing this man has come into my house, do not commit this foolishness.
24Look, here is my virgin daughter and the man's concubine; I will lead them out now.
Subdue and control them, do with them what is good in your eyes; but to this man do not do
such a thoughtless thing!”†
  25But the men were not inclined to heed him. So the man took his concubine and brought
her out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until morning; and when dawn
came, they let her go. 26And toward dawn, the woman came and fell down at the door of the
man's house where her master was, till there was daylight. 27When her master arose in the
morning and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way, there was his
concubine, fallen at the door of the house with her hands on the threshold. 28And he said to
her, “Get up and let us be going.” But she did not answer, for she was dead. He carried her
upon his ass and went to his place.

  29Then he took a sword, laid hold of his concubine, and divided her into twelve pieces. He

sent the twelve pieces throughout all the tribes of Israel. 30And it was so, that everyone who
saw it said, “A day such as this has never happened nor been seen from the day the children
of Israel were brought out of the land of Egypt until this day. Take counsel amongst
yourselves and proclaim your findings!”

                            Israel Wars with the Benjamites


20 All the children of Israel came out; all the congregation from Dan including Bersabee,
   and from the land of Galaad to the Lord at Mizpah, gathered as one man.† 2And all the
tribes of Israel stood before the Lord in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred
thousand foot soldiers who drew the sword. 3Now the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons
of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.

  Then the sons of Israel came and said, “Tell us where this wicked deed happened?” 4So the
Levite man, the husband of the woman murdered, answered and said, “My concubine and I
went into Gibeah of Benjamin to lodge. 5And that night, the men of Gibeah rose against me
and surrounded the house. They intended to kill me, but instead they raped my concubine,
and as a result she died. 6So I laid hold of my concubine and divided her in pieces, and
because they committed lewdness and outrage in Israel, I sent her throughout all the
territory of the inheritance of the children of Israel. 7Look! You are all children of Israel;
consider and take counsel here among yourselves.”

  8So all the people arose as one man, saying, “None of us will go back to his tent, nor will

any turn back to his house.† 9Instead, this is what is to be done to Gibeah: we will go up
against it by lot. 10Moreover, we will take ten men out of every hundred throughout all the
tribes of Israel, a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand,
to make provisions for the people to entice them to come to Gibeah in Benjamin, and then do
to it all the vileness which it did in Israel.” 11So all the men of Israel gathered in the city as
one man.

  12Then the tribes of Israel sent men throughout all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is

this wickedness that has occurred among you?† 13Now therefore, deliver up the men, the
sons of lawlessness in Gibeah, so that we may put them to death and put away the evil from
Israel!” But the sons of Benjamin were not pleased to hear the voice of their brethren, the
sons of Israel. 14Instead, the sons of Benjamin gathered together from their cities to Gibeah,
to go into battle against the sons of Israel. 15And from their cities at that time, the sons of
Benjamin numbered twenty-three thousand men who drew the sword, not including the
inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered seven hundred select men 16from all this people who
could use both hands. All these could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. 17The men of
Israel, excluding Benjamin, numbered four hundred thousand men who drew the sword; all
of these were men of war.

  18Then the sons of Israel arose and went up to Bethel to inquire of God. They said, “Which
of us shall first go up to battle against the sons of Benjamin?” The Lord said, “Judah, as
leader, will go up first.”† 19So the sons of Israel rose in the early morning and encamped
against Gibeah. 20And all the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and they
engaged them at Gibeah. 21Then the sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day
in Israel Benjamin cut down to the ground twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites.

  22And the men of Israel regrouped and again engaged in battle at the place where they

engaged on the first day. 23Then the sons of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until
evening, and asked counsel of the Lord, saying, “Shall we again draw near for battle against
the sons of Benjamin, our brothers?” And the Lord said, “Go up against them.”

  24So the sons of Israel went out to wage war against the sons of Benjamin on the second

day. 25And the sons of Benjamin went out to meet those from Gibeah on the second day, and
cut down to the ground eighteen thousand more of the sons of Israel; all these drew the
sword. 26Then all the sons of Israel and all the people went up and came to Bethel and wept.
They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and they offered burnt
offerings and pure offerings before the Lord,† 27because the ark of the covenant of God was
there in those days. 28In those days, Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood
before it. And the sons of Israel asked the Lord, saying, “Shall we yet again go out to battle
against the sons of Benjamin, our brothers, or shall we cease?” And the Lord said, “Go up, for
tomorrow I will deliver them into your hands.”†

  29Then the sons of Israel positioned themselves for an ambush round about Gibeah.
30And the sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day, and arrayed

themselves against Gibeah as before. 31So all the sons of Benjamin went out to meet the
people, leaving the city empty. As they did before, they began to strike down and kill some of
the people, about thirty men of Israel—on the roads, one heading to Bethel and the other to
Gibeah—and in the field. 32And the sons of Benjamin said, “As the first time, they are falling
before us.”

  But the sons of Israel said, “Let us flee so as to draw them out from the city onto the
roads.” And so they did. 33So every man rose up from his place and united together at Baal
Tamar. And the men of Israel burst forth from their position of ambush at Maaragabeh.
34Ten thousand select men from all Israel came against Gibeah, and the battle was fierce.

And Gibeah did not comprehend the disaster that was coming upon them. 35The Lord struck
Benjamin before the sons of Israel, and the sons of Israel destroyed twenty-five thousand one
hundred men from Benjamin that day. All these drew the sword.

  36So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were beaten, and the men of Israel gave up
ground to the Benjamites, for they relied on the ambush they had prepared against Gibeah.
37And as the sons of Israel retreated, those men in ambush rose up and quickly charged
Gibeah. The entire ambush rushed forth and struck the city with the edge of the sword.

  38And the sons of Israel used a signal of battle with those in ambush. They would send up

a signal of smoke from the city. 39And the sons of Israel saw that the ambush had seized
Gibeah. So they stood in battle formation, allowing Benjamin to strike and wound about
thirty of the men of Israel, for they said, “Surely again they are defeated before us, as in the
first battle.” 40But when the signal cloud began to rise as a pillar of concentrated smoke from
the city, the Benjamites looked behind them, and behold the complete end of the city was
rising up to heaven. 41The men of Israel turned back, and the men of Benjamin hastened
away, seeing that evil overwhelmed them. 42Therefore they looked in the direction of the
desert, away from the sons of Israel, and fled.

 But the battle overtook them, and those from the cities utterly eliminated those in the
midst of them. 43They cut down the Benjamites, chased them from the foot of Nova, and
easily trampled them down until they came opposite Gibeah toward the east. 44And eighteen
thousand men of Benjamin fell—all these were men of strength. 45The rest turned and fled
toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and the sons of Israel cut down five thousand
men. The sons of Israel relentlessly pursued after them as far as Gidom, and struck two
thousand of their men. 46All of Benjamin who drew the sword that day, and fell, were
twenty-five thousand men. All these were men of valor.

 47The rest turned and fled toward the desert to the rock of Rimmon, even six hundred

men, and they remained at the rock of Rimmon for four months. 48And the sons of Israel
turned back against the sons of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, from
the city of Methla, to the livestock, and to everything found in all the cities. And they set on
fire all the cities they found.†

                                 Wives for the Benjamites


21 Now  the men of Israel swore an oath at Mizpah, saying, “None of us shall give his
   daughter to Benjamin as a wife.” 2Then the people came to Bethel, and remained there
before God till evening. They lifted up their voices and wept mightily 3and said, “O Lord God
of Israel, why has this come to pass, that today one tribe should be missing in Israel?”†

  4The next morning the people rose early and built an altar there, and offered burnt

offerings and peace offerings. 5The sons of Israel said, “Who is there among all the tribes of
Israel who did not come up with the assembly to the Lord?” For they had made a great oath
concerning anyone who had not come up to the Lord at Mizpah, saying, “He shall surely be
put to death.” 6And the sons of Israel had compassion toward Benjamin their brother, and
said, “One tribe is cut off from Israel today.† 7What shall we do for wives for the large
number who remain, for we have sworn by the Lord not to give them our daughters as
wives?”

  8And they said, “What one tribe of Israel did not come up to Mizpah to the Lord?” And take
notice, no one came to the camp from Jabesh Gilead to the assembly.† 9For when the people
were counted, indeed, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead was there. 10So the
congregation sent out there twelve thousand men from the sons of valor, and commanded
them, saying, “Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead with the edge of the sword.
11And this is what you shall do: You shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman who

has known a man intimately. But the virgins you will preserve.” And they did so. 12So they
found among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead four hundred young virgins who had not
known a man intimately; and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, in the land of Canaan.
13Then the whole congregation sent and spoke to the sons of Benjamin who were at the rock

of Rimmon, and called them to peace. 14Benjamin came back to the sons of Israel at that
time, and the sons of Israel gave them the women whom they saved alive of the daughters of
Jabesh Gilead, and it was thus pleasing to them.

  15The people had compassion for Benjamin, because the Lord brought about a rift in the

tribes of Israel. 16And the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for
those who remain, since the women of Benjamin were destroyed?” 17And they said, “There
must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe of Israel may not be
wiped out. 18For we will not be able to give them wives from our daughters, because we
swore among the sons of Israel, saying, ‘Cursed be the one who gives a wife to Benjamin.’ ”

  19And they said, “Remember, in a few days there is the yearly feast of the Lord in Shiloh,
on the north of Bethel, on the road leading eastward from Bethel to Shechem, and from the
south of Lebonah.” 20Therefore they instructed the sons of Benjamin, saying, “Go, lie in wait
in the vineyards 21and watch. And behold, if the daughters of the inhabitants of Shiloh come
out to perform in their dances, then go out from the vineyards, and let every man capture a
wife for himself from the daughters of Shiloh and return to the land of Benjamin. 22And
whenever their fathers or their brothers come to pass judgment on you, we will say to them,
‘Have compassion on them for us, since no men received from us a wife for himself in the
war, because you did not give to them at the appointed time you transgressed.”

  23And the sons of Benjamin did so; they took enough wives for their number from those
who danced, whom they seized. Then they went and returned to their inheritance, and rebuilt
the cities and dwelt in them. 24At that time, the sons of Israel walked away from that place,
every man to his tribe and his family. And they went out from there, every man to his
inheritance. 25In those days there was no king in Israel. A man did what was right according
to his own vision.†
                                       RUT H
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Chapters in Ruth
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4

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Verses in Ruth Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Ruth Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Ruth Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Ruth Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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                                                            The Book of Ruth

    Author   —Unknown

    Date   —Traditionally believed to be written in the time of the Judges, about 1300 BC.
  Historically, Ruth is the great-grandmother of David.

    Major Theme     —Redemption, a word that occurs twenty-three times in the text. Boaz acts
  as a redeemer by buying back Naomi's land, marrying Ruth, a Moabitess, and fathering
  a son to keep the family line alive. Such a “kinsman-redeemer” is symbolic of the
  mediating work of Christ. Ruth's position as a Gentile in the ancestry of David (and
  thence of Christ) signifies that all nations will be represented in the Kingdom of God.

    Background     —As a Moabitess, Ruth was a descendant of Lot. Twice does Scripture record
  that Moab, situated east of the Dead Sea, and Israel warred against each other. During a
  time of famine in Israel, Ruth and her Israelite family moved to Moab as matter of
  survival. After the death of her husband and with the famine past, she and Naomi
  return to Israel, to the city of Bethlehem, later to become the city of David.

 Outline

  I. Naom i and Ruth Mov e from Moab to Bethlehem (1 :1 –2 2 )

  II. Ruth and Boaz Meet at the Threshing Floor (2 :1 –3 :1 8)

 III. Boaz Marries Ruth (4 :1 –1 7 )

         A. Boaz confronts the unnam ed kinsm an (4 :1 –6 )

         B. Boaz buy s Naom i's property and announces his m arriage to Ruth (4 :7 –1 2 )

         C. Obed is born; Naom i is filled (4 :1 3 –1 7 )

 IV. Epilogue: Genealogy of Dav id (4 :1 8–2 2 )



                                                       Naomi's Family in Moab


1 Inof Judah
       the days of the judges there was a famine in the land. And a man went from Bethlehem
             to sojourn in the country of Moab, and his wife and his sons.† 2The name of the
man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were
Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. And they went to the country of
Moab and remained there. 3Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with
her two sons. 4They took for themselves wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one
was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5Then
both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.

                          Naomi Returns to Judah with Ruth

  6Then she arose with her two daughters-in-law and returned from the country of Moab, for
she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord was watching over His people by giving
them bread.† 7Therefore she and her two daughters-in-law left the place where she was and
returned to the land of Judah. 8And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each
to her mother's house. May the Lord have mercy on you, as you have dealt with the dead and
with me. 9The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” Then she
kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10And they said to her, “We will return
with you to your people.” 11But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why do you desire to
go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?† 12Turn back,
my daughters, for I am too old to have a husband. For I say, if I married and should bear a
son,† 13would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from
having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand
of the Lord has gone out from within me!” 14Then they lifted up their voices and again wept.
Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and returned to her people, but Ruth followed her.†

  15And Naomi said to Ruth, “Look, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her

gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16But Ruth said, “Do not ask me to leave you, or turn
back from following you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. 17And wherever you die, I will die,
and there I will be buried. May the Lord cause this to happen to me, and more also, if
anything but death parts you and me.” 18When Naomi saw that she was determined to go
with her, she ended her conversation with her.

  19Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And the whole city shouted

because of them, and said, “Is this Naomi?”† 20But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi;
call me Bitter, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.† 21I went out full and the
Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has
humbled me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” 22So Naomi returned and Ruth the
Moabite woman returned with her, her daughter-in-law who returned from the country of
Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.†

                                        Boaz Favors Ruth


2 There was a relative of Naomi's husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of
  Elimelech. His name was Boaz.† 2So Ruth the Moabite woman said to Naomi, “Please let
me go to the field and glean heads of grain after him in whose eyes I may find favor.” And she
said to her, “Go, daughter.”† 3Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the
reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the
family of Elimelech. 4Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “The
Lord be with you!” And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!” 5Then Boaz said to his
servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6So the servant
who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman who
came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7And she said, ‘Let me glean and gather by
handfuls after the reapers.’ So she came and continued from morning until evening, not
stopping to rest in the field, not even a little.”

  8Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Did you not hear, daughter? Do not go to glean in another field,

nor go from here, but stay close by my young women.† 9Let your eyes be on the field that my
men reap, and follow after them. Behold, I have commanded the young men not to touch you.
And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men draw.” 10So
she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in
your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a stranger?”

  11And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have
done with your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your
father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did
not know yesterday or the day before.† 12May the Lord repay your work, and may a full
reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”
13Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and
have spoken to the heart of your maidservant. Behold, I will be like one of your
bondswomen.” 14Now Boaz said to her, “It is already time to eat. Come here and eat of the
bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So Ruth sat beside the reapers, and Boaz
made a pile of grain for her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back.†
  15And she rose up to glean, and Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean

even among the sheaves, and do not bring shame upon her.† 16When you carry sheaves, carry
them for her also; and when you throw them on the piles, throw them for her also; and let
her gather from what has piled up, and do not rebuke her.” 17So she gleaned in the field until
evening, and beat with a rod what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.

  18Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had
gleaned. So Ruth brought forth and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been
satisfied. 19And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? And where
did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you.” So Ruth told her mother-in-law
where she had worked and said, “The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.”
20Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed is he of the Lord, who has not forsaken
His kindness to the living and the dead!” And Naomi said to her, “This man is a relation of
ours, one of our close relatives.”† 21Ruth said to her mother-in-law, “He also said to me, ‘Stay
near by my young men until they finish all my reap-ing.’ ” 22And Naomi said to Ruth her
daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and thus
people will not meet you in another field.”† 23So she stayed close by the young women of
Boaz, to glean until the end of the barley and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-
in-law.

                              Boaz Pledges to Redeem Ruth


3 Then   Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “Daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, so
  that it will be well with you? 2Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not
our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3Therefore, wash
and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go up to the threshing floor; but do not
make yourself known to the man until he has finished drinking and eating.† 4Then, when he
lies down, take notice of the place where he lies. Then you shall go in, uncover his feet, and
lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.”† 5And Ruth said to her, “I will do
everything you say.”

  6So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all her mother-in-law

instructed her. 7And Boaz ate, and his heart was cheerful. He went to lie down at the end of
the heap of grain, and she came softly and uncovered his feet. 8Now it happened at midnight
that the man was startled and disturbed; for there was a woman lying at his feet. 9And he
said, “Who are you?” So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant
under your wing, for you are a close relative.”†

  10Then Boaz said, “Blessed are you of the Lord God, daughter! For you have shown more
kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether
rich or poor.† 11And now, daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all you request, for the whole
tribe of my people knows that you are a virtuous woman. 12Now it is true I am a close
relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.† 13Stay here for the night. And in the
morning, if he performs the duty of a kinsman for you, we will let him do it. But if he does
not wish to perform the duty for you, then as the Lord lives, I will perform the duty for you.
Lie down until morning.”

  14So she lay at his feet until morning, and she rose before anyone could recognize another.

Then Boaz said, “Do not let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.” 15And he
said to her, “Bring the apron that is around you.” And as she held it, he measured six ephahs
of barley, and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.† 16So when she came to her mother-
in-law, she said, “Is that you, my daughter?” Then Ruth told her all the man had done for her.
17And she said to her, “He gave me these six ephahs of barley; for he said to me, ‘Do not go

empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ” 18Then she said, “Sit still, daughter, until you know
how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter
today.”

                                     Boaz Marries Ruth


4 Boaz went up to the gate and sat there; and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz had
  spoken was passing. So Boaz said to him, “Come aside, sir, sit down here.” So he came
aside and sat down. 2And Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down
here.” So they sat down.

  3Then Boaz said to the relative, “As to the field which was our brother Elimelech's, which

was given to Naomi, now returning from the land of Moab;† 4I said I would inform you,
saying, ‘Buy it back in the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will
redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is
no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.’ ” And he said, “I am here, I will redeem
it.” 5Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi and from Ruth
the Moabite woman, the wife of the deceased, you must take her as well, so as to raise up the
name of the dead through his inheritance.” 6And the close relative said, “I cannot redeem it
for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself,
for I cannot redeem it.”†

  7Now, this was the legal custom in former times of Israel concerning redemption, and for a
bargain, to confirm every word: A man took off his sandal and gave it to his neighbor who
redeemed his right, and this was the testimony in Israel.† 8And the close relative said to
Boaz, “Buy my right of redemption for yourself.” So he took off his sandal and gave it to him.
9And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought
all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, from the hand of Naomi.
10Moreover, I bought for myself, to be my wife, Ruth the Moabite woman, the wife of
Mahlon, to raise up the name of the dead through his inheritance; so the name of the dead
may not be cut off from among his brethren and from the tribe of his people. You are
witnesses today.” 11And all the people who were at the gate said, “We are witnesses.” And the
elders said, “May the Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and
Leah, who together built the house of Israel and wrought mightily in Ephrathah. She will
have a name in Bethlehem.† 12And out of the seed which the Lord will give you from this
young woman, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”†

  13So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave

her conception, and she bore a son. 14Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord,
who has not suffered a redeemer to fail you this day, even to make your name famous in
Israel! 15And he will be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your
daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.”†
16Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse for him. 17And
the neighbors themselves gave him a name, saying, “A son is born to Naomi”; and they called
his name Obed. This is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

  18Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron; 19Hezron begot Ram, and Ram

begot Amminadab; 20Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon; 21Salmon
begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; 22Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.
                                1 K ING DO M S(1 SAM UE L )
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Chapters in 1 Kingdoms
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19


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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 23
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 25
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 26
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 27
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 28
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 29
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 30
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in 1 Kingdoms Chapter 31
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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                                            The First Book of the Kingdoms
                                                                (First Samuel)

 Author   —Talmudic tradition views Samuel as the sole author.

 Date   —Traditionally believed to have been written in the time of Kings David and
Solomon, 1070 to 970 BC.

 Major Themes      —Obedience to God, punishment for disobedience. First Kingdoms is a book
of beginnings and endings in the history of the people of God. Rule by a succession of
Judges (chosen from various tribes) had ended. Samuel, as a prophet, served in a
monarchial role by direction of the Lord. “If only the desired whole burnt offerings and
desired sacrifices were of equal value to the Lord with one who heeds the voice of the
Lord. Behold! Hearing is greater than a good sacrifice, and obedience above and beyond
the fat of rams” (1Kg 15:22).

  A theme of God's judgment is also seen in the punishment of the priest Eli for his
tolerance of his sons’ disobedience, of Saul for failure to follow God's commands, and of
David for his sins. Each disobedience was punished severely. Other pertinent themes
are those of God changing the natural order in His miraculous gift of a son to a barren
woman, in men of lowly vocations rising to be king, and in the youngest surpassing his
elders to rule over them.

 Background     —The time period during which the events of the First Book of the Kingdoms
occurred is pivotal. Israel is moving from a theocracy governed by God-appointed judges
to a monarchy ruled by a king. The next four hundred years would see kings both good
and bad. This history is recorded in the four books of the Kingdoms.

Outline

I. Eli and Sam uel: Priest and Prophet (1 :1 –7 :1 7 )

      A. The birth of Sam uel (1 :1 –2 :1 1 )

      B. Sam uel and the sons of Eli (2 :1 2 –3 6 )

      C. Sam uel's prophetic m inistry begins (3 :1 –2 1 )

      D. The ark of the Lord is lost and recov ered (4 :1 –7 :1 )

      E. Israel's v ictory ov er the Philistines (7 :2 –1 7 )
  II. Sam uel and Saul: Establishm ent of Israel's Monarchy (8:1 –1 5:3 5)

          A. Israel dem ands a king (8:1 –2 2 )

          B. Saul becom es king (9 :1 –1 0:2 7 )

          C. Israel's v ictory ov er the Am m onites (1 1 :1 –1 5)

          D. Sam uel's farewell address (1 2 :1 –2 5)

          E. God rejects Saul (1 3 :1 –1 5:3 5)

  III. Saul and Dav id: Conflict and Reign (1 6 :1 –3 1 :1 3 )

          A. Dav id's entrance into roy al serv ice (1 6 :1 –2 3 )

          B. Dav id and Goliath (1 7 :1 –3 3 )

          C. Dav id and the roy al fam ily (1 8:1 –2 0:4 2 )

          D. Dav id as a fugitiv e (2 1 :1 –3 1 :1 3 )



                                                                 Elkanah at Shiloh


1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountain of Ephraim, whose name
  was Elkanah the son of Jeremeel, the son of Elihu, the son of Toke in Nasiv Ephraim.†
2He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other was Peninnah.

Peninnah had children, but Hannah none.† 3And each year the man went up from his city of
Ramathaim to worship and sacrifice to Lord Sabaoth in Shiloh. Eli and his two sons, Hophni
and Phinehas, both priests of the Lord, went there as well.† 4And on the day he came,
Elkanah sacrificed and gave a portion to Peninnah his wife, and to his sons and daughters.
5To Hannah, he gave one portion, since she was without child. However Elkanah loved

Hannah more than the other one, but the Lord had closed her womb. 6Because the Lord did
not give to her a child during her tribulation, and during the discouragement of her
tribulation, she was broken-hearted. The Lord had closed her womb and did not give her a
child. 7So year by year when she went up to the house of the Lord, she was broken-hearted
and wept and did not eat.†

                                                                  Hannah's Vow

  8Then Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah.” And she said to him, “Here I am, lord.”
Then he said to her, “What is the matter with you? Why do you not eat? And why are you
heartsick? Am I not better for you than ten children?” 9So Hannah arose after they had
finished eating in Shiloh, and she sat down before the Lord. Eli the priest was sitting nearby
on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.† 10Hannah was grieved in spirit and
prayed to the Lord, lamenting and weeping. 11She prayed a vow to the Lord God and said, “O
Lord, my God of Sabaoth, if you are looking, look with favor upon the lowly state of Your
handmaiden and remember me. I pray You, give Your handmaiden a seed of men, a son, and I
will dedicate him before You as a gift until the day of his death. He will not drink wine nor
intoxicating drink, and no razor shall come upon his head.”†

  12And as she kept praying before the Lord, Eli watched her mouth. 13And as she spoke in
her heart, only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was
drunk.† 14The servant of God said to her, “For how long will you remain drunk? Cast off your
wine, and go out from the face of the Lord!” 15But Hannah answered and said, “No lord, I am
a woman for whom this day is difficult. I drank neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but I
pour out my soul before the Lord. 16Do not consider your handmaiden a daughter of
pestilence just because of the multitude of my idle words I have put forth.”† 17Then Eli
answered and said to her, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you the petition you
asked of Him.”† 18And she said, “Your handmaiden has found favor in your sight.” So the
woman went her way and came into her lodging and ate and drank with her husband. Her
face was no longer fallen.†

                            Birth and Dedication of Samuel

  19Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped the Lord and went on their way back
to Elkanah's house at Ramathaim. And he knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered
her. 20She conceived, and it came to be at the appointed time she bore a son, and she called
him Samuel and said, “Because I asked for him from the Lord God Sabaoth.”†

  21Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to Shiloh to offer the yearly sacrifice,

his vow, and the tenth portion of all his land. 22But Hannah did not go up with him, for she
said to her husband, “I will not go up until our boy is weaned from me. Then he will appear in
the presence of the Lord and stay there continually.”† 23And Elkanah her husband said to
her, “Do what is good in your eyes; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the Lord
confirm as true what was coming out of your mouth.” So the woman stayed and nursed her
son until she weaned him.

  24And she went up with him to Shiloh with a calf three years old, loaves of bread, one
ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She came to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, and the child
was with them. 25And they came before the Lord, and his father slaughtered the offering he
made yearly to the Lord. He brought the child and slaughtered the calf. Then Hannah, the
mother of the young boy, went to Eli. 26And she said to him, “Lord, as your soul lives, I am
the woman who was standing near you while I prayed to the Lord. 27For this child I prayed,
and the Lord gave me my request which I asked from Him. 28And I lend him to the Lord all
the days which he lives to be fruitful to the Lord.”†

                                                           Hannah's Prayer


2 And she said:
    “My heart is strengthened in the Lord;

    My horn is exalted in m y God.

    I sm ile at m y enem ies;

    I rejoice in Your salv ation. †

    2
        Because no one is holy like the Lord,

    No one is righteous like our God,

    No one is holy but You.

    3
        Do not boast nor speak of high things;

    Let no arrogance com e from y our m outh,

    For the Lord is the God of knowledge;

    And God is preparing His actions. †

    4
        He weakened the bow of m ighty m en,

    And those who are weak are girded with strength.

    5
        Those who were full of bread were m ade em pty ,

    And the hungry hav e forsaken the land.

    The barren wom an has borne sev en,

    And she who has m any children has becom e feeble. †

    6
        The Lord kills and m akes aliv e;

    He brings down to Hades and raises up. †

    7
        The Lord m akes poor and rich;

    He brings low and lifts up.

    8
        He raises the poor from the earth

    And lifts the needy from the dung heap,

    To set them am ong princely people
    And m ake them inherit a throne of glory .

    9
         The One who giv es a pray er to the one pray ing,

    He blesses with righteous y ears;

    For by strength no m an can prev ail. †

    10
         The Lord m akes His adv ersaries weak;

    The Lord is holy .

    Let not the m an of learning boast in his understanding,

    Nor let the m an of m ight boast in his m ight,

    Nor let the m an of riches boast in his riches.

    Only let the one who boasts boast in this:

    To understand and to know the Lord

    And to do justice and righteousness in the m idst of the earth.

    The Lord went up into the heav en and thundered.

    The Lord judges the ends of the earth.

    He giv es strength to our leaders,

    And He will exalt the horn of His Christ.”

  11They left him there before the Lord and went away to Ramathaim, and the child

performed the services before the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.†

                                                       The Sinful Sons of Eli

  12Now the sons of Eli were sons of scoundrels, not knowing the Lord. 13And the custom of
the priest for the people who sacrificed was for the servant of the priest to come while the
meat was boiling, with a three-pronged meat-hook in his hand. 14He would then thrust it into
either the large kettle, or the brazen vessel, or the pot; and everything the meat-hook brought
up, the priest would take for himself. So in Shiloh, they did this to all the Israelites who came
there to sacrifice to the Lord. 15Also, before they burned the fat, the servant came and said to
the man who sacrificed, “Give some meat to be roasted to the priest, and I will not take any of
your boiled meat from out of the cauldron.”

  16And if the man sacrificing said to him, “First he should burn the fat as fitting, then you
may take as much as your soul desires.” But he would say, “No, you shall give it to me now,
and if not, I will take it by force.” 17Therefore the sin of the servants is exceedingly great
before the Lord, for they nullified the sacrifice of the Lord.
                                   God's Servant Samuel

  18As a young boy, Samuel was serving before the Lord wearing a linen ephod of a servant.
19Moreover, his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him once a year when

she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20And Eli would bless Elkanah
and his wife, saying, “May the Lord repay you with a seed from this woman, in return for the
loan you made to the Lord.” Then the man went to his place. 21And the Lord watched over
Hannah, and she bore three more sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew and
matured before the Lord.†

                              A Prophecy against Eli's House

  22Now Eli was very, very old and he heard what his sons did to the sons of Israel. 23So he
said to them, “Why are you doing what I hear from the mouth of all the people of the Lord?
24No, my sons! For the report I hear is not good. Do not act in this manner, for the reports I

hear are not good, causing the people not to serve God. 25If one man sins against another,
they will pray to the Lord for him. But if a man sins against the Lord, who will pray for him?”
Nevertheless they did not heed their father's voice, so the Lord desired to destroy them.
26But the child Samuel led his life and he grew and matured and found favor both with the
Lord and with men.

 27Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I clearly revealed

Myself to the house of your father when they were slaves in Egypt in Pharaoh's house.† 28I
chose the house of your father out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to go to My altar,
to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me. And I gave to the house of your father, and
to the sons of Israel, food from all the offerings of fire. 29Why do you regard My incense and
My sacrifice with impudent eyes and honor your sons more than Me; to bless yourselves with
the best of all the first fruits of Israel set before Me?’ 30Therefore the Lord God of Israel
says, ‘I said indeed that your house and your father's house would walk before Me forever.’
But now the Lord says, ‘Far be it from Me, for I will honor those who honor Me, and the one
who despises Me shall be dishonored. 31Behold, the days are coming that I will destroy your
seed and the seed of the house of your father. 32And there shall not be an old man descended
from you in My house forever. 33But for you—I will not destroy a man from My altar even
though his eyes have failed and his life has drained away. But all the descendants of your
house shall fall by men's swords.

  34‘Now this shall be the sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and

Phinehas. In one day both of them shall die. 35Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest
who shall do all that is in My heart and in My soul. I will build him a faithful house, and he
shall walk before My Christ forever.† 36And it shall come to pass that everyone who remains
in your house will, for a small amount of silver, prostrate before him begging, “Place me in
the priesthood, so I may eat one loaf of bread?” ’ ”

                                The Lord Speaks to Samuel


3 The boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest. And the word of the Lord was
  precious in those days; there was no discerning vision.† 2So on that day, while Eli was
lying down in his place, his eyes were starting to grow heavy, barely able to see. 3Before the
lamp of God went out, and while Samuel was asleep in the temple where the ark of God was,
4the Lord called, “Samuel, Samuel.” Samuel answered, “Here I am!” 5So he ran to Eli and
said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And Eli said, “I did not call you. Return and lie down.” So
he returned and lay down. 6Then the Lord called again, “Samuel, Samuel!” So Samuel went to
Eli a second time, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Eli answered, “I did not call you.
Return and lie down.”

  7Now this all happened before Samuel knew the Lord, and before the word of the Lord was

revealed to him.† 8And the Lord called Samuel again a third time. Then he arose and went to
Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the
boy. 9And he said, “Return, lie down, my child; and if He calls you, you must say, ‘O Lord,
speak, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and fell asleep in his place.

  10And the Lord came, and stood and called as before. So Samuel answered, “Speak, for

Your servant hears.” 11Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Behold! I shall execute My words in
Israel, and for everyone hearing them, both ears will tingle. 12In that day, I will raise up
against Eli everything I spoke concerning his house. This I will begin, and I will finish it.
13For I announced to him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity of his sons. For

his sons reviled God, and he did not correct them in any way.† 14I swore to the house of Eli
that the iniquity of the house of Eli shall never be atoned for with incense or with sacrifice.”
  15So Samuel fell asleep and rose early in the morning. He opened the doors of the Lord's

house. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. 16Then Eli called to Samuel, “Samuel, my
child!” And he answered, “Here I am.” 17And Eli said, “What was the report the Lord spoke to
you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do these things to you and more also, if you
hide anything from me of what He said to you.” 18Then Samuel told him everything and hid
nothing from him. And Eli said, “He is the Lord. He will do what seems good to Him.”†

  19So Samuel grew and matured, and the Lord was with him, and not one of his words fell

to the ground.† 20And all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was faithful as a
prophet of the Lord. 21The Lord appeared in Shiloh again, for the Lord was revealed to
Samuel. And all Israel, from one end of the land to the other, believed Samuel to be a prophet
of the Lord. By now Eli was an exceedingly old man, and his sons continued living as they did.
And their way was evil before the Lord.

                           The Ark of the Covenant Captured


4 Now in those days the Philistines gathered into battle against Israel, and Israel went out
  to meet them in battle and encamped beside Ebenezer. The Philistines encamped in
Aphek.† 2And the Philistines prepared battle plans against Israel, and the battle turned
against Israel, and the men of Israel fell before the Philistines. About four thousand men
were struck down in the battle lines. 3And when the people came into the camp, the elders of
Israel said, “Why did the Lord cause us to be defeated today before the Philistines? Let us
take the ark of our God out from Shiloh and let it proceed from the midst of us, and it will
save us from the hand of our enemies.”† 4So the people sent to Shiloh, and from there they
brought out the ark of the covenant of the Lord, who is seated between the cherubim. And the
two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark.

  5And when the ark of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a loud voice,

and the earth shook. 6Now when the Philistines heard the shout, the Philistines said, “What
is this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews?” Then they understood that the ark of the
Lord was in the camp. 7And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “These are the gods that
have come into the camp! Woe to us! Deliver us today, Lord, for such a thing has never
happened before.† 8Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods?
These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the desert. 9Be strong
and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, so that you do not become servants of the
Hebrews, even as they previously served us. Conduct yourselves like men and fight them!”
10So they fought them, and the men of Israel were defeated, and every man fled to his tent.

There was a very great slaughter, and thirty thousand troops of Israel fell. 11The ark of God
was captured, and the two sons of Eli died, Hophni and Phinehas.

                                      The Death of Eli

  12Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line, and on that day he came to Shiloh with

his clothes torn and dirt on his head. 13Behold! When he arrived, Eli was sitting on a seat by
the gate watching the road, for his heart was bewildered about the ark of God. And when the
man entered the city and reported it, the city cried out. 14When Eli heard the noise of the
outcry, he said, “What is the sound of this outcry?” And the man came quickly and told Eli.
15Eli was ninety years old, and his eyes looked up and he could not see. Then Eli said to the

men standing around him, “What is this roaring sound?” 16Then the man who came quickly
to Eli said to him, “I am the one who came from the camp, who fled today from the battle
line.” And he said, “What happened, my child?” 17So the young man answered and said, “The
men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and there was a great slaughter among the people,
and your two sons died. And the ark of God was captured.”

  18And it came to pass, as Eli remembered the ark of God, he fell backward from the seat by
the side of the gate and broke his back and died, for the man was old and heavy. He judged
Israel for twenty years.†

                                           Ichabod

  19Now Eli's daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was pregnant, about to give birth. When she
heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and her father-in-law and her husband were
dead, she crouched down and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her. 20And in her
time of delivery, when she was at the point of death, the women standing at her side said to
her, “Do not fear, you have borne a son.” But she did not answer, and her heart did not
understand. 21Woe, Ichabod, is what she named the young boy, for the sake of the ark of
God, for her father-in-law, and for her husband. 22And they said, “The glory of Israel is exiled
from its home, for the ark of God is taken.”
                               The Philistines Take the Ark

   The Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2And the
5 Philistines took the ark of the Lord and brought it into the house of their god Dagon. They
set it by Dagon.† 3And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, they entered
the house of Dagon, and they looked and beheld Dagon falling on its face in the presence of
the ark of God. So they raised Dagon and returned it to its place. And the hand of the Lord
was heavy upon Ashdod. He tormented all within her borders; He smote them in their private
parts. 4Then it came to pass, when they arose early in the morning, behold Dagon had again
fallen on his face before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. And the head of Dagon and both
the palms of his hands were broken off, each in front of the threshold, and both the wrists of
his hands were leaning on the doorway; only the torso of Dagon remained.† 5So to this day,
the priests of Dagon and any who come into the house of Dagon do not tread on, but step
over, the threshold of the house of Dagon in Ashdod because of this.

  6But the hand of the Lord was heavy on the people of Ashdod. He came upon them and in
their ships. He brought forth disease among them. He infested their country with mice, and
there was a great calamity of death in the city. 7And when the men of Ashdod saw how it was,
they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh upon
us and Dagon our god.” 8Therefore they sent and brought together all the lords of the
Philistines in the same place and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?”†

  And the people of Gath said, “Let the ark of the God of Israel come to us.” So the ark of God
came to Gath. 9And it came to be, after it entered Gath, that the hand of the Lord came upon
the city. An exceedingly great state of confusion struck the men of the city, both small and
great. He struck them in their private parts, and they made for themselves images of these.
10Then they sent away the ark of God to Ashkelon, and it came about, when the ark of God
came to Ashkelon, the people of Ashkelon cried out, saying, “Why did you turn the ark of the
God of Israel toward us to kill us and our people?” 11So they sent and gathered together all
the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel and let it return
to its own place, so it does not kill us and our people,” for it came about that a widespread
panic of death spread throughout the entire city.† 12And the living and those not dying were
struck in their private parts, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

                                 Return of the Ark to Israel
6 For  seven months the ark was in the country of the Philistines, and their land was
  infested with mice.† 2And the Philistines called for their priests, their prophets, and their
enchanters, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Instruct us as to how we
should return it to its place.”† 3So they said, “If you send away the ark of the covenant of the
God of Israel, do not send it away empty. Instead, give it as an offering for the plague. Then
you shall be healed and be atoned for. Otherwise His hand may never be removed from you.”

  4Then they said, “What shall we offer to Him for this torment?” They answered, “Five
golden emerods for each of the number of lords of the Philistines, since the same offense was
on all of you, on your leaders and the people. 5And for each lord, add a gold mouse that
images the mice utterly ravaging your land. Then you shall give glory to the Lord; perhaps He
may lighten His hand from you, from off your gods, and from off your land. 6Why do you yet
harden your hearts, as did Egypt, and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? Was it not when he
mocked them that they let the people go, and they departed? 7Now therefore, make a new
wagon and take two cows with firstborn calves, and hitch the cows to the wagon. But lead the
newly born calves to the pen. 8Now take the ark and set it on the wagon, and place the
offering of the golden vessels you shall render to Him in a chest next to it. And send it away
and let it depart. 9Then you shall see; if it goes through Beth Shemesh, by way of the coasts,
then He brought upon us this great evil. But if not, then we shall know His hand did not
touch us, but only by mere chance.” 10And the Philistines did so.

  They took two cows, each having firstborn calves, and hitched them to the wagon, putting
the calves into the pen. 11Onto the wagon they placed the ark, and the chest, and the mice
made of gold. 12The cows went straight ahead, by way of Beth-Shemesh, on the only beaten
path. They proceeded and labored and did not turn aside either to the right or to the left. And
the lords of the Philistines followed it to the border of Beth-Shemesh.

  13Now the men of Beth-Shemesh were in the valley to reap the harvest of their wheat.

They lifted up their eyes and saw the ark of the Lord, and they rejoiced to greet it. 14The
wagon came to a stop in the field of Joshua of Beth-Shemesh. And next to the wagon they set
a large stone. They split the wood of the wagon and offered the cows as a whole burnt
offering to the Lord.† 15The Levites took up the ark of the Lord and with it the chest and the
gold vessels and put them on the large stone. And on this day the men of Beth Shemesh
offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord. 16So when the five lords of the
Philistines saw it, they returned on the same day to Ashkelon.

  17These are the places the gold emerods were given as an offering to the Lord: one for

Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, and one for Ekron. 18And the gold
mice were according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five
lords, from the cities being fortified as far as the villages of Pherezite, and as far as the great
stone where they placed the ark of the covenant of the Lord, in the field of Joshua of Beth-
Shemesh.

  19Now the sons of Jechoniah were not pleased, nor were the people of Beth-Shemesh,
because as they looked at the ark of the Lord, the Lord smote fifty thousand and seventy men
from among them. And the people mourned because of the people the Lord smote such a
deadly blow.†

                                 The Ark at Kirjath Jearim

  20And the men of Beth-Shemesh said, “Who shall be able to come before this holy Lord?

And to whom shall the ark of the Lord go up from us?” 21So they sent messengers to the
inhabitants of Kirjath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the Lord,
so come down and take it up with you.”


7 Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord
  and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill. They consecrated Eleazar his son to
keep the ark of the covenant of the Lord safe.

                                  Samuel as Judge in Israel

  2It came to pass that from the very day the ark was in Kirjath Jearim, the days multiplied

to become twenty years. And all the house of Israel watched for the Lord.† 3Then Samuel
spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, if you
put away the foreign gods and the sacred groves from among you, and if you prepare your
hearts for the Lord and serve Him alone, He will deliver you from the hand of the
Philistines.”† 4So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the sacred groves for Ashtoreths,
and served the Lord alone. 5And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to
the Lord for you.” 6So they gathered at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out upon the earth
before the Lord. And there they fasted on that day and said, “We sinned against the Lord.”
And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.† 7When the Philistines heard that the sons
of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines marched up against Israel. And
when the sons of Israel heard of it, they were afraid before the Philistines. 8So the sons of
Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, and He will save us
from the hand of the Philistines.”† 9And Samuel took one suckling lamb and offered it with
all the people as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Then Samuel cried out to the Lord
concerning Israel, and the Lord heard him.† 10Now as Samuel was offering the burnt
offering, the Philistines drew near to do battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a
loud noise against the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome
before Israel. 11And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and
struck them down below Beth Car.

   12Then Samuel took one stone and set it up between Mizpah and the older one, and called

it Ebenezer, a Stone of Help, saying, “The Lord helped us here.” 13So the Lord humbled the
Philistines, and they no longer came into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was
against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14And the cities which the Philistines took
from the children of Israel were returned; they returned them to Israel from Ekron to Gath,
and they took the coast of Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between
Israel and the Amorites. 15And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16He went yearly
on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all those holy places. 17But
he always returned to Ramah, for his home was there, and there he judged Israel, and there
he built an altar to the Lord.

                                    Israel Wants a King

      when Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.† 2And these were the
8 Now
  names of his sons: the firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were
judges in Beersheba. 3But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after
dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

  4Then all the men of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5and said to
him, “Look, you have become old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now establish a
king for us to judge us like all the rest of the nations.” 6But this was evil in the eyes of
Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7And the
Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in whatever they might say to you, for they
have not rejected you, but rather they have rejected Me, to bring to naught My reign over
them.† 8In everything they did to Me since the day I brought them up from Egypt, even to
this day, they have forsaken Me and have served other gods. So too they are doing this to you.
9Now listen to their voice; only you shall testify solemnly to them and announce to them the

custom of the king who will reign over them.”†

  10So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a king. 11And
he said, “This will be the custom of the king who shall reign over you. He will take your sons
and put them in his chariots, and among his horsemen, and running before his chariots;
12and for himself, he will appoint them as captains over his thousands, and captains over his
hundreds; and to harvest his crop and gather his vintage; and to make his weapons of war and
instruments for his chariots. 13He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and
bakers. 14And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves and
give them to his servants. 15He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage and give it to
his eunuchs and servants. 16And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your
finest cattle, and your donkeys, and take a tenth of them for his work. 17He will take a tenth
of your sheep. And you will be his servants. 18Then in that day you will cry out before your
king whom you chose for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in those days, because
you chose a king for yourselves.”

  19But the people were unwilling to listen to Samuel; and they said to him, “No, rather it is

that we want a king to be over us. 20Then we will be like all the other nations, and our king
will judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21And Samuel heard all the words of
the people and repeated them in the hearing of the Lord. 22So the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed
their voice, and make them a king.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Let every man go
to his city.”

                                    Saul to Be the King


9 There  was a man from the sons of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the
  son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a man of power. 2And
he had a tall and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was no more handsome person
than he among the children of Israel. He was a head taller than anyone else in the land.

  3Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one
of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” 4So they passed through the
mountain of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they
passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there. Then he passed through the
land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them. 5When they had come to the land of
Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us return, or my father will stop
worrying about the donkeys and become worried about us.”

  6And the servant said to him, “Look now, in this city there is a man of God, and he is an
honorable man. All that he says surely comes to pass. So now let us go there; perhaps he can
tell us the way we should go.” 7Then Saul said to his servants who were with him, “But look,
if we go, what shall we bring the man of God? For the bread in our vessels is all gone, and
there is no more that belongs to us to bring to the man of God.” 8And the servant answered
Saul again and said, “Look, I have here in my hand one fourth of a shekel of silver. Give it to
the man of God to tell us our way.” 9Before this time in Israel, every one who went to inquire
of God said, “Come, let us go up to the seer,” for the people previously called the prophet the
seer.†

  10Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said! Come, let us go.” So they went to the city where

the man of God was. 11As they went up the hill to the city, they found some young women
going out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12And the young women
answered them and said, “Look! He is just ahead of you. He is here now on account of the
day; he has come into the city today because there is a sacrifice for the people on the high
place. 13As soon as you enter the city, you will surely find him there before he goes up to the
high place to eat. For the people will not eat until he comes, for he blesses the sacrifice, and
afterward the guests will eat. Now go up, for about this time you will find him.” 14So they
went up to the city. As they were coming into the midst of the city, there was Samuel coming
out to meet them on his way up to the high place.

  15Now the day before Saul arrived, the Lord revealed to the ear of Samuel, saying,
16“Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall
anoint him commander over My people Israel. He will save My people from the hand of the
Philistines, for I have looked upon the humiliation of My people, because their cry has come
to Me.” 17And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, “There he is, the man of whom I
spoke to you. This one shall rule over My people.” 18Then Saul approached Samuel in the
midst of the city, and said, “Please tell me, where is the seer's house?” 19And Samuel
answered Saul and said, “I am he. Go up before me to the high place and eat with me today,
and in the morning before I send you forth, I will tell you all that is in your heart. 20But as
for your donkeys lost three days ago, do not let your heart be anxious about them, for they
have been found. And to whom is the beauty of Israel? Is it not on you and on your father's
house?” 21Then Saul answered and said, “Am I not a son of Benjamin, of the smallest branch
of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the tribe of the branch of Benjamin? Why
then do you speak like this to me?”

  22Now Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and he set a place

for them among the chief of those who were called—about seventy men. 23And Samuel said
to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you which I told you to set beside you.” 24So the cook
lifted up the thigh and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said to Saul, “Behold! A remnant is set
before you. Eat, because it is placed in front of you as a testimony to the others. Take of it.”
And on that day, Saul ate with Samuel. 25When they had come down from the high place into
the city, they spread a bed for Saul on the housetop. 26He slept.

                               Saul Anointed King of Israel

 As the morning dawned, Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, “Rise up, that I
may send you on your way.” And Saul arose, and he and Samuel went outside. 27As they were
going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead
of us. But you stand here today, and give heed to the word of God.”


10 Then Samuel took a vial of olive oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said
   to him, “Has not the Lord anointed you as ruler to His people, over Israel? You shall
rule among the people of the Lord, and you shall save them from the hand of their enemies
round about them. For you, this shall be the sign that the Lord anointed you as a ruler for His
inheritance.† 2As you depart from me today, you shall come to find two men by Rachel's
tomb in the territory of Benjamin who are jumping about ecstatically, and they will say to
you, ‘The donkeys you searched for are found, but take notice, your father stopped worrying
about news concerning the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, “What shall I do about
my son?’ ” 3Then you shall go on from there and come to the oak tree of Tabor. There you
will find three men going up to God at Bethel, one carrying three young goats, one carrying
three containers of bread, and one carrying a skin of wine. 4And they will entreat you in peace
and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall take from their hands. 5After this, you shall
come to the hill of God, which for the Philistines is the high place there. The Philistine Nasib
is located there. And when you enter the city, you will meet a band of prophets coming down
from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before
them. They will be prophesying. 6Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you
shall prophesy with them, and you shall be turned into another man. 7And when these signs
shall come to pass for you, do all the many things your hand finds to do, because God is with
you. 8You shall go down before me to Gilgal, and I will come down to you to offer burnt
offerings and peace offerings. You shall wait for seven days, till I come to you and show you
what to do.”

  9So it came about that when he turned his back to depart from Samuel, God gave him

another heart; and all the signs came to pass on that day.† 10And he came there to the hill,
and behold there was a band of prophets opposite him, and the Spirit of God came upon him,
and he prophesied in the midst of them. 11It came about that all those who had seen him
previously saw it, and behold, he was in the midst of the prophets. And the people said, each
one to his neighbor, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among
the prophets?” 12Then one of them answered and said, “But who is his father?” Therefore it
became a proverb: “Truly, even Saul is among the prophets.” 13And he finished prophesying
and came to the hill. 14Then his kinsman said to him and his servant, “Where did you go?” So
he said, “To look for the donkeys. We saw they were lost; we went to Samuel.” 15And the
kinsman said to Saul, “What did Samuel say to you?” 16So Saul said to his kinsman, “In his
explaining, he told me the donkeys were found.” But he did not tell him about the matter of
the kingdom.

                                   Saul Proclaimed King

  17Then Samuel proclaimed to all the people in the presence of the Lord at Mizpah, 18and to
the sons of Israel he said, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘I brought the sons of Israel up
from Egypt and delivered you from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and from all the
kingdoms that oppressed you.’ 19But today you rejected God, who Himself is your Savior
from all your adversities and tribulations. And you said to Him, ‘No! Set a king over us!’
Therefore, now stand before the Lord according to your tribes and according to your
families.” 20Then Samuel brought near all the tribes of Israel, and by lot the tribe of
Benjamin was chosen. 21And he brought near the tribe of Benjamin by families, and by lot
the family of Matri was chosen. And the men of the family of Matri came near, and by lot
Saul, the son of Kish, was chosen. But when Samuel sought him, he could not be found. 22So
Samuel asked yet again of the Lord, “Has this man come here yet?” And the Lord answered,
“Look! He is there, hidden among the equipment.” 23So they ran and brought him from
there. And when Saul stood among the people, he was a head taller than all the other people.
24Then Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen for
Himself, that there is no one like him among all of you?”

  All the people recognized and understood and said, “Long live the king!” 25Then Samuel
explained to the people the custom of the king, and he wrote it in a book and placed it before
the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, and every man went to his place. 26And Saul
also went home to Gibeah; and with Saul, the sons of valor whose hearts the Lord inspired.
27But perverse men said, “How shall this man save us?” So they despised him and brought
him no gifts.

                           Saul Strikes Down the Ammonites


11 Itagainst
       came to be, about a month later, Nahash the Ammonite marched up and encamped
             Jabesh Gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash the Ammonite, “Make a
covenant with us, and we will serve you.” 2And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “I will
make a covenant with you on this one condition, that I should put out all your right eyes, and
I will lay a reproach upon Israel.” 3Then the men of Jabesh said to him, “Hold off seven days
for us, so we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. And if then there is no one to
save us, we will come out to you.”

  4So the messengers came to Saul at Gibeah, and in the hearing of the people they told the

news. And all the people lifted up their voices and wept. 5And behold, after the early morning,
Saul came forth from the field and said, “What makes the people weep?” So they explained to
him in detail the words of the sons of Jabesh. 6And as Saul heard these words, the Spirit of
the Lord came upon him and his anger was greatly aroused. 7Then he took two oxen and cut
them in pieces and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers,
saying, “Whoever does not follow Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.”

  And the fear of the Lord fell on the people of Israel, and they cried out as one man. 8When
Saul numbered them in Bezek on the high place, the men of Israel were six hundred
thousand, and the men of Judah seventy thousand. 9And they said to the messengers who
came, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you
shall have deliverance.’ ” So the messengers came into the city and reported it to the men of
Jabesh, and they were glad. 10Therefore the men of Jabesh said to Nahash the Ammonite,
“Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do with us whatever seems good to you.”
11And it came about on the next day that Saul first divided the people of the army into three
companies, and then in the morning watch they entered into the midst of the camp and
struck the sons of Ammon until the heat of the day. And those who survived scattered, so no
two of them were left together.† 12Then the people said to Samuel, “Who was saying, ‘Saul
shall not reign over us’? Bring the men so we may put them to death.” 13But Saul said, “No
one shall be put to death today, for today the Lord has accomplished salvation in Israel.”

  14Then Samuel said to the people, “Let us go to Gilgal and restore the kingdom there.” 15So
all the people went to Gilgal, and there Samuel anointed Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal.
And there they sacrificed the meat offering and the peace offerings before the Lord, and
Samuel rejoiced, as did all Israel, exceedingly.

                           Samuel Speaks at Saul's Coronation


12 Now  Samuel said to all the men of Israel, “Indeed! I heeded your voice in all the many
   things you said to me, and I appointed a king to reign for you.† 2Now behold, the king
goes before you, and I grow old and will rest. And behold, my sons are with you. And behold, I
have walked before you from my youth to this day. 3Behold, here I am; answer against me
before my Lord and before His anointed one. Whose calf have I taken, or whose donkey have
I taken? Whom of you have I oppressed, or whom have I cheated? From whose hand have I
taken any bribe, even a sandal? Bear witness against me, and I will pay it back to you.” 4And
they said to Samuel, “You have not wronged us or oppressed us or crushed us, nor taken
anything from anyone's hand.” 5Then Samuel said to the people, “The Lord is witness among
you, and His anointed one is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.”
And they answered, “He is a witness.”

  6Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron as

witnesses. It is the Lord who brought your fathers up from Egypt.† 7Now, therefore, stand
still and I will judge you before the Lord and relate to you all the righteous acts the Lord did
for you and your fathers. 8Thus when Jacob and his sons went into Egypt and Egypt humbled
them, and our fathers cried out to the Lord and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, He brought
your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place. 9And they forgot the Lord their God,
and He delivered them over into the hands of Sisera, commander of Jabin king of Hazor, into
the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the king of Moab; and they waged war
against them. 10Then they cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned because we have
forsaken the Lord. We served the Baals and the sacred groves; but now deliver us from the
hand of our enemies and we will serve You.’ 11And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah,
and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you then
dwelt in safety. 12And you saw Nahash king of the sons of Ammon come against you, and you
said, ‘No, none but a king shall reign over us’; whereas the Lord your God is your King.

  13“Now, therefore, here is the king you have chosen, and see, the Lord has provided a king

for you. 14If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not resist the words
of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue to follow the Lord.
15But if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, but resist the words of the Lord, then the hand

of the Lord will be against you and against your king. 16Now, therefore, stand and see the
great thing the Lord will do before your eyes. 17Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to
the Lord, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may know and see that you have done
great wickedness before the Lord in asking a king for yourselves.” 18So Samuel called on the
Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord
and Samuel.

  19And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, so that

we do not die; for we have added to all our sins in asking for ourselves a king.” 20Then
Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; only do not turn
away from following the Lord. Serve the Lord with all your heart. 21And do not turn aside
after empty things which cannot profit anyone or deliver them, for they are nothing. 22For
the Lord will not reject His people for the sake of His mighty name, for it pleased the Lord to
accept you as His people. 23Far be it from me to sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for
you; but I will serve the Lord and show you the good and the right way. 24Only fear the Lord
and serve Him in truth with all your heart, for you know what great things He has done for
you. 25But if you still do wickedly, you shall be joined together in death, both you and your
king.”
                                 Battle with the Philistines


13 Saul chose for himself three thousand men from the men of Israel. Two thousand were
   with Saul in Michmash and on the mountain of Bethel, and a thousand were with
Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the people away, each man to his
dwelling.

  2And Jonathan smote Nasib the Philistine who dwelt in the hill; and the Philistines heard
of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “The servants have rejected
us!” 3All Israel heard it said that Saul smote Nasib the Philistine. Now Israel had been put to
shame before the Philistines, and the people cried out after Saul at Gilgal.

  4Then the Philistines gathered to fight with Israel. Thirty thousand chariots and six
thousand horsemen came up against Israel, and as many troops as the sand on the seashore.
And they came up and encamped in Michmash opposite Beth Aven southward. 5When the
men of Israel saw they were in danger, they did not draw near. Instead the people hid in
caves, in holes, in rocks, in trenches, and in pits. 6They even crossed the River Jordan to the
land of Gad and Gilead.

                                 Saul's Unlawful Offering

  Saul was still in Gilgal, and all the people standing with him were confused. 7Then Saul
waited, as Samuel had said, for seven days for a testimony. But Samuel did not come to
Gilgal, and his people scattered from him. 8So Saul said, “Bring me a sacrifice so I may offer
the whole burnt offering and peace offering”; and he offered the whole burnt offering. 9And it
came to pass, when he finished presenting the burnt offering, Samuel came, and Saul went
out to meet him so that Samuel might bless him. 10Then Samuel said, “What have you
done?” And Saul said, “When I saw the people scatter from me, and you did not come within
the days of testimony as you arranged, and the Philistines gathered at Michmash, 11then I
said, ‘The Philistines will now come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not prayed in the
presence of the Lord.’ Therefore I forced myself, and I offered a burnt offering.” 12And
Samuel said to Saul, “You have rendered it vain because you did not keep my commandments
which the Lord commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom
over Israel forever. 13But now your kingdom shall not stand. The Lord will seek a man for
Himself after His own heart, and the Lord will appoint him to be ruler for His people, because
you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”†

  14Then Samuel arose and departed from Gilgal, and the remnant of the people followed
behind Saul to join with the men of war. And when they arrived from Gilgal to Gibeah of
Benjamin, Saul numbered the people with him, about six hundred men. 15Saul, Jonathan his
son, and the people with them remained in Gibeah of Benjamin and wept. But the Philistines
encamped in Michmash. 16And the troops came out of the camp of the Philistines in three
companies; one company turned by way of Ophrah toward the land of Shual. 17Another
company turned by way of Beth Horon, and another company turned by way of Gibeah,
overlooking the Valley of Zeboim.

  18Now there was not a blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the

Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.” 19Thus all Israel went down to
the land of the Philistines to forge each man's ploughshare into his light armor, his tool, his
ax, and his sickle. 20It was near the time of the harvest, and three shekels is the value of a
ploughshare, and the same value for the axes and the sickles. 21And it came about in the days
of the Michmash war, there was neither sword nor spear to be found in the hand of any of the
troops with Saul and Jonathan. But they were found with Saul and Jonathan his son. 22And
they went out from the land of the Philistines to the place beyond Michmash.

                             Jonathan Defeats the Philistines


14 Now   it happened one day that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young servant
   carrying his armor, “Come here! Let us cross over to that other side, into the outpost of
the Philistine garrison.” But he did not tell his father of this. 2Now Saul sat on the top of the
hill under a pomegranate tree on the hill in Migron. There were about six hundred men with
him. 3And Ahijah the son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod son of Phinehas, son of Eli the priest
of the Lord in Shiloh, was wearing the ephod. But the people did not know Jonathan had left.

  4In the midst of the passage by which Jonathan sought to travel over to the encampment
of the Philistines, there was a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other. The name
of one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5The one faced northward opposite
Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah. 6Then Jonathan said to his young
servant carrying his armor, “Come, let us cross over into the outpost of these uncircumcised
men, if by chance the Lord will do something for us; for the Lord is not constrained to deliver
by the many or by the few.” 7So his armor-bearer said to him, “Do everything toward which
your heart inclines. Behold! I am with you as your heart is my heart.” 8Then Jonathan said,
“Very well, let us cross over to these men, and we will come down over them from the hill. 9If
they should say to us, ‘You there, withdraw until we send for you,’ then we will stand by
ourselves and will not go up against them. 10But if they say thus, ‘Come up to us,’ then we
will go up, for the Lord has delivered them into our hands. This will be a sign to us.”

  11When both of them went up to the Philistine garrison, the Philistines said, “Look, the

Hebrews came out of the holes they dug, where they hid themselves.” 12Then the men of the
garrison called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, “Come against us and we will
show you something.” Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after I do, for the Lord
has delivered them into the hands of Israel.” 13Then Jonathan, with his armor-bearer after
him, went up on his hands and knees. They looked upon the face of Jonathan, and he struck
them. Even his armor-bearer killed them. 14This was the first slaughter Jonathan and his
armor-bearer made, taking twenty men with arrows and slings and pebbles of the field.
15Bewilderment came over the army camp and in the field. All the troops in the garrison, and
those being utterly destroyed, were in a state of shock and could not act. The land was
astounded, and bewilderment came from the Lord.

  16Now the watchmen of Saul looked, and behold, from here it was seen that the opposing

army was having trouble, and 17Saul said to the people with him, “Number yourselves now
and see who has gone out from us.” And they made a roll call, and Jonathan and his armor-
bearer were not found. 18And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ephod here.” For on that day the
ephod was raised up in the presence of Israel. 19Now it happened as Saul spoke to the priest,
that the noise in the camp of the Philistines became louder. So Saul said to the priest,
“Withdraw your hands.” 20Then Saul and all the people with him cried aloud, and they went
into battle. Indeed, every man's sword was against the enemy next to him. There was great
confusion. 21And the slaves who were with the Philistines before that time and went up with
them to the camp changed loyalties and joined the Israelites, along with Saul and Jonathan.
22Likewise all the men of Israel hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard the

Philistines had fled, followed hard after them in battle. 23On that day, the Lord saved Israel.

                                         Saul's Curse
  All the troops with Saul were about ten thousand men. The battle itself shifted to Beth
Aven, and it extended to all the cities in the mountain of Ephraim. 24In ignorance, Saul,
unaware of the full extent of what had happened that day, placed the people under an oath,
saying, “Cursed is the man who eats food until the evening, and those opposed to me, I will
punish.” So none of the people tasted food. 25Before this, all the troops had not eaten. And
then they came to an oak tree with a beehive nearby on the ground. 26As the men approached
the beehive, they continued talking, and no one put his hand to his mouth, for they feared the
oath to the Lord. 27But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath.
Therefore he stretched out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in a
honeycomb. He put his hand to his mouth and his countenance brightened. 28Then one of
the people answered and said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying,
‘Cursed is the man who eats food this day.’ ” But the people were growing weary, 29and
Jonathan knew it, and said, “See indeed, my father has troubled the land, but look now, how
my countenance has brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30Truly, if the people
had freely eaten today from the spoils of their enemies, the slaughter among the Philistines
would have been greater.”

  31Now on that day, Saul smote the Philistines in Michmash, but the people were extremely

weary. 32And the people turned to the spoils and took sheep, oxen, and calves. And they
slaughtered them on the ground, and the people ate them with the blood. 33This was told
Saul, saying, “They have sinned against the Lord by eating with the blood!” So Saul said, “Roll
a large stone to me here out of Gethem.” 34And Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the
people and say to them, ‘Everyone bring his ox and his sheep here and slaughter them here
on this stone. Then eat, but do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.’ ” So each of
the people brought what was in his hand, and they slaughtered them there. 35Then Saul built
an altar to the Lord. This was the first altar he built to the Lord.

  36And Saul said, “Let us go down against the Philistines by night and plunder them until
dawn. Let us not leave a man among them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.
Then the priest said, “Come here; let us draw near to God.” 37So Saul asked God, “Shall I go
down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hands of Israel?” But He did not
answer him on that day. 38And Saul said, “Bring here all the chiefs of Israel, and know and
see today by whom this sin came to be. 39As the Lord lives who saved Israel, if the answer
should be against Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” And from among all the people no
answer was given by anyone. 40Then Saul said to all Israel, “You may be bound, or I and my
son Jonathan may be bound.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”

  41Saul then said to the Lord God of Israel, “Why did you not answer your servant today? O
Lord God of Israel, if there is wrongdoing in me or in Jonathan my son, give clarity. And if
you say this, give mercy to your people Israel.” So Saul and Jonathan were designated by lot,
and the people escaped. 42Then Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.
Whoever the Lord designates by lot, let him die.” But the people said to Saul, “This is not the
right thing to do.” But Saul prevailed over the people, and they cast lots between him and
Jonathan his son. Jonathan was appointed by lot. 43Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me
what you did.” And Jonathan told him, saying, “I was tasting a little honey with the end of the
rod that was in my hand. Behold! I must die!” 44So Saul said to him, “May God do the same
to me, and more also, for you shall die today.” 45But the people said to Saul, “Should he who
brought this great deliverance in Israel die? As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head should
fall to the ground, for the people of God prevailed on that day.” In this way, the people
interceded for Jonathan that day, and he did not die. 46Then Saul returned from pursuing the
Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

                                      The Royal Family

  47Now Saul accepted his portion of the work for Israel, and waged war round about on all
his enemies: against Moab, against the sons of Ammon, against the sons of Edom, against
Betheor, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he was
victorious. 48And he gathered an army and smote the Amalekites and delivered Israel from
out of the hands of those despising him. 49The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Jishui, and
Malchishua. The name of his firstborn daughter was Merab, and the name of the younger was
Michal. 50The name of his wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the
commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, of the house of Saul. 51Kish was the father
of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Jamin, the son of Abiel. 52Now there was
fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any mighty man or any
valiant man, he gathered him for himself.

                                 Defeat of the Amalekites


15 Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over Israel. Now therefore,
heed the voice of the Lord. 2Thus says the Lord Sabaoth, ‘I will exact vengeance for what
Amalek did to Israel when he met Israel on his journey coming out of Egypt. 3Now go and
strike down Amalek and Jerim and all of his things, and take nothing from him. You shall
utterly destroy him. You shall curse him and everything that is his. You shall not spare
anything of his. And you shall slay both man and woman, infant and nursing child, calf and
sheep, and camel and donkey.’ ” 4So Saul told the people and numbered them in Gilgal, four
hundred thousand troops, and from Judah thirty thousand troops. 5And Saul came to the
cities of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley. 6Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go and
depart from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed mercy to
the sons of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from the midst
of Amalek.

  7Saul attacked the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is before Egypt. 8He
took captive Agag king of the Amalekites, and he killed all the people of Jerim with the edge
of the sword. 9But Saul and all the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen,
the fatlings, the vineyards, and everything good. They had no desire to utterly destroy them—
only every despised and worthless thing; these they destroyed.

                             The Lord Deposes Saul as King

  10Now the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, 11“I deeply regret I set up Saul to
reign as king, for he turned back from following Me and has not kept My words.” And it
grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night.† 12Samuel rose early and journeyed to
a meeting with Israel in the early morning. Then it was reported to Samuel, saying, “Saul has
been in Carmel to gather help to himself.” Samuel turned the chariot and went down to Saul
in Gilgal. And behold, Saul offered the whole burnt offering to the Lord, the first of the
plunder brought out of Amalek. 13Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed
are you by the Lord! I established all the many things the Lord said.” 14But Samuel said,
“What then is the sound of the flock in my ears, and the sound of oxen which I hear?” 15And
Saul said, “I brought them from Amalek; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the
oxen, in order that they may be sacrificed to the Lord your God. The rest I utterly destroyed.”
16But Samuel said to Saul, “Be quiet, and I will tell you what the Lord said to me last night.”
And Saul said to him, “Speak on.”

  17So Samuel said to Saul, “Were you not small before Him, you who with a sceptre lead all
the families of the tribes of Israel? Even so, the Lord still anointed you king over Israel.†
18Now the Lord sent you off on a mission and said, ‘Go and utterly destroy the sinners for

me, the Amalekites, and fight against them until you consume them.’ 19Why did you not
heed the voice of the Lord, but rushed down on the spoils and did evil before the Lord?”

  20And Saul said to Samuel, “For the sake of the people, I listened to their voice, but I also
went in the ways the Lord sent me. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and utterly destroyed
the Amalekites. 21But the people took of the plunder, the sheep and the oxen, the best of
what should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice before the Lord our God in Gilgal.”
22Then Samuel said, “If only the desired whole burnt offerings and desired sacrifices were
equal to the Lord, as compared to one who heeds the voice of the Lord! Behold! Hearing is
better than a good sacrifice and obedience than the fat of rams.† 23That sin is one and the
same as divination. Idols bring grief and pain. Because you rejected the word of the Lord, the
Lord rejects you from remaining king over Israel.” 24Then Saul said to Samuel, “I sinned
because I transgressed the word of the Lord and your word; for I feared the people and
heeded their voice.† 25Now therefore, take away my sin and return with me, so that I can
worship the Lord your God.” 26But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, because
you rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord rejects you from remaining king over Israel.”

  27As Samuel turned his face to go away, Saul grasped the edge of his robe and tore it. 28So
Samuel said to him, “The Lord has rent the kingdom of Israel from your hand today, and He
will give it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you. 29And Israel will be divided in two,
and God shall not turn back nor repent. For He is not like a man that He should repent.”
30Then Saul said, “I have sinned, but indeed honor me before the elders of Israel and my

people. Return with me, and I will worship the Lord your God.” 31So Samuel turned back
after Saul, and he worshiped the Lord.

  32Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of Amalek.” So Agag came to him trembling. And

Agag said, “Surely this is the bitter death.” 33And Samuel said to Agag, “As your sword made
women childless, so shall your mother be made childless among women.” So before the Lord,
Samuel put Agag to death in Gilgal. 34Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his
house at Gibeah. 35And Samuel did not go to see Saul again until the day of his death.
Nevertheless, Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted that Saul reigned over Israel.†
                              David Anointed King of Israel


16 Now  the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected
   him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with olive oil and come. I will send you to
Jesse in Bethlehem, for I have seen someone among his sons to reign for Me.” 2And Samuel
said, “How can I go? Saul will hear it and he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer in
your arms and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice,
and I will show you what to do. You shall anoint the one I tell you.”

  4So Samuel did everything the Lord said to him and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of

the town were astonished at meeting him, and they said, “Seer, do you come in peace?” 5And
he said, “Peaceably I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify yourselves and rejoice with
me today.” Then he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and he invited them to the sacrifice. 6And it
came to be when they entered that Samuel looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the anointed of
the Lord is before Him.” 7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Have no regard for his outward
appearance, nor for the maturity of his stature, because I have refused him. For man does not
see as God sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord sees into the heart.”†

  8So Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And Samuel said, “The Lord

did not choose this one either.” 9Then Jesse brought Shammah. But Samuel said, “Nor has
the Lord chosen this one.” 10Thus Jesse brought seven of his sons before Samuel. And
Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are
there any other young men here?” Then Jesse said, “There remains yet the youngest, keeping
the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he
comes here.” 12So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-
looking to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Arise, anoint David; for he is good!”
13Then Samuel took the horn of olive oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and
the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to
Ramah.

                                 David in the Court of Saul

  14But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented

him. 15And Saul's servants said to him, “Behold, an evil spirit from the Lord is tormenting
you. 16Now let your servants speak before you, and let them seek for our lord a man who
knows how to play the harp. And it will come to pass when the evil spirit is upon you, he will
play his harp, and it will be good for you and give you rest.” 17So Saul said to his servants,
“Indeed, seek out for me a man who plays skillfully and bring him to me.” 18Then one of his
servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who
understands playing on the harp, a prudent man, a man of war, wise in speech, handsome;
and the Lord is with him.”

  19Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with

the sheep.” 20And Jesse took a homer of bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat, and sent
them by the hand of his son David to Saul. 21So David came to Saul and stood before him.
And he loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. 22Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying,
“Let David stand here before me, for he has found favor in my sight.” 23So whenever the evil
spirit was upon Saul, David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would
become well refreshed, and the evil spirit would depart from him.

                                    David and Goliath


17 Now  the Philistines brought their armies together for battle, and they gathered at
   Sochoh of Judah. They encamped between Sochoh and Azekah in Ephes Dammim. 2And
Saul and the men of Israel gathered, and they were encamped in the valley. They were to set
up in battle formation opposite the Philistines. 3The Philistines stood on a mountain on one
side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.

  4And a mighty man went out from the battle line of the Philistines named Goliath, from

Gath. His height was four cubits and a span.† 5He had a helmet on his head, and he wore a
breastplate of chain mail; and the weight of his breastplate was five thousand shekels of brass
and iron. 6And he had armor made of bronze on his legs and a bronze shield between his
shoulders. 7Now the staff of his spear was like the beam of a loom, and his iron spearhead
weighed six hundred shekels. A shield-bearer went before him. 8Then he stood and shouted
out to the armies of Israel and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle
against us? Am I not a Philistine, and you Hebrews of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves,
and let him come down to me. 9If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your
servants. But if I am able to kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” 10And the
Philistine said, “Look! This very day I challenge the ranks of the armies of Israel. Give me a
man that the two of us can fight one on one.” 11When Saul and all Israel heard these words of
the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

  12But David said to Saul, “Let not the heart of my lord fall in regards to him. Your servant

will go and fight with this foreigner.” 13And Saul said to David, “No, you are not able to go to
the Philistine to fight him, since you are a young man, and he is a man of war from his
youth.” 14But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to tend the flock for his father, and when
a lion or a bear came and took a sheep out of the flock, 15I followed it and struck it, and
delivered the sheep from its mouth. And as it arose against me, I caught it by its throat and
struck and killed it. 16Your servant smote both the lion and the bear; and the uncircumcised
Philistine will be as one of them to me. Will I not go and kill him today, and remove the
reproach of Israel? For who is this uncircumcised one who challenged the ranks of the armies
of Israel? 17The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the
bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this uncircumcised Philistine.” And Saul said to
David, “Go, and the Lord will be with you!”

  18So Saul clothed David with armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head, 19and he
girded David with his sword over his armor. David made a trial walking with them a time or
two. And David said to Saul, “I am not able to go with these, for I have not tested them.” So
they removed them. 20Then David took his staff in his hand, and chose for himself five
smooth stones from the brook. He put them in a shepherd's bag to store away, and in his
hand was his sling. He then approached the Philistine.

  21And when Goliath saw David, he disdained him; for he was a young boy, ruddy with a

good countenance. 22So the Philistine said to David, “Am I as a dog, that you come against
me with a staff and stones?” Then David said, “No, worse than a dog!” And the Philistine
cursed David by his gods. 23And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give
your flesh to the birds of heaven and the beasts of the field!”

  24Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a
shield. But I come to you in the name of the Lord Sabaoth, the God of the armies of Israel,
whom you reproached today. 25Today the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will kill
you and take your head from you. And this day I will give your carcass and the carcasses of
the camp of the Philistines to the birds of heaven and the wild beasts of the earth, and all the
earth will know that there is a God in Israel. 26Then all this assembly shall know that the
Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and the Lord will deliver
you into our hands.”

  27And the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David. 28Then David put his
hand in his bag and took out one stone. He slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead.
The stone penetrated through his helmet and into his forehead. He fell to the ground on his
face. 29So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone. He struck the
Philistine and killed him, and there was no sword in the hand of David. 30Therefore, David
ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword, and killed him and cut off his head. And the
Philistines saw that their champion was dead, and they fled.

  31Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued them as far as the
entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ashkelon. And the wounded Philistines fell on the way to
the gates, even as far as Gath and Ashkelon. 32Then the men of Israel returned from
pursuing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp. 33And David took the head of the
Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem. He put his armor in his tent.†

                                 Saul's Jealousy of David


18 From  all the cities of Israel, women came out dancing with tambourines, with joy, and
   with cymbals to greet David. 2And the women began a song and sang, “Saul slew his
thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

  3These words seemed evil in the eyes of Saul, and he said to David, “They ascribed to you

ten thousands, and to me they ascribed only thousands.” 4So from that day forward, Saul
eyed David with suspicion, 5as Saul was apprehensive of the mere presence of David, 6and he
removed David from himself. He made David his captain of a thousand, and he went out and
came in before the people.† 7David was prudent in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.
8And Saul saw David to be exceedingly wise, and felt challenged by his presence. 9But all
Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before the people.

                                    David Weds Michal

  10Now Michal, daughter of Saul, loved David. And it was told to Saul, and it was pleasing in

his eyes. 11So Saul said, “I will give her to him, and she will be a stumbling-block to him.” At
this same time, the hand of the Philistines was against Saul. 12So Saul gave instruction to his
servants, saying, “Speak to David secretly and say, ‘Look, the king delights in you, and all his
servants love you. Become the son-in-law of the king.’ ” 13So Saul's servants spoke these
words in the ear of David. And David said, “Is it trivial in your eyes if one becomes the son-in-
law of the king when he is lowly and without honor?” 14And the servants of Saul told him
what David had said. 15Then Saul said, “Thus you shall say to David, ‘The king desires no
dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, as vengeance on the enemies of the
king.’ ” However, Saul schemed to deliver David into the hands of the Philistines. 16And the
servants of Saul told David these words, and it was pleasing in the eyes of David to become
the son-in-law of the king. 17And David arose, and he and his men went and killed in battle a
hundred men of the Philistines. And he brought their foreskins to the king. He became the
son-in-law of the king, and Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife. 18Thus Saul could see
the Lord was with David, and all Israel loved him. 19Saul was now even more apprehensive
about David.

                                  Saul Seeks David's Life


19 Now  Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan, son of
   Saul, preferred David exceedingly.† 2So Jonathan spoke to David, saying, “Saul seeks to
kill you. Be on your guard until tomorrow morning, and stay hidden in a secret place. 3I will
go out and stand with my father in the field. I will speak to him about you and about anything
he may be thinking, and then I will tell you.”

  4Thus Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king
sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and his deeds are very
good. 5For he took his life in his hands and smote the Philistine, and the Lord brought about
a great deliverance. All Israel saw it and rejoiced. Why then do you sin against innocent
blood, to put David to death without cause?” 6So Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan, and Saul
swore, “As the Lord lives, he shall not die.” 7Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told
him all these words. So Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.
8And the war continued to be waged against Saul; and David fought valiantly and prevailed
over the Philistines. He struck them with an exceedingly great beating, and they fled from
before him.

  9An evil spirit came from God upon Saul as he was resting in his house with a spear in his
hand, and David was playing the harp. 10And Saul sought to strike David with his spear, but
David slipped away from him as he drove the spear into the wall. David fled and escaped.
11And that night Saul sent messengers to the house of David to keep careful watch over him
and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, the wife of David, told him, saying, “If you do not
save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.” 12So Michal let David down through a
window, and he fled and escaped. 13And Michal took an image and placed it in the bed, put a
cover of goats’ hair at the head, and covered it with clothes. 14And Saul sent messengers to
take David, and they reported, “He is sick.” 15Then Saul sent them back to David, saying,
“Bring him up to me in his bed, so I can kill him.” 16And the messengers came, and behold,
there was the image in the bed, with a cover of goats’ hair at the head. 17Then Saul said to
Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this and send my enemy away, so he could escape?”
And Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Send me away! Otherwise I will slay you.’ ”

  18So David fled and escaped and went to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all Saul had done

to him. And David and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth in Ramah.† 19And it was told to
Saul, saying, “Take note, David is at Naioth in Ramah!” 20Then Saul sent messengers to take
David. And when they saw the assembly of prophets and Samuel standing as leader over
them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21And
when this was told to Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied as well. Then for a
third time Saul sent messengers, and they too prophesied. 22Now Saul was inflamed with
anger, and he too went to Ramah. He came as far as the storage well of the threshing floor in
Sechu and asked, saying, “Where are Samuel and David?” And someone said, “Look, they are
in Naioth in Ramah.” 23So he went onward to Naioth in Ramah. And then the Spirit of God
came upon him too, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
24There he removed his clothes and prophesied before them, and he fell unclothed on the
ground all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul among the prophets?”

                               Jonathan Is Loyal to David


20 Then  David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came before Jonathan and said, “What
   have I done, and what fault is mine? What is my sin before your father, that he seeks
my life?” 2So Jonathan said to him, “There is no fault on your part. You shall not die. Indeed,
my father will do nothing either great or small without first telling me. And why should my
father hide this thing? It is not so!” 3Then David answered Jonathan and said, “Your father
certainly knows I have found favor in your sight, and Saul has said, ‘Jonathan should not
come to know about this. He will not want this to happen.’ But as the Lord lives and as you
yourself live, so I say to you, there is only a step between me and death.” 4So Jonathan said to
David, “What does your soul desire? What shall I do for you?”

  5And David said to Jonathan, “Indeed, tomorrow is the New Moon, and I will not sit with

the king to eat. I will hide in the field until evening. 6If your father asks about me, say, ‘David
earnestly asked permission of me that he might go to Bethlehem, his city, for there is a yearly
sacrifice there for his whole tribe.’ 7If thus he says, ‘Peace be to your servant’; it is well. But if
he answers you harshly, know that he determines to do evil. 8Therefore you shall provide an
act of mercy to your servant, for you brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with
you. And if there is wrongdoing in your servant, kill me yourself. Why should you bring me to
your father?” 9But Jonathan said, “By no means will I do this to you! For if I know for sure
that my father intends evil against you, I will come to you. If otherwise, I will tell you in your
cities.”

  10Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father should answer you

harshly?” 11And Jonathan said to David, “Go and remain in the field.” And they both went out
into the field. 12Then Jonathan said to David, “The Lord God of Israel knows that I will
question my father three times, and behold, should there be good concerning David and I do
not send for you in the field, 13may the Lord do this to Jonathan and add to this even more,
as also I shall discuss the evil against you. I will disclose it to your ear, and I will send you
away. You shall depart in peace, for the Lord will be with you as He was with my father. 14In
return, you shall deal mercifully with me while I still live, and if I die, 15you shall not cut off
your mercy from my house forever, even if the Lord does not cut off every one of the enemies
of David from the face of the earth; 16or removes the name of Jonathan from the house of
David; or the Lord does seek out the enemies of David.”

  17And yet again, Jonathan swore to David, for he so loved him as his own soul.† 18Then
Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the first of the month, and you will be asked about,
because your seat will be seen as empty. 19You will do this for three days, and you will be
looked for. So go to the place where you may be hidden in the day of the deed. You shall wait
by that mound. 20And then I will shoot three arrows, as aiming at a target. 21And behold, I
will send a lad, saying, ‘Come here! Find my arrows.’ If I speak to the lad saying, ‘Look, the
arrows are here, on this side from you, get them here. Come!’—it is well with you, and as the
Lord lives there is no reason to hide. 22But if I say this to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows
are there and beyond you,’—you go, for the Lord has sent you away. 23And as for the word
which you and I discussed, indeed the Lord is a witness between you and me forever.”

  24So David hid in the field, and when the first of the month came, the king sat down to the

table to eat. 25As usual, the king sat on his seat by the wall and arrived before Jonathan.
Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was seen as empty. 26Saul said nothing that day,
for he thought, “Something happened so that he is not clean; he has not cleansed himself.”
27And the next day, the second day of the month, David's place was noticed as being empty.
And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to the table yesterday
or today?” 28So Jonathan answered Saul and said to him, “David earnestly asked permission
of me to go to Bethlehem his city. 29And he said, ‘Please let me go, for our tribe has a
sacrifice in the city, and my brothers commanded me to be there. And now, if I have found
favor in your eyes, please let me go away safely and see my brothers.’ Therefore he has not
come to the king's table.”

  30Then Saul's anger was aroused greatly against Jonathan, and he said to him, “Son of
traitorous girls! Do I not know to your own shame and the shame of your mother's
nakedness that you are an accomplice with the son of Jesse? 31For as long as the son of Jesse
lives on the earth, your kingdom shall not be established. Now then, send and bring the
young man, for he is a son of death.” 32And Jonathan queried Saul, “Why should he be
killed? What did he do?” 33Then Saul lifted up a spear against Jonathan to kill him, and
Jonathan knew the evil from his father to kill David. 34So Jonathan leapt up from the table
in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month. For he was grieved for David
because his father plotted against him.

  35And so in the morning, Jonathan went out to the field at the appointed time, as a

testimony for David. A lad was with him. 36Then he said to his lad, “Run, find for me the
arrows I shoot.” As the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37And when the lad came to
the place where Jonathan shot the arrow, Jonathan cried out to the lad and said, “There is the
arrow beyond you.” 38And Jonathan cried out after his lad, “Make haste, hurry, do not delay!”
So Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows for his master. 39And the lad knew nothing of what
was happening. Only Jonathan and David knew of the matter. 40Then Jonathan gave his
weapons to his lad, and said to the lad, “Go, enter into the city.” 41As soon as the lad left,
David arose from the mound, fell on his face, and bowed down three times. And they kissed
one another and wept for each other. 42Then Jonathan said, “Go in peace, and as we both
swore in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord will be a witness between you and me, and
between your seed and my seed, forever.’ ”

      So he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.†
21
                                 David and the Showbread

 2Now David came to Nob, to Abimelech the priest. And Abimelech was astonished when he

met him and said to him, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?” 3So David said to
the priest, “Today the king gave a command to me, saying, ‘Do not let anyone know anything
about the business on which I send you or what I command you.’ And I gave orders to the
young men to go to a place called the Faithfulness of God, Phellani Alemoni. 4Now if there
are five loaves under your hand being ready, give them into my hand.” 5And the priest
answered David and said, “There are no common loaves of bread on hand. There is holy
bread, but only if the young men have been keeping themselves from women will they eat.”
6Then David answered the priest and said to him, “Truly, we have kept ourselves from
women for three days, with all the young men having been purified when I came on this
journey. Even so, this expedition itself is unclean; thus because of my weapons, it shall be
sanctified this day.”

  7So Abimelech the priest gave him the showbread; for there were no loaves there except
the bread of the Presence which had been removed from before the Lord, in order to put hot
bread in its place when it was taken away. 8Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was
there that day, detained before the Lord. His name was Doeg the Syrian, the herder of Saul's
mules. 9And David said to Abimelech, “See if there is a spear or a sword in your possession,
for I brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, for the message of the king
required haste.” 10So the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in
the Valley of Elah, is there wrapped in a garment. If you take it, take it for yourself. For there
is nothing else here except that.” And David said, “There is none like it. Give it to me.”

                                    David Flees from Saul
  11And he gave it to him. Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul. And David

went to Achish the king of Gath. 12And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David,
the king of the land? Is this not the one to whom the dancing women say:

    ‘Saul slew his thousands,

    And Dav id his ten thousands’?” †

  13Now David took these words in his heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of

Gath. 14So he changed his appearance before him and pretended to be mad on that day. He
pounded on the doors of the city and acted like a madman with his hands, falling down upon
the door of the gate and letting his saliva drip down on his beard. 15Then Achish said to his
servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why did you bring him to me? 16Do I need
madmen? Did you bring this fellow to be mad in my presence? This man will not come into
the house!”


22 David therefore departed from there and escaped by going into the cave of Adullam.
   And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.
2And everyone in distress, and everyone in debt, and everyone grieved gathered to him. And

he became captain over them. There were about four hundred men with him. 3Then David
went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father
and mother come here to be with you, till I know what God is going to do for me.” 4So he
brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him as long as David was in the
stronghold. 5Now the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; depart and
go to the land of Judah.” So David departed, and went and dwelt in the city of Sarich.

                                        Saul Slaughters the Priests

  6Saul heard that David and the men who were with him were found. Now Saul was staying
on the hill in the field in Ramah, with a spear in his hand and with all his servants standing
about him. 7Then Saul spoke to his servants who stood by him and said to them, “Hear now,
you sons of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse indeed give every one of you fields and
vineyards? Will he make all of you captains of thousands and captains of hundreds? 8All of
you conspired against me; there is not one who revealed to me that my son made a covenant
with the son of Jesse; and there is not one of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that
my son stirred up my servant against me to be an enemy, as it is today.” 9Then Doeg the
Syrian, the one set over the mules of Saul, replied and said, “I saw the son of Jesse going to
Nob, to Abimelech the son of Ahitub, the priest. 10And the priest inquired of God for him and
gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

  11So the king sent a message to invite Abimelech son of Ahitub and all the sons of his

father, the priests who were in Nob. And they all came to the king. 12And Saul said, “Hear
now, son of Ahitub!” And he answered, “Here I am. Speak, lord.” 13Then Saul said to him,
“Why did you conspire against me, you and the son of Jesse, by giving him bread and a sword
and inquiring of God for him so he should rise against me to be an enemy, as he is today?”
14So he answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David,
who is the king's son-in-law, who goes at your bidding and is honorable in your house?
15Truly, did I this very day begin to entreat of God on account of him? Certainly not! Let not
the king bring a charge against his servant, or against any in my father's house. For your
servant knew nothing of any of this, small or great.”

  16And King Saul said, “Abimelech, you shall surely die, you and all your father's house!”
17Then the king said to the guards who stood about him, “Bring and kill the priests of the
Lord, because their hand is with David, and because they knew that he fled and did not reveal
it to me.” But the servants of the king did not want to lift their hands against the priests of
the Lord. 18And the king said to Doeg, “Turn and deal with the priests!” So Doeg the Syrian
turned and killed the priests of the Lord on that day, three hundred and five men who wore
an ephod. 19And he struck Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword, both men
and women, children and nursing infants, calf and donkey and sheep.

  20Now one of the sons of Abimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled

after David.† 21And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed all the Lord's priests. 22So David
said to Abiathar, “I knew in that day, because Doeg the Syrian was being called upon, that he
would tell Saul. I am responsible for the life of the house of your father. 23Stay with me. Do
not fear. For wherever I seek a place for my life, I will also seek a place for your life, for you
have protection with me.”

                                     David Saves Keilah


23 And  it was told to David, saying, “Look, the Philistines are at war against Keilah. They
   are robbing and trampling upon the threshing floors.” 2Therefore David inquired of the
Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and
attack these Philistines and save Keilah.” 3But David's men said to him, “Look, we are afraid
here in Judah. How much more so if we go to Keilah, to go after the plunder of the
Philistines?” 4Then David inquired of the Lord once again. And the Lord answered him and
said, “Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hands.” 5And David
and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, and the Philistines fled from his
presence, and David carried off their livestock and struck them with a mighty blow. David
saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

  6Now when Abiathar the son of Abimelech fled to David and was with David at Keilah, he

went down with an ephod in his hand. 7And Saul was told that David went to Keilah. So Saul
said, “God sold him into my hand, for he shut himself in by entering a city with gates and
bars.” 8Then Saul charged all the people to go down to war against Keilah and to hold David
and his men as prisoners. 9When David knew Saul had not kept silent about the evil against
him, David said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod of the Lord.”† 10Then David said, “O
Lord God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to
destroy the city because of me. 11Will he close in upon me? Will Saul come down now, as
Your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, tell Your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will
close in upon you.” 12So David and his men, about four hundred, arose and departed from
Keilah and went wherever they could go. Then it was announced to Saul that David had
escaped from Keilah; so he halted the expedition.

                                   David Hides in the Desert

  13And David stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and remained in the mountain of
Ziph, which was dry country. Saul sought him every day, but the Lord did not deliver him into
his hands. 14So David saw that Saul had come out to seek him. And David was on the arid
mountain in New Ziph. 15Then Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David in New Ziph
and strengthened his hands in the Lord. 16And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of
Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you.
Even my father Saul knows that.” 17So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And
David stayed in New Ziph, and Jonathan went to his own house.

  18Then the Ziphites came up from the dry places to Saul, who was upon the hill, saying,
“Behold, is David not hiding with us in Messara, in the strongholds in New Ziph, in the hill of
Hachilah on the south of Jeshimon? 19Now come down to us, according to all the desire of
the king.” They cornered him in for the hands of the king. 20And Saul said, “Blessed are you
of the Lord, for you have toiled on my account. 21Please go and make more preparations. See
the place where his hideout is and tell me quickly, lest by any means he escape through
cunning. 22See therefore and know, and we will go with you. And if he is in the land, I will
search for him among the thousands of Judah.” 23So the Ziphites arose and went before Saul.

  But David and his men were in the Desert of Maon, in the wilderness of Maon, westward
and to the right of Jessaemon. 24So Saul and his men went to seek him. It was reported to
David, and he went down to the rock in the Desert of Maon. And Saul heard and pursued
David in the Desert of Maon. 25Then Saul and his men went on one side of this mountain,
and David and his men on the other side of this mountain. And David was hiding himself to
get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them.
26But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hasten and come here quickly, for the Philistines

have invaded the land!” 27Therefore Saul turned back from pursuing David and went to meet
the Philistines in battle. So they called that place the Rock of Dividing.

                                  David Spares Saul's Life

         David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds at En Gedi. 2Now when
24 Then
   Saul returned from following the Philistines, it was reported to him, saying, “David is
in the desert of En Gedi.” 3Then he took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and
went to seek David and his men on the face of Sadaiem. 4On the way, he came across a flock
of sheep, and nearby there was a cave. Saul entered the cave to make preparations. Now
sitting in the recesses of this same cave were David and his men. 5And David's men said to
him, “Look! This is the day of which the Lord spoke to you, that He would deliver your enemy
into your hands, to do to him as it seems good from your perspective.” So David arose and
secretly cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 6Then it happened that David's heart afflicted him
afterward, because he cut the corner of his robe. 7And David said to his men, “The Lord forbid
me, that I should do this to my lord, for he is the anointed of the Lord.”† 8By these words
David persuaded his men not to rise up and kill Saul.

  So Saul got up from the cave and went his way. 9After Saul departed, David went out from
the cave and cried out to Saul, saying, “My lord, O king!” And Saul looked back, and David,
bowing to the ground, prostrated himself. 10And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the
words of the people who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your life’? 11Take notice! This day your
eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you into my hand in the cave; but I would not kill you.
I spared you and said, ‘I will not put my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.’
12Here in my hand is the corner of your robe! I cut off the corner, but did not kill you. See
and know today, there is no evil or impiety or breach of faith in my hand. I have not sinned
against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. 13Let the Lord pass judgment between you and
me, and let the Lord vindicate me from you. But my hand shall not be against you. 14As the
ancient proverb says, ‘Out of lawlessness shall come wrongdoing, but my hand will not be
against you.’ 15Now after whom do you seek, O King of Israel? Whom do you hunt after? Are
you after a dying dog or perhaps a flea? 16Let the Lord be judge and jury, each one in my
midst, and each one in your midst. And let the Lord observe and decide my judgment and
vindicate me from your hand.”

  17And it came to pass, when David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Truly

this is your voice, O son David.” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.† 18Then he said to
David, “You are more righteous than I, for you repaid me with good, but I repaid you with
evil. 19Today you make known how you dealt well with me, how when the Lord delivered me
into your hand today, you did not kill me. 20For if a man finds his enemy in distress and yet
in a good way sends him out, the Lord will reward him with good, just as you did today.
21And now behold, I know that you shall be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be

established in your hands. 22Therefore by the Lord, swear now to me that you will not cut off
my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father's house.” 23So
David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his place, but David and his men went up to the
stronghold at Messara.

                                   The Death of Samuel


25 And  Samuel died, and all Israel gathered together and lamented for him, and they
   buried him at his home in Ramah.

                                     David and Abigail

  And David arose and went down to the Desert of Maon. 2Now there was a man in Maon
who was very notable and whose flocks were in Carmel. He had three thousand sheep and a
thousand goats. And he was in Carmel to shear his sheep. 3The man's name was Nabal, and
his wife's name was Abigail. She was a woman of good understanding and very beautiful in
appearance; but the man was harsh and wicked in his doings, like a dog.†

  4While in the desert wilderness, David heard that Nabal the Carmelite was shearing his

sheep. 5David sent ten young men and said to them, “Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and in my
name, greet him in peace. 6And here is what you say, ‘Peace be to you and your house and all
that is yours. 7Behold, I now hear that they shear for you. As to your shepherds, those with us
in the desert wilderness, as long as they were in Carmel we did not hinder them, nor did we
demand anything from them. 8Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my
young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a good day. Please give whatever your
hand finds to your son David.’ ”

  9So when David's young men came, they told Nabal all these words in the name of David,

and he leapt up. 10Then Nabal replied to David's servants and said, “Who is David, and who is
the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away, each one from his
master. 11Shall I then take my bread and my wine and my meat that I killed for my shearers
of sheep, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?”

  12So David's young men turned back and returned. They came and told him these words.
13Then David said to his men, “Every man gird on his sword.” And about four hundred men

went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies. 14Now one of the young men
told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, “Look, David sent messengers from the desert to bless our
master, but Nabal turned away from them. 15But the men were very good to us, and they did
not hinder us, and they did not demand anything from us as long as we accompanied them
when we were in the fields. 16They were like a wall around us by night and day, all the time
we were with them keeping the sheep. 17And now consider and see what you will do, for
malice has been decided against our master and against all his household. For Nabal is such a
son of mischief that no one can speak to him.”

  18Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five
sheep already dressed, five ephahs of roasted grain, a gomer of raisins, and two hundred
cakes of figs and loaded them on donkeys. 19And she said to her servants, “Go ahead of me,
and behold, I will come behind you.” But she did not tell her husband. 20And it came to pass
that she was riding on her donkey and going down under the protection of the mountain; and
look, David and his men were coming down toward her, and she met them. 21Now David had
said, “Perhaps I was wrong to protect everything this fellow has in the desert wilderness and
to command that nothing of his be taken; yet he repaid me evil for good. 22May God do so
and more to David, if I leave even one male of all belonging to Nabal until the morning.”†

  23Now when Abigail saw David, she jumped from her donkey, fell on her face before David,

and prostrated herself on the ground 24about his feet and said, “O my lord, let this
unrighteousness be on me! Let your handmaiden speak in your ears, and hear the words of
your handmaiden. 25Please, let not my lord set his heart against this man of pestilence. For
as his name is, so is he. His name is Nabal, and folly is with him. But I, your handmaiden, did
not see the young men whom you sent. 26Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives and as
your soul lives, since the Lord held you back from coming to innocent bloodshed and from
sparing your hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek malice against my lord
become like Nabal. 27And now, take this token of goodwill your handmaiden brought to my
lord and give it to the servants who follow my lord. 28I pray you will remove the trespass of
your handmaiden. For the Lord will certainly make a faithful house for my lord, because my
lord fights the battles of the Lord, so no evil will be found in you at any time. 29If a man
should rise up and pursue you, to seek your life, nevertheless, the life of my lord shall be so
tightly bound with the Lord God, that you will sling your enemies like a stone from a sling.
30And when the Lord has done for my lord all the good things He said concerning you, and

He has appointed you ruler over Israel, 31will this not be an abomination to my lord and an
offense to my lord, to have shed innocent blood without cause, for my lord to have avenged
himself? May the Lord do good to my lord, and you shall remember to do good to your
handmaiden.”

  32Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you to meet me

this very day! 33And blessed is your conduct and blessed are you, because today you kept me
from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself. 34But as the Lord God of Israel lives,
who kept me from hurting you, if you had not hastened and come to meet me, surely I say
that by morning light not one male would have been left to Nabal.” 35So David received from
her hand everything that she had brought him and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house.
See, I have heeded your voice and respected your presence.”
  36Now Abigail returned to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house like the
feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. Thus, she
decided to say not a word to him, not even one, until morning light. 37In the morning, when
Nabal had slept off the wine, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him,
and he became like a stone. 38And it came to pass about ten days later that the Lord struck
Nabal and he died. 39So when David heard, he said, “Blessed be the Lord, who judged my
reproach from the hand of Nabal, and who saved His servant from doing evil. For the Lord
returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head.”

  And David sent out a message concerning Abigail, to take her as his own wife. 40So the
servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel and spoke to her, saying, “David sent us to you,
to ask you to become his wife.” 41She arose and bowed her face to the earth and said, “Behold
your handmaiden, a servant to wash the feet of your servants.” 42And Abigail rose and
mounted her donkey, and five of her maidens followed behind her as she followed after the
servants of David, and she became his wife. 43David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both
of them were his wives. 44But Saul gave Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son of
Laish, from Gallim.

                                  David Again Spares Saul


26 Now  the Ziphites came out of the desert country to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Look,
   David hides from us at the hill Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon.” 2Then Saul arose and
went down to the desert of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in
the desert of Ziph. 3And Saul encamped by the road in the hill Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon.
But David stayed in the desert, and he could see that Saul was coming into the desert to
pursue him. 4And David sent out spies and learned Saul came out of Keilah well-armed. 5So
David secretly arose and came to the place where Saul lay. Abner the son of Ner, the
commander of his army, was there too. Now Saul lay in a covered chariot, and the people
encamped round about him. 6Then David spoke up to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai
the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, “Who will go with me to Saul in the camp?” And
Abishai said, “I will go with you.”

  7So that night, David and Abishai went in among the troops, and there lay Saul asleep in
the covered chariot. His spear was jammed into the ground by his head. And Abner and the
troops were sleeping all around him. 8Then Abishai said to David, “The Lord places your
enemy in your hand this very day. Once and for all, let me strike him with the spear that is in
the ground. I will not strike him again.” 9And David said to Abishai, “Do not bring him down,
for who can bring his own hand against the anointed of the Lord and go unpunished?”
10David said, “As the Lord lives, the Lord shall strike him, or his day may come to die, or he

may go out to battle and be added to his fathers. 11The Lord forbid me that I should bring my
own hand against the anointed of the Lord. But indeed, take the spear from by his head and
the container of water, and let us both go.” 12So David took the spear by Saul's head and the
container of water, and they went away. No one noticed or knew what happened or even
awoke. All were sleeping, because a deep sleep from the Lord fell upon them.†

  13Now David went over to the other side and stood on the top of the mountain afar off.

There was a great distance between them. 14And David called out to the people and spoke to
Abner, saying, “Do you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered and said, “Who is that
calling out to me?” 15So David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in
Israel? If so, then why do you not guard your lord the king? For one of the people entered
your camp to destroy your lord the king. 16And this thing which you allowed to happen is not
good. As the Lord lives, you are sons of death—you guarding the lord your king, the anointed
of the Lord. Now look and tell me, where is the king's spear that was by his head, and the jug
of water?”

  17Then Saul recognized David's voice and said, “Is that truly your voice, my son David?”

And David said, “It is your servant, my lord, O King.” 18And David said, “Why is my lord
pursuing his servant? How have I sinned? What wrong have you found in me? 19Now let my
lord the king hear his servant's words: If God incites you against me, let Him accept the scent
of your offering. If the sons of men incite you against me, let these men be cursed before the
Lord. For today by their saying, ‘Go, serve other gods,’ they show their desire to cast me out
in order to prevent me from being established in the inheritance of the Lord. 20Now do not
let my blood fall to the ground before the face of the Lord. For the king of Israel comes here
to seek my life, like one who hunts a horned owl in the mountains.”

  21Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more,
because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed, I have played the fool and erred
exceedingly.” 22And David answered and said, “Behold, the spear of the king. Let one of the
servants come over and receive it. 23And the Lord shall repay each man for his righteousness
and his faithfulness, as the Lord delivered you into my hands today, though I did not lift my
hand against the Lord's anointed. 24Indeed! As your life was exalted this day in my eyes, in
this same way let my life be exalted before the Lord, and let Him shelter and deliver me from
every tribulation.”

  25Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son! You shall do great things and be
mighty.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

                            David Dwells with the Philistines


27 David spoke in his heart, saying, “Now the day will come when I shall die by the hand of
   Saul and be added to my fathers. What is best for me is to be in the land of the
Philistines where I will be safe, for Saul will stop searching for me at the borders. Then I will
be delivered out of his hand.”† 2Then David and the four hundred men with him arose and
traveled to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3And David settled in Gath with Achish, he
and his men, each with his family, and David with both wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite woman
and Abigail the widow of Nabal, the Carmelite. 4And it was reported to Saul that David had
fled to Gath; so he no longer sought him. 5Then David said to Achish, “If your servant has
now found favor in your eyes, indeed offer to me a place in one of the cities in your country,
and I will settle there. Why have your servant settle with you, here in your royal city?” 6And
that day Achish gave Ziklag to David. That is why Ziklag still belongs to the king of Judah to
this very day.

  7Now the time David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was four months. 8And David
and his men went up and attacked all the Geshurites and the Amalekites, indeed even against
the tribes belonging to this area, and against the inhabited cities of Gelamp Shur, from the
fortified cities as far as the land of Egypt.† 9And he struck the land, and neither man nor
woman was left alive. He took away the sheep, the cattle, the donkeys, the camels, and the
clothing, and came back to Achish. 10Then Achish said to David, “Where did you attack
today?” And David said to Achish, “Upon the south of Judah, upon the south of the Jesmega,
and on the south of the Kenites.”

  11And David did not leave man or woman alive to bring news to Gath, saying, “Let them not
inform on us to those in Gath by saying, ‘Thus David did.’ ” This was David's behavior as long
as he dwelt in the country of the Philistines. 12So David had the full confidence of Achish,
who said, “David is now thoroughly abhorred by his own people for having put Israel to
shame; he will be my servant forever.”


28 Now in those days, the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle with Israel.
   And Achish said to David, “Know for sure, you shall enter into battle with me, you and
your men.” 2And David said to Achish, “Thus you know what your servant will do.” And
Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you one of my chief guardians forever.”

                                 Saul Consults a Medium

  3Now it happened that Samuel had died, and all Israel lamented for him and buried him in
Ramah, his own city. And Saul expelled those with divining spirits and the wizards out of the
land. 4Then the Philistines came together and encamped at Shunem. So Saul collected all the
men of Israel together and encamped at Gilboa. 5When Saul saw the army of the Philistines,
he was afraid, and his heart was near panic. 6For when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did
not answer him by dreams, nor by clear signs, nor by the prophets.

  7Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman with a divining spirit; I will go to
her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “In fact, there is a woman who is a
medium at Endor.”† 8So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing. He then went out,
taking two men with him, and by night they came to the woman. And he said to her, “Indeed,
by the divining spirit, tell the future to me when you bring up to me whom I tell you.” 9Then
the woman said to him, “Look, you know what Saul did, and how he cut off the diviners and
the wizards from the land. Why do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to be put to
death?” 10And Saul swore to her, saying, “As the Lord lives, no injustice shall come upon you
for this action.” 11Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring
up Samuel for me.”

  12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to

Saul, saying, “Why did you deceive me? You are Saul!” 13But the king said to her, “Do not be
afraid. What did you see?” And the woman said to him, “I saw gods ascending out of the
earth.” 14So he said to her, “What did you perceive?” And she said, “A man is coming up,
standing upright, and he is covered with a mantle.” And Saul discerned it to be Samuel, and
he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down to him.
  15Now Samuel said to Saul, “Why did you trouble me by bringing me up?” And Saul
answered, “I am deeply distressed. The Philistines are making war against me, and God has
departed from me and does not answer me any more, neither by the hand of prophets nor by
dreams. Therefore I summoned you to tell me what I should do.”

  16Then Samuel said, “Why do you ask me, when the Lord has departed from you and is

with your enemy? 17And as the Lord spoke to you by my hand, He has done. For the Lord will
rend the kingdom out of your hand and will give it to your neighbor, David. 18For you did not
heed the voice of the Lord nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek. This is why the Lord
has done this to you today. 19And the Lord shall deliver Israel, including you, into the hand of
the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons with you shall fall. The Lord will deliver the
army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”

  20Saul fell prostrate on the ground, for he was very afraid because of Samuel's words. He

was also weak since he had not eaten any food all that day and night. 21Then the woman
came to Saul and saw his weakened condition. So she said to him, “Behold, when your
handmaiden heard the sound of your voice, I put my life at risk and I obeyed the words you
spoke to me. 22Now hear the voice of your handmaiden, and let me set a piece of bread
before you. Eat and you will have strength when you go on your way.” 23But he refused to
eat. So his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he heeded their voice. He then
arose from the ground and sat on the chariot-bench. 24Now the woman had a heifer roaming
the pasture, and she hastened and killed it. Then she took flour and kneaded it, and from it
she baked unleavened bread. 25And she brought it before Saul and his servants. They ate and
departed that night.

                             David Rejected by the Philistines


29 All the encampments of the Philistines gathered at Aphek, and the Israelites encamped
   in Endor in Jezreel. 2And the captains of the Philistines passed in review by hundreds
and by thousands. David and his men passed in review at the rear with Achish. 3Then the
captains of the Philistines said, “Who are these passing by in review?” And Achish said to the
commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel? The one
who has been with us daily for the last two years? I have found no fault in him from the day
he defected to me until today.”
  4But the commanders of the Philistines were grieved because of him; so they said to him,
“Return the man to the place you appointed for him. Do not let him go with us to battle, for
fear that he become our adversary in the battle. For what better way could he have to
reconcile himself to his lord, if not with the heads of these men? 5Is this not David, about
whom they sang in dances, saying:

    ‘Saul slew his thousands,

    And Dav id his ten thousands’?”

  6Then Achish called David and said to him, “Surely, as the Lord lives, you have been
upright with me in the camp and good in my sight, in both your going out and your coming
in. To this very day I have found no evil in you since the day of your coming to me.
Nevertheless, you are not favored in the sight of the lords of the Philistines. 7Therefore
return now and go in peace; thus you shall not do evil in the sight of the lords of the
Philistines.”

  8So David said to Achish, “But what have I done to you? And from the day I came up to you
to this day, what in your servant have you found, that I may not fight against the enemies of
my lord the king?” 9Then Achish answered to David, “I know that you are good in my sight;
nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the
battle.’† 10Now rise up early in the morning, you and your servants who came with you, and
go to the place I established for you. Do not keep an evil thought in your heart, because you
are good in my sight. And rise early in the morning and depart at first light.”

  11So David arose early, he and his men, to depart and to guard the land of the Philistines.
The Philistines went up to battle at Jezreel.

                                      The Battle with the Amalekites


30 Now  before David and his men entered Ziklag on the third day, Amalek had entered
   and attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire. 2They did not kill the women, and all who
were there, from small to great, were carried away captive as they went on their way. 3So
David and his men came to the city, and it was burned with fire. Their wives, their sons, and
their daughters were taken captive. 4Then David and the people with him lifted up their
voices and wept until they were too tired to weep anymore. 5And both David's wives,
Ahinoam the Jezreelite woman and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, were taken
captive.

  6Now David was greatly distressed, because the people spoke of stoning him, for the life of
every person was grieved, each for his sons and for his daughters. But David became strong in
the Lord his God. 7And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, “Bring the
ephod.”† 8So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Surely, I shall pursue after this troop, but
what if I overcome them?” And the Lord answered him, “Pursue them. For in overtaking
them you shall surely apprehend the troop, delivering the captives.”

  9So David went, he and the six hundred men with him, and they came to the brook Besor.

The rest of his men stayed behind. 10David pursued them with four hundred men; two
hundred men stayed behind, staying on the other side of the brook Besor. 11They then found
an Egyptian man in the field and brought him to David. They gave him bread and he ate, and
they let him drink water. 12They also gave him a piece of fig cake. After eating, his strength
came back to him, for he was without bread or water for three days and three nights. 13Then
David said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?”

  The young Egyptian man said, “I am the servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me
behind because I fell sick three days ago. 14We invaded the south of the Cholthi, and in the
region of Judah, and the south area of Caleb. We burned Ziklag with fire.” 15And David said
to him, “Can you take me down to this troop?”

  So the young servant said, “By God, first swear to me that you will neither kill me nor
deliver me into the hand of my master, and then I will take you down to this troop.” 16And
when he brought him there, they were there spread out over all the land, eating and drinking
and celebrating, because of all the great plunder taken from the land of the Philistines and
from the land of Judah. 17Then from the morning star until the evening of the next day,
David came upon them and attacked them. Not a man of them was saved, except four
hundred young men who got on camels and fled. 18So David recovered everything the
Amalekites took, and David rescued his two wives. 19And nothing of theirs was lacking, either
small or great, or sons or daughters, or plunder, or anything taken from them. David
recovered it all. 20And David took all the flocks and herds and put them ahead of the plunder.
Concerning the plunder, it was said, “This is David's plunder.”

  21Now David returned to the two hundred men, the ones too weary to follow after David,
whom he made stay there at the brook Besor. Upon his return, they went out to meet David
and to meet the people with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them in
peace.† 22But all the ill-disposed and the worthless men who had gone and fought with David
said in response, “They did not go with us, and so they will not receive any of the plunder we
recovered, except let each one lead away with him his wife and his children, and let them
return.” 23But David said, “My brethren, this you shall not do with what the Lord has given
us, who preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us. 24And who
will heed your words? For they are not inferior to you. Instead, they shall share alike, each
according to the portion of him who went down to the battle, as being the same portion of
him who stayed behind with the supplies.” 25So it was, from that day forward, it became an
ordinance and a statute in Israel to this day.

  26Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah and

to his friends, saying, “Behold, from the plunder of the enemies of the Lord”— 27to those who
were in Beth Shur, to those who were in Ramah of the South, to those who were in Jattir,
28to those who were in Aroer, to those who were in Ammadi, to those who were in Siphmoth,

to those who were in Eshtemoa, 29to those who were in Gath and in Kinan, and to those in
Saphek, and to those in Thimath, 30to those who were in Carmel, to those who were in the
cities of the Jerahmeelites, to those who were in the cities of the Kenites, 31to those who
were in Jerimouth, to those who were in Beersheba, to those who were in Noo, 32to those
who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed
to pass through.

                              The Death of Saul and His Sons


31 Now   the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the
   Philistines. They fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2Then the Philistines followed hard after
Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of
Saul. 3The battle weighed heavily against Saul. The javelin-throwers and the archers hit him,
and he was wounded in the belly.

  4Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it. Do
not let these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me.” But his armor-
bearer would not do it, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.†
5And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell on his sword and died with him.
6So Saul, his three sons, and his armor-bearer died together that same day. 7And when the
men of Israel, those on the other side of the valley and those on the other side of the Jordan,
saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the
cities and fled. The Philistines came and settled in them.

  8So the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his

three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9And they turned him over and stripped off his armor.
They then sent them and his armor into the land of the Philistines, proclaiming the good
news to their idols and to the people. 10Then they placed his armor in the temple of the
Ashtoreths, and fastened his body onto the wall of Beth Shan.

  11And the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines did to Saul. 12And all the
valiant men arose and traveled all night in order to remove the body of Saul and the body of
Jonathan his son from the wall of Beth Shan. They carried them to Jabesh and buried them
there. 13Then they took their bones and buried them under the field at Jabesh, and fasted for
seven days.
                                2 K ING DO M S(2 SAM UE L )
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Chapters in 2 Kingdoms
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 23
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

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Verses in 2 Kingdoms Chapter 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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                                              The Second Book of the Kingdoms
                                                                (Second Samuel)

     Author   —Samuel

     Date   —The forty years immediately following 1 Kingdoms

     Major Theme      —David as King. He is named the second king of Israel, Saul's successor.
  God replaced Saul because of his refusal to repent and follow His commands.

 Outline

   I. Early Years of Dav id's Reign (1 :1 –8:1 8)

          A. Dav id learns of Saul's death (1 :1 –2 7 )

          B. Dav id and Ishbosheth (2 :1 –4 :1 2 )

          C. Defeat of the Philistines (5:1 –2 6 )

          D. The ark of the cov enant and the house of God (6 :1 –7 :2 9 )

          E. Conquests of Dav id (8:1 –1 8)

  II. Dav id's Kingdom Is Established (9 :1 –2 0:2 6 )

          A. Dav id and Mephibosheth (9 :1 –1 3 )

          B. War with Am m on (1 0:1 –1 2 :3 1 )

          C. Dav id and his eldest sons (1 3 :1 –1 8:3 2 )

          D. Dav id's return and Sheba's rev olt (1 9 :1 –2 0:2 6 )

  III. Record of Ev ents in Dav id's Reign (2 1 :1 –2 4 :2 5)

          A. Fam ine and war (2 1 :1 –2 2 )

          B. Two psalm s of Dav id (2 2 :1 –2 3 :7 )

          C. Dav id's m ighty m en (2 3 :8–3 9 )

          D. Census and plague (2 4 :1 –2 5)



                                                  Saul's Death Reported to David


1 And  it happened after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of
  the Amalekites, that David stayed for two days in Ziklag.† 2And on the third day, behold, a
man came from the camp of the people of Saul with his clothes torn and dust on his head.
When he came to David, he fell to the ground and prostrated himself. 3And David said to
him, “Where have you come from?” He answered, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
4Then David said to him, “What is this? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the
battle, but many of the people were cut down and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are
dead also.”

  5So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan

his son are dead?” 6Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be
on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul leaning on his spear, and the chariots and horsemen
followed hard after him. 7And when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I
answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an
Amalekite.’ 9He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for a terrible darkness
has seized me, for all my life still remains in me.’ 10So I stood over him and killed him,
because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on
his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and I brought them here to my lord.”
11Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with

him tore their clothes. 12And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and
for Jonathan his son, for the people of Judah and for the house of Israel, because they were
killed by the sword.

  13Then David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I

am the son of a resident foreigner, an Amalekite.”† 14So David said to him, “How was it you
were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?” 15Then David called
one of the young men and said, “Go near and deal with him!” And he struck him so that he
died. 16And David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth spoke
against you, saying, ‘I killed the Lord's anointed.’ ”

                                                      David's Song of Lament

  17Then David uttered this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,† 18and he told
them to teach the children of Judah; indeed it is written in the Book of the Righteous:

    19
         “Set up a m onum ent, Israel, ov er the dead on the high places of y our slain!

    How the m ighty hav e fallen!

    20
         Do not tell it in Gath,

    Do not proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,

    Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
    Lest the daughters of the uncircum cised exult.

    21
         “You m ountains of Gilboa,

    Let no dew, no rain fall upon y ou, nor the fields of the first fruit,

    For in that place, the shield of the m ighty was dishonored!

    The shield of Saul was not anointed with oliv e oil.

    22
         From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the m ighty ,

    The bow of Jonathan did not return in v ain,

    Nor in v ain was the sword of Saul returned.

    23
         “Saul and Jonathan, belov ed and handsom e, were not separated entirely ;

    So beautiful in their life,

    That in their death, they were not separated entirely ;

    Swifter than the eagles and m ore powerful than lions.

    24
         “O daughters of Israel, weep ov er Saul,

    Clothing y ou in the scarlet linens of y our world,

    Bringing to y ou the golden apparel.

    25
         “How the m ighty hav e fallen!

    O Jonathan, dy ing on y our high places.

    26
         I am griev ed for y ou, m y brother Jonathan;

    You were m ost pleasant to m e,

    Your lov e for m e was to be adm ired,

    Surpassing the lov e of wom en.

    27
         “How the m ighty hav e fallen,

    And the warriors of war perish!”

                                                    David Made King of Judah


2 Itcities
       happened after this that David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up to one of the
           of Judah?” And the Lord told him, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go up?” And
He said, “To Hebron.”† 2So David went up to Hebron. He went with his two wives, Ahinoam
the Jezreelite woman and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. 3The men went up with
him, every man with his household, and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. 4Then the men of
Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told
David, saying, “The men of Jabesh Gilead buried Saul.”†

  5So David sent messengers to the rulers of Jabesh Gilead and said to them, “You are
blessed of the Lord, for you have shown this mercy to your lord, upon Saul, the Lord's
anointed, and you have buried him and his son Jonathan.† 6And now may the Lord work with
you in mercy and truth. Indeed, I will repay you for this kindness since you made this
happen. 7Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened and be valiant; for your master Saul
is dead. In addition, the house of Judah anointed me king over them.”

                             Ishbosheth Made King of Israel

  8But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul and

brought him from the camp to Mahanaim.† 9He made him king over Gilead, over the
Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10Ishbosheth the
son of Saul was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two
years. But he did not reign over the house of Judah, who followed David. 11The days David
reigned in Hebron as king over the house of Judah were seven years and six months.†

                             War between Israel and Judah

 12Now Abner the son of Ner and the servants of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, went out from

Mahanaim to Gibeon;† 13and Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out
from Hebron to meet them at the well of Gibeon. The two groups sat down, one on one side
of the well and the other on the other side of the well. 14Abner said to Joab, “Let the young
men stand up and duel before us.” Joab said, “Arise.”

  15Twelve young men of Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of

the servants of David arose to duel. 16By the hand, each of them grasped the head of his
opponent, and by the hand, his sword went into the side of his opponent. They fell at the
same moment. Thereafter, they called the name of that place the Well of Treachery, which is
in Gibeon.

  17The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before

the servants of David. 18The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai and Asahel.
Asahel was as fleet of foot as a wild gazelle. 19Asahel pursued Abner, and not to deviate from
his purpose, he turned neither to the right hand nor to the left. 20Then Abner looked behind
him and said, “Are you Asahel?” He answered, “I am.” 21And Abner said to him, “Turn aside
to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor
for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22So Abner said again to
Asahel, “Stay away from me lest I strike you to the ground. How then could I lift up my face
to Joab? Return to where you came. Return to Joab your brother.” 23However, he refused to
turn aside. Therefore Abner smote him in the loins with the end of his spear, and the shaft of
the spear came out of his back. There he fell and there he died. And it happened that everyone
who came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood in silence.

  24Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. The sun was going down when they came to the

hill of Ammah, which is east of Giah, on the road through the desert of Gibeon. 25Here the
sons of Benjamin gathered behind Abner and joined to meet in battle. They took their
position on top of a hill. 26Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour until the
victory is won? Do you truly not know that in the end it will be bitter? How long until you tell
the people to turn back from pursuing their brethren?” 27And Joab said, “As the Lord lives, if
you did not talk in the morning, perhaps then each person should not be pursuing his brother
afterward.” 28So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood back and did not pursue
Israel, nor did they fight any more.

  29Then Abner and his men went away toward the west all that night, crossed the Jordan,

and went all morning and came to the camp. 30And Joab returned from pursuing Abner. And
when he gathered all the people, nineteen servants of David and Asahel were missing. 31But
the servants of David smote three hundred sixty of the sons of Benjamin, the men of Abner.
32Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father's tomb in Bethlehem. And Joab and
his men traveled with him throughout the night and came to Hebron at daybreak.


3 Now  there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But the
  house of David grew continually stronger and the house of Saul grew steadily weaker.†

                                       The Sons of David

  2And sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam the

Jezreelite woman; 3his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the
third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; 4the fourth,
Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5and the sixth, Ithream,
by David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.

                                  Abner Joins with David
   6Now while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was

strengthening his hold on the house of Saul.† 7And Saul had a concubine, Rizpah, the
daughter of Aiah; and Mephibosheth, son of Saul, said to Abner, “Why did you go in to my
father's concubine?” 8Then Abner became very angry at Mephibosheth's words, and Abner
said to him, “Am I a dog's head? Today I brought about mercy on the house of Saul your
father, his brothers, and his friends, and have not shifted loyalties to the house of David. And
you on this very day seek fault against me on behalf of an unrighteous wife. 9God do thus to
Abner and more also, if as the Lord swore an oath to David, so do I not to him this day— 10to
transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and
Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” 11And Mephibosheth could not answer Abner another word,
because he feared him.

  12Then Abner immediately sent messengers to David in Thailam, saying, “Make your

covenant with me, and my hand shall be with you to bring the house of Israel to you.” 13And
David said, “Good. I will make a covenant with you, but one thing I require of you. You shall
not see my face unless you bring Michal the daughter of Saul when you come to me.” 14So
David sent messengers to Mephibosheth, Saul's son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom
I received for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15And Mephibosheth sent and took her
from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish. 16Her husband, weeping behind her, went
along with her to Bahurim. So Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned.

  17Now Abner communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were

seeking for David to be king over you. 18Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken of David,
saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David I will save Israel from the hand of the Philistines
and from the hand of all their enemies.’ ” 19And Abner spoke in the hearing of Benjamin.
Then Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron everything that seemed
good to the eyes of Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.

                                     Joab Slays Abner

  20So Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast

for Abner and the men with him. 21Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and gather
all Israel to my lord the king, and I will make a covenant with you, and you may reign over all
that your soul desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
  22At that moment, the servants of David and Joab returned from their journey and brought
large quantities of spoils with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent
him away, and he had gone in peace.† 23When Joab and all the troops with him had come,
they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he
went in peace.” 24Then Joab came to the king and said, “What is this you ordered? Behold,
Abner came to you. Why did you send him away that he departed in peace? 25Or do you not
perceive the evil of Abner the son of Ner, who came to deceive you; to know your going out
and your coming in, and to know all that you do?”

  26And Joab went from David's presence and sent messengers after Abner, who brought

him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know of this. 27When Abner returned to
Hebron, Joab turned him aside at the gate to speak with him privately. There an ambush
awaited him. Joab stabbed him in the loins, and Abner died for the blood of Asahel, Joab's
brother.

  28After David heard this, he said, “Of the blood of Abner the son of Ner I am forever

innocent before the Lord, and so is my kingdom. 29Let it rest on Joab's head and on all his
father's house. And let there never be a time in the house of Joab when it will be found free
of one suffering from gonorrhea, or a leper, or one that leans on a staff, or falls by the sword,
or lacks bread.” 30And Joab and Abishai his brother had lain in wait continually for Abner,
because he killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon after the struggle.

                                              David Laments Abner's Death

  31Then David said to Joab and to all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, gird

yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin.† 32So
they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave, and all
the people wept over Abner. 33And the king sang a lament over Abner and said:

    “Should Abner die according to the death of Nabal?

    34
         Your hands were not bound,

    Nor were y our feet held by chains,

    For Nabal was brought forward on different grounds.

    You fell before children of injustice.”


  All the people assembled to weep for him. 35And when all the people came to persuade
David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, “God do so and more to
me, if I eat bread or anything else before the sun goes down!”

  36All the people noticed and all were pleased, as the king did many pleasing things before

the people. 37On that day, all the people and all Israel came to realize the king was not intent
on killing Abner the son of Ner. 38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a
great prince has fallen today in Israel? 39Though I am governing as the anointed king, on this
very day I am a kinsman; and to me these men, sons of Zeruiah, are more unyielding than I
am. The Lord shall repay the evildoer according to his malice.”

                                   Mephibosheth Is Slain


4 When   Mephibosheth, the son of Saul, heard that Abner had died while in Hebron, the
  strength of his hands grew weaker, and all the men of Israel were low in spirits.† 2Now
Saul's son, Mephibosheth, had two men who were captains over the troops. The name of one
was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the sons of
Benjamin; for Beeroth was considered as one of the sons of Benjamin. 3And the Beerothites
fled to Gittaim and sojourn there until this day.

  4(Jonathan, a son of Saul, had a five-year-old son who was lame in his feet. When word
came from Jezreel about Saul and his son Jonathan, his nurse picked up his son and fled, and
as she ran to leave, she fell and his foot became lame. Mephibosheth was his name.)

  5And Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out, and by the time the
hottest part of the day arrived, they were as far as the house of Mephibosheth, and he was
napping on the bed at midday. 6And behold, the doorkeeper of the house winnowed the
wheat and he too napped. Thus the presence of the brothers Rechab and Baanah went
unnoticed. 7While Mephibosheth was asleep on his bed in his bedroom, they entered and
struck him dead and beheaded him. They then took his head and journeyed the whole night
on the road going west. 8They brought the head of Mephibosheth to David at Hebron. They
said to the king, “Behold, the head of Mephibosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, who sought
your life. Today, the Lord executed for my lord the king vengeance upon his enemies, even on
Saul your enemy and on his seed.”

  9But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite,
saying to them, “As the Lord lives who redeemed my life from all adversity, 10when someone
told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ believing he brought me good news, I arrested him—the one
who thought I would give him a reward, and he was executed in Ziklag. 11And now wicked
men kill a righteous person in his house on his bed. Now by reason of your direct
involvement, I will charge you with his murder. I will have you utterly removed from the
land.” 12And David gave a command to his servants, and they killed them. They cut off their
hands and feet, and they hung them by the pool in Hebron. But the head of Mephibosheth
was buried in the tomb of Abner, son of Ner.

                               David Is King over All Israel


5 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said to him, “Indeed we are your
  bone and your flesh.† 2In time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who
led Israel out and brought them in, and the Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people
Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ” 3Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at
Hebron, and at Hebron King David made a covenant with them before the Lord. And they
anointed David king over all Israel. 4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and
he reigned forty years. 5For seven years and six months, he reigned over Judah while in
Hebron, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

                                  David Takes Jerusalem

  6And David and his men marched toward Jerusalem to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the
land, to those who said to David, “You shall not be welcomed here, for the blind and the lame
will resist you saying, ‘David, do not enter here.’ ”† 7Nevertheless, David took the stronghold
of Zion, the City of David. 8Now David said on that day, “Everyone who attacks the Jebusites,
let him strike with the dagger both the lame and the blind and those who hate the life of
David.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house of the
Lord.”

   9Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and it was called the City of David. And he built the

city itself round about the citadel, and he built his own house. 10David continued forward in
this manner and was held in high regard, for the Lord Almighty was with him. 11Then Hiram
king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar wood, and carpenters and stone masons.
They built a house for David.†
  12So David knew the Lord had prepared him as king over Israel, and his kingdom was

exalted for the sake of His people Israel. 13And after arriving from Hebron, David took more
wives and concubines from Jerusalem. And David had more sons and daughters.† 14Now the
names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem were Shammua, Shobab, Nathan,
Solomon, 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet, 17Shamaeh,
Jessibath, Nathan, Galamahan, Jebahar, Theasous, Elphalat, Naged, Janatha, Leasamus,
Baalimath, and Eliphalath.

                                 Defeat of the Philistines

  18The Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel. In response, the

Philistines went up to seek David. When David heard of it, he went down to the stronghold.†
19And the Philistines came and assembled in the Valley of Titan. 20And David inquired of the
Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hands?”
And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”
21So David came from the Upper Breaches of water, and there David struck the Philistines.
And David said, “Before me, the Lord broke through the line of my enemies the Philistines
like water that breaches a barrier.” Therefore he called the name of that place Over Breaches.†

  22The Philistines left their gods there, and David and his men took them. 23Then the

Philistines went up yet again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Titans. 24Therefore
David asked of the Lord, and the Lord said, “You shall not go up to meet them. Turn away
from them and pass by them unnoticed near the Place of Weeping. 25And when you hear the
sound of marching in the grove of the Place of Weeping, then you shall go down to them. For
then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 26And David did as
the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Gibeon as far as the land
of Gezer.

                             The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem

   Again David gathered all the young men of Israel, about seventy thousand.† 2And David
6 arose and went, he and all the people with him, even with the rulers of Judah, on an
expedition to bring back from there the ark of God, on which they called upon the Name of
the Lord of Hosts who dwells between the cherubim. 3So they set the ark of God on a new
wagon and brought it from the house of Abinadab on the hill. And Uzzah and his brothers,
the sons of Abinadab, drove the wagon 4with the ark, and his brothers went before the ark.
5Then David and all the sons of Israel with strength played music before the Lord on well-
tuned instruments, with songs, harps, lyres, flutes, and with drums and cymbals.

 6And when they came to Nachon's threshing-floor, Uzzah placed his hand on the ark of

God to hold it steady when the oxen shook it out of its place.† 7The Lord was angered against
Uzzah, and there God struck him. And before God, he died there next to the ark of the Lord.
8And David became angry because the Lord inflicted a fatal wound against Uzzah, and he

called that place Wound of Uzzah to this day. 9And on that day, fearing the Lord, David said,
“In what possible way can the ark of the Lord come with me?” 10So David would not bring
the ark of the covenant of the Lord to the City of David. Instead David directed it into the
house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11For three months, the ark of the Lord remained in the
house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. And the Lord blessed all the house of Obed-Edom and
everything he had.

  12Now it was reported to King David, saying, “The Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom
and all his possessions because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of
God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.† 13And there were
with those bearing the ark of the Lord seven groups of singers, and a calf and a lamb for
sacrifice. 14David played on well-tuned instruments before the Lord, and David put on a
special garment. 15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with
shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

  16Now as the ark came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a
window and saw King David dancing and playing instruments before the Lord, and she
despised him in her heart. 17They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place in the
midst of the tabernacle David built for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace
offerings before the Lord. 18And when David finished offering burnt offerings and peace
offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. 19Then he distributed
among all the people, among the whole army of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and to the
men and women, to everyone, a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a fried cake. So all the
people departed, everyone to his house.

  20Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out
to meet David. She blessed him and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, making
himself a shameful exhibition before the eyes of his handmaidens as he uncovered himself,
revealing himself as does a base dancer.”† 21David said to Michal, “I will dance in the
presence of the Lord. Blessed is the Lord who chose me over your father and before all his
house, to put me in charge to govern His people, Israel. And I will play music and I will dance
before the Lord. 22And I will again uncover myself in this manner and will thus remain vile
in your sight; but with the handmaidens of which you spoke, I will be praised.” 23And Michal
the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

                                God's Covenant with David


7 Itoncame to pass when the king sat in his house and the Lord had given him an inheritance
       every side, free from all his enemies around him,† 2the king said to Nathan the
prophet, “See now, I now live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in the middle of a
tent.” 3Nathan said to the king, “Go and do everything that is in your heart, because the Lord
is with you.” 4But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,† 5“Go and tell My
servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Do not build a house for Me to dwell in. 6To this day, I
have not dwelt in a house since the time I brought the sons of Israel up from Egypt, and I
walked among you in a temporary place of lodging and in a tent, 7wherever I went with all of
Israel. In that time, did I speak a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel whom I
commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of
cedar?’ ” ’

  8“So now tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord Almighty, “I took you from the

sheepfold to be ruler over My people, over Israel. 9And I have been with you in all things,
wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made
your name held in high honor, according to the great ones on the earth. 10And I will appoint
a place for My people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own
and be anxious no more. No more shall the sons of wickedness humiliate them, as they have
done since the beginning, 11since the days I appointed judges over My people Israel, and I
shall give you rest from all your enemies. Await the Lord to tell you when to build Him a
house. 12And it shall come about, when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers,
I will raise up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will prepare his
kingdom. 13He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish his throne forever. 14I
will be a father to him, and he shall be to Me a son. And if he commits iniquity, I will chasten
him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15But I will not take My
mercy from him, as I took it from those whom I withdrew from My presence. 16And his
house will be made sure, and his kingdom shall be forever.” ’ ” 17Nathan told David each of
these words and all of this vision.

                                 G O D’S C O V E N A N T S
                             WITH HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL

The Lord had a covenantal relationship with the Israelites whereby He promised to always
protect and provide for them as well as rescue them. In return, they agreed to worship and
serve only Him, as prescribed. When foreign armies invaded Israel, or when other disasters
occurred, the Prophets consistently interpreted such calamities as resulting from the people
falling away from their covenantal commitment to the Lord.

  The Prophets convey God’s grief and anger when the Hebrews stray from Him (Is 1:1–31;
24:1–12; Am 3:1—6:14). Yet He remains faithful to His covenant, even when His people do
not. God even commands the Prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute in order to demonstrate
His unfailing fidelity to Israel despite all the times she has played the harlot with other gods
(Hos 1:2—3:5; Jdg 2:17).

  The Old Testament records several covenants between God and His people. Through these
successive, overlapping covenants, God gradually draws all of mankind, through His chosen
people, closer to Himself:

  1 The covenant with Noah (Gn 9:8–17). God pledges that there will never be another flood
like the one which destroyed the previous civilization.

  2 The covenant with Abraham (Gn 12:1–3; 15:1–21; 17:1–21; see Ps 104:1–15). God
promises to Abraham a great multitude of descendants, who will inherit the land of Canaan
and always be His people. Through them, “all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed” (Gn
12:3).

  3 The covenant under Moses (Ex 19:1—31:18; 34:1–28; Dt 5:1—30:20). Established by the
Lord shortly after He miraculously rescues His people out of Egypt, this covenant provided
the lengthy and detailed Mosaic Law to guide the Hebrews in their relations with one another
and with Him.
  4 The renewal of the Mosaic Covenant under Joshua (Jos 23:1—24:27).

  5 The covenant with David (2Kg 7:1–29; 23:1–5; Ps 88:1–37; Is 55:3, 4) and his son
Solomon (3Kg. 8:1—9:9). This covenant establishes the house of David forever: “His seed
shall remain forever, and his throne as the sun before Me” (Ps 88:37). From this promise
comes the expectation of a great King and Savior, David’s descendant (Jer 23:5, 6) who will
deliver Israel from all her enemies and will rule the earth with righteousness and peace.

  The Prophet Ezekiel prophesies a “covenant of peace” inaugurating a future era of peace
and prosperity for Israel under the care of “one shepherd . . . My Servant David” (Ezk 34:20–
31; see 37:15–28). Jeremiah and Ezekiel envision this “new covenant” (Jer 38:31–34; Ezk
36:22–28) to be based on the spiritual cleansing and renewal of men’s hearts. Isaiah foresees
the new, “everlasting covenant” when God will gather all peoples to share in the blessings of
Israel (Is 2:1–4; 49:6; 55:5; 60:1–6; see Jer 3:12–17; 4:1, 2; Ps 71:1–19).

  The New Testament (or New Covenant), prophesied by Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Isaiah, is
inaugurated on earth by Jesus Christ, the “Son of David” (Mt 21:9–11; Mk 10:46–48), the one
Shepherd (Jn 10:1–16, 25–28) who comes to gather all people to Himself in spiritual unity
and who sends the Holy Spirit (Jn 15:26) on Pentecost to dwell in His followers. Jesus
declares at the Last Supper, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood” (Lk 22:20), thus
directly linking this new covenant with a covenant meal—the Eucharist. Calling Christ the
“Mediator of a better covenant” (Heb 8:6), the Book of Hebrews dramatically demonstrates
how He fulfills and supersedes the old covenant made with the Israelites (3:1—10:22).

  In the Church, the New Israel (Gal 6:12–16; see 2Co 3:12–18; Eph 2:11–16; Mt 21:33–46),
we all have the opportunity to experience the spiritual joy of the new covenant as a foretaste
of the heavenly kingdom (Heb 12:18–24), in which believers from all nations will rejoice with
God eternally. Hence, it is very fitting that every Divine Liturgy begins with the proclamation,
“Blessed is the Kingdom!”


                                  David's Prayer of Thanks

  18Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “O Lord, my Lord, who am I

and what is my house, that You have loved me even until now?† 19O Lord, my Lord, this is
very insignificant before You, yet You spoke on behalf of the house of Your servant, even this
for the distant future. O Lord, my Lord, is this the law of man? 20What more can David say to
You? O Lord, my Lord, You know Your servant. 21You do according to Your word, and You do
according to Your heart all this greatness, to make it known to Your servant, 22to magnify
You. O Lord, my Lord, according to all we hear with our ears, there is no one like You, and
there is no God but you. 23What other nation on the earth is as Your people Israel? As God
guided them in order to redeem them, to establish them as a people, to make for Yourself a
name, to do greatness, and to make manifest to those You cast out from the midst of Your
people, whom You redeemed out of the nation of Egypt and their tents. 24For You prepared
for Yourself Your people Israel, to be a people forever. You, O Lord, have become our God.

  25“And now, O Lord, my Lord, the word which You now speak concerning Your servant and
concerning his house, establish it forever, O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, just as You said.
26So let Your name be magnified forever. 27O Lord Almighty, You have disclosed this to the
ears of Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in
his heart to pray this prayer to You. 28And now, O Lord, my Lord, You are God, and Your
words shall be true, and You speak these good things on behalf of Your servant. 29Now may
You rule and bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever. For
You are the Lord my Lord; You spoke, and with Your blessing, let the house of Your servant
be blessed forever.”

                                David's Victories in Battle


8 After this, David attacked the Philistines and put them to flight. And David took the
  border country from the hand of the Philistines.† 2Then David defeated Moab, and after
forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with lines. With two lines he
measured off those to be put to death, and with two lines those to be kept alive. So the
Moabites became David's servants and brought tribute.

  3David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to extend his

power to the River Euphrates.† 4David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand
horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses,
except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.

  5When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed

twenty-two thousand men in Syria. 6Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the
Syrians became David's servants and brought tribute. The Lord saved David wherever he
went. 7And David took the shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer,
king of Zobah, and brought them to Jerusalem. Sousakim, king of Egypt, took them when he
went up to Jerusalem in the days of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. 8Also from the Mazbak,
from the choice cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze with which
Solomon made the bronze Sea and the pillars and the basins and all the implements.

  9When Toi, king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer,
10Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to greet him in peace and bless him because he had
fought against Hadadezer and defeated him. For he had been at war with Hadadezer. And in
his hands he brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze. 11King
David consecrated these to the Lord along with the silver and gold that he had consecrated
from all the cities he had subdued— 12from Idumea, from Moab, from the sons of Ammon,
from the Philistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of
Zobah.

  13And David made himself a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand

Idumeans in Gaimele.† 14He also put garrisons in Idumea, throughout all Idumea, and all the
Idumeans became the king's servants. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

  15So David reigned over Israel, and David administered judgment and justice to all his

people. 16Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was
recorder; 17Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Asa
was the scribe; 18Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was an advisor, as were the Cherethites and
the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief ministers.

                             David's Mercy on Mephibosheth


9 Now David said, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul, so that I may show him
  mercy for Jonathan's sake?”† 2And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name
was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said,
“I am your servant!” 3Then the king said, “Is there not still someone left of the house of Saul,
to whom I may show the mercy of God?”

  And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is wounded in his feet.” 4So
the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “See, he is in the house of
Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.” 5Then King David sent and brought him out of the
house of Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar.

  6When Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to King David, he fell
on his face and prostrated before him. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he answered,
“Here is your servant!” 7So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you mercy
for the sake of Jonathan your father. I will restore to you all the land of Saul your
grandfather, and you shall always eat bread at my table.” 8Then Mephibosheth bowed and
said, “Who am I, your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog like me?”

  9And the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, “I have given your master's

son everything that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 10You therefore, and your sons and
your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in bread for your master's son,
and he will eat it. But Mephibosheth your master's son shall always eat bread at my table.”
Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant
will do everything my lord the king commanded his servant.”

  And Mephibosheth ate at David's table like one of the king's sons. 12Mephibosheth had a
young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of
Mephibosheth. 13So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he always ate at the king's table.
And he was lame in both his feet.

                         Defeat of the Ammonites and Syrians


10 Itreigned
       happened after this that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son
             in his place.† 2Then David said, “I will show mercy to Hanun the son of
Nahash, as his father showed mercy to me.” So David sent by the hand of his servants to
comfort him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of
Ammon. 3And the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think
David really honors your father because he sent comforters to you? Did David not rather send
his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to survey it?” 4Therefore Hanun took
David's servants, shaved off their beards, cut off their garments at the middle of their
haunches, and sent them away. 5When they told David about the men, of how they were
greatly dishonored, he sent to meet them. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your
beards have grown, and then return.”

  6The people of Ammon saw that the people of David were put to shame, so the people of
Ammon sent and hired from the Syrians of Beth Rehob twenty thousand foot soldiers; and
from the king of Maacah one thousand men, and from Ish-Tob twelve thousand men.† 7Now
when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men. 8Then the sons of
Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the gate. And the
Syrians of Zoba, Beth Rehob, Ish-Tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

  9When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of

Israel's young men and put them in battle array against the Syrians.† 10And he put the rest of
the people under the command of Abishai his brother, and they were placed in battle array
against the sons of Ammon. 11Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you
shall deliver me, but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then we will come and
deliver you. 12Be of good courage and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our
God; for the Lord will do what is good in His sight.” 13So Joab and the people with him went
into battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14When the sons of Ammon saw
that the Syrians fled, they also fled before Abishai and entered the city. And Joab returned
from the sons of Ammon and went to Jerusalem.

  15When the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they gathered together.† 16Then
Hadadezer sent and gathered the Syrians beyond the river Chalamak, and they came to
Helam. And Shobach the commander of Hadadezer's army went before them. 17When it was
reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. Here the
Syrians set themselves in battle array against David and fought with him. 18And Syria fled
from before Israel, and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand horsemen
of the Syrians. David also struck Shobach, the commander of their army, who died there.
19And when all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw they were defeated by Israel,
they changed allegiance and served Israel. Syria was afraid to help rescue the people of
Ammon.

                                   David and Bathsheba


11 Then at the appointed time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab and his guards,
   and all Israel with him. They destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But
David remained at Jerusalem.†

  2Then one evening David arose from his bed and went up on the roof of the king's house.

From the roof, he saw a woman bathing, and she was very beautiful in appearance.† 3So
David sent and asked about the woman. And someone said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the
daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4David sent messengers and took her. And
she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was purified from her uncleanness. And she
returned to her house. 5And the woman conceived, so she sent and told David and said, “I am
with child.”

 6Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to

David.† 7When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people
were doing, and how the war prospered. 8And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house
and wash your feet.” So Uriah departed from the king's house, and a gift from the king
followed him. 9But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord
and did not go down to his house. 10So when they told David, saying, “Uriah did not go down
to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Didn’t you come from a journey? Why didn’t you go down
to your house?”

  11And Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord
Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I go to my house to
eat and drink and lie with my wife? How should I do this? As your soul lives, I will not do
this.” 12Then David said to Uriah, “Wait here today, and tomorrow I will send you away.” So
Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13The next day, David invited him, and
he ate and drank with him, and he got him drunk. In the evening, he left to sleep on his bed
with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.

  14In the morning, David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.† 15And he
wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the fiercest battle and retreat from
him, so that he may be struck down and die.” 16So when Joab besieged the city, he assigned
Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men. 17Then the men of the city came out
and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell, and Uriah the
Hittite died as well.

  18Then Joab sent and told David everything concerning the war, 19and charged the
messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling the king the matters of the war, 20if the
king's wrath rises and he says to you, ‘Why did you approach so near to the city when you
fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? 21Who struck Abimelech the
son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast a piece of a millstone on him from the
wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your
servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.’ ”

  22So Joab's messenger went to the king in Jerusalem and came and told David everything
Joab had told him, all the news of the battle. Now David was angry with Joab and said to the
messenger, “Why did you go near to the city to fight? Did you not know that you would be
wounded from the wall? Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal? Was it not a woman
who cast a piece of millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thamsi? Why did you
go near the wall?”† 23And the messenger said to David, “Because the men prevailed against
us and came out to us in the field. Then we drove them back as far as the entrance of the gate.
24The archers shot from the wall at your servants, and some of the king's servants are dead,
and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.”

  25Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab, ‘Do not let this thing
seem evil in your eyes, for the sword sometimes devours in this way and sometimes in that.
Strengthen your attack against the city and overthrow it. So strengthen the war.’ ” 26When
the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.†
27And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she
became his wife and bore him a son. But what David did was evil in the Lord's eyes.

                               David's Confession to Nathan


12 And the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to David. And he came to him and said to him,
   “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.† 2The rich man had very
many flocks and herds. 3But the poor man had nothing but one little lamb he had bought and
nourished and reared; and it grew up together with him and with his sons. It ate of his own
food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him.
4And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his
own herd to prepare for the foreign traveler who had come to him; but he took the poor
man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
  5So David's anger was greatly aroused against the man, and David said to Nathan, “As the

Lord lives, the man who did this shall surely die! 6And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb,
because he did this and because he had no pity.”

  7Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man who did this! Thus says the Lord God of
Israel, ‘I am the one who anointed you king over Israel, and I am the one who delivered you
from the hand of Saul.† 8I have given you your master's house and your master's wives into
your arms, and have given you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I
also would have given you much more! 9Why did you despise the word of the Lord and do
evil in His sight? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you took his wife to be
your wife, and you killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. 10Now, therefore, the
sword shall never depart from your house forever, because you scorned Me and took the wife
of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity
against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them
to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sunlight. 12For you did it secretly,
but I will do this before all Israel in the sunlight.’ ”

  13So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David,

“The Lord also has put away your sin. You shall not die. 14However, because by this deed you
have greatly provoked the enemies of the Lord, your son who is born to you shall surely die.”
15Then Nathan departed to his house.

                                   The Death of David's Son

  And the Lord made feeble the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became ill.†
16David therefore sought after God for the child, and he fasted and went in and lay on the

ground in sackcloth. 17So the elders of his house arose and went to him to raise him up from
the ground. But he did not want to do so, nor did he eat food with them. 18Then on the
seventh day the child died. And David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was
dead, because they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive we spoke to him, and he would not
heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!”

  19When David became aware his servants were whispering, he perceived the child was
dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.”
20So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes.
And he went into the house of God and worshiped Him. Then he went to his own house. And
when he requested food to eat, they set food before him and he ate. 21Then his servants said
to him, “What have you done? You fasted and wept and lay awake for the child while he was
alive, but when the child died you arose and ate food and drank.”

 22And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who can tell

whether the Lord will be merciful to me, so that the child may live?’ 23But now he is dead.
Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to
me.”

                                  The Birth of Solomon

  24Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife and went in to her and lay with her. So she

conceived and bore a son, and he called him Solomon. Now the Lord loved him,† 25and He
sent word by the hand of Nathan the prophet. So he called him Jedidiah, because of the Lord.

                                  The Capture of Rabbah

  26Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon and took the royal city.† 27And
Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I fought against Rabbah, and I took the city's water
supply. 28Now gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it,
or I will take the city and it will be named after me.” 29So David gathered all the people
together and went to Rabbah, fought against it, and took it. 30Then he took the crown of
Melchol their king from his head. Its weight was a talent of gold, with precious stones. And it
was set on David's head. Also he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance. 31And
leading out the people who were in it, he put them to work with saws and iron threshing
machines and made them work as brick-makers. He did the same to all the cities of the sons
of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

                                    Amnon and Tamar


13 And it came to pass that Absalom the son of David had a very lovely sister, whose name
   was Tamar. Amnon the son of David loved her.† 2Amnon was so lovesick over his sister
Tamar that he became ill; for she was a virgin and also aloof. It was nearly impossible, in the
eyes of Amnon, for him to gain her affection.
  3But Amnon had a companion whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's

brother. Now Jonadab was a very clever man. 4And he said to him, “What is the matter with
you, son of the king? Why are you becoming weaker day after day? Will you not tell me?”
Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.” 5So Jonadab said
to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you,
say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my
sight, so that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’ ” 6Then Amnon lay down and pretended
to be ill. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my
sister come and make a couple of cakes for me in my sight, so that I may eat from her hand.”†

  7And David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go to your brother Amnon's house and prepare

food for him.”† 8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, and he was lying down. Then
she took flour and kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. 9And she took
the pan and placed them before him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said, “Have everyone
go out from me.” And they all went out from him. 10Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the
food into the inner chamber, so that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes
she had made and brought them to Amnon her brother in the bedroom. 11Now when she had
brought them for him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my
sister.”

  12And she answered him, “No, my brother, do not shame me, because it is not done this

way in Israel. Do not do this foolishness! 13And how could I bear my disgrace? As for you,
you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he
will not withhold me from you.” 14However, Amnon would not heed her voice, and since he
was stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her. 15Then Amnon hated her
exceedingly, so much so that the intense hatred he bore against her was greater than the love
with which he at first loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out!”† 16But Tamar
said to him, “No, my brother! Because the hateful malice in your casting me out is far worse
than the first thing you did to me.”

  But Amnon would not listen to her. 17Then he called the servant he had put in charge of
his house and said, “Here! Take her away from me, and bolt the door behind her.” 18At the
time, she wore a robe that reached to her wrists, for the daughters of the king who were
virgins wore such apparel. And his servant put her out and bolted the door behind her.†
19Then Tamar put ashes on her head. She tore the special robe she was wearing and then laid
her hands on her head and went on her way, crying bitterly.

  20And Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now
then my sister, keep quiet. Because he is your brother, do not put it into your heart to speak
about this.” So Tamar lived her life as a widow in her brother Absalom's house. 21But when
King David heard all these things, he was very angry. But he did not grieve the spirit of his
son Amnon, because he loved him, for he was his firstborn.† 22However, Absalom said
nothing to his brother Amnon, neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon because he
had violated his sister Tamar.

                                   Absalom Slays Amnon

  23It came about after two years passed by, to the day, they were shearing sheep for

Absalom in Baal Hazor, near Ephraim. Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24Then Absalom
came to the king and said, “See, your servant has sheep shearers; let the king and his servants
go with your servant.” 25But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son. Let us not all go at once
and become burdensome to you.” Absalom persisted, but he would not go. Instead he blessed
him. 26Then Absalom said, “Well then, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the
king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27But Absalom persisted; so the king sent
Amnon and all his sons with him.

  Absalom made a banquet like the banquet of the king. 28Now Absalom had commanded
his servants, saying, “Take notice, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to
you, ‘Strike Amnon and kill him,’ do not be afraid in any way, because I will give the
command to you. Be courageous and valiant.” 29So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as
Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons jumped up and each mounted his mule
and fled. 30While they were yet on the way, news came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed
all the king's sons. Not one of them is left!”† 31So the king arose and tore his garments and
lay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. 32Then Jonadab the
son of Shimeah, David's brother, spoke up and said, “Let not my lord the king suppose the
servants killed all the young men, the king's sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the
command of Absalom this has been determined from the day Amnon violated his sister
Tamar. 33Now therefore, let my lord the king not take the thing to heart, thinking that all the
king's sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.” 34Then Absalom escaped.

  And the servant keeping watch looked up and saw many people coming down the road from
the mountainside behind him. The watchman came and told the king and said, “I saw men on
the road of Oronen coming from the direction of the mountain.”† 35And Jonadab said to the
king, “Look, the king's sons are coming. It is as your servant said.” 36As he finished speaking,
the king's sons arrived and wept aloud. And the king and all his servants wept very bitterly.
37But Absalom escaped and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur, in the land

of Machad. King David mourned for his son every day.†

  38So Absalom fled and escaped to Geshur. He stayed there three years. 39And the
motivation of the king to seek out Absalom ceased, for he was consoled and at peace
concerning the death of Amnon.

                           Absalom Comes Back to Jerusalem

     Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was inclined toward Absalom.†
14   2So Joab sent to Tekoa and took from there a wise woman. He said to her, “Now mourn
and put on apparel for mourning. Do not anoint yourself with olive oil, and be like a woman
who is mourning for the dead a long time. 3Then go to the king and repeat the words I give
you.” So Joab put the words in her mouth.

  4And as the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she put her face to the ground and

prostrated herself and said, “Help me, O king, help me!”† 5Then the king said to her, “What
troubles you?” And she answered, “Indeed I am a widow. My husband is dead. 6Now your
handmaid had two sons, and the two fought with each other in the field, and there was no
one to part them, but the one struck his brother and killed him. 7And now the whole family
has risen up against your handmaid and said, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, so we may
execute him for the life of his brother whom he killed. We will destroy your heir as well.’ So
they will extinguish my ember that is left, and leave neither name nor remnant on the earth
to my husband.”

  8Then the king said, “Go in peace to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.”
9And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord king, let the iniquity be on me and on my

father's house. Let the king and his throne be guiltless.” 10So the king said, “Who said this to
you? Bring him to me, and he will no longer have influence over you.” 11Then she said,
“Indeed, remember, O king, let the Lord God prevail lest the blood of my kinsmen be utterly
destroyed. Let not one of them by any means take away my son.” And he said, “As the Lord
lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”

  12Therefore the woman said, “May your handmaid speak another word to my lord the

king?” And he said, “Speak.” 13So the woman responded, “Why do you sometimes consider
such a thing against the people of God? Truly, this message comes from the mouth of the
king as an error, for the king does not bring back his son from being banished. 14For as we
will surely die and be spilled on the ground like water that cannot be gathered together on its
own, so too God shall take away life, even as He is taking into account the ones being
banished from Him. 15Now I come to speak this message to my lord the king, so the people
may see me and say that your handmaid indeed spoke to the king—if somehow the king will
fulfill the request of his handmaid. 16For the king will hear and deliver his handmaid from
the hand of the man who seeks to cast me and my son from the inheritance of God.” 17And
the woman said, “May the word of my lord the king be as an offering. For as an angel of the
Lord, thus does my lord and king hear the good and the evil; and the Lord your God will be
with you.”

  18Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Hide nothing from me that I ask of

you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king speak.”† 19So the king said, “Is not the hand
of Joab in all this with you?” And the woman said to the king, “O my lord the king, as your
soul lives, there is no turning to the right hand or to the left from any of the words my lord
the king speaks. Your servant Joab commanded me, putting all these words in the mouth of
your handmaid. 20Your servant Joab did this to bring about this change of affairs, but my
lord is wise according to the wisdom of an angel of God, and knows everything on the earth.”

  21And the king said to Joab, “All right, I have done this request of yours for you. Go and

bring back the young man Absalom.”† 22Then Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed
himself and blessed the king. And Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found
favor in your sight, my lord king, because the king has fulfilled his servant's request.” 23So
Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24And the king said, “Let
him return to his own house, but do not let him see my face.” So Absalom returned to his
own house but did not see the king's face.
                           Absalom Reconciles with His Father

  25Now in all Israel there was no one praised as much as Absalom. From the sole of his foot

to the crown of his head, there was no blemish in him.† 26And when he cut the hair of his
head—at the beginning of every year he cut it because it was heavy on him—he weighed the
hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king's standard. 27To Absalom were
born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful
appearance, and she became the wife of Rehoboam, son of Solomon, and she bore to him
Abijah.

  28Absalom dwelt for two full years in Jerusalem, but did not see the king's face.†
29Therefore Absalom requested that Joab send him to the king, but he would not come to

him. And when he sent again the second time, he would not come. 30So Absalom said to his
servants, “See, a portion of Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on
fire.” So Absalom's servants set it on fire. Then Joab's servants went to him with their clothes
torn and said, “Absalom's servants set your portion on fire.” 31Then Joab arose and came to
Absalom's house and said to him, “Why did your servants set my portion on fire?” 32And
Absalom answered Joab, “Look, I sent to you saying, ‘Come here,’ so I may send you to the
king to say, ‘Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.’ Now
therefore, I have not seen the king's face; but if there is iniquity in me, let him execute me.”

  33So Joab went to the king and told him. And he called for Absalom, and he came to the
king and bowed and fell on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed
Absalom.

                                  The Treason of Absalom


15 After this Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses and fifty men to run
   before him.† 2Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the entrance to the gate.
So it was that whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, Absalom
would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And the man would say, “Your servant is
from such and such a tribe of Israel.” 3Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is
good and right; but there is no one to grant you a hearing before the king.” 4And Absalom
said, “Who will appoint me as judge in the land, so everyone who has any dispute or cause
will come to me? I will give him justice.” 5And so it was, when anyone came near to him to
bow down in respect, he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. 6Absalom acted
in this manner toward all Israelites who came to the king for judgment. Absalom won over
the hearts of the men of Israel.

 7Four years later Absalom said to his father, “I am going to Hebron to fulfill the vow I

made to the Lord.† 8For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If
the Lord brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’ ” 9And the king said to him,
“Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. 10Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the
tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say,
‘Absalom reigns as king in Hebron!’ ” 11And Absalom invited two hundred men who went
with him from Jerusalem. They went along innocently and knew nothing in particular.
12Then Absalom sent for and called Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city,
from Giloh, where he was offering sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for there were
many people who went with Absalom.

                                   David Flees Jerusalem

  13Now a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are following

Absalom.”† 14So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and
let us flee. There is no refuge for us before Absalom. Make haste to depart, so he does not
drive us out and bring disaster upon us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15And
the king's servants said to the king, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever our lord the
king commands.” 16Then the king went out on foot with all his household. But the king left
ten women of his concubines to guard the house.

  17And the king went out with all his people on foot, and lodged in a distant house. 18Then
all his servants passed before him, even the Cherethites and all the Pelethites, and they
stayed among the olive trees in the desert. All the people walked near him with his court, all
the strong men, and all the six hundred men of the army present by his side. And all the
Cherethites and all the Pelethites and all the Gathites totaled six hundred men who followed
him from Gath on foot, who went ahead of the king.† 19Then the king said to Ittai the
Gathite, “Why do you also travel with us? Return and remain with the king, for you are a
foreigner and an exile from your own place.† 20In fact, you came only yesterday. Should I
move you with us and cause you to flee from your place? You left yesterday. Shall I make you
sojourn with us today as well? For indeed I will go wherever I wish to go. So return, and take
your brethren back with you. May the Lord treat you with mercy and truth.”

  21And Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives,

wherever my lord the king goes, to death or to life, your servant will be there as well.” 22So
the king said to Ittai, “Go and cross over with me.” Then Ittai the Gathite and all his men and
all the crowd who were with him crossed over. 23And all the country wept with a loud voice,
and all the people crossed over the Brook Kidron. The king himself crossed over the Brook
Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the desert.†

  24And there was Zadok and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of the
Lord from Bethor. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the
people finished crossing over from the city.† 25Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of
God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back and show
me both it and its majesty. 26But if He says thus, ‘I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am,
let Him do to me as seems good to Him.” 27The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Look,
return to the city in peace along with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son
of Abiathar. 28Take notice, I will continue to wait in Araboth, in the plains of the desert, until
word comes from you to let me know.” 29Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark back
to Jerusalem, and they remained there.

  30So David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives and wept as he went up. His head
was covered and he went up barefoot. And of the people with him, each of the men covered
his head and went up, weeping as they went.† 31Then someone told David, saying,
“Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “Lord, my God, defeat
the counsel of Ahithophel!”

  32Now it happened, when David came to the top of the mountain, where he worshipped
God, Hushai the Archite, David's companion, was coming to meet him with his robe torn and
dust on his head. 33David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become a burden
to me. 34But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your brothers crossed over, and
the king your father crossed over behind me. Now I am your servant, O king; let me live. As I
was previously the servant of your father, so I will now be your servant. So reject the counsel
of Ahithophel for me.’ 35Indeed, Zadok and Abiather the priests will be there, so whatever
you hear from the king's house, tell the priests. 36Indeed Zadok and Abiathar have their two
sons there with them, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son. By them you shall
send me everything you hear.” 37So Hushai, David's companion, went into the city. And
Absalom entered Jerusalem.

                                     David Met by Ziba


16 When David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was Ziba the servant of
   Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys. And on them were two
hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred dates, and a skin of
wine.† 2And the king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?”

  So Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and dates for
the young men to eat, and the wine for those who are faint in the desert from lack of drink.”
3Then the king said, “And where is your master's son?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is
staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore my father's kingdom
to me.’ ”

  4So the king said to Ziba, “Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba
bowed and said, “May I find favor in your eyes, lord, my king!”

                                  David Cursed by Shimei

  5Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man coming from there from the
family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera. As he came out, he was
cursing continuously,† 6casting stones at David and all the servants of David, and at all the
people and all the mighty men on the right and on the left hand of the king. 7And Shimei
cursed him and said, “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you unlawful man! 8The
Lord brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul because you reign in his place. And
the Lord now gives the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in
your own evil because you are a bloodthirsty man!”

  9Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why is this dead dog cursing my lord

the king? I will go over and take off his head!” 10But the king said, “What do I have to do with
you, you sons of Zeruiah? Leave him alone and let him curse, because the Lord told him to
curse David. Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ” 11And David said to Abishai and
all his servants, “See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. Still more now
may the son of Benjamin! Let him curse, because the Lord told him. 12May the Lord
somehow look on my humiliation, and may He turn his cursing of me this day into good.”
13And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite

him and cursed as he went, throwing stones alongside him and kicking up dust. 14Now the
king and all the people with him were becoming thirsty, so they refreshed themselves there.

                                Absalom Enters Jerusalem

  15Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.†
16And when Hushai the Archite, David's companion, came to Absalom, Hushai said to

Absalom, “Long live the king!” 17So Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this the mercy you show to
your companion? Why did you not go with your companion?” 18And Hushai said to Absalom,
“No, I am following the one that the Lord, these people, and all the men of Israel choose. I
will be his, and I will remain with him. 19Should I not serve the next one? Should I not serve
in the presence of his son? I will be in your presence as I served in your father's presence.”

  20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give counsel as to what we should do.”† 21And
Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father's concubines, whom he left to keep the
house; and all Israel will hear that you dishonored your father. Then the hands of all who are
with you will be strong.” 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on top of the house, and
Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

  23Now the counsel of Ahithophel which he gave in those days was treated as if he obtained
it after inquiring the word of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel, both to David and to
Absalom.


17 Inmen,those days, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose for myself twelve thousand
            and I will arise and pursue David tonight.† 2I will come upon him while he is
weary and weak and make him confused. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I
will strike only the king. 3I will bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her
husband, except the life of the one man whom you seek. Then all the people will be at peace.”
4The saying pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

                               Hushai Misinforms Absalom

  5Then Absalom said, “Call Hushai the Archite, and let us hear what he says as well.”†
6When Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel spoke in this
manner. Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up.”

  7So Hushai said to Absalom, “The advice that Ahithophel gave is not good at this time.”
8Hushai said, “You know that your father and his men are very mighty and bitter in their
souls, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field, or like a savage boar in the pasture. And your
father is a man of war and will not camp with the people. 9Surely by now he is hidden in one
of the hills, or in some other place. And when at first some of them are overthrown, whoever
hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ 10And even he
who is valiant, whose heart is like that of a lion, will melt completely. For all Israel knows
that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 11Therefore I
advise all Israel to gather to you, from Dan to Beersheba, like the multitude of sand along the
sea, with you yourself standing in the midst of them. 12So we will come upon him in one of
the places where we may find him, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground.
And we will not leave one of all the men with him. 13Moreover, if he withdraws into a city,
then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will pull it into the river until not one
small stone is left.”

  14So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better
than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the Lord commanded we reject the good counsel of
Ahithophel, if perchance the Lord might bring all evil upon Absalom.”

                                  David Is Warned to Flee

  15Then Hushai the Archite said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel

advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised.† 16Now quickly
send and tell David the following, ‘Do not remain lodged this night in Araboth of the desert
wilderness. Make haste and go quickly, lest perchance one swallow up the king, and with him
all the people.’ ”

  17Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stood by the well at Rogel awaiting a handmaid to report to
them. Then they would go and tell King David, for they dared not be seen coming into and
going out of the city. 18Nevertheless, a lad saw them and told Absalom. But the two men
went away quickly and came to a man's house in Bahurim. He had a reservoir for water in his
court, and they went down into it. 19Then the woman spread a covering over the opening to
the pit, and she put grain on it in need of drying to disguise what was happening. 20And when
Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and
Jonathan?” So the woman said to them, “They passed a while ago for water.” The men
searched, but found no one, and returned to Jerusalem. 21Now after they departed, the two
men came up out of the pit and went on to tell King David. They said to David, “Arise and
quickly cross over the water. For thus did Ahithophel counsel concerning you.” 22So David
and all the people with him arose and crossed over the River Jordan before morning light.
Not one of them was left who did not cross over the River Jordan. 23Now when Ahithophel
saw that his advice was not followed, he arose and saddled a donkey and went to his house in
the city. He gave final orders to his household, and he hanged himself and died. He was
buried in his father's tomb.†

  24David went through the desert wilderness to Mahanaim, while Absalom crossed the

Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.† 25Absalom appointed Amasa captain over the
army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Jithra, an Israelite who
had gone in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother. 26So all
Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead. 27Now when David came to Mahanaim,
he was met by Shobi the son of Nahash, from Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, Machir the son
of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim. 28They brought ten beds
and tapestries, ten basins, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, lentils,
parched seeds, 29honey and butter, sheep, and cheese of the herd, and they offered them to
David and the people with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and
thirsty in the desert.”

                                     Absalom's Demise


18 David considered the people with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of
   hundreds over them.† 2Then David sent out one third of the people under the hand of
Joab, one third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third
under the hand of Ittai the Gathite. And David said to the people, “I myself will surely go out
with you as well.” 3But they answered, “You shall not go out! For if we flee away, they will
not care about us. Nor will they care about us if half of us die. You are worth ten thousand of
us. And now it is well that you will be more help to us in the city.” 4Then the king said to
them, “I will do whatever seems best to you.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the
people went out by hundreds and by thousands. 5The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and
Ittai, saying, “For my sake, deal gently with the young man Absalom.” And the people heard
the king give orders to all the captains concerning Absalom.

  6So the people went out into the thicket against Israel. And the battle was in the thicket of

Ephraim.† 7The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a
great slaughter of twenty thousand men took place there that day. 8And the battle itself was
scattered over the face of all the countryside; and the thicket of woods devoured more of the
people that day than did the sword.

  9Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on his mule. The mule went
under the thick boughs of a great oak tree, and his head caught in the oak, so he was left
hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule that was under him went on.†

   10Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, saying, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak

tree!” 11So Joab said to the man who told him, “You just saw him, and did not dislodge him
so he could fall to the ground? Why? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt.”
12But the man said to Joab, “Though I were to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my
hand, I would not raise my hand against the king's son. For in our hearing, the king
commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for me! 13Do
not deal with his life in a dishonorable way.’ For there is nothing hidden from the king, and
you yourself would have set yourself against him.”

  14Then Joab said, “I will make preparation for this, and thus I will not linger with you.”
Joab took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he
was yet alive in the grip of the oak tree. 15Then ten young men who bore Joab's armor
surrounded Absalom and struck and killed him. 16So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people
returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab spared the people. 17And they took Absalom and cast
him into a large chasm in the thicket, into a great pit, and laid a very large heap of stones over
him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent. 18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and
set up a pillar for himself in the King's Valley. For he said, “I have no son to keep my name in
remembrance.” He called the pillar Absalom's Hand, and that is what it is called to this day.

                           Absalom's Death Reported to David
  19Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run now and take the good news to the

king, how the Lord avenged him from the hand of his enemies.”† 20And Joab said to him,
“You will be no messenger of good news today, for you shall take good news another day. But
on this day you shall take no good news, on account of the king's son who is dead.” 21Then
Joab said to Hushai, “Go, tell the king what you saw.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and left.
22And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But whatever happens, let me run after
the Cushite.” So Joab said, “My son, why are you going to run? Come here, because you have
no good news which is of use to the one going.” 23And he said, “What if I run?” So Joab said
to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of Kechar and outran Hushai.

  24Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the top of
the gate of the wall and lifted his eyes and looked out. He saw a man running by himself.
25Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is

good news in his mouth.” And he came quickly and drew near. 26Then the watchman saw
another man running, and the watchman called toward the gate and said, “There is another
man running alone!” And the king said, “He also brings good news.”

  27So the watchman said, “I think the running of the first one resembles the running of
Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man and comes with good news.”
28And Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “Peace!” Then he bowed to the king with his
face to the earth and said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who delivered up the men who
raised their hand against my lord the king!”†

  29The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” Ahimaaz answered, “I saw a great
multitude at the time of Joab's sending the king's servant and me your servant. I saw a great
tumult, but I did not know what was happening.” 30And the king said, “Turn aside and stand
here.” So he turned aside and stood still. 31Just then Hushai came, and he said to the king,
“There is good news, my lord the king! For the Lord avenged you today, and on all those who
rose against you.”† 32And the king said to Hushai, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” So
Hushai answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do
harm, be like that young man!”

                                 David Mourns for Absalom
19 The king was deeply troubled, and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And
   thus he said as went, “My son Absalom, my son. My son Absalom—why your death
instead of mine; I instead of you! Absalom my son, my son!”† 2Joab was told, “Behold, the
king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 3So the deliverance of that day was turned into
mourning for all the people. For that day the people heard it said, “The king is grieving for his
son.”† 4And the people crept back into the city that day like people ashamed for being
cowardly in the midst of battle. 5The king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice,
“My son Absalom! Absalom, my son!”

  6And Joab came into the house before the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all
your servants who delivered you today, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your
wives and the lives of your concubines, 7because you love those who hate you and hate those
who love you. For today you declared that you regard neither rulers nor servants. For I
perceive that if Absalom lived and all of us had died today, then it would be well-pleasing to
you. 8Now therefore, arise, go out and speak to the hearts of your servants. For I swear by the
Lord, if you do not go out today, not one will stay with you tonight. And that will be worse for
you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.” 9Then the king arose
and sat in the gate. And they told all the people saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.”
So all the people came before the king, for Israel fled every man to his tent.

                                David's Return to Jerusalem

  10Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king
saved us from all our enemies, he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he
fled from the land and his kingdom because of Absalom.† 11But Absalom, whom we anointed
over us, died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”
12So King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah,
saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel
have come to the king? 13You are my brethren, you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are
you the last to bring back the king into his house?’ 14And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone
and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if you are not permanent commander of the
army instead of Joab.’ ” 15The king swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, as that of one
man. And word was sent to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants!” 16Then the
king returned and came as far as the River Jordan. And the men of Judah came to Gilgal on
their way to meet the king, to escort him across the River Jordan.†

                              David Shows Mercy to Shimei

  17And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite who was from Bahurim, hastened and came

down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 18There were a thousand men of Benjamin
with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty
servants with him, and they went over the Jordan before the king. 19And they went through
the ford, carrying the king's household, and the service of escorting the king was completed,
and they did what he thought good. Now Shimei the son of Gera fell on his face before the
king as he was crossing the River Jordan. 20And he said to the king, “Do not let my lord
impute iniquity to me, or remember the wrong your servant did on the day when my lord the
king left Jerusalem, so that the king should take it to heart. 21For I, your servant, know that I
sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all the house of Joseph to go down to
meet my lord the king.” 22But Abishai the son of Zeruiah spoke up and said, “Shall not
Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed?” 23And David said,
“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me
today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For I do not know today whether I am
king over Israel.” 24And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” For the king swore to
him.

                              David Receives Mephibosheth

  25Now Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul came down to meet the king.
And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his nails or his mustache, nor washed his
clothes from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace.† 26So when he
came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me,
Mephibosheth?” 27And he answered, “My lord the king, my servant deceived me. For your
servant said to him, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself so I may ride on it and go to the king,
because your servant is lame.’ 28And he deceived your servant to my lord the king, but my
lord the king is like an angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes. 29For all my
father's house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among
those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right do I still have to cry out any more to
the king?”
  30So the king said to him, “Why are you still speaking of your affairs? I said, ‘You and Ziba

divide the land.’ ” 31Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “No, let him take it all, since my
lord the king has come back in peace to his house.”

                                David's Mercy to Barzillai

  32And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the River Jordan

with the king to escort him across the Jordan.† 33Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty
years old, and had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a
very great man. 34And the king said to Barzillai, “Come across with me, and I will provide for
your old age in Jerusalem.” 35But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I
should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 36I am eighty years old today. Can I discern
between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any
longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a
further burden to my lord the king? 37Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with
the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward? 38Let me your servant remain
and die in my own city near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant
Chimham; he will cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”

  39And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what

seems good to you. Now I will do for you whatever you ask of me.” 40Then all the people
went over the Jordan, and the king crossed. And the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him,
and he returned to his place.

                                    The Debate at Gilgal

  41Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of

Judah escorted the king, and half the people of Israel.†

  42And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to him, “Why did our
brethren, the men of Judah, steal you away and bring the king, his household, and all David's
men with him across the Jordan?” 43So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel,
“Because the king is a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have
we ever eaten at the king's expense? Or has he given us any gift?” 44And the men of Israel
answered the men of Judah and said, “We have ten shares in the king; therefore we are first
over you, and we also have a greater right to David than you. Why then do you despise us?
Were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?” The words of the men of Judah were
sharper than the words of the men of Israel.

                                    Rebellion of Sheba


20 There happened to be there a rebel whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a
   Benjamite. And he blew a trumpet and said, “We have no share in David, nor do we
have inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel!”† 2So every man of
Israel deserted David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah, from the
Jordan as far as Jerusalem, clung to their king. 3Now David entered his house at Jerusalem.
And the king took the ten women, his concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and
put them under guard and supported them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up to
the day of their death, living in widowhood.†

  4And the king said to Amasa, “Within three days, call the men of Judah for me, and be

present here yourself.”† 5So Amasa went to call for the men of Judah. But he delayed longer
than the time set by David, who appointed him. 6And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the
son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord's servants with you and
pursue him so that he does not fortify cities for himself and escape from our sight.” 7So
Joab's men with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men went out after him.
They went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. 8When they reached the large
stone in Gibeon, Amasa came before them. Now Joab was dressed in battle armor, and on it
was a belt with a sword fastened in its sheath at his hips. Then the sword came out and fell to
the ground. 9Then Joab said to Amasa, “Are you healthy, brother?” And Joab took Amasa by
the beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10But Amasa did not notice the sword that was in
Joab's hand. And he struck him with it in the stomach, and his entrails poured out on the
ground. He did not strike him again, and he died.

  Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri. 11Meanwhile one of
Joab's servants stood near him and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David—
follow Joab!”† 12But Amasa was soaked in his blood in the middle of the road. And when the
man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa from the path onto the field. He
threw a garment over him because he saw that everyone halted who came upon him. 13And
when he was removed from the road, all the people followed after Joab to pursue Sheba the
son of Bichri. 14And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth Maachah, and
all the Charrites. So they joined together and went after Sheba.† 15They then came and
besieged Sheba in Abel and Beth Maachah. And they raised a siege mound against the city
and stood by the rampart. And all the people with Joab considered pulling down the wall.

  16Then a wise woman cried out from the wall, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come near, and

I will speak with him.” 17When he came near to her, the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He
answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your handmaid.” And he replied,
“I am listening.” 18So she spoke, saying, “In former times they used to say, ‘They asked at
Abel and in Dan whether the things established by the faithful of Israel failed, and they will
ask in Abel whether they failed.’ 19I am among the peaceable and loyal in Israel. You seek to
put a city and a capital in Israel to death. Why are you going to swallow up the inheritance of
the Lord?” 20And Joab answered and said, “Far be it from me, far be it from me to swallow it
up or destroy it! 21That is not so. But a man from the mountains of Ephraim, Sheba the son
of Bichri by name, raised his hand against King David. Deliver him only to me, and I will
depart from the city.” So the woman said to Joab, “Watch, his head will be thrown to you over
the wall.” 22Then the woman in her wisdom went to the people and spoke to all the city. And
they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. Then he blew a
trumpet, and they scattered from the city, every man to his tent. So Joab returned to the king
at Jerusalem.

                                      David's Officers

  23And Joab was over all the army of Israel; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the

Cherethites and the Pelethites;† 24Adoram was in charge of revenue; Jehoshaphat the son of
Ahilud was recorder; 25Sheva was scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were the priests; 26and Ira the
Jairite was a priest of David.

                            The Descendants of Saul Are Killed


21 Now  there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year, and David
   inquired before the Lord. And the Lord said, “In Saul and his unrighteous house there is
wrongdoing, because of his bloodthirsty killings when he killed the Gibeonites.”† 2So King
David called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not sons of Israel,
but belonged to the remnant of the Amorites. The sons of Israel had sworn protection to
them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah. 3And
David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make
atonement so that you may bless the inheritance of the Lord?” 4And the Gibeonites said to
him, “We will have no silver or gold from Saul or from his house, nor shall you kill any man
in Israel for us.”

  So he said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 5Then they answered the king, “As for
the man who consumed us and pursued us, who deceived us to destroy us, let us blot him out
from remaining in any of the territories of Israel. 6Let seven men of his descendants be
delivered to us, and we will hang them in broad daylight before the Lord in Gibeah of Saul,
whom the Lord chose.”

  And the king said, “I will give them.” 7But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of
Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the Lord's oath between David and Jonathan the son of
Saul. 8So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of
Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she
bore for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite; 9and he delivered them into the hands of
the Gibeonites. They hanged them on the hill before the Lord. So they fell, all seven together,
and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley
harvest.

  10Now Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock
from the beginning of barley harvest until the rains poured on them from heaven. And she
did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.
11David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. And

they were faint, and Dan, son of Joah from the offspring of the giants, overtook them. 12Then
David went and took Saul's bones and the bones of Jonathan his son. He took them from the
men of Jabesh Gilead, who stole them from the square of Beth Shan where the Philistines
put them, on the day the Philistines struck down Saul in Gilboa. 13So he brought up the
bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there, and they gathered the bones of
those who were hanged. 14And they buried Saul's bones and the bones of Jonathan his son
and the bones of those who were hanged in the country of Benjamin, in Zelah beside the
tomb of Kish his father. So they did everything the king commanded. And after that God
heeded the prayer for the land.†
                                           The Death of the Philistine Giants

  15Now the Philistines were still at war with Israel, and David and his servants with him

went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint.† 16Then Ishbi thought
he could kill David. This Ishbi was one of the descendants of the giants, and the weight of his
spear was the weight of three hundred bronze shekels, and he was girded with a club. 17But
Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then
David's men swore to him, saying, “You shall no longer go out with us to battle, that you do
not quench the lamp of Israel.”

  18Now after this there was another battle with the Philistines at Gath. Then Sibbechai the

Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giants. 19And there was war at
Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed
Goliath the Gittite, whose spear had a shaft like a weaver's beam. 20Yet again there was a
battle at Gath, where there was a man of strife who had six fingers on each hand and six toes
on each foot, twenty-four in number. He also was born to the giant. 21And he defied Israel,
and Jonathan the son of Shimea, brother of David, killed him. 22These four were born as
offspring of the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his
servants.

                                                 David's Song of Deliverance


22 And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered
   him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.† 2And he sang:

    “O Lord, m y rock, m y fortress and m y deliv erer;

    3
        My God will be m y guardian, in whom I will trust;

    My defender and the horn of m y salv ation,

    My protector and the refuge of m y salv ation;

    You will sav e m e from unrighteousness.

    4
        I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;

    And I will be sav ed from m y enem ies.

    5
        “When the troubles of death encom passed m e,

    The floods of wickedness terrified m e.

    6
        The throes of death surrounded m e;

    The harshness of death confronted m e.
7
     In m y distress I will call upon the Lord

And cry out to m y God;

And He will hear m y v oice from His tem ple,

And m y cry will enter His ears.

8
     “Then the earth was shaken and trem bled;

And the foundations of heav en were troubled,

Because the Lord was angry with them .

9
     From out of His wrath, a sm oke went up,

And from His m outh a dev ouring fire;

Coals were kindled by it.

10
     He bowed the heav ens and cam e down,

And there was darkness under His feet.

11
     He rode upon the cherubim , and He did fly ;

He was seen upon the wings of the wind.

12
     He put darkness around Him as a hiding place.

About Him , His tabernacle was the darkness of waters;

And by the clouds of the air, He thickened it.

13
     From the brightness of His light

Coals of fire were kindled.

14
     “The Lord thundered from heav en,

And the Most High uttered His v oice.

15
     He sent arrows and scattered them ;

He confounded them with lightning.

16
     The channels of the sea were seen,

The foundations of the world were uncov ered,

With a blast of the wind, His wrath.

17
     “He sent from the height and took m e,

He drew m e out of m any waters.

18
     He deliv ered m e from m y strong enem ies,

From those who hated m e;

For they were stronger than I.

19
     They confronted m e in the day of m y tribulation,

But the Lord was m y support.

20
     He brought m e to a broad place;

He deliv ered m e because He delighted in m e.
21
     “The Lord repaid m e according to m y righteousness;

According to the purity of m y hands, He repaid m e.

22
     For I hav e kept the way s of the Lord

And hav e not wickedly departed from m y God.

23
     For all His judgm ents were before m e,

And I did not depart from His statutes.

24
     I will be blam eless before Him ,

And I will guard m y self from m y iniquity .

25
     And the Lord will recom pense m e according to m y righteousness,

According to the cleanness of m y hands in His ey es.

26
     “With the holy You will be holy ;

With a perfect m an You will be perfect;

27
     With the chosen You will be the choice one;

And with the dev ious You will be shrewd.

28
     You will sav e the needy people;

But You will hum ble the ey es of the haughty .

29
     “For You, O Lord, are m y lam p;

The Lord shall enlighten m y darkness.

30
     For by You I can run against a band of troops;

By m y God I can leap ov er a wall.

31
     As for the Mighty One, His way is blam eless;

The word of the Lord is strong, tried by fire;

He is a defender to all who trust in Him .

32
     “Who is m ighty except the Lord?

And who will be the Creator, except our God?

33
     The Mighty One who strengthens m e with power,

Who has prepared m y way blam eless.

34
     He m akes m y feet like the feet of deer

And sets m e on m y high places.

35
     He instructs m y hands for war,

So that m y arm s can bend a bow of bronze.

36
     “You hav e giv en m e the protection of m y salv ation;

And Your gentleness fulfills m e.

37
     My pathway under m e is widened,

And m y legs are not shaken.
38
     I shall pursue m y enem ies and destroy them ,

And I will not turn back until I destroy them .

39
     I will break them and they will not rise,

For they will fall under m y feet.

40
     For You will strengthen m e with power for the battle;

You will subdue under m e those who rose against m e.

41
     You hav e giv en m e the back of m y enem y ;

So I killed those who hated m e.

42
     They will cry out, but no one will help;

Ev en to the Lord, but He did not listen to them .

43
     Then I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth;

I crushed them like dirt in the streets.

44
     “You will deliv er m e from the quarrels of the people;

You hav e kept m e at the head of the nations.

A people I hav e not known serv ed m e.

45
     Philistines deceiv ed m e;

As soon as they heard, they obey ed m e.

46
     Philistines shall be cast out,

And they will stum ble out from their hideouts.

47
     “The Lord liv es!

Blessed be m y Guardian!

Let m y God be exalted,

The Guardian of m y salv ation!

48
     It is the Mighty Lord who av enges m e

And chastises the peoples under m e;

49
     He deliv ers m e from m y enem ies.

You will lift m e abov e those who rise against m e;

You will deliv er m e from the m an of injustice.

50
     Therefore, O Lord, I will confess You to the Gentiles

And sing praises to Your nam e.

51
     “He is the one who extols the salv ation of His king

And shows m ercy to His anointed,

To Dav id and his seed forev er.”

                                                      David's Last Words
23 Now these are the last words of David.
    “Dav id, the faithful one, the son of Jesse;

    The faithful m an whom the Lord raised up,

    The anointed of the God of Jacob,

    The sweet psalm ist of Israel:†

    2
        “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by m e,

    And His word was on m y tongue.

    3
        The God of Israel say s,

    A guardian of Israel spoke a parable, say ing,

    ‘Am ong m en, how will y ou strengthen the fear of God?

    4
        By God, the sun m ay arise in the light of early m orning;

    The early m orning does not pass by without light;

    So after rain, new growth shows forth out of the earth.’

    5
        “For m y house is not so with the Mighty One;

    For He prepared an ev erlasting cov enant with m e,

    Keeping it prepared for ev ery tim e.

    For m y entire salv ation and m y ev ery desire is

    That the lawless m ay not in any way flourish!

    6
        All of them are as thorns thrusting outward,

    For they cannot be taken by the hand.

    7
        And a m an will not labor am ong them ,

    Unless arm ed with iron and the shaft of a spear,

    And to their dishonor, they shall be burned with fire.”

                                                         David's Mighty Men

  8The names of David's mighty men were, first, Jebosheth the Canaanite, chief among the
three. The second was called Adino the Eznite. He drew his sword against eight hundred men
at one time and killed them.†

  9And after him was Eleazar his cousin, the son of Zousitos, one of the three mighty men.
He was with David in Zerran when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for
battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. 10He arose and attacked the Philistines until his
hand was weary and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great deliverance
that day, and the people stayed behind him only to plunder.
  11And after him was Shammah the son of Asa the Arouchaite. The Philistines had gathered
to Theria, where there was a part of the field full of lentils. Then the people fled from the
Philistines. 12But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the
Philistines. And the Lord brought about a great deliverance.

  13Then three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David in
Kason at the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in the Valley of
Rephaim.† 14At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was
then in Bethlehem. 15And David said with longing, “Who will give me a drink of the water
from the well in Bethlehem by the gate?” 16So the three mighty men broke through the camp
of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and took it and brought
it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. 17And he said,
“Far be it from me, Lord, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of
their lives so that I should drink?” Therefore he would not drink it. These are the things the
three mighty men did.

  18Now Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of another three. He lifted

his spear against three hundred men and won a name among these three.† 19Of the three he
was the most honored. Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to the
first three.

  20Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, a man from Kabzeel, abundant in deeds. He had killed
two lion-like heroes of Moab. He had also gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on
a snowy day. 21And he killed an Egyptian man, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in
his hand like the wood of a ladder, so he went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear
from the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22These things Benaiah the son
of Jehoiada did, and he won a name among three mighty men. 23He was the most honored of
the three, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him as his reporter.

  24And the names of King David's mighty men were Asahel the brother of Joab, one of the

thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo, David's uncle, of Bethlehem; 25Shammah the Harodite,
Elika the Harodite, 26Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 27Abiezer the
Anathothite of the sons of Asothitos, 28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah, the son of
Benjamin, 30Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash, 31Abiel the son of
the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32Eliahba the Shaalbonite of the sons of Jashen,
Jonathan, 33Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34Eliphelet the
son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36Igal the son of Nathan from the mighty men, the

Gadite, 37Elie the Ammonite, Gelorai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of
Zeruiah, 38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39and Uriah the Hittite. These were thirty-seven
in all.

                                      David's Census


24 And the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He incited David against
   them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”† 2So the king said to Joab the
commander of the army, who was with him, “Go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan
to Beersheba, and inspect the people so that I may know the number of the people.” 3And
Joab said to the king, “May the Lord your God add to the people the same number again and a
hundred times more, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the
king desire this thing?”

  4Nevertheless, the king's word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the army.
Therefore Joab and the captains of the army went out before the king to inspect the people of
Israel. 5And they crossed the Jordan and encamped at Aroer, on the right side of the city, in
the midst of the ravine of Gad and Eliezer. 6Then they came to Gilead and to the land of
Thabason, which is Hodshai; they came to Dan Jaan and Houdan and around to Sidon; 7and
they came to Mapsar of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Then they
went to South Judah as far as Beersheba. 8So when they had gone through the whole land,
they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9Then Joab gave the sum
of the number of the inspection of the people to the king. And there were eight hundred
thousand valiant men in Israel who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred
thousand men of war.

                                 A Judgment Restrained

  10And David's heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to
the Lord, “I sinned greatly in what I did. But now, I pray, O Lord, take away the iniquity of
Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”† 11Now when David arose in the morning, the
word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 12“Go and tell David, ‘Thus
says the Lord: “I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, and I will do it to
you.” ’ ” 13So Gad came to David and told him; and he said to him, “Choose for yourself what
is to come to pass. Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or shall you flee for
three months before your enemies while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days of
death in your land? Now consider, and see what answer I should take back to Him who sent
me the word.”

  14And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Therefore, I shall fall into the hands of the
Lord, for the multitude of His compassion is great. Do not let me fall into the hand of man.”
And David chose for himself the death he spoke. 15So in the days of the wheat harvest, the
Lord sent death upon Israel from the morning until noon. And destruction came upon the
people. From Dan to Beersheba, seventy thousand men of the people died. 16And when the
angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the
destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “It is enough; now restrain
your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing-floor of Orna the Jebusite.

  17Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and he
said, “I am the shepherd and I have done wickedly, but these sheep—what have they done?
Let Your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father's house.”

                                    An Altar to the Lord

  18And Gad came to David that day and said to him, “Go up and erect an altar to the Lord on

the threshing-floor of Orna the Jebusite.”† 19So David went up according to the word of Gad,
as the Lord commanded. 20Now Orna looked and saw the king and his servants coming
toward him. So Orna went out and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. 21Then
Orna said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”

  And David said, “To buy the threshing-floor from you to build an altar to the Lord, so the
plague may be withdrawn from the people.” 22Now Orna said to David, “Let my lord the king
take and offer up whatever seems good to him to the Lord. Look, here are oxen for burnt
sacrifice, and threshing implements and the yokes of the oxen for wood.” 23Orna gave all
these things to the king. And Orna said to the king, “May the Lord your God bless you.”
24Then the king said to Orna, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price. I will not offer
burnt offerings to the Lord my God with something that costs me nothing.” So David bought
the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25And David built an altar there to
the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And Solomon later made a larger
offering upon the altar, for a small one was made first. So the Lord heeded the prayers for the
land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel.
                                 3 K ING DO M S(1 K ING S)
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Chapters in 3 Kingdoms
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

41, 42

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43

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Verses in 3 Kingdoms Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

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                                               The Third Book of the Kingdoms
                                                               (First Kings)

   Author  —Jeremiah is clearly stated to be the author of 3 Kingdoms in the Baba Bathra, a
Talmudic tract. In this ancient record, an entry for the Books of the Kings identifies the
author as the prophet Jeremiah. This is in keeping with the general Talmudic vision of
prophetic authorship for all of the Old Testament.

   Date   —About 600 BC, though later material was added about 550 BC

   Major Theme     —A record of King Solomon's reign and his successors, which continues in 4
Kingdoms. The Books of 1–4 Kingdoms were one book in Hebrew. The LXX separated
them into four books because of the large volume of material in the text. (The Greek
text is longer because Greek includes all the vowels in each word, while the Hebrew
language does not.)

   Background     —The major concern of 3 and 4 Kingdoms is to record what happened in the
southern kingdom of Judah. Events in the northern kingdom were important only as
they related to the southern kingdom. For example, the moving of the capital to
Samaria is dismissed in one verse, 3 Kingdoms 16:24. Judah, the southern kingdom,
and the Davidic line form the background for 3 and 4 Kingdoms.

Outline

 I. The Kingdom United (1 :1 –1 1 :3 9 )

       A. The throne passes to Solom on (1 :1 –2 :1 2 )

       B. Solom on is established as king (2 :1 3 –7 1 )

       C. Solom on pray s for wisdom , receiv es and display s it (3 :1 –5:1 2 )

       D. Solom on builds the tem ple, his palace, and other buildings (5:1 3 –8:6 5)

       E. Outstanding ev ents of Solom on's reign; his death and Rehoboam 's ascension to the throne (9 :1 –1 1 :3 9 )

II. The Kingdom Div ided (1 2 :1 –2 1 :4 3 )

       A. The rev olt against Rehoboam and div ision of the kingdom (1 2 :1 –2 2 )

       B. The early kings of the div ided kingdom s (1 2 :2 3 –1 6 :4 2 )

       C. Elijah the Tishbite begins prophesy ing (1 7 :1 –2 0:1 6 )

       D. Elijah confronts Ahab; Ahab repents (2 0:1 7 –2 1 :4 3 )

III. Ahab King of Israel and Jehoshaphat King of Judah Plot Against Sy ria (2 2 :1 –50)
                                   The Aging King David


1 Now  King David was old, advanced in years; and they put covers on him, but he could not
  get warm.† 2Therefore his servants said to him, “Let them seek a young woman, a virgin
for our lord the king, and she will be beside the king, warming him; she will lie with him, so
our lord the king will be warm.” 3So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all
the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4The
young woman was very beautiful; and she warmed the king, and ministered to him; but the
king did not know her.

                               Adonijah Aspires to Be King

  5Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” He prepared

chariots and horsemen for himself and fifty men to run before him.† 6His father never at any
time rebuked him, saying, “Why did you do so?” He was also very handsome, and was born
after Absalom. 7Then he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest,
and they came to the aid of Adonijah. 8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada,
Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David did not follow
Adonijah. 9Adonijah sacrificed sheep, calves, and lambs by the stone of the Serpent, by the
spring called Rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah,
servants of the king. 10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or
Solomon his brother.

  11Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard,

Adonijah the son of Haggith made himself king, and David our lord is unaware of this?†
12Come, let me now give you advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son

Solomon. 13Go immediately to King David and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord, O king,
swear to your maidservant, saying, “Assuredly your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he
shall sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14Then, while you are still
talking there with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.”

  15So Bathsheba went into the chamber to the king. Now the king was very old, and Abishag

the Shunammite was ministering to the king.† 16Bathsheba bowed and did homage to the
king. Then the king said, “What do you wish?” 17Then she said to him, “My lord, you did
swear by the Lord your God for the sake of your maidservant, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall
reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ 18But now behold, Adonijah has become king,
and you, my lord, O king, do not know this. 19He sacrificed many calves, lambs, and sheep;
and he has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of
the army, but not your servant Solomon. 20As for you, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel
are on you, to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21Otherwise,
when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be reckoned as
sinners.”

  22Just then, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.
23So it was reported to the king, saying, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” When he came in

before the king, he bowed down before the king with his face to the ground. 24Then Nathan
said, “My lord and king, did you say, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my
throne’? 25For he went down today and sacrificed many calves, lambs, and sheep, and invited
all the king's sons, and the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Behold, they are
eating and drinking before him, and they said, ‘Long live King Adonijah.’ 26But he did not
invite me—I your servant—nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, nor your
servant Solomon. 27Was this done by my lord the king, and did you not tell your servant who
will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

                               David Names Solomon King

  28Then King David answered and said, “Call Bathsheba to me.” So she came into the king's

presence and stood before him. 29The king swore an oath and said, “As the Lord lives, who
redeemed my life from every distress, 30just as I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel,
saying, ‘Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’
so I will do today.” 31Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and paid homage to
the king and said, “Let my lord, King David, live forever.”

  32Then King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the

son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. 33The king said to them, “Take the servants
of your lord with you, and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and take him down to
Gihon. 34There let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him as king over Israel,
and blow the ram's horn, and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35Then he shall sit on my throne
and be king in my place. For I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”
36Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Let it be done. May the Lord,

God of my lord the king, establish it. 37As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so
may He be with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord, King
David.”

  38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites,
and the Pelethites mounted Solomon on King David's mule, and they led him to Gihon.
39Then Zadok the priest took a horn of olive oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon.

They blew the ram's horn, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” 40Then all the
people went up after him, and the people danced and rejoiced with great joy. So the earth
burst forth with their sound.

  41Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating.
Joab also heard the sound of the horn and said, “Why is the city in such a noisy uproar?”
42While he was yet speaking, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest, arrived. Adonijah said

to him, “Come in, for you are a prominent man, and you bring good news.” 43Then Jonathan
answered and said to Adonijah, “No, our lord, King David, made Solomon king. 44The king
sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the
Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they mounted him on the king's mule. 45So Zadok the
priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him as king at Gihon. They went up from there
rejoicing, so the city is in an uproar. This is the noise you heard. 46Even now, Solomon is
seated on the throne of the kingdom. 47The king's servants also went to bless our lord, King
David, saying, ‘May God make the name of Solomon your son greater than your name, and
may He make his throne greater than your throne.’ Then the king worshiped upon his bed,
48and the king said, ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who gave one from my seed to sit on
my throne today, while my eyes see it.’ ”

  49So all the guests with Adonijah were afraid, and arose, each one going his own way.†
50Now Adonijah feared Solomon. So he arose and departed, taking hold of the horns of the

altar. 51They reported it to Solomon, saying, “Indeed, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon. For
behold, he took hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today
that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’ ” 52Then Solomon said, “If he proves
to be a worthy man, not one hair of him shall fall to the earth. But if wickedness is found in
him, he shall die.” 53So King Solomon sent them to bring him down from the altar. He came
and fell down before King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”

                             David's Final Words to Solomon

    Now the days of David drew near to death, and he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2“I
2
    am going the way of all the earth, but you must be strong and become a man. 3Keep the
charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His commandments and statutes,
and the writings of His judgments in the Law of Moses, so you may understand what you
shall do regarding whatever I command of you;† 4that the Lord may confirm His word which
He spoke, saying, ‘If your sons guard their way and go before Me in truth, with their whole
heart and their whole soul, I say to you, a man from them shall not fail to sit on the throne of
Israel.’

  5“Furthermore, you know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the
two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and Amasa the son of
Jether, whom he killed. He shed the blood of war in peacetime, and put innocent blood on the
belt around his waist and on the sandal on his foot. 6Therefore do according to your wisdom,
and do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace. 7But show kindness to the sons of
Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table; for they drew near
to me when I fled from your brother Absalom. 8Behold, you have with you Shimei the son of
Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, who laid a grievous curse on me in the day I went to
Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and by the Lord I swore to him,
saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ 9But you shall by no means hold him
guiltless, for you are a wise man, and you realize what you must do to him, even to bring his
gray hair to the grave with blood.”

                                 The Death of King David

  10So David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. 11David reigned
over Israel forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
12Thus Solomon sat on the throne of David, his father, and the kingdom was exceedingly well
established.

                            Solomon Orders Adonijah's Death
  13Now Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon and bowed

down before her. She said, “Have you come peaceably?” He said, “Peaceably. 14I have
something to say to you.” She said, “Speak.” 15Then Adonijah said, “You know the kingdom
was mine, and all Israel turned their face to me as king. But then the kingdom was taken
back, and it was given to my brother; for it was from the Lord to be given to Solomon. 16Now
I ask one petition of you. Do not turn away your face.” Bathsheba said to him, “Speak.”
17Then he said to her, “Speak to King Solomon, for he will not turn his face from you; and let

him give me Abishag the Shunammite for a wife.” 18So Bathsheba said, “Very well, I will
speak for you to the king.”

  19So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose up to
meet her and kissed her tenderly. He then sat down on his throne, and a throne was placed
for the king's mother; and she was seated at his right hand. 20Then she said to him, “I desire
one small petition of you. Do not turn away your face.” The king said to her, “Ask it, mother,
for I will not refuse you.”† 21So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah
your brother as a wife.” 22King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “Why did you
request Abishag for Adonijah? Do you ask for him the kingdom as well? For he is my older
brother above me in age, and his companions are Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of
Jeruiah, the chief captain of the army.”

  23Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, “May God do so to me and more also, if

Adonijah has not said this against his own life. 24Now therefore, as the Lord lives who
prepared me, set me on the throne of David my father, and established a house for me, as the
Lord promised, this day Adonijah will be put to death.” 25So King Solomon sent by the hand
of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him; and Adonijah died that day.

                              Abiathar Banished, Joab Killed

  26Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go to Anathoth, to your field, for you are
deserving of death today; but I will not put you to death, because you carried the ark of the
Lord God before my father, and because you were afflicted every time my father was
afflicted.” 27So Solomon removed Abiathar from being priest to the Lord, to fulfill the word
of the Lord He spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.†

  28Then the news came to Joab the son of Zeruiah, for Joab leaned toward Adonijah and
not toward Solomon. So Joab fled to the tabernacle of the Lord and took hold of the horns of
the altar. 29They told King Solomon, “Joab fled to the tabernacle of the Lord. He is there,
holding the horns of the altar.” Solomon sent word to Joab, saying, “Why did you flee to the
altar?” Joab said, “Because I was afraid to face you, and I fled to the Lord.” Then Solomon
sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, kill and bury him.” 30So Benaiah went to Joab
in the tabernacle of the Lord and said to him, “The king says to come out.” But he said, “No, I
am not coming out. I am going to die here.” So Benaiah brought back word to the king,
saying, “This is what Joab said, this is what he answered me.” 31Then the king said to him,
“Go, and do as he said. Strike him down and bury him, and remove from me and from my
father's house today the blood Joab shed for no reason. 32The Lord will turn the blood of his
unrighteousness back on his own head, because he struck down two men, Abner the son of
Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army
of Judah, who were more righteous and better than he; and yet he killed them with the
sword. My father David did not know of their blood being shed.† 33That is why their blood
was returned upon the head of Joab and upon the head of his descendants forever. But upon
David and his descendants, upon his house and his throne, let there be peace forever from
the Lord.” 34So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, struck and killed him; and he buried
him in his own house in the wilderness. 35The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in Joab's
place over the army, and the kingdom was established in Jerusalem. Then the king made
Zadok the first priest in the place of Abiathar.

                                  The Wisdom of Solomon

  36The Lord gave discernment to Solomon, exceedingly great wisdom, and a heart as broad

as the sand alongside the sea.† 37Solomon's discernment was multiplied exceedingly, beyond
the discernment of all the sons of the ancient ones and all the wise men of Egypt. 38Then he
took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the City of David until he should complete his
house, and before all the house of the Lord, and the wall surrounding Jerusalem. In seven
years he made and completed them.

                                     Building the Citadel

 39Solomon had seventy thousand chosen men and eighty thousand stonecutters in the

mountain. 40Thus Solomon made the sea, the undergirding, the great basins, the pillars, the
fountain of the open court, and the sea of bronze. 41He also built the citadel and its
battlements, and divided the City of David in two. Consequently, the daughter of Pharaoh
went up from the City of David into the house he built for her. Then he built the citadel.
42Solomon went up three times a year to offer whole burnt offerings and peace offerings on
the altar he built for the Lord, and to burn incense before the Lord; and he completed the
house. 43Now these were the governors put in charge over the works of Solomon—three
thousand six hundred overseers of the people doing the work. 44He also built Ashur and
Megiddo, and Gezer and Beth-Horon the greater, and Baalath. 45However, it was after he
built the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem that he built those cities.

  46While still living, David commanded Solomon, saying, “Behold, take with you Shimei the

son of Gera, a Benjamite from Hebron,† 47who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day I
was going to the encampments. 48But he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore
to him by the Lord, saying, ‘He shall not be put to death with the sword.’ 49Now therefore, do
not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man and know what to do to him. But bring his gray
hair with blood down to the grave.”

                                      Shimei Is Killed

  50Then the king sent and called for Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in

Jerusalem, and dwell there, and do not leave for any reason. 51For on the day you go out and
cross the Brook Kidron, know for certain you shall surely die; and your blood shall be on your
own head.” So the king forced him to take an oath that day. 52Then Shimei said to the king,
“What you have said is good, O my lord and king. Thus your servant will do.” So Shimei dwelt
in Jerusalem three years.

 53Now at the end of three years, two of Shimei's slaves ran away to Achish the son of

Maachah, king of Gath. They told Shimei, saying, “Behold, your slaves are in Gath.” 54Shimei
then arose, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to seek his slaves. So Shimei went
and brought his slaves from Gath. 55But Solomon was told Shimei had gone from Jerusalem
to Gath and brought back his servants.

  56Then the king sent and called for Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by
the Lord and warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain on the day you leave Jerusalem and go to
the right or the left, you shall surely die’? 57Why then did you not keep the oath of the Lord
and the commandment I gave you?” 58The king also said to Shimei, “You know and your
heart acknowledges all the wickedness you did to my father David, and now the Lord has
returned your wickedness on your own head. 59But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the
throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever.”† 60So King Solomon
commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down; and he
died. 61Thus King Solomon was exceedingly prudent and wise, and Judah and all Israel were
as many as the sand of the sea in number, eating and drinking and rejoicing.

                              The Reign of King Solomon

  62Now Solomon was ruler in all the kingdoms; and they brought him gifts, and served

Solomon all the days of his life. 63Then Solomon went to open the domain of Lebanon,
64and he built Thermae in the desert.† 65Moreover, Solomon's daily provision was thirty
measures of the finest wheat flour and sixty measures of ground meal, ten chosen calves and
twenty pastured oxen and a hundred sheep, and, besides this, deer and gazelles and choice fed
hens, 66because there was a governor all along the opposite shore of the river from Raphia
unto Gaza, in all the kingdoms on the opposite shore of the river. 67Thus he had peace from
all his territories around him, and Judah and Israel dwelt confidently, each man under his
own vine and his own fig tree, eating and drinking from Dan to Beersheba all the days of
Solomon.

  68Now Solomon's officials were Azariah, the son of Zadok, the priest, and Orniah, the son
of Nathan, who was ruler of the standing guard, and Edram was over his house, and Zoba the
scribe, and Baasha, the son of Achithalam, writing memoirs, and Abi, the son of Joab, the
chief captain, and Achira, the son of Edrahi, over the labor force, and Benaiah the son of
Jehoiada over the temple-court and over the brickworks, and Zechariah, the son of Nathan,
the counselor. 69Solomon had forty thousand breeding horses for chariots and twelve
thousand horsemen. 70So there was a ruler in every kingdom from the river to the land of the
foreigners and the boundaries of Egypt.

  71Thus Solomon the son of David ruled over Israel and Judah in Jerusalem.

                                 Offerings to False Gods


3 Meanwhile    the people burned incense on the high places, because there was still no house
  built for the name of the Lord.† 2But Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of
his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 3Now the
king arose and went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon
offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar at Gibeon.

                                 God Appears to Solomon

  4The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and the Lord said to him, “Make a

particular request for yourself.”† 5Solomon said, “You have shown great mercy to Your
servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, and with You in
righteousness and uprightness of heart. You have continued this great kindness for him, and
gave him a son to sit on his throne, as I do today. 6Now, O Lord my God, You made Your
servant king in place of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out
or come in. 7Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You chose, a great people, who
will not be numbered. 8Therefore give Your servant a heart to hear and judge Your people in
righteousness, and to discern between good and evil. For who can judge this great people of
Yours?”

  9The Lord was pleased that Solomon asked this.† 10So the Lord said to him, “Because you
asked for this, and have not asked for long life for yourself; nor have you asked for riches, nor
for the life of your enemies, but asked understanding for yourself, to understand judgment—
11behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you an understanding
and wise heart, so there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall anyone like you
arise after you. 12I also gave you what you did not ask—both riches and honor—so there has
been no man like you among kings. 13If you walk in My ways, and keep My statutes and
commandments, as your father David did, then I will multiply your days.”

  14Solomon awoke, and indeed it was a dream. He arose and came to Jerusalem and stood
before the altar, before the ark of the covenant of the Lord in Zion. He offered burnt offerings
and peace offerings, and made a feast for himself and all his servants.

                                   Solomon's Judgment

  15Now two women who were prostitutes appeared before the king and stood before him.
16One woman said, “O my lord, this woman and I dwell in the same house, and we gave birth

in the house. 17On the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were
together. No one was with us in the house except the two of us. 18But this woman's son died
that night, because she lay on him. 19So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son
from my side; and she laid him in her bosom, and her dead child in my bosom. 20When I
rose in the morning to nurse my son, he was dead. But when I had examined him in the
morning, indeed, he was not my son whom I bore.” 21Then the other woman said, “No, but
the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son.” Thus they spoke before the king.

  22Then the king said to them, “One says, ‘This is my son, who lives, and your son is the
dead one’; and the other says, ‘No, but your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’
” 23So the king said, “Bring me a sword.” They brought a sword before the king. 24The king
then said, “Divide the living nursing child in two, and give half to this woman and half to the
other.” 25But the woman whose son was living spoke up to the king, for she yearned with
compassion for her son. She said, “My lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill
him.” But the other said, “Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him.” 26So the king
answered and said, “Give the child to the one who said, ‘By no means kill him.’ She is his
mother.” 27Then all Israel heard this judgment the king rendered, and they feared the king;
for they saw the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.†

                                Solomon's Administrators

                                          2
4 So King3 Solomon ruled over Israel. His officials were the scribes, Azariah the son of
   Zadok, and Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha; and the recorder, Jehoshaphat the
son of Ahilud; 4and the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, the priests; 5Azariah, the son of Nathan,
over the administrators; Zabud the son of Nathan, the king's companion; 6Ahishar, over the
household; and Eliab, the son of Saph, over the people; and Adoniram the son of Abda, over
the tribute.

  7Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his

household; each one made provision for one month of the year. 8They were the son of Hur,
in the mountains of Ephraim, one month; 9the son of Rechab in Makaz and Bethlehem and
Beth Shemesh and Elon as far as Beth Hanan, one month; 10the son of Hesed, in Arubboth;
to him belonged Sochoh and all the land of Hepher, one month; 11the son of Abinadab, in all
the regions of Dor; he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as his wife, one month; 12Baana
the son of Ahilud, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all the house of Shean, which is beside Zaretan
below Jezreel, from Beth Shean and Abel Meholah, as far as the other side of Jokneam, one
month; 13the son of Geber, in Ramoth Gilead; to him belonged the region of Argob in Bashan
—sixty large cities with walls and bronze gate-bars, one month; 14Ahinadab the son of Iddo,
in Mahanaim, one month; 15Ahimaaz in Naphtali; he also took Basemath the daughter of
Solomon as wife, one month; 16Baanah the son of Hushai in Maaleth, one month; 17Shimei
the son of Elahom in Benjamin; 18Geber the son of Adai, in the land of Gad, in the country of
Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, one month; 19Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah
in Issachar.


5 Intable,
       this manner the governors provided everything King Solomon requested for the king's
           each man in his month. They did not change a thing; even the barley and the grain
stalks for the horses and the chariots they brought to the place where the king was, each man
according to his appointment. 2What was needed for Solomon in one day were thirty
measures of the finest wheat flour, sixty measures of beaten ground meal, 3ten chosen
calves, twenty pastured oxen, a hundred sheep, and besides this, deer and gazelles, and choice
fatted hens, 4because there was a governor all along the opposite shore of the river. So he had
peace in all his territories round about.

                           The Greatness of Solomon's Wisdom

  5The Lord gave discernment to Solomon, exceedingly great wisdom and a heart as broad as

the sand beside the sea. 6Thus Solomon increased beyond the understanding of all the
ancient men, even beyond all the learned men of Egypt; 7and he was made wise beyond every
man. He was even made wise beyond Ethan, the Ezrahite, and Herman and Chalcol and
Darda, the sons of Mahol. 8Solomon spoke three thousand parables, and there were five
thousand of his songs. 9He spoke about wood from the cedars in Lebanon, and the hyssop
that grows out through the wall; and he spoke about cattle, birds, reptiles, and fish. 10So all
the people came to hear Solomon's wisdom, and he received gifts from all the kings of the
earth who heard his wisdom.

                                   Solomon Takes a Wife

  11Solomon took the daughter of Pharaoh for his wife, and he brought her into the City of
David until he completed the house of the Lord, and his own house and the walls of
Jerusalem.† 12Then Pharaoh the king of Egypt went up and conquered Gezer and burned it,
along with the Canaanites who were living in Mergab; and Pharaoh gave letters to his
daughter, the wife of Solomon, and Solomon rebuilt Gezer.

                          Preparation for Building the Temple

  13Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to anoint Solomon in place of his father David,

because Hiram had always loved David. 14Then Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, 15“You know
how my father David could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the
wars that were fought against him on every side, until the Lord put his foes under the soles of
his feet. 16But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither
adversary nor evil occurrence. 17Behold, I propose to build a house for the name of the Lord
my God, as the Lord spoke to my father David, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your
throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name.’ 18Now therefore, command
them to cut down cedars for me from Lebanon. My servants will be with your servants, and I
will pay you wages for your servants, according to whatever you say; because you know we
have no one who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”

  19So when Hiram heard Solomon's words, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the

Lord today, who gave David a wise son over this great people.” 20Then he sent to Solomon,
saying, “I have heard the message you sent me, and I will do everything you desire
concerning the cedar and pine logs. 21My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to
the sea; I will float them in rafts by sea to the place you indicate to me, and will have them
broken apart there; then you can take them away. You shall fulfill my desire by giving food
for my household.” 22Then Hiram gave Solomon cedar logs and everything he wished.
23Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat as food for his household, and
twenty baths of pure olive oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram every year.

  24So the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him, and there was peace

between Hiram and Solomon; and the two of them made a treaty together. 25Then the king
raised up a labor force out of all Israel, and the labor force was thirty thousand men. 26He
sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts. They were in Lebanon for one month
and at home for two months; and Adoniram was in charge of the labor force. 27Solomon had
seventy thousand who carried burdens, and eighty thousand who quarried stone in the
mountain, 28with an additional three thousand six hundred from the chiefs of Solomon's
deputies, who supervised the people who labored in the work. 29They prepared the stones
and the trees in three years.†

                            Solomon Constructs the Temple


6 InEgypt,
       the four hundred fortieth year after the children of Israel came out of the land of
           in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the second month, 2the king
issued a command, and they put great costly stones into the foundation of the house. These
stones were not touched by an axe.† 3The sons of Solomon cut them, and the sons of Hiram
placed them. 4In the fourth year, he laid the foundation of the Lord's house in the month
Nisan, the second month. 5In the eleventh year, in the month Bul, that is, the eighth month,
the house was completed according to his every word and his every mandate.†

  6Now the house King Solomon built for the Lord was sixty cubits in length, twenty cubits

wide, and twenty-five cubits high. 7The vestibule in front of the sanctuary of the house was
twenty cubits long across the width of the house, and the width of the vestibule extended ten
cubits from the front of the house. He built the house and completed it. 8He made hidden
windows from which to look from the house. 9Against the wall of the temple, he placed
beams all around—against the walls of the temple, and all around the sanctuary and inner
sanctuary. He also made side chambers all around it. 10The lowest side chamber was five
cubits wide, the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for he made
a space around the outside of the temple, so the support beams would not be fastened into
the walls of the temple.

  11When the temple was being built, it was built with stones finished at the quarry, so no

hammer or axe or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.† 12The
doorway for the lower side chamber was on the right side of the temple. They went up by
spiraled stairs to the middle story, and from the middle to the third. 13So he built the temple
and finished it, and he gave the temple a ceiling with beams and boards of cedar. 14He built
the bonding of the superstructure to the foundation throughout the entire temple, each five
cubits high; they were attached to the temple with cedar beams.

                                    The Holy of Holies

  15Then he framed the inside walls of the temple with cedar boards. From the floor of the
temple to the ceiling, he paneled the inside with wood, holding it together with wood from
within; and he covered the floor of the temple with planks of pine. 16Then he built the
twenty-cubit room at the rear of the temple, from floor to ceiling beams, with cedar boards;
he built it inside as the inner sanctuary, as the holy of holies. 17The temple sanctuary was
forty cubits long in front. 18He prepared the inner sanctuary inside the temple to set the ark
of the covenant of the Lord there. 19The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty
cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid it with pure gold, and made an altar at the
front of the shrine;† 20and he overlaid it with pure gold. 21He overlaid the whole temple with
gold until he finished gilding the whole temple.

                                        Holy Images

  22Inside the inner sanctuary, he made two cherubim standing majestically, each ten cubits

high.† 23One wing of the cherub was five cubits, and the other wing of the cherub, five cubits.
It was ten cubits from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other. 24The other cherub was ten
cubits; both cherubim were of the same size and shape. 25The height of one cherub was ten
cubits, and so was the other cherub. 26Then he set both cherubim inside the inner room; and
they stretched out the wings of the cherubim, so the wing of one touched one wall, and the
wing of the other cherub touched the other wall. Their wings touched each other in the
middle of the room. 27He also overlaid the cherubim with gold.

  28Then he carved all the walls of the temple all around, both the inner and outer

sanctuaries, with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees. 29He overlaid the floor of the
temple with gold, both the inner and outer sanctuaries.

  30For the entrance of the inner sanctuary, he made doors of juniper wood; the lintel and

doorposts were one-fifth of the wall. 31The two doors were of pine wood; and he carved on
them figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold. The
gold went down over the cherubim and the palm trees. 32For the door of the sanctuary, he
also made doorposts of juniper wood, one-fourth of the wall. 33And the two doors were of
pine; two panels comprised one folding door, and two panels comprised the other folding
door. 34Then he carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers on them, and overlaid the
figures in relief with gold. 35He built the inner court with three rows of hewn stone and a
row of cedar beams. 36He built the curtain of the courtyard of the porch of the house at the
front of the temple.

                                     The Skill of Hiram

   Now King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre.† 2He was the son of a widow from
7 the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a bronze worker; he was filled with
skill, understanding, and knowledge in working with all kinds of bronze work. So he was
brought to King Solomon and did all his work.

                                     Two Bronze Pillars

  3He cast two pillars for the porch of the house, each one eighteen cubits high, and a line of
fourteen cubits measured the circumference of each; and the thickness was four fingers to
the hollow portion, and the second pillar was similar. 4Then he made two capitals of cast
bronze to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of one capital was five cubits, and the
height of the other, five cubits. 5He made two lattice-works to cover the capitals on top of the
pillars, a lattice-work for one capital and a lattice-work for the other capital. 6And he made a
hanging work, two rows of cast copper pomegranates, a hanging work, row upon row; and he
did the same for the other capital. 7Then he set up the pillars by the vestibule of the temple;
he set up the pillar on the right, and called it Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the left, and
called it Boaz. 8The capitals on the pillars in the hall were in the shape of lilies, four cubits
high. 9There was a roof on both pillars, and beyond the sides was a capital, one beam in
thickness.

                                        A Large Pond

  10He made the sea of cast bronze, ten cubits from one brim to the other; it was completely

round. It was five cubits high and thirty cubits around the circumference. 11Below its brim
were supports encircling it all around, ten cubits high, all the way around to hold up the sea.
12Its mouth was as the mouth of a drinking vessel, a lily blossom, and it was a handbreadth

in thickness. 13There were twelve oxen under the sea. Three looked toward the north, three
looked toward the west, three looked toward the south, and three looked toward the east. All
their back parts pointed inward and the sea was set upon them.

                                The Bases (Carts) of Bronze
  14He also made ten bases of bronze; each base was five cubits long, four cubits wide, and

six cubits high. 15This was the design of the bases. They had panels, and the panels were
between the reliefs; 16the reliefs were lions, oxen, and cherubim. Above and below the lions
and oxen were spaces for a hanging work. 17Every base had four bronze wheels, and the
attachments to the wash basins were bronze, with four parts to them, and supports under
each wash basin, 18and axles of bronze; and the height of one wheel was a cubit and a half.
19The workmanship of the wheels was like the workmanship of a chariot wheel; their axle

pins, their rims, their spokes, and their hubs were all of cast bronze. 20There were four
supports at the four corners of each base; its supports were part of the base itself. 21On the
top of the base, at the height of half a cubit, it was perfectly round. And on the top of the base,
its axles and its panels were of the same casting. 22On its panels he engraved cherubim,
lions, and palm trees, wherever there was a clear space on each; and they went all around.
23Thus he made the ten bases. There was one pattern and one measure in all of them.
24Then he made ten washbasins of bronze; each washbasin contained forty baths. On each of

the ten bases was a washbasin. 25He put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on
the left side of the house. He set the sea on the right side of the house, toward the southeast.

                                  The Temple Furnishings

 26Hiram made the washbasin, the shovels, and the bowls. So Hiram finished doing all the

work he was to do for King Solomon for the house of the Lord: 27the two pillars, the two
bowl-shaped capitals on top of the two pillars; the two lattice-works covering the two bowl-
shaped capitals on top of the pillars; 28four hundred pomegranates for the two lattice-works
(two rows of pomegranates for each lattice-work, to cover the two bowl-shaped capitals on
top of the pillars); 29the ten bases, and ten washbasins on the bases; 30one sea and twelve
oxen under the sea, 31the pots, the shovels, and all the equipment. Hiram made all these
articles for King Solomon for the house of the Lord. All the works Hiram made for the king,
the forty-eight pillars of the king's house and the house of the Lord, were entirely of bronze.
32There was no measure of the bronze from which he made all these works in such great

number. There was no limit to the measure of the bronze. 33In the plain of Jordan, the king
had them cast in clay molds, between Succoth and Seir.

  34Thus Solomon dedicated all the furnishings he made for the house of the Lord: the altar

of gold; the table on which was the showbread, also of gold; 35the lamp stands of pure gold,
five on the right side and five on the left in front of the inner sanctuary, with the oil
containers; the lamps and the wick-trimmers of gold; 36the doorways, the nails, the bowls,
the dishes, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the
inner room—that is, the holy of holies—and for the doors of the main hall of the temple. 37So
all the work King Solomon did for the Lord's house was finished, and Solomon brought in the
holy things of his father David and all the holy things of Solomon, the silver and gold
furnishings. He put them in the treasuries of the Lord's house.

                                   Solomon's Residence

  38Now Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house. 39He built his house with
wood of Lebanon; its length was one hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height
thirty cubits, with three rows of cedar pillars and cedar beams on the pillars. 40He roofed the
house with cedar above the beams on forty-five pillars, fifteen to a row. 41There were three
beams and a joint upon a joint, three times over. 42All the doorways and doorposts had
rectangular frames; and the windows were opposite one another in three tiers.

  43He also made the porch of pillars. It was fifty cubits long and thirty cubits wide. In front

of them was a portico with pillars, and a canopy was in front of them. 44Then he made a
porch for the throne, the hall of judgment, where he might judge. 45The house where he
dwelt had one courtyard that had access to these, of similar workmanship. Solomon also
made a house across from this porch for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken as wife.

  46All these things were made out of costly stones that had been fastened at the spaces
inside, and at the foundation up to the eaves, and outside as far as the great courtyard,
47where the foundation was laid with huge costly stones, ten cubits and eight cubits high,
48very costly, according to measure, uncut, and with cedars. 49For the great courtyard round

about, there were three rows uncut, and a row fastened with cedar. 50And Solomon
completed his whole house.

                            The Ark Is Brought to the Temple


8 Twenty  years later, when Solomon finished building the house of the Lord and his own
  house, King Solomon assembled all the elders of Israel in Zion, to bring up the ark of the
covenant of the Lord from the City of David, which is Zion,†† 2in the month of Ethanim. 3The
priests took up the ark 4and the tabernacle of testimony and all the holy furnishings in the
tabernacle of meeting. 5King Solomon and all Israel were before the ark, sacrificing sheep
and oxen without number. 6Then the priests brought in the ark to its place, into the inner
sanctuary of the temple, to the holy of holies, under the wings of the cherubim. 7For the
cherubim spread their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim overshadowed
the ark and the holy things. 8The holy staves extended so the ends of the poles could be seen
from the holy place, in front of the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside.
9Nothing was in the ark except the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant Moses put
there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, after they came
out of the land of Egypt. 10When the priests came out of the holy place, the cloud filled the
house, 11so the priests could not stand there ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of
the Lord filled the house.

                              Solomon Speaks to the People

  12Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the

assembly of Israel was standing. 13He said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel today, who
spoke with His mouth about my father David, and fulfilled it with His hands, saying, 14‘Since
the day I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city from any tribe of Israel in
which to build a house for My name to be there; but I chose for My Name to be in Jerusalem,
and I chose David to be over My people Israel.’ 15Now it was in the heart of my father David
to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 16But the Lord said to David my
father, ‘Since it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in
your heart. 17But you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body,
he shall build the temple for My name.’ 18So the Lord fulfilled His word which He spoke; and
I fill the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised;
and I have built a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 19There I made a place for
the ark which contains the covenant of the Lord, which He made with our fathers when He
brought them out of the land of Egypt.”

                              Solomon's Dedication Prayer

  20Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of

Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven;† 21and he said, “O Lord God of Israel, there
is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below, who keep Your covenant and Your
mercy with Your servant who walks before You with all his heart. 22You have kept what You
promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth, and
fulfilled it with Your hand, as today. 23Now, O Lord God of Israel, keep what You promised
Your servant David my father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the
throne of Israel, so long as your people guard and keep their ways to walk before Me, as you
walked before Me.’ 24So now, O Lord God of Israel, let the word be confirmed You spoke to
Your servant David my father.

  25“But will God indeed dwell with men on earth? If the heaven and the heaven of heaven

will not be sufficient for You, how much less even this temple I built in Your name?† 26Yet,
O Lord God of Israel, regard my prayer, which Your servant is praying before You today,
27that Your eyes may be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place of which
You said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to hear the prayer Your servant prays in this place day and
night. 28You will hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they
pray toward this place. You will hear in Your dwelling place in heaven, and You will be
merciful.

  29“When anyone sins against his neighbor, or if he takes up an oath that he should swear,

and comes and redeems himself before Your altar in this temple, 30You will hear in heaven,
and act, and judge Your people Israel; condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his own
head, and justifying the righteous by giving to him according to his righteousness.

  31“When Your people Israel are defeated before their enemies because they sinned against
You, and when they turn back to You, and confess Your name, and pray and make
supplication to You in this house, 32then You will hear in heaven and be propitious to the
sins of Your people Israel; and You will bring them back to the land You gave their fathers.

  33“When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, and
when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sins, whenever
they humble themselves— 34You will hear from heaven, and be propitious to the sins of Your
servant and Your people Israel; that You may teach them the good way in which to walk, and
send rain on the land You gave Your people as an inheritance.

  35“When there is famine in the land; when there is death; when there is burning, locusts,
or blight; when their enemy besieges them in one of their cities; whatever plague or affliction
there is; 36whatever prayer and supplication shall be offered by any man, as each one might
know the plague of his heart, and will spread out his hands toward this house— 37You will
hear in heaven from Your dwelling place, and be propitious and act; and You will give to
everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know; for You alone know the hearts of
all the children of men. 38So they will fear You all the days they live in the land which You
gave to our fathers.

  39“Even the foreigner who is not of Your people,† 40when he comes and prays in this

temple, 41You will hear in heaven from Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which
the foreigner calls to You. This so all people will know Your name and fear You, as do Your
people Israel. They will know Your name is called upon in this house I built.

  42“When Your people go out to battle against their enemies wherever You send them, and
when they pray in the name of the Lord toward the city You chose, and the temple I built for
Your name— 43then You will hear their prayer and supplication in heaven. You will make a
righteous judgment for them. 44When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not
sin), and You become angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy; and they are taken
captive to the land of the enemy, far or near; 45yet when they turn their hearts in the land
where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of their
captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong,’ 46and they return to You with all their
heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and pray
to You toward their land You gave to their fathers, the city You chose, and the temple I built
for Your name— 47then You will hear in heaven from Your dwelling place; 48and You will be
propitious in their unrighteousness in which they sinned against You, and in all their
transgressions by which they broke faith with You; and You will grant them compassion
before those who took them captive, and they will have compassion on them; 49for they are
Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out of the land of Egypt, out of the
midst of the iron furnace.

  50“Let Your eyes and Your ears be open to the supplication of Your servant and the
supplication of Your people Israel, to hear them about everything, whenever they call to You.
51For You, O Lord and Master, separated them from all the peoples of the earth to be Your
inheritance, as You said by Your servant Moses when You brought our fathers out of Egypt.”
  52Then Solomon said concerning the house he had finished building:

    “The Lord m ade known the sun in heav en;

    He spoke to those dwelling in darkness,

    ‘Build My house, a house of splendor for y ourself,

    To dwell in newness.’ ”

  Behold, is this not written in the book of the ode?

                                               Solomon Blesses the People

  53When Solomon finished praying all his prayer and supplication to the Lord, he rose up
from before the altar of the Lord, after kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to
heaven. 54Then he stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel with a loud voice and said,
55“Blessed be the Lord this day, who gave rest to His people Israel, just as He promised. Not
one word has failed of all His good words He spoke through His servant Moses.

  56“May the Lord our God be with us as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us nor

forsake us,† 57that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep
all His commandments and His statutes that He commanded our fathers. 58May these words
with which I have made supplication before the Lord stand near the Lord our God day and
night, to maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel as each day may
require; 59that all the peoples of the earth may know the Lord is God, and there is no other.
60Let your heart therefore be perfect to the Lord our God, that you walk piously in His
statutes, and keep His commandments, as today.”

                                         Solomon Consecrates the Temple

  61Then the king and all the children of Israel offered sacrifices before the Lord. 62King
Solomon made a sacrifice of peace offerings and offered it to the Lord: twenty-two thousand
bulls and one hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel
dedicated the house of the Lord. 63On that day, the king consecrated the middle of the court
that was in front of the house of the Lord. There he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings,
and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar before the Lord was too small to
receive the burnt offerings and the peace offerings.

  64On that day, Solomon made a feast, and all Israel was with him, a great assembly from
the entrance of Hamath to the river of Egypt, before the Lord our God in the house he built,
eating, drinking, and rejoicing before the Lord our God for seven days.† 65On the eighth day,
he sent the people away and blessed them. Each one went to his tent, joyful and with a good
heart for all the good the Lord did for His servant David and for Israel His people.

                              God Appears Again to Solomon


9 Now  when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the king's house, and
  everything Solomon wanted to do,† 2the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as He
appeared to him at Gibeon. 3The Lord said to him, “I heard your prayer and the supplication
you made before Me; I have done for you everything in your prayer. I consecrated this house
you built to place My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there all the days.
4Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, with integrity of heart and in
uprightness, and you do everything I commanded him and keep My statutes and My
judgments, 5then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I said to
David your father, saying, ‘There shall not fail a man to be ruler in Israel.’

  6“But if you or your sons turn from Me and do not keep My commandments and My

statutes Moses set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, 7then I will cut
off Israel from the land I gave them. I will cast from My sight this house which I made holy
by My name. Israel will be destroyed, and will become but prattle among the peoples. 8As for
this exalted house, everyone who passes by it will be astonished, and will hiss and say, ‘Why
did the Lord do this to this land and to this house?’ 9Then they will answer, ‘Because they
forsook the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the
house of bondage, and they embraced other gods and worshiped and served them. That is
why the Lord brought all this calamity on them.’ ”

  10Then Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh from the City of David into the house he
built for himself in those days.

                                     The Pact with Hiram

  11Now twenty years later, after Solomon built the two houses, the house of the Lord and

the king's house, 12Hiram the king of Tyre helped supply Solomon, as much as he desired,
with cedar and pine and gold. Then King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of
Galilee. 13So Hiram went from Tyre to Galilee to see the cities Solomon gave him, but they
were not pleasing to him. 14He said, “What are these cities you gave me, my brother?” So he
called them frontier cities to this day. 15Then Hiram sent Solomon one hundred and twenty
talents of gold. 16King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at Ezion Geber, near Elath on the
shore of the sea, in the land of Edom. 17Then Hiram sent his servants with the fleet, seamen
who knew the sea, to work with the servants of Solomon. 18They came to Ophir, and acquired
one hundred twenty talents of gold from there, and brought it to King Solomon.

                                   The Queen of Sheba


10 Now  when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, concerning the name of
   the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.† 2She came to Jerusalem with a
very large retinue, with camels that bore spices, a great deal of gold, and precious stones.
When she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about everything in her heart. 3So Solomon
answered all her questions. There was nothing so difficult for the king that he could not
explain it to her. 4When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house
he built, 5Solomon's food, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their
apparel, his cupbearers, and the burnt offering he offered in the house of the Lord, she was
completely amazed.

  6Then she said to King Solomon, “The report I heard in my land about your words and your

wisdom was true. 7However, I did not believe those who told me until I came and saw with
my own eyes; and indeed, half of what I see was not told me. You added to the good thing I
heard in my land. 8Happy are your wives, and happy are these your servants, who stand
continually before you and hear your wisdom. 9Blessed be the Lord your God, who delights in
you, setting you on the throne of Israel. For the Lord so loved Israel as to make it stand
forever. Therefore He made you king over them, to make judgment and do righteousness.”

  10Then she gave Solomon one hundred twenty talents of gold, spices, and precious stones
in great quantity. There was never again such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave
to King Solomon. 11The ships of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought great
quantities of uncut timber and precious stones. 12The king made supports from the uncut
timber for the house of the Lord and for the king's house, as well as harps and stringed
instruments for the singers. There never again came such uncut timber, nor has the like been
seen to this day. 13Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she desired,
whatever she asked, besides all he had given her by the hand of King Solomon. Then she
turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

                                      Solomon's Wealth

  14The weight of gold that came to Solomon in a year was six hundred sixty-six talents of

gold, 15in addition to that from traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the
kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country. 16Solomon made three hundred
spears of hammered gold, with three hundred shekels of gold in each spear. 17He also made
three hundred weapons of hammered gold, with three minas of gold that went into each
weapon. The king kept them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

  18Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory, overlaid with pure gold, 19with six
upward steps to the throne and busts of calves’ heads encircling the back. On each side of the
seat were armrests with two lions standing on the side of the armrests. 20Standing, one on
each side of the six steps, were twelve lions. Nothing like this was made for any other
kingdom. 21All the drinking utensils of King Solomon were gold, as were the tubs for bathing.
All the furniture of the house of the forest of Lebanon was completely overlaid with gold. Not
one was silver, for this was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon, 22for a ship of
Tarshish, a merchant ship of the king's stationed at sea with the fleet of Hiram, came once
every three years, bringing gold, silver, and chiseled stones.

  23This is the outcome of the trading by which king Solomon built up the house of the Lord,
the house of the king, the wall of Jerusalem, and the citadel; to fortify the City of David,
Hazor and Megiddo, Gezer, Beth Horon the upper, Jethermath, and all the cities of the
horsemen and the chariots. Solomon purposed to build the fortifications in Jerusalem and in
all the land, so none of the people should rule over him—† 24the people left behind from the
Cherethites, the Amorites, the Perezzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Jebusites and the
Girgashites. These were the ones, and their children, not belonging to the children of Israel,
that Israel was unable to utterly destroy from the land. Solomon made them pay tribute to
this day.† 25Solomon did not deliver any of the sons of Israel to this work; instead, these
were men of war, his servants, and those in charge of his chariots and horses.

  26So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and discernment. 27Now
the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear the wisdom God put in his heart.
28Everyone brought presents: golden vessels, garments, oil of myrrh, spices, horses, and

mules, at a set rate year by year. 29Solomon had four thousand female horses for chariots
and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in
Jerusalem. 30Thus he was the leader of all the kings from the river as far as the land of the
Philistines and as far as the borders of Egypt. 31The king made gold and silver as common in
Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar trees as abundant as the sycamores in the lowland.
32The importation of Solomon's horses was from Egypt and Tekoa, and the merchants of the

king purchased them at market price. 33Now a chariot imported from Egypt cost one hundred
shekels of silver, and a horse cost fifty. Thus it was that all the chariots and horses exported
to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria came by way of the sea.

                                Solomon Turns against God


11 King Solomon was a lover of women, and he had seven hundred princesses and three
   hundred concubines; and he took foreign wives, as well as the daughters of Pharaoh,
women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Syrians and Idumeans, Hittites and Amorites;† 2from
the nations of whom the Lord said to the children of Israel, “You shall not go in to them, and
they shall not come in to you, lest they turn away your hearts after their idols.” Solomon
joined to these in love. 3For when Solomon was old and his heart was not loyal to the Lord
his God, as was the heart of his father David, his foreign wives turned his heart after their
gods. 4Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the idol of Moab, and for their king, the
idol of the children of Ammon, 5and for Ashtaroth, the abomination of the Sidonians. 6He
did the same for all his foreign wives, burning incense and sacrificing to their idols. 7Solomon
did evil in the sight of the Lord and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David.

  8So the Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart turned from the Lord God of

Israel, who appeared to him twice, 9and commanded him concerning this thing, that he
should not go after other gods, but keep absolutely what the Lord had commanded.
10Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you did this and did not keep My covenant
and the statutes I commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from your hand and
give it to your servant.† 11Nevertheless, I will not do it in your days for the sake of your father
David; but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 12However, I will not tear away the whole
kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son, which I chose, for the sake of my servant David
and for the sake of Jerusalem.”

                                  Solomon's Adversaries

  13Now the Lord raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite, and Rezon
the son of Eliadah, who dwelt in Ramoth, and Hadadezer, king of Zoba, was his master. The
men gathered together to him; and he was head of the conspiracy, and he seized control of
Damascus. They were an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon. Hadad the Edomite was
a descendant of the king in Edom.† 14For when David destroyed Edom, and Joab the
commander of the army went up to bury the slain, they killed every male in Edom. 15Joab
remained there six months with all Israel, until he killed every male in Edom. 16Hadad fled,
along with all the Edomites who served his father, and they went to Egypt. Hadad was still a
little child. 17Then men arose from the city of Midian and came to Paran, and after joining
with other men, they came to Pharaoh king of Egypt. Hadad went to Pharaoh, who gave him a
house and apportioned food for him. 18Thus Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh,
so that he gave him as wife the sister of his own wife, that is, the older sister of Tahpenes.
19Then the sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath her son, and Tahpenes weaned him among
the sons of Pharaoh; and Genubath was among the sons of Pharaoh.

  20So when Hadad heard in Egypt that David rested with his fathers, and that Joab the
commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Send me away so that I may go to
my own country.” 21Then Pharaoh said to him, “But what did you lack with me, that suddenly
you seek to go to your own country?” So he answered, “Send me away.” Hadad then returned
unto his land. 22This is the evil Hadad did; and he was a bitter enemy to Israel and reigned in
the land of Edom.

                                     Jeroboam's Revolt

  23Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Solomon's servant, was an Ephraimite from Zereda, the son

of a woman who was a widow. 24This was the event bringing him to rebel against Solomon
the king: Now Solomon built the citadel. He built a wall of fortification that enclosed the City
of David that his father built. 25Jeroboam the man was very strong, and Solomon, seeing the
young man was industrious, put him in charge of those who labored at the house of Joseph.
26As it happened, Jeroboam went out from Jerusalem, and along the way, the prophet Ahijah
the Shilonite, clothed with a new garment, found him and persuaded him to detour from his
path. Now the two of them stood alone in a field.

  27Then Ahijah took hold of the new garment he was wearing and tore it into twelve

pieces.† 28And he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for thus says the Lord God
of Israel, ‘Behold, I will break asunder the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and give ten
tribes to you. 29But to Solomon, he shall have two tribes for the sake of My servant David
and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I chose out of all the tribes of Israel. 30Because he
forsook Me, and sacrificed to Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and to Chemosh
and the idols of the Moabites, and to their king, the abomination of the children of Ammon,
and has not walked in My ways, to do what is right before Me, as did his father David—†
31therefore I will surely set Myself against him all the days of his life; however, for the sake
of My servant David, whom I chose, I will not remove the whole kingdom out of his hand.
32But I will take the kingdom out of the hand of his son and give the ten tribes to you. 33And
to the son of Solomon himself I will pass on these same two tribes, establishing a place for
My servant David to be before Me all the days of Jerusalem, the city I chose for Myself as the
place to put My name. 34So I will receive you, and you shall reign over everything your heart
desires. You shall be king over Israel. 35It shall be, if you hear and do everything I command
you, and walk in My ways, and do what is right before Me, to keep My statutes and My
commandments as My servant David did, then I shall be with you, and build you a house that
shall endure, as I did for David.’ ”

  36Thereafter Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, to

Shishak king of Egypt. He remained there in Egypt until Solomon died. 37Now the rest of the
words of Solomon, all that he did and all his wisdom, are they not written in the Book of the
Wisdom of Solomon?

                                       The Death of Solomon

  38So the days Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel were forty years. 39Then
Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David his father. When
Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it, while yet in Egypt at the place to which he had fled from
the face of Solomon and remained, he came directly to his city, into the land of Zereda in the
Mount of Ephraim. Thus King Solomon slept with his fathers, and his son Rehoboam reigned
as king in his place.
                               A Revolt against Rehoboam


12 Now  King Rehoboam traveled to Shechem, for all Israel were coming to Shechem to
   proclaim him as king. 2The people of Israel spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 3“Your father
made our yoke a heavy burden; but if you now lighten the harsh servitude and the
burdensome yoke under which your father placed us, then we will serve you.” 4So he said to
them, “Go away for three days; then come back to me.” Thus they departed.

  5Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he

still lived, and he said, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”† 6They spoke to him,
saying, “If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and speak good words
to them, then they will be your servants all the days.” 7But he rejected the advice of the
elders, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and stood in his presence.
8He said to them, “What advice do you give? How should I answer these people who spoke to
me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

  9Then these same young men said to him, “Here is how you should speak to this people
who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but may you make it lighter on
us,’ thus respond to them, saying, ‘Being from the loins of my father, my meanness will be
more burdensome. 10Now whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your
yoke. Whereas my father chastised you with whips, I will discipline you with scorpions.’ ”

  11So all the people came to King Rehoboam the third day, as the king had directed, saying,

“Come back to me on the third day.” 12Then the king answered the people harshly, for
Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders offered to him. 13Instead, Rehoboam spoke to the
people according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy,
but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will discipline you with
scorpions.” 14So the king did not hear the appeal of the people, because the change of mind
was from the Lord, that He might establish His word which He spoke by the authority of
Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.†

  15Now all Israel saw the king did not heed their words. So the people answered the king,
saying, “What share of the inheritance have we in David? Nor do we have any inheritance in
the son of Jesse. Israel, run to your dwelling-places. Now, O David, feed your own house.”
Thus Israel departed to their dwelling. 16In response, King Rehoboam sent for Adoniram,
who was in charge of the tribute; but all Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. Then
King Rehoboam knew it was time to mount up and flee back to Jerusalem. 17Even to this day,
Israel refuses any request concerning the house of David.

                             Jeroboam Is the King of Israel

  18Now when all Israel heard Jeroboam was back from Egypt, they sent for him and called
him to the assembly. They made him king over Israel, and not one tribe followed the house of
David except the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

                               Jeroboam Avoids Civil War

  19When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe
of Benjamin. He had one hundred twenty thousand chosen men as warriors to fight against
the house of Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
20But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,† 21“Speak to Rehoboam
the son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the
remnant of the people, saying, 22‘Thus says the Lord, “You shall not go up, nor shall you fight
against your brethren the sons of Israel. Instead return, each of you, to his house, because
this word is from Me.” Hear the word of the Lord.’ ” So according to the word of the Lord,
they ended the march.

                                 The Transition of Power

  23King Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the City of David.
Then Rehoboam, his son, reigned in his place in Jerusalem. His son was sixteen years old
when he became king, and he reigned twelve years in Jerusalem. The name of his mother was
Naamah, daughter of Hanun, son of Nahash, the king of the sons of Ammon. He did evil
before the Lord and did not walk in the way of David, his father.†

  24There was a man from Mount Ephraim, a servant of Solomon, whose name was
Jeroboam. The name of his mother was Zeruah, a prostitute. Solomon gave him the staff of
authority over the male laborers of the house of Joseph, and he built Zereda for Solomon on
Mount Ephraim. There were three hundred horse-pulled chariots with him. He also built the
citadel with the laborers of the house of Ephraim, and enclosed the city of David. He was
lifted up in opposition to the kingdom.† 25Solomon then sought to kill him, and he was afraid
and escaped to Shishak, king of Egypt, where he stayed until Solomon died.

                                   Jeroboam's Family

  26When Jeroboam heard in Egypt that Solomon died, he spoke to Shishak, king of Egypt,
saying, “Send me away, and I shall go to my land.” Shishak said to him, “Ask any request, and
I shall give it to you.” 27So Shishak gave Anna to Jeroboam as a wife. She was the eldest
sister of Tahpenes, the wife of Shishak. She was highly admired in the midst of the daughters
of the king, and she bore to Jeroboam a son, Abijah. 28Then Jeroboam said to Shishak,
“Please send me away, and I shall leave.” Thus Jeroboam went out from Egypt and into the
land of Zereda, which is in Mount Ephraim. It is here the whole tribe of Ephraim gathers
together, and where Jeroboam built a fortress.

  29Jeroboam's son became seriously ill, so Jeroboam went to inquire concerning his son,
and he said to Anna, his wife, “Arise, and go ask God concerning the child, whether he shall
recover from this illness.” 30Now there was in Shiloh a man whose name was Ahijah. He was
sixty years old, and the word of the Lord was with him. So Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise,
and take bread in your hand for this man of God and cakes for his children, and grapes and a
jar of honey.”† 31The woman arose and took in her hand bread, two cakes, grapes, and a jar of
honey for Ahijah. The man was elderly, and his eyesight was fading. 32She arose from Zereda
and traveled to the city where Ahijah the Shilonite dwelt. Ahijah said to his young son, “Go
out at once to meet Anna, the wife of Jeroboam, and say to her, ‘Come in and take a seat, for
thus says the Lord, “I Myself am sending harsh things on you.” ’ ” 33So Anna came in to the
man of God, and Ahijah said to her, “Why did you bring me bread and grapes and cakes and a
jar of honey? Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, you shall depart from Me, and when you enter the
gate into the city of Zereda and your maidens come out to greet you, even they shall say to
you, “The child is dead.’ ” 34For Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I shall put to death those of
Jeroboam, and those of Jeroboam who die in the city of Jerusalem will be eaten by dogs,
while the birds of the sky will consume those who die in the field. They will mourn the young
child, saying, “Woe to me, O Lord! For you perceived in him a good word concerning the
Lord.” ’ ” 35Then the woman departed as one who heard and understood. It came to be as she
entered Zereda, the child died, and the mourners went out to meet her.

  36Then Jeroboam went to Shechem at Mount Ephraim, and there they gathered the tribes
of Israel. Even Rehoboam the son of Solomon went up there, and the word of the Lord came
to Shemaiah the son of Elami, saying, “Take for yourself a new garment, one which has not
entered into water, and tear it into twelve pieces; then give it to Jeroboam and say to him,
‘Thus says the Lord, “Take for yourself ten pieces to clothe yourself,” ’ ” and Jeroboam took
them. Shemaiah then said, “Thus says the Lord to the ten tribes of Israel.”

                               Rehoboam and His Advisors

  37Then the people said to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, “Your father made his yoke a
heavy burden upon us, and he made the foods of his table oppressive; and now, if you
yourself shall go more lightly on us, then we will serve you.” Rehoboam said to the people,
“In three days I shall answer the matter for you.” 38Rehoboam then said, “Bring the elders to
me, and I will counsel with them as to what answer I should give the people on the third day.”
So Rehoboam told the elders what the people sent him to say, and the elders of the people
advised him to do what the people said.

  39But Rehoboam rejected their counsel, for it was not pleasing in his sight. So he sent and
brought those he grew up with. He told them what the people said to him. In response, his
childhood companions advised him to speak to the people as follows: “Since I am from the
loins of my father, my meanness will be more burdensome. Whereas my father disciplined
you with the beating of whips, I will discipline you with scorpions.” 40Rehoboam was pleased
with this advice, and he answered the people just as the young men, his childhood
companions, advised him. 41But all the people spoke as one man, every man to his neighbor,
and they all cried out, saying, “What share of the inheritance have we in David? Nor do we
have any inheritance in the son of Jesse. O Israel, run to your dwelling-places, for this man is
not going to be a ruler or a leader over us.” 42So all the people scattered from Shechem, and
each man returned to his dwelling; but Rehoboam did not relent.

  Rehoboam departed by way of his chariots, and went up and entered Jerusalem. Behind
him came the entire tribe of Judah and the entire tribe of Benjamin. 43And it came to pass
that in the beginning of the year, Rehoboam gathered all the men of Judah and Benjamin,
and he went out to make war with Jeroboam in Shechem. 44But the word of the Lord came to
Shemaiah the man of God, saying, “Speak to Rehoboam the king of Judah, and to all the
house of Judah and Benjamin and to the rest of the people, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Do
not go up and do not make war with your brothers, the sons of Israel. Let each man return to
his house, for this word has come from Me.” ’ ” 45So they heard the word of the Lord, and
according to the word of the Lord, they held back from going.

                                 Jeroboam's False Worship

  46Then Jeroboam built Shechem in Mount Ephraim and dwelt there. From here, he went

out and built Penuel. 47Then Jeroboam said in his heart, “Behold, now the kingdom will
return to the house of David. 48If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the
Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord and master, to
Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me.” 49Therefore the king deliberated, and went
and made two calves of gold. He then said to the people, “You have traveled enough to
Jerusalem. Behold, O Israel, your gods who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”† 50He
placed one in Bethel and the other in Dan. 51This word became a sin, and the people went to
worship before the one as far as Dan. 52He also made houses on the high places, and he
made priests from every class of people, even those who were not of the sons of Levi.

  53Jeroboam appointed a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, according to the
feast in the land of Judah, and went up to the altar he made at Bethel to sacrifice to the calves
he made. Also at Bethel, he presented the priests of the high places which he made. 54So on
the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month he devised in his own heart, he went up
to the altar he made at Bethel and made a feast for the children of Israel. He also went up to
the altar of the sacrifice.


13 Now  behold, there came by the word of the Lord a man of God from Judah to Bethel,
   even as Jeroboam stood by the altar of the sacrifice. 2By the word of the Lord, he cried
out against the altar, saying, “O altar, altar, thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, a son is to be born to
the house of David, Josiah is his name, and he will kill the priests of the high places upon
you, offering sacrifice upon you; and he will burn the bones of men upon you.’ ” 3In that day,
he gave a sign, saying, “This is the sign the Lord has spoken: Surely the altar shall split apart,
and the fat on it shall be poured out.” 4So when King Jeroboam heard the words of the man
of God who cried out against the altar in Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar,
saying, “Seize him!” But behold, the hand he stretched out toward him withered, and he
himself could not stretch it back. 5The altar was broken apart, and the fat on the altar poured
out from the altar—this according to the sign the man of God had given by the word of the
Lord. 6Then King Jeroboam said to the man of God, “Entreat the favor of the Lord your God,
that my hand may be restored to me.” So the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king's
hand was restored new, as it was before.† 7Then the king said to the man of God, “Come
home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.”† 8But the man of God said
to the king, “Even if you give me half your house, I would not go in with you. Nor will I eat
bread nor drink water in this place. 9For the Lord commanded me, saying, ‘You shall not eat
bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came.’ ” 10So he went another way,
and did not return by the way he came to Bethel.

                                The Old Prophet in Bethel

  11Now an old prophet dwelt in Bethel, and his sons came and told him all the works the
man of God did that day in Bethel. They also told their father the words he spoke to the king,
and the father's countenance changed. 12Their father said to them, “Which way did he go?”
His sons pointed out the way the man of God who came from Judah had gone. 13Then he
said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled the donkey for him, and he
mounted, 14to seek after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak tree. Then he
said to him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” And he said, “I am.” 15Then he
said to him, “Come home with me and eat bread.” 16And he said, “I cannot return with you,
nor eat bread or drink water in this place. 17For the Lord commanded me, saying, ‘You shall
not eat bread or drink water there, nor return by going the way you came.’ ”

  18The old prophet said to him, “I am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the
word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and
drink water.’ ” But he was lying to him. 19The man of God went back with him, and ate bread
and drank water in his house. 20As they sat at the table, the word of the Lord came to the
prophet who brought him to his house; 21and he said to the man of God who came from
Judah, saying, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you disobeyed the word of the Lord and did not
keep the commandment the Lord your God commanded you, 22but indeed, did come back,
and ate bread and drank water in the place where the Lord said to you, “Eat no bread and
drink no water”; therefore, your dead body shall never enter the tomb of your fathers.’ ”

  23So after he ate bread and drank water, he saddled the donkey for him, and he departed.
24After he left, a lion met him and killed him on the road, and his dead body remained by the

side of the road. The donkey and the lion stood by the dead body. 25When men passed by and
saw the corpse on the road, with the lion standing by the corpse, they went and told it in the
city where the old prophet dwelt.

 26Now when the old prophet who had brought him to his house heard it, he said, “It is the

man of God who was disobedient to the word of the Lord.” 27Then he said to his sons,
“Saddle a donkey for me.” So they saddled one. 28Then he went and found his dead body
thrown on the road, with the donkey and the lion standing next to it. The body was not eaten
by the lion, nor did the lion maul the donkey. 29The prophet took up the dead body of the
man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it to the city to bury him in his own tomb.
30They mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!” 31So after he mourned for him, he
spoke to his sons, saying, “When I am dead, then bury me in this tomb where the man of God
is buried. Lay me beside his bones, that my bones shall be preserved with his bones. 32For
the word will surely come to pass which he spoke by the word of the Lord against the altar in
Bethel and against all the houses of the high places in Samaria.”

  33But even after this event, Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but he again made
priests from every class of people for the high places. Whoever desired to be a priest, he
consecrated him, and he became a priest of the high places. 34This became the sin of the
house of Jeroboam, even to its total disappearance from the face of the earth.

                               Rehoboam Is King of Judah


14 Rehoboam  the son of Solomon reigned over Judah, and he was forty-one years old
   when he became king. He reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord chose
out of all the tribes of Israel to place His name. His mother's name was Naamah, an
Ammonite woman.† 2Now Rehoboam did evil in the sight of the Lord, and provoked Him in
all the things which their fathers did in the sins they committed.† 3For they built high places
for themselves: sacred pillars, and groves on every high hill and under every shady tree. 4So
there was a conspiracy in the land, and they did all the detestable things of the nations the
Lord removed from before the children of Israel.

  5In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem.
6He took all the treasures of the Lord's house, the treasures of the king's house, and the gold
spears David received from the hand of the servants of Hadadezer, king of Syria, who brought
them to Jerusalem. He took away all the gold weapons.
  7Then King Rehoboam made bronze weapons in their place, and committed them to the

hands of the captains of the guard, who guarded the doorway of the king's house. 8For
whenever the king entered the house of the Lord, the guards carried them, then brought
them back into the guardroom.

  9Now the rest of the words of Rehoboam, and everything he did, is it not written in the

Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah? 10There was war between Rehoboam and
Jeroboam all their days.† 11So Rehoboam rested with his fathers, and was buried with his
fathers in the City of David. Then Abijam his son reigned in his place.

                                   Abijam Is King of Judah


15 Inbecame
       the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam the son of Rehoboam
             king over Judah. 2He reigned for six years in Jerusalem. His mother's name
was Maachah the daughter of Abishalom. 3Now he walked in all the sins his father did before
him, and his heart was not perfect toward the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father
David.† 4Nevertheless for David's sake, the Lord gave him a remnant, so as to establish his
sons after him and to establish Jerusalem. 5For David did what was right in the eyes of the
Lord, and did not turn aside from anything He commanded him all the days of his life. 6Now
the rest of the words of Abijam and all he did, are these not written in the Book of the
Chronicles of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 7Then
Abijam rested with his fathers in the twenty-fourth year of Jeroboam, and he was buried in
the City of David. Then Asa his son reigned in his place.

                                    Asa Is King of Judah

  8In the twenty-fourth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king over Judah. 9He
reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Ana, the daughter of
Abishalom. 10Asa did what was right before the Lord, as did his father David. 11He removed
the cultic rituals from the land, and eliminated all the practices his fathers had done. 12He
also removed Ana, his mother, from being a leader, because she conducted assemblies in her
grove. Asa cut down her sacred grove and burned it by the Brook Kidron. 13But he did not
remove the high places. Nevertheless, Asa's heart was perfect with the Lord all his days. 14He
brought into the house of the Lord the pillars his father had dedicated, and his own pillars of
silver and gold and his vessels.
  15Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 16Baasha king
of Israel came up against Judah and built Ramah, so Asa king of Judah could not go out or
come in. 17Then Asa took all the silver and gold found in the treasuries of the king's house
and delivered them into the hands of his servants. Asa then sent them to the son of Hadad
the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying,
18“Let there be a covenant between you and me, as there was between my father and your
father. Behold, I have sent you a present of silver and gold. Come and break your treaty with
Baasha king of Israel, that he might withdraw from me.”

  19So the son of Hadad heeded King Asa. He sent the captains of his armies against the
cities of Israel. He attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maachah, and all Chinneroth, with all the
land of Naphtali. 20Now when Baasha heard it, he stopped building Ramah and returned to
Tirzah. 21Then King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah to Ainakim. They took
away the stones and timber of Ramah which Baasha used for building; and with them King
Asa built upon every hill of Benjamin, and also a watchtower.

  22The rest of the words of Asa, all his might, and everything he did, are they not written in
the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age, his feet were
diseased. 23Asa then rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of
David his father. Then Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.

                                  Nadab Is King of Israel

  24Now Nadab the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king

of Judah, and he reigned over Israel for two years. 25He did evil before the Lord, and walked
in the way of his father and in the sins by which he caused Israel to sin. 26Then Baasha the
son of Ahijah conspired against the house of Belaan, and killed him at Gibbethon, in the land
of the foreigners, while Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon. 27Baasha killed him in
the third year of Asa the son of Abijam king of Judah, and reigned in his place. 28It came to
pass that when he reigned, he struck every house of Jeroboam and left no one of Jeroboam's
house breathing, until he utterly destroyed him, according to the word of the Lord spoken by
His servant Ahijah the Shilonite,† 29for the sins of Jeroboam that Israel sinned, and in the
anger of him who provoked to anger the Lord God of Israel. 30Now the rest of the words of
Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of
Israel?

                                  Baasha Is King of Israel

  31In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over Israel

in Tirzah, and reigned twenty-four years. 32Now he did evil before the Lord and walked in the
way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in the sins he caused Israel to commit.


16 Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha,
   saying, 2“Because I raised you from the earth and made you ruler over My people
Israel, and you walked in the way of Jeroboam, and made My people Israel sin and provoke
Me to anger with their follies— 3surely I will take away the posterity of Baasha and the
posterity of his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of
Nebat. 4The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Baasha and dies in the city, and the birds of
the sky shall eat whoever dies in the fields.”

  5Now the rest of the words of Baasha, what he did and his might, are they not written in

the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel? 6So Baasha rested with his fathers and was
buried in Tirzah. Then Elah his son reigned in his place in the twentieth year of King Asa. 7So
the Lord spoke against Baasha and his house by the hand of Jehu, because of all the evil he
did before the Lord by provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the
house of Jeroboam; and also because he struck them down.†

                                    Elah Is King of Israel

  8Elah the son of Baasha became king over Israel and reigned for two years in Tirzah.
9Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him, and he was in Tirzah drinking

himself drunk in the house of Arza, steward of his house in Tirzah. 10Then Zimri went in,
struck and killed him. He then reigned in his place. 11When he began to reign, as soon as he
was seated on his throne, he killed all the household of Baasha, 12according to the word the
Lord spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, 13for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of
Elah his son which they caused Israel to commit, and provoked the Lord God of Israel to
anger with their follies. 14Now the rest of the words of Elah and everything he did, are they
not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

                                     Zimri's Brief Reign
  15Zimri reigned in Tirzah for seven days, and Israel was encamped against Gibbethon,

which belonged to the Philistines. 16Now the people encamped heard it said, “Zimri
conspired and killed the king.” So that day in the camp all Israel made Omri, the commander
of the army, king over Israel. 17Then Omri and all Israel with him went up from Gibbethon,
and they besieged Tirzah. 18When Zimri saw the city was taken, he went into the citadel of
the king's house, and burned the king's house down upon himself, and died. 19This he did
because of the sins he committed in doing evil before the Lord, in walking in the way of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in the sins he caused Israel to commit. 20Now the rest of the
words of Zimri and the treason he committed, are they not written in the Book of the
Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

                                     Omri Is King of Israel

  21Then the people of Israel were divided. Half of the people followed Tibni the son of

Ginath to make him king, and half followed Omri. 22But the people who followed Omri
prevailed over the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died that day, as
well as Joram his son, and Omri reigned after Tibni. 23In the thirty-first year of Asa king of
Judah, Omri became king over Israel, and reigned twelve years. He reigned for six years in
Tirzah. 24Omri bought the hill of Samaria for two talents of silver from its owner, Shemer.
Then he built on the hill, and called the name of the city he built Samaria, after the name of
Shemer, the owner of the hill.† 25Omri did evil before the Lord, and did worse than all who
were before him. 26For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in the
sins he committed and caused Israel to commit. With their follies, he provoked the Lord God
of Israel to anger. 27Now the rest of the words of Omri and everything he did, and the might
he showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel? 28So
Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. Then Ahab his son reigned in his
place.

                            Jehoshaphat Reigns in Jerusalem

  29And in the eleventh year of Omri, Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign. He was
thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-five
years. The name of his mother was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi. 30Now he walked in the way
of Asa his father, and he did not turn aside from doing what was upright before the Lord.
Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; they sacrificed in the high places and
burned incense. 31What Jehoshaphat agreed to do, and all the mighty deeds he did, and his
deeds in war, behold, have not these things been written in the Book of the Chronicles of the
kings of Judah? 32And the rest of the cultic groups which remained from the days of Asa his
father he removed from the land.

  33Now there was no king or king's deputy in Syria, 34and King Jehoshaphat made a ship in
Tarshish to go to Ophir for the gold; but they did not go, because the ship was broken to
pieces in Ezion-Geber. 35Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will send your
servants and my servants in the ship”; but Jehoshaphat was not willing. 36After this,
Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers, and he was buried with his fathers in the City of David,
and Joram his son reigned in his place.

                                   Ahab Is King of Israel

  37In the second year of Jehoshaphat, Ahab the son of Omri became king of Israel. He ruled

over Israel in Samaria for twenty-two years. 38Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil before the
Lord, more than all who were before him. 39It was not enough for him to walk in the sins of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, but he also took as his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king
of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. 40Then he set up an altar
for Baal in the house of his idols which he built in Samaria, 41and also made a sacred grove.
Ahab did yet more provocations, so as to provoke the Lord and to destroy his own life; for he
did more evil things than all the kings of Israel before him. 42In his days Hiel of Bethel built
Jericho. He laid its foundation with Abiram his firstborn, and with his youngest son Segub he
set up its gates, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by the hand of Joshua the
son of Nun.†

                                 Elijah Warns of Drought


17 Now   Elijah the Tishbite from Tishbe in Gilead said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Hosts
   lives, the God of all Israel before whom I stand, there shall not be any dew nor rain
during these years except at my word.”† 2Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying,†
3“Depart and go eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 4You

shall drink water from the brook, and I shall command the ravens to feed you there.” 5So
Elijah went and obeyed the word of the Lord, and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows
into the Jordan. 6The ravens brought him bread in the morning and meat in the evening, and
he drank water from the brook. 7But after a while the brook dried up, because there was no
rain in the land.

                                    Elijah Helps a Widow

  8Again the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying,ω 9“Arise, go to Zarephath of Sidon and

dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10So he arose and
went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the city, there was a widow gathering
firewood. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup so I can
drink.”† 11She went to get it, and Elijah called after her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of
bread in your hand.” 12But the woman said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have any
bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar. You see I am gathering a couple
of sticks, so I can go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.”†
13But Elijah said to her, “Take courage, and do as you say, but make me a small cake from it

first and bring it to me. Afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14For thus says the
Lord, ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, and the jar of oil shall not run dry, until the day
the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ”† 15So the woman went and did it. Thus she and he and
her children ate for many days. 16The bin of flour was not used up, and the jar of oil did not
run dry, according to the word the Lord spoke by Elijah.

  17Now after this, the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. His sickness

was so serious there was no breath left in him. 18So she said to Elijah, “What have I to do
with you, O man of God? You came to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to kill my
son.” 19But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried
him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20Then Elijah cried
out to the Lord and said, “Woe is me, O Lord! The witness of the widow with whom I lodge,
you have embittered her by killing her son.”† 21Then he stretched himself out on the child
three times, and called on the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, let the soul of this child come
back to him.”† 22So it happened, and the child cried out. 23He took the child and brought
him down from the upper room of the house, and gave him to his mother. Elijah said,
“Behold, your son lives.” 24Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man
of God, and the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth.”
                                    Elijah's Word to Ahab


18 Itsaying,
       came to pass many days later, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah,
             “Go and appear to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.”† 2So Elijah went and
appeared to Ahab, and there was a severe famine in Samaria.† 3Then Ahab called Obadiah,
who was in charge of his house. Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly.† 4For when Jezebel
massacred the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them, fifty to a
cave, and fed them with bread and water. 5So Ahab said to Obadiah, “Let us go into the land,
to the springs of water and brooks. Perhaps we will find grass to keep the horses and mules
alive, so none of the livestock dies.” 6So to explore it, they divided the path between them.
Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

   7Now Obadiah was alone on his way, and Elijah came alone to meet him. Obadiah quickly

fell on his face in Elijah's presence and said, “My lord Elijah, is that you?”† 8Elijah replied, “It
is I; go, tell your master, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’ ” 9So Obadiah said, “What sin did I commit
for you to give me, your servant, into the hand of Ahab to put me to death? 10As the Lord
your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent to hunt you. If
they said, ‘He is not here,’ then he set fire to the kingdom and its territories, because he did
not find you. 11So now you say to me, ‘Go, tell your master, “Behold, Elijah is here’ ”! 12But if
I so do, it shall come to pass, when I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord shall carry you to a land
I do not know. Moreover, when I go and report this to Ahab, he will kill me. Yet your servant
fears the Lord from his youth.† 13Was it not reported to you, my lord, as to what I did when
Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid one hundred men of the Lord's prophets,
fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water? 14But now you say to me, ‘Go, tell your
master, “Behold, Elijah is here,’ ” but he will kill me.”

  15Then Elijah said, “As the Lord of hosts lives before whom I stand, today I will appear to

him.”† 16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab ran out and went to meet
Elijah. 17When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Are you the one who is troubling
Israel?”† 18Elijah answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but rather you and the house of your
father, in that you forsook the Lord your God and followed after the Baals. 19Now therefore,
send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of
shame, and the four hundred prophets of the sacred groves who eat at Jezebel's table.”†
                                   The Victory over Baal

  20So Ahab went back to Israel and gathered all the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21Then
Elijah came near to all of them and said, “How long will you be undecided between two
opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not
answer.† 22Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone remain as a prophet of the Lord, but there
are four hundred and fifty men who are prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of the
sacred groves. 23Let them give us two oxen. Then let them choose one bull for themselves, to
be cut into pieces and laid on the wood; but they shall not light a fire under it. I will prepare
the other bull and lay it on the wood; and I will not light a fire under it. 24Then you will call
loudly on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord, my God. So it shall
come to pass that the God who answers by fire, He is God.” So all the people answered and
said, “The word you have spoken is good.”

  25Then Elijah said to the prophets of shame, “Choose one calf for yourselves and prepare
it, for there are many of you. Then call on the name of your god, but do not put fire to the
wood under it.” 26So they took a calf and prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from
morning until noon, saying, “Hear us, O Baal, hear us.” But there was no voice, for no one
answered, and they ran about the altar they had made.

  27Then it came to pass at noon that Elijah the Tishbite mocked them and said, “Cry out
with a loud voice, for he is a god; for either he is away meditating, or he is too busy, or
preoccupied with other business. Perhaps he is sleeping and has need to be awakened from
his nap.” 28So they cried aloud and cut themselves with knives and lances, as is their custom,
until blood gushes forth. 29They prophesied until early evening, until the appointed time to
offer the evening sacrifice. But even still, there was no voice. Finally, Elijah the Tishbite
spoke to the prophets of the idols, saying, “Now remove yourselves from this place, for I will
offer my whole burnt offering.” And they turned away and departed.

  30Then Elijah said to the people, “Come near me.” So all the people came near to him.†ω
31Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, for the Lord said,

“Israel shall be your name.” 32Then he built an altar with the stones in the name of the Lord,
and he repaired the altar of sacrifice that was scattered about, and around the altar he made a
furrow holding two measures of seed. 33He piled the firewood on the altar he had made,
divided the whole burnt offering, laid it on the firewood, and laid it in order on the altar.
34Then he said, “Bring me four pots of water, and pour it on the whole burnt offering and
pour it on the unlit firewood.” They did so. Again Elijah said, “Do it a second time.” So they
did it again. Again he said, “Do it a third time.” So they did it a third time. 35And the water
ran all about the altar, and even the furrow became filled with water.

  36After this, Elijah cried out to heaven and said, “O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
answer me, O Lord, answer me this day with fire, and let this people know You are the God of
Israel, and I am Your servant; and for Your sake I do all these works. 37Hear me, O Lord, hear
me with fire, and let these people know You are the Lord God, so as turn the heart of this
people back.”

  38Then fire fell from the Lord out of the heaven and consumed the whole burnt offering,

the firewood, and the water in the furrow. The fire also licked up the stones and the soil. 39So
all the people fell on their faces, and they said, “Truly, the Lord is God; He is God.” 40Elijah
then said to the people, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Let not one of them escape.” So they
seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon, where he slaughtered them.

                                     End of the Drought

  41After this, Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up and eat and drink, for there is a sound of rain.”
42So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, where he bowed

down on the ground and put his face between his knees. 43He said to his servant, “Go up and
look toward the sea.” So the servant went up, and looked and said, “There is nothing.” Then
Elijah said, “Go again seven times, and return to me seven times.” 44So it came to pass that
on the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud, like the footprint of a man, bringing up
water.” So Elijah said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Make ready your chariot and get down from here
before the rain overcomes you.’ ” 45Thus it came to pass that the sky darkened with black
clouds and wind, and there was a heavy downpour of rain. But Ahab mourned and went to
Jezreel. 46Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran
ahead of Ahab as far as Jezreel.

                                   Elijah Flees from Jezebel


19 Now  Ahab told Jezebel his wife everything Elijah did, and how he put to death the
   prophets with the sword. 2Then Jezebel sent to Elijah, saying, “If you are Elijah and I
this Jezebel, may God do so to me and more also if at this hour tomorrow, I do not make your
life like the life of one of them.” 3Elijah was fearful, and he arose and ran for his life. He
came to Beersheba of Judah, where he left his servant.ω 4But Elijah himself went a day's
journey into the wilderness, and came and sat under a juniper tree. He prayed concerning his
life, that he might die, and said, “I pray it be enough, O Lord. Now take my life, for I am no
better than my fathers.”† 5Then he lay down and slept under a tree.

  Unexpectedly, someone touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6Then Elijah looked,
and there by his head was a cake made of wheat and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and
lay down again. 7Again the angel of the Lord came back a second time, touched him, and said,
“Arise and eat, because the journey is a great many days for you.” 8So he arose, ate and
drank; and he went with the strength of that food forty days and forty nights, as far as Mount
Horeb. 9There he went into a cave and rested.

                               The Sound of a Gentle Breeze

  Behold, the word of the Lord came to him and said to him, “Elijah, what are you doing
here?” 10And Elijah said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord Almighty since the children
of Israel have forsaken You. They tore down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the
sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.”† 11Then He replied, “Go out tomorrow
and stand on the mountain before the Lord; and behold, the Lord will pass by, and before the
Lord, a great and powerful wind will be rending the mountains and shattering the rocks; but
the Lord will not be in the wind. After the wind, an earthquake, but the Lord will not be in the
earthquake.† 12After the earthquake, there will be a fire, but the Lord will not be in the fire.
After the fire, there will be a sound of a gentle breeze, and the Lord will be there.”

  13So when Elijah heard this, he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out and stood in
the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a Voice came to him and said, “Elijah, what are you doing
here?”† 14He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord Almighty, since the children of
Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the
sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.” 15Then the Lord said to him, “Go and
return on your way to the desert of Damascus. When you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over
Syria. 16You shall also anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel, and shall anoint
Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah as prophet in your place. 17Whoever escapes the
sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.
18And you will leave seven thousand in Israel; all those whose knees have not bowed to Baal,

and whose mouth has not kissed him.”†

                                Elisha Follows after Elijah

  19Elijah departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with
twelve yoke of oxen before him. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him.
20So Elisha left the oxen, and ran after Elijah and said, “I will kiss my father, then I will

follow after you.” Elijah said to him, “Return, for I have done this for you.” 21Elisha returned
from following him, and took a pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. He boiled their flesh with
the proper equipment, and gave it to the people to eat. He then arose and followed Elijah, and
ministered to him.

                              Naboth Killed for His Vineyard


20 Naboth   the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, next to the threshing floor of Ahab
   king of Samaria. 2So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, and it will
be my garden for herbs; for it is near my house. In return, I will give you a better vineyard. Or
if you prefer, I will give you money for it, and it will be my herb garden.” 3But Naboth said to
Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you.”†

  4So Ahab's spirit was disturbed; and he lay down on his bed and covered his face. He would

not eat any food.† 5But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “Why is your spirit
disturbed, and you are not eating any food?” 6He said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the
Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money. Otherwise, if you like, I will
give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you the inheritance of my
fathers.’ ” 7Then Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you not now exercise authority over Israel?
Arise, eat some food, and be yourself. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
8So she wrote a letter in Ahab's name, sealed it with his seal, and sent the letter to the elders

and the nobles dwelling in the city with Naboth. 9She wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a
fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people; 10and seat two men before him,
scoundrels, to bear witness against him, saying, ‘He cursed God and the king.’ Then take him
out and stone him, that he dies.”

  11Thus the men of his city, the elders and nobles, inhabitants of his city, did as Jezebel
requested them, as it was written in the letters she sent to them. 12They proclaimed a fast
and seated Naboth with high honor among the people. 13Two men, scoundrels, also came in
and sat before him. The scoundrels witnessed against him, against Naboth, and in the
presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside
the city and stoned him with stones, that he might die. 14Then they sent to Jezebel, saying,
“Naboth has been stoned and is dead.” 15When Jezebel heard it, she said to Ahab, “Arise and
take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he did not give you for
money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” 16When Ahab heard that Naboth the Jezreelite was
dead, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth. After that, Ahab arose and went down to take
possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

                                  The Evil Deeds of Ahab

  17Then the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, 18“Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel,
who lives in Samaria. He is there in the vineyard of Naboth, for he went there to take
possession of it. 19You shall speak this to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “As you were
involved in murder, and took possession,” therefore, Thus says the Lord: “In every place
where the swine and dogs licked the blood of Naboth, in the same place shall the dogs lick
your blood; and in your blood the prostitutes shall bathe themselves.” ’ ” 20So Ahab said to
Elijah, “My enemy, you have surely found me.” Elijah replied, “I have found you because you
sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.† 21Thus says the
Lord, ‘Behold, I shall bring evils upon you, and before you, fires kindle. I will utterly destroy
the males of Ahab, and him who is shut up and left in Israel. 22I will make your house like
the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah,
because of the way you provoked Me to anger and made Israel sin.’ 23The Lord spoke of
Jezebel, saying, ‘The dogs shall devour her by the outer wall of Jezreel.’ 24The dogs shall
devour the one of Ahab who dies in the city, and the one of Ahab who dies in the field, the
birds of the sky shall devour.”

  25Nevertheless, Ahab sold himself to vainly do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, because

his wife Jezebel led him astray.† 26He behaved abominably in following after idols, just as all
the Amorites had done, whom the Lord utterly cast out before the sons of Israel. 27But as a
result of the word, Ahab became deeply troubled before the Lord. He fasted, he ripped his
shirt, and put sackcloth on his body. He also put on sackcloth the day he killed Naboth the
Jezreelite. 28Concerning Ahab, the word of the Lord came by the hand of His servant Elijah
the Tishbite. The Lord said, 29“Did you see how Ahab humbled himself before Me? I will not
bring the evil in his days. But in the days of his son, I will bring evil upon his house.”

                                    Ahab's Defeat of Syria


21 Now  the son of Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his forces, and went up and
   besieged Samaria, and made war against it. He had thirty-two kings with him, with
horses and chariots.† 2Then he sent notice to Ahab king of Israel in the city 3and said to him,
“Thus says the son of Hadad, ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your wives and your
children are mine.’ ”

  4The king of Israel answered and said, “O lord and king, I am yours, and everything I have.”
5Then the messengers came back and said, “Thus says the son of Hadad, ‘Indeed I sent notice

to you, saying, “You shall deliver to me your silver and gold, your wives and children,” 6for I
will send my servants to you at this time tomorrow, and they shall search your house and the
houses of your servants. Whatever is pleasant in their eyes, they will put it in their hands and
take it.’ ” 7The king of Israel then called all the elders and said, “Know and consider, this man
seeks to ruin us. He sent notice to me concerning my wives, my sons and daughters, although
I did not deny him my silver and my gold.” 8But all the elders and all the people said to him,
“Do not listen or consent.” 9Thus he said to the messengers of the son of Hadad, “Tell your
lord, ‘Everything you sent as a demand to your servant the first time I will do, but this thing I
cannot do.’ ”

  The messengers departed and carried back to him a response. 10Then the son of Hadad
sent word back and said to him, “May God do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria
shall be sufficient for all the cunning people of my infantry.” 11So the king of Israel answered
and said, “Enough! Let the hunchback not boast like a man who stands erect.” 12And it came
to pass, when the son of Hadad heard this answer, he and all the kings were drinking in their
tents. He said to his servants, “Build ramparts, and place ramparts against the city.”

  13Then behold, a prophet approached the king of Israel, saying, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Have
you seen this great multitude? Behold today, I will deliver it into your hand, and you shall
know that I am the Lord.’ ” 14So Ahab said, “In what way?” The prophet said, “Thus says the
Lord, ‘By the young men of the governors of the regions.’ ” Then Ahab said, “Who will set the
battle in order?” The prophet answered, “You.” 15So Ahab visited the young men of the
governors of the regions, and they were two hundred thirty. After them he reviewed all the
people, every son of the army, sixty thousand.

  16Then he marched out at noon, while the son of Hadad was drinking himself senseless in

Sochoh, he and his allies of thirty-two kings. 17The young men of the governors of the
regions went out first. Those of Syria sent a report to the king of Syria, saying, “Men have
come out from Samaria.” 18The son of Hadad said to them, “If they have come for peace, take
them alive. If they have come out for war, take them alive”; 19because he did not believe the
young men of the governors of the regions had marched out of the city. 20But the army that
went out behind them, each of them struck down the man beside him, and each of them
struck down two more. So the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them vigorously. The son of
Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse of a cavalryman. 21Then the king of Israel went
out and took the horses and chariots. He killed those of Syria with a great slaughter. 22Then
the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, “Strengthen and reinforce yourself; learn and
observe what you will do, because the son of Hadad the king of Syria will be returning within
the year to march against you.”

                             The Syrian Attack Turned Back

  23The servants of the king of Syria said to him, “The God of Israel is a god of the
mountains, and not a god of the valleys. Therefore he was stronger than we. But if we battle
them in the plain, surely they will not be stronger than we.† 24But do this: Send away the
kings, each one to his place, and replace them with satraps of Persia. 25Then you shall
muster an army equal to the army you lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. Then we
will battle against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they.” And the son of
Hadad listened to their voice and did so. 26When it was one year later, the son of Hadad
reviewed the Syrians and went up to Aphek to war against Israel. 27They were well organized
and went to meet them. The sons of Israel encamped before them like two flocks of goats, but
the Syrians filled the land with their army.

  28Then a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord,
‘Because Syria said, “The Lord God of Israel is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of
the valleys,” therefore, I will deliver this entire great multitude into your hand, and you shall
know I am the Lord.’ ” 29So they encamped opposite them for seven days. And on the seventh
day the battle was joined, and in one day the children of Israel killed one hundred thousand
foot soldiers of the Syrians. 30The rest fled to Aphek, into the city, but there a wall fell upon
twenty-seven thousand of the remaining men. As for the son of Hadad, he fled into a house
and hid in the private chamber of the bedroom.

  31Then he said to his servants, “I know the kings of Israel to be merciful kings. Let us put
sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads, and go out to the king of Israel;
perhaps he may spare our lives.” 32So they put sackcloth around their waists and put ropes
around their heads and said to Ahab the king of Israel, “Your servant the son of Hadad says,
‘Allow my life to be spared.’ ” The king said, “Does he still live? He is my brother.” 33The men
took this as an omen, and listened carefully to the words from the mouth of the servant. Then
the men said, “Your brother is the son of Hadad.” The king said, “Go in and bring him here.”
So the son of Hadad came out with them, and they brought him to the chariot. 34He said to
him, “I will restore the cities my father took from your father. You may set up marketplaces
for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria. I will make a treaty with you.” So he
made a treaty with him and sent him away.

                                    Ahab Is Condemned

  35Now a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor by the word of the

Lord, “Strike me down.” But the man refused to strike him. 36Then he said to him, “Because
you did not obey the voice of the Lord, surely, as soon as you depart from me, a lion shall kill
you.” Thus as soon as he left him, a lion found and killed him. 37Then he found another man
and said, “Strike me down.” So the man struck him and inflicted a wound. 38The prophet
departed, and waited for the king of Israel by the road, and disguised himself with a bandage
over his eyes. 39Now as the king passed by, he cried out to the king and said, “Your servant
went out against the army in the war, and behold, a man brought a man to me and said to me,
‘Guard this man. But if by some means he escapes, your life shall be for his life, or else you
shall pay a talent of silver.’ 40So it came to pass that your servant was looking here and there,
but he was not to be found. But the king of Israel said to him, ‘Behold, you destroyed the
ambush meant for me.’ ”

  41Then the prophet hurried to take the bandage off his eyes, and the king of Israel

recognized him as one of the prophets. 42He said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you
freed a man meant for destruction at your hand; therefore, your life shall be in place of his
life, and your people in place of his people.’ ” 43So the king of Israel left, and returned to
Samaria confused and weary.

                             Micaiah the Prophet Warns Ahab

      Three years passed without war between Syria and Israel. 2Then it came to pass that in
22
      the third year, Jehoshaphat the king of Judah traveled down to the king of Israel. 3And
the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours? But we
are silent about taking it from the hand of the king of Syria.” 4So the king of Israel said to
Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with us to fight at Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king
of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 5Also
Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Ask the Lord today.”

  6Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and the
king said to them, “Shall I go and fight against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?” So they
said, “Go up, for the Lord will surely deliver it into the hands of the king.” 7But Jehoshaphat
said to the king of Israel, “Is there yet not here another prophet of the Lord, that we may
inquire of the Lord through him?” 8So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still
one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord. But for myself, I
hate him because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but only evil.” Jehoshaphat the
king of Judah said, “Let not the king say such things.” 9Then the king of Israel called a
eunuch and said, “Quickly, bring Micaiah the son of Imlah here.”

  10The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat, each man on his throne, with

armed men within the gates of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them.† 11Now
Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, “Thus says the Lord,
‘With these you shall gore Syria until they are brought to an end.’ ” 12All the prophets
prophesied in the same manner, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and you will prosper, for
the Lord will deliver it into your hands, even the king of Syria.”

  13Then the messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Behold, all the
prophets, speaking in one accord, are saying good things to the king. Come now, and let your
word be as theirs, and speak good things.” 14But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, I will say
whatever the Lord says to me.” 15Then he came to the king, and the king said to him,
“Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?” He answered him,
“Go and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.” 16So the king said to
him, “How many times shall I make you swear you are telling me nothing but the truth in the
name of the Lord?” 17Micaiah said, “It was not so. I saw all Israel being scattered on the
mountains, like a shepherd without a flock. The Lord is not with them. Let each return to his
house in peace.” 18Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, “Did I not
tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but on the contrary, evil?”

  19Micaiah said, “No, this is not so, for I hear the word of the Lord. This is not so, for I saw
the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by on His right hand and
on His left. 20Then the Lord said, ‘Who will deceive Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go
up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ One spoke one way and another spoke in another way. 21Then
a spirit came forth and stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will deceive him.’ The Lord said to
him, ‘In what way?’ 22So he said, ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all
his prophets.’ The Lord said, ‘You shall deceive him, and you shall prevail. Go and do so.’
23Now behold, the Lord put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours. So the
Lord has spoken evil things against you.”

  24Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and

said, “Which spirit of the Lord is speaking in you?” 25And Micaiah said, “Indeed, you shall
see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.” 26So the king of Israel
said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, son of
the king; 27and place him in prison. Feed him with bread of suffering and water of suffering
until I return in peace.” 28But Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the Lord did not speak
through me.”

                                    Ahab Killed in Battle

  29So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.
30The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, “I will disguise myself and go into
battle; but you put on my robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

  31Now the king of Syria commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Fight

with no one small or great except the king of Israel.” 32So when the captains of the chariots
saw Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, they said, “Surely it is the king of Israel.” So they
encircled him to fight him, and Jehoshaphat cried out. 33When the captains of the chariots
saw it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 34Now a certain man
drew his bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the lungs and the breastplate.
So the king said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around, and take me out of the battle; for I
am wounded.”

  35The battle turned that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians,
and he died at evening. The blood ran out from the wound onto the floor of the chariot.
36Then, as the sun was going down, a shout went throughout the army, saying, “Every man
to his city, and every man to his own land.”

  37So the king died and was brought to Samaria, where they buried him. 38They also bathed
the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs and the swine licked up his blood while the
prostitutes bathed, according to the words the Lord spoke. 39Now the rest of the acts of Ahab
and everything he did, the ivory house he built, and all the cities he built, are they not written
in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel? 40So Ahab rested with his fathers. Then
Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.

                               Jehoshaphat Is King of Judah

  41Jehoshaphat the son of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of

Israel. 42Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for
twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
43Now he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, but did

what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 44Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away,
for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. 45Jehoshaphat also
made peace with the king of Israel. 46Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat and the might
that he showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?
47So Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David
his father. Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place.

                                  Azariah Is King of Israel

  48Ahaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of

Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel. 49He did evil in the sight of
the Lord and walked in the way of his father Ahab, and in the way of his mother Jezebel, and
in the sins of the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. 50For he
served the Baals and worshiped them, and provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger,
according to all the things done before him.
                                 4 K ING DO M S(2 K ING S)
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Chapters in 4 Kingdoms
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20


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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20


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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20


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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 23
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20


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Verses in 4 Kingdoms Chapter 25
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30


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                                             The Fourth Book of the Kingdoms
                                                                  (Second Kings)

    Author   —By tradition, Jeremiah, though most scholars agree his work was reframed and
  added to by numerous editors.

    Date   —Covers the period from about 651–609 BC

    Major Theme     —Works of the Kings of Judah (Southern Kingdom).

    Background     —The writers were concerned mainly with what happened in the southern
  kingdom of Judah (see background notes on 3 Kingdoms).

 Outline

  I. The Northern Kingdom of Israel until Its Fall (1 :1 –1 7 :4 1 )

         A. The prophetic labors of Elijah and Elisha (1 :3 –9 :1 0)

         B. From Jehu to the fall of Israel (9 :1 1 –1 7 :4 1 )

  II. Judah until the Day of Its Fall (1 8:1 –2 5:3 0)

         A. The kingdom of Judah under Hezekiah (1 8:1 –2 0:2 1 )

         B. Manasseh and Am on rule Judah (2 1 :1 –2 6 )

         C. Reform s in Judah (2 2 :1 –2 3 :3 0)

         D. The last day s of Judah (2 3 :3 1 –2 5:3 0)



                                                         Ahaziah Judged by God

  After the death of Ahab, Moab reneged on its covenant with Israel. 2Now Ahaziah fell
1 through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and was injured. He sent messengers,
telling them, “Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this
injury.” And they went to inquire of him. 3But the Angel of the Lord said to Elijah the
Tishbite, “Arise, go and meet the messengers of Ahaziah, the king of Samaria, and say to
them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub god
of Ekron?† 4This is not true,’ says the Lord, ‘and you shall not come down from the bed to
which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ”

  So Elijah went and told them. 5When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them,
“Why did you return?” 6They said to him, “A man came up to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go,
return to the king who sent you, and say to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Is it because there is
no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub god of Ekron? This is not true.
You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ”
’ ” 7Then the king said to them, “What were the distinguishing marks of the man who came
up to meet you and told you these words?” 8They answered him, “A hairy man wearing a
leather belt around his waist.”

  And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”† 9Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with
his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there was Elijah, sitting on the top of a hill. And he
spoke to him, “Man of God, the king summoned you. Come down!”† 10Elijah answered and
said to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, then fire will come down from heaven and
consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed the
captain of fifty and his fifty.† 11Then the king again sent to him another captain of fifty with
his fifty men. He answered and said to him, “Man of God, the king said, ‘Come down quickly!’
” 12So Elijah answered and spoke to him, “If I am a man of God, fire will come down from
heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” The fire of God came down from heaven and
consumed him and his fifty. 13Then the king sent yet a third captain of fifty with his fifty
men. The third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah and
pleaded with him, and said to him, “Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty
servants of yours be precious in your sight. 14Look, fire came down from heaven and burned
up the first two captains of fifties with their fifties. But let my life now be precious in your
sight.”

  15The Angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he

arose and went down with him to the king. 16Then Elijah spoke to him and said, “Thus says
the Lord: ‘Why did you send captains with fifty messengers to inquire? It shall not be so. You
shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” 17So
he died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah spoke. 18Now the rest of the acts
Ahaziah did, are these not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

                                  Jehoram King of Israel

  19Jehoram, the son of Ahab, reigned over Israel in Samaria twelve years, beginning in the

eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. 20He did evil before the Lord, but not as his
brothers nor as his mother. 21He removed the pillars of Baal which his father made and
broke them into pieces; nevertheless, he was joined to the sins of the house of Jeroboam,
which caused Israel to sin. He did not remove himself from them. 22The Lord in anger was
furious against the house of Ahab.

                                Elijah Caught Up to Heaven


2 As the time came to be for the Lord to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah
  and Elisha went from Gilgal.† 2Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord
sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave
you!” So they went to Bethel. 3Now the sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha, and
said to him, “Do you know that this day the Lord will take away your master from over your
head?” And he said, “I know. Please be silent!”

  4Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord sent me to Jericho.” But he
said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” And they went to Jericho.
5Now the sons of the prophets in Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that
this day the Lord will take away your master from over your head?” So he answered, “I know,
please be silent!” 6Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord sent me on to the
Jordan.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So
both of them went on.†ω 7Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them
at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled
it up, and struck the water. The water divided this way and that, and the two of them crossed
on dry ground.††

  9So it was that during the time they crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I may do
for you, before I am taken away from you.” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your
spirit be upon me.” 10So Elijah said, “You have asked a hard thing. If you see me when I am
taken up from you, it shall be so for you; and if not, it shall not be so.” 11Thus it came to be,
as they walked and continued to talk, behold a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and
the fire separated them one from the other; and Elijah was taken up into heaven by a
whirlwind.†

  12Then Elisha saw it and cried aloud, “Father, O father, the chariot of Israel and its
horsemen!” He saw Elijah no more, and he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into
two pieces.† 13Then he raised Elijah's mantle, which fell from Elijah and upon Elisha, and
Elisha returned and stood on the bank of the River Jordan.† 14He took Elijah's mantle which
had fallen upon him and struck the water, but it did not divide. Then he said, “Where is the
Lord God of Elijah himself?” And he struck the water again, and it divided this way and that.
So Elisha crossed over. 15When the sons of the prophets in Jericho met him and saw him,
they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the
ground before him.† 16They said to him, “Look! There are fifty men of power with your
servants. Please let them go and search for your master, lest perhaps the Spirit of the Lord
took him up and cast him into the Jordan or onto one of the mountains or onto one of the
hills.” Elisha said, “Send no one.” 17But they urged him till he was ashamed, and he said,
“Send them!” They sent fifty men and searched for three days, but did not find him. 18They
came back to where Elisha stayed in Jericho. And he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do
not go’?”

                                   Elisha Works Miracles

  19Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, as my lord can see, this city is a pleasant

place to live, but the water is bad, and the ground is barren.”†ω 20So Elisha said, “Bring me a
new water pitcher and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21Then he went out to the
spring of the waters and cast salt into it, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed these
waters; from them there shall no longer be death or barrenness.’ ” 22So the water was healed
by the word Elisha spoke, and so it remains today.

 23From there he went up to Bethel. Along the way some young boys came from the city

who continued teasing him by saying, “Go up, baldy, go up!”† 24So Elisha turned around and
stared at them. He then cursed them in the name of the Lord, and two female bears came out
of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. 25From there he went to Mount Carmel, and
from there he returned to Samaria.

                                  Israel and Moab at War


3 Jehoram  the son of Ahab became king over Israel in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat
  king of Judah, and he reigned for twelve years. 2He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but
not like his father and mother, for he removed the sacred pillars of Baal his father built. 3But
still he persisted in the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin; he did not
depart from it.

  4Now Mesha king of Moab was a herdsman, and in the beginning of the year he regularly
paid tribute to the king of Israel, one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred
thousand rams. 5But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
6So King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time and inspected all Israel. 7Then he went
and sent to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab rebelled against me. Will
you go with me to fight against Moab?” And he said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as
your people, my horses as your horses.” 8Then he said, “Which way shall we go up?” And he
answered, “By way of the Desert of Edom.”

  9So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and this
roundabout march took them seven days to complete. There was no water for the army or for
the animals that went with them. 10And the king of Israel said, “Alas! That the Lord should
call these three kings together only to deliver them into the hand of Moab.” 11But
Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by
him?” So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of
Shaphat, who poured water on Elijah's hands, is here.” 12And Jehoshaphat said, “He has the
word of the Lord.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to
him. 13Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of
your father.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No, has the Lord called these three kings
together to deliver them into the hands of Moab?” 14And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts
lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king
of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you. 15But now bring me a harpist.”

  When the harpist played, the hand of the Lord came upon him. 16And he said, “Thus says
the Lord: ‘Fill this valley with ditches.’ 17For Thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor
shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your beasts, and your
cattle may drink.’ 18And this is easy in the eyes of the Lord. Then I will deliver Moab into
your hand.† 19Thus you shall attack every fortified city; you shall cut down every good tree;
you shall stop up every spring of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.”
20Now when the grain offering was offered in the morning, behold water came from the
direction of Edom, and the land was filled with water.
  21All the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to wage war against them. All those

being able to bear armor and older uttered loud cries and stood at the border. 22The Moabites
rose early in the morning, when the sun was shining on the water. They saw the water on the
other side being as red as blood. 23So they said, “This is blood. The kings have surely struck
swords and have killed one another. Now Moab, to the spoils!”

  24They entered the camp of Israel; and Israel rose and smote Moab, and they fled before

them. They pursued them and killed the Moabites as they went. 25They razed the cities, and
each man threw a stone on every good piece of land and filled it; they stopped every spring;
cut down all the good trees, leaving only the stones of the wall; and they pulled down the
sling-throwers that surrounded them and broke them. 26When the king of Moab saw that the
battle was too fierce for him, he took seven hundred men with him who drew swords, to
break through to the king of Edom. But they could not. 27Then he took his firstborn son who
would rule in his place, and up against the wall they offered him up as a burnt offering. Then
a great remorse came upon Israel, and they departed from him and turned back toward their
land.

                              Elisha and the Poor Widow's Oil


4 The wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my
  husband is dead, and you know your servant feared the Lord, and the creditor is coming to
take my two sons to be his servants.”† 2Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me
what you have in the house.” She replied, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but the
oil I use to anoint myself.” 3Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your
neighbors, empty vessels; do not gather just a few. 4And you shall go in and shut the door
behind yourself and your sons. Then you shall pour out into these vessels, and take away
what is being filled.”

  5So she went from him and did so. She shut the door behind herself and her sons. Then

they brought the vessels to her, and she poured 6until the vessels were filled. And she said to
her son, “Bring me an additional vessel.” And they said to her, “There is not another vessel.”
So the oil ceased. 7Then she came and told the man of God. And Elisha said, “Go, sell the oil
and pay your debt. Thus you and your sons shall live by means of the rest of the oil.”†

                         Elisha Raises the Shunammite Woman's Son
  8Now one day Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a persuasive woman, and she
persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to
eat some food.ω 9And the woman said to her husband, “Look now, I know this is a holy man
of God who comes to us regularly. 10Let us make a small room upstairs; and let us put a bed
for him there, with a table, a stool, a chair, and a lamp stand. And it shall be when he comes
to us, he will turn aside into this place.” 11Now it happened one day that he came and he went
there, and turned aside into the upper room and lay down there.† 12Then he said to his
servant, Gehazi, “Call this Shunammite woman.” He called her, and she stood before him.
13And he said to Gehazi, “Say now to her, ‘Hear me. You have shown us all this care. What
can I do for you? Do you have any request for the king or the commander of the army?’ ” But
she answered, “I dwell among my own people.”

  14So Elisha said, “What then is to be done for her?” And his servant, Gehazi, replied, “She

certainly has no son, and her husband is old.” 15Then Elisha called her, and she stood by the
door. 16And Elisha said, “About this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” So she said,
“No, my lord, do not lie to your maidservant!” 17Then as Elisha told her, the woman
conceived, and she bore a son when the appointed time came. 18And the child grew.

  And it came to pass when he went out to his father to the reaping, 19that he said to his
father, “My head, my head!” His father said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20So he
carried him to his mother, and he lay upon her knees till noon and died. 21She took him up
and laid him on the bed of the man of God. She went out and closed the door as she left.
22She called to her husband and said, “Please bring to me one of the young men and one of

the donkeys. I will ride quickly to the man of God and come back.” 23So he said, “Why go to
him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.” And she replied, “It is well.”

  24She saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Lead onward and do not slacken the

pace for me unless I tell you.” 25She rode and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. And
when the man of God saw her, he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look, it is that Shunammite
woman! 26Please run now to meet her and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your
husband? Is it well with the child?’ ” And she answered, “Peace.” 27Now she came to the man
of God on the hill and took hold of him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away.
But the man of God said, “Leave her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the Lord hid it
from me and did not tell me.” 28So she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not tell you
not to deceive me?”

  29Then Elisha said to Gehazi, “Prepare yourself, take my staff in your hand and be on your
way. If you meet anyone, you will not greet him. And if anyone greets you, you will not
answer him. You shall lay my staff on the face of the child.”† 30Then the mother of the child
said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So Elisha arose and
followed her. 31Now Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the child's face; but
there was neither voice nor hearing. So he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, “The
child is not awakened.”

  32Elisha went into the house, and there was the child, lying dead on his bed.† 33He went

into the room and shut the door against the other two, and prayed to the Lord. 34Then he
went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his
hands on his hands; and he bowed himself down upon him, and the flesh of the child
warmed. 35He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and he went up and bowed
himself down upon the child seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36Then Elisha called
Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And she came to where he
was and he said, “Take your son.” 37So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground.
Then she took her son and went out.†

                                    The Other Miracles

  38Then Elisha returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land. Now the sons of the
prophets were sitting before him; and Elisha said to his servant, “Put on the large pot and boil
some pottage for the sons of the prophets.” 39So one went out into the field to gather herbs,
and found a wild vine and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and threw them into the
pot of soup, though they did not know what they were. 40Then they served it to the men to
eat. Now, as they were eating the vegetables, they cried out and said, “Man of God, there is
death in the pot!” And they could not eat it. 41So he said, “Take wheat flour and throw it in
the pot.” Then Elisha said to his servant Gehazi, “Serve it to the people and let them eat.”
Thus there was no longer anything harmful in the pot.

  42Then a man came from Baal-Shalisha and brought to the man of God the firstfruits,
twenty loaves of barley bread and fruit cake. And he said, “Give it to the people and let them
eat.”† 43But his servant said, “Why shall I set this before one hundred men?” Elisha said,
“Give it to the people and let them eat, for Thus says the Lord: ‘They shall eat and will leave
some behind.’ ” 44So they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.

                                Naaman Cured of Leprosy


5 Now  Naaman, commander of the army of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the
  eyes of his master, because by him the Lord gave victory to Syria. The man was mighty in
strength and valor, but a leper.† 2And the Syrians, lightly armed, had gone out on raids and
brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman's wife.
3Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet of God in Samaria!

For he would expel his leprosy from him.” 4And she went in and told her master, saying,
“This is what the girl from the land of Israel said.” 5Then the king of Syria said to Naaman,
“Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he departed and took with him ten
talents of silver, six thousand gold shekels, and ten changes of clothing. 6Then he brought the
letter to the king of Israel, which said, “Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I
am sending Naaman my servant to you, so that you may heal him of his leprosy.”

  7And it came to pass, when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said,
“Am I God, able to kill and make alive, to heal this man of his leprosy that this man sends to
me? You perceive and see that this man is using this as a pretext for a quarrel with me.”
8When Elisha the man of God heard the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent notice to
the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let Naaman come to me, and he shall
know there is a prophet in Israel.”

  9Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot and stood at the door of Elisha's house.
10And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and bathe in the Jordan seven times, and

your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.”† 11But Naaman became furious
and went away, saying, “Indeed, I told myself that Elisha would come out to greet me; that he
would stand and call on the name of his God; and that he would put his hand upon the place
and heal the leprosy. 12Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better
than all the waters of Israel? Can I not bathe in them and be clean?” So he turned and went
away in a rage.

  13Then his servants approached and said to him, “If the prophet were to tell you to do
something great, would you not complete it? But here the prophet said to you, ‘Bathe and be
clean.’ ” 14So Naaman went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to Elisha's
instruction, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was cleansed.†
15Then he, with all his aides, returned to Elisha and came and stood before him; and he said,
“Indeed, now I have come to know that in all the earth there is no God except the God of
Israel. Now accept the gift of your servant.”† 16But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives before
whom I stand, I will receive nothing.” Again he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17So
Naaman said, “If not, then, please let your servant be given two mule-loads of red earth; for
your servant will no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but to the
Lord alone. 18And let the Lord be merciful with your servant: when my master goes there, to
the house of Rimmon, to worship, he will rely on my hand, and I will worship in the house of
Rimmon. In the worship in the house of Rimmon, may the Lord be merciful to your servant
in this matter.” 19Then Elisha said to Naaman, “Go in peace.”

  He departed from him but a short distance. 20Then Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, said,
“Behold, my master spared this Syrian Naaman, yet from his hand he received nothing of
what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something of his.” 21So
Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he turned from the
chariot to meet him. 22And Gehazi said, “Peace. My master sent me saying, ‘Indeed, just now
two young men of the sons of the prophets came to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Give
them a talent of silver and two changes of garments.’ ” 23Then Naaman said, “Take two
talents of silver.” So Gehazi took two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of
garments, and handed them to two of his servants. They left and carried them on ahead of
him. 24As they entered into the darkness, he took them from their hands and stored them in
the house. He then dismissed the men. 25Now he went in and stood before his master. And
Elisha said to him, “From where have you come, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant did not
go anywhere.”

  26Then Elisha said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from
his chariot to meet you? And now you received the silver and the garments, and it shall
happen that you shall receive from him gardens and olive groves and vineyards and sheep
and oxen and men-servants and handmaidens. 27And the leprosy of Naaman shall also cling
to you and your seed forever.” Thus he went out from his presence leprous, like snow.† †

                                  The Floating Ax Head
6 Then  the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the strip of land where we dwell
  with you is too narrow for us.† 2Please let us go to the River Jordan, and let every man
take a log and build there a dwelling place.” So he answered, “Go.”

  3And one of them humbly requested, “Come with your servants.” And he replied, “I will

go.” 4Then he went with them, and they came to the River Jordan and began to cut trees.†
5But as one man was cutting a log, the iron ax head fell into the water. He cried out and said,

“Alas, master, it was borrowed.” 6So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed
him the place. So he broke off a stick of wood and threw it in the water at the same place; and
the iron ax head rose to the surface.† 7Then Elisha said, “Raise it up to yourself.” So he
reached down into the water and lifted it out.

                                       Defeat of Syria

  8Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants,

saying, “I shall encamp in this specific place.”† 9Then Elisha sent word to the king of Israel,
saying, “Be careful not to pass this place, for the Syrians are hidden there.” 10In response, the
king of Israel sent someone to this place which Elisha warned about, and thereby kept careful
watch over the Syrians on more than two occasions. 11As a result, the king of Syria became
troubled as to what was happening. He called his officers and said to them, “Will you not tell
me who gives advance warning of our movements to the king of Israel?” 12And one of his
officers said, “No one, O lord my king. It is Elisha the prophet in Israel that tells the words
you speak in your bedroom to the king of Israel.” 13So he said, “Go, see where this man is,
and I will send and kidnap him.”

  They sent word to him, saying, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14So he sent horses and chariots
and a great army that arrived at night to surround the city. 15When Elisha's servant arose
early and went out, the army was there, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And
his servant said to him, “O master, what shall we do?” 16So he answered, “Do not fear, for
those who are with us are greater in number than those who are with them.” 17Then Elisha
prayed, and said, “Lord, open the eyes of the servant and let him see.” And the Lord opened
the eyes of the young man, and he was now able to see, and he beheld the mountain full of
horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.†

  18Then the Syrians marched toward him, and Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Strike
these people with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of
Elisha. 19So Elisha said to them, “This is not the city nor is this the way to it. Follow me, and
I will bring you to the man you seek.” But he led them away to Samaria. 20So it came to be
when they arrived in Samaria, Elisha said, “Lord, open their eyes and let them see.” Thus the
Lord completely restored their ability to see. And behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

  21Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “O father, shall I not strike to

kill them?” 22But he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you
took captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may
eat and drink and return to their lord.” 23Then he prepared a great feast for them, and after
they ate and drank, he dismissed them and they departed to their lord. So lightly armed
raiding parties of Syrians no longer came into the land of Israel.

                                  Syria Besieges Samaria

  24And it came to pass that after this, the son of Hadad king of Syria gathered all the troops

of his army and went up and besieged Samaria. 25There was a great famine in Samaria.
Indeed they besieged it even to the point where the value placed on the head of a donkey was
fifty shekels of silver, and two quarts of dove droppings cost five shekels of silver. 26As the
king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, “Save me, my
lord, O king!” 27And he said, “If the Lord does not save you from the threshing floor or from
the winepress, how can I save you?” 28Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you?”
And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give us your son so that we may eat him today,
and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ 29So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I
told her, ‘Give me your son so that we may eat him,’ but she hid her son.”

  30Now when the king heard the woman's words, he tore his clothes, and as he passed by on

the wall, the people saw that underneath his clothes he wore sackcloth on his body. 31Then
he said, “God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha remains on him today.”

  32Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him, when the king
sent a man ahead of him. But before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, “Do
you see that this son of a murderer was sent to take away my head? Look, when the
messenger comes, shut the door, and keep him on the outside of the door. Is that not the
sound of his master's feet behind him?” 33While yet talking with them, behold the
messenger came down towards him; and the king said, “Listen! This evil is of the Lord, so
why should I remain patient in the Lord?”


7 Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: ‘About this time
  tomorrow, at the gate of Samaria a measure of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and for a
shekel, two measures of barley.’ ”† 2So the officer on whose hand the king relied retorted to
Elisha and said, “Look, even if the Lord in heaven will make a downpour of rain, this event
shall not happen.” And Elisha said, “Behold, you shall see this with your own eyes, but you
shall not eat of it.”

                                   The Syrian Army Flees

  3Now at the entrance of the gate there were four leprous men. And one of them said to his

neighbor, “Why are we sitting here until we die? 4If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ and there
is famine in the city, we will die there. And if we sit here in this place, then we will die. Now
therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall
live; and if they kill us, we shall die.” 5So they rose in the darkness to head to the army camp
of the Syrians. They entered the outskirts of the army camp and no one was there. 6For the
Lord had caused the army of Syria to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses, the
noises of a very great army. For the Lord made the army of Syria say to one another, “Look,
the king of Israel hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to
attack us!” 7So they arose in the darkness and quietly fled for their lives, leaving their tents,
their horses, and their donkeys at the campsite.

  8And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate
and drank, and carried away from it silver and gold and clothing. Then they left and came
back to enter another tent to take from there and to hide the spoils. 9And one said to the
others, “This is not right. This day is a day of good news, and if we remain silent and wait
until the light of morning, we will find wickedness in the city. Now come here! Let us enter
the city and deliver this good news to the house of the king.” 10So they went and cried out
with a loud voice toward the gate of the city, and proclaimed to them, saying, “We entered the
army camp of Syria and behold, no one was there, not a man nor a human voice. The only
things there were the tied-up horses and donkeys, and their tents, which they left intact.”

  11Then the gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported to the house of the king
inside. 12So the king arose in the night and said to his servants, “Now I will inform you as to
what the Syrians are doing. They know we are hungry. Therefore they went out of the camp to
hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall catch them
alive and capture the city.’ ”

  13Then one of his servants answered and said, “Indeed! Let them now take five of the
remaining horses, of all that remain of the multitude of Israel, and send them there to see.”
14Therefore they saddled two horses, and the king of Israel sent them after the king of Syria,

saying, “Go and see.” 15And they went after them even to the Jordan. Indeed all along the
way, the road was full of garments and vessels which the Syrians themselves cast away in the
panic. So the messengers returned and brought word to the king.† 16Then the people went
out and plundered the army camp of Syria. And a measure of fine flour sold for a shekel, and
two measures of barley for a shekel, true to the word of the Lord.

  17Now the king had appointed the officer, the one on whose hand the king relied, to have
charge of the gate. But the people trampled him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God
said who spoke when the king came down to him. 18So it happened just as Elisha said to the
king, saying, “Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel,
shall be sold tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria.” 19Then the officer had
answered Elisha with this retort, “Look, even if the Lord in heaven should make a downpour
of rain, this sort of thing would never happen.” Then Elisha had answered, “In fact, you shall
see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” 20And so it was in this way; for the people
trampled him in the gate, and he died.

                         The Shunammite Woman Returns Home


8 Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life saying, “Arise and go, you
  and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the Lord called for a famine on the
land, and it will come upon the land for seven years.”† 2So the woman arose, and both she
and her house did according to the saying of Elisha. They sojourned in the land of the
Philistines for seven years.

  3At the end of seven years, the woman returned from the land of the Philistines and went

to make an appeal to the king for her house and for her land. 4Now the king spoke to Gehazi,
the servant of Elisha, saying, “Tell me all the significant deeds Elisha has accomplished.”
5And it came pass, as he was telling the king how Elisha restored her dead son to life, behold
the woman whose son Elisha had restored to life came crying to the king for her house and
for her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son whom
Elisha restored to life.” 6So the king asked the woman, and she related this fully to him. Then
the king told a certain eunuch, saying, “Restore all that was hers, and all the proceeds of the
field from the day she left the land until now.”

                                  Death of the Syrian King

  7Then Elisha went to Damascus at a time when the son of Hadad the king of Syria was sick.

And they brought word to him saying, “The man of God is here.” 8And the king said to
Hazael, “Take in your hand a present and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord
by him, asking, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’ ” 9So Hazael went to meet him. In his
hand, he took a present plus all the good things of Damascus, forty camel-loads, and he came
and stood before him and said, “Your son the king of Syria, the son of Hadad, sent me to ask
you whether he would recover from this disease.”

 10So Elisha said to him, “Go tell him, ‘You shall live.’ However, the Lord made known to

me that he will die by being put to death.” 11The man of God wept and sat there until he was
ashamed, then he stood up in the presence of Hazael.† 12At this Hazael said, “Why does my
lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil you will do to the sons of Israel. You will
utterly destroy their strongholds with fire, and you will kill their young men with the sword.
You will dash their children and rip open their pregnant women.”† 13Then Hazael said, “What
is your servant that I should do such a thing, a dead dog?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has
shown me that you will become king over Syria.”

  14Then he departed from Elisha and came to his lord, who said to him, “What did Elisha

say to you?” And he answered, “He told me you will live.” 15But on the next day, Hazael took
a thick cloth and dipped it in water, and spread it over the face of the king, the son of Hadad,
and he died. Hazael reigned in his place.

                                 Jehoram Is King of Judah

  16Now in the fifth year of Joram, the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Joram, the son of

Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, began to reign. 17He was thirty-two years old when he became
king, and he ruled for eight years in Jerusalem. 18And he walked in the way of the kings of
Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife; and he did
evil in the eyes of the Lord. 19Yet the Lord would not destroy Judah for the sake of his
servant David, as He promised to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.

  20In his days, Edom revolted against Judah's authority and made a king over themselves.
21So Joram went to Seir with all his chariots, and it came to be, after he raised his troops, he
struck Edom and the captains of the chariots who had encircled him. The people fled to their
tents. 22Even so, Edom revolted from being subordinate to the authority of Judah to this day.
At the same time Libnah revolted as well. 23Behold, the rest of the acts of Joram, and
everything he did, are these not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?
24So Joram rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his
father. Then Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.

                                 Ahaziah Is King of Judah

  25In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram

began to reign. 26Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he ruled for
one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah the granddaughter of Omri, king of
Israel. 27And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
like the house of Ahab.

  28Now he went with Joram the son of Ahab to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth

Gilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram. 29Then King Joram went back to Jezreel to recover
from the wounds the Syrians inflicted on him at Ramah, where he fought against Hazael king
of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to see Joram the son of
Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

                                   Jehu Is King of Israel


9 Then Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Prepare
  yourself, take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead.† 2Now when you
arrive at that place, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and go in
and awaken him from among his brethren, and take him to the innermost chamber. 3Then
take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I have anointed you
king over Israel.” Then open the door and flee, and do not delay.” 4So the young man, the
prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead. 5When he arrived where the captains of the army were
sitting, he said, “I have a message for you, O captain.” Jehu said, “For which one of us?” And
he said, “For you, O captain.” 6Then he arose and went into the house. And he poured the oil
on his head, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘I have anointed you king
over the people of the Lord, over Israel. 7You shall destroy the house of Ahab your master,
that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of
the Lord at the hand of Jezebel 8and by the hand of all the house of Ahab, and you shall cut
off from the house of Ahab every male held captive, those looked after and those in solitary
confinement. 9Then I will deliver the house of Ahab, like the house of Jeroboam the son of
Nebat and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. 10The dogs shall eat Jezebel on the plot
of ground at Jezreel, and there shall be no one to bury her.’ ” And he opened the door and
fled.

  11Then Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and they said to him, “Peace to you.
Why did this possessed man come to you?” And he said to them, “You know the man and his
babble.” 12And they said, “Liar! Now you tell us.” And Jehu said to them, “Thus and thus he
spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I anointed you king over Israel.” ’ ” 13When they
heard this, they hastened to take their garments and to place them beneath him on the top of
the stairs. And they blew trumpets, saying, “Jehu is king!”

                               Israel's King Joram Is Killed

  14So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram; and Joram

was defending Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, against Hazael king of Syria; 15and King
Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds the Syrians had inflicted on him
when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. Jehu said, “If your heart is with me, let no one
leave or escape from the city to go and tell it in Jezreel.” 16So Jehu rode ahead and came
down to Jezreel; for Joram, king of Israel, was being restored to health in Jezreel from the
arrow wounds the Syrians inflicted on him with the bow in Ramoth, in the battle with Hazael
king of Syria; for he was powerful and a man of strength. And Ahaziah king of Judah came
down to see Joram.

  17Now a watchman went up on the tower in Jezreel, and saw Jehu's dust as he came, and
said, “I see dust.” And Joram said, “Get a horseman and send him to meet them. Let him say,
‘It is a time for peace.’ ” 18So the horseman went to meet him, and said, “Thus says the king,
‘Let there be peace.’ ” And Jehu said, “What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and
follow me.” So the watchman reported, saying, “The messenger went to them, but is not
coming back.” 19Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them and said, “Thus
says the king, ‘It is time for peace!’ ” And Jehu answered, “What do you have to do with
peace? Turn around and follow me.”

  20So the watchman reported, saying, “He went up to them and is not coming back. And he

brought Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he was in a frenzy!” 21Then Joram exclaimed, “Make
ready! Harness a chariot!” Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out,
each in his chariot, for a meeting with Jehu. They found him on the property of Naboth the
Jezreelite. 22Now it happened when Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Jehu, let there be a time of
peace.” And he answered, “How can there be a time of peace? The sexual immorality of
Jezebel your mother and her sorceries are still many.”

  23Then Joram turned the reigns in his hand to flee, and said to Ahaziah, “This is treachery,

Ahaziah!” 24But Jehu drew back on his bow fully and shot Joram with an arrow between his
shoulders. The arrow came out through his heart, and he buckled at his knees. 25Then Jehu
said to Bidkar his officer, “Cast him into the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for I
remember when you and I were mounting onto a pair of chariots behind Ahab, Joram's
father, and the Lord took upon Himself this promise against Ahab, saying, 26‘Yesterday,’ says
the Lord, ‘I surely saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons. I will recompense to
him in this same portion.’ Therefore now, pick him up and cast him into the portion of
ground, according to the word of the Lord.”

                              Judah's King Ahaziah Is Killed

  27But when Ahaziah king of Judah saw this, he fled on the road to Beth Haggan. So Jehu
pursued after him, saying, “Him, too!” And on the ascent of Gur, one struck him in the
chariot, near Ibleam. He then fled to Megiddo and died there. 28From here, his servants
carried him in the chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb in the City of David.
29And in the eleventh year of Joram king of Israel, Ahaziah became king over Judah.

                                The Bloody Death of Jezebel
  30Now Jehu returned to Jezreel, and Jezebel received the news of it. She put black makeup
on her eyes and adorned her head, and she stooped down and peeked through the window.
31As Jehu entered into the city, she said, “Peace, Zimri, the murderer of his master.”

  32Jehu raised his eyes upward toward the window and saw her, and said, “Who are you?

Come down by me.” Then two eunuchs looked down at him. 33He exclaimed, “Throw her
down.” So they threw her down, and her blood splattered against the wall, even on the horses
which trampled her. 34Then Jehu went in, and he ate and drank, and said, “Indeed, have care
for this cursed woman. Give her a proper burial, as she is the daughter of a king.” 35So they
went to bury her, but no more of her was found but the skull, the feet, and the palms of her
hands.

  36They came back and told Jehu. And he said, “This is the word the Lord spoke by His
servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel, dogs shall eat the flesh
of Jezebel; 37and Jezebel's corpse shall be like dung on the face of the field in the plot at
Jezreel, so that they shall not say, “Here lies Jezebel.” ’ ”

                                 The Sons of Ahab Are Killed


10 Ahab  had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote a letter and sent it to Samaria, to
   the rulers of Samaria, to the elders, and to those who reared the sons of Ahab, saying,
2“At the moment this letter is delivered to you, since your master's sons are with you, and

because you have chariots and horses, a fortified city, and weapons, 3choose the best
qualified of your master's sons, then set him on his father's throne, and prepare to fight for
your master's house.”

  4But they were very afraid and said, “Look, two kings could not stand up to him. How can

we stand?” 5Those over the house and over the city, plus the elders, and including even those
who reared the sons, sent word to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants and we will do
everything you tell us, but we will not make anyone king. Do what is good in your eyes.”
6Then Jehu wrote them a second letter, saying, “If you are for me and obey my voice, take the
heads of the sons of your lord, and by this time tomorrow, bring them to me at Jezreel.”

  Now the sons of the king totaled seventy men. These well-educated headmasters from
within the city reared them. 7But when the letter came to them, they took the seventy sons of
the king and slaughtered them. They then put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at
Jezreel. 8Then a messenger came and spoke to Jehu, saying, “They have brought the heads of
the king's sons.” And he said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until
morning.” 9So in the morning, he went out and stood at the gate and said to all the people,
“You are the righteous ones! Indeed, I conspired against my master and killed him. But who
struck down all these? 10See then that not one thing from the word of the Lord against the
house of Ahab fall on the ground for any reason. For the Lord has fulfilled all He spoke of by
the authority of His servant Elijah.” 11So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab
in Jezreel: all his well-educated headmasters, his friends, and his priests, so no remnant of
him survived.

                              Ahaziah's Brothers Are Killed

  12Then Jehu arose and departed to Samaria. When he was at Beth Eked of the Shepherds,
13Jehu found the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah and said, “Who are you?” So they
answered, “We are the brothers of Ahaziah. We came down to greet the sons of the king and
the sons of the queen mother.” 14And he said, “Take them alive!” So they took them alive and
killed these forty-two men at Beth Eked; he left not one of them alive.

                              Other Relatives of Ahab Killed

  15After he departed from there, he found Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to greet
him, and he bestowed a blessing on him. Jehu said to him, “Is your heart right with my heart,
as my heart is right with your heart?” And Jehonadab answered, “It is.” Jehu said, “If it is,
give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand, and he brought him into the chariot. 16Then he
said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord of Hosts.” So Jehonadab rode in his
chariot. 17And when Jehu came to Samaria, he killed all who remained to Ahab in Samaria till
he had completely destroyed them, according to the word the Lord spoke through Elijah.

                              Worshipers of Baal Are Killed

  18Then Jehu gathered all the people together and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little;

Jehu will serve him much. 19Now all the prophets of Baal, all the servants of his and the
priests of his, must call upon me. Let not a man be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to
offer Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” But Jehu acted in deception in order to destroy
the servants of Baal. 20And Jehu said, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they
proclaimed it. 21Then Jehu sent to all Israel, saying, “And now all the servants of Baal, and all
his priests and all his prophets, let no one be left out. For I am making a great sacrifice, and if
anyone is not in attendance, he shall not live.”

  Then all the servants of Baal and all his priests and all his prophets came. There was not a
man who did not come, no one was left behind. And they entered the house of Baal, and the
house of Baal was filled from one end to the other. 22So he said to the one in charge of the
house and the wardrobe, “Bring out vestments for all the servants of Baal.” And the one in
charge of the vestments brought them. 23Then Jehu and Jehonadab the son of Rechab
entered the house of Baal and said to the servants of Baal, “Search and see whether there are
any servants of the Lord here, or only servants of Baal.” 24So they went in to offer sacrifices
and burnt offerings. Now Jehu appointed for himself eighty guards to be on the outside and
said to them, “If any of the men I brought into your hands escapes, whoever lets him escape,
it shall be his life for the life of the one he spares.”

  25Now it happened that when Jehu finished offering the whole burnt offering, he said to
the guards and to the officers, “Go in and kill every person. Let no one come out!” And they
killed them with the edge of the sword. Being completely overrun, the guards, even the
officers, cast the bodies out. They then proceeded to the city of the house of Baal, 26and they
brought out the foundational pillar of Baal and burned it. 27Then they pulled down the other
pillars of Baal and demolished the house. It was made into a latrine, and remains so to this
day. 28Thus Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel.

  29However, Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who

caused Israel to sin by way of the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan. 30So the Lord
said to Jehu, “Because of the many upright deeds which you did to carry out the good in My
sight, and according to all things that were in My heart which you did to the house of Ahab,
your sons to the fourth generation shall sit for you on the throne of Israel.” 31Even still, Jehu
took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with his whole heart. He did not
depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin.

                                           Death of Jehu

  32In those days, the Lord began to divide off parts of Israel. All along the border of Israel,
Hazael defeated them; 33from the Jordan River eastward, all the land of Gilead of the
Gadites, that of Gad and that of Reuben and of Manasseh; from Aroer, which is on the bank
of the brook of Arnon, and to Gilead and Bashan. 34Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, all he
did, all the wars he engaged in and the alliances he formed, are these not written in the Book
of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel? 35So Jehu rested with his fathers, and they buried
him in Samaria. Then Jehoahaz his son ruled in his place. 36And the period that Jehu reigned
over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

                               Athaliah Is Queen of Judah


11 Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw her sons were dead, and that she had destroyed all
   the seed of the kingdom.† 2But Jehosheba the daughter of King Joram, sister of
Ahaziah, kidnapped Joash, her brother's son, and kept him from being among the murdered
sons of the king. She hid Joash and his nurse in the secret room by the bed. In this way he
was safe from Athaliah and was not killed. 3Thus while Athaliah reigned over the land, he
remained hidden with her in the house of the Lord.

  4In the seventh year, Jehoiada the priest sent for the captains of hundreds, both Chorri and
Rasim, and had them brought to him in the house of the Lord. After he made a covenant with
them, a binding oath in the house of the Lord, Jehoiada showed them the son of the king.
5Then he commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall do: When the Sabbath comes,

one-third of you shall keep guard over the house of the king by the gate, 6and one-third by
the gate of the roads, and one-third by the gate behind the escorts. You shall keep the evening
watch of the house. 7Two divisions you have are off-duty on the Sabbath. For the sake of the
king, they shall keep the evening watch of the house of the Lord. 8And you shall surround the
king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand. And anyone penetrating their
ranks, let him be put to death. You shall be with the king in his going out and his coming in.”

  9So the captains of the hundreds did according to all the wise Jehoiada commanded. Each
of them took his men, those to be on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty on the
Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10So the priest gave the captains of hundreds the
swords and spears of King David, those kept in the house of the Lord. 11Then the guards
stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right corner of the house to the
corner of the house left of the altar, and round about the house of the king. 12And he brought
out the king's son, put the crown on him, and gave him the Testimony. They thereby
announced him king and anointed him. They then clapped their hands and said, “Long live
the king!”

                                    Queen Athaliah Dies

  13Athaliah heard the noise of the people running, and she went to the people in the temple

of the Lord. 14When she looked, there was the king standing by a pillar according to decree;
and the singers and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing
and blowing trumpets. So Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!” 15So
Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds and the officers of the army and
said to them, “Lead her out to the field under guard, and slay her with the sword, and
whoever follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not let her be killed in the house of the
Lord.” 16They laid their hands upon her and went by way of the horse entrance to the house
of the king. She died there.

                                 The Reforms of Jehoiada

  17Jehoiada the priest made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people, that
they would remain the Lord's people. He also made one between the king and the people.
18Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and they completely tore it down
and broke it all to pieces, its altars and its images. And before the altars, they killed Mattan
the priest of Baal. The priest then placed overseers over the house of the Lord. 19Then he
took the captains of hundreds, Chorri and Rasim, and all the people of the land, and he led
the king from out of the house of the Lord. They then went by way of the gate of the
guardhouse to the king's house, and they sat him on the throne of the kings. 20So all the
people of the land rejoiced, and the city was at peace. And in the house of the king, they killed
Athaliah with the sword.

                                  Joash Is King of Judah

         was seven years old when he began to reign. 2He began his reign in the seventh
12 Joash
   year of Jehu, and he ruled for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah
of Beersheba.† 3And all the days in which Jehoiada the priest enlightened him, Joash did
what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 4However, none of the high places were removed, and
the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
                                   Repairs of the Temple

  5And Joash said to the priests, “With regard to all the silver arising from things
consecrated, the silver offerings of the house of the Lord—the valuation of the silver assessed
for each man—all the silver which comes from the heart of the man who brings it into the
house of the Lord, 6let the priests take for themselves, each man from the silver that comes
in. But they must maintain the repairs to the temple, whenever and whatever repairs are
needed.”

 7Now it came to be that by the twenty-third year of King Joash, the priests had not

maintained the repair of the temple. 8So King Joash called Jehoiada the priest and the other
priests and said to them, “Why have you not repaired and maintained the temple? Now take
the silver from the treasury and use it to repair and maintain the temple.” 9So the priests, all
with one voice, agreed they would not receive any more silver from the people until they had
made all the repairs to the temple.

  10Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and placed it on the right
side of the altar in the house of the Lord. Then the priests who kept the weights put in the
chest all the money found in the house of the Lord. 11And it came to be that whenever they
noticed a large amount of silver in the chest, the king's scribe and the high priest put it in
bags and weighed the silver found that day in the house of the Lord. 12Then they gave the
silver apportioned for repairs into the hands of those who did the work, who had the
oversight of the house of the Lord; to the carpenters and builders who worked on the house
of the Lord, 13to the masons, to the hewers of stone, to the buyers of wood, to make all
repairs to the house of the Lord, and for all things discharged to maintain the house of the
Lord. 14However, silver doors, nails, bowls, and trumpets—any vessel of gold or vessel of
silver—were not to be made from any of the silver brought into the house of the Lord. 15For
this was given to the workmen who repaired the house of the Lord with it, 16for they did not
require an account from the men into whose hands they delivered the silver, for the workmen
dealt faithfully. 17Money for a sin offering, and money for a trespass offering, and any money
brought into the house of the Lord went to the priests.

  18In those days, Hazael king of Syria went up to wage war against Gath, and they captured

it. Then Hazael set his face to war against Jerusalem. 19So Joash king of Judah took all the
sacred things dedicated by his fathers, Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, kings of
Judah, his own sacred things, all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and
in the king's house, and sent them on to Hazael king of Syria. Then Hazael went away from
Jerusalem.

  20Now the rest of the acts of Joash and everything he did, are these not written in the Book

of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah? 21And his servants rose up and formed a conspiracy,
and killed Joash in the house of the Millo in Silla. 22For Jozachar the son of Shimeath and
Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him, and he died. And they buried him
with his fathers in the City of David. Then Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

                                 Jehoahaz Is King of Israel


13 InJehuthebecame
             twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of
                   king over Israel in Samaria, and ruled seventeen years. 2And he did evil in
the eyes of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who led Israel to
sin. He did not depart from them.

  3Thus the Lord was roused to anger against Israel, and He delivered them into the hand of
Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of the son of Hadad, the son of Hazael, for all their
days. 4But Jehoahaz pleaded with the Lord, and the Lord heard him; for He saw the
oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them. 5Then the Lord gave
deliverance to Israel, so they escaped from under the hand of the Syrians. And the sons of
Israel dwelt in their habitations as before.† 6But still they did not depart from the sins of the
house of Jeroboam, who led Israel to sin, but walked in them. Indeed, the wooden image
remained in Samaria. 7Yet there were no more troops left for Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen,
ten chariot drivers, and ten thousand infantry. For the king of Syria destroyed them and made
them like dust to be trampled.

  8Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, everything he did, and his mighty acts, are these not

written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel? 9So Jehoahaz rested with his
fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. Then Joash his son ruled in his place.

                                 Jehoash Is King of Israel

  10In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became

king over Israel in Samaria and ruled for sixteen years. 11And he did evil in the eyes of the
Lord. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who led Israel to sin.
He walked in them.

  12Now the rest of the acts of Joash, everything he did, and his might in fighting with
Amaziah king of Judah, is all this not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of
Israel? 13And Joash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat upon his throne in Samaria
among the sons of Israel.

                                     The Death of Elisha

  14Elisha became sick with an illness from which he would die. Joash king of Israel came
down to him and wept before him, and said, “My father! My father! The chariots of Israel and
their horsemen!” 15And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So he brought
him a bow and some arrows. 16Then he said to the king, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he
put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands. 17Then he said, “Open the
east window.” And he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot the arrow with the bow,” and he
shot. And Elisha said, “An arrow of the Lord's deliverance; an arrow of release from Syria. For
you will strike the Syrians at Aphek till their end.” 18Then Elisha said to him, “Take the bow
of an archer.” And he did. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground.” So the king
struck three times and stopped. 19Then the man of God was grieved and said, “If you had
struck five or six times, then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now
you shall strike Syria only three times.”

  20Now Elisha died, and they buried him. Then in the following year, the raiding bands

from Moab invaded the land. 21And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, they beheld
a lightly armed band of raiders, and cast the man into the tomb of Elisha. When the man
touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood up on his feet.†

                                Israel Retakes Syrian Cities

  22Now Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23But the Lord had
mercy on them. He pitied them and watched over them because of His covenant with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Thus He did not want to destroy them or cast them from His
presence.

  24Now Hazael king of Syria died. Then the grandson of Hadad reigned in his place. 25And
Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz returned and captured the cities out of the hand of the grandson
of Hazael, the cities which he took from the hand of Jehoahaz his father in the war. Joash
defeated him three times and recaptured the cities of Israel.

                                Amaziah Is King of Judah


14 InJoash,
        the second year of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of
            king of Judah, became king. 2He was twenty-five years old when he became
king, and he ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan of
Jerusalem. 3He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not like his father David. He
did everything as did his father Joash. 4However, he did not remove the high places, and the
people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

  5And it came to be, when the kingdom was established in his hand, Amaziah had his

servants who had murdered his father struck with a deadly blow. 6But he did not have the
sons of the murderers put to death, for just as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses,
as the Lord commanded, saying, “Fathers shall not face death on behalf of their sons, nor
shall sons face death on behalf of their father, but each one shall face death for his own sin.”
7He killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and took Sela by war and called it
Joktheel, until this day.

  8Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of

Israel, saying, “Come here! Let us look one another in the face.”† 9So Jehoash king of Israel
sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that
was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as wife’; but wild beasts of the fields
in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle. 10You indeed defeated Edom, and your heart
lifts you up. So while sitting at your house, be glorified in yourself; why wrangle in your
hateful feelings and fall to your destruction, and Judah with you?” 11But Amaziah did not
heed the words. So the king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one
another in the face at Beth Shemesh of Judah. 12Thus Judah fell before Israel, and every man
fled to his tent. 13Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, captured Amaziah king of
Judah, the son of Jehoash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. And Jehoash came to
Jerusalem and broke down four hundred cubits of the wall of Jerusalem, from the Gate of
Ephraim to the Corner Gate. 14He took the silver and gold and all the vessels found in the
house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king's house, and the indentured servants, and
returned to Samaria.

  15Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash, including all he did in his might, how he fought with
Amaziah king of Judah, are these not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of
Israel? 16So Jehoash rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of
Israel. Then Jeroboam his son ruled in his place.

  17Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash

the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. 18Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah and all he did, are
these not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah? 19They plotted a
conspiracy against Amaziah in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent after him to
Lachish, and there they put him to death. 20They brought him on horses, and he was buried
at Jerusalem with his fathers in the City of David.

  21Afterwards, all the people of Judah took Azariah, when he was sixteen years old, and

made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 22After the king rested with his fathers,
Azariah rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah.

                               Jeroboam II Is King of Israel

  23In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, Jeroboam the son of Joash became

king over Israel in Samaria and ruled for forty-one years. 24And he did evil in the eyes of the
Lord and did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who led Israel to sin.
25He rescued the people from the territory of Israel, from the entrance to Hamath as far as
the Sea of the Arabah, in accordance with the word the Lord God of Israel spoke through His
servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher. 26For the Lord saw that the
affliction of Israel was very bitter; that they were few in number, lacking much and forsaken,
and there was no one to come to the aid of Israel.† 27And the Lord said He would not blot out
the seed of Israel from beneath heaven; so He delivered them by the hand of Jeroboam the
son of Joash.

  28Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did and his power to wage war, and
how he rescued Damascus and Hamath of Judah for Israel, are these not written in the Book
of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel? 29So Jeroboam rested with his fathers, the kings of
Israel. Then Azariah the son of Amaziah ruled in his place.
                                 Uzziah Is King of Judah


15 Inof Judah
        the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Uzziah the son of Amaziah king
              became king.† 2He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he ruled
for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. 3And he did
what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to everything his father Amaziah had done,
4except that he did not remove any of the high places. The people still sacrificed and burned

incense on the high places. 5Then the Lord touched the king, and he was a leper to the day of
his death. He reigned in a house isolated from all others. Concerning matters of the
household, Jotham the son of the king judged the people of Israel. 6Now the rest of the acts
of Uzziah and everything he did, are these not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the
kings of Judah? 7So Uzziah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in
the City of David. Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.

                               Zachariah Is King of Israel

  8In the thirty-eighth year of Uzziah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam ruled

over Israel in Samaria for six months. 9And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his fathers
had done. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who led Israel to
sin. 10Then Shallum, the son of Jabesh, and Keblaam conspired against him. They struck and
killed him, and Shallum ruled in his place. 11Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, indeed
they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. 12This was the word of
the Lord which He spoke to Jehu saying, “Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the
fourth generation.” And so it was.

                                 Shallum Is King of Israel

  13Shallum the son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah.

And Shallum ruled for a month in Samaria. 14For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from
Tirzah and came to Samaria. He struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and killed him.
15Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the conspiracy he led, indeed they are written in

the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. 16Then Menahem attacked Tirzah, all who
were there, and the extended area of Tirzah, because they did not open their gates to him.
There he ripped open all the women who were with child.
                                 Menahem Is King of Israel

  17In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi became king

over Israel and ruled for ten years in Samaria. 18And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He
did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. 19In
his days, Pul king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand
talents of silver, so his hand would be with him. 20This money Menahem exacted from
Israel, fifty shekels of silver each from all the very wealthy, as tribute to the king of Assyria.
So the king of Assyria turned back, and he did not remain in the land.† 21Now the rest of the
acts of Menahem and everything he did, are these not written in the Book of the Chronicles
of the kings of Israel? 22So Menahem rested with his fathers. Then Pekahiah his son reigned
in his place.

                                 Pekahiah Is King of Israel

  23In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem became king

over Israel in Samaria and ruled for two years. 24And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He
did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin. 25Then
Pekah the son of Remaliah his officer, along with Argob and Arieh, conspired against him and
attacked him in Samaria, in the citadel of the king's house. With him were fifty men of the
four hundred. Pekah killed him and became king in his place. 26Now the rest of the acts of
Pekahiah and everything he did are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of
Israel.

                                   Pekah Is King of Israel

  27In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah became

king over Israel in Samaria and ruled for twenty years. 28He did evil in the eyes of the Lord
and did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who led Israel to sin. 29In
the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel
Beth Maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, the entire land of Naphtali. He
exiled the people to Assyria. 30Then Hoshea the son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah
the son of Remaliah, and struck and killed him. He became king in his place, in the twentieth
year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.† 31Now the rest of the acts of Pekah and everything he did
are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel.
                                 Jotham Is King of Judah

  32In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of

Uzziah became king of Judah. 33He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he
ruled for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.
34And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to everything his father Uzziah

had done. 35However, he did not remove the high places. The people still sacrificed and
burned incense on the high places. He built the Upper Gate of the house of the Lord. 36Now
the rest of the acts of Jotham and everything he did, are these not written in the Book of the
Chronicles of the kings of Judah? 37In those days the Lord began to send Rezin king of Syria
and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah. 38So Jotham rested with his fathers and was
buried with them in the City of David, his father. Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

                                   Ahaz Is King of Judah


16 Inkingtheofseventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham became
               Judah.† 2Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he ruled for
sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God, and
he was not faithful as was his father David. 3But he walked in the way of Jeroboam, the son
of Nebat, king of Israel; indeed, he made his son pass through the fire, according to the
abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the sons of Israel. 4And he
sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every tree growing
in the woods.

  5Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to

Jerusalem to make war. They began to besiege Ahaz, but they could not sustain the war. 6At
that time, Rezin king of Syria returned Elath to Syria and drove the men of Judah from Elath.
Then the Edomites went to Elath, where they continue to dwell to this day. 7So Ahaz sent
messengers to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come
up and save me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel.
They have risen up against me.” 8And Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the treasuries of
the house of the Lord and the house of the king, and delivered it as a gift to the king. 9So the
king of Assyria heeded him, and he went up against Damascus and took it. He removed the
inhabitants and killed Rezin.
  10Now King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. There in
Damascus, he saw an altar. And King Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the design of the altar and
its pattern, according to all its workmanship. 11Then Urijah the priest built an altar according
to the design plans King Ahaz sent from Damascus. 12When the king saw the altar, he went
up to it 13and offered his burnt offering on it, and his sacrifice and his drink offering, and
sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings on the altar. 14He also relocated the bronze altar,
which was before the Lord, forward from between the new altar and the house of the Lord.
He put it on the north side of the new altar. 15Then King Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest,
saying, “On the large altar, offer the morning burnt offering, the evening sacrifice, the king's
whole burnt offering with his sacrifice, and the whole burnt offering of all the people with
their sacrifice, and their drink offerings. And sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt offering
and all the blood of the sacrifice. The bronze altar shall be mine for the early morning.” 16And
Urijah the priest did everything King Ahaz commanded.

  17Then King Ahaz cut off the embossments of the bases and removed the lavers from

them. He took down the Sea from the bronze oxen under it and put it on a stone base. 18And
he built the foundation for the throne in the house of the Lord, and he brought the king's
entrance back into the house of the Lord, which had been outside because of the king of
Assyria. 19And the rest of the acts of Ahaz, even all he did, are they not written in the Book of
the Chronicles of the kings of Judah? 20So Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried with
his fathers in the City of David. His son Hezekiah reigned in his place.

                                  Hoshea Is King of Israel


17 Inin Samaria,
        the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah became king of Israel
                  and he ruled for nine years.† 2And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but
not like the kings of Israel before him. 3Shalmaneser the king of Assyria came up against
him. Now Hoshea was his servant and had paid tribute to him. 4And the king of Assyria
found scheming in Hoshea. He had sent messengers to Segor the king of Egypt, but in that
year, they did not bring any tribute back to the king of Assyria. Therefore the king of Assyria
besieged him and bound him in prison.

                                   Israel Exiled to Assyria

  5Now the king of Assyria marched through the entire land. He went up to Samaria and
besieged it for three years. 6In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and
exiled Israel to Assyria, where he placed them along the rivers of Gozan, in Halah, and in
Habor, and on the mountains of the Medes. 7For the sons of Israel had sinned against the
Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh
king of Egypt. But still they came to fear other gods 8and to walk in the very customs of the
nations the Lord had cast out before the face of Israel, before the kings of Israel who did this;
9so many sons of Israel clothed themselves with customs contrary to the Lord their God, and
built for themselves high places in all their cities, by use of the watchtowers guarding the
fortified city. 10They set up for themselves pillars and made wooden images on every high
hill and under every tree growing in the woods. 11There they burned incense on all the high
places, like the nations whom the Lord previously carried away before them. They acquired
familiar spirits and provoked the Lord to great anger. 12They even served idols, although the
Lord had said to them, “You shall not do such a thing to the Lord.”

  13And the Lord solemnly testified against Israel and against Judah by the authority of all
His prophets and seers, saying, “Turn from your evil ways. Keep My commandments and My
statutes and all the law I commanded your fathers. Keep all that I sent to them through the
authority of My servants the prophets.” 14But they did not heed His voice. Instead, they
stiffened their necks, making them more unbending than their fathers. 15They did not keep
the testimonies with which He charged them, but instead followed vain things and became
vain. They followed the nations around them in the very things the Lord commanded them
not to do. 16So they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and instead made for
themselves a molten image, two heifers. And they made a wooden image and worshiped all
the host of heaven and served Baal. 17They caused their sons and daughters to pass through
the test of fire; they consulted oracles and divined from the cries of birds; and they even sold
themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. 18Thus the Lord
became exceedingly angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. There was
none left, except only for the tribe of Judah alone.

  19But no, not even Judah kept the commandments of the Lord their God. Instead they

walked according to the customs and traditions Israel had made. 20They rejected the Lord,
throughout all the seed of Israel. So He afflicted them and gave them over to the hand of
those plundering them, until He cast them forth from His presence. 21And this because the
house of Israel had in earlier days revolted from the house of David, and made Jeroboam the
son of Nebat king; and because Jeroboam drew back Israel from following the Lord and led
them to commit a great sin; 22and only because the sons of Israel walked in all the sins
which Jeroboam committed, and did not depart from it, 23until the Lord removed Israel from
His presence as He spoke by all His servants the prophets. So therefore Israel was exiled from
their own land into Assyria until this day.

                                 Assyrians Settle in Israel

  24Then the king of Assyria brought from Babylon the people out of Cuthah, and from Ava,
from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and they settled in the cities of Samaria in place of the
sons of Israel. They gained possession of Samaria and inhabited her cities.† 25And it came to
be in the beginning of their settlement, they did not fear the Lord. And the Lord sent lions
among them, which killed some of them. 26So it was told to the king of Assyria, saying, “The
nations you exiled, even those you settled in the cities of Samaria, do not know the rituals of
the God of the land. Therefore he sent lions among them, and behold, the lions are killing
them, because they do not know the rituals of the God of the land.” 27Then the king of
Assyria commanded, saying, “Take from the exiles those that came from that place, and let
them go and settle there. They will enlighten them concerning the rituals of the God of the
land.” 28So they brought one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria, and
he came and dwelt in Bethel, and he enlightened them on how they should fear the Lord.

  29But each nation continued to make their own gods and to put them in the shrines on the

high places the Samaritans made, even in the cities of every nation where they dwelt. 30The
men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath
made Ashima, 31and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their
children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32Though they
were being fearful of the Lord, yet they established their abominations in the houses of the
high places they made in Samaria, each nation within the city in which they dwelt. Though
they were being fearful of the Lord, even so they appointed for themselves priests of the high
places, and made for themselves a sacrifice in the high places. 33They feared the Lord and
God Himself, yet they worshiped according to the rituals of the nations to which He had
exiled them.

  34Even to this day, they did according to their rituals. They feared the Lord, and yet they
acted according to their customs and according to their rituals, and according to their law, and
yet according to the commandment which the Lord commanded the sons of Jacob, to whom
He gave the name Israel. 35For the Lord had made a covenant with them and charged them,
saying, “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to
them. 36But only the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and
an outstretched arm—Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer
sacrifice. 37And the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandments He wrote for
you, you shall be careful to observe forever; you shall not fear other gods. 38Thus you shall
not forget the covenant I made with you, nor shall you fear other gods. 39But you shall fear
the Lord your God; and He will deliver you from all your enemies. 40And you shall not
conform to the rites they practice.” 41But these nations feared the Lord, yet served their
carved images. So their sons and the sons of their sons have continued doing as their fathers
did, even to this day.

                                 Hezekiah Is King of Judah


18 Now in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah the king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of
   Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign.† 2He was twenty-five years old when he became
king, and he ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi the
daughter of Zechariah. 3And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to
everything his father David did. 4He removed the high places and broke into pieces the sacred
pillars. He cut down the sacred wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent Moses
had made, because up to those days, the sons of Israel had burned incense to it. They called it
Nehushtan.† 5He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, and after him there was none like him
among all the kings of Judah, nor among those that were before him. 6For he held fast to the
Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept all the commandments the Lord gave
Moses. 7The Lord was with him. He prospered wherever he went. So he rebelled against the
king of Assyria and did not serve him.† 8He struck the Philistines as far as Gaza and its
territory, from the watchtower to the fortified city.

  9Now in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea the son
of Elah, king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it.
10And after three years, Shalmaneser captured Samaria. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is,

the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. 11So the king of Assyria carried
the people of Samaria away to Assyria, and put them in Halah, and in Habor, by the River of
Gozan, and in the mountains of the Medes. 12For they did not obey the voice of the Lord
their God, but transgressed His covenant, even in all the things the servant of the Lord Moses
commanded. They did not listen to them nor do them.

                                Assyria Threatens Jerusalem

  13Then in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up

against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.† 14So Hezekiah king of Judah sent to
the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have offended you. Turn away from me and I will pay
whatever you impose on me.” And the king of Assyria assessed Hezekiah king of Judah three
hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 15So Hezekiah gave him all the silver
found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king's house. 16At that time
Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars
Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.†

  17Then the king of Assyria sent Tartan, and Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh from Lachish to King
Hezekiah with an overwhelming force against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to
Jerusalem and stood near the aqueduct of the upper pool, which is on the way to Fuller's
Field. 18And they cried aloud to Hezekiah. But Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, the steward, and
Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them. 19Then
Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria,
“What is this confidence which you trust? 20You speak the words of the lips; however, I
speak the purpose and the power of war. Now then, what is persuading you to reject me?
21Take notice of yourself and of your trust on this broken staff of Egypt, made from a reed. If
a man leans on it, it will pierce his hand. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in
him. 22But because you say to me, ‘In the Lord God we trust,’ is it not He whose high places
and His altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship
before this altar in Jerusalem’?’ ” 23Therefore now join with my lord the king of Assyria, and
I will give you two thousand horses to use in the battle, if you can find horsemen to ride on
them! 24How will you turn back the presence of one captain of the least of the servants of my
lord? Whereas you yourself hope on Egypt for chariots and horsemen! 25Now we did not
come up against this place to utterly destroy it without the Lord. The Lord said to me, ‘Go up
against this land and destroy it.’ ”
  26Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Now
speak to your servants in the Syrian language, for we understand; do not speak Hebrew with
us. Why is it that you speak to us within the hearing of the people on the wall?” 27But
Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me to your master, or to you, to deliver these
words? Was it not to the men who sit on the wall, who along with you will eat their own dung
and drink their own urine?”

  28Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in Hebrew, and spoke, saying, “Hear

the words of the great king of Assyria!† 29Thus says the king, ‘Do not let Hezekiah encourage
you with words, for he shall not be able to deliver you from my hand. 30Nor let Hezekiah
cause you to trust in the Lord, saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be
given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’ ” 31Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the
king of Assyria, ‘Gain my favor and come out to me, and every man will drink from his own
vine, and every man will eat from his own fig tree and drink the waters of his own well,
32until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine and
bread and vineyards, a land of olive oil and honey, and you will live and not die. Do not listen
to Hezekiah, for he deceives you, saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” 33Each of the gods of the
nations is not, of himself, able to deliver a country from the hands of the king of Assyria.
34Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they

delivered Samaria from my hand? 35Who among all the gods of the lands delivered their
countries from my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?’ ” 36But the
men were silent and did not answer him, not a word, for the king's commandment was, “Do
not answer him.”†

  37Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, the steward, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of
Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of
Rabshakeh.

                               Isaiah Promises Deliverance


19 When  King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and
   went into the house of the Lord.† 2Then he sent Eliakim, the steward, and Shebna the
scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of
Amoz. 3They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This is a day of tribulation and rebuke and
great anger. For in the time the children are to be born, the mother has no strength. 4If in any
way the Lord your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of
Assyria sent to insult the living God and revile him with words which the Lord your God has
heard, perhaps you will offer a prayer concerning the remnant that is found.’ ” 5So the
servants of King Hezekiah appeared before Isaiah, 6and Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall
say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Do not be afraid of the words of blasphemy you
heard uttered by the king of Assyria's servants. 7Surely I will send a spirit upon him, and he
shall hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will strike him down by the sword in his
own land.” ’ ”

                              Assyria Makes Another Threat

  8Having heard the king had departed from Lachish, Rabshakeh returned and found the

king of Assyria warring against Libnah. 9And concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, he had
heard it being said, “Look! Tirhakah king of Ethiopia has come out to make war with you.” So
he returned, but sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10“Do not let your God in whom you
trust exalt you, saying, ‘Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’
11Listen! You have heard about what all the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries,

utterly destroying them, and you think you shall be delivered? 12Did the gods of the nations
deliver those my fathers destroyed, Gozan and Haran and Rezeph, and the people of Eden
who were in Telassar? 13Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and Sepharvaim,
Hena, and Ivah?”

  14So Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah

went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord, 15and said, “Lord God of
Israel, enthroned on the cherubim, You alone are God in all the kingdoms of the earth. You
made heaven and earth. 16O Lord, incline Your ear and hear. O Lord, open Your eyes and see.
Hear the words Sennacherib sent to reproach the living God. 17O Lord, truly the kings of
Assyria laid waste the nations 18and cast the gods of these nations into the fire, because they
are not gods, but only the work of men's hands, of wood and of stone, and they destroyed
them. 19Now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth
will know that You alone are the Lord God.”†

                             Isaiah's Word to King Hezekiah
  20Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord God of Hosts,
the God of Israel, ‘I heard the things you prayed concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria.’
21This is the word which the Lord spoke against Sennacherib king of Assyria: ‘The virgin, the
daughter of Zion, despised you, laughed you to scorn. The daughter of Jerusalem shook her
head at you! 22Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised
your voice? You lifted up your eyes against the Holy One of Israel! 23By the hand of your
messengers you reproached the Lord and said, “With the multitude of my chariots I came up
to the height of the mountains, to the limits of Lebanon, and I shall cut down its tall cedars
and its choicest cypress trees, and I entered the midst of the forest of Carmel. 24I refreshed
myself and drank the water of strangers, and with the sole of my foot I desolated all the rivers
of defense.” 25I formed her and made her so strong that she was effectual against fortified
cities, 26and those who lived there were too weak, they were dismayed and confounded; they
were as the grass of the field and the green herb, like tender shoots on the housetops and
grain blighted before it is grown. 27But I know your sitting down, and your going out, and
your coming in, and your rage against Me. 28Because you rage against Me, and your
insolence has come up to My ears, therefore I will put My hook in your noses and My bridle
in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way you came.’

  29“This shall be a sign to you. This year you shall eat what grows by itself, and in the
second year what springs from it. Then in the third year you shall sow and reap, plant
vineyards and eat their fruit. 30And the remnant of the house of Judah who escaped shall
again take root in the soil, and shall bear fruit on its branches. 31For out of Jerusalem shall
go a remnant, and he who is being delivered out of Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord of hosts
will do this.† 32Is it not so? Thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, ‘He shall not
enter this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor will a shield come before it, nor will he build a
siege mound against it. 33By the way he came, by the same way he shall return. And he shall
not come into this city,’ says the Lord. 34‘For I will defend this city for My own sake and for
the sake of My servant David.’ ”

  35And it came about that the angel of the Lord went out while it was yet night, and struck
down one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. When they arose early
in the morning, all the dead bodies were there. 36So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed
and left from there. He returned and dwelt in Nineveh. 37Later it happened, while he was
worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him
down with the sword and escaped into the land of Ararat. His son Esarhaddon reigned in his
place.

                              Hezekiah Is Sick and Recovers


20 InAmoz,
       those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. Then Isaiah the prophet, the son of
           went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for
you shall die and not live.’ ”† 2Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed to
the Lord, saying, 3“O Lord, remember how I walked before You in truth, and with a full heart,
and did what was good in Your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept with a great wailing.

  4Thus while Isaiah was in the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
5“Return and tell Hezekiah, the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David
your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you, and on
the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. 6And I will add to your days fifteen
years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this
city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.” ’ ”

  7Then Isaiah said, “Let them take a cake of figs and rest it on the boil, and he will recover.”
8And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What is the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that on the

third day I shall go up to the house of the Lord?” 9And Isaiah said, “This is the sign from the
Lord that the Lord shall do what He said. Either the shadow of the sundial will move forward
ten degrees, or should it go backward ten degrees?” 10Hezekiah answered, “It is easy for the
shadow on the dial to move forward ten degrees. Therefore, let the shadow return and go
backward ten degrees.” 11So Isaiah the prophet cried out to the Lord, and the shadow on the
dial went backward ten degrees.†

                               Ambassadors from Babylon

  12At that time Berodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a

present to Hezekiah because he heard Hezekiah was sick.† 13So Hezekiah rejoiced in them
and showed to these messengers all the house of his treasures—the silver and the gold, the
spices and good olive oil, even the house of his vessels—all that was found among his
treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show
them. 14Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and said to him, “What did these
men say, and from where did they come to you?” So Hezekiah said, “They came from a far
country, from Babylon.” 15He said, “What did they see in your house?” So he answered, “They
saw everything in my house. There was nothing in my house I did not show them, even what
is in my treasuries.”

  16Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord, 17‘Behold, the days are coming
when everything in your house, and what your fathers accumulated until this day, shall be
carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord. 18‘And as for your descendants, your
sons, Babylon shall take them, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of
Babylon.’ ” 19So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “Good is the word of the Lord which He spoke. Let
there be peace in my days.”

                                     King Hezekiah Dies

  20Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, all his might, and how he made a reservoir and an
aqueduct, and how he brought water into the city, are these things not written in the Book of
the Chronicles of the kings of Judah? 21So Hezekiah rested with his fathers. And he was
buried in the city of David. Then Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

                                Manasseh Is King of Judah


21 Manasseh   was twelve years old when he became king, and he ruled for fifty-five years
   in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.† 2And he did evil in the eyes of the
Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the
sons of Israel. 3For he brought back and built the high places that Hezekiah his father had
destroyed. He raised up an altar for Baal, and as Ahab king of Israel did, he made a wooden
image. He worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.† 4He also built an altar in the
house of the Lord, of which He had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My name.” 5And he built an
altar for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

  6Also, he made his sons pass through the fire and practiced divination. He read omens
from the flight and cries of birds, and consulted wizards, and multiplied those familiar with
them, to do evil in the sight of the Lord. He provoked Him to anger. 7He even took a carved
image of the wooden image and placed it in the house of which the Lord had said to David
and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I chose out of all the tribes
of Israel, I will put My name forever. 8But to those who shall keep all that I command,
according to all the commandments which my servant Moses commanded them, I will not
again let the foot of Israel be shaken from the land I gave their fathers.” 9But they paid no
attention as Manasseh led them astray. They did more evil than the nations whom the Lord
had removed from before the sons of Israel.

  10And the Lord spoke by His servants the prophets, saying, 11“Because Manasseh king of
Judah has done these abominations, acting more wickedly than all the Amorites who were
before him, and because he made Judah sin with his idols, 12it shall not be so. Thus says the
Lord God of Israel, ‘Behold! I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah that whoever
hears of it, both his ears will tingle. 13And I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring
line of Samaria and the plumb line of the house of Ahab. I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes
an alabaster vessel, wiping it and turning it upside down. 14So I will drive away the remnant
of My inheritance and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become
victims of plunder by all their enemies. 15For they have done evil in My eyes and have
provoked Me to anger since the day I brought their fathers out of Egypt to this day.’ ”
16Indeed, Manasseh poured out large quantities of innocent blood until it filled Jerusalem
from end to end. This in addition to the sins which he led Judah to commit, in doing evil in
the sight of the Lord.

  17Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, all he did, and all the sins he committed, are these

not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah? 18So Manasseh rested with
his fathers and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza. Then his
son Amon reigned in his place.

                                 Amon Is King of Judah

  19Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he ruled for two years in

Jerusalem. His mother's name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. 20And he
did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. 21And he walked in all the
ways that his father walked, and he served the idols his father served, and worshiped them.
22He forsook the Lord God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the Lord. 23Then

servants of Amon conspired against him and killed the king in his own house. 24But the
people of the land put to death all those who had conspired against King Amon. Then the
people of the land made his son Josiah king in his place. 25Now the rest of the acts Amon did,
are these not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah? 26And he was
buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza. Then Josiah his son reigned in his place.

                                   Josiah Is King of Judah


22 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he ruled for thirty-one years in
   Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.† 2And
he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David.
He did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

                             Discovery of the Book of the Law

  3Now in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, in the eighth month, the king sent Shaphan

the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe of the house of the Lord, saying, 4“Go up
to Hilkiah the high priest, and take account of the money brought into the house of the Lord
gathered from the people. 5And let them deliver it into the hand of the appointed workers in
the house of the Lord.” So he gave it to those in the house of the Lord doing the work to
repair the damages of the house; 6to the carpenters, and builders, and masons; to acquire
wood and hewn stones, to strengthen the repairs of the house. 7However, because they dealt
faithfully, they were not asked to account for the money delivered into their hand.

  8Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I discovered the Book of the Law

in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9Then he
brought the book to King Josiah and turned to the king to report, saying, “Your servants have
melted down the silver being found in the house of the Lord and given it to the ones having
responsibility for repairs to the house of the Lord.” 10So Shaphan the scribe spoke to the
king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest gave me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. 11Now
when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.† 12Then the king
commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah,
Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king, saying, 13“Go and inquire of the Lord
for me, for all the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that was found.
For great is the wrath of the Lord kindled against us, because our fathers did not hear and
obey the words of this book, to do according to all the words of this book written concerning
us.”
  14So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the
prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, the keeper of the
wardrobe, who dwelt in Jerusalem studying the Law, and they spoke with her. 15And she said
to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Tell the man who sent you to me, 16‘Thus says
the Lord: “Behold, I will bring evil upon this place and upon those who dwell here, even all
the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. 17For they forsook Me and burned
incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with the works of their hands.
Therefore My wrath shall be kindled against this place. It shall not be quenched.’ ” 18And to
the king of Judah, sending you to seek out the Lord, thus you shall say this to him, ‘Thus says
the Lord God of Israel, “The words which you heard, 19because your heart was softened, and
you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard I spoke against this place and those
dwelling in it, that it will disappear and become a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept
before Me, so I have heard you,” says the Lord. 20“Behold, it shall not be so. I will gather you
to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes shall not see any
of the evils which I shall bring on this place.” ’ ” They brought the message back to the king.

                            True Worship of God Is Restored

       the king sent and gathered to himself all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.†
23 Now
   2   The king went up to the house of the Lord with all the men of Judah, and with him all
the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests and the prophets, and all the people, both small
and great. He read all the words of the Book of the Covenant discovered in the house of the
Lord for them to hear. 3Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the Lord,
to follow the Lord and to keep His commandments, and His testimonies, and His statutes,
with all his heart and all his soul, to conform to the words of this covenant written in this
book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant.

  4So the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and
those who had charge of the weights, to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the articles
made for Baal, and for the sacred wooden image, and for all the host of heaven. Then he
burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel.†
5And he put an end to the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to burn
incense in the high places, in the cities of Judah, and in the places all around Jerusalem. This
included those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, to the moon, to the constellations,
and to all the host of heaven. 6Then he took the wooden image from the house of the Lord to
the Brook Kidron outside Jerusalem. He burned it at the Brook Kidron and ground it to
ashes. He threw its ashes on the graves of the sons of the people. 7So in the house of the
Lord, he tore down the ritual booths of the male temple prostitutes, the place where the
women wove linen garments for the wooden image. 8Then he led up all the priests from the
cities of Judah and defiled the high places where the priests burned incense, from Geba to
Beersheba. And he pulled down the house of the gate by the entrance of the Gate of Joshua,
the governor of the city, which was to the left of the city gate. 9Only the priests of the high
places did not come up to the altar of the Lord in Jerusalem, for they only ate leavened bread
among their brethren.

  10He defiled Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, so no man might make

his son or his daughter pass through the fire as an offering to Molech. 11Then he removed the
horses the kings of Judah dedicated to the sun at the entrance to the house of the Lord, by
the offering box of Nathan, the king's eunuch, in the court. He burned the chariot of the sun
with fire. 12As for the altars made by the kings of Judah on the roof of the upper chamber of
Ahaz, and the altars Manasseh made in the two courts of the house of the Lord, the king
pulled them down and removed them by force. He cast their dust into the Brook Kidron.
13Then the king defiled the house east of Jerusalem, on the south of the Mount of
Corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel built for Ashtoreth, the abomination of the
Sidonians, and for Chemosh, the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom, the
abomination of the people of Ammon. 14And he broke in pieces the sacred pillars, and he cut
down the sacred wooden images and filled their places with human bones.

  15As for the altar at Bethel, the high altar which Jeroboam the son of Nebat had made, who
led Israel to sin, that altar and that high place he tore down and crushed the stones. He
ground them into dust and burned the wooden image. 16As Josiah turned, he saw the tombs
on the mountain there in the city. So he sent and took the bones out of the tombs and burned
them on the altar. He defiled it according to the word of the Lord which the man of God had
spoken when Jeroboam stood at the altar during the festival. And he turned and raised his
eyes to the tomb of the man of God who spoke those words,† 17and he said, “What gravestone
is this that I see?” So the men of the city told him, “It is the tomb of the man of God who
came from Judah and proclaimed these things you did against the altar of Bethel.” 18Then he
said, “Leave him alone. Let no one move his bones.” So his bones were saved along with the
bones of the prophet who came from Samaria. 19Now Josiah also took away all the shrines of
the high places, the ones the kings of Israel made in the cities of Samaria to provoke the Lord
to anger. And he did to them as he had done in Bethel. 20He put to death all the priests of the
high places on the altars, and burned human bones on them, and returned to Jerusalem.

                               Passover and Order Restored

  21King Josiah commanded all the people, saying, “Keep the Passover to the Lord our God,

as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.”† 22Such a Passover had not been held since the
days of the judges who judged Israel, not in all the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of
Judah. 23But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the Passover was held to the Lord in
Jerusalem. 24So Josiah put away those who consulted mediums and wizards, the household
gods and idols, all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. He
did so that he might perform the words of the Law which were written in the book that
Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord. 25Before him, there was no king like him,
who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according
to all the Law of Moses. There was no king like him who arose after him.

  26Yet the Lord did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath aroused against Judah.

For all the provocations of Manasseh had provoked Him.† 27So the Lord said, “I shall also
remove Judah from My sight, as I removed Israel. I shall reject this city Jerusalem which I
chose, and the house where I said, ‘My name shall be there.’ ”

                                   Josiah Killed in Battle

  28Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and everything he did, are these not written in the

Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah? 29In his days, Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt
went to the aid of the king of Assyria, to the River Euphrates; and King Josiah went against
him. And Pharaoh Necho killed him at Megiddo when he confronted him. 30Then his
servants moved his body in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried
him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, anointed
him, and made him king in his father's place.

                                Jehoahaz Is King of Judah

  31Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he ruled for three
months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
32And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to all the things his fathers had done.
33Now Pharaoh Necho put him in prison at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not
rule in Jerusalem. He imposed a tribute on the land, a talent of gold and one hundred talents
of silver. 34Then Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in place of his father
Josiah and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Pharaoh took Jehoahaz and went to Egypt,
and he died there.

                               Jehoiakim Is King of Judah

  35So Jehoiakim gave the silver and gold to Pharaoh. But at the command of Pharaoh, he
taxed the land; he exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land, from every one
according to his assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Necho. 36Jehoiakim was twenty-five years
old when he became king, and he ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was
Zebudah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. 37And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
according to all his fathers had done.

                                     Judah Is Overrun


24 Inservant
        his days, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his
             for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.† 2So the Lord sent
against him raiding bands of Chaldeans, bands of Syrians, bands of Moabites, and bands of
the sons of Ammon. He sent them against the land of Judah to destroy it, true to the word of
the Lord He had spoken by His servants the prophets. 3Moreover, it was the purpose of the
Lord concerning Judah to remove them from His sight. This, because of the sins of
Manasseh, according to all that he did, 4and for all the innocent blood he shed. For he had
filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord did not want to pardon him.

  5Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim and everything he did, are these not written in the

Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah? 6So Jehoiakim rested with his fathers. Then
Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place. 7As for the king of Egypt, he did not come out of his
land anymore. The king of Babylon seized all that belonged to the king of Egypt, from the
river of Egypt to the River Euphrates.

                               Jehoiachin Is King of Judah
  8Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for
three months. His mother's name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
9And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to everything his father did.

  10At that time Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, came up against Jerusalem, and he

besieged the city.† 11And Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, entered the city, and his servants
besieged it. 12Then Jehoiachin king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon himself, and his
servants, and his mother, and his officers, and his eunuchs. And the king of Babylon took him
prisoner in the eighth year of his reign.

  13Then he carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the Lord and the
treasures of the king's house, and he cut in pieces all the articles of gold which Solomon the
king of Israel made in the temple of the Lord, according to the word of the Lord.

  14Also he carried into captivity all Jerusalem, all the officers and all the mighty men of
valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths. None remained except the
poor of the land. 15He then carried Jehoiachin captive to Babylon along with the king's
mother, the king's wives, and his eunuchs. And he led the mighty of the land into captivity
from Jerusalem to Babylon, 16and all the valiant men, seven thousand, and one thousand
craftsmen and smiths, all of them strong and fit for war, these the king of Babylon brought
captive to Babylon. 17Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his son king in his place, and
changed his name to Zedekiah.

                                 Zedekiah Is King of Judah

  18Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled for eleven years

in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah.† 19And he did evil
in the eyes of the Lord, all that Jehoiakim had done. 20For it was according to the anger of
the Lord against Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally cast them out from His presence, that
Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

                                    The Fall of Jerusalem


25 Inall the  ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and
          his army came against Jerusalem and encamped against it. They built a siege wall
against it all around.† 2So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. 3By
the ninth day of the month, the famine was severe in the city, and there was no food for the
people of the land. 4Then the city wall was broken through, and all the men of war fled at
night. They ran by way of the gate, between the walls, through the gate of the king's garden.
They and the king ran out, even though the Chaldeans still encircled the entire city. They left
by way of the plain toward Arabah. 5But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and
they overtook him in the plains of Jericho. The king's army was scattered all about him. 6So
they took the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, and he pronounced
judgment on him. 7And before his eyes, they killed the sons of Zedekiah. They then put out
his eyes, bound him with fetters, and took him to Babylon.

                                 The Temple Is Destroyed

  8In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, in the nineteenth year of King
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, came before the
king of Babylon in Jerusalem.† 9He burned the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and
all the houses of Jerusalem. Every house was burned 10by the captain of the guard. 11Then
Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive the people who remained in the
city, and those who deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude. 12But the
captain of the guard left some of the poor of the land as vinedressers and farmers.

  13The Chaldeans broke into pieces the bronze pillars, and the bases, and the bronze Sea in

the house of the Lord. They carried their bronze to Babylon. 14They also took away the pots,
the shovels, the trimmers, the spoons, and all the bronze utensils used by the priests to
minister. 15The captain of the guard took away the fire-pans, the golden bowls, and the silver.
16The amount of bronze in the two pillars, the one Sea, and the carts, and all the articles

made by Solomon for the house of the Lord, was beyond measure. 17The height of one pillar
was eighteen cubits, and the capital on it was of bronze. The height of the capital was three
cubits, and the network and pomegranates all around the capital were all of bronze. The
second pillar was the same, with a network.

  18And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the high-priest, and Zephaniah the second in

order, and the three doorkeepers. 19And they took out of the city one eunuch who was
commander of the men of war, and five men who saw the face of the king that were found in
the city, and the secretary of the commander-in-chief, who took account of the people of the
land, and sixty men of the people of the land that were found in the city. 20And Nebuzaradan
the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon, to Reblatha.
21And the king of Babylon struck them and killed them at Reblatha in the land of Amath. So
Judah was carried away from his land.

                                 Judah Is Captive in Babylon

  22As for the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of
Babylon did not take away captive, he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan,
governor over them. 23All the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king
of Babylon made Gedaliah governor, so they—Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan the son
of Careah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a
Maachathite—they and their men came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. 24Then Gedaliah made them
and their men take an oath, and he said to them, “Do not be afraid of the servants of the
Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.”

  25But in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama of the
royal family, came with ten men and struck and killed Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Jews as
well as the Chaldeans with him. 26So all the people, small and great, and the captains of the
armies arose and went to Egypt because they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

                              Jehoiachin Is Freed from Prison

  27In the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth
month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the year
he began to reign, released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison.† 28He spoke kindly to him
and gave him a more prominent seat than those of the kings with him in Babylon. 29So
Jehoiachin changed from his prison garments and ate bread regularly before the king all the
days of his life. 30And as for his provisions, there was a regular ration given him by the king,
a portion for each day, all the days of his life.
                                         1 CHRO NICL E S
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Chapters in 1 Chronicles
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

39, 40, 41

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40


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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40


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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41


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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30


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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 23
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 25
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 26
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 27
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 28
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in 1 Chronicles Chapter 29
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30


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                                             The First Book of the Chronicles

  Author  —Traditionally, Ezra is believed to be the author.

  Date   —About 450 BC

  Major Themes      —The hope of the coming Messiah, and the continuation of the Davidic
covenant. “I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; his throne
shall be established forever” (17:14).

  Background     —The LXX [translation first divided Chronicles into two books and named
them “the things omitted,” meaning that the Greek translators understood these books
to be a supplement to the four Books of Kingdoms. Much of the text of this book is
taken from portions of other books and sacred writings. The genealogies recorded here
from Adam to David serve as a preamble to the genealogies of Christ in the New
Testament (Mt 1), beginning with the tribe of the Levites, since the Messiah will
descend from Judah. The writer idealizes David, ignoring his transgressions, and
records his final days and the transfer of the kingdom to Solomon, his son and
successor.

Outline

I. Genealogical Lists: Adam to the Baby lonian Exile (1 :1 –9 :4 4 )

       A. The patriarchs (1 :1 –4 2 )

       B. The twelv e sons of Jacob/Israel (2 :1 , 2 )

       C. The fam ily of Judah (2 :3 –4 :2 3 )

       D. The sons of Sim eon (4 :2 4 –4 3 )

       E. Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (5:1 –2 6 )

       F. Lev i and fam ilies (5:2 7 –6 :6 6 )

       G. Issachar, Benjam in, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim , and Asher (7 :1 –9 :4 4 )

II. King Dav id's Reign and the Founding of the Tem ple (1 0:1 –2 9 :3 0)

       A. The death of Saul (1 0:1 –1 3 )

       B. Capture of Jerusalem ; Dav id's reign (1 1 :1 –1 2 :4 1 )

       C. The return of the ark and founding of Dav id's kingdom (1 3 :1 –1 6 :4 2 )

       D. Prom ise of m essianic dy nasty (1 7 :1 –2 7 )

       E. Dav id's m ilitary cam paigns (1 8:1 –2 0:8)
        F. The census (2 1 :1 –3 0)

        G. Plans for the tem ple (2 2 :1 –1 9 )

        H. Organization of the tem ple serv ice (2 3 :1 –2 6 :3 2 )

         I. Adm inistration of the kingdom 's structure (2 7 :1 –3 4 )

        J. Dav id's final day s (2 8:1 –2 9 :2 0)

        K. Solom on's succession; Dav id's death (2 9 :2 1 –3 0)



                                                     From Adam to Abraham

    Adam, Seth, Enosh,† 2Cainan, Mahalalel, Jared, 3Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, 4Noah, the
1
    sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.†

    5The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 6The

sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah. 7The sons of Javan were Elishah,
Tarshishah, Kittim, and Rodanim.

    8The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 9The sons of Cush were Seba,

Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabtecha. The sons of Raama were Sheba and Dedan. 10Cush
begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty hunter on the earth.†

    11The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, and Arphaxad. 12Shela, 13Eber, Pheleg, Ragan,
14Seruch, Nachor, Tharrha, 15Abraham.

                                                      Descendants of Ishmael

   16And the sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael. 17And these are their generations: the

firstborn of Ishmael, Nabaeoth, and Kedar, Nabdeel, Massam, 18Masma, Iduma, Masse,
Chondan, Thaeman, 19Jettur, Naphes, Kedma: these the sons of Ishmael. 20And the sons of
Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bore him Zembram, Jexan, Madiam, Madam, Sobac, Soe;
and the sons of Jexan: Daedan and Sabai; 21and the sons of Madiam: Gephar, and Opher, and
Enoch, and Abida, and Eldada; all these the sons of Keturah.

                                                        Descendants of Isaac

    22And Abraham begot Isaac: and the sons of Isaac were Jacob and Esau.

    23The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, and Raguel, and Jeul, and Jeglom, and Core. 24The sons of
Eliphaz: Thaeman, and Omar, Sophar, and Gootham, and Kenez, and Thamna, and Amalek.
25And the sons of Raguel, Naches, Zare, Some, and Moze.

                                   Descendants of Seir

  26The sons of Seir: Lotan, Sobal, Sebegon, Ana, Deson, Osar, and Disan. 27And the sons of

Lotan: Chorri and Aeman; and the sister of Lotan was Thamna. 28The sons of Sobal: Alon,
Machanath, Taebel, Sophi, and Onan; and the sons of Sebegon: Aeth and Sonan. 29The sons
of Sonan, Daeson; and the sons of Daeson: Emeron, and Asebon, and Jethram, and Charran.
30And the sons of Hosar: Balaam, and Zucam, and Acan; the sons of Disan: Os and Aran.

                                   The Kings of Edom

  31And these are their kings: Bela the son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
32When Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place. 33When Jobab

died, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. 34And when Husham died,
Hadad the son of Bedad, who attacked Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. The
name of his city was Avith. 35When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.
36And when Samlah died, Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his place. 37When Saul

died, Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place. 38And when Baal-Hanan the son of
Achbor died, Hadad the son of Barad reigned in his place; and the name of his city was
Phogor. 39Hadad died also. And the chiefs of Edom were Chief Timnah, Chief Aliah, Chief
Jetheth, 40Chief Aholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon, 41Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief
Mibzar, 42Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.

                                  Descendants of Israel

   These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 2Dan,
2 Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
                                  From Judah to David

  3The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by the
daughter of Shua, the Canaanitess. Er, the firstborn of Judah, was wicked in the sight of the
Lord; so He killed him.† 4And Tamar, his daughter-in-law, bore him Perez and Zerah. All the
sons of Judah were five. 5The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 6The sons of Zerah
were Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara, five of them in all. 7The sons of Carmi: Achar,
the troublemaker of Israel, who was nullified with a curse. 8The son of Ethan was Azariah.
9Also the sons of Hezron who were born to him were Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. 10Ram
begot Amminadab, and Amminadab begot Nahshon, leader of the children of Judah;
11Nahshon begot Salma, and Salma begot Boaz; 12Boaz begot Obed, and Obed begot Jesse;
13Jesse begot Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, 14Nethanel the

fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh. 16Now their sisters were
Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three. 17Abigail bore
Amasa; and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.

                                 Descendants of Hezron

  18Caleb the son of Hezron had children by Azubah, his wife, and by Jerioth. Now these

were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. 19When Azubah died, Caleb took Ephrath as his
wife, who bore him Hur. 20And Hur begot Uri, and Uri begot Bezalel. 21Now afterward
Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir, the father of Gilead, whom he married when he
was sixty years old; and she bore him Segub. 22Segub begot Jair, who had twenty-three cities
in the land of Gilead. 23Geshur and Syria took from them the towns of Jair, with Kenath and
its towns, sixty towns. All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead. 24After
Hezron died in Caleb-Ephrathah, Hezron's wife Abijah bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.

                               Descendants of Jerahmeel

  25The sons of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron, were Ram, the firstborn, and Bunah,

Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah. 26Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was
the mother of Onam. 27The sons of Ram, the firstborn of Jerahmeel, were Maaz, Jamin, and
Eker. 28The sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai were Nadab and
Abishur. 29And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bore him Ahban and
Molid. 30The sons of Nadab were Seled and Appaim; Seled died without children. 31The son
of Appaim was Ishi, the son of Ishi was Sheshan, and Sheshan's son was Ahlai. 32The sons of
Jada, the brother of Shammai, were Jether and Jonathan; Jether died without children.
33The sons of Jonathan were Peleth and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel. 34Now
Sheshan had no sons, only daughters. And Sheshan had an Egyptian servant whose name was
Jarha. 35Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant as wife, and she bore him Attai.
36Attai begot Nathan, and Nathan begot Zabad; 37Zabad begot Ephlal, and Ephlal begot

Obed; 38Obed begot Jehu, and Jehu begot Azariah; 39Azariah begot Helez, and Helez begot
Eleasah; 40Eleasah begot Sismai, and Sismai begot Shallum; 41Shallum begot Jekamiah, and
Jekamiah begot Elishama.

                                   Descendants of Caleb

  42The descendants of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were Mesha, his firstborn, who was

the father of Ziph, and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron. 43The sons of Hebron
were Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema. 44Shema begot Raham the father of Jorkoam, and
Rekem begot Shammai. 45And the son of Shammai was Maon, and Maon was the father of
Beth Zur. 46Ephah, Caleb's concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez; and Haran begot Gazez.
47The sons of Jahdai were Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph. 48Maachah,

Caleb's concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah. 49She also bore Shaaph the father of
Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah and the father of Gibea. And the daughter of
Caleb was Achsah. 50These were the descendants of Caleb: The sons of Hur, the firstborn of
Ephrathah, were Shobal the father of Kirjath Jearim, 51Salma the father of Bethlehem, and
Hareph the father of Beth Gader. 52And Shobal the father of Kirjath Jearim had descendants:
Haroeh and half of the families of Manuhoth. 53The families of Kirjath Jearim were the
Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites. From these came the Zorathites
and the Eshtaolites. 54The sons of Salma were Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-Beth-
Joab, half of the Manahethites, and the Zorites. 55And the families of the scribes who dwelt
at Jabez were the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and the Suchathites. These were the Kenites
who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.

                                  Descendants of David


3 Now these were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: The firstborn was
  Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second, Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelitess;†
2the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; the fourth,

Adonijah the son of Haggith; 3the fifth, Shephatiah, by Abital; the sixth, Ithream, by his wife
Eglah. 4These six were born to him in Hebron. There he reigned seven years and six months,
and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years. 5And these were born to him in Jerusalem:
Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, four by Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel. 6Also
there were Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, 7Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 8Elishama, Eliada, and
Eliphelet, nine in all. 9These were all the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines,
and Tamar their sister.

                                Descendants of Solomon

  10The sons of Solomon were Rehoboam; Abijah was his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his

son,† 11Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, 12Amaziah his son, Azariah his son,
Jotham his son, 13Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, 14Amon his son, and
Josiah his son. 15The sons of Josiah were Johanan the firstborn, the second Jehoiakim, the
third Zedekiah, and the fourth Shallum. 16The sons of Jehoiakim were Jeconiah his son and
Zedekiah his son.

                                Descendants of Jeconiah

  17The sons of Jeconiah were Assir, Shealtiel his son, 18and Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar,

Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. 19The sons of Pedaiah were Zerubbabel and Shimei. The
sons of Zerubbabel were Meshullam, Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister, 20and Hashubah,
Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed, five in all. 21The sons of Hananiah were
Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, and the
sons of Shechaniah. 22The son of Shechaniah was Shemaiah. The sons of Shemaiah were
Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat, six in all. 23The sons of Neariah were Elioenai,
Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three in all. 24The sons of Elioenai were Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah,
Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani, seven in all.

                                  Descendants of Judah

   The sons of Judah were Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.† 2And Reaiah the son of
4 Shobal begot Jahath, and Jahath begot Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the
Zorathites. 3These were the sons of the father of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the
name of their sister was Hazelelponi; 4and Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer was the
father of Hushah. These were the sons of Hur: the firstborn of Ephrathah the father of
Bethlehem. 5And Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah. 6Naarah bore
him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. 7The sons
of Helah were Zereth, Zohar, and Ethnan. 8Koz begot Anub, Zobebah, and the families of
Aharhel the son of Harum. 9Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his
mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”† 10And Jabez called on
the God of Israel, saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that
Your hand would be with me, and make known that You will not humble me.” Then God
made it all happen as he requested.

  11Chelub the brother of Shuhah begot Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. 12And Eshton
begot Beth-Rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir-Nahash. These were the men of
Rechah. 13The sons of Kenaz were Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel were Hathath,
14and Meonothai who begot Ophrah. Seraiah begot Joab the father of Ge-Harashim, for they

were craftsmen. 15The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh were Iru, Elah, and Naam. The
son of Elah was Kenaz. 16The sons of Jehalelel were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. 17The
sons of Ezrah were Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Mered's wife bore Miriam, Shammai,
and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa. 18His wife Jehudijah bore Jered the father of Gedor,
Heber the father of Sochoh, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. These were the sons of
Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took. 19The sons of Hodiah's wife, the sister
of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and of Eshtemoa the Maachathite. 20The
sons of Shimon were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi were Zoheth
and Ben-Zoheth. 21The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were Er the father of Lecah, Laadah
the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of the linen workers of the house of
Ashbea; 22also Jokim, and the men of Chozeba and Joash and Saraph, who lived in Moab,
and he turned them back. Now the records are ancient. 23These were the potters living at
Netaim and Gederah with the king, who prevailed in his kingdom and lived there.

                                   Descendants of Simeon

 24The sons of Simeon were Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul, 25Shallum his son,

Mibsam his son, and Mishma his son. 26The sons of Mishma were Hamuel his son, Zacchur
his son, and Shimei his son. 27Shimei had sixteen sons and three daughters; but his brothers
did not have many children, nor did any of their families multiply as much as the children of
Judah. 28They dwelt at Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual, 29Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 30Bethuel,
Hormah, Ziklag, 31Beth-Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth-Biri, and at Shaaraim. These were
their cities until the reign of David. 32And their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen,
and Ashan, five cities, 33and all their villages were round about these cities as far as Baal.
  This was their possession and their allotment: 34Meshobab, Jamlech, and Joshah the son
of Amaziah; 35Joel, and Jehu the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel;
36Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, and Benaiah; 37Ziza the son of

Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah; 38these
mentioned by name were leaders in their families, and they increased abundantly in their
fathers’ households.

  39So they went to the entrance of Gedor, as far as the east side of the valley, to seek

pasture for their flocks. 40And they found rich, good pasture, and the land was broad, quiet,
and peaceful. This is because some Hamites formerly lived there. 41These recorded by name
came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and they attacked their tents and the Meunites
who were found there, and utterly destroyed them, as it is to this day. So they dwelt in their
place, because there was pasture for their flocks there. 42Now some of them, five hundred
men of the sons of Simeon, went to Mount Seir, having as their captains Pelatiah, Neariah,
Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi. 43And they killed the remnants of the Amalekites, and
dwell there to this day.

                                  Descendants of Reuben


5 Now  the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. He was indeed the firstborn, but his father
  gave his blessing to his son Joseph, the son of Israel, because Reuben climbed onto his
father's bed, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright;† 2for Judah was
able to prevail over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the blessing was
Joseph's.† 3The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and
Carmi. 4The sons of Joel were Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, 5Micah his
son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, 6and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria,
carried into captivity. He was leader of the Reubenites. 7And his brethren by their families,
when the genealogy of their generations was registered: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah, 8and
Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, as far as Nebo
and Baal-Meon. 9And because their flocks were many in the land of Gilead, they settled
eastward, as far as the entrance of the wilderness on this side of the River Euphrates. 10Now
in the days of Saul they made war with the sojourners, and those who dwelt in tents
throughout the entire area east of Gilead fell by their hand.
                                     Descendants of Gad

  11The children of Gad dwelt next to them in the land of Bashan as far as Salcah: 12Joel was

the chief, Shapham the next, then Jaanai and Shaphat in Bashan, 13and their brethren
according to the house of their fathers: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jachan, Zia, and
Eber, seven in all. 14These were the children of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the
son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz;
15Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was chief of their fathers’ house. 16And the Gadites
dwelt in Gilead, in Bashan and in its villages, and in all the common lands of Sharon within
their borders. 17All these were registered by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah
and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

  18The sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh had forty-four thousand
seven hundred sixty valiant men able to bear shield and sword, to shoot with the bow, and
who were skillful in war. 19They made war with the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.
20And they prevailed against them, and the Hagrites and all their encampments were
delivered into their hand; for they cried out to God in the battle, and He heeded them, for
they hoped in Him. 21Then they took away fifty thousand of their camels, two hundred fifty
thousand of their sheep, and two thousand of their donkeys, also one hundred thousand of
their men; 22for many fell dead, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their place
until the captivity.

                             Descendants of Manasseh (East)

  23And the half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land from Bashan to Baal-Hermon, and

Senir to Mount Hermon. 24These were the heads of the houses of their fathers: Epher, Ishi,
Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were mighty men of valor, of fame, who
were heads of the houses of their fathers.

  25But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and played the harlot after the gods

of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.† 26So the God of Israel
stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He carried
the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into captivity. He took them to
Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan to this day.
                                  Descendants of Levi

  27The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 28The sons of Kohath were Amram,

Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 29The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The
sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 30Eleazar begot Phinehas, and
Phinehas begot Abishua; 31Abishua begot Bukki, and Bukki begot Uzzi; 32Uzzi begot
Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begot Meraioth; 33Meraioth begot Amariah, and Amariah begot
Ahitub; 34Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Ahimaaz; 35Ahimaaz begot Azariah, and
Azariah begot Johanan; 36Johanan begot Azariah: it was he who ministered as priest in the
temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem. 37Azariah begot Amariah, and Amariah begot
Ahitub; 38Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Shallum; 39Shallum begot Hilkiah, and
Hilkiah begot Azariah; 40Azariah begot Seraiah, and Seraiah begot Jehozadak. 41Jehozadak
went into captivity when the Lord carried Judah and Jerusalem into captivity by the hand of
Nebuchadnezzar.

    The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.† 2These are the names of the sons of
6
    Gershon: Libni and Shimei. 3The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
4The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. Now these are the families of the Levites

according to their fathers: 5of Gershon were Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,
6Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, and Jeatherai his son. 7The sons of Kohath were

Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, 8Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir
his son, 9Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. 10The sons of
Elkanah were Amasai and Ahimoth. 11As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah were Zophai his
son, Nahath his son, 12Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son. 13The sons of
Samuel were Joel the firstborn, and Abijah the second. 14The sons of Merari were Mahli,
Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, 15Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah
his son.

                                Musicians in the Temple

  16These are the men whom David appointed over the service of the singers in the house of

the Lord after the ark came to rest.† 17And they ministered in front of the tabernacle of
witness, playing on instruments, until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. And
for their services, they stood according to their order. 18And these are the ones who
ministered with their sons: of the sons of the Kohathites were Heman the singer, the son of
Joel, the son of Samuel, 19the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of
Toah, 20the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, 21the
son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, 22the son of
Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, 23the son of Izhar, the son of
Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel. 24And his brother Asaph, who stood at his right
hand; Asaph was the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea, 25the son of Michael, the son of
Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah, 26the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah, 27the
son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei, 28the son of Jahath, the son of Gershon,
the son of Levi. 29Their brethren, the sons of Merari, on the left hand were Ethan the son of
Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch, 30the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the
son of Hilkiah, 31the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer, 32the son of Mahli, the
son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi. 33And their brethren according to the
houses of their fathers, the Levites, were appointed to every kind of service of the tabernacle
of the house of God.

                                  Descendants of Aaron

  34But Aaron and his sons offered sacrifices on the altar of whole burnt offering and on the
altar of incense, for all the work of the most holy place and to make atonement for Israel,
according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. 35Now these are the sons of
Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, 36Bukki his son, Uzzi his son,
Zerahiah his son, 37Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, 38Zadok his son, and
Ahimaaz his son.

                               The Levites’ Dwelling Places

  39Now these are their dwelling places throughout their settlements in their territory, for

they were given by lot to the sons of Aaron, of the family of the Kohathites:† 40They gave
them Hebron in the land of Judah, with its surrounding common lands. 41But the fields of
the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 42And to the sons of Aaron
they gave one of the cities of refuge, Hebron, and Libnah with its common lands, and Jattir,
and Eshtemoa with its common lands, 43Hilen with its common lands, Debir with its
common lands, 44Ashan with its common lands, and Beth-Shemesh with its common lands.
45And from the tribe of Benjamin: Geba with its common lands, Alemeth with its common
lands, and Anathoth with its common lands. All their cities among their families were
thirteen. 46To the rest of the family of the tribe of the Kohathites, they were given, by lot, ten
cities from half the tribe of Manasseh.

  47And to the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, they gave thirteen cities from the
tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the tribe of
Manasseh in Bashan. 48To the sons of Merari, throughout their families, they gave twelve
cities from the tribe of Reuben, from the tribe of Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun. 49So
the children of Israel gave these cities with their common lands to the Levites. 50And they
gave by lot from the tribe of the children of Judah, from the tribe of the children of Simeon,
and from the tribe of the children of Benjamin these cities, which are called by their names.

  51Now some of the families of the sons of Kohath were given cities as their territory from

the tribe of Ephraim. 52And they gave them one of the cities of refuge, Shechem with its
common lands in the mountains of Ephraim, also Gezer with its common lands, 53Jokmeam
with its common lands, Beth-Horon with its common lands, 54Aijalon with its common
lands, and Gath-Rimmon with its common lands. 55And from the half-tribe of Manasseh:
Aner with its common lands, and Bileam with its common lands, for the rest of the family of
the sons of Kohath.

  56From the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh, the sons of Gershon were given Golan in

Bashan with its common lands and Ashtaroth with its common lands. 57And from the tribe of
Issachar, Kedesh with its common lands, Daberath with its common lands, 58Ramoth with
its common lands, and Anem with its common lands. 59And from the tribe of Asher, Mashal
with its common lands, Abdon with its common lands, 60Hukok with its common lands, and
Rehob with its common lands. 61And from the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its
common lands, Hammon with its common lands, and Kirjathaim with its common lands.

  62From the tribe of Zebulun, the rest of the children of Merari were given Rimmon with its

common lands and Tabor with its common lands. 63And on the other side of the Jordan,
across from Jericho on the east side of the Jordan, they were given from the tribe of Reuben:
Bezer in the wilderness with its common lands, Jahzah with its common lands, 64Kedemoth
with its common lands, and Mephaath with its common lands. 65And from the tribe of Gad,
Ramoth in Gilead with its common lands, Mahanaim with its common-lands, 66Heshbon
with its common lands, and Jazer with its common lands.

                                Descendants of Issachar

   The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four in all.† 2The sons of Tola
7 were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of the houses of their
fathers. Strong in power, their number in the days of David was twenty-two thousand six
hundred, according to their generations. 3The son of Uzzi was Izrahiah, and the sons of
Izrahiah were Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Ishiah. All five of them were chief men. 4And with
them, by their generations, according to the houses of their fathers, were thirty-six thousand
troops ready for war; for they had many wives and sons. 5Now their brethren among all the
families of Issachar were mighty men of valor: listed by their genealogies, they were eighty-
seven thousand in all.

                                Descendants of Benjamin

  6The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Becher, and Jediael, three in all. 7The sons of Bela were
Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri, five in all. They were heads of houses of families—
influential men—and their number was twenty-two thousand thirty-four. 8The sons of
Becher were Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jerimoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and
Alemeth. All these were the sons of Becher. 9As heads of the houses of their fathers—men of
influence—they numbered twenty thousand two hundred, according to their generations.
10The son of Jediael was Bilhan, and the sons of Bilhan were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud,

Chenaanah, Zethan, Tharshish, and Ahishahar. 11All these sons of Jediael were heads of the
houses of their fathers’ houses; there were seventeen thousand two hundred men, strong in
strength, fit to go out for war and battle. 12Shuppim and Huppim were the sons of Ir. Hushim
was the son of Aher.

                                Descendants of Naphtali

  13The sons of Naphtali were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.

                           Descendants of Manasseh (West)

  14The descendants of Manasseh: his Syrian concubine bore him Machir the father of
Gilead, the father of Asriel. 15Machir took as his wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim,
whose name was Maachah. The name of Gilead's grandson was Zelophehad, but Zelophehad
begot only daughters. 16Maachah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she called his name
Peresh. The name of his brother was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem. 17The son
of Ulam was Bedan. These were the descendants of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of
Manasseh. 18His sister Hammoleketh bore Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah. 19The sons of
Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.

                                 Descendants of Ephraim

  20The sons of Ephraim were Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eladah his son,

Tahath his son,† 21Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead. The men of Gath
who were born in that land killed them because they came down to take away their cattle.
22Then Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him.
23And when he went in to his wife, she conceived and bore a son; and he called his name

Beriah, because tragedy had come upon his house. 24And for those who remained, he also
built Lower and Upper Beth-Horon. And the son of Uzzen was Sheerah; 25and Rephah was
his son, as well as Resheph, and Telah his son, Tahan his son, 26Laadan his son, Ammihud
his son, Elishama his son, 27Nun his son, and Joshua his son. 28Now their possessions and
dwelling places were Bethel and its towns: to the east Naaran, to the west Gezer and its
towns, and Shechem and its towns, as far as Ayyah and its towns; 29and by the borders of the
children of Manasseh were Beth-Shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its
towns, Dor and its towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph, the son of Israel.

                                   Descendants of Asher

  30The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. 31The sons

of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith. 32And Heber begot
Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and their sister Shua. 33The sons of Japhlet were Pasach, Bimhal,
and Ashvath—these were the children of Japhlet. 34The sons of Shemer were Ahi, Rohgah,
Jehubbah, and Aram. 35And the sons of his brother Helem were Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and
Amal. 36The sons of Zophah were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, 37Bezer, Hod,
Shamma, Shilshah, Jithran, and Beera. 38The sons of Jether were Jephunneh, Pispah, and
Ara. 39The sons of Ulla were Arah, Haniel, and Rizia. 40All these were the children of Asher,
heads of the households of their fathers’ houses, choice men, strong in strength and chief
leaders. They were recorded by generations among the army fit for battle. Their number was
twenty-six thousand.

                         Descendants of Benjamin, Continued

    Now Benjamin begot Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third,† 2Nohah the
8
    fourth, and Rapha the fifth. 3The sons of Bela were Addar, Gera, Abihud, 4Abishua,
Naaman, Ahoah, 5Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram. 6These are the sons of Ehud, who were the
heads of the houses of their fathers, of the inhabitants of Geba—they who forced them to
move to Manahath: 7Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who forced them to move. He begot Uzza
and Ahihud. 8Also Shaharaim had children in the country of Moab, after he had sent away
Hushim and Baara his wives. 9By Hodesh his wife he begot Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,
10Jeuz, Sachiah, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of their fathers’ houses. 11And by

Hushim he begot Abitub and Elpaal. 12The sons of Elpaal were Eber, Misham, and Shemed,
who built Ono and Lod with its towns; 13and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of their
fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove out the inhabitants of Gath. 14Ahio,
Shashak, Jeremoth, 15Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16Michael, Ispah, and Joha were the sons of
Beriah. 17Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18Ishmerai, Jizliah, and Jobab were the sons
of Elpaal. 19Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath
were the sons of Shimei. 22Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, 24Hananiah, Elam,
Antothijah, 25Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. 26Shamsherai, Shehariah,
Athaliah, 27Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham. 28These were heads of
the houses of their fathers by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem. 29Now
the father of Gibeon, whose wife's name was Maacah, dwelt at Gibeon. 30And his firstborn
son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 31Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, 32and Mikloth, who
begot Shimeah. They also dwelt alongside their relatives in Jerusalem, with their brethren.

                                   Descendants of Saul

  33Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and

Esh-Baal. 34The son of Jonathan was Merib-Baal, and Merib-Baal begot Micah. 35The sons
of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz. 36And Ahaz begot Jehoaddah; Jehoaddah
begot Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza. 37Moza begot Binea, Raphah his
son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son. 38Azel had six sons whose names were these:
Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
39And the sons of Eshek his brother were Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet

the third. 40The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers. They had many sons and
grandsons, one hundred fifty in all. These were all sons of Benjamin.

                        The Return from Captivity to Jerusalem


9 And  the census was of all Israel, those who had been inscribed in the Book of the Kings of
  Israel and Judah, along with those banished to Babylon in their lawlessness;† 2and those
who dwelled formerly with their possessions in the cities of Israel, and the priests, the
Levites, and those to whom permission had been given.

  3Then some of the children of Judah dwelt in Jerusalem, along with some of the children

of Benjamin, and the children of Ephraim and Manasseh: 4Uthai the son of Ammihud, the
son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the descendants of Perez, the son of Judah.
5Of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons. 6Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel, and their

brethren, six hundred ninety. 7Of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son
of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah; 8Ibneiah the son of Jeroham; Elah the son of Uzzi, the
son of Michri; Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah; 9and
their brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred fifty-six. All these men were
heads of the families, according to the houses of their fathers.

                                 The Priests in Jerusalem

  10Of the priests, there were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin; 11Azariah the son of Hilkiah,
the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the officer
over the house of God; 12Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah;
Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith,
the son of Immer; 13and their brethren, heads of the houses of their fathers, one thousand
seven hundred sixty. They were very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

                                 The Levites in Jerusalem

  14Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah,

of the sons of Merari; 15Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son
of Zichri, the son of Asaph; 16Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of
Jeduthun; and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the
Netophathites.

                                Gatekeepers of the Levites

  17The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brethren. Shallum

was the chief.† 18Until then they had been gatekeepers for the camps of the children of Levi
at the King's Gate on the east. 19Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of
Korah, and his brethren from his father's house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of
the service, gatekeepers of the tabernacle. Their fathers had been keepers of the entrance to
the camp of the Lord. 20And Phinehas the son of Eleazar had been the officer over them in
time past, and these were with him. 21Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was keeper of the
door of the tabernacle of the testimony. 22All those chosen as gatekeepers were two hundred
twelve, and in their villages they were recorded by their genealogy. David and Samuel, the
seer, appointed them for their faithfulness.

  23So they and their sons were to guard the gates of the house of the Lord, the house of the

tabernacle. 24The gatekeepers were assigned to the four directions: the east, west, north, and
south. 25And their brethren in their villages had to come with them from time to time for
seven days. 26For in this trusted office were four chief gatekeepers; they were Levites. They
had charge over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. 27And they remained
round about the house of God, for they had charge over the keys to unlock the doors of the
temple every morning.

                                Other Work of the Levites

  28Now some of them were in charge of the serving vessels, for they brought them in and

took them out by count. 29Some of them were appointed over the furnishings and over all
the implements of the sanctuary, and over the fine flour and the wine and the oil and the
incense and the spices. 30And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the
spices. 31Mattithiah of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted over
the items of the sacrificial offering from the chief priest's frying pan. 32And Banaias the
Kohathite out of their brethren was in charge of preparing the showbread for every Sabbath.
33These are the singers, heads of the houses of the fathers of the Levites, who were assigned
daily, freed from other duties, for they were employed in that work day and night. 34These
heads of the houses of the fathers of the Levites were heads throughout their generations.
They dwelt in Jerusalem.

                                  Family Line of King Saul

  35Jeiel the father of Gibeon, whose wife's name was Maacah, dwelt at Gibeon. 36His

firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and
Mikloth. 38And Mikloth begot Shimeam. They also dwelt alongside their relatives in
Jerusalem, with their brethren.

  39Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and

Esh-Baal. 40The son of Jonathan was Merib-Baal, and Merib-Baal begot Micah. 41The sons of
Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz. 42And Ahaz begot Jarah; Jarah begot Alemeth,
Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza; 43Moza begot Binea, Rephaiah his son, Eleasah
his son, and Azel his son. 44And Azel had six sons, whose names were Azrikam, Bocheru,
Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; these were the sons of Azel.

                             The Death of Saul and His Sons


10 Now   the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from the
   Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.† 2Then the Philistines followed hard after
Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed the sons of Saul—Jonathan, Abinadab, and
Malchishua. 3The battle became fierce against Saul, and he was wounded by the archers who
struck him. 4Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through
with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and dishonor me.” But his armor-bearer would
not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it. 5And when his
armor-bearer saw Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died. 6So Saul and his three
sons died, and all his house died together. 7And when all the men of Israel who were in the
valley saw that they had fled, that Saul and his sons were dead, and that they left their cities
fleeing, then the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

  8So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul

and his sons dead on Mount Gilboa. 9They stripped him and took his head and his armor, and
sent word throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their
idols and among the people. 10Then they put his armor in the temple of their gods and
fastened his head to the temple of Dagon. 11And when all of Jabesh Gilead heard what the
Philistines did to Saul, 12all the valiant men arose from Gilead and took the body of Saul and
the bodies of his sons back with them to Jabesh. They buried their bones under the oak tree
at Jabesh and fasted seven days.

  13So Saul died for his lawlessness which he committed against the Lord, according to the
Word of the Lord, because he did not keep it, and because Saul sought counsel of a wizard
and Samuel the prophet answered him; so He slew him and turned the kingdom over to
David the son of Jesse.

                                David Is King of All Israel


11 Then  all Israel came to David at Hebron, saying, “Indeed, we are your bone and your
   flesh.† 2Also, in time past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led Israel in and
out. And the Lord your God said to you, ‘You shall feed My people Israel, and be a ruler over
Israel.’ ” 3Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a
covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel,
according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

  4And the king and all Israel went to Jerusalem—this is Jebu—and there the Jebusites were

inhabiting the land.† 5And the people inhabiting Jebu said to David, “You shall not enter
here!” But he seized the stronghold of Mount Zion, which is the City of David. 6And David
said, “Whoever first strikes the Jebusites shall be chief and captain.” And Joab, the son of
Zeruiah, went up first and became chief. 7Then David dwelt in the stronghold; thereafter he
called it the City of David. 8And he waged war and took the city; around it he fortified the
city. 9So David grew ever stronger, and the Lord Almighty was with him.†

                                   David's Mighty Men

  10Now these were the heads of the mighty men whom David had with him, who
strengthened themselves in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according to the
word of the Lord regarding Israel. 11And this is the number of the mighty men whom David
had: Jashobeam the son of a Hachmonite, chief of the captains; he lifted up his spear against
three hundred and killed them at one time. 12After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the
Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13He was with David at Pasdammim, and the
Philistines gathered there for battle, near a field full of barley. And the people fled from the
sight of the Philistines. 14And he stood in the midst of the field and preserved it, and killed
the Philistines. The Lord brought about a great deliverance.

  15Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock towards David, to the cave of

Adullam. The encampment of the Philistines was set up in the valley of Rephaim.† 16David
was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 17And
David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of
Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 18So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines,
drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and took it and brought some to David.
Nevertheless, David did not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. 19And he said, “God be
merciful to me. Should I do what was spoken? Shall I drink the blood of these men with their
lives? For they brought it with their lives in peril.” Therefore he was not willing to drink it.
The three mighty men did these things.

  20Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of another three. He had lifted up his spear against

three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three.† 21Of the three he was
more favored than the other two men, and was chief over them. But of the three of them, he
did not go. 22Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who
had done many deeds. He had killed two ruffians of Moab. He also had gone down and killed
a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 23And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great
height, five cubits tall. In the hand of the Egyptian there was a spear like a weaver's beam,
and he went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and
killed him with his own spear. 24These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a
name among three mighty men. 25Indeed, he was honored more than this thirty, but he did
not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his family.

  26And the mighty warriors were Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of

Bethlehem, 27Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, 28Ira the son of Ikkesh the
Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, 29Sibbechai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30Maharai
the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, 31Ithai the son of Ribai of
Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, 32Hurai of the brooks of Gaash,
Abiel the Arbathite, 33Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34the sons of
Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shageh the Hararite, 35Ahiam the son of Sacar the
Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, 36Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37Hezro the
Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,
39Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite (the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah),
40Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42Adina the

son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites) and thirty with him, 43Hanan the son
of Maachah, Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of
Hotham the Aroerite, 45Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46Eliel
the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite, 47Eliel, Obed,
and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

                                  David's Army Expands


12 Now  these were the men who came to David at Ziklag while he was still a fugitive from
   Saul the son of Kish. They were among the mighty men, helpers in the war,† 2being
armed with bows for shooting arrows and using either the right hand or the left for slinging
stones. They were of Benjamin, Saul's brethren. 3The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons
of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Berachah and Jehu the
Anathothite; 4Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty;
5Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite; 6Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah,

Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite; 7Elkanah, Jisshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and
Jashobeam, the Korahites; 8and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

  9Some Gadites joined David in the wilderness, strong, mighty men of war, men trained for
battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who
were as swift as gazelles on the mountains: 10Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the
third, 11Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 12Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
13Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 14Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbanai the eleventh.
15These were from the sons of Gad, captains of the army; the least was over a hundred, and

the greatest was over a thousand. 16These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first
month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all those in the valleys, to
the east and to the west.

  17Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to aid David at the stronghold.
18David went out and met them, and addressed them by saying, “If you have come peaceably
to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies, since
there is no guile in my hands, may the God of our fathers observe and bring judgment.”

  19And the Spirit came upon Amasai, a captain of the thirty, and he said:

    “Go, y ou and y our people,

    Dav id, son of Jesse,

    Peace, peace be to y ou,

    And peace to y our helpers,

    For y our God has helped y ou.”

  And David received them and made them captains of the forces.

  20And some from Manasseh defected to David when he was going with the Philistines to
battle against Saul; but they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines sent him away
by agreement, saying, “He may defect to his master Saul and endanger our heads.” 21When
he went to Ziklag, those of Manasseh who defected to him were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael,
Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of the thousands who were from Manasseh.
22And they helped David against the bands of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor,

and they were captains in the army. 23For at that time they came to David day by day to help
him, until it was a great army, like the army of God.

                                      The Soldiers at Hebron

  24Now these were the numbers of the divisions that were equipped for war and that came
to David at Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the
Lord: 25of the sons of Judah bearing shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred armed for
war; 26of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor fit for war, seven thousand one hundred;
27of the sons of Levi, four thousand six hundred; 28Jehoiada, the leader of the Aaronites,

and with him three thousand seven hundred; 29Zadok, a young man, a valiant warrior, and
from his father's house, twenty-two captains; 30of the sons of Benjamin, relatives of Saul,
three thousand—until then the greatest part of them had remained loyal to the house of Saul;
31of the sons of Ephraim, twenty thousand eight hundred mighty men of valor, noted men

throughout the house of their fathers; 32of the half-tribe of Manasseh, eighteen thousand
who were designated by name to come and make David king; 33of the sons of Issachar who
had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two
hundred, and all their brethren were at their command; 34of Zebulun, there were fifty
thousand who went out to battle, expert in war with all weapons of war, stouthearted men
who could keep ranks; 35of Naphtali, one thousand captains, and with them thirty-seven
thousand with shield and spear; 36of the Danites who could keep battle formation, twenty-
eight thousand six hundred; 37of Asher, those who could go out to war, able to keep battle
formation, forty thousand; 38of the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of
Manasseh, from the other side of the Jordan, one hundred twenty thousand armed for battle
with every kind of weapon of war.

  39All these men of war who could keep ranks came to Hebron with a loyal heart, to make

David king over all Israel; and all the rest of Israel were of one mind to make David king.†
40All these men of war who could keep ranks in a peaceful spirit came to Hebron to make
David king over all Israel; and they were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for
their brethren had prepared for them. 41Moreover those who were near to them, from as far
away as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys and camels, on
mules and oxen; provisions of flour, cakes of figs, cakes of raisins, wine, oil, and oxen and
sheep abundantly, for there was joy in Israel.†

                         The Ark Is Moved from Kirjath-Jearim

     Then David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, with every leader.†
13   2And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it is of the Lord our God and it seems
good to you, let us send to our brethren remaining in all of Israel, and to the priests, the
Levites who are with them in the cities of their possession, so they may gather together with
us. 3And let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not sought it since the days of
Saul.” 4Then all the assembly said they would do so, for this thing was right in the eyes of all
the people.

  5So David summoned an assembly of all Israel, from the boundaries of Egypt to as far as

the entrance of Hamath, to carry in the ark of God from the city of Kirjath-Jearim. 6David
brought it up, and all Israel went up to the city of David, which belonged to Judah, to bring up
the ark of God the Lord, who rests between the cherubim, whose name is proclaimed by it.
7So they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Aminadab; Uzza and his
brothers drove the cart. 8Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their
strength, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and
with trumpets.

  9And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the

ark, because the oxen stumbled. 10Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzza, and
He struck him because he put his hand upon the ark. He died there before God. 11And David
became disheartened regarding the Lord's action against Uzza, and called that place Perez-
Uzza until this day.

 12David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How shall I bring the ark of God home by

myself?” 13So David would not move the ark by himself into the City of David, but had it
taken aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 14The ark of God remained with the
family of Obed-Edom, in his house, three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obed-
Edom and all he had.

                                  David Prospers as King


14 Now  Hiram king of Tyre sent to David messengers, cedar trees, masons, and carpenters
   to build him a house.† 2So David knew the Lord had established him as king over
Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.

  3Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters.
4And these are the names of his children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab,

Nathan, Solomon, 5Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7Elishama, Beeliada, and
Eliphelet.

                               David Defeats the Philistines

  8Now when the Philistines heard David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines

went up to seek David. When David heard of it, he went out to meet them. 9But the
Philistines came and raided the Valley of the Giants. 10And David inquired of God, saying,
“Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” The Lord said to
him, “Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand.”

  11So he went up to Baal-Perazim, where David defeated them. Then David said, “God broke
through the lines of my enemy like a breach of water.” He thus called the name of that place
Breach of Perazim.† 12And there the Philistines left behind their idols, and David
commanded them to burn them up by fire.

  13And again the Philistines made a raid on the Valley of the Giants.† 14And again David
inquired of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them. Instead, circle around
them and come upon them near the pear trees. 15And it shall be, when you hear the tops of
the pear trees rustling in the wind, then you shall enter into battle, for God has gone out
before you to defeat the army of the Philistines.” 16So David did as God commanded him, and
they drove back the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer. 17Then the fame of
David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the terror of him upon all nations.

                             Preparing to Transport the Ark


15 David built houses for himself in the City of David, and prepared a place for the ark of
   God, and pitched a tent for it.†

  2Then David said, “No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the Lord has

chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.” 3And David
gathered all Israel together at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place which he
prepared for it. 4Then David assembled the children of Aaron and the Levites: 5of the sons of
Kohath, Uriel the chief, and one hundred twenty of his brethren; 6of the sons of Merari,
Asaiah the chief, and two hundred fifty of his brethren; 7of the sons of Gershom, Joel the
chief, and one hundred thirty of his brethren; 8of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief,
and two hundred of his brethren; 9of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and eighty of his
brethren; 10of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and one hundred twelve of his
brethren.

  11And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel,

Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12He said to them, “You, the heads of the
families of the Levites, sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, so you may bring up the
ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I prepared for it. 13Because you were not prepared
the first time, because we did not strive for judgment, God divided us within ourselves.” 14So
the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel.
15As Moses had commanded, in accordance with the written word of the Lord, the sons of the
Levites took the ark of God upon their shoulders with bearing-poles.

  16Then David said to the chief of the Levites, “Establish your brethren to be the singers
with musical instruments—stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals—to sing invitingly in a
voice of joyfulness unto His heaven.” 17So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and
of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of their brethren, the sons of Merari, Ethan
the son of Kushaiah; 18and with them their brethren of the second rank: Zechariah, Ben,
Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Elipheleh,
Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers; 19the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan,
were to sound the cymbals of bronze; 20Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab,
Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with strings according to Alamoth; 21Mattithiah, Elipheleh,
Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to direct with harps on the Sheminith;
22Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the music because he was skillful;
23Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark; 24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel,
Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the
ark of God; and Obed-Edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.

                            The Ark Is Moved to Jerusalem

  25With joy David and the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands went to bring up

the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom.† 26And so it was, when
God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they offered seven bulls
and seven rams.† 27David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who
bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music master with the singers. David also wore a
linen ephod.† 28Thus all of Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with
shouting and the sound of the horn, with trumpets and cymbals, making music with stringed
instruments and harps. 29And it happened, as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the
City of David, that Michal, Saul's daughter, looked out through a window and saw King David
dancing and playing music; and she despised him in her heart.


16 So they brought in the ark of God and set it in the midst of the tent David had pitched
   for it. They offered up whole burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.† 2And
David finished offering the whole burnt offerings and peace offerings, and blessed the people
in the name of the Lord. 3And he divided one loaf of baked bread to every man and woman of
Israel.
  4And he appointed Levites to minister before the presence of the ark of the Lord, to

exclaim and give thanks and to praise the Lord God of Israel: 5Asaph the chief, and next to
him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, and Obed-Edom;
Jeiel with stringed instruments and harps, but Asaph made music with cymbals; 6Benaiah
and Jahaziel the priests, continually before the ark of the covenant of God with trumpets.

                                                        David's Song of Praise

  7Then David by the hand of Asaph and his brethren gave orders to praise the Lord:

    8
         Giv e praise to the Lord Him self! Call upon His nam e;

    Make known His deeds am ong the peoples.

    9
         Sing songs to Him , sing praises to Him ;

    Tell of all His wondrous works which the Lord has done.

    10
         Praise His holy nam e;

    The heart that seeks to do His pleasure shall rejoice.

    11
         Seek the Lord and be strong;

    On account of all things, seek His face.

    12
         Rem em ber His rem arkable works which He has done,

    His wonders and the judgm ents of His m outh,

    13
         O seed of Israel His serv ant,

    You children of Jacob, His chosen ones.

    14
         He is the Lord our Lord;

    His judgm ents are ov er all the earth.

    15
         Let us rem em ber His cov enant unto the ages,

    The word He com m ands for a thousand generations—

    16
         The cov enant He m ade with Abraham

    And His oath to Isaac;

    17
         He confirm ed it to Jacob for an ordinance,

    To Israel for an eternal cov enant,

    18
         Say ing, “To y ou I will giv e the land of Canaan

    As the allotm ent of y our inheritance.”

    19
         When they were few in num ber,

    When they were sm all in stature and dwelt as sojourners in it,

    20
         And when they went from nation to nation
And from one kingdom to another people,

21
     He allowed no m an to rule ov er them ,

And He reprov ed kings for their sakes,

22
     Say ing, “Do not touch My anointed ones,

And bring no harm to My prophets.”

23
     Sing to the Lord, all the earth;

Proclaim His salv ation from day to day .

24
     For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised;

He is to be feared abov e all gods.

25
     For all the gods of the Gentiles are idols,

But our God m ade the heav ens.

26
     Glory and praise are before Him ;

Strength and rejoicing are in His place.

27
     Giv e to the Lord, O fam ilies of the peoples,

Giv e to the Lord glory and strength.

28
     Giv e to the Lord the glory due His nam e;

Take gifts and offer them before His presence.

Oh, worship the Lord in His holy courts!

29
     Let all the earth fear because of His presence;

Let the earth be set upright

And not be m ov ed.

30
     Let the heav ens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;

And let them say am ong the nations, “The Lord reigns.”

31
     Let the sea roar and all its fullness,

And the trees of the forest and all that is in them .

32
     For the trees of the forest shall rejoice before the Lord,

For He is com ing to judge the earth.

33
     Oh, giv e thanks to the Lord, for He is good,

For His m ercy endures forev er.

34
     And say , “Sav e us, O God of our salv ation;

And deliv er us from the Gentiles

To praise Your holy nam e,

And boast in Your praises.”

35
     Blessed be the Lord God of Israel

From ages unto the ages.
  All the people said, “Amen.” And they praised the Lord.

                             The Worship of God Continues

 36And they left Asaph and his brothers there, before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to

minister continually from day to day according to the service of each day. 37And Obed-Edom
and his brothers were sixty-eight; Obed-Edom the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah were
gatekeepers; 38Zadok the priest and the brethren of the priests stood before the tabernacle of
the Lord in the high place in Gibeon, 39to offer whole burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar
of whole burnt offering every morning and evening; and to do according to all things written
in the Law of the Lord that He commanded the sons of Israel by the hand of Moses the
servant of God. 40And with him were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest chosen out by name
to give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy is forever; 41and with them Heman and Jeduthun,
to sound aloud with trumpets and cymbals and the musical instruments of God. Now the
sons of Jeduthun were gatekeepers.

  42Then all the people departed, every man to his house; and David returned to bless his
house.

                                  God's Promise to David


17 Now  it came to pass when David was dwelling in his house, David said to Nathan the
   prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is
under tent curtains.”† 2Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is
with you.” 3But it happened that night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4“Go
and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord, “You shall not build Me a house to dwell in,
5for I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought up Israel until this day; but I was in a

tabernacle, even a tent, 6in all the places through which I went with all Israel. Have I ever
spoken to one leader of Israel whom I appointed to shepherd my people, saying, ‘Why have
you not built me a house made of cedar?’ ” ’

  7“Now therefore, you shall say this day to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord Almighty,
“I took you from the sheepfold, from following the flock, to be ruler over My people Israel.
8And I was with you wherever you have gone, and cut off all your enemies from before you,

and made you a name like the name of the great men who are on the earth. 9Moreover, I will
appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of
their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as
previously, 10and from the days when I appointed judges to be over My people Israel. Also I
will subdue all your enemies, and I will increase you, and the Lord will build you a house. 11It
shall be when your days are fulfilled, and you shall be laid to rest with your fathers, that I will
set up your seed after you, he who will be out of your belly; I will establish his kingdom. 12He
shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13I will be his Father, and he
shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy from him, as I took it from those who were
before you. 14And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; his throne
shall be established forever.” ’ ” 15So Nathan spoke to David according to all these words and
according to all his vision.

                                 David Gives Thanks to God

 16Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, “O Lord God, who am I? And

what is my house, that You have loved me forever?† 17O God, these things are insignificant in
Your presence. O Lord God, You spoke about the house of Your servant from long ago, and
have looked upon me as a man looks upon his fellow, and exalted me. 18Yet what will David
add that would bring glory to You? For You know Your servant. 19And according to Your own
heart, You have done all this greatness. 20O Lord, according to all we have heard with our
ears, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You. 21There is not another nation
upon the earth such as Your people Israel, whereas God led him in the way, to redeem a
people for Himself, to establish for Himself a great and glorious name, to cast out nations
from before Your people whom You redeemed out of Egypt. 22For You have appointed Your
people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, O Lord, became God to them.

  23“And now, O Lord, the word which You have spoken regarding Your servant and upon his

house, let it be guaranteed forever, 24saying, ‘O Lord, O Lord, the Almighty is the God of
Israel.’ And the house of Your servant David has been set aright before You. 25For You, O my
God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build him a house. Therefore Your servant
has found it in his heart to pray before You. 26And now, Lord, You are God, and have
promised this goodness to Your servant. 27And now You have started to bless the house of
Your servant, so it may continue before You forever. O Lord, You blessed it, and bless it
forever.”
                                 David's Victories in Battle


18 After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines, subdued them, and took
   Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines.† 2Then he struck Moab, and the
children of Moab brought tribute to David. 3And David struck Hadadezer, king of Zobah
Hamath, as he went to establish his power by the River Euphrates. 4David took from them in
advance one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot
soldiers. Moreover, David disabled all the chariots—but one hundred chariots were kept in
reserve for them.

  5When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David killed

twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. 6Then David put a garrison in Damascus of Syria; and
the Syrians became David's servants and brought tribute. So the Lord preserved David
wherever he went. 7And David took the collars of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer
and brought them to Jerusalem. 8Also from those places passed over and from the chosen
cities of Hadadezer, David brought a large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the
bronze Sea, the pillars, and the articles of bronze.

  9Now when Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer

king of Zobah, 10he sent Hadoram his son, to King David to ask him for peace and to bless
him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer was an
enemy of Tou, and with him he sent all kinds of articles of silver and gold. 11These King
David also dedicated to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had brought from all these
nations, from Edom, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, and from
Amalek. 12Moreover, Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the
Valley of Salt. 13He also put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's
servants. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

  14David reigned over all Israel, and administered judgment and justice to all his people.
15Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
16Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Shavsha was

the scribe; 17Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and
David's sons were the king's first successors.

                            David Conquers Ammon and Syria
19 Itsonhappened  after this that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and Hanun his
          reigned in his place.† 2Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of
Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to comfort
him concerning his father.

  And David's servants came to Hanun in the land of the people of Ammon to comfort him.
3And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David really
honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Did his servants not come to you
to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” 4Therefore, Hanun took David's
servants, shaved them, removed the half of their garments as far as their tunic, and sent them
away. 5Then some reported to David about these men, and he sent someone to meet them,
for these men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards
have grown, and then return.”

  6When the sons of Ammon saw that the people of David had been shamed, Hanun and the
people of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and
horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Syrian Maacah, and from Zobah. 7So they hired for
themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, with the king of Maacah and his people, who came
and encamped before Medeba. Also the people of Ammon gathered together from their cities
and came to battle. 8Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty
men. 9Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array before the
gate of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

  10When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of

Israel's best, and put them in battle array against the Syrians. 11And the rest of the people he
put under the command of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in battle array
against the people of Ammon. 12Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you
shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you. 13Be of
good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And the Lord
will do what is good in His sight.”

  14So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians,

and they fled before him. 15When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing,
they also fled before Abishai his brother, and entered the city. So Joab went to Jerusalem.
  16Now when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers
and brought the Syrians who were beyond the river, and Shophach the commander of
Hadadezer's army went before them. 17When it was told to David, he gathered all Israel,
crossed over the Jordan, and came upon them. He set up in battle array against them, and the
Syrians fought against him. 18And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven
thousand riders of chariots and forty thousand Syrian foot soldiers, and killed Shophach the
commander of the army. 19And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had fallen
before Israel, they made peace with David and became his servants. So the Syrians were no
longer willing to help the people of Ammon.

                                  David Defeats Rabbah


20 Itouthappened in the spring of the year, at the time kings go out to battle, that Joab led
         the armed forces and ravaged the country of the people of Ammon, and came and
besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. And Joab defeated Rabbah and razed it to
the ground. 2Then David took the crown of Molchol their king from his head, and found it to
weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it. And it was set on David's head.
Also he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance.† 3And he brought out the people
who were in it and put them to work with saws, with iron picks, and with axes. So David did
to all the cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to
Jerusalem.

                                 The Philistine Giants Fall

  4Now it happened afterward that war broke out at Gezer with the Philistines, at which time
Sibbechai the Hushathite struck Sippai, who was one of the sons of the giant. And he
humbled them.† 5Again there was war with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed
Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.
6Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, with twenty-four

fingers and toes, six on each hand and six on each foot; and he also was born to the giant. 7So
when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him. 8These were
born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

                                  The Census of All Israel
        Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. 2So David said
21 Now
   to Joab and to the leaders of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan,
and bring the number of them to me that I may know it.”† 3And Joab said, “May the Lord add
to His people a hundredfold as many as they are, and let the eyes of my lord the king see all
who are the servants of my lord. Why does my lord seek this? Do not allow it, lest it become a
sin to Israel.” 4Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed
and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem. 5Then Joab gave the sum of the
number of the people to David. All Israel had one million one hundred thousand men who
drew the sword, and Judah had four hundred and eighty thousand men who drew the sword.
6But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king's word was painful to
Joab.

  7And this deed appeared wicked before God; therefore He struck Israel. 8So David said to
God, “I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing; but now, I pray, take away the
iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” 9Then the Lord spoke to Gad, David's
seer, saying,† 10“Go and tell David, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I offer you three things; so
choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.” ’ ” 11So Gad came to David and said
to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Choose for yourself: 12either three years of famine, or that you
flee for three months from the face of your enemies and the sword of your enemies utterly
destroying you, or that for three days the sword of the Lord and pestilence should be with you
in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying the territory throughout all the inheritance
of Israel.’ Now consider what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.” 13And David
said to Gad, “Groan for me and for the three exceedingly. Please let me fall into the hand of
the Lord, for His mercies are very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

  14So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell.† 15And
God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was destroying, the Lord looked and
relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who was destroying, “It is enough; now restrain
your hand.” And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.†
16Then David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and
heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. So David and the
elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces. 17And David said to God, “Was it not I who
commanded the people to be numbered? I am the one who has sinned and done evil indeed;
but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, O Lord my God, be against me
and my father's house, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.”

  18Therefore, the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David that David should go

and erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.† 19And David
went up according to the word of God, which he had spoken in the name of the Lord. 20Now
Ornan turned and saw the king, and he and his four sons with him hid themselves, but Ornan
was threshing wheat.

  21So David came to Ornan, and Ornan looked and saw David. And he went out from the

threshing floor, bowing before David with his face to the ground. 22Then David said to
Ornan, “Grant me the place of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar on it to the Lord.
You shall grant it to me at the full price, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people.”
23But Ornan said to David, “Take it to yourself, and let my lord the king do what is good in
his eyes. Look, I also give you the oxen for whole burnt offerings, the threshing implements
for wood, and the wheat for the grain offering; I give it all.”

  24Then King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will
not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer whole burnt offerings with that which costs me
nothing.” 25So David gave six hundred shekels of gold by weight for his place. 26And there
David built an altar to the Lord, and offered whole burnt offerings and peace offerings, and
cried out to the Lord; and He answered him by fire from heaven upon the altar of whole
burnt offering and consumed the whole burnt offering.†

  27So the Lord commanded the angel, and he returned his sword to its sheath. 28At that
time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him, he sacrificed there on the threshing
floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 29For the tabernacle of the Lord that Moses made in the
wilderness, and the altar of the whole burnt offering, were in the high place at Gibeon at the
appointed time. 30But David was unable to go before it to seek God, for the sword of the
angel of the Lord prevented him.

                               Preparing to Build the Temple


22 Then  David said, “This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of whole burnt
   offering for Israel.”† 2So David gave orders to gather all converts to Judaism, those in
the land of Israel; and he appointed masons to cut hewn stones to build the house of God.
3And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails of the doors of the gates and for the

joints, and bronze in abundance beyond measure, 4and cedar trees in abundance; for the
Sidonians and those from Tyre brought ample cedar wood to David. 5Now David said, “My
son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord must be
exceedingly magnificent, known and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make
preparation for it.” So David made abundant preparations before his death.

  6Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the Lord God of

Israel. 7And David said to Solomon, “My son, as for me, it was in my heart to build a house to
the name of the Lord my God. 8But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed
much blood and have made great wars. You shall not build a house for My name, for in My
sight you have shed much blood on the earth.† 9Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall
be a man of rest, and I will give to him rest from all his enemies that surround him. His name
shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10He shall build a
house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the
throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’

  11“Now, my son, the Lord shall be with you and prosper you; you will build a house to the

Lord your God, as He spoke concerning you. 12Only may the Lord give you wisdom and
prudence, and strengthen you concerning Israel, that you may guard and do the law of the
Lord your God. 13Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the ordinances and
judgments that the Lord charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Do
not fear nor be dismayed. 14Indeed I, according to my poverty, have prepared for the house of
the Lord one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and bronze and
iron beyond measure, for there is so much. I also prepared timber and stone, to which you
also may add. 15Moreover, there are workmen with you in abundance: woodsmen and
stonecutters, and all types of skillful men for every kind of work. 16Of gold and silver and
bronze and iron there is no limit. Arise and begin working, and the Lord be with you.”

  17David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18“Is not
the Lord your God with you? And has He not given you rest on every side? For He has given
the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the Lord and before
His people. 19Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God. Therefore arise
and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, and into the house to be built in the name of the
Lord bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy articles of God.”

                               Assignments for the Levites

      So when David was old and full of days, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.†
23    2And he gathered together all the leaders of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.
3Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and above. The number of

individual males was thirty-eight thousand. 4Of these, twenty- four thousand were
taskmasters over the work of the house of the Lord, six thousand were officers and judges,
5four thousand were gatekeepers, and four thousand praised the Lord with musical

instruments which he made to praise the Lord. 6David also separated them into divisions
among the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 7And to Paroshom, to Edan, and to
Shimei. 8The sons of Laadan: the first Jehiel, then Zetham and Joel, three in all. 9The sons of
Shimei: Shelomith, Haziel, and Haran, three in all. These were the heads of the fathers’
houses of Laadan. 10And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These were the
four sons of Shimei. 11Jahath was the first, and Zizah the second. As for Jeush and Beriah,
they did not multiply sons, and they became but one reckoning, according to their father's
house.

  12The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four in all. 13The sons of
Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was set apart that he should sanctify the holy of holies,
that he and his sons forever should burn incense before the Lord, to minister and to offer
prayers in His name forever. 14Now the sons of Moses the man of God had been called to the
tribe of Levi. 15The sons of Moses were Gershon and Eliezer. 16Of the sons of Gershon,
Shebuel was the first. 17Of the descendants of Eliezer, Rehabiah was the first. And Eliezer
had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah greatly multiplied.

  18Of the sons of Izhar, Shelomith was the first. 19Of the sons of Hebron, Jeriah was the

first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20Of the sons of
Uzziel, Michah was the first and Jesshiah the second. 21The sons of Merari were Mahli and
Mushi. The sons of Mahli were Eleazar and Kish. 22And Eleazar died and had no sons, only
daughters; and their brethren, the sons of Kish, took them as wives. 23The sons of Mushi
were Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three in all.
  24These were the sons of Levi according to the houses of their fathers, chiefs of their
families according to the number in the household, according to their polls, who from the age
of twenty years and older did the work for the service of the house of the Lord. 25For David
said, “The Lord God of Israel has given rest to His people, and dwells in Jerusalem forever.”
26And the Levites carried not the tabernacle nor all of its vessels for its ministry. 27For by
the last words of David was the numbering of the Levites taken, from twenty years of age and
older. 28For their duty was to help the sons of Aaron in the service of the house of the Lord,
in the courts and in the chambers, in the purification of all holy things and the work of the
service of the house of God; 29for the showbread and fine flour for the meat offering, and for
the unleavened cakes, the fried cake, and the dough, and for every measure; 30to stand every
morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening;† 31and regularly before the
Lord—at every presentation of a whole burnt offering to the Lord, on the Sabbaths, on the
New Moons, and on the set feasts, as by the number according to the ordinance governing
them. 32They are to keep charge of the tabernacle of witness, of the holy places, and the sons
of Aaron their brethren, to minister in the house of the Lord.

                                Assignments to the Priests


24 Now  these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab,
   Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.† 2And Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had
no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests. 3Then David, with Zadok of
the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their
census, according to their ministry, according to their fathers’ houses. 4There were more
leaders found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar, and thus they were divided.
Among the sons of Eleazar were sixteen heads of their fathers’ houses, and eight heads of
their fathers’ houses among the sons of Ithamar. 5Thus they were divided by lot, one group
as another, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of the house of God, from
the sons of Eleazar and from the sons of Ithamar. 6And the scribe, Shemaiah the son of
Nethanel, one of the Levites, wrote them down before the king, the leaders, Zadok the priest,
Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and
Levites, one father's house taken for Eleazar and one for Ithamar. 7Now the first lot fell to
Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, 8the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, 9the fifth to
Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, 10the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, 11the ninth to
Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, 12the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, 13the
thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, 14the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to
Immer, 15the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez, 16the nineteenth to
Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel, 17the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to
Gamul, 18the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. 19This was their
numbering according to their ministry for coming into the house of the Lord, according to
their ordinance by the hand of Aaron their father, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded
him.

                                     The Other Levites

  20And the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael,

Jehdeiah. 21Concerning Rehabiah, of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah. 22Of the
Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath. 23Of the sons of Hebron, Jeriah was
the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 24Of the sons of
Uzziel, Michah; of the sons of Michah, Shamir. 25The brother of Michah, Isshiah; of the sons
of Isshiah, Zechariah. 26The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah, the
sons of Beno. 27The sons of Merari by Jaaziah, his sons were Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. 28Of
Mahil: Eleazar and Ithamar; and Eleazar died, and there were no sons by him. 29Of Kish: the
son of Kish, Jerahmeel. 30Also the sons of Mushi were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.

  These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses. 31These also cast lots
just as their brothers the sons of Aaron did, in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech,
and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and Levites. The chief fathers did just as
their younger brethren.

                                  The Temple Musicians


25 David the king and the captains of the hosts appointed the sons of Asaph, of Heman,
   and of Jeduthun to their service, for the purpose of playing the lyre and harp, stringed
instruments, and cymbals. The list of ministrants for this service was as follows:† 2of the
sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the
direction of Asaph the prophet and were loyal to the king. 3Of Jeduthun, the sons of
Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, after their father
Jeduthun on the harp, led the music of thanks and praise to the Lord. 4Of Heman, the sons of
Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah,
Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5All these were the
sons of Heman the king's chief musician in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God
gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6All these sang hymns with their father in
the house of the Lord, with cymbals, and harps, and lyres for the service of the king and
Asaph, and Jeduthun, Heman.

  7And the number of them with their brethren, those being instructed to sing to the Lord,

everyone who was skilled in singing, was two hundred and eighty-eight. 8And they cast lots
for their duty, the small as well as the great, those taught and the students.

  9Now the first lot for Asaph of his sons and his brethren came out for Joseph; the second

for Gedaliah by Iniah, his brethren and his sons, twelve; 10the third for Zaccur, his sons and
his brethren, twelve; 11the fourth for Jizri, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 12the fifth for
Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 13the sixth for Bukkiah, his sons and his
brethren, twelve; 14the seventh for Jesharelah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 15the
eighth for Jeshaiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 16the ninth for Mattaniah, his sons
and his brethren, twelve; 17the tenth for Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 18the
eleventh for Azarel, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 19the twelfth for Hashabiah, his sons
and his brethren, twelve; 20the thirteenth for Shubael, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
21the fourteenth for Mattithiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 22the fifteenth for

Jeremoth, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 23the sixteenth for Hananiah, his sons and his
brethren, twelve; 24the seventeenth for Joshbekashah, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
25the eighteenth for Hanani, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 26the nineteenth for

Mallothi, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 27the twentieth for Eliathah, his sons and his
brethren, twelve; 28the twenty-first for Hothir, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 29the
twenty-second for Giddalti, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 30the twenty-third for
Mahazioth, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 31the twenty-fourth for Romamti-Ezer, his
sons and his brethren, twelve.

                                  The Temple Gatekeepers


26 Concerning  the divisions of the gates: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore,
   of the sons of Asaph.† 2And the sons of Meshelemiah were Zechariah the firstborn,
Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the
sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.

  4Moreover the sons of Obed-Edom were Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second,

Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, 5Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh,
Peulthai the eighth; for God blessed him. 6Also to Shemaiah his son were sons born from the
firstborn Roshai in his father's house, because they were men of great ability. 7The sons of
Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers Elihu and Semachiah
were able men. 8All these were of the sons of Obed-Edom, they and their sons and their
brethren, able men with strength for the work: sixty-two of Obed-Edom. 9And Meshelemiah
had sons and brethren, eighteen able men.

  10Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons who guarded the first, since he was not

the firstborn, yet his father made him the first of the second division: 11Hilkiah the second,
Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.

  12Among these were the divisions of the gatekeepers assigned daily by the leaders of the

army, just like their brethren, to serve in the house of the Lord. 13And they cast lots for each
gate, the small as well as the great, according to their father's house. 14The lot of those for
the East Gate fell to Shelemiah and Zechariah. The sons of Joash cast lots for Melchiah, and
his lot came out for the North Gate; 15to Obed-Edom the South Gate opposite the
storehouse. 16For the second: to Hosah for the West Gate following the Pastophorion Gate of
the ascending highway: watchman opposite watchman. 17On the east were six each day, on
the north four each day, on the south four each day, and for the storehouse two by two. 18For
relief, to the west there were four and on the track there were two relief guards. 19These were
the divisions of the gatekeepers among the sons of Korah and among the sons of Merari.

                                 Other Duties of the Levites

   20And their Levite brethren were over the treasuries of the house of the Lord and over the

treasuries of the dedicated things. 21These were the sons of Laadan, the descendants of the
Gershonites; to Laadan were the heads of their families; the son of Laadan the Gershonite
was Jehieli. 22The sons of Jetheli, Zetham and Joel, were brothers over the treasuries of the
house of the Lord. 23Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:
24Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was overseer of the treasuries. 25And his
brethren by Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son,
and Shelomith his son. 26This Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasuries of the
dedicated things which King David and the heads of fathers’ houses, the captains over
thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army had dedicated. 27He also dedicated
things taken from battles and from the spoils so that there would not be any lack in the
maintenance of the house of the Lord. 28And all that Samuel the seer, Saul the son of Kish,
Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah dedicated—every dedicated thing was
under the hand of Shelomith and his brethren.

  29Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons performed outside duties as officials and judges

over Israel. 30Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, one thousand seven hundred
able men, had the oversight of Israel on the west side of the Jordan in every service of the
Lord and duty for the king. 31Among the Hebronites, Jerijah was head of the Hebronites
according to their generations, according to their families. In the fortieth year of the reign of
David they were numbered, and among them in Jazer of Gilead mighty men were found.
32And his brethren were two thousand seven hundred able men, heads of fathers’ houses,
whom King David made officials over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of
Manasseh in every edict of the Lord and utterance of the king.

                                   Military Commanders


27 Now  the sons of Israel according to their number—heads of the families, captains of
   thousands and captains of hundreds and their officers, scribes ministering to the king,
and for every affair of the king according to their divisions, for every matter coming in and
going out monthly, for all the months of the year, one division of them was twenty-four
thousand.†

  2Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel, and in his

division were twenty-four thousand; 3he was of the children of Perez and the chief of all the
captains of the army for the first month. 4Over the division of the second month was Dodai,
an Ahohite, and in his division were twenty-four thousand leaders of the army. 5The third
captain of the army for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who was
chief; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 6This was the Benaiah who was mighty
among the thirty, and was over the thirty; in his division was Ammizabad his son. 7The
fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab and Zebadiah his son
after him; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 8The fifth captain for the fifth month
was Shamhuth the Izrahite; in his division were twenty-four thousand.

 9The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division

were twenty-four thousand. 10The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the
Pelonite of the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 11The eighth
captain for the eighth month was Sibbechai the Hushathite of the Zarhites; in his division
were twenty-four thousand. 12The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the
Anathothite of the Benjamites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 13The tenth
captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zarhites; in his division
were twenty-four thousand. 14The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the
Pirathonite of the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 15The
twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel; in his division
were twenty-four thousand.

                                      Tribal Leaders

  16Furthermore, over the tribes of Israel: the officer over the Reubenites was Eliezer the

son of Zichri; over the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah; 17over the Levites,
Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; over the Aaronites, Zadok; 18over Judah, Elihu, one of David's
brothers; over Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19over Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of
Obadiah; over Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel; 20over the children of Ephraim, Hoshea
the son of Azaziah; over the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21over the half-
tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; over the sons of Benjamin, Jaasiel the
son of Abner; 22over Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of
Israel. 23But David did not take into consideration the number of those twenty years old and
younger, because the Lord said He would multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens. 24Joab
the son of Zeruiah began a census, but he did not finish, for wrath came upon Israel because
of this census; nor was the number recorded in the account of the chronicles of King David.

                                Property Administration

  25And Azmaveth the son of Adiel was over the king's treasuries; and Jehonathan the son of
Uzziah was over the storehouses in the field, in the cities, in the villages, and in the
fortresses. 26Ezri the son of Chelub was over those who did the work of the field for tilling
the ground. 27And Shimei the Ramathite was over the vineyards, and Zabdi the Shiphmite
was over the produce of the vineyards for the supply of wine. 28Baal-Hanan the Gederite was
over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowlands, and Joash was over the
store of oil. 29And Shitrai the Sharonite was over the herds that fed in Sharon, and Shaphat
the son of Adlai was over the herds that were in the valleys. 30Obil the Ishmaelite was over
the camels, Jehdeiah the Meronothite was over the donkeys, 31and Jaziz the Hagrite was over
the flocks. All these were the officials over King David's property. 32Also Jehonathan, David's
uncle, was a counselor, a wise man and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the
king's sons. 33Ahithophel was the king's counselor, and Hushai was the king's best friend.
34After Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, then Abiathar. And the general of the
king's army was Joab.

                        Solomon Charged to Construct the Temple


28 And  David assembled all the chief men of Israel—the chief of the judges, the chief men
   of those who serve in attendance on the king, the captains of divisions, the treasurers,
the lords of his substance and all the king's property, his sons together with the eunuchs, and
the mighty men and the warriors of the army.

  2Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brethren and my people. It was in
my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and a footstool of our
God. I made preparations to build it. 3But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My
name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.’ 4Yet the Lord God of Israel
chose me from out of the entire house of my father to be king over Israel unto the age. And in
Judah, he chose the royal palace; and of the house of Judah, he chose the house of my father;
and of the sons of my father, He desired me to become king over all Israel. 5And of all my
sons, for the Lord gave me many, He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the
kingdom of the Lord over Israel.

  6“And He said to me, ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts, for

I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father.† 7And if he is steadfast to observe
My commandments and My judgments, I will establish his kingdom forever, as it is this day.’
8And now before the whole assembly of the Lord and in the hearing of our God, I charge you
to keep and seek all the commandments of the Lord our God, that you may inherit the good
land and leave this for your sons to inherit after you forever.
  9“And now, my son Solomon, know the God of your fathers, and serve Him with a whole
heart and a willing soul; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every thought. If
you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you forever.
10Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong
and do it.”

  11Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the temple, its houses, its treasuries, its

upper chambers, its inner storehouses, and the house of the mercy seat;† 12and the plans
that he had in his mind concerning the courts of the house of the Lord, all the chambers
round about the storehouses of the house of the Lord, and the storehouses for the dedicated
things; 13also for the quarters for the daily priests and the Levites for all the work of the
service of the house of the Lord; and for the storehouses for the serving articles used to
worship in the house of the Lord. 14And the measure of their weight both in gold and in
silver, 15he gave to him the weight of the lamps and of the lamp stands. 16He gave to him in
like manner the weight for the tables of the showbread, for each table in gold and likewise in
silver; 17also for the forks, the basins, the pitchers of gold, and the weight of the gold and the
silver bowls for each weight; 18and the weight of the altar for burning incense made of
refined gold he showed to him, and the plans for the chariot of the cherubim that spread out
their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 19All these things in
writing from the hand of the Lord David gave to Solomon, so that he would succeed in
understanding how to follow the plan.

  20And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it. Do not
fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, will be with you. He will not leave you nor
forsake you until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.†
21And take notice of the division of the priests and Levites for all the daily service of the
house of the Lord. With them shall be the men for every workmanship, every one of ready
skill in every art. And at your command are the chief men and all the people.”†

                              Collections to Build the Temple


29 Furthermore, King David said to the entire assembly, “My one son Solomon, whom
   God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is a great work, for the
temple is not for man, but for the Lord God.† 2According to all means possible I prepared
gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, onyx stones, costly and precious stones of various colors, and
much marble for the house of my God. 3And because I took pleasure in the house of my God,
I gave to the house of my God gold and silver over and above what I procured for myself;
more than all I prepared for my house of my God, over and above all I prepared for my
consecrated house. 4Three thousand talents of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents
of refined silver to be overlaid in these the walls of the sanctuary 5by the hands of craftsmen.
And who this day zealously dedicates his hands for the Lord?”

  6Then the heads of the families, the princes of the sons of Israel, and the captains of

thousands and of hundreds, with the officers over the king's work, offered willingly.† 7They
gave for the work of the house of God five thousand talents of gold and ten thousand darics
of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred
thousand talents of iron. 8And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the
house of the Lord, into the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9Then the people rejoiced as a
result of their willingness, for they offered willingly to the Lord with their whole heart. King
David rejoiced greatly.

                                David Gives Praise to God

  10With this, King David blessed the Lord before all the assembly, saying, “Blessed are You,

O Lord God of Israel, our Father, unto the ages of ages.† 11Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and
the power and the glory and the victory and the might. You are master over all that is in
heaven and on the earth. Every king and nation is thrown into confusion before You. 12From
the first, You are the wealth and the glory who reigns over all, as the Lord and dominion of
all. In Your hand is power and authority, and you are almighty with Your hand to increase
and establish all things. 13And now, Lord, we give thanks to You, and we praise Your glorious
name.

  14“But who am I, and who are my people, that we are able to be zealous in offering to You?

For all things are Yours, and of Your own we give to You.† 15For we are strangers before You
and sojourners, as were all our fathers. Our days upon the earth are as a shadow, and there
are none that remain.† 16O Lord our God, as for all this abundance which I have prepared
that a house should be built to Your holy name, it is of Your hand and all is Yours. 17I know
also, O Lord, that You search the heart and You love righteousness. As for me, in the sincerity
of my heart I willingly offer all these things. And now I see Your people who brought
themselves here joyfully to offer willingly to You. 18O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Israel, our fathers, keep under guard these things in the thoughts of the heart of Your people
forever, and lead their heart toward You. 19And give my son Solomon a fitting heart to keep
Your commandments and Your testimonies and Your ordinances and bring to an end the final
preparation of Your house.”

  20Then David said to all the congregation, “Now bless the Lord your God.” And everyone in
the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down before the Lord and
the king.

                                 Solomon Anointed King

  21The next day after the first day, David sacrificed and offered up whole burnt offerings to
the Lord—even a thousand calves, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs—along with their
drink offerings, and an abundance of sacrifices for all Israel.† 22So they ate and drank before
the Lord with great gladness on that day. And they made Solomon the son of David king a
second time and anointed him king before the Lord, and Zadok to the priesthood.† 23Then
Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father, and was well pleased, and prospered; and all
Israel listened to him.† 24All the leaders and the mighty men, as well as all the sons of King
David his father, were subject to him. 25And the Lord exalted Solomon exceedingly in the
sight of all Israel and gave him the glory of a king, which was not given any king of Israel
before him.

                                 Review of David's Reign

  26Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over Israel 27forty years, in Hebron for seven years

and in Jerusalem for thirty-three years. 28So he died in a good old age, full of days, riches,
and glory. Solomon his son reigned in his stead. 29And the remaining works of King David,
the former and the latter, are written in the book of Samuel the seer, in the book of Nathan
the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer, 30concerning all his reign, his power, and the
events that happened to him, to Israel, and to all the kingdoms of the lands.
                                         2 CHRO NICL E S
                                    Previous   Home    Next

Chapters in 2 Chronicles
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20


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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 23
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 25
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 26
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 27
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 28
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 29
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 30
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 31
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 32
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 33
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 34
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 35
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 36
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in 2 Chronicles Chapter 37
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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                                           The Second Book of the Chronicles

     Author   —Ezra is believed to be the writer.

     Date   —About 450 BC. The book spans the forty years of Solomon's reign, four hundred
  years of the reigns of succeeding kings, and seventy years of captivity in Babylon.

     Major Themes      —Continuation of the Davidic covenant through Solomon and the building
  of the temple. The importance of proper worship in the temple, particularly the place of
  the Levites and the musicians, is given special, detailed emphasis. Another theme is the
  character of each of the kings that followed Solomon—whether they encouraged proper
  worship of God. The writer ends this book with the tragic account of the destruction of
  Jerusalem and the seventy-year exile of the Jews to Babylon.

     Background     —Solomon has succeeded to the throne of Israel, and his major task is
  building the temple. David gathered all the supplies and drew up the plans, but the Lord
  did not allow him to construct it.

  The wisdom and wealth of Solomon were known throughout the world and written about
in foreign histories. The Queen of Sheba, an Arabian country, came to witness Solomon's
glory.

  After Solomon's death, the people of Israel divided into two kingdoms. The northern
kingdom separated from Judah with Jeroboam as king, and fell away from worshipping the
true God. Jeroboam established idol worship. The rejected priests and Levites and many
faithful followers left Israel and emigrated to Jerusalem to worship God. The smaller
southern kingdom, consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, was ruled by Solomon's
son Rehoboam. The author brings a final word of hope, recounting the permission given by
Cyrus king of Persia for the exiles to return and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

 Outline

   I. Solom on's Reign (1 :1 –9 :3 1 )

          A. The gift of wisdom (1 :1 –1 7 )

          B. The building of the tem ple (2 :1 –5:1 )

          C. The dedication of the tem ple (5:2 –7 :2 2 )

          D. Solom on's life, wisdom , wealth, and death (8:1 –9 :3 1 )
  II. Two Kingdom s Div ide; the History of the Kings of Judah to the End of the Exile (1 0:1 –3 6 :2 3 )

         A. Rehoboam , Solom on's son and successor (1 0:1 –1 2 :1 6 )

         B. Abijah (1 3 :1 –1 4 :1 )

         C. Asa (1 4 :2 –1 6 :1 4 )

         D. Jehoshaphat (1 7 :1 –2 1 :3 )

         E. Jehoram and Ahaziah (2 1 :4 –2 2 :9 )

         F. Joash (2 2 :1 0–2 4 :2 7 )

         G. Am aziah (2 5:1 –2 8)

         H. Uzziah (2 6 :1 –2 3 )

          I. Jotham (2 7 :1 –9 )

         J. Ahaz (2 8:1 –2 7 )

         K. Hezekiah (2 9 :1 –3 2 :3 3 )

         L. Manasseh (3 3 :1 –2 0)

        M. Am on (3 3 :2 1 –2 5)

         N. Josiah (3 4 :1 –3 6 :1 )

         O. Josiah's successors (3 6 :2 –1 4 )

         P. Exile and restoration (3 6 :1 5–2 3 )



                                                    Solomon Prays for Wisdom


1 When Solomon the son of David was firmly established over his kingdom, the Lord his
  God was with him and magnified him in honor.†

  2Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, to

the judges, to all the rulers over Israel, and to the heads of the families. 3Solomon went with
all the assembly to the high place at Gibeon, for the tabernacle of meeting with God was
there, which Moses the servant of the Lord made in the wilderness. 4David had brought up
the ark of God from the city of Kirjath Jearim to the place he prepared for it, for he had
pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5And the bronze altar made by Bezalel the son of Uri the
son of Hur was there before the tabernacle of the Lord, and Solomon and the assembly
enquired about it. 6Solomon made an offering there on the bronze altar before the Lord, at
the tabernacle of meeting, offering a thousand burnt offerings on it.

  7God appeared to Solomon that night and said to him, “Tell Me what you want Me to give

you.” 8And Solomon said to God, “You showed great mercy to David my father, and made me
king in his place. 9Now, Lord God, let Your name be established on my father David, for You
made me king over a people numerous as the dust of the earth. 10Give me wisdom and
understanding, so that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can judge this
great people of Yours?”

  11And God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart and you did not ask for riches
or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor did you ask for long life, but you asked for
wisdom and understanding for yourself, that you might judge My people over whom I made
you king, 12now I will give you this wisdom and understanding. I will also give you riches and
wealth and honor, such as none of the kings before you possessed, nor shall any after you
possess.” 13So Solomon came to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the
tabernacle of witness, and reigned over Israel.

                              Solomon's Power and Riches

  14And Solomon collected chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred
chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities. And the
people were with the king in Jerusalem. 15The king made silver and gold as plentiful in
Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as abundant in Judea as sycamores in the plain.
16And Solomon had horses imported from Egypt; the king's merchants paid the going price.
17They acquired and imported from Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a
horse for one hundred fifty. They also brought them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the
kings of Syria. 18Solomon said he would build a house in the name of the Lord and a house
for his kingdom.

                           Solomon Plans to Build the Temple


2 Solomon  selected seventy thousand men to bear burdens, eighty thousand to quarry stone
  in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred to oversee them.

  2Then Solomon sent to Hiram king of Tyre, saying, “As you dealt with David my father and

sent him cedars to build himself a house to dwell in, 3behold I, his son, am building a house
for the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to Him, to burn sweet incense before Him, to
offer showbread continually, and to offer up burnt offerings continually, morning and
evening, and on the Sabbaths, on the New Moons, and on the festivals of the Lord our God.
This is a perpetual ordinance for Israel; 4and the house I am going to build will be great, for
our God is greater than all gods. 5Who is able to build Him a house, since heaven and the
heaven of heavens cannot contain His glory? Who am I, then, to build Him a house, except to
burn incense before Him? 6Therefore send me at once a wise man skilled to work in gold and
silver, in bronze and iron, in purple and crimson and blue, who can work skillfully with the
skilled men with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. 7Also send
me cedar and cypress and pine timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants are skilled
in cutting timber in Lebanon. And indeed my servants and your servants 8will go to prepare
an abundance of timber for me, because the house I am about to build is to be great and
glorious. 9And indeed to your servants, the woodsmen who cut timber, I gave twenty
thousand kors of wheat, twenty thousand kors of barley, twenty thousand baths of wine, and
twenty thousand baths of oil.”

  10Then Hiram king of Tyre sent an answer in writing to Solomon: “Because the Lord loves

His people, He made you king over them.” 11Hiram also said, “Blessed be the Lord God of
Israel, who made heaven and earth, for He gave King David a wise son, endowed with
prudence and understanding, who will build a temple for the Lord and a royal house for
himself! 12And now I have sent a skillful man, endowed with discernment, Huram my father,
13the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilled at
working in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, at weaving purple and blue, fine
linen and crimson, and at making any engraving and accomplishing any plan that may be
given to him, with your skillful men and with the skillful men of my lord David your father.
14Now therefore, let my lord send his servants the wheat, the barley, the oil, and the wine he

spoke of,† 15and we will cut as much wood from Lebanon as you need. We will bring it to you
in rafts by sea to Joppa, and you will carry it to Jerusalem.”

                           Construction Begins on the Temple

  16Then Solomon gathered all the foreigners in the land of Israel, after the census in which
David his father had numbered them. And there were found to be one hundred fifty-three
thousand six hundred.† 17And he made seventy thousand of them bearers of burdens, eighty
thousand stonecutters in the mountain, and three thousand six hundred to oversee the
people's work.
3 Now  Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where
  the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the
threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.† 2And he began to build on the second day of the
second month in the fourth year of his reign. 3This is the foundation Solomon laid for
building the house of God. It was sixty cubits long (according to the former measure) and
twenty cubits wide. 4The vestibule in front of the sanctuary was twenty cubits long across the
width of the house, and one hundred twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure
gold. 5He paneled the larger room with cypress and overlaid it with fine gold, and he carved
palm trees and chain work on it.† 6He decorated the house with precious stones for beauty,
and the gold was gold from Parvaim. 7He also overlaid the house—the beams and doorposts,
its walls and doors—with gold and carved cherubim on the walls. 8And he made the most
holy place. Its length corresponded to the width of the house, twenty cubits, and it was
twenty cubits wide. He overlaid it as far as the cherubim with six hundred talents of fine
gold.† 9The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He overlaid the upper room with
gold.

  10In the most holy place he made two wooden cherubim and overlaid them with gold.
11The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits in overall length. One wing of the one
cherub was five cubits, touching the wall of the room, and the other wing was five cubits,
touching the wing of the other cherub; 12one wing of the other cherub was five cubits as well,
touching the wall of the room, and the other wing also was five cubits, touching the wing of
the other cherub. 13The wings of these cherubim spanned twenty cubits overall. They stood
on their feet and faced inward. 14He made the veil of blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen,
and wove cherubim into it.

  15In front of the house he made two pillars thirty-five cubits high, and the capital on the

top of each was five cubits. 16He made wreaths of chain work, as in the inner sanctuary, and
put them on top of the pillars. And he made one hundred pomegranates and put them on the
wreaths of chain work. 17Then he set up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand
and the other on the left. He called the one on the right hand Upholding, and he called the
one on the left Strength.

                                The Temple Is Furnished
     made a bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high. 2And
4 He
  he made the sea of cast bronze, ten cubits in diameter. It was completely round. It was
five cubits high and thirty cubits around.† 3Under it were the likenesses of oxen encircling it
all around, ten to a cubit, all the way around the sea. The oxen were cast in two rows when it
was cast. 4It stood on twelve oxen. Three looked toward the north, three looked toward the
west, three looked toward the south, and three looked toward the east. The sea was set upon
them, and all their back parts pointed inward. 5It was a handbreadth thick and its brim was
like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It contained three thousand baths. And he finished
it.

  6He also made ten basins, and put five on the right side and five on the left, to wash what

they offered for the burnt offering. The sea, however, was for the priests to wash in. 7He
made ten gold lampstands according to their design and set them in the temple, five on the
right and five on the left.† 8He also made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on
the right and five on the left. And he made one hundred golden bowls.

  9He made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid

the door panels with bronze. 10He set the sea on the right side toward the east. 11Then
Huram made the pots and the shovels and the bowls for the altar and all its utensils. So
Huram finished the work he was to do for King Solomon for the house of God, 12the two
pillars and the bowl-shaped capitals on top of the two pillars, the two networks covering the
two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars; 13four hundred pomegranates for the two
networks—two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowl-shaped capitals
on the pillars. 14He made carts and put basins on the carts, 15and one sea with twelve oxen
under it, 16and tripods and buckets and basins and forks and all the other utensils. Huram
his master craftsman made them of pure bronze for King Solomon for the house of the Lord.
17The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of Jordan between Succoth and Zeredah.
18And Solomon had all these articles made in such great quantity that the weight of the
bronze was not determined.

  19Solomon had all the furnishings made for the house of God, the golden altar and the

tables for the showbread, 20the lamp stands with their lamps of pure gold, to burn in the
prescribed manner in front of the inner sanctuary, 21with the tongs and the lamps and the
cups and the censers of pure gold. 22The door of the sanctuary, the inner door to the most
holy place, and the doors of the main hall of the temple were gold.


5 So all the work that Solomon did for the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon
  brought in everything his father David had dedicated, the silver and the gold and all the
furnishings. And he put them in the treasuries of the house of God.†

                            The Ark Is Brought to the Temple

  2Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of
the families of the sons of Israel, in Jerusalem, that they might bring the ark of the covenant
of the Lord from the City of David, which is Zion.† 3Therefore all the men of Israel assembled
with the king at the feast in the seventh month. 4All the elders of Israel came, and the Levites
took up the ark. 5Then they brought up the ark, the tabernacle of meeting, and all the holy
furnishings in the tabernacle. The priests and the Levites carried it. 6And King Solomon and
all the congregation of Israel assembled with him in fear before the ark, sacrificing more
sheep and oxen than could be counted or numbered. 7Then the priests brought in the ark of
the covenant of the Lord to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the most holy
place, under the wings of the cherubim. 8For the cherubim spread their wings over the place
of the ark, and the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles. 9And the poles extended so
that the ends of the poles of the ark could be seen from the holy place, in front of the inner
sanctuary, but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day. 10There
was nothing in the ark except the two tablets Moses put there at Horeb when the Lord made a
covenant with the sons of Israel when they came out of Egypt.

                                 The Glory of God's Presence

  11And when the priests came from the holy place (for all the priests who were present were

sanctified before being separated into divisions), 12and the Levites and the singers of Asaph
and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, stood at the east end of the
altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, and with them
were one hundred twenty priests sounding with trumpets; 13and the trumpeters and singers
were as one voice in sounding the trumpet and singing and in praising and thanking the Lord.
And when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music,
they praised the Lord, saying:
    “Giv e thanks to the Lord, for He is good,

    For His m ercy endures forev er.”


  The house was filled with a cloud of the Lord's glory,† 14so the priests could not continue
ministering because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

                                               Solomon Speaks to the People


6 Then Solomon said: “The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud.
    2
        But I built a house to y our nam e, a house holy to You,

    And prepared for You a place to dwell forev er.” † †

  3Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the

assembly of Israel was standing. 4And he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who
fulfilled with His hands what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying, 5‘Since
the day I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city from any tribe of Israel
in which to build a house, that My name might be there, nor did I choose any man to be a
ruler over My people Israel; 6yet I chose Jerusalem so that My name may be there, and I
chose David to be over My people Israel.’

  7“Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord God

of Israel; 8but the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a
house for My name, you did well by having it in your heart, 9but you shall not build the
house, for your son who will come from your body, he shall build the house for My name.’
10So the Lord fulfilled the word He spoke, and I took my father David's place and sat on the
throne of Israel as the Lord said, and I built the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.
11And there I put the ark containing the covenant which the Lord made with Israel.”

                                              The King's Prayer of Dedication

  12Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of

Israel and spread out his hands; 13for Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long,
five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court. And he stood
on it, knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands
toward heaven. 14And he said, “Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like
You, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with
all their hearts. 15You held true to what You promised Your servant David, my father; You
spoke with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hands, as it is this day. 16Now, Lord God of
Israel, keep what You promised Your servant David, my father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to
have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if your sons guard the way they walk in My
law, as you walked before Me.’ 17And now, Lord God of Israel, confirm the word You spoke to
Your servant David.

  18“Will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of

heavens cannot contain You. What is this house I built! 19Yet regard the prayer of Your
servant and his supplication, Lord my God, and listen to the supplication and the prayer Your
servant prays before You today, 20so day and night Your eyes may be open toward this house,
toward the place where You said You would put Your name, that You may hear the prayer
Your servant prays in this place. 21And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and
Your people Israel when they pray in this place. Hear from Your dwelling place in heaven, and
when You hear, be merciful. 22If anyone sins against his neighbor and takes an oath, and
comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple, 23then from heaven hear and act
and judge Your servants, bringing retribution on the wicked by bringing his way on his own
head, and justifying the righteous by giving to him according to his righteousness.

  24“Or if Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they sinned against You,

and return and confess Your name, and pray and supplicate before You in this house, 25then
hear from heaven and have mercy on the sins of Your people Israel and bring them back to
the land You gave to them and their fathers. 26When the heavens are shut up and there is no
rain because they sinned against You, when they pray in this place and confess Your name
and turn from their sin because You afflict them, 27then hear in heaven and have mercy on
the sins of Your servants and Your people Israel, so You may teach them the good way for
them to walk and send rain on Your land, the land You gave as an inheritance to Your people.
28When there is famine in the land, death and blight and mildew and locusts and
grasshoppers, when their enemies besiege their cities, whatever plague or whatever sickness
there may be; 29whatever prayer, whatever supplication anyone makes, or all Your people
Israel make, when each one knows his own burden and his own grief and spreads out his
hands in this house; 30then hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive them. And
give to everyone according to his ways, for You know his heart, since You alone know the
hearts of the sons of men; 31so they may fear Your ways as long as they live in the land You
gave our fathers.

  32“And whenever a foreigner, not of Your people Israel, comes from a far country for the
sake of Your great name, and for Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, and prays in
this house, 33then hear from Your dwelling place in heaven. Do everything the foreigner calls
to You to do, so all the peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your
people Israel, so they may know this house I built is called by Your name. 34When Your
people go to battle against their enemies, wherever You send them, when they pray to You in
the city You choose and in the house I built in Your name, 35then hear their prayer and their
supplication from heaven and sustain their cause.

  36“When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You strike them

and deliver them to the enemy, and they are taken captive to a land far or near, 37when they
turn their hearts back to You in the land where they were carried in captivity, and repent and
supplicate You in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We sinned, we have done wrong and
committed wickedness,’ 38and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their
soul in the land of their captivity where they were carried captive, and pray toward their land
You gave their fathers, the city You chose, and the house I built for Your name, 39then hear
their prayer and their supplications from Your dwelling place in heaven and sustain their
cause, and be merciful to Your people who sinned against You.

  40“My God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made

in this place. 41Now therefore:

    “Arise Lord God, to Your resting place,

    You and the ark of Your strength;

    Let Your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salv ation;

    And let Your sons rejoice in goodness.

    42
         Lord God, do not turn away the face of Your Anointed;

    Rem em ber the m ercies of Your serv ant Dav id.”

                                                The Temple Is Consecrated


7 When   Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt
  offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house.† 2And the priests
could not enter the house of the Lord at that time because the glory of the Lord had filled the
house. 3When all the sons of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the
house, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the
Lord, saying:

    “For He is good,

    For His m ercy endures forev er.” †

  4Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. 5Solomon offered a
sacrifice of twenty-two thousand calves and one hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king
and all the people dedicated the house of God.† 6And the priests stood at their posts along
with the Levites and their instruments for the music of the Lord, which King David had made
to praise the Lord, saying, “For His mercy endures forever,” with the hymns of David. The
priests sounded trumpets opposite them, while all Israel stood. 7Solomon consecrated the
middle of the court of the house of the Lord. He offered burnt offerings and the fat of the
peace offerings, because the bronze altar Solomon made was not able to receive the burnt
offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat. 8At that time Solomon kept the feast for seven
days, and all Israel kept it with him, a very great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to
the Brook of Egypt. 9And on the eighth day they held a sacred assembly, for they observed the
dedication of the altar for seven days. 10On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, he
sent the people away to their habitations, joyful and glad of heart for the good that the Lord
had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel.

                                          God Appears Again to Solomon

  11So Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king's house, and Solomon
successfully accomplished everything that came into his heart to do in the house of the Lord
and in his own house. 12Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night and said to him, “I have
heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13If I shut up
heaven and there is no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send
pestilence among My people, 14if My people who are called by My name humble themselves
and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and
will be merciful to their sins and heal their land.† 15Now My eyes will be open and My ears
will hear the prayer of this place; 16for now I have chosen and sanctified this house, so that
My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there all the day. 17If you
shall walk before Me as your father David and do everything I have commanded you, and will
keep My statutes and My judgments; 18then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I
covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘A man ruling in Israel shall not be removed from
you.’ 19But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments that I set
before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 20then I will remove you from
the land I gave them and I will cast from My sight this house which I have sanctified for My
name, and I will make it a parable and a byword among all peoples.

  21“As to this proud house, everyone who passes will be astonished and say, ‘Why did the

Lord do this to this land and this house?’ 22Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the
Lord God of their fathers who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other
gods and worshiped them and served them. That is why He brought all this calamity on
them.’ ”

                           Solomon's Other Accomplishments

    Twenty years after Solomon built the house of the Lord and his own house, 2Solomon
8
    built the cities Hiram had given him and settled the sons of Israel there. 3And Solomon
went to Hamath Zobah and seized it. 4And he built Tadmor in the desert and built all the
fortified cities in Hamath. 5He built Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon, cities fortified
with walls, gates, and bars, 6and Baalath and all the fortified cities Solomon had, and all the
chariot cities and the cities of the cavalry, and everything Solomon desired to build in
Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all his kingdom. 7All the people who were left of the Hittites,
Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not of Israel— 8that is, their sons who
were left in the land after them, whom the sons of Israel did not destroy—from these
Solomon raised forced labor, as it is done today. 9But Solomon did not turn the sons of Israel
into servants for his kingdom. Some were men of war, captains of his officers, captains of his
chariots and his cavalry. 10Others were chiefs of the officials of King Solomon, two hundred
fifty, who ruled over the people.

  11Now Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh up from the City of David to the house
he built for her. For he said, “My wife shall not dwell in the house of David, king of Israel,
because the place where the ark of the Lord has come is holy.”

  12Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of the Lord he built before

the temple, 13according to the daily rate, offering according to the commandment of Moses,
for the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the three appointed yearly feasts—the Feast of
Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. 14According to the
order of David his father, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, the
Levites for their duties—to praise and serve before the priests—as each day's duty required,
and he appointed the gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate, for so David the man of God
commanded. 15Concerning any matter or the treasuries, they did not depart from the
command of the king to the priests and Levites. 16Now all the work of Solomon was well
ordered, from the day of the foundation until Solomon finished the house of the Lord.

  17Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and Elath on the seacoast, in the land of Edom.
18And Hiram sent him ships by the hand of his servants, and servants who knew the sea.
They went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, where they acquired four hundred fifty
gold talents and brought them to King Solomon.

                            The Queen of Sheba Pays a Visit


9 Now   when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to
  test Solomon with hard questions. She brought a very great retinue, camels that bore
spices, an abundance of gold, and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she spoke
with him about everything in her heart. 2Solomon answered all her questions. There was
nothing too difficult for Solomon to explain to her. 3And when the queen of Sheba had seen
Solomon's wisdom, the house that he had built, 4the food on his table, the seating of his
servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers and their apparel, and
the burnt offerings he made in the house of the Lord, she was beside herself.

  5She said to the king, “What I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom

was true. 6However, I did not believe their words until I came and saw with my own eyes.
And indeed what they told me was not the half of the greatness of your wisdom. You exceed
the fame I heard. 7Happy are your men, and happy are these servants of yours who stand
continually before you and hear your wisdom! 8Blessed be the Lord your God, who was
pleased to set you on His throne to be king for the Lord your God! Because your God loved
Israel and established them forever, He made you king over them to do justice and
righteousness.” 9And she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, a great quantity
of spices, and precious stones. There were never such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave
King Solomon.
  10The servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon also brought gold from Ophir and

pine wood and precious stones. 11The king made walkways of pine wood for the house of the
Lord and for the king's house, and harps and stringed instruments for the singers, and there
were none such as these seen before in the land of Judah. 12Now King Solomon gave the
queen of Sheba everything she desired, whatever she asked, much more than she had brought
King Solomon. So she returned to her own land.

                               Solomon's Material Wealth

  13The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,
14not including what the traveling merchants and traders brought. And all the kings of Arabia

and governors of the country brought gold and silver to King Solomon. 15And King Solomon
made two hundred large shields of hammered gold. Six hundred shekels of hammered gold
went into each shield, and each shield weighed six hundred shekels of gold. 16He also made
three hundred shields of hammered gold. Three hundred shekels of gold went into each
shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

  17And the king made a great throne of ivory from elephant tusks and overlaid it with pure

gold.† 18There were six steps fastened to the golden throne, and there were armrests on
either side of the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the armrests.† 19Twelve lions
stood beside the six steps. Nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.† 20All
King Solomon's drinking vessels were gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of
Lebanon were pure gold. Not one was silver, for this was accounted as nothing in the days of
Solomon. 21The king's ships went to Tarshish with Hiram's servants. Once every three years
the merchant ships returned, loaded with gold and silver and elephant tusks and monkeys.

  22So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in wealth and wisdom.† 23And all
the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear the wisdom God put in his
heart. 24Each man brought his present, articles of silver and gold, garments, oil of myrrh,
spices, horses, and mules, at a set rate every year. 25Solomon had four thousand female
horses for chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities
and with the king at Jerusalem. 26So he reigned over all the kings from the river to the land
of the foreigners, as far as the border of Egypt. 27The king made silver as common in
Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar trees as abundant as the sycamores of the lowland.
28And they brought Solomon horses from Egypt and from all lands.

                                   The Death of Solomon

  29Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the words of
Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Joel the
seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat? 30Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel
forty years. 31Then Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David his
father. Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

                                Revolt against King Rehoboam

      Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel went to Shechem to make him king.† 2So
10 when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it—he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the
presence of King Solomon—Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3Then they sent for him and
called him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4“Your father
made our yoke heavy. Now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father and the
heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” 5So he said to them, “Come back to me in
three days.” And the people departed.

   6Then King Rehoboam gathered the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he

still lived and said, “How do you advise me to answer these people?” 7And they spoke to him,
saying, “If you are kind to these people and please them and speak good words to them, they
will be your servants forever.” 8But he rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted
the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. 9And he said to them,
“What is your advice? How should I answer this people who spoke to me, saying, ‘Lighten the
yoke your father put on us’?”

  10Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “This is how you
should speak to the people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but
you make it lighter on us’—this you shall tell them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my
father's waist! 11And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your
yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions!’ ”

  12So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had

directed, saying, “Come back to me three days from now.” 13And the king answered them
roughly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders 14and spoke to them according to
the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it.
My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions!” 15So the king did
not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God, so the Lord might fulfill the
word He had spoken by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

  16Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the
king, saying, “What share have we in David? What inheritance do we have in the son of
Jesse? Every man to your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David!” So all Israel
departed to their tents. 17And the men of Israel dwelt in the cities of Judah, and Rehoboam
reigned over them. 18Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was in charge of revenue, but
the children of Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. Therefore King Rehoboam
mounted his chariot in haste to flee to Jerusalem. 19So Israel has been in rebellion against
the house of David to this day.

                                  The Prophecy of Shemaiah


11 When  Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled one hundred eighty thousand young
   men, warriors from Judah and Benjamin, to fight against Israel and restore the kingdom
to Rehoboam.† 2But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 3“Speak
to Rehoboam the son of Solomon and to all Judah and Benjamin, saying, 4‘Thus says the
Lord: “You shall not go up and fight against your brethren! Let every man return to his house,
for this is from Me.” ’ ” And they obeyed the words of the Lord and turned back from
marching against Jeroboam.

                                   Defensive Fortifications

  5So Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem and built cities with walls in Judah. 6He built

Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7Beth Zur, Sochoh, Adullam, 8Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9Adoraim,
Lachish, Azekah, 10Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, walled cities which belong to Judah and
Benjamin. 11He fortified them with walls and put captains in them and stores of food, olive
oil, and wine. 12In every city he put shields and spears and made them very strong, and they
belonged to Judah and Benjamin. 13And the priests and the Levites throughout Israel
gathered to him from all their regions.† 14For the Levites left the habitations of their
possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected
them from serving the Lord. 15Then he appointed for himself priests for the high places and
the idols, and the vain things and the calves Jeroboam had made. 16Then Jeroboam cast
them out of the tribes of Israel, those who had set their heart on seeking the Lord God of
Israel, and they came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers. 17So they
strengthened the kingdom of Judah and strengthened Rehoboam the son of Solomon for
three years, because he walked in the ways of David and Solomon for three years.

                                   Rehoboam's Family

  18Then Rehoboam took as his wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David,

and of Abihail the daughter of Eliah the son of Jesse. 19And she bore him children: Jeush,
Shamariah, and Zaham. 20Then he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom, and she bore him
Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 21Now Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of
Absalom more than all his wives and concubines, for he took eighteen wives and thirty
concubines and begot twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. 22And Rehoboam appointed
Abijah the son of Maachah as chief to be the leader among his brothers, for he intended to
make him king. 23He grew more powerful than all his sons throughout the territories of
Judah and Benjamin and in all the fortified cities, and he gave them provisions in abundance.
He also sought many wives for them.

                                   Egypt Invades Judah


12 When Rehoboam's kingdom was established and strengthened, he forsook the
   commandments of the Lord, as did all Israel along with him.† 2And in the fifth year of
Rehoboam's reign, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they sinned
against the Lord. 3And he brought twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horsemen, and
people without number who came with him from Egypt—the Lubim and the Sukkiim and the
Ethiopians. 4And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came to Jerusalem. 5Then
Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, who were gathered
together in Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord: ‘You have
forsaken Me, and I shall forsake you in the hand of Shishak.’ ”† 6So the leaders of Israel and
the king were ashamed and said, “The Lord is righteous.” 7Now when the Lord saw that they
repented, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, “They repented. Therefore I will
not destroy them, and I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out
on Jerusalem; 8nevertheless, they will be servants of the king, and they will know My service
as well as the service of the kingdom of the land.”

  9So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took the treasures of the house
of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house. He took everything. He even carried away
the gold shields Solomon had made.† 10Then Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place
and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard who guarded the doorway of
the king's house. 11And whenever the king entered the house of the Lord, the guard would go
and bring them out. Then they would take them back into the guardroom. 12When
Rehoboam repented, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, and He did not destroy him
completely. Things went well in Judah.

                                 Rehoboam's Reign Ends

  13Thus Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. Now Rehoboam was
forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned for seventeen years in Jerusalem,
the city the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put His name there. His mother's
name was Naamah, an Ammonite woman. 14And he did evil because he did not direct his
heart to seek the Lord. 15The acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the
book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And Rehoboam
waged war against Jeroboam all their days. 16So Rehoboam died and rested with his fathers,
and was buried in the City of David. Then Abijah his son reigned in his place.

                                  Abijah Is King of Judah

     In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah. 2He
13 reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Michaiah the daughter of
Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3Abijah set a battle in
array with an army of valiant warriors, four hundred thousand mighty men. Jeroboam also
drew up in battle formation against him with eight hundred thousand mighty men of valor.

  4Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the mountains of Ephraim, and said,

“Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel,† 5do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the
dominion over Israel to David and his sons forever by a covenant of salt?† 6Yet Jeroboam the
son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord.
7Then worthless rogues gathered to him and strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the
son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and inexperienced and could not withstand
them. 8And now you think you can stand against the kingdom of the Lord, which is in the
hand of the sons of David. You are a great multitude, and you have as gods the golden calves
Jeroboam made for you. 9Did you not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and
the Levites, and made priests for yourselves from the peoples of the land, so that whoever
comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may be a priest of things that
are not gods?

  10“But we have not forsaken the Lord our God. And the priests who minister to the Lord

are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites attend to their duties. 11And every morning and every
evening they offer burnt sacrifices and sweet incense to the Lord, and they set the showbread
in order on the pure gold table, and the golden lamp stand with its lamps to burn every
evening. For we keep the command of the Lord God of our fathers, but you have forsaken
Him. 12Listen, Israel, God Himself is with us as our head, and so are His priests, with
trumpets to sound the alarm over us. Children of Israel, do not fight against the Lord God of
your fathers, for you shall not prosper!”

  13And Jeroboam sent men to slip behind Judah, so Jeroboam would be in front of Judah

with an ambush being behind them. 14Judah looked back, and behold, a battle line was
behind them and in front of them. And they cried out to the Lord, and the priests sounded the
trumpets. 15Then the men of Judah shouted. And as the men of Judah shouted, God struck
Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16And the sons of Israel fled before Judah,
and God delivered them into their hands. 17Then Abijah and his people struck them with a
great slaughter, and five hundred thousand mighty men of Israel fell slain. 18Thus the sons
of Israel were subdued on that day, because Judah relied on the Lord God of their fathers.

  19Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took cities from him: Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah

with its villages, and Ephrain with its villages. 20So Jeroboam did not recover strength again
in the days of Abijah. And the Lord struck him, and he died.

  21However, Abijah grew mighty. He married fourteen wives and begot twenty-two sons and

sixteen daughters. 22Now the rest of the acts of Abijah and his ways and his sayings are
written in the annals of the prophet Iddo. 23And Abijah died and rested with his fathers. They
buried him in the City of David. Then Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days, the land of
Judah was quiet for ten years.

                                   Asa Is King of Judah

     Asa did what was good and proper in the eyes of the Lord his God, 2for he removed the
14 altars of the foreign gods and the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut
down the groves. 3He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to observe
the law and the commandments. 4He also removed the altars and the idols from all the cities
of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him. 5He was able to build walled cities in Judah,
for the land had rest. There was no war in those years because the Lord gave him rest.
6Therefore he said to Judah, “Because we sought the Lord our God, let us build these cities
and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars in the land we rule. We sought
Him, and He gave us rest on every side, and we have prospered.” 7Asa had an army of three
hundred thousand from Judah who carried shields and spears, and from Benjamin two
hundred fifty thousand men who carried shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men
of valor.†

  8Then Zerah the Ethiopian came against them with an army of a million men and three

hundred chariots, and came to Mareshah. 9So Asa went out against him, and they set the
troops in battle array in the valley to the north of Mareshah. 10And Asa cried out to the Lord
his God and said, “Lord, with You it is not impossible, whether with the many or with the few.
Strengthen us, Lord our God, for we trust in You. And in Your name we go against this
multitude. Lord our God, do not let man prevail against You!”

  11So the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. 12And Asa and
the people with him pursued them to Gerar, and the Ethiopians were so defeated they could
not recover. They were crushed before the Lord and His army. And they carried away a great
deal of spoil. 13Then they cut off all the villages round about Gerar, for the fear of the Lord
came upon them; even so, they plundered all their cities, for they had a great amount of spoil
in them. 14They even tore down the enclosures for the livestock. Then they took many of the
sheep and camels and returned to Jerusalem.

                                   Asa Brings Reforms


15 Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. 2And he went out to meet
Asa and all Judah and Benjamin, and said, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The
Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you
forsake Him, He will forsake you.† 3For a long time Israel was without the true God, without
a teaching priest, and held to what is not the law.† 4But when in their trouble they turned to
the Lord God of Israel and sought Him, He was found by them. 5In those times, there was no
peace for the one who went out or the one who came in, but great terror of the Lord was on
all the inhabitants of the lands. 6So nation destroyed nation and city against city, for God
troubled them with every adversity. 7But be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for
there is a reward for your work.”†

  8When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage and
removed the abominations throughout the land of Judah and Benjamin, and the cities he
took in the mountains of Ephraim. And he restored the altar of the Lord before the temple of
the Lord.† 9Then he gathered all of Judah and Benjamin, and those who dwelt with them
from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon, for they came over to him in great numbers from
Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.

  10So they gathered together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the

reign of Asa. 11And at that time, they offered to the Lord seven hundred calves and seven
thousand sheep from the spoil they had brought. 12Then they entered into a covenant to seek
the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul. 13Whoever would not
seek the Lord God of Israel was to be put to death, small or great, man or woman. 14With a
loud voice and trumpets and rams’ horns they took an oath before the Lord. 15And all of
Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all
their soul. And He was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around.

  16And he removed Maachah his mother from being queen mother because she served the

Asherah; and he cut down the idol and burned it at the Brook Kidron. 17But the high places
were not removed, and they still existed in Israel. But the heart of Asa was loyal all his days.
18He also brought the things his father had dedicated and that he himself had dedicated—
silver and gold and utensils.

  19And there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa.

                                Asa's Treaty with Syria's King
16 InJudah
        the thirty-eighth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against
           and built Ramah, so that no one could go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.†
2Then Asa brought silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the Lord and the king's
house. He sent them to the son of Hadad the king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying,
3“Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father.
Here, I have sent you silver and gold. Come and drive away Baasha king of Israel so that he
will withdraw from me.”

   4So the son of Hadad heeded King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the

cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the areas around Naphtali. 5Now
when Baasha heard it, he stopped building Ramah and ceased his work. 6Then King Asa took
all of Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber of Ramah which Baasha had used
for building. With them he built Geba and Mizpah.

                                Hanani's Prophecy to Asa

  7And at that time, Hanani the prophet came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because
you relied on the king of Syria and did not rely on the Lord your God, therefore the army of
the king of Syria escaped from your hand. 8Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a large
and courageous army with a great many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on
the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. 9For the eyes of the Lord look over the whole
earth and strengthen every heart that is loyal to Him. In this you did foolishly, and from now
on you shall have wars.” 10Asa was angry at the prophet and he put him in prison, for
because of this he was enraged at him. And at that time Asa oppressed some of the people.

                                Sickness and Death of Asa

  11Now the acts of Asa, first and last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and

Israel. 12In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady
was severe. And in his disease he sought physicians rather than the Lord. 13So Asa rested
with his fathers. He died in the thirty-ninth year of his reign. 14They buried him in the tomb
he had made for himself in the City of David. And they laid him in a bed filled with spices and
various ingredients prepared in a mixture of ointments. They made a very great funeral for
him.
                              Jehoshaphat Is King of Judah

     Then Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place and strengthened himself against Israel.†
17   2He placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set captains in the land of

Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had taken. 3Now the Lord was with
Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David and did not seek
idols, 4but sought the Lord God of his father and walked in His commandments, and not
according to the deeds of Israel. 5Therefore the Lord guided the kingdom by his hand. And all
Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, and he had great wealth and honor. 6His heart took
delight in the ways of the Lord. And moreover, he removed the high places and groves from
the land of Judah.

 7And in the third year of his reign, he sent his leaders and the sons of the mighty men,

Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. 8And with them
he sent Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan,
Adonijah, Tobijah—the Levites. And with them were the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9So
they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them. They went through
the cities of Judah and taught the people.

                                 Jehoshaphat's Strength

  10And the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah, so they did

not make war against Jehoshaphat. 11And some of the foreigners brought Jehoshaphat
presents and silver as tribute, and the Arabians brought him flocks—seven thousand seven
hundred rams. 12So Jehoshaphat became increasingly powerful, and he built fortresses and
fortified cities in Judah.

  13He had great works in Judah, and in Jerusalem men of war, mighty men of valor.
14These are their numbers by their fathers’ houses: of Judah, the captains of thousands,

Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor; 15and with
him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him were two hundred eighty thousand; 16and
with him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the Lord, and with
him were two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. 17From Benjamin came Eliada, a
mighty man of valor, and with him were two hundred thousand men armed with bow and
shield. 18And with him was Jehozabad, who brought one hundred eighty thousand prepared
for war. 19These served the king in addition to those the king put in the fortified cities
throughout Judah.

                          King Ahab Hears Micaiah's Prophecy

      Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab.†
18    2After several years, he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab killed many sheep
and oxen for him and for the people with him, and he persuaded him to go with him to
Ramoth Gilead. 3So Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with
me against Ramoth Gilead?” And he answered him, “In time of war, I am like you and my
people are like your people.” 4And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire of
the Lord today.”†

  5The king of Israel gathered the prophets—four hundred men—and said to them, “Shall we
go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will
deliver this place into the king's hand.” 6But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of
the Lord here, so that we may inquire of Him?” 7So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat,
“There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never
prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla.” And
Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!” 8Then Ahab called a eunuch and said,
“Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imla!”

  9The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat on their thrones clothed in their
robes. They sat at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the
prophets prophesied before them. 10Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made iron horns
for himself and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘With these you shall gore the Syrians until they
are destroyed.’ ” 11And all the prophets prophesied in a similar manner, saying, “Go up to
Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king's hand.”

  12Then the messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Now listen, the
words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Therefore let your word be like the
word of one of them and speak encouragement.” 13And Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, I will
say whatever my God tells me.” 14Then he came to the king, and the king said to him,
“Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?” And he said, “Go and
prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand!” 15So the king said to him, “How many
times shall I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth, in the name of the Lord?”
16Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no
shepherd; and the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his house in peace.’ ”
17And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he does not prophesy good
concerning me, but evil?”

  18Then Micaiah said, “No, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne,

and all the host of heaven standing at His right and His left. 19And the Lord said, ‘Who will
deceive Ahab king of Israel, to go up so he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this
manner and another spoke in that manner. 20Then a spirit came forward and stood before
the Lord, and said, ‘I will deceive him.’ And the Lord said, ‘In what way?’ 21So he said, ‘I will
go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall
deceive him and prevail. Go out and do so.’

  22“Listen therefore! The Lord put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours.

The Lord declares disaster against you.” 23Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah approached
and slapped Micaiah on the cheek and said, “What sort of spirit of the Lord passed by way of
me speaking to you?” 24And Micaiah said, “Indeed you shall see on that day when you go
from chamber to chamber to hide yourself.” 25Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah
and return him to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the chief captain, the son of
the king; 26and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put this fellow in prison. Let him eat the bread of
affliction and drink the water of affliction until I return in peace.” ’ ” 27And Micaiah said, “If
you ever return in peace, the Lord did not speak by me.” And he said, “Take heed, all you
people.”

                                 King Ahab Killed in Battle

  28So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.
29And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle. You
put on my robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

  30Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots by saying, “Fight with

no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.” 31So when the captains of the chariots
saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel!” Therefore they surrounded him to
attack. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord saved him, and God diverted them from him.
32For when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not Ahab king of Israel, they turned

away from him. 33Now a certain man with good aim drew a bow and struck the king of Israel
between the lungs and the breastplate. Ahab said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around
and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” 34On that day, the war turned. The king of
Israel, away from the Syrians, remained standing in his chariot until evening, and at sunset
he died.†

                               Jehoshaphat Brings Reforms

      Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in peace to his house in Jerusalem.†
19    2And Jehu, the son of Hanani the prophet, went out to meet him and said to him, “King
Jehoshaphat, do you help a sinner or love one who hates the Lord? Therefore, this wrath of
the Lord came upon you. 3Nevertheless, good things are found in you, for you removed the
groves from the land of Judah, and did direct your heart to seek the Lord.”

  4So Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem and went out again among the people from Beersheba

to Mount Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord God of their fathers.† 5And city by
city, he appointed judges in all the fortified cities of Judah, 6and said to the judges, “Watch
what you are doing, because you are not judging for man but for the Lord, and the words of
judgment are with you. 7Now let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Take care and so do it, for
there is no wrongdoing with the Lord our God, no partiality nor taking of bribes.”

  8Moreover in Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests, and some
of the chief fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord and to judge those dwelling in
Jerusalem. 9And he commanded them, saying, “Thus you shall act in the fear of the Lord
faithfully and with a mature heart. 10Whatever case comes to you from your brethren that
dwell in their cities, whether of bloodshed or offenses against law or commandment, against
statutes or ordinances, you shall warn them not to trespass against the Lord, so that wrath
may not come upon you and your brethren. Do this, and you will not be guilty of sin.
11Listen, regarding Amariah the priest, he is head over you in each matter of the Lord.
Zebadiah the son of Ishmael is the head over the house of Judah in every matter of the king;
and the scribes and the Levites will be before you. Be willing and do the works, for the Lord
will be with the good.”

                          Defeat of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir
20 After this, the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon and others from the Meunites
   came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2And some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A
great multitude has come against you from beyond the sea, from Syria. They are in Hazazon
Tamar” (which is En Gedi). 3Jehoshaphat was afraid and set himself to seek the Lord, and
proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.† 4So Judah gathered to seek the Lord, and from all
the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. 5Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of
Judah in Jerusalem, before the new court in the house of the Lord, 6and said, “Lord God of
our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the
nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might so that no one is able to withstand
You? 7Are You not the Lord who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people
Israel and gave it to the seed of Abraham Your friend forever? 8And in it they settled and
built You a sanctuary in it to Your name, saying, 9‘If disaster comes upon us, whether sword,
judgment, death, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You, for Your name is
in this house. It cries out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’

  10“Here are the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You would not let Israel
capture when they came out of the land of Egypt; they turned from them and did not destroy
them.† 11Now they are here, attempting to throw us out of the inheritance You gave us.
12Lord our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude

coming against us. We do not know what to do to them, but our eyes are upon You.” 13Now
all Judah stood before the Lord, with their wives and their children.

  14And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah,
the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the
assembly. 15And he said, “Listen, King Jehoshaphat, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem!
Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for
the battle is not yours but God's.† 16Go down against them tomorrow. They will surely come
up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the river before the Desert of
Jeruel. 17You will not need to fight in this battle. Understand that the salvation of the Lord is
with you, Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed. Go out against them tomorrow,
for the Lord is with you.” 18And Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all
Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord and worshiped Him. 19And the
Levites of the sons of Kohath and the sons of Korah stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel
with voices loud and high.

  20So they rose early in the morning and went to the Desert of Tekoa. And as they went out,
Jehoshaphat stood and cried out and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem:
trust in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; trust His prophet and you shall
prosper.” 21And he consulted with the people, and appointed singers and those who should
confess and praise the beauty of holiness. And they went out before the army and said, “Give
thanks to the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.” 22Now when they began to sing and to
give praise, the Lord allowed the sons of Ammon to fight against Moab and Mount Seir, who
had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 23For the sons of Ammon and Moab stood
up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir and utterly killed and destroyed them. And when
they had killed the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. 24So when Judah
came to a place overlooking the desert, they saw the multitude, and there were all the dead
bodies fallen on the earth. No one had escaped. 25When Jehoshaphat and his people came to
take away their spoil, they found a great deal of cattle and baggage and spoils and precious
articles, which they stripped off for themselves, and they spent three days gathering the spoil
because there was so much. 26And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of
Blessing, for there they blessed the Lord. That is why that place has been called the Valley of
Blessing until this day. 27Then every man of Judah returned to Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat
in front of them with great joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28So
they came to Jerusalem to the house of the Lord with stringed instruments and harps and
trumpets. 29And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the land when they heard that
the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was
quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

                             King Jehoshaphat's Reign Is Over

  31So Jehoshaphat was king over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king,
and he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the
daughter of Shilhi. 32And he walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not turn aside from
them, doing right in the sight of the Lord. 33But the high places were not taken away, for the
people did not direct their hearts to the God of their fathers. 34Now the rest of the acts of
Jehoshaphat, from beginning to end, are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who
wrote them down in the Book of the Kings of Israel.
  35After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah the king of Israel, who

acted most wickedly.† 36He allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they
made the ships in Ezion Geber. 37But Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied
against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you allied yourself with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy
your work, wreck your ships, and Ahaziah will be unable to go to Tarshish.”

                                Jehoram Is King of Judah


21 Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the City of
   David. Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place.† 2He had six brothers, Azariah,
Jehiel, Zechariah, Azaryahu, Michael, and Shephatiah; all were the sons of Jehoshaphat king
of Judah. 3Their father gave them many gifts of silver and gold, together with weapons and
fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, since he was the firstborn.
4Now when Jehoram was established over his father's kingdom, he strengthened himself and

killed all his brothers, as well as others of Israel. 5Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he
became king, and ruled for eight years in Jerusalem. 6He walked in the way of the kings of
Israel, as the house of Ahab had done; for Ahab's daughter was his wife, and he did evil before
the Lord. 7Yet the Lord did not wish to destroy the house of David because of the covenant
He had made with David, because He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons
forever.

  8In those days, the Edomites revolted against Judah and set a king over themselves.† 9So
Jehoram went out with his officers and all his cavalry. He rose by night and attacked the
Edomites who had surrounded him and the captains of the chariots, and the people fled to
their tents. 10Thus Edom remained in opposition to Judah's authority to this day. At that
time, Libnah revolted against the rule of Jehoram because he had forsaken the Lord God of
his fathers. 11Moreover, he made high places in the cities of Judah and caused the
inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit harlotry, and led Judah astray.

  12And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, “Thus says the Lord God of
your father David, because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in
the ways of Asa the king of Judah, 13but walked in the way of the kings of Israel; because you
caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot like the harlotry of the
house of Ahab; and because you have killed your brothers, those of your father's household
who were better than yourself, 14behold, the Lord will strike your people with a great
affliction—your sons, your wives, and all your possessions. 15And you will become day by day
very sick with a disease of your belly, until your belly comes out because of the sickness.”

                               The End of Jehoram's Reign

  16Moreover, the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of both the foreigners and the

neighbors of the Arabs near the Ethiopians. 17And they came up to Judah and invaded it; they
carried away all the possessions from the king's house as well as his sons and daughters, so
he had no son left except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. 18After all this the Lord struck
him in the belly with an incurable disease.† 19And in the course of time, at the end of two
days, his belly came out with the disease, and he died in severe pain. His people made no
funeral for him like the funeral for his fathers. 20He was thirty-two years old when he
became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for eight years. He departed without praise and he
was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

                                 Ahaziah Is King of Judah


22 And  in his place, the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king,
   for the raiders who came into the camp with the Arabians and the Alimazones killed all
the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, was made king.† 2Ahaziah was
twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned for one year in Jerusalem. His
mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri. 3He also walked in the ways of the house
of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in sinning. 4He did evil in the sight of the Lord,
similarly to the house of Ahab, for after the death of his father they were his counselors to his
destruction. 5He followed their advice and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel
to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth Gilead, whose archers wounded Joram.†
6Joram returned to Jezreel to recover from his wounds the Syrians inflicted in Ramah, when
he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went
down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

  7His going to Jehoram was God's opportunity for Ahaziah's downfall. For when he arrived,
he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to
cut off the house of Ahab.† 8And when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab,
he found both the princes of Judah, and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers who served Ahaziah,
and killed them. 9Jehu gave orders to search for Ahaziah in Samaria where he was
recuperating, and they brought him to Jehu. After they killed him, they buried him, because
they said, “He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.” Thus there
was no one in the house of Ahaziah to assume power over the kingdom.

                                Athaliah Is Queen of Judah

  10Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and

destroyed all the royal heirs of the house of Judah.† 11But Jehoshabeath the king's daughter
took Joash, the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons being
murdered, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of
King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest—for she was the sister of Ahaziah—hid him
from Athaliah, so she did not kill him.† 12He remained hidden with them in the house of God
for six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.

                                  Joash Is King of Judah


23 InAzariah
       the seventh year, Jehoiada strengthened himself and took the captains of hundreds,
             the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed,
Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri with him into the house.†
2They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the
leaders of the families of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

  3Then all the assembly of Judah made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And
he showed them the king's son and said to them, “Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the
Lord said of the house of David. 4This is what you shall do: One-third of the priests and the
Levites who enter on the Sabbath shall keep watch over the entrance gates. 5One-third shall
be at the king's house. And one-third shall be at the Middle Gate. All the people shall be in
the courts of the house of the Lord. 6But let no one come into the house of the Lord except
the priests and those Levites who serve. They may go in, for they are holy, but all the people
shall keep the watch for the Lord. 7And the Levites shall surround the king on all sides, every
man with his weapons in his hand, and whoever comes into the house will be put to death.
They will be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”

  8So the Levites and all Judah did everything Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each
man took his men who were to be on duty on the Sabbath, along with those who were going
off duty on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss the divisions. 9And he gave
them the swords and shields and weapons which had belonged to King David that were in the
house of God. 10Then he stationed all the people, every man with his weapon in his hands,
from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, and next to the altar and by the
temple, and all around the king. 11And they brought out the king's son, put the crown on him,
gave him the Testimony, and made him king. Then Jehoiada and his sons made him king and
anointed him and said, “Long live the king!”

                                   The Death of Athaliah

  12Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and giving thanks and praising

the king, she came to the king in the house of the Lord.† 13When she looked, there was the
king standing by his pillar at the entrance, with the leaders and the trumpeters around the
king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, along with the singers
and their musical instruments, and those who led in praise. So Athaliah tore her clothes and
said, “Treason! Treason!” 14Jehoiada the priest went out and commanded the captains of
hundreds, who were set over the army, and said to them, “Take her out of the house and slay
whoever follows her with the sword.” For the priest said, “Do not kill her in the house of the
Lord.” 15So they seized her, and she went into the king's house by the entrance of the Horse
Gate, and there they killed her.

                                     Jehoiada's Reforms

  16Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they

should be the Lord's people. 17And all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down.
They broke its altars and idols in pieces, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.
18Also, Jehoiada the priest strengthened the works of the house of the Lord in the hand of
the priests and the Levites whom David had assigned in the house of the Lord, to offer the
burnt offerings of the Lord as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing as
it was established by David. 19And the gatekeepers stood at the gates of the house of the Lord
so no one unclean should possibly enter. 20Then he took the leaders of the families, the
mighty men, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king
into the house of the Lord. Going through the Inner Gate to the king's house, they set the
king on the throne of the kingdom. 21So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was
quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword.
                             King Joash Repairs the Temple


24 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years in
   Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.† 2Joash did what was right in
the sight of the Lord for all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3And Jehoiada took two wives and
begot sons and daughters. 4After this, Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the Lord.

  5So he gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah
and gather money from all Israel to repair the house of your God from year to year. See that
you do it quickly.” However, the Levites did not do it quickly. 6So the king called Jehoiada the
chief priest and said to him, “Why did you not require the Levites to bring in the collection
from Judah and Jerusalem, according to the commandment of Moses the man of God when
he assembled Israel at the tabernacle of witness?” 7For Athaliah, a wicked woman, and her
sons broke into the house of God and gave all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord to
the Baals. 8Then at the king's command, they made a chest and set it outside at the gate of
the house of the Lord. 9And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem, to
bring to the Lord the collection that Moses the servant of God imposed on Israel in the
desert.

  10And all the leaders and all the people gave and brought their contributions. They put

them into the chest until it was full. 11So at that time, when the chest was brought to the
king's official by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw there was a lot of money, the
king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest and returned it to its
place. They did this every day and gathered a great deal of money. 12The king and Jehoiada
gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the Lord. They hired masons
and carpenters to repair the house of the Lord, and iron and bronze workers to restore the
house of the Lord. 13So the workmen labored, and by their hand the amount of work being
completed increased. They restored the house of God to its original condition and reinforced
it. 14When they finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada. With
this, they made articles for the house of the Lord, articles for serving in the whole burnt
offerings, and censers of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the
Lord without interruption all the days of Jehoiada.

                                     Death of Jehoiada
  15But Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and he died. He was one hundred thirty years old

when he died. 16They buried him in the City of David with the kings, because he had done
good in Israel toward God and His house. 17Now after the death of Jehoiada, the leaders of
Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. 18And they left the
Lord God of their fathers to serve Asherah and the idols. And wrath came on Judah and
Jerusalem on that day. 19But still He sent prophets to them to bring them back to the Lord,
but they did not listen. The prophets testified against them, but they would not listen.

  20Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who watched
over the people, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Why do you transgress the
commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Since you forsook the Lord, He shall
forsake you.’ ” 21So they conspired against Zechariah, and at the command of the king they
stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. 22Thus Joash the king did not
remember the mercy Jehoiada his father had shown him, but killed his son. As he died, he
said, “May the Lord see and judge!”

                                       Death of Joash

  23So after the end of the year, the army of Syria came up against him. They came to Judah
and Jerusalem and destroyed all the leaders of the people from among the people, and sent
all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24For the army of the Syrians came with a small
company of men, but the Lord delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had
forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. They executed judgment against Joash. 25When Syria
withdrew, they had left him severely wounded. Then his own servants conspired against him,
because of the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. He died,
and they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.
26Those who conspired against him were Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonite, and

Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabite. 27He had five sons. Everything else that is
written about him is in the annals of the Book of the Kings. Amaziah his son reigned in his
place.

                                Amaziah Is King of Judah


25 Amaziah  was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for twenty-
   nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.† 2And he did
what was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a loyal heart. 3As soon as the kingdom
was established for him, he executed his servants who murdered his father the king.
4However, he did not execute their children, for as it is written in the Law in the Book of
Moses where the Lord commands, saying, “The fathers shall not be put to death for their
sons, nor shall the sons be put to death for their fathers, but each person shall die for his own
sin.”

                                     War against Edom

  5Amaziah gathered the house of Judah then according to their fathers’ houses throughout
Judah and Jerusalem, and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds. He
numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found there were three hundred
thousand mighty men who could go to war with spear and shield. 6And from Israel for one
hundred talents of silver he hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor. 7But a man of
God came to him, saying, “King, the army of Israel will not go with you, for the Lord is not
with Israel, nor with any of the sons of Ephraim; 8and if you try to be strong in battle, the
Lord will cast you down before the enemy, for the Lord has power to strengthen and to
overthrow.” 9Then Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred
talents I gave the army of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “The Lord can give you
more than this.” 10So Amaziah discharged the troops that had come to him from Ephraim
and sent them back home. Therefore their anger was greatly aroused against Judah, and they
returned home in great anger.

  11And Amaziah strengthened himself and led his people and went to the Valley of Salt,

where he killed ten thousand of the sons of Seir.† 12The sons of Judah took ten thousand
men captive, brought them to the top of the rock, and cast them down from there. They were
all dashed to pieces. 13As for the sons of the army Amaziah discharged so they would not go
to war with him, they raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon and killed three
thousand in them, and took a great deal of spoil. 14After Amaziah came from the slaughter of
the Edomites, he brought the gods of the sons of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed
down before them and burned incense to them. 15Therefore the anger of the Lord was
aroused against Amaziah, and He sent prophets who said to him, “Why did you seek the gods
of the people who could not rescue their own people from your hand?” 16As he talked with
him, the king said to him, “Have we made you the king's counselor? Be careful so that you are
not scourged!” Then the prophet ceased, and said, “I know that God determines to destroy
you, because you did not heed my advice and you did this thing.”

                                 Judah Defeated by Israel

  17Now Amaziah king of Judah sought advice and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz, the

son of Jehu the king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face one another in battle.” 18And Joash
king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle in Lebanon sent to the cedar
in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as wife,’ and the beasts of the field will
come in Lebanon, and the beasts came and trampled the thistle. 19Indeed, you say you
defeated the Edomites, and your heart is lifted up to boast. Stay at home now. Why should
you meddle with trouble and fall, you and Judah with you?”

  20But Amaziah did not listen, as it came from God for him to be given into the hands of his

enemies, since he sought the gods of Edom. 21So Joash king of Israel went out, and he and
Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 22And
Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his tent. 23Then Joash the king of Israel
captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, at Beth Shemesh. And Joash brought him
to Jerusalem and broke down the walls of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner
Gate—four hundred cubits. 24And he took all the gold and silver, all the articles that were
found in the house of the Lord with Obed-Edom, the treasures of the king's house, and the
sons of mixed marriages, and returned to Samaria.

  25Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Joash

the son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 26Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from first to last,
are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel? 27When Amaziah turned
from the Lord, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But
they went after him to Lachish and killed him there. 28Then they brought him on horses and
buried him with his fathers in the City of David.

                                 Uzziah Is King of Judah


26 Now  all the people of the land took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him
   king instead of his father Amaziah.† 2He built Elath and restored it to Judah after the
king rested with his fathers. 3Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he
reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.
4And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to everything his father

Amaziah had done. 5He sought the Lord in the days of Zechariah, who was wise in the fear of
the Lord. And as long as he sought the Lord, the Lord made him prosper.

  6Now he went out and made war against the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath,
the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod. And he built cities around Ashdod and among the
Philistines. 7God strengthened him against the foreigners, against the Arabs who lived in the
rock, and against the Meunites. 8And the Meunites brought tribute to Uzziah. His fame
spread as far as the entrance of Egypt, for he became exceedingly strong. 9And Uzziah built
towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the corner buttress of the
wall, and he fortified them. 10He also built towers in the desert. He dug many wells, for he
had a great deal of livestock, both in the lowlands and in the plains. He had vine-dressers in
the mountains and in Carmel, for he loved the soil.

  11Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men who went out to war by companies,
according to the number on their roll as prepared by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer,
under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains. 12The total number of chief officers
of the mighty men of valor was two thousand six hundred. 13And the power of an expert
military force, equal to three hundred seven thousand five hundred, was with them to help
the king against the enemy. 14And for each of them in the army, Uzziah prepared shields,
spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and slings for stones. 15And in Jerusalem, he built
devices invented by skilled men for the launching of javelins and large stones, and placed
them on the towers and corners of the devices. And the fame of his preparing for war was
heard far and wide, for he was helped marvelously till he became strong.

                           The Pride and Downfall of Uzziah

  16But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction; for he transgressed
against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the incense
altar. 17So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty valiant priests of
the Lord. 18And they challenged King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to
burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn
incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have rebelled against the Lord! You shall have no honor
from the Lord God.”
  19Then Uzziah became furious with the priests while holding a censer in his hand to burn
incense. And while he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, leprosy broke out on his
forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, next to the incense altar. 20And Azariah
the chief priest and all the priests looked on, for he was leprous on his forehead. So they
thrust him out of the place. And indeed he hurried, because the Lord reproached him.

  21King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death, and because he was a leper he dwelt in
an isolated house and was excluded from the house of the Lord. Then Jotham his son was
over the king's house, judging the people of the land. 22Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah,
from first to last, are written by the prophet Isaiah. 23So Uzziah rested with his fathers, and
they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial that belonged to the kings, for they said,
“He is a leper.” Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.

                                  Jotham Is King of Judah


27 Jotham   was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for sixteen
   years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.† 2He did
what was right in the sight of the Lord according to everything his father Uzziah had done,
although he did not enter the temple of the Lord. But still the people acted corruptly. 3He
built the Upper Gate of the house of the Lord, and he built extensively on the wall of Ophel.
4Moreover, he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and he built fortresses and towers in

the forests. 5He also did battle with the king of the sons of Ammon and defeated them. And
the sons of Ammon gave him one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat, and
ten thousand of barley every year. The king of Ammon brought this to him in the first year
and the second year and the third year.

  6So Jotham became mighty, for he directed his ways before the Lord his God. 7Now the
rest of the acts of Jotham and all his wars and his deeds are written in the Book of the Kings
of Israel and Judah. 8And Jotham rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of
David. Ahaz his son, reigned in his place.

                                   Ahaz Is King of Judah


28 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned for sixteen years in
   Jerusalem. He did not do right in the sight of the Lord as his father David had done.†
2For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and made molded images for their idols.
3He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his children in the fire,
according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the sons
of Israel. 4He burned incense on the high places, on the housetops, and under every green
tree.

                           Judah Defeated by Syria and Israel

  5Therefore the Lord his God delivered Ahaz into the hand of the king of Syria. They
defeated him and carried away a great multitude of them as captives, and brought them to
Damascus. He then was delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a
great slaughter. 6For Pekah the son of Remaliah, the king of Israel, killed one hundred
twenty thousand mighty men in Judah in one day, because they had forsaken the Lord God of
their fathers. 7Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, Azrikam the
officer over the house, and Elkanah, who was second to the king. 8And the sons of Israel
carried away captive three hundred thousand of their brethren—their wives, the sons, and
their daughters—and they took away a great deal of spoil from them and brought the spoil to
Samaria.

                               Israel Releases Her Captives

  9But a prophet of the Lord was there whose name was Oded, and he went out before the
army that came to Samaria and said to them, “Look, the wrath of the Lord God of your fathers
is on Judah. He has delivered them into your hand, but you killed them in a rage that reaches
up to heaven.† 10And now do you propose to force the sons of Judah and Jerusalem to be
your male and female servants? Will I not bear witness about you before the Lord your God?
11Therefore, now hear me and return the captives you took from your brethren, for the fierce
wrath of the Lord is upon you.”

  12Then some of the leaders of the sons of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah
the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood
up against those who came from the war 13and said to them, “You shall not bring the captives
here to us, for we have already offended the Lord. You intend to add to our sins and to our
guilt, for our guilt is great and there is fierce wrath against Israel.” 14So the armed men left
the captives and the spoil before the leaders and all the assembly. 15And the men who were
designated by name rose up and took the captives. From the spoil they clothed all who were
naked among them, dressed them and gave them sandals, gave them food and drink, and
anointed them. They let all the feeble ones ride on donkeys. So they brought them to their
brethren at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.

                               Assyria Will Not Help Judah

  16At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him. 17For again the Edomites

had come and attacked Judah and carried away captives. 18The foreigners had also invaded
the cities of the lowland and the South of Judah and had taken Beth Shemesh, Aijalon,
Gederoth, Sochoh with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages, and
settled there. 19For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Judah, for he had
rebelled against the Lord. 20Also Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, came to him and struck
him. 21For Ahaz took what was in the house of the Lord and the house of the king and the
leaders, and gave it to the king of Assyria, and he did not help him.

                                  Sins and Death of Ahaz

  22Now in the time of his distress, King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the Lord.

And the king said, 23“I shall seek the gods of Damascus, who defeated me.” And he said,
“Because the gods of the king of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them and they will help
me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.

  24So Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, cut the articles of the house of God in
pieces, shut the doors of the house of the Lord, and made altars for himself in every corner of
Jerusalem. 25And in every single city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to
foreign gods, and provoked the Lord God of his fathers to anger. 26Now the rest of his acts
and all his deeds, from first to last, indeed they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah
and Israel. 27So Ahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem.
But they did not place him in the tombs of the kings of Israel. Then Hezekiah his son reigned
in his place.

                                Hezekiah Is King of Judah


29 Hezekiah  became king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned for twenty-
   nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah.†
2And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to everything his father David
had done.

                                   Cleansing the Temple

  3In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the

Lord and repaired them. 4Then he brought in the priests and the Levites and gathered them
in the East Square, 5and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify
the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and cast out the uncleanness from the holy place;
6for our fathers trespassed and did evil in the eyes of the Lord our God. They forsook Him,
they turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord and turned their backs on
Him. 7They also shut up the doors of the temple, put out the lamps, and did not burn incense
or offer burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8Therefore the Lord turned His
anger against Judah and Jerusalem, and as you see with your eyes, He gave them up to terror,
to desolation, and to jeering. 9For indeed, because of this our fathers fell by the sword, and
our wives, our sons, and our daughters are in captivity. 10Now it is in my heart to make a
covenant with the Lord God of Israel, to turn the fierce wrath of His anger from us. 11Now do
not be negligent, for the Lord chose you to stand before Him and serve Him, to minister to
Him and burn incense.”

  12Then these Levites arose: the sons of Kohath, Mahath the son of Amasai and Joel the
son of Azariah; of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel;
of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah;† 13of the sons of
Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel; of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14of the sons of
Heman, Jehiel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.

  15And they gathered their brethren and sanctified themselves according to the

commandment of the king, at the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. 16Then
the priests went into the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness
they found in the temple of the Lord and in the court of the house of the Lord. And the
Levites took it out and carried it to the Brook Kidron. 17They began to sanctify it on the first
day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the
Lord. They sanctified the house of the Lord in eight days and finished on the sixteenth day of
the first month.
  18And they went in to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed everything in the house
of the Lord, the altar of burnt offerings with all its articles, and the table of the showbread
with all its articles. 19Moreover, we have prepared and sanctified all the articles King Ahaz
polluted in his reign and his apostasy. We have prepared and sanctified them all, and there
they are before the altar of the Lord.”

                                    Worship Is Restored

  20Then King Hezekiah rose early, gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house

of the Lord. 21He offered seven calves, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a
sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. Then he commanded the
priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the Lord. 22So they sacrificed the
calves, and the priests received the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Likewise they
sacrificed the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. They also killed the lambs and
sprinkled the blood on the altar. 23Then they brought out the male goats for the sin offering
before the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them. 24And the priests
sacrificed them. They presented their blood on the altar as a sin offering to make an
atonement for all Israel, for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering
be made for all Israel.

  25And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with stringed
instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David and Gad the king's
seer and Nathan the prophet; for this was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets.
26The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
27Then Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the
burnt offering began, they started to sing to the Lord with the trumpets and with the
instruments of David king of Israel. 28So all the assembly worshiped. The singers sang and
the trumpeters sounded until the burnt offering was finished. 29And when they had finished
offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed. 30And King Hezekiah and the
leaders commanded the Levites to sing praise to the Lord with the words of David and of
Asaph the prophet. So they sang praises with gladness, and bowed their heads and worshiped.

  31Then Hezekiah spoke up and said, “Now that you have cleansed your hands for the Lord,
come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord.” So the
assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought
burnt offerings. 32And the number of the burnt offerings the assembly brought was seventy
calves, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs. All these were for a burnt offering to the
Lord. 33And there were six hundred consecrated calves and three thousand sheep. 34But
there were not enough priests, so they could not skin all the burnt offerings. Therefore their
brethren the Levites helped them until the task was finished and until the other priests had
sanctified themselves, for the Levites were more diligent in sanctifying themselves than the
priests.† 35There were many burnt offerings, with the fat of the peace offerings and with the
drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the Lord was set in
order. 36Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since
the events took place so suddenly.†

                           Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover


30 Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters to Ephraim and
   Manasseh, telling them to come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem and keep the
Passover to the Lord God of Israel.† 2For the king and his leaders and all the assembly in
Jerusalem had agreed to keep the Passover in the second month. 3For they could not keep it
at the regular time, because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves
and the people had not gathered in Jerusalem. 4And the matter pleased the king and the
assembly. 5So they resolved to make a proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba to
Dan that they should come to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem, since
they had not done it in the prescribed manner for a long time.

  6Then the runners went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the king and
his leaders, and spoke according to the command of the king, “Sons of Israel, return to the
Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Then He will return to the remnant of you who
escaped from the hand of the king of Assyria. 7Do not be like your fathers and your brethren
who rebelled against the Lord God of their fathers; so He gave them up to desolation as you
see. 8Do not be stiff-necked as your fathers were. Give glory to the Lord God and enter His
sanctuary, which He sanctified forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that He turns the
fierceness of His wrath away from you. 9For if you return to the Lord, your brethren and your
children will be treated with compassion by those who led them captive, so they may come
back to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and He will not turn His
face from us if we return to Him.”
  10So the runners passed from city to city, through Mount Ephraim and Manasseh, and as

far as Zebulun. But the people laughed at them and mocked them. 11Nevertheless some from
Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun were ashamed and came to Jerusalem. 12At the word of the
Lord, the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of
the king and the leaders.

 13Now many people, a very great assembly, gathered at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of

Unleavened Bread in the second month. 14They arose and took away the altars in Jerusalem.
And they took away all the altars on which they burned incense to the false gods and cast
them into the Brook Kidron. 15Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth
day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed and sanctified
themselves, and they brought the burnt offerings to the house of the Lord. 16They stood in
their place according to their custom, according to the Law of Moses, the man of God. The
priests received the blood from the hand of the Levites. 17For there were many in the
assembly who had not sanctified themselves. Therefore the Levites had charge of the
slaughter of the Passover lambs for all those who were not able to sanctify themselves to the
Lord. 18Most of the people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not cleansed
themselves, but they ate the Passover contrary to what was written.

  But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone
19who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, even though he is not

cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.” 20And the Lord listened to Hezekiah
and healed the people. 21So the sons of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast
of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great gladness. And the Levites and the priests
praised the Lord every day, singing to the Lord with instruments.

  22And Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites who knew the good knowledge of the Lord. And
they completed the feast in seven days, offering peace offerings and making confession to the
Lord God of their fathers. 23And the whole assembly agreed to keep the feast for another
seven days, and so they kept it another seven days with great joy.† 24For King Hezekiah
began the sacrifice for the assembly of Judah with a thousand calves and seven thousand
sheep. And the leaders began the sacrifice for the assembly with a thousand calves and ten
thousand sheep, and there was an abundance of holy things for the priests.
  25The whole assembly rejoiced along with the priests and Levites, all the assembly of
Judah and those who came from Israel, the sojourners who came from the land of Israel, and
those who dwelt in Judah. 26So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of
Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been no feast like this in Jerusalem.
27Then the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard. And
their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place in heaven.

                             Priests and People Are Renewed


31 Now  when all was completed, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of
   Judah and broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the groves, and cast down the
high places and the altars—from all Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh—until they
utterly destroyed them all. Then all the sons of Israel returned to their own possessions and
their own cities.†

  2And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites according to their
divisions, each man according to his service: the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and
peace offerings, to praise, to give thanks, and to serve in the gates and the courts of the house
of the Lord. 3The king also appointed a portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings, for
the morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and the New
Moons, and the feasts prescribed in the Law of the Lord.

  4Moreover, he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute a portion for
the priests and the Levites so that they might devote themselves to the service of the house of
the Lord. 5As soon as the commandment was circulated, the sons of Israel brought in
abundance the firstfruits of grain and wine, olive oil and honey, and of all the produce of the
field. And they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. 6And the sons of Israel and
Judah who dwelt in the cities of Judah brought the tithe of calves and sheep and the tithe of
goats and consecrated them to the Lord their God, and they brought in offerings and laid
them in heaps. 7In the third month the heaps began to accumulate, and in the seventh month
they were finished. 8And when Hezekiah and the leaders came and saw the heaps, they
blessed the Lord and His people Israel. 9Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the
Levites about the heaps. 10And Azariah, the chief priest from the house of Zadok, answered
him and said, “Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we
have had enough to eat and drink and have plenty left, for the Lord blessed His people. What
is left is this great abundance.”

  11Now Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in the house of the Lord, and they

prepared them. 12Then they faithfully brought in the offerings and tithes. Cononiah the
Levite had charge of them, and Shimei his brother was his helper. 13Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath,
Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the
hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king and
Azariah the ruler of the house of God. 14Kore, the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the
East Gate, was over the freewill offerings to God, to distribute the offerings of the Lord and
the most holy things. 15Under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and
Shecaniah, his faithful assistants among the priests, to distribute to their brethren by
divisions, great and small. 16Apart from those, males from three years old and up were listed
in the book of days, for daily service by division. 17This was the register of the priests by their
father's house, and the Levites from twenty years old and up according to their daily duties by
divisions; 18and in the register of all their sons and daughters, their whole company, for in
their faithfulness they sanctified the holy place. 19Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who
were from their cities and in every single city, there were men designated by name to
distribute portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were listed by
genealogies among the Levites.

  20Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right before the

Lord his God. 21And in every task he undertook in the service of the house of God, he sought
his God in the law and in the commandment with all his heart. So he prospered.

                                    Assyria Invades Judah


32 After these things and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came to Judah and
   encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to capture them. 2And when Hezekiah
saw that Sennacherib came, and that his purpose was to make war against Jerusalem, 3he
consulted with his leaders and commanders to stop the water from the springs outside the
city, and they helped him. 4And he gathered many people, and they stopped the waters of the
springs and the river that ran through the city, saying, “Let not the king of Assyria come and
find a lot of water and prevail.” 5And Hezekiah strengthened himself and built up all the wall
that was broken, raised it up to the towers, and built another wall outside. He also repaired
the fortress of the City of David and made many weapons. 6Then he set military captains over
the people, gathered them to him in the open square of the Valley Gate, and encouraged
them, saying, 7“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid of the king of Assyria, nor before
all the nation with him, for there are more with us than with him. 8With him are arms of
flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to save us and to fight our battles.” And the people
were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

  9Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem, while he and all the forces
with him laid siege against Lachish, to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all Judah who were in
Jerusalem, saying, 10“Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria: ‘In what do you trust, that you
continue under siege in Jerusalem? 11Does not Hezekiah deceive you to give yourselves over
to die by famine and by thirst, saying, “The Lord our God will deliver us from the hand of the
king of Assyria”? 12Did not the same Hezekiah take away the altars and the high places and
command Judah and Jerusalem, saying, “You shall worship before one altar and burn incense
on it”? 13Do you not know what my fathers and I did to all the peoples of other lands? Were
the gods of the nations of those lands able to deliver their lands from my hand? 14Who
among all the gods of those nations my fathers utterly destroyed could deliver his people
from my hand, that your God will be able to deliver you from my hand? 15Now therefore, do
not let Hezekiah deceive you or persuade you like this. Do not believe him. For no god of any
nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my fathers.
How much less will your God deliver you from my hand?’ ”

 16Furthermore, Sennacherib's servants spoke against the Lord God and His servant

Hezekiah. 17He also wrote a letter to revile the Lord God of Israel and spoke against Him,
saying, “As the gods of the nations of other lands did not deliver their people from my hand,
so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand.” 18And they called out with
a loud voice in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem on the wall, to frighten them and trouble
them so that they might take the city. 19And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem, as
against the gods of the people of the earth, the work of men's hands.

                                      Assyria's Defeat

  20And King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed about this and cried

out to heaven. 21And the Lord sent an angel, who cut down every mighty man of valor and
leader and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned shamefaced to his land.
And he went into the temple of his god, where some of his own offspring struck him down
with the sword. 22Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the
hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others. He gave them rest
on every side. 23And many brought gifts to the Lord in Jerusalem and presents to Hezekiah
king of Judah, so afterwards he was exalted in the sight of all nations.

                      Hezekiah Humbled and Honored at His Death

  24In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the Lord, and the Lord

heard him and gave him a sign.† 25But Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown him, but
exalted his own heart, and His anger came upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
26Hezekiah was humbled because of his exalted heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
but the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

  27Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. And he made himself treasuries for silver, for

gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items, 28and
cities for the harvest of grain, olive oil, and wine, and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds
for flocks. 29And he built cities for himself, and he possessed flocks and herds in abundance,
for God had given him a great deal of property. 30This same Hezekiah also stopped the water
outlet of Upper Gihon and brought the water by a tunnel to the west side of the City of David.
Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of
Babylon, whom Babylon sent to him to inquire about the wonder done in the land, God
withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and know what was in his heart.

  32Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his mercy, indeed they are written in the
prophecy of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz and in the Book of the Kings of Judah and
Israel. 33So Hezekiah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper tombs of the
sons of David. And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death.
Then Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

                                  Manasseh Is King of Judah


33 Manasseh    was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-five
   years in Jerusalem.† 2But he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the
abominations of the Gentiles whom the Lord destroyed before the sons of Israel, 3for he
turned and rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had broken down. He raised up
pillars for the Baals and made groves and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.
4He also built altars in the house of the Lord, where the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem shall

My name be forever.” 5And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the
house of the Lord. 6Also he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son
of Hinnom. He practiced soothsaying and bird-augury and sorcery, and consulted mediums
and divining spirits. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord and provoked Him to anger.
7He even set a carved image and a cast image, idols he had made, in the house of God, where
God had said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I
chose out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever, 8and I will not again remove
the foot of Israel from the land I gave your fathers; provided they are careful to do all I have
commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the
hand of Moses.” 9So Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray to do more
evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the sons of Israel.

                                   Manasseh's Repentance

  10And the Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen. 11Therefore
the Lord brought against them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took
Manasseh with bonds, bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. 12Now when he
was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before
the God of his fathers, 13and prayed to Him. And the Lord received his entreaty, heard his
cry, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the
Lord was God.†

  14After this, he built a wall outside the City of David on the west side of Gihon, in the
valley, as far as the gate. It enclosed Ophel, and he raised it to a very great height. Then he put
military captains in all the fortified cities of Judah. 15He took away the foreign gods and the
carved idols from the house of the Lord, and destroyed all the altars he had built in the
mount of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem outside the city. 16He also repaired the
altar of the Lord and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it. He commanded
Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel. 17Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed on the high
places, but only to the Lord their God.
                                      Manasseh's Death

  18The rest of the acts of Manasseh and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers

who spoke to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel—indeed of the word 19of his prayer
and how God heard and responded to him, to all his sins and rebellions, and to the sites
where he built high places and established groves and carved images, before he returned—
indeed this is written among the sayings of the seers. 20So Manasseh rested with his fathers,
and they buried him in the garden of his house. Then his son Amon reigned in his place.

                                   Amon Is King of Judah

  21Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned for two years in

Jerusalem. 22But he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done, for
Amon sacrificed to all the idols his father Manasseh had made and served them. 23And he did
not humble himself before the Lord as his father Manasseh had humbled himself, but Amon
trespassed more and more.

  24Then his servants conspired against him and killed him in his house. 25But the people of
the land executed all those who had conspired against King Amon. Then the people of the
land made his son Josiah king in his place.

                                  Josiah Is King of Judah


34 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in
   Jerusalem.† 2And he did what was right before the Lord and walked in the ways of his
father David. He did not turn aside to the right hand or the left.

                               Josiah Purges False Worship

  3For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of
his father David. And in the twelfth year of his reign, he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem
of the high places, the wooden images, the groves, and the molded images. 4They broke down
the altars of the Baals in his presence and the high places above them, and Josiah cut down
the groves and the carved images and the molded images and crushed them to dust, and
scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5He burned the bones of the
priests on their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem 6and the cities of Ephraim and
Manasseh and Simeon, as far as Naphtali and all the surrounding areas. 7When he had
broken down the groves and the altars and the idols, beaten the carved images into powder,
and cut down all the high places throughout the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

                                   Repair of the Temple

  8In the eighteenth year of his reign, after he cleansed the land and the temple, he sent
Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of
Joahaz his recorder to repair the house of the Lord his God. 9When they came to Hilkiah the
high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God which the
Levites who kept the doors had gathered from the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all
the remnant of Israel, from all Judah and Benjamin and these who dwelt in Jerusalem.
10Then they put it in the hand of the foremen who had the oversight of the house of the
Lord, and they gave it to the workmen who worked in the house of the Lord to repair and
restore the house. 11They gave it to the carpenters and builders to buy hewn stone and timber
for beams to roof the houses the kings of Judah had destroyed. 12And the men were faithful
in the work. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and
Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of Kohath, who supervised; and all the Levites who
were skillful with musical instruments; 13and overseers were over the burden-bearers and
those who did work in any kind of service; and some of the Levites were scribes, officers, and
gatekeepers.

                              The Book of the Law Is Found

  14Now when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord,

Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord given by Moses.† 15Then Hilkiah
spoke up and said to Shaphan the scribe, “I found the Book of the Law in the house of the
Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan. 16So Shaphan carried the book to the king and
brought the king's word, saying, “All the money given is in the hands of your servants who are
doing the work; 17and they cast the silver found in the house of the Lord, and delivered it into
the hand of the overseers and the workmen.” 18Then Shaphan the scribe told the king,
saying, “Hilkiah the priest gave me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.

  19Thus when the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes. 20Then the king
commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan
the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king, saying, 21“Concerning the words of the book
that was found, go inquire of the Lord for me from those who are left in Israel and Judah. For
the wrath of the Lord is burning greatly against us, for our fathers did not obey the word of
the Lord nor do everything written in this book.” 22So Hilkiah and those the king had
appointed went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum, the son of Tokhath, the son of
Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter. And they told
her this.

  23And she told them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me,
24“Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place—all the words written in

the book they read before the king of Judah, 25for they forsook Me and burned incense to
other gods. They provoked Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath
burns in this place and it will not be quenched.’ ” ’ 26But as for the king of Judah who sent
you to inquire of the Lord—this is what you shall say to him: ‘Thus says the Lord God of
Israel: “Concerning the words you have heard, 27because your heart was turned and you
humbled yourself before My face when you heard My words against this place and against its
inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and tore your clothes and wept before Me,
I have heard you,” says the Lord. 28“Surely I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be
placed in your grave in peace. Your eyes shall not see the calamity I will bring on this place
and its inhabitants.” ’ ” So they brought back word to the king.

                              Josiah Restores True Worship

  29Then the king sent and gathered the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.† 30The king went
up to the house of the Lord with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—the
priests and the Levites and all the people, great and small. And he read for their hearing all
the words of the Book of the Covenant that was found in the house of the Lord. 31And the
king stood by his pillar and made a covenant before the Lord that he would follow the Lord
and keep His commandments, His testimonies, and His statutes with all his heart and all his
soul, and perform the words of the covenant written in this book. 32And he required it of all
who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made a
covenant in the house of the Lord God of their fathers. 33Thus Josiah removed all the
abominations from all the land that belonged to the sons of Israel, and made all present in
Jerusalem and Israel diligently serve the Lord their God for all their days. They did not depart
from following the Lord God of their fathers.
                                  Josiah Keeps Passover


35 Now  Josiah kept a Passover to the Lord his God in Jerusalem, and they slaughtered the
   Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the first month.† 2He established the priests
in their duties and encouraged them for the service of the house of the Lord. 3Then he said to
the Levites who had power in all Israel, to sanctify themselves for the Lord. And they put the
holy ark in the house built by Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. And the king said, “It
shall no longer be a burden on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and His people
Israel. 4Prepare yourselves according to your fathers’ houses, by your divisions, following the
written instruction of David king of Israel and the written instruction of Solomon his son.
5And stand in the house according to the divisions of the fathers’ houses of your brethren,
the sons of the people, and according to the division of the father's house of the Levites.
6Slaughter the Passover and prepare the holy things for your brethren so they may do
according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.”

  7Then Josiah began the sacrifice for the sons of the people, with sheep and lambs and
young goats from the flock to the number of thirty thousand, as well as three thousand calves
for all the Passover offerings, for all who were present. These were from the king's
possessions. 8And the leaders began the offering for the people and the priests and the
Levites, rulers of the house of God. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel gave the priests two
thousand six hundred sheep and lambs and goats from the flock for the Passover offerings,
and three hundred calves. 9Conaniah and Banaiah and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brother,
and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, leaders of the Levites, began the offering for the
Levites with five thousand sheep and five hundred calves for the Passover offerings.

  10So the service was prepared. And the priests stood in their places with the Levites in their

divisions according to the king's command. 11And they slaughtered the Passover offerings.
The priests sprinkled the blood with their hands, while the Levites skinned the animals.
12Then they prepared the burnt offerings to give it to them by the divisions of the fathers’
houses of the sons of the people, to offer to the Lord as it is written in the Book of Moses.
And so they did in the morning. 13They roasted the Passover offerings with fire according to
the ordinance. But they boiled the other holy offerings in bronze pots and in pans. And it
went well, and they divided them quickly among all the sons of the people. 14Afterward they
prepared portions for themselves and for the priests, because the priests were busy offering
burnt offerings and fat until night. Therefore the Levites prepared portions for themselves
and their brethren, the sons of Aaron. 15And the singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their
places according to the command of David. Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, the king's prophets
and the gatekeepers, were at each gate. They did not have to leave their service of the holy
things because their brethren the Levites prepared portions for them.

  16So all the service of the Lord was arranged and prepared on that day to keep the Passover
and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord according to the command of King Josiah.
17And the sons of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and they kept the

Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. 18No Passover like this was kept in Israel since the
days of Samuel the prophet, and none of the kings of Israel kept such a Passover to the Lord
as Josiah kept, having the priests and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel present, and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, 19in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah.

  20The ventriloquists, and the mediums, and the images and the idols, and the other
abominations which were in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, King Josiah burned with
fire, to confirm the words of the law written in the book which Hilkiah the priest found in the
house of the Lord. 21There was no one like him before him, who turned towards the Lord
with all his heart and all his soul and all his strength in all the law of Moses. No one arose
like him afterward. 22But the Lord did not turn from the anger of His great wrath with which
the Lord was enraged against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Mannaseh
provoked Him. 23And the Lord said, “I will remove Judah from before Me as I removed
Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and the house where I said that My name
would be there.”

                                  Josiah Killed in Battle

   24Pharaoh Necho, the king of Egypt, came against the king of the Assyrians to fight at the

river Euphrates. And King Josiah went out against him. 25But Pharaoh sent messengers to
him saying, “What do I have to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come to fight against
you today, and God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is
with me, so that He does not destroy you.” 26Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face
from him, but continued to fight with him. He did not heed the words of Necho from the
mouth of God. So he came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo.
  27And the archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I

am severely wounded.” 28His servants took him out of the chariot and put him in a second
chariot he had, and brought him to Jerusalem. So he died and was buried with his fathers.
And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.† 29Jeremiah also lamented for Josiah. And
to this day, all the important men and women speak of Josiah in their lamentations. They
made it a custom in Israel, and it is written in the Lamentations. 30Now the rest of the acts of
Josiah and his hope are written in the Law of the Lord, 31and his deeds from first to last,
indeed they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

                                Jehoahaz Is King of Judah


36 Then  the people of the land took Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah, and anointed him and
   established him as king in his father's place in Jerusalem.† 2Jehoahaz was twenty-
three years old when he became king, and he reigned for three months in Jerusalem. 3And
his mother's name was Amital the daughter of Jeremiah from Lobema. 4And he did evil
before the Lord according to everything his fathers did. 5And Pharoah Necho bound him in
Deble in the land of Emath, lest he reign in Jerusalem. 6The king of Egypt carried him away
to Egypt, and he imposed on the land a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of
gold.

                               Jehoiakim Is King of Judah

  7Then Pharaoh Necho made Josiah's son Eliakim king over Judah in place of his father
Josiah, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Pharaoh Necho took Jehoahaz his brother
and carried him off to Egypt, where he died.† 8And he gave silver and gold to Pharaoh. Then
the land began to be taxed to give silver to feed Pharaoh, and each one asked as he was able
for silver and gold from the people of the land to give to Pharaoh Necho.

  9Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven
years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zechora the daughter of Neriou from Rama.
And as his fathers did, he did evil in the sight of the Lord his God in all things. 10In those
days, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came to the land, and he served him three years
and revolted from him. 11And the Lord sent the Chaldeans against them, and bands of
robbers from Syria, and bands of robbers from the Moabites, and the sons of Ammon and
Samaria. But after this they departed, according to the word of the Lord by the hand of his
servants the prophets.

  12But the wrath of the Lord was on Judah because they rebelled against Him through the

sins of Manasseh in all he did, 13and in the innocent blood Jehoiakim shed, for he filled
Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord did not want to destroy him. 14Nebuchadnezzar,
king of Babylon, came up against him and bound him in bronze fetters and carried him off to
Babylon. 15He carried off some of the articles from the house of the Lord to Babylon and put
them in his temple in Babylon. 16And the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim and all he did, are they
not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah? And Jehoiakim rested with his fathers and was
buried in Ganoza with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

                               Jehoiachin Is King of Judah

  17Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for

three months and ten days. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord. 18At the turn of the year,
King Nebuchadnezzar summoned him and brought him to Babylon with the costly articles
from the house of the Lord, and made Zedekiah, his father's brother, king over Judah and
Jerusalem.

                                Zedekiah Is King of Judah

  19Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven

years in Jerusalem. 20He did evil in the sight of the Lord his God and was not ashamed
before Jeremiah the prophet, nor because of the word of the Lord. 21He also rebelled against
King Nebuchadnezzar and broke the oath he swore by God. But he stiffened his neck and
hardened his heart, turning against the Lord God of Israel.

  22Moreover all the nobles of Judah and the leaders and the priests and the people
transgressed more and more, following all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the
house of the Lord in Jerusalem.† 23And the Lord God of their fathers sent them warnings by
His messengers, rising up early and sending His messengers, because He spared His people
and His dwelling place. 24But they mocked His messengers, despised His words, and scoffed
at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against His people and there was no remedy.

  25Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young
men with the sword in the house of His sanctuary, and did not spare Zedekiah or have pity on
the virgins, and he led away the aged. He gave everything into their hands. 26And all the
articles from the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of the Lord and
the treasures of the king and his nobles, he took all these to Babylon. 27Then he burned the
house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and
destroyed all its precious possessions. 28And he settled those remaining in Babylon, where
they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of the Medes, 29to
fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her
Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate, she kept the Sabbath, until seventy years had passed.

                             King Cyrus: Go up to Jerusalem

  30In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, after the fulfillment of the word of the Lord by
the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia and told him to
make a proclamation throughout all his kingdom in writing, saying,† 31“Thus says Cyrus king
of Persia to all the kingdoms of the earth: ‘The Lord God of heaven gave to me even a
command, to build for Him a house in Jerusalem of Judah. Is there anyone from among you,
from among all the people God will be with? Let him go up to Jerusalem.’ ”

                                  Prayer of King Manasseh


37 “O  Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their
   righteous seed;ω 2who made heaven and earth with all their ornamentation; 3who set
the bounds of the sea by the word of Your command; who closed the abyss and sealed it by
Your fearful and glorious name; 4before whom all things tremble and fear because of Your
power; 5for the majesty of Your glory is unbearable, and the wrath of Your threats toward
sinners cannot be withstood; 6yet Your merciful promise is immeasurable and unsearchable.
7For You are the Lord Most High, and are tenderhearted, patient, very merciful, and who
repent toward the evils of man.

  8“Therefore You, O Lord God of the righteous, have not appointed repentance for the
righteous, for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who have not sinned against You; but You have
appointed repentance for me, a sinner, 9because I have sinned more than the number of the
sands on the seashore. My lawlessness, O Lord, is multiplied. Yes, my lawlessness is
multiplied, and I am not worthy to fix my eyes to behold the heights of heaven because of the
multitude of my wrongdoings. 10I am bent down with so many iron chains that I shake my
head over my sins, neither do I have any relief. For I have provoked Your anger and done evil
in your sight. I have set up abominations and multiplied idols.

  11“Now therefore, I bow the knee of my heart, begging goodness from You. 12I have sinned,

O Lord, I have sinned, and I know my lawlessness. 13I ask and beg you: forgive me, O Lord,
forgive me, and do not destroy me because of my lawlessness; neither reserve evils for me,
nor be wrathful forever; nor condemn me to the lowest parts of the earth; for You are the
Lord God of those who repent. 14And in me, though I am unworthy, You will show Your
goodness, and will save me according to Your great mercy. 15Therefore I shall praise You
continually all the days of my life, for all the powers of the heavens praise You, and Yours is
the glory unto the ages. Amen.”
                            1 E Z RA(2 E SDRAS)
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Chapters in 1 Ezra
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Verses in 1 Ezra Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55

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Verses in 1 Ezra Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26


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Verses in 1 Ezra Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in 1 Ezra Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63

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Verses in 1 Ezra Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71

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Verses in 1 Ezra Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in 1 Ezra Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in 1 Ezra Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80

81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90

91, 92

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Verses in 1 Ezra Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55

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                                                         The First Book of Ezra

      Author  —Uncertain. The authorship of this book is debated, since it appears to contain
   some of Ezra's memoirs, and yet parts of 2 Chronicles and Nehemiah are found in the
   text.

      Date   —About 150 BC, and not later than 100 BC since Josephus used the LXX version in
   his Antiquities of the Jewish People (AD 93–94)

      Major     Themes   —The restoration of temple worship in Jerusalem and renewed
   commitment to the Law of Moses

      Background     —This historical account assumes readers are familiar with the Mosaic and
   Davidic covenants, the history of the kings from David to the Babylonian Captivity, and
   the exile and return of the Jews to Jerusalem. First Ezra presents the Israelites as a
   people chosen to worship the true God; their strength comes from their faithfulness to
   His commandments.

  Outline

    I. Josiah Celebrates the Passov er, the Attem pt to Stop the Egy ptians at Megiddo, and Josiah's Death (1 :1 –3 1 )

   II. The Last Kings of Judah: The Baby lonians Capture Jerusalem (1 :3 2 –55)

  III. The Roy al Edict of Cy rus the Persian (2 :1 –1 1 )

  IV. Opposition to the Reconstruction of the Tem ple (2 :1 2 –2 6 )

   V. Three Young Guards (3 :1 –4 :4 2 )

  VI. The List of Returning Exiles (4 :4 3 –5:4 5)

 VII. Reconstruction of the Tem ple (5:4 6 –7 1 )

 VIII. The Tem ple Is Com pleted (6 :1 –7 :1 5)

  IX. The Life of Ezra (8:1 –9 :55)



                                                      Josiah Keeps the Passover


1 Josiah kept the Passover to his Lord in Jerusalem. He sacrificed the paschal lamb on the
  fourteenth day of the first month.† 2He then placed the priests in the Lord's temple
according to their divisions, clothed in their vestments. 3He told the Levites, Israel's servants
in the temple, to sanctify themselves to the Lord and to place the holy ark of the Lord in the
house that King Solomon, son of David, had built. For he said, “No longer will you carry the
ark upon your shoulders. 4Now serve the Lord your God, and heal His people Israel. Prepare
yourselves according to your families and tribes, according to the writing of King David of
Israel and the magnificence of Solomon his son. 5Stand in the temple in your proper order
before your brothers, the children of Israel, and according to the office of your paternal
families, the Levites. 6Sacrifice the paschal lamb, prepare the sacrifices for your brothers, and
keep the Passover according to the Lord's commandment given to Moses.”

  7Josiah gave thirty thousand lambs and kids and three thousand calves to the people who
were present. These were given from the king's possessions to the people, to the priests, and
to the Levites, as he promised. 8Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the overseers of the temple,
gave the priests two thousand six hundred sheep and three hundred calves for Passover.
9Jeconiah, Shemaiah, and Nathanael his brother, and Hashabiah, Ochiel, and Joram, high-
ranking officers, gave the Levites five thousand sheep and seven hundred calves for Passover.

  10This is what happened. The priests and Levites stood in their proper order before the

people, 11holding the unleavened bread according to the tribes 12and the governors of their
paternal families, to present the offering to the Lord, as was written in the Book of Moses.
This was done in the morning. 13They roasted the paschal lamb with fire, as was fitting, and
the sacrifices were boiled in copper pots and pans, providing a fragrant aroma. They were
then carried out to all the people.

  14After this was done, they prepared the paschal lamb for themselves and for the priests
their brothers, the sons of Aaron. For the priests offered the fat until late and the Levites
prepared it for themselves and for the priests, their brothers, the sons of Aaron. 15The temple
singers, the sons of Asaph, were also in their proper place according to their appointed order
made by David, along with Asaph, Zechariah, and Eddinus, who belonged to the king's
entourage. Moreover the gatekeepers from each gate were not to leave their posts, for their
brothers, the Levites, prepared the paschal lamb for them.

  16So the things concerning the sacrifices were completed on that day. They kept the
Passover and offered sacrifices on the altar of the Lord according to the command of King
Josiah. 17Thus the children of Israel who were present at that time kept Passover, as well as
the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for seven days. 18From the times of Samuel the prophet,
there was no Passover kept in Israel such as this. 19No king in Israel ever kept such a
Passover as Josiah did, along with the Levites, the Jews and all Israel who were present and
living in Jerusalem. 20This Passover was kept in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign.
21These works of Josiah were upright before the Lord, for his heart was full of godliness.

  22The events that took place in the days of Josiah were recorded long ago. They concerned
those who sinned and acted impiously against the Lord, even more so than any nation and
kingdom. For they grieved Him extremely, so the words of the Lord came against Israel.

   23Then after these acts of Josiah took place, Pharaoh the king of Egypt went to make war

at Carchemish on the River Euphrates. So Josiah went out to encounter him. 24Then the king
of Egypt sent word to him, saying, “What do we have to do with each other, O king of Judea?
25I was not sent against you by the Lord God, for my war is at the Euphrates. The Lord is
now with me, and the Lord is hastening me onward! Therefore withdraw from me, and do not
be in opposition to the Lord.”

                                  Josiah's Reign Is Ended

  26Josiah, however, did not turn back his chariot, but tried to fight against him. Thus he did

not heed the words of Jeremiah the prophet from the mouth of the Lord. 27Rather, he
engaged Pharaoh in battle on the plain of Megiddo, and his commanders came down against
King Josiah. 28Then the king told his servants, “Remove me from the fight, for I am badly
wounded.” Thus his servants immediately withdrew him from the line of battle. 29They
mounted him on his second chariot and brought him back to Jerusalem, where he died. So
they buried him in the tomb of his forefathers.

  30They mourned over Josiah throughout all Judea. Jeremiah the prophet also sang a
lamentation on Josiah's behalf. Even to this day, the chief men and the women make
lamentations for him, for it came to pass that this was to be done perpetually throughout the
entire nation of Israel. 31These things are recorded in the book of the histories of the Judean
kings. Now everything Josiah did—his glory, his understanding in the law of the Lord, both
his prior accomplishments and things now related—are recorded in the book of the kings of
Israel and Judah.

                                 Jerusalem Falls to Babylon

  32The men of the nation took Jeconiah the son of Josiah to succeed Josiah as king. He was
twenty-three years old. 33He reigned for three months in both Judah and Jerusalem. Then
the king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem 34and made the people pay a fine of one
hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold. 35The king of Egypt then appointed
Jehoiakim his brother as king of Judah and Jerusalem. 36Jehoiakim put the people of high
status in prison, then arrested his brother Zarius and brought him up from Egypt.

  37Now Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king of Judea and Jerusalem,

but he did evil before the Lord. 38So Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came up against
him, bound him with a copper chain, and led him away by force to Babylon.
39Nebuchadnezzar also took some of the Lord's holy vessels and carried them away and

placed them in his temple in Babylon. 40Now the things written about Jehoiakim, his
uncleanness and ungodliness, are described in the chronicles of the kings.

  41Then his son Jehoiachin reigned in his place, for he was appointed king when he was

eighteen years old. 42He reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem and did evil before
the Lord. 43After a year, Nebuchadnezzar sent and deported him to Babylon, together with
the holy vessels of the Lord. 44Then he appointed Zedekiah king of Judea and Jerusalem.
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old and he reigned for eleven years. 45He also did evil before
the Lord and did not respect the words from the mouth of the Lord spoken to him by
Jeremiah the prophet. 46Although King Nebuchadnezzar made him swear in the Lord's
name, he swore falsely and revolted. He became stiff-necked, hardened his heart, and
transgressed the laws of the Lord God of Israel. 47Even the chief leaders of the people and
the priests acted in many ungodly and lawless ways, surpassing all the uncleanness of all the
nations. They even defiled the Lord's temple which He had sanctified in Jerusalem.

  48Now the God of their fathers sent to call them back through His angel so as to spare

them and His dwelling place. 49But they ridiculed His messengers, and whenever the Lord
spoke, they mocked His prophets until He became furious with His people because of their
impious acts. So He gave the command to bring the kings of the Chaldeans against them.
50They killed their young men by the sword round about their holy temple. They spared
neither young man nor virgin, neither old man nor child, for He handed over all into their
hands. 51They took all the large and small holy vessels of the Lord, the ark of the Lord, and
the king's possessions, and carried them off to Babylon. 52They burned the Lord's house,
broke down the walls of Jerusalem, and set the towers on fire. 53They made all its glorious
things to be worthless and led away the survivors to Babylon with the sword.

  54They became servants of the king and his heirs until the Persians began to reign, in

fulfillment of the Lord's word by the mouth of Jeremiah, 55which said, “Until the land has
enjoyed its Sabbaths, it shall keep its Sabbath the entire time of its desolation until the
fulfillment of seventy years.”

                                      Decree of Cyrus


2 When  Cyrus was reigning over the Persians in his first year, the Lord stirred up the spirit
  of King Cyrus of the Persians for the completion of the Lord's word by the mouth of
Jeremiah. So he made a written proclamation in all his kingdom, saying,† 2“Thus says Cyrus
the king of the Persians: Israel's Lord, the Lord Most High, revealed and indicated to me, the
king of the inhabited world, that I should build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judea.
3Therefore, if any of you are from His nation, may the Lord be with you, and when you go up
to Jerusalem in Judea, may you build the house of the Lord of Israel. He is the Lord who
dwells in Jerusalem. 4Therefore, let as many as are living around you in various places help
you with gifts of gold and silver, with horses and cattle, as well as with other things added as
votive offerings for the Lord's temple in Jerusalem.”

  5Then the chiefs of the families of Judah and of the tribe of Benjamin, and the priests and
Levites, and everyone whose spirit the Lord stirred up stepped forth to go up to build the
Lord's house in Jerusalem. 6Those round about whose hearts were stirred helped them with
everything: with silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with a very great number of
votive offerings.

  7King Cyrus also brought forth the sacred vessels of the Lord which Nebuchadnezzar had

carried out from Jerusalem and placed in his temple of idols. 8Cyrus, king of the Persians,
brought these out and handed them over to Mithridates, his treasurer. He, in turn, gave them
to Sheshbazzar, the chief leader of Judea. 9The number of these was as follows: one thousand
gold cups, one thousand silver cups, twenty-nine silver censers, 10thirty gold bowls, two
thousand four hundred and ten silver bowls, and one thousand other vessels. 11All the gold
and silver vessels handed over totaled five thousand four hundred and sixty-nine. All these,
together with the returning captives, were brought back to Jerusalem by Sheshbazzar.

                            Rebuilding of the Temple Opposed
  12But Bishlam, Mithridates, Tabeel, Rehum, Beltethmus, Shimshai the scribe, and the
other members of their council, as well as those living in Samaria and other places, wrote a
letter to Artaxerxes during the time he was king of the Persians. They wrote it against those
dwelling in Judea and Jerusalem, inscribed as follows:

  13“To King Artaxerxes our lord from your servants Rehum the recorder, and Shimshai the
scribe, and the other members of their council, and the judges in Coelesyria and Phoenicia:
14Let it now be known to our lord the king that the Jews who came up from you to us went to
Jerusalem to build the rebellious and evil city. They are restoring both its marketplaces and
its walls and are laying a foundation for a temple. 15If therefore this city is built and its walls
completed, they will not continue to pay tribute but will also resist kings. 16Since work is
being done on the temple, we assume it best not to overlook such a matter, but to address our
lord the king, that if it seems appropriate to you, this may be researched in the books of your
forefathers. 17For you will find the record of these things in the archives. You will learn that
this city was rebellious and troubled both kings and cities, and that the Jews themselves are
rebels. They formed military blockades in it from ancient times, which is the reason the city
itself was destroyed. 18Therefore we now make known to you, O lord our king, that if this city
is built and its walls restored, you will no longer have access to Coelesyria and Phoenicia.”

  19Then the king wrote back to Rehum the recorder, to Beltethmus, to Shimshai the scribe,
to the other members of their council, and to those dwelling in Samaria, Syria, and Phoenicia.
He inscribed his letter as follows:

  20“I read the letter you sent to me. 21So I commanded a search to be made. It was
discovered that this city from ancient times stood in hostile array against kings, that the
people within it perpetrated rebellion and war, 22that mighty and fierce kings were ruling in
Jerusalem and levying tributes from Coelesyria and Phoenicia. 23Therefore I have now
imposed orders to prevent those men from building the city, 24to be careful not to do
anything contrary to this order, and to do nothing to cause trouble for kings.”

  25After they read the letter from King Artaxerxes, Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and the
other members of their council went speedily to Jerusalem. They departed with cavalry and a
large number of armed soldiers formed in battle array and began to hinder the builders. 26So
the building of the temple in Jerusalem became idle until the second year of the reign of
Darius king of the Persians.

                                      The Three Young Guards


3 Now   King Darius put on a great banquet for all his subjects, for his entire household, and
  for all the nobles of Media and Persia.† 2He also invited all the satraps, commanders, and
governors under him throughout the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces extending
from India to Ethiopia. 3They ate and drank, and when they were satisfied they returned
home. As for King Darius, he returned to his bedchamber and slept, but awoke.

  4Then the three young men who were attending the king as bodyguards said one to the

other,† 5“Let each of us speak one strong saying, and whichever saying of ours seems to be
the strongest, King Darius will give him great gifts and a feast in his honor. 6He will be
dressed in purple, drink from gold cups, and sleep in a gold bed. He will have a chariot with a
gold-studded bridle, a turban of fine linen, and a gold necklace around his neck.† 7Because of
his wisdom he will sit second to Darius and will be addressed as kinsman of Darius.”†

  8So each one then wrote down his saying, sealed it, and placed it under the pillow of King

Darius. They said, 9“When the king awakens, they will give the writings to him and the one
whose saying the king and the three nobles of Persia may judge the wisest, the victory shall
be given to him, as it is written.”

                                        Which Is Strongest?

   10The first one wrote, “Wine is the strongest.”† 11The second wrote, “The king is the

strongest.” 12The third wrote, “Women are the strongest, but above all things the truth
conquers.”

  13So when the king was awakened, he took the writings they gave to him, and he read

them. 14Then he sent forth and invited all the nobles of Persia and Media and the satraps,
commanders, governors, and highest officials. He took his place in the seat of judgment, and
the writings were read in their presence. 15He said, “Call the young men, and they will clarify
their sayings.” So they were summoned and came in. 16They said to them, “Interpret for us
the sayings you wrote.”

                                       The Strength of Wine
  17So the first, who spoke about the strength of wine, began and said thus:† 18“Men, how is

wine the strongest? It leads astray the mind of all who drink it. 19It makes a single mind of
both the king and the orphan, of the servant and the freeman, and of the poor man and the
rich man. 20It turns every mind to feasting and gladness, and it does not remember any pain
or any debt. 21Wine makes all hearts rich, does not remember a king or satrap, and makes
everyone talk in big money terms. 22When men drink, they do not remember to act as a
friend to friends, and after a short while they draw swords. 23But when they become sober,
they do not remember what they did. 24O men, is not wine the strongest because it forces us
to do such things?” So he spoke in this way and then became silent.

                                  The Strength of the King

       the second, who talked about the strength of the king, began to speak:† 2“O men,
4 Then
  has not man prevailed on land and sea, becoming the master of them and everything in
them? 3But the king is strong and rules over these, for he is their master; whatever he
commands them they obey. 4If he commands one to make war on the other, they do it. If he
sends them out against enemies, they go and subdue mountains, walls, and towers. 5They kill
and are killed, but the word of the king is not transgressed. If they conquer, they bring
everything to the king—whatever they forage or anything else. 6But those who do not serve as
soldiers nor wage war, but cultivate the land, they too bring to the king whatever they sow
and harvest. They also compel one another to pay taxes to the king. 7Although he is only one
man, yet if he says to kill, they kill; if he says to spare, they spare. 8If he says to smite, they
smite; if he says to destroy, they destroy; if he says to build, they build. 9If he says to cut
down, they cut down; if he says to plant, they plant. 10So all his people and his army listen to
him. 11In addition to these things, he reclines—he eats, he drinks, he rests—while they keep
watch around him. Nobody can leave to do his own business, nor do they disobey him. 12O
men, in what is the king not strong, since he is so carefully obeyed?” Then he kept silent.

                                  The Strength of Women

  13Then the third, who had spoken about women and the truth and whose name was

Zerubbabel, began to speak:† 14“Men, is not the king great, and men many, and wine strong?
Who then rules them, or who is their master? Is it not women?† 15Women gave birth to the
king and to all the people who rule over sea and land. 16They came to exist from women, and
women reared those who plant the vineyards from which the wine comes.† 17Women also
make men's clothing and bring glory to men. Indeed, men could not exist without women.

  18“Moreover, if men are gathering gold, silver, or anything beautiful, but see one woman

who looks good in form and beauty, 19they drop everything and gape at her, and with mouths
wide open they stare at her. They all choose her rather than gold, silver, or any beautiful
thing. 20Yes, a man will even forsake his own father who reared him and his own country so
as to cleave to his own wife.† 21He will live out his life and not even remember father,
mother, or country. 22From all this, you should realize that women rule over you!

  “Do you not work hard and grow weary with toil, then bring it and give it all to women?
23Furthermore, a man will put on his sword and go forth to rob, steal, and sail the sea and

rivers. 24He will stalk a lion and walk in darkness, and when he steals, whatever he takes and
pillages he will bring back to his beloved. 25For a man dearly loves his own wife more than
his father or mother. 26Yes, many men have lost all sense and even become slaves because of
their wives. 27Many have perished, stumbled, or sinned because of their wives.

  28“Do you not believe me now? Is the king not great in his authority? Are not all the

countries moved with fear to touch him? 29Yet I saw him with Apame, the king's concubine
and the daughter of the admirable Bartacus. She sat at the king's right hand,† 30removed the
crown from the king's head, and put it on her own. She also struck the king with her left
hand. 31At this, the king gaped at her with his mouth wide open. When she smiled at him he
laughed, and when he exasperated her, he flattered her that she might be reconciled with
him. 32O men, in what way are women not strong, since they do such things?”

                                   The Strongest Is Truth

  33Then the king and the nobles looked at one another,† 34and Zerubbabel began to speak
about the truth: “Men, are not women strong? The earth is great, heaven is high, and the sun
is swift in its course, for it revolves around heaven in a circle and returns again to its place in
one day. 35Is not He great who made all things? For His truth is great and stronger than all
things.† 36All the earth summons the truth, and heaven blesses it; for all His works shake
with fear and tremble, and there is nothing unjust with Him. 37But wine is unjust, the king is
unjust, women are unjust, all the children of the men and their works are unjust, and all such
things are unjust; for there is no truth in them. So they will perish in their injustice.

  38“But the truth abides and is strong forever. The truth lives and rules unto ages of ages.
39There is no partiality or prejudice with the truth, but it does righteous things, distinct from
all wrongdoings and evil. All are pleased with its deeds, and there is nothing unjust in its
judgment. 40For strength, dominion, authority, and majesty belong to it unto all ages, and
blessed is the God of truth.”

  41So he stopped speaking, and all the people then cried aloud and said, “Great is the truth,

for it is the strongest!”† 42Then the king said to him, “Ask what you will, and let it be more
than what is written; for we will give it to you, inasmuch as you were found to be the wisest.
You will also sit next to me and be called my kinsman.”†

                                      Back to Jerusalem

  43Then Zerubbabel said to the king, “Remember the vow you swore on the day you

received your kingdom to rebuild Jerusalem† 44and to send back all the vessels taken from
Jerusalem, the ones Cyrus removed when he vowed to destroy Babylon and vowed to send
them back there? 45You also vowed to rebuild the temple which the Edomites set on fire
when Judea was laid waste by the Chaldeans. 46Now this is what I consider worthy of you, O
lord our king, and what I ask of you, for this befits your greatness. Therefore I beg of you that
you keep the vow you vowed to the King of heaven from your own mouth.”

  47Then King Darius arose and kissed him. He wrote letters for him to all the treasurers,
governors, commanders, and satraps that they help him on his way, and everyone going up
with him to rebuild Jerusalem. 48He also wrote letters to all the governors in Coelesyria and
Phoenicia, and to those in Lebanon to transfer cedar logs from Lebanon to Jerusalem to help
him rebuild the city.

  49Then he wrote to all the Jews who went up from his kingdom to Judea in behalf of their
freedom, that no power, satrap, commander, or treasurer was to come against their doors;
50that all the territory they ruled was to be theirs without subjection to taxes; that the

Edomites were to hand over to the Jews the villages they had seized; 51that twenty talents
were to be given every year for the building of the temple until it was completed, 52and ten
talents every year for the whole burnt offerings to be offered each day on the altar according
to the commandment to make seventeen offerings; 53and that all those from Babylon who
went up to build the city were to have their freedom, the people and their children, and all the
priests who went up with them. 54He also wrote that they were to pay the expenses for the
priestly vestments in which they served. 55He likewise wrote that they were to pay the
Levites’ expenses until the temple was completed and Jerusalem rebuilt. 56Also, for all who
guarded the city, he wrote that they were to be given lands and wages. 57Then he sent forth
from Babylon all the vessels Cyrus had removed; and everything Cyrus said to do, he also
commanded to be done, and he sent them forth to Jerusalem.

  58Now when the young man went out, he lifted his face to heaven toward Jerusalem and

blessed the King of heaven, saying, 59“The victory and the wisdom are from You, the glory is
Yours, and I am Your servant. 60Blessed are You who granted me wisdom, and I give thanks
to You, O Lord of our fathers.”

  61So he took the letters and went to Babylon, and reported everything to all his brothers.
62They, too, blessed the God of their fathers because He had granted them freedom and

release from captivity 63to go up and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple called by His name.
Then they feasted with music and gladness for seven days.

                                    Return of the Exiles


5 After this the heads of the paternal houses were chosen according to their tribes to go up,
  along with their wives, sons, and daughters, and their male and female servants, and their
cattle. 2Darius also sent along one thousand cavalry with them, to bring them back to
Jerusalem in peace and with the music of drums and flutes. 3All their kindred were dancing,
for Darius arranged for them to go up with them as well.

  4These are the names of the men who were their governors and who went up according to

their paternal houses in the tribes: 5the priests, the sons of Phinehas the son of Aaron;
Jeshua the son of Jozadak the son of Seraiah, and Joakim the son of Zerubbabel the son of
Shealtiel, of the house of David, from the family of Phares, of the tribe of Judah. 6Zerubbabel
was the one who spoke wise words before Darius the king of the Persians in the second year
of his reign, in the month of Nisan, the first month. 7They are the ones from Judea who went
up from their sojourn in captivity and whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon resettled in
Babylon. 8They returned to Jerusalem and the rest of Judea, each to his own city. They came
with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan,
Mispereth, Bigvai, Hehum, and Baanah, their leaders.

  9The number of those from the nation, including their leaders, were: the sons of Parosh,

two thousand one hundred seventy-two; 10the sons of Shephatiah, four hundred seventy-
two; the sons of Arah, seven hundred fifty-six; 11the sons of Pahath-Moab of the sons of
Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve; 12the sons of Elam, one thousand two
hundred fifty-four; the sons of Zattu, nine hundred forty-five; the sons of Chorbe, seven
hundred five; the sons of Bani, six hundred forty-eight; 13the sons of Bebai, six hundred
twenty-three; the sons of Azgad, one thousand three hundred twenty-two; 14the sons of
Adonikam, six hundred sixty-seven; the sons of Bigvai, two thousand sixty-six; the sons of
Adin, four hundred fifty-four; 15the sons of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety-two; the sons of Kilan
and Azetas, sixty-seven; the sons of Azaru, four hundred thirty-two; 16the sons of Annias, one
hundred one; the sons of Arom and the sons of Bezai, three hundred twenty-three; the sons
of Hariph, one hundred twelve; 17the sons of Baiterus, three thousand five; the sons of
Bethlomon, one hundred twenty-three.

  18Those from Netophah were fifty-five; those from Anathoth, one hundred fifty-eight;

those from Beth Azmaveth, forty-two; 19those from Kirjath Jearim, twenty-five; those from
Chephirah and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three; 20the Chadiasans and Ammidians, four
hundred twenty-two; those from Kirama and Geba, six hundred twenty-one; 21those from
Macalon, one hundred twenty-two; those from Betolio, fifty-two; the sons of Nephish, one
hundred fifty-six; 22the sons of the other Calamolalus and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five;
the sons of Jerechus, three hundred forty-five; 23the sons of Senaah, three thousand three
hundred thirty.

  24The number of the priests were: the sons of Jedaiah the son of Jeshua, of the sons of

Anasib, nine hundred seventy-two; the sons of Immer, one thousand fifty-two; 25the sons of
Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven; the sons of Charme, one thousand
seventeen.

  26The Levites: the sons of Joshua and Kadmiel and Bannas and Sudias, seventy-four.
27The number of the temple singers were: the sons of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight.
28The number of the gatekeepers were: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of
Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty-
nine.

  29The number of the temple servants were: the sons of Esau, the sons of Hasupha, the
sons of Tabbaoth, the sons of Keros, the sons of Sua, the sons of Padon, the sons of Lebanah,
the sons of Hagabah, 30the sons of Akkub, the sons of Uthai, the sons of Ketab, the sons of
Hagab, the sons of Subai, the sons of Hana, the sons of Cathua, the sons of Geddur, 31the
sons of Jairus, the sons of Daisan, the sons of Noeba, the sons of Chezib, the sons of Gazera,
the sons of Uzza, the sons of Phinoe, the sons of Hasrah, the sons of Basthai, the sons of
Asnah, the sons of Maani, the sons of Nephisim, the sons of Acuph, the sons of Hakupha, the
sons of Asur, the sons of Pharakim, the sons of Bazluth, 32the sons of Mehida, the sons of
Cutha, the sons of Charea, the sons of Barkos, the sons of Serar, the sons of Temah, the sons
of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.

  33The sons of the servants of Solomon: the sons of Assaphioth, the sons of Peruda, the

sons of Jaalah, the sons of Lozon, the sons of Isdael, the sons of Shephatiah, 34the sons of
Agia, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Sarothie, the sons of Masiah, the sons of
Gas, the sons of Addus, the sons of Subas, the sons of Apherra, the sons of Barodis, the sons
of Shaphat, the sons of Allon. 35All the temple servants and the sons of the servants of
Solomon were three hundred seventy-two.

  36Those who come up from Thermeleth and Thelersas, led by Charaath, Adan and Amar,
37were unable to tell of their lineage and generation as to how they were from Israel. They
were the sons of Delaiah the son of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, and their number was six
hundred fifty-two.

  38The priests who laid claim to the priesthood but were not found in the register were: the
sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Jaddus, who married Agia, one of the
daughters of Barzillai, and was called by his name. 39So when a search into the lineage of
these men was made in the register, and nothing was found, they were removed from the list
to perform priestly service. 40Nehemiah and Attharias said they were not to partake in the
holy things until a high priest arose wearing the Urim and the Thummim.

  41All those from Israel from twelve years of age and older, apart from the male and female
servants, were forty-two thousand three hundred sixty. Their male and female servants were
seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven. Cantors and musicians were two hundred forty-
five. 42There were four hundred thirty-five camels, seven thousand thirty-six horses, two
hundred forty-five mules, and five thousand five hundred twenty-five donkeys.

  43Some of the heads of the paternal houses in Israel arrived at the temple of God in

Jerusalem and vowed to the best of their ability to rebuild the house on its site, 44and to give
to the temple treasury for its works: one thousand minas of gold, five thousand minas of
silver, and one hundred priestly vestments. 45The priests, the Levites, and some of the people
decided to live in Jerusalem, while the temple singers and doorkeepers settled in the
countryside with all Israel in their villages.

                                   The Altar Is Made Ready

  46When the seventh month came and each of the children of Israel was settled in his own
place, they gathered together with one accord in the open area of the first gate toward the
east. 47Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brother-priests and Zerubbabel the son of
Shealtiel with his brothers took charge. They prepared the altar of the God of Israel 48to offer
whole burnt offerings on it according to what was said in the book of Moses, the man of God.

  49Some of the other people from the land gathered with them in hostility, and all the
people of the land were stronger than they. Yet they set up the altar in its place and offered
sacrifices and whole burnt offerings to the Lord at the appointed times, morning and evening.
50They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles as commanded in the law, and they offered

sacrifices every day as was fitting. 51After this they offered the daily sacrifices and the
sacrifices of the Sabbaths, the new moons, and all the sacred feasts. 52As many as made a
vow to God began to offer sacrifices to Him from the new moon of the seventh month, but
the temple of God was not built as yet. 53So they gave silver to the stonecutters and the
woodworkers, and food, drink, and conveyances to the Sidonians and Tyrians, to bring cedar
trees from Lebanon, then float them on rafts to the harbor at Joppa, according to the
ordinance written to them from King Cyrus of the Persians.

  54Then in the second year and the second month after they came to the temple of God in
Jerusalem, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak and their brothers, and
the Levitical priests and all who came to Jerusalem from the captivity began the work.
55They laid the foundation of God's temple on the new moon of the second month in the
second year after they arrived in Judea and Jerusalem. 56They established the Levites who
were twenty years and older over the Lord's works. So Jeshua and his sons and brothers, and
Kadmiel his brother, and the sons of Jeshua Emadabun, and the sons of Joda son of Iliadun
with his sons and brothers, and all the Levites moved forward the work on God's house with
one accord.

  57The builders built the temple of the Lord. Then the priests, donned in their vestments
and with musical instruments and trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with their
cymbals, praised and blessed the Lord according to the instructions of King David of Israel.
58They sang hymns, thanking the Lord “for His goodness and His glory to all Israel unto the

ages.” 59All the people cried out with a loud voice, singing to the Lord because of the raising
of the Lord's house.

                             Work on the Temple Is Halted

  60But some of the priests and Levites, old men who were leaders of their paternal houses,
had seen the former temple. So they came to the building of this one with loud crying and
bitter wailing. 61But many others came with trumpets and a loud shout of joy. 62However,
the crowd could not hear the trumpets because of the people who wept. Therefore the
multitude blew their trumpets so loud, the sound could be heard far away.

  63When the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin heard it, they came to see what

the noise of the trumpets was about. 64They discovered that those from the captivity were
rebuilding the temple for the Lord God of Israel. 65So they approached Zerubbabel and
Jeshua and the leaders of the paternal houses and said to them, “We will build together with
you. 66For we likewise obey your Lord and have offered sacrifices to Him from the days of
King Esar-haddon of the Assyrians who brought us here.” 67But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the
leaders of the paternal houses of Israel answered them, “It is not for you and us to build the
house of the Lord our God. 68For we alone will build it for the Lord of Israel, according to
what Cyrus the king of the Persians commanded us.” 69But the peoples of the land moved
strongly against those in Judea. They besieged them and hindered them from continuing to
build. 70By plots and by false claims and riots, they blocked the completion of the building
during the lifetime of King Cyrus. 71They were halted from construction for two years until
the reign of Darius.
                                The Temple Is Completed


6 Now  in the second year of the reign of Darius, the prophets to the Jews, Haggai and
  Zechariah the son of Iddo, who were in Judea and Jerusalem, prophesied to them in the
name of the Lord God of Israel.† 2Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of
Jozadak resumed building the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. The prophets of the Lord were
with them and helped them. 3During this same time, Sisinnes, governor of Syria and
Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes and his associates arrived and said, 4“By whose instruction are
you building this house, the roof, and completing all these other things? Who are the builders
accomplishing all this?” 5But the elders of the Jews had the grace of visitation from the Lord,
for His grace was over the captives. 6So they were not stopped from construction until word
could be gotten to Darius about them and a response received. 7Here is a copy of the letter
which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes and their officers, the
governors in Syria and Phoenicia, wrote and sent to Darius:

  8“To King Darius: Greetings. Let it be known fully to our lord the king that we arrived in
the country of Judea and went into the city of Jerusalem. We discovered the elders of the
Jews from the captivity building a great new house for the Lord in the city. It is made of
polished stones with very costly wood laid on the walls. 9Those works are being done with
zeal, and the work is flourishing at their hands. It is being finished with all grandeur and
carefulness.

  10“We inquired of their elders, saying, ‘By whose direction are you building this house and

setting the foundations for this building?’ 11Then we asked them who their leaders were, for
the sake of making them known to you in writing. And we asked them for a list of names.
12They replied, ‘We are the servants of the Lord who created heaven and earth. 13This house
was built many years before by a king of Israel. He was great and powerful, and it was
completed. 14But when our fathers sinned against the Lord of Israel, who is in heaven, and
provoked Him, He handed them over to the authority of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon
and of the Chaldeans. 15He both razed the house and set it on fire; then he led the people as
captives to Babylon.

  16‘But in the first year King Cyrus reigned over the country of Babylon, he wrote to rebuild

this house. 17Then King Cyrus brought out the sacred vessels of gold and silver which
Nebuchadnezzar had carried from this house in Jerusalem and put in his own temple, and he
handed them over to Zerubbabel and Sheshbazzar the governor. 18He then commanded him
to carry all these vessels and put them back in the temple in Jerusalem, and to rebuild the
Lord's temple in this place. 19Then this same Sheshbazzar, after he arrived here, set the
foundations of the Lord's house in Jerusalem. From that time until now, the rebuilding has
continued, but it is not yet completed.’

  20“Now therefore, O king, if you so determine, let a search be conducted in the royal

archives of our lord the king in Babylon. 21If it is discovered that the rebuilding of the house
of the Lord in Jerusalem was done with the permission of King Cyrus and approved by our
lord the king, let him direct us concerning this matter.”

  22Then King Darius ordered a search to be conducted in the royal archives that were
delivered to Babylon. So a scroll was found in the palace in Ecbatana in the country of Media
wherein these words were recorded: 23“In the first year of the reign of King Cyrus, he
commanded that the Lord's house in Jerusalem, where they sacrifice with perpetual fire, be
rebuilt. 24It was to be sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide, with three layers of polished
stones and one layer of new native wood. The expenses were to be paid from King Cyrus's
treasury. 25The sacred vessels of the Lord's house, those of both gold and silver which
Nebuchadnezzar had carried from the house in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, these
were to be returned to the house in Jerusalem and replaced where they were previously.”

  26Darius therefore commanded Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and
Sathrabuzanes and their officers, and those chosen as leaders in Syria and Phoenicia, to stay
away from the place, and to allow Zerubbabel the servant of the Lord and governor of Judea,
and the elders of the Jews to erect the Lord's house on its former site.

  27“I also command,” he continued, “that the building be completed and that you be fully
intent on helping the captives who returned to Judea until the completion of the Lord's
house. 28Furthermore, care must be taken to give a contribution from the regular tribute of
Coelesyria and Phoenicia to these men, that is, to Zerubbabel, for bulls, rams, and lambs for
sacrifices to the Lord. 29Likewise, a regular contribution must be given every year, without
complaining, of wheat, salt, wine, and oil for daily consumption, as the priests in Jerusalem
may dictate, 30so they may offer drink offerings to God Most High on behalf of the king and
his children, and pray concerning their lives.”
  31Moreover he commanded, “As many as transgress or void anything written herein, wood
should be taken from his own house and he will be hanged upon it. His possessions are then
to be given over to the king.

  32“Therefore, may the Lord whose name is invoked there destroy any king and nation that

shall reach forth their hands to prevent or ruin the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. 33I, King
Darius, declare as herein decreed that this be accomplished diligently.”


7 Then   Sisinnes, governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes and his
  associates followed the command of King Darius, 2and took diligent care of the holy
works, and worked together with the elders of the Jews and the governors of the temple.
3The sacred works were free from difficulty while the prophets Haggai and Zechariah

prophesied. 4So they completed these by the command of the Lord God of Israel; 5and with
the consent of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, the Persian kings, the house was completed the
twenty-third day of the month of Adar during the sixth year of King Darius.

  6Then the children of Israel, and the priests, the Levites, and the rest of those from the

captivity who joined them did according to what is recorded in the book of Moses. 7For at the
dedication of the Lord's temple, they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four
hundred lambs, 8and twelve young goats as a sin offering for all Israel, with reference to the
number of the twelve chiefs of Israel's tribes. 9The priests, clothed in their vestments
according to their own people, attended to the works of the Lord God of Israel in accordance
with the book of Moses, and the doorkeepers stood at each gate.

  10The children of Israel who came from the captivity kept Passover on the fourteenth day

of the first month, following the priests and the Levites being purified together. 11But
although all the Levites were purified together, not all the children of the captivity were
purified. 12Nevertheless they sacrificed Passover for all the children of the captivity, for their
brother priests, and for themselves. 13The children of Israel who came from the captivity and
all who sought the Lord and separated themselves from the abominations of the people of the
land ate the paschal lamb. 14They also observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven
days and rejoiced before the Lord. 15For He changed the counsel of the king of the Assyrians
regarding them to make their hands strong in the works of the Lord God of Israel.

                                Ezra Returns to Jerusalem
8 Now  Ezra was born after these events, when King Artaxerxes of the Persians was reigning.
  Ezra was the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum,†
2the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, the son of Amariah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
the son of Abishua, the son of Phineas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the high priest.
3This Ezra came up out of Babylon as a scribe well-versed in the Law of Moses given by the

God of Israel. 4The king gave him honor, for he found favor before him in all his petitions.

  5Some of the children of Israel, and some of the priests, Levites, temple singers,
doorkeepers and temple servants also came up with him to Jerusalem. This took place in the
seventh year of Artaxerxes’ reign, in the fifth month (this was his seventh year as king). 6For
they departed from Babylon on the new moon of the first month and entered Jerusalem on
the new moon of the fifth month, according to the prosperous journey given them by the
Lord. 7For Ezra had such great skill that he left out nothing from the law and commandments
of the Lord. He taught all Israel the complete ordinances and judgments.

                                  Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra

  8A written ordinance from King Artaxerxes came to Ezra the priest and reader of the law of
the Lord. A copy of it is as follows:

  9“King Artaxerxes, to Ezra the priest and reader of the law of the Lord: Greetings. 10I have
decided to be benevolent and to order that any among the Jews, the priests and Levites, and
those in our kingdom who wish and choose to do so may sojourn with you to Jerusalem.

  11“As many therefore as have so determined, let them go out together with you (as this has

seemed good to me and the seven friends who are my advisors) 12so they may take care of
matters concerning Judea and Jerusalem, as recorded in the law of the Lord, 13and also carry
gifts to the Lord of Israel which I and my friends have vowed for Jerusalem. If any gold and
silver is found in the country of Babylon for the Lord in Jerusalem, let this also be collected,
along with any gifts from the nation for the temple of their Lord in Jerusalem, 14both of gold
and silver for bulls, rams, and lambs, and whatever is needed with them, 15to offer sacrifices
upon the altar of their Lord in Jerusalem.

  16“Whatever you and your brethren decide to do with the silver and gold, do it according to

the will of your God, 17as well as with the holy vessels of the Lord given to you for the needs
of the temple of your God in Jerusalem. 18Whatever else remains that you may happen to
need for the temple of your God, it will be given you from the king's treasury.

  19“I, King Artaxerxes, have ordered the treasurers of Syria and Phoenicia that whatever
Ezra the priest and reader of the law of the Almighty God requests, they are to be diligent to
give him, up to the sum of one hundred talents of silver, 20and likewise, up to one hundred
measures of wheat, one hundred measures of wine, and an abundance of salt. 21Let all these
things be performed carefully according to the law of God for the Most High God, that His
anger may not descend on the kingdom of the king or his sons. 22I also say to you that no
tribute or penalty is to be imposed upon any priests, Levites, temple singers, doorkeepers,
temple servants, or anyone having duties in this temple. Nor does anyone have the authority
to levy any taxes upon them.

  23“As for you, Ezra, appoint judges and justices in all Syria and Phoenicia according to the
wisdom of God, that they may judge everyone who knows the law of your God; but you shall
instruct those who do not know it. 24For whoever transgresses the law of your God and the
royal law will be severely punished, either by death or another punishment, or by a monetary
penalty or imprisonment.”

                                   Return of the Leaders

  25So Ezra the scribe said, “Blessed is the only Lord God, who put these things into the

king's heart to glorify His house in Jerusalem, 26and who gave me honor before the king and
before his advisors, friends, and nobles. 27I was very encouraged by the help of my Lord and
God and brought together men of Israel to journey with me.”

  28Here are the officers according to their paternal families and the governors who came up

with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes: 29Of the sons of Phineas,
Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Gamael; of the sons of David, Hattush the son of
Sechenias; 30of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him one hundred fifty men from the
register; 31of the sons of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two
hundred men; 32of the sons of Zattu, Secheniah the son of Jahaziel, and with him three
hundred men; of the sons of Adin, Obed the son of Jonathan, and with him two hundred fifty
men; 33of the sons of Elam, Josiah son of Gotholiah, and with him seventy men; 34of the
sons of Shephatiah, Zeraiah the son of Michael, and with him seventy men; 35of the sons of
Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred twelve men; 36of the sons of Bani,
Shelomith the son of Josiphiah, and with him one hundred sixty men; 37of the sons of Bebai,
Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight men; 38of the sons of Azag, Johanan
the son of Hakkatan, and with him one hundred ten men; 39of the sons of Adonikam, the last
ones, and these are their names: Eliphalat, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them seventy men;
40of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai the son of Istalcurus, and with him seventy men.

  41I gathered them together at the river called Theras. We camped there for three days, and

I carefully observed them. 42When I did not find among them any sons of priests or Levites,
43I sent word to Eleazar, Iduel, Maasmas, Jarib, Nathan, Elnathan, Zechariah, and

Meshullam, who were officers and men of understanding. 44I directed them to go to Iddo,
who was the leader over the place of the treasury, 45and commanded them to reason with
Iddo and his brothers and those at the place of the treasury to send us those who would serve
as priests in the house of our Lord. 46By the mighty hand of our Lord, they brought us skilled
men of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, that is, Sherebiah and his
eighteen sons and brothers; 47and also Asebiah and Annunus, and Hosaiah his brother, of
the sons of Chanounaius, and their sons, twenty men; 48and of the servants of the temple
whom David and the officers appointed for the work of the Levites, two hundred twenty
temple servants. The list of all their names was made known.

  49There I declared a fast before our Lord for the young men, 50to seek from Him a safe

journey for us and for those coming with us, for our children and cattle. 51I was ashamed to
ask the king for infantry, cavalry, and an escort for safety against our enemies. 52For we said
to the king, “The strength of our Lord shall be with those who seek Him for any correction.”
53Again we implored our Lord about all this, and we obtained His mercy.

  54Then I separated twelve men, Serebiah and Asabiah, chief leaders among the priests, and

also ten men from among their brothers with them. 55I weighed out to them silver and gold,
and the sacred vessels from the house of our Lord, which the king himself, his advisors, the
nobles, and all Israel had given us. 56After weighing it, I delivered to them six hundred fifty
talents of silver, silver vessels worth one hundred talents, one hundred talents of gold, twenty
bowls of wrought gold, and twelve vessels made of fine bronze that glistened like gold. 57I
said to them, “You are set apart to the Lord, as are the sacred vessels and the silver and gold.
They are a vow to the Lord, to the Lord of our fathers. 58Be alert and keep guard until you
hand them over to the chief leaders among the priests and Levites, and to the heads of the
paternal families of Israel in Jerusalem, to be put in the chambers of the house of our Lord.”
59Then the priests and Levites took the silver, the gold, and the vessels that had been in
Jerusalem and carried them into the house of the Lord.

  60We broke camp at the river Theras on the twelfth day of the first month and came to
Jerusalem, the mighty hand of our Lord with us. He delivered us on the way from every
enemy, and we entered Jerusalem. 61After we had been there three days, the gold and silver
were weighed and brought to the house of our Lord to Marmuth the priest, son of Uriah.
62Eleazar the son of Phineas was with him, as well as the Levites, Josabad the son of Joshua
and Moeth the son of Sabannus. They counted the number and weight of everything, which
was recorded at that very moment.

  63Those who arrived from the captivity offered sacrifices to the Lord, the God of Israel:
twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-two lambs, and twelve male goats as a
thank offering—all as a sacrifice to the Lord. 64Then they presented the king's ordinances to
the royal stewards and governors of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, and they honored the people
and the temple of the Lord.

  65After this was done, the leaders came to me and said,† 66“The people of Israel, the
priests, and the Levites have not separated from the foreign peoples of the land and from
their uncleanness: the Caananites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Moabites,
the Egyptians, and the Edomites. 67For they and their sons have married their daughters, and
the holy seed has been mingled with the foreign peoples of the land; and from the beginning
of this situation the leaders and the nobles have participated in this sin.”

  68The moment I heard this, I tore my garments and my sacred apparel, pulled out hair

from my head and beard, and sat down deep in turmoil and great sadness.† 69Then as many
as ever were moved by the word of the Lord of Israel, these gathered around me as I mourned
over this lawlessness and sat in deep distress until the evening sacrifice. 70Then I rose up
from the fast with my garments and sacred apparel torn, bowed down on my knees, and
stretched out my hands to the Lord, saying:

                                    Ezra's Prayer to God

  71“O Lord, I am shamed and hesitant before Your face. 72For our sins abound far above our
heads, and our ignorance has risen up to heaven. 73From the time of our fathers until this
day, we are in great sin. 74Because of our iniquities and those of our fathers, we with our
brothers, our kings, and our priests were handed over to the kings of the earth, to the sword,
to captivity, to foraging, in shamefulness until this very day.

  75“Now how great is the mercy that has come to us from You, O Lord! For You have left us

a root and a name in this place of Your sanctuary, 76to unveil a light to us in the house of our
Lord and God and to give us food in the time of our captivity. 77Even in our servitude we
were never forsaken by our Lord, but He gave us favor with the kings of Persia, 78who gave
us food and honored the temple of our Lord. They also raised up Zion from destruction and
gave us a firm footing in Judea and Jerusalem.

  79“So now, what are we to say, O Lord, since we have these things? For we disobeyed Your

ordinances which You gave by the hand of Your servants the prophets, who said, 80‘The land
into which you are entering as an inheritance is a land made unclean by the defilement of the
foreign peoples of the land, for they have filled it with their impurity. 81Thus, you are not to
give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons. 82Never
seek to live in peace with them, that you may be strong and partake of the good things of the
land, giving it to your children as an inheritance forever.’

  83“Everything that happened to us came about because of our evil works and our many

sins. 84You, O Lord, lightened the burden of our iniquities and gave us so great a root. But we
turned back once more to transgress Your law, to mingle with the impurity of the foreigners
in the land. 85Were You not furious with us to destroy us until there was no root left, nor a
seed, nor our name? 86You are faithful, O Lord of Israel, for we were left as a root to this very
day. 87Behold, we are now before You in our lawlessness, for because of this there is no place
for us to stand before You.”

  88As Ezra was praying and giving thanks, weeping and prostrate on the ground before the
temple, a very large crowd gathered around him—men, women, and young men from
Jerusalem—for there was great lamentation among the people.

                                Foreign Wives Are Put Away

  89Then Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Israel, called out and said to Ezra,
“We sinned against the Lord in taking foreign wives from among the peoples of the land, but
now there is hope in Israel. 90Let us swear an oath to the Lord in this, to put away all our
foreign wives with their children, as decided by you and by as many as obey the law of the
Lord. 91Stand up and complete this task; for it is in your hands, and we are with you to take
firm action.” 92So Ezra stood up and commanded the leaders of the priests and the Levites of
all Israel to act accordingly. Thus they swore an oath.


9 Then  Ezra arose from the court of the temple and went into the chamber of Jehohanan
  the son of Eliashib. 2He spent the night there and ate no bread nor drank any water, but
mourned over the great lawlessness of the people.

  3A proclamation went forth throughout all Judea and Jerusalem that everyone from the

captivity should gather in Jerusalem.† 4But for those who would not meet in two or three
days, according to the presiding elders, their cattle would be confiscated for sacrifice and the
men themselves would be excluded from the people who returned from exile. 5So the men
from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem on the third day, which was on
the twentieth day of the ninth month. 6Because of the inclement weather, all the people sat
down, shivering together in the spacious court outside the temple.†

 7Ezra stood to his feet and spoke to them, saying, “You acted lawlessly and married foreign

women, so you added to the sin of Israel. 8Now therefore, make your confession and glorify
the Lord God of our fathers. 9Do His will and be separate from the peoples of the land and
from your foreign wives.”

  10Then all the people cried out and said with a loud voice, “Thus as You have said, we will

do. 11But our number is great and it is wintertime, so we cannot stand in the open air and
find a way to do this work in one or two days; for we have sinned greatly in these matters.
12So let the leaders of the people remain, and let those in our communities who have foreign

wives return at an appointed time 13to meet with the elders and judges of each settlement
until we are delivered from the Lord's wrath in this matter.” 14Jonathan the son of Asahel
and Jehziah the son of Thokanos accepted their conditions, and Meshullam, Levi, and
Shabbethai agreed to be fellow arbitrators with them. 15All those from the captivity also were
in agreement with this.

  16Then Ezra the priest chose for himself leading men of their paternal families, naming all
of them, and on the first day of the tenth month they sat down together to begin their
examinations 17of the men who had taken foreign wives. These cases were brought to a
conclusion on the new moon of the first month.

  18Those priests who were found to have foreign wives were: 19from the sons of Jeshua, the

son of Jozadak and his brethren, Maseiah, Eliazar, Jarib, and Jodan. 20They swore under
oath to put away their wives and to make atonement with rams for their ignorance. 21The
priests from the sons of Immer were Ananias, Zebadiah, Manes and Shemaiah and Jehiel and
Azariah. 22And from the sons of Pashur: Elionai, Maasiah, Ishmael, Nathanael, Okideilus,
and Salthas.

  23From the Levites there were Jozabad and Shimei and Kolaiah, who was Kalitah, and

Pethaiah and Judah and Jonah; 24and from the temple singers there were Eliashib and
Bacchurus; 25and from the gatekeepers there were Shallum and Tolbanes.

  26And from Israel: from the sons of Phorus, there were Jermas, Izziah, Melchiah, Mijamin,

Eleazar, Asibias, and Benaiah. 27From the sons of Elam there were Mattaniah, Zechariah,
Jezrielus and Obadiah, Jeremoth and Elijah. 28From the sons of Zamoth there were Eliadas,
Eliasimus, Othoniah, Jeremoth, Sabathus, and Zerdaiah. 29From the sons of Bebai, there
were Johannes, Ananias, Zabdus, and Emathis. 30From the sons of Mani there were Olamus,
Mamuchus, Jedaiah, Jashub, Asaeilus, and Jeremoth. 31From the sons of Addi there were
Naathus, Moossiah, Laccunus, Naidus, Bescaspasmas, Sestheel, Balnouas, and Manasseh.
32From the sons of Annan there were Elionas, Asaias, Melchias, Sabbaias, and Simon

Chosamaias. 33From the sons of Asam there were Maltannias, Mattathias, Zabannias,
Eliphalat, Manasseh, and Shimei. 34From the sons of Bahni there were Jeremiah, Mamdias,
Maerus, Joel, Mamdai, Paedias, Vaniah, Carabasian, Eliasibas, Mamnitanaimas, Eliasis,
Bannous, Elialis, Shomeis, Shelemiah, and Nethaniah. 35From the sons of Ezora there were
Shessis, Ezriel, Azeilas, Samatus, Zambris, and Joseph; and from the sons of Noomah there
were Mazitias, Zabadias, Iddo, Joel, and Benaiah. 36All of these married foreign women,
whom they sent away along with their children.

                                The Reading of the Law

  37The priests, the Levites, and those from Israel settled in Jerusalem and in the
countryside on the new moon of the seventh month. So the children of Israel were in their
dwelling places. 38Then all the people gathered with one accord in the spacious place before
the east gate of the temple. 39They asked Ezra the high priest and reader to bring the Law of
Moses, which had been handed down by the Lord God of Israel. 40So Ezra the high priest
brought the law for all the people—both men, women, and all the priests—to hear the law on
the new moon of the seventh month. 41He read aloud in the open place before the temple
gate from early morning to noonday in the presence of both men and women; and all the
people paid attention to the law. 42Ezra the priest and reader of the law stood upon the
wooden judgment seat that had been made ready.† 43Mattathias, Shammous, Ananias,
Azariah, Uriah, Hezekiah, and Baalsamus stood beside him at his right side. 44At his left side
stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Melcaiah, Lothasubus, Nabariah, and Zechariah.

  45Then Ezra took in hand the book of the law in the presence of the people, for he had the

seat of honor before all of them; 46and when he opened the law, all of them stood up
straight. Ezra then blessed the Lord God Most High, the God of Hosts, the Almighty. 47All the
people cried out, “Amen!” They raised up their hands, then fell prostrate on the ground and
worshiped the Lord.

  48The Levites, Jeshua, Anniuth, Sarabiah, Jadinus, Jakoubas, Sabbateus, Autias, Maiannas,
Kalitas, Azariah and Jozabdas, Ananias, and Pelaiah, taught the law of the Lord. At the same
time, they explained what was being read.

  49Attarates then spoke to Ezra the high priest and reader, and to the Levites who taught

the people, and to the multitude, saying, 50“This day is holy to the Lord” (now all were
weeping when they heard the law), 51“so go therefore and eat the fat and drink the sweet, and
send a gift to those who have none. 52For this day is holy to the Lord. Do not be grieved, for
the Lord will honor you.” 53So the Levites gave a command to all the people, saying, “This
day is holy; do not be grieved.”

  54Then everyone went on their way to eat and drink, to gladden themselves, to give gifts to

those who were lacking, and to heartily rejoice. 55For they were inspired by the words which
were taught to them, and they gathered together.†
                                2 E Z RA (E Z RA/ 2 E SDRAS)
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Chapters in 2 Ezra
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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Verses in 2 Ezra Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in 2 Ezra Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70


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Verses in 2 Ezra Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in 2 Ezra Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in 2 Ezra Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in 2 Ezra Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in 2 Ezra Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in 2 Ezra Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in 2 Ezra Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in 2 Ezra Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44

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                                                        The Second Book of Ezra

     Author   —Ezra

     Date   —Dated at the return from exile in Persia from 538 to 410 BC.

     Major Theme     —The God of heaven Himself will prosper us (12:20). Ezra warns the people
  in Jerusalem that God requires absolute faithfulness to the Law of Moses and the
  prescribed temple worship. The future of the Israelites depends on their removal of all
  corrupting influences and cultures, especially the pagan practices of the Philistines,
  Samaritans, and Egyptians.

  Another unifying theme is a reminder that the chosen people of God are to trust in Him
and not in their military strength, because God delivers those that obey His laws and trust
Him. Therefore, this book is considered a book of theology and not strictly history, since the
emphasis is on the connection between sin and punishment for not following God, and
faithfulness and blessing when God's commands are kept.

     Background     —Cyrus the Persian overthrew Babylon in 539 BC and issued his decree
  allowing the Jews to return in 538. The return to their homeland occurred in three
  waves over the next one hundred years. Ezra returned in the second group, in 457 BC.

 Outline

   I. The Exiles Return from Baby lon (1 :1 –2 :7 0)

  II. Building of the Tem ple Begun (3 :1 –4 :2 4 )

  III. The Tem ple Is Finally Finished (5:1 –6 :2 2 )

 IV. Ezra Goes to Jerusalem (7 :1 –8:3 6 )

  V. The Great Confession, Repentance, and Reform (9 :1 –1 0:4 4 )



                                           Cyrus's Order to Rebuild the Temple


1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord from the mouth of
  Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, and he
made a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom, and even put it in writing, saying,†
2“Thus says Cyrus king of the Persians: ‘The Lord God of heaven gave to me all the kingdoms

of the earth. And He commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judea. 3Who is
there among you from all His people? For his God shall be with him, and he shall go up to
Jerusalem in Judea and rebuild the house of the God of Israel. He is the God who is in
Jerusalem.† 4And each one remaining from all the places where he lives as a stranger, the
people from where he lives shall help him with silver and gold, and goods, and livestock,
along with freewill offerings for the house of the God which is in Jerusalem.’ ”†

  5Then the heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites,
with all whose spirits God stirred up arose to go up and rebuild the house of the Lord, which
is in Jerusalem.† 6And all those around them encouraged them with vessels of silver and
gold, with goods and livestock, and by gifts, in addition to the freewill offerings. 7King Cyrus
brought out the articles of the house of the Lord which Nebuchadnezzar took away from
Jerusalem and then placed in the house of his god,† 8and Cyrus king of the Persians brought
them out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them out to Sheshbazzar, a
ruler of Judah. 9And this is their number: thirty gold basins, one thousand silver basins,
twenty-nine knives, 10thirty gold bowls, two hundred silver bowls, and one thousand other
vessels. 11All the vessels of gold and silver going up with Sheshbazzar from the land of exile,
from Babylon into Jerusalem, totaled five thousand four hundred.

                        The Census of Those Returning to Judea


2 And these are the sons from the places of the people who had gone up from the captivity,
  whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away and settled in Babylon, and
who returned to Jerusalem and Judea, every man into his city.† 2Those who came with
Zerubbabel were Jesus, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai,
Rehum, and Baanah.

  The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3the sons of Parosh were two thousand one
hundred seventy-two; 4the sons of Shephatiah were three hundred seventy-two; 5the sons of
Arah were seven hundred seventy-five; 6the sons of Pahath-Moab belonging to the sons of
Jesus and Joab were two thousand eight hundred twelve; 7the sons of Elam were one
thousand two hundred fifty-four; 8the sons of Zattu were nine hundred forty-five; 9the sons
of Zaccai were seven hundred sixty; 10the sons of Bani were six hundred forty-two; 11the
sons of Bebai were six hundred twenty-three; 12the sons of Azgad were three thousand two
hundred twenty-two; 13the sons of Adonikam were six hundred sixty-six; 14the sons of Bigvai
were two thousand fifty-six; 15the sons of Adin were four hundred fifty-four; 16the sons of
Ater belonging to Hezekiah were ninety-eight; 17the sons of Bezai were three hundred
twenty-three; 18the sons of Jorah were one hundred twelve; 19the sons of Hashum were two
hundred twenty-three; 20the sons of Gibbar were ninety-five; 21the sons of Bethlehem were
one hundred twenty-three; 22the sons of Netophah were fifty-six; 23the sons of Anathoth
were one hundred twenty-eight; 24the sons of Azmaveth were forty-two; 25the sons of
Kirjath Arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth were seven hundred forty-three; 26the sons of Ramah
and Geba were six hundred twenty-one; 27the men of Michmas were one hundred twenty-
two; 28the men of Bethel and Ai were four hundred twenty-three; 29the sons of Nebo were
fifty-two; 30the sons of Magbish were one hundred fifty-six; 31the sons of Elam were one
thousand two hundred fifty-four; 32the sons of Harim were three hundred twenty; 33the
sons of Lod, Aroth, and Ono were seven hundred twenty-five; 34the sons of Jericho were
three hundred forty-five; 35the sons of Senaah were three thousand six hundred thirty; 36the
priests: the sons of Jedaiah belonging to the house of Jesus were nine hundred seventy-
three; 37the sons of Immer were one thousand fifty-two; 38the sons of Pashhur were one
thousand two hundred forty-seven; 39the sons of Harim were one thousand seven; 40the
Levites, the sons of Jesus and Kadmiel, belonging to the sons of Hodaviah were seventy-four;
41the singers: the sons of Asaph were one hundred twenty-eight; 42the sons of the
gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub,
the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai were one hundred thirty-nine in all; 43the
Nethinim: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, 44the sons of Keros,
the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon, 45the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of
Akkub, 46the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shalmai, the sons of Hanan, 47the sons of Giddel,
the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, 48the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of
Gazzam, 49the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, 50the sons of Asnah, the
sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephusim, 51the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons
of Harhur, 52the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 53the sons of
Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Tamah, 54the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha;
55the sons of Abdeselma: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Peruda, 56the

sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 57the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of
Hattil, the sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, and the sons of Ami; 58all the Nethinim and the
sons of Abdeselma were three hundred ninety-two.
  59And these came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they

could not identify their father's house or their seed, whether it was of Israel: 60the sons of
Delaiah, the sons of Bua, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda were six hundred fifty-
two; 61and of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, and the sons of
Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their
name. 62These sought their names among those registered by genealogy, but they were not
found. Therefore they were excluded from the priesthood. 63And Athersatha told them not to
eat from the holy things until a priest should arise with the Lights and Perfections.†

  64And the whole assembly together counted forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
65besides their male and female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred

thirty-seven; and there were two hundred men and women singers. 66They had seven
hundred thirty-six horses, two hundred forty-five mules, 67four hundred thirty-five camels,
and six thousand seven hundred twenty donkeys.

  68And some from the heads of the families, when they came up to the house of the Lord in

Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to erect it in its place.† 69According to their
ability, they gave to the treasury for the work sixty-one thousand pieces of pure gold, five
thousand pieces of silver, and one hundred garments of the priests. 70So the priests and the
Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants settled
down in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

                             The Feast of Tabernacles Observed


3 And when the seventh month had come and the children of Israel were in their cities, the
  people gathered together as one person in Jerusalem.† 2Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak
and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers, arose and
built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of
Moses the man of God.† 3And they set up the altar on the place, for fear had come upon them
because of the neighboring peoples of the land, and they offered whole burnt offerings upon
it to the Lord, both morning and evening. 4They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is
written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each
day. 5Afterwards they offered the regular burnt offering, and those for New Moons and for all
the appointed feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and those of everyone who willingly
offered a freewill offering to the Lord. 6On the first day of the seventh month they began to
offer whole burnt offerings to the Lord, although the foundation of the house of the Lord had
not yet been laid. 7They also gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink,
and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa,
according to the permission which they had from Cyrus king of Persia.†

                                Temple Restoration Begins

  8Now in the second month of the second year of their coming to the house of God at
Jerusalem, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak began the work,
together with the rest of their people, the priests and the Levites, and all those returning from
exile to Jerusalem. They appointed the Levites from twenty years and above to oversee the
work of the house of the Lord.† 9And Jeshua with his sons and brothers, and Kadmiel with
his sons, and the sons of Judah arose to oversee those working on the house of God: the sons
of Henadad, their sons, and their brethren the Levites.

  10And they laid the foundation for the building of the house of the Lord. And the priests
stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to
praise the Lord, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11And they sang
antiphonally in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord that He is good, that His mercy is upon
Israel forever. And all the people shouted with a loud voice to give praise to the Lord, for the
foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12But many of the priests and the Levites and
the elders and the heads of the father's houses, who had seen the first temple on its
foundation and with their own eyes saw this house, wept with a loud voice. But the
multitude, shouting with joy and gladness, lifted up their voices in song,† 13and the people
could not distinguish the shouting voices of joy and gladness from the wailing of the people
weeping, for the people shouted out with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off.

                           Opposition to Restoring the Temple


4 Now  when those oppressing Judah and Benjamin heard that the sons of the captivity were
  building a house to the Lord God of Israel,† 2they approached Zerubbabel and the heads
of the father's houses and said to them, “We will rebuild with you, for we seek as you do, and
we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us
here.” 3But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the father's houses of Israel
said to them, “It is not for us and you to rebuild a house to our God, for we ourselves will
rebuild it to the Lord our God, as King Cyrus the king of the Persians commanded us.” 4But
the people of the land were weakening the hands of the people of Judah, and were hindering
them from building, 5and hiring people to work against them to frustrate their purpose all
the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

                            Resistance to Rebuilding Jerusalem

  6In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote a letter against the

inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem. 7And in the days of Artaxerxes, Mithradites, and Tabeel,
along with their fellow servants, they wrote in peace to Artaxerxes the king of Persia. The one
levying tribute wrote a letter, one having been translated from the Syrian language. 8Rehum
the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote one letter against Jerusalem to the king,
Artaxerxes:

  9Thus has judged Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of our fellow
servants the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarphalaeans, Apharsaeans, the Archuaeans,
the Babylonians, the people of Susa—who are Elamites, 10and the rest of the nations whom
the great and noble Osnapper sent out to colonize the land, and he resettled them in the cities
of Samaria, and the rest of them on the other side of the River.

  11This is the substance of the letter they sent him:


  To Artaxerxes the king, from your servants the men beyond the River Jordan. 12Let it be
known to the king that the Jews coming up from you to us came to Jerusalem, and they are
rebuilding this rebellious and wicked city, and repairing its walls and raising up its
foundations.† 13Now let it be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and if its walls are
restored, you will not collect any taxes, nor will they pay anything, and this wrongs the king.
14And because of this dishonor of the king, one not fitting for us to witness, we send this

letter to inform the king, 15that a search may be made in the book of the records of your
fathers. There you will discover and know that this city is a rebellious city, one that is
harmful to kings and provinces, and one having a longstanding history of harboring runaway
slaves in the midst of her. It is for this reason the city was destroyed. 16We therefore point
out to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls restored, there will not be peace.
  17The king sent an answer:


  Peace.† 18The tax assessor you sent to us was summoned before me, 19and a command
was given by me, and we examined for ourselves and found that this city in previous days
raised up in opposition to kings, and that rebellions and desertions take place in it. 20There
have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem who have ruled over all the region beyond the
River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them. 21Now give the command to make
these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me. 22Take
heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the
kings?

  23Then the tax assessor for King Artaxerxes read the letter before Rehum the chancellor,
Shimshai the scribe, and their companions. And they went up in haste to Jerusalem against
the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease.

  24Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued
until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

                         Reconstruction of the Temple Resumes


5 Then Haggai the prophet and the prophet Zechariah the son of Iddo prophesied to the
  Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel over them.† 2At
that time, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began
to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them,
helping them.

  3At the same time, Tattenai the governor of the region beyond the River and Shethar-
Boznai and their companions came there and spoke thus to them: “Who commanded you to
build this house and repair this wall?” 4Then they said this to them, “What are the names of
the men, the ones building this city?” 5But the eyes of God were upon the exiles of Judah,
and they were unable to stop them till a report was taken to Darius. Then a written answer
was returned concerning this matter.†

  6This is a copy of the letter which Tattenai the governor of the province beyond the River,
and Shethar-Boznai, and their fellow servants the Apharsachites, the ones in the province
beyond the River Jordan, sent to King Darius. 7They sent a letter to him in which was written
thus:

  All peace.†

  8Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judea, to the temple of the
great God, which is being built with heavy stones, and timber is being laid in the walls; and
this work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands. 9Then we asked those elders and
spoke thus to them: “Who commanded you to build this temple and to finish these walls?”
10We also asked them their names to inform you, that we might write the names of the men

who were chief among them. 11And thus they returned us an answer, saying, “We are the
servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built
many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed. 12But because our fathers
provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of
Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and carried the people away to Babylon.
13However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to build this

house of God. 14Also, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar
had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem and carried into the temple of Babylon—
those King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon, and they were given to one named
Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor. 15And he said to him, ‘Take these articles; go,
carry them to the temple site that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its
former site.’ 16Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God
which is in Jerusalem; but from that time even until now it has been under construction, and
it is not finished.” 17Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the
king's treasure house, which is there in Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was issued by
King Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send us his pleasure
concerning this matter.

                            King Cyrus’ Order Is Rediscovered


6 Then  King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives, where the
  treasures were stored in Babylon.† 2And at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province
of Media, a scroll was found, and in it a record was written thus:

  3In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the house of God at
Jerusalem: “Let the house be rebuilt, the place where they offered sacrifices; and let the
foundations of it be firmly laid, its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits, 4with three
rows of heavy stones and one row of new timber. Let the expenses be paid from the king's
treasury. 5Also let the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar
took from the temple which is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and taken
back to the temple which is in Jerusalem, each to its place; and deposit them in the house of
God”—

  6Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai,
and your companions the Persians who are beyond the River, keep yourselves far from there.
7Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the

Jews build this house of God on its site. 8Moreover I issue a decree as to what you shall do
for the elders of these Jews, for the building of this house of God: Let the cost be paid at the
king's expense from taxes on the region beyond the River; this is to be given immediately to
these men, so that they are not hindered.† 9And whatever they need—young bulls, rams, and
lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the
request of the priests who are in Jerusalem—let it be given them day by day without fail,
10that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of

the king and his sons. 11Also I issue a decree that whoever alters this edict, let a timber be
pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it; and let his house be made a
refuse heap because of this. 12And may the God who causes His name to dwell there destroy
any king or people who put their hand to alter it, or to destroy this house of God which is in
Jerusalem. I Darius issue a decree; let it be done diligently.

  13Then Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, Shethar-Boznai, and their

companions diligently did according to what King Darius had sent. 14So the elders of the
Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah
the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of
Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia.†

                                  Dedication of the Temple

  15Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the

sixth year of the reign of King Darius.† 16Then the children of Israel, the priests and the
Levites and the rest of the descendants of the captivity, celebrated the dedication of this
house of God with joy. 17And they offered sacrifices at the dedication of this house of God,
one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel
twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18They assigned the priests
to their divisions and the Levites to their divisions over the service of God in Jerusalem, as it
is written in the Book of Moses.

 19And the descendants of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first

month.† 20For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves; all of them were ritually
clean. And they slaughtered the Passover lambs for all the descendants of the captivity, for
their brothers the priests, and for themselves. 21Then the children of Israel who had returned
from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the
nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel. 22And they kept the Feast of
Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the Lord made them joyful, and turned the heart
of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of
God, the God of Israel.

                                   Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem


7 Now  after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah,
  the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,† 2the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of
Ahitub, 3the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4the son of Zerahiah,
the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of
Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— 6this Ezra came up from Babylon, and he was a
skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king granted
him all his request according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him. 7Some of the
children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim
came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 8They came to Jerusalem in
the fifth month, which was the seventh year of the king. 9On the first day of the first month
he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to
Jerusalem, since the good hand of his God was upon him. 10For Ezra had prepared his heart
to seek the Law of the Lord and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.†

                           The Favorable Decree of Artaxerxes

  11This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest, the scribe, expert in
the words of the commandments of the Lord and of His statutes to Israel:
  12Artaxerxes, king of kings,


  To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Perfect peace, and so forth.†
13I issue a decree that all those of the people of Israel and the priests and Levites in my realm

who volunteer to go up to Jerusalem may go with you. 14And whereas you are being sent by
the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem with regard to
the Law of your God which is in your hand; 15and whereas you are to carry the silver and gold
which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is
in Jerusalem; 16and whereas all the silver and gold that you may find in all the province of
Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and the priests, are to be freely offered
for the house of their God in Jerusalem— 17now therefore, be careful to buy with this money
bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them on
the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem. 18And whatever seems good to you and your
brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do it according to the will of your God.
19Also the articles that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver in

full before the God of Jerusalem. 20And whatever more may be needed for the house of your
God, which you may have occasion to provide, pay for it from the king's treasury. 21And I,
even I, Artaxerxes the king, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the region beyond
the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may
require of you, let it be done diligently, 22up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred
kors of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and salt without
prescribed limit. 23Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for
the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king
and his sons? 24Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or
custom on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this
house of God. 25And you, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, set magistrates and
judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know
the laws of your God; and teach those who do not know them.† 26Whoever will not observe
the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him,
whether it be death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.

  27Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's

heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem,† 28and has extended mercy to
me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes.

  So I was encouraged, as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me; and I gathered leading
men of Israel to go up with me.

                           Families Who Returned from Exile


8 These are the heads of their fathers’ houses, the leaders who went up with me in the reign
  of Artaxerxes the king of Babylon: 2of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of
Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, Hattush; 3of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of
Parosh, Zechariah, and a group of one hundred fifty men with him; 4of the sons of Pahath-
Moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males; 5of the sons of
Zathoe, Shechaniah, the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males; 6of the sons of
Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males; 7of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the
son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males; 8of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of
Michael, and with him eighty males; 9of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with
him two hundred eighteen males; 10of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah, and with
him one hundred sixty males; 11of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with
him seventy-eight males; 12of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him
one hundred ten males; 13of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these—Eliphelet,
Jeiel, and Shemaiah—and with them sixty males; 14also of the sons of Bigvai and Uthai, and
with him seventy males.

                                     Temple Servants

  15Now I gathered them by the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there for three
days. And I looked among the people and the priests, and found there none of the sons of
Levi. 16Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan,
Zechariah, and Meshullam, and also to Joiarib and Elnathan, men of understanding.† 17And I
gave them a command for Iddo the chief man at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they
should say to Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim at the place Casiphia—that they should
bring us servants for the house of our God. 18And as the hand of our God was good upon us,
they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of
Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men; 19and Hashabiah, and
Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and his sons, twenty; 20and from the temple
servants of the Levites, whom David and the leaders had appointed for the service of the
Levites, two hundred twenty temple servants. All of them were designated by name.

                                   Ezra Proclaims a Fast

  21Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before
our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and for our little ones and all our
possessions.† 22For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen
to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The
hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are
against all those who forsake Him.” 23So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He
answered our prayer.

                                    Gifts for the Temple

  24And I separated twelve of the leaders of the priests—Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of

their brethren with them— 25and weighed out to them the silver, gold, and the articles, the
first fruits of the house of our God, which the king, his counselors, his princes, and all Israel
who were present had offered. 26I weighed into their hand six hundred and fifty talents of
silver, silver articles weighing one hundred talents, one hundred talents of gold, 27twenty
gold basins worth a thousand drachmas, and two vessels of fine polished bronze, precious as
gold. 28And I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord; the articles are holy also; and the silver
and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord God of your fathers.† 29Watch and keep them
until you weigh them before the leaders of the priests and the Levites and heads of the
fathers’ houses of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the Lord.” 30So the
priests and the Levites received the silver and the gold and the articles by weight, to bring
them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.

                                 The Return to Jerusalem

  31Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to
Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the
enemy and from ambush along the road.† 32So we came to Jerusalem and stayed there three
days.

  33Now on the fourth day, the silver and the gold and the articles were weighed in the house
of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar
the son of Phinehas; with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the
son of Binnui, 34with the number and weight of everything. All the weight was written down
at that time. 35The children of those who had been carried away captive, who had come from
the captivity, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six
rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt
offering to the Lord.

  36And they delivered the king's orders to the king's satraps and the governors in the region
beyond the River. So they gave support to the people and the house of God.

                               Intermarriage with Foreigners


9 When   these things were done, the leaders came to me, saying, “The people of Israel and
  the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the people of the lands
with respect to the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites,
the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Moserites, and the Amorites.† 2For they have taken some
of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with
the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in
this trespass.” 3So when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked out
some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down astonished. 4Then everyone who
trembled at the words of the God of Israel assembled to me because of the transgression of
those who had been carried away captive, and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice.

  5At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment, I trembled

and bowed down on my knees and spread out my hands unto the Lord God, 6and I said, “O
Lord, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, for our iniquities have
multiplied above our heads, and our guilt has grown up to heaven. 7Since the days of our
fathers to this day we have been very guilty, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our
priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity,
to plunder, and to humiliation, as it is this day.† 8And now for a little while grace has been
shown from the Lord our God to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His
holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our
bondage.† 9For we are slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He
extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia to revive us, to repair the house of our
God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem. 10And now, O our
God, what shall we say in response to this? For we have forsaken Your commandments,
11which You gave us by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering
to inherit for yourself is a changing land in the removal of the people of the lands for their
abominations with which they filled it from one end to the other with their impurity.† 12Now
therefore, do not give your daughters as wives for their sons, nor take their daughters to your
sons; and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the
land, and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.’

  13“And after all of this which has come against us for our evil deeds and our great
trespasses, there is not anyone such as our God, for You have punished us less than our
iniquities deserve, and have given us such deliverance as this, 14even though we kept
breaking Your commandments and intermarried with the people of the land. Do not be
greatly upset with us to our utter destruction, to the point that there not be a remnant or
survivor. 15O Lord the God of Israel, You are righteous, for we remain, being preserved to
this day. Behold, we are in Your presence in our trespasses, though it is not possible to stand
in Your presence because of this!”

                            Confession of Sin for Intermarriage


10 And  as Ezra prayed, and as he confessed, weeping and praying before the house of God,
   a very great assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the
people wept bitterly.† 2Shechaniah son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said
to Ezra, “We have broken the covenant with our God and have taken pagan wives from the
peoples of the land, yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. 3Now therefore, let us
make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to
them, as you advise. Arise and alarm them with the commands of our God, and let it be done
according to the law. 4Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of
good courage, and do it.”

  5Then Ezra arose, and made the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear an

oath that they would do according to this word. So they swore an oath. 6Then Ezra rose up
from in front of the house of God and went over to the treasury of Jehohanan the son of
Eliashib and entered there. He ate no bread and drank no water when he arrived, for he
mourned because of the unfaithfulness of those of the exile. 7And they issued a proclamation
throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the descendants of the captivity that they must gather
at Jerusalem, 8and that whoever would not come within three days, according to the
instructions of the leaders and elders, all his property would be confiscated, and he himself
would be separated from the assembly of those from the captivity.

  9So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within three days. It was the
ninth month, on the twentieth of the month; and all the people sat in the open square of the
house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the weather. 10Then Ezra the
priest stood up and said to them, “You have broken the covenant and taken pagan wives,
adding to the guilt of Israel.† 11Now therefore, give praise to the Lord God of your fathers,
and do His will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the pagan wives.”
12And all the assembly answered and said, “This word of yours is powerful upon us to do it.
13But there are many people; it is the season for heavy rain, and we are not able to stand
outside. Nor is this the work of one or two days, for there are many of us who have
transgressed in this matter. 14Please, let the leaders of our entire assembly stand; and let all
those in our cities who have taken pagan wives come at appointed times, together with the
elders and judges of their cities, until the fierce wrath of our God is turned away from us in
this matter.” 15Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah opposed this,
and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite gave them support.

  16Then the descendants of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain heads of
the fathers’ households, were set apart by the fathers’ households, each of them by name;
and they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. 17By the first
day of the first month they finished questioning all the men who had taken pagan wives.

                                Intermarriages Are Ended

  18And among the sons of the priests who had taken pagan wives, the following were found
of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and
Gedaliah. 19And they gave their promise that they would put away their wives; and being
guilty, they presented a ram of the flock as their trespass offering.† 20Also of the sons of
Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah; 21of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel,
and Uzziah; 22of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and
Elasah. 23Also of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (the same is, Kelita), Pethahiah,
Judah, and Eliezer. 24Also of the singers: Eliashib; and of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem,
and Uri. 25And others of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Jeziah, Malchiah, Mijamin,
Eleazar, Asabia, and Benaiah; 26of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi,
Jeremoth, and Eliah; 27of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad,
and Aziza; 28of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai; 29of the sons of
Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Ramoth; 30of the sons of Pahath-
Moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh; 31of the
sons of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32Benjamin, Malluch, and
Shemariah; 33of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai,
Manasseh, and Shimei; 34of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35Benaiah, Bedeiah,
Cheluh, 36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasai, 38Bani, Binnui,
Shimei, 39Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41Azarel, Shelemiah,
Shemariah, 42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph; 43of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zebed,
Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah. 44All these had taken pagan wives, and some of them had
wives by whom they had children.
                                     NE HE M IAH
                                Previous   Home    Next

Chapters in Nehemiah
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Nehemiah Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in Nehemiah Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20


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Verses in Nehemiah Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in Nehemiah Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Nehemiah Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in Nehemiah Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in Nehemiah Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71, 72, 73

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Verses in Nehemiah Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Nehemiah Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in Nehemiah Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

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Verses in Nehemiah Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Nehemiah Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44

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Verses in Nehemiah Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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                                                       The Book of Nehemiah

    Author   —Nehemiah

    Date   —445 to 425 BC

    Major Theme     —The promises of God are fulfilled through His faithful ones.

    Background     —In the same spirit as Ezra, Nehemiah held a deep faith in God's promises.
  He was committed to the well-being of his fellow Jews and to the shaping of the Jewish
  religious community after the return from the Babylonian exile. He helped restore their
  hope as God's chosen people.

  The book is about rebuilding the walls and gates of Jerusalem. Nehemiah, inspired by God,
was the motivator and driving force behind this restoration. Serving as governor, he
introduced administrative reforms needed to restore political stability. This occurred during
the time that Ezra, priest and scribe, was working to reestablish the Mosaic Law as the
spiritual center of the newly forming Jewish communities. Nehemiah was neither priest nor
prophet, but a layman dedicated to God and to serving His people. He sets an example of
discernment and dedication, patience and perseverance, being guided by prayer and love. And
all this in the face of treacherous external enemies, and even some enemies opposed to the
will of God from within.

 Outline

  I. Return of Nehem iah and the Jewish Exiles to Jerusalem (1 :1 –1 0:3 9 )

         A. Nehem iah's v isit to Jerusalem and inspection of the wall (1 :1 –2 :2 0)

         B. Rebuilding of the wall (3 :1 –6 :1 9 )

         C. Return of the exiles to Jerusalem (7 :1 –7 3 )

         D. Renewing the Mosaic Cov enant (8:1 –1 0:3 9 )

  II. Nehem iah's Reform s in Jerusalem (1 1 :1 –1 3 :3 1 )




1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah.
   It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the
citadel,† 2that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with men from Judah; and I asked them
concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning
Jerusalem.† 3And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the
province live there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down,
and its gates are burned with fire.”†

                              Nehemiah's Intercessory Prayer

  4So it was, when I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and I mourned for many days; I

was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.† 5And I said, “No indeed, O Lord, the
mighty, the great and the awesome God of heaven, who keeps the covenant and mercy for
those who love Him and who keep His commandments.† 6Let Your ear be attentive and Your
eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day
and night, for the children of Israel, Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of
Israel which we sinned against You. Both I and my father's house have sinned. 7We have
departed from You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances
which You commanded Your servant Moses.

  8“Remember, I pray, the word You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are

unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9but if you return to Me, and keep My
commandments and do them, even if your dispersion be to the farthest part of heaven, yet I
will gather them from there and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for
My name.’

  10“Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great

power and Your strong hand. 11Rather, O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your
servant and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant
prosper today, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (For I was cupbearer to
the king.)

                                   Nehemiah Is Sent to Judah


2 And  it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of the reign of King
  Artaxerxes, when the wine was before me, that I took the wine and gave it to the king.
There was no one else present before him.† 2And the king said to me, “Why is your
countenance sad, and why are you not self-controlled? This is nothing but sickness of the
heart.” So I was greatly afraid.
  3Then I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when

the city, the home of the tombs of my fathers, lies waste, and its gates destroyed by fire?”†
4Then the king said to me, “What is it that you request concerning this?” So I prayed to the

God of heaven,† 5and I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found
favor in your sight, send me to Judah, to the city of the tombs of my fathers, that I may
rebuild it.”†

  6Then the king (his queen sitting beside him) said to me, “How long will your journey be?
And when will you return?” And my request found favor before the king, and he sent me, and
I gave him a time. 7Then I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let him give me letters for
the governors beyond the River, that I may be given safe passage until I come to Judah,†
8and also a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to
make beams for the gates, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.”
And the king granted these to me as the good hand of God was upon me.

  9And I came to the governors beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the

king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 10And for Sanballat the Horonite
and Tobiah the Ammonite servant, it was distressing to them that a man had come to seek
the well-being of the children of Israel.†

                         Nehemiah Surveys Damage to the Wall

  11So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days.† 12Then I rose up in the night, I and a
few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart for me to do for Israel, nor
was there any animal with me except the one on which I rode. 13And I went out by night
through the Valley Gate to the mouth of the spring of the fig tree and to the Dung Gate. And I
was viewing the wall of Jerusalem which they had broken down and its gates which they had
destroyed by fire. 14Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and went to the King's Pool, but
there was no room for the animal I was riding to pass. 15So I went up to the wall by the brook
at night and viewed the wall. Then I was at the Valley Gate, and I returned. 16The sentries did
not know why I had gone or what I was doing. And I did not tell the Jews, the priests, the
nobles, the officials, or the others doing the work until my return.

  17Then I said to them, “You see the distress we are in, how Jerusalem is laid waste and its
gates are destroyed with fire. Come and let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no
longer be a reproach.”† 18And I told them of the hand of God which is good upon me, and
also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So I said, “Let us rise up and let us build!”
And their hands were strengthened for good work.

  19But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem the Arab
heard of it, they laughed us to scorn and came to us and said, “What is this thing that you are
doing? Are you rebelling against the king regarding this?”† 20So I answered and said to them,
“The God of heaven will Himself prosper us; and we His servants are innocent and we will
build, but you have no part or right or memorial in Jerusalem.”

                                 The Builders of the Wall


3 Then  Eliashib the high priest and his brothers the priests rose up and rebuilt the Sheep
  Gate. They consecrated it and hung its doors, and they sanctified it even as far as the
Tower of the Hundred and to the Tower of Hananel.† 2Next to them, the men of Jericho
rebuilt, and next to them the sons of Zaccur the son of Imri rebuilt.

  3The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and hung its doors with its

bolts and bars. 4And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, made
repairs. Next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs.
Next to them Zadok son of Baana made repairs. 5Next to them the Tekoites made repairs, but
their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work.

  6Jehoiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate;

they laid its beams and hung its doors along with its bolts and bars. 7And next to them
Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite and the men of Gibeon and Mizpah
repaired the throne of the governor of the region beyond the River. 8And next to them
Hananiah the son of Rekem made repairs to the wall, and they fortified Jerusalem as far as
the Broad Wall. 9And next to them Rephaiah, leader of half the district of Jerusalem, made
repairs. 10Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs in front of his house. And
next to him Hattush the son of Hashabniah made repairs. 11Malchijah the son of Harim and
Hashub the son of Pahath-Moab repaired a second section as well as the Tower of the Ovens.
12And next to him was Shallum the son of Hallohesh, leader of half the district of Jerusalem;
he and his daughters made repairs.
  13Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They built it, hung its
doors with its bolts and bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung
Gate. 14Malchijah the son of Rechab, leader of the district of Beth Haccerem, repaired the
Dung Gate along with his sons. He built it and hung its doors with its bolts and bars, 15and
they repaired the wall of the Pool of Shelah by the King's Garden, as far as the stairs that go
down from the City of David. 16After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, leader of half the
district of Beth Zur, made repairs as far as the place in front of the tomb of David, to the
manmade pool, and as far as the House of the Mighty. 17After him the Levites, under Rehum
the son of Bani, made repairs. Next to him Hashabiah, leader of half the district of Keilah,
made repairs for his district. 18After him their brothers, under Bavai the son of Henadad,
leader of half the district of Keilah, made repairs. 19And next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua,
the leader of Mizpah, repaired another section in front of the Ascent to the Armory at the
buttress. 20After him Baruch the son of Zabbai repaired the other section, from the buttress
to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21After him Meremoth the son of Urijah,
the son of Koz, repaired another section, from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of
the house of Eliashib. 22And after him the priests, the men of Achechar, made repairs.
23After him Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs by their house. After them Azariah the son

of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs by his house. 24After him Binnui the son of
Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress, even as far as
the corner. 25Palal the son of Uzai made repairs opposite the buttress and on the tower that
projects from the king's upper house by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of
Parosh made repairs. 26And the Nethinim who dwelt in Ophel made repairs as far as the
place of the Water Gate toward the east, and on to the projecting tower. 27After them the
Tekoites repaired a second section, next to the great projecting tower and as far as the wall of
Ophel.

  28Beyond the Horse Gate the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. 29After
them Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house. After him Shemaiah
the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs. 30After him Hananiah the
son of Shelemiah and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. After him
Meshullam the son of Berechiah made repairs in front of his dwelling. 31After him Malchijah
the son of Saraphi made repairs as far as the house of the Nethinim and of the merchants, in
front of the Miphkad Gate, and as far as the upper chamber at the corner. 32And between the
upper chamber to the corner and the Sheep Gate, the bronze workers and the merchants
made repairs.

                                 The Workers Are Ridiculed

  33Now it came to pass, when Sanballat heard we were rebuilding the wall, he was

distressed, and he was furious and was mocking the Jews.† 34And before his brothers and the
army of Samaria he asked, “These Jews are rebuilding their city?” 35And Tobiah the
Ammonite, who was with him, said to them, “Surely they will not sacrifice or eat in this place
of theirs, will they? For even if a fox goes up on it, will it not break down their stone wall?”

  36Hear, O our God, for we have become a scorn. Return this reproach of theirs upon their

own head, and make them a scorn in a land of captivity.† 37Do not cover their lawlessness.

                               Conspiracy against Jerusalem


4 Now  it happened that when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, and the Ammonites heard that
  the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and the gaping holes were being
filled in, a great evil came over them.† 2For they all conspired together to come and attack
Jerusalem. 3And we prayed to our God and set watchmen to observe their presence day and
night.

  4Then Judah said, “The strength of the enemy is broken, but there is so much rubbish that

we will be unable to do work on the wall.” 5And our adversaries said, “They will neither know
nor see anything till we come into their midst and kill them and cause this work to cease.”
6And so it was that the Jews, the ones dwelling near them, came and said to us, “They are

coming up against us from all sides.” 7Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of
the wall in the sheltered areas, and I positioned the people by families with their swords,
their spears, and their bows.† 8And I looked and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders,
and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember our God, great and
awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your
houses.”

  9And when our enemies heard their plan was known to us, and that God brought their plot

to nothing, we returned, all of us, to the wall, each man to his own work. 10So it was from
that day forward, half of them did the work, and half of them took up defensive positions
with spears, shields, bows, and breastplates. The rulers stood with the entire house of Judah.†
11Those who built on the wall and those who carried burdens loaded themselves in such a
way that with one hand they held a weapon, and with the other hand they did the work.
12Every one of the builders, as he built, had his sword girded at his side, while next to him
was the one who sounded the trumpet.

  13Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, “The work is great and

extensive, and we are scattered across the entire wall, each man far from his brother.†
14Therefore, wherever you are, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally together to
meet us there. Our God will fight for us.”

  15So we labored in the work while the other half of the men held spears from daybreak

until the stars appeared. 16And at that time I said to the people, “Spend the night within the
midst of Jerusalem; let the night be a guard for you, and let the day be for work.” 17And I was
there along with the watchmen behind me, and there was not one man of us who removed
his clothing.

                                       Internal Strife

      there was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their Jewish brothers.†
5 Now
  2 For there were those who said, “We, our sons and our daughters are many; therefore let
us get grain, that we may eat and live.” 3There were even some who said, “We pledged our
lands and vineyards, even our houses, that we might receive grain and be able to eat.” 4Some
even said, “We borrowed money for the king's tax, pledging our lands and vineyards. 5Yet
now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children; and indeed we are
forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been
brought into slavery. It is not in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and
vineyards.”

  6And I became very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. 7After serious
thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers and said to them, “Each of you is exacting usury
from his brother.” So I called a great assembly against them.† 8And I said to them, “According
to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations. Now
indeed, will you even sell your brothers? Or should they be sold to us?” Then they were
silenced and found nothing to say.
  9Then I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God

because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? 10I also, with my brothers and my
servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury! 11Restore now to
them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a
hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you have charged
them.” 12So they said, “We will restore it and will require nothing from them; we will do as
you say.” So I called the priests and required an oath from them that they would do according
to this promise. 13Then I shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out
each man from his house and from his property who does not perform this promise. Even
thus may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen!” and praised the
Lord. Then the people did according to this promise.

                                Nehemiah's Unselfishness

  14Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah,
from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither
I nor my brothers ate the governor's provisions.† 15But the former governors who were
before me laid burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine, besides forty
shekels of silver. Yes, even the outcasts bore rule over the people, but I did not do so because
of the fear of God. 16Indeed, I also continued the work on this wall, and we did not buy any
land. All my servants were gathered there for the work. 17And at my table were one hundred
and fifty Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from the nations around us. 18Now
that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowl were prepared for
me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine. Yet in spite of this I did not
demand the governor's provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people.
19Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.†

                                The Opposition Intensifies


6 Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our
  enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no gaps remained in the wall (though
at the time I had not hung the doors in the gates),† 2Sanballat and Geshem sent a letter to
me, saying, “Come, let us meet among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they were plotting
to do harm to me. 3So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing so great a work that I
cannot come down. Why should the work cease? As soon as I finish it I will come down to
you.” 4And they sent me the same message again, and I answered them in the same manner.
5Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, with an open letter in his hand.† 6In it was
written:

  It is reported among the nations that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according
to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall that you may be their king. 7And you have also
appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in
Judah!” Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult
together.†

  8Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but in your own

heart you invent them.” 9For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will
be weakened in the work, and the work will not be done.” Now, therefore, I have
strengthened my hands.†

  10Afterward I came into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel,
and he, being distressed, said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple,
and let us close the door of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed at night they
are coming to kill you.”† 11And I said, “Who is the man that shall enter the house in order to
live?” 12Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this
prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13For this reason he was
hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an
evil report that they might reproach me.

  14My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and the
prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid.

                                 The Wall Is Completed

  15So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.† 16And it
happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things,
that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was
done by our God.

  17Also in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of
Tobiah came to them.† 18For many in Judah were pledged to him because he was the son-in-
law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of
Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 19Also they reported his good deeds before me and reported
my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.


7 Then  it was, when the wall was built and I had hung the doors, when the gatekeepers, the
  singers, and the Levites had been appointed,† 2I gave charge of Jerusalem to my brother
Hanani, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many, along with Hananiah the
leader of the citadel. 3And I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until
the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut and bar the doors; and appoint
guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his watch station and another in
front of his own house.”

                           Those Who Returned from Captivity

  4Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few, and the houses were

not rebuilt. 5Then my God put it into my heart to gather the nobles, the rulers, and the
people that they might be registered by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of
those who had come up in the first return and found written in it:

  6These are the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had
been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who
returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city.† 7Those with Zerubbabel, not only
Jeshua, but also Nehemiah, Azariah, Raaemia, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth,
Ezra, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah, and Masphar, men of the people of Israel; 8the children of
Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two; 9the children of Shephatiah, three
hundred and seventy-two; 10the children of Arah, six hundred and fifty-two; 11the children of
Pahath-Moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen;
12the children of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four; 13the children of Zattu,

eight hundred and forty-five; 14the children of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty; 15the
children of Binnui, six hundred and forty-eight; 16the sons of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-
eight; 17the children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty-two; 18the children of
Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-seven; 19the children of Bigvai, two thousand and sixty-
seven; 20the children of Adin, six hundred and fifty-five; 21the children of Ater of Hezekiah,
ninety-eight; 22the children of Hashum, three hundred and twenty-eight; 23the children of
Bezai, three hundred and twenty-four; 24the children of Hariph, one hundred and twelve;
25the sons of Gibeon, ninety-five; 26the children of Bethlehem, one hundred and twenty-

three, and Netophah, fifty-six; 27the children of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty-eight;
28the children of Beth Azmaveth, forty-two; 29the children of Kirjath Jearim, Chephirah, and

Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three; 30the men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and
twenty-one; 31the men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two; 32the men of Bethel and
Ai, one hundred and twenty-three; 33the men of Nebo, fifty-two; 34the sons of Elam, one
thousand two hundred and fifty-four; 35the children of Harim, three hundred and twenty;
36the sons of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five; 37the children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono,

seven hundred and twenty-one; 38the children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and
thirty.

  39The priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three;
40the sons of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two; 41the sons of Pashhur, one thousand two

hundred and forty-seven; 42the sons of Harim were one thousand and seventeen.

  43The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, of the house of Kadmiel, and of the sons of Hodevah,

seventy-four. 44The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred and forty-eight. 45The
gatekeepers: the children of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the children of Talmon, the sons of
Akkub, the children of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, one hundred and thirty-eight.

  46The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
47the children of Keros, the sons of Sia, the children of Padon, 48the children of Lebana, the

sons of Hagaba, the children of Salmai, 49the children of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the
children of Gahar, 50the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
51the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, 52the children of

Besai, the sons of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim, 53the children of Bakbuk, the
children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 54the children of Bazlith, the children of
Mehida, the children of Harhur, 55the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children
of Tamah, 56the children of Neziah, and the children of Hatipha.

  57The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the
children of Perida, 58the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
59the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, and

the children of Amon. 60All the Nethinim and the children of Solomon's servants were three
hundred ninety-two.

  61And these were the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and
Immer, but they could not identify their father's house nor their lineage, whether they were
of Israel: 62the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred forty-
two.

  63And of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a

wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name. 64These sought
their listing among those who were registered by genealogy, but it was not found; therefore
they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled. 65And the governor said to them that they
should not eat of the most holy things until a priest could consult with the Urim and
Thummim.

  66Altogether the whole assembly was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty,
67besides their male and female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred

and thirty-seven; and they had two hundred and forty-five men and women singers. 68Their
horses were seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two hundred and forty-five, 69their
camels four hundred and thirty-five, and donkeys six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

  70Some of the heads of the fathers’ houses gave to the work of Nehemiah for the treasury

one thousand gold drachmas, fifty basins, and thirty priestly garments. 71Some of the heads
of the fathers’ houses gave to the treasury of the work twenty thousand gold drachmas and
two thousand two hundred silver minas. 72And that which the rest of the people gave was
twenty thousand gold drachmas, two thousand two hundred silver minas, and sixty-seven
priestly garments.

  73So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the
Nethinim, and all Israel dwelt in their cities. When the seventh month came, the sons of
Israel were in their cities.

                                 The People Hear the Law
8 Now  all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of
  the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses,
which the Lord had commanded Israel.† 2So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the
assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of
the seventh month.† 3Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water
Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could
understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

  4So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and
beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and
Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana,
Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he
was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.† 6And Ezra
blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, amen!” while lifting up
their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the
ground.† 7Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah,
Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites helped the people to understand the
Law; and the people stood in their place.† 8So they read distinctly from the book in the Law
of God; and they gave the sense and helped them to understand the reading.

  9Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who
taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn
nor weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law. 10So he said to
them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom
nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is
your strength.”† 11Thus the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy;
do not be grieved.” 12And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and
rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them.

                                  Feast of Booths Restored

  13Now on the second day the heads of the fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests
and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe in order to understand the words of the Law.
14And they found written in the Law which the Lord had commanded by Moses that the sons

of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month,† 15and that they
should announce and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem. And Ezra said, “Go out to
the mountain and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm
branches, and branches of leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”

  16Then the people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on
the roof of his house, or in their courtyards or the courts of the house of God, and in the open
square of the Water Gate and in the open square of the Gate of Ephraim. 17So the whole
assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the
booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the sons of Israel had not
done so. And there was very great gladness. 18Also day by day, from the first day until the last
day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the
eighth day there was a sacred assembly, according to the prescribed manner.†

                           The Worshipers Confess Their Sins


9 Now   on the twenty-fourth day of this month, the sons of Israel were assembled with
  fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads.† 2Then those of Israelite lineage
separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the
iniquities of their fathers. 3And they stood in their place and read from the Book of the Law
of the Lord their God, and they were confessing to the Lord and worshiping the Lord their
God. 4Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on
the stairs of the Levites and cried out with a loud voice to the Lord their God.

  5And the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and
Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the Lord your God forever and ever! Blessed be Your
glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise!”

                              Confession of the Sins of Israel

  6And Ezra said, “You are the only Lord. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens,
with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give
life to all, and the host of heaven worships You.† 7You are the Lord God who chose Abram
and brought him out of the land of the Chaldeans, and gave him the name Abraham. 8You
found his heart faithful before You and made a covenant with him to give the land of the
Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites—to
give it to his descendants. You fulfilled Your words, for You are righteous.
  9“You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry by the Red Sea. 10And
in Egypt You showed signs against Pharaoh, against all his servants, and against all the
people of his land. For You knew that they acted proudly against them. So You made a name
for Yourself as it is this day. 11And You divided the sea before them, so that they went
through the midst of the sea on dry land; and their persecutors You threw into the deep, as a
stone into the mighty waters. 12Moreover You led them by day with a cloudy pillar, and by
night with a pillar of fire, to give them light on the road which they should travel.

  13“You came down also on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave to

them just ordinances and true laws, good commandments and precepts. 14You made known
to them Your holy Sabbath and commanded them statutes and commandments and the Law
by the hand of your servant Moses. 15You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and
brought them water out of a rock for their thirst. You told them to go in to possess the land
which You had sworn to give to them. 16But they and our fathers acted proudly, hardened
their necks, and did not heed Your commandments. 17They refused to obey, and they were
not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks, and
they appointed a leader to return to their bondage in Egypt. But You are God, gracious and
compassionate, long-suffering, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them.

  18“Even when they made a molded calf for themselves and said, ‘These are the gods that

brought us up out of Egypt,’ and worked great provocations, 19yet in Your manifold mercies
You did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of the cloud did not depart from them
by day to lead them on the road; nor the pillar of fire by night to show them light and the way
they should go. 20You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold Your
manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. 21Forty years You sustained
them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing; their clothes did not wear out and their feet did
not swell.

  22“Moreover You gave to them kingdoms and You divided nations to them. So they took
possession of the land of Sihon, the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of
Bashan. 23You also multiplied their children as the stars of heaven and brought them into
the land which You had told their fathers to go in and possess. 24You subdued before them
the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings
and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they wished. 25And they took
strong cities and possessed houses full of all goods, cisterns already dug, vineyards, olive
groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled, and grew fat, and delighted
themselves in Your great goodness.

  26“Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against You, cast Your law behind
their backs, and killed Your prophets, who testified against them to turn them to You, and
they worked great provocations. 27Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their
enemies, who oppressed them; and in the time of their trouble, when they cried to You, You
heard from Your heaven; and according to Your abundant mercies, You gave them deliverers
who saved them from the hand of their enemies.

  28“But after they had rest, they again did evil before You. Therefore You left them in the
hands of their enemies so that they had dominion over them. Yet again they cried out to You,
You heard from heaven; and You delivered them according to the multitude of Your mercies,
29and testified against them, that You might bring them back to Your Law. Yet they did not
heed Your commandments, but sinned against Your judgments, ‘which if a man does, he shall
live by them.’ But they stubbornly turned their backs, stiffened their necks, and would not
hear. 30Yet for many years You had patience with them and testified against them by Your
Spirit in Your prophets. Yet they would not listen; therefore You gave them into the hand of
the peoples of the lands. 31Nevertheless in Your great mercy, You did not utterly consume
them nor forsake them; for You are mighty and gracious and merciful.

  32“Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, the powerful and awesome God, who
keep Your covenant and Your mercy: do not let all the trouble seem small before You that has
come upon us, our kings and our princes, our priests and our prophets, our fathers and all
Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until this day. 33However, You are just in
all that has befallen us; for You have dealt faithfully, but we have done wickedly. 34Neither
our kings nor our princes, our priests nor our fathers, have kept Your Law, nor heeded Your
commandments and Your testimonies with which You testified against them. 35For they
have not served You in their kingdom, or in the many good things that You gave them, or in
the large and rich land which You set before them; nor did they turn from their wicked works.

  36“Behold! We are slaves today! And the land which You gave to our fathers to eat its fruit

and its bounty, here we are, servants in it! 37And it yields much increase to the kings You
have set over us because of our sins; also they have dominion over our bodies and our cattle
at their pleasure; and we are in great distress. 38And because of all this, we make a sure
covenant and write it; and all our rulers, our Levites, and our priests seal it.”†

                            Those Who Signed the Covenant

                                                           and Zedekiah,† 2Seraiah,
10 Those who sealed it3were: Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah,
                                                   4
      Azariah, Jeremiah,Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests. 9The Levites: Jeshua the son of

Azaniah, Binnui of the children of Henadad, and Kadmiel. 10Their brothers: Shebaniah,
Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12Zaccur, Sherebiah,
Shebaniah, 13Hodijah, the children of Beninu. 14The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-
Moab, Elam, Zattu, the children of 15Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17Ater,
Hezekiah, Azzur, 18Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai, 19Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20Magpiash,
Meshullam, Hezir, 21Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23Hoshea,
Hananiah, Hasshub, 24Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, 25Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26Ahijah,
Hanan, Anan, 27Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

                            The Covenant Which Was Sealed

  28And the rest of the people—the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the
Nethinim, and all those separating from the peoples of the land to the Law of God, their
wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and understanding—
29these, joining with their brothers, bound themselves with a curse and entered into a curse
and an oath to walk in God's Law which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to
observe and do all the commandments of our Lord and His statutes:† 30not to give our
daughters as wives to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons; 31and if
the peoples of the land brought wares to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy from
them on the Sabbath or on a holy day; and we would forgo the seventh year's produce and the
exacting of every debt. 32Also we will make ordinances for ourselves to exact from ourselves
yearly one-third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: 33for the showbread, for
the regular grain offering, for the regular burnt offering of the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and
the set feasts; for the holy things, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all
the work of the house of our God. 34We—the priests, the Levites, and the people—cast lots
for bringing the wood offering into the house of our God according to our fathers’ houses, at
the appointed times year by year, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God as it is written in
the Law. 35And we made ordinances to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits
of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the Lord; 36to bring the firstborn of our
sons and our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks to
the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God; 37to bring the
firstfruits of our grain, the fruit from all kinds of trees, the new wine and oil to the priests, to
the storerooms of the house of our God; and to bring the tithes of our land to the Levites, for
the Levites should receive the tithes in all the cities of our servitude. 38And the priest, the
descendant of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes; and the
Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms of the
storehouse. 39For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of
the grain, of the new wine and the oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary
are, where the priests who minister and the gatekeepers and the singers are; and we will not
neglect the house of our God.†

                                  The People in Jerusalem


11 Now  the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to
   bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine-tenths were to dwell
in other cities.† 2And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to
dwell at Jerusalem.

  3These are the heads of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem. (But in the cities of Judah,
everyone dwelt in his possession in their cities—Israelites, the priests, and the Levites, the
Nethinim, and the descendants of Solomon's servants.)† 4Also in Jerusalem there dwelt some
of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin.

 Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of
Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of Perez; 5and
Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the
son of Joiarib, the son of Theziah, the son of Shiloni. 6All the sons of Perez who dwelt at
Jerusalem were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men.

  7And these are the children of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the
son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah;
8and after him Gabbai and Sallai, nine hundred twenty-eight. 9Joel the son of Zichri was
their overseer, and Judah the son of Asana was second over the city.

  10Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, and Jachin; 11Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the
son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the leader of
the house of God. 12Their brethren who did the work of the house were eight hundred and
twenty-two; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of
Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, 13and his brethren, heads of the fathers’
houses, were two hundred and forty-two; and Amashai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the
son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14and their brethren, mighty men of valor, were one
hundred and twenty-eight. Their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.

  15Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of

Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of
Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving with prayer; Bakbukiah, the second among his
brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 17All the
Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four.

  18Moreover the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers who kept the gates, were

one hundred and seventy-two. 19Also the overseer of the Levites was Uzzi the son of Bani,
the son of Hashabiah, the son of Micha, of the sons of Asaph, the singers in charge of the
service of the house of God. 20For it was the king's command concerning them that a certain
portion should be for the singers, a quota day by day. 21Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of
the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was the king's deputy in all matters concerning the
people.

                                 Those Outside Jerusalem

  22With regard to the villages within their rural districts, some of the children of Judah

dwelt in Kirjath Arba and 23in Jeshua, 24and in Beersheba, 25and their villages, and Azekah
and its villages; and they set up tents in Beersheba. 26The children of Benjamin dwelt around
Geba of Michmash, 27and some of the Levites of Judah were in Benjamin.

                                  The Priests and Levites
12 Now  these are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of
   Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
3Shechaniah, 4Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the heads of the priests and
their brothers in the days of Jeshua.

  5Moreover the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah

who led the thanksgiving psalms, he and his brothers. 6Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their
brothers, stood across from them in their duties.

  7Jeshua begot Joiakim, Joiakim begot Eliashib, Eliashib begot Joiada, 8Joiada begot
Jonathan, and Jonathan begot Jaddua.

 9Now in the days of Joiakim, the priests, the heads of the fathers’ houses, were: of Seraiah,

Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 10of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 11of
Melichu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 12of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 13of Iddo,
Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 14of Abijah, Zichri, the son of Minjamin; of Moadiah,
Piltai; 15of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 16of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah,
Uzzi; 17of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 18of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; and of Jedaiah, Nethanel.

  19The Levites in the days of Eliasib, Joida, Jaddusa and Joanan, and Idua, were being
recorded as heads of families, even those priests within the kingdom of Darius of Persia.
20The sons of Levi, heads of the families until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib, were

written in the Book of the Chronicles. 21And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah,
Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel. With their brothers across from them, they
offered praise and gave thanks, each group alternating with the other, according to the
command of David the man of God.

  22Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers

keeping the watch at the storerooms of the gates. 23These lived in the days of Joiakim the
son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the
priest, the scribe.

                                  Dedication of the Wall

  24Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought out the Levites in all their
places in order to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with
thanksgivings and singing, and with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps. 25And the
sons of the singers gathered together from the countryside around Jerusalem, and from the
villages of the Netophathites, 26from the house of Gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and
Azmaveth. For the singers had built villages for themselves all around Jerusalem. 27The
priests and Levites purified themselves, and then purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

  28So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall and appointed two large thanksgiving

choirs. One went to the right hand on the wall toward the Refuse Gate.† 29After them went
Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah, 30and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 31Judah,
Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 32and some of the priests’ sons with trumpets—Zechariah
the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son
of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, 33and his brothers, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai,
Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. Ezra
the scribe went before them. 34By the Fountain Gate, in front of them, they went up the
stairs of the City of David, on the stairway of the wall, beyond the house of David as far as the
Water Gate eastward.

  35The other thanksgiving choir went the opposite way, and I was behind them with half

the people on the wall, going past the Tower of the Ovens as far as the Broad Wall, 36and
above the Gate of Ephraim, above the Old Gate, above the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel,
the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate; and they stopped by the Gate of the
Prison. 37So the two thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God, likewise I and the half of
the rulers with me; 38and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Minjamin, Michaiah, Elioenai,
Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 39also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi,
Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang loudly with Jezrahiah the director.
40Also that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with
great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard
afar off.

                                     Temple Appointees

  41And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the
offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the
portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests
and Levites who ministered.† 42Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their
God and the charge of the purification according to the command of David and Solomon his
son. 43For in the days of David and Asaph of old, there were chiefs of the singers and songs
of praise and thanksgiving to God. 44In the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel gave
portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. They also consecrated
holy things for the Levites, and the Levites consecrated them for the children of Aaron.

                              The Last Reforms of Nehemiah


13 On that day they read in the Book of Moses, in the hearing of the people, and it was
   found to be written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly
of God,† 2for they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but instead hired
Balaam to bring a curse against them. But our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3So it
was, after hearing the Law, they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.

   4Now before this, Eliashib the priest, living in the storeroom of the house of our God, was

allied with Tobiah. 5And he had prepared for him a large room where previously they had
stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and
oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, as well as
the firstfruits for the priests. 6But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-
second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, I had returned to the king. Then after certain days
I obtained leave from the king 7and came to Jerusalem. Here I discovered the evil thing
Eliashib had done for Tobiah. He had prepared a room for him in the courts of the house of
God. 8This grieved me bitterly; therefore I tossed out from the room all the household goods
of Tobiah. 9Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms, at which time I brought the
articles of the house of God back into them, along with the grain offering and the
frankincense.

                                    Tithes Are Restored

  10I also realized that the portions for the Levites were held back from them. For each of

the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field. 11So I contended
with the rulers and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together
and set them in their place. 12Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine
and the oil to the storehouse. 13I appointed Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe as
treasurers over the storehouse, along with Pedaiah of the Levites. Next to them was Hanan
the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah. They were chosen for they were counted as faithful,
and it was their duty to distribute to their brothers.

  14Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I
have done for the house of my God and for its services!

                                  The Sabbath Is Restored

  15In those days I saw in Judah people treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing
in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of burdens, which
they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. 16Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who
brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah
and in Jerusalem. 17Then I contended with the free sons of Judah and said to them, “What
evil thing is this that you do by which you profane the Sabbath day? 18Did not your fathers
do this, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added
wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

  19So it was, when the gates of Jerusalem stood open before the Sabbath, that I
commanded, and they shut the gates; and I charged that they must not be opened until after
the Sabbath day. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no burdens would be
brought in on the Sabbath day. 20Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged
outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21So I warned them and said to them, “Why do you spend
the night around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time on
they came no more on the Sabbath. 22Then I told the Levites who were cleansing themselves,
who came to guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day.

  Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of
Your mercy!

                                Pagan Marriages Forbidden

  23In those days I also saw Jews who married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab.
24And half their children spoke in the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language

of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people. 25So I contended
with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them
swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their
daughters for your sons. 26Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among
many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him
king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin. 27Should we then
hear of your doing all this great evil, transgressing against our God by marrying pagan
women?”

  28And one of the sons of Jehoiada, son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of
Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him from me.

  29Remember them, God, because of the rights of inheritance of the priesthood and of the
covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

  30And I cleansed them of every pagan thing. I assigned the daily courses to the priests and

the Levites, each to his own service,† 31and to bringing the wood offering and the firstfruits
at the appointed times.

  In goodness, remember me, O our God!
                                           T O BIT
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Chapters in Tobit
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Tobit Chapter 1
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Tobit Chapter 5
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Tobit Chapter 6
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Tobit Chapter 8
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Tobit Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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Verses in Tobit Chapter 12
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Tobit Chapter 13
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Tobit Chapter 14
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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                                                            The Book of Tobit

     Author  —Unknown

     Date   —Between the fourth and second centuries BC

     Major Themes      —The Book of Tobit is a love story. A father sends his only son into the
  world so that he may find a bride, save her, and bring her back rejoicing to his parents.
  The same story is told by the Lord in John 3:16.

  From the beginning, God has been working in history to bring man out of the darkness of
sin and death and into the glorious light of Christ. This is the story of salvation, and the Book
of Tobit is an icon of that story. Within Tobit's narrative lies a shadowy outline of God
working in history from the beginning to the end of the age, as He makes preparation for the
uniting of man and all creation to God in Christ.

     Background     —The story of Tobit is set against the backdrop of the Assyrian exile in
  Nineveh. Family tragedy, hope, and divine intervention are interwoven to communicate
  the presence of God's providence.

 Outline

   I. Tobit's Life before the Exile, His Early Day s in Ninev eh (1 :1 –2 2 )

  II. Tobit's Charity , His Blindness, and His Pray er for Help (2 :1 –3 :6 )

  III. Tobiah's Quest and Marriage (3 :7 –9 :6 )

         A. Sarah's predicam ent and pray er (3 :7 –1 7 )

          B. Tobit sends Tobiah on his quest with Raphael in disguise (4 :1 –5:2 3 )

          C. Tobit m arries Sarah and breaks the curse (6 :1 –9 :6 )

 IV. Tobiah's Return and Conclusion (1 0:1 –1 4 :1 5)

         A. Tobiah returns and heals his father (1 0:1 –1 1 :1 9 )

          B. Raphael rev eals his identity (1 2 :1 –2 2 )

          C. Tobit praises God (1 3 :1 –1 4 :1 )

         D. Final Day s of Tobit (1 4 :2 –1 5)



                                       Tobit's Early Years in Israel and Nineveh
1 This is the book of the words of Tobit, the son of Tobiel, the son of Hananiel, the son of
  Aduel, the son of Gabael, of the seed of Asiel, from the tribe of Naphtali.† 2He was led
captive out of Thisbe in the days of Shalmaneser, king of the Assyrians. Thisbe is south of
Kedesh Naphtali, in Galilee above Asher.†

  3I, Tobit, walked in the paths of truth and righteousness all the days of my life. I did much
almsgiving to my brethren and to the people who journeyed with me as exiles to Nineveh, in
the country of the Assyrians.† 4In my young days, when I was in my own country, the land of
Israel, the entire tribe of my father Naphtali turned away from the house of Jerusalem, which
was chosen from all the tribes of Israel, to sacrifice for all the tribes. This temple, the
habitation of the Most High God, was sanctified and built for all generations forever.

  5Now all the tribes that joined in the revolt sacrificed the heifer to Baal. The house of

Naphtali, the tribe of my father, also revolted. 6But I alone traveled frequently to Jerusalem
for the feast days, as it is written for all of Israel in an everlasting ordinance. I would carry the
firstfruits and the tithes of my harvest and the first-shearing.† 7These I would give to the
priests, the sons of Aaron, at the altar. I would offer the tenth of all the harvest to the sons of
Levi who served at Jerusalem. I would also sell off the second tenth and go and spend it at
Jerusalem each year. 8The third tenth I would give to whom it was fitting, as Deborah the
mother of my father commanded me, for I was left an orphan by my father. 9When I became
a man, I took Anna for a wife from my own kindred. With her I became the father of Tobias.†

  10When I was taken captive to Nineveh, all my brothers and those from my race ate from

the bread of the Gentiles.† 11But I protected myself by not eating it. 12For I remembered God
with all my soul. 13So the Most High gave me grace and comeliness before Shalmaneser, and
I became his purchasing agent. 14I would go into Media. And one time in Rages of Media, I
entrusted to Gabael, the brother of Gabrias, ten talents of silver.†

  15When Shalmaneser died and his son Sennacherib reigned in his place, the roads were

unstable and I could no longer travel to Media. 16In the days of Shalmaneser, I did much
almsgiving to my brothers. 17I would give my bread to the hungry and my clothing to the
naked. If I saw anyone of my people dead, cast outside the wall of Nineveh, I would bury
him.† 18If King Sennacherib put someone to death when he came trying to escape from
Judea, I buried them secretly. For in his anger, he put many to death, and the bodies were
sought by the king; but they were not found. 19But one of the men of Nineveh went and
made known to the king concerning my burying them. So I hid, and when I knew I was being
sought to be put to death I was frightened and ran away. 20All of my possessions were seized
and I had nothing left, except Anna my wife and Tobias my son.

  21But not even fifty days passed before two of King Sennacherib's sons had killed him and
escaped into the mountains of Ararat. Thus Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place. He
appointed Ahikar, the son of my brother Anael, to be over all the accounts of his kingdom and
over the entire government. 22Ahikar then entreated on my behalf, so I came to Nineveh.
Now Ahikar was the wine-pourer, the keeper of the signet ring, the administrator and the
accountant. Esarhaddon appointed him second to himself, and he was my nephew.†

                                       The Charitable Tobit Becomes Blind


2 When  I arrived at my house, my wife Anna and my son Tobias were given back to me. It
  was the Feast of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven weeks. A good dinner was
prepared for me, so I sat down at the table to eat.† 2When I saw the abundance of meat, I said
to my son, “Go and bring whomever you may find of our needy brethren who are mindful of
the Lord. Behold, I will wait for you.” 3But he came back and said, “O father, one of our
people was strangled and thrown into the marketplace.” 4So before I even tasted anything, I
jumped up and carried the corpse into a room until sunset. 5Then I returned, bathed myself,
and ate my bread in sorrow. 6Then I remembered the prophecy of Amos, how he said,

    “Your feasts will be turned into m ourning,

    And all y our gladness into a song of grief.”


  So I wept.† 7When the sun went down, I departed, and after digging a grave, I buried him.
8My neighbors laughed at me and said, “He is no longer afraid to be put to death for doing
such a thing. He ran away before, and now, behold, he is burying the dead again.”

  9On the same night that I buried him, I returned home. But since I was defiled, I slept by

the wall of the courtyard with my face uncovered. 10However, I did not see the sparrows on
the wall, for while my eyes were open the sparrows discharged their droppings into my eyes,
and they became white films in my eyes. I went to physicians, but they could not help me.
Then Ahikar supported me until he left for Elymais.
  11Then my wife Anna worked for hire at what women do.† 12She would send her work to
the owners and they would pay her. On one occasion they paid her wages and also gave her a
small goat. 13But when she returned to me, it began to bleat. So I said to her, “Where did this
goat come from? Is it not stolen? Return it to the owners, for it is unlawful to eat what is
stolen.” 14But she replied, “It was given to me as a gift. It was in addition to my wages.” But I
did not believe her, telling her to return it to its owners. I blushed in embarrassment for her
sake. So she answered and said to me, “Are your acts of charity and righteous deeds lawful?
Behold, you are a know-it-all!”†

                                         Tobit's Prayer


3 Then I wept in my sorrow, and with pain I prayed, saying:
  2“O Lord, You are righteous. So too are all Your works. All Your ways are mercy and truth.

Your judgments are true and just forever.† 3Remember me and look upon me with favor. Do
not punish me for my sins and my ignorance, nor those sins of my fathers which they
committed against You. 4Because they disobeyed Your commands, so You gave us as spoil,
captivity and death. You made us a byword of disgrace among all the nations in which we
were scattered. 5Now Your judgments concerning my sins are many and they are true,
because I did them, and so did my fathers. For we did not keep Your commandments. Indeed
we did not walk in truth before You. 6Now do with me as is best before You. Command that
my spirit be taken up, so I may be released and become soil, since it is better for me to die
than to live. For I have heard false insults, and there is much sorrow within me. Command
that I be freed from distress to now enter into the eternal place. Do not turn Your face away
from me.”†

  7On the same day, in Ecbatana of Media, Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, happened to be

insulted by her father's maids.† 8She was married to seven husbands, but before they could
be with her as a wife, Asmodeus, the evil demon, killed them. So they said to her, “Do you not
recollect that you strangled these husbands? You have already had seven husbands, but you
received no profit from any of them.† 9Therefore, why punish us? If they are dead, go with
them. May we never see a son or daughter of yours.”

  10When she heard this, she was so distressed that she considered hanging herself. But she
said, “I am the only one of my father. If I do this, it will be a disgrace to him, and I will bring
down his old age with sorrow into Hades.” 11So she prayed by her window and said:

                                        Sarah's Prayer

 “Blessed are You, O Lord my God. Blessed is Your holy and precious name unto the ages.
May all Your works bless You forever.† 12Now, O Lord, I offer myself completely to You.
13Command that I be released from the land, that I may not hear such disgrace any more.
14O Lord, You know that I am innocent of any sin with a man. 15I have not defiled my name
nor the name of my father in the land of my captivity. I am my father's only offspring. He has
no other child who will be his heir. Neither does he have a brother close at hand, nor an
adopted son that I might keep myself as a wife to him. Seven of my husbands have already
perished. What should I live for? But if it does not seem good to You to kill me, command
that I be looked upon with favor, and that mercy be shown to me, so I may no longer hear
disgrace.”

  16The prayer of both was heard in the presence of the great glory of Raphael,† 17and he was
sent to heal the two of them: to remove the white films from Tobit; to give Sarah of Raguel to
Tobias the son of Tobit as a wife; and to bind Asmodeus the evil demon, for it fell upon
Tobias to inherit her. At that same time Tobit returned and entered his house, and Sarah of
Raguel came down from her upstairs room.

                                  Tobit Instructs Tobias


4 On that day Tobit remembered the silver he had entrusted to Gabael at Rages of Media.
  2So he said to himself, “I requested death for myself. Why do I not call my son Tobias to
make this known to him before I die?”

  3So he summoned him and said, “My son, if I die, bury me, but do not disregard your
mother. Honor her all the days of your life. Do what is pleasing to her, but do not grieve her.
4Remember, my son, that she experienced many dangers for you while you were in the

womb. When she dies, bury her beside me in the same grave. 5My son, remember the Lord
our God all your days, and do not desire to sin or to disobey His commandments. Do
righteousness all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of wrongdoing.† 6For if
you walk in the truth, you will be successful in your works. 7Do almsgiving from your
possessions to all who do righteousness. When you do almsgiving, do not let your eye be
envious. Do not turn your face away from any poor man, so the face of God will not be turned
away from you.† 8Do almsgiving based on the quantity of your possessions. If you possess
only a few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. 9You are storing up a good
treasure for yourself in the day of necessity. 10For almsgiving delivers us from death and
prevents us from entering into the darkness. 11Indeed, almsgiving is a good gift for all who do
it before the Most High.

  12“My son, guard yourself from all fornication, and above all take a wife from among the
seed of your fathers. Do not take a foreign woman who is not from the tribe of your father,
for we are sons of the prophets. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are our fathers from of old.
Remember, my son, that all these took wives from among their brothers and were blessed in
their children. Their seed will inherit the land.† 13So now, my son, love your brothers and do
not be arrogant in your heart against your brothers, the sons and daughters of your people.
Take a wife for yourself from them, for arrogance brings destruction and great disorder, and
in such worthlessness there is loss and great defect. For worthlessness is the mother of
famine.

  14“Do not keep overnight the wages of any man who works for you, but pay him
immediately. If you serve God, He will pay you. Give heed to yourself, my son, in all your
works, and be disciplined in all your conduct. 15What you yourself hate, do not do to anyone.
Do not drink wine unto a state of drunkenness, and do not let drunkenness become your
traveling companion. 16From your bread, give to him who is hungry, and from your clothing,
give to the naked. If you have more than you need, do almsgiving, and do not let your eye
envy the almsgiving when you do it. 17Spread out your bread on the grave of the righteous,
but do not give it to sinners.

  18“Seek counsel from every sensible man, and do not treat any useful advice with

contempt. 19At every opportunity bless the Lord God, but more than this ask that your ways
may become straight, and that all your paths and purposes may prosper. For not every nation
has understanding. But the Lord Himself gives all that is good, and as He desires He humbles
whomever He will. Now my son, let none of my commandments be removed from your heart.

  20“Now let me point out to you the ten talents of silver I entrusted to Gabael the son of

Gabrias, in Rages of Media.† 21Do not fear, my son, that we have become poor. For you are
very rich if you fear God. Stay away from every sin, and do what is pleasing before Him.”
                                  Tobias Obeys His Father


5 Tobias answered him and said, “O father, I will do everything you have commanded me.
  2But how will I be able to obtain the silver, for I do not know him?” 3Then he gave him
the record of the debt and said to him, “Find for yourself a man who will travel with you, and
I will pay him his wages as long as I remain alive. Now go and obtain the silver.”†

  4Then Tobias went to look for a man and found Raphael, who was an angel. But he did not

know it. 5So Tobias said to him, “Can you go with me to Rages of Media? Are you acquainted
with those places?” 6The angel said to him, “I will go with you. I am acquainted with the
roadways and I have lodged with our brother Gabael.” 7Tobias said to him, “Wait for me and I
will tell my father.” 8He said to him, “Do so, but do not delay.”

  9So he went to his father and said, “Behold, I have found someone who will go with me.”
But his father said, “Call him to me, that I may know what tribe he belongs to, and if he is
trustworthy enough to go with you.” 10So he invited him, and Raphael came in. They greeted
one another cordially.

  11Tobit then said to him, “Brother, to what tribe and kindred do you belong?” 12Raphael
responded, “Do you seek a tribe and a family, or a hired man to go with your son?” Tobit
replied, “Brother, I wish to know your people and your name.” 13Then he said, “I am Azarias,
the son of Ananias the Great, one of your relatives.” 14So Tobit said to him, “You are most
welcome, my brother. Do be not angry with me for seeking to learn of your tribe and your
family. As it turns out, you are a brother of mine from a good and upright family. For I knew
Ananias and Jonathan, the sons of Shemiah the Great, since we would journey in common to
Jerusalem to worship and to offer the firstborn and the tenth of our harvest. They were not
led astray in the deception of our brothers. My brother, you are from a good root.

  15“But tell me, what shall I give you as wages? A drachma a day and expenses for you and

my son? 16I will even add more to your pay, if you both return in good health.” 17Thus they
were well pleased. Then he said to Tobias, “Prepare for the journey, and may it be
prosperous.” So his son prepared the things for the journey. Then his father said to him, “Go
with this man, and may the God who dwells in heaven prosper your journey. May His angel
journey with you.” They both departed, and the young man's dog went with them.†
  18But Anna his mother wept and said to Tobit, “Why have you sent our son away, or is he

not the staff of our hands when he goes in and out before us? 19Do not attain silver upon
silver, but may it be dirt compared to our son. 20For as he was given to us to live by the Lord,
this is sufficient for our existence.” 21Tobit said to her, “My sister, do not be concerned. He
shall return in good health, and your eyes will see him. 22For a good angel will go with him,
and his journey shall be prosperous. He will return in good health.” 23So she ceased weeping.

                                   The Journey to Rages

    They went on the journey and came to the Tigris River. So they spent the evening there.†
6   2The young man went down to wash himself, and a fish jumped up from the river and

was determined to swallow the young man. 3The angel said to him, “Take hold of the fish.” So
the young man grabbed the fish and put it on the bank. 4Then the angel said to him, “Cut
open the fish. Take the heart, the liver, and the gall and put them in a safe place.” 5The young
man did as the angel commanded him. Then they cooked the fish and ate it.

  6After this, they traveled together until they came near to Ecbatana. 7Then the young man
said to the angel, “Brother Azarias, what is the purpose of the liver, the heart, and the gall of
the fish?” 8He replied, “If a demon or an evil spirit troubles anyone, the heart and the liver
must be used to make smoke before the man or woman, and that person will never be
troubled again. 9As for the gall, use it to anoint a man who has white films on his eyes, and
he will be healed.”

  10As they came near Rages, 11the angel said to the young man, “Brother, we will spend the
night with Raguel. He is your relative and with him is his only child, a daughter named Sarah.
12I will speak for her that she might be given to you as a wife, because her inheritance
belongs to you; for you alone are from her people. The girl is beautiful and she is sensible.

  13“So now listen to me, for I will speak to her father. When we return from Rages, we will
celebrate the wedding. For I know that Raguel cannot give her to any other man according to
the rule of Moses, or he will be subject to death. Thus it is proper that you receive the
inheritance rather than another man.”†

  14Then the young man said to the angel, “Brother Azarias, I have heard the girl was given

seven husbands, and they all perished in the bridal chamber.† 15Now I am the only son of my
father, and I fear for myself lest, entering the bridal chamber, I may die even as those before
me. For a demon loves her, and he does not harm anyone except those who approach her.
Now I fear for myself lest I die and bring the life of my father and mother down into their
tomb with grief and sorrow upon me. They have no other son who will bury them.”

  16But the angel said to him, “Do you not remember the words your father commanded you,
to take a wife for yourself from among your people? Now listen to me, brother, for she will be
a wife to you. As for the demon, have no concern, for this night she will be given to you as a
wife.† 17If you enter the bridal chamber, you will take with you ashes of incense, and lay
some of it on the heart and liver of the fish. Then you will make smoke, and the demon will
smell it and flee and never return. 18When you approach her, both of you will rise up and cry
out to the merciful God. He will save you and be merciful. Do not fear for yourself, for she
has been prepared for you from of old. You will save her and she will go with you. I believe
that you will have children by her.”

  19As Tobias heard these words, he loved her and his soul was very much united to her.

                                  At the House of Raguel


7 Then they went to Ecbatana and came to the house of Raguel. Sarah went ahead to meet
  them, and after they greeted one another, she escorted them into the house. 2Raguel said
to Edna his wife, “How the young man resembles my cousin Tobit!” 3Then Raguel asked
them, “Where are you from, brothers?” They answered, “We are from the sons of Naphtali
who are captives in Nineveh.”† 4Then he said to them, “Do you know Tobit our brother?”
They responded, “We know him.” 5Then he asked, “Is he in good health?” They answered,
“He is alive and in good health.” Tobias then added, “He is my father.”

  6Raguel jumped up and kissed him and wept. He blessed him and said to him, “You are the
son of a good and noble man!” But when he heard that Tobit had lost his eyesight, he was
grieved and wept. 7Edna his wife and Sarah his daughter also wept, and they received them
eagerly. 8And they killed a ram from the sheep and set many dishes before them.

   9Then Tobias said to Raphael, “Brother Azarias, speak about what you said on the way, and

let the matter be completed.” 10So he told Raguel what he said, and Raguel said to Tobias,
“Eat, drink, and be glad, for it is fitting for you to marry my child. However, I must tell you
the truth.† 11I gave my daughter to seven men, and when they went in to her, they died
during the night. But for now, be glad!” 12But Tobias said, “I will not eat anything until after
you establish an agreement with me.” So Raguel said, “Receive her according to the decree,
for you are her relative and she is yours. The merciful God will prosper you in what is good.”

                                Tobias and Sarah Are Wed

  13So he called Sarah his daughter, and taking her by the hand, he gave her to be a wife for
Tobias. Then he said, “Behold, receive her according to the decree of Moses, and bring her
before your father.” He then blessed them 14and summoned his wife Edna. She took a scroll
and wrote out the agreement. They sealed it, and then they began to eat.

  15After this, Raguel called his wife Edna and said to her, “Sister, prepare the other room

and lead her into it.” 16She did as he said and led her there. Then Sarah wept, but Edna
understood the tears of her daughter and said to her, 17“Be courageous, my child. May the
Lord of heaven and earth give you grace instead of this sorrow of yours. Be courageous, my
daughter.”

   When they finished dining, they led Tobias to her. 2As he went, he remembered the
8 words of Raphael, and put the heart and the liver of the fish upon the embers of the
incense and made smoke.† 3When the demon smelled the fragrant scent, he fled to the upper
parts of Egypt, and there the angel bound him. 4While both were enclosed in the room,
Tobias rose up from the bed and said, “Arise, sister, and let us pray that the Lord will have
mercy upon us.” 5So Tobias began to pray, saying:

  “Blessed are You, O God of our fathers, and blessed is Your holy and glorious name unto
the ages. The heavens and all Your creatures bless You.† 6You made Adam and gave him Eve
as a helper, his wife as a support. From them the seed of mankind came to be. You said, ‘It is
not good for the man to be alone. Let Us make a helper for him like himself.’† 7O Lord, I now
take this my sister as my wife, not on account of fornication, but in truth. Command that she
and I may have mercy, and in this grow old together.”†

  8And with him she said, “Amen.” 9Then both fell asleep for the night.

  10But Raguel rose up and went outside and dug a grave, saying, “He, too, may have died.”†
11Raguel then went back into his house 12and said to his wife Edna, “Send one of the maids
and let her see if indeed Tobias is alive. If he is not, let us bury him that no one may know.”
13So the maid went to the door, and when she opened it she found both of them sleeping.
14She came out and told the two of them that he was alive.

  15Then Raguel blessed God, saying:

  “Blessed are You, the God, with every pure and holy blessing. Your holy ones and all Your
creatures bless You. All Your angels and Your chosen ones bless You unto all the ages.†
16Blessed are You, for You have made me glad, and it did not turn out for me as I suspected.

Rather, You did with us according to Your abundant mercy. 17Blessed are You, for You had
mercy on our two only children. O Lord, show them mercy, and complete their life in health
and with gladness and mercy.”

  18Then he ordered his household servants to fill in the grave.

  19After this he provided a wedding feast for them lasting fourteen days.† 20Before the time
of the wedding feast was over, Raguel swore an oath and said to Tobias, “You are not to leave
from here unless the two of you stay the fourteen days of the wedding feast. 21At that time
take half of my belongings and go in good health to your father. The remainder will be yours
when I and my wife die.”

                                Gabael Returns the Silver

   Then Tobias called Raphael and said to him,† 2“Brother Azarias, take a servant and two
9 camels with you and journey to Rages of Media. Find Gabael and bring the silver back to
me and bring him to the wedding feast. 3For Raguel has sworn an oath for me not to go away.
4But my father is counting the days, and if I delay much longer he will be very distressed.”
5Then Raphael went and spent the night with Gabael, and gave him the handwritten receipt.

So Gabael brought the small sealed bags and gave them to him. 6They both rose early in the
morning and went to the wedding feast. Then Tobias blessed his wife.

                                      Anna's Distress


10 Tobit his father was counting each day. But when the days needed to complete the
   journey ended and they had not returned,† 2he asked, “Has he perhaps been
dishonored? Or has Gabael died and no one gave him the silver?” 3So he was very distressed.
4Then his wife told him, “The young man has perished. That is why he is delayed.” Then she

began to weep for him and said, 5“Nothing matters to me, my child, the light of my eyes, for I
permitted you to go.” 6So Tobit said to her, “Be silent and have no more thoughts about it. He
is in good health.”

  7She replied to him, “You be quiet. Do not deceive me. My child has perished.” Then
throughout the day she went outside to the road by which he departed, and during the day
she did not eat bread. At night she did not cease lamenting for her son Tobias until the
fourteen days of the wedding feast were over, the days Raguel swore him to celebrate there.

                              The Bride and Groom Depart

  8Then Tobias said to Raguel, “Send me back, for my father and my mother no longer hope

they will see me.”† 9But his father-in-law said to him, “Stay with me, and I will send
messengers to your father. They will make clear to him how you are doing.” But Tobias said,
“No indeed. On the contrary, send me back to my father.”

  10Then Raguel arose and gave Sarah his wife to him, and half of his belongings in servants,

cattle, and silver. 11Then he blessed them and sent them on their way, saying, “May the God
of heaven prosper you, my children, before the day I die.” 12To his daughter he said, “Honor
your husband's mother and father, for they are now your parents. Let me hear a good report
of you,” and he kissed her. 13Then Edna said to Tobias, “My beloved brother, may the Lord of
heaven bring you back and grant me to see your children from my daughter Sarah, that I may
rejoice before the Lord. Behold, I am entrusting my daughter to your care. Do not grieve
her.”† 14With this, Tobias went on his way blessing God that He had prospered his journey.
Then he blessed Raguel and Edna his wife.

                               Tobit's Blindness Is Healed

                                                           said to Tobias,† 2“My brother,
11 He traveled until they approached Nineveh. Here Raphael
                                                    3
     are you not aware of how you left your father? Let us run ahead of your wife and
prepare the house. 4Take the gall of the fish in your hand.” So they proceeded, and the dog
followed behind them.

  5Meanwhile Anna sat gazing upon the road for her boy. 6She perceived that he was coming
and said to the father, “Behold, your son is coming, and the man traveling with him!”

  7Raphael said, “I know that the eyes of your father will open. 8Rub the gall on his eyes.
When the eyes sting, he will rub them and cause the white film to fall away. He will then see
you.”

  9Then Anna ran up to her son and fell upon his neck and said to him, “I have seen you, my

child. From this day, I am now ready to die!” So they both wept. 10Then Tobit came out of the
door. He stumbled, but his son ran up to him. 11He took hold of his father and dabbed the
gall on the eyes of his father, saying, “Father, take courage!”† 12Then as his eyes stung, he
rubbed them, and the white films peeled off from the corners of his eyes. 13When he saw his
son, he fell upon his neck, weeping, and said, 14“Blessed are You, O God, and blessed is Your
name unto the ages. Blessed are all Your holy angels, for You scourged me but had mercy on
me. Behold, I see Tobias my son.” 15His son went in rejoicing and told his father the great
things that had happened to him in Media.

  16Then Tobit rejoiced and blessed God as he went to meet his daughter-in-law at the gate
of Nineveh. But those who saw him as he walked along were amazed that he could see. Tobit
gave thanks before them, because God had mercy on him.† 17Then as Tobit drew near to
meet Sarah, his daughter-in-law, he blessed her, saying, “May you be in good health, my
daughter! Blessed is God who brought you to us, and blessed are your father and your
mother.”

  18So there was rejoicing among all his brethren in Nineveh. 19Even Ahikar and his nephew
Nadab came, for the wedding feast for Tobias was kept with gladness for seven days.

                              Raphael Reveals His Identity


12 Tobit summoned his son Tobias and said to him, “My son, see to the wages of the man
   who went with you, and we must add to them.”† 2He replied to him, “My father, it is no
harm for me to give him half of what I brought. 3For he brought me safely to you, healed my
wife, and brought me the silver. Likewise he healed you.” 4The elderly man replied, “He more
than earned it.” 5So he called the angel and said to him, “Take half of everything you
brought.”

  6Then Raphael secretly called the two of them, and said to them, “Bless God and give Him
thanks. Ascribe greatness to Him and give thanks in the presence of all the living for what He
has done for you. It is good to bless God and to exalt His name. Make known the words of
God's works honorably and do not delay to give thanks to Him. 7It is noble to keep hidden the
secret of a king, but glorious to unveil the works of God. Do good, and evil will not find you.
8Prayer is good with fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness. A few prayers with righteousness

are better than many with wrongdoing. It is better to do almsgiving than to lay up gold.† 9For
almsgiving rescues one from death, and it will wash away every sin. Those who do almsgiving
and are righteous will be full of life. 10But those who sin are enemies of their own life.

  11“I will not hide anything from you. Indeed, I did say that it is good to conceal the secret of

a king, but to reveal gloriously the works of God. 12Now when you and your daughter-in-law
Sarah prayed, I brought the remembrance of your prayer before the Holy One. When you also
buried the dead, I was likewise present with you.† 13Then too, when you did not hesitate to
stand up and leave your dinner so as to depart and care for the dead, your doing what is good
did not escape me; but I was with you. 14Now God sent me to heal you and Sarah your
daughter-in-law. 15I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who report the prayers of the
saints and who enter before the glory of the Holy One.”†

  16The two of them were troubled and fell upon their faces, for they were afraid. 17But he

said to them, “Do not be afraid, for peace shall be with you. But bless God forever. 18For I did
not come of my own good will, but rather by the will of our God. Therefore bless Him forever.
19All these days I appeared to you I did not eat or drink; but you were seeing a vision. 20Now
give thanks to God, because I am ascending to Him who sent me. Write in a book everything
that was accomplished.”†

  21Then they stood up, but no longer saw him. 22They acknowledged the great and
wondrous works of God, and how the angel of the Lord had appeared to them.

                                    Tobit Exalts the Lord

        Then Tobit with exceeding joy wrote a prayer, saying:†
13
    2
        “Blessed is God

    Who liv es unto the ages,

    And blessed is His kingdom ,
For He scourges, and is m erciful;

He brings down into Hades,

And leads up.

There is no one who will escape His hand. †

3
    Giv e thanks to Him before the nations,

O children of Israel,

For He scattered us am ong them . †

4
     Make known His greatness there;

Exalt Him in the presence of all the liv ing,

For He is our Lord and God;

He is our Father unto all the ages.

5
    He will scourge us for our wrongdoings,

But He will again hav e m ercy

And gather us from all the nations,

Wherev er y ou were dispersed am ong them .

6
     If y ou return to Him with all y our heart

And with all y our soul,

To do the truth before Him ,

Then He will turn to y ou

And not hide His presence from y ou. †

7
    Behold for y ourself what He will do for y ou,

And giv e thanks to Him fully with the organ of speech.

Bless the Lord of righteousness,

And exalt the King of the ages.

8
     In the land of m y captiv ity , I giv e thanks to Him ,

And m ake known His m ight and m ajesty to a nation of sinners.

Be conv erted, y ou sinners,

And do righteousness before Him .

Who knows if He will desire y ou

And hav e m ercy on y ou?

9
     I exalt m y God,

And m y soul exalts the King of heav en

And will rejoice exceedingly in His m ajesty .

10
     Let all speak of His m ajesty

And giv e thanks to Him in Jerusalem .
    O Jerusalem , the holy city ,

    He will scourge y ou for the deeds of y our sons,

    But He will again show m ercy to the sons of the righteous.

    11
         Giv e thanks to the Lord with goodness

    And bless the King of the ages,

    That His tabernacle m ay be restored again to y ou in joy . †

    12
         May He rejoice in y ou, the captiv es,

    And m ay He lov e those who are distressed am ong y ou

    Unto all generations forev er.

    13
         Many Gentiles will com e from afar

    To the nam e of the Lord God,

    Bearing gifts in their hands

    And offerings to the King of heav en.

    Generations of generations will offer You joy ful worship. †

    14
         Cursed are all who hate You;

    Blessed are all who lov e You forev er.

    15
         Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for the children of the righteous,

    For they will be gathered together

    And will bless the Lord of the righteous.

    Blessed are those who lov e You.

    They will rejoice in Your peace.

    16
         Blessed are the m any who griev ed ov er all Your scourges,

    For they will rejoice when they see all Your glory

    And will rejoice forev er.

    Let m y soul bless God the great King.

    17
         For Jerusalem will be built with sapphire and em erald,

    And her walls with precious stones,

    And her towers and battlem ents with pure gold.

    The streets of Jerusalem will be pav ed

    With bery l, ony x, and stones from Ophir. †

    18
         All her streets will proclaim , ‘Alleluia!’

    And will giv e praise, say ing,

    ‘Blessed is God, who exalted y ou unto all the ages.’”



14 Then Tobit ceased giving thanks.
                                     Tobit's Final Words

  2He was fifty-eight years old when he lost his sight, and eight years later he regained it.

Tobit did almsgiving, and continued to fear the Lord God, and gave thanks to Him. 3He grew
very old, and called his son and his son's sons, and said, “My son, take your sons. Behold, I
have grown old, and I am departing from this life. 4Depart to Media, my son, for I trust all the
words Jonah the prophet spoke concerning Nineveh, that it will be overthrown. But in Media
there will be more peace for a time. For our brethren in the land will be dispersed in the earth
from the good land. Jerusalem shall be desolate, and the house of God therein will be burned
up. It shall be desolate for a time.†

  5“But God will again have mercy on them, and He will return them to the land. They will
build the house, but not as it was before, until the times of the age are fulfilled. After this,
they will return from the captivity and build Jerusalem honorably. The house of God within
her will be built as a glorious building for every generation forever, as the prophets said
concerning her.† 6All the Gentiles shall return to truly fear the Lord God. They shall bury
their idols in the earth, and all the Gentiles will bless the Lord.† 7His people will offer thanks
to God, and the Lord will exalt His people. All who love the Lord God in truth and
righteousness will rejoice. They will show mercy to our brethren.

  8“So now, my son, depart from Nineveh, since what the prophet Jonah said will doubtless

come to pass. 9But keep the law and the ordinances. Be merciful and righteous, that it may be
well with you. Bury me decently and your mother with me, but lodge no longer in Nineveh.
10My son, observe what Aman did to Ahikar who reared him, how he led him from light into
darkness, and how greatly he repaid him. Indeed Ahikar was saved, but as for that man, he
was repaid with retribution and descended into the darkness. Manasseh did almsgiving and
was saved from the trap of death that was set for him. But Aman fell into the trap and
perished.† 11Now then, my children, observe what almsgiving does, and how righteousness
delivers us.”

   After he said these things, his soul departed as he lay on his bed. He was one hundred and
fifty-eight years old, and Tobias buried him gloriously.† 12When Anna died, he buried her
with his father. Then Tobias departed with his wife and his children to Ecbatana, to Raguel
his father-in-law. 13He grew old honorably and buried the parents of his wife most
respectfully. They inherited their estate and that of Tobit his father.
  14Tobias died at Ecbatana of Media when he was one hundred and twenty-seven years old.
15Before he died, he heard of the destruction of Nineveh, taken by Nebuchadnezzar and
Ahasuerus. Thus before his death he rejoiced over Nineveh.
                                           J UDIT H
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Chapters in Judith
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Judith Chapter 1
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Judith Chapter 2
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Judith Chapter 3
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Verses in Judith Chapter 4
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Judith Chapter 5
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Judith Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Judith Chapter 7
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in Judith Chapter 8
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in Judith Chapter 9
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11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Judith Chapter 10
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Judith Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Judith Chapter 12
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Judith Chapter 13
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Judith Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in Judith Chapter 15
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11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Judith Chapter 16
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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                                                           The Book of Judith

    Author   —The identity of the author is not known.

    Date   —Although the story occurs during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar and the Assyrian
  domination of the Near East, the ideas and language place it somewhere in the second
  century BC. The work was probably composed sometime during the reign of John
  Hyrcanus I (135–105 BC), high priest and king of Israel.

    Major Theme      —God protects His people from their enemies. The Lord God works in
  mysterious ways throughout history through the agency of human beings, both evil and
  good, powerful and weak. Judith's lesson to us is that our worship of God, trust in Him,
  and obedience to His commandments result in divine protection and salvation from our
  enemies, no matter how powerful those enemies seem to be in this world.

    Background     —The heroine of this story is Judith, meaning Jewess, the beautiful widow of
  a wealthy farmer, pious and of good reputation among her countrymen. She single-
  handedly takes on Holofernes, the enemy of Israel, a general in Nebuchadnezzar's army.

 Outline

  I. The Conquests of the Assy rian Arm ies (1 :1 –7 :3 2 )

  II. Judith Sav es Israel from the Assy rian Inv asion (8:1 –1 6 :2 5)

         A. Judith's fam ily inform ation and her husband's untim ely death (8:1 –8)

         B. Judith and the elders of Bethulia (8:9 –3 6 )

         C. The pray er of Judith (9 :1 –1 4 )

         D. Judith leads Israel to v ictory ov er the Assy rians (1 0:1 –1 5:1 1 )

         E. Judith and Israel giv e thanks to God in trium phant praise (1 5:1 2 –1 6 :2 0)

         F. Judith's old age and death (1 6 :2 1 –2 5)



                                             King Nebuchadnezzar's Victories


1 ItNineveh.
      was the twelfth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, who reigned in the great city of
             In those days Arphaxad, who reigned over the Medes in Ecbatana,† 2built a wall
around Ecbatana of hewn stones which were three cubits wide and six cubits long. He made
the wall seventy cubits high and fifty cubits wide.† 3At its gates he set its towers, a hundred
cubits high and sixty cubits wide at their foundations. 4And he made its gates raised to
seventy cubits high and forty cubits wide, for the marching out of his mighty armies and his
infantry in battle array. 5In those days King Nebuchadnezzar waged war against King
Arphaxad in the great plain, the plain in the region of Ragau. 6And all those who inhabited
the hill country and all those who lived along the Euphrates, the Tigris, and the Hydaspes
rallied to him, including those from the plain of Arioch, king of the Elamites. Many nations of
the sons of Chaldea gathered in battle array.†

  7Then Nebuchadnezzar, the Assyrian king, sent envoys to all those dwelling in Persia, to all
living in the west, and to those who dwelled in Cilicia, Damascus, Lebanon, and Antilebanon,
and to all those who lived on the seacoast, 8and those among the nations of Carmel and
Gilead, and Upper Galilee and the great plain of Esdraelon, 9and to all those in Samaria and
its cities, and beyond the Jordan as far as Jerusalem, Bethany, Chelous and Kadesh and the
river of Egypt, and to Tahpanhes and Rameses and the whole land of Goshen, 10even beyond
Tanis and Memphis and to all the inhabitants of Egypt as far as the boundaries of Ethiopia.†
11But all who lived in that area scorned the summons of Nebuchadnezzar, king of the
Assyrians, and refused to join with him in the war because they were not afraid of him. They
regarded him as but one man, and they sent his messengers away empty-handed and
dishonored.†

                                 The Defeat of Arphaxad

  12Then Nebuchadnezzar was extremely angry with all that land, and swore by his throne
and his kingdom that he would take vengeance on all the regions of Cilicia and Damascus and
Syria; that he would slay with the sword all the inhabitants of the land of Moab, and the sons
of Ammon, and all Judea, and all those in Egypt as far as the borders of the two seas.† 13So in
his seventeenth year, he marched with his army against King Arphaxad and defeated him in
battle. He routed the whole army of Arphaxad and all his cavalry and all his chariots; 14he
ruled over his cities. Then he came to Ecbatana, and took over its towers and plundered its
marketplaces and put its adornments to shame. 15He captured Arphaxad in the mountains of
Ragau and ran him through with his spears, totally destroying him that day.† 16Then he
returned, he and all his sundry multitude of a great many warriors, and they rested there and
feasted sumptuously for one hundred twenty days.†
                         Nebuchadnezzar's Secret Plan for War


2 InNebuchadnezzar
      the eighteenth year, on the twenty-second day of the first month, in the house of
                   king of the Assyrians, it came about there was talk that it was time to
take vengeance on all the land, just as he had said.† 2So he summoned all his officers and all
his nobles, and he laid out verbally all the wickedness of the land. 3They determined to
destroy everyone who had not obeyed his summons.

  4When he finished his plan, Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians called Holofernes, the

chief captain of his army, second in command to him, and said to him, 5“Thus says the great
king, the lord of all the earth: Behold! You shall go out from my presence and take men
confident in their strength with you, a hundred twenty thousand foot soldiers and twelve
thousand cavalry.† 6March against all the land of the west, because they disobeyed my
commands. 7You shall order them to prepare the earth and water, for I will come out in
wrath, and I will cover the whole face of the land with the footprints of my army, and I will
give them over to my army as plunder.† 8Their wounded will fill the valleys, and their brooks
and rivers shall be overflowing with their dead.† 9I will lead them away as captives to the end
of the whole earth. 10And going out ahead of me, you shall seize all their territory. They will
surrender themselves to you, and you shall hold them for me until the day of their
punishment. 11Against the ones who refuse, let your eye not spare them, and give them over
to slaughter and plunder throughout all your territory. 12For as I live, and by the power of my
kingdom, what I have spoken I will do by my hand.† 13Take heed and do not transgress any of
the orders of your lord, but carry them out fully just as I have commanded you, and do it
without any delay.”

                          Holofernes’ March through the West

  14So Holofernes went out from the presence of his lord and called all the generals,

captains, and officers of the Assyrian army. 15And as his lord had commanded him to do, he
mobilized one hundred twenty thousand select men for the battle, together with twelve
thousand archers on horseback, 16and he set them in formation as any great army is
organized in time of war. 17He brought a great number of camels, donkeys, and mules to
transport their baggage; innumerable sheep, goats, and oxen for their food supply;† 18ample
provisions for every man, and a great quantity of gold and silver from the king's palace. 19He
marched out with his entire army to go in advance of Nebuchadnezzar the king to cover the
entire face of the land to the west with their chariots, cavalry, and their select infantry. 20And
along with them went a great mixed crowd, like a swarm of locusts, like the dust of the earth,
for the multitude could not be numbered.†

  21And they went out from Nineveh three days’ journey to the plain of Bectileth, and they

camped over against Bectileth, near the mountain to the left of Upper Cilicia. 22Then he took
his entire army—his infantry, the cavalry, and his chariots—and went from there into the hill
country. 23He ravaged Put and Lud, and he plundered all the Rassisites and the Ishmaelites
along the desert towards the south of the Chelleans. 24Then he followed the Euphrates and
passed through Mesopotamia, destroying all the fortified cities along the river Abron, until he
came to the sea.† 25He captured the region of Cilicia and killed everyone who resisted him,
and came as far as the southern borders of Japheth, opposite Arabia. 26He encircled all the
Midianites and torched their tents and plundered their sheepfolds.† 27Next he marched down
into the plain of Damascus at the time of the wheat harvest and burned all their fields,
destroying their flocks and herds. He sacked their cities, ravaged their lands, and struck down
all their youths with the edge of the sword.†

  28Thus fear and dread of him came upon all the inhabitants of the seacoast, at Sidon and
Tyre, and those living in Sur and Ocina, and all those living in Jamnia. Those residing in
Azotus and Ashkelon also greatly feared him.

       sent messengers to him to sue for peace, saying, 2“Behold! We the servants of
3 They
  Nebuchadnezzar the great king lie prostrate before you. Do to us as is pleasing in your
sight. 3Behold! All our dwellings, all our land, all our fields of wheat, our flocks and herds,
and all our tents are before you; do with them as you desire. 4Behold! Our cities also and
their inhabitants are your slaves; come and deal with them as is fitting in your sight.”

  5These men came to Holofernes and reported all these things to him. 6He went down to
the seacoast with his army and stationed garrisons over the fortified cities, and selected
chosen men from them as allies.† 7These people, and all their surrounding countryside,
received him with garlands and dancing and timbrels.† 8But he destroyed all their borders
and cut down their sacred groves, for he had been given orders to demolish all the gods of the
land, so all nations would worship Nebuchadnezzar only, and so all their tongues and tribes
would call upon him as god.† 9Then he came to Esdraelon, near Dothan, facing the great
ridge of Judea.† 10He camped between Geba and Scythopolis, and remained there for a
month to bring together all the supplies for his army.

                               Israel Prepares Its Defense


4 When the Israelites residing in Judea heard everything Holofernes, the commander of
  Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians, had done to the nations, and how he stripped and
demolished all their temples, 2they were greatly terrified at his presence. They were troubled
for Jerusalem and also for the temple of the Lord their God. 3For they had just recently come
back from exile, and all the people of Judea had only recently been regathered, and the holy
vessels, the altar, and the temple had been consecrated, having been profaned. 4So they sent
word into all the region of Samaria, and to Kona, Beth Horon, Belmen, and to Jericho and
Choba and Aesora, and to the valley of Salem.† 5Immediately they seized all the hilltops and
fortified the villages in them, and stored up provisions in preparation for war, having just
harvested their fields.

  6Joakim the high priest, who was in Jerusalem at that time, wrote to those dwelling in

Bethulia and Betomesthaim, which faces Esdraelon opposite the plain near Dothan.† 7He
ordered them to occupy the mountain passes, since Judea could be invaded through them.
They were easy to defend because the approach was narrow, with space for only two men at
the most to pass.

  8The Israelites did as instructed by Joakim the high priest and the council of all the people

of Israel, which met in Jerusalem. 9And all the men of Israel cried to God with great fervor
and humbled themselves in great somberness. 10They, their wives and children, their cattle,
and all the strangers, the hired servants and the purchased slaves, put sackcloth around their
waists. 11All the men of Israel and the women and the children living in Jerusalem prostrated
themselves before the temple, and put ashes on their heads and spread out their sackcloth
before the face of the Lord.† 12They also covered the altar with sackcloth, and cried out
fervently with one accord to the God of Israel that He would not allow their infants to be prey
and their wives to be seized; that the cities they inherited not be destroyed; that their
sanctuary not be desecrated and be a reproach to the gloating of the Gentiles.

  13The Lord heard their cry and looked down on their affliction, for the people were fasting
many days in all Judea and Jerusalem before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty. 14And
Joakim the high priest and all the priests who stood before the presence of the Lord and
served the Lord, having girded their waists with sackcloth, offered the continual whole burnt
offerings and the votive and the freewill offerings of the people.† 15With ashes on their
turbans, with all their strength they cried out to the Lord to look with favor upon all the
house of Israel.

                      Holofernes Hears of Israel's Preparations


5 Itprepared
      was told to Holofernes, the commander of the Assyrian army, that the Israelites were
             for war and had blocked the passes in the mountains, fortified all the hilltops,
and placed barricades in the plains.† 2He was very angry, and he called all the princes of
Moab and the captains of Ammon and all the governors of the seacoast together. 3He said to
them, “Tell me, sons of Canaan, who are these people who live in the hill country? What
cities do they inhabit? How large is their army? In what does their power and strength
consist? And who is the king who rules them and leads their army?† 4Why have they alone
refused to come and meet with me along with all those dwelling in the west?”

                            An Ammonite's History of Israel

  5Then Achior, the leader of the Ammonites, said to him, “Let my lord hear now the word
that comes from the mouth of your servant, and I will tell you the truth concerning this
people who dwell in this hill country near you; no falsehood will come out of the mouth of
your servant.† 6These people are descended from the Chaldeans.† 7They previously
sojourned in Mesopotamia because they did not wish to follow the gods of their fathers, who
were in Chaldea. 8For they had departed from the way of their ancestors and worshiped the
God of heaven, the God they had come to know. As a result, they cast them out from the
presence of their gods, and they fled to Mesopotamia and sojourned there for a long time.†
9Then their God commanded them to depart from the place of their sojourn and go to the
land of Canaan. They settled there and became very wealthy in gold, silver, and abundant
livestock. 10But when a famine spread through all of Canaan, they went down into Egypt and
sojourned there as long as there was food; and there they became a great multitude, so great
they could not be numbered.

  11“Then the king of Egypt rose against them and, taking advantage of them, forced them to
make bricks; he humbled them and made them slaves. 12So they cried out to their God, and
He struck the whole land of Egypt with deadly plagues. The Egyptians cast them out from
their presence. 13So God dried up the Red Sea before them. 14He led them by way of Sinai
and Kadesh-Barnea, and they drove out all those living in the desert. 15They settled in the
land of the Amorites, and by their strength they utterly destroyed all the residents of
Heshbon. And crossing over the River Jordan, they occupied all of the hill country. 16Then
they drove out the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Shechemites, and the
Gergesites, and they dwelled there for a long time.

  17“If they did not sin before their God they prospered, because their God, who hates sin,

was with them. 18But when they strayed from the path which He prescribed for them, they
were destroyed in numerous battles, and they were exiled to a land not their own, and the
temple of their God was brought down to the ground, and their cities were seized by their
adversaries. 19Yet now they have come back to their God and returned from their dispersion,
and they have taken back Jerusalem, where their sanctuary is. They have settled in the hill
country, for it was not inhabited.

  20“Now my lord and master, if there is any sin of ignorance in this people and they sin

against their God, then we will identify their offense and will go up to defeat them. 21But if
there is no lawlessness in their nation, then let my lord leave them alone, lest their Lord
shield them, and their God defend them, and we will become a reproach before the whole
earth.”

  22Now when Achior finished speaking these things, all the people standing around the tent
started to grumble. Then Holofernes’ officials and all those dwelling in the seacoast and
Moab insisted Achior be put to death. 23They said, “We will not be afraid of the Israelites. For
behold! They are people in whom there is no might nor the power to wage war. 24Now
therefore, we will go up, Lord Holofernes, and they will be devoured by your whole army.”

                                     Holofernes’ Response


6 As the disruption of the men outside the council calmed down, Holofernes, the Assyrian
  army commander, spoke to Achior in the presence of all the crowd of foreigners and to all
the sons of Moab: 2“Who are you, Achior, and you mercenaries of Ephraim, to prophesy
among us as you did today, to tell us we should not wage war against the Israelite people
because their God will shield them? Who is god besides Nebuchadnezzar? He will send his
power and will utterly destroy them from the face of the earth, and their God will not deliver
them.† 3Rather we, the servants of the king, will strike them down as one man. They will not
withstand the strength of our cavalry. 4We will subdue them with it; their high hills will be
drunk with their blood, and their plains will be filled with their bodies. Their footprints will
no longer remain, but they will utterly perish, says King Nebuchadnezzar, lord of all the
earth. It is he who has spoken; none of his words will be in vain.

  5“But you, O Achior, and your mercenaries of Ammon who spoke these words in the day of
your wrongdoing, you will not see my face from this day forth until the time I will punish
these people who came up out of Egypt. 6When I return, the sword of my forces and of my
servants will pass through your sides, and you will fall among their wounded men. 7Now my
servants will take you back to the hill country, and they will put you in one of the cities of the
hill passes. 8You will not die until you perish alongside them, 9and if you really suppose in
your heart that they will not be taken by us, then do not be downcast. I have spoken, and no
word of mine shall fail.”†

  10Now Holofernes commanded his servants, who were standing by in his tent, to capture

Achior and remove him to Bethulia and turn him over to the sons of Israel. 11Then the
servants took hold of him and led him outside the camp toward the plain. They traveled from
the plain into the hill country to the springs below Bethulia. 12When the men of the city saw
them, they took up their weapons and hurried out of the city to the crest of the mountain.
The slingers kept the servants from ascending by hurling stones at them. 13Taking shelter
down at the base of the mountain, they tied up Achior and left him at the foot of the
mountain, and went back to their master.

  14When the Israelites went down from their dwelling, they found and loosed him and

brought him to Bethulia. They set him before the leaders of the city, 15who in those days
were Uzziah the son of Micah of the tribe of Simeon, and Chabris the son of Gothoniel, and
Charmis the son of Melchiel.† 16They summoned all the city elders, and all their young men
and the women rushed to the assembly, and they set Achior in the midst of all the people.
Uzziah asked him what had happened. 17He reported to them the events of the council of
Holofernes, and all the many words he had spoken in the midst of the Assyrian officials, and
all that Holofernes arrogantly boasted against the house of Israel.
  18Then the people fell down and worshipped God and cried out, saying, 19“O Lord God of
heaven, look down upon their arrogance, and have mercy on the humble state of our people.
Look with favor upon those who are sanctified unto You this day.” 20Then they encouraged
Achior and praised him exceedingly. 21Then Uzziah took him from the assembly to his house
and gave a feast for the elders. And all that night they called upon the God of Israel for help.†

                               Israel Is Attacked at Bethulia


7 On the next day, Holofernes commanded his entire army and all his allies who joined with
  him to move against Bethulia and occupy the passes up in the hill country, and to attack
the Israelites. 2So their soldiers broke camp, and their army numbered a hundred seventy
thousand infantry and twelve thousand cavalry (not including the baggage handlers), a great
multitude. 3They camped beside the spring in the valley near Bethulia. They were spread out
in width over Dothan as far as Belbaim and in length from Bethulia to Cyamon, facing
Esdraelon.†

  4When the Israelites saw their great numbers, they were exceedingly distressed, each
saying to his neighbor, “Now they will ravage the entire land. Neither the high hills, nor the
valleys, nor the foothills will support their weight.” 5Still each one took up his weapons, and
having lit fires on the their watchtowers, they stood guard that whole night.

  6Then on the second day, Holofernes brought all his cavalry out in full view of the

Israelites in Bethulia.† 7He carefully inspected the approaches leading to the city, and then he
came upon the springs which were their water source and seized them. He placed soldiers
there to guard over them, and returned to his encampment.

  8Then all the chief men of the sons of Edom, and all the leaders of the people of Moab, and

the commanders of the seacoast region came to him, saying, 9“Let our lord now hear our
word, that there be no losses in your army. 10For this people, the Israelites, do not put their
trust in spears, but in the height of the mountains where they dwell, since it is not easy to
reach their mountain peaks. 11Indeed, master, do not engage them in battle formation, and
not one man of your forces will fall.† 12Stay instead in your camp, and keep all the men of
your army there. Have your servants take control of the spring which comes from the base of
the mountain, 13for this is where the citizens of Bethulia draw their water. Their thirst will
consume them, and they will surrender their city. Then we and our forces will go up to the
peaks of the mountains nearby and camp there to make sure no one departs from the city.
14They and their wives and their children will waste away from starvation, and before the
sword can come against them they will already be struck down in the streets where they live.
15So you will repay them an evil recompense, because they rebelled and did not meet with
you in peace.”

  16And their words pleased Holofernes and all his servants, and he gave command that they

do just as they said. 17So the forces of the Ammonites departed, along with five thousand
Assyrians, and they set up camp in the valley and captured the springs, the water supply for
the Israelites. 18Then the Edomites and the Ammonites came up and camped in the hills
facing Dothan, and from there they dispatched some of their troops to the south and east,
toward Egrebeh, near Chusi beside the brook Mochmur. The remainder of the Assyrian forces
camped on the plain and spread out over the whole countryside, and their tents and the
supply lines expanded everywhere, an enormous array.

  19Then the children of Israel were disheartened, and they cried out to the Lord their God.

Their enemies had them surrounded, and there was no way for them to escape. 20The entire
army of Assyrians—their infantry, chariots, and their cavalry—encircled them for thirty-four
days, and all the water containers of the citizens of Bethulia stood empty.† 21Their cisterns
were dried up, and there was not one day in which there was enough water to drink, for the
water was rationed. 22Their children became listless, and their women and youths fainted
from thirst and collapsed in the city streets and in the gateways, for there was no longer any
strength in them.

                               The People Want Surrender

  23Then all the people, the youths, the women, and the children, crowded around Uzziah
and the leaders of the city. With loud voices they cried out before all the elders, saying,
24“May God judge between you and us! For you have done us a great wrong by not making

peace with the Assyrians.† 25For now there is none to help us. And God has delivered us into
the hands of them who laid us low in thirst and in great destruction. 26So call to them and
surrender the whole city to be plunder to the army of Holofernes and all his forces. 27For it is
better for us to be plunder to them, for we shall become their slaves, but our lives will be
saved, and we will not have to watch our infants die before our eyes, and our wives and
children breathing their last. 28We call all of heaven and earth to witness against you and
entreat our God, the Lord of our fathers, who is punishing us according to our sins and the
sins of our fathers, do according to these words spoken this very day.”

  29And with one accord, a great mourning broke out in the midst of the whole assembly,

and with a loud voice they cried out to the Lord God. 30But Uzziah spoke to them, “Brothers,
take courage, and let us endure yet five more days, in which the Lord our God will return His
mercy to us. He will not utterly forsake us. 31But if these days come and go, and no help
reaches us, I will do as you say.”

  32Then he dismissed the people to their various posts, and they went up on the walls and
watchtowers of their city, and he sent the women and children home. And they were in great
misery in the city.

                          Judith Upbraids the Rulers of Bethulia


8 InOx,those days, Judith got word of this matter. She was the daughter of Merari, the son of
        the son of Joseph, the son of Oziel, the son of Elkiah, the son of Ananias, the son of
Gideon, the son of Raphaim, the son of Ahitub, the son of Elijah, the son of Hilkiah, the son
of Eliab, the son of Nathanael, the son of Salamiel, the son of Sarasadai, the son of Israel.†
2And her husband was Manasseh, of her own tribe and family. He had died at the time of the

barley harvest. 3For as he supervised those binding the sheaves in the field, he was overcome
with heat stroke and fell on his bed and died in his city of Bethulia. They buried him with his
fathers in the field lying between Dothan and Balamon.

  4Judith remained a widow in her house for three years and four months, 5setting up a tent
for herself on the rooftop of her house, and she wrapped sackcloth around her waist and wore
the garments of her widowhood.† 6She fasted every day of her widowhood, except for the day
preceding the Sabbaths, the Sabbath days themselves, the eves of the new moons and the new
moons, and the feasts and days of celebrations of the house of Israel.† 7Beautiful in stature,
she was very lovely to look upon. Manasseh, her husband, left her gold and silver, men and
women servants, and livestock and fields. She kept up this property, and 8no one spoke ill of
her, for she feared God and was devoted to Him.

  9When Judith heard the angry words the people spoke against the rulers, being weak for
want of water, and the things Uzziah said to them, by oath promising them after five days to
surrender the city to the Assyrians, 10she sent her faithful maid, who was responsible for all
her possessions, to call on Chabris and Charmis, elders of the city.† 11They came to her, and
she said to them, “Listen to me now, rulers of the people of Bethulia! Your words spoken
today to the people are not right, nor is the oath you have sworn and pronounced between
God and yourselves, promising to surrender the city to our adversaries unless the Lord turns
and helps you in so many days.

  12“Now who are you to have put God to the test this day, setting yourselves up as God's

equal among the sons of men? 13You are testing the Lord Almighty, but you will never come
to know anything! 14You cannot plumb the depths of the heart of man, nor grasp the
thoughts of his mind. How then do you expect to search out God, who made all these things,
and come to understand His mind or comprehend His purpose? No, brothers! Do not provoke
the Lord our God to anger. 15For if He does not wish to come to our aid within five days, He
has the power to protect us anytime He pleases, or even to destroy us before the face of our
enemies. 16But do not put a time bind on the purposes of the Lord our God, for He is not to
be threatened as is a man, nor to be coaxed as a human being.

  17“Therefore, while we await His deliverance, let us call upon Him to help us, and if it

pleases Him He will hear our voice.† 18For there has not arisen in our generation, nor has
there been in this present time any tribe or family or people or city of ours that bowed down
to gods made with hands, as happened in earlier times. 19Because of this, our fathers were
given over to the sword and to pillage, and that is why they suffered a great defeat before our
enemies. 20But we know no other god but Him; therefore we have hope He will not disregard
us nor any of our nation. 21For if we are seized, all Judea will fall, and our sanctuary will be
plundered, and He will make us accountable for its profanation with our blood. 22For the
slaughter of our brethren, the captivity of our land, and the desolation of our inheritance He
will bring upon our heads, regardless of where we are enslaved among the Gentiles. We will
be an offense and a reproach in the eyes of those who master us. 23For our servitude will not
be to our benefit; rather, the Lord our God will turn it to humiliation.

  24“Now my brothers, let us set an example for our people, for their very lives depend upon

us. Furthermore, the sanctuary, the temple, and the altar rest upon us. 25Besides all this, let
us be thankful to the Lord our God, who is testing us just as He did our fathers. 26Remember
His actions toward Abraham and how He put Isaac to the test. Recall what happened to Jacob
in Mesopotamia of Syria while shepherd to the sheep of Laban, the brother of his mother.
27For He has not tested us with the fire, even as He did them, to search out their hearts. Nor
has He punished us. Rather, the Lord scourges those drawing near to Him as a warning.”

                                       Uzziah's Answer

  28Then Uzziah said to her, “All that you said you spoke with a good heart, and there is no

one who will oppose your words. 29This is not the first day on which your wisdom has been
evident, but from your earliest years all the people have recognized your understanding,
because the disposition of your heart is good. 30But the people are very thirsty, and they
compelled us to do just as we spoke to them and caused us to take an oath which we will not
break. 31Now pray for us, since you are a devout woman, that the Lord will send rain to fill
our cisterns, and we shall not faint from thirst again.”

  32Then Judith replied to them, “Hear me, and I will do something which will be known

unto all the generations of our descendants.† 33You must stand at the gate tonight, and I will
go out with my maid, and within these days in which you promised to surrender the city to
our enemies, the Lord will deliver Israel by my hand. 34But you must not ask me what I am
going to do, because I will not tell what I am going to do until I complete the task.”

  35So Uzziah and the rulers said to her, “Go in peace, and may the Lord God go before you

to take vengeance upon our adversaries.” 36So they left the tent and returned to their posts.

                                    The Prayer of Judith


9 Then Judith prostrated herself, put ashes upon her head, and uncovered the sackcloth
  which she had put on. And at the time of the evening incense being offered in the house
of God in Jerusalem, Judith cried out to the Lord with a loud voice and prayed:†

  2“O Lord God of my father Simeon, to whom You gave a sword for vengeance against the
foreigners who loosened the girdle of the virgin to defile her, and disgracefully exposed her
thighs, and violated her body to humiliate her, for You had said, ‘It shall not be done,’ and yet
they did it.† 3So You gave their rulers over to be killed, and their bed, which was ashamed of
their deceit, they themselves being deceived, to be stained with blood. You struck down the
servants along with their princes, and princes on their thrones. 4You gave their wives over to
plunder and their daughters to captivity, and all their spoils You divided among Your beloved
sons, those who were zealous with Your zeal and abhorred the defilement of their blood, and
called upon You to help. O God, my God, hear me also, a widow!

  5“For You did those things and the things that occurred before and those that followed

after; and You have planned the ones present, and the ones for the future. 6And the things
You have determined present themselves and say, ‘Behold, we are here’; for all Your ways are
prepared beforehand, and Your judgment is by foreknowledge.

  7“For behold, the Assyrians are multiplied in their strength. They are exalted with horses
and riders. They glory in the strength of their infantry; they hope in shield and spear, in bow
and sling, but they do not know that You the Lord crush wars; 8the Lord is Your name. Break
their might by Your might, and tear down their power in Your anger; for they intend to defile
Your sanctuary and desecrate the tent where Your glorious name rests, and to cut off the
horns of Your altar with the sword. 9Behold their arrogance. Send Your wrath upon their
heads. Grant to the hand of the widow to do what I plan. 10By the deceit of my lips, strike
down the slave with the ruler and the ruler with his servant. Crush their pride by the hand of
a woman.

  11“For Your might is not in numbers, nor Your power in men who are strong, but You are
the God of the lowly; You are the helper of the oppressed, the defender of the weak, the
protector of those who are forsaken, the savior of those without hope. 12Yes, O God of my
father and God of the inheritance of Israel, Lord of heaven and earth, Creator of the waters,
King of all Your creation, attend to my prayer!† 13Cause my deceitful words to be their wound
and a bruise to those who planned cruelty against Your covenant, and Your holy house, and
Mount Zion, and against the house Your sons possess.† 14Make Your entire nation and every
tribe to know and understand that You are God, the God of all power and might, that there is
none other who protects the people of Israel but You only.”†

                           Judith Begins to Execute Her Plan

      When she had ceased crying to the God of Israel and had completed all her words, 2she
10 arose from where she had prostrated herself, and summoned her maid and went down
into the house, where she lived on the Sabbaths and her feast days.† 3There she took off the
sackcloth she was wearing and removed her widow's garments. She washed her body with
water and anointed herself with precious ointment. She braided her hair and put a headdress
on her head, and put on festive attire she had worn when her husband Manasseh was alive.
4She placed sandals on her feet, and put on her bracelets, her anklets, her rings, earrings, and
all her jewelry. She made herself very beautiful, inviting to the eyes of all the men who might
look on her.† 5Then she gave her maid a flask of wine and a cruse of oil, and filled a bag with
grain and a cake of dried fruit and a loaf of bread; all these items she wrapped up together
and gave them to her maid.

  6Then they went out to the gate of the city of Bethulia and found Uzziah standing there

with the elders of the city, Chabris and Charmis. 7And they saw her, and her face was changed
and her clothing was different, and they marveled at her beauty and said to her,† 8“May the
God of our fathers grant you favor and fulfill your pursuits, to the exaltation of the sons of
Israel and the glory of Jerusalem.”

  9She bowed down to God and said to them, “Order the gates of the city to be opened, and I
will go out to fulfill the words you spoke with me.” They commanded the young men to open
the gates as she had requested.† 10And so they did, and Judith went out along with her maid,
and the men of the city watched her until she went down the mountain and crossed the
valley, until they could no longer see her.

  11The women traveled straight through the valley, and an Assyrian patrol met her. 12They
seized her and asked, “Who are you, and where are you coming from, and where are you
going?” She replied, “I am a daughter of the Hebrews, and I am fleeing from them, because
they are about to be given over to you to be devoured.† 13I have come to see Holofernes, the
commander of your forces, to give him an accurate report. I will show him the way he can go
out and take all the hill country captive without losing the body or the life of any of his men.”

  14And as the men listened to her words, and beheld her face—for she was wondrously

beautiful in their eyes—they said to her, 15“You have spared your life by hastening to come
down to see our lord. Now come with us to his tent, and we will escort you to him, to deliver
you to him. 16When you stand before him, do not be fainthearted, but report to him just as
you said, for he will treat you well.” 17They then chose a hundred men from among them to
escort her and her maid, and they brought them to Holofernes’ tent.

  18There came about quite a commotion throughout the entire camp, for the rumor of her
arrival quickly spread among the tents. They came and gathered around her as she stood
outside the tent of Holofernes while they announced her presence to him. 19They marveled
at her beauty, and because of her, they wondered about the Israelites. Each said to his
neighbor, “Who will dare despise this people with a woman like this among them? Surely it is
not wise to leave even one of their men alive, for if we let them go they will be able to outwit
the whole world!”

                                  Judith Meets Holofernes

  20Then those guarding Holofernes and all his servants came out and led her into the tent.
21Holofernes was reclining on his couch under a canopy of purple and gold, emeralds and

other precious stones.† 22When they told him of her being there, he came out, preceded by
silver lamps, to the entrance of the tent. 23And when Judith came in before him and his
servants, they were taken by the beauty of her face. She prostrated herself, paying homage to
him, but his servants lifted her up.


11 Then  Holofernes spoke to her, saying, “Woman, take courage; do not be fearful in your
   heart. I have never hurt anyone who chooses to serve Nebuchadnezzar, king of the
whole earth. 2Even now, if your people inhabiting the hill country had not held me in such
low regard, I would not have lifted my spear against them. Rather, they did this to
themselves. 3Now tell me why you have fled from them and come to us, for you have come to
a safe place. Take courage! You shall live tonight and from this day forward. 4No one will
harm you, but they will treat you well, as they do all the servants of my lord, King
Nebuchadnezzar.”†

  5Then Judith said to him, “Receive the words of your servant, and permit your handmaid

to speak in your presence. I will say nothing untrue to my lord tonight.† 6And if you carry out
all the words of your handmaid, God shall do something great through you, and my lord shall
not fail in his pursuits.† 7For Nebuchadnezzar, king of all the earth, lives, and the power of
him who sent you to set aright every soul prevails. Not only does all mankind serve him
because of you, but because of your strength even the wild animals of the field, the beasts of
burden, and the birds of the heaven shall live for Nebuchadnezzar and his whole house. 8For
we heard of your wisdom and the great accomplishments of your life, and it is spoken
throughout the whole earth that you alone are noble in all the kingdom, competent in
knowledge, and remarkable in military strategy.
  9“Now as for the words Achior spoke in your council, we have heard these things. For the
men of Bethulia spared his life, and he told them all the things he had spoken to you.
10Therefore, master and lord, do not dismiss his words, but bear them in mind, because they
are true. Thus our nation is not punished, nor does the sword prevail against them, unless
they sin against their God.

  11“And now, so that my lord not be defeated and unsuccessful, death will come upon them,
for a sin has overtaken them by which they will provoke their God, when they do that which
is not proper. 12Since their food supply gave out and water is scarce, they have determined to
kill their animals and to consume all that God in His laws specifically told them not to eat.
13They further resolved to consume the firstfruits of the grain and the tithes of wine and oil
they sanctified and reserved for the priests in Jerusalem, who serve in the presence of our
God—things not lawful for any person to touch with his hands. 14And they have sent people
to Jerusalem to bring permission back from the council of elders, because those living there
have done these things. 15And it will come to pass when the response is reported to them,
and they act on it, on that same day they will be delivered over to you to be crushed.

  16“When I, your handmaid, learned of this, I fled from these people. And God sent me to
do some things with you, by which all the earth will be astonished when they learn of them.
17For your servant is God-fearing, serving the God of heaven night and day. Now, my lord, I
will stay here with you, but each night your handmaid will go out in the valley, and I will pray
to God, and He will tell me when they have committed their sins.† 18At that hour I will come
and inform you, and you shall go out with all your army, and none of them will be able to
resist you. 19Then I will bring you through the midst of Judea until you reach Jerusalem.
There I will place your chariot in their midst, and you will guide them like sheep who have no
shepherd; not even a dog shall growl at you. This was made known to me as a gift of
foreknowledge, and I have been sent to report this to you.”

                          Holofernes Is Taken by Judith's Plan

  20What she said pleased Holofernes and all his servants. They admired her wisdom and

said, 21“There is not such a woman of beauty and with the wisdom of words from one end of
the earth to the other.” 22Holofernes spoke to her, saying, “It is good that God sent you here,
ahead of your people. You bring strength to our hands and demise to those who disparaged
my lord. 23You not only look beautiful, but you are wise in your words. If you will do as you
said, your God will be my God, and you will dwell in the house of King Nebuchadnezzar, and
you will be known in all the earth.”†


12 He then gave the order to have her brought into where his silver service was kept, and
   he commanded them to prepare some of his own delicacies for her and his wine to
drink. 2“I will not eat any of this,” Judith said, “lest it cause offense. But I will be supplied by
the provisions I brought with me.”† 3Then Holofernes told her, “If your provisions run out,
where do we obtain more of the same? For no one from your people is with us.” 4Then Judith
answered him, “My lord, even as you live, your handmaid will not use up what I brought with
me until the Lord completes by my hand what He has purposed.”

  5Then Holofernes’ servants led her into the tent, where she slept until midnight. She rose

as the morning watch approached,† 6and sent a message to Holofernes, saying, “My lord, let
the command be given to allow your handmaid to go out and pray.” 7So Holofernes ordered
his guards not to detain her. So she stayed in the camp for three days, but each night she
went out into the valley of Bethulia and washed in the water from the spring of the camp.†
8When she came up out of the water, she prayed to the Lord God of Israel to guide her way

for the victory of His people. 9So, returning cleansed, she remained in the tent until her
evening meal was offered to her.

                                       Holofernes’ Feast

  10It came to be on the fourth day that Holofernes hosted a banquet just for his personal

staff. None of the officers were invited.† 11He spoke to Bagoas, a eunuch who was in charge
of his private affairs, saying, “Now go and persuade the Hebrew woman you care for to join us
to eat and drink. 12It would be disgraceful to us if we allowed such a woman to be neglected,
for if we do not seduce her she will laugh at us.”†

  13Then Bagoas departed from Holofernes’ presence and came to her and said, “Let not this
beautiful handmaiden hesitate to come to my lord in the honor of his presence, and to drink
wine with us in merriment. On this day you will be like one of the daughters of the Assyrians
who serve in the house of Nebuchadnezzar.” 14Then Judith answered, “Why would I refuse
my lord? For whatever is pleasing to him I will do immediately, and this will be a delight to
me until the day I die.”† 15So she arose and dressed herself in all her womanly finery. Her
maid went on ahead to spread out the lambskins on the ground for her in front of Holofernes,
which she had received from Bagoas for her use to recline on each day when she ate.†

  16Now when Judith came in and reclined, the very heart of Holofernes was ravished by her,
and his deepest feelings were aroused. He was exceedingly desirous of her, and had been
waiting for the moment to seduce her since the first time he saw her.† 17Then Holofernes
said to her, “Drink and be merry with us.” 18Judith replied, “Indeed, my lord, I will happily
drink now, for this is the best day of my entire life.” 19Then taking what her maid prepared,
she ate and drank before him. 20Holofernes was delighted because of her, and he drank more
wine than in any one day since birth.

                               Judith Beheads Holofernes


13 When  evening came, his servants quickly departed, and Bagoas shut the tent from the
   outside and dismissed the waiters from the presence of his lord. They all went to bed,
being very tired, for the banquet had lasted a long time. 2Judith was left alone in the tent as
Holofernes was sprawled out on his bed, for he had become unconscious from the wine.†
3Now Judith had instructed her faithful maid to remain outside the bedchamber and wait for
her to emerge, just like she did on other days, for she said she would go out to pray, and she
had told Bagoas the same thing.

  4So everyone left, with no one great or small remaining in his bedchamber. Then Judith
stood next to his bed and said in her heart, “O Lord, God of all strength, look down at this
hour on the works of my hands for the glory of Jerusalem.† 5For now is the time to aid Your
inheritance, and to help carry out my plan for the destruction of the enemies who have risen
against us.” 6Then she approached the bedpost, near the head of Holofernes. She took out his
sword which hung there.† 7She then came closer to the bed, and taking hold of the hair on his
head, she said, “O Lord God of Israel, at this moment strengthen me.” 8Then she struck his
neck twice with all her might and cut off his head. 9She then rolled his body off the bed and
tore down the canopy from the posts. Next she stepped outside and gave the head of
Holofernes to her maid, 10who put it into her food bag.

                               Judith Returns to Bethulia

  Then the two of them together went out to pray, as was their custom. Passing through the
camp, they went down around the valley, and up the mountain of Bethulia until they reached
its gates. 11And from a distance Judith cried out to the guards at the gates and said, “Open!
Open the gate! God, our God, is with us! He yet shows His strength in Israel and His might
against our adversaries, just as He has done this day!” 12When the men of her city heard her
voice, they ran with haste down to the gate of the city and called the elders of the city
together. 13From the least to the greatest they quickly gathered, for they considered it
incredible that she had come back, and they thrust open the gate and welcomed the women.
They then built a fire for light, and everyone crowded around them.†

  14Then with a loud voice Judith said to them, “Praise God! Praise Him! Praise God! For He
has not taken away His mercy from the house of Israel, but by my hand He has shattered our
enemies this very night!”† 15Then she took the head out of the bag, displaying it to them, and
said, “Behold the head of Holofernes, commander of the Assyrian army. And this is the
canopy under which he lay in his drunkenness. The Lord struck him dead by the hand of a
woman.† 16As the Lord lives, who guarded me in the path I have walked, my face deceived
him to his demise. Yet he committed no sin toward me, either to defile me or shame me.”†

  17All the people were completely astounded, and they bowed down to worship God, saying
with one voice, “Blessed are You, our God, who this very day brought the enemies of Your
people to nothing.”

  18Uzziah said to her, “You are blessed by the Most High God, O daughter, above all other
women on the earth. Blessed be the Lord God, who created the heavens and the earth, who
led you to sever the head of the chief of our adversaries.† 19Your hope in Him will never
depart from the hearts of men as they call to mind the power of God. 20May God grant this to
you as an everlasting honor and reward you with blessings. For you did not spare your life on
account of the humble state of our nation. Rather, you avenged our calamity, walking a
straight path in the presence of our God.” And all the people responded, “Amen! Amen!”

                                 Judith's Plan Continues


14 Then  Judith said to them, “Hear me, my friends; take this head and hang it at the top of
   the city wall at daybreak.† 2Then when the sun comes up on the horizon, let every able-
bodied man take up his weapons and appoint a captain over them. March out of the city as
though you were going down to the plain against the outposts of the Assyrians, but do not go
down. 3Then they will take up their weapons and head into their camp and awaken the
officers of the Assyrian army. They will hurry together to Holofernes’ tent, but they will not
find him. Panic will overcome them, and they will run from you. 4Then you and all those who
dwell inside the boundaries of Israel shall pursue them and kill them as they flee. 5But
before you do these things, call Achior the Ammonite to me so he may look upon and
recognize the man who hated the house of Israel and sent him to us as though to his death.”†

  6So they sent for Achior from Uzziah's house, and when he came he saw the head of
Holofernes held in the hand of a man in the assembly of the people. He fell on his face and
fainted. 7But when they picked him up, he fell prostrate at the feet of Judith, and bowing
before her, said, “Blessed are you in all the tents of Judea. Those who hear your name in
every nation will tremble. 8But for now, explain to me everything you did during these days.”

  Then, in the midst of the people, Judith told him the many things she had done since the
day she departed until the time she was speaking with them. 9And as she completed her
report, the people shouted loudly, making jubilant noise in the city. 10And when Achior saw
all the things the God of Israel had accomplished, he believed in God profoundly, was
circumcised, and has been membered with the house of Israel until this day.†

  11At daybreak, they hung the head of Holofernes on the wall, and every man seized his

weapons. They then marched out in companies to the mountain passes. 12And when the
Assyrian forces saw them, they notified their captains, and they went in turn to the generals,
the captains, and all their officers. 13They went to the tent of Holofernes and said to the man
in charge of all his affairs, “Awaken our lord at once, for the slaves dare to come down to
wage war against us, to their total destruction.”

  14Then Bagoas went in and knocked at the door of the tent, for he presumed Holofernes

was sleeping with Judith. 15When there was no answer, he opened the door and entered the
bedchamber. He found him sprawled out on the floor, a corpse without a head. 16With a loud
voice he cried out, weeping and groaning. Shouting out, he tore his garments. 17He then went
to the tent where Judith had lodged. Unable to find her, he ran out to the people and cried
out, 18“The slaves deceived us! A single woman of the Hebrews has brought shame upon the
house of King Nebuchadnezzar! Come and see—Holofernes is sprawled on the ground and his
head is gone.” 19When the Assyrian army officers heard these words, they tore their tunics
and were in a state of great turmoil. They cried aloud, shouting in the midst of the camp.
                            The Assyrian Army Is Decimated


15 When  those in their tents heard the wailing, they were utterly astounded at what had
   happened. 2Fear and trembling came over them, and not waiting for each other, they all
impulsively ran out of the camp and fled in every direction through the valley and the hill
country. 3Even those who had been camping in the hill country outside Bethulia arose and
fled. Then every warrior amongst the Israelites rushed out against them. 4Uzziah dispatched
his men to Betomasthem, and to Bebai and Choba and Kola and to all the regions of Israel to
report on what had happened, in order that they would all hurry out to face their enemies and
destroy them. 5So when word came to the Israelites, they came upon them with one accord
and smote them as far away as Choba. Likewise, when told what had happened in the enemy
camp, even those from Jerusalem and the surrounding hill country came out. And those from
Gilead and Galilee outflanked them, inflicting massive slaughter, well beyond Damascus and
its boundaries. 6The inhabitants of Bethulia who remained there descended on the Assyrian
camp, plundering it, and were greatly enriched. 7Soon the Israelite forces came back from the
slaughter, taking possession of the spoils, as did those in the villages and towns of the hill
country and the plain. They took much of the plunder, for it was there in great quantity.

  8Then Joakim the high priest and the elders of Israel dwelling in Jerusalem came to

observe the great things the Lord had done for His people, and to see Judith and to greet her.†
9When they met with her, with one accord they blessed her and told her, “You are the glory of

Jerusalem, the heroine of Israel, the pride of our people! 10You accomplished all these things
by your own hand. You brought about good things for Israel, and God is well pleased with
them. May you be eternally blessed by the Almighty Lord.” And the people all said, “Amen!”

  11The people pillaged the camp for thirty days, giving Judith Holofernes’ tent, all his silver
service, his couches, his bowls, and all his furnishings. Some of these she loaded on her
mules, and she harnessed them to her wagons and stacked the rest on them. 12Then all the
women of Israel assembled to see her. They blessed her and performed a dance to honor her.
And she took woven branches in her hands, and presented them to these women. 13And she
and those with her crowned themselves with garlands of olive wreaths. She stepped out
before all the dancers, leading all the women. At the same time, the men of Israel followed,
bearing their weapons, clothed with garlands and singing songs of praise.† 14Then Judith
began singing a hymn of thanks before all Israel, and the people responded heartily with this
song of praise.

                                                          Judith's New Song


16 And Judith said: “Begin a hymn to my God with tambourines,
    Sing to the Lord with cy m bals;

    Lift to Him a new psalm ,

    Exalt Him , and call upon His nam e.

    2
        For God is the Lord who m akes wars cease,

    For into His cam ps, into the m idst of His people,

    He rescued m e from the hands of those pursuing m e. †

    3
        The Assy rian descended from the m ountains of the north;

    He cam e with the countless num bers of his arm y ,

    Whose m ultitude blocked up the riv ers,

    And his cav alry cov ered the hills. †

    4
        He said he would set m y territory on fire,

    And slaughter m y y oung m en with the sword,

    And dash m y nursing babies on the ground,

    And take m y children as plunder

    And m y v irgins as spoils of war.

    5
        But the Lord Alm ighty has thwarted them

    By the hand of a wom an. †

    6
        For their m ighty m an did not fall by our y oung m en,

    Nor did the Titans’ sons strike him down,

    Nor did tall giants attack him ,

    But Judith, daughter of Merari,

    In the beauty of her appearance disabled him . †

    7
        For she took off the garm ent of her widowhood

    To exalt those afflicted in Israel,

    And anointed her face with perfum e,

    8
        And bound her hair with a headband,

    And put on a linen garm ent to entice him .

    9
        Her sandals caught his ey es,

    Her beauty captured his m ind,

    And the sword slashed his neck.
    10
         The Persians shuddered at her courage,

    And the Medes were disturbed at her daring. †

    11
         Then m y downhearted people raised the war cry ,

    And m y weak ones cried out, and the enem ies were terrified;

    They raised up their v oices, and the enem y was ov erthrown.

    12
         The sons of the handm aidens stabbed them ,

    And wounded them as the offspring of fugitiv es;

    They were destroy ed by the arm y of the Lord.

    13
         I will sing a new song to m y God:

    Great are You, O Lord, and glorious,

    Marv elous in power and unsurpassable.

    14
         Let all Your creation serv e You,

    For You spoke, and they were created;

    You sent Your Spirit, and He form ed them .

    There is nothing which can resist Your v oice. †

    15
         For the m ountains with the waters shall be shaken at their foundations,

    And at Your presence, the rocks shall be m elted as beeswax.

    And y et You are m erciful to those who fear You.

    16
         For ev ery sacrifice as a sweet-sm elling offering is like nothing,

    And the fat in the whole burnt offerings is like nothing to You;

    But he who fears the Lord is great in all things.

    17
         Woe to the nations that rise up against My people;

    The Lord Alm ighty will punish them on the day of judgm ent;

    He will giv e them ov er to fire and worm s in their flesh;

    In pain they shall weep forev er.

  18When they came to Jerusalem, they worshiped God; and when they were purified, they

offered their burnt offerings, freewill offerings, and their gifts. 19And Judith dedicated all the
property of Holofernes that the people gave to her, along with the canopy which she herself
had taken from his bedchamber, as a votive offering to God.† 20For three months, the people
in Jerusalem feasted continually before the sanctuary, and Judith stayed with them.

                                                      The End of Judith's Days

  21After these days everyone returned home, and Judith went to Bethulia and lived at her

estate. She was honored throughout the entire country for the rest of her days. 22Many men
desired her, but she married no man during the remaining days of her life, after Manasseh
her husband died and was buried with his people.† 23She became greatly renowned, and she
grew old in the house of her husband until she reached the age of one hundred five years. She
freed her maid, then died in Bethulia. They buried her in the tomb of Manasseh, her husband,
24and she was mourned by the house of Israel for seven days. Before her death, she gave her
possessions to all who were nearest of kin to her husband Manasseh, and to her own nearest
of kin. 25And no one again brought fear to the people of Israel in the days of Judith, nor for a
long while after she died.
                                           E ST HE R
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Chapters in Esther
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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Verses in Esther Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Esther Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Esther Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Esther Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Esther Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Esther Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Esther Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10


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Verses in Esther Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Esther Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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Verses in Esther Chapter 10
1, 2, 3

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                                                         The Book of Esther

    Author   —By tradition, Mordecai (9:20, 29).

    Date   —About 450 BC, after the fall of Babylon.

    Major Theme      —Divine providence of God in taking care of His people in adversity when
  they pray to Him and trust in Him. The Jews fasted and prayed when they learned of an
  evil plot to destroy them. Esther, an orphan, was chosen by King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) to
  replace the Persian queen. It was because of her royal position that she was able to
  persuade the king to save her people. Similar patterns to the rise of Esther as queen
  may be seen in the rise of Joseph to the court of the Pharaoh and the rise of Daniel in
  the court of Babylon.

    Background      —The Book of Esther is an account of the Jews who chose to remain in Susa,
  Persia, after Cyrus gave them a decree to return to Jerusalem (2Ez 1:1–4). Thus, 2 Ezra
  fits in time between chapters 6 and 7 of Esther, linking the Book of Esther to the time of
  Ezra and Nehemiah. Haman's effort to eradicate the Jews is the last major effort to
  destroy them before the time of the Maccabees. God promised to give rest to the
  Israelites (Dt 25:19), and with Haman's execution the Jews have rest from their
  enemies.

 Outline

  I. The Feasts of Xerxes (1 :1 –2 :1 8)

  II. The Feasts of Esther (2 :1 9 –7 :1 0)

 III. The Feasts of Purim (8:1 –1 0:3 )

         A. King Xerxes’ edict fav oring the Jews (8:1 –9 :1 6 )

         B. The institution of Purim (9 :1 7 –3 0)

         C. The exaltation of Mordecai (1 0:1 –3 )



                                     Introduction: Mordecai's Prophetic Dream

  1aIn the second year of the reign of the great King Artaxerxes, on the first day of Nisan,
1 Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, the son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, had a
dream.† 1bHe was a Jewish man living in the city of Susa, a great man who served in the
court of the king. 1cHe was from the captives Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had
deported from Jerusalem with Jechoniah the king of Judah. 1dAnd this was his dream:

  Behold, there was noise and tumult, thunder and earthquake—confusion on the earth.†
1eTwo great dragons came forth, both ready for combat. A great roar came forth from them,
1fand at the sound of them, every nation prepared to wage war against the nation of the just.
1gAnd indeed, it was a day of gloom and of darkness, tribulation and anguish, oppression and

great confusion upon the earth. 1hThe entire upright nation was troubled, fearing the evils
against them; they were prepared to perish, and they cried out to God. 1iAnd at their cry there
came forth, as it were from a small spring, a great river having abundant water. 1jThere was
light, and the sun rose, and the lowly were exalted, and they devoured the esteemed.

  1kMordecai, who had seen this vision and what God was planning to do, awoke. 1lHe kept it
in his heart and wished to ponder it until night.

                                  A Plot against the King

  1mThen Mordecai rested in the courtyard with Gabatha and Tharra, the king's two eunuchs

who guarded the courtyard.† 1nHe overheard their words and considered their anxieties, and
he realized they were preparing to lay hands upon the king, and he informed the king about
them. 1oThen the king interrogated the two eunuchs, and they confessed and were led away
to be executed. 1pThe king made a memorandum of these matters, and Mordecai also wrote
about these matters. 1qAnd the king commanded Mordecai to serve in the court, and he gave
him gifts for this service. 1rBut Haman, the son of Hamadatha the Agagthite, was held in high
honor before the king, and he sought for ways to bring harm to Mordecai and his people
because of the two eunuchs of the king.

                                 King Artaxerxes’ Banquet

  1It came to pass, after these matters, in the days of Artaxerxes (this is the same Artaxerxes

who reigned over the hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia),† 2in the
days when King Artaxerxes sat on the throne in the city of Susa, 3that in the third year of his
reign he gave a feast for his friends and the rest of the nations, and for the nobles of the
Persians and the Medes and the chiefs of the satraps. 4And after these things, that is after he
had displayed the wealth of his kingdom and the glory of the joy of his riches for one hundred
eighty days, 5when the days of the celebration were completed, the king set forth a banquet
in the court of the king's palace for six days for the people living in the city. 6The courtyard
was adorned with fine white linen curtains stretched out on cords of purple and fastened to
square gold and silver studs, on pillars of marble and stone. And the couches were of gold and
silver on a mosaic pavement of emerald stone, mother of pearl, and marble, and transparent
coverings variously adorned with colorful flowers and encircled with embroidered roses.
7There were gold and silver cups, and a ruby goblet set out, worth thirty thousand talents,

and there was an abundance of sweet wine, which the king himself drank.† 8Now this
banquet was not in keeping with established law; but this is what the king desired, and he
ordered all the stewards of his household, those of his men, to do his will. 9Queen Vashti also
provided a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Artaxerxes.

                            Queen Vashti Dishonors the King

  10Now on the seventh day, the king was merry and told Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona,
Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas—the seven eunuchs, the servants of King Artaxerxes—
11to bring the queen before him, to enthrone her and to place the royal crown upon her, to

show her beauty to the rulers and the nations, for she was beautiful. 12But Queen Vashti did
not heed his words and refused to come with the eunuchs. The king was distressed and
angry.†

  13The king said to his friends, “Thus has Vashti spoken; follow the law and justice

concerning this.” 14And Arkesaios, Sarsathaios and Memucan, the nobles of the Persians and
Medes, those near to the king and first in rank by the king, went to him. 15They reported to
him what according to the laws was to be done to the queen Vashti, because she did not do as
commanded by King Artaxerxes by way of the eunuchs. 16And Memucan said to the king and
the princes, “Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the king's rulers and
nobles.”† 17He reported the words of the queen, and how she contradicted the king, and how
she disobeyed King Artaxerxes: 18“Thus today the royal ladies of the rulers of the Persians
and the Medes, hearing the words which were spoken to the king, will dare to dishonor their
husbands in the same way. 19If it pleases the king, let him make a royal decree, and let it be
written according to the laws of the Persians and the Medes, and let it not be declared
otherwise, that the queen no longer come before him, and let the king give her royal position
to a woman better than she. 20And let the decree of the king, which he shall have made, be
proclaimed throughout his kingdom, and thus all wives will honor their husbands, from the
poor to the rich.” 21And the word pleased the king and the nobles, and the king did just as
Memucan said. 22He then sent out to his entire kingdom, throughout the provinces,
according to their own language, that husbands be feared in their own houses.†

                              The Search for a New Queen


2 And after these words the wrath of the king subsided, and he no longer mentioned Vashti,
  remembering either what she had said or how he had condemned her.† 2Then the king's
servants who attended him said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king, 3and let
the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the
beautiful young virgins to the city of Susa into the women's quarters, under the custody of
the king's eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them. 4And
let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This thing pleased the
king, and he did so.

  5Now there was a Jewish man in the city of Susa whose name was Mordecai, son of Jair,

son of Shimei, son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, 6who was an exile from Jerusalem,
whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had taken captive. 7He had raised the daughter of
Abihail, his father's brother, and her name was Esther; and when her parents died, he
brought her up to be his wife, and she was beautiful.†

                                  Esther Chosen Queen

  8So when the king's ordinance was heard, many young maidens were gathered together in
the city of Susa, under the custody of Hegai, and Esther was brought to Hegai, the custodian
of the women. 9And the young woman pleased him and found favor in his sight. He hastened
to give beauty treatments to her, and her portion, and the seven young maidens appointed to
her from the palace. He himself treated her and her maidservants well in the women's
quarters. 10But Esther did not reveal her people or her family, for Mordecai charged her not
to reveal it. 11And every day Mordecai walked about the courtyard of the women to see what
would happen to Esther.

  12Now this was the time for a young woman to go in to the king, after she had completed
twelve months, for thus are the days of preparation fulfilled: six months being anointed with
oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and beauty treatments for women.† 13After this,
she goes to the king, and she shall be allowed to bring whatever she asks with her from the
women's quarters into the royal palace. 14She enters in the evening, and towards daybreak
she departs quickly to the second women's quarters, where Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, is
the guardian of the women, and she does not go in to the king again unless she should be
called by name.

  15Now when the time came for Esther the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, to go
in to the king, she neglected nothing which the king's eunuch, the guardian of the women,
commanded. Now Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her. 16So Esther went in
to King Artaxerxes in the tenth month, which is Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17And the king loved Esther, and she found favor beyond all the other virgins, and he placed

the queen's crown on her. 18And the king gave a banquet for all his friends and nobles for
seven days, and he exalted the marriage feast of Esther and granted a release to those under
his reign.†

  19And Mordecai was serving in the courtyard. 20Now Esther had not revealed her heritage,
just as Mordecai commanded her when she was with him, which is to fear God and to keep
His commandments, and Esther did not change her manner of life.†

                                 A Plot against the King

  21Now two of the king's eunuchs, the chiefs of the bodyguards, were furious because

Mordecai had been promoted, and they sought to kill King Artaxerxes. 22And the matter was
made known to Mordecai, and he informed Esther, and she made the details of the plot
known to the king. 23The king examined the two eunuchs and hanged them. The king then
ordered that a record remembering the good will of Mordecai be placed in the royal library.†

                              Haman's Hatred of Mordecai


3 After these things King Artaxerxes honored Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite,
  and elevated him and set his seat above all his friends.† 2All those in the court bowed to
him, for thus the king commanded, but Mordecai refused to bow to him. 3Then those in the
court said to Mordecai, “Mordecai, why do you ignore the king's command?” 4They said this
to him daily, but he did not listen to them. And they informed Haman that Mordecai resisted
the words of the king, and that Mordecai had revealed to them that he was a Jew. 5When
Haman learned that Mordecai did not bow to him, he became exceedingly angry, 6and he
determined to destroy all the Jews of the kingdom of Artaxerxes. 7And he made a decree in
the twelfth year of the reign of Artaxerxes, and he cast lots to determine the precise day and
month to destroy the race of Mordecai on a single day, and the lot fell on the fourteenth day
of the month, which is the month of Adar.†

  8Then Haman spoke to King Artaxerxes, saying, “There is a certain people scattered among
the peoples throughout your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people, and they
disregard the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain.† 9If it
pleases the king, let him make a decree to destroy them. If so, I will pay ten thousand talents
of silver into the king's treasury.” 10So the king took off his signet ring and placed it into the
hand of Haman in order to seal what was written against the Jews. 11And the king said to
Haman, “Keep the silver, and deal with those people as you wish.”

  12Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and they
wrote, as Haman commanded, to the commanders and the governors in the one hundred
twenty-seven provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia, and to the rulers of the nations, in
their own language. They wrote in the name of King Artaxerxes, 13The letter was sent by
couriers throughout the kingdom of Artaxerxes to utterly destroy the race of the Jews on a
single day, in the twelfth month, which is Adar, and to plunder their possessions.

                           The Letter Sent to Destroy the Jews

  13aThe following is a copy of the letter:

  The great King Artaxerxes, to the rulers in the hundred twenty-seven provinces from India
to Ethiopia, and who hold authority under him, thus decrees:† 13bRuling over many nations,
and having gained dominion over all the world, not motivated by the power of authority, but
ever conducting myself in moderation and unceasing gentleness, I was desiring to make the
lives of my subjects continually tranquil and to maintain the kingdom calm and safe to its
furthest borders, and to restore the peace desired by all men. 13cBut when I inquired of my
counselors how this should be done, Haman, who excels in good sense among us, and has
been shown unwavering in good will and unshakeable in fidelity, and has attained the second
place in the kingdom, 13dmade known to us that there is a race of people full of ill will who
are mixed in with all the other races throughout the whole world, whose laws are contrary to
all the other nations, and they continually disregard the ordinances of the kings. Thus the
joint administration, blamelessly administered by us, cannot be performed.

  13eTherefore, we have determined that this people alone is in opposition to every other
person, entertaining a strange code of laws, and not disposed to our affairs and perpetrating
the worst evils, and thus the kingdom is not able to experience stability. 13fTherefore, we
have designated all those made known to you in the letters written by Haman, who is
appointed over such matters and who is our second father, to root out and destroy all of
them, with their wives and children, without any mercy, sparing no one, on the fourteenth
day of the twelfth month Adar of this present year— 13gthat this race of people, both from
before and until now hostile to us, violently going down to death in one day, may afterwards
secure for us a time that is tranquil and an undisturbed state of affairs.

  14Copies of the letters were published throughout every province, and an order was given

to all nations to be ready on that day. 15The matter was quickly dispatched also in Susa. And
the king and Haman were drinking, but the city was troubled.

                               Mordecai Enlists Esther's Aid


4 But  Mordecai, learning what had happened, tore his clothes and put on sackcloth, and
  sprinkled ashes on himself, and running through the square of the city he cried out with a
loud voice, “A people who have done no wrong are about to be destroyed!”† 2He went as far
as the king's gate, and there he waited, for it was not allowed for him to enter the courtyard
wearing sackcloth and covered in ashes. 3And in every province where the king's command
and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and
wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4The queen's maids and eunuchs came and told
her, and she was deeply distressed upon hearing of this situation. Then she sent garments to
clothe Mordecai and take his sackcloth away from him, but he would not accept them.†

  5Then Esther called Hathach, her eunuch who attended to her, and sent him out to learn

for herself the details from Mordecai. 7Mordecai made known to him what had happened,
and the offer Haman had made to the king to put ten thousand talents into the treasury to
destroy the Jews. 8He also gave him a copy of the decree posted in Susa concerning their
destruction to show it to Esther. He told him to instruct her to go in to the king and make
supplication before him, and to plead before him for the people, remembering, said he, “the
days of your low estate and how you were raised by my hand; because Haman, second to the
king, spoke against us for our death. Call upon the Lord and speak to the king concerning us,
and to deliver us from death!” 9So Hathach came and told her all these words.

  10Then Esther said to Hathach, “Go to Mordecai and say, 11‘All the nations of the kingdom
know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king who has not been
summoned, there is no deliverance for him unless the king holds out his golden scepter to
save that person. And I have not been called to go in to the king for thirty days.’ ” 12So
Hathach related all Esther's words to Mordecai.

  13And Mordecai said to Hathach, “Go and say to Esther, ‘Do not say to yourself that you

alone will be saved in the kingdom apart from all the other Jews.† 14For if you choose not to
heed this request at this time, help and deliverance for the Jews will arise elsewhere, but you
and your father's house will perish. Besides, who knows whether it is for this occasion you
reign as queen?’ ” 15Then Esther dispatched the one who came to her to Mordecai, saying,†
16“Go and assemble together the Jews in Susa. Fast for me; do not eat or drink for three full
days and three full nights. I and my maids will also fast. Then I will go to the king, contrary to
the law, even if I am to perish.” 17So Mordecai went and did all that Esther commanded him.

                                  The Prayer of Mordecai

  17aHe then beseeched the Lord, remembering all the works of the Lord, and said,†† 17b“O
Lord, Lord, almighty King, all things are under Your power, and there is no one to oppose You
in Your desire to save Israel. 17cFor You have made heaven and the earth, and every
wondrous thing under heaven, and You are the Lord of all, and there is no one who shall
resist You, Lord. 17dYou know all things: You know, O Lord, that it is not out of disrespect or
arrogance or love of honor that I did this, to refuse to bow down to the haughty Haman, for I
would have been happy to kiss the soles of his feet for the salvation of Israel. 17eFor I did this
in order that I not place the glory of man above the glory of God. I will not bow down to
anyone but You, my Lord, and I will not do these things out of arrogance.†

  17f“And now, O Lord God, King, God of Abraham, save Your people, for they look upon us

for our destruction, and they desire to destroy Your inheritance from the beginning. 17gDo
not disregard Your portion which You redeemed for Yourself out of the land of Egypt.
17hHear my prayer and be merciful to Your inheritance. Turn our mourning into feasting so
we may live and hymn Your name, O Lord. Do not destroy the mouth of those who praise
You.”

  17iThen all Israel cried out with all their might, for their death was before their eyes.

                                    The Prayer of Esther

  17jAnd Queen Esther, seized with the agony of death, fled to the Lord for refuge. And
removing her royal garments, she put on the garments of distress and mourning. Instead of
the magnificent perfumes, she covered her head with ashes and dirt. She humbled her body
exceedingly. She set aside everything of her worldly joy, and her hair was unkempt. She
implored the Lord God of Israel, and said:†

  17k“O My Lord, You alone are our King. Help me, who am alone and have no help but You!

For my risk of danger is in my hand. 17lI have heard from my birth in the tribe of my family
that You, O Lord, chose Israel out of all the nations, and our fathers out of all their ancestors,
for an everlasting inheritance, and do for them whatever You have spoken. 17mNow we
sinned before You, and You have delivered us into the hands of our enemies because we have
worshiped their gods. O Lord, You are righteous. 17nBut now they are not satisfied with the
bitter state of our bondage, but they have pledged to their idols to abolish the decree You
have spoken and to destroy Your inheritance, to close the mouths of those who praise You,
and to extinguish the glory of Your temple and Your altar, 17oand to open the mouths of the
heathen to proclaim the virtues of their false gods, and to extol a human king forever.

  17p“O Lord, do not give Your scepter over to those who are not. Do not let them laugh at
our fall, but turn their counsel against themselves, and make an example of the one who
rules against us. 17qRemember us, O Lord. Manifest Yourself in the time of our affliction,
and encourage me, O King of gods and ruler over every power. 17rGrant to my mouth proper
words in the presence of the lion, to turn his heart to a hatred of our enemy, so that he and
those agreeing with him may perish. 17sSave us by Your hand, and help me who am alone
and have no one but You, O Lord.

  17t“You know all things, and You know I hate the glory of the lawless and abhor the bed of

the uncircumcised and of every foreigner. 17uYou know my necessity, for I abhor the symbol
of my proud station which is upon my head on the days when I appear in public, as if it were
a menstrual rag, and I do not wear it on the days I am alone. 17vYour handmaid has not eaten
at the table of Haman, nor have I honored the banquet of the king, nor drunk the wine of
libations. 17wNeither has Your handmaid rejoiced since the day of her elevation, except in
You, O Lord, God of Abraham. 17xO God, who have power over all, hear the voice of us in
despair, and deliver us from the hand of those acting wickedly, and deliver me from my fear.”

                               Esther Goes before the King


5 And it happened on the third day, when she ceased praying, she took off the garments of
  the solemnity, and put on her glorious apparel.† 2And having become resplendent,
appealing to the all-seeing God and Savior, she took with her two of her favorite maids. Upon
the one she leaned as an elegant woman and the other maid followed behind her, bearing her
train.† 3She was aglow in the perfection of her beauty. Her face was as radiant as it was
lovely, but her heart shrank with fear.† 4And having entered through all the doors, she stood
face to face with the king. He was sitting on his royal throne, clothed in all his glorious
apparel, covered with gold and precious stones. He was awesome. 5And as he looked up,
resplendent in his glory, at the very edge of anger, the queen collapsed, her complexion paled,
and she slumped against the head of the maid who went before her. 6But God changed the
spirit of the king to gentleness. And full of great concern, he leapt from his throne and held
her in his arms until she recovered. He comforted her with calming words and said to her,
7“Esther, what is it? I am your brother. Be of good cheer! You are not going to die because of

this usual ordinance. Come near!” 8And lifting his golden scepter, he laid it upon her neck,
and he embraced her and said, “Speak to me.”

  9And she said to him, “I saw you, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was troubled
for fear of your majesty, for you, my lord, are awesome, and your face is full of kindness.”
10But while she was speaking to him, she fainted. And the king was troubled, and all his
servants comforted her.

  11And the king said, “What do you want, Esther? What is your request? It shall be granted

to you, even up to half my kingdom.”† 12Then Esther said, “Today is my special day. If,
therefore, it pleases the king, let both you and Haman come to the banquet which I will
prepare for today.”† 13And the king said, “Have Haman hasten here that we may do what
Esther asks.” They both came to the banquet of which Esther spoke.
                                  Esther's First Banquet

  14So at the banquet, the king said to Esther, “What is it, Queen Esther? Whatever you

desire will be granted to you.” 15And she said, “My request and my petition is this: 16If I find
favor in the sight of the king, let the king and Haman also come tomorrow to the banquet
which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do the same.”†

 17So Haman went out from the king overjoyed and cheerful, but when Haman saw

Mordecai the Jew in the court, he was enraged.† 18And having entered his own home, he
called his friends and his wife, Zeresh. 19And he showed them his wealth and the honor the
king had bestowed upon him, how he made him to be first and chief in the kingdom.
20Haman added, “The queen invited no one else to be with the king at the banquet except

me, and I am also invited tomorrow. 21But these things do not please me when I see
Mordecai the Jew in the courtyard.”

  22Then Zeresh his wife and friends said to him, “Have a tree cut down, fifty cubits high,
and in the morning speak to the king and let Mordecai be hanged on the tree. But go with the
king to the banquet and be merry.” Haman liked what they said, and the tree was made
ready.†

                                The King's Sleepless Night


6 But  the Lord made it difficult for the king to sleep that night, and the king commanded
  his servant to bring in the written records of notable events.† 2And he found the written
records about Mordecai, how he had told the king about the two eunuchs of the king when
they were keeping guard and sought to lay hands on Artaxerxes. 3Then the king said, “Has
any honor or favor been granted Mordecai?” And the king's servants said, “Nothing was done
for him.”

  4And at the same time the king asked about the good will of Mordecai, behold, Haman
entered the courtyard. The king said, “Who is in the courtyard?” Haman had come in to talk
to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared. 5And the king's servants
said, “Behold, Haman is standing in the courtyard.” And the king said, “Let him come in.”

                                The King Honors Mordecai
 6The king said to Haman, “What should I do for a man whom I wish to honor?” And

Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to honor but me?”† 7So Haman said
to the king, 8“As for the man whom the king wishes to honor, have the king's servant bring
the royal robe the king wears, along with the horse he rides, 9and let these be given to one of
the king's honored friends, and let him clothe the man whom the king loves and then mount
him upon the horse. And let it be proclaimed in the city square, saying, ‘Thus it shall be done
for every man whom the king honors!’ ” 10Then the king said to Haman, “You have spoken
well; thus you shall do to Mordecai the Jew, the one serving in the courtyard, and let no word
you have spoken be overlooked.” 11So Haman took the robe and the horse and arrayed
Mordecai with the robe, and mounted him on the horse; and he went throughout the city
square, and proclaimed, saying, “Thus shall it be done to every man whom the king honors.”†

  12Mordecai returned to the courtyard, but Haman returned to his own quarters grieving,

with his head down. 13And Haman related these events to his wife Zeresh and his friends.
Then his friends and wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you are beginning to fall, is
of the Jewish race, you will not be able to defend against him, for the living God is with him.”
14While they were still speaking, the king's eunuchs came to hasten Haman to the banquet
which Esther had prepared.

                                  Esther's Second Banquet

   So the king and Haman came to the banquet to drink together with the queen.† 2And the
7 king said to Esther on this second day of the banquet, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is
your request? What is your petition? Let it be granted to you, even up to half my kingdom.”
3She said in reply, “If I have found favor in the sight of the king, let my life be given to me at

my request, and my people at my petition. 4For both I and my people are sold into
destruction, pillage, and bondage. We and our descendants have already been enslaved as
male and female slaves, and I refuse to listen to this, for the accuser of my people is not
worthy of the king's court.”† 5Then the king said, “Who is this who dared to do this thing?”
6And Esther said, “The enemy is this wicked man, Haman.” Then Haman was troubled before
the king and the queen.

                                      Haman Is Hanged

  7The king arose from the banquet and went into the garden, but Haman was pleading with
the queen, for he realized that he was in desperate circumstances. 8The king returned from
the garden, and Haman, while entreating the queen, had fallen upon the couch. And the king
said, “So! Will you force yourself upon my wife in my own house?” And hearing this, Haman
changed in his countenance. 9Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, “Look!
Haman has prepared a gallows for Mordecai, the one who spoke for the benefit of the king. A
gallows fifty cubits high has been set up at Haman's place.” Then the king said, “Hang him on
it!”† 10And Haman was hung on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of
the king was appeased.

                                Haman's Plot Is Thwarted


8 On that day, King Artaxerxes gave Esther everything belonging to Haman the accuser.
  And Mordecai was summoned before the king, because Esther made known his
relationship to her. 2The king then took the signet ring he had taken from Haman and gave it
to Mordecai. Then Esther appointed Mordecai over everything that belonged to Haman.

 3Again she fell down at the feet of the king, and she implored him to remove all the evils

Haman had done to the Jews. 4Then the king held out his golden scepter toward Esther. So
Esther arose and stood beside the king and said, 5“If it seems good to you, and I have found
favor, let a letter be sent out to revoke the letters sent out by Haman, which were written to
annihilate all the Jews in your kingdom.† 6For how can I be able to look upon the oppression
of my people? How will I endure the destruction of my countrymen?”

  7Then the king said to Esther, “Since I granted you everything that belonged to Haman, and
hung him from the gallows because he laid hands on the Jews, what else do you want?
8Write it yourselves in my name, as it seems good to you, and seal it with my ring; for
whatever is written by command of the king and sealed with my ring cannot be revoked.”

  9So the scribes were summoned in the first month, which is Nisan, on the twenty-third day
of that same year. For whatever was ordered was written to the Jews, to the local governors,
and to the chiefs of the satraps from India as far as Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven
provinces, to every place according to their own language.† 10So it was written by the
authority of the king and sealed with his ring, and the letters were dispatched by couriers.
11As he commanded by these letters, the Jews were to exercise their own laws in every city, to
be of help to each other, and to treat their adversaries and those opposing them as they
wished. 12This was to take effect beginning on one day throughout all the kingdom of
Artaxerxes—the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is Adar.

                                       The New Decree

  12aThe following is a copy of the letter:†

  12bThe great King Artaxerxes, to the governors of the provinces in the hundred twenty-
seven satrapies, from India to Ethiopia, and to the faithful to our interests: Greetings!

  12cMany of those who have been frequently honored in the great kindness of their
benefactors have become high-minded; not only do they seek to do harm to our subjects, but
being unable to bear such a measure, they undertake to plot against their own benefactors.†
12dNot only do they drive out gratitude from among men, but also being puffed up by those
who are unacquainted with goodness, they suppose they will escape the vengeance of the all-
seeing God. 12eAnd often, many of those who have been appointed to positions of authority,
being entrusted to manage the affairs of friends and having been given a position of authority
as an encouragement, have become accessories to the shedding of innocent blood; 12fand
they have involved them in circumstances without remedy by deceiving with false arguments
the benign kindness of the rulers. 12gAnd it is possible to observe this, not so much from
examining the ancient traditions, as by your learning from the wicked deeds accomplished in
your midst by the pestilential influence of those unworthy of holding power. 12hWe must be
on guard for the future, that we may maintain the kingdom undisturbed and peaceful for all
the people, 12imaking the most of changes, and always judging fairly in the matters coming
to our attention.

  12jThus Haman, the son of Hammedatha, a Macedonian, certainly not of Persian blood, but

differing greatly from our kindness, and having been hospitably received by us, 12kreceived
such a large share of the benevolence which we have for all peoples that he was even publicly
proclaimed to be our father, reverenced by all; he attained the rank of second to the royal
throne. 12lBut unable to bear his dignity, he endeavored to deprive us of our kingdom and
our life. 12mAnd by very twisted methods of deception, he demanded the destruction of our
deliverer and constant benefactor, Mordecai, and Esther, the blameless consort of our
kingdom, together with their whole race.† 12nFor through these ways, he expected to catch
the nation of the Persians undefended, and to guide the Macedonians to victory. 12oHowever,
we find that the Jews, who have been consigned to destruction by this terribly wicked man,
are not criminals, but live by most just laws. 12pWe find them to be children of the Most
High, Most Mighty, Living God, who has guided the kingdom both for us and our forefathers
in the most excellent manner.

  12qTherefore, you will do well to disregard the letters sent by Haman the son of
Hammedatha, because he who has produced these has been hanged at the gates of Susa,
along with his whole household. For God Almighty, who rules over all things, swiftly
rendered a just judgment on him.

  12rTherefore, post a copy of this document publicly in every place, making it known that
the Jews are to follow their own customs; and join in supporting them, so that on the day set
for their destruction, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month Adar, they may defend
themselves against those who would attack them.† 12sFor God, who holds power over all
things, has made this a day of gladness for them instead of a day of the destruction of a
chosen race.† 12tTherefore, celebrate this outstanding day among your named feasts with all
rejoicing, so that both now and in the future it may be deliverance for us and for the well-
inclined Persians; and for those who plot destruction against us, a remembrance of
destruction. 12uAnd every city or province whatsoever which shall not act in accordance with
these things shall be mercilessly destroyed with spear and fire; it shall be made impassable
not only to men, but even to wild animals and birds forever. 13Let copies of the decree be
posted conspicuously throughout the kingdom, and let all the Jews be ready on that day to
fight against those who oppose them.

                             The Posting of the New Decree

  14So horsemen were sent out quickly to carry out the king's commands, and the decree was
also posted in Susa.

  15Then Mordecai went out robed in royal raiment, having a gold crown and a diadem of

fine purple linen; and seeing him, the people of Susa rejoiced.† 16And there was light and
gladness for the Jews.† 17In every city and province where the decree was published, where
the proclamation was posted, there was joy and gladness among the Jews—feasting and good
cheer. And many of the Gentiles were circumcised and lived in the Jewish way, because of
fear of the Jews.†
                              The Jews Defeat Their Enemies


9 Now  in the twelfth month, on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, the decree written
  by the king arrived.† 2On that day those in opposition were destroyed by the Jews, for
fearing them, no one resisted. 3For the leaders of the satraps, the sovereigns, and the royal
scribes honored the Jews, and the fear of Mordecai weighed on them, 4for the order of the
king had come down that Mordecai should be acknowledged throughout the kingdom. 5And
in the city of Susa, the Jews killed five hundred men. 6These included Parshandatha,
Dalphon, Aspatha, 7Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 8Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vajezatha—
9the ten sons of Haman, son of Hamadatha, the enemy of the Jews. They ravaged them. 10On
that day, the number of those killed in Susa was reported to the king.

  11Then the king said to Esther, “The Jews have killed five hundred men in the city of Susa.
How do you think they have made out in the surrounding lands? What more do you yet
desire, so that it will be done for you?” 12Esther said to the king, “Let the Jews be granted the
opportunity to do the same tomorrow in order to hang the sons of Haman.” 13And he
permitted this to be done, and he set out for the Jews of the city the bodies of the sons of
Haman to hang. 14Then the Jews gathered together in Susa on the fourteenth of Adar and
killed three hundred men, but they plundered nothing.

  15The rest of the Jews throughout the kingdom assembled and came to the aid of one
another, and they had rest from their enemies, for they killed fifteen thousand of them on the
thirteenth of Adar, but they plundered nothing. 16Then they rested on the fourteenth of that
month, and observed it as a day of rest with joy and gladness.

  17And the Jews in the city of Susa also gathered together on the fourteenth, but did not rest

from their enemies, but they observed the fifteenth with joy and gladness. 18This is why the
Jews scattered in every foreign land observe the fourteenth of Adar with gladness as a
holiday, sending parcels to their neighbors. But those living in the major cities keep the
fifteenth of Adar as a holiday, sending parcels to their neighbors.

                                     The Feast of Purim

  19Mordecai wrote these things in a book and sent it to all the Jews in the kingdom of

Artaxerxes, to those both near and far,† 20to establish these days as holidays, and to observe
both the fourteenth and fifteenth day of Adar— 21for on these days the Jews had rest from
their enemies. Thus Adar is the month which was turned from mourning into joy, and from
grief into a holiday; to celebrate the whole time with feasting and gladness, sending parcels to
friends and to the poor.

  22The Jews accepted everything just as Mordecai wrote to them: 23how Haman the son of
Hamadatha, the Macedonian, warred against them; how he had made a decree and cast lots to
exterminate them; 24how he had gone to the king telling him to hang Mordecai; and how all
the evils he plotted against the Jews came upon himself, and how he was hanged, he and his
children. 25Therefore these days were called Purim—on account of the lots (because in their
language they are called pur), because of the words of this letter, and because of all they had
suffered on account of these things and all that had happened to them.†

  26Mordecai established it, and the Jews took it upon themselves, their descendants, and
upon those joining with them not to do otherwise. And these days are to be a memorial
throughout every generation, and city, and family, and province. 27Thus these days of Purim
shall be observed forever, and their remembrance shall not cease in any generation. 28Then
Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew wrote down the many things they
had done and the truthfulness of the command of Purim. 29And Mordecai and Queen Esther
established it for themselves, establishing it at that time according to their soundness of
mind and their purpose. 30Esther established it by a command forever, and it was written for
a memorial.

                                                                           2
10 And  the king levied tribute upon his kingdom both by land and sea. And his power and
   valor, the riches and the glory of his kingdom, behold, they are written in the book of
the kings of Persia and Media for a memorial. 3And Mordecai was next to King Artaxerxes,
and he was great in the kingdom and honored by the Jews; and being beloved, he set forth in
detail the way of life to all his people.

                                            Epilogue

  3aAnd Mordecai said, “These things were from my God.† 3bFor I recall the dream which I
had concerning these things, and not one detail of them has failed.

  3c“There was a small spring that became a river; there was light and the sun and much
water. The river is Esther, whom the king married and made queen. 3dThe two serpents are
Haman and I. 3eThe nations are the Gentiles gathering together to destroy the name of the
Jews. 3fAnd my nation, which cried out to God and was delivered, is Israel. For the Lord has
saved His people, and the Lord has rescued us from all these evils. And God performed signs
and great wonders, which have not happened among the Gentiles.

 3g“On account of this, He made two lots, one for the people of God and one for the

Gentiles. 3hAnd these two lots came in the hour, and in the time, and in the day of judgment
before God and among all the Gentiles. 3iAnd God remembered His people and vindicated
His inheritance. 3jAnd they shall observe these days in the month of Adar, the fourteenth and
fifteenth day of that month. They shall gather together with joy and gladness before God
throughout all generations forever among His people Israel.”

  3kIn the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said he was a
priest and a Levite, and Ptolemy his son brought in the letter of Purim, which they declared
existed, and that Lysimachus, the son of Ptolemy, who was in Jerusalem, had translated it.†
                                    1 M ACCABE E S
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Chapters in 1 Maccabees
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71, 72, 73

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80

81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71, 72, 73, 74

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41

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Verses in 1 Maccabees Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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                                              The First Book of the Maccabees

     Author  —Although the author of 1 Maccabees never identifies himself, it may reasonably
  be assumed that he was an orthodox Jew familiar with both the geography and the
  topography of Judea.

     Date   —About 104 BC, according to the last two verses of the book (16:23, 24). The work
  was compiled during or shortly after the reign of John Hyrcanus I (134–104 BC), the
  high priest and ruler of Israel. It covers the period from the reign of Antiochus IV
  Epiphanes (175–164 BC) to the succession of John Hyrcanus.

     Major Theme     —God's deliverance of Israel during the Jewish Wars. The author makes it
  clear that God chose the Hasmonean family as the instrument of his deliverance (5:62).
  Their primary objective was the rededication of the temple (4:36–61), an event still
  celebrated by Jews everywhere as the festival of Hanukkah, from the Hebrew word for
  “dedication.”

     Background     —First Maccabees was originally written in Hebrew and was probably called
  “The Hasmoneans,” after Mattathias of the house of Hashmon (2:1). It was Mattathias
  who began the Jewish revolt with the help of his five sons. The bulk of the book
  recounts Judah's war against Antiochus IV, the Seleucid ruler who tried to force
  Hellenism upon the Jews.

 Outline

   I. Prologue: The Hellenistic Em pire from Alexander to Antiochus IV (1 :1 –6 4 )

  II. The Hasm onean (Maccabean) Rev olt (2 :1 –4 :6 1 )

 III. Jewish Expeditions against Neighboring Tribes (5:1 –6 8)

 IV. Ly sias Usurps the Throne (6 :1 –6 3 )

  V. The Reign of Dem etrius I Soter (7 :1 –50)

 VI. The Alliance between the Jews and the Rom ans (8:1 –3 1 )

VII. Jonathan Succeeds Judas (9 :1 –7 3 )

VIII. The Rise and Fall of Alexander Balas (1 0:1 –1 1 :1 9 )

 IX. Dem etrius II Betray s the Jews (1 1 :2 0–53 )

  X. Try pho and the Reign of Antiochus VI (1 1 :54 –1 2 :53 )

 XI. The Em ergence of the Jewish Nation under Sim on (1 3 :1 –1 6 :2 4 )
                                    Alexander the Great


1 After Alexander, the son of Philip the Macedonian, came out of the land of Kittim and
  conquered Macedonia, and defeated Darius the king of the Persians and the Medes, and
reigned in his place—he was already king of Greece—† 2he then fought numerous wars,
conquered for-tresses, and slaughtered the kings of the earth. 3He went to the ends of the
earth and took the spoils of many nations. So the earth rested from war before him, and he
was exalted; his heart was likewise encouraged. 4He formed a mighty army and ruled
countries, nations, and princes, and they all paid taxes to him.

  5Then later, he fell sick, and he knew he was dying. 6So he brought in his trusted servants
who had grown up with him from childhood, and parceled out his kingdom to them while he
was still living. 7After Alexander reigned for twelve years, death claimed him. 8Then his
servants began to rule, each in his appointed place.† 9They all put on crowns after he died,
and their sons for many years after them, and the evils they caused multiplied on the earth.

                      Antiochus Epiphanes and the Lawless Jews

  10A sinful root came forth from them, Antiochus Epiphanes, the son of Antiochus the king,
who was a hostage in Rome. He began his reign in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of
the kingdom of the Greeks.

  11In those days lawless men came forth from the sons of Israel, and they persuaded many,
saying, “Let us make a covenant with the Gentiles surrounding us, for ever since we were
separated from them, many evils have found us.”† 12This proposal found favor in their eyes,
13and some of the people eagerly desired to enter into this agreement. So they went to the

king, and he gave them authority to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles. 14Then they built
a gymnasium in Jerusalem according to the customs of the Gentiles, 15and made themselves
as the uncircumcision. So they fell away from the holy covenant, yoked themselves to the
Gentiles, and sold themselves to do evil.

                                Antiochus Conquers Egypt

  16Thus the kingdom was prepared before Antiochus, and he determined he would reign

over the land of Egypt, so as to rule over two kingdoms.† 17Thus he entered Egypt with a
strong multitude of chariots, elephants, cavalrymen, and a large army. 18He engaged Ptolemy
king of Egypt in battle, and Ptolemy turned from him in shame and fled. Many were wounded
and fell. 19So they captured mighty cities in Egypt, and Antiochus took spoils in the land of
Egypt.

                                               Antiochus Pillages the Temple

 20After he conquered Egypt in the one hundred and forty-third year, Antiochus turned and

went up to Israel and Jerusalem with a large army.† 21He entered the sanctuary in arrogance
and took the golden altar, the lampstand, all the utensils, 22the table of presentation, the
cups and bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the golden ornaments on the
face of the temple. He stripped everything, 23and took the silver and the gold and everything
costly, and the hidden treasures he found. 24Taking all these things, he departed for his own
land. He committed deeds of murder and spoke with great arrogance.

    25
         There was great m ourning ev ery where in Israel,

    26
         Rulers and elders groaned,

    Virgins and y oung m en grew weak,

    And the beauty of the wom en was altered.

    27
         Ev ery bridegroom took up a lam ent

    And sat m ourning in his bridal cham ber.

    28
         The land was shaken for its inhabitants,

    And all the house of Jacob was clothed with sham e.

                                               More Destruction in Jerusalem

  29After two years, the king sent a revenue official to the cities of Judah, and he entered

Jerusalem with a large army.† 30Antiochus spoke peaceable words to them with deceit, and
they believed him. Then he fell upon the city suddenly, struck it a great blow, and killed many
people from Israel. 31He took spoils from the city, set it on fire, and tore down its houses and
the city walls. 32They took captive the women and the children and took possession of the
animals.

  33Then they built the city of David with a great and strong wall and strong towers, and it

became their citadel. 34They placed there a sinful nation of lawless men, and they became
strong within it. 35And they laid up weapons and provisions, and gathered together the spoils
they had taken from Jerusalem. Then they returned there and were like a great snare.

    36
         It becam e an am bush against the sanctuary ,

    An ev il accuser against Israel continually .

    37
         They shed innocent blood around the sanctuary

    And defiled the sanctuary .

    38
         The inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them ,

    And she becam e a dwelling place of strangers.

    She becam e a stranger to her offspring,

    And her children forsook her.

    39
         Her sanctuary was laid waste like a desert

    And her feasts were turned into m ourning,

    Her Sabbaths into a disgrace

    And her honor into contem pt.

    40
         Her dishonor prev ailed against her glory ,

    And her high position was turned into m ourning.

                                                       A Decree of Corruption

  41Then the king wrote to all his kingdom, that they all were to be as one people,† 42and
that each one was to forsake his customs. So all the nations accepted the word of the king.
43Many from Israel also thought it good to serve him, so they sacrificed to idols and profaned
the Sabbath.

 44Then the king sent books to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah by the hand of

messengers, and told them to follow foreign customs in the land, 45to forbid whole burnt
offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings in the sanctuary, to profane the Sabbaths and the
feasts, 46and to defile the sanctuary and the holy ones. 47These books also told them to build
altars, sacred precincts, and temples to idols, to sacrifice swine and common animals, 48to
leave their sons uncircumcised, so they would corrupt their souls by every unclean and
profane thing, 49and forget the law and alter all the ordinances. 50They also added that
whoever did not obey the word of the king would die.

  51According to all these words he wrote to everyone in his kingdom. He also placed
inspectors over all the people and commanded the cities of Judah to sacrifice in each and
every city. 52Thus many of the people, everyone who forsook the law, joined together and did
evil things in the land. 53They forced Israel to hide in every place of refuge they had.

  54Then on the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-fifth year, they set up
the abomination of desolation on the altar of the whole burnt offerings and built altars in the
surrounding cities of Judah.† 55They also burned incense at the doors of houses and in the
streets. 56And when they found books of the law, they tore them to pieces and burned them
in the fire. 57Whenever a book of the covenant was found in someone's possession, or if
anyone sympathized with the law, the judgment of the king was to kill him. 58They acted
with their might against Israel, against those who were found month after month in the
cities.

  59Then on the twenty-fifth day of the month they sacrificed on the altar, which was on top

of the altar of the whole burnt offerings. 60In keeping with the decree, they sentenced to
death the women who had their children circumcised, 61and the families who had
circumcised them, and hung the infants from their mothers’ necks. 62Yet many in Israel grew
strong, and determined in themselves not to eat unclean things.† 63They chose rather to die
than be defiled by foods or profane the holy covenant. So they died, 64and great wrath came
upon Israel.

                                                       The Zeal of Mattathias


2 InJoarib,
       those days Mattathias, the son of John of the tribe of Simeon, a priest of the sons of
            rose up from Jerusalem and settled in Modein.† 2He had five sons: John, called
Gaddi; 3Simon, called Thassi; 4Judas, called Maccabeus; 5Eleazar, called Avaran; and
Jonathan, called Apphus. 6He saw the blasphemies taking place in Judah and Jerusalem,
7and said:

     “Alas, why was I born to see this,

     The ruin of m y people,

     The destruction of the holy city ,

     And to liv e there when it was deliv ered

     Into the hand of the enem y ,

     The sanctuary into the hand of foreigners.

     8
         Her tem ple has becom e like a m an without honor.

     9
         Her glorious v essels were carried away into captiv ity ;
    Her infants hav e been slain in the streets,

    Her y oung m en with the sword of the enem y .

    10
         What nation has not inherited her palaces

    And taken hold of her spoils?

    11
         All her adornm ent has been rem ov ed:

    In place of freedom , she has becom e a slav e;

    12
         And behold, our sanctuary ,

    Our beauty and our glory hav e been laid waste,

    And the Gentiles hav e desecrated it.

    13
         Why should we liv e any longer?”

  14Thus Mattathias and his sons tore their clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned
exceedingly.

                                                      Apostasy at Modein

  15Now those from the king who were enforcing the apostasy journeyed to the city of

Modein to make them offer sacrifice,† 16and many from Israel also came with them. So
Mattathias and his sons gathered together. 17Then those from the king spoke to Mattathias,
saying, “You are a great and glorious leader in this city and supported by your sons and
brothers. 18Now come, be the first to follow the decree of the king, as all the Gentiles and the
men of Judah have done, and those who remain in Jerusalem; and you and your sons will be
among the king's friends, and you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and
many rewards.”

  19Then Mattathias answered, speaking with a loud voice, “Though all the Gentiles in the
house of the kingdom of the king obey him, and each turns from the worship of their fathers
and chooses to follow his commands, 20my sons and my brothers and I will continue in the
covenant of our fathers. 21Far be it from us to forsake the law and the ordinances. 22We will
not obey the words of the king to turn aside from our worship to the right or to the left.”

  23When he finished saying these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of everyone to

sacrifice upon the altar in Modein in accordance with the king's decree. 24When Mattathias
saw him, he was filled with zeal, and his heart trembled and poured forth anger in judgment.
Then he ran and slew him upon the altar.† 25So he killed the king's man who wanted to offer
sacrifice at that time, and he tore down the altar. 26Thus he had zeal for the law, just as
Phinehas had against Zambri the son of Salome.

                                 Warfare in the Wilderness

  27Then Mattathias cried out with a loud voice in the city, saying, “Every one who has zeal

for the law and holds to the covenant, let him follow me.”† 28So he and his sons fled into the
mountains and left behind whatever they had in the city.

  29Then many who sought righteousness and judgment went down to the desert to live

there, 30they, their sons, their women, and their cattle, because evils increased severely
against them. 31It was also announced to the king's men and the soldiers in Jerusalem, the
city of David, that certain men who had scattered when the command of the king was made
known had gone into hiding in the desert. 32Thus, many ran after them, tracked them down,
marched against them, and engaged them in battle on the Sabbath day.†

  33Then they said to them, “Now, come out and do the will of the king and you shall live.”
34But they answered, “We will not come out, nor will we do the will of the king to desecrate

the Sabbath day.” 35So the enemy rushed into battle against them. 36Yet they did not answer
them, nor did they cast a stone, nor did they block up their hiding places, 37saying, “Let us all
die in our innocence. Heaven and earth will testify for us that you destroyed us unjustly.”
38So the king's men rose against them in battle on the Sabbath, and they died along with
their women, children, and cattle, as many as a thousand people.

  39Then Mattathias and his friends grieved for them exceedingly.† 40So each one said to his
neighbor, “If we do as our brothers did and fail to fight against the Gentiles for our life and
our ordinances, they will quickly wipe us off the earth.” 41So they resolved on that day,
saying, “Every man who comes against us for battle on the Sabbath day, let us war against
him, and we shall not all die as our brothers did in their hiding places.”

  42Then the synagogue of the Hasideans gathered with them, a mighty army from Israel,

everyone who willingly offered himself for the law.† 43Everyone who escaped from evils was
added to them and became their support. 44So they formed an army, and struck the sinners
in their wrath and the lawless men in their anger. The rest fled to the Gentiles to be rescued.
45Mattathias and his allies also surrounded the altars and tore them down, 46and they
circumcised the uncircumcised boys by force, as many as they found in the mountains of
Israel. 47Thus they pursued the sons of arrogance, and the undertaking prospered in their
hand. 48They took the law out of the hand of the Gentiles and the kings, and did not allow
the sinners to dominate them.

                                   Last Days of Mattathias

  49Then the days approached for Mattathias to die, and he spoke to his sons, saying, “Now
arrogance and scorn and the time of destruction and furious anger have been strengthened.
50Therefore, children, be zealous for the law, and offer your lives for the covenant of our

fathers; 51and remember the deeds our fathers did in their generations, and receive great
honor and an everlasting name. 52Was not Abraham found faithful in trial, and it was
reckoned to him as righteousness? 53And Joseph at the time of his trouble kept the
commandment and became ruler of Egypt. 54Phinehas our father showed true zeal and
received a covenant of eternal priesthood. 55Joshua fulfilled the word and became a judge in
Israel. 56Caleb testified in the assembly and received an inheritance in the land. 57David, in
the mercy shown him, inherited the throne of the kingdom forever. 58In his great zeal for the
law, Elijah was taken up into heaven. 59Ananias, Azarias, and Mishael believed and were
saved from the fiery furnace. 60In his innocence, Daniel was delivered from the mouth of
lions. 61Thus, understand from generation to generation that all who hope in the Lord will
not be weak. 62Do not fear the words of a sinful man, because his glory is like manure and
worms. 63Today he will be exalted, but tomorrow he will not be found; for he returned to his
dust, and his purpose will perish. 64Children, be courageous and strong in the law, because
you will be honored by it.

  65“So behold Simeon, your brother. I know he is a man of wisdom. Listen to him every day,

and he shall be your father.† 66Judas Maccabeus, mighty in fighting from his youth, he shall
be the leader of your army, and he will fight the fight of the people. 67And you, bring forth
with you all those who are doers of the law, and seek justice for your people. 68Repay the
Gentiles in full, and hold fast to the ordinance of the law.”

  69Then he blessed them and was added to his fathers. 70So he died in the one hundred and
forty-sixth year and was buried in the tomb of his fathers in Modein; and all of Israel
mourned him with great mourning.
                                           Judas Maccabeus Succeeds His Father

   Then Judas his son, who was called Maccabeus, rose up in his place. 2His brothers all
3 helped him, and everyone who had been allied with his father, and they fought the battle
for Israel with gladness.

                                                        Eulogy to Mattathias

    3
        He enlarged his people's glory

    And was clothed with a breastplate like a giant;

    And he girded on his weapons And waged war,

    Sheltering the cam p with his sword.

    4
        He was like a lion in his deeds,

    Like a y oung lion roaring for its prey .

    5
        For he pursued the lawless and searched them out;

    And he set on fire those who troubled his people.

    6
        The lawless were hum bled from fear of him ,

    And all the workers of lawlessness were troubled;

    For deliv erance prospered by his hand.

    7
        He em bittered m any rulers,

    And brought joy to Jacob by his deeds;

    And m ay his m em ory be blessed forev er.

    8
        He passed through the cities of Judah

    And destroy ed the ungodly from the land;

    And he turned wrath away from Israel.

    9
        His nam e was known to the ends of the earth,

    And he gathered those who were perishing.

                                                       Judas’ Early Victories

  10Then Apollonius gathered the Gentiles together and brought a great army from Samaria

to wage war with Israel. 11But Judas knew it and went out to meet him. He struck and killed
him, and many wounded fell; and the rest fled. 12They took their spoils, and Judas took the
sword of Apollonius and fought with it every day.

   13Now Seron, the leader of the army of Syria, heard Judas had gathered a large assembly of

faithful men with him, and they were going out into battle. 14So he said, “I will make a name
for myself and be honored in the kingdom. I will fight Judas and his followers who despised
the word of the king.” 15He set forth, and with him went an army of godless men, strong
enough to help him take vengeance on the sons of Israel.

  16So he drew near to the highlands of Beth-Horon, and Judas went out to meet him with

only a few allies. 17As they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Judas, “How will
we, being few, be able to fight against such a powerful number? We who have come out today
are weak from lack of food.” 18Then Judas said, “It is easy to hem in many at the hands of a
few, and it makes no difference before heaven to save with many or with few. 19For victory in
battle does not come from the size of the army, but from the might of heaven. 20These come
against us in the abundance of insolence and lawlessness, to seize us and our women and
children, and to take spoils from us; 21but we are fighting for our lives and our laws. 22God
Himself will crush them from before our face; but as for you, do not fear because of them.”

  23When he was through speaking, Judas suddenly rushed against them, and Seron and his

army were destroyed before him. 24He pursued him into the descent of Beth-Horon as far as
the plain. Around eight hundred of their soldiers perished; the remainder fled into the land of
the Philistines. 25Then fear of Judas and his brothers began, and terror fell upon the nations
around them. 26So his fame reached the king, and the Gentiles talked about the battles of
Judas.

                                   Syrian Counterattack

  27When Antiochus the king heard these words, he was very angry, and he sent and

gathered all the forces of his kingdom, an exceedingly strong army. 28He also opened his
treasury and gave a year's wages to the troops, and commanded them to be ready for any
need. 29Then he noticed the silver in the treasury was depleted, and the taxes from the region
were small, because of the dissension and misfortune he caused in the land when he took
away the laws that existed from the earliest days. 30So he took care not to pay out
expenditures and give gifts as abundantly as he had done before, even more lavishly than the
previous kings. 31He was very disturbed in himself, so he decided to go to Persia and collect
taxes from those regions and gather abundant silver.

  32He left Lysias, a man of distinction from the royal lineage, in charge of all the king's

affairs, from the river Euphrates to the boundary of Egypt.† 33He was also to take care of his
son Antiochus until his return. 34Then he handed over to Lysias half of the armies and the
elephants. He gave him orders concerning all his wishes and concerning those who lived in
Judea and Jerusalem. 35He ordered him to send an army against them, to destroy them and
remove the might of Israel and the remnant of Jerusalem, and to remove their memory from
that place. 36He was also to settle foreigners in all their regions and distribute their land by
lot. 37Then the king took half of the remaining armies and left Antioch, the capital of his
kingdom. In the one hundred and forty-seventh year, he crossed over the Euphrates River
and entered the regions on the other side.

  38Lysias appointed Ptolemy, the son of Dorymenes, and Nicanor and Gorgias, valiant men

who were loyal to the king, 39and he sent with them forty thousand infantry and seven
thousand cavalry to go into the region of Judah and crush it according to the king's orders.
40So he set out with the whole army, and they went and camped near Emmaus on the plain.
41When the merchants of the region heard about them, they took a very large amount of
silver and gold and shackles and went into the camp to obtain the sons of Israel as slaves. The
army of Syria and of the land of the Philistines joined them as well.

                                                  The Jews Prepare for Battle

  42Now Judas and his brothers saw that evil events were increasing and the armies were
encamped at their borders. They learned also the words of the king which he ordered, to bring
destruction and annihilation on the people.† 43So each man said to his neighbor, “Let us
repair the ruin of our people and battle for our people and the sanctuary.” 44Then the
assembly gathered to prepare for battle and to pray and ask God for mercy and compassion.

    45
         Jerusalem was uninhabited like a desert.

    No one brought products in or took them out,

    And the sanctuary had been tram pled down.

    The sons of foreigners were in the citadel,

    A lodging place for the Gentiles.

    Gladness was taken from Jacob,

    And flute and harp play ed no m ore.

 46They assembled and went into Mizpah, opposite Jerusalem, because at a former time

Mizpah was a place for prayer in Israel. 47They fasted on that day and put on sackcloth,
sprinkled ashes upon their head, and tore their garments. 48They opened the book of the law
to look into those matters about which the Gentiles consulted the likenesses of their idols.
49They also carried the priestly garments and the firstfruits and the tithe, and they stirred up

the Nazirites who had finished their days. 50Then they cried aloud to heaven, saying,

    “What do we do with these,

    And where will we take them ?

    51
         Your sanctuary has been tram pled down and defiled,

    And Your priests are in m ourning and hum iliated.

    52
         Behold, the Gentiles hav e gathered against us to destroy us.

    You know what they plan against us.

    53
         How will we be able to stand against them

    If You will not help us?”

  54Then they blew the trumpets and cried out with a loud shout. 55After this, Judas
appointed rulers for the people, leaders for thousands and hundreds and fifties and tens.
56He ordered those who were building houses, or were betrothed to women, or were growing
vineyards, or were afraid, to return each one to his own home, according to the law.

  57Then the army departed and set up camp south of Emmaus. 58Judas said to them, “Be
ready at dawn to fight with these Gentiles who have gathered against us to destroy us and our
sanctuary. 59For it is better for us to die in war than to look upon the evils the Gentiles
would bring to us and the sanctuary. 60But as God's will is in heaven, so He will do.”

                                        Judas Fights the Gentiles at Emmaus


4 Then Gorgias took five thousand men and a thousand choice cavalry, and the army
  marched out by night, 2to descend upon the camp of the Judaeans and strike them
suddenly. Young men from the citadel served as his guides. 3But Judas got word of it, and he
and his soldiers marched out to strike the king's army in Emmaus 4while his forces were
dispersed from the camp. 5When Gorgias came into the camp of Judas at night, he found no
one. So he sought them in the mountains, saying, “These are fleeing from us.”

  6At first light, Judas was seen on the plain with three thousand men, but they did not have

armor and swords as they wished. 7They saw the Gentiles’ camp with strong fortification and
surrounded by cavalry trained for battle. 8But Judas said to his men, “Do not be afraid of
their numbers or of their attack.† 9Remember how our fathers were saved in the Red Sea,
when Pharaoh pursued them with his army? 10So now, let us cry out to heaven to see if the
Lord will be with us, and remember the covenant of our fathers, and crush these forces
before us this day. 11Then all the nations will know that He is the Redeemer and Savior of
Israel.”

  12So the Gentiles lifted their eyes and saw them coming opposite them, 13and they
departed from their camp and went into battle. Then those with Judas sounded the trumpets.
14Thus they met, and the foreigners were crushed, fleeing into the plain. 15All those
remaining fell by the sword. They pursued them as far as Gazara and as far as the plain of
Idumea and Azotus and Jamnia, and about three thousand of their men fell. 16Then Judas
and his army returned from pursuing them, 17and he said to the people, “Do not desire the
spoils, for the battle is before us. 18Gorgias and his army are in the mountain nearby, but
stand firm before our enemies and battle them; and afterwards, take the spoils boldly.”

  19While Judas was finishing these words, an enemy detachment was seen peeping out

from the mountains, 20and they saw that their army had been put to flight and that the
Judeans had set their camp on fire; for the smoke that was seen revealed what had happened.
21When they became aware of this, they were very afraid, and when they observed the forces

of Judas prepared for battle in the plain, 22they fled to the region of the Philistines. 23Judas
returned to take spoils from their camp, and they took massive amounts of gold and silver,
and cloth dyed blue and purple, and abundant wealth. 24As they returned from battle they
sang hymns and blessed heaven, because the Lord is good, for His mercy endures forever.
25Thus great deliverance happened to Israel on that day. 26But all the Gentiles who escaped

went and reported to Lysias everything that had happened. 27When he heard this, he was
bewildered and disheartened, because things had not happened to Israel as he wished, and
had not turned out as the king commanded him.

                                   Judas Defeats Lysias

  28The following year, Lysias recruited sixty thousand chosen men and fifty thousand

cavalry so he could fight them. 29Then he came to Idumea and camped in Beth-zur, and
Judas met them there with ten thousand soldiers. 30When he saw their mighty camp, he
prayed and said, “Blessed are you, O Savior of Israel, who stopped the attack of the giant
warrior by the hand of your servant David, and delivered the Philistines’ camp into the hands
of Jonathan the son of Saul, his armor-bearer. 31Even so, besiege this camp by the hand of
your people Israel, and let these enemies be ashamed of their army and cavalry. 32Put
cowardice in them and melt the boldness of their might, and let them be shaken by their
defeat. 33Cast them down with the sword of those who love You, and let all men who know
Your name give praise to You with hymns.”

  34Then they attacked one another, and five thousand men from the camp of Lysias fell,

and some fell from the opposite side. 35When Lysias saw the turn of events for his troops,
and the courage shown by those of Judas, and how they were prepared either to live or to die
bravely, he returned to Antioch and recruited mercenaries to again invade Judea with an even
greater force.

                                Restoration of the Temple

  36So Judas and his brothers with him said, “Behold, our foes have been crushed. Let us go

up to purify the sanctuary and renew it.” 37Thus the entire camp gathered and ascended to
Mount Zion. 38They saw there the sanctuary deserted, the altar desecrated, and the doors
burned down. In the courtyard they found that bushes had grown up as in a wooded area or
on one of the mountains. They also saw the priests’ quarters in ruins. 39So they tore their
garments and lamented greatly, and sprinkled themselves with ashes. 40They fell on their
faces on the earth, sounded the signal on the trumpets, and cried to heaven.

  41Then Judas ordered his men to fight those in the citadel until he purified the sanctuary.
42He chose righteous priests, devoted to the law. 43They purified the sanctuary, and carried

the defiled stones to an unclean place. 44And they discussed what they should do with the
altar of whole burnt offerings, which had been desecrated. 45It seemed to them the best plan
was to tear it down, so it would not be a reproach to them because the Gentiles had corrupted
it. So they tore down the altar. 46They also stacked the stones in an appropriate location on
the temple hill until a prophet would come and tell what should be done with them.

  47Then they took uncut stones, according to the law, and constructed a new altar like the

one before. 48They also repaired the sanctuary and the inside of the temple, and consecrated
the courtyards. 49They made new holy vessels and carried the lampstand, the altar of
incense, and the table into the temple. 50And they burnt incense on the altar and lit the lights
on the lampstands, and these gave light inside the temple. 51Then they set bread on the table,
hung the curtains, and completed all the tasks they had begun.

 52They rose early on the morning of the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the

month of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-eighth year,† 53and offered sacrifice
according to the law on the new altar of whole burnt offerings which they made. 54It was
consecrated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals at the time and on the day the
Gentiles had desecrated it. 55All the people fell down and worshiped and blessed heaven,
which had prospered them. 56They celebrated the consecration of the altar for eight days;
and they offered whole burnt offerings with gladness, and the sacrifice of a peace offering and
a thank-offering. 57They also adorned the face of the temple with crowns of gold and small
shields, and restored the gates and the priests’ quarters, and installed doors. 58There was
great gladness among the people, and the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed.

  59Then Judas and his brothers and the congregation of Israel decided that each year at that
time the days of the consecration of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness for
eight full days, beginning on the twenty-fifth of the month of Chislev.

  60At this same time they also built high walls and strong towers around Mount Zion, lest

the Gentiles come and destroy these things, as they had done before. 61Then he stationed an
army there to guard it, and he fortified the town of Beth-zur, so the people would have a
fortress that faced Idumea.

                              Battles with Surrounding Nations


5 When  the surrounding nations heard the altar was repaired and the sanctuary renewed as
  before, they were extremely angry.† 2So they resolved to kill the race of Jacob who lived
among them, and they began to kill and destroy the people. 3Thus Judas waged war on the
sons of Esau in Idumea at Acrabattene, for they were besieging Israel. He struck them a great
blow, humbled them, and took spoils from them. 4He also recalled the evil acts by the sons of
Baean, who trapped and snared the people in ambush out on the roads. 5He shut them up in
their towers and encamped around them, vowing to destroy them. So he set their towers on
fire with everyone inside. 6Then he crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and found a
strong army and many people, with Timothy as their leader. 7He fought many battles against
them until he struck them down, and they were crushed before him. 8Then he overpowered
Jazer and its villages and came back to Judea.

  9Now the foreigners in Gilead assembled against the Israelites living within their borders,

to destroy them. But they fled into the fortress of Dathema 10and sent letters to Judas and
his brothers, saying, “The Gentiles have gathered against us and surrounded us to destroy us.
11They have made ready to come here and overpower the fortress where we have taken

refuge, and Timothy is in charge of their army. 12Now therefore, come and deliver us from
their hand, for many of our men have perished. 13All our brothers in the region of Tob have
been put to death, and they took their wives and children captive, along with their
possessions; and they destroyed about a thousand men there.”

  14While their letters were being read, behold, other envoys arrived from Galilee with torn

garments and reported similar words, 15saying that those from Ptolemais, Tyre, Sidon, and all
Galilee of the Gentiles had assembled themselves together, “to destroy us.” 16So when Judas
and the people heard these words, a great assembly was gathered to decide what to do for
their brothers who were in trouble and were being attacked by adversaries. 17So Judas told
Simon his brother, “Choose men for yourself and go and save your brothers in Galilee, while
my brother Jonathan and I go to Gilead.” 18He left Joseph, the son of Zachariah, and Azariah,
a leader of the people, with the rest of the army in Judea, to guard it. 19He ordered them,
saying, “Take charge of this people, but do not go into battle against the Gentiles until we
return.” 20Then three thousand troops were chosen for Simon to go to Galilee, and eight
thousand men for Judas to take to Gilead.

                              Victories in Galilee and Gilead

  21Thus Simon went into Galilee and fought many battles with the Gentiles, and crushed

the Gentiles before him. 22He chased them to the gates of Ptolemais, and three thousand
Gentiles perished, and he took their spoils. 23So he took the Israelites of Galilee and Arbatta,
along with their wives and children and everything they possessed, and brought them with
great joy to Judea.

  24Meanwhile, Judas Maccabeus and Jonathan his brother crossed over the Jordan and

journeyed three full days into the desert. 25They came upon the Nabateans, who met them
peacefully and told them everything that had happened to their brothers in Gilead: 26“Many
have been imprisoned in Bozrah and Bosor in Alema, Chaspho, Maked, and Carnaim (all
these cities were fortified and strong), 27and some have been imprisoned in the remaining
cities of Gilead. Tomorrow your foes will attack the strongholds to destroy and capture all of
them in one day.”

  28Judas and his forces returned at once to Bozrah by the desert road; and he captured the

city, killed all the males by the edge of the sword, took all the spoils, and set the city on fire.†
29He marched from there by night, and they kept going until they reached the fortress of

Dathema. 30Then at daybreak they looked up and beheld many people, too many to count,
carrying ladders and engines of war to take the fortress and strike the Israelites inside.
31When Judas saw the battle had started, an outcry went up from the city to heaven with

trumpets and loud shouts. 32So he said to his army of men, “Fight today for the sake of our
brothers!” 33Then he came up behind them in three companies, and they sounded the
trumpets and cried aloud in prayer. 34When Timothy's army saw that they faced Maccabeus,
they fled before him. He struck them a great blow, and on that day eight thousand of them
perished.

  35Judas then made his way to Alema. He waged war and captured it, taking its spoils and

setting the city on fire. 36He marched on from there and captured Chaspho, Maked, and
Bosor, and the remaining cities of Gilead.

  37Timothy, however, called together more troops and set up camp opposite Raphon across

the stream. 38Judas dispatched soldiers to scout the camp, and they returned to him, saying,
“All the foreigners have gathered around us, and a very large army is with him. 39Further,
they have hired Arab mercenaries to help, and they are also camped on the other side of the
stream, prepared to come against you in battle.” So Judas went out to face them.

  40Timothy told the officers of his army while Judas and his camp drew near the stream, “If
he crosses the stream against us first, we will be unable to withstand him, for he is strong
enough to defeat us. 41But if he is frightened and sets up camp across the stream, we will
pass over against him and crush him.”

  42But as Judas approached the water, he stationed the scribes of the troops near the
stream and ordered them, “Do not allow anyone to stay in camp, but make all of them join
the battle.” 43So Judas crossed over to meet them first, with all the men behind him. Then all
the Gentiles were crushed by them. They dropped their weapons and fled into the sacred
regions of Carnain. 44So Judas captured the city and set the sacred precinct on fire, along
with all those residing there. Thus Carnain was defeated, for they were not able to stand
against Judas.

  45After this, Judas assembled all the Jews living in Gilead, from small to great, along with
their wives and children and their possessions, a great entourage, to return to the land of
Judah. 46They came as far as Ephron, an expansive and fortified city on the highway. They
could not pass through, either to the right or the left. The only way to go was through the
middle of town. 47But the men of the city closed it off and barricaded the gates with stones.
48So Judas sent them a peaceful word, saying, “Let us pass through your land to go to our
land. No one will harm you. Merely we will come through on foot.” But they refused to open
to him. 49So Judas gave orders to proclaim to the troops that each man make camp where he
was. 50Then the soldiers in the army made camp, and he fought the men of Ephron all day
and all night, and the city was given over into his hand. 51He killed every male with the edge
of the sword, destroyed the city completely, and took its spoils. So he passed through the city,
stepping over those who were killed.

  52Then they came to the Jordan, crossing over into the great plain facing Beth-shan; 53and
Judas gathered the stragglers and encouraged the men along the way until they entered
Judah. 54They marched up to Mount Zion and sacrificed whole burnt offerings, and offered
whole burnt offerings with joy and gladness of heart, because not one of them was lost before
they returned home in peace.

  55While Judas and Jonathan had been in Gilead, and Simon his brother was in Galilee

facing Ptolemais,† 56Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azariah, officers of the army, got word
of their courageous acts and the victorious battles they fought. 57They spoke, saying, “Let us
make a name for ourselves as well and take on the Gentiles who live around us.” 58Thus they
gave a command to those from the army with them, and they marched to Jamnia. 59But
Gorgias and his army went out from the city to face them in battle, 60and Joseph and Azariah
were routed and chased as far as the boundaries of Judea. That day about two thousand men
of Israel perished. 61It was a great defeat for the people; for expecting to act heroically, they
did not follow the orders of Judas and his brothers. 62And they did not belong to the seed of
those men through whom Israel received the gift of deliverance.
  63So Judas and his brothers were honored greatly throughout all Israel and even by the

Gentiles, where their name was being heard. 64People assembled around them and gave
them praise.

  65Then Judas went out with his brothers and fought the sons of Esau in the land to the
south, and attacked Hebron and its towns, and pulled down its many fortresses and set on
fire its towers round about. 66He also marched into the country of the Philistines, and then
on to Marisa. 67Some priests that day who wanted to show their courage perished in battle,
for they went out to fight recklessly. 68But Judas turned aside to Azotus, the country of the
Philistines. He destroyed their altars, set the carved idols of their gods on fire, and took spoils
in the cities. Then he came back to the land of Judah.

                              Last Days of King Antiochus IV


6 Now  King Antiochus passed through the upper countries and heard that Elymais in Persia
  was a splendid city for its wealth in silver and gold.† 2Its temple contained great wealth,
with shields of gold, breastplates, and weaponry left there by Alexander, the son of Philip, the
Macedonian king who first ruled over the Greeks. 3So he came and sought to defeat the city
and take spoils, but he failed because his plot was uncovered by the men of the city. 4They
confronted and fought against him, and he fled and retreated from there very discouraged,
and went back to Babylon.

  5Then a man came and told him while he was still in Persia that his army which had

invaded the land of Judah was put to flight; 6that Lysias had gone first with a strong army,
but had been put to shame before Israel; that Israel was growing strong by the weapons,
supplies, and abundant spoils they had taken from the armies they had conquered.
7Moreover, they had pulled down the abomination he built on top of the altar in Jerusalem;
and they had encircled the sanctuary with high walls as it had before, as well as Beth-zur, his
hometown.

  8When the king received this report, he was shocked and greatly shaken. He fell upon his

bed and was sick with grief, because matters had not gone for him as he hoped. 9King
Antiochus lay there several days, for deepening grief worsened his condition. He concluded
he was about to die. 10Thus he called together his friends, saying, “Sleep has eluded my eyes,
and anxiety has devastated my heart. 11I ask myself, ‘What is this stress I have come to, and
into what sea of troubles am I immersed? For I was kind and loved as a ruler.’ 12But now I
recall the evils I did in Jerusalem; for I took all the silver and gold vessels, and sent to destroy
those who lived in Judah for no good reason. 13I know that because of these things, evils
have found me; and behold, I am perishing with deep grief in a foreign land.”

                                 Succession of Antiochus V

  14He then summoned Philip, one of his friends, and set him over his entire kingdom. 15He
gave him his crown and his robe and ring, that he could take charge of his son Antiochus and
raise him to rule. 16Thus Antiochus the king died in the one hundred and forty-ninth year.
17When Lysias found out the king had reposed, he established Antiochus his son to reign.
Lysias had raised him from youth and called him Eupator.

                                      Siege of the Citadel

  18Now men from the citadel were confining Israel to the area around the sanctuary. They
were attempting by whatever means to injure them, and to bring strength to the Gentiles.
19So he gathered all the men to defeat them. 20They assembled the army and attacked the
city in the hundred and fiftieth year. He also built engines of war and other instruments of
battle.

  21But some of these enemies escaped from the enclosure, and some ungodly Israelites

sided with them. 22They approached the king, saying, “How long will it be until you render a
judgment to avenge our brothers? 23We were pleased to serve your father, and to follow what
he said and obey his orders. 24Because of this the sons of our people attacked the citadel and
became our enemies. Besides this, they killed as many of us as they found, and our
inheritances were taken away. 25But they have not stretched out their hand against us alone,
but also against all the lands on their borders; 26and behold, today they have surrounded the
citadel in Jerusalem to defeat it. They have strengthened the sanctuary and Beth-zur as well.
27So unless you quickly overtake them, they will do worse things than these, and you will be
unable to stop them.”

                           Campaign of Antiochus V and Lysias

  28The king was angered greatly when he heard this, so he assembled all his friends, the

military leaders, and those who ruled. 29Armies of mercenaries came to him as well from
other nations and from various islands of the seas. 30So the number of his armies was one
hundred thousand foot soldiers, twenty thousand calvary, and thirty-two elephants trained
for battle. 31They arrived through Idumea and marched against Beth-zur, fighting for many
days and building engines of war. But Israel went out, set them on fire, and battled heroically.

  32Judas then marched out from the citadel and set up camp at Beth-zechariah, across from

the king's camp. 33The next morning the king rose at dawn and led his army on a forced
march on the highway to Beth-zechariah. His soldiers prepared themselves for warfare and
blew the trumpets. 34They also showed the elephants the juice of grapes and mulberries to
ready them for the campaign.† 35Then they stationed the elephants among the phalanxes and
set alongside each animal a thousand men, covered with coats of mail and with bronze
helmets on their heads. Five hundred horsemen were chosen and assigned to each elephant.
36These positioned themselves beforehand wherever the animal was, and wherever it went,

they rode alongside and never left it alone. 37Sturdy covered wooden towers were strapped
upon each elephant by a special harness, and four armed men fought from inside each tower
with its Indian driver. 38They positioned the remainder of the horsemen on each side, on the
two flanks of the forces, disturbing the enemy while they themselves were protected by the
phalanxes. 39As the sun shined on the golden and bronze shields, the hills glistened from
them and lit up like a flaming fire.

  40While one sector of the king's forces was stretched out on the high hills and some were

on the plain, they marched on steadfastly in good order. 41Everyone trembled when they
heard the sounds of the soldiers as they marched along, and the clanging of their weapons,
for the army was massive and very strong. 42But Judas drew near with his army in battle
formation, and six hundred of the king's men fell. 43Then Eleazar, called Avran, saw one of
the elephants covered with royal armor. It was taller than the rest, and he reasoned the king
was riding it.† 44So he laid down his life to rescue his people and to make an everlasting
name for himself. 45He ran boldly into the center of the phalanx, killing soldiers to the right
and left, and they got out of his way on both flanks. 46Then he crawled under the elephant,
struck it from beneath, and killed it. It fell to the ground on top of him, and he died there.

  47When the Israelites saw the royal might and the fierce attack of the troops, they turned

away from them in flight. 48But the soldiers of the king's army went up to Jerusalem to
attack them, and the king set up camp in Judea and on Mount Zion. 49He reached a peace
accord with the men of Beth-zur, who evacuated the city because they had no food there to
withstand a siege, for it was a sabbatical year for the land. 50So the king captured Beth-zur
and set a guard there to secure it. 51He then set a camp opposite the sanctuary for several
days and built siege towers, engines of war which threw fire and stones, machines to fire off
arrows, and catapults. 52The defenders also made engines of war to match theirs. So they
battled several days. 53But with no food stored up, because it was the seventh year, and the
men who survived in Judea against the Gentiles had eaten the remaining provisions,† 54few
men remained in the sanctuary, for hunger had overtaken them. They scattered, each to his
own place.

  55Now Lysias got word that Philip, whom Antiochus the king had chosen while still alive to

raise Antiochus his son to rule, 56had returned from Persia and Media with the armies that
had gone there with the king, and that he was trying to gain control of the kingdom. 57So
Lysias decided immediately to send a message to the king, the commanders, and the men,
saying, “We grow weaker each day, our food supply is running out, the force we are fighting
against is strong, and governing the kingdom puts pressure on us. 58Therefore, let us come
to agreement with these men and have peace with them and their nation. 59We should
arrange for them to live by their laws as before; for it was because of their laws which we
abolished that they became furious and did all the things they have done.”

  60This word pleased the king and the commanders, so he sent an offer of peace to the

Israelites, which they accepted. 61Thus the king and the commanders gave them their oath.
On these conditions the Israelites evacuated the fortress. 62But when the king came to
Mount Zion and saw the fortification of the place, he broke his promise and commanded his
men to pull down the surrounding wall. 63Then he left hastily and came back to Antioch.
There he discovered Philip in charge, so he attacked him and captured the city by force.

                                Demetrius I Becomes King


7 Demetrius    the son of Seleucus set forth from Rome in the one hundred and fifty-first
  year, sailed with a few men into the city by the sea, and reigned there.† 2As he entered the
royal house of his fathers, his army seized Antiochus and Lysias and brought them to him.
3When he became aware of this action, he said, “Do not show me their faces.” 4So the
soldiers put them to death, and Demetrius occupied the throne of his kingdom.
  5Then all the lawless and ungodly men of Israel came to him. Alcimus, who wanted to be a

priest, led them.† 6They brought charges against the people before the king, saying, “Judas
and his brothers have destroyed all your friends and scattered us from our land. 7Therefore,
send a man you trust, and let him see all the destruction he did to us and to the country of
the king. Then let him bring punishment to them and all who serve them.”

                                       Bacchides and Alcimus Control Judah

  8The king then appointed Bacchides, one of his friends, who ruled the province of Beyond-

the-River, for he was prominent in the kingdom and loyal to the king. 9Then he sent him and
the ungodly Alcimus, whom he appointed to the priesthood, and ordered him to avenge the
sons of Israel. 10They marched on with a large army and came into the land of Judah, and
sent envoys to Judas and his brothers with peaceful words full of deceit. 11But they did not
heed their words, for they noticed they came with a large army.

  12Then a delegation of scribes was sent to meet with Alcimus and Bacchides to request

justice. 13The Hasideans were the first among the sons of Israel to seek peace with them.
14For they said, “A man, a priest from the seed of Aaron, came with their forces, and he will

not do us wrong.” 15The priest spoke peacefully to them and promised them, saying, “We will
not seek to injure you or your friends.” 16They believed him, but he overtook sixty of their
men and put them to death in one day, according to the word which was written:

    17
         “They poured out the flesh of y our saints

    And their blood around Jerusalem ,

    But there was no one to bury them .”

  18Then fear and trembling fell upon all the people, for they said, “There is no truth and
uprightness in them. For they violated the promise and oath they swore.”

  19So Bacchides departed from Jerusalem and marched to Beth-zaith. He sent for and
captured many of the soldiers who deserted him, and some of the people, and he slaughtered
them at the great well. 20He put Alcimus in charge of the region and left an army with him to
serve him. Then Bacchides returned to the king.

  21Alcimus then strove for the high priesthood, 22and all who harassed their people also
gathered with him. They took control of the country of Judah and damaged Israel greatly.
23Now Judas saw all the evil Alcimus and those with him had done among the sons of Israel;

it was worse than what the Gentiles did.† 24Thus Judas departed to all the regions
surrounding Judea and took vengeance on the men who had deserted. He forbade those in
the city to journey out to the countryside. 25But when Alcimus realized Judas and his
followers were growing strong and knew that he could not prevail against them, he went back
and brought evil charges against them before the king.

                                 Nicanor Marches on Israel

  26The king then sent Nicanor, one of his renowned commanders who hated and disdained

Israel, and ordered him to get rid of the people.† 27Nicanor came up to Jerusalem with a large
army, and he sent Judas and his brothers peaceful words full of deceit, saying, 28“Let there
be no quarrel between us. I will come peacefully with a few men to see you in person.” 29So
he approached Judas, and they greeted each other peacefully. But the adversaries prepared to
seize Judas. 30Then Judas was aware that Nicanor had come with deceit; and he feared him,
so he did not care to meet him again. 31When Nicanor learned his plot had been discovered,
he went into battle with Judas at Caphar-salamah. 32Some five hundred of Nicanor's soldiers
fell; the remainder fled to the city of David.

  33After this, Nicanor went up to Mount Zion. Then some priests came out of the sanctuary,
along with some elders of the people, to greet him in peace, showing him the whole burnt
offering which they had sacrificed on behalf of the king. 34However, he mocked and ridiculed
them. He defiled them and spoke with arrogance to them. 35He also swore an oath angrily,
saying, “Unless Judas and his troops are delivered into my hands now, then if I come back in
peace, I will set this house on fire.” Then he stormed out in great rage. 36The priests then
entered and stood facing the altar and the sanctuary. They wept and cried out, 37“You chose
this place to be called by Your name that it might be a house of prayer and supplication for
Your people. 38Take vengeance on this man and on his soldiers, and let them die by the
sword. Remember their blasphemies and let them be alive no longer.”

  39Soon Nicanor left Jerusalem and camped at Beth-horon, and the army of Syria joined

him. 40But Judas took position in Adassa with three thousand troops. Judas prayed, saying,
41“When the ambassadors from the king uttered blasphemy, Your angel went forth and

struck one hundred and eighty-five thousand of the Assyrians. 42Crush also this army before
us today, and let the others know that he spoke blasphemy against Your sanctuary; and judge
him according to his malice.”

                                  Nicanor Falls in Battle

  43So the armies faced off in war the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and Nicanor's army

was scattered. He himself was the first to fall in the war. 44When his soldiers saw Nicanor
die, they dropped their weapons and ran. 45Israel even chased them a day's journey from
Adassa as far as Gazara. As they pursued them, they kept blowing the trumpets, sounding the
battle call. 46Then the Israelites went out from all the villages around Judea and outflanked
the adversaries. They drove them back to the pursuing army, and they all fell by the sword.
Not one of them survived. 47Then Israel captured the spoils and their possessions. They even
beheaded Nicanor and severed his right hand, which he had stretched out arrogantly. They
carried them and put them on display just outside Jerusalem. 48So the people were very glad,
and they celebrated that day as a day of great joy. 49A decree came forth to celebrate this day
at the same time every year, on the thirteenth day of Adar. 50Thus the land of Judah had
peace for several days.

                                  Pact with the Romans


8 Then  Judas learned of the reputation of the Romans, that they were mighty and behaved
  well toward all who made a pact with them. They could ensure friendship with as many as
came to them, indeed, because they were of great strength.† 2People also told him of their
warfare and the courageous works they were doing in Gaul—how they conquered them and
imposed taxes on them. 3They also reported what they had done in the country of Spain, to
take control of their silver and gold mines, 4and how they dominated the entire region by
their careful planning and forbearance, although the area was a great distance away. The
Romans also defeated kings who challenged them from around the world, until they subdued
them and struck a deadly blow against them. But the others paid them taxes each year.

  5They battled and soundly conquered Philip and Perseus, kings of the Macedonians, and

others who stood up against them in war. 6They further conquered Antiochus the great king
of Asia, who went to war against them with a hundred and twenty elephants and cavalry and
chariots and a massive army. But his troops were destroyed by them. 7They captured him
alive, and ordered that he and those who would rule in the future should pay large taxes
along with hostages. 8They also took from him the countries of India, Media, and Lydia. Then
they gave some of the best of all these territories to King Eumenes.

  9The Greeks also plotted to come against them, 10but this became known to the Romans,
and they sent one of their generals against them. He fought with them, and many wounded
fell, and the Romans took their wives and children captive. They robbed them, took their
land, pulled down their fortresses, and have to this day enslaved them. 11They crushed and
captured the remaining kingdoms and the islands, as many as would oppose them. But they
secured a relationship with their friends and those people who relied on them. 12Thus they
conquered rulers far away and nearby; as many as had heard of their reputation feared them.
13Those the Romans desire to help and to raise up as kings, they establish; and those kings

they wish to depose they depose, for they have great power. 14But despite all this, none of the
Romans has donned a crown or vested in purple, so as to be magnified by it. 15Instead they
formed a council for themselves, and three hundred and twenty senators constantly
deliberate concerning the people, to help them behave in an orderly fashion. 16They trust one
man to govern them for a year, and to rule over their land. Everyone heeds this one leader,
and there is no jealousy or strife among them.

  17Now Judas appointed Eupolemus the son of John, son of Accos, and Jason the son of

Eleazar, and dispatched them to Rome to build friendship and an alliance 18and to free their
people from a yoke of bondage, because they realized the Greek kingdom was subjecting
Israel to total servitude. 19So they journeyed to Rome—a very long trip. When they came to
the senate chamber, they said the following: 20“Judas, also named Maccabeus, his brothers,
and the Jewish people sent us here to you to build an alliance and have peace with you, that
you may enlist us as your friends and allies.”

                                   Terms of the Alliance

  21The proposal pleased the senate. 22So this is the copy of the message they issued in
reply, inscribed on bronze tablets and sent to Jerusalem, to be kept there as a record of peace
and friendship:

 23“May it be well with the Roman people, and the Jewish nation shall respond

wholeheartedly as their allies, as the occasion may dictate. 24If war comes first to Rome or to
any of their allies in all their dominion, 25the Judean nation shall act as their allies,
wholeheartedly, as the occasion may dictate to them. 26As to any enemy who wages war, the
Jews shall not donate or supply grain, weapons, money, or ships, as Rome has stated, and
they shall honor these commitments without getting anything in return. 27Similarly, should
war break out first against the Jewish nation, the Romans shall freely respond as their allies,
as is appropriate for them. 28Further, no grain, weapons, money, or ships will be given to
allies of the enemy, as Rome has decided, and they shall hold to these obligations and do so
with no deception. 29Thus the Romans offer a treaty with the Jews on these terms. 30If after
these agreements take effect, both parties should decide to add or subtract anything, they
shall do so by agreement, and whatever they add or subtract shall be binding.

  31“Now regarding the evils Demetrius the king is doing to them, we have sent to him this
word: ‘If therefore they appeal to us against you again, we will defend their rights and oppose
you, be it on the sea or on land.’ ”

                                       Judas Dies in Battle


9 Now  Demetrius got word that Nicanor and his men had fallen in battle, so he authorized
  Bacchides and Alcimus to go a second time into the land of Judah and take the right-hand
flank of the army with them. 2Thus they traveled the highway into Gilgal and camped at
Mesaloth in Arbela. They captured it, and many people died. 3Then in the first month of the
one hundred and fifty-second year, they encamped opposite Jerusalem. 4But they departed
there and went to Berea, twenty thousand foot soldiers and two thousand cavalry with them.

  5Now Judas set up camp in Elasa, and three thousand chosen men accompanied him.
6When they saw how large the number of the enemy forces was, they were very afraid, and
many sneaked out of the camp. Just eight hundred men remained among them.

 7When Judas realized his troops had run away and the battle was pressing upon him, he

was greatly discouraged and had no time to rally them. 8Though weary, he said to those who
remained, “Let us arise and move out against our enemies. We may yet be able to fight them.”
9But they kept trying to turn him back, saying, “We are not able. Let us rather save our lives

now. Let us return with our brothers and fight against them later, for we are too few.” 10But
Judas answered, “May it be far from us to do such a thing, to run away from them. If our time
has come to die, then let us die courageously for the sake of our people. We will not leave
behind a charge against our honor.”
  11Then the forces of Bacchides moved out from the camp in formation and stood to
encounter them. The mounted troops were divided into two parts, and the sling-throwers and
the archers advanced before the army, along with all the chief warriors; Bacchides was on the
right flank. 12Then the phalanx drew near between the companies on both sides and sounded
their trumpets. The army of Judas also blew its trumpets. 13The ground shook by the clamor
of the troops, and the battle raged on from morning until nightfall.

  14Judas realized that Bacchides had the strength of his forces on the right flank. So all the

stouthearted men came together with Judas. 15They demolished the right flank, and pursued
Bacchides’ men all the way to Mount Azotus. 16When those on the left flank saw that the
right flank was broken, they reversed course and followed closely behind the army of Judas.
17The battle was fierce, and many men on both sides suffered wounds and fell. 18Judas also
fell, and his men fled.

  19Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother and buried him in the tomb of his fathers

in Modein. 20They wept for him, and all Israel mourned him with great lamentation for
many days, saying,

  21“How the mighty is fallen, Israel's savior.”

  22Now the abundant acts of Judas—his wars, the brave things he did, and his greatness—
are not recorded, for there were far too many.

                             Jonathan Succeeds His Brother

 23After Judas's death, the lawless emerged in all the regions of Israel, and all those rose up

who worked evil. 24In those days, there was a very great famine, and the nation deserted with
the evildoers to Bacchides, 25He chose godless men and appointed them lords of the country.
26These men sought out and searched for the allies of Judas, bringing them to Bacchides. He

took vengeance on them and mocked them. 27There was great perplexity in Israel, such as
had not been seen since the days when the prophets ceased to be seen in their midst.

  28Then all of Judas's friends came together and spoke to Jonathan.† 29“Since your brother
Judas died, a man like him has not come out to take on our enemies, namely Bacchides and
those from our country who hate us. 30Therefore, we have now chosen you this day to
replace him as our ruler and be our leader in battle.” 31So Jonathan accepted the command at
once and rose up in the place of Judas his brother.

                              Jonathan Takes on Bacchides

  32When Bacchides heard this, he sought to kill him. 33But Jonathan, Simon his brother,
and everyone with him knew of this, and they escaped to the desert of Tekoa and camped
near the waters of the pool of Asphar. 34Bacchides discovered this on the Sabbath, and he
and his army all crossed over the Jordan.

  35So Jonathan sent John his brother as leader of the people, and he begged his Nabatean

friends for approval to store their huge amount of baggage with them.† 36But the sons of
Jambri from Medeba came out and seized John, and left with everything he had.

  37After these things happened, they told Jonathan and his brother Simon, saying, “The
sons of Jambri are holding a great marriage feast, and they are bringing the bride from
Nadabath, a daughter of one of the great noblemen of Canaan, with a huge convoy.” 38They
remembered the blood of John their brother, and went up and hid under the cover of the
mountain. 39They raised their eyes and looked, and behold, there was a noisy crowd coming
with much baggage. The bridegroom also came forth with his friends and brothers to meet
them with tambourines, the musicians—and many weapons. 40Jonathan's men rose up
against them from an ambush and killed them. Many of the wounded also fell, and the rest
fled to the mountain. So they took all their spoils. 41The wedding was changed to mourning,
and the sound of the musicians became like a dirge. 42Thus they avenged their brother's
blood and returned to the low ground of the Jordan.

  43Bacchides then heard of this and arrived with a large army on the Sabbath at the banks

of the Jordan. 44So Jonathan said to those with him, “Let us stand and fight for our lives, for
today is not as yesterday or the day before. 45Behold, the battle is before us and behind us.
The water of the Jordan is on this side and that, and the low ground and thicket is not the
place to turn aside. 46Now therefore, cry out to heaven that you may be saved from the hand
of our adversaries.” 47So the battle was joined, and Jonathan reached out his hand to strike
Bacchides, who ducked aside and went behind him. 48Then Jonathan and his forces jumped
into the Jordan River, swimming to the other side. Bacchides and his army did not cross over
the Jordan to strike them. 49About a thousand of Bacchides’ soldiers fell on that day.
  50Bacchides then returned to Jerusalem and built fortified cities in Judea: the fortresses
were in Jericho, and in Emmaus, Beth-horon, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon and Tephon, all
with high walls, gates, and bars. 51He also placed a guard in them, and they were hostile to
Israel. 52Then he strengthened the cities of Beth-zur and Gazara, and the citadel, and placed
armies in them with stores of provisions. 53He also seized the sons of the rulers of the area,
holding them hostage under armed guards at the citadel in Jerusalem.

                         Attempted Destruction at the Temple

  54Then in the one hundred fifty-third year, in the second month, Alcimus issued the
command to take down the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary. Then he took down the
work of the prophets and started to destroy it.† 55At that instant, Alcimus was stricken, his
mischief was thwarted, his mouth was shut up, and he became paralyzed. He could not even
speak a word so as to give orders concerning his property. 56So Alcimus died then and there
in great pain. 57When Bacchides saw that Alcimus had died, he returned to King Demetrius.
Thus the land of Judah was peaceful for two years.

  58Soon, all the lawless men deliberated among themselves, saying, “Behold, Jonathan and
those with him are living in peace and certitude. Now, therefore, let us bring Bacchides back
here, and he will seize them all in one night.” 59So they went and conversed with him, 60and
he departed to come with a large army, secretly sending letters to all his allies in Judea,
telling them to capture Jonathan and those with him. But they could not do so, because their
plot had been discovered. 61So Jonathan and his men caught about fifty of their countrymen
who were the leaders of the agitation, and killed them.

                             Bacchides’ Forces Are Crushed

  62Then Jonathan, Simon, and those with them departed for Bethbasi in the desert, and

rebuilt the outpost that had been destroyed and strengthened it. 63When Bacchides heard of
this, he gathered all his army and sent orders to the men of Judea. 64Then he arrived and
camped at Bethbasi and attacked it for many days, making engines of war. 65But Jonathan
left Simon his brother in the city, and headed out into the country with a handful of men.
66He struck Odomera and his brothers and the sons of Phasiron inside their tents. Then he

launched his attack and entered into battle with his armies. 67Meanwhile Simon and those
with him came out of the city and set on fire the engines of war. 68Once they took the
offensive against Bacchides, he was crushed by them. They upset him greatly because his
plan of attack was in vain. 69Also, he was filled with rage at his advisors, the lawless men
who urged him to come into the country. So he killed many of them and then decided to
return home.

  70When Jonathan learned of these events, he sent envoys to make peace with Bacchides

and to obtain freedom for the captives. 71Bacchides accepted the proposal and swore to
Jonathan he would not harm him all the days of his life.† 72He returned to him the hostages
taken earlier from the land of Judah. Then he returned to his homeland and made no further
attempt to come into their country. 73Thus the sword was laid down in Israel. Then Jonathan
settled down in Michmash, where he began to judge the people and to destroy the ungodly
men of Israel.

                       Alexander Appoints Jonathan High Priest


10 Then in the one hundred and sixtieth year, Alexander, the son of Antiochus Epiphanes,
   went forth and conquered Ptolemais. They made him welcome, and he reigned there.
2But when Demetrius the king learned this, he gathered a huge army and went out to battle

him. 3Demetrius also sent a letter to Jonathan with peaceful words to flatter him. 4For he
said, “Let us act with foresight to make peace with him before he sides with Alexander against
us. 5For he will recall the evils we carried out against him, and against his brothers and his
nation.” 6So the king gave authority to Jonathan to assemble an army, prepare weapons, and
be his ally. He also ordered the hostages in the citadel to be released to him.

  7Then Jonathan entered Jerusalem and read the letter in the presence of all the people and

those in the citadel. 8They were very frightened when they heard the king had given
Jonathan authorization to assemble an army. 9So the men in the citadel returned the
hostages to Jonathan, and he brought them back to their parents.

  10Soon, Jonathan settled in Jerusalem and began to reconstruct the city. 11He also told the
workers to build the walls to surround Mount Zion with square-cut stones for fortification,
which they did. 12Then the foreigners who had been in their fortresses built by Bacchides
fled. 13Each one left his place and departed into his own land. 14Only some in Beth-zur who
had forsaken the law and the commandments remained, for it was a place of refuge.
  15When King Alexander heard about the proposals Demetrius had sent to Jonathan, and
was told about the battles and the courageous deeds done by Jonathan and his brothers (as
well as what they had suffered), 16he said, “Where will we find another like this man? Let us
make him our friend and our ally.” 17So he wrote a letter and sent it to him, saying:

  18“Alexander the king to Jonathan his brother, greetings. 19We have heard you are a

mighty warrior and suitable to be our friend. 20So now we appoint you today as high priest of
your people and command that you be called a friend of the king (he also sent him a purple
robe and a golden crown). We ask you to agree with our interests and maintain friendship
with us.”

  21So Jonathan, in the seventh month of the one hundred and sixtieth year, put on the holy
robe at the Feast of Tabernacles. Then he gathered an army and stockpiled many weapons.

                             Demetrius I Writes to Jonathan

  22When Demetrius heard these reports, he was disturbed and said, 23“What is this that we

have done? Alexander has upstaged us by forming a friendship with the Jews for support! 24I
also will write them words of encouragement and promise them glory and gifts, that they may
be my support.” 25So he sent them the following message:

  “King Demetrius to the nation of the Jews, greetings. 26Since you have kept your
agreements with us and maintained our friendship, and have not sided with our enemies, we
have learned of this and rejoice. 27Even now, do continue to keep faith with us, and we will
repay you good things for your deeds. 28We will grant you many prerogatives and give you
gifts.

  29“At this time I am releasing and exempting all Jews from tribute and salt taxes and from

crown levies. 30Furthermore, instead of handing over to me a third of the harvest and half of
the fruit of the trees, which I am due, I cancel them from this day forward and beyond. I will
not extract them from those of Judah, nor from the three provinces annexed to them from
Samaria and Galilee from now on. 31In addition, let Jerusalem and her vicinities be set apart
and released from tithes and taxes. 32I am also releasing my control of the citadel in
Jerusalem, and I give it to the high priest, that he may place men in it whom he himself
chooses to guard it. 33So every soul of the Jews taken captive from the land of Judah into all
my kingdom I release freely without payment. Let all officials also cancel the duties on their
livestock.

  34“Moreover, all the feasts, the Sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed days, as well as
the three days prior to the feast and three after the feast, let all these days be established as
exempt and released for the Jews in my kingdom. 35No one will have the power to exact
anything from them or to trouble any of them about anything.

   36“Let the number of Jews in the army of the king be limited to thirty thousand men, and

let the stipend that is due to all the troops of the king be paid to them. 37Some of them are to
be established in the great fortresses of the king, and some are to be set in positions of trust
wherever the kingdom has need. Let their officers and leaders be taken from them, and let
them live by their own laws, as the king commanded in the land of Judah.

  38“As for the three provinces added to Judea from the country of Samaria, let them be

considered as one, so it may not be subject to any other authority than the high priest. 39I
have given Ptolemais and the land adjoining it as gifts to the sanctuary in Jerusalem, for
regular expenses in the sanctuary. 40I also grant fifteen thousand silver shekels yearly out of
the king's revenues from the appropriate places. 41Even all the surplus the officials did not
pay as in the first years, from now on they will give for the works of the temple. 42Moreover,
the five thousand shekels of silver which the officials received every year from the incomes of
the sanctuary, these are also cancelled, because they belong to the priests who minister there.
43Further, whoever takes refuge at the temple in Jerusalem or in any of its vicinities because
he owes a royal payment or any debt, let him be released and receive back all his property in
my kingdom.

  44“The expense of rebuilding and restoring the structures of the sanctuary is also to be

paid from the king's revenue. 45Then too, the expenses of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem
and the fortifications around it are to be paid from the king's revenue, and also the rebuilding
of the walls in Judea.”

                             Offer Rejected, Demetrius Killed

  46But when Jonathan and the people heard these words, they did not believe or accept
them, because they remembered the great wrongs Demetrius had done in Israel and how
badly he had afflicted them. 47So they favored Alexander, because he was the first to offer
peaceable words to them; therefore, they remained allied with him all his days.

  48Now King Alexander assembled a large army and took position opposite Demetrius.
49The two kings met in battle, and the army of Demetrius fled. Alexander took pursuit and

defeated them. 50He fought very hard until sunset, and Demetrius fell on that day.

                                Alexander Weds Cleopatra

  51Then Alexander sent envoys to Ptolemy the king of Egypt with the following message:

  52“Since I returned to my kingdom and have taken the throne of my fathers and

established my rule (for I defeated Demetrius and secured control of my country; 53I faced
him in war and he and his forces were destroyed by us; and we indeed have sat down upon
the throne of his kingdom), 54now let us build a friendship with each other. Give me your
daughter in marriage, and I will become your son-in-law. I will give you gifts worthy of both
you and her.”

  55Then Ptolemy the king answered, saying:

  “It was a good day when you went back to your fathers’ homeland and occupied the throne
of their kingdom. 56Now I will do for you what you requested, so meet me at Ptolemais, that
we might see each other; and I will be your father-in-law, as you asked.”

  57Then Ptolemy left Egypt along with his daughter Cleopatra, and reached Ptolemais in the

one hundred and sixty-second year. 58King Alexander met him there, and Ptolemy gave him
his daughter Cleopatra in marriage. He celebrated her wedding in Ptolemais with great
pageantry, in royal manner.

                                Jonathan Made Governor

  59Then King Alexander wrote for Jonathan to meet him. 60So he journeyed with splendor
to Ptolemais and there met the two monarchs. He offered them silver and gold, and gave their
friends numerous gifts. Thus he found favor with them.

  61Then some troublemakers from Israel, lawless men, also gathered against Jonathan to

accuse him, but the king paid no attention to them. 62The king then gave command to
remove Jonathan's clothes and robe him in purple; and they did. 63Then the king seated him
with himself and said to his leaders, “Go out with him into the midst of the city and proclaim
that no one should accuse him concerning any matter; and let no one trouble him for any
cause.” 64So it was that when his accusers saw the honor given him according to the
proclamation, and saw him robed in purple, they fled. 65Thus the king honored him and
inscribed him among his close friends. He also appointed him general and provincial
governor. 66Then Jonathan departed to Jerusalem with peace and gladness of heart.

                            Demetrius II Appoints Apollonius

  67Now in the one hundred and sixty-fifth year, Demetrius, the son of Demetrius, traveled

from Crete to the land of his fathers. 68When King Alexander heard it, he was very distressed
and went back to Antioch. 69Then Demetrius appointed Apollonius governor of Coele-Syria.
Apollonius gathered a large army and marched against Jamnia. He sent word to Jonathan the
high priest, saying:

  70“You alone rose up against us, but I was ridiculed and disgraced because of you. Why do

you maintain authority over us in the hill country? 71Now therefore, if you trust in your
army, come down against us in the plain, and let us judge together for ourselves there, for I
have an army of the cities. 72Inquire and learn who I am, and the others who help us. They
tell us there is no place for your foot to stand before us, because your fathers were put to
flight twice in their land. 73Even now, you shall not be able to withstand such a cavalry and
army in the plain, where there is neither stone nor pebble nor any place to flee.”

                              Jonathan Defeats Apollonius

  74But when Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, he was moved to action. He chose ten

thousand men and departed from Jerusalem, and his brother Simon joined to help him. 75He
took up a position at Joppa, but the men of that city shut its gates; for Apollonius had a band
of soldiers in Joppa. So Jonathan attacked them. 76Then the men of Joppa became fearful
and opened the gates; and Jonathan captured Joppa.

  77When Apollonius got word of it, he gathered three thousand cavalry and a sizable army
and marched into Azotus, as though he were going beyond. But he went ahead into the plain,
since he had a large cavalry and trusted in it. 78Jonathan chased him to Azotus, and there the
armies joined in battle. 79But Apollonius secretly had left a thousand cavalry behind.
80Jonathan discovered there was an ambush behind him, for they encircled his army and

shot arrows at his troops from morning till sundown. 81But his army stood their ground, as
Jonathan had ordered, and their cavalry grew tired.

  82Then Simon brought in his army and confronted the phalanx in battle (for the cavalry

had grown tired); and they were crushed by him and fled. 83When the cavalry was scattered
on the plain, they retreated to Azotus, entering Beth-dagon, their pagan temple, to hide.
84Then Jonathan set Azotus and the surrounding cities on fire and took spoils from them.

The temple of Dagon and those who took refuge in it were burned up in the fire.† 85So eight
thousand men fell by the sword along with those who were killed by the fire.

  86Then Jonathan left there and camped opposite Ashkelon, and the men of the city came

out with great ceremony to meet him. 87Jonathan and the men with him later went back to
Jerusalem with many spoils. 88Thus when King Alexander heard these reports, he proceeded
to honor Jonathan again.† 89So he sent him a golden buckle, as was customary to give to the
relatives of kings. He also gave to him Ekron and all its regions as his possession.

                                Ptolemy IV, Alexander Die


11 Then the king of Egypt gathered together a large army, like sand along the seashore, and
   many ships; and he sought to obtain possession of Alexander's kingdom by deceit, and
to add it to his kingdom. 2So he set out for Syria with words of peace, and those from the
cities were open to him and met with him, because King Alexander ordered them to meet him
since he was his father-in-law. 3But when Ptolemy entered the cities, he set a band of soldiers
in every city.

  4But when they neared Azotus, they showed him the temple of Dagon which had been
burned, and Azotus and the surrounding fortifications that were destroyed, and the bodies of
those lying about whom Jonathan had burned in the war; for they made heaps of them in his
path. 5They also told the king what Jonathan had done, so as to blame him; but the king
remained silent. 6Jonathan then met the king in Joppa with great ceremony, and they greeted
each other and stayed the night there. 7Jonathan journeyed with the king to the river
Eleutherus, and then went back to Jerusalem.
  8Thus King Ptolemy ruled over the coastal cities as far as Seleucia by the sea, and devised

evil plans against Alexander. 9So he sent ambassadors to King Demetrius, saying, “Come, let
us enter into a covenant with one another. I will give you my daughter, Alexander's wife, in
marriage, and you will reign over your father's kingdom. 10For I regret giving him my
daughter, since he tried to kill me.” 11Thus, Ptolemy blamed Alexander because he desired his
kingdom. 12So he took back his daughter and gave her to Demetrius. Therefore he was
estranged from Alexander, and their animosity was evident.

  13Then Ptolemy entered Antioch and assumed the crown of Asia. So he wore two crowns

on his head, that of Egypt and that of Asia. 14But King Alexander was in Cilicia at this time,
for the inhabitants there were in revolt. 15When Alexander heard of it, he engaged him in
battle. So Ptolemy went out with a mighty force and faced him, putting him to flight. 16Then
Alexander took refuge in Arabia, seeking safety. King Ptolemy was held in great honor. 17So
Zabdiel the Arab cut off Alexander's head and sent it to Ptolemy. 18But King Ptolemy died
three days later, and his garrisons in the fortresses were destroyed by the inhabitants of those
fortresses. 19Thus in the one hundred and sixty-seventh year, Demetrius became king.

                        Jonathan Finds Favor with Demetrius II

  20In those days, Jonathan gathered men from Judea to attack the citadel in Jerusalem, and

he built many engines of war for use against it. 21But some lawless men who despised their
nation came to the king and told him Jonathan would set siege to the citadel. 22When the
king heard this, he was enraged; and he broke camp and went to Ptolemais. He wrote
Jonathan that he was to lift the siege, and to meet him in Ptolemais at once for a conference.

  23But when Jonathan heard this, he issued orders to continue the siege. Then he chose

some elders of Israel and some priests, and put himself in danger. 24For he took silver, gold,
clothing, and many other friendly gifts and went to the king in Ptolemais. And Jonathan
found favor with him. 25Again, some lawless men from the nation accused Jonathan. 26But
the king did to him as those before him had done and exalted him in front of all his friends.
27He also confirmed him in the high priesthood and whatever other honors he held before,

and considered him as one of his best friends. 28Then Jonathan asked the king to exempt
Judea from taxes along with the three provinces and Samaria, and promised him three
hundred talents. 29The king was pleased and wrote Jonathan a letter concerning all these
things. Its message was as follows:

  30“King Demetrius to his brother Jonathan and the nation of the Jews, greetings. 31The
copy of this letter which we wrote to Lasthenes our relative concerning you we have copied
also to you, that you might know what it says. 32‘King Demetrius to his father Lasthenes,
greetings. 33To the nation of the Jews, our friends, and who do what is right towards us, we
have decided to do good, because of their goodwill toward us. 34We have established the
borders of Judea for them and the three provinces of Aphairema, Lydda, and Rathamin. They
were added to Judea from Samaria, as well as all the areas bordering them. All who offer
sacrifices in Jerusalem we have released from the royal taxes which the king received from
them each year, from the harvest of the earth and fruit of the trees. 35Any other payments
due us from now on from the tithes, the salt pits, and the crown taxes—from all these we
grant release. 36None of these provisions will be cancelled from now on for all time. 37Now
therefore, take heed to make a copy of this, and let it be given to Jonathan and put in a
notable place on the holy mountain.’ ”

                                Jonathan Aids Demetrius II

  38When King Demetrius saw the land was peaceful before him and no one was opposed to
him, he dismissed his troops, each to their own place, except the foreign soldiers whom he
had recruited as mercenaries from the islands of the nations. So all the soldiers who had
served his fathers hated him. 39Now Trypho formerly had been one of Alexander's
supporters. He saw that all the soldiers complained against Demetrius. So he approached
Imalkue the Arab, who was rearing Antiochus, the young son of Alexander. 40He insisted
that he hand Antiochus over to him, so as to make him king in place of his father. He told
Imalkue everything Demetrius had done and the hatred his troops had for him; and he
remained there many days.

  41Meanwhile, Jonathan sent to King Demetrius the request that he remove the soldiers in
the citadel from Jerusalem as well as those in the fortresses; for they were at war with Israel.
42Then Demetrius sent to Jonathan, saying, “Not only will I do these things for you and your
nation, but I will greatly honor you and the Jewish nation when I have the opportunity.
43And you will do rightly to send me soldiers who will ally with me, because all my troops

have revolted.” 44So Jonathan sent three thousand very able men to him at Antioch. When
they came to the king, he was very glad at their arrival.
  45Then men from the city gathered within the city, a hundred and twenty thousand of

them, and they wanted to kill the king. 46But the king fled into the palace, and those from the
city seized the streets of the city, and they began to fight. 47So the king summoned the Jews
for help, and they all rallied around him and dispersed throughout the city. On that day they
killed about one hundred thousand men. 48They set the city on fire, took many spoils on that
day, and rescued the king. 49When the men of the city realized the Jews had gained control
of the city at will, they lost their courage and called out to the king with this request:
50“Restore the peace and make the Jews quit fighting us and the city.” 51So they threw down
their weapons and made peace. Then the Jews were honored before the king and before all
those in his kingdom. After this, they returned to Jerusalem with many spoils.

  52Thus King Demetrius ruled on the throne of his kingdom, and the land was peaceful

before him. 53But he broke his word about everything he promised Jonathan. Thus he
became estranged from him, and did not repay Jonathan the favors he had done for him, but
greatly afflicted him.

                             Antiochus VI Honors Jonathan

  54Later, Trypho returned and had with him the young boy Antiochus, who put on the

crown and became king. 55All the troops who had cursed Demetrius gathered around him.
They fought against Demetrius, who was put to flight. 56Trypho then captured the elephants
and gained control of Antioch. 57So Antiochus the younger wrote to Jonathan, saying, “I
confirm you in the high priesthood, set you over the four provinces, and you will be one of
the king's friends.” 58He also sent him gold cups to serve him at table, and gave him
authority to drink from these, to dress in purple, and to wear a golden buckle. 59He then
established Simon his brother as general from the Ladder of Tyre to the boundary of Egypt.

  60Then Jonathan departed and journeyed beyond the river and in the cities. The entire
army of Syria gathered around him as allies. When he went into Askelon, the people of the
city met him and honored him. 61From there, he left for Gaza, but when the inhabitants of
Gaza shut him out, he besieged the city, set its surrounding fortifications on fire, and
plundered them. 62Thus the men of Gaza pleaded with Jonathan. He made peace with them,
took the sons of their governors as hostages, and dispatched them to Jerusalem. Then he
traveled through the country, going as far as Damascus.
   63Jonathan also got word the officers of Demetrius had arrived in Kadesh in Galilee with a

sizable army. They intended to oust him from office. 64So he set out to meet them, but he left
his brother Simon in the country. 65Then Simon positioned himself at Beth-zur, and for
many days fought against it and blocked it off. 66Then the people begged him for peace, and
he granted it to them. So he cast them out from there, took possession of the city, and placed
a garrison in it.

 67Now Jonathan and his soldiers camped by the lake of Gennesaret, and rose early the next

morning and marched to the plain of Hazor.† 68Then behold, the foreign army met him in
the plain and set up an ambush against him in the mountains. But they themselves met him
face to face. 69Then the men in the ambush rose up from their places and joined the battle.
70All Jonathan's men fled. None of them remained except Mattathias, the son of Absalom,

and Judas, the son of Chalphi, commanders of the armed forces. 71So Jonathan tore his
garments, poured earth on his head, and prayed. 72Then he turned back to the battle and put
the enemy to flight. 73When Jonathan's men who had run away saw this, they returned and
joined him in the pursuit of the enemy as far as Kadesh, and there they set up camp. 74As
many as three thousand of the foreign army fell that day. Then Jonathan went back to
Jerusalem.

                      Friendship Renewed with Rome and Sparta


12 When   Jonathan saw the time was right, he chose envoys and sent them to Rome to
   validate and renew friendship with them. 2Also, he sent letters to Sparta and other
localities for the same reasons. 3So they left for Rome, entered the senate chamber, and said,
“Jonathan, the high priest, and the nation of the Jews sent us here to renew the former
friendship and alliance between ourselves.” 4Then the Romans wrote letters to the citizens in
every place, so they might send forth the ambassadors to the land of Judah in peace.

  5This is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:

  6“Jonathan the high priest, the elders of the nation, the priests, and the Jewish people to

their brothers the Spartans, greetings. 7Some time earlier, letters were sent to Onias the high
priest by Arius, who ruled over you, that you are our brothers, as the attached copy indicates.
8Onias received the envoy with honor, and he accepted the letters, which plainly showed the
alliance and friendship. 9Therefore, although we do not need these things, since we have the
holy books in our hands, 10we have decided to send and renew our brotherhood and
friendship, so we would not be estranged from you. For significant time has elapsed since you
sent word to us. 11Therefore at every opportunity, both on feast days and ordinary days, we
remember you unceasingly in the sacrifices we offer and in our prayers, as it is right and
proper to remember brothers; 12for we rejoice in your glory. 13But many troubles and many
wars have surrounded us, and the kings around us have fought against us. 14We did not wish
to trouble you and our other allies and friends with these wars. 15For we have had help from
heaven assisting us, for we were freed from our enemies, and they were humbled.
16Therefore we chose Numenius son of Antiochus and Antipater son of Jason, and sent them

to Rome to renew our former friendship and alliance with them. 17We also ordered them to
go to you, to greet you and give you these letters from us concerning the renewal of our
brotherhood. 18Now then, please send us a reply.”

  19This is the copy of the letters they sent to Onias:

  20“King Arius of the Spartans to Onias the high priest, greetings. 21It has been put in
writing regarding both the Spartans and the Jews that they are brothers, and are both of the
family of Abraham. 22So now that we know this, please write us concerning your welfare.
23Thus we are writing to you that your cattle and possessions are ours, and ours are yours.
Therefore we order our ambassadors to report to you accordingly.”

                           Campaigns of Jonathan and Simon

  24Then Jonathan heard the officers of Demetrius had come back with a larger army than

before to make war against him. 25So he marched out of Jerusalem and engaged them in the
area around Hamath, giving them no chance to invade his country. 26So he sent out spies to
their encampment. They later returned and told him the army of Demetrius planned to attack
the Jews at night. 27At sunset, Jonathan ordered those with him to stay awake and to be
ready with their weapons for a fight during the night. Then he sent out an advance guard to
surround the camp. 28When the enemy got word that Jonathan and his soldiers were ready
for battle, they were terrified at heart. So they lit fires in their camp and fled. 29But Jonathan
and his men did not know this until it was morning, for they saw the firelight. 30So Jonathan
chased after them, but could not overtake them, because they crossed over the Eleutherus
River. 31Then Jonathan turned aside against the Arabs, called Zabadeans, and struck them
and took their spoils. 32He then broke camp and marched to Damascus and throughout all
that country.

  33Meanwhile, Simon went out and marched as far as Askelon and the fortresses nearby,

and turned aside to Joppa and captured it. 34For he heard they wished to hand over the
fortress to the men sent by Demetrius. So he established a garrison there to guard it.

  35When Jonathan returned, he assembled the elders of the people. Together, they decided

to build fortresses in Judea, 36and to make the walls of Jerusalem even higher, and raise a
great high wall between the citadel and the city to separate it from the city, so it would be
isolated and its garrison could not buy nor sell goods. 37So they assembled to rebuild the city
and part of the wall on the valley to the east that had fallen; thus he repaired the wall that is
called Chaphenatha. 38Simon also built Adida in the Shephelah. They fortified it and set up
bolted gates.

                            Jonathan Captured, Troops Killed

  39Then Trypho sought to rule Asia, to wear the crown, and to stretch forth his hand against

King Antiochus. 40He also took precautions lest Jonathan would not permit it, but wage war
against him. So seeking to capture and destroy him, he marched forth to Beth-shan. 41Then
Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand soldiers chosen for battle, and he came
to Beth-shan. 42When Trypho saw that he came with a large army, he was afraid to stretch
forth his hand against him. 43So he received him honorably and met him with all his friends.
He gave gifts to Jonathan, and ordered his friends and his own troops to obey him as himself.
44Then he said to Jonathan, “Why have you troubled all these men? We are not at war!
45Now send them home; but choose a few soldiers for yourself to be with you. Then come
with me to Ptolemais, and I will give it over to you along with the rest of the fortresses and
the remaining troops and officers. Then I will turn around and go home, for that is why I
came here.”

  46So Jonathan believed Trypho, and did as he had said and sent away the troops, who

departed for the region of Judah. 47But he kept three thousand soldiers with him, two
thousand of which he left in Galilee, and a thousand who went with him. 48But when
Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the men of the city shut the gates and captured him, and they
slew with the sword all who entered with him.

  49Then Trypho sent soldiers and cavalry into Galilee and the Great Plain, to kill all

Jonathan's men. 50But when the soldiers learned that Jonathan and those with him had been
captured and killed, they encouraged each other to keep marching in close formation, ready
for attack. 51But when the pursuers saw them ready to fight for their lives, they retreated.
52So they all came safely to the land of Judah and cried out for Jonathan and his men. They

were exceedingly afraid, and all Israel mourned greatly. 53Then all the nations surrounding
them tried to defeat them, saying, “There is none to lead them or to help them. Now then, let
us wage war against them and erase them from memory.”

                                 Simon Leads His People


13 Now Simon learned that Trypho had assembled a huge army to march on the land of
   Judah and crush it.† 2He saw the people were trembling with fear, so he went to
Jerusalem and gathered everyone together. 3He encouraged them, saying, “You know what
my brothers and I and my father's house have done concerning the laws and the sanctuary.
You know, too, the wars and the crises we have seen. 4This is why all my brothers perished,
all for the sake of Israel, and only I am left. 5Now may my life never be safeguarded in time
of trouble, for I am in no way better than my brothers. 6Thus I will avenge my nation and this
sanctuary and your wives and children, for all the nations have hatefully gathered to destroy
us.”

  7Thus he rekindled the spirit of the people when they heard these words. 8They responded

with a loud voice, saying, “You lead us in place of Judas and your brother. 9Fight our wars,
and we will do everything you tell us.” 10So he gathered all the men of fighting age and
rushed to finish the walls of Jerusalem; he fortified the city on all sides. 11Then he sent
Jonathan son of Absalom with a sizable army to Joppa, and he drove out its people and
remained there.

                                  Trypho Kills Jonathan

  12Meanwhile, Trypho left from Ptolemais with a large force to come into the land of Judah.

Jonathan accompanied him under guard.† 13Now Simon set up camp in Adida, opposite the
plain. 14When Trypho heard that Simon had risen up in place of his brother Jonathan and
was about to face him in battle, he sent men to him, saying, 15“We are detaining your brother
Jonathan because of the silver he owed the royal treasury and for which he is responsible.
16Now send a hundred talents of silver and two of his sons as hostages, that when he is freed

he will not rise up against us; then we will free him.” 17Simon sensed they were speaking to
him deceitfully, but he sent for the silver and the sons, lest he arouse great hostility among
the people, for they might say, 18“Because Simon did not give him the money and the sons,
Jonathan perished.” 19Then he sent the sons and the hundred talents. But Trypho acted with
deceit and would not free Jonathan.

  20Later, Trypho arrived to invade Judah to destroy it, and they circled around the road
leading to Adora. But Simon and his army advanced along opposite him every place he went.
21Then men from the citadel sent ambassadors to Trypho, urging him to come to them

through the desert and send food for them. 22Trypho then prepared all his cavalry to come,
but there was a heavy snowfall that night, and he could not march through the deep snow.
Instead, he departed and went into Gilead.† 23But when he came near Bascama, he slew
Jonathan and buried him there.† 24Then Trypho turned and went to his own country.

  25Simon sent men and gathered the remains of his brother Jonathan and buried him in

Modein, the city of his fathers. 26All Israel mourned him with great lament for many days.
27Simon also built up the tomb of his father and brothers with polished stone in front and

back, making it high enough to be seen. 28He then built seven pyramids, one opposite the
other, for his father and his mother and his four brothers. 29Around these pyramids he made
engines of war, building massive pillars around them, and upon these pillars he placed suits
of armor for a perpetual memorial, and alongside the suits of armor he made carved ships, so
they could be seen by everyone sailing the sea. 30This tomb which he made in Modein exists
until this day.

                              Demetrius II Honors Simon

  31Now Trypho also dealt wickedly with young Antiochus the king and murdered him.†
32Then he became king in his place and wore the crown of Asia, bringing great adversity to

the land. 33Simon thus strengthened the fortresses in Judea, surrounding them with high
towers and with thick walls and gates and bolts, storing provisions in the fortresses. 34Also
Simon selected men and sent them to King Demetrius to bring relief for the country, for all
Trypho's actions were violent. 35Then the king sent him a positive answer and wrote him this
letter:

  36“King Demetrius to Simon the high priest, friend of kings, and to the elders and the

Jewish nation, greetings. 37We received the crown of gold and the palm branch you sent. We
are ready to declare general peace with you and to order our officials to cancel your taxes.
38Indeed, all the grants we made to you stay intact, and let the fortresses you built remain in

your keeping. 39We also forgive the mistakes committed up to the present day as well, and
remove the crown tax you owe. If any other tax has been exacted in Jerusalem, let it be no
longer exacted. 40If some of your men are suited for enrollment in our bodyguard, let them
be enrolled. And may there be peace among us.”

  41The yoke of the Gentiles was lifted from Israel in the one hundred and seventieth year.
42Then the people began to record in their letters and contracts, “In the first year of Simon,

the great high priest and commander and ruler of the Jews.”†

                         Simon Secures Gazara and Jerusalem

  43In those days Simon camped at Gazara, surrounding it with soldiers. He also built an

engine of war, brought it to the city, and struck and seized one tower.† 44Then the men in the
siege engine jumped out and ran into the city, and there was a great commotion in Gazara.
45The men in the city also climbed up onto the wall with their wives and children, tearing
their clothes and crying with a loud voice, pleading with Simon to make peace with them.
46They said, “Treat us not according to our evil deeds, but according to your mercy.” 47So
Simon made an agreement with them and ceased waging war against them. But he cast them
out of the city and purified the houses that contained idols. Thus he entered Gazara with
hymns and blessings. 48He also cast out all uncleanness from it and settled men there who
would keep the law. Then he fortified it and built a dwelling there for himself.

  49But the men in the citadel at Jerusalem were prevented from coming and going in the
region to buy and to sell. So they were extremely hungry; even the strong among them were
dying of hunger. 50When they called out to Simon to be at peace with them, he did so and
then cast them out from there, purifying the citadel from its defilements. 51They entered it
on the twenty-third day of the second month of the one hundred and seventy-first year with
praise and palm branches, and with lyres, cymbals, and stringed instruments, and with
hymns and songs, because a great enemy had been defeated and cast out of Israel. 52Thus
Simon ordered that each year they should commemorate this day with jubilation. When the
temple mount was fortified along with the citadel, he himself and his men lived there.
53Then Simon noted that his son John had reached adulthood. So he appointed him
commander of all the army, and he lived in Gazara.

                                                            A Tribute to Simon


14 Then in the one hundred and seventy-second year, King Demetrius gathered his troops
   and went into Media to enlist help for himself to wage war against Trypho. 2When
Arsaces, king of Persia and Media, learned that Demetrius had entered his borders, he sent
one of his officers to capture him alive. 3So he set out and attacked the camp of Demetrius,
and captured him and brought him to Arsaces, who put him in prison.

    4
         The land of Judah was peaceful all the day s of Sim on,

    And he sought the good of his nation,

    And his leadership and his glory pleased them all his day s.

    5
         Then in all his glory he took Joppa for a harbor

    And m ade an entrance to the islands of the sea.

    6
         He enlarged his nation's borders

    And gained control of his country .

    7
         He also gathered m any captiv es

    And ruled Gazara and Beth-zur and the citadel.

    When he rem ov ed from it the uncleanness,

    No one opposed him .

    8
         They farm ed their land in peace,

    And the land gav e forth its produce,

    And the trees of the plain their fruit.

    9
         Elders sat in the streets,

    Talking together of good things;

    And the y oung m en wore the glories and apparel of war.

    10
         He supplied the cities with food

    And furnished them with weapons of defense,

    Until his fam e spread to the ends of the earth.

    11
         He established peace in the land,
      And Israel rejoiced with great delight.

      12
           Each one sat under his v ine and fig tree,

      And no one m ade them afraid.

      13
           He caused war to cease in the land,

      And kings were defeated in those day s.

      14
           He fortified all the hum ble am ong his people;

      He dem anded adherence to the law

      And rem ov ed all the lawless and ev il m en.

      15
           He beautified the sanctuary

      And m ultiplied the v essels of the sanctuary .

                                       Alliances Renewed with Rome and Sparta

  16When it was heard in Rome and as far away as Sparta that Jonathan had died, they were

in great sorrow. 17But when they heard that his brother Simon had been made high priest in
his place and was ruling over the land and the cities in it, 18they wrote to him on bronze
plaques to renew the friendship and alliance they had built with him and with his brothers
Judas and Jonathan. 19These tablets were read before all the people gathered in Jerusalem.

    20This is a copy of the letters the Spartans sent:

  “The leaders and the city of the Spartans, to Simon, the high priest, and the elders and the
priests, and to all the Jewish people, our brothers, greetings. 21The ambassadors who were
sent by you to our people told us about your glory and honor, and we were overjoyed at their
coming. 22So we recorded what was said by them in our public decrees as follows:
‘Numenius, son of Antiochus, and Antipater, the son of Jason, ambassadors of the Jews,
came to renew their friendship with us. 23Our citizens were pleased to receive them
honorably and to place a copy of their words in the public archives, so the people of the
Spartans might have a record of them. They also sent a copy of this to Simon the high priest.’
”

    24Later, Simon dispatched Numenius to Rome with a large gold shield that weighed a
thousand minas, to verify the alliance with them.

                                                    A Bronze Plaque for Simon

    25The people heard these words and they said, “How can we show our gratitude to Simon
and his sons? 26For he, his brothers, and his father's house stood strong and waged war with
the enemies of Israel by themselves, and secured her freedom.” So they wrote these words on
bronze tablets and put them on the pillars on Mount Zion,† 27and this is a copy of what they
wrote:

  “On the eighteenth day of Elul, in the hundred and seventy-second year, which is the third
year of the great high priest Simon in the court of God's people, 28at the large gathering of
the priests and people and the rulers of the nation and the elders of the land, the following
was made known to us:

  29“Since there have often been wars in the country, Simon the son of Mattathias, priest of
the sons of Joarib, with his brothers, placed themselves at risk and opposed their nation's
adversaries, so their sanctuary and the law would be protected; and they honored their nation
with great glory. 30Jonathan also rallied their nation, was made their high priest, and was
brought before his people. 31When their adversaries chose to invade their country and seize
their sanctuary, 32Simon set out to wage war for his country. He spent large amounts of his
own money, and supplied weapons to the soldiers in his nation's army, and paid them wages.
33Thus he strengthened the cities of Judea, and Beth-zur on the boundary of Judea, where

the weapons of the enemy were kept; and he established there a garrison of Jews. 34He also
strengthened Joppa by the sea and Gazara on the boundary of Azotus, where the enemy had
previously lived. He moved the Jews there and supplied them with whatever they needed for
their welfare.

  35“When the people saw Simon's dependability and the glory he was committed to bring to
his nation, they chose him as their ruler and high priest, because he did all these things and
because of the righteousness and good faith he kept toward his nation. In every way he tried
to honor his people. 36Under his rule, everything he touched prospered, and he drove out the
Gentiles from the land. The men in the city of David in Jerusalem had made a citadel for
themselves, from which they went out and defiled the vicinity of the sanctuary and caused
great harm to its purity. 37Then he settled Jews in it and strengthened it for the security of
the country and the city, and built up the walls of Jerusalem to greater heights.

  38“In light of these accomplishments, King Demetrius established him in the high

priesthood. 39He also made him one of his friends and showed him great honor. 40For he
heard the Jews were called friends, allies, and brothers by the Romans and that they had
received Simon's ambassadors with honor.

  41“Thus the Jews and the priests were pleased that Simon should be their ruler and high

priest forever, until a faithful prophet should arise. 42They were also pleased that he should
be their governor, and take responsibility for the sanctuary and choose workers to meet its
needs, and to look after the country, the weapons and the fortresses. 43Indeed they decided
he should look after the sanctuary and be obeyed by all, that all the contracts of the nation
should be drafted with his signature, and that he should be vested in purple and gold.

  44“None of the people or the priests were to be allowed to repeal any of these things, or say
anything in opposition to him, or hold an assembly of the people without him, or be clothed
in purple, or wear a gold buckle. 45Anyone who should do anything contrary to these
decisions or nullify any of them was to be held liable.

  46“All the people resolved that Simon should act according to these decisions. 47So Simon
consented, agreeing to become high priest, and to be the governor and ethnarch of the Jews
and priests and the guardian of all.”

  48They commanded that this decree be inscribed on bronze tablets and be put in a public

place near the sanctuary. 49Copies were also placed in the treasury, accessible to Simon and
his sons.

                            Antiochus VII Seeks Simon's Help


15 Then Antiochus, son of King Demetrius, sent a letter from the islands of the sea to
   Simon, the high priest and ethnarch of the Jews, and to all the nation. 2It contained the
following:

  “Antiochus the King to Simon, high priest and ethnarch, and the nation of the Jews,
greetings. 3Since certain troublemakers gained the mastery over the kingdom of our fathers, I
wish to lay claim to the kingdom so I can establish it as it was before. I have recruited a
multitude of troops and prepared war ships. 4I plan to go throughout the nation, that I may
pursue those who laid our country to ruin and desolated many of its cities. 5Now therefore, I
validate your tax remissions, which the kings before me forgave you, and whatever other
payments they remitted for you. 6I also authorize you to make your own coinage as money
for your nation, 7and allow Jerusalem and the sanctuary to be free. All the weapons you
prepared and the fortresses you built, which you seized, let them remain with you. 8Every
money you owe the royal treasury, as well as future debts, let them be remitted from now on
and for all time. 9As soon as we regain control of our kingdom, we will honor you and your
nation and the temple with great glory, that your glory may be evident in all the earth.”

  10In the one hundred seventy-fourth year, King Antiochus went to the land of his fathers

and all his soldiers went with him. Few sided with Trypho. 11When Antiochus went after him,
he fled to Dora by sea, 12for he knew that calamity had come upon him. His armies deserted
him. 13Then Antiochus set up camp opposite Dora with one hundred and twenty thousand
fighting men and eight thousand cavalry. 14He encircled the city, and the ships joined the
battle from the sea. So he pressed hard against the city by land and sea and did not allow
anyone to leave or enter.

                            The Jews Receive Rome's Support

  15Then Numenius and his men came from Rome with letters to the kings and their
countries, in which the following was contained:

  16“Lucius, the Roman consul, to Ptolemy the king, greetings. 17The ambassadors of the
Jews came to us as friends and allies to renew their longstanding friendship and alliance.
They were sent from Simon, the high priest, and by the Jewish people, 18and brought a gold
shield of a thousand minas. 19Therefore it pleased us to write the kings and their countries,
that they not seek to hurt them or wage war against them and their cities and country, or
form alignments with those who fight them. 20It seems right to accept the shield from them.
21If therefore any troublemakers have escaped from their country to you, give them over to
Simon the high priest, that he might prosecute them according to their law.”

  22The consul wrote identical letters to King Demetrius, and to Attalus, Ariarathes, and

Arsaces, 23and to all the nations, to Sampsames, and the Spartans, and to Delos, Myndos,
Sieyon, Caria, Samos, Pamphylia, Lycia, Halicarnassus, Rhodes, Phaselis, Cos, Side, Arados,
Gortyna, Cnidus, Cyprus, and Cyrene. 24They also sent a copy to Simon the high priest.

                             Antiochus VII Turns on Simon

  25Meanwhile, King Antiochus besieged Dora a second time, repeatedly launching his
forces against it and building engines of war. He put Trypho in confinement, so he could
neither go out or go in. 26Then Simon sent Antiochus two thousand chosen men as allies,
along with silver, gold, and considerable weaponry. 27But Antiochus decided not to accept
these things; he broke all the former agreements he had made with Simon, becoming
estranged from him. 28Then he sent Athenobius, one of his friends, to confer with him,
saying, “You control Joppa, Gazara, and the citadel in Jerusalem; they are cities of my
kingdom. 29You desolated their territory and caused great damage in the land; and you rule
over many places in my kingdom. 30Now therefore, give back the cities you took and the
taxes from the places you rule outside the boundaries of Judea. 31Otherwise, give me five
hundred talents of silver for them, as well as five hundred talents more for the destruction
you caused and for the tribute of the cities; or else we will wage war and defeat you.”

  32When Athenobius, the friend of the king, entered Jerusalem and saw the glory of Simon
and the sideboard plated with gold and silver, a magnificent display, he stood amazed. Then
he reported the words of the king to him. 33Thus Simon answered and said to him, “We have
not taken any foreign land, nor have we captured foreign property, but only the inheritance of
our fathers, which years ago was seized unjustly by our adversaries. 34But now that we have
occasion, we are holding firmly to the inheritance of our fathers. 35And as for Joppa and
Gazara, which you want, their people were causing great damage to our people and our
country. For them we will give you one hundred talents.” 36Athenobius said not a word in
reply, but returned to the king in anger. When he relayed to him these words, plus Simon's
splendor and everything he witnessed, the king was extremely enraged.

  37Now Trypho had boarded a ship and escaped to Orthosia. 38So the king made Cendebeus

his commander-in-chief of the seacoast and gave him infantry soldiers and cavalry. 39He
then ordered him to encamp opposite Judea, and further ordered him to build Kedron and
strengthen its gates, and to wage war against the people. But the king himself pursued
Trypho. 40When Cendebeus arrived in Jamnia, he began to harass the people. He also
invaded Judea, took people captive, and killed them. 41Then he built up Kedron and stationed
cavalry and soldiers there, so they could march through the roads of Judea, making roads as
the king commanded him.

                             Simon's Sons Defeat Cendebeus
16 Then   John traveled from Gazara and told his father Simon the damage Cendebeus was
   inflicting.† 2So Simon called his two oldest sons, Judas and John, and said to them, “My
brothers and I and my father's house have fought Israel's battles from our youth until this
very day. Things have gone well for us, so as to rescue Israel many times over. 3Now I have
become old, and you by His mercy are men of maturity. Take over my position and my
brother's role and go fight for our country, and may the help sent from heaven be yours.”

  4Thus John chose twenty thousand fighting men and cavalry from the country. Together

they marched toward Cendebeus and encamped overnight in Modein. 5They arose early,
marching to the plain. Behold, a huge army was marching out to meet them, infantry and
cavalry, and there was a stream between them. 6John and his army faced off against them,
and when he saw that his troops were afraid to ford the stream, he crossed first. His soldiers
saw him and crossed behind him. 7He then divided up the men, putting the cavalry in the
middle of the infantry, for the enemy's cavalry was very large. 8When they sounded the
trumpet, Cendebeus and his army were routed, and numbers of them fell wounded. The rest
of them fled into the fortress. 9Then Judas, the brother of John, was wounded, but John
pursued them until Cendebeus reached Kedron, where he had done construction. 10When
they ran into the towers in the fields of Azotus, John set them afire, and roughly two
thousand of their men perished. Then he returned to Judea in peace.

                                   John Succeeds Simon

  11Now Ptolemy, the son of Abubus, had been made governor to rule over the plain of

Jericho. He had large hoards of silver and gold, 12for he was the son-in-law of the high priest.
13He was optimistic and full of determination to seize control of the country. So he developed
an evil strategy to seize Simon and his sons by trickery.

  14Now Simon was paying a visit to the cities throughout the country, concentrating on
their needs. So he went down to Jericho along with his sons Mattathias and Judas in the one
hundred and seventy-seventh year, in the eleventh month, the month of Shebat. 15The son of
Abubus received them with deceit in the little fortress called Dok, which he had erected, and
he gave them a grand feast and hid the men there. 16So when Simon and his sons became
drunk, Ptolemy and his soldiers emerged and grabbed their weapons. When they encountered
Simon in the banquet hall, they murdered him along with his two sons and certain of his
servants. 17Indeed, Ptolemy committed great treachery, returning evil for good.

  18Ptolemy then drafted a report to the king about these things and asked that he might

send him soldiers to help, and to secure their country and cities. 19He also dispatched
soldiers to Gazara to seize John, and sent letters to military tribunes to come to him, so he
might give them silver, gold, and gifts. 20Then he sent others to capture Jerusalem and the
temple hill. 21But somebody ran ahead and told John in Gazara that his father and his
brothers had been killed and that “he has sent men to kill you as well.”† 22When John heard
this, he was deeply shocked. He captured the soldiers who came to crush him and killed
them; for he discovered they were there to kill him.

  23The rest of John's words and his war history and brave acts, which he did so
courageously, plus the heightening of the walls which he built, and his other
accomplishments,† 24behold, they are written in the book of his high priesthood, from when
he was first made high priest following his father.
                                   2 M ACCABE E S
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Chapters in 2 Maccabees
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in 2 Maccabees Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in 2 Maccabees Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in 2 Maccabees Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

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Verses in 2 Maccabees Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

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Verses in 2 Maccabees Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in 2 Maccabees Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in 2 Maccabees Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42

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Verses in 2 Maccabees Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in 2 Maccabees Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in 2 Maccabees Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in 2 Maccabees Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in 2 Maccabees Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45

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Verses in 2 Maccabees Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in 2 Maccabees Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46

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Verses in 2 Maccabees Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

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                                           The Second Book of the Maccabees

   Author       —The author is unknown, but it is certainly not the author of 1 Maccabees. This
author was most probably a Jew from Palestine who abbreviated or summarized a five-
volume work by Jason of Cyrene (2:19–32), who wrote in Greek.

   Date   —About 124 BC or later. The bulk of Jason's five-volume work spans 180–160 BC.

   Major Theme      —God takes care of the Jewish people by rewarding those who are faithful
to the Law and punishing evildoers. This is a story of the weak overcoming the mighty
because they pray to God, trust in Him, and obey His laws. The main character, Judas
Maccabeus, brings deliverance to the persecuted Jewish community through his
victories.

   Background      —The story begins with two letters from Jerusalem to the Jews in Alexandria,
Egypt, urging them to celebrate the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem (the feast
of Hanukkah) and to resist the pagans. The author then proceeds to summarize the
five-volume work of Jason of Cyrene concerning the exploits of Judas Maccabeus and
his family.

Outline

 I. Introduction (1 :1 –2 :3 2 )

        A. Letter to the Jews in Egy pt (1 :1 –9 )

         B. Letter to Aristobulus (1 :1 0–2 :1 8)

         C. Foreword by the author (2 :1 9 –3 2 )

II. The Ev il Plot of Sim on and the Conv ersion of Heliodorus (3 :1 –4 :6 )

III. The Reign of Antiochus I Epiphanes (1 7 5–1 6 4 BC): Desecration and Purification of the Tem ple (4 :7 –1 0:9 )

        A. The wicked high priests Jason and Menelaus (4 :7 –5:2 7 )

         B. The cam paign against Judaism (6 :1 –1 7 )

         C. The m arty rdom s of Eleazar and the sev en brothers and their m other (6 :1 8–7 :4 2 )

        D. Judas's v ictories and the purification of the tem ple (8:1 –1 0:9 )

IV. The reigns of Antiochus V Eupator (1 6 4 –1 6 2 BC) and Dem etrius I Soter (1 6 1 –1 50 BC): The Later Cam paigns of Judas Maccabeus (1 0:1 0–

    1 5:3 6 )

        A. Judas's v ictories against the Idum eans, Tim othy , and Ly sias (1 0:1 0–1 3 :2 6 )

         B. Plot against Judas's life frustrated (1 4 :1 –1 5:3 6 )
  V. Conclusion and Author's Apology (1 5:3 7 –3 9 )



                                                Letter to the Jews in Egypt


1 “The Jewish brothers in Jerusalem and the land of Judea, to their Jewish brothers in
  Egypt: Greetings and good peace.†

  2“May God do good to you, and may He remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and

Jacob, His faithful servants. 3May He give all of you a heart to worship Him and do His will
with a strong heart and willing soul. 4May He open your heart to His law and His
commandments, and may He bring you peace. 5May He hear your prayers and be reconciled
to you, and may He not forsake you in an evil time. 6We are now praying for you here.

  7“In the one hundred and sixty-ninth year, in the reign of Demetrius, we Jews wrote to you
at the culminating point of the affliction that came upon us, in those years from the time
Jason and his followers revolted against the holy land and the kingdom,† 8and burned the
gate and shed innocent blood. We prayed to the Lord and we were heard. So we offered
sacrifice and fine flour, lit the lamps, and set out the loaves. 9Now then, celebrate the Feast of
Tabernacles in the month of Chislev, in the one hundred and eighty-eighth year.”†

                                   Letter to Aristobulus and Those in Egypt

  10“Those in Jerusalem and in Judea, and the senate and Judas, to Aristobulus, who is from
the family of the anointed priests and is the teacher of Ptolemy the king, and to the Jews who
are in Egypt, greetings and good health.†

                                               Thanksgiving for Protection

  11“Since we were saved by God from great dangers, we thank Him abundantly as those

drawn up in battle order against a king. 12For He drove out those who fought against the holy
city. 13And when Antiochus their leader reached Persia with a force around him that seemed
irresistible, they were cut to pieces in the temple of Nanea through a deception employed by
the priests of Nanea.† 14For Antiochus, together with his friends, arrived at the temple to
marry her, for the sake of obtaining most of its treasures as a dowry. 15When the priests of
the temple of Nanea set out the treasures, and Antiochus, with a few men, had come inside
the enclosed wall of the sacred precinct, they closed the temple as soon as he entered it.
16Then they opened the secret door of the ceiling and threw stones. They struck down the
governor and his men, dismembered them, and took their heads and threw them to the
people outside.† 17Blessed in every way be our God, who delivered up the ungodly men.

                                         The Holy Fire

  18“Since on the twenty-fifth day of Chislev we will celebrate the purification of the temple,
we thought it needful to notify you that you might also celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles and
the feast of the fire, when Nehemiah, who built the temple and the altar, offered sacrifices.†
19For when our fathers were led captive to Persia, the pious priests of that time took some of
the fire off the altar and hid it secretly in the hollow of a dry well, where they sealed it, so the
place would be unknown to anyone. 20But after enough years had passed, when it pleased
God, Nehemiah was sent away by the king of Persia, and he appointed the descendants of the
priests who hid the fire to get it. When they reported to us that they had not found the fire
but rather a thick liquid, he commanded them to dip it out and bring it.† 21But when the
things of the sacrifices were brought to be offered, Nehemiah told the priests to sprinkle the
liquid on the wood and the things laid upon it.† 22When this was done and some time had
elapsed, and the sun, which had been clouded over, shone forth, a great fire flared up, causing
everyone to marvel. 23While the sacrifice was being consumed, the priests and everyone
offered prayer. Jonathan led and all the rest responded, as did Nehemiah.

                                   The Prayer of Nehemiah

 24“The prayer was offered as follows: ‘O Lord, Lord God, Creator of all things, fearful,

mighty, righteous, and merciful, the only King and Good One,† 25You only are bountiful,
alone righteous, almighty, and eternal. You save Israel from every evil, and You chose our
fathers and sanctified them. 26Accept this sacrifice on behalf of all Your people Israel, and
protect Your portion, and sanctify it. 27Gather our scattered people, free those enslaved
among the Gentiles, look upon the rejected and despised, and make the Gentiles know that
You are our God. 28Torment the oppressors and those insolent with arrogance. 29Plant Your
people in Your holy place, as Moses said.’

  30“Then the priests sang hymns, 31and when the things of the sacrifice were consumed,

Nehemiah ordered that the remaining liquid should be poured upon large stones. 32When
this was done, a flame flared up; but when a light from the altar shone in turn, the flame
went out. 33Now when this became known, the matter was reported to the king of the
Persians. He was told that in the place where the exiled priests had hidden the fire, the liquid
had appeared from which Nehemiah and his men purified the sacrifice. 34So the king
investigated the matter, enclosed the place, and made it sacred. 35Then the king exchanged
many excellent gifts with those he favored. 36Nehemiah and his men called this ‘nephthar,’
which means ‘purification,’ but by most people it is called ‘nephtha.’

                                 Jeremiah Hides the Text


2 “One  finds in the records, as it is noted, that Jeremiah the prophet ordered those
  migrating to take some of the fire.† 2The prophet also gave the law to those migrating and
commanded them not to forget the Lord's ordinances, nor be led astray in their thoughts
when they happened to see the gold and silver statues and their adornment. 3He also spoke
other such words and urged them not to depart from the law in their hearts.

  4“It was also written that the prophet received an oracle and ordered that the tabernacle
and the ark should accompany him when he went to the mountain where Moses had gone up
and had seen the inheritance of God. 5So when Jeremiah went there and found a cave, he
brought the tabernacle, the ark, and the altar of incense, and then sealed up the entrance.†
6Some who followed him came to mark the way, but they were unable to find it. 7Now when
Jeremiah learned of this, he rebuked them and said, ‘The place shall be unknown until God
gathers His people again and shows His mercy. 8Then the Lord will disclose these things, and
the glory of the Lord and the cloud will be seen, as they were shown to Moses, and as
Solomon deemed it worthy that the place should be specially consecrated.’

  9“It was also made clear that Solomon in his wisdom offered sacrifice for the consecration

and completion of the temple. 10Just as Moses prayed to the Lord and fire came down from
heaven and consumed the sacrifice, so Solomon also prayed, and the fire came down and
consumed the whole burnt offerings.† 11Moses said, ‘They were consumed because the sin
offering had not been eaten.’ 12Likewise Solomon also celebrated the eight days.

                                   Memoirs of Nehemiah

  13“The same things are reported in the records and in the memoirs of Nehemiah, and also
that he founded a library and gathered books about the kings and the prophets, and the
writings of David, and letters of kings about votive offerings. 14Likewise Judas also collected
all the books, lost on account of the war that came upon us; so they are in our possession.
15Thus if you have need of them, send people to bring them to you.

  16“Since then we are about to celebrate the purification, we write to you. Therefore you will

do well to celebrate the days. 17For it is God who saved all His people, and gave back the
inheritance to all, and the kingdom, the priesthood, and the consecration, 18as He promised
through the law. For we hope in God that He will have mercy upon us soon and gather us
from everywhere under heaven into His holy place; for He delivered us from great evils and
has purified the place.”

                                   Author's Introduction

  19Now the account of Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, the purification of the great

temple, and the consecration of the altar,† 20and moreover, the wars against Antiochus
Epiphanes and his son Eupator, 21and the interventions that came from heaven to those who
behaved courageously on behalf of Judaism, who although few in number plundered the
whole country and pursued the barbarian multitudes, 22and recovered control of the temple
famous throughout the world, freed the city, and restored the laws that were about to be
dissolved, while the Lord with great goodness was merciful to them— 23all this, which was
made clear by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we shall attempt to abridge into a single book.

 24We realize that a confused mass of material and subject matter makes it too hard on

most people who wish to plunge into the narrative of history. 25Thus we have aimed to help
those who wish to read with delight, to make it easy for those who are inclined to memorize,
and to appeal to those who read for profit. 26Therefore for us who have undertaken the
difficult task of brevity, this is no easy matter, but one demanding sweat and loss of sleep,
27as is the case with one who prepares a banquet seeking the benefit of others. All the same,

for the sake of the gratitude of many we will gladly endure the uncomfortable toil, 28leaving
the intricate examination of exact details to the compiler, while devoting our labor to arriving
at the outlines of the abridgement.

  29Just as the architect of a new house must be concerned with the whole construction,
while the one who decorates it and paints it needs to consider only what is suitable for its
adornment, so it seems to me is the case with us.† 30It is fitting for the originator of a history
to enter into a thorough discussion of words and be inquisitive about every detail, 31but one
who pursues brevity of narrative must be permitted to forgo exhaustive treatment.
32Therefore from hereon let us begin our narrative, adding only so much to what has already
been said; for it is foolish to lengthen the preface of a history, but cut short the history itself.

                         Disagreement between Onias and Simon


3 When  the holy city was inhabited in complete peace, because the laws were very well
  observed on account of the godliness of the high priest Onias and his hatred of
wickedness,† 2it happened that the kings themselves honored the place and glorified the
temple with very magnificent gifts.† 3Even Seleucus, the king of Asia, provided revenue at his
own expense for all the services of the sacrifices.†

  4But a certain Simon, from the tribe of Benjamin, who had been made protector of the
temple, was at variance with the high priest about the administration of the city market.
5Thus when he could not prevail over Onias, he went to Apollonius, son of Tarsus, who at

that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia.† 6He reported to him the untold wealth
in the temple treasury at Jerusalem, so much that the funds could not be counted.
Furthermore they did not belong to the account of the sacrifices, and it was possible they
could fall under the authority of the king.

                           Heliodorus Dispatched to Jerusalem

  7When Apollonius met the king, he informed him about the money that was disclosed to
him. So the king chose Heliodorus, who was over his affairs, and sent him with orders to
remove the aforesaid money. 8Thus Heliodorus immediately set out on his journey,
seemingly to make an inspection of the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but actually to
carry out the king's purpose.

  9When he arrived in Jerusalem and was kindly received by the high priest of the city, he
told about the disclosure and why he had come, and inquired whether this was truly the case.
10The high priest informed him of the deposits belonging to widows and orphans, 11and also
some money of Hyrcanus, son of Tobias, a man held in very high regard—the value of which
totaled four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold. All this was contrary to the
report of the ungodly Simon. 12He also told Heliodorus that it was altogether impossible to
wrong those who trusted in the holiness of the place and in the dignity and inviolability of the
temple honored throughout all the world. 13But because of the king's orders, Heliodorus said
the money must by all means be taken to the king's treasury. 14So he set a day to go in and
direct the inspection of these funds.

  There was no little anguish throughout the whole city. 15The priests prostrated themselves
before the altar in their priestly garments and appealed to heaven, to Him who gave the law
concerning deposits, to keep them safe for those who deposited them. 16To see the
appearance of the high priest was to be wounded at heart, for his face and the change of his
color revealed the anguish in his soul. 17For alarm and a trembling of body had come upon
the man, through which the pain in his heart became evident to those who saw him. 18People
also rushed out of their houses in crowds to make a public supplication, because the place
was about to be brought into contempt.† 19Women, girded with sackcloth beneath their
breasts, amassed in the streets. Some of the virgins who were kept inside ran together to the
gates, some to the walls, and others peeked out the windows. 20All stretched out their hands
to heaven and made entreaty.† 21There was something pitiable in the prostrations of the
entire populace and in the anxiety and great anguish of the high priest.

                                The Lord Stops Heliodorus

  22So they called upon the Almighty Lord to keep safe and secure what had been entrusted

for those who had placed them in trust; 23but Heliodorus continued with what had been
decided. 24So when he arrived at the treasury with his bodyguard, the Lord of spirits and all
authority was already present. He caused such a great manifestation that all who dared to
accompany him were panic-stricken at God's power. They turned about and fled in feebleness
and terror. 25For a certain horse appeared to them, having a fearful rider. It was arrayed with
a very beautiful pack-saddle, and it rushed furiously at Heliodorus and struck at him with its
front hooves. He who sat thereon was seen wearing a full armor of gold.† 26Two other young
men also appeared to him, remarkable in bodily strength, very beautiful in grandeur, and
illustrious in dress. They stood on each side of him and pummeled him continually, inflicting
him with many wounds.†

  27Suddenly Heliodorus fell to the ground, and a deep darkness overcame him. His men

then picked him up and put him on a stretcher, 28and carried him away—this man who had
just entered the treasury with a great retinue and all his bodyguard, but now was not able to
help himself. So they came to know, and it was clearly proven to be the power of Almighty
God. 29He was speechless because of the divine visitation, being thrown on the ground,
deprived of all hope of recovery. 30The people blessed the Lord, who acted marvelously for
His own place. The temple, which a little while earlier had been full of fear and trouble, was
now filled with joy and gladness, because the Almighty Lord had appeared.

  31Certain friends of Heliodorus quickly entreated Onias the high priest to call upon the

Most High to grant life to him who was lying there, about at his last breath. 32So the high
priest, suspecting the king might think some foul play was perpetrated by the Jews regarding
Heliodorus, offered sacrifice for his recovery. 33While the high priest was making the
offering of atonement, the same young men again appeared to Heliodorus, dressed in the
same apparel. They stood and said, “Be very grateful to Onias the high priest, for on his
account the Lord has granted you your life. 34Now since you were punished by heaven, report
to all men the majestic power of God.” Then having said this, they became invisible.†

                            Heliodorus Gives Thanks to God

  35Then Heliodorus offered sacrifice to the Lord and made very great vows to Him who had
spared his life. So after he gladly received Onias, he returned with his forces to the king.
36Then he bore testimony to all men about the deeds of the great God which he had seen

with his own eyes. 37When the king asked Heliodorus what kind of man would be suitable to
send on another journey to Jerusalem, he replied, 38“If you have any enemy or plotter
against you, send him there, for you will receive him back thoroughly punished, if he should
escape at all. For truly there is some power of God about that place. 39For He who has His
dwelling in heaven watches over that place and aids it, and destroys those who come to do it
harm.”

  40So this was how things turned out concerning Heliodorus and the preservation of the
treasury.

                                       Simon's Rage


4 The previously mentioned Simon, who informed about the money and his homeland,
  spoke evil things against Onias, claiming it was Onias himself who terrified Heliodorus
and created the calamity. 2Simon dared to say that Onias, the man who was the benefactor of
the city, the protector of his fellow countrymen, and a zealot for the laws, plotted the whole
matter. 3But when Simon's hatred progressed to the point that even murders were committed
by those he approved, 4Onias realized the danger of Simon's love of strife, and that
Apollonius, son of Menestheus and governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, was even
intensifying Simon's malice. 5So he went to the king, not to accuse his fellow citizens, but to
look out for the common good, both public and private. 6For he saw that without the king's
attention, matters could not reach a peaceful settlement, and that Simon would not cease
from his fury.

                      Jason Makes the Jews Learn Greek Customs

  7When Seleucus died and Antiochus, also called Epiphanes, succeeded to the kingdom,

Jason the brother of Onias obtained the high priesthood by corruption.† 8For through a
petition, he promised the king three hundred and sixty talents of silver, and from another
source of revenue, eighty talents.† 9In addition to this, he promised to pay one hundred and
fifty more if the king gave him permission to establish a gymnasium as a place for training
young men, and for enrolling the men of Jerusalem as citizens of Antioch. 10When the king
assented and Jason seized the high priesthood, he at once changed his countrymen over to
the Greek way of life.† 11He set aside the royal benefits to the Jews brought about through
John, the father of Eupolemus, the ambassador who established friendship and alliance with
the Romans. He also renounced and destroyed conformity to the laws, and created a new civic
life contrary to the customs. 12For he eagerly founded a gymnasium under the citadel itself,
and persuaded the most noble of the young men to wear the Greek cap.†

  13So there was the fullest expression of Hellenization and the adoption of foreign customs

because of the surpassing wickedness of Jason, who was ungodly and not a true high priest.†
14Therefore the priests were no longer eager to serve at the altar, but they despised the
temple and neglected the sacrifices. Instead, they hastened to take part in the unlawful
proceedings in the wrestling-school after the invitation to the discus. 15They counted the
honors of their fathers as nothing, but regarded Greek honors as the best. 16For this reason,
difficult circumstances overtook them, and those whose way of life they admired and wished
altogether to assimilate became their enemies and punished them. 17For to act in an ungodly
way against the divine laws is no light thing; but the following events will make this clear.†
  18When the quadrennial games were being held at Tyre and the king was present, 19the
vile Jason sent ambassadors, since they were Antiochian citizens from Jerusalem, to carry
three hundred silver drachmas for a sacrifice to Hercules. Those who carried the money,
however, considered it inappropriate and best not to use the money for sacrifice, but to
expend it for another purpose. 20So this money, intended by the sender for the sacrifice to
Hercules, was by the decision of those who carried it applied to the construction of
battleships.

  21When Apollonius the son of Menestheus was sent to Egypt to share in the festal
proclamation of King Philometor, Antiochus learned that Philometor had become hostile to
his government. So he was concerned for his own safety. Therefore, after he reached Joppa,
he went on to Jerusalem. 22He was magnificently received by Jason and the city, being
ushered in with torches and shouts. Then he encamped in Phoenicia.†

                          Menelaus Buys the High Priesthood

  23Then after a period of three years, Jason sent Menelaus, son of the previously mentioned
Simon, to carry the money to the king and to complete the records of necessary business.
24But when he was commended to the king, Menelaus honored him with an appearance of
authority and obtained the high priesthood for himself, outbidding Jason by three hundred
talents of silver. 25After he received the king's orders, although in no way worthy of the high
priesthood, he returned, carrying the rage and savage cruelty of a tyrant and a wild beast and
having the wrath of a barbarian. 26Thus Jason, after he undermined his own brother, was
undermined by another, and was driven as a fugitive into the land of the Ammonites.†

 27So Menelaus took hold of the high priesthood, but he did not pay regularly any of the

money promised to the king. 28Thus when Sostratus the commander of the citadel kept
demanding payment, since the collection of revenue was his responsibility, the two of them
were summoned before the king on this account. 29Menelaus left his own brother
Lysimachus as his court official in the high priesthood, while Sostratus left Crates in charge
of his Cyprian troops.

                                    Onias Is Murdered

  30While these things were taking place, it came about that the cities of Tarsus and Mallus
revolted because they were given as a gift to Antiochis, the king's concubine. 31So the king
went quickly to put down the rebellion. He left Andronicus, a man highly regarded, to act as
his regent. 32But Menelaus, thinking he had gained a convenient opportunity, pilfered some
of the gold vessels from the temple and gave them to Andronicus. As it happened, he had
already sold other vessels to Tyre and the neighboring cities. 33But when Onias found out
exactly what had taken place, he condemned these acts, after he departed to a safe place at
Daphne, located near Antioch.† 34Therefore Menelaus took Andronicus aside and urged him
to kill Onias. Thus Andronicus went to Onias and persuaded him with deceit. He welcomed
him with sworn pledges and gave him his right hand. Although Onias was suspicious,
Andronicus persuaded him to come out of his place of sanctuary. Then, with no sense of
justice, he immediately put him to death.

  35For this reason, not only the Jews, but also many of the other nations, took offense and

were angry at the unjust murder of the man. 36So when the king returned from the region of
Cilicia, the Jews in the city pleaded with him regarding the senseless murder of Onias, and
the Greeks also felt the common hatred of the crime. 37Therefore Antiochus was grieved at
heart and filled with pity; and he wept on account of the decency and good behavior of the
deceased. 38Inflamed with anger, he immediately stripped off the purple robe from
Andronicus and tore off his garments. Then he led him around the whole city to that very
place where he sinned against Onias, and there he put the bloodstained man to death. Thus
the Lord repaid him with the punishment he deserved.†

                       Menelaus Tried for Lysimachus's Murder

  39When much sacrilegious plunder by Lysimachus took place in the city with the consent
of Menelaus, and when the report of this spread abroad, the people gathered together against
Lysimachus, because many of the gold vessels had already been carried away. 40Thus, since
the crowds were stirring and completely filled with wrath, Lysimachus armed about three
thousand men and began an unjust attack, led by a certain Auranus, a man advanced in years
but no less advanced in stupidity. 41So when the Jews became aware of the assault of
Lysimachus, some picked up stones and clubs, and others took handfuls of ashes lying about,
and threw them in utter confusion at Lysimachus and his men. 42As a result, they wounded
many of them, killed some, and forced them all to flee. Then they killed the temple robber
himself near the treasury.
  43But a judgment concerning this was presented against Menelaus. 44For when the king

arrived at Tyre, three men sent by the council of elders presented the case before him. 45But
Menelaus, who was already defeated, promised considerable wealth to Ptolemy son of
Dorymenes if he won over the king. 46Therefore Ptolemy took the king aside into a certain
courtyard, as if to offer him refreshment, and persuaded him to change his mind. 47For he
indeed acquitted Menelaus, the cause of all the evil, but he sentenced to death those
unfortunate men who would have been freed uncondemned even if they pleaded before
Scythians. 48So those who had spoken for the city, the people, and the holy vessels quickly
suffered the unjust penalty. 49For this reason, even the Tyrians were indignant over the
crime and provided magnificently for their funeral expenses. 50But Menelaus, because of the
covetousness of those in power, remained in office, increased in malice, and brought about
great treachery against his fellow citizens.

   Around this time, Antiochus set out for his second assault into Egypt. 2So it came about
5 throughout the entire city of Jerusalem that for almost forty days there were apparitions
of horsemen dressed in apparel interwoven with gold and moving quickly through the air, in
companies fully armed with spears and drawn swords—† 3troops of horsemen set in battle
array and making attacks and counterattacks on this side and on that, with the movement of
shields and a multitude of spears, and the shooting of arrows, and the brightness of gold
ornaments, and breastplates of all sorts. 4Therefore all the men prayed that the appearance
might be for the good.

                               Jason's Assault on Jerusalem

  5But when a false report was circulated that Antiochus was dead, Jason took no less than a
thousand men and suddenly made an assault upon the city. When the men on the wall were
driven off and the city was finally taken, Menelaus was banished into the citadel. 6But Jason
kept slaughtering his own fellow citizens without mercy, not comprehending that success
against his kinsmen was his very unlucky day, for he imagined that he was winning trophies
over his enemies rather than over people of the same race.† 7Yet he did not get the upper
hand of the government, but in the end gained disgrace from his plot, and took refuge again
among the Ammonites.

  8In the end, his life reached an ugly conclusion. He was accused before Aretas the ruler of
the Arabs, but fled from city to city. He was pursued by all, detested as a rebel against the
laws, and abhorred as an executioner of his homeland and fellow-citizens. Finally he was cast
ashore in Egypt. 9Thus he who so often banished many from their homelands himself
perished in a strange land; for he had set sail to the Lacedaimonians to obtain protection
because of their kinship. 10So he who cast out many without a burial was unmourned, for he
had no funeral of his own, nor did he share a place in the tomb of his fathers.

                               Antiochus Kills and Desecrates

  11When the news of what happened reached King Antiochus, he took it to mean that Judea

was in revolt. So inwardly he became like a wild beast, left Egypt, and took the city in war.†
12He commanded his soldiers to cut down without mercy whomever they met and to

slaughter those who went into their houses. 13So there was a killing of young and old, a
killing of boys, women, and children, and a slaughtering of virgins and infants. 14Eighty
thousand were destroyed in a total of three days, forty thousand in hand-to-hand combat; and
no fewer were sold into slavery than were slain.

  15Not satisfied with these things, Antiochus dared to enter the most holy temple in all the
earth. He had as his guide Menelaus, who had become a traitor both to the laws and to his
country.† 16With defiled hands he took the holy vessels, and with profane hands he pulled
down the things dedicated by other kings to increase the glory and honor of the place.
17Antiochus was haughty, but was unaware that, because of the sins of those who lived in the
city, the Lord was momentarily angered, and therefore was withholding grace as a temporary
punishment of the place. 18However, if the people of the city had not been involved in so
many sins, this man would have been scourged and brought to ruin as soon as he had come,
as was Heliodorus, whom Seleucus the king had sent to inspect the treasury. 19But the Lord
did not choose the nation because of the place, but the place because of the nation.†
20Therefore the place also itself shared in the misfortunes that befell the nation, and later
had a share in its benefits; and what was forsaken in the wrath of the Almighty was restored
again in all its glory by the reconciliation of the great Lord.

  21At any rate, Antiochus carried off eighteen hundred talents from the temple and hurried
away to Antioch. In his arrogance he thought he could sail on the land and walk on the sea
because of the lifting up of his heart. 22But he also left governors to afflict the people. In
Jerusalem he left Philip, a Phrygian by race, more barbarous in character than the one who
appointed him; 23and in Gerizim, Andronicus. In addition to these he left Menelaus, who
lorded it over his fellow citizens worse than did the others, having a hateful disposition
toward the Jewish citizens. 24Antiochus sent Apollonius, commander of the Mysians, with an
army of twenty-two thousand men, with orders to slaughter all the grown men and to sell the
women and young boys as slaves. 25After he arrived in Jerusalem and pretended to be peace-
loving, this man waited until the holy day of the Sabbath; then, finding the Jews not at work,
he commanded his men to take up arms.† 26He put to the sword all those who came out to
see them; then he rushed into the city with his armed men and killed great numbers of
people.

  27But Judas Maccabeus, with about nine others, withdrew into the desert so as not to
share in the defilement. He kept himself and those with him alive in the mountains as do
wild animals, by continually eating food that grew wild.

                                 Persecution of the Jews


6 Not  long afterward, the king sent an Athenian senator to compel the Jews to leave behind
  the laws of their fathers and not to live by the laws of God. 2He also insisted they pollute
the temple in Jerusalem by calling it the temple of Olympian Zeus, and to call the one in
Gerizim the temple of Zeus the Hospitable, as did the people who lived at one time in that
place.† 3The intensity of evil was hard to deal with and extremely hateful, 4for the temple
was filled with debauchery and reveling by the Gentiles, who relaxed with friends and had
intercourse with women within the sacred precincts, and still further brought unfitting things
inside. 5The altar was filled with disgusting things forbidden by the laws. 6A man could
neither keep the Sabbath, nor observe the feasts of his fathers, nor simply confess himself to
be a Jew.

  7When the month came for the king's birthday, the Jews were led by bitter constraint to
partake of the sacrifices; and when the feast of Dionysus came, they were forced to walk in
procession for Dionysus wearing ivy wreaths.† 8Moreover, a decree laid down by Ptolemy was
sent to the nearby Greek cities that the same manner of conduct be imposed on the Jews to
partake of the sacrifices; 9but they should slaughter those who chose not to change over to
Greek customs. One could see, therefore, their present misery.

  10For instance, there were two women brought for circumcising their children. They
publicly paraded these women around the city, with their babes hanging from their breasts,
then they threw them down from the city wall. 11Others who came together in the nearby
caves to keep the seventh day secretly were betrayed to Philip and were all burned together,
because they piously kept themselves from crying out for help on account of their regard for
the most holy day.†

  12Now I urge those who read this book not to be discouraged by these calamities, but to
recognize that these punishments were for the discipline of our people, but not for their
destruction.† 13For it is an act of great kindness for the Lord not to allow our people to act
ungodly for long, but to punish them immediately. 14But the Lord does not act the same way
with other nations. He waits patiently until they attain the completion of their sins, then
punishes them. Thus He does not judge us in this way, 15so as to take vengeance on us
afterwards when we have reached the end of our sinning. 16For this very reason He never
withdraws His mercy from us. Although He disciplines us with calamities, He does not
abandon His own people. 17Let what I have said serve as a reminder, but we must continue
the narrative.

                                   Eleazar Is Martyred

  18Eleazar, one of the scribes in high position, a man already advanced in years and of a

noble presence, was forced to open his mouth to eat swine's flesh. 19But welcoming an
honorable death rather than a defiled life, he spat out the flesh and approached the rack of
his own accord. 20He did as men should do who refuse what is not lawful to eat, even for the
love of life.

  21Those in charge of the unlawful sacrifice, because of their longtime acquaintance with
him, took the man aside privately and urged him to bring meat proper for him to use,
pretending to prepare it for himself as though he were eating the flesh of the sacrifice
commanded by the king. 22Thus by doing this he might be saved from death, and be treated
kindly on account of his long friendship with them. 23But making an honorable resolve
worthy of his years and the dignity of his old age and gray hair, which he had reached through
the distinction of his excellent life even from childhood, and moreover according to the holy
God-given laws, he turned himself over to them quickly, telling them to send him
immediately to Hades.
  24“For to pretend such things,” he said, “is not worthy of our time of life, lest many of the

young should suppose that Eleazar in his ninetieth year has gone over to a foreign religion,†
25and because of my pretense for the sake of living a brief moment longer, they should be led

astray through me, while I earn only pollution and defilement in my old age. 26For even if for
the present I should avoid the punishment of men, yet whether I live or die, I shall not escape
the hands of the Almighty. 27Therefore by manfully giving up my life now, I will show myself
worthy of my old age, 28and leave to the young a noble example of how to die a good death
willingly and bravely for the venerable and holy laws.”

  After he said this, he went straight to the rack, 29and those who had just demonstrated
good will toward him now showed hostility, because they took the words he had spoken to be
madness. 30When he was about to die from the blows, he groaned and said, “It is evident to
the Lord in His holy knowledge that, though I could have been saved from death, I am
enduring terrible sufferings in my body from this beating, but in my soul I gladly suffer these
things because I fear Him.”

  31So in this manner he died, leaving in his death an example of his noble character and a
memorial of his virtue, not only to the young but to the many people of his nation.

                          A Mother and Her Sons Are Martyred


7 Itkingcame about also that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and forced by the
          to be bound and tortured with whips and cords until they partook of the unlawful
swine's flesh.† 2One of them, acting as spokesman, said, “What do you intend to ask and
learn from us? For we are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our fathers.”

  3The king became enraged, and commanded that pans and caldrons be heated. 4These were
heated immediately; and he commanded them to cut out the spokesman's tongue, and to
scalp him and cut off his hands and feet, while the rest of the brothers and the mother
watched. 5When he was utterly helpless, the king ordered them to take him to the fire, while
he was still breathing, and to fry him in a pan. As the smoke from the pan spread out broadly,
the brothers and their mother encouraged one another to die bravely, saying, 6“The Lord God
is taking notice of us and in truth is encouraging us, as Moses proclaimed in his song which
he sang, bearing witness against the people to their faces: ‘And God will have compassion on
His servants.’ ”†
  7After the first brother died in this manner, they brought forward the second for their
sport. They tore away the skin of his head with the hair, and asked him, “Will you eat pork
rather than have your body punished limb by limb?” 8But he replied in the language of his
fathers and said to them, “No.” Therefore this brother in turn underwent the same torture as
the first. 9So when he was at his last breath, he said, “You accursed wretch! You set us free
from this present life, but the King of the world will raise us to an everlasting renewal of life,
because we die for His laws.”†

                                SAINTS OF THE OLD
                                      TESTAMENT

Immediately after quoting the Lord’s proclamation to Moses, “I am the God of Abraham, the
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,” Jesus asserts, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the
living” (Mt 22:32). Thus He affirms that the great patriarchs of the Old Testament still live, as
do all the righteous men and women of old who lived in anticipation of the coming Messiah.
Hebrews 11 reviews the wonderful deeds of many of these Old Testament saints, and we then
read that “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1).

  For the New Testament Church, then, these “witnesses” were the saints of the Old
Testament. Eusebius of Caesarea, the church historian, writing early in the fourth century,
called these great saints “Christians in fact, if not in name.” He went on to say:

    It is obvious that they knew God’s Christ Himself, since He appeared to Abraham,
    instructed Isaac, spoke to Jacob, and conversed freely with Moses and the Prophets
    who came later, as I have already shown. Hence, you will find that those divinely
    favored men were even honored with the name of “Christ,” according to the word
    which says of them, “Touch not my Christs [Greek christoi, anointed ones], and do
    My Prophets no harm” (Ps 104:15).

                                 HONORING THE SAINTS

  The Church’s natural and fitting veneration of the saints of the Old Testament is very
evident in a hymn sung on the second Sunday preceding Christmas, the Sunday of the Holy
Forefathers:

    Come feast-lovers, let us extol with hymns the assembly of the forefathers—Adam
    the first father, Enoch, Noah, and Melchizedek, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and those
    after the Law—Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Samuel; and with them Isaiah, Jeremiah,
    Ezekiel, Daniel, and the twelve Prophets, with Elijah and Elisha, and all the rest.

  Besides being remembered on these two Sundays, many Old Testament saints have their
own days of commemoration, such as Jeremiah (May 1); Job (May 6); Isaiah (May 9); Elijah
(July 20); Samuel (August 20); Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (August 21); Joshua (September
1); Moses (September 4); Baruch (September 28); Hannah (December 9); Daniel (December
17); and Joseph (son of Jacob) and King David (first Sunday after Christmas).

  The church fathers often extol these Old Testament heroes. St. John Chrysostom
repeatedly urged his flock to emulate the patient endurance of “the great and noble Job.” St.
Gregory of Nyssa writes, “Noah was a righteous man, the Scriptures say, and Abraham was
faithful, Moses meek, Daniel wise, Joseph chaste, Job blameless, and David perfect in
patience.”

  Eleazar and the Maccabean martyrs, whose story is told in 2 Maccabees 6:18—7:42, deserve
special attention. This Jewish scribe and seven brothers, along with their mother, Solomonia,
valiantly defied the sacrilegious commands of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who was fiercely
persecuting the Jews. For their defiance, they were brutally executed in Jerusalem in about
167 BC. These unwaveringly faithful Jews are prototypes of all the Christian martyrs. In their
commemoration on August 1, they are called “great martyrs, before the martyrs of Christ.”

  The Church’s high esteem for the Old Testament saints is also seen in her custom of
depicting the forefathers and prophets around the base of the interior central dome of a
church. And by remembering these saints in her liturgical calendar, the Orthodox Church
demonstrates her understanding that the Body of Christ transcends limitations of time and
space. This awareness is clearly expressed at every Divine Liturgy: “And again we offer unto
You this reasonable service for all those who in faith have gone before us to their rest:
patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, ascetics, and every
righteous spirit made perfect in faith.”

  For Orthodox Christians, it is the experience of worshipping God with all the saints that
powerfully confirms their continuing presence in our midst.


  10After him, the third fell prey to their sport. When it was demanded, he quickly put out

his tongue and courageously stretched forth his hands, 11and said bravely, “I received these
from heaven, and because of His laws I disregard them, and from Him I hope to get them
back again.” 12As a result the king himself and those with him were astonished at the young
man's spirit, for he regarded his sufferings as nothing.

  13When he died, they tortured and tormented the fourth in the same way. 14So when he
was near death, he said, “One may be chosen to die at the hands of men and to look for the
hope that God gives of being raised again by Him. But for you there shall be no resurrection
to life.”†

  15Next they led forward the fifth and tormented him. 16But he looked at the king and said,
“Because you have authority among men, mortal though you are, you do what you please; but
do not think that God has forsaken our people. 17Continue, and behold how His mighty
power will torture you and your seed!”

  18After him they led forward the sixth. When he was about to die, he said, “Do not deceive
yourself, for we are suffering these things on our own account because of our sins against our
own God. Therefore things worthy of wonder have happened. 19But do not think that you
shall be innocent for trying to fight against God!”

  20The mother was especially admirable and worthy of good memory. Though she saw her
seven sons perish in the span of a single day, she bore it courageously because of her hope in
the Lord.† 21She encouraged each of them in the language of their fathers. Filled with a noble
spirit, she stirred her womanly reasoning with manly courage, saying to them, 22“I do not
know how you came into being in my womb. It was not I who gave you breath and life, nor I
who arranged in order the elements within each of you.† 23Therefore the Creator of the
world, who formed man in the beginning and devised the origin of all things, will give both
breath and life back to you again in His mercy, since you now disregard yourselves for the
sake of His laws.”

  24Antiochus supposed that he was being treated with contempt, and suspected her speech
was insulting him personally. Thus, since the youngest brother was still alive, not only did he
appeal to him in words, but at the same time guaranteed him with oaths that he would make
him rich and enviable if he would turn away from his fathers, and that he would consider him
a friend and entrust him with public affairs.† 25But when the young man refused to pay any
attention to him, the king called his mother to him and urged her to advise the boy to save
himself. 26After much urging from him, she agreed to persuade her son. 27But she leaned
close to him and mocked the cruel tyrant, speaking in their native tongue, saying, “My son,
have mercy on me. I carried you for nine months in my womb, and nursed you for three
years. I reared you and brought you up to this point in your life, and have taken care of you.
28I beseech you, my child, to look at heaven and earth and see everything in them, and know

that God made them out of nothing; so also He made the race of man in this way.† 29Do not
fear this executioner! But be worthy of your brothers and accept death, that in God's mercy I
may receive you back again with your brothers.”†

  30While she continued speaking, the young man said to the king, “What are you waiting
for? I will not obey the king's command, but I obey the command of the law, given to our
fathers through Moses. 31But you, who have invented all manner of evil against the Hebrews,
will not escape the hands of God, 32for we are suffering because of our own sins. 33So if for
the sake of reproof and discipline, our living Lord is angry for a little while, He will again be
reconciled with His own servants. 34But you, O unholy man and most defiled of all men, do
not be elated in vain and puffed up by uncertain hopes when you raise your hand against the
children of heaven. 35You have not yet escaped the judgment of the almighty, all-seeing God.
36For now our brothers have endured a brief suffering and then passed on into everlasting
life under God's covenant. But you, by God's judgment, will receive just punishments for your
haughtiness. 37Like my brothers, I give up body and soul for the laws of our fathers, crying
out to God, that He may soon show His mercy to our nation, and by afflictions and calamities
make you confess that He alone is God,† 38and through my brothers and me bring to an end
the wrath of the Almighty which has justly come upon our entire nation.”

  39Then the king became bitterly enraged at his contempt and treated him worse than the

others. 40So, putting his trust completely in the Lord, he died in his innocence. 41Last of all,
the mother died, after her sons.

  42Let this be enough, then, about the eating of sacrifices and the extreme tortures.

                             The Revolt of Judas Maccabeus


8 But Judas, also called Maccabeus, and those with him secretly infiltrated the villages and
  summoned their kinsmen. They called together those who had continued in the Jewish
religion and took them as companions. So they gathered about six thousand men.† 2They
invoked the Lord to look upon the people, who were trampled underfoot by all, to have
compassion on the temple, which had been profaned by ungodly men, 3to have mercy on the
city, which was being destroyed and was about to be leveled to the ground, and to hearken to
the blood that cried out to Him. 4They also invoked Him to remember the lawless destruction
of the sinless babies and the blasphemies committed against His name, and to show His
hatred of evil.

  5As soon as Maccabeus had his army in order, he was not to be withstood by the Gentiles,

for the wrath of the Lord had turned to mercy. 6He came without notice to towns and villages
and set them on fire. At opportune times he regained places and put to flight not a few of the
enemy. 7He found the night the best time for such hostilities. So talk of his manliness spread
everywhere.

                                 Nicanor Attacks Judea

  8When Philip realized that Judas was making progress little by little and that he was
advancing with more frequent efficiency, he wrote to Ptolemy, the governor of Coelesyria and
Phoenicia, for aid to the king's government. 9And Ptolemy quickly appointed Nicanor the son
of Patroclus, the foremost of his friends. He sent him in command of no fewer than twenty
thousand Gentiles of all nations to get rid of all the people of Judea. He sent Gorgias with
him, a general and a man experienced in the affairs of war. 10Nicanor determined to make up
for the king the taxes due to the Romans—two thousand talents—from the capture of the
Jews. 11He immediately sent word to the cities by the sea, inviting them to buy Jewish slaves
and promising to hand over ninety slaves for a talent, not expecting that the judgment of the
Almighty was about to fall upon him.

  12Now word came to Judas concerning Nicanor's impending attack; and when he told those

with him about the arrival of the army, 13those who were cowardly and distrustful of God's
justice ran off and removed themselves from that place. 14Others sold all their remaining
property, and at the same time entreated the Lord to rescue those sold by the ungodly
Nicanor before he even met them. 15They entreated Him, not for their own sake, but for the
sake of the covenants made with their fathers, and because they were called by His holy and
magnificent name. 16But Maccabeus gathered those around him, six thousand in number,
and exhorted them neither to be panic-stricken by the enemy nor to fear the great multitude
of Gentiles who were unjustly coming against them, but to contend bravely.† 17He also
exhorted them to keep before their eyes the lawless outrage committed against the holy place
by the Gentiles, and the torture of the mocked city, and still more the dissolution of their
ancestral way of life. 18“For they trust in arms and bold acts,” he said, “but we trust in
Almighty God, who with only one nod is able to overthrow both those who come against us
and the entire world.”

  19He also spoke to them of the times help came to their forefathers, how the one hundred

and eighty-five thousand perished under Sennacherib, 20and how in the time when the battle
took place in Babylonia against the Galatians, eight thousand in all entered the fray, along
with four thousand Macedonians. But when the Macedonians were perplexed, the eight
thousand destroyed the one hundred and twenty thousand because of the help that came to
them from heaven. Then they took many spoils.

                                      Judas’ Victories

  21With these words he gave them good courage and prepared them to die on behalf of their

laws and their homeland. Then he divided his forces into four parts. 22He appointed his
brothers, Simon and Joseph and Jonathan, each to command a division, putting fifteen
hundred soldiers under each. 23In addition, he appointed Eleazar to read aloud from the holy
book and gave the watchword, “The help of God.” Then he led the first division himself and
joined battle with Nicanor.†

  24When the Almighty became their ally, they slew more than nine thousand of the enemy,

and wounded and crippled most of Nicanor's army, and forced them all to flee. 25They seized
the money of those who came to buy them as slaves. After they pursued them for some
distance, they were compelled to return because of the hour; 26for they did not continue
their pursuit because it was the day before the Sabbath.† 27So when they had collected their
arms and stripped the spoils from their enemy, they kept the Sabbath, greatly blessing and
giving thanks to the Lord, who had brought them safely through the day and appointed it for
them as a beginning of mercy. 28Then after the Sabbath they gave a portion of the spoils to
those who were tortured and to the widows and orphans, and distributed the rest among
themselves and their children. 29When they had done this, they made a common
supplication and besought the merciful Lord to be reconciled at last with His servants.

  30Moreover, of the forces on the side of Timothy and Bacchides, who contended against
them, they killed more than twenty thousand of them and became the masters of exceedingly
high fortresses. They divided a great many spoils, giving shares equal to their own to those
who had been tortured and to the orphans and widows, and also to the aged. 31After they
collected the enemy's weapons, they organized them all carefully in convenient places, and
carried the rest of the spoils to Jerusalem. 32They killed the commander of Timothy's forces,
a most unholy man and one who had greatly troubled the Jews. 33While they were
celebrating the victory in the city of their fathers, they burned those who had set fire to the
temple gates: Callisthenes and some others, who had fled into one small house; so they
received a recompense worthy of their impiety.

  34The thrice-sinful Nicanor had brought the thousand merchants for the purchase of the

Jews, 35but he was humbled with the help of the Lord by the opponents he regarded as of the
least account. Thus, after he succeeded primarily in the destruction of his own army, he took
off his glorious military apparel and made his way inland alone like a fugitive until he
reached Antioch. 36There, he who had undertaken to establish taxes for the Romans by the
capture of the people of Jerusalem proclaimed that the Jews had a Defender, and therefore
were invulnerable, because they followed the laws appointed beforehand by Him.

                                 God Punishes Antiochus


9 About  that time, it happened that Antiochus returned in dishonor from the region of
  Persia. 2For he had entered the city called Persepolis and attempted to rob the temples
and control the city. Therefore when the citizens rushed to the city's aid with arms, Antiochus
and his men were routed; and it came about that Antiochus was put to flight by the citizens
and made a shameful return home. 3Now while he was in Ecbatana, news came to him about
what had happened to Nicanor and the forces of Timothy. 4Swollen with rage, he supposed
that he would also vent upon the Jews the evil done to him by those who had banished him.
Wherefore he commanded his charioteer to drive without stopping to complete the journey.
But the judgment of heaven came upon him, for in his arrogance he said, “When I arrive
there I will make Jerusalem a common burial place of the Jews.”

  5But the all-seeing Lord, the God of Israel, struck him with an incurable and unseen
plague. For as soon as he stopped speaking, a deadly pain seized him in his inward parts, with
sharp internal torments— 6and this very justly, for he had tortured the inward parts of others
with many and unusual afflictions. 7Yet by no means did he cease from his haughtiness, but
was even more filled with arrogance, breathing fire in his rage against the Jews and giving
orders to hasten the journey. So it came to pass that he fell out of his chariot as it rushed
along, and the fall was so hard that it tortured every limb of his body.

  8He who had just been thinking that he could command the waves of the sea because of
his superhuman arrogance, and imagined he could weigh the high mountains in a balance,
was brought down to earth and carried in a litter. Thus he conveyed plainly to all the manifest
power of God.† 9Accordingly, worms swarmed up from the ungodly man's body, and his flesh
rotted away while he was still alive, anguishing and in pain. Because of his odor, the whole
army was repulsed by his rottenness,† 10and because of his intolerable smell no one was able
to carry the man who a little while before thought he could touch the stars of heaven. 11Then
he was broken down, and began to cease from much of his arrogance and to come to a
recognition of the divine scourge; for he was bent over with pain at every moment.† 12When
he could no longer endure his own stench, he spoke these words: “It is right to be subject to
God, and no mortal should think that he is equal with God.”

  13Then this disgusting man prayed to the Lord, who would no longer have mercy on him,
14saying that the holy city, which he had been hastening to level to the ground and make into

a common burial place, he was now proclaiming to be free. 15Moreover, the Jews, whom he
did not consider worthy of a burial place, but to be thrown out along with their children for
the wild animals and the birds to eat, he would make them all equal to citizens of Athens.
16Furthermore, the holy temple, which he had plundered in times past, he would adorn with
the finest offerings, and restore—many times over—all the holy vessels; and the taxes
assigned to the sacrifices he would pay from his own revenues. 17In addition to this, he also
would become a Jew and visit every inhabited place to proclaim the might of God.

                                 A Final Letter to the Jews

  18But when his sufferings did not cease at all, for the judgment of God came upon him
justly, he was driven to despair over what had happened to him. Thus he wrote the Jews the
letter recorded below, in the form of a supplication. It contained the following words:

  19“To the good Jewish citizens, Antiochus your king and general sends many greetings and

good wishes for your health and welfare. 20If you and your children are strong and your
interests are served, then I am glad. With my hope in heaven, 21I kindly remember your
respect and goodwill.

  “Now as I was returning home from the region of Persia, I was struck with a difficult illness
and now consider it necessary to be concerned about the common safety of all. 22But I am
not giving up hope for myself, for I have great hope of escaping from this illness.
23Nevertheless, I observed that even my father, when he led his army into the upper

countries, appointed his successor, 24that if anything unexpected should arise or any
unwelcome news should come, the people throughout the realm would not be troubled; for
they would know to whom the government was left.

  25“In addition to this, I understand how the rulers, close at hand and the neighbors of my
kingdom, keep watching for opportunities and waiting to see how things will turn out. Thus I
have appointed my son Antiochus to be king. Oftentimes when I hastened off to the upper
provinces, I entrusted and commended him to most of you. So I have written to him what is
written here.

  26“Therefore I urge you and request that you remember my acts of kindness for both the

common and private good, and maintain your present goodwill toward me and my son. 27For
I am persuaded that he, following my policy, will treat you kindly and considerately.”

  28So the murderer and blasphemer suffered very grievously, as he had treated others. For

he died a miserable death in the mountains of a foreign land. 29Then Philip, who grew up
with him, took his body home. But fearing the son of Antiochus, he went instead to Ptolemy
Philometor in Egypt.

                         Judas Maccabeus Purifies the Temple


10 With the Lord leading them on, Maccabeus and those with him received back the
   temple and the city. 2They took down the altars fabricated in the marketplace by the
foreigners, and also destroyed the sacred precincts. 3When they had purified the temple, they
made another altar and, striking fire out of stones, they offered sacrifices—the first in two
years. They offered incense and lit lamps and set out the bread of the Presence.

  4When they had done this, they fell prostrate and besought the Lord so as never again to
fall into such calamities, but if they should ever sin, they might be chastised by Him with
gentleness and not be handed over to blasphemous and barbarous nations. 5It happened on
the anniversary of the same day the temple was profaned by the foreigners, that the
purification of the temple took place: on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, which was
Chislev.† 6They celebrated it for eight days with rejoicing, in the manner of the Feast of
Tabernacles, remembering how a short time before they had spent the feast living in
mountains and caves like wild animals.† 7Therefore, carrying ivy-wreathed wands, beautiful
olive branches, and even palm branches, they offered hymns of praise to Him who made
possible the purifying of His own place.† 8They decreed by a common edict and vote that the
whole Jewish nation should celebrate these days every year. 9Such then was the end of
Antiochus, called Epiphanes.

                            The Reign of Antiochus V Begins

  10Now we will tell what took place under Antiochus Eupator, the son of that ungodly man,

and will set forth and encompass briefly the calamities of the wars.† 11For this man inherited
the kingdom and appointed a certain Lysias as chief governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia.
12Then Ptolemy, called Macron, led the way in protecting the rights of the Jews because of
the wrongdoing that happened to them, and he attempted to maintain peaceful relations with
them. 13For this reason he was accused before Eupator by the king's friends. He heard
himself called a traitor at every turn because he abandoned Cyprus, entrusted to him by
Philometor, and defected to Antiochus Epiphanes. Since he could not exercise his noble
authority honorably, he took poison and ended his life.

                               The Idumeans Fall to Judas

  14When Gorgias became governor of the region, he maintained mercenary troops and

attacked the Jews at every turn. 15At the same time, the Idumeans, in possession of vital
strongholds, were harassing the Jews. They received fugitives from Jerusalem and
endeavored to keep up the war. 16But Maccabeus and his men made supplication and
implored God to be their ally, then rushed against the strongholds of the Idumeans. 17They
attacked them aggressively, gained possession of the places, and drove back all who fought
upon the wall. They slaughtered everyone they encountered, killing no fewer than twenty
thousand.

  18But at least nine thousand fled into two very strong towers, which were well equipped,

containing everything necessary to withstand a siege. 19So Maccabeus left behind Simon,
Joseph, and also Zacchaeus and those with him, a force sufficient to besiege them. Then he
went to more urgent places. 20But those around Simon, who were money lovers, were bribed
by some of those in the towers. When they had received seventy thousand drachmas, they
allowed some of them to slip away. 21When news of what happened reached Maccabeus, he
gathered the leaders of the people and accused them of selling their brothers for money by
releasing their enemies to fight against them. 22Then he killed these men who had become
traitors and immediately seized the two towers. 23Faring well at arms in everything he
undertook, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two fortresses.

                           Maccabeus Victorious over Timothy

  24Now Timothy, who had been defeated previously by the Jews, gathered a very massive
and powerful force of mercenaries and assembled cavalry from Asia in no small number.
Then he arrived as though he would take Judea captive. 25As he drew near, Maccabeus and
his men made supplication to God as they sprinkled earth on their heads and girded their
loins with sackcloth. 26They fell prostrate before the foot of the altar and implored Him to be
merciful to them and to be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries,
as the law plainly shows. 27Then arising from prayer, they took up their weapons and
advanced a considerable distance from the city. When they came near the enemy, they were
by themselves. 28But as dawn was breaking, the armies attacked one another. The one had
the guarantee of prosperity and victory, with their virtue and the Lord as their place of refuge,
but the other depended on rage as their leader in the fight.

 29When the battle was strongly contested, there appeared to the enemy from heaven five

majestic men on horses with golden bridles, and they were leading the Jews.† 30They took
Maccabeus between them and shielded him with their own armor. They kept him from being
wounded and cast arrows and thunderbolts on the enemy. Wherefore, confused with
blindness and full of disorder, they were cut to pieces. 31Twenty thousand five hundred were
slaughtered along with six hundred cavalry.

  32Timothy himself fled to a stronghold called Gazara, especially well garrisoned, where

Chaereas was commander. 33Maccabeus and his men eagerly besieged the stronghold for
four days, 34but the men within it trusted in the security of the place. So they kept
blaspheming beyond measure and uttering disgusting words. 35Now when the fifth day
dawned, twenty young men in the army of Maccabeus burned with anger because of the
blasphemies. So they bravely attacked the wall and with savage fury struck down everyone
they encountered. 36Others likewise went up during the distraction against those inside and
burned down the towers. They kindled fires and burned the blasphemers alive. Others broke
through the gates, let in the rest of the force, and took control of the city. 37They killed
Timothy, who was hiding in a well, and his brother Chaereas and Apollophanes. 38When they
had done this, they blessed the Lord with hymns and praises, thanking Him who shows great
kindness to Israel and gives them victory.†

                                   The Defeat of Lysias


11 Shortly afterward, Lysias, who was the king's guardian and kinsman and in charge of the
   government, was greatly upset at what had happened, 2and gathered about eighty
thousand infantry and all his cavalry to come against the Jews. He purposed to make the city
a home for Greeks, 3to levy taxes on the temple, as he did on the sacred places of the other
nations, and to put the high priesthood up for sale every year.† 4He took no account at all of
God's power, but was elated with his countless thousands of infantry and his thousands of
cavalry, plus his eighty elephants. 5Thus he entered Judea and drew near Beth-zur, a fortified
place about twenty miles from Jerusalem, and besieged it.

  6When Maccabeus and his men heard of this, that Lysias was besieging the strongholds,
they and all the people begged the Lord with lamentations and tears to send a good angel to
save Israel. 7Maccabeus himself was the first to bear arms, and he pleaded with the others to
join with him in risking their lives to go help their brothers. Then they eagerly set out
together. 8But in that place, while they were still near Jerusalem, a horseman appeared
before them, clothed in white and brandishing a full armor of gold.† 9Then together they all
blessed the merciful God and were strengthened in heart, ready to bring damage not only on
humans but on the most savage of beasts or walls of iron. 10Because the Lord had mercy on
them, they advanced with their weapons, having with them their ally from heaven. 11They
hurled themselves against the enemy like lions and overthrew eleven thousand of them, as
well as sixteen hundred cavalry, and forced all of them to flee. 12Most of them escaped,
wounded and naked, and Lysias himself escaped by a disgraceful flight.

                              A Peace Accord with the Jews
  13But as Lysias was not lacking in intelligence, he discussed the loss that had happened to
him. He realized the Hebrews were unconquerable, because the Almighty God was their ally.
14So he sent a message and persuaded them to settle everything on just terms. Moreover,

perhaps he could also persuade the king and compel him to become their friend. 15Then
Maccabeus agreed to everything Lysias urged, since he was concerned about what was best
for all. For whatever Maccabeus gave to Lysias in writing concerning the Jews, the king
granted.

  16Four letters were written to the Jews from Lysias, encompassing the following:†


  “Lysias to the people of the Jews, greetings. 17John and Absalom, who were sent by you,
have given us your signed communication and asked about the matters addressed in it.
18Accordingly, I reported to the king whatever was necessary to bring him, and he granted

whatever was possible. 19If you will keep your goodwill toward the government, I will try in
the future to promote your welfare. 20So in behalf of these things and their details, I have
ordered that these men and my representatives confer with you. 21Farewell. The one hundred
and forty-eighth year, the twenty-fourth of Dioscorinthius.”†

  22Now the king's letters contained the following:


  “King Antiochus to Lysias his brother, greetings. 23Since our father has departed to the
gods, we desire the subjects of the kingdom be undisturbed in caring for their own affairs.
24We understand the Jews do not approve of our father's change to Greek customs, but

choose their own way of life and ask that their customs be granted them. 25Since therefore
we prefer for this nation to be free from disturbance, our decision is for their temple to be
returned to them and for them to live according to the customs of their forefathers.
26Therefore, you will do well to send word to them and give them assurances of friendship,
so they may know our policy. Be in good spirits, and continue gladly to help them in their
own affairs.”

  27The king's letter to the nation was as follows:


  “King Antiochus to the Jewish senate and the rest of the Jews, greetings. 28If you are
healthy, this would be as we desire. We are also in good health. 29Menelaus has told us you
wish to return home and attend to your own affairs. 30Therefore, those who return home by
the thirtieth of Xanthicus will have our pledge of friendship, with freedom from fear, 31for
the Jews to enjoy their own food and laws as before; and none of them shall be troubled in
any way for things done in ignorance. 32I have also sent Menelaus to encourage you.
33Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, the fifteenth of Xanthicus.”

  34The Romans also sent them a letter, which read as follows:

  “Quintus Memmius and Titus Manius, legates of the Romans, to the people of the Jews,
greetings. 35We also approve of those things concerning which Lysias the kinsman of the
king has granted you. 36But the matters he decided to report to the king, as soon as you have
considered these things, send someone promptly that we may explain what is suitable for
you, for we are on our way to Antioch. 37For this reason make haste and send someone to let
us know your intentions. 38Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, the fifteenth of
Xanthicus.”

                          Judas Prevails in Joppa and Jamnia


12 When  these agreements had been made, Lysias returned to the king, and the Jews went
   back to their farming. 2But some of the governors of various locales—Timothy and
Apollonius son of Gennaeus, as well as Hieronymus and Demophon, and in addition Nicanor
the commander of the Cyprians—would not allow the Jews to enjoy tranquility and live in
peace.†

  3Then the people of Joppa did so great an ungodly deed as this: they invited the Jews who
lived among them, together with their wives and children, to embark on ships equipped for
sea, as though they harbored no ill will toward them. 4Now this was done by the common
vote of the city. But when the Jews welcomed this, wishing to live in peace and suspecting
nothing, the men of Joppa took them out to sea and drowned at least two hundred of them.

  5When Judas learned of the cruelty visited on his countrymen, he summoned his men. 6So
when he had called upon God, the righteous judge, he attacked the murderers of his brothers.
He set the harbor on fire by night, burned the ships, and put to the sword those who fled
there. 7But since the gates of the city were closed, he departed, intending to come again and
root out the whole community of Joppa. 8However, when he learned that the people in
Jamnia intended to wipe out the Jews who were living among them in the same way,† 9he
attacked the Jamnian people by night and set the harbor and the fleet on fire; therefore, the
glow of the light was visible as far as Jerusalem, thirty miles away.

                                     Defeat of the Nomads

  10When they had gone about a mile from there on their march against Timothy, Arabs

attacked him with no less than five thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry. 11After a
strongly contested battle, Judas and his men, with God's help, were successful. The defeated
nomads pleaded with Judas to grant them pledges of friendship. They promised to give him
livestock and to benefit them in other ways. 12So Judas, supposing they could indeed be
useful in varied ways, agreed to make peace with them. Then after he accepted their pledges,
they returned to their tents.

  13He also attacked a certain town named Caspin, strongly fortified with earthworks and

walls, and inhabited by a mixed population of Gentiles. 14Those within it trusted in the
security of the walls and their supply of provisions. They behaved very contemptuously
toward Judas and his men, insulting them and even blaspheming and saying unlawful things.
15But Judas and his men called upon the great Lord of the world, who overthrew Jericho
without battering rams or engines of war in the times of Joshua. Then Judas and his men
assaulted the walls.† 16They overpowered the city by the will of God and inflicted such
indescribable slaughter that the adjoining lake, a quarter of a mile wide, seemed to be filled
with blood.

                                Victory over Timothy's Garrison

  17From there, they went ninety-five miles and continued on to Charax, to the Jews who

were called Toubiani. 18They did not overtake Timothy in that region, for by then he had
departed from there without accomplishing anything; but in one place Timothy left a very
strong garrison. 19Dositheus and Sosipater, who were commanders under Maccabeus,
marched out and crushed those men Timothy left in the stronghold, over ten thousand
soldiers. 20But Maccabeus organized his army in divisions—setting men in command of the
divisions—and hastened after Timothy, who had with him one hundred and twenty thousand
infantry and two thousand five hundred cavalry.

  21When Timothy learned of the approach of Judas, he sent the women and the children
ahead with the baggage to a place called Carnaim; for that place was hard to attack and
difficult to access because of the narrowness of all its places. 22But when Judas’ first division
appeared, alarm and fear came over the enemy at the manifestation to them of Him who sees
all things. They ran off in flight, rushing headlong in every direction, so as to be often hurt by
their own men and stabbed by the points of their own swords.† 23Judas pursued them with
great vigor, piercing the sinful men with the sword and killing as many as thirty thousand of
them.

  24Timothy himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and Sosipater and their soldiers. With
great trickery he pleaded with them to let him go safely, because he held the parents of most
of them and some of their brothers, to whom no regard would be shown. 25So when with
many words he had confirmed his solemn promise to restore them unharmed, they released
him for the sake of rescuing their brothers.

                                      Other Campaigns

   26Then Judas marched against Carnaim and the temple of Atargatis, and destroyed twenty-

five thousand people. 27After the rout and slaughter of these, he also marched on Ephron, a
fortified town where Lysias lived with countless people of all nations. Strong young men were
set as guards before the walls and fought mightily. Many provisions of war engines and
missiles were stored there. 28But the Jews called upon the Lord, who with power crushes the
strength of His enemies. Thus they took possession of the city and killed as many as twenty-
five thousand of those within it.

  29Moving away from Ephron, they hurried on to Scythopolis, seventy-five miles from

Jerusalem. 30But when the Jews who lived there testified to the goodwill the people of
Scythopolis had shown them and their civilized treatment of them in times of trouble, 31they
thanked them and encouraged them also to be favorable to the Jewish race in the future.
Then Judas and his men arrived at Jerusalem, the Feast of Weeks being close at hand.†

  32After this feast, also called Pentecost, they marched against Gorgias, the governor of

Idumea.† 33He came out against them with three thousand infantry and four hundred
cavalry. 34After they engaged in battle, it happened that a few of the Jews were killed. 35But
a certain Dositheus, one of Bacenor's men, a man on horseback and a strong man, grabbed
hold of Gorgias. He took hold of his cloak and was dragging him off by sheer strength. He
intended to take the accursed man alive, but one of the Thracian cavalry chased him down
and severed his arm. So Gorgias fled to Marisa.

  36Now Esdris and his men had been fighting for a long while and were tired. So Judas

called on the Lord to show Himself as their ally and leader in battle. 37They began to sound
the battle cry in the language of their forefathers and sang hymns. Then he charged against
the troops of Gorgias when they least expected it, and set them to flight.

                                    Prayers for the Fallen

  38Then Judas retrieved his army and entered the city of Adullam. As the seventh day was

dawning, they purified themselves according to custom and spent the Sabbath there. 39The
following day, as was now necessary, Judas and his men left to gather up the bodies of those
killed in battle, to bring them back to rest with their kindred in the tombs of their forefathers.
40But under the tunics of each of the dead, they uncovered sacred tokens of the Jamnian
idols, which the Jews are forbidden by law to wear. So the reason these men died in battle
became clear to everyone.† 41Thus they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous judge,
who reveals the hidden things. 42They turned to supplication and prayed that the sin they
had committed might be completely blotted out.†

  The noble Judas exhorted his people to guard themselves from sin, for with their own eyes
they had seen what happened to those who died in battle because of their sin. 43He then took
up an offering from his soldiers amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, and sent it to
Jerusalem to present as a sin offering. In doing so he acted properly and with honor, taking
note of the resurrection.† 44For if he were not looking for the resurrection of those fallen, it
would have been utterly foolish to pray for the departed. 45But since he was looking to the
reward of splendor laid up for those who repose in godliness, it was a holy and godly purpose.
Thus he made atonement for the fallen, so as to set them free from their transgression.†

                                   The Death of Menelaus


13 InEupator
       the one hundred forty-ninth year, Judas and his men got word that Antiochus
             was marching against Judea with a huge army, 2and with him his guardian,
Lysias, who was in charge of the government. Each of them had a Greek army of one hundred
ten thousand infantry, five thousand three hundred horsemen, twenty-two elephants, and
three hundred chariots armed with scythes.
  3Menelaus also joined forces with them. It was a great irony that he encouraged Antiochus,
not for the preservation of his homeland, but for his expectation to be established in
authority. 4But the King of kings aroused anger in Antiochus against this sinful man. So
when Lysias pointed out that this man was the cause of all the trouble, he commanded them
to take him to Beroea, to put him to death as was the custom there.† 5For there is a tower in
that place, fifty cubits high and filled with ashes. It also has a contrivance continuing around
it on all sides that inclines steeply into the ashes. 6There they all shove anyone guilty of
sacrilege or who has done excessive evils to their destruction. 7Thus it happened that
Menelaus the lawbreaker died by such a destiny. He was even deprived of a burial in the
ground. 8Now this was altogether just, for since he committed many sins against the sacred
altar, whose fire and ashes were holy, he should get death for himself in ashes.

                              The Jews Prevail near Modein

  9The king was coming with barbarous arrogance to face the Jews with things far worse

than anything done by his father. 10But when Judas learned of this, he charged the people to
call upon the Lord day and night, asking Him to help them now as He had formerly; for they
were about to be deprived of their law, their homeland, and their temple. 11They prayed He
would not allow the people who had just begun a new life to fall into the hands of the
blaspheming Gentiles. 12After they all made the same petition together and constantly
implored the merciful Lord with weeping, fasting, and prostrations for three days, Judas
encouraged them and commanded them to stand firm.†

  13Then he consulted privately with the elders and determined to march out, to let the
matter be decided by the help of God before the king's army could enter Judea and take
possession of the city. 14So, committing the results to the Creator of all and urging those with
him to fight nobly to the death for the laws, the temple, the city, the country, and the
commonwealth, he positioned his army near Modein. 15After he gave his men the
watchword, “God's Victory,” and chose his best young men, he besieged the royal palace by
night, killing as many as two thousand men in the camp. He also slew the leading elephant
and its rider. 16As a result, they filled the camp with terror and disorder and departed
victoriously. 17This all happened by daybreak, because the protection of the Lord was with
him.
                          Antiochus V Makes Peace with the Jews

  18Thus the king tasted the courage of the Jews and plotted a strategy against their

positions. 19He marched against Beth-zur, a stronghold of the Jews, but was turned back. He
attacked again, but was beaten. 20Judas then sent supplies to the men inside the fortress.
21But Rhodocus, a man from the Jewish army, tipped off the enemy with secret information.

Thus he was sought after, caught, and imprisoned. 22The king spoke a second time with the
people in Beth-zur, gave assurances, received their pledges, and departed. He then attacked
Judas and his forces, but was vanquished.

  23He then learned that Philip, whom he had left in charge of the government in Antioch,
had lost his sanity. He was disheartened and summoned the Jews, and yielded and gave an
oath to honor all their rights. Thus he settled with them and offered sacrifice, respected the
temple, and treated the place humanely. 24He welcomed Maccabeus, and Hegemonides was
left as governor from Ptolemais to Gerar. 25Then he went to Ptolemais, but the people of
Ptolemais were indignant over the treaty with the Jews. In fact, they were so enraged they
sought to annul its provisions. 26But Lysias took the public stage and defended the treaty as
best he could. He did persuade them, and gaining their goodwill, he returned to Antioch. This
is the outcome of the king's strategy and settlement.

                                  Alcimus Accuses Judas


14 After three years’ time, word reached Judas and his soldiers that Demetrius, the son of
   Seleucus, had killed Antiochus and Lysias his guardian, then had sailed into the harbor
of Tripolis with a powerful army and fleet† 2and taken possession of the country.

  3Now there was a certain Alcimus, formerly a high priest, who had willfully defiled himself
in the times of social and political disturbance. He realized there was no way for him to live in
safety or to approach the holy altar ever again. 4So he went to King Demetrius sometime in
the one hundred and fifty-first year and presented him a crown of gold and a palm branch, as
well as some of the customary olive branches from the temple. During that day he remained
peaceful.† 5But he seized an opportunity in his own stupidity when he was invited by
Demetrius to a session of the council and was questioned about the disposition and
intentions of the Jews.
  Thus he said to the council: 6“Those of the Jews who are called Hasideans, whose leader is
Judas Maccabeus, are maintaining war and stirring up rebellion, and will not allow the
kingdom to attain stability.† 7Wherefore I have set aside my paternal glory—meaning my
high priesthood—and now have come here. 8I came here first out of my honest concern for
the well-being of the king, and second out of consideration for my own fellow-citizens; for
through the rashness of those just mentioned, our entire nation is suffering misfortune.
9Because you, O king, are acquainted with the details of these things, please take care of our
country and our hard-pressed people with the gracious love for mankind that you have for
everyone. 10For as long as Judas is alive, it will be impossible for the government to
experience peace.”

                               Nicanor Sent to Kill Judas

  11After he said this, the rest of the king's friends who bore malice against Judas aroused

even greater anger in Demetrius. 12Immediately he chose Nicanor, the commander of a
squadron of elephants, appointing him governor of Judea. 13He sent him off with the charge
to kill Judas, scatter his soldiers, and establish Alcimus as high priest of the great temple.
14The Gentiles who had fled before Judas throughout Judea joined Nicanor, for they thought
the setbacks and calamities of the Jews would bring prosperity to themselves.

  15The Jews got word of Nicanor's coming and the assault of the Gentiles. So they sprinkled
their heads with earth and prayed to Him who establishes His people forever, and always
helps His own inheritance by making Himself present.† 16At the command of Judas their
leader, they immediately moved the army from there and met the enemy in battle at a village
called Dessau. 17Simon, the brother of Judas, had encountered Nicanor in battle, but was
halted because of the unexpected silence of those adversaries.

                                  A Short-Lived Alliance

  18Nevertheless, when Nicanor heard of the bravery of Judas and his men and their courage

in battle for their country, he pulled back from deciding the matter by bloodshed. 19So he
sent forth Posidonius, Theodotus, and Mattathias to offer and receive pledges of friendship.
20After an extensive investigation of the terms, the leader communicated the terms to the

people, and it appeared they were of one mind; and they agreed to the treaty. 21So they set
aside a day to meet privately. From each army a chariot came forward, and seats of honor
were set in place. 22Judas appointed battle-ready men at strategic places lest the enemy
attempt sudden trickery, but the consultation was held in a fitting way.

  23Nicanor remained in Jerusalem and did nothing improper, but he dismissed the crowd of

people that had gathered. 24He also kept Judas in his presence continually, for he was
heartily attached to the man. 25He encouraged him to marry and have children. Thus Judas
got married, settled down, and lived a normal life.

                                    A Rekindled Enmity

  26When Alcimus became aware of their goodwill for each other, he took the treaty that was
made and went to King Demetrius. He told him Nicanor was disloyal to the government,
since he had appointed Judas, the plotter against the kingdom, to be his successor. 27The
king became enraged. Provoked by the false accusations of that depraved man, he wrote to
Nicanor that he was most displeased with the treaty and ordered him to send Maccabeus as a
prisoner to Antioch at once.

  28When this message reached Nicanor, he was upset and very grieved that he had to break

the agreement when the man had not done wrong. 29But since he could not act in opposition
to the king, he watched for a strategic opportunity to carry out the command. 30Maccabeus
noticed that Nicanor was becoming more harsh in his treatment of him and more rude when
they met than was customary. Judas decided Nicanor's sour behavior was not at all
propitious, so he gathered up a good number of his men and hid from him.

  31When Nicanor realized he had been boldly outmaneuvered by the man, he went to the
great and holy temple and found the priests offering the customary sacrifices. He
commanded them to hand him over. 32They declared under oath they did not know the
whereabouts of the man he sought. 33So Nicanor stretched out his right hand toward the
temple and swore this oath: “If you will not hand over Judas to me as a prisoner, I will raze
this shrine of God to the ground, destroy the altar, and erect at this place a splendid temple to
Dionysus.”† 34After he said this, he departed. Then the priests reached out their hands to
heaven, calling upon the everlasting Defender of our nation, saying, 35“O Lord of all, while
You have need of nothing, You were pleased to have a temple for Your dwelling in our midst.†
36Now then, O Holy One, O Lord of all holiness, preserve forever undefiled this house so
recently purified.”
                                    Razis the Elder Dies

  37Razis was one of the elders of Jerusalem and was denounced before Nicanor as a man
who loved his fellow-citizens, a man held in high esteem and called a father of the Jews
because of his goodwill. 38For in past times when there was isolation from the Gentiles, he
was brought to judgment for practicing the Jewish religion. But with all zeal he risked his life,
body and soul, for his religion. 39Nicanor wished to make obvious his ill-will for the Jews. So
he sent more than five hundred soldiers to arrest Razis, 40for he thought that by arresting
him he would produce calamity among the Jews. 41Thus when the soldiers were about to
capture the tower and were forcing open the door of the courtyard, they commanded that the
doors be set on fire. When Razis was surrounded, he fell upon his own sword, 42for he
preferred to die bravely rather than fall into the hands of sinners and suffer outrages
unworthy of his own noble birth.

  43However, in the tension of the confrontation, he did not fall with exactness on his sword.
As the crowd rushed through the doors, he took courage and jumped up on the wall, bravely
throwing himself down into the throng. 44But as people quickly stepped back, there was an
open space, and he landed in the midst of the empty area. 45He was still alive. In a blaze of
anger, he stood up; and though his blood gushed like a spring and his injuries were severe, he
darted through the crowd. He climbed up on a steep rock, 46and with his blood completely
drained out of him, he tore out his intestines, took them in both hands and threw them at the
crowd as he called on the Lord of life and spirit to return them to him again. Such was the
manner of his death.

                                   Nicanor's Failed Plan


15 When  Nicanor learned that Judas and his men were in the province of Samaria, he
   decided to attack them in utter safety on their day of rest.† 2But the Jews who were
forced to accompany him said, “By no means should you so cruelly and barbarously bring
destruction. Show respect for the Sabbath day, which He who sees all things has honored
with holiness above other days.”† 3Then the thrice-sinful man asked if there were a Lord in
heaven who ordered the keeping of the Sabbath day. 4When they declared, “It is the living
Lord Himself, the Ruler in heaven, who commanded the keeping of the seventh day,” 5he
responded, “I am a ruler on earth. I command you to take up your weapons and complete the
king's business.” Nevertheless, he was unsuccessful in carrying out his heinous plan.

                          Judas Maccabeus Mobilizes His Men

  6In his utter vanity and arrogance, Nicanor decided to put up a public monument of victory

over Judas and his army. 7But Maccabeus never ceased to trust the Lord and fully hope that
He would help him. 8So he encouraged his men to have no fear of any attack from the
Gentiles, but to bear in mind how help had come to them from heaven in times past. Now
they should anticipate the victory the Almighty would give to them. 9He also exhorted them
out of the law and the prophets, calling to mind the battles they had won, making them more
eager to fight. 10Then after he revived their courage, he gave his commands and at the same
time emphasized the Gentiles’ faithlessness and their failure to keep their oaths. 11So he
issued each of them armor—not so much of the surety of shields and spears as with the
encouragement of courageous speech. Then he inspired them all by telling about a dream, a
kind of vision, worthy of believing.

  12The vision he saw was this: Onias, who had been high priest, a true gentleman of modest
and noble manner, one well-spoken and from childhood formed in all that pertains to virtue,
was praying with hands outstretched for the whole nation of the Jews.† 13Then in the same
manner another man appeared, distinguished by his gray hair and glory, and having about
him a certain astonishing and majestic preeminence. 14Onias then spoke, saying, “This is
Jeremiah, the prophet of God, a man who loves his brothers and prays fervently for the
people and the holy city.”† 15Stretching forth his right hand, Jeremiah gave a sword of gold to
Judas, and as he presented it to him, he addressed him as follows: 16“Take this sacred sword,
a gift from God, by which you will strike down your enemies.”

  17Encouraged by Judas’ words, a man so good and able in stirring up virtue and courage in
the souls of young men, they determined not to plan out a campaign. Instead they would
wage war bravely, at once, deciding the matter with hand-to-hand combat with all manliness,
because the city, the sanctuary, and the temple were at risk. 18Their main concern was not
first for wives and children, or even for brothers and relatives; their greatest fear was for the
consecrated temple.† 19As for those who remained in the city, they were distressed and
worried about the conflict in the open country.

                                       Nicanor's Demise
  20Everyone was now living in suspense over the outcome of the war. The enemy was
nearby; their army was prepared for battle. And their elephants were strategically positioned,
and the cavalry was deployed on the flanks. 21Maccabeus noted carefully the great masses
before him, the variety of their armaments, and the savageness of the elephants. So he
reached out his hands toward heaven and called on the Lord, the Wonderworker; for he knew
it is not by weapons alone, but by the Lord's decision that victory is won by those worthy of it.
22Thus he cried out to Him in the following manner: “O Lord, in the time of Hezekiah the
king of Judea, You sent Your angel, and he killed as many as one hundred and eighty-five
thousand in the camp of Sennacherib.† 23So now, O Ruler of the heavens, send us a noble
angel to go before us spreading fear and trembling. 24By the strength of Your arm, may those
who speak blasphemy as they come against Your holy ones be struck down.” With these
words he completed his prayer.

  25Nicanor and his men marched ahead with trumpets and battle songs, 26but Judas and

his men joined the enemy in battle with invocations and prayers.† 27They fought with their
hands and prayed to God in their hearts, and struck down at least thirty-five thousand men.
So they were deeply gladdened by God's visitation.

  28When the battle was ended and they were marching home with joy, they recognized

Nicanor, in full armor, lying dead. 29With tumultuous shouts, they blessed the Lord in the
language of their fathers. 30Then Judas, who was in body and soul ever the chief defender of
his fellow-citizens and who from youth maintained goodwill toward his countrymen,
commanded them to sever Nicanor's head and arm and take them back to Jerusalem.†
31When he arrived there, he called his countrymen together and stationed the priests before

the altar. Then he sent for those in the citadel. 32Before them, he displayed the head of the
defiled Nicanor and that slanderous man's hand, which he had boastfully stretched out
against the holy house of the Almighty. 33He cut out the tongue of the godless Nicanor and
announced he would feed it to the birds bit by bit, and hang up the rewards of his folly
opposite the sanctuary. 34Then everyone lifted their eyes to heaven and blessed the Lord who
visited them, saying, “Blessed is He who kept His own place undefiled.” 35Judas then
fastened Nicanor's head to the wall of the citadel, a visible symbol to all present of the Lord's
help. 36So they all decreed by public vote never to allow this day to be unobserved, but to
celebrate it on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, called Adar in the Syrian language—
the day before Mordecai's day.
                                           The End

  37This is the way things turned out for Nicanor. So from that time on the city has been

controlled by the Hebrews. Thus I will end my story here. 38If I have written well and made
my point in the narrative, this is what I myself desired. But if it was done poorly and is just
average, this is the best I could do. 39For as it is disagreeable to drink wine only or water
only, whereas wine mingled with water is pleasing and delightful and brings greater joy, so
also the written style of the account delights the ears of those who read it. This then shall be
the end.†
                               3 M ACCABE E S
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Chapters in 3 Maccabees
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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Verses in 3 Maccabees Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in 3 Maccabees Chapter 2
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in 3 Maccabees Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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Verses in 3 Maccabees Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in 3 Maccabees Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51

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Verses in 3 Maccabees Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41

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Verses in 3 Maccabees Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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                                            The Third Book of the Maccabees

     Author  —The author is an unidentified Alexandrian Jew who wrote the book in Greek.

     Date   —Early first century BC is a likely date, considering the book's literary affinities
  and textual similarities with 2 Maccabees.

     Major Theme     —As with the previous Maccabean works, the predominant message is that
  God remains faithful to His chosen people, blessing and preserving them in tribulation.
  The book was written to console, exhort, and teach the Egyptian Jews in the midst of
  their tribulations, and to inspire faith in the providence of God (4:21) by recounting
  how the Jews had been delivered from similar trials in the past.

     Background     —The title of the work is a misnomer, for the contents do not deal with the
  exploits of the Maccabean heroes. Instead, the book recounts the struggles of Egyptian
  Jews who suffered under Ptolemy IV Philopater (221–203 BC).

  The book begins by describing the attempt of King Ptolemy to enter and desecrate the Holy
of Holies in the Jerusalem temple. When the desecration is averted by divine intervention
through the prayers of Simon the high priest (1:1–2:24), the king returns to Egypt determined
to wreak vengeance on Israel for his humiliation in Jerusalem. The remainder of the work
describes the persecution of the Jews, the miracles wrought on their behalf, and their
subsequent deliverance by God.

 Outline

   I. The Battle of Raphia and Ptolem y 's Attem pt to Desecrate the Tem ple (1 :1 –2 9 )

  II. The Pray er of Sim on the High Priest for God's Help Is Answered (2 :1 –2 4 )

  III. King Ptolem y 's Cruel Treatm ent of the Jews (2 :2 5–5:51 )

 IV. Eleazar's Pray er of Intercession; Two Angels Rescue the Jews (6 :1 –2 9 )

  V. Ptolem y Repents and Fav ors the Jews; They Celebrate (6 :3 0–7 :2 3 )



                                                         The Battle at Raphia


1 When   Philopator heard from those who returned that the regions he ruled had been
  captured by Antiochus, he issued orders to all his infantry and cavalry forces, took his
sister Arsinoe along with him, and set out toward the area near Raphia, where the forces of
Antiochus were positioned.† 2Now a certain Theodotus, intending to carry out a plan he had
developed, took the finest of the Ptolemaic weapons issued earlier to him and crossed by
night to Ptolemy's tent with the intention of killing him by himself, and in that way ending
the war.† 3But Dositheus, called the son of Drimylos, by birth Jew who afterward changed his
religion and apostatized from the traditions of his fathers, removed the king and put in his
place a certain unimportant man in the tent. That man suffered the vengeance intended for
the king.

  4When a fierce battle took place and things were going rather well for Antiochus, Arsinoe
went and exhorted the soldiers with her cries and tears. With her hair disheveled, she urged
them to be brave and to defend themselves and their children and wives. She promised to
give each of them two minas of gold if they were victorious.† 5So it happened the enemy was
defeated in hand-to-hand combat, and many were taken captive. 6But having prevailed
against the plot, Ptolemy decided to visit and encourage the neighboring cities. 7In doing so
and by enriching their sacred precincts with gifts, he built up the morale of the conquered
people.

                           Ptolemy Tries to Enter the Temple

  8When the Jews sent representatives to him from the senate, they greeted him, brought
him gifts, and congratulated him on the way things turned out. He was favorable to them and
eager to visit them soon. 9When he came to Jerusalem, he sacrificed to the Almighty God and
made thank offerings and did what was appropriate in the place. In coming into the holy
place, he was astonished at its excellence and beauty,† 10and he admired the good order of
the temple and conceived a desire to enter into the inner sanctuary.† 11They told him,
however, it was inappropriate for him to do this, since even citizens of their own nation were
not allowed to enter, nor even all the priests. Only the high priest who was first over all of
them could enter, but only once a year. Ptolemy, though, was not at all persuaded. 12Even
when the law was read to him, still he would not stop insisting that he should enter, saying,
“Even if others are deprived of this honor, I must not be deprived.”† 13Then he asked why
nobody ever prevented him from going into all the other shrines.† 14Someone said without
thinking that it was improper to take that as a portent. 15When that happened, he said that
he would enter anyway, whether they liked it or not.

  16Then the priests, fully vested, prostrated themselves and supplicated God Most High to
help them in the present circumstances, to turn away the impulse of the man of evil design.
The temple was filled with their cries and tears.† 17Those who remained in the city rushed
out, supposing that something mysterious was happening.† 18Even the virgins who had
remained in their chambers rushed out with their mothers and sprinkled dust on their hair,
filling the streets with wailing and groaning. 19Those, too, who were recently brought to their
bridal chambers abandoned the modesty that was appropriate for them and raced through the
city in a disorderly manner. 20At that point, mothers and nurses even abandoned their
newborns here and there, some at home and others in the streets, and without looking back
crowded into the most high temple.†

  21The prayers of those gathered were of varied forms because of what the king was plotting

in such an unholy way. 22Besides, more aggressive citizens would in no way tolerate the
carrying out of his plan or the fulfillment of his intention.† 23They shouted to their
neighbors to make a run on the weapons and to die courageously for the law of their fathers.
They created a great disturbance in the place and were barely restrained by the aged and the
elders. They took up the same posture of prayer as the others.

  24In the meantime, the multitude returned to prayer as before. 25The elders close by the

king made many attempts to divert his haughty mind from the plan he had concocted.† 26But
in his arrogance he dismissed everything they said and began to approach the place,
determined to complete his plan. 27When those around the king observed this, they turned to
one another and called upon Him who is all-powerful to come to their aid in this current
struggle and not to ignore this lawless and arrogant act.† 28But because of the continual
impassioned shouting of the crowds, it seemed that not only those present but also the very
walls and the earth itself were echoing the cry, for they all preferred death to the profaning of
the temple.†

                             A Priestly Prayer Stops Ptolemy


2 The high priest Simon bent his knees before the temple and stretched out his hands with
  great dignity, calmly offering the following prayer:† 2“O Lord, Lord, King of the heavens
and Master of all creation, Holy One among the holy ones, the only Ruler, the Almighty:
attend to us who are grievously oppressed by an unholy and irreverent man who is arrogant
in his audacity and power.† 3For You, the Creator of all and Ruler over all, are a righteous
Master, and You judge those who do anything with insolence and arrogance. 4In the past You
destroyed those who acted unjustly, among whom were the giants who trusted in their
physical strength and boldness, whom You destroyed by bringing the great flood of water
upon them. 5You burned up with fire and brimstone the inhabitants of Sodom, who acted in
arrogance and were notorious for their evil acts, and You made them an example for those
who came after them.† 6You made known Your might and power among men and brought
many different acts of punishment on the arrogant Pharaoh, who enslaved Your holy people
Israel.† 7For when he chased after them with horse-drawn chariots and a myriad of troops,
You overwhelmed him in the depths of the sea, and brought across to safety those who
trusted in You, the King of all creation.† 8So when they considered the works of Your hands,
they praised You, the Almighty God.

  9“You, O King, created the endless and measureless earth and chose this city. You
sanctified this holy place for Your name and hallowed it by its magnificent appearance, even
though You have no need of anything. You made its structure solid for the glory of Your great
and honorable name.†

  10“Because You love the house of Israel, You promised that if we should suffer setbacks
and if distress should overtake us, You would hear our supplication when we come into this
place to pray. 11Indeed, You are faithful and true. 12But often when our fathers were afflicted,
You helped them in humility and saved them from great evils. 13Behold, O holy King, how we
are oppressed because of our manifold sins, subjected to our enemies and lying in
helplessness.† 14In our downfall this arrogant and ungodly man continues to desecrate the
holy place which is dedicated to the name of Your glory on the earth. 15Your dwelling place,
the heaven of the heavens, is unapproachable by men.† 16But since You by Your grace
consented to grant Your glory upon Your people Israel, You hallowed this place.† 17Do not
punish us for the defilement caused by these men, and do not chastise us for this profanity.
Do not allow these lawless people to brag in their anger and exult in the pride of their
tongues, saying 18that they trampled the house of holiness as the houses of abominations are
trampled.†

  19“Wipe away our sins, disperse our errors, and display Your compassion at this hour.
20Let Your mercies come upon us quickly. Grant praise in the mouth of us who have fallen
and are crushed in our souls, and bring us peace.”
  21Then God, who watches over all, our Holy Forefather among the holy ones, heard this
lawful supplication and scourged the man who raised himself up in arrogance and audacity.
22He shook him on one side and the other, as a reed is shaken by the wind, so that he lay
powerless on the ground. Besides being paralyzed in his limbs, he was unable to cry out, since
he was struck by a righteous judgment.† 23Therefore his friends and bodyguards alike were
struck by an overwhelming fear, seeing the severe punishment that overtook him. Fearing he
would die, quickly they dragged him away. 24Later, when he recovered, he still did not repent
after being chastised, but went his way making bitter threats.†

                                Ptolemy Assaults the Jews

  25Then Ptolemy crossed over to Egypt, where he increased his evil, assisted by the
aforementioned drinking companions and comrades, who were unacquainted with anything
righteous.† 26He was not content with his countless acts of indecency, but audaciously
proceeded to spread many evil reports throughout the region. Many of his friends observed
the king's intentions and adjusted themselves to conform to his will. 27He undertook to
spread abroad a public blame against the Jewish nation, and raising a plaque on the tower at
the palace, he carved this inscription: 28“No one shall enter the temple who does not
sacrifice, but all the Jews shall be gathered for a census for taxation and reduced to servant
status. Those who oppose this will be taken by force and put to death.† 29Those registered are
to be branded by fire on their bodies with the ivy leaf symbol of Dionysus, and they will also
return to their former status.”† 30But so as not to appear an enemy to all, he wrote
underneath: “If some of them prefer to join those initiated into the mysteries, they will have
equal rights of citizenship with the Alexandrians.”

  31Some, then, obviously hated the price required to maintain godliness in the city. So they
gave themselves up willingly, for they expected greater glory from the association they were
about to have with the king.† 32But most of them prevailed with a noble spirit and did not
abandon their faith. They paid money to save their lives and fearlessly exerted themselves to
be saved from the census.† 33They remained hopeful of finding help, while loathing those
who isolated themselves from them. They considered them betrayers of the nation, and
therefore, deprived them of friendship and assistance.†


3 When the ungodly king heard this, he reached such a point of rage that he was angry not
only at the Jews of Alexandria, but even more so against those in the countryside. So he
commanded that they all be brought together in one place and put to death by the worst
possible means.† 2While these things were being organized, an antagonistic rumor was
circulated against the Jewish nation by men who conspired to harm them. This was on the
pretext the Jews hindered others from the observance of their customs.†

  3The Jews, though, maintained their goodwill and unswerving faith toward the throne.
4But because they worshiped God and lived by His precepts, they kept themselves separate

from others with regard to food, and therefore appeared hateful to some. 5But they adorned
their way of life with the good deeds of righteous people, and thus established themselves as
honorable to all men. 6Yet those of other nations took no account of the good works the Jews
offered the nation, which was the common talk of all men. 7Instead they droned on about the
differences in worship and foods, saying the Jews were not committed to the king or the
authorities, but were hostile and in great opposition to his leadership. Therefore they
attached no ordinary blame to them.

  8Now there were Greeks in the city who had not been harmed in any way by the Jews, yet
they observed the growing crowds and unprecedented tumult surrounding these people. But
they could not help them because they lived in weakness under tyranny. But they attempted
to comfort them and, being grieved, hoped for a change in the situation.† 9For it was
incomprehensible to ignore such a large group which had done no wrong. 10But already
certain neighbors and business associates drew them aside, gave them pledges of protection,
and offered more serious efforts toward their defense.

                                      Ptolemy's Decree

  11Then the king, who exalted himself in his current prosperity and did not consider the
power of the Almighty God, assumed he could persist continually in the same purpose. So he
wrote this letter against them:†

  12“King Ptolemy Philopator, to the commanders and soldiers in Egypt and the surrounding

region, greetings and health.† 13I myself and my government are well. 14When our
expedition to Asia took place, as you know, and was brought to completion according to
expectation by the help of the gods not lightly given, 15we thought it fit not by force of the
spear, but by equity and great benevolence, to foster the peoples inhabiting Coelesyria and
Phoenicia and to willingly treat them well. 16We distributed large revenues to the priests
around the cities, and also went to Jerusalem to honor the temple of those guilty people, who
never cease from their folly. 17They accepted our presence in word, yet were insincere in their
deeds. For when we were eager to enter their inner shrine and honor it with extraordinary
and most beautiful votive offerings, 18we were carried away by arrogant old men who
prevented us from entering. But they were spared the exercise of our strength because of the
benevolence we have toward all men. 19Yet as they kept up their obvious hostility toward us,
they became unique among the nations, because they lifted their heads against kings and
benefactors and did not want to consider any deed as sincere.

 20“But we adapted ourselves to their foolishness and crossed into Egypt with victory. We

met all nations with kindness and did what was proper. 21Yet in this matter we proclaimed
forgiveness to all of their kinsmen in Jerusalem. Then because of our confederacy with them
and the many things we entrusted to them in sincerity from of old, we dared to make a
change and grant them the honor of Alexandrian citizenship. So in this way they would be
partakers of the things that are always sacred.†

  22“They, however, took it in a different spirit. With their innate malice, they rejected it and

turned aside to evil. 23Not only did they reject the priceless citizenship, but they even showed
loathing in word and silence toward the few among them who were sincerely disposed toward
us. So quite in keeping with their infamous way of life, they suspected that we would quickly
reverse our policy.† 24Therefore we placed great trust in the signs that these men were ill-
disposed toward us in every way. Thus we took precautions against the possibility that a
sudden disturbance might rise up against us later, for we considered these impious men to be
betrayers behind our backs and barbarian enemies. 25So we have ordered that as soon as this
letter arrives, those who live there with their wives and children should be sent to us
immediately by force in iron shackles, bound securely on all sides, for a fatal and shameful
massacre as is fitting to traitors.† 26When they have been punished, we are certain that our
government will be established afterward in tranquility and security.

  27“But whoever conceals any of the Jews, from old man to infant or even sucklings, will be

killed with the cruelest tortures, along with his entire household.† 28Whoever is willing to
give information will receive the estate of the one who is punished, as well as two thousand
drachmas of royal silver, and will be crowned with freedom. 29Every place without exception
where a Jew is found concealed will become desolate and burned with fire, and will become
useless for all time for every mortal creature.”

  30This is the manner in which the letter was written.†

                                 Deportation to Alexandria


4 Wherever  this decree arrived, a feast at public expense was arranged for the Gentiles with
  shouting and rejoicing, as the hatred they had harbored against the Jews before now
appeared openly.† 2But for the Jews, there was unceasing sorrow and lamentable crying with
tears; everywhere their hearts burned, and with groans they bewailed the unexpected
destruction that was suddenly inflicted on them. 3But was there any district or city, or any
inhabited place whatsoever, or any streets, that were not filled with their mourning and
wailing? 4For they were being sent off by the commanders of the city in such a bitter and
ruthless spirit that even when some of their enemies saw them receive such unusual
punishments before their eyes, they considered them a common object of pity, and wept for
their miserable expulsion and the uncertainty of their lives.† 5A large group of old men,
covered with gray hair, was forced to march swiftly, despite the sluggishness of their old age.
With shameless violence they were driven on a harsh journey.† 6Young women who had just
stepped into their bridal chamber to enter married life exchanged delight for wailing. With
their perfumed hair sprinkled with dust, they openly raised a lamentation instead of wedding
hymns, as they were carried away together by the violence of the Gentiles. 7In shackles and
in view of the public, they were dragged along violently to the boat of embarkation.† 8Their
husbands, in their vigorous youthful prime and with nooses encircling their necks instead of
flowers, passed the remaining days of their wedding feast in lamentations rather than
feasting and youthful celebration, as they saw the grave already before their feet. 9But they
were brought on board like wild animals in iron-bound restraints, some fastened by their
necks to the benches of the ships, others with their feet secured in unbreakable fetters. 10In
addition they had the thick deck above them; thus, darkness covered their eyes on all sides,
and they were treated like betrayers during the entire voyage.

                                        Death Threat

  11When they were brought to the place called Schedia and their voyage was completed
according to the king's decree, he directed that they be confined outside the city in the
hippodrome, which had an immense outside perimeter. He also commanded that at the
appointed time, they be made a public example for those returning to the city and those going
from the city to the country. Thus they could not communicate with the king's forces, or in
any way claim to be within the boundaries of the city.† 12But as this took place, the king
heard that their Jewish compatriots from the city often went out secretly to lament the
shameful suffering of their brothers. 13Growing furious, he commanded that these visitors
be treated in precisely the same way as the others, so they would not be spared any of their
punishment.† 14He further commanded that every tribe be registered by name, not for the
toilsome servitude just mentioned, but so they would suffer the prescribed tortures and be
put to death in a single day.† 15Their registration took place, then, with bitter haste and
zealous diligence. It took forty days from sunrise to sunset, yet still remained incomplete.†

  16The king was filled with great and constant joy as he established banquets to extol all his
idols, with a mind that wandered far away from the truth. With a profane mouth, he praised
mute things that were unable to speak or offer help, and spoke improper things against the
Almighty God. 17But after the aforementioned interval of time, the scribes suggested to him
that he would no longer be able to accomplish the registration of the Jews because their
number was so large.† 18They said that although there were still many of them in the
country, some of whom were gathered in their houses and others elsewhere in the region, it
was impossible for all the commanders in Egypt to register them. 19But the king threatened
the scribes more harshly, claiming they were bribed to provide the Jews a mechanism of
escape. But he was clearly convinced 20when they proved what they said, for they showed
him that the paper and writing pens they used were depleted. 21This was the activity of God's
invincible providence helping the Jews from heaven.

                                Hermon and His Elephants


5 Then the king, filled with wrath and anger and inflexible in every respect, summoned
  Hermon, the keeper of the elephants.† 2On the following day, he ordered that he take all
the elephants—five hundred in number—and get them drunk with plenty of unmingled wine
and abundant handfuls of frankincense. Then after they had grown wild from the bounteous
abundance of drink, he was to lead them where the Jews would meet their fate.† 3When he
had issued these directives, he resumed his feasting, alone with those of his friends and of
the army who were particularly hostile toward the Jews. 4Then Hermon, caretaker of the
elephants, obediently carried out all his orders. 5The servants responsible for the Jews went
out at evening, binding the hands of these unfortunate people, and managed to keep them in
custody all night. They expected the whole nation would meet a final destruction. 6But the
Jews, thinking they were deprived of all protection from the Gentiles because of being bound
on all sides, 7called out to the Lord Almighty, Sovereign of all authority, their merciful God
and Father. With tears and with a cry not easily silenced, they prayed† 8that He divert the
unholy plot against them with a vengeance by a glorious appearance, and save them from the
fate now present before them. 9Their supplication went up earnestly to heaven.

  10Now Hermon got his pitiful elephants drunk by filling them up with a great abundance
of wine and frankincense. Then he came to the court early in the morning to make his report
to the king. 11But God sent on the king a deep sleep, that good gift from the beginning of time
which he has cast on those He favors during both night and the day.† 12Thus the king was
restrained from his awful plan by the sweet and deep sleep from the Lord. He was
disappointed in his lawless and unbending scheme. 13But when the Jews escaped the
appointed hour, they praised their holy God, and again beseeched Him who is easily
reconciled to show the strength of His almighty hand to the haughty Gentiles.†

  14By now it was almost the middle of the tenth hour, and the man in charge of banquet

invitations arranged the guests together, came forward, and nudged the king.† 15As soon as
he finally roused him, he made a report about what was happening and informed him that
the hour of the banquet had already passed. 16But as the king considered this, he returned to
his drinking, and commanded those around him at the banquet to locate opposite him.
17When this was done, he urged them to give themselves to still more eating and drinking, so

the effect of the banquet would be still more raucous. 18As the festivities progressed, the king
summoned Hermon and with a direct threat asked why the Jews had made it alive through
the present day. 19But when Hermon declared that while it was still night he had done what
was ordered, the king's friends confirmed this. 20Then overcome with a savagery worse than
that of Phalaris, the king said that because of the day's sleep they received favor; but without
delay on the coming day, Hermon must ready the elephants for the extermination of the
godless Jews.† 21So when the king had spoken, all the guests present willingly and joyfully
agreed with the plan; then each departed for home. 22However, they did not use the night for
sleep, but to devise all sorts of insults for those they assumed had met their doom.†
                                 God Delivers His People

 23As soon as the cock crowed at dawn, Hermon harnessed the beasts and set them in

motion in the great colonnade. 24Crowds had gathered around the city for this pitiful sight,
even before dawn.† 25But the Jews, at their last breath and at the last moment, made a
tearful supplication in mournful songs. They stretched out their hands to heaven, and prayed
to the Almighty God to quickly help them again. 26The rays of the sun were not yet spreading
when Hermon stood by and called the king and his friends, who were waiting. He pointed to
the door and showed that what the king desired was ready. 27But when the king received the
report, he was terrified at the unusual invitation to come out. Completely overcome with
bewilderment, he asked what this was which had been done so quickly.† 28This was an act of
God, Master over all things, who placed a forgetfulness in the king's mind about what had
been plotted before.

  29But Hermon and all the king's friends told him, “The beasts and the troops are ready, O

king, according to your eager purpose.” 30But at these words, he was filled with deep anger,
because his whole plot had been scattered from his mind by God's providence. Then he glared
at them and threatened, 31“If your parents or children were here, I would furnish them as a
lavish feast for the wild beasts, instead of these innocent people, who have shown me and my
fathers complete and unbending loyalty in everything asked of them.† 32In fact, if it were not
for my familiarity with you and your usefulness, you would be deprived of life rather than
them.”

  33Thus, Hermon endured an unexpected and dangerous threat, and his eyes shifted and his

countenance fell. 34Then one by one the king's friends slunk away sullenly, and each one
returned to his own business.† 35But when the Jews heard what the king said, they praised
God as the revealed Lord and King of kings, since this happened to them because of His
help.†

                                  The Ambivalent King

 36Meanwhile, the king restarted the banquet. He encouraged the guests to resume their

merrymaking as before.† 37Then he summoned Hermon and threatened him, saying, “How
many times must you be given orders about these same things, you worthless wretch?
38Equip the elephants once again to crush the Jews tomorrow.” 39But his administrators
who were reclining together with him, curious as to his unstable mind, urged him, saying,†
40“How long, O king, are you going to tease us as if we were irrational, for you commanded
now for the third time to destroy them? Then again you took back your command and what
seemed good to you. 41Because of this, the city is in turmoil, expecting you to act, and is in
danger of being torn apart by the growing crowds.”

  42At this point, the king, a Phalaris in every way, was filled with insanity, and counting as
nothing his changes of mind concerning the care of the Jews, swore a firm oath to send them
to Hades without delay, mangled by the feet and knees of the wild beasts.† 43He would then
attack the Jewish land and abruptly level it to the ground with fire and the spear, and burn
down for all time the temple where they made sacrifices, which had been made inaccessible
to him.† 44Then his friends and officials departed joyfully, and confidently assigned the
forces to the key places in the city to keep watch.

  45Then the keeper of the elephants brought the beasts almost to a state of madness, so to
speak, with the sweetest drinks of wine mixed with frankincense; and he equipped them with
frightful devices. 46So about dawn, when the city was filled with countless hordes of
onlookers filling the hippodrome, he went into the court and urged the king to fulfill his
purpose. 47The king then worked up his depraved mind into a fit of wrath, and rushed out in
full strength with all the beasts. With hardened heart, he wanted to see with his own eyes the
lamentable and evil crushing of the Jews.

  48The Jews saw the cloud of dust stirred up by the elephants as they came out of the gate,
the armed forces behind them. They also heard the trampling of the throng and loud,
boisterous noise. 49They considered this the last moment of their lives and the end of their
wretched uncertainty. Turning to one another in sorrow, they kissed each other with tears,
and embracing their loved ones, they fell on their necks, parents and children and mothers
and daughters, women with infants at their breasts drawing their last milk. 50Nonetheless,
when they recalled the help from heaven they had received earlier, they suddenly threw
themselves face down, women taking the infants from their breasts,† 51and they cried out in
a loud voice, beseeching the Master of all to have mercy on them. For they were standing at
the very gates of Hades.

                                    The Prayer of Eleazar
6 Now  there was a certain man, Eleazar, famous among the priests of the land, who reached
  the prime of his life in old age and adorned his life with every virtue. He directed the
elders around him to call on the holy God, and he prayed as follows:†

 2“O King, mighty in power, O Most High, the Almighty God, who governs all creation in

mercy,† 3look upon the seed of Abraham and the descendants of the saintly man Jacob,
because a dedicated portion of Your people, O Father, are being unjustly destroyed as
strangers in a foreign land. 4Pharaoh abounded in chariots and was the master of this Egypt
when he arose with unlawful boldness, a boasting tongue, and an arrogant army. But You
destroyed him by drowning him in the sea and appeared as a light of mercy to the nation
Israel. 5Sennacherib also boasted in his countless forces, because this oppressive king of the
Assyrians had already taken the whole world under his authority by the spear. Then he was
lifted up against Your holy city and spoke grievously with pride and insults. But You shattered
him, O Master, and made Your power visible to many nations. 6Then when the three
companions in Babylon willingly gave their lives to fire—for they would not bow to vain
things—You sent dew upon the fiery furnace and saved them to their last hair. You sent them
back unharmed and turned the flames against their adversaries.† 7Daniel was thrown to the
lions below ground as food for lions because of jealous slander. But You brought him
unharmed back up to daylight.† 8Jonah was decomposing in the belly of the deep-sea
monster. But You, O Father, watched over him and returned him unharmed to all his kin.†
9So now, O hater of insolence, O merciful Defender of all, appear speedily to those of the
family of Israel, under outrageous abuse by abominable and lawless Gentiles.

  10“Even if our life has become enmeshed in unrighteousness during our captivity, save us
from the hand of our adversaries, O Master, and destroy us by whatever death You choose.
11Only do not allow these vain-minded men to praise their useless things as they destroy

those You love, saying, ‘Not even their God could rescue them.’ 12But You, who have all
strength and authority, O Eternal One, look down on us now. Have mercy on us, who are
being deprived of life like traitors by the thoughtless insults of lawless men. 13Let the
Gentiles cower at Your unconquerable power this day, O Honorable One who has the power
to save the race of Jacob. 14This entire multitude of babes and their parents beseech You with
tears. 15Let it be revealed to all the Gentiles, O Lord, that You are with us, and that You did
not turn Your face from us. For as You said, ‘Not even in the land of their enemies did I
neglect them.’ Do this for us, O Lord.”†
                                  The Jews Are Delivered

  16When Eleazar finished his prayer, the king arrived at the hippodrome with the beasts and

with all the haughtiness of his army. 17Then the Jews who saw him cried out in a loud voice
to heaven, so much so that the valleys nearby echoed and brought unrestrained fear on the
whole army. 18Then the Almighty God, most glorious and full of truth, manifested His holy
face and thrust open the doors of heaven, from which two glorious angels descended, terrible
in form, and visible to all except the Jews.† 19They attacked the enemy forces, filled them
with confusion and fright, and bound them with immovable fetters. 20The king's body was
seized with a tremor, and he even forgot his contemptible vocabulary. 21Then the beasts
turned against the armed forces who were behind them, and they trampled and killed them.†

                                Ptolemy's Change of Heart

  22The king's wrath was turned to compassion and tears because of the plot he devised

earlier, 23for he heard the wailing and saw all the people who fell to destruction. So, weeping
with anger, he threatened his friends, shouting,† 24“You act as if you were the king
yourselves, and you exceed tyrants in your savagery and attack even me, your benefactor. You
scheme to deprive me of my reign and my life itself with secret plots which are unprofitable
to the kingdom. 25Who drove these people from their houses—who faithfully kept our
strongholds—and stupidly gathered all of them here? 26Who so unlawfully entangled in
terrible dangers these, who from the beginning differed from all other nations in their
goodwill toward us and repeatedly accepted the worst pitfalls known to man?† 27Release
them! Undo their unjust bonds. Send them back home in peace and beg forgiveness for what
you did to them. 28Set free the sons of the heavenly and living Almighty God, who has
provided uninterrupted tranquility for our affairs from the time of our fathers until now.”
29Thus he said these things. So the Jews, who were released immediately, kept praising their
holy God and Savior, for they had at last escaped death.

  30Then the king returned to the city and summoned the man in charge of the treasury. He
commanded that he provide wine and everything else necessary so the Jews could feast for
seven days. For the king thought it fitting that they celebrate their deliverance and rejoice in
the very place they expected to meet their doom. 31Then those who had been treated
disgracefully and were close to death, or rather stood at death's door, were given a special
invitation. They organized a feast of deliverance from the bitter and mournful fate of death.
Filled with joy, their celebration took the place of desolation and grave clothes.† 32They
ceased their chanting of lamentations and took up an ode of their fathers, praising their
wonderworking God and Savior. They halted all wailing and lamenting and formed choirs as a
symbol of joy and peace.† 33Similarly, the king called a great feast to celebrate these things,
and ceaselessly and magnificently gave thanks to heaven for his unplanned experience of
personal salvation. 34Those who believed previously that the Jews were going to be made
food for the birds unto destruction, and thus registered them with glee, sighed as they were
covered with shame, for their fire-breathing aggression was shamefully extinguished.

  35But the Jews, as we said before, formed the aforementioned choir and spent their time

feasting with psalms of a joyful thanksgiving.† 36They established a public ritual to
commemorate these things within their entire community for the generations to come. They
structured this observance as a festival, not for drunkenness and gluttony, but because of the
salvation which they received from God. 37They then requested that the king dismiss them to
return back home.

  38Now their registration took place from the twenty-fifth of Pachon until the fourth of
Epiphi, that is, forty days. They faced destruction from the fifth of Epiphi until the seventh,
that is, three days.† 39During this time the Lord over all things manifested His mercy with
great glory and saved them all, together and unharmed. 40Thus they feasted with everything
provided by the king until the fourteenth day, when they also petitioned to be sent away.
41The king immediately granted their request and wrote for them the letter, copied below, to

the commanders in each city, magnanimously stating his concern for them:†

                           A Letter of Support from the King


7 “King Ptolemy Philopator, to the commanders in Egypt and to all those in authority in our
  government, greetings and health. 2We ourselves are well, as are our children, with the
great God guiding our affairs as we desire.† 3Some of our friends through malignity kept
urging us and finally persuaded us to gather the Jews in our kingdom to have them punished
in a body with unusual punishments, as if they were rebels.† 4They argued that until this was
accomplished, our government would never be stable because of their ill-will toward all
nations. 5They led them out cruelly in fetters as slaves, or rather as traitors, and without
making any inquiry or investigation, they attempted to attack them, girding themselves with
fierceness more savage than that of the Scythians.† 6But because of the fairness we have
toward all men, we threatened them severely for these things. Yet we barely spared their
lives, because we recognized that the heavenly God surely protects the Jews, as a father
protects his sons and fights on their behalf. 7We considered the steadfast goodwill they had
toward us and toward our brothers, and justly acquitted them from every manner of charge.
8Then we ordered our people to go about their business, each in his own place, with no one

harming them or reproaching them undeservedly about what happened. 9For you know that
if we plot any evil against them or trouble them at all, we will have not man but God the Most
High, the Master of all power, unfavorable to us in vengeance for these things and
inescapable in everything forever. Farewell.”†

                                The Traitors Are Punished

  10When they received this letter, the Jews did not hasten to depart immediately, but rather
petitioned the king that those of the race of Jews who transgressed the law of the Holy God
should receive the punishment they deserved.† 11They proclaimed that those who
transgressed the divine commands on account of their appetites would never again be
favorable toward the king's government. 12So he accepted the truth of what they said and
deferred to them, giving them permission in all things to destroy those who had transgressed
the law of God throughout his kingdom with boldness and without any royal authority or
supervision. 13Then their priests and the whole multitude extolled the king and, as was
appropriate, responded with an alleluia, and departed in joy.† 14As they went their way, they
punished and killed anyone of their race they encountered who had defiled himself, putting
him to public shame.† 15So on that day they killed more than three hundred men, and they
held a joyous festival because they had overtaken those who were defiled. 16Then those who
had held firmly to God to the point of death received the pleasure of their deliverance. They
left the city wreathed in all sorts of sweet-smelling flowers, with joyful shouts of thanks in
praises and melodious hymns to the God of their fathers, the everlasting Savior of Israel.

  17But when they reached Ptolemais, called the Rose-bearing City because of the special
character of the place, the fleet had waited there for seven days according to the plan they
determined.† 18They held a feast of deliverance there for the king, who liberally supplied
them with everything they needed for their journey home. 19When they reached land in
peace with proper giving of thanks, they also decided to again set apart these days for joyful
festivity during their stay. 20They marked these days on a column inscribed and set in the
banquet site, consecrating it as a place of prayer. Then they went away safely through land,
sea, and river, each to his own home, free and overjoyed by the command of the king.†
21They had more honor than before among their adversaries, were held in esteem and awe,

and none of them lost any of their belongings. 22Instead, they reclaimed all of their own
things which had been registered. If anyone held something of theirs, they returned it with
the greatest fear, since the Almighty God had done perfectly magnificent works to gain their
deliverance.†

  23Blessed is the Savior of Israel unto ages of ages! Amen.
                                               PSAL M S
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Chapters in Psalms
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80

81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90

91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100

101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110

111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120

121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130

131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140

141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150

151

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Verses in Psalm 1

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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Verses in Psalm 2

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11, 12

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Verses in Psalm 3

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Verses in Psalm 4

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Verses in Psalm 5

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11, 12, 13

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Verses in Psalm 6

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in Psalm 7

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Psalm 8

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Verses in Psalm 9 (9, 10)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

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Verses in Psalm 10 (11)

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Verses in Psalm 11 (12)

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Verses in Psalm 12 (13)

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Verses in Psalm 13 (14)

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Verses in Psalm 14 (15)

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Verses in Psalm 15 (16)

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11

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Verses in Psalm 16 (17)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Psalm 17 (18)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51

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Verses in Psalm 18 (19)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Psalm 19 (20)

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Verses in Psalm 20 (21)

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11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Psalm 21 (22)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in Psalm 22 (23)

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Verses in Psalm 23 (24)

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Verses in Psalm 24 (25)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Psalm 25 (26)

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11, 12

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Verses in Psalm 26 (27)

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11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Psalm 27 (28)

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Verses in Psalm 28 (29)

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11

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Verses in Psalm 29 (30)

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11, 12, 13

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Verses in Psalm 30 (31)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Psalm 31 (32)

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11

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Verses in Psalm 32 (33)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Psalm 33 (34)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Psalm 34 (35)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Psalm 35 (36)

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11, 12, 13

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Verses in Psalm 36 (37)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

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Verses in Psalm 37 (38)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Psalm 38 (39)

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11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Psalm 39 (40)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Psalm 40 (41)

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11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Psalm 41 (42)

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11, 12

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Verses in Psalm 42 (43)

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Verses in Psalm 43 (44)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Psalm 44 (45)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Psalm 45 (46)

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11, 12

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Verses in Psalm 46 (47)

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Verses in Psalm 47 (48)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Psalm 48 (49)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Psalm 49 (50)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Psalm 50 (51)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Psalm 51 (52)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in Psalm 52 (53)

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Verses in Psalm 53 (54)

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Verses in Psalm 54 (55)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Psalm 55 (56)

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11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Psalm 56 (57)

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11, 12

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Verses in Psalm 57 (58)

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11, 12

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Verses in Psalm 58 (59)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Psalm 59 (60)

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11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Psalm 60 (61)

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Verses in Psalm 61 (62)

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11, 12, 13

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Verses in Psalm 62 (63)

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11, 12

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Verses in Psalm 63 (64)

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11

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Verses in Psalm 64 (65)

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11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Psalm 65 (66)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Psalm 66 (67)

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Verses in Psalm 67 (68)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in Psalm 68 (69)

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in Psalm 69 (70)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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Verses in Psalm 70 (71)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Psalm 71 (72)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Psalm 72 (73)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Psalm 73 (74)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Psalm 74 (75)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in Psalm 75 (76)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Psalm 76 (77)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Psalm 77 (78)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71, 72

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Verses in Psalm 78 (79)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Psalm 79 (80)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Psalm 80 (81)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Psalm 81 (82)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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Verses in Psalm 82 (83)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in Psalm 83 (84)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Psalm 84 (85)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Psalm 85 (86)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Psalm 86 (87)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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Verses in Psalm 87 (88)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in Psalm 88 (89)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53

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Verses in Psalm 89 (90)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Psalm 90 (91)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Psalm 91 (92)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Psalm 92 (93)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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Verses in Psalm 93 (94)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Psalm 94 (95)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in Psalm 95 (96)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Psalm 96 (97)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12

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Verses in Psalm 97 (98)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Verses in Psalm 98 (99)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Verses in Psalm 99 (100)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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Verses in Psalm 100 (101)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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Verses in Psalm 101 (102)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Psalm 102 (103)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Psalm 103 (104)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Psalm 104 (105)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45

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Verses in Psalm 105 (106)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48

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Verses in Psalm 106 (107)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43

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Verses in Psalm 107 (108)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Psalm 108 (109)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Psalm 109 (110)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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Verses in Psalm 110 (111)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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Verses in Psalm 111 (112)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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Verses in Psalm 112 (113)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Verses in Psalm 113 (114, 115)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Psalm 114 (116:1–9)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Verses in Psalm 115 (116:10–19)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Verses in Psalm 116 (117)

1, 2

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Verses in Psalm 117 (118)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Psalm 118 (119)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80

81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90

91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100

101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110

111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120

121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130

131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140

141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150

151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160

161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170

171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176

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Verses in Psalm 119 (120)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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Verses in Psalm 120 (121)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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Verses in Psalm 121 (122)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Verses in Psalm 122 (123)

1, 2, 3, 4

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Verses in Psalm 123 (124)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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Verses in Psalm 124 (125)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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Verses in Psalm 125 (126)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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Verses in Psalm 126 (127)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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Verses in Psalm 127 (128)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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Verses in Psalm 128 (129)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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Verses in Psalm 129 (130)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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Verses in Psalm 130 (131)

1, 2, 3

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Verses in Psalm 131 (132)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Psalm 132 (133)

1, 2, 3

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Verses in Psalm 133 (134)

1, 2, 3

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Verses in Psalm 134 (135)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Psalm 135 (136)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Psalm 136 (137)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Verses in Psalm 137 (138)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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Verses in Psalm 138 (139)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Psalm 139 (140)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Psalm 140 (141)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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Verses in Psalm 141 (142)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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Verses in Psalm 142 (143)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12

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Verses in Psalm 143 (144)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Psalm 144 (145)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Psalm 145 (146)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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Verses in Psalm 146 (147:1–11)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in Psalm 147 (147:12–20)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Verses in Psalm 148

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Psalm 149

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Verses in Psalm 150

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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Verses in Psalm 151

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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                                                   The Book of the Psalms

  Authors   —Among the authors of the Psalms are David, the temple musicians, and Moses.

  Date   —Generally from 1000 BC, the time of David, to several centuries thereafter.

  Major Theme     —The songs of God's people. Each psalm has its own theme, as noted in the
titles.

  Background     —

1 . Types of psalms: The Psalm s are of m any ty pes, including: (a) prophecies of the com ing Messiah, (b) pray ers for the king, (c) personal

   lam entations, (d) songs of praise, and (e) hy m ns for special feasts.

2 . The prayer book of the Church: The Psalm s hav e becom e for the Church, as for ancient Israel, a book of pray er and praise. All find their

   fulfillm ent in Christ, the Son of God. Not only do the Psalm s predict specific ev ents of Christ's life, but in them He Him self intercedes for

   and with His people before the Father. The Psalm s can also be seen as a dialogue between the Church, the body of Christ, and Christ her

   Head. Therefore, they m ake the m ost sense to us when they are pray ed or sung (chanted), not sim ply read.

3 . Uses in the Church: The Book of Psalm s, or Psalter, is used in the Orthodox Church in three prim ary way s:

       a. In the daily cy cle of pray ers. The liturgical tradition appoints certain psalm s as “fixed” portions of the daily serv ices. These will be

          pointed out in the notes throughout the text as psalm s for m orning pray ers, ev ening pray ers, and pray ers of the hours.

       b. In the weekly order of the m orning and ev ening serv ices (Matins [Orthros] and Vespers). When these are done in their entirety , as

          in the m onasteries, all the psalm s are chanted in the course of each week, staring at Saturday Vespers and concluding at Matins

          the following Saturday .

       c. In the observ ance of the Church y ear, the liturgical tradition selects particular psalm s or v erses for special feasts or seasons as

          prophetic statem ents illustrating the work of Christ for us. For exam ple, the Passion Song of Psalm 2 1 (“They pierced My hands and

          My feet”) is used in the Church on Great and Holy Friday . Thus, using the Psalm s is crucial to our understanding of the fullness of

          Christ's m inistry to His people.

4 . Purpose: The Psalm s serv e m any functions. They (a) foretell com ing ev ents; (b) recall history ; (c) fram e laws for life; (d) rev eal what

   m ust be done to obey God's word; (e) are a treasury of good doctrine; and (f) help ov ercom e the passions that exercise dom inion ov er our

   souls, through the power of poetic expression to capture and gradually transform our thoughts.



                                                                   Psalm 1

   B lessed is the m an
   Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly ,

   Nor stands in the way of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the troublesom e;†

2
    But his will is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he m editates day and night.

3
    He shall be like a tree

Planted by stream s of waters,

That produces its fruit in its season;

And his leaf shall not wither,

And whatev er he does shall prosper.

4
    Not so are the ungodly , not so,

But they are like the dust the wind driv es from the face of the earth.

5
    Therefore the ungodly shall not rise in the judgm ent,

Nor sinners in the counsel of the righteous;

6
    For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

                                                             Psalm 2

W hy do the nations rage,
And the people m editate on v ain things?†ω

2
    The kings of the earth set them selv es,

And the rulers gather together

Against the Lord and against His anointed, say ing,

3
    “Let us break their bands,

And cast away their y okes from us.”

4
    He who sits in the heav ens shall laugh at them ;

The Lord shall m ock them .

5
    Then shall He speak to them in His wrath

And trouble them in His anger,

6
    “But I was established as King by Him

Ov er His holy hill of Zion,

Declaring the Lord's decree.

7
    The Lord said to Me,

‘You are My Son,

Today I hav e begotten You;

8
    Ask of Me, and I will giv e You

The nations for Your inheritance
    And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

    9
         You shall shepherd them with an iron staff;

    You shall shatter them like a potter's v essel.’ ”

    10
         And now, O kings, understand;

    Be instructed, all y ou judges of the earth.

    11
         Serv e the Lord with fear

    And rejoice in Him with trem bling.

    12
         Lay hold of His instruction, lest the Lord be angry ,

    And y ou perish from the righteous way

    When His fury shall be quickly kindled.

    Blessed are all who trust in Him .

                                                                 Psalm 3

1A psalm by David, when he fled from the face of his son, Absalom.†ω

    O Lord, why do those who afflict m e m ultiply ?
    Many are those who rise up against m e.

    3
         Many are those who say to m y soul,

    “There is no salv ation for him in his God.” (Pause)

    4
         But You, O Lord, are m y protector,

    My glory and the One who lifts up m y head.

    5
         I cried to the Lord with m y v oice,

    And He heard m e from His holy hill. (Pause)

    6
         I lay down and slept;

    I awoke, for the Lord will help m e.

    7
         I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people

    Who set them selv es against m e all around.

    8
         Arise, O Lord, and sav e m e, O m y God,

    For You struck all those who were foolishly at enm ity with m e;

    You broke the teeth of sinners.

    9
         Salv ation is of the Lord,

    And Your blessing is upon Your people.

                                                                 Psalm 4

1For the End; in psalms; an ode by David.†ω
    Y ou heard m e when I called, O God of m y righteousness.
    You strengthened m y heart when I was in distress;

    Hav e m ercy on m e, and hear m y pray er.

    3
        How long, O y ou sons of m en,

    Will y ou be slow of heart?

    Why do y ou lov e v ain things

    And seek after lies?

    4
        Know that the Lord m ade His Holy One wondrous;

    The Lord will hear m e when I cry to Him .

    5
        Be angry , and do not sin;

    Hav e rem orse upon y our beds

    For what y ou say in y our hearts. (Pause)

    6
        Offer the sacrifice of righteousness,

    And hope in the Lord.

    7
        There are m any who say , “Who will show us good things?”

    O Lord, the light of Your face was stam ped upon us.

    8
        You put gladness in m y heart;

    From their season of wheat, wine, and oil they were m ultiplied.

    9
        I will both sleep and rest in peace,

    For You alone, O Lord, cause m e to dwell in hope.

                                                                Psalm 5

1For the End; concerning the inheritance; a psalm by David.†ω

    G iv e ear to m y words, O Lord,
    Hear m y cry .

    3
        Giv e heed to the v oice of m y supplication,

    My King and m y God,

    For to You will I pray , O Lord.

    4
        In the m orning You shall hear m y v oice;

    In the m orning I will stand before You,

    And I will watch.

    5
        For You are not a God who wills lawlessness,

    Nor shall the ev ildoer dwell with You.

    6
        The lawless shall not stand before Your ey es;
    You hate all the workers of lawlessness;

    7
         You shall destroy all who speak falsehood;

    The Lord abhors the m an of v iolence and deceit.

    8
         But as for m e, in the fullness of Your m ercy I will com e into Your house;

    In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy tem ple.

    9
         Lead m e, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of m y enem ies;

    Make straight Your way before m e.

    10
         For there is no truth in their m outh;

    Their heart is v ain;

    Their throat is an open grav e;

    They deal deceptiv ely with their tongues.

    11
         Judge them , O God.

    Let them fall by their false accusations;

    Cast them out in the m ultitude of their ungodliness;

    For they prov oked You, O Lord.

    12
         But let all who hope in You be glad;

    They will greatly rejoice forev er,

    For You will dwell in them ;

    And all who lov e Your nam e will boast in You.

    13
         For You will bless the righteous;

    O Lord, You crowned us with the shield of Your goodwill.

                                                                     Psalm 6

1For the End; in hymns, concerning the eighth; a psalm by David.†ω

    O Lord, do not reprov e m e in Your anger, Nor discipline m e in Your wrath.
    3
         Hav e m ercy on m e, O Lord, for I am weak;

    Heal m e, O Lord, for m y bones are troubled;

    4
         And m y soul is greatly troubled;

    But You, O Lord, how long?

    5
         Return, O Lord, and deliv er m y soul.

    Sav e m e because of Your m ercy .

    6
         For there is no rem em brance of You in death;

    And in Hades who will giv e thanks to You?

    7
         I am weary with m y groaning;
    Ev ery single night I will dam pen m y bed;

    I will drench m y couch with m y tears.

    8
         My ey e is troubled by anger;

    I grow old am ong all m y enem ies.

    9
         Depart from m e, all y ou workers of lawlessness;

    For the Lord heard the v oice of m y weeping;

    10
         The Lord heard m y supplication;

    The Lord receiv ed m y pray er.

    11
         Let all m y enem ies be asham ed and greatly troubled;

    Let them turn back and be suddenly asham ed.

                                                                  Psalm 7

1A psalm by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, the son of

Benjamin.†

    O Lord m y God, in You I hope; Sav e m e from all who pursue m e, and deliv er m e,
    3
         Lest like a lion he snatch away m y soul

    While there is none to redeem or sav e.

    4
         O Lord m y God, if I hav e done this,

    If there is wrongdoing in m y hands,

    5
         If I dealt back ev il to those dealing ev il to m e,

    Then m ay I fall em pty because of m y enem ies,

    6
         Then m ay the enem y pursue and ov ertake m y soul,

    And tram ple down m y life to the ground,

    And m ake m y glory settle in the dust. (Pause)

    7
         Arise, O Lord, in Your anger;

    Be exalted to the v ery boundaries of m y enem ies;

    Awaken, O Lord m y God, in the ordinance You com m anded,

    8
         So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You,

    And because of this, return on high.

    9
         The Lord shall judge the people;

    Judge m e, O Lord, according to m y righteousness,

    And according to the innocence within m e.

    10
         Bring an end to the wickedness of sinners,

    And keep straight the righteous;
    For God exam ines hearts and reins.

    11
         My righteous help is from God,

    Who sav es the upright in heart.

    12
         God is a righteous, strong, and patient judge,

    Not bringing down wrath ev ery single day .

    13
         If You do not return, he will polish his sword;

    He stretched his bow and readied it,

    14
         And he readied his instrum ents of death

    And prepared his arrows to kindle a fire.

    15
         Behold, he suffered the pains of childbirth in unrighteousness;

    He conceiv ed pain and brought forth lawlessness;

    16
         He opened up a pit and dug it out,

    And he will fall into the hole he m ade.

    17
         The pain shall return on his own head,

    And his wrongdoing shall com e down on his crown.

    18
         I will giv e thanks to the Lord according to His righteousness

    And will sing to the nam e of the Lord Most High.

                                                                        Psalm 8

1For the End; concerning the winepresses; a psalm by David.†ω

    O Lord, our Lord, how wondrous is Your nam e in all the earth,
    For Your splendor is exalted far bey ond the heav ens.

    3
         From the m ouths of babies and nursing infants

    You prepared praise because of Your enem ies,

    That You m ay destroy the enem y and av enger.

    4
         For I shall look at the heav ens, the works of Your fingers,

    The m oon and stars You established.

    5
         What is m an that You rem em ber him ,

    Or the son of m an that You v isit him ?

    6
         You m ade him a little lower than the angels;

    You crowned him with glory and honor.

    7
         You set him ov er the works of Your hands;

    You subjected all things under his feet,

    8
         All sheep and oxen,
    And besides these, also the anim als of the field,

    9
         The birds of heav en and the fish of the sea,

    And the things passing through the paths of the seas.

    10
         O Lord, our Lord, how wondrous is Your nam e in all the earth.

                                                              Psalm 9 (9, 10)

1For the End; concerning the hidden things of the Son; a psalm of David.†

    I will giv e thanks to You, O Lord, with m y whole heart;
    I will tell of all Your wondrous things;

    3
         I will be glad and rejoice in You;

    I will sing praise to Your nam e, O Most High.

    4
         When m y enem y turns backward,

    They shall be feeble and perish before Your face.

    5
         For You m aintain m y judgm ent and m y right;

    You sit upon the throne, judging in righteousness.

    6
         You rebuke the nations, and the ungodly m an destroy s him self;

    You blotted out their nam e, in their lifetim e and unto ages of ages;

    7
         The swords of the enem y are com pletely forsaken,

    And You pulled down their cities;

    Their m em ory was destroy ed with a noise.

    8
         But the Lord abides forev er;

    He prepared His throne in judgm ent,

    9
         And He shall judge the world in righteousness;

    He shall judge the peoples in uprightness.

    10
         The Lord is also a refuge for the poor m an,

    A helper in seasons of affliction;

    11
         And let those who know Your nam e put their hope in You;

    For You, O Lord, do not forsake those who seek You.

    12
         Sing to the Lord who dwells in Zion.

    Proclaim His dealings am ong the nations,

    13
         For He who av enges blood rem em bers them ;

    He does not forget the cry of the poor.

    14
         Hav e m ercy on m e, O Lord, and see how m y enem ies hav e hum bled m e,

    You who raise m e up from the gates of death,
15
     That I m ay proclaim all Your praises

In the gates of the daughter of Zion.

I will rejoice in Your salv ation.

16
     The nations are trapped in the destruction they caused;

Their foot is caught in the trap they hid.

17
     The Lord is known in the judgm ents He m akes;

The sinner is caught in the works of his hands. (Pause)

18
     Let sinners be turned back into Hades,

And all the nations who forget God.

19
     For the poor m an shall not be forgotten in the end;

The patience of the poor shall not perish forev er.

20
     Arise, O Lord, and do not let m an prev ail;

Let the nations be judged in Your presence.

21
     Set a lawgiv er ov er them , O Lord,

And let the nations know that they are m en. (Pause)

22
     Why do You stand afar off, O Lord?

Why do You disregard m e in tim es of affliction?

23
     When the ungodly m an behav es arrogantly , the poor are set afire;

Let him be caught in the counsels he ponders.

24
     For the sinner praises him self in the desires of his soul,

And the unjust m an blesses him self.

25
     The sinner prov okes the Lord;

He will not seek Him out because of the fullness of His wrath;

God is not before him .

26
     His way s are defiled in ev ery season;

Your judgm ents are rem ov ed from his face;

He shall rule ov er all his enem ies,

27
     For he said in his heart, “I will not be shaken;

From generation to generation I will be without trouble.”

28
     His m outh is full of cursing, bitterness and deceit;

Suffering and pain are under his tongue.

29
     He lies in am bush with the wealthy ;

He kills the innocent in hidden places;

His ey es look intently at the poor;

30
     He lies in am bush in a hiding place, like a lion in his den;
    He lies in wait to seize the poor m an,

    To seize the poor m an to drag him away ;

    31
         He will hum ble him in his snare;

    But he will bend down and fall when he rules ov er the poor.

    32
         For he said in his heart, “God forgets;

    He turned His face so as nev er to see it.”

    33
         Arise, O Lord God, let Your hand be lifted high,

    And do not forget Your poor.

    34
         Why has the ungodly m an prov oked God?

    For he said in his heart, “You will nev er call m e to account for this.”

    35
         But You do see, You do perceiv e the suffering and pain,

    That You m ight deliv er them into Your hands;

    Therefore, the poor m an will be left to You;

    You giv e help to the orphan.

    36
         Break the arm of the sinner and the ev il m an;

    His sin shall be sought, and because of it he will not be found;

    37
         The Lord will reign,

    But y ou, O nations, y ou will perish from His earth.

    38
         The Lord hears the desire of the poor;

    Your ear heeds the readiness of their heart,

    39
         To judge the orphan and the hum ble,

    That m an m ay no longer increase his great boasting upon the earth.

                                                              Psalm 10 (11)

1For the End; a psalm by David.†

    I n the Lord I trust. How will y ou say to m y soul,
    “Flee to the m ountains like a sparrow”?

    2
        See, the sinners stretch tight their bow;

    They prepare their arrows in the quiv er,

    That in a m oonless night they m ay shoot down the upright in heart.

    3
        For the things You created, they destroy ed.

    But what did the righteous m an do?

    4
         The Lord is in His holy tem ple;

    The Lord, His throne is in heav en;
    His ey es are fixed upon the poor m an,

    His ey elids exam ine the sons of m en.

    5
        The Lord exam ines the righteous m an and the ungodly m an,

    And he who lov es unrighteousness hates his own soul.

    6
        He shall rain down snares upon sinners;

    Fire and brim stone and a raging wind shall be the portion of their cup.

    7
        The righteous Lord lov es righteousness;

    His face beholds the upright.

                                                            Psalm 11 (12)

1For the End, concerning the eighth; a psalm by David.†ω

    S av e m e, O Lord, for the holy m an has ceased;
    The truthful are dim inished from am ong the sons of m en.

    3
        Each one speaks useless things to his neighbor;

    Deceptiv e lips speak with a double heart.

    4
        May the Lord destroy all deceptiv e lips

    And the tongue that speaks boastful things,

    5
        Say ing, “We will m ake our tongue powerful;

    Our lips are our own;

    Who is lord ov er us?”

    6
        “Because of the suffering of the needy ,

    And because of the groaning of the poor,

    Now I will arise,” say s the Lord;

    “I will establish them in salv ation;

    I will declare it boldly .”

    7
        The words of the Lord are pure words,

    Like silv er fired in a furnace of earth,

    Purified sev en tim es.

    8
        You shall guard us, O Lord;

    You shall preserv e us from this generation forev er.

    9
        The ungodly walk in a circle;

    In Your exaltation, You highly exalted the sons of m en.

                                                            Psalm 12 (13)
1For the End; a psalm by David.†ω

    H ow long, O Lord? Will You forget m e to the end?
    How long will You turn Your face from m e?

    3
        How long will I take counsel in m y soul,

    Hav ing grief in m y heart daily ?

    How long will m y enem y be exalted ov er m e?

    4
        Look upon m e and hear m e, O Lord m y God;

    Enlighten m y ey es, lest I sleep in death,

    5
        Lest m y enem y say ,

    “I prev ailed against him ”;

    Those who afflict m e greatly rejoice, if I am shaken.

    6
        But I hope in Your m ercy ;

    My heart shall greatly rejoice in Your salv ation;

    I will sing to the Lord, who shows kindness to m e;

    I will sing to the nam e of the Lord Most High.

                                                             Psalm 13 (14)

1For the End; a psalm by David.†ω

    T he fool say s in his heart, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt, they are abom inable in their habits;

    There is none, not ev en one, who does good.

    2
        The Lord stooped down from heav en to look upon the sons of m en,

    To see if there were any who understood or sought God.

    3
        All turned aside and were altogether corrupted;

    There was not ev en one doing good, no, not one.

    Their throat is an open tom b;

    They deal deceptiv ely with their tongues;

    The poison of serpents is under their lips,

    Whose m outh is full of curses and bitterness;

    Their feet are swift to shed blood;

    Affliction and suffering are in their way s,

    And the way of peace they hav e not known;

    There is no fear of God before their ey es.
    4
        Do all the workers of lawlessness not know?

    They eat up m y people as they eat bread, and they do not call upon the Lord.

    5
        They were in great fear where no fear was,

    Because God is in the righteous generation.

    6
        You sham ed the counsel of the poor m an,

    Because the Lord is his hope.

    7
        Who will bring about the salv ation of Israel out of Zion?

    When the Lord returns His people from captiv ity ,

    Let Jacob greatly rejoice, and let Israel be glad.

                                                               Psalm 14 (15)

1A psalm by David.†ω

    O Lord, who shall dwell in Your tabernacle?
    Who shall liv e in Your holy m ountain?

    2
        He who walks blam elessly , and works righteousness,

    And speaks truth in his heart,

    3
        Who does not deceiv e with his tongue,

    Neither does ev il to his neighbor;

    And does not find fault with those nearest him .

    4
        He disdains those who do ev il in his presence,

    But he holds in honor those who fear the Lord;

    He swears an oath to his neighbor and does not set it aside.

    5
        He does not lend his m oney at interest,

    And he does not take a bribe against the innocent.

    6
        He who does these things shall nev er be shaken.

                                                               Psalm 15 (16)

1A pillar inscription; by David.†ω

    P reserv e m e, O Lord, because I hope in You.
    2
        I said to the Lord, “You are m y Lord;

    You hav e no need of m y good things.”

    3
        To the saints on His earth,

    In them He m agnified all His will.

    4
        Their diseases were m ultiplied;
    They hastened after these things;

    I will not join in their assem blies of blood,

    nor will I rem em ber their nam es with m y lips.

    5
         The Lord is the portion of m y inheritance and m y cup;

    You are He who restores m y inheritance to m e.

    6
         Portions fell to m e am ong the best,

    And m y inheritance is the v ery finest.

    7
         I will bless the Lord who caused m e to understand;

    Moreov er, until night m y reins also instructed m e.

    8
         I saw the Lord alway s before m e;

    Because He is at m y right hand, that I m ay not be shaken.

    9
         Therefore m y heart was glad,

    And m y tongue rejoiced exceedingly ;

    My flesh also shall dwell in hope.

    10
         For You will not abandon m y soul to Hades

    Nor allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

    11
         You m ade known to m e the way s of life;

    You will fill m e with gladness in Your presence;

    At Your right hand are pleasures forev erm ore.

                                                                Psalm 16 (17)

1A prayer of David.†ω

    L isten, O Lord of m y righteousness;
    Attend to m y supplication;

    Giv e ear to m y pray er that is not with deceitful lips.

    2
         From Your face let m y judgm ent com e;

    Let m y ey es behold uprightness.

    3
         You tested m y heart, when You v isited m e in the night;

    You tried m e in the fire, and found nothing unjust in m e.

    4
         That m y m outh m ight not speak of the works of m en,

    I held to hard way s because of the words of Your lips.

    5
         Restore m y steps in Your paths,

    That m y footsteps m ay not slip.

    6
         I cried out, because You listened to m e, O God;
    Incline Your ear to m e, and hear m y words.

    7
         Magnify Your m ercies,

    O You who sav e those who hope in You

    From those who rise up against Your right hand.

    8
         Keep m e as the apple of Your ey e;

    In the shelter of Your wings, You will shelter m e

    9
         From the face of the ungodly who trouble m e.

    My enem ies surrounded m y soul;

    10
         Their fat enclosed them ;

    Their m outh spoke arrogantly .

    11
         Casting m e out, they now surround m e;

    They set their ey es to bend down to the earth.

    12
         They seized m e like a lion ready to tear its prey ,

    Like a y oung lion lurking in secret places.

    13
         Arise, O Lord, outrun them and trip up their heels;

    Rescue m y soul from the ungodly ,

    And Your sword from the enem ies of Your hand.

    14
         O Lord, destroy them from the earth;

    Scatter them in their life.

    Their belly is filled with Your hidden things;

    They are satisfied with their sons,

    And they leav e their possessions to their children.

    15
         As for m e, in righteousness I shall behold Your face;

    I shall be satisfied when Your glory is rev ealed.

                                                                  Psalm 17 (18)

1For the End; by the child of the Lord, David; what things he spoke to the Lord, even the
words of this ode, in the day the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and
from the hand of Saul;†ω

2thus he said:

    “I will lov e You, O Lord, m y strength.
    3
         The Lord is m y foundation, m y refuge, m y deliv erer;

    My God is m y helper, on Him I will hope,
My cham pion, the horn of m y salv ation, and m y protector.

4
     I will call upon the Lord and praise Him ,

And I shall be sav ed from m y enem ies.

5
     The anguish of death surrounded m e;

The floods of the lawless troubled m e greatly ;

6
     The anguish of Hades encircled m e;

The snares of death ran m e down.

7
     In m y affliction I called upon the Lord,

And I cried out to m y God;

He heard m y v oice from His holy tem ple,

And m y cry shall com e before Him , into His ears.

8
     Then the earth was shaken and was trem bling;

And the foundations of m ountains were stirred up,

And they were shaken, because God was angry with them .

9
     Sm oke ascended in His wrath,

And burst into flam e from His face;

Coals were kindled by Him .

10
     He bowed heav en and descended,

And darkness was under His feet.

11
     And He rode upon the cherubim , and flew;

He flew upon the wings of the wind.

12
     He m ade darkness His hiding place;

His tabernacle was around Him ,

Dark water in the clouds of the sky .

13
     Because of the brightness before Him , the clouds,

The hail and the fiery coals passed through.

14
     The Lord thundered from heav en,

The Most High gav e forth His v oice;

15
     And He sent forth His arrows, and scattered them ;

And He m ultiplied lightning, and threw them into utter confusion.

16
     Then the springs of the waters were seen,

And the foundations of the world were uncov ered

By Your rebuke, O Lord,

By the breathing of the breath of Your wrath.

17
     He sent from on high, and He took m e;
He drew m e out of m any waters.

18
     He will deliv er m e from m y strong enem ies,

and from those who hate m e,

Because they were too strong for m e.

19
     They ov erran m e in the day of m y m isfortune,

But the Lord becam e m y support,

20
     And He led m e into a wide place;

He will deliv er m e, because He willed it for m e.

He will deliv er m e from m y strong enem ies

and from those who hate m e.

21
     The Lord will reward m e according to m y righteousness;

And according to the purity of m y hands He will recom pense m e,

22
     Because I kept the way s of the Lord

And did not act im piously against m y God;

23
     For all His judgm ents are before m e,

And I did not rem ov e His ordinances from m e.

24
     I will also be blam eless before Him ,

And I will keep m y self from m y lawlessness.

25
     The Lord will reward m e according to m y righteousness,

According to the purity of m y hands before His ey es.

26
     With the holy You will be holy ;

And with the innocent m an You will be innocent;

27
     And with the elect You will be elect;

And with the crooked You will be crooked.

28
     For You will sav e a hum ble people,

And You will hum ble the ey es of the arrogant.

29
     For You will light m y lam p, O Lord;

O m y God, You will enlighten m y darkness.

30
     For in You I shall be deliv ered from ordeals,

And in m y God I shall leap ov er a wall.

31
     My God, His way is blam eless;

The teachings of the Lord are tried by fire;

He is the shield of all who set their hope on Him .

32
     For who is God besides the Lord?

And who is God besides our God?
33
     It is God who girds m e with power,

And He m ade m y way blam eless;

34
     Who m akes m y feet like a deer

And sets m e on high places;

35
     Who teaches m y hands to m ake war;

And You m ake m y arm s a bronze bow;

36
     And You gav e m e the shield of Your salv ation;

And Your right hand supported m e;

And Your instruction restored m e to the end;

And Your instruction will teach m e.

37
     You widened m y steps under m e,

And m y footsteps were not feeble.

38
     I shall pursue m y enem ies and ov ertake them ;

And I shall not turn back until they faint;

39
     I shall wound them until they cannot stand;

They shall fall under m y feet.

40
     For You arm ed m e with strength for war;

You entangled under m y feet all who rose up against m e,

41
     And You gav e m e the back of m y enem ies;

And You destroy ed all who hate m e.

42
     They cried out, but there was none to sav e them ;

Ev en to the Lord, but He did not answer them .

43
     I will grind them fine, like the dust that blows in the wind;

I will sm ooth them out, like m ud in the streets.

44
     Deliv er m e from the contradictions of the people;

You will establish m e as the head of the Gentiles;

A people I nev er knew serv ed m e;

45
     The m om ent they heard, they obey ed m e;

Sons who are strangers lied to m e;

46
     Sons who are strangers becam e old,

And they becam e lam e because of their beaten path.

47
     The Lord liv es, and blessed is m y God.

Let the salv ation of m y God be exalted,

48
     The God who v indicates m e,

And who subdued the peoples under m e,
    49
          My deliv erer from the rage of m y enem ies;

    Because of those who rise up against m e, You will exalt m e;

    You will deliv er m e from the unrighteous m an.

    50
         Therefore I will giv e thanks to You am ong the Gentiles, O Lord,

    And sing to Your nam e,

    51
         He who m agnifies the salv ation of His king

    And shows m ercy to His anointed,

    To Dav id and his seed forev er.”

                                                                 Psalm 18 (19)

1For the End; a psalm by David.†ω

    T he heav ens declare the glory of God;
    The firm am ent shows the creation of His hands.

    3
         Day to day utters speech,

    And night to night rev eals knowledge.

    4
         There is no speech nor language

    Where their v oices are not heard.

    5
         Their proclam ation went forth into all the earth,

    And their words to the ends of the world.

    In the sun He set His tabernacle;

    6
         And it rejoices exceedingly

    Like a bridegroom com ing forth from his bridal cham ber,

    Like a strong m an to run a race.

    7
         Its rising is from one end of heav en,

    And its circuit runs to the other end;

    And nothing shall be hidden from its heat.

    8
         The law of the Lord is blam eless, conv erting souls;

    The testim ony of the Lord is trustworthy , m aking children wise;

    9
         The ordinances of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

    The com m andm ent of the Lord is bright, enlightening the ey es;

    10
         The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring unto ages of ages;

    The judgm ents of the Lord are true, being altogether just.

    11
         More to be desired are they than gold and a v ery precious stone,

    Sweeter also than honey and the honey com b.
    12
         For indeed Your serv ant keeps them ;

    In keeping them there is great reward.

    13
         Who will understand his transgressions?

    Cleanse m e from hidden sins,

    14
         And spare y our serv ant from unnatural sins;

    If they hav e no dom inion ov er m e, then I shall be blam eless,

    And I shall be cleansed from great sin.

    15
         Let the words of m y m outh and the m editation of m y heart

    Be alway s pleasing before You,

    O Lord, m y helper and m y redeem er.

                                                             Psalm 19 (20)

1For the End; a psalm by David.†

    M ay the Lord hear y ou in the day of affliction;
    May the nam e of the God of Jacob defend y ou.

    3
        May He send y ou help from His holy place,

    And m ay He support y ou from Zion.

    4
         May He rem em ber ev ery sacrifice of y ours,

    And m ay y our whole burnt offering be honored. (Pause)

    5
        May He giv e y ou according to y our heart,

    May He fulfill all y our counsel.

    6
         We will greatly rejoice in Your salv ation,

    And in the nam e of our God we will be m agnified.

    7
        Now I know the Lord has sav ed His anointed;

    He will hear him from His holy heav en;

    The salv ation of His right hand is m ighty .

    8
         Som e glory in chariots, som e in horses,

    But in the nam e of the Lord our God we shall be m agnified.

    9
         Their feet were tied together; so they fell;

    But we rose up and were restored.

    10
         O Lord, sav e Your King,

    And hear us in the day we call upon You.

                                                             Psalm 20 (21)
1For the End; a psalm by David.†ω

    O Lord, the king shall be glad in Your power,
    And in Your salv ation he will greatly rejoice.

    3
         You gav e him his soul's desire,

    And You did not depriv e him of his lips’ request. (Pause)

    4
         For You anticipated him with blessings of goodness;

    You placed a crown of precious stones on his head.

    5
         He asked You for life, and You gav e it to him ,

    Length of day s unto ages of ages.

    6
         Great is his glory in Your salv ation;

    Glory and m ajesty You shall place upon him .

    7
         For You shall giv e him blessing unto ages of ages;

    You shall fill him with the joy of Your presence.

    8
         For the king hopes in the Lord,

    And in the m ercy of the Most High he will not be shaken.

    9
         May Your hand be found on all Your enem ies;

    May Your right hand find all who hate You.

    10
         You shall m ake them like a fiery furnace

    In the tim e of Your presence;

    The Lord shall throw them into confusion in His wrath,

    And the fire shall dev our them .

    11
         You shall destroy their offspring from the earth

    And their seed from am ong the sons of m en.

    12
         For they v ented all their ev ils against You;

    They reasoned through a counsel they could not establish.

    13
         For You shall m ake them turn their back;

    Am ong Your rem nants, You shall m ake ready their countenance.

    14
         Be exalted, O Lord, in Your power;

    We will sing and praise Your m ighty deeds.

                                                               Psalm 21 (22)

1For the End; concerning help in the morning; a psalm by David.†ω

    O God, m y God, hear m e; why hav e You forsaken m e?
The words of m y transgressions are far from m y salv ation.

3
     O m y God, I will cry out by day , but You will not hear m e;

And by night, but not for a lack of understanding in m e.

4
     But You dwell am ong the saints, O praise of Israel.

5
     Our fathers hoped in You;

They hoped in You, and You deliv ered them .

6
     They cried out to You and were sav ed;

They hoped in You and were not asham ed.

7
     But I am a worm , and not a m an;

A reproach of m an and despised by the people.

8
     All who see m e m ock m e;

They speak with their lips and shake their head,

9
     Say ing, “He hoped in the Lord, let Him rescue him ;

Let Him sav e him since He delights in him .”

10
     For You are He who drew m e from the wom b,

My hope from m y m other's breasts;

11
     I was cast upon You from the wom b,

From m y m other's wom b You are m y God.

12
     Do not stand off from m e, for affliction is near;

There is no one to help.

13
     Many y oung bulls surrounded m e;

Fat bulls encircled m e.

14
     They opened their m ouths against m e

Like a raging and roaring lion.

15
     I am poured out like water,

And all m y bones are shattered;

My heart is like wax, m elting into m y stom ach.

16
     My strength is dried up like an earthen v essel;

My tongue cleav es to m y throat;

And You led m e into the dust of death.

17
     For m any dogs surrounded m e;

An assem bly of ev ildoers enclosed m e;

They pierced m y hands and m y feet.

18
     I num bered all m y bones,

And they look and stare at m e.
    19
         They div ided m y garm ents am ong them selv es,

    And for m y clothing they cast lots.

    20
         But You, O Lord, do not rem ov e Your help from m e;

    Attend to m y aid.

    21
         Deliv er m y soul from the sword

    And m y only -begotten from the hand of the dog;

    22
         Sav e m e from the lion's m outh,

    My hum iliation from the horns of the unicorns.

    23
         I will declare Your nam e to m y brethren;

    In the m idst of the church I will sing to You.

    24
         You who fear the Lord, praise Him .

    All y ou seed of Jacob, glorify Him ;

    Fear Him , all y ou seed of Israel.

    25
         For He has not despised nor scorned the beggar's supplication,

    Nor has He turned away His face from m e;

    And when I cried out to Him , He heard m e.

    26
         My praise is from You in the great church;

    I will pay m y v ows before those who fear Him .

    27
         The poor shall eat and be well-filled,

    And those who seek Him will praise the Lord;

    Their hearts will liv e unto ages of ages.

    28
         All the ends of the world shall rem em ber and turn to the Lord;

    And all fam ilies of the Gentiles shall worship before You,

    29
         For the kingdom is the Lord's;

    And He is the Master of the Gentiles.

    30
         All the prosperous of the earth ate and worshiped;

    All going down into the earth shall bow down before Him ,

    And m y soul liv es with Him .

    31
         And m y seed shall serv e Him ;

    The com ing generation shall be told of the Lord,

    32
         And they will declare His righteousness

    To a people who will be born, because the Lord m ade them .

                                                                Psalm 22 (23)

1A psalm by David.†ω
    T he Lord is m y shepherd; I shall not want.
    2
        He m akes m e to lie down in green pastures;

    He leads m e beside the still waters.

    3
        He restores m y soul;

    He leads m e in the paths of righteousness

    For His nam e's sake.

    4
        Yea, though I walk through the v alley of the shadow of death,

    I will fear no ev il, for You are with m e;

    Your rod and Your staff, they com fort m e.

    5
        You prepare a table before m e in the presence of m y enem ies;

    You anoint m y head with oil;

    My cup runs ov er.

    6
        Surely goodness and m ercy shall follow m e

    All the day s of m y life;

    And I will dwell in the house of the Lord to the end of m y day s.

                                                             Psalm 23 (24)

1A psalm by David; on the first day of the week.†ω

    T he earth is the Lord's, and its fullness,
    The world and all who dwell therein.

    2
        For He founded it upon the seas

    And prepared it upon the riv ers.

    3
        Who shall ascend to the m ountain of the Lord?

    Who shall stand in His holy place?

    4
        He who has innocent hands and a pure heart;

    He who does not lift up his soul to v anity ;

    He who does not swear deceitfully to his neighbor.

    5
        He shall receiv e blessing from the Lord

    And m ercy from the God of his salv ation.

    6
        This is the generation of those who seek Him ,

    Who seek the face of the God of Jacob. (Pause)

    7
        Lift up the gates, O y ou rulers,

    And be lifted up, y ou ev erlasting doors,

    And the King of glory shall enter.
    8
         Who is this King of glory ?

    The Lord strong and m ighty ,

    The Lord powerful in battle.

    9
         Lift up the gates, O y ou rulers,

    And be lifted up, y ou ev erlasting doors,

    And the King of glory shall enter.

    10
         Who is this King of Glory ?

    The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory .

                                                               Psalm 24 (25)

1A psalm by David.†ω

    T o You, O Lord, I lift up m y soul, O m y God.
    2
         I trust in You; let m e not be asham ed;

    Let not m y enem ies laugh at m e.

    3
         For all who wait upon You shall not be asham ed;

    Let those be asham ed who act lawlessly in v ain.

    4
         Make known Your way s to m e, O Lord,

    And teach m e Your paths.

    5
         Lead m e in Your truth and teach m e,

    For You are the God of m y salv ation,

    And on You I wait all the day .

    6
         Rem em ber Your com passion, O Lord,

    And Your m ercy , for they are from of old.

    7
         Do not rem em ber the sins of m y y outh, nor of m y ignorance;

    But rem em ber m e according to Your m ercy ,

    Because of Your lov ing-kindness, O Lord.

    8
         Good and upright is the Lord;

    Therefore He will instruct sinners in His way .

    9
         He will guide the gentle in judgm ent;

    He will teach the gentle His way s.

    10
         All the way s of the Lord are m ercy and truth

    For those who seek His cov enant and His testim onies.

    11
         For Your nam e's sake, O Lord,

    Pardon m y sin, for it is great.
    12
         Who is the m an who fears the Lord?

    He will instruct him in the way He chooses.

    13
         His soul shall dwell am ong good things;

    His seed shall inherit the earth.

    14
         The Lord is the strength of those who fear Him ,

    And to those who fear Him , His nam e is the Lord,

    And He will show them His cov enant.

    15
         My ey es are alway s toward the Lord,

    For He shall pluck m y feet out of the trap.

    16
         Look upon m e and hav e m ercy on m e,

    For I am only -begotten and poor.

    17
         The afflictions of m y heart hav e been widened;

    Bring m e out of m y distresses.

    18
         Look on m y hum iliation and m y pain

    And forgiv e all m y sins.

    19
         Look on m y enem ies, because they m ultiply ,

    And they hate m e with unjustified hatred.

    20
         Keep m y soul, and deliv er m e;

    Let m e not be asham ed, because I hope in You.

    21
         The innocent and the upright cleav e to m e

    Because I wait upon You, O Lord.

    22
         Redeem Israel, O God,

    Out of all his afflictions.

                                                            Psalm 25 (26)

1Of David.†ω

    J udge m e, O Lord, for I walk in m y innocence,
    And by hoping in the Lord, I shall not weaken.

    2
        Prov e m e, O Lord, and test m e,

    Try m y reins and m y heart in the fire.

    3
        For Your m ercy is before m y ey es,

    And I was well-pleasing in Your truth.

    4
         I hav e not sat down with v ain councils,

    Nor will I go in with those who transgress the law.
    5
         I hate the assem bly of ev ildoers,

    And I will not sit with the ungodly .

    6
         I will wash m y hands in innocence;

    So I will go about Your altar, O Lord,

    7
         That I m ay hear the v oice of praise

    And tell of all Your wondrous works.

    8
         O Lord, I lov e the beauty of Your house,

    And the place where Your glory dwells.

    9
         Do not destroy m y soul with the ungodly ,

    Nor m y life with m en of blood,

    10
         In whose hands is lawlessness;

    Their right hand is full of bribes.

    11
         But as for m e, I walk in m y innocence;

    Redeem m e and hav e m ercy on m e.

    12
         For m y foot stands in uprightness;

    In the churches I will bless You, O Lord.

                                                              Psalm 26 (27)

1Of David; before he was anointed.†ω

    T he Lord is m y light and m y sav ior; whom shall I fear?
    The Lord is the defender of m y life; whom shall I dread?

    2
         When the wicked drew near against m e to eat up m y flesh,

    Those who afflict m e and are m y enem ies, they weakened and fell.

    3
         Though an arm y should array itself against m e, m y heart shall not be afraid;

    Though war should rise up against m e, in this I shall hope.

    4
         One thing I ask from the Lord; this I will seek,

    That I m ay dwell in the house of the Lord all the day s of m y life,

    And behold the delights of the Lord,

    And v isit His tem ple.

    5
         For He hid m e in His tabernacle in the day of m y troubles;

    He sheltered m e in the secret place of His tabernacle;

    He set m e high upon a rock.

    6
         And now, behold, He has lifted up m y head abov e m y enem ies;

    I went around and offered in His tabernacle a sacrifice of joy ;
    I will sing to the Lord, and praise Him with the harp.

    7
         O Lord, hear m y v oice, wherein I cry ;

    Hav e m ercy on m e and hear m e.

    8
         My heart speaks to You; m y face seeks You;

    Your face, O Lord, I will seek.

    9
         Do not turn away Your face from m e;

    Do not turn away from Your serv ant in wrath;

    Be m y helper; do not utterly cast m e away ,

    Nor forsake m e, O God m y sav ior.

    10
         For m y father and m y m other forsook m e,

    But the Lord laid hold of m e.

    11
         Instruct m e, O Lord, in the way of Your law;

    Set m e on a straight path because of m y enem ies.

    12
         Do not deliv er m e to the souls of those who afflict m e,

    For unjust witnesses rise up against m e;

    And injustice lies to itself.

    13
         I believ e I shall see the Lord's goodness in the land of the liv ing.

    14
         Wait on the Lord;

    Be courageous, and strengthen y our heart,

    And wait on the Lord.

                                                                  Psalm 27 (28)

1Of David.†ω

    T o You, O Lord, I cry ;
    O m y God, m ay You not pass ov er m e in silence;

    May You nev er be silent to m e,

    Else I would becom e like those who go down into the pit.

    2
         Hear the v oice of m y supplication when I pray to You

    And when I lift up m y hands toward Your holy tem ple.

    3
         May You not associate m y soul with sinners,

    Nor destroy m e with the workers of injustice,

    Who speak peace with their neighbor,

    But ev il is in their hearts.

    4
         Giv e them according to their works,
    According to the wickedness of their pursuits;

    Giv e them according to the works of their hands;

    Return to them their due reward.

    5
        Because they do not understand the works of the Lord,

    Nor the deeds of His hands,

    You will destroy them , and nev er rebuild them .

    6
        Blessed is the Lord,

    Because He heard the v oice of m y supplication.

    7
        The Lord is m y helper and m y cham pion;

    In Him m y heart hoped, and I was helped,

    And m y flesh rev iv ed;

    And I will giv e thanks to Him willingly .

    8
        The Lord is the strength of His people,

    And the protector of the salv ation of His anointed.

    9
        Sav e Your people, and bless Your inheritance;

    And shepherd them , and raise them up forev er.

                                                             Psalm 28 (29)

1A psalm by David; the final day of the Feast of Tabernacles.†ω

    B ring to the Lord, O y ou sons of God,
    Bring to the Lord the sons of ram s;

    Bring to the Lord glory and honor.

    2
        Bring to the Lord the glory due His nam e;

    Worship the Lord in His holy court.

    3
        The v oice of the Lord is upon the waters;

    The God of glory thundered;

    The Lord is upon the m any waters.

    4
        The v oice of the Lord is strong;

    The v oice of the Lord is full of m ajesty .

    5
        The v oice of the Lord shatters cedars,

    And the Lord shall grind to powder the cedars of Lebanon;

    6
        And He shall grind them fine like the y oung bull, and like Lebanon,

    But His belov ed shall be like a son of unicorns.

    7
        The v oice of the Lord cuts through fiery flam es;
    8
         The v oice of the Lord shakes the desert,

    And the Lord will shake the desert of Kadesh.

    9
         The v oice of the Lord causes deer to calv e,

    And uncov ers the thickets;

    And in His tem ple, ev ery one speaks of His glory .

    10
         The Lord shall dwell in the deluge,

    And the Lord shall sit as King forev er.

    11
         The Lord will giv e strength to His people;

    The Lord will bless His people with peace.

                                                                Psalm 29 (30)

1For the End; the psalm of an ode at the consecration of the house; by David.†ω

    I will exalt You, O Lord, for You lifted m e up,
    And did not let m y enem ies rejoice ov er m e.

    3
         O Lord m y God, I cry to You, and You will heal m e.

    4
         O Lord, You brought m y soul out of Hades;

    You sav ed m e from those who go down to the pit.

    5
         Sing praises to the Lord, y ou saints of His,

    And giv e thanks at the rem em brance of His holiness;

    6
         For there is wrath in His anger,

    But life in His will;

    Weeping will lodge at ev ening,

    But great joy in the m orning.

    7
         As for m e, I said in m y prosperity ,

    “I shall not be shaken forev er.”

    8
         O Lord, in Your will, grant beauty and power;

    You turned away Your face, and I was troubled.

    9
         I shall cry to You, O Lord,

    And to God I shall m ake supplication.

    10
         What profit is there in m y blood,

    When I go down into decay ?

    Will the dust confess You?

    Or will it declare Your truth?

    11
         The Lord heard, and had m ercy on m e;
    The Lord becam e m y helper.

    12
         You turned m y lam entation into dancing for m e;

    You tore up m y sackcloth and clothed m e with gladness,

    13
         That m y glory m ay sing praise to You,

    And not be pierced with sadness;

    O Lord m y God, I shall giv e thanks to You forev er.

                                                                Psalm 30 (31)

1For the End; a psalm by David; of ecstasy.†ω

    I n You, O Lord, I hope; m ay I not be asham ed forev er;
    In Your righteousness deliv er and rescue m e.

    3
         Incline Your ear to m e;

    Rescue m e speedily ;

    Be to m e a God who protects m e,

    And a house of refuge to sav e m e.

    4
         For You are m y strength and m y refuge,

    And for Your nam e's sake You will guide and sustain m e;

    5
         For You will bring m e out from the snare they hid for m e;

    For You are m y protector.

    6
         Into Your hands I shall entrust m y spirit;

    You redeem ed m e, O Lord God of truth.

    7
         You hate those who m aintain their em pty v anities,

    But I hope in the Lord.

    8
         I will greatly rejoice and be glad because of Your m ercy ,

    For You beheld m y hum iliation;

    You sav ed m y soul from distress,

    9
         And did not shut m e up into the hands of the enem y ;

    You set m y feet in a wide place.

    10
         Hav e m ercy on m e, O Lord, for I am afflicted;

    My ey e is troubled with anger;

    So are m y soul and m y stom ach.

    11
         For m y life is wasted with grief

    And m y y ears with sighing;

    My strength is weakened with pov erty ,
And m y bones are troubled.

12
     I becam e a reproach am ong all m y enem ies,

And especially to all m y neighbors,

And a fear to all m y acquaintances;

Those who saw m e outside fled from m e.

13
     I am forgotten like one whose heart is lifeless;

I was m ade like a v essel that is utterly broken.

14
     For I heard the blam e of m any who dwell round about

When they were gathered together against m e,

When they plotted to take m y life.

15
     But as for m e, I hope in You, O Lord;

I said, “You are m y God.”

16
     My tim es are in Your hands;

Deliv er m e from the hand of m y enem ies,

And from those who persecute m e.

17
     Make Your face shine upon Your serv ant;

Sav e m e in Your m ercy .

18
     O Lord, do not let m e be asham ed, because I call upon You;

Let the ungodly be asham ed,

And lead them down into Hades.

19
     Let deceitful lips becom e speechless

When they speak lawlessness against the righteous

With arrogance and contem pt.

20
     How great, O Lord, is the abundance of Your goodness

You hide for those who fear You,

Which You will work for those who hope in You

In the sight of the sons of m en.

21
     You shall hide them in the secret of Your presence from the disturbance of m en;

You will shelter them in Your tabernacle from the contradiction of tongues.

22
     Blessed is the Lord,

For He m agnified His m ercy in a fortified city .

23
     But I said in m y ecstasy ,

“Indeed, I am cast away from the countenance of Your ey es.”

Therefore You heard the v oice of m y supplication

When I cried to You.
    24
         Lov e the Lord, all y ou His saints,

    For the Lord seeks out truth,

    And He repay s those who act with great arrogance.

    25
         Be courageous, and let y our heart be strengthened,

    All who hope in the Lord.

                                                                Psalm 31 (32)

1By David; concerning understanding.†

    B lessed are those whose transgressions are forgiv en,
    And whose sins are cov ered.

    2
         Blessed is the m an whose sin the Lord does not take into account,

    And in whose m outh there is no deceit.

    3
         Because I kept silent, m y bones grew old

    From m y groaning all the day long;

    4
         For day and night Your hand was heav y upon m e;

    I becam e m iserable when the thorn pierced m e. (Pause)

    5
         I m ade known m y sin,

    And I did not hide m y transgression;

    I said, “I will confess m y transgression to the Lord,”

    And You forgav e the ungodliness of m y sin. (Pause)

    6
         For this cause, ev ery one who is holy will pray to Him in a well-fitted tim e;

    Surely they will not draw near to Him in a flood of m any waters.

    7
         You are m y refuge from the oppression of those who surround m e;

    O m y exceeding joy , redeem m e from those who encircle m e. (Pause)

    8
         “I will giv e y ou understanding, and I will teach y ou in the way y ou should walk;

    I will fix My ey es on y ou.

    9
         Do not be like the horse and the m ule, which hav e no understanding;

    You squeeze their jaws with bit and bridle,

    Lest they com e near y ou.”

    10
         Many are the scourges of the sinner,

    But he who hopes in the Lord, m ercy shall encircle him .

    11
         Be glad in the Lord and rejoice greatly , O righteous ones,

    And boast, all y ou upright in heart.

                                                                Psalm 32 (33)
1By David.†ω

   R ejoice greatly in the Lord, O righteous ones;
   Praise is fitting for the upright.

   2
        Giv e thanks to the Lord on the ly re;

   Sing praises to Him on a ten-stringed instrum ent.

   3
        Sing to Him a new song;

   Sing praises beautifully with a shout.

   4
        For the word of the Lord is right,

   And all His works are done in faithfulness.

   5
        He lov es m ercy and judgm ent;

   The earth is full of the Lord's m ercy .

   6
        By the word of the Lord the heav ens were established,

   And all the host of them by the breath of His m outh,

   7
        Who gathers the waters of the sea together as in a wineskin,

   Who put the aby sses in storehouses.

   8
        Let all the earth fear the Lord,

   And let all the world's inhabitants be shaken by Him ;

   9
        For He spoke, and they were m ade;

   He com m anded, and they were created.

   10
        The Lord scatters abroad the counsels of the nations,

   And He sets aside the reasoning of peoples;

   And He rejects the counsels of rulers.

   11
        The counsel of the Lord abides forev er,

   The thoughts of His heart from generation to generation.

   12
        Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

   The people He chose as an inheritance for Him self.

   13
        The Lord looked attentiv ely from heav en;

   He saw all the sons of m en.

   14
        From His prepared dwelling-place,

   He looked upon all who dwell on the earth,

   15
        He who alone fashioned their hearts,

   He who understands all their works.

   16
        A king is not sav ed by his large arm y ,

   And a giant shall not be sav ed by his im m ense strength;
    17
         A horse is a false hope for salv ation,

    And it shall not be sav ed by its enorm ous power.

    18
         Behold, the ey es of the Lord are on those who fear Him ,

    On those who hope in His m ercy ,

    19
         To deliv er their souls from death

    And to keep them aliv e in fam ine.

    20
         Our soul shall wait for the Lord;

    He is our helper and protector;

    21
         For our heart shall be glad in Him ,

    And we hope in His holy nam e.

    22
         Let Your m ercy , O Lord, be upon us,

    As we hope in You.

                                                              Psalm 33 (34)

1By David; when he changed his countenance before Abimelech, who let him go, and he

departed.†ω

    I will bless the Lord at all tim es; His praise shall continually be in m y m outh.
    3
         My soul shall be praised in the Lord;

    Let the gentle hear, and be glad.

    4
         Oh, m agnify the Lord with m e,

    And let us exalt His nam e together.

    5
         I sought the Lord, and He heard m e;

    And He deliv ered m e from all m y sojourning.

    6
         Com e to Him , and be enlightened,

    And y our face shall nev er be asham ed.

    7
         This poor m an cried, and the Lord heard him ,

    And sav ed him from all his afflictions.

    8
         The Angel of the Lord shall encam p around those who fear Him ,

    And He will deliv er them .

    9
         Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;

    Blessed is the m an who hopes in Him .

    10
         Fear the Lord, y ou His saints,

    For there is no want for those who fear Him .

    11
         Rich m en turned poor and went hungry ;
   But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. (Pause)

   12
        Com e, y ou children, listen to m e;

   I will teach y ou the fear of the Lord.

   13
        Who is the m an who desires life,

   Who lov es to see good day s?

   14
        Keep y our tongue from ev il,

   And y our lips from speaking deceit.

   15
        Shun ev il and do good;

   Seek peace and pursue it.

   16
        The ey es of the Lord are upon the righteous,

   And His ears are open to their supplications.

   17
        The Lord's face is against those who do ev il,

   So as to destroy their rem em brance from the earth.

   18
        The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them ;

   And He deliv ered them from all their afflictions.

   19
        The Lord is near those who are brokenhearted,

   And He will sav e the hum ble in spirit.

   20
        Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

   But He will deliv er them from them all.

   21
        The Lord shall guard all their bones;

   Not one of them shall be broken.

   22
        The death of sinners is ev il,

   And those who hate the righteous shall go wrong.

   23
        The Lord will redeem the souls of His serv ants,

   And all who hope in Him shall not go wrong.

                                                            Psalm 34 (35)

1By David.†ω

   O Lord, judge those who injure m e; Make war on those who m ake war on m e.
   2
       Take hold of weapon and shield, and rise up to m y help.

   3
       Bring forth the sword, and confine those in opposition who pursue m e;

   Say to m y soul, “I am y our salv ation.”

   4
        Let those who seek m y soul be dishonored and sham ed;

   Let those who plot ev ils against m e be turned backward and disappointed.
5
     Let them be like dust in the wind's face,

And let the Angel of the Lord afflict them .

6
     Let their way be dark and slippery ,

And let the Angel of the Lord pursue them .

7
     For without cause they hid the destruction of their trap for m e;

In v ain they reproached m y soul.

8
     Let a trap they do not know catch them ,

And they them selv es shall fall into the sam e trap.

9
     But m y soul shall greatly rejoice in the Lord;

My soul shall delight in His salv ation.

10
     All m y bones shall say , “O Lord, who is like You?

You who deliv er a poor m an from hands stronger than he,

And a poor and needy m an from those who plunder him .”

11
     Unjust witnesses rose up against m e,

Asking m e things I knew nothing about;

12
     They repaid m e ev il for good,

And bereav em ent for m y soul.

13
     But I put on sackcloth when they troubled m e,

And I hum bled m y soul with fasting;

And m y pray er will return into m y bosom .

14
     Like a neighbor, like our brother, so they were well-pleasing;

Like one who lam ents and is of a sad countenance, so I hum bled m y self.

15
     But they were delighted, and were gathered together against m e;

Whips were gathered together against m e, but I did not know it;

They were torn asunder, y et they were not pierced to the heart.

16
     They tem pted m e; they m ocked and sneered at m e;

They gnashed their teeth at m e.

17
     O Lord, when will You look on this?

Restore m y soul from their m alice,

My only -begotten from the lions.

18
     I will giv e thanks to You, O Lord, in the great church;

I will praise You am ong a m ighty people.

19
     Let them not rejoice ov er m e, those who are unjustly m y enem ies,

Those who hate m e without a cause, and wink with their ey es.

20
     For they spoke peace to m e,
    But in their wrath they schem ed deceit,

    21
         And opened wide their m outh at m e,

    Say ing, “Well done! Well done! Our ey es saw it!”

    22
         You saw this, O Lord; do not keep silence;

    O Lord, do not be far from m e.

    23
         Arise, O Lord, attend to m y judgm ent,

    My God and m y Lord, to m y cause.

    24
         Judge m e according to Your righteousness, O Lord m y God,

    And let them not rejoice against m e;

    25
         Let them not say in their hearts, “Well done! Well done, our soul!”

    Let them not say , “We swallowed him up!”

    26
         May those who rejoice at m y troubles be altogether dishonored and sham ed;

    Let those who boast against m e be clothed with sham e and hum iliation.

    27
         Let those who desire m y righteousness greatly rejoice, and be glad,

    And let them say continually , “The Lord be m agnified,”

    Those who desire His serv ant's peace.

    28
         And m y tongue shall m editate on Your righteousness,

    And on Your praise all the day long.

                                                               Psalm 35 (36)

1For the End; by David, the servant of the Lord.†ω

    T he transgressor, so as to sin, say s within him self,
    “There is no fear of God before his ey es”;

    3
        For he acts deceitfully before Him ,

    Lest He discov er his lawlessness and hate it.

    4
         The words of his m outh are lawlessness and deceit;

    He is unwilling to understand how to do good;

    5
        He dev ises lawlessness on his bed;

    He sets him self in ev ery way not good,

    And he does not abhor ev il.

    6
         O Lord, Your m ercy is in heav en,

    And Your truth reaches to the clouds;

    7
        Your righteousness is like the m ountains of God;

    Your judgm ents are a great deep;
    Men and cattle You will sav e, O Lord.

    8
         How You m ultiply Your m ercy , O God!

    The sons of m en shall hope under the shelter of Your wings.

    9
         They shall be intoxicated with the fatness of Your house,

    And You will giv e them drink from the abundant water of Your delight.

    10
         For with You is the fountain of life;

    In Your light we shall see light.

    11
         Extend Your m ercy to those who know You,

    And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.

    12
         Let not the foot of arrogance com e against m e,

    And m ay the hand of sinners not shake m e.

    13
         Those who work lawlessness fall there;

    They are cast out, and unable to stand.

                                                              Psalm 36 (37)

1Of David.†ω

    D o not be env ious of those who do ev il,
    Nor be jealous of those who work lawlessness;

    2
         For like grass they shall be dried up quickly ,

    And like green v egetables they shall swiftly wither.

    3
         Hope in the Lord, and work goodness;

    Dwell in the land, and y ou shall be nurtured by its riches.

    4
         Delight in the Lord,

    And He will giv e y ou the requests of y our heart.

    5
         Rev eal y our way to the Lord,

    And hope in Him ; and He will do it.

    6
         He shall bring forth y our righteousness as light,

    And y our judgm ent as the noonday sun.

    7
         Subm it to the Lord, and supplicate Him ;

    Do not be env ious of him who prospers in his way ,

    Nor of him who transgresses the law.

    8
         Cease from wrath and forsake anger;

    Do not be env ious so as to do ev il;

    9
         Because ev ildoers will be destroy ed,
But those who wait on the Lord, these shall inherit the earth.

10
     For in a little while the sinner shall no longer be present,

And y ou will look for his place, but not find it.

11
     But the gentle shall inherit the earth,

And they will delight in the fullness of peace.

12
     The sinner will closely observ e the just m an

And gnash at him with his teeth.

13
     But the Lord shall laugh at him ,

Because He foresees his day will com e.

14
     The sinners draw the sword

And stretch their bow,

To cast down the poor and needy ,

To slay the upright in heart.

15
     May their sword enter their heart,

And m ay their bows be shattered.

16
     Better the little with the just m an

Than the great riches of sinners;

17
     For the arm s of sinners shall be shattered,

But the Lord supports the righteous.

18
     The Lord knows the way s of the blam eless,

And their inheritance shall be forev er.

19
     They shall not be asham ed in an ev il tim e,

And in day s of fam ine they shall be filled.

20
     But the sinners shall perish,

And the enem ies of the Lord altogether,

When they glorify and exalt them selv es;

Like sm oke they shall v anish away .

21
     The sinner borrows, but will not repay ;

Howev er, the righteous m an is com passionate, and giv es;

22
     For those who bless Him shall inherit the earth,

But those who curse Him shall be utterly destroy ed.

23
     The steps of a m an are guided aright by the Lord,

And he shall desire His way .

24
     When he falls, he shall not be broken to pieces,

For the Lord supports him with His hand.
25
     I was y oung, but indeed I grew old;

Yet I hav e not seen the righteous forsaken,

Nor his seed begging bread.

26
     Day in and out, he is m erciful and lends,

And his seed shall be a blessing.

27
     Turn away from ev il, and do good,

And dwell unto ages of ages;

28
     For the Lord lov es judgm ent,

And He will not abandon His holy ones;

They shall be kept forev er.

But the lawless shall be banished,

And the seed of the ungodly shall be utterly destroy ed.

29
     The righteous shall inherit the earth

And dwell upon it unto ages of ages.

30
     The m outh of the righteous shall m editate on wisdom ,

And his tongue shall speak of judgm ent;

31
     The law of God is in his heart,

And his steps shall not be tripped up.

32
     The sinner observ es the righteous m an

And seeks to put him to death;

33
     But the Lord will not leav e him in his hands,

Nor condem n him , when He judges him .

34
     Wait on the Lord, and keep His way ,

And He shall exalt y ou to inherit the earth;

You shall see the sinners when they are utterly destroy ed.

35
     I saw the ungodly greatly exalted

And lifting him self up like the cedars of Lebanon;

36
     And I passed by , and behold, he was not;

And I sought for him ,

But his place was not found.

37
     Keep innocence, and behold uprightness,

For this is the rem nant for the peaceful m an.

38
     But transgressors shall be utterly destroy ed together;

The rem nants of the ungodly shall be utterly destroy ed.

39
     Now the salv ation of the righteous is from the Lord,
    And He is their protector in tim e of affliction;

    40
          And the Lord shall help them , and deliv er them ;

    And He shall deliv er them from sinners,

    And sav e them , because they hope in Him .

                                                               Psalm 37 (38)

1A psalm by David; for remembrance concerning the Sabbath.†ω

    O Lord, do not rebuke m e in Your wrath, Nor chasten m e in Your anger.
    3
         For Your arrows are fixed in m e,

    And Your hand rests on m e;

    4
         There is no healing in m y flesh because of Your wrath;

    There is no peace in m y bones because of m y sins.

    5
         For m y transgressions rise up ov er m y head;

    Like a heav y burden they are heav y on m e.

    6
         My wounds grow foul and fester

    Because of m y folly .

    7
         I suffer m isery , and I am utterly bowed down;

    I go all the day long with a sad face.

    8
         For m y loins are filled with m ockeries,

    And there is no healing in m y flesh.

    9
         I am afflicted and greatly hum bled;

    I roar because of the groaning of m y heart.

    10
         O Lord, all m y desire is before You,

    And m y groaning is not hidden from You.

    11
         My heart is troubled; m y strength fails m e,

    And the light of m y ey es, ev en this is not with m e.

    12
         My friends and neighbors draw near and stand against m e,

    And m y near of kin stand far off;

    13
         And those who seek m y soul use v iolence,

    And those who seek ev il for m e speak folly ;

    And they m editate on deceit all the day long.

    14
         But I like a deaf m an do not hear,

    And I am like a m ute who does not open his m outh.

    15
         I am like a m an who does not hear,
    And who has no reproofs in his m outh.

    16
         For in You, O Lord, I hope;

    You will hear, O Lord m y God.

    17
         For I said, “Let not m y enem ies rejoice ov er m e,

    For when m y foot was shaken, they boasted against m e.”

    18
         For I am ready for wounds,

    And m y pain is continually with m e.

    19
         For I will declare m y transgression,

    And I will be anxious about m y sin.

    20
         But m y enem ies liv e, and are becom e stronger than I;

    And those who hate m e unjustly are m ultiplied;

    21
         Those who repaid m e ev il for good

    Slandered m e, because I pursue righteousness;

    And they threw away m y lov e as though it were a stinking corpse.

    22
         Do not forsake m e, O Lord;

    O m y God, do not depart from m e;

    23
         Giv e heed to help m e,

    O Lord of m y salv ation.

                                                                Psalm 38 (39)

1For the End, for Jeduthun; an ode by David.†

    I said, “I will guard m y way s, that I m ay not sin with m y tongue;
    I set a guard on m y m outh

    When the sinner stood against m e.”

    3
        I was deadened and hum bled; and I kept silent, ev en from good;

    And m y grief was stirred anew.

    4
         My heart was hot within m e,

    And in m y m editation, fire will be kindled.

    I spoke with m y tongue,

    5
        “O Lord, m ake m e to know m y end,

    And what is the m easure of m y day s,

    So as to know what I lack.

    6
         Behold, You m ade m y day s as a handbreadth,

    And m y existence is as nothing before You;
    But all things are v anity , and ev ery m an liv ing. (Pause)

    7
         “Nev ertheless m an walks about like a phantom ;

    Surely in v ain they stir them selv es up;

    He stores up treasure, but does not know for whom he will gather it.

    8
         And now what is m y patience?

    Is it not the Lord?

    And m y support is from You.

    9
         Deliv er m e from all m y transgressions;

    You m ade m e a reproach to the undiscerning.

    10
         I was dum b and opened not m y m outh;

    For You are He who m ade m e.

    11
         Take away Your scourges from m e;

    Because of the strength of Your hand I fainted.

    12
         With rebukes You chasten a m an for his transgression,

    And You cause his soul to waste away like a spider web;

    But ev ery m an stirs him self up in v ain. (Pause)

    13
         “Hear m y pray er, O Lord,

    And giv e ear to m y supplication;

    Do not be silent at m y tears,

    For I am a sojourner before You,

    And a stranger, as were all m y fathers.

    14
         Do not forsake m e, that I m ay rev iv e

    Before I depart and am no longer here.”

                                                             Psalm 39 (40)

1For the End; a psalm by David.†

    I waited patiently for the Lord, and He heeded m e;
    And He heard m y supplication,

    3
         And brought m e up out of a m iserable pit

    And from m iry clay ;

    And He established m y feet on a rock

    And kept straight m y steps.

    4
         He put a new song in m y m outh,

    A hy m n to our God;
Many will see and be afraid,

And shall hope in the Lord.

5
     Blessed is the m an whose hope is the nam e of the Lord,

And who did not look into v anities and false frenzies.

6
     Many , O Lord m y God, are the wonders You perform ed,

And in Your thoughts there is no one who shall be likened to You;

I declared and said, “They are m ultiplied bey ond num ber.

7
     Sacrifice and offering You did not will;

But a body You prepared for m e;

A whole burnt offering and a sin offering You did not require.”

8
     Then I said, “Behold, I com e

(it is written of m e in the v olum e of the book);

9
     I willed to do Your will, O m y God,

And Your law in the m idst of m y heart.”

10
     I proclaim ed righteousness in the great church;

Behold, I shall not restrain m y lips,

O Lord, You know.

11
     I did not hide Your righteousness in m y heart;

I declared Your truth and Your salv ation;

I did not hide Your m ercy and Your truth from the great congregation.

12
     O Lord, do not rem ov e Your com passion from m e;

May Your m ercy and Your truth take hold of m e continually .

13
     For ev ils without num ber surrounded m e;

My transgressions ov erpowered m e, and I could not see;

They m ultiplied m ore than the hairs of m y head,

And m y heart failed m e.

14
     Be pleased, O Lord, to deliv er m e;

O Lord, giv e heed to help m e.

15
     May those who seek m y soul to m ake away with it

Be disgraced and confounded together;

May those who wish ev il for m e be turned back and disgraced;

16
     May those who say to m e, “Well done! Well done!”

Receiv e their sham e im m ediately .

17
     May all who seek You, O Lord,

Rejoice exceedingly , and be glad in You;
    And m ay those who lov e Your salv ation

    Say continually , “The Lord be m agnified.”

    18
         But I am poor and needy ; the Lord will take care of m e.

    You are m y helper and m y protector; O m y God, do not delay .

                                                                Psalm 40 (41)

1For the End; a psalm by David.†ω

    B lessed is he who understands the poor and needy ;
    The Lord will deliv er him in an ev il day .

    3
         May the Lord keep him , and giv e him life,

    And m ake him blessed on the earth,

    And not deliv er him into the hands of his enem ies.

    4
         May the Lord help him on his bed of pain;

    You turned his bed from sickness to wholeness.

    5
         O Lord, I said, “Hav e m ercy on m e;

    Heal m y soul, for I hav e sinned against You.”

    6
         My enem ies speak ev il things against m e,

    “When will he die, and his nam e perish?”

    7
         And if he com es to see us, he speaks in v ain;

    His heart gathered lawlessness to itself;

    He went forth and spoke the sam e.

    8
         All m y enem ies whisper together against m e;

    Against m e they dev ise ev ils for m e;

    9
         They testify a lawless word against m e,

    “Since he is asleep, will he rise up again?”

    10
         For ev en the m an of m y peace, in whom I hoped,

    He who ate m y bread, dealt deceptiv ely with m e;

    11
         But You, O Lord, hav e m ercy on m e,

    And raise m e up; and I will repay them .

    12
         By this I know You are pleased with m e,

    Because m y enem y did not rejoice ov er m e.

    13
         And because of m y innocence, You supported m e,

    And established m e before You forev er.

    14
         Blessed is the Lord God of Israel from ev erlasting to ev erlasting.
    Am en! Am en!

                                                               Psalm 41 (42)

1For the End; for understanding; for the sons of Korah.†ω

    A s the deer longs for the springs of waters,
    So m y soul longs for You, O God.

    3
         My soul thirsts for the liv ing God;

    When shall I com e and appear before the face of God?

    4
         My tears were m y bread day and night,

    When they said to m e each day , “Where is y our God?”

    5
         I rem em bered these things, and poured out m y soul within m e;

    For I shall enter the place of the wondrous tabernacle, ev en the house of God,

    To celebrate a festiv al with a v oice of great joy and praise.

    6
         Why are y ou so sad, O m y soul? And why do y ou trouble m e?

    Hope in God, for I will giv e thanks to Him ;

    My God is the salv ation of m y countenance.

    7
         My soul within m e was troubled;

    Therefore I will rem em ber You

    From the land of the Jordan and Herm on,

    From the sm all m ountain.

    8
         Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;

    All Your wav es and billows went ov er m e.

    9
         By day the Lord shall com m and His m ercy ,

    And by night His ode will be with m e,

    A pray er to the God of m y life.

    10
         I will say to God, “You are m y protector. Why hav e You forgotten m e?

    Why do I go about with a sad face when m y enem ies afflict m e?”

    11
         Those who afflict m e rev ile m e when they break m y bones,

    When they speak to m e each day , say ing, “Where is y our God?”

    12
         Why are y ou so sad, O m y soul? And why do y ou trouble m e?

    Hope in God, for I will giv e thanks to Him .

    My God is the salv ation of m y countenance.

                                                               Psalm 42 (43)
1A psalm by David.†

    J udge m e, O God, and pass judgm ent in m y cause against an unholy nation;
    Deliv er m e from the unjust and deceitful m an.

    2
        For You, O God, are m y strength;

    Why do You cast m e off?

    Why do I go about with a sad face when m y enem y afflicts m e?

    3
        Send out Your light and Your truth;

    They guided m e and led m e to Your holy m ountain

    And to Your tabernacles.

    4
        And I will com e to the altar of God,

    To the God who m akes glad m y y outh;

    I will giv e thanks to You with the ly re, O God, m y God.

    5
        Why are y ou so sad, O m y soul? And why do y ou trouble m e?

    Hope in God, for I will giv e thanks to Him ;

    My God is the salv ation of m y countenance.

                                                               Psalm 43 (44)

1For the End; a psalm for the sons of Korah; for understanding.†ω

    O God, we heard with our ears; Our fathers proclaim ed it to us,
    The work You perform ed in their day s, in day s of old.

    3
        Your hand utterly destroy ed the nations, and You planted them ;

    You afflicted and cast out peoples.

    4
        For they did not inherit the land with their sword,

    And their arm did not sav e them ;

    But it was Your right hand and Your arm ,

    And the light of Your countenance,

    Because You took pleasure in them .

    5
        You Yourself are m y King and God,

    Who com m ands salv ation for Jacob;

    6
        In You we shall push back our enem ies,

    And in Your nam e we shall scorn those who rise up against us.

    7
        For I will not hope in m y bow,

    And m y sword will not sav e m e;
8
     For You sav ed us from those who afflict us,

And You disgraced those who hate us.

9
     We shall praise God all day long,

And we shall giv e thanks to Your nam e forev er. (Pause)

10
     But now You rejected and disgraced us,

And You will not go out with our arm ies;

11
     You turned us back from our enem ies,

And those who hate us took spoil for them selv es.

12
     You gav e us as sheep to be eaten,

And You scattered us am ong the nations.

13
     You bound Your people without honor,

And there was no abundance giv en to ransom them .

14
     You m ade us a reproach to our neighbors

And a scorn and derision to those around us;

15
     You m ade us a by word am ong the nations

And a shaking of the head am ong the peoples.

16
     All day long m y disgrace is before m e,

And the sham e of m y face cov ers m e,

17
     Because of the v oice of him who rev iles and chatters,

Because of the face of the enem y and persecutor.

18
     All these things cam e upon us, but we hav e not forgotten You,

And we did not act unjustly with Your cov enant;

19
     Our heart did not draw back,

Yet y ou turned our steps from Your way .

20
     You hum bled us in a place of affliction,

And the shadow of death cov ered us.

21
     If we forget the nam e of our God,

And spread out our hands to a foreign god,

22
     Would not God search this out?

For He knows the secrets of the heart.

23
     For Your sake we are put to death all day long,

We are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

24
     Awake; why do You sleep, O Lord?

Arise; and do not reject us to the end.

25
     Why do You turn away Your face,
   And forget our pov erty and our affliction?

   26
        For our soul was hum bled to the dust,

   And our belly was joined to the ground.

   27
        Arise, O Lord; help us,

   And redeem us for Your nam e's sake.

                                                            Psalm 44 (45)

1For the End, concerning things that shall be changed; to the sons of Korah for

understanding; an ode concerning the Beloved One.†ω

   M y heart ov erflowed with a good word;
   I tell m y works to the King;

   My tongue is the pen of a swift-writing scribe.

   3
        You are m ore beautiful than the sons of m en;

   Grace was poured out on Your lips;

   Therefore God blessed You forev er.

   4
        Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One,

   In Your splendor and Your beauty .

   5
        And stretch Your bow, and grant prosperity , and reign

   Because of truth, gentleness, and righteousness,

   And Your right hand shall guide You wondrously .

   6
        Your arrows are sharp, O Mighty One (The peoples shall fall under You),

   In the heart of the King's enem ies.

   7
        Your throne, O God, is forev er and ev er;

   Your roy al scepter is a scepter of uprightness.

   8
        You lov ed righteousness and hated lawlessness;

   Therefore God, Your God, anointed You

   With the oil of gladness m ore than Your com panions.

   9
        My rrh and stacte and cassia pour forth from Your garm ents,

   From the iv ory palaces from which they gladdened You.

   10
        There are daughters of kings in Your honor;

   The queen stood at Your right hand in apparel interwov en with gold,

   And adorned and em broidered with v arious colors.

   11
        Listen, O daughter, behold and incline y our ear,

   And forget y our people and y our father's house;
    12
         For the King desired y our beauty ,

    For He is y our Lord.

    13
         And the daughters of Ty re shall worship Him with gifts;

    The rich am ong the people shall entreat y our fav or.

    14
         All her glory as the King's daughter is within,

    Adorned and em broidered with golden tassels.

    15
         The v irgins behind her shall be brought to the King;

    Her neighbors shall be brought to You;

    16
         They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing;

    They shall be led into the tem ple of the King.

    17
         In place of y our fathers, sons shall be born to y ou;

    You shall m ake them rulers ov er all the earth.

    18
         They shall rem em ber y our nam e from generation to generation;

    Therefore, peoples shall giv e thanks to y ou

    Forev er and unto ages of ages.

                                                                  Psalm 45 (46)

1For the End; for the sons of Korah; a psalm concerning hidden things.†ω

    G od is our refuge and power;
    A help in afflictions that sev erely befall us.

    3
        Therefore we will not fear when the earth is troubled,

    And when the m ountains are rem ov ed into the hearts of the seas.

    4
         Their waters roared and were troubled;

    The m ountains were troubled by His m ight. (Pause)

    5
        The torrents of the riv er gladden the city of God;

    The Most High sanctified His tabernacle.

    6
         God is in her m idst; she shall not be shaken;

    God shall help her early in the m orning.

    7
        The nations were troubled; kingdom s fell;

    He uttered His v oice; the earth shook.

    8
         The Lord of hosts is with us;

    The God of Jacob is our protector. (Pause)

    9
         Com e, behold the works of the Lord,

    The wonders He wrought on the earth.
    10
         When He m akes wars cease to the ends of the earth,

    He will break the bow and shatter the weapon;

    And He will burn up the shields in fire.

    11
         Be still, and know that I am God;

    I will be exalted am ong the nations;

    I will be exalted in the earth.

    12
         The Lord of hosts is with us,

    The God of Jacob is our protector.

                                                               Psalm 46 (47)

1For the End; a psalm for the sons of Korah.†ω

    O h, clap y our hands, all y ou nations;
    Shout to God with the v oice of rejoicing;

    3
         For the Lord Most High is fearsom e,

    A great King ov er all the earth.

    4
         He subdued the peoples under us

    And the nations under our feet.

    5
         He chose us for His inheritance,

    Jacob's beauty , which He lov ed. (Pause)

    6
         God ascended with a shout,

    The Lord with the sound of the trum pet.

    7
         Sing praises to God; sing praises;

    Sing praises to our King; sing praises;

    8
         For God is King of all the earth;

    Sing praises with understanding.

    9
         God reigns ov er the nations;

    God sits on His holy throne.

    10
         The rulers of the people gather together

    With the God of Abraham ,

    For God's m ighty ones of the earth are greatly exalted.

                                                               Psalm 47 (48)

1A psalm of an ode for the sons of Korah; for the second day of the week.†

    G reat is the Lord, and greatly to be praised
In the city of our God, in His holy m ountain,

3
     Well-rooted in joy throughout the earth,

The m ountains of Zion, the sides of the north,

The city of the great King;

4
     God is known in her palaces

When He helps her.

5
     For behold, the kings assem bled;

They cam e together;

6
     They saw her; thus they m arv eled;

They were troubled; they were shaken;

7
     Trem bling laid hold of them ;

There were labor pains, like a wom an giv ing birth.

8
     You shall wreck the ships of Tarshish with a v iolent wind.

9
     As we heard, so we saw

In the city of the Lord of hosts,

In the city of our God;

God established her forev er. (Pause)

10
     We pondered Your m ercy , O God,

In the m idst of Your tem ple.

11
     According to Your nam e, O God,

So is Your praise to the ends of the earth;

Your right hand is full of righteousness.

12
     Let Mount Zion be glad;

Let the daughters of Judah greatly rejoice

Because of Your judgm ents, O Lord.

13
     Encircle Zion and em brace her;

Describe her towers in detail;

14
     Set y our hearts on her power

And observ e her palaces,

That y ou m ay describe them to another generation.

15
     For He is God, our God,

Forev er and unto ages of ages;

He will shepherd us unto the ages.

                                                          Psalm 48 (49)
1For the End; a psalm for the sons of Korah.†ω

    H ear this, all y ou nations;
    Giv e ear, all y ou inhabitants of the world,

    3
         Both earthborn and the sons of m en,

    Rich and poor together.

    4
         My m outh shall speak wisdom ,

    And the m editation of m y heart, understanding;

    5
         I will incline m y ear to a parable;

    I will open m y riddle on the harp.

    6
         What should I fear in an ev il day ?

    The lawlessness at m y heel surrounds m e.

    7
         Those who trusted in their power

    And those who boast in the abundance of their wealth,

    8
         A brother does not redeem ; shall a m an redeem ?

    He will not giv e his ransom to God

    9
         And the price of his soul's redem ption.

    10
         And he rested forev er, and shall liv e to the end,

    Because he will not see decay when he sees wise m en die.

    11
         Foolish and senseless m en die together,

    And they leav e their wealth to strangers;

    12
         And their grav es will be their hom es continually ,

    Their dwelling places from generation to generation.

    They called their lands after their own nam es.

    13
         A m an being in honor did not understand;

    He was com pared to the senseless cattle, and becam e like them .

    14
         Their road is a snare for them ,

    Yet afterwards, m en will be well pleased with their say ings.

    15
         Like sheep, they are put in Hades; death will shepherd them ;

    And the upright shall gain dom inion ov er them in the m orning;

    And their help shall be m ade old in Hades away from their glory .

    16
         Yet God will redeem m y soul

    From the hand of Hades when He shall receiv e m e. (Pause)

    17
         Do not be afraid when a m an becom es rich,

    And when the glory of his house is increased;
    18
         For when he dies, he shall carry nothing away ;

    Neither will his glory descend with him .

    19
         For his soul shall be blessed in his lifetim e;

    He will acknowledge You when You do him good.

    20
         He shall enter the generations of his fathers;

    He shall not see light forev er.

    21
         A m an being in honor did not understand;

    He was com pared to the senseless cattle, and becam e like them .

                                                             Psalm 49 (50)

1A psalm for Asaph.†

    T he God of gods, the Lord, spoke, and sum m oned the earth
    From the sun's rising to its v ery setting.

    2
         From Zion in beauty 's splendor,

    God will com e openly ;

    3
         He is our God, and He shall not be silent;

    A fire shall be kindled before Him ,

    And there shall be a m ighty storm round about Him .

    4
         He shall sum m on heav en abov e

    And the earth to judge His people;

    5
         Gather His holy ones to Him ,

    Who establish His cov enant upon sacrifices;

    6
         And the heav ens declare His righteousness,

    For God is Judge. (Pause)

    7
         Hear, O m y people, and I will speak to y ou,

    O Israel, and I will testify against y ou;

    I am God, y our God.

    8
         I will not find fault with y our sacrifices,

    Because y our whole burnt offerings are continually before Me.

    9
         I will not accept a y oung bull from y our house,

    Nor he-goats from y our flocks.

    10
         For all the wild anim als of the forest are Mine,

    The cattle and the oxen in the hills.

    11
         I know all the birds of heav en,
    And the ripe fruit of the field is with Me.

    12
         If I were hungry , I would not tell y ou;

    For the world is Mine, and all its fullness.

    13
         Will I eat the flesh of bulls,

    Or drink the blood of goats?

    14
         Offer to God a sacrifice of praise,

    And pay y our v ows to the Most High.

    15
         Call upon Me in the day of affliction,

    And I will deliv er y ou; and y ou shall glorify Me. (Pause)

    16
         To the sinner God say s,

    “Why do y ou declare My ordinances,

    And take up My cov enant in y our m outh?

    17
         You hate My instruction,

    And cast My words behind y ou.

    18
         If y ou see a thief, y ou run with him ,

    And y ou keep com pany with adulterers.

    19
         Your m outh is filled with ev il,

    And y our tongue weav es deceits.

    20
         You sit and speak against y our brother,

    And place a stum bling block before y our m other's son.

    21
         You do these things, and I keep silent;

    You think I am lawless like y ou;

    But I shall rebuke y ou, and contradict y ou to y our face.

    22
         Understand these things, y ou who forget God,

    Lest He snatch y ou away , and there be none to deliv er;

    23
         A sacrifice of praise shall glorify Me,

    And there is the way whereby I will show him the salv ation of God.”

                                                             Psalm 50 (51)

1For the End; a psalm by David;†ω

2when Nathan the prophet came to him, at the time he went in to Bathsheba.

    H av e m ercy on m e, O God, according to Your great m ercy ;
    And according to the abundance of Your com passion, blot out m y transgression.
4
     Wash m e thoroughly from m y lawlessness

And cleanse m e from m y sin.

5
     For I know m y lawlessness,

And m y sin is alway s before m e.

6
     Against You only hav e I sinned

And done ev il in Your sight;

That You m ay be justified in Your words,

And ov ercom e when You are judged.

7
     For behold, I was conceiv ed in transgressions,

And in sins m y m other bore m e.

8
     Behold, You lov e truth;

You showed m e the unknown and secret things of Your wisdom .

9
     You shall sprinkle m e with hy ssop, and I will be cleansed;

You shall wash m e, and I will be m ade whiter than snow.

10
     You shall m ake m e hear joy and gladness;

My bones that were hum bled shall greatly rejoice.

11
     Turn Your face from m y sins,

And blot out all m y transgressions.

12
     Create in m e a clean heart, O God,

And renew a right spirit within m e.

13
     Do not cast m e away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from m e.

14
     Restore to m e the joy of Your salv ation,

And uphold m e with Your guiding Spirit.

15
     I will teach transgressors Your way s,

And the ungodly shall turn back to You.

16
     Deliv er m e from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of m y salv ation,

And m y tongue shall greatly rejoice in Your righteousness.

17
     O Lord, You shall open m y lips,

And m y m outh will declare Your praise.

18
     For if You desired sacrifice, I would giv e it;

You will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings.

19
     A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit,

A broken and hum bled heart God will not despise.

20
     Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion,
    And let the walls of Jerusalem be built;

    21
         Then You will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness,

    With offerings and whole burnt offerings;

    Then shall they offer y oung bulls on Your altar.

                                                                 Psalm 51 (52)

1For the End; concerning understanding; by David;†

    W hen Doeg the Edom ite cam e and reported to Saul and said, “Dav id went to the house of Abim elech.”
    3
         Why do y ou boast in ev il, O m ighty m an,

    And in lawlessness all the day long?

    4
         Your tongue dev ises wrongdoing;

    You work deceit like a sharpened razor.

    5
         You lov e ev il rather than good,

    Wickedness rather than speaking righteousness.

    6
         You lov e all the words of destruction;

    You lov e a deceitful tongue.

    7
         Therefore, God shall destroy y ou com pletely ;

    He shall pluck y ou up and rem ov e y ou from y our dwelling,

    And uproot y ou from the land of the liv ing. (Pause)

    8
         The righteous also shall see and fear,

    And shall laugh at him , say ing,

    9
         “Behold, this m an did not m ake God his helper,

    But hoped in the abundance of his riches;

    And he was m ade powerful in his v anity .”

    10
         But I am like a fruitful oliv e tree in the house of God;

    I hope in God's m ercy

    Forev er and unto ages of ages.

    11
         I will giv e thanks to You forev er for what You did,

    And I will wait on Your nam e;

    For it is good in the sight of Your holy ones.

                                                                 Psalm 52 (53)

1For the End; for Mahaleth; concerning understanding; by David.†

    T he fool said in his heart, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt and abom inable in lawlessness;

    There is none who does good.

    3
        God looked from heav en upon the sons of m en

    To see if there were any who understood or sought God.

    4
        All turned aside; they were all together rendered useless;

    There is none who does good, not ev en one.

    5
        Do all the workers of lawlessness not know?

    They eat up m y people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God.

    6
        They were in great fear where no fear was,

    For God scattered the bones of m en-pleasers;

    They were put to sham e, because God scorned them .

    7
        Who will bring the salv ation of Israel out of Zion?

    When God brings back the captiv ity of His people,

    Jacob will greatly rejoice, and Israel will be glad.

                                                                 Psalm 53 (54)

1For the End; in hymns; concerning understanding; by David;†ω

2when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “Is not David hiding with us?”

    S av e m e, O God, in Your nam e,
    And judge m e in Your power.

    4
        O God, hear m y pray er;

    Giv e ear to the words of m y m outh.

    5
        For strangers rise up against m e,

    And the powerful seek after m y soul;

    They hav e not set God before them . (Pause)

    6
        For behold, God is m y helper;

    The Lord is the protector of m y soul.

    7
        He will return ev ils to m y enem ies;

    Utterly destroy them in Your truth.

    8
        I will sacrifice to You v oluntarily ;

    I will giv e thanks to Your nam e, O Lord, for it is good.

    9
        You deliv ered m e from all m y afflictions,

    And m y ey e looked upon m y enem ies.
                                                                   Psalm 54 (55)

1For the End; in hymns; concerning understanding; by David.†ω

    G iv e ear to m y pray er, O God,
    And do not despise m y supplication;

    3
         Attend to m e, and hear m e.

    I am v exed in m y pray er, and troubled

    4
         By the enem y 's v oice and by the sinner's affliction;

    For they turned their lawlessness upon m e,

    And in wrath they were indignant with m e.

    5
         My heart was troubled within m e,

    And the terror of death fell on m e.

    6
         Fear and trem bling cam e upon m e,

    And the darkness cov ered m e.

    7
         I said, “Who will giv e m e wings like a dov e,

    And I will fly away , and be at rest?

    8
         Behold, I fled far away ,

    And lodged in the wilderness.” (Pause)

    9
         I wait for the One who sav es m e

    From faintheartedness and storm .

    10
         Drown them in the sea, O Lord, and div ide their tongues;

    For I see lawlessness and strife in the city .

    11
         Day and night, it shall surround her upon her walls;

    Lawlessness and trouble and wrongdoing are in her m idst;

    12
         And usury and treachery

    Hav e not ceased from her squares.

    13
         For if an enem y rev iled m e,

    I would hav e endured it;

    And if one hating m e boasted against m e,

    I would hav e hidden from him .

    14
         But it was y ou, a m an m y equal,

    My guide and m y friend,

    15
         Who together with m e sweetened our m eals;

    In God's house we walked in unity .
    16
         Let death com e upon them ,

    And let them go down aliv e into Hades;

    Because ev ils are in their dwellings, in the v ery m idst of them .

    17
         But I cried out to God,

    And the Lord heard m e.

    18
         Ev ening and m orning and m idday , I shall tell;

    I shall proclaim , and He will hear m y v oice.

    19
         He will redeem m y soul in peace from those who draw near to m e,

    For they were with m e in abundance.

    20
         God shall hear, and hum ble them ,

    He who exists before the ages. (Pause)

    For there is no change in them ,

    And they hav e not feared God.

    21
         He stretched forth His hand in punishm ent;

    They defiled His cov enant.

    22
         They were scattered by the wrath of His face,

    And His heart drew near;

    His words were softened abov e oil,

    And they are arrows.

    23
         Cast y our care upon the Lord,

    And He shall support y ou;

    He will nev er allow the righteous to be m ov ed.

    24
         But You, O God, will bring them down into the pit of decay ;

    Men of blood and deceit

    Shall not liv e ev en half their day s.

    But I will hope in You, O Lord.

                                                             Psalm 55 (56)

1For the End, for the people far from the holy places; by David; for a pillar inscription, when

foreigners conquered him in Gath.†

    H av e m ercy on m e, O Lord, for m an tram ples m e down;
    All day long he afflicts m e in war.

    3
        All day m y enem ies tram ple m e down,

    For m any are those who war against m e from on high.
    4
         I will not fear by day ,

    But I will hope in You.

    5
         I will praise God with m y words all day long;

    In God I hope; I will not be afraid; what will flesh do to m e?

    6
         All day long they m ake m y words repulsiv e;

    All their thoughts are against m e for ev il.

    7
         They will dwell near and hide;

    They will watch m y heel

    As they wait for m y soul.

    8
         In no way will You sav e them ;

    In wrath You will bring down peoples, O God.

    9
         I declare m y life to You;

    You set m y tears before You, as also in Your prom ise.

    10
         My enem ies shall be turned back

    In whatev er day I m ay call upon You;

    Behold, I know You are m y God.

    11
         In God I will praise His word;

    In the Lord I will praise His word.

    12
         In God I hope; I will not be afraid;

    What will m an do to m e?

    13
         In m e, O God, are v ows

    I will render in praise to You;

    14
         For You deliv ered m y soul from death,

    And m y feet from slipping;

    That I m ay be well-pleasing before God in the light of the liv ing.

                                                              Psalm 56 (57)

1For the End; corrupt not; by David; for a pillar inscription, when he escaped from the face

of Saul to the cave.†ω

    H av e m ercy on m e, O God, hav e m ercy on m e,
    For m y soul trusts in You;

    And in the shadow of Your wings I will hope,

    Until lawlessness shall pass away .

    3
         I will cry out to God m ost High;
    My God who is m y benefactor.

    4
         He sent from heav en and sav ed m e;

    He gav e ov er to disgrace those who tram ple m e down. (Pause)

    God sent out His m ercy and His truth,

    5
         And deliv ered m y soul from the m idst of y oung lions.

    Although troubled, I fell asleep;

    As for the sons of m en, their teeth are a weapon and arrows,

    And their tongue is a sharp dagger.

    6
         Be exalted, O God, abov e the heav ens,

    And Your glory abov e all the earth.

    7
         They prepared a trap for m y feet,

    And they bowed down m y soul;

    They dug a pit before m y face,

    But they fell into it. (Pause)

    8
         My heart is ready , O God,

    My heart is ready ;

    I will sing, and I will sing a psalm .

    9
         Awake, m y glory ;

    Awake, harp and ly re;

    I will arise at dawn.

    10
         I will giv e thanks to You, O Lord, am ong the peoples;

    I will sing to You am ong the Gentiles.

    11
         For Your m ercy is m agnified to the heav ens,

    And Your truth to the clouds.

    12
         Be exalted, O God, abov e the heav ens;

    And Your glory abov e all the earth.

                                                                  Psalm 57 (58)

1For the End; corrupt not; by David; for a pillar inscription.†

    I f, then, y ou truly speak of righteousness,
    Do y ou judge rightly , O y ou sons of m en?

    3
         For in y our heart y ou work lawlessness in the earth;

    Your hands weav e unrighteousness.

    4
         Sinners are alienated from the wom b;
    From birth they are led astray ; they speak lies.

    5
         Their anger is according to the likeness of a serpent;

    Like a deaf asp that stops its ears,

    6
         Which will not listen to the sound of charm s,

    Nor to an enchantm ent of a skillful charm er.

    7
         God shattered their teeth in their m ouths;

    The Lord broke the teeth of the lions.

    8
         They shall pass along like water running through;

    He will bend His bow until they are weakened.

    9
         Like m elting wax they will be destroy ed;

    Fire fell on them , and they nev er saw the sun.

    10
         Before y our thorns are aware of its prickly shrub,

    He will swallow y ou up, as if y ou were aliv e, as if in His anger.

    11
         A righteous m an shall be glad when he sees the v engeance of the ungodly ;

    He shall wash his hands in the blood of the sinner.

    12
         A m an will say , “If indeed there is fruit for the righteous m an,

    Then it is God who judges them on the earth.”

                                                                  Psalm 58 (59)

1For the End; corrupt not; by David; for a pillar inscription, when Saul sent and watched

his house, that he might kill him.†

    R escue m e from m y enem ies, O God,
    And redeem m e from those who rise up against m e.

    3
         Deliv er m e from the workers of lawlessness

    And sav e m e from m en of blood.

    4
         For behold, they hunt for m y soul;

    Mighty m en set upon m e.

    Neither is it for m y lawlessness, nor for m y sin, O Lord;

    5
         I run without lawlessness, and keep a straight path;

    Rise up and m eet m e, and see.

    6
         And You, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel,

    Giv e heed, and exam ine all the Gentiles;

    Do not be m erciful to all who work lawlessness. (Pause)

    7
         They shall return at ev ening,
    And hunger like dogs; and they shall encircle the city .

    8
         Behold, they shall speak with their m outh,

    And a sword is in their lips; for they say , “Who hears?”

    9
         But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them ;

    You shall hold all the nations in contem pt.

    10
         O m y strength, I shall keep watch with You,

    For You are m y protector, O God.

    11
         As for m y God, His m ercy shall go before m e;

    God will show it to m e am ong m y enem ies.

    12
         Do not kill them , lest they forget m y people;

    Scatter them by Your power,

    And bring them down, O Lord m y protector.

    13
         For the sin of their m outh, for the word of their lips,

    Let them also be taken in their arrogance;

    And from their v ow of ev il and lie, their end will be proclaim ed

    14
         In a wrath of destruction, and let them be no m ore;

    And they shall know God is Jacob's Lord,

    And the Lord of the ends of the earth.

    15
         They shall return at ev ening, and hunger like dogs;

    And they shall encircle the city .

    16
         They shall be scattered to and fro so as to eat,

    But if they are not satisfied, they shall also grum ble.

    17
         But I will sing of Your power,

    And greatly rejoice in Your m ercy in the m orning;

    For You are m y protector,

    And m y refuge in the day of m y affliction.

    18
         You are m y helper; I will sing to You;

    For You, O God, are m y protector;

    You are m y m ercy , O m y God.

                                                                    Psalm 59 (60)

1For the End; for things yet to be changed; for a pillar inscription; by David; for

teaching,†ω

2when he burned Mesopotamia of Syria, and Syrian Soba, and Joab returned and struck
twelve thousand in the Valley of Salt.

    O God, You drov e us off and destroy ed us;
    You were angry , and had m ercy on us.

    4
         You m ade the earth quake, and You troubled it;

    Repair its ruins, for it was shaken.

    5
         You showed Your people difficult things;

    You m ade us drink the wine of bewilderm ent.

    6
         You gav e a sign to those who fear You,

    So they m ay flee from the face of the bow. (Pause)

    7
         That Your belov ed m ay be rescued,

    Sav e with Your right hand, and hear m e.

    8
         God spoke in His holy place:

    I will greatly rejoice, and div ide Shechem ,

    And I will m easure out the v alley of the tabernacles.

    9
         Gilead is m ine, and Manasseh is m ine,

    And Ephraim is the strength of m y head;

    Judah is m y king.

    10
         Moab is the cauldron of m y hope;

    Ov er Edom I will extend m y shoe;

    Foreign tribes were subjected to m e.

    11
         Who will bring m e into a fortified city ?

    Who will lead m e as far as Edom ?

    12
         Will not You, O God, who drov e us away ?

    And will not You, O God, go out with our arm ies?

    13
         Giv e us help from affliction,

    For the salv ation of m an is useless.

    14
         But in God we shall work power,

    And He will utterly scorn those who afflict us.

                                                              Psalm 60 (61)

1For the End; in hymns; by David.†ω

    H ear m y supplication, O God;
    Attend to m y pray er.

    3
         From the end of the earth I cried out to You
    When m y heart was discouraged;

    You lifted m e high on a rock.

    4
        You guided m e, for You becam e m y hope,

    A tower of strength from the face of the enem y .

    5
        I will dwell in Your tabernacle unto the ages;

    I will be cov ered with the shelter of Your wings. (Pause)

    6
        For You, O God, hear m y pray ers;

    You giv e an inheritance to those who fear Your nam e.

    7
        You will add day s to the day s of the king,

    His y ears as the day s of generation to generation.

    8
        He will abide before God forev er;

    Who will seek out His m ercy and truth?

    9
        So I will sing praise to Your nam e unto ages of ages,

    That I m ay pay m y v ows day to day .

                                                                 Psalm 61 (62)

1For the End, for Jeduthun; a psalm by David.†

    S hall not m y soul be subm issiv e to God?
    For from Him is m y salv ation.

    3
        For He is m y God and m y sav ior,

    My protector; I shall be shaken no m ore.

    4
        How long will y ou attack a m an?

    All of y ou m urder him ;

    You attack him as y ou would a leaning wall and a broken hedge.

    5
        They also planned to rem ov e m y honor;

    They ran with a lie;

    They blessed with their m outh, and they cursed with their heart. (Pause)

    6
        Howev er, be subm issiv e to God, O m y soul,

    For m y patient endurance is from Him .

    7
        For He is m y God and m y sav ior,

    My protector; I shall nev er be m ov ed.

    8
        In God is m y salv ation and m y glory ;

    He is the God of m y help, and m y hope is in God.

    9
        Hope in Him , all y ou congregation of people;
    Pour out y our hearts before Him ;

    God is our helper. (Pause)

    10
         But the sons of m en are useless;

    The sons of m en are liars with the y okes of wrongdoing;

    They are altogether useless.

    11
         Do not hope in wrongdoing,

    And do not hunger for booty ;

    If riches flow in,

    Do not set y our heart on them .

    12
         God spoke once;

    I heard these two things:

    13
         That power is of God, and to You, O Lord, is m ercy ;

    For You will repay ev ery m an according to his works.

                                                                 Psalm 62 (63)

1A psalm by David, when he was in the desert of Judea.†ω

    O God, m y God, I rise early to be with You;
    My soul thirsts for You.

    How often m y flesh thirsts for You

    In a desolate, im passable, and waterless land.

    3
         So in the holy place I appear before You,

    To see Your power and Your glory .

    4
         Because Your m ercy is better than life,

    My lips shall praise You.

    5
         Thus I will bless You in m y life;

    I will lift up m y hands in Your nam e.

    6
         May m y soul be filled, as if with m arrow and fatness,

    And m y m outh shall sing praise to You with lips filled with rejoicing.

    7
         If I rem em bered You on m y bed,

    I m editated on You at day break;

    8
         For You are m y helper,

    And in the shelter of Your wings I will greatly rejoice.

    9
         My soul follows close behind You;

    Your right hand takes hold of m e.
    10
         But they seek for m y soul in v ain;

    They shall go into the lowest parts of the earth.

    11
         They shall be giv en ov er to the edge of the sword;

    They shall be a portion for foxes.

    12
         But the king shall be glad in God;

    All who swear by Him shall be praised,

    For the m outh that speaks unrighteous things is stopped.

                                                                Psalm 63 (64)

1For the End; a psalm by David.†ω

    H ear m y v oice, O God, in m y supplication;
    Deliv er m y soul from fear of the enem y .

    3
         You sheltered m e from the conspiracy of ev ildoers,

    From the m ultitude of those who work lawlessness,

    4
         Who sharpen their tongue like a sword;

    They stretched their bow, a bitter thing,

    5
         To strike down the blam eless m an in secret;

    Suddenly they will shoot him , and not be afraid.

    6
         They m ade an ev il word strong in them selv es;

    They told of hiding snares;

    They said, “Who will see them ?”

    7
         They searched out lawlessness;

    In searching they grew weary .

    A m an shall draw near, and the heart is deep;

    8
         And God shall be exalted.

    Their blows becam e a childish barb,

    9
         And their tongues were utterly weakened in them .

    All who saw them were troubled,

    10
         And ev ery m an was afraid.

    And they proclaim ed the works of God,

    And understood His deeds.

    11
         The righteous m an shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him ;

    And all the upright in heart shall be praised.

                                                                Psalm 64 (65)
1For the End; a psalm by David; an ode; sung by Jeremiah and Ezekiel regarding the

situation of the sojourners, when they were about to depart.†ω

    I t is fitting to sing a hy m n to You in Zion, O God,
    And a v ow shall be rendered to You in Jerusalem .

    3
         Hear m y pray er;

    To You all flesh shall com e.

    4
         The words of lawless m en ov erpowered us,

    And You will show m ercy to our ungodliness.

    5
         Blessed is he whom You choose and help;

    He shall dwell in Your courts.

    We shall be filled with the good things of Your house;

    Holy is Your tem ple, wondrous in righteousness.

    6
         Hear us, O God our sav ior,

    The hope of all the ends of earth

    And of those far off at sea,

    7
         He who prepares m ountains in His strength,

    Who is girded with power,

    8
         Who troubles the depth of the sea,

    The sounds of its wav es.

    The nations shall be troubled,

    9
         And those who inhabit the ends of the earth

    Shall be afraid because of Your signs;

    You shall gladden the outgoings of m orning and ev ening.

    10
         You v isited the earth and watered it;

    You enriched it abundantly ;

    The riv er of God is filled with waters;

    You prepared their food, for thus is Your preparation thereof.

    11
         Water its furrows; m ultiply its fruits;

    With its raindrops the earth will be gladdened when it produces fruits.

    12
         You will bless the crown of the y ear with Your goodness,

    And Your fields will be filled with fatness;

    13
         The desert fruits will be m ade fat,

    And the hills will be girded with rejoicing.

    14
         The ram s of the sheep are clothed with wool,
    And the v alley s shall abound in wheat;

    They will shout and truly sing hy m ns.

                                                                Psalm 65 (66)

1For the End; an ode of a psalm of resurrection.†ω

    S hout to God, all the earth;
    2
     Sing now to His nam e;

    Giv e glory to His praise.

    3
         Say to God, “How fearful are Your works;

    In the greatness of Your power Your enem ies will lie to You;

    4
         Let all the earth worship You and sing to You;

    Let them sing to Your nam e.” (Pause)

    5
         Com e and see the works of God;

    He is m ore fearful in His counsels than the sons of m en,

    6
         Who turns the sea into dry land;

    They will cross ov er the riv er on foot.

    There we will be glad in Him ,

    7
         In Him who as Lord shall rule in His power forev er;

    His ey es will look at the Gentiles;

    Let not those who prov oke Him be exalted in them selv es. (Pause)

    8
         Bless our God, y ou Gentiles,

    And m ake the v oice of His praise to be heard,

    9
         Who established m y soul in life,

    And who did not perm it m y feet to be m ov ed.

    10
         For You, O God, tested us;

    You tried us in the fire, as silv er is purified by fire.

    11
         You brought us into the snare;

    You laid affliction on our back.

    12
         You put m en on our heads;

    We went through fire and water,

    And You led us into a refreshing place.

    13
         I will go into Your house with whole burnt offerings;

    I will pay You the v ows

    14
         My lips uttered,
    And m y m outh spoke in m y affliction;

    15
         I will offer You whole burnt offerings full of m arrow;

    With incense and ram s,

    I will offer oxen with a y oung he-goat. (Pause)

    16
         Com e and hear, and I will describe to y ou,

    All who fear God,

    What things He did for m y soul.

    17
         I cried to Him with m y m outh,

    And I exalted Him with m y tongue.

    18
         If I regarded wrongdoing in m y heart,

    Let not the Lord hear m e.

    19
         Therefore God heard m e;

    He gav e heed to the v oice of m y supplication.

    20
         Blessed be God, who has not turned away m y pray er,

    Nor His m ercy from m e.

                                                               Psalm 66 (67)

1For the End, in hymns; a psalm of an ode.†ω

    M ay God be gracious to us, and bless us;
    May He cause His face to shine upon us, (Pause)

    3
        That we m ay know His way on the earth,

    Your salv ation am ong all the Gentiles.

    4
         Let the peoples giv e thanks to You, O God;

    Let all the peoples praise You.

    5
        Let the Gentiles be glad and greatly rejoice,

    For You shall judge the peoples in uprightness,

    And lead the Gentiles on the earth. (Pause)

    6
         Let the peoples giv e thanks to You, O God;

    Let all the peoples praise You.

    7
        The earth y ielded her fruit;

    May God, our God, bless us.

    8
         May God bless us,

    And let all the ends of the earth be in fear of Him .

                                                               Psalm 67 (68)
1For the End; a psalm of an ode; by David.†ω

    L et God arise, and let His enem ies be scattered,
    And let those who hate Him flee from before His face.

    3
         As sm oke v anishes, so let them v anish;

    As wax m elts before the fire,

    So let the sinners perish from the face of God.

    4
         And let the righteous be glad;

    Let them greatly rejoice before God;

    Let them be glad with m errim ent.

    5
         Sing to God; sing to His nam e;

    Make ready the way for Him

    Who rides upon the sunset;

    His nam e is the Lord;

    And greatly rejoice before Him .

    Let them be troubled before His face,

    6
         He who is the father of orphans and the judge of widows;

    God is in His holy place.

    7
         God settles the solitary in a house;

    With courage He leads out those in bondage,

    Likewise those who rebel, who dwell in tom bs.

    8
         O God, when You went forth before Your people,

    When You passed through the desert, (Pause)

    9
         The earth shook; truly the heav ens let the rain fall,

    Before the face of the God of Sinai,

    Before the face of the God of Israel.

    10
         You, O God, willingly grant rain to Your inheritance,

    And it was weakened, but You restored it.

    11
         Your creatures are dwelling in it;

    In Your goodness, O God, You prov ide for the poor.

    12
         The Lord will giv e His word

    To those proclaim ing the gospel with great power,

    13
         He who is the King of hosts of the belov ed,

    That He m ay div ide the booty for the beauty of the house.

    14
         If y ou fall asleep in the m idst of y our portions,
You will hav e the wings of a dov e, all cov ered with silv er,

And her back with y ellow gold. (Pause)

15
     When the heav enly One appoints kings ov er it,

They shall becom e as white as the snow on Zalm on.

16
     The m ountain of God is a fertile m ountain,

A m ountain richly curdled with m ilk, a fat m ountain.

17
     Why do y ou think about other m ountains richly curdled with m ilk?

This is the m ountain God consented to dwell in;

Truly the Lord will lodge in it to the end.

18
     God's chariot is ten thousand-fold,

Thousands abounding in num bers;

The Lord is am ong them at Sinai in the holy place.

19
     You ascended on high, You led captiv ity captiv e;

You receiv ed gifts for m ankind,

Truly for the disobedient, so they m ay dwell there.

The Lord God is blessed;

20
     Blessed is the Lord from day to day ;

The God of our salv ation will bring prosperity upon us. (Pause)

21
     Our God is the God who sav es us,

And the issues of death belong to the Lord's Lord.

22
     But God will crush the heads of His enem ies,

The hairy head of those who continue in their transgressions.

23
     The Lord said, “I will return from Bashan;

I will return in the depths of the sea,

24
     So y our foot m ay be dipped in blood,

The tongue of y our dogs in the blood of y our enem ies.”

25
     Your processionals were seen, O God,

The processionals of m y God and m y King in the holy place.

26
     The rulers drew near, singers followed after;

In the m idst of them cam e y oung m aidens play ing tim brels.

27
     Bless God in the churches,

The Lord from the fountains of Israel.

28
     There is the y oung Benjam in in ecstasy ;

The rulers of Judea are their leaders,

The rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.
    29
         Giv e com m and, O God, to Your power;

    Strengthen, O God, what You accom plished in us.

    30
         Because of Your tem ple at Jerusalem ,

    Kings will bring gifts to You.

    31
         Rebuke the wild beasts of the reed,

    The herd of bulls am ong the heifers of the peoples,

    Lest they shut out those prov en in silv er;

    Scatter the nations that desire wars.

    32
         Am bassadors shall com e out of Egy pt;

    Ethiopia shall draw near to stretch out its hand to God.

    33
         Sing to God, y ou kingdom s of the earth, sing to the Lord. (Pause)

    34
         Sing to God, who rides upon the heav en of heav ens towards the east;

    Behold, He will speak with His v oice, a v oice of power.

    35
         Giv e glory to God;

    His m agnificence is ov er Israel,

    And His power is in the clouds.

    36
         God is wondrous in His saints;

    The God of Israel shall giv e power and strength to His people.

    Blessed is God.

                                                               Psalm 68 (69)

1For the End, concerning things that shall be changed; by David.†ω

    S av e m e, O God, for the waters flood m y soul.
    3
        I am stuck in the m ire of the sea, and there is no place to stand;

    I cam e into the depths of the sea, and the storm ov erwhelm ed m e.

    4
         I grow weary with cry ing; m y throat is hoarse;

    My ey es fail m e from hoping in m y God.

    5
        Those who hate m e without a cause m ultiplied ev en m ore than the hairs of m y head;

    My enem ies who persecute m e unjustly hav e becom e strong;

    Then I paid for things I did not steal.

    6
         O God, You know m y foolishness,

    And m y transgressions are not hidden from You.

    7
        O Lord, O Lord of hosts, let not those who wait for You be put to sham e because of m e;

    O God of Israel, let not those who seek You feel asham ed because of m e.
8
     For Your sake I bore disgrace;

Hum iliation cov ered m y face.

9
     I am becom e a stranger to m y brothers,

An alien to m y m other's sons;

10
     For the zeal of Your house consum ed m e,

And the insults of those who disgraced You fell on m e.

11
     I bent down m y soul with fasting,

And it becam e a disgrace for m e.

12
     I also m ade sackcloth m y garm ent,

And I becam e a by word to them .

13
     Those who sit at the gate were talking against m e,

And those who drink wine were singing about m e.

14
     But I, O Lord, pray with m y pray er to You;

It is the tim e of Your goodwill, O God, in the abundance of Your m ercies;

In the truth of Your salv ation, hear m e.

15
     Sav e m e from the m ire, that I m ay not be stuck therein;

Deliv er m e from those who hate m e, and from the depths of the waters.

16
     Let not a storm of water drown m e;

Neither let the deep swallow m e up,

Nor the well enclose its m outh upon m e.

17
     Hear m e, O Lord, for Your m ercy is good;

According to Your abundant com passion, look upon m e.

18
     Turn not Your face from Your child,

For I am afflicted; hear m e speedily .

19
     Giv e heed to m y soul, and redeem it;

Deliv er m e because of m y enem ies.

20
     For You know m y disgrace

And m y sham e and hum iliation;

All who afflict m e are before You.

21
     My soul expected disgrace and trouble,

And I waited for som eone to sy m pathize with m e; but no one was there,

And for com forters, but I found not one.

22
     They gav e m e gall for m y food,

And they gav e m e v inegar for m y drink.

23
     Let their table becom e a snare before them ,
    And a recom pense and a stum bling block.

    24
         Let their ey es be darkened so they m ay not see,

    And bend down their backs continually ;

    25
         Pour out Your anger upon them ,

    And let the fury of Your wrath lay hold of them .

    26
         Let their dwelling place be laid waste,

    And let no one liv e in their tents.

    27
         For they pursued closely the one You slew,

    And they added to the pain of m y wounds.

    28
         Add lawlessness to their lawlessness,

    And let them not enter into Your righteousness;

    29
         Let them be blotted out from the book of the liv ing,

    And not be written with the righteous.

    30
         I am poor and suffering,

    And the salv ation of Your presence, O God, lay s hold of m e.

    31
         I will praise God's nam e with a song;

    I will m agnify Him in praise,

    32
         And this shall be m ore pleasing to God

    Than a y oung bull with horns and hoov es.

    33
         Let the poor behold this, and be glad;

    Seek God, and y our soul shall liv e,

    34
         For the Lord hears the poor,

    And does not despise His prisoners.

    35
         Let heav en and earth praise Him ,

    The seas and ev ery thing that m ov es in them .

    36
         For God shall sav e Zion,

    And the cities of Judah shall be built;

    And they shall dwell therein, and inherit it;

    37
         And the seed of His serv ants shall possess it,

    And those who lov e His nam e shall dwell in it.

                                                                 Psalm 69 (70)

1For the End; by David; in remembrance,†ω

2that the Lord may save me.
    O God, m ake haste to help m e.
    3
    May those who seek m y soul be dishonored and sham ed;

    May those who plot ev ils against m e be turned back and disgraced;

    4
        May those be turned back im m ediately

    Who sham e m e, say ing, “Well done! Well done!”

    5
        May all who seek You greatly rejoice and be glad in You,

    And let those who lov e Your salv ation alway s say ,

    “Let God be m agnified.”

    6
        But I am poor and needy ;

    O God, help m e.

    You are m y helper and deliv erer, O Lord; do not delay .

                                                                Psalm 70 (71)

1By David; of the sons of Jonadab and the first ones taken captive.†

    O God, in You I hope; m ay I nev er be put to sham e.
    2
        Deliv er m e in Your righteousness, and set m e free;

    Incline Your ear to m e and sav e m e.

    3
        Be to m e a God for protection

    And a strong place for salv ation,

    For You are m y foundation and m y refuge.

    4
        O m y God, deliv er m e from the hand of the sinner,

    From the hand of those who transgress the law and act unjustly ;

    5
        For You are m y patience, O Lord;

    The Lord is m y hope from m y y outh.

    6
        By You I hav e been supported from birth;

    From m y m other's wom b You hav e been m y protector;

    My song shall be alway s of You.

    7
        I am becom e as a wonder to m any ,

    And You are m y strong helper.

    8
        Let m y m outh be filled with Your praise,

    That I m ay sing of Your glory

    And of Your m agnificence all the day long.

    9
        Do not abandon m e in the tim e of old age;

    When m y strength fails, do not forsake m e.
10
     For m y enem ies speak against m e,

And those who watch for m y soul plot together,

11
     Say ing, “God forsook him ;

Pursue and lay hold of him ,

For there is no deliv erer.”

12
     O God, do not stand far off from m e;

O m y God, giv e heed to help m e.

13
     Let those who falsely accuse m y soul be sham ed and forsaken;

Let those who seek ev ils for m e be cov ered with sham e and reproach.

14
     But I will hope continually ,

And I will add to all Your praise.

15
     My m outh shall proclaim Your righteousness,

Your salv ation all the day ,

For I am not acquainted with learning.

16
     I shall enter into the power of the Lord;

O Lord, I shall rem em ber Your righteousness, Yours alone.

17
     You taught m e, O God, from m y y outh,

And from then until now I will proclaim Your wonders.

18
     And ev en to old age and to m y last breath,

O God, do not abandon m e,

Until I proclaim Your arm to ev ery com ing generation,

Yes, Your m ighty deeds and Your righteousness.

19
     O God, I proclaim the m agnificent things You did,

Ev en to the highest heav en;

O God, who is like You?

20
     How great and ev il are the afflictions You showed m e,

And You returned, and m ade m e liv e;

And You raised m e up again from the depths of the earth.

21
     You m ultiplied Your greatness,

And You returned and com forted m e;

You brought m e up again from the depths of the earth.

22
     Truly , I will giv e thanks to You with the instrum ent of a psalm , O God;

I will sing to You with the ly re, O Holy One of Israel.

23
     My lips will greatly rejoice when I sing to You;

So will m y soul, which You redeem ed.
   24
        My tongue shall m editate on Your righteousness all the day long,

   When those who seek ev ils for m e are dishonored and sham ed.

                                                              Psalm 71 (72)

1For Solomon.†ω

   O God, giv e Your judgm ents to the King, And Your righteousness to the King's Son,
   2
        That He m ay judge Your people in righteousness

   And Your poor with judgm ent.

   3
        Let the m ountains raise up peace for Your people

   And the hills in righteousness.

   4
        He shall judge the poor of the people,

   And shall serv e the sons of the poor;

   He shall hum ble the false accuser,

   5
        And He shall continue as long as the sun

   And before the m oon from generation to generation;

   6
        And He shall com e down like rain on the fleece,

   Like raindrops falling on the earth.

   7
        In His day s, righteousness and abundance of peace shall flourish,

   Until the m oon is rem ov ed.

   8
        And He shall rule from sea to sea,

   And from the riv er to the ends of the inhabited earth.

   9
        The Ethiopians shall bow down before Him ,

   And His enem ies shall lick the dust.

   10
        The kings of Tarshish and their islands will com e bearing gifts;

   The kings of Arabia and Saba will bring presents.

   11
        All the kings of the earth shall worship Him ;

   All the Gentiles shall serv e Him .

   12
        For He rescued the poor from the hand of a strong m an,

   And the needy , for whom there was no helper.

   13
        He shall spare the poor and needy ,

   And He shall sav e the souls of the needy ;

   14
        He shall redeem their souls from usury and injustice,

   And precious shall be their nam e in His sight.

   15
        He shall liv e, and there shall be giv en Him from the gold of Arabia;
    They shall pray continually because of Him ,

    All the day long shall they bless Him .

    16
         He shall be a support on the earth upon the sum m its of the m ountains;

    His fruit shall be exalted m ore than Lebanon,

    And they shall flourish from the city like the grass of the earth.

    17
         Let His nam e be blessed unto the ages;

    His nam e shall rem ain before the sun,

    And all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed in Him ;

    All the Gentiles shall bless Him .

    18
         Blessed is the Lord God,

    The God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.

    19
         And blessed is the nam e of His glory forev er and unto ages of ages,

    And all the earth shall be filled with His glory . Am en! Am en!

    20
         The hy m ns of Dav id the son of Jesse are ended.

                                                                Psalm 72 (73)

1A psalm for Asaph.†

    H ow good God is to Israel,
    To the upright in heart.

    2
        But as for m e, m y feet were alm ost shaken;

    My steps had nearly slipped.

    3
        For I was jealous of the lawless

    When I beheld the peace of sinners.

    4
         For there is no upward gaze at their death

    Nor steadfastness in their chastening.

    5
        They are not in difficulties as other m en,

    And they shall not be chastened with other m en.

    6
         For this reason arrogance m astered them ;

    They clothed them selv es with their wrongdoing and ungodliness;

    7
        Their wrongdoing shall go forth as from fatness;

    They passed through to their heart's intent.

    8
         They thought and spoke in ev il;

    They spoke in wrongdoing to the height.

    9
         They set their m outh against heav en,
And their tongue passed through the earth.

10
     For this reason m y people shall return here;

Day s of fullness shall be found in them .

11
     They said, “How does God know?

Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

12
     Behold, these are sinners, and they prosper;

They possess wealth in this age.

13
     And I said, “Surely in v ain hav e I kept m y heart righteous,

And washed m y hands with the innocent.”

14
     For all day long I was scourged,

And m y reproof persisted through the night.

15
     If I should speak, I would describe it thus:

Behold, I am breaking cov enant with the generation of y our children.

16
     And I sought to understand this;

It was difficult in m y sight,

17
     Until I cam e into God's holy place

And understood their end.

18
     Surely , for their deceits You appointed deceits for them ;

You cast them down in their exaltation.

19
     Oh, how they cam e into desolation suddenly !

They ceased to be; they perished in their lawlessness.

20
     Like a dream to one who is awakened,

So, O Lord, You shall despise their im age in Your city .

21
     For m y heart was kindled,

And m y reins were changed,

22
     And I was despised, and did not know;

I becam e like a beast before You.

23
     And I am continually with You;

You hold fast m y right hand;

24
     With Your counsel You guide m e,

And with glory You take hold of m e.

25
     For what is there in heav en for m e but You,

And what do I desire on earth besides You?

26
     My heart and m y flesh fail,

O God of m y heart; and God is m y portion forev er.
27
     For behold, those who keep them selv es far away from You shall perish;

You destroy away from You all who act unfaithfully .

28
     But as for m e, it is good to cling to God,

To put m y hope in the Lord,

That I m ay proclaim all Your praises

In the gates of the daughter of Zion.
                                                               Psalm 73 (74)

1Of understanding; for Asaph.†ω

    O God, why hav e You rejected us to the end?
    Why has Your anger raged against the sheep of Your pasture?

    2
         Rem em ber Your congregation You acquired from the beginning,

    That You redeem ed the rod of Your inheritance,

    This Mount Zion, where You encam ped.

    3
         Lift up Your hands against their arrogance to the end,

    Against ev ery thing the enem y prostituted in Your holy places.

    4
         Those who hate You boasted in the m idst of Your feast;

    They set up their signs, y es signs, and they did not know.

    5
         As into an entrance hall,

    6
         As in a thicket of trees, they cut down its doors with axes;

    With battle axes and ham m ers, they broke it down.

    7
         They burned down Your sanctuary ;

    They defiled the tabernacle of Your nam e to the ground.

    8
         Their kindred said in their heart together,

    “Com e, let us abolish all the feasts of God from the earth.”

    9
         We do not see our signs;

    There is no longer any prophet, and He will no longer know us.

    10
         How long, O God, will the enem y reproach?

    Will the adv ersary prov oke Your nam e to the end?

    11
         Why do You turn away Your hand,

    Your right hand from the m idst of Your breast to the end?

    12
         But God is our King before the ages;

    He worked salv ation in the m idst of the earth.

    13
         You strengthened the sea by Your power;

    You crushed the heads of dragons upon the water.

    14
         You shattered the heads of the dragon;

    You gav e him as food for the Ethiopian peoples.

    15
         You broke apart fountains and torrents;

    You dried up the riv ers of Etham .

    16
         The day is Yours, and the night is Yours;
    You created the light and the sun.

    17
         You m ade all the boundaries of the earth;

    Sum m er and winter, You form ed these things.

    18
         Rem em ber this: the enem y insulted the Lord,

    And a foolish people prov oked Your nam e.

    19
         May You not deliv er to wild beasts the soul who giv es thanks to You;

    May You not forget the souls of Your poor to the end.

    20
         Look upon Your cov enant,

    For the dark places of the earth are filled with the houses of lawlessness.

    21
         Let not the hum bled and the disgraced be turned away ;

    The poor and needy shall praise Your nam e.

    22
         Arise, O God, judge Your cause;

    Rem em ber the insults against You by the foolish m an all the day long.

    23
         Do not forget the v oice of Your suppliants;

    The arrogance of those who hate You rises against You continually .

                                                               Psalm 74 (75)

1For the End; do not corrupt; a psalm of an ode for Asaph.†

    W e shall giv e thanks to You, O God;
    We shall giv e thanks, and call upon Your nam e.

    3
        I shall describe all Your wonders.

    “When I seize the opportunity ,

    I shall judge these rightly .

    4
         The earth is dissolv ed and all its inhabitants;

    I m ade firm its pillars.” (Pause)

    5
        I said to those who transgress the law, “Do not transgress the law,”

    And to those who sin I said, “Do not exalt y ourselv es;

    6
         Do not boast in y ourselv es;

    Do not accuse God of wrongdoing.”

    7
        For judgm ent com es neither from the sunrise nor the sunset

    Nor from m ountains of the deserts,

    8
         For God is judge;

    This one He brings down low, and that one He raises up.

    9
         For the cup in the Lord's hand
    Is full of unm ixed wine, a drink poured out;

    And He tipped it from side to side,

    But its dregs were not em ptied out;

    All sinners of the earth shall drink them .

    10
         But I shall greatly rejoice forev er;

    I shall sing to the God of Jacob.

    11
         All the horns of sinners I shall crush,

    But the horns of the righteous m an shall be exalted.

                                                                Psalm 75 (76)

1For the End; in hymns; a psalm for Asaph, an ode to the Assyrian.†

    I n Judah God is known;
    His nam e is great in Israel.

    3
         His place was m ade in peace

    And His dwelling in Zion.

    4
         There He broke the power of the bows,

    Weapon and sword and battle. (Pause)

    5
         You giv e light wondrously

    From the ev erlasting m ountains.

    6
         All the foolish in heart were troubled;

    All the m en of wealth slept their sleep

    And found nothing in their hands.

    7
         At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob,

    Those who m ounted horses fell asleep.

    8
         You are fearsom e, and who shall stand against You?

    From that tim e on is Your wrath.

    9
         You caused judgm ent to be heard from heav en;

    The earth was afraid, and kept quiet

    10
         When God arose for judgm ent,

    To sav e all the gentle on the earth. (Pause)

    11
         For a m an shall giv e thanks to You from his heart,

    And he shall celebrate a feast to You with his whole heart.

    12
         Pray and return to the Lord Your God;

    All around Him shall bring gifts
    13
         To the fearsom e One, and to Him who takes away the spirits of rulers,

    To the fearsom e One am ong the kings of the earth.

                                                                 Psalm 76 (77)

1For the End, concerning Idithun; a psalm for Asaph.†ω

    W ith m y v oice I cried to the Lord,
    With m y v oice to God, and He gav e heed to m e.

    3
         In the day of m y affliction I sought out God

    With m y hands before Him by night,

    And I was not deceiv ed;

    My soul refused to be com forted.

    4
         I rem em bered God and was glad;

    I com plained, and m y spirit becam e discouraged. (Pause)

    5
         I stay ed awake through all the watches of the night;

    I was troubled and did not speak.

    6
         I thought of the day s of old,

    And I rem em bered the eternal y ears; and I m editated.

    7
         By night I com m uned with m y heart,

    And m y spirit searched.

    8
         Will the Lord cast m e off unto the ages?

    And will He be fav orable no m ore?

    9
         Or will He cut off His m ercy com pletely ,

    From generation to generation?

    10
         Or will God forget to be m erciful?

    Or will He in His wrath withhold His m ercies? (Pause)

    11
         I said, “Now I am beginning to see;

    This change is by the right hand of the Most High.”

    12
         I rem em bered the Lord's works,

    For I will rem em ber Your wonders of old,

    13
         And I will m editate on all Your works;

    And I will consider Your way s.

    14
         O God, Your way is in the holy place;

    Who is so great a God as our God?

    15
         You are the God who does wonders;
    You m ade known Your power am ong the peoples;

    16
         You redeem ed Your people with Your arm ,

    The sons of Jacob and Joseph. (Pause)

    17
         The waters saw You, O God;

    The waters saw You and were afraid,

    And the depths were troubled,

    A m ultitude like the sound of waters.

    18
         The clouds uttered their v oice,

    For Your arrows passed through them ;

    19
         The v oice of Your thunder was in the wheel;

    Your lightning gav e light to the world;

    It was shaken, and the earth was m ade to trem ble.

    20
         Your way is in the sea,

    And Your paths are in m any waters;

    And Your footsteps shall not be known.

    21
         You led Your people as sheep

    By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

                                                              Psalm 77 (78)

1Concerning understanding; for Asaph.†

    G iv e heed, O m y people, to m y law;
    Incline y our ear to the words of m y m outh;

    2
        I shall open m y m outh in parables;

    I shall speak of hidden things from of old.

    3
        What things we heard, these we also knew,

    And our fathers described them to us.

    4
         It was not hidden from their children in a different generation,

    Who declare the praises of the Lord

    And His m ighty deeds

    And His wondrous things He did.

    5
        He raised up a testim ony in Jacob

    And appointed a law in Israel,

    Whatev er He com m anded our fathers

    To m ake these things known to their children,
6
     That a different generation m ay know,

Children y et to be born;

And they will arise, and declare these things to their children,

7
     So they m ay put their hope in God,

And not forget the works of God,

And seek out His com m andm ents,

8
     So they m ay not becom e like their fathers,

A generation rebellious and em bittered,

A generation that did not keep its heart right,

And its spirit was not faithful with God.

9
     The sons of Ephraim who bend and shoot their bows

Turned back in the day of battle.

10
     They did not keep God's cov enant,

And they did not desire to walk in His law;

11
     And they forgot His good deeds

And His wonders He showed them

12
     In the sight of their fathers,

The m arv elous things He did

In the land of Egy pt, in the field of Zoan.

13
     He parted the sea and led them through;

The waters stood like a dam ,

14
     And He led them with a cloud by day ,

And all night by the light of a fire.

15
     He split the rock in the desert

And gav e them water to drink as in a great deep;

16
     And He brought out water from the rock,

And He brought it down like the waters of riv ers.

17
     And they still continued to sin against Him ;

They rebelled against the Most High in a place without water,

18
     And they tested God in their hearts

By asking food for their souls;

19
     And they slandered God and said,

“Why is God unable to prepare a table in the desert?

20
     Since He struck the rock, and waters flowed,

And brooks flooded,
Is He also unable to giv e us bread

Or to prepare a table for His people?”

21
     Therefore, the Lord heard and was enraged,

And fire was kindled in Jacob,

And wrath arose against Israel,

22
     Because they did not believ e in God,

Nor put their hope in His salv ation.

23
     And He com m anded the clouds abov e

And opened the doors of heav en;

24
     And He rained m anna for them to eat

And gav e them the bread of heav en;

25
     Man ate the bread of angels;

He sent them food in abundance.

26
     He took away the south wind from heav en,

And with His power He brought in the southwest wind;

27
     He rained flesh on them like dust

And winged birds like the sand of the sea,

28
     And they fell in the m idst of their cam p,

All around their tents;

29
     And they ate and were well filled,

And He brought them their own desire;

30
     They were not depriv ed of their desire.

While their food was still in their m outh,

31
     The wrath of God rose up against them ,

And killed their wealthy ones

And shackled Israel's chosen ones.

32
     In all these things they still sinned

And did not believ e in His wonders;

33
     And their day s ended in folly

And their y ears with haste.

34
     When He killed them , they sought Him out,

And turned back, and rose up early before God;

35
     They rem em bered God was their helper,

And the Most High God their redeem er.

36
     But they deceiv ed Him with their m outh
And lied to Him with their tongue,

37
     For their heart was not right with Him ,

Neither were they faithful to His cov enant.

38
     But He is m erciful

And will atone for their sins, and not destroy them ;

And He will m ultiply them , and turn away His anger;

And He will not kindle all His wrath.

39
     For He rem em bered they are flesh,

A spirit that is passing and not returning.

40
     How m any tim es did they rebel against Him in the desert,

And prov oke Him to wrath in the desert?

41
     And they turned away and tem pted God,

And prov oked the Holy One of Israel.

42
     They did not rem em ber His hand

And the day He redeem ed them from the hand of those afflicting them ,

43
     How He wrought His signs in Egy pt,

And His wonders in the plains of Zoan,

44
     And how He turned their riv ers and rainfalls into blood,

So they could not drink;

45
     He sent them the dog-fly , and it dev oured them ,

And the frog, and it destroy ed them .

46
     He gav e their fruit to the m ildew

And their labors to the locust;

47
     He killed their v iney ard with hail

And their m ulberry trees with frost;

48
     And He deliv ered their cattle to the hail

And their property to the fire;

49
     He sent forth the wrath of His anger to them ,

Anger and wrath and affliction,

Sent forth through ev il angels;

50
     He m ade a path for His wrath;

He did not spare their souls from death,

And their cattle He enclosed in death;

51
     And He struck ev ery firstborn in Egy pt,

The firstfruit of their labor in the tents of Ham .
52
     And He brought His people out like sheep,

And He led them like a flock in the desert;

53
     And He guided them in hope, and they were not afraid;

And the sea cov ered up their enem ies.

54
     He brought them into the m ountain of His holiness,

This m ountain His right hand acquired;

55
     And He cast out the nations from before their face,

And distributed them a m easure of land as an inheritance;

And He settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.

56
     They tested and rebelled against the Most High God,

And did not keep His testim onies;

57
     And they turned away and broke His cov enant, just as their fathers did,

And they changed into a crooked bow;

58
     And they prov oked Him to anger with their high places,

And m ov ed Him to jealousy with their carv ed im ages.

59
     God heard and despised them ,

And He utterly disdained Israel;

60
     And He rejected the tabernacle at Shiloh,

His dwelling place, where He settled am ong m en.

61
     He gav e their strength into captiv ity

And their beauty into the hands of the enem y ;

62
     And He gav e His people ov er to the sword

And despised His inheritance.

63
     Fire consum ed their y oung m en,

And their v irgins were not lam ented;

64
     Their priests fell by the sword,

And their widows were not lam ented.

65
     Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,

Like a strong m an drunk from wine;

66
     And He struck His enem ies from behind;

He gav e them eternal reproach.

67
     And He rejected the dwelling of Joseph

And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim ;

68
     He chose the tribe of Judah,

This Mount Zion that He lov es;
    69
         And He built His sanctuary as the place of unicorns;

    He founded it forev er on the earth.

    70
         He chose Dav id for His serv ant

    And took him from the sheepfolds;

    71
         He took him from behind sheep that gav e birth

    To shepherd Jacob His people

    And Israel His inheritance;

    72
         And he shepherded them in the integrity of his heart

    And guided them with the skillfulness of his hands.

                                                            Psalm 78 (79)

1A psalm for Asaph.†

    O God, the nations entered Your inheritance;
    They defiled Your holy tem ple;

    They left Jerusalem in ruins.

    2
        They left the dead bodies of Your serv ants

    As food for the birds of heav en,

    The flesh of Your saints for the wild anim als of the earth;

    3
        Their blood flowed like water around Jerusalem ,

    And there was no one to bury them .

    4
         We were m ade a disgrace to our neighbors,

    A scorn and a m ockery to those around us.

    5
        How long, O Lord? Will You be angry to the end?

    Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

    6
         Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You,

    And on the kingdom s that did not call upon Your nam e;

    7
        For they dev oured Jacob

    And m ade his dwelling place desolate.

    8
         Do not rem em ber our transgressions of old;

    Let Your m ercies quickly ov ertake us,

    For we hav e becom e v ery poor.

    9
         Help us, O God our sav ior;

    Because of the glory of Your nam e, O Lord, sav e us,

    And be m erciful to our sins because of Your nam e;
    10
         Let the nations nev er say , “Where is their God?”

    And let it be known am ong the nations before our ey es:

    There is v engeance for the shed blood of Your serv ants.

    11
         Let the groaning of those in prison enter before You;

    According to the greatness of Your arm ,

    Preserv e the sons of those who were killed.

    12
         Repay our neighbors sev enfold into their bosom

    Their reproach by which they rev iled You, O Lord.

    13
         For we are Your people and the sheep of Your pasture;

    We shall giv e thanks to You freely and openly forev er;

    From generation to generation we will proclaim Your praise.

                                                                 Psalm 79 (80)

1For the End, concerning things that shall be changed; a testimony for Asaph, a psalm

concerning the Assyrian.†ω

    G iv e heed, O You who shepherd Israel;
    Rev eal Yourself, O You who lead Joseph like a flock,

    Who sit upon the cherubim .

    3
         Raise up Your power

    Before Ephraim , Benjam in, and Manasseh,

    And com e for our salv ation.

    4
         O God, conv ert us,

    And rev eal Your face, and we shall be sav ed.

    5
         O Lord God of hosts,

    How long will You be angry with the pray er of Your serv ant?

    6
         Will You feed us the bread of tears,

    And will You giv e us as drink tears in m easure?

    7
         You m ade us an offense to our neighbors,

    And our enem ies sneered at us.

    8
         O Lord God, conv ert us,

    And rev eal Your face, and we shall be sav ed. (Pause)

    9
         You rem ov ed a v iney ard from Egy pt;

    You cast out the nations and planted it;

    10
         You prepared the way before it,
    And You planted its roots; and the earth was filled.

    11
         Its shade cov ered the m ountains,

    And its v ines the cedars of God;

    12
         Its branches reached to the sea

    And its shoots as far as the riv er.

    13
         Why did You pull down its hedge,

    And all who pass on the road gather its grapes?

    14
         A wild swine from the forest laid it waste,

    A solitary wild beast dev oured it.

    15
         O God of hosts, conv ert us now;

    Look down from heav en and behold,

    And v isit this v iney ard

    16
         Which Your right hand planted, and perfect it.

    And v isit the son of m an, whom You strengthened for Yourself.

    17
         It was set on fire and uprooted,

    But they shall perish at the rebuke of Your face.

    18
         Let Your hand be upon the m an of Your right hand,

    And upon the son of m an, whom You strengthened for Yourself;

    19
         Then we will not turn away from You;

    You will giv e us life, and we will call upon Your nam e.

    20
         O Lord God of hosts, conv ert us,

    and rev eal Your face, and we shall be sav ed.

                                                              Psalm 80 (81)

1For the End; concerning the winepresses; a psalm for Asaph.†

    R ejoice in God our helper;
    Rejoice greatly in the liv ing God.

    3
         Take up a psalm and sound a tim brel,

    a pleasant psaltery with a harp;

    4
         Sound a trum pet in the new m oon

    On this honorable day of our feast;

    5
         For this is an ordinance for Israel

    And a judgm ent by the God of Jacob.

    6
         He m ade it a testim ony in Joseph
    When he went out from the land of Egy pt;

    He heard a tongue he knew not;

    7
         He rem ov ed his back from forced labors;

    His hands serv ed in the basket.

    8
         You called upon Me in affliction, and I deliv ered y ou;

    I heard y ou in the secret place of the storm ;

    I tested y ou at the water of Rebellion. (Pause)

    9
         Listen, O My people, for I testify to y ou;

    Listen, O Israel, if y ou hear Me:

    10
         There shall be no new god am ong y ou,

    Nor shall y ou worship an alien god;

    11
         I am the Lord y our God,

    Who brought y ou up from the land of Egy pt;

    Open wide y our m outh, and I will fill it.

    12
         But My people did not hear My v oice,

    And Israel would pay no attention to Me.

    13
         And I sent them away because of the desires in their hearts;

    They shall walk in their way s of liv ing.

    14
         If My people had heard Me,

    If Israel had walked in My way s,

    15
         I would hav e hum bled their enem ies quickly ;

    And I would hav e laid My hand on those oppressing them .

    16
         The Lord's enem ies lied to Him ,

    And their tim e shall be forev er.

    17
         He fed them with the finest of wheat

    And satisfied them with honey from the rock.

                                                                Psalm 81 (82)

1A psalm for Asaph.†ω

    G od stood in the assem bly of gods;
    He judges in the m idst of gods, say ing,

    2
         “How long will y ou judge unjustly ,

    And fav or the persons of sinners?” (Pause)

    3
         Judge an orphan and a poor m an;
    Justify a hum ble and poor m an;

    4
         Rescue a poor and needy m an;

    Deliv er them from a sinner's hand.

    5
         They do not know nor understand;

    They carry on in darkness;

    All the foundations of the earth shall be shaken.

    6
         I said, “You are gods,

    And y ou are all sons of the Most High.

    7
         But y ou die like m en,

    And like one of the rulers, y ou fall.”

    8
         Arise, O God; judge the earth,

    For You shall inherit all the Gentiles.

                                                            Psalm 82 (83)

1An ode of a psalm for Asaph.†

    O God, who can be likened to You? Be not silent nor appeased, O God,
    3
         For behold, Your enem ies m ade a noise,

    And those who hate You raised up their heads.

    4
         They dev ised a wicked judgm ent against Your people,

    And they plotted against Your saints.

    5
         They said, “Com e, and let us destroy them from am ong the people,

    And let the nam e Israel be rem em bered no m ore.”

    6
         For they plotted together in unity ;

    They established a cov enant against You:

    7
         The tents of the Edom ites and the Ishm aelites,

    Moab and the Hagarenes,

    8
         Gebal and Am m on and Am alek,

    And foreigners with the inhabitants of Ty re;

    9
         And ev en Assy ria joined with them ;

    They cam e to the aid of the sons of Lot. (Pause)

    10
         Deal with them as with Midian and Sisera,

    As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon;

    11
         They were destroy ed at Endor;

    They becam e like dung on the earth.
    12
         Make their rulers like Oreb and Zeeb,

    And all their rulers like Zebah and Zalm unna,

    13
         Who said, “Let us inherit the holy place of God for ourselv es.”

    14
         O m y God, turn them like a wheel,

    Like straw before the face of the wind,

    15
         Like fire that burns through a thicket,

    Like a flam e that sets m ountains on fire;

    16
         Thus You shall pursue them with Your storm ,

    And You shall trouble them in y our wrath.

    17
         Fill their faces with disgrace,

    And they shall seek Your nam e, O Lord.

    18
         Let them be disgraced and troubled unto ages of ages,

    And let them be sham ed and destroy ed;

    19
         And let them know Your nam e is the Lord,

    That You alone are Most High ov er all the earth.

                                                               Psalm 83 (84)

1For the End, concerning the winepresses; a psalm for the sons of Korah.†ω

    H ow belov ed are Your dwellings, O Lord of hosts.
    3
        My soul longs and faints for the courts of the Lord;

    My heart and m y flesh greatly rejoice in the liv ing God.

    4
         For ev en the sparrow found a house for herself,

    And the turtledov e a nest for herself, where she will lay her y oung,

    Your altars, O Lord of hosts,

    My King and m y God.

    5
        Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;

    They shall praise You unto ages of ages. (Pause)

    6
         Blessed is the m an whose help is from You, O Lord;

    He purposed ascents in his heart

    7
        In the v alley of weeping, into the place he appointed;

    For there the lawgiv er shall giv e blessings.

    8
         They shall go from strength to strength;

    The God of gods shall be seen in Zion.

    9
         O Lord God of hosts, hear m y pray er;
    Giv e ear, O God of Jacob. (Pause)

    10
         O God, our protector, behold,

    And look upon the face of Your anointed.

    11
         For one day in Your courts is better than a thousand;

    I chose to be an outcast in the house of m y God,

    Rather than to dwell in the tents of sinners.

    12
         For the Lord God lov es m ercy and truth;

    He will giv e grace and glory ;

    The Lord's hand will not rem ov e good things from those who walk in innocence.

    13
         O Lord of hosts, blessed is the m an who hopes in You.

                                                               Psalm 84 (85)

1For the End; a psalm for the sons of Korah.†ω

    O Lord, You were pleased with Your land; You turned back the captiv ity of Jacob;
    3
         You forgav e the transgressions of Your people;

    You cov ered all their sins. (Pause)

    4
         You ended all Your wrath;

    You turned from the wrath of Your anger.

    5
         Turn us, O God of our salv ation,

    And turn away Your anger from us.

    6
         Will You be angry with us forev er,

    Or will You prolong Your anger from generation to generation?

    7
         O God, You will turn and giv e us life,

    And Your people will be glad in You.

    8
         Show us Your m ercy , O Lord,

    And grant us Your salv ation.

    9
         I will hear what the Lord God will speak in m e,

    For He will speak peace

    To His people and to His holy ones,

    And to those who turn their heart to Him .

    10
         His salv ation is v ery close at hand to those who fear Him ,

    That glory m ay dwell in our land.

    11
         Mercy and truth m et together;

    Righteousness and peace kissed each other;
    12
         Truth arose from the earth,

    And righteousness looked down from heav en.

    13
         For the Lord will giv e goodness,

    And our land shall y ield its fruit.

    14
         Righteousness shall go before Him

    And establish His footsteps as our pathway .

                                                             Psalm 85 (86)

1A prayer by David.†ω

    I ncline Your ear, O Lord, and hear m e,
    For I am poor and needy .

    2
         Guard m y soul, for I am holy ;

    O m y God, sav e Your serv ant, who hopes in You.

    3
         Hav e m ercy on m e, O Lord,

    For all the day long I will cry to You.

    4
         Gladden the soul of Your serv ant, O Lord,

    For to You, O Lord, I lift up m y soul.

    5
         For You, O Lord, are kind and good,

    And v ery m erciful to all who call upon You.

    6
         Giv e ear, O Lord, to m y pray er

    And heed the v oice of m y supplication.

    7
         In the day of m y affliction I cried to You,

    For You heard m e.

    8
         There is none like You am ong the gods, O Lord,

    And there are no works like Your works.

    9
         All the Gentiles You m ade shall com e

    And worship before You, O Lord,

    And they shall glorify Your nam e;

    10
         For You are great, doing wonders;

    You alone are the great God.

    11
         Lead m e in Your way , O Lord,

    And I will walk in Your truth;

    Gladden m y heart so as to fear Your nam e.

    12
         I will giv e thanks to You, O Lord m y God, with m y whole heart,
    And I shall glorify Your nam e forev er;

    13
         For great is Your m ercy to m e,

    And You rescued m y soul from the lowest Hades.

    14
         O God, lawless m en rose up against m e,

    And a gathering of strong m en sought m y soul;

    And they did not set You before them .

    15
         But You, O Lord, are com passionate and m erciful,

    Longsuffering and v ery m erciful and truthful.

    16
         Look upon m e and hav e m ercy ;

    Giv e Your strength to Your serv ant,

    And sav e the son of Your handm aid.

    17
         Work a sign in m y m idst for good,

    And let those who hate m e see it and be disgraced;

    For You, O Lord, helped m e and com forted m e.

                                                              Psalm 86 (87)

1A psalm of an ode for the sons of Korah.†ω

    H is foundations are in the holy m ountains;
    2
        The Lord lov es the gates of Zion

    More than all the dwellings of Jacob.

    3
        Glorious things were said concerning y ou, O city of God. (Pause)

    4
         I will m ake m ention of Rahab and Baby lon to those who know Me;

    And behold, foreigners, and the people of Ty re and Ethiopia,

    These were born there.

    5
        A m an will say , “Mother Zion,”

    And a m an was born in her;

    For the Most High Him self founded it.

    6
         The Lord shall describe it in a written account of the peoples

    And of the rulers, of those who were born in her. (Pause)

    7
        How glad are all who hav e their dwelling in y ou.

                                                              Psalm 87 (88)

1An ode of a psalm for the sons of Korah; for the End, for the Mahalath to respond;

understanding for Heman the Israelite.†ω
O Lord God of m y salv ation, I cry day and night before You.
3
     Let m y pray er com e before You;

Incline Your ear to m y supplication, O Lord.

4
     For m y soul is filled with sorrows,

And m y soul draws near to Hades;

5
     I am counted am ong those who go down into the pit;

I am like a helpless m an, free am ong the dead,

6
     Like slain m en thrown down and sleeping in a grav e,

Whom You rem em ber no m ore,

But they are rem ov ed from Your hand.

7
     They laid m e in the lowest pit,

In dark places and in the shadow of death.

8
     Your wrath rested upon m e,

And You brought all Your billows ov er m e. (Pause)

9
     You rem ov ed m y acquaintances far from m e;

They m ade m e an abom ination am ong them selv es;

I was betray ed, and did not go forth.

10
     My ey es weakened from pov erty ;

O Lord, I cry to You the whole day long;

I spread out m y hands to You.

11
     Will You work wonders for the dead?

Or will phy sicians raise them up, and acknowledge You?

12
     Shall any one in the grav e describe Your m ercy

And Your truth in destruction?

13
     Shall Your wonders be known in darkness,

And Your righteousness in a forgotten land?

14
     But I cry to You, O Lord,

And in the m orning m y pray er shall com e near to You.

15
     Why , O Lord, do You reject m y soul,

And turn away Your face from m e?

16
     I am poor and in troubles from m y y outh;

But hav ing been exalted, I was hum bled and brought into despair.

17
     Your fierce anger passed ov er m e,

And Your terrors greatly troubled m e;

18
     They com passed m e like water all the day long;
    They surrounded m e at once.

    19
         You rem ov ed far from m e neighbor and friend,

    And m y acquaintances because of m y m isery .

                                                                 Psalm 88 (89)

1Concerning understanding; for Ethan the Israelite.†ω

    O Lord, I will sing of Your m ercies forev er;
    I will proclaim Your truth with m y m outh from generation to generation;

    3
         For You said, “Mercy shall be built up forev er;

    Your truth shall be prepared in the heav ens.

    4
         I m ade a cov enant with My chosen ones;

    I swore to Dav id My serv ant,

    5
         I shall prepare y our seed forev er,

    And I shall build y our throne from generation to generation.” (Pause)

    6
         The heav ens shall confess Your wonders, O Lord,

    And Your truth in the church of the saints.

    7
         For who in the clouds shall be com pared to the Lord,

    And who am ong the sons of God shall be com pared to the Lord?

    8
         God is glorified in the counsel of saints;

    He is great and fearful toward all round about Him .

    9
         O Lord God of hosts, who is like You?

    You are powerful, O Lord, and Your truth is around You.

    10
         You are m aster of the sea's strength,

    And You calm the surging of its wav es.

    11
         You hum bled the arrogant m an as though he were wounded,

    And with the arm of Your power You scattered Your enem ies.

    12
         The heav ens belong to You, and the earth is Yours;

    You founded the world and all its fullness.

    13
         You created the north wind and the seas;

    Tabor and Herm on shall greatly rejoice in Your nam e.

    14
         Your arm rules with power;

    Let Your hand be strengthened; let Your right hand be exalted.

    15
         The foundation of Your throne is righteousness and judgm ent;

    Mercy and truth shall go before Your face.
16
     Blessed are the people who know glad shouting;

O Lord, they shall walk in the light of Your face,

17
     And shall greatly rejoice in Your nam e the whole day long;

And they shall be exalted in Your righteousness.

18
     For You are the boast of their power,

And in Your good pleasure our horn shall be exalted.

19
     For our defense is from the Lord

And from the Holy One of Israel, our King.

20
     Then You spoke to Your holy ones in a v ision,

And You said, “I established help for a m ighty one;

I raised up a chosen one from My people;

21
     I found Dav id My serv ant;

I anointed him with My holy oil.

22
     For My hand shall support him ,

And My arm shall strengthen him .

23
     The enem y shall hav e no adv antage against him ,

And the son of lawlessness shall not continue doing ev il to him ;

24
     I will cut his enem ies to pieces before his face,

And I shall put to flight those who hate him .

25
     My truth and My m ercy are with him ,

And in My nam e shall his horn be exalted;

26
     I will put his hand in the sea

And his right hand in the riv ers.

27
     He shall call upon Me, say ing,

‘You are m y Father,

My God, and the protector of m y salv ation’;

28
     I shall m ake him , m y firstborn,

Higher than the kings of the earth.

29
     I shall keep My m ercy for him forev er,

And My cov enant shall be trustworthy with him .

30
     I shall establish his seed unto ages of ages

And his throne as the day s of heav en.

31
     If his sons forsake My law

And do not walk in My judgm ents,

32
     If they profane My ordinances
And do not keep My com m andm ents,

33
     I shall v isit their transgressions with a rod

And their sins with a whip;

34
     But I will not turn away My m ercy from him ,

Nor will I act unjustly with My truth,

35
     Nor will I profane My cov enant,

And I will not reject the things that proceeded from My lips.

36
     Once for all I swore in My holy place,

That I would not lie to Dav id:

37
     His seed shall rem ain forev er,

And his throne as the sun before Me,

38
     And as the m oon that is established forev er

And is a faithful witness in heav en.” (Pause)

39
     But You pushed him away and scorned him ;

You rejected Your anointed;

40
     You ov erturned the cov enant of Your serv ant;

You profaned his sanctuary to the ground.

41
     You pulled down all his walls;

You put cowardice in his stronghold;

42
     All who trav eled through there robbed him ;

He was a disgrace to his neighbors.

43
     You exalted the right hand of his enem ies;

You delighted all his adv ersaries;

44
     You turned away Your help from his sword,

And did not support him in his war.

45
     You depriv ed him of purification;

You broke his throne to pieces on the ground;

46
     You shortened the day s of his tim e;

You poured down sham e upon him . (Pause)

47
     How long, O Lord: will You turn away to the end?

Will Your wrath alway s burn like fire?

48
     Let m y substance be rem em bered, as to what sort it is,

For did You create all the sons of m en in v ain?

49
     What kind of m an is there who will liv e and not see death?

Will he deliv er his soul from the hand of Hades? (Pause)
    50
         Where, O Lord, are Your m ercies of old,

    Which in Your truth You swore to Dav id?

    51
         Rem em ber, O Lord, the reproach of Your serv ants I bore in m y bosom ,

    The reproach of m any nations,

    52
         Wherewith Your enem ies scorned, O Lord,

    Wherewith they scorned the change of Your anointed.

    53
         Blessed is the Lord forev er.

    Am en! Am en!

                                                                 Psalm 89 (90)

1A prayer of Moses, a man of God.†ω

    O Lord, You becam e a refuge to us in generation and generation;
    2
        Before the m ountains were m ade,

    And before the earth and the world were form ed,

    And from ev erlasting to ev erlasting, You are.

    3
        Do not let m an be turned back to hum iliation,

    And You said, “Return, y ou sons of m en.”

    4
         For a thousand y ears in Your sight

    Are like y esterday , which passed,

    And like a watch in the night.

    5
        Years shall be objects of contem pt to them ;

    In the m orning let m an pass by like grass;

    6
         In the m orning let him blossom , and pass by ;

    In the ev ening let him fall off, be dried up and withered.

    7
        For we fainted in Your wrath,

    And in Your wrath we were troubled.

    8
         You set our transgressions before You,

    Our tim e in the light of Your face.

    9
         For all our day s failed,

    And in Your wrath we fainted;

    Our y ears were spent in thought like a spider.

    10
         As for the day s of our y ears, their span is sev enty y ears,

    But if we stay strong, perhaps eighty ;

    And m ost of them are labor and pain;
    For m eekness cam e upon us, and we shall be chastened.

    11
         Who knows the power of Your wrath,

    And who knows Your anger because of Your fear?

    12
         So m ake known Your right hand to us, that we m ay num ber our day s,

    And our heart m ay be bound with wisdom .

    13
         Return, O Lord; how long?

    And be entreated concerning Your serv ants.

    14
         We were filled with Your m ercy in the m orning,

    And in all our day s we greatly rejoiced and were glad;

    15
         Gladden us in return for the day s You hum bled us,

    For the y ears we saw ev il things.

    16
         And behold Your serv ants and Your works,

    And guide their sons;

    17
         And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us,

    And prosper for us the works of our hands.

                                                                Psalm 90 (91)

1The praise of an ode by David.†ω

    H e who dwells in the help of the Most High
    Shall lodge in the shelter of the God of heav en.

    2
         He shall say to the Lord, “You are m y protector and m y refuge,

    My God; I will hope in Him ;

    3
         For He shall free m e from the snare of the hunters,

    And from ev ery troubling word.”

    4
         He shall ov ershadow y ou with His shoulders,

    And under His wings y ou shall hope;

    His truth shall encircle y ou with a shield.

    5
         You shall not be frightened by fear at night,

    Nor from an arrow that flies by day ,

    6
         Nor by a thing m ov ing in darkness,

    Nor by m ishap and a dem on of noonday .

    7
         A thousand shall fall at y our side

    And ten thousand at y our right hand,

    Yet it shall not com e near y ou;
    8
         But y ou shall observ e with y our ey es,

    And y ou shall see the reward of sinners.

    9
         For You, O Lord, are m y hope;

    You m ade the Most High y our refuge.

    10
         Ev ils shall not com e to y ou,

    And a scourge shall not draw near y our dwelling;

    11
         For He shall com m and His angels concerning y ou,

    To keep y ou in all y our way s;

    12
         In their hands they shall bear y ou up,

    Lest y ou strike y our foot against a stone;

    13
         You shall tread upon the asp and the basilisk,

    And y ou shall tram ple the lion and the dragon.

    14
         “For he hoped in Me, and I will deliv er him ;

    I will shelter him , because he knew My nam e.

    15
         He shall call upon Me, and I will hear him ;

    I am with him in affliction,

    And I will deliv er and glorify him .

    16
         With length of day s I will satisfy him ,

    And show him My salv ation.”

                                                                 Psalm 91 (92)

1A psalm of an ode; for the Sabbath day.†ω

    I t is good to giv e thanks to the Lord
    And to sing to Your nam e, O Most High,

    3
         To proclaim Your m ercy in the m orning

    And Your truth at night,

    4
         On the harp of ten strings, with an ode on the ly re.

    5
         For You m ake m e glad, O Lord, with Your work,

    And I will greatly rejoice in the works of Your hands.

    6
         How m agnificent are Your works, O Lord;

    Your thoughts are exceedingly deep.

    7
         A m an without discernm ent shall not know these things,

    And a senseless m an shall not understand them .

    8
         When sinners grow like grass,
    And all the workers of lawlessness hav e arrogant looks,

    It is so that they m ay be destroy ed unto ages of ages.

    9
         But You, O Lord, are Most High forev er;

    10
         For behold, Your enem ies shall perish,

    And all who work lawlessness shall be scattered abroad;

    11
         And m y horn shall be exalted like the unicorn,

    And m y old age shall be blessed with rich m ercy ;

    12
         My ey e looked upon m y enem ies,

    And m y ear shall hear of ev ildoers who rise up against m e.

    13
         The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree;

    He shall be m ultiplied like the cedar in Lebanon.

    14
         Those planted in the house of the Lord

    Shall blossom forth in the courts of our God;

    15
         They shall still be increased in a rich old age,

    And shall be prospering

    16
         So as to proclaim , “The Lord m y God is upright,

    And there is no wrongdoing in Him .”

                                                               Psalm 92 (93)

1For the day before the Sabbath, when the earth was settled; the praise of an ode by

David.†ω

    T he Lord reigns; He clothed Him self with m ajesty ;
    The Lord clothed and girded Him self with power;

    And He established the world, which shall not be m ov ed.

    2
         Your throne is prepared from of old;

    You are from ev erlasting.

    3
         The riv ers, O Lord, lift up;

    The riv ers lift up their v oices;

    4
         Because of the v oices of their m any waters,

    Marv elous are the billows of the sea;

    Wondrous is the Lord on high.

    5
         Your testim onies are v ery m uch believ ed;

    Holiness is proper to Your house, O Lord,

    Unto length of day s.
                                                             Psalm 93 (94)

1A psalm by David; for the fourth day of the week.†

    T he Lord is the God of v engeance;
    The God of v engeance declares Him self boldly .

    2
         Be exalted, O You who judge the earth;

    Render the arrogant their reward.

    3
         How long will sinners, O Lord,

    How long will sinners boast,

    4
         How long will they utter and speak wrongdoing,

    How long will all who work lawlessness speak?

    5
         They hum bled Your people, O Lord,

    And they m altreated Your inheritance;

    6
         They killed the widow and the resident alien,

    And they m urdered the orphans,

    7
         And said, “The Lord will not see;

    Nor will the God of Jacob understand.”

    8
         Now understand, all y ou without discernm ent am ong the people,

    And all y ou fools, at length be discerning.

    9
         He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?

    Or He who form ed the ey e, shall He not see?

    10
         He who chastises the nations, shall He not reprov e them ,

    He who teaches m an knowledge?

    11
         The Lord knows the thoughts of m en are v ain.

    12
         Blessed is the m an whom You instruct, O Lord,

    And whom You teach from Your law,

    13
         So You m ay giv e him rest from ev il day s,

    Until a pit is dug for the sinner.

    14
         For the Lord will not reject His people,

    And He will not forsake His inheritance

    15
         Until righteousness returns to judgm ent,

    And all the upright in heart possess it. (Pause)

    16
         Who will rise up for m e against ev ildoers,

    Or who will side with m e against the workers of lawlessness?
    17
         If the Lord had not helped m e,

    My soul would hav e alm ost sojourned in Hades.

    18
         If I said, “My foot slipped,”

    Your m ercy , O Lord, helped m e.

    19
         O Lord, according to the abundance of grief in m y heart,

    Your encouragem ents consoled m y soul.

    20
         Shall a throne of lawlessness be present with You,

    A throne that fram es trouble by an ordinance?

    21
         They shall hunt for the soul of a righteous m an

    And shall condem n innocent blood.

    22
         And the Lord has becom e a place of refuge for m e,

    And m y God, the helper of m y hope;

    23
         And repay their lawlessness to them ,

    And according to their wickedness,

    The Lord our God shall destroy them .

                                                               Psalm 94 (95)

1The praise of an ode by David.†ω

    C om e, let us greatly rejoice in the Lord;
    Let us shout aloud to God our sav ior;

    2
        Let us com e before His face with thanksgiv ing,

    And let us shout aloud to Him with psalm s.

    3
        For the Lord is a great God,

    A great King ov er all the gods;

    4
         For in His hand are the ends of the earth,

    And the heights of the m ountains are His;

    5
        For the sea is His, and He m ade it,

    And His hands form ed the dry land.

    6
         Com e, let us worship and fall down before Him ,

    And let us weep before the Lord who m ade us;

    7
        For He is our God,

    And we are the people of His pasture

    And the sheep of His hand.

    Today , if y ou hear His v oice,
    8
         “Do not harden y our hearts as in the Rebellion,

    During the day of testing in the desert,

    9
         Where y our fathers tem pted Me;

    They tested Me, and saw My works.

    10
         For forty y ears I was treated with contem pt by that generation,

    And I said, ‘They alway s go astray in their heart,

    And they do not know My way s’;

    11
         So I swore in My wrath,

    ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

                                                                Psalm 95 (96)

1When the house was built after the captivity; an ode by David.†

    O h, sing a new song to the Lord,
    Sing to the Lord, all the earth;

    2
         Sing to the Lord; bless His nam e;

    Proclaim His salv ation from day to day ;

    3
         Declare His glory am ong the Gentiles,

    His wonders am ong all peoples.

    4
         For the Lord is great, and is greatly to be praised;

    And He is to be feared abov e all the gods;

    5
         For all the gods of the nations are dem ons,

    But the Lord m ade the heav ens;

    6
         Thanksgiv ing and beauty are before Him ;

    Holiness and m ajesty are in His holy place.

    7
         Bring to the Lord, O fam ilies of the Gentiles,

    Bring to the Lord glory and honor;

    8
         Bring to the Lord the glory of His nam e;

    Take up sacrifices and enter into His courts;

    9
         Worship the Lord in His holy court;

    Let all the earth be shaken before Him .

    10
         Say am ong the Gentiles, “The Lord is King,

    For He established the world, which shall not be shaken.

    He shall judge the peoples with uprightness.”

    11
         Let the heav ens be glad, and let the earth greatly rejoice;
    Let the sea be shaken and all its fullness.

    12
         Then the fields and ev ery thing in them shall rejoice;

    Then all the trees of the forest shall greatly rejoice

    13
         Before the face of the Lord; for He is com ing,

    For He is com ing to judge the earth;

    He shall judge the world in righteousness,

    And the peoples with His truth.

                                                               Psalm 96 (97)

1By David; when His earth is restored.†

    T he Lord reigns; let the earth greatly rejoice;
    Let the m any islands be glad.

    2
         Clouds and darkness surround Him ;

    Righteousness and judgm ent are the right ordering of His throne.

    3
         Fire shall go out before Him

    And burn up His enem ies on ev ery side.

    4
         His lightning gav e light to the world;

    The earth saw and was shaken.

    5
         The m ountains m elted like wax at the presence of the Lord,

    At the presence of the Lord of all the earth.

    6
         The heav ens proclaim ed His righteousness;

    All the peoples saw His glory .

    7
         Let all who worship the carv ed im ages be sham ed,

    All who boast in their idols;

    Worship Him , all y ou His angels.

    8
         Zion heard and was glad,

    And the daughters of Judah greatly rejoiced

    Because of Your judgm ents, O Lord;

    9
         For You are the Lord Most High ov er all the earth,

    Exalted exceedingly ov er all the gods.

    10
         You who lov e the Lord, hate ev il;

    The Lord keeps the souls of His saints;

    He shall deliv er them from the hand of sinners.

    11
         Light dawned for the righteous
    And gladness for the upright in heart.

    12
         Be glad in the Lord, O righteous ones,

    And giv e thanks at the rem em brance of His holiness.

                                                               Psalm 97 (98)

1A psalm by David.†ω

    S ing a new song to the Lord,
    For He did wondrous things;

    His right hand and His holy arm

    Sav ed peoples for Him .

    2
        The Lord m ade known His salv ation;

    He rev ealed His righteousness in the sight of the Gentiles.

    3
        He rem em bered His m ercy to Jacob

    And His truth to the house of Israel;

    All the ends of the earth saw the salv ation of our God.

    4
         Shout aloud to God, all the earth;

    Sing and greatly rejoice, and sing psalm s;

    5
        Sing to the Lord on a ly re,

    On a ly re and with the v oice of a psalm ;

    6
         With trum pets of m etal and the sound of a trum pet of horn,

    Shout aloud before the Lord our King.

    7
        Let the sea be shaken and its fullness,

    The world and those who dwell in it.

    8
         The riv ers shall clap their hands together;

    The m ountains shall greatly rejoice;

    9
         For He com es to judge the earth;

    He shall judge the world in righteousness

    And the peoples with uprightness.

                                                              Psalm 98 (99)

1A psalm by David.†ω

    T he Lord reigns; let the peoples be angry ;
    The Lord sits upon the cherubim ; let the earth be shaken.

    2
        The Lord is great in Zion,
    And He is exalted abov e all the peoples;

    3
        Let them giv e thanks to Your great nam e,

    For it is fearful and holy .

    4
        The King's honor lov es judgm ent;

    You prepare uprightness;

    You work judgm ent and righteousness in Jacob.

    5
        Exalt the Lord our God,

    And worship at the footstool of His feet;

    For He is holy .

    6
        Moses and Aaron are am ong His priests,

    And Sam uel is am ong those who call upon His nam e;

    They called upon the Lord, and He heard them ;

    7
        He spoke to them in a pillar of cloud;

    They kept His testim onies

    And the ordinances He gav e them .

    8
        O Lord our God, You listened to them ;

    O God, You were v ery m erciful to them ,

    While av enging all their way s of liv ing.

    9
        Exalt the Lord our God

    And worship at His holy m ountain;

    For the Lord our God is holy .

                                                            Psalm 99 (100)

1A psalm of thanksgiving.†

    S hout aloud to the Lord, all the earth;
    2
    Serv e the Lord with gladness;

    Com e before Him with great joy .

    3
        Know this: the Lord, He is God;

    He m ade us, and not we ourselv es;

    We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

    4
        Enter into His gates with thanksgiv ing

    And into His courts with hy m ns;

    Giv e thanks to Him ; praise His nam e;

    5
        For the Lord is good; His m ercy is ev erlasting,
    And His truth is from generation to generation.

                                                               Psalm 100 (101)

1A psalm by David.†ω

    O Lord, I will sing to You of m ercy and judgm ent;
    2
        I will sing and understand in a blam eless way ;

    When will You com e to m e?

    I walked in the innocence of m y heart in the m idst of m y house.

    3
        I hav e not set any lawless thing before m y ey es;

    I hated those who com m it transgressions;

    4
        A crooked heart shall not cleav e to m e;

    As for the ev il m an who turned away from m e,

    I did not know him .

    5
        He who secretly slanders his neighbor,

    This one I chased away ;

    The one with an arrogant ey e and insatiable heart,

    With this one I did not eat.

    6
        My ey es were on the faithful of the earth, so they m ight dwell with m e;

    He who walks in a blam eless way , this one m inistered to m e.

    7
        He who acts arrogantly did not dwell in the m idst of m y house;

    He who speaks unjustly did not prosper before m y ey es.

    8
        In the m orning I slew all the sinners of the earth,

    So as to destroy from the city of the Lord all the workers of lawlessness.

                                                               Psalm 101 (102)

1A prayer by a poor man, when he was depressed and poured out his supplication before the

Lord.†ω

    H ear m y pray er, O Lord,
    And let m y cry com e to You.

    3
        Do not turn Your face from m e;

    In the day when I am afflicted, incline Your ear to m e;

    In the day when I call upon You, hear m e quickly .

    4
        For m y day s v anished like sm oke,

    And m y bones burned up like firewood.
5
     I was cut down like grass, and m y heart becam e withered,

For I forgot to eat m y bread.

6
     Because of the sound of m y groaning,

My bones cleav ed to m y flesh.

7
     I hav e becom e like a pelican in a desert;

I hav e becom e like an owl in a ruined house;

8
     I kept watch, and hav e becom e

Like a sparrow alone on a housetop.

9
     My enem ies reproached m e all day long,

And those who praised m e swore against m e.

10
     For I ate ashes like bread,

And m ixed m y drink with weeping

11
     Because of the wrath of Your countenance and Your anger;

For You lifted m e up and broke m e down.

12
     My day s were far spent like a shadow,

And I am withered like grass.

13
     But You, O Lord, rem ain forev er,

And Your rem em brance is from generation to generation.

14
     When You rise up, You shall hav e com passion on Zion,

For it is tim e to hav e com passion on her, because the tim e is com e;

15
     For Your serv ants took pleasure in her stones,

And they shall hav e com passion for her dust.

16
     And the Gentiles shall fear the nam e of the Lord,

And all the kings of the earth Your glory ;

17
     For the Lord shall build Zion,

And He shall be seen in His glory .

18
     He regarded the pray er of the hum ble,

And He did not despise their supplication.

19
     Let this be written for another generation,

And the people who are created shall praise the Lord;

20
     For He looked down from the height of His holy place;

The Lord looked upon the earth from heav en,

21
     To hear the groaning of those bound,

To set free the sons of the slain,

22
     To declare the Lord's nam e in Zion,
   And His praise in Jerusalem ,

   23
        When the peoples and the kingdom s

   Are gathered together to serv e the Lord.

   24
        He replied to Him in the way of strength,

   “Declare to m e the fewness of m y day s;

   25
        Take m e not away in the m idst of m y day s;

   Your y ears are throughout all generations.

   26
        In the beginning, O Lord, You founded the earth,

   And the heav ens are the works of Your hands.

   27
        They shall perish, but You shall rem ain,

   And all things shall grow old like a garm ent,

   And like a cloak You shall change them ,

   And they shall be changed;

   28
        But You are the sam e, and Your y ears shall not fail.

   29
        The children of Your serv ants shall dwell there,

   And their seed shall be led to prosperity forev er.”

                                                            Psalm 102 (103)

1By David.†ω

   B less the Lord, O m y soul,
   And ev ery thing within m e, bless His holy nam e.

   2
       Bless the Lord, O m y soul,

   And forget not all His rewards:

   3
       Who is m erciful to all y our transgressions,

   Who heals all y our diseases,

   4
       Who redeem s y our life from corruption,

   Who crowns y ou with m ercy and com passion,

   5
       Who satisfies y our desire with good things;

   And y our y outh is renewed like the eagle's.

   6
       The Lord shows m ercies

   And judgm ent to all who are wronged.

   7
       He m ade known His way s to Moses,

   The things He willed to the sons of Israel.

   8
       The Lord is com passionate and m erciful,
   Slow to anger, and abounding in m ercy .

   9
        He will not becom e angry to the end,

   Nor will He be wrathful forev er;

   10
        He did not deal with us according to our sins,

   Nor reward us according to our transgressions;

   11
        For according to the height of heav en from earth,

   So the Lord reigns in m ercy ov er those who fear Him ;

   12
        As far as the east is from the west,

   So He rem ov es our transgressions from us.

   13
        As a father has com passion on his children,

   So the Lord has com passion on those who fear Him ,

   14
        For He knows how He form ed us;

   He rem em bers we are dust.

   15
        As for m an, his day s are like grass,

   As a flower of the field, so he flourishes;

   16
        For the wind passes through it, and it shall not rem ain;

   And it shall no longer know its place.

   17
        But the m ercy of the Lord is from age to age upon those who fear Him ,

   And His righteousness upon children's children,

   18
        To such as keep His cov enant

   And rem em ber His com m andm ents, to do them .

   19
        The Lord prepared His throne in heav en,

   And His Kingdom rules ov er all.

   20
        Bless the Lord, all y ou His angels,

   Mighty in strength, who do His word,

   So as to hear the v oice of His words.

   21
        Bless the Lord, all y ou His hosts,

   His m inisters who do His will;

   22
        Bless the Lord, all His works,

   In all places of His dom inion;

   Bless the Lord, O m y soul.

                                                             Psalm 103 (104)

1By David.†ω
B less the Lord, O m y soul.
O Lord m y God, You are m agnified exceedingly ;

You clothe Yourself with thanksgiv ing and m ajesty ,

2
     Who cov er Yourself with light as with a garm ent,

Who stretch out the heav ens like a curtain;

3
     You are He who cov ers His upper cham bers with waters,

Who m akes the clouds His m eans of approach,

Who walks on the wings of the winds,

4
     Who m akes His angels spirits

And His m inisters a flam e of fire.

5
     He established the earth on its stable foundation;

It shall not be m ov ed unto ages of ages.

6
     The deep like a garm ent is His cov ering;

The waters shall stand upon the m ountains;

7
     At Your rebuke they shall flee;

At the sound of Your thunder, they shall be afraid.

8
     The m ountains rise up, and the plains sink down

To the place You founded for them .

9
     You set a boundary they shall not pass ov er;

Neither shall they return to cov er the earth.

10
     You are He who sends springs into the v alley ;

The waters shall pass between the m ountains;

11
     They shall giv e drink to all the wild anim als of the field;

The wild asses shall quench their thirst;

12
     The birds of heav en shall dwell beside them ;

They shall sing from the m idst of the rocks.

13
     You are He who waters the m ountains from His higher places;

The earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Your works.

14
     You are He who causes grass to grow for the cattle,

And the green plant for the serv ice of m an,

To bring forth bread from the earth;

15
     And wine gladdens the heart of m an,

To brighten his face with oil;

And bread strengthens m an's heart.

16
     The trees of the plain shall be full of fruit,
The cedars of Lebanon, which You planted;

17
     There the sparrows shall m ake their nests;

The house of the heron takes the lead am ong them .

18
     The high m ountains are for the deer;

The cliff is a refuge for the rabbits.

19
     He m ade the m oon for seasons;

The sun knows its setting.

20
     You established darkness, and it was night,

Wherein all the wild anim als of the forest will prowl about;

21
     The y oung lions roar and snatch their prey ,

And seek their food from God.

22
     The sun arises, and they are gathered together;

And they shall be put to bed in their dens.

23
     Man shall go out to his work

And to his labor until ev ening.

24
     O Lord, Your works shall be m agnified greatly ;

You m ade all things in wisdom ;

The earth was filled with Your creation.

25
     There is this great and spacious sea:

The creeping things are there without num ber;

The liv ing things are there, both sm all and great;

26
     There the ships pass through;

There is this dragon You form ed to play therein.

27
     All things wait upon You,

That You m ay giv e them food in due season.

28
     When You giv e it to them , they shall gather it;

When You open Your hand, all things shall be filled with Your goodness.

29
     But when You turn Your face away , they shall be troubled;

When You take away their breath, they shall die

And return again to their dust.

30
     You shall send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created,

And You shall renew the face of the earth.

31
     Let the glory of the Lord be forev er;

The Lord shall be glad in His works;

32
     He looks upon the earth and m akes it trem ble;
    He touches the m ountains, and they sm oke.

    33
         I will sing to the Lord all m y life;

    I will sing to m y God as long as I exist;

    34
         May m y words be pleasing to Him ,

    And I shall be glad in the Lord.

    35
         May sinners cease from the earth,

    And the lawless, so as to be no m ore.

    Bless the Lord, O m y soul.

                                                            Psalm 104 (105)

1Alleluia.†

    G iv e thanks to the Lord and call upon His nam e;
    Report His works am ong the Gentiles;

    2
         Sing to Him , and play a stringed instrum ent to Him ;

    Describe all His wonderful works.

    3
         Praise His holy nam e;

    Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad;

    4
         Seek the Lord and be strengthened;

    Seek His face continually .

    5
         Rem em ber the wonders He perform ed,

    Of His m arv els and the judgm ents of His m outh,

    6
         O seed of Abraham , His serv ants,

    O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.

    7
         He is the Lord our God;

    His judgm ents are in all the earth.

    8
         Rem em ber His cov enant forev er,

    And His word He com m anded for a thousand generations,

    9
         Which He established with Abraham ,

    And His oath with Isaac;

    10
         And He established it as an ordinance with Jacob

    And as an ev erlasting cov enant with Israel,

    11
         Say ing, “I shall giv e y ou the land of Canaan

    As the portion of y our inheritance.”

    12
         When they were few in num ber,
The sm allest and sojourners in the land,

13
     And passed through from nation to nation,

From a kingdom to a different people,

14
     He allowed no m an to wrong them ;

And He reprov ed kings on their behalf:

15
     “Do not touch My anointed ones,

And do not act wickedly towards My prophets.”

16
     And He called a fam ine upon the land;

He shattered all their prov ision of bread;

17
     He sent a m an before them ;

He sold Joseph into slav ery .

18
     They hum bled his feet with fetters;

His soul passed into the iron

19
     Until his word cam e to pass;

The rev elation of the Lord tried him in the fire.

20
     The king, the ruler of the people, sent and released him ,

And he acquitted him .

21
     He m ade him lord of his house

And ruler of all his dom ain,

22
     To instruct his rulers as him self

And to teach his elders wisdom .

23
     And Israel cam e into Egy pt,

And Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham ;

24
     He increased His people greatly ,

And m ade them stronger than their enem ies.

25
     He changed their heart to hate His people,

To deal craftily with His serv ants.

26
     He sent Moses His serv ant;

He sent Aaron, whom He chose.

27
     He put am ong them the words of His signs

And of His wonders in the land of Ham .

28
     He sent darkness, and it grew dark;

And they rebelled against His words.

29
     He turned their waters into blood,

And He killed their fish.
    30
         Their land produced frogs

    In the cham bers of their kings.

    31
         He spoke and the dog-fly cam e,

    And gnats in all their borders.

    32
         He gav e them hail for rain;

    Fire burned up their land;

    33
         And He sm ote their v iney ards and their fig trees,

    And He shattered ev ery tree in their dom ain.

    34
         He spoke, and the locust cam e,

    And the caterpillar without num ber,

    35
         And ate up all the grass in their land,

    And dev oured the fruit of their land.

    36
         And He sm ote all the firstborn in their land,

    The firstling of all their labor.

    37
         He led them out with silv er and gold,

    And there was not am ong their tribes one who was feeble.

    38
         Egy pt was gladdened by their exodus,

    For fear of them fell upon them .

    39
         He spread a cloud as a cov er for them ,

    And a fire to giv e them light at night.

    40
         They asked, and the quails cam e,

    And He filled them with the bread of heav en.

    41
         He split the rock, and the waters flowed;

    The riv ers ran in the waterless places.

    42
         For He rem em bered His holy word

    Which He gav e to His serv ant Abraham .

    43
         He brought out His people with exceeding joy ,

    And His chosen ones with gladness.

    44
         And He gav e them the lands of the nations,

    And they inherited the labors of the peoples,

    45
         So they m ight keep His ordinances,

    And seek out His law.

                                                                Psalm 105 (106)

1Alleluia.
G iv e thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His m ercy endures forev er.

2
     Who shall tell the m ighty deeds of the Lord,

Who shall m ake all His praises heard?

3
     Blessed are those who keep His judgm ent,

And do righteousness at all tim es.

4
     Rem em ber us, O Lord, because of the goodwill of Your people;

Visit us with Your salv ation,

5
     So as to see it in the goodness of Your chosen ones;

So as to be glad with the joy of Your nation,

So as to praise You in the m idst of Your inheritance.

6
     We sinned with our fathers;

We com m itted lawlessness; we acted wrongfully .

7
     Our fathers did not understand Your wonders in Egy pt;

They did not rem em ber the m ultitude of Your m ercy ,

But rebelled when they went up to the Red Sea.

8
     But He sav ed them because of His nam e,

So they m ight know His power;

9
     And He rebuked the Red Sea, and it was dried up;

And He led them in the sea as though it were a desert.

10
     He sav ed them from the hands of those who hated them ,

And redeem ed them from the hand of the enem y ;

11
     So the water cov ered those who afflicted them ;

There was not one left am ong them .

12
     Then they believ ed His words

And sang His praise.

13
     They were quick to forget His works;

They did not wait for His counsel;

14
     And they desired exceedingly in the desert,

And tem pted God in a waterless place.

15
     So He gav e them their request

And fully satisfied their souls.

16
     They also angered Moses in the cam p,

And Aaron the holy one of the Lord;
17
     The earth was opened and swallowed Dathan,

And buried the assem bly of Abiram ;

18
     A fire kindled in their assem bly ;

The flam e burned up the sinners.

19
     They m ade a calf in Horeb,

And bowed down and worshiped the grav en im age;

20
     Thus they changed their glory

Into the likeness of a calf that eats grass.

21
     They forgot the God who sav ed them ,

Who did great things in Egy pt,

22
     And m arv elous things in the land of Ham ,

Fearful things at the Red Sea.

23
     And He said He would destroy them

Had not Moses His chosen one

Stood am ong them in the destruction before Him ,

To turn away His wrath so as not to destroy them .

24
     Then they despised the desired land;

They did not believ e His word,

25
     But m urm ured in their tents;

They did not listen to the Lord's v oice.

26
     So He raised His hand against them ,

To ov erthrow them in the desert;

27
     And to ov erthrow their seed am ong the nations,

And to scatter them am ong the countries.

28
     They were consecrated to Baal-Peor,

And ate sacrifices of the dead;

29
     So they prov oked Him with their way s of liv ing,

And destruction m ultiplied am ong them .

30
     Then Phinehas stood am ong them and m ade atonem ent,

And the destruction ceased;

31
     And it was reckoned as righteousness to him

From generation to generation forev er.

32
     They also prov oked Him to anger at the water of Rebellion,

And Moses was afflicted because of them ;

33
     For they em bittered his spirit,
And he spoke offensiv ely with his lips;

34
     They did not destroy the nations the Lord said to destroy ,

35
     But m ingled with the nations

And learned their works;

36
     And they serv ed their grav en im ages,

And this becam e a snare for them ;

37
     They also sacrificed their sons

And their daughters to dem ons,

38
     And shed innocent blood,

The blood of their sons and daughters,

Whom they sacrificed to the grav en im ages of Canaan;

So the land was polluted with their blood;

39
     It was also defiled by their works;

Thus they acted unfaithfully in their way s of liv ing.

40
     And the Lord was v ery angry with His people,

And He abhorred His inheritance;

41
     Then He deliv ered them into the hands of the nations,

And those who hated them ruled ov er them .

42
     Their enem ies also afflicted them ,

And they were hum bled under their hands.

43
     He deliv ered them m any tim es,

But they rebelled against Him with their counsel,

And were hum bled by their transgressions.

44
     And He saw them in their afflictions;

He listened to their supplications,

45
     And He rem em bered His cov enant,

And felt regret according to the m ultitude of His m ercy ;

46
     So He aroused com passion for them

Am ong all who m ade them captiv es.

47
     Sav e us, O Lord our God,

And gather us from the nations,

So we m ay giv e thanks to Your holy nam e,

And boast in Your praise.

48
     Bless the Lord God of Israel from ev erlasting to ev erlasting.

And all the people shall say , “Am en! Am en!”
                                                               Psalm 106 (107)

1Alleluia.

    G iv e thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
    For His m ercy endures forev er.

    2
         Let those redeem ed by the Lord say so,

    Whom He redeem ed from the hand of the enem y .

    3
         He gathered them from the countries,

    From the east and the west and the north and the south.

    4
         They were led astray in the desert, in a place without water;

    They did not find a road to an inhabited city ;

    5
         While hungering and thirsting,

    Their soul fainted in them ;

    6
         And they cried out to the Lord in their affliction,

    And He deliv ered them from their distresses;

    7
         And He led them in a straight path,

    So they m ight go to a city of habitation.

    8
         Let them giv e thanks to the Lord for His m ercies

    And His wonders to the sons of m en;

    9
         For He fed the em pty soul

    And filled the hungry soul with good things,

    10
         Those sitting in the darkness and shadow of death,

    Bound in pov erty and fetters;

    11
         For they rebelled against the teachings of God

    And prov oked the counsel of the Most High;

    12
         Thus their heart was hum bled by troubles;

    They were weak, and there was no one to help them ;

    13
         Then they cried out to the Lord in their afflictions,

    And He sav ed them from their distresses;

    14
         And He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,

    And broke their chains to pieces.

    15
         Let them giv e thanks to the Lord for His m ercies,

    His wonders to the sons of m en;

    16
         For He crushed the gates of bronze
And shattered the bars of iron.

17
     He helped them out of their lawless way s,

For they were hum bled because of their transgressions.

18
     Their soul abhorred all m anner of food,

And they drew near the gates of death;

19
     Then they cried to the Lord in their afflictions,

And He sav ed them from their distresses;

20
     He sent His Word and healed them ,

And deliv ered them from their corruptions.

21
     Let them giv e thanks to the Lord for His m ercies

And His wonders to the sons of m en,

22
     And let them offer a sacrifice of praise;

And let them proclaim His works with exceeding joy .

23
     Those who go down to the sea in ships,

Who do business in m any waters,

24
     These see the works of the Lord

And His wonders in the deep;

25
     He spoke, and a storm y wind arose,

And its wav es were lifted up;

26
     They m ount up to the heav ens

And descend into the deep;

Their soul is consum ed with ev ils;

27
     They were troubled; they were shaken like one drunk with wine,

And all their wisdom was consum ed;

28
     Then they cried to the Lord in their affliction,

And He brought them out of their distresses.

29
     He also com m anded the storm , and it becam e a breeze,

And its wav es were still;

30
     Then they were glad, for they were silent,

And He guided them to the hav en of their desire.

31
     Let them giv e thanks to the Lord for His m ercies

And His wonders to the sons of m en;

32
     Let them exalt Him in the assem bly of the people

And praise Him in the seat of the elders.

33
     He turned riv ers into a desert
    And stream s of water into dry ground,

    34
         A fruitful land into salt water,

    Because of the ev ils of those liv ing there.

    35
         He turned the desert into pools of water,

    And a land without water into stream s of water;

    36
         Then He caused the hungry to dwell there

    And established a city for habitation;

    37
         They sowed fields and planted v iney ards,

    And produced m uch fruit;

    38
         So He blessed them , and they were m ultiplied exceedingly ,

    And their cattle did not dim inish.

    39
         But they were dim inished and m altreated

    By the affliction of ev ils and pain.

    40
         Contem pt was poured out on princes,

    And He m ade them wander in an im passible place, where there was no road.

    41
         Yet He helped the poor m an out of his pov erty ,

    And m ade his fam ilies like a flock.

    42
         The righteous shall see this and be glad,

    And all lawlessness shall stop its m outh.

    43
         Who is wise and shall keep these things,

    And shall understand the m ercies of the Lord?

                                                             Psalm 107 (108)

1The ode of a psalm; by David.†ω

    M y heart is ready , O God, m y heart is ready ;
    I will sing and giv e praise in m y glory .

    3
        Awaken, lute and harp;

    I shall awaken early in the m orning.

    4
        I will giv e thanks to You am ong the peoples, O Lord,

    And I will sing to You am ong the Gentiles;

    5
        For great is Your m ercy abov e the heav ens,

    And Your truth ev en to the clouds.

    6
        Be exalted abov e the heav ens, O God,

    And Your glory abov e all the earth.
    7
         That Your belov ed ones m ay be deliv ered,

    Sav e with Your right hand, and hear m e.

    8
         God spoke in His place,

    “I shall be exalted, and I will div ide Shechem ,

    And m easure out the v alley of tents;

    9
         Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine;

    And Ephraim is the strength of My head;

    Judah is My king.

    10
         Moab is the cauldron of My hope;

    I will stretch out My shoe ov er Edom ;

    Foreign tribes were subjected to Me.”

    11
         Who will bring m e into a fortified city ?

    Who will lead m e as far as Edom ?

    12
         Will not You, O God, who drov e us away ?

    And will You not go out with our arm ies, O God?

    13
         Giv e us help from affliction,

    For the salv ation of m an is worthless.

    14
         In God we shall do a m ighty thing,

    And He shall despise our enem ies.

                                                             Psalm 108 (109)

1For the End; a psalm by David.†ω

    O God, do not pass ov er m y praise in silence,
    2
         For the m outh of the sinner and the m outh of the deceitful m an opened against m e;

    They spoke against m e with a deceitful tongue;

    3
         And they surrounded m e with words of hatred,

    And warred against m e without cause.

    4
         Instead of lov ing m e, they falsely accused m e,

    But I continued to pray ;

    5
         So they repaid m e ev il for good,

    And hatred for m y lov e.

    6
         Set a sinner ov er him ,

    And let the dev il stand at his right hand.

    7
         And when he is judged, m ay he go forth condem ned,
And let his pray er becom e sin.

8
     Let his day s be v ery few,

And m ay a different m an receiv e his office;

9
     Let his children be fatherless

And his wife a widow;

10
     Let his children wander about and be beggars;

Let them be cast out of their houses.

11
     Let the creditor search out whatev er possessions he has;

Let strangers plunder his labors;

12
     Let there be no helper for him ,

Nor a com passionate one for his fatherless children;

13
     Let his children be utterly destroy ed;

In a single generation, let his nam e be blotted out.

14
     May the lawlessness of his fathers be rem em bered before the Lord,

And m ay the sin of his m other not be blotted out;

15
     Let them be continually before the Lord,

And m ay the rem em brance of them be utterly destroy ed from the earth,

16
     Because he did not rem em ber to show m ercy ,

But persecuted a poor and needy m an,

And one pierced to the heart, that he m ight kill him .

17
     And he lov ed cursing, and it cam e to him ,

And he did not desire blessing, so it shall be far from him .

18
     So he clothed him self with cursing like a garm ent,

And it entered like water into his bowels

And like oil into his bones;

19
     Let it be for him like a garm ent that clothes him ,

And like a belt that girds him continually .

20
     This is the work of those who falsely accuse m e before the Lord,

And of those who speak ev il things against m y soul.

21
     But You, O Lord, O Lord, deal m ercifully with m e for Your nam e's sake,

For Your m ercy is good.

22
     Sav e m e, for I am poor and needy ,

And m y heart is troubled within m e.

23
     I was rem ov ed like a shadow when it declines;

I was shaken off like the locusts.
    24
         My knees were weak from fasting,

    And m y flesh was changed because of the oil.

    25
         And I becam e an object of reproach to them ;

    They saw m e; they shook their heads.

    26
         Help m e, O Lord m y God;

    Sav e m e according to Your m ercy ;

    27
         Then let them know this is Your hand,

    And You, O Lord, did this.

    28
         They them selv es shall curse, but You shall bless;

    Let those who rise up against m e be put to sham e,

    But let Your serv ant be glad.

    29
         Let those who falsely accuse m e be clothed with sham e,

    And let them be cov ered with their dishonor like a double cloak.

    30
         I will giv e thanks to the Lord abundantly with m y m outh,

    And in the m idst of m any I will praise Him ,

    31
         Because He stood at the right hand of a poor m an,

    To sav e m e from those who persecute m y soul.

                                                               Psalm 109 (110)

1A psalm by David.†ω

    T he Lord said to m y Lord, “Sit at My right hand,
    Until I m ake Your enem ies the footstool of Your feet.”

    2
        The Lord shall send forth the rod of Your power from Zion,

    And rule in the m idst of Your enem ies.

    3
        With You is the beginning in the day of Your power,

    In the brightness of Your saints;

    “I hav e begotten You from the wom b before the m orning star.”

    4
         The Lord swore and will not repent,

    “You are a priest forev er according to the order of Melchizedek.”

    5
        The Lord at Your right hand crushed kings in the day of His wrath;

    6
         He shall judge am ong the nations; He shall fill them with dead bodies;

    He shall crush the heads of m any on earth.

    7
        He shall drink from the brook on the way ;

    Therefore, He shall raise His head high.
                                                            Psalm 110 (111)

1Alleluia.†ω

    I will giv e thanks to You, O Lord, with m y whole heart,
    In the council of the upright and in the assem bly .

    2
        Great are the works of the Lord,

    Sought out in all things with regard to His will;

    3
        Thanksgiv ing and m ajesty are His work,

    And His righteousness continues unto ages of ages.

    4
         He m ade a rem em brance of His wonders;

    The Lord is m erciful and com passionate;

    5
        He gav e food to those who fear Him ;

    He shall rem em ber His cov enant forev er.

    6
         He declared the strength of His works to His people,

    So as to giv e them the inheritance of the nations.

    7
        The works of His hands are truth and judgm ent;

    Faithful are all His com m andm ents,

    8
         Established unto ages of ages,

    Made in truth and uprightness.

    9
         He sent redem ption to His people;

    He com m anded His cov enant forev er;

    Holy and fearful is His nam e.

    10
         The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord;

    A good understanding is in all who practice it.

    His praise continues unto ages of ages.

                                                            Psalm 111 (112)

1Alleluia.†ω

    B lessed is the m an who fears the Lord;
    He will delight exceedingly in His com m andm ents;

    2
        His seed shall be m ighty on earth;

    The generation of the upright shall be blessed;

    3
        Glory and riches shall be in his house,

    And his righteousness continues unto ages of ages.
    4
         For the upright, light springs up in darkness,

    For he is m erciful, com passionate, and righteous.

    5
        A good m an is com passionate and lends;

    He will m anage his words with judgm ent,

    6
         For he shall be unshaken forev er;

    A righteous m an shall be in ev erlasting rem em brance.

    7
        He shall not be afraid because of an ev il report;

    His heart is prepared to hope in the Lord.

    8
         His heart is established; he is not afraid

    As he surv ey s his enem ies.

    9
         He dispersed; he gav e to the poor;

    His righteousness continues unto ages of ages;

    His horn shall be exalted with glory .

    10
         The sinner shall see this, and be angry ;

    He shall gnash his teeth, and be consum ed;

    The desire of sinners shall perish.

                                                             Psalm 112 (113)

1Alleluia.†ω

    P raise the Lord, O y ou serv ants;
    Praise the nam e of the Lord;

    2
        Blessed be the nam e of the Lord

    From this present tim e and unto the ages;

    3
        From the rising of the sun to its setting,

    Praise the nam e of the Lord.

    4
         The Lord is high abov e all the nations;

    His glory is abov e the heav ens.

    5
        Who is like the Lord our God,

    Who dwells in the highest,

    6
         And who looks upon the hum ble things

    In heav en and on earth?

    7
        He raises the poor m an from the earth

    And lifts up the poor from the dunghills

    8
         So as to seat him with rulers,
    With the rulers of His people;

    9
         He settles the barren wom an in a hom e,

    To be a joy ful m other of children.

                                                          Psalm 113 (114, 115)

1Alleluia.†ω

    I n the exodus of Israel from Egy pt,
    The house of Jacob from a foreign people,

    2
         Judah becam e His sanctuary ,

    And Israel His authority .

    3
         The sea saw them and fled,

    The Jordan turned back;

    4
         The m ountains skipped like ram s,

    The hills like flocks of lam bs.

    5
         What is it to y ou, O sea, that y ou fled,

    And to y ou, O Jordan, that y ou turned back?

    6
         What is it to y ou, O m ountains, that y ou skipped like ram s,

    And y ou, O hills, like flocks of lam bs?

    7
         The earth shook because of the Lord's face,

    Because of the face of Jacob's God,

    8
         When He turned the rock into pools of waters

    And flinty ground into fountains of waters.

    9
         Not to us, O Lord, not to us,

    But to Your nam e giv e glory ,

    For Your m ercy and Your truth,

    10
         Lest the nations say ,

    “Where is their God?”

    11
         Our God is in heav en abov e;

    And both in heav en and on earth,

    All things whatsoev er He wills, He does.

    12
         The idols of the nations are silv er and gold,

    The work of m en's hands;

    13
         They hav e a m outh, but they shall not speak;

    They hav e ey es, but they shall not see;
    14
         They hav e ears, but they shall not hear;

    They hav e noses, but they shall not sm ell;

    15
         They hav e hands, but they shall not feel;

    They hav e feet, but they shall not walk;

    They shall m ake no sound with their throats.

    16
         May those who m ake them becom e like them ,

    And all who trust in them .

    17
         The house of Israel hoped in the Lord;

    He is their help and their protector.

    18
         The house of Aaron hoped in the Lord;

    He is their help and their protector.

    19
         Those who feared the Lord hoped in the Lord;

    He is their help and their protector.

    20
         The Lord rem em bered us and blessed us;

    He blessed the house of Israel;

    He blessed the house of Aaron;

    21
         He blessed those who feared the Lord,

    The least with the greatest.

    22
         May the Lord increase y ou,

    Both y ou and y our children;

    23
         You are blessed by the Lord,

    Who m ade heav en and earth.

    24
         The heav en of heav en belongs to the Lord,

    But He gav e the earth to the sons of m en.

    25
         The dead shall not praise You, O Lord,

    Neither do all who descend into Hades;

    26
         But we who liv e shall bless the Lord,

    From this present tim e and unto the ages.

                                                        Psalm 114 (116:1–9)

1Alleluia.†ω

    I hav e lov ed, because the Lord Shall hear the v oice of m y supplication;
    2
        For He inclined His ear to m e,

    And in m y day s I shall call upon Him .
    3
        The pains of death surrounded m e;

    The dangers of Hades found m e;

    I found affliction and grief.

    4
        Then I called upon the Lord's nam e,

    “O Lord, sav e m y soul.”

    5
        The Lord is m erciful and righteous,

    And our God has m ercy .

    6
        The Lord is He who watches ov er children;

    I was hum bled, and He sav ed m e.

    7
        Return, O m y soul, to y our rest,

    Because the Lord showed y ou kindness;

    8
        For He deliv ered m y soul from death,

    My ey es from tears,

    And m y feet from slipping.

    9
        I shall be well pleasing before the Lord in the land of the liv ing.

                                                        Psalm 115 (116:10–19)

1Alleluia.†ω

    I believ ed; therefore, I spoke; I was greatly hum bled.
    2
        I said in m y ecstasy ,

    “Ev ery m an is a liar.”

    3
        What shall I giv e back to the Lord

    For all He rendered to m e?

    4
        I will take up the cup of salv ation,

    And call upon the nam e of the Lord.

    5
        Precious in the sight of the Lord

    Is the death of His holy ones.

    6
        O Lord, I am Your serv ant;

    I am Your serv ant and the son of Your handm aid.

    You broke apart m y bonds;

    7
        I will offer a sacrifice of praise;

    8
        I shall pay m y v ows to the Lord

    In the presence of all His people,

    9
        In the courts of the Lord's house,
    In y our m idst, O Jerusalem .

                                                          Psalm 116 (117)

1Alleluia.†ω

    P raise the Lord, all y ou Gentiles;
    Praise Him , all y ou peoples,

    2
         For His m ercy rules ov er us;

    And the truth of the Lord endures forev er.

                                                          Psalm 117 (118)

1Alleluia.†ω

    G iv e thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
    For His m ercy endures forev er.

    2
         Let the house of Israel say that He is good,

    For His m ercy endures forev er.

    3
         Let the house of Aaron say that He is good,

    For His m ercy endures forev er.

    4
         Let all who fear the Lord say that He is good,

    For His m ercy endures forev er.

    5
         In affliction I called upon the Lord,

    And He heard m e in a broad place.

    6
         The Lord is m y helper;

    I shall not be afraid of what m an will do to m e.

    7
         The Lord is m y helper;

    I shall look upon m y enem ies.

    8
         It is good to trust in the Lord

    Rather than to trust in m an;

    9
         It is good to hope in the Lord

    Rather than to hope in rulers.

    10
         All the nations surrounded m e,

    But in the nam e of the Lord I defended m y self against them ;

    11
         They circled and surrounded m e,

    But in the nam e of the Lord I defended m y self against them ;

    12
         They surrounded m e like bees around a honey com b,
And they were inflam ed like fire in a thorn bush;

But in the nam e of the Lord I defended m y self against them .

13
     I was shov ed and disheartened, that I m ight fall,

But the Lord took hold of m e.

14
     The Lord is m y strength and m y song,

And He becam e m y salv ation.

15
     The sound of exceeding joy and salv ation is in the tents of the righteous;

The right hand of the Lord worked its power;

16
     The right hand of the Lord exalted m e;

The right hand of the Lord worked its power.

17
     I shall not die, but liv e,

And tell of the Lord's works.

18
     The Lord chastened and corrected m e,

But He did not giv e m e up to death.

19
     Open the gates of righteousness to m e;

I will enter therein and giv e thanks to the Lord.

20
     This is the gate of the Lord;

The righteous shall go in through it.

21
     I will giv e thanks to You, for You heard m e,

And You becam e m y salv ation.

22
     The stone the builders rejected,

the sam e becam e the head of the corner;

23
     And this cam e about from the Lord,

And it is wonderful in our ey es.

24
     This is the day the Lord m ade;

Let us greatly rejoice, and be glad therein.

25
     O Lord, sav e us now;

O Lord, prosper us now.

26
     Blessed is he who com es in the nam e of the Lord;

We blessed y ou from the house of the Lord.

27
     God is the Lord, and He rev ealed Him self to us;

Appoint a feast for y ourselv es, decked with branches,

Ev en to the horns of the altar.

28
     You are m y God, and I will giv e thanks to You;

You are m y God, and I shall exalt You;
    I will giv e thanks to You, for You heard m e;

    And You becam e m y salv ation.

    29
         Giv e thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

    For His m ercy endures forev er.

                                                              Psalm 118 (119)

1Alleluia.†ω

    B lessed are the blam eless in the way
    Who walk in the law of the Lord.

    2
         Blessed are those who search out His testim onies;

    They shall search for Him with their whole heart.

    3
         For those who work lawlessness

    Do not walk in His way s.

    4
         You com m anded us regarding Your com m andm ents,

    That we should be v ery diligent to keep them .

    5
         Would that m y way s were led,

    That I m ight keep Your ordinances.

    6
         Then I would not be asham ed

    When I regard all Your com m andm ents.

    7
         I will giv e thanks to You, O Lord, with an upright heart,

    When I learn the judgm ents of Your righteousness.

    8
         I shall keep Your ordinances;

    Do not utterly forsake m e.

    9
         How shall a y oung m an keep his way straight?

    When he keeps Your words.

    10
         I searched for You with m y whole heart;

    Do not driv e m e away from Your com m andm ents.

    11
         I hid Your teachings in m y heart

    So as not to sin against You.

    12
         Blessed are You, O Lord;

    Teach m e Your ordinances.

    13
         With m y lips I declared

    All the judgm ents of Your m outh.

    14
         I delight in the way of Your testim onies
As m uch as in all riches.

15
     I shall m editate on Your com m andm ents,

And I shall understand Your way s.

16
     I shall m editate on Your ordinances;

I shall not forget Your words.

17
     Reward Your serv ant;

I shall liv e, and keep Your words.

18
     Unv eil m y ey es,

And I shall understand the wonders in Your law.

19
     I am a sojourner on the earth;

Do not hide Your com m andm ents from m e.

20
     My soul longed to desire

Your judgm ents in ev ery season.

21
     You rebuke the arrogant;

Those who turn aside from Your com m andm ents are accursed.

22
     Take away reproach and contem pt from m e,

For I searched Your testim onies.

23
     For rulers sat and spoke against m e,

But Your serv ant m editated on Your ordinances.

24
     For Your testim onies are m y m editation,

And Your ordinances are m y counsels.

25
     My soul cleav es to the earth;

Giv e m e life according to Your word.

26
     I m ade known m y way s and You heard m e;

Teach m e Your ordinances.

27
     Cause m e to understand the way of Your ordinances,

And I shall m editate on Your wonders.

28
     My soul fainted because of its listlessness;

Establish m e in Your words.

29
     Rem ov e the way of unrighteousness from m e,

And with Your law hav e m ercy on m e.

30
     I chose the way of truth;

I hav e not forgotten Your judgm ents.

31
     I cleav e to Your testim onies;

O Lord, do not disappoint m e.
32
     I ran on the path of Your com m andm ents,

When You enlarged m y heart.

33
     Giv e m e as law, O Lord, the way of Your ordinances,

And I shall alway s search them .

34
     Cause m e to understand, and I shall search out Your law;

And I shall keep it with m y whole heart.

35
     Guide m e in the path of Your com m andm ents,

For I desire it.

36
     Incline m y heart to Your testim onies

And not to greediness.

37
     Turn away m y ey es that I m ay not see v anity ;

Giv e m e life in Your way .

38
     Establish Your teaching in Your serv ant

In regard to Your fear.

39
     Take away m y blam e, which I hav e suspected,

For Your judgm ents are good.

40
     Behold, I long for Your com m andm ents;

Giv e m e life in Your righteousness.

41
     And m ay Your m ercy com e upon m e, O Lord,

Your salv ation according to Your teaching.

42
     And I shall answer those who insult m e with a word,

For I hope in Your words.

43
     Do not take away the word of truth com pletely from m y m outh,

For I hope in Your judgm ents.

44
     So I shall keep Your law alway s,

Forev er and unto ages of ages.

45
     And I walk in a broad space,

For I searched Your com m andm ents.

46
     I spoke of Your testim onies

Before kings, and I was not asham ed.

47
     And I m editate on Your com m andm ents,

Which I lov e exceedingly .

48
     And I raise m y hands to Your com m andm ents, which I lov e,

And I m editate on Your ordinances.

49
     Rem em ber Your word to Your serv ant,
In which You giv e m e hope.

50
     This com forted m e in m y hum iliation,

For Your teaching giv es m e life.

51
     The arrogant transgressed exceedingly ,

But I did not turn away from Your law.

52
     I rem em bered Your judgm ents of old, O Lord,

And I was com forted.

53
     Despondency held m e because of sinners

Who abandon Your law.

54
     Your ordinances were sung to m e

In the place of m y sojourning.

55
     I rem em bered Your nam e in the night, O Lord,

And I kept Your law.

56
     This happened to m e in the night,

Because I searched Your ordinances.

57
     You are m y portion, O Lord;

I said I will keep Your law.

58
     I sought Your presence with m y whole heart;

Hav e m ercy on m e according to Your teaching.

59
     I considered Your way s,

And I turned m y feet toward Your testim onies.

60
     I prepared m y self, and I was not troubled,

That I m ight keep Your com m andm ents.

61
     The ropes of sinners ensnared m e,

But I did not forget Your law.

62
     At m idnight I arose to giv e thanks to You

Because of the judgm ents of Your righteousness.

63
     I am a com panion of all who fear You

And keep Your com m andm ents.

64
     O Lord, the earth is full of Your m ercy ;

Teach m e Your ordinances.

65
     O Lord, You dealt with Your serv ant in goodness,

According to Your word.

66
     Teach m e goodness, instruction, and knowledge,

For I believ e Your com m andm ents.
67
     Before I was hum bled, I transgressed;

Therefore, I kept Your teaching.

68
     You are good, O Lord, and in Your goodness

Teach m e Your ordinances.

69
     The unrighteousness of the arrogant m ultiplied against m e,

But I will search out Your com m andm ents with m y whole heart.

70
     Their heart was curdled like m ilk,

But I m editated on Your law.

71
     It is good for m e that You hum bled m e,

That I m ight learn Your ordinances.

72
     The law of Your m outh is good for m e,

Rather than thousands of pieces of gold and silv er.

73
     Your hands m ade and fashioned m e;

Instruct m e, and I will learn Your com m andm ents.

74
     Those who fear You will see m e and be glad,

Because I hope in Your words.

75
     I know, O Lord, Your judgm ents are righteousness,

And You hum bled m e with truth.

76
     Let Your m ercy be for m y com fort,

According to Your teaching to Your serv ant.

77
     Let Your com passions com e to m e, and I shall liv e;

For Your law is m y m editation.

78
     Let the arrogant be sham ed, for they transgressed unjustly against m e;

But I shall m editate on Your com m andm ents.

79
     Let those who fear You turn to m e,

And those who know Your testim onies.

80
     Let m y heart be blam eless in Your ordinances,

That I m ay not be disappointed.

81
     My soul earnestly longs for Your salv ation,

And I hope in Your word.

82
     My ey es strained to look at Your teaching,

Say ing, “When will You com fort m e?”

83
     I am like a leather bag in a frost;

I did not forget Your ordinances.

84
     How m any are the day s of Your serv ant?
When will You execute judgm ent for m e upon those who persecute m e?

85
      Transgressors described their m editations to m e,

But these are not like Your law, O Lord.

86
      All Your com m andm ents are truth;

They persecuted m e unjustly ; help m e.

87
      They alm ost ended m y life on earth,

But I did not forsake Your com m andm ents.

88
      Giv e m e life according to Your m ercy ,

And I shall keep the testim onies of Your m outh.

89
      Forev er, O Lord,

Your word continues in heav en.

90
      Your truth continues from generation to generation;

You laid the foundation of the earth, and it continues.

91
     By Your arrangem ent each day continues,

For all things are Your serv ants.

92
      If Your law were not m y m editation,

I would hav e perished in m y hum iliation.

93
      I will nev er forget Your ordinances,

For in them You giv e m e life, O Lord.

94
      I am Yours; sav e m e,

For I search Your ordinances.

95
      Sinners waited for m e to kill m e;

I understood Your testim onies.

96
      I saw the lim it of ev ery accom plishm ent;

Your com m andm ent is exceedingly broad.

97
      How I lov e Your law, O Lord;

It is m y m editation the whole day long.

98
      You m ake m e wiser than m y enem ies with Your com m andm ent,

For it is m ine forev er.

99
      I understand m ore than all m y teachers,

For Your testim onies are m y m editation.

100
      I understand m ore than the elders,

For I search Your com m andm ents.

101
      I withheld m y feet from ev ery ev il way ,

That I m ight keep Your words.
102
      I did not turn away from Your judgm ents,

For You taught m e Your law.

103
      How sweet to m y taste are Your teachings,

More than honey and the honey com b in m y m outh.

104
      I gained understanding because of Your com m andm ents;

Therefore, I hate ev ery unrighteous way .

105
      Your word is a lam p to m y feet

And a light to m y paths.

106
      I swore and confirm ed

That I would keep the judgm ents of Your righteousness.

107
      I was hum bled exceedingly ;

O Lord, giv e m e life according to Your word.

108
      Be well-pleased with the freewill offerings of m y m outh, O Lord,

And teach m e Your judgm ents.

109
      My soul is alway s in Your hands,

And I hav e not forgotten Your law.

110
      Sinners set snares for m e,

But I did not wander from Your com m andm ents.

111
      I inherited Your testim onies forev er,

For these are the exceeding joy of m y heart.

112
      I inclined m y heart to do Your ordinances

Forev er for a reward.

113
      Transgressors I hate,

But I lov e Your law.

114
      You are m y helper and m y protector;

I hope in Your word.

115
      Turn away from m e, y ou ev ildoers,

And I shall search out the com m andm ents of m y God.

116
      Uphold m e according to Your teaching, and giv e m e life;

And m ay You not disappoint m y expectation.

117
      Help m e, and I shall be sav ed;

And I shall m editate alway s in Your ordinances.

118
      You set at naught all who departed from Your ordinances,

For their thought is unrighteous.

119
      I counted as transgressors all the sinners of the earth;
For this reason I alway s lov e Your testim onies.

120
      Nail m y flesh with the fear of You,

For I fear You because of Your judgm ents.

121
      I work judgm ent and righteousness;

Do not deliv er m e to those who wrong m e.

122
      Take Your serv ant to that which is good;

Do not let the arrogant falsely accuse m e.

123
      My ey es strained to look at Your salv ation

And at the teaching of Your righteousness.

124
      Deal with Your serv ant according to Your m ercy

And teach m e Your ordinances.

125
      I am Your serv ant; cause m e to understand,

And I shall know Your testim onies.

126
      It is tim e for the Lord to act;

They broke Your law.

127
      For this reason I lov e Your com m andm ents

More than gold and topaz.

128
      Therefore I directed m y self to all Your com m andm ents;

I hated ev ery unrighteous way .

129
      Wondrous are Your testim onies;

For this reason m y soul searches them out.

130
      The rev elation of Your words giv es light,

And it causes children to understand.

131
      I opened m y m outh and drew in m y breath,

For I longed for Your com m andm ents.

132
      Look upon m e and hav e m ercy on m e,

According to the judgm ent of those who lov e Your nam e.

133
      Direct m y steps according to Your teaching

And let no lawlessness rule ov er m e.

134
      Ransom m e from the slander of m en,

And I will keep Your com m andm ents.

135
      Make Your face shine upon Your serv ant

And teach m e Your ordinances.

136
      My ey es poured down stream s of tears

Because they did not keep Your law.
137
      Righteous are You, O Lord,

And upright is Your judgm ent.

138
      You com m anded Your testim onies exceedingly

In righteousness and truth.

139
      The zeal of Your house caused m e to y earn for hom e,

For m y enem ies forgot Your words.

140
      Your teaching is exceedingly purified in fire,

And Your serv ant lov es it.

141
      I am y oung, and beheld as nothing,

But I hav e not forgotten Your ordinances.

142
      Your righteousness is righteousness forev er,

And Your law is truth.

143
      Affliction and trouble found m e,

But Your com m andm ents are m y m editation.

144
      Your testim onies are righteousness forev er;

Giv e m e understanding, and I shall liv e.

145
      I cry out with m y whole heart; hear m e, O Lord;

I shall search Your ordinances.

146
      I cry out to You; sav e m e,

And I shall keep Your testim onies.

147
      I arose at m idnight and cried out;

I hoped in Your words.

148
      My ey es awoke before dawn

That I m ight m editate on Your teachings.

149
      Hear m y v oice, O Lord, according to Your m ercy ;

Giv e m e life according to Your judgm ent.

150
      Those who persecute m e in lawlessness drew near;

They are far rem ov ed from Your law.

151
      You are near, O Lord;

All Your com m andm ents are truth.

152
      From the beginning I knew Your testim onies,

That You established them forev er.

153
      Behold m y hum iliation and deliv er m e,

For I hav e not forgotten Your law.

154
      Plead m y cause and redeem m e;
Giv e m e life because of Your word.

155
      Salv ation is far from sinners,

For they hav e not searched Your ordinances.

156
      Your com passions are m any , O Lord;

Giv e m e life according to Your judgm ent.

157
      Many are those who pursue and afflict m e,

But I did not turn away from Your testim onies.

158
      I saw those acting foolishly , and I y earned for You;

For they did not keep Your teachings.

159
      Behold, I lov e Your com m andm ents;

O Lord, in Your m ercy , giv e m e life.

160
      The beginning of Your words is truth,

And all the judgm ents of Your righteousness are forev er.

161
      Rulers persecuted m e without cause,

But m y heart feared because of Your words.

162
      I shall greatly rejoice in Your teachings,

Like one finding great spoil.

163
      I hate and abhor unrighteousness,

But I lov e Your law.

164
      I praise You sev en tim es a day

For the judgm ents of Your righteousness.

165
      Great peace hav e all who lov e Your law,

And it is not an offense to them .

166
      I long for Your salv ation, O Lord,

And I lov e Your com m andm ents.

167
      My soul keeps Your testim onies,

And I lov e them exceedingly .

168
      I keep Your com m andm ents and Your testim onies,

For all m y way s are before You, O Lord.

169
      Let m y supplication draw near before You, O Lord;

Giv e m e understanding according to Your teaching.

170
      May m y petition com e before You;

Deliv er m e according to Your teaching.

171
      My lips shall ov erflow in song

When You teach m e Your ordinances.
    172
          My tongue shall speak of Your teaching,

    For all Your com m andm ents are righteousness.

    173
          Let Your hand be for sav ing m e,

    For I chose Your com m andm ents.

    174
          I long for Your salv ation, O Lord,

    And Your law is m y m editation.

    175
          My soul shall liv e and praise You,

    And Your judgm ents shall help m e.

    176
          I went astray like a lost sheep;

    Seek Your serv ant, for I hav e not forgotten Your com m andm ents.

                                                              Psalm 119 (120)

1An ode of ascents.†ω

    T o the Lord in m y affliction
    I cried out, and He heard m e.

    2
        O Lord, deliv er m y soul from unjust lips

    And from a deceitful tongue.

    3
        What should be giv en You, and what added to You,

    Against a deceitful tongue?

    4
        The arrows of the Mighty One are sharpened

    With hot coals from the desert.

    5
        Woe is m e! My sojourning was prolonged;

    I dwelt with the tents of Kedar.

    6
        My soul sojourned a long tim e as a resident alien.

    7
        With those who hate peace, I was peaceful;

    When I spoke to them , they m ade war against m e without cause.

                                                              Psalm 120 (121)

1An ode of ascents.

    I lifted m y ey es to the m ountains; From where shall m y help com e?
    2
        My help com es from the Lord,

    Who m ade heav en and earth.

    3
        Let not y our foot be m ov ed;

    Neither let Him who keeps y ou slum ber.
    4
        Behold, He who keeps Israel

    Shall neither slum ber nor sleep.

    5
        The Lord shall keep y ou;

    The Lord is y our shelter at y our right hand.

    6
        The sun shall not burn y ou by day

    Nor the m oon by night.

    7
        The Lord shall keep y ou from all ev il;

    The Lord shall keep y our soul.

    8
        The Lord shall keep y our com ing in and y our going out

    From this present tim e and unto the ages.

                                                           Psalm 121 (122)

1An ode of ascents.

    I was glad when they said to m e, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
    2
        Our feet stand in y our courts,

    O Jerusalem .

    3
        Jerusalem is built as a city

    Whose com pactness is com plete.

    4
        There the tribes went up,

    The tribes of the Lord, a testim ony to Israel,

    To giv e thanks to the nam e of the Lord.

    5
        For thrones sat there for judgm ent,

    Thrones ov er the house of Dav id.

    6
        Ask now for things regarding the peace of Jerusalem ,

    And there is prosperity for those who lov e y ou;

    7
        Let there now be peace in y our power

    And prosperity in y our citadels.

    8
        For the sake of m y brothers and m y neighbors,

    I indeed spoke peace concerning y ou;

    9
        For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

    I sought good things for y ou.

                                                           Psalm 122 (123)

1An ode of ascents.
    I lift m y ey es to You, Who dwell in heav en.
    2
        Behold, as the ey es of serv ants look to the hands of their m asters,

    As the ey es of the m aidserv ant look to the hands of her m istress,

    So our ey es look to the Lord our God

    Until He shall hav e com passion on us.

    3
        Hav e m ercy on us, O Lord, hav e m ercy on us,

    For we are greatly filled with contem pt;

    4
        Our soul is greatly filled with it.

    We are a disgrace to those who prosper,

    And a contem pt to the arrogant.

                                                              Psalm 123 (124)

1An ode of ascents.

    “I f the Lord had not been with us,”
    Let Israel now say ,

    2
        “If the Lord had not been with us,

    When m en rose up against us,

    3
        Then they would hav e swallowed us aliv e,

    When their anger raged against us,

    4
        Then the water would hav e drowned us;

    Our soul would hav e passed through a torrent,

    5
        Then our soul would hav e passed through

    A water that is ov erwhelm ing.”

    6
        Blessed is the Lord,

    Who did not giv e us as prey to their teeth.

    7
        Our soul was deliv ered like a sparrow

    From the snare of the hunters;

    The snare was broken, and we were deliv ered.

    8
        Our help is in the nam e of the Lord,

    Who m ade heav en and earth.

                                                              Psalm 124 (125)

1An ode of ascents.

    T hose who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion;
    He who dwells in Jerusalem shall be unshaken forev er.

    2
        The m ountains surround her,

    And the Lord surrounds His people

    From this present tim e and unto the ages.

    3
        The Lord will not perm it the rod of sinners

    To be upon the inheritance of the righteous,

    Lest the righteous stretch out

    Their hands in lawlessness.

    4
        Do good, O Lord, to the good,

    And to the upright in heart;

    5
        But those who turn aside to crooked way s,

    The Lord shall lead away with the workers of lawlessness.

    Peace be upon Israel.

                                                       Psalm 125 (126)

1An ode of ascents.

    W hen the Lord returned the captiv es of Zion,
    We becam e like those who are com forted.

    2
        Then our m outh was filled with joy ,

    And our tongue with exceeding joy .

    Then they shall say am ong the Gentiles,

    “The Lord did great things with them .”

    3
        The Lord has done great things with us;

    We were glad.

    4
        Return, O Lord, our captiv ity

    Like stream s in the south.

    5
        Those who sow with tears

    Shall reap with exceeding joy .

    6
        They went forth and wept,

    Carry ing their seeds with them ;

    But they shall return with exceeding joy ,

    Carry ing their sheav es.

                                                       Psalm 126 (127)
1An ode of ascents; for Solomon.

    U nless the Lord builds the house,
    Those who build it labor in v ain;

    Unless the Lord guard the city ,

    Those who guard it stay awake in v ain.

    2
        It is in v ain for y ou to rise early ,

    To awaken from y our rest,

    You who eat the bread of grief,

    When He giv es His belov ed ones sleep.

    3
        Behold, children are the Lord's inheritance;

    The fruit of the wom b His reward.

    4
        Like arrows in the hand of a m ighty one,

    So are the children of those who were outcasts.

    5
        Blessed is the m an who shall fulfill his desire with them ;

    They shall not be asham ed, when they speak to their enem ies at the gate.

                                                             Psalm 127 (128)

1An ode of ascents.

    B lessed are all who fear the Lord,
    Who walk in His way s.

    2
        You shall eat the fruits of y our labor;

    You are blessed, and it shall be well with y ou.

    3
        Your wife shall be like a v ine, prospering on the sides of y our house;

    Your children like newly planted oliv e trees

    Around y our table.

    4
        Behold, so shall the m an be blessed who fears the Lord.

    5
        May the Lord bless y ou from Zion,

    And m ay y ou see the good things of Jerusalem

    All the day s of y our life;

    6
        May y ou see y our children's children.

    Peace be upon Israel.

                                                             Psalm 128 (129)

1An ode of ascents.
    “M any tim es they warred against m e from m y y outh,”
    Let Israel now say ;

    2
        “Many tim es they warred against m e from m y y outh,

    Yet they did not ov ercom e m e.

    3
        The sinners schem ed behind m y back;

    They prolonged their lawlessness.”

    4
        The righteous Lord cut in pieces the necks of sinners.

    5
        Let all who hate Zion

    Be sham ed and turned back.

    6
        Let them becom e like grass on the housetops,

    Which withers before it is plucked up;

    7
        Like grass with which the reaper does not fill his hand,

    Nor the gatherer of sheav es, his bosom ;

    8
        Neither do those who pass by say to them ,

    “The Lord's blessing be upon y ou;

    In the Lord's nam e, we bless y ou.”

                                                           Psalm 129 (130)

1An ode of ascents.

    O ut of the depths I hav e cried to You, O Lord;
    2
        O Lord, hear m y v oice;

    Let Your ears be attentiv e

    To the v oice of m y supplication.

    3
        If You, O Lord, should m ark transgression,

    O Lord, who would stand?

    4
        For there is forgiv eness with You.

    5
        Because of Your law, O Lord, I waited for You;

    My soul waited for Your word.

    6
        My soul hopes in the Lord,

    From the m orning watch until night;

    From the m orning watch until night,

    Let Israel hope in the Lord.

    7
        For with the Lord there is m ercy ,

    And with Him is abundant redem ption;
    8
        And He shall redeem Israel

    From all his transgressions.

                                                        Psalm 130 (131)

1An ode of ascents, by David.

    O Lord, My heart is not exalted, Neither are m y ey es raised up;
    Neither am I carried along in great things,

    Nor in things too m arv elous for m e.

    2
        If I were not hum ble-m inded,

    But exalted m y soul,

    Like a child weaned from his m other,

    So You would reward m y soul.

    3
        Let Israel hope in the Lord

    From this present tim e and unto the ages.

                                                        Psalm 131 (132)

1An ode of ascents.

    R em em ber Dav id, O Lord,
    And all his m eekness,

    2
        How he swore to the Lord,

    How he v owed to the God of Jacob,

    3
        “I shall not enter m y dwelling,

    I shall not recline on m y bed,

    4
        I shall not close m y ey es in sleep

    Nor m y ey elids for dozing,

    Nor giv e any rest to m y tem ples,

    5
        Until I find a place for the Lord,

    A tabernacle for the God of Jacob.”

    6
        Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;

    We found it in the plains of the wood;

    7
        Let us enter into His tabernacles;

    Let us worship at the place where His feet stood.

    8
        Arise, O Lord, into Your rest,

    You and the ark of Your holiness;
    9
         Your priests shall clothe them selv es in righteousness;

    Your saints shall greatly rejoice.

    10
         For Your serv ant Dav id's sake,

    Do not turn away from the face of Your anointed.

    11
         The Lord swore to Dav id this truth, and He shall not reject it,

    “I shall set upon y our throne one from the fruit of y our loins.

    12
         If y our sons keep My cov enant

    And these testim onies I shall teach them ,

    Then their sons shall sit upon y our throne forev er.”

    13
         For the Lord has chosen Zion;

    He chose her for His dwelling:

    14
         “This is My place of rest unto ages of ages;

    Here I shall dwell, for I hav e chosen her.

    15
         Blessing, I shall bless her prov ision;

    I shall satisfy her poor with bread;

    16
         And I shall clothe her priests with salv ation,

    And her saints shall rejoice exceedingly with great joy ;

    17
         There I shall cause to spring up a horn for Dav id;

    There I prepared a lam p for m y anointed;

    18
         His enem ies I shall clothe with sham e;

    Upon him shall My sanctification flourish.”

                                                               Psalm 132 (133)

1An ode of ascents; by David.

    B ehold now, what is so good or so pleasant
    As for brothers to dwell together in unity ?

    2
         It is like fragrant oil running down upon the beard,

    The beard of Aaron,

    Running down upon the border of his garm ent;

    3
         It is like the dew of Herm on, running down upon the m ountains of Zion;

    For there the Lord com m anded the blessing

    And life forev er.

                                                               Psalm 133 (134)
1An ode of ascents.

    B ehold now, bless the Lord,
    All y ou serv ants of the Lord,

    Who stand in the house of the Lord,

    In the courts of the house of our God.

    2
        In the nights, lift up y our hands to the holy of holies

    And bless the Lord.

    3
        May the Lord bless y ou from Zion,

    He who m ade heav en and earth.

                                                              Psalm 134 (135)

1Alleluia.†ω

    P raise the nam e of the Lord,
    O y ou serv ants; praise the Lord,

    2
        You who stand in the house of the Lord,

    In the courts of the house of our God.

    3
        Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;

    Sing to His nam e, for it is good;

    4
         For the Lord chose Jacob for Him self,

    Israel for His special treasure.

    5
        For I know the Lord is great,

    And our Lord is abov e all the gods.

    6
         All things whatsoev er the Lord willed, He did,

    In heav en and on the earth,

    In the seas and in all deep places,

    7
        Bringing clouds from the furthest part of the earth;

    He m ade lightning for the rain,

    Bringing winds from His storehouses.

    8
         He struck the firstborn of Egy pt,

    From m an to cattle;

    9
         He sent forth signs and wonders in y our m idst, O Egy pt,

    Am ong Pharaoh and all his serv ants.

    10
         He struck m any nations
    And destroy ed m ighty kings,

    11
         Sihon king of the Am orites,

    And Og king of Bashan,

    And all the kingdom s of Canaan;

    12
         And He gav e their land as an inheritance,

    An inheritance for Israel His people.

    13
         O Lord, Your nam e abides forev er,

    O Lord, Your m em orial unto generation and generation.

    14
         For the Lord will judge His people,

    And He shall com fort His serv ants.

    15
         The idols of the nations are silv er and gold,

    The works of m en's hands;

    16
         They hav e a m outh, but they shall not speak;

    They hav e ey es, but they shall not see;

    17
         They hav e ears, but they shall not hear;

    They hav e noses, but they shall not sm ell;

    They hav e hands, but they shall not feel;

    They hav e feet, but they shall not walk;

    They hav e no sound in their throat;

    For neither is there breath in their m outh.

    18
         May those who m ade them becom e like them ,

    And all who trust in them .

    19
         O house of Israel, bless the Lord;

    O house of Aaron, bless the Lord;

    20
         O house of Lev i, bless the Lord;

    You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord.

    21
         Blessed be the Lord out of Zion,

    He who dwells in Jerusalem .

                                                          Psalm 135 (136)

1Alleluia.

    G iv e thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
    For His m ercy endures forev er;

    2
         Giv e thanks to the God of gods,
For His m ercy endures forev er;

3
     Giv e thanks to the Lord of lords,

For His m ercy endures forev er;

4
     To Him who alone does great wonders,

For His m ercy endures forev er;

5
     To Him who m ade the heav ens with understanding,

For His m ercy endures forev er;

6
     To Him who m ade firm the earth on the waters,

For His m ercy endures forev er;

7
     To Him who alone m ade the great lights,

For His m ercy endures forev er,

8
     The sun for authority ov er the day ,

For His m ercy endures forev er,

9
     The m oon and stars for authority ov er the night,

For His m ercy endures forev er;

10
     To Him who struck down Egy pt with their firstborn,

For His m ercy endures forev er;

11
     To Him who led Israel out of their m idst,

For His m ercy endures forev er,

12
     With a strong hand and an upraised arm ,

For His m ercy endures forev er;

13
     To Him who div ided the Red Sea into parts,

For His m ercy endures forev er,

14
     And led Israel through the m idst of it,

For His m ercy endures forev er,

15
     And who ov erthrew Pharaoh and all his host in the Red Sea,

For His m ercy endures forev er;

16
     To Him who led His people through the wilderness,

For His m ercy endures forev er;

To Him who drew water from the hard rock,

For His m ercy endures forev er;

17
     To Him who struck down great kings,

For His m ercy endures forev er,

18
     And killed m ighty kings,

For His m ercy endures forev er,
   19
        Sihon king of the Am orites,

   For His m ercy endures forev er,

   20
        And Og king of Bashan,

   For His m ercy endures forev er,

   21
        And who gav e their land as an inheritance,

   For His m ercy endures forev er,

   22
        An inheritance for Israel His serv ant,

   For His m ercy endures forev er.

   23
        For in our hum iliation the Lord rem em bered us,

   For His m ercy endures forev er;

   24
        And He redeem ed us from our enem ies,

   For His m ercy endures forev er;

   25
        Who gav e food to all flesh,

   For His m ercy endures forev er.

   26
        Giv e thanks to the God of heav en,

   For His m ercy endures forev er;

   Giv e thanks to the Lord of lords,

   For His m ercy endures forev er.

                                                            Psalm 136 (137)

1By David.†ω

   B y the riv ers of Baby lon,
   There we sat and wept

   When we rem em bered Zion.

   2
       Upon the willows in her m idst,

   We hung up our m usical instrum ents;

   3
       For there our captors asked us for words from our songs,

   And those who carried us off said to us,

   “Sing us the songs of Zion.”

   4
        How shall we sing the Lord's song

   In a foreign land?

   5
       If I forget y ou, O Jerusalem ,

   May m y right hand be forgotten;

   6
        May m y tongue be glued to m y throat
   If I do not rem em ber y ou,

   If I do not prefer Jerusalem

   In the beginning of m y m errim ent.

   7
       O Lord, rem em ber the sons of Edom

   On that day in Jerusalem ,

   When they were say ing, “Em pty it out,

   Em pty it out,

   Ev en to its foundation!”

   8
       O wretched daughter of Baby lon,

   Blessed is he who shall deal with y ou

   As y ou dealt with us;

   9
       Blessed is he who shall get the upper hand

   And dash y our infants against the rock.

                                                                Psalm 137 (138)

1By David.†ω

   I will giv e thanks to You, O Lord, with all m y heart,
   For You hear the words of m y m outh;

   And I shall sing to You in the presence of angels.

   2
       I shall bow down and worship toward Your holy tem ple,

   And I will giv e thanks to Your nam e

   For Your m ercy and Your truth;

   For You m agnified Your teaching abov e ev ery nam e.

   3
       On the day I shall call out to You, hear m e speedily ;

   You shall treat m y soul with great care in Your power.

   4
       O Lord, let all the kings of the earth giv e thanks to You,

   For they heard all the words of Your m outh;

   5
       And let them sing in the way s of the Lord,

   For the glory of the Lord is great;

   6
       For the Lord is high, and He watches ov er the lowly things;

   But the high things He knows from afar.

   7
       If I walk in the m idst of affliction, You shall m ake m e liv e;

   You stretched out Your hand against the wrath of m y enem ies,

   And Your right hand sav ed m e.
    8
         The Lord shall repay them on m y behalf.

    O Lord, Your m ercy endures forev er;

    Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

                                                            Psalm 138 (139)

1For the End; a psalm by David.††

    O Lord, You test m e and know m e;
    2
     You know m y sitting down and m y rising up;

    You understand m y thoughts from afar;

    3
         You search out m y path and m y portion,

    And You foresee all m y way s.

    4
         For there is not a word on m y tongue,

    5
         But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether,

    The last things and the first things;

    You fashioned m e, and placed Your hands on m e.

    6
         Your knowledge has becom e too wondrous for m e;

    It has becom e too ov erwhelm ing; I am unable to grasp it.

    7
         Where could I go from Your Spirit,

    Or flee from Your face?

    8
         If I should ascend into heav en, You would be there;

    If I should descend into Hades, You would be there;

    9
         If I should take up m y wings at dawn

    And pitch cam p at the furthest part of the sea,

    10
         Ev en there Your hand would lead m e,

    And Your right hand would hold m e.

    11
         And I said, “Perhaps darkness shall cov er m e,”

    But the night shall be light to m y delight;

    12
         For darkness shall not be dark because of You,

    And the night shall be bright as day ;

    As its darkness, so also shall be its light.

    13
         For You possess m y heart, O Lord;

    You took hold of m e from m y m other's wom b.

    14
         I will giv e thanks to You,

    For I am fearfully and wondrously m ade;
    Marv elous are Your works,

    And m y soul knows this v ery well.

    15
         My bone y ou m ade in secret was not hidden from You.

    And m y substance was in the lowest parts of the earth;

    16
         Your ey es saw m e when I was unform ed,

    And all m en shall be written in Your book;

    They shall be form ed day by day ,

    When as y et there were none am ong them .

    17
         Your friends, O God, becam e v ery honorable to m e;

    Their principalities becam e v ery strong;

    18
         I shall count them ,

    And they shall be m ultiplied m ore than the sand;

    I awakened, and I am still with You.

    19
         If You should slay sinners, O God,

    You would turn aside from m e, O m en of blood.

    20
         For You will say regarding their reasoning,

    “They shall receiv e y our cities in v ain.”

    21
         Hav e I not hated those who hate You, O Lord?

    And was I not wasting away because of Your enem ies?

    22
         I hated them with perfect hatred;

    They becam e m y enem ies.

    23
         Test m e, O God, and know m y heart;

    Exam ine m e, and know m y paths,

    24
         And see if there is a lawless way in m e,

    And lead m e in the way ev erlasting.

                                                           Psalm 139 (140)

1For the End; a psalm by David.†ω

    D eliv er m e, O Lord, from the ev il m an,
    Rescue m e from the unjust m an,

    3
        Who dev ised wrongdoing in their heart;

    They array ed them selv es for war all day long;

    4
         They sharpened their tongue like a serpent;

    The v enom of asps was under their lips. (Pause)
    5
         Keep m e, O Lord, from the hand of the sinner;

    Deliv er m e from unjust m en

    Who plotted to trip up m y steps;

    6
         The arrogant hid a trap for m e,

    And they stretched out ropes as snares for m y feet;

    They set a stum bling block for m e near m y path. (Pause)

    7
         I said to the Lord, “You are m y God;

    Giv e ear, O Lord, to the v oice of m y supplication.

    8
         O Lord, O Lord, the power of m y salv ation,

    You ov ershadowed m y head in the day of war.

    9
         Because of m y desire, O Lord, do not hand m e ov er to the sinner;

    They plotted against m e; do not forsake m e, lest they be exalted. (Pause)

    10
         “As for the head of those who encircle m e,

    The toil of their lips shall cov er them .

    11
         Coals shall fall upon them ;

    You shall ov erthrow them with fire;

    Do not let them withstand hardships.”

    12
         A talkativ e m an shall not prosper on earth;

    Ev ils shall hunt the unjust m an to destruction.

    13
         I know the Lord will m aintain the cause of the poor m an

    And the justice of the needy .

    14
         Surely the righteous shall giv e thanks to Your nam e,

    And the upright shall dwell in Your presence.

                                                               Psalm 140 (141)

1A psalm by David.†

    O Lord, I hav e cried to You; hear m e; Giv e heed to the v oice of m y supplication when I cry to You.
    2
         Let m y pray er be set forth before You as incense,

    The lifting up of m y hands as the ev ening sacrifice.

    3
         Set a watch, O Lord, before m y m outh,

    A door of enclosure about m y lips.

    4
         Incline not m y heart to ev il words,

    To m ake excuses in sins

    With m en who work lawlessness;
    And I will not join with their choice ones.

    5
        The righteous m an shall correct m e

    With m ercy , and he shall reprov e m e;

    But let not the oil of the sinner anoint m y head,

    For m y pray er shall be intense in the presence of their pleasures.

    6
         Their judges are swallowed up by the rock;

    They shall hear m y words, for they are pleasant.

    7
        As a clod of ground is dashed to pieces on the earth,

    So our bones were scattered beside the grav e.

    8
         For m y ey es, O Lord, O Lord, are toward You;

    In You I hope; take not m y soul away .

    9
         Keep m e from the snares they set for m e,

    And from the stum bling blocks of those who work lawlessness.

    10
         Sinners shall fall into their own net;

    I am alone, until I escape.

                                                            Psalm 141 (142)

1Understanding; by David, when he was in the cave; a prayer.

    I cried to the Lord with m y v oice, With m y v oice I pray ed to the Lord.
    3
        I shall pour out m y supplication before Him ;

    I shall declare m y affliction in His presence.

    4
         When m y spirit fainted within m e,

    Then You knew m y paths;

    For on the way I was going, they hid a trap for m e.

    5
        I looked on m y right, and saw

    There was no one who knew m e;

    Refuge failed m e,

    And there was no one who cared for m y soul.

    6
         I cried to You, O Lord;

    I said, “You are m y hope,

    My portion in the land of the liv ing.

    7
        Attend to m y supplication,

    For I was hum bled exceedingly ;

    Deliv er m e from m y persecutors,
    For they are stronger than I.

    8
         Bring m y soul out of prison

    To giv e thanks to Your nam e, O Lord;

    The righteous shall wait for m e, until You reward m e.”

                                                           Psalm 142 (143)

1A psalm by David, when his son persecuted him.†ω

    O Lord, hear m y pray er; Giv e ear to m y supplication in Your truth;
    Answer m e in Your righteousness;

    2
         Do not enter into judgm ent with Your serv ant,

    For no one liv ing shall becom e righteous in Your sight.

    3
         For the enem y persecuted m y soul;

    He hum bled m y life to the ground;

    He caused m e to dwell in dark places as one long dead,

    4
         And m y spirit was in anguish within m e;

    My heart was troubled within m e.

    5
         I rem em bered the day s of old,

    And I m editated on all Your works;

    I m editated on the works of Your hands.

    6
         I spread out m y hands to You;

    My soul thirsts for You like a waterless land. (Pause)

    7
         Hear m e speedily , O Lord;

    My spirit faints within m e;

    Turn not Your face from m e,

    Lest I becom e like those who go down into the pit.

    8
         Cause m e to hear Your m ercy in the m orning,

    For I hope in You;

    Make m e know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk,

    For I lift up m y soul to You.

    9
         Deliv er m e from m y enem ies, O Lord,

    For to You I flee for refuge.

    10
         Teach m e to do Your will, for You are m y God;

    Your good Spirit shall guide m e in the land of uprightness.

    11
         For Your nam e's sake, O Lord, giv e m e life;
    In Your righteousness You shall bring m y soul out of affliction.

    12
         In Your m ercy You shall destroy m y enem ies;

    You shall utterly destroy all who afflict m y soul,

    For I am Your serv ant.

                                                             Psalm 143 (144)

1By David; against Goliath.†

    B lessed is the Lord m y God,
    Who trains m y hands for battle,

    My fingers for war;

    2
         He is m y m ercy and m y refuge,

    My helper and m y deliv erer,

    My protector in whom I hope,

    Who subjects m y people under m e.

    3
         O Lord, what is m an, that You are m ade known to him ,

    Or the son of m an, that You consider him ?

    4
         Man is becom e like v anity ,

    His day s like a passing shadow.

    5
         O Lord, bow down Your heav ens and descend;

    Touch the m ountains, and they shall sm oke;

    6
         Flash lightning, and You shall scatter them ;

    Shoot Your arrows, and You shall trouble them .

    7
         Send forth Your hand from on high;

    Deliv er m e and sav e m e from great waters,

    From the hand of the sons of foreigners,

    8
         Whose m outh speaks em pty things,

    And their right hand is the right hand of wrongdoing.

    9
         O God, I shall sing a new song to You;

    I shall play to You on a harp of ten strings,

    10
         To Him who giv es salv ation to kings,

    Who redeem s Dav id His serv ant from the ev il sword.

    11
         Deliv er m e and sav e m e from the hand of the sons of foreigners,

    Whose m outh speaks em pty things,

    And their right hand is a right hand of wrongdoing,
    12
         Whose sons are like new plants

    Matured in their y outh,

    Their daughters beautified,

    Adorned like a tem ple;

    13
         Their storehouses are full,

    Bursting forth with abundance on all sides;

    Their sheep giv e m any births,

    Multiply ing in their streets;

    14
         Their oxen are fat;

    There is no gap in their fence or passage,

    Nor outcry in their streets.

    15
         They call the people blessed, whose lot this is;

    But rather, blessed is the people

    Whose God is the Lord.

                                                            Psalm 144 (145)

1A praise by David.†ω

    I shall exalt You, m y God and m y King, And I shall bless Your nam e forev er and unto ages of ages.
    2
        Ev ery day I shall bless You

    And praise Your nam e forev er and unto ages of ages.

    3
        Great is the Lord and exceedingly praiseworthy ,

    And His greatness has no lim it.

    4
         Generation and generation shall praise Your works,

    And they shall declare Your power.

    5
        They shall speak of the m agnificence of the glory of Your holiness,

    And they shall describe Your wonders.

    6
         They shall also speak of the power of Your awesom e deeds

    And describe Your great m ajesty .

    7
        They shall ov erflow with the m em ory of Your rich goodness,

    And shall greatly rejoice in Your righteousness.

    8
         The Lord is gracious and m erciful,

    Longsuffering and abundant in m ercy .

    9
         The Lord is good to all,

    And His m ercies are upon all His works.
    10
         O Lord, let all Your works praise You

    And Your holy ones bless You.

    11
         They shall tell of Your kingdom 's glory ,

    And they shall speak of Your power,

    12
         That all the sons of m en m ay know Your power

    And the glory of Your kingdom 's m agnificence.

    13
         Your kingdom is a kingdom of all the ages,

    And Your dom inion is from generation to generation.

    The Lord is faithful in His words

    And holy in all His works.

    14
         The Lord supports all who stum ble

    And restores all who are broken down.

    15
         All ey es hope in You,

    And You giv e them their food in due season.

    16
         You open Your hand

    And fill ev ery liv ing thing with Your pleasure.

    17
         The Lord is righteous in all His way s

    And holy in all His works.

    18
         The Lord is near to all who call on Him ,

    To all who call upon Him in truth.

    19
         He shall do the will of those who fear Him ,

    And He shall hear their supplications and sav e them .

    20
         The Lord keeps all who lov e Him ,

    But all the sinners He shall utterly destroy .

    21
         My m outh shall speak the Lord's praise,

    And let all flesh bless His holy nam e

    Forev er and unto ages of ages.

                                                           Psalm 145 (146)

1Alleluia; of Aggeus and Zacharias.†ω

    P raise the Lord, O m y soul.
    2
     I shall praise the Lord while I liv e;

    I shall sing to m y God as long as I exist.

    3
         Do not trust in rulers and in the sons of m en,
    In whom there is no salv ation.

    4
         His breath shall go out of him , and he shall return to his earth;

    On that day all his thoughts shall perish.

    5
        Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob;

    His hope is in the Lord his God,

    6
         Who m ade heav en and earth,

    The sea and ev ery thing in them ,

    Who keeps truth forev er,

    7
        Who executes justice for the wronged,

    Who prov ides food for the hungry .

    The Lord frees those bound.

    8
         The Lord restores those broken down.

    The Lord giv es wisdom to the blind.

    The Lord lov es the righteous.

    9
         The Lord keeps watch ov er resident aliens.

    He shall adopt the orphan and the widow,

    But He shall destroy the way of sinners.

    10
         The Lord shall reign forev er:

    Your God, O Zion, to all generations.

                                                         Psalm 146 (147:1–11)

1Alleluia; of Aggeus and Zacharias.†

    P raise the Lord, for a psalm is a good thing;
    Let praise be sweet to our God.

    2
        The Lord is building Jerusalem ,

    And He shall gather together the dispersion of Israel;

    3
        He heals the brokenhearted

    And He binds up all their wounds.

    4
         He num bers the m ultitude of stars

    And calls them all by nam e.

    5
        Great is our Lord, and great is His strength;

    His understanding exceeds ev ery m easure.

    6
         The Lord raises up the gentle,

    But hum bles sinners to the ground.
    7
         Begin with thanksgiv ing to the Lord;

    Sing to our God with the harp,

    8
         To Him who cov ers heav en with clouds,

    Who prepares rain for the earth,

    Who m akes grass grow on the m ountains

    And the green growth for the serv ice of m en,

    9
         To Him who giv es the cattle their food

    And who giv es food to the nestlings of rav ens

    When they call upon Him .

    10
         He shall not take pleasure in the strength of a horse,

    Nor be pleased with the legs of a m an;

    11
         The Lord is pleased with those who fear Him ,

    And with those who hope in His m ercy .

                                                       Psalm 147 (147:12–20)

1Alleluia; of Aggeus and Zacharias.†

    P raise the Lord, O Jerusalem ;
    Praise y our God, O Zion,

    2
         For He strengthens the bars of y our gates;

    He blesses y our children within y ou;

    3
         He who grants y our borders peace,

    And fills y ou with the finest of wheat;

    4
         He who sends His teaching to earth

    Until His word shall run swiftly ,

    5
         Giv ing snow like wool,

    Sprinkling m ist like ashes,

    6
         Casting His ice like m orsels;

    Who shall withstand His winter?

    7
         He shall send His word and m elt them ;

    His wind shall blow, and the waters shall flow,

    8
         He who declares His word to Jacob,

    His ordinances and judgm ents to Israel.

    9
         He did not do so with other nations,

    Nor did He show His judgm ents to them .
                                                               Psalm 148

1Alleluia; of Aggeus and Zacharias.†ω

    P raise the Lord from the heav ens;
    Praise Him in the highest.

    2
         Praise Him , all y ou His angels;

    Praise Him , all y ou His hosts.

    3
         Praise Him , sun and m oon;

    Praise Him , all y ou stars and light.

    4
         Praise Him , y ou heav ens of heav ens,

    And y ou waters abov e the heav ens.

    5
         Let them praise the Lord's nam e,

    For He spoke, and they were m ade;

    He com m anded, and they were created.

    6
         He established them forev er and unto ages of ages;

    He set forth His ordinance, and it shall not pass away .

    7
         Praise the Lord from the earth,

    You dragons and all the deeps,

    8
         Fire and hail, snow and ice,

    Storm y wind, which perform His word,

    9
         Mountains and all the hills,

    Fruitful trees and all cedars,

    10
         Wild anim als and all cattle,

    Creeping things and fly ing birds,

    11
         Kings of the earth and all peoples,

    Princes and all judges of the earth,

    12
         Young m en and m aidens,

    Elders with y ounger,

    13
         Let them praise the Lord's nam e,

    For His nam e alone is exalted;

    His thanksgiv ing is in earth and heav en.

    14
         And He shall exalt the horn of His people,

    A hy m n for all His saints,

    For the children of Israel, a people who draw near to Him .
                                                                  Psalm 149

1Alleluia.

    S ing to the Lord a new song,
    His praise in the assem bly of His holy ones.

    2
        Let Israel be glad in Him who m ade him ,

    And let the children of Zion greatly rejoice in their King.

    3
        Let them praise His nam e with dance;

    With tam bourine and harp let them sing to Him ;

    4
        For the Lord is pleased with His people,

    And He shall exalt the gentle with salv ation.

    5
        The holy ones shall boast in glory ,

    And they shall greatly rejoice on their beds;

    6
        The high praise of God shall be in their m outh

    And a two-edged sword in their hand,

    7
        To deal retribution to the nations,

    Reprov ing am ong the peoples,

    8
        To shackle their kings with chains

    And their nobles with fetters of iron,

    9
        To fulfill am ong them the written judgm ent:

    This glory hav e all His holy ones.

                                                                  Psalm 150

1Alleluia.

    P raise God in His saints;
    Praise Him in the firm am ent of His power;

    2
        Praise Him for His m ighty acts;

    Praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness.

    3
        Praise Him with the sound of a trum pet;

    Praise Him with the harp and ly re;

    4
        Praise Him with tim brel and dance;

    Praise Him with strings and flute;

    5
        Praise Him with resounding cy m bals;

    Praise Him with trium phant cy m bals;
    6
        Let ev ery thing that breathes praise the Lord.

    Alleluia.

                                                             Psalm 151

1This is a psalm written with David's own hand, although outside the number, when he

fought in single combat with Goliath.†

    I was sm all am ong m y brothers And the y oungest in m y father's house;
    I tended m y father's sheep.

    2
        My hands built a m usical instrum ent;

    My fingers tuned a ly re.

    3
        And who shall tell m y Lord?

    The Lord Him self, He Him self hears.

    4
        He sent forth His Angel

    And took m e from m y father's sheep;

    And he anointed m e with his anointing oil.

    5
        My brothers were handsom e and tall,

    But the Lord took no pleasure in them .

    6
        I went out to m eet the foreigner,

    And he cursed m e with his idols;

    7
        But I drew his own sword and beheaded him ,

    And rem ov ed disgrace from the children of Israel.
                                           JOB
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Chapters in Job
Introduction

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40

41,42

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Verses in Job Chapter 1
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22

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Verses in Job Chapter 2
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18

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Verses in Job Chapter 3
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26

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Verses in Job Chapter 4
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21

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Verses in Job Chapter 5
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27

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Verses in Job Chapter 6
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

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Verses in Job Chapter 7
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21

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Verses in Job Chapter 8
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22

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Verses in Job Chapter 9
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35

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Verses in Job Chapter 10
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22

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Verses in Job Chapter 11
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

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Verses in Job Chapter 12
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25

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Verses in Job Chapter 13
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28

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Verses in Job Chapter 14
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22

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Verses in Job Chapter 15
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35

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Verses in Job Chapter 16
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22

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Verses in Job Chapter 17
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16

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Verses in Job Chapter 18
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21

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Verses in Job Chapter 19
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29

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Verses in Job Chapter 20
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29

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Verses in Job Chapter 21
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34

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Verses in Job Chapter 22
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

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Verses in Job Chapter 23
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17

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Verses in Job Chapter 24
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25

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Verses in Job Chapter 25
1,2,3,4,5,6

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Verses in Job Chapter 26
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14

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Verses in Job Chapter 27
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23

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Verses in Job Chapter 28
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28

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Verses in Job Chapter 29
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25

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Verses in Job Chapter 30
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31

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Verses in Job Chapter 31
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40

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Verses in Job Chapter 32
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22

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Verses in Job Chapter 33
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33

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Verses in Job Chapter 34
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36,37

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Verses in Job Chapter 35
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16

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Verses in Job Chapter 36
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33

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Verses in Job Chapter 37
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24

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Verses in Job Chapter 38
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40

41

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Verses in Job Chapter 39
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

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Verses in Job Chapter 40
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32

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Verses in Job Chapter 41
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26

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Verses in Job Chapter 42
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22

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                                                     The Book of Job

    Author   —An unknown and gifted ancient who had inspiration and knowledge that only
  God could reveal to him. The authorship is attributed to an Israelite because of the
  repeated use of God's covenant name: YHWH. As transliterated from the Hebrew, it is
  commonly rendered, “Yahweh.”

    Date   —There is some evidence that the life of Job was much earlier than the actual
  writing of the book. He is thought to have lived during the time of the patriarchs—
  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—approximately 1600 BC.

    Major Theme      —The justice of God in light of human suffering. The major theme of the
  Book of Job is the profound theological problem of how the suffering of a just man
  relates to God in the midst of his testing. The theme of theodicy is explored throughout
  the book, with Job's friends attempting to provide the explanation for his suffering. The
  character of Job is a type of Christ who suffers unjustly and is rewarded for his
  godliness.

    Background     —Although this book is considered a Wisdom book, it is written as a poetic
  dialogue in a prose-narrative literary style. It is the longest ancient Hebrew poem that
  has ever been known to be composed. There was much difficulty throughout history
  with the various translations of this book because of the unusual language and style.

  The Septuagint (Greek) translation is four hundred lines shorter than the accepted Hebrew
text, perhaps because sections were omitted that were not understood. The ancient Syriac
(Peshitta), Aramaic (Targum), and Latin (Vulgate) had similar translation difficulties.

  In the Church, Job's words have been given a unique place at the end of the Divine Liturgy:
“Blessed be the name of the Lord” (1:21).

 Outline

  I. Prologue (1 :1 –2 :1 8)

         A. Job's blessings (1 :1 –5)

         B. Job's testing (1 :6 –2 :1 8)

  II. The Dialogues and Speeches (3 :1 –2 7 :2 3 )

         A. Job's lam ent (3 :1 –2 6 )
         B. First cy cle of speeches (4 :1 –1 4 :2 2 )

         C. Second cy cle of speeches (1 5:1 –2 1 :3 4 )

         D. Third cy cle of speeches (2 2 :1 –2 6 :1 4 )

         E. Job's closing discourse (2 7 :1 –2 3 )

  III. Interlude on Wisdom (2 8:1 –2 8)

 IV. Monologues (2 9 :1 –4 2 :6 )

         A. Job's cry for v indication (2 9 :1 –3 1 :4 0)

         B. Elihu's speeches (3 2 :1 –3 7 :2 4 )

         C. Discourses between God and Job (3 8:1 –4 2 :6 )

  V. Epilogue (4 2 :7 –2 2 )

         A. God's v erdict (4 2 :7 –9 )

         B. Job's restoration (4 2 :1 0–2 2 )



                                                   Faithful Job and His Children


1 There was a man in the land of Ausitis whose name was Job. That man was true,
  blameless, righteous, and God-fearing, and he abstained from every evil thing.†ω 2Now he
had seven sons and three daughters, 3and his cattle consisted of seven thousand sheep, three
thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys in the
pastures. Moreover he possessed a very large number of house servants. His works were also
great on the earth, and that man was the most noble of all the men of the East.

   4His sons would visit one another and prepare a banquet every day, and invite their three

sisters to eat and drink with them. 5When the days of their drinking were ended, Job sent
and purified them; and he rose early in the morning and offered sacrifices for them according
to their number, as well as one calf for the sins of their souls. For Job said, “Lest my sons
consider evil things in their mind against God.” Therefore Job did this continually.

                                                   Satan Is Permitted to Test Job

  6Then as it so happened one day that behold, the angels of God came to present themselves

before the Lord, and the devil also came with them.† 7The Lord said to the devil, “Where did
you come from?” So the devil answered the Lord and said, “I came here after going about the
earth and walking around under heaven.”† 8Then the Lord said to him, “Have you yet
considered my servant Job, since there is none like him on the earth: a blameless, true, and
God-fearing man, and one who abstains from every evil thing?” 9So the devil answered and
said before the Lord, “Does Job worship the Lord for no reason? 10Have You not made a
hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have
blessed the work of his hands, and his cattle have increased in the land.† 11But stretch out
Your hand and touch all he has, and see if he will bless You to Your face.” 12Then the Lord
said to the devil, “Behold, whatever he has I give into your hand; but do not touch him.” Thus
the devil went out from the Lord.

                             Job Loses His Children and Property

  13Now there was a day when Job's sons and daughters were drinking wine in the house of

their elder brother,†ω 14and behold, a messenger came to Job and said, “The yokes of oxen
were plowing, and the female donkeys were feeding beside them. 15Then raiders came and
took them captive and killed the servants with the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell
you!” 16While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said to Job, “Fire fell from
heaven and burned up the sheep, and likewise consumed the shepherds; and I alone have
escaped to tell you!” 17While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said,
“Horsemen formed three bands against us, surrounded the camels, took them captive, and
killed the servants with the sword. I alone have escaped to tell you!” 18While he was still
speaking, another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and
drinking wine with their elder brother, 19and suddenly a great wind came from the desert and
struck the four corners of the house; and it fell on your children, and they died; and I alone
have escaped to tell you!”

  20Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved off the hair of his head; and he fell to the

ground and worshiped, saying,† 21“Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I
return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. As it seemed good to the Lord, so also it
came to pass. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

  22In all these things that happened, Job did not sin against the Lord or charge God with

folly.†

                                    Job Loses His Health


2 Then  again as it so happened another day, the angels of God came to present themselves
  before the Lord, and the devil also came among them to present himself before the Lord.ω
2The Lord said to the devil, “Where did you come from?” Then the devil said before the Lord,

“I came here from walking around under heaven and going about all the earth.”† 3Then the
Lord said to the devil, “Have you considered my servant Job, since there is none like him on
the earth: an innocent, true, blameless, and God-fearing man, and one who abstains from
every evil thing? Moreover he still holds fast to his integrity, though you told me to destroy
his possessions without cause.”

  4Then the devil answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin. Whatever a man has he will pay

in full for his life.† 5Yet truly, stretch out Your hand and touch his bones and his flesh, and
see if he will bless You to Your face.” 6So the Lord said to the devil, “Behold, I give him over
to you; only spare his life.” 7Thus the devil went out from the Lord and struck Job with
malignant sores from head to foot.† 8So he took a potsherd to scrape away the discharge and
sat on a dunghill outside the city.†

  9When a period of time passed, his wife said to him, “How long will you hold out, saying,†
10‘Behold, I will wait a little longer, looking for the hope of my salvation’? 11Listen, your
memory is wiped out from the earth: your sons and daughters, the pangs and pains of my
womb, which I suffered in vain and with hardships. 12You yourself are sitting down, spending
the nights in the open air among the rottenness of worms; 13and I go about as a wanderer
and a handmaid from place to place and from house to house, waiting for the setting of the
sun, so as to rest from my labors and pains that now beset me. 14But say a word against the
Lord and die!” 15Then Job looked at her and said, “You have spoken as one of the foolish
women speaks. If we accepted good things from the Lord's hand, shall we not endure evil
things?” In all these things that happened to him, Job did not sin with his lips against God.†

                                   Job's Friends Visit Him

  16Now when Job's three friends heard of all the evil things that had come upon him, each
one came to him from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite king, Bildad the Shuhite ruler,
and Zophar the Naamathite king. For they came to him with one accord: to visit and comfort
him.† 17Now when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him; and they cried
with a loud voice and wept. Each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head. 18So they
sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke to him, for
they saw that his affliction was terrible and very great.
                                                   Job Curses His Day of Birth

    After this, Job opened his mouth† 2and cursed his day, saying:
3
     3
          “May the day perish on which I was born,

     And the night in which they said, ‘Behold, a m ale child.’

     4
          May that day be darkness,

     And m ay the Lord not regard it from abov e;

     Nor m ay the light com e upon it.

     5
          May darkness and the shadow of death seize it;

     May a cloud settle on it.

     6
          May that day and night be cursed;

     May darkness carry it away ;

     May it not com e into the day s of the y ear;

     May it not be num bered with the day s of the m onth.

     7
          But m ay that night be sorrow,

     And m ay no gladness com e upon it, nor joy .

     8
          But m ay he who curses that day curse it,

     Ev en he who is about to subdue the great sea-m onster. †

     9
          May the stars of that night be darkened,

     And m ay it rem ain dark.

     May it not com e into the light,

     And m ay it not see the m orning star arise;

     10
          Because it did not shut up the doors of m y m other's wom b,

     For it would hav e rem ov ed sorrow from m y ey es.

     11
          Why did I not die in the wom b?

     Why did I not perish im m ediately when I cam e from the wom b?

     12
          Why did the knees receiv e m e,

     And why did I nurse the breasts?

     13
          For now I would hav e been ly ing down and quiet;

     I would hav e slept and been at rest

     14
          With kings and counselors of the earth

     Who were insolent with their swords,

     15
          Or with rulers who had abundant gold

     And filled their houses with silv er;
    16
         Or I would hav e been like an untim ely birth

    Proceeding from his m other's wom b,

    Or like infants who nev er saw the light.

    17
         There the ungodly hav e burnt out the fury of wrath;

    There the weary in body are at rest.

    18
         There m en of ancient tim es hav e ceased together

    To hear the v oice of those who collect taxes.

    19
         The sm all and great are there,

    And the serv ant who feared his m aster.

    20
         Why is light giv en to those in bitterness,

    And life to souls in pain, †

    21
         Who long for death, but do not obtain it,

    Digging for it like treasures, †

    22
         And would be v ery joy ful if they could obtain it?

    23
         Death is a rest to such a m an,

    For God is against him .

    24
         For groaning com es before m y food;

    And I weep and am oppressed with terror.

    25
         For the terror I was concerned about cam e to m e,

    And what I feared happened to m e;

    26
         Neither was I at peace or quiet, nor at rest,

    For wrath cam e upon m e.”

                                                         Eliphaz Accuses Job


4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
    2
        “Hav e y ou been often spoken to in distress?

    But now who shall endure the force of y our words?

    3
        For though y ou instructed m any ,

    And strengthened the hands of the weak one, †

    4
         And raised up the sick with y our words,

    And im parted courage to feeble knees,

    5
        Yet now pain has com e upon y ou and touched y ou;

    And y ou are anxious.

    6
         Is not y our fear, y our hope,
And the integrity of y our way of life changed into folly ?

7
     Can y ou rem em ber any one pure who has perished,

Or true people who were altogether uprooted?†

8
     According to what I hav e seen,

those who plow harm ful things and those who sow them

Will reap pain for them selv es.

9
     They will perish by the com m and of the Lord,

And they will be destroy ed by the breath of His wrath.

10
     The strength of the lion, the v oice of the lioness,

And the exulting cry of dragons are extinguished.

11
     The old lion has perished for lack of prey ,

And the cubs of the lioness hav e left one another.

12
     “But if there had been any truth in y our words,

None of these ev ils would hav e befallen y ou.

Shall not m y ear receiv e extraordinary things from him ?

13
     But just as when terror falls upon m en

With dread at a noise in the night, †

14
     Shiv ering and trem bling befell m e

And caused m y bones to shake.

15
     Then a spirit cam e before m y face,

And m y hair and flesh shook with fear.

16
     I arose, but could not recognize it.

I looked, and there was no form before m y ey es,

But rather a gentle breeze, and a v oice, say ing,

17
     ‘What? Shall a m ortal m an be pure in the Lord's sight,

Or blam eless before Him in his works?

18
     If He puts no trust in His serv ants,

And if He observ es a perv erse way in His angels,

19
     How m uch m ore those who dwell in houses of clay ,

Of whom we also are form ed of the sam e clay ?

Does not He sm ite them like a m oth?

20
     They no longer exist from m orning till ev ening;

They hav e perished, for they cannot help them selv es.

21
     For He blows upon them , and they are withered.

They hav e perished for lack of wisdom .’
                                    Blessed Is He Whom God Has Reproved

5 “But call out, if there is any one who will obey y ou,
Or if y ou shall see any of the holy angels. †

2
     For wrath destroy s a foolish m an,

And env y slay s one who is deceiv ed.

3
     I hav e seen foolish people taking root,

But suddenly their m ode of life consum ed them .

4
     May their children be far from salv ation,

May they be derided at the gates of worse people,

And m ay there be no one to deliv er them .

5
     For the righteous will eat what they hav e gathered,

But they them selv es will not be deliv ered from calam ities.

Their strength will be exhausted.

6
     For trouble does not com e from the earth,

Nor does suffering spring from the m ountains;

7
     Yet m an is born for trouble

As the y oung bird is born to fly to high places.

8
     But surely as for m e, I will beseech the Lord,

And call upon the Lord and Master of all,

9
     Who does great, incom prehensible,

And m arv elous things without num ber.

10
     He causes rain on the earth

And sends water on all the places under the heav en.

11
     He sets the lowly on high

And raises up the lost.

12
     He frustrates the counsels of the crafty

So their hands cannot carry out their plans.

13
     He catches the wise in their craftiness

And subv erts the counsel of the cunning.

14
     Let them encounter darkness in the day tim e,

And m ay they grope at noontim e as though it were night.

15
     May they perish in war,

But m ay the weak escape from the hand of the m ighty .

16
     May the weak hav e hope,
    And m ay the m outh of the unrighteous be stopped.

    17
         “But blessed is the m an whom God corrects;

    Therefore, do not reject the chastening of the Alm ighty .

    18
         For He causes a m an to be in pain,

    But He restores him again.

    He sm ites, but His hands heal.

    19
         Six tim es He shall deliv er y ou out of troubles,

    And in sev en no harm shall touch y ou.

    20
         In fam ine He shall deliv er y ou from death,

    And in war He shall free y ou from the power of the sword.

    21
         He shall hide y ou from the scourge of the tongue,

    And y ou shall not be afraid of ev ils when they com e.

    22
         You shall laugh at the unrighteous and the lawless,

    And y ou shall not be afraid of the wild anim als of the earth.

    23
         For the wild anim als of the field shall be at peace with y ou.

    24
         Then y ou shall know y our house will be at peace with y ou;

    And in y our dwelling place there shall be nothing am iss.

    25
         You shall also know y our seed shall be m any ,

    And y our children shall be like the grass of the earth.

    26
         You shall com e to the grav e as grain reaped in its season,

    Or as a heap of threshed wheat harv ested at the proper tim e.

    27
         Behold, we hav e searched this out;

    This is what we hav e heard.

    Know for y ourself if y ou hav e done any thing wrong.”

                                                         Mercy Has Rejected Me


6 But Job answered and said:
    2
        “I wish there were som eone who would weigh the wrath upon m e,

    And at the sam e tim e lift up m y griefs on a scale. †

    3
        For indeed they would be heav ier than the sand of the seashore;

    But as it seem s, m y words are worthless.

    4
         For the arrows of the Lord are in m y body ,

    Whose anger drinks m y blood;

    For when I begin to speak, they pierce m e.
5
     What then? Will the wild donkey bray for no reason

If he is not seeking food?

Or will the ox m oo at the m anger when it has fodder?†

6
     Will bread be eaten without salt?

Or is there any taste in em pty words?

7
     My soul cannot stop groaning,

For I see m y food to be like the sm ell of a lion.

8
     “Would that m y request would com e about,

And the Lord would grant m y hope.

9
     Let the Lord begin and wound m e,

But let Him not utterly destroy m e.

10
     May the grav e be m y city upon the walls which I hav e leaped.

I will not turn away from it,

For I hav e not lied about the holy words of m y God. †

11
     What strength do I hav e, that I should continue?

For how long would m y soul endure?†

12
     Is m y strength the strength of stones?

Or is m y flesh m ade of bronze?

13
     Or hav e I not trusted in Him ?

But help is far from m e.

14
     “Mercy has rejected m e;

And the v isitation of the Lord has disregarded m e.

15
     My relativ es pay no attention to m e.

They pass m e by like a wav e,

Or as though I were a failing brook.

16
     Those who once rev erenced m e

Now look upon m e like snow or frozen ice.

17
     For when it m elts at the approach of the heat,

It is no longer recognized for what it was.

18
     Thus I hav e been forsaken by all,

But I am also lost and hom eless. †

19
     Look at the way s of Tem anites,

You who m ark the paths of Sabeans.

20
     Those who put their trust in cities and wealth

Will be debtors to sham e.
21
     But y ou hav e also com e to m e without m ercy ,

That seeing m y wound y ou were afraid.

22
     What? Hav e I ev er m ade any dem and of y ou?

Or do I need y our strength

23
     To deliv er m e from enem ies,

Or to rescue m e from the hand of the m ighty ?

24
     “Teach m e, and I will keep quiet.

Tell m e wherein I hav e erred.

25
     But as it seem s, the words of a true m an are worthless,

For I do not ask strength of y ou.

26
     Neither will y our rebuke cause m e to cease m y words,

Nor will I endure the sound of y our word.

27
     Nev ertheless y ou attack the orphan,

And y ou jum p on y our friend.

28
     Now therefore, after I looked on y our faces, I will not lie.

29
     Sit down now, and m ay there be no wrongdoing;

And com e together again with a righteous m an.

30
     There is no wrongdoing on m y tongue,

Or does not m y throat cultiv ate understanding?

                                                            My Life Is Vain

7 “Is not the life of a m an on earth an ordeal?
Is not his life also like the life of a hired m an working by the day ,

2
    Or like a serv ant who fears his m aster,

Or like one who grasps for a shadow,

Or like a hired m an who eagerly looks for his wages?

3
    So I hav e been enduring m onths of futility ,

And agonizing nights hav e been appointed for m e.

4
     When I lie down, I say , ‘When will it be day ?’

When I arise, I say , ‘When will it be ev ening?’

I am full of pains from ev ening to m orning.

5
    My body is cov ered with loathsom e worm s,

And I am wasting away

As I scrape off clods of dust from m y eruption.

6
     “My life is lighter than speech
And perishes with an em pty hope.

7
     Rem em ber then, m y life is a breath,

And m y ey e will no longer return to see good.

8
     The ey e of him who sees m e will not see m e again;

Your ey es are on m e, I am no m ore. †

9
     I am like the cloud that cleared away from the sky ,

For if a m an goes down to Hades, he shall not com e up again.

10
     He shall not return to his own house,

Nor shall his place know him any m ore.

11
     “Now then, neither will I restrain m y m outh.

I will speak by necessity ,

Because I will disclose the bitterness of m y soul

When I am oppressed. †

12
     Am I a sea, or a serpent,

That You set a guard ov er m e?†

13
     I said, ‘My bed will com fort m e,

And on m y couch I will counsel priv ately with m y self.’

14
     You scare m e with dream s and terrify m e with v isions.

15
     You will separate life from m y spirit,

Yet keep m y bones from death.

16
     For I will not liv e forev er, that I should patiently endure.

Let m e alone, for m y life is v ain.

17
     “What is m an, that You should exalt him ,

Or that You should set Your heart on him ,

18
     Or that You should v isit him ev ery m orning

And judge him till the tim e of rest?

19
     How long will You neither let m e alone,

Nor let m e go until I swallow m y saliv a in grief?

20
     If I hav e sinned, what can I do to You,

O You who understand the heart of m en?

Why hav e You set m e as Your accuser?

Why am I a burden to You?†

21
     Why then hav e You not forgotten m y lawlessness

And purged m y sin?

But now I will depart into the earth,
    And in the m orning I will no longer be here.”

                                               Bildad: The Ungodly Will Perish


8 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:†
    2
         “How long will y ou speak these things,

    And the breath of y our m outh be filled with words?

    3
         Will the Lord do wrong when He judges,

    Or will He who m ade all things trouble righteousness?

    4
         If y our sons sinned against Him ,

    He sent them away because of their lawlessness.

    5
         But com e early in the m orning

    And m ake y our supplication to the Lord Alm ighty .

    6
         If y ou are pure and true, He will hear y our supplication

    And restore to y ou the dwelling of the righteous.

    7
         Though y our beginning shall be sm all,

    Your latter end will be abundantly great.

    8
         For inquire about the form er generation

    And search am ong the race of our fathers;

    9
         For we are of y esterday and know nothing,

    Because our life on earth is a shadow.

    10
         Will they not teach y ou and proclaim to y ou,

    And bring forth words from their heart?

    11
         “Can the papy rus bloom without water,

    Or can the reeds flourish without m oisture?†

    12
         While it is still on the root and not y et harv ested,

    Does not any v egetation wither before it receiv es m oisture?

    13
         So shall be the end of all who forget the Lord,

    For the hope of the ungodly shall perish.

    14
         For his house shall be without inhabitants,

    And his tent shall turn out to be a spider's web.

    15
         If he props up his house, it will not stand,

    And when he takes hold of it, it will not endure.

    16
         For it is m oist under the sun,

    And his branch shall com e forth out of his rottenness.
   17
        He shall lie down upon a pile of rocks

   And shall liv e in the m idst of flints.

   18
        If he is swallowed up, his place shall deny him .

   You hav e not seen such things,

   19
        “That such is the destruction of the ungodly ,

   And out of the earth another will grow up again.

   20
        For the Lord will not cast off the innocent,

   Nor will He accept any gift of an ungodly m an.

   21
        He will fill the m outh of the true with laughter

   And their lips with thanksgiv ing.

   22
        But their enem ies will be clothed with sham e,

   And the dwelling of an ungodly m an will be no m ore.”

                                                         Job Has No Mediator


9 Then Job answered and said:
   2
       “I know that is true,

   But how can a m ortal m an be righteous before the Lord?†

   3
       If he should wish to enter into judgm ent with Him ,

   The Lord would not listen to him ,

   For he could not answer to one out of a thousand of His charges.

   4
        He is wise in m ind and m ighty and great.

   Who has hardened him self against Him and endured?

   5
       He who m akes the m ountains old, and m en do not know it;

   He who ov erturns them in His wrath;†

   6
        He who shakes the earth under heav en from its foundations,

   And its pillars trem ble;

   7
       He who com m ands the sun, and it does not rise;

   He who seals off the stars;

   8
        He who alone stretches out heav en;

   He who walks on the sea as on firm ground;†

   9
        He who m akes Pleiades, Hesperus, and Arcturus,

   And the cham bers of the south;†

   10
        He who does great and unsearchable things,

   Glorious and m arv elous things without num ber.
11
     If He goes bey ond m e, I do not see Him ;

If He passes by m e, I do not perceiv e Him ;

12
     If He takes away , who can turn Him back?

Who can say to Him , ‘What hav e You done?’

13
     For if He turns away His wrath,

The great sea creatures under heav en lie prostrate beneath Him .

14
     “Would then that He would hear m e, or judge m y words.

15
     For though I be righteous, He will not listen to m e.

I will entreat His judgm ent. †

16
     If I should call, and He hears m e,

I would not believ e He is listening to m e.

17
     Let Him not destroy m e with darkness,

But He has caused m y great destruction to no purpose.

18
     For He will not allow m e to draw breath,

But has filled m e with bitterness.

19
     For if He is strong in power,

Who then can resist His judgm ent?

20
     For though I were righteous, m y m outh will be im pious;

And though I were blam eless, I will be perv erse.

21
     “If I am ungodly , I do not know it in m y soul,

But m y life is taken away .

22
     Therefore I said, ‘Wrath destroy s the great and the m ighty .’

23
     The wrongdoers die v iolently ,

But the righteous are laughed to scorn.

24
     For they are deliv ered into the hands of the ungodly m an.

He cov ers the faces of the judges of the earth.

If it is not He, who else could it be?

25
     “Now m y life passes swifter than a runner;

My day s hav e fled away , and they do not see it.

26
     Do the ships leav e a m ark of their path?

Or does a fly ing eagle leav e a trace of its soaring as it seeks its prey ?

27
     If I say , ‘I will forget to speak,’

I will bow down m y face and groan.

28
     I shake with fear in all m y lim bs;

I know You will not leav e m e as innocent.
29
     But since I am ungodly , why hav e I not died?

30
     If I should wash m y self with snow

And cleanse m y self with pure hands,

31
     You hav e fully im m ersed m e in filth,

And m y garm ent detests m e.

32
     “For You are not a m an, as I am ,

With whom I could contend,

That we should go to judgm ent together.

33
     Would that we had a m ediator who would cross-exam ine

And hear the case between us.

34
     Let Him rem ov e the rod from m e,

And do not let the fear of Him distress m e.

35
     Then I will not be afraid, but will speak,

For I am not conscious of any guilt.

                                           Lord, Why Have You Judged Me?

10 “Since I am weary and groaning in m y soul,
I will let loose m y words to Him .

Because I am distressed,

I will speak in the bitterness of m y soul. †

2
    I will say to the Lord, ‘Do not teach m e to be ungodly .

Why hav e You thus judged m e?

3
    Is it good before You if I do wrong,

And that You renounce the work of Your hands,

And giv e heed to the counsel of the ungodly ?

4
     Do You see as the m ortal sees?

Do You see as m an sees?

5
    Is Your life hum an life?

Are Your y ears like the y ears of a m an,

6
     That You exam ined m y lawlessness

And searched out m y sins?

7
    You know I hav e not acted im piously ,

But who is he who can deliv er from Your hands?

8
     ‘Your hands fashioned and m ade m e;

Then You changed Your m ind and struck m e. †
9
     Rem em ber that You fashioned m e as clay ,

But You are turning m e back to earth again. †

10
     Did You not squeeze m e out like m ilk

And curdle m e like cheese?

11
     You clothed m e with skin and flesh,

And knit m e together with bones and sinews.

12
     You granted m e life and m ercy ,

And Your v isitation has guarded m y spirit.

13
     ‘Since You hav e these things in Yourself,

I know You are able to do all things;

For nothing is im possible for You.

14
     For if I sin, You watch m e;

And because of m y lawlessness

You will not consider m e innocent.

15
     For if I am ungodly , woe to m e,

And if I am righteous, I cannot lift up m y head;

For I am full of dishonor.

16
     I am trapped like a lion for slaughter;

For again You hav e changed, and You are destroy ing m e.

17
     You renewed m y affliction upon m e,

And dealt with m e in great wrath;

For You brought sev ere ordeals upon m e.

18
     ‘Why then did You bring m e out of the wom b?

Why did I not die, and no ey e see m e?

19
     Why hav e I becom e as though I had not been?

For why was I not carried from the wom b to the grav e?

20
     Is not the tim e of m y life short?

Allow m e to rest a little†

21
     Before I go to the place from which I shall not return,

To an obscure and dark land,

22
     To a land of eternal darkness, where there is no light,

Neither can any one see the life of m ortals.’ ” †

                                                   Job Rebuked by Zophar
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:†
    2
         “He who speaks m uch should also listen in turn,

    Or does the fluent speaker think him self to be righteous?

    Blessed is the short-liv ed offspring of a wom an.

    3
         Do not be wordy in y our speech,

    For there is no one to reply to y ou.

    4
         Do not say , ‘I am pure in m y works

    And blam eless before Him .’

    5
         But how does the Lord speak to y ou?

    He will open His lips against y ou.

    6
         Then He will declare to y ou the power of wisdom ,

    For it shall be double in y our case.

    At that tim e y ou will know a worthy recom pense

    Has com e to y ou from the Lord because of y our sins.

    7
         Will y ou find the traces of the Lord?

    Hav e y ou reached the outer extrem ities

    Of what the Alm ighty has m ade?

    8
         Heav en is high, and what will y ou do?

    And what do y ou know,

    For there are ev en deeper things in Hades?

    9
         Do y ou know those dim ensions

    That are longer than the earth and broader than the sea?

    10
         If He should ov erthrow ev ery thing,

    Who then will say to Him , ‘What hav e You done?’

    11
         For He knows the works of the lawless;

    And when He sees wrongs, He shall not ov erlook them .

    12
         But m an v ainly swim s in words,

    And a m ortal born of a wom an is equal to a donkey in the desert.

    13
         If y ou hav e m ade y our heart pure

    And stretch out y our hands toward Him ,

    14
         If som ething lawless is done by y our hands,

    Put it far away from y ou;

    And do not let any wrongdoing lodge in y our dwelling.

    15
         For in this way , y our face will shine forth like pure water,
   For y ou will cleanse away the filth. You will not fear.

   16
        Then y ou will forget this hardship

   Like a wav e that has passed away ;

   And y ou will not be terrified.

   17
        Your pray er will be like the m orning star.

   At m idday , life will rise to y ou.

   18
        You will be confident because y ou hav e hope;

   And peace shall bring light to y ou out of anxiety and care.

   19
        You will also be at rest,

   And there will be no one to fight against y ou.

   Many will change their m ind about y ou and supplicate y ou.

   20
        But salv ation will forsake them , for their hope will be lost,

   And the ey es of the ungodly will m elt away .”

                                                          Job Chides His Critics


12 Then Job answered and said:
   2
       “Moreov er y ou are m en.

   Surely wisdom will die with y ou?

   3
       But I also hav e a heart as well as y ou.

   4
        “A righteous and blam eless m an

   Has becom e an object of m ockery .

   5
       For it had been ordained that he should fall

   Under the power of others at the appointed tim e,

   And his houses should be plundered by the lawless. †

   6
        Let not, howev er, any one be persuaded

   That, if he is ev il, he will be held innocent.

   Let not those who prov oke the Lord

   Be persuaded there will be no trial for them .

   7
       “But now ask the four-footed anim als if they m ay speak to y ou,

   And the birds of the air if they m ay report it to y ou.

   8
        Tell the earth if it m ay interpret it to y ou,

   And the fish of the sea will explain to y ou.

   9
        Who am ong all these does not know

   The hand of the Lord created them ,
10
     That in His hand is the life of ev ery liv ing thing,

And the breath of ev ery m an?

11
     For indeed, the ear discerns words,

And the palate tastes wheat.

12
     In length of tim e is wisdom ,

And in long life, knowledge.

13
     “With Him are wisdom and power;

With Him are counsel and understanding.

14
     If He tears down a house, who will build it up again?

If He closes a door against m en, who will open it?

15
     If He withholds the water, He will dry up the earth;

If He lets it loose, He will destroy and ruin it. †

16
     With Him are m ight and strength.

He has knowledge and understanding.

17
     He leads counselors away captiv e

And m akes fools of judges.

18
     He sets kings upon thrones

And binds their waist with a belt.

19
     He sends priests away into captiv ity

And ov erthrows the m ighty of the earth.

20
     He changes the lips of the faithful

And knows the understanding of elders.

21
     He pours dishonor on rulers

And heals the hum ble.

22
     He uncov ers deep things out of darkness

And has brought into light the shadow of death. †

23
     He leads the nations astray and destroy s them .

He ov erthrows the nations and leads them away .

24
     He changes the hearts of rulers

And leads them astray in a way they hav e not known.

25
     May they grope in darkness,

And m ay they go astray like a drunken m an.

13 “Behold, m y ey e has seen all these things,
And m y ear has heard them . †

2
     What y ou know, I also know;
I am not of lesser understanding than y ou.

3
     Nev ertheless I will speak to the Lord

And will reason before Him if He wills.

4
     For y ou are all dishonest phy sicians and healers of diseases.

5
     But would that y ou were silent,

For it would lead y ou to wisdom .

6
     Hear the conv iction of m y m outh

And heed the judgm ent of m y lips.

7
     Do y ou not speak before the Lord

And utter deceit before Him ?

8
     Will y ou draw back?

But y ou y ourselv es be judges.

9
     Would it be well for y ou if He searched y ou out?

For if y ou m ake ev ery effort to join y ourselv es to Him ,

10
     He will surely rebuke y ou if y ou also secretly show fav oritism .

11
     Will not His terror m ake y ou dizzy

And His fear fall upon y ou?

12
     In the end, y our insolence will go away like ashes

And y our body like clay .

13
     “Be silent, that I m ay speak

And put m y anger to rest,

14
     So I m ay take m y flesh in m y teeth

And put m y life in m y hand.

15
     Though the Mighty One should lay His hand upon m e,

And already He has begun,

I will speak and reason before Him .

16
     This will turn for m e into salv ation,

For there shall be no deceit before Him .

17
     Listen, listen to m y words,

For I will report them in y our hearing. †

18
     Behold, I am near m y judgm ent:

I know I shall appear righteous.

19
     Who is he who will judge m e,

That I should now be silent and be wanting?

                                                       Job's Prayer to God
20
     “Grant m e two things,

Then I will not hide m y face from You:

21
     Withdraw Your hand far from m e,

And let not the fear of You terrify m e.

22
     Then You will call, and I will obey You;

Or You will speak, then I will giv e You an answer.

23
     How m any are m y sins and transgressions?

Teach m e what they are.

24
     Why do You hide Yourself from m e

And regard m e as Your enem y ?

25
     Will You take heed of m e as a leaf shaken by the wind?

Or will You set Yourself against m e as grass blown by the wind?

26
     For You wrote ev il things against m e

And com passed m e with the sins of m y y outh.

27
     You hav e put m y foot in the stocks,

Hav e watched all m y works,

And hav e penetrated into the roots of m y feet,

28
     Which hav e becom e old like a wineskin

Or like a m oth-eaten garm ent.

14 “For m ortal m an born of wom an Is short-liv ed and full of wrath.
2
    He falls like a flower that bloom s,

And like a shadow, he does not continue.

3
    Hav e You not taken account of him

And brought him to judgm ent before You?

4
     For who shall be pure from uncleanness? No one.

5
    Ev en if his life is but one day upon the earth,

His m onths are num bered by You.

You appointed a tim e for him , and he cannot exceed it. †

6
     Depart from him that he m ay rest,

And let him be pleased with his life as a hired laborer.

                                                   I Will Wait until I Arise!

7
    “For there is hope for a tree, ev en if it is cut down,

That it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail. †
8
     For though its root m ay grow old in the earth

And its stum p m ay die in the rocky ground,

9
     Yet at the scent of water it will bud

And bring forth a crop like one newly planted.

10
     But a m an who dies is utterly gone,

And when a m ortal has fallen, he is no m ore.

11
     For in tim e the sea is drawn down,

And a riv er stops flowing,

And the riv er bed dries up.

12
     So too, when m an falls asleep in death, he will not rise,

For the dead will not awake until heav en is dissolv ed.

13
     “For would that You had kept m e in the grav e,

That You had hidden m e until Your wrath ceases,

And that You would appoint m e a set tim e

In which You would rem em ber m e.

14
     For will m an liv e again

After he com pletes his course of life and dies?

I will wait until I arise. †

15
     Then You will call, and I will answer You,

But do not cast away the works of Your hands.

16
     For You hav e num bered m y practices,

And not one of m y sins will escape You.

17
     You sealed up m y lawlessness in a bag

And m arked if I transgressed unwillingly . †

18
     “Truly a m ountain falls and crum bles in pieces;

And a rock wears out in its place.

19
     Waters wear away stones,

And ov erflowing torrents wash away the soil of the earth;

And You destroy the duration of m an.

20
     You push him to his end, and he is gone.

You set y our face against him and send him away .

21
     If his children m ultiply them selv es, he does not know it,

And if they be few, he does not perceiv e it.

22
     But the m uscles of his body feel pain,

And his soul griev es.
                                 LIFE AFTER DEATH

For the ancient Hebrews, death meant a return to the same earth from which all are taken:
“For earth you are, and to the earth you shall return” (Gn 3:19; Job 7:21). Nevertheless, a
general idea developed that the souls of the dead do continue, though only in a shadowy,
semi-comatose kind of existence in a netherworld called sheol, or Hades (Gn 37:34, 35; Pss
114:3, 138:8; Is 14:9–11), a land of “oblivion” (Ps 87:10–12; Job 14:18–22). In sheol—the
depths or abyss of the earth, “the Pit”—even the righteous dead abide, without any power of
deliverance (Job 7:6–10; Ps 88:48; Is 38:18; Ezk 26:19–21). Yet there was at least a general
hope that one’s memory would be kept alive by one’s community and descendants (Ps 111:1–
6; Pr 10:7; Dt 25:5, 6).

  Only gradually did God reveal glimpses of a glorious life after death to His people, a hope
that would become available to all through the power of Christ’s Resurrection. An early hint
of this coming hope was revealed to Job. Amid his terrible suffering, Job asks, “If a man dies,
shall he live again?” And through a flash of divine insight, he says: “I will wait until I arise”
(Job 14:14). Psalms also begin to reflect upon personal resurrection to everlasting life (Ps
15:8–11; 48:15; 70:20–23; 90:1–16).

  The first indications of a corporate resurrection of the people of Israel are given in the 8th
century BC through Hosea (Hos 6:1–3; 13:14) and Isaiah (Is 26:19). In the early 6th century
BC, Ezekiel receives the dramatic vision of a miraculous reconstitution of “the whole house
of Israel” on the plain covered with dry bones (Ezk 37:1–14). The Church reads this passage
triumphantly on Great and Holy Saturday. Why? Because it is prophetic of the freeing of all
the souls from Hades by Christ on that day (1Pt 3:19; Eph 4:8–10) and the general
resurrection of all the dead on the last day.

  By the late first century BC, as seen in the Wisdom of Solomon, immortality is directly
linked with living in wisdom and righteousness: “Kinship with Wisdom is immortality”
(WSol 8:17); “The righteous shall live forever” (WSol 5:15; see also 1:13–15; 2:22, 23; 6:17–
21). Various passages from this book (WSol 3:1–9; 4:7–15; 5:15—6:3) are read at Vespers in
commemoration of some of the more prominent saints.

  At the time of Christ, the Sadducees rejected belief in an afterlife (see Mt 22:23), while the
Pharisees did believe in resurrection and immortality (Acts 23:6–8). It was the Pharisees’
view which came to dominate in later Judaism. Lazarus’ sister Martha knew about a general
“resurrection at the last day” (Jn 11:24), but Jesus declares to her that resurrection and
eternal life come only through Him (Jn 11:25; see 3:14–16; 4:14; 6:40, 47–58; 14:1–6).

  Christ promises that believers will be with Him after their death (Lk 23:42, 43; see 2Co 5:8;
Php 1:21–23). The souls of believers are further enlightened in Christ, as they experience a
foretaste of the eternal heavenly kingdom. Yet all the departed still await the general
resurrection, the day when their souls will be reunited with their bodies, which are
transformed into a glorified state (1Co 15:50–54) like Christ’s own body (Php 3:20, 21; 1Jn
3:2).


                                                   Eliphaz Renders Job Guilty

         Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:†
15
    2
         “Will a wise m an giv e as an answer a breath of understanding,

    And does he satisfy the pain in his belly ,

    3
         Arguing with say ings which are not necessary

    And with words wherein is no profit?

    4
         Hav e y ou not m oreov er cast off fear

    And accom plished such words before the Lord?

    5
         You are guilty because of the words of y our m outh,

    Nor hav e y ou discerned the words of the m ighty .

    6
         May y our m outh conv ict y ou, and not I;

    For y our lips will testify against y ou.

    7
         “What? Are y ou the first m an who was born?

    Or were y ou m ade before the beaches?

    8
         Hav e y ou heard the doctrine of the Lord,

    And has wisdom com e only to y ou?

    9
         What do y ou know that we do not?

    What do y ou understand that we do not also?

    10
         Both the aged and the v ery old are am ong us,

    Much older than y our father.

    11
         You hav e been punished for only a few of y our sins;

    You hav e spoken haughtily and exceedingly .

    12
         Why has y our heart dared,
Or what are y our ey es set on,

13
     That y ou hav e v ented y our anger before the Lord

And brought forth such words from y our m outh?

14
     “For who is the m ortal that shall be blam eless,

Or who is born of a wom an that shall be righteous,

15
     Since He does not trust His saints

And heav en is not pure in His sight?

16
     Alas then, detestable and unclean is a m an

Who drinks wrongdoings like water!

17
     “But I will tell y ou, listen to m e;

I will tell y ou what I hav e now seen,

18
     What wise m en say .

They did not hide any thing receiv ed from their fathers.

19
     To them alone the earth was giv en,

And no stranger cam e am ong them .

20
     All the life of an ungodly m an is spent in anxiety ,

And the y ears granted an oppressor are num bered. †

21
     Fear is in his ears,

And when he at last seem s to be at peace,

His destruction com es.

22
     Let him not believ e he will return from darkness,

For he has already been giv en ov er to the power of the sword.

23
     He has been appointed to be food for v ultures,

And he knows in him self that he liv es in a dead body ;

And a dark day will carry him away like a whirlwind.

24
     Trouble and anguish will com e upon him ,

And like a general he will fall in the first rank.

25
     For he lifted his hands against the Lord

And acted defiantly against the Alm ighty Lord.

26
     He ran in His sight with insolence,

With the thickness of his wide shield.

27
     “For he cov ered his face with his fat

And put a collar upon his thighs.

28
     May he lodge in deserted cities

And enter uninhabited houses;
   And what they prepared, others will carry away .

   29
        Let him not grow rich, nor let his possessions rem ain;

   Let him not cast a shadow upon the earth,

   30
        Neither let him escape the darkness.

   Let the wind wither his blossom , and let his flower fall off.

   31
        Let him not believ e he will endure,

   For futility will be his reward.

   32
        His harv est will perish before its gathering,

   And his branch will not flourish.

   33
        May he be gathered prem aturely like unripe grapes,

   And m ay he fall off like the blossom of an oliv e tree.

   34
        For death is the witness of the ungodly m an,

   And fire will burn the houses of those who take bribes.

   35
        So he will conceiv e sorrows, his end will be v ain,

   And his belly shall bear deceit.”

                                            Job's Friends Are Bad Comforters


16 Then Job answered and said:
   2
       “I hav e heard m any such things;

   You are all bad com forters.

   3
       What order is there in words of wind?

   Or what troubles y ou, that y ou answer thus?

   4
        I also could speak as y ou do,

   If indeed y our soul were in m y soul's place.

   Then I would attack y ou with words

   And shake m y head at y ou.

   5
       But would there were strength in m y m outh:

   Then I would not spare the m ov em ent of m y lips.

                                                   The Lord Has Rejected Me

   6
        “If I should speak, I would feel the pain of m y wound,

   But if I also should be silent, how would I be less wounded?

   7
       But now He has m ade m e weary and a worn-out fool,

   And y ou hav e laid hold of m e.

   8
        My falsehood has becom e a testim ony .
It rises up and argues against m e to m y face. †

9
     He v ented His wrath and struck m e down;

He gnashed at m e with His teeth;

The arrows of the raiders fell on m e.

10
     He attacked m e with the sharp darts of His ey es;

He struck m e on the cheek;

With one accord they ran m e down.

11
     For the Lord deliv ered m e into the hands of an unjust m an

And cast m e upon the ungodly .

12
     When I was at peace, He rejected m e.

He took m e by the hair of m y head and pulled it out.

He set m e up as a m ark.

13
     They surrounded m e with spears aim ed at m y m ind.

Without sparing m e, they poured out m y gall on the ground.

14
     Running at m e with all their strength,

They knocked m e down, head ov er heels.

15
     I sewed sackcloth on m y skin,

And m y strength is spent on the ground.

16
     My belly is on fire because of weeping,

And shade is on m y ey elids.

17
     Yet there was no wrongdoing in m y hands,

And m y pray er is pure. †

18
     O earth, do not cov er the blood of m y flesh,

Nor m ay m y cry hav e a place. †

19
     Now behold, m y witness is in the heav ens,

And the One who knows m e thoroughly is on high.

20
     May m y supplication com e before the Lord,

And m ay m y ey es pour out tears in His presence.

21
     May there be rebuttal for a m an before the Lord,

As a son of m an with his neighbor.

22
     For m y y ears are num bered,

And I shall go the way of no return.

17 “I am perishing, carried away by the wind;
And I ask for a burial-place, but cannot obtain it.

2
     I am tired of entreating, y et what hav e I done?
 3
      Strangers hav e stolen m y possessions.

 Who is he? Let him join hands with m e.

 4
      For You hid their heart from discernm ent;

 Therefore, You will not exalt them . †

 5
      He will declare ev ils as their portion,

 But m y ey es m elt away because of m y children.

                                                      Where Is My Hope?

 6
      “But You m ade m e a by word am ong the people,

 And I hav e becom e an object of laughter to them .

 7
      For m y ey es are petrified because of Your wrath,

 And I am greatly besieged by ev ery one.

 8
      Am azem ent seizes true m en because of this,

 And the righteous m an rises against the lawless m an.

 9
      May the faithful m an hold to his way ,

 And m ay those who hav e clean hands take courage.

 10
      “Nev ertheless, all of y ou stick together,

 And indeed com e, for I did not find y ou to be true.

 11
      My day s hav e passed in groaning

 And m y heartstrings are broken.

 12
      Light turned night into day .

 It is near at the appearance of darkness.

 13
      If I tarry , Hades is m y hom e,

 And m y bed is spread in darkness.

 14
      I called upon death to be m y father

 And decay to be m y m other and m y sister.

 15
      Where then is m y hope,

 Or where shall I see m y good things?

 16
      Will they go down with m e to Hades,

 Or shall we go down together in the tom b?”

                                                 Bildad Speaks of the Ungodly

       Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:†
18
 2
      “How long will y ou keep talking?

 Pay close attention so we m ay also speak.
3
     Why hav e we been silent before y ou

Like four-footed anim als?

4
     Wrath possesses y ou. Suppose y ou die;

Would the earth under heav en be uninhabited,

Or the m ountains be ov erturned from their foundations?

5
     “The light of the ungodly will go out,

And their flam e will not go up.

6
     His light shall be dark in his dwelling,

And his lam p beside him shall be put out.

7
     May the least of m en pounce on his goods,

And let his counsel stum ble him .

8
     For his foot has been caught in a snare,

And he is entangled in a net.

9
     May snares com e upon him .

He shall strengthen those who thirst for his destruction.

10
     A snare is hidden in the ground for him ,

And a capture awaits him on the beaten paths.

11
     May sorrows destroy him on ev ery side;

And m ay m any enem ies com e about him

And plague him with sev ere hunger,

12
     For a destruction out of the ordinary is prepared for him .

13
     May the toes of his feet be dev oured,

For death will consum e his beauty .

14
     May health be banished from his dwelling,

And m ay distress seize him because of a roy al decree.

15
     It shall dwell in his tent at night,

And his goodly appearance shall be sown with brim stone.

16
     His roots shall be dried out from below,

And his crop shall be tram pled from abov e.

17
     His m em ory shall perish from the earth,

And his nam e shall be rem em bered no m ore.

18
     May he be driv en from light into darkness.

19
     He shall not be known am ong his people,

Nor his house preserv ed on the earth;

But others shall liv e am ong his possessions.
   20
        The last groaned for him , and wonder seized the first.

   21
        These are the dwellings of wrongdoers,

   And this is the place of those who do not know the Lord.”

                                              How Long Will You Weary Me?


19 Then Job answered and said:
   2
        “How long will y ou weary m y soul

   And take m e down with words?

   3
        Only know how the Lord has dealt with m e thus.

   You speak against m e, and while sham ing m e,

   You press hard on m e.

   4
        Yes indeed, I hav e truly erred; m y error lodges with m e.

   When I speak words which I should not hav e spoken,

   My words go astray and are unseasonable.

   5
        Alas! You exalt y ourselv es against m e

   And attack m e with disgrace. †

   6
        Know therefore that the Lord has troubled m e

   And raised His stronghold against m e.

   7
        Behold, I laugh at disgrace and I will not speak.

   Nor I will cry out, for judgm ent is nowhere to be found. †

   8
        I am walled in round about and cannot cross ov er,

   For He has set darkness before m y face.

   9
        He stripped m e of m y glory

   And took the crown from m y head.

   10
        He has torn m e apart on ev ery side, and I am gone.

   He has uprooted m y hope like a tree.

   11
        He handled m e v ehem ently in wrath

   And has counted m e like an enem y .

   12
        His raiders cam e against m e with one accord.

   They encircled m y paths and lay in wait.

   13
        “My brothers stood far from m e

   And recognized strangers rather than m e.

   So m y friends becam e unm erciful.

   14
        My relativ es acted as though they did not know m e,
And m y close friends hav e forgotten m e.

15
     As for m y neighbors and the m aidserv ants of m y house,

I was a stranger before them .

16
     I called m y serv ant, but he gav e no answer,

Though I begged him with m y m outh.

17
     I also entreated m y wife,

And sum m oned the children of m y concubines and flattered them .

18
     But they rejected m e forev er.

When I arise, they speak against m e.

19
     Those who know m e detest m e,

And those whom I truly lov e turned against m e.

20
     The m uscles of m y body hav e decay ed under m y skin,

And m y bones are held in m y teeth.

                                                   The Lord Is Everlasting

21
     “Hav e m ercy on m e, hav e m ercy on m e, O friends,

For the hand of the Lord has touched m e.

22
     Why do y ou persecute m e as the Lord does,

And are not satisfied because of m y flesh?

23
     “For who m ay com m it m y words to writing,

To put them in a book forev er, †

24
     With an iron pen and lead,

Or to engrav e them in rocks?

25
     For I know He is ev erlasting,

He who is about to set m e free on the earth

26
     And to raise up m y skin that endures these things;

For these hav e been accom plished for m e by the Lord;

27
     Which I m y self am conscious of,

And m y ey es hav e beheld, and not those of another.

All has been accom plished for m e in m y bosom .

28
     If y ou shall say , ‘What shall we say before him ?

Then we will find in him the root of the m atter.’

29
     Indeed, be afraid to cov er up y our ev il,

For wrath will com e upon lawless m en;

Then they will know where their substance is.”
                                             Zophar: The Ungodly Will Perish

        Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:†
20
 2
      “I did not suppose y ou would answer in that way ;

 Nor do y ou understand m ore than I.

 3
      I will heed the discipline of m y hum iliation,

 And the spirit of m y understanding causes m e to answer.

 4
      “Hav e y ou not heard these things of old—

 From the tim e m an was put on the earth?

 5
      For the gladness of the ungodly is a disastrous fall,

 And the joy of transgressors is destruction.

 6
      Though his gifts ascend to heav en

 And his sacrifice touches the clouds,

 7
      Just when he already seem s to be established,

 Then he shall utterly perish;

 And those who knew him will say , ‘Where is he?’

 8
      Like a dream he flew away and cannot be found;

 And he fled like a v ision of the night.

 9
      The ey e observ ed him , but will see him no m ore;

 Nor will his place any longer behold him .

 10
      May his children perish,

 And m ay his v ile hands kindle the fire of sorrows.

 11
      His bones were full of his y outhful v igor,

 Which will lie down with him in the dust.

 12
      Though ev il is sweet in his m outh,

 And he will hide it under his tongue, †

 13
      Though he will not spare it and will not forsake it,

 But will hold it fast in the m idst of his throat,

 14
      Yet he shall be unable to help him self,

 For the gall of an asp is in his belly .

 15
      His wealth gathered unjustly shall be v om ited up,

 And a m essenger will drag him out of his house.

 16
      May he nurse on the anger of serpents;

 And m ay a snake's tongue kill him .
   17
        May he not see the m ilk of the pastures,

   Nor his supplies of honey and butter.

   18
        In v ain he has labored unprofitably for wealth,

   Of which he will not taste;

   For it is like tough m eat that he cannot chew.

   19
        For he crushed the houses of m any weak people.

   He plundered their dwelling and caused it to cease.

   20
        “There is no salv ation in his possessions,

   For he will not be sav ed by what he desired.

   21
        Nothing is left for him to eat;

   Therefore, his good things will not flourish.

   22
        But when he at last seem s to be satisfied, he will be distressed,

   For ev ery trouble will com e upon him .

   23
        If he were to satisfy his stom ach in som e way ,

   Let God send the fury of wrath upon him ,

   And m ay He bathe him in sorrows.

   24
        He will not be sav ed from the power of the sword;

   May a bronze bow wound him .

   25
        May an arrow pass through his body ,

   And m ay lightning strike his dwelling.

   May terrors com e upon him .

   26
        May total darkness await him .

   A fire that will not go out will consum e him .

   May a stranger ruin his house.

   27
        May heav en uncov er his lawlessness,

   And m ay the earth rise up against him .

   28
        May destruction bring his house to an end,

   And m ay a day of wrath com e upon him .

   29
        This is the portion of an ungodly m an from the Lord,

   And the heritage appointed to him from the One who watches him .”

                                   Job Pronounces Judgment on the Ungodly


21 Then Job answered and said:
   2
       “Listen carefully to m y words,
That I m ay not hav e this consolation from y ou.

3
     Bear with m e and I will speak;

Then y ou will stop laughing at m e.

4
     “What? Is there any one who does not blam e m e?

Or why should I not be furious?

5
     Look at m e and be astonished,

And put y our hand ov er y our m outh.

6
     For ev en when I rem em ber, I am alarm ed,

And pains take hold of m y flesh.

7
     Why do the ungodly liv e and becom e old, ev en in wealth?†

8
     Their offspring is according to their desire,

And their children are before their ey es.

9
     Their houses flourish, and they hav e no cause for fear;

Neither is there any affliction from the Lord upon them .

10
     Their ox does not m iscarry ,

For it is preserv ed safe during pregnancy

And does not suffer a m ishap.

11
     They rem ain as an unfailing herd,

And their children dance,

12
     Taking up the psaltery and harp;

And they celebrate at the sound of song.

13
     They spend their life in their good things

And fall asleep in the rest of the grav e.

14
     Yet such a m an say s to the Lord,

‘Depart from m e. I do not wish to know Your way s.

15
     What is a sufficient reason for us to serv e Him ?

What benefit is it for us to m eet Him ?’

16
     For their good things are in their power,

For He does not take notice of the works of the ungodly . †

17
     “Nev ertheless, the lam p of the ungodly will be put out.

Destruction shall com e upon them ,

And the sorrows of wrath will seize them .

18
     They are like chaff before the wind,

And they are like dust a storm carries away .

19
     May his possessions fail to supply his children.
 God will recom pense him , and he will not know it.

 20
      May his ey es see his own slaughter,

 And m ay he not be sav ed by the Lord.

 21
      For is his will not in his house with him self?

 But the num ber of his m onths has been apportioned.

 22
      “Is it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge?

 Does not He judge m urders?

 23
      One shall die in the strength of his sim plicity ,

 And wholly at ease and prosperous. †

 24
      His innards are full of stiff fat,

 And the m arrow of his bones is dissipated.

 25
      Another dies under bitterness of soul,

 Not eating any good thing.

 26
      They lie down together in the earth,

 And decay cov ers them .

 27
      Thus I know y ou press m e recklessly .

 28
      You will say , ‘Where is the house of the ruler?

 Where is the shelter of the dwelling place of the ungodly ?’

 29
      Ask those who trav el the road,

 And do not ov erlook their signs. †

 30
      For the ev il m an m akes light of the day of destruction,

 But they shall be led away in the day of His wrath.

 31
      Who will tell him his way to his face?

 Who will recom pense him for what he has done?

 32
      Yet he is brought to the grav e,

 And a v igil is kept ov er the coffin.

 33
      The pebbles of the v alley hav e been sweet to him .

 Ev ery m an shall depart after him ,

 As countless hav e departed before him .

 34
      How then can y ou com fort m e with em pty words,

 Since I hav e no rest from y ou?”

                                                Eliphaz Accuses Job of Vice

       Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:†
22
2
     “Is it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge?†

3
     For what concern is it to the Lord

If y ou were blam eless in y our works?

Or what profit is it to Him to m ake plain y our way s?

4
     Will He argue with y ou while y ou plead y our case?

Will He enter into judgm ent with y ou?

5
     Is not y our v ice plentiful,

And are not y our sins innum erable?

6
     For y ou hav e taken pledges from y our brethren for no reason

And taken away the clothing of the naked.

7
     Neither hav e y ou giv en the thirsty water to drink,

But hav e ev en withheld a m orsel from the hungry .

8
     You hav e also adm ired the personality of som e

And hav e transplanted those already settled on earth.

9
     You hav e sent widows away em pty

And hav e m istreated orphans.

10
     Therefore snares are all around y ou,

And a serious war has troubled y ou.

11
     The light has turned to darkness for y ou,

And water has cov ered y ou as y ou fell asleep.

12
     “Does not He who dwells on high take notice of all?

Does He not hum ble those who m ov e about with insolence?

13
     But y ou say , ‘What does the Mighty One know?

Will He judge down into the darkness?

14
     A cloud is His hiding place, so He cannot see

As He trav els through the circle of heav en.’

15
     Will y ou keep to the old path

Which wrongdoers hav e trod,

16
     Who were seized before their tim e

And whose foundations were swept away by a flood;

17
     Who said, ‘What will the Lord do to us?’

Or, ‘What will the Alm ighty bring upon us?’

18
     Yet He filled their houses with good things;

But the counsel of the ungodly is far from Him .

19
     “The righteous hav e seen it and laughed,
   And the innocent m ocked them .

   20
        Surely their substance has perished,

   And fire will consum e what is left.

                                            Eliphaz Exhorts Job to Be Strong

   21
        “Be strong, therefore. If y ou endure,

   Then y our fruit shall be in good things.

   22
        Receiv e utterance from His m outh

   And lay up His words in y our heart.

   23
        If y ou return and hum ble y ourself before the Lord,

   You hav e caused wrongdoing to be far from y our dwelling. †

   24
        Then y ou will lay up treasure for y ourself

   Like a m ound on a rock,

   And y ou shall be like the gold of Ophir

   On a rock in the brooks.

   25
        So the Alm ighty will be y our helper from enem ies,

   And He will restore y ou as pure as silv er purged by fire.

   26
        For then y ou will speak freely before the Lord,

   Looking up cheerfully to heav en.

   27
        When y ou pray to Him , He will hear y ou,

   And He will allow y ou to pay y our v ows.

   28
        He will restore righteousness to y our dwelling,

   And there shall be light on y our paths.

   29
        You will say , ‘He behav ed arrogantly , but he hum bled him self,

   And He will sav e him who bows down with his ey es.’

   30
        He will deliv er the innocent,

   And y ou will sav e y ourself in the purity of y our hands.”

                                                   Job Will Pursue the Lord

                                                        †
23 Then Job answered and said:
   2
       “Indeed, I know pleading is out of m y reach,

   For His hand is heav y upon m y groaning.

   3
       Who then would know, that I m ight find Him ,

   And m ight bring this m atter to an end?

   4
        I would state m y case before Him
And fill m y m outh with argum ents.

5
     Would that I knew the words He would answer m e

And could understand what He would tell m e.

6
     Though He would com e on m e in His great strength,

He would not use the occasion to threaten m e.

7
     For truth and rebuke are from Him ,

And He would bring m y judgm ent to an end.

8
     “Though I should proceed to this im portant end

Until I no longer exist,

Still what would I know about the last things?

9
     When He worked on the left hand,

I could not understand it.

His right hand will encom pass m e,

But I will not see it.

10
     For He knows m y way already ,

And He has weighed m e as gold.

11
     I will go forth in His com m andm ents;

For I hav e kept His way s and will not turn aside.

12
     I will not disregard His com m andm ents;

But I hav e hidden His words in m y bosom . †

13
     “If He too has thus judged,

Who is he that has opposed Him ?

Whatev er He has willed, that He has done.

14
     Therefore I pursue Him zealously ,

And when I was instructed, I thought of Him .

15
     Therefore let m e be serious before His face.

I will consider and be afraid of Him .

16
     For the Lord softened m y heart,

And the Alm ighty has alarm ed m e.

17
     For I did not know darkness would com e upon m e,

But thick darkness cov ered m y face.

                                                     The Way of the Wicked

24 “Why hav e the tim es escaped the Lord's notice?      †


2
     “Why hav e the ungodly stepped ov er the boundary ,
Snatching away the flock with the shepherd?†

3
     They hav e led away the donkey of the orphans

And hav e taken the widow's ox as a pledge.

4
     They hav e turned aside the weak from the right way ;

The gentle of the land hav e hidden them selv es together.

5
     They departed like donkey s in the field.

Contrary to m e, they went forth to their own pursuits.

Their bread was sweet to their little ones.

6
     For they harv ested a field that was not their own before the tim e,

And the weak worked the v iney ard of the ungodly

Without pay or food.

7
     They caused m any naked to sleep without clothing,

And they took away the cov ering of their life.

8
     They are wet with the showers of the m ountains

And hav e huddled around the rock for want of shelter. †

9
     They hav e snatched the orphan from the breast

And hav e hum iliated the banished.

10
     They hav e unjustly caused them to sleep without clothing,

And they hav e taken away the m orsel from the hungry .

11
     They hav e wrongfully laid snares in narrow places

And hav e not known the way of righteousness.

12
     They hav e cast the weak out of the city and their own houses,

And the soul of the infants sighed greatly .

Why then has He not v isited them ?

13
     “They are ones on the earth who do not know the Lord,

And they do not understand the way of righteousness,

Nor do they walk in His paths.

14
     But He knows their works and deliv ered them into darkness;

And one shall be like a thief in the night. †

15
     For the ey e of the adulterer watches for the darkness,

Say ing, ‘No ey e will perceiv e m e’;

And he puts a cov ering on his face.

16
     In the dark he breaks into houses;

In the day tim e they seal them selv es up;

They do not know the light.
    17
         For in due tim e, the shadow of death will be the sam e to them ,

    Because they shall know the troubles of the shadow of death.

    18
         “He is swift on the face of the waters;

    May his portion be cursed on earth.

    19
         May their plants wither on earth,

    For they hav e taken away from the orphans

    Ev en the sm allest portions.

    20
         Then his sin is recalled to m em ory ,

    And he v anishes like a m ist of dew;

    But what he has done, m ay it be recom pensed to him ,

    And m ay ev ery wrongdoer be crushed like rotten wood.

    21
         For he has not treated the barren wom an well,

    And showed no m ercy to the feeble wom an.

    22
         “In his anger, he ov erturns the weak;

    Therefore when he rises up,

    No one believ es his own life is safe.

    23
         When he falls sick, let him not hope to recov er,

    But let him perish by disease.

    24
         For his exaltation m istreated m any ,

    But he has withered as m allows in the heat,

    Or as an ear of corn falling on its own from the stalk.

    25
         “If it is not so, who say s I speak falsely

    And will m ake m y speech worth nothing?”

                                         Bildad Asks How Man Can Be Righteous


25 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
    2
        “What beginning or fear is His—

    He who m akes all things in the highest heav en?

    3
        For m ay no one im agine there is a respite for pirates.

    Upon whom will there not be an am bush from Him ?

    4
         How shall a m ortal be righteous before the Lord?

    Or how m ay he who is born of a wom an purify him self?†

    5
        If He orders the m oon, then it does not shine,

    And the stars are not pure in His sight.
   6
        But alas! Man is putrid, and the son of m an a worm .”

                                                        God Is All Powerful


26 But Job answered and said:†
   2
        “To whom are y ou attached,

   Or whom are y ou going to help?

   Is it not He who has great strength

   And whose arm is powerful?

   3
        To whom hav e y ou giv en counsel?

   Is it not to Him who has all wisdom ?

   Or whom will y ou follow?

   Is it not One who has the greatest power?

   4
        To whom hav e y ou spoken words?

   Whose breath cam e forth from y ou?

   5
        “Will giants be born under the water

   And those inhabiting them ?

   6
        Hades is naked before Him ,

   And destruction has no cov ering.

   7
        He stretches out the north wind upon nothing;

   He hangs the earth on nothing.

   8
        He binds up the water in His clouds,

   Yet the cloud is not broken under it.

   9
        He grasps the face of His throne

   And spreads His cloud ov er it.

   10
        He encom passed the face of the water by an ordinance

   Until the end of light and darkness.

   11
        The pillars of heav en were spread all ov er

   And stood am azed at His rebuke.

   12
        He checked the sea with His power,

   And by His understanding He wounded the sea-m onster.

   13
        For the bars of heav en fear Him ,

   Because He put to death the rebellious dragon by a com m and.

   14
        Behold, these are parts of His way ,

   And we will hearken to the least of His words.
    But who knows when He will bring about the strength of His thunder?” †

                                          Job Will Hold Fast to Righteousness


27 Moreover Job continued his speech and said:
    2
         “As the Lord liv es who thus judges m e,

    And the Alm ighty who em bittered m y soul,

    3
         Surely as long as m y breath is in m e

    And the div ine breath is in m y nostrils, †

    4
         My lips will not speak lawless things,

    Nor shall m y soul practice wrongdoings.

    5
         May it not be I who set forth the opinion that y ou are righteous.

    Until the day I die, I will not put away m y integrity from m e.

    6
         I hold fast to m y righteousness and am not letting it go;

    For I am not conscious in m y self of hav ing done any thing wrong. †

    7
         “Surely not, but rather m ay m y enem ies

    Be as the destruction of the ungodly ,

    And those who rise up against m e

    As the destruction of the lawless.

    8
         For what hope is there for an ungodly m an that he holds to it?

    Will he trust in the Lord and be sav ed?

    9
         Will the Lord hear his pray er

    When distress com es upon him ?

    10
         Has he any confidence before Him ,

    Or will the Lord hear him when he calls on Him ?

    11
         “But indeed, I will tell y ou what is the hand of the Lord.

    I will not lie concerning what is with the Alm ighty .

    12
         Behold therefore, all of y ou know

    You are adding v anity to v anity . †

    13
         “This is the portion from the Lord for the ungodly m an,

    And the possession of oppressors

    Shall com e upon them from the Alm ighty .

    14
         If their children be m any , they will be for slaughter;

    And if they reach m anhood, they will beg.

    15
         Those who surv iv e him shall be buried in death,
And no one will hav e pity on their widows.

16
     Though he gathers silv er like dust

And shall prepare gold like clay ,

17
     The righteous will acquire these things,

And the true ones will possess his wealth.

18
     His house goes away like a m oth

And like a spider's web.

19
     The rich m an will lie down and not continue;

He opens his ey es, but is no m ore.

20
     Pains happen to him like a flood,

And thick darkness takes him away in the night.

21
     A burning wind will take him up, and he will be gone;

And it will scatter him from his place.

22
     It will blow against him and not spare;

He will try in v ain to flee from its force.

23
     It will strike him with its power,

And whistle him from his place.

                                                  The Richness of the Earth

28 “Indeed, there is a place for silv er, from whence it com es,
And a place for gold, from whence it is refined. †

2
    Certainly , iron is taken from the earth,

And copper is hewn out like a stone.

3
    He set an order to darkness

And exam ines accurately ev ery lim it.

A stone is darkness and the shadow of death.

4
     There is a narrow channel of the brook because of dust;

So those who forget the right way

Are weakened because of m ortal m en.

5
    As for the earth, from it will com e bread,

But underneath, it is turned up as by fire;

6
     Its stones are the source of sapphires,

And its dust contains gold.

7
    There is a path no bird knows,

Nor has the ey e of a v ulture seen it.
    8
         The sons of the arrogant hav e not trodden it,

    Nor has the lion passed ov er it.

    9
         He has stretched forth his hand to quarry stones

    And has ov erturned the m ountains by the roots.

    10
         He has broken asunder the whirlpools of riv ers,

    And m y ey e has seen ev ery v alued thing.

    11
         He has uncov ered the depths of the riv ers

    And has brought his power to light.

>
                                                      Where Is Wisdom Found?

    12
         “But where can wisdom be found?

    What is the place of understanding?

    13
         Mortal m an has not known its way ,

    Nor is it found am ong m en.

    14
         The deep said, ‘It is not in m e’;

    And the sea said, ‘It is not with m e.’

    15
         One shall not giv e m assiv e piles of gold instead of it,

    Nor can silv er be weighed in exchange for it.

    16
         It cannot be com pared with the gold of Ophir,

    With the precious ony x or sapphire.

    17
         Neither gold nor cry stal will equal it,

    Nor can it be exchanged for v essels of gold.

    18
         No m ention shall be m ade of coral and quartz,

    But y ou m ust hold up wisdom abov e the m ost v alued things.

    19
         The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it,

    Nor can it be com pared with pure gold.

    20
         “From where then is wisdom found,

    And what is the place of understanding?

    21
         It has been hidden from ev ery m an

    And concealed from the birds of the sky .

    22
         Destruction and Death said,

    ‘We hav e heard about its fam e.’

    23
         God has well established its way ,

    And He knows its place.
 24
      For He watches ov er the whole earth under heav en,

 Knowing the things in the earth, all He has m ade—

 25
      The weight of the winds and the m easures of the water.

 26
      When He m ade them , He num bered them

 And m ade a way for the claps of thunder.

 27
      Then He saw wisdom and declared it;

 He prepared it and traced it out.

 28
      He said to m an, ‘behold, the fear of God is wisdom ,

 And to abstain from ev ils is understanding.’”

                                                    The Glories of the Past

       Job continued further and said in his speech:†
29
 2
      “Who m ay put m e in m onths past,

 As in the day s when God protected m e—

 3
      As when His lam p shone upon m y head,

 And by His light I walked in the darkness;

 4
      As when I steadfastly pursued m y way s,

 When God's v isitation was ov er m y house;

 5
      As when I liv ed in abundance,

 And m y children were around m e;

 6
      As when m y roads spread out with butter,

 And the m ountains flowed with m ilk for m e;

 7
      “As when I went early in the city ,

 And took m y seat in the open square;

 8
      The y oung m en saw m e and hid,

 And all the old m en stood up.

 9
      The great m en refrained from talking

 And put their finger to their m outh.

 10
      Those who heard m e blessed m e,

 And their tongue stuck to their throat.

 11
      The ear heard and blessed m e,

 And the ey e saw m e and turned aside.

 12
      For I sav ed the poor from the hand of the oppressor

 And helped the orphan who had no helper.
13
     The blessing of the perishing m an cam e upon m e,

And the widow's m outh blessed m e.

14
     I put on righteousness

And clothed m y self with judgm ent like a robe. †

15
     I was the ey e of the blind and the foot of the lam e.

16
     I was the father of the weak,

And I searched out the cause I did not know. †

17
     I broke the m olars of the wrongdoers

And plucked the spoil from the m idst of their teeth. †

18
     “Then I said, ‘My age shall continue as the stem of a palm tree,

And I shall liv e a long while.’

19
     My root was spread out to the waters,

And the dew would settle on m y harv est. †

20
     My glory was fresh within m e,

And m y bow prospered in its hand. †

21
     “Men heard and listened to m e

And kept silence for m y counsel.

22
     At m y word they did not speak again,

And they were v ery glad when I spoke to them .

23
     They waited for m y speech

As the thirsty earth for the rain.

24
     If I laughed at them , they did not believ e it,

And the light of m y countenance did not fail.

25
     I chose the way for them and sat as a ruler;

And I dwelt as a king in the arm y ,

As one who com forts m ourners.

                                                  The Present Seems Futile

30 “But now they laugh m e to scorn, Men y ounger than I, whose fathers I disdained;
Whom I did not deem worthy to be put

With the dogs of m y pastures. †

2
    Indeed, what profit is the strength of their hands to m e?

For them the full term of life was lost.

3
    In want and fam ine, they are childless.

Yesterday they fled to a waterless desert in anguish and m isery .
4
     They are those who surround the noisy salt places,

Who hav e salty herbs for their food,

And who are also considered worthless

And deficient of ev ery good thing,

And chew on the roots of trees because of their great hunger.

5
     Thiev es hav e risen up against m e,

6
     Whose houses were holes in the rocks,

7
     Who cry out am ong the rustling bushes

And liv e under the wild shrubs.

8
     They are the sons of fools and dishonored m en,

Whose nam e and fam e were extinguished from the earth.

9
     “But now I am their ly re,

And they hav e m e as their by word.

10
     They detest m e and keep their distance.

They do not hesitate to spit in m y face.

11
     For He has opened His quiv er and afflicted m e.

They hav e cast off restraint in m y presence.

12
     They rose up against m e by the right hands of their offspring;

And they stretched out their foot

And directed against m e their paths of destruction.

13
     My paths are ruined, for they stripped off m y garm ent. †

14
     He shot m e down with His arrows

And used m e as He wished.

I am ov erwhelm ed with pains.

15
     My pains are turned upon m e.

My hope is gone like the wind

And m y salv ation like a cloud.

16
     “Ev en now m y soul will be poured forth upon m e,

And the day s of pains seize m e.

17
     By night m y bones are set on fire,

And m y sinews are broken up.

18
     With great force He took hold of m y garm ent,

And like the collar of m y tunic He surrounded m e.

19
     You regarded m e as clay in the earth,

And m y portion is with ashes.
20
     “I cry out to You, but You do not answer m e.

They stood and observ ed m e.

21
     You attacked m e without m ercy

And scourged m e with a strong hand.

22
     You appointed pains for m e

And cast m e away from salv ation.

23
     For I know death will destroy m e,

For the earth is the house for ev ery m ortal.

24
     “Would that I m ight lay hands on m y self,

Or at least ask another, and he would do it for m e.

25
     Yet I wept ov er ev ery m an without strength

And groaned when I saw a m an in distress. †

26
     But while I held firm ly to good things,

Day s of ev ils happened to m e instead.

27
     My stom ach churns and will not be quiet,

And day s of pov erty hav e com e upon m e.

28
     I go groaning without restraint;

I stand up and cry out in the church.

29
     I hav e becom e a brother of sirens

And a com panion of sparrows.

30
     My skin has been greatly darkened,

And m y bones are burned by the heat.

31
     My ly re turned into m ourning

And m y song into m y weeping.

                                                Job Sets Forth His Integrity

31 “I hav e m ade a cov enant with m y ey es,
And I will not think upon a v irgin. †

2
    What has God apportioned from abov e,

And what is the inheritance of the Mighty One from on high?

3
    Is not destruction for the wrongdoer,

And alienation for those who do lawlessness?†

4
     Will He not see m y way and count all m y steps?

5
    “If I hav e walked with scorners,

Or if m y foot has hastened to deceit,
6
     May He weigh m e therefore with a just scale,

For He knows m y integrity . †

7
     If m y foot has turned from the way ,

Or if m y heart has followed after m y ey es,

Or if gifts hav e touched m y hands,

8
     Then m ay I sow and others eat.

Yes, m ay I be uprooted on the earth.

9
     “If m y heart has followed after another m an's wife,

Or if I hav e laid wait at her door,

10
     Then also m ay m y wife please another,

And m ay m y children be hum iliated.

11
     For the rage of anger is uncontrollable

In defiling another m an's wife.

12
     For it is a fire burning on ev ery side,

And whom ev er it com es upon, it destroy s at the roots.

13
     If I hav e despised the judgm ent of m y serv ant or handm aid

When they judged m e,

14
     What then will I do when the Lord brings m e to trial and v isits m e?

How shall I answer Him ?

15
     Did not He who m ade m e in the wom b m ake them ?

So we were fashioned in the sam e wom b.

16
     “But the weak did not m iss whatev er they happened to need,

And I did not cause the ey es of the widow to fail. †

17
     If I ate m y m orsel by m y self

And did not share it with the orphan

18
     (But from m y y outh I nourished them as a father,

And from m y m other's wom b I guided the widow);

19
     If I hav e neglected the naked as he was perishing

And did not clothe him ;

20
     If the weak did not bless m e,

And if their shoulders were not warm ed with the fleece of m y lam bs;

21
     If I raised m y hand against the orphan,

Trusting that m y strength was far superior to his,

22
     Then let m y shoulder fall from m y collarbone;

Let m y arm be torn from its socket.
23
     For the fear of the Lord seized m e,

And I cannot endure His burden.

24
     If I hav e m ade gold m y strength

Or trusted the precious stone,

25
     If I hav e rejoiced because m y wealth was great,

And if I, too, laid m y hand on countless treasures†

26
     (Or do I not see the shining sun eclipsed and the m oon waning?

For this does not depend upon them );

27
     If m y heart has been secretly deceiv ed,

And if I hav e laid m y hand upon m y m outh and kissed it,

28
     Then m ay this also be reckoned to m e

As the greatest lawlessness;

For I hav e lied against the Lord m ost high.

29
     “If I, too, was glad at the fall of m y enem ies,

And m y heart said, ‘Good! Well done!’

30
     Then m ay m y ear hear m y curse,

And m ay I be a by word am ong m y people in m y affliction.

31
     If m y handm aids hav e often said,

‘Who m ay giv e us his m eat to be satisfied?’

(But I was v ery kind.

32
     For the stranger did not spend the night outside;

And m y door was opened to ev ery one who cam e);

33
     If I sinned inv oluntarily , then cov ered m y sin,

34
     (For I did not stand in awe of great m ultitude,

So as not to confess before them );

And if I perm itted a poor m an to go out of m y door

With an em pty bosom

35
     (Who m ay listen to m e?);

And if I had not feared the hand of the Lord,

And as to the docum ent I had against som eone,

36
     I would place it as a crown on m y shoulders and read it,

37
     And if I did not tear it up and return it,

Hav ing taken nothing from the debtor;

38
     “If at any tim e the land groaned against m e

And its furrows wept together,
    39
          If I hav e eaten its strength alone without pay ing,

    Or if I also griev ed the soul of the owner of the land

    By casting him out,

    40
          Then m ay the nettle com e to m e instead of wheat,

    And bram ble instead of barley .”

  Thus Job ceased speaking.

                                          Elihu Is Angered at Job and His Friends

          Job's three friends also ceased answering him, for he was righteous before them.†
32        2Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, of the country of
Ausitis, became furious; and he was very angry with Job, because he declared himself to be
righteous before the Lord. 3He was also very angry with Job's three friends, because they
found no answer to Job, and yet affirmed he was an ungodly man. 4Now because they were
years older than he, Elihu waited to speak to Job. 5So when Elihu saw there was no answer in
the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused. 6So Elihu the son of Barachel the
Buzite answered and said:

    “I am y oung in y ears, and y ou are the elder;

    Therefore I was silent

    And dared not declare m y knowledge to y ou.

    7
         I said, ‘It is not tim e that speaks,

    Though in m any y ears, m en know wisdom .’

    8
         But there is a spirit in m ortals,

    And the breath of the Alm ighty is that which teaches them .

    9
         The long-liv ed are not alway s wise,

    Nor do the old m en alway s know judgm ent.

    10
         “Therefore I say , ‘Listen to m e,

    I also will declare what I know.’

    11
         Pay close attention to m y words,

    For I will speak in y our hearing, while y ou exam ine m y words,

    12
         And until I shall understand y ou.

    So behold, not one of y ou answered Job in argum ent;

    13
         Lest y ou say , ‘We hav e found wisdom added to the Lord.’

    14
         But y ou perm itted a m an to speak such words.
  15
       “They were dism ay ed and answered no m ore;

  They m ade their words obsolete.

  16
       I waited, for they did not speak.

  Because they stood still, they did not answer.”

17Then Elihu continued and said:

  18
       ‘Again I will speak, for I am full of words;

  The spirit within m y stom ach is killing m e.

  19
       Indeed, m y stom ach is like a wineskin of sweet new wine,

  Bound up and ready to burst,

  Or like the blowpipe of a coppersm ith, ready to bellow.

  20
       I will speak, that I m ay find relief in opening m y lips.

  21
       I will not feel sham e before any m an,

  Neither indeed will I feel sham e before any m ortal.

  22
       For I do not know how to flatter persons,

  Or else the m oths would eat m e.

                                              Elihu Claims He Speaks for God

  33 “Nev ertheless, hear m y words, Job, And pay close attention to what I say .   †


  2
      For behold, I hav e opened m y m outh

  And m y tongue has spoken.

  3
      By m y words, m y heart shall be found pure;

  And the understanding of m y lips will think pure thoughts.

  4
       The div ine Spirit has m ade m e,

  And the breath of the Alm ighty is that which teaches m e. †

  5
      Giv e m e an answer to these things if y ou can.

  Endure and stand firm against m e, and I against y ou.

  6
       You and I were form ed out of the clay ;

  Thus, we hav e been form ed out of the sam e substance.

  7
      My fear will not distract y ou,

  Neither shall m y hand be heav y on y ou.

  8
       “Howev er y ou said in m y hearing

  (I heard the v oice of y our words),

  9
       For y ou say , ‘I am pure, for I hav e not sinned.

  I am blam eless, for I hav e not acted lawlessly .
10
     Yet He has found a charge against m e;

He has counted m e as His enem y .

11
     He has put m y feet in the stocks,

And He watches all m y paths.’

12
     “For how can y ou say ,

‘I am righteous, y et He has not listened to m e’?

For He that is abov e m ortals is eternal.

13
     But y ou say , ‘Why has He not heard ev ery word of m y cause?’

14
     For when the Lord speaks once,

Or in another tim e in a dream ,

15
     Or in a m editation of the night

(As when dreadful fear falls upon m en

While slum bering on their bed),

16
     Then He unv eils the hearts of m en

And frightens them with such fearful v isions

17
     So as to turn m an from his wrongdoing;

Thus He deliv ers his body from a fall.

18
     He keeps back his soul from death

And does not allow him to fall in war.

19
     “Again He also chastens him with sickness on his bed,

And the m ultitude of his bones grow num b.

20
     He is not able to receiv e any food,

Though his soul m ay long for it,

21
     Until his flesh wastes away

And he shows his bones bare.

22
     His soul also draws near to death

And his life to Hades.

23
     “If there are a thousand death-bringing m essengers,

None of them shall wound him .

If he purposes in his heart to turn to the Lord,

And declares to m an his fault, and shows his folly ,

24
     He will support him , that he m ight not fall into death;

And He will renew his body like fresh plaster upon a wall,

And fill his bones with m arrow.

25
     He will m ake his flesh y oung like a child's
 And restore him am ong m en in full m anhood.

 26
      He shall pray to the Lord, and his pray er shall be accepted.

 He shall com e to pray er with an innocent face

 And with an utterance of thanksgiv ing,

 For He will restore righteousness to m en.

 27
      Ev en then, a m an shall blam e him self, say ing,

 ‘I am to blam e because of what I did,

 Yet He has not exam ined m y guilt

 To the extent of m y unworthiness.’

 28
      Sav e m y soul from going down to corruption,

 So m y life shall see the light.

 29
      “Behold all these things:

 The Mighty One works three way s with a m an.

 30
      But He has deliv ered m y soul from death

 That m y life m ay praise Him in the light.

 31
      “Giv e ear, Job; listen to m e;

 Hold y our peace, and I will speak. †

 32
      If y ou hav e any thing to say , answer m e;

 Speak, for I desire y ou to be declared as righteous.

 33
      If not, listen to m e;

 Hold y our peace, and I will teach y ou wisdom .”

                                                Elihu Proclaims God's Justice

       Elihu continued and said:†
34
 2
     “Hear m e, O wise m en who are present,

 And pay close attention to what is good.

 3
     For the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.

 4
      Let us choose judgm ent for ourselv es;

 Let us know am ong ourselv es what is good.

 5
     For Job has said, ‘I am righteous,

 And the Lord has taken away m y judgm ent.’†

 6
      But he spoke untruth in m y judgm ent when he said,

 ‘My wound is sev ere, though I am without wrongdoing.’

 7
     What m an is like Job,
Who drinks scorn like water?

8
     For he say s, ‘I hav e not sinned, nor com m itted ungodliness,

Nor had any thing in com m on with the workers of lawlessness,

So as to walk with ungodly m en.’

9
     For y ou should not say , ‘There shall be no v isitation of a m an,’

Whereas there is a v isitation on him from the Lord.

10
     “Therefore listen to m e, y ou wise in heart:

May it be far from m e to act in an ungodly way before the Lord

And to perv ert righteousness before the Alm ighty .

11
     Yes, He renders to a m an as each one of them does,

And in a m an's path He will find him .

12
     Do y ou think the Lord will do wrong,

Or will the Alm ighty who m ade the earth perv ert judgm ent?

13
     Who is He who created ev ery thing under heav en

And all things therein?

14
     If He should wish to hold and restrain His breath within Him self,

15
     All flesh would die together,

And ev ery m ortal would return to the ground

From which he was form ed.

16
     Take heed to this, lest He warn y ou;

Pay close attention to the v oice of His words.

17
     Behold then the one who hates lawless things

And destroy s the ev il ones.

He is forev er righteous.

18
     He is ungodly who say s to a king,

‘You act contrary to the law,’

And to rulers, ‘O, m ost ungodly one.’

19
     Such a m an is not asham ed

Before the face of an honorable m an,

Nor does he know how to giv e honor to the great,

So as to show proper respect.

20
     But it will prov e to be in v ain for them to cry out

And beg the fav or of a m an;

For they dealt unlawfully when they turned aside the weak.

21
     “For He is the observ er of the works of m an,
And nothing of what they do escapes Him .

22
     There is no place for the workers of lawlessness to hide them selv es.

23
     He need not further consider a m an,

For the Lord gazes upon all m en.

24
     He com prehends unsearchable things,

Glorious also and extraordinary things without num ber.

25
     He discloses their works;

And He will ov erthrow them in the night,

And they will be brought low.

26
     He extinguishes the ungodly ,

For they are v isible before Him ,

27
     Because they turned aside from the law of God

And would not regard His ordinances,

28
     So as to bring before Him the cry of the needy ;

For He will hear the cry of the poor.

29
     He will prov ide quietness, and who shall condem n Him ?

And He will hide His face, and who shall see Him ?

Whether it be done against a nation or a m an jointly ,

30
     To cause a hy pocrite to be king,

Because of the discontent of the people.

31
     “For there is one that say s to the Mighty One,

‘I hav e receiv ed blessings; I will not take in pledge;

32
     I will see apart from m y self;

Show m e if I hav e done unrighteousness,

And I will do so no m ore.’

33
     Will He not take v engeance for it from y ou,

Because y ou failed to listen to y our conscience?

For y ou will choose, and not I;

Therefore, speak what y ou know.

                                               Elihu Rebukes Job Sternly

34
     “For this reason wise m en in heart shall say this,

And a wise m an listens to m y word.

35
     But Job has spoken without understanding,

And his words are without knowledge.
   36
        But learn, Job, and no longer answer like that of foolish m en,

   37
        That we add not to our sins;

   For lawlessness will be counted against us

   If we speak m any words against the Lord.” †



35 Elihu continued, saying:
   2
        “What is this y ou consider as judgm ent?

   Who are y ou to say , ‘I am righteous before the Lord’?

   3
        Or will y ou say , ‘What did I do, if I hav e sinned?’

   4
        “I will answer y ou and y our three friends.

   5
        Look up to heav en and see,

   And observ e the cloud as higher than y ou.

   6
        If y ou hav e sinned, what will y ou do?

   If y ou hav e acted v ery lawlessly , what can y ou do?

   7
        Since therefore y ou are righteous, what will y ou giv e Him ?

   Or what did He receiv e from y our hand?

   8
        Your ungodliness m ay affect a m an such as y ou,

   Or y our righteousness a son of m an.

   9
        “Those who are slandered by a m ultitude will cry out;

   They will cry out for help because of the strength of the m any .

   10
        But no one say s, ‘Where is the God who m ade m e,

   Who appoints the night watches,

   11
        Who distinguishes m e from the four-footed anim als of the earth

   And from the birds of heav en?’

   12
        There they will cry out, but no one answers,

   Because of the insolence of ev il m en.

   13
        For the Lord does not desire to look on wrongdoing, †

   14
        For He, the Alm ighty , is the observ er

   Of those who perform lawless deeds,

   But He will sav e m e.

   Decide before Him if y ou can praise Him as it is now possible.

   15
        But now, He is not v isiting His wrath,

   Nor ev en taking notice of v ery m uch transgression;

   16
        Yet Job opens his m outh in v ain;

   In ignorance he burdens us with words.”
                                                   Elihu Upholds God's Goodness


36 Elihu also proceeded and said:
    2
         ‘Wait for m e y et a little while, that I m ay teach y ou,

    For there is y et m ore for m e to say .

    3
         I will gather m y knowledge from afar

    And truly speak of righteousness in m y works.

    4
         You were not hearing unjust words without good reason.

    5
         “But know that the Lord who is m ighty in strength of heart

    Does not cast off an innocent m an.

    6
         He will not giv e life to the ungodly ,

    But He will giv e judgm ent to the poor.

    7
         He will not turn away from the righteous,

    But will seat them on the throne with kings;

    For He will lift them in trium ph, and they will be exalted.

    8
         But if they are bound in fetters,

    They shall be held in the cords of pov erty .

    9
         He will tell them their works and their transgressions,

    For such will act with v iolence.

    10
         He also will hear the righteous,

    And He said they will turn from wrongdoing.

    11
         If they giv e ear and serv e Him ,

    They shall spend their day s in good things

    And their y ears in dignity .

    12
         But He does not sav e the ungodly ,

    Because they are not willing to know the Lord,

    And because they refused to listen when they were adm onished.

    13
         “For the hy pocrites in heart will m arshal anger against them selv es,

    And they will not cry for help, because He has bound them .

    14
         Therefore, m ay their soul die in y outh,

    And their life be wounded by m essengers of death,

    15
         Because they afflicted the weak and helpless;

    And He will m ake m anifest the judgm ent of the gentle.

    16
         “Besides, He deceiv ed y ou by the m outh of the enem y .
There is an aby ss and a pouring ov er beneath it,

And y our table descended full of fatness.

17
     Judgm ent shall not fail from the righteous,

18
     But there shall be anger against the ungodly

Because of the ungodliness of the gifts they receiv ed for wrongdoings.

19
     Let not y our heart willingly turn y ou aside

From the petition of the weak who are in distress.

20
     Do not lure away all the m ighty m en at night

So the people should go up instead of them .

21
     “But guard y ourself, lest y ou do what is wrong,

For y ou chose this because of pov erty .

22
     Behold, the Mighty One shall prev ail by His strength.

Who is so powerful as He?†

23
     Who is he who exam ines His works?

Or who can say , ‘He has done unjustly ’?

                                                     God's Works Are Great

24
     “Rem em ber, His works are great,

Because of which m en began to exist.

25
     Ev ery one has seen for him self

How m any m ortals are wounded.

26
     “Behold, the Mighty One is great,

And we do not know Him .

The num ber of His y ears is also endless.

27
     For He num bers the drops of rain,

And they shall be poured out in rain to form a cloud.

28
     The ancient clouds shall drop down

And ov ershadow innum erable m ortals.

He has fixed a tim e for cattle,

And they know the appointed tim e for their rest.

Yet y our m ind is not astonished by these things,

Nor does y our heart leap out from y our body .

29
     For one should perceiv e the outspreadings of a cloud

And the m easure of His tabernacle.

30
     Behold, He stretches His bow against him
And cov ers the bottom of the sea.

31
     For by these He will judge the peoples.

He will giv e food to him who has strength.

32
     He has hidden light in His hands

And giv en orders to the cloud by which it is div erted.

33
     The Lord will proclaim it to His friend,

But there is also a portion for unrighteousness.

37 “At this also m y heart was troubled and flows from its place.
2
     Listen attentiv ely to the thunder of the Lord's wrath

And the discourse com ing from His m outh.

3
     His dom inion is under the whole heav en

And His light to the ends of the earth.

4
     Behind Him a v oice will cry aloud.

He will thunder with His v oice of outrage,

Yet He will not change them when His v oice is heard.

5
     The Mighty One will thunder m arv elously with His v oice,

For He does great things we cannot com prehend. †

6
     For He com m ands the snow, ‘Fall upon the earth,’

And likewise there is the winter,

The rain and the winter storm s of His m ight. †

7
     He seals up the hand of ev ery m an

That ev ery one m ay know his weakness.

8
     The wild anim als go into their shelters

And are at rest in their lairs.

9
     From the secret cham bers com es the whirlwind,

And cold from the m ountaintop. †

10
     By the breath of the Mighty One, He will send frost,

And He freezes the waters as He wishes.

11
     And when the cloud obscures what He chooses,

His light will disperse the cloud.

12
     He will swirl the encircling clouds by His gov ernance

To perform all their works,

Mov ing them to do whatev er He com m ands.

This has been appointed by Him on the earth,

13
     Whether for correction or for His earth,
    Or if He shall find him an object for m ercy .

    14
         “Pay close attention to this, O Job.

    Stand still and consider the power of the Lord.

    15
         We know that God has appointed His works,

    Hav ing m ade light out of darkness.

    16
         He knows the div ision of the clouds

    And the v iolent falls of ev il m en.

    17
         But y our robe is warm ,

    And there is quiet upon the land.

    18
         Will y ou establish with Him the foundations

    For the ancient heav ens?

    They are strong like a m olten m irror.

    19
         “What is this to y ou? Teach m e what we will say to Him ,

    And let us cease speaking m any words.

    20
         Hav e I a book or scribe by m e

    That I m ay stand and put m an to silence?

    21
         But the light is not v isible to all.

    It shines far off in the ancient heav ens,

    As that which is from Him in the clouds.

    22
         From the north com e the clouds, shining like gold;

    In these great things are the glory and honor of the Alm ighty .

    23
         We do not find another like Him in His strength.

    Do y ou not think He who judges righteously listens?

    24
         Therefore m en shall fear Him ,

    And the wise in heart shall fear Him .”

                                                     The Lord Speaks to Job


38 After Elihu had ceased from speaking, then the Lord spoke to Job out of the whirlwind
   and clouds, saying:†ω

    2
        “Who is this who hides counsel from Me,

    And holds words in his heart

    And thinks to conceal them from Me?

    3
        Gird y our waist like a m an;

    I will question y ou, and y ou shall answer Me. †
                                                        The Majestic Creator

4
     “Where were y ou when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Tell Me, if y ou hav e understanding.

5
     Who determ ined its m easurem ents? Surely y ou know.

Or who stretched the line upon it?

6
     To what were its foundations fastened,

Or who laid its cornerstone,

7
     When the stars were m ade

And all My angels praised Me in a loud v oice?†

8
     “I shut up the sea with doors

When it burst forth and issued from the wom b. †

9
     I m ade the clouds its garm ent and wrapped it in m ist.

10
     I fixed My lim it for it and set bars and doors.

11
     I said, ‘This far y ou m ay com e, but no further,

And here y our wav es m ust stop.’

12
     “Did I order the m orning light in y our tim e,

And did the m orning star see its appointed place,

13
     To lay hold of the ends of the earth

And to shake the ungodly out of it?

14
     Or did y ou take clay of the ground and form a liv ing creature,

And set it with the power of speech upon the earth?†

15
     Hav e y ou rem ov ed light from the ungodly

And crushed the arm of the arrogant?†

16
     “Hav e y ou com e upon the fountain of the sea

And walked in the tracks of the deep?

17
     Do the gates of death open to y ou for fear,

And did the doorkeepers of Hades quake when they saw y ou?

18
     Hav e y ou been instructed in the breadth of the earth under heav en?

Tell Me now, what is the extent of it?

19
     “In what kind of land does the light dwell,

And what kind is the place of darkness?

20
     If y ou would bring Me to their boundaries,

And also if y ou understand their paths,

21
     Then I know y ou were born at that tim e,
And the num ber of y our y ears is great.

22
     “Hav e y ou com e upon the storehouses of snow?

Hav e y ou seen the storehouses of hail?

23
     Are they stored for y ou against the tim e of y our enem ies,

For the day of wars and battles?

24
     From where does the frost proceed?

From where does the south wind scatter ov er the earth?

25
     “Who prepared a course for the v iolent rain

Or a path for the thunders?

26
     Who causes it to rain on a land where there is no m an,

Or an uninhabited wilderness, where there is not a m an in it,

27
     To satisfy the untrodden and uninhabited land

And cause it to spring forth a crop of tender grass?

28
     Who is the rain's father,

And who has begotten the drops of dew?

29
     From whose wom b com es the ice,

And who has giv en birth to the frost in heav en,

30
     Which descends like flowing water?

Who m ade firm the face of the aby ss?

31
     “Do y ou understand the band of the Pleiades,

And hav e y ou opened the fence of Orion?

32
     Will y ou open up Mazzaroth in its season,

And the ev ening star with his ray s?

Will y ou guide them ?†

33
     Do y ou know the m ov em ents of heav en

Or the ev ents which take place together under heav en?

34
     “Will y ou call a cloud with y our v oice,

And will it obey y ou with a v iolent shower of m uch rain?

35
     Can y ou send out lightnings, and they shall go?

They shall say to y ou, ‘What do y ou want?’

36
     Who has giv en to wom en wisdom in weav ing

Or knowledge of em broidery ?†

37
     Who can num ber the clouds by wisdom ,

And who bowed heav en down to earth?

38
     For it is spread like a cloud of dust,
And I hav e joined it together as one hewn stone to another. †

39
     “Will y ou hunt prey for the lions

Or satisfy the liv es of the serpents?

40
      They fear in their dens,

And liv e in the forests, and lie in wait.

41
     Who prov ides food for the rav en?

For its y oung ones wander

And cry to the Lord in search of food.

39 “Do y ou know the tim e when the wild rock goats bear y oung,
And do y ou m ark when the deer giv es birth?†

2
     Do y ou num ber the full m onths of childbearing,

And hav e y ou reliev ed their pangs?

3
     Hav e y ou reared their y oung without fear,

And hav e y ou sent away their pangs?

4
     Their y oung ones will break forth;

They will be m ultiplied with offspring;

They depart and do not return.

5
     Who set the wild donkey free?

Who loosed his bonds?†

6
     I m ade the wilderness his dwelling

And the salt lands his house.

7
     He scorns the great m ultitude of the city ;

He does not heed the blam e of the tax collector.

8
     He will surv ey the m ountains as his pasture,

And he seeks out ev ery green thing.

9
     Will the wild ox be willing to serv e y ou?

Will he bed by y our m anger?

10
     Can y ou bind his y oke with ropes,

Or will he plow furrows for y ou in the field?

11
     Do y ou trust him because his strength is great?

Or will y ou com m it y our works to him ?

12
     Will y ou trust him to bring hom e y our seed

And gather it to y our threshing floor?

13
     The wings of the falcon wav e proudly ,

But are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork's?
 14
      For the falcon leav es her eggs on the ground

 And warm s them in the dust.

 15
      She has forgotten that a foot will scatter them ,

 Or that wild anim als will tram ple them .

 16
      She hardens herself against her y oung ones

 As though they were not hers.

 She labors in v ain without concern,

 17
      Because God depriv ed her of wisdom

 And did not endow her with understanding.

 18
      When she lifts herself on high,

 She scorns the horse and its rider. †

 19
      Hav e y ou giv en the horse strength?

 Hav e y ou clothed his neck with a m ane?

 20
      Hav e y ou put on him a suit of arm or

 And m ade his breast glorious with courage?

 21
      He paws exultingly in the v alley

 And goes forth with strength into the plain.

 22
      He m ocks at battle when he sees it,

 Nor does he turn back from the sword.

 23
      The bow and the sword resound against him ,

 And his rage would destroy the earth.

 24
      He will not believ e until the trum pet sounds,

 25
      For at the blast of the trum pet he say s, ‘Good! Well done!’

 He sm ells the battle from afar with its leaping and shouting.

 26
      Does the hawk rem ain steady by y our understanding,

 And spread its rigid wings looking toward the south?

 27
      Does the eagle m ount up at y our com m and,

 And the v ulture rem ain sitting ov er its nest

 28
      On the crag of a hidden rock?

 29
      From there it spies out the prey ;

 Its ey es observ e from afar.

 30
      Its y oung ones roll them selv es in blood;

 And where the slain are, im m ediately they are found.”


       Moreover the Lord God answered Job and said:†
40
  2
       “Will any one perv ert judgm ent with the Mighty One?

  He who rebukes God will answer for it.”

                                                           Job Responds

3Then Job answered the Lord and said:

  4
       “Why am I still judged and adm onished,

  Ev en if I rebuke the Lord, hear such things, and am nothing?

  But what answer will I giv e to these things?

  I will put m y hand ov er m y m outh.

  5
       I hav e spoken once.

  I will not do so a second tim e.”

                                              The Lord Calls Job to Account

6The Lord yet answered Job out of the cloud and said:†

  7
       “No rather, gird up y our waist like a m an,

  For I will question y ou, and y ou shall answer Me.

  8
       “Do y ou not reject My judgm ent?

  Do y ou think I hav e dealt with y ou in any other way

  Than m ight appear to y ou to be righteous?†

  9
       Hav e y ou an arm like the Lord's?

  Or can y ou thunder with a v oice like His?

  10
       Assum e now m ajesty and power,

  And clothe y ourself with glory and honor.

  11
       Send forth m essengers with wrath

  And hum ble ev ery insolent m an.

  12
       Extinguish the arrogant m an

  And consum e at once the ungodly .

  13
       Hide them together in the earth

  And fill their faces with disgrace.

  14
       Then I will also adm it

  That y our own right hand can sav e y ou.

  15
       “But look now at the wild anim als with y ou.

  They eat grass like oxen. †

  16
       Behold now, his strength is in his loins,
And his power is in the center of his stom ach.

17
     He sets up his tail like a cy press;

His nerv es are tightly knit.

18
     His ribs are like ribs of bronze,

And his backbone like bars of iron.

19
     This is the ruler of the Lord's creation,

Made to be m ocked at by His angels. †

20
     When he goes up to a rough m ountain,

He causes joy to the four-footed anim als in Tartarus.

21
     He lies under trees of ev ery kind,

Alongside the papy rus, and reed, and bulrush.

22
     The great trees shade him with their branches;

So do the branches of the willow.

23
     If there should be a flood, he will not notice it;

He is confident, though the Jordan beats against his m outh, †

24
     Though he takes it in his ey es,

Or one pierces his nose with a snare. †

25
     Will y ou catch the serpent with a hook

And put a halter about his nose?

26
     Or will y ou fasten a ring in his nose

Or pierce his lip with a hook?

27
     Will he speak to y ou in pray er,

Softly with the v oice of a suppliant?†

28
     Will he m ake a cov enant with y ou?

Will y ou take him as a serv ant forev er?

29
     Will y ou play with him as with a bird,

Or will y ou cage him as a sparrow for a child?†

30
     Do the nations feed upon him ?

Will they apportion him am ong the nations of the Phoenicians?

31
     All the ships com e together would not be able

To bear the m ere skin of his tail,

Or carry his head with fishing v essels.

32
     Once y ou lay y our hand on him ,

Rem em bering the battle waged by his m outh,

Let it not be done again.
41 “Hav e y ou not seen him ? Hav e y ou not wondered at what has been said of him ?   †


2
     Do y ou not fear because I am prepared?

Who then is able to stand against Me?

3
     Who will stand against Me and endure,

Since ev ery thing under heav en is Mine?

4
     “I will not be silent because of him ,

Though because of his power, one shall pity his antagonist. †

5
     Who will rem ov e his outer coat?

Who m ay enter within the fold of his breastplate?

6
     Who will open the doors of his face,

With his terrible teeth all around?

7
     His entrails are as brazen plates,

And the texture of his skin as a sy m rite stone.

8
     One part clings to another

So no air com es between them .

9
     A m an will be joined to his brother.

They stick together and cannot be parted.

10
     His sneezings flash forth light,

And his ey es are like the appearance of the m orning star.

11
     Out of his m outh go burning lights;

Sparks of fire shoot out.

12
     Sm oke goes out of his nostrils

As from a boiling pot with fire of coals.

13
     His breath kindles coals,

And a flam e goes out of his m outh.

14
     Strength dwells in his neck,

And destruction runs before him .

15
     The m uscles of his body are joined together.

They are firm on him and cannot be m ov ed.

16
     His heart is as hard as stone,

And it stands like an uny ielding anv il.

17
     When he turns, he is a terror

To the four-footed wild anim als which leap upon the earth.

18
     Though the sword reaches him , it cannot av ail;

Nor does spear or jav elin.
   19
        He regards iron as straw,

   And bronze as rotten wood.

   20
        The arrow cannot wound him ;

   The sling-stone becom es like grass to him .

   21
        Ham m ers are regarded as straw,

   And he laughs at the threat of jav elins.

   22
        His bed is like sharp skewers,

   And all the gold of the sea under him

   Is like a great am ount of clay .

   23
        He m akes the deep boil like a brazen pot,

   And he regards the sea like a pot of ointm ent.

   24
        The lowest part of the deep is as a captiv e.

   He reckons the deep as his walking range. †

   25
        On earth there is nothing like him ,

   Who was m ade to be m ocked at by My angels.

   26
        He beholds ev ery high thing;

   He is king ov er all that are in the waters.”

                                             Job's Confession and Repentance


42 Then Job answered the Lord and said:ω
   2
       “I know You can do all things,

   And nothing is im possible for You.

   3
       For who is he who hides counsel from You?

   Who keeps back his words

   And thinks to hide them from You?

   Who will tell m e what I knew not,

   Things too great and wonderful, which I did not know?

   4
        But hear m e, O Lord, that I also m ay speak.

   I will ask You, and please teach Me. †

   5
       “I hav e heard of You by the hearing of the ear,

   But now m y ey e sees You. †

   6
        Therefore I depreciate m y self, and I waste away .

   I regard m y self as dust and ashes.” †

                                The Lord Rebukes and Redeems Job's Friends
  7So it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the
Temanite, “You have sinned, you and your two friends, for you have not spoken before Me
what is true, as My servant Job has.† 8Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and
seven rams, go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my
servant Job shall pray for you. For I will only accept him, but for his sake, I would have
destroyed you; because you have not spoken what is true regarding my servant Job.” 9So
Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the
Lord commanded them; and He redeemed their sin for Job's sake.†

                                 Job's Wealth Is Restored

  10Then the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends, and He forgave their

sin. But the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11Then all his brothers and all his
sisters heard about everything that happened to him, and they came to him. So did all who
knew him from the first. They ate food and drank with him and comforted him; and they
wondered at all the Lord brought upon him. Each one gave him a lamb and four drachms’
weight of uncoined gold.†

  12Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. He had fourteen
thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand
donkeys.ω 13He also had seven sons and three daughters.† 14And he named the first, Day,
the second, Cassia, and the third, Amalthia's Horn. 15In all the land, there were found no
women so beautiful as the daughters of Job, and their father gave them an inheritance among
their brothers. 16After this affliction, Job lived one hundred and seventy years, and all the
years he lived were two hundred forty-eight; and Job saw his children and grandchildren for
four generations. 17So Job died, old and full of days. 18It is written that he will rise with
those whom the Lord resurrects.†

  19This man is described in the Syriac book as living in the land of Ausitis, on the borders of

Edom and Arabia. Previously his name was Jobab. 20He took an Arabian wife and begot a son
named Ennon. But he himself was the son of his father Zare, one of the sons of Esau, and of
his mother, Bosorra. Thus, he was the fifth son from Abraham.

  21Now these were the kings who reigned in Edom, over which country he also ruled. First,
there was Balak the son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dennaba. But after Balak, there
was Jobab, who is called Job. After him, there was Asom, who was ruler out of the country of
Teman. After him, there was Adad the son of Barad, who destroyed Midian in the plain of
Moab; and the name of his city was Gethaim. 22Now his friends who came to him were:
Eliphaz, of the children of Esau, king of the Temanites; Bildad, ruler of the Shuhites; and
Zophar, king of the Minians.
                                PRO V E RBS O F SO L O M O N
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31

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21, 22, 23

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in Proverbs of Solomon Chapter 4
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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21, 22, 23

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

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Verses in Proverbs of Solomon Chapter 7
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Proverbs of Solomon Chapter 8
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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Proverbs of Solomon Chapter 9
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21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Proverbs of Solomon Chapter 10
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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21, 22, 23

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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                                          The Proverbs of Solomon of Solomon

     Author  —Solomon was the principal contributor to this collection.

     Date   —970–931 BC

     Major Theme      —“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (9:10). Proverbs is
  thought to be the foundation for the Beatitudes (Mt 5). In the first nine chapters, the
  wisdom of God is personified as a companion of God from the beginning and is revealed
  in the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ. The personification of wisdom in
  8:22–35 is applied to the Theotokos, the Mother of God, in the Church's Divine Liturgy.

     Background     —Hebrew proverbs are often written as individual couplets with two lines of
  equal length. Two common types are (1) the synonymous proverb, which expresses the
  same basic thought in both lines; and (2) the antithetical proverb, which offers a
  contrast, such as between wise and foolish or virtuous and evil. The main writings of
  Solomon reflect the antithetical proverb.

  In the “words of the wise” (22:20–24:39), there is a prevalence of two- or three-verse units.
The style changes in the end, with the acrostic poem where wisdom is personified as a
woman, honoring the wife of noble character.

 Outline

   I. Wisdom Poem s (1 :1 –9 :2 5)

  II. First Solom onic Collection of Say ings (1 0:1 –2 2 :1 9 )

 III. Words of the Wise (2 2 :2 0–2 4 :3 9 )

 IV. Second Solom onic Collection of Say ings Transcribed under King Hezekiah (2 5:1 –2 9 :2 8)

  V. A Father's Words (3 0:1 –1 5)

 VI. Num bered Prov erbs (3 0:1 6 –3 5)

 VII. The Words of a King (3 1 :1 –9 )

VIII. The Ideal Wife (3 1 :1 0–3 0)



                                                              To Know Wisdom

      1 The Prov erbs of Solom on, the son of Dav id,
      Who reigned in Israel, †ω
2
     To know wisdom and instruction,

And to understand words of discernm ent;

3
     To receiv e both subtlety of words,

And to understand true righteousness and upright judgm ent;

4
     So as to giv e astuteness to the sim ple,

And both perception and understanding to a y oung m an;

5
     For a wise m an who hears these things will be wiser,

And the m an of understanding will gain direction.

                                             Wisdom Begets the Fear of God

6
     He will understand both a parable and a hidden say ing,

Both wise words and riddles. †

7
     The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom ,

And there is good understanding in all who practice it;†

8
     And godliness toward God is the beginning of perception,

But the ungodly despise wisdom and instruction.

9
     Hear, m y son, the instruction of y our father,

And do not reject the laws of y our m other. †

10
     For y ou will receiv e a crown of grace on y our head

And a gold chain around y our neck.

11
     My son, do not let the ungodly lead y ou astray ,

And do not consent if they inv ite y ou, say ing, †

12
     “Com e with us; take part in bloodshed,

And let us hide a righteous m an in the earth unjustly ;

13
     And let us swallow him , just as Hades does the liv ing,

And let us take away his rem em brance from the earth;

14
     Let us seize his v aluable property ,

And let us fill our houses with spoils;

15
     Cast y our lot with us

And let us acquire a com m on bag;

Let there be one purse for us.”

16
     Do not walk in the way with them ,

But turn away y our foot from their paths.

17
     For their feet run to ev il,

And they m ake haste to shed blood.
18
     For nets are not spread before birds for no reason,

For those who participate in m urder store up ev ils for them selv es;

And ev il is the destruction of lawless m en.

19
     These are the way s of all who accom plish lawless things,

For they take away their own soul in ungodliness.

                                                       Wisdom Speaks Out

20
     Wisdom sings in the streets;

She m ov es boldly in the squares. †ω

21
     She preaches on high city walls

And sits at the gates of lords.

At the gates of a city she boldly say s,

22
     “So long a tim e as the sim ple hold fast to righteousness,

They shall not be asham ed;†

23
     But those without discernm ent, since they are desirous of arrogance,

And are becom e ungodly , they hate perception,

And are becom e subject to reproofs. †

24
     Behold, I shall bring forth upon y ou the utterance of m y breath,

And I shall teach y ou m y word. †

25
     Since I called, but y ou did not obey ,

And spoke at length, but y ou paid no attention,

26
     But m ade m y counsels inv alid,

And were not persuaded by m y reproofs;

27
     Consequently , I will laugh at y our annihilation,

And will exult when ruin com es to y ou,

28
     And when confusion reaches y ou unawares,

And ov erthrow com es like a whirlwind,

29
     And when tribulation and anguish com e to y ou,

And when destruction com es to y ou.

30
     For it shall be, when y ou shall call upon m e,

I will not listen to y ou;

31
     Ev il m en will seek m e, but not find m e,

For they hate wisdom , and choose not the fear of the Lord.

32
     Neither do they wish to follow m y counsels,

But despise m y reproofs.
33
     Therefore, they shall eat the fruits of their own way

And be filled with their own ungodliness.

34
     For since they wrong the sim ple, they shall be killed,

And a close exam ination shall destroy the ungodly .

35
     But he who obey s m e shall dwell in hope,

And shall be at rest without fear from ev ery ev il.”

                                                        It Is Wise to Obey

2 My son, if y ou receiv e the words of m y com m andm ent
And hide them within y ourself, †ω

2
     Your ear will be obedient to wisdom ,

And y ou will incline y our heart to understanding;

You will entrust it to y our son as an adm onition.

3
     For if he calls upon wisdom ,

And y ou utter y our v oice for understanding;

If y ou seek perception with a strong v oice, †

4
     If y ou seek her as silv er

And search for her as treasure,

5
     Then y ou will understand the fear of the Lord

And find the knowledge of God.

6
     For the Lord giv es wisdom ,

And from His face com e knowledge and understanding;

7
     And He stores up salv ation for the upright;

He will protect their journey , †

8
     That He m ight guard the way s of His ordinances;

And He will carefully guard the way of those who rev erence Him .

9
     Then y ou will understand righteousness and judgm ent,

And accom plish successfully ev ery good path for y ourself.

                                                         Holy Thinking

10
     For if wisdom com es into y our m ind,

And the perception in y our soul seem s to be good,

11
     Then good counsel will guard y ou,

And holy thinking will keep y ou;

12
     That it m ight rescue y ou from an ev il way
And from a m an who speaks nothing trustworthy .

13
     Woe to those who forsake the paths of uprightness

So they m ay walk in the way s of darkness,

14
     Who delight in ev ils

And rejoice in ev il perv ersion,

15
     Whose way s are crooked

And their paths dev ious,

16
     So they m ay cause y ou to be far from the straight way

And a stranger to righteous judgm ent.

17
     My son, do not lay hold of ev il counsel,

Nor forsake the teaching of y our y outh

And forget the div ine cov enant;

18
     For it establishes its house with death,

And its paths beside Hades with the dead;

19
     All who journey there do not return,

Nor do they lay hold of straight paths;

For they do not com prehend the y ears of life.

20
     For if they walked in good paths,

They would find the sm ooth paths of righteousness.

21
     The inhabitants of the land will be good,

And the sim ple will be left in it;

22
     For the upright will dwell in the land,

And the holy will be left in it.

23
     The way s of the ungodly shall perish from the land,

And the lawless shall be banished from it.

                                                        The Laws of Wisdom

3 My son, do not forget m y laws,
But let y our heart keep m y words;†ω

2
    For length of day s, and y ears of life and peace

They will add to y ou. †

3
    Do not let alm sgiv ing and faithfulness forsake y ou,

But hang them upon y our neck;

4
     And y ou will find grace

And prov ide good things before the Lord and m en. †
5
     Trust in God with all y our heart,

And do not exalt y our own wisdom .

6
     In all y our way s know wisdom ,

That she m ay cut a straight path for y ou;

And y our foot will not stum ble.

7
     Do not rely on y our own discernm ent,

But fear God, and turn away from ev ery ev il.

8
     Then there shall be healing for y our body

And care for y our bones.

9
     Honor the Lord from y our righteous labors,

And offer Him the firstfruits from the fruits of y our righteousness,

10
     That y our storehouses m ay be filled with abundance of grain,

And y our winepresses m ay gush with wine.

                                                 The Instruction of Wisdom

11
     My son, do not despise the instruction of the Lord,

Neither grow weary under His reproof. †ω

12
     For whom the Lord lov es He instructs,

And chastises ev ery son He receiv es.

13
     Blessed is a m an who finds wisdom ,

And a m ortal who sees discernm ent;

14
     For the profits gained from wisdom are better

Than the treasures of gold and silv er.

15
     And wisdom is m ore v aluable than precious stones,

And nothing ev il will withstand her;

16
     She is well known to all who com e near her,

And no honor is worthy of her.

17
     For length of day s and y ears of life are in her right hand,

And in her left hand are riches and glory ;

18
     Righteousness proceeds from her m outh,

And she carries law and m ercy upon her tongue.

19
     Her way s are good way s,

And all her paths are in peace.

20
     She is a tree of life for all who cleav e to her,

And she is security for those who lean upon her as upon the Lord.
21
     God by wisdom founded the earth

And prepared the heav ens with discernm ent. ω

22
     With perception the depths were broken up,

And the clouds flowed with dew.

                                                   The Cure for Carelessness

23
     My son, do not be careless,

But keep m y counsel and thinking, †

24
     That y our soul m ay liv e,

And grace m ay be around y our neck.

25
     And there will be healing for y our flesh

And care for y our bones,

26
     That y ou m ay walk confidently in peace in all y our way s,

And y our foot m ay not stum ble.

27
     For if y ou sit down, y ou will be without fear,

And if y ou lie down, y our sleep will be pleasant.

28
     And do not be afraid of intim idation when it com es upon y ou,

Nor of the attack of the ungodly when it com es at y ou;

29
     For the Lord will be ov er all y our way s,

And He will plant y our feet firm ly , that y ou m ay not be shaken.

30
     Do not withhold doing good to the needy ,

When y ou m ay giv e a helping hand;

31
     Do not say , when y ou are able to do good,

“Com e back tom orrow, and I will giv e y ou som ething”;

For y ou do not know what the next day will bring forth.

32
     Do not dev ise ev il things against y our friend

Who dwells beside y ou and trusts in y ou.

33
     Do not be ready to quarrel with a m an in v ain,

Lest he do y ou som e harm .

34
     Do not incur the reproach of ev il m en,

Neither seek their way s;

35
     For ev ery lawless m an is unclean before the Lord,

And he does not sit am ong the righteous.

36
     The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly ,

But He blesses the dwellings of the righteous.
37
     The Lord opposes the arrogant,

But He giv es grace to the hum ble. ω

38
      The wise shall inherit glory ,

But the ungodly exalt dishonor.

                                                        Obedient Thinking

4 Hear, m y children, the instruction of y our father,
And pay attention, that y ou m ight know his thinking;†

2
     For I offer a good gift to y ou;

Do not forsake m y law.

3
     For I was a son, and I was obedient to m y father,

And belov ed in the presence of m y m other,

4
     Who taught m e, say ing,

“Let our word becom e firm ly planted in y our heart;

5
     Guard our com m andm ents; do not forget them ;

Neither disregard the word of m y m outh,

6
     Nor forsake it, and it shall cleav e to y ou;

Lov e it, and it will keep y ou.

7
     Secure it, and it shall exalt y ou;

Honor it, that it m ay em brace y ou,

8
     And giv e y our head a crown of graces,

And cov er y ou with a crown of delight.” †

                                                     The Paths of Wisdom

9
     Hear m e, m y son, and receiv e m y words,

And the y ears of y our life shall be increased,

That m any way s of life m ay be y ours;†

10
     For I teach y ou the way s of wisdom

And set y ou on upright paths.

11
     For if y ou walk, y our steps shall not be confined;

And if y ou run, y ou will not grow weary .

12
     Lay hold of m y instruction; do not let go,

But guard it for y ourself as y our life.

13
     Do not go in the way s of the ungodly ,

Neither be zealous for the way s of the lawless;
14
     In whatev er place they encam p, do not go there,

But turn aside from them and pass by .

15
     For they cannot sleep unless they do ev il;

Their sleep is taken away , and they do not rest;

16
     For they feed on the bread of ungodliness,

And they are drunk with the wine of lawlessness.

17
     But the way s of the righteous shine like a light;

They go before and giv e light until full day light.

18
     But the way s of the ungodly are dark;

They do not know how they stum ble.

                                                          The Wise Heart

19
     My son, giv e heed to m y word

And incline y our ear to m y words, †

20
     That y our fountains m ay not fail y ou;

Guard them in y our heart;

21
     For they are life to those who find them

And healing for all their flesh.

22
     Keep y our heart with all watchfulness,

For from these words are the issues of life.

23
     Put away from y ourself a crooked m outh

And rem ov e unrighteous lips far from y ou.

24
     Let y our ey es look straight forward,

And let y our ey elids assent to righteous things.

25
     Make straight paths for y our feet

And direct y our way s aright.

26
     Do not turn aside to the right or to the left,

But turn y our foot from an ev il way ;

27
     For God knows the way s on the right hand,

But those on the left are perv erse;

28
     And He shall m ake y our paths straight

And guide y our steps in peace.

                                                   Fornication or Marriage

5 My son, hold fast to wisdom
And incline y our ear to m y words, †ω

2
     That y ou m ay guard good thinking;

And I com m and y ou with the perception of m y lips.

3
     Do not join y ourself to a base wom an,

For honey drips from the lips of a prostitute,

Or for a season she is pleasing to y our taste;

4
     Afterward, howev er, y ou will find her m ore bitter than gall

And sharper than a two-edged sword.

5
     For feet lacking discernm ent lead those using her down into Hades with death;

Her footsteps are not planted,

6
     For she does not trav el the way s of life;

And her paths are slippery and not easy to discern.

                                         The Perils of Sex outside of Marriage

7
     Now therefore, m y son, hear m e,

And do not m ake m y words inv alid;†

8
     Make y our way distant from her

And do not com e near the doors of her house,

9
     That y ou m ay not giv e away y our life to others

And y our existence to the m erciless;

10
     That strangers m ay not be filled with y our strength,

And y our labors go into the houses of strangers,

11
     And y ou should feel regret at the last,

When the flesh of y our body is consum ed;

12
     And y ou will say , “How I hated instruction

And turned m y heart away from reproofs;

13
     I did not hear the v oice of m y instructor and teacher,

Nor did I incline m y ear;

14
     Little by little I was in ev ery ev il

In the m idst of the church and congregation.”

                                                   The Sanctity of Marriage

15
     Drink waters from y our v essels

And from the fountains of y our spring. †ω

16
     Do not let the waters from y our fountain be spilled by y ou,
But let y our waters pass through y our wide places;

17
     Let them be only for y ou,

And let no stranger partake with y ou;

18
     Let the fountain of y our water be for y ou alone,

And rejoice together with the wife of y our y outh.

19
     Let y our lov ing deer and graceful colt keep com pany with y ou,

And let her alone go before y ou and be with y ou at all tim es;

For in liv ing with her lov e, y ou will be great.

                                                          Another Warning

20
     Do not be intim ate with a strange wom an,

Neither cling to the em brace of a wom an not y our own;†

21
     For the way s of m an are before the ey es of God,

And He keeps close watch on all his paths.

22
     Lawless wom en ensnare a m an,

But each m an is bound by the chains of his own sins.

23
     Such a m an dies with the uninstructed

And is cast forth from the abundance of his own substance;

And he is destroy ed by lack of discernm ent.

                                                          A Careless Tongue

6 My son, if y ou assum e the debt of y our friend,
You will deliv er y our hand to an enem y ;†

2
    For a m an's own lips becom e a strong snare to him ,

And he is conquered by the utterances of his own m outh.

3
    My son, do what I com m and y ou, and y ou will sav e y ourself;

For y ou cam e into the hands of ev il things through y our friend;ω

4
     Do not be faint,

But prov oke ev en y our friend, for whom y ou assum ed a debt;

5
    Do not giv e sleep to y our ey es

Nor slum ber to y our ey elids

6
     That y ou m ay be sav ed, as a gazelle from the snares,

And as a bird from a trap. †

                                               Laziness: A Dead-End Road

7
    Com pare y ourself with the ant, O sluggard,
And be zealous when y ou see his way s,

And becom e wiser than he. †

8
     For although he has no tilled land,

Neither any one to com pel him ,

Nor any m aster to rule him ,

9
     Yet he prepares all his food in the sum m er

And m akes his prov isions abundant in the winter.

10
     Or go to the honey bee,

And learn how she is a worker

And how solem nly she does her work,

11
     Whose labors kings and com m on people use for health;

And she is desirable to all and glorious;

12
     And although she is weak in bodily strength,

She leads the way in honoring wisdom .

13
     How long, O sluggard, will y ou be idle,

And when will y ou arise from sleep?

14
     You sleep a little; y ou sit down a little; y ou doze a short while;

And y ou fold y our hands on y our chest a little;

15
     Then pov erty com es to y ou as an ev il trav eler

And neediness as a swift runner.

16
     But if y ou are diligent, y our harv est shall com e to y ou as a fountain,

And neediness as an ev il runner shall desert y ou.

                                                           A Lawless Spirit

17
     A m an who is without discernm ent and is lawless does not walk in good way s.

But he winks with an ey e; he m akes a sign with his foot,

And teaches with the wav e of his hand. †

18
     And with a perv erse heart, he constantly schem es ev il things;

Such a m an causes trouble in a city .

19
     Therefore his destruction com es suddenly ,

A deep and incurable wound.

20
     For he rejoices in ev ery thing the Lord hates,

And he shall be broken because of his soul's uncleanness:

21
     A haughty ey e, an unrighteous tongue,

Hands that shed righteous blood,
22
     A heart that dev ises ev il thoughts,

And feet that hasten to do ev il;

23
     As a false witness he kindles injustice

And causes quarrels between brethren.

24
     My son, guard the laws of y our father,

And do not depart from the rules of y our m other. ω

25
     But fasten them to y our soul continually

And wear them as a collar upon y our neck.

                                                         Playing with Fire

26
     When y ou walk about, bring along this com m andm ent

And let it be with y ou;†

27
     And as y ou sleep, let it guard y ou,

That when y ou arise, it m ay speak to y ou.

28
     For a com m andm ent of law is a lam p and a light,

And the way of life is reproof and instruction,

29
     That y ou m ay keep y ourself from a m arried wom an

And from the slanderous tongue of a strange wom an.

30
     Do not let the desire of beauty conquer y ou;

Neither be caught by her ey es,

Nor captiv ated by her ey elids;

31
     For the v alue of a prostitute is only one loaf,

And such a wom an hunts for the precious souls of m en.

32
     Shall any one bind fire to his bosom

And his garm ents not burn?†

33
     Or will any one walk about on coals of fire

And not burn his feet?

34
     Likewise is the one who goes in to a m arried wom an;

He shall not be guiltless, nor any who touch her.

35
     It is not surprising if any one who steals is caught,

For he steals that he m ay fill his hungry soul;

36
     But if he is caught, he will repay sev enfold,

And by giv ing all his goods, he shall deliv er him self.

37
     But the adulterer through his lack of discernm ent

Obtains the destruction of his soul;
38
     He bears both pain and dishonor,

And his disgrace will not be wiped away forev er.

39
     For the anger of her husband is full of jealousy ;

He will not spare in the day of judgm ent;

40
      He will not take any ransom in exchange for his hatred,

Nor will he be reconciled by m any gifts.

                                                    A Son with Discernment

7 My son, guard m y words,
And hide m y com m andm ents within y ourself;†

2
     My son, honor the Lord, and y ou shall be strong,

And fear none other but Him .

3
     Guard m y com m andm ents

And y ou will liv e, and m y words as the pupils of y our ey es;

4
     And put them around y our fingers,

And write them upon the breadth of y our heart.

5
     Say that wisdom is y our sister,

And gain discernm ent as a friend for y ourself,

6
     So they m ay keep y ou from a strange and ev il wom an,

If she com es at y ou with flattering words. †

                                               A Son without Discernment

7
     For she looks from a window of her house into the streets

Upon whom she m ight see am ong the undiscerning children, †

8
     A y oung m an lacking discernm ent

Passing by near the corner on the pathway s of her house;

9
     And she speaks in the darkness at ev ening,

When there is silence on a dark night;

10
     And the wom an m eets him , hav ing the appearance of a prostitute;

She m akes the heart of y oung m en throb.

11
     She is excited and debauched,

And her feet do not rest at hom e.

12
     For at tim es she is outside roam ing about,

And another tim e she is in the streets near ev ery corner lay ing a trap.

13
     Then lay ing hold of him , she kisses him ,
And with a sham eless face she say s to him ,

14
     “I hav e a peace offering;

Today I pay m y v ows;

15
     For this reason I cam e out to m eet y ou;

Longing for y our face, I found y ou;

16
     I spread m y bed with sheets

And cov ered it with tapestry from Egy pt.

17
     I sprinkled m y bed with saffron

And m y house with cinnam on;

18
     Com e, and let us enjoy lov e until m orning;

Com e, and let us em brace in lov e;

19
     For m y husband is not at hom e,

But is gone on a long journey

20
     Taking a bag of m oney in his hand;

He will return to his house after m any day s.”

21
     So she leads him astray with m uch conv ersation,

And with snares from her lips she com pels him .

22
     And being cajoled, he follows her

As an ox is led for slaughter

23
     And as a dog to bonds,

Or as a deer struck with an arrow in the liv er;

24
     And he hastens ev en as a bird into a snare,

Not knowing he runs for his life.

25
     Now therefore, m y son, hear m e,

And hold fast to the words of m y m outh;†

26
     Do not let y our heart turn aside to her way s,

For she wounded and cast down m any ,

And those whom she slew are innum erable;

27
     Her house is the road to Hades,

Leading down to the cham bers of death.

                                              Divine Wisdom for Mankind

8 You shall proclaim wisdom
That discernm ent m ay obey y ou;††ω

2
    For she is on the lofty sum m it
And stands in the m idst of the paths. †

3
     For she sits beside the gates of princes

And sings at the entrances,

4
     “You, O m en, I exhort,

And I utter m y v oice to the sons of m en;†

5
     Understand astuteness, O sim ple ones,

And put it in y our heart, O uninstructed ones.

6
     Obey m e, for I speak sacred things,

And from m y lips I will bring forth things that are true.

7
     For m y m outh shall speak the truth,

But false lips are an abom ination before m e. †

8
     All the words of m y m outh are with righteousness;

There is nothing in them crooked or twisted.

9
     All things are ev ident to those who understand

And true to those who find knowledge. †

10
     Lay hold of instruction and not silv er,

And knowledge rather than tested gold,

And choose perception rather than pure gold. †

11
     For wisdom is better than precious stones,

And ev ery costly thing is not worthy of her.

12
     I, wisdom , dwell with counsel,

And I call upon knowledge and understanding.

13
     The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness,

And both rudeness and arrogance, and the way s of wicked m en;

And I hate the perv erted way s of ev il m en.

14
     Counsel and safety are m ine;

Discernm ent is m ine, and strength is m ine;

15
     By m e, kings reign,

And princes write of righteousness;

16
     By m e, noblem en becom e great,

And by m e, m onarchs hav e power in the land.

17
     I lov e those who lov e m e,

And those who seek m e shall find m e.

18
     Riches and glory belong to m e,

And abundant possessions, and righteousness;
19
     It is better to enjoy m y fruits than gold and precious stones,

And m y fruits are better than choice silv er.

20
     I walk in the way s of righteousness,

And I am conv ersant with the paths of judgm ent;

21
     That I m ay distribute substance to those who lov e m e,

And m ay fill their treasuries with good things.

                                              Divine Wisdom and the Father

22
     “If I declare to y ou the things that happen daily ,

I will also rem em ber to recount the things of old. † ω

23
     The Lord created m e in the beginning of His way s for His works;

He established m e in the beginning before tim e, †

24
     Before He m ade the earth, and before He m ade the aby sses,

Before the going forth of the fountains of waters, †

25
     Before the m ountains were created;

And He begot m e before all hills.

26
     The Lord m ade the fields and the uninhabited places

And the inhabited heights under heav en. †

27
     When He prepared heav en, I was present with Him ,

And when He set apart His throne upon the winds.

28
     When He m ade strong the things abov e the clouds,

And m ade sure the fountains under heav en,

29
     And m ade strong the foundations of the earth,

I was working beside Him ;†

30
     I was He in whom He rejoiced;

Daily and continually I was gladdened by His face.

31
     When He com pleted the world, He rejoiced,

And He rejoiced in the sons of m en. †

32
     Now therefore, m y son, hear m e:

Blessed is the m an who shall hearken to m e

And the m an who shall guard m y way s;† ω

33
     Who watches daily at m y doors,

Who keeps watch at the doors of m y entry way s;

34
     For m y issues are the issues of life,

And grace is prepared from the Lord. †
35
     But those who sin against m e act ungodly toward their own souls,

And those who hate m e lov e death.” †

                                                         Wisdom's Invitation

9 Wisdom built her house,
And she supported it with sev en pillars. † ω

2
     She offered her sacrifices;

She m ixed her wine in a bowl

And prepared her table. †

3
     She sent her serv ants,

Inv iting people to the bowl with a lofty proclam ation, say ing, †

4
     “He who is without discernm ent,

Let him turn aside to m e”;

And to those in need of discernm ent, she say s, †

5
     “Com e, eat m y bread

And drink the wine I m ixed for y ou;†

6
     Forsake lack of discernm ent, and y ou shall liv e;

Seek discernm ent so y ou m ay liv e,

And keep straight y our understanding with knowledge.”

                                                    Wisdom: Let Us Attend!

7
     He who chastises ev il m en shall receiv e dishonor to him self,

And he who reprov es the ungodly m an shall be blam ed him self. †

8
     Do not reprov e ev il m en, so they m ay not hate y ou;

Reprov e a wise m an, and he will lov e y ou.

9
     Giv e the opportunity to a wise m an, and he will be wiser;

Instruct a righteous m an, and he shall continue to receiv e it.

10
     The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom ,

And the counsel of saints is understanding;

For to know the law is characteristic of a good m ind.

11
     For in this m anner y ou will liv e a long tim e,

And the y ears of y our life shall be increased.

12
     My son, if y ou becom e wise in y ourself,

y ou shall also be wise toward y our neighbor;

But if y ou prov e to be ev il, y ou alone will go through troubles. ω
13
     He who supports him self with lies will shepherd winds

And chase fly ing birds;

14
     For he abandoned the way s of his own v iney ard

And stray ed from paths of his own farm ing;

15
     And he will pass through a waterless desert,

A land assigned to drought,

And he gathers barrenness with his hands.

16
     A wom an in need of a m orsel is without discernm ent and ov erbold;

She has no sense of sham e.

17
     She sits upon the doors of her own house,

Upon a seat openly in the streets,

18
     Calling to those who pass by

And who go straight along their paths,

19
     “He who is v ery lacking in discernm ent, let him turn aside to m e;

And he who is in need of discernm ent, I exhort, say ing,

20
     ‘Grasp with pleasure the secret bread

And the sweet water of theft.’ ”

21
     But he does not know that the inhabitants of the earth perish beside her,

And he happens upon a snare of Hades.

22
     But hurry off, do not continue in that place,

Neither set y our ey e toward her;

23
     For so y ou shall pass through strange water

And cross bey ond a strange riv er;

24
     And keep away from strange water,

And do not drink from a strange fountain;

25
     That y ou m ay liv e a long tim e

And add y ears of life to y ourself. ††

                                                 The Wisdom of Solomon

10 A wise son m akes his father glad,
But a son without discernm ent is a grief to his m other. † ω

2
    Treasures do not benefit lawless m en,

But righteousness deliv ers from death. †

3
    The Lord will not let the soul of the righteous m an starv e,

But He ov erthrows the life of the ungodly . †
4
     Pov erty hum bles a m an,

But the hands of courageous m en enrich others. †

5
     A son who is instructed will be wise,

And he will use a m an without discernm ent as a serv ant.

6
     A son with understanding is kept safe from the heat,

But a lawless son is blasted by the wind at harv est tim e. †

7
     The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of a righteous m an,

But untim ely grief will cov er the m outh of the ungodly .

8
     The rem em brance of the righteous is with eulogies,

But the nam e of an ungodly m an is extinguished.

9
     The wise m an in heart will receiv e the com m andm ents,

But the m an unguarded in speech will be ov erthrown in his perv erseness. †

10
     He who walks in sincerity walks confidently ,

But he who perv erts his way s will be known.

11
     He who winks his ey es deceitfully gathers grief for m en,

But he who reprov es boldly is a peacem aker.

12
     A fountain of life is in the hand of a righteous m an,

But the m outh of an ungodly m an will hide destruction.

13
     Hatred stirs up strife,

But lov e cov ers all who are not lov ers of strife. †

14
     He who brings forth wisdom from his lips

Beats a heartless m an with a rod.

15
     The wise will hide perception,

But the m outh of a rash m an approaches destruction. †

16
     The acquisition of riches is a fortified city ,

But pov erty is the destruction of the ungodly .

17
     The works of the righteous produce life,

But the fruits of the ungodly produce sins.

18
     Instruction guards righteous way s of life,

But instruction incapable of criticism goes astray .

19
     Righteous lips cov er hatred,

But those who bring forth abuse are v ery lacking in discernm ent.

20
     You will not escape sin by a m ultitude of words,

But y ou of discreet lips will be forbearing. †

21
     The tongue of a righteous m an is silv er tried in the fire,
But the heart of an ungodly m an shall fail.

22
     The lips of righteous m en understand lofty things,

But m en without discernm ent die in want.

23
     The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of a righteous m an;

It enriches him , and grief of heart will not be added to it.

24
     A m an without discernm ent does ev il things with laughter,

But wisdom giv es birth to discernm ent in a m an. †

25
     The ungodly m an is carried about in destruction,

But the desire of the righteous m an is acceptable.

26
     The ungodly m an is destroy ed by the passing storm ,

But the righteous m an turns aside and shall be sav ed forev er.

27
     As an unripe grape is harm ful to the teeth and sm oke to the ey es,

So is a lawless wom an to the m en who use her.

28
     The fear of the Lord increases day s,

But the y ears of the ungodly will be shortened.

29
     Gladness continues for the righteous,

But the hope of the ungodly perishes. †

30
     The fear of the Lord is the stronghold of a holy m an,

But destruction is for those who work ev il. †

31
     A righteous m an will nev er fail,

But the ungodly shall not inhabit the earth.

32
     The m outh of a righteous m an distills wisdom ,

But the tongue of an unrighteous m an utterly destroy s. ω

33
     The lips of righteous m en distill grace,

But the m outh of the ungodly is perv erse.

                                                 The Fruits of Righteousness

11 Deceitful scales are an abom ination before the Lord,
But a righteous weight is acceptable to Him .

2
    Wherev er arrogance enters, there also is dishonor,

But the m outh of the hum ble m editates on wisdom . †

3
    When a righteous m an dies, he leav es regret,

But the destruction of the ungodly is im m ediate and brings joy .

4
     Righteousness cuts straight and blam eless paths,

But ungodliness em braces wrongdoing. †
5
     The righteousness of upright m en deliv ers them ,

But lawless m en are taken to their destruction.

6
     When a righteous m an dies, his hope does not perish,

But the boast of the ungodly perishes. †

7
     A righteous m an escapes from a snare,

But the ungodly m an is handed ov er in his place.

8
     There is a snare for citizens in the m outh of the ungodly ,

But the perception of the righteous is prosperous. †

9
     A city stay s upright in the good things of the righteous,

But it is razed to the ground by the m ouths of the ungodly .

10
     A m an in need of discernm ent treats citizens with contem pt,

But a m an of discernm ent keeps quiet. †

11
     A double-tongued m an rev eals deliberations heard in council,

But a m an faithful in spirit conceals m atters.

12
     Those for whom there is no leadership fall like leav es,

But there is salv ation in m uch counsel.

13
     A wicked m an does ev il whenev er he m eets a righteous m an,

And he hates the sound of stability .

14
     A thankful wom an raises up glory to her husband,

But a throne of dishonor is a wom an who hates righteousness.

15
     Lazy m en are in need of wealth,

But courageous m en support them selv es with wealth. †

16
     A m erciful m an does good to his soul,

But an unm erciful m an utterly destroy s his body .

17
     An ungodly m an does unrighteous works,

But the seed of the righteous is a reward of truth. †

18
     A righteous son is begotten unto life,

But the persecution of an ungodly m an is unto death.

19
     Perv erse way s are an abom ination to the Lord,

But all who are blam eless in their way s are acceptable to Him .

20
     He who joins hands with the unrighteous will not go unpunished,

But he who sows righteousness will receiv e a faithful reward.

21
     Like a ring in the nose of a wild swine,

So is beauty to an ev il-m inded wom an.

22
     Ev ery desire of the righteous is good,
But the hope of the ungodly is destruction. †

23
     There are those who sow their own things and produce m ore things,

And there are those who gather but hav e less.

24
     Ev ery sincere soul is blessed,

But an angry m an is not graceful. †

25
     May the one who hoards grain leav e it to the nations,

But m ay blessing be upon the head of the one who shares it.

26
     He who plans good things seeks good grace,

But he who seeks ev il, it will capture him .

27
     He who trusts in riches, this m an will fall,

But he who helps the righteous, this m an will rise.

28
     He who does not deal graciously with his own house will inherit the wind,

And a m an without discernm ent will be serv ant to one with discernm ent.

29
     A tree of life springs up from the fruit of righteousness,

But the souls of the lawless will be taken away before their tim e. †

30
     If the righteous m an is scarcely sav ed,

Then where shall an ungodly m an and a sinner appear?†

                                              The Riches of Righteousness

12 He who lov es instruction lov es perception,
But he who hates correction is without discernm ent. †

2
    He who finds grace from the Lord becom es better,

But a lawless m an will be passed ov er in silence. †

3
    A m an will not prosper by lawlessness,

But the roots of righteous m en will not be pulled out.

4
    A courageous wife is a crown to her husband,

But as a worm in a tree, so an ev ildoing wife destroy s her husband. †

5
    The thoughts of the righteous are judgm ents,

But the ungodly dev ise deceits. †

6
    The words of the ungodly are deceitful,

But the m outh of the upright shall deliv er them .

7
    If he does not turn, an ungodly m an is destroy ed,

But the houses of the righteous rem ain.

8
    The m outh of a m an of understanding is praised by a m an,

But the slothful of heart are treated with contem pt. † ω
9
     It is better for a m an in dishonor to serv e him self

Than for him to surround him self with honor while in need of bread.

10
     A righteous m an has com passion on the liv es of his cattle,

But the affections of the ungodly are without m ercy . †

11
     He who works his own land will be satisfied with bread,

But those who pursue v ain things are in need of discernm ent.

12
     He who is gladdened by wines in passing his tim e

Shall leav e dishonor in his own strongholds.

13
     The desires of the ungodly are ev il,

But the roots of the godly are in strongholds. †

14
     By the sin of his lips a sinner falls into snares,

But a righteous m an escapes from them .

15
     He whose looks are gentle will show m ercy ,

But he who contends in the gates will afflict souls. †

16
     By the fruits of his m outh, the soul of a m an will be filled with good things,

And the recom pense of his lips will be giv en to him .

17
     The way s of undiscerning m en are right in their own ey es,

But a wise m an hearkens to counsels.

18
     A m an without discernm ent im m ediately proclaim s his wrath,

But an astute m an hides his own dishonor. †

19
     A righteous m an declares his honesty openly ,

But the witness of the unrighteous is deceitful. †

20
     There are those who wound with a sword as they speak,

But the tongues of the wise heal. †

21
     Truthful lips establish a testim ony ,

But a hasty witness has an unrighteous tongue.

22
     There is deceit in the heart of a m an who dev ises ev il things,

But those who counsel peace shall be glad. †

23
     Nothing unrighteous will ev er be pleasing to the righteous,

But the ungodly will be filled with ev il things.

24
     Ly ing lips are an abom ination to the Lord,

But he who shows faithfulness is acceptable to Him . ω

25
     A m an of understanding is a throne of perception,

But the heart of the undiscerning will m eet with curses. †

26
     The hand of the chosen shall prev ail easily ,
But the deceitful shall be for captiv ity .

27
     A fearful word troubles the heart of a righteous m an,

But a good m essage m akes him glad.

28
     A righteous arbiter shall be his own friend,

But the decisions of the ungodly are unreasonable.

29
     Ev il things shall pursue sinners,

And the way of the ungodly will lead them astray .

30
     A deceitful m an will not gain his prey ,

But a pure m an is a precious possession.

31
     In the way s of righteousness there is life,

But the way s of rem em bering wrongs are unto death. †

                                                 The Godly and the Ungodly

13 An astute son is obedient to his father,
But a disobedient son is for destruction. †

2
     A good m an eats from the fruits of righteousness,

But the souls of the lawless will destroy them selv es before their tim e. †

3
     He who guards his m outh keeps his own soul,

But he who is hasty with his lips will dism ay him self. †

4
     Ev ery idle m an has desire,

But the hands of the courageous are diligent. †

5
     A righteous m an hates an unrighteous word,

But an ungodly m an is asham ed and will not hav e confidence.

6
     Righteousness guards the sim ple,

But sin m akes the ungodly worthless.

7
     There are those with nothing who m ake them selv es rich,

And there are those, though v ery rich, who hum ble them selv es.

8
     The ransom of a m an's soul is his own wealth,

But the poor m an does not withstand a threat. †

9
     Light is with the righteous continually ,

But the light of the ungodly is extinguished.

10
     Deceitful souls are led astray in sins,

But the righteous hav e com passion and are m erciful. †

11
     An ev il m an does ev il things with arrogance,

But those who know them selv es are wise. †
12
     Property hastily gained with lawlessness becom es dim inished,

But he who gathers for him self with godliness will be increased;

A righteous m an has com passion and lends.

13
     A m an who begins to giv e aid heartily is better

Than he who only prom ises and leads another to hope;

A good desire is a tree of life.

14
     He who despises a m atter will be despised by it,

But he who fears the com m andm ent, this m an is in good health.

15
     To a deceitful son there shall be nothing good,

But for a wise serv ant, his deeds shall be prosperous,

And his way shall be led aright. †

16
     The law of the wise is a fountain of life,

But the m an without understanding will die by a snare. †

17
     A good understanding giv es grace,

And to know the law is to be of a good m ind,

But the way s of scorners are destructiv e. †

18
     Ev ery astute m an acts with knowledge,

But the m an without discernm ent spreads out his own ev il. †

19
     A rash king falls into ev il things,

But a faithful m essenger rescues him .

20
     Instruction rem ov es pov erty and dishonor,

And he who giv es heed to rebukes will be glorified. †

21
     The desires of the godly gladden the soul,

But the works of the ungodly are far from knowledge.

22
     He who walks with the wise shall be wise,

But he who walks with those without discernm ent will be known. ω

23
     Ev il things shall pursue sinners,

But good things will ov ertake the righteous. †

24
     A good m an will inherit sons of sons,

But the wealth of the ungodly will be stored up for the righteous.

25
     The righteous shall liv e in wealth m any y ears,

But the unrighteous will be destroy ed suddenly .

26
     He who spares the rod hates his son,

But he who lov es him instructs him with care. †

27
     A righteous m an eats and satisfies his soul,
But the souls of the ungodly are in want.

                                                   Righteousness at Home

14 Wise wom en build houses,
But those without discernm ent destroy them with their hands. †

2
     He who walks uprightly fears the Lord,

But he who is crooked in his way s will be dishonored.

3
     From the m outh of a m an without discernm ent com es a rod of arrogance,

But the lips of wise m en guard them selv es. †

4
     Where there are no oxen, the stalls are clean,

But where there are abundant crops, the strength of an ox is ev ident.

5
     A faithful witness does not lie,

But an unrighteous witness kindles lies.

6
     You will seek wisdom in the com pany of ev il m en, and y ou will not find it;

But perception is easily found with the discerning. †

7
     All things are contrary to a m an without discernm ent,

But the weapons of perception are wise lips. †

8
     The wisdom of astute m en will know their way s,

But the folly of m en without discernm ent is in their deceit. †

9
     The houses of the lawless are due for purification,

But the houses of the righteous are acceptable.

10
     If the heart of a m an is controlled by feelings, his soul is sorrowful,

But when he rejoices, it is not m ingled with arrogance.

11
     The houses of the ungodly will be destroy ed,

But the tents of the upright shall stand.

12
     There is a road that seem s to be right with m en,

But the ends of it reach into the depths of Hades. †

13
     Sorrow does not m ingle with gladness,

But in the end, this joy turns to sorrow.

14
     A bold-hearted m an will be filled with his own way s,

But a good m an with all his thoughts. †

15
     A sim ple m an believ es in ev ery word,

But an astute m an com es to repentance. † ω

16
     A wise m an fears and turns away from ev il,

But a m an without discernm ent persuades him self to m ingle with a lawless m an.
17
     A quick-tem pered m an acts with recklessness,

But a m an with discernm ent bears m any things. †

18
     Men without discernm ent will share in ev il,

But the astute will take hold of perception. †

19
     Ev il m en will slip and fall in the presence of good m en,

And the ungodly shall serv e at the gate of the righteous.

20
     Friends will hate poor friends,

But the friends of the rich are m any .

21
     He who dishonors the poor sins,

But he who has m ercy on the poor is v ery blessed.

22
     Deceiv ers dev ise ev il things,

But good m en dev ise m ercy and truth. †

23
     Dev isers of ev il things do not understand m ercy and faithfulness,

But m ercies and faithfulness are with dev isers of good things.

24
     To ev ery one who is careful there is an abundance,

But he who is pleasure-taking and slothful shall be in want.

25
     The crown of the wise is astuteness,

But the pastim e of the undiscerning is ev il. †

26
     A faithful witness will rescue a soul from ev il m en,

But a deceitful m an kindles lies.

27
     In the fear of the Lord there is hope of strength,

And to His children there rem ains support.

28
     The com m and of the Lord is a fountain of life,

For it causes one to turn from the snare of death. † ω

29
     The glory of a king is in a large nation,

But the destruction of a ruler is in a lack of people.

30
     A longsuffering m an is strong in discernm ent,

But the fainthearted m an is strongly without discernm ent. †

31
     A m an with a gentle spirit is a healer of the heart,

But a sensual heart is the m oth of the bones. †

32
     He who oppresses the poor prov okes his Maker,

But he who honors Him has m ercy upon a poor m an.

33
     In his ev il an ungodly m an will be rejected,

But a righteous m an has confidence in his own holiness.

34
     There is wisdom in the good heart of a m an,
But wisdom is unknown in the heart of those without discernm ent. †

35
     Righteousness exalts a nation,

But sins dim inish tribes.

36
     A wise serv ant is acceptable to a king,

And by his own v ersatility he rem ov es dishonor.

                                                       Righteous Responses

15 Wrath destroy s ev en m en of discernm ent;
But a hum ble answer turns away anger,

And a griev ous word stirs up wrath. †

2
     The tongue of the wise understands good things,

But the m outh of those without discernm ent proclaim s ev il things.

3
     The ey es of the Lord are in ev ery place;

They keep watch ov er both the ev il and the good. †

4
     The healing of the tongue is a tree of life,

And the one who guards it will be filled with the Spirit. †

5
     A son without discernm ent treats the instruction of his father with contem pt,

But the one who guards his com m andm ents is m ore astute.

6
     In abundant righteousness there is m uch strength,

But the ungodly shall utterly perish from the earth.

7
     In the houses of the righteous there is m uch strength,

But the fruits of the ungodly shall perish.

8
     The lips of the wise are bound by perception,

But the hearts of those without discernm ent are not safe. † ω

9
     The sacrifices of the ungodly are an abom ination to the Lord,

But the pray ers of the upright are acceptable with Him .

10
     The way s of the ungodly are an abom ination to the Lord,

But He lov es those who pursue righteousness.

11
     The instruction of the sim ple is known by those who pass by ,

But those who hate reproofs will die sham efully .

12
     Hades and destruction are m anifest before the Lord;

How can the hearts of m en not be also?

13
     An uninstructed m an will not lov e those who reprov e him ,

And he will not keep com pany with the wise. †

14
     When one's heart is glad, his face is cheerful,
But when it is in grief, his face is sad.

15
     The upright heart seeks perception,

But the m outh of the uninstructed will know ev il things. †

16
     The ey es of ev il m en are waiting for ev il things all the tim e,

But good m en are at rest continually .

17
     Better is a sm all portion with the fear of the Lord

Than great treasures with lack of fear.

18
     Better is a dinner of herbs with friendship and grace

Than a fatted calf with hostility .

19
     An angry m an stirs up contention,

But a longsuffering m an ev en calm s the rising quarrel. †

20
     A longsuffering m an will extinguish condem nations,

But the ungodly m an stirs up m ore.

21
     The way s of idle m en are strewn with thorny plants,

But the thorny plants of the courageous are worn sm ooth. †

22
     A wise son gladdens a father,

But a son without discernm ent treats his m other with contem pt. †

23
     The paths of one without understanding are in need of discernm ent,

But a m an with discernm ent walks uprightly .

24
     Those not honoring councils defer their deliberations,

But counsel rem ains in the hearts of those who resolv e to do it.

25
     The ev il m an will not obey counsel,

Nor will he speak any thing appropriate, ev en som ething for the com m on good. †

26
     The thoughts of a wise m an are his way s of life,

That he m ight turn aside and be sav ed from Hades.

27
     The Lord will destroy the houses of the arrogant,

But He will strengthen the boundary of a widow.

28
     The thinking of the unrighteous m an is an abom ination to the Lord,

But the words of the holy are sacred.

29
     He who receiv es bribes utterly destroy s him self,

But he who hates the receiv ing of bribes sav es him self.

30
     Sins are cleansed by alm sgiv ing and faithfulness,

And by the fear of the Lord ev ery one turns aside from ev il. †

31
     The hearts of the righteous care about faithfulness,

But the m outh of the ungodly answers ev il things.
32
     The way s of righteous m en are acceptable before the Lord,

And through them ev en enem ies becom e friends.

33
     God is far from the ungodly ,

But He hears the pray ers of the righteous. †

34
     Better is a sm all y ield with the righteous

Than abundant fruits with the unrighteous.

35
     Let the heart of a m an think righteous things

That he m ay m ake his steps straight under God.

36
     The ey e that beholds good things gladdens the heart,

But a good report enriches the bones.

37
     He who rejects instruction hates him self,

But he who giv es heed to reproofs lov es his soul. †

38
     The fear of God is instruction and wisdom ,

And the beginning of glory will respond to it. †

                                Humility, Discernment, and Righteousness

16 All the works of the hum ble are ev ident before the Lord,
But the ungodly will be destroy ed in the ev il day . † †

2
    Ev ery high-hearted m an is unclean before the Lord,

And he who joins hands with the unrighteous will not go unpunished.

3
    The beginning of a good way is to do righteous things,

And this is m ore acceptable to God than to offer sacrifices. †

4
     He who seeks the Lord will find knowledge with righteousness,

And those who seek Him rightly will find peace. †

5
    All the works of the Lord are with righteousness,

But the ungodly m an is kept for an ev il day .

6
     There is an oracle on the lips of a king,

And his m outh does not err in judgm ent.

7
    The weight of a scale is righteousness before the Lord,

For His works are righteous standards. †

8
     He who does ev il things is an abom ination to a king,

For the throne of a ruler is prepared with righteousness.

9
     Righteous lips are acceptable to a king,

And he lov es upright words. †

10
     The wrath of a king is a m essenger of death,
But a wise m an will appease him .

11
     The son of a king is in the light of life,

And those acceptable to him are as a cloud of the latter rain.

12
     The abodes of wisdom are m ore to be chosen than gold,

And the abodes of discernm ent are m ore to be chosen than silv er. †

13
     The paths of life turn away from ev il,

And the way s of righteousness are length of life;ω

14
     He who receiv es instruction shall be in good things,

And he who heeds rebukes shall becom e wise;†

15
     He who guards his own way s shall keep his own soul,

And he who lov es his life shall use his m outh sparingly .

16
     Arrogance goes before destruction

And folly before a fall.

17
     A gentle m ind with hum ility is better

Than he who div ides spoils with the arrogant. †

18
     A m an wise in his deeds is a discov erer of good things,

But he who trusts in God is the m ost blessed.

19
     Men call the wise and understanding worthless,

But those pleasing in speech will increase in understanding.

20
     Understanding is a fountain of life to those who possess it,

But the instruction of those without discernm ent is ev il. †

21
     The heart of a wise m an shall understand the things from his own m outh,

And he shall carry knowledge upon his lips. †

22
     Good words are a honey com b,

And their sweetness is a healing of the soul.

23
     There are way s that seem right to a m an;

Howev er, their ends look to the depths of Hades.

24
     A m an labors diligently for him self

And expels destruction from him self;

Howev er, a perv erse m an carries destruction on his lips.

25
     A m an without discernm ent digs up ev il things for him self

And stores up fire on his own lips.

26
     A perv erse m an spreads ev il things,

And a torch of deceit kindles ev ils and separates friends.

27
     A lawless m an m akes a trial of friends
And leads them in way s not good.

28
     A m an sets his ey es to calculate perv erse things

And determ ines ev ery ev il thing with his lips;

This m an is a furnace of wickedness.

29
     Old age is a crown of dignity ,

But it is found in the way s of righteousness. †

30
     A patient m an is better than a strong m an,

And he who controls his tem per is better than he who captures a city . †

31
     All ev il things com e into the bosom s of the unrighteous,

But all righteous things com e from the Lord. †

                                                      Family and Friends

17 Better is a m orsel with enjoy m ent in peace
Than a house full of m any good things and unrighteous sacrifices with quarreling. †

2
     A serv ant with discernm ent shall rule ov er m asters without discernm ent,

And will div ide portions am ong brethren.

3
     As silv er and gold are tested in a furnace,

So are chosen hearts before the Lord. †

4
     An ev il m an heeds the tongue of the lawless,

But a righteous m an pay s no attention to false lips. †

5
     He who laughs at the poor prov okes the One who m ade him ,

And he who rejoices in destruction will not be unpunished;

But he who has com passion will be shown m ercy .

6
     The crown of old m en is children of children,

And the boasting of children is their fathers.

7
     The entire world of goods belongs to the faithful,

But to the faithless, not ev en a penny .

8
     Faithful lips will not adapt to a m an without discernm ent,

Nor ly ing lips to a righteous m an.

9
     Instruction awards benefits to those using it,

And wherev er it turns, it prospers them . †

10
     He who hides wrongdoings seeks lov e,

But he who hates to cov er them will separate friends and close relativ es.

11
     A threat breaks the heart of a m an with discernm ent,

But a m an without discernm ent, though flogged, has no perception.
12
     Ev ery ev il m an stirs up controv ersy ,

But the Lord will send him a m erciless m essenger.

13
     Care will befall a thoughtful m an,

But m en without discernm ent dev ise ev il things.

14
     He who repay s ev il for good,

Ev il will not be rem ov ed from his house. †

15
     The foundation of righteousness giv es authority to words,

But discord and quarreling precede pov erty .

16
     He who judges the unrighteous as righteous, and the righteous as unrighteous,

He is unclean and abom inable before God. †

17
     Why do goods belong to a m an without discernm ent?

For a heartless m an is unable to gain wisdom .

18
     He who m akes his own house lofty seeks destruction,

And the one who turns away from learning will fall into ev ils.

19
     Let a friend be with y ou on ev ery occasion,

And let brethren be useful in necessities,

For they are begotten for this reason. † ω

20
     A m an without discernm ent applauds and rejoices ov er him self,

As also the one who giv es him self as surety for his friend.

21
     He who lov es sin rejoices in quarrels,

And the hard-hearted m an does not assem ble with good m en.

22
     A changeable m an will fall into ev ils with his tongue,

And a heart without discernm ent is grief to the one possessing it. †

23
     A father does not delight in an uninstructed son;

But a son with discernm ent gladdens his m other.

24
     A cheerful heart m akes a m an healthy ,

But the bones of a sorrowful m an dry him up.

25
     The way s of a m an who receiv es gifts unrighteously do not prosper,

And the ungodly m an shuns the way s of righteousness.

26
     The face of a wise m an shows understanding,

But the ey es of the m an without discernm ent are upon the ends of the earth.

27
     A son without discernm ent is wrath to a father

And grief to her who bore him .

28
     It is not good to punish a righteous m an,

Nor is it holy to plot against righteous princes.
29
     He who refrains from uttering a harsh word is intelligent,

And a longsuffering m an has discernm ent. †

30
     Wisdom shall be im puted to a m an without understanding who asks for wisdom ,

And any one who holds his peace will seem to hav e discernm ent. †

                                                        Words and Works

18 A m an seeks a pretext when he wishes to separate from his friends,
But he shall be reproached at ev ery opportunity . †

2
     A m an lacking understanding has no need of wisdom ,

For he is rather led by lack of discernm ent.

3
     When an ungodly m an com es into the depth of ev il things, he acts contem ptuously ,

But dishonor and reproach com e upon him .

4
     A word in the heart of a m an is deep water,

And a riv er and a fountain of life spring up from it. †

5
     It is not good to adm ire the person of the ungodly ,

Nor is it holy to perv ert righteousness in judgm ent.

6
     The lips of a m an without discernm ent lead him into ev il things,

And his rash m outh calls upon death.

7
     The m outh of a m an without discernm ent is destruction to him ,

And his lips are the snare of his soul. †

8
     Fear destroy s slothful m en,

And the souls of cowardly m en shall hunger. †

9
     He who does not heal him self by his works,

He is the brother of him who m altreats him self.

10
     The nam e of the Lord is of great strength,

And when the righteous run to it, they are exalted. †

11
     The substance of a rich m an is a strong city ,

And its glory casts a great shadow.

12
     Before its destruction, the heart of a m an exalts itself,

And before its glory , it hum bles itself.

13
     He who replies to a word before he hears it

Lacks discernm ent, and this is a reproach to him .

14
     A serv ant with discernm ent calm s the anger of a m an,

But who can support a discouraged m an?†

15
     A heart of discernm ent gains perception,
And the ears of the wise seek understanding. †

16
     The gift of a m an enlarges him

And seats him beside princes.

17
     When a prosecutor speaks first, he seem s righteous,

But when the defendant exam ines his case, he is reprov ed.

18
     An allotm ent of land ends controv ersies,

And it determ ines the boundary between princes.

19
     A brother aided by his brother is like a strong and fortified city ,

And he is strong like a well-founded palace. †

20
     From the fruits of his m outh a m an fills his stom ach,

And from the fruits of his lips he will fill him self to the full.

21
     Life and death are in the hand of a tongue,

And those who rule ov er it will eat the fruits thereof. †

22
     He who finds a good wife finds benefits

And receiv es cheerfulness from God.

23
     He who casts out a good wife casts out good things,

And he who keeps adulteresses is without discernm ent and is ungodly .

                                                        Mercy and Malice

19 A m an's lack of discernm ent m altreats his way s,
And in his heart he blam es God. †

2
    Wealth adds m any friends,

But the poor m an is ev en forsaken by an existing friend.

3
    A false witness shall not be unpunished,

And he who accuses unrighteously shall not escape.

4
     Many m en serv e in the presence of kings,

But ev ery ev il m an becom es a reproach to another m an.

5
    Ev ery m an who hates his poor brother,

He shall be far from friendship.

6
     Good understanding will draw near those who know it,

And a m an with discernm ent will find it. †

7
    He who does m any ev il things perfects wickedness,

And he who prov okes with words,

He shall not be sav ed.

8
     He who gains discernm ent lov es him self,
And he who guards discernm ent will find good things. †

9
     A false witness shall not be unpunished,

And he who kindles ev il will perish by it.

10
     Luxury is not profitable for a m an without discernm ent,

And it is not good if a serv ant begins to rule with arrogance.

11
     A m erciful m an is longsuffering,

And his boast goes against the lawless.

12
     The anger of a king is like the roar of a lion,

But as dew upon the grass, thus is his grace.

13
     A son without discernm ent is a disgrace to his father,

And v ows paid from the wage of a prostitute are not pure.

14
     Fathers div ide the house and property to their children,

But a wife is suited to her husband by God.

15
     Cowardice possesses a weak m an,

And the soul of the idle m an will be hungry . †

16
     He who guards the com m andm ent keeps his soul,

But he who despises his way s shall perish. ω

17
     The one who has m ercy on the poor lends to God,

And He will repay him according to his gift. †

18
     Instruct y our son, for thus he shall be hopeful,

But do not lift up y our soul in arrogance.

19
     A m alicious m an shall be punished sev erely ,

And if he com m its injury , he will also add this to his soul.

20
     Hear, m y son, the instruction of y our father,

That y ou m ay becom e wise in y our last day s.

21
     There are m any thoughts in the heart of a m an,

But the counsel of the Lord abides forev er. †

22
     Mercy is fruit to a m an,

And a poor righteous m an is better than a rich liar.

23
     The fear of the Lord is unto life for a m an,

And he shall lodge without fear in places where knowledge is not exam ined. †

24
     A m an who hides his hands in his bosom unrighteously ,

He will not ev en bring them up to his m outh.

25
     When a pestilent m an is punished, a m an without discernm ent becom es m ore astute,

But if y ou reprov e a discerning m an, he will understand perception. †
26
     He who dishonors his father and pushes away his m other,

He will be sham ed and reproached.

27
     A son who forsakes guarding his father's instruction,

He will think about ev il say ings.

28
     He who becom es surety for an undiscerning child despises the ordinance,

And the m outh of the ungodly swallows judgm ents.

29
     Lashes are prepared for the intem perate

And punishm ents for the shoulders of those without discernm ent. †

                                    Double Standards or Single-Mindedness

20 Wine is an intem perate thing, and strong drink is full of v iolence;
And all who com m ingle with it will not be wise. †

2
     The threat of a king does not differ from the anger of a lion,

And he who prov okes him sins against his own soul.

3
     It is glory for a m an to turn away from reproaches,

But ev ery m an without discernm ent is entangled with such things.

4
     A lazy m an who is reproached feels no sham e;

Likewise also is he who borrows bread in harv est.

5
     Counsel is deep water in the heart of a m an,

And a m an with discernm ent will draw it out. †

6
     Man is im portant, and a m an who shows m ercy is noble,

But it is difficult to find a faithful m an.

7
     He who liv es blam elessly in righteousness,

He will leav e blessed children behind him .

8
     When a righteous king sits upon the throne,

No ev il thing can oppose his presence.

9
     Who will boast about hav ing a pure heart?

Or who will declare boldly being clean from sins?†

10
     The lam p of him who rev iles his father or m other shall be put out,

And the pupils of his ey es shall see darkness.

11
     A portion gained hastily in the beginning

Will not be blessed at the end.

12
     Do not say , “I will av enge m y self on the enem y ,”

But wait on the Lord, that y ou m ay be helped.

13
     A weight, great and sm all, and a double standard,
Both are also unclean before the Lord.

14
     And the one who uses these things in his pursuits will be entangled;

But a y oung m an with holiness, his road is straight.

15
     The ear hears and the ey e sees;

Both are also works of the Lord. †

16
     Do not lov e to speak ill,

That y ou m ay not be taken away ;

17
     Open y our ey es,

And y ou will be filled with bread. †

18
     A double standard is an abom ination to the Lord,

And a deceitful scale is not good before Him .

19
     Steps are m ade straight for a m an by the Lord,

But how can a m ortal m an understand His way s?

20
     It is a snare for a m an to quickly sanctify som ething of his own things as holy ,

Then after m aking this v ow, to com e to a change of heart. †

21
     A wise king is a winnower of the ungodly ,

And he casts them upon the wheel of torture.

22
     The breath of m an is the light of the Lord,

Who searches the inner m an. †

23
     Mercy and truth are a guard for the king,

And they will encircle his throne with righteousness.

24
     Wisdom is an ornam ent to y oung m en,

And the glory of old m en is their gray hair.

25
     Bruises and fractures happen to ev il m en,

And plagues shall com e into their inner m an. †

                                        Godliness: Willing to Do God's Will

21 As a flow of water, so is the heart of the king in the hand of God;
Wherev er He wills to incline it, there he turns it. †

2
    Ev ery m an appears righteous to him self,

But the Lord m akes hearts right.

3
    To do righteous things and to speak the truth

Are m ore pleasing before God than the blood of sacrifices. † ω

4
     A high-m inded m an is bold-hearted in his arrogance,

And the lam p of the ungodly is sin.
5
     He who produces treasures with a ly ing tongue

Pursues worthless things upon the snares of death.

6
     Destruction shall entertain the ungodly ,

For they are not willing to do righteous things. †

7
     To the crooked, God sends crooked way s,

For His works are pure and upright.

8
     It is better to dwell in a corner in the open air

Than with wrongdoing in plastered room s and in a shared house.

9
     The soul of the ungodly will not be shown m ercy by any one am ong m en.

10
     When the intem perate m an is punished, the sim ple m an becom es m ore astute,

And a wise m an of understanding shall receiv e knowledge. †

11
     A righteous m an understands the hearts of the ungodly ,

And he despises the ungodly in their ev ils.

12
     He who closes his ears that he m ight not listen to the weak,

He will also call upon som eone, and there will be no one listening.

13
     A secret gift calm s anger,

But he who refrains from giv ing gifts stirs up strong anger.

14
     It is the joy of the righteous to do judgm ent,

But a holy m an is unclean before ev ildoers. †

15
     A m an who wanders from the way of righteousness

Shall rest in an assem bly of giants.

16
     A m an in need lov es m errim ent,

Lov ing wine and oil as wealth.

17
     A lawless m an is the outcast of a righteous m an.

18
     It is better to liv e in a desert

Than with a contentious, talkativ e, and quick-tem pered wom an.

19
     A treasury of desire will rest upon the m outh of a wise m an,

But m en without discernm ent shall swallow it.

20
     The way of righteousness and m ercy shall find life and glory .

21
     A wise m an assaults fortified cities

And pulls down the stronghold the ungodly trust. †

22
     He who guards his m outh and tongue

Keeps his soul from tribulation. ω

23
     A troublem aker is called rash, arrogant, and boastful,

And he who bears m alice is called lawless.
24
     Desires kill a slothful m an,

For his hands choose not to do any thing. †

25
     The ungodly m an desires ev il all day long,

But the righteous m an shows m ercy and com passion unsparingly .

26
     The sacrifices of the ungodly are an abom ination to the Lord,

For they offer them lawlessly . †

27
     A false witness shall perish,

But an obedient m an will speak guardedly .

28
     An ungodly m an resists sham elessly to the face,

But the upright m an him self understands his way s.

29
     There is no wisdom , there is no courage,

There is no counsel for the ungodly . †

30
     The horse is prepared for the day of war,

But help is from the Lord.

                                                     Rich Man, Poor Man

22 A good nam e is to be chosen m ore than m uch wealth,
And good grace m ore than silv er and gold. †

2
    The rich m an and the poor m an m eet with one another,

But the Lord m ade both.

3
    An astute m an, seeing an ev il m an sev erely punished, is him self instructed,

But those passing by without discernm ent suffer loss.

4
     The fear of the Lord and riches and glory and life

Are the offspring of wisdom . †

5
    Thorns and snares are in the way s of the crooked,

But he who guards his own soul will keep away from them . †

6
     The rich will rule ov er the poor,

And serv ants will lend to their own m asters.

7
    He who sows worthless things will reap ev il things,

And bring to an end the plague of his works.

8
     God blesses a cheerful m an and a giv er,

And he will bring to an end the v anity of his works. †

9
     He who shows m ercy to a poor m an shall him self be supported,

For he gav e his own bread to the poor m an.

10
     He who giv es gifts to a poor m an gains v ictory and honor for him self;
Howev er, he who buy s him takes away his soul.

11
     Cast out a pestilent m an from the assem bly ,

And contention will go out with him ;

For whenev er he sits in the assem bly , he dishonors ev ery one.

12
     The Lord lov es holy hearts,

And all the blam eless are acceptable to Him ;†

13
     A king gov erns lips.

14
     And the ey es of the Lord m aintain perception,

But the lawless m an despises His words.

15
     A slothful m an m akes excuses and say s,

“There is a lion in the way , and m urderers in the streets.”

16
     The m outh of a lawless m an is a deep pit,

And the m an hated by the Lord shall fall into it. †

17
     Ev il way s are before a m an,

And he does not lov e to turn away from them ,

But it is necessary to turn away from a crooked and ev il way .

18
     Folly fastens itself to the heart of a child,

For the rod and instruction are far from him .

19
     He who oppresses a poor m an increases his possessions,

Yet he giv es them to a rich m an to lessen them .

20
     Incline y our ear to the words of the wise and hear m y word,

And establish y our heart, that y ou m ay know they are good. †

21
     And if y ou apply them to y our heart,

They will gladden y ou and at the sam e tim e be upon y our lips;

22
     That y our hope m ight be in the Lord,

And His way m ight be known to y ou.

23
     And register them upon the breadth of y our heart for y ourself threefold,

For counsel and knowledge.

24
     Therefore, I teach y ou a true word and good knowledge to be obey ed,

That y ou m ight answer words of truth to those who question y ou.

25
     Do not rob the poor, for he is needy ,

And do not dishonor the helpless at the gates;

26
     For the Lord will judge his cause,

And y ou will deliv er y our soul from v iolence.

27
     Do not be a com panion to an angry m an
And do not associate with a quick-tem pered friend, †

28
     Lest y ou learn his way s

And receiv e a snare for y our soul.

29
     Do not giv e y ourself as surety because y ou respect a person,

For if y ou do not hav e the wherewithal to m ake com pensation,

They will take y our bed out from under y ou.

30
     Do not rem ov e the eternal landm arks y our fathers established. †

31
     An observ ant m an and one astute in his business

Should be present with kings,

And he should not be present with slothful m en.

                                               Understanding and Priorities

23 If y ou sit down to dine at a table of princes,
Understand carefully the things put before y ou;†

2
     And apply y our hand,

Knowing y ou should prepare certain things;

3
     And if y ou are insatiable, do not desire its delicacies,

For these things belong to a false life.

4
     If y ou are poor, do not m easure y ourself with a rich m an,

But keep away from this in y our thinking;

5
     If y ou fix y our ey e on him , he will disappear,

For wings like an eagle's are prepared for him ,

And he returns to the house of his m aster.

6
     Do not dine with an env ious m an,

Neither desire his foods;

7
     For as som eone who m ay swallow a hair,

So he eats and drinks.

8
     Neither inv ite him in, nor eat y our m orsel with him ;

For he will v om it it forth and m altreat y our good words.

9
     Speak nothing into the ears of a m an without discernm ent,

Lest he treat y our wise words with contem pt.

10
     Do not rem ov e the eternal landm arks,

And do not enter the possession of orphans.

11
     For the Lord who redeem s them is m ighty ,

And He will judge their cause with y ou.
12
     Giv e y our heart to instruction,

And prepare y our ears for words of perception. †

13
     Do not withhold instruction from a child,

For if y ou should strike him with a rod, he would not die;

14
     For y ou shall strike him with a rod

And deliv er his soul from death.

15
     My son, if y our heart becom es wise,

You will also gladden m y heart;ω

16
     And y our lips shall spend tim e with the words on m y lips,

If they be upright. †

17
     Do not let y our heart env y sinners,

But be in fear of the Lord the whole day long.

18
     For if y ou keep these words, y ou shall hav e offspring,

And y our hope will not depart from y ou.

                                   A Father's Counsel on Wine and Women

19
     Hear, m y son, and becom e wise,

And direct aright the thoughts of y our heart.

20
     Do not be a wine-bibber,

Neither prov ide contributions of m eats or goods at drinking parties.

21
     For ev ery drunkard and fornicator shall becom e im pov erished,

And ev ery sluggard shall clothe him self with tattered and ragged garm ents. †

22
     Hear, m y son, y our father who begot y ou,

And do not despise y our m other because she has grown old.

23
     A righteous father rears his child well,

And his soul rejoices in a wise son.

24
     Let y our father and m other be glad in y ou,

And let her who bore y ou rejoice.

25
     My son, giv e m e y our heart,

And let y our ey es observ e m y way s;

26
     For a house of prostitution is a pierced v essel

And a strange and em pty well;

27
     For he shall perish suddenly ,

And ev ery lawless m an shall be destroy ed.

28
     Who has woe? Who has tum ult? Who has condem nation?
Who has unpleasantness and gossip?

Who has afflictions with no purpose?

Whose ey es are pale?

29
     Is it not those who linger long with wines?

Is it not those who hunt for the whereabouts of drinking parties?

30
     Do not be drunk with wine, but keep com pany with righteous m en,

And keep com pany in public walks;

31
     For if y ou set y our ey es to the bowls and cups,

Afterward y ou will walk about m ore naked than ground m eat.

32
     And at last, he stretches him self out as one bitten by a serpent,

And the v enom spreads through him as one bitten by a horned serpent.

33
     When y our ey es behold a strange wom an,

Then y our m outh will speak twisted things;

34
     And y ou will lie down as in the heart of the sea

And as a pilot in a great storm ;

35
     And y ou will say , “They beat m e, but I did not suffer,

And they m ocked m e, but I knew it not;

36
     When will it be m orning,

That I m ay go seek those with whom I m ay com pany ?”

                                                   Issues of Life and Death

24 My son, do not env y ev il m en,
Neither desire to be with them ;

2
    For their heart ponders a lie,

And their lips speak of sufferings.

3
    A house is built with wisdom ,

And it is built up with understanding. †

4
     Storehouses are filled with perception

From all honorable and good riches.

5
    It is better to be a wise m an of strength

And a m an hav ing discernm ent, than to be a m an who has a large estate.

6
     War com es with the skill of a com m ander,

But help com es with the heart of a counselor.

7
    Wisdom and good thinking are in the gates of the wise;

The wise do not turn away from the m outh of the Lord,
But they deliberate with councils;†

8
     Death happens to the uninstructed,

And a m an without discernm ent shall die in his sins;

9
     And uncleanness will pollute a pestilent m an

In an ev il day and a day of tribulation, until he dies.

10
     Rescue those being led into death,

And saw off the bonds of those being cast out; do not spare them help;†

11
     If y ou say , “I do not know this m an,”

Know that the Lord knows the hearts of all;

12
     And He who form ed ev ery breath knows all things,

Who will render to each m an according to his works.

13
     My son, eat honey , for the honey com b is good,

That y our throat m ay be sweetened. †

14
     Thus y ou shall discern wisdom for y our soul,

For if y ou find it, there will be a good end to y our life;

And hope will not abandon y ou.

15
     Do not bring an ungodly m an to the dwelling of the righteous,

Neither be deceiv ed by the full satisfaction of the stom ach.

16
     For a righteous m an will fall sev en tim es and rise again,

But the ungodly shall weaken in ev ils. †

17
     If y our enem y falls, do not rejoice ov er him ,

And do not exalt y ourself at his stum bling;†

18
     Because the Lord will see this, and it will not please Him ,

And He will turn His anger from him .

19
     Do not rejoice in ev ildoers,

Nor env y sinners;

20
     For there is no future for ev il m en,

And the lam p of the ungodly shall be put out.

21
     Fear God, m y son, and the king,

And disobey neither of them ;

22
     For suddenly they will take retribution on the ungodly ,

And who will know the punishm ents of both?

23
     A son who guards the word will be free from destruction,

For he receiv es it fully .

24
     Let no lie be spoken from y our tongue to the king,
And let no lie com e from his tongue.

25
     The tongue of the king is a sword and not of flesh,

And whoev er it deliv ers, it will annihilate;

26
     For if his anger is sharpened,

It destroy s m en with its sinews.

27
     And it dev ours the bones of m en,

And it burns like a flam e,

So as to be inedible for the nestlings of eagles.

28
     Now I say the following to y ou, the wise, to observ e,

“It is not good to be partial in judgm ent.”

29
     He who say s about an ungodly m an, “He is righteous,”

Shall be accursed to people and despicable to nations;

30
     But those who reprov e him shall appear m ore excellent,

And a good blessing shall com e upon them ;

And they will kiss the lips that answer good words.

31
     Prepare y our works for y our going forth,

And prepare y ourself for the field;†

32
     And walk behind m e,

And y ou shall build up y our house.

33
     Do not be a false witness against y our country m an,

Neither open wide y our lips;

34
     Do not say , “I will treat him as he treated m e,

And I shall av enge m y self on him wherein he wronged m e.”

35
     A m an without discernm ent is like a field,

And a m an in need of discernm ent is like a v iney ard;

36
     If y ou leav e it alone, it will rem ain dry and barren,

Altogether cov ered with grass and forsaken,

And its stone walls will be razed to the ground.

37
     Afterward, I repented;

I observ ed that I m ight choose instruction.

38
     I doze a little, and I sleep a little,

And I fold m y arm s across m y chest a little.

39
     If y ou do this, y our pov erty shall go before y ou,

And want, like a strong runner.
25 These  are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon which the friends of Hezekiah,
   the King of Judah, wrote out.

    2
         The Glory of God hides a word,

    And the glory of the king honors deeds.

    3
         Heav en is high, and earth is deep,

    But the heart of the king is incapable of disproof.

    4
         Beat drossy silv er,

    And it will be m ade entirely clean. †

    5
         Slay the ungodly from before the king,

    And his throne shall be established in righteousness. †

    6
         Do not brag on y ourself in the presence of the king,

    Neither stand in the places of princes;†

    7
         For it is better that it be said to y ou, “Com e up to m e,”

    Than for y ou to be hum bled in the presence of a prince.

    8
         Speak the things y our ey es see. †

    9
         Do not enter into a quarrel quickly ,

    That y ou m ay not be sorry in the end.

    10
         When y our friend reproaches y ou,

    Retreat and do not despise him ,

    11
         Lest y our friend continue to reproach y ou,

    And y our quarrel and enm ity shall not depart,

    But be equal to death for y ou.

    12
         Grace and friendship free a m an;

    Keep these for y ourself, that y ou m ay not be reproached,

    But guard y our way s peaceably .

    13
         As a golden apple in a sm all necklace of sardius stone,

    Thus it is to speak a wise word.

    14
         As a v ery expensiv e sardius stone set in a golden earring,

    So is a wise word to an obedient ear.

    15
         As the falling of snow in harv est is beneficial against the heat,

    So is a faithful m essenger to those who send him ;

    For he benefits the souls of those who use him .

    16
         As winds, clouds, and rains are ev ident,

    So are those who boast in a false gift.
17
     There is prosperity for kings in patience,

And a m ild tongue breaks bones.

18
     When y ou find honey , eat what is sufficient,

Lest being filled, y ou should v om it it up. †

19
     Seldom v isit y our own friend's house,

Lest he becom e fed up with y our com pany and hate y ou.

20
     As a club, a sword, and a pointed arrow,

So also is the m an who testifies as a false witness against his friend.

21
     The tooth of an ev il m an and the foot of a lawless m an

Shall perish in an ev il day .

22
     As v inegar is bad for a festering wound,

So calam ity befalling the body griev es the heart.

23
     As a m oth in a garm ent and a worm in wood,

So the grief of a m an dam ages the heart.

24
     If y our enem y is hungry , feed him ,

And if he is thirsty , giv e him drink. †

25
     For by doing this, y ou shall heap coals of fire on his head,

And the Lord will reward y ou with good things.

26
     The north wind stirs up clouds,

And a sham eless face prov okes the tongue.

27
     It is better to dwell in a corner on a housetop

Than in a house shared with an abusiv e wom an.

28
     As cold water is agreeable to a thirsty soul,

So is good news from a far-off land.

29
     As if som eone would stop a spring and corrupt an outlet of water,

So it is unseem ly for a righteous m an to fall before the ungodly .

30
     It is not good to eat too m uch honey ,

But it is necessary to honor words held in honor.

31
     As an unfortified city whose walls are broken down,

So is a m an who does som ething without counsel. †

                                                     The Undiscerning Man

26 As dew in harv est and as rain in sum m er,
So honor is not for a m an without discernm ent. †

2
    As birds and sparrows fly ,
So a curse will not com e upon any one without a cause.

3
     As a whip for a horse and a prod for a donkey ,

So is a rod for a lawless nation.

4
     Do not answer an undiscerning m an in relation to his lack of discernm ent,

Lest y ou becom e like him .

5
     But answer an undiscerning m an contrary to his lack of discernm ent,

So he m ay not appear wise to him self.

6
     He shall drink reproach at his own feet

Who sends a word through an undiscerning m essenger.

7
     Rem ov e the m otion of the legs

And a prov erb from the m outh of m en without discernm ent.

8
     He who binds a stone in a sling

Is like one who giv es glory to a m an without discernm ent.

9
     Thorny plants grow in the hand of a drunkard

And slav ery in the hand of m en without discernm ent.

10
     All flesh of m en without discernm ent griev ously suffers m any things,

For their illusion is brought to nothing.

11
     As when a dog returns to his own v om it and becom es despicable,

So is a m an without discernm ent who returns to his own ev il by his own sin.

12
     There is sham e that brings on sin,

And there is sham e that is glory and grace.

13
     I saw a m an who seem ed to him self to be wise,

But a m an without discernm ent has m ore hope than he.

                                                        The Slothful Man

14
     A slothful m an who is sent on his way say s,

“There is a lion in the way .” †

15
     As a door turns upon its hinge,

So does a slothful m an upon his bed.

16
     When a slothful m an hides his hand in his bosom ,

He shall be unable to bring it to his m outh.

17
     A slothful m an appears wiser to him self

Than he who satisfactorily brings back a m essage.

                                                        The Scheming Man
18
     As he who lay s hold of a dog's tail,

So is he who is the m outhpiece of another's cause. †

19
     As those who need correction speak to others,

He who first replies to the word shall be tripped up,

20
     So are all who set a trap for their own friends;

But when they are discov ered, they say , “I did it in jest.”

21
     A fire rages am ong m any trees,

But where there is no disagreem ent, contention is at rest.

22
     As a fireplace is for coals and wood for a fire,

So a contentious m an kindles v iolence.

23
     The words of a talebearer are m ild

And they strike into the innerm ost affections.

24
     Money giv en with deceit is like a sharp piece of broken pottery ;

So sm ooth lips hide a heart that causes pain.

25
     A weeping enem y prom ises ev ery thing with his lips,

But in his heart he dev ises deceits.

26
     If y our enem y entreats y ou with a loud v oice,

Do not consent, for there are sev en v ices in his soul.

27
     He who hides enm ity contriv es deceit,

But being well known in the assem blies, he exposes his own sins.

28
     He who digs a pit for his neighbor shall fall into it,

And he who rolls a stone rolls it upon him self.

29
     A ly ing tongue hates the truth,

And an unguarded m outh causes confusion.

                                                         Wisdom for Today

27 Do not boast about tom orrow,
For y ou do not know what the next day will bring forth. †

2
    Let y our neighbor praise y ou, and not y our own m outh;

A stranger, and not y our own lips. †

3
    A stone is heav y , and sand is cum bersom e;

But the wrath of a m an without discernm ent is heav ier than both. †

4
     Wrath is m erciless and anger passionate,

But jealousy supports nothing.

5
    Open reproofs are better than hidden lov e.
6
     The wounds of a friend are m ore trustworthy

Than the v oluntary kisses of an enem y . †

7
     A satiated soul m ocks honey com bs,

But to a hungry soul, ev en bitter things appear sweet.

8
     As when a bird flies down from its own nest,

So is a m an enslav ed whenev er he becom es a fugitiv e from his own place.

9
     The heart delights in perfum es, wines, and incenses,

But the soul is broken by m ishaps.

10
     Do not abandon y our friend or the friend of y our father,

And when y ou hav e m isfortune, do not go to y our brother's house;

A friend nearby is better than a brother far away .

11
     My son, becom e wise, that m y heart m ay be glad,

And turn away from y our reproachful words.

12
     An astute m an hides when ev ils are at hand,

But when m en without discernm ent are at hand, they will pay the penalty .

13
     If a haughty m an passes by , take away his garm ent,

For he lay s waste the goods of another.

14
     Whoev er blesses a friend early in the m orning with a loud v oice,

He will not seem different from one who curses him .

15
     Continual dripping on a rainy day driv es a m an from his house;

In like m anner, a contentious wom an also driv es a m an from his own house.

16
     The north wind is a harsh wind,

And a prosperous m an is called harsh.

17
     Iron sharpens iron,

And a m an sharpens the countenance of his friend. †

18
     Whoev er plants a fig tree will eat its fruit,

And whoev er guards his own m aster will be honored.

19
     As faces are not like other faces,

So neither are the hearts of m en.

20
     Hades and destruction are not satiated;

In like m anner the ey es of m en are also insatiable. †

21
     He whose ey e is fixed is an abom ination to the Lord,

And the uninstructed are intem perate with the tongue.

22
     Prov ing by fire is a way of testing for silv er and gold,

But a m an is tested by the m outh of those who praise him . †
23
     A lawless heart seeks ev il things,

But an upright heart seeks knowledge. †

24
     If y ou should whip a m an without discernm ent in the m idst of the council and dishonor him ,

You would not rem ov e his lack of discernm ent.

25
     Know thoroughly the souls of y our sheep,

And y ou will set y our heart on y our flocks, †

26
     Since strength and m ight are not in m an forev er,

Neither are they transm itted from generation to generation.

27
     Take care of the green plants in the field, and cut the herbs short,

And gather the grass of the m ountains.

28
     That y ou m ay hav e the wool of sheep for clothing,

Honor the field, so there m ay be lam bs for y ou.

29
     My son, y ou hav e strong say ings from m e for y our life

And for the life of y our serv ants.

                                              The Lawful and the Lawless

28 An ungodly m an flees when no one is pursuing,
But a righteous m an is confident as a lion. †

2
    Condem nations arise because of the sins of the ungodly ,

But an astute m an quenches them . †

3
    A bold m an harasses the poor with ungodliness.

As a driv ing and unprofitable rain,

4
     So those who forsake the law praise ungodliness,

But those who lov e the law surround them selv es with a wall.

5
    Ev il m en do not understand judgm ent,

But those who seek the Lord shall understand it in ev ery thing. †

6
     A poor m an walking in the truth is better than a rich liar.

7
    A wise son keeps the law,

But he who cherishes luxury dishonors his father.

8
     He who increases his wealth with usury and unjust gains

Gathers it for him who shows m ercy to the poor.

9
     He who turns away his ear so as not to hear the law,

He also m akes his pray er repulsiv e. †

10
     He who leads upright m en astray in an ev il way ,

He shall fall into destruction;
11
     And lawless m en shall pass by good things,

But they shall not enter into them .

12
     A rich m an is wise in his own ey es,

But a poor m an shall disapprov e of his thoughts.

13
     Great glory arises because of the help of the righteous,

But in places of the ungodly , m en are conquered. †

14
     He who hides his own ungodliness shall not prosper,

But he who leads his own rebuttal shall be lov ed. †

15
     Blessed is the m an who shall be discreet in all things because of godly fear,

But the m an who hardens his heart shall fall into ev ils.

16
     A hungry lion and a thirsty wolf

Is he who, being poor, ty rannizes ov er poor people.

17
     A king in need of rev enues is a great oppressor,

But he who hates unrighteousness shall liv e a long tim e.

18
     He who becom es surety for a m an charged with m urder

Shall be a fugitiv e and unsafe.

19
     Instruct y our son, and he shall lov e y ou;

And he shall giv e honor to y our soul,

Lest he follow a lawless people.

20
     He who walks righteously shall be helped,

But he who walks in crooked way s shall be entangled therein. †

21
     He who works his own land shall be satisfied with bread,

But he who pursues leisure shall be filled with pov erty .

22
     A trustworthy m an shall be blessed in m any things,

But an ev il m an shall not go unpunished.

23
     He who does not respect righteous people is not good;

Such a m an will sell another for a m orsel of bread.

24
     An env ious m an hastens to be rich,

But does not know that a m erciful m an shall hav e the m astery ov er him .

25
     He who reprov es a m an's way s

Shall hav e m ore grace than he who flatters him .

26
     He who casts off his father or m other and thinks he does not sin,

He is the accom plice of an ungodly m an.

27
     A greedy m an judges rashly ,

But he who trusts in the Lord shall be careful.
28
     He who trusts in an arrogant heart, such a m an is without discernm ent,

But he who walks in wisdom , such a m an shall be sav ed. †

29
     He who giv es to the poor shall not be in want,

But he who turns away his ey e from them shall be in m uch distress.

30
     The righteous lam ent in the places of the ungodly ,

But in their destruction the righteous shall be increased. †

                                                   The Wise and the Unwise

29 A reprov ing m an is better than an obstinate m an,
For when the latter is suddenly consum ed, there shall be no rem edy . †

2
     When the righteous are praised, the people shall rejoice,

But when the ungodly rule, m en lam ent.

3
     When a m an lov es wisdom , his father rejoices,

But he who keeps prostitutes shall destroy his wealth.

4
     A righteous king will establish a country ,

But a lawless m an razes it to the ground.

5
     He who prepares a net for the presence of his own friend

Casts it around his own feet.

6
     It is a great snare to a m an when he sins,

But a righteous m an shall be in joy and gladness. †

7
     A righteous m an understands how to judge on behalf of the poor,

But the ungodly m an will not consider such knowledge;

For he has no understanding heart for a poor m an.

8
     Pestilent m en burn down a city ,

But wise m en turn away wrath.

9
     A wise m an judges people fairly ,

But when a worthless m an is angry , he laughs at them , and does not fear.

10
     Bloodthirsty m en will hate a holy m an,

But the upright will seek his soul. †

11
     A m an without discernm ent brings forth his whole m ind,

But a wise m an distributes his in part.

12
     When a king obey s an unrighteous word,

All those under him are lawless.

13
     When a creditor and a debtor m eet with one another,

The Lord watches both of them .
14
     When a king judges the poor truly ,

His throne shall be established as a testim ony .

15
     Blows and reproofs giv e wisdom ,

But a child who goes astray sham es his parents.

16
     When the ungodly are m any , there are m any sins,

But when they fall, the righteous are fearful.

17
     Instruct y our son, and he shall giv e y ou rest,

And he will delight y our soul.

18
     There shall be no interpreter of the law for a lawless nation,

But he who guards the law is v ery blessed.

19
     A stubborn serv ant will not be instructed by words,

For ev en if he understands them , he will not obey . †

20
     If y ou see a m an hasty in words,

Know a m an without discernm ent has m ore hope than he.

21
     He who liv es luxuriously from childhood shall be a serv ant,

And in the end, he shall cause him self pain.

22
     An angry m an digs up strife,

But a furious m an digs up sins.

23
     Arrogance hum bles a m an,

But the Lord supports the hum ble-m inded with glory . †

24
     He who takes part with a thief hates his own soul,

And if, when an oath is set forth, those who hear it do not report it,

25
     They are tripped up, because they fear and stand in awe of m en;

But he who trusts in the Lord will rejoice. †

26
     Ungodliness causes a m an to stum ble,

But he who trusts in the Master shall be sav ed.

27
     Many serv e in the presence of leaders,

But righteousness com es to a m an from the Lord. †

28
     An abom ination to the righteous is an unrighteous m an,

And the upright way is an abom ination to the lawless.

                                                         A Father's Wisdom

30 My son, fear m y words,
And when y ou receiv e them , repent;

The m an say s these things to those who believ e in God, then I cease speaking;†
2
     For I am the m ost lacking of all m en in discernm ent,

And the discernm ent of m en is not in m e;†

3
     God giv es m e wisdom ,

And I know holy things.

4
     Who ascends into heav en and descends?

Who gathers the winds in His bosom ?

Who wraps up the water in a garm ent?

Who rules ov er all the ends of the earth?

What is His nam e, and what is the nam e of His children,

That y ou m ight acknowledge it?†

5
     All the words of God are tried in fire,

And He defends those who fear Him . †

6
     Do not add to His words,

That He m ight not reprov e y ou, and y ou becom e a liar.

7
     Two things I ask from You:

Do not take away grace from m e before I die;†

8
     Make a v ain word and a lie be far from m e;

But giv e m e neither riches nor pov erty ,

And appoint what is necessary and sufficient for m e;

9
     Lest being full, I becom e a liar and say , “Who sees m e?”

Or being poor, I steal, and swear by the nam e of God.

10
     Do not deliv er a serv ant into the hands of his m aster,

Lest he curse y ou, and y ou be destroy ed.

11
     An ev il offspring curses his father

And does not bless his m other. †

12
     An ev il offspring judges him self righteous,

But is not washed from his uncleanness.

13
     An ev il offspring has haughty ey es

And exalts him self with his ey elids;

14
     An ev il offspring has teeth like swords

And m olars like kniv es, so as to destroy

15
     And to dev our the poor from the earth,

And their needy from am ong m en.

                                                 Lessons from the Animals
16
     The leech had three dearly lov ed daughters,

And these three did not satisfy her,

And the fourth did not satisfy her, for her to say , “It is enough.” †

17
     Hades and the lov e of a wom an

And Tartarus and the earth not satisfied with water,

And water and fire will not say , “It is enough.”

18
     The ey e that m ocks his father and dishonors the old age of his m other,

Let the rav ens of the v alley s pick it out,

And the y oung eagles dev our it.

19
     Now there are three things I cannot understand,

And a fourth I do not know:

20
     The track of a fly ing eagle,

And the way s of a serpent upon a rock,

21
     And the paths of a ship passing through the sea,

And the way s of a m an in his y outh.

22
     Such is the way of an adulterous wom an,

Who, when she com m its adultery , washes herself and say s she did nothing wrong.

23
     The earth is shaken by three things,

And is unable to bear a fourth:

24
     If a serv ant reigns,

Or a m an without discernm ent is satiated with food,

25
     Or if a m aidserv ant casts out her own m istress,

Or a hateful wom an m arries a good m an.

26
     Now there are four v ery sm all things upon earth,

But these are wiser than the wise:

27
     The ants, which are not strong,

Yet they prepare prov isions in the sum m er;

28
     The rabbits, which are not a strong tribe,

Yet they m ake their own hom es in the rocks;

29
     The locust, which is without a king,

Yet he m arches out as one com m anded in an orderly m anner.

30
     And the spotted lizard, which supports him self with his hands and is easily caught,

Yet he dwells in the fortresses of kings.

31
     There are three things which walk easily ,

And a fourth that strides well:
32
     The cub of a lion, stronger than other anim als

And does not turn away , neither fears any anim al;

33
     A cock, walking about boldly am ong the hens;

A he-goat, leading a flock;

And a king, speaking publicly to the people.

34
     If y ou abandon y ourself to m errim ent

And stretch forth y our hand with contention, y ou will be dishonored.

35
     Churn m ilk, and it will becom e butter;

And if y ou squeeze som eone's nose, blood will com e out;

And if y ou draw out words, condem nations and contentions will em erge.

31 My words were spoken by God,
The oracular response of a king, whom his m other instructed. †

                                                       A Mother's Wisdom

2
    “What, m y child, will y ou keep? What? The words of God.”

My firstborn son, I say to y ou, “What, the child of m y wom b?

What, the child of m y v ows?”

3
    Do not giv e y our wealth to wom en,

Nor y our heart or life to rem orse.

4
     Do all things with counsel;

Drink wine with counsel;

Princes are prone to anger, but let them not drink wine,

5
    Lest while they drink, they forget wisdom ,

And be unable to judge the weak uprightly .

6
     Giv e strong drink to those in sorrow,

And wine to drink for those in pain,

7
    So they m ay forget their pov erty

And no longer rem em ber their grief.

8
     Open y our m outh for the word of God,

And judge all m en fairly ;

9
     Open y our m outh and judge righteously ,

And plead the cause of the poor and helpless.

                                                        A Virtuous Wife

10
     Who will find a courageous wife?
For such a one is m ore v aluable than precious stones. †ω

11
     The heart of her husband trusts in her;

She will not be at a loss for fine spoils,

For she prov ides good things for her husband all her life.

12
     She weav es wool and linen cloth

And is productiv e with her hands.

13
     She is like a ship trading afar off,

So she procures her liv elihood.

14
     She also rises before dawn

And giv es food to her household,

And appoints tasks for her m aidserv ants.

15
     Seeing a farm , she buy s it,

And from the fruits of her hands she plants her plot of land.

16
     Strongly girding her loins,

She strengthens her arm s for work.

17
     She experiences work as a good thing,

And her lam p is not quenched all night.

18
     She extends her arm s to do profitable things,

And she applies her hands to the spindle.

19
     She opens her hands to the poor

And reaches out with her fruit to the needy .

20
     Her husband is not anxious about those at hom e

When he spends a long tim e elsewhere,

For all her household are clothed.

21
     She m akes a double upper garm ent for her husband

And garm ents of fine linen and purple for herself.

22
     Her husband is respected at the gates

And when he sits in council with the elders who inhabit the land.

23
     She m akes and sells fine linens

And girdles to the Canaanites.

24
     She opens her m outh carefully and lawfully

And controls her tongue.

25
     She clothes herself with strength and dignity

And rejoices in the last day s.

26
     She runs her household carefully ,
And she does not eat the bread of idleness.

27
     She opens her m outh wisely and lawfully ,

And her charity raises her children, and they becom e rich,

And her husband praises her,

28
     “Many daughters acquire riches; m any do m ighty things,

But y ou excel and surpass all.”

29
     Desires to please are deceitful, and the beauty of a wife is v ain;

For a wise wife is blessed,

And let her in fear praise the Lord.

30
     Giv e to her from the fruits of her hands,

And let her husband praise her at the gates.
                                   E CCL E SIAST E S
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Chapters in Ecclesiastes
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12

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Verses in Ecclesiastes Chapter 1
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Ecclesiastes Chapter 2
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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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21, 22

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11, 12

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Verses in Ecclesiastes Chapter 7
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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Ecclesiastes Chapter 8
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Verses in Ecclesiastes Chapter 9
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Ecclesiastes Chapter 11
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Verses in Ecclesiastes Chapter 12
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                                                        The Book of Ecclesiastes

      Author     —The “Teacher” or “Preacher” has traditionally been identified as Solomon,
    because only he was the son of David, king of Israel in Jerusalem (1:1, 12), who
    achieved great fame for his wisdom, wealth, and achievements (12:9–12; 3Kg 10:23, 24).

      Date    —According to Jewish tradition, Solomon wrote the Song of Songs in his youth,
    Proverbs in his middle years, and Ecclesiastes in his old age. Following this line of
    reasoning, he would have written this book about 935 BC.

      Major Theme       —Without God, all of life is vanity.

      Background       —Early Judaism accepted the book as holy and read it on the third day of the
    Feast of Tabernacles. The early Church identified Solomon as the author, and some
    included the book in the list of books to be read in the churches (see St. Athanasius,
    Festal Letter 39; St. Augustine, Christian Doctrine Bk. 2:8).

Outline

    I. Ev ery thing Hum an Is Vain, for It Is without Profit (1 :1 –1 8)

    II. There Is No Profit under the Sun (2 :1 –1 2 :8)

III. Conclusion: Fear God and Keep His Com m andm ents (1 2 :9 –1 4 )



    The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Israel in Jerusalem.†
1
                                                             The Vanity of Life

       2
           “Vanity of v anities,” say s the Preacher;

       “Vanity of v anities, all is v anity !” †

       3
           What adv antage does a m an hav e in all his labor

       In which he toils under the sun?†

       4
           A generation com es and a generation goes,

       But the earth stands forev er.

       5
           The sun rises and the sun sets

       And returns to its place.

       6
           The wind rises and goes toward the south

       And swirls towards the north.
    The wind whirls in a circular m otion

    And returns full circle.

    7
         All the riv ers flow to the sea,

    Yet the sea shall not be filled.

    To the place where the riv ers flow,

    There they return again.

    8
         All words are wearisom e,

    And a m an will not be able to say them .

    Neither will the ey e be satisfied with seeing,

    Nor will the ear be filled with hearing. †

    9
         What has been is what will be,

    And what has been done is what will be done.

    There is nothing new under the sun.

    10
         Who will speak and say ,

    “See, this is new”?

    For it has already been in the ages

    That hav e passed before us.

    11
         There is no rem em brance of form er things,

    And indeed, there shall be no rem em brance of later things

    By the things that will com e after that.

                                                   Futility of Man's Wisdom

  12I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.† 13I gave my heart to seek out and to
prepare myself in wisdom concerning all the things done under heaven; for God has given
painful distraction to the sons of men to be occupied therewith. 14I beheld all the works done
under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and is the choice of one's spirit.†

    15
         That which has becom e crooked cannot be m ade straight,

    And what is lacking cannot be counted. †

  16I spoke in my heart, saying, “Behold, I have become great, and have acquired wisdom
beyond all before me in Jerusalem; and my heart has experienced much wisdom and
knowledge.” 17I gave my heart to know wisdom and knowledge, to learn proverbs and
understanding. And this, too, was waywardness of spirit.†

    18
         For in the abundance of wisdom
    There is abundance of knowledge,

    And he who increases knowledge will increase suffering.

                                                   The Vanity of Merriment


2 Ibehold,
    said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with merriment and see if this is good; and
            this, too, is vanity.”† 2I said concerning laughter, “This is madness,” and
concerning merriment, “What does this accomplish?” 3I searched in my heart that I might
excite my flesh as with wine. And my heart guided me with wisdom to grasp what is
foolishness, until I might see what is good for the sons of men, that which they should do
under the sun all the days of their life. 4I made my works great; I built myself houses and
planted vineyards for myself. 5I made myself gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit
trees in them. 6I made pools of water for myself from which to water growing trees. 7I
acquired male and female servants, and servants were born in my house; and I had abundant
possessions of herds and flocks, more than all before me in Jerusalem.

  8I also gathered silver and gold for myself and the abundant treasures of kings and
countries. I provided male and female singers for myself, the delights of the sons of men, and
male and female cupbearers. 9So I became great and advanced beyond all before me in
Jerusalem; my wisdom established me.

    10
         Whatev er m y ey es desired,

    I did not keep from them .

    I did not withhold m y heart from any m errim ent.

    For m y heart was m ade glad in all m y labor,

    And this was m y portion from all m y labor.

    11
         Then I looked on all the works m y hands had done

    And on the labor in which I had toiled,

    And indeed all is v anity

    And is the choice of one's spirit.

    There was no profit under the sun.

                                                Wisdom Excels Foolishness

    12
         Then I turned m y self to consider

    Wisdom , m adness, and foolishness,

    For who is the m an who will follow after counsel,
    Whatev er it is, to do it?

    13
         Then I saw that wisdom excels foolishness

    As light excels darkness. †

    14
         The wise m an's ey es are in his head,

    But the senseless m an walks in darkness;

    And I indeed know

    That one ev ent happens to all of them .

    15
         So I said in m y heart,

    “As it happens to the senseless m an,

    So it also happens to m e.

    Why then hav e I gained abundant wisdom ?”

    Then I said in m y heart,

    “This indeed is also v anity ,

    Because the senseless m an speaks of his abundance.”

    16
         For there is no rem em brance forev er

    Of the wise m an or of the senseless m an,

    Since now as in the day s to com e,

    All things are forgotten.

    And how will the wise m an

    As well as the senseless m an face death?†

  17Thus I have hated life, because the work done under the sun was evil before me; for all is
vanity and is the choice of one's spirit.

  18Then I hated all my labor in which I toiled under the sun, for I must leave it to the man

who comes after me. 19For who knows whether he shall be a wise man or a senseless man?
Yet he will have authority over all my labor in which I toiled and wherein I grew wise under
the sun. Indeed, this also is vanity. 20So I turned my heart and despaired of all the labor
wherein I toiled under the sun. 21For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge,
and courage, yet this man shall give his portion to one who has not labored therein. This also
is vanity and a great evil. 22For what does a man have for all his labor and his purpose of
heart wherein he labors under the sun? 23For all his days are sorrowful, and the distraction
of life is his, for even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

  24There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink and that his soul
should enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw was from the hand of God.† 25For who will eat
or who will drink without Him? 26And He gives wisdom, knowledge, and gladness to a man
who is good in His sight. But to him who commits sin He gives the job of gathering and
collecting, that he may give to the man who is good in God's sight. This is also vanity and is
the choice of one's spirit.

                                              A Time for Everything


3 To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:†
    2
        A tim e to giv e birth

    And a tim e to die;

    A tim e to plant

    And a tim e to pluck what is planted.

    3
        A tim e to kill

    And a tim e to heal;

    A tim e to pull down

    And a tim e to build up.

    4
        A tim e to weep

    And a tim e to laugh;

    A tim e to m ourn

    And a tim e to dance.

    5
        A tim e to throw stones

    And a tim e to gather stones;

    A tim e to em brace

    And a tim e to refrain from em bracing.

    6
        A tim e to seek

    And a tim e to lose;

    A tim e to keep

    And a tim e to throw away .

    7
        A tim e to tear

    And a tim e to sew;

    A tim e to keep silent

    And a tim e to speak.

    8
        A tim e to lov e
    And a tim e to hate;

    A tim e of war

    And a tim e of peace.

                                                           The Gifts of God

 9What profit has the worker from all his labors? 10I have seen altogether the tasks which

God has given to the sons of men to be engaged in. 11He made everything beautiful in its
time, and He indeed put eternity in their hearts in such a way that man may not find out the
work God made from the beginning to the end. 12I know there is nothing better for them
than to rejoice and do good in their lives. 13Indeed, every man should eat and drink and
experience the good in all his labor—this is God's gift to him.

    14
         I know that whatev er things God does,

    They shall be forev er.

    Nothing can be added to or taken away from these things,

    For God did them that m en would fear before Him . †

    15
         What is has already been,

    And what is to be has already been;

    And God will require an account of what is past.

                                                           God Judges All

    16
         Moreov er I saw under the sun the place of judgm ent.

    The ungodly m an was there.

    I also saw the place of the righteous m an.

    The ungodly m an was not there.

    17
         I said in m y heart,

    “God will judge both the righteous m an and the ungodly m an,

    For there is a tim e for ev ery action and ev ery work.”

  18I said in my heart, “Concerning the speech of the sons of men, God will judge them so as

to show them that indeed, they are themselves like animals.” 19For what happens to the sons
of men also happens to animals: one thing befalls them; as is the death of the one, so also is
the death of the other, and there is one breath to all. So what advantage does a man have over
an animal? For all things are vanity. 20All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all
return to the dust. 21Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, whether it goes upward, and
the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth? 22So I saw that there was no
good except that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion. For who shall bring
him to see what happens after him?†

                                                          Those Oppressed


4 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions done under the sun.
    Behold, the weeping of the oppressed!

    But they hav e no com forter.

    On the side of the oppressors was power,

    But they hav e no com forter. †

    2
        So I praised those who were already dead

    More than the liv ing,

    As m any as are aliv e until now.

    3
        Better than both these is he who has not y et been born,

    Who has not seen all the ev il work done under the sun.

  4Again I saw all the labor and all the courage of the worker, that this is the zeal of a man
because of his companion. This is also vanity and is the choice of one's spirit.

    5
        The senseless m an folds his hands

    And consum es his own flesh.

    6
        Better is a handful of rest

    Than two handfuls of labor,

    And it is the choice of one's spirit.

    7
        Then I returned and saw v anity under the sun:

    8
        There is one, and there is not a second one,

    And he has neither son nor brother.

    And there is no end to all his labor,

    Neither is his ey e satisfied with wealth.

    But he nev er asks,

    “For whom do I labor and depriv e m y self of goodness?”

    This also is v anity and a painful distraction. †

                                                 The Treasure of Friendship

    9
        Two are better than one

    Because they hav e a good reward for their labor.
    10
         For if they fall, one will lift up his com panion.

    But woe to him who is alone when he falls,

    For there is not a second one to help him up!†

    11
         If two lie down together, both stay warm ,

    But how can one stay warm alone?

    12
         If one is added strength, two will stand before him ,

    And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. †

                                                               An Unlikely King

    13
         Better is a poor and wise y outh

    Than an old and senseless king

    Who will no longer take adv ice. †

    14
         For this y outh shall com e from the house of prisoners to reign,

    Ev en though in his kingdom he was born poor.

    15
         I saw all the liv ing who walk under the sun,

    And they were with the y outh

    Who will be established in the king's place.

    16
         There was no end of all the people

    Ov er whom he was m ade king;

    Yet those who com e afterward will not rejoice in him .

    Surely this also is v anity and is the choice of one's spirit.

                                                              Draw Near to God

  17Walk carefully when you go to the house of God. And draw near to hear, rather than to
offer the sacrifice of senseless men; for they do not know that they do evil.

    5 Do not be hasty with y our m outh,
    And do not let not y our heart be quick

    To utter a word before God;

    For God is in heav en, and y ou are on earth;

    Therefore, let y our words be few.

    2
         For a dream com es in a m ultitude of distractions,

    And the v oice of a senseless m an is with a m ultitude of words.

    3
         When y ou m ake a v ow to God, do not delay to pay it,

    For His will is not in senseless m en.

    So pay whatev er y ou v owed.
    4
         Better not to v ow than to v ow and not pay .

  5Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not say in the presence of God, “It
was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?
6For in a multitude of dreams there are vanities and many words, but you should fear God.

                                                            The Vanity of Riches

  7If you see the oppression of the poor and the violation of judgment and righteousness in
the land, do not marvel at the matter; for there is a high official to watch over a high official,
and higher ones over them! 8Moreover, the abundance of the earth is for all: even a king
depends on work in the field.

    9
         He who lov es silv er will not be satisfied with silv er;

    Nor he who lov es the harv est, with its abundance.

    This also is v anity .

    10
         In the abundance of good things

    They who eat them also increase,

    But what v irtue does the owner hav e from them ,

    Except to see them with his ey es?

    11
         The sleep of a serv ant is sweet,

    Whether he eats little or m uch;

    But the abundance of the rich will not perm it him to sleep.

    12
         There was a sickness I saw under the sun:

    Wealth kept for its owner to his hurt.

    13
         That wealth shall perish in painful distraction,

    And he begets a son;

    But there is nothing in his hand.

    14
         As he cam e from his m other's wom b,

    Naked shall he return, to go as he cam e;

    And he shall take nothing from his labor

    That it m ay go with him in his hand. †

    15
         This also is a painful sickness,

    For as he cam e, so shall he go;

    And what is his gain, for which he labored for the wind?

    16
         All his day s are in darkness and sorrow
    And in m uch anger, sickness, and gall.

  17Behold, I have seen good: It is a fine thing for a man to experience goodness in all his
labor in which he toils all the days of his life that God has given him; for it is his portion.
18As for every man to whom God has given wealth, possessions, and authority—to eat from

it, to receive his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. 19For he will not
remember the many days of his life, because God distracted him in the merriment of his
heart.

   There is an evil I have seen under the sun, and it is abundant among men:† 2A man to
6 whom God shall give wealth, possessions, and glory, so he lacks nothing for his life from
all the things he shall desire; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a stranger
consumes it. This is vanity and a grievous sickness.

  3If a man begets a hundred children, and he shall live many years—however many the days
of his years shall be—yet his soul is not to be filled with goodness, and he also has no burial. I
say that a miscarried child is better than he, 4for it came in futility and departs in darkness;
and its name shall be covered with darkness. 5Though it has not seen the sun or known
anything, it has more rest than that man. 6Even if he lived a thousand years twice, but has
not seen goodness, do not all go to one place?

    7
         All the labor of m an is for his m outh,

    And y et his soul is not satisfied.

    8
         For what adv antage does the skilled m an

    Hav e ov er the unskilled m an,

    Since ev en this poor m an knows how to keep him self aliv e?

    9
         Better is the sight of the ey es

    Than the wandering of the soul.

    This also is v anity and is the choice of one's spirit.

    10
         If any thing has com e to be,

    Its nam e has already been used;

    And it is known what m an is,

    That he is unable to dispute with him

    Who is stronger than he.

    11
         Since there are m any words that m ultiply v anity ,

    What adv antage does m an hav e?
  12For who knows what is good for man in his life? For all his days in life, which pass like a
shadow, are spent in vanity. Who can tell a man what will happen under the sun after he is
gone?

                                                          The Value of Wisdom


7 A good name is better than good olive oil,
    And the day of one's death

    Than the day of one's birth. †

    2
         It is better to go to the house of m ourning

    Than to go to the house of drinking,

    For this is the end of ev ery m an;

    And the liv ing will take it to heart.

    3
         Sorrow is better than laughter,

    For by a sad countenance the heart is m ade better.

    4
         The heart of the wise is in the house of m ourning,

    But the heart of senseless m en is in the house of m errim ent.

    5
         It is better to hear the rebuke of a wise m an

    Than for a m an to hear the song of senseless m en. †

    6
         For like the crackling of thorns under a pot,

    So is the laughter of senseless m en.

    This also is v anity .

    7
         Oppression m akes a learned m an dizzy

    And destroy s his v igorous heart.

    8
         The end of m atters is better than their beginning,

    And a patient m an is better than one haughty in spirit.

    9
         Do not be hasty in y our spirit to be angry ,

    For anger rests in the bosom of senseless m en.

    10
         Do not say , “Why were the form er day s better than these?”

    For y ou do not inquire wisely concerning this.

    11
         Wisdom is good with an inheritance,

    And profitable to those who see the sun.

    12
         For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silv er,

    But the abundance of the knowledge of wisdom

    Will giv e life to him who has it.
13
     Behold the works of God,

For who can put in order him

Whom God m ade crooked?

14
     In the day of what is good, liv e in that goodness,

But in the day of trouble, consider also

That God m ade one harm onious with the other,

That a m an m ay not find out any thing

That will com e after him .

15
     I saw ev ery thing in m y day s of v anity :

There is a righteous m an

Who perishes in his righteousness,

And there is an ungodly m an

Who rem ains aliv e in his v ice.

16
     Do not be ov erly righteous,

Nor be ov erly wise,

Lest y ou be confounded. †

17
     Do not be v ery ungodly ,

Nor be hardened,

Lest y ou die before y our tim e.

18
     It is good that y ou lay hold of this

And do not let y our hand let go of it:

For the one who fears God, all things will turn out well. †

19
     Wisdom will help the wise

More than ten rulers in the city .

20
     For there is not a righteous m an on earth

Who does good and does not sin. †

21
     Also do not take to heart all the words people say ,

Lest y ou hear y our serv ant cursing y ou.

22
     For v ery often he will act in an ev il m anner against y ou,

And m any tim es he will afflict y our heart,

Just as y ou hav e cursed others.

23
     I prov ed all this by wisdom .

I said, “I will be wise,”

24
     But it was far from m e.

As for what is far off and exceedingly deep,
    Who will find it out?

    25
         I and m y heart went about to know,

    And to search and seek out wisdom

    And the account of things,

    And to know the foolishness, hardness, and m adness

    Of the ungodly m an.

    26
         I find m ore bitter than death

    The wom an who is a snare and her heart a net;

    And her hands are her chains.

    A m an who is good in the sight of God will escape from her,

    But the sinner will be caught by her. †

    27
         “Behold, I found this,” say s the Preacher,

    “Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason,

    28
         Which m y soul still seeks, but cannot find:

    I found one m an am ong a thousand,

    But a wom an am ong all these, I hav e not found.

    29
         Except behold, I found this,

    That God m akes m an upright,

    But they hav e sought out m any schem es.”

    8 Who knows the wise?
    And who knows the interpretation of a thing?

    A m an's wisdom m akes his face shine,

    And a m an sham eless in face will be hated. †

                                                        Obey Those Who Rule

  2Keep the king's commandment and spare no effort for the sake of your oath to God. 3You
will go out from his presence, but do not stand with an evil thing, for the king will do
whatever he pleases.

    4
        Insofar as a king has authority , he speaks,

    And who will say to him ,

    “Why will y ou do this?”

    5
        He who keeps his com m andm ent will not know an ev il thing,

    And a wise m an's heart knows the tim e of judgm ent.

    6
        For to ev ery m atter there is a tim e and a judgm ent,
    Because the knowledge of a m an lies heav ily upon him .

    7
        For there is no one who knows what is going to be;

    For who will tell him how it shall be?

    8
        No one has the authority ov er his spirit to withhold his spirit,

    And no one has authority in the day of his death.

    There is no discharge in that war,

    And ungodliness will not sav e those giv en to it. †

  9I saw all this and gave my heart to every work done under the sun wherein one man has
authority over another man to injure him.

                                                             Death Visits All

  10Then I saw the ungodly buried in their tombs and brought from their holy place and

praised in the city for what they had done. But this also is vanity. 11For no controversy comes
quickly against those who do evil; therefore, the heart of the sons of men is fully determined
within them to do evil.† 12Whoever sins does evil from that time on and for a long time
afterwards; nevertheless, I know that it shall be well for those who fear God so long as they
have fear before Him. 13But it shall not be well with the ungodly man; he will not prolong his
days, which are as a shadow, because he does not have fear before God.

  14There is a vanity that is done on earth: there are the righteous as when the work of the
ungodly overtakes them, and there are the ungodly as when the work of the righteous
overtakes them. I said that this also is vanity. 15So I praised merriment, because a man has
nothing better to do under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will be present
with him in his labor all the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.†

  16For this reason I committed my heart to know wisdom and to see the distractions done

on earth; nevertheless, he receives no sleep, day or night. 17Then I saw all the works of God,
that a man cannot discover how He does His work under the sun. No matter how much a
man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it out. And no matter how much a wise man
may speak of knowing it, he will not be able to find it out.


9 For I gave my heart to all this, and my heart saw all this, that the righteous and the wise
  and their works are in the hand of God. Whether it be love or hatred, man does not know
it, although all things are before him.†
    2
        Vanity is in all things:

    One ev ent happens to the righteous m an and the ungodly m an,

    To the good m an and the ev il m an,

    To the pure m an and the im pure m an,

    To the m an who sacrifices and the m an who does not sacrifice.

    As is the good m an, so is the m an who sins;

    As is he who takes an oath, so is he who fears an oath.

  3There is this evil in everything done under the sun, that one event happens to all. And
truly the heart of the sons of men is full of evil; madness is in their heart while they live, and
afterwards they go to the dead. 4For who has fellowship with all the living? There is hope, for
a living dog is better than a dead lion.†

    5
        For the liv ing know they will die,

    But the dead know nothing;

    And they hav e no m ore reward,

    For the m em ory of them is forgotten.

    6
        Also their lov e, hatred, and env y hav e now perished;

    And they hav e no portion forev er

    In all that is done under the sun.

    7
        Go, eat y our bread with m errim ent

    And drink y our wine with a happy heart;

    For now God is well pleased with y our works. †

    8
        Let y our garm ents be alway s white,

    And let y our head lack no oil.

  9Experience life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He gave
you under the sun all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life and in the labor you
performed under the sun. 10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for
there is no work or reasoning or knowledge or wisdom in Hades where you are going. 11I
returned and saw under the sun that:

    The race is not to the swift,

    Nor the battle to the strong,

    Nor bread to the wise,

    Nor wealth to m en of understanding,

    Nor fav or to m en of knowledge;
    For tim e and chance will happen to them all. †

    12
         For m an also does not know his tim e:

    Like fish taken in a cruel net,

    Like birds caught in a snare,

    So the sons of m en are snared in an ev il tim e

    When it falls suddenly upon them .

                                                Wisdom Is Better Than Strength

  13I saw this wisdom under the sun, and it is great to me. 14There was a little city with a few
men in it; and a great king came against it and surrounded it and built great barricades
around it.† 15Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and by his wisdom he rescued the
city; yet no one remembered that poor man. 16Then I said:

    “Wisdom is better than strength,

    But the poor m an's wisdom is despised,

    And his words are not heard.

    17
         The words of the wise are heard in quietness

    More than the shouting of those who rule in foolishness.

    18
         Wisdom is better than weapons of war,

    But one sinner destroy s m uch goodness.”

    10 Dead flies will corrupt the preparation of seasoned oliv e oil,
    And a little wisdom is m ore v aluable

    Than the glory of great foolishness. †

    2
        A wise m an's heart is at his right hand,

    But the heart of a senseless m an is at his left.

    3
        When a senseless m an also walks along the way ,

    His heart will fail him ,

    And ev ery thing he considers is foolishness.

    4
         If the spirit of the ruler rises against y ou,

    Do not leav e y our place;

    For soothing puts an end to great sins. †

    5
        There is an ev il I saw under the sun

    When an offense proceeds from a ruler.

    6
         The senseless m an dev otes him self to great heights,

    And rich m en shall sit in a lowly place.
7
     I saw serv ants on horses

And princes walking on the ground like serv ants.

8
     He who digs a pit will fall into it,

And he who pulls down a wall will be bitten by a serpent.

9
     He who rem ov es stones will be worn out by them ,

And he who cuts down trees will be endangered by them .

10
     If the ax head falls off, then his countenance is troubled,

And he will put forth m ore strength;

And in that case skill is of no adv antage to the m an.

11
     If the serpent bites when it is not charm ed,

Then there is no adv antage to the charm er.

12
     The words of a wise m outh are gracious,

But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up.

13
     The words of his m outh begin with foolishness,

And the end of his talk is ev il m adness.

14
     A senseless m an m ultiplies words.

No m an knows what is to be;

And who will tell him what will be after him ?

15
     The labor of fools wears them out,

For they do not ev en know how to go to the city !†

16
     Woe to y ou, O city whose king is y oung

And whose princes feast in the m orning!

17
     Blessed are y ou, O land,

When y our king is the son of nobles

And y our princes feast at the proper tim e in strength.

They will not be dishonored.

18
     Because of laziness the roofing will be brought low,

And through idleness of hands the house will leak.

19
     They m ake bread for laughter,

And wine delights the liv ing;

But all will listen to m oney .

20
     Do not curse the king, ev en in y our conscience;

Do not curse the rich, ev en in y our bedroom ;

For a bird of the air will carry y our v oice,

And a bird in flight will tell the m atter.
                                              Cast Your Bread upon the Water


11 Cast your bread upon the face of the water,
    For y ou will find it after m any day s. †

    2
        Giv e a portion to sev en and also to eight,

    For y ou do not know what ev il there will be on the earth.

    3
        If the clouds are full of rain, they pour it out upon the earth,

    And if a tree falls to the south or to the north,

    In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.

    4
        He who observ es the wind will not sow,

    And he who sees the clouds will not reap.

    5
        As y ou do not know the way of the wind,

    Or how the bones grow in the wom b of her

    Who is with child,

    So y ou do not know the works of God,

    Ev en all things whatev er He will do.

    6
        In the m orning sow y our seed,

    And in the ev ening do not withhold y our hand;

    For y ou do not know which will prosper,

    Either this or that,

    Or whether both alike will be good.

    7
        The light is sweet,

    And it is good for the ey es

    To behold the sun.

    8
        For if a m an liv es m any y ears

    And rejoices in them all,

    Yet let him rem em ber the day s of darkness,

    For they shall be m any .

    All that com es is v anity .

                                                       Follow God in Your Youth

    9
        Be glad, O y oung m an, in y our y outh,

    And let y our heart cheer y ou in the day s of y our y outh.

    Walk in the way s of y our heart

    And in the sight of y our ey es;
But know for all this

That God will bring y ou into judgm ent.

10
     Therefore rem ov e anger from y our heart

And pass by ev il with y our flesh,

For y outh and lack of understanding are v anity .

12 Rem em ber y our Creator in the day s of y our y outh,
Before the difficult day s com e

And the y ears arriv e when y ou say , †

2
    While the sun and the light,

The m oon and the stars

Are not darkened,

And the clouds do not return after the rain;

3
    In the day when the keepers of the house trem ble,

And the m en of strength are led astray ;

When the wom en who grind the grain becom e idle

Because they are few;

When the wom en who look out the windows

Will rem ain in darkness;

4
     When the doors are shut in the m arketplace,

And the sound of grinding is low;

When one rises up at the sound of a sparrow,

And all the daughters of song are brought low.

5
    Also they will look from the height,

And there are terrors in the way ;

When the alm ond tree blossom s,

The grasshopper grows fat,

And the caper plant is scattered.

For m an goes to his eternal hom e,

And the m ourners go about the m arketplace. †

6
     Rem em ber y our Creator until the silv er cord is rem ov ed,

And the golden flower is pressed together,

And the pitcher is shattered at the fountain,

And the wheel runs together at the well;

7
    Then the dust returns to the earth as it was,

And the spirit returns to God who gav e it.
    8
         “Vanity of v anities,” say s the Preacher,

    “All is v anity .” †

  9Because the Preacher was wise more than others, he taught the people knowledge; and

the ear will search out his well-ordered proverbs. 10The Preacher sought diligently to find
desirable words, and what was written is upright; they are words of truth.

  11The words of the wise are like pointed sticks, like nails firmly fastened; they are given

from the collections and abound from them by one Shepherd. 12Moreover, my son, guard
yourself, for there is no end to the making of many books, and much study is weariness of the
flesh.

  13Hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

    Fear God

    And keep His com m andm ents,

    For this is the whole m an.

    14
         For God will bring ev ery work into judgm ent,

    Including ev ery thing that has been ov erlooked,

    Whether it be good or ev il.
                              SO NG O F SO NG S
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Chapters in Song of Songs
Introduction

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Verses in Song of Songs Chapter 1
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11

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Verses in Song of Songs Chapter 6
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11, 12

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Verses in Song of Songs Chapter 7
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Verses in Song of Songs Chapter 8
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                                                              The Song of Songs

      Author     —Traditionally, Solomon, who is referred to seven times (1:1, 5; 3:7, 9, 11; 8:11,
    12).

      Date    —About 965–960 BC, according to early Jewish tradition.

      Major Theme       —The love between husband and wife. The Song of Songs is a hymn used by
    the Jewish people for centuries to celebrate human love at wedding feasts. The theme is
    symbolic of God's love for His faithful people and their reciprocal love. Christians have
    tended to emphasize the allegorical interpretation of Christ's love for His Bride, the
    Church.

      Background       —Typical of ancient Middle Eastern love poetry, the Song of Songs shares the
    extensive use of sensuous imagery drawn from nature. The closest parallels appear to
    be found in Proverbs (5:15–20; 6:24–29; 7:6–23). The description of love in 8:6, 7
    seems to confirm that the Song belongs to biblical wisdom literature and that it is
    wisdom's description of an amorous relationship.

 Outline

    I. Title: Solom on's Song of Songs (1 :1 )

    II. The First Meeting: Lov e's Desire (1 :2 –2 :7 )

 III. The Second Meeting: Aspiring Courtship (2 :8–3 :5)

 IV. The Third Meeting: Solom on's Wedding Procession (3 :6 –5:1 )

    V. The Fourth Meeting: The Bride's Search for Her Lov er (5:2 –6 :3 )

 VI. The Fifth Meeting: Union of Spouses (6 :4 –8:4 )

VII. Strength of Dev oted Lov e (8:5–7 )

VIII. The Conclusion (8:8–1 4 )



                                                                       The Bride

    The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's.†
1
       2
           Let him kiss m e with the kisses of his m outh,

       For y our lov e is better than wine, †

       3
           And the sm ell of y our ointm ents is better than all spices.
Your nam e is ointm ent poured forth;

Therefore, the y oung m aidens lov e y ou. †

4
    They draw y ou.

                                                 Companions

We will run after y ou

For the sm ell of y our ointm ents.

                                                  The Bride

The king brought m e into his cham ber.

                                                 Companions

Let us be extrem ely joy ful and glad in y ou.

We will lov e y our breasts m ore than wine;

Uprightness lov es y ou. †

                                                  The Bride

5
    I am black and beautiful,

O daughters of Jerusalem ,

As the tents of Kedar,

As the curtains of Solom on. †

6
    Do not look at m e because I am black,

For the sun gav e m e a tan.

The sons of m y m other fought with m e

And m ade m e keeper in the v iney ards.

But I hav e not kept m y own v iney ard. †

7
    Tell m e, y ou whom m y soul lov es,

Where y ou shepherd y our flock,

Where y ou rest them at noonday ;

Lest I becom e as one

Who encom passes herself

With the herds of y our com panions. †

                                                 The Groom

8
    If y ou do not know y ourself,

Fairest am ong wom en,
    Go forth on the heels of the flocks,

    And tend y our y oung goats by the shepherds’ tents. †

    9
         I hav e likened y ou, m y belov ed,

    To m y horses in the chariots of Pharaoh.

    10
         Your cheeks are as beautiful as turtledov es,

    Your neck as a sm all necklace. †

                                                                Companions

    11
         We will m ake for y ou figures of gold

    With studs of silv er.

                                                                    The Bride

    12
         While the king was at the table,

    My spikenard gav e forth its sm ell. †

    13
         My belov ed is to m e a bundle of m y rrh;

    He shall take rest in between m y breasts. †

    14
         To m e, m y belov ed is a cluster of grapes from Cy prus

    In the v iney ards of En Gedi. †

                                                                    The Groom

    15
         Behold, y ou are beautiful, m y belov ed;

    Behold, y ou are beautiful;

    Your ey es are dov es. †

                                                                    The Bride

    16
         Behold, y ou are beautiful, m y belov ed,

    And indeed lov ely ;

    Our bed is shaded. †

    17
         The beam s of our houses are cedars;

    Our ceilings are cy press wood. †



2 I am a flower of the plain,
  A lily of the valleys.†

                                                                    The Groom

    2
         As a lily am ong thorns,
So is m y belov ed am ong the daughters. †

                                                           The Bride

3
     As the apple am ong the trees of the woods,

So is m y belov ed am ong the sons.

I desired to be in his shadow and to sit down;

And his fruit was sweet in m y m outh. †

4
     Bring m e into the house of wine;

Set lov e before m e. †

5
     Strengthen m e with cakes of raisins;

Refresh m e with apples,

For I am wounded with lov e. †

6
     His left hand shall be under m y head,

And his right hand shall em brace m e. †

7
     I im plore y ou, O daughters of Jerusalem ,

By the hosts and powers of the field,

That y ou rouse not nor wake m y lov e

Until he wishes. †

8
     The v oice of m y belov ed!

Behold, he com es leaping on the m ountains

And skipping ov er the hills. †

9
     My belov ed is as a gazelle or a y oung stag

On the m ountains of Bethel.

Behold, he stands behind our wall,

Looking through the windows

And peering through the lattices. †

10
     My belov ed answers and say s to m e,

“Rise up and com e, m y com panion, m y fair one, m y dov e.

11
     For behold, the winter is past,

And the rain is gone;

It has departed. †

12
     The flowers are seen in the land;

The tim e of pruning has arriv ed;

The v oice of the dov e is heard in our land. †

13
     The fig tree has put forth its y oung figs,
    And the v ines are in bloom and giv e forth their fragrance.

    Arise and com e, m y com panion, m y fair one, m y dov e, †

    14
         And com e, m y dov e, to the shelter of the rock,

    And take hold of the wall.

    Show m e y our face,

    And cause m e to hear y our v oice;

    For y our v oice is sweet,

    And y our face is beautiful.” †

                                                             Companions

    15
         Catch us the foxes,

    The little ones that spoil the v iney ard,

    For our v ines are in bloom .

                                                                  The Bride

    16
         My belov ed is m ine, and I am his,

    He who shepherds his flock am ong the lilies. †

    17
         Until the day dawns and the shadows depart,

    My belov ed, turn back, and be as likened to

    A gazelle or a y oung stag

    On the m ountains of the rav ines. †



3 In the night on my bed
  I sought him whom my soul loves;

    I sought him , but did not find him .

    I called him , but he did not hear m e.

    2
        I will rise now and go about the city ,

    In the m arketplaces and the streets.

    I will seek him whom m y soul lov es.

    I sought him , but did not find him . †

    3
        The watchm en who do their rounds in the city

    Found m e, and I said to them ,

    “Hav e y ou seen him whom m y soul lov es?” †

    4
         Scarcely had I departed from them

    When I found him whom m y soul lov es.
    I held him and would not let him go

    Until I brought him into m y m other's house,

    Into the cham ber of her who conceiv ed m e. †

    5
         I im plore y ou, O daughters of Jerusalem ,

    By the hosts and powers of the field,

    That y ou rouse not nor wake m y lov e

    Until he wishes.

                                                        Companions

    6
         Who is this who com es up from the desert

    Like pillars of sm oke,

    Offering incense, m y rrh, and frankincense,

    With all the fragrant powders of the perfum er?†

    7
         Behold the bed of Solom on;

    Sixty m ighty m en round about it

    From the m ighty ones of Israel,

    8
         All holding a sword

    And trained in war.

    Ev ery m an has his sword upon his thigh

    Because of fear in the night. †

    9
         King Solom on m ade a palanquin for him self

    From the trees of Lebanon. †

    10
         He m ade its pillars of silv er

    And its back of gold,

    Its cov ering crim son,

    Its interior a m osaic of lov e,

    Because of the daughters of Jerusalem .

    11
         Go forth and look at King Solom on,

    At the crown with which his m other crowned him

    In the day of his wedding,

    And in the day of the gladness of his heart. †

                                                        The Groom


4 Behold, you are beautiful, my companion,
    Behold, y ou are beautiful.
Your ey es are like dov es behind y our v eil;

Your hair is as flocks of goats

Com ing down from Gilead. †

2
     Your teeth are as flocks of shorn sheep

That went up from the washing,

All of them bearing twins,

And none am ong them is barren. †

3
     Your lips are like a thread of scarlet,

And y our m anner of speech is pleasant.

As the rind of a pom egranate

Are y our cheeks behind y our v eil. †

4
     Your neck is like the tower of Dav id,

The one built on courses of stone.

A thousand shields hang upon it,

All the arrows of the m ighty m en. †

5
     Your two breasts are like two fawns,

Twins of a gazelle, that feed am ong the lilies. †

6
     Until the day dawns and the shadows depart,

I will go m y way to the m ountain of m y rrh

And to the hill of frankincense. †

7
     You are altogether beautiful,

And there is no blem ish in y ou. †

8
     Com e from Lebanon, m y bride, com e from Lebanon.

Beginning with faithfulness, y ou shall com e and pass through

From the top of Senir and Herm on,

From the dens of lions

And the m ountains of leopards. †

9
     My sister, m y bride, y ou rav ished m y heart;

You hav e rav ished m y heart with one look from y our ey es,

With one jewel of y our necklace. †

10
     My sister, m y bride,

How beautiful are y our breasts.

How m uch m ore beautiful are y our breasts than wine,

And the fragrance of y our garm ents than all the spices. †

11
     Your lips, m y bride, drip as the honey com b;
    Honey and m ilk are under y our tongue;

    And the fragrance of y our garm ents

    Is as the scent of Lebanon. †

    12
         My sister, m y bride, is an enclosed garden;

    An enclosed garden, a sealed fountain. †

    13
         Your plants are a garden of pom egranates

    With the fragrance of a fruit harv est

    And arom atic plants:

    14
         Spikenard and saffron,

    Calam us and cinnam on;

    With ev ery tree of Lebanon,

    My rrh, aloes, with all the finest spices;

    15
         A fountain of gardens,

    A well of liv ing and rushing water from Lebanon.

                                                        The Bride

    16
         Awake, O north wind,

    And com e, O south wind;

    Blow through m y garden

    And let m y spices flow out.

    Let m y belov ed com e to his garden

    And eat of its fruits. †

                                                        The Groom


5 I came into my garden, O my sister, my bride;
    I harv ested m y m y rrh with m y spices;

    I ate m y bread with m y honey

    And drank m y wine with m y m ilk.

    O friends, eat and drink,

    And O brothers, drink abundantly . †

                                                        The Bride

    2
        I sleep, but m y heart keeps watch;

    The v oice of m y belov ed—he knocks at the door!

    “Open to m e, m y sister, m y com panion,
My dov e, m y perfect one;

For m y head is wet with dew,

And m y locks of hair with the drops of the night.” †

3
     I hav e taken off m y tunic; how can I put it back on?

I hav e washed m y feet; how can I dirty them ?†

4
     My belov ed put his hand by the opening of the door,

And m y heart was stirred by him .

5
     I arose to open to m y belov ed;

My hands dripped with m y rrh,

My fingers with choice m y rrh,

Upon the handles of the door. †

6
     I opened it for m y belov ed,

But m y belov ed had passed by .

My soul went after him because of his word,

And I sought him , but did not find him ;

I called him , but he did not answer m e. †

7
     The watchm en who encircled the city found m e.

They struck and wounded m e;

The guards of the walls rem ov ed m y v eil. †

8
     I im plore y ou, O daughters of Jerusalem ,

By the hosts and powers of the field,

If y ou find m y belov ed, what should y ou tell him ?

That I am wounded with lov e.

                                                              Companions

9
     What is y our belov ed m ore than another belov ed,

My beautiful one am ong wom en?

What is y our belov ed m ore than another belov ed,

That y ou im plore us?

                                                               The Bride

10
     My belov ed is a shining and fiery light,

Chosen from countless thousands. †

11
     His head is like refined gold;

His locks of hair are shiny and black,
   Like a rav en's feathers.

   12
        His ey es are like those of dov es

   Sitting by pools of water,

   Hav ing ey es bathed in m ilk and fitly set.

   13
        His cheeks are like bowls of spices

   Pouring forth perfum es.

   His lips are lilies dripping choice m y rrh.

   14
        His hands are like elaborate gold

   Set with precious stones.

   His stom ach is like an iv ory tablet

   Inlaid with sapphire stones.

   15
        His legs are like pillars of m arble

   Established on golden feet.

   His appearance is like Lebanon,

   Choice as the cedar trees.

   16
        His m outh is m ost sweet and altogether desirable.

   This is m y belov ed, m y com panion,

   O daughters of Jerusalem !

                                                              Companions


6 Where has your beloved gone,
 You beautiful one among women?

   Where has y our belov ed turned his attention?

   For we will seek him with y ou. †

                                                               The Bride

   2
       My belov ed has gone down to his garden,

   To the beds of spice,

   To shepherd his sheep in the gardens

   And to gather lilies. †

   3
       I am m y belov ed's, and m y belov ed is m ine,

   He who shepherds his sheep am ong the lilies.

                                                              The Groom
4
     You are beautiful, m y com panion,

You are m y good pleasure;

You are as beautiful as Jerusalem ;

You are as awesom e as an arm y set in array .

5
     Turn away y our ey es from before m e,

For they hav e rav ished m e.

Your hair is like flocks of goats

Com ing down from Gilead. †

6
     Your teeth are as flocks of sheep

That are sheared,

Which cam e up from the washing.

All of them bear twins,

And none am ong them is barren.

7
     Your lips are like scarlet thread,

And y our m anner of speech is lov ely .

Your cheeks outside y our v eil

Are like the rind of a pom egranate.

8
     There are sixty queens

And eighty concubines,

And m aidens without num ber. †

9
     My dov e, m y perfect one is the only one;

And she is the only one of her m other,

The choice of the one who bore her.

The daughters saw her

And considered her blessed.

The queens and the concubines will also praise her.

10
     Who is she who looks forth as the early m orning,

Beautiful as the m oon,

Choice as the sun,

Awesom e as arm ies set in array ?†

                                                         Bride

11
     I went down to the orchard of nut trees

To see the fruits of the v alley ,

To see if the v iney ard had blossom ed
    And if the pom egranates had put forth blossom s.

    There I will giv e m y breasts to y ou:†

    12
         My soul did not know it.

    It m ade m e as the chariots of Am m inadab.

                                                              Companions


7 Return, return, O Shulamite;
  Return, return, and we will look at you.

                                                              The Groom

    What will y ou see in the Shulam ite,

    She who com es as the troops of arm ies?†

    2
        Why are y our feet beautiful in y our sandals,

    O daughter of Nadab?

    The curv es of y our thighs are like sm all necklaces,

    The work of a skilled craftsm an. †

    3
        Your nav el is like an elaborate bowl,

    Not lacking m ixed wine.

    Your stom ach is like a heap of wheat

    Set about with lilies.

    4
         Your two breasts are like two fawns,

    The twins of a gazelle.

    5
        Your neck is like a tower of iv ory ,

    And y our ey es are like pools in Heshbon

    By the gates of a daughter of m any .

    Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon

    Pointing towards Dam ascus.

    6
         Your head crowns y ou like Carm el,

    And the locks of y our hair are like a purple garm ent.

    The king is held captiv e by y our curls.

    7
        How beautiful and how sweet y ou are, O lov e,

    With y our delights!

    8
         This greatness of y ours is like the palm tree,

    And y our breasts like a cluster of grapes.
    9
         I said, “I will clim b up the palm tree,

    And grasp hold of its high branches.”

    Indeed y our breasts shall be like clusters of the v ine,

    And the fragrance of y our nose like apples,

    10
         And y our m outh like a good wine

    That goes down sm oothly for m y belov ed,

    Fit for m y lips and teeth.

                                                                 The Bride

    11
         I am m y belov ed's

    And his desire is towards m e. †

    12
         Com e, m y belov ed, let us go forth into the field;

    Let us lodge in the v illages;†

    13
         Let us rise early in the m orning in the v iney ards;

    Let us see if the v ine has flowered,

    If the blossom s hav e appeared,

    If the pom egranates hav e blossom ed.

    There I will giv e y ou m y breasts.

    14
         The m andrakes hav e put forth an arom a,

    And fruits of all kinds, new and old,

    Are at our doors.

    O m y belov ed, I hav e kept them for y ou.



8 Who would have granted you, my brother,
    To nurse at m y m other's breasts?

    I would hav e found y ou outside;

    I would hav e kissed y ou,

    And no one would despise m e. †

    2
         Then I would take y ou along

    And lead y ou to m y m other's house,

    Into the cham ber of her who conceiv ed m e;

    I would giv e y ou spiced wine to drink,

    The juice of m y pom egranates. †

    3
         His left hand would be under m y head,

    And his right hand would em brace m e. †
4
     I im plore y ou, O daughters of Jerusalem ,

By the hosts and powers of the field,

Do not rouse nor wake m y lov e

Until he wishes. †

                                                               Companions

5
     Who is she who com es up, is m ade white,

And leans on her belov ed?

                                                                The Groom

Under an apple tree I raised y ou up.

There y our m other trav ailed in labor for y ou;

There she who trav ailed in labor for y ou

Gav e y ou birth. †

6
     Set m e as a seal upon y our heart,

As a seal upon y our arm ;

For lov e is as strong as death,

Jealousy as cruel as Hades.

Her sparks are sparks of fire,

Ev en the flam es thereof. †

7
     Much water will not be able to quench lov e,

Nor will riv ers drown it.

If a m an should giv e all his possessions for lov e,

Men would utterly despise them . †

                                                               Companions

8
     Our sister is sm all and has no breasts;

What will we do for our sister

In the day when she is spoken for?†

9
     If she is a wall, let us build silv er battlem ents upon her;

And if she is a door, let us carv e cedar panels for her. †

                                                                     The Bride

10
     I am a wall, and m y breasts are as towers;

I was in his ey es as one who found peace.

11
     Solom on had a v iney ard in Baal Ham on;
He entrusted his v iney ard to keepers.

A m an was to bring a thousand silv er coins for its fruit. †

12
     My v iney ard before m e is m ine;

O Solom on, y ou shall hav e a thousand,

And those who keep its fruit, two hundred.

                                                            The Groom

13
     You who dwell in the gardens,

The com panions giv e heed to y our v oice;

Cause m e to hear. †

                                                                The Bride

14
     Escape, m y belov ed, and be like the gazelle

Or the fawn of a deer

On the m ountains of spices.
                                 W ISDO M O F SO L O M O N
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31

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                                                   The Wisdom of Solomon

    Author    —An unknown Jewish believer of the larger Greek community of Alexandria,
  Egypt.

    Date    —30–10 BC.

    Major Theme       —The greatness of Wisdom. The Wisdom of Solomon was written to offer
  edification to a Jewish community during times of political, military, and religious
  upheaval. Its aim was to encourage the Jews to be faithful to their covenant with God.
  The work was also intended to attract pagans and apostate Jews back to Judaism.

    Background      —The content of this rich theological work has prepared for and deeply
  influenced the Church's teachings on the Incarnation of Christ, as well as its
  understanding of God, salvation, and the nature of the Church itself. The Wisdom of
  Solomon is frequently found in the Old Testament readings of the Church lectionary,
  especially during Holy Week. This inspired writing was used in the early Church to
  further instruct those most recently baptized. Chronologically, it was the last book
  written in the Old Testament Canon, and it serves as a bridge to the New Testament in
  terms of theology and preparation for the Advent of Christ.

 Outline

  I. Wisdom Bestows Eternal Life (1 :1 –6 :2 1 )

  II. The Nature and Power of Wisdom and King Solom on's Pursuit of Her (6 :2 2 –1 0:2 1 )

 III. Wisdom Guides God's Chosen People during the Exodus (1 1 :1 –1 9 :2 2 )



                                                                Seek the Lord


1 Love righteousness, you who judge on the earth.
     Think about the Lord in goodness

     And seek Him with sincerity of heart;†

     2
         Because He is found by those who do not tem pt Him ,

     And He is m anifest to those who do not disbeliev e Him .

     3
         For dishonest reasoning separates people from God,

     And when His power exam ines som eone,
It conv icts the undiscerning;

4
     For wisdom will not enter the soul that plots ev il,

Nor will it dwell in a body inv olv ed in sin. †

5
     For a holy spirit of discipline flees from deceit

And sends away undiscerning reasoning;

It will put wrongdoing to sham e when it com es near. †

                                                 God Examines Our Actions

6
     For wisdom is a spirit that lov es m ankind,

But she will punish a blasphem er because of his words;

For God is the witness of his thoughts,

The true exam iner of his heart, and the hearer of his tongue;

7
     Because the Spirit of the Lord fills the world,

And He who holds all things together knows what is said. †

8
     Therefore no one who speaks unrighteous things

Will escape notice,

Nor will justice, when it cross-exam ines, pass him by .

9
     For there shall be a close exam ination

Into the deliberations of an ungodly m an,

And a report of his words will com e to the Lord

As proof of his lawlessness;

10
     For the zealous ear hears all things,

And the noise of m urm uring is not hidden.

11
     Therefore keep y ourself from useless m urm uring

And refrain y our tongue from ev il speech;

For no secret word will go unpunished,

And a ly ing m outh will destroy one's soul.

                                                  God Made Life, Not Death

12
     Do not be zealous for death by the deceit of y our life,

Nor bring destruction upon y ourself by the works of y our hands.

13
     For God did not m ake death,

Neither does He hav e pleasure ov er the destruction of the liv ing. †

14
     For He created all things that they m ight exist,

And the generations of the world so they m ight be preserv ed;
    For there was no poison of death in them ,

    Nor was the reign of Hades on the earth.

    15
         For righteousness does not die.

    16
         But the ungodly sum m oned death by their words and works;

    Although they thought death would be a friend, they were dissolv ed.

    For they m ade a cov enant with death,

    Since they were deserv ing to share it in com m on.

                                                     An Ungodly View of Life


2 For they said among themselves, as they reasoned incorrectly:
    “Our life is short and painful,

    And there is no cure for the death of a m an;

    For no one has been known to return from Hades;†

    2
        Because we were born by chance,

    And after this we shall be as though we nev er existed;

    For the breath in our nostrils is sm oke,

    And our speech is the spark kindled by the beating of our heart.

    3
        When the spark is extinguished, our body will turn to ashes,

    And our breath will disperse like em pty air.

    4
         Then our nam e will be forgotten in due tim e,

    And no one will rem em ber our works;

    So our life will pass away like the trace of a cloud

    And be scattered like fog,

    Driv en away by the ray s of the sun

    And oppressed by its heat.

    5
        For our appointed tim e is the passing of a shadow,

    And there is no return from our death;

    Because it is sealed up, no one can turn back.

    6
         Com e, therefore, and let us enjoy the good things that exist,

    And m ake the m ost of creation as quickly as possible,

    As we did in our y outh.

    7
        Let us be filled with expensiv e wine and perfum es,

    And let no flower of springtim e pass us by .

    8
         Let us crown ourselv es with rosebuds
Before they wither away .

9
     Let none of us fail to share in our arrogance.

Let us leav e signs of our gladness ev ery where,

Because this is our portion, and this is our lot.

10
     Let us oppress the righteous poor m an;

Let us not spare a widow,

Nor respect the aged gray hair of an old m an.

11
     Let our m ight be our law of righteousness,

For what is weak is shown to be useless.

                                                   Hatred of the Righteous

12
     “Let us lie in am bush for the righteous m an,

Because he is useless to us and opposes our deeds;

He denounces us for our sins against the law

And accuses us of sins against our upbringing. †

13
     He claim s to hav e knowledge of God,

And he calls him self a child of the Lord.

14
     He has becom e for us as a refutation of our purposes;

Ev en seeing him is a burden to us,

15
     Because his life is unlike that of others;

For his paths go in a different direction.

16
     We are considered by him as a hy brid,

And he av oids our way s as som ething im m oral.

He considers the last things of the righteous as blessed

And pretends that God is his Father.

17
     Let us see if his words are true,

And let us put these last things to the test at the end of his life.

18
     For if the righteous m an is a son of God, He will help him ,

And deliv er him from the hand of those who oppose him . †

19
     Let us test him with insult and torture

That we m ay know his gentleness

And test his patient endurance.

20
     Let us condem n him to a sham eful death,

For there shall be a v isitation because of his words.”

21
     So they reasoned these things
    And were led astray ,

    For their m alice blinded them .

    22
         But they did not know the m y steries of God,

    Nor hope for the wages of holiness,

    Nor judge the reward of blam eless souls.

    23
         For God created m an for im m ortality

    And m ade him an im age of His own eternity .

    24
         But death entered the world by the env y of the dev il,

    And those of his portion tem pt it.

                                                    The Hope of the Righteous


3 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
    And no torture will ev er touch them . †

    2
        In the ey es of the undiscerning they seem ed to hav e died,

    And their departure was considered to be m isfortune,

    3
        And their passage from us to be their destruction;

    But they are at peace.

    4
         For though in m an's v iew they were punished,

    Their hope is full of im m ortality .

    5
        Though chastened in a few things,

    Great kindness will be shown them ,

    For God tested them and found them worthy of Him self.

    6
         He tested them like gold in a furnace

    And accepted them as a whole burnt offering.

    7
        In the tim e of their v isitation they will shine forth,

    And they will run about like sparks through straw.

    8
         They will judge nations and rule ov er peoples,

    And the Lord shall reign ov er them unto the ages.

    9
         Those who trust in Him will understand truth,

    And the faithful shall continue with Him in lov e,

    Because grace and m ercy are upon His elect. † †

                                                     The Plight of the Ungodly

    10
         But the ungodly shall experience

    The punishm ent they them selv es plotted,
    They who rejected the righteous m an

    And rebelled against the Lord. †

    11
         For whoev er despises wisdom and instruction is m iserable,

    And their hope is v ain, their labors are useless,

    And their works are worthless.

    12
         Their wiv es are foolish,

    And their children are ev il, their existence accursed.

                                                           The Blessing of Virtue

    13
         Blessed is the undefiled barren wom an

    Who has not known sexual prom iscuity ;

    She shall hav e fruit in the v isitation of souls. †

    14
         Blessed also is the eunuch who has done no lawless deed,

    Nor thought ev il things against the Lord;

    For a chosen grace of faith will be giv en to him ,

    And a delightful portion in the tem ple of the Lord.

    15
         For the fruit of good labors is of good report,

    And the root of discernm ent is infallible.

                                                        Children of the Ungodly

    16
         But the children of adulterers shall not reach m aturity ,

    And the seed of a lawless bed shall perish.

    17
         For ev en if they liv e a long tim e

    They shall be considered as nothing,

    And in the end their old age will be accounted a dishonor.

    18
         But if they should die y oung, they would hav e no hope

    Nor consolation in the day of decision.

    19
         For the end of an unrighteous generation is griev ous.

                                                           When Virtue Is Present


4 Childlessness with virtue is better than this,
    For im m ortality is in its m em ory ;

    Because it is known both by God and by m an. †

    2
         When v irtue is present, people im itate it,

    And when it goes away , they long for it.
Throughout one's lifetim e,

Virtue leads the struggle for undefiled prizes,

Wearing a crown and conquering. †

3
     But the prolific m ultitude of the ungodly are useful to no one,

And none of their illegitim ate seedlings will grow a deep root

Or establish a sure footing.

4
     For although they m ay flourish in their branches for a tim e,

Yet without a sure footing they will be shaken by the wind

And uprooted by the force of the winds.

5
     Their twigs shall be broken off before they reach m aturity ,

And their fruit will be useless,

Not ripe for eating or good for any thing.

6
     For children born from lawless unions

Are witnesses of ev il against their parents

In their close exam ination. †

7
     But though a righteous m an m ay die before his tim e,

He shall be at rest.

8
     For old age is not honored for its length of existence,

Nor m easured by its num ber of y ears;

9
     But discernm ent is gray hair for m ankind,

And a spotless life is the m aturity of old age.

                                                     The Righteous Enoch

10
     There was once a m an pleasing to God and lov ed by Him ,

And while liv ing am ong sinners he was taken up. †

11
     He was caught up lest ev il change his understanding

Or deceit deceiv e his soul.

12
     For env y arising from lack of judgm ent obscures what is good,

And a whirling of desire underm ines an innocent heart.

13
     He was m ade perfect,

For in a short tim e he fulfilled long y ears,

14
     For his soul was pleasing to the Lord;

Therefore, He took him early from the m idst of ev il.

Yet peoples saw this but did not understand,

Nor take such a thing to heart,
    15
         That the Lord's grace and m ercy are with His elect

    And that He watches ov er His holy ones.

                                                       A Study in Contrasts

    16
         But a righteous m an who is dead

    Shall condem n the ungodly who are liv ing,

    And a y outh who is quickly perfected

    Shall condem n the ripe old age of a wrongdoer.

    17
         For they will see the end of the wise m an,

    But will not understand what the Lord purposed for him

    Or why He kept him safe. †

    18
         They will see and despise him ,

    But the Lord will laugh them to scorn.

    19
         After this they shall be dead without honor

    And an insult am ong the dead continually ;

    Because He will dash them headlong and speechless to the ground

    And shake them from the foundations.

    They shall be left dry and barren to the v ery end;

    They shall be in pain,

    And their m em ory shall perish.

    20
         They will com e with dread

    In the day of reckoning for their sins,

    And their lawless deeds will conv ict them to their face. †



5 Then the righteous man will stand with confidence
    In the presence of those who afflict him ;

    And those who reject his labors,

    2
        When they see him , will be shaken with dreadful fear;

    And they shall be am azed at his unexpected salv ation.

    3
        They will speak am ong them selv es with regret,

    And in anguish of spirit they will groan and say ,

    4
         “This is the m an whom we fools once held in derision

    And m ade a by word of disgrace.

    We considered his life to be m adness

    And his death as without honor.
5
     How has he been num bered am ong the sons of God?

And how is his portion am ong the saints?†

6
     Therefore we went astray from the way of truth,

For the light of righteousness did not shine on us,

And the sun did not rise upon us.

7
     We were satisfied with the paths of lawlessness,

And we trav eled through im passable deserts;

But the way of the Lord we hav e not known.

8
     What has arrogance profited us?

And how has our wealth with its false pretension helped us?

9
     “All those things hav e passed by like a shadow

And like news that escapes notice;

10
     Like a ship that passes through the wav es of water,

Which after passing through, no trace can be found,

Nor the pathway of its keel in the wav es;

11
     Or like a bird, when it flies through the air,

No proof of its journey is found;

And the light air, whipped by the beating of its pinions

And div ided by the force of its rushing m otion,

Is trav eled through by the m ov em ent of its wings,

But after this no sign of its approach is found therein;

12
     Or like an arrow, when it is shot at an object,

The div ided air im m ediately com es together,

So that no one knows its pathway .

13
     Thus we also, after we are born, com e to an end,

Yet hav e no sign of v irtue to show,

But hav e been entirely consum ed in our v ice.”

14
     Because the hope of the ungodly m an

Is like dust carried by the wind

And like a light frost driv en away by a storm ,

It is dispersed like sm oke before the wind,

And it passes like the rem em brance of a guest

Who stay s only one day .

15
     But the righteous liv e forev er,

And their reward is with the Lord;
    And their care is by the Most High.

    16
         Therefore they shall receiv e a kingly dwelling of dignity

    And a crown of beauty from the hand of the Lord,

    Because He will shelter them with His right hand

    And protect them with His arm .

    17
         He will take His zeal as His full arm or

    And will turn His creation into weapons against His enem ies. †

    18
         He will wear righteousness as a breastplate

    And put on im partial judgm ent as a helm et.

    19
         He will take holiness as an unconquerable shield

    20
         And sharpen His relentless wrath for a sword;

    And creation will fight with Him against the senseless.

    21
         Well-aim ed flashes of lightning will strike

    And leap to their object as from a well-drawn bow of clouds;

    22
         And hailstones full of anger will be hurled

    As from an engine of war.

    The water of the sea will be v exed with them ,

    And the riv ers will wash ov er them sev erely .

    23
         A powerful wind will oppose them ,

    And like a storm it will winnow them away .

    Lawlessness will lay waste all the earth,

    And wrongdoing will ov erturn the thrones of rulers.

                                                        To Kings and Rulers


6 Listen therefore, O kings, and understand;
    Learn, O judges of the ends of the earth. †

    2
        Giv e ear, y ou that rule ov er m ultitudes,

    And take pride in y ourself ov er a m ultitude of nations.

    3
        For power was giv en to y ou from the Lord,

    And y our lordship from the Most High,

    Who will m ake a careful search of y our works

    And exam ine closely y our plans.

    4
         Because as serv ants of His kingdom ,

    You did not judge rightly ;
Neither did y ou keep His law,

Nor did y ou walk according to the plan of God;

5
     He shall com e upon y ou terribly and quickly ,

Because sev ere judgm ent falls on those who gov ern.

6
     For the least is pardoned in m ercy ,

But the powerful shall be strongly exam ined.

7
     For the Master of all will not shrink back

From any one's presence,

Nor respect greatness;

Because He Him self m ade both sm all and great,

And cares for all alike.

8
     But a strict inquiry is im m inent for the m ighty .

9
     Therefore to y ou, O ty rants, m y words are directed,

That y ou m ay learn wisdom and not fall away .

10
     For they will be m ade holy who keep holy things piously ,

And those who are taught holy things will find a defense. †

11
     Therefore long for m y words;

Yearn for them , and y ou will be instructed.

                                                       Wisdom's Radiance

12
     Wisdom is radiant and unfading

And is easily perceiv ed by those who lov e her;

For she is found by those who seek her. †

13
     She com es upon those who long to know her beforehand.

14
     He who rises early in the m orning to seek her

Will not grow weary ,

For he will find her sitting at his gates.

15
     For to think deeply about her

Is the perfection of discernm ent,

And he who keeps watch for her

Will soon be free from worry ;†

16
     Because she goes about seeking those worthy of her,

And she appears to them fav orably in their paths

And m eets them in ev ery thought. †

17
     For the beginning of wisdom
    Is a v ery genuine desire for instruction,

    And careful attention to instruction is the lov e of her. †

    18
         Now this lov e is the keeping of her laws,

    And giv ing heed to her laws is the assurance of incorruption;

    19
         And incorruption brings one near to God.

    20
         So desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom .

    21
         Therefore if y ou take pleasure in thrones and scepters, O ty rants,

    Honor wisdom , that y ou m ay reign forev er.

    22
         I will tell y ou what wisdom is and how she cam e to be,

    And I will hide no m y steries from y ou;

    But I will search her out from the beginning of creation

    And m ake her knowledge clear.

    I will not pass by the truth,

    23
         Nor indeed trav el with env y , which causes one to waste away ,

    Because env y will hav e no share in wisdom .

    24
         But a m ultitude of wise m en is the salv ation of the world,

    And a prudent king is the stability of his people. †

    25
         Therefore be instructed by m y words, and y ou will profit.

                                                         The King Is a Mere Man


7 Now I also am a mortal, the same as all men,
    And earthborn, a descendant of the first-form ed m an;

    For in the wom b of a m other I was engrav ed as flesh. †

    2
        In a period of ten m onths, I was constructed with blood

    From the seed of a m an and the pleasure of m arriage. †

    3
        When I was born, I breathed the com m on air,

    Then fell upon the earth the sam e as all;

    And as m y first sound, I cried like ev ery one else.

    4
         I was nursed with care in swaddling cloths. †

    5
        Thus no king had a different beginning of existence,

    6
         For there is one entrance into life for all,

    And a com m on departure. †

                                                        Solomon's Love of Wisdom

    7
        Therefore I pray ed, and discernm ent was giv en to m e;
I appealed to God, and the spirit of wisdom cam e to m e. †

8
     I preferred her to scepter and thrones,

And regarded wealth as nothing in com parison to her.

9
     Nor did I liken her to any priceless stone,

Because all gold is only a little sand in her sight.

And silv er will be counted as clay before her.

10
     I lov ed her m ore than health and beauty ,

And I chose her instead of light,

Because her light is sleepless.

11
     All good things cam e to m e together with her,

And in her hands countless wealth.

12
     I was gladdened by all of them

Because wisdom rules them ;

But I did not know she was their m other.

13
     So I learned both honestly and ungrudgingly ,

And I do not hide her wealth,

14
     For it is an unfailing treasure for m en

Who, when they get it, obtain friendship with God,

For they dem onstrate her gifts that com e from instruction.

15
     May God grant m e to speak according to His purpose

And to think worthily of what I was giv en,

For He is also the guide of wisdom and the corrector of the wise.

16
     For both we and our words are in His hand,

And so are all insights and knowledge of handicrafts.

17
     For He giv es m e knowledge of the things that exist:

To know the truthful structure of the world,

The operativ e power of its elem entary principles,

18
     The beginning, end, and m iddle of the tim es,

The changes of the solstices and the transitions of the seasons,

19
     The cy cles of the y ear and the arranging of the stars,

20
     The natures of anim als and the tem pers of beasts,

The force of winds and the reasoning of m ankind,

The distinction of plants and the strength of roots,

21
     And to know whatev er is hidden and whatev er is v isible.

For wisdom , the artisan of all things, taught m e.
    22
         So in herself, wisdom is a spirit that is rational,

    Holy , only -begotten, m anifold, subtle, easily m ov ed, clear,

    Undefiled, m anifest, inv ulnerable, lov ing what is good, keen, †

    23
         Unhindered, beneficent, m an-lov ing, steadfast, unfailing,

    Free from worry , all-powerful, all-surv ey ing,

    And penetrating all spirits that are rational, pure, and m ost subtle.

    24
         For wisdom m ov es from one place to another

    More easily than m otion itself,

    And because of her purity , she penetrates all things.

    25
         So she is the exhalation of the power of God

    And the em anation of the pure glory of the Alm ighty ;

    Therefore nothing defiled enters her.

    26
         For she is the radiance of eternal light,

    A spotless m irror of the operativ e power of God

    And the im age of His goodness.

    27
         Though she is one, she can do all things;

    So while rem aining in herself, she renews all things;

    And in ev ery generation, she passes into holy souls

    And m akes them friends of God and prophets. †

    28
         Thus God lov es nothing as m uch

    As the one who liv es with wisdom .

    29
         For wisdom is m ore beautiful than the sun

    And m ore than ev ery constellation of stars.

    Com pared with light she is found to be superior,

    30
         For night succeeds the light,

    But ev il cannot ov ercom e wisdom .

                                                        At Home with Wisdom


8 Wisdom stretches out from one end of the earth to the other,
    And she gov erns all things well. †

    2
        I lov ed her and sought her from m y y outh,

    And desired to take her as a bride for m y self;

    And I becam e a lov er of her beauty .

    3
        She glorifies her noble birth by liv ing with God,
And the Master of all lov es her.

4
     For she is the initiate of the knowledge of God

And one who chooses His works. †

5
     Now if riches are a possession to be desired in life,

What is richer than wisdom , who works all things?

6
     And if discernm ent shows itself in action,

Who m ore than wisdom is its craftsm an?

7
     If any one lov es righteousness,

The products of righteousness are the v irtues.

For wisdom teaches self-control, discernm ent, righteousness and courage,

Concerning which things there is nothing m ore v aluable in the life of m an. †

8
     But also, if any one longs for great experience,

She knows the things of old and portray s the things to com e;

She understands subtlety of words and the solution of riddles;

She has foreknowledge of signs and wonders

And the outcom es of tim es and seasons. †

9
     Therefore I decided to take her to liv e with m e,

Knowing she would giv e m e good counsel

And encouragem ent in cares and sorrows.

10
     Because of her I will hav e glory am ong the m ultitudes

And honor in the presence of the elders, though I am y oung. †

11
     I will be found keen in judgm ent

And be adm ired in the sight of rulers.

12
     When I am silent, they will wait for m e,

And when I speak, they will giv e heed to m e;

And when I speak longer,

They will put their hand ov er their m outh.

13
     I will hav e im m ortality because of her

And will leav e an eternal rem em brance

For those who exist after m e.

14
     I shall gov ern peoples,

And nations will be subject to m e. †

15
     Dread ty rants shall be afraid of m e when they hear of m e;

Am ong the people I will show m y self

To be good and courageous in war.
    16
         When I enter m y house, I shall find rest with her,

    For association with her has no bitterness,

    Neither does liv ing with her hav e any sorrow,

    But only gladness and joy .

    17
         When I considered these things within m y self

    And thought about them in m y heart,

    That in kinship with wisdom there is im m ortality ,

    18
         And in friendship with her there is good pleasure,

    And in the labors of her hands there is unfailing wealth,

    And in the shared training of her com pany there is discernm ent,

    And in the fellowship of her words there is good repute—

    Thus I searched about that I m ight take her for m y self.

    19
         As a child I was good by nature and receiv ed a good soul;†

    20
         And m uch m ore, since I was good,

    I entered an undefiled body .

    21
         Yet I knew otherwise that I would not be self-controlled

    Unless God gav e m e wisdom ,

    And that it was a m ark of discernm ent

    To know whose gift she was—†

    So I entreated the Lord and besought Him ,

    And with all m y heart, I said:

                                               Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom


9 “O God of our fathers and the Lord of mercy,
    Who m ade all things by Your word†

    2
        And in Your wisdom built a m an,

    That by You He m ight be the m aster of what is created,

    3
        And m anage the world in holiness and righteousness,

    And pass judgm ent with uprightness of soul:

    4
         Giv e m e the wisdom that sits by Your throne,

    And do not reject m e from am ong Your serv ants;

    5
        Because I am Your serv ant and the son of Your m aidserv ant,

    A weak m an and lasting but a short tim e,

    And inferior in the understanding of judgm ent and laws. †
6
     For though one is perfect am ong the sons of m en,

Yet if Your wisdom is absent from him ,

He will be regarded as nothing. †

7
     You chose m e to be the king of Your people

And to be the judge ov er Your sons and daughters.

8
     You gav e com m and to build a tem ple on Your holy m ountain

And an altar in the city of Your habitation,

A copy of Your holy tabernacle

Which You prepared from the beginning. †

9
     With You is wisdom , who knows Your works

And was present when You m ade the world,

And who understands what is pleasing in Your sight

And what is upright within Your com m andm ents.

10
     Send her forth from Your holy heav ens,

And send her from Your glorious throne,

That she m ight be present with m e and labor

And that I m ight know what is well-pleasing to You.

11
     For she knows and understands all things,

And she will guide m e wisely in m y actions

And guard m e with her glory .

12
     Then m y works shall be acceptable,

And I will judge Your people righteously

And shall be worthy of m y father's throne.

13
     For what m an will know the counsel of God?

Or who will think about what the Lord wills?

14
     For the reasoning of m ortals is cowardly ,

And our intents are unsafe;

15
     For a corruptible body weighs down the soul,

And this earthly tent burdens a heart full of thoughts. †

16
     We can barely form a conjecture of the things upon the earth,

And the things at hand we find with toil;

But who has searched out the things in the heav ens?

17
     Who has known Your counsel,

Unless You hav e giv en him wisdom

And sent him Your Holy Spirit from on high?†
    18
         And thus the paths of those on earth were m ade straight,

    And m ankind was taught what pleases You;

    So they were sav ed by wisdom .”

                                                     Wisdom in History: Adam


10 Wisdom took care of the first-formed father of the world
    When he alone was created;

    And she deliv ered him from his transgression †

    2
        And gav e him strength to rule all things.

                                                                       Cain

    3
        But when an unrighteous m an departed from her in his wrath,

    He perished in anger for m urdering his brother.

                                                                       Noah

    4
         When the earth was flooded because of him ,

    Again wisdom sav ed it

    And piloted the righteous m an by a cheap piece of wood.

                                                                  Abraham

    5
        Also when the nations in ev il concord were confused,

    Wisdom knew the righteous m an

    And preserv ed him blam eless before God,

    And kept him strong in the tim e of his affection for his child.

                                                                       Lot

    6
         Wisdom rescued a righteous m an

    When the ungodly were perishing,

    For he escaped the fire that descended on the fiv e cities,

    7
        Concerning which a testim ony still rem ains:

    A barren land continually blackened with sm oke,

    Trees bearing fruit which does not ripen in season,

    And a pillar of salt standing as a m onum ent

    To an unbeliev ing soul. †

    8
         For since they passed by wisdom ,

    They not only were injured by not knowing good things,
But also left behind for the liv ing a m em orial of their folly ,

So they could not forget their fall.

9
     Wisdom rescued from troubles those who serv ed her.

                                                                     Jacob

10
     She guided a righteous m an on straight paths

When he fled from his brother's wrath.

She showed him the kingdom of God

And gav e him knowledge of holy things.

She prospered him in hardships

And increased the fruit of his labors. †

11
     When they dishonored him in their cov etousness,

She stood by him and m ade him rich.

12
     She protected him from his enem ies,

Kept him safe from those who plotted against him ,

And arbitrated a strong contest for him ,

So he m ight know that godliness is m ore powerful than any thing.

                                                                     Joseph

13
     When a righteous m an was sold,

Wisdom did not abandon him ,

But deliv ered him from sin. †

14
     She went down with him into a pit,

And she did not leav e him in chains

Until she brought him the scepter of a kingdom

And authority ov er those who ty rannized him .

She showed those who blam ed him to be ly ing

And gav e him ev erlasting glory .

                                                                     Moses

15
     She deliv ered a holy people and a blam eless seed

From a nation of oppressors.

16
     She entered the soul of a serv ant of the Lord

And opposed fearful kings with signs and wonders.

17
     She gav e to holy m en the reward of their labors.

She guided them in a m arv elous way
    And becam e for them a shelter by day

    And a flam e of stars by night. †

    18
         She carried them across the Red Sea

    And led them through deep water;

    19
         But she drowned their enem ies

    And cast them up from the depth of the aby ss.

    20
         Therefore the righteous stripped the ungodly ,

    And they sang, O Lord, to Your holy nam e

    And praised with one accord Your defending hand;

    21
         Because wisdom opened the m outh of the dum b

    And m ade the tongues of infants speak clearly . †

                                                     Wisdom in the Wilderness


11 Wisdom prospered their works by the hand of a holy prophet.
    2
        They trav eled through an uninhabited desert

    And pitched their tents in im passable places.

    3
        They held their ground in wars

    And defended them selv es against their enem ies.

    4
         They thirsted and called upon You,

    And water was giv en them from a flinty rock,

    And a quenching of thirst from a hard stone;†

    5
        For through the things by which their enem ies were punished,

    They them selv es when in need

    Had kindness shown to them .

    6
         In place of a spring of an ev er-flowing riv er,

    Troubled and defiled with blood,

    7
        In rebuke of the decree to slay the infants—

    You gav e them abundant water unexpectedly ,

    8
         Showing through their thirst at that tim e

    How You punished their enem ies.

    9
         For when they were tested,

    Though they were disciplined in m ercy ,

    They learned how the ungodly were torm ented

    When judged in wrath. †
10
     For You tested them , adm onishing them like a father,

But You exam ined the ungodly

Like a sev ere king passing sentence.

11
     Whether present or absent,

They were likewise consum ed,

12
     For twofold grief possessed them

And a groaning ov er the m em ory of all that happened.

13
     For when they heard that through their own punishm ents

The holy people had kindness shown to them ,

They understood it was the Lord's doing.

14
     For they m arv eled at the outcom e of the m an

They had cast out m ockingly and exposed long before,

For they did not thirst for godliness as do the righteous.

15
     In return for the wrongdoing of their senseless reasoning,

In which they were led astray

And worshiped irrational serpents and worthless anim als,

You sent upon them a m ultitude of anim als in v engeance,

16
     So they m ight learn that one is punished

By the things by which he sins.

17
     For Your all-powerful hand,

Which created the world out of unform ed m atter,

Did not lack the resource to send upon them

A m ultitude of bears or bold lions,

18
     Or newly created unknown beasts full of anger,

Either snorting a breath of fire

Or scattering like chaff a thick cloud of sm oke,

Or flashing terrible sparks from their ey es.

19
     Not only could their dam age utterly destroy m en,

But their m ere outward appearance could terrify and kill them .

20
     Ev en without these, m en could fall in a single breath

When they are pursued by justice

And scattered like chaff by the breath of Your power;

But You hav e ordered all things by m easure, num ber, and weight.

                                           The God Who Loves Mankind
21
     For great power is alway s present with You,

And who can oppose the m ight of Your arm ?

22
     Because the entire world before You

Is like a sm all additional weight on scales,

And like a drop of dew early in the m orning

That falls on the ground. †

23
     But You are m erciful to all, for You can do all things;

And You ov erlook the sins of m en to bring them to repentance.

24
     For You lov e all the things that exist,

And You detest nothing of the things You m ade;

For You would not ev en m ake any thing You hated. †

25
     How could any thing continue to exist unless You willed it?

Or how could any thing be preserv ed

Unless it was called into existence by You?†

26
     You spare all things, because they are Yours,

O Master who lov e hum an beings.

12 For Your im m ortal Spirit is in all things.
2
    For this reason You correct little by little those who fall away ,

And You rem ind and warn them of the sins they com m it

So they m ay be freed from ev il and believ e in You, O Lord. †

                                                     The Canaanites’ Vice

3
    For You hated the inhabitants of Your holy land long ago, †

4
     Because they practiced v ery hateful works of sorcery and unholy rites.

5
    These unm erciful m urderers of children

Who ate sacrificial m eals of hum an flesh and blood,

These initiates in the m idst of an orgy ,

6
     These parents and m urderers of helpless children—

You willed to destroy by the hands of our fathers,

7
    That the land m ost precious of all to You

Might be a worthy colony of the serv ants of God.

8
     But ev en these You spared, since they were m en,

And sent wasps as forerunners of Your arm y

That You m ight destroy them little by little.

9
     You were not powerless to giv e the ungodly
To the righteous in regular battle,

Or to destroy them by terrible wild beasts

Or by one sev ere word;

10
     But judging them little by little

You gav e them a chance for repentance,

For You were not unaware that their generation was ev il,

Their v ice im planted,

And their reasoning would not change forev er.

11
     For they were an accursed seed from the beginning,

Nor did You giv e them am nesty for their sins

Because You feared any one.

                                                          God Our King

12
     For who will say , “What hav e You done?”

Or who will oppose Your judgm ent?

Who will bring a charge against You

For destroy ing the nations You m ade?

Or who will stand before You

To plead as an adv ocate for unrighteous m en?†

13
     For neither is there any god except You,

Whose care is for all things,

So You m ay show that You do not judge unjustly ;

14
     Nor can any king or ty rant m eet You face to face

Concerning those You punish.

15
     You are righteous and order all things uprightly ,

And You consider it alien to Your power

To pass sentence on him who should not be punished.

16
     For Your strength is the origin of righteousness,

And it causes You who are the Lord of all to spare all.

17
     For to him who disbeliev es the perfection of Your power,

You show forth Your strength

And rebuke the insolence am ong those who know it.

18
     But You who gain the m astery by Your strength

Judge with gentleness,

For You gov ern us with great forbearance;
And power is present with You to use when You will it.

                                               God Chastens His Children

19
     Through such works You taught Your people

That the righteous m an should lov e m ankind;

And You m ade Your children hopeful

By offering them repentance ov er their sins. †

20
     For if You punished the enem ies of Your children

And those liable to death with so m uch attention and deliberation,

And granted them tim e and opportunity to depart from their ev il,

21
     With how m uch strictness did You judge Your children,

To whose fathers You gav e oaths and cov enants of good prom ises?

22
     So then You chastened us,

But our enem ies with ten thousand whips,

That we m ay care about Your goodness when we judge

But expect Your m ercy when we are judged. †

                                               The Egyptians Were Judged

23
     Therefore those who liv ed unjustly in their foolishness of life

You torm ented by m eans of their own abom inations. †

24
     For they went far astray on the paths of error,

Taking up gods which were despised ev en am ong their enem ies,

Being deceiv ed after the m anner of foolish children.

25
     Therefore to those thoughtless children

You sent Your judgm ent to m ock them ;

26
     But those who were not warned by this light gesture of censure

Will be put to the test by the deserv ed judgm ent of God.

27
     For when they suffered, they were indignant

At those they im agined to be gods,

Realizing they were being punished because of them .

They also cam e to recognize the true God

Whom they refused to know long ago;

Therefore, the utm ost of condem nation cam e upon them .

                                                The Futility of False Gods
13 For all men while ignorant of God were useless in their condition.
    So from the good things that are seen

    They were unable to know Him who exists,

    Nor did they know the Craftsm an by pay ing attention to His works. †

    2
         But they supposed that the gods who rule the world

    Were either fire or wind or swift air,

    Or the circle of the stars or v iolent water or the lum inaries of heav en.

    3
         If while delighting in their beauty m en assum ed them to be gods,

    Let them know how m uch better than these things is their Lord,

    For the Creator of beauty created them ;†

    4
         And if they were am azed at their power and working,

    Let them understand from them

    How m uch m ore powerful than these is He who m ade them .

    5
         For from the greatness and beauty of created things

    The Creator is seen by analogy . †

    6
         Nev ertheless there is little reason for com plaint against them ,

    For perhaps they go astray while seeking God and wish to find Him . †

    7
         For as they liv e am ong His works, they exam ine them closely

    And are persuaded by what they see,

    Because the things they see are beautiful.

    8
         Howev er, they are not to be excused;†

    9
         For if they were able to know so m uch

    With their ability to inv estigate the world,

    How is it possible they did not quickly find

    The Lord of all these things?

    10
         But they are m iserable, and so are their hopes in dead things,

    Those who call “gods” the works of m en's hands,

    Gold, silv er, and the practice of craftsm anship,

    And the likeness of anim als,

    Or a worthless stone of an ancient hand.

    11
         But also, if som e carpenter saws down an easily m ov ed tree

    And skillfully scrapes away all its bark,

    He then builds a useful v essel beautifully m ade by his skill

    For the serv ice of the liv ing, †
    12
         And uses up the cast-off pieces of his trade

    To prepare his food and be filled.

    13
         But a cast-off piece from am ong them , useful for nothing,

    That grew up with the tree, crooked and full of knots,

    He takes and carv es with care in his leisure

    And form s it with intelligent skill,

    And m odels it in the likeness of a m an.

    14
         Or he likens it to som e worthless anim al

    And sm ears it with bright red paint,

    Making its surface red,

    Cov ering ev ery blem ish in it with paint.

    15
         Then he m akes a room fitting for it

    And puts it on a wall and fastens it with iron nails

    That it m ay not fall.

    16
         He takes care of it, knowing that it cannot help itself;

    For it is an im age that has need of help.

    17
         When he pray s about his possessions,

    His m arriage and his children,

    He is not asham ed to speak to a lifeless thing,

    And he appeals to a weak thing concerning his health.

    18
         Concerning life he pray s to som ething dead;

    Concerning aid he supplicates som ething ignorant;

    And concerning a journey , som ething that cannot take a step;

    19
         Concerning m eans of liv elihood,

    Profit and success with his hands;

    He requests bodily strength

    From som ething powerless with its hands.

                                                            The Use of Wood


14 Again, someone getting ready for a voyage
    And about to sail through wild wav es

    Cries out loud to a piece of wood

    More fragile than the ship that carries him . †

    2
        For it was desire for gain that contriv ed that boat,
And wisdom was the craftsm an who built it;

3
     But Your prov idence, O Father, gov erns its course,

Because You hav e giv en it a path in the sea

And a safe track in the wav es,

4
     Showing that You can sav e from ev ery danger,

And that ev en without skill one m ay em bark upon the sea.

5
     For You do not will that the works of Your wisdom be useless;

Therefore, m en trust their liv es ev en to the sm allest piece of wood,

And passing through the wav es on a ship

They are brought safely through.

6
     For ev en in the beginning, when arrogant giants perished,

The hope of the world took refuge in a boat,

And piloted by Your hand it left to the world the seed of a fam ily . †

7
     For the wood was blessed through which righteousness com es.

8
     But what was m ade by hum an hands itself is accursed,

And so is he who m ade it—

He because he m ade it,

And the perishable thing because it was called a god. †

9
     For equally hateful to God are the ungodly m an and his ungodliness.

10
     For what was done will be punished along with him who did it.

11
     Therefore there shall also be a v isitation upon the idols of the nations,

Because, though the wood was part of God's creation,

It was m ade into an abom ination

And becam e a stum bling-block for the souls of m en

And a trap for the feet of fools.

12
     For the inv ention of idols was the beginning of fornication,

And the conception of them the corruption of life,

13
     For neither were they from the beginning

Nor shall they be forev er.

14
     For by the v ainglory of m ankind they entered the world,

And therefore their speedy end has been planned.

15
     For a father consum ed with untim ely grief

When his child was soon taken from him

Made an im age of the once-dead hum an being

And honored him now as a god,
And handed down to those under him secret m y steries and initiations.

16
     Then the ungodly custom , strengthened by tim e, was kept as a law,

And at the com m and of ty rants carv ed im ages were worshiped.

17
     When m en could not honor a ty rant before his face

Because he liv ed far away ,

They im agined his face from a distance

And m ade a v isible im age of the honored king,

That by their zeal they m ight flatter the one absent as though present.

18
     Then the am bition of the craftsm an encouraged

Ev en those who did not know the king to increase their worship.

19
     For wishing perhaps to please the one who ruled ov er him ,

He skillfully forced the likeness into a m ore beautiful form ,

20
     And the m ultitude, attracted by the popularity of his work,

Now considered him as an object of worship

Whom a short tim e before they honored as a m an.

21
     But this becam e a trap for their life,

Because m en, in bondage either to calam ity or to kingly power,

Conferred on stones and wood a nam e not shared with another.

                                                     Idolatry Brings Evil

22
     Furtherm ore, it was not enough for them

To be deceiv ed about the knowledge of God,

But they liv e in a great conflict of ignorance,

And they call such ev ils peace. †

23
     For they either hold child-m urdering rites of initiation,

Or celebrate secret m y steries,

Or engage in the frantic rev elry of special custom s.

24
     Moreov er, they keep neither life nor m arriages pure,

But one either kills another in am bush,

Or one causes another grief when he corrupts his m arriage.

25
     Ev ery thing is m ixed together:

Blood and m urder, theft and treachery ,

Deprav ity , unfaithfulness, tum ult, perjury ,

26
     Confusion ov er what is good, ingratitude, corruption of fam ily ,

Breakup of m arriages, disorder, adultery , and debauchery . †
    27
         For the worship of idols not to be nam ed

    Is the beginning, cause, and end of ev ery ev il.

    28
         For either they are driv en to a frenzy in their celebrations,

    Or prophesy lies,

    Or liv e unrighteously , or readily swear falsely ;

    29
         For since they trust in lifeless idols,

    They swear with wrong m otiv es and expect to suffer no harm .

    30
         But justice will catch up with them on two counts:

    Because they thought wrongly about God in their dev otion to idols,

    And by treating holiness with contem pt

    They swore unjustly in deceit.

    31
         For it is not the power of m aking oaths,

    But the punishm ent of those who sin

    That alway s prosecutes the transgression of the unrighteous.

                                                              Our Merciful God


15 But You, our God, are kind, true, patient,
    And gov ern all things in m ercy .

    2
        For ev en if we sin, we belong to You and know Your m ight;

    But we will not sin,

    Because we know that we are counted as belonging to You.

    3
        For to know You is com plete righteousness,

    And to know Your m ight is the root of im m ortality . †

    4
         For neither hav e the ev il practices of hum an art deceiv ed us,

    Nor a form stained with div erse colors,

    The barren labor of painting, †

    5
        Whose appearance creates a desire in fools

    That longs for the lifeless form of a dead im age.

    6
         Lov ers of ev il things and fit for such objects of hope

    Are those who either m ake or desire or worship them .

                                                                    Idols of Clay

    7
        For ev en when a potter com presses soft earth,

    He laboriously form s each v essel for our serv ice;

    But he m odels from the sam e clay
Both v essels that serv e clean uses and likewise those to the contrary .

But what will be the function of one or the other

Is the decision of the craftsm an. †

8
     So, working ev il, he form s a worthless god from the sam e clay ,

He who a little while before was m ade from the earth

And in a short while returns to the earth from which he was taken,

When the soul that was loaned to him

Is dem anded in return at death.

9
     But he is not concerned that he is about to be sick

Or that his life will be ending shortly ;

So he com petes with goldsm iths and m elters of silv er

And im itates bronze-workers;

And he considers it a glory that he form s false gods.

10
     His heart is ashes, and his hope as cheap as dirt;

And his life is m ore dishonored than his clay , †

11
     Because he disregards the One who form ed him ,

And who inspired him with an operativ e soul,

And breathed into him a life-giv ing spirit. †

12
     But he considered our life to be a play thing

And life a festiv al held for profit;

For he say s, “One m ust m ake a liv ing howev er one can,

Ev en by ev il m eans.”

13
     For this m an, m ore than all others, knows that he sins

When he fabricates from earthly m atter

Easily broken v essels and carv ed im ages. †

                                                     The Egyptian Enemies

14
     Yet m ore foolish and infantile are the enem ies

Who oppressed Your people,

15
     Because they thought that all the idols of the nations were gods,

Though these hav e neither the use of their ey es for v ision,

Nor noses for inhaling air,

Nor ears to hear with,

Nor fingers on their hands for touching;

And their feet are useless for walking. †
16
     For a m an m ade them ,

And he whose spirit is borrowed form ed them ;

For no m an can form a god like him self.

17
     A m an who works a dead thing with lawless hands is m ortal,

For he is better than his objects of worship,

Because he is aliv e, but they nev er are.

18
     The enem ies of Your people worship the m ost hateful anim als,

For they are worse than all others in stupidity .

19
     Not ev en as anim als are they so beautiful in appearance

That one would desire them ,

But they escaped both the praise of God and His blessing.

16 Therefore they were worthily punished through creatures like these,
And were torm ented through a m ultitude of wild anim als. †

2
    Instead of such punishm ent You showed kindness to Your people

And prepared quails as food with a delicious taste to satisfy their hunger, †

3
    That those m en, when they desired food,

Might turn away their necessary hunger

Because of the ugly look of the creatures sent upon them ,

While Your people, being in need for a brief period,

Might partake of food with a delicious taste.

4
     For it was necessary for those enem ies

That unav oidable need com e upon them and ty rannize them ,

While to Your people it was only shown

How their enem ies were being torm ented.

5
    For ev en when the terrible rage of wild anim als

Cam e upon Your people,

And they were being destroy ed by the bites of twisting serpents,

Your wrath did not continue to the end. †

6
     They were troubled for a short while as a warning,

And receiv ed a pledge of salv ation

In rem em brance of Your law's com m and. †

7
    For the one who turned to it was sav ed, not by what he saw,

But by You, the Sav ior of all.

8
     So in this You persuaded our enem ies

That You are the One who sav es from ev ery ev il.
9
     For the bites of locusts and flies killed them ,

And no healing was found for their life,

Because they deserv ed to be punished by such things.

10
     But the teeth of poisonous serpents

Did not ov ercom e Your children,

For Your m ercy cam e to their aid and healed them . †

11
     For they were goaded to rem ind them of Your oracles

And were quickly sav ed,

Lest they should fall into deep forgetfulness

And be continually unm indful of Your kindness.

12
     For neither herb nor m edicinal plaster healed them ,

But it was Your word, O Lord, which heals all m en.

13
     For You hav e authority ov er life and death,

And bring m en down to the gates of Hades

And lead them back again. †

14
     A m an in his m alice kills another,

But he cannot bring back a departed spirit

Nor return a soul that is taken.

                                                        God Judges Egypt

15
     To escape from Your hand is im possible, †

16
     For the ungodly who refuse to know You

Were flogged by the strength of Your arm .

They were pursued by rains, hail, and thunderstorm s

And consum ed by fire.

17
     For the fire, v ery contrary to expectation,

Was m ore effectiv e in the water, which extinguishes ev ery thing;

For the world is a defender of the righteous.

18
     For at one tim e the flam e was subdued

That it m ight not burn up the creatures sent against the ungodly ,

But seeing this they m ight know

That they were struck by the judgm ent of God;

19
     And at another tim e ev en under water

The flam e burned m ore intensely than fire

To destroy the harv est of the unrighteous land.
                                                Bread from Heaven for Israel

    20
         Instead of these things You fed Your people the food of angels,

    And without their labor You prov ided them

    With ready -m ade bread from heav en,

    Fitting for ev ery pleasure and suitable to ev ery taste. †

    21
         For Your prov ision m anifested sweetness toward Your people,

    And the bread serv ed the need of those who took it

    And changed to what one wished.

    22
         Snow and ice endured fire without m elting

    So they m ight know that fire destroy ed the harv est of their enem ies,

    The fire that burned in the hail

    And flashed like lightning in the rain—

    23
         Again that fire which forgot its own natural power

    That the righteous m ight be fed.

    24
         For the creation serv es You who m ade it

    And increases its intensity to punish the unrighteous,

    But in kindness relaxes itself on behalf of those who trust in You. †

    25
         Therefore also at that tim e,

    It explored as though in a m ine Your all-nourishing bounty

    And serv ed the will of those who supplicated You,

    26
         That Your children whom You lov ed, O Lord, m ight learn

    That it is not the production of crops that feeds m an,

    But Your word that m aintains those who believ e in You.

    27
         For what was not destroy ed by fire

    Was m elted when sim ply warm ed by a sm all ray of the sun,

    28
         To m ake it known that one m ust get up before sunrise

    To giv e You thanks,

    And to intercede before You at the dawning of the light.

    29
         For the hope of an unthankful m an will m elt like the wintry frost

    And flow away like useless water.

                                                           The Sins of Egypt


17 Great are Your judgments and hard to explain;
    Therefore, ignorant souls hav e gone astray . †
2
     For when lawless m en thought they exercised power

Ov er Your holy nation,

They them selv es were prisoners of darkness and long night,

Shut in under their roofs, exiles from eternal prov idence.

3
     For when they thought they escaped notice

With their secret sins behind a curtain of forgetfulness,

They were scattered and in a terrible state of shock

And thrown into confusion by apparitions. †

4
     For not ev en the inm ost part of the house that held them

Protected them from fear,

But troubling noises sounded all around them ,

And gloom y apparitions with downcast faces appeared to them .

5
     No force of fire had the strength to giv e them light,

Nor did the v ery bright lights of the stars

Tarry to illum inate that hateful night.

6
     Now a self-acting fire full of fear alone shone through to them ,

But they were greatly terrified when that apparition was not perceiv ed;

So they considered the things they were seeing to be worse.

7
     The delusions of their m agic were ineffectiv e,

And so was the arrogant certainty of their pretense to hav e insight. †

8
     For those who prom ised to driv e away

The fears and troubles of a sick soul

Were them selv es sick with an absurd tim idity .

9
     For ev en if nothing dreadful frightened them ,

Yet, scared by the passing of beasts and hissing of serpents,

They perished full of fear,

Ev en refusing to look at the air, which could not be av oided. †

10
     For ev il is a cowardly thing,

And condem ned by its own witness;

And torm ented by conscience,

It alway s welcom es things full of trouble.

11
     For fear is nothing but the betray al

Of the assistance that com es from reasoning;†

12
     And the expectation from within considers itself to be weaker

Than ignorance of the cause which supplies the torm ent.
    13
         But they slept the sam e sleep throughout the night,

    Which was actually powerless,

    And which assaulted them from the inm ost parts of a powerless Hades.

    14
         They were driv en by the m onsters of apparitions

    And were paraly zed by the betray al of their soul;

    For sudden and unexpected fear was poured out on them .

    15
         So then whoev er was there fell down

    And thus was kept shut up in a prison not m ade of iron.

    16
         For whether som eone was a farm er or a shepherd

    Or a worker who labored in the wilderness,

    He was ov ertaken by force and endured inescapable punishm ent;

    For all were bound with one chain of darkness.

    17
         Whether there cam e a whistling wind,

    Or the m usical sound of birds in wide-spreading branches,

    Or the m otion of v iolently rushing water,

    Or the hard crash of rocks thrown down,

    18
         Or the unseen running of leaping anim als,

    Or the roar of fierce wild anim als,

    Or an echo reflected from the hollow of m ountains,

    It paraly zed them with terror.

    19
         For the whole world was illum ined with bright light

    And em braced unhindered works,

    20
         While ov er those m en alone heav y night was spread,

    An im age of darkness that was about to receiv e them ;

    But they were heav ier than darkness to them selv es.

                                                      Light Shines on Israel


18 But for Your holy ones there was a very great light.
    Their enem ies heard their v oice but did not see their form ;

    And they considered them blessed because they had also not suffered, †

    2
        For Your holy ones did not harm those

    Who prev iously wronged them .

    So they were thankful and begged for grace

    For being at v ariance with them .
3
     Therefore You prov ided a flam ing pillar of fire

As a guide for their unknown journey ,

And a harm less sun for their glorious exile. †

4
     For their enem ies deserv ed to be depriv ed of light

And im prisoned in darkness,

Those who im prisoned Your children,

Through whom the incorruptible light of the law

Was to be giv en to the world.

                                                         Death Visits Egypt

5
     When they resolv ed to kill the babes of Your holy ones

And one child was exposed and rescued,

You took away as a rebuke a m ultitude of their children;

And You destroy ed them together in the v iolent water. †

6
     That night was m ade known beforehand to our fathers

So they m ight rejoice with sure knowledge in the oaths they trusted. †

7
     The salv ation of the righteous and the destruction of enem ies

Were expected by Your people,

8
     For You punished our enem ies with the sam e m eans

By which You called and glorified us. †

9
     For in secret the holy children of good people offered sacrifices,

And in harm ony with the div ine law m ade a cov enant,

That the saints would share alike in good things and in dangers;

And already they were singing the praises of their fathers.

10
     But the discordant cry of their enem ies resounded,

And their pitiful outcry and m ourning for their children spread abroad.

11
     The serv ant was punished with the sam e penalty as the m aster,

And the com m on m an suffered the sam e thing as the king.

12
     They all together by the one nam e of death

Had innum erable dead persons,

For there were not enough liv ing ev en to bury them ;

Because in one critical m om ent their v alued children were destroy ed. †

13
     For they disbeliev ed ev ery thing because of their sorceries,

But at the destruction of their firstborn,

They acknowledged the people to be God's son.
14
     For while gentle silence em braced ev ery thing

And night at its own speed was half ov er,

15
     Your all-powerful Word leaped from heav en, from the roy al throne,

Into the m idst of a doom ed land,

A relentless warrior carry ing the sharp sword

Of Your irrev ocable com m and, †

16
     And He stood and filled all things with death

And touched heav en while standing on earth.

17
     Then im m ediately apparitions in terrify ing dream s troubled them ,

And unexpected fears set upon them ,

18
     And they threw them selv es to the ground half-dead,

One apparition here and another there,

To m ake known to them the reason they were dy ing.

19
     For the dream s which disturbed them rev ealed this beforehand,

So they m ight not die without understanding

Why it was they suffered.

                                                  Aaron Prays for Israel

20
     The experience of death also touched the righteous,

And a plague cam e upon the m ultitude in the desert;

But the wrath did not last long. †

21
     For a blam eless m an hastened and acted as their cham pion.

He carried the instrum ent of his m inistry :

Pray er and the atonem ent of incense,

And withstood the anger and put an end to the calam ity ,

Showing that he was Your serv ant.

22
     He conquered the wrath not by strength of body ,

And not by the power of weapons,

But by a word he subdued the punisher,

Because he rem em bered the oaths and cov enants of the fathers.

23
     For when the dead had already fallen on one another in heaps,

He stood in the m idst and drov e back the wrath

And cut off its path to the liv ing.

24
     For the whole world was on his long robe,

And the glories of the fathers were a carv ed work
    Arranged in four rows of stones;

    And Your m ajesty was on the diadem on his head.

    25
         To these the destroy er y ielded

    And these he feared;

    For the trial of his wrath alone was enough.

                                                   The Foolishness of Egypt


19 But unmerciful anger came upon the ungodly to the end,
    For God knew of them and their future beforehand, †

    2
        That they would allow Your people to depart

    And eagerly send them forth,

    But then change their m inds and pursue them .

    3
        For while they were y et m ourning

    And lam enting at the grav es of their dead,

    They m ade another foolish decision

    And pursued as fugitiv es

    Those whom they had begged and had sent away .

    4
        For a deserv ed destiny drew them to this end

    And m ade them forget what had happened,

    So they m ight fill up the punishm ent

    Which was lacking in their torm ents,

    5
        And that Your people m ight attem pt an incredible journey ,

    But that they them selv es m ight com e upon a strange death.

                                                    Creation Serves Its God

    6
        For the whole creation in its kind was fashioned again from abov e

    To serv e Your com m ands,

    That Your serv ants m ight be kept unharm ed.

    7
        The cloud was seen ov ershadowing the cam p

    And the em erging of dry land out of the water prev iously present,

    An unhindered way out of the Red Sea

    And a grassy plain out of the v iolence of rough water,

    8
        Through which those sheltered by Your hand

    Passed with the whole nation

    After observ ing m arv elous wonders.
9
     For they grazed like horses

And leaped about like lam bs,

Praising You, O Lord, who sav ed them .

10
     For they still rem em bered their sojourn in a foreign land,

How instead of the birth of anim als the land brought forth sm all flies,

And instead of things liv ing in water

The riv er v om ited forth a m ultitude of frogs.

11
     Afterwards they also saw a new kind of birds,

When led by their passion they requested m eats for self-indulgence;

12
     For their relief, quails cam e up from the sea.

                                                   The Punishment of Egypt

13
     The punishm ents did not com e upon the sinners

Without prev ious signs in the v iolence of thunder,

And they suffered justly because of their own ev ils;

For they practiced a v ery bitter hatred of strangers.

14
     Others did not welcom e those unknown to them when they arriv ed,

But these enslav ed foreign benefactors.

15
     And not only this, but there shall be a certain v isitation

Because they receiv ed foreigners hatefully ;

16
     For after receiv ing them with festiv als,

They m istreated with terrible sufferings

Those who had already shared the sam e rights.

17
     They were also stricken with blindness

Like those at the doors of the righteous m an,

When, clothed in darkness, each sought the way through his own doors.

                                                  God Dwells with His People

18
     For the elem ents com bined am ong them selv es in different way s,

Which can be accurately conjectured from the sight of what took place,

As on a harp the sounds of the rhy thm differ in expression

While alway s rem aining the sam e in sound.

19
     For land anim als were changed into water creatures,

And creatures that swim crossed ov er to the land.

20
     In water, fire prev ailed with its own power,
And water forgot its quenching properties.

21
     Flam es, on the contrary , did not consum e

The flesh of perishable anim als that walked am ong them ,

Nor was the species of im m ortal food capable of being m elted

Like easily m elted ice.

22
     For in ev ery thing, O Lord, You hav e exalted and glorified Your people,

And hav e not neglected to be present with them in ev ery tim e and place. †
                                W ISDO M O F SIRACH
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Chapters in Wisdom of Sirach
Introduction

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40

41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50

51

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 5
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 6
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36,37

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 7
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35,36

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 8
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 9
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 10
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 11
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 12
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 13
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 14
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 15
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 16
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 17
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 18
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 19
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 20
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 21
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 22
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 23
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 24
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 25
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 26
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 27
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 28
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 29
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 30
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 31
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 32
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 33
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 34
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 35
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 36
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 37
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 38
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 39
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33,34,35

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 40
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 41
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 42
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 43
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

31,32,33

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 44
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 45
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 46
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 47
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 48
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 49
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 50
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29

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Verses in Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 51
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20

21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

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                                                        The Wisdom of Sirach

     Author   —Jesus ben Sirach. He was a Jewish scribe who was apparently an instructor at a
  Jewish academy, probably in Jerusalem, where he taught religion and ethics.

     Date   —About 180 BC

     Major Theme      —All true wisdom comes from the Lord. The book is in the tradition of
  Proverbs: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Wisdom is God's gift to
  men. Though profound, the teaching is not complicated, and it touches the heart.

     Background     —Jesus ben Sirach wrote his lectures down in a manuscript. That manuscript,
  written in Hebrew, got very little circulation until his grandson translated it into Greek.
  Then, about three centuries later, a translation was made into Syriac from the Hebrew
  text. Ben Sirach is well-acquainted with the Law and the Prophets. According to 1:11–20,
  wisdom comes from a blessed, joyful reverence for and knowledge of God.

 Outline

   I. Prologue

  II. Fearing God and Keeping His Com m andm ents (1 :1 –4 2 :1 4 )

  III. God's Wisdom Rev ealed in Creation (4 2 :1 5–4 3 :3 3 )

  IV. Walking in Wisdom (4 4 :1 –50:2 9 )

  V. A Pray er of Thanksgiv ing (51 :1 –3 0)



                                                                 The Prologue†

  Of the many great things given to us through the law and the prophets and through others
who followed them, we should praise Israel for instruction and wisdom. Not only should
those who read gain understanding, but also those who love learning should be able to help
outsiders understand both through speaking and writing.

  Thus my grandfather Jesus especially devoted himself to reading the law and the prophets
and other books of the fathers. So he acquired sufficient skill in these, and himself was led to
write something fitting for instruction and wisdom, that lovers of learning might become
involved in these things as well, and especially, in addition to this, might live a life according
to the law.
  Therefore you are encouraged to read with good will and attention and to do your reading
with allowances made in cases where, although we worked hard in translating, we may seem
to render a phrase inadequately. For what was said in Hebrew in itself does not have equal
force when it is translated into another language. Not only this, but also the law itself and the
prophets and the rest of the books differ not a little as originally spoken.

  For when I arrived in Egypt in the thirty-eighth year of the reign of King Euergetes, and
spent some time there, I found a book filled with instruction. Thus I made it a necessity for
myself to apply some diligence and loving labor to the translation of this book. So I employed
my skill day and night to complete and publish it for lovers of learning who live in a foreign
land, and have prepared themselves beforehand to live according to the law.

                                                      Wisdom Is from the Lord


1 All wisdom comes from the Lord
  And is with Him forever.†

    2
        Who can count the sand of the seas,

    The drops of rain, and the day s of eternity ?

    3
        Who can search out the height of heav en,

    The breadth of the earth, the aby ss, and wisdom ?

    4
        Wisdom was created before all things,

    And the insight of prudence was from eternity . †

    5
        To whom has the root of wisdom been rev ealed?

    And who has com e to know her great deeds?

    6
        There is one who is wise and is feared exceedingly ,

    He who sits upon His throne. †

    7
        The Lord Him self created wisdom .

    He saw and num bered her

    And poured her out on all His works, †

    8
        In the m idst of all flesh according to His gift;

    And He prov ided her for those who lov e Him .

                                                            The Fear of the Lord

    9
        The fear of the Lord is glory and boasting,
And gladness and a crown of rejoicing.

10
     The fear of the Lord will cheer the heart

And will giv e gladness, joy , and long life. †

11
     For those who fear the Lord, it shall be well to the utm ost,

And on the day of his death, he will be blessed.

12
     The beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord,

And she was joined with the faithful in the wom b. †

13
     She constructed a foundation of life am ong m en

And will be trusted am ong their seed.

14
     The gratification of wisdom is to fear the Lord,

And she intoxicates them with her fruits.

15
     She will fill ev ery house of theirs with objects of desire

And their storehouses with her harv est.

16
     The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom ,

Making peace and soundness of health to flourish.

17
     The Lord saw and num bered her,

And poured out the power of com prehension;

And He exalted the glory of those who hold fast to her.

18
     The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord,

And her branches are length of day s.

                                                     Warnings to the Wise

19
     Unjust anger cannot be justified,

For anger's decisiv e influence causes his fall.

20
     A patient m an will hold fast until the proper tim e,

Then afterwards gladness shall burst forth for him .

21
     He shall conceal his words until the proper tim e,

And the lips of m any will tell of his understanding.

22
     In the treasures of wisdom are the parables of knowledge,

But godliness is an abom ination to a sinner.

23
     If y ou desire wisdom , keep the com m andm ents,

And the Lord will supply it to y ou. †

24
     For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction,

And His good pleasure is faith and gentleness.

25
     Do not disobey the fear of the Lord,
    And do not com e to Him with a div ided heart.

    26
         Do not be a hy pocrite in the sight of m en,

    And be careful with y our lips.

    27
         Do not exalt y ourself, lest y ou fall

    And bring dishonor to y our soul.

    The Lord shall rev eal y our secrets,

    And in the m idst of the assem bly He will strike y ou down,

    Because y ou did not com e in the fear of the Lord

    And y our heart was full of deceit.

                                                    God's Faithfulness and Mercy


2 My son, if you draw near to serve the Lord,
    Prepare y our soul for tem ptation. †

    2
         Set y our heart right and be steadfast,

    And do not striv e anxiously in distress.

    3
         Cleav e to Him and do not fall away ,

    That y ou m ay be honored at the end of y our life.

    4
         Accept whatev er is brought upon y ou,

    And in exchange for y our hum iliation, be patient;

    5
         Because gold is tested in fire

    And acceptable m en in the furnace of abasem ent.

    6
         Believ e in Him , and He will help y ou;

    Make y our way s straight and hope in Him .

    7
         You who fear the Lord, wait for His m ercy ,

    And do not turn aside, lest y ou fall.

    8
         You who fear the Lord, believ e in Him ,

    And y our reward will not fail.

    9
         You who fear the Lord, hope for good things

    And for ev erlasting gladness and m ercy .

    10
         Consider the ancient generations and see:

    Who believ ed in the Lord and was put to sham e?

    Or who stood fast in His fear and was forsaken?

    Or who called upon Him and was ov erlooked?

    11
         Because the Lord is com passionate and m erciful,
    He forgiv es sins and sav es in tim e of affliction.

    12
         Woe to cowardly hearts and weakened hands,

    And to a sinner who walks on two paths!†

    13
         Woe to a fainting heart, because it does not believ e!

    Therefore it will not be sheltered.

    14
         Woe to y ou who hav e lost y our patient endurance!

    What will y ou do when the Lord v isits y ou?

    15
         Those who fear the Lord will not disobey His words,

    And those who lov e Him will keep His way s.

    16
         Those who fear the Lord will seek His approv al,

    And those who lov e Him will be filled with the law.

    17
         Those who fear the Lord will prepare their hearts

    And will hum ble their souls before Him .

    18
         We will fall into the hands of the Lord

    And not into the hands of m en;

    For as His m ajesty is, so is His m ercy .

                                                            Honoring Parents


3 Give heed to me, O children, for I am your father,
    And do what I tell y ou, that y ou m ay be sav ed. †

    2
        For the Lord honored the father ov er the children

    And strengthened the judgm ent of the m other ov er her sons.

    3
        He who honors his father atones for his sins;

    4
         And he who honors his m other

    Is like one who stores up treasure.

    5
        He who honors his father

    Will be gladdened by his own children,

    And when he pray s, he will be heard.

    6
         He who honors his father will hav e a long life,

    And he who obey s the Lord will giv e rest to his m other;

    7
        And he will serv e his parents as his m asters.

    8
         Honor y our father and m other in word and deed,

    That a blessing m ay com e upon y ou from him .

    9
         For the blessing of a father establishes the houses of the children,
But the curse of a m other uproots their foundations.

10
     Do not glory in the dishonor of y our father,

For y our father's dishonor is no glory to y ou.

11
     For the glory of a m an is from the honor of his father,

And it is a disgrace for children to dishonor their m other.

12
     My son, help y our father in his old age,

And do not griev e him in his life;

13
     And if his understanding fails, be considerate,

And do not dishonor him in y our prim e.

14
     For kindness to a father will not be forgotten,

And it will be credited to y ou instead of y our sins.

15
     It will be rem em bered in the day of y our affliction;

Thus y our sins will m elt away like frost in warm weather.

16
     He who forsakes his father is like a blasphem er,

And he who prov okes his m other to wrath is cursed by God.

                                                         Wisdom at Work

17
     My son, accom plish y our works with gentleness,

And y ou will be lov ed by people the Lord accepts.

18
     The greater y ou are, the m ore hum ble y ou m ust be,

And y ou will find grace before the Lord;†

19
     Because great is the power of the Lord,

And He is honored by the hum ble.

20
     Do not seek things too difficult for y ou,

Nor exam ine what is bey ond y our strength. †

21
     Think about what is com m anded y ou,

For y ou do not need what the Lord keeps hidden.

22
     Do not m eddle in what is none of y our business,

For things bey ond hum an insight hav e been shown to y ou.

23
     Speculation has led m any astray ,

And ev il suppositions hav e caused their m inds to slip and fall.

                                                         Keep a Soft Heart

24
     A hard heart will suffer ruin in the end,

And he who lov es danger will perish in it. †
    25
         A hard heart will be weighed down with pains,

    And the sinner will add sin to sin.

    26
         There is no healing to aid an arrogant m an,

    For a plant of ev il has taken root in him .

    27
         The heart of an intelligent m an will ponder a parable,

    And the ear of a pupil is a wise m an's desire.

    28
         Water will quench a blazing fire,

    And alm sgiv ing will atone for sins.

    29
         He who repay s kindnesses is m indful of the hereafter,

    And at the tim e of his fall he will find support.

                                                     Care of the Poor and Needy


4 My son, do not deprive the poor of his living,
    And do not keep ey es in need waiting.

    2
        Do not griev e a soul who is hungry ,

    Nor prov oke to anger a m an in despair.

    3
        Do not trouble a heart that was m ade resentful,

    And do not put off the gift of a m an in need.

    4
         Do not reject a suppliant who is afflicted,

    Nor turn y our face away from a poor m an.

    5
        Do not turn y our ey e away from a needy m an,

    And do not giv e a m an occasion to curse y ou;

    6
         For if he curses y ou in the bitterness of his soul,

    His Maker will hear his pray er.

    7
        Make y ourself belov ed in the assem bly

    And bow y our head to a great m an.

    8
         Incline y our ear to a poor m an

    And answer him peaceably and with gentleness.

    9
         Deliv er a person who has been wronged

    From the hand of the wrongdoer,

    And do not be fainthearted when y ou judge his case.

    10
         Be like a father to orphans

    And like a husband to their m other;

    And y ou will be like a son of the Most High,
And He will lov e y ou m ore than y our m other. †

                                                     Pursuit of Wisdom

11
     Wisdom exalts her children

And lay s hold of those who seek her. †

12
     Whoev er lov es her lov es life,

And those who com e to her early in the m orning

Will be filled with gladness.

13
     He who holds fast to her will inherit glory ,

And the Lord blesses ev ery place she enters.

14
     Those who serv e her will m inister to the Holy One,

And the Lord lov es those who lov e her.

15
     He who obey s her will judge the nations;

And he that giv es heed to her will liv e with confidence.

16
     If he trusts in her, he will inherit her,

And his posterity will be in possession of her.

17
     At first she will walk with him on disturbing paths

And bring fear and dread upon him ;

And she will torm ent him with her discipline

Until she can trust his soul

And test him with her ordinances.

18
     Then she will com e straight back to him ,

And will gladden him , and rev eal her secrets to him .

19
     If he wanders away , she will forsake him

And hand him ov er to his ruin.

                                                        Shame and Sin

20
     Watch for a proper opportunity and keep y ourself from ev il;

And do not bring sham e upon y our soul.

21
     For there is a sham e that brings sin,

And there is a sham e which is glory and grace.

22
     Do not show partiality to som eone to y our own harm ,

And do not let y our respect for another cause y ou to fall.

23
     Do not withhold a word in tim e of need;

24
     For wisdom is m ade known by a word,
    And instruction by a word of the tongue.

    25
         Do not speak against the truth,

    And do not be put to sham e by y our ignorance.

    26
         Do not be asham ed to confess y our sins,

    And do not exercise force against the current of a riv er.

    27
         Do not subject y ourself to a foolish m an,

    And do not show partiality to a ruler.

    28
         Fight to the death for the truth,

    And the Lord God will fight for y ou.

    29
         Do not be rash with y our tongue

    And sluggish and neglectful in y our works.

    30
         Do not be like a lion in y our hom e

    And act in pretense with y our serv ants.

    31
         Do not let y our hand be extended to receiv e

    And shut when y ou should repay .

                                                             God Is the Lord


5 Do not set your heart on your possessions,
    And do not say , “I am independent.” †

    2
        Do not follow y ourself and y our strength

    So as to walk in the desires of y our heart;

    3
        And do not say , “Who will be lord ov er m e?”

    For the Lord will surely punish y ou.

    4
         Do not say , “I sinned, so what happened to m e?”

    For the Lord is patient.

    5
        Do not be so confident of atonem ent

    That y ou add sin to sin;

    6
         And do not say , “His com passion is great;

    He will atone for the m ultitude of m y sins,”

    For both m ercy and wrath com e from Him ;

    And His anger rests on sinners.

    7
        Do not delay to turn to the Lord,

    And do not put it off from day to day ;

    For suddenly the wrath of the Lord will com e forth,
    And in the day of v engeance, y ou will perish.

    8
         Do not set y our heart on dishonest wealth,

    For it will profit y ou nothing in the day of distress.

                                                          Control of the Tongue

    9
         Do not winnow with ev ery wind

    And do not follow ev ery road;

    For a double-tongued sinner is of such a kind. †

    10
         Be established in y our understanding

    And let y our word be consistent.

    11
         Be quick to listen

    And giv e y our answer with patience.

    12
         If y ou hav e understanding, answer y our neighbor,

    But if not, let y our hand be ov er y our m outh.

    13
         There is glory and dishonor in speech,

    And a m an's tongue m ay cause him to fall.

    14
         Do not be called a slanderer,

    And do not lie in am bush with y our tongue;

    For sham e awaits a thief,

    And a griev ous condem nation will com e upon

    A double-tongued m an.

    15
         In a great or in a sm all m atter, do not go wrong.



6 Do not be an enemy instead of a friend;
    For a bad nam e brings sham e and disgrace,

    And a double-tongued sinner is of such a kind.

    2
         Do not exalt y ourself with y our own counsel,

    Lest y our soul be torn in pieces as by a bull. †

    3
         You will dev our y our leav es and lose y our fruit,

    And be left like a withered tree.

    4
         An ev il soul will destroy him who possesses it

    And m ake him an object of m alignant joy to his enem ies.

                                                                Friendships

    5
         Pleasant speech will m ultiply his friends,

    And a gracious tongue will m ultiply m any kind greetings. †
6
     Let those who liv e at peace with y ou be m any ,

But let y our counselors be one in a thousand.

7
     If y ou gain a friend, gain him in testing,

And do not be in a hurry to trust him .

8
     For there is a friend who is such to his own adv antage,

But he will not rem ain beside y ou in the day of y our affliction.

9
     There is also a friend who changes into an enem y

And will rev eal a quarrel to y our disgrace.

10
     Again, there is a friend who is a com panion at table,

But will not stand by y ou in y our day of trouble.

11
     Further, when y ou prosper, he will be like y ou

And speak boldly to y our serv ants;

12
     But if y ou are brought low, he will be against y ou,

And will hide him self from y our presence.

13
     Stay away from y our enem ies

And hold onto y our friends.

14
     A faithful friend is a strong shelter,

And he who finds one finds a treasure.

15
     There is nothing that can take the place of a faithful friend,

And there is no way to m easure his worth.

16
     A faithful friend is a m edicine of life,

And those who fear the Lord will find him .

17
     He who fears the Lord guides his friendship rightly ,

Because as he is, so also is his neighbor.

                                                 Instruction Brings Wisdom

18
     My son, from y our y outh up, choose instruction,

And y ou will find wisdom also into old age. †

19
     Com e to her as one who plows and sows,

And wait expectantly for her good fruits;

For in her work y ou will labor a little while,

Then y ou will quickly eat of her fruit.

20
     She is v ery harsh on the undisciplined

And on the one who lacks the heart to continue with her. †

21
     She will be like a heav y stone of trial upon him ,
And he will not delay to throw her off.

22
     For wisdom is like her nam e and is not m anifest to m any .

23
     Listen, m y son, and accept m y judgm ent,

And do not reject m y adv ice.

24
     Put y our feet into her fetters and y our neck into her collar.

25
     Put y our shoulder under her and carry her,

And do not be angry with her bonds.

26
     Com e to her with all y our soul,

And keep her way s with all y our strength.

27
     Search for her and seek her out,

And she will becom e known to y ou;

And when y ou becom e self-controlled, do not let her go.

28
     For in the end y ou will find her rest,

And she will turn to y ou in gladness.

29
     Then her fetters will be as a strong protection for y ou,

And her collar a glorious robe.

30
     For there is a golden adornm ent upon her,

And her bonds are a blue thread.

31
     You will wear her as a glorious robe

And put her on y ourself as a crown of exceeding joy .

32
     If y ou are willing, m y son, y ou will be taught,

And if y ou apply y ourself, y ou will be prudent. †

33
     If y ou lov e to listen, y ou will wait with anticipation,

And if y ou incline y our ear, y ou will be wise.

34
     Stand in an assem bly of elders,

And who is wise? Attach y ourself to him .

35
     Desire to listen to ev ery div ine narrativ e,

And do not let prov erbs of understanding escape y ou.

36
     If y ou see a m an who has understanding,

Rise early in the m orning

And let y our foot wear out the threshold of his door.

37
     Set y our m ind on the ordinances of the Lord

And practice His com m andm ents.

He will strengthen y our heart continually ,

And the desire for wisdom will be giv en to y ou.
                                                             Put away Evil Acts


7 Do no evil things,
  And evil will never overtake you.†

    2
         Stay away from wrongdoing,

    And it will turn away from y ou.

    3
         My son, do not sow on the furrows of wrongdoing,

    And y ou will not reap the sam e things sev enfold.

    4
         Do not seek authority from a lord

    Nor the seat of honor from a king.

    5
         Do not declare y ourself righteous before a lord,

    Nor play the wise m an before a king.

    6
         Do not try to be a judge

    If y ou will not be strong enough to rem ov e wrongdoing,

    Lest y ou respect the presence of the powerful

    And com prom ise y our integrity .

    7
         Do not sin against the population of a city ,

    Nor disgrace y ourself before the people.

    8
         Do not repeat y our sin,

    For y ou will not be unpunished ev en for one.

    9
         Do not say , “He will look upon the m ultitude of m y gifts,

    And when I bring an offering to God Most High, He will accept it.”

    10
         Do not be fainthearted in y our pray er

    And do not neglect to do alm s. †

    11
         Do not laugh at a m an who is in bitterness of soul,

    For there is One who hum bles and exalts.

    12
         Do not dev ise a lie against y our brother,

    Nor do the sam e against a friend.

    13
         Do not desire to tell any lie,

    For the habit of ly ing nev er does any good.

    14
         Do not talk idly in the assem bly of the elders,

    And do not repeat y ourself in pray er.

                                                             Farm and Family
15
     Do not hate hard work, especially farm ing,

Which was created by the Most High.

16
     Do not num ber y ourself am ong an assem bly of sinners;

Rem em ber that wrath will not tarry long.

17
     Hum ble y ourself greatly ,

For the punishm ent of the ungodly is fire and worm s.

18
     Do not exchange a friend for m oney ,

Nor a genuine brother for the gold of Ophir. †

19
     Do not ignore a wise and good wife,

For her grace is worth m ore than gold.

20
     Do not m istreat a serv ant who does his work in truth

Nor a hired worker who dev otes him self to y ou. †

21
     Let y our soul lov e an intelligent serv ant;

Do not depriv e him of his freedom .

22
     Do y ou hav e cattle? Take care of them ;

And if they are profitable to y ou, keep them . †

23
     Do y ou hav e children? Correct them ,

And m ake them obey from their y outh.

24
     Do y ou hav e daughters? Watch carefully ov er their chastity ,

And do not be too easy on them . †

25
     Giv e a daughter in m arriage

And y ou will hav e com pleted a great work;

But giv e her to a m an of understanding.

26
     Do y ou hav e a wife after y our own heart? Do not reject her,

But do not trust y ourself to a wife whom y ou disregard.

27
     Honor y our father with all y our heart,

And do not forget the birth pangs of y our m other.

28
     Rem em ber that y ou were begotten through them ,

And what can y ou giv e back to them

To the degree they gav e to y ou?

                                                     The Priests and the Poor

29
     Fear the Lord with all y our soul

And honor His priests. †

30
     Lov e Him who m ade y ou
    And do not forsake His m inisters.

    31
         Fear the Lord and honor His priests,

    And giv e them their portion as com m anded:

    The firstfruits, the trespass offering,

    The gift of the shoulder offering,

    The sacrifice of sanctification,

    And the firstfruits of the holy things.

    32
         Stretch forth y our hand to the poor,

    That y our blessing m ay be com plete. †

    33
         Let the kindness of giv ing be shown

    In the presence of all the liv ing,

    And do not withhold kindness from the dead.

    34
         Do not withdraw y ourself from those who weep,

    And m ourn with those who m ourn.

    35
         Do not hesitate to v isit a sick m an,

    For by such v isits y ou will be lov ed.

    36
         With all y our words, rem em ber the tim e y ou will die,

    And y ou will nev er sin.

                                                       Kings and Commoners


8 Do not contend sharply with a powerful man,
    Lest y ou fall into his hands. †

    2
        Do not quarrel with a rich m an,

    Lest he resist y our force,

    For gold has destroy ed m any

    And perv erted the hearts of kings.

    3
        Do not contend sharply with a talkativ e m an,

    And do not heap wood on his fire.

    4
         Do not jest with an uncultiv ated m an,

    Lest y our forefathers be insulted.

    5
        Do not insult a m an who turns away from sin;

    Rem em ber that we are all v aluable.

    6
         Do not dishonor a m an in his old age,

    For som e of us are growing old as well. †
7
     Do not rejoice ov er any dead person;

Rem em ber that we all m ust die.

8
     Do not disregard a say ing of the wise,

But be conv ersant with their prov erbs;

Because from them y ou will gain instruction

And how to serv e noble people.

9
     Do not m iss a say ing of the old,

For they them selv es learned from their fathers;

Because from them y ou will gain understanding

And be able to giv e an answer in tim e of need.

10
     Do not kindle the coals of a sinner,

For y ou m ay be burned by his flam e. †

11
     Do not let the presence of an insolent m an

Arouse y ou from y our seat,

Lest he lie in wait as an am bush against y our words.

12
     Do not lend to a m an stronger than y ou;

But if y ou do, consider it lost.

13
     Do not giv e surety bey ond y our ability to pay ;

But if y ou do giv e surety , be as careful as one who has to pay .

14
     Do not go to law against a judge,

For they will decide for him because of his reputation.

15
     Do not trav el on a journey with a reckless m an,

Lest he weigh y ou down;

For he will do his will,

And y ou will perish with him in his folly .

16
     Do not cause a fight with an angry m an,

And do not go into a lonely place with him ,

Because m urder is as nothing in his ey es,

And where there is no help, he will strike y ou down.

17
     Do not consult with a fool,

For he will not keep a m atter confidential. †

18
     Do nothing confidential in the presence of a stranger,

For y ou do not know what he will giv e birth to.

19
     Do not open y our heart to ev ery one,

Lest unkindness be shown to y ou.
                                                         Behavior with Women


9 Do not be jealous of the wife of your bosom
    And so teach her an ev il lesson about y ourself. †

    2
         Do not giv e y our soul to a wom an

    To let her tram ple on y our strength.

    3
         Do not m eet with a wom an who is a courtesan,

    Lest y ou fall into her snares. †

    4
         Do not associate with a dancing-girl,

    Lest y ou be caught in her schem es.

    5
         Do not gaze at a v irgin,

    Lest y ou stum ble and pay dam ages for her.

    6
         Do not giv e y our soul to prostitutes,

    Lest y ou destroy y our inheritance.

    7
         Do not look around in the streets of a city ,

    And do not wander about in its deserted sections.

    8
         Turn y our ey e away from a wom an with a shapely figure,

    And do not gaze at beauty belonging to another.

    Many hav e been led astray by the beauty of a wom an,

    And erotic lov e is like a burning fire.

    9
         Nev er dine with another m an's wife,

    And do not share in parties with her ov er wine,

    Lest y our soul turn aside to her,

    And y ou slip and with y our spirit fall into destruction.

                                                         Friends and Neighbors

    10
         Do not forsake an old friend,

    For a new one is not equal with him .

    A new friend is like new wine;

    Drink it with pleasure only after it ages. †

    11
         Do not env y the honor giv en a sinner,

    For y ou do not know what his end will be.

    12
         Do not delight in the pleasure of the ungodly ;

    Rem em ber, they will not be declared righteous ev en in Hades.

    13
         Keep far away from a m an who has the power to kill,
And y ou will not be anxious about the fear of death.

But if y ou com e near him , do not offend him ,

Lest he take away y our life.

Know that y ou are stepping in the m idst of snares

And walking about the battlem ents of a city .

14
     Ev aluate y our neighbors as best y ou can

And consult with those who are wise.

15
     Let y our reasoning be with those who are wise,

And let all y our talk be about the law of the Most High. †

16
     Let righteous m en be y our dinner com panions,

And let y our boasting be in the fear of the Lord.

                                                                 Wise Leaders

17
     A work will be praised for the skill of its craftsm en,

And a wise leader of people for the skill of his words.

18
     A talkativ e m an is regarded with fear in his city ,

And a m an who is reckless in his speech will be hated.

10 A wise leader will educate his people,
And the rule of an intelligent m an will be well ordered.

2
    As goes the leader of a people, so also are his officials,

And all the inhabitants of a city will reflect its ruler.

3
    An undisciplined king will ruin his people,

But a city will be m ade habitable through the wisdom of its rulers.

4
     The authority of the earth is in the hand of the Lord,

And He will raise up the right m an for an appointed tim e. †

5
    The success of a m an is in the hand of the Lord,

And He confers His honor upon the person of the scribe.

6
     Do not cherish anger against y our neighbor for any injury ,

And do nothing by acts of insolence.

                                                       Beware of Arrogance

7
    Arrogance is hateful before God and m an,

And wrongdoing is offensiv e to both.

8
     Dom inion is transferred from nation to nation

Because of wrongdoing, insolence, and wealth.
9
     How can he who is earth and ashes be arrogant?

Because ev en while liv ing, his insides are decay ing. †

10
     A phy sician scoffs at a long illness,

And a king today will also die tom orrow.

11
     When a m an dies, he will inherit

Reptiles, wild anim als, and worm s.

12
     The beginning of a m an's arrogance is to depart from the Lord,

For his heart withdraws from the One who created him .

13
     For the beginning of arrogance is sin,

And he who takes hold of it will pour out an abom ination.

Therefore the Lord will bring them extraordinary distress

And com pletely destroy them .

14
     The Lord pulls down the thrones of rulers

And seats the gentle in their place. †

15
     The Lord plucks out the roots of nations

And plants the hum ble in their place.

16
     The Lord ov erthrows the lands of the nations

And destroy s them to the foundations of the earth.

17
     He rem ov es som e of them and destroy s them ,

And puts an end to their m em ory on the earth. †

18
     Arrogance was not created by m ankind,

Nor fierce anger by the offspring of wom en.

                                                       Honor and Dishonor

19
     What kind of seed is honored?

The seed of m an.

What kind of seed is honored?

Those who fear the Lord.

What kind of seed is dishonored?

The seed of m an.

What kind of seed is dishonored?

Those who transgress the com m andm ents.

20
     Am ong brothers their leader is honored,

And those who fear the Lord are honored in His ey es. †

21
     The fear of the Lord goes before the obtaining of authority ,
But roughness and pride is the losing thereof.

22
     The rich and the honored and the poor alike—

Their boasting is the fear of the Lord.

23
     It is not right to dishonor an intelligent poor m an,

Nor is it proper to honor a sinful m an.

24
     The noblem an, the judge, and the ruler will be honored,

But none of them is greater than the one who fears the Lord.

25
     Free m en will render serv ice to a wise serv ant,

And an understanding m an will not grum ble.

26
     Do not put y our wisdom on display when y ou do y our work,

Nor m agnify y ourself in the tim e of y our trouble.

27
     Better is he who works and has plenty

Than he who m agnifies him self but has no bread.

28
     My son, honor y our soul with gentleness

And giv e it honor according to its worth. †

29
     Who will declare righteous the m an who sins against his soul,

And who will honor the m an who dishonors his life?

30
     A poor m an is honored for his knowledge,

While a rich m an is honored for his wealth.

31
     If a m an is honored in pov erty ,

How m uch m ore in wealth,

And if a m an is dishonored in wealth,

How m uch m ore in pov erty ?

11 The wisdom of a hum ble m an will exalt his head,
And he will take his seat am ong the great.

                                                    Outward Appearances

2
    Do not praise a m an for his good looks,

And do not detest one because of his appearance. †

3
    The bee is sm all am ong winged creatures,

But her fruit is first am ong sweet things.

4
     Do not boast about y our fine clothes,

Nor m agnify y ourself in the day y ou are honored;

Because the works of the Lord are wondrous,

And His works are hidden from m en.
5
     Many ty rants hav e sat on the ground,

But one nev er thought of has worn a crown.

6
     Many rulers hav e suffered exceeding disgrace,

And honored m en hav e been betray ed into the hands of others.

                                                             Slow Down!

7
     Do not find fault before y ou exam ine a situation.

First, understand it, and then m ake y our judgm ent.

8
     Do not answer before y ou hav e listened,

And do not interrupt som eone while he is talking.

9
     Do not argue about a m atter that does not concern y ou,

And do not sit together with sinners when they judge a case.

10
     My son, do not let y our business inv olv e too m any things.

If y ou m ultiply them , y ou will not rem ain unpunished,

And if y ou pursue them , y ou will not ov ertake them ;

And y ou will not escape by running away . †

11
     There is a m an who works and works

And keeps on working, but is in m uch m ore pov erty .

12
     There is another who is sluggish and in need of help;

And he lacks strength and abounds in pov erty .

But the ey es of the Lord look upon him for his good

And restores his well-being from his hum ble state.

13
     He raises up his head,

And m any are am azed at this.

                                                           Handling Riches

14
     Good and bad, life and death, pov erty and wealth—

These are from the Lord.

15
     The gift of the Lord rem ains with the godly ,

And His approv al brings prosperity forev er.

16
     There is a m an who grows rich

Because of his attention and restraint;

And this is the portion of his reward:†

17
     When he say s, “I hav e found rest,

And now I will partake of m y good things.”
Yet he does not know how m uch tim e will pass until he will die

And leav e them behind to others.

18
     Stand by y our cov enant and attend to it,

And grow old in y our work.

19
     Do not be am azed at the works of a sinner,

But trust in the Lord and rem ain at y our work;

Because it is easy in the sight of the Lord

To m ake a poor m an rich quickly and unexpectedly .

20
     The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of a godly m an,

And in an instant He m akes his blessings flourish.

21
     Do not say , “What do I need,

And what good things will be m ine in the future?”

22
     Do not say , “I am independent.

From now on, what will harm m e?” †

23
     In the day of good things,

There is forgetfulness of bad things,

And in the day of bad things,

There is no rem em brance of good things.

24
     For it is easy in the judgm ent of the Lord

To reward a m an on the day of his death according to his way s. †

25
     The ill-treatm ent of an hour m akes one forget luxury ,

And at the end of a m an's life,

There shall be a rev elation of his works.

26
     Consider no m an happy before his death,

And a m an will be known in his children.

                                                        Beware of Evildoers

27
     Do not bring ev ery m an into y our hom e,

For the plots of the deceitful are m any .

28
     The heart of an arrogant m an is like a decoy partridge in a cage,

And like a spy he watches for y our fall.

29
     For he lies in wait and turns good into ev il,

And he will attach blam e to the good one chooses.

30
     From a spark of fire a charcoal fire is kindled,

And a sinful m an lies in wait for bloodshed.
    31
         Beware of an ev ildoer and his schem es,

    Lest he bring lasting blam e upon y ou.

    32
         Receiv e a stranger into y our hom e

    And he will upset y ou with troubles,

    And alienate y our fam ily from y ou.

                                                            Showing Kindness


12 If you show kindness, know to whom you show it,
    And y ou shall be thanked for y our good deeds. †

    2
         Do good to a godly m an, and y ou will be repaid—

    If not by him , then certainly by the Most High.

    3
         There shall be no good things for him who continues in ev il things,

    Or for him who does not giv e alm s cheerfully .

    4
         Giv e to a godly m an, but do not help the sinner. †

    5
         Do good to a hum ble m an, but do not giv e to an ungodly m an.

    Hold back his bread and do not giv e it to him ,

    Lest by it he lord it ov er y ou.

    For y ou will receiv e twice as m uch ev il com ing back

    For all the good y ou did for him .

    6
         For the Most High also hates sinners

    And will render punishm ent on the ungodly .

                                                        Never Trust an Enemy

    7
         Giv e to the good m an, but do not help the sinner. †

    8
         A friend will not be rev ealed when y ou are prosperous,

    Nor will an enem y hide him self when y ou are in adv ersity .

    9
         When a m an prospers, his enem ies are griev ed,

    But when he is in adv ersity , ev en a friend will separate him self.

    10
         Nev er trust y our enem y ,

    For as copper becom es rusty , so is his ev il.

    11
         Ev en if he acts hum ble and goes about with a hum ble posture,

    Watch y ourself, and be on y our guard.

    Then y ou shall be to him like him who wipes off a m irror,

    And y ou will know that it is not corroded continually .

    12
         Do not let him stand by y our side,
    Lest he ov erthrow y ou and take y our place.

    Do not seat him on y our right,

    Lest he seek y our seat of honor.

    Then at last y ou will know the truth of m y words,

    And because of m y words y ou will be pierced with sorrow.

    13
         Who will pity a snake charm er when he is bitten,

    Or those who go near wild anim als?

    14
         So no one will pity one who approaches a sinful m an

    And gets inv olv ed in his sins.

    15
         He will stay with y ou for a while,

    But if y ou turn aside from him , he will not put up with y ou.

    16
         An enem y speaks sweetly with his lips,

    But in his heart he will plan to throw y ou into a pit.

    An enem y will shed tears, but if he finds an opportunity ,

    He will not be satisfied apart from shedding y our blood.

    17
         If ev il com es upon y ou,

    You will find y our enem y there ahead of y ou,

    And as he pretends to help y ou,

    He will pull y our feet from under y ou.

    18
         He will shake his head and applaud with his hands;

    And he will whisper m any things and alter his expression.

                                                           Choosing Colleagues


13 Whoever touches pitch will be stained,
    And whoev er associates with an arrogant m an will becom e like him .

    2
        Do not lift a weight too heav y for y ou,

    Nor associate with a m an stronger and richer than y ou.

    What does a clay pot hav e in com m on with a copper kettle?

    For the clay pot will strike against the kettle and will itself be broken.

    3
        A rich m an does wrong and ev en prov es him self to be the one wronged.

    A poor m an is wronged, and he m ust apologize. †

    4
         If y ou can be useful to him , a rich m an will m ake use of y ou;

    But if y ou are in need, he will abandon y ou.

    5
        If y ou own any thing, he will liv e with y ou,
And he will exhaust y ou, but will not feel sorry for y ou.

6
     When he needs y ou, he will deceiv e y ou and sm ile at y ou;

And he will giv e y ou hope and say good things to y ou.

He will ev en say , “What do y ou need?”

7
     He will sham e y ou with his foods

Until he exhausts y ou two or three tim es.

Then at last he will m ock y ou.

If he should see y ou after this, he will forsake y ou

And shake his head ov er y ou.

8
     Take heed, lest y ou be led astray

And be hum iliated in y our folly .

9
     When a ruler inv ites y ou, be slow to accept,

And he will inv ite y ou m ore often.

10
     Do not press upon him , lest y ou be rejected,

But do not withdraw at a distance, lest y ou be forgotten.

11
     Do not intend to speak to him as an equal,

And do not trust his abundance of words;

For he will test y ou with a lot of talk,

And while he is sm iling, he will scrutinize y ou.

12
     He who does not guard y our words is unm erciful,

And he will not hesitate to harm or im prison y ou.

13
     Keep y our words to y ourself, and be v ery careful,

For y ou are walking near y our own fall.

                                                         Like Attracts Like

14
     Ev ery liv ing creature lov es its like,

And ev ery m an his neighbor. †

15
     All flesh gathers together by species,

And ev ery m an clings to one like him self.

16
     What wolf will associate with a lam b?

No m ore will the sinner with a godly m an.

17
     What peace is there between a hy ena and a dog?

And what peace does a rich m an hav e with a poor m an?

18
     The prey of lions are wild asses in the wilderness.

Sim ilarly , the pastures of the rich are the poor.
                                                            Rich and Poor

19
     Lowness of stature is an abom ination to the arrogant;

Thus a poor m an is an abom ination to a rich m an.

20
     When a rich m an is shaken, he is strengthened by friends;

But when a hum ble m an falls, he is pushed away by friends.

21
     When a rich m an falls, there are m any to help him ;

And when he speaks abom inable words, they justify him .

If a hum ble m an falls, they criticize him further;

And when he speaks with intelligence, no place is giv en to him .

22
     When a rich m an speaks, ev ery one is silent,

And they exalt his word to the clouds.

A poor m an speaks, and they say , “Who is this m an?”

And if he stum bles, they push him down ev en further.

23
     Wealth in which there is no sin is good,

But pov erty is ev il in the m outh of an ungodly m an.

24
     The heart of a m an changes the expression on his face,

Either for good or for ev il.

25
     The m ark of a heart filled with goodness is a cheerful face,

But the inv ention of prov erbs requires laborious reasoning.

14 Blessed is a m an who does not slip and fall because of his m outh,
And is not stung with pain caused by his sin.

2
    Blessed is he whose soul does not condem n him ,

And who has not fallen away from his hope. †

3
    Wealth is not fitting for a sm all-m inded m an,

And to what end is wealth for an env ious m an?†

4
     For he who gathers for him self, gathers for others,

And others will liv e in luxury with his goods.

5
    If a m an does ev il to him self, for whom shall he do good?

And he will not rejoice in his wealth.

                                                          Warnings of Vices

6
     When a m an env ies him self, there is no one worse off,

And this is the reward for his v ice.

7
    Ev en if he does good, he does it unintentionally ,
And in the end he rev eals his v ice.

8
     He who env ies with his ey e is ev il;

He turns away his face and despises souls.

9
     The ey e of a greedy m an is not satisfied with his share,

And useless wrongdoing dries up the soul.

10
     The ev il ey e of a m an is env ious ov er his bread;

Thus it is lacking at his table.

11
     My son, whatev er y ou hav e, treat y ourself well,

And offer sacrifices worthily to the Lord.

12
     Rem em ber that death does not delay ,

And the cov enant of Hades has not been shown to y ou. †

13
     Before y ou die, do good to a friend,

And reach out and giv e to him based on y our ability .

14
     Do not let a day go by without doing som ething good,

And do not let any of y our desire for doing good escape y ou.

15
     Will y ou not leav e all y our hard work to another,

And all y our hard work to be div ided by lot?

16
     Giv e and receiv e and depriv e y ourself,

Because in Hades there is nowhere to seek luxury .

17
     All flesh becom es old like a garm ent,

For the cov enant from of old is, “You shall die by death.”

18
     Like flourishing leav es on a thick tree,

Which sheds som e leav es and puts forth others,

So also is the generation of flesh and blood:

One dies and another is born.

19
     Ev ery work of m an decay s and fails,

And he who m ade it will depart with it.

                                                   The Blessings of Wisdom

20
     Blessed is the m an who practices wisdom

And discourses with insight. †

21
     Whoev er ponders the way s of wisdom in his heart

Will also reflect on her secrets.

22
     Pursue wisdom like a tracker

And lie in wait on her paths.
23
     He who looks intently through her windows

Will also listen at her doors.

24
     He who lodges near her house

Will also fasten his tent peg to her walls.

25
     He will establish his hom e according to her will,

And so lodge in a good dwelling place.

26
     He will put his children in her shelter

And lodge under her branches.

27
     He will be sheltered by her from the burning heat

And will dwell in her glory .

15 He who fears the Lord will do this,
And he who holds fast to the law will obtain wisdom .

2
     She will com e to m eet him like a m other

And accept him like the wife of one's y outh. †

3
     She will feed him the bread of understanding

And giv e him the water of wisdom to drink.

4
     He will be supported by her and not fall;

And he will hold on to her and not be put to sham e.

5
     She will exalt him alongside his neighbors,

And in the m idst of the assem bly she will open his m outh.

6
     He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing

And will inherit an ev erlasting nam e.

7
     But foolish m en will not find her,

And sinful m en will not see her.

8
     She is far from the arrogant,

And ly ing m en will not keep her in m ind.

9
     Praise is not proper in the m outh of a sinner,

Because it was not sent from the Lord.

10
     For praise should be spoken in wisdom ;

Then the Lord will prosper it.

                                                       Our Sin Is Our Fault

11
     Do not say , “I fell away because of the Lord,”

For He will not do what He hates. †

12
     Do not say , “It was He who led m e astray ,”
    For He has no need of a sinful m an.

    13
         The Lord hates all abom inations,

    And they are not lov ed by those who fear Him .

    14
         He Him self created m an in the beginning

    And left him in the counsel of his will.

    15
         If y ou will, y ou will keep the com m andm ents

    And faithfully do His good pleasure.

    16
         He has set before y ou fire and water;

    If y ou will, stretch forth y our hand. †

    17
         Life and death are before m ankind,

    And whichev er he chooses, it will be giv en to him .

    18
         For great is the wisdom of the Lord;

    He is m ighty in power and sees all things.

    19
         His ey es are upon those who fear Him ,

    And He Him self knows ev ery deed of m an. †

    20
         He has com m anded no one to be ungodly ,

    And He has giv en no one license to sin.

                                                            Ungodly Children


16 Do not desire a multitude of useless children,
    Nor rejoice in ungodly sons. †

    2
        If they m ultiply , do not rejoice ov er them

    If the fear of the Lord is not in them .

    3
        Do not trust in their life

    Nor pay attention to their m ultitude;

    For one godly child is better than a thousand.

    And it is better to die childless than to hav e ungodly children.

    4
         For from one child with wisdom a city will be filled with people,

    But a tribe of lawless m en will m ake it desolate.

    5
        My ey es hav e seen m any such things,

    And m y ear has heard worse things than this.

                                                            Rebuke and Mercy

    6
         In the congregation of sinners, a fire will be kindled,

    And in a disobedient nation, wrath is kindled. †
7
     There was no atonem ent for the ancient giants

Who turned away from God because of their strength. †

8
     He did not spare the cities where Lot sojourned,

Whom He detested because of their arrogance. †

9
     He had no m ercy on a nation destined for destruction

Who were taken away because of their sins.

10
     The sam e thing happened to the six hundred thousand foot-soldiers

Who gathered together in their hardness of heart. †

11
     Ev en if there was only one stiff-necked m an,

It would be a m arv el if he were to rem ain unpunished.

For m ercy and wrath belong to the Lord,

And He is m ighty to forgiv e;

And He pours out wrath.

12
     As great as His m ercy , so also great is His rebuke,

And He will judge a m an according to his works. †

13
     A sinner will not escape with his spoils,

And the patience of a godly m an will not fare badly .

14
     He will m ake a place for ev ery act of m ercy .

Each will find this out according to his works.

                                                 None Remain Anonymous

15
     Do not say , “I will be hidden from the Lord,

And who will rem em ber m e from on high?

I will not be known am ong so m any people,

For what is m y soul in com parison to the im m easurable creation?†

16
     Behold, heav en and the highest heav en,

The aby ss and the earth will be shaken at His v isitation.

17
     At the sam e tim e, the m ountains and the foundations of the earth

Will shake with trem bling when He looks upon them .

18
     No heart will able to think about these things,

And who will ponder His way s?

19
     There will be a sudden blast of wind which no m an will see,

For m ost of His works will be done in secret.

20
     Who will proclaim His works of righteousness,

Or who will endure them ?
    For His cov enant is far off.”

    21
         This is what a m an thinks

    Who is dim inished in heart and without discernm ent,

    Who is deceiv ed and thinks foolishly .

    22
         Listen to m e, m y son, and gain knowledge,

    And pay close attention to m y words in y our heart. †

    23
         I will rev eal instruction with balance,

    And I will proclaim knowledge with exactness.

                                                        The Majesty of Creation

    24
         By the judgm ent of the Lord, His works exist from the beginning,

    And from their creation, He determ ined their boundaries.

    25
         He ordered His works forev er,

    And their principles according to their generations.

    They neither hunger nor grow weary ,

    And they do not cease from their works.

    26
         Each does not afflict the one close to him ,

    And they will nev er disobey His word.

    27
         After this the Lord looked upon the earth

    And filled it with His good things.

    28
         He cov ered its surface with the life of ev ery liv ing creature,

    And to it they will return again.

                                                              Creation of Man


17 The Lord created man from the earth
    And returned him to it again. †

    2
        He gav e them a certain num ber of day s and an appointed tim e,

    And He gav e them authority ov er it.

    3
        He clothed them in strength like His own

    And m ade them in His im age.

    4
         He put the fear of m an upon all flesh

    And gav e him dom inion ov er wild anim als and birds.

    5
        He gav e m ankind the ability to deliberate,

    And a tongue, ey es and ears, and a heart to think with.

    6
         He filled them with the skill of com prehension
And showed them good and ev il.

7
     He set His ey e upon their hearts

To show them the m ajesty of His works.

8
     They will praise His holy nam e

So as to fully describe the m ajesty of His works.

                                                  The Covenant with Israel

9
     He added knowledge to them

And gav e them the law of life as a heritage. †

10
     He established an eternal cov enant with them ,

And He showed His judgm ents to them .

11
     Their ey es saw His glorious m ajesty ,

And their ears heard His glorious v oice.

12
     He said to them , “Beware of all unrighteousness,”

And He com m anded each of them concerning his neighbor.

13
     Their way s are before Him continually ;

They will not be hidden from His ey es.

14
     He appointed a ruler for ev ery nation,

But Israel is the Lord's portion.

15
     All His works are as the sun before Him ,

And His ey es are continually on their way s.

16
     Their wrongdoings are not hidden from Him ,

And all their sins are before the Lord.

17
     A m an's alm sgiv ing is like a seal with Him ,

And He will treasure the kindness of a m an like the pupil of His ey e.

18
     After this He will arise and repay them ,

And He will reward them with retribution on their head.

19
     But He prov ides a return to those who repent,

And He com forts those who lack endurance.

                                                       Return to the Lord

20
     Turn to the Lord and forsake y our sins,

And pray in His presence and reduce y our offense. †

21
     Return to the Most High and turn away from wrongdoing,

And hate an abom ination exceedingly .
    22
         Who will praise the Most High in Hades,

    As do the liv ing and those who giv e thanks?

    23
         Thanksgiv ing ceases from a dead m an since he is no longer aliv e;

    Only the liv ing and the healthy will praise the Lord. †

    24
         How great the m ercy of the Lord is,

    And His atonem ent for those who turn to Him . †

    25
         For all things are not possible for m an,

    Because a son of m an is not im m ortal.

    26
         What shines brighter than the sun? Yet this light fails,

    And so will flesh and blood when it lay s ev il to heart. †

    27
         He exam ines the host of the highest heav en,

    But all m en are earth and ashes.

                                                          A Song of God's Mercy


18 He who lives forever created everything;
    2
         The Lord alone will be declared righteous.

    3
         He perm itted no one to proclaim His works,

    For who can trace out His m ighty works?†

    4
         Who will m easure His m ajestic power with a num ber,

    And who will add to this m easure

    While describing His m ercies?

    5
         There is no one who can add or subtract,

    And there is no who can search out the wonders of the Lord.

    6
         When a m an com pletes his search, then he starts ov er;

    And when he stops, he will still be perplexed.

    7
         What is m an and what use is he;

    What is his good and what is his ev il?

    8
         The num ber of a m an's day s is considered great

    If he is one hundred y ears old. †

    9
         But like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand,

    So are a few y ears within a day of eternity .

    10
         Therefore the Lord is patient with them

    And pours out His m ercy upon them .

    11
         He sees and knows their end, that it is ev il;
Therefore He m akes full atonem ent for them .

12
     The m ercy of a m an is upon his neighbor,

But the m ercy of the Lord is upon all flesh,

Rebuking, training, and teaching them

Like a shepherd who returns his flock to the fold.

13
     He has m ercy on those who receiv e His discipline

And who are eager for His judgm ents.

                                                     Take Care to Be Wise

14
     My son, do not bring disgrace on the good y ou hav e done,

Nor cause grief by y our words when y ou m ake a gift.

15
     Does not dew giv e relief from the burning heat?

In the sam e way , a word is better than a gift. †

16
     Indeed, is not a word better than a fitting gift?

And both are found in a gracious m an.

17
     A fool will insult and disgrace som eone,

And the gift of an env ious m an m akes his ey es waste away .

18
     Before y ou speak, learn,

And before y ou get sick, take care of y our health. †

19
     Before y ou m ake a judgm ent, exam ine y ourself closely ,

And in the hour of v isitation y ou will find atonem ent.

20
     Before y ou becom e sick, hum ble y ourself;

And at the tim e of sinning, prov e y our conv ersion.

21
     Let nothing hinder y ou from pay ing a v ow prom ptly ,

And do not wait until death to becom e righteous.

22
     Before y ou m ake a v ow, prepare y ourself;

And do not becom e like a m an who tem pts the Lord. †

23
     Rem em ber His anger on the day of y our death,

At the tim e of v engeance, when He turns His face away .

24
     Rem em ber the tim e of hunger in the tim e of plenty ,

And pov erty and need in the day s of wealth. †

25
     From m orning until ev ening, tim e changes;

And all things are soon in the presence of the Lord.

26
     A wise m an will hav e the fear of God in ev ery thing he does;

And in these day s of sin, he will guard against wrongdoing. †
    27
         Ev ery intelligent m an knows wisdom

    And praises the one who finds her.

    28
         The wise in words—they also m ake others wise,

    And they pour forth accurate prov erbs. †

                                                                   Self-Control

    29
         Do not walk after y our own desires,

    But restrain y our appetites. †

    30
         If y ou fill y our soul with the desire for pleasure,

    It will m ake y ou the laughingstock of y our enem ies.

    31
         Do not rejoice in great luxury ,

    Lest y ou becom e needy by its expense.

    32
         Do not becom e a beggar by feasting on borrowed m oney

    When y ou hav e nothing in y our purse.

                                                                 The Reckless Soul


19 A working man who is a drunk will not become wealthy,
    And he who despises sm all things will fail little by little. †

    2
        Wine and wom en will draw away intelligent m en,

    And he who joins him self to prostitutes shall becom e v ery reckless.

    3
        Decay and worm s will inherit him ,

    And his reckless soul will be carried away .

                                                                   Don’t Gossip

    4
         He who trusts quickly is unwise in heart,

    And he who sins will err against his own soul.

    5
        He who rejoices in ev il shall be condem ned,

    6
         And he who hates talkativ eness will sin less.

    7
        Nev er repeat a word and y ou will lose nothing at all;

    8
         With friend or enem y , do not report it,

    And unless it is a sin for y ou, do not rev eal it. †

    9
         For som eone heard y ou and watched y ou,

    And in tim e will hate y ou.

    10
         Hav e y ou heard a word? Let it die with y ou.

    Take courage; it will not burst y ou.
11
     But a fool will suffer birth-pangs because of such a word,

Like a wom an in labor with a child.

12
     Like an arrow stuck in the flesh of a thigh,

So is a word inside a fool.

13
     Question a friend; perhaps he did not do it.

And if he did som ething, perhaps he will not repeat it. †

14
     Question a neighbor; perhaps he did not say it.

And if he did say it, m ay he not say it twice.

15
     Question a friend, for often it is slander.

So do not believ e ev ery word.

16
     A person slips, but it was not his intention;

For who has not sinned with his tongue?

17
     Question y our neighbor before y ou threaten him ,

And giv e place to the law of the Most High.

                                                    The Wise and the Clever

18
     All wisdom is the fear of the Lord,

And in all wisdom there is the doing of the Law. †

19
     Wisdom is not the knowledge of ev il,

Nor is there discernm ent in the counsel of sinners.

20
     There is a clev erness that is an abom ination,

And there is a fool who is lacking in wisdom .

21
     Better is a m an who is afraid but lacks understanding,

Than a m an who abounds in discernm ent but transgresses the law.

22
     There is a precise clev erness which itself is unjust;

And there is one who is offensiv e that justice m ay be rev ealed.

23
     There is an ev ildoer bowed down in m ourning,

But inwardly he is full of deceit.

24
     He cov ers his face and pretends to be deaf,

But when no one notices, he will take adv antage of y ou.

25
     If he is prev ented from sinning because he lacks strength,

When he later finds an opportunity , he will do ev il.

26
     A m an will be known by his appearance,

And a m an of intelligence will be known

By his countenance when y ou m eet him . †
    27
         The clothing of a m an and the way he laughs and walks

    Giv e indication of who he is.

                                                                  When to Speak


20 There is a rebuke which is not timely,
    And there is he who is silent but has discernm ent.

    2
         How m uch better it is to rebuke than to seethe with anger.

    3
         He who confesses his fault will be kept from loss. †

    4
         Like the desire of a eunuch to v iolate a m aiden,

    So is the m an who executes justice by v iolence. †

    5
         There is a m an who is silent but is found to be wise,

    And there is a m an who is hateful because he talks too m uch. †

    6
         There is a m an who is silent because he has no answer,

    And there is a m an who is silent because he knows when to speak.

    7
         A wise m an will keep silent until it is the right tim e to speak,

    But an arrogant and undiscerning m an will speak out of turn.

    8
         The m an who talks too m uch will be detested,

    And the m an who stands on his rights will be hated.

                                                               Buying and Selling

    9
         There is prosperity in the m idst of adv ersities,

    But there is also a sum realized by a sale for a loss. †

    10
         There is a gift that will not profit y ou,

    And there is a gift where the repay m ent is double.

    11
         There is a loss because of glory ,

    And there is a m an who raises his head from a hum ble state.

    12
         There is a m an who buy s m uch with little,

    But pay s for it sev enfold.

    13
         A wise m an will m ake him self belov ed through his words,

    But the kindnesses of fools will be forgotten.

    14
         The gift of a senseless m an will not benefit y ou,

    For his ey es are m any instead of one. †

    15
         He will giv e little but insult m uch,

    And he will open his m outh like a herald.

    Today he will lend but tom orrow he will dem and it back;
Such a m an is hateful.

                                                       A Man without Grace

16
     A fool will say , “I hav e no friend,

And I get no thanks for m y good deeds. †

17
     Those who eat m y bread are worthless in their speech.”

How m any will laugh scornfully at him , and how often?

18
     A slip on the ground is better than a slip of the tongue;

Thus the downfall of ev il will com e speedily .

19
     A m an without grace is like a story told at the wrong tim e;

It will continue on the lips of the ignorant. †

20
     A parable from the lips of a fool will be rejected,

For he does not tell it at its proper tim e.

                                                   Commentary on Sinners

21
     There is one who is hindered from sinning because of his pov erty ,

So when he rests, he will not be pierced with sorrow.

22
     There is one who m ay lose his life through sham e,

Or lose it because of his foolish countenance.

23
     There is one who m akes a prom ise to a friend because of sham e,

And needlessly gains him as an enem y .

24
     A lie is an ev il disgrace in a m an;

It will continue on the lips of the ignorant.

25
     A thief is preferable to a continual liar;

Both, howev er, will inherit destruction.

26
     The character of a liar brings dishonor,

And his sham e is continually with him .

                                                           Ways of the Wise

27
     A wise m an will adv ance him self with his words,

And a m an with discernm ent will please great m en.

28
     A m an who works the earth will raise up his harv est,

And he who pleases great m en will atone for wrongdoing.

29
     Presents and gifts blind the ey es of the wise,

And like a m uzzle on the m outh they turn aside rebukes.

30
     Wisdom hidden and unseen treasure:
   What profit is there in either of them ?

   31
        Better is the m an who hides his foolishness

   Than a m an who hides his wisdom .

                                                                Flee from Sin


21 My son, have you sinned?
 No longer add to them, but pray about your former sins.†

   2
        Flee from sin as y ou would from the presence of a snake,

   For if y ou approach it, it will bite y ou;

   Its teeth are like lion's teeth, destroy ing the souls of m en.

   3
        All lawlessness is like a two-edged sword,

   For there is no healing from its wound. †

   4
        Panic and v iolence will lay waste to wealth.

   Likewise, the house of an arrogant m an will be laid waste.

   5
        The pray er of a poor m an goes from his m outh to God's ears,

   And His judgm ent com es speedily .

   6
        Whoev er hates rebuke walks in the steps of a sinner,

   But he who fears the Lord will return to Him with his heart.

   7
        A m an powerful in speech is known from afar,

   But an intelligent m an knows when he slips.

   8
        He who builds his house with other people's m oney

   Is like a m an who gathers his stones in a storm .

   9
        The assem bly of the lawless is like a bundle of kindling

   Whose end is a flam e of fire.

   10
        The way of sinners is pav ed with stones,

   But at its end is the pit of Hades.

                                                            Wise or Foolish?

   11
        He who keeps the law controls his thoughts;

   The end result of the fear of the Lord is wisdom . †

   12
        He who is not astute cannot be taught,

   But there is an astuteness that increases bitterness.

   13
        The knowledge of a wise m an is like a flood,

   And his counsel will flow abundantly as a fountain of life. †
14
     The inner workings of a fool are like a broken v essel,

For he will not hold onto any knowledge.

15
     If a m an of understanding hears a wise word,

He will praise it and add to it;

But if a self-indulgent m an hears it, it displeases him ,

And he turns his back on it.

16
     The explanation of a fool is like a burden on a journey ,

But grace will be on the lips of an intelligent m an. †

17
     The utterance of a sensible person will be sought in the assem bly ,

And they will ponder his words in their heart. †

18
     Like a house that has disappeared,

So is wisdom to a fool,

And the knowledge of a foolish m an is words

That will not stand up to exam ination.

19
     To a foolish m an, instruction is like chains on the feet

And like handcuffs on the right hand.

20
     A fool raises his v oice when he laughs,

But an astute m an will sm ile quietly with som e hesitation.

21
     To a wise m an instruction is like a golden ornam ent

And like a bracelet on the right arm .

22
     The foot of a fool quickly enters a house,

But a m an with m uch experience will stand respectfully outside.

23
     A m an without discernm ent peers into a house from the door,

But a well-educated m an will stand outside.

24
     A m an shows his lack of education when he listens at the door,

But a prudent m an will be griev ed by this disgrace.

25
     The lips of the unwise will describe things in detail,

But the words of the prudent will balance the scale.

26
     The heart of fools is in their m outh,

But the m outh of the wise is in their heart.

27
     When an ungodly m an curses Satan,

He curses his own soul. †

28
     The whisperer defiles his own soul

And will be hated in his own neighborhood.

22 A lazy m an m ay be com pared to a filthy stone,
And ev ery one hisses at his dishonor. †

2
     A lazy m an m ay be com pared to the filth of m anure;

Ev ery one who picks it up will shake it off his hand.

                                                          A Father's Disgrace

3
     The disgrace of a father is begetting an undisciplined son,

And a foolish daughter is born to his loss. †

4
     A sensible daughter will bring an inheritance to her husband,

But a sham eful one is a grief to her father.

5
     An arrogant daughter sham es both father and husband,

And she will be dishonored by both.

6
     An ill-tim ed statem ent is like m ournful m usic,

But the chastising and instruction of wisdom are alway s tim ely .

                                                                    The Fool

7
     He who teaches a fool is like one who glues pottery together,

Or like try ing to arouse one from a sound sleep.

8
     He who tells som ething to a fool tells it to a drowsy m an,

And at the end he will say , “What is it?”

9
     If children liv e honestly , and hav e wherewithal,

They shall cov er the baseness of their parents.

10
     But children, being haughty , through disdain and want of nurture

Stain the nobility of their kindred.

11
     Weep for a dead m an, for he left the light behind;

But weep ov er a fool, for he left intelligence behind.

Weep gladly for a dead m an, because he is at rest;

But the life of the fool is worse than death. †

12
     Mourning for a dead m an lasts sev en day s,

But m ourning for a fool or an ungodly m an lasts all his life.

13
     Do not hold a conv ersation with a fool,

And do not v isit with a senseless m an.

Beware of him , so as to av oid trouble,

And y ou will not be defiled when he shakes him self off.

Stay away from him , and y ou will find rest

And not be exhausted by his insanity . †
14
     What will be heav ier than lead?

And what will be his nam e but “Fool”?

15
     Sand, salt, and a piece of iron are easier to bear

Than a senseless m an.

16
     A wooden beam bound together in a building

Will not be broken loose in an earthquake;

So a heart strengthened by reasonable counsel

Will not be afraid in a crisis.

17
     A heart settled on intelligent thought

Is like a plaster decoration on a sm ooth wall.

18
     As fences set on a high place will not stand firm against the wind,

So a cowardly heart in the thought of a fool

Cannot stand firm against any kind of fear.

                                                       Building Friendships

19
     He who pokes his ey e will cause tears to fall,

And he who pierces a heart rev eals its feeling.

20
     Throwing a rock at birds scares them away ,

And disgracing a friend will break up a friendship.

21
     If y ou draw a sword against a friend,

Do not despair, for a restoration of friendship is possible.

22
     If y ou open y our m outh against a friend,

Do not worry , for reconciliation is possible.

But as for rev iling or arrogance or rev ealing secrets or a treacherous blow—

with behav ior like this any friend will flee. †

23
     Gain y our neighbor's trust when he is poor,

So y ou m ay be fulfilled with him when he prospers.

Stand by him in his tim e of trouble,

That when he gets his inheritance, y ou m ay share it with him .

24
     As the sm oke and v apor of a furnace precede a fire,

So abuses precede bloodshed.

25
     I will not be asham ed to shelter a friend,

And I will not hide from his face.

26
     If any thing bad happens to m e because of him ,

Ev ery one who hears about it will beware of him .
    27
         Who will set a guard ov er m y m outh,

    And a prudent seal ov er m y lips,

    That I m ay not fall because of them ,

    And that m y tongue m ay not destroy m e?†

                                                         A Prayer for Wisdom


23 O Lord, Father and Master of my life,
    Do not leav e m e to their counsel,

    Nor let m e fall because of them . †

    2
         Who will set whips ov er m y thoughts

    And the discipline of wisdom ov er m y heart,

    So they m ay not spare m e in m y errors,

    nor neglect m e in m y sins?

    3
         Lest m y m istakes be m ultiplied

    And m y sins abound.

    Then I would not fall before m y adv ersaries,

    And m y enem y would not rejoice ov er m e.

    4
         O Lord, Father and the God of m y life, do not giv e m e haughty ey es,

    5
         But turn m e away from ev il desire.

    6
         Do not let gluttony or lust ov ercom e m e,

    Nor giv e m e up to a sham eless soul.

                                                         Warning to Children

    7
         My children, hear the teaching of m y m outh,

    For he who keeps it will not be conquered.

    8
         A sinner will be ov ertaken by his lips,

    And a slanderer and arrogant m an will be m ade to stum ble by them .

    9
         Do not accustom y our m outh to v ows,

    Nor m ake a habit of using the nam e of the Holy One. †

    10
         For as a serv ant who is continually beaten will not lack bruises,

    So also he who m akes a v ow and continually nam es the Holy One

    Will nev er be cleansed from sin.

    11
         A m an who swears m any oaths will be filled with lawlessness,

    And that plague will not depart from his house.

    If he offends, his sin will be on him ,
And if he ov erlooks it, he has sinned doubly .

If he swears in v ain, he will not be declared righteous,

For his house will be filled with trouble.

12
     There is a way of speaking com parable to death.

May it not be found in the inheritance of Jacob;

For all these things will be far from the godly ,

And they will not be inv olv ed in sins.

13
     Do not accustom y our m outh to lewd expressions,

For this is sinful speech.

14
     Rem em ber y our father and m other

When y ou sit in council with great m en,

Lest y ou forget y ourself in their presence

And by habit act foolishly .

Then y ou will wish y ou had nev er been born,

And y ou will curse the day of y our birth.

15
     A m an accustom ed to abusiv e words

Will nev er discipline him self as long as he liv es.

                                                            Men of Sin

16
     Two kinds of m en m ultiply sins,

And a third kind will bring down wrath:

17
     A soul heated like a burning fire

Will not be quenched until it is consum ed;

A m an whose whole body is giv en to fornication

Will not cease until the fire burns out.

To a m an who is a fornicator, all bread is sweet.

He will not grow weary until he dies.

18
     The m an who transgresses against his m arriage bed

Say s to him self, “Who sees m e?

Darkness encircles m e.

The walls of m y house hide m e,

And no one sees m e.

Why should I be afraid?

The Most High will not rem em ber m y sins.”

19
     His fear is the ey es of m en.
Yet he does not know that the ey es of the Lord

Are ten thousand tim es brighter than the sun

And look upon all the way s of m en,

And observ e ev en the secret places.

20
     Before all things were created,

Ev ery thing was known to Him ,

And the end of all things is also known to Him . †

21
     This adulterer will be punished in the city streets,

And where he does not suspect it, he will be seized.

                                                            Women of Sin

22
     So also the wom an who forsook her husband

And brought in an heir by another m an.

23
     For she first disobey ed the law of the Most High;

And second, she transgressed against her husband;

And third, in her fornication she com m itted adultery

And bore children by a stranger.

24
     She will be brought before the assem bly ,

And there shall be a v isitation of her children.

25
     Her children will not take root,

And her branches will not bear fruit.

26
     She will leav e behind her m em ory as a curse,

And her disgrace will not be blotted out.

27
     Those left behind will know

There is nothing better than the fear of the Lord;

And there is nothing sweeter

Than to giv e heed to the Lord's com m andm ents.

                                                       In Praise of Wisdom

24 Wisdom will praise herself,
And in the m idst of her people she will boast. †

2
    In the assem bly of the Most High, she will open her m outh

And boast in the presence of His host.

3
    “I cam e forth from the m outh of the Most High

And cov ered the earth like a m ist. †
4
     I pitched m y tent in the high places

And m y throne on the pillar of cloud.

5
     I alone encircle the ring of heav en,

And I walk in the depth of the aby ss.

6
     In the wav es of the sea, in all the earth,

And in ev ery people and nation

I hav e gained a possession.

7
     With all these, I hav e sought a place to rest;

In what inheritance will I lodge?

8
     “Then the Creator of all things com m anded m e,

And He who created m e gav e m e a place to liv e.

He said, ‘Pitch y our tent in Jacob

And receiv e an inheritance in Israel.’†

9
     Before the age, He created m e from the beginning,

And in the age to com e I will not cease. †

10
     I serv e before Him in His holy tabernacle;

Therefore, I am established in Zion.

11
     In the belov ed city likewise He giv es m e rest,

And m y authority is in Jerusalem .

12
     I am firm ly rooted am ong an honored people,

Am ong the Lord's portion, His inheritance.

13
     “Like a cedar tree I was raised on high in Lebanon,

Like a cy press tree in the m ountains of Herm on.

14
     I was exalted like a palm tree in En-Gedi

And like rose bushes in Jericho;

I was exalted like a beautiful oliv e tree in the plain

And grew tall like a plane-tree.

15
     I gav e forth the fragrance of arom atic spices

Like cinnam on and cam el-thorn,

And I spread a fragrance like choice m y rrh,

And like galbanum , ony x, and oil of m y rrh,

And like the fragrance of frankincense in the tabernacle.

16
     I spread forth m y branches like a terebinth tree,

And m y branches were glory and grace. †

17
     I y ield grace like a v ine,
And m y flowers produce the fruit of glory and riches.

18
     I am the m other of fair lov e, and fear, and knowledge, and holy hope:

I therefore, being eternal, am giv en to all m y children who are nam ed by Him .

19
     “Com e to m e, y ou who desire m e,

And take y our fill of m y fruits.

20
     For the rem em brance of m e is sweeter than honey ,

And m y inheritance is sweeter than the honey com b.

21
     Those who eat m e will hunger for m ore,

And those who drink m e will thirst for m ore. †

22
     He who obey s m e will not be put to sham e,

And those who work with m e will not sin.”

23
     All this is the book of the cov enant of the Most High God—

The law Moses com m anded us,

The inheritance of the congregations of Jacob.

24
     Faint not to be strong in the Lord;

That He m ay confirm y ou, cleav e unto Him :

For the Lord Alm ighty is God alone,

And beside Him there is no other Sav ior.

25
     This law fills m en with wisdom ,

Like the Pishon and the Tigris at the tim e of firstfruits;

26
     And it fills them with understanding,

Like the Euphrates and the Jordan at the tim e of harv est.

27
     This law shines forth instruction like light,

Like the Gihon in the day s of v intage.

28
     As the first m an did not know wisdom perfectly ,

So the last m an has not searched out her depths.

29
     For her thoughts are deeper than the sea

And her counsel than the great aby ss.

30
     I went forth like a canal from a riv er

And like an aqueduct into a garden.

31
     I said, “I will water m y garden

And drench the garden beds.”

And behold, m y canal becam e a riv er,

And m y riv er becam e a sea.

32
     I will y et m ake instruction shine like the m orning,
And I will m ake it shine far away .

33
     I will y et pour forth teaching like prophecy ,

And I will leav e it behind for future generations.

34
     As y ou can see, I hav e not labored for m y self alone,

But for all who seek wisdom .

                                                        Numbered Sayings

25 There are three things beautiful to see,
And they are beautiful before the Lord and m en:

The harm ony of brothers, friendship between neighbors,

And a wife and husband well-adjusted together. †

2
    My soul hates three kinds of m en,

And I am v ery offended with their lifesty le:

A beggar who is arrogant, a rich m an who is a liar,

And an old m an who is an adulterer and lacks understanding.

                                                       Wisdom of the Aged

3
    If y ou hav e gathered nothing in y our y outh,

How can y ou find any thing in y our old age?

4
    Judgm ent is like beauty in gray hair,

And in elders, it is to know counsel.

5
    Wisdom is like the beauty of old m en,

And in those who are glorious, it is understanding and counsel.

6
    The crown of old m en is great experience,

For their boast is the fear of the Lord.

                                                                Ten Blessings

7
    In m y heart I hav e blessed nine suppositions,

And I will m ention a tenth:

A father who delights in his children;

A m an who liv es to see the downfall of his enem ies;†

8
    A husband who is blessed to liv e with an understanding wife;

A m an who does not slip with his tongue;

A m an who has not serv ed a m an less worthy than him self;

9
    A m an who is blessed to find discernm ent;

A m an who is blessed to speak to ears that listen;
10
     And a m an who has found wisdom —how blessed he is!

But there is no one greater than a m an who fears the Lord.

11
     The fear of the Lord is m ore im portant than any thing.

To what will it be com pared?

                                                              An Evil Wife

12
     Any wound, but not a wound of the heart!

Any ev il, but not an ev il wife!

13
     Any m isery , but not the m isery of those who hate m e!

Any v engeance, but not the v engeance of enem ies!

14
     There is no head worse than the head of a snake,

And there is no anger worse than the anger of an enem y .

15
     I would rather liv e with a lion or a snake than with an ev il wife. †

16
     The ev il of a wife changes her appearance

And darkens her face like that of a bear.

17
     Her husband will go to his neighbors for m eals,

And he sighs bitterly and inv oluntarily .

18
     Any ev il is sm all com pared to the ev il of a wife.

May the portion of a sinner fall upon her!

19
     A sandy hill of ascent for the feet of an old m an—

Such is an ov erly talkativ e wife to a quiet husband.

20
     Do not fall for the beauty of a wom an,

And do not long for her beauty .

21
     There is wrath, insolence, and great sham e

When a wife supports her husband. †

22
     A downcast heart, a sad face, and a wounded heart

Are caused by an ev il wife.

Drooping hands and weakened knees

Are caused by a wife who does not m ake her husband happy .

23
     Sin had its beginning from a wife,

And because of her we all die.

24
     Do not giv e water an outlet,

Nor boldness to an ev il wife. †

25
     If she does not follow y our good leadership,

Cut her off from y ourself. †
                                                                     A Good Wife


26 Happy is the husband of a good wife;
    The num ber of his day s will be doubled. †

    2
         A courageous wife m akes her husband glad,

    And his y ears will be full of peace.

    3
         A good wife is a good portion,

    And she will be giv en in the portion

    Of those who fear the Lord.

    4
         The good heart of a rich or a poor m an

    Is a cheerful face at all tim es.

                                                            Fallen Womanhood

    5
         My heart fears because of three things,

    And I pray to God concerning a fourth:

    The slander of a city , the gathering of a m ob,

    And a false accusation—all these are worse than death. †

    6
         There is also pain of heart and sorrow

    When a wife is jealous ov er another wom an,

    And a tongue-lashing m akes it known to all.

    7
         An ev il wife is like an ox-y oke that shakes to and fro,

    And to take hold of her is like grabbing a scorpion.

    8
         A drunken wife is v ery wrathful,

    And she will not conceal her sham e.

    9
         The fornication of a wife will be known

    By her haughty looks and her ey elids. †

    10
         Keep strong watch ov er a headstrong daughter,

    Lest she find som e liberty and m ake the m ost of it.

    11
         Be on guard against her sham eless ey e,

    And do not be am azed if she trespasses against y ou.

    12
         Her m outh will open like a thirsty trav eler's

    And drink from any water nearby .

    She will sit down before ev ery tent peg

    And open her quiv er to any arrow.

                                                                 A Blessed Wife
13
     A wife's grace will delight her husband,

And her skill will put fat on his bones. †

14
     A silent wife is a gift from the Lord,

And there is nothing worth as m uch as a disciplined soul.

15
     A m odest wife is blessing upon blessing,

And there is no scale adequate to weigh a self-controlled soul.

16
     Like the sun rising in the Lord's heav en

Is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of her house.

17
     Like a lam p shining on the holy lam pstand

Is the beauty of a countenance in the prim e of life.

18
     Beautiful feet with a steady heart

are like golden pillars on a silv er base.

                                                             Three Griefs

19
     My heart is griev ed by two things,

And because of a third, anger arises within m e:

A m an of war in want because of pov erty ;

Men of intelligence who suffer contem pt;

And a m an who turns back from righteousness to sin.

The Lord will prepare this one for the sword.

                                                            The Merchant

20
     With difficulty a m erchant will deliv er him self from wrongdoing,

And a peddler will not be acquitted from sin. †

27 Many hav e sinned to m ake a profit,
And he who seeks riches will turn away his ey es.

2
    As a stake will be driv en tightly between fitted stones,

So sin will be wedged between selling and buy ing.

3
    If a m an does not hold steadfastly to the fear of the Lord,

His house will be soon ov erturned.

                                                        Tested by Reason

4
     When a siev e is shaken, the refuse rem ains;

So a m an's filth rem ains in the way he reasons. †

5
    As a furnace tests a potter's v essels,
So the test of a m an is in the way he reasons. †

6
     As fruit rev eals how a tree is cultiv ated,

So a m an's reasoning process rev eals his heart.

7
     Do not praise a m an before he rev eals the way he reasons,

For this is the way a m an is tested.

8
     If y ou pursue righteousness, y ou will attain it

And put it on like a glorious robe. †

9
     As birds flock with their own kind,

So also truth will return to those who practice it.

10
     As a lion lies in wait for his prey ,

So sin lies in wait for those who do wrong.

                                                           Speaking Wisely

11
     The talk of a godly m an is alway s wise,

But a fool changes like the m oon.

12
     Am ong senseless m en, lim it y our tim e;

Instead, spend it with m en of understanding.

13
     The talk of fools is offensiv e,

And they laugh at the lewdness of sin. †

14
     Speech filled with swearing will m ake one's hair stand on end,

And quarreling will m ake one stop his ears.

15
     The quarreling of the arrogant leads to bloodshed,

And their abusiv e language is hard on the ears.

16
     He who rev eals secrets destroy s his credibility ,

And he will not find a friend for life.

17
     Lov e y our friend,

And be trustworthy with him ;

But if y ou rev eal his secrets, do not pursue him closely .

18
     For as surely as a m an has destroy ed his enem y ,

So y ou hav e destroy ed the friendship of y our neighbor.

19
     As y ou m ight release a bird from y our hand,

So y ou hav e let y our neighbor go;

And y ou will not catch him .

20
     Do not pursue him , for he has withdrawn far away

And has escaped like a deer from a snare.
21
     For a wound can be bandaged and an insult forgiv en,

But any one who rev eals secrets is without hope.

22
     He who winks with his ey e plots ev il deeds,

And no one can draw him away from them .

23
     His speech will be sweet in y our presence,

And he will m arv el at y our words;

But later his speech will distort what y ou said,

And he will cause trouble with y our words.

24
     I hate m any things, but none in com parison to him ;

And the Lord will hate him .

                                                     Consequences of Sin

25
     He who throws a stone into the air

Throws it on his head,

And a treacherous blow will distribute wounds.

26
     He who digs a pit will fall into it,

And he who sets a snare will be caught in it.

27
     He who does ev il things will hav e it roll back on him ,

And he will not know what hit him . †

28
     Mockery and abuse com e back on an arrogant m an,

And v engeance lies in wait for him like a lion.

29
     Those who rejoice at the fall of the godly

Will be caught in a trap,

And pain will consum e them before their death.

30
     Anger and wrath, these are also abom inations,

And a sinful m an shall possess both.

28 He who seeks rev enge will find it from the Lord,
And He will surely punish his sins. †

                                                          Showing Mercy

2
    Forgiv e a wrong done y ou by y our neighbor;

Then y our sins will be pardoned when y ou pray . †

3
    Can a m an preserv e wrath against his neighbor

And still seek healing from the Lord?†

4
     Can he show no m ercy toward a m an like him self
And still beg God for m ercy for him self?†

5
     If he being flesh keeps his anger continually ,

Who will atone for his sins?

6
     Rem em ber the end of y our life

And cease from enm ity ;

Rem em ber destruction and death

And stand fast in the com m andm ents. †

7
     Rem em ber the com m andm ents

And do not v ent y our wrath against y our neighbor;

Rem em ber the cov enant of the Most High

And ov erlook faults.

                                               Cease Quarreling and Evil Talk

8
     Refrain from quarreling and y ou will decrease y our sins,

For a m an who is hot-tem pered will kindle quarreling.

9
     A sinful m an will trouble his friends,

And am ong those who liv e in peace he will inject unfriendliness.

10
     The heat of a fire will be kindled according to the am ount of wood;

So also the heat of a fire will be kindled according to the obstinacy of quarreling.

According to the strength of a m an, so his anger shall be;

And according to his wealth, he will increase his wrath.

11
     A hasty quarrel kindles a fire,

And a v igorous quarrel sheds blood.

12
     If y ou blow on a spark, it will kindle a fire,

But if y ou spit on it, it will be quenched;

Yet both com e out of y our m outh.

13
     Curse a slanderous and deceitful m an,

For he has destroy ed m any who were at peace.

14
     Slander has unsettled m any

And scattered them from nation to nation;

And it has destroy ed strong cities

And ov erturned the houses of great m en.

15
     Slander has driv en away courageous wom en

And robbed them of their labors.

16
     He who dev otes him self to slander will not find rest,
    Nor shall he dwell in quietness.

    17
         The blow from a whip causes a wound,

    But a blow from the tongue breaks bones.

    18
         Many hav e fallen by the edge of the sword,

    But not so m any as those who hav e fallen because of the tongue.

    19
         Blessed is the m an who is sheltered from it,

    Who has not passed through the anger of the tongue;

    Who does not drag its y oke

    And is not bound by its chains.

    20
         For its y oke is a y oke of iron,

    And its chains are chains of bronze.

    21
         Its death is an ev il death,

    And Hades is preferable to it.

    22
         An ev il tongue will not prev ail ov er the godly ,

    And they will not be burned in its flam e.

    23
         Those who forsake the Lord will fall into it,

    And am ong them it will be kindled;

    And it will not be quenched.

    It will set upon them like a lion,

    And like a leopard it will m angle them .

    24
         See that y ou fence in y our possessions with thorns;

    Lock up y our silv er and gold. †

    25
         Make balances and scales for y our words

    And bar and bolt the door of y our m outh. †

    26
         Beware lest y ou m ake a slip with y our tongue,

    Lest y ou fall v ictim before him who lies in wait.

                                                               Loans and Gifts


29 He who shows mercy will lend to his neighbor,
    And he who m akes him strong with a helping hand

    Keeps the com m andm ents. †

    2
        Lend to y our neighbor in the tim e of his need,

    And when y ou borrow, repay y our neighbor on tim e.

    3
        Keep y our word and be trustworthy with him ,
And on ev ery occasion y ou will find what y ou need.

4
     Many m en, supposing a loan is like a windfall,

Cause trouble to those who help them .

5
     He will kiss the lender's hand until he receiv es the loan,

And to get his neighbor's m oney he will lower his v oice;

But at the tim e of repay m ent, he will put it off,

And repay only with words of indifference,

And blam e the tim es.

6
     If the lender is firm with him , he will barely get back half the loan,

And will consider it as a windfall.

If the borrower does not repay any thing,

He has robbed him of his m oney ,

And needlessly m ade him an enem y .

The lender will then repay him with curses and insults,

And dishonor instead of glory .

7
     Many m en, not because they are ev il,

Hav e refused to lend;

They hav e becom e afraid of being needlessly robbed.

8
     Howev er, be patient with a m an of hum ble circum stances,

And do not keep him waiting for y our alm s.

9
     Because of the com m andm ent, help a poor m an,

And in his need, do not turn him away em pty .

10
     Lose y our m oney for the sake of a brother and friend;

Do not let it rust under a stone and be lost. †

11
     Lay up y our treasure according to the com m andm ents of the Most High,

For this will profit y ou m ore than gold. †

12
     Store alm s in y our storeroom s,

And they will deliv er y ou from all affliction.

13
     More than a m ighty shield and better than a strong spear

Alm sgiv ing will fight for y ou against y our enem y .

14
     A good m an will go surety for his neighbor,

But a m an who has lost his sense of sham e will forsake him .

15
     Do not forget the kindness his surety has done for y ou,

For he has giv en his life for y ou.

16
     A sinner will ov erthrow the good things of his surety ,
    And the ungrateful m an will forsake his deliv erer on purpose.

    17
         Surety ship has destroy ed m any prosperous m en

    And tossed them about like wav es of the sea.

    18
         Surety ship has driv en influential m en from their hom es,

    And they hav e wandered am ong foreign nations.

    19
         The sinner who chances upon surety ship

    And the m an who pursues profit-taking will fall into judgm ent.

    20
         Help y our neighbor according to y our ability ,

    But watch out for y ourself lest y ou fall.

    21
         The principle of life is water, bread, and clothing,

    And a house that offers priv acy .

    22
         The life of a poor m an under a shelter of logs

    Is better than great food in another m an's house.

    23
         Be content with little or m uch,

    And y ou will not hear y our guest insulted.

    24
         Going from house to house is a bad way to liv e,

    And where y ou are v isiting, y ou dare not open y our m outh.

    25
         You will entertain guests and giv e drink to the ungrateful,

    And besides this y ou will hear bitter words:

    26
         “Com e here, stranger; set the table,

    And if y ou hav e any food at hand, feed m e.”

    27
         “Get out, stranger, som ebody m ore im portant is here;

    My brother has com e as m y guest;

    I need m y house.”

    28
         These things are hard for a sensible m an to take:

    The rebuke of a household and the abuse of a creditor.

                                                              Raising Children


30 The man who loves his son will chastise him often,
    So he m ay rejoice in him in his later y ears. †

    2
        He who disciplines his son will profit by him

    And boast of him am ong acquaintances.

    3
        The m an who teaches his son will m ake his enem y jealous

    And will rejoice exceedingly ov er him am ong friends.
4
     When his father dies, it is as though he is not dead,

For he left behind one like him self.

5
     While he liv ed, he saw and rejoiced in him ,

And when he died, he was not griev ed.

6
     Before his enem ies, he left behind an av enger,

And to his friends one who repay s fav ors.

7
     He who spoils his son will bandage his wounds,

And at ev ery cry his heart will ache.

8
     A horse not broken turns out to be stubborn,

And a son allowed to run wild turns out to be headstrong.

9
     Pam per a child, and he will frighten y ou;

Play with him , and he will griev e y ou.

10
     Do not laugh with him , lest y ou suffer with him

And gnash y our teeth ov er him at last.

11
     Do not giv e him authority while he is y oung.

12
     Bruise his ribs when he is y oung,

Lest he becom e stubborn and disobey y ou.

13
     Discipline y our son and work with him ,

So he will not em barrass y ou with his behav ior.

                                                             Good Health

14
     A poor m an with good health is better off

Than a rich m an afflicted in his body .

15
     Health and v igor are better than all gold,

And a strong body than im m ense wealth.

16
     There are no riches greater than health of body ,

And there is no gladness abov e joy of heart. †

17
     Death is better than a wretched life,

And eternal rest is better than chronic sickness.

18
     Good things set out before a closed m outh

Are like offerings of food put on a grav e.

19
     What use is an offering of fruit to an idol?

For it can neither eat nor sm ell.

So is a m an afflicted by the Lord:†

20
     He sees with his ey es and groans,
Like a eunuch em bracing a v irgin.

                                                  Gladness of Heart

21
     Do not giv e y ourself ov er to sorrow,

And do not distress y ourself deliberately . †

22
     Gladness of the heart is the life of m an,

And rejoicing by a m an lengthens his life.

23
     Lov e y our soul and com fort y our heart,

And put sorrow far away from y ou;

For sorrow has destroy ed m any ,

And there is no profit in it.

24
     Env y and anger will shorten y our day s,

And worry will bring prem ature old age.

25
     A m an with a good and cheerful heart

Will pay attention to the food he eats.
                                                            Be Wise with Wealth


31 Losing sleep over wealth wastes away the body,
    And anxiety about wealth rem ov es sleep. †

    2
         Sleepless anxiety will driv e away slum ber,

    And sev ere illness m akes an end to sleep.

    3
         A rich m an labors to gather m oney ,

    And when he rests he fills him self with his luxuries.

    4
         A poor m an labors to m ake a m eager liv ing,

    And when he rests he becom es needy .

    5
         He who lov es gold will not be called righteous,

    And he who pursues profit will be led astray by it.

    6
         Many are driv en to calam ity for the sake of gold,

    And their destruction has m et them face to face.

    7
         It is a stum bling block for those possessed by it,

    And ev ery senseless m an will be trapped by it.

    8
         Blessed is a rich m an who is found blam eless

    And does not chase after gold. †

    9
         Who is he? And we shall call him blessed,

    For he has worked wonders am ong his people.

    10
         Who has been tested by it and found perfect?

    He has ground for boasting.

    Who was able to transgress but did not transgress?

    Who was able to com m it ev il but did not do it?

    11
         His good things will be strengthened,

    And the assem bly will talk of his alm sgiv ing.

                                                               Food and Drink

    12
         Are y ou seated at table with a great m an?

    Do not gluttonize, and do not say ,

    “How m uch food there is upon y our table!” †

    13
         Rem em ber that a greedy ey e is a v ice.

    What has been created worse than the ey e?

    Therefore it sheds tears on ev ery face.

    14
         Do not stretch out y our hand for ev ery thing y ou see,
And do not crowd another at the dish. †

15
     Understand the things of y our neighbor by y our own,

And in ev ery m atter be considerate.

16
     Eat what is set before y ou like a hum an being,

And do not dev our y our food, lest y ou be despised. †

17
     Be the first to stop eating for the sake of discipline,

And do not be greedy , so as not to cause offense.

18
     And if y ou are seated in a large group of people,

Do not reach out y our hand before they do.

19
     How sm all an am ount is sufficient for a m an with discipline!

And he does not gasp for breath on his bed. †

20
     Healthy sleep depends on m oderate eating,

And he rises early and in good spirits;

But the distress of sleeplessness, nausea, and indigestion

Are with the glutton.

21
     If y ou are stuffed with food,

Get up in the m iddle of the m eal and stop eating.

22
     Listen to m e, m y child, and do not disregard m e,

And y ou will find m y words to be im portant.

In all y our works be prepared,

And no sickness will ov ertake y ou.

23
     Lips will bless a m an generous with his food,

And their witness to his goodness is trustworthy .

24
     A city will grum ble against the m an stingy with his food,

And their witness to his stinginess is accurate.

25
     Do not get y our courage from wine,

For wine has destroy ed m any m en. †

26
     As a furnace tests steel in the tem pering process,

So wine tests hearts in the quarrels of the arrogant.

27
     Wine is like life to m en,

If y ou drink it in m oderation.

What is life without wine?

For it was created to giv e gladness to m en.

28
     Wine drunk at the proper tim e and with tem perance

Is joy fulness of heart and gladness of soul.
    29
         Drinking too m uch wine is bitterness of soul,

    With irritation and occasion for stum bling and falling.

    30
         Drunkenness increases the anger of a senseless m an to his own hurt,

    Reducing his strength and adding to his wounds.

    31
         Do not rebuke y our neighbor at a wine party ,

    And do not despise him when he is enjoy ing him self.

    Do not speak a word of insult against him ,

    And do not afflict him by m aking dem ands of him .

                                                            Hosting a Banquet


32 Did they appoint you as leader of the banquet?
    Do not exalt y ourself.

    Am ong them be as one of them .

    Take care of them and only then be seated. †

    2
         Then hav ing fulfilled all y our duties, take y our place,

    That y ou m ay m ake m erry for their sake,

    And receiv e a crown because of y our orderly behav ior.

    3
         Speak, O elder, for this is fitting for y ou to do so with accurate knowledge;

    But do not interrupt the m usic. †

    4
         Where there is entertainm ent, do not pour out talk,

    And do not display y our clev erness at the wrong tim e.

    5
         A concert of m usic at a banquet of wine

    Is like a seal of ruby in a gold ornam ent.

    6
         A seal of em erald in a gold setting

    Is the m elody of m usic with delicious wine.

    7
         Speak, y oung m an, if there is need of y ou,

    But no m ore than twice, and only if y ou are asked repeatedly . †

    8
         Be brief; say m uch in a few words.

    Act like a m an who knows, y et holds his tongue.

    9
         Am ong the great do not act as their equal,

    And when another is speaking, do little talking.

    10
         Lightning flashes before thunder,

    And fav or goes before a m odest m an.

    11
         Rise to leav e in good tim e, and do not lag behind.
Run hom e and do not be rem iss.

12
     Am use y ourself there, and do what y ou intend,

But do not sin by speaking arrogantly ;

13
     And for these things, bless Him who created y ou

And satisfies y ou with His good things.

                                                      Wise and Sinful Men

14
     The m an who fears the Lord will receiv e instruction,

And those who rise early will find His approv al.

15
     He who seeks the Law will be filled with it,

But the hy pocrite will be m ade to stum ble by it.

16
     Those who fear the Lord will discov er judgm ent,

And like the light they will kindle righteous deeds.

17
     A sinful m an will turn aside correction

And find a rationalization according to his will. †

18
     A m an of counsel will not neglect thought,

But a strange and arrogant m an does not trem ble in fear.

19
     Do nothing without counsel,

And when y ou hav e acted, do not regret it.

20
     Do not walk a path filled with obstacles,

And do not trip ov er stony ground.

21
     Do not put y our trust in an unexplored way ,

22
     And keep watch because of y our children.

23
     In ev ery work entrust y our soul to the Lord,

For this is the keeping of the com m andm ents. †

24
     He who believ es in the Law heeds the com m andm ents,

And he who trusts in the Lord will not suffer loss.

33 Ev il will not befall the m an who fears the Lord,
But in trial He will deliv er him again and again.

2
    A wise m an will not hate the law,

But he who pretends to keep it is like a ship in a storm . †

3
    A m an of understanding will trust in the law,

And to him the law is trustworthy because it is a div ine rev elation.

4
     Prepare what to say and thus y ou will be heard.

Draw on y our training and m ake y our reply .
5
     The heart of a fool resem bles a wagon wheel,

And his reasoning is like a turning axle. †

6
     A lusty stallion is like a m ocking friend;

He im pregnates ev ery one who sits under him .

                                                     Reflecting on Creation

7
     Why is one day better than another,

When all the light of a day in the y ear is from the sun?†

8
     They were separated by the knowledge of the Lord,

And He changed the seasons and feasts.

9
     Som e day s He exalted and sanctified,

And som e day s He m ade ordinary .

10
     All m en are from the ground,

For Adam was created from the earth.

11
     In the fullness of knowledge the Lord separated them

And changed their paths.

12
     Som e day s He blessed and exalted,

And som e day s He sanctified and drew near to Him self.

Som e day s He has cursed and hum bled

And rem ov ed from their place.

13
     All His way s are according to His good pleasure.

Like clay in a potter's hand,

Thus m en are in the hand of Him who m ade them ,

To render to them according to His judgm ent. †

                                                                  Opposites

14
     Good is the opposite of ev il, and life is the opposite of death.

In the sam e way , a sinner is the opposite of a godly m an. †

15
     Look, therefore, upon all the works of the Most High:

They also com e in pairs, one the opposite of the other.

16
     I kept the last watch like one gleaning after the harv est. †

17
     By the blessing of the Lord I arriv ed in tim e,

And like a grape-picker I filled m y winepress.

18
     Observ e well that I did not labor for m y self alone,

But for all who seek instruction.
                                                        Careful Leadership

19
     Hear m e, y ou leaders of the people,

And y ou rulers of the assem bly , listen to m e.

20
     Do not giv e authority ov er y ourself while y ou are still liv ing

To y our son or y our wife, nor to y our brother or a friend;

And do not giv e y our property to another,

Lest y ou change y our m ind and need to beg for it.

21
     While y ou are still aliv e and there is breath in y ou,

Do not change places with any one.

22
     For it is better that y our children should ask from y ou

Than that y ou should look to the hands of y our sons.

23
     Be outstanding in all y our works;

Do not put a blem ish on y our reputation.

24
     On the day when the day s of y our life are fulfilled,

At the tim e of y our death, distribute the inheritance.

                                                        Relating to Servants

25
     Fodder, the rod, and a burden are for a donkey ,

And bread, instruction, and work are for a serv ant.

26
     Make a serv ant work, and y ou will find rest;

Leav e his hands idle and he will seek freedom .

27
     Yoke and strap will bend the neck,

And racks and tortures are for an ev il serv ant.

28
     Put him to work that he m ay not be idle,

For idleness teaches m uch ev il.

29
     Set him to the work appropriate for him ;

And if he is not obedient, put heav y chains on his feet.

30
     And do not act superior toward any flesh,

And do nothing without judgm ent. †

31
     If y ou own a serv ant, let him be as y ourself,

For with y our blood y ou bought him .

32
     If y ou own a serv ant, treat him as a brother.

For y ou will need him as y our own soul.

33
     If y ou treat him badly and he runs away ,
    Which way will y ou go look for him ?

                                                             Discerning Dreams


34 Vain hopes and lying belong to a man without understanding,
    And dream s giv e wing to senseless m en. †

    2
         Like him who grasps after shadows and chases the wind,

    So is he who pay s attention to dream s.

    3
         The v ision of dream s is this against that,

    The likeness of a face opposite a face.

    4
         What will be cleansed from an unclean thing?

    And what will be true from a false thing?

    5
         Div inations, om ens, and dream s are worthless;

    And like a wom an in the pains of childbirth,

    The heart becom es v isible.

    6
         Unless v isions are sent from the Most High in a v isitation,

    Do not giv e y our heart to them . †

    7
         For dream s hav e deceiv ed m any ,

    And those who hope in them hav e fallen away .

    8
         Without such ly ing, the law will be fulfilled,

    And wisdom is perfection in the m outh of the faithful.

                                                              Benefits of Travel

    9
         A m an who has trav eled about knows m any things,

    And a m an with m uch experience will speak with understanding. †

    10
         A m an who has not been tested knows little,

    But he who has trav eled about increases his astuteness.

    11
         I hav e seen m any things in m y trav els,

    And m y understanding is m ore than I can express in words.

    12
         I hav e frequently been in danger of death,

    But I hav e been sav ed because of these experiences.

                                                             The Blessings of God

    13
         The spirit of those who fear the Lord will liv e,

    For their hope is in Him who sav es them .

    14
         He who fears the Lord will fear nothing,
And he will not be cowardly , for the Lord is his hope.

15
     Blessed is the soul of a m an who fears the Lord.

To whom does he look? And who is his support?†

16
     The ey es of the Lord are upon those who lov e Him .

He is a powerful protection and a strong support:

A shelter from the burning heat,

A shelter from the noonday sun,

A guard from stum bling,

And help from a fall.

17
     He raises up the soul

And giv es light to the ey es.

He giv es healing, life, and blessing.

                                                     Unacceptable Offerings

18
     If a m an sacrifices by m eans of wrongdoing,

The offering is a m ockery ,

And the gifts of the lawless are not accepted. †

19
     The Most High is not pleased with the offerings of the ungodly ,

And a m an does not atone for his sins with a m ultitude of sacrifices.

20
     He who offers a sacrifice from the property of the poor

Is like one who kills a son in the sight of his father.

21
     The bread of the needy is the life of the poor.

He who depriv es them of it is a m an of bloodshed.

22
     Whoev er takes away his neighbor's liv elihood m urders him ,

And whoev er depriv es a hired worker of his wages sheds his blood.

23
     If one builds up while another tears down,

What do they profit other than toil?†

24
     If one pray s while another curses,

Whose v oice will the Lord hear?

25
     If a m an washes him self after touching a corpse,

Then touches it again,

What does he profit by his washing?

26
     So it is with a m an who fasts ov er his sins

And goes and does the sam e sins all ov er again.

Who will hear his pray er?
    What does his hum bling profit him ?

                                                            Acceptable Offerings


35 The man who keeps the law will abound in offerings;
    He who heeds the com m andm ents sacrifices a peace offering. †

    2
         He who returns a kindness offers fine wheat flour,

    And he who does alm s sacrifices a praise offering. †

    3
         To forsake ev il is pleasing to the Lord,

    And to forsake wrongdoing is atonem ent.

    4
         Do not appear before the Lord em pty -handed,

    For all these offerings are m ade because of the com m andm ent.

    5
         A righteous offering anoints the altar,

    And its fragrance rises before the Most High.

    6
         The sacrifice of a righteous m an is acceptable,

    And its rem em brance shall not be forgotten.

    7
         Glorify the Lord with y our generosity ,

    And do not reduce the firstfruits of y our hands.

    8
         In ev ery gift let y our face be cheerful,

    And sanctify y our tithe with gladness. †

    9
         Giv e to the Most High as He has giv en to y ou,

    And giv e to Him with generosity , according to y our windfall.

    10
         For the Lord is He who repay s,

    And He will repay y ou sev enfold. †

                                                         God's Justice and Mercy

    11
         Do not bribe Him , for He will not accept it;

    And do not offer an unrighteous sacrifice.

    12
         For the Lord is the judge,

    And there is no partiality with Him .

    13
         He will not show partiality to a poor m an,

    But He will hear the petition of him who is wronged. †

    14
         He will not ov erlook the supplication of an orphan,

    Nor a widow when she pours out her story .

    15
         Do not the tears of a widow run down her cheeks

    As she cries out against him who caused them ?
    16
         He whose serv ice is pleasing to the Lord

    Will be accepted by Him ,

    And his pray er will reach to the clouds.

    17
         The pray er of a hum ble m an passes through the clouds,

    And he will not be com forted until it reaches the Lord;†

    18
         And he will not withdraw it until the Most High v isits him ,

    Prov ides justice for the righteous,

    And executes judgm ent.

    19
         So the Lord will not delay ,

    Neither will He be slow to help them , †

    20
         Until He crushes the loins of the unm erciful

    And repay s v engeance upon the nations,

    21
         Until He destroy s the m ultitude of the insolent

    And crushes the scepter of the unrighteous,

    22
         Until He renders to a m an according to his practices

    And the works of m en according to their dev ices,

    23
         Until He judges the cause of His people

    And brings them joy with His m ercy .

    24
         Mercy is beautiful in the tim e of His affliction,

    Like rain in the tim e of drought. †

                                                              A Prayer for Israel


36 Have mercy on us, O Lord, the God of all, and look upon us,
    And put Your fear on all the nations. †

    2
        Raise Your hand against foreign nations

    And let them see Your power.

    3
        As in us You hav e been sanctified before them ,

    So in them m ay You be m ade great before us.

    4
         Let them know You as we also hav e known You,

    For there is no God but You, O Lord.

    5
        Renew Your signs and work fresh wonders;

    Glorify Your hand and Your right arm .

    6
         Stir up Your anger and pour out Your wrath;

    Driv e away the adv ersary and destroy the enem y .
7
     Hasten the tim e and rem em ber Your oath,

And let people declare Your m ighty works. †

8
     Let him who surv iv es be dev oured in Your fiery wrath,

And m ay those who harm Your people m eet destruction. †

9
     Crush the heads of the rulers of the enem ies

Who say , “There is no one but us.”

10
     Gather together all the tribes of Jacob,

And grant them their inheritance as from the beginning. †

11
     Hav e m ercy upon Your people called by Your Nam e, O Lord—

Upon Israel, whom You hav e likened to Your firstborn son.

12
     Hav e pity on the city of Your sanctuary ,

Jerusalem , the place of Your rest.

13
     Fill Zion with the celebration of Your div ine v irtue

And Your people with Your glory . †

14
     Giv e testim ony to what You created in the beginning

And raise up the prophecies spoken in Your nam e.

15
     Reward those who wait for You

And let Your prophets be found trustworthy .

16
     Hear, O Lord, the pray er of Your suppliants,

According to the blessing of Aaron ov er Your people;

17
     And all on earth will know

That You are the Lord, the God of the ages. †

                                                      Using Discernment

18
     The stom ach eats any kind of food,

But som e food is better than others.

19
     As the palate tastes the flav or of gam e,

So an understanding heart detects ly ing words.

20
     A crooked heart will cause grief,

But a m an with great experience will pay him back.

21
     A wom an will accept any son,

But one daughter is better than another. †

22
     A beautiful wom an gladdens a m an's face

And surpasses his ev ery desire.

23
     If there is m ercy and gentleness on her tongue,
    Her husband is not like other m en.

    24
         He who gains a wife gets his best possession,

    A helper like him self and a pillar of support. †

    25
         Where there is no wall, the property will be plundered,

    And where a m an has no wife, he will wander around and groan. †

    26
         Who will trust a well-equipped thief

    Who skips from city to city ?

    27
         Who will trust a m an who has no hom e

    And lodges wherev er night ov ertakes him ?

                                                         Choosing Companions


37 Every friend will say, “I too am your friend,”
    But som etim es a friend is a friend in nam e only . †

    2
        Is it not a grief to the death

    When a com panion and friend turns to hatred?

    3
        O ev il reasoning! Why were y ou inv olv ed

    To cov er the land with deceit?

    4
         A com panion delights in the gladness of a friend,

    But in tim e of affliction, he will be against him .

    5
        A com panion labors to help a friend for his stom ach's sake,

    And in a tim e of battle he will take up the shield.

    6
         Do not forget a friend in y our soul,

    And do not be unm indful of him with y our wealth.

                                                         Choosing Counselors

    7
        Ev ery counselor extols his own counsel,

    And som e offer adv ice in their own interest. †

    8
         Protect y ourself from a counselor

    And know beforehand what is his interest;

    For he will take thought for him self

    Lest he cast his v ote against y ou

    9
         And say to y ou, “Your path is good.”

    Then he will stand aside to see what will happen to y ou.

    10
         Do not consult with a m an who looks at y ou suspiciously ,

    And hide y our counsel from those who env y y ou.
11
     Also, do not consult with a wom an about her riv al,

Nor with a coward about battle,

Nor with a m erchant about exchange,

Nor with a buy er about selling,

Nor with a slanderer about gratitude,

Nor with an unm erciful m an about generosity ,

Nor with an idler about any work,

Nor with a seasonal hired hand about com pleting his work,

Nor with a lazy serv ant about a big job.

Pay no attention to these in any counsel.

12
     Instead, persev ere with a godly m an

Who y ou know keeps the com m andm ents,

Whose soul accords with y our soul

And will share in y our suffering if y ou fall.

13
     Stand firm on the counsel of y our heart,

For no one is m ore faithful to y ou than it.

14
     For a m an's soul som etim es tells him m ore

Than sev en watchm en sitting high on a watchtower.

15
     And in all m atters, pray to the Most High

That He m ay direct y our way in truth.

                                                  Wisdom, False and True

16
     A word is the beginning of ev ery work,

And counsel com es before ev ery action.

17
     Four ty pes of things appear

As a clue to a change of heart:

18
     Good and ev il, life and death;

And it is the tongue that continually rules them .

19
     There is an astute m an who is a teacher of m any ,

But is useless to his own soul.

20
     A m an who dev ises words craftily will be hated.

This m an will go hungry ,

21
     For grace was not giv en to him from the Lord,

Because he is destitute of all wisdom . †

22
     There is a m an wise in his own soul,
   And the fruits of his understanding are trustworthy when he speaks.

   23
        A wise m an will instruct his own people,

   And the fruits of his understanding are trustworthy .

   24
        A wise m an shall be filled with blessing,

   And all who see him will consider him blessed.

   25
        The life of a m an is num bered by day s,

   But the day s of Israel are without num ber.

   26
        The wise m an will inherit trust am ong his people,

   And his nam e will liv e forev er.

                                                                 Gluttony

   27
        My son, while y ou are still liv ing, test y our soul,

   And see what is bad for it, and do not giv e in to that.

   28
        For not ev ery thing is profitable for ev ery one,

   And not ev ery soul enjoy s ev ery thing.

   29
        Do not be gluttonous for ev ery dainty food,

   And do not giv e y ourself ov er to food. †

   30
        For ov ereating will bring sickness,

   And gluttony will lead to nausea.

   31
        Many hav e died because of gluttony ,

   But the careful m an will prolong his life.

                                                       Honoring the Physician


38 Honor the physician with the honor due him,
   And also according to y our need of him ,

   For the Lord created him . †

   2
       Healing com es from the Most High,

   And he will receiv e a gift from the king.

   3
       The phy sician's skill will lift up his head,

   And he shall be adm ired in the presence of the great.

   4
        The Lord created m edicines from the earth,

   And a sensible m an will not loathe them . †

   5
       Is not water m ade sweet by wood

   That its strength m ight be known?†

   6
        And He gav e skill to m en
That He m ight be glorified in His wonders. †

7
     By them He heals and takes away pain,

A druggist m aking a com pound of them .

8
     God's works are nev er finished,

And from Him health is upon the face of the earth.

9
     My son, do not be negligent when y ou are sick,

But pray to the Lord and He will heal y ou. †

10
     Depart from transgression and direct y our hands aright,

And cleanse y our heart from ev ery sin.

11
     Offer a sweet-sm elling sacrifice

And a m em orial of the finest wheat flour;

And pour oil on y our offering, as if y ou are soon to die.

12
     And keep in touch with y our phy sician,

For the Lord created him ;

And do not let him leav e y ou,

For y ou need him .

13
     There is a tim e when success is also in their hands,

14
     For they will pray to the Lord

To giv e them success in bringing relief and healing,

For the sake of preserv ing y our life. †

15
     He who sins before the One who m ade him ,

May he fall into the hands of a phy sician.

                                                  Mourning the Departed

16
     My son, let y our tears fall for the dead,

And as one suffering griev ously , begin the lam ent.

With the honor due him , wrap his body

And take care of his burial. †

17
     Weep bitterly and lam ent ferv ently ;

Do y our m ourning according to what he deserv es

For a day or two to av oid slander;

Then be com forted for y our grief.

18
     For grief is a cause of death,

And a grief-stricken heart will sap y our strength.

19
     Grief also abides in m isery ,
And the life of a poor m an weighs down his heart.

20
     Do not giv e y our heart to grief;

Driv e it away , rem em bering the end of life.

21
     Do not forget, for there is no com ing back;

And y ou cannot help the dead m an by griev ing,

But will only injure y ourself.

22
     Rem em ber m y end, since y ours is also like it:

“Mine y esterday , y ours today .”

23
     When the dead m an is at rest, let his rem em brance cease,

And be com forted for him in the exodus of his spirit. †

                                                    Gratitude for Laborers

24
     The wisdom of a scribe depends on his opportunity for quiet,

For when he has little business, he will be m ade wise. †

25
     How will he who handles the plow be m ade wise?

For he boasts in the shaft of the goad,

And he driv es oxen and is occupied with their labors,

And his talk is about y oung bulls. †

26
     His heart is set on plowing furrows,

And he keeps watch to feed his heifers.

27
     The sam e is true for ev ery craftsm an and architect

Who works by night as well as by day —

Those who engrav e the signets of seals—

He is diligent to m ake great v ariety ;

His heart set on creating a lifelike im age

And keeping watch to perfect his work.

28
     So too is the blacksm ith sitting near the anv il,

Exam ining closely his iron works,

The breath of the fire m elting his flesh

As he struggles with the heat of the furnace.

He inclines his ear to the sound of the ham m er,

And his ey es are focused on the likeness of the object.

He sets his heart on the com pletion of his works

And keeps watch to perfect its detail.

29
     The potter as well, sitting by his work
    And turning the potter's wheel with his feet,

    He is alway s careful about the quality of his work

    And also the quantity of his output.

    30
         With his arm he m olds the clay ,

    And with his feet he curv es it.

    His heart is set on finishing the glazing,

    And he is careful to clean the furnace.

    31
         All these trust in their hands,

    And each is skilled in his work.

    32
         Without them a city will not be liv able,

    Nor will any one sojourn or liv e there.

    33
         Yet they will not be sought out for the council of the people,

    And they will not gain prom inence in the assem bly .

    They do not sit in the judge's seat,

    Nor will they understand the sentence of judgm ent.

    34
         They cannot giv e instruction in discipline or judgm ent,

    Nor will they be found using parables;

    But they will keep the fabric of the world stable,

    And their pray er is in the practice of their craft.

                                                      Students of God's Word


39 How different is the man who devotes himself
    To the study of the law of the Most High.

    He will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients

    And be occupied with their prophecies. †

    2
        He will preserv e the discourse of notable m en

    And penetrate the subtleties of parables.

    3
        He will seek out the hidden m eanings of prov erbs

    And be engaged in the riddles of parables.

    4
         He will serv e in the m idst of great m en

    And will appear before rulers.

    He will trav el through the land of foreign nations

    And test the good and ev il am ong m en. †

    5
        He will giv e his heart to rising early
Before the Lord who created him ,

And will m ake supplication to the Most High;

And he will open his m outh in pray er

And m ake supplication for his sins.

6
     If the great Lord wills,

He will be filled with the Spirit of understanding.

He will pour forth words of His wisdom ,

And in pray er he will giv e thanks to the Lord.

7
     He will direct his counsel and knowledge aright,

And he will reflect on His hidden things.

8
     He will rev eal instruction in his teaching

And boast in the law of the Lord's cov enant.

9
     Many will praise his understanding,

And it will nev er be blotted out.

His m em ory will not disappear,

And his nam e will liv e through all generations.

10
     Nations will proclaim his wisdom ,

And the assem bly will proclaim his praise.

11
     If he liv es long, he will leav e a nam e greater than a thousand,

And if he goes to his rest, his work is com pleted.

                                                       Praise for God's Works

12
     I hav e y et m ore to tell, and I will describe it in detail;

For I am filled like a full m oon.

13
     So hear m e, O holy sons,

And bud forth like a rose

Springing up by a running stream .

14
     Like frankincense, em it a sweet fragrance,

And blossom forth like a lily .

Send forth a fragrance

And sing a hy m n of praise.

Bless the Lord in all His works;†

15
     Ascribe m ajesty to His nam e

And giv e thanks to Him in praise,

With songs on y our lips and with ly res;
And thus y ou shall say in thanksgiv ing:†

16
     “All things are the works of the Lord,

For they are exceedingly good.

And ev ery com m and shall be in His appointed tim e.”

No one cay say , “What is this? Why is that?”

For ev ery question will be answered in His appointed tim e.

17
     By His word the waters stood as a heap

And the reserv oirs of the waters by the word of His m outh. †

18
     By His com m and all His good pleasure is done,

And no one will dim inish His salv ation.

19
     The works of all flesh are before Him ,

And nothing can be hidden from His ey es. †

20
     From age to age He looks upon them ,

And nothing is m arv elous to Him .

21
     No one can say , “What is this? Why is that?”

For all things were created for their uses.

22
     His blessing cov ers the dry land like a riv er

And drenches it like a flood.

23
     As He turns fresh waters into salt,

So the heathen will inherit His wrath.

24
     As His way s are straight to the holy ,

So they are an occasion of stum bling to the lawless. †

25
     As from the beginning good things were created for the good,

So ev il things for sinners.

26
     The basic needs of a m an's life

Are water, fire, iron, salt, and wheat flour,

And m ilk, honey , the blood of the grape, oliv e oil, and clothing. †

27
     As all these things are good for the godly ,

So they turn into ev il for sinners.

28
     There are spirits created for v engeance,

And in His anger they strengthen their scourges.

In the tim e of consum m ation they will pour out their m ight

And appease the wrath of Him who m ade them .

29
     Fire, hail, fam ine, and death:

All these things are created for v engeance.
   30
        The teeth of wild anim als, scorpions and snakes,

   And the av enging sword that driv es the ungodly to destruction—

   31
        They shall be glad at His com m andm ent

   And be prepared for His serv ice on earth;

   And when their tim es com e, they will not transgress His word.

   32
        Therefore from the beginning I was determ ined and resolv ed,

   And left this in writing:†

   33
        All the works of the Lord are good,

   And He will supply ev ery need in its hour.

   34
        No one can say , “This is worse than that,”

   For all things will be well pleasing in their tim e.

   35
        So now sing praise with all y our heart and v oice,

   And bless the nam e of the Lord.

                                                              Life's Afflictions


40 Hard work was created for every man
   And a heav y y oke for the sons of Adam ,

   From the day they com e forth from their m other's wom b

   until the day they return to the m other of all. †

   2
       The conception of things to com e and the day of death

   Trouble their thoughts and cause fear of heart—

   3
       From the one sitting on a glorious throne

   To the one hum bled in earth and ashes,

   4
        From the one wearing purple and a crown

   To the one clothed in burlap,

   There is anger, env y , trouble, and unrest,

   And fear of death and fury and strife.

   5
       When it is tim e for rest on his bed,

   His night of sleep alters his knowledge.

   6
        He gets little or no rest, and afterward in his sleep,

   As though on a day of watch,

   He is troubled by the v ision of his heart,

   Like one who escapes from the face of battle.

   7
       In the exact tim e of need he awakes
And is am azed there was nothing to fear.

8
     With all flesh, from m an to anim al,

And upon sinners sev en tim es m ore, there will be:

9
     Death and bloodshed; strife and the sword;

Distresses and fam ine; and ruin and affliction.

10
     All these things were created for the lawless,

And because of them the flood cam e.

11
     Whatev er com es from the earth returns to the earth,

And whatev er com es from the waters returns to the sea.

                                                      The Wise and Unwise

12
     Ev ery bribe and wrongdoing will be blotted out,

But faithfulness shall stand forev er. †

13
     The wealth of the unrighteous will dry up like a riv er

And sound forth and cease like great thunder in the rain.

14
     A generous m an will rejoice,

But transgressors will com e to ruin.

15
     The offspring of the ungodly shall not grow branches,

For they are unclean roots on a hard rock.

16
     Weeds growing by any water or riv erbank

Will be plucked out before any grass.

17
     Grace is like a paradise in blessing,

And alm sgiv ing endures forev er.

18
     The life of the self-reliant and the worker will be sweet,

But he who finds a treasure is better off than both.

19
     Hav ing children and building a city establish a nam e,

But a blam eless wife is accounted better than both. †

20
     Wine and m usic gladden the heart,

But lov e of wisdom is better than both.

21
     The flute and harp giv e sweet m elody ,

But a pleasant tongue is better than both.

22
     The ey e will desire grace and beauty ,

But the green shoots of grain are better than both.

23
     A friend and com panion m eet at an appointed tim e,

But a wife m eeting with her husband is better than both.
    24
         Brothers and help are for a tim e of affliction,

    But alm sgiv ing rescues better than both. †

    25
         Gold and silv er will m ake the foot secure,

    But counsel is esteem ed m ore v aluable than both.

    26
         Wealth and strength will lift up the heart,

    But the fear of the Lord is better than both.

    There is no loss in the fear of the Lord,

    And with it there is no need to seek for help.

    27
         The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessing

    And cov ers a m an better than any glory . †

    28
         My child, do not liv e the life of a beggar,

    For it is better to die than to beg.

    29
         When a m an looks at another's table,

    He is liv ing an irrational life.

    For he will pollute his soul with another's food.

    But a rational and educated m an will guard him self against that.

    30
         Begging will be sweet in the m outh of a sham eless m an,

    But in his belly a fire will be kindled.

                                                            Dealing with Death


41 O death, how bitter is the memory of you
    To a m an at peace with his possessions,

    To a m an without distractions and prosperous in ev ery thing,

    And still strong enough to enjoy his food. †

    2
        O death, y our judgm ent is good

    To the m an in need and failing in strength

    In his extrem e old age, distracted by ev ery thing,

    And stubborn and short on patience.

    3
        Do not fear the judgm ent of death;

    Rem em ber those before y ou and after y ou.

    4
        This is the judgm ent from the Lord to all flesh,

    And how can y ou reject the good pleasure of the Most High?

    Whether y ou liv ed ten or a hundred or a thousand y ears,

    There is in Hades no inquiry into y our life.
5
     The children of sinners are loathsom e children,

And they frequent the dwellings of the ungodly . †

6
     The inheritance of the children of sinners will perish,

And with their seed the disgrace will continue.

7
     The children will blam e their godless father,

For because of him they will be denounced.

8
     Woe to y ou, the ungodly m en

Who forsook the law of God Most High.

9
     And when y ou are born, y ou will be born to a curse,

And when y ou die, y our portion will be a curse.

10
     Whatev er is from the earth shall return to the earth,

So the ungodly go from a curse to destruction.

11
     The m ourning of m en is about their bodies,

But the ev il nam e of sinners will be blotted out.

12
     Hav e regard for y our nam e,

For it will rem ain with y ou longer

Than a thousand great chests of gold. †

13
     The day s of a good life are num bered,

But a good nam e will rem ain forev er.

14
     Observ e instruction and liv e in peace, m y children,

But hidden wisdom and inv isible treasure—

What benefit are these?

15
     A m an who hides his foolishness

Is better than a m an who hides his wisdom .

                                               Shame, Proper and Improper

16
     Therefore, be asham ed on the basis of m y word,

For it is not good to protect ev ery kind of sham e,

And not ev ery thing is highly esteem ed by all with confidence.

17
     Be asham ed of fornication before father or m other;

Of a lie before y our leader or ruler;

18
     Of an offense before a judge or ruler;

Of lawlessness before the assem bly of the people;†

19
     Of wrongdoing before y our partner or friend;

Of theft in the place where y ou dwell.
20
     Be asham ed before the truth of God and His cov enant,

And of bad m anners at the table;

21
     Of contem ptuous behav ior in receiv ing and giv ing;

Of silence before those who greet y ou;

22
     Of looking at a prostitute;

Of rejecting the appeal of a kinsm an;

23
     Of carry ing off som eone's portion or gift,

And of staring at another m an's wife;

24
     Of m eddling with his m aidserv ant—

And do not com e near her bed.

25
     Be asham ed of insulting words before friends,

And do not be insulting after m aking a gift;

26
     Of repeating and telling what y ou hear

And rev ealing secrets. †

27
     So be truly m odest

And find fav or before ev ery m an.

42 Do not be asham ed of the following things,
And do not let partiality lead y ou to sin:†

2
    Of the Law and cov enant of the Most High,

And of a judgm ent to acquit an ungodly m an;

3
    Of keeping accounts with a partner or a trav eling com panion,

And of div iding an inheritance am ong friends;

4
     Of accurate scales and balances,

And the acquisition of m uch or little;

5
    Of profit from business with m erchants,

And of m uch discipline of children,

And of m aking the sides of an ev il serv ant bleed. †

6
     Where there is an ev il wife, a seal is good;

And where there are m any hands, lock things up.

7
    Whatev er y ou deliv er, do it by num ber or weight;

And put in writing ev ery thing y ou giv e or receiv e.

8
     Do not be asham ed of the instructing of the unwise and foolish,

Or of the extrem ely old m an who passes judgm ent on the y oung;

Then y ou will be truly instructed

And approv ed before all m en. †
                                                 Fathers and Daughters

9
     A daughter keeps her father secretly wakeful,

For worry ov er her takes away his sleep;

Lest in her y outh she passes the tim e to m arry ,

And lest in her m arriage she be hated;†

10
     In her v irginity lest she be defiled

Or becom e pregnant in her father's house;

Hav ing a husband, lest she be unfaithful,

Or though m arried, lest she be childless.

11
     Keep a strict watch ov er a headstrong daughter,

Lest she m ake y ou a laughingstock to y our enem ies,

A source of gossip in the city

And notorious am ong the people,

And a disgrace to y ou before the great m ultitude.

12
     Do not look upon any one for beauty

And do not sit in the m idst of wom en.

13
     For a m oth com es out of garm ents,

And the ev il of a wom an com es from a wom an. †

14
     The ev il of a m an is better

Than a wom an who does what is good,

Yet brings sham e and disgrace. †

                                                     God's Glorious Works

15
     I shall now rem em ber the works of the Lord,

And by the words of the Lord

I shall describe His works that I see. †

16
     The sun giv es light and looks down on ev ery thing,

And its work is full of the Lord's glory . †

17
     The Lord did not enable His saints

To describe all His wonders,

Which the Lord Alm ighty established

That the univ erse m ight be established in His glory . †

18
     He traced out the aby ss and the hum an heart

And understands their craftiness;
    For the Most High possesses all knowledge

    And sees into the signs of an age. †

    19
         He proclaim s what has been and what shall be

    And rev eals the footstep of hidden things.

    20
         No thought escapes Him ;

    Not ev en one word is hidden from Him . †

    21
         He has adorned the m ighty works of His wisdom ,

    For He is from ev erlasting to ev erlasting;

    Nothing can be added or taken away ,

    And He needs no one to be His counselor.

    22
         How precious are all His works,

    And how sparkling to behold.

    23
         All these things liv e and endure forev er, for ev ery need,

    And all are obedient.

    24
         All things are in pairs, one opposite the other,

    And He m ade nothing incom plete.

    25
         One thing strengthens the good of another,

    And who can hav e enough of beholding His glory ?

                                                           Sun, Moon, and Stars


43 The exultation of the heavenly heights
    Is the firm am ent of purity ,

    The form of heav en with the v ision of glory . †

    2
        The sun, when it appears, m aking proclam ation as it goes forth,

    Is a wonderful instrum ent, a work of the Most High. †

    3
        At noon it dries up the land,

    And who can endure its burning heat?

    4
         A m an kindling a furnace works in burning heat,

    But the sun burns the m ountains three tim es as m uch,

    Breathing out fiery steam s,

    And sending forth shining beam s, it dim s the ey es.

    5
        Great is the Lord who m ade it,

    And by His com m and it hastens its journey .

    6
         He also m ade the m oon to serv e in its season
As a declaration of tim es and an ev erlasting sign.

7
     From the m oon com es the sign of a feast,

A light that wanes as it com pletes its course.

8
     The m onth is nam ed according to the m oon,

Being increased wondrously in its phases,

A v essel encam ped on high,

Shining in the firm am ent of heav en.

9
     The glory of the stars is the beauty of heav en,

A world shining in the high places of the Lord.

10
     By the words of the Holy One they stand according to His judgm ent

And do not grow weary in their watches.

                                                    The Majestic Creation

11
     Behold the rainbow and bless Him who m ade it,

Exceedingly beautiful in its brightness. †

12
     It circles heav en with its glorious arc,

And the hands of the Most High laid out its course.

13
     By His com m and He m akes the snow to fall,

And speeds the lightning by His judgm ent. †

14
     Therefore the storehouses are opened

And the clouds fly forth like birds.

15
     By His m ajesty He condenses the clouds,

And the hailstones break into pieces.

16
     At His appearing the m ountains are shaken,

And by His will the south wind blows.

17
     The v oice of His thunder m akes the earth trem ble,

And so do the hurricane from the north and the whirlwind as well.

18
     He sprinkles the snow like birds fly ing down,

And its descent is like grasshoppers alighting.

The ey e m arv els at the beauty of its whiteness,

And the heart is astonished at its raining down.

19
     He pours the hoarfrost like salt upon the earth,

And when it freezes, it becom es like pointed thorns.

20
     A cold north wind blows

And ice freezes on the water,
And form s on ev ery pool of water,

And clothes the water like arm or.

21
     He consum es the m ountains and burns up the desert,

And withers the green herbage like fire.

22
     A m ist quickly heals it all,

And falling dew brings refreshm ent from the heat.

23
     By His reasoning He quieted the great deep

And planted islands in it.

24
     Those who sail the sea recount its dangers,

And we are am azed at the reports com ing to our ears.

25
     For therein are the incredible and wondrous works,

A div ersity of m any liv ing things,

And a created order of huge sea creatures.

26
     Because of Him His m essenger has a prosperous journey ,

And by His word all things are held together. †

                                                  How Do We Praise Him?

27
     We will say m any things and not reach the end,

But the sum of our words is seen in this: “He is the all.” †

28
     How shall we ev er be able to adequately praise Him ?

For He is greater than all His works.

29
     Fearful is the Lord and exceedingly great,

And wondrous is His power.

30
     Glorify the Lord and exalt Him as m uch as y ou are able,

For He will surpass ev en that.

And when y ou exalt Him , put forth all y our strength;

Do not grow weary , for y ou cannot exalt Him enough.

31
     Who has seen Him and will describe Him ?

And who can m agnify Him as He truly is?

32
     There are y et m any hidden things greater than these,

For we hav e seen but few of His works.

33
     For the Lord m ade all things

And giv es wisdom to the godly . †

                                              In Praise of Honored Men
44 Let us now praise honored men and our fathers.†
    2
         The Lord established His great glory

    And m ajesty from the beginning through them .

    3
         There were those who ruled in their kingdom s

    And were m en renowned for their power,

    Giv ing counsel through their understanding

    And proclaim ing prophecies. †

    4
         There were leaders of the people by their counsels

    And understanding of learning for the people,

    Wise in their words of instruction.

    5
         There were com posers of m usic,

    And they set forth v erse in writing,

    6
         Wealthy m en with great resources,

    Liv ing in peace in their dwelling-places.

    7
         All these were honored in their generations

    And in their day s were a source of boasting.

    8
         There were those who left behind a nam e

    That m en m ight declare their praises.

    9
         There were also those whom no one rem em bers,

    Who perished as if they nev er existed;

    And they died as if they had not been born,

    And so hav e their children after them .

    10
         Nev ertheless, these were m en of m ercy ,

    Whose righteousness liv es with God.

    11
         The good they did rem ains with their seed,

    And their inheritance with their children's children.

    12
         Their seed stands with the cov enants,

    And their children as well for their sake.

    13
         Their seed shall rem ain forev er,

    And their glory will not be blotted out.

    14
         Their bodies were buried in peace,

    And their nam e liv es to all generations.

    15
         Peoples will tell of their wisdom ,

    And the assem bly will proclaim their praise.
                                                           Enoch

16
     Enoch pleased the Lord and was translated

As an exam ple of repentance for all generations.

                                                           Noah

17
     Noah was found perfect

And was righteous in the tim e of wrath,

In which he was rescued in exchange.

Therefore a rem nant was left on the earth

When the flood cam e. †

18
     Ev erlasting cov enants were m ade with him

That all flesh would not be wiped away again by a flood.

                                                  Abraham and His Sons

19
     Abraham was a great father of m any nations,

And no one is found like him in glory .

20
     He kept the law of the Most High,

Who m ade a cov enant with him .

He established a cov enant in his flesh,

And he was found faithful in testing.

21
     Therefore He affirm ed by an oath

That nations would be blessed in his seed;

And He would m ultiply him like the dust of the earth,

And exalt his seed like the stars in num ber,

And cause them to inherit from sea unto sea,

And from the Riv er to the ends of the earth. †

22
     And with Isaac He established the sam e assurance,

For the sake of Abraham his father.

23
     A blessing for all m en and the cov enant He m ade

Rest upon the head of Jacob.

He acknowledged him with His blessings

And gav e him an inheritance.

Then He div ided his portions am ong twelv e tribes.

                                                           Moses
45 He brought from him a man of mercy
   Who found fav or in the ey es of all flesh,

   Belov ed by God and m an,

   Moses, whose rem em brance is blessed. †

   2
       He m ade him equal in glory to the saints

   And m agnified him in the fears of his enem ies.

   3
       With his words he caused signs to cease,

   And the Lord honored him in the presence of kings.

   He gav e him com m ands for His people

   And showed him His glory .

   4
       He sanctified him because of his faithfulness and gentleness

   And chose him out of all flesh.

   5
       He caused him to hear His v oice,

   Then led him into the darkness

   And gav e him the com m andm ents face to face:

   The law of life and knowledge,

   To teach Jacob His cov enant

   And His judgm ents to Israel.

                                                                  Aaron

   6
       He exalted Aaron, a holy m an like him self,

   His brother from the tribe of Lev i.

   7
       He established an ev erlasting cov enant with him

   And gav e him the priesthood of the people.

   He blessed him with orderly behav ior

   And cov ered him with an adornm ent of glory . †

   8
       He clothed him with the consum m ation of boasting

   And confirm ed him with instrum ents of strength:

   The linen breeches, the long robe, and the ephod.

   9
       And He encircled him with tassels,

   With m any golden bells all around,

   To sound their ring at his steps,

   Making their ringing sound

   As he walked in the tem ple,
A rem inder for the children of his people.

10
     With a holy garm ent, with gold and hy acinth

And purple cloth with em broidered work,

With the oracle of judgm ent, the Urim and Thum m im ,

With wov en scarlet by the work of an artisan,

11
     With entwined scarlet, the work of a skilled craftsm an,

With precious stones engrav ed like a seal

In a setting of gold, in a cut stone, a jeweler's work,

With a m em orial in engrav ed letters,

According to the num ber of the tribes of Israel.

12
     He set a golden crown ov er the priestly turban,

A figure of the holy seal, a distinction of honor,

The work of an expert,

Things desirable to the ey es, richly adorned!

13
     There was nev er so m uch beauty before his tim e.

No outsider was ev er clothed in these garm ents,

Only his sons and his offspring perpetually .

14
     His sacrifices shall be a whole burnt offering

Perpetually , twice ev ery day .

15
     Moses ordained him and anointed him with holy oil.

It was an eternal cov enant for him

And for his seed forev er,

To m inister to the Lord and serv e as priest;

To bless His people in His nam e. †

16
     He chose him from all the liv ing

To offer sacrifices to the Lord,

Incense and sweet-sm elling offerings as a rem em brance

To m ake atonem ent for Your people.

17
     He gav e him authority with His com m andm ents

In cov enants of judgm ents,

To teach Jacob the testim onies

And to enlighten Israel in His law.

18
     Outsiders conspired against him

And were jealous of him in the desert,

The m en who gathered with Dothan and Abiram ,
And ev en the com pany of Korah with anger and wrath.

19
     The Lord saw and was not pleased,

And they were brought to an end by the anger of His wrath.

He perform ed wonders against them

To consum e them in His flam ing fire.

20
     He also brought Aaron glory

And gav e him an inheritance.

He div ided the firstfruits for him ;

He prepared bread in abundance from the firstfruits.

21
     For they will eat the sacrifices to the Lord,

Which He gav e to him and to his seed.

22
     But in the land of the people

He will hav e no inheritance,

And there is no portion for him am ong the people;

For the Lord Him self is his portion and his inheritance. †

                                                                Phineas

23
     Then Phineas the son of Eleazar is the third in glory ,

When he showed zeal in the fear of the Lord;

And he stood fast when the people turned away ,

By the goodness of the eagerness of his soul,

And he m ade atonem ent for Israel.

24
     Therefore He established a cov enant of peace with him ,

To be in charge of the sanctuary

And leader of his people,

That the priesthood m ight be with him and his seed forev er.

25
     A cov enant was also established with Dav id,

The son of Jesse from the tribe of Judah.

The heritage of the king is from son to son only ,

And the heritage of Aaron is for his seed.

26
     May He giv e y ou wisdom in y our heart

To judge His people in righteousness,

That their good things m ight not disappear,

And their glory throughout their generations. †

                                                       Joshua and Caleb
46 Mighty in battle was Joshua the son of Nun
    And successor to Moses in prophecies.

    He becam e, in accordance with his nam e,

    A great sav ior of God's chosen ones,

    To punish the enem ies who rose up against them

    That he m ight giv e Israel its inheritance. †

    2
        How glorious he was when he lifted up his hands

    And stretched out his sword against the cities.

    3
        Who stood so firm before him ?

    For he led the wars for the Lord. †

    4
        Was not the sun held back by his hand,

    And one day becom e as two?†

    5
        He called upon the Most High, the Lord,

    When enem ies oppressed him from all sides.

    Then the great Lord answered him

    With hailstones of m ighty power.

    6
        He shattered that nation with war,

    And at the descent of Beth Horon

    He destroy ed his opponents,

    So the nations m ight know his full arm or,

    That he fought his battle in the sight of the Lord. †

    7
        For indeed he followed behind the Lord.

    Ev en in the day s of Moses he showed m ercy ,

    He and Caleb, the son of Jephunneh:

    They withstood the assem bly

    To prev ent the people from sinning

    And to stop their ev il m urm uring.

    8
        Indeed, these two alone were preserv ed

    From the six hundred thousand on foot,

    To lead them into an inheritance,

    Into a land flowing with m ilk and honey .

    9
        The Lord gav e Caleb strength

    And rem ained with him until old age;

    For he went up to the hill country ,
And his seed took it as an inheritance,

10
     So all the children of Israel

Might know that it is good to follow the Lord.

                                                               The Judges

11
     The judges also, each by his nam e,

Those whose heart did not fall into idolatry ,

And whoev er did not turn away from the Lord—

May their m em ory be blessed!

12
     May their bones rev iv e from their place,

And m ay the nam e of those honored liv e again in their sons!†

                                                                Samuel

13
     The prophet of the Lord, Sam uel, belov ed by his Lord,

Established a kingdom and anointed rulers for his people.

14
     He judged the assem bly by the law of the Lord,

And the Lord watched ov er Jacob.

15
     By his faithfulness he prov ed to be a true prophet,

And by his words he was known to be faithful in v ision.

16
     Thus he called upon the Lord, the Mighty One,

When enem ies troubled him on ev ery side,

And when he offered a y oung lam b.

17
     Then the Lord thundered from heav en

And with a great sound m ade His v oice heard.

18
     He destroy ed the leaders of the Ty rians

And all the rulers of the Philistines.

19
     And before the tim e of his sleep in perpetuity ,

Sam uel called m en to witness

Before the Lord and His anointed:

“I hav e not taken any m an's possessions,

Ev en to m y sandals.”

Indeed, no m an brought any charges against him . †

20
     Ev en after he fell asleep, he prophesied

And showed the king his end,

And raised up his v oice out of the earth
    With a prophecy to wipe away the lawlessness of the people. †

                                                            Nathan and David


47 Then after this Nathan rose up
  To prophesy in the days of David.†

    2
         As the fat was div ided from the peace offering,

    So Dav id was separated from the sons of Israel. †

    3
         He play ed with lions as with y oung goats,

    And with bears as with lam bs of sheep.

    4
         Did he not slay a giant in his y outh,

    And rem ov e the disgrace from the people

    When he took in his hand a stone for a sling

    And struck down the arrogance of Goliath?

    5
         For he called upon the Lord Most High,

    And strength was giv en to his right hand

    To defeat the m ighty m an in battle,

    To exalt the power of his people.

    6
         So for his tens of thousands they glorified him

    And praised him for the blessings of the Lord

    when they brought him a diadem of glory . †

    7
         For he destroy ed his enem ies all around,

    Reduced to nothing his enem ies the Philistines,

    And crushed their power to this v ery day .

    8
         In his ev ery work, he gav e thanks with a word of praise

    To the Holy One, the Most High;

    And he sang a hy m n with all his heart

    And lov ed his Maker. †

    9
         He placed psalm -singers before the altar

    To m ake sweet m elody with their v oices. †

    10
         He gav e dignity to the feasts

    And set in order the appointed tim es throughout the y ear

    For them to praise His holy nam e,

    And for the sanctuary to resound from early m orning.

    11
         The Lord took away his sins,
Exalted his power forev er,

And gav e him a cov enant of kings

And a throne of glory in Israel. †

                                               Solomon and His Successors

12
     After him there arose his wise son,

Who lodged in a broad space because of him .

13
     For Solom on reigned in day s of peace,

To whom God gav e rest on ev ery side

That he m ight establish a house for His nam e

And prepare a sanctuary to last forev er. †

14
     How wise y ou were in y our y outh,

And filled with understanding like a riv er.

15
     Your soul cov ered the earth,

And y ou were filled with the parables of riddles.

16
     Your nam e was known to islands far away ,

And y ou were lov ed for y our peace

17
     And for y our songs, prov erbs, and parables;

Nations m arv eled at y ou because of y our interpretations.

18
     In the nam e of the Lord God,

Who is called the God of Israel,

You collected gold like tin

And m ultiplied silv er like lead.

19
     But y ou lay down beside wom en

And were enslav ed by y our body . †

20
     You brought disgrace on y our honor

And defiled y our seed

So as to bring wrath upon y our children;

And they were pierced by y our lack of good sense.

21
     Thus one kingdom becam e two,

For out of Ephraim there began a disobedient kingdom .

22
     But the Lord did not abandon His m ercy

Nor corrupt any of His words.

Neither did He wipe away the descendants of His chosen one,

Nor did He rem ov e the seed of the one who lov ed Him .
    He gav e a rem nant to Jacob,

    And to Dav id a root from his stock.

    23
         When Solom on rested with his fathers,

    He left behind him one of his sons,

    Lacking in good sense and understanding,

    Rehoboam , who turned away the people by his counsel. †

    24
         There was also Jeroboam , the son of Nebat,

    Who caused Israel to sin

    And led Ephraim on the road to sin.

    Then their sins were m ultiplied exceedingly

    So as to rem ov e them from their land.

    25
         They sought ev ery wickedness

    Until punishm ent cam e upon them .

                                                                      Elijah


48 Then Elijah the prophet rose up like fire,
    And his word burned like a lam p. †

    2
        He brought a fam ine upon them ,

    And in his zeal he reduced them in num ber.

    3
        By the word of the Lord he shut up heav en,

    And also three tim es he brought down fire.

    4
         So by y our wonders y ou were honored, O Elijah,

    And who can boast like y ou?

    5
        You raised the dead from death

    And from Hades by the word of the Most High. †

    6
         You brought down kings to destruction,

    And from their bed, those who had been honored. †

    7
        You heard rebuke at Sinai,

    And at Horeb the judgm ents of punishm ent. †

    8
         You anointed kings for retribution

    And prophets to serv e after y ou.

    9
         You were taken up in a fiery whirlwind,

    In a chariot of flam ing horses.

    10
         It is written that y ou will com e at the proper tim e with rebukes
To calm the wrath of God before it breaks forth in fury ,

To turn the heart of the father to the son,

And to restore the tribes of Jacob.

11
     Blessed are those who saw y ou

And who fell asleep with lov e,

For indeed we will surely liv e. †

                                                             Elisha

12
     Elijah was cov ered by the whirlwind,

And Elisha was filled with his spirit.

And in his day s he trem bled before no ruler,

And no one oppressed him . †

13
     No word could ov ercom e him ,

And after death his body prophesied. †

14
     As in his life he did wonders,

So ev en in death his works were am azing.

15
     For all these things the people did not repent,

Nor they did turn away from their sins

Until their land was plundered;

Then they were scattered ov er all the earth.

16
     But a people few in num ber were left

And a ruler in the house of Dav id.

Som e of them did what was v irtuous,

But som e m ultiplied sins.

                                                       Hezekiah and Isaiah

17
     Hezekiah fortified his city

And brought water into its m idst.

He dug through the hard rock with iron

And constructed cisterns for the water. †

18
     In his day s, Sennacherib cam e up

And sent out the Rabshakeh, and he retreated.

Then he lifted up his hand against Zion

And boasted in his arrogance. †

19
     So their hearts and hands were shaken,
    And they suffered pain like wom en giv ing birth.

    20
         Then they called upon the m erciful Lord,

    Stretching out their hands toward Him .

    Thus the Holy One quickly heard them from heav en

    And rescued them by the hand of Isaiah.

    21
         He struck the cam p of the Assy rians,

    And his angel destroy ed them .

    22
         For Hezekiah did what was pleasing to the Lord

    And grew strong in the way s of Dav id his father,

    Which Isaiah the prophet com m anded,

    The one great and faithful in his v ision.

    23
         In his day s the sun m ov ed backward

    And lengthened the life of the king. †

    24
         With a great spirit he saw the last things

    And encouraged those who m ourned in Zion.

    25
         He showed what was to com e to the end of tim e,

    And the hidden things before they cam e to pass. †

                                                        Josiah and Jeremiah


49 The remembrance of Josiah is like the composition of incense
    Prepared by the work of the perfum er.

    In ev ery m outh it is sweet like honey

    And like the m usic at a banquet with wine.

    2
        He led in the conv ersion of the people,

    And he rem ov ed the abom inations of lawlessness.

    3
        He directed his heart to the Lord,

    And in day s of lawlessness he strengthened godliness.

    4
         Except for Dav id, Hezekiah, and Josiah,

    All offended continually ,

    For they forsook the law of the Most High.

    The kings of Judah failed,

    5
        For they gav e their power to others

    And their glory to a foreign nation.

    6
         They set fire to the chosen city of the sanctuary
And desolated her streets†

7
     According to the word of Jerem iah;

For they did him ev il,

He who was sanctified as a prophet while still inside his m other,

To root out, to afflict, and to destroy ,

And likewise to build and to plant.

                                             Ezekiel and the Twelve Prophets

8
     Ezekiel him self saw a v ision of glory ,

Which the Lord showed him on a chariot of cherubim . †

9
     For He rem em bered his enem ies with a thunderstorm

And did good to those who directed their way s aright.

10
     May He indeed rev iv e the bones

Of the twelv e prophets from their place.

For they encouraged the people of Jacob

And redeem ed them with steadfast hope. †

                                                 Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah

11
     How shall we m agnify Zerubbabel?

He was surely like a seal upon the right hand,

12
     And so was Jeshua the son of Jozadak,

Who in their day s built the house

And raised up a holy tem ple to the Lord,

One prepared unto eternal glory .

13
     There is the lasting m em ory of Nehem iah,

Who raised for us the walls that had fallen;

And he established gates and locks

And raised again our hom e sites.

                                                       Others of Honor

14
     No one like Enoch was created upon the earth,

For he him self was taken up from the earth. †

15
     Neither has a m an like Joseph been born,

The leader of his brothers and the support of his people;

And they watched ov er his bones.

16
     Shem and Seth were honored am ong m en,
    And Adam ov er ev ery liv ing thing in creation.

                                                            Simon, Son of Onias


50 There was Simon, the high priest and son of Onias,
    Who repaired the house during his life

    And strengthened the tem ple in his day s. †

    2
         He also laid the foundation of the double high wall,

    The fortified wall surrounding the tem ple.

    3
         In his day s the cistern for the waters was dug,

    A reserv oir like a sea in circum ference.

    4
         He was concerned about how to sav e his people from ruin,

    And he strengthened the city to withstand siege. †

                                                         The Day of Atonement

    5
         So was he honored when the people gathered round

    As he cam e out from behind the v eil!†

    6
         Like the m orning star in the m idst of the clouds,

    Like the m oon when it is full;

    7
         Like the sun shining upon the tem ple of the Most High,

    And like the rainbow shining in clouds of glory ;

    8
         Like the bloom of the rose in the day s of firstfruits,

    Like lilies by a spring of water,

    Like a sprig of frankincense in the sum m er;

    9
         Like fire and incense in the censer,

    Like a solid gold v essel decorated with ev ery precious stone;

    10
         Like an oliv e tree sprouting fresh fruit,

    And like a cy press tree rising into the clouds.

    11
         When he took up a robe of honor

    And was clothed with the perfection of boasting

    In his ascent to the holy altar,

    He glorified the court of the sanctuary .

    12
         When he receiv ed the portion from the hands of the priests

    While standing by the hearth of the altar,

    A crown of brethren surrounding him ,

    He was like a sapling of cedar in Lebanon;
And they encircled him like the trunks of palm trees,

13
     All the sons of Aaron in their glory ,

And the offering to the Lord in their hands

Before all the assem bly of Israel.

14
     Finishing the serv ices at the altars

And arranging the offering to the Most High, the Alm ighty ,

15
     He stretched out his hand to the cup

And poured a libation of the blood of the grapes.

He poured it out on the foundation of the altar,

A fragrant scent to the King of all, the Most High. †

16
     Then the sons of Aaron cried out,

Sounding out the trum pets of ham m ered work,

A great noise to be heard

As a rem em brance before the Most High. †

17
     Then all the people hastened in com m on

And fell with their faces on the ground

To worship their Lord, the Alm ighty God, the Most High.

18
     The singers also praised Him with their v oices,

And their song was sweetened with a v ariety of sounds.

19
     The people also pray ed to the Lord Most High,

In pray er before the Merciful One,

Until the order of the Lord was ended

And they finished His liturgy .

20
     Then going down he lifted up his hands

Ov er the entire assem bly of the children of Israel,

And to boast in His nam e.

21
     Then they bowed down in worship a second tim e

To receiv e the blessing from the Most High. †

                                         Praise of Honored Men Concluded

22
     And now bless the God of all,

Who does great things in ev ery way ,

Who exalts our day s from our birth

And deals with us according to His m ercy . †

23
     May He giv e us gladness of heart,
    And m ay there be peace in our day s,

    In Israel as in the day s of old.

    24
         May He entrust with us His m ercy ,

    And let Him redeem us in our day s.

                                                          Author's Summary

    25
         With two nations m y soul is angered,

    And the third is not a nation:†

    26
         Those who reside on the m ountain of Sam aria and the Philistines,

    And the foolish people who dwell in Shechem .

    27
         Jesus, son of Sirach, son of Eleazar the Jerusalem ite,

    Who poured wisdom forth in this book,

    I inscribed instruction in understanding and knowledge. †

    28
         Blessed is he who will conduct him self by these,

    For by putting these things in his heart

    He will be m ade wise.

    29
         For if he does these things,

    He will grow strong in all things,

    For the light of the Lord is his path.

                                                          A Psalm of Thanks


51 I will give thanks to You, O Lord and King,
    And I will praise You as m y God and Sav ior.

    I giv e thanks to Your nam e. †

    2
        For You hav e been m y protector and helper,

    And You redeem ed m y body from destruction

    And from the snare of a slanderous tongue,

    From the lips of those who work falsehood.

    And before all those who stood by , You were a helper,

    And You redeem ed m e,

    3
        According to Your great m ercy and Your nam e,

    From being dev oured as one prepared for food

    At the hands of those who sought m y soul;

    From m any afflictions that I endured,

    4
        From suffocation by an encircling fire,
And from the m idst of a fire I did not start;

5
     From the depths of the belly of Hades

And from the tongue of the unclean and the word of a liar—†

6
     The slander of an unrighteous tongue before the king.

My soul drew near unto death,

And m y life was near Hades below.

7
     They surrounded m e on all sides,

And there was no one to help m e.

I looked for the help of m en, but there was none.

8
     Then I rem em bered Your m ercy , O Lord,

And Your work which is from of old,

For You lift up those who wait upon You,

And You sav e them from the hand of their enem ies.

9
     I sent up m y supplication from the earth

And pray ed about the instability caused by death.

10
     I called upon the Lord, the Father of m y Lord,

That He m ight not forsake m e in the day s of affliction,

When I am helpless against the arrogant.

I will praise Your nam e continually ,

And I will sing a hy m n with thanksgiv ing. †

11
     My pray er was heard,

For You sav ed m e from destruction

And rescued m e from a tim e of ev il.

12
     Therefore I will thank and praise You,

And I will bless the nam e of the Lord.

                                                       Striving for Wisdom

13
     While I was still y oung, before I went on m y trav els,

I sought wisdom openly in m y pray er.

14
     Before the tem ple I pray ed about her,

And I will search for her to the end of m y life.

15
     From blossom s to ripening grapes,

My heart rejoiced in her.

My foot em barked on her righteous path,

And from m y y outh I hunted for her. †
16
     I inclined m y ear a little and receiv ed her.

I found m uch instruction for m y self.

17
     There was progress for m e in her.

To Him who giv es m e wisdom , I will giv e glory .

18
     For I purposed to practice wisdom ;

And I was zealous for the good

And was not put to sham e. †

19
     My soul strov e earnestly for her,

And I exam ined m y self closely in m y perform ance of the law.

I stretched out m y hands to the heights

And m ourned m y ignorance of her.

20
     I directed m y soul to her,

And in purification I found her.

I acquired a heart for her from the beginning;

Therefore, I was not forsaken.

21
     My heart was stirred to search for her,

And therefore I gained a good possession. †

22
     The Lord gav e m e a tongue as m y reward,

And I will praise Him with it.

23
     Draw near to m e, untaught ones,

And lodge in m y school.

24
     Why do y ou say that y ou are lacking in these things,

Yet y ou let y our souls thirst exceedingly ?

25
     I opened m y m outh and said,

“Gain wisdom for y ourselv es without m oney . †

26
     Place y our neck under her y oke,

And let y our soul receiv e her instruction.

She is near that y ou m ight find her.

27
     See with y our own ey es that I labored little,

But found m uch rest for m y self.

28
     Partake of instruction with a great am ount of silv er,

And gain m uch gold with it.

29
     May y our soul be gladdened by His m ercy ,

And m ay y ou not be put to sham e when y ou praise Him !

30
     Do y our work before the appointed tim e,
And He will giv e y ou y our reward in His appointed tim e.”
                                           HO SE A
                                Previous     Home    Next

Chapters in Hosea
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Hosea Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in Hosea Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Hosea Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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Verses in Hosea Chapter 4
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in Hosea Chapter 5
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Verses in Hosea Chapter 6
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11

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Verses in Hosea Chapter 7
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Hosea Chapter 8
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11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Hosea Chapter 9
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Hosea Chapter 10
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11

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Verses in Hosea Chapter 12
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Hosea Chapter 13
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Verses in Hosea Chapter 14
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                                                           The Book of Hosea

    Author   —The prophet Hosea (commemorated October 17) is traditionally considered the
  author of this work. He was of the tribe of Issachar and his name means “salvation” or
  “deliverance.”

    Date   —Hosea's prophecy occurred about 750 BC, during the reign of Jeroboam II (786–
  746) and also after that king's death.

    Major Theme      —God's love and faithfulness to His people. Hosea's marital experience is
  used as a parable in the book, illustrated by his faithfulness to his unfaithful wife
  Gomer. Hosea is also one of the prophets who emphasize the importance of knowing
  God (6:6) in steadfast love, instead of substituting vain and empty sacrifices and burnt
  offerings to come into His presence.

    Background     —Hosea was a contemporary of the prophets Amos (in the Northern
  Kingdom of Israel) and Isaiah and Micah (in the Southern Kingdom of Judah). His
  prophecy was directed to the Northern Kingdom. The time of Hosea was marked by
  great material prosperity but also national anxiety in Israel. The people in their
  complacency and insecurity turned to the gods of the pagans (primarily Baal and
  Ashtoreth) for guidance. Hosea saw these pagan religions as the exact opposite of God's
  revelation to His people. Hosea saw it as his calling to bring wayward Israel back to its
  covenant with the Lord.

 Outline

  I. Introduction: Author and Tim e of the Prophecy (1 :1 )

  II. Hosea and Gom er as Im ages of God's Dealings with Unfaithful Israel (1 :2 –3 :5)

         A. The children as signs (1 :2 –2 :1 )

         B. The unfaithful wife—Gom er and Israel (2 :2 –3 :5)

 III. God's Faithfulness and Israel's Unfaithfulness (4 :1 –1 4 :1 0)

         A. Israel's unfaithfulness (4 :1 –6 :3 )

         B. Israel's punishm ent (6 :4 –1 0:1 5)

         C. The com passionate and faithful lov e of God (1 1 :1 –1 4 :1 0)




1 The word of the Lord that came to Hosea the son of Beeri in the days of Uzziah, Jotham,
Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of
Israel.†

                                                            Hosea's Family

  2The beginning of the word of the Lord to Hosea. The Lord said to Hosea,

    “Go, take to y ourself a wife of fornication

    And children of fornication;

    For the land will surely go a-whoring

    By departing from the Lord.” †

  3So he went and took Gomer, daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
4Again the Lord said to him,

    “Call his nam e Jezreel;

    For in a little while

    I will av enge the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu,

    And I will m ake to cease the kingship of the house of Israel. †

    5
        It shall be in that day

    That I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”

  6Then she conceived again and bore a daughter. So God said to him,

    “Call her nam e Lo-Ruham ah,

    For I will no longer hav e m ercy on the house of Israel,

    But will surely set My self in array against them . †

    7
        But I will hav e m ercy on the house of Judah

    And will sav e them by the Lord their God.

    I will not sav e them with bow,

    Nor with sword, nor by war,

    Nor by chariots, nor by horses or horsem en.”

  8Now after she weaned Lo-Ruhamah, she conceived again and bore a son. 9So the Lord
said,

    “Call his nam e Lo-Am m i,

    For y ou are not My people,

    And I am not y our God. †
                                                       Israel Will Be Restored

    10
         “Yet the num ber of the children of Israel

    Shall be as the sand of the sea,

    Which shall not be m easured or num bered.

    Then it shall com e to pass

    In the place where it was said to them ,

    ‘You are not My people,’

    Ev en then they shall be called

    The sons of the liv ing God.

    11
         The children of Judah and the children of Israel

    Shall be gathered together.

    They shall appoint them selv es one head

    And com e up out of the land;

    For great shall be the day of Jezreel. †



2 “Say to your brother, ‘My People,’ And to your sister, ‘Pitied.’
                                               Gomer and Israel Are Unfaithful

    2
         “Plead with y our m other, plead,

    For she is not My wife,

    And I am not her Husband.

    I will rem ov e her fornication out of My presence

    And her adultery from between her breasts, †

    3
         That I m ay strip her naked

    And m ake her again as she was at the day of her birth.

    I will m ake her desolate and as a dry land,

    And I will kill her with thirst. †

    4
         “I will not hav e m ercy upon her children;

    For they are children of fornication.

    5
         For their m other went a-whoring.

    She that bore them disgraced herself,

    For she said, ‘I will go after m y lov ers,

    Who giv e m e m y bread and m y water,

    And m y garm ents and m y linen clothes,

    My oil and m y necessities.’†
6
     “Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her way with thorns.

I will stop the way s so she shall not find her path.

7
     She will follow after her lov ers

But not ov ertake them .

She will seek them but not find them .

She will say ,

‘I will go and return to m y form er husband;

For it was better for m e than now.’

8
     For she did not know I gav e her corn, wine, and oil,

And m ultiplied silv er to her;

But she turned the silv er and gold ov er to Baal.

9
     “Therefore I will take back

My corn in its season,

And My wine in its tim e.

I will rem ov e My raim ent and My linen clothes

That she m ay not cov er her nakedness.

10
     Now I will expose her uncleanness before her lov ers,

And no one shall by any m eans

Deliv er her out of My hand.

11
     I will take away all her gladness, her feasts,

And her festiv als at the New Moon,

And her Sabbaths,

And all her solem n assem blies.

12
     “I will destroy her v ines and her fig trees,

All things of which she said,

‘These are m y wages that m y lov ers hav e giv en m e.’

But I will m ake them a testim ony ;

And the wild beasts of the field, the birds of the sky ,

And the reptiles of the earth shall dev our them .

13
     I will repay her For the day s of Baalim ,

Wherein she sacrificed to them ,

And put on her earrings and her necklaces,

And went after her lov ers;

But she forgot Me,” say s the Lord. †

                                              God Has Mercy on His People
14
     “Therefore, behold, I will lead her astray

And m ake her as desolate,

And I will speak to her heart. †

15
     I will giv e her possessions from there,

And the Valley of Achor to open her understanding.

She will be hum bled there

According to the day s of her infancy ,

And according to the day s of her com ing up

Out of the land of Egy pt.

16
     “Then it shall com e to pass in that day ,”

Say s the Lord,

“That she will call Me ‘My Husband,’

And shall no longer call Me ‘Baalim .’

17
     For I will take away the nam es of Baalim out of her m outh,

And their nam es shall be rem em bered no m ore.

18
     In that day I will m ake a cov enant for them

With the wild beasts of the field,

And with the birds of the sky ,

And with the reptiles of the earth.

I will break the bow, the sword, and the battle from off the earth,

And will cause them to dwell safely .

19
     “I will betroth y ou to My self forev er;

Yes, I will betroth y ou to My self

In righteousness and justice,

And in m ercy and com passions. †

20
     I will betroth y ou to My self in faithfulness,

And y ou shall know the Lord.

21
     “It shall com e to pass in that day ,” say s the Lord,

“That I will listen to heav en,

And it shall listen to the earth.

22
     The earth shall listen to the corn,

And the wine, and the oil;

And they shall listen to Jezreel.

23
     I will sow her to My self on the earth,
    And will lov e her that was not lov ed,

    And will say to that which was not My people,

    ‘You are My people!’

    And they shall say ,

    ‘You are the Lord m y God!’ ”

                                                Israel Will Return to the Lord


3 Then  the Lord said to me, “Go yet again and love a woman that loves evil things, an
  adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, for they look after strange gods
and love raisin cakes.”† 2So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver, a homer of
barley, and a jar of wine.† 3I said to her, “You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not
commit fornication, neither shall you be for another man; but I will be for you.” 4For the
children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, without a prince, without a sacrifice,
without an altar, without a priesthood, and without symbols of revelation. 5Afterward the
children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they
shall be amazed at the Lord and at His good things in the latter days.†

                                                  God's Judgment on Israel

    4 Hear the word of the Lord,
    You children of Israel,

    For the Lord has a judgm ent for the inhabitants of the land:

    “There is no truth or m ercy

    Or knowledge of God in the land. †

    2
        Cursing and ly ing, m urder and theft

    And adultery gushed forth in the land,

    And blood is m ingled with blood.

    3
        Therefore the land shall m ourn

    And be dim inished with all the things that dwell in it:

    The wild beasts of the field, the reptiles of the earth,

    And the birds of the sky ,

    And the fish of the sea shall com e to an end;

    4
        That neither m ay any one judge, nor analy ze another;

    But m y people are as a priest who is spoken against.

    5
        “Thus y ou shall be weak by day ,
And the prophet shall be weak with y ou;

I hav e com pared y our m other to the night. †

6
     My people are like as those who hav e no knowledge.

Because y ou hav e rejected knowledge,

I will also reject y ou from being a priest to Me;

And because y ou hav e forgotten the law of y our God,

I also will forget y our children.

7
     According to their m ultitude,

So they sinned against Me;

I will turn their glory into dishonor.

8
     They will eat the sins of My people

And take away their liv es because of their wrongdoings. †

9
     The priest shall also be as the people;

So I will punish him for his way s

And repay him for his counsels. †

10
     They shall eat and not be satisfied;

They hav e gone a-whoring and shall by no m eans prosper,

Because they hav e abandoned holding fast to the Lord.

                                                        Israel's Idolatry

11
     “The heart of My people has gladly engaged

In fornication, wine, and strong drink.

12
     They asked counsel by m eans of signs

And they reported answers to them by their stav es.

They hav e gone astray in a spirit of whoredom

And griev ously gone a-whoring from their God.

13
     They hav e sacrificed on the tops of the m ountains,

And on the hills they hav e sacrificed

Under the oak and poplar

And under the shady tree,

Because their shade was good.

Therefore y our daughters shall go a-whoring,

And y our daughters-in-law shall com m it adultery .

14
     But I will not show care for y our daughters

When they com m it fornication,
Nor y our daughters-in-law

When they com m it adultery ;

For they m ingled them selv es with harlots

And sacrificed with the initiated ones;

And the people who understood

Entangled them selv es with a harlot.

15
     “But y ou, O Israel, be not ignorant,

And do not go, m en of Judah, to Gilgal;

And do not go up to Beth Av en

Nor swear by the liv ing Lord.

16
     For Israel was m addened like a m ad heifer;

Now the Lord will feed them

Like a lam b in a wide place.

17
     Ephraim , joined with idols,

Has laid stum bling blocks in his own way .

18
     He has chosen the Canaanites;

They hav e griev ously gone a-whoring;

They hav e lov ed dishonor through her rudeness.

19
     You are a blast of wind in her wings,

And they shall be asham ed because of their altars.

                                             Warnings for Israel and Judah

5 “Hear these things, O priests, And attend, O house of Israel!
Listen, O house of the king!

For judgm ent is with y ou

Because y ou hav e been a snare in Mizpah

And a net spread on Tabor,

2
    Which they that hunt the prey hav e fixed;

But I will be y our instructor. †

3
    I know Ephraim , and Israel is not far from Me;

For now Ephraim has gone griev ously a-whoring;

Israel is defiled.

4
     “Their deliberations did not allow them

To return to their God,

For a spirit of fornication is in them ,
And they hav e not gotten to know the Lord.

5
     The arrogance of Israel

Shall be brought low before His face,

And Israel and Ephraim shall becom e weak

Due to their wrongdoings;

And Judah also shall becom e weak with them .

6
     “They shall go with sheep and calv es

Diligently to seek the Lord;

But they shall not find Him ,

For He has withdrawn Him self from them .

7
     For they hav e forsaken the Lord

Because strange children hav e been born to them .

Now the rust shall dev our them along with their heritages. †

8
     “Blow the trum pet on the hills,

Sound aloud on the heights,

Proclaim in Beth Av en:

‘Benjam in is confused.’

9
     Ephraim has v anished in the day s of reproof;

Am ong the tribes of Israel I hav e shown faithful things.

10
     “The princes of Judah becam e as those

Who rem ov e the boundaries;

I will pour out m y fury upon them as water. †

11
     Ephraim oppressed his adv ersary ;

He trod ov er judgm ent,

For he began to go after v anities.

12
     Therefore I will be as a confusion to Ephraim

And as a sting to the house of Judah.

13
     “Ephraim saw his disease

And Judah his pain;

Then Ephraim went to the Assy rians

And sent am bassadors to King Jareb.

But he could not heal y ou,

And y our pain shall in no way cease from y ou.

14
     Wherefore I am as a panther to Ephraim

And as a lion to the house of Judah.
So I will grasp and go away ;

And I will take, and there shall be none to rescue.

15
     I will go and return to My place

Until they are destroy ed,

And then they shall seek My face. †

                                                     Return to the Lord

6 “‘Let us go and return to the Lord our God;
For He has grasped and will heal us;

He will sm ite and plug the wound with lint. †

2
    After two day s He will heal us.

In the third day we shall rise

And liv e before Him . †

3
    Let us know, let us pursue

That we m ight know the Lord.

We shall find Him ready as the day break,

And He will com e to us

As the early and latter rain to the earth.’†

                                          Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant

4
     “What shall I do to y ou, O Ephraim ?

What shall I do to y ou, O Judah?

Your m ercy is as a m orning cloud

And as the early dew that goes away .

5
    Therefore I hav e cut off y our prophets;

I hav e slain them with the words of My m outh,

And My judgm ent shall go forth as the light.

6
     For I desire m ercy and not sacrifice,

And the knowledge of God

More than whole burnt offerings. †

7
    But they are as a m an who transgresses the cov enant;

There they despised Me.

8
     Gilead is a city working v anity with troubling water.

9
     Your strength is that of a pirate;

The priests hav e hidden the way ;
They hav e m urdered the people of Shechem ,

For they hav e done lawlessness.

10
     In the house of Israel I hav e seen horrible things;

There is the fornication of Ephraim ;

Israel and Judah are defiled.

11
     Begin to harv est for y ourself

When I return the captiv es of My people.

7 “When I hav e healed Israel, Then shall the wrongdoing of Ephraim
And the ev il of Sam aria be rev ealed,

For they hav e worked falsehood.

A thief shall com e in to him ,

Ev en a robber taking spoil in his way ,

2
     That they m ay sing together

As m en singing in their heart.

I rem em ber all their ev ils;

Now their own counsels hav e encircled them ;

They were before My face.

3
     They gladdened kings with their ev ils

And princes with their lies.

4
     “They are all adulterers,

Like an ov en heated for cooking,

Burning with a flam e during the kneading of the dough

Until it is leav ened.

5
     In the day s of our kings,

The princes began to be inflam ed with wine;

He stretched out his hand with pestilent fellows.

6
     Wherefore their hearts are inflam ed like an ov en

While they were falling down all the night.

Ephraim is satisfied with sleep;

The m orning is com e;

He is burnt up like a flam e of fire.

7
     They are all heated like an ov en

And hav e dev oured their judges.

All their kings are fallen;

There was not am ong them one that called upon Me.
8
     “Ephraim is m ixed am ong his peoples;

Ephraim becam e a cake not turned. †

9
     Strangers dev oured his strength,

And he knew it not.

Grey hairs cam e upon him ,

And he knew it not.

10
     The pride of Israel shall be hum bled before his face;

Yet they hav e not returned to the Lord their God,

Neither hav e they diligently sought Him in spite of all this.

                                          Trusting Other Nations Is Futile

11
     “Ephraim was like a silly dov e, not hav ing a heart;

He called to Egy pt, and they went to the Assy rians. †

12
     Whenev er they shall go, I will cast My net upon them ;

I will bring them down as the birds of the sky .

I will chastise them through the news of their affliction.

13
     “Woe to them , for they hav e turned away from Me!

They are cowards,

For they hav e com m itted im pious deeds against Me.

Yet I redeem ed them ,

But they spoke falsehoods against Me.

14
     Their hearts did not cry aloud to Me,

But they wailed upon their beds.

“They slashed them selv es for oil and wine;

They were chastised by Me.

15
     I strengthened their arm s,

But they dev ised ev ils against Me.

16
     They turned aside to nothing;

They becam e as a stretched bow.

Their princes shall fall by the sword;

They will be despised in the land of Egy pt

Because of their unrestrained tongue.

                                                        Israel's Apostasy

8 “He shall com e into their m idst like the land,
Like an eagle against the house of the Lord,

Because they broke My cov enant

And acted im piously against My law. †

2
     They shall cry out to Me, say ing,

‘O God, we know You.’

3
     For Israel has turned away from good things;

They hav e pursued an enem y .

4
     “They m ade kings for them selv es, but not by Me.

They hav e ruled, but they did not m ake it known to Me.

They m ade idols for them selv es with their silv er and gold

That they m ight be utterly destroy ed.

5
     Get rid of y our calf, O Sam aria.

My anger is kindled against them .

How long will they be unable to purge them selv es in Israel?

6
     A workm an m ade it, And it is not God;

Therefore y our calf, O Sam aria, was a deceiv er.

7
     “For they sowed wind-dam aged seeds,

And their destruction shall await them ;

A sheaf of corn cannot produce flour;

And ev en if the seeds should produce it,

Strangers would dev our it.

8
     Israel is swallowed up.

Now he has becom e as a worthless v essel am ong the nations.

9
     For they hav e gone up to the Assy rians;

Ephraim has sprouted again against him self;

They lov ed gifts.

10
     Therefore they shall be handed ov er to the nations.

Now I will receiv e them ,

And they will stop awhile to anoint a king and princes.

11
     “Because Ephraim has m ultiplied altars,

His belov ed altars hav e becom e sins to him .

12
     I will write a m ultitude of statutes for him ,

For his statutes are considered as strange things,

As well as his belov ed altars. †

13
     For if they should offer a sacrifice and eat flesh,
The Lord would not accept them .

Now He will rem em ber their wrongdoings

And take v engeance on their sins.

They hav e returned to Egy pt,

And they shall eat unclean things am ong the Assy rians.

14
     “Israel has forgotten Him who m ade him .

They hav e built tem ples,

And Judah has m ultiplied walled cities;

But I will send fire upon his cities,

And it shall dev our their foundations.”

                                                       Punishment for Israel

9 Rejoice not, O Israel,
Neither m ake m erry , as other peoples,

For y ou hav e gone a-whoring from y our God.

You hav e lov ed for hire

Upon ev ery threshing floor of wheat.

2
    The threshing floor and winepress did not know them ,

And the wine disappointed them .

3
    They did not dwell in the Lord's land.

Ephraim dwelt in Egy pt,

And they shall eat unclean things am ong the Assy rians.

4
     They hav e not offered wine to the Lord,

Neither hav e their sacrifices been pleasing to Him ,

But like the m ourning bread to them .

All that eat shall be defiled

Because their bread shall be for their own life;

It shall not com e into the house of the Lord. †

5
    What will y ou do in the day of public festiv al

And in the day of the Lord's feast?

6
     Therefore, behold, they go forth from the trouble of Egy pt.

Mem phis shall receiv e them

And Machm as shall bury them .

As for their silv er, destruction shall inherit it,

And thorns shall be in their tents.
7
     The day s of v engeance hav e com e;

The day s of y our recom pense hav e com e;

And Israel shall be afflicted

As the prophet that is m ad, as a m an deranged.

By reason of the m ultitude of y our wrongdoings

Your m adness has abounded.

8
     The watchm an of Ephraim was with God,

But the prophet is a crooked snare in all his way s.

They hav e planted the m adness firm ly

In the house of God.

9
     They hav e corrupted them selv es

As in the day s of Gibeah.

He will rem em ber his wrongdoings;

He will take v engeance on his sins.

10
     “I found Israel as grapes in the wilderness,

And I saw their fathers as an early guard at their fig tree.

They went in to Baal Peor

And were sham efully estranged;

And the belov ed ones becam e abom inable.

11
     The glory of Ephraim has flown away as a bird:

Their glories from birth, birth-pains, and conception.

12
     For ev en if they should rear their children,

Yet they shall be utterly bereav ed.

For woe to them ! My flesh is of them .

13
     Ephraim , ev en as I saw,

Presented their children as a prey ;

Ephraim was ready to bring out his children to slaughter.”

14
     Giv e to them , O Lord!

What will You giv e to them ?

A childless wom b and dry breasts.

15
     “All their ev ils are in Gilgal,

For there I hated them .

Because of their ev il practices,

I will cast them out of My house.

I will not lov e them any m ore.
All their leaders are disobedient.

16
     Ephraim underwent trouble;

He is dried up at his roots;

He shall bear fruit no m ore.

Wherefore, ev en if they should beget children,

I would kill the desired fruit of their wom b.”

17
     God shall reject them

Because they hav e not hearkened to Him .

So they shall be wanderers am ong the nations.

                                          Israel's Judgment and Captivity

10 Israel is a luxuriant v ine;
Her fruit is abundant.

According to the m ultitude of her fruits

She has m ultiplied her altars;

According to the wealth of his land

He has set up pillars. †

2
    They hav e div ided their hearts;

Now shall they be utterly destroy ed.

He shall raze their altars to the ground;

Their pillars shall experience distress.

3
    For now they will say ,

“We hav e no king,

Since we did not fear the Lord.

As for a king, what would he do for us?”

4
     As he speaks words With false m otiv es,

He would m ake a cov enant.

Thus judgm ent will spring up

As a weed on the soil of the field.

5
    The inhabitants of Sam aria

Shall dwell near the calf of Beth Av en,

For its people m ourned for it.

To the degree that they rebelled against it,

So they will rejoice at its glory

Because it was rem ov ed from them .
6
     For they bound it up for the Assy rians

And carried it away as a gift to King Jareb.

Ephraim shall receiv e it as a gift,

And Israel shall be asham ed of his own counsel.

7
     Sam aria has cast off her king

Like a twig on the surface of the water,

8
     And the altars of Av en, the sins of Israel,

Shall be rem ov ed.

Thorns and thistles shall com e upon their altars,

And they shall say to the m ountains, “Cov er us,”

And to the hills, “Fall on us.”

9
     “From the day s of Gibeah, Israel has sinned;

There they stood.

The war on that hill against the children of unrighteousness

Did not ov ertake them .

10
     I cam e to chastise them ,

And peoples shall be gathered against them

When they are chastised for their two sins.

11
     Ephraim is a heifer taught to lov e v ictory ,

But I will com e upon the fairest part of her neck.

I will m ount Ephraim ;

I will pass ov er Judah in silence;

Jacob shall prev ail against him .”

12
     Sow to y ourselv es in righteousness;

Gather in the fruit of life;

Light for y ourselv es the light of knowledge;

Seek the Lord till the fruits of righteousness com e upon y ou.

13
     Why hav e y ou passed ov er ungodliness in silence

And reaped its wrongdoings?

You hav e eaten the fruit of deception,

For y ou hav e hoped in y our chariots,

In the abundance of y our power. †

14
     Therefore destruction shall rise up am ong y our people,

And all y our walled places shall be gone,

As Beth Arbel in the tim e of Prince Shalm an.
In the day s of battle,

They dashed the m other to the ground upon the children.

15
     Thus will I do to y ou, O house of Israel,

Because of y our ev il deeds.

Early in the m orning were they cast off;

The king of Israel has been cast off.

                                            God's Love for Rebellious Israel

11 “For Israel is a child, and I lov ed him ,
And out of Egy pt I hav e called his children. †

2
    As I called them ,

So they departed from My presence.

They sacrificed to the Baals,

And burned incense to grav en im ages.

3
    “Yet I bound the feet of Ephraim .

I took him on My arm ,

But they did not know that I healed them . †

4
     When m en were destroy ed,

I drew them with the bands of My lov e,

And I will be to them as a m an

Sm iting another on his cheek.

I will look with fav or to him ;

I will prev ail with him .

5
    “Ephraim dwelt in Egy pt;

And the Assy rian him self was his king,

Because he would not return.

6
     The sword becam e weak in his cities,

And he ceased to war with his hands;

For they shall consum e them selv es

With their own intrigues.

7
    His people shall hold onto His habitation;

But God shall be angry with His precious things,

And shall not at all exalt him .

8
     “How shall I deal with y ou, Ephraim ?

How shall I protect y ou, Israel?
What shall I do with y ou?

I will m ake y ou as Adm ah and as Zeboiim .

My heart is turned about;

My repentance is utterly thrown into confusion. †

9
     I will not act according to the fury of My wrath;

I will not abandon Ephraim to be utterly destroy ed.

For I am God and not m an;

The Holy One am ong y ou;

And I will not enter into the city .

10
     “I will go after the Lord.

He shall utter His v oice as a lion;

For He shall roar,

And the children of the waters shall be am azed.

11
     They shall be am azed as a bird out of Egy pt

And as a dov e out of the land of the Assy rians;

And I will restore them to their houses,”

Say s the Lord.

                                        A Charge against Israel and Judah

12 “Ephraim has encom passed m e with falsehood,
And the house of Israel and Judah with ungodliness.

But now God knows them ,

And he shall be called God's holy people.

2
     But Ephraim is an ev il spirit.

He has chased the east wind all the day .

He has m ultiplied em pty and v ain things

And struck a cov enant with the Assy rians.

He m ade business with oil in Egy pt.

3
     “The Lord has a judgm ent against Judah

So as to punish Jacob according to his way s,

And He will repay him according to his practices.

4
     He kicked his brother in the wom b,

And in his toils he regained strength with God.

5
     He prev ailed with the Angel and was strong.

They wept and entreated Me.
They found Me in Bethel,

And there a word was spoken to them . †

6
     So the Lord God Alm ighty shall be his m em orial.

7
     You shall return to y our God;

Therefore, observ e m ercy and judgm ent,

And draw near to y our God continually .

8
     “As for Canaan,

There is a balance of wrongdoing in his hand,

For he has lov ed to oppress.

9
     As for Ephraim , he said,

‘Nev ertheless, I am rich;

I hav e found relief for m y self.’

But none of his labors shall be found in him ,

Because of the wrongdoings by which he sinned.

10
     “But I the Lord y our God brought y ou up

Out of the land of Egy pt.

I will y et again cause y ou to dwell in tents

According to the day s of the feast.

11
     For I will speak to the prophets,

And I hav e m ultiplied v isions,

And by the authority of the prophets

I was represented.”

12
     If Gilead does not exist,

Then the leaders in Gilead were false when they sacrificed,

And their altars were like m ounds on a parched field.

13
     Jacob retreated into the plain of Sy ria,

And Israel serv ed for a wife

And kept watch for a wife.

14
     The Lord brought Israel

Out of the land of Egy pt by a prophet,

And by a prophet he was preserv ed.

15
     Ephraim was angry and excited;

Therefore his blood shall be poured out upon him ,

And the Lord shall repay him for his disgrace.

                                            Relentless Judgment on Israel
13 According to the word of Ephraim ,
He receiv ed ordinances for him self in Israel

And established them for Baal; then he died.

2
    So now they hav e sinned increasingly

And hav e m ade for them selv es

A m olten im age with their silv er,

According to the fashion of idols,

The work of craftsm en done for them .

They say , “Sacrifice m en,

For the calv es hav e com e to an end.”

3
    Therefore they shall be as a m orning cloud

And as the early dew that passes away ,

Like chaff blown away from the threshing floor

And as sm oke out of the chim ney .

4
    “But I am the Lord y our God,

Who m akes the heav en firm and creates the earth,

Whose hands hav e created the whole host of heav en.

But I did not show them to y ou that y ou should seek after them .

I brought y ou up from the land of Egy pt,

And y ou shall know no God but Me;

And there is no Sav ior besides Me.

5
    I tended y ou as a shepherd in the wilderness,

In an uninhabited land.

6
    When they had their pastures,

They were com pletely filled,

And their hearts were exalted;

Therefore, they forgot Me.

7
    “So I will be to them as a panther

And as a leopard by way of the Assy rians.

8
    I will m eet them as an excited she-bear,

And I will rend the hardness of their heart.

The lions’ whelps of the thicket shall dev our them there;

The wild beasts of the field shall rend them in pieces.

9
    “O Israel, who will help y ou in y our destruction?
10
     Where is this king of y ours?

Let him sav e y ou in all y our cities.

Let him judge y ou, of whom y ou said,

‘Giv e m e a king and a prince.’

11
     Thus I gav e y ou a king in My anger

And took him back in My wrath.

12
     “Ephraim is a conspiracy of unrighteousness;

His sin is hidden.

13
     Pains as of a wom an in trav ail shall com e upon him .

He is y our unwise son,

For he shall not stand in the destruction of y our children.

14
     “I will deliv er them out of the hand of Hades

And will redeem them from death.

Where is y our penalty , O death?

O Hades, where is y our sting?

Pity is hidden from My ey es.” †

15
     Forasm uch as he will cause

A div ision am ong his brethren,

The Lord shall bring upon him

A hot wind from the desert,

And shall dry up his springs

And drain his fountains.

He shall dry up his land

And spoil all his precious v essels.

14 Sam aria shall be utterly destroy ed,
For she has resisted her God;

And they shall fall by the sword.

Their infants shall be dashed against the ground

And their pregnant wom en ripped up.

                                                      Restoration of Israel

2
     Return, O Israel, to the Lord y our God,

For y ou becam e weak through y our wrongdoings.

3
     Take with y ou words

And turn to the Lord y our God.
Speak to Him ,

That y ou m ay not receiv e the reward of unrighteousness,

But that y ou m ay receiv e good things.

We will render in return the fruit of our lips. †

4
     Assy ria will not sav e us;

We will not m ount on horseback.

Let us no longer say to the works of our hands,

“Our gods.”

He who is am ong y ou shall hav e m ercy on the orphan.

5
    “I will restore their dwellings.

I will lov e them willingly ,

For he has turned away My wrath from them . †

6
     I will be as dew to Israel;

He shall bloom as the lily

And cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

7
    His branches shall spread,

And he shall be as a fruitful oliv e tree,

And his fragrance shall be as the sm ell of Lebanon.

8
     They shall return and dwell under his shadow;

They shall liv e and be satisfied with corn,

And he shall flower as a v ine;

His m em orial shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

9
     “To Ephraim : What has he to do any m ore with idols?

I hav e hum bled him

And I will strengthen him .

I am as a leafy juniper tree.

From Me y our fruit is found.”

10
     Who is wise and will understand these things?

Or prudent and will know them ?

For the way s of the Lord are straight,

And the righteous shall walk in them ;

But the ungodly shall becom e weak in them .
                                       AM O S
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Chapters in Amos
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Verses in Amos Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Amos Chapter 2
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Amos Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Amos Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Amos Chapter 5
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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Amos Chapter 6
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11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Amos Chapter 7
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Verses in Amos Chapter 9
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                                                 The Book of Amos

   Author   —Amos, which means “burdened” or “bearer.” He is commemorated on June 15.

   Date   —About 754 BC, “two years before the earthquake” (1:1, 2), which was so severe
that Zechariah wrote about it 200 years later.

   Major Theme      —God's wrath is to be feared: “A lion shall roar, and who will not fear?”
(3:8). Crimes committed against the Jews by their neighboring nations will be the first
to be punished. Then God's wrath will turn to the kingdom of Israel for their sins of
oppression of the poor (2:6), incest (2:7), indulgence (3:15), gluttony and drunkenness
(4:1). The other theme is the promise of Israel's restoration if they repent, or of foreign
captivity if they do not repent.

   Background      —Amos was born in the small rural village of Tekoa, twelve miles south of
Jerusalem. He was a goatherd and a tender of sycamore, a contemporary of Hosea.
Amos may have known Jonah and Elisha when he was young, and Isaiah and Micah
when he was older. He prophesied to the Southern Kingdom (Judah) from 795–754 BC.
His prophecies were the first to be written down, perhaps because he was the first
prophet to proclaim the end of God's covenant with Israel for their stubborn
unrepentance. The prophecies occurred approximately 30 years before the Assyrians
captured Samaria in 721 BC, during the time when the two kingdoms were divided.
Josephus wrote that a great earthquake took place (1:1) when Uzziah was struck with
leprosy. The Israelites had amassed great wealth because of their control over the trade
routes, which had created an aristocratic class. Amos was sent to Bethel to warn the
king and the people of the Northern Kingdom to repent. The priests, who were tired of
his prophecies, clubbed Amos to death.

Outline

 I. Superscription (1 :1 )

II. Introduction (1 :2 )

III. Judgm ents on the Nations (1 :3 –2 :1 6 )

IV. Prophecies against Israel (3 :1 –5:1 7 )

V. Prophecy Regarding Exile (5:1 8–6 :1 4 )

VI. Visions of Div ine Justice (7 :1 –9 :1 0)
 VII. The Restoration of Israel (9 :1 1 –1 5)



                                                Judgment of the Nations


1 The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning
  Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of
Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.†

  2And he said, “The Lord proclaims out of Zion, and out of Jerusalem He gives a shout. The
pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel is dried up.”

   3Thus says the Lord: “For three sins of Damascus and for four, I shall not turn away from

it; for they sawed open the pregnant wives of the men of Gilead with a saw made of iron.† 4So
I shall send fire into the house of Hazael, and it will consume the foundations of the son of
Hadad. 5And I shall shatter the bars of the gate of Damascus into pieces. I will put to death
those dwelling in the plains of Aven, and I will cut in pieces the people of Charran. The
notable people of Syria will be led away captive,” says the Lord.

  6Thus says the Lord: “For three sins of Gaza and for four, I shall not turn away its
punishment, for they took prisoner the whole captivity of Solomon and held them as slaves in
Edom. 7And I shall send a fire upon the wall of Gaza, and it will consume its foundations. 8I
shall put to death those dwelling in Ashdod and remove the people of Ekron, and the remnant
of the Philistines shall perish,” says the Lord.

  9Thus says the Lord: “For three sins of Tyre and for four, I shall not turn away its
punishment, for they imprisoned the captivity of Solomon to Edom, and did not remember
the covenant of brotherhood. 10And I shall send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, and it will
consume its foundations.”

  11Thus says the Lord: “For three sins of Edom and for four, I shall not turn away its
punishment, because Edom pursued his brother with a sword and ravaged the womb on the
earth. And as a testimony he took captive those shuddering in fear, and he sustained his
violence in battle. 12Therefore I shall send a fire upon Teman that will consume the
foundations of its walls.”

  13Thus says the Lord: “For three acts of ungodliness by the sons of Ammon and for four, I
shall not turn away its punishment, for they ripped open women with child in Gilead so as to
expand their territory. 14Therefore, I shall kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah. It shall
consume her foundations with shouting in the day of war, and she shall be shaken in the days
of her destruction. Their kings shall go into captivity, their priests and their princes together,”
says the Lord.


2 Thus says the Lord: “For three sins of Moab and for four, I shall not turn away its
  punishment, for he burned the bones of the king of Edom to ashes. 2Therefore I shall
send a fire against Moab, and it will consume the foundations of their cities, and in
helplessness Moab shall die with shouting and with the sound of a trumpet. 3And I shall put
to death the judge from her midst and slay all her princes with him,” says the Lord.

                            Judgment against Israel and Judah

  4Thus says the Lord: “For three sins of the sons of Judah and for four, I shall not turn away
its punishment, for they rejected the law of the Lord and did not keep His ordinances. And
the vain idols made by their fathers led them astray. These were lies their fathers followed.
5So I shall send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the foundations of Jerusalem.”

  6Thus says the Lord: “For three sins of Israel and for four, I shall not turn away its

punishment, for they sold the righteous for silver and the poor for a pair of sandals.† 7They
trample the heads of the poor into the dust of the earth, and turn away the afflicted and
pervert the way of the humble. A son and his father go in to the same handmaiden in order to
profane the name of their God. 8And having bound their clothes with cords, they made
curtains by the altar, and they drank wine gained through false accusations in the house of
their God.

  9“Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of
the cedars and who was as strong as an oak tree. It was I who dried up his fruit from above
and his roots beneath the ground. 10And it was I who brought you up out of the land of Egypt
and led you forty years through the wilderness, that you would inherit the land of the
Amorite. 11I took some of your sons as prophets and some of your young men to be
consecrated. Is this not so, O you children of Israel?” says the Lord. 12“But you gave the
consecrated ones wine to drink and commanded the prophets, saying, ‘Do not prophesy!’
13Behold, for this reason, I weigh you down, just as a wagon being filled with sheaves is
weighed down. 14Therefore, escape will be totally lost to the swift, and the strong will
certainly lose his strength, and the warrior will in no way be able to save his life. 15The archer
will not stand his ground, and the swift foot will not escape danger, and the horseman will be
completely unable to save his life. 16The strong will find no confidence in their strength; the
naked will flee away in that day,” says the Lord.

                               The Lord's Case against Israel


3 Ofamily
     house of Israel, hear this word the Lord has spoken against you, against the whole
          which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,† 2“Out of all the families of the
earth, I have especially known you. Therefore I shall exact vengeance upon you for all your
sins. 3If two people walk together, will each one not come to know the other? 4Will a lion
roar from his lair in the forest if he has no prey? Will a lion's whelp cry out from his den if he
has nothing?† 5Will a bird fall to the earth without a fowler? Will a snare be sprung if it has
caught nothing? 6If a trumpet is sounded in a city, will not the people be alarmed? If evil
should be in a city, has not the Lord brought it?† 7For the Lord God does nothing unless He
reveals instruction to His servants the prophets. 8A lion shall roar, and who will not fear?
The Lord God speaks, and who will not prophesy?

  9“Proclaim it in the regions among the Assyrians and to the lands of Egypt, and say,
‘Gather yourself to the mountains of Samaria, and behold the many remarkable things in her
midst and the oppression that is within her. 10She does not know the things that will come
against her,’ says the Lord, ‘she stores up injustice and misery in her lands.’ ” 11Therefore
thus says the Lord God: “O Tyre, your land round about you shall be made desolate, and your
strength shall be sapped from you, and your lands shall be plundered.” 12Thus says the Lord:
“As when a shepherd takes two legs or a piece of an ear out of the mouth of a lion, so shall
the sons of Israel be taken out who dwell in Samaria in the presence of a foreign people, and
in Damascus.†

  13“Hear, O priests, and testify against the house of Jacob,” says the Lord God Almighty,
14“for in the day I exact vengeance against Israel for their sins, I shall also visit destruction
on the altars of Bethel and tear down the horns of the altar, and they will fall to the ground.
15I will demolish and knock down the turreted house upon the summer house, and I shall
destroy the ivory houses along with many other houses as well,” says the Lord.
                                   Israel's Boundless Sin


4 Hear this word, O heifers of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress
  the poor, who trample the needy, and who say to their lords, “Bring us wine that we may
drink!” 2The Lord swears by His holiness: “Behold, the days shall come upon you, for they
will seize you with weapons and cast you and those with you into boiling cauldrons. 3You
shall be brought out naked before one another and be cast out on Mount Hermon,” says the
Lord God.

  4“You come to Bethel and act lawlessly and multiply your transgressions in Gilgal. You

bring your sacrifice in the morning and your tithes every three days. 5Moreover, outside they
read things of the Law and call for professions. Proclaim that the children of Israel love these
things,” says the Lord God. 6“And in all your cities I gave you cleanness of teeth, and in all
your places a lack of bread. Yet you did not return to Me,” says the Lord. 7“And also, I
withheld rain from you for the three months before the harvest. I caused it to rain upon one
city while I withheld rain from another. On one field it rained, but where it did not rain, the
crops withered.† 8So two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water, but they
were not satisfied. Yet,” says the Lord, “you did not return to Me.”

                            The Lord Smites Israel for Her Sin

  9“I struck you with a parching and blight. When you multiplied your gardens, your
vineyards, your fig trees, and your olive trees, the caterpillar devoured them. Yet you did not
turn back to Me,” says the Lord. 10“I sent forth death against you by way of Egypt, and I
killed your young men with a sword, together with your captured horses. And in My wrath I
brought fire upon your army camps. Yet you did not return to Me,” says the Lord.† 11“I
overthrew you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you became like a torch that
burns out after being plucked out of the fire. Yet even after all this you did not return to Me,”
says the Lord.

  12“Therefore, O Israel, thus shall I do to you, and because I will do thus to you, make

yourself ready to call upon your God, O Israel! 13For behold, I am the One who strengthens
the thunder, and creates the wind, and proclaims His Anointed One to mankind, making the
daybreak and the darkness, while treading upon the high places of the earth. The Lord God
Almighty is His name!”†
                                  A Lamentation for Israel


5 O2The
     house of Israel, hear this word of the Lord, a lamentation which I take up against you.
        virgin of Israel has fallen; she will rise no more; she tripped over her land, and there
is no one who shall raise her up.†

  3For thus says the Lord God: “From the city where a thousand went out, in this group there
will yet remain a hundred. And in that from which a hundred went out, ten will be left to the
house of Israel.”

                                     A Call to Repentance

  4For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: “Seek Me, and you will live. 5But do not
seek Bethel, nor go into Gilgal, nor cross over to the Well of Oath, for Gilgal shall surely go
into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nothing. 6Seek the Lord and live, lest He break out
like fire in the house of Joseph and devour it, with no one to extinguish the fire for the house
of Israel.† 7The Lord is He who brings about justice on high and righteousness on the earth!†

  8“He makes all things. He transforms the darkness into the morning and makes the day
dark as night; He calls forth the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth.
The Lord God Almighty is His name.† 9He rains ruin upon the strong and brings misery upon
the fortress.

  10“They hated him who reproved in the gates and abhorred the upright word.† 11They tread
upon the poor and take bribes from him. They built houses of hewn stone, yet they shall not
dwell in them. They planted pleasant vineyards, but they shall not drink wine from them.
12For I know your many transgressions and the enormity of your sins, devouring the

righteous and taking bribes, turning away the poor at the gate. 13Because of this, the prudent
keep silent in this time, for it is an evil time. 14Seek good and not evil so that you may live, so
that the Lord God Almighty will be with you. As you have said,† 15‘We hated evil and loved
good.’ And restore justice in the gate that the Lord God Almighty may have mercy on the
remnant of Joseph.”

  16Therefore the Lord God Almighty says, “There shall be wailing in all the streets, and it
shall be said in all the highways, ‘Woe! Woe!’ The farmer shall be called to mourning and
lamentation, as will those skilled in wailing and complaining. 17There shall be lamentation in
all your streets because I shall pass through the midst of you,” says the Lord.

  18Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! What is the day of the Lord to you? It will be

darkness and not light. 19It will be as though a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him! As
though he rushed into the house, leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him! 20Is not
the day of the Lord darkness and not light? Is it not a deep darkness, with no brightness in it?

  21“I hate, I reject your feast days. I do not savor your sacred assemblies.† 22Though you
offer Me burnt offerings and meat offerings, I will not accept them. I will not regard your
fattened peace offerings. 23Take away from Me the sound of your songs, for I will not hear
your musical instruments. 24Instead, let justice run swiftly as does water from the mountain,
and let righteousness be as a stream that cannot be crossed.

  25“O house of Israel, did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings those forty years in the

wilderness? 26You have carried the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Raiphan,
which you made for yourselves. 27Therefore I shall exile you beyond Damascus,” says the
Lord—the Almighty God is His name.†

                                   Woe to the Complacent


6 Woe  to those who feel secure in Zion and who trust in Mount Samaria. They have
  gathered the notable heads of the nations who go there.† 2O house of Israel, all of you, go
and see. Go to Hamath the great, and then go down to Gath of the Philistines, the most
powerful of all those kingdoms. See if their territory is greater than your territory. 3You who
are approaching the evil day, who draw near and hold false sabbaths. 4You who lie on beds of
ivory, who stretch out on your couches and eat kids from the flock and suckling calves from
the midst of the herds, 5who applaud the sound of stringed instruments, considering them as
if permanent and not fleeting, 6who drink filtered wine and anoint yourselves with the best
ointments, and have suffered nothing because of the affliction of Joseph. 7Therefore, now
they shall be taken captive first, and the neighing of horses will be cut off from Ephraim.
8For the Lord has sworn by Himself, saying, “I abhor all the pride of Jacob, and I hate his
lands. Therefore I shall destroy the city and all its inhabitants.”

  9Then it shall come to pass that if ten men remain in one house, they will die. 10But a
remnant will remain, and they will diligently endeavor to remove the bones of their relations
from the house; and one will say to those standing before the house, “Are there any more
with you?” Then someone will say, “None.” And he will say, “Hold your tongue! For we dare
not mention the name of the Lord.”

  11For behold, the Lord commands, and He shall break the great house into bits and the

little house into pieces. 12Will horses run on rocks? Do they keep silent among mares? Yet
you turned justice into anger and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness;† 13you who
rejoice vainly, who say, “Have we not possessed horns by our own power?” 14“But, behold! I
shall raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel, and they will afflict you from the
entrance of Hamath to the river of the west.”

                                 Powerful Acts of Judgment


7 Thus  the Lord showed me: Behold, He formed locust swarms at dawn; and behold, one
  locust, Gog, was the king. 2And so it was, when they had finished eating the grass of the
land, I said, “O Lord, Lord, be merciful! Who will raise up Jacob? For he is small!† 3Repent, O
Lord, concerning this.” And the Lord said, “It shall not be.”

  4Thus the Lord showed me: Behold, the Lord called for judgment by fire, and it engulfed

the great deep and devoured the Lord's portion. 5Then I said, “Lord, Lord, cease, who will
raise Jacob? For he is small! 6Relent, Lord, concerning this.” “This also shall not be,” said the
Lord.

  7Thus He showed me: Behold, a man stood on a wall made of adamant, with adamant in

his hand.† 8And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “Adamant.” Then
the Lord said, “Behold, I am placing adamant in the midst of My people Israel. I shall not pass
by them anymore. 9The joyful altars will be abolished, and the sacrifices of Israel will be laid
waste. I shall rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”

  10Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos
conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his
words. 11For thus Amos has said: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely be
led away captive from their own land.’ ” 12Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go, you seer! Flee to
the land of Judah. Live out your life there and prophesy there. 13But no longer prophesy at
Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, his royal residence.”
  14Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet nor the son of a prophet. I

was but a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit.† 15Then the Lord took me from the
sheep, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ 16Now therefore, hear the
word of the Lord: ‘You say, Do not prophesy to Israel, and do not stir up the house of Jacob.’
17Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and
daughters shall fall by the sword. Your land shall be divided by a survey line, and you shall die
in a defiled land. Israel shall surely be led away captive from his own land.’ ”

                                 The Bird-Catcher's Basket

       the Lord showed me: Behold, a bird-catcher's basket. 2And He said, “Amos, what do
8 Thus
  you see?” So I said, “A bird-catcher's basket.” Then the Lord said to me, “The end has
come upon My people Israel. I shall not pass by them anymore. 3And the recessed ceilings of
the temple shall wail in that day,” says the Lord, “for many are fallen in every place; I will
bring silence upon it.”

  4Therefore, hear this, you who oppress the poor in the morning and use tyranny to drive

the needy from the land, 5saying, “When does the month end so we can barter? and the
Sabbath end so we can open the storehouses? So we can falsify the balancing scales to our
favor, and thereby receive greater profits by deceit; 6when the poor man can be acquired for
silver and the downcast for sandals; when we can trade in any kind of product?” 7The Lord
swears against the arrogance of Jacob; He will not forget any of your works. 8Will not the
land be disturbed by these things, and will not everyone dwelling in it mourn? Even as a
flooding river comes to an end, so too the flood waters of the river of Egypt return to their
banks.†

   9“And it will come to pass in that day,” says the Lord God, “the sun will set at noon, and the

light of day will grow dark over the land. 10And I shall turn your feasts into mourning and all
your songs into lamentation. I shall place sackcloth on every waist and make every head bald.
They shall be as one mourning a beloved one, and those with them as a day of grief.”

                          A Famine for Lack of the Word of the Lord

  11“Behold, the days will come,” says the Lord, “that I shall send a famine across the land;

not a famine of bread nor a thirst for water, but famine to hear the words of the Lord.† 12The
waters will be unsettled as far as the sea. And from the north to the east men will scurry
about seeking to find the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. 13And in that day the fair
virgins and the strong young men will faint from want of water. 14Those who swear by the
sin-offering of Samaria, and who say, ‘O Dan, your god lives; O Beersheba, your god lives!’
They shall fall and never rise again.”

                                     A Vision of the Altar


9 Iofsaw the Lord standing by the altar, and He said, “Strike the mercy seat, and the gateway
      the temple shall be shaken. And cut through to the heads of all of them, and I will slay
the remnant of them with the sword. He who flees shall not get away, and he who escapes
from them shall not be delivered.† 2Though they may attempt to bury themselves in Hades,
from there My hand shall drag them out, and though they climb up to heaven, from there I
shall bring them down. 3Though they hide themselves on top of Carmel, from there I shall
search and take them. Though they hide from My sight at the bottom of the sea, from there I
shall command the serpent, and it will bite them. 4And though they go into captivity before
their enemies, from there I shall command the sword, and it will slay them. And I shall set
My eyes on them for evil and not for good.”

  5The Lord, the Lord God Almighty, is He who takes hold of the land and causes it to shake,
and all who dwell there shall mourn; for its destruction shall come up as the flood of a river
and shall then return to its banks as the River of Egypt. 6He who builds his ascent to the
heaven and establishes His promise on the earth, who calls the water of the sea, and pours it
out on the face of the earth—the Lord God Almighty is His name. 7“O sons of Israel, are you
not as the sons of the Ethiopian to Me?” says the Lord. “Did I not bring Israel up from the
land of Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians out of Kir?

  8“Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the kingdom of sinners, and I shall destroy it
from the face of the earth. Yet I shall not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” says the Lord.
9“For I commanded, and I will winnow the house of Israel among all the nations, as grain is

sifted in a sieve; yet not a grain will fall upon the ground. 10All the sinners of My people who
say, ‘No evil will draw near, neither will it overcome us,’ shall die by the sword.

                            Restoration after Judgment Is Past

  11“In that day I shall raise up the fallen tabernacle of David, and I shall rebuild its ruins
and repair its damages and rebuild it as in the days of old,† 12that the remnant of men and all
the nations upon whom My name is called will seek Me,” says the Lord, who does this thing.†
13“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “when the threshing will overtake the
harvest, and grapes will ripen at the time the seed is sown, and the mountains will drip
sweetness, and all the hills shall share in it. 14I shall bring back the captives of My people
Israel, and they will rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them. They will plant vineyards and
drink wine from them. They also will make gardens and eat fruit from them. 15I shall plant
them on their land; no longer will they be uprooted from the land which I have given them,”
says the Lord God Almighty.
                                       M ICAH
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Chapters in Micah
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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Verses in Micah Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Micah Chapter 2
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11, 12, 13

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Verses in Micah Chapter 3
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11, 12

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Verses in Micah Chapter 4
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11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Micah Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Micah Chapter 6
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Micah Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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                                                            The Book of Micah

   Author   —Micah, which means, “who is like the Lord?” He is commemorated on August
14.

   Date   —Tradition holds that Micah prophesied from 740–686 BC and that his book was
written before 720 BC.

   Major Theme      —God's destruction of evildoers and His goodness to the faithful. In the
midst of a very dark time, Micah delivers the messianic prophecies of hope and
deliverance for the faithful remnant. He foretells the New Covenant, the Incarnation,
Christ's birth at Bethlehem, Christ's sufferings, the Church and its persecutions, the
conversion of Gentiles, and a time of peace.

   Background     —The prophet Micah prophesied during a time of spiritual and moral
decadence in the midst of great affluence throughout the Northern and Southern
Kingdoms. He witnessed the adoption of the idolatry of the Canaanites by Samaria and
Judah. Micah was the son of Joram, from the tribe of Ephraim. He prophesied to both
kingdoms. Micah was known as the prophet of the poor and the herald prophet. His
contemporaries were Isaiah, Amos, and Hosea.

Outline

 I. God's Judgm ent against Israel and Judah (1 :1 –1 6 )

II. The Upper Classes Guilty of Injustice (2 :1 –3 :1 2 )

III. Trium ph of God's Mercy (4 :1 –5:1 4 )

        A. Gentiles will enter the Kingdom (4 :1 –8)

        B. Judgm ent on Israel's enem ies (4 :9 –1 4 )

        C. The Messianic King from Bethlehem (5:1 –8)

        D. Israel's v ictory after purging of idolatry (5:9 –1 4 )

IV. God's Judgm ent of Israel's Ungratefulness (6 :1 –1 6 )

V. A Rem nant Will Receiv e God's Mercy (7 :1 –2 0)

        A. Lam entation for the sins of corruption (7 :1 –6 )

        B. The prophet's assurance of hope (7 :7 )

        C. The faithful will trust in God's m ercy (7 :8–1 0)

        D. The Messiah's v ictory (7 :1 1 –2 0)
1 The word of the Lord came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, and Ahaz, and
  Hezekiah, kings of Judah, concerning what he saw as it relates to Samaria and Jerusalem.†

                           Judgment against Israel and Judah

  2Hear these words, O people! Give heed, O earth, and all that is in it. For the Lord God

shall be among you for a witness against you, the Lord from His holy house. 3For behold, the
Lord is coming out of His place. He will come down and tread upon the high places of the
earth. 4The mountains will shake under Him, and the valleys will melt like wax before the
fire, like water pouring down a steep incline.† 5All of this is for the transgression of Jacob and
the sin of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And
what is the sin of the house of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?

  6“I will make Samaria become as a shed in the field and a vineyard for planting, and I will

tear down her stones in confusion and expose her foundations.† 7And they shall cut all of her
carved images into pieces and burn down all her houses of prostitution with fire. And I shall
utterly destroy all her idols, for she gathers from the price of prostitution and has
accumulated from the price of a harlot.”†

                                        A Lamentation

  8On account of this she will wail and lament. She will walk barefoot and naked, beating her

breast in mourning as a serpent, and mourn as the daughters of Sirens.† 9For her calamity
overwhelms her, for it has come to Judah, as far as to the gate of My people—to Jerusalem.
10Those of Gath, do not exalt yourselves, and those of the house of Aphrah, do not rebuild

your house from laughter; sprinkle dust on your laughter.† 11The one living in Shaphir,
dwelling comfortably in her cities, did not come to mourn her neighbor; she will receive a
calamity of grief from you.

  12Who has begun to do good for her who dwells in distress? For evils have come down

from the Lord upon the gates of Jerusalem, 13even the sound of a chariot and horseman.
Those dwelling in Lachish—she was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion—for in you
were found the transgressions of Israel. 14Because of this He will cause men to be sent forth
as far as the inheritance of Gath, vain houses, for they have become vanity to the kings of
Israel, 15until they bring the heirs to you, O inhabitants of Lachish; the inheritance shall
come as far as Adullam, even the glory of the daughter of Israel. 16Shave your hair and make
your head bald as an eagle for the sake of your precious children; increase your widowhood,
for they have been taken captive.

                                        The Sins of Judah


2 They  devised wickedness and were scheming evil on their beds, and at daybreak they put
  their plan into action, for they did not lift up their hands to God.† 2They coveted fields
and plundered orphans; they oppressed families and plundered a man and his house, a man
and his inheritance. 3Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am devising evils against this
tribe from which you shall not lift up your neck, nor will you suddenly walk upright, for this
is a time of evil.† 4In that day a parable shall be taken up against you, and a dirge will be
wailed, saying, ‘In misery we have suffered hardship. The portion of my people has been
measured out with a measuring line, and there was no one who was able to stop Him. Our
fields have been divided among them.’† 5Therefore there will be no one to put out a
measuring line for a lot for you in the assembly of the Lord.

  6“Do not shed tears, nor even weep over these things; for He will not dismiss the

reproaches 7who says, ‘The house of Jacob has provoked the Spirit of the Lord; are these not
His practices? Are not His words good with Him, and have they not proceeded as predicted?
8And previously, for enmity my people resisted against His peace. They flayed his skin to

remove hope in the ravages of war. 9Therefore those leading my people will be cast out of
their luxurious homes; they have been driven out because of their wicked practices. Draw
near to the everlasting mountains.’ ”

  10Arise and depart, for this is not a final resting place for you on account of uncleanness;

you have been utterly destroyed by corruption. 11You were pursued by no one pursuing! You
pursued a spirit built on a falsehood; it drips on you, into the wine and the intoxicating drink,
and by reason of the drop of this people, it shall happen.†

                                     Future Deliverance

  12“Jacob will be completely gathered together with all of them. I shall wait, expecting the
remnant of Israel. By him, I will cause their return as sheep in trouble, as a flock in the midst
of their fold. From the breach made before them, they will rush out from among their
captors. 13They will break through the gate of captivity, and their king comes out before their
presence. And the Lord shall lead them.”

                           Rulers and False Prophets Judged


3 He  will say, “Hear these things, O heads of the house of Jacob, and you remnant of Israel.
  Is it not for you to know judgment?† 2you who hate good and love evil; you who seize
their skins in order flay them and cut their flesh off their bones?† 3who devoured the flesh of
my people by removing their skin, breaking their bones, and dividing them as merely flesh for
the cauldron and as meat for the pot?”†

  4Thus they will cry out to the Lord, but He will not hear them. Instead, He will turn His
face from them at that time because they have done wickedly in their deeds against
themselves.

  5Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who were
proclaiming peace upon them while they themselves ate, but who, when nothing was put in
their mouths, stirred up war against them: 6“Therefore to you there will be darkness instead
of vision, and to you there will be darkness instead of prophecy. For the sun will set on the
prophets, and the day shall become very dark on them. 7And the seers of dreams will be put
to shame, and the prophets will be laughed to scorn. And all the people will speak evil of
them, because there will be no one heeding them.”

  8Surely I shall strengthen myself in the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of power,

to proclaim to Jacob his ungodliness and to Israel his sins.† 9Indeed, hear this, you heads of
the house of Jacob and the remnant of the house of Israel, you who despise judgment and are
perverting everything that is upright, 10who build up Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem
with injustice. 11Her leaders make decisions founded on a bribe, and her priests give answers
for pay, and her prophets prophesy for money. And they lean on the Lord, saying, “Is not the
Lord with us? No harm can come upon us.” 12Therefore on account of you, Zion shall be
plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall be as a shed in the field, and the mountain of the house as
a grove of trees.

                                   The Lord Shall Reign
4 And  it shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lord will be revealed. It
  will be raised up on the top of the mountains, and it will be exalted far above the hills, and
peoples will hasten to it. 2And many nations will go there and say, “Come, let us go up to the
mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. They will teach us His ways, and we
will walk in His paths.” For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem. 3And He will judge between many peoples and rebuke strong nations afar off.
They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into sickles. Nation shall no
more lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. 4But everyone shall
be at rest under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid,
for the mouth of the Lord Almighty has spoken these things. 5For all the peoples shall walk
each one his own way, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

  6“In that day,” says the Lord, “I shall gather her who has been broken, and I will welcome

her who has been exiled, even those whom I have rejected.ω 7And I shall make her who has
been broken into a remnant, and her that was rejected into a strong nation. So the Lord will
reign over them in Mount Zion henceforth and forever. 8And you, O daughter of Zion, dark
tower of the flock, on you it will come and enter in, even the former kingdom of Babylon to
the daughter of Jerusalem.”

  9And now, why have you experienced such evils? Was there no king in your midst? Or did

your counsel perish? For your birth pangs have seized you as one in labor. 10Suffer birth
pains and take courage, O daughter of Zion, and draw near like a woman giving birth; for now
you will be exiled from the city, and you will abide in the flat open country, and you will have
come as far off as Babylon; and from that place the Lord your God shall redeem you from the
hand of your enemies.†

  11Now many nations have gathered against you, saying, “We will rejoice, and our eyes will

gaze upon Zion.” 12But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord nor perceive His counsel,
for He gathered them like sheaves for the threshing floor.

  13“Arise and thresh them, O daughter of Zion, for I shall make your horns iron, and I will
make your hooves bronze. And you will cause the nations to melt away, and you will winnow
many peoples. You will dedicate their abundance to the Lord and their strength to the Lord of
all the earth. 14Now the daughter of Ephraim will be blockaded by a siege wall; for he ordered
affliction against us, and they shall smite the tribes of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.”
                                 A Ruler Out of Bethlehem


5 “And  you, O Bethlehem, House of Ephrathah, though you are fewest in number among
  the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to me the One to be ruler of
Israel. His goings forth were from the beginning, even from everlasting.”ω 2Therefore He
shall give them up until the appointed time for her to give birth, and then the remnant of
their brothers will return to the sons of Israel. 3And He shall stand and see, and shepherd His
flock in the strength of the Lord, and they will dwell in the glory of the name of the Lord their
God, for now they will be magnified unto the ends of the earth. 4And she will have peace; for
when the Assyrian comes into our land and goes up upon our country, then seven shepherds
and eight attacks from men will be raised up against them.

  5They will tend the Assyrian with a sword and the land of Nimrod in her trench. And He
shall deliver you from the Assyrian should he come into your land, and should he come up
over your borders. 6And the remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of
many peoples, as dew falling from the Lord and as lambs in a field of grass, in order that none
among the sons of men may assemble together nor resist.† 7And the remnant of Jacob will be
among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, as a lion among the cattle in the forest, and
as a young lion among a flock of sheep, which, whenever it passes through, seizes and carries
off its prey, and there is none to rescue. 8But your hand will be exalted above those
oppressing you, and all your enemies will be completely cut off.

  9“And it shall come to pass in that day,” says the Lord, “I shall utterly destroy your horses

from your midst and destroy your chariots. 10I shall utterly destroy the cities of your land
and demolish all your strongholds. 11And I shall drive away your sorceries out of your hands,
and there shall be no soothsayers among you. 12I shall utterly destroy your carved images
and the sacred pillars from your midst, and you will no longer worship the work of your
hands; 13and I shall cut off your sacred groves from your midst and destroy your cities.
14And I shall exact vengeance on the nations with wrath and anger among those who did not
heed.”

                            The Lord Has a Case against Israel


6 Now hear the word of the Lord. The Lord says, “Arise, plead your case before the
  mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.† 2Hear, O mountains, the judgment of the
Lord, and you valleys, the foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a case against His people,
and He will contend with Israel. 3O My people, what have I done to you? How have I grieved
you? Answer Me!† 4For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the
house of bondage; and I sent you Moses, and Aaron, and Miriam. 5O My people, remember
now what King Balak of Moab plotted against you, and what answer Balaam the son of Beor
gave to him from the reeds as far as to Gilgal, that the righteousness of the Lord might be
known.”

  6How shall I come to understand the Lord and devote myself to the Most High God? Shall

I reach Him with burnt offerings? with year-old calves? 7Will the Lord be pleased with
thousands of rams? or with a myriad of streams of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my
ungodliness, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8He has shown you, O man, what is
good. Or what does the Lord seek from you but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to be
ready to walk with the Lord your God?†

  9The Lord's voice shall be proclaimed in the city, and He shall save those who fear His

name. “Hear, O tribe, who will put the city in order? 10For is there not a fire there, and the
house of the lawless storing up lawless treasures with insolent unrighteousness? 11Will the
lawless be justified by a balance scale or a bag of deceitful weights 12from which they
accumulated their ungodly wealth? And those that dwell in the city have spoken lies and
exalted themselves with their own mouth.

  13“Therefore I will begin to smite you; I will destroy you because of your sins. 14You shall
eat but not be satisfied, and there will be darkness upon you, and he will depart without being
noticed, and you will not be rescued; and all who do escape will be given over to the sword.
15You will sow, but you will not reap. You will press olives, but you will not anoint yourself
with oil. And you will make wine, but you will not drink any of it, and the statutes of my
people will be utterly abolished. 16For you have kept the ordinances of Omri and done all the
works of the house of Ahab. You walked in their counsels, so that I should deliver you over to
complete destruction and make your inhabitants into a hissing, and you will bear the
reproach of the peoples.”

                                     Trust Not in Men
7 Woe   is me! For I have become like one harvesting stubble, like one gleaning small grapes
  after the vintage grapes are picked, but not finding for myself any cluster of first fruit to
eat. Woe is me, O my soul! 2For the God-fearing man has perished from the earth, and there
is no one upright among the men. They all lie in wait, even unto blood, and each one
grievously oppresses his neighbor. 3They prepare their hands for evil; the prince demands a
gift, and the judge speaks flattering words; it is the desire of their soul. “Thus I shall take
away 4their good things as the moth who eats away, and as one proceeding by the rule in the
day of the watch. Alas! alas! the time of your vengeance is come; now shall be their
lamentation. 5Do not trust in friends, nor put your hope in those who govern. Beware of your
wife and do not tell her anything. 6For a son dishonors his father, a daughter will rise up
against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are all the
people of his own house.”†

                                       Hope in the Lord

  7But I will look to the Lord. I will wait for God my Savior, for my God will hear me. 8Do
not rejoice over me, O my enemy, for though I have fallen, yet will I arise, because even if I
should sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. 9I will endure the wrath of the Lord, for
I sinned against Him, until He pleads my cause; for He will execute my judgment and will
bring me out into the light, and I will perceive His righteousness. 10And my enemy will see it,
and he who says to me, “Where is the Lord your God?” will be clothed with shame. And my
eyes will look upon him, and now he will be for trampling upon as mud in the streets.

  11In the days when your bricks are being plastered—that day will be your destruction, and

your ordinances will be abolished. 12In that day even your cities will be leveled to the ground
and divided among the Assyrians; your fortified cities will be divided from Tyre as far as the
River of Syria; it will be a day of flood and chaos. 13And the land will become totally desolate
together with those dwelling in it, because of the fruit of their practices.

  14Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the sheep of Your inheritance, those dwelling
solitarily in the thicket in the midst of Carmel. They will feed in Bashan and in Gilead, as in
days of old. 15And as in the days of your departure from the land of Egypt, you will see many
wonders. 16The Gentiles will see and be ashamed of all their might. They will cover their
mouth with their hands, and their ears will become deaf. 17They shall lick the dust like
serpents crawling on the earth; they will be confounded in their confinement and be amazed
at the Lord our God, and they will be afraid of You.

  18Who is a God like You, removing wrongdoings and passing over the ungodliness of the
remnant of His inheritance? He does not keep His anger as a witness, for He delights in
mercy.† 19He will return and have compassion on us. He will subdue our transgressions, and
all our sins will be cast into the depths of the sea. 20You will give truthfulness to Jacob and
mercy to Abraham, as You swore to our ancestors from days of old.
                                       JOEL
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Chapters in Joel
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4

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Verses in Joel Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Joel Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Joel Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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Verses in Joel Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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                                                  The Book of Joel

   Author   —Traditionally the prophet Joel (commemorated October 19), son of Pethuel, of
the tribe of Reuben. His is a common Jewish name, meaning “Yahweh is God.” Nothing
is known of his life outside of his short prophecy.

   Date   —Any number of dates have been suggested for Joel's life. Fathers such as Ss.
Jerome and Isidore place Joel in the time of the prophets Isaiah and Hosea, about 740
BC. Tradition held Joel to be one of the earlier prophets; modern scholars are undecided
about the matter, often placing him at about 450–400 BC, after the restoration of Israel
from exile.

   Major Theme     —Ultimately, the Lord is victorious. Three major themes are prominent. (1)
A call summoning the people of God to turn their sorrow into penitence (1:1–2:17). (2)
The faithfulness of God to rise up on behalf of His people, restore their prosperity, and
bring the nations to justice (2:18–27). (3) The coming of the Holy Spirit, the Third
Person of the Trinity (3:1–5). Joel emphasizes the universal mission of the Spirit,
anticipating the Day of Pentecost, when He is poured out on all flesh.

   Background     —It is likely the prophet Joel wrote in the face of a double disaster—the
attack of military aggressors such as the Babylonians, and the onset of a plague of
locusts. The prophet freely switches between the two calamities, likening them to each
other. As the narrative proceeds, Joel employs two distinct prophetic genres: (1) he calls
his people to contrition and repentance; and (2) he uses vivid apocalyptic imagery to
convey deep spiritual truths. The contrast created by these two approaches prompted St.
Jerome to comment, “Joel is clear at the beginning, but at the end more obscure.”

Outline

 I. Dev astation in Israel (1 :1 –2 0)

II. Call to Repentance (2 :1 –1 7 )

III. The Deliv erance of the Lord (2 :1 8–2 7 )

IV. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit (3 :1 –5)

V. The Judgm ent of the Nations (4 :1 –1 7 )

VI. The Prosperity of Zion (4 :1 8–2 1 )
1 The word of the Lord came to Joel the son of Pethuel.†
                      Invasion of the Locusts and the Caterpillars

  2Hear this, you elders, and give ear, all of you inhabiting the land. Have such things

happened in your days or in the days of your fathers?† 3Tell your children about this, and
your children to their children, and their children to the next generation. 4What the
caterpillars have left is eaten by the grasshopper, and what the grasshoppers have left is eaten
by the locust, and what the locusts have left is infected with red blight.†

  5Get sober, you who are drunk from your wine, and weep, mourn all you who drink wine,

for joy and gladness are removed from your mouth.† 6For a nation strong and numberless
came up against My land. His teeth are the teeth of a lion and his molars those of a young
lion.† 7He laid waste My vine and splintered My fig tree. He diligently searched out and
uprooted My vine, peeling off its outer bark.

  8Mourn before Me more than a virgin bride clothed with sackcloth for the husband of her

youth.† 9The meat-offering and the drink-offering are removed from the house of the Lord.
Mourn, you priests, you who serve at the altar,† 10for the fields languish and the land
mourns; for the grain withers, the wine is dried up, and the olive oil is scarce. 11The farmers
are exhausted. Mourn for the sake of your fields of wheat and barley, for the harvest from the
field has been lost.† 12The vine is shriveled up, and the fig trees are scarce in number. The
pomegranate and the palm tree, the apple tree and all the trees of the field are withered, for
they put to shame the delight of the sons of men.†

  13Gird yourself with sackcloth and wail, you priests. Mourn, you who serve at the altar. Go
in, sleep in sackcloth, you who minister unto God, for the grain-offering and drink-offering
are withheld from the house of your God.† 14Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly. Gather
all the elders and all the people of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry out
fervently to the Lord.†

  15Alas! Alas! Alas! For the day of the Lord draws near, and it will come as misery upon

misery.† 16The food is completely destroyed before your eyes; joy and gladness are removed
from the house of your God. 17The heifers are restless in their stalls, and the storehouses are
emptied. The winepresses are broken down; the grain is withered. 18What will we store up
for ourselves? The herds of cattle groaned because there was no pasture, and the flocks of
sheep are no more.

  19O Lord, I will cry out to You, for fire has devoured the pleasant places of the wilderness,

and a flame burned all the trees of the field.† 20And the cattle of the field also look up to You,
because the brooks are dried up and fire has devoured the pleasant places of the wilderness.†

                                     The Day of the Lord


2 Sound  the trumpet in Zion; make a proclamation in My holy mountain. Let all the
  inhabitants of the land be confounded, for the day of the Lord is near,† 2a day of darkness
and gloominess, a day of cloud and of dense fog. About daybreak a people both strong and
great in number will be spread upon the mountains, the likes of whom have never been nor
will come after them, not even for many generations. 3Before them is a consuming fire and
behind them a flame set ablaze. Before them the land is as a paradise of splendor, but behind
them a desolate plain; no one will be able to escape them.

  4Their outward appearance is as the appearance of horses, and thus as horsemen they will

pursue.† 5They shall bound upon the tops of the mountains as the sound of chariots, as the
sound of a flame of fire devouring straw, as a great number of mighty men setting themselves
in battle array. 6Before them the people will be crushed; every face shall be as the blackness
of a cauldron. 7As warriors they shall march quickly, and they will climb the walls like men of
war. Everyone shall march in formation; they will never break their ranks. 8They will not
separate from their comrades and will march weighed down with their arms. And though they
fall by their arrows, even so they will not be stopped. 9They will seize the city and run on the
wall. They will climb into the houses and enter the windows as do thieves. 10Before their
presence the land will be confounded, and the sky will be shaken. The sun and moon will
grow dark, and the stars will hold back their brightness. 11And because the day of the Lord is
great and exceedingly glorious, the Lord shall utter His voice before the face of His army, for
His army is numberless, and the works of His words are mighty. Who shall resist?

  12Now says the Lord your God, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting and wailing

and with mourning;† 13rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God,
for He is merciful and compassionate. He is longsuffering and plenteous in mercy and
repents of evils. 14Who knows if He will return and change His mind—if He will leave a
blessing behind Him, even an offering and drink-offering to the Lord our God?”

  15Sound the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly; 16gather the people,
sanctify the congregation, call out the elders, and gather the nursing infants. Let the
bridegroom go out from his bedchamber and the bride out of her bridal chamber. 17Between
the porch and the altar, the priests of the altar, ministering to the Lord, will each be weeping
and will say, “O Lord, spare Your people; do not give Your inheritance to reproach, that the
Gentiles should rule over them, lest they should say among the Gentiles, ‘Where is their
God?’ ”†

                             God's Blessing upon His People

  18But the Lord was zealous for His land and spared His people. † 19And the Lord answered
His people and said, “Behold, I send you wheat, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied with
them. I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations, 20and I will drive the army
from the north away from you, and I shall force him into a dry land. I will drown his face in
the eastern sea and his back in the western sea; its stench and foul smell will rise up, because
he has done powerful works.”†

  21O land, be of good courage; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things.†
22Take courage, you beasts of the field, for the plains of the wilderness have budded, and the

trees bear their fruit. And again the vine and the fig tree yield their full potency.† 23And you
children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the Lord your God, for He gives food that is right for
you, and He will shower you as before with the early and the late rain.ω 24The threshing
floors shall be full of wheat, and the presses of wine and olive oil will overflow. † 25“And I
will restore to you the years the grasshopper and the locust have eaten, and for the blight, and
the caterpillar, even for My great army, which I sent against you. 26You will eat abundantly
and be satisfied and will praise the name of the Lord your God for what He has so
wondrously done unto you. And My people will not be put to shame forever. 27Then you shall
know that I am in the midst of Israel; that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other but
Me. And at no time will My people be put to shame forever.

                              The Promise of the Holy Spirit


3 “After this it shall come to pass that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; your sons and
daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see
visions.† 2And in those days I shall pour out My Spirit on My servants and on My handmaids.
3And I shall give wonders in the heavens and upon the earth, blood and fire and vapor of

smoke. 4The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and
glorious day of the Lord comes to pass. 5And it shall be that whoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved, for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as
the Lord Himself said, and there shall be proclamation of the good news to those whom the
Lord Himself called.††

                               The Coming Day of Judgment


4 “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captivity of Judah and
  Jerusalem,† 2I shall also gather all the nations together and bring them down to the
Valley of Jehoshaphat, and there I will enter into judgment against them on account of My
people and My inheritance Israel, who were dispersed among the nations—against those who
divided My land,† 3and who cast lots over My people, and traded boys for prostitutes, and
sold girls for the wine they drank. 4Indeed, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coast of Philistia,
what have you to do with Me? Are you paying Me back for a grudge you hold against Me? If
so, I shall return your retaliation swiftly and immediately upon your own head,† 5because
you have taken My silver and My gold and taken My precious possessions into your temples,
6and because you sold the sons of Judah and Jerusalem to the sons of the Greeks in order to

exile them far from their borders.† 7Behold, I shall raise them up from the place where you
sold them, and I shall return your retribution upon your own head. 8I will sell your sons and
your daughters into the hands of the sons of Judah, and they will sell them into captivity to a
far distant nation, for the Lord has spoken.”

  9Proclaim these things among the nations: “Prepare for war; arouse the warriors; draw

near and go up, all you men of war.† 10Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning
hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’† 11Assemble together and join in, all you
nations round about. And in that place, gather yourselves together; let the gentle be warlike.
12Let all the nations rouse themselves and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I
shall sit to judge all the nations round about.

  13“Bring out the sickles, for the harvest is ripe. Come in and tread the grapes, for the
winepress is full, the wine vats overflow; for their wickedness is multiplied.† 14The news
resounded in the valley of judgment, for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of judgment.
15The sun and moon shall become dark, and the stars shall withdraw their light.† 16And the
Lord shall cry out from Zion, and He shall utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens
and earth will quake, but the Lord shall keep His people safe and shall strengthen the sons of
Israel.† 17So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, the one dwelling in Zion on My
holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be a holy city, and no more will strangers pass through
her.

                          The Final Restoration of God's Own

  18“And it will come to pass in that day that the mountains shall drip sweetness, and milk
shall flow from the hills, and all the brooks of Judah shall flow with water. And a fountain
shall flow out from the house of the Lord, and it will supply water to the Valley of Acacias.
19Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a wilderness because of the wrongdoings

against the people of Judah, because of the innocent blood shed in their land.† 20But Judah
shall be inhabited forever and Jerusalem unto generations of generations. 21And I shall
avenge their blood and shall not let it go unpunished. The Lord shall dwell in Zion.”†
                                   O BADIAH
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Chapters in Obadiah
Introduction

1

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Verses in Obadiah Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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                                                      The Book of Obadiah

    Author   —The prophet Obadiah, whose name means “servant of the Lord.” Nothing is
  known about him except that he wrote down this brief prophecy.

    Date   —Sometime near 587 BC. Internal evidence (vv. 11–14) seems to connect the book
  to the time of the overthrow of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. If this is the case,
  Obadiah would be a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah.

    Major Theme      —The destruction of Edom and the restoration of Israel.

    Background      —The people of Edom (the descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob)
  were intense rivals and enemies of Israel. They even assisted the Babylonians in the
  destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BC and took the occasion to occupy some of the
  territory of Judah. God raised up the prophet Obadiah to pronounce judgment on
  Edom's arrogance and to proclaim that the Lord is the defender of what is right and the
  vindicator of the poor and the oppressed.

 Outline

  I. The Judgm ent on Edom and Its Destruction (v v . 1 –1 4 )

  II. The Day of the Lord (v v . 1 5–2 1 )

         A. Deliv erance for Mount Zion (v v . 1 5–1 8)

         B. The Kingdom of God established on earth (v v . 1 9 –2 1 )



                                                          Judgment of Edom

  1The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God to Edom: “I heard a report from the Lord,
and He sent out a message to the nations, saying, ‘Arise, and let us rise up against her for
battle.’† 2Behold, I have made you least among the nations; you are greatly dishonored.†
3The arrogance of your heart exalts you, dwelling as you do in the clefts of the rocks, as one
overconfident in his habitation, saying in his heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’
4If you should ascend as the eagle, and if you should make your nest amongst the stars, from

there I shall bring you down,” says the Lord.† 5“If thieves come upon you or robbers by night,
then to what place will you escape? Will they not steal a considerable amount for
themselves? And surely if grape-gatherers come to you, will they not leave a gleaning? 6How
Esau has been searched out, and his hidden things seized! 7All your allies force you to your
borders. Men at peace with you oppose you and prevail against you. They set an ambush
below you; there is no understanding in them.

  8“In that day,” says the Lord, “I shall destroy the wise men from Edom and understanding

from the mountain of Esau.† 9And your warriors from Teman will be terrified, in order that
everyone from the mountain of Esau may be cut off. 10Because of the slaughter and
ungodliness against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you will be cut off
forever. 11Because of that day in which you stood back and only watched the capture, his
forces being led away as captives by foreigners; in the day when they entered his gates and
cast lots for Jerusalem—on that day you were as one of them. 12And you should not have
looked on the day of your brother, on the day of foreigners, and you should not have rejoiced
against the children of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor spoken boastfully on the day
of distress.† 13Neither should you have gone into the gates of the people on the day of their
suffering. Neither should you have looked upon their gathering in the day of their ruin, and
you should not have joined in the attack on their forces in the day of their destruction. 14Nor
should you have stood at their mountain passes to put to death those escaping; nor should
you have taken prisoner those fleeing from them in the day of trial.

  15“For the day of the Lord is near against all the nations. For as you have done, it shall be

done to you in the same manner. Your recompense shall return on your own head.† 16For in
the same way that you drank on My holy mountain, so too shall all the nations drink wine.
They will drink and will be brought down, and it will be as if they never existed.

  17“But deliverance will come to Mount Zion, and it will be holy. And the house of Jacob

shall obtain their inheritance as their rightful inheritance. 18And the house of Jacob shall be
the fire, and the house of Joseph the flame; but the house of Esau shall be the stubble and
will be devoured in flames, and no one of the house of Esau will survive,” for the Lord has
spoken.

  19And those who dwell in the Negev shall inherit the mountain of Esau, and those of the
Sephelah the land of the Philistines. They will inherit the mountain of Ephraim, the plains of
Samaria and Benjamin, and the land of Gilead.† 20For the captivity of the sons of Israel shall
possess the land of the Canaanite as far as Zarephath; the captivity of Jerusalem as far as
Ephratha shall possess the cities of the Negev. 21And those who have been rescued shall
ascend from Mount Zion to exact vengeance on the mountain of Esau, and the kingdom shall
be the Lord's.†
                                       J O NAH
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Chapters in Jonah
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4

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Verses in Jonah Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Jonah Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in Jonah Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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Verses in Jonah Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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                                                            The Book of Jonah

    Author   —The prophet Jonah (commemorated September 21) is traditionally considered
  to be the author. He was an inhabitant of the city of Gath Hepher (4Kg 14:25) within
  the tribal borders of Zebulun, about five miles north of Nazareth. His name means “a
  dove.”

    Date   —Perhaps 784–772 BC. The experience of Jonah occurred during the reign of King
  Jeroboam II of Israel (790–750 BC).

    Major Theme       —The universality of God's mercy. The compassion of the Lord is not
  limited to the Jews, but extends to all people, even to the enemies of God's people.
  Jonah's reluctance to carry out God's command and his disappointment when God acts
  mercifully are a result of his narrow-minded nationalism, shared with many Jews of the
  postexilic period.

    Background     —The only other historical reference to Jonah comes from 4Kg 14:25, which
  mentions “Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.” In the Orthodox
  Church's liturgical tradition, the Book of Jonah is read in its entirety on Holy Saturday.
  The third-day deliverance of Jonah from the great fish is a foretaste of the third-day
  Resurrection of Christ.

  We sing, “Jonah was enclosed but not held fast in the belly of the whale; for, serving as a
figure of You, who were buried in the tomb, he leapt forth from the monster as from a bridal
chamber and he called out to the watch: O you who keep guard falsely and in vain, you have
forsaken your own mercy.”

 Outline

  I. First Calling of Jonah (1 :1 –2 :1 1 )

         A. Jonah's disobedience (1 :1 –3 )

         B. God's judgm ent and rescue (1 :4 –1 6 )

         C. Jonah's pray er and deliv erance (2 :1 –1 1 )

  II. Second Calling of Jonah (3 :1 –4 :1 1 )

         A. Jonah's obedience (3 :1 –4 )

         B. Ninev eh's repentance (3 :5–1 0)
       C. Jonah's com plaint (4 :1 –3 )

       D. God's rebuke (4 :4 –1 1 )



                                          Jonah Flees from the Lord

       the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,† 2“Arise and go to
1 Now
  Nineveh, the great city, and preach in it; for the cry of her wickedness has come up to
me.”† 3But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down
to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish, paid his fare, and boarded the ship to set sail
with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

  4But the Lord raised up a great wind upon the sea, and there came about a mighty tempest,

and the ship was in danger of breaking up. 5And the mariners were afraid and cried out, each
one to his god. And they cast out the cargo of the ship into the sea, attempting to lighten the
ship. But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, had gone to sleep, and was
snoring.†

  6The captain came to him and said, “Why are you snoring? Get up and call upon your God,

that your God may keep us safe so we do not perish.” 7And each one said to his shipmate,
“Come! Let us cast lots and find out on whose account this calamity is upon us.” So they cast
lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

  8Then they said to him, “Tell us, what is your occupation? Where do you come from and

from what country and people are you?” 9And he said to them, “I am a servant of the Lord,
and I worship the Lord God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”† 10Then the men
were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you did?” For the men knew he
was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 11Then they said to
him, “What should we do to you that the sea will calm itself for us?” For the sea continued to
be tempestuous, and the waves rose up even higher. † 12And Jonah said to them, “Take me
up and cast me into the sea, and the sea will grow calm for you, for I know this great tempest
is upon you because of me.”

  13And the men tried hard to return to the land, but were unable to do so, for the sea arose

and grew even more tempestuous against them. 14Then they cried out to the Lord and said,
“Please, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man's life, nor bring righteous blood
upon us; for you, O Lord, have brought this about.”† 15So they took up Jonah and threw him
into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16And the men feared the Lord even more,
and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and vowed vows.

                                                  Jonah's Song of Thanksgiving


2 Now   the Lord commanded a huge sea creature to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the
  belly of the sea creature three days and three nights.† 2And from the belly of the sea
creature, Jonah prayed to the Lord his God,† 3and said:

    “I cried out in m y affliction to the Lord, m y God,

    And He heard m y v oice;

    Out of the belly of Hades, You heard the cry of m y v oice. †

    4
         You cast m e into the depths of the heart of the sea,

    And riv ers encom passed m e;

    All Your surging waters and Your wav es passed ov er m e.

    5
        And I said, ‘I hav e been driv en away from Your sight;

    Shall I again look with fav or toward Your holy tem ple?’†

    6
         Water is poured ov er m e to m y soul;

    The lowest depth encircled m e;

    My head plunged into the clefts of the m ountains.

    7
        I descended into the earth,

    The bars of which are ev erlasting barriers;

    Yet let m y life ascend from corruption, O Lord, m y God.

    8
         When m y soul was failing from m e, I rem em bered the Lord.

    May m y pray er be brought to You, into Your holy tem ple.

    9
         Those who follow v anity and lies forsake their own m ercy .

    10
         But with a v oice of thanksgiv ing and praise,

    I will sacrifice to You.

    As m uch as I v owed, I shall offer up to You,

    To You, the Lord of Deliv erance.” †

  11Then the Lord commanded the sea creature, and it cast up Jonah onto the dry land.

                                                   The Repentance of Nineveh
       the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2“Arise and go to
3 Now
  Nineveh, the great city, and preach there according to the message I previously spoke to
you.”† 3So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, just as the Lord spoke. Nineveh was an
exceedingly great city to God, a journey of about three days. 4And Jonah began to enter into
the city, going a day's journey, where he proclaimed and said, “Yet three days and Nineveh
shall be overthrown.”

  5And the men of Nineveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from

the greatest of them to the least.† 6Then the word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose
from his throne, removed his robe, and put on sackcloth, and sat upon ashes.† 7And it was
proclaimed and spoken in Nineveh by the king and by his great men, saying, “Let not the
men, cattle, oxen, or sheep taste anything, eat, or drink water.” 8So the men and the cattle
were clothed with sackcloth, and they cried out fervently to God; and they each turned back
from their evil ways and from the wrongdoings of their hands, saying, 9“Who knows if God
shall have a change of heart and turn from His fierce anger, that we should not perish?”
10And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil ways. And God had a change of
heart about the evil which He said He would do to them, and He did not do it.

                        Jonah Is Grieved by the Lord's Compassion

   But Jonah was deeply grieved and was troubled.† 2So he prayed to the Lord and said, “O
4 Lord, were these not my words when I was yet in my land? Therefore I saw the need to
flee to Tarshish; because I knew You to be compassionate and merciful, longsuffering and
abundant in mercy, and willing to change your heart concerning evils. 3And now, Master,
Lord, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

  4And the Lord said to Jonah, “Are you exceedingly grieved?”† 5Then Jonah went out of the
city and seated himself opposite it. There he made for himself a tent and sat under its shade,
until he might observe what would happen to the city. 6And the Lord God commanded a
gourd, and it came up over the head of Jonah to be a shade over his head, to shield him from
his discomforts. Jonah rejoiced with great joy because of the gourd. 7But early the next
morning, God commanded a worm, and it smote the gourd, and the gourd withered up. 8And
when the sun rose, God commanded a burning east wind; and the sun beat down on the head
of Jonah, and he grew faint and despaired of his life. And he said, “It is better for me to die
than to live.” 9Then God said to Jonah, “Are you exceedingly grieved on account of the
gourd?” And he said, “I am exceedingly grieved, even unto death.” 10And the Lord said, “You
took pity on the gourd, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came up
during the night and perished before the next night. 11And shall I Myself not take pity upon
Nineveh, the great city, in which dwell more than one hundred and twenty thousand people
who do not know either their right hand or their left—and many livestock?”†
                                       NAHUM
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1, 2, 3

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11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Nahum Chapter 2
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11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Nahum Chapter 3
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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                                                       The Book of Nahum

   Author   —The prophet Nahum (commemorated December 1). His name means
“consolation.” He was from the tribe of Simeon and a contemporary of the prophets
Zephaniah, Jeremiah, and Habakkuk.

   Date   —Between 663 BC (the fall of Thebes) and 612 BC (the fall of Nineveh)

   Major Theme     —God's judgment and the destruction of Nineveh (capital of the Assyrian
Empire) for its idolatry, oppression, cruelty, and wickedness. Justice will prevail. God is
the Lord of history and of all nations, and their destinies are in His hands. Christ is
revealed as the One who brings good tidings and proclaims peace (1:15).

   Background     —The Assyrians had invaded Israel and Judah several times in the eighth and
seventh centuries BC. They were ruthless and cruel to the conquered peoples, deporting
them to other lands and bringing in foreigners to mingle with the few Jews who were
left. The prophet Jonah was sent by God to preach to the inhabitants of Nineveh during
this time, and they repented. However, within a few generations the evil and
wickedness of their forefathers returned, and the city was at its zenith of power and
wickedness when the prophet Nahum prophesied its destruction.

Outline

 I. Nahum Receiv es the Prophecy (1 :1 )

II. The Lord Is Ninev eh's Judge (1 :2 –1 4 )

        A. The Lord's v engeance, power, and goodness (1 :2 –8)

        B. Ninev eh's ov erthrow and Judah's peace (1 :9 –1 4 )

III. The Judgm ent of Ninev eh (2 :1 –1 4 )

        A. Description of the siege and capture of the city (2 :1 –9 )

        B. The city 's desolation and form er glory contrasted (2 :1 0–1 4 )

IV. Ninev eh's Total Destruction (3 :1 –1 9 )

        A. The sins of Ninev eh (3 :1 –7 )

        B. Ninev eh com pared with Egy pt (3 :8–1 0)

        C. The city 's doom in spite of wealth and strength (3 :1 1 –1 9 )



                                                The Lord Judges His Enemies
1 The burden against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.†
  2God is jealous, and the Lord is an avenger; the Lord is avenging with fury; the Lord takes

vengeance on His adversaries and drives out His enemies. 3The Lord is patient and His power
is great, but the Lord will not acquit the guilty. His way is in destruction and in a whirlwind;
the clouds are the dust of His feet.† 4He threatens the sea and makes it dry, and he dries up
all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel have diminished, and the flowers of Lebanon have died
out.† 5By Him the mountains are shaken and the hills quake, and the earth heaves at His
presence—the whole earth and all who dwell in it. † 6Who can stand before His wrath? Who
can withstand the fierceness of His anger? His fury melts away ruling powers, and He
shatters the rocks into pieces.

  7The Lord is merciful to those who wait on Him in the day of affliction, and He knows

those who reverence Him. 8For with an overwhelming flood He shall make an end to those
rising up, and darkness will pursue His enemies.† 9What do you plot against the Lord? He
shall bring about a complete end to it; He will not twice punish with affliction for the same
thing, 10for the enemy shall be laid bare even to the foundations, and consumed as twisted
yew, even as fully dried stubble.

  11From out of you shall come forth a plot against the Lord, counseling things hostile to

Him. 12Thus says the Lord who rules over many waters: “In the same manner you will be
torn apart, and the report of you will no longer be heard. 13And now I will break his rod from
off you, and I will break your bonds.” 14The Lord shall Himself give a command concerning
you: “Your name shall be perpetuated no longer. I will utterly destroy the graven and molten
images out of the house of your god. I shall dig your grave, and that quickly!”

                                    The Judgment of Nineveh


2 Behold, on the mountains the feet of him that brings good tidings and proclaims peace. O
  Judah, celebrate your feasts, pay your vows; for in no way shall they pass through you as
one who is beaten. He is completely destroyed; he has been removed.† 2The one being
delivered from affliction has come up breathing in your presence. Watch the road, gird your
loins, and be valiant in your strength!

  3For the Lord has turned away the pride of Jacob, just as He did the pride of Israel, for the
shakers have shaken them off and completely destroyed their branches. 4The weapons of
their power from men—mocking mighty men with fire, the reins of their chariots in the day
of their readiness, and their horsemen—shall be thrown into a state of confusion 5in the
streets, and the chariots shall clash and become entangled with one another in the broad
roads. Their appearance is as torches of fire and flashing lightning.† 6And their great men will
be remembered, and they will flee by day. They will be weak as they go on their way; they will
hasten to the walls, and they will prepare their advance defenses.†

  7The gates of the rivers have been opened, and the palaces have fallen into ruin, 8and the
foundation has been exposed. She has gone up, and her bondwomen were led away as doves
moaning in their hearts. 9And as for Nineveh, her waters are as a pool of water, and fleeing
away, they did not stand; there was no one paying attention.

  10They were plundering the silver, they were plundering the gold—and there was no end of

her treasures; they have been weighed down by all her precious things. 11There is thrusting,
shaking, and tumult, and breaking of hearts and weakening of knees, agony in every loin, and
the face of each one appearing as the blackening of a pot.†

  12Where is the dwelling place of the lions and the feeding place for her cubs? Where did

the lion go, that the lion's cub should go where there is none to scare him away? 13The lion
carried off sufficient prey for his cubs, and he strangled prey for his lions and filled his lair
with prey, even his dwelling-place of plunder. 14“Behold, I am against you,” says the Lord
Almighty; “I shall burn up your multitude in smoke, and the sword will devour your lions. I
shall utterly destroy your prey from the land, and your deeds shall never again be heard.”†

                                The Wickedness of Nineveh


3 O2The
     city of blood, totally false and full of unrighteousness: the prey will not be touched.
         cracking of whips and the sound of rumbling wheels, the galloping horses and
bounding chariots, 3cavalrymen in full charge with the glistening of swords and the glittering
of weapons, a multitude of wounded and of heavy falling; and there was no end to her
nations, but they will be weak in their bodies 4because of the abundance of sexual
immorality. She is a prostitute who is cultured and pleasing, skilled in the art of sorcery,
selling the nations with her sexual immorality and the people by her sorceries.†
  5“Behold, I am against you,” says the Lord God Almighty. “I shall uncover your backside in
your presence, and I shall make known your shame to the nations and your disgrace to the
kingdoms. 6I shall cast abominable filth upon you according to your uncleanness, and I shall
cause you to be a public example. 7And it will be that all who see you will turn away from you
and say, ‘Wretched Nineveh, who shall lament her? Where shall I seek consolation for her?’ ”

  8Prepare yourself a portion, tune the string of the lyre, and prepare a portion for Amon, the
one dwelling by the rivers with the river round about her, whose dominion is the sea and the
water her walls. 9Ethiopia is her strength, and Egypt as well, and there is no limit to her
flight, and the Libyans became her helper. 10And she will go into captivity as a prisoner, and
they will dash her infants to the ground at the heads of all the streets; they will cast lots over
all her splendid things, and all her nobles will be bound in chains. 11And you will become
drunk and be disregarded. You will seek for yourself a place of refuge from your enemies.
12All your strongholds are as fig trees having a watchman: if shaken, they will fall into the

mouth of the eater! 13Behold, your people are as women among you. The gates of your land
shall be wide open to your enemies, and fire will destroy the bars of your gates.

   14Draw water for the siege and fortify your strongholds. Trample the clay and tread it with

straw; make it stronger than brick. 15There the fire will devour you, and the sword will
utterly destroy you. It will devour you as a locust, and you will be oppressed as a locust.
16You have multiplied your commerce beyond the stars of heaven; the locust has attacked

and flown away. 17As a grasshopper, your crowd of half-breeds has suddenly left, as a locust
perched on a hedge on a frosty morning; the sun rises and it flies away. It does not know its
place. Woe to them! 18Your shepherds slumber; the king of Assyria put your nobles to rest;
your people departed to the mountains, and there was no one expecting them. 19There is no
healing your destruction. Your wound is festering. All those hearing the news of you shall
clap their hands over you, for upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually?
                                 HABAK K UK
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Habakkuk Chapter 3
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                                                    The Book of Habakkuk

     Author   —The prophet Habakkuk (commemorated December 2). Some traditions tell us
  he was the son of Sapnat, of the tribe of Simeon, prophesying in Judah six hundred
  years before Christ, in the time of King Manasseh. This would make him a
  contemporary of the Prophets Nahum, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Zephaniah.

     Date   —About 605 BC, during the weakening and collapse of the Southern Kingdom of
  Judah (626–586 BC) and before the arrival of the Babylonians in Palestine.

     Major Theme      —The problem of evil. Habakkuk agonizes in his soul that wickedness, strife,
  and oppression are rampant in Judah, but God seemingly does nothing about it. His
  perplexity intensifies when he learns God will judge Judah by the hands of the
  Babylonians, who are more wicked and ruthless than those being judged! In the end, he
  learns to rest and trust in God's dealings with His creation.

  Our Lord Jesus Christ is prophesied in this book as the Lord in His holy temple (2:20) and
the One who comes from afar to visit His People with salvation (3:3—quoted in the hymns of
the Royal Hours of the Nativity).

     Background     —Our Orthodox tradition states that this same prophet was indeed the one
  who was miraculously transported to Babylon and who visited and ministered to Daniel
  the Prophet in the lions’ den (Bel and the Serpent 33–37). Habakkuk entered into rest
  in great old age, and his relics were discovered during the reign of Theodosius the Great
  in the fourth century.

  The prophecy is set against the backdrop of the approaching Babylonians, who destroyed
Jerusalem in 587 BC. The people of Judah were living in wealth and luxury, and the society
was showing signs of rot and collapse. The rich were unjust and greedy, disregarding the
needs of the poor, the widows or the orphans. The judges were entirely corrupt.

 Outline

   I. Introduction (1 :1 )

  II. Habakkuk's First Outcry to God (1 :2 –4 )

  III. God's Response (1 :5–1 1 )

 IV. Habakkuk's Second Com plaint to God (1 :1 2 –2 :1 )
    V. God's Answer (2 :2 –2 0)

           A. Woe to the greedy m an (2 :2 –1 1 )

           B. Woe to the v iolent and bloodthirsty m an (2 :1 2 –1 7 )

           C. Woe to him who trusts in idols (2 :1 8–2 0)

 VI. The Pray er of Habakkuk (3 :1 –1 9 )



    The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.†
1
                                            The Prophet Complains of Injustice

  2How long, O Lord, shall I cry out to You, and You will not hear me? Being wronged I cry

out to You; You will not save.† 3Why have You shown me hardship and suffering, to look
upon misery and ungodliness? Judgment is before me, and the judge takes bribes. 4Therefore
the law is disregarded and justice is done ineffectually, for the ungodly oppress the righteous;
therefore justice shall go forth perverted.

                                                            The Lord Answers

    5“Behold, you scoffers, take notice; look and be amazed and be gone, for I am working a

work in your days which you would not believe even if someone told it to you.† 6For behold, I
am raising up against you the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation that marches through the
breadth of the earth to take possession of dwellings that are not theirs. 7He is terrible and
awesome. His judgment and dignity proceeds from himself.† 8Their horses bound more
swiftly than leopards, and they are more fierce than the wolves of Arabia. His horsemen will
ride out far away. They will spread out from afar, and they will fly as an eagle eager for its
food. 9Destruction will come upon the ungodly, opposing their advances from the opposite
side, and like sand will he gather the captivity.† 10And he will revel in kings, and princes will
be his plaything; he shall mock every fortified city and put up a siege mound and capture it.
11Then he will change his spirit, and he will pass through and he will make an atonement

saying, ‘This strength is from my god.’ ”†

                                              A Further Complaint of Injustice

  12Are You not from everlasting, O Lord God, my Holy One? O Lord, surely we shall not die.

O Lord, You have ordered it for judgment; He has formed me to reprove for His instruction.†
13His eye is too pure to see evil, and You are not able to look upon affliction. Why then do
You pay attention to those who scoff and keep silence when the ungodly swallow up the just?
14And will you make men to be like the fish of the sea and as the reptiles with no one leading

them?† 15He has brought up destruction with a fishhook, drawn it with his casting net, and
gathered it in his dragnets. Because of this he will be glad, and his heart will rejoice. 16On
account of this he will sacrifice to his dragnet and burn incense to his casting net. For by
them he has enriched his portion, and his foods are choice. 17Therefore, he will throw out his
casting net, and he will not spare to kill all the nations.

                       The Lord Answers the Prophet's Complaints


2 Iwhat
    will stand on my watch, mounted upon the rock, and see what He shall say to me, and
        might I answer when I am reproved?†

 2And the Lord answered me and said, “Write the vision distinctly upon a tablet, that he

who reads it may flee.† 3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, and it will come up at the
end, and it will not be in vain; if he should tarry, wait for him, for he will surely come, and he
will not tarry.†

  4“If any man should shrink back, My soul will not be well pleased in him; but the righteous

shall live by My faith.† 5But the one who is drunk and the scoffer, the man who boasts, shall
accomplish nothing; he widened his soul as the grave, and as death he is never satisfied, and
he will gather to himself all the nations and will take to himself all the peoples.† 6Shall not
all these take up a parable against him and a proverb for his history? And they shall say, ‘Woe
to him who multiplies to himself possessions which are not his. How long will this continue?
And who heavily presses down his yoke?’† 7For suddenly those biting at him shall rise up,
and they who plot against you will sober up, and you shall be as plunder to them. 8Because
you have plundered many nations, all the people who remain shall plunder you, because of
the men's blood and the sins of the land, and of the city and all who dwell in it.

  9“Woe to him who takes advantage of evil gain for his own house, so that he may set his

nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil. 10You counseled shame to your
house, and you wiped out many peoples, and your soul sinned.† 11Therefore, the stones will
cry out from the wall, and the beetle will speak out of wood.†

  12“Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed, who establishes a city by wrongdoing.
13Are not these things from the Lord Almighty? And many a people have utterly perished in

fire, and many nations have been disheartened. 14For the earth shall be filled with the
knowledge of the glory of the Lord; it shall cover them as water.†

  15“Woe to him who gives clouded and intoxicating drink to his neighbor, that he might

look upon his private parts. 16Drink to the fullness of the dishonor of your glory. Quake and
tremble! The cup in the right hand of the Lord has surrounded you, and it has gathered
disgrace upon your glory.† 17For the ungodliness of Lebanon shall cover you, and the distress
of wild beasts will terrify you, because of the blood of men and the ungodliness of the land
and all who dwell in it.

  18“What benefit is a graven image, since men carve it? They have formed it into a molten
image, a false image. For the one who made the thing trusts in that which is formed by him,
to make idols that cannot speak.

  19“Woe to him saying to the wood, ‘Awake and rise up,’ and to the dumb stone, ‘Be exalted.’
It is a merely a fantasy, being but a hammered piece of gold and silver. There is no living
breath in it at all. 20But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be reverent before
Him.”†

                                                      The Prophet's Prayer


3 The prayer of the prophet Habakkuk, with an ode.
    2
        Lord, I hav e heard Your report and was afraid;

    I considered Your works and was greatly astonished.

    You shall be known between the two liv ing creatures;

    In the approaching y ears You shall be acknowledged;

    You will be rev ealed when the tim e com es.

    When m y soul is troubled,

    You will in wrath rem em ber m ercy . †

    3
        God will com e from Tem an,

    The Holy One from the m ount of shaded leafy trees. Pause.

    His excellence cov ered the heav ens,

    And the earth was full of His praise. †

    4
        His brightness will be like the light;
Horns will be in His hand,

And He established a m ighty lov e of His strength. †

5
     Before His face a word will go forth;

It will go out by the shoes of His feet.

6
     The earth stood and was shaken to and fro;

He looked and the nations m elted away .

The m ountains were shattered by force;

The ev erlasting hills wasted away .

7
     In the place of distresses, I saw His eternal way s.

The tents of the Ethiopians will be dism ay ed,

Ev en the tents of the land of Midian.

8
     Were y ou angry , O Lord, with the riv ers?

Or was Your wrath against the riv ers,

Or was Your fury against the sea,

That You will m ount on Your horses,

And Your chariot is salv ation?

9
     “You will stretch y our bow against scepters,” say s the Lord. Pause.

The land of riv ers shall be torn asunder.

10
     Many peoples will see y ou and be in trav ail,

Dispersing waters from its course.

The aby ss uttered its v oice;

Raising its form on high.

11
     The sun arose, and the m oon stood in its course;

At the light of Your arrows they went forth,

At the flashing of Your gleam ing weapons.

12
     You will bring low the land with threatening;

You will break the nations in wrath.

13
     You went forth for the salv ation of Your people,

To sav e Your anointed ones.

You brought death upon the heads of the lawless;

You brought bonds upon their neck. Pause.

14
     You cut off the heads of rulers in am azem ent;

They shall trem ble in it.

They will break their bridles

Like a poor m an eating secretly .
15
     You ran y our horses into the sea,

Churning up the m any waters.

16
     I kept watch, and m y belly trem bled

From the sound of the pray er of m y lips;

And trem bling penetrated into m y bones.

And m y v ery fram e of m ind was troubled.

I shall rest in the day of tribulation

To go up to the people of m y sojourn.

17
     For though the fig tree will not bear fruit

And there be no grapes on the v ines;

The labor of the oliv e tree fail

And the fields y ield no food;

Though the sheep hav e no pasture

And there be no oxen in the cribs;

18
     Yet I will glory in the Lord;

I will rejoice in God m y Sav ior.

19
     The Lord God is m y strength;

He will direct m y feet to the end;

He will set m e upon high places,

So to conquer by His song.
                                 Z E PHANIAH
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Chapters in Zephaniah
Introduction

1, 2, 3

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Verses in Zephaniah Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Zephaniah Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Zephaniah Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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                                                      The Book of Zephaniah

     Author  —The prophet Zephaniah (commemorated December 3), from the tribe of
  Simeon. His name can be rendered “God has hidden.” It appears he was of royal blood,
  tracing his ancestry back to King Hezekiah (715–686 BC), and he was a resident of
  Jerusalem (1:4).

     Date   —About 627–625 BC. The holy prophet Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of
  King Josiah (1:1), who reigned in Judah from 640 to 609 BC. He was a contemporary of
  the prophets Jeremiah, Nahum, and Habakkuk.

     Major Theme     —Judgment and blessing on Judah.

     Background     —Zephaniah found himself prophesying in times that were both perilous and
  promising. During the long reign of Manasseh (696–642 BC), the religion and morality
  of Judah had been brought to an all-time low. The people practiced Baal worship,
  worship of the stars, and even human sacrifice, probably to please their Assyrian
  overlords. However, in the eyes of the holy prophet, these practices were nothing less
  than unbridled wickedness.

  Manasseh repented of his wickedness (C2hr 33:12); however, his son Amon did not, and
the people continued their pagan practices. When Josiah came to the throne in 640 BC, there
were many who yearned for a return to the God of the fathers and were ready both to hear
Zephaniah's message and to follow King Josiah in his zeal for reform.

 Outline

   I. Author and Setting of the Prophecy (1 :1 )

  II. Judgm ent of Judah: The Day of the Lord (1 :2 –2 :3 )

          A. Judah's idolatry and destruction (1 :2 –6 )

          B. Officials and roy alty punished (1 :7 –9 )

          C. Merchants and com placent judged (1 :1 0–1 3 )

          D. The Day of the Lord is at hand (1 :1 4 –2 :3 )

  III. Judgm ent of the Nations (2 :4 –3 :8)

          A. Philistia (2 :4 –7 )

          B. Moab (2 :8–1 1 )
         C. Ethiopia (2 :1 2 )

        D. Assy ria (2 :1 3 –1 5)

         E. Jerusalem (3 :1 –8)

 IV. Redem ption and Restoration of Zion (3 :9 –2 0)

        A. The righteous rem nant (3 :9 –1 3 )

         B. Rejoicing in Zion (3 :1 4 –2 0)



                                       The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord


1 The word of the Lord which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the
  son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah.†

  2“Let all things be totally consumed from the face of the earth,” says the Lord. 3“Let man
and cattle cease. Let the birds of the air and the fish of the sea be consumed. I shall drive
mankind from the face of the land,” says the Lord. 4“I shall stretch out My hand against
Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I shall remove the names of Baal
from this place and the names of the priests— 5those who worship the host of heaven on the
housetops and who swear oaths by the Lord and who swear oaths by their king— 6those who
turn away from the Lord, neither seeking the Lord nor holding steadfastly to Him.

  7“Fear before the presence of the Lord God, for the day of the Lord is at hand. The Lord has

prepared His sacrifice; He has sanctified His guests. 8And it shall be in the day of the Lord's
sacrifice that I shall take vengeance on the princes and on the king's house, and upon all
clothed with strange garments. 9And I will openly take vengeance upon all those in the gates
in that day, on those who fill the house of the Lord their God with ungodliness and deceit.

  10“And in that day,” says the Lord, “there will be from the gate the sound of shouting from
men killing, and a wailing from the second gate along with a great destruction from the hills.
11Mourn, those of you dwelling here, being cut down in pieces; for all the people are like
Canaan. All those exalting in silver are utterly destroyed.

  12“And it shall come to pass in that day that I shall search Jerusalem with a lamp and shall
take vengeance on the men having scorned their charge, the ones saying in their hearts, ‘The
Lord shall not do any good, nor shall He do any harm.’† 13And their power will be for
plundering and their houses for complete destruction. And they will build houses, but will
not live in them; and they will plant vineyards, but will not drink of their wine.
  14“For the great day of the Lord is near. It is near and quick. The sound of the day of the

Lord is bitter and harsh. 15A mighty day of wrath has been appointed: a day of affliction and
distress, a day of unseasonable happenings and destruction, a day of gloom and darkness, a
day of cloud and vapor, 16a day of the trumpet and shouting against the fortified cities and
the high towers. 17I will greatly afflict the men, and they will walk as blind men, for they
sinned against the Lord; and He shall pour out their blood as dust and their flesh as dung.
18Their silver and gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord,
but the whole land shall be consumed by the fire of His zeal; for He will bring about a speedy
end to all those who dwell in the land.

                              Judgment against the Nations

                                                                         2
2 “O  untaught nation, be gathered together and united to one another, before you become
  like a flower that passes away, before the anger of the Lord comes upon you, before the
day of the wrath of the Lord comes upon you! 3Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth.
Bring about justice, seek righteousness, and give answer to these things, so you may be
sheltered in the day of the Lord's wrath.

  4“For Gaza shall be for pillaging, and Ashkelon shall be for extermination. Ashdod shall be

driven out at midday, and Ekron shall be uprooted. 5Woe to those dwelling on the seacoast,
neighbors of the Cretans; O Canaan, land of the Philistines, the word of the Lord is against
you, and I shall destroy you out of your dwelling place. 6Crete shall be a pasture for flocks
and folds for sheep. 7The seacoast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; upon them
they shall pasture their flocks in the houses of Ashkelon; in the evening they will rest
because of the presence of the children of Judah, for the Lord their God has cared for them
and has removed their captivity.†

  8“I have heard the insults of Moab and the cruel acts of the people of Ammon, by which

they have berated My people and exalted themselves against My borders. 9Therefore, as I
live,” says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Moab shall be like Sodom, and the sons of
Ammon like Gomorrah, and Damascus is like a heap left on the threshing floor and ruined
forever; and the remnant of My people will plunder them, and the remnant of My nation will
inherit them.” 10This is their punishment because they have reproached and exalted
themselves against the Lord Almighty. 11The Lord shall show Himself to be against them and
shall utterly destroy all the gods of the earth, and they will worship Him, each one from his
place, even all the islands of the nations.

  12“O Ethiopians, you are the slain of My sword.” 13And He shall stretch out His hand to
the north and destroy the Assyrian, and make Nineveh a waterless desolation, as a desert.
14And flocks will graze in the midst of her, even all the wild animals of the land; and the
chameleons and hedgehogs will sleep in her coffered ceilings, and wild animals will cry out
between her breaches and ravens in her gates, for her loftiness was as a cedar. 15This is the
contemptuous city who dwells in hope, who says in her heart, “I am, and there is none beside
me.” How she has even become a desolation, a pasture for wild beasts! Everyone passing
through her will hiss and shake his fists.

                                      Woe to Jerusalem

                                                   †2
3 Alas, the glorious and ransomed city! The dove did not listen to the voice, nor did she
  accept correction, nor did she trust in the Lord, and she did not draw near to her God.
3Her rulers are in her as roaring lions, and her judges are as wolves of Arabia that remain

until morning. 4Her prophets borne by the wind, men who are scoffers, the bearers of the
spirit, are men who are scorners. Her priests profane the holy things and live contrary to the
law. 5But the Lord in her midst is just and will never act unjustly. Morning by morning He
will give His judgment in the light, and it is not concealed; He does not grant injustice by
extortion nor injustice by strife.

  6“I have brought down the arrogant with destruction, and their cornerstones are destroyed.
I will make their streets totally desolate, so that none can pass through. Their cities are
destroyed because there is no one to live or dwell in them. 7I said, ‘But fear Me and receive
instruction, and you will not be completely uprooted from the face of it—for much vengeance
I have taken against her.’ Prepare yourself, rise early in the morning, for every last small
grape left for the gleaners has been spoiled.

  8“On account of this, wait for Me,” says the Lord, “until the day of My rising up as a
testimony. For My judgment shall be for the gathering of the nations, to receive kings to pour
out upon them all My fierce anger, for all the earth shall be consumed with the fire of My
jealousy.ω

  9“For then I shall transform for the people a language for her generation, for all to call
upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him under one yoke. 10From the boundaries of the
rivers of Ethiopia they will bring offerings to Me. 11In that day, you will not be ashamed of all
your practices in which you acted profanely against Me. For at that time I will take away from
you the contempt of your arrogance, and you shall no longer be haughty upon My holy
mountain. 12And I will leave among you a gentle and humble people, who will show
reverence to the name of the Lord. 13The remnant of Israel will not commit unrighteousness
nor speak vanities; neither will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they will feed
and lie down, and there will be no one terrifying them.”

                            Promised Blessings for Jerusalem

  14Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Cry aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Be glad and

rejoice with your whole heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!ω 15The Lord has taken away your
iniquities and ransomed you from your enemies. The Lord, the King of Israel, is in your
midst; you will no longer see any evil. 16At that time the Lord shall say to Jerusalem, “O Zion,
be of good courage; do not let your hands grow slack. 17The Lord your God is with you. The
Mighty One shall save you. He shall bring gladness upon you and will renew you with His
love. He will delight over you with joy as in a day of feasting. 18I shall gather together your
broken ones. Alas! who has taken up a reproach against her?

  19“Behold, at that time I will act among you for your sake,” says the Lord. “I will save the
oppressed and welcome those being rejected. I will make them a praise and renowned
throughout the whole earth. 20And they shall be put to shame in that day when I do well
with you, at the time when I shall receive you, for I will make you praised and renowned
among all the peoples of the earth when I return your captivity,” says the Lord.
                                       HAG G AI
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1, 2

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1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Haggai Chapter 2
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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                                                       The Book of Haggai

   Author  —The author is the prophet Haggai, whose name means “festal.” He is the first of
the postexilic prophets and a contemporary of the prophet Zechariah. Jewish tradition
suggests he was a priest.

   Date   —520 BC, during the second year of the reign of Darius, king of Persia. Four
prophetic messages were delivered over a period of four months.

   Major Theme      —Forsake life's comforts and rebuild the temple. Other themes revolve
around the consequences of disobedience (1:6, 11; 2:16, 17) and the blessings of
obedience (2:7–9, 19). A further prophetic theme points to the building of the Church
from among the Gentiles (2:7).

   Background     —In 587 BC, the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and carried the Jews into
exile in Babylon. In 539 BC, the Persian king Cyrus conquered the Babylonians and
decreed that the Jews could return to their homeland. The rebuilding of the temple was
begun by the remnant that returned. Theodoret of Cyrrus points out, “Since the
completion of the construction was interrupted partly on account of the wickedness of
their enemies and partly on account of their own sluggishness, Haggai, the blessed
prophet, induced the people to begin rebuilding the temple.” It was finished and
consecrated five years after the Book of Haggai was written, in 515 BC.

Outline

 I. Introduction (1 :1 )

II. First Prophetic Message: Exhortation to Rebuild the Tem ple (1 :2 –1 5)

       A. The people's excuse (1 :2 –4 )

        B. God's response to their disobedience (1 :5–1 1 )

        C. The people go to work (1 :1 2 –1 5)

III. Second Prophetic Message: Future Glory of the Tem ple (2 :1 –9 )

       A. God's presence is with the people in their work (2 :1 –5)

        B. The “choice things” to com e, filling the house with glory (2 :6 –9 )

IV. Third Prophetic Message: God Will Bless the Nation's Obedience (2 :1 0–1 9 )

       A. Holiness and uncleanness (2 :1 0–1 4 )

        B. Further consequences of disobedience (2 :1 5–1 7 )
          C. Im m ediate blessings: the reward of faithfulness (2 :1 8, 1 9 )

  V. Fourth Prophetic Message: God's Prom ise to Zerubbabel (2 :2 0–2 3 )

         A. Judgm ent of kings and nations (2 :2 0–2 2 )

          B. The calling and role of Zerubbabel (2 :2 3 )




1 Inwordtheofsecond year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the
               the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying, “Speak to Zerubbabel
the son of Shealtiel, from the tribe of Judah, and Joshua son of Jehozadak the high priest,
this message. 2‘Thus says the Lord Almighty: “This people says, ‘The time has not come to
build the Lord's house.’ ” ’ ”

                                   The Command to Rebuild the Lord's House

  3Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4“Is it time for you to

dwell in your paneled houses, while this house stands in ruins?” 5Now therefore, thus says
the Lord Almighty: “Consider your ways! 6You have sown much and brought in little. You
have eaten, but you are not satisfied. You have drunk, but not to get drunk. You have clothed
yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with
holes.”

  7Thus says the Lord Almighty: “Carefully consider your ways! 8Go up to the mountain and
cut wood and build the house, and I will take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord.
9Thus says the Lord Almighty: “You looked for much, but little came, and when it was
brought into the house I blew it away, because My house is desolate while each one of you
hurries to his own house; 10because of this the heavens above you will withhold the dew, and
the earth withhold its fruit. 11And I shall bring a sword upon the land and upon the
mountains, and upon the grain and upon the wine and upon the oil, and upon whatever the
ground brings forth, and on men and livestock, and on all the labor of their hands.”

  12Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel from the tribe of Judah, and Joshua the son of
Jehozadak the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, heeded the word of the Lord
their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him to them,
and the people feared in the presence of the Lord. 13Then Haggai, the Lord's messenger, said
these words to the people: “I am with you, says the Lord.” 14So the Lord stirred up the spirit
of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel from the tribe of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of
Jehozadak the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and
worked on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God,† 15on the twenty-fourth day of the
sixth month, in the second year of King Darius.

                          The Future Glory of the New Temple


2 Inprophet,
       the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the Lord spoke by Haggai the
             saying, 2“Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel from the tribe of Judah,
and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people,
saying, 3‘Who among you saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Is
this not in your eyes as being nothing? 4Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘be
strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’
says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord Almighty. 5‘And My Spirit remains
among you; take courage!’ 6For thus says the Lord Almighty, ‘Once more I will shake heaven
and earth, the sea and dry land;† 7and I will shake all nations, and the choice things of all the
nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.† 8‘The
silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord Almighty. 9‘The glory of this latter house
shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’
says the Lord Almighty, ‘and peace of soul for a possession to everyone who builds and raises
this temple.’ ”†

                          The Corrupting Effect of the Unclean

  10On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of

the Lord came to Haggai the prophet, saying,† 11“Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Now, ask the
priests concerning the law, saying,† 12“If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and
the edge touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?” ’ ” Then the
priests answered and said, “No.” 13And Haggai said, “If one who is unclean because of a dead
body touches any of these, will it be unclean?” So the priests answered and said, “It shall be
unclean.” 14Then Haggai answered and said, ‘ “So is this people, so is this nation before Me,’
says the Lord, ‘and so are all the works of their hands. Whoever comes near them shall be
unclean because of their early burdens; they shall be distressed because of their toils; and
you have hated him who rebukes in the gates.

  15‘And now consider from this day forward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in
the temple of the Lord, 16what manner of people you were; when you put twenty ephahs of
barley into the bin, and there were but ten; when you came to the wine vat to draw out fifty
measures from the press, but only twenty were there. 17I struck you with barenness and
blight and hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you did not turn to Me,’ says the Lord.
18‘Establish your hearts from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth
month, from the day the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid. Give careful thought to
this: 19Is the seed still on the threshing floor? And as yet, the vine, the fig tree, the
pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit? But from this day I shall bless you.’ ”

                              A Promise Made to Zerubbabel

  20And again the word of the Lord came to Haggai the prophet a second time on the twenty-

fourth day of the month, saying,† 21“Speak to Zerubbabel from the tribe of Judah, saying, ‘I
shall shake heaven and earth and the sea and the dry land. 22I shall overthrow the thrones of
kings, and I will destroy the power of the kings of the nations, and I shall overthrow both
chariots and riders. The horses and their riders will come down; everyone by the sword of his
brother. 23In that day,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘I shall take you, Zerubbabel, My servant, the
son of Shealtiel,’ says the Lord, ‘and shall make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you.’
”
                                     Z E CHARIAH
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Chapters in Zechariah
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1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Zechariah Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Zechariah Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Zechariah Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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Verses in Zechariah Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Zechariah Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in Zechariah Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Zechariah Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Zechariah Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Zechariah Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Zechariah Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12

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Verses in Zechariah Chapter 11
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Zechariah Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Zechariah Chapter 13
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Verses in Zechariah Chapter 14
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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                                           The Book of Zechariah

  Author  —Zechariah, whose name means “he whom God remembers.” He was born in
Babylon, returning to Judah in 537 BC. Zechariah's prophetic ministry was well
established in Babylon among the people in captivity. He was from the tribe of Judah,
succeeding his grandfather Addo as a prophet. Haggai was his contemporary. Zechariah
is commemorated on February 8.

  Date   —520–480 BC. Zechariah's prophecies coincide with those of Haggai.

  Major Theme     —Encouraging the returned captives to rebuild the temple. The prophecies
of Zechariah are messianic, apocalyptic, and eschatological. Zechariah foretold Christ's
coming in lowliness and humility (6:12; 13:7), His rejection and betrayal for thirty
pieces of silver (11:12, 13), His crucifixion (13:7), His priesthood (6:13), His heritage
(6:13; 9:9; 14:9, 16), His coming in glory (14:4), His building of the Lord's temple (6:12,
13), his reign (9:10, 14), and His establishment of peace and prosperity (3:10; 9:9, 10).

As to the apocalyptic and eschatological emphasis, the prophecies foretold the invasion
of Jerusalem (12:1–3; 14:1, 2), the victory of Judah's enemies (14:2), the Lord's defense
of Jerusalem (14:3, 4), the judgment on the nations (12:9; 14:3), the geographical
changes in Judah (14:4, 5), the commemoration of the Feast of Tabernacles in the
messianic age (14:16–19), and the fulfillment of the prophecies about the holiness of
the Israelites (14:20, 21).

This book also develops the theology of angels, as God communicates through them to
Zechariah. Many New Testament apocalyptic images are foreshadowed in this book.

  Background     —In the first year of Cyrus the Great of Persia, a decree was issued permitting
the return of the Jews to Jerusalem with a commission to rebuild the temple. The
Israelites were led back by Zerubbabel and Joshua. Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, was the
heir to the throne of David. In 520 BC, Zechariah and Haggai attempted to rouse the
remnant of returned exiles to rebuild the temple.

Outline

I. Introduction (1 :1 –6 )

II. The Eight Night Visions (1 :7 –6 :8)
  III. The Sy m bolic Crowning of Joshua (6 :9 –1 5)

 IV. Obedience Better than Fasting (7 :1 –1 4 )

  V. The Prom ise of the Future (8:1 –2 3 )

 VI. The Rejection and Reception of the Messiah (9 :1 –1 4 :2 1 )



                                                        A Call to Conversion


1 Into Zechariah,
       the eighth month of the second year of the reign of Darius, the word of the Lord came
                  son of Berechiah, son of Addo the prophet, saying,† 2“The Lord has been very
angry with your fathers,† 3and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord Almighty: “Return
to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord,† 4“And do not become like your fathers, whom
the former prophets accused, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord Almighty: “Turn from your evil
ways and your evil practices.’ ” But they did not pay attention or heed Me,” says the Lord.†

  5“Your fathers—where are they? And the prophets—will they live forever?† 6But receive
My words and My ordinances as I commanded by My Spirit to My servants the prophets who
overtook your fathers.” And they answered and said, “As the Lord Almighty determined to
deal with us, according to our ways and according to our practices, thus He dealt with us.” ’ ”†

                                               The Vision of the Four Horses

  7In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month,
this is the month Sabat, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son
of Addo the prophet, saying,† † 8I saw a vision in the night, and behold, a man was mounted
on a red horse, and he stood in the midst of the two shaded mountains, and behind him were
red, dapple gray, piebald, and white horses.† 9And I said, “My lord, what are these?” And the
angel talking to me said, “I will show you what these are.” 10And the man who stood in the
midst of the mountains replied and said to me, “These are those whom the Lord sent forth to
go out into all the earth.” 11And they answered the Angel of the Lord, who stood in the midst
of the mountains, and said, “We have gone out into all the earth, and behold, all the earth is
inhabited and is at peace.”†

  12Then the Angel of the Lord answered and said, “O Lord Almighty, how long will You
show no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, which You disregarded these seventy
years?”† 13And the Lord Almighty replied to the angel who was speaking to me with kind and
comforting words. 14And the angel speaking to me said to me, “Cry out, saying, ‘Thus says the
Lord Almighty: “I have been jealous for both Jerusalem and Zion with great jealousy,† 15and
I am exceedingly angry with the nations joining together against her, with whom I was only a
little angry, but then they joined together with evil intent.” 16Therefore, thus says the Lord: “I
shall return to Jerusalem with compassion, and in her My house shall be rebuilt,” says the
Lord Almighty, “and a measuring line shall indeed be stretched out over Jerusalem.” ’ ” 17And
the angel talking to me said to me, “Cry out again, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord Almighty:
“Cities shall yet overflow with prosperity, and hereafter the Lord will have mercy on Zion and
will choose Jerusalem.” ’ ”

                               The Vision of the Four Horns

    And I looked up, and behold, four horns.† 2And I said to the angel who talked with me,
2 “My lord, what are these?” And he said to me, “These are the horns that have scattered
Judah and Israel.” 3And the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 4And I said, “What are they
coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns that scattered Judah and broke Israel in
pieces, and not one of them looked up, and they come forth to sharpen these with their
hands, the four horns—the nations that lifted their horn up against the land of the Lord to
scatter it.”

                              The Glory of the New Jerusalem

  5And I looked up, and behold, a man, and in his hand was a measuring line.† 6And I said to
him, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem to see its width and
its length.” 7And behold, the angel who was speaking to me stood up, and another angel went
to meet him. 8And he spoke to him, saying, “Run and speak to that young man, saying,
‘Jerusalem shall be fruitfully inhabited by reason of the multitude of men and livestock in
the midst of her. 9And I will be for her a wall of fire all around,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will be
in glory in the midst of her,’ says the Lord.”

  10“Oh! Oh! flee from the land of the north,” says the Lord, “because I will gather you

together from the four winds of heaven,” says the Lord.† 11“Escape to Zion, you who dwell
with the daughter of Babylon.” 12For thus says the Lord Almighty: “He has sent Me out after
glory to the nations that plundered you, for the one who assails you is as one who assails the
apple of His eye. 13For behold, I bring My hand against them, and they shall be plunder to
those serving them, and you will know the Lord Almighty sent Me.

  14“Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I am coming to you, and I will dwell

in your midst,” says the Lord. 15“And in that day many nations shall flee to the Lord for
refuge, and they will be His people, and they will dwell in your midst, and you shall know the
Lord Almighty has sent Me to you. 16And the Lord will inherit Judah, His portion in the holy
land, and He will still choose Jerusalem. 17Let all flesh fear before the presence of the Lord,
for He has roused Himself from His holy clouds.”†

                                    Joshua the High Priest


3 And the Lord showed me Joshua, the high priest, standing before the presence of the
  Angel of the Lord, and the devil stood at his right hand to oppose him.† 2And the Lord
said to the devil, “The Lord rebukes you, O devil, even the Lord choosing for Himself
Jerusalem rebukes you. Behold, is this one not like a brand plucked from the fire?”† 3And
Joshua was clothed in filthy garments and stood before the Angel.† 4And He answered and
spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And
He said to him, “Behold, I have taken your iniquities away from you. Now clothe him with a
long robe, 5and place upon his head a clean miter.” So they clothed him and put a clean miter
on his head, and the Angel of the Lord was standing by.

  6Then the Angel of the Lord testified to Joshua, saying, 7“Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘If
you walk in My paths and if you keep My commands, you shall judge My house; and if you
will diligently guard My courtyard, I will give you those to walk in the midst of these who
stand here. 8Hear then, O Joshua the high priest, you and your neighbors sitting before you,
for these men are prophets; for behold, I bring forth My servant the Dayspring. 9For the
stone which I place before the face of Joshua, upon one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I am
digging a pit,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will search out every wrongdoing of that land in
one day. 10On that day,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘each of you will invite his neighbor under
his vine and under his fig tree.’ ”† †

                            The Lampstand and the Olive Trees


4 And  the angel who spoke to me came again and awakened me as when a man is awakened
  out of his sleep.† 2And he said to me, “What did you see?” And I said, “Behold, I have seen
a lampstand made of solid gold, and a bowl at its top, and seven lamps upon it, and the seven
tubes to its lamps; 3and over it two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and one on the
left.”† 4And I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?” 5And the
angel speaking to me answered, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”
6And he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel,

saying, ‘Not by mighty power nor by strength, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.†
7‘Who are you, O great mountain, to set this right before the face of Zerubbabel? For I will
bring forth the stone of the inheritance, its grace equaling My grace.’ ”

  8And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9“The hands of Zerubbabel laid the
foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it, and you will know the Lord
Almighty has sent Me to you. 10For who has scorned the day of small beginnings? They shall
rejoice and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel: these seven are the eyes of the
Lord, which look upon all the earth.”

  11And I answered and said to him, “What are these two olive trees at the right of the

lampstand and at its left?”† 12And I inquired a second time and said to him, “What are the
two branches of the olive trees in the handles of the two golden tubes that pour forth and
bring oil to the golden channels?” 13And he said to me, “Do you not know what these are?”
And I said, “No, my lord.” 14And he said, “These are the two sons of richness who stand
beside the Lord of all the earth.”

                                        The Flying Sickle


5 I turned and looked up, and behold a flying sickle.† 2And he said to me, “What3 do you
   see?” And I said, “I see a flying sickle, twenty cubits in length by ten cubits wide.” And he
said to me, “This is the curse going out over the face of the whole earth, for every thief on this
side shall be punished with death, and everyone on that side who swears falsely shall be
punished by death.”† 4“And I will bring it forth,” says the Lord Almighty, “and it shall enter
the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name. It shall settle
in the midst of his house and destroy it, both its timber and its stones.”

  5And the angel who was talking to me came out and said to me, “Look up and see this that

is going forth.”† 6And I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the measuring basket that
goes forth.” And he said, “This is their wrongdoing in all the land.” 7And behold, a talent of
lead was being lifted up, and behold one woman sat in the midst of the measuring basket.†
8And he said, “This is lawlessness.” And he threw it into the midst of the measure, and he
threw the lead weight into the mouth of it.

  9Then I looked up to see, and behold two women going forth, and the wind was in their
wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork, and they took up the measuring basket into
the air between heaven and earth. 10And I asked the angel speaking to me, “For what reason
do they carry this basket for measuring?” 11And he said to me, “To prepare and to build a
place for it in the land of Babylon. They will place it there upon its own place.”

                                      The Four Chariots


6 Imountains,
    turned and looked up; I looked and beheld four chariots coming from between two
              and the mountains were mountains of bronze.† 2With the first chariot were
red horses, with the second chariot black horses,† 3with the third chariot white horses, and
with the fourth chariot piebald horses. 4And I replied to the angel speaking to me, “What are
these, my lord?” 5And the angel who spoke with me answered and said, “These are the four
winds of heaven, and they are going forth to stand before the Lord of all the earth. 6The black
ones went out to the land of the north, and the white horses went out after them, and the
piebald horses went to the land of the south. 7The dapple gray horses went out and looked to
go around over all the earth.” And He said, “Go and travel over all the earth.” And they
traveled over all the earth. 8And He called out and spoke to me, saying, “Behold, the ones
going out to the land of the north have given rest to My anger in the land of the north.”

  9And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 10“Take the things of the captivity from
the rulers, from its useful men and from those having come to understand it, and on that day
you shall enter into the house of Josiah, son of Zephaniah, who has come out of Babylon;
11take silver and gold and make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua the son of

Jehozadak, the high priest. 12And you will say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord Almighty: “Behold
the man, Orient is His name, and He shall rise up from below the horizon, and He shall build
the house of the Lord.† 13And He shall receive power and shall sit and rule upon His throne,
and a priest shall be by His right hand, and there will be peaceful counsel between both of
them.’ ” 14And the crown shall be to those who endure patiently, to His useful men, and to
those coming to understand it, and for the favor of the son of Zephaniah, and for a psalm in
the house of the Lord. 15And those far away from them will come and will build in the house
of the Lord. You shall know the Lord Almighty sent Me to you, and this will come to pass if
you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God.”

                                         True Fasting


7 And it came to pass, in the fourth year of Darius the king, the word of the Lord came to
  Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev,† 2when Sharezer and
Regem-Melech and his men went to Bethel to propitiate the Lord,† 3speaking to the priests in
the house of the Lord Almighty and to the prophets, saying, “The holy offering has come in
here in the fifth month—just as I have done for a considerable number of years.” 4And the
word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying,† 5“Speak to all the people of the land and to the
priests, saying, ‘Though you fasted or mourned in the fifth or seventh months, lo these
seventy years, did you at all fast for Me? 6And if you do eat or drink, do you not eat and drink
for yourselves? 7Are these not the words the Lord spoke by the hand of the former prophets
when Jerusalem was inhabited and thriving, and the cities around her, and the hill country
and the plains were inhabited?’ ”

  8And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying,† 9“Thus says the Lord Almighty:

‘Render a just judgment; show mercy and compassion each to his brother. 10Do not oppress
the widow, or the orphan, or the foreigner, or the poor. And let not one remember in his heart
any wrong of his brother.’

  11“But they refused to pay attention, and without reason turned their backs and stopped

their ears so they should not hear. 12And they made their hearts disobedient so as not to
heed My Law, nor to hear the words the Lord Almighty sent by His Spirit by the hand of the
former prophets. And there came great wrath from the Lord Almighty. 13And it shall come to
pass as He said, for they did not listen. So they will cry out, but by no means will I listen to
their prayers,” says the Lord Almighty.† 14“And I shall cast them out among all the nations
which they did not know, and behind them the land shall become utterly worthless from
traveling through or for coming back, for they made the chosen land a desolation.”†

                             The Future Restoration of Israel

    And the word of the Lord Almighty came, saying,† 2“Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘I have
8
been zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion, zealous for her with great zeal and fervor.’ 3Thus
says the Lord: ‘I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem
shall be called a True City, and the Mountain of the Lord Almighty the Holy Mountain.’†

  4“Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Elderly men and elderly women shall yet sit in the streets

of Jerusalem, each one holding his cane in his hand for the multitude of their days.† 5And the
streets will be filled with boys and girls dancing in her streets.’ 6Thus says the Lord Almighty:
‘If it is impossible in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be
impossible in My sight?’ says the Lord Almighty.† 7Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Behold, I
shall deliver My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. 8I shall bring
them in and settle them in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be to Me a people and I will be
to them a God in truth and in righteousness.’

  9“Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days
these words from the mouth of the prophets, from the day that the house of the Lord
Almighty was founded, and from the time the temple was built.† 10For before those days,
men's wages will not be profitable and a price for livestock will not even exist, and because of
affliction there will be no peace for those going out and those coming in, and I will send forth
all men, each against his neighbor. 11But now I do not do to the remnant of this people as in
the former days,’ says the Lord Almighty.† 12‘Rather I will show forth peace, for the vine shall
give its fruit, the earth her produce, the heaven its dew, and I will give all these things as an
inheritance to the remnant of this people. 13And it shall come to pass that as you were a
curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you
will be for a blessing; be of good courage and strengthen your hands.’

  14“For thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘As I purposed to afflict you when your fathers

provoked Me to anger,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I did not relent, 15so now in these days I
have prepared and purposed to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; be of good
courage. 16These are the things you shall do: speak the truth, each man to his neighbor, and
judge with peaceful judgment in your gates,† 17and let none of you plan evil in his heart
against his neighbor, and do not love a false oath, for all these things I hate,’ says the Lord
Almighty.”

  18And the word of the Lord Almighty came to me, saying, 19“Thus says the Lord Almighty:
‘The fourth-month fast, and the fifth-month fast, and the seventh-month fast, and the tenth-
month fast shall be for joy and gladness and in good feasts to the house of Judah. And you
will rejoice, and you will love truth and peace.’† 20Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Yet many
people will have come and those inhabiting many cities; 21and the inhabitants of five cities
will come together to one city, saying, “Let us go to beseech the Lord and to seek out the face
of the Lord Almighty; and I will go also.” 22And many peoples and many nations will come to
seek out the presence of the Lord Almighty in Jerusalem and to obtain the favor of the
presence of the Lord.’ 23Thus says the Lord Almighty, ‘In those days, if ten men from all the
tongues of the nations stop you, even if they grab hold of the hem of a Jewish man, they will
be saying, “We will go with you, for we heard God is with you.” ’ ”†

                              Judgment of Israel's Enemies


9 The  burden of the word of the Lord against the land of Hadrach, and of Damascus his
  sacrifice, for the Lord looks upon men and on all the tribes of Israel.† 2And on Hamath in
her borders, Tyre and Sidon, because they are very wise. 3For Tyre built a fortress for herself
and stored up silver like dust and collected gold like mud in the streets. 4Therefore, the Lord
shall possess her as an inheritance, and shall strike against her power in the sea, and she
shall be consumed by fire. 5Ashkelon shall see it and fear; and Gaza, even she shall suffer
greatly, and Ekron will be ashamed because of her transgression. The king will perish from
Gaza, and Ashkelon shall no longer be inhabited.

  6“And foreigners shall settle in Ashdod, and I will bring down the pride of the Philistines.
7I will remove their blood from their mouth and their abominations from between their
teeth, and this also will be left to our God. And they shall be as a captain of a thousand in
Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. 8And I will raise up a fortress around My house that none
may pass through nor return back, and no longer shall anyone come against them to drive
them out, for I have now seen with My own eyes.†

                                     The Coming King

  9“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Proclaim it aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold,
your King comes to you; He is righteous and saving; He is gentle and mounted upon a
donkey, even a young foal.†ω 10He will utterly destroy the chariots out of Ephraim and the
horse out of Jerusalem. The bow of war shall be utterly destroyed, and there shall be
abundance and peace among the nations. He shall rule over the waters as far as the sea and
over the rivers to the ends of the earth.

  11“And by the blood of your covenant, you freed your prisoners from the pit having no

water.† 12You prisoners from the congregation, you shall live in the fortress, and for one day
of your exile, I will repay to you double. 13For I have bent you, O Judah, for Myself as a bow;
I have filled Ephraim. And I will arouse your sons, O Zion, against the sons of the Greeks, and
I will handle you as the sword of a warrior.” 14And the Lord will be over them, and He shall
go forth like a lightning bolt. The Lord Almighty shall sound with the trumpet and shall go
forth with the tumult of His threat. 15The Lord Almighty will shield them, and they shall
devour their enemy and overwhelm them with sling-stones. They will drink them down as
wine, and they shall fill the bowls as at the altar. 16And on that day, the Lord their God will
deliver them, His people, as a flock, for sacred stones will roll across His land. 17For if
anything of His be good, and anything of His be fair, there shall be grain for the young men
and the fragrant wine for the virgins.

                               The Ransomed People of God


10 Ask for yourself rain from the Lord during the time of the early rain and the late rain.
   The Lord made a great display and will give winter rain to each crop in the field.†
2Therefore the ones speaking proclaimed troublesome things, and the seers false visions, and
they told false dreams; they spoke vain words of comfort. They have been driven away like
sheep, and they have lost heart because there was no healing.

  3“My anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I will care for the lambs. The Lord God
Almighty shall visit His flock, the house of Judah, and shall appoint them as His stately
warhorse. 4For from Himself He observed attentively, and from Himself He ordered—even
from Himself a bow in anger; from Him shall go forth every oppressor. 5And as warriors, they
will be trampling as grapes the clay on the roads. They shall array themselves in battle array,
for the Lord is with them, and the horsemen will be put to shame.

  6“And I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph, and I will settle
them, for I have loved them; and they shall be as though I had not turned away from them,
because I am the Lord their God, and I will hear them. 7And they shall be like the warriors of
Ephraim, and their heart shall rejoice as with wine; and their children shall see it and be glad,
and their heart shall rejoice in the Lord. 8I will make a sign for them and gather them in, for I
will redeem them, and they shall be multiplied according to their previous number.

  9“And I will sow them among the peoples, and those far off will remember Me. They will

rear their children, and they will return. 10And I shall bring them back from the land of Egypt
and gather them in from the Assyrians. I shall bring them into the land of Gilead and into
Lebanon; not even one of them will be left behind. 11They will pass through the narrow sea
and will strike the waves of the sea, and all the full depths of the rivers shall be dried up. All
the arrogance of the Assyrians shall be taken away, and the scepter of Egypt shall be stripped
away. 12And I will strengthen them in the Lord their God, and they shall boast in His name,”
says the Lord.

                                        The Shepherds

                                                                          †2
11 Open  your doors, O Lebanon, and let the fire devour your cedars. Let the pine wail, for
   the cedar has fallen; because the mighty men have been greatly afflicted. Wail, oak trees
of the Basanite land, for the thickly wooded forest has fallen. 3The sound of wailing is from
the shepherds, for their greatness has been brought low; the sound of roaring lions, the
arrogance of the Jordan has languished. 4Thus says the Lord Almighty: “Tend the sheep of
the slaughter like a shepherd, 5the ones whose possessors have slaughtered and did not
repent, and those selling them said, ‘Blessed be the Lord, for we have become rich and the
shepherds themselves suffered nothing because of them.’ 6Therefore I will no longer spare
the inhabitants of the land,” says the Lord, “but behold, I will deliver men up, each one into
the hand of his neighbor and into the hand of his king. They shall cut the land into pieces,
and I will not deliver them from their hand.”

                                        The Two Staffs

  7But I shall tend the sheep of the slaughter in the land of Canaan, and I will take to myself
two staffs: the one I called Beauty and the other one I called Line, and I shall tend the flock.
8And I shall cut off three shepherds in one month, and my soul shall be weighed down by

them, for their souls have roared against me. 9And I said, “I will not tend to you; that which
dies, let it die, and that which perishes, let it perish, and let the rest of them devour the flesh
each of his neighbor.”
 10And I shall take my staff Beauty, and I shall cast it away, to break my covenant which I

made with all the people.ω 11And in that day they will be scattered about. And the Canaanites
shall know the flock is kept safe, for this is the word of the Lord. 12And I shall say to them,
“If it is fitting in your judgment, give me my payment, or refuse it.” And they established my
wage at thirty pieces of silver.† 13And the Lord said to me, “Drop them into the smelting
furnace and see if it is proven, as in the same manner I was proven for their sake.” And I took
the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the smelting furnace in the house of the Lord.
14And I threw aside the second staff, the Line, to disband the possessions between Judah and
Israel.

  15And the Lord further said to me, “Take even for yourself the equipment of a shepherd, of

an unskilled shepherd. 16For behold! I raise up a shepherd against the land, one who will not
care for the sheep who are abandoned, nor seek the scattered ones, nor heal the injured, nor
even guide the healthy. But instead, he will devour the flesh of the choice ones, and he will
tear them apart joint by joint. 17Woe to you shepherding the flock carelessly, forsaking the
flock! The sword shall be against his arms, and against his right eye; his right arm shall be
completely withered, and his right eye shall become totally blind!”

                           The Coming Deliverance for Judah


12 The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel: Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the
   heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him:
2“Behold, I make Jerusalem as a gate being shaken to all the peoples surrounding her; for in
Judea there shall be a siege against Jerusalem.

  3“And it shall come to pass in that day that I shall make Jerusalem a stone to be walked
upon by all the nations. Everyone trampling her underfoot will utterly mock her, and all the
nations of the earth shall come together against her. 4In that day,” says the Lord Almighty, “I
shall smite every horse with bewilderment, and I shall bring a state of total confusion against
its rider. But I shall open My eyes upon the house of Judah, and I shall smite all the horses of
the nations with blindness. 5And the captains of thousands of Judah shall say in their hearts,
‘We shall find for ourselves those inhabiting Jerusalem with the Lord Almighty, their God.’
6In that day I will make the captains of thousands of Judah as a burning torch of fire among
the trees and like a torch in dried straw. They shall consume all nations surrounding her,
both on the right and on the left, and Jerusalem will again dwell by herself. 7And the Lord
shall preserve the dwelling places of Judah as at the beginning, that the boast of the house of
David and the pride of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not magnify themselves over Judah.

  8“And in that day, it shall come to pass that the Lord shall defend the inhabitants of
Jerusalem; and in that day, the one who is weak among them will be as the house of David,
and the house of David as the house of God, as the Angel of the Lord before them. 9It shall
come to pass in that day that I shall seek to drive away all the nations that come against
Jerusalem. 10And I will pour the spirit of grace and compassion upon the house of David and
those inhabiting Jerusalem, and they shall look upon Me whom they mocked, and they will
mourn for Him as for a beloved one, and they shall grieve profoundly as for a firstborn son.†

  11“In that day, the lamentation in Jerusalem shall be very great, like the mourning for the

pomegranate orchard being cut down in the plain. 12And the land itself shall mourn
throughout the tribe, the tribe of the house of David by itself and their wives by themselves;
the tribe of the house of Nathan by itself and their wives by themselves; 13the tribe of the
house of Levi by itself and their wives by themselves; the tribe of Symeon by itself and their
wives by themselves; 14and all the remaining tribes, every tribe by itself and their wives by
themselves.

                          The End of False Prophets and Idols


13 “In that day every place shall be opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of
   Jerusalem. 2And it shall come to pass in that day,” says the Lord of hosts, “that I will
utterly destroy the names of the idols from the land, and their remembrance shall be no
more. I will remove the false prophets and the unclean spirit from the land.

  3“And it shall come to pass that if a man still prophesy, his father and his mother who
begot him will say to him, ‘You will not live, for you spoke falsehoods in the name of the
Lord,’ and his father and his mother who begot him will bind him when he prophesies. 4And
it shall come to pass in that day that the prophets shall be put to shame, each by his vision
when he prophesies, and they will put on a leather skin of hair because they spoke lies. 5And
one will say, ‘I am not a prophet, for I am a tiller of the soil; a man brought me up thus from
my youth.’ 6And I will say to him, ‘What are these wounds in the middle of your hands?’ And
he will say, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my beloved.’
  7“O sword, raise up against My shepherds, and against My fellow-man,” says the Lord
Almighty. “Smite the shepherds and draw out the sheep, and I shall bring My hand against
the shepherds.† 8And it will come to pass in all the land,” says the Lord, “two of every three
will be utterly destroyed and shall die, but the other third will be left in it.† 9And I shall bring
the remaining third through the fire, and I shall try them as silver is tried, and I will prove
them as gold itself is proven. He will call upon My name, and I will hear him, and I will say,
‘This is My people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”

                                     The Day of the Lord

      Behold, the days of the Lord come, and your plunder will be divided among you.†ω
14    2And I shall gather together all the nations to war against Jerusalem. The city shall be
taken, the houses plundered, the women defiled, and half of the city will go forth into exile,
but the rest of My people shall not be utterly cut off from the city. 3And the Lord will go forth
and prepare for battle against those nations, as in the day of His battle array in the day of
war.† 4And on that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on
the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, half towards the east and half towards
the sea, a very great divide; and half the mountain shall lean toward the north and half of it
toward the south. 5And the valley of my mountains will be blocked up, and the ravine of the
mountains will be joined as far as Azal. And it will be blocked up as he had blocked it up in
the days of the earthquake, in the days of Uzziah the king of Judah, and the Lord my God
shall come and all the saints with Him. 6And in that day, it shall be that there will not be any
light, but there shall be cold and frost 7for one day, and that day shall be known to the Lord.
It will be neither a day nor a night, but towards evening there will be light.

  8And in that day living water shall come forth out of Jerusalem, half of it toward the

eastern sea and half toward the western sea. So it will be in both summer and spring.† 9And
the Lord shall be King of all the earth, and in that day the Lord shall be one Lord, and His
name one name, 10encircling all the land, even the wilderness from Geba to Rimmon south
of Jerusalem. But Rama shall remain in her place; from Benjamin's Gate to the place of the
First Gate; to the Gate of the Corners, and to the Tower of Hananeel, as far as the king's
winepresses, 11they will dwell in her, and it will no longer be a curse. Jerusalem shall dwell
securely.

  12And this will be the downfall with which the Lord will strike all the nations, as many as
made war against Jerusalem. Their flesh will be eaten away as they stand upon their feet, and
their eyes shall pour out of their sockets, and their tongue shall melt away in their mouth.
13In that day there shall be a state of great bewilderment upon them from the Lord. Each of
them will seize the hand of his neighbor, and his hand will become locked with the person
near to him. 14And Judah shall draw up for battle in Jerusalem, and He will gather together
the strength of all the surrounding peoples: the gold, the silver, and the apparel in great
abundance. 15And this will be the overthrow of the horses and the mules, the camels and the
donkeys, and all the cattle that are in those camps throughout this downfall.

  16And it shall come to pass that whoever may be left of all the nations that came against
Jerusalem, they too will go up every year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and
celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 17And it shall be that whoever from all the tribes of the
land will not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, even these will be
added to the others. 18And if the nation of Egypt shall not go up nor attend, upon these will
come the downfall which the Lord will strike on all the nations, as many as do not come up to
celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.† 19This will be the sin of Egypt and the sin of all the
nations, as many as do not come up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

  20In that day, there will be engraved in the bridle of every horse, “Holy to the Lord

Almighty,” and the kettles in the house of the Lord will be like bowls before the altar. 21And
every kind of kettle in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the Lord Almighty; and all who
sacrifice will come and take from them and shall cook in them. And in that day the Canaanite
shall no longer be in the house of the Lord Almighty.†
                                   M AL ACHI
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Chapters in Malachi
Introduction

1, 2, 3

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Verses in Malachi Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Malachi Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Malachi Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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                                                         The Book of Malachi

    Author   —Malachi, whose name means “angel” or “messenger.” Whatever he prophesied,
 that very day an angel of God appeared and repeated his message. Malachi spoke with
 his angel face-to-face as to a friend. Malachi was born in Sopha (Supha), of the tribe of
 Levi, after the return of the captives from Babylon. He prophesied after the
 consecration of the temple in Jerusalem, 515 BC. He is commemorated on January 3.

    Date   —500–350 BC, based on the contents of the book.

    Major Theme      —Turn from sin, for the day of the Lord is coming. Malachi considers the
 temple, the priesthood, and true worship as the spiritual foundation not only for the
 people of his day, but also for the messianic kingdom to come. Even in the midst of a
 multitude of sins and evildoings, Malachi looked ahead with hope to see a new day
 dawning when Elijah (that is, John the Baptist) would be sent and the darkness would
 disappear with the coming of the Christ.

    Background     —After the reconstruction of the temple, the Israelites began grumbling
 against God, neglecting true worship. In spite of the many times God had delivered
 them, the people were ungrateful and forgot their history, saying, “And how has God
 shown His love?” (1:2). The priesthood neglected their sacred duties, no longer teaching
 the Law, accepting inferior sacrifices (1:7, 8) from men who oppressed the widows and
 orphans, and abandoning their lawful wives and children (2:14–16). Empty ritualism,
 hypocrisy, irreverence, apostasy, sorcery, and idolatrous practices were common (3:5).
 Because of the sins of the priests and the people, droughts, disease, and misfortunes
 were commonplace. The Book of Malachi addresses these issues.

Outline

  I. Introduction (1 :1 )

 II. God's Lov e for Israel (1 :2 –5)

III. Israel Rebuked for Unfaithfulness (1 :6 –2 :1 7 )

IV. The Messiah's Com ing Judgm ent (3 :1 –7 a)

 V. Tithing Will Restore God's Blessing (3 :7 b–1 5)

VI. The Faithful Will Be Vindicated (3 :1 6 –1 8)

VII. The Day of the Lord (3 :1 9 –2 4 )
                                  The Lord's Love for Israel


1 The   burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by the hand of His messenger Malachi. Take
  it to heart!†

  2“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not

Esau the brother of Jacob?” says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved,† 3but Esau I have hated,
and I have appointed his borders for destruction and made his heritage as dwellings of the
wilderness.” 4Because one will say, “Edom has been destroyed, but let us return and rebuild
the desolate places,” thus says the Lord, Ruler of all: “They may build, but I will throw down.
They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, and the people against whom the Lord has
placed Himself forever. 5Your eyes will see, and you will say, ‘The Lord is magnified beyond
the borders of Israel.’

                                       Defiled Offerings

  6“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then, I am the Father, where is My
honor? And if I am a Master, where is the reverence due to me?” says the Lord Almighty.
“You priests are the ones who disparage My name, yet you say, ‘In what way have we
disparaged Your name?’ 7You offer defiled bread on My altar, but you say, ‘How have we
defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the Lord is contemptible and the food placed upon it is
contemptible.’† 8And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you
offer the lame and sick, is that not evil? Offer it then to your ruler! See if he will accept it, if
he will accept it favorably,” says the Lord Almighty.

  9“But now earnestly entreat the face of your God and pray to Him. These things have been

done by your hands; shall I accept these from you?” says the Lord Almighty.† 10“For this
reason, even among you the doors will be shut, and you will not burn an offering on My altar.
I have no pleasure in you,” says the Lord Almighty, “nor will I accept an offering from your
hands. 11For from the rising of the sun even to its going down, My name has been glorified
among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure
offering, for My name shall be great among the Gentiles,” says the Lord Almighty.† 12“But
you profane it in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled; and the food placed upon it is
contemptible.’† 13And you said, ‘Oh, what a weariness!’ And I have blown these away,” says
the Lord Almighty. “And you bring prey, the lame, and the sick, and when you bring an
offering, should I accept these from your hands?” says the Lord Almighty. 14“But cursed be
the man who is able, who has in his flock a male, and takes a vow but sacrifices to the Lord
what is blemished—for I am a great King,” says the Lord Almighty, “and My name is glorious
among the nations.

                                    Contemptible Priests

   “And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. 2If you will not hear, and if you will
2 not take it to heart, to give glory to My name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse
upon you, and I will curse your blessing; indeed I will curse it, and I will scatter your blessing,
and you will have it no more because you do not take this to heart. 3Behold, I am turning my
back on you, and I will smear dung on your faces, the dung of your feasts, and I will carry you
away at the same time.† 4Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that
My covenant is with the sons of Levi,” says the Lord Almighty.†

  5“My covenant of life and peace was with him, and I gave this to him that he might

reverently fear Me, that he might be established before My name. 6The law of truth was in
his mouth, and injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and equity,
and turned many away from lawlessness. 7For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and
people should seek the law from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty.†

  8“But you have departed from the way; you weakened many in the law and corrupted the

covenant of Levi,” says the Lord Almighty. 9“Therefore I also made you contemptible and
disregarded before all nations, because you have not guarded My ways but have shown
partiality in the law.”

  10Did not one God create you? Do you not all have one father? Why, then, does each of you

forsake his brother to profane the covenant of your fathers?† 11Judah was forsaken, and an
abomination has occurred in Israel and in Jerusalem, for Judah profaned the holy things of
the Lord, which He loved, and sought out foreign gods. 12The Lord will destroy the man who
does these things until he is humiliated from the tents of Jacob and from among those who
offer sacrifice to the Lord Almighty.†

                                   The Tragedy of Divorce

  13And you do these things which I hate. You cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with
weeping and moaning because of troubles, yet still thinking it is worthy to look upon your
sacrifice or take it as acceptable from your hands.† 14And you say, “Why?” Because the Lord
has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, whom you have forsaken; yet she
is your companion and the wife of your covenant. 15But did He not make another, having a
remnant of His Spirit? Yet you ask, “What else does God seek but offspring?” But take heed
to your spirit, and do not forsake the wife of your youth. 16“But if you hate her and send her
away,” says the Lord God of Israel, “ungodliness will obscure your thinking,” says the Lord
Almighty. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not forsake her.” 17You weary the Lord
with your words, yet you say, “In what way have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “Everyone
who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them,” or, “Where is the God
of justice?”†

                                 Messenger of the Covenant


3 “Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord,
  whom you seek, will suddenly come into His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant,
whom you desire. Behold, He is coming,” says the Lord Almighty.† 2“But who can endure the
day of His coming? And who can withstand His appearance? For He enters like a refiner's fire
and as soap in one's wash.† 3He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver and gold. He will
purify the sons of Levi and pour them out as purified gold and silver, and they will bring an
offering to the Lord in righteousness. 4Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be
pleasing to the Lord, as in the days of old, as in former years.

  5“And I will draw near to you in judgment, a swift witness against sorcerers, adulterers,
those who swear falsely by My name, those who exploit wage-earners, those who oppress
widows and afflict orphans, those who pervert the justice due foreigners, and those who do
not fear Me,” says the Lord Almighty.† 6“For I am the Lord your God; I have not changed. But
you, O sons of Jacob, have not abstained† 7from the sins of your fathers. You have turned
away from My ordinances and have not kept them.

                               Tithing Brings God's Blessing

  “Return to Me and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you say, ‘In what way
shall we return?’ 8Will a man insult God? Yet you have insulted Me! But you say, ‘In what
way have we insulted You?’ You kept back your tithes and offerings.† 9You most certainly
turned your back on Me, you and the whole nation, and you insulted Me. 10You brought all
the produce into the storehouses—but it will be plundered in its house. Return now in this,”
says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not open for you the floodgates of heaven and pour
out for you a blessing until it is overflowing. 11And I shall send it to you for food and I will
not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor will the vine in the field fail to bear fruit,” says the
Lord Almighty. 12“And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says
the Lord Almighty.

  13“You spoke harsh words against Me,” says the Lord, “yet you say, ‘What have we spoken

against You?’† 14You have said, ‘One who serves God is foolish; what profit have we from
keeping His ordinances, and why do we go as suppliants before the face of the Lord
Almighty? 15And now we call foreigners blessed, and those doing lawless deeds are raised up
—they even oppose God and go free.’”

  16Then those who feared the Lord spoke these things each to his neighbor, and the Lord
listened and heard them, and He wrote a book of remembrance before His face for those who
feared the Lord and reverenced His name.† 17“They shall be mine,” says the Lord Almighty,
“in the day that I make them My possession, and I will choose them as a man chooses his
own son who serves him. 18Then you shall return, and you will discern between the
righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.

                                     The Day of the Lord

  19“For behold, the day of the Lord is coming, burning like an oven. And it will burn them
up, and it shall be that all foreigners and all who do wickedly will be stubble; and the day that
is coming shall burn them up,” says the Lord Almighty, “and neither root nor branch will be
left of them.† 20But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with
healing in His wings, and you shall go forth leaping as little calves released from their bonds.†
21You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under your feet on the day I do this,”

says the Lord Almighty. 22“Behold, I will send you Elijah before the coming of the great and
glorious day of the Lord.† 23And he will turn the heart of the father to his son, and a man's
heart to his neighbor, lest I come and strike the earth completely. 24Be in remembrance of
the Law of Moses My servant as I commanded him, with its statutes and judgments, at Horeb
for all Israel.”†
                                               ISAIAH
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Chapters in Isaiah
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 23
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 25
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 26
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 27
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 28
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 29
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 30
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 31
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 32
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 33
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 34
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 35
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 36
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 37
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 38
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 39
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 40
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 41
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 42
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 43
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 44
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 45
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 46
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 47
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 48
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 49
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 50
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 51
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 52
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 53
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 54
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 55
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 56
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 57
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 58
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 59
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 60
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 61
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 62
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 63
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 64
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 65
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Isaiah Chapter 66
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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                                                       The Book of Isaiah

  Author  —According to both Jewish and Christian tradition, Isaiah the son of Amoz is the
author of this book. Isaiah, which means “the salvation of God,” was from the tribe of
Judah and was the nephew of King Amaziah (796–767 BC) of Judah. He is
commemorated on May 9.

  Date   —The time period is mentioned as “in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and
Hezekiah, kings of Judah.” This places the book about 745–680 BC, from approximately
25 years before the Assyrian captivity of the Northern Kingdom to about 40 years after
it.

  Major Theme     —“The Holy One of Israel” (1:4), who punishes His unrepentant people but
later will redeem them. The prophet's vision of the glory of God (1:6ff) is one of infinite
transcendence. Man's role is one of faith in response to God's holiness and vision for
the world. Isaiah revealed the Messiah in amazing detail—as if he were telling history
instead of the future. He even describes the Theotokos (ch. 7) and how she is to
conceive and bear God the Son incarnate with her virginity intact. Isaiah describes the
suffering of Christ (ch. 53) together with His Resurrection from the dead, proclaiming
His kingdom as if it had already happened.

  Background    —Assyria was growing in power under Tiglath-Pileser, who turned to the west
after his conquests to the east. He saw the kingdom of Israel fall to Assyria's might
along with other nations along the Mediterranean coast. Seeing his people taken
captive, Isaiah turned to warn the Southern Kingdom of Judah to trust in God alone.

Outline

I. Israel and the Nations (1 :1 –3 5:1 0)

      A. The judgm ent of Judah (1 :1 –4 :1 )

      B. The restoration of Zion (4 :2 –6 )

      C. The Son of the Viney ard (5:1 –3 0)

      D. The call of Isaiah (6 :1 –1 3 )

      E. The Assy rian threat (7 :1 –1 0:4 )

       F. The judgm ent of Assy ria (1 0:5–1 2 :6 )

      G. The judgm ent of the nations (1 3 :1 –2 3 :1 8)
          H. The apocaly pse of Isaiah (2 4 :1 –2 7 :1 3 )

           I. Further judgm ent for the nations (2 8:1 –3 5:1 0)

  II. Historical Section (3 6 :1 –3 9 :8)

  III. The Salv ation of God's People: The Messiah (4 0:1 –57 :2 1 )

          A. God com forts His people (4 0:1 –4 6 :1 3 )

          B. Cy rus of Persia as God's agent and the defeat of Baby lon (4 7 :1 –4 8:2 2 )

          C. The Messiah (4 9 :1 –57 :2 1 )

 IV. The Com ing Kingdom of God (58:1 –6 6 :2 4 )

          A. True worship of God (58:1 –1 4 )

          B. The forgiv eness of God's people (59 :1 –6 0:2 2 )

          C. The com ing of the Messiah (6 1 :1 –1 1 )

          D. The judgm ent of God on His people (6 2 :1 –6 3 :6 )

          E. The rem nant (6 3 :7 –6 5:1 6 )

          F. The rule of God at the end of tim e (6 5:1 7 –6 6 :2 4 )




1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw against Judah and Jerusalem in the
  kingdom of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.†

  2Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth. For the Lord has spoken: “I have begotten and

brought up sons, but they rejected Me. 3The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's
crib; but Israel does not know Me, and the people do not understand Me.” 4Alas, sinful
nation, a people full of sins, an evil seed, lawless children. They forsook the Lord; they
provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel.† 5Why should you still be struck as you continue in
lawlessness? The whole head is in pain, and the whole heart in sadness. 6From the feet all
the way to the head, there is no soundness in them, only wounds and bruises and festering
sores. They have not been closed or bandaged, or soothed with ointment. 7Your land is
desolate; your cities are burned with fire. Strangers take over your land in your presence and
it is made desolate, overthrown by foreign people. 8So the daughter of Zion is forsaken, like a
tent in a vineyard, like a hut in a garden of cucumbers, like a besieged city. 9Unless the Lord
of hosts had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom and been made like
Gomorrah.†

  10Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom. Give ear to the law of our God, you

people of Gomorrah: 11“What is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” says the Lord. “I am
full of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of lambs. I do not desire the blood of bulls and
he-goats.† 12When you come to appear before Me, who required these things from your
hands to tread My court? 13Although you should bring fine wheat flour, it is vain. Incense is
an abomination to Me. I cannot endure your new moons, and Sabbaths, and the calling of
assemblies, and fasting and holy day. 14Your new moons and feasts My soul hates. You have
become a dissatisfaction to Me; I will not forgive your sins. 15When you stretch forth your
hands to Me, I will turn My eyes from you. Although you make many prayers, I will not listen
to you. Your hands are full of blood. 16Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean. Put away the
evils from your souls before My eyes. Cease from your evils.ω 17Learn to do good. Seek
judgment and redeem the wronged. Defend the orphan and justify the widow. 18Come now,
and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “although your sins are like crimson, I shall make
them white like snow, and although they are as scarlet, I shall make them white like wool.
19If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good things of the land. 20But if you are
unwilling and disobedient, you shall be devoured by the sword,” for the mouth of the Lord
has spoken.

  21How the faithful city of Zion has become a prostitute! It was full of judgment.

Righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers.† 22Your silver is worthless; your tavern-
keepers mix wine with water.† 23Your rulers are disobedient and companions of thieves.
Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They do not defend the orphans, nor do they
regard the cause of the widow.† 24Therefore says the Master, the Lord of hosts: “Woe to the
mighty ones of Israel, for My anger against the adversaries will not cease; and I will execute
judgment on My enemies.† 25I will bring My hand upon you and purge you completely. I will
destroy those who disobey and remove all the lawless from you; I will humble all the
arrogant. 26I will establish your judges as at the first and your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward, you shall be called the city of righteousness, Zion, the faithful mother-city.” 27For
her captives shall be saved with judgment and with mercy. 28The lawless and sinners shall be
destroyed together. Those who forsake the Lord shall come to an end. 29For they shall be
ashamed of the idols they desired and the gardens they longed for. 30For they shall be as a
terebinth tree that has lost its leaves; like a garden with no water. 31Their strength shall be as
broken fiber and their works as sparks of fire. The lawless and the sinners will burn together,
and no one shall quench them.


2 The word that came from the Lord to Isaiah the son of Amoz concerning Judah and
Jerusalem.ω

  2Now it shall come to pass in the last days, the mountain of the Lord and the house of God
shall be visible on the tops of the mountains and exalted above the hills. All the Gentiles shall
come to it.† 3Many Gentiles shall travel and say, “Come and let us go up to the mountain of
the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will proclaim His way to us, and we shall walk
in it.” For the law of the Lord shall go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem. 4He shall judge between the Gentiles and rebuke many people. They shall beat
their swords into plows and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

  5O now, house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord. 6For He forsook His
people, the house of Israel, for as from the beginning, their land is filled with divinations—
like the land of foreigners—and many children of foreigners were born to them. 7Their land is
filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures. Their land is also filled with
horses; there is no end to their chariots. 8Their land is also filled with the abominations of
their works, and they worship the works of their hands, which their fingers made. 9A man
bows down and each man humbles himself, but I will not forgive them. 10Enter now into the
rocks and hide in the earth from the face of the Lord, for fear and the glory of His might when
He rises to smite the earth. 11For the eyes of the Lord are lofty, and man is humble. The
haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. 12For
the day of the Lord of hosts shall come upon all who are insolent, arrogant, high and lifted
up, and they shall be humbled; 13and upon every cedar tree of Lebanon, high and lifted up,
and upon every oak of Bashan, 14and upon every mountain and lofty hill, 15and upon every
high tower and fortified wall, 16and upon every ship of the sea, and upon every sight of
beautiful ships. 17Every man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of man shall fall. The
Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. 18But they shall hide all the things made by hands.
19They shall carry them into the caves and cracks of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth,
from fear of the Lord's presence and the glory of His might when He arises to strike the earth.
20For in that day, man will cast away his abominations of silver and gold, which they made to

worship worthless things and bats, 21so as to enter into the holes of solid rocks and clefts of
the rugged rocks, from fear of the Lord and the glory of His might when He arises to strike
the earth.
3 For behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, takes away from Judah and from Jerusalem the
  strong man and the strong woman; the strength of bread and the strength of water; 2the
mighty man and the man of war; the judge, the prophet, the diviner, and the elder; 3the
captain of fifty, the wonderful counselor, the skillful artisan, and the prudent disciple. 4“I will
give children to be their princes, and mockers shall rule over them. 5The people will collapse,
every one on another and every one on his neighbor. The child will be arrogant toward the
elder and vulgar toward the honorable.” 6When a man takes hold of his brother or his father's
servant, saying, “You have clothing; you be our ruler and let my food be under your roof.” 7In
that day, he will protest, saying, “I will not be your ruler, for in my house there is neither food
nor clothing. I will not be the ruler of this people.” 8For Jerusalem is ruined and Judah is
fallen, because their tongues are lawless and they are disobedient to the Lord. Now their glory
is humbled. 9The shame on their face witnesses against them. They declare and exhibit their
sin as Sodom. Woe to their soul, for they planned evil upon themselves, 10saying, “Let us
hand over the righteous man, for he is burdensome to us.” They shall eat the fruit of their
doings.† 11Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be
given him. 12“O My people, your punishers gather you, and those who make demands of you
rule over you. O My people, those who bless you lead you astray and trouble the path of your
feet.” 13The Lord stands up to plead and stands to judge His people. 14The Lord will enter
into judgment with the elders of His people and His princes: “For you set fire to My vineyard
and the plunder of the poor is in your houses. 15What do you mean by crushing My people
and grinding the faces of the poor?”

  16Moreover the Lord says, “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with
outstretched necks and wanton eyes, because they walk and mince as they go, making a
jingling with their feet,† 17therefore the Lord will humble the chief daughters of Zion. The
Lord will uncover their secret parts.” 18In that day, the Lord will take away the glory of their
garments and adornments: the hair-clasps, the tassels, the crescents, 19the necklace, and the
ornament on their faces; 20even the collection of glorious adornment, the anklets and the
armlets, the bracelets for the right arm and the finger-rings and the earrings, 21the garments
dyed and decorated with purple, 22the house-coats and transparent Lyconian garments,
23the fine linen—the hyacinthine and scarlet and flax interwoven with gold and hyacinth—

and the flowing veils. 24And so it shall be, instead of a sweet smell there will be dust; instead
of a sash, a rope; instead of a golden ornament of the head, baldness; and for your deeds,
instead of purple, you will have sackcloth. 25Your most handsome son, whom you love, shall
fall by the sword, and your mighty shall fall by the sword. 26And your chests of adornments
shall lament and mourn, and you shall be left to sit on the ground.


4 Seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, “We will eat our own food and wear our
  own apparel, only let us be called by your name, to take away our disgrace.” 2In that day,
the Lord will shine in counsel and glory on the earth, to exalt and glorify those of Israel who
remain. 3And it shall come to pass that those who remain in Zion and in Jerusalem will be
called holy—everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem, 4because the Lord
shall wash away the filth of the sons and the daughters of Zion, and shall purge the blood of
Jerusalem from their midst by the Spirit of judgment and the Spirit of burning.† 5He shall
come and there shall be with regard to Mt. Zion and everything round about, a cloud to
overshadow it by day, and as it were smoke and light of fire burning at night, and it shall be
covered altogether with glory. 6It shall be for shade from the heat, for a place of shelter, and
for a hiding-place from inclement weather and rain.


5 “Now  I will sing to My Beloved a song of My Beloved regarding My vineyard: There was a
  vineyard for My Beloved, a place in power and richness.† 2He placed a wall around it and
fortified it. He planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst and also made a
winepress in it. So I waited for it to bring forth grapes, but it produced thorn-plants. 3And
now, man of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, judge between Me and My vineyard. 4What
shall I yet do for My vineyard that I have not done for it? For I waited for it to bring forth
grapes, but it produced thorn-plants. 5But now I will tell you what I shall do to My vineyard: I
shall remove its wall and it shall be for booty. I shall break down its wall and it shall be
trampled underfoot. 6I will forsake My vineyard. It shall not be pruned or cultivated, but
thorns shall sprout forth as in a barren land. I will also command the clouds not to rain on it.”
7For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the man of Judah is His
beloved plant. I waited for it to bring forth judgment, but it brought forth lawlessness, and
not righteousness, but a cry.

  8Woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field, to take something from

their neighbor. Surely you will not dwell alone in the land.† 9For these things reached the
ears of the Lord of hosts, for though many large and beautiful houses should be built, they
shall be desolate, for there shall be no one to live in them. 10For where ten yoke of oxen shall
work, the land shall yield one jar, and whoever sows six homers shall receive three measures.
11Woe to those who rise early in the morning to follow intoxicating drink; to those who

continue until night, for wine shall inflame them. 12For they drink wine with the harp, the
strings, the tambourine and flute, but they do not look at the deeds of the Lord, nor consider
the works of His hands!

 13Therefore my people became captives, because they did not know the Lord; and a

multitude died through hunger and thirst for water. 14Hades enlarged itself and opened its
mouth continually. The glorious, the great, the wealthy, and the troublesome shall descend
into it. 15A man shall be humiliated, and a man shall be dishonored; and the eyes of the lofty
shall be humbled. 16But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and the Holy God
shall be glorified in righteousness. 17Those plundered shall be fed as bulls, and lambs shall
eat on the waste places of those taken away.

  18Woe to those who draw sins to themselves as with a long rope and lawlessness as with

the strap of a cow's yoke, 19who say, “Let Him speedily hasten what He will do that we may
see it, and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel come, that we may know it!” 20Woe to
those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who
put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21Woe to those who are intelligent in their own eyes
and expert in their own sight! 22Woe to your strong ones who drink wine and the mighty
ones who mix intoxicating drink, 23who justify the ungodly for a bribe and take away justice
from the righteous man! 24Therefore in the manner that stubble shall be burned by coals of
fire and consumed by a violent flame, their root shall be like chaff and their flower shall go
up like dust, for they did not will to do the law of the Lord of hosts, but despised the word of
the Holy One of Israel. 25Thus the wrath of the Lord of hosts is furious against His people.
He laid His hand on them and struck them. The mountains were provoked, and their
carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the road. For all this His anger was not turned away,
but His hand is still uplifted.

  26Consequently He shall take up a banner to the nations from afar and will whistle to

them from the ends of the earth. Behold, they are coming swiftly and with speed.† 27They
shall not hunger or be weary. Neither shall they slumber nor sleep. Nor shall they loose the
belts from their loins. Neither shall their sandal-straps be broken. 28Their arrows are sharp,
and their bows are bent. The hooves of their horses seem like flint and their chariot-wheels
like a sudden blast of wind. 29They rush like lions, and stand like a young lion that seizes his
prey and roars like a wild animal, then carries it away; and there shall be no one to deliver
them. 30In that day, they will bellow against them like the sound of the roaring sea. They will
look at the land and behold harsh darkness in their despair.


6 Inhouse
      the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up. The
          was full of His glory.†ω 2Around Him stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with
two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3And one cried to
another and said, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.”
4The lintel was lifted up by the voice of those who cried out, and the house was filled with

smoke. 5So I said, “Woe is me, because I am pierced to the heart, for being a man and having
unclean lips, I dwell in the midst of a people with unclean lips; for I saw the King, the Lord of
hosts, with my eyes!” 6Then one of the seraphim was sent to me. He had a live coal in his
hand, which he took with tongs from the altar.† † 7He touched my mouth, and said, “Behold,
this has touched your lips. Your lawlessness is taken away, and your sin is cleansed.” 8I also
heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go to this people?”
Then I said, “Behold, here am I, send me.” 9So He said, “Go, and tell this people, ‘You shall
hear indeed, but not understand; and you shall see indeed, but not perceive.’† 10For the heart
of this people has become insensitive, and their ears hear with difficulty. They have closed
their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with
their heart, and return, and I should heal them.” 11Then I said, “Lord, how long?” So He
answered, “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, the houses are without
people, and the land shall be left desolate. 12After this God will remove the people far away,
and those left in the land shall multiply. 13Yet a tenth shall be left in it, and again it shall be
for plundering, like a terebinth tree or like an acorn when it falls from its case.”


7 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of
  Judah, there came up Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel,
against Jerusalem to war against it; but they could not conquer it. 2Then it was reported to
the house of David, saying, “Syria's forces made an agreement with Ephraim.” So his soul and
the soul of his people was confounded, as a tree of the woods is shaken by the wind. 3Then
the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-Jashub your son, at the end
of the aqueduct from the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller's Field,† 4and say to him,
‘Guard yourself and be silent; do not fear, neither let your soul be disheartened because of
these two stubs of smoking firebrands, for when My fierce anger is over, again I shall heal.
5The son of Syria and the son of Remaliah have plotted evil against you, saying, 6“Let us go
up against Judah and talk with them, and let us turn them to our side, and let us make the
son of Tabel king of it.” 7Thus says the Lord of hosts: “This counsel shall not continue, nor
shall it come to pass. 8But the head of Syria is Damascus; nevertheless, in sixty-five years the
kingdom of Ephraim will cease being a people. 9Also the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the
head of Samaria is Remaliah's son, and if you do not believe this, neither will you understand
it.” ’ ”

  10Moreover the Lord added this to Ahaz, saying,ω 11“Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord

your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.” 12But Ahaz said, “I will not ask,
nor will I tempt the Lord.” 13Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David, is it a small
thing for you to weary men, but will you weary the Lord also?† 14Therefore the Lord Himself
will give you a sign: behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and you shall call His
name Immanuel. 15Butter and honey He shall eat before He knows to prefer evil or choose
the good, 16for before the Child knows good or evil, He refuses the evil to choose the good;
and the land you fear because of the presence of the two kings will be abandoned. 17But God
will bring the king of Assyria upon you, your people and your father's house—days that have
not yet come, from the days Ephraim took away from Judah the king of the Assyrians.” 18And
it shall come to pass in that day, the Lord will whistle for the fly that rules over part of the
river of Egypt, and for the bee in the land of Assyria. 19All of them will come and rest in the
ravines of the country, in the clefts of the rocks, in the caves and every crevice and tree. 20In
that day, the Lord will shave—with a large and blood-drenched razor belonging to the king of
Assyria beyond the river—the head and the hair of the legs, and will also remove the beard.
21It shall be in that day, a man will rear a heifer and two sheep. 22So it shall be, from the

abundance of milk they give, everyone left in the land will eat butter and honey. 23It shall
happen in that day, wherever there could be a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of
silver, it will be a barren land with thorn-plants.† 24Men will enter there with bows and
arrows, for all the land will be barren and with thorn-plants. 25Every mountain shall
certainly be plowed, and there shall be no fear there from barren land and thorn-plants, for it
will be a pasture for sheep and a place for oxen to roam.


8 Moreover the Lord said to me, “Take for yourself a large new book, and write on it with a
man's pen concerning making a swift plunder of spoils, for it is near at hand.†ω 2Then make
witnesses for Me of faithful men: Uriah and Zechariah, the son of Berechiah.” 3Then I went
to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son, and the Lord said to me, “Call his name
Quickly Despoil, Swiftly Plunder; 4for before the child shall know how to call for his father
and mother, one shall take the power of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria in the presence
of the king of Assyria.” 5The Lord also added this for me to speak as well, saying:

  6“Because this people did not choose the water of Siloam that flows quietly, but chose

Rezin and Remaliah's son to be king over you; 7therefore, behold, the Lord brings upon you
the mighty and abundant water of the river, the king of the Assyrians, and his glory. He shall
come up over every ravine of yours and walk over all your walls, 8and take away from Judah
every man able to raise his head or accomplish anything. His encampment will fill the
breadth of Your land, O God with us. 9Know this, O Gentiles, and be defeated. Give ear, all
you to the very ends of the earth. Be defeated although you are strong, for even if you should
be strong again, you will be defeated again. 10Then too, whatever counsel you take, the Lord
will scatter it abroad; and whatever word you shall speak, it will not continue among you, for
the Lord God is with us.”

  11Thus says the Lord: “With a strong hand they rebel against the course of the way of this

people, saying,† 12that you should not say, ‘It is hard,’ for whatever this people says is hard;
but do not be afraid of their terror, nor be troubled. 13Sanctify the Lord Himself, and He shall
be your fear. 14So if you trust in Him, He shall be as a sanctuary for you, and you shall not
come against Him as a stumbling stone nor as a rock of disaster. But the house of Jacob lies
in wait with a snare, and those in Jerusalem with a trap. 15Therefore many among them shall
be powerless and fall, and be broken, and men who are in safety shall draw near and be
conquered.”

  16Then they who seal the law so as not to learn it themselves shall be evident.† 17But One
will say, “I shall wait for God who turned His face away from the house of Jacob, and I will
trust in Him,† 18behold, I and the children God gave me.” This will be for signs and wonders
in the house of Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells in Mount Zion. 19So if they should
say to you, “Seek those who call from the earth and are ventriloquists, who speak from the
belly,” should not a nation seek their God? Why do they seek the dead on behalf of the living?
† 20He gave the law to help them, so as not to speak such a word as this, concerning which
word there are no gifts to offer with it.† 21Thus a harsh famine will come upon you, and it
shall be, when you are hungry, you will be grieved, and speak badly of your ruler and the
idols. Then they shall look up to heaven above, 22and on the earth below, and behold,
tribulation, distress, and darkness. There will be severe despair and darkness, so dark one
cannot see. 23And the one who is in despair shall be perplexed, but only for a time.


9 Do  this first and do it quickly: O country of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, by the way of the
  sea, and the rest dwelling along the seacoast and parts of Judea, and the land beyond the
Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, a people who walk in darkness, behold a great light; and you
who dwell in the country of the shadow of death, upon you a light will shine. 2The multitude
of the people, whom You brought down in Your joy, they shall also rejoice in Your presence,
as those who rejoice in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoils. 3For the yoke
lying upon them and the rod upon their neck is taken away, for the Lord broke the rod of the
exactors as in the day of Midian.† 4For every robe and garment gathered by deceit, they shall
repay with money, and they shall be willing to do this, even though they were burned with
fire. 5For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon
His shoulder. His name will be called the Angel of Great Counsel, for I shall bring peace upon
the rulers, peace and health by Him.†ω 6Great shall be His government, and of His peace
there is no end. His peace shall be upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order
and establish it with righteousness and judgment, from that time forward and unto ages of
ages. The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this.

  7The Lord sent death against Jacob, and it came on Israel. 8All the people will know—

Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria—who say in pride and arrogance of heart,† 9“The
bricks fell, but let us hew stones; and let us cut down sycamores and cedars, and we shall
build ourselves a tower.” 10But God shall overthrow those who rise up against them on Mt.
Zion, and scatter their enemies: 11the Syrians from the rising of the sun, the Greeks from the
setting of the sun, and those who shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, His anger
is not turned away, but His hand is still uplifted. 12But the people did not turn until they
were struck, yet they did not seek the Lord. 13So the Lord took away head and tail from
Israel, great and small, in one day. 14The elder and those who admire persons, this is the
head. The prophet who teaches lawlessness, this is the tail. 15For those who bless this people
lead them astray, and they lead them astray so as to destroy them. 16Therefore God will have
no joy in their young men, nor mercy on their orphans and widows. For all of them are
lawless and evil. Every mouth speaks injustices. For all this His anger is not turned away, but
His hand is still uplifted. 17For lawlessness burns like fire, and like dry grass, it shall be
consumed by fire and burn in the thickets of the forest. It shall devour all the hills round
about. 18Because of the Lord's wrath the entire land is burned up, and the people are as fuel
for the fire. No man will have mercy on his brother. 19But one shall turn aside to the right
hand, for he shall be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand and not be satisfied. Every man
shall eat the flesh of his own arm. 20Manasseh shall devour Ephraim and Ephraim
Manasseh. Together they shall besiege Judah. For all this His anger is not turned away, but
His hand is still uplifted.

        to those who write evil things, for when they write such things, 2they turn aside
10 “Woe
   judgment from the poor, and rob judgment from the needy of My people, that the
widow may be their prey and the orphan a spoil. 3What will they do in the day of visitation?
For affliction will come to you from afar, and to whom will you flee for help? Where will you
leave your glory, 4so as not to fall into captivity?” For all this, His anger is not turned away,
but His hand is still uplifted.

  5“Woe to the Assyrians! The rod of My anger and wrath are in their hands.† 6I will send My
wrath against a lawless nation; and I will order My people to seize spoils and plunder, to
trample down their cities, and turn them into dust. 7However, he does not think in the same
way, nor does he consider the same thing in his soul; but his heart will change, so as to
utterly destroy many nations. 8If they should say to him, ‘You alone are ruler,’ 9then he shall
say, ‘Have not I taken the country above Babylon and Chalanne, where the tower was built,
and taken Arabia, Damascus, and Samaria? 10As I took these with my hand, so also shall I
take all the kingdoms. Wail, O carved images in Jerusalem and Samaria! 11For as I did to
Samaria and the things made by human hands, so shall I do also to Jerusalem and her idols.’
” 12But it shall come to pass, when the Lord has completed all He will do on Mount Zion and
in Jerusalem, He will go against the arrogant heart of the king of the Assyrians and the glory
of his haughty looks. 13For he said, “I shall act in my strength and by the wisdom of my
understanding. I also shall remove the boundaries of the nations and plunder their strength. I
shall shake their inhabited cities. 14I shall overtake with my hand all the inhabited world as a
nest, and take them as eggs that have been left. There is no one who can escape or oppose
me.”
  15Shall the ax glorify itself without him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself

without him who saws with it? It is likewise if one should lift a rod or a piece of wood. 16But
it shall not be so, for the Lord of hosts will send dishonor against your honor; and He will
kindle a burning fire against your glory. 17So the Light of Israel will be as a fire, and He will
sanctify him with burning fire; and it will devour the wood like grass on that day. 18The
mountains, the hills, and the forests will be consumed, and devour both soul and body, and
he who flees will be like one fleeing from a burning flame. 19Then the remnant will be few in
number, and a child shall write them.

  20It shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel and those of Jacob who were
saved will never again obey those who wronged them; but they will trust in God, the Holy
One of Israel, in truth. 21The remnant of Jacob shall trust in the Mighty God. 22For though
the people of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them shall be saved; for He shall
accomplish the word and cut it short in righteousness. 23For God will accomplish the word
and cut it short in all the world.

  24Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “O My people who dwell in Zion, do not be afraid
of the Assyrian, because he shall strike you with a rod; for I am bringing a stroke upon you,
that you may see the way of Egypt.† 25Yet in a very short while, the wrath will cease, but My
anger shall be against their counsel.” 26For God will stir up enemies against them, as it was
in the stroke against Midian in that place of affliction; and His anger shall be by way of the
sea, in the way that leads to Egypt. 27Thus it shall come to pass in that day, his fear will be
taken from you and his yoke from your shoulder, for the yoke shall be destroyed from off
your shoulders. 28For he shall come to the city of Aiath and pass on to Migron and place his
property at Michmash. 29He will pass along the valley and arrive at Aiath. Fear will seize
Ramah, the city of Saul; the daughter of Gallim will flee, 30Laish will hear; Anathoth will
hear; 31Madmenah was astounded, so too the inhabitants of Gebim. 32Urge them today to
remain in the way. Comfort with your hand the mountain, the daughter of Zion, and the hills
in Jerusalem. 33For behold, the Master, the Lord of hosts, will trouble the glorious ones with
power, and the haughty in pride shall be crushed. The lofty will be humbled, 34and the high
and mighty shall fall by the sword, and Lebanon, with its high and mighty ones.


11 There shall come forth a rod from the root of Jesse, and a flower shall grow out of his
   root.ω 2The Spirit of God shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and godliness.† 3The Spirit of the fear
of God shall fill Him. He shall not judge by reputation nor convict by common talk. 4But He
will judge the cause of the humble, and reprove the humble of the earth. He shall strike the
earth with the word of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the ungodly.
5He shall gird His loins with righteousness and cover his sides with truth.

  6“The wolf shall feed with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the

calf, the bull, and the lion shall feed together; and a little child shall lead them.† 7The cow
and the bear shall graze together, and their young ones shall lie down together. The lion and
the ox shall eat straw together. 8The nursing child shall play by the hole of asps, and the
weaned child shall put his hand in the den of asps. 9They shall not hurt nor be able to destroy
anyone on My holy mountain, for the whole world shall be filled with the knowledge of the
Lord, as much water covers the seas.

  10“It shall come to pass in that day that there shall be a Root of Jesse who shall arise to

rule nations. The Gentiles shall hope in Him, and His resting place shall be honorable.”† 11It
shall come to pass in that day that the Lord will show His hand again to be zealous for the
remnant left of His people: left by the Assyrians and by Egypt, Babylon and Ethiopia, and by
the Elamites, and from the rising of the sun, and out of Arabia.† 12He shall set up a sign for
the Gentiles and will assemble the lost ones of Israel. He shall gather together the dispersed
of Judah, from the four corners of the earth. 13Also the envy of Ephraim shall depart, and the
enemies of Judah shall be destroyed. Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not
afflict Ephraim. 14But they shall spread sails on the ships of foreigners, and together they
shall plunder the sea and the people of the East and Edom. They shall lay their hands first on
Moab, but the sons of Ammon shall obey them first. 15The Lord shall make desolate the Sea
of Egypt, and He will lay His hand on the river with a violent wind, and will strike the seven
channels, that men might pass across it in sandals. 16“There shall be a highway for the
remnant of My people in Egypt, and it will be for Israel as in the day he came out of the land
of Egypt.”†


12 And in that day, you will say, “I will bless You, O Lord. Although You were angry with
   me, You turned away Your anger and had mercy on me. 2Behold, God is my Savior and
Lord. I will trust in Him and be saved by Him. I will not be afraid, for the Lord is my glory and
my praise. He has become my salvation.” 3You will draw water with gladness from the wells
of salvation.ω 4In that day, you will say, “Praise the Lord; call upon His name. Declare His
glorious things among the Gentiles and make mention that His name is exalted.† 5Sing to the
name of the Lord, for He has done great things. Declare this in all the earth. 6Exult and be
glad, O inhabitants of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is exalted in her midst.”

     The vision against Babylon seen by Isaiah the son of Amoz:†
13
  2“Lift up a sign on the mountain of the plain and raise your voice to them. Do not fear;

comfort with your hand; open the gates, O you rulers. 3I command and I lead them. They are
sanctified, and I lead them. My mighty ones come to fulfill My anger—rejoicing and insulting
at the same time.” 4The sound of many nations upon the mountains, like that of many
nations, the voice of kings and nations gathered together—the Lord of hosts commanded a
warring nation 5to come from a far country, from the end of heaven, the Lord and His
weapons, to destroy all the inhabited world. 6Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand, and
destruction will come from God. 7Therefore every hand will grow weary, and every man's
soul will be fearful. 8The elders will be troubled. Pangs will take hold of them, like a woman
in childbirth, and they will wail at one another and be amazed; and their countenance shall
change like a flame. 9Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, a day that cannot be averted, a
day of anger and wrath, to make all the inhabited world a desert, and to destroy the sinners
from it. 10For the stars of heaven and Orion and all the ornament of heaven will not give
their light. It will be dark when the sun goes forth, and the moon will not give its light. 11“I
will command evils for all the inhabited world and the ungodly because of their sins, and I
will destroy the insolence of the lawless and humble the haughtiness of the arrogant.
12Those left behind will be more valuable than fine gold tried in the fire, and a man more

precious than the stone of Ophir. 13For heaven will be angry, and the earth will be shaken
from its foundations because of the fierce anger of the Lord of hosts, in the day His anger
comes. 14Those who are left shall be as the fleeing gazelle and as a wandering sheep, and
there shall be no one to gather them, that a man may return to his own people and a man
may seek his own country. 15For whoever is taken will be overcome, and those who are
gathered together will fall by the sword. 16Their children also will be dashed before their
eyes. They shall plunder their houses and possess their wives. 17Behold, I will stir up the
Medes against you, who will not regard silver, neither do they have need of gold. 18They will
break in pieces the bows of the young, and show your children no mercy; nor will their eyes
spare your children. 19It shall be that Babylon, called glorious by the king of the Chaldeans,
will be as when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.† 20It shall never be inhabited, nor will
any enter it for many generations. Neither shall the Arabians pass through it, nor will
shepherds take their rest in it. 21But wild animals of the desert will rest there, and their
houses will be filled with noise. Sirens will rest there, and demons will dance there.
22Donkey-centaurs will dwell there, and hedgehogs will make dens in their homes. It will
come quickly and not delay.”


14 For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob and will yet choose Israel to take rest in their
   land. The sojourner will be added to them, and they will be added to the house of
Jacob.† 2Then the Gentiles will take them and bring them to their place. They will inherit
them, and they will multiply in God's land as male and female servants. Those who captured
them shall be captives to them, and those who ruled over them shall be ruled by them. 3Then
it shall come to pass in that day that God will give you rest from your sorrow and anger and
your hard slavery in which you served them.

  4You shall take up this lamentation against the king of Babylon, and will say in that day,

“How the exacter has ceased, and the compeller ceased!† 5God broke the yoke of sinners in
pieces, the yoke of the rulers, and 6in His anger He struck a nation with an incurable wound;
and striking a nation with a plague of anger, which did not spare them, 7He rested in
confidence. All the earth cries aloud with gladness. 8Indeed, the trees of Lebanon rejoice
against you and the cedar of Lebanon, saying, ‘From the time you fell asleep, no one has
come up to cut us down.’ 9Hades from below was embittered to meet you. All the mighty who
ruled over the earth rose up to meet you. Those who raised from their thrones all the kings of
the nations, 10all shall answer and say to you, ‘You also were conquered, even as we, and are
numbered among us. 11Your glory and great gladness have come down to Hades. They will
spread decay under you, and the worm will be your covering.’ 12How you are fallen from
heaven, O Lucifer, who rose up in the morning! He who sends for all the nations is crushed to
the earth.† 13For you said in your mind, ‘I will ascend into heaven; I will place my throne
above the stars of heaven. I will sit on a lofty mountain, on the lofty mountains toward the
north. 14I will ascend above the clouds; I will be like the Most High.’ 15But now you shall
descend to Hades, to the foundations of the earth. 16Those who see you will marvel at you,
and they will say, ‘This is the man who greatly upset the earth, who shook kingdoms, 17and
who made all the inhabited world a desert. He destroyed its cities, and did not set free those
in captivity.’ 18All the kings of the nations sleep in honor, every man in his house. 19But you
shall be cast forth on the mountains like a loathsome dead person, with many dead pierced
with swords who go down into Hades; and as a garment defiled in blood, you will not be
clean. 20So you will not be clean, because you destroyed My land and killed My people. You,
an evil seed, will not endure forever. 21Prepare your children for slaughter for the sins of
their father, that they may not arise and inherit the earth, and fill it with wars.”

  22“For I will rise up against them,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will destroy their name,

their remnant and their seed”—so says the Lord— 23“and I will make Babylon a desert, that
hedgehogs may dwell there; and it shall come to nothing; and I will make it a pit of clay for
destruction.” 24Thus says the Lord of hosts: “As I said, so it shall come to pass. As I purposed,
so it shall remain— 25to destroy the Assyrians in My land and on My mountains. They shall
be for trampling underfoot, and their yoke shall be taken away; and their renown shall be
removed from their shoulders.” 26This is the purpose the Lord purposed upon all the
inhabited world. His hand is lifted up over all the nations of the inhabited earth. 27For who
will reject what the holy God purposed? Who will turn away His uplifted hand?

  28In the year King Ahaz died, this word came: 29“Do not be glad, all you foreigners, for the
yoke of him who struck you is broken to pieces. For from the seed of serpents shall come
forth the young asps, and their offspring shall be flying serpents. 30The poor will be fed by
him, and poor men will rest in peace, but he shall destroy your seed with hunger, and he will
destroy your remnant. 31Wail, gates of the cities, cry out, troubled cities, even all the
foreigners, for smoke is coming from the north, and you will be no more!” 32What will the
kings of the nations answer? For the Lord founded Zion, and the humble of His people shall
be saved.†


15 The word against the land of Moab:
  In the night the land of Moab shall be destroyed, for the wall of the land of Moab shall be
destroyed in the night.† 2Lament for yourselves, for even Dibon, where your altar is, shall be
destroyed. Go there to weep over Nebo in the land of Moab. Wail, for baldness shall be on
every head, and all arms shall be mutilated. 3In her streets, dress yourselves with sackcloth
and strike yourselves on her housetops. All of you cry out with bitter wailing in her streets.
4Heshbon and Elealeh cry out until their voice is heard as far as Jahaz; therefore, the loins of

the land of Moab cry aloud, for its soul shall know this. 5The heart of the land of Moab cries
aloud in itself as far as Zoar, like a three-year-old heifer. On the ascent of Luhith, they shall
go up to you with weeping by way of Horonaim. She cries, “Destruction and earthquake!”
6The water of Nemerim shall be a desert, and its grass shall fail, for there will be no green

grass. 7“Even so, will Moab be saved? For I will bring the Arabs upon the valley, and they
shall take it. 8For the cry reaches the border of the land of Moab, even of Eglaim, and its
wailing as far as the well of Elim. 9For the water of Dimon shall be full of blood, for I will
bring Arabs upon Dimon. I shall take away the seed of Moab, Ariel and the remnant of
Adama.

      “I shall send them like reptiles upon the land, for is not Mount Zion a deserted rock?†
16    2O Daughter of Moab, you shall be like a young bird taken away from a bird that has

flown. Then, O Arnon, 3take more counsel and make for her a shelter of mourning
continually. In the middle of the day they flee in darkness; they are amazed; do not be led
away. 4The outcasts of Moab will sojourn with you. They will shelter you from the face of the
pursuer, for your alliance has been taken away, and the ruler who trampled the land
underfoot has perished from the earth.† 5A throne will be established with mercy, and in the
tabernacle of David, one will sit upon it in truth, judging, seeking justice, and hastening
righteousness.”

  6We heard of the insolence of Moab, exceedingly insolent. You drove away his arrogance.

Your divination is not in this way, 7no not in this way. Moab shall wail, for everyone shall
wail in the land of Moab. For you will think about those who dwell in Deseth, and not be
ashamed. 8The plains of Heshbon and the vine of Sibmah swallow the nations and shall
mourn. Trample down her vines. Do not reach to Jazer. Wander in the desert. Those sent
were left behind, for they passed through the desert. 9Therefore I will weep for the vine of
Sibmah with the weeping of Jazer. O Heshbon and Elealeh, he struck down your trees, for I
shall trample on your harvest and vintage, and both shall fall. 10Gladness is taken away, so
too the joy from your vineyards, for in the vineyards there shall be no rejoicing; and no
treaders will tread out wine in the wine vats, for the wine has ceased. 11Therefore my belly
will resound like a harp for Moab, and my inward parts like a wall you renewed. 12Then it
shall come to pass, when you are shamed (for Moab grows weary at his altars), that he will go
in to pray to the things made with hands, but they will be unable to deliver him.
  13This is the word the Lord spoke against Moab when He spoke. 14“So now I say to you,
within three years, as in the years of a hired man, the glory of Moab, with its great wealth,
shall be dishonored, and he will be left few in number and not honored.”


17 The word against Damascus:
  “Behold, Damascus will be taken away from among cities and will fall,† 2abandoned
forever. It shall be a fold and resting-place for sheep. No one will pursue them. 3There shall
no longer be a strong place for Ephraim to flee to, and there shall no longer be a kingdom in
Damascus and a remnant of Syrians; for you are no better than the sons of Israel and their
glory,” says the Lord of hosts.

  4“In that day, there shall be an eclipse of the glory of Jacob, and the riches of his glory shall

be shaken. 5It will be as when one gathers a standing harvest and reaps ears of corn with his
arm. It shall be as when one gathers heads of grain in a rich valley. 6It shall be as when straw
is left in it, or as when the berries of an olive tree, two or three on the uppermost bough, or as
when four or five are left on their branches,” says the Lord, the God of Israel. 7In that day, a
man will trust in Him who made him, and his eyes will look at the Holy One of Israel. 8They
will not trust in their altars, nor in the works of their hands, which their fingers made. They
will not look to their trees, nor to their abominations.† 9In that day, your cities will be
abandoned, as the Amorites and the Evites forsook theirs, because of the children of Israel.
They will be desolate,† 10because you forsook God your Savior, and have not been mindful of
the Lord your helper. Therefore you will be a faithless plant and a faithless seed. 11In the day
you plant, you will be deceived; but if you sow in the morning, it will blossom into a harvest,
in which you will receive an inheritance in that day; and as a man's father, you will obtain an
inheritance for your sons.

  12Woe to the multitude of many nations; as the swelling sea, so shall you be troubled; and

the surging of many nations will sound like water, 13many nations like much water, as when
much water rushes violently; and he will curse him and pursue him afar, as when the dust of
chaff scatters before the wind, and a sudden blast of wind whirls the dust of a wheel!
14Toward evening there will be mourning, and before morning, he will be no more. This is
the portion of those who plundered you, and the inheritance of those who robbed you of your
inheritance.
      Woe, O farthest edge of the land of ships, beyond the rivers of Ethiopia!† 2He sends
18 hostages by sea and paper letters over the water, for swift messengers will go to an
exalted nation and a strange and violent people. Who is beyond it, a nation without hope and
trampled underfoot? Now all the rivers of the land 3shall be inhabited, like an inhabited
country. Their country shall be like a sign raised by a mountain and an audible sound like a
trumpet. 4So the Lord said to me, “There will be security in My city, as the light of the midday
heat, and as a cloud of dew in the day of harvest.” 5Before the time of harvest, when the
flower has been completely formed, and the unripe grape has put forth its flower and
produced sour grapes, then He shall take away the small clusters with sickles and the
brushwood, and cut them off.† 6Then He shall leave them together for the birds of heaven
and the wild animals of the earth; and the birds of heaven shall gather upon them, and all the
wild animals of the earth will come upon him. 7At that time gifts shall be brought to the Lord
of hosts by a people afflicted and peeled, and by a people great from now on and forever, a
nation hoping and trampled on, which is in a part of a river of his country, to the place,
Mount Zion, where the name of the Lord of hosts is called upon.


19 The vision of Egypt:
  Behold, the Lord sits on a swift cloud and shall come to Egypt, and the things made by
hands in Egypt shall be shaken by His presence, and their heart shall be overcome within
them.ω 2“Egyptians shall be stirred up against Egyptians, and a man shall fight against his
brother, and a man against his neighbor, city against city and law against law.† 3The spirit of
the Egyptians will be troubled within them, and I will reject their counsel, and they shall
consult their gods and their statues, and those who speak from the earth and are
ventriloquists. 4And I will deliver Egypt into the hands of harsh lords and kings who will rule
over them,” thus says the Lord of hosts. 5And the Egyptians will drink water from the sea, for
the river will run dry and have no water. 6The streams and canals of the river will fail; and
every reservoir shall dry up, as well as every marsh of reed and papyrus. 7All the greenery
around the river and everything sown alongside the river shall be blasted by the wind and
dried up. 8The fishermen will also groan, and all who cast a fishhook into the river will also
lament, and those who cast dragnets and the anglers shall mourn. 9Shame shall fall on those
who work fine flax, and those who weave fine fabric will be ashamed. 10Those who work
these things will be in pain. All who make strong drink shall grieve and suffer in their souls.
11The rulers of Tanis are fools. As for the king's wise counselors, their counsel will be turned
into foolishness. How will you say to the king, “We are sons of the wise, we are sons of kings
of old”? 12Where are your wise men now? Let them now tell you, and let them say what the
Lord of hosts planned against Egypt. 13The rulers of Tanis have failed, and the rulers of
Memphis are exalted, and they shall lead Egypt astray according to tribes. 14For the Lord
prepared for them a spirit of error, and they led Egypt astray in all their works, like a drunken
man who staggers and vomits. 15There shall be no work for the Egyptians that will bring
about employer and employee, and beginning and completion.

  16In that day, the Egyptians shall be like women in fear and trembling because of the hand

of the Lord of hosts, which He shall lay upon them. 17The country of the Jews will be a terror
to the Egyptians. If anyone mentions it to them, they will be in fear, because of the counsel
the Lord purposed concerning it. 18In that day, five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the
language of Canaan and swear by the name of the Lord; one city will be called the City of
Justice. 19In that day, there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the country of Egypt
and a pillar to the Lord at its border. 20It will be a sign forever to the Lord in the country of
Egypt, for they will cry to the Lord because of their oppressors, and the Lord will send them a
Man who will save them. He will judge and save them. 21Then the Lord will be known to the
Egyptians, and in that day the Egyptians will know the Lord and offer sacrifices. Yes, they will
make vows to the Lord and pay them. 22The Lord shall strike the Egyptians with a great
wound and completely heal them. They will return to the Lord, and He shall hear and heal
them. 23In that day there will be a road from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will come into
Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria. The Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. 24In that
day, Israel will be one of three with the Egyptians and Assyrians; a blessing in the land,
25which the Lord of hosts blessed, saying, “Blessed are my people in Egypt, and in Assyria
and Israel, My inheritance.”


20 InAssyrians,
        the year Tartan came to Azotus, when he was sent by Sargon the king of the
                and he fought Ashdod and took it,† 2then the Lord spoke to Isaiah, saying,
“Go and remove the sackcloth from your loins, and take your sandals off your feet.” Thus he
did so, walking naked and barefoot.† 3Then the Lord said, “Just as My servant Isaiah walked
naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against the Egyptians and Ethiopians,
4so shall the king of the Assyrians lead the captivity of Egypt and the Ethiopians, young men

and old, naked and barefoot, exposing the shame of Egypt. 5The Egyptians being defeated
shall be ashamed before the Ethiopians, in whom they trusted, for they were their glory.
6Those also who dwell in this island shall say, ‘Behold, we hoped to flee for help to those who
were unable to save themselves from the king of the Assyrians. How then shall we be saved?’
”


21 The vision of the desert:
  As though a whirlwind should pass through the desert, coming from a desert, from a
fearful land, 2so a fearful and harsh vision was declared to me. He who is treacherous deals
treacherously; the lawless one deals lawlessly. The Elamites and the ambassador of the
Persians come against me. Now I will groan and comfort myself. 3Therefore my loins are
filled with feebleness, and agony seizes me as a woman giving birth. I did wrong, so I cannot
hear; I am so troubled, I cannot see. 4My heart is led astray, and lawlessness permeates me.
My soul is occupied with fear. 5Prepare the table, eat and drink. Arise, you princes, and
prepare your shields. 6For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman for yourself and
declare whatever you see.”† 7So I saw two mounted horsemen, a rider on a donkey, and a
rider on a camel. Listen with much attention, 8and call Uriah to the lookout-place of the
Lord. Then he said, “I stood continually during the day, and in the camp throughout the
night. 9Behold, he is coming, a rider on a chariot.” Then he answered and said, “Babylon is
fallen, and all her statues and those made by hand are crushed to the ground.”† 10Listen, you
who remain and are suffering pain, hear what things I heard from the Lord of hosts, which
the God of Israel declared to us.

    11The vision of Edom:


  He calls to me from Seir, “Guard the battlements. 12I guard in the morning and at night. If
you will inquire, inquire, and dwell with me.” 13In the forest on the road of Dedan you will
lodge. 14Bring water to meet him who is thirsty, you inhabitants of the land of Teman; meet
those who are fleeing with bread, 15because of the multitude who are fleeing and the
multitude who are wandering, and because of the multitude of swords and bent bows, and the
multitude of those fallen in war. 16For thus the Lord said to me: “Within a year, according to
the year of a hired servant, all the glory of the sons of Kedar shall fail. 17The remainder of the
archers and the mighty men of the sons of Kedar shall be few, for the Lord God of Israel has
spoken.”
22 The word concerning the valley of Zion:
  What has happened to you, now that you have all gone up to worthless houses?† 2The city
is full of loud crying. Your slain men are not slain with the sword, nor are your dead those
who died in war. 3All your rulers have fled, and your captives are tightly bound, and the
mighty among you have fled. 4Therefore I said, “Let me alone; I will weep bitterly; do not
labor to comfort me at the destruction of the daughter of my race.” 5For it is a day of trouble,
destruction, trampling, and error from the Lord of hosts in the Valley of Zion. They wander
on the mountains, from the least to the greatest of them. 6And the Elamites took their
quivers, and there were men mounted on horses, gathered for battle. 7It shall come to pass,
your chosen valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall block up your gates.
8They shall uncover the gates of Judah, and look in that day on the chosen houses of the city.
9They shall uncover the secret places of the houses of the citadel of David, and see they are

many. They shall see they had turned back the waters of the old pool into the city, 10and had
pulled down the houses of Jerusalem to fortify the wall for the city. 11You also made a
reservoir for yourself between the two walls of the inner old pool. But you did not look to
Him who made it from the beginning, nor did you perceive Him who created it. 12In that day
the Lord of hosts called for weeping and mourning, for baldness and for girding with
sackcloth.† 13But instead, they celebrated in joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep,
so as to eat and drink wine, saying, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 14These
things are revealed in the ears of the Lord of hosts, for this sin shall not be forgiven you until
you die.

  15Thus the Lord of hosts says, “Go into the chamber, to Shebna the steward, and say to

him,† 16‘What have you here, and what is this to you, that you have hewn a memorial here
for yourself, and made yourself a memorial on high, and engraved a testimony for yourself in
a rock? 17Indeed the Lord of hosts will cast out and destroy such a man, and take away your
robe 18and glorious crown, and cast you into a large and unmeasured country. There you
shall die, and there your beautiful chariot shall be brought to dishonor and your master's
house trampled. 19You will be taken from your stewardship and position. 20Then it shall be
in that day, I will call My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah.† 21I will clothe him with your
robe and give your crown to him, and I will commit your power and your stewardship into his
hands. He shall be like a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah. 22I will give him
the glory of David, and he shall rule, and no one will oppose him. 23I will establish him as a
ruler in a trustworthy place, and he will become a glorious throne to his father's house.
24Everyone glorious in his father's house will trust in him, from small to great, and they will

depend on him. 25In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘the man established in a trustworthy
place will be removed and fall, and the glory that was on him will be taken away; for the Lord
has spoken.’ ”


23 The vision concerning Tyre:
  Wail, you ships of Carthage, for Tyre has perished; and they no longer come from the land
of the Citaeans, for Tyre is led captive!† 2To whom are the dwellers on the island likened—
these merchants of Phoenicia, who cross over the sea 3in great waters, the offspring of
merchants? These merchants of the nations are like as when the harvest is gathered. 4Be
ashamed, O Sidon; for the sea has spoken, the strength of the sea has said, “I do not labor in
birth, nor bear children; neither do I rear young men, nor raise virgins.” 5Moreover when the
report reaches Egypt, sorrow will take hold of them concerning Tyre. 6Cross over to Carthage;
wail, you inhabitants on this island! 7Was this not your arrogance from the beginning, before
it was handed over?† 8Who purposed these things against Tyre? Is it inferior, or does it have
no strength? Are not its merchants the glorious rulers of the earth? 9The Lord of hosts
purposed these things, to bring down all the arrogance of the glorious ones and to dishonor
every glorious thing on the earth. 10Cultivate your land, for ships are no longer coming from
Carthage. 11Your hand is no longer able at sea, the hand that provoked kings. The Lord of
hosts has given a command concerning Canaan, to destroy its strength. 12They will say, “No
longer continue to insult and wrong the daughter of Sidon, and if you cross over to the
Citians, neither will you be at rest there. 13And if you depart for the land of the Chaldeans,
this also was desolated by the Assyrians. Neither will you be at rest there, for its wall has
fallen.” 14Wail, you ships of Carthage, for your stronghold is destroyed! 15Then it shall come
to pass in that day that Tyre will be abandoned for seventy years, as the time of a king, as the
time of a man; and it shall be, after the seventy years, Tyre will be as the song of a prostitute.
16Take a harp, wander about the city, you forgotten prostitute. Play well on the harp, sing

many songs, that you may be remembered. 17And it shall be, at the end of seventy years, that
the Lord will visit Tyre. She will be restored again as of old, and will be a marketplace for all
the kingdoms of the inhabited earth.† 18Her trade and her wages will be holy to the Lord. Her
trade will not be gathered for them, but for those who dwell before the Lord, to eat, drink, and
be filled, as a shared meal and a memorial before the Lord.


24 Behold, the Lord is about to lay waste the inhabited earth, and He will make it desolate,
   lay bare its surface, and scatter those who dwell therein.† 2And it shall be that the
people shall be as the priest, the servant as the lord, the maiden as the mistress, the buyer as
the seller, the lender as the borrower, and the debtor as the creditor. 3The earth shall be
completely laid waste and utterly plundered, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken these
things. 4The earth mourns and the inhabited earth is ruined; the lofty of the earth mourn.
5The earth acts lawlessly because of its inhabitants, for they transgressed the law and

changed the ordinances, the everlasting covenant. 6Therefore a curse shall devour the earth,
because those who dwell in it sinned. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth shall be poor,
and few people will be left. 7The wine shall mourn, the vine shall mourn, and all the merry-
hearted will groan. 8The mirth of tambourines, the willfulness and wealth of the ungodly,
and the sound of the harp have ceased. 9They were ashamed; they did not drink wine; strong
drink is bitter to those who drink it. 10Every city was made desolate; every house is shut up,
that none may go in. 11Wail for wine everywhere; all gladness of the earth is gone! 12Cities
shall be left desolate, and abandoned houses will be destroyed. 13All these things shall be in
the earth in the midst of the nations, in the manner someone would glean an olive tree. Thus
they shall glean them when the harvest is done. 14They shall cry aloud, and those left behind
on the earth shall be glad together in the glory of the Lord. The water of the sea shall be
troubled.† 15Therefore the glory of the Lord will be in the islands of the sea; the name of the
Lord, the God of Israel, will be glorious. 16From the ends of the earth we heard wonderful
things, and there is hope for the godly man. They will say, “Woe to the rejecters, who reject
the law!” 17Fear, a pit, and a snare are upon you who dwell on the earth. 18It shall be that he
who flees from the fear shall fall into the pit, and he who comes up from the midst of the pit
shall be caught in the snare; for the windows of heaven are opened, and the foundations of
the earth shall be shaken.† 19The earth shall be completely troubled, and the earth will be
completely perplexed. 20The earth bends and will be shaken like a hut, and like a drunkard
overpowered with wine; and it shall fall and be unable to stand, for lawlessness is upon it.
21Then God will bring His hand upon the host of heaven and upon the kings of the earth.†
22They will gather them and close them in a fortress and in a prison; and after many

generations they shall be visited. 23And the brick will melt and the wall shall fall, for the Lord
will reign in Zion and in Jerusalem, and will be glorified before His elders.


25 Owonderful
      Lord my God, I will glorify You; I will sing a hymn to Your name, for You have done
              things, an ancient and true counsel. So be it, O Lord.† 2For You made cities
into a mound; You made the foundations of their strong cities fall. The city of the ungodly
shall not be built forever.† 3Therefore the poor people will bless You, and the cities of
wronged people will praise You. 4For You were a helper to every humbled city, and a
protection to those who were disheartened by reason of poverty. You will deliver them from
evil men, and be a shelter of the thirsty and a breath of life to the wronged. 5They will bless
You as discouraged people, thirsting in Zion because of ungodly men to whom You delivered
us. 6Then the Lord of hosts shall do this to all the nations on this mountain. They shall drink
in gladness; they shall drink wine; they shall anoint themselves with ointment 7on this
mountain. Deliver all these things to the nations, for this is the counsel for all the nations.
8Death prevailed and swallowed them, but again God wiped away every tear from every face;
He took away the disgrace of His people from all the earth; for the mouth of the Lord has
spoken.† 9Then it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God, in whom we hoped and
rejoiced exceedingly; and we shall be glad in His salvation.”† 10For on this mountain God will
give them rest, and the Moabite shall be trampled down, in the manner the threshing floor is
tread with wagons.† 11He will spread forth His hands so as to humble man, to destroy him;
and He will humble his arrogance—arrogance on which he laid his hands. 12The height of
your refuge He will humble, and bring it down to the ground.


26 Incity;thatHeday  they shall sing this song in the land of Judah: “Behold, we have a strong
                 will make our salvation its surrounding wall. 2Open the gates; let the people
enter who keep righteousness and guard the truth, 3and who lay hold of the truth and keep
peace, 4because they hope forever in You, O Lord, the great and eternal God, 5who humbles
and brings down those who dwell on high; the strong cities You will cast down; You will bring
them down to the ground.† 6The feet of the gentle and the humble shall tread them
underfoot. 7The way of the godly is straight; and the way of the godly is prepared.† 8For the
way of the Lord is judgment. We hope in Your name and in the remembrance of You, 9which
our soul desires at night. My spirit rises early in the morning to You, O God, for Your
commands are a light upon the earth. Learn righteousness, you who dwell on the earth.
10The ungodly man ceases; he will not learn righteousness on the earth; he will not do the
truth; let the ungodly man be taken away, that he may not see the glory of the Lord. 11O Lord,
Your arm is exalted, but they did not know it. But when they know it, they shall be ashamed,
for jealousy will seize an untaught people; and now fire will devour the adversaries. 12O Lord
our God, grant us peace, for You render everything to us. 13O Lord our God, possess us; O
Lord, we know no other besides You; we name Your name. 14The dead will not see life;
neither will physicians raise them. Therefore You brought evils upon them and destroyed
them, and took away every male of theirs. 15Bring more evils on them, O Lord, on the
glorious of the earth. 16O Lord, I remembered You in my hard circumstances. Your
chastening to us was a small affliction.† 17As a woman with child is in pain and cries out in
her pangs, when she draws near the time of her delivery, so we became Your beloved because
of Your fear, O Lord. 18We have been with child, we have been in pain, and we have given
birth. We brought forth the spirit of Your salvation on the earth. But the inhabitants of the
world shall fall. 19The dead shall rise up; and those in the tombs shall arise. Those in the
earth shall be glad, for your dew is a healing for them, but the land of the ungodly shall come
to an end.”† 20Come, my people, enter your closets and shut your door; hide yourself for a
very short while, until the anger of the Lord is past.† 21For behold, the Lord is bringing wrath
from His holy place upon the inhabitants of the earth, and the earth will uncover its blood
and will not cover its slain.


27 Inserpent,
        that day, God will bring His holy, great, and strong sword upon the fleeing dragon
              the perverse dragon serpent that flees; and He shall destroy the dragon.† 2In
that day, there shall be a beautiful vineyard, and a desire to begin a hymn against a city: 3“I
am a strong city, a besieged city; I water it in vain; for it shall be taken at night, and its wall
shall fall by day. 4There is no woman who has not taken hold of it. Who will appoint me to
guard straw in a field? I rejected it because of this enemy. For that very reason therefore, the
Lord God did all the things He ordered. I am burned down.” 5Those who dwell in it will cry
out, “Let us make peace with Him, let us make peace.” 6Those who come are the children of
Jacob. Israel shall bud and put forth flowers, and the inhabited earth shall be filled with its
fruit.† 7As he struck, shall he not be thus struck? As he slew, shall he not be thus slain?
8Fighting and denouncing he shall send them away. Did you not think with a harsh spirit

about killing them in a spirit of anger? 9Therefore the lawlessness of Jacob will be removed;
and this is his blessing when I take away his sin, when they make all the stones of the altars
beaten like fine dust. Their trees do not remain, and their idols shall be cut down like a
distant forest.† 10The flock that dwelt there shall be left like an abandoned flock, and for a
long time the field will be for pasture; and there flocks shall lie down to rest.† 11And after a
time, there will be nothing green in it because of the withering. Come here, you women who
come from that sight. For it is a people of no understanding; therefore He who made them
will have no compassion on them, neither He who formed them; and He will show them no
mercy. 12And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord will close it from the channel of
the river to the Brook of Egypt. And you will gather the sons of Israel one by one.† 13So it
shall be in that day that they shall blow the great trumpet, and the lost ones in the country of
the Assyrians and in Egypt will come, and they shall worship the Lord on the holy mountain
in Jerusalem.


28 Woe  to the crown of arrogance, the hirelings of Ephraim, the flower that fell from the
   glory on top of the fertile mountain, those who are drunk without wine.† 2Behold, the
anger of the Lord is a strong and harsh thing, like a falling hail where there is no shelter,
falling violently like a great force of water, sweeping away the country. He shall bring relief
for the earth with His hands. 3The crown of arrogance, the hirelings of Ephraim, will be
trampled underfoot. 4But the flower that fell from the hope of the glory on the top of the high
mountain shall be like the forerunner of the fig. He who sees it wishes to swallow it before he
gets it in his hand.† 5In that day, the Lord of hosts shall be the crown of hope, woven of glory,
to the remnant of My people. 6They shall be left in a spirit of judgment upon judgment and
for the strength of those who prevent slaying. 7For these are led astray with wine and are
deceived by strong drink. Priest and prophet are out of their minds by reason of wine; they
stagger because of drunkenness; they go astray. This is delusion. 8A curse will devour this
counsel, for this counsel was for the sake of covetousness. 9To whom have we reported evils
and declared a message? Those weaned from milk and withdrawn from the breasts. 10Expect
affliction upon affliction, hope upon hope, yet a little, yet a little. 11By reason of the contempt
of lips and another tongue they will speak to this people, 12saying to them, “This is the rest
for the hungry, and this is the affliction,” but they would not listen. 13The teaching of the
Lord God will be for them affliction upon affliction, hope upon hope, yet a little, yet a little, so
they may go and fall backward; and they will be in danger, crushed and conquered.
14Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you afflicted men and rulers of this people in

Jerusalem. 15Because you said, “We made a covenant with Hades, and are in agreement with
death, and if the rushing storm passes through, it will not come upon us, for we made
falsehood our hope, and in falsehood we shall be protected”; 16therefore, thus says the Lord:
“Behold, I lay for the foundations of Zion a costly stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone
for its foundations, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.† 17I will also cause
judgment to be for hope, and My mercy to be for a standard. The sudden blast of wind will
not pass by you who trust vainly in falsehood, 18except it also take away your covenant of
death. Your hope in Hades will also not stand when the rushing storm passes through, for
you will be beaten down by it. 19When it passes through, it will take you; for morning by
morning it will pass through by day, and by night there will be an evil hope.” Learn to listen,
20you in difficult straits. We cannot fight, and we ourselves are too weak to gather ourselves

together. 21As the mountain of the ungodly will rise up and be in the valley of Gibeon, He
will do His deeds in anger, a work of bitterness. His anger will behave strangely, and His
bitterness will be strange.† 22So do not be glad, neither let your bands become strong;
because I heard from the Lord of hosts the things He will perform upon all the earth. 23Give
ear and hear my voice. Listen and hear my words. 24Will the plowman plow all day? Or will
he prepare the seed before he cultivates the ground? 25When he levels its surface, does he
not then sow the small black cummin, and afterward sow the wheat, the barley, and the one-
seeded wheat in your borders? 26So you will be chastised by the judgment of your God and
be gladdened by it. 27For the black cummin is not cleansed with harshness, nor will the
wheel of a wagon roll over the cummin; but the black cummin is threshed with a stick, and
the cummin 28will be eaten with bread. For I will not be angry with you forever, nor will the
voice of my bitterness trample you underfoot. 29These signs came forth from the Lord of
hosts. Take counsel; exalt vain comfort.


29 Woe to the city of Ariel, against which David waged war! Gather fruits year by year, for
   you will eat with Moab.† 2For I will afflict Ariel, and her strength and wealth will be
mine. 3I will encircle you as David did, and I will put a barricade around you, and place
towers around you. 4Your words will be humbled to the earth, and your words will sink into
the earth. Your speech shall be like those calling out of the ground, and your voice weakened
to the ground. 5Moreover the wealth of the ungodly shall be like the dust of a wheel and like
dirt carried away. It shall be as though in an instant and suddenly 6from the Lord of hosts;
for there will be a visitation with thunder and earthquake and a great noise, and a sudden
blast of wind and a devouring flame of fire. 7The wealth of all the nations, as many as fought
against Ariel, and all who wage war against Jerusalem, and all who gather against her and
afflict her, shall be as one who dreams in the night. 8They shall be like those who eat and
drink in a dream, and when they awake their dream was useless, and as a thirsty man dreams,
as if he is drinking but is still thirsty when he wakes, and his soul hoped in vain, so will be the
wealth of all the nations that fought against Mount Zion. 9Faint and be amazed; be
overpowered, not with strong drink nor with wine, 10for the Lord made you drink a spirit of
deep sleep, and He shall close their eyes and the eyes of their prophets and rulers, who see
secret things. 11All these things shall be to you as the words of this sealed book, which if they
should give to a learned man, saying, “Read this,” then he will say, “I cannot read this, for it is
sealed.” 12This book shall also be placed in the hands of an unlearned man, and one shall say
to him, “Read this,” then he will say, “I do not understand writings.”

  13So the Lord said, “These people draw near to Me and honor Me with their lips, but their
heart is far from Me, and they worship Me in vain, teaching the commandments and
doctrines of men.† 14Therefore behold, I will proceed to remove this people, and I shall
remove them. I shall destroy the wisdom of the wise and hide the understanding of the
intelligent.” 15Woe to those who deepen their counsel, but not through the Lord! Woe to
those who take counsel in secret and whose works are in darkness! They say, “Who sees us?”
and, “Who knows us or what we do?”† 16Shall you not be considered as the clay of the potter?
Shall what is molded of clay say to him who molded it, “You did not create me”? Or shall the
work say to him who made it, “You did not make me wisely”? 17Is it not yet a very little while
until Lebanon shall be changed like Mount Carmel, and Mount Carmel be considered a
forest? 18In that day, the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of those in
darkness and in a fog shall see. 19The poor also shall rejoice exceedingly in gladness because
of the Lord, and the hopeless among men shall be filled with gladness. 20The lawless man
has come to an end, and the arrogant man has perished. Those who act lawlessly in malice
are utterly destroyed, 21as well as those who cause men to sin in word. They shall make all
who condemn at the gates an offense, because they turned aside the righteous man with
wrongdoing. 22Therefore the Lord says this concerning the house of Jacob, whom He set
apart out of Abraham: “Now Jacob shall not be ashamed, nor shall Israel now change his
countenance. 23But when their children see My works, they shall sanctify My name for My
sake, and will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and fear the God of Israel. † 24And those who
erred in spirit shall know understanding, and those who complained will learn to obey, and
the stammering tongues shall learn to speak peace.”
30 “Woe to the apostate children,” says the Lord! “You made counsel, but not through Me,
   and covenants, but not of My Spirit, so as to add sins to sins. 2You proceeded to go
down to Egypt, but did not ask Me, so as to be helped by Pharaoh and protected by the
Egyptians. † 3For the protection of Pharaoh shall be your shame, and there shall be disgrace
for those who trust in Egypt. 4For there are rulers at Tanis, evil messengers. In vain shall
they labor 5in seeking a people who will not profit, help or benefit them, but they shall be for
them a shame and a disgrace.”

  6The vision of the quadrupeds in the desert:

  In affliction and distress they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and camels—amid
lions and lion's cubs, and vipers and the offspring of flying vipers—to a nation that will not
profit or benefit them, but will be for them a shame and a disgrace.† 7For the Egyptians shall
help you utterly in vain. Tell them, “This consolation of yours is in vain.”

  8Now therefore, sit and write these things on a tablet in a book, for these things shall be

for the time to come, even forever. 9For this is a disobedient people, false children, children
who are unwilling to hear the law of God.† 10They say to the prophets, “Do not report to us”;
and to those who see visions, “Do not speak to us, but speak and declare to us another
deception. 11Turn us aside from this way; remove this path from us, and take away from us
the Holy One of Israel.” 12Therefore thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel: “Because you
disobeyed these words, and hoped in falsehood and grumbled and were confident in this
respect; 13therefore, this sin shall be to you like a wall ready to fall when a strong city is
taken, whose fall is immediately present. 14Its fall shall be like the breaking of a clay vessel,
like that of a small jar, so as not to find among them even a fragment with which to take away
fire, or draw a little water.” 15For thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel: “When you
return and groan, then you will be saved and know where you were. When you trusted in vain
things, vain was your strength, and you did not will to listen.”† 16But you said, “We will flee
on horses”—therefore you shall flee. You also said, “We will ride on swift horses”—therefore
those who pursue you shall be swift. 17One thousand shall flee at the voice of one; at the
voice of five, many shall flee, until you are left as a pole upon a mountain, and as one holding
a banner on a hill. 18And again God will wait, that He may have compassion on you; and
therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you, because the Lord our God is a
judge, and where will you leave behind your glory? Blessed are all those who abide in Him.†
  19For a holy people shall dwell in Zion; and Jerusalem cried with wailing, “Have mercy on
me.” He will have mercy on you at the sound of your cry. When He sees this, He will listen to
you. 20The Lord will give you the bread of affliction and scant water; and those leading you
astray will no longer approach you, but your eyes shall see those leading you astray.† 21Your
ears shall hear words behind you leading you astray, saying, “This is the way; let us walk in
it,” either to the right hand or to the left. 22You will also remove your idols plaited with silver
and covered with gold. You will grind them to powder and scatter them like the water of an
indisposed woman, and thrust them away like dung. 23Then there will be rain for the seed of
your land, and the bread of produce of your land's increase will be plenteous and rich. In that
day your cattle will feed in rich and large pastures. 24Your bulls and the oxen that work the
ground will eat straw prepared with winnowed barley. 25On every high mountain and on
every high hill there will be streams in that day, when many perish and the towers fall. 26In
that day, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be
sevenfold, when the Lord heals the wound of His people and the pain of your plague.

  27Behold, the name of the Lord comes after a long time, a burning anger. The teaching of
His lips is with glory, a revelation full of wrath, and the wrath of His anger shall devour like
fire. 28His breath, like an overflowing stream in a valley, shall reach up to the neck and be
divided, to trouble the nations for their vain error; and error shall pursue and overtake them.
29Must you always be glad, and go into My holy places continually, as those who keep a feast,
and must you always go with a flute, as those who are glad when they go into the mountain of
the Lord, to the God of Israel? 30God will cause His glorious voice to be heard, and He will
show the anger of His arm with anger and wrath, and the flame of a devouring fire. He shall
strike violently with thunderbolts, and His wrath shall be as water and violent hail. 31For
through the voice of the Lord, the Assyrians will be defeated, as He strikes them with the
rod.† 32And it shall happen to him on every side, that those from whom his hope of
assistance was, and in whom he trusted, shall themselves, in turn, make war on him with
flutes and harps. 33For you will be required before many days: Was it prepared for you also
to reign? No, God prepared for you a deep valley, wood laid down, fire and much wood. The
anger of the Lord shall be as a valley burning with brimstone.


31 Woe  to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots
   because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not
trust in the Holy One of Israel, nor seek God!† 2So He wisely brings evils upon them, and His
word cannot be set aside, for He will rise up against the houses of evil men and against their
vain hope. 3Now an Egyptian is a man, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not a
help. The Lord shall bring His hand against them, and those who help them shall become
weary. All will perish together. 4For thus the Lord said to me: “As a lion roars, and a young
lion over his prey, which he took and cries out upon it until the mountains are filled with his
sound, and the animals are awestruck and terrified at the fierceness of his anger, so the Lord
of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion, even upon her mountains.† 5Like birds
flying about, so will the Lord defend Jerusalem. He will deliver, preserve, and save it.”
6Return, you who planned a deep and lawless counsel. 7For in that day, men shall renounce

their idols of silver and gold, which their hands made. 8Then the Assyrian shall fall by a
sword not of man, and a sword not of man shall devour him. He shall not flee from the
sword, but his young men shall be overthrown.† 9For they shall be surrounded by a rock as
by a barricade, and he who flees shall be caught.


32 The Lord says this: “Blessed is he who has a seed in Zion and kindred in Jerusalem. For
   behold, a righteous King shall reign, and rulers will govern with judgment.† 2A Man
will hide His words, and be hidden as from flowing water; and He will appear in Zion as a
glorious river flowing in a thirsty land.† 3And they will no longer trust in men, but their ears
will incline to listen. 4The heart of the sick will pay attention to listen, and the tongues that
stammer will learn quickly to speak peace.” 5Let them no longer tell a fool to rule, nor let
Your servants say any longer, “Be silent.” 6For the fool will speak foolishness, and his heart
will think vain things: to practice lawlessness, to speak error against the Lord, to scatter
hungry souls, and to make thirsty souls empty. 7For the counsel of evil men plans
lawlessness, to destroy the humble with unjust words, and to scatter the words of the humble
with judgment. 8But the godly plan wise things, and this counsel remains.

 9Rise up, you rich women, and hear my voice. You daughters with hope, listen to my

words. 10In pain, yet with hope, remember that for a full year the harvest will be consumed
and cease. It shall by no means come again. 11Be amazed, be grieved, you confident ones.
Strip yourselves, and gird your loins with sackcloth. 12Beat upon your breasts because of the
desirable fields and the fruit of the vine. 13On the land of my people, thorns and grass will
come up, and gladness will be taken from every house. As for the rich city, 14the houses are
deserted, and they will leave behind the wealth of the city and desirable houses. The villages
will become caves forever, and the gladness of wild donkeys and pastures of shepherds—
15until the Spirit comes upon you from on high, and the desert becomes a fruitful field, and

the fruitful field is counted as a forest.† 16Then judgment will take rest in the desert, and
righteousness shall dwell in Carmel. 17The works of righteousness will be peace, and
righteousness shall ensure rest and confidence forever. 18His people will dwell in a city of
peace, and will dwell in confidence, and they will rest with riches. 19Though hail should come
down, it would not fall upon you, and those who dwell in the forests shall be as confident as
those in the plain. 20Blessed are those who sow beside all waters, where the ox and the
donkey tread.†


33 Woe   to those who distress you, though no one is causing you distress, and he who
   deals treacherously with you, though no one is dealing treacherously with you! Those
who deal treacherously will be conquered and handed over, and like a moth in a garment they
will be defeated.† 2O Lord, have mercy on us; for we trust in You. The seed of the disobedient
was made for destruction, but our salvation is in a time of affliction.† 3The peoples were
dismayed through fear of You, because of Your fearsome voice, and the nations were
scattered. 4So now the spoils of your small and great shall be gathered, as if someone might
gather grasshoppers. Thus shall they make fun of you. 5The God who dwells in the heights is
holy. Zion is filled with judgment and righteousness.† 6They will be handed over to the law.
Our salvation is in treasures wherein is wisdom, knowledge, and godliness toward the Lord—
these are the treasures of righteousness. 7Behold therefore, they will fear you greatly, and
those you feared will fear you. For messengers shall be sent entreating for peace, weeping
bitterly as they ask for peace. 8For their ways will lie desolate. The fear of the nations has
ceased, and the covenant with them is taken away, and you will not reckon them as a people.
9The earth mourns, and Lebanon is shamed. Sharon has become marshlands, and Galilee and

Carmel are laid bare. 10“Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “now I will be glorified; now I will be
exalted. 11Now you shall see, now you shall perceive; the strength of your spirit is vain; fire
shall devour you. 12The nations shall be burned up, like thorns thrown in the field and
burned up. 13Those afar off will hear what I have done; and those near will know My
strength.” 14The lawless in Zion departed; trembling will seize the ungodly. Who will tell you
a fire is burning? Who will tell you about the eternal place?† 15He who walks in
righteousness and speaks uprightly, he who hates lawlessness and wrongdoing, who gestures
with his hands, refusing bribes, he who stops his ears from hearing the judgment of blood,
and he who shuts his eyes from seeing wrongdoing. 16He will dwell in a high cave of a mighty
rock. Bread will be given him, and his water will be plentiful.† 17All of you will see a King
with His glory, and your eyes will see a land from afar.† 18Your soul will think about fear.
Where are the scribes? Where are the advisors? Where is he who numbers those growing up,
19both a small and great people, with whom they did not consult, nor did he know a deep-
voiced people, that a despised people should not hear, and there is no understanding to him
who hears? 20Behold, there is Zion, the city of our salvation. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a
wealthy city, a tabernacle which will not be shaken. Neither shall one of the tent-pegs of its
tabernacle be moved forever, nor its cords broken; 21for the name of the Lord is great to you.
There will be a place for you—rivers and brooks, broad and spacious. You will not travel this
way, nor will a boat with oars. 22For my God is great. The Lord our judge will not pass me by.
The Lord is our ruler, the Lord is our king. He will save us.† 23Your ropes broke apart, for the
boat was not strong. Your mast could not hold, and the sails slackened. It will not raise a flag
until it is taken for booty. Therefore many lame men will make it a spoil. 24And the people
who dwell among them will not say, “I am weary,” for their sin shall be forgiven.
34 Come  near, you nations, and listen, you rulers. Let the earth hear and those in it, the
   inhabited earth and the people therein.† 2For the anger of the Lord is against all the
nations, and His wrath against all the number of them, to destroy them utterly and to deliver
them over for slaughter. 3Their slain and their dead shall be thrown out; their stench shall
rise from their dead bodies, and the mountains shall be drenched with their blood. 4Heaven
shall also be rolled up like a scroll, and all the stars shall fall like leaves from a vine, as leaves
fall from a fig tree. 5My sword in heaven is soaked with blood. Behold, it shall come down on
Edom, and with judgment on the people of destruction. 6The sword of the Lord is filled with
blood. It is fattened with the fat of lambs, goats, and rams. For the Lord has a sacrifice in
Bozrah and a great slaughter in Edom. 7The mighty ones shall fall with them, and the rams
and the bulls. Their land shall be soaked with blood and saturated with fatness. 8For it is the
day of the Lord's judgment and the year of recompense for the cause of Zion. 9Its valleys
shall be turned into pitch and its land into brimstone. Its land shall become burning pitch.
10It shall never be quenched day or night, and its smoke shall rise up. It shall lie waste for all

time and generations. 11But birds and hedgehogs shall live in it, and also ibises and ravens.
He shall stretch out over it the measuring line of a desert, and donkey-centaurs will dwell in
it.† 12Its rulers shall be no more, for its kings, rulers, and great ones shall be destroyed.
13Thorn-trees shall come up in its cities and fortresses; it shall be a habitation of sirens, a

courtyard for ostriches. 14Demons shall also meet with donkey-centaurs, and one will cry out
to another. Donkey-centaurs shall also rest there, for they found themselves a place of rest.
15There the hedgehog made its nest, and the earth preserved its children in safety. There the

deer also gathered and saw one another's faces. 16They passed by in numbers, and not one of
them perished. Not one of them sought the other, for the Lord commanded them, and His
Spirit gathered them. 17He shall cast lots for them, and His hand divided it among them to
graze upon. They shall inherit it for all time, and shall rest on it from generation to
generation.


35 Be   glad, you thirsty desert, and rejoice exceedingly, and let the desert blossom as a
   lily.ω 2The desert places of the Jordan shall blossom abundantly and rejoice
exceedingly. The glory of Lebanon and the honor of Carmel shall be given to it, and My
people shall see the glory of the Lord and the majesty of our God. 3Be strong, you relaxed
hands and feeble knees. 4Be comforted, you fainthearted. Be strong, do not fear. Behold, our
God renders judgment and will render it. He will come and save us. 5Then the eyes of the
blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall hear. 6Then the lame shall leap like a
deer, and the tongue of the dumb will speak clearly. For water shall burst forth in the desert,
and a valley in the thirsty land. 7The waterless desert shall become meadows, and the thirsty
land springs of water. There will be the gladness of birds, a habitation of reeds and marshes.
8A pure way shall be there, and it shall be called a holy way. No unclean man shall pass
through there, neither shall there be an unclean way there. But those dispersed shall walk in
it, and they shall not go astray.† 9No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous animals go up
on it, nor at all be found there. But the redeemed shall walk in it, 10and those gathered by the
Lord shall return and come to Zion with gladness, and with everlasting gladness over their
head. For praise and exceeding joy will be on their head, and gladness shall possess them.
Pain, sorrow, and sighing fled away.


36 Now  it came to pass in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah that Sennacherib king of
   the Assyrians came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.† 2Then
the king of the Assyrians sent Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at
Jerusalem, and he stood by the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the way of the fuller's field.
3So Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, the steward, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph,

the recorder, came out to him.† 4Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah,
‘Thus says the great king, the king of the Assyrians: “Why are you confident?† 5Is a war
carried on by counsel or mere words? Now in whom do you trust, that you disobey me?
6Behold, you are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it

will puncture his hand. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt and all who trust in him. † 7But will you
say, ‘We trust in the Lord our God’?’ ” 8Now therefore, make an agreement with my lord the
king of the Assyrians, and I will give you two thousand horses—if you are able on your part to
put riders on them. 9How are you able to turn back the face of one governor? Those who
trust in the Egyptians for horse and rider are our servants. 10Have we now come up without
the Lord to make war against this country?”

  11Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Speak to your servants in the
Syrian language, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the
men who are on the wall.” 12But Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my lord sent me to your lord
or to you to speak these words? Has he not sent me to speak to the men who sit on the wall,
so they may eat their own dung, and drink their own urine with you?” 13Then the Rabshakeh
stood and called out with a loud voice in Hebrew, and said, “Hear the words of the great king,
the king of the Assyrians. 14Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you with words
which will be unable to deliver you; 15nor let Hezekiah say to you, “God will deliver you, and
this city will not be given into the hand of the king of the Assyrians.’ ” 16Do not listen to
Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘If you wish to be blessed, come out to me, and
each of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree, and all of you will drink the
waters of your own cistern, 17until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a
land of grain and wine, and of bread and vineyards.’ 18Let not Hezekiah deceive you, saying,
‘God will deliver us.’ Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered its land from the hand
of the king of the Assyrians? 19Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the
gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand? 20Who among all the gods
of these nations delivered his land from my hand, that God should deliver Jerusalem from
my hand?” 21But they held their peace and answered him not a word, because of the king's
commandment not to answer him.†

  22Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, the steward, Shebna the scribe of the army, and Joah
the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and told him the
words of the Rabshakeh.


37 Thus it came to pass, when King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes, covered
   himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord.† 2Then he sent Eliakim
the steward, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah
the prophet, the son of Amoz. 3So they said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah: ‘This day is a day of
affliction, disgrace, rebuke, and wrath; for the pangs of childbirth have come, but there is no
strength to give birth. 4May the Lord your God hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom the
king of the Assyrians sent to denounce the living God, and to insult Him with words which
the Lord your God heard. Therefore you shall pray to the Lord your God for the remnant that
is left.’ ” 5So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, 6and Isaiah said to them, “Thus
shall you say to your lord: ‘The Lord says this, “Do not be afraid of the words you heard,
whereby the ambassadors of the king of the Assyrians denounced Me. 7Behold, I will send a
spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his land. Then he will fall by the
sword in his own land.” ’ ”

  8So Rabshakeh returned and found the king warring against Libnah. Then the king of the

Assyrians heard that† 9Tirhakah king of the Ethiopians had come out to make war against
him. So when he heard it, he returned and sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10“Thus you
shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust
deceive you, saying, “Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of the
Assyrians.”† 11You heard what the kings of the Assyrians did to all lands by destroying them.
12Did the gods of the nations deliver those my fathers destroyed—Gozan and Haran and

Rezeph in the country of Telassar? 13Where are the kings of Hamath and Arpad, and the
kings of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?’ ” 14So Hezekiah received the scroll from the
messengers and opened it before the Lord. 15Then Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying, 16“O
Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, the One who sits between the cherubim, You alone are the
God of all the kingdoms of the world. You made heaven and earth. 17Hear, O Lord, and open
Your eyes, O Lord, and see the words Sennacherib sent to denounce the living God. 18For it is
true, the kings of the Assyrians laid waste the inhabited earth and their countries, 19and cast
their idols into the fire; for they were not gods, but works of men's hands—wood and stone.
Therefore they destroyed them. 20But now, O Lord our God, save us from their hand, that all
the kingdoms of the earth may know You alone are God.”

  21Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah and said to him, “The Lord God of Israel

says this: ‘I heard what you prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of the Assyrians. 22This is
the word God has spoken concerning him: “The virgin daughter of Zion has despised and
laughed you to scorn. The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you.† 23Whom have
you denounced and provoked? Or against whom have you raised your voice? You have lifted
your eyes on high against the Holy One of Israel. 24By your messengers, you have insulted
the Lord, for you said, ‘By the multitude of my chariots I came to the height of the
mountains, to the limits of Lebanon. I cut down its tall cedars and its choice cypress trees,
and entered the height of its forest region. 25I built a bridge, and dried up the waters and
every pool of water.’ 26Did you not hear long ago the things I did? From ancient times I
appointed them, but now have manifested my purpose to desolate nations in their
strongholds and those who dwell in strong cities. 27I weakened their hands, and they
withered; and they became like dry grass on the housetops and like weeds. 28Now then, I
know your resting place, your going out and your coming in. 29Your great rage and bitterness
has come up to Me. Therefore I will put a hook in your nose and a bridle in your lips, and I
will turn you back by the way you came.’ ” 30This shall be a sign to you: You shall eat this
year what you sowed, and the second year what is left over; also in the third year sow and
reap; plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. 31So the remnant in the house of Judah shall
again take root downward and bear fruit upward. 32For out of Jerusalem a remnant shall go
forth, and those saved from Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform these
things. 33Therefore, thus says the Lord concerning the king of the Assyrians: ‘He shall not
come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor build a siege
mound against it. 34By the way he came, by the same shall he return,’ says the Lord. 35‘I will
protect this city, to save it for My own sake and for My servant David's sake.’ ”

  36Then the Angel of the Lord went out and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred
and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, they discovered all the
dead bodies.† 37Then Sennacherib king of the Assyrians departed and returned to Nineveh,
and dwelt there. 38Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his
god, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword, then escaped into
the land of Ararat; and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.


38 Inwentthose days Hezekiah was sick and near death. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz,
           to him and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die
and not live.’ ”† 2Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, 3and
said, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a true
heart, and did what is pleasing in Your sight.” So Hezekiah wept loudly. 4Then the word of
the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, 5“Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of
David your father: “I heard your prayer, I see your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to
your life. 6I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of the Assyrians, and I will
protect this city. 7Now this shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that God will do this
thing:† 8I will turn back the shadow on the ten steps of your father's house—the steps on
which the sun goes down.” ’ ” So the sun's shadow that went down on the ten steps turned
back.

  9The prayer of Hezekiah king of Judah when he was sick and recovered from his sickness:
10“I said at the end of my days near the gates of Hades, ‘I shall leave behind the remainder of

my years.’ 11I said, ‘I shall no longer see the salvation of my God upon the earth; I shall no
longer see a man among my kindred.’ 12I left behind what remained of my life. It went away
and departed from me like one who takes down a tent. My breath became in me like the web
of a weaver when she draws near to cut it. 13On that day I was given as to a lion until
morning. So He broke my bones, for from day until night I was given over. 14Like a swallow,
so shall I cry; I will mourn like a dove. My eyes fail from looking to the height of heaven
toward the Lord, who delivered me 15and removed the pain of my soul. 16O Lord, it was told
You concerning this, and You revived my breath; and I was comforted and lived. 17For You
chose my soul that it should not perish, and You cast all my sins behind me. 18For those in
Hades shall not praise You, neither will the dead bless You; nor shall those in Hades hope for
Your mercy. 19The living shall praise You as I do. For from this day forward, I shall cause
children to declare Your righteousness, O Lord of my salvation, 20and I shall not cease to
bless You with the psaltery all the days of my life before the house of God.”

  21Now Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Take a cake of figs, mash them, and apply them as a

plaster, and you shall recover.” 22Then Hezekiah said, “This is the sign that I shall go up to
the house of the Lord God.”


39 Atandthat  time, Merodach the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters, ambassadors,
          gifts to Hezekiah, for he heard he was sick and almost died, but had recovered.†
2Hezekiah was very glad they came, and he showed them the house of his treasures—the oil
of myrrh, the fragrant incense, the ointment, the silver and the gold—and all the treasure
houses with their vessels, and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in
his house he did not show them. 3Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to
him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?” So Hezekiah said,
“They came to me from a far country, from Babylon.” 4Then he said, “What did they see in
your house?” So Hezekiah answered, “They saw everything in my house; there is nothing in
my house they did not see, even among my treasures.” 5Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear
the word of the Lord of hosts:† 6‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when
everything in your house and everything your fathers accumulated until this day shall be
carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left.’ 7God also said they shall take away some of your
sons whom you begot, and make them eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” 8So
Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The Lord's word you spoke is good. Let there indeed be peace and
righteousness in my days.”†

      “Comfort, yes, comfort My people,” says God.† 2“O priests, speak to the heart of
40 Jerusalem, comfort her, for her humiliation is ended, her sin is pardoned; for she
received from the Lord's hand double for her sins.” 3The voice of one crying in the
wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight the paths of our God.† 4Every valley
shall be filled, and every mountain and hill humbled; the crooked places shall be made
straight, and the rough places into plains. 5The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all
flesh shall see the salvation of God; for the Lord has spoken.” 6The voice said, “Cry out.” So I
said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, and all man's glory is like the flower of the field.
7The grass withers, the flower fades, 8but the word of our God abides forever.’ 9O you who
bring good tidings to Zion, go into the high mountain; O you who bring good tidings to
Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid. Say to the cities of Judah,
“Behold your God.”† 10Behold, the Lord is coming with strength, and His arm is with
authority. Behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.† 11He will feed His
flock like a shepherd and gather the lambs with His arm; and He will comfort those with
young.†

  12Who measured the water in His hand, and heaven with a span, and all the earth with a

handful? Who weighed the mountains in scales and the vales in a balance? 13Who knows the
Lord's mind, and who was His counselor; who advises Him? 14Or with whom does He take
counsel, who instructs Him, and who teaches Him judgment and shows Him the way of
understanding? 15The nations are as a drop in a bucket and are counted as the balance of a
scale; and they are counted as spittle. 16Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor its four-footed
animals sufficient for a whole burnt offering. 17All nations are as nothing and are counted as
nothing. 18To whom then will you liken the Lord, and to what likeness will you compare
Him? 19Has the workman made an image, or has the goldsmith overspread it with gold,
gilding it, making a likeness of Him? 20For the workman chooses wood that will not rot, and
skillfully seeks to prepare a carved image that will not totter. 21Will you not know? Will you
not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Do you not know the foundations of
the earth? 22It is He who possesses the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like
grasshoppers. It is He who stretches out heaven like a vault, and spreads them out like a tent
to dwell in.† 23He makes the rulers He establishes to rule to be as nothing; He makes the
earth as nothing. 24Scarcely shall they be planted, scarcely shall they be sown, scarcely shall
their stock take root in the earth, when He shall also blow on them and they will wither, and
the whirlwind will take them away like stubble. 25“Now then, to whom will you liken Me,
that I should be exalted?” says the Holy One. 26Lift up your eyes on high, and see. Who
displayed these things? He who brings forth their host by number; He who calls them all by
name. From the greatness of His glory to the strength of His might, nothing escapes Your
notice.

  27For why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, saying, “My way is hidden from God,

and my God took away my judgment and departed”? 28So then, have you not known? Have
you not heard? The everlasting God, the God who created the ends of the earth, neither
hungers nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29He gives strength to the hungry,
and sorrow to those who do not grieve. 30Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the
elect shall be without strength. 31But those who wait on God shall renew their strength; they
shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and
not hunger.


41 “Be renewed before Me, O coastlands, for the rulers will gain their strength. Let them
   come near and speak together, then let them declare judgment. 2Who raised up
righteousness from the east, and called it to his feet, that it should go forth? He will establish
it before the Gentiles and amaze kings. He shall bury their swords in the earth and cast away
their bows as sticks.† 3He will pursue them, and the way of His feet will pass through in
peace. 4Who worked and performed these things? He called righteousness, He who calls it
from generations of old. I, God, am the first, and into the future I Am.† 5The Gentiles saw His
righteousness and feared. The ends of the earth drew near and came together,† 6each one
judging for his neighbor, that he might help his brother. One will say, 7‘The craftsman is
strong, as is the metalworker who strikes with the hammer and forges at the same time.’
Sometimes one will say, ‘It is put together well, and they fastened it with nails. They arranged
them, and they shall not be moved.’

  8“But you, O Israel, are My servant, and Jacob, whom I chose, the seed of Abraham, whom

I loved.† 9I took you from the ends of the earth, and called you from its height. I said to you,
‘You are My servant. I chose you, and have not forsaken you. 10Fear not, for I am with you.
Do not go astray, for I am your God who strengthens you; and I will help and secure you with
My righteous right hand.’ 11Behold, all your adversaries shall be put to shame and disgraced.
For they shall be as though they did not exist, and all who oppose you shall perish. 12You
shall seek but not find the men who rage against you, for those who war against you shall be
as though they did not exist. 13For I am your God who holds your right hand, saying to you,
‘Fear not.’ 14O Jacob, O Israel, few in number, I will help you, and I will redeem you, O
Israel,” says God.† 15“Behold, I will make you like new saw-shaped threshing wheels of a
wagon, and you shall thresh the mountains and beat the hills to powder, and make them like
chaff. 16You shall crush them, and the wind shall carry them away; and the whirlwind will
scatter them; but you shall be glad among the saints, O Israel. 17The poor and needy shall
rejoice exceedingly, for when they shall seek water, but there is none, and their tongues are
parched with thirst, I, the Lord God, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake
them. 18But I will open rivers in the mountain and fountains in the midst of the plains. I will
make the desert into marsh-meadows, and the dry land into aqueducts. 19I will plant the
cedar, the box-tree, the myrtle, the cypress, and the white poplar in the waterless ground,
20so they may see, know, consider, and understand together that the Lord’S hand did all

these things; and the Holy One of Israel created them.†

  21“Your judgment draws near,” says the Lord God. “Your counsels draw near,” says the

King of Jacob. 22“Let them draw near, and tell you what will happen; or tell you about the
former things, what they were; and we shall be able to understand and know them, and know
what are the last things; and tell us about the future. 23Declare to us things coming at the
end of time, and we will know you are gods. Do good and evil, and we shall marvel and see it
together. 24Where do you come from? Where does your work come from? They chose you,
an abomination out of the earth. 25I raised up one from the north and from the rising of the
sun, and they shall be called by My name. Let the rulers come, and you will be trampled
down, as potter's clay and as a potter tramples down the clay. 26For who will declare the
things from the beginning, that we may also know the former things and say they are true?
There is no one who foretells or hears your words. 27I will give Zion the power to rule, and I
shall comfort Jerusalem in the way. 28For I looked, and there was no one from the nations or
from their idols to declare it to me. If I should ask them where they are from, they would not
answer me. 29For they are the ones who made you, so you think, and in vain they are leading
you astray.


42 “Jacob is My Servant; I will help Him. Israel is My chosen; My soul accepts Him. I put
   My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.† 2He will not cry
out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard outside. 3A bruised reed He will not
break, and smoking flax He will not quench; but He will bring forth judgment in truth. 4He
will shine forth and not be broken until He establishes judgment in the earth; and in his
name the Gentiles will hope.” 5Thus says the Lord God, who made heaven and established it,
who made firm the earth and the things in it, and who gives breath to the people in it, and
spirit to those who walk on it: 6“I, the Lord God, called You in righteousness, and will hold
Your hand. I will strengthen You, and give You as the covenant of a race, as the light of the
Gentiles, 7to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners who are bound, and those who
sit in darkness from the prison house. 8I am the Lord God; this is My name. I will not give
My glory to another, nor My praise to carved images.† 9Behold, things from of old came to
pass, and new things I will declare. Before they spring forth, I will tell you of them.”

  10Sing to the Lord a new song, you His realm. Glorify His name from the ends of the earth,

you who go down to the sea and sail on it, you coastlands and you who inhabit them.† 11Be
glad, O desert and its villages, the homesteads and those inhabiting Kedar. Those who dwell
in Petra shall be glad; they shall shout from the tops of the mountains. 12They will give glory
to God and declare His virtues in the coastlands. 13The Lord God of powers shall go forth and
crush war. He shall stir up His zeal, and cry out against His enemies with strength.† 14I held
My peace, and I will not always be silent and restrain Myself. Now I will be steadfast, like a
woman in labor. I shall amaze and dry up together. 15I will make the rivers into coastlands
and dry up marsh-meadows. 16I will bring the blind by a way they did not know, and will
cause them to tread paths they have not known. I will turn darkness into light for them, and
make crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them. 17But
they turned back. You be greatly ashamed who trust in carved images, who say to the molded
images, “You are our gods.”

  18Hear, you deaf; and look up, you blind, that you may see. 19Who is blind but My

servants, or deaf but those who rule over them? The servants of God are blind. 20You often
see, but do not take heed. Your ears were opened, but you do not listen. 21The Lord God
wished to show His righteousness and to magnify His praise. 22But I saw the people robbed
and plundered, for there was a snare in the secret chambers everywhere, and in the houses at
the same time, where they hid them. They became as plunder, and there was no one to rescue
the prey, and no one who said, “Restore them.” 23Who among you will give ear to these
things? Who will listen and hear what is coming? 24Who gave Jacob for plunder, and Israel
to those who plunder him? Was it not God, against whom they sinned? For they would not
walk in His ways nor heed His law. 25So He brought upon them the fury of His wrath, and
war overpowered them. They set them on fire all around, yet none of them knew or took it to
heart.†


43 And  now, thus says the Lord God who made you, O Jacob, and who formed you, O
   Israel: “Fear not, for I redeemed you. I called you by your name, for you are Mine.† 2If
you pass through water, I am with you; and the rivers shall not overflow you. If you pass
through fire, you shall not be burned up, nor shall the flame consume you. 3For I am the
Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, who saves you. I made Egypt and Ethiopia your
ransom and gave Seba on your behalf. 4Since you were precious in My sight, you became
glorious, and I love you. I will give many men for you and rulers to lead you. 5Fear not, for I
am with you; I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west.† 6I will say
to the north, ‘Bring them,’ and to the south, ‘Do not keep them back. Bring My sons from afar
and My daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone called by My name.’ 7For in my glory
I prepared him, and formed and made him. 8I brought forth the blind people, and their eyes
are alike blind, and their ears deaf.” 9All the nations are gathered together, and the rulers
shall be assembled from among them. Who will declare these things or tell us things from
the beginning? Let them bring forth their witnesses, and be proven right; and let them speak
the truth. 10“You are My witnesses, and I am a witness,” says the Lord God, “and My Servant
whom I chose, that you may know and believe, and understand that I am He. Before Me there
was no other God, nor shall there be after Me. 11I am God, and besides Me there is no one
who saves. 12I proclaimed, and I saved. I denounced foreign gods so there were none among
you. You are My witnesses, and I am a witness,” says the Lord God. 13“Even from the
beginning, there is no one who can deliver out of My hands; I will work, and who will reverse
it?”

  14Thus says the Lord God who redeems you, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I will

send to Babylon and arouse all who flee, and the Chaldeans shall be bound in ships. 15I am
the Lord God, your Holy One, who made known your King, O Israel.” 16Thus says the Lord,
who makes a way in the sea and a path in the mighty water, 17who brings forth chariot and
horse, and a mighty host. But they fell asleep, and shall not arise. They are extinguished, like
a quenched lamp-wick: 18“Do not remember the former things, nor reason about the things
of old. 19Behold, I will do new things, which shall now spring forth, and you shall know
them; and l will make a road in the desert and rivers in the waterless places. 20The wild
animals of the field will bless Me, the sirens and the daughters of sparrows, because I gave
water in the wilderness and rivers in the waterless place, to give drink to My race, My chosen,
21My people whom I preserved to declare My virtues. 22I have not called on you now, O

Jacob, neither have I made you grow weary, O Israel. 23You have not brought Me sheep for
your whole burnt offerings, neither have you glorified Me with your sacrifices, nor have I
wearied you with frankincense. 24Neither have you purchased sweet incense for Me with
money, nor have I desired the fat of your sacrifices; but I set before you your sins and
wrongdoings. 25I, even I, am He who blots out your lawlessness, and I will not remember
them. 26But remember, and let us judge; tell your lawless first, that you may be made
righteous. 27Your fathers first, and their rulers after them, acted lawlessly against Me.
28Your rulers defiled My holy things; thus I gave Jacob to destruction and Israel for
reproach.”

      Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant, and Israel, whom I chose. 2Thus says the Lord God
44 who made you, and formed you from the womb: “You will yet be helped; fear not,
Jacob My servant, and Israel, My beloved, whom I chose. 3For I will give water to the thirsty
who walk in a waterless place. I will put My Spirit upon your seed and My blessings upon
your children.† 4They will spring up like grass in the midst of the water and like willows by
the flowing water. 5One will say, ‘I am God's,’ and will call himself by the name of Jacob.
Another will write, ‘I am God's,’ and call himself by the name of Israel.”

  6Thus says God, the King of Israel who delivers him, the God of hosts: “I am the first and

the last; besides Me there is no God.† 7Who is just as I am? Then let him stand, let him call
and prepare for Me that from which I made man forever, and let them declare to you the
things that are coming before they come.† 8Do not hide yourselves. Have you not paid
attention from the beginning, and have I not declared it to you? You are My witnesses, if
there is a God besides Me? Indeed there was none. 9All who form and carve gods are useless,
and they desire things which shall not profit them; but they will be ashamed. 10They all
create a god and carve unprofitable things. 11All by whom they were made are withered, and
let all the deaf among men be gathered together. Let them stand together, and be ashamed
and dishonored together. 12For the craftsman sharpens his iron tool, and fashions the idol
with his axe, and pierces it with the awl. He works it with the strength of his arm, and will
hunger and grow weak, and will not drink water. 13The craftsman selects his wood and
stretches out his rule, and fits it with glue. He makes it like the form of a man and according
to the bloom of youth, to set it up in the house. 14The wood he cut from the forest which the
Lord planted, and the rain made it grow, 15so as to be for men to burn and to take some of it
to warm himself. They kindle it, and bake bread for themselves; but he works into gods what
is left and worships them. 16They burn half of it in the fire, and with the other half they bake
bread for themselves. They roast meat on it, eat and are satisfied. He even warms himself and
says, ‘I am comfortable, because I am warm, and have seen the fire.’ 17And the rest of it he
makes into a carved god, and worships it and prays to it, and says, ‘Deliver me, for you are my
god.’ 18They do not know how to discern because they shut their eyes, so as not to see with
their eyes or understand with their heart. 19No one considered in his heart, neither pondered
in his soul, nor knew in his discernment, that he burned half of it in the fire, baked bread on
its coals, roasted meat and ate, and then made the rest of it an abomination; and they worship
it. 20Know this: their heart is ashes; they go astray, and no one can deliver his soul. See, you
will not say, ‘There is a lie in my right hand.’

  21“Remember these things, O Jacob and Israel, for you are My servant; I formed you to be

My servant; therefore, you, O Israel, do not forget Me.† 22For behold, I blotted out your
lawlessness like a cloud and your sins like darkness. Return to Me, and I will redeem you.
23Be glad, O heavens, for the Lord had mercy on Israel. Sound the trumpet, you foundations
of the earth; shout with gladness, you mountains and hills and every tree on them. For God
redeemed Jacob, and Israel will be glorified.”

  24Thus says the Lord, who redeems you and forms you from the womb: “I am the Lord,
who accomplishes all things, who alone stretched out the heavens and established the earth.
25Who else will scatter abroad the sign of ventriloquists and the divinations from their heart,

turning their shrewd men backward and making their counsel foolishness? 26Who else
establishes the word of His servant, proving the counsel of His messengers to be true? Who
else says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’ and to the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,
and the desert places shall spring forth’? 27Who else says to the deep, ‘You shall be dried up,
and I will dry up your rivers’? 28Who else tells Cyrus to be wise, and do all My will, and says
to Jerusalem, ‘You will be built, and I shall lay the foundation of My holy house’?”†


45 Thus says the Lord God to Cyrus, My anointed, whose right hand I hold that nations
   might be obedient before him, and I will break the strength of kings: I will open doors
before him, and the cities will not be closed.† 2“I will go before you and level mountains; I
will break in pieces the gates of bronze and shatter the bars of iron. 3I will give you the
treasures of darkness, and I shall open unseen secret things to you, so you may know I, the
Lord God, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel. 4For Jacob My servant's sake,
and Israel My elect, I will call you by your name; I will accept you, though you have not
known Me. 5For I am the Lord God. There is no God besides Me, and you have not known
Me. 6I will call you by name and accept you, so those who come from the east and the west
may know there is none besides Me. I am the Lord God, and there is no other.† 7I am He who
prepared light and made darkness, who makes peace and creates troublesome things. I am
the Lord God who does all these things. 8Let heaven above be glad, and let the clouds
sprinkle righteousness. Let the earth bring forth mercy and righteousness together. I am the
Lord who created you.

  9“As the clay of a potter, what better thing have I created? Will the one plowing plow all
day? Shall the clay say to the potter who forms it, ‘What are you making, for you neither work
nor have hands?’† 10As though one should say to his father, ‘What will you beget?’ Or to his
mother, ‘What will you bring forth?’ ” 11Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, who
made the things that are to come: “Ask Me concerning My sons and daughters; and command
Me concerning the works of My hands. 12I made the earth and mankind upon it. With My
hand I established heaven and commanded all the stars. 13I raised him up to be a king with
righteousness, and all his ways are right. He shall build My city and return the captivity of My
people, not with ransoms or gifts,” says the Lord of hosts.

  14Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Egypt labored for you, and the merchandise of the
Ethiopians and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall pass over to you. They shall be your
servants and follow behind you, bound with handcuffs. They shall bow down and make
supplication to you, because God is with you; and they shall say, ‘There is no God besides
You. 15For You are God, the God of Israel, the Savior, yet we knew it not.’ 16All who oppose
him shall be ashamed and disgraced and shall walk in shame. Be restored to Me, O
coastlands. 17Israel is saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation. They will not be
ashamed or disgraced forever.”

  18For thus says the Lord, who made heaven—this is the God who formed the earth and
made it. He established it, and did not make it in vain, but formed it to be inhabited—“I Am,
and there is no other. 19I have not spoken in secret, nor in a dark place of the earth. I did not
say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain.’ I Am, I am the Lord who speaks righteousness and
declares the truth. 20Assemble yourselves and come. Take counsel together, you who are
saved from among the nations. Those who set up the wood of their carved image have no
knowledge, and pray to gods who do not save. 21If they will declare, let them draw near, so as
to know together who caused these things to be heard from the beginning. At that time it was
told you, ‘I am God, and there is no other besides Me; there is no righteous God and Savior in
addition to Me.’ 22Return to Me, and you shall be saved, you who are from the ends of the
earth. For I am God, and there is no other. 23I swore by Myself: righteousness will truly
proceed from my mouth; My words shall not be turned away, that to Me every knee shall
bow, and every tongue shall confess to God, 24saying, ‘Righteousness and glory shall come to
Him, and all who separate themselves from Him shall be put to shame.’ 25All the seed of the
children of Israel shall be made righteous by the Lord, and glorified in God.”†


46 Bel  bowed down; Dagon is crushed; their carved stones are for the wild animals and
   cattle. Take them bound as a burden to the weary, 2to the hungry, the exhausted and
those who have no strength together, who shall not be able to save themselves from war, but
who themselves are led away as captives.

 3“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob and all the remnant of Israel, both those taken from the

womb and those instructed from childhood,† 4even to your old age: I Am, and even to your
gray hairs, I Am. I bear you; I made you and will forgive you. I will take you up and save you.
5To whom will you liken Me? Look what you contrived, you who went astray. 6Those who
contribute gold from a purse and silver on a scale, and count them out by weight, and who
hire a goldsmith, they make things with their hands, and bowing down, they worship them.
7They bear it on their shoulders and go; and if they set it somewhere, it remains there and
never moves. Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer, nor save him from his troubles.
8Remember these things and groan. Repent, you who go astray; return in your heart.
9Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other besides Me,
10declaring beforehand the latter events before they come to pass and are accomplished

together. I say, ‘All My counsel shall stand, and I will do whatever I will to do,† 11calling a
bird from the east and from a land afar off.’ For what I purpose to do, I speak and bring it
about, and create and do it. Thus I brought him and proposed his way. 12Listen to Me, you
stubborn-hearted who are far from righteousness. 13I bring My righteousness near, and My
salvation shall not delay. I give salvation in Zion and to Israel for glory.


47 “Come down and sit on the ground, O virgin daughter of Babylon; enter the darkness, O
   daughter of the Chaldeans, for you shall be prosperous no more, so as to be called
comfortable and luxurious.† 2Take a millstone and grind meal. Remove your veil, show your
gray hair, uncover the shins, and pass through the rivers. 3Your shame will be uncovered, and
your disgrace will be seen. I will take your standard of living from you, and no longer deliver
people to you. 4He who delivers you has spoken; the Lord of hosts is His name, the Holy One
of Israel. 5Sit down, you who are pierced to the heart; enter into darkness, O daughter of the
Chaldeans; for you shall no longer be called the strength of a kingdom. 6I was provoked at
My people; you profaned My inheritance; I gave them into your hand. You showed them no
mercy; you laid your yoke very heavy on the elderly. 7You said, ‘I shall be a princess forever,’
but you did not understand these things in your heart, nor remember the latter end.
8Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures, who sit in confidence, who says in
her heart, ‘I am, and there is no other; I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know
bereavement.’ 9But now these two things shall come upon you in a moment, in one day:
widowhood and the loss of children. They shall come upon you in a moment because of your
sorcery, the great abundance of your enchanters, 10and your hope of evil. For you said, ‘I am,
and there is no other.’ Know that your understanding of these things and your fornication
will be your shame, for you said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no other.’ 11Therefore
destruction shall come upon you, and you shall not know the pit into which you will fall.
Trouble shall come upon you, and you will be unable to be clear of it. Destruction shall come
upon you suddenly, but you will not know it. 12Stand now with your enchantments and the
multitude of your sorceries which you learned from your youth, if you will be able to profit
from this. 13You are wearied in your counsels. Let the astrologers, the stargazers, and the
monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you. 14Behold, all
these shall be burned like sticks in a fire, and they shall not deliver their soul from the flame.
For you have coals of fire to sit on, and these shall be your help. 15You grew weary in your
traffic from youth, and each man led himself astray, but there shall be no salvation for you.


48 “Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel and have come forth
   from Judah, who swear by the name of the Lord God of Israel, mentioning it, but not
with truth nor with righteousness,† 2and who are devoted to the name of the holy city, and
lean on the God of Israel for support—the Lord of hosts is His name. 3I still declare the
former things that went forth from My mouth, and they became well known. Suddenly I did
them, and they came to pass. 4I know you are stubborn, and your neck is an iron nerve; and
your forehead is made of bronze. 5Yet I told you long ago, before it came to pass. I made it
well known to you, lest you should say, ‘My idols did them’; and lest you should say, ‘My
carved images and my molten images commanded them for me.’† 6You heard all this, yet you
knew not what you heard. But I also made new things known to you, things about to happen
from that present time; yet you said not so. 7Now they come to pass, and not long ago, but
you did not listen to these things in former days. You do not say, ‘Yes, I know this.’ 8You
neither know nor understand, nor have I opened your ears from the beginning. For I knew
you would deal treacherously and reject them, and would be called lawless from the womb.
9For My name's sake, I will show you My anger, and I will bring before you my glorious acts,

so as not to utterly destroy you. 10Behold, I sold you, but not for silver; and I delivered you
from the furnace of poverty. 11For My own sake, I will do this for you, because My name is
profaned; and I will not give My glory to another. 12Listen to Me, O Jacob and Israel, whom I
call: I am the first, and I am forever. 13My hand also laid the foundation of the earth, and My
right hand established heaven. I shall call them, and they will stand together. 14All shall be
gathered and hear: Who declared these things to them? Because I love you, I did your will
against Babylon, to slay the seed of the Chaldeans. 15I have spoken, I have called him, I have
brought him, and made his way prosper.† 16Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in
secret from the beginning, nor did I speak in a dark place of the earth. When it took place, I
was there, and now the Lord and His Spirit have sent Me.”† 17Thus says the Lord who
delivers you, the Holy One of Israel: “I am your God, who showed you how to find the way
wherein you should walk.† 18If only you had heeded My commandments, then your peace
would be like a river, and your righteousness as a wave of the sea. 19Your seed would also be
like the sand, and the offspring of your womb like the dust of the ground. Neither would you
be utterly destroyed now, nor would your name perish before Me.”

  20Go forth from Babylon, you who are fleeing from the Chaldeans. Proclaim a voice of
gladness and let it become well known. Proclaim it to the end of the earth, and say, “The Lord
delivered His servant Jacob.” 21If they shall thirst, He will lead them through the desert, and
water shall flow from the rock for them. He will split the rock, the water shall flow, and My
people will drink. 22“There is no rejoicing,” says the Lord, “for the ungodly.”
49 “Listen to Me, O coastlands, and take heed, you Gentiles. It will stand for a long time,”
   says the Lord. “He called My name from My mother's womb.† 2He made My mouth
like a sharp sword, and hid Me under the shadow of His hand. He made Me as a chosen arrow
and covered Me in His quiver.† 3He said to me, ‘You are My servant, O Israel, in whom I will
be glorified.’† 4Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain and spent My strength for nothing.
Therefore My judgment is from the Lord, and my labor is before My God.’ 5Now thus says
the Lord—who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, and to bring Jacob and Israel
back to Him (for I shall gather and glorify them before the Lord, and My God shall be My
strength)— 6indeed He says, ‘It is a great thing for You to be called My Servant, to establish
the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the dispersion of Israel. Behold, I give You as the covenant
of a race and as the light of the Gentiles, that You should be the salvation to the ends of the
earth.’ ”

  7Thus says the Lord, who delivers You, the God of Israel: “Sanctify Him who despises His
life, who is abhorred by the nations and by the servants of rulers. Kings shall see Him and
rise, and rulers also shall worship Him for the Lord's sake. For the Holy One of Israel is
faithful, and He chose You.” 8Thus says the Lord: “In an acceptable time I heard You, and in
the day of salvation I helped You. I give You as a covenant to the Gentiles, to establish the
earth and to inherit the inheritance of the desert;ω 9saying to those in bonds, ‘Go forth,’ and
to those in darkness, ‘Reveal yourselves.’ They shall feed along all their roads, and their
pasture shall be along all the paths. 10They shall not hunger, neither shall they thirst, nor
shall the burning heat of the sun strike them; but He who has mercy on them will comfort
them; and He shall lead them by the fountains of waters. 11I will make every mountains as a
road, and every path as a pasture for them. 12Behold, these come from afar, these from the
north and these from the sea, and the others from the land of the Persians.” 13Be glad, O
heavens, and rejoice exceedingly, O earth. Let the mountains break out in gladness, and the
hills in righteousness. For the Lord had mercy on His people, and comforted the humble of
His people.

  14But Zion said, “The Lord forsook me, and the Lord forgot me.” 15“Will a woman forget
her child, so as not to have mercy on the offspring of her womb? But even if a woman should
forget these things, nevertheless, I shall not forget you,” says the Lord. 16“Behold, I painted
your walls on My hands, and you are continually before Me.† 17It will be rebuilt quickly by
your destroyers, and those who laid you waste shall go away from you. 18Lift up your eyes
round about, and look on them. Behold, they gather together and come to you. As I live,” says
the Lord, “you shall clothe yourselves with them, and put them on as a bride's attire. 19For
your deserts and your ruined and fallen places will now be too confined because of the
inhabitants; and those who swallowed you up will go far away. 20For your children, whom
you lost, will say in your ears, ‘The place is too narrow for me. Make me a place where I may
dwell.’ 21Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me? For I am childless
and a widow, but who reared these for me? I was left alone, but these, where are they from?’ ”

  22Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I lift My hand to the Gentiles, and I will set up My signal to
the islands. They shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on
their shoulders.† 23Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing
mothers. They shall bow down to you upon the face of the earth, and lick up the dust of your
feet. Then you will know I am the Lord, and you will not be ashamed. 24Will someone take
spoils from a mighty man? If anyone should take someone captive unjustly, will that one be
saved?” 25Thus says the Lord: “If someone should take a mighty man captive, he will also
take his spoils; and he will also save the one taken captive by that strong man. For I will plead
your cause and deliver your children. 26Those who oppressed you will eat their own flesh and
drink their own blood as new wine; and all flesh shall perceive that I am the Lord, who
delivers you and supports the strength of Jacob.”


50 Thus says the Lord: “Of what quality is your mother's certificate of divorce, by which I
   put her away? Or to which debtor have I sold you? Behold, you are sold for your sins,
and for your lawlessness I put away your mother. 2Why, when I came, was there no man?
Why, when I called, was there none to obey? Is My hand unable to deliver? Or have I no
strength to deliver? Behold, with My rebuke I dry up the sea, and I turn rivers into deserts;
and because there is no water, their fish dry up and die of thirst. 3I clothe heaven with
darkness and make its covering like sackcloth.”

   4“The Lord gives Me the tongue of the learned, so as to know when to speak a word at a

fitting time; and He causes My ear to listen each morning.ω 5The Lord's instruction opens
My ears, and I am not disobedient, nor do I contradict Him.

  6“I gave My back to whips, and My cheeks to blows; and I turned not away My face from

the shame of spitting.† 7The Lord became My helper; therefore, I was not disgraced. But I
made My face like a solid rock and knew I would not be ashamed. 8For He who pronounces
Me righteous draws near. Who is he who judges Me? Let him oppose Me at the same time.
Who is he who judges Me? Let him come near Me. 9Behold, the Lord will help Me. Who will
harm Me? Behold, all of you will grow old like a garment, and old age will devour you, as a
moth does a garment.

  10“Who among you fears the Lord? Let him listen to the voice of His Servant. You who
walk in darkness and have no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon God.
11Behold, all of you kindle a fire and feed a flame. Walk in the light of your fire and the flame
you kindled. This happened to you for My sake, and you shall lie down in sorrow.


51 “Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness and seek the Lord. Look to the solid rock
   which you hewed, and to the hole of the pit which you dug.† 2Look to Abraham our
father and to Sarah who bore you, for he was first, and I called and blessed him, and loved
and multiplied him. 3And now I will comfort you, O Zion, and I comforted all her desert
places; and I shall make her desert places like the Garden of the Lord. In it they shall find
gladness and exceeding joy, and thanksgiving and the voice of praise.† 4Listen to Me, listen, O
My people and kings, give ear to Me, for law shall proceed from Me, and My judgment as the
light of the Gentiles. 5My righteousness draws near quickly, and My salvation will go forth as
light, and the Gentiles will hope in My arm, and the coastlands shall wait for Me and hope in
My arm.† 6Lift up your eyes to heaven, and look to the earth below, for heaven is solid as
smoke, and the earth will grow old like a garment; and the inhabitants of the earth shall die,
as do these things. But My salvation shall be forever, and My righteousness will not fail.†
7Listen to Me, My people who know judgment, in whose heart is My law. Do not fear the

reproach of men, nor be overcome by their contempt. 8For as a garment will be devoured by
time, and as wool will be devoured by a moth, so shall they be devoured. But My
righteousness shall be forever, and My salvation from generation to generation.”

  9Awake, awake, O Jerusalem, and put on the strength of your arm. Awake as in the

beginning of days, as in the generations of old. 10Are You not He who dried up the sea, the
abundant water of the deep, and made the depths of the sea a road of passage for those who
were delivered and redeemed? 11For with the Lord's help, they shall return and come to Zion
with gladness and everlasting joy; for exceeding joy. Praise and gladness shall come on them,
and pain, grief, and sighing shall depart from them. 12“I Am, I am the Lord who comforts
you. Know who it is you feared, for you were fearful of mortal man and the son of man, those
who wither like grass.† 13You forgot the God who made you, who made heaven and laid the
foundations of the earth, but all your days you feared the angry face of him who oppressed
you. For he plotted to take you away, but now where is the anger of him who oppressed you?
14For when you are saved, he will not stand still nor tarry. 15For I am your God who troubles

the sea and causes the waves to roar. The Lord of hosts is My name. 16I will put My words in
your mouth, and protect you under the shadow of My hand, with which I established heaven,
and laid the foundation of the earth. I will say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’

  17Awake, awake, rise up, O Jerusalem, who drank the cup of anger from the Lord's hand,

for you drank the cup of destruction, the drinking-vessel of My anger, and emptied it out.†
18There was no one to comfort you from all the children you bore, and there was no one to

take hold of your hand, not even from among all the children you reared. 19These two things
are against you. Who will sympathize with you in your grief? Misfortune and affliction,
famine and sword! Who will comfort you? 20Your sons are at a loss, and they lie asleep at the
end of every street like a half-boiled beet, full of the Lord's anger and forsaken because of the
Lord God. 21Therefore listen, you who are humbled and drunk, but not from wine. 22Thus
says the Lord God who judges His people: “Behold, I took the cup of destruction, the cup of
My anger, from your hand, and it shall no longer be imposed on you to drink from it. 23I will
put it into the hands of those who wronged and humbled you, those who said to your soul,
‘Bow down as we pass by.’ So you put your back parallel with the ground to those who passed
by.”


52 Awake,  awake, O Zion; put on your strength, O Zion, and put on your glory, O
   Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and the unclean shall no longer continue
to pass through you.† 2Shake off the dust and rise up. Sit down, O Jerusalem; put off the
band from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion. 3For thus says the Lord: “You were sold for
nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.”† 4Thus says the Lord: “My people went
down to Egypt in former times to sojourn there, and they were taken to the Assyrians by
force.” 5So now, why are you here? The Lord says this: “Because My people were taken for
nothing, marvel and lament.” The Lord says this: “Because of you, My name is blasphemed
continually among the Gentiles. 6Therefore My people shall know My name in that day, for I
am He who speaks. 7I am present like springtime in the mountains, like the feet of one who
announces a good report of peace, like one who preaches good things, for I will cause Your
salvation to be heard, saying, ‘O Zion, your God reigns.’ ” 8For the voice of those who guard
you is raised upward, and with their voice they shall be glad together; for their eyes shall be
on watch together when the Lord has mercy on Zion. 9Break forth in gladness together, O
desert places of Jerusalem, for the Lord had mercy on her, and has delivered Jerusalem.
10The Lord will reveal His holy arm before all the Gentiles, and all the ends of the earth shall

see the salvation of God. 11Depart, depart, go out from there, and do not touch an unclean
thing. Separate yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the Lord, 12because you shall not go
forth with tumult, nor will you go by flight. For the Lord will go before you, and the Lord God
of Israel shall gather you.

  13Behold, My Servant shall have wisdom, and He shall be exalted and glorified

exceedingly.ω 14Just as many shall be astonished at You, so Your form and glory shall be
dishonored by men. 15Thus many nations shall marvel at Him, and kings shall shut their
mouth, because they to whom no report was brought concerning Him shall see; and they who
did not hear shall understand.


53 O2WeLord, who has believed our report, and to whom was the arm of the Lord revealed?
         proclaimed His presence as a Child, as a Root in a thirsty land. He had no form or
glory, and we saw Him; and He had no form or beauty.† 3But in comparison to all men, His
form was lacking in honor. He was a man in suffering and knew how to bear sickness. His
face was turned away, and He was dishonored and not esteemed.† 4He bears our sins and
suffers for us, yet we considered Him to be in pain, suffering, and ill-treatment. 5But He was
wounded because of our lawlessness, and became sick because of our sins. The chastisement
of our peace was upon Him, and by His bruise we are healed.† 6All we like sheep have gone
astray. Man has gone astray in his way, and the Lord delivered Him over for our sins.†
7Although He was ill-treated, He opened not His mouth. He was led as a sheep to the

slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before his shearers, so He opens not His mouth.† 8In His
humiliation His judgment was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life
is taken from the earth, and because of the lawlessness of My people He was led to death.† 9I
will appoint evil men for His burial and rich men for His death, because He committed no
lawlessness, nor was deceit found in His mouth.† 10The Lord wishes to cleanse Him of His
wound, and if You give an offering for sin, Your soul shall see a long-lived seed.† 11The Lord
wishes to take away the pain of His soul, to show Him light, to form Him with understanding,
and to pronounce righteous the Righteous One who serves many well; and He shall bear their
sins. 12Therefore He shall inherit many, and will divide the spoil with the strong, because His
soul was delivered over to death. He was considered among the lawless, and He bore the sins
of many, and was delivered over because of their sins.†


54 “Be glad, O barren woman who does not bear; break forth and cry out, you who are not
   in travail, for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married
woman,” says the Lord.† 2“Enlarge the place of your tent and courtyard; set it up; do not
avoid it; lengthen your ropes and strengthen your pegs.† 3Spread out further to the right and
the left, and your seed shall inherit the Gentiles. You shall cause the desolate cities to be
inhabited. 4Fear not that you were shamed, neither be confounded and disgraced; for you will
forget your former shame and will not remember the disgrace of your widowhood. 5For it is
the Lord who is your Maker; the Lord of hosts is His name. He is your Deliverer, and He shall
be called the God of Israel by all the earth. 6The Lord has not called you like a woman
forsaken and fainthearted, nor like a wife hated from her youth,” says your God. 7“I forsook
you for a short while, but with great compassion I will have mercy on you. 8In a little anger I
turned away My face from you, but in everlasting compassion I will have mercy on you,” says
the Lord who delivered you. 9“This little anger is to Me as it was at the time of Noah's Flood,
when I swore to him regarding the earth, that I would no longer be angry with it, neither
would I again threaten to remove its mountains nor move its hills.† 10So neither shall My
compassion fail you, nor shall your covenant of peace be removed; for the Lord who is
merciful to you has spoken.

  11“Servile and unstable, you were not comforted. Behold, I am preparing you carbuncle for

your stone and sapphire for your foundations,† 12and I will make your battlements jasper
and your gates crystal stones, and the enclosing wall of your temple choice stones. 13I will
cause all your children to be taught by God, and your children to be in great peace. 14You
shall be built in righteousness. Keep away from wrongdoing, and you will not be afraid, and
trembling shall not come near you. 15Behold, resident aliens shall come to you because of
Me, and they shall flee to you. 16Behold, I created you, not as a metalworker who blows coals
in the fire and brings out a vessel fit for work; and I created you, not for ruin so as to destroy
you. 17I will not prosper any instrument of destruction used against you, and every voice
raised against you in judgment, you shall overcome them all; and your adversaries shall be
judged guilty. This is the inheritance for those who serve the Lord, and you shall be my
righteous ones,” says the Lord.
55 “You  who are thirsty, go to the water, and all who have no money, go and buy wine and
   fat, and eat and drink without money and price.†ω 2Why do you value at the price of
money, and give your toil for what does not satisfy? Listen to Me and eat good things, and
your soul will delight in good things. 3Incline your ears and follow my ways. Listen to Me,
and your soul shall live in good things; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the
holy and faithful things of David. 4Behold, I made him a witness among the Gentiles, a ruler
and commander to the Gentiles. 5The Gentiles, which did not know you, shall call upon you,
and the peoples who did not understand you shall take refuge in you, because of your God,
the Holy One of Israel; for He glorified you.”

  6Seek God, and when you find Him, call upon Him when He draws near to you. 7Let the
ungodly man abandon his ways, and the lawless man his counsels; and let him return to the
Lord, and He will have mercy on him; for He shall forgive your sins abundantly. 8“For My
counsels are not as your counsels, neither are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.† 9“But as
heaven is distant from earth, so is My way distant from your ways, and your thoughts from
My mind. 10For as rain comes down, or snow from heaven, and does not return until it
saturates the earth, and it brings forth and produces, and gives seed to the sower and bread
for food,† 11so shall My word be, whatever proceeds from My mouth. It shall not return until
it accomplishes whatever I willed, and I shall prosper your ways and My commandments.
12For you shall go forth with gladness and shall be taught with joy, for the mountains and
hills shall exult to receive you with joy; and all the trees of the field shall applaud with their
branches. 13Instead of the broom-tree shall come up the cypress, and instead of the nettle
shall come up the myrtle; and the Lord shall be for a name and for an everlasting sign, and
He shall not fail.”


56 The Lord says this: “Guard judgment and do righteousness, for My salvation draws
   near, and My mercy shall be revealed.† 2Blessed is the man who does these things, and
the man who lays hold on them; and who keeps the Sabbaths, so as not to profane them, and
keeps his hand free from wrongdoing.” 3Let not the foreigner who is devoted to the Lord say,
“The Lord therefore will separate me from His people,” and let not the eunuch say, “I am a
withered tree.” 4The Lord says this to the eunuchs: “As many as keep My Sabbaths, and
choose the things I will, and lay hold of My covenant,† 5I will give them a notable place in My
house and within My wall, a place better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an
eternal name, and it shall not fail. 6I will also give an eternal name to the foreigners who
devote themselves to the Lord, to serve Him and to love His name, to be His male and female
servants, and to all who keep My Sabbaths so as not to profane them, and who hold fast to
My covenant.† 7I will lead them to My holy mountain and gladden them in My house of
prayer. Their whole burnt offerings and sacrifices shall be accepted upon My altar, for My
house shall be called House of Prayer for All Nations,” 8says the Lord who gathers the
dispersed of Israel; “for I will gather together a congregation to Him.”

  9All you wild animals of the fields and all you wild animals of the thicket, come and eat.
10See, all are blinded; they do not know how to be discerning; all are dumb dogs unable to

bark; dozing on a bed, loving to sleep. 11They are shameless dogs in their soul and do not
know satisfaction. They are evil and have no understanding. All follow their own ways, each
according to his own will.


57 See how the righteous man perishes, and no one takes it to heart. Righteous men are
   taken away, and no one notices it; and the righteous man is taken away from the
presence of wrongdoing.† 2His burial shall be in peace, for he was taken from the midst of it.
3“But come here, you lawless sons, a seed of adulterers and of a prostitute.† 4In whom did
you delight? And against whom did you open your mouth? Against whom did you loosen your
tongue? Are you not the children of destruction, a lawless seed? 5You are those who call
upon their idols under leafy trees and slay their children in the midst of the rocks. 6That is
your portion, this is your lot, for you poured out drink offerings to them, and to them you
offered up sacrifices; therefore, shall I not be angry for these things? 7On a high and lofty
mountain, there was your bed, and there you carried up your sacrifices. 8Also behind the
posts of your door, you put your memorials. You supposed if you departed from Me, it would
be a better thing. You loved those who slept with you, 9and multiplied your fornication with
them. You increased their number far away from you, and sent ambassadors beyond your
borders. You turned aside and humbled yourselves, even to Hades. 10You grew weary with
many ways, but you did not say, ‘I will cease strengthening myself,’ for you practiced these
things; therefore, you did not supplicate Me. 11Whom did you respect and fear, so as to lie to
Me, and not remember Me, nor take Me into your heart and mind? So when I see you, I
disregard you, for you do not fear Me. 12And I will declare My righteousness, and your evils,
which will not profit you. 13When you cry out, let them deliver you in your tribulation, for
wind and storm will take them and carry them all away. But those who hold fast to Me shall
possess the land and inherit My holy mountain. 14They shall say, ‘Cleanse the ways before
His face, and take away the obstacles from the way of My people.’ ”†

  15The Lord, the Most High who dwells on high forever, the Holy One among His saints,
whose name is the Lord Most High, who rests among His saints, and who gives patience to
the fainthearted and life to the broken-hearted, says this:† 16“I will not punish you forever,
nor will I always be angry with you, for My Spirit shall go forth from Me, and I made every
breath. 17Because of sin for a time I grieved him, and struck him, and turned away My face
from him; and he was grieved, and he went on sorrowful in his ways. 18I saw his ways, and
healed him; and I comforted him, and gave him true comfort. 19There is peace upon peace to
those far off and those near; and the Lord says, ‘I will heal them.’ 20But wrongdoers shall be
tossed here and there by waves, and be unable to rest. 21There is no joy to the ungodly,” says
the Lord God.


58 “Cry aloud with strength, and spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare to
   My people their sins, and to the house of Jacob their lawlessness.† 2They seek Me day
by day, and desire to know My ways. As a people who did righteousness, and did not forsake
the judgment of their God, they now ask Me about righteous judgment, and desire to draw
near to God,† 3saying, ‘Why have we fasted, but You did not see it? Why have we humbled
our souls, but You did not know it?’ Because in the days of your fasts, you seek your own
wills, and mistreat those under your authority. 4If you fast for condemnations and quarrels,
and strike a humble man with your fists, why do you fast to Me as you do today, so your voice
may be heard in crying? 5I did not choose this fast, and such a day for a man to humble his
soul; nor if you should bow your neck like a ring and spread sackcloth and ashes under
yourself, could you thus call such a fast acceptable. 6I did not choose such a fast,” says the
Lord; “rather, loose every bond of wrongdoing; untie the knots of violent dealings; cancel the
debts of the oppressed; and tear apart every unjust contract. 7Break your bread for the
hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house. If you see a naked man, clothe him,
nor shall you disregard your offspring in your own household.† 8Then your light shall break
forth as the morning, and your healing shall spring forth quickly. Your righteousness shall go
before you, and the glory of God shall cover you. 9Then you shall cry out, and God will hear
you. While you are still speaking, He will say, ‘Behold, I am here.’ If you take away your fetter
and the pointing of the finger, and the word of grumbling,† 10and if you give bread to the
hungry from your soul, and satisfy the humble soul, then your light shall rise up in the
darkness, and your darkness shall be as midday. 11God shall be with you continually, and you
shall be satisfied as your soul desires. Your bones shall be enriched, and you shall be like a
well-watered garden and like a spring of water that does not fail. Your bones will arise and be
enriched like a green plant, and they shall inherit generations of generations.† 12Your ancient
deserts shall be built, and your ancient foundations shall be from generation to generation.
You shall be called Builder of Walls, and will rest on the paths within them.† 13If you turn
away your foot from work because of the Sabbath, so as not to do your desires on the holy
day, and if you shall call the Sabbath joyful, holy to your God, and not take away your foot for
work, nor speak a word in wrath from your mouth, 14then you shall trust in the Lord; and He
will bring you to the good things of the land, and feed you with the inheritance of Jacob your
father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken these things.”

      Is the Lord's hand unable to save? Is His ear heavy so as not to hear?† 2But your sins
59 stand between you and your God, and He turned His face from you because of your
sins, so as not to have mercy. 3For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with
sins; and your lips speak lawlessness, and your tongue plots wrongdoing.† 4No one speaks
righteous things, nor is there true judgment. They trust in worthless things and speak vain
things; for they conceive trouble and give birth to lawlessness. 5They hatch the eggs of asps,
and weave a spider's web. He who is about to eat of their eggs finds a sterile and broken egg,
and in it a basilisk. 6Their web shall not become a garment, nor will they clothe themselves
with their works; for their works are works of lawlessness. 7Their feet run swiftly to evil to
shed blood. Their thoughts are the thoughts of undiscerning men, and destruction and misery
are in their ways. 8They do not know the way of peace, and there is no judgment in their
ways; for the paths they travel are corrupt, and they do not know peace. 9Therefore judgment
departed from them, and righteousness does not lay hold of them. While they waited for
light, darkness came upon them, and while they waited for the dawn, they walked in
darkness. 10They groped around for a wall like blind men, and like men who have no eyes
they groped around. They shall fall at midday as though it were midnight, and shall groan like
dying men. 11They shall proceed together like a bear and a dove: We waited for judgment, but
there is none, and salvation departed far away from us. 12For our lawlessness is great before
You, and our sins oppose us; for our lawlessness is with us, and we know our unrighteous
deeds.† 13We acted in an ungodly manner, and we lied and departed backwards from our
God. We spoke unjustly, and were disobedient; and we conceived and meditated on
unrighteous words from our heart. 14We departed backwards from judgment, and
righteousness stands far off. For the truth is consumed in their ways, and they could not pass
by a straight path. 15Truth was taken away, and they turned away their mind so as not to
understand. But the Lord saw this and was not pleased, because there was no judgment. 16He
also saw there was no man, and He observed, but there was no one to help. He defended
them with His arm and established them with His mercy. 17He put on righteousness as a
breastplate and placed the helmet of salvation on His head. He clothed Himself with the
garment and covering of vengeance,† 18as a recompense of recompenses, even a rebuke to
His adversaries. 19Those from the west shall fear the name of the Lord, and those from the
east, His glorious name; for the wrath of the Lord shall come like a violent river; it shall come
with anger. 20He who delivers shall come for Zion's sake, and He shall turn back ungodliness
from Jacob.† 21“This shall be My covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit who is upon
you, and My words I caused to be in your mouth shall not fail from the mouth of your seed;
for the Lord has spoken it, from now and forever.


60 “Shine, shine, O Jerusalem, for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen
   upon you.†ω 2Behold, darkness and gloom shall cover the earth upon the nations, but
the Lord will shine on you; and His glory shall be seen upon you. 3Kings shall come to your
light, and the Gentiles to your brightness. 4Lift up your eyes all around, and see your children
gathered together. Behold, all your sons come from afar, and your daughters shall be lifted
upon their shoulders.† 5Then you will see, fear and be amazed in your heart, because the
wealth of the sea and of nations and peoples shall change their course and turn to you.
6Herds of camels shall come to you, and the camels of Midian and Ephah shall cover you. All
those from Sheba shall come bearing gold, and they shall bring frankincense and proclaim
the good news of the Lord's salvation.† 7All the sheep of Kedar shall be gathered together to
you, and the rams of Nebaioth shall come to you. They shall offer acceptable sacrifices upon
My altar, and My house of prayer shall be glorified. 8Who are these who fly like clouds and
like doves with young? 9The coastlands waited for Me, and the ships of Tarshish among the
first, to bring your children from afar, and silver and gold with them for the sake of the Lord's
name, and because the Holy One of Israel is glorified. 10Foreigners shall build your walls,
and their kings shall defend you; for I struck you because of My wrath, and I loved you
because of My mercy. 11Your gates shall be opened continually, and they shall not be shut
day or night, to bring you the power of the Gentiles, and their kings leading them.ω 12For the
nations and their kings who will not serve you shall perish, and those nations will be utterly
desolate. 13The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, with the cypress, the pine, and the cedar
together, to glorify My holy place. 14The sons of those who humbled and provoked you shall
go to you in fear, and you shall be called City of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15Because you were forsaken and hated, and there was no one to help you, therefore I will

make you an eternal joy, the gladness of generations to generations. 16You shall drink the
milk of the Gentiles and eat the wealth of kings. You shall know I am the Lord who saves you
and the God of Israel who delivers you. 17Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold, and instead
of iron, I will bring you silver, and instead of wood, I will bring you bronze, and instead of
stones, iron. I will establish your rulers in peace and your bishops in righteousness.
18Unrighteousness shall no longer be heard in your land, neither destruction nor distress
within your boundaries, but your walls shall be called Salvation, and your gates Sculptured
Work. 19The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor shall the rising of the moon shine
on you at night, but the Lord shall be your everlasting light, and God, your glory. 20For your
sun shall no longer set, nor shall your moon be eclipsed, for the Lord shall be your
everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be fulfilled. 21Also your people shall all
be righteous, and they shall inherit the land forever, guarding what they planted, the works of
their hands, for glory. 22The few in number shall become thousands, and the lesser shall
become a great nation. I the Lord will gather them together at the appointed time.


61 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because of which He anointed Me. He sent Me to
   proclaim good news to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to preach liberty to the
captives and recovery of sight to the blind;†ω 2to declare the acceptable year of the Lord, the
day of recompense, and to comfort all who mourn; 3to give those who mourn in Zion glory
instead of ashes, the oil of gladness to those who mourn; the garment of glory instead of a
spirit of indifference. They shall be called generations of righteousness, the planting of the
Lord for glory.† 4They shall build the ancient deserts, raise up those formerly abandoned, and
renew the desert cities that laid waste for generations. 5Foreigners shall come and shepherd
your sheep, and aliens shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; 6but you shall be called
priests of the Lord and the ministers of God. You shall eat the strength of nations and be
admired because of their wealth. 7So they shall inherit the land a second time, and eternal
gladness shall be upon their head.† 8For I am the Lord, who loves righteousness and hates
robberies of wrongdoing. I will give their labor to the righteous and will make with them an
everlasting covenant. 9Their seed and their offspring shall be known among the Gentiles. All
who see them shall know these are the seed blessed by God; 10and they shall have exceeding
gladness in the Lord.”

  Let my soul rejoice exceedingly in the Lord, for He clothed me with the garment of
salvation and the tunic of gladness. He put a miter around me like a bridegroom and adorned
me with ornaments like a bride.†ω 11As the earth causes its flower to grow, and as a garden
its seeds, so shall the Lord cause righteousness to rise up, and exceeding joy before all the
Gentiles.


62 For Zion's sake I will not be silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until My
   righteousness goes forth as light, and My salvation burns like a lamp. 2The Gentiles
will see your righteousness, and kings your glory; and one will call you by your new name,
which the Lord shall name. 3You shall also be a crown of beauty in the Lord's hand, and the
diadem of a kingdom in the hand of your God.† 4You shall no longer be called Forsaken, and
your land shall not be called Desert; for you shall be called My Will, and in your land, the
Inhabited Earth. 5As a young man lives in wedlock with a virgin, so shall your sons dwell
with you, and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so the Lord shall rejoice over you. 6I
will place guards on your walls all day and all night, O Jerusalem, who shall never keep silent
in the remembrance of the Lord.† 7For there shall be no one like you, O Jerusalem, when He
amends and makes you the pride of the earth.† 8The Lord swore by His right hand and by the
strength of His arm, “I will not give your grain and your food to your enemies, and the sons of
foreigners shall not drink your wine for which you labored;† 9but rather, those who gather
the food shall eat it and praise the Lord, and those who gather the grapes shall drink their
wine in My holy courts. 10Go through My gates, make a way for My people, throw the stones
off the road, and lift up a standard for the Gentiles.”†ω 11For behold, the Lord caused this to
be heard to the ends of the earth: “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your Savior is come,
and has His reward, and His work before His face.’ ” 12One shall call them a holy people, the
redeemed of the Lord, and you shall be called a City Sought for and Not Forsaken.


63 Who  is this who comes from Edom with red garments from Bozrah, so beautiful in His
   apparel, with force of strength? “I speak of righteousness and saving judgment.” 2Why
are Your garments red and Your apparel as one who treads in a winepress?† 3“I am full of the
treading of grapes, and there is no man with Me among the nations. I trampled them in My
anger, and crushed them like earth, and brought down their blood to the ground. 4For the day
of recompense has come upon them, and the year of redemption has arrived. 5I looked, but
there was no helper; and I observed, but there was no one to help; therefore, My arm
delivered them, and My anger was suddenly present. 6So I trampled them in My wrath and
brought their blood down to the ground.”

  7I remembered the Lord's mercy, the praises of the Lord in all things in which the Lord
recompenses us. The Lord is a good judge to the house of Israel, and He deals with us
according to His mercy, and according to the multitude of His righteousness.† 8He said,
“Surely My people, My children, have not rejected Me?” So He became their salvation. 9Not
an elder or an angel, but the Lord Himself saved them from all their tribulation, because He
loved them and spared them. He redeemed and took them up, and lifted them up all the days
of old. 10Yet they disobeyed Him and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned against them with
hostility and waged war on them. 11Then He remembered the days of old, He who brought up
the shepherd of His sheep from the land. Where is He who put His Holy Spirit in them?†ω
12Where is He who led Moses with His right hand, the arm of His glory? He overpowered the

water by His presence to make for Himself an everlasting name.† 13He brought them through
the deep, like a horse through the desert, yet they did not grow weary. 14Like cattle through
the plain, the Spirit came down from the Lord and guided them. Thus You led Your people, to
make Yourself a glorious name.

  15Return from heaven, and look from Your holy and glorious dwelling-place. Where are
Your zeal and Your strength; where is the multitude of Your mercy and Your compassion, so
as to be patient with us?† 16You are our Father, although Abraham did not know us, and
Israel did not acknowledge us; but You, O Lord, are our Father. You delivered us, and from
the beginning Your name was upon us. 17Why have you led us astray, O Lord, from Your
path, and hardened our hearts so as not to fear You? Return for the sake of Your servants, for
the sake of the tribes of Your inheritance,† 18that we may inherit a small portion of Your holy
mountain. 19For our adversaries trampled down Your sanctuary, and we have become as we
were from the beginning, when You did not rule us, neither did we call upon Your name. 20If
You open heaven, trembling shall take hold of the mountains before You, and they shall melt
as wax melts before the fire.
64 The fire shall burn up the adversaries, and the Lord's name shall be manifest among
   the adversaries; and the nations shall be troubled by Your presence.† 2When You do
glorious things, trembling shall take hold of the mountains because of You. 3From of old we
have not heard, nor have our eyes seen any God but You, and Your works which You shall do
for those who wait for Your mercy. 4For mercy shall meet with those who do righteousness,
and they shall remember your ways. Behold, You were angry, for we sinned; therefore, we
went astray.† 5We all are become as unclean, and all our righteousness is like a filthy rag. We
fall off like leaves because of our wrongdoings; thus the wind will carry us away.† 6There is
no one who calls upon Your name and who remembers to take hold of You; for You turned
away Your face from us, and delivered us over because of our sins. 7And now, O Lord, You are
our Father, and all we are clay, the work of Your hands. 8Do not be exceedingly angry with us,
and do not remember our sins in an opportune time. And now look upon us, for we are all
Your people. 9The city of Your holy place has become a desert. Zion is like a desert, and
Jerusalem is for a curse. 10The house, our holy place and the glory our father blessed, has
been burnt with fire, and all our glorious things have become extinct. 11You tolerated all this,
O Lord, and were silent; and You humbled us exceedingly.


65 “IMe.wasI said,
              manifest to those who did not seek Me; I was found by those who did not ask for
                   ‘Behold, I am here,’ to a nation that did not call on My name. 2I stretched
out My hands the whole day long to a people who disobeyed and contradicted Me, who did
not walk in the true way, but after their sins.† 3This is a people who provoke Me continually
to My face. They sacrifice in gardens and burn incense on bricks to the demons, which do not
exist;† 4and they sleep in graves and caves for the sake of dreams, they who eat swine's flesh
and the sauce of their sacrifices, which defiles all their vessels; 5who say, ‘Stay away from
me; do not come near me, for I am clean.’ This is the smoke of My anger; a fire burns in it all
day long. 6Behold, it is written before Me: I will not be silent,” says the Lord, “until I repay
into their bosom their sins and the sins of their fathers, 7who burned incense on the
mountains and reproached Me on the hills. I will repay their works into their bosom.”

  8Thus says the Lord: “As the grape shall be found in a cluster, and they shall say, ‘Do not
destroy it, for there is a blessing from the Lord in it,’ so shall I do for the sake of him who
serves Me. For his sake I will not destroy them all. 9I will bring forth the seed of Jacob and
the seed of Judah, and they shall inherit My holy mountain. My elect shall inherit it, and My
servants shall dwell there. 10There shall be in the forest a fold of flocks, and the valley of
Achor shall be for the resting place of herds for My people who sought Me. 11But you are
those who forsook Me, and forget My holy mountain, and prepare a table for the devil, and
fill a drink-offering to Fortune. 12I will deliver you to the sword, and all of you shall fall in
the slaughter; because I called you, but you did not obey; I spoke, but you refused to listen.
You did evil in My sight, and did not choose the things I willed.”

  13Therefore, thus says the Lord: “Behold, My servants shall eat, but you shall hunger.
Behold, My servants shall drink, but you shall thirst. Behold, My servants shall be glad, but
you shall be ashamed. 14Behold, My servants shall rejoice exceedingly in gladness, but you
shall cry out because of the pain in your heart; and you shall wail from the crushing of your
spirit. 15For you shall leave your name as an example of excess to My elect, and the Lord
shall destroy you. But those who serve Him shall be called by a new name, 16which shall be
blessed upon the earth. For they shall bless the true God, and those who swear upon the
earth shall swear by the true God; for they shall forget their former tribulation, and it shall
not come into their heart.†

  17“For there shall be a new heaven and a new earth, and they shall not remember the

former things, nor shall these things come into their heart.† 18But they shall find gladness
and exceeding joy in her, for behold, I will make Jerusalem an exceeding joy, and My people
gladness. 19I will rejoice exceedingly in Jerusalem, and I will be glad in My people. There
shall no longer be heard in her a voice of weeping, nor a voice of crying. 20There shall not be
the untimely death of a child there, nor shall there be an old man who does not fulfill his
time. For a young man shall be a hundred years old, but a sinner who dies at a hundred years
old shall be cursed. 21They shall build houses and dwell in them; and they shall plant
vineyards and eat their produce. 22But they shall not build, and others inhabit; and they shall
not plant, and others eat. For according to the days of the tree of life, so shall be the days of
My people, and the works of their labors shall not grow old. 23My elect shall not labor in
vain, nor shall they bear children to be a curse; for they are a seed blessed by God; and their
offspring shall be with them. 24It shall be, before they cry out, I will listen to them; while
they are still speaking, I will say, ‘What is it?’ 25The wolves and lambs shall feed together,
and the lion, like the ox, shall eat chaff; and the serpent, the ground as bread. They shall not
injure, neither destroy in My holy mountain,” says the Lord.
66 Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is the footstool of My feet. What
   kind of house will you build for Me? Or what kind is the place of My rest?† 2For My
hand made all these things, and all these things are Mine,” says the Lord; “and upon whom
will I show respect, but to the humble and the peaceful and to him who trembles at My
words. 3But the lawless man who sacrifices a calf is as he who kills a dog; and he who offers a
grain offering, as he who offers the blood of a pig; and he who offers incense for a memorial,
as he who is a blasphemer. These chose their ways and their abominations, which their soul
willed. 4But I will choose their mockeries, and I will repay them; because I called, but they
did not obey Me; I spoke, but they did not listen; but they did evil in My sight, and things I
did not will, they chose.”

  5Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word. Speak, our brethren, to those
who hate us and detest us, that the Lord's name may be glorified and seen in their gladness,
so they may be ashamed.† 6A voice of crying from the city, a voice from the temple, the voice
of the Lord is fully repaying His enemies. 7“Before she travails in labor to give birth, before
the pain of birth pangs comes on, she escapes it and bears a male.† 8Who has heard such a
thing, and who has seen anything like this? Has the earth travailed in one day, or has a nation
given birth at once? For Zion travailed and gave birth to her children.† 9But I raised this
expectation, yet you did not remember Me,” says the Lord. “Behold, do I not cause one
woman to beget, but another to be sterile?” says God. 10“Be glad, O Jerusalem, and celebrate
holy days in her. All you who love her, rejoice exceedingly, and all you who mourn over her;†
11that you may nurse and be satisfied by the breast of her consolation; that you may take

pleasure in nursing because of the entrance of her glory.” 12For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I
will turn to them like a river of peace and like a brook, to flood them with the glory of the
Gentiles. Their children shall be taken up on shoulders and comforted on knees. 13Like
someone a mother comforts, so also will I comfort you, and you shall be comforted in
Jerusalem.” 14You shall see, and your heart will rejoice. Your bones shall rise up like a
pasture, and the Lord's hand shall be known by those who fear Him; but He shall threaten
the disobedient.

  15For behold, the Lord shall come like a fire, and His chariots like a sudden blast of wind,

to render His vengeance with anger and His renunciation with a flame of fire.† 16For all the
earth shall be judged in the fire of the Lord, and all flesh with His sword; and many shall be
wounded by the Lord. 17“Those who purify and cleanse themselves in the gardens and
porches, who eat the meat of a pig or any abomination, they shall be destroyed together at the
same time,” says the Lord; 18“and I know their works and their reasoning. I am coming to
gather all the nations and tongues, and they shall come and see My glory. 19And I will leave
signs upon them, and those among them who are saved, I will send forth to the Gentiles: to
Tarshish, and Pul and Lud and Tubal, and to Greece and to the coastlands far off, to those
who have not heard My name, nor seen My glory; and they shall declare My glory among the
Gentiles.† 20They shall bring your brethren from among all the Gentiles as a gift to the Lord,
with horses and chariots, in litters drawn by mules and covered with sunshades, to the holy
city of Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “just as the children of Israel would bring Me their
sacrifices with psalms into the house of the Lord.† 21I shall take some of them to be My
priests and Levites,” says the Lord. 22“For just as the new heaven and the new earth which I
make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord, “so shall your seed and your name remain. 23It
shall come to pass from month to month and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall worship
before Me in Jerusalem,” says the Lord. 24“They shall go forth and see the dead bodies of the
men who transgressed against Me, for their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be
extinguished; and they shall be a vision to all flesh.”
                                          J E RE M IAH
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Chapters in Jeremiah
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 23
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 25
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 26
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 27
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 28
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 29
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 30
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 31
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 32
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 33
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 34
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 35
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 36
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 37
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 38
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 39
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 40
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 41
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 42
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 43
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 44
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 45
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 46
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 47
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 48
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 49
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 50
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 51
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Jeremiah Chapter 52
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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                                                        The Book of Jeremiah

   Author   —Jeremiah, “the one whom God appoints or exalts.”

   Date   —Jeremiah prophesied from about 627 to 582 BC.

   Major Themes       —Destruction and captivity. Jeremiah prophesied the persecutions and
destruction of Jerusalem and the temple; he also foretold the captivity of the Jews in
Babylon. He exhorted the people to repent, promising hope for those who remain
faithful to the Lord. He prophesied there would come a “new covenant” (38:31–34) to
be inscribed in every believer's heart, inaugurated and fulfilled through Christ God, the
Messiah of Israel.

   Background     —Jeremiah was called the “weeping prophet.” He shed many tears during the
dark and despairing time of the Babylonian captivity. He began prophesying during King
Josiah's reign (640–609 BC). Jeremiah was also known as “the prophet of the interior
life” because he preached a personal knowledge of God and the forgiveness of sins
(38:31–34). The bulk of his message was such a heavy burden to him that it broke even
his own heart (8:19–21).

Outline

 I. Jerem iah's Call from God (1 :1 –1 9 )

II. Warnings and Prom ises to Judah (2 :1 –2 5:1 3 )

        A. Charges against Israel (2 :1 –4 :4 )

        B. Warnings (4 :5–1 1 :1 6 )

        C. A plot against Jerem iah (1 1 :1 7 –1 2 :1 7 )

        D. Prophetic sy m bols (1 3 :1 –1 9 :1 5)

        E. Judgm ents of rulers, priests, and prophets (2 0:1 –2 5:1 3 )

III. Judgm ents Against Nations (2 5:1 4 –3 2 :2 5)

IV. Kings Jehoiakim and Zedekiah (3 3 :1 –3 6 :2 7 )

        A. Jerem iah spared from death (3 3 :1 –2 4 )

        B. Bonds and y okes (3 4 :1 –1 4 )

        C. The false prophet Hananiah (3 5:1 –1 7 )

        D. Jerem iah's letter (3 6 :1 –2 7 )

V. Prom ises to Israel (3 7 :1 –3 8:4 0)
          A. Restoration (3 7 :1 –2 0)

          B. A Father for Israel (3 8:1 –1 4 )

          C. Mercy for Ephraim (3 8:1 5–3 0)

          D. The new cov enant (3 8:3 1 –4 0)

  VI. Actions of Jerem iah (3 9 :1 –4 3 :3 2 )

          A. Purchasing a field (3 9 :1 –2 5)

          B. Prophecies for Israel (3 9 :2 6 –4 0:1 3 )

          C. Warnings to Zedekiah (4 1 :1 –2 2 )

          D. The Rechabites (4 2 :1 –1 9 )

          E. The scroll (4 3 :1 –3 2 )

 VII. Sum m aries of Ev ents (4 4 :1 –52 :2 8)

          A. King Zedekiah (4 4 :1 –4 6 :3 )

          B. The ruler Gedaliah (4 6 :4 –4 8:1 8)

          C. Foray into Egy pt (4 9 :1 –51 :3 0)

          D. Baruch, Zedekiah, and Jehoiachin (51 :3 1 –52 :2 8)




1 The  word of God came to Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah of the priests, who lived in Anathoth
  in the land of Benjamin.† 2The word of God came to him in the days of Josiah the son of
Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.† 3The word also came in the days of
Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of
Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month.

                                                          The Prophet Is Chosen

  4Thus the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew

you, and before you were born, I sanctified you. I established you a prophet to the nations.”†
6Then I said, “O Lord and Master, behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am a youth.”†
7But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send

you, and whatever I command, you shall speak. 8Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with
you to deliver you,” says the Lord. 9Then the Lord put forth His hand to me and touched my
mouth; and the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10Behold, this
day I am setting you over the nations and kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy,
to rebuild, and to plant.”

  11The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” So I replied, “I
see a staff made from an almond tree.” 12Then the Lord said to me, “You see well, for I keep
watch to perform the works of my words.”

  13Again the word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” Then I

said, “A boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north.” 14The Lord said to me, “From the
north, evil things will inflame all who inhabit the land. 15For behold, I will call together all
the kingdoms of the land of the north,” says the Lord, “and they shall come; and each shall
set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all the walls surrounding her,
and against all the cities of Judah. 16I will speak to them with judgments concerning all their
vices, because they forsook Me, burned incense to foreign gods, and worshiped the works of
their hands.† 17As for you, gird your loins and arise, and speak to all whatever I command
you. Do not be afraid of their faces nor tremble before them, for I am with you to deliver
you,” says the Lord. 18“For behold, on this day I have established you as a fortified city and as
a fortified bronze wall against all the kings of Judah, against its rulers, and against the people
of the land. 19They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with
you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

                                God's Charges against Israel

    Again the Lord said, “Thus says the Lord: 2‘I remember your compassion and youth and
2
    your love and maturity, so as to follow the Holy One of Israel,’ says the Lord.† 3‘Israel, the
beginning of His harvest, was holy to the Lord. All who devour him shall transgress, and evils
will come upon them,’ ” says the Lord.

                                      The Worship of Baal

  4Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all families of the house of Israel. 5Thus
says the Lord: “What transgression have your fathers found in Me, so as to go far from Me, to
follow after vain and worthless things? 6They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord, who led us out
of the land of Egypt, who guided us in the wilderness, in an unknown and untrodden land, a
land that was waterless and barren, in which no one traversed and where no son of man
dwelt?’ 7I brought you into Carmel to eat its fruit and its good things, but you entered and
defiled My land, and made My heritage an abomination. 8The priests did not say, ‘Where is
the Lord?’ But those who handle the law did not trust Me, and the shepherds acted profanely
toward Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and walked after unprofitable things.
                                   THE PROPHETS

The holy Prophets of Israel played a unique and critical role in their society. They repeatedly
called the people back to their commitment to obey and worship only the one true God; they
warned of foreign invasions; they protested against social and economic injustice; and they
even rebuked kings face to face for their sinfulness (2Kg 12:1–15; 3Kg 18:17, 18; 20:1–29; 2Ch
12:1–8; 16:7–10). In times of crisis they were consulted by kings to discern the Lord’s will
(4Kg 3:5–20; 8:7–15; 22:8–20; Jer 21:1–14). Yet their most significant task was prophesying
about the coming of the Messiah, the King of Kings.

  Through prayer, asceticism, repentance, and the practice of virtue, the Prophets were
particularly receptive to the Holy Spirit—He “Who spoke by the Prophets,” as the Nicene
Creed declares. St. Basil the Great writes, “In souls pure and cleansed from all defilement, the
prophetic gift shines clear.” Most unique was the preparation received by St. John the Baptist,
the greatest of the Prophets (Mt 11:7–14), who was “filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his
mother’s womb” (Lk 1:15).

  The backgrounds of the Prophets were varied. Amos was a shepherd (Am 1:1; 7:14, 15),
Ezekiel a priest (Ezk 1:1–3), Daniel a young nobleman reared in captivity at the royal court in
Babylon (Dan 1:3–6), Deborah a judge and military leader (Jdg 4:1—5:31), and Huldah was
the wife of the keeper of the king’s wardrobe (4Kg 22:14). Also varied were their responses to
the Lord’s call. For example, Moses and Jeremiah protested (Ex 3:7—4:17; Jer 1:4–6), and
Jonah immediately tried to flee from the Lord (Jon 1:1–3). Isaiah, on the other hand, though
acutely aware of his own sinfulness said, “Here am I, send me” (6:8). Moses, Jeremiah (Jer
1:7—2:2), and Ezekiel (Ezk 2:1—3:14) all received repeated reassurances from the Lord that
He would be with them to strengthen them in fulfilling their prophetic calling.

  The Prophets vividly demonstrated their willingness to obey the Lord when asked to do
unusual things in dramatized prophecies. Ezekiel drew a picture of Jerusalem on a clay tablet
and pretended to besiege it (Ezk 4:1–3); he was also asked to take a sword and cut off his hair
and beard and burn part of it (5:1–13; see 12:1–15). Jeremiah buried a linen sash by the
Euphrates River (Jer 13:1–11); Isaiah walked naked and barefoot for three years (Is 20:1–6);
Hosea was commanded to marry a harlot (Hos 1:1–3).

  Sometimes the Prophets experienced fierce opposition from the authorities—kings, priests,
and even other prophets—who resented the condemnatory messages being delivered. Micaiah
was slapped and imprisoned for being the only one of about four hundred prophets who
dared to tell King Ahab of Israel the true word of the Lord (3Kg 22:2–38). Jeremiah was
threatened with death by his fellow citizens of Anathoth (Jer 11:19–23) and later by the
priests and the false prophets (33:1–19); and he was imprisoned under King Zedekiah (44:1–
21; see 20:1, 2). The priest of Bethel tried to expel Amos out of Israel (Am 7:10–13). According
to tradition, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos all were executed, as was St. John the
Baptist (Mt 14:1–12; see Lk 11:47–51; Mt 23:29–37; 2Ch 24:17–22; Jer 33:20–23; Heb 11:32–
38).

  At times certain Prophets even wanted to die, such as Elijah (3Kg 19:1–4) and Jonah (Jon
4:1–3). But the Prophets always reaffirmed their reliance upon God’s will and their hope in
His mercy (Lam 3:21–41). In this, as well as in their sufferings for our Lord’s sake, the holy
Prophets serve as important examples for us who have received, at our Baptism and
Chrismation, the gift of the same Holy Spirit who came upon them.


  9“Therefore I will yet bring charges against you,” says the Lord, “and I will bring charges

against the sons of your sons. 10For pass by the islands of Chettim and see. Send to Kedar
and consider diligently. See if such things happened,† 11whether nations will change their
gods; though they are not gods. But My people changed their glory to a glory from which they
will not profit. 12Heaven was amazed at this and was exceedingly horror-struck,” says the
Lord. 13“For My people have committed two evils: They forsook Me, the fountain of living
water, and hewed for themselves broken cisterns, unable to hold water.†

                                    Forsaking the Lord

  14“Is not Israel a slave or household servant? 15The young lions roared at him with their

growl and made his land desolate, and her cities were demolished, no longer livable. 16Also
the sons of Memphis and Tahpanhes know you and mock you. 17By forsaking Me, did you
not bring these things upon yourself?” says the Lord your God. 18“Now, what concern of
yours is the road to Egypt, or drinking the waters of the Nile? Why concern yourself about the
road to Assyria, or drinking the water of his rivers? 19Your own rebellion will chastise you,
and your vices will convict you. You will know and experience the bitterness of your forsaking
Me,” says the Lord your God.

  “But I have taken no joy in you,” says the Lord your God, 20“for from of old you have
splintered your yoke and have broken your chain to pieces. You have said, ‘I will not serve
You, but I will go to every high hill and under every shade tree to indulge in my fornication.’
21I planted a fruitful vine for you, one most healthy and sweet, yet you turned it into a vine

unknown to Me, with a taste of bitterness. 22Though you wash in soap and evermore use lye
on yourself, still you remain defiled in your wrongdoings before Me,” says the Lord. 23“In
what way will you say, ‘I was not a disciple of Baal, nor am I defiled’? Consider your ways,
which lead you to the common burial place. Know what you have done, for Baal's voice cries
out late in the day.† 24He extends his ways over the waters of the desert, for he is borne along
as by the wind in the desires of his soul. He is given over to them. Who will turn him back?
All who seek him will not grow weary, but they will find him in his humiliation. 25Therefore,
turn your feet away from this uneven path and from the thirst in your mouth, for he says, ‘I
will act like a man,’ because he loves strangers and goes after them.

  26“The sons of Israel, their kings and rulers, their priests and even their prophets shall be

ashamed, like the shame of a thief when he is caught. 27For they said to a tree, ‘You are my
father,’ and to the stone, ‘You have begotten me.’ They have turned their backs to Me, and not
their faces; yet in the time of their evils, they will say, ‘Arise and save us.’ 28But where are
the gods you made for yourself? Will they arise and save you when you are in oppression?
For in the same number as you have cities, O Judah, you have gods, and according to the
number of thoroughfares in Jerusalem, they sacrifice to Baal.

                                        Denial of Sin

  29“Why do you speak to Me? All of you have been ungodly, and all of you have acted

lawlessly against Me,” says the Lord. 30“In vain I struck your children, for you accepted no
chastisement. Like a destroying lion, a sword devoured your prophets, but you did not fear.”
31Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: “Was I really a desert to Israel, or a barren
land? Then why did My people say, ‘We will not be dominated, and no more will we come to
You’? 32Can a bride forget her ornaments, or a virgin her breast-band? Yet for days without
number My people forget Me. 33Yet what good will you practice in your ways so as to seek
love? None. But you also did evil so as to defile your ways. 34The death of innocent souls was
found at your hands. I did not find them by digging in the earth, but under every oak tree.
35Yet you said, ‘But I am innocent, so let Your anger turn from me.’ Behold, I pass judgment

against you because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ 36Why did you deal so very contemptuously
so as to repeat your ways? But you will be ashamed of Egypt as you were of Assyria.† 37For
you will go out henceforth with your hands on your head, because the Lord rejected your
hope; and you will not prosper in it.

                                        Israel Is Defiled


3 “If a man divorces his wife, and she goes from him to become another man's, may she
  turn back and return to him again? Would not such a woman be greatly defiled? But you
committed fornication with many shepherds and have returned to Me,” says the Lord. 2“Lift
up your eyes straight ahead and see. Where have you not been defiled? You sat for them
along the roads like a deserted crow, and defiled the land with your fornications and vices.
3Yes, you have many shepherds as an occasion of stumbling for yourself. The appearance of a

prostitute has come upon you, but you shamelessly deny all this. 4Have you not called Me, as
it were, a home, a father, and a founder of your virginity? 5Will this appearance continue
forever, or be maintained to the end? Behold, you said and did these evil things as you were
able.”

                                        A Call to Return

  6Again the Lord said to me in the days of Josiah the king, “You saw what the habitation of
Israel did to Me? They went up on every high mountain and under every shady tree to
commit fornication there.† 7Yet after Israel committed all these acts of fornication, I said,
‘Return to Me,’ but she did not return. Faithless Judah also saw Israel's faithlessness. 8I also
saw it, and because of all the things in which the habitation of Israel committed adultery and
was overtaken in it, therefore I put her away and placed in her hands a certificate of divorce.
Yet even after this, faithless Judah did not fear, but she, too, proceeded to commit
fornication. 9Her fornication was good for nothing, for she committed adultery with wood
and stone. 10In all of this, faithless Judah did not turn to Me with her whole heart, but
falsely.”

  11Again the Lord said to me, “Israel justified herself more than faithless Judah. 12Go and
read these words toward the north, and you shall say, ‘Return to Me, O habitation of Israel,’
says the Lord, ‘and I will not set My face against you. I am merciful,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will
not be wrathful forever. 13However, realize your wrongdoing, for you behaved in an ungodly
way against the Lord your God; and you passed on your evil ways to foreigners under every
shady tree, because you did not obey My voice.

  14“Return, O sons who have turned away,” says the Lord, “for I will rule over you and

receive you—one from a city and two from a family—and I will lead you to Zion. 15I will give
you shepherds according to My heart, and they will thoroughly shepherd you with
knowledge.† 16It shall come to pass that if you multiply and increase in the land in those
days,” says the Lord, “they will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Holy One of
Israel.’ It will not enter their heart, nor be named or visited; neither will this be done any
more. 17In those days and at that time, they shall call Jerusalem the Throne of the Lord, and
all the Gentiles shall be gathered to it. They shall no longer walk after the reasoning of their
evil heart. 18In those days, the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they
shall come together out of the land of the north, and from all the countries to the land I gave
as an inheritance to their fathers.

  19“I declare” (may it be, O Lord!) “that I will set you among children and give you a choice
land, the inheritance of the Almighty God of the Gentiles; and I declare that you shall call Me
Father, and you shall not turn away from Me.† 20Nevertheless, as a wife rejects her husband,
so the house of Israel has rejected Me,” says the Lord. 21“For a sound from lips was heard,
even bitter crying and the entreaty of the sons of Israel; because they did wrong in their ways
and forgot their holy God. 22Return, O sons, return, and I will heal your ruin.”

  23“Behold, we will be Your servants, for You are the Lord our God. Indeed, the hills and the
power of the mountains were as a lie, for our salvation is only through the Lord our God.
24But from our youth, shame devoured the labors of our fathers: their sheep, their cattle,

their sons and their daughters. 25We fall asleep in our shame and dishonor covers us,
because we sinned against the Lord our God. From our youth even to this day, we and our
fathers did not obey the voice of the Lord our God.”


4 “If Israel returns to Me,” says the Lord, “he shall return. If he puts away abominations
  from his mouth, and fears My presence, 2and swears that the Lord lives with truth,
judgment, and righteousness, then the Gentiles shall bless in Him, and in Him they shall
praise God in Jerusalem.” 3For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and those dwelling in
Jerusalem: “Plow for yourselves the untilled fields, and do not sow among thorns.
4Circumcise yourselves to God, all you men of Judah and those dwelling in Jerusalem, and
circumcise the hardness of your heart, lest My anger come forth like fire and burn; and there
shall be no one who quenches it, because of the presence of your evil practices.”†

                                     Warning of Disaster

  5Declare in Judah and let it be heard in Jerusalem, and say, “Blow the trumpet in the land,

and cry out loudly, saying, ‘Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the fortified cities.’ 6Pick
up and flee toward Zion. Hurry. Do not stop! For I bring disaster from the north and great
destruction.” 7The lion has come up from his den, and the destroyer of nations has arisen. He
has come forth from his place to make the land desolate, and the cities will be laid waste, no
longer livable. 8For this, clothe yourself with sackcloth, lament and wail, saying, “The anger
of the Lord has not turned back from us.”

  9“In that day it shall come to pass,” says the Lord, “that the heart of the king and the heart

of the rulers shall perish. The priests shall be amazed and the prophets shall wonder.” 10Then
I said, “O Lord and Master, surely You deceived this people and Jerusalem when You said,
‘You shall have peace,’ but behold, the sword reaches to their soul.”

  11At that time, they will say to this people and to Jerusalem, “There is a spirit of wandering

in the desert, for the way of the daughter of My people is not clean nor holy. 12A spirit of
completion will come to Me now, for I speak judgments against them. 13Behold, he shall
come up like a cloud, and his chariots like a whirlwind, for his horses are swifter than eagles.
They will say, ‘Woe to us, for we are in ruin!’ ”

  14O Jerusalem, wash the vices from your heart that you may be saved. How long shall your

painful thoughts be within you?† 15For the voice of one declaring from Dan will come, and
anguish will be heard from Mount Ephraim: 16“Remind the nations, for they have come.
Announce to those in Jerusalem the gatherings of those from afar, for they uttered their
voice against the cities of Judah. 17They completely surrounded her, like those who guard a
field, for you rejected Me,” says the Lord. 18“Your ways and practices have brought these
things upon you. This evil is your own, for it is bitter, because it took hold of your heart.”

                                Jeremiah's Sorrow for Israel

  19I am pained to the depth of my belly and in the senses of my heart. My soul is in great
commotion, and my heart is torn asunder. I will not be silent, for my soul hears the sound of
the trumpet, the alarm of war. 20It calls for a ruinous crushing, for the whole land is in ruin.
Suddenly the tabernacle is in ruin, and my coverings are torn apart. 21How long will I see
people fleeing and hear the sound of trumpets? 22“For the leaders of My people do not know
Me. They are foolish and unwise sons. They are wise to do evil, but do not know how to do
good.”†

  23I looked upon the earth, and behold, it was nothing, and into the sky, and there were no

stars in it. 24I saw the mountains, and they were trembling; and I saw all the hills, and they
were shaking. 25I looked, and behold, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens
were alarmed. 26I saw, and behold, Carmel was deserted, and all the cities were burnt with
fire at the presence of the Lord, and because of His fierce anger they were destroyed.

  27Thus says the Lord: “The whole land shall be desolate, yet I will not destroy it

completely. 28Let the earth mourn for these things, and let the sky above grow dark, for I
have spoken and will not repent. I have sworn and will not turn back from it. 29From the
sound of the horse and the bow strung with an arrow, the whole land retreated. They crawled
into caves, hid in the groves, and climbed up on the rocks. Every city is forsaken, and not a
man dwells in them. 30As for you, what will you do, though you clothe yourself with crimson
and adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, though you daub your eyes with myrrh? Your
adornment is in vain. Your lovers rejected you, and they seek your life. 31For I heard your
voice groaning, like the sound of a woman giving birth, like the voice of the daughter of Zion
whose anguish is like that of one who gives birth the first time, who grows weary and whose
hands lose their strength; and she says, ‘Woe is me, for my soul faints because of those
killed!’

                                  God's Judgment Is Just


5 “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and you will see and know; and seek in
  her streets if you can find a man, if there is anyone who does judgment and seeks
faithfulness; and I shall be merciful to them,” says the Lord.† 2“Though they say, ‘As the Lord
lives,’ therefore, do they not make an oath with lies?” 3O Lord, Your eyes are on faithfulness.
You chastised them, but they have not grieved. You consumed them, but they were unwilling
to receive correction. They set their faces harder than a rock and did not will to return.

  4Therefore I said, “Perhaps they are poor, because they are weak and do not know the way
of the Lord, nor the judgment of God.† 5I will go to the great men and speak to them, for they
do not know the way of the Lord and the judgment of God.” But behold, they altogether
crushed the yoke and broke the bonds. 6Therefore a lion from the thicket struck them, and a
wolf destroyed them, even to their houses; and a leopard kept watch against their cities.
Everyone who goes out from them shall be hunted, because they multiplied their ungodliness
and grew strong in their turning away.

  7“In what way shall I be merciful to you? Your sons forsook Me and swore by those who
are not gods. I pastured them, but they committed adultery and lodged in the houses of
prostitutes. 8They were lusty horses. Each one neighed after his neighbor's wife. 9Shall I not
visit them for these things?” says the Lord. “Shall not My soul take vengeance on such a
nation as this?

  10“Go upon her outer fortifications and tear them down, but do not ruin them completely.

Leave the support foundations, for they belong to the Lord.† 11The house of Israel and the
house of Judah dealt very treacherously with Me,” says the Lord. 12They lied to their own
Lord, and said, “These things are not so. Evil will not come upon us, nor shall we see sword or
famine. 13Our prophets were as wind, and the word of the Lord did not exist in them.”†

  14Therefore, thus says the Lord Almighty: “Because you prophets spoke this word, behold,
I will cause My words to be fire in your mouth, and this people to be wood, and the fire shall
devour them. 15Behold, O house of Israel,” says the Lord, “I will bring a nation against you
from afar. It is a nation whose spoken language you shall not understand. 16They are all
mighty men. 17They shall eat up your harvest and your bread, and they shall devour your
sons and daughters, along with your sheep and cattle, and your vines, fig trees, and olive
groves. With a sword they shall destroy your fortified cities in which you trust.

  18“Nevertheless, it shall come to pass in those days,” says the Lord your God, “that I will

not make a complete end of you. 19It will be that when you say, ‘Why did the Lord our God
do all these things to us?’ then you shall answer them, ‘Because you served foreign gods in
your land, so you shall serve foreigners in a land not yours.’†

  20“Declare this in the house of Jacob, and let it be heard in Judah. 21Hear these things
now, O people, foolish and heartless. They have eyes that see not, they have ears that hear
not. 22Do you not fear Me?” asks the Lord. “Have you no fear before My presence, I who
placed the sand as the bound of the sea, a perpetual decree, so it shall not pass beyond?
Though it be in a constant uproar, yet it shall not prevail; and though its waves toss, yet they
shall not pass over it. 23But this people has an inattentive and disobedient heart. They turned
aside and departed.† 24They did not say in their heart, ‘Let us now fear the Lord our God,
who gives us both the early and the late rain, according to the fullness of the season, and
preserves the harvest He ordained for us.’ 25Your lawlessness turned these things away, and
your sins withdrew the good things from you. 26For the ungodly were found among My
people. They set traps to destroy men, and they caught them. 27As a trap set for birds is full,
so their houses are full of deceit; therefore, they became great and grew rich. 28They
transgressed judgment and do not plead the cause of the orphan, nor the cause of the widow.
29Shall I not visit them for these things?” says the Lord. “Shall not My soul take vengeance
on such a nation as this?

  30“Bewilderment and horrible things have come upon the land. 31The prophets prophesy
unrighteous things, and the priests applaud with their hands. My people also love to have it
so. But what will you do after these things?”

                            Destruction Is Coming from the North


6 Be strong, O sons of Benjamin, in the midst of Jerusalem. Blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and
  for the sake of Beth Haccerem, set up a signal; because evil looms from the north, and
great destruction is coming.† 2Your crown will be taken away, O daughter of Zion.
3Shepherds and their flocks will come to her, and they shall pitch their tents against her all

around; and they shall feed their flocks, each with his hand. 4Get ready to war against her, to
rise up against her in battle at noon. Woe to us! Because the day draws to a close, and the
shadows of evening come to an end. 5Arise and go up in the night, and utterly destroy her
foundations.†

   6For thus says the Lord: “Cut down her trees; pour out your power against Jerusalem, O

false city. There is oppression in her entirely. 7As a reservoir chills down water, so evil causes
her to grow cold. Ungodliness and misery will be heard in her presence continually. 8Be
instructed, O Jerusalem, by pain and affliction, lest My soul depart from you; lest I make you
a land not to be trodden, where no one shall dwell.” 9For thus says the Lord: “Glean, glean as
a vine the remnant of Israel; return them as one who gathers for his basket.”†
  10To whom shall I speak and testify? Will it be heard? Behold, their ears are
uncircumcised, and they cannot hear. Behold, the word of the Lord was an insult to them, and
they do not wish to hear it.† 11“I was filled with my anger, but held fast and did not end their
lives. I will pour it out against the children from the outside, against the youth of the
assembly; and the husband and wife will be taken together, the elder full of days. 12Their
houses shall be turned over to others, together with their wives and fields. For I will stretch
out My hand against the inhabitants of this land,” says the Lord. 13“Because from the least of
them even to the greatest, everyone accomplished lawlessness. From the priest even to the
false prophet, everyone acted falsely. 14With contempt they healed the calamity of My people
incompletely, saying, ‘Peace, peace.’ But where is peace? 15They were ashamed because they
failed; but they were not ashamed as those truly ashamed, for they did not recognize their
dishonor. Therefore, they shall utterly fall when they do fall, and at the time of their
visitation they shall perish,” says the Lord.

  16Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask about the eternal pathways of
the Lord. See what the good way is and walk in it. Here you will find purification for your
souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’† 17I set watchmen over you. Listen to the sound
of their trumpet. But they said, ‘We will not listen.’† 18Therefore the Gentiles heard, and
those who shepherd their flocks.† 19Hear, O earth. Behold, I will bring evils upon this people,
the fruit of their turning away, because they did not heed My words, but rejected My law.
20Why do you bring frankincense to Me from Sheba and cinnamon from a far country? Your

whole burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices are not sweet to Me.”†
21Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will bring weakness upon this people, and the
fathers and the sons together shall be weak. The neighbor and his friend shall perish.”

  22Thus says the Lord: “Behold, a people will come from the north, and a nation will be

raised from the farthest parts of the earth. 23They will take hold of bow and spear; and they
are reckless and will show no mercy. Their voice is like the roaring sea, and they are deployed
on horses and chariots. They shall draw up in battle order as a fire for war against you, O
daughter of Zion.”

  24You will say, “We heard the report of them, and our hands became feeble. Distress takes

hold of us as pains of a woman in labor.” 25Do not go out into the field nor walk along the
ways, for the swords of enemies linger on every side. 26O daughter of my people, dress
yourself in sackcloth and sprinkle yourself with ashes. Make for yourself a bitter lamentation
as if for a beloved son, because suddenly misery will come upon you.

  27“I gave you an assayer to prove you among the peoples, and you shall know Me when I

test their way. 28They all are inattentive and walk perversely. They are bronze and iron, and
all have corrupted themselves. 29The blowpipe and the lead failed because the fire gave out.
The silversmith coins money in vain, and their evils have not melted away. 30Call them
rejected silver, because the Lord rejected them.”

                                 Trust Not in Lying Words

    Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah. 2Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Amend
7
    your ways and your practices, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.† 3Do not entrust
yourselves to lying words, for they will not profit you when you say, ‘It is the temple of the
Lord, the temple of the Lord.’ 4For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your practices, if
you thoroughly bring about judgment between a man and his neighbor, 5and do not oppress
the resident alien, the orphan, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place or
walk after foreign gods to your hurt, 6then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land I
gave to your fathers of old and forever.

  7“But if you trust in lying words from which you cannot profit, 8and you murder, commit
adultery, steal, swear to do wrong, burn incense to Baal, and walk after foreign gods you do
not know so as to do evil, 9and come and stand before Me in the house wherein My name is
called and say, ‘We have not abstained from doing all these abominations,’ 10then is this
house, called by My name, a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I have seen it.†

  11“But go to My place in Shiloh, where I caused My name to dwell before, and see what I

did to it because of the vices of My people Israel,” says the Lord. 12“Now then, because you
did all these works, and I spoke to you but you did not hear Me, and I called you but you did
not answer, 13therefore, I will also do to this house, called by My name in which you trust,
and the place I gave you and your fathers, as I did to Shiloh. 14I will cast you out of My sight
as I cast out your brethren—all the seed of Ephraim.

  15“Therefore, do not pray for this people, nor consider them worthy to be shown mercy. Do

not pray nor come to Me about them. I will not hear you. 16Do you not see what they do in
the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 17Their sons gather wood, and their
fathers kindle the fire, while their women knead cake dough for the host of heaven; and they
pour out drink offerings to foreign gods to provoke Me to anger.† 18Do they provoke Me to
wrath?” says the Lord. “Do they not provoke themselves to the shame of their own faces?”
19Therefore, thus says the Lord: “Behold, My wrath and anger is poured out on this place, on
men and cattle, on every tree of their field, and on all the fruits of the land. It will burn and
not be quenched. 20Gather your whole burnt offerings with your sacrifices, and eat meat.”

  21Thus says the Lord: “For I did not speak to your fathers, nor command them concerning

whole burnt offerings and sacrifices in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt.†
22But I commanded them this word, saying, ‘Listen to My voice, and I will be to you as God,
and you shall be to Me as a people. Walk in all My ways I commanded you, that it may be well
with you.’ 23Yet they did not hear Me and did not attend their ear. Instead, they walked in the
devices of their heart and went backward, not forward. 24From the day their fathers came out
of the land of Egypt until this day, I sent you all My servants, the prophets. I sent them by day
and early in the morning. Yes, I sent them. 25But they did not hear Me, nor did their ear
attend. Instead, they stiffened their neck even more than their fathers.

                              False Worship Will Be Judged

  26“Therefore, you shall speak this word to them: 27‘This is the nation that heard not the

voice of the Lord, nor received correction. Faith has perished from their mouth. 28Cut off
your hair and cast it away. Take up a lamentation on your lips, for the Lord has rejected and
repudiated the generation that does these things.’ 29For the sons of Judah did the evil thing
in My sight,” says the Lord. “They set their abominations in the house called by My name, to
defile it. 30They also built the altar of Tophet in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom to burn
their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command them, nor consider in My
heart.† 31Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “when they will no longer say, ‘the
Altar of Tophet,’ or, ‘the Valley of the Son of Hinnom,’ but instead, ‘the Valley of the Slain’;
and they will be buried in Tophet, for there is no other place. 32The dead of this people will
also be food for the birds of heaven and the wild beasts of the land. No one will scare them
away.† 33I shall cause to cease the glad and joyful voice, the voice of the bridegroom and the
bride, from the cities of Judah and the thoroughfares of Jerusalem. For the whole land shall
be desolate.
                                The Relics Are an Example


8 “At that time,” says the Lord, “they shall bring out of their graves the bones of the kings of
  Judah and its rulers, the bones of the priests and the prophets, and the bones of the
inhabitants of Jerusalem.† 2They shall dry them before the sun and the moon, and before all
the stars and the hosts of heaven, which they loved and served, and after which they walked,
devoted themselves, and worshiped. They are not to be mourned nor buried; but they are to
be an example on the face of the earth, 3because they chose death rather than life. They are
also to be an example to all the remnant left from that generation, in every place wherever I
banish them.”

                              False Teaching Will Be Judged

  4For thus says the Lord: “Will not he who falls arise? Or he who turns away, will he not

return? 5Why therefore has this My people turned away from Me in a shameful way,
strengthened themselves in their choice, and were not willing to return? 6Indeed, give ear
and listen. Will they not speak thus: ‘There is no man who repents of his vices, saying, “What
have I done?’ ” The runner ceases to run his race, as a sweating horse ceases to run when he
is tired. 7Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed time, as do the turtledove and the
swallow of the field. The sparrows watch for the times of their coming. But My people do not
know the judgments of the Lord.

  8“How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us’? The lying pen

becomes vanity for the scribes.† 9Wise men are put to shame and convicted, for they rejected
the word of the Lord. What wisdom is in them? 10I will give their wives and fields to others
as an inheritance. 11They will gather together their fruits. There are no grapes on the vines,
nor figs on the fig trees, and the leaves have fallen off. 12They will say, ‘Why do we sit still?
Assemble yourselves, and let us enter the strong cities. Let us be rejected, for God has cast us
out and given us gall to drink, because we sinned against Him.† 13Let us come together for
peace, but there was nothing good, and for a time of healing, but behold, trouble. 14We will
hear the swift sound of His horses coming from Dan. The whole land quakes from the
neighing of His horse-drawn chariots. He will come and devour the land and its fullness, the
city and those who dwell in it.’ 15For behold, I send forth lethal serpents among you, for
which there are no charms. 16They shall bite you mortally with the pain of your disturbed
heart.”

                             Jeremiah Weeps for His People

  17Behold, the voice of the daughter of my people cries out from a far land, “Is not the Lord
in Zion? Is her King not there?” “No, because they provoked Me to anger with their carved
images and foreign vanities.”† 18They will say, “The summer is gone, the harvest is past, and
we are not saved.”†

  19I am saddened because of the ruin of the daughter of my people. Pains have seized me as

one who gives birth. 20Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician? Why is no healing
taking place for the daughter of my people?† 21Who will give water to my head and a
fountain of tears to my eyes, that I might weep day and night for this people of mine, for the
wounded of the daughter of my people?†


9 Who  will give me lodging in a deserted place, that I might leave my people and depart
  from them? For they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.†

  2“They bent their tongues like a bow. Falsehood, not faith, prevails in the land. For they

went from evil to evil, and have not known Me. 3Let each take heed to his neighbor, and not
trust their brothers, for every brother will utterly deceive, and every friend will walk
treacherously. 4Each will mock at his friend and not speak the truth. Their tongue learns to
speak lies, and they do wrong. They do not pause to turn back. 5There is usury upon usury,
deceit upon deceit. They are unwilling to know Me.”

  6Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will set them on fire and test them; I shall do so

because of the evil of the daughter of My people. 7Their tongue is a wounding arrow, and the
words of their mouth are deceitful. One speaks peaceably to his neighbor, but has hatred in
his heart. 8Shall I not visit them for these things?” says the Lord. “Shall not My soul take
vengeance on such a people as this? 9Take up a wailing on the mountains and a lamentation
on the paths of the desert; for they cease from being a people. They do not hear the sound of
existence from the birds of the sky, nor even from cattle. They were astonished; they were
gone. 10I will put Jerusalem into captivity, and it will become a dwelling place of serpents. I
will make the cities of Judah desolate, beyond habitation.”†
   11Who is a wise man? Let him understand this. Let him declare to you by the word of the
Lord to him why the land was ravaged by fire, and became like a desert no one could pass
through. 12The Lord answered me, “Because they forsook My law which I set before their
face, and they did not hear My voice. 13Instead, they walked after what pleased their evil
heart, and after the idols their fathers taught them.” 14Therefore, thus says the Lord God of
Israel: “Behold, I will feed them as a matter of necessity, and give them the water of
bitterness to drink. 15I will also scatter them among the Gentiles, amongst whom neither
they nor their fathers are known. I shall send a sword after them until I consume them with
it.”

                               The People Weep in Shame

 16Thus says the Lord: “Call for the mourning women and let them come. Send for the wise

women and let them give utterance. 17Let them take up a lamentation over you. Let your eyes
run with tears, and your eyelids flow with water. 18For a voice of wailing is heard from Zion,
‘How we have been afflicted and greatly ashamed, because we forsook the land and were cast
out of our dwellings.’ ” 19Indeed, O women, hear the word of God, and let your ear receive the
words of His mouth. Teach your daughters wailing, and a woman a lamentation to all her
neighbors. 20For death will come through your windows and enter your land, to destroy the
children from outside and the youth from the streets. 21The dead men shall be as an example
in the open country of your land, like grass after it is mowed, when there shall be none to
gather it.

  22Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor let the mighty man

boast in his might, nor let the rich man boast in his riches.”† 23Instead, let him who boasts
boast in this, that he understands and knows that I am the Lord, who shows mercy,
judgment, and righteousness on earth, for in these is My will,” says the Lord. 24“Behold, the
days are coming, says the Lord, “that I will visit upon all the circumcised their
uncircumcision. 25I will visit Egypt, Judea, Edom, the sons of Ammon and the sons of Moab,
and all who dwell in the desert—all who shave their face. For all these nations are
uncircumcised in the flesh, but all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in their heart.”†

                                   Let the Idols Perish
      house of Israel, hear the word of the Lord, for He has spoken to you. 2Thus says the
10 OLord: “Do not learn the ways of the Gentiles, and do not be afraid because of signs from
the sky, for they themselves reverence these. 3For the customs of the peoples are vain. This
vanity is a tree cut from the forest, the work of a craftsman, or it is a molten image. 4They are
embellished with silver and gold with a hammer, and they strengthen them with nails so they
will not move. 5They will be taken up and carried, for they cannot walk by themselves. Do not
be afraid of them, because they cannot do evil, nor is there any good thing in them. 6The
silver is worked in relief, and they cannot travel anywhere. The silver overlays come from
Tarshish, the gold from Uphaz. All handiwork is the work of goldsmiths and craftsmen, and
they will dress them in hyacinth and purple.”

  7Thus you shall say to them, “Let the gods that did not make heaven and earth perish from

the earth and from under this heaven.”†

  8The Lord—who made the earth in His strength, who restores the inhabited world in His

wisdom and discernment—stretched out heaven,† 9and the abundance of water in heaven;
and He brings up clouds from the ends of the earth. He made lightning for the rain, and
brings light out of His storehouses. 10Every man is made foolish because of this knowledge,
and every goldsmith is put to shame by his carved images; because they cast false gods that
have no spirit in them. 11They are vain works that are ridiculed, and in the time of His
visitation they shall be destroyed. 12Such is not the portion for Jacob, for He who formed all
things is Jacob's inheritance. The Lord is His name.

                              Desolation Is Coming to Judah

  13This inheritance resides in the elect and gathers together your existence outside the land.
14For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will overthrow those who reside in this land with

affliction, that your wound might be discovered.” 15Alas for your ruin! Your wound is painful,
and I say, “Indeed, this is my wound, and it overtakes me. 16My tabernacle endures hardship
and is ruined, and all my skin coverings are torn apart. My sons and my sheep are no more,
and there is no place left for my tent, nor for my curtains.† 17For the shepherds act foolishly
and no longer seek out the Lord. Therefore, the whole pasture does not understand, thus the
sheep are scattered. 18Behold, there is a sound of news, and an earthquake comes from the
land of the north to cause the cities of Judah to disappear, making them the nesting place of
sparrows.

  19I know, O Lord, that man's way is not his own, nor will a man go and prosper in his own

pursuit. 20Chastise us, O Lord, but with judgment and not in anger, lest You make our
numbers few.† 21Pour out Your anger on the Gentiles who do not know You, and on the
generations who did not call on Your name; because they devoured Jacob and utterly
destroyed him, and they laid waste his pasture.

                                God's Covenant Is Ignored

     The word came from the Lord to Jeremiah, saying, 2“Hear the words of this covenant,
11
     and you shall speak to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 3You shall
say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Cursed is the man who will not hear the
words of this covenant, 4which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them out of
the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, ‘Hear My voice, and do all I command you,
so you shall be to Me as a people and I will be to you as God, 5that I may confirm the oath I
swore to your fathers, to give to them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is today.’ ” ’ ”
Then I answered and said, “O Lord, may it be so.”

  6Then the Lord said to me, “Read aloud these words in the cities of Judah and outside

Jerusalem, saying, ‘Hear the words of this covenant and do them.’ ” 7But they did not. 8Again
the Lord said to me, “A conspiracy was found among the men of Judah and among the
inhabitants of Jerusalem. 9They turned back to the wrongdoings of their forefathers who
were unwilling to hear My words. Behold, they go after foreign gods to serve them. Both the
house of Israel and the house of Judah rejected My covenant which I made with their
fathers.”

  10Therefore, thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will bring calamities on this people from which

they cannot escape; and they shall cry out to Me, but I will not listen. 11Then the cities of
Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they offer
incense. But will they save them in the time of their calamities? 12O Judah, your gods were
based on the number of your cities, and according to the number of streets in Jerusalem, you
appointed altars to burn incense to Baal.

  13“Do not pray for this people, and do not consider them worthy in petition; for I will not
hear their prayer in the time they cry out to Me or in the time of their distress.† 14Why has
My beloved done a detestable thing in My house? Will prayers and holy offerings remove
your vices from you? Will you escape by means of these? 15The Lord called your name a
pleasant olive tree, a good shade tree in appearance. At the sound of its pruning, a fire was
kindled against it. Great is the affliction coming upon you. Its branches have become
worthless. 16For the Lord who planted you has proclaimed troubles against you in return for
the evil the house of Israel and the house of Judah did against themselves when they offered
incense to Baal and provoked My wrath.”

                                  A Plot against Jeremiah

  17O Lord, teach me, and I will know. Then I saw their purpose.ω 18For I did not know I was
like an innocent lamb led to be sacrificed. They plotted an evil device against me, saying,
“Come, let us put wood in his bread, and destroy him root and branch from the land of the
living, so his name might not be remembered any longer.”† 19But, O Lord, You who judge
righteously, who tests minds and hearts, let me see Your vengeance on them, for I have
revealed my righteous plea to You.

   20Therefore thus says the Lord against the men of Anathoth, against those who seek my

life, and who say, “Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, lest you die by our hands”—†
21“Behold, I will visit them. The young men shall die by the sword, and their sons and

daughters shall die by famine. 22There shall be no remnant of them, for I will bring
calamities on the inhabitants of Anathoth in the year of their visitation.”

                                 Jeremiah Pleads His Case


12 Oconcerning
      Lord, You are righteous, that I may plead my case with You, to speak to You
               judgments. Why does the way of the ungodly prosper, and all who deal
treacherously flourish?† 2You planted them, and they took root. They bear children and are
fruitful. You are near in their mouth, but far from their mind. 3But You, O Lord, know me.
You have proven my heart before You. Set them apart for the day of slaughter. 4How long will
the land mourn and the grass of the field wither, because of the vices of those who dwell in
it? The cattle and the birds are destroyed, because they said, “God will not see our ways.”

                                  The Lord Answers Him
  5“Your feet run and grow weary. How then will you prepare yourself to run with horses?
You are confident when the land is peaceful, but what will you do when the Jordan floods the
land?† 6But even your brothers and the house of your father dealt treacherously with you.
They cried out and gathered together in pursuit of you. Do not trust them because they will
speak fair words to you.

  7“I forsook My house and left My inheritance. I gave My beloved inheritance into the

hands of its enemies.† 8For My inheritance became to Me like a lion in the forest. It raised its
voice against Me; therefore, I hated it. 9Is not My inheritance the cave of a hyena to Me, or a
cave it walks around? Gather together all the wild beasts of the field and let them come to
devour her. 10Many shepherds destroyed My vineyard and defiled My portion. They turned
My pleasant portion into an impassable desert. 11It was made a complete ruin. The whole
land was utterly destroyed for My sake, because there was no man who took it to heart. 12The
tormentors come to every passage in the desert, because the sword of the Lord will devour
from one end of the land to the other. No flesh has any peace. 13Sow fires and reap thorns.
Their portions will not profit them. Be ashamed of your boasting because of your disgrace
before the Lord.”

  14For thus says the Lord: “Concerning all the evil neighbors who touch My inheritance,
which I divided to My people Israel—behold, I shall draw them away from their land and will
cast out Judah from their midst.† 15Then it shall come to pass, after I cast them out, that I
will return them and have mercy on them. I will settle them, each in his inheritance and each
in his land. 16It shall be that if they carefully learn the way of My people, to swear by My
name, saying, ‘The Lord lives,’ as they taught My people to swear by Baal, so they shall be
built as a nation in the midst of My people. 17But if they do not return, I will remove that
nation by destruction and ruin.”

                               The Sash: A Symbol of Israel


13 Thus   says the Lord: “Go and get yourself a linen sash and put it around your waist, but
   let it not pass through the water.”† 2So I got the sash according to the word of the Lord,
and put it around my waist.

  3Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 4“Take the sash from around your waist.

Arise and go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole in the rock.”† 5So I went and hid it
by the Euphrates as the Lord commanded me. 6Again it came to pass that after many days the
Lord also said to me, “Arise and go to the Euphrates, and take from there the sash I
commanded you to hide there.” 7Then I went to the Euphrates River and dug, and took the
sash from the place where I buried it. Behold, it was rotted and good for nothing.†

  8Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9“Thus says the Lord: ‘In this manner I

will destroy the insolence of Judah and that of Jerusalem. 10The great insolence of those who
are unwilling to obey My words, and who walk after foreign gods to serve and worship them,
they shall be like this sash—good for nothing. 11For as a sash clings to the waist of a man, so I
caused the house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me, so as to become a
notable people to Me, as a boast and a glory; but they would not listen to Me.’

                            Wine Bottles: A Warning to Israel

  12“Thus you shall say to this people: ‘Every bottle shall be filled with wine.’ But if they say

to you, ‘Do we not know for certain every bottle will be filled with wine?’ 13Then you shall
say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land with
intoxicating drink: their kings, the sons of David who sit on his throne, their priests, their
prophets, and Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 14I will scatter them, a man and
his brother, together with their fathers and their sons. I will not desire them,” says the Lord,
“nor spare them, nor have compassion on them in their destruction.” ’ ”

                                 How Long, O Jerusalem?

  15Listen and give ear. Do not exalt yourselves, for the Lord has spoken. 16Give glory to the
Lord your God before it grows dark, and causes your feet to stumble on the dark mountains.
You shall wait in anticipation of the light, but the shadow of death will be there; and they
shall bring you into darkness. 17Now if you will not hear, your soul will weep secretly because
of your insolent countenance, and your eyes will bring forth tears, for the Lord's flock is
broken apart.† 18Say to the king and to the nobles, “Humble yourself and sit down, for your
crown of glory is removed from your head.” 19The cities to the south were shut, and there
was no one to open them. Judah is sent away completely as a settlement. †

   20Lift up your eyes, O Jerusalem, and see those who come from the north. Where is the

flock given to you, the sheep of your glory? 21What will you say when they visit you? For you
taught them lessons in the beginning against yourself. Shall not pains of agony seize you, like
a woman who gives birth? 22But if you say in your heart, “Why have these things happened
to me?” Because of the multitude of your wrongdoings, your backside was uncovered so your
heels might be exposed. 23If an Ethiopian could change his skin or a leopard its spots, so you
who learned evil might also be able to do good.

  24“Therefore I scattered them like sticks, carried by the wind into the desert. 25This is your
lot and your portion for your disobedience against Me,” says the Lord, “because you forgot
Me and trusted in falsehoods. 26I will uncover your backside to your face, and your dishonor
will be seen.† 27For I have seen your adultery and neighing, and the alienation of your
fornication, the abomination of your fornication on the hills and in the fields. Woe to you, O
Jerusalem! For you were not cleansed so as to follow Me. How long will it still be?”

                                Sword, Famine, and Death

      The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah concerning the drought, saying,† 2“Judah
14 mourns, and her gates are empty. They are darkened in the land, and the cry of
Jerusalem goes up. 3Her nobles sent their young ones for water, but they found no water in
the wells. So they returned with their water containers empty. 4The works of the land failed,
for there was no rain. The farmers were ashamed and covered their heads. 5The deer also
gave birth in the field, but left because there was no grass. 6The wild donkeys stood in the
wooded glens and sniffed the wind. Their eyes failed, for there was no grass because of the
wrongdoing of the people.”

  7Our sins rise up against us, O Lord. Do to us for Your sake, because our sins are many

before You; for we sinned against You. 8O Lord, the steadfast endurance of Israel, You deliver
us in the time of evils. Why have You become as a sojourner in the land, and like a native of
the land who turns elsewhere to lodge? 9Will You be like a man who sleeps, or as a man who
is unable to save? But You are in our midst, O Lord, and we are called by Your name. Do not
forget us.

  10Thus says the Lord to this people: “They love to wander and have not refrained from it;
therefore, God is not pleased with them. Now He will remember their wrongdoings.”

  11Again the Lord said to me, “Do not pray about this people for their good. 12When they
fast, I will not hear their petition, and when they present whole burnt offerings and sacrifices,
I will not take pleasure in them. For I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by
death.”

  13Then I said, “O Lord, behold their prophets prophesying, and say, ‘You shall not see the
sword, nor shall there be famine among you; for I will give you truth and peace in the land
and in this place.’ ”† 14Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I
have not sent them, nor commanded them; nor have I spoken to them. Because of false
visions, divinations, prophesying by the way of birds, and by the purposes of their hearts, they
prophesy to you. 15Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy lies
in My name: ‘I did not send them.’ They say, ‘Sword and famine shall not be upon this land.’
They shall die in the deathbed of sickness, for the prophets shall die in famine. 16The people
to whom they prophesy shall be cast into the thoroughfares of Jerusalem because of the edge
of the sword and famine. There shall be no one to bury them, for even their wives, sons, and
daughters shall so die. I will pour out their evils upon them.

  17“So you shall speak this word to them: ‘Let your eyes flow with tears night and day. Let
them not cease; for in ruin, the daughter of My people was crushed to pieces, and her wound
was very painful. 18If I go out into the plain, then behold, there are the soldiers wounded by
the sword. If I enter into the city, then behold, there is the pain of famine, for priest and
prophet have traveled to a land they do not know.’ ”

  19Have You utterly rejected Judah? Has Your soul departed from Zion? Why did You strike
us, and there is no healing for us? We waited for peace, but there was no good thing; for a
time of healing, but behold, there was trouble. 20We know, O Lord, our sins and the
wrongdoings of our fathers, for we sinned against You. 21Stop for Your name's sake. Do not
destroy the throne of Your glory. Remember, and do not break Your covenant with us. 22Is
there anyone among the idols of the Gentiles able to cause rain? Or will the sky yield its
fullness at their request? Are You not He? Therefore, since You made all these things, we will
wait for You.†

                                 The Lord Will Not Give In


15 Then  the Lord said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My soul would
   not be favorable toward them. Send away this people, and let them depart.† 2It shall be,
that if they say to you, ‘Where should we depart?’ you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord:
“As many as are for death, to death, and as many as are for the sword, to the sword, and as
many as are for famine, to famine, and as many as are for captivity, to captivity.’ ” 3I will
punish them in four ways,” says the Lord, “the sword for slaughter, the dogs for tearing in
pieces, the wild beasts of the earth and the birds of the sky for eating and destruction.† 4I will
deliver them into distress to all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh son of
Hezekiah, the king of Judah, for all he did in Jerusalem.

  5“Who will spare you, O Jerusalem? Who will fear for you? Who will turn back to ask

peace for you? 6You turned away from Me,” says the Lord. “You will go backward, and I will
stretch out My hand and destroy you. I will no longer leave them unpunished. 7I will scatter
them in a dispersion. In the gates of My people, they are deprived of children. They destroyed
My people because of their vices. 8Their widows multiply more than the sand of the sea. I
brought upon the mother of a young son misery at midday. I suddenly cast upon her
trembling and anxiety. 9She who gave birth to seven has been left empty, and her soul has
succumbed to misfortune. The sun set for her when it was still noonday. She was put to
shame and insulted. I will give their remnant to the sword in the presence of their enemies.”†

                                  Jeremiah Senses Failure

  10Woe is me, my mother! You gave birth to me as a man who is condemned and at
variance with the whole earth. I have neither helped anyone, nor has anyone helped me. My
strength has failed among those who curse me. 11O Master, may this be the time of their
prosperity. Surely I stood before You in the time of their calamities and in the time of their
affliction for their good against the enemy. 12The Lord says, “Will iron be known? But your
strength is a bronze covering. 13I will give your treasures as plunder in all your boundaries, in
exchange for all your sins. 14For I will enslave you to your surrounding enemies in a land you
have not known. For a fire has been kindled from My anger, and it shall burn upon you.”

  15O Lord, remember me and visit me. Let me go unpunished because of those who
persecute me. Do not bear long with them. Know how I have met with disgrace for Your sake
at the hands of those who reject Your words. 16Make an end to them, and Your word shall be
the gladness and joy of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord, the Almighty. 17I did
not sit in their council while they mocked, but I feared because of Your power. I sat alone, for
I was filled with bitterness. 18Why do those who grieve me prevail against me? My wound is
severe, but from where will I be healed? It has indeed become to me as deceitful water that
has no faithfulness.†

                               The Lord Restores Jeremiah

  19Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand
before My face. If you bring forth what is honorable from what is unworthy, you shall be as
My mouth. They shall return to you, but you shall not return to them.† 20I will cause you to
be like a strong brazen wall to this people. They will fight against you, but not prevail,
because I am with you to save you, 21to deliver you from the hand of evil men, and to set you
free from the hand of pestilent men.”

                            Jeremiah's Conduct and Message

     The Lord God of Israel says, “Do not take a wife,† 2nor shall you beget either a son or a
16
     daughter in this place.” 3For thus says the Lord concerning the sons and daughters
begotten in this place, and their mothers who gave birth to them, and their fathers who beget
them in this land: 4“They shall die by a death caused by disease, and shall not be lamented or
buried; for they shall be as an example on the face of the land. They shall be for the wild
beasts of the earth and the birds of heaven; and they shall fall by the sword and die of
hunger.”

  5Thus says the Lord: “Do not enter their mourning feast, nor go to lament and grieve with

them; for I have removed My peace from this people.† 6They must not mourn, nor cut
themselves; and they shall not shave themselves. 7Bread shall not be broken in mourning for
them as a consolation for the dead, nor shall they give one a cup to drink as a consolation for
his father and mother.† 8You shall not enter their banquet-house to sit with them or to eat
and drink.” 9For thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Behold, before your eyes and in your days,
I will bring to an end from this place the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of
the bridegroom and the voice of the bride.

  10“It shall come to pass that when you shall announce all these words to this people and
they say to you, ‘Why has the Lord pronounced all these evils against us? What is our
wrongdoing, and what sin did we commit before the Lord our God?’ 11Then you shall say to
them, ‘Because your fathers forsook Me,’ says the Lord, ‘for they went after foreign gods; and
they served and worshiped them. They forsook Me, and did not keep My law. 12But you acted
in ways more evil than your fathers; for behold, you, each one of you, walk after the evil
pleasures of your heart and do not obey Me. 13Therefore I will cast you out of this land and
into a land neither you nor your fathers know; and there you shall serve other gods, who will
show you no mercy.’

                            God's Promise to Jew and Gentile

  14“Therefore behold, days are coming,” says the Lord, “when no more will they say, ‘The

Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ 15but, ‘The Lord
lives who brought up the house of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the
countries where they were driven out.’ For I will restore to them their land which I gave to
their fathers.†

  16“Behold, I will send many fishermen, and they will fish them. After this, I will send many
hunters, and they will hunt them upon every mountain, upon every hill, and out of the holes
of the rocks.† 17For My eyes are on all their ways, and their wrongdoings are not concealed
from My eyes. 18For I will repay double for their evil and their wrongdoings, whereby they
desecrated My land with the carcasses of their abominations and filled My inheritance with
their lawlessness.”

  19O Lord, my strength, my help, and my refuge in the day of evils, to You the Gentiles shall
come from the ends of the earth and say, “How false were the idols our fathers acquired for
themselves, and there is nothing beneficial in them.”†

  20“If a man will create gods for himself,” says the Lord, “even so, they are not gods.
21Because of this, behold, I will show them My hand at this time and make known to them
My power; and they will come to know that My name is the Lord.

                                  The Agony of Apostasy


17 “Cursed is the man who puts his hope in man, and who will strengthen the flesh of his
   arm in him, and withdraws in his heart from the Lord.† 2For he shall be like a shrub in
the desert. He shall not see when good things come, but shall dwell in salt lands along the sea
and in the desert, in a salt land where no one dwells. 3But blessed is the man who puts his
trust in the Lord, for the Lord shall be his hope. 4He shall be like a flourishing tree alongside
the waters which spreads its roots toward the moisture. He will not fear when the burning
heat comes, for He shall be like the root in a grove in the year of drought. He shall not fear,
for he shall be like a tree that does not cease yielding its fruit.

  5“The heart is deep beyond all things, and it is the man. Even so, who can know him?† 6I,
the Lord, examine hearts and test minds, to give each man according to his ways and the
fruits of his practices. 7A partridge coos and collects eggs she did not lay. So is a man who
obtains his wealth, but not with judgment. In the midst of his days his riches will forsake
him, and at the time of his end he will be foolish.”

  8An exalted throne of glory is our sanctuary. 9O Lord, the patient endurance of Israel, let
all who forsake You be ashamed. “Let those who fall away from Me in apostasy be written in
the earth, that they forsook the Lord, the fountain of life.”

                              Jeremiah's Prayer for Protection

  10Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed. Save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my

boast. 11Behold, they say to me, “Where is the word of the Lord? Let it come.” 12But I have
not become weary in following after You, nor have I desired the day of man. You know the
words that proceed from my lips are before Your face. 13Do not be as a stranger to me, and
spare me in the evil day. 14Let those who persecute me be put to shame, but may I not be
ashamed. May they, but not I, be terrified. Bring upon them an evil day and crush them with
a double destruction.

                                      Sanctify the Sabbath

  15Thus says the Lord: “Go and stand in the gates of the sons of your people through which

the kings of Judah come in and go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem.† 16You shall say to
them, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah and all Judea, and all of Jerusalem, who
enter by these gates. 17Thus says the Lord: “Guard your souls, and take up no burdens on the
Sabbath days, neither go out through the gates of Jerusalem. 18On the Sabbath days, carry no
burdens with you from your houses, nor do any work. Instead, sanctify the Sabbath days, as I
commanded your fathers. But they did not hear, and did not incline their ears. 19They
stiffened their neck more than their fathers, so as not to hear Me or receive instruction.
  20“Thus it shall come to pass that if you hear Me,” says the Lord, “so as not to carry
burdens through the gates of this city on the Sabbath days, but to sanctify the Sabbath days
and do no work therein, 21then there shall enter through the gates of this city kings and
rulers, sitting on the throne of David and riding in their chariots and on their horses, they and
their rulers, men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. This city itself shall be inhabited
forever. 22They shall come from the cities of Judah, and from around Jerusalem and the land
of Benjamin, and from the lowlands and the mountains, and from the south, bringing whole
burnt offerings and a sacrifice, and incense, manna, and frankincense. They will bring praise
to the house of the Lord.

  23“But it shall come to pass that if you will not hear Me so as to sanctify the Sabbath days,
and bear no burdens, nor enter the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath days, then I will kindle
a fire in her gates. It will consume the streets of Jerusalem and will not be quenched.” ’ ”

                                       Potter and Clay

      The word that came from the Lord to Jeremiah, saying,† 2“Arise and go down to the
18
      potter's house. There you shall hear My words.” 3Then I went down to the potter's
house, and behold, he was forming something of wet clay upon the stones. 4The vessel he
formed in his hands failed. So he again made himself another vessel as it pleased him to do.

  5Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 6“Surely as this potter, am I not able to

form you, O house of Israel? Behold, you are as the clay of the potter in My hands. 7I shall
declare a decree concerning a nation or a kingdom, to remove and destroy them. 8But if this
nation turns away from all their evils, then I will repent concerning the calamities I
considered to do to them. 9If I shall declare a decree concerning a nation or a kingdom to
rebuild and to plant it, 10but they do evils in My sight so as not to hear My voice, then I will
repent concerning the good I spoke to do for them.

  11“Therefore now, speak to the men of Judah and those inhabiting Jerusalem for Me,
saying, ‘Behold, I form calamities and devise a plan against you. Therefore, let each turn away
from his way of evil and do good in your practices.’ ”

                                God's Warning Is Spurned

  12But they said, “We will act like men and walk after our inclinations, and each one of us
will do the evils pleasing to his heart.”

  13Therefore thus says the Lord: “Ask now of the Gentiles, ‘Who has heard of such

exceedingly horrible things as what the virgin of Israel did?’ 14Will nourishing streams of
water not flow from rocks or snow from Lebanon? Will water turn aside when violently
pushed by the wind? 15For My people have forgotten Me. They offer incense in vain and are
sick in their ways, leaving the ancient ways to embark on impassable paths, 16so as to appoint
their land for destruction and a perpetual hissing. All who pass through it shall be amazed
and shake their head. 17I will scatter them like a burning wind before the face of their
enemies. I will show them the day of their destruction.”

                                    Jeremiah Is Ridiculed

  18Then they said, “Come and let us devise a plan against Jeremiah, for the law shall not
perish from the priest, nor counsel from the intelligent, nor a word from the prophet. Come
and let us strike him down with the tongue, and we will hear all his words.”†

  19O Lord, hear me, and give ear to the voice of my plea for what is right. 20Surely evil
things are repaid for good things; for they spoke words against my soul and concealed
punishment meant for me. But remember, I stood before You to speak good things for them,
so as to turn away Your wrath from them. 21Therefore give their sons to the famine and
gather them to the power of the sword. Let their wives become childless and widowed, and let
their men be put to death. In war, let their young men fall by the sword. 22Let a cry be heard
in their houses, for You shall bring robbers upon them suddenly, because they formed a plan
to take me and hid snares against me. 23O Lord, You know all their counsel against me so as
to put me to death. Do not let their wrongdoings go unpunished, nor blot out their sins from
before Your face. Let their weakness come before You, and in the time of Your anger deal
with them.

                                   Broken Jar, Broken City


19 Then the Lord said to me, “Go and obtain an earthen-baked wine-jar, and you shall lead
   some of the elders of the people and some of their elder priests 2out to the graveyard of
the sons of their children, by the entry of the Gate of Charsith. There you shall read all the
words I will speak to you.† 3You shall say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, O kings and men of
Judah, you inhabitants of Jerusalem and all entering by these gates. Thus says the Lord of
hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I bring calamities upon this place, that whoever hears of it,
both his ears will ring.

  4“Because they forsook Me, and alienated this place, and offered incense in it to foreign
gods, which neither they nor their fathers knew, and because the kings of Judah filled this
place with the blood of the innocent 5and built high places for Baal so as to burn up their
sons in the fire, which things I did not command or speak, nor consider in My heart.
6Therefore behold, days are coming,” says the Lord, “when this place shall no longer be called

the Fall, or the Graveyard of the Son of Hinnom, but the Graveyard of Slaughter. 7For I shall
destroy the counsel of Judah and the counsel of Jerusalem in this place. I shall cause them to
fall by the sword before their enemies and by the hands of those who seek their lives. I will
give their dead as food for the birds of heaven and for the wild animals of the earth. 8I will
appoint this city for desolation and for hissing. Everyone passing by it will scowl and hiss
because of all her misfortune. 9They shall eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and each
shall eat the flesh of those in the passage who are his neighbors in the blockade, and in the
siege in which their enemies shall besiege them.’ ”†

  10“Then you shall break the wine-jar in the sight of the men who come out with you, 11and
you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In this way I will break this people and this city,
as one breaks an earthen vessel which cannot be made whole again.

  12Thus I will do to this place,” says the Lord, “and to those who dwell in it, so this city may

be given as one that crumbles in pieces. 13Therefore the houses of Jerusalem and the houses
of the kings of Judah shall be as a place that crumbles because of the uncleanness in all their
houses, where they burnt incense upon their housetops to all the host of heaven and poured
drink offerings to foreign gods.” ’ ”

  14Then Jeremiah came from the place of the Fall, where the Lord sent him to prophesy. He

stood in the court of the Lord's house and said to all the people, 15“Thus says the Lord:
‘Behold, I bring upon this city, and on all the cities and villages belonging to it, all the
calamities I declared against it, because they hardened their neck so as not to obey My
words.’ ”

                                 God's Warning to Pashhur
20 Now  Pashhur the son of Immer, the priest who was also appointed governor in the
   house of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying these words.† 2He struck him and cast
him into the stockade by the gate of the house set apart near the house of the Lord. 3Later
Pashhur brought Jeremiah out of the stockade, and Jeremiah said to him, “The Lord does not
call your name Pashhur, but Emigrant.

  4“For thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will give you and all your friends as an emigrant in a
foreign land. They shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes shall see it. I will
give you and all Judah into the hands of the king of Babylon. They shall deport them as
immigrants and cut them with their swords. 5For I shall give all the strength of this city, all
its labors and its treasures of the kings of Judah, into the hands of its enemies. They will
carry them to Babylon. 6You, and all who dwell in your house, shall go in captivity to
Babylon. There you shall die and be buried—you and all your friends to whom you prophesied
lies.’ ”

                                   Jeremiah Is Despised

  7O Lord, you deceived me, and I was deceived. You seized me and prevailed. I am a

laughingstock, for every day I am mocked continually.† 8Since I laugh with my bitter word, I
will call upon faithlessness and misery, for the word of the Lord has become a disgrace to me
and a joke each of my days. 9Then I said, “I will not name the name of the Lord, nor speak
anymore in His name.” But His word was like a burning fire in my bones. I am weakened on
all sides and no longer able to bear it. 10For I heard the censure of many who gathered round,
saying, “Let us and all the men who are his friends confront and conspire against him. Let us
observe his intention and see if he can be deceived, for we will prevail against him and be
avenged on him.”

  11But the Lord was with me as a mighty warrior. Therefore they persecuted me, but were
unable to discern anything they could use against me. They were greatly ashamed, for they
did not understand their dishonor, which will never be forgotten. 12O Lord, You who approve
righteous acts, who understand the minds and hearts, may I see Your vengeance upon them,
for I revealed my defense before You.

  13Sing to the Lord, sing praises to Him, for He delivers the soul of the poor from the hand

of those who are evil.†
  14Cursed be the day I was born, the day my mother bore me. Let it not be longed for.
15Cursed be the man who brought the good news to my father, saying, “A boy has been born

to you.”† 16Let that man be as these cities the Lord destroyed in anger, and did not regret it.
Let them hear crying in early morning and lamentation at noon, 17because He did not kill me
in the womb of my mother, and because my mother did not become my tomb, and her womb
an unending conception.† 18Why is it I came forth from her womb, to look upon hardships
and sufferings and to remain in shame all my days?

                                  God Spurns Jerusalem


21 The  word came from the Lord to Jeremiah, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur
   the son of Melchiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest.† 2They said to him,
“Inquire of the Lord for us—for the king of Babylon besieges us—if the Lord will act according
to all His wonderful works, and the king will depart from us.”†

  3Jeremiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to Zedekiah, king of Judah, 4‘Thus says the
Lord: “Behold, I turn back your weapons of war to gather them in the midst of this city,
weapons with which you wage war against the Chaldeans, who shut you in from outside the
wall. 5For I will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a powerful arm, with anger
and wrath and with great provocation. 6I will strike all the inhabitants of this city, men and
cattle, with a great death. Indeed they shall die. 7After this,” says the Lord, “I will deliver
Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants, and the people left in this city from death and from
famine and sword, into the hands of their enemies who seek their lives. They shall cut them
down with the edge of the sword. I shall not spare them nor have compassion upon them.’ ”

  8“Now you shall say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I set before you the way

of life and the way of death.† 9He who remains in this city shall die by sword and famine, but
he who goes out to the Chaldeans who shut you in, he shall live. His life shall be as booty to
him, and he shall live. 10For I have set My face against this city for calamities and not for
good things. It shall be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with
fire.’ ”

                              A Word to the House of David

  11“O house of the king of Judah, hear the word of the Lord: 12‘O house of David, thus says
the Lord: “Bring about judgment early in the morning, and act uprightly, and deliver him who
is plundered from the hand of the one who wrongs him, lest My wrath be kindled like fire
that shall burn with no one to quench it. 13Behold, I am against you who dwell in the valley
of Sor, in the plain, who say, ‘Who will terrify us?’ Or, ‘Who shall enter our dwelling?’† 14For
I will kindle a fire in its woods and it shall devour all things round about it.” ’ ”


22 Thus says the Lord: “Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and there you shall
   speak this word, 2and you shall say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, you
who sit on the throne of David, you and your house and your people, and those who enter
these gates! 3Thus says the Lord: “Bring about judgment and righteousness, and rescue the
plundered from the hand of the one who wrongs him. Do not oppress and act ungodly toward
the resident alien, the orphan, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place. 4For if
you will indeed perform this word, there shall enter through the gates of this house kings
who sit on the throne of David. They shall ride on horses and in chariots—they, their
servants, and their people. 5But if you do not perform these words I Myself have sworn,” says
the Lord, “this house shall become a desolation.” ’ ”

  6For thus says the Lord concerning the house of the king of Judah: “You are Gilead to Me,
the head of Lebanon. Yet I will surely make you as a wilderness, and your cities shall not be
inhabited.† 7I will bring against you a man who destroys with his two-edged ax; and they
shall cut down your choice cedars and cast them into the fire. 8Then nations will pass
through this city, and each will say to his neighbor, ‘Why has the Lord done so to this great
city?’ 9They will answer, ‘Because they forsook the covenant of the Lord their God, and
worshiped foreign gods and served them.’ ”

  10Weep not for the dead, neither lament. Weep bitterly for him who goes away, for he shall
return no more to see his native land.

                                A Word to the Sons of Josiah

  11For thus says the Lord concerning Shallum the son of Josiah, who reigned in the place of

Josiah his father, who left this place: “He shall not return here anymore,† 12but he shall die
in the place where I have exiled him. He shall see this land no more.†

  13“Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness and his rooms upstairs without
judgment, who employs his neighbor for nothing and will not give him his pay! 14You built
for yourself a well-proportioned house with breezy rooms upstairs, lined with windows, cedar
panels, and painted with vermilion. 15Shall you reign, for you provoked Me as did your father
Ahaz? They shall not eat and drink. It is better for you to bring about good judgment and
righteousness.† 16They did not understand and judge the cause of a lowly or poor man. Is this
your not knowing Me?” says the Lord. 17“Behold, neither your eyes nor your heart are good
for anything except for covetousness and the shedding of innocent blood, and for committing
wrongdoing and murder.”

  18Therefore thus says the Lord to Jehoiakim the king of Judah, the son of Josiah: “Woe to
this man. They shall not mourn for him, saying, ‘Oh brother!’ Neither shall they weep for
him, saying, ‘Alas, master!’ 19But he shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, and they will
drag him out to be discarded beyond the gates of Jerusalem.†

  20“Go up to Lebanon and cry out, and lift up your voice in Bashan. Shout to the faraway

places of the sea that all your lovers are crushed. 21For I spoke to you concerning your
transgression, but you said, ‘I will not hear.’ This has been your way from your youth. You do
not hear My voice. 22The wind shall tend all your shepherds, and your lovers shall go into
captivity, for then you will be shamed and treated with dishonor because of all your lovers.
23Those who dwell in Lebanon and who make their nest in the cedar trees, you shall groan
when pangs come upon you, as those of a woman giving birth.

                                      A Word to Jeconiah

  24“As I live,” says the Lord, “though Jeconiah king of Judah, the son of Jehoiakim, were

the signet on My right hand, still I would drag off all of you. 25I will give you into the hands
of those who seek your life, into the hands of the Chaldeans, before whose face you are
afraid. 26So I will cast all of you, and your mother who bore you, into a country where you
were not born. There you shall die. 27But they shall not return to the land they long for in
their souls. 28Jeconiah is dishonored like a worthless vessel, for he is cast forth and driven
out into a land he did not know.

   29“O land, land, hear the word of the Lord: 30‘Write this man as a banished man, for none

at all from his seed shall be raised to sit on the throne of David, or still as a ruler in Judah.’ ”†
                                   The Righteous Orient

      “Woe to the shepherds who scatter and destroy the sheep of My pasture!” 2Therefore
23 thus says the Lord against those who tend My people: “You have scattered My sheep
and driven them out. You did not care for them. Behold, I shall punish you according to your
evil practices. 3I will receive the remnant of My people from every land where I have driven
them. I will establish them in their pasture, and they shall increase and be multiplied.† 4I will
set up shepherds over them who will feed them. They shall fear no more, nor be terrified,”
says the Lord.†

  5“Behold, days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I will raise up for David the Righteous
Orient, and a King shall reign. He will understand and bring about judgment and
righteousness on the earth.† 6In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel shall dwell in
confidence. This is His name by which the Lord will call him: ‘The Lord Our Righteousness.’
”† 7The Lord says, “Therefore behold, days are coming when they shall no longer say, ‘As the
Lord lives who brought up the house of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ † 8but they will say,
‘The Lord lives who gathered all the descendants of Israel from the north country, from all
the countries where He drove them, and restored them into their land.’ ”

                                False Prophets and Priests

  9Among the prophets, my heart is broken within me, and all my bones are shaken. I am as
a broken-down man overcome with wine, because of the Lord's presence and the excellence
of His glory. 10Because of these things, the land mourns and the pastures of the desert are
dried up. Their way of life has become evil, and so has their strength.

  11“For both prophet and priest are defiled, and I see their evils within My house,” says the

Lord. 12“Therefore let their way be to them as a fall into darkness; and they shall be tripped
up and fall therein, because in the year of their visitation I will bring calamities upon them.
13In the prophets of Samaria I have seen lawless actions. They prophesy through Baal and

lead astray My people Israel. 14Also in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen horrible things.
They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evil men, so they might
not turn back each from his evil path. They are to me like Sodom, and her inhabitants like
Gomorrah.” 15Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will feed them pain and give them
bitter water to drink, because from the prophets of Jerusalem defilement goes out into all the
land.”

  16Thus says the Lord Almighty: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets, for they invent
a futile vision for themselves. They speak from their own heart, and not from the mouth of
the Lord.† 17They say to those who reject the word of the Lord, ‘You shall have peace.’ To
those who walk according to their own wishes, and to everyone who walks in the error of his
heart, they say, ‘No evil shall come upon you.’† 18For who stands in the camp of the Lord and
sees His word? Who gives ear to His word and hears it? 19Behold, there is an earthquake
from the Lord, and wrath goes forth as an earthquake. It shall come violently on the ungodly.
20The anger of the Lord shall not turn away until He establishes it, because of the

undertaking of His heart. They shall understand this in the last days. 21I did not send these
prophets, but they went forth. I did not speak to them, but they prophesied. 22If they had
stood in My counsel and heard My words, then they would have turned my people away from
their evil practices.

  23“I am a God who is near,” says the Lord, “and not a God afar off. 24Can a man hide in

secret, and I not see him? Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord. 25“I heard what the
prophets said, and what lies they prophesied in My name, saying falsely, ‘I have dreamed a
dream.’ 26How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, when they
prophesy the wishes of their heart? 27They reason by their dreams so men will forget My law.
Each prophet tells his neighbor to forget Me, as their fathers forgot My name in their worship
of Baal. 28The prophet in whom there is a dream, let him tell his dream; and the prophet in
whom there is My word, let him tell it truthfully. What is chaff in comparison to wheat? So
are My words,” says the Lord. 29“Are not My words like a blazing fire?” says the Lord. “Are
they not like an ax striking a rock?

  30“Behold therefore, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord God, “who steal My words,

each prophet from his neighbor. 31Behold, I am against the prophets who are drowsy and put
forth prophecies as mere words. 32Behold, I am against the prophets who prophesy false
dreams, and they relate them. They lead My people astray with their lies and in their deceits.
Yet I did not send them or command them. Therefore, they shall not profit this people at all.”

  33The Lord says, “So if these people, or a prophet, or a priest, ask you, saying, ‘What is the
burden of the Lord?’ you shall then say to them, ‘You are the burden, and I will strike you
down.’ 34As for the prophet and the priest and the people who say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’
then I will take vengeance on that man and his house. 35Thus each shall say to his neighbor,
and each to his brother, ‘What has the Lord answered? What has the Lord spoken?’ 36Do not
mention the burden of the Lord anymore, for the burden on a man shall be his word. 37‘But
why,’ you say, ‘has the Lord our God spoken?’ 38Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because
you spoke this word: “The burden of the Lord”; therefore I instructed you, saying, “You shall
not say, ‘The burden of the Lord.’ ” 39Therefore behold, I take and strike you, and the city I
gave to you and to your fathers. 40I will bring everlasting disgrace upon you, and a perpetual
dishonor which shall not be forgotten.’

  41“Therefore behold, days are coming,” says the Lord, “when they will no longer say, ‘The

Lord lives who brought the house of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ 42but, ‘The Lord lives
who brought all the seed of Israel from the north, and from all the countries where He
banished them, and restored them to this land.’ ”

                                      Two Baskets of Figs


24 The Lord showed me two baskets of figs set before the temple of the Lord, after
   Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon carried away captive Jeconiah king of Judah, the son
of Jehoiakim, and the rulers, the craftsmen, the prisoners, and the wealthy men from
Jerusalem, and brought them to Babylon.† 2One basket was full of very good figs, like the
first figs that ripened. The other basket was full of very bad figs which no one could eat,
because they were rotten. 3Then the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I replied,
“Good figs, very good figs, and also bad figs, figs too rotten to eat.”

  4The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5“Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘As these
good figs, so will I acknowledge that for good things I settled the tribe of Judah in a far land,
whom I sent from this place into the land of Chaldea. 6For I will set My eyes on them for
good things, and restore them to this land for good things. I will build them up, and not tear
them down. I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 7Then I will give them a heart to know
Me, that I am the Lord, and they shall be to Me as a people, and I will be to them as God.
They shall return to Me with their whole heart.

  8‘As for the bad figs, too rotten to eat’—surely thus says the Lord—‘I shall deliver them to
Zedekiah the king of Judah, his nobles, and the remnant of Jerusalem, those left in this land,
and those dwelling in Egypt. 9I will cause them to be dispersed into all the kingdoms of the
earth, and they will be for a disgrace, for a parable, for a hatred, and for a curse in every place
where I drive them. 10I will send famine, death, and the sword to them, until they come to an
end in the land I gave to them.’ ”

                                 Seventy Years of Disgrace


25 InJeremiah
        the fourth year of Jehoiakim king of Judah, the son of Josiah, the word came to
               concerning all the people of Judah,† 2which he spoke to all the people of
Judah and all inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 3“In the thirteenth year of Josiah king of
Judah, the son of Amos, even to this day, in the twenty-third year, I spoke to you early in the
morning, saying,† 4‘I sent My servants the prophets to you, sending them early in the
morning (but you did not listen, nor did you incline your ear to hear), saying, 5“Let each of
you turn away from his evil way and evil practices, and dwell in the land I gave to you and
your fathers from ages past and forever. 6Do not go after foreign gods to serve and worship
them, so you may not provoke Me with the works of your hands, to harm you.” 7Yet you have
not listened to Me.’ ”

  8Therefore thus says the Lord: “Because you have not believed My words, 9behold, I shall
even send a family from the north and lead them against this land, and against those living in
it, and against all the nations round about her. I will make it desolate and give it up to
destruction. I will render it a hissing and a perpetual disgrace. 10I will destroy from them the
voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride,
and the fragrance of ointment and the light of the lamp. 11All the land shall be for desolation,
and for seventy years they shall serve among the Gentiles. 12When the seventy years are
fulfilled, I will take vengeance on that nation, and I will appoint them for perpetual
destruction. 13I will bring upon that land all My words I pronounced against it, and all things
written in this book.”

  14What Jeremiah prophesied against the nations of Elam:†

  15Thus says the Lord: “Let the bow of Elam, the beginning of their power, be broken. 16For
I shall bring against Elam the four winds from the four extremities of heaven, and I will
scatter them by all these winds. There will not be a nation that will not come there to drive
out Elam. 17I will terrify them before the enemies who seek their life. I will bring calamities
upon them according to the wrath of My anger, and send My sword after them until I have
utterly destroyed them. 18Then I will set My throne in Elam, and from there send forth the
king and his nobles.† 19It shall come to pass in the last days that I will bring back the
captivity of Elam,” says the Lord. 20This word concerning Elam came in the beginning of
King Zedekiah's reign.
26 Concerning Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt, who was by the
   River Euphrates in Carchemish and whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated
in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah.†

  2“Take up weapons and shields, and draw near for war. 3Saddle the horses and mount up,
you horsemen. Stand ready with your helmets, advance the spears, and put on your
breastplates. 4Why are they terrified and turn back? Because their mighty ones, surrounded
on all sides, will be struck as they flee in panic, and not live,” says the Lord.

  5“Let not the swift flee. Let not the mighty man escape to the north. The forces alongside

the Euphrates grow weak and fall. 6Who is this that shall come up like a river, and like rivers
flood their waters? 7The waters of Egypt will come up like a river, for he said, ‘I will go up and
cover the earth, and will destroy its inhabitants.’† 8Mount the horses and prepare the
chariots. Come forth, you warriors of Ethiopia, and you of Libya armed with weapons, and
you Lydians, arise and bend the bow.† 9That shall be the day of the Lord our God, the day of
vengeance to avenge His enemies. The sword of the Lord shall devour and be fully satisfied,
drunken with their blood; for the Lord of Hosts has a sacrifice from the land of the north at
the Euphrates. 10Go up, Gilead, and take balm for the virgin daughter of Egypt. In vain you
multiply your medicines, but they are of no benefit to you.† 11The nations heard your voice,
and the land is filled with your cry; for warrior to warrior grows weak, and both fall together.”

  12What the Lord spoke by the hand of Jeremiah concerning the coming of Nebuchadnezzar
the king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt.

  13“Declare in Migdol and proclaim in Memphis, and say, ‘Stand up and prepare yourselves,

for the sword devours your bow.’† 14Why did Apis flee from you? Your chosen calf did not
remain, because the Lord utterly weakened him.† 15Your multitude grew weak and fell. Each
said to his neighbor, ‘Let us arise and return to our people and to the land of our nativity,
from the presence of the Greek sword.’† 16They cried there, ‘Pharaoh is but a noise. He has
passed by the appointed time.’ 17As I live,” says the Lord God, “Tabor is among the
mountains and Carmel is by the sea, he shall come. 18O daughter of Egypt who dwell at
home, prepare for yourself goods for captivity, for Memphis shall be for destruction, and be
called, ‘Woe!’ because no one will dwell in it.

  19“Egypt is a heifer made beautiful; a rage from the north comes against her. 20Her
mercenaries in her midst are as fatted calves, well fed by her, because with one accord they
also turned and fled. They did not stand, for the day of destruction and the time of their
retribution came upon them. 21Their voice is like that of a hissing serpent, for they will
proceed upon the sand. They shall come against her with axes, as if cutting wood. 22They
shall cut down her oak groves,” says the Lord God, “for their number cannot at all be
conjectured, since they abound more than locust trees.

  23“The daughter of Egypt is put to shame. She is delivered into the hands of people from

the north. 24Behold, I will avenge Ammon her son against Pharaoh and those who trust in
him.† 25But do not fear, My servant Jacob, neither be terrified, O Israel; for behold, I will
save you from afar and your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, and be at
ease, and sleep; for there will be no one to trouble him. 26Do not fear, O Jacob, My servant,”
says the Lord, “for I am with you. I will bring an end to every nation where I drove you, but I
will not cause you to cease. However, I will chasten you in the way of judgment, and not leave
you wholly unpunished.”†

      The word of the Lord He spoke against Babylon.†
27
  2“Declare among the Gentiles and cause it to be heard. Do not conceal what is spoken. Say,
‘Babylon is conquered; Bel the fearless one has been put to shame; Merodach the luxurious
one is handed over.’† 3For a nation comes against her from the north. He shall destine her
land for destruction, and nothing from man to animal shall dwell in it.† 4In those days and at
that time, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together. They
shall proceed, walking and weeping and seeking the Lord their God.† 5They shall ask the way
until they come to Zion, for they shall set their face toward this place. They shall come and
flee for refuge to the Lord their God, for the everlasting covenant shall not be forgotten.

 6“My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds drove them out to wander on the

mountains. They went from mountain to hill and forgot their marriage bed. 7All who found
them devoured them. Their adversaries said, ‘Let us not leave them alone, because they
sinned against the Lord, who gathered together their fathers in a pasture of righteousness.’

  8“Be alienated from the midst of Babylon and from the land of the Chaldeans. Be like

serpents in the presence of sheep. 9For behold, I raise up assemblies of nations against
Babylon from the land of the north. They will array themselves against her, and from there
she shall be conquered, as the javelin of an expert warrior shall not be returned empty.
10Chaldea shall be for plundering, and all who plunder her shall be satisfied, 11because you
celebrated and exulted while plundering My inheritance, and because you skipped like calves
in pasture and butted horns like bulls.

  12“Your mother is very ashamed, she who bore you for good things. She is the last of the

nations, and a desert. 13Because of the Lord's wrath, she will not be inhabited, but shall be
for destruction. All who travel through Babylon shall be sullen, and they shall hiss at all her
calamity. 14All you who bend the bow, set yourselves in array against Babylon round about,
and shoot at her. Do not spare your arrows. 15Applaud excessively, for her hands are
paralyzed. Her means of defense has fallen, and her wall is demolished; for it is vengeance
from God. Take vengeance on her, for as she did, so do to her. 16Utterly destroy the seed of
Babylon, and hold fast the sickle in the time of harvest. Because of the Greek sword, each
shall return to his people, and each shall flee to his land.†

  17“Israel is a wandering sheep, for the lions drove him out. First, the king of Assyria

devoured him, then the king of Babylon devoured his bones.” 18Therefore thus says the Lord:
“Behold, I will take vengeance on the king of Babylon and upon his land, as I took vengeance
upon the king of Assyria. 19But I shall restore Israel to his pasture, and he will graze on
Carmel, on Mount Ephraim and in Gilead. His soul shall be satisfied. 20In those days and at
that time, they will seek for the wrongdoing of Israel, but it shall not exist; and they will look
for the sins of Judah, but these shall not be found; for I shall be merciful to those left in the
land,” says the Lord.

  21“Embark against this land bitterly, and against those who dwell therein. Avenge with the

sword and destroy it,” says the Lord, “and do according to all I command you. 22A sound of
war and great destruction is in the land of the Chaldeans. 23How was the hammer of all the
earth broken and crushed? How did Babylon become a desolation among the nations?
24They will attack you, and you will be conquered, O Babylon. You will not even know you

are found and taken, because you opposed the Lord. 25The Lord opened His treasure and
brought out the vessels of His wrath, because the work of the Lord God is in the land of the
Chaldeans.† 26For her time has come. Open her storehouses, search her like a cave, and
utterly destroy her. Let nothing of her remain. 27Dry up all her fruits and let them go down to
the slaughter. Woe to them! For their day has come, and the time of their retribution.
  28“The voice of those who flee and escape from the land of Babylon declares in Zion the

vengeance of the Lord our God. 29Summon many against Babylon, even all who bend the
bow. Encamp against it round about; let no one be saved from her. Repay her according to her
works, and whatever she did, so do to her, for she opposed the Lord, the Holy God of Israel.
30Her young men shall fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cast down,” says the

Lord. 31“Behold, I am against you, the haughty one,” says the Lord, “because the day and the
time of your retribution has come. 32Your insolence shall fail, and you will fall. There shall
be no one to cause it to arise. I will kindle a fire in its thicket, and it shall devour everything
around her.”

  33Thus says the Lord: “The sons of Israel have been oppressed along with the sons of
Judah, for all who took them captive oppressed them. They were unwilling to let them go.
34He who redeemed them is strong; the Lord Almighty is His name. He shall enter into
judgment against His adversaries so as to take away their land and to provoke those who
dwell in Babylon.† 35He will bring a sword against the Chaldeans and those inhabiting
Babylon, and against her nobles and wise men, 36and against her warriors; and they shall be
weakened. 37He will bring a sword against their horses and chariots, and against the warriors
and irregular troops in her midst. They shall be like women. He will also bring a sword
against its treasures, and they will be scattered over the water she trusted. 38They will be put
to shame in the islands in which they boasted, for it is a land of graven images.

  39“Therefore apparitions shall dwell in the islands, and the daughters of sirens shall dwell

therein. It shall not be inhabited anymore forever.† 40As God overthrew Sodom and
Gomorrah, and the cities bordering them,” says the Lord, “no man shall dwell there, and no
son of man will sojourn there. 41Behold, a people comes from the north, and a great nation
and many kings shall be raised up from the ends of the earth, holding bow and dagger. 42He
is reckless and will show no mercy at all. Their voice shall roar like the sea on the horses they
ride, prepared for war like fire against you, O daughter of Babylon.

  43“The king of Babylon heard their sound, and his hands grew feeble. Anguish took hold of

him, like the pangs of a woman in childbirth. 44Behold, he shall go up like a lion from the
Jordan River into the place of Aitham; for I will banish them quickly from it and set every
young man against it. For who is like Me? Who opposes Me? Who is this shepherd who will
stand against My presence?”
  45Therefore hear the counsel of the Lord which He has resolved against Babylon, and the
thoughts which He has reckoned against those inhabiting Chaldea. Surely the lambs of their
sheep are utterly destroyed; surely the pasture is cut off from them; 46for at the sound of the
capturing of Babylon, the earth shall quake, and clamor will be heard among the nations.


28 Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I raise up against Babylon and the inhabitants of the
   Chaldeans a scorching heat, a wind to destroy utterly. 2I will send violent men into
Babylon, and they shall insult and ravage her land. Woe to Babylon all round in the day of her
calamity. 3Against her let the archer bend his bow, and let him who has armor put it on. Do
not spare her young men; utterly destroy all her power. 4The wounded men shall fall in the
land of the Chaldeans, and those pierced through shall fall outside her. 5For Israel and Judah
were not bereaved of their God, the Lord Almighty, for the land was filled with their
wrongdoings against the holy things of Israel.”

  6Flee from the midst of Babylon, and everyone save his life. Do not be made to perish in
her wrongdoing. For it is the time of her retribution from the Lord. He shall render
repayment to her. 7Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord's hand, causing all the earth to be
drunk. The nations drank from her wine; therefore, they were shaken.† 8Babylon fell
suddenly and was broken in pieces. Sing a dirge for her; take resin for her corruption, if
somehow she may be healed. 9We treated Babylon medically, but she would not heal. Let us
forsake her, and let each move to his country. For her judgment draws near to heaven and is
taken to the stars.

  10The Lord brought forth His judgment. Come and let us declare in Zion the works of the

Lord our God. 11Prepare the arrows; fill the quivers. The Lord has raised up the spirit of the
king of the Medes. For His wrath is against Babylon to destroy it utterly, because it is the
vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of His people.† 12Lift up a banner on the walls of
Babylon, prepare the quivers, rouse guards, and prepare the weapons. For the Lord has taken
in hand and will do what He spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon, 13who dwell near
many waters, and amidst the abundance of her treasures.

                                   The Arm of the Lord

  Truly, your end is come into your bowels.† 14For the Lord has sworn by His arm, saying,
“Therefore I will fill you with men as with locusts, and they will go down and speak against
you.” 15He made the land by His might, prepared the inhabited world by His wisdom, and by
His understanding He stretched out heaven. 16By His voice, He makes the sound of water in
the sky and brings up the clouds from the end of the earth. He makes lightnings for rain and
brings light out of His storehouses. 17Every man is made foolish without knowledge, and
every goldsmith is dishonored by his carved images; because they cast false gods, but there is
no spirit of life in them. 18It is a worthless work to be ridiculed, and in their time of visitation
they shall perish.

  19Jacob's portion is not such, because He who created all things is his inheritance. The

Lord is His name. 20“You scatter the weapons of war by Me, and by you I will scatter nations
and drive away kings from you. 21By you I will scatter the horse and its rider, and by you I
will scatter the chariots and their mounted riders. 22By you I will scatter young man and
virgin, and by you I will scatter man and woman. 23By you I will scatter the shepherd and his
flock, and by you I will scatter the farmer and his farming. By you I will scatter rulers and
commanders. 24I will make Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea pay for all their vices
performed against Zion, according to what you saw,” says the Lord.

  25“Behold, I am against you, the corrupted mountain that corrupts everything in the land. I
will stretch forth My hand against you and roll you down from the rocks. I will cause you to
be a burnt mountain. 26They will not take a stone from you for a corner or for a foundation.
For you shall be a place of desolation forever,” says the Lord.

  27“Lift up a banner in the land; sound a trumpet among the nations; set apart the nations
against her; direct against her from Me the kingdoms of Ararat and the people of Ashkenaz to
stand against her. Set siege engines against her, and bring horses like a multitude of locusts.†
28Set apart the nations against her, the king of the Medes, and all of the land, its governors,
and all its generals.

  29“The earth shook and suffered toil, for the purpose of the Lord is risen up against

Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation and uninhabitable. 30The warriors of
Babylon ceased to wage war. They shall sit there in the siege. Their might has been broken,
and they became like women. Her tents are burnt, and the bars of their gates are shattered
into pieces. 31One will pursue to meet another pursuer, one messenger to meet another
messenger, to bring word to the king of Babylon that his city is taken. 32At the end of the
crossing point they were taken, their garrisons were burned with fire, and their warriors ran
away.”

  33For thus says the Lord: “The houses of the king of Babylon shall be like a threshing floor

in the season for threshing. In a short while her harvest will come. 34King Nebuchadnezzar
of Babylon devoured me. He divided and overtook me, a small vessel. He swallowed me up,
like a dragon who filled his belly with my delicacies, and drove me out. 35She that dwells in
Zion shall say, ‘My hardships and my miseries banished me to Babylon.’ Jerusalem shall say,
‘My blood shall be upon those inhabiting Chaldea.’ ”

  36Therefore, thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will judge your adversary and exact vengeance

for you. I shall lay waste her sea and dry up her springs. 37Babylon shall be as a desolation,
and it shall not be inhabited. 38For they rose up together as lions and as cubs of lions. 39In
their heat, I shall give them a wine-cup. I will make them drunk so they may be intoxicated,
and sleep an unending sleep, and not wake up,” says the Lord.

  40“I will bring them down like lambs for slaughter, like rams with young. 41How has the
boast of the whole earth been caught and captured? How has Babylon become as a desolation
among the nations? 42The sea came up against Babylon with the sound of her waves, and she
was covered. 43Her cities became a waterless and impassable land. Not even one man shall
dwell in it, nor shall a son of man lodge in it. 44I will take vengeance on Babylon, and bring
out from her mouth what she swallowed. The nations will no longer be gathered to her. 45In
Babylon, all the wounded men of the earth shall fall. 46You who escape, go from the land,
and do not stay. You who are afar off, remember the Lord, and let Jerusalem enter your
heart.”

  47We are ashamed because we heard our disgrace. Dishonor covers our face, for strangers

entered the house of the Lord among our holy things. 48“Therefore, behold the days are
coming,” says the Lord, “when I will take vengeance upon her carved images, and wounded
men shall fall in all her land. 49For even if Babylon ascended like heaven and she fortified
the strength of her walls, yet from Me the plunderers shall come to destroy her,” says the
Lord.

  50“There is the sound of a cry in Babylon, and great destruction is in the land of the

Chaldeans; 51for the Lord utterly cut off Babylon, and destroyed from her the great voice
ringing out as many waters. He appointed her voice for ruin, for misery came against
Babylon. 52Her warriors are conquered, and their bow is useless; for God repays them. The
Lord renders repayment to her. 53He will make her princes, her wise men, and her
commanders completely drunk,” says the King. “The Lord Almighty is His name.” 54Thus
says the Lord: “The wall of Babylon was made broad, but it shall be utterly broken, and her
high gates shall burn with fire. The peoples shall not labor in vain, nor will the nations fail in
their rule.”

  55This is the word the Lord commanded Jeremiah the prophet to say to Seraiah the son of
Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in
the fourth year of his reign. Now Seraiah was the quartermaster.† 56So Jeremiah wrote in
one book all the calamities that would come upon Babylon. Indeed he wrote all these words
against Babylon. 57Then Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you arrive in Babylon and see it,
you shall read all these words. 58You shall say, ‘O Lord and Master, You spoke against this
place to destroy it, and so none should dwell in it, neither man nor animal, because it shall be
desolate forever.’ 59Then it shall come to pass, when you finish reading this book, you shall
tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates. 60After this, you shall say,
‘Thus Babylon shall sink and not rise, because of the calamities I bring upon her.’ ”†

       Against the Philistines:†
29
  2Thus says the Lord: “Behold, waters come up from the north and shall be a flooding
torrent, which will flood the land, the entire city, and those dwelling in it. The men will cry
out, and all those inhabiting the land will wail loudly, 3because of the sound of his attack, the
hoofs of his horses, and the rumblings of his chariots, at the noise of his wheels. Because of
the weakness of their hands, the fathers did not return to their sons, 4to destroy all the
Philistines in the day to come. I shall utterly destroy Tyre and Sidon and all the rest of their
allies, because the Lord will put to death the remaining people of the islands. 5Baldness is
come upon Gaza, and Ashkelon is cast out, along with the rest of the Enakim. 6How long will
you strike, O sword of the Lord? How long will it be until you rest? Return to your sheath,
rest and be exalted. 7How shall it be quiet, for the Lord has given it a commission against
Ashkelon and the regions of the seacoast, to be stirred up against the remaining countries?”

       Against Edom:†
30
  Thus says the Lord: “Wisdom is no longer in Teman. Counsel perished from the intelligent;
their wisdom is gone. 2Their place is deceived. Those dwelling in Dedan dig deep for a place
to dwell, for you caused troubles. So I brought troubles upon him in the time I visited him.†
3For those who gather grapes shall come to you, and they will not leave you a remnant. Like

thieves by night, they will lay their hands upon your possessions. 4For I pulled down Esau
and uncovered their secret places. They shall be unable to hide themselves. They perished,
each by the hand of his brother and his neighbor, 5and it is not possible for the orphan to
remain alive; but I shall live, and the widows will trust in Me.”

  6For thus says the Lord: “Those not appointed to drink the cup drank it, and you shall not

remain unpunished, nor without blame, for you will certainly drink it.” 7For the Lord says, “I
swore by Myself that you shall become impassable and a disgrace, and you shall become a
curse in her midst. All her cities shall be a perpetual desert.” 8I heard a report from the Lord,
and He sent messengers to the nations, saying, “Assemble yourselves and come against her.
Rise up for war.† 9I made you small among nations, contemptible among men. 10Your
insolence has risen up against you. The rashness of your heart has broken up the holes of the
rocks, and has seized the strength of the lofty hill. For like an eagle he has set his nest on
high, but from there I will bring you down. 11Edom shall be inaccessible, and everyone who
passes by will hiss at it.

  12“As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown, along with their sojourners,” says the Lord

Almighty, “so no man shall sit there, nor shall any son of man dwell there. 13Behold, one will
come up like a lion from the midst of the Jordan to the place of Aitham, for I will quickly
drive them out from it. Do you set young men against her? For who is like Me? Who will
oppose Me? Who is this shepherd who will stand against Me?”

  14Therefore hear the counsel of the Lord which He purposed against Edom, and His plan
which He calculated against the inhabitants of Teman. Surely the least of the sheep are swept
away; surely their dwelling place shall be laid waste for them. 15For at the sound of their fall
the earth shook, and your outcry was heard in the sea. 16Behold, He shall look upon her as an
eagle, and spread forth His wings over her stronghold. In that day, the heart of the strong
men of Edom shall be as the heart of a woman with pains of childbirth.

  17Against the sons of Ammon:
  Thus says the Lord: “Are there no sons in Israel? Or have they no one to succeed them?
Why then did Malcom receive Gad, and why will their people dwell in their cities?
18Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I will cause an uproar of war
to be heard in Rabbah. They shall be impassable and in utter ruin. Her altars shall burn with
fire. Then Israel shall take possession of his dominion. 19Wail loudly, O Heshbon, for Gai has
perished. Cry out, you daughters of Rabbah, and gird yourselves with sackcloth. Be frenzied
and lament over Malcom, for he shall go into captivity, together with his priests and rulers.
20Why, O haughty daughter, do you rejoice exceedingly in the plains of Enakim? You who

trusted in your own treasures, saying, ‘Who shall come against me?’ 21Behold, I will bring
fear upon you from all who live around you. Each of you shall be scattered before his face,
and there will be no one to gather you.”

  22Against Kedar, queen of the court, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck:


  Thus says the Lord: “Arise, go up to Kedar, and fill the sons of Kedem.† 23They will seize
their tents and their sheep. They shall take their garments, all their vessels, and their camels
for themselves. Summon destruction against them from every side. 24Flee! Dig very deep for
a dwelling place, you who sit in the court, for the king of Babylon counsels against you and
prepares a plan against you.

  25“Rise up and go against a nation settled and dwelling at ease, who have neither gates, nor

pins and bars, and who dwell alone. 26Their camels shall be for booty, and the multitude of
their cattle for destruction. I will scatter them as chaff with every wind, having their hair cut
about their foreheads. I will bring their overthrow from every side. 27The court shall be a
resting place for sparrows and untrodden forever. No man shall settle there, nor shall a son of
man dwell in it,” says the Lord.

  28Against Damascus:

  “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they heard the evil report. They are surprised.
They are so angry they are unable to rest.† 29Damascus is utterly weakened. She is put to
flight. Trembling has seized her. 30How has she not abandoned My city in their love for the
village? 31Therefore the young men shall fall in your streets, and all your warriors shall fall.
32For I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall engulf the streets of Ben-

Hadad,” says the Lord.†
31 Against Moab:
  Thus says the Lord: “Woe to Nebo, for they are undone. Kirjathaim is taken. Amath is
dishonored in its shame and defeated. 2There is no longer any healing for Moab, nor
insolence in Heshbon. He has planned evils against her. We cut her off from being a nation,
and she will cease completely. A sword will go after you, 3for a voice cries out of Horonaim,
death and great destruction. 4Moab is crushed; proclaim the destruction to Zogora. 5For
Luhith is filled with weeping. One will go up weeping on the road of Horonaim. You have
heard a cry of destruction.

  6“Flee and save your lives, for you shall be like a wild donkey in the desert! 7Since you
trusted in your strongholds, therefore you will be taken, and Chemosh shall go forth into
captivity, together with his priests and rulers. 8Destruction shall come upon every city, and
no city shall escape. The valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be utterly destroyed, as
the Lord said. 9Set a sign on Moab, for she shall be set ablaze; and all her cities shall be
inaccessible. From what place shall they come to inhabit her?

  10“Cursed is the man who does the work of the Lord carelessly, keeping back his sword

from blood. 11Moab has been at ease from his youth and trusted in his glory. He has not been
poured out from vessel to vessel, nor has he gone into exile. Therefore his taste is established
within himself, and the smell of it does not cease.

  12“Therefore behold, days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I will send him those who put
others to flight, and they will put him to flight. They shall thrash his possessions and cut up
his horns.† 13Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of
Bethel their hope, having trusted in them.† 14How will you say, ‘We are strong, a people
skilled in war’? 15Moab, his city, is ruined, and his choice young men have gone down to the
slaughter. 16The day of Moab is near at hand, and the evil he did moves swiftly to judgment.
17All you who surround him, move against him. All you who know his name, say, ‘How is the
renowned staff broken, the rod of might?’

  18“Come down from your glory, and sit down in a damp place. Be utterly destroyed, O

Dibon, because Moab is ruined. One has gone up against you to ravage your stronghold.†
19You that sit in Aroer, stand by the road and look. Ask him who flees and the one who
escapes, and say, ‘What happened?’ 20Moab is put to shame, for he is broken. Wail and cry!
Proclaim in Arnon that Moab is ruined. 21Judgment comes upon the land of Misor, and upon
Holon, Jahzah and Mephaath, 22and upon Dibon, Nebo and the house of Diblathaim, 23and
upon Kirjathaim and the houses of Gamul and Meon, 24and upon Kerioth and Bozrah, and
the houses of Moab, those far and near.

  25“The horn of Moab is crushed, and his arm is broken. 26Make him drunk, for he exalted
himself against the Lord. Moab shall clap with his hand, but he himself will be a
laughingstock. 27For surely, was not Israel a laughingstock to you? Was he not found to be
one of your stolen things, because you fought against him? 28The inhabitants of Moab have
abandoned their cities and now dwell in the rocks. They have become like doves nestling in
the rocks at the mouth of a cave. 29I heard about the insolence of Moab, how he greatly
increased his insolence and arrogance, and exalted his heart. 30But I know his works, how
they are not yet sufficient for him, to satisfy his haughtiness.

  31“Therefore, cry aloud on all sides against Moab. Cry out against the men of Kirheres, a

dried-up place. 32I mourn deeply for you, O vine of Sibmah, as with the weeping of Jazer.
Your branches reached across the sea and touched Jazer. Destruction came upon your fruit
and upon those who gather your grapes. 33Joyfulness and gladness are swept away from the
land of Moab, for there is no wine in your winepresses. In the morning, there are none to
trample the grapes, neither in the evening any to shout at the joy of harvest.† 34From the
crying of Heshbon even to Elealeh, and from Zogor as far as Horonaim and Aglath-Salisia,
their cities uttered their voice, for the water of Nimrim shall be dried up.

  35“I will destroy Moab,” says the Lord, “as he comes up to the altar and burns incense to

his gods. 36Therefore, the heart of Moab shall make a humming noise like flutes. My heart
will hum like a flute for the men of Kirheres, for whatever each man has gained has perished
from him. 37They will shave every head in every place, and every beard will be shaved. All
hands will beat their chests, and sackcloth shall be over every back. 38There will be mourning
in all the houses of Moab and on his streets, for I have broken Moab in pieces,” says the Lord,
“like a useless vessel. 39How did Moab change? How did he turn about? Moab is put to
shame, and he became a laughingstock and an object of anger to all round about him.”

  40For thus says the Lord: 41“Kerioth is taken, and the strongholds are seized. 42Moab
shall perish from being a multitude, because he exalted himself against the Lord. 43A snare,
fear, and a pit are upon you, O inhabitant of Moab. 44He who flees before the fear shall fall
into the pit, and he who gets out of the pit shall be caught in the snare. For I will bring these
things upon Moab in the year of his visitation.”


32 What Jeremiah prophesied against all the nations.†
  2Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Take a cup of the unmixed wine from My hand, and

you shall cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it. 3They will drink, vomit, and be
insane because of the presence of the sword I send among them.”

  4So I took the cup from the hand of the Lord and caused the nations to whom the Lord

sent me to drink it: 5Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, the kings of Judah and its rulers, to
put them into desolation, to make them an untrodden place and a hissing; 6and Pharaoh king
of Egypt, his servants, his nobles, and all his people; 7all the mixed multitude and all the
kings of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod; 8and Edom,
Moab, and the sons of Ammon; 9and all the kings of Tyre, the kings of Sidon, and the kings in
the seas beyond; 10and Dedan, Teman, and Buz, and everyone who shaves round about his
face; 11and all the mixed multitude who dwell in the desert; 12and all the kings of Elam, and
all the kings of the Persians; 13and all the kings from the faraway East, each one with his
brother; and all the kingdoms on the face of the earth.

  14“You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord Almighty: “Drink and become drunk, and you

shall vomit, fall, and not rise because of the presence of the sword I send among you.’ ” 15It
shall come to pass, when they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink it, you shall say,
‘Thus says the Lord: “You shall surely drink it. 16For I will begin to afflict the city upon which
My name is called, and you will not be guiltless; because I will call a sword upon all who
dwell upon the earth.’ ”

  17“You shall prophesy against them these words, and say, ‘The Lord shall speak from on
high, to instruct from His sanctuary. He will utter His voice, and declare a word against His
place.’ They will answer like men who gather grapes and shout in harvest; 18and destruction
is coming upon those who dwell on earth—to the ends of the earth. For the Lord has a
controversy with the nations. He is pleading with all flesh, and the ungodly are given to the
sword.”
  19Thus says the Lord: “Behold, evils go from nation to nation, and a great storm proceeds

from the ends of the earth. 20In the day of the Lord, the slain of the Lord shall be from one
end of the earth to the other. They shall not be buried, but will be as manure on the face of
the earth.† 21Wail loudly, you shepherds, and cry aloud. Strike yourselves, you rams of the
sheep, for your days are filled for slaughter, and you shall fall like choice rams. 22Flight shall
vanish from the shepherds and safety from the rams of the flock. 23There shall be a voice of
outcry from the shepherds, and the loud wailing of sheep and rams shall be heard, for the
Lord destroyed their pasture. 24The remnants of the peace will end because of the fierceness
of My wrath. 25Like a lion, he forsook his lair, for their land became impassable because of
the presence of the great sword.”

                                Jeremiah Spared from Death


33 Infromthethebeginning  of the reign of King Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, this word came
                 Lord.† 2Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the court of the house of the Lord, and
you shall declare to all Judeans, and all who come to worship in the house of the Lord, all the
words I command you to reveal to them. Do not omit a word. 3Perhaps each will hear and
turn away from his evil ways. Then I will cease from the calamities I consider doing to them
because of their evil practices. 4You shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “If you will not hear Me,
to walk in My laws I set before you, 5to heed the words of My servants the prophets, whom I
send to you early in the morning—yes, I sent them, but you did not heed Me— 6then I will
make this house like Shiloh, and the city into a curse to all the nations of all the earth.” ’ ”

  7So the priests, the false prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words

in the house of the Lord. 8Then it came to pass, when Jeremiah finished speaking to all the
people the things the Lord commanded him, the priests, the false prophets, and all the people
seized him, saying, “You will surely die, 9for you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying,
‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate of inhabitants.’ ” So all the
people summoned an assembly against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

  10The rulers of Judah also heard this word. So they went up from the house of the king to

the house of the Lord and sat in the entrance of the new gate of the Lord. 11Then the priests
and the false prophets said to the rulers and all the people, “The judgment of death is due this
man because he prophesied against this city, as you heard with your ears.”
  12Then Jeremiah replied to the rulers and all the people, saying, “The Lord sent me to

prophesy against this house and this city all the words you heard. 13Now then, amend your
ways and your works. Hear the voice of the Lord, and the Lord will cease from the calamities
He spoke against you. 14Behold, I am in your hand. Do with me as seems useful and best for
you.† 15But know for certain, if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon
yourselves, on this city, and on those living there. For in truth, the Lord sent me to you, to
speak all these words in your ears.”

  16Then the rulers and all the people said to the priests and the false prophets, “The

judgment of death is not due this man, for he spoke to us in the name of the Lord our God.”†
17After this, men from the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the

people: 18“Micah the Morasthite lived in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and said to all
the people of Judah, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall
be impassable, and the mountain of the house shall be a thicket of trees.’ ”† 19Now did
Hezekiah and all Judah by any means put him to death? Instead, did they not fear the Lord
and make supplication before the Lord; and the Lord ceased from the calamities He spoke
against them? But we have done great evils against our souls.”

  20After this, there was a man who prophesied in the Lord's name, Urijah the son of
Shemaiah of Kirjath-jearim, and he prophesied concerning this land according to all the
words of Jeremiah.† 21Jehoiakim the king with all the rulers heard all his words, and they
sought to put him to death; but Urijah heard this and went to Egypt. 22So the king sent men
to Egypt, 23and they brought him from there to the king. Then he killed him with the sword
and cast him into the grave of the children of his people. 24Nevertheless, the hand of Ahikam
the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah to prevent his being delivered into the hands of the
people to be put to death.

                                       Bonds and Yokes

      Thus says the Lord: “Make bonds and wooden yokes and put them on your neck, 2and
34 you shall send them to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the sons of
Ammon, the king of Tyre, and the king of Sidon by the hand of the same messengers who met
them in Jerusalem with Zedekiah king of Judah. 3You shall instruct them with regard to their
masters to speak thus: ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel to your masters: 4“I made the earth
by My great strength and with My high arm, and I will give it to whomsoever it may seem
good in My eyes. 5I gave the earth to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon to serve him; and I
gave the wild beasts of the field to him to work for him. 6But the nation and kingdom,
whoever will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will visit them with
the sword and the famine,” says the Lord, “until they come to an end by his hand. 7So do not
give heed to your false prophets, diviners, dreamers, soothsayers, or sorcerers, who say, ‘You
shall not work for the king of Babylon.’† 8For they prophesy lies to you to remove you far
from your land. 9But the nation that brings its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon to
work for him, I shall leave it on its own land; and he shall work it for him and dwell in it.” ’ ”

  10I also spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, “The Lord
says, ‘Place your neck under the yoke and work for the king of Babylon, for they prophesy
wrongdoings to you, but I did not send them. 11Yet they prophesy wrongfully in My name,
that I might destroy you, and you should perish, and these prophets of yours, who wrongfully
prophesy lies to you.’ ”

  12Again I spoke to him, to all this people and to the priests, saying, “Thus says the Lord:
‘Do not heed the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, saying, “Behold, the vessels of
the Lord's house will return from Babylon,” for they prophesy wrongfully to you; but I did not
send them.’ ”

  13Thus if they are prophets, and the word of the Lord is in them, let them meet me, for

thus the Lord said. 14Now concerning the remainder of the vessels the king of Babylon did
not take when he carried away captive Jeconiah from Jerusalem, the Lord says, “They will go
to Babylon.”†

                                The False Prophet Hananiah


35 Now  it came to pass in the fourth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fifth month,
   that Hananiah, the false prophet from Gibeon, and the son of Azur spoke to me in the
house of the Lord in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying,† 2“Thus says the
Lord: ‘I broke into pieces the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3Yet two full years, and I will
return the vessels of the Lord's house to this place,† 4along with Jeconiah and all the captives
of Judah, for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’ ”
  5Then Jeremiah spoke to Hananiah in the presence of all the people, and in the presence of

the priests who stood in the house of the Lord. 6Thus Jeremiah said, “Truly, may the Lord do
so indeed, and establish the word you prophesy, to return the vessels of the Lord's house and
all those carried away captive from Babylon to this place. 7Nevertheless, hear the word of the
Lord I speak in your ears and the ears of all the people. 8The prophets who were before me
and before you of old, they prophesied concerning war against many countries and great
kingdoms. 9As for this prophet who prophesied regarding peace to come, when his word
comes to pass, they shall know the prophet the Lord sent to them in good faith.”

  10Then in the sight of all the people, Hananiah took the yokes from the neck of Jeremiah

and broke them to pieces.† 11Hananiah then spoke in the presence of all the people, saying,
“Thus says the Lord: ‘Thus I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon from the necks of all
nations.’ ” After this, Jeremiah went his way.

  12Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah after Hananiah broke the yokes from his

neck, saying, 13“Go and tell Hananiah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “You have broken the
yokes of wood, but I will make yokes of iron in their place.” 14For thus says the Lord: “I have
put a yoke of iron on the neck of all the nations, so they may serve the king of Babylon.” ’ ”
15Jeremiah also said to Hananiah, “The Lord has not sent you, but you have caused this

people to be persuaded wrongfully. 16Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will cast you
from the face of the earth, and you shall die this year.’ ” 17So he died in the seventh month.

                            Jeremiah's Letter to the Captives


36 These  are the words of the letter Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the
   elders of the captivity, and to the priests and false prophets.† 2(He sent it to Babylon
for the captivity and for all the people, after the departure from Jerusalem of Jeconiah the
king, the queen mother, the eunuchs, and every freeman, bondman, and craftsman.)
3Jeremiah sent the letter to Babylon by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and
Gemariah the son of Hilkiah (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon, to the king of
Babylon), saying,†

  4Thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the captivity which I caused to be carried

away from Jerusalem: 5Build houses and dwell in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit.†
6Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your
daughters to husbands; and be multiplied and not diminished. 7Seek the peace of the land
into which I carried you captive. Pray to the Lord for them, for in its peace you shall have
peace. 8For thus says the Lord: Do not let the false prophets in your midst deceive you; and
do not let your diviners persuade you, nor heed the dreams you dream. 9For they prophesy
wrongfully to you in My name, but I did not send them.

  10For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are about to be fulfilled in Babylon, I will

visit you and confirm My words to you, to return your people to this place.† 11For I shall
consider a plan of peace for you, to give you good things and not calamities. 12Therefore, pray
to Me, and I will hear you. 13Seek Me, and you will find Me, because you seek Me with all
your heart. 14I will appear to you,† 15for you said, “The Lord established prophets for us in
Babylon.”

  16Thus says the Lord against Achiab and Zedekiah: Behold, I will deliver them into the

hands of the king of Babylon, and he shall smite them in your sight. 17They shall make of
them a curse among all the captivity of Judah in Babylon, saying, “May the Lord do to you as
He did to Zedekiah and as He did to Achiab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,”
18because they committed lawlessness in Israel, committed adultery with the wives of their
fellow-citizens, and spoke a word in My name which I did not command them; and I am a
witness, says the Lord.

  19To Shemaiah the Nehelamite, you shall say, 20“I did not send you in My name,” and to
Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, saying,

  21“The Lord made you priest in the place of Jehoiada the priest, to be an overseer in the
house of the Lord over every prophet and every man who is insane, and you shall put them in
prison or into the dungeon. 22Now therefore, why have you joined in mocking Jeremiah of
Anathoth, who prophesied to you? 23Did he not send you into Babylon for this purpose,
saying, ‘It is far off. Build a house and dwell in it, and plant a garden and eat its fruit.’ ”
24Thus Zephaniah read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah.† 25Then the word of the Lord

came to Jeremiah, saying, 26“Send to the captivity, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord concerning
Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah prophesied to you, although I did not send
him, and causes you to trust in wrongdoings; 27therefore, thus says the Lord: Behold, I will
visit Shemaiah and his family. There shall not be a man of them in your midst to see the good
things I will do for you. They shall not see it.’ ”

                              Israel and Judah Will Be Reduced

         The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2“Thus says the Lord God of Israel:
37
         ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. 3For behold, the days will come,’
says the Lord, ‘when I will return the captives of My people Israel and Judah,’ says the Lord,
‘and I shall return them to the land I gave to their fathers, and they shall have dominion over
it.’ ”

  4Now these are the words the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah, saying, 5“Thus says

the Lord: ‘You shall hear a sound of fear. There is fear, and there is not peace. 6Ask and see if
a male gives birth, and ask concerning fear in which they shall hold fast their loins and look
for safety; for I see every man, and his hands are on his loins. Their faces have turned to
paleness. 7For that day is great, and there is no other like it. There is little time for Jacob, and
because of this, he will be saved. 8In that day,’ says the Lord, ‘I will break the yoke from their
neck and break their chains; and they shall no longer work for foreigners.† 9But they shall
work for the Lord their God, and I will raise up for them David their king.’†

   10“Thus says the Lord: ‘I brought about your destruction. Your blow was painful. 11There
was no one to judge your cause. You were painfully treated for healing, but this was no
benefit to you. 12All your friends forgot you. They do not ask about you, for I struck you with
the blow of your enemy, even firm correction. Your sins have multiplied because of all your
wrongdoing. 13Therefore, all who devour you shall be consumed, for all your enemies shall
devour themselves. Your sins multiplied because of the abundance of your wrongdoings, thus
they did these things to you. But those who tore you to pieces shall be as prey, and I will give
all who plundered you as plunder. 14For I will bring about your healing from a painful
wound. I will heal you,’ says the Lord. ‘For you were called Dispersed, for they said, “She is
your prey, because no one seeks her.’ ”

   15“Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will turn back the captivity of Jacob and have mercy upon
his captives. The city shall be built upon her summit, and the temple shall remain according
to His judgment.† 16Singers shall go forth from them. I will multiply them, and they shall not
be diminished. 17Their children shall enter as before, and their testimonies shall be
established before Me. I will visit those who afflict them. 18His mighty ones shall be over
them, and his ruler shall go forth of himself, and I will gather them. They shall return to Me,
for who is this who sets his heart to return to Me?’ says the Lord. 19‘For the wrath of the
Lord goes out; a whirlwind of anger goes forth. It shall come against the ungodly. 20The
fierce wrath of the Lord will not turn away until He executes it, and until He establishes the
undertaking of His heart. In the last days, you will come to know these things.’ ”

                                     A Father for Israel


38 “At that time,” says the Lord, “I will be as God to the family of Israel, and they shall be
   as My people.”†

  2Thus says the Lord: “I found him alive in the desert with those slain by the sword. Go and

do not destroy Israel.” 3The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an
everlasting love; therefore, I drew you in compassion. 4O virgin of Israel, I shall build you,
and you will be restored. You shall again take your tambourine and go forth with the
assembly of those who rejoice.† 5Moreover, plant a vineyard on the mountains of Samaria.
Plant and praise,† 6for it is a day of calling, when those who defend you on the mountains of
Ephraim will say, ‘Arise and go up to Zion to the Lord our God.’ ”

  7For thus says the Lord to Jacob: “Rejoice and exult in the Head of the nations. Make a
proclamation and praise Him. Say, ‘The Lord saved His people, the remnant of Israel.’
8Behold, I will bring them from the north, and gather them from the ends of the earth to the

feast of Passover. You shall beget a great multitude, and they shall return here.† 9They went
forth with weeping, but I will gather them with consolation. I will cause them to lodge by the
channels of waters in an upright way, and they will not be led astray; for I have become as a
Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn.

  10“Hear the word of the Lord, you nations. Proclaim it to the islands far distant and say,

‘He who scattered Israel will also gather and protect him, as one who feeds his flock.’ 11For
the Lord redeemed Jacob. He redeemed him from the hand of those stronger than he. 12They
shall come and be glad in the mountain of Zion, and they shall come to the goodness of the
Lord; to the land of wheat, wine, and fruit, and of cattle and sheep. Their soul shall be like a
fruitful tree, and they shall hunger no more.† 13Then shall the virgins rejoice in the assembly
of young men, and the old men shall rejoice. I will turn their mourning into joy, and I will
make them glad. 14I will magnify and cheer with wine the soul of these priests, the sons of
Levi, and My people shall be satisfied with My good things.”

                                    Mercy for Ephraim

  15Thus says the Lord: “A voice of lamentation, weeping, and mourning was heard in
Ramah. Rachel does not wish to cease mourning deeply over her children, because they are
no more.”† 16Thus says the Lord: “Let your voice cease from its bitter weeping and your eyes
from tears, for there is a reward for your works, and they shall return from the land of their
enemies. 17There shall be an abiding home for your children.

  18“I heard the news of Ephraim, lamenting, ‘You chastised me, and I was chastised. Like a
calf, I was not taught, but turn me back, and I shall return; for You are the Lord my God.
19For after my captivity I repented, and after I knew, I groaned because of the day of shame,

and showed You that I bore the reproach of my youth.’ 20Ephraim is a beloved son and a
child who is a delight to Me, because My words are in him. I will surely remember him;
therefore I hastened to help him. I will surely have mercy upon him,” says the Lord.

  21“Rouse yourself, O Zion, and bring about vengeance. Be strong in your heart and return

by the way you went, O virgin of Israel. Return to your cities and mourn. 22How long, O
dishonored daughter, will you turn away? For the Lord has created safety by a new planting.
Men will travel about in security.”†

  23Thus says the Lord: “They will say this word in the land of Judah and its cities when I
bring back the host of captives: ‘Blessed is the Lord on His righteous and holy mountain.’
24There shall be those who dwell in the cities of Judah and in all its land, together with the

farmer, and the shepherd shall go forth with his flock. 25For I have satiated every thirsty soul
and filled every hungry soul.” 26Therefore, I awoke and beheld, and my sleep was pleasant to
me.

  27“Therefore, behold, days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I will sow Israel and Judah

with the seed of man and the seed of cattle. 28It shall come to pass, as I watched over them
to overthrow and afflict, so too, I will watch over them to build and plant,” says the Lord.
29“In those days, they shall not say, ‘The fathers ate sour grapes, and the children's teeth

were set on edge.’ 30But rather, each shall die in his own sin, and the teeth of him who eats
the sour grapes shall be set on edge.†
                                     The New Covenant

  31“Behold, days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I shall make a new covenant with the

house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32not according to the covenant I made with their
fathers in the day I took hold of their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they did
not abide in My covenant, and I disregarded them,” says the Lord. 33“For this is the covenant
I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will surely put My
laws into their mind and write them on their hearts. I will be as God to them, and they shall
be as My people.† 34Each shall not teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know
the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be
merciful to their wrongdoings, and I will no longer remember their sins.†

  35“Though the sky should be raised to a greater height,” says the Lord, “and though the
ground of the earth should be sunk lower beneath, yet I would not reject the family of Israel,”
says the Lord, “for all they have done.” 36Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun as a light by
day, and the moon and the stars as a light by night; and who makes the sea roar so its waves
make a crashing sound. The Lord Almighty is His name. 37“If these laws cease from before
Me,” says the Lord, “the family of Israel shall also cease to be a nation before Me forever.

  38“Behold, days are coming,” says the Lord, “when the city shall be built for the Lord from

the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. 39The measure of the city shall proceed in front of
them as far as the hills of Gareb, and it shall be encircled round about by choice stones. 40All
Hasaremoth as far as the Kidron River, to the corner of the Horse Gate eastward, shall be a
sanctuary to the Lord. It shall not fail or be destroyed anymore forever.”

                                   Jeremiah Buys a Field


39 The word came from the Lord to Jeremiah in the tenth year of King Zedekiah of Judah.
   This was the eighteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.† 2The forces of
the king of Babylon's army made a fortification against Jerusalem, and Jeremiah was kept in
the court of the prison which was in the king's house, 3in which King Zedekiah shut him up,
saying, “Why do you prophesy, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I give this city into the
hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it. 4Zedekiah shall not escape from the hand of
the Chaldeans, for he shall surely be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon. He shall
speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye. 5Then Zedekiah shall go to Babylon and
dwell there.” ’ ”

  6Again the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying,† 7“Behold, Hanamel the son of
Shallum, your father's brother, will come to you, saying, ‘Buy yourself my field in Anathoth,
for you have the right to receive it as a possession.’ ” 8So Hanamel the son of Shallum, my
father's brother, came to me in the court of the prison and said to me, “Buy my field in
Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin. The right to buy it is yours and you are the elder.”
So I knew this was the word of the Lord. 9Thus I bought the field from Hanamel, the son of
my father's brother, and weighed him seventeen shekels of silver. 10I wrote it in a book,
sealed it, took the testimony of witnesses, and weighed the money on the scales. 11Then I
took the book of the purchase that was sealed 12and gave it to Baruch the son of Neriah, son
of Mahseiah, in the sight of Hanamel, the son of my father's brother, and in the sight of the
men who stood by and who signed the purchase deed, and in the sight of those Jews in the
court of the prison.

  13Then I charged Baruch in their sight, saying, 14“Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Take this
purchase deed and the deed that was read aloud and put it in an earthen vessel, that it may
remain many days.’ 15For thus says the Lord: ‘Even fields, houses, and vineyards shall be
possessed in this land.’ ”

                    Jeremiah's Prayer Acknowledges God's Faithfulness

  16After I gave the book of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord,

saying, 17“O Lord, You made heaven and earth by Your great strength and by Your high and
uplifted arm. There is nothing hidden from You. 18You grant mercy to thousands, and repay
the sins of the fathers into the bosoms of their children after them, the Great and Mighty
God, 19the Lord of great counsel and powerful in deeds, the Great God, the Almighty and the
Lord of great name. Your eyes are upon the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone
according to his way. 20You did signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even to this day, and
in Israel and among the inhabitants of the earth. You made Yourself a name, as it is this day.
21You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a

strong hand and a high arm, and with great visions. 22You gave them this land, which You
swore to their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23They went in and took it; but
they did not listen to Your voice or walk in Your commandments. They did none of the things
You commanded them to do, and it caused all of these calamities to happen to them.
24Behold, a multitude comes against this city, and the city is given into the hands of the
Chaldeans who wage war against it, with the power of sword and famine. As You have spoken,
thus it has happened. 25You did say to me, ‘Buy for yourself the field for silver.’ So I wrote
the book, sealed it, and took the testimony of witnesses. Yet the city has been given into the
hand of the Chaldeans.”

                                    Jerusalem Will Fall

  26The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 27“I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Shall

anything be hidden from Me? 28Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘This city shall
certainly be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it. 29For the
Chaldeans shall come and wage war against this city. They shall burn this city with fire, and
burn up the houses in which they burnt incense to Baal on their housetops, and poured drink
offerings to other gods to provoke Me. 30For the children of Israel and the children of Judah
alone did evil in My sight from their youth. 31For this city provoked My wrath and anger
from the day they built it even to this day, so I removed it from My presence, 32because of all
the evils of the children of Israel and Judah which they did to provoke Me—they and their
kings, and their rulers, priests and prophets, and the men of Judah and those living in
Jerusalem. 33They turned their back to Me and not their face. I taught them early in the
morning, yes I taught them, but they did not listen to take hold of the instruction. 34Instead,
they put their unclean defilements in the house in which My name is called. 35They built
altars to Baal in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to offer their sons and daughters to King
Molech, which things I did not command; nor did such things come into My heart, for them
to do this abomination to cause Judah to sin.’†

                              God Reaffirms His Covenant

  36“Now thus says the Lord God of Israel against this city of which you say, ‘It shall be
delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon by sword, famine, and banishment’:
37‘Behold, I will gather them out of every land where I scattered them in My wrath and anger
and in great provocation. I will bring them back to this place and will cause them to dwell in
confidence. 38They shall be to Me as a people, and I shall be as God to them. 39I will give
them another way and a different heart, to fear Me all their days, for their good and for the
good of their children after them.† 40I will make an everlasting covenant with them, by
which I will not turn away from them. I will put My fear into their heart so they may not
depart from Me.† 41I will visit them to do good to them, and I will plant them in this land in
faithfulness, and with all My heart and soul.’†

  42“For thus says the Lord: ‘As I have brought all these great calamities upon this people, so

I will bring upon them all the good things I have spoken. 43Fields will yet be bought in the
land of which you say, “It is impassable for men and cattle, for they were delivered into the
hands of the Chaldeans.” 44But they shall buy fields with money, and you will write a book,
seal it, and take the testimony of witnesses in the land of Benjamin and round about
Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah and the mountains, and in the cities of the lowland, and
the south; for I will turn back their captivity.’ ”

                                 The Nation Will Be Restored


40 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time when he was yet bound in the
   court of the prison, saying, 2“Thus says the Lord, He who made the earth and formed it
to establish it—the Lord is His name: 3‘Cry out to Me, and I will answer you. I will proclaim
to you great and mighty things which you do not know.’

  4“For thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the houses of this city and the houses of
the king of Judah, which were pulled down and made into entrenchments and outer
fortifications, 5to fight against the Chaldeans and to fill the city with dead men, whom I
struck in My wrath and anger, and I turned away My face from them because of all their evils:
6‘Behold, I bring her health and healing for her wounds, and I will show them how to obey.

Yes, I will heal this city and bring about peace and faithfulness.† 7I shall return the captives
of Judah and Israel and will restore them, even as before. 8I will cleanse them from all their
wrongdoings by which they sinned against Me. I will not remember their sins by which they
sinned against Me and withdrew from Me. 9This shall be for the gladness, praise, and majesty
of all the people of the earth, who shall hear all the good things I will do. They shall fear and
be provoked concerning all the good things and the peace I shall bring upon them.’

  10“Thus says the Lord: ‘There shall yet be heard in this place, in which you say, “It is
destitute of people and cattle,” in the cities of Judah and outside of Jerusalem, in the places
made desolate, without man and cattle, 11the voice of gladness and joyfulness, the voice of
the bridegroom and the bride, the voice of those saying, “Give thanks to the Lord Almighty,
for the Lord is good, for His mercy endures forever.” They will bring gifts into the house of
the Lord, for I shall bring back all the captives of that land as it was before,’ says the Lord.

  12“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘There shall yet be in this place of desolation without man

and cattle, and in all its cities, resting places for the shepherds to bed down their sheep. 13In
the cities of the hill country and the valley, and in the cities of the south and the land of
Benjamin, and in the cities around Jerusalem and Judah, sheep shall again pass under the
hand of him who counts them,’ says the Lord.”

                                     God Warns Zedekiah


41 The  word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and
   all his army and every land of his dominion warred against Jerusalem and all the cities
of Judah, saying, 2“Thus says the Lord: ‘Go to Zedekiah king of Judah, and you shall tell him,
“Thus says the Lord: ‘This city shall certainly be delivered into the hands of the king of
Babylon; and he shall take it and burn it with fire. 3You shall not escape from his hand, but
shall certainly be taken and delivered into his hands. Your eyes shall see his eyes, and you
will speak with him face to face. You shall enter Babylon.’ 4But hear the word of the Lord, O
Zedekiah king of Judah. Thus says the Lord: 5‘You shall die in peace, and as they wept for
your fathers who reigned before you, they shall also weep for you, saying, “Alas, lord!” They
shall mourn for you, for I spoke the word,’ says the Lord.” ’ ”†

  6So Jeremiah spoke all these words to King Zedekiah in Jerusalem. 7Then the army of the
king of Babylon waged war against Jerusalem and against the cities of Judah, and against
Lachish and Azekah, for these strong cities were left among the cities of Judah.

                                  Failure to Free the Slaves

  8The word came from the Lord to Jeremiah, after King Zedekiah concluded a covenant

with all the people, to proclaim a remission:† 9that every man should set his servant free—
each male and female servant of his, the Hebrew man and the Hebrew woman—that no man
of Judah should be a servant.† 10Then all the princes and all the people who entered into the
covenant to set free each male and female servant of his, 11again forced them to be male and
female servants.
  12Therefore the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, 13“Thus says the Lord God of
Israel: ‘I made a covenant with your fathers in the day I brought them out of the land of
Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying, 14“When six years are complete, you shall set free
your Hebrew brother who will be sold to you, for he shall serve you six years, then you will
send him forth a free man.” But they did not listen to Me, nor inclined their ear. 15Even
today, they turned to do what is right in My sight, to proclaim remission to each neighbor of
his. So they concluded a covenant before Me in the house called by My name. 16But you
turned away and profaned My name to bring back each male and female servant of his, whom
you set free in their soul, to be once again your male and female servants.’

  17“Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘You did not listen to Me to proclaim remission to each
neighbor of his. Behold, I proclaim a remission to you for the sword, and for death and
famine. I will deliver you as a dispersion among all the kingdoms of the land. 18I will deliver
the men who transgressed My covenant, who did not keep My covenant they made before
Me, with the young bull they offered as a sacrifice: 19the rulers of Judah and the mighty men,
and the priests and the people, 20I will deliver them to their enemies, and their dead bodies
shall be food for the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth. 21I will deliver
Zedekiah the king of Judah and their rulers into the hands of their enemies, and the army of
the king of Babylon shall chase those who run away from them. 22Behold, I shall command
them,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will turn them to this land, and they will fight against it. They
shall take it and burn it with fire, even the cities of Judah, which I will cause to be desolate
and without inhabitant.’ ”

                                 The Obedient Rechabites


42 The  word came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim king of Judah,
   saying, 2“Go to the house of the Rechabites; and you shall bring them to the house of
the Lord, into one of the courts, and give them wine to drink.”† 3So I brought out Jaazaniah
the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and his sons, and all the house
of the Rechabites,† 4and I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the chamber of the
sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was near the house of the ruler who
was over the house of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, who kept the court. 5I set before them a
pitcher of wine and cups, and said, “Drink wine.”

  6But they said, “We will drink no wine, for our father, Jonadab the son of Rechab,
commanded us, saying, ‘Drink no wine, neither you nor your sons forever; 7nor shall you
build a house, nor sow any seed, nor shall you have a vineyard; for you shall dwell in tents all
your days, so you may live many days in the land where you are sojourners.’ 8So we obeyed
the voice of Jonadab our father so as to drink no wine all our days, we and our wives, and our
sons and daughters, 9and so as to build no houses to dwell in. Thus, we have no vineyard,
field, or seed, 10for we dwell in tents; because we obeyed everything Jonadab our father
commanded us. 11Then it came to pass, when Nebuchadnezzar came up against the land, we
said, ‘Let us go and enter Jerusalem because of the presence of the army of the Chaldeans
and the army of the Assyrians.’ So we dwelt there.”

  12Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 13“Thus says the Lord: ‘Go and tell the
men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive correction to obey My
words? 14The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab kept the word he commanded his children
so as to drink no wine, and they did not drink it. But I spoke to you early. I spoke, but you did
not obey. 15I also sent to you My servants the prophets, saying, ‘Let each of you turn from his
evil way, and amend your doings. Do not go after other gods to serve them, and you will dwell
in the land I gave you and your fathers.’ But you did not incline your ear, nor did you obey.
16Yet the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab kept the commandment of their father, but this

people did not obey Me.’ ” 17Therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring on Judah and
on the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evils I pronounced against them.’

  18“Therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘Since the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab obeyed the

commandment of their father to do as their father commanded them,† 19there shall never be
wanting a man of the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab to stand before My face while the
earth remains.’ ”

                             The Scroll Is Read in the Temple


43 Now  in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, the word of the
   Lord came to me, saying,† 2“Take for yourself the scroll of a book, and write on it all
the words I instructed you against Jerusalem, and against Judah, and against all the nations,
from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah king of Judah even to this day.†
3Perhaps the house of Judah will hear all the calamities I purpose to bring upon them, so as
to turn them from their evil way; and I shall be merciful to their wrongdoings and sins.”
  4So Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and he wrote on a scroll all the words of the

Lord from the mouth of Jeremiah, which he spoke to him.† 5Thus Jeremiah commanded
Baruch, saying, “I am under guard and unable to go into the house of the Lord,† 6so you shall
read from this scroll in the ears of the people in the house of the Lord on the day of fasting,
and in the hearing of Judah, who come from their city. You shall read to them. 7Perhaps their
supplication will come before the face of the Lord, and they will turn from their evil way; for
great is the anger and wrath of the Lord which He pronounced against this people.” 8So
Baruch did according to all Jeremiah commanded him, to read from the book the words of
the Lord in the house of the Lord.

  9Then it came to pass in the eighth year of King Jehoiakim, in the ninth month, all the

people in Jerusalem and in the house of Judah proclaimed a fast before the Lord. 10Baruch
read from the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the Lord, in the house of Gemariah
the son of Shaphan the scribe, and in the upper court at the entry of the new gate of the
Lord's house, in the hearing of all the people.

                       The Scroll Is Read to the Rulers and People

  11Now Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the Lord

from the book. 12He then went down to the house of the king, into the home of the scribe,
and behold, there were sitting all the rulers: Elishama the scribe, Delaiah the son of
Shemaiah, Elnathan the son of Achbor, Gemariah the son of Shaphan, Zedekiah the son of
Hananiah, and all the rulers. 13So Michaiah declared to them all the words he heard Baruch
read in the ears of the people. 14Then all the rulers sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son
of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to Baruch the son of Neriah, saying, “Take in your hand the
scroll to read in the hearing of the people and come.” So Baruch took the scroll and went
down to them.† 15Then they said to him, “Read it again in our ears.” So Baruch read it. 16Now
it came to pass, when they heard all the words, they took counsel each with his neighbor, and
said, “Let us report all these words to the king.”† 17So they asked Baruch, saying, “How did
you come to write all these words?” 18Baruch replied, “Jeremiah proclaimed all these words
to me from his mouth, and I wrote them in the book.” 19Then they said to Baruch, “Go and
hide, you and the man Jeremiah. Let no one know where you are.”

                                 The King Burns the Scroll
  20So they went to the king, into the court, but gave the scroll for safekeeping in the house

of Elishama; and they reported to the king all these words. 21The king then sent Jehudi to
fetch the scroll, and he took it from the house of Elishama. Jehudi then read it in the ears of
the king, and in the ears of all the rulers who stood around the king. 22Now the king was
sitting in the winter house, and a hearth with a burning fire was before him. 23Then it came
to pass, as Jehudi was reading the third or fourth page, he cut them off with the scribe's knife
and cast them into the fire of the hearth, until all of the scroll was consumed by the fire of
the hearth.† 24But the king and his servants who heard all these words did not seek the Lord,
neither did they tear their garments. 25But Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah pointed out to
the king that he should not burn up the scroll. 26The king then commanded Jerahmeel the
king's son and Seraiah the son of Azriel to seize Baruch and Jeremiah, but they were hidden.

                               Jeremiah Rewrites the Scroll

 27The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah after the king burned the scroll containing all the

words Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,† 28“Take again another scroll, and
write on the scroll all the words which King Jehoiakim burned. 29Then you shall say, ‘Thus
says the Lord: “You burned this scroll, saying, ‘Why did you write in it, saying, “The king of
Babylon will certainly come in and utterly destroy this land; and man and cattle will cease
from it”?’ ” 30Therefore thus says the Lord against Jehoiakim king of Judah: “He shall have
no one to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out into the heat of the
day and the frost of the night. 31So I will visit him, his family, and his servants. I will bring
upon them and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the land of Judah, all the calamities I
spoke regarding them, for they did not heed them.” ’ ” 32Then Baruch took another scroll,
and he wrote on it all the words of the book from the mouth of Jeremiah which Jehoiakim
burned. There were yet more words added to it like the former.

                                  Zedekiah Becomes King


44 Then Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar
   appointed to reign over Judah.† 2But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the
land gave heed to the words of the Lord which He spoke by the hand of Jeremiah. 3Then
Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the priest, son of
Maaseiah, to Jeremiah, saying, “Indeed, pray to the Lord for us.” 4Now Jeremiah came and
passed through the midst of the city, and they did not put him in the prison. 5Then the army
of Pharaoh came up from Egypt; and the Chaldeans heard the report concerning them, and
they departed from Jerusalem.

  6The word of the Lord then came to Jeremiah, saying, 7“Thus says the Lord: ‘In this way
you shall speak to the king of Judah who sent you to seek Me: “Behold, the army of Pharaoh
which came up to help you, they shall return to the land of Egypt,† 8and the Chaldeans shall
return again to fight against this city. They shall take it and burn it with fire.’ ” 9Thus says the
Lord: ‘Do not suppose in your souls, saying, “The Chaldeans will surely depart from us,” yet
they will not depart. 10For though you should smite the whole army of the Chaldeans who
wage war against you, and they left certain wounded men, these men would rise up and burn
this city with fire.’ ”

                                   Jeremiah Is Imprisoned

  11Then it came to pass, when the army of the Chaldeans left Jerusalem because of the

presence of Pharaoh's army, 12Jeremiah left Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin to
buy goods from among the people.† 13He came to the Gate of Benjamin, and there was a man
in that place with whom he lodged, Irijah the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he
seized Jeremiah, saying, “You are fleeing to the Chaldeans!” 14But he said, “That is a lie! I am
not fleeing to the Chaldeans.” Yet he did not listen to him. So Irijah seized Jeremiah and
brought him to the rulers. 15The rulers were embittered against Jeremiah; and they struck
him and sent him to the house of Jonathan the scribe; for they made this into a prison.† 16So
Jeremiah entered the dungeon and the cells and sat there many days.

  17Then Zedekiah sent and called for him. The king secretly asked him, saying, “Is there a
word from the Lord?” He replied, “There is. You shall be delivered into the hands of the king
of Babylon.” 18Then Jeremiah said to the king, “What offense have I committed against you,
your servants, or this people, that you have put me in the prison? 19Where are your prophets
who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against the land’? 20Now,
O lord the king, let my supplication come before your face. For why do you return me to the
house of Jonathan the scribe? Do not let me die there.” 21Then the king gave the command,
and they cast him into the prison. They gave him one loaf of bread daily from their bakery
until the bread in the city failed. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
                                Jeremiah in the Muddy Pit


45 Shephatiah the son of Mattan, Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, and Jucal the son of
   Shelemiah heard the words Jeremiah spoke to the people, saying, 2“Thus says the
Lord: ‘He who dwells in this city shall die by the sword and famine, but he who goes out to
the Chaldeans shall live. His life shall be as finding a treasure, for he shall live.’ 3For thus
says the Lord: ‘This city shall most assuredly be given into the hands of the army of the king
of Babylon, and they shall take it.’ ” 4Therefore they said to the king, “Indeed, let that man be
put to death, for by speaking to them such words, he weakens the hands of the fighting men
left in the city and the hands of all the people. This man does not prophesy peace for this
people, but evil.” 5Then the king replied, “Behold, he is in your hands,” for the king could not
resist them. 6So they cast him into the pit of Malchiah the king's son, who was in the court of
the prison. They let Jeremiah down into the pit where there was no water, except for mud;
thus he was in the mud.

  7Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian was in the household of the king; and he heard they put

Jeremiah into the pit, and that the king was at the Gate of Benjamin.† 8So he went out to the
king and spoke to him, saying, 9“You did evil in what you did, to kill this man by hunger, for
there is no more bread in the city.” 10Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech, saying, “Take
with you thirty men from here and lift him out of the pit, lest he die.” 11So Ebed-Melech took
the men and entered into the underground area of the king's house. From there, they took old
rags and old ropes and threw them down into the pit to Jeremiah. 12Then he said, “Put these
under the ropes,” and Jeremiah did so. 13So they pulled Jeremiah up with the ropes and lifted
him out of the pit. But Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

                           Zedekiah Converses with Jeremiah

  14Then the king sent and summoned Jeremiah to himself at the third entrance of the
Lord's house. The king said to him, “I will ask you a question, and indeed do not hide
anything from me.”† 15Jeremiah replied to the king, “If I tell you, will you not surely put me
to death? But if I advise you, you will not heed me.” 16So the king swore to him, saying, “As
the Lord lives who made this soul in us, surely I will not put you to death, nor will I give you
into the hands of these men.”

  17Jeremiah then said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘If you will indeed go out to the leaders
of the king of Babylon, your soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and you
and your house will live. 18But if you do not go out, this city shall be delivered into the hands
of the Chaldeans. They shall burn it with fire, and you will not escape.’ ” 19The king said to
Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Judeans who fled to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into
their hands, and they mock me.” 20But Jeremiah said, “They will not deliver you. Hear the
word of the Lord I speak to you, and it will be good for you; and your soul will live. 21But if
you refuse to go out, this is the word the Lord showed me: 22‘Behold, all the women who
were left behind in the house of the king of Judah and were led out to the rulers of the king
of Babylon said, “Your peace-loving men deceived you and will prevail against you. They will
cause your feet to slide and fail, and will turn away from you.” 23They will also lead out your
wives and children to the Chaldeans, and you shall not escape; for you will be taken by the
hand of the king of Babylon, and this city shall be burned.’ ”

  24Then the king said to him, “Let no man know of these words, and you shall not die.
25But if the rulers hear that I talked with you, and they come to you and say, ‘Tell us, what
did the king say to you? Do not hide it from us, and we will not put you to death. So what did
the king say to you?’ 26Then you shall say to them, ‘I brought my supplications before the
presence of the king, that he would not send me back to the house of Jonathan to die there.’ ”
27Then all the rulers came to Jeremiah and asked him, and he told them all these words the
king commanded him. So they were silent, for the word of the Lord was not to be heard.
28Jeremiah then remained in the court of the prison until the time Jerusalem was taken.

                                    The Fall of Jerusalem


46 Now it came to pass in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month,
   Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and
besieged it.† 2Then in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of
the month, the city was broken apart. 3All the leaders of the king of Babylon went in and sat
in the middle gate: Nergal-Sharezer, Sam-gar-Nebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sarezer, and
Rabmag, with the rest of the rulers of the king of Babylon.

                             Jeremiah Is Released to Gedaliah

  4They sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed him to
Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan; then they brought him out and sat him in
the midst of the people.†

  5The word of the Lord then came to Jeremiah in the court of the prison, saying,† 6“Go and
say to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Behold, I will bring My
words upon this city for calamities and not for good. 7But I shall deliver you in that day, and I
shall not give you into the hands of the men before whose presence you are afraid. 8For I
shall surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword. Instead, your life shall be as
finding a treasure, because you trusted in Me,” says the Lord.’ ”

                            Jeremiah with the Governor of Judah


47 The  word came from the Lord to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard
   released him from Ramah, when he took him in manacles in the midst of the captivity
of Judah, those being led into Babylon.† 2The captain of the guard took him and said to him,
“The Lord your God pronounced all these calamities upon this place, 3and the Lord did this
because you did not heed His voice. 4Behold, I have freed you from the manacles placed on
your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after
you. 5But if not, run hard and return to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan,
whom the king of Babylon appointed over the land of Judah, and dwell with him among the
people in the land of Judah. Go wherever in your eyes it seems best to go.” Then the chief of
the guard gave him rations and a gift and sent him away. 6So Jeremiah came to Gedaliah at
Mizpah and remained among the people who were left in the land.

  7Now all the leaders of the army in the field, they and their men, heard the king of Babylon
had appointed Gedaliah to govern over the land, and that he entrusted to him their men and
women whom he had not carried away captive to Babylon. 8Then Ishmael the son of
Nethaniah came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, along with Johanan the son of Kareah, Seraiah the
son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of Mechati, they
and their men. 9Gedaliah swore an oath to them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid in
the presence of the servants of the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and work for the king of
Babylon; for it shall be beneficial for you. 10Behold, I sit in your presence at Mizpah to stand
before the Chaldeans who come against us. Gather together wine and fruit, together with
olive oil, and put them in your containers. Dwell in the cities you possess.” 11Then all the
Jews in Moab, and those among the children of Ammon, and those in Edom, and those in all
the land heard the king of Babylon had granted a remnant in Judah and set over them
Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. 12So they came to Gedaliah in the land of Judah at Mizpah, and
gathered together a great abundance of wine, fruit, and olive oil.

 13Then Johanan the son of Kareah and all the field leaders of the army came to Gedaliah at

Mizpah.† 14They said to him, “Do you indeed know that king Baalis of the sons of Ammon
has sent Ishmael to slay you?” But Gedaliah did not believe them. 15Then Johanan spoke
secretly to Gedaliah at Mizpah, “Indeed, I shall go and smite Ishmael, but let no one know it,
lest he take your life, and all Judah gathered to you be scattered by him, and the remnant in
Judah perish.” 16But Gedaliah said to Johanan, “Do not do this deed, for you speak lies
concerning Ishmael.”

                                Uprising against Gedaliah


48 Now   it came to pass in the seventh month that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son
   of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men to Gedaliah at Mizpah. There they
ate bread together.† 2Then Ishmael and the ten men with him arose and struck Gedaliah,
whom the king of Babylon appointed over the land,† 3and all the Jews with him at Mizpah,
and all the Chaldeans found there.

  4It came to pass on the second day after he struck Gedaliah, while no one yet knew, 5that
eighty men came from Shechem, Salem, and Samaria with beards shaved, tearing their
clothes and beating their breasts. In their hands were manna and frankincense to bring into
the house of the Lord.† 6Now Ishmael went out to meet with them, and they walked and
wept. He said to them, “Come to Gedaliah.” 7Then it came to pass that when they entered
into the midst of the city, he killed them at the well. 8But ten men were found there among
them, and they said to Ishmael, “Do not kill us, for we have treasures of wheat, barley, honey,
and oil in the field.” So he passed by and did not kill them in the midst of their brethren. †
9Now the well into which Ishmael cast all whom he killed is the great well King Asa made for

fear of Baasha king of Israel. Thus Ishmael filled this with the slain. 10After this, Ishmael
brought back all the people left in Mizpah, including the daughter of the king whom the
captain of the guard committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam; then he went away beyond
the sons of Ammon.

  11But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the army with him heard of all the

evil things Ishmael did, 12and they brought their entire army to wage war against him. They
found him near the great pool in Gibeon. 13So it came to pass, when all the people with
Ishmael saw Johanan and the leaders of the army with him, 14they returned to Johanan.
15But Ishmael escaped with eight men and went to the sons of Ammon. 16Then Johanan and
all the leaders of the army with him brought back all of the remaining people whom he took
from Ishmael: the mighty men of war, all the women and the rest, and the eunuchs, whom
they brought back from Gibeon. 17They departed and encamped in Gaberoth-Chimham
towards Bethlehem to go into Egypt, 18away from the presence of the Chaldeans; for they
were afraid of them because Ishmael killed Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon appointed
over the land.

                                     Do Not Go to Egypt


49 All the leaders of the army, Johanan and Azariah the son of Mahseiah, and all the
   people, from the least to the greatest,† 2came to Jeremiah the prophet and said to him,
“Let our supplication now come before your face, and pray to the Lord your God concerning
those who remain, for we few are left out of the many, as your eyes see. 3Let the Lord your
God proclaim to us the way wherein we should walk and the thing we should do.” 4Then
Jeremiah said to them, “I hear you. Behold, I will pray to the Lord our God according to your
words, and it shall come to pass, whatever word the Lord shall answer I will declare to you. I
will not conceal any word from you.” 5They said to Jeremiah, “Let the Lord be between us as
a righteous and faithful witness, if we will do every word the Lord sends us, 6and whether it
be good or evil, we will heed the voice of the Lord our God to whom we send you, that it may
be beneficial for us; for we will heed the voice of the Lord our God.”

  7So it came to pass that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah after ten days.† 8Thus he
called Johanan, and all the leaders of the army, and all the people, from the least even to the
greatest, 9and said to them, “Thus says the Lord: 10‘If you will indeed stay in this land, I will
build you up and not pull you down. I will plant you and not pluck you up; for I will put an
end to the calamities I did to you. 11Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you fear.
Do not be afraid of him,’ says the Lord, ‘because I am with you to deliver you, and to save you
from his hand. 12I will show you compassion and have mercy on you. I will return you to
your land.’

  13“But if you say, ‘We will not stay in this land, so as not to heed the voice of the Lord;
14for we shall go into the land of Egypt, where we will not see war, nor hear the sound of the

trumpet, nor be hungry for bread, and there we will dwell’; 15then hear the word of the Lord:
Thus says the Lord: ‘If you have set your face to Egypt to enter and dwell there, 16then it
shall be that the sword you feared shall find you in the land of Egypt, and the famine of which
you have regard shall overtake you in Egypt; and there you shall die. 17So all the men and all
the foreigners who set their faces to the land of Egypt to dwell there, they shall die by the
sword and famine. Not one of them shall escape from the evils I will bring upon them.’

  18“For thus says the Lord: ‘As My anger fell upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so shall My
anger fall upon you when you enter Egypt. You shall be as an impassable land and under the
authority of others. You shall be as a curse and a disgrace, and you shall see this place no
more.’ 19These are the words the Lord said concerning you, O remnant of Judah: ‘Do not go
to Egypt.’ So now, know this as a certainty, 20that you did evil in your souls when you sent to
me, saying, ‘Pray for us to the Lord, and according to all the Lord speaks to you we will do.’
21But you did not heed the voice of the Lord which He sent me for you. 22So now you shall
die by the sword and by famine in the place you desire to go and dwell.”

                                Jeremiah Brought to Egypt


50 Then  it came to pass, as Jeremiah ceased speaking to the people all the words of the
   Lord for which the Lord sent him to them, even all these words,† 2that Azariah the son
of Mahseiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the men who spoke to Jeremiah said, “That
is a lie. The Lord did not send you to us, saying, ‘Do not enter Egypt to dwell there.’ 3But
Baruch the son of Neriah set you against us that you might deliver us into the hands of the
Chaldeans, to kill us or to send us as captives to Babylon.” 4So Johanan, all the leaders of the
army, and all the people refused to heed the voice of the Lord, to dwell in the land of Judah.
5Thus Johanan and all the leaders of the army took the entire remnant of Judah who

returned to dwell in the land: 6the mighty men, the women and children, the daughters of the
king, and the souls Nebuzaradan left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, together with
Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah. 7They entered Egypt; for they did not
heed the voice of the Lord, but entered Tahpanhes.†

  8Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, 9“Take for yourself
large stones and hide them in the entrance, at the gate to the house of Pharaoh in Tahpanhes,
in the sight of the men of Judah. 10Then you shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will
send and bring Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon. He will set his throne upon these stones
you hid and spread his weapons upon them.† 11He shall enter in and strike the land of Egypt.
He shall deliver some for death, and those for captivity to captivity, and those for the sword to
the sword. 12He shall kindle a fire in the houses of their gods and shall burn them. He will
carry them away captive, and search the land of Egypt as a shepherd searches his garment for
lice; then he shall go from there in peace. 13He shall break into pieces the pillars of the sun in
On, and he shall burn their houses with fire.” ’ ”

                        The Disobedient Jews Are Judged in Egypt


51 The word came to Jeremiah for all the Jews dwelling in the land of Egypt and staying in
   Migdol, and in Tahpanhes, and in the land of Pathros, saying, 2“Thus says the Lord God
of Israel: ‘You saw all the calamities I brought upon Jerusalem and the cities of Judah.
Behold, they are desolate without inhabitants because of their evils 3which they committed
to provoke Me, by burning incense to other gods they did not know. 4Yet early in the
morning, I sent you My servants the prophets. I sent them, saying, “Do not do this deed of
defilement which I hate.” 5But they did not listen to Me, nor did they incline their ear to turn
from their evils of burning incense to other gods. 6So My wrath and anger fell upon them and
was kindled in the cities of Judah and outside Jerusalem. They became as a desolation and
impassable, as it is this day.’

  7“So now, thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Why do you commit great evils against your souls,
to cut off your man and woman, and your child and infant, from the midst of Judah? Your
evils did not leave one of you as a remnant, 8because you provoked Me with the works of
your hands by burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, in which you entered to
dwell. You cut yourself off so as to become a curse and a disgrace among all the nations of the
earth.† 9Have you forgotten the evils of your fathers, the evils of the kings of Judah, the evils
of your rulers, and the evils of your wives, which they committed in the land of Judah and
outside Jerusalem? 10They have not ceased even to this day, nor have they cleaved to My
statutes, which I gave in the presence of their fathers.’

  11“Therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I set My face against you 12to destroy all the
remnant in Egypt. They shall fall by the sword and by famine; and they shall die, from the
least to the greatest. They shall be as a disgrace, a destruction, and a curse. 13I shall visit
those who dwell in the land of Egypt as I visited Jerusalem with the sword, famine, and
death. 14Of those left in Judah and who dwell in the land of Egypt, there shall not be any of
them who shall return to the land of Judah, to which they hope in their hearts to return; but
only those who escape shall return.’ ”

  15Then all the men who knew their wives burned incense to other gods, and all the great
assembly of women, and all the people who stayed in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered
Jeremiah, saying, 16“As for the word you spoke to us in the name of the Lord, we will not
listen to you.† 17For we will certainly do every word which proceeds from our mouth, to burn
incense to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink-offerings to her, as we and our fathers,
our kings and our princes, have done in the cities of Judah and outside Jerusalem. For we
were full of bread; and we were well-off and saw no calamities.† 18But since we stopped
burning incense to the queen of heaven, we are all diminished and have died by sword and
famine. 19But while we burned incense to the queen of heaven and poured out drink
offerings to her, did we make cakes to her and pour out drink-offerings to her without our
husbands?”

  20Then Jeremiah spoke to all the people: the mighty men, the women, and all the people

conversing with him, saying, 21“Did not the Lord remember the incense you burned in the
cities of Judah and outside Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and rulers, and the
people of the land, and did it not come into His heart? 22The Lord could no longer bear with
your evil deeds and with the abominations you committed. Thus your land became as a
desolation, as impassable, and as a curse, as it is this day. 23Because you burned incense and
sinned against the Lord, and did not heed the voice of the Lord, nor walked in His ordinances,
His law, and His testimonies—therefore, these calamities came upon you.”

  24Jeremiah also said to the people and to the women, “Hear the word of the Lord.† 25Thus
says the Lord God of Israel: ‘You wives spoke with your mouth and fulfilled with your hands,
saying, “We will surely keep the confessions we made, to burn incense to the queen of heaven
and to pour out drink offerings to her.” You certainly stood fast and performed your
confessions.’ 26Therefore hear the word of the Lord, all Judah who dwell in the land of
Egypt: ‘Behold, I swore by My great name,’ says the Lord, ‘that My name shall no more be in
the mouth of everyone of Judah, to say, “The Lord and Master lives in all the land of Egypt.”
27For behold, I have watched over them to harm them, and not to do them good. For all the
men of Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt shall die by sword and famine, until they cease
to be. 28Yet those few in number who escape the sword shall return to the land of Judah. But
the remnant of Judah who stayed in the land of Egypt to dwell there shall know whose word
will remain steadfast. 29This shall be a sign for you that I will visit you for evil.’ 30Thus says
the Lord: ‘Behold, I will give Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemy and into the
hands of those who seek his life, as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hands of
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, his enemy who sought his life.’ ”†

                                     A Promise to Baruch

  31The word Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah when he wrote these
words in the book from the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of
Josiah, king of Judah, saying,† 32“Thus the Lord spoke to you, O Baruch: 33‘Because you
said, “Alas! alas! for the Lord added pain upon pain to me. I laid down in groaning, but found
no rest.’ ” 34Thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I pull down those whom
I built up, and I pluck up those whom I planted. 35So will you seek great things for yourself?
Do not seek them, for behold, I will bring calamities upon all flesh,” says the Lord. “But I will
give you life, as finding a treasure in every place, wherever you go.” ’ ”

                                    The Death of Zedekiah


52 Zedekiah  was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven
   years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of
Libnah.† 2Then it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth
day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against
Jerusalem. They surrounded it with a fortress and encircled it with stones.† 3The city was
besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah, 4on the ninth day of the month. The
famine became severe in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

  5Then the city was broken through, and all the men of war went out at night by way of the
gate, between the wall and the outwork, next to the garden of the king; for at the time the
Chaldeans surrounded the entire city. They went by the road to Arabah. 6But the army of the
Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the country beyond Jericho; and all his
servants were scattered from him. 7They took the king and brought him to the king of
Babylon at Riblah; and he pronounced judgment against him. 8In Riblah, the king of Babylon
slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah and all the rulers of Judah before his eyes. 9He blinded the
eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in shackles; and the king of Babylon brought him to
Babylon, and placed him in the mill house until he died.

                          Destruction of Jerusalem Reviewed

  10Now in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the

guard, who served before the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. 11He burned the house of
the Lord and the king's house, and all the houses of the city. Every great house he burned
with fire. 12Then the army of the Chaldeans, with the captain of the guard, pulled down every
wall round about Jerusalem. 13But the captain of the guard left the remnant of the people to
be vinedressers and farmers.

  14The Chaldeans also broke in pieces the bronze pillars of the house of the Lord, and the
pedestals and the bronze Sea in the house of the Lord, and they carried all their bronze to
Babylon. 15The captain of the guard also took away the rim, the bowl, the meat-hooks, and all
the brazen vessels in which they ministered, 16and the basins, the snuffers, the oil-funnels,
the candlesticks, the censers, the golden cups, and the silver cups, 17and two pillars, the one
Sea, and the twelve bronzed calves under the Sea, which King Solomon made for the house of
the Lord, and the bronze artifacts which were beyond measure.

  18As for the pillars, the height of one pillar was thirty-five cubits, and a line of twelve

cubits measured the circumference. It was four fingers in thickness. 19And a bronze border
was upon them, and the length was five cubits, the height of one border. Around the capital
was a network and pomegranates, all made of bronze. Similarly, the second pillar had eight
pomegranates for each of the twelve cubits. 20There were ninety-six pomegranates on each
side, and all the pomegranates all around on the network were one hundred.

                          The Captives Are Brought to Babylon

  21The captain of the guard took the chief priest, the second priest, and the three who kept

the door,† 22and one eunuch who was over the men of war, and seven men found in the city
who were renowned before the presence of the king, the scribe of the armies who
communicated to the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land found in the
midst of the city. 23So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to
the king of Babylon at Riblah. 24Then the king of Babylon put them to death at Riblah, in the
land of Hamath.

                              Jehoiachin Freed from Prison

  25Now it came to pass that in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of
Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, Evil-Merodach king of
Babylon, in the year which he reigned, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and
brought him out from the house where he was imprisoned.† 26He spoke kindly to him and
set his throne above the thrones of the kings who were with him in Babylon.† 27He also
changed his prison garment, and Jehoiachin ate his food in the presence of the king all the
days of his life. 28His appointed portion was always given to him by the king of Babylon,
from day to day until his death.
                                   BARUCH
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Chapters in Baruch
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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Verses in Baruch Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Baruch Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Baruch Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in Baruch Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in Baruch Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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                                                       The Book of Baruch

     Author   —Baruch, secretary to the prophet Jeremiah, wrote the second part of this book,
  from 3:9 to the end. The beginning records the words of a Jewish community in exile in
  Babylon. The Book of Baruch was compiled sometime after the exile took place.

     Date   —Written sometime after the siege of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The initial message
  was given in 581.

     Theme    —Baruch is the story of a Jewish community that repents. Throughout
  Jeremiah's prophetic ministry as recounted in his book, the Jews hardened their hearts
  to his words. Here we see a community in exile that responds from the heart to the call
  to repentance. In eschatological terms, the community represents the Church, those
  who hear the call of God, confess their sins, and come to Him. The book is best read as a
  story of the relationship between God and His people.

     Background      —After Jerusalem was sacked and the leaders of Judah were deported, the
  Jews established communities in territory occupied by Babylon. In this new situation of
  exile, the Jewish community, now without the temple and a political home, established
  connections with other Jews across Babylon. Here we meet Baruch coming from Egypt
  to a community, calling on them to soften their hearts and return in obedience to the
  Lord. They do so and send an offering to the Jews who remain near Jerusalem.

 Outline

   I. Historical Inform ation (1 :1 –1 2 )

  II. Corporate Confession and Pray er for Deliv erance for Jews in Jerusalem (1 :1 3 –3 :8)

  III. God's Gift of Wisdom to Israel (3 :9 –4 :3 )

 IV. Poem of Com fort and Restoration (4 :4 –5:9 )




1 Now these are the words of the book written by Baruch, the son of Neriah, the son of
  Mahseiah, the son of Zedekiah, the son of Hasadiah, the son of Hilkiah, while in Babylon,
2in the fifth year, on the seventh day of the month, at the time the Chaldeans took Jerusalem

and burned it with fire.†

                                             A Gathering of the Exiles in Babylon
  3And Baruch read the words of this book to Jechoniah the son of Joachim, king of Judah,

and to all the people who came to hear the book:† 4to the nobles and the sons of the kings, to
the elders and all the people from small to great, and to everyone dwelling in Babylon by the
river Sud. 5Then they wept and fasted and prayed before the Lord. 6They took up a collection
of silver, as each was able to give, 7and sent it to Jerusalem to Joachim the high priest, son of
Hilkiah, son of Salom, and to the priests and to all the people found with him in Jerusalem.
8At the same time, on the tenth day of the month Sivan, Baruch took the silver vessels of the
house of the Lord fashioned by Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in order to return
them to the land of Judah, those vessels previously taken away from the temple 9when
Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away Jechoniah and the princes, along with
the captives, the powerful men, and the people of the land, and had brought them from
Jerusalem into exile in Babylon.†

                              Gifts for Worship in Jerusalem

  10And they said, “Behold, we send you silver. With it, buy whole burnt offerings and sin

offerings and incense, and prepare bread, and offer them upon the altar of the Lord our God.†
11And pray for the life of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his son Belshazzar, that their

days on earth may be like the days of heaven.† 12And the Lord will give us strength and
enlighten our eyes, and we will live under the shelter of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and
under the shelter of Belshazzar his son, and we will serve them for many days and find mercy
in their sight.

                                     Israel's Confession

  13“Pray for us to the Lord our God, because we have sinned against the Lord our God. Even

to this day the wrath of the Lord and His anger is not turned away from us. 14And you shall
read this book which we are sending to you, in order to make confession in the house of the
Lord on the feast days and on the solemn days.

  15“And you shall say, ‘To the Lord our God belongs righteousness, but for us shame is on

our faces, as it is this day for the people of Judah and to those inhabiting Jerusalem,† 16and
for our kings, for our rulers, for our priests, for our prophets, and for our fathers, 17who have
sinned before the Lord. 18We have disobeyed Him and have refused to heed the voice of the
Lord our God, to walk in the ordinances of the Lord, which He gave to us openly. 19Since the
day the Lord led our fathers out of the land of Egypt until this day, we have been disobedient
toward Him and neglected to heed His voice.†

                            The Consequences of Israel's Sin

  20‘So to this day evils cling to us, even the curse which the Lord set forth through His
servant Moses in the day He led our fathers out of the land of Egypt to give us the land
flowing with milk and honey. 21We did not heed the voice of the Lord our God in all the
words of the prophets whom He sent to us. 22Instead, each one has followed the
imaginations of his own wicked heart, to serve strange gods and to do evil deeds in the sight
of the Lord our God.†


2 ‘So the Lord confirmed His word which He proclaimed against us, and against our judges
  who judged Israel, and our kings and rulers, and against every man of Israel and Judah.
2As can be seen in what was written in the law of Moses, there has been nothing comparable

anywhere, under all the heavens, as to that which has been done in Jerusalem: 3that a man
eat the flesh of his son and the flesh of his daughter.†† 4He put them under subjection to all
the kingdoms around us, to be a reproach and a desolation among all the nations around
about us where the Lord scattered them. 5And because we sinned against the Lord our God
and did not obey His voice, we have been brought low and have not been exalted.†

  6‘To the Lord our God belongs righteousness, but to us and our fathers shame on our faces,

as at this day. 7All these calamities that the Lord proclaimed against us have come upon us.
8But we did not pray before the presence of the Lord, to turn each one away from the

purposes of his wicked heart. 9And the Lord has watched over the evils, and the Lord brings
these upon us, for the Lord is righteous in all His works which He commands us.† 10But we
have not obeyed His voice, to conduct our lives in those commandments of the Lord that He
set before us.

                           A Plea for Mercy and Deliverance

  11‘And now, O Lord God of Israel, who with a mighty hand led Your people out of the land
of Egypt with signs and wonders, with great power and with outstretched arm, and made a
name for Yourself then, as it continues to this day, 12we have sinned and acted ungodly, we
have acted unrighteously, O Lord our God, against all Your commandments. 13Let Your
wrath turn away from us, for only a few of us remain within the nations where You scattered
us. 14O Lord, hear our prayer and our petition, and for Your own sake deliver us, and grant us
mercy before those who have carried us into exile,† 15in order that the whole earth may come
to know that You are the Lord our God, for Israel and his descendants are called by Your
name.

  16‘O Lord, look down from Your holy house and consider us. O Lord, incline Your ear and

hear us. 17O Lord, open Your eyes and behold, for the dead who are in Hades, whose spirit is
taken from their bodies, will not ascribe glory and righteousness to the Lord; 18but the
person who is greatly distressed, who walks bent over, who is ailing and going blind, and the
person who hungers—these will give glory and righteousness to You, O Lord. 19It is not
because of the righteous acts of our fathers or our kings that we lay before You our humble
plea, O Lord our God, 20for You sent down Your anger and wrath upon us, as You have said
through the hand of Your servants the prophets, saying, 21“Thus says the Lord: ‘Bend your
shoulder and serve the king of Babylon, and remain in the land I gave to your fathers. 22But
if you do not heed the voice of the Lord, to serve the king of Babylon, 23I shall cause to cease
from the cities of Judah and from outside Jerusalem the sound of gladness, the voice of
joyfulness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. The whole land will
become desolate of inhabitants.’ ”

  24‘But we did not obey Your voice, to serve the king of Babylon, and You carried out Your
words which you spoke by Your servants the prophets, that the bones of our kings and the
bones of our fathers would be carried out from their place.† 25And behold, they have been
cast forth in the heat of the day and the frost of the night, and they died in grievous pains by
famine and by the sword and by pestilence. 26And You laid to waste the house called by Your
name, as it is this day, because of the wickedness of the house of Israel and the house of
Judah.†

                              Recalling the Promises of God

  27‘Even so, O Lord our God, You have dealt with us according to all Your goodness and

great mercy, 28just as You spoke through Your servant Moses on the day You commanded
him to write Your law in the presence of the sons of Israel, saying, 29“If you do not obey My
voice, truly this very great multitude of people will become a small number amidst all the
nations where I shall scatter them. 30For I knew they would not obey Me, because they are a
stiff-necked people. But in the land of their exile their hearts will turn back, 31and they will
know that I am the Lord their God, and I will give them a heart and ears that obey; 32and
they will praise Me in the land of their exile and will remember My name. 33They will turn
from their stubbornness and their evil deeds; for they shall remember the way of their
fathers, who sinned against the Lord. 34And I shall bring them again to the land I swore to
their fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and they will rule over it, and I will multiply
their numbers, and they will not be diminished. 35And I shall establish an everlasting
covenant with them to be their God, and they will be My people; I shall never again remove
My people Israel from the land I give to them.”†


3 ‘OYou.Lord2Hear,
              Almighty, the God of Israel, a soul in straits and a spirit of weariness cries out to
                   O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against You. 3You endure
forever, but we are perishing forever. 4O Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, hear the prayer of
the dead of Israel and of the sons who have sinned against You, who have not obeyed the
voice of the Lord their God, so calamities have clung to us.† 5Do not remember the
wrongdoings of our fathers, but remember Your hand and Your name in this time. 6For You
are the Lord our God, and You we will praise, O Lord. 7On account of this You granted in our
hearts the fear of You, to call upon Your name, and we shall praise You in our exile, because
we will turn away from our hearts all the iniquities of our fathers who sinned against You.
8Behold, today we are in our exile, where You have scattered us to be a reproach and a curse
and a punishment for all the iniquities of our fathers, who fell away from the Lord our God.’ ”

                                     The Way of Wisdom

  9Hear, O Israel, the commandments of life; give ear to know wisdom. 10Why is it, O Israel,

that you are in the land of your enemies, that you have grown old in a foreign land, 11that you
are defiled with the dead and counted among those in Hades? 12You have forsaken the
fountain of wisdom.† 13If you had walked in the way of God, you would have dwelt in peace
forever. 14Learn where wisdom is, where strength is, where understanding is, so at the same
time you may know where length of days and life are, where peace is and the light of the eyes.
15Who has found her place? Who has entered into her treasures?

  16Where are the rulers of the nations and those who ruled over the wild animals of the
earth; 17those who sport with the birds of the air and those hoarding silver and gold, in which
men trust (and there is no end to the acquisition of these),† 18those who scheme to obtain
silver and are anxious, whose works are unsearchable? 19They vanish and descend into
Hades, and others have risen up to take their place.

  20Young men have seen the light and dwelt in the land, but they have not known the way

of knowledge,† 21nor practiced it, nor understood her paths; their sons are far from her path.
22It has not been heard in Canaan, nor seen in Tamar; 23the sons of Hagar, who seek
understanding on the earth, the merchants of Merra and of Tamar, the storytellers and those
who search out understanding—none of these have learned the way of wisdom nor remember
her paths. They do not know.

  24O Israel, how great is the house of God, and how far-reaching the place He possesses!†
25It is great and has no end; it is high and immeasurable. 26The giants born there, those

renowned from the beginning, being very large in size and skilled in war,† 27God did not
choose them nor grant them the way of knowledge. 28Instead, they perished because they
failed to attain to wisdom; they perished through their thoughtless counsel.

                                  The Author of Wisdom

  29Who has gone up into heaven and taken hold of her, and brought her down from the

clouds?† 30Who has crossed the sea and found her, and brought her back for pure gold? 31No
one knows her way, nor does anyone ponder her path. 32But the One who knows all things
knows her; He has found her by His understanding—He who formed the earth for all time,
who filled it with four-footed creatures; 33the One who sends forth the light and it goes out;
the One who calls to it, and it obeys with fear. 34The stars shone in their watches and
rejoiced. 35He called them and they said, “Here we are!” They shone with gladness for Him
who made them. 36This is our God; no other shall be compared to Him.ω 37He found the
whole way of knowledge and gave it to Jacob His servant and to Israel His beloved.†
38Afterwards, He was seen upon the earth and lived among men.

                               Wisdom and the Law of God


4 She is the book of the commandments of God and the law that endures forever. All those
  who keep her will live, but those forsaking her will die. 2Return, O Jacob, and take hold of
her. Walk toward the radiance of the presence of her light. 3Do not give your glory to another
or the things that are of advantage to you to a foreign nation.

                            Jerusalem Speaks to Her Children

  4O Israel, we are blessed, for what is pleasing to our God is known to us. 5Be of good

courage, my people, O memorial of Israel. 6You were sold to the nations, not for destruction,
but you were handed over to the enemies because you provoked God. 7You provoked Him
who created you by sacrificing to demons and not to God. 8You forgot the eternal God, who
nursed you, and you grieved Jerusalem, which nourished you. 9For she saw the wrath coming
upon you from God, and she said, “Give heed, neighbors of Zion, God has brought upon me
great sorrow,† 10for I see the exile of my sons and my daughters which the Eternal One
brought upon them. 11With joy I raised them, but with weeping and sorrow I sent them away.
12Let no one rejoice over me, a widow and forsaken of many. I was made desolate on account

of the sins of my children, because they turned away from the Law of God. 13And they did not
know His ordinances, nor walk in the ways of the commandments of God, nor did they walk
on the paths of discipline in His righteousness.

  14“Let the neighbors of Zion come, and let them remember the exile of my sons and my

daughters, which the Eternal One brought upon them. 15He brought a nation from afar
against them, a shameless nation speaking a strange language, which does not respect the
elderly nor pity the young child. 16They led away the widow's beloved sons and left her who
was alone destitute without daughters. 17But how can I be of help to you? 18For He who
brought these calamities upon you will deliver you from the hand of your enemies. 19Go, my
children, go; for I am left desolate. 20I have taken off the robe of peace and clothed myself in
the sackcloth of my prayer. I will cry out to the Eternal One in my days.

  21“O my children, take courage, cry out to God, and He will deliver you from the power and

the hand of the enemies. 22For I hope upon the Eternal One to save you, and the joy from the
Holy One comes to me, because mercy will soon come to you from the Eternal One, your
Savior. 23For I sent you out with sorrow and weeping, but with joy and gladness God will
restore you to me forever. 24For just as the neighbors of Zion have now seen your exile, so
too they will soon see your salvation from your God, which will come upon you with great
glory and the radiance of the Eternal One.†
  25“My children, endure in patience the wrath that has come upon you from God. Your
enemy has pursued you diligently, but soon you will see his destruction, and you will tread
upon their necks. 26My pampered ones have been made to walk rough roads; they were
carried off like a flock seized by enemies. 27Take courage, my children, and cry out to God,
for you will be remembered by Him who brought this upon you. 28For just as you purposed
to go astray from God, now having returned, seek Him with tenfold zeal. 29For the One who
brought these calamities upon you will bring you everlasting joy with your salvation.”

                                 Jerusalem Is Comforted

  30Take courage, O Jerusalem, for He who named you will comfort you.† 31Wretched are

those who mistreated you and rejoiced at your fall. 32Wretched are the cities in which your
children served as slaves. Wretched is she who took your sons. 33For just as she took
pleasure in your ruin and rejoiced over your fall, so shall she be grieved at her own
desolation. 34I shall take away from her the rejoicing of her great multitude, and her
arrogance will become sorrow. 35For fire will come upon her from the Eternal One for many
days, and she will be inhabited by demons for a long time.†

  36O Jerusalem, look eastward, and see the joy that is coming to you from God.† 37Behold,
your sons whom you sent away are coming, gathered together from the east to the west by
the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.


5 Obeauty
     Jerusalem, take off the garment of your sorrow and your oppression, and put on the
          from the God of glory forever.† 2Put around you the double robe of righteousness
from God; set upon your head the diadem of the glory of the Eternal One.† 3For God will
show your brightness to every nation under heaven, 4for your name will forever be called by
God the Peace of Righteousness and the Glory of Godliness.

  5Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the heights and look eastward, and behold your children
being gathered together by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the remembrance of God.
6For they went out from you on foot, being led away by their enemies. But God will return

them being carried back with glory, as on the throne of a kingdom. 7For God commanded
every high mountain and the everlasting hills to be made low, and all the valleys to be filled
until made level, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God;† 8and at the command of
God, the woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel. 9For God will lead Israel with joy
in the light of His glory, with mercy and righteousness that come from Him.
                     L AM E NT AT IO NS O F J E RE M IAH
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Chapters in Lamentations of Jeremiah
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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62

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                                              The Lamentations of Jeremiah

    Author     —Jeremiah the prophet

    Date    —Written during the three months following the destruction of Jerusalem
  (October, 587 BC) and before Jeremiah was taken captive to Egypt in December of the
  same year.

    Major Themes        —God's judgment of the people's sins and His unfathomable love and
  sorrow for Israel. This is Jeremiah's personal testimonial and lament over the
  devastation of Jerusalem and the temple. The prophet maintains there is still hope for
  repentance and restoration. Consistent with his previous and later messages, here he
  instructs the suffering Jews not to despise God's punishment but to repent, confessing
  their sins and seeking forgiveness and deliverance.

    Background      —The destruction of Jerusalem has just occurred, and the people have been
  taken away as captives to Babylon. God continually forewarned them about these
  specific events through Jeremiah and His other prophets. The Lord had sent many
  prophecies about His punishment of those who would not keep His commandments.
  Jeremiah witnessed the destruction and laments over the loss of the people, the temple,
  and the city. The book contains five psalms.

 Outline

  I. The Psalm ist and the Daughter of Zion Lam ent the Destruction of Jerusalem am id Ruin and Misery (1 :1 –2 2 )

  II. The Psalm ist and the Daughter of Zion Describe the Day of the Lord (2 :1 –2 2 )

 III. Indiv idual Lam ent: Affliction and Hope (3 :1 –6 2 )

 IV. Com m unal Lam ent: Meditations in a Ruined City (4 :1 –2 2 )

  V. Com m unal Pray er for Deliv erance (5:1 –2 2 )




1 Now  it came to pass that after Israel was taken captive and Jerusalem became desolate,
  Jeremiah sat weeping; and he lamented this song of grief over Jerusalem and said:†

     1
         “How does the city now sit alone,

     She who was full of people?

     She has becom e like a widow,
She who was m ultiplied am ong the nations,

She who was ruling am ong the countries.

She has becom e subject to tribute.

2
    “She weeps bitterly in the night;

She sheds tears on her cheeks.

Yet am ong all her lov ers there is no one who com forts her.

All who lov e her hav e dealt treacherously with her.

They hav e becom e her enem ies.

3
    “Judea has gone into captiv ity

Because of her hum iliation and harsh serv itude.

She dwells am ong the Gentiles;

She finds no rest.

All who pursue her ov ertake her in the m idst of her distress.

4
    “The roads of Zion m ourn,

Because no one com es to the feast.

All her gates are destroy ed,

Her priests groan,

Her v irgins are led away ,

And she is em bittered in herself.

5
    “Her oppressors hav e becom e the m aster,

And her enem ies prosper;

For the Lord hum bled her

Because of the greatness of her ungodliness.

Her infants hav e gone into captiv ity in the presence of the oppressor. †

6
    “From the daughter of Zion

All her beauty has departed.

Her princes hav e becom e like ram s

That find no pasture,

And they journey in weakness

Before the face of the pursuer.

7
    “Jerusalem rem em bers her day s of hum iliation and rejection.

She rem em bers all her objects of desire,

What she had in day s of old,

When her people fell into the hand of the oppressor,

When there was no one to help her.
When her enem ies saw this, they laughed at her deportation. †

8
     “Jerusalem sinned griev ously ;

Therefore, she becam e a storm -tossed sea.

All who glorified her hav e hum iliated her,

For they saw her sham eful acts,

And indeed, she groans and turns away . †

9
     “Her uncleanness is at her feet.

She did not rem em ber her last things,

And she lowered her boasting tone.

There is no one who com forts her.

‘O Lord, behold m y hum iliation,

For the enem y has been exalted.’

10
     “The oppressor has spread his hand

Ov er all the objects of her desire,

For she sees the Gentiles entering her sanctuary ,

Those whom You com m anded not to enter Your church.

11
     “All her people groan

And seek for bread.

They gav e the objects of their desire for food

To stay aliv e.

‘O Lord, behold, and hav e regard for m e,

For I am treated sham efully . †

12
     ‘All y ou who pass by , do not turn away ,

And see if there is any pain like m y pain

Which has happened to m e.

The Lord who spoke by m e

Hum iliated m e in the day of His fierce anger.

13
     ‘From His lofty place He sent fire

And brought it into m y bones.

He spread a net for m y feet

And turned m e back.

He caused m e to perish

And to be in great pain all the day .

14
     ‘He kept watch on m y profane acts;

They are entangled together with m y hands;
They com e up about m y neck.

My strength weakens,

For the Lord has caused m y hands to be in pain.

I shall be unable to stand.

15
     ‘The Lord drov e off all m y m ighty ones from m y m idst.

He sum m oned an appointed tim e against m e

To crush m y chosen m en.

The Lord trod a winepress for the v irgin daughter of Judah,

And for these I weep.

16
     ‘My ey es pour down tears,

For He who com forts m e

And restores m y soul

Is gone far from m e.

My children hav e perished

Because the enem y has prev ailed.’

17
     “Zion has spread out her hands,

But there is no one who com forts her.

The Lord com m anded concerning Jacob;

His oppressors are around him ,

And Jerusalem has becom e as an unclean wom an in their m idst.

18
     ‘The Lord is righteous,

For I prov oked His m outh.

Hear now, all peoples,

And behold m y pain;

For My v irgins and m y y oung m en hav e gone into captiv ity . †

19
     ‘I called m y lov ers,

But they deceiv ed m e.

My priests and m y elders

Ended their life in the city ,

For they sought food for them selv es

To rev iv e their liv es;

But they found none.

20
     ‘Behold, O Lord, for I am afflicted.

My stom ach is troubled,

And m y heart is upset within m e;
For I hav e rebelled exceedingly .

From without, the sword has depriv ed m e of m y children,

As death has here at hom e.

21
     ‘Hear now, because I groan;

There is no one who com forts m e.

All m y enem ies heard of m y calam ities,

And they rejoiced,

Because You brought it about.

You brought on the day ;

You set the appointed tim e,

For they hav e becom e like m e.

22
     ‘So let all their ev il com e before Your face,

And do to them as they did to m e

Concerning all m y sins.

My groaning is great,

And m y heart is griev ed.’

2 “How did the Lord darken The daughter of Zion in His wrath?
He cast down the glory of Israel

From heav en to earth,

And did not rem em ber His footstool

In the day of His wrath.

2
    “The Lord has swallowed up and not spared

All the beauty of Jacob.

In His anger, He brought down the strongholds

Of the daughter of Judah.

He brought them down to the ground;

He desecrated her king and its princes. †

3
    “In fierce anger, He broke off ev ery horn of Israel

And drew back His right hand

From the face of the enem y .

He blazed against Jacob like a flam ing fire,

And it dev oured ev ery thing all around.

4
     “He bent His bow like an enem y

And strengthened His right hand like an adv ersary .

He put to death all the objects of m y desire,
And poured out His anger like a fire

On the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion.

5
    “The Lord becam e like an enem y

And swallowed up Israel.

He brought down all his palaces,

Destroy ed his strongholds,

And m ultiplied sham e and hum iliation

In the daughter of Judah. †

6
     “He opened and spread out His tabernacle like a v ine

And destroy ed His feast.

The Lord forgot His festiv als and the Sabbath

Which He appointed in Zion,

And in the fury of His wrath

He prov oked king, priest, and prince.

7
    “The Lord rejected His altar

And abandoned His sanctuary .

By the hand of the enem y ,

He broke in pieces the wall of her palaces.

They uttered their v oice in the house of the Lord

As on a feast day .

8
     “The Lord turned to destroy

The wall of the daughter of Zion.

He stretched out a m easuring line

And has not turned back His hand from tram pling her.

Therefore the bulwark m ourned,

And the wall weakened with it.

9
     “Her gates sank into the ground,

And He destroy ed and broke her bars.

Her king and her princes are am ong the Gentiles,

And the Law is no m ore;

And indeed, her prophets see no v ision from the Lord. †

10
     “The elders of the daughter of Zion

Sit on the ground and keep silence.

They throw dust on their heads

And gird them selv es with sackcloth.
They hav e brought down to the ground

The leading v irgins in Jerusalem .

11
     “My ey es fail with tears,

And m y heart is troubled.

My glory is poured out upon the ground

At the destruction of the daughter of m y people,

While the child and the nursing infants

Faint in streets of the city .

12
     “They say to their m others,

‘Where is the wheat and wine?’

While they faint like the wounded

In the streets of the city ,

While their liv es are being poured out

In their m others’ bosom . †

13
     “What shall I testify to y ou,

Or what shall I com pare to y ou,

O daughter of Jerusalem ?

Who will sav e and com fort y ou,

O v irgin daughter of Zion?

For the cup of y our destruction is great;

Who shall heal y ou?

14
     “Your prophets hav e seen foolishness

And worthless things for y ou,

But they did not rev eal y our wrongdoing

So as to turn back y our captiv ity .

Instead, they saw worthless burdens

And banishm ent for y ou.

15
     “All who pass by clap their hands at y ou,

And they hiss and shake their head

At the daughter of Jerusalem .

‘Is this the city they call

The crown of glory ,

The joy of all the earth?’†

16
     “All y our enem ies hav e opened their m ouths against y ou;

They hiss and gnash their teeth.
They say , ‘We hav e swallowed her up!

Besides, this is the day we hav e looked for;

We hav e found it; we hav e seen it.’

17
     “The Lord has done what He purposed;

He has carried out His words

Which He com m anded in day s of old.

He pulled down, and has not spared,

And has caused the enem y to rejoice ov er y ou.

He has exalted the horn of those who oppress y ou.

18
     Their heart cried out to the Lord,

‘O wall of Zion,

Pour down tears like torrents, day and night;

Giv e y ourself no relief;

May y our ey es hav e no rest, O daughter.

19
     ‘Arise, rejoice in the night,

At the beginning of y our watch.

Pour out y our heart like water

Before the face of the Lord,

And lift y our hands up to Him

For the life of y our infants,

Who grow weak in hunger

On the corner of ev ery street.’

20
     ‘Behold, O Lord, and look

For whom You hav e gathered thus.

Shall the wom en eat the fruit of their wom b?

The cook has m ade a gleaning;

Shall the infants who nurse the breasts be put to death?

Will y ou kill priest and prophet

In the sanctuary of the Lord?

21
     ‘The child and the old m an

Sleep in the street.

My v irgins and m y y oung m en

Hav e gone into captiv ity .

You killed them with sword and fam ine

In the day of Your wrath;
You m assacred and hav e not spared.

22
     ‘He called m y sojourner round about m e to a feast day .

There was no one who escaped, or were left

In the day of the Lord's wrath,

As I strengthened and m ultiplied

All m y enem ies.’†

3 “I am the m an who sees pov erty By the rod of His anger upon m e.
2
     He took m e and led m e away

Into darkness, and not into light. †

3
     Surely He has turned His hand against m e

Throughout the day .

4
     “He has aged m y flesh and m y skin

And has broken m y bones.

5
     He has besieged m e

And surrounded m y head;

He has worn m e down with hardships.

6
     He set m e in dark places

As those long dead.

7
     “He hedged m e in,

And I cannot com e forth;

He m ade m y brazen chain heav y .

8
     Though I will call and cry out,

He shuts out m y pray er.

9
     He has blocked m y way s

And obstructed m y paths;

He has troubled m e.

10
     “He is a bear ly ing in wait for m e

Like a lion in a hidden place.

11
     After I departed, He eagerly pursued and caught m e;

He has utterly ruined m e.

12
     He bent his bow

And set m e up as a target for the arrow.

13
     “He caused the arrows of His quiv er

To pierce m y loins.

14
     I becam e a laughingstock to all m y people,
And their song all the day .

15
     He has filled m e with bitterness

And drenched m e with gall.

16
     “He also broke m y teeth with grav el

And fed m e with ashes.

17
     He took away peace from m y soul,

And I hav e forgotten the good things.

18
     Therefore I said, ‘My v ictory and m y hope

Hav e perished from the Lord.’

19
     “I rem em bered by reason of m y pov erty ,

And because of m y persecution, I rem em bered m y bitterness and gall.

20
     My soul shall rem em ber

And m editate within m e.

21
     I will fix this in m y heart;

Therefore, I will endure.

22
     “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him ,

To the soul who will seek Him , the Good One. †

23
     He will wait for and quietly expect

The salv ation of the Lord.

24
     It is good for a m an when he takes up

A y oke in his y outh.

25
     “He will sit alone and be silent,

Because he bears it on him self.

26
     He will giv e his cheek to the one who strikes him ,

And he will be filled with insults.

27
     Yet the Lord shall not reject him forev er.

28
     “For He who hum bles will hav e com passion

According to the abundance of His m ercy .

29
     For He does not afflict willingly ,

Though He hum bles the children of m en.

30
     “To hum ble all the prisoners of the earth

Under His feet,

31
     “To turn aside the judgm ent of a m an

Before the face of the Most High,

32
     And to condem n a m an
Before he is judged,

The Lord does not com m and.

33
     Who thus speaks,

And it com es to pass?

The Lord has not com m anded it,

34
     “For ev il and good shall not proceed

From the m outh of the Most High.

35
     Why should a liv ing m an com plain,

A m an concerning his sin?

36
     Our way has been searched out and exam ined;

Therefore we shall turn to the Lord.

37
     “Let us lift our hearts and our hands

To the Most High in heav en.

38
     We hav e sinned and acted in an ungodly way ;

Thus You hav e not shown us m ercy .

39
     But You v isited us in anger

And drov e us away .

You hav e put us to death

And not spared us.

40
     “You v eiled Yourself with a cloud

Because of our pray er.

41
     To close m y ey es and to reject m e,

You hav e placed us in the m idst of the peoples.

42
     All our enem ies hav e opened

Their m outh against us.

43
     “Fear and anger hav e com e upon us,

Yes, dev astation and destruction.

44
     My ey es will shed tears for forgiv eness

Because of the destruction of the daughter of m y people.

45
     My ey es are drowned with tears,

And I will not keep silent;

So there shall be no rest,

46
     “Until the Lord bends down

And sees from heav en.

47
     My ey es will bring suffering in m y soul
Because of all the daughters of the city .

48
     My enem ies hunted m e down

Without cause, like a sparrow.

49
     “They put m y life to death in the pit

And threw a stone at m e.

50
     Water flowed ov er m y head;

I said, ‘I am rejected.’

51
     I called on Your nam e, O Lord,

From the lowest pit.

52
     “You heard m y v oice;

Do not hide Your ears from m y supplication.

53
     You drew near at m y call on the day I called upon You.

You said to m e, ‘Do not fear.’

54
     O Lord, You pleaded the case for m y soul;

You redeem ed m y life.

55
     “O Lord, You saw m y troubles;

You judged m y cause.

56
     You saw all their v engeance

In all their reasoning against m e.

57
     You heard their taunts

And all their plots against m e,

58
     “And the lips of those who rose up against m e,

And their m editations against m e all the day .

59
     Look at their ey es

As they sit down and rise up.

60
     You shall render a recom pense to them , O Lord,

According to the works of their hands.

61
     “You shall repay them as a cov ering

Your hardship for them .

62
     You shall pursue them in Your wrath and utterly destroy them

From under heav en, O Lord.

4 “How will gold lose its brightness
And fine silv er becom e tarnished?

The stones of the sanctuary are scattered

At the head of ev ery street. †
2
    “The honored sons of Zion,

Valuable as gold,

How are they now regarded as clay pots,

The works of a potter's hands?

3
    “Ev en the serpents uncov er their breasts

To nurse their y oung;

But the daughters of m y people are cruel,

Like an ostrich in the desert. †

4
     “The tongue of the nursing child cleav es

To the roof of its m outh for thirst.

The y oung children beg for bread,

But no one breaks it for them .

5
    “Those who ate delicacies

Perish in the streets;

Those brought up on the best food

Are clothed with dung.

6
     “The lawlessness of the daughter of My people

Is greater than the lawlessness of Sodom ,

Which was ov erthrown in a m om ent,

And there was no one to help her. †

7
    “Her Nazirites were purer than snow;

They shone m ore brightly than m ilk;

They were purified as with fire;

Their polishing was superior to sapphire stones. †

8
     “Now their appearance is blacker than soot;

They go unrecognized in the streets;

Their skin clings to their bones;

It is withered and has becom e as dry as wood.

9
     “Those slain by the sword are better off

Than those who die of hunger,

Depriv ed of the fruits of the field.

10
     “The hands of com passionate wom en

Cooked their children;

They becam e food for them

In the destruction of the daughter of m y people.
11
     “The Lord has fulfilled His anger;

He has poured out His fierce wrath.

He has kindled a fire in Zion,

And it dev oured her foundations.

12
     “The kings of the earth

And all inhabitants in the world

Would not believ e

That the enem y and oppressor

Could enter through the gates of Jerusalem .

13
     “For the sins of her prophets

And the lawlessness of her priests,

Who shed righteous blood in her m idst, †

14
     “Her watchm en wandered in the streets.

They were defiled with blood in their weakness

And stained their garm ents with it.

15
     “Depart from the unclean.

Call to them , ‘Depart! Depart!

Do not touch us!’

For they are set on fire and indeed wander.

Say am ong the Gentiles,

‘Let them not liv e here.’

16
     “Their portion shall not continue

To enjoy the Lord's presence,

When He looked upon them with fav or.

For they did not respect the person of the priests,

Nor did they show m ercy to the elders. †

17
     “While we y et liv ed,

Our ey es failed us

As we looked in v ain for help.

We kept watching intently

For a nation that could not sav e us.

18
     “We hunted for our little ones

So they would not walk in our streets.

Our appointed tim e is near,

Our day s are fulfilled;
Our tim e is com e.

19
     “Our pursuers were swifter

Than the eagles of the sky .

They perched on the m ountains

And lay in wait for us in the desert.

20
     “The breath of our nostrils, the Anointed of the Lord,

Was seized in their corruption,

Of whom we said, ‘Under His shadow

We shall liv e am ong the nations.’†

21
     “Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom ,

Who dwell in the land.

For indeed the cup of the Lord shall pass through to y ou,

And y ou shall becom e drunk and be poured out. †

22
     “O daughter of Zion, y our lawlessness has com e to an end;

He will not continue y our exile.

He has been concerned about y our lawlessness,

O daughter of Edom ;

He has rev ealed y our profane acts.

5 “O Lord, rem em ber what happened to us;
Look upon us with fav or

And see our disgrace. †

2
    Our inheritance has been turned ov er to foreigners,

And our hom es to strangers. †

3
    We hav e becom e orphans and hav e no father;

Our m others are as widows.

4
     “We pay for the water we drink,

And our wood com es at a price.

5
    We are pursued at our heels;

We hav e labored;

We hav e no rest. †

6
     Egy pt gav e us a hand,

Assy ria to their satisfaction.

7
    “Our fathers sinned and are no m ore;

We suffered from their lawless actions.

8
     Serv ants rule ov er us;
There is no one to redeem us from their hand.

9
     We will bring in our bread

At the risk of our liv es

From the presence of the sword in the desert.

10
     “Our skin has becam e blackened as an ov en.

They are shriv eled up from the storm y wind of fam ine.

11
     They hum bled the wom en in Zion,

The v irgins in the cities of Judah.

12
     Princes were hung up by their hands,

And elders were not honored.

13
     The chosen m en took up weeping,

And the y oung m en weakened under the loads of wood.

14
     Elders also ceased to gather at the gate;

The chosen m en ceased to sing their psalm s.

15
     “The joy of our heart has ceased;

Our dance has turned into m ourning.

16
     The crown fell from our head;

Woe to us, because we sinned!

17
     Because of this, our heart has becom e painful;

Because of this, our ey es hav e rem ained in darkness.

18
     On Mount Zion, because it is desolate,

Foxes pass through it.

19
     “But You, O Lord, shall dwell forev er,

Your throne from generation to generation. †

20
     Why will You utterly forget us?

Will You forsake us for so long a tim e?

21
     Turn us back to You, O Lord,

And we shall be conv erted;

Renew our day s as before.

22
     For You hav e indeed rejected us,

And are exceedingly angry with us.”
                            E PIST L E O F J E RE M IAH
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Chapters in Epistle of Jeremiah
Introduction

1

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Verses in Epistle of Jeremiah Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71, 72, 73

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                                                        The Epistle of Jeremiah

    Author   —Jeremiah the prophet

    Date   —Written in the aftermath of the sack of Jerusalem (597 BC) and the exile to
  Babylon of her leaders, probably from Egypt.

    Major Theme      —Beware of idols!

    Background      —The epistle is a diatribe against the sin of idolatry as represented by the
  Baal cult. Jeremiah wrote to the Israelites to exhort and warn them to be free of a sin
  that must have been on the increase at this time. Because the epistle has very little
  historical information, it became timeless and was used by certain Church Fathers to
  combat pagan errors and superstitions practiced in their own day. The epistle conveys a
  message that heresy and false ideas about God are both ridiculous and untenable.

 Outline

  I. Historical Inform ation (v v . 1 –6 )

  II. Condem nation of Idolatry (v v . 7 –7 3 )

         A. Idols adorned like people (v v . 7 –1 4 )

         B. Uselessness and helplessness of idols (v v . 1 5–2 4 )

         C. Idols cannot m ov e (v v . 2 5–2 8)

         D. Idols cannot repay good or ev il; they cannot giv e wealth, sav e, or heal (v v . 2 9 –3 9 )

         E. The Chaldeans ev en bring sham e upon their own idols (v v . 4 0–4 4 )

         F. Idols are the works of hum an hands (v v . 4 5–52 )

         G. Idols are powerless (v v . 53 –57 )

         H. Idols cannot be com pared to the sun, m oon, stars, anim als, etc. (v v . 58–6 9 )

           I. Idols com pared to scarecrows, bram bles, and a corpse (v v . 7 0–7 3 )



  The copy of an epistle Jeremiah sent to those being led away as captives to Babylon by the
king of the Babylonians, to proclaim a message to them, as it was commanded him by God.

  1Because of the sins you committed in the sight of God, you will be led away to Babylon as

captives by Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonians. 2After you enter Babylon, you will
remain there many years, even a long time, as many as seven generations. But after this, I
shall lead you from that place with peace. 3Now in Babylon you will see gods of silver, gold,
and wood carried upon shoulders as displays of fear to the Gentiles.† 4Therefore do not
reverence them, lest you become like the foreigners, and fear also seizes you because of
them† 5when you see a multitude worshiping them, both in front of and behind them. But
say in your mind, “One must worship You, O Lord.” 6For My angel is with all of you, and he is
searching your souls.†

                                Idols Dressed Like People

  7Indeed their tongue is polished by a craftsman, and they are plated with silver and gold.

But they are false and unable to speak. 8As though for a virgin, they take gold and prepare
crowns upon the heads of their gods. 9But there are times when the priests will rob the silver
and gold from their gods and spend them on themselves, and also give some of them to the
prostitutes in their chamber. 10So they adorn them—these gods of silver, gold, and wood—
with clothing like humans, but they cannot preserve themselves against scum and moth.

  11After they clothe them with a purple garment, they wipe their face because of the dust

from the temple, which is thick upon them. 12One of them holds a scepter, like the judge of a
country who does not put to death the one who sins against him. 13Another holds a dagger in
his right hand and a battleax itself, but he cannot defend himself from war and robbers.
14From this, it is evident they are not gods; therefore, do not fear them.†

                                      Useless, Lifeless

  15For as the vessel of a man is shattered and becomes useless, such are their gods as they

sit in their temples. 16Their eyes are full of dust from the feet of those who enter. 17As
courtyards are fenced all around against someone who offends a king, and thus is awaiting
the death penalty, so the priests also fortify the temples of their gods with doors, bars, and
bolts, lest they be plundered by robbers. 18Although their gods cannot see for themselves,
they burn many lamps for them. 19Indeed, as the saying goes, the gods are like a wooden
beam in their temple, for their hearts are eaten out by the creeping things of the earth, which
devour both them and their clothing; 20and the face of their idols is blackened by the smoke
from the temple; yet all this goes unnoticed. 21Bats, swallows, and other birds also perch on
their body and head, and even cats likewise sit there. 22So know from this that they are not
gods; therefore, do not fear them.

  23As for the gold worn by the idols for beauty, unless someone wipes off the scum, it does

not shine; neither did they notice this when they were formed. 24Although they are bought at
a high price, there is no spirit in them. 25Since they are without feet, they must be carried on
the shoulders of others, which demonstrates the disgrace of these idols before mankind.
Moreover, those who serve them are put to shame, because if the idol happens to fall to the
ground, it must be lifted up by them. 26Even if someone should stand it upright, it would not
move by itself, nor if it were bent over, it would not straighten up; yet gifts are offered to it by
them as to the dead. 27But the priests sell their sacrifices to make full use of this money for
themselves. Likewise even their wives preserve the meat offered them, though neither the
poor nor the lame are given a share; and even a woman in her menstruation, or one just
giving birth, touches them. 28Since you know from this that they are not gods, therefore, do
not fear them.

                                          False Priests

  29How then can these be called gods? For women serve offerings to these gods of silver,

gold, and wood. 30Even the priests sit in their temples, and their clothes are torn. Their heads
and beards are also closely shaven and uncovered 31as they roar and shout before their gods,
as some do at a feast. 32The priests take the garments of their idols to clothe their wives and
children. 33Whether these gods may suffer evil by someone or even good, they will not be
able to repay either. Even more, they are not capable of raising up a king, nor do they have
the power to remove one. 34Likewise they are unable to give wealth or money to anyone.
Moreover if someone makes a vow to them but does not pay it, they will not seek payment
from him.† 35They cannot deliver a man from death, nor rescue the weak from the strong.
36They cannot restore the sight of a blind man, nor rescue someone in distress, nor deliver

anyone in trouble. 37They cannot show mercy to a widow, nor do good to the orphan.
38These wooden idols, plated with silver and gold, are likened to stones on a mountain, and

those who serve them will be put to shame.† 39How then can anyone suppose them to be
gods, or call them such?

                                  Undiscerning Chaldeans

  40Besides, even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them, for when they see someone
without the power of speech, they bring him to Bel. They consider it worthy to call out to him,
as though he could understand. 41Yet they themselves do not understand so as to abandon
their idols, for they have no discernment. 42The women also put cords around themselves
and sit in the streets, burning corn as incense. 43When one of these women is led off by
some passerby and sleeps with him, she insults her neighbor because she was not as
desirable as herself, nor was her cord broken.† 44Everything to do with these idols is a lie.
How then can anyone suppose them to be gods, or call them such?

                                    Idols Are a Disgrace

  45They are fashioned by craftsmen and goldsmiths. They cannot be anything but what the

craftsmen desire them to be.† 46Even those who fashion them do not attain a long life;
therefore, how can the things created by them be gods? 47For they leave behind lies and a
disgrace for those who come after. 48Indeed, when war and calamities fall upon them, the
priests counsel among themselves so they may hide themselves with them.† 49How then is it
not perceived that they are not gods, who can neither save themselves from war nor
calamities? 50For they are wood, plated with silver and gold, 51and it will become known and
evident in due time to the Gentiles and their kings that they are false and not gods, but rather
the works of men's hands. There is nothing of God's work in them. 52Who then can fail to
know that they are not gods?

  53For they cannot raise up a king for a country, nor can they give mankind rain. 54They
cannot decide a case, nor can they help one who is wronged; for they are like crows tossed
about in the air. 55Indeed, when a fire breaks out in the temple of these wooden gods, plated
with silver or gold, their priests will run and save themselves, but these beams of wood in the
midst will be burned up.† 56They offer no resistance against a king or in a war. 57How then
can one admit or suppose that they are gods?

  58Neither can wooden gods save themselves from thieves or robbers, since they are plated
with silver and gold. For those who are strong will take away their silver and gold and the
clothing they wear. Nor can they help themselves. 59So it is better to be a king able to
demonstrate his own courage, or a household utensil that is useful to its owner, than to be
false gods. It is better to be a wooden pillar in a palace than to be false gods.† 60For indeed
the sun, moon, and stars that shine brightly are sent for a useful purpose, and they obey.
61Likewise, when lightning flashes it is seen far and wide, and the wind blows in every

country. 62So too, when God commands the clouds to travel across the whole earth, they
fulfill what is commanded. So does fire when it is sent from above to consume the mountains
and forests, and does what is ordered. 63But idols cannot be compared to any of this, either in
power or appearance. 64Therefore they are not to be considered as gods, nor as able to make
judgments, nor to be good for mankind. 65So then, since you know they are not gods, do not
fear them.

  66For they can neither curse nor bless kings. 67They cannot show signs in heaven to the

Gentiles, so as to shine like the sun or give light like the moon. 68The wild animals are
superior to them, for they are able to flee for shelter to profit themselves.† 69Therefore, there
is no evidence to prove that they are gods, so do not fear them.

 70For like a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers, guarding nothing worthwhile, so are their

wooden gods, plated with silver and gold. 71They are like a thorn bush in a garden on which
every bird perches, and they are like a dead man cast into darkness. Such are their wooden
gods, plated with silver and gold.

  72Because of the purple and fine linen rotting on them, you will know that they themselves

are not gods. Afterwards, they will be consumed, and become a disgrace in the land.† 73Better
therefore is a man who is righteous and has no idols, for he shall be far from disgrace.†
                                           E Z E K IE L
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Chapters in Ezekiel
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 23
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 25
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 26
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 27
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 28
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 29
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 30
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 31
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 32
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 33
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 34
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 35
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 36
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 37
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 38
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 39
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 40
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 41
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 42
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 43
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 44
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 45
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 46
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 47
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Ezekiel Chapter 48
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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                                                           The Book of Ezekiel

   Author   —The prophet Ezekiel himself. No one else could be so intimately informed of
his actions and intentions.

   Date   —The generally accepted time frame in which the book was written is 595–572 BC.
This work contains more dates than any other Old Testament prophetic book, and the
times of the prophecies are accurately described.

   Major Theme      —God's direction of events in heaven and on earth. His revelation of
knowledge to all the nations is another predominant theme running throughout the
book. He is the Judge, but He is equally desirous to be gracious and merciful.

   Background     —The holy prophet Ezekiel (commemorated on July 23), whose name means
“God strengthens,” was of the tribe of Levi. He was therefore both priest and prophet,
and he was married. He grew up during the reign of King Josiah of Judah (640–609
BC), but his prophetic ministry spanned the years 595 to 572 BC. More than any other
prophet, Ezekiel was called by God to involve himself personally in the divine word by
acting it out in prophetic symbolism. He was a contemporary of the prophets Jeremiah
and Daniel.

Outline

 I. The Com m ission of Ezekiel (1 :1 –3 :2 7 )

        A. Ezekiel sees the glory of God (1 :1 –2 7 )

        B. Ezekiel is called to prophesy (2 :1 –3 :2 7 )

II. Judgm ent on Judah (4 :1 –2 4 :2 7 )

        A. Signs of the com ing judgm ent (4 :1 –5:1 7 )

        B. Messages of the com ing judgm ent (6 :1 –7 :2 7 )

        C. Vision of com ing judgm ent (8:1 –1 1 :2 5)

        D. Signs, parables, and m essages of judgm ent (1 2 :1 –2 4 :2 7 )

III. Judgm ent on the Gentiles (2 5:1 –3 2 :3 2 )

        A. Judgm ent on Am m on (2 5:1 –7 )

        B. Judgm ent on Moab (2 5:8–1 1 )

        C. Judgm ent on Edom (2 5:1 2 –1 4 )

        D. Judgm ent on Crete (2 5:1 5–1 7 )
         E. Judgm ent on Ty re (2 6 :1 –2 8:1 9 )

          F. Judgm ent on Sidon (2 8:2 0–2 6 )

         G. Judgm ent on Egy pt (2 9 :1 –3 2 :3 2 )

 IV. Restoration of Israel (3 3 :1 –4 8:3 5)

         A. Return of Israel to the land (3 3 :1 –3 9 :2 9 )

         B. Restoration of Israel to tem ple worship (4 0:1 –4 8:3 5)



                                 Ezekiel's Vision of God and the Four Creatures


1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the
  month, as I was in the midst of the captivity by the River Chebar, the heavens were opened
and I saw visions of God.† 2On the fifth day of the month, in the fifth year of King
Jehoiachin's captivity, 3the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in
the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was upon me.†

  4I looked, and behold, a sweeping wind came from the north, and a great cloud was in it,
with a surrounding brightness and fire flashing forth from it. In its midst was something like
the appearance of amber in the middle of the fire, and a brightness in it. 5In the midst, there
was as it were the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance, and the
likeness of a man upon them.† 6Each had four faces, and each had four wings. 7Their legs
were straight, and their feet were winged. There were sparks like gleaming brass, and their
wings were light. 8The hand of a man was underneath their wings on their four sides. 9The
faces of those four did not turn as they proceeded, and they went with each face opposite the
other. 10This was the likeness of their faces: the face of a man, the face of a lion on the right
side of the foursome, the face of an ox on the left, and the face of an eagle.† 11Their wings
were spread out above them. Each had two wings joined together, and two wings covered up
their bodies. 12Each went straight forward wherever the spirit was going, and did not turn
back. 13In the midst of the living creatures there was an appearance as of burning coals of
fire, as an appearance of lamps turning among the living creatures. There was the brightness
of fire, and out of the fire lightning came forth.†

   14I looked and behold, there was one wheel on the earth next to each living creature with

its four faces.† 15The appearance of the wheels was like the appearance of beryl, and each of
the four had one likeness; and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel. 16They went
on their four sides, and did not turn when they went. 17Neither did their backs turn, and they
were high. I saw them, and the backs of all four were full of eyes all around. 18When the
living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures lifted up
from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. 19Wherever the cloud happened to be, there was
the spirit ready to go. The living creatures went, and the wheels went with them, for the spirit
of life was in the wheels. 20When the living creatures went, the wheels went; when the living
creatures came to a stop, the wheels stopped; and when those were lifted up from the earth,
the wheels were lifted up with them, for the spirit of life was in the wheels.

  21The likeness above the heads of the living creatures was like a firmament, like the

appearance of crystal, spread out over their wings above. 22Their wings were outspread
underneath the firmament, clapping their wings one to the other, two wings joined to each,
and two wings covering up their bodies.† 23I heard the sound of their wings when they went,
like the sound of much water; and when they stood still, their wings rested.

  24Then behold, a voice came from above the firmament, above their head. 25There was as
it were the appearance of a sapphire stone, and the likeness of a throne upon it. Upon the
likeness of the throne there was as it were the appearance of a man above.† 26Then I saw as
it were the outward appearance of amber from the appearance of the waist and upward. From
the appearance of the waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire with
brightness round about. 27Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was
the condition of the surrounding brightness.†

                           Ezekiel Called as a Prophet to Israel

  This was the vision of the likeness of the Lord's glory. I saw it, and I fell down on my face,
and heard the voice of One speaking.

   Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.” 2The Spirit
2 then came upon me, took me up, raised me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him
speaking to me. 3So He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the house of Israel, to
the ones provoking Me. They have provoked Me, they and their fathers, up to this very day.
4Then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord.’ 5Now then, if they listen or are put off—for
they are a rebellious house—still they will know you are a prophet in their midst.
  6“But you, Son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be dismayed by their looks, for they
will swarm and sting you, and crowd against you on every side. You will live in the midst of
scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, for they are a house of
provocation. 7You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or are put off, because
they are a house of provocation. 8You, son of man, listen to the One who speaks to you. Do
not be one who rebels like the house of provocation, but open your mouth wide, and eat what
I give you.”

  9Then I looked, and behold, there was a hand reaching out to me, and the roll of a book

was in it.† 10He unrolled it before me, and there written on the inside and the outside were
words of lamentation and mourning and woe.


3 Then   He said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll, and go and speak to the children of
  Israel.”† 2So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll. 3Then He said to me, “Son of
man, your mouth shall eat and your stomach will be filled with this scroll that is given you.”
So I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. 4Then He said to me, “Son of man, go!
Go to the house of Israel, and speak My words to them. 5For you are not sent to a people of
unfamiliar speech and obscure language, but to the house of Israel. 6Neither are you sent to
many peoples speaking a foreign language or using strange tongues, nor to a people of heavy
speech, whose words you would not understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would
have listened to you.† 7But the house of Israel shall be unwilling to listen to you, because
they are unwilling to listen to Me; for all the house of Israel is argumentative and hard-
hearted. 8Behold, I have made your face to be strong against their faces, and I will strengthen
your case against their arguments. 9Your argument shall be continually stronger than a rock.
Do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their faces; for they are a house of provocation.”

  10Again He said to me, “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words I have spoken to

you, and listen with your ears. 11Go! Go to the captives, to the children of your people, and
you shall speak to them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord,’ whether they listen or whether they
refuse.” 12Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a great thunderous voice:
“Blessed is the glory of the Lord from His place.” 13I also perceived the sound of the wings of
the living creatures as they clapped one to the other, and the sound of the wheels nearby, and
the sound of the earth quaking.† 14Then the Spirit moved me and raised me up, and I went
forth under the impulse of my spirit; but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me. 15Thus
lifted up, I then entered among the captivity and circulated among those who were dwelling
by the River Chebar. I sat there for seven days, holding conversation in their midst.†

                                 Ezekiel Made a Watchman

  16Again it came to pass, after seven days, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
17“Son of man, I made you a watchman for the house of Israel, and you will hear a word from

My mouth and shall threaten them from Me:† 18When I say to the lawless, ‘You shall surely
die,’ and you do not give him explicit warning, nor speak to warn the lawless to turn from his
ways so he may live, that lawless man shall die in his unrighteousness; but his blood I will
require at your hand. 19However, if you warn the lawless, and he does not turn from his
lawlessness, nor from his way, that lawless man shall die in his unrighteousness; but you
delivered your soul. 20Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and
commits a transgression, and I put him to the test, he shall die, because you did not give him
explicit warning. He shall die in his sins, and his righteous deeds which he did shall not be
remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.† 21But if you explicitly warn the
righteous man not to sin, and he does not sin, the righteous man shall live, because you
explicitly warned him; and you will deliver your own soul.”

  22Again the hand of the Lord came upon me, and He said to me, “Arise and go out into the

plain, and there you will be spoken to.”† 23So I arose and went out into the plain, and behold,
the glory of the Lord stood there, just like the vision and just like the glory I saw by the River
Chebar; and I fell on my face. 24Then the Spirit came upon me and set me on my feet, and
said to me, “Go inside and shut yourself within your house. 25As for you, son of man, behold,
chains are appointed for you, and they will put you in them so you cannot go out from their
midst. 26I shall bind your tongue, and you will become deaf. You will not be for them as a
man to convict them, for they are a house of provocation. 27But when I speak with you, I
shall open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord.’ He who hears, let
him hear; and he who disobeys, let him disobey; for it is a house of provocation.

                             The Siege of Jerusalem Predicted


4 “As for you, son of man, take a brick for yourself and lay it before you. You shall put it
  before your face and outline the city of Jerusalem on it.† 2On this outline you shall draw a
wall, build a rampart round about it, put a barricade against it, place armies around it, and
arrange it with engines of war all around. 3Then take for yourself a frying-pan made of iron,
and set it as an iron wall between you and the city. Set your face against the city, and it shall
be in confinement; and you shall shut it up completely. This will be a sign to the children of
Israel.

  4“You shall sleep on your left side and lay the acts of unrighteousness of the house of
Israel upon it. For one hundred and fifty days, for this number of days, you shall sleep on it;
for you shall bear their acts of unrighteousness.† 5For I have laid on you their two acts of
unrighteousness according to the number of the days, one hundred and ninety days. You
shall bear the acts of unrighteousness of the house of Israel. 6When you accomplish all this,
then you shall sleep on your right side; and you shall bear the acts of unrighteousness of the
house of Judah for forty days. I have appointed you a day for each year. 7You shall set your
face toward the confinement of Jerusalem; and you shall strengthen your arm and prophesy
against it. 8Behold, I have appointed chains for you, and you may turn from one side to the
other until the days of your confinement are accomplished.

  9“Also take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into one
vessel made of earth, and make loaves of bread for yourself. According to the number of days
you sleep on your side, one hundred and ninety days, you shall eat them. 10Your food which
you eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day; from time to time you shall eat them. 11You
shall also drink water by measure, one-sixth of a hin, and from time to time you shall drink.
12You shall eat them as a barley cake baked in ashes. You shall bake them in their sight in the

filth of human dung.† 13Then you shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: So shall the
children of Israel eat unclean things among the Gentiles.’ ”

  14So I said, “Not so, O Lord God of Israel. Behold, my soul has not defiled itself with
uncleanness, nor from my youth up until now have I eaten what died of itself or was torn by
beasts, nor has day-old meat entered my mouth.” 15Then He said to me, “Behold, I give you
cow dung instead of human waste, and you shall prepare your loaves of bread upon it.”
16Then He said to me, “Son of man, behold, I will break the support of bread in Jerusalem,
and they shall eat bread by weight and in want and drink water by measure and in a state of
ruin, 17so as to become in need of bread and water. A man shall destroy his brother, and they
shall waste away in their wrongdoings.

                           Jerusalem's Desolation Prophesied
5 “As for you, son of man, take for yourself a sword sharper than a barber's razor. Acquire it
  for yourself, and shave your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the
hair.† 2One-fourth you shall burn in the midst of the city, at the completion of the days of the
confinement. Then you shall take one-fourth and burn it up in its midst, and one-fourth you
shall cut up around about all sides with the sword; and one-fourth you shall scatter to the
wind. Thus I will unsheathe a sword after them. 3You shall also take from there a small
amount of hair and wrap it in the fold of your garment. 4Then from this amount, again take
some and throw it into the midst of the fire and burn it in the fire. Fire shall come forth from
it, and you shall say to all the house of Israel, 5‘Thus says the Lord: “This is Jerusalem; I have
put her in the midst of the surrounding countries, in the midst of the nations.† 6So you shall
speak of My ordinances to the lawless one among the nations, and my laws to the lawless one
from the surrounding countries; because they rejected My ordinances, and have not walked
in My laws.” 7Therefore thus says the Lord: “Because your opportunity for lawlessness is
taken from the nations around you, and you have not walked in my laws, nor kept My
ordinances—indeed you have not even kept the ordinances of the nations around you—”†
8therefore, thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will execute judgment in your midst in the sight of

the nations. 9I will do among you what I have not done, and the likes of which I will not do
again, because of all your abominations. 10Therefore fathers shall eat their children in your
midst, and children shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments among you, and all of
you who remain, I will scatter to every wind. 11Therefore, as I live,” says the Lord, “surely,
because you defiled My holy things with all your abominations, I also will reject you. My eye
will not spare, nor will I have any mercy. 12One-fourth of you shall be destroyed by death,
and one-fourth shall be consumed in your midst by famine. One-fourth of you I will scatter to
every wind, and one-fourth of you will fall by the sword all around you, for I will unsheathe a
sword after them. 13Thus shall My anger and My wrath be accomplished against them. You
will come to know this because I, the Lord, have spoken in My zeal, when I accomplish My
anger against them. 14I will make you desolate, along with your daughters around you, in the
sight of everyone who travels through. 15You shall be mournful and miserable among the
nations around you when I execute judgments among you, in the vengeance of my anger. I,
the Lord, have spoken. 16When I send forth against them My arrows of famine, and they are
extinguished, I also shall break your supply of bread. 17So I will send against you famine and
evil beasts and shall punish you. Death and blood shall pass through upon you, and I will
bring a sword against you, all about you. I, the Lord, have spoken.” ’ ”

                               The Lord Condemns Idolatry

    Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 2“Son of man, set your face against the
6
    mountains of Israel and prophesy against them. 3You shall say, ‘You mountains of Israel,
hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord to the mountains and hills, and to the ravines
and valleys: “Behold, I shall bring a sword against you and destroy your high places. 4Your
altars, along with your sacred precincts, shall be broken down. I shall cast down your
wounded in the presence of your idols, 5and scatter your bones all around your altars. 6In all
your dwelling places, the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be abolished, so
as to destroy your altars and break your idols in pieces and remove your sacred precincts.

  7“The wounded shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the Lord, 8when
some among you are escaping from the sword among the nations and when you are scattered
among the countries. 9Then those of you who escape among the nations where they were
taken captive will remember Me. For I swore an oath against their heart, which went away
from Me and committed fornication, and against their eyes, which committed fornication
after their practices. They shall mourn over themselves amid all their abominations. 10Then
they shall come to know that I, the Lord, have spoken.”

  11‘Thus says the Lord: “Clap your hands and stamp your feet, and say, ‘Good, well done!
Good, well done!’ Because of all the abominations of the house of Israel, they shall fall by the
sword, by death, and by famine. 12He who is near shall fall by the sword, and he who is far off
shall die an untimely death; and he who is in the confinement shall perish by famine. Thus
will I accomplish My wrath upon them. 13Then you shall come to know that I am the Lord,
when your wounded are among your idols, all around your altars, on every high hill, and
under every shady tree where they offered a sweet aroma to their idols. 14So I will stretch out
My hand against them, and appoint the land for destruction and ruin, from the desert of
Diblah, in all their dwelling places. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

                                Judgment Is Near for Israel

    Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 2“You, son of man, speak and say, ‘Thus
7 says the Lord to the land of Israel: “An end has come; the end has come upon the four
corners of the land. 3An end has come upon you who dwell in the land. 4The time has come;
the day is near, not with tumult nor with travail. 5Now it is near. I shall pour out my wrath
upon you and accomplish My anger among you. I shall judge you in your ways and cause all
your abominations to come upon you. 6My eye will not spare, neither will I show mercy;
because I will cause your ways to come against you. Your abominations shall be in your
midst, and you will know that I am the Lord who smites. 7Now the end has come to you. I
shall send judgment upon you, take vengeance on your ways, and recompense all your
abominations upon you. 8My eye will not spare against you, nor will I have mercy; because I
will cause your way to come against you, and your abominations shall be in your midst. You
shall know that I am the Lord.”

  9‘For thus says the Lord: 10“Behold, the end has come. Behold, the day of the Lord.

Although the rod has blossomed, arrogance has risen forth. 11The support of the lawless one
shall be crushed, and without either tumult or haste. 12The time has come, behold the day.
Let not the buyer rejoice, and let not the seller mourn. 13For the one who buys shall no
longer turn to the one who sells, and a man shall no longer have control over his life. 14Blow
with the trumpet and judge all at once. 15There shall be war by the sword from without and
death and famine from within. He who is in the field will die by the sword, and famine and
death shall destroy those in the city. 16Those who are saved and survive will be on the
mountains; I will slay all the rest—each one in his wrongdoings. 17All hands shall be feeble,
and all legs will be stained with urine. 18They will clothe themselves with sackcloth, and
astonishment shall cover them. Shame will be on them—on every face, and baldness on every
head. 19They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be disregarded. Their
souls will not be satisfied, nor their stomachs filled; because it became their stumbling block
of wrongdoings.

  20“As for their choice of adornment, they displayed these in arrogance and made their
abominable images from them. For this reason I caused these things to be uncleanness to
them. 21I will hand over these things into the hands of foreigners, to plunder these things;
and I will give these things to the troublemakers of the land as booty, and they shall desecrate
them. 22I will turn My face away from them, and they will defile My place of service. They
will enter it unguardedly and desecrate it.

  23“They will create disorder, because the land is full of peoples, and the city is full of
lawlessness. 24I will turn back the pride of their strength, and their holy things shall be
defiled. 25Though propitiation shall come and one shall seek peace, there shall be none.

  26“There will be woe upon woe, and message upon message, and a vision will be sought

from a prophet; but the law will perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders. 27The
ruler shall clothe himself with destruction, and the hands of the people of the land will
weaken. I will do to them according to their ways and reward them according to their
judgments. Then they shall know that I am the Lord!” ’ ”

                                Abominations in Jerusalem


8 Again  it came to pass in the sixth year, in the fifth month, on the fifth day of the month,
  as I sat in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord
came upon me.† 2Then I looked, and behold, there was the likeness of a man, as of fire from
His waist down, and from His waist up like the appearance of amber. 3He extended what
looked like a hand and raised me up by the crown of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between
the earth and the sky and brought me in a vision of God to Jerusalem, to the porches of the
inner gate that looks to the north, where the pillar of idolatry was. 4Behold, the glory of the
Lord God of Israel was there, like the vision I saw in the plain.

  5Then He said to me, “Son of man, lift your eyes toward the north.” So I lifted my eyes

toward the north, and behold, I looked from the north toward the eastern gate. 6Then He said
to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing? They commit great acts of lawlessness
here to keep Me from My sanctuary. Now you will see even greater acts of lawlessness.”†

  7So He brought me to the porches of the court. 8Then He said to me, “Son of man, dig a

hole.” So I dug, and behold, a door. 9He said to me, “Go in, and see the lawless deeds they are
doing here.” 10So I went in, and behold, I saw vain abominations—all the idols of the house
of Israel were portrayed on the wall all around. 11There were seventy men of the elders of the
house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a
censer in his hand, and the smoke of the incense rose up. 12Then He said to me, “Son of man,
do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing, each one of them in their private
bedroom? For they said, ‘The Lord does not see; the Lord has forsaken the land.’ ”

  13Then He said to me, “You will see even greater acts of lawlessness they are doing.” 14So
He brought me to the porches of the court of the Lord's house that faces north; and behold,
women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. 15Then He said to me, “Do you see this, son
of man? You will see worse practices than these.” 16So He brought me into the inner court of
the Lord's house; and behold, there, at the outer entrance of the Lord's temple, between the
porch and the altar, were about twenty men. They stood with their backs toward the temple of
the Lord, with their faces in the opposite direction; and they were worshiping the sun.

  17Then He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? This is not a trivial thing for the house
of Judah to commit these lawless acts which they commit here, is it? For they have filled the
land with lawlessness, and behold, they are as those who treat Me with contempt. 18As for
Me, I shall treat them in anger. My eye will not spare, nor will I have mercy.”


9 Then  He cried out in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “The punishment of the city is
  near, and each had instruments of destruction in his hand.” 2Behold, six men were
coming from the way of the high gate that looks toward the north, and each one's ax was in
his hand. One man among them was clothed with a full-length robe, with a belt of sapphire
about his waist. They entered and stood near the bronze altar.†

  3Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherubim, and the glory which was
over them went into the inner court of the house. He called to the man clothed with the long
robe with the belt on his waist, 4and He said to him, “Go through the midst of Jerusalem and
put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the lawless deeds taking
place within her.” 5To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and
kill. Let not your eyes spare, and have no mercy. 6Utterly destroy old men and youth, and
virgins, infants, and women, but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark. Begin at My
sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were inside the house. 7Then He said to them,
“Defile the house, and go out and fill the roads with the dead, and smite.”

  8So it was, as they were smiting, I fell on my face and cried out, and said, “Alas, O Lord, are

You wiping out all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your anger on Jerusalem?” 9Then He
said to me, “The wrongdoing of the house of Israel and Judah has become exceedingly great,
for the land is full of many peoples, and the city is full of wrongdoings and uncleanness. For
they said, ‘The Lord forsook the land, and the Lord does not look upon it.’ 10My eye will not
spare, nor will I have mercy, but I will recompense their deeds on their own heads.” 11Then
behold, the man clothed with the long robe and girded with the belt on his waist reported
back and said, “I have done as You commanded me.”

                               The Glory Leaves the Temple


10 Then I looked, and behold, over the firmament above the heads of the cherubim, there
   was the likeness of a throne over them, like a sapphire stone.† 2He spoke to the man
clothed with the long robe, “Go in between the wheels underneath the cherubim, and fill your
hands with coals of fire from among the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.” So he
went in as I watched.

  3Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the house as the man was entering,

and the cloud filled the inner court. 4Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherubim
into the inner court of the house. The cloud filled the house, and the court was filled with the
brightness of the Lord's glory.† 5The sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as
the outer court, like the voice of Almighty God when He speaks.

  6Then it came to pass, as He was commanding the man clothed in the sacred robe, saying,
“Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubim,” that he went in and stood
near the wheels. 7A cherub stretched out his hand into the midst of the fire, between the
cherubim, and took and put it into the hands of the man clothed with the sacred garment.
The man took it and went out. 8I saw the cherubim having the likeness of men's hands under
their wings.†

  9I looked, and behold, four wheels were standing near the cherubim, one wheel by each

cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like that of a precious stone. 10As for their
appearance, there was one likeness to the four, as when a wheel is in the midst of a wheel.
11When they went, they went on their four sides. They did not turn when they went, for they
followed in the direction the first head was looking, but they did not turn as they went.
12Their backs and hands, and their wings and wheels, were all full of eyes all around their

four wheels. 13As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing, “wheel.”†

  14The cherubim were the same living creatures I saw by the River Chebar. 15When the
cherubim went, the wheels close to them went; and when the cherubim lifted their wings to
mount up from the earth, the wheels did not turn. 16When the cherubim stood, the wheels
stood; and when the cherubim mounted up, the wheels mounted up with them, because the
spirit of life was in them.

  17Then the glory of the Lord departed from the house and went upon the cherubim.† 18The
cherubim lifted their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight. When they went out,
the wheels were beside them; and they stood by the porches of the door of the Lord's house
opposite them. The glory of the God of Israel was over and above them.

  19This is the living creature I saw under the God of Israel, by the River Chebar, and I knew

they were cherubim. 20Each had four faces and each had eight wings, and the likeness of a
man's hand was under their wings. 21As for the likeness of their faces, these are the same
faces I saw under the glory of the God of Israel by the River Chebar; and they went straight
forward.

                              Wicked Rulers Will Be Judges


11 Moreover  the Spirit took me up and brought me to the front gate of the Lord's house,
   the gate which looks eastward; and behold, on the porches of the gate were about
twenty-five men. I saw in the midst of them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son
of Benaiah, the princes of the people.† 2Then the Lord said to me, “Son of man, these are the
men who plan worthless things and give evil counsel in this city, 3who say, ‘Have not the
houses been constructed recently? This city is the cauldron, and we are the meat.’ 4Therefore
prophesy against them, prophesy, son of man!”

  5Then the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me and said to me, “Say this, ‘Thus says the Lord:

“Thus you have said, O house of Israel; for I know the deliberations of your spirit. 6You
multiplied your dead in this city and filled its streets with the wounded. 7Therefore thus says
the Lord: ‘Your dead, whom you trampled in its midst, they are the meat, and this city is the
cauldron; but I shall bring you out of the midst of it. 8You fear the sword; thus I will bring a
sword upon you,’ says the Lord. 9‘I will bring you out of its midst and deliver you into the
hands of foreigners, and execute judgments on you. 10You shall fall by the sword. I will judge
you at the borders of Israel, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 11This city shall not be
your cauldron, nor shall you be the meat in its midst. I will judge you at the borders of Israel.
12You shall know that I am the Lord.’ ” ’ ”

  13Then it came to pass while I was prophesying that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. So I
fell on my face and cried with a loud voice, “Alas, alas, O Lord! Will you make a complete end
to the remnant of Israel?”

                                God Will Restore the Exiles

  14Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 15“Son of man, your brethren, and the
men of your captivity, and all the house of Israel are at their end, to whom the inhabitants of
Jerusalem said, ‘Keep far away from the Lord. This land was given to us as an inheritance.’
16Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I will reject them among the nations, and scatter them
into every land; yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries wherever they may
go.’ ” 17Therefore I said, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I shall also receive them from the nations, and
gather them from the countries where I scattered them; and I will give them the land of
Israel.’ ”† 18They shall enter there and remove all its abominations and lawlessness from it.
19Then I will give them another heart and put a new spirit within them. I shall remove the

stony heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20so they may walk in My
commandments, keep My ordinances, and do them. They will be My people, and I shall be
their God. 21But as for the heart set upon their abominations and lawlessness—as their heart
went after these things—so I have recompensed their ways on their own heads,” says the
Lord.

  22Then the cherubim lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and the glory of

the God of Israel was high above them. 23Then the glory of the Lord went up from the midst
of the city and stood on the mountain opposite the city. 24The Spirit took me up—in a vision
by the Spirit of God—and brought me to the land of the Chaldeans, to the captivity. Then I
rose up from the vision I saw, 25and spoke to the host of captives all the words the Lord
made known to me.

                                 Ezekiel Prepares for Exile

                                                       †2
12 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, you dwell in the midst
   of wrongdoers who have eyes to see, but do not see, and ears to hear, but do not hear;
for they are a house of provocation. 3As for you, son of man, prepare belongings for captivity,
for captivity by daylight and in their sight. You will be taken into captivity from your place to
a different place, a place in their sight; so they may see they are a house of provocation. 4You
will carry out your belongings as baggage for captivity by day before their eyes; and you shall
go out in the evening as a captive goes out. 5Dig through the wall for yourself, and you shall
go out through it in their sight. 6You shall be carried on men's shoulders and go forth in
secret. You shall cover your face and not see the ground, because I have made you a sign to
the house of Israel.” 7So I did this according to all He commanded me. I brought out my
belongings as baggage for captivity by day, dug through the wall for myself in the evening,
and went out in secret. I was borne upon men's shoulders before them.

  8Then in the morning, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9“Son of man, has not the

house of Israel, the house that provokes, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’ 10Say to them,
‘Thus says the Lord, the Master, the Ruler and the Leader in Jerusalem and over all the house
of Israel in their midst. 11Say, “I am performing signs in her midst. As I have done, so shall it
be to them, and they shall go into deportation and captivity.” 12The ruler in their midst will
be carried on men's shoulders and will go out secretly through the wall. He shall dig through
that he may pass through it. He shall cover his face so as to remain hidden from any eye; and
he himself shall not see the ground.† 13I will spread out My net over him, and he shall be
caught in My enclosure. I will lead him to Babylon, to the land of the Chaldeans, but he will
not see it, though he shall die there. 14I will scatter to every wind all his assistants around
him, and all his auxiliaries; and I will unsheathe a sword after them. 15Then they shall know
that I am the Lord, when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them in the
countries. 16But I will spare a few of their men from the sword, famine, and pestilence so
they may declare all their lawlessness among the nations where they go. They shall know that
I am the Lord.’ ”

  17Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, you shall eat your bread

in sorrow and drink your water with torment and affliction.† 19You shall say to the people of
the land, ‘Thus says the Lord to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the land of Israel: “They
shall eat their bread in poverty and drink their water in desolation, that the land may be
destroyed with its fullness; for all who dwell in it are ungodly. 20Their inhabited cities shall
be utterly wasted and their land destroyed. You shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

  21Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 22“Son of man, what is your parable
about the land of Israel which says, ‘The days are far off; the vision has perished’?
23Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I shall remove this parable, and no longer
shall the house of Israel repeat this parable.” For you shall say to them, “The days are at
hand, and the word of every vision. 24For there shall no longer be any false vision or
favorable prophesying in the midst of the children of Israel. 25For I, the Lord, shall speak my
words; I will speak and perform them. I shall delay no longer, because in your days, O house
which provokes, I will speak the word and perform it,” says the Lord.’ ”†

  26Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 27“Son of man, behold, the house of
Israel which provokes is surely saying, ‘The vision this man sees is many days from now, and
he prophesies of times far off.’ 28Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “All My words I
speak shall no longer be delayed. I will speak and do,” says the Lord.’ ”

                                    Woe to False Prophets

                                                           †2
13 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the
   prophets of Israel. You shall prophesy and say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Lord.

  3‘Thus says the Lord: “Woe to those who prophesy from their hearts, but who see nothing

at all! 4O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts.† 5They do not stand in a firm
place, and they gather flocks in the house of Israel. They will not stand up who say, ‘In the
day of the Lord.’ 6They see lies and prophesy vain things. They say, ‘The Lord says,’ but the
Lord did not send them; yet they begin to establish the word. 7Have you not seen a false
vision, and spoken worthless prophecies?’ ”

  8“Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Because your words are lies and your prophecies are

worthless, therefore I am against you,” says the Lord. 9“I shall stretch out My hand against
the prophets who see lies and utter worthless things. They will not exist for the instruction of
My people, neither shall they be written down in the record of the house of Israel, nor enter
the land of Israel. They shall know that I am the Lord. 10Because they have deceived My
people, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ and there is no peace; and one builds a wall, and they plaster it
—it shall certainly fall.† 11Say to those who plaster it, ‘It will fall,’ for there shall be flooding
rain; and I will send hailstones against its joints, and it shall fall; and a wind will rise up and
break it down. 12Behold, the wall has fallen, and will not they say to you, ‘Where is the
mortar you used to plaster it?’ ” 13Therefore thus says the Lord: “I will also bring forth a
driving and furious wind, and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger. They shall be swept
away in anger, and there shall be a flooding rain in My wrath; and I shall bring down
hailstones in My anger for complete destruction. 14So I will break down the wall you
plastered, and it shall fall. I shall lay it on the ground, and its foundations will be revealed;
and you will be consumed with rebukes. You shall know that I am the Lord. 15Thus will I
accomplish My anger on the wall and on those who plastered it—it shall fall.” So I said to you,
“The wall is no more, nor those who plastered it; 16even so are the prophets of Israel who
prophesy over Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,” says
the Lord.’

  17“As for you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy

from their own heart, and prophesy against them. 18You shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Woe
to the women who sew pillows under every elbow, and make coverings for every head of
every age, to mislead souls! The souls of my people are turned aside, and they keep alive
souls for themselves. 19They desecrated My people for the sake of a handful of barley and for
pieces of bread, so as to kill souls which should not die, and to keep souls alive which should
not live, while you prophesy to a people who listen to worthless speeches.”

    20‘Therefore, thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am against your pillows whereby you conspire
against souls. I will tear them from your arms and free their souls, which you turned aside so
as to scatter them. 21I will tear away your coverings and deliver My people out of your hand.
They shall no longer be in your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 22Because you
have turned aside the heart of the righteous man unjustly—whom I did not turn aside—so as
to strengthen the hands of the lawless man, that he should not completely turn from his evil
way and live; 23therefore, you shall no longer see false visions, nor utter prophecies; for I will
deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

                               Woe to the Idolatrous Elders

                                                                         2
14 Now some of the elders of3Israel came to me and sat before me. Again the word of the
       Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, these men devised inventions in their hearts,
and placed before their face the stumbling block of their wrongdoings. Shall I indeed answer
them? 4Therefore speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Any man of the
house of Israel who devises inventions in his heart, and places before his face the stumbling
block of his wrongdoing, and then comes to the prophet, I, the Lord, will answer him
according to the things in which his mind is entangled, 5so as to lead astray the house of
Israel according to their hearts, which are completely alienated from Me in their inventions.’
”
  6“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord and Master: “Be converted and

turn away from your practices and all your ungodliness; then turn your faces back again. 7For
any man from the house of Israel, or the resident aliens who sojourn in Israel, who alienates
himself from Me, and devises inventions in his heart, and places before his face the
stumbling block of his wrongdoing, and comes to the prophet to inquire of him concerning
Me, then I, the Lord, will answer him according to the things that entangle his mind. 8I shall
set My face against that man, and make him desolate and ruined, and remove him from the
midst of My people. You shall know that I am the Lord. 9If the prophet is led astray and
speaks, I, the Lord, have led that prophet astray; and I will stretch out My hand against him
and destroy him from the midst of My people Israel. 10So they shall bear their wrongdoing—
the one who inquired shall bear his wrongdoing according to his wrong, and likewise it shall
be for the prophet, 11so the house of Israel may not stray from Me, nor be defiled any longer
with all their transgressions, but be My people and I their God,” says the Lord.’ ”

                                     Four Punishments

  12Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 13“Son of man, if a land sins against Me
by committing a trespass, I shall stretch out My hand against it. I shall cut off its supply of
bread, send famine upon it, and remove man and cattle from it. 14Even though these three
men: Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their
righteousness,” says the Lord.

  15“If again I bring wild animals upon the land and punish it, and it becomes desolate

because men fear the wild animals, 16even though these three men were in the land, as I
live,” says the Lord, “neither sons nor daughters would be saved. Instead, only they
themselves would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.

  17“Or again, if I should bring a sword on that land and say, ‘Let a sword go through the

land,’ and I removed man and cattle from it, 18even though these three men were in it, as I
live,” says the Lord, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but only they themselves
would be delivered.

  19“Or if I should send death upon the land and pour out My anger upon it in blood, to

destroy both man and cattle from it, 20and Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live,” says
the Lord, “neither sons nor daughters would be left. Only they by their righteousness would
deliver their souls.”

  21Thus says the Lord: “But even if I send upon Jerusalem My four evil punishments—

sword, famine, wild animals, and death—to destroy from it both man and cattle, 22yet behold,
the remnant in it, those of it who are saved, who bring out sons and daughters from it,
behold, these shall go forth to you. You will see their ways and inventions and be sorry over
the evils I brought upon Jerusalem, even all the evils I brought upon it. 23Then they will
console you, because you will see their ways and their inventions; and you will know I have
not done in vain whatever I did in it,” says the Lord.

                                     The Worthless Vine

      Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 2“Son of man, of all the wood of the
15
      branches in the forest, what would be made from the wood of the vine? 3Would they
take wood from it to make something for profit? Would they take a peg from it on which to
hang some object? 4It is only thrown into the fire to be consumed, for the fire consumes
what is pruned from it each year; thus nothing is left. So will it be useful for profit? 5Not
even while it was whole would it be useful for profit. How much less useful would it be once
the fire devoured it?

 6“Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest,

which I give to the fire to be consumed, so I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 7and I shall
set My face against them. They will get away from the fire, yet fire will devour them. Then
they will know that I am the Lord, when I set My face against them. 8Thus I shall give the
land over to ruin, because they utterly transgressed,’ says the Lord.”

                            God's Love for Lawless Jerusalem

                                                  2“Son of man, testify emphatically to
16 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
                                           3
      Jerusalem concerning her lawlessness.         You shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord to
Jerusalem: “Your root and birth are from the land of Canaan. Your father was an Amorite and
your mother a Hittite. 4As for your birth, on the day you were born they did not bind your
breasts, nor were you washed in water. Neither were you salted with salt, nor wrapped in
swaddling cloths.† 5Nor did My eye pity you to do any one of these things for you, to suffer
anything for you; but you were cast out into the open field because of the perversity of your
soul on the day you were born.

  6“As I passed by, I saw you defiled in your blood. So I said to you, ‘Let there be life out of

your blood, and multiply.’ 7I made you as a field in full bloom, and you multiplied, became
great, and entered into great cities. Your breasts were firm and your hair grew, but you were
naked and behaved improperly. 8As I passed by and saw you, behold, it was your time, a time
for lodging people. So I spread My wings over you, covered your shame, and swore an oath to
you. I entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord. 9“Then I
washed you in water, washed away your blood, and anointed you with oil. 10I clothed you in
embroidered garments with purple underneath. I dressed you with fine linen and covered you
with a veil of fine silk. 11I adorned you with jewelry and put bracelets on your wrists and a
necklace around your neck. 12I put a ring in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a crown of
boasting on your head. 13Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was
of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, oil, and honey. You
became very beautiful. 14Your name went out among the nations for your beauty, because it
was perfected with elegance and beauty which I put upon you,” says the Lord.

                                   Playing the Prostitute

  15“But you put your trust in your beauty, played the prostitute because of your name, and

poured out your fornication on everyone passing by. 16You took cloth from your garments,
made idols of needlework for yourself, and committed fornication with them. But you should
never have entered into such a thing, nor should this have taken place. 17You also took the
fine jewelry of My gold and silver that I gave you and made male images for yourself, and
committed fornication with them. 18You took your embroidered garments and clothed them.
Then you set before them My oil and incense, 19and took My bread which I gave you—the
pastry of fine flour, oil, and honey I fed you—and set it before them as a fragrant offering; and
so it was,” says the Lord. 20“You also took your sons and daughters whom you bore, and
sacrificed these to them to be destroyed, and committed fornication as if that were a small
matter. 21Besides your fornication, you slaughtered your children and offered them as a
sacrifice to ward off evil from yourselves. 22Thus you no longer remember the days of your
youth, when you were naked and behaved improperly, and lived defiled in your blood.

  23“So it came to pass, after all your evils,” says the Lord, 24“that you also built for yourself
a house of fornication, and made a public place for yourself in every street; 25and at the
beginning of every road, you built your brothel and ravaged your beauty. You spread your legs
to everyone who passed by, and multiplied your acts of prostitution. 26You committed
fornication with the children of Egypt, your fleshly neighbor, and committed fornication in
many ways, to provoke Me to anger. 27So when I stretch out My hand against you, then I will
abolish your customs and will deliver you over to souls who hate you, even to the daughters
of foreign lands, who will turn you aside from your way wherein you were ungodly. 28You
also committed fornication with the daughters of Assyria, and even then you were not
satisfied; indeed you committed fornication with them and were not satisfied. 29You
multiplied your covenants with the Chaldeans, and not even with these were you satisfied.
30Why should I make a covenant with your daughter,” says the Lord, “when you do all these
things, the deeds of a prostitute? So you committed threefold fornication.

                                   An Adulterous Wife

  31“With your daughters, you built a house of prostitution at the beginning of every road,

set up your high place in every street, and became as a prostitute gathering wages. 32An
adulterous wife is like you, who prefers a whore's wages to her own husband. 33She even
gives wages to those who commit fornication with her; and you give wages to all your lovers,
and load them with wages, so they should come to you from all around for your prostitution.
34So there happened in you a perverseness in your prostitution beyond that of other women,
and they committed fornication with you when you gave them wages; and no wages were
received by you; thus perverseness happened in you.

  35“Now then, prostitute, hear the word of the Lord! 36Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you
poured out your money, and your shamefulness was uncovered in your prostitution with
your lovers, and because of your many inventions of lawlessness, and the blood of your
children you gave to them; 37therefore, behold, I will gather against you all your lovers with
whom you consorted, and all those you loved, and all those you hated. I will gather them
against you from all around and will uncover your evil deeds before them, so they may see all
your shame. 38Thus I will be avenged on you with the vengeance of an adulteress, and bring
upon you the blood of fury and jealousy. 39I shall deliver you into their hands, and they will
demolish your house of prostitution and destroy your high place. They will strip you of your
clothes, take your proud jewelry, and leave you naked and in disgrace. 40They also shall bring
up a multitude against you to stone you with stones, and to strike you down with their
swords. 41They will burn down your houses and execute punishments on you in the sight of
many women. Then I shall turn you back from prostitution, and you will no longer give
wages. 42So I shall discharge My anger against you, then My jealousy will depart from you. I
shall be at rest and no longer concerned for you. 43Because you did not remember the day of
your youth, but grieved Me with all these things, therefore behold, I recompensed your deeds
on your own head,’ says the Lord. For thus you committed ungodliness beyond all your other
lawlessness.

  44“These are all the things they spoke against you in a parable, saying, ‘Like mother, like

daughter!’† 45You are your mother's daughter, rejecting her husband and children; and you
are the sister of your sisters, who reject their husbands and children. Your mother was a
Hittite and your father an Amorite. 46Your elder sister who dwells with her daughters to the
north of you is Samaria, and your younger sister who dwells to the south of you is Sodom and
her daughters. 47You not only walked in their ways and acted according to their lawlessness;
but, as if that were too little, you excelled more than they in all your ways.

  48“As I live,” says the Lord, “surely your sister Sodom and her daughters have carried on in

the manner you and your daughters have done. 49Surely this was the lawless action of your
sister Sodom, namely, arrogance. For in fullness of bread and abundance of wine, she and her
daughter lived in self-indulgence. This belonged to her and her daughters, but they did not
give a helping hand to the poor and needy. 50So they were haughty and committed acts of
lawlessness before Me; therefore, I removed them as I saw fit. 51But Samaria did not commit
half your sins, for you multiplied your lawlessness beyond them, and declared your sisters
righteous by all the lawless deeds you committed. 52Therefore, bear your punishment, for
you corrupted your sisters by your sins, sins more lawless than their own. You made them
appear more righteous than yourself. Yes, be disgraced, and bear your dishonor in which you
declared your sisters righteous.

  53“I will turn away from their faithlessness, the faithlessness of Sodom and her daughters,
and I will turn away from the faithlessness of Samaria and her daughters. I will also turn
away from your faithlessness in the midst of them, 54so you may bear your punishment and
be dishonored by all you did to provoke My anger. 55But your sister Sodom and her
daughters shall be restored as they were from the beginning, and Samaria and her daughters
shall be restored as they were from the beginning. Even you and your daughters shall be
restored as you were from the beginning. 56Surely your sister Sodom was not mentioned by
your mouth in the days of your arrogance, before your evils were uncovered. 57Even now you
are a disgrace to the daughters of Syria and all those around her, and to the daughters of the
foreigners around you on every side. 58By your deeds of ungodliness and lawlessness, you
received these things,” says the Lord.

                                The Covenant Remembered

  59“For thus says the Lord: ‘I will deal with you as you have done, as you dishonored these

things so as to break my covenant.† 60Nevertheless I shall remember My covenant with you
in the days of your youth, and raise up an everlasting covenant for you. 61Then you will
remember your way and be utterly dishonored when you receive your older and younger
sisters. I shall give them to you for strengthening, but not because of your covenant. 62But I
shall raise up My covenant with you. Then you will know that I am the Lord, 63that you may
remember and be ashamed, and may never open your mouth again because of your dishonor,
when I am reconciled to you for all you did,’ says the Lord.”

                                   Two Eagles and a Vine

                                                       †2
17 Again the word of the Lord came3 to me, saying, “Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak
     a parable to the house of Israel. You shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “A great eagle—with
large wings, spreading them out very far, and full of talons, and with the design to enter
Lebanon—took the choice branches of the cedar. 4He nipped off its topmost tender twig,
carried it to the land of Canaan, and set it in the fortified city. 5Then he took some of the seed
of the land, planted it in a fertile field by much water, and set it in a conspicuous place. 6So it
grew and became a weak vine, small in size as to its appearance. Its branches were on it and
its roots under it. So it became a vine, put forth shoots, and extended into a vine that grows
up trees.

  7“But there was another great eagle with large wings and many talons; and behold, this
vine and her roots turned itself toward him, and stretched its branches toward him, that he
might water it together with the soil where it was planted. 8She thrives in a good field by
much water, so as to produce shoots and bear fruit, that she may be a large vine.’ ”
  9“Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Will it prosper? Will not the roots of her tender stem
and fruit be blighted, and all its shoots be withered? Yes, no mighty arm or many people will
be needed to pluck it up by its roots. 10Behold, it thrives, but will it prosper? Will it not
utterly wither when the wind and burning heat touch it? It shall be dried up, its growth
together with it soil.” ’ ”

  11Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 12“Son of man, say now to the house that
provokes, ‘Do you not understand what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘When the king of
Babylon comes to Jerusalem, he will take its king and rulers, and take them with himself to
Babylon. 13He will also take one from the royal seed, and make a covenant with him, and
place him under oath. 14Then he will take away the leaders of the land that it may become a
weak kingdom, so as never to lift itself up, that he may preserve his covenant and establish it.
15But this one shall revolt from him and send his messengers to Egypt, so they might give
him horses and many people. Will he prosper? Will he who acts as an adversary escape? Can
he break the covenant and be delivered? 16As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘he shall certainly die in
the midst of Babylon, in the place where the king dwells who made him king, who dishonored
My oath and broke My covenant. 17But with a small army and few people, Pharaoh shall wage
war against him by throwing up a mound and building engines of war, so as to carry away
souls. 18So he will not escape when he does all these things to him, because he dishonored
the oath by breaking the covenant, although he gave his hand in trust.’ 19Therefore say, ‘Thus
says the Lord: “As I live, surely My covenant which he broke and My oath which he
dishonored—I will recompense these things on his head. 20I will spread My net over him,
and he shall be caught in its enclosure. 21His whole line of battle will fall by the sword, and
those who remain I will scatter to every wind. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have
spoken.’ ”

  22“Therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘I shall take the choice branches of the cedar from its top

and nip off their heart, and plant it on a high mountain.† 23I shall hang it on a lofty mountain
of Israel, yes, I will plant it; and it will bring forth shoots, produce fruit, and be a great cedar.
Under it, every kind of wild animal will take rest, every kind of bird will rest in its shade, and
its branches will be restored. 24So all the trees of the field will know that I, the Lord, am He
who humbles the high tree and exalts the humble tree, who dries up the green tree and
makes the dry tree flourish. I, the Lord, have spoken and will do it.’ ”
                                  Personal Accountability

      Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 2“Son of man, what is the meaning of
18 this parable among the children of Israel which says, ‘The fathers eat unripe grapes,
and the children's teeth grind’? 3As I live,” says the Lord, “you shall no longer use this
parable in Israel. 4For all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son
is Mine.

   “The soul who sins, he shall die. 5But the man who is righteous and does judgment and
righteousness, 6who will not eat on the mountains, or lift up his eyes to the inventions of the
house of Israel, or defile his neighbor's wife, and who will not approach a woman during her
menstruation, 7or oppress any man, but who will restore to the debtor his pledge, and
commit no robbery, but who will give his bread to the hungry and cover the naked, 8and who
will not lend his money with interest, but will turn his hand from wrongdoing, and do
righteous judgment between a man and his neighbor, 9and walk in My ordinances, and keep
My requirements to do them—this man is righteous. He will surely live!” says the Lord.

  10“But if he begets a troublesome son, who sheds blood, commits sins, 11does not walk in
the way of his righteous father, but eats on the mountains, defiles his neighbor's wife,
12oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, sets his eyes on

the idols, commits lawlessness, 13exacts interest, and takes unjust gains—this son shall not
live, because he did all this lawlessness. He will surely die, and his blood shall be upon
himself.

  14“If, however, he begets a son who sees all the sins his father commits, but fears and does

not do according to these things— 15does not eat on the mountains, nor sets his eyes on the
inventions of the house of Israel, nor defiles his neighbor's wife, 16nor oppresses anyone, nor
withholds a pledge, nor commits robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry, covers the naked,
17and turns his hand from wrongdoing, nor receives interest, nor takes unjust gains, but does
righteousness and walks in My ordinances—this son shall not die for the wrongdoings of his
father. He will surely live. 18As for his father, if he cruelly oppresses and robs his brother,
and does these contrary things in the midst of My people, he shall die in his wrongdoing.

                                  Turn from Evil and Live
  19“Yet you say, ‘Why does a son not bear the wrongdoing of his father?’ Because the son
practiced righteousness, showed mercy, kept all My commandments and did them. Thus he
will surely live. 20But the soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the wrongdoing of
his father, nor shall the father bear the wrongdoing of his son. The righteousness of a
righteous man shall be upon himself, and the lawlessness of a lawless man shall be upon
himself. 21But if a lawless man turns from all the lawless deeds he commits, keeps all My
commandments, does righteousness and shows mercy, he will surely live and not die.
22None of the transgressions he commits will be remembered. In the righteousness he does,

he shall live. 23Do I ever will the death of a lawless man,” says the Lord, “since My will is for
him to turn from the evil way and live? 24But when a righteous man turns away from his
righteousness and commits a wrongdoing, according to all the lawlessness a lawless man
commits, then all the righteousness he does shall not be remembered. In the transgression
he falls into and in his sins he commits, in these he shall die.

  25“Yet you say, ‘The Lord's way is not straight.’ Hear now, all the house of Israel, is My way

not straight? Is your way straight? 26When the righteous man turns away from his
righteousness, commits a transgression, and dies in the transgression he commits, he should
die because of it. 27Again when a lawless man turns away from the lawlessness he commits
and does judgment and righteousness, then he guards his life; 28for he turned himself away
from all the ungodliness he committed. He will surely live and not die. 29Yet the house of
Israel says, ‘The Lord's way is not right.’ Is not My way right, O house of Israel? Is not your
way wrong? 30I shall judge you, O house of Israel, each one according to his way,” says the
Lord. “Return and turn away from all your ungodliness, and it shall not be to you as a
punishment for wrongdoing. 31Cast away from yourself all your ungodliness you commit
against Me, and make a new heart and a new spirit for yourselves. For why should you die, O
house of Israel? 32For I do not will the death of the one who dies,” says the Lord.†

                                      A Song of Lament

      “As for you, son of man, take up a lamentation for the prince of Israel.† 2You shall say,
19 ‘Why did your mother became a young lion in the midst of lions? Among the lions she
multiplied her young lions. 3Then one of her young lions leaped off. He became a lion, and
learned to catch prey—he devoured men. 4The nations also heard of him. He was taken in
their pit, and they brought him in a muzzle to the land of Egypt. 5So she saw he was driven
away from her, and her assurance perished.

  ‘Then she took another of her young lions and made him a lion. 6He lived among the lions
and became a lion. He learned to catch prey—he devoured men. 7He prowled in his boldness,
laid waste their cities, and destroyed the land with its fullness by the noise of his roaring.
8Then the nations came against him from the countries all around, and spread their nets over

him. He was taken in their pit. 9They put him in a muzzle, and he came to the king of
Babylon in a cage for wild animals. So they led him into a prison so his voice would not be
heard on the mountains of Israel.

 10‘Your mother was like a vine, like a blossom on a pomegranate tree, planted in water.

Her fruit and branches grew because of much water. 11She became a rod of strength for a
tribe of leaders. She was exalted in her greatness in the midst of the stems, and saw her
greatness in the multitude of her branches. 12But she was broken to pieces in anger, for she
was thrown down on the ground, and the wind and burning heat dried her chosen branches.
She was punished, and the rod of her strength withered—fire consumed it. 13So now they
have planted her in the desert, in a waterless land. 14Fire went out from the rod of her chosen
branches and devoured her. There was no rod of strength in her. Her tribe is a parable of
lamentation, and it shall be for a lamentation.’ ”

                       The Will of the Lord, and Man's Rebellion


20 Again it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the
   month, that men from the elders of the house of Israel came to inquire of the Lord,
and they sat before me.† 2Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 3“Son of man, speak
to the elders of Israel, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Have you come to
inquire of Me? As I live,” says the Lord, “I will not answer your inquiries.’ ” 4Shall I utterly
take vengeance on them, son of man? Testify to them concerning the lawlessness of their
fathers.

  5“You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “From the day I chose Israel and made Myself
known to the seed of the house of Jacob, and to those in the land of Egypt, and helped them
with My hand, saying, ‘I am the Lord your God’— 6in that day I helped them with My hand to
lead them from the land of Egypt into the land I prepared for them, a land flowing with milk
and honey, a land more abundant than all other lands. 7I said to them, ‘Let each of you cast
away the abominations before his eyes, and not defile yourselves with the practices of Egypt.
I am the Lord your God.’ 8But they fell away from Me and were unwilling to obey Me. They
did not cast away the abominations before their eyes, nor abandon the practices of Egypt.
Then I said I would pour out My anger and accomplish My wrath among them in the land of
Egypt. 9So I acted that My name would not at all be desecrated in the sight of the nations in
the midst of whom they were, and among whom I made Myself known in their sight, to lead
them out of Egypt.

  10“I brought them out of Egypt and led them into the desert. 11I gave them My ordinances
and made known My requirements to them, which if a man will do them, he shall live by
them. 12I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between Me and them, so they might know
that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. 13I said to the house of Israel in the desert, ‘You
shall walk in my ordinances.’ But they did not walk in them, and they rejected my
requirements, which if a man will do them, he shall live by them; and they desecrated my
Sabbaths exceedingly. Thus I said I would pour out My anger upon them in the wilderness, to
utterly destroy them. 14So I acted that My name might not be at all desecrated before the
nations before whose eyes I brought them out. 15I swore an oath against them in the desert
that I would no longer bring them into the land I gave them, a land flowing with milk and
honey, a land sweeter than all other lands, 16because they rejected My requirements and did
not walk in My ordinances; instead, they desecrated My Sabbaths and walked after the
inventions of their hearts. 17Nevertheless My eye spared them from utter destruction, and I
did not make an end to them in the wilderness.

  18“But I said to their children in the desert, ‘Do not walk in the customs of your fathers,
nor observe their requirements, nor have fellowship with their practices, nor defile yourself
with them. 19I am the Lord your God. Walk in My ordinances, keep My requirements and do
them. 20Sanctify My Sabbaths, and let them be a sign between Me and you, that you may
know that I am the Lord your God.’ 21But they rebelled against me, along with their children.
They did not walk in My ordinances or keep My requirements, which if a man will do them,
he shall live by them; and they desecrated My Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out My wrath
upon them in the desert, to accomplish My wrath against them. 22But I did this so My name
would not be desecrated in the sight of the nations before whose eyes I brought them out.
23Thus I swore an oath against them in the desert, that I might scatter them among the

nations and disperse them in the countries, 24because they did not keep My requirements
and rejected My ordinances. They desecrated My Sabbaths, and their eyes went after the
inventions of their fathers. 25Therefore I gave them ordinances that were not good, and
requirements in which they should not live. 26I will defile them by their gifts, when I pass
through upon everyone that opens the womb, that I may destroy them.’ ”

  27“Therefore speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus
says the Lord: “Up to this point, your fathers provoked Me by the transgressions they
committed against Me. 28But I led them into the land I swore with an oath to give them, and
they saw every high hill and every shade tree. There they sacrificed to their gods; and there
they appointed fragrant offerings and poured out their drink offerings. 29Then I said to them,
‘What is this high place you go to?’ So they call its name Bamah, to this day.’ ”† 30Therefore
say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Do you defile yourselves with the lawlessness
of your fathers, and commit fornication after their abominations? 31You defile yourselves in
the first fruits of your gifts with all your inventions to this very day. Shall I answer you, O
house of Israel? As I live,” says the Lord, “I will not answer you, nor will an answer occur to
your spirit; 32for it will not be as you say, ‘We will be like the nations and like the tribes of
the earth, to worship trees and stones.’

  33“Therefore, as I live,” says the Lord, “I will reign over you with a mighty hand, with a

high arm, and with anger poured out.† 34I shall lead you out from the peoples and will
receive you from the countries where you were scattered, with a mighty hand, with a high
arm, and with anger poured out. 35I shall bring you into the desert of the peoples and will
judge you face to face. 36As I judged your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I shall
judge you,” says the Lord. 37“I will make you pass under my scepter and bring you in by
number. 38I will select the ungodly from among you, and those who revolted; for I shall lead
them out of their sojourning, and they will not enter the land of Israel. Then they will know
that I am the Lord.

  39“As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord and Master: “Each of you put away
your practices, and after this, if you listen to Me, you will no longer desecrate My holy name
with your gifts and practices. 40For upon My holy mountain, the high mountain,” says the
Lord and Master, “there all the house of Israel will serve Me to the end; and there I shall
receive you, and look upon the first fruits of your offerings, together with all your holy
objects. 41I shall receive you as a fragrant aroma when I lead you out from the peoples, and
receive you from the countries where you were scattered; and I shall be sanctified among you
before the eyes of the peoples. 42Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I lead you into
the land of Israel, into the land I swore by an oath to give your fathers. 43There you will
remember all your ways and practices which defiled you; and you shall bewail yourselves for
all your evil. 44Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you in the way, that
My name be not desecrated according to your evil ways and corrupt practices,” says the Lord.’
”

                                     Fire in the Woods

       Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, set your face against
21 Teman, and look against Darom, and prophesy against the forest which leads to Nageb.
3You will say to the forest of Nageb, ‘Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord and
Master: “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green wood and every dry
wood in you. The blazing flame shall not be quenched, and every face from north to south
shall be burned up by it. 4All flesh shall know that I, the Lord, kindled it, and it shall not be
quenched.” ’ ” 5Then I said, “By no means, O Lord and Master. They say to me, ‘This is a
parable, is it not?’ ”

                                   The Sword of the Lord

    6So the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 7“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and set
your face against Jerusalem, and look against the holy places, and prophesy against the land
of Israel. 8You shall say to the land of Israel, ‘Behold, I am against you, and I will draw My
sword out of its sheath and destroy both the unrighteous man and the lawless man from
among you.† 9Because I will destroy both the unrighteous man and the lawless man from
among you, thus My sword shall go out of its sheath against all flesh from north to south,
10and all flesh will know that I, the Lord, have drawn My sword out of its sheath; and it shall

not return anymore.’ 11As for you, son of man, groan with a breaking heart, and sigh with
bitterness before their eyes. 12It will be, if they say to you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ that you
shall say, ‘Because of the news, for it is coming. Every heart will be oppressed, all hands will
be feeble, all flesh and every spirit will faint, and every thigh will be stained with urine.
Behold, it is coming and will be,’ says the Lord and Master.”

    13Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 14“Son of man, prophesy and you will
say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Say, ‘O sword, sword, be sharpened and furious, 15that you may
slay victims. Be sharpened, that you may be glistening and ready for destruction. Despise and
reject every tree.’ 16So he made it ready for his hand to hold. The sword is sharpened and
ready to put in the hand of the slayer.’ ”

  17“Cry out and wail, son of man, for this sword is come among My people; this sword is
come among all the leaders of Israel. They shall be as strangers because of the sword that is
come among My people; therefore, clap your hands, 18because it is justified; and what if even
the tribe is rejected? It shall not be,” says the Lord and Master.

   19“So you, son of man, prophesy, and clap your hands, and take a second sword. The third

is the sword of the slain, the great sword of the slain. It will amaze them, 20that the heart
may be oppressed, and the weak multiplied at every gate of theirs. They are handed over for
slaughter by the sword, a sword well suited for slaughter, a sword well suited for glistening.
21Pass through and strike from the right and from the left, wherever your face may set itself.
22I also will clap My hands together and let go My anger. I, the Lord, have spoken.”

                             The Sword of the King of Babylon

  23Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying:† 24“So you, son of man, order two roads
for yourself, for the sword of the king of Babylon to enter. The two roads will go forth from
one region. There shall be a force at the top of the way leading to the city. 25You shall order
for a sword to enter against Rabbath of the children of Ammon, against Judah and against
Jerusalem in its midst. 26For the king of Babylon will stand at the ancient road, at the fork of
the two roads, to practice divination by casting a stick, consulting the graven images, and
inspecting the liver for soothsaying. 27The divination against Jerusalem has come to pass—to
set up barricades, to open the mouth with shouting, to lift up the voice with great shouting, to
set battering rams against the gates, and to build engines of war. 28He will be to them as one
who practices divination before them, and he will bring their wrongdoings to remembrance.

  29“Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Because you caused your wrongdoings to be remembered
in the revelation of your ungodliness, that your sins should be seen in all your ungodliness
and ways of living—because you caused remembrance of them—you shall be taken captive.
30Now you, O godless and lawless leader of Israel, whose day has come, whose end of

wrongdoing has come at the proper time, 31thus says the Lord: “You removed the turban and
put on the crown; another will not follow. You humbled what was high and exalted what was
low. 32I will reckon it as wrongdoing, wrongdoing! Another shall not follow it until He comes
whose right it is, and I will deliver it to Him.’ ”

                                      A Sword for Ammon

  33“As for you, son of man, prophesy, and you shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord to the sons of
Ammon and to their shame,’ and you shall say, ‘O sword, sword, drawn for slaughter and for
an end; arise, that you may glisten. 34While you are seeing a worthless vision, and while you
are prophesying falsehood, and while you are handing over the necks of wounded and lawless
men whose day has come, whose end of wrongdoing has come at the proper time, 35turn
back, and do not lodge in this place in which you were born, for I will judge you in your own
land. 36I will pour out My wrath upon you; I will breathe upon you with the fire of My wrath,
and deliver you into the hands of barbarians, skilled in working destruction. 37You will be
fuel for the fire; your blood will be in the midst of your land. There will be no remembrance
of you; for I the Lord have spoken.’ ”

                                     The Sins of Jerusalem

      Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 2“As for you, son of man, will you
22
      judge the city of blood? Show her all her lawlessness. 3You will say, ‘Thus says the
Lord and Master: “O city that sheds blood in her midst—her time has come—and that makes
inventions against herself, 4so as to defile herself with their blood you shed, you fell away,
and in the inventions you made you defiled yourself, and caused your days to draw near; and
you have come to the end of your years; 5therefore, I made you a disgrace to the nations and
a mockery to all countries near you and those far away from you. They will mock at you,
saying, ‘She is abominable and unclean, and great is her lawlessness!’ 6Behold, the leaders of
the house conspired together within you, each with his relatives, to shed blood. 7Within you
they speak evil of father and mother, and behave unjustly toward the resident alien. Within
you they oppress the orphan, and within you, the widow.† 8Within you they despise My holy
things, and within you they desecrate My Sabbaths. 9Within you men are robbers that shed
blood within you, and eat on the mountains within you. They do unholy things in your midst.
10Within you they uncover the father's shame, and within you violate women set apart

during their impurity. 11One man acts lawlessly with his neighbor's wife; another defiles his
daughter-in-law in ungodliness; and within you another violates his sister, his father's
daughter. 12Within you they accept gifts so as to shed blood. Within you they receive interest
and unjust gains, and by oppression you bring your evil to the full. But you forgot Me,” says
the Lord.

  13“Therefore, if I strike My hands against the evils you bring to the full—against the things

you are doing—and against the bloodshed occurring in your midst, 14will your heart endure,
will your hands remain strong in the days I deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and will
do it. 15I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you in the countries; and your
uncleanness will cease among you. 16I shall make the Gentiles the owners of your
inheritance. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

  17Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, behold, the house of
Israel is mixed before Me—they are altogether mixed—the house is mixed together in the
midst of the silver, with bronze, iron, tin, and lead. 19Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Because
all of you are one mixture, therefore, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem, 20as men
gather silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead into the midst of a furnace, to blow fire on it, to cast it
like metal into a mold. Thus I shall gather you in My wrath, and bring you together and cast
you. 21I shall blow on you with the fire of My wrath and cast you in her midst. 22As silver is
cast into a mold in the midst of a furnace, so shall you be cast in her midst. Then you shall
know that I, the Lord, have poured out My anger upon you.’ ”

  23Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 24“Son of man, say to her, ‘You are the

land not rained on, neither has rain come upon you in the day of wrath.’ 25Her leaders are
like roaring lions seizing prey, who devour souls by domination and receive honors in
wrongdoing; and your widows multiply in your midst. 26Her priests reject My law and
desecrate My holy things. They no longer distinguish between the holy and the profane, nor
between the unclean and the clean. They have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, and I am
desecrated in their midst. 27Her rulers in her midst are like wolves seizing their prey, so as to
shed blood and exploit others for greed. 28Her prophets who anoint them will fall because
they see worthless and false prophecies, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord,’ but the Lord has not
spoken, 29and because they oppress the people of the land in wrongdoing, commit robbery,
oppress the poor and needy, and do not treat the resident alien with upright judgment. 30So I
sought for a man among them who would conduct himself rightly and stand before Me
perfectly at all times in the land, so as not to wipe her out completely; but I did not find him.
31Therefore I poured out My anger in the fire of my wrath to finish them, and I recompensed
their ways on their heads,” says the Lord and Master.

                                    Two Immoral Sisters


23 Again the word of the Lord came3 to me, saying,† 2“Son of man, there were two women,
     the daughters of one mother, and they committed fornication in Egypt while still
young. Their breasts fell while there, and their virginity was lost. 4Their names were Oholah
the elder and Oholibah her sister; they were Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for
their names, Samaria is Oholah and Jerusalem is Oholibah.

                                 The Older Sister, Samaria

  5“Oholah departed from Me and committed fornication. She gave herself to her lovers, the

Assyrians, who drew near to her, 6who were dressed in purple, leaders and commanders, all
chosen young men, horsemen riding on horses. 7Thus she committed fornication with them,
all of them chosen sons of the Assyrians; and upon whomever she offered herself, with all
their inventions, she defiled herself. 8She did not abandon her fornication with Egyptians, for
they slept with her in her youth. These men violated her virginity and poured out their
fornication upon her. 9Therefore I delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hands of
the sons of the Assyrians to whom she offered herself. 10They uncovered her shame, took her
sons and daughters, and killed her with the sword. She became a byword among women, and
they exacted retribution on her through her daughters.

                              The Younger Sister, Jerusalem

  11“Her sister Oholibah saw this, and she indulged in her lusts more corruptly than she, and

her fornication more than the fornication of her sister. 12She offered herself to the sons of
the Assyrians, the leaders and commanders near her, men clothed in purple, horsemen riding
on horses, all of them chosen young men. 13I saw both defiled in the same way, 14but
Oholibah added to her fornication; for she looked at men portrayed on the wall, images of
Chaldeans portrayed in color, 15girded with embroidered belts around their waists and
brightly colored turbans on their heads, the appearance of high rank to all of them, the
likeness of the sons of the Chaldeans, their native land. 16As soon as her eyes saw them, she
offered herself to them and sent messengers to them in the land of the Chaldeans. 17Then
the sons of Babylon came to her, into the bed of love, and defiled her in her fornication. So
she was defiled with them, and her soul fell away because of them. 18She revealed her
fornication and exposed her shame. So My soul withdrew from her, as My soul withdrew
from her sister. 19Yes, you multiplied your fornication, so as to call to remembrance the days
of your youth, in which you committed fornication in Egypt. 20For you offered yourself to
the Chaldeans, whose flesh is like the flesh of donkeys, and their members as the members of
horses. 21But you did look upon the lawlessness of your youth, the things you did in Egypt in
your lodgings, where were the breasts of your youth.

                                Judgment of the Younger

  22“Therefore, Oholibah, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I shall raise up your lovers against
you, because of whom your soul fell away, and I shall bring them against you all around—
23the sons of Babylon, all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, Koa, all the sons of the Assyrians with
them, chosen young men, all leaders and commanders, men of high rank and famous men
riding on horses. 24All will come against you from the north—chariots and wheels with a
multitude of peoples, with shields and spears—and they will set up a guard against you all
around. I shall give judgment to them, and they will judge you according to their judgments.
25I shall put My jealousy on you, and they will deal with you in great wrath. They will take
away your nose and ears, and strike down your remnant with the sword. They will take your
sons and daughters, and fire will consume your remnant. 26They will also strip you of your
clothes and take the objects of your boasting. 27Thus I shall turn back your ungodliness and
your fornication from the land of Egypt; and you shall not lift your eyes to them, nor
remember Egypt any longer.’

  28“For thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will deliver you into the hands of those you hate,

because of whom you withdrew your souls. 29They will deal hatefully with you and take all
the fruits of your labor and toil. You will be naked and disgraced, and the shame of your
fornication and ungodliness will be revealed. 30Your fornication caused this to happen to
you, in that you acted as a prostitute with the nations and defiled yourself with their
inventions. 31You walked in the way of your sister; therefore, I shall put her cup into your
hands.’
   32“Thus says the Lord: ‘You shall drink from the deep and large cup of your sister, a cup

filled to the brim. 33You shall be filled with drunkenness and feebleness, and you shall drink
from the cup of destruction, the cup of your sister Samaria; 34and I will take away her feasts
and her new moons. For I have spoken,’ says the Lord. 35Therefore thus says the Lord:
‘Because you forgot Me and cast Me behind your back, therefore, bear the penalty of your
ungodliness and prostitution.’ ”

                                   Judgment of Both Sisters

  36Again the Lord said to me, “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? You shall

declare their lawlessness to them. 37For they committed adultery, and blood is on their
hands. They committed adultery with their inventions, and passed through the fire the
children whom they bore to Me. 38So long as they did these things to Me, they defiled My
sanctuary and desecrated My Sabbaths. 39For as they were slaughtering their children for
their idols, they also entered My sanctuary to desecrate it; for so they did in the midst of My
house. 40They also sent for men from afar by way of messengers; and as they were traveling,
you washed yourself for them, made up your eyes, and adorned yourself with jewelry. 41You
sat on a furnished bed, with a decorated table before it, and they rejoiced over My incense and
oil. 42They played harmonious music, and put bracelets on their wrists and a crown of
boasting on their heads, to attract the multitude of men coming from the desert. 43Therefore
I asked, ‘Are they not committing adultery and doing the deeds of a prostitute with these? Is
she not indulging in prostitution?’ 44Yes, they went in to her as men go in to a prostitute;
thus they went in to Oholah and Oholibah, to commit lawlessness. 45But righteous men will
take revenge on them after the manner of an adulteress, and after the manner of women who
shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is on their hands.

  46“Thus says the Lord: ‘Bring up a multitude against them and give them up to trouble and

plunder. 47They will stone them with the stones of a crowd and stab them with their swords.
They will kill their sons and daughters and set their houses on fire. 48Thus I shall turn away
ungodliness from the land, and all women will be taught not to imitate their ungodliness.
49Your ungodliness will be recompensed upon you, and you will bear the sins of your
inventions. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.’ ”

                               Parable of the Cooking Pot
24 Again the word of the Lord came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the
   tenth day of the month, saying,† 2“Son of man, record for yourself daily, from this day,
the day on which the king of Babylon laid siege against Jerusalem. 3Speak a parable to the
house which provokes, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Stand over a basin
and pour water into it. 4Put pieces of meat in it, every good piece, the thigh and shoulder full
of meat, 5taken from the choice cattle. Also pile fuel-bones under it, make it boil well, and let
the cuts simmer.”

  6‘Therefore thus says the Lord: “O bloody city, the basin in which there is scum, and the
scum has not gone out of it. She brought forth the cuts, piece by piece, but no portion was
selected. 7For her blood is in her midst; I set it upon a smooth rock; I did not pour it on the
ground, that the dirt may cover it, 8that My wrath may come forth and take vengeance. I set
her blood upon a smooth rock, so as not to cover it.”

 9‘Therefore thus says the Lord: “I will also make a great display of fire. 10I shall heap the

wood on and kindle the fire, to consume the meat and boil away the sauce. 11I will set the
basin on the coals, so its copper may become thoroughly heated and melted in the midst of
her uncleanness, so her scum may be consumed, 12and her abundant scum may not come
forth from her. 13Her scum shall be shameful, because you defiled yourself, and what if you
will not be cleansed any more, until I have satisfied my wrath? 14I, the Lord, have spoken it,
and it will come to pass; and I shall do it. I will not hold back nor show mercy. According to
your ways and your inventions, I shall judge you,” says the Lord. “Therefore I shall judge you
according to your bloodshed and inventions, you unclean, notorious, and provoking one.” ’ ”

                                  Death of Ezekiel's Wife

  15Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 16“Son of man, behold, I will take away
your inventions before your eyes in the line of battle, but you shall neither mourn nor weep.
17There shall be groaning over bloodshed and mourning on bended knee. There shall be no
braided hair on your head or sandals on your feet. You shall not be comforted by their lips,
nor shall you eat the bread of men.” 18So I spoke to the people in the morning in the manner
He commanded me, and that evening my wife died. The next morning I did as He
commanded me.

  19Then the people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things mean that you are
doing?” 20So I answered them, “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 21‘Speak to the
house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I shall desecrate My sanctuary, the boast of
your strength, the object of your desire, over which your souls spare nothing; and your sons
and daughters whom you left will fall by the sword. 22You will do as I have done. You will not
be comforted by their mouth, nor eat the bread of men. 23Your hair will be on your heads and
your sandals on your feet. You will neither mourn nor weep. You will sink deep in your
wrongdoings, and each of you will comfort one another. 24Thus Ezekiel shall be a sign to
you; according to all he does, you will do. When these things come, you will know that I am
the Lord.’ ”

  25‘As for you, son of man, it shall not be as in the day when I take their strength from
them, the arrogance of their boasting, the objects of their desire, and the arrogance of their
souls, their sons and their daughters. 26In that day, he who is rescued will come to you, so
you will hear of it with your own ears. 27In that day, your mouth will open before him who is
rescued. You will speak and no longer be silent. Thus you will be a sign to them, and they
shall know that I am the Lord.’ ”
                      Judgment on the Gentile Nations: Ammon

      Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 2“Son of man, set your face against the
25
      children of Ammon and prophesy against them. 3You shall say to the children of
Ammon, ‘Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: “Because you rejoiced against My
sanctuary when it was desecrated, and against the land of Israel when it was destroyed, and
against the house of Judah when they went into captivity; 4therefore, behold, I shall deliver
you over to the children of Kedem as an inheritance. They will dwell among you with their
goods and pitch their tents among you. They will eat your fruit and drink your drinks. 5I shall
make the city of Ammon a pasturage for camels, and Rabbah a resting place for sheep. Then
you will know that I am the Lord.” 6For thus says the Lord: “Because you clapped your hands,
and applauded with your feet, and rejoiced in your soul against the land of Israel; 7therefore,
I shall stretch out My hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I shall utterly
destroy you from among the peoples and cause you to perish from the countries. Then you
will know that I am the Lord.”

                                            Moab

  8‘Thus says the Lord: “Because Moab said, ‘Behold, the house of Israel and Judah is like all

the nations,’ 9therefore, behold, I shall weaken the shoulder of Moab from its prominent
cities—its choice land—as is the house of Beth Jeshimoth, above the spring of the seaside
city. 10I have given these cities, as well as the children of Ammon, as an inheritance to the
sons of Kedem, so there may be no memory of the sons of Ammon. 11Thus I shall take
vengeance upon Moab, and they will know that I am the Lord.”

                                            Edom

  12‘Thus says the Lord: “Because of what Edom did when it took revenge on the house of

Judah, and because they remembered wrongs and exacted punishment,” 13therefore, thus
says the Lord: “I shall also stretch out My hand against Edom, and destroy man and cattle
from it, and make it a desert. They will be pursued from Teman and fall by the sword. 14I
shall execute My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will do in
Edom according to My wrath and anger. Then they will know My vengeance,” says the Lord.

                                           Cretans
  15‘Therefore thus says the Lord: “Because the foreigners exacted vengeance and raised up

vengeance, rejoicing in their souls to destroy My people forever,” 16therefore, thus says the
Lord: “Behold, I shall stretch out My hand against the foreigners, and I shall utterly destroy
the Cretans. I shall also destroy those who dwell on the seacoast. 17I shall execute great
vengeance, and they will know that I am the Lord, when I bring My vengeance upon them.” ’ ”

                                      Judgment on Tyre


26 Again  it came to pass in the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, that the word
   of the Lord came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, because Tyre spoke against Jerusalem,
saying, ‘Good, well done!’ she is crushed; the nations destroyed her; she is turned to Me; she
who was full is made desolate! 3Therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I am against you, O
Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea causes its waves to
crash the shore. 4They will knock down your walls, O Tyre, and break down your towers. I
shall scrape her dust from her and make her like a smooth rock. 5It will be a drying-place for
fishing nets in the midst of the sea, for I have spoken,’ says the Lord. ‘It shall be as a place of
plunder for the nations. 6Also her daughters which are on the plain will be killed by the
sword. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’

  7“For thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, from the north I will bring Nebuchadnezzar king of
Babylon against you, O Tyre. He is king of kings, with horses, chariots, horsemen, and an
army of very many nations.† 8He will kill your daughters with the sword in the plain; he will
establish outposts and build forts around you. He will establish a barricade and warlike works
against you all around, and array his spears against you. 9Your walls and towers will be struck
down with his swords. 10Because of the great number of his horses, their dust clouds will
cover you, and because of the sound of his horsemen and the wheels of his chariots, your
walls will shake when he enters your gates, like one who enters a city from the plain. 11With
the hooves of his horses, they will trample all your streets. He will kill your people with the
sword, and bring down to the ground the substance of your strength. 12He will plunder your
army and strip your possessions. He will break down your walls and pull down your desirable
houses. He will throw your stones, your timber, and your soil into the sea. 13He will destroy
the multitude of your musicians, and the sound of your harps will be heard no more. 14I shall
make you bare like the top of a rock, a place for spreading nets; you will never be rebuilt, for I
have spoken,’ says the Lord.
  15“For thus says the Lord and Master to Tyre: ‘Will not the coastlands shake at the sound

of your fall, when the wounded groan, when the sword is unsheathed in your midst? 16Then
all the rulers of the nations along the seacoast will step down from their thrones, lay aside
their crowns, and take off their embroidered garments. They will be beside themselves as
they sit on the ground. They will tremble with fear at their destruction and groan over you.
17They will take up a lamentation for you and say to you, “How were you destroyed from out

of the sea, O renowned city that caused her fear to be on all her inhabitants?” 18From the day
of your fall, the coastlands will also be afraid.’

  19“For thus says the Lord and Master: ‘When I make you a wasted city, like cities not to be

inhabited, and when I bring the abyss upon you, and much water covers you, 20then I shall
bring you down to those who descend into the pit, to the people of old, and I shall make you
dwell in the depths of the earth, like an eternal desert, with those who go down into the pit,
that you may never be inhabited, nor raised up to the land of the living. 21I shall give you
over to destruction, and you will never exist again,’ says the Lord and Master.”

                                         Lament for Tyre

      Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 2“Son of man, take up a lamentation
27
      for Tyre, 3and you shall say to Tyre, situated at the entrance of the sea and market of
the peoples on many coastlands, ‘Thus says the Lord to Tyre: “You say, ‘I clothed myself with
beauty.’ 4In the heart of the sea, your sons clothed you with beauty for Beelim. 5Cedar from
Senir was used by you in building. Boards of cypress timber were obtained from Lebanon to
make masts of pinewood, 6and they made your oars out of wood from Bashan. They made
your sacred objects from ivory, and your groves of houses out of wood from the coastlands of
Cyprus. 7Your couch was made of fine embroidered linen from Egypt, to cover you with
splendor, and to clothe you with blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah. They were your
coverings. 8Your rulers were the inhabitants of Sidon, and the Aradians were your oarsmen.
Your skilled men, O Tyre, were your pilots. 9The elders of Byblos and their wise men were in
you. These men strengthened your counsel. All the ships of the sea and their oarsmen were
yours, even to the far west.

  10“Persians, Lydians, and Libyans were in your army. Your warriors hung shields and

helmets in you, and they gave you glory. 11The sons of the Aradians and your army were upon
your walls. There were guards in your towers, and they hung their quivers on the walls all
around your harbors. These sons completed your beauty.

   12“Those from Carthage were your merchants because of the abundance of all your

strength. They furnished your marketplace with silver, gold, iron, tin, and lead. 13Greece and
all the extended regions, these busied themselves in the trade of human lives and of vessels
of copper for your markets. 14The house of Togarmah furnished your marketplace with
horses and horsemen. 15The sons of Rodians were your traders. From the coastlands they
multiplied your trade in ivory. 16To those who brought in the goods, you paid them wages in
return from the abundant market of your mixed goods: myrrh and embroidered works from
Tharsis, and even people as merchandise. Ramoth and Chorchor also traded with you.
17Judah and the sons of Israel, these traded with you. They traded in your marketplace the

sale of wheat, myrrh, cassia, fine honey, oil, and resin. 18Damascus was a merchant in your
marketplace because of the abundance of all your power: wine from Helbon and wool from
Miletos. They also provided wine for your marketplace. 19From Asel, there came wrought
iron and wheels for your market of mixed goods. 20Dedan was your merchant, with choice
animals for chariots. 21Arabia and all the rulers of Kedar, these were your traders, bringing
camels, rams, and lambs in which they traded with you. 22The merchants of Sheba and
Raamah traded with you. They traded for your wares the choicest spices, all kinds of precious
stones, and gold. 23Harran and Canneh also traded with you. Assyria and Chilmad were
merchants in your marketplace, 24as they brought trade in blue cloth, in choice treasures
bound with ropes, and in cypress wood. 25The ships of Tarshish were your merchants in
abundance, with your market of mixed goods, and you were filled and heavily loaded in the
heart of the sea.

  26“Your oarsmen brought you into many waters, but the south wind broke you to pieces in

the heart of the sea. 27Your armies and the profits from your markets of mixed goods, your
oarsmen and pilots, your counselors and merchandisers from your market of mixed goods, all
your men of war who are in you, and the entire company in your midst will fall in the heart of
the sea in the day of your fall. 28At the sound of your cry, your pilots will be greatly afraid.
29All who handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea will disembark from their

ships and stand on the shore. 30They will cry out in pain over you. They will cry out bitterly,
put dust on their heads, and spread ashes under themselves. 31Their sons will take up a song
of grief and a lamentation for you, saying, 32‘How great a profit did you find from the sea?
The nations were filled from your abundance and the kings of the earth were enriched from
your market of mixed goods. 33Now you are broken to pieces in the sea, in the depth of
water. Your market of mixed goods and all your assembly fell in your midst, along with all
your oarsmen. 34All the inhabitants of the coastlands are shocked over you. Their kings are
greatly astonished, and their faces are covered with tears. 35The merchants from the nations
hiss at you, for destruction has come about, and you will be no more forever.’ ” ’ ”

                             The King of Tyre Is Overthrown

          the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2“As for you, son of man, say to the
28 Again
   ruler of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Because your heart is lifted up, and you say, ‘I am
God, and I live in the dwelling of God, in the heart of the sea,’ yet you are a man and not God,
though you set your heart as the heart of God. 3Are you wiser than Daniel? Or have not your
wise men instructed you with their understanding? 4Have you gained wisdom by your own
understanding? Have you gained power for yourself by your own knowledge or discernment,
and obtained gold and silver by yourself for your treasuries? 5By your abundant
understanding and trade you increased your power, and your heart was lifted up in your
power.” 6Therefore thus says the Lord: “Since you set your heart as the heart of God, 7instead
of this, behold, I shall bring foreigners against you, the plague of the nations. They will
unsheathe their swords against the beauty of your knowledge and bring down your beauty in
destruction. 8They will bring you down, and you will die the death of the slain in the heart of
the sea. 9Will you still say, ‘I am God,’ before those who slay you? But you are a man and not
God. 10You shall perish by the hands of foreigners among the multitude of the
uncircumcised, for I have spoken,” says the Lord.’ ”

                            Lamentation for the Ruler of Tyre

  11Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 12“Son of man, take up a lamentation for
the ruler of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord and Master: “You are a seal of
resemblance and crown of beauty. 13You were the luxury of the paradise of God, adorned
with every good stone: sardius, topaz, emerald, and diamond, sapphire, jasper, silver, and
gold, stone of Liguria, agate, and amethyst, chrysolite, beryl, and onyx. You filled your
treasuries and your storehouses with gold from the very day you were created. 14I appointed
you to be with the cherub. I set you on the holy mountain of God. You were in the midst of
the stones of fire. 15You were blameless in your days from the day you were created, until
wrongs were found in you. 16By the abundance of your trade, you filled your secret rooms
with lawlessness; thus you sinned. So you were cast wounded from the mountain of God, and
the cherub brought you out from the midst of the stones of fire. 17Your heart was lifted up
because of your beauty. Your knowledge was corrupted with your beauty. Because of the
multitude of your sins I cast you to the ground. Before kings I set you forth as an example.
18Because of the multitude of your sins and the wrongdoings of your trade, you desecrated
your sanctuaries; therefore, I will bring fire from your midst which will devour you, to turn
you into ashes upon your land in the sight of all who see you. 19All who know you among the
nations shall groan over you. You destroyed yourself, and you shall be present no more
forever.” ’ ”

                                      Judgment on Sidon

  20Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 21“Son of man, set your face toward

Sidon, and prophesy against her, 22and say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am against you, O
Sidon, and I shall be glorified in you. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I execute
judgments in you and am sanctified in you. 23Blood and death shall be in your streets, and
those wounded by the sword shall fall on every side. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

  24“Thus there will no longer be in the house of Israel a thorn of bitterness or a painful
thorn from all who are around them, who dishonor them. Then they will know that I am the
Lord.”

                                     Israel Will Have Hope

  25‘Thus says the Lord and Master: “I shall bring Israel from the nations where they were
scattered, and I shall be sanctified among them in the sight of the peoples and of the nations.
Then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to My servant Jacob. 26So they will dwell
there in hope, build houses, and plant vineyards; yes, they will dwell in hope when I execute
judgment on all those who dishonor them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God,
and the God of their fathers.” ’ ”

                                      Judgment on Egypt
29 InLordthecame
              tenth year, in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the
                  to me, saying,† 2“Son of man, set your face toward Pharaoh king of Egypt,
and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. 3Speak and say, ‘Thus says the Lord:
“Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great dragon who lies in the midst of
his rivers and says, ‘The rivers are mine, for I made them.’ 4But I shall put hooks in your jaws
and join the fish of your rivers to your wings, and I shall bring you and all the fish of your
river up from the midst of your river. 5Then I will quickly cast down you and all the fish of
your river. You will fall to the surface of the plain, and you will not be gathered and buried. I
will give you as food to the wild animals of the field and to the birds of the heavens. 6Then all
the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord, because they were a staff made of
reed to the house of Israel. 7For when they took hold of you with their hand, you broke it,
and when every hand conquered them and they rested their hand on you, you crushed it and
broke all their backs.”

  8‘Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will bring a sword against you, and destroy man

and cattle from you. 9Thus the land of Egypt shall be destroyed and become a desert. Then
they will know that I am the Lord, because you say, ‘The rivers are mine, and I made them.’
10Therefore, behold, I am against you and against all your rivers, and I shall turn the land of
Egypt into a desert, to the sword and to destruction, from Migdol to Syene, as far as the
borders of Ethiopia. 11Neither foot of man nor foot of cattle will pass through it, and it will be
uninhabited for forty years. 12I shall make the land of Egypt a destruction in the midst of a
land laid waste, and her cities will be laid waste for forty years. I shall scatter Egypt among
the nations and disperse them like chaff throughout the countries.”

  13‘Yet, thus says the Lord: “At the end of forty years, I shall gather the Egyptians from the

nations where they were scattered. 14I shall bring back the captives of the Egyptians and
cause them to dwell in the land of Pathros, in the land from which they were taken; but they
will be a lowly dominion. 15Alongside all the dominions, it will not be exalted any longer
among the nations, for I shall make them to be very small, so as not to be great among the
nations. 16So they shall no longer be to the house of Israel as an expectation to remind them
to follow after their lawlessness. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

                                Babylon Will Plunder Egypt
  17Again it came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of

the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar
king of Babylon caused his army to labor strenuously against Tyre. Every head was made
bald, and every shoulder rubbed raw; yet there was no reward to him nor his army serving
against Tyre, for the labor they expended on it. 19Therefore thus says the Lord and Master:
‘Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will plunder
it and carry off her spoil. It will be the wages for his army. 20As compensation for his service
in which he served against Tyre, I will give him the land of Egypt,’ says the Lord and Master.

  21“In that day a horn shall spring forth for all the house of Israel, and I will give you an
open mouth in the midst of them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

                                Woe to Egypt and Her Allies

                                                            †2
30 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
                                          3
                                                  “Son of man, prophesy and say,
      ‘Thus says the Lord: “Woe, woe be the day! For the day of the Lord is near. It shall be
the end of the nations. 4The sword will come upon the Egyptians, and there shall be trouble
in Ethiopia. The wounded will fall in Egypt, and her foundations shall collapse. 5Persians,
Cretans, Lydians, Libyans, and all the mixed multitude, and all the children of the covenant
shall fall by the sword therein.”

  6‘Thus says the Lord: “The supports of Egypt will fall, and the insolence of her strength will

come down. From Migdol to Syene, they shall fall by the sword therein,” says the Lord. 7“So
they shall be wasted in the midst of desolate countries, and their cities shall be wasted in the
midst of desolate cities. 8Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I set Egypt on fire
and crush all those who help it. 9In that day messengers shall go forth, hurrying to destroy
Ethiopia, and there will be trouble among them in the day of Egypt; for behold, it is coming.”

  10‘Thus says the Lord and Master: “I shall destroy a multitude of the Egyptians by the hand

of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. 11His hand and the hand of his people, they are the
plague of the nations, sent to destroy the land. They will unsheathe all their swords against
Egypt and fill the land with the slain. 12I shall make their rivers deserts, and I will destroy the
land and its fullness by the hands of foreigners. I, the Lord, have spoken.”

  13‘For thus says the Lord and Master: “I shall also destroy the men of high status from
Memphis, and the rulers of Memphis from the land of Egypt; and they shall be no more. 14I
shall destroy the land of Pathros, and set Tanis on fire, and exact vengeance on Diospolis. 15I
will pour out My anger on Sais, the strength of Egypt, and I will destroy the multitude of
Memphis, 16and set Egypt on fire. Syene will be greatly troubled, there shall be a rupture in
Diospolis, and there will be flooding waters. 17The youth of Heliopolis and Bubastum shall
fall by the sword, and the women will go into captivity. 18At Taphnae, the day will be
darkened, when there I break to pieces the kingly powers of Egypt, and there the insolence of
her strength shall perish. A cloud will cover her, and her daughters shall be taken prisoners.
19Thus I shall execute judgment on Egypt, for they shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

                              Pharaoh Punished by Babylon

 20Again it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the

month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 21“Son of man, I have broken the arms
of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and, behold, it has not been bound up to be healed, and no plaster
applied to make it strong enough to hold a sword. 22Therefore thus says the Lord and
Master: ‘I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his strong and outstretched arms,
and throw down his sword from his hand. 23I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations
and disperse them as chaff throughout the countries. 24I shall strengthen the arms of the
king of Babylon and put My sword into his hand. I shall bring it upon Egypt, and he shall
plunder and take spoils from it. 25Thus I shall strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon,
but the arms of Pharaoh will fall. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I put My
sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt.
26So I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them as chaff throughout
the countries. Then all will know that I am the Lord.’ ”

                                  A Warning to Pharaoh


31 Again it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the
   month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, say to Pharaoh,
king of Egypt, and to his multitude, ‘To whom do you liken yourself in your high position?†
3Behold, Assyria was a cypress in Lebanon, and he was beautiful in offshoots and high in

greatness. His rule came to be among the clouds. 4Water nurtured him, and the depths made
him grow tall. The depths led her rivers around his trees, and sent forth her system into all
the trees of the plain. 5For this reason his greatness was exalted above all the trees of the
plain, and his branches were enlarged because of the abundance of water. 6All the birds of the
heavens made their nests in his offshoots, and under his branches all the wild animals of the
plain brought forth their young; and all the multitude of nations dwelt under his shadow.
7Thus he was beautiful in his high position because of the multitude of his branches, for his

roots were in much water. 8There were no such cypresses in the paradise of God, and there
were no pine trees displaying offshoots like these. Silver firs did not have branches like these.
No tree in the paradise of God was like him in beauty because of the multitude of his
branches, 9and all the trees of God's paradise of splendor were jealous of him.’

  10“Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Because you increased in greatness, and you established

your rule among the clouds, and I saw him when he was exalted;† 11therefore, I delivered
him into the hands of the ruler of nations, and he carried out his destruction. 12Thus
foreigners, the plague of the nations, destroyed him and cast him down upon the mountains.
His branches fell in all the valleys, and his stems were broken in every plain of the land. All
the peoples of the nations went down from their shelter and dashed him to the ground. 13All
the birds of heaven rested on his fall, and all the wild animals of the field came upon his
branches, 14that no trees in the water may ever again exalt themselves in their greatness, nor
establish their rule among the clouds, and that no trees which drink water may stand in their
high position. For all were delivered to death, to the depths of the earth, among the sons of
men who go down to the pit.’

  15“Thus says the Lord and Master: ‘In the day he went down to Hades, the deep abyss
mourned him; and I stood over her rivers and restrained her abundant water. Lebanon
mourned over him, and all the trees of the field fainted over him. 16From the sound of his
fall, the nations were shaken when I cast him down to Hades, together with those who
descend into the pit. All the trees of splendor and the chosen plants of Lebanon, all that drink
water, comforted him in the earth. 17Yet they also went down to Hades with him among
those slain by the sword, along with their posterity. They that dwelt under his shadow
perished in the midst of their life. 18To whom are you likened? Go down and be humiliated
with the trees of splendor to the depths of the earth. You will sleep in the midst of the
uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. Thus shall it be for Pharaoh and the multitude
of his strength,’ says the Lord and Master.”
                           Lamentation for Pharaoh and Egypt


32 Again it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the
   month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 2“Son of man, take up a
lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt, and you shall say to him, ‘You are like a lion among
the nations, and you are like a dragon in the sea. You assaulted with your rivers, troubled
water with your feet, and trampled your rivers.’

  3“Thus says the Lord: ‘I shall therefore spread a net over you of many peoples, and bring

you up with my fishhook. 4I shall stretch you out upon the earth, and the plains will be filled
with you. I shall cause the birds of the heavens to settle upon you, and all the beasts of the
whole earth to fill up on you. 5I shall offer your flesh on the open mountains and saturate
them with your blood. 6The land shall be drenched with your excrement because of your
multitude upon the mountains. I will fill the valleys with you. 7When I extinguish you, I shall
cover up heaven and make its stars grow dark. I shall cover up the sun with a cloud, and the
moon will not give her light. 8All the bodies that give light in heaven shall grow dark over
you, and I shall bring darkness upon your land, says the Lord and Master. 9I will provoke to
anger the heart of many peoples, when I lead you captive among the nations into a land you
have not known. 10Many nations will become saddened over you, and their kings will be
utterly amazed when My sword flies in their faces, as they await their own fall from the day
of your fall.’

  11“For thus says the Lord: ‘The sword of the king of Babylon will come upon you with the

swords of his mighty men, and I will strike down your strength. 12All these men are plagues
from the nations. They will destroy the insolence of Egypt, and all her strength will be
crushed. 13I will also destroy all her cattle from beside her abundant water, which the foot of
man will trouble no more, nor will the footstep of cattle trample it. 14Thus at that time, their
waters shall become still, and their rivers will flow like oil, says the Lord, 15when I give Egypt
over to destruction, and the land becomes desolate with all its fullness, and when I disperse
all who dwell in it. Then they will know that I am the Lord. 16There is a lamentation, and you
shall mourn over Pharaoh. The daughters of the nations shall mourn over him and over
Egypt, and they shall mourn for her over all her strength,’ says the Lord and Master.”

                              The Nations Go Down to Hades
  17Again in the first month of the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word

of the Lord came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, lament over the strength of Egypt, for the
nations will cast down her daughters dead into the depth of the earth, to those who go down
into the pit. 19They shall fall with him among those slain by the sword, and all his strength
will sleep in death. The mighty men will say to you, 20‘Be in the depth of the pit, for to whom
are you superior? Go down and sleep in death with the uncircumcised among those slain by
the sword.’

  21“Assyria is there and all its company, and all the slain were put there. Their burial- place

is in the depth of the pit, and his company are set round about his grave. 22All the slain who
fell by the sword are those who caused their fear to be upon the land of the living.

  23“There is Elam and all his army all around his grave, and all the slain who fell by the
sword, and the uncircumcised who went down into the depth of the earth, and who caused
their terror to be in the land of the living. Now they bear their torment with those who go
down to the pit among the slain.

  24“Meshech and Tubal and all their strength were put there around about his grave. All his
slain men, all the uncircumcised slain by the sword, who spread their terror in the land of the
living, are there. 25They sleep in death with the mighty men who fell of old, who went down
to Hades with their weapons of war. 26Their swords were put under their heads, but their
lawlessness was placed on their bones, because they terrified the mighty men in the land of
the living. 27As for you, you will sleep in death among the uncircumcised, with those slain by
the sword.

  28“There are the rulers of Assyria who yielded his strength to a wound of the sword.
29They sleep in death with the slain, with those who go down into the pit. 30There are the
rulers of the north, all the commanders of Assyria, who, with their terror and their strength,
go down slain into the pit. They fell asleep uncircumcised with those slain by the sword, and
they bear their torment with those who go down to the pit.

  31“King Pharaoh will see them, and be comforted over all their strength,” says the Lord and

Master. 32“For I caused his fear to be in the land of the living; but he shall sleep in death
among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword, even Pharaoh and all his
multitude,” says the Lord and Master.
                                Ezekiel Made the Watchman

      Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 2“Son of man, speak to the sons of
33 your people, and you will say to them, ‘On whatever land I bring the sword, take one
man from among the people of the land and make him their watchman. 3When he sees the
sword coming upon the land, he shall blow the trumpet and warn the people. 4Then whoever
hears the sound of the trumpet but does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes
him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5For he heard the sound of the trumpet, but
did not take warning. So his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save
his life. 6But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the
people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is
taken away in his transgressions; but his blood I shall require at the watchman's hand.’

  7“As for you, son of man, I made you a watchman for the house of Israel, and you shall

hear a word from My mouth. 8When I say to the sinner, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not
speak to warn the ungodly man to change his way, that lawless man will die in his
lawlessness; but his blood I shall require at your hand. 9But if you warn the ungodly man to
turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his ungodliness; but you
have delivered your own soul.

  10“As for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus you spoke, saying, “Our errors

and our lawlessness are upon us, and we waste away in them. So how can we then live?’ ”†
11Say to them, ‘As I live, thus says the Lord: “I do not will the death of the ungodly man. So
the ungodly man should turn from his way and live. Turn heartily from your way, for why
should you die, O house of Israel?’ ”

  12“Say to the sons of your people, ‘The righteousness of a righteous man will not deliver
him in the day he goes astray. As for the lawlessness of the ungodly man, it will not harm him
in the day he turns from his lawlessness, but a righteous man who goes astray cannot save
himself.” 13When I say regarding the righteous man, this man puts his trust in his
righteousness but commits lawlessness, then none of his righteousness will be remembered,
for he shall die in the wrongdoing he commits. 14Again when I say to the ungodly man, “You
will surely die,” and he turns from his sin, does judgment and righteousness, 15restores the
pledge, gives back what he has stolen, and walks in the ordinances of life without committing
wrongdoing, he will surely live. Thus he will not die. 16None of his sins he committed will be
remembered, for he does judgment and righteousness. By doing these things, he shall live.’

  17“Yet the sons of your people will say, ‘The way of the Lord is not upright.’ But it is their

way that is not upright. 18When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits
lawlessness, he will die because of it. 19But when the sinner turns from his lawlessness and
does judgment and righteousness, he shall live because of it. 20Yet this is what you say, ‘The
way of the Lord is not upright.’ O house of Israel, I shall judge every one of you according to
his ways.”

                                 The Capture of Jerusalem

  21Again it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the twelfth month, on the
fifth day of the month, that one who escaped from Jerusalem came to me, saying, “The city is
taken.”† 22Then the hand of the Lord came upon me the evening before the man came, and
opened my mouth. So when He came to me in the morning, my mouth was opened, and it
was no longer closed. 23Thus the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 24“Son of man, those
who inhabit the desolate places in the land of Israel say, ‘Abraham was one man, and he
inherited the land. But we are many, and the land was given to us as a possession.’
25Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord and Master: “As I live, truly those in the
desolate places shall fall by the sword, and those in the open plain shall be given to the wild
animals as food; and those in the strongholds and caves I will surely kill. 26For I shall make
the land a desert, and the insolence of her strength will perish; and the mountains of Israel
will be desolate by reason of no one passing through. 27Then they will know that I am the
Lord. I shall make their land a desert, and it will be laid waste because of all the abominations
they committed.’ ”

                                 Hearing, but Not Heeding

  28“As for you, son of man, the sons of your people are talking about you by the walls and at
the gateways of the houses. They speak as a man speaks to his brother, saying, ‘Let us gather
and hear the words that proceed from the Lord.’ 29So they come together before you as
people do, and they sit before you to hear your words, but they will not do them, because a lie
is in their mouth, and their heart pursues their own defilements. 30For you are to them as a
sweet, well-tuned song, and they will hear your words, but will not do them. 31So when it
comes to pass, they will say, ‘Behold, it has come.’ Then they will know a prophet was among
them.”

                          Prophecy against Israel's Shepherds

         the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 2“Son of man, prophesy against the
34 Again
   shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to the shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord and
Master: “O shepherds of Israel who feed themselves, should not the shepherds feed the
sheep? 3Behold, you drink the milk and clothe yourselves with the wool. You slay the
fatlings, but do not feed My sheep. 4You have not strengthened the weak, and the sick you
have not revived. The broken you have not bandaged, and the misled you have not brought
back. The lost you have not sought, and the strong you have not prepared for labor. 5So My
sheep were scattered, because there were no shepherds. So they became food for all the wild
animals of the field. 6My sheep were scattered in all the mountains and on every high hill.
They were scattered over the face of the earth, and there was no one to seek them or to bring
them back.”

  7‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. 8“As I live,” says the Lord and
Master, “because My sheep became as plunder, and as food for all the wild animals of the
plain, because there were no shepherds with them, nor did My shepherds search for My
sheep, but fed themselves and not My flock”— 9because of this, O shepherds, 10thus says the
Lord and Master: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and shall require My sheep at their
hands. I shall turn them away so they may not shepherd My sheep. The shepherds will not
feed them anymore, for I shall deliver My sheep from their mouth; and they shall no longer
be as food for them.”

                                    The True Shepherd

  11‘For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I shall search for My sheep and care for them.† 12As a
shepherd seeks his flock on a day when there is darkness, and when a cloud separates the
sheep, thus I will drive them from every place where they were scattered in the day of cloud
and darkness. 13And I shall bring them out from the Gentiles, gather them from the
countries, and bring them into their land. I shall feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the
valleys, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14I shall feed them in good pasture and on
the high mountain of Israel, and their folds will be there. They will lie down, and there they
shall rest in good luxury, and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15I shall feed
My sheep and refresh them; and they will know that I am the Lord,” thus says the Lord and
Master. 16“I shall seek the lost, bring back the misled, bind up the broken, strengthen the
fallen, protect the strong, and feed them with judgment.”

  17‘So as for you, My sheep, thus says the Lord and Master: “Behold, I will distinguish

between sheep and sheep and between rams and goats.† 18Is it not enough for you that you
grazed on the good pasture, that you trampled down the rest of your pasture with your feet,
that you drank the clear water, but muddied the rest with your feet? 19Thus My sheep grazed
on what you trampled with your feet, and drank what you muddied with your feet.”

   20‘Therefore thus says the Lord and Master: “Behold, I shall distinguish between the

strong sheep and the weak sheep. 21Because you pushed with side and shoulder, butted all
the weak ones with your horns, and greatly distressed the weak; 22therefore, I will save My
sheep, and they will not be as plunder anymore; and I shall judge between one ram and
another. 23I shall raise up one Shepherd over them, and He will tend them, even My Servant
David. He shall be their Shepherd,† 24and I, the Lord, will be their God; and David will be the
Ruler in their midst. I, the Lord, have spoken.

  25“I will also make a covenant of peace with David, and utterly destroy the evil wild

animals from the land. They shall dwell in the desert and sleep in the forests. 26I will settle
them round about my mountain and will give you rain, the rain of blessing. 27The trees of the
plain will also produce their fruit, and the earth shall produce her strength. They shall dwell
on their land in the hope of peace, and know that I am the Lord, when I break their yoke and
deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28They shall no longer be as
plunder for the nations, nor will the wild animals devour them; but they will dwell in hope,
and no one shall make them afraid. 29I will raise up for them a garden of peace, and they
shall no longer perish with hunger, nor bear the insults of the nations. 30Then they will
know that I am the Lord their God, and they are My people, O house of Israel,” says the Lord.
31“You are My sheep and the sheep of My pasture, and I am the Lord your God,” says the
Lord and Master.’ ”

                               Prophecy against Mount Seir
                                          saying,† 2“Son of man, set your face against
35 Again the word of the Lord came to me,
                                      3
      Mount Seir and prophesy against it, and say to it, ‘Thus says the Lord and Master:
“Behold, O Mount Seir, I am against you, and I will stretch out My hand against you. I will
cause you to become a desert, and you will be wasted. 4I will also cause desolation in your
cities, and you shall be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 5Because you have
an eternal hatred for the house of Israel, and laid in wait deceitfully with sword in hand as
enemies, in a time of wrongdoing to the extreme; 6therefore, as I live,” says the Lord and
Master, “truly you sinned even to blood, thus blood shall pursue you. 7I will cause Mount
Seir to become a desert and a desolate place, and destroy man and cattle from it. 8I will fill
your hills and valleys with your slain, and in all your plains and among you the slain shall fall
by the sword. 9I will make you an eternal desolation, and your cities will be inhabited no
more. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

  10“Because you said, ‘The two nations and the two countries shall be mine, and I shall

inherit them,’ though the Lord is there; 11therefore, as I live,” says the Lord, “I will deal with
you according to your enmity, and I will be made known to you when I judge you. 12Then you
will know that I am the Lord. I heard the voice of your blasphemies when you said, ‘The
desert mountains of Israel are given to us as food.’ 13You boasted against Me with your
mouth, and I heard it.” 14Thus says the Lord: “When all the earth is in gladness, I will make
you a desert. 15You will be a desert, O Mount Seir, and all of Edom will be utterly destroyed.
Then you will know that I am the Lord their God.’ ”

                                  God's Blessing on Israel


36 “As for you, son of man, prophesy over the mountains of Israel, and say to the
   mountains of Israel, ‘Hear the word of the Lord.† 2Thus says the Lord and Master:
“Because the enemy said against you, ‘Good, well done! The ancient deserts have become
ours as a possession;’ ” ’ 3therefore, prophesy, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord and Master:
“Because you were dishonored and hated by those all around you, so as to be a possession for
the rest of the nations, and because you became a byword and were disgraced by the
nations”— 4therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord
to the mountains, the hills, the valleys, the brooks, the desert places, the desolated regions,
and the abandoned cities, plundered and trampled underfoot by the nations that were left all
around them— 5therefore, thus says the Lord and Master: “Certainly in the fire of My anger, I
have spoken against the rest of the nations and against all of Edom, because they gave My
land to themselves as a possession with gladness, when they treated souls shamefully, so as
to destroy them by plunder.’ ” 6Therefore prophesy over the land of Israel, and say to the
mountains, the hills, the valleys, and the wooded vales, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I have
spoken in My jealousy and My anger, because you have borne the insults of the nations.
7Therefore I shall raise My hand against the nations around you, and they will bear their
disgrace.

  8“But My people will eat your grapes and fruit, O mountains of Israel, for they are drawing

near to this time to come.† 9For behold, I am for you, and I will have regard for you, and you
shall be tilled and sown. 10I shall multiply people upon you, upon all the house of Israel to
the end. The cities shall be inhabited, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. 11I shall multiply people
and cattle upon you, and they will increase and bear young. I shall make you inhabited as in
your beginning, and treat you well as in your former times. Then you will know that I am the
Lord. 12Thus I will beget people upon you, My people Israel, and they shall inherit you. You
shall be as a possession for them, and you will not be deprived of children anymore.” 13Thus
says the Lord and Master: “Because they say to you, ‘You devour people, O land, and thus you
are bereaved of your nation’; 14therefore, you shall no longer devour people, nor be bereaved
of your nation anymore,” says the Lord and Master. 15“No longer will the disgrace of the
nations be heard among you, nor shall you bear the insults of the peoples anymore,” says the
Lord and Master.’ ”

                                  The Cleansing of Israel

  16Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 17“Son of man, the house of Israel dwelt
upon their land, but they defiled it by their conduct and by their idols and uncleanness. Their
conduct before me was like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity.
18Therefore I poured out My anger on them. 19I scattered them among the nations and
dispersed them as chaff into the countries. I judged them according to their conduct and their
sins. 20So when they came to the nations, wherever they went, they desecrated My holy
name when they said, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and they have come out of His land.’
21But I spared them for the sake of My holy name, which the house of Israel desecrated
among the nations wherever they went.

  22“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I will not do this for your
sake, O house of Israel, but for the sake of My holy name, which you desecrated among the
nations wherever you went. 23Thus I will sanctify My great name, desecrated among the
nations, which you desecrated in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,
when I am sanctified among you before their eyes. 24For I will take you from among the
nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into your land. 25I shall sprinkle clean
water on you, and you will be cleansed from all your uncleanness, and I will also cleanse you
from all your idols. 26I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I shall take
the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27I shall put My Spirit within
you and cause you to walk in My requirements, and you will keep My judgments and do
them. 28You will dwell in the land I gave to your fathers. You will be My people, and I shall
be your God. 29I shall save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and
multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. 30I shall multiply the fruit of your trees and the
produce of your fields, that you need never again bear the disgrace of famine among the
nations. 31Then you will remember your evil ways and your practices which were not good,
and you shall be angry in your own sight for your lawlessness and your abominations. 32Not
for your sake will I do this,” says the Lord and Master. “As it shall become known to you, be
ashamed and embarrassed of your ways, O house of Israel.”

  33‘Thus says the Lord: “On the day in which I shall cleanse you from all your lawlessness, I

shall also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the uninhabited regions will be rebuilt. 34The
land which was destroyed will be cultivated, because it will no longer be desolate in the sight
of all who pass by. 35Thus they will say, ‘That desolate land has become like a garden of
luxury; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ 36Then
the nations yet remaining around you will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined cities
and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it and shall do it.”

  37‘Thus says the Lord: “For this I shall be sought by the house of Israel, that I might

establish and multiply their people like sheep. 38As holy sheep, as the sheep of Jerusalem in
her feasts, thus shall the desert cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that
I am the Lord.” ’ ”

                                  Vision of the Dry Bones


37 Again the hand of the Lord came upon me, and brought me by the Spirit of the Lord,
and set me in the midst of the plain, which was full of human bones.† 2So He led me round
about them, and behold, there was a great multitude of bones on the face of the plain. They
were very dry. 3Then He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O
Lord, You know this.” 4Then He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘O dry
bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5Thus says the Lord to these bones: “Behold, I will bring
the Spirit of life upon you. 6I will put muscles on you and bring flesh upon you. I will cover
you with skin and put my Spirit into you. Then you shall live and know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

  7So I prophesied as He commanded me, and it came to pass while I prophesied that,

behold, there was a shaking, and the bones came together, each one to its joint. 8So I looked,
and behold, muscle and flesh grew upon them, and skin covered them over; but no breath
was in them. 9Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to
the wind, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Come from the four winds and breathe upon these dead men;
and let them live.” ’ ” 10So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the Spirit entered into
them; and they lived and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great assembly.

  11Again the Lord spoke to me, saying, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of

Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope has perished, and we are lost.’ 12Therefore
prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will open your tombs, bring you up
from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13Then you will know that I am the
Lord, when I open your tombs to lead you, My people, up from their graves. 14I will put My
Spirit in you, and you will live; and I will place you in your own land. Then you will know that
I am the Lord. I have spoken, and I will do it,” says the Lord.’ ”

                                  One Nation and One King

  15Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 16“As for you, son of man, take a rod for
yourself and write on it, ‘Judah and the sons of Israel devoted to him.’ Then take a second rod
for yourself and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the rod of Ephraim, and all the sons of Israel added
to him.’ 17Then you shall join them to one another for yourself so as to form one rod, and
they shall be in your hand.

  18“So it shall be, when the sons of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Will you not tell us

what you mean by these?’— 19then you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will
take the tribe of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, who are
added to him, and I will give them to the tribe of Judah. They shall be one rod in the hand of
Judah.’ ” 20The rods on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes. 21Then you
shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord and Master: “Behold, I will take the whole house of
Israel from the midst of the nations where they went, and will gather them from every side,
to bring them into the land of Israel. 22I shall make them one nation in My land, even on the
mountains of Israel, and there will be one Ruler over them. There will no longer be two
nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms anymore, 23so as to defile
themselves with their idols. For I will deliver them from all their lawlessness whereby they
sinned, and will cleanse them. They will be to Me as a people, and I shall be to them as their
God.

  24“My Servant David shall be the Ruler among them, and there will be one Shepherd of
them all; for they will walk in My ordinances and observe My judgments, and do them.
25Then they will dwell in their land which I gave Jacob My servant, where their fathers

dwelt; and they will dwell upon it, and My servant David shall be their Ruler forever. 26I will
make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant, and I will establish
My sanctuary in their midst forever. 27My tabernacle shall be among them; and I will be their
God, and they shall be My people. 28Then the nations will know that I am the Lord who
sanctifies them, when My sanctuary is among them forever.” ’ ”

                                  Gog Will Invade Israel

       Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,† 2“Son of man, set your face against
38 Gog and the land of Magog, the ruler of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy
against him, 3and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord and Master: “Behold, I am against you, O
Gog, the ruler of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4I shall gather you and all your army—horses
and horsemen, all armed with breastplates, and a large assembly with shields, helmets, and
swords— 5along with Persians, Ethiopians, and Libyans with shields and helmets, 6and also
Gomer and all belonging to him, and the house of Togarmah from the far north and all
belonging to him, and many nations with you.

  7“Be prepared; prepare yourself and all your gathering assembled with you; and you will be

as an advance guard for Me. 8He will be prepared after many days, and will come in the last
years. He will come into the land turned away from the sword, when many are gathered
together from the nations against the land of Israel, which was entirely a desert, and he will
come forth from the nations against all who dwell in peace. 9You shall arrive like rain, like a
cloud to cover the land, you and all your army and the many nations with you.”

  10‘Thus says the Lord and Master: “In that day it shall also come to pass that words will

arise in your heart, and you will think evil thoughts. 11For you will say, ‘I will go up to the
rejected land. I will come against those who live in peace and quiet, and who dwell in a land
that has no wall, and neither bars nor gates, 12to plunder them and take spoils.’ I will turn
your hand against a nation gathered from many nations, which acquired possessions and
inhabitants in the midst of the land. 13Sheba, Dedan, and Carthaginian merchants and all
their villages shall say to you, ‘You come for plunder, to capture a prey and take spoils. You
gather your assembly to take silver and gold, and to carry off possessions and take spoils.’ ” ’

  14“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Will you not arise

in that day, the day My people Israel dwell in peace? 15Yes, you will come from your place out
of the far north, you and the many nations with you, all riding on horses, a great assembly
and a mighty army. 16You will come upon My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It
shall come to pass in the last days that I will bring you against My land, that all the nations
may know Me when I am sanctified in you before them.” 17Thus says the Lord and Master to
Gog, “You are he of whom I spoke in former days by the hand of My servants the prophets of
Israel, in those days and years, that I would bring you up against them.

                                        Gog Is Judged

  18“Thus it shall come to pass in that day, the day Gog comes against the land of Israel,”

says the Lord and Master, 19“that My anger and jealousy shall arise in the fire of My wrath. I
have spoken, ‘Certainly in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.
20Even the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the wild animals of the plain, all the reptiles
that creep on the ground, and all the people on the face of the land will shake because of the
Lord's presence. Also, the mountains will break apart, the valleys will be done away with, and
every wall will fall to the ground.’ 21I will also summon every fear against Gog,” says the
Lord, “for the sword of every man shall be against his brother. 22I will judge him with death
and bloodshed, and I will send a flooding rain and hailstones, and fire and brimstone against
him and everyone with him, and also against the many nations with him. 23For I shall be
magnified, sanctified, and glorified, and known in the sight of many nations. Then they shall
know that I am the Lord.’ ”
                                     The Defeat of Gog


39 “As for you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I
   am against you, O Gog, the ruler of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 2I will gather and guide
you, and raise you up from the far north, and bring you upon the mountains of Israel. 3Then
I will destroy the bow in your left hand and the arrows in your right hand; and I will cast you
down upon the mountains of Israel. 4For you and all with you shall fall, and I shall give the
nations with you to the multitude of birds, to every fowl. But I will give you to all the wild
animals of the field to be devoured, 5for you will fall on the face of the open plain, because I
have spoken,” says the Lord. 6“I will also send fire upon Gog, and the coastal peoples shall
dwell in peace. Then they will know that I am the Lord, 7and My holy name will be known in
the midst of My people Israel; and My holy name will no longer be desecrated. The nations
will also know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. 8Behold, it is coming, and you will
know it shall be,” says the Lord and Master.

  “This is the day of which I have spoken. 9Those who dwell in the cities of Israel will also go
out and make a fire with the weapons: the shields and spears, the bows and arrows, and the
javelins and lances; and they shall keep the fire burning for seven years. 10So they will not
take any wood from the field, nor cut down any of the forests; rather, they will burn the
weapons, and plunder those who plundered them, and despoil those who took spoils from
them,” says the Lord.

                                      A Burial for Gog

  11“In that day it shall come to pass that I will give Gog a place of renown, a monument in
Israel, a common burial place of those who come to the sea. There they shall bury Gog and all
his multitude round about the edge of the valley, and it will be called the Burial Place of Gog.
12The house of Israel shall bury them, that the land may be cleansed in the space of seven

months. 13Yes, all the people of the land will bury them, and it shall be a place of renown for
them in the day I was magnified,” says the Lord. 14“So they will appoint men continually to
pass through the land to bury those bodies yet on the ground, to cleanse it by the end of
seven months; and they will seek them out. 15Everyone who passes through the land and
sees a man's bone will also set a marker by it, until the grave diggers shall bury it in the
Burial Place of Gog. 16Indeed, the name of the city shall be Burial Place. Thus the land will be
cleansed.’ ”

                                 An Assembly of Triumph

  17“As for you, son of man, say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Speak to every sort of bird and every
wild animal of the field: ‘Assemble yourselves and come; gather together from all sides to My
sacrifice which I offered up for you, a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel, and you will
eat meat and drink blood. 18You will eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of the
rulers of the earth: the rams, the young bulls, and the male goats; for they are all fatted
animals. 19You will eat fat until you are full, and drink wine until you are drunken from My
sacrifice which I slaughtered for you. 20You will be filled at My table, eating horse and rider,
and the mighty man, and every warrior,’ says the Lord.

  21“I will set My glory in your midst, and all the nations will see My judgment which I

executed, and My hand which I laid on them. 22Then the house of Israel will know that I am
the Lord their God from this day forward. 23All the nations will also know that the house of
Israel was led into captivity on account of their sins, because they rejected Me. So I turned
My face away from them and delivered them into the hands of their enemies; and they all fell
by the sword. 24According to their uncleanness and according to their lawless actions I dealt
with them, and turned My face away from them.”

  25‘Therefore thus says the Lord and Master: “Now I will turn back the captivity of Jacob
and have mercy on the house of Israel; and I will be jealous for the sake of My holy name.
26They shall bear their dishonor and the wrongdoing they committed when they dwelt upon

the land in peace; and there shall be no one to frighten them. 27Thus when I bring them back
from the nations and gather them from the countries of the nations, I will be sanctified
among them in the sight of the nations. 28Then they will know that I am the Lord their God,
when I reveal Myself to them among the nations. 29But I will not turn away My face from
them anymore, because I poured out My anger on the house of Israel,” says the Lord and
Master.’ ”

                         Ezekiel's Vision: New City, New Temple


40 Again in the twenty-fifth year of our captivity, in the first month, on the tenth day of
   the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was captured, on the very same day,
the hand of the Lord was upon me. 2He took me in a vision of God into the land of Israel and
set me on a very high mountain. On it, but opposite from me, was something like the
structure of a city.† 3He took me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was
like the appearance of gleaming bronze. He had a builder's cord and a measuring rod in his
hand, and he stood at the gate. 4Then the man said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?
Look with your eyes and hear with your ears, and fix your heart on everything I show you; for
you were brought here that I might show them to you. For you shall reveal to the house of
Israel everything you see.”

                                The East Gate of the Temple

  5Now there was a wall around the entire outside of the house. In the man's hand was a
measuring stick, six cubits long, each consisting of a cubit and a handbreadth, and he
measured the width of the wall structure, one measuring stick, and the height, one measuring
stick.† 6Then he went to the gate which faced east, up seven stairs, and measured across the
entrance of the gate, one measuring stick wide.† 7Each gate chamber was one measuring stick
long and one measuring stick wide. Between the gate chambers was a space of six cubits, and
the second gate chamber was one measuring stick wide, one measuring stick long; and the
entrance was five cubits. 8The third gate chamber was one measuring stick wide and one
measuring stick long. 9The neighboring entrance was eight cubits, and the gatepost was two
cubits, also the outer entrance of the gate.

 10The gate chambers were three on one side and three on the other. There was one

measurement to all three and one measurement to the entrances on this side and the other.†
11He measured the width of the entrance to the gate, ten cubits, and the length of the gate,

thirteen cubits. 12The dimensions of the front of the gate chambers were equal, and the gate
chambers were six cubits on this side and six cubits on that side. 13Then he measured the
gate from the roof of one gate chamber to the roof of the other, and the width was twenty-five
cubits, from one gate to the other. 14He measured the open inner court of the gate chamber,
sixty cubits high, and there were twenty gate chambers all around. 15From the open court of
the gate outside into the open inner court of the gate chamber within was fifty cubits.†
16There were hidden windows in the gate chambers and in their entrances on the inside of
the gate all around, and likewise the entrances had hidden windows all around. There were
windows all around on the inside, and on each entrance chamber were ornamental palm
trees, equally displayed on one side and the other.†

   17Then he brought me into the inner court; and behold, there were temple chambers and

pillars all around the court; thirty chambers among the pillars. 18The porches were behind
the gates; corresponding to the same length of the gates was the underlying pillar. 19Then he
measured the width of the court, from the open air court of the gate which was to the outside
to the open air court of the gate which faces out, a hundred cubits to the court which faces
east.

                                       The North Gate

  Then he led me to the north side, 20and behold, there was the gate facing north to the
outer court, and he measured its length and its width.† 21Its gate chambers, three on this side
and three on that side, its gateposts and its porches, and palm trees, and they were the same
measurement of the gate which faces to the east: its length was fifty cubits and its width
twenty-five cubits. 22Its windows, its doorposts, and also its palm trees were just like the gate
facing east, and it was ascended by seven steps, and the doorpost within. 23A gate of the inner
court was opposite the northern gate, in the same manner as the eastern gate, and he
measured from gate to gate, one hundred cubits.

                                       The South Gate

  24Then he brought me toward the south, and behold, a gate was facing south; and he
measured its gate chambers, gateposts, and archways according to these same measurements.
25There were windows in it and in its archways all around like those windows. Its length was

fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits. 26Seven steps led up to it, and its gateposts were
within; and it had palm trees on its gateposts, one on this side and one on that side. 27There
was also a gate on the inner court, facing south, and he measured from gate to gate toward
the south, one hundred cubits, in the southerly direction.†

                                      The Inner Court

  28Then he brought me to the inner court through the southern gate, and he measured the

southern gate according to these same measurements. 29Also its gate chambers, its
gateposts, and its archways were according to these same measurements, and there were
windows in it and in its archways all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits
wide. 30There was the porch into the outer court, and palm trees were on its gatepost, and
going up to it were eight steps.

  31Then he brought me to the gate facing east, and he measured it according to these same

measurements.† 32Its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways were according to these
same measurements. There were windows in it and in its archways all around, and it was fifty
cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 33There were porches opening into the inner court,
and palm trees were on its gateposts, on this side and on that side; and going up to it were
eight steps.

 34Then he brought me to the north gate and measured it according to these same

measurements— 35also its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways. It had windows all
around, and its length was fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits. 36Its porches were
toward the outer court, and there were palm trees on its gateposts, on this side and on that
side, and going up to it were eight steps.

                         A Place for the Sacrifices and the Priests

  37There were its chambers and its gateposts at its gate, 38and a drain for the second gate,

so they might slay in it the sin offerings and trespass offerings. 39Behind the drain line for
the whole burnt offerings of the gate which faces north, there were two tables placed toward
the east, and behind the second gate and its gate chamber, there were two tables toward the
east.† 40Four tables were on this side and four tables on that side, and behind the gate, there
were eight tables on which they slaughtered the sacrifices. 41There were also four tables of
hewn stone for the whole burnt offerings, two cubits long, one cubit and a half wide, and one
cubit high. On these they laid the instruments with which they slaughtered the whole burnt
offerings and the sacrifices. 42Inside were projections hewn out, a handbreadth wide, all
around, and over the tables above, there were little roofs to cover from the rain and the
drying wind.

  43Then he led me into the inner court, and behold, there were two halls in the inner court,
one behind the gate which faces north and bearing to the south, and the other behind the gate
which faces to the south and bearing to the north. 44So he said to me, “This hall which faces
south is for the priests who have charge of the temple. 45The hall which faces north is for the
priests who have charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, from the sons of Levi, who
come near the Lord to minister liturgically to Him.” 46Then he measured the court, one
hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits wide, foursquare. The altar of sacrifice was in
front of the house.

  47Then he brought me to the entrance chamber of the house and measured the doorpost of
the entrance chamber, five cubits on this side and five cubits on that side; and the width of
the doorway was fourteen cubits; and the sills of the door to the entrance chamber were three
by three on each side. 48The length of the entrance chamber was twenty cubits, and the
width twelve cubits, and one would ascend it by ten steps; and there were pillars by the
entrance chamber, one on this side and another on that side.

                                    The Temple Interior


41 Then  he brought me into the temple and measured its entrance, six cubits wide on one
   side and six cubits wide on the other side.† 2The width of the entryway was ten cubits,
and the sills of the gate were five cubits on this side and five cubits on the other side; and he
measured its length, forty cubits, and its width, twenty cubits. 3He also went into the inner
court and measured the posts of the doorway, two cubits; and the doorway itself, six cubits
high; and the width of the sills, seven cubits. 4He measured the length of the doors, forty
cubits, and the width, twenty cubits, in front of the sanctuary; and he said to me, “This is the
holy of holies.”

                                The Wall and Its Chambers

  5Next he measured the wall of the house, six cubits. The width of each side all around was

four cubits on every side. 6The side chambers were thirty-two in number, each next to the
other, and the layout along the wall of the house all around was so one could see that all of
them went together, and that nowhere did they touch the walls of the house. 7As one went up
from story to story, the side chambers became wider all around, because their supporting
ledges in the wall of the temple ascended like steps; therefore, the width of the structure
increased as one went up from the lowest story to the highest, by way of the middle one.†
8The side chambers of the house all around were of a high layout of sides, equal in

measurement to one measuring stick. The layout was six cubits. 9The thickness of the outer
wall of the side chambers was five cubits, and the open spaces between the sides of the house
10and the halls measured twenty cubits in width, all around the sides of the house. 11The
doors of the halls led to the open space: the one door led north, and the other door led south;
and the width of the light of the open space was five cubits in width all around.† 12That which
made a boundary before the open space, like the edge of the sea, was seventy cubits wide; and
the width of the wall which bordered was five cubits all around, and its length ninety cubits.

  13Then he measured in front of the house, one hundred cubits long, and the open spaces

and their boundaries and walls were one hundred cubits long. 14Also the width of the face of
the house, along with the open spaces before it, was one hundred cubits. 15Then he measured
the length of the boundary in front separating the open space, with its galleries on the one
side and on the other side, one hundred cubits. The temple, its corners and the outer entrance
area, 16their thresholds and the latticed doors, were set so the narrow openings would give
light through narrow openings to all three stories, like that of a fishnet. The house and all the
neighboring structures all around were paneled with wood, the floor and from the floor up to
the doorways, and the doorways opened up all three stories into the shaded light.†

                                      The Holy Images

  17As far as the nearby wall of the inner and outer courts and along upon the wall all around

within and without† 18were depicted cherubim and palm trees, between cherub and cherub.
Each cherub had two faces, 19the face of a man toward a palm tree on one side, and the face
of a lion toward a palm tree on the other side. Thus it was depicted throughout the house all
around. 20From the floor to the threshold, the cherubim and the palm trees were
interspersed upon the walls.

  21The holy place and the temple were laid out square, and along the face of the sanctuary

was what looked like a wooden altar.† 22Its height was three cubits, and its length and
breadth, two cubits. It had horns, and its ascent and walls were wooden. Then he said to me,
“This is the table that is before the presence of the Lord.” 23The temple and the holy place
had two doors. 24The doors had two panels apiece, two folding panels on hinges: two panels
for one door and two panels for the other door. 25Depictions were upon them, cherubim and
palm trees upon the doorways of the temple, like the depiction of the sanctuary, and excellent
kinds of wood, as in front of the entrance without, along with hidden windows. 26He
measured from one side to the other along the canopies of the entrance chamber, and the
sides of the house were joined together.
                                      The Outer Court


42 Then  he brought me out into the outer court, to the east, in front of the gate which
   faces north; and he brought me, and behold, there were five halls adjoining the open
space and five halls adjoining the boundary facing north,† 2up to a hundred cubits long
toward the north, and the width was fifty cubits, 3laid out in a pattern the same way as the
gates leading into the inner court and the pillars of the outer court, and broken up into
galleries of three stories in height. 4In front of the halls there was a walk ten cubits wide and
up to a hundred cubits in length. Their doorways faced north. 5Now the upper walkways were
just the same, because the pillars projected out from them, namely, the pillar which was
below; thus was the pillar and the layout for the porches. 6For they were in three stories and
did not have pillars like the pillars of the outer courts; therefore, the upper level was
projected out more than the lower and middle levels from the ground up. 7There was light
from without, as in the halls of the outer court which were facing the halls toward the north;
they were fifty cubits in length. 8Because the length of the halls which face the outer court
was fifty cubits, and these were standing over against them, thus the whole was one hundred
cubits. 9Now there were doors of these halls at the entrance way for an outlet to the east, so
one might enter through them from the outer court,† 10by the light which strikes at the head
of the entrance.

                                     Halls for the Priest

  Along to the south, along the open space and the boundary, there were halls, 11and there
was a walk in front of them also, according to the measurement of the halls facing north.
They were as long and as wide as the others, and so were all their exits and entrances and all
their lights and doorways. 12So were the measures of the entrances toward the south,
according to the doorways at the head of the walkway, as it were, the distance of a reed for
light, and eastward as one went in by them.

  13Then he said to me, “The halls toward the north and the halls toward the south,
according to the pattern of the layout, are the halls of the holy place, where the priests who
approach the Lord will eat the most holy offerings. There they will place the most holy
offerings, the sacrifices—the sin offering and the trespass offering—for the place is holy.†
14They shall not enter there, except for the priests. They shall not go out of there into the
outer court, so those who draw near may be holy continually, and that nothing might touch
their vestments in which they serve, because it is the holy place. They shall put on other
garments when they touch the people.”

                                   The Temple Exterior

  15Now the measurement of the whole house was completed within. Then he led me along
the way of the gate which faces east, and measured the whole pattern of the house all around
in its plan.† 16He stood behind the gate which faces east and measured five hundred
measuring stick units of measurement. 17Then he turned to the north side and measured five
hundred measuring stick units of measurement. 18Then he turned toward the west and
measured five hundred measuring stick units of measurement. 19Then he turned toward the
south and measured five hundred measuring stick units of measurement. 20The four
directions were the same measurement, and he planned it out, and the enclosing wall all
around was five hundred units to the east and five hundred units in width for setting out the
boundary wall between the holy precinct and the remaining layout of the house.

                         The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple

        he brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east, and led me out.†
43 Then
   2   Behold, the glory of the God of Israel was approaching from the way of the gate which
faces east. The sound of His camp was like the sound of many voices redoubled upon each
other, and the earth shone forth His glory with a brightness all around. 3The vision I saw was
like the vision I saw when I entered to anoint the city, and the vision of the chariot I saw was
like the vision I saw by the River Chebar; so I fell on my face. 4Then the glory of the Lord
entered into the house by way of the gate which faces toward the east. 5The Spirit lifted me
up and brought me into the inner court, and behold, the house was full of the Lord's glory.

 6Then I stood, and behold, there was a voice from the house, and a Man was standing with

me. 7He said to me, “Son of man, you have seen the place of My throne and the place of the
soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the house of Israel forever. No more will
the house of Israel defile My holy name, they nor their leaders, by their fornication or
murders of the leaders in their midst. 8When they set My threshold by their thresholds, and
My doorpost by their doorposts, with a wall between them and Me, they desecrated My holy
name by their lawlessness, and I destroyed them in My anger and with slaughter. 9Now let
them remove their fornication from My presence, and the murders of their leaders, and I will
dwell in their midst forever.

  10“As for you, son of man, explain this house to the house of Israel, and they will cease

from the shame of their sins; and describe to them its vision and its plan. 11They shall take
the chastisements for all the things they did, and you shall describe the house, its design, its
exits, and its substance, and all its ordinances. You shall make known its laws to them and
write them out in their sight. Then they will keep all My requirements and all My ordinances
and perform them. 12You will also show them the diagram of the house to be on the
mountaintop and all its boundaries roundabout. It shall all be most holy.

                                TYPES OF MARY IN THE
                                  OLD TESTAMENT

Types of both Christ and Mary, His Mother, fill the Old Testament. Indeed, most of the Old
Testament types of Mary—a natural consequence of her essential role in the Incarnation of
her Son, Jesus Christ—reveal the awesome marvel of her womb which contained the
almighty God. Referring to Genesis 2:9, the hymnography of the Church sees the garden of
Eden as a type of Mary: “Rejoice, . . . O living Paradise, having the Lord, the Tree of Life, in
your midst” (Akathist Hymn). The burning bush beheld by Moses in the wilderness (Ex 3:1–
6) is one of the most often mentioned types of Mary. For example, “She is the Bush springing
from barren ground [her mother, St. Anna, had been barren] and burning with the immaterial
fire that cleanses and enlightens our souls” (Small Vespers, Nativity of the Theotokos). St.
John of Damascus observes, “The burning bush is an image of God’s Mother . . . If, therefore,
the ground where the image of the Theotokos was seen by Moses is holy ground [Ex 3:5],
how much more holy is the image itself?”

  The tabernacle in the wilderness, where God dwelt among the wandering Israelites (Ex 25:1
—27:19), also prefigures Mary: “The tabernacle that is to hold God, the sanctuary of the glory,
has chosen to dwell in the holy temple” (Matins, Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple).
Another hymn from this service addresses her as “O Holy of Holies,” identifying her with the
most holy inner place of the tabernacle and the temple (Ex 26:33; 3Kg 8:6).

  Other Old Testament types of Mary relating to the Lord dwelling in her womb include the
jar of manna (Ex 16:33, 34); Aaron’s rod that budded (Nm 17:16–23); the tablet of the Law
“written with the finger of God” (Ex 31:18); the ladder reaching from earth to heaven (Gn
28:10–17); the fleece that received the dew (Jdg 6:36–38; see Ps 71:1–6); the tongs bearing
the live coal (Is 6:6); and the fiery furnace in Babylon (Dan 3:19–50). Concerning this last
image, the hymnographer St. Cosmas of Maiuma writes, “The furnace moist with dew was the
image and figure of a wonder past nature. For it burned not the Children whom it had
received, even as the fire of the Godhead consumed not the Virgin’s womb into which it had
descended” (Matins, Nativity of Christ).

  The miracle of the Virgin Birth is another prominent theme among the Old Testament
types of Mary. One of the most striking of these is found in Ezekiel 43:27—44:4, the only Old
Testament passage read at all four of the major Feasts of the Theotokos. This reading tells
about the east gate of the heavenly temple remaining shut even as the Lord God of Israel, and
He alone, goes in and out through it. This is prophetic of the Lord entering Mary’s womb and
being born nine months later with her virginity remaining intact. Hence in various hymns the
Church proclaims her as “the Gate that looks towards the East,” “the Gate through which
none may pass,” and “the East Gate . . . [who] awaits the entrance of the Great Priest.”

  Another such image occurs in Daniel 2:45, where the Theotokos is the mountain out of
whom a stone (that is, Christ; 1Co 10:4) is cut “without hands.” This refers to Christ’s birth
from the Virgin, untouched by a man.

  Mary is the culmination of the whole history of the ancient Hebrews. She is the perfection
to which all of faithful Israel aspired through the long centuries of preparation for the coming
of the Messiah, beginning with the promise given to Abraham: “God promised to our
forefather Abraham that in his seed the Gentiles would be blessed [Gn 22:18], O pure Lady;
and through thee today, the promise receives its fulfillment” (Matins, Annunciation).


                                 Measurements of the Altar

  13“These are the measurements of the altar in cubits (where a cubit equals one cubit and a
handbreadth): from the drain up one cubit high and one cubit wide, with a projection all
around its edge of one span. This is the height of the altar:† 14the depth of the hollow which
is toward the great mercy seat, below this, two cubits; and its width, one cubit; and from the
little mercy seat to the great mercy seat, four cubits; and the width, one cubit. 15The altar
shall be four cubits, and from the altar and above the four horns, one cubit. 16The altar shall
be twelve cubits long, up to fourteen wide, in its four directions, 17and its projection which
goes all around it on all sides is a half of a cubit, so the outcropping all around is a cubit. Its
stairs face to the east.”

  18Then He said to me, “Son of man, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘These are the
ordinances for the altar on the day of its construction, for offering up whole burnt offerings
and pouring out blood on it.† 19You shall offer a young bull for a sin offering to the priests,
the Levites, who are of the seed of Zadok, who approach Me to minister liturgically to Me,’
says the Lord God. 20‘They shall take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the
altar, on the four corners of the mercy seat, and on the step around it; and they shall make
atonement for it. 21Then they shall take the calf of the sin offering and consume it by fire in
the appointed place, set apart from the house, outside the sanctuary. 22On the second day
they shall take two kids of goats without blemish for a sin offering, and they shall make
atonement for the altar, as they made atonement with the calf. 23After they finish the
atonement, they shall offer a calf from the herd without blemish, and a ram from the flock
without blemish. 24They shall offer them before the Lord; and the priests shall throw salt on
them and offer them up as whole burnt offerings to the Lord. 25Every day for seven days, you
shall prepare a goat for a sin offering; and you shall prepare a calf and a ram from the flock,
and they shall offer them without blemish for seven days. 26So they shall make atonement
for the altar, and purify it, and fill their hands. 27It will be when these days are over, on the
eighth day, the priests shall offer your whole burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the
altar, and I shall accept you,’ says the Lord.”

                                The East Gate Is for the Lord


44 Then  He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary that faces toward the east,
   but it was shut.† 2So the Lord said to me, “This gate shall be shut. It shall not be
opened, and no man shall pass through it, because the Lord God of Israel will enter by it;
therefore, it shall be shut. 3As for the prince, he will sit in it to eat bread before the Lord. He
will go in by way of the gate chamber and go out the same way.”

  4Then He brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple, and I looked, and

behold, the house of the Lord was full of glory; and I fell on my face. 5The Lord said to me,
“Son of man, note well with your heart, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears all I say
to you concerning all the ordinances of the Lord's house and all its laws. Mark well with your
heart the entering of the house according to all its exits in all its holy places. 6Then you will
say to the house which provokes, to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “O house of
Israel, enough of your lawlessness,† 7when you brought in foreign sons, uncircumcised in
heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary to defile it, as when you offered
breads, meat, and blood. You broke My covenant because of all your lawless deeds. 8You have
not kept charge of My holy things, but sought out others.”

  9‘Therefore, thus says the Lord God: “No foreign son, uncircumcised in heart or
uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter My sanctuary, including any foreigner among the children
of Israel.

                                    Law for the Levites

  10“But for the Levites who departed far from Me, when Israel went astray, who strayed

away from Me to seek their inventions, they will bear their wrongdoing. 11Yet they shall be
ministers in My sanctuary as gatekeepers at the gates of the house and ministers in the
house. They shall slay the whole burnt offerings and the sacrifice for the people, and they
shall stand before the people to minister liturgically to them. 12Because they used to minister
to them before their idols and became a punishment of wrongdoing to the house of Israel, for
this reason I lifted up My hand against them,” says the Lord God. 13“They will not draw near
to Me to act as priests for Me, nor approach the sanctuary of the sons of Israel, nor My holy
place; and they shall bear their shame and dishonor for the error wherein they erred.
14Nevertheless they shall keep charge of the house, for all the service of it and all that needs
to be done.

  15“But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when
the house of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister liturgically to
Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me sacrifice, the fat and the blood,” says the
Lord God. 16“They shall enter My sanctuary and come near My table to minister liturgically
to Me; and they shall keep My charge. 17So it will be, whenever they enter the gates of the
inner court, they shall put on linen vestments, but no wool shall come upon them while they
minister liturgically within the gates of the inner court. 18They shall have linen turbans on
their heads and linen trousers on their bodies, and they shall not tightly gird themselves.
19When they go out to the outer court to the people, they shall take off their vestments in
which they ministered liturgically, leave them in their halls, and put on other garments; and
in these garments they shall not sanctify the people. 20They shall neither shave their heads
nor pluck out their hairs; but they shall surely keep their head covered. 21No priest shall
drink wine when he enters the inner court. 22They shall not take as wife a widow or a
divorced woman, but rather a virgin of the descendants of Israel, or a widow of a priest.
23They shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause

them to discern between the unclean and the clean. 24They shall stand at a judgment of
blood, and judge in righteousness and according to My judgments. They shall keep My laws
and My ordinances in all My appointed feasts, and they shall sanctify My Sabbaths. 25They
shall not defile themselves by coming near a dead person. However, a priest may defile
himself for a father or mother, for a son or daughter, or for a brother or for an unmarried
sister. 26After he is cleansed, he shall number seven days for himself. 27Then on the day they
go into the inner court to minister liturgically in the sanctuary, they shall bring a propitiation
offering,” says the Lord God.

  28“It shall be, in regard to their inheritance, that I am their inheritance. You shall give

them no possession among the sons of Israel, for I am their possession. 29They shall eat the
sacrifices—the sin offering and the trespass offering—and every dedicated thing in Israel shall
be theirs. 30The best of all firstfruits of any kind, and every sacrifice of any kind from all your
sacrifices, shall be for the priests. You shall also give to the priest the first of your produce, to
cause your blessings to rest on your houses. 31But the priests shall not eat anything, bird or
beast, that died naturally or was torn by wild animals.

                                    A Holy Section of Land


45 “When  you divide the land by lot into inheritance, you shall set apart the firstfruit for
   the Lord, a holy section of the land. Its length shall be twenty-five thousand cubits and
its width twenty thousand. It shall be holy throughout its territory all around.† 2Of this there
shall be a square plot for the sanctuary, five hundred by five hundred rods, with fifty cubits
around it for an open space. 3From this measurement, you shall measure twenty-five
thousand cubits long and ten thousand wide; in it shall be the sanctuary, the holy of holies.
4From the land, there shall be a portion for the priests, the ministers of the sanctuary, who
come near to minister to the Lord. It shall be a place for their houses and a holy place for
their sanctuary. 5An area twenty-five thousand cubits long and ten thousand wide shall
belong to the Levites, the ministers of the house. They shall have it as a possession with cities
to dwell in.

                                    Property for the Prince
  6“You shall appoint as the property of the city an area five thousand cubits wide and
twenty-five thousand long; in this manner the whole house of Israel shall have the firstfruit
of the holy things. 7The prince shall have a portion from this, and from this there shall be a
portion for the firstfruits of the sanctuary and for the possession of the city, in front of the
firstfruits of the sanctuary, extending westward on the west side and eastward on the east
side. The length shall be equal to one of the parts of the western borders, and the length shall
be to the eastern borders of the land. 8The land shall be his possession in Israel, and the
princes of Israel shall not oppress My people anymore; but the house of Israel will inherit the
land according to their tribes.”

  9‘Thus says the Lord God: “Enough, O princes of Israel. Remove wrongdoing and trouble,
and execute judgment and righteousness, and take away oppression from My people,” says
the Lord God. 10“You shall have an honest scale, an honest unit, and an honest dry measure.
11The unit and the dry measure shall be uniform for receiving goods, so the dry measure may
contain one-tenth of a homer, and the unit one-tenth of a homer. The standard shall be
according to the homer, equal in size. 12The standard weight shall be twenty obols. Five
shekels shall indeed be five, ten shekels shall be ten, and fifty shekels shall be for you one
mina.

 13“This is the firstfruit you shall offer: you shall give one-sixth of a unit from a homer of

wheat, and one-sixth of an ephah from a kor of barley. 14The ordinance concerning oil, the
liquid measure of oil, is one-tenth of such a measure. There are ten measures in a homer.
15One sheep shall be given from a flock of ten, from all the rich pastures of Israel, for
sacrifices and whole burnt offerings, and for peace offerings to make atonement for you,”
says the Lord God. 16“All the people shall give this firstfruit to the prince of Israel. 17Then it
shall be the prince's part to offer whole burnt offerings, sacrifices, and drink offerings at the
feasts, the new moons, the Sabbaths, and at all the appointed festivals of the house of Israel.
He shall offer the sin offerings, the sacrifice, the whole burnt offerings, and the peace
offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel.”

                                    Observing the Feasts

  18‘Thus says the Lord God: “In the first month, on the first day of the month, you shall

take a young bull without blemish and make atonement for the sanctuary. 19The priest shall
take some of the blood of the atonement and put it on the doorposts of the house, on the four
corners of the temple, on the altar, and on the gateposts of the gate of the inner court.
20Thus you shall do this in the seventh month, on the first of the month. You shall take a
rate from each one and make atonement for the house.

  21“In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall observe the Paschal

Feast; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 22And on that day the leader shall
prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bull for a sin offering. 23During the
seven days of the feast he shall make whole burnt offerings to the Lord, seven bulls and
seven rams without blemish, daily for seven days, and a kid of the goats daily for a sin
offering. 24He shall also prepare a cake for each bull and a cake for each ram, using a hin of
oil for each cake. 25In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month, in the feast, he
shall do likewise for seven days, according to the sin offerings, the whole burnt offerings, the
grain offering, and the oil.”

                                   The Way of Worship


46 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “The gate of the inner court that faces toward the east shall
   be shut the six working days, but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and on the day of
the New Moon it shall be opened.† 2The prince shall enter by way of the entrance chamber of
the gate from the outside, and stand by the gatepost. The priest shall prepare his whole burnt
offerings and his peace offerings. He shall worship at the threshold of the gate. Then he shall
go out, but the gate shall not be shut until evening. 3Likewise the people of the land shall
worship at the entrance to this gate before the Lord on the Sabbaths and the New Moons.
4The prince shall offer the whole burnt offerings to the Lord on the Sabbath day: six lambs

without blemish, and a ram without blemish, 5and the grain offering for a ram, and the grain
offering for the lambs, as much as he wants to give, as well as a hin of oil with every cake.
6On the day of the New Moon it shall be a young bull without blemish, six lambs, and a ram

without blemish. 7The cake with the bull and the cake with the ram shall be a grain offering,
and for the lambs, whatever he wishes, along with a hin of oil with the cake. 8When the
prince enters, he shall go in by way of the entrance of the gate, and go out the same way. 9But
whenever the people of the land come before the Lord on the appointed feast days, whoever
enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate; and whoever
enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. He shall not return by
way of the gate through which he came, but rather he shall go out right away. 10The prince
shall then be in their midst. When they go in, he shall go in, and when they go out, he shall go
out. 11At the festivals and the ceremonial days the grain offering shall be a cake of cereal for a
bull, cereal for a ram, as much as he wants to give for the lambs, and a hin of oil with every
cake.

  12“Now when the prince offers whole burnt offerings as a thanksgiving to the Lord, he
shall open the gate which faces east and offer his whole burnt offerings and his peace
offerings, as he did on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and after he goes out he shall
shut the gate. 13You shall offer daily as a whole burnt offering to the Lord a lamb of the first
year without blemish, and you shall offer it every morning. 14You shall also offer a grain
offering with it every morning, a sixth of a unit, and a third of a hin of oil to moisten the fine
flour of the grain offering. This is a perpetual ordinance. 15You shall offer the lamb, the grain
offering, and the oil, and you shall offer them as a whole burnt offering every morning
continually.”

                                  The Prince's Possessions

  16‘Thus says the Lord God: “If the leader gives a gift of some of his inheritance to any of

his sons, it shall belong to his sons, and it is their possession by inheritance. 17But if he gives
a gift of some of his inheritance to one of his servants, it shall be his until the Year of
Remission, after which it shall return to the prince. But his inheritance shall belong to his
sons, and it shall become theirs. 18Moreover the prince shall not take any of the people's
inheritance so as to oppress them. He shall provide an inheritance for his sons from his own
property, so none of My people may be scattered from his property.” ’ ”

                                    The Temple Kitchens

  19Now he brought me through the entrance which was behind the gate into the hall of the

holy priests, which faces toward the north; and there was a place set apart there. 20Then he
said to me, “This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offerings and the sin
offerings, and where they shall bake the grain offering, all of it together, so as not to bring
them out into the outer court to sanctify the people.” 21Then he brought me out into the
outer court and took me around to the four sides of the court; and behold, on every side there
was also a side court. 22Each side court of the four sides was small, forty cubits long and
thirty wide; the same measure for all four. 23There were also halls all around in them, all
around the four of them, and cooking hearths were made under the halls all around. 24Then
he said to me, “These are the houses of the kitchens where the ministers of the house boil the
sacrifices of the people.”

                               The Stream from the Temple


47 Then he brought me back to the outer door of the house, and there was water, flowing
   from under the open air of the chamber toward the east; and the water was flowing
from under the right side court, from the south to the altar.† 2Then he brought me out by
way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces east; and
there was water coming down, running out on the right side, 3in the direction in which a man
went forth opposite. There was a measure in his hands, and he measured a thousand cubits
with the measure; and he passed through the water. It was the water of remission. 4Again he
measured a thousand, and he passed through the water, and the water was up to the knees.
Again he measured a thousand, and the water came up to the waist. 5Again he measured a
thousand, and it could not be crossed; for it broke into a rushing torrent which man cannot
pass through.

  6He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led me to the bank of the river.
7As I returned, behold, along the bank of the river there were very many trees on this side

and the other. 8Then he said to me, “This is the water that flows into Galilee, which is to the
east. Then it goes down upon Arabia and reaches as far as the sea to the outlet of the water;
and it will heal the waters. 9So it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the
river goes, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go
there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. 10Fishermen
will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim, and they will be places for spreading their nets.
Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. 11But in
its outlets and turns and overflows, they will not be healed, for they will be given over to salt.
12Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food.
Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month,
because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for
healing.”†

                                  Boundaries of the Land
  13Thus says the Lord God: “These are the borders by which you shall divide the land as an

inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. It is a setting forth of allotments. 14You shall
inherit it equally with one another; for I raised My hand in an oath to give it to your fathers,
and this land shall fall to you as your inheritance. 15This shall be the border of the land on
the north: from the Great Sea which goes down and the entrance which divides Emath
Seddatha, 16Berothah, Sebraim, Eliam (which is between the border of Damascus and the
border of Hamath), and the court of Saunan; these are above the borders of Auranitis.
17These are the boundaries from the Sea, from the court of Enan, the borders of Damascus

and those to the north. 18On the east side you shall mark out the border from between Auran
and Damascus, and between Gilead and the land of Israel, along the Jordan, which divides
over along the eastern side of the sea which is to the east of Phoenicia. This is the east side.
19The southern and southwestern coasts are from Teman and Phoenicia to the waters of

Meribah by Kadesh to the Great Sea. This part is the south and southwest. 20The west side
shall be the Great Sea, from the southern boundary until one comes to a point opposite
Hamath. This is the west side.

  21“Thus you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22It
shall be that you will divide it by lot as an inheritance for yourselves, and for the resident
aliens who dwell among you, and who bear sons in the midst of you. They shall be to you as
native-born among the sons of Israel, and they shall eat with you in the inheritance among
the tribes of Israel. 23It shall be that in whatever tribe the resident alien dwells, there you
shall give him his inheritance,” says the Lord God.

                             Dividing the Land for the Tribes


48 “Now  these are the names of the tribes: From the northern border of the descent
   which divides at the entrance of Hamath, the court of Enan, the border of Damascus
northward, in the direction of Hamath, of the court, from its east to its west side, there shall
be one section for Dan;† 2by the border of Dan, from the east side to the west, one section for
Asher; 3by the border of Asher, from the east side to the west, one section for Naphtali; 4by
the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west, one section for Manasseh; 5by the
border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west, one section for Ephraim; 6by the border
of Ephraim, from the east side to the west, one section for Reuben; 7by the border of Reuben,
from the east side to the west, one section for Judah; 8by the border of Judah, from the east
side to the west, shall be the district which you shall set apart, twenty-five thousand cubits in
width, and in length the same as one of the other portions, from the east side to the west,
with the sanctuary in the center.

                                    A District for the Lord

  9“The firstfruits, the district that you shall set apart for the Lord, shall be twenty-five

thousand cubits in length and twenty-five thousand in width. 10To these—to the priests—the
holy district shall belong: on the north twenty-five thousand cubits in length, on the west ten
thousand in width, on the east ten thousand in width, and on the south twenty-five thousand
in length. The holy mountain shall be in the center. 11It shall be for the priests of the sons of
Zadok, who are sanctified, who keep My charge, who did not go astray when the children of
Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray. 12The firstfruit shall be given to them from the
firstfruits of the land, even a most holy portion from the borders of the Levites.

  13“Next to the territory of the priests, the Levites shall have an area twenty-five thousand
cubits in length and ten thousand in width. Its entire length shall be twenty-five thousand
and its width ten thousand. 14They shall not sell or exchange any of it; neither shall they take
away or remove the first produce of the land, for it is holy to the Lord.

  15“But the five thousand cubits in width that remain, along the edge of the twenty-five
thousand, shall be for general use by the city, for habitation and common land; and the city
shall be in the center. 16These shall be its measurements: the north side, four thousand five
hundred cubits; the south side, four thousand five hundred; the east side, four thousand five
hundred; and the west side, four thousand five hundred. 17There shall be common land for
the city: to the north two hundred and fifty cubits, to the south two hundred and fifty, to the
east two hundred and fifty, and to the west two hundred and fifty. 18The rest of the length,
alongside the district of the holy section, shall be ten thousand cubits to the east and ten
thousand to the west. It shall be the firstfruits of the holy section, and its produce shall be
food for the workers of the city. 19The workers of the city, from all the tribes of Israel, shall
cultivate it. 20The entire firstfruits district shall be twenty-five thousand cubits by twenty-
five thousand cubits, foursquare. You shall set apart the holy district from the property of the
city.

  21“The rest shall belong to the prince, on one side and on the other of the holy district and
of the city's property, next to the twenty-five thousand cubits of the holy district as far as the
eastern border, and westward next to the twenty-five thousand as far as the western border,
adjacent to the tribal portions. It shall be the firstfruits of the holy district, and the sanctuary
of the temple shall be in the midst of it. 22Moreover, apart from the possession of the Levites
and the possession of the city which are in the midst of what belongs to the leaders, the area
between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin shall belong to the leaders.

  23“As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side to the west, Benjamin shall have one

section; 24by the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west, Simeon shall have one
section; 25by the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west, Issachar shall have one
section; 26by the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west, Zebulun shall have one
section; 27by the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west, Gad shall have one
section; 28by the borders of Gad, from the eastern parts to the southwestern parts, the
borders shall be from Teman to the waters of Meribah by Kadesh, along the brook to the
Great Sea. 29This is the land you shall divide by lot as an inheritance among the tribes of
Israel, and these are their divisions,” says the Lord God.

                                     Exit Gates of the City

  30“These are the exits of the city. On the north side, measuring four thousand five hundred

cubits 31(the gates of the city shall be named after the tribes of Israel), the three gates
northward: one gate for Reuben, one gate for Judah, and one gate for Levi; 32on the east side,
four thousand five hundred cubits, three gates: one gate for Joseph, one gate for Benjamin,
and one gate for Dan; 33on the south side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits,
three gates: one gate for Simeon, one gate for Issachar, and one gate for Zebulun; 34on the
west side, four thousand five hundred cubits with their three gates: one gate for Gad, one gate
for Asher, and one gate for Naphtali. 35The circumference shall be eighteen thousand cubits;
and the name of the city from the day on which it takes place shall be its name.”†
                                   DANIE L
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Chapters in Daniel
Introduction

Susanna

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12

Bel and the Serpent



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Verses in Susanna
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64

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Verses in Daniel Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Daniel Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49

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Verses in Daniel Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80

81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90

91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97

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Verses in Daniel Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in Daniel Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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Verses in Daniel Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Daniel Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Daniel Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Daniel Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Daniel Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Daniel Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45

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Verses in Daniel Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Bel and the Serpent
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42

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                                                          The Book of Daniel

    Author    —Daniel, whose name means, “God is my Judge” or “God is judging,” wrote the
  book that carries his name.

    Date   —Traditionally thought to have been written during the Babylonian captivity
  (605–530 BC).

    Major Theme       —The sovereignty of God over all nations is set forth and illustrated by the
  truth that God directs history for the fulfillment of His purposes and plans. The
  blessings of God are granted to those who refrain from idol worship and turn to Him.
  Finally, throughout the book, we see the vanity of idol worship shown by its effect on
  the lives of those who pursue it.

    Background      —Daniel was born in the tribe of Judah. He was taken to Babylon in the
  captivity as an infant. Among his contemporaries were the prophets Ezekiel and
  Jeremiah.

 Outline

  I. Susanna (Pream ble, v v . 1 –6 4 )

  II. Daniel's History (1 :1 –6 :2 9 )

         A. Daniel's life in Nebuchadnezzar's serv ice (1 :1 –2 1 )

          B. Four world em pires, the eternal kingdom (2 :1 –4 9 )

          C. Worship of the golden idol, including the Pray er of Azariah and the Hy m n of the Three Children (3 :1 –9 7 )

         D. Nebuchadnezzar's m adness (4 :1 –3 7 )

          E. The handwriting on the wall (5:1 –3 0)

          F. Daniel in the lion's den (6 :1 –2 9 )

 III. Daniel's Prophetic Visions: The Nations of the World Judged (7 :1 –1 2 :1 3 )

 IV. Bel and the Serpent (Postscript, v v . 1 –4 2 )



                                                                      Susanna

  1There was a man living in Babylon, and his name was Jehoiakim.† 2He took a wife whose
name was Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the
Lord. 3Her parents were righteous and taught their daughter according to the Law of Moses.
4Jehoiakim was exceedingly wealthy, with a spacious garden adjoining his house, and the

Jews came to him because he was the most honored of them all. 5In that year, two elders
from the people were appointed as judges, concerning whom the Lord said, “Lawlessness
came forth out of Babylon from the elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern
the people.” 6These men were frequently at Jehoiakim's house, and all who had judgments
came to them.

 7Now when the people departed at midday, Susanna would go into her husband's garden to

walk.† 8So the two elders would see her going in and walking about every day, and they
desired her. 9They turned away their heart and averted their eyes from looking to heaven,
and from remembering righteous judgments. †10Both were pierced to the heart for her, but
they did not tell each other their pain. 11They were ashamed to inform one another of their
desire, because they wished to have relations with her. 12So every day they eagerly watched
to see her. 13Finally they said to one another, “Let us go home, for it is time for the midday
meal,” and going out, they parted from each other. 14But turning back, they met again, and
when they pressured each other for the reason, they confessed their desire. Together they
arranged for a time they could find her alone.

  15Then it came to pass, while they were waiting for an opportune day, she went in as before

with only two maids. She also wished to bathe in the garden, for it was hot. 16For no one was
there except the two elders, who hid themselves and were watching her. 17She said to her
maids, “Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the doors of the garden, that I may bathe.”
18They did as she said and closed the garden doors. They went out by the side doors to bring
the things commanded, but did not see the elders, because they were hidden.

  19When the maids left, the two elders arose and ran to her, 20and said, “Look, the doors of
the garden are closed, and no one will see us, and we desire you. Therefore give us your
consent and lie with us. 21If you do not, we will testify that a young man was with you, and
because of this you sent your maids away from you.” 22Then Susanna sighed deeply and said,
“I am hemmed in on all sides, for if I do this thing, it is death for me; yet if I do not, I will not
escape your hands. 23But it is better for me not to do it and to fall into your hands, than to
sin against the Lord.” 24Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders cried
out against her. 25One of them ran and opened the garden doors. 26When the household
servants heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in by the side doors to see what had
happened to her. 27So when the elders told their tale, the servants were deeply ashamed, for
such a report had never been made about Susanna.

  28Then it came to pass the next day, when the people assembled at the house of
Jehoiakim, her husband, the two elders also came full of their lawless purpose against
Susanna, to have her put to death. They said before all the people, 29“Send for Susanna the
daughter of Hilkiah, who is the wife of Jehoiakim.” 30So they sent for her, and she came with
her parents, her children, and all her kindred. 31Now Susanna was very desirable and
beautiful to behold. 32However, she was veiled; thus the lawless men commanded she be
unveiled, so as to enjoy her beauty. 33But her friends and all who saw her wept. 34Then the
two elders arose in the midst of the people and laid their hands upon her head.† 35She wept
and looked up to heaven; for her heart trusted in the Lord. 36The two elders said, “As we
were walking in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, closed the doors of
the garden, and dismissed the maids. 37Then a young man who was hidden came to her and
lay with her. 38Now we were in a corner of the garden and saw this lawlessness. So we ran to
them and saw them having relations. 39But we could not hold the man, for he was stronger
than we. He then opened the doors and rushed out. 40So we seized this woman and asked her
who the young man was, 41but she was unwilling to tell us.” Thus the assembly believed
them, as they were elders and judges among the people. So they condemned her to death.

  42But Susanna cried out with a loud voice and said, “O eternal God, who know both what is

secret and all things before they come to be, 43You know these men testified against me
falsely, and behold, I shall die, though I did none of the things they wickedly invented against
me.” 44The Lord heard her voice, 45and as she was being led away to be put to death, God
aroused the holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel.† 46He cried out with a loud
voice, “I am innocent of the blood of this woman.” 47So all the people turned to him and said,
“What is this thing you said?” 48Then he stood in their midst and said, “Are you such fools, O
sons of Israel? Without examination or knowledge of the evidence, have you condemned a
daughter of Israel? 49Return to the place of judgment, for these men testified against her
falsely.”

  50So all the people returned with haste. The elders said to him, “Come, sit in our midst and

inform us, for God gives you that privilege.” 51Daniel then said to them, “Separate them far
from each other, and I will examine them.” 52When they were separated from each other, he
summoned one of them and said to him, “You old man of evil days, now the sins you
committed in earlier days have come home; 53for you pronounce unjust judgments,
condemn the innocent, and set the guilty free. Yet the Lord said, ‘You shall not kill the
innocent and the righteous.’ 54Now then, if indeed you saw her, tell me, under which tree did
you see them being intimate with each other?” He replied, “Under a mastic tree.” 55Daniel
then said, “Plainly, you lied against your own head, for even now the angel of God receives
the sentence from God, and he shall cut you in two.”

  56Then he removed him, and commanded them to bring the other. He said to him, “You
seed of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty deceived you, and desire turned away your heart.
57This is how both of you deal with the daughters of Israel, and they have been intimate with

you through fear; but a daughter of Judah would not endure your lawlessness. 58Now then,
tell me, under what tree did you catch them being intimate with each other?” He replied,
“Under the evergreen oak.” 59Daniel said to him, “Plainly, you also lied against your own
head, for the angel of God is waiting with his sword to cut you in two, that he may destroy
both of you.”

 60Then the whole assembly cried out with a loud voice and blessed God, who saves those

who hope in Him. 61So they rose up against the two elders, for Daniel convicted them out of
their own mouth of bearing false witness; and they did to them the thing they maliciously
intended to do against their neighbor. 62For acting in accordance with the Law of Moses, they
put them to death. Therefore innocent blood was saved on that day.

  63Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter, with Jehoiakim her husband and all

her kindred, because nothing shameful was found in her. 64Thus Daniel had a great
reputation among the people from that day onward.

                                          Daniel

                        Daniel and His Companions Obey God


1 Incame
      the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
         to Jerusalem and besieged it.† 2The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his
hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. Then he brought them to the land of
Shinar, to the house of his god. He carried them into the treasure house of his god. 3Then the
king spoke to Ashpenaz, the chief of his eunuchs, to bring him some of the captives of Israel,
and some of the royal family and some of the nobles— 4young men in whom there was no
blemish, but handsome, skilled in all wisdom, well grounded in letters, intelligent, and
prudent, and who had the ability to serve in the king's house, and whom they might teach the
letters and language of the Chaldeans.† 5The king also appointed a daily provision for them
from the king's table and from the wine he drank, and gave orders to educate them for three
years. At the end of that time they were to stand before the king.

  6Now among them there were Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, sons of the tribe of

Judah. 7So the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to
Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. 8But Daniel purposed
in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's food, nor with the wine he drank;
therefore, he entreated the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.† 9Now the
Lord gave Daniel mercy and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs. 10So the
chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my Lord the king, who ordered your food and
drink, lest he see your countenances gloomy in comparison to the young men your equals.
Then you would endanger my head before the king.” 11So Daniel said to Melzar, whom the
chief of the eunuchs appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 12“Test your
servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13After this
let our countenance be observed by you and the countenance of the young men who eat at
the king's table. Then deal with your servants as you see fit.” 14So he agreed with their
proposal and tested them ten days. 15At the end of the ten days, their countenance was
observed, and they were more fit and stronger in body than the young men who ate at the
king's table. 16Thus Melzar took away their food and wine, and gave them vegetables instead.
17As for these four young men, God gave them understanding and insight in all letters and
wisdom, and He gave Daniel understanding in all visions and dreams.

  18Now when their education was completed, the king ordered all the young men to be

brought in. Thus the chief of the eunuchs brought them before Nebuchadnezzar. 19So the
king spoke with them, and among all of them, none were found like Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah. So they stood before the king. 20In every saying of wisdom and
understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all
the enchanters and wise men in all his kingdom. 21Thus Daniel continued until the first year
of the reign of King Cyrus.†

                             King Nebuchadnezzar's Dream


2 Now  in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, he had a dream. His spirit was deeply
  troubled, and his sleep departed from him.† 2So the king gave orders to summon the
enchanters, the magicians, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. Thus
they came and stood before the king.

  3Then the king said to them, “The king had a dream, and my spirit is deeply troubled to

know the meaning of the dream.” 4Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in the Syrian
language, “O king, live forever. Tell your servants the dream, and we will tell you its
interpretation.” 5The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The dream has departed
from me. If you do not make the dream and its interpretation known to me, you shall be
destroyed, and your houses will be plundered. 6But if you do make the dream and its
interpretation known to me, you will receive all kinds of gifts from me and be honored by me.
Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”

  7But they answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and

we will tell you its interpretation.” 8The king answered them, “Truly, I know you are trying to
gain time, because you see that the thing has departed from me. 9Therefore if you do not tell
me the dream, I will know that you have agreed beforehand to give my dream a false and
corrupt interpretation. So before any more time passes by, tell me my dream, then I will
know that you can tell me its interpretation.” 10The Chaldeans answered the king and said,
“There is no man on earth who can make known the king's dream, and there is no great king
or ruler who asks such a thing as this of any enchanter, magician, or Chaldean. 11The
question you ask, O king, is difficult and above expectation, for there is no man who can tell
the king his dream except the gods, whose dwelling is not with any flesh.” 12Then the king,
angry and furious, commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13He decreed that the
wise men be put to death, and he sought for Daniel and his friends to kill them.

                                 God Reveals the Dream

  14Then with counsel and intelligence, Daniel spoke to Arioch, the captain of the king's
guard, who went out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15He asked him for what reason the
bitter decree had come from the king. Then Arioch, the king's official, made the reason
known to Daniel. 16So Daniel went in and entreated the king to give him time, and he would
tell the king his dream and its interpretation. 17Then Daniel went to his house and made the
matter known to his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 18They sought mercies from
the God of heaven concerning this mystery, that Daniel and his friends might not perish with
the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

  19Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision during the night. After that, Daniel

blessed the God of heaven, 20saying, “May God's name be blessed from now on and forever,
for wisdom and understanding belong to Him. 21He changes times and seasons; He appoints
kings and removes them; He gives wisdom to the wise and insight to those who have skill.
22He reveals deep and hidden things, and He knows what is in the darkness, and the light is

with Him. 23I give thanks and praise to You, O God of my fathers, for You have given me
wisdom and power. Now You have made known to me what I asked from You, for You made
known the king's vision to me.”

                              Daniel Interprets the Dream

  24Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king appointed to put to death the wise men
of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon. Take me before the
king, and I will tell the interpretation to the king.” 25Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel
before the king and said to him, “I found a man among the children of the captivity of Judah
who will tell the interpretation to the king.”† 26The king answered and said to Daniel, whose
name was Belteshazzar, “Can you tell me the dream I saw and its interpretation?” 27Daniel
answered before the king and said, “The mystery which the king demanded to be told to the
king cannot be revealed by wise men, magicians, enchanters, and diviners. 28But there is a
God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to king Nebuchadnezzar what
must come to pass in the last days. Your dream and the visions in your head upon your bed
was this: 29As for you, O king, thoughts came to you while on your bed as to what must
happen after this, and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what must take
place. 30But as for me, this mystery was not made known to me because I have more wisdom
than anyone living, but for the sake of making known the interpretation to the king, that you
might know the thoughts of your heart.
  31“As for you, O king, you saw and beheld one great image. That image was very large and

its appearance excellent. It stood before you, and its vision was fearful.†ω 32The image had a
head made of fine gold, and its hands, chest, and arms were made of silver, and its stomach
and thighs, of copper. 33Its legs were iron, and its feet were partly iron and partly clay. 34You
saw while a stone was cut out of a mountain without hands, and it struck the image on its
feet of iron and clay, and ground them to powder. 35Then at once the clay, the iron, the
copper, the silver, and the gold were like dust from the summer threshing floor, and a great
force of wind blew them away; and their place was not to be found. Then the stone that struck
the image became a great mountain and filled all the earth.†

  36“This is the dream, and we will tell its interpretation before the king. 37You, O king, are a
king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given a strong, mighty, and highly regarded
kingdom. 38In every place where the children of men live, as well as the wild animals of the
field and the birds of heaven—He put them all in your hand, and made you the lord of them
all. You are the head made of gold. 39But after you another kingdom shall arise, inferior to
yours; then a third kingdom of copper, which shall rule over all the earth. 40Then a fourth
kingdom as strong as iron shall arise, and inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and subdues
everything, so also it shall break in pieces and subdue all things. 41Whereas you saw the feet
and toes, partly clay and partly iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron
shall be in it, in the manner you saw the iron mixed with the clay. 42Whereas the toes of the
feet were partly iron and partly clay, so part of the kingdom shall be strong and part of it shall
be broken. 43Whereas you saw iron mixed with clay, they shall mingle with the seed of men;
but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.

  44“Then in the times of those kings, the God of heaven will raise up a kingdom, and it shall
never be destroyed. This kingdom shall not be left to another people, but it will break in
pieces and crush all these kingdoms; and it will stand forever. 45Whereas you saw the stone
cut out of the mountain without hands, it ground to powder the clay, the iron, the copper, the
silver, and the gold. Thus the great God has made known to the king what must come to pass
after this. The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

                          Daniel and Companions Rule Babylon

  46Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and worshiped Daniel, and commanded
sacrifices and drink offerings be made to him.† 47The king answered and said to Daniel,
“Truly, your God, He is the God of gods and the Lord of kings, who reveals mysteries, for you
were able to reveal this mystery.” 48Then King Nebuchadnezzar exalted Daniel and gave him
many great gifts. He set him over the whole province of Babylon and over all the wise men of
Babylon.† 49Daniel also petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel was in the king's palace.

                                     The Golden Image


3 Incubits
       his eighteenth year, King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image. Its height was sixty
           and its width, six cubits, and he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of
Babylon.†ω 2Then Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather together the high officials, the
commanders, the governors, the rulers, and all those in authority, along with all the rulers of
the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image King Nebuchadnezzar set up. 3So the
governors, the high officials, the leaders, the great rulers—all those in authority who ruled
the provinces came to the dedication of the image King Nebuchadnezzar set up, and they
stood before the image Nebuchadnezzar made.

                                 THEOPHANIES OF
                                          CHRIST

The word “theophany” derives from the Greek words theos (“God”), and phainesthai (“to
show forth, appear”). Hence, a theophany is an appearance or manifestation of God. While
types of Christ in the Old Testament prefigure His coming in the flesh, theopha-nies are
recognized by the Church as being actual appearances of the pre-incarnate Son and Word of
God. How this happens remains a mystery. But because the Son of God took on human
nature in the fullness of time, each theophany directly prefigures Christ’s Incarnation. St.
John of Damascus wrote, “No one saw the divine nature, but rather the image and figure of
what was yet to come. For the invisible Son and Word of God was to become truly Man.”

                           THREE THEOPHANIES OF CHRIST

  An often cited theophany of Christ occurs in the visit of the “three men” to Abraham and
Sarah in Genesis 18:1–16: “Then God appeared to him at the oak of Mamre” (v. 1). Though
three men are there, Abraham addresses them in the singular, “Lord.” He responds in the
singular (vv. 9–15). As St. Ephraim the Syrian says, “Therefore the Lord . . . now appeared to
Abraham clearly in one of the three.” The three are generally considered to be Christ the
Lord, along with two attending angels.

  At Genesis 32:25–31, Christ is the “man” who wrestles with Jacob, after which Jacob says,
“I saw God face to face” (v. 30). St. Cyril of Jerusalem asks the Jews concerning these
theophanies to Abraham and Jacob, “What strange thing do we announce in saying that God
was made Man, when you yourselves say that Abraham received the Lord as a guest? What
strange thing do we announce, when Jacob says, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and my life
is preserved’? The Lord, who ate with Abraham, also ate with us.”

  In the Book of Daniel, a heathen king bears witness to another theophany of Christ. When
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon peers into the fiery furnace, upon seeing a “fourth man” he
exclaims, “The vision of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Dan 3:92).

                            OTHER APPEARANCES OF GOD

  At times Christ appears as “the Angel of the Lord” or “the Angel of God.” At Exodus 3:1—
4:17, “the Angel of the Lord” appears to Moses in the burning bush and identifies Himself as
the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Ex 3:6, 15, 16; 4:5). He also says that His name is “I
AM HE WHO IS” (Ex 3:14), which in Greek is represented by the three letters placed around
Christ’s head in the holy icons. St. Ambrose of Milan observes, “Christ therefore is, and
always is; for He who is, always is. And Christ always is, of whom Moses says, ‘He that is has
sent me.’”

                                   THE INCARNATION

  When God the Son became incarnate, this can be called an everlasting theophany. For
having assumed human nature, Christ not only manifests God to the world during His
earthly life (Jn 1:14; see also 14:9; Col 2:9; 1Jn 1:1–3), but He ascends into heaven in the
same glorified flesh in which He will return at His Second Coming (see Acts 1:9–11).

  At the baptism of Christ (Mt 3:13–17), a further theophany occurs, as all three Persons of
the Holy Trinity are made known: the Father in the voice from heaven, the Holy Spirit in the
form of a dove, and the Incarnate Son. Hence, the feast day commemorating this event is
known as Holy Theophany. On this day the Church sings, “When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized
in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest.”
  Additionally, at Christ’s Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor (Mt 17:1–9), the Father again is
heard, the Holy Spirit is present in the brightness of the cloud, and the Son shines with the
gleaming radiance of His Divinity.


  4Then the herald cried out in a loud voice, “To you it is commanded, O peoples and tribes

and languages, 5that in what hour you hear the sound of the trumpet, the pipe, the harp, the
four-stringed instrument, the psaltery, the symphony, and every kind of music, you shall fall
down and worship the golden image King Nebuchadnezzar set up. 6But whoever does not fall
down and worship shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace.” 7So at that time, when all the
peoples heard the sound of the trumpet, the pipe, the harp, the four-stringed instrument, the
psaltery, the symphony, and every kind of music, all the peoples, tribes, and languages fell
down and worshipped the golden image King Nebuchadnezzar set up.

                      Daniel's Companions Refuse Idol Worship

  8Then Chaldean men came forward and brought charges against the Jews, 9and said to

King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever. 10You, O king, made a decree, that every man
who hears the sound of the trumpet, the pipe, the harp, the four-stringed instrument, the
psaltery, the symphony, and every kind of music, 11but does not fall down and worship the
golden image shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace. 12Now there are certain Jews you
set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Those men
did not obey your decree, O king; and they do not serve your gods, nor do they worship the
golden image you set up.”

  13Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach,

and Abednego. So the men were brought before the king. 14Nebuchadnezzar then answered
and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my
gods or worship the golden image I set up? 15Now then, if you are ready, when you hear the
sound of the trumpet, the pipe, the harp, the four-stringed instrument, the psaltery, the
symphony, and every kind of music, that you shall fall down and worship the golden image I
made. But indeed, if you do not worship it at that time, you shall be cast into the burning
fiery furnace. Then what god is there who will deliver you from my hands?”

  16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “We
have no need to answer you in regard to this thing. 17For there is a God in the heavens,
whom we serve, and He is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace; and He will deliver
us from your hands, O king. 18But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve
your gods, nor worship the golden image you set up.”

                                                        Saved as through Fire

  19Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of anger, and the expression on his face changed toward
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So he commanded them to heat the furnace seven times
more, until it burned to its fullest.† 20Then he commanded certain very strong men to bind
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21Thereupon, those men were bound together with their sandals, caps, leg-coverings, and

clothing, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22Because the king's
command was urgent, and the furnace was exceedingly hot, 23these three men, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego fell bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24But they
walked about in the midst of the flame, singing to God and praising the Lord.

                                                        The Prayer of Azariah

  25Then Azariah stood and prayed thus and opened his mouth in the midst of the fire and

said:†

    26
         “Blessed are You and praiseworthy , O Lord, the God of our fathers,

    And praised and glorified is Your nam e unto the ages. †

    27
         For You are righteous in all You did for us,

    And all Your works are true.

    Your way s are upright,

    And all Your judgm ents are true.

    28
         The judgm ents You m ade are true,

    According to all You brought on us

    And on the holy city of our fathers,

    Because in truth and judgm ent

    You did all these things on account of our sins.

    29
         For we sinned and acted lawlessly

    To depart from You.
We sinned in ev ery way ,

And did not obey Your com m andm ents.

30
     Neither did we treasure or do as You com m anded,

That it m ight go well with us.

31
     Ev ery thing You brought on us

And all You did to us, You did in true judgm ent.

32
     You deliv ered us into the hands of lawless and rebellious enem ies

And to an unjust king—the m ost ev il in any land.

33
     Now it is not for us to open our m outh,

For this has becom e a sham e and disgrace to Your serv ants

And to those who worship You.

34
     For Your nam e's sake, do not hand us ov er to the end,

And do not reject Your cov enant.

35
     Do not withdraw Your m ercy from us for the sake of Abraham ,

Who is lov ed by You, and for the sake of Isaac, Your serv ant,

And of Israel, Your holy one,

36
     As You spoke to them , say ing

That You would m ultiply their seed as the stars of heav en,

And as the sand along the seashore.

37
     Yet we hav e been dim inished in num ber, O Master,

More than all the nations,

And we are hum bled in all the earth today because of our sins.

38
     “At this tim e, there is no prince, no prophet, and no leader;

There is no whole burnt offering, no sacrifice, no offering, and no incense;

There is no place to bear fruit before You and to find m ercy .

39
     Yet with a contrite soul and hum bled spirit,

May we receiv e m ercy , as with whole burnt offerings of ram s and bulls,

And as with thousands of fatted lam bs.

40
     So let this be our sacrifice before You today ,

And m ay it be accom plished for those who follow You;

For there is no sham e for those who trust in You.

41
     Now we are following You with all our heart,

And we fear You and seek Your face.

42
     “Do not put us to sham e,

But deal with us according to Your kindness
    And according to the abundance of Your m ercy .

    43
         Deliv er us by Your wondrous works

    And giv e glory to Your nam e, O Lord.

    44
         May all those who inflict ev ils upon Your serv ants

    Be put to sham e and hum iliated in their power;

    And let their strength be crushed.

    45
         Let them know that You alone are the Lord God

    And glorious ov er all the inhabited earth.”

  46Now the king's servants who cast them in did not cease to stoke the furnace with

naphtha, pitch, coarse fiber, and brushwood.† 47The flame shot forty-nine cubits above the
furnace, 48and it broke out and burned those it found around the furnace of the Chaldeans.
49But the Angel of the Lord went down into the furnace to join Azariah and his companions,

and shook off the fiery flame of the furnace. 50He made the inside of the furnace to be as
though a dew-laden breeze were blowing through it, so the fire did not touch them at all, or
cause them pain, or trouble them.

                                               Hymn of the Three Young Men

  51Then the three, as if with one mouth, sang, glorified, and blessed God in the furnace,
saying:

    52
         “Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers,

    For You are praiseworthy

    And exalted bey ond m easure unto the ages.

    Blessed is Your nam e and the tem ple of y our glory ,

    And You are praised exceedingly

    And exalted bey ond m easure unto the ages. †

    53
         You are blessed in the holy tem ple of Your glory ,

    And are highly praised

    And exceedingly glorious unto the ages.

    54
         Blessed are You on the throne of Your kingdom ,

    And You are praised

    And exalted bey ond m easure unto the ages.

    55
         “Blessed are You who behold the depths

    And sit upon the cherubim .
You are praiseworthy

And exalted bey ond m easure unto the ages.

56
     Blessed are You in the firm am ent of heav en,

For You are praised and glorified unto the ages.

57
     Bless the Lord, all y ou works of the Lord,

And sing a hy m n to the Lord,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

58
     Bless the Lord, y ou angels of the Lord,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

59
     Bless the Lord, y ou heav ens,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

60
     Bless the Lord, all y ou waters abov e heav en,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

61
     Bless the Lord, all y ou powers of the Lord,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

62
     “Bless the Lord, y ou sun and m oon,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

63
     Bless the Lord, y ou stars of heav en,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

64
     Bless the Lord, ev ery shower and dew,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

65
     Bless the Lord, all y ou winds,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

66
     Bless the Lord, y ou fire and heat,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

67
     “Bless the Lord, y ou winter cold and sum m er heat,
And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

68
     Bless the Lord, y ou dews and snows,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

69
     Bless the Lord, y ou frost and cold,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

70
     Bless the Lord, y ou hoarfrosts and snows,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

71
     Bless the Lord, y ou night and day ,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

72
     Bless the Lord, y ou light and darkness,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

73
     “Bless the Lord, y ou lightning and clouds,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

74
     Let the earth bless the Lord,

And let it sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

75
     Bless the Lord, y ou m ountains and hills,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

76
     Bless the Lord, all y ou things growing on the earth,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

77
     Bless the Lord, y ou springs,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

78
     Bless the Lord, y ou seas and riv ers,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.
79
     “Bless the Lord, y ou sea-m onsters and ev ery thing that m ov es in the waters,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

80
     Bless the Lord, all y ou birds of heav en,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

81
     Bless the Lord, all y ou wild anim als and cattle,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

82
     Bless the Lord, O children of m en,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

83
     Bless the Lord, O Israel,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

84
     Bless the Lord, O priests of the Lord,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

85
     Bless the Lord, O serv ants of the Lord,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

86
     Bless the Lord, O spirits and souls of the righteous,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages. †

87
     Bless the Lord, O holy ones and hum ble in heart,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages.

88
     “Bless the Lord, O Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael,

And sing a hy m n to Him ,

And exalt Him bey ond m easure unto the ages;

For He deliv ered us from Hades

And sav ed us from the hand of death.

He rescued us from the m idst of the burning fiery furnace

And sav ed us from the m idst of the fire.

89
     Giv e thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
    Because His m ercy endures forev er.

    90
         Bless the Lord, the God of gods,

    All y ou who worship Him ,

    And sing a hy m n and giv e thanks to Him ;

    For His m ercy endures forev er.”

                                                   The King Praises God

  91Now Nebuchadnezzar heard their singing, and he marveled and rose up in haste, and said
to his nobles, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They replied to the king,
“Truly, O king.”† 92Then the king said, “Behold, I see four men untied and walking in the
midst of the fire, yet they are not destroyed; and the vision of the fourth is like the Son of
God.” 93Then the king approached the door of the burning fiery furnace, and called out to
them by name, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come
forth and come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth from the midst of the
fire. 94Then the governors, the commanders, the viceroys, and the court officials gathered
together and beheld the men, that the fire had no power over their bodies; neither had it
singed their hair, nor scorched their clothes, nor was the smell of fire on them.

  95So King Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed is the God of Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, who sent His Angel and saved His servants who trusted in Him; for they
altered the word of the king and handed over their bodies to be burned, so as not to serve and
worship any god other than their God. 96Therefore I make a decree: ‘Any people, tribe, or
language that blasphemes the God of Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego shall be destroyed,
and their houses plundered, because there is no other God who can deliver in this way.’ ”
97Then the king gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego authority over the province of
Babylon, and considered them worthy to be the rulers of all the Jews in his kingdom.

                                                  The King's Second Dream


4 Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all peoples, tribes, and languages who live in all the earth:
  May peace be multiplied to you. 2I am pleased to report to you the signs and wonders the
Most High God did with me. 3How great and mighty is His kingdom, an eternal kingdom! His
authority is from generation to generation.

  4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was prospering and flourishing in my house, 5and I saw a dream that
terrified me. Thus I was troubled on my bed, for the visions in my mind greatly disturbed
me.† 6Therefore I issued a decree to bring all the wise men of Babylon before me, to make
the interpretation of the dream known to me. 7So the enchanters, the magicians, and the
diviners of the Chaldeans came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known
its interpretation to me, 8until at last Daniel came in (whose name is Belteshazzar, according
to the name of my god, and who has the Spirit of the Holy God in him).

  Then I told the dream before him, saying, 9“Belteshazzar, chief of the enchanters, I know
that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no mystery is impossible to you. Hear the vision
of the dream I saw, and tell me its interpretation. 10I was on my bed, and I looked and
behold, in the midst of the earth there was a very tall tree.† 11The tree was large and strong.
Its height reached to heaven, and its extent to the ends of all the earth. 12Its leaves were
beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it there was food for all. The wild animals lived
beneath it, and the birds of heaven dwelled in its branches. All flesh was fed from it.

  13“I saw in a vision of the night on my bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down

from heaven. 14He cried with a loud voice and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree, and cut off its
branches. Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the wild animals be driven from
beneath it and the birds from its branches. 15Nevertheless, leave its stump and roots in the
ground, and he shall lie down outdoors in the tender grass, wet with the dew of heaven and
bound with an iron and copper chain. His portion shall be with the wild animals, to graze on
the vegetation of the earth. 16His heart shall be changed from that of a man, and the heart of
a wild animal will be given to him. Seven years shall bring this change upon him. 17This
saying is by the decree of the watchers, and this decision by the word of the holy ones, so the
living might know that the Lord is the Most High over the kingdom of men, and will give it to
whomever He will, and set over it even objects of contempt among men.’

  18“This is the dream I, Nebuchadnezzar the king, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell the
interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are unable to reveal its interpretation to
me; but you, Daniel, are able, because the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”

                                  Daniel's Interpretation

  19Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, became mute about one hour, and his
thoughts disturbed him greatly. After this, the king spoke and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let
the dream and its interpretation trouble you.” So Belteshazzar said, “My lord, may the dream
concern those who hate you, and its interpretation be for your enemies! 20The large and
strong tree you saw, whose top reached to heaven and its extent to all the earth, 21and its
leaves were flourishing and its fruit abundant, and in it there was food for all, and the wild
animals lived beneath it, and the birds of heaven dwelled in its branches— 22this is you, O
king, for you have become great and strong; and your greatness has extended and reached to
heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.

  23“Inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying,
‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the ground, and he shall
spend the night outdoors in the tender grass, wet with the dew of heaven and bound with an
iron and copper chain, and his portion shall be with the wild animals, until seven years bring
a change upon him’— 24this is its interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most
High, which has come upon my lord the king: 25They shall drive you from men, and your
dwelling shall be with the wild animals. They shall make you eat grass like an ox, and you will
spend the night there, wet with the dew of heaven. Seven years will bring this change upon
you, until you know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men, and will give it to
whomever He will.

  26“Inasmuch as they said, ‘Leave the stump and the roots of the tree,’ your kingdom will

remain for you, after you come to know the heavenly authority. 27Therefore, O king, let my
counsel be pleasing to you, to atone for your sins with alms and your wrongdoings with
compassion on the poor. Perhaps God will be longsuffering regarding your trespasses.”†

                             Nebuchadnezzar's Humiliation

  28All these things came upon Nebuchadnezzar the king. 29After a period of twelve months

he was walking about the royal palace in Babylon. 30The king spoke, saying, “Is not this the
great Babylon which I built as a home for my kingdom, by my mighty power for the honor of
my glory?”

  31While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, “King

Nebuchadnezzar, your kingdom has passed from you, 32and they shall drive you from men.
Your dwelling shall be with the wild animals, and they shall make you eat grass like an ox.
Seven years shall bring this change upon you, until you know that the Most High rules over
the kingdom of men, and will give it to whomever He will.” 33That very hour the word was
accomplished upon Nebuchadnezzar, for he was driven from men, ate grass like an ox, and
his body was covered with the dew of heaven, until his hair was like that of lions and his nails
like birds’ claws.

                                   The King Is Restored

  34At the end of the time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my
understanding returned to me. Then I blessed the Most High and praised and glorified Him
who lives forever; for His authority is an eternal authority, and His kingdom is from
generation to generation.† 35All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and He
does according to His will with the army of heaven and with the habitation of earth. No one
can resist His hand or say to Him, “What are You doing?”

  36At that time, my understanding returned to me, and I came again into the honor of my
kingdom. My appearance was also restored, and my rulers and nobles asked for me. I became
strong again in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37Now therefore, I,
Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt beyond measure, and glorify the King of heaven; because all
His works are true, His paths are just, and He is able to humble those who walk in arrogance.

                                   Belshazzar's Banquet


5 Belshazzar the king made a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles, and drank wine in
  the presence of the thousand. 2While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar commanded to bring
in the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had brought from the temple
in Jerusalem, so the king, his nobles, his concubines, and his wives might drink from them.†
3Thus the gold and silver vessels which he had brought from the temple of God in Jerusalem
were brought in, and the king, his nobles, his concubines, and his wives drank from them.
4They drank wine and praised the gods made of gold, silver, copper, iron, wood, and stones.

                                 Handwriting on the Wall

  5In the same hour, the fingers of a man's hand came forth and wrote opposite the lamp on
the plaster of the wall in the king's house; and the king saw the knuckles of the hand that
wrote. 6Then the appearance of the king changed, and his thoughts troubled him greatly. The
joints of his hips were loosened, and his knees knocked against each other. 7So the king cried
aloud to bring in the magicians, the Chaldeans and the diviners. He spoke to the wise men of
Babylon, saying, “Whoever reads this writing and makes known its interpretation to me, he
shall be clothed with purple and wear a gold chain around his neck. He shall also be the third
ruler in my kingdom.” 8Now all the king's wise men entered, but they could not read the
writing or make known the interpretation to the king. 9So Belshazzar the king was greatly
troubled, and his appearance changed in him; thus his nobles were very distressed.

   10Then the queen entered the banquet hall and spoke, saying, “O king, live forever! Do not

let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change. 11There is a man in your
kingdom in whom is the Spirit of God. In the days of your father, vigilance and understanding
were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar your father made him the chief of the
enchanters, the magicians, the Chaldeans, and the diviners. 12Inasmuch as an excellent
spirit, discernment, understanding, interpreting dreams, revealing things to be grasped, and
explaining difficult sayings were found in Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now
therefore, let him be summoned and he will tell you its interpretation.”

                                 The Writing Interpreted

  13Then Daniel was led in before the king, and the king said to Daniel, “Are you the Daniel

from the children of the captives of Judea, whom my father the king brought here? 14I have
heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and vigilance, understanding, and an excellent
wisdom are found in you. 15Now the wise men, the magicians, the diviners came before me
to read this writing and make known its interpretation; but they could not reveal it to me.
16Then I heard about you, that you are able to interpret matters requiring a judgment. Now
therefore, if you can read the writing and make known its interpretation to me, you will be
clothed in purple and wear a gold chain around your neck. You shall also be the third ruler in
my kingdom.”

  17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give
the privilege of your house to another. But I will read the writing for the king and make
known its interpretation to you. 18O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your
father a kingdom, majesty, honor, and glory. 19So because of the majesty He gave him, all
peoples, tribes, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished he put
to death; whomever he wished he afflicted; whomever he wished he exalted; and whomever
he wished he humbled. 20But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened with
arrogance, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his honor was taken from him.
21Then he was driven from men, his heart was made like that of wild animals, and his
dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him grass like an ox, and his body was covered
with the dew of heaven, until he came to know that the Most High God rules over the
kingdom of men and will give it to whomever He will.

  22“But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this.
23Nevertheless you lifted yourself up against the Lord God of heaven and brought the vessels
of His house before you. You, your nobles, your concubines, and your wives drank wine from
them and praised the gods of gold, silver, copper, iron, wood, and stones, which do not see or
hear or know. But you have not glorified the God who holds your breath in His hand and
knows all your ways.

  24“Therefore the finger of the hand was sent by Him, and He ordered this writing. 25So

this is the writing He ordered: Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. 26Now this is the interpretation of
each word. Mene: God has measured your kingdom and finished it. 27Tekel: He weighed you
on the scales, but you were found lacking. 28Upharsin: Your kingdom has been divided and
given to the Medes and Persians.”

  29Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, put a gold chain
around his neck, and proclaimed him to be the third ruler in the kingdom.

                           Belshazzar Removed from Power

  30That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was put to death.

                                    A Plot against Daniel

   Now Darius the Mede received the kingdom. He was sixty-two years old. 2It pleased
6 Darius to set one hundred and twenty governors over the kingdom, so they might be
throughout his entire kingdom.† 3He also set three administrators above these, one of whom
was Daniel, so the governors might give account to them, that the king might not be troubled.
4But Daniel excelled beyond them, because there was an excellent spirit in him, and the king

set him over his entire kingdom. 5The administrators and governors sought to find some
charge against Daniel, but they could find no charge or wrongdoing or fault against him
because he was faithful.† 6Then the administrators said, “We will find nothing against Daniel
unless we find it in the laws of his God.”

 7So the administrators and the governors stood before the king and said to him, “King

Darius, live forever! 8All the commanders, governors, the highest officials, and the regional
officers have consulted together to establish a royal statute and a firm decree, that whoever
petitions any god or man for thirty days, except from you, O king, shall be cast into the den of
lions. 9Now therefore, O king, establish the decree and exhibit the writing publicly, so the
decree of the Medes and Persians cannot be changed.” 10Then King Darius gave orders to
write the decree.

  11Now when Daniel learned that the decree was posted, he entered his house, where the
windows facing Jerusalem were open to him in the upper rooms, and he knelt down on his
knees three times that day and prayed and gave thanks to his God, as he was doing before.
12Then those men watched Daniel closely and found him praying and making supplication

before his God. 13So they approached the king and said, “O king, did you not give orders that
any man who petitioned anything from any god or man, except from you, he would be cast
into the den of lions?” The king replied, saying, “The word is true, and the decree of the
Medes and Persians shall not pass away.”

  14Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is from the captives of Judea,
does not obey your order concerning the decree you commanded, for he prays and petitions
his God three times a day.” 15Then when the king heard this word, he was very sad in
himself, and he struggled hard to deliver Daniel, and did his best to deliver him until evening.
16Then those men said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians
that no decree or statute the king establishes can be altered.”

  17After that, the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the
den of lions. But the king said to Daniel, “Your God whom you serve continually, He will
deliver you.”† 18Then they brought a stone and placed it over the mouth of the den; and the
king sealed it with his ring and with the ring of his nobles, so the matter concerning Daniel
might not be changed. 19The king then went to his house and spent the night without his
evening meal; for they brought no meats to him, and his sleep departed from him. Now God
shut the mouths of the lions, and they did not trouble Daniel.†

                                      Daniel Is Spared
   20Then the king arose early in the morning at daybreak and went in haste to the den of

lions.† 21As he approached the den, he cried with a loud voice, “Daniel, servant of the living
God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the mouth of
the lions?” 22Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 23My God sent His angel and shut
the mouths of the lions so they did not destroy me, because uprightness was found in me
before Him, and I did no wrongdoing in His sight.”

  24Then the king rejoiced greatly over him and gave orders to bring Daniel out of the den;

and no corruption was found in him, because he believed in his God. 25The king then gave
orders, and they brought the men who brought charges against Daniel; and they cast them,
their children, and their wives into the den of lions. They did not reach the bottom of the den
before the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

                                     Darius's New Decree

  26Now Darius the king wrote to all peoples, tribes, and languages who dwell in all the
earth:

  “May peace be multiplied to you.

  27“A decree was made in my presence, that in every dominion of my kingdom, men must
tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, because He is the living God; He endures unto the
ages. His kingdom shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall continue to the end. 28He
helps and rescues, and works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; for He delivered
Daniel from the power of the lions.”

  29So Daniel prospered in the kingdom of Darius and in the kingdom of Cyrus the Persian.

                              Daniel's Vision of Four Beasts


7 Inhisthe first year of Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, Daniel saw a dream and visions in
        head upon his bed. Then he wrote down the dream:† 2I, Daniel, looked on in my vision
in the night, and behold, the four winds of heaven blew violently upon the great sea. 3Then
four large beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. 4The first was like a
lioness, and it had wings like an eagle. I looked on until its wings were plucked out, and it was
driven from the earth and made to stand on human feet; and a human heart was given to it.
5After this, behold, there was a second beast like a bear. It rose up on one side and had three

ribs in its mouth, between its teeth. Thus they said to it, “Arise, devour much flesh!” 6After
this, I kept looking and behold, there was another beast like a leopard, and it had the four
wings of a bird on its back. There were also four heads on the beast, and authority was given
to it. 7After this, I looked and behold, a fourth beast, fearful, terrifying, and exceedingly
strong. It had huge iron teeth, and it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling
underfoot whatever was left. It was exceedingly different from all the beasts before it, and it
had ten horns. 8I was especially noticing its horns, and behold, there was another horn, a
little one. It came up among them, and the three horns of those before it were uprooted
because of its presence; and behold, there were eyes like the eyes of a man in this horn, and it
had a mouth speaking arrogant things.†

                                    APOCALYPTIC
                                     LITERATURE

Within Holy Scripture there are certain visionary, prophetic writings that are specifically seen
as revelations because they reveal something about the last days, or end times. These
writings within Holy Scripture are part of a larger group of works known as apocalyptic
literature (from a Greek word meaning “to uncover” or “unveil”).

  From about 250 BC to AD 200, there were some thirty to forty such works circulating
within the Jewish and early Christian communities. Only one of all these writings, the
Revelation of John (also called the Apocalypse), was accepted by the Church to be part of
Holy Scripture. There are other sections in the Bible which also are written in an apocalyptic
style, such as Isaiah 24—27, 60—66; Ezekiel 38—39; Daniel 7—12; Zechariah 1—6, 9—14; and
Mark 13.

  It is typical for apocalyptic writings to describe visions of angels, animals of various kinds,
scrolls, lamps, stars, and dragons, as well as battles and various natural disasters. The
Revelation of John includes much imagery found also in Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah (see
Ezk 40:1–5 and Rev 11:1; 21:9–17; Dan 7:1–8 and Rev 13:1–5; Zec 4:1–6, 11–14 and Rev 4:5;
11:3, 4). About three-fourths of the 404 verses in Revelation refer to something in the Old
Testament.

  How are we to understand this not easily understood literary form? How are we to apply
these Scriptures to our lives? Christ taught it is impossible to know when He will come again
(Mt 24:36, 44). It is impossible to determine the precise meaning of all the imagery in the
apocalyptic writings. Rather, we are to look forward to the end of time with sober yet eager
anticipation, as pilgrims seeking His eternal kingdom (Php 3:20; Col 3:1–4). A prayer by St.
Basil the Great says, “Grant us to pass through all the night of this present life with vigilant
heart and sober thought, in expectancy of the coming of the bright and manifest day of. . . our
Lord.”

  The apocalyptic texts are offered to Christians in every generation to encourage them in
their struggles against sin, the principalities and powers of darkness in this world (Eph 6:12)
and the fear of death. These writings assure us that even in the midst of the cosmic
cataclysms and battles against evil powers occurring just before Christ returns—the time of
“great tribulation” (Mt 24:21)—the Lord will strengthen and guide His people (Mt 28:20),
bringing them to final victory over all forces of evil (Rev 20:7–10). Making references to
Daniel 7 and 12 concerning the end times, St. Cyril of Jerusalem explains that as in the
persecutions, God will again permit these things. Why? Not because He wants satanic power
to hinder His people, but because He desires to crown His own champions for their patient
endurance—just as He did His prophets and apostles—so that having toiled for a little while,
they may inherit the eternal kingdom of Heaven.

  So the essential purpose of the apocalyptic writings is to encourage the faithful to be full of
hope and prepared to persevere to the end, no matter what happens (Mt 24:3–13; Lk 21:25–
28). All are inspired to look through the darkness of the present age and to behold the
ultimate victory of Christ and the joyful consummation that awaits His Bride—the Church—
who, through Her sacraments, has prepared herself for the coming of the Lord (2Pt 3:7–14;
Tts 2:11–14). The closing words of the New Testament express this very sense of expectation:
“Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20).


                                    The Ancient of Days

  9I continued to watch until thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days enthroned
Himself. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His
throne was a fiery flame, and its wheels a burning fire.† 10A river of fire flowed from before
Him. Thousands and thousands ministered to Him, and countless thousands stood before
Him. The court was in session, and the books were opened. 11Then I kept watching because
of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. I watched until the beast was put
to death and destroyed, and its body given to the burning flame. 12As for the rest of the
beasts, their dominion was taken away, yet length of life was given them for a season and a
time.

  13I continued to observe the vision in the night, and behold, One like the Son of Man was
coming with the clouds of heaven, until He came to the Ancient of Days and approached
Him.† 14Then dominion, honor, and the kingdom were given to Him, and all peoples, tribes,
and languages served Him. His authority is an everlasting authority which shall not pass
away, and His kingdom shall not be destroyed.

                                The Meaning of the Vision

  15My spirit within me trembled with fear, and the visions in my head troubled me. 16Then
I approached one of those who stood by and sought the precise meaning of all this from him.
So he told me the precise meaning and made known to me the interpretation of the words:

  17“These four large beasts are four kingdoms. They shall arise on the earth, then be taken

away. 18After this, the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess it unto
ages of ages.”

  19Then I sought the precise meaning of the fourth beast, for it was different from all the
others. It was exceedingly fearful, and its teeth were made of iron, and its nails of bronze. It
was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling underfoot whatever was left. 20The ten
horns on its head and the other horn, which had eyes and a mouth that spoke arrogant
things, and the vision of which I noticed more than the rest, came up and knocked down the
three horns before it. 21So I kept looking, and that horn made war with the saints and
prevailed against them, 22until the Ancient of Days came and gave His judgment in favor of
the saints of the Most High. Then the time arrived, and the saints possessed the kingdom.

  23Thus he said: “The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which shall
surpass all the kingdoms; and it shall devour all the earth, and trample and break it in pieces.
24Its ten horns are ten kings. They shall arise, and after them another shall arise. He shall

surpass all those before him in evils, and he shall humble three kings. 25He will speak
extremely arrogant words and wear down the saints of the Most High. He will devise a way to
change times and law, and he shall be given authority for a time, times, and half a time.†
26But the court shall go into session, and they shall take away his dominion to consume and

destroy it forever. 27Then the kingdom, the authority, and the greatness of the kingdoms
under heaven shall be given to the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”

  28This is the end of my account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me. My
countenance changed, but I kept the matter to myself.

                                  The Ram and the Goat


8 Inthetheonethird year of Belshazzar's reign, a vision was revealed to me—to me, Daniel—after
               that appeared to me the first time.† 2I was in Shushan, in the palace, in the
province of Elam; and I saw in the vision that I was by the Ulai River. 3Then I lifted up my
eyes and looked, and behold, one ram stood before the Ulai, and it had horns. The horns were
high, but one was higher than the other; and the higher one came up last. 4I saw the ram
pushing westward, northward, and southward, and no animal could withstand him or deliver
from his power; but he did according to his will and became great.

  5As I was considering this, behold, a male goat came from the southwest, across the
surface of all the earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn
between its eyes.† 6Then he came to the ram that had the horns, which I saw standing before
the Ulai, and he ran at him with furious power. 7I saw him running at the ram, and attacking
him savagely. He struck the ram and broke both his horns. There was no strength in the ram
to withstand him, but he cast him to the ground and trampled him. There was no one that
could deliver the ram from his power. 8So the male goat became exceedingly great, and when
he became strong, his large horn was broken, and four horns came up under him toward the
four winds of heaven.

  9Then from one of them one strong horn came forth, strong and exceedingly great, toward

the south and the east and toward the host. 10He exalted himself to the host of heaven, and
some of the heavenly host and stars fell to the earth; and he trampled them underfoot†
11until the chief captain delivered the host of captives. For because of him the sacrifice was
thrown down; and it came about that he prospered, but the sanctuary was to become
desolate. 12For the sin offering was offered as long as there was sacrifice, but he cast
righteousness to the ground; and although he did this, he prospered. 13Then I heard one of
the saints speaking, and another saint said to that one speaking, “How long will the vision
stand, and the sacrifice be taken away, and the sin offering which was offered be desolated,
and the sanctuary and host be trampled underfoot?” 14He replied to him, “Until two
thousand and three hundred days of evening and morning, then the sanctuary shall be
cleansed.”

                                 Gabriel Reveals the Vision

  15So it came about that when I, Daniel, saw the vision and sought to understand it, then,

behold, the vision of a man stood before me. 16I heard the voice of this man in the midst of
the Ulai, and he called and said, “Gabriel, cause that man to understand the vision.” 17Thus
he came and stood near where I was standing; and when he came, I was astonished and fell
on my face. Then he said to me, “Understand, son of man, for the vision is yet for the end of
time.” 18Now when he spoke with me, I fell on my face to the ground, but he touched me and
stood me on my feet. 19Then he said, “Behold, I will make known to you what shall take place
in the last time of wrath, for the vision is yet for the end of time. 20The ram you saw with its
horns is the king of the Medes and Persians. 21The male goat is the king of the Greeks, and
the great horn between its eyes is the first king. 22When that horn is broken and four horns
stand under it, four kings from that nation shall arise, but not with its might.

  23“Then in the latter time of their kingdom, when sins are fulfilled, a king shall arise,

shameless in countenance; and he will understand riddles. 24His strength will be mighty, and
he shall destroy terribly. He shall prosper and take action, and destroy the mighty and the
holy people. 25The yoke of his chain shall prosper. There will be treachery in his hand, and he
shall magnify himself in his heart. He shall destroy many with deceit and stand for the
destruction of many. He will crush them like an egg in his hand. 26Now the vision of the
evening and the morning that was told is true: therefore, seal the vision, because it refers to
many days in the future.”†

  27Then I, Daniel, fell asleep and was sick for days. After this, I arose and did the king's
business, and I wondered about the vision; but no one understood it.

                                Daniel Prays for the People


9 In the first year of Darius the son of Xerxes, of the seed of the Medes, who reigned over
the kingdom of the Chaldeans— 2in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood in the
books the number of years when the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet would be
fulfilled for the desolation of Jerusalem, and it came to seventy years.

  3Then I set my face toward the Lord God to seek Him in prayer and supplication, with

fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.† 4So I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession. I said,
“O Lord God, great and marvelous, who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love
You and keep Your commandments— 5we sinned and did wrong. We acted lawlessly, fell
away, and turned away from Your commandments and judgments. 6Neither did we obey Your
servants the prophets who spoke in Your name to our kings, our rulers, our fathers, and to all
the people in the land. 7O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but shame of face belongs to
us, as it is today, to the men of Judah, to those who dwell in Jerusalem, and to all Israel,
those near and far in all the earth, wherever You scattered them in their faithlessness by
which they rejected You. 8O Lord, shame of face belongs to us, our kings, our rulers, and to
our fathers who sinned against You.† 9To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness,
whereas we fell away. 10We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His
laws, which He set before us by the hands of His servants the prophets. 11Yes, all Israel
transgressed Your law and turned aside, so as not to obey Your voice. Therefore the curse and
the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God has come upon us, because we
sinned against You. 12So He confirmed His words which He spoke against us and against our
judges who judged us, by bringing upon us great calamities; for under the whole heaven such
has not taken place, as the things that happened in Jerusalem. 13As it is written in the Law of
Moses, all these calamities came upon us, yet we have not entreated the Lord our God so as
to turn from our wrongdoings, and to gain insight into all Your truth. 14Therefore the Lord
watched and brought all these things upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in every
work He does, though we have not obeyed His voice. 15So now, O Lord our God, who brought
Your people from the land of Egypt with a strong hand, and who made Yourself a name as it
is this day, we have sinned and acted lawlessly.

  16“O Lord, in all Your mercy, let Your anger and Your wrath be turned away from Your city
of Jerusalem, Your holy mountain, though we have sinned; for in our wrongdoings and those
of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a disgrace among all those around us.
17So now, O Lord our God, listen to the prayers of Your servant and his supplications, and

cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is deserted because of You, O Lord. 18O
my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our destruction and that of Your
city, in which Your name is called upon; for not on the basis of our righteous deeds do we
bring our prayer for mercy before You, but on the basis of Your abundant mercy. 19O Lord,
hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, give heed and act! Do not delay for Your sake, O my God, for
Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

                             Gabriel and the Seventy Weeks

  20Now while I was still speaking, praying, and declaring my sins and the sins of my people
Israel, and bringing my cry for mercy before the Lord my God concerning the holy mountain
of my God, 21yes, while I was speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I saw in my
vision at the beginning, flew and touched me about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22He
caused me to understand, and spoke with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to
guide you with insight. 23At the beginning of your prayer, the word went out, and I have
come to tell you, for you are a man of desires. Therefore, consider the matter and understand
the vision:

  24“Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city to finish sin, to set
an end to sin, to wipe out lawlessness, to atone for wrongdoings, to bring in everlasting
righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Holy of Holies.† 25You shall
know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the word to be answered and to
build Jerusalem, until Christ the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks.
Then the time shall return, and the streets and the wall shall be built; the times shall be left
desolate.

  26“After the sixty-two weeks, the Anointed One shall be put to death, yet there shall be no
upright judgment for Him; and he shall destroy the city and the sanctuary with the prince
who is coming, and they shall be cut off with a flood, and to the end of the war, which will be
cut short, he shall appoint the city to desolations. 27Then he shall confirm a covenant with
many for one week, and in the middle of the week, My sacrifice and drink-offering will be
taken away; and there shall be in the temple the abomination of desolations, and to the end
of the time, an end to the desolation shall be appointed.”†

                                   The Man of Splendor
10 Inname
       the third year of Cyrus king of the Persians, a word was revealed to Daniel, whose
          was called Belteshazzar. The word was true, and great power and understanding
were given to him in the vision.† 2In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.† 3I
ate no desirable food, and no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself, until
three whole weeks were fulfilled. 4Then on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was
beside the great river, that is, the Tigris. 5I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a
man clothed in fine linen; and his waist was girded with gold of Uphaz.† 6His body was like
beryl, and his face like the appearance of lightning. His eyes were like lamps of fire, and his
arms and legs like the appearance of shining brass. The sound of his words was like the voice
of a multitude. 7I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men with me did not see the vision;
but a great astonishment fell upon them, and they fled in fear. 8So I was left alone and saw
this great vision, but no strength remained in me; for my splendor was turned into
corruption, and I retained no strength. 9Yet I heard the sound of his words; and when I heard
him, I was deeply troubled with my face on the ground.

                              Prophecies of Persia and Greece

  10Suddenly, a hand touched me and raised me up on my knees. 11He said to me, “O Daniel,
a man of desires, understand the words I speak to you and stand upright, for now I have been
sent to you.” So when he spoke this word to me, I stood trembling. 12Then he said to me, “Do
not fear, Daniel, for from the first day you set your heart to understand and to afflict yourself
before your God, your words were heard; and I came because of your words.† 13But the
prince of the Persian kingdom withstood me twenty-one days, and behold, Michael, one of
the chief princes, came to help me; for I was left there with the ruler of the Persian kingdom.
14Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the last days,
for the vision is for days yet to come.”

  15When he had spoken these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was

deeply troubled. 16Again suddenly, one having the likeness of a son of man touched my lips,
and I opened my mouth and spoke, and said to the one standing before me, “My lord, because
of your vision, my insides churned within me so I have no strength.† 17For how can your
servant, my lord, speak with my lord of this? As for me, no strength now remains in me, nor
is any breath left in me.”

  18Then again, the one like the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me.
19He said to me, “O man of desires, peace be to you; be courageous and strong.” So when he
spoke with me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened
me.” 20Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to the war
against the ruler of the Persians, and I will go forth, and the ruler of the Greeks will come.
21But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth—and there is no one loyal to me
concerning this, except Michael your prince.

       for me, in the first year of Cyrus, I stood in power and strength.† 2Now I will tell you
11 “As
   the truth: Behold, three kings will yet arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer
than all of them; and after he possesses his wealth, he shall rise up against all the kingdoms
of the Greeks. †3Then a mighty king shall arise, and he shall rule a great dominion and do
according to his will.† 4After his kingdom is established, it shall be crushed and divided
toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity, nor according to his dominion
with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted and given to others besides these.

                           Warring Kings of North and South

  5“Also the king of the south shall become strong; and one of his rulers shall prevail against

him and have power over a great dominion under his authority.† 6After his years, they shall
join forces, for the daughter of the king of the south shall go to the king of the north to make
an agreement with him. But she shall not retain the power of her authority, and neither shall
his seed stand; but she shall be betrayed along with those who brought her, the maiden and
he who strengthened her in those times.† 7But from the flower of her root, one shall arise in
his readiness and shall come against the host, enter the strongholds of the king of the north,
and deal with them and prevail.† 8Then he shall also carry their gods to Egypt with their
molten images, and all their precious vessels of silver and gold, along with a host of captives.
Thus he shall stand above the king of the north. 9Then he will come against the kingdom of
the king of the south, but shall return to his own land. 10But his sons shall assemble a
multitude of great forces. Thus when he comes, he shall come and overwhelm and pass by,
then he shall rest. Again he shall contend to the extent of his strength.†

  11“Then the king of the south shall be angered and go out and fight with the king of the

north, who shall muster a great multitude; but this multitude shall be given into his hand.†
12For he will defeat the multitude, and his heart will be lifted up. Yes, he shall cast down tens
of thousands, but will not prevail. 13For the king of the north will return and muster a
multitude greater than the former, and at the end of some years his invading army shall come
with a great force and much equipment.

  14“Now in those times many will rise up against the king of the south. Even the sons of
troublemakers among your people shall exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they
will be weak. 15So the king of the north shall come and build a siege mound, and take
fortified cities; and the arms of the king of the south shall not withstand him. His choice
troops will rise up, but there shall be no strength to resist. 16But he who comes against him
shall do according to his will, and no one shall stand against him. He will stand in the Land of
Beauty, and it shall be consumed by his hand.† 17He shall also set his face to enter with the
strength of his whole kingdom, and he will do whatever seems right to him. He shall give him
the daughter of women to corrupt her; but she will not remain with him or be for him.†
18After this he shall turn his face to the islands and shall take many, and cause rulers to

cease from their disgrace. Nevertheless, his own disgrace shall turn back on him.† 19Then he
will turn his face toward the strength of his land, but he shall stumble and fall, and will not
be found.

  20“Now a plant of the kingdom shall arise from his root and pass over in his readiness. He
will further the glory of the kingdom, but in those days he shall be crushed, but not openly or
in battle.† 21After this, one shall arise in his readiness, and be set at naught. Yet they did not
give him the glory of the kingdom; nevertheless, he shall enter with prosperity and seize the
kingdom by intrigue.† 22Then the arms of him who overwhelms and the ruler of the
covenant shall be overwhelmed and crushed by his presence. 23Then after the leagues made
with him, he shall work deceit, for he shall come up and overpower him with a small number
of people. 24He shall come into the prosperous and wealthy places of the provinces and do
what neither his fathers or forefathers have done. He will disperse plunder, spoils, and wealth
among them and devise his plans against Egypt, but only for a time. 25Then his strength and
his heart shall be stirred up against the king of the south with a large army. The king of the
south shall engage him in war with a very large and mighty army, but the king's forces shall
not stand; for they will devise plans against him. 26They shall eat his provisions and crush
him. His army shall be overwhelmed, and many shall fall down slain.

  27“Now both kings and their hearts will be set on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same
table; but the evil will not prosper, for the end is yet at the appointed time. 28Then he shall
return to his land with abundant possessions, but his heart shall be against the holy
covenant; so he shall do evil, then return to his own land.

                                The Northern King's Deceit

  29“At the appointed time he shall return and come into the south again; but this last

coming will not be like the first. 30For the Kitians shall go out and come against him, and he
will be humbled. Then he will return and be enraged against the holy covenant. He shall do
evil, and return and show regard for those who forsook the holy covenant.† 31Then offspring
shall arise from him, and they shall defile the sanctuary of power. They shall take away the
daily sacrifice, and place there the abomination of desolation.† 32Transgressors will bring
about a covenant by deceitful means, but the people who know their God will be strong and
do valiantly. 33Those of the people who understand shall understand much, yet they shall be
weakened by sword and flame, and by captivity and days of plundering. 34When they are
weak, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue.
35Some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them as by fire and to test them, so
they may be revealed at the time of the end; because the matter is still for the appointed time.

  36“Then the king shall do according to his will. He will be exalted and magnified above
every god, and speak arrogant words. He shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished,
for it is to be ended. 37He shall not regard any gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women,
nor shall he regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. 38But in his locality he
shall honor a god of fortresses, and a god his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold
and silver, and with precious stones and desirable things. 39Thus he shall do in the strong
fortresses of refuge with a foreign god, and he shall increase his glory. He shall subject many
to them and distribute gifts in the land.

                              The Northern King's Victories

  40“At the time of the end, the king of the north will attack the king of the south and come
against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships. He shall enter his land, crush it, and
move on. 41He shall also enter the Land of Beauty, and many shall fall. But these shall escape
from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent among the children of Ammon. 42He shall
stretch out his hand upon the land, and the land of Egypt will not escape. 43He shall gain
control over the hidden stores of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt,
and of the Libyans and Ethiopians in their strongholds. 44But rumors and anxieties from the
east and the north will trouble him; therefore, he shall come with great fury to destroy and
annihilate many. 45He shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas, upon the holy
mountain of beauty. Yet he will come to his portion, but there shall be no one to deliver him.

                                 The Prophecy of Michael


12 “At that time Michael the great prince, who stands watch over the sons of your people,
   shall stand up; and there shall be a time of tribulation, such as never happened until
that time, since there was a nation upon the earth. But at that time your people shall be
saved, all found written in the book.† 2Then many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth
shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to disgrace and everlasting shame. 3Those
who understand shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and some who are
righteous, like the stars of heaven forever and ever. 4As for you, Daniel, close up these words
and seal the book until the time of the end, until many are taught and knowledge is
increased.”

  5Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the

other on the other riverbank. 6One said to the man clothed in fine linen who was above the
water of the river, “How long will it be to the end of these wonders of which You have
spoken?” 7Then I heard from the man clothed in fine linen who was above the water of the
river, as he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives
forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time. Thus when the dispersion is ended,
they shall know all these things.†

  8Although I heard, I did not understand. So I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these

things?” 9He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the
time of the end. 10Many shall choose to be made white and refined through fire; but the
lawless shall act lawlessly. None of the lawless shall understand, but the wise shall
understand. 11From the time the daily sacrifice is taken away and the abomination of
desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.† 12Blessed is
he who waits and comes to one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. 13But now, go
your way and rest, for there are yet days to the fulfillment of the end; and you shall arise to
your inheritance at the end of the days.”
                                     Bel and the Serpent

1When King Astyages was gathered to his fathers, Cyrus of Persia received his kingdom.†
2Daniel was a confidant of the king and was honored above all his friends.

  3Now the Babylonians had an idol whose name was Bel, and every day they spent on it

twelve bushels of fine flour, forty sheep, and six vessels of wine.† 4The king adored it and
went every day to worship it; but Daniel worshiped his own God. So the king asked him,
“Why do you not worship Bel?” 5Daniel answered, “Because I do not worship idols made with
hands, but only the living God who created heaven and earth and has dominion over all
flesh.”† 6The king said to him, “Do you not think Bel is a living god? Do you not see how
much he eats and drinks every day?” 7Daniel smiled and said, “Do not be deceived, O king, for
it is but clay inside and bronze outside, and it has never eaten or drunk anything.”†

                                       Bel Is Deposed

  8Very angry, the king summoned his priests and said to them, “If you do not tell me who it

is that consumes these provisions, you shall die. 9But if you can prove Bel consumes them,
then Daniel shall die, because he blasphemed against Bel.” So Daniel said to the king, “Let it
be according to your word.”

  10Now there were seventy priests of Bel, besides their wives and children, and the king

went with Daniel into the temple.† 11Then the priests of Bel said, “Look, we will step outside.
You, O king, set out the food and prepare the wine, then shut the door and seal it with your
signet. 12If you do not find Bel has eaten it all when you come tomorrow, we will suffer death
—or else Daniel shall die, who speaks lies against us.” 13They were unconcerned, for under
the table they had made a secret entrance through which they always came in to consume the
provisions.

  14So when they had all gone, the king set out the food for Bel. And Daniel ordered his
servants to bring in ashes, which they sprinkled throughout all the temple in the presence of
the king alone. Then they went out, shut the door, sealed it with the king's signet, and
departed. 15During the night the priests came with their wives and children, as they usually
did, and ate and drank everything.
  16The king rose early the next morning, and Daniel with him. 17Then the king said, “Are

the seals intact, Daniel?” Daniel answered, “They are intact, O king.” 18As soon as the doors
were opened, the king looked at the table and cried out in a loud voice, “Great are you, O Bel,
and with you there is no deceit at all.” 19Then Daniel laughed and restrained the king from
going in. He said, “Look at the floor, and notice whose footprints these are.” 20The king
replied, “I see the footprints of men, women, and children.” 21With great anger, the king
seized the priests and their wives and children, and they showed him the hidden doors where
they came in and consumed such things as were upon the table. 22Therefore the king put
them to death and handed Bel over to Daniel, who destroyed it and its temple.

                                 The Serpent Is Destroyed

  23There was also a large serpent the people of Babylon worshiped.† 24So the king said to
Daniel, “Will you also say this is made of bronze? Look, he lives, he eats, and he drinks—you
cannot say he is no living god. Therefore worship him.” 25Daniel replied, “I will worship the
Lord my God; for He is the living God. 26But with your permission, O king, I shall slay this
serpent without sword or staff.” The king said, “I will give my permission.”† 27Then Daniel
took pitch, tar, and hair; these he boiled together and made cakes, and put them in the mouth
of the serpent. The serpent ate them and burst open. Then Daniel said, “Behold the things
you have been worshiping.”

                                    Daniel Is Vindicated

  28Now when the people of Babylon heard what had been done, they were indignant and
conspired against the king, saying, “The king has become a Jew; he has destroyed Bel, slain
the serpent, and put the priests to death.” 29Going to the king, they said, “Deliver Daniel to
us, or else we will destroy you and your house.” 30Now when the king saw they were pressing
him hard, he handed Daniel over to them under compulsion. 31They threw Daniel into the
lions’ den, where he was left for six days. 32Now there were seven lions in the den, and they
had to give them two carcasses every day and two sheep. But these things were not given to
them now, so they might devour Daniel.

  33Now the prophet Habakkuk was in Judea. He had made a stew and had broken bread

into a bowl, and was going to the fields to take it to the reapers.† 34But the angel of the Lord
said unto Habakkuk, “Go, carry the dinner you have into Babylon to Daniel, who is in the
lions’ den.” 35Habakkuk said, “O Lord, I have never seen Babylon, nor do I know the den.”
36Then the angel of the Lord took him by the crown, and carried him by the hair of his head,

and with the speed of the wind set him in Babylon over the den. 37Habakkuk cried out,
saying, “O Daniel, Daniel, take the meal God has sent you.” 38Daniel said, “You have
remembered me, O God, and You have not forsaken those who love You.” 39So Daniel arose
and ate; and the angel of the Lord immediately set Habakkuk down in his own place once
more.

  40After this, on the seventh day the king went to the lions’ den to mourn for Daniel, and he

came to the pit and looked inside—and there sat Daniel.† 41The king cried out with a loud
voice, “Great are You, O Lord God of Daniel, and there is no other besides You.” 42Then he
drew him out of the den, and cast in those who had plotted Daniel's destruction; and they
were devoured in a moment before his face.
        T HE
N E W T E ST A M E N T
         Matthew

           Mark

           Luke

           John

           Acts

         Romans

       1 Corinthians

       2 Corinthians

         Galatians

        Ephesians

        Philippians

        Colossians

      1 Thessalonians

      2 Thessalonians

        1 Timothy

        2 Timothy

           Titus

        Philemon

         Hebrews

          James
                             1 Peter

                             2 Peter

                             1 John

                             2 John

                             3 John

                              Jude

                            Revelation

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                                         M AT T HE W
                                         Home   Next

Chapters in Matthew
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30


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Verses in Matthew Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50


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Verses in Matthew Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30


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Verses in Matthew Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 23
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 25
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 26
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71, 72, 73, 74, 75

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 27
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66

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Verses in Matthew Chapter 28
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20


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                                                   T HE
                                           N E W T E ST A M E N T
                                                      The Book of Matthew

  Author    —Though the gospel does not name Matthew as the author, all the early
manuscripts attribute authorship to Matthew, one of the twelve disciples listed in the
New Testament. His authorship is attested by the universal witness of the ancient
Church.

  Date   —Matthew could have been written as early as AD 50, but it is more likely that it
was written after the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. It was probably written over a period of
years while Matthew resided in Antioch, where the church was a strong, mixed
community of Jewish and Gentile Christians. St. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch AD 67–
107, is one of the earliest witnesses to the existence of this gospel.

  Major Theme      —Christ, the Incarnate God, Immanuel, has inaugurated the kingdom of
God and the new covenant, which is realized in the true Israel, the Church. Subthemes
include:

1 . The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Matthew shows conclusiv ely that Christ, the incarnate Son of God, fulfills the prophecies of the

   Old Testam ent. He establishes the new cov enant through His death and Resurrection and will continue to guide His Church, the true

   Israel of God, to the end of the age.

2 . The revelation of the kingdom of God. Jesus proclaim s that God's reign has com e (4 :1 7 , 2 3 ), His power being m anifested in His Son, but the

   fullness of the Kingdom will be consum m ated at Christ's Second Com ing.

3 . A call to discipleship (4:18–22; 8:18–22), through m ission (ch. 1 0; 2 8:1 8–2 0), and the beginning of the Gentile Church (8:1 1 , 1 2 ; 2 1 :4 3 ;

   2 8:1 9 ).


  Background     —The Gospel of Matthew, though it has come down to us in Greek, has a
Jewish/Hebraic flavor, evident in its Aramaic expressions and forms and in its use of
numerous quotations and arguments from the Old Testament. Furthermore, Matthew
gives details of Jewish religious observances and often uses Jewish style and techniques
of argument. God's final judgment, pictured in apocalyptic images common in Jewish
writings, is also emphasized. Papias, a second-century Christian author, preserves the
tradition that Matthew wrote the sayings of Christ in Aramaic, the common language of
the Jews at the time of Christ, and that others later freely translated this work into
Greek.
 Outline

  I. The Identity of Jesus Christ (1 :1 –2 :2 3 )

         A. Who Christ is (1 :1 –2 5)

         B. Ev ents surrounding His birth (2 :1 –2 3 )

  II. Jesus' Public Ministry : Rev elation of the Kingdom (3 :1 –1 0:4 2 )

         A. Beginning of the m inistry : the kingdom proclaim ed (3 :1 –4 :2 5)

         B. Serm on on the Mount: righteousness of the kingdom (5:1 –7 :2 9 )

         C. The m ighty works of Christ: the power of the kingdom (8:1 –9 :3 8)

         D. Discourse on m ission (1 0:1 –4 2 )

 III. Responses to Christ: Belief and Unbelief (1 1 :1 –2 5:4 6 )

         A. Responses in Galilee (1 1 :1 –1 8:3 5)

         B. Responses in Judea and Jerusalem (1 9 :1 –2 5:4 6 )

 IV. The Passion and Resurrection of Christ (2 6 :1 –2 8:2 0)

         A. Ev ents prior to the arrest (2 6 :1 –4 6 )

         B. Jesus' arrest (2 6 :4 7 –2 7 :2 6 )

         C. Crucifixion, death, and burial (2 7 :2 7 –6 6 )

         D. The resurrection of Christ (2 8:1 –1 5)

         E. The Great Com m ission (2 8:1 6 –2 0)



                                                         The Genealogy of Jesus

                                                                    (Lk 3:23–38)


1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:† ω
  2Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.† 3Judah

begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.† 4Ram begot
Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5Salmon begot Boaz
by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6and Jesse begot David the king.

  David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wifea of Uriah.† 7Solomon begot
Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.a 8Asa begot Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. 9Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot
Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. 10Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon,a and
Amon begot Josiah. 11Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were
carried away to Babylon.

  12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot

Zerubbabel. 13Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. 14Azor
begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. 15Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar
begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. 16And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of
whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.†

  17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until
the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the
Christ are fourteen generations.†

                                The Virgin Birth of Christ

                                          (Lk 2:1–7)

  18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to

Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19Then
Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was
minded to put her away secretly.† 20But while he thought about these things, behold, an
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid
to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.† 21And
she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name J , for He will save His people from
                                                         ESUS



their sins.”

  22So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the

prophet, saying:† 23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall
call His name Immanuel,”a which is translated, “God with us.”†

  24Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him

and took to him his wife, 25and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn
Son.a And he called His name J .†
                               ESUS




                           Gentiles Worship the Christ Child
2 Now  after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold,
  wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,† ω 2saying, “Where is He who has been born
King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”†

  3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And when
he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them
where the Christ was to be born.†

  5So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

    6
        ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;

    For out of you shall come a Ruler

    Who will shepherd My people I srael.’ ” a

  7Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time

the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the
young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and
worship Him also.”

  9When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the

East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10When they
saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11And when they had come into the
house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.
And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense,
and myrrh.†

  12Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they
departed for their own country another way.

                                                     Refuge in Egypt

  13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a
dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until
I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”ω

  14When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for
Egypt,† 15and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”a †

                                                  The Holy Innocents

  16Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry;
and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its
districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from
the wise men.† 17Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:†

    18
         “ A voice was heard in Ramah,

    Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,

    Rachel weeping for her children,

    Refusing to be comforted,

    Because they are no more.” a

                                                  Return from Exile

                                                        (Lk 2:39)

  19Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph

in Egypt,† 20saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel,
for those who sought the young Child's life are dead.” 21Then he arose, took the young Child
and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

  22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod,
he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the
region of Galilee.† 23And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”†

                                         John the Baptist's Call to Repentance

                                            (Mk 1:1–8; Lk 3:1–18; Jn 1:19–28)


3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in3 the wilderness of Judea,† 2and saying,
   “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the
prophet Isaiah, saying:
    “ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

    Make His paths straight.’ ” a

  4Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and

his food was locusts and wild honey.† 5Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around
the Jordan went out to him 6and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.†

  7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to

them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?† 8Therefore bear
fruits worthy of repentance,† 9and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as
our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these
stones.† 10And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which
does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.† 11I indeed baptize you with
water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am
not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.a † 12His winnowing fan
is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat
into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”†

                                                     The Baptism of Jesus

                                           (Mk 1:9–11; Lk 3:21, 22; Jn 1:29–34)

  13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.ω 14And John
tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”

  15But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to

fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.†

  16When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the

heavens were opened to Him, and Hea saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and
alighting upon Him.† 17And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased.”†

                                                   Jesus' Triumph over Satan

                                                     (Mk 1:12, 13; Lk 4:1–13)
                                                                                      † 2And
4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the† devil.
                                                                                3
       when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.          Now when
the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones
become bread.”†

 4But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every

word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”a †

  5Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,†
6and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

       ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’

  and,

       ‘I n their hands they shall bear you up,

       Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” a †

  7Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”a †

  8Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the

kingdoms of the world and their glory.† 9And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You
if You will fall down and worship me.”

 10Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you,a Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the

L your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”b
 ORD




  11Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

                                                  Repentance and the Kingdom

                                                  (Mk 1:14, 15; Lk 4:14, 15; Jn 4:1–4)

  12Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13And
leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of
Zebulun and Naphtali, 14that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet,
saying:

       15
        “ The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
    By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,

    Galilee of the Gentiles:†

    16
         The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,

    And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death

    Light has dawned.” a †

   17From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is

at hand.”†

                                                          The First Disciples

                                                       (Mk 1:16–20; Lk 5:1–11)

  18And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and

Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.† 19Then He said to
them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20They immediately left their nets
and followed Him.

  21Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his

brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22and
immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

                                                  Summary of Jesus' Ministry

                                                                   (Lk 6:17–19)

  23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of

the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.†
24Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who
were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed,
epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25Great multitudes followed Him—from
Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

                             The Beatitudes: The Blessings of True Discipleship

                                                                   (Lk 6:20–49)


5 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His
disciples came to Him.† 2Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

    3
     “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    For theirs is the kingdom of heav en. †

    4
        Blessed are those who m ourn,

    For they shall be com forted. †

    5
     Blessed are the m eek,

    For they shall inherit the earth. †

    6
        Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

    For they shall be filled. †

    7
     Blessed are the m erciful,

    For they shall obtain m ercy . †

    8
        Blessed are the pure in heart,

    For they shall see God. †

    9
        Blessed are the peacem akers,

    For they shall be called sons of God. †

    10
         Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,

    For theirs is the kingdom of heav en. †

    11
        “Blessed are y ou when they rev ile and persecute y ou, and say all kinds of ev il against y ou falsely for My sake. † 12Rejoice and be

    exceedingly glad, for great is y our reward in heav en, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before y ou.

                                                       THE SERMON ON
                                                             THE MOUNT

In the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5—7), Jesus introduces the kind of life those who seek the
Kingdom of God must lead. His homily could properly be called, “The Righteousness of the
Kingdom.” It can be divided into several sections.

  1 The Beatitudes (5:1–16). The sermon begins with the Beatitudes (the “blessings”), which
describe the joys of true discipleship, the blessed way of life. The people of God await the
rewards Jesus promises in this section.

  2 The new covenant (5:17–48). Then, as the Son of God whose authority is greater than
that of Moses, Christ proclaims the new law, the righteousness leading toward perfection, to
which the Mosaic Law and the prophets pointed. Jesus reveals the deeper meaning of several
Old Testament laws, broadening their implications.
   (a) “You shall not murder” is expanded beyond the command against physically killing
       another (5:21–26). Murder now includes anger, calling someone a fool, and failure to
       be reconciled with a friend or adversary.

   (b) “You shall not commit adultery” (5:27) no longer refers only to the unlawful act of sex
       outside marriage. It now includes lust.

   (c) Divorce was allowable under the Old Testament law. But under the new covenant,
       divorce is permissible only because of sexual immorality, and remarriage to a divorced
       person is not permitted (5:31, 32).

   (d) “Perform your oaths to the Lord” is the Old Testament law. Jesus instructs us to say
       “yes” or “no” without taking an oath, and to keep our word (5:33–37).

   (e) “An eye for an eye”—a graphic way of seeing justice from a human perspective—
       becomes “turn the other [cheek]” and “love your enemies.” Not only must we forsake
       vengeance, even when it is just retribution; we must treat others as God treats us, with
       mercy and grace (5:38–45).

  3 Spiritual disciplines (6:1—7:12). Jesus assumes we will follow three disciplines that help
us attain true righteousness (6:1–18) and true wisdom (6:19—7:12). These disciplines are a
vital part of Christian tradition.

   (a) Giving alms, or doing charitable deeds for the poor, should be done secretly, before
       God and not before men (6:1–4).

   (b) Prayer should follow the model of the Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus here reveals to His
       Church (6:5–15).

   (c) Fasting should likewise be done to please God, not men (6:16–18).

  These disciplines help us find true wisdom, which consists of (1) the love of God and
pursuit of His righteousness by bringing our treasure (6:19–26) as alms to God, and our
worries (6:22—7:34) in prayer and fasting to Him; and (2) the love of human beings and
pursuit of righteous reconciliation with them by submitting our judgments of them (7:1–6) to
God’s severe mercy. For these difficult tasks we need divine discernment and guidance, which
God provides to those who follow Jesus’ spiritual rule (7:7–12). Thus, our natural impulses
are redirected toward their proper goal: the righteousness of God in His Kingdom (6:33).
  4 Exhortations to righteousness (7:13–29). Jesus concludes with exhortations to true
righteousness, warnings about hypocritical and deceitful professions of righteousness, and
instructions to build on the rock of His teachings.


                                 The Disciples in the World

                                    (Mk 9:50; Lk 14:34, 35)

   13“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It

is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.†

  14“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.ω 15Nor do
they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who
are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven.†

                             Righteousness: The Law Fulfilled

  17“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy

but to fulfill.† 18For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one
tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.† 19Whoever therefore breaks one
of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom
of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of
heaven.† 20For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the
scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.†

                                 Righteousness Illustrated

  21“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,a and whoever

murders will be in danger of the judgment.’† 22But I say to you that whoever is angry with
his brother without a causea shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his
brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in
danger of hell fire. 23Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that
your brother has something against you,† 24leave your gift there before the altar, and go your
way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25Agree with your
adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the
judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.† 26Assuredly, I
say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

  27“You have heard that it was said to those of old,a ‘You shall not commit adultery.’b †
28But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed

adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it
from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your
whole body to be cast into hell.† 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast
it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your
whole body to be cast into hell.

  31“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate

of divorce.’† 32But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual
immoralitya causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced
commits adultery.

  33“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but

shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by
heaven, for it is God's throne;† 35nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem,
for it is the city of the great King. 36Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot
make one hair white or black. 37But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever
is more than these is from the evil one.

  38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’a 39But I tell
you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to
him also.† 40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak
also. 41And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to him who asks
you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

  43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbora and hate your enemy.’
44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate

you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,a † 45that you may be sons
of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends
rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward have
you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet your brethrena only,
what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectorsb do so? 48Therefore you
shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.†

                                            How to Give Alms


6 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them.
  Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.† 2Therefore, when you do a
charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues
and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their
reward.† 3But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right
hand is doing,† 4that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in
secret will Himself reward you openly.a

                                              How to Pray

                                               (Lk 11:1–4)

  5“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in
the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I
say to you, they have their reward.† 6But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when
you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who
sees in secret will reward you openly.a 7And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the
heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

  8“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before

you ask Him. 9In this manner, therefore, pray:

    Our Father in heav en,

    Hallowed be Your nam e. †

    10
         Your kingdom com e.

    Your will be done

    On earth as it is in heav en.

    11
     Giv e us this day our daily bread. †

    12
         And forgiv e us our debts,
    As we forgiv e our debtors. †

    13
     And do not lead us into tem ptation,

    But deliv er us from the ev il one.

    For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forev er. Am en. a †

  14“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.† ω
15But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses.

                                                            How to Fast

  16“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For
they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you,
they have their reward.† 17But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18so
that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and
your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.a

                                                   Trusting God Wholly

                                                               (Lk 16:13)

  19“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where

thieves break in and steal;† 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither
moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

  22“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be

full of light.† 23But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore
the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

  24“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else

he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.†

                                            Trusting God for Basic Needs

                                                           (Lk 12:22–31)

  25“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will
drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body
more than clothing?† 26Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather
into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
27Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

  28“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow:

they neither toil nor spin; 29and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these. 30Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and
tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

  31“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What

shall we wear?’ 32For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father
knows that you need all these things.† 33But seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.† 34Therefore do not worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own
trouble.

                                    On Judging Others

                                    (Lk 6:37, 38, 41, 42)

    “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2For with what judgment you judge, you will be
7
    judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.† 3And why do you
look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4Or
how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank
is in your own eye? 5Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will
see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

  6“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample

them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.†

                                  Persevering in Prayer

                                        (Lk 11:9–13)

  7“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to
you.† 8For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will
be opened. 9Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a
stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11If you then, being evil, know
how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven
give good things to those who ask Him!† 12Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you,
do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.† ω

                                      The Narrow Gate

                                           (Lk 13:24)

  13“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to

destruction, and there are many who go in by it.† 14Becausea narrow is the gate and difficult
is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

                                 Beware of False Prophets

                                          (Lk 6:43, 44)

  15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are

ravenous wolves.† 16You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from
thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree
bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.† 20Therefore
by their fruits you will know them.

  21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he

who does the will of My Father in heaven.† 22Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many
wonders in Your name?’ 23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from
Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

                           Hearing and Doing Jesus' Teachings

                                          (Lk 6:47–49)

  24“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a
wise man who built his house on the rock:† 25and the rain descended, the floods came, and
the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

  26“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a

foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27and the rain descended, the floods came, and
the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

  28And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at

His teaching, 29for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

                                      A Leper Cleansed

                                  (Mk 1:40–45; Lk 5:12–16)

        He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.† 2And
8 When
  behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make
me clean.”

  3Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

  4And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the
priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

                                A Paralyzed Servant Healed

                                          (Lk 7:1–10)

  5Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,†
6saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”

  7And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”†

  8The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my

roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.† 9For I also am a man under
authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another,
‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
  10When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to

you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!† 11And I say to you that many will
come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of
heaven.† 12But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as
you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

                                        Power over All Infirmities

                                         (Mk 1:29–34; Lk 4:38–41)

  14Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a

fever.† 15So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.a

 16When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And

He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

    “ He Himself took our infirmities

    And bore our sicknesses.” a

                                         Unconditional Loyalty

                                               (Lk 9:57–62)

  18And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the

other side. 19Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You
wherever You go.”

 20And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of

Man has nowhere to lay His head.”†

  21Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”†

  22But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

                                            A Storm Calmed

                                         (Mk 4:35–41; Lk 8:22–25)
  23Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.† 24And suddenly a great
tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
25Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

  26But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and

rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27So the men marveled, saying,
“Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

                               The Gergesene Demoniacs

                                 (Mk 5:1–20; Lk 8:26–39)

  28When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes,a there met Him
two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could
pass that way.† 29And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus,
You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”

  30Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. 31So the

demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go awaya into the herd of
swine.”

  32And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of
swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea,
and perished in the water.

  33Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything,

including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34And behold, the whole city
came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their
region.

                                 The Paralytic Restored

                                 (Mk 2:1–12; Lk 5:17–26)

   So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.† 2Then behold, they
9 brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the
paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”†

  3And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”

 4But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5For

which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6But that you
may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the
paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7And he arose and departed to his
house.

  8Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveleda and glorified God, who had given such
power to men.

                                      Sinners Received

                                   (Mk 2:13–17; Lk 5:27–32)

  9As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office.

And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.† ω

  10Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors

and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11And when the Pharisees saw it,
they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

  12When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a

physician, but those who are sick. 13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and
not sacrifice.’a For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”b

                              The New Wine of the Kingdom

                                  (Mk 2:18–22; Lk 5:33–39)

  14Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast

often,a but Your disciples do not fast?”†

  15And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the
bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away
from them, and then they will fast. 16No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old
garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. 17Nor do
they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the
wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

                              A Healing and a Resurrection

                                   (Mk 5:21–43; Lk 8:40–56)

  18While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying,

“My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.”† 19So Jesus
arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.

  20And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and

touched the hem of His garment. 21For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment,
I shall be made well.” 22But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good
cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that
hour.

  23When Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd

wailing, 24He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they
ridiculed Him. 25But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand,
and the girl arose. 26And the report of this went out into all that land.

                                   Two Blind Men Healed

  27When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying,

“Son of David, have mercy on us!”†

  28And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to
them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

  They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”

  29Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” 30And their

eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” 31But
when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.
                                     A Demoniac Healed

  32As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed.
33And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying,
“It was never seen like this in Israel!”

  34But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”†

  35Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching

the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.a

                                      A Plentiful Harvest

  36But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because

they were wearya and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.† ω 37Then He said to His
disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.† 38Therefore pray the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

                                      The Twelve Chosen

                                   (Mk 3:13–19; Lk 6:12–16)


10 And  when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean
   spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.† ω
2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and

Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3Philip and
Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and
Lebbaeus, whose surname wasa Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Cananite,a and Judas Iscariot, who
also betrayed Him.

                                  Mission and Instructions

                                     (Mk 6:7–13; Lk 9:1–6)

  5These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the

Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.† 6But go rather to the lost sheep of the
house of Israel. 7And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8Heal the
sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,a cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely
give. 9Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10nor bag for your
journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

  11“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you

go out. 12And when you go into a household, greet it.† 13If the household is worthy, let your
peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14And whoever will
not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the
dust from your feet. 15Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom
and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

                                Persecution and Martyrdom

  16“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents

and harmless as doves.† ω 17But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and
scourge you in their synagogues. 18You will be brought before governors and kings for My
sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they deliver you up, do not
worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you
should speak; 20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

  21“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will

rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22And you will be hated by all for
My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23When they persecute you in
this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities
of Israel before the Son of Man comes.†

                           Encouragement to Fearless Witness

  24“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25It is enough for a
disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the
master of the house Beelzebub,a how much more will they call those of his household!
26Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and

hidden that will not be known.†

  27“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach
on the housetops. 28And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But
rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.† 29Are not two sparrows
sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.
30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Do not fear therefore; you are of more
value than many sparrows.

 32“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father

who is in heaven.ω 33But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My
Father who is in heaven.

  34“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a

sword.† 35For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;† 36and ‘a man's enemies will be those of
his own household.’a 37He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.
And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38And he who does not
take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39He who finds his life will lose it,
and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

  40“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.†
41He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And
he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous
man's reward. 42And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the
name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

                              The Baptist's Question to Jesus

                                          (Lk 7:18–23)


11 Now  it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He
   departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

  2And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two ofa his

disciplesω 3and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”†

  4Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
5The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are
raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.† 6And blessed is he who is not
offended because of Me.”

                                                John and Jesus Rejected

                                                      (Lk 7:24–35)

  7As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go

out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8But what did you go out to see?
A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
9But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10For
this is he of whom it is written:

    ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

    Who will prepare Your way before You.’ a

  11“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater

than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.†
12And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence,

and the violent take it by force.† 13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.†
14And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15He who has ears to hear,
let him hear!

  16“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces

and calling to their companions,† 17and saying:

    ‘We play ed the flute for y ou,

    And y ou did not dance;

    We m ourned to y ou,

    And y ou did not lam ent.’

  18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19The Son of
Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax
collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”a

                                               Woe to the Cities of Galilee

  20Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done,
because they did not repent:† 21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the
mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have
repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre
and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to
heaven, will bea brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had
been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24But I say to you that it shall be
more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

                                        Rest in Christ

  25At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to
babes.† 26Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27All things have been
delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone
know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.ω 28Come
to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.† 29Take My yoke upon
you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

                                  The Pharisees' Hostility

                                  (Mk 2:23–3:6; Lk 6:1–11)


12 Athungry,
       that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were
             and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.† 2And when the Pharisees saw it,
they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”

  3But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and

those who were with him:† 4how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which
was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5Or
have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the
Sabbath, and are blameless? 6Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the
temple.† 7But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’a you
would not have condemned the guiltless. 8For the Son of Man is Lord evena of the Sabbath.”
  9Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 10And behold,
there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal
on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.

  11Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls

into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12Of how much more value
then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13Then He said
to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as
the other. 14Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy
Him.

                                                     Isaiah's Servant of God

                                                      (Mk 3:7–12; Lk 6:17–19)

  15But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudesa followed Him,

and He healed them all. 16Yet He warned them not to make Him known,† 17that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

    18
         “ Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen,

    My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!

    I will put My Spirit upon Him,

    And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.

    19
         He will not quarrel nor cry out,

    Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.

    20
         A bruised reed He will not break,

    And smoking flax He will not quench,

    Till He sends forth justice to victory;

    21
       And in His name Gentiles will trust.” a †

                                                       Is Jesus from God?

                                                     (Mk 3:20–30; Lk 11:14–23)

  22Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He

healed him, so that the blind anda mute man both spoke and saw.† 23And all the multitudes
were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
  24Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except

by Beelzebub,a the ruler of the demons.”

  25But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself

is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26If
Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27And
if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall
be your judges. 28But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God
has come upon you. 29Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods,
unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30He who is not
with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

  31“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the

blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32Anyone who speaks a word against
the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not
be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.†

  33“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad;

for a tree is known by its fruit. 34Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good
things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.† 35A good man out of the
good treasure of his hearta brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure
brings forth evil things.† 36But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will
give account of it in the day of judgment. 37For by your words you will be justified, and by
your words you will be condemned.”

                                Can Jesus Perform a Sign?

                                    (Lk 11:24–26, 29–32)

  38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a

sign from You.”†

  39But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign,

and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.† 40For as Jonah was
three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days
and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment
with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and
indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment
with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the
wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

   43“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and

finds none.† 44Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he
comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45Then he goes and takes with him seven
other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of
that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

                           Jesus' Relatives Fail to Understand

                                  (Mk 3:31–35; Lk 8:19–21)

  46While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood

outside, seeking to speak with Him.† 47Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your
brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”

  48But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My

brothers?” 49And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My
mother and My brothers! 50For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother
and sister and mother.”

                                 The Parable of the Sower

                                     (Mk 4:1–9; Lk 8:4–8)

     On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2And great multitudes
13 were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole
multitude stood on the shore.

  3Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to

sow.† 4And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured
them. 5Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately
sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6But when the sun was up they were scorched,
and because they had no root they withered away. 7And some fell among thorns, and the
thorns sprang up and choked them. 8But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some
a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

                                                      The Mystery of Parables

                                                       (Mk 4:10–12; Lk 8:9, 10)

  10And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

  11He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries

of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.† 12For whoever has, to him
more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has
will be taken away from him. 13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do
not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.† 14And in them the prophecy
of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

    ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,

    And seeing you will see and not perceive;

    15
     For the hearts of this people have grown dull.

    Their ears are hard of hearing,

    And their eyes they have closed,

    Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,

    Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,

    So that I shoulda heal them.’ b

    16
         But blessed are y our ey es for they see, and y our ears for they hear; 17for assuredly , I say to y ou that m any prophets and righteous men

    desired to see what y ou see, and did not see it, and to hear what y ou hear, and did not hear it.

                                                        The Sower Explained

                                                      (Mk 4:13–20; Lk 8:11–15)

  18“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19When anyone hears the word of the
kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what
was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20But he who received
the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or

persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22Now he who received
seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the
deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23But he who received
seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit
and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

                                        PARABLES

Parables are stories in word-pictures, revealing spiritual truth. The Hebrew and Aramaic
words for parable also mean “allegory,” “riddle,” or “proverb.” The Scriptures, especially the
Gospels, are filled with parables—images drawn from daily life in the world to represent and
communicate the deep things of God. Parables give us glimpses of Him whose thoughts are
not our thoughts and whose ways are not our ways (Is 55:8, 9).

  The truth communicated by Jesus’ parables, however, is not evident to all who hear them.
The listener must have spiritual ears to hear, and even then not all have the same degree of
understanding.

  Thus, Jesus’ statement that “to those who are outside, all things come in parables” (Mark
4:11) may be translated, “. . . all things come in riddles.” Jesus’ quotation of Isaiah 6:9, 10 (Mt
13:14, 15) does not mean He used parables to blind the people or to lead them to punishment.
On the contrary, it demonstrates that the people are responsible for their own lack of
receptivity: having grown dull and insensitive, they are unwilling to accept the message of the
parables. As the mission of Isaiah in the Old Testament was to open the eyes of Israel to see
the acts of God, so the parables of Jesus are intended to open the eyes of His hearers to the
truth and lead them to produce the fruit of righteousness.

  Parables challenge the hearer and call for faith to perceive the mysteries of the Kingdom.
Insight into God’s Kingdom does not come simply through an intellectual understanding of
the parables. Spiritual enlightenment is essentially a communication of faith in the Person,
words, and deeds of the Lord Jesus Christ.

  The use of parables was known in Jewish culture long before Jesus (2Kg 12:1–4; 3Kg
21:35–42; Is 5:1–7). Jesus, however, brought the art of parables to perfection, relating aspects
of the Kingdom and speaking of God Himself through vivid stories. His purpose was not only
to reveal truth to those with hearts prepared. He wished to draw responsive hearts past the
entrance and into the very reality of God’s Kingdom which He proclaimed and inaugurated.

  Among the familiar parables read on Sundays throughout the church year are those of the
Sower (Lk 8:5–15); the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25–37); the Rich Man and His Crops (Lk
12:16–21); the Great Supper (Lk 14:16–24); the Talents (Mt 25:14–30); the Pharisee and the
Tax Collector (Lk 18:10–14); and the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11–32).

  In opening to us the door to the Kingdom of heaven, the parables help us to love God and
to know Him, to understand and believe His grace, mercy, and forgiveness, and to order our
lives according to His Holy Word.


                                 The Wheat and the Tares

  24Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who

sowed good seed in his field;† 25but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among
the wheat and went his way. 26But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then
the tares also appeared. 27So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not
sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28He said to them, ‘An enemy has
done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29But
he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30Let
both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First
gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into
my barn.” ’ ”

                            The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

                                  (Mk 4:30–32; Lk 13:18–21)

  31Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard

seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,† 32which indeed is the least of all the seeds;
but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the
air come and nest in its branches.”

 33Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a

woman took and hid in three measuresa of meal till it was all leavened.”
                                                   Parables Fulfill Prophecy

                                                                (Mk 4:33, 34)

  34All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did

not speak to them, 35that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

    “ I will open My mouth in parables;

    I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.” a

                                             The Wheat and Tares Explained

  36Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to

Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”†

  37He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The
field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of
the wicked one. 39The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age,
and the reapers are the angels. 40Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire,
so it will be at the end of this age. 41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will
gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42and
will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then
the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to
hear, let him hear!

                            The Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price

  44“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and

hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.†

  45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46who, when
he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

                                                                The Dragnet

  47“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered

some of every kind,† 48which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and
gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49So it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50and cast them into
the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

                                    Old and New Wisdom

  51Jesus said to them,a “Have you understood all these things?”


  They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”b

  52Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerninga the kingdom of

heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”†

  53Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from
there.

                                    Rejection at Nazareth

                                    (Mk 6:1–6; Lk 4:16–30)

  54When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they

were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?†
55Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James,

Joses,a Simon, and Judas?† 56And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this
Man get all these things?” 57So they were offended at Him.

  But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in
his own house.” 58Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

                                        Herod's Fears

                              (Mk 6:14–29; Lk 3:19, 20; 9:7–9)

      At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus† 2and said to his servants,
14 “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at
work in him.” 3For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the
sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. 4Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful
for you to have her.” 5And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude,
because they counted him as a prophet.

  6But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them

and pleased Herod. 7Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

  8So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist's head here
on a platter.”

  9And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat

with him, he commanded it to be given to her. 10So he sent and had John beheaded in prison.
11And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her

mother. 12Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told
Jesus.

                               Feeding the Five Thousand

                            (Mk 6:30–44; Lk 9:10–17; Jn 6:1–14)

 13When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But

when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.† 14And when Jesus
went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed
their sick.† 15When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted
place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the
villages and buy themselves food.”

  16But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

  17And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

  18He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on
the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed
and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.† 20So
they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that
remained. 21Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and
children.
                                    Walking on Water

                                  (Mk 6:45–52; Jn 6:15–21)

  22Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other

side, while He sent the multitudes away.† 23And when He had sent the multitudes away, He
went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
24But the boat was now in the middle of the sea,a tossed by the waves, for the wind was
contrary.

  25Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26And
when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!”
And they cried out for fear.

  27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be

afraid.”†

  28And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on

the water.”†

  29So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the

water to go to Jesus. 30But when he saw that the wind was boisterous,a he was afraid; and
beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

  31And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you

of little faith, why did you doubt?”† 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

  33Then those who were in the boat came anda worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the

Son of God.”†

                                    Healing Continues

                                        (Mk 6:53–56)

  34When they had crossed over, they came to the land ofa Gennesaret. 35And when the
men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to
Him all who were sick, 36and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His
garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.†
                                                   Conflict over Cleanliness

                                                          (Mk 7:1–23)

        Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying,†
15      2“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash
their hands when they eat bread.”

  3He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God

because of your tradition?† 4For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your
mother’;a and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’b 5But you say,
‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is
a gift to God”— 6then he need not honor his father or mother.’a Thus you have made the
commandmentb of God of no effect by your tradition. 7Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy
about you, saying:

    8
        ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

    Anda honor Me with their lips,

    But their heart is far from Me.

    9
        And in vain they worship Me,

    Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” a

  10When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand:
11Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles
a man.”

  12Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were
offended when they heard this saying?”

  13But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will

be uprooted. 14Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the
blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

  15Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

  16So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17Do you not yet understand

that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18But those things
which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19For out of the
heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies. 20These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands
does not defile a man.”

                                A Gentile with Great Faith

                                        (Mk 7:24–30)

  21Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.† ω 22And
behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy
on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”†

  23But He answered her not a word.


  And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”†

  24But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel.”

  25Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

   26But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the

little dogs.”†

  27And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their
masters' table.”

  28Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as
you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

                                   Many More Healings

                                        (Mk 7:31–37)

  29Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and

sat down there.† 30Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind,
mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed
them. 31So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made
whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

                                Feeding the Four Thousand

                                           (Mk 8:1–9)

  32Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude,
because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not
want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”†

  33Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to
fill such a great multitude?”

  34Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”

  And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.”

  35So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36And He took the seven
loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the
disciples gave to the multitude. 37So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large
baskets full of the fragments that were left. 38Now those who ate were four thousand men,
besides women and children. 39And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came
to the region of Magdala.a

                                 Jewish Leaders Test Jesus

                                          (Mk 8:10–13)


16 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show
   them a sign from heaven.† 2He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say,
‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today,
for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites!a You know how to discern the face of the sky,
but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4A wicked and adulterous generation seeks
after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the propheta Jonah.” And He
left them and departed.†
                              The Pharisees' False Doctrine

                                        (Mk 8:14–21)

  5Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.†
6Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the
Sadducees.”

  7And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”

  8But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among

yourselves because you have brought no bread?a 9Do you not yet understand, or remember
the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10Nor the seven
loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? 11How is it you do not
understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the
Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the
leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

                           Jesus Is the Christ, the Son of God

                                 (Mk 8:27–30; Lk 9:18–21)

  13When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying,

“Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”† ω

  14So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the
prophets.”

  15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

  16Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

  17Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood

has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18And I also say to you that you
are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail
against it.† 19And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind
on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be looseda in
heaven.”†

  20Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the
Christ.

                      Jesus' Work: His Passion and Resurrection

                                 (Mk 8:31–9:1; Lk 9:22–27)

  21From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and
suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised
the third day.†

  22Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord;
this shall not happen to You!”

  23But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for
you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

  24Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny

himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.† 25For whoever desires to save his life will lose
it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.† 26For what profit is it to a man if he
gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his
soul?† 27For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then
He will reward each according to his works.

  28Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they

see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”†

                                    The Transfiguration

                                  (Mk 9:2–13; Lk 9:28–36)


17 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high
   mountain by themselves;† ω 2and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like
the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.† 3And behold, Moses and Elijah
appeared to them, talking with Him. 4Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good
for us to be here; if You wish, let usa make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for
Moses, and one for Elijah.”

                              THE TRANSFIGURATION

“And He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became
as white as the light” (17:2).

  The Transfiguration is a theophany—a manifestation of God, especially of the divinity of
Christ, through a display of His uncreated, divine energy. Therefore, the Orthodox Church
celebrates the Transfiguration of the Lord as a major feast day.

  Several elements of the Transfiguration show that Christ is Messiah and God.

  1 Because God is light (1Jn 1:5), the bright cloud, the shining of Jesus’ face like the sun,
and the whiteness of His garment (Mt 17:2, 5) all demonstrate that Jesus is God. (In some
icons this light is shown as beyond white, a blue-white, ineffable color, indicating its spiritual
origin.)

  2 The Father bears witness from heaven concerning His Son. He does not say, “This has
become My beloved Son,” but “This is My beloved Son” (17:5), indicating that this divine
glory is Christ’s by nature. From eternity past, infinitely before Jesus’ Baptism and
Transfiguration, He is God’s Son, fully sharing in the essence of the Father: Jesus Christ is
God of God.

  3 The Transfiguration not only proclaims Christ’s divine sonship, but foreshadows His
future glory when He as the Messiah will usher in the long-awaited Kingdom. The bright
cloud recalls temple worship and the cloud that went before the Israelites in the wilderness,
the visible sign of God being extraordinarily present. Peter sees this as a sign that the
Kingdom has come. Knowing that the Feast of Tabernacles is the feast of the coming
Kingdom, he asks to build booths (17:4), as was done at that feast, to serve as symbols of
God’s dwelling among the just in the Kingdom.

  4 Moses represents the law and all those who have died. Elijah represents the prophets and
—since he did not experience death—all those who are alive in Christ. Their presence shows
that the law and the prophets, the living and the dead, all bear witness to Jesus as the
Messiah, the fulfillment of the whole Old Testament.
  The presence of Moses and Elijah also manifests the communion of the saints (Heb 12:1).
Both men are immediately recognizable and talk with the Lord. The disciples are now able to
understand Jesus’ words that “Elijah has come already” (17:12) referring to John the Baptist.
Their eyes have been opened to the fact that Malachi’s prophecy (4:5, 6) refers to one coming
“in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Lk 1:17), rather than to Elijah himself.

  5 Finally, the Holy Trinity is manifest here, for Christ is transfigured (Mt 17:2), the Father
speaks from heaven testifying to Jesus’ divine sonship (17:5), and the Spirit is present in the
form of a dazzling light surrounding Christ’s person, overshadowing the whole mountain
(17:5).


  5While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a
voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Hear Him!” 6And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.
7But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8When they had
lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

  9Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the
vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”

  10And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come
first?”

  11Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming firsta and will restore all

things. 12But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to
him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.”
13Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

                                  The Disciples Lack Faith

                                   (Mk 9:14–29; Lk 9:37–42)

  14And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him

and saying,† 15“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptica and suffers severely; for
he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16So I brought him to Your disciples, but
they could not cure him.”
  17Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be

with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18And Jesus rebuked the
demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

  19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”†

  20So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief;a for assuredly, I say to you, if you have
faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will
move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21However, this kind does not go out except by
prayer and fasting.”a

                                      Jesus' Suffering

                                 (Mk 9:30–32; Lk 9:43–45)

  22Now while they were stayinga in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to

be betrayed into the hands of men,† 23and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be
raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

                               Jesus Pays the Temple Tax

  24When they had come to Capernaum,a those who received the temple tax came to Peter

and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”†

  25He said, “Yes.”

  And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think,
Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from
strangers?”

  26Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”


  Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the
sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its
mouth, you will find a piece of money;a take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

                                   Who Is the Greatest?
                                   (Mk 9:33–37; Lk 9:46–48)


18 Atof heaven?”
        that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom
                 †

  2Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3and said,
“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by
no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little
child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5Whoever receives one little child like this in
My name receives Me.

                                 Scandals and Temptations

                                         (Mk 9:42–48)

  6“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for

him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.†
7Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by
whom the offense comes!

  8“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you
to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into
the everlasting fire.† 9And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is
better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell
fire.

                                   Finding the Lost Sheep

                                           (Lk 15:3–7)

  10“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in

heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.† ω 11For the Son of
Man has come to save that which was lost.a

  12“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he

not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?† 13And if
he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the
ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven
that one of these little ones should perish.

                                  Discipline in the Church

  15“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and

him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.† 16But if he will not hear, take with
you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be
established.’a 17And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to
hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.†

  18“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and

whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.†

   19“Again I saya to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask,

it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered
together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

                                 Forgiveness in the Church

  21Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and

I forgive him? Up to seven times?”†

  22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with

his servants. 24And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed
him ten thousand talents. 25But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be
sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.† 26The
servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay
you all.’ 27Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and
forgave him the debt.

  28“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a
hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what
you owe!’ 29So his fellow servant fell down at his feeta and begged him, saying, ‘Have
patience with me, and I will pay you all.’b 30And he would not, but went and threw him into
prison till he should pay the debt. 31So when his fellow servants saw what had been done,
they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32Then his
master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt
because you begged me. 33Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant,
just as I had pity on you?’ 34And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers
until he should pay all that was due to him.

  35“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not

forgive his brother his trespasses.”a

                                   Divorce and Marriage

                                         (Mk 10:1–12)


19 Now   it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from
   Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2And great multitudes
followed Him, and He healed them there.

  3The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to

divorce his wife for just any reason?”†

  4And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who madea them at the

beginning ‘made them male and female,’b 5and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his
father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?a 6So then,
they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man
separate.”

  7They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to
put her away?”

  8He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce

your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9And I say to you, whoever divorces his
wife, except for sexual immorality,a and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever
marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”†

  10His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to
marry.”†

  11But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been

given: 12For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are
eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves
eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”

                                  Receiving the Children

                                 (Mk 10:13–16; Lk 18:15–17)

  13Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray,

but the disciples rebuked them.† 14But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do
not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 15And He laid His hands on them and
departed from there.

                                 Riches and the Kingdom

                                 (Mk 10:17–31; Lk 18:18–30)

  16Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Gooda Teacher, what good thing shall I do that

I may have eternal life?”†

  17So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good?a No one is good but One, that is, God.b
But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

  18He said to Him, “Which ones?”

  Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’
‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19‘Honor your father and your mother,’a and, ‘You shall
love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”b

   20The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth.a What do I

still lack?”†

  21Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor,

and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”†
  22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great
possessions.

  23Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to

enter the kingdom of heaven.† 24And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

  25When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be
saved?”

  26But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God
all things are possible.”

  27Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore
what shall we have?”

  28So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of
Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.† 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers
or sisters or father or mother or wifea or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a
hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.† 30But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

                                   The First and the Last


20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to
   hire laborers for his vineyard.† 2Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a
denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And he went out about the third hour and
saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4and said to them, ‘You also go into the
vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. 5Again he went out about the
sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6And about the eleventh hour he went out and
found others standing idle,a and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all
day?’ 7They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the
vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’a

  8“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the

laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ 9And when those
came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10But when the
first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a
denarius. 11And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 12saying,
‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne
the burden and the heat of the day.’ 13But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am
doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14Take what is yours and go
your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15Is it not lawful for me to do
what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16So the last will be
first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”a

                             Jesus' Death and Resurrection

                                (Mk 10:32–34; Lk 18:31–34)

  17Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to

them,† 18“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the
chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19and deliver Him to
the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”

                                     Leaders as Servants

                                        (Mk 10:35–45)

  20Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and

asking something from Him.†

  21And He said to her, “What do you wish?”

  She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and
the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”

  22But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the

cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”a

  They said to Him, “We are able.”

  23So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism
that I am baptized with;a but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it
is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

  24And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers.† 25But
Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over
them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26Yet it shall not be so among
you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27And
whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did
not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

                                    Two Blind Men Confess Jesus as Lord

  29Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30And behold, two
blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying,
“Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”†

  31Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the
more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

  32So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

  33They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34So Jesus had compassion and
touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

                                     Palm Sunday: The Messianic King

                                    (Mk 11:1–10; Lk 19:28–44; Jn 12:12–19)

                                      and came to Bethphage,a at the Mount of Olives,
21 Now when they drew near Jerusalem,
                              †2
        then Jesus sent two disciples,         saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and
immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to
Me.† 3And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and
immediately he will send them.”

  4Alla this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

    5
     “ Tell the daughter of Zion,
    ‘Behold, your King is coming to you,

    Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,

    A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” a

  6So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7They brought the donkey and

the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Hima on them. 8And a very great multitude
spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them
on the road.† 9Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out,
saying:

    “Hosanna to the Son of Dav id!

    ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ a

    Hosanna in the highest!” †

  10And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”

  11So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

                                                 Jesus Purifies the Temple

                                                 (Mk 11:11–18; Lk 19:45–48)

  12Then Jesus went into the temple of Goda and drove out all those who bought and sold in
the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold
doves.† 13And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’a
but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”b

  14Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15But
when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children
crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant†
16and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”

  And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,

    ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants

    You have perfected praise’?” a

  17Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.

                                             Israel: The Withered Fig Tree
                                         (Mk 11:19–26)

  18Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19And seeing a fig tree
by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow
on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.†

  20And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away
so soon?”

  21So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not
doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain,
‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.† 22And whatever things you ask in
prayer, believing, you will receive.”

                              Jewish Leaders Question Jesus

                                   (Mk 11:27–33; Lk 20:1–8)

  23Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people
confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things?
And who gave You this authority?”†

   24But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me,

I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 25The baptism of John—where
was it from? From heaven or from men?”

  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us,
‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for
all count John as a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.”

  And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

                                        Sinners Believe

  28“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go,

work today in my vineyard.’ 29He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it
and went. 30Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go,
sir,’ but he did not go. 31Which of the two did the will of his father?”

  They said to Him, “The first.”

  Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the
kingdom of God before you.† 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you
did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did
not afterward relent and believe him.

                                         Leaders Mistreat God's Messengers

                                              (Mk 12:1–12; Lk 20:9–19)

  33“Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a
hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and
went into a far country.† 34Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the
vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 35And the vinedressers took his servants, beat
one, killed one, and stoned another. 36Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and
they did likewise to them. 37Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect
my son.’ 38But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the
heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39So they took him and cast him out of
the vineyard and killed him.

  40“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those
vinedressers?”

  41They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to

other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”†

  42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

    ‘The stone which the builders rejected

    Has become the chief cornerstone.

    This was the LORD's doing,

    And it is marvelous in our eyes’?a

  43“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation
bearing the fruits of it. 44And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it
falls, it will grind him to powder.”†

  45Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was

speaking of them. 46But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes,
because they took Him for a prophet.

                               Who Enters into the Kingdom?

                                          (Lk 14:15–24)

          And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said:† 2“The kingdom of
22
          heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3and sent out his
servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.
4Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared
my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the
wedding.” ’† 5But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to
his business. 6And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7But
when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those
murderers, and burned up their city.† 8Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy. 9Therefore go into the highways, and as many
as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10So those servants went out into the highways and
gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled
with guests.

  11“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a

wedding garment.† 12So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding
garment?’ And he was speechless. 13Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and
foot, take him away, anda cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth.’

  14“For many are called, but few are chosen.”†

                                        A Trap for Jesus

                                  (Mk 12:13–17; Lk 20:20–26)
  15Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.† 16And
they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are
true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard
the person of men. 17Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar,
or not?”

  18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?
19Show Me the tax money.”

  So they brought Him a denarius.

  20And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”

  21They said to Him, “Caesar's.”

  And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God
the things that are God's.” 22When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him
and went their way.

                                 Resurrection of the Dead

                                (Mk 12:18–27; Lk 20:27–40)

  23The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked

Him,† 24saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall
marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25Now there were with us seven
brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his
brother. 26Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27Last of all the
woman died also. 28Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For
they all had her.”

  29Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the

power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are
like angels of Goda in heaven. 31But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not
read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob’?a God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 33And when the
multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

                                              The Greatest Commandment

                                                         (Mk 12:28–34)

  34But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered

together. 35Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,†
36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

  37Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the L                  ORD   your God with all your heart, with all your
soul, and with all your mind.’a 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second
is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’a† 40On these two commandments hang
all the Law and the Prophets.”

                                                    David's Son Is His Lord

                                                   (Mk 12:35–37; Lk 20:41–44)

  41While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,† 42saying, “What do you
think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”

  They said to Him, “The Son of David.”

  43He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:

    44
         ‘The LORD said to my Lord,

    “ Sit at My right hand,

    Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’?a

  45If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” 46And no one was able to answer
Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

                                                      Abuses of Authority

                                                   (Mk 12:38, 39; Lk 20:45, 46)

                                      and to His disciples,† 2saying: “The scribes and the
23 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes
                                † 3                                                 a
          Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.                   Therefore whatever they tell you to observe,      that
observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4For they
bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will
not move them with one of their fingers. 5But all their works they do to be seen by men. They
make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.† 6They love the best
places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7greetings in the marketplaces, and to be
called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the
Christ,a and you are all brethren.† 9Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your
Father, He who is in heaven. 10And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the
Christ. 11But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12And whoever exalts
himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

                                Pronouncement of Judgment

                                      (Mk 12:40; Lk 20:47)

  13“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of
heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are
entering to go in.† 14Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows'
houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater
condemnation.a

  15“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one
proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

 16“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but

whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17Fools and blind! For
which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifiesa the gold? 18And, ‘Whoever swears by
the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’
19Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
20Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21He who swears

by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwellsa in it. 22And he who swears by heaven,
swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.

  23“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and
cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.
These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.† 24Blind guides, who
strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!†

  25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup

and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.a 26Blind Pharisee, first
cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

  27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs
which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all
uncleanness. 28Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full
of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

  29“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the

prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,ω 30and say, ‘If we had lived in the days
of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’

  31“Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who

murdered the prophets. 32Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt. 33Serpents, brood
of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34Therefore, indeed, I send you
prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them
you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35that on you may come
all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of
Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.†
36Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

                                  The Fate of Jerusalem

                                        (Lk 13:34, 35)

  37“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent
to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks
under her wings, but you were not willing!† 38See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39for I
say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the
L !’ ”a
 ORD




                                Destruction of the Temple
                                   (Mk 13:1–4; Lk 21:5–7)


24 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show
   Him the buildings of the temple.† 2And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these
things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not
be thrown down.”

                              The Beginning of Birth Pangs

                                  (Mk 13:5–13; Lk 21:8–19)

  3Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell
us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the
age?”† ω

  4And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.† 5For many

will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6And you will hear of
wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for alla these things must come to
pass, but the end is not yet.† 7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences,a and earthquakes in various places. 8All
these are the beginning of sorrows.

  9“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all

nations for My name's sake. 10And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and
will hate one another. 11Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12And
because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13But he who endures to
the end shall be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a
witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.†

                                  The Great Tribulation

                                (Mk 13:14–23; Lk 21:20–24)

  15“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’a spoken of by Daniel the

prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),† 16“then let those
who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let him who is on the housetop not go down to
take anything out of his house. 18And let him who is in the field not go back to get his
clothes. 19But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those
days!† 20And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.† 21For then there
will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time,
no, nor ever shall be. 22And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but
for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

  23“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24For
false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if
possible, even the elect. 25See, I have told you beforehand.

  26“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in

the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to
the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.† 28For wherever the carcass is, there
the eagles will be gathered together.†

                                           The End

                                 (Mk 13:24–27; Lk 21:25–28)

  29“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon
will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be
shaken.† 30Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of
the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory.† 31And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and
they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.†

                                  No One Knows the Hour

                                 (Mk 13:28–32; Lk 21:29–36)

  32“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender

and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33So you also, when you see all these
things, know that ita is near—at the doors! 34Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by
no means pass away till all these things take place.† 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but
My words will by no means pass away.
  36“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,a but My Father

only.† ω 37But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.† 38For
as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39and did not know until the flood came
and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40Then two men will
be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill:
one will be taken and the other left. 42Watch therefore, for you do not know what houra your
Lord is coming.† 43But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the
thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
44Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

                                     We Must Be Loyal

                                        (Mk 13:33–37)

  45“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his

household, to give them food in due season? 46Blessed is that servant whom his master,
when he comes, will find so doing. 47Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over
all his goods. 48But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’a
49and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50the
master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that
he is not aware of, 51and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

                                   We Must Be Prepared


25 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and
   went out to meet the bridegroom.† ω 2Now five of them were wise, and five were
foolish. 3Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4but the wise
took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all
slumbered and slept.

  6“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming;a go out to meet

him!’ 7Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said to the
wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But the wise answered, saying,
‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy
for yourselves.’ 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were
ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

  11“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12But he
answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

  13“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the houra in which the Son of Man is
coming.

                               We Must Be Good Stewards

  14“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own

servants and delivered his goods to them.† 15And to one he gave five talents, to another two,
and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a
journey. 16Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made
another five talents. 17And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18But he
who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. 19After a long
time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

  20“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord,

you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21His
lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I
will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22He also who had
received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained
two more talents besides them.’ 23His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant;
you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into
the joy of your lord.’

  24“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard
man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is
yours.’

  26“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I
reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27So you ought to
have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my
own with interest. 28So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

 29‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him

who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30And cast the unprofitable servant
into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

                                   The Judgment of Works

  31“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holya angels with Him, then He

will sit on the throne of His glory.† ω 32All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He
will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.† 33And
He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then the King will say to
those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world:† 35for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was
thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36I was naked and you
clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

  37“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and

feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38When did we see You a stranger and take You in,
or naked and clothe You? 39Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
40And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it

to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’†

  41“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the

everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:† 42for I was hungry and you gave Me no
food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43I was a stranger and you did not take Me in,
naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

  44“Then they also will answer Him,a saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty

or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45Then He will
answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the
least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46And these will go away into everlasting punishment,
but the righteous into eternal life.”
                        Wednesday: The Sanhedrin's Conspiracy

                                      (Mk 14:1, 2; Lk 22:1, 2)


26 Now   it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His
   disciples,ω 2“You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be
delivered up to be crucified.”†

  3Then the chief priests, the scribes,a and the elders of the people assembled at the palace

of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill
Him. 5But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”

                                      Anointing for Burial

                                     (Mk 14:3–9; Jn 12:1–8)

  6And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,†† 7a woman came to
Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He
sat at the table. 8But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?
9For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”

  10But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For

she has done a good work for Me. 11For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do
not have always. 12For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.
13Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this

woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”†

                                      Judas Betrays Jesus

                                    (Mk 14:10, 11; Lk 23:3–5)

  14Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests† 15and said, “What
are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces
of silver. 16So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

                                  Thursday: The Passover Meal
                       (Mk 14:12–21; Lk 22:7–16, 21–30; Jn 13:21–30)

  17Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus,

saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”†

  18And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My
time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.” ’ ”

  19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

  20When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. 21Now as they were eating, He
said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”

  22And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it
I?”

  23He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.
24The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the

Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”†

  25Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?”

  He said to him, “You have said it.”

                                Institution of the Eucharist

                                 (Mk 14:22–26; Lk 22:15–20)

  26And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blesseda and broke it, and gave it to the

disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”†

  27Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of

you. 28For this is My blood of the newa covenant, which is shed for many for the remission
of sins. 29But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day
when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.”†

  30And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
                                                   Prediction of Peter's Denial

                                         (Mk 14:27–31; Lk 22:31–38; Jn 13:36–38)

  31Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night,
for it is written:

     ‘I will strike the Shepherd,

     And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ a

  32But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

  33Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will
never be made to stumble.”

  34Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you
will deny Me three times.”

  35Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

  And so said all the disciples.

                                                   Gethsemane: Jesus' Prayers

                                             (Mk 14:32–42; Lk 22:39–46; Jn 18:1)

  36Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit

here while I go and pray over there.” 37And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of
Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38Then He said to them, “My
soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

  39He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is

possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”†

  40Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could

you not watch with Me one hour? 41Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The
spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”†

  42Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot
pass away from Me unlessa I drink it, Your will be done.” 43And He came and found them
asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

  44So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
45Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting?
Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

                                  Betrayed, Arrested, Forsaken

                               (Mk 14:43–52; Lk 22:47–53; Jn 18:2–12)

  47And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude
with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.

  48Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize

Him.” 49Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

  50But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”


  Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51And suddenly, one of those who
were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high
priest, and cut off his ear.

  52But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will

perisha by the sword.† 53Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will
provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54How then could the Scriptures be
fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”

  55In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with
swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not
seize Me. 56But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

  Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

                               Before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin

                         (Mk 14:53–65; Lk 22:54, 63–65; Jn 18:13–24)
  57And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where

the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high
priest's courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.

  59Now the chief priests, the elders,a and all the council sought false testimony against

Jesus to put Him to death, 60but found none. Even though many false witnesses came
forward, they found none.a But at last two false witnessesb came forward 61and said, “This
fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”†

 62And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these

men testify against You?” 63But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to
Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”

  64Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the

Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”†

  65Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further

need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! 66What do you
think?”

  They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.”

  67Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their

hands, 68saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”

                                   Peter's Three Denials

                    (Mk 14:54, 66–72; Lk 22:54–62; Jn 18:15–18, 25–27)

  69Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also

were with Jesus of Galilee.”†

  70But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”

  71And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who
were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
  72But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”

  73And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one
of them, for your speech betrays you.”

  74Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”


  Immediately a rooster crowed. 75And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to
him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept
bitterly.

                     Friday: The Sanhedrin Delivers Jesus to Pilate

                                   (Mk 15:1; Lk 22:66–23:1)


27 When  morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus
   to put Him to death.ω 2And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and
delivered Him to Pontiusa Pilate the governor.†

                                     The Death of Judas

  3Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and

brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,† 4saying, “I have sinned
by betraying innocent blood.”

  And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”

  5Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged
himself.

  6But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the

treasury, because they are the price of blood.” 7And they consulted together and bought with
them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. 8Therefore that field has been called the Field of
Blood to this day.

  9Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the
thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel
priced, 10and gave them for the potter's field, as the L
                                                       ORD   directed me.”a

                                     “King of the Jews”

                            (Mk 15:1–5; Lk 23:1–7; Jn 18:28–38)

  11Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the
King of the Jews?”

  Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”† 12And while He was being accused by the chief priests
and elders, He answered nothing.

  13Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?”
14But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

                               Pilate Barters over Barabbas

                           (Mk 15:6–15; Lk 23:13–25; Jn 18:39, 40)

  15Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner

whom they wished. 16And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.a †
17Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me

to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”† 18For he knew that they had
handed Him over because of envy.

  19While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to
do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”

  20But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for

Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two
do you want me to release to you?”

  They said, “Barabbas!”

  22Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

  They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
  23Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”

  But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”

  24When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he
took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of
this just Person.a You see to it.”

  25And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”†

  26Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him
to be crucified.

                                             Soldiers Mock Jesus as King

                                                    (Mk 15:16–20)

  27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole

garrison around Him.† 28And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29When they
had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they
bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30Then they
spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31And when they had mocked
Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be
crucified.

                                                  The Crucifixion

                                  (Mk 15:20–32; Lk 23:26–43; Jn 19:16–27)

  32Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled

to bear His cross.† 33And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place
of a Skull, 34they gave Him soura wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it,
He would not drink.

  35Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots,a that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:

    “ They divided My garments among them,
    And for My clothing they cast lots.” b

  36Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37And they put up over His head the
accusation written against Him:

                                       THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

  38Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.

  39And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads 40and saying, “You who
destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come
down from the cross.”

  41Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders,a said, 42“He saved

others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel,a let Him now come down from
the cross, and we will believe Him.b 43He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will
have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”

  44Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.

                                               The Death of Jesus

                                      (Mk 15:33–41; Lk 23:44–49; Jn 19:28–30)

  45Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.†
46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama

sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”a †

  47Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for

Elijah!” 48Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it
on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.

  49The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”

  50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.†

  51Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth

quaked, and the rocks were split,† 52and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the
saints who had fallen asleep were raised;† 53and coming out of the graves after His
resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

  54So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the
earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the
Son of God!”†

  55And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there

looking on from afar, 56among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and
Joses,a and the mother of Zebedee's sons.†

                                     The Burial of Jesus

                         (Mk 15:42–46; Lk 23:50–56; Jn 19:38–42)

 57Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph,

who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.† 58This man went to Pilate and asked for
the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59When Joseph had
taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and laid it in his new tomb which he
had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and
departed.† 61And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

                              Saturday: Guards at the Tomb

  62On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees

gathered together to Pilate,ω 63saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that
deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64Therefore command that the tomb be made
secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by nighta and steal Him away, and say to
the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.”

  65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.”
66So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

                                  Sunday: Christ Is Risen

                            (Mk 16:1–8; Lk 24:1–12; Jn 20:1–10)
28 Now  after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene
   and the other Mary came to see the tomb.ω 2And behold, there was a great earthquake;
for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the
door,a and sat on it.† 3His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

  5But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek

Jesus who was crucified.† 6He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place
where the Lord lay. 7And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and
indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

  8So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His
disciples word.

                               Jesus Appears to the Women

  9And as they went to tell His disciples,a behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they

came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be
afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

                               Deceit of Jewish Authorities

  11Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to

the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12When they had assembled with the
elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13saying, “Tell
them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’† 14And if this comes
to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15So they took the money
and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until
this day.

                                  The Great Commission

                                 (Mk 16:14–18; Lk 24:44–49)

  16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had

appointed for them. 17When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
  18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in

heaven and on earth.† 19Go thereforea and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,† 20teaching them to observe
all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age.” Amen.a †
                                           M ARK
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Chapters in Mark
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Mark Chapter 1
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45

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Verses in Mark Chapter 2
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Mark Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Mark Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41

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Verses in Mark Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43

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Verses in Mark Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56

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Verses in Mark Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in Mark Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in Mark Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

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Verses in Mark Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52

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Verses in Mark Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in Mark Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44

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Verses in Mark Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in Mark Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71, 72

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Verses in Mark Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47

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Verses in Mark Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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                                                           The Book of Mark

  Author   —Mark the Apostle, also known as John Mark, is widely attested by the ancient
Church as the author of this gospel. He traveled with Paul and Barnabas and later aided
Peter (1Pt 5:13). According to tradition, Mark subsequently used Peter's teaching as his
primary source for this gospel, adding to it his personal experience and other church
traditions.

  Date   —As with the other gospels, the exact date of writing is uncertain. Because of its
connection with Rome and its lack of any clear reference to the destruction of
Jerusalem (13:2), the Gospel of Mark may be dated shortly before the fall of Jerusalem
in AD 70. Many believe this was the first of the four gospels to be written.

  Major Theme      —Jesus Christ as Servant and Sacrifice. Subthemes include:

1 . The suffering Messiah. Christ, who acts with power and authority , is nev ertheless a suffering Messiah (8:2 7 –3 3 ), One who has com e to

   serv e and giv e His life for m any (1 0:4 5). Jesus is clearly the Son of God (1 :1 , 1 1 ; 9 :7 ; 1 4 :6 1 , 6 2 ), who has power ov er dem ons, heals the

   sick, and forgiv es sins (1 :2 3 –2 5; 2 :1 0, 1 1 ). But He also possesses a full hum anity , expressed through the agony of Gethsem ane and the

   suffering on the cross.

2 . The messianic secret. Mark underscores the fact that Jesus v eiled His m essianic identity . He com m anded dem ons, the people He healed,

   and ev en the disciples to keep silent about His m essiahship (1 :3 4 , 4 4 ; 8:3 0) until He Him self rev ealed the m y stery before the Sanhedrin

   (1 4 :6 2 ). In this gospel Peter confesses Jesus only as “the Christ” (8:2 9 ; contrast Mt 1 6 :1 6 ; Jn 6 :6 9 ). Only after the Resurrection do His

   followers recognize Him as God (1 6 :1 4 ).

3 . Discipleship. Though the word “disciple” nev er occurs in Mark, Jesus calls His followers to uncom prom ising and heroic com m itm ent. True

   disciples take up their crosses and suffer with Jesus (8:3 4 –3 8).


  Background     —According to some Church Fathers, Mark is writing for the Christian
community of Rome, which either was experiencing the great persecution by Nero
(beginning in AD 64) or was caught up in the apocalyptic fervor occasioned by the
Jewish war (Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70). Mark tells the story of Jesus so his
readers may see their own suffering as a prelude to the glorious Second Coming of
Jesus and may discern the reward of those who endure to the end. The suffering and
the glory are equally real: this was true for Jesus and will be true for all believers.

The earliest manuscripts of Mark end abruptly at 16:8. Later manuscripts provide
additional material (16:9–20), included in this and other versions, which the Church
recognizes as inspired.
 Outline

    I. Prologue: Preparation for the Ministry (1 :1 –1 3 )

    II. The Galilean Ministry : The Kingdom Is at Hand (1 :1 4 –6 :2 9 )

           A. Jesus m anifests the power of the kingdom (1 :1 4 –4 5)

           B. Israel is div ided ov er Jesus’ authority (2 :1 –5:4 3 )

           C. Nazareth div ided: doubters and disciples (6 :1 –1 3 )

           D. The Forerunner beheaded (6 :1 4 –2 9 )

  III. Ministry Bey ond Galilee: The Kingdom and the World (6 :3 0–9 :50)

           A. Jesus relates to the Jews (6 :3 0–7 :2 3 )

           B. Jesus relates to the Gentiles (7 :2 4 –8:2 6 )

           C. The glory of the kingdom rev ealed (8:2 7 –9 :1 3 )

           D. The response of this world (9 :1 4 –50)

 IV. Journey to Jerusalem : The Kingdom 's Discipline (1 0:1 –52 )

    V. Ministry in Jerusalem : Rejection, Persecution (1 1 :1 –1 6 :2 0)

           A. The Messiah m ade m anifest (1 1 :1 –1 3 :3 7 )

           B. Betray al and Passov er m eal (1 4 :1 –3 1 )

           C. The Passion (1 4 :3 2 –1 5:4 7 )

           D. The Resurrection (1 6 :1 –2 0)



                                                       John: Forerunner of Christ

                                                 (Mt 3:1–12; Lk 3:1–18; Jn 1:19–23)

    The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.† 2As it is written in the
1
    Prophets:a

       “ Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

       Who will prepare Your way before You.” b

       3
        “ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

       ‘Prepare the way of the LORD;

       Make His paths straight.’ ” a

  4John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the

remission of sins. 5Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him
and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
  6Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he

ate locusts and wild honey.† 7And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is
mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8I indeed
baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

                               Jesus Baptized and Tempted

                         (Mt 3:13–4:11; Lk 3:21–4:13; Jn 1:29–34)

  9It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized

by John in the Jordan.†ω 10And immediately, coming up froma the water, He saw the
heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11Then a voice came from
heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

  12Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13And He was there in the
wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels
ministered to Him.†

                               JOHN THE BAPTIST

“John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the
remission of sins” (Mk 1:4).

  John the Baptist plays a crucial role in the history of salvation. Chosen before his birth to
be the herald and forerunner of the Messiah (Lk 1:13–17), he knew his Lord from the
beginning. Luke writes of John’s miraculous conception (Lk 1:24). He then records that when
the Virgin Mary visited Elizabeth, who was then six months pregnant with John the Baptist,
the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped at the sound of Mary’s voice (Lk 1:41).

  Jesus taught that John fulfilled the prophecy of the return of Elijah (Mt 11:14), who was to
precede the Messiah as “the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the
LORD’” (Mt 3:3; Mk 1:3; Lk 3:4; Jn 1:23).

  Shortly before Jesus began His public ministry, John went out to the wilderness of Jordan
to prepare the way for the Messiah. He carried out his prophetic role with a brotherhood of
disciples characterized by repentance in expectation of the Kingdom, baptism for forgiveness
of sins, bearing the fruit of righteousness, and spiritual discipline. John himself lived by an
ascetic rule of poverty and fasting; in fact, he may have been a lifelong Nazirite (see Lk 1:15;
Nm 6). His eyes were set not on the body and its desires, but on Christ the Lord, and his
influence was widespread (see Mk 11:32; Lk 7:29; Acts 18:25; Acts 19:1–7).

  John prophesied Messiah was coming, One immeasurably greater than himself, “whose
sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose” (Mk 1:7). This One would baptize not
only with water but with the Holy Spirit (Mk 1:8). When Jesus appeared before him to be
baptized, John was humbled, realizing he was in need of being baptized by Jesus (Mt 3:14).
But Jesus knew what was fitting “to fulfill all righteousness” (Mt 3:15), and John obeyed.
Thus, came about the event so familiar in Orthodox icons: Christ in the Jordan being baptized
by John as the Holy Spirit descends on Him in the form of a dove. The Father’s voice from
heaven declares, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17).

  John’s work was crucial to Jesus’ ministry. Jesus considered John’s testimony important—
not because Jesus, the Son of God, needed to be validated by any human witness, but because
the people’s acceptance of John as a godly man prepared them to accept Jesus as well (Jn
5:33–35). Jesus’ first disciples came from John’s brotherhood (Jn 1:35–39), and the vacancy
in the apostolic college left by Judas’ betrayal was filled by one who had been John’s follower
(Acts 1:22).

  John the Baptist died a martyr for Christ (Mk 6:24–29). The Orthodox Church
commemorates him in special hymns every Tuesday, as well as on designated feast days
throughout the year.


                           Jesus Preaches: Repent and Believe

                             (Mt 4:12–17; Lk 4:14, 15; Jn 4:1–3)

  14Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the

kingdoma of God,† 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

                                 The First Four Disciples

                                   (Mt 4:18–22; Lk 5:1–11)

  16And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a
net into the sea; for they were fishermen.† 17Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will
make you become fishers of men.” 18They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

  19When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and

John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20And immediately He called
them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after
Him.

                                 Healings in Capernaum

                                  (Mt 8:14–17; Lk 4:31–41)

  21Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the

synagogue and taught.† 22And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as
one having authority, and not as the scribes.

  23Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,
24saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to
destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

  25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26And when the

unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27Then
they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What
new doctrine is this? For with authoritya He commands even the unclean spirits, and they
obey Him.” 28And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

  29Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon

and Andrew, with James and John. 30But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and
they told Him about her at once. 31So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up,
and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

  32At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who

were demon-possessed. 33And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34Then He
healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not
allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.†
                                      Tour of Galilee

                                  (Mt 4:23–25; Lk 4:42–44)

  35Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed

to a solitary place; and there He prayed.† 36And Simon and those who were with Him
searched for Him. 37When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”

  38But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also,
because for this purpose I have come forth.”

  39And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out

demons.†

                               Uncleanness Cleansed: A Leper

                                   (Mt 8:1–4; Lk 5:12–16)

  40Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If

You are willing, You can make me clean.”†

  41Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said

to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left
him, and he was cleansed. 43And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44and
said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest,
and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

  45However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that
Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came
to Him from every direction.

                               Sins Are Forgiven: A Paralytic

                                   (Mt 9:1–8; Lk 5:17–26)


2 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the
  house.† ω 2Immediatelya many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to
receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3Then they came to
Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4And when they could not come near
Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken
through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

  5When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

  6And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7“Why does this
Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

  8But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within

themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9Which
is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed
and walk’? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive
sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11“I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
12Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all
were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

                                 Sinners Are Welcome: Levi

                                    (Mt 9:9–13; Lk 5:27–32)

  13Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught

them.† 14As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He
said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

  15Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and sinners
also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.
16And when the scribes anda Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners,
they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”

  17When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician,

but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”a

                                  Jesus Transcends the Fast

                                    (Mt 9:14–17; Lk 5:33–39)
  18The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him,

“Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”†

  19And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is

with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20But the days
will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in
those days. 21No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece
pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. 22And no one puts new wine into old
wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins
are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”

                              Jesus Transcends the Sabbath

                                    (Mt 12:1–14; Lk 6:1–11)

  23Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went

His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain.† 24And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why
do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

  25But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and

hungry, he and those with him: 26how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar
the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and
also gave some to those who were with him?”

  27And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
28Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”


   And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.† 2So
3 they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might
accuse Him. 3And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” 4Then He
said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But
they kept silent. 5And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the
hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out,
and his hand was restored as whole as the other.a † 6Then the Pharisees went out and
immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.
                                The People Follow Jesus

                                (Mt 12:15–21; Lk 6:17–19)

  7But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee

followed Him, and from Judea† 8and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and
those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was
doing, came to Him. 9So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him
because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him. 10For He healed many, so that as many
as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him. 11And the unclean spirits, whenever they
saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.” 12But He
sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.†

                                       The Twelve

                                 (Mt 10:1–4; Lk 6:12–16)

  13And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they

came to Him.† 14Then He appointed twelve,a that they might be with Him and that He might
send them out to preach, 15and to have power to heal sicknesses anda to cast out demons:
16Simon,a to whom He gave the name Peter; 17James the son of Zebedee and John the
brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”;
18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus,

Simon the Cananite; 19and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a
house.

                                    A House Divided

                                (Mt 12:22–37; Lk 11:14–23)

  20Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.†
21But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said,
“He is out of His mind.”

  22And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the
ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”
  23So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out

Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25And if a house
is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26And if Satan has risen up against himself,
and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 27No one can enter a strong man's house and
plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.

  28“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever

blasphemies they may utter;† 29but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has
forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— 30because they said, “He has an
unclean spirit.”

                                   Jesus’ True Kinsmen

                                 (Mt 12:46–50; Lk 8:19–21)

  31Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling

Him.† 32And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother
and Your brothersa are outside seeking You.”

  33But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” 34And He looked
around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My
brothers! 35For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

                                 The Parable of the Sower

                                    (Mt 13:1–9; Lk 8:4–8)


4 And  again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so
  that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land
facing the sea. 2Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His
teaching:†

   3“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed

fell by the wayside; and the birds of the aira came and devoured it. 5Some fell on stony
ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no
depth of earth. 6But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it
withered away. 7And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and
it yielded no crop. 8But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up,
increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

  9And He said to them,a “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

                                                      Why Parables?

                                                  (Mt 13:10–17; Lk 8:9, 10)

  10But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the

parable.† 11And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the
kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12so that

    ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,

    And hearing they may hear and not understand;

    Lest they should turn,

    And their sins be forgiven them.’ ” a

                                            The Parable of the Sower Explained

                                                 (Mt 13:18–23; Lk 8:11–15)

  13And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you

understand all the parables?† 14The sower sows the word. 15And these are the ones by the
wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away
the word that was sown in their hearts. 16These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground
who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17and they have no root
in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution
arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble. 18Now these are the ones sown among
thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness
of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes
unfruitful. 20But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept
it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

                                                The Lamp Under a Basket

                                                        (Mt 5:14–16)
  21Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it

not to be set on a lampstand? 22For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor
has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. 23If anyone has ears to hear,
let him hear.”

  24Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will

be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.† 25For whoever has, to him
more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from
him.”

                               The Parable of the Scattered Seed

  26And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,†
27and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself

does not know how. 28For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after
that the full grain in the head. 29But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the
sickle, because the harvest has come.”

                               The Parable of the Mustard Seed

                                   (Mt 13:31, 32; Lk 13:18, 19)

  30Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall

we picture it?† 31It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller
than all the seeds on earth; 32but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all
herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”

                                    Jesus’ Use of Parables

                                         (Mt 13:34, 35)

  33And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.†
34But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained
all things to His disciples.

                                     A Storm Obeys Jesus
                                   (Mt 8:23–27; Lk 8:22–25)

  35On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the

other side.”† 36Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He
was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves
beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.
And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

  39Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind

ceased and there was a great calm. 40But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it
that you have no faith?”a 41And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can
this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

                                   The Gadarene Demoniac

                                   (Mt 8:28–34; Lk 8:26–39)

       they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.a † 2And
5 Then
  when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man
with an unclean spirit, 3who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him,a
not even with chains, 4because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the
chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone
tame him. 5And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out
and cutting himself with stones.

  6When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7And he cried out with a loud
voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You
by God that You do not torment me.”

  8For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 9Then He asked him, “What is
your name?”

  And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10Also he begged Him
earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.

  11Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12So all the demons
begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” 13And at once Jesusa
gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were
about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and
drowned in the sea.

  14So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they

went out to see what it was that had happened. 15Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one
who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind.
And they were afraid. 16And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had
been demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17Then they began to plead with Him to depart
from their region.

  18And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he

might be with Him. 19However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your
friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had
compassion on you.” 20And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus
had done for him; and all marveled.

                                      Jairus's Daughter

                                 (Mt 9:18, 19; Lk 8:40–42)

  21Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude

gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.† 22And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue
came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23and begged Him earnestly,
saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that
she may be healed, and she will live.” 24So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude
followed Him and thronged Him.

                           The Woman with a Flow of Blood

                                 (Mt 9:20–22; Lk 8:43–48)

  25Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,† 26and had suffered many
things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather
grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched
His garment. 28For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

  29Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she

was healed of the affliction. 30And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had
gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

  31But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who
touched Me?’ ”

  32And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33But the woman, fearing and
trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him
the whole truth. 34And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace,
and be healed of your affliction.”

                                 Jairus's Daughter Raised

                                     (Mt 9:23–26; Lk 8:49–56)

  35While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who
said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

  36As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue,

“Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter,
James, and John the brother of James. 38Then He came to the house of the ruler of the
synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39When He came in, He
said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”

  40And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and
the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was
lying. 41Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is
translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”† 42Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she
was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43But He
commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be
given her to eat.

                                     At Nazareth: No Honor
                                  (Mt 13:53–58; Lk 4:16–30)


6 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed
  Him.† 2And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many
hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what
wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!
3Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?
And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.

  4But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among

his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5Now He could do no mighty work there, except
that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.† 6And He marveled because of
their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

                                 The Mission of the Twelve

                                   (Mt 9:35–11:1; Lk 9:1–6)

  7And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave

them power over unclean spirits.† 8He commanded them to take nothing for the journey
except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— 9but to wear sandals, and
not to put on two tunics.

  10Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart

from that place. 11And whoevera will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from
there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them.b Assuredly, I say to
you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that
city!”

  12So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13And they cast out many

demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.†

                                   The Baptist Beheaded

                                    (Mt 14:1–12; Lk 9:7–9)

  14Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said,
“John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”† ω

  15Others said, “It is Elijah.”


  And others said, “It is the Prophet, ora like one of the prophets.”†

  16But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised

from the dead!” 17For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison
for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her.† 18Because John
had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.”

  19Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; 20for
Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And
when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.†

  21Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the

high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. 22And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in
and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me
whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I
will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

  24So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?”

  And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!”

  25Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give
me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

  26And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who

sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. 27Immediately the king sent an executioner and
commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, 28brought his
head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his
disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

                                   Feeding the Five Thousand

                             (Mt 14:13–21; Lk 9:10–17; Jn 6:1–14)
  30Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done

and what they had taught.† 31And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted
place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have
time to eat.† 32So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.

  33But the multitudesa saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot

from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34And Jesus, when
He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they
were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. 35When the
day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and
already the hour is late. 36Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country
and villages and buy themselves bread;a for they have nothing to eat.”

  37But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.”

  And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give
them something to eat?”†

  38But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

  And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.”

  39Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So

they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. 41And when He had taken the five loaves
and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His
disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. 42So they all ate
and were filled. 43And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. 44Now
those who had eaten the loaves were abouta five thousand men.

                                  Jesus Walks on Water

                                 (Mt 14:22–33; Jn 6:15–21)

  45Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other

side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.† 46And when He had sent them away,
He departed to the mountain to pray. 47Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle
of the sea; and He was alone on the land. 48Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the
wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking
on the sea, and would have passed them by. 49And when they saw Him walking on the sea,
they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; 50for they all saw Him and were troubled. But
immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be
afraid.” 51Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly
amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. 52For they had not understood about
the loaves, because their heart was hardened.†

                                    Many Made Whole

                                       (Mt 14:34–36)

  53When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.
54And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 55ran
through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were
sick to wherever they heard He was. 56Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the
country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch
the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.†

                            The Traditions of the Pharisees

                                       (Mt 15:1–20)


7 Then  the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from
  Jerusalem.† 2Now whena they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is,
with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless
they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4When they come
from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things
which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and
couches.

  5Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to
the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”

  6He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is
written:

    ‘This people honors Me with their lips,

    But their heart is far from Me.

    7
     And in vain they worship Me,

    Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ a

  8For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of mena —the washing
of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”

  9He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep

your tradition. 10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’;a and, ‘He who curses
father or mother, let him be put to death.’b 11But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or
mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to
God), 12then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13making the
word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many
such things you do.”

  14When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone,

and understand: 15There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but
the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.† 16If anyone has
ears to hear, let him hear!”a

  17When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning

the parable. 18So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not
perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19because it does not
enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?”a 20And He said,
“What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21For from within, out of the heart of men,
proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22thefts, covetousness, wickedness,
deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23All these evil things come from
within and defile a man.”

                                              A Gentile Woman Believes

                                                        (Mt 15:21–28)
  24From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon.a And He entered a house

and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden.† 25For a woman whose young
daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 26The
woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon
out of her daughter. 27But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good
to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

  28And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table
eat from the children's crumbs.”

  29Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your
daughter.”

  30And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter
lying on the bed.

                                 The Healing of a Deaf Man

                                          (Mt 15:29–31)

  31Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the

region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. 32Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and
had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. 33And He
took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched
his tongue. 34Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is,
“Be opened.”†

  35Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he

spoke plainly. 36Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He
commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.† 37And they were astonished beyond
measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute
to speak.”

                                 Feeding the Four Thousand

                                          (Mt 15:32–39)
8 Indisciples
       those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His
              to Him and said to them,† 2“I have compassion on the multitude, because they
have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3And if I send them away
hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from
afar.”

  4Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in
the wilderness?”

  5He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”

  And they said, “Seven.”

  6So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves
and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set
them before the multitude. 7They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said
to set them also before them. 8So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large
baskets of leftover fragments. 9Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He
sent them away, 10immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of
Dalmanutha.

                                       Show Us a Sign

                                          (Mt 16:1–4)

  11Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign

from heaven, testing Him.† 12But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this
generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”

                               The Leaven of the Pharisees

                                         (Mt 16:5–12)

  13And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side. 14Now the

disciplesa had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in
the boat. 15Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees
and the leaven of Herod.”†
  16And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.”

  17But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no

bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart stilla hardened? 18Having eyes,
do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19When I
broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take
up?”

  They said to Him, “Twelve.”

  20“Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of
fragments did you take up?”

  And they said, “Seven.”

  21So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?”

                                   A Blind Man Healed

  22Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to

touch him.† 23So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when
He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.

  24And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”

  25Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored

and saw everyone clearly. 26Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the
town, nor tell anyone in the town.”a

                                    Peter's Confession

                                (Mt 16:13–20; Lk 9:18–21)

 27Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road

He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?”†

  28So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the
prophets.”

  29He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

  Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”

  30Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.

                          Jesus’ First Prophecy of His Passion

                                 (Mt 16:21–28; Lk 9:22–27)

  31And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be
rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise
again.† 32He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.
33But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying,
“Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

  34When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them,
“Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow
Me.† ω 35For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My
sake and the gospel's will save it. 36For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul? 37Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38For whoever is
ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of
Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”


9 And  He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will
  not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”†

                                   The Transfiguration

                                   (Mt 17:1–8; Lk 9:28–36)

 2Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high

mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.† 3His clothes became
shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4And
Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5Then Peter answered
and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one
for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6because he did not know what to say, for they
were greatly afraid.

  7And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying,

“This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” 8Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no
one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

                                     Is Elijah Coming?

                                         (Mt 17:9–13)

  9Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell

no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10So they kept
this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.

  11And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

  12Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things.
And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be
treated with contempt? 13But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him
whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”†

                                  O Faithless Generation

                                  (Mt 17:14–21; Lk 9:37–42)

  14And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes

disputing with them.† 15Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly
amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16And He asked the scribes, “What are you
discussing with them?”

 17Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a

mute spirit.ω 18And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth,
gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out,
but they could not.”
  19He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How

long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20Then they brought him to Him. And when he
saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed,
foaming at the mouth.

  21So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”


  And he said, “From childhood. 22And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into
the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

  23Jesus said to him, “If you can believe,a all things are possible to him who believes.”

  24Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help
my unbelief!”

  25When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit,
saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no
more!” 26Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he
became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27But Jesus took him by the hand and
lifted him up, and he arose.

  28And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could
we not cast it out?”

  29So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”a

                         Jesus’ Second Prophecy of His Passion

                                 (Mt 17:22, 23; Lk 9:43–45)

  30Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone

to know it.† 31For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being
betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the
third day.” 32But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

                                 The Way of Discipleship

                                  (Mt 18:1–35; Lk 9:46–50)
   33Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was

it you disputed among yourselves on the road?”† 34But they kept silent, for on the road they
had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35And He sat down, called the
twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of
all.” 36Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken
him in His arms, He said to them, 37“Whoever receives one of these little children in My
name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

  38Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us

casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”†

  39But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon

afterward speak evil of Me. 40For he who is not against us is on oura side. 41For whoever
gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say
to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

  42“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be

better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.† ω
43If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed,

rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—†
44where

    ‘Their worm does not die

    And the fire is not quenched.’ a

  45And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather

than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 46where

    ‘Their worm does not die

    And the fire is not quenched.’ a

 47And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of

God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire— 48where

    ‘Their worm does not die

    And the fire is not quenched.’ a
  49“For everyone will be seasoned with fire,a and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.†
50Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves,
and have peace with one another.”

                                     What Is Marriage?

                                          (Mt 19:1–12)


10 Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the
   Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught
them again.

  2The Pharisees came and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” testing

Him.†

  3And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?”

  4They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.”

  5And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote

you this precept. 6But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and
female.’a 7‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
8and the two shall become one flesh’;a so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

  10In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. 11So He said to

them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12And
if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

                              Children Receive the Kingdom

                                  (Mt 19:13–15; Lk 18:15–17)

  13Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples

rebuked those who brought them.† 14But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and
said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the
kingdom of God. 15Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a
little child will by no means enter it.” 16And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on
them, and blessed them.

                                     The Danger of Riches

                                 (Mt 19:16–30; Lk 18:18–30)

  17Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked

Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”†

  18So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
19You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’

‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”a

  20And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

  21Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your
way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and
come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

  22But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

   23Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have

riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24And the disciples were astonished at His words. But
Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in
richesa to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a
needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

  26And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”

  27But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for
with God all things are possible.”

  28Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”†

  29So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house

or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wifea or children or lands, for My sake and the
gospel's, 30who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and
sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come,
eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

                             Jesus’ Third Prophecy of His Passion

                                  (Mt 20:17–19; Lk 18:31–34)

  32Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them;
and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside
again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:† 33“Behold, we are going
up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes;
and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34and they will mock
Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

                                  True Greatness in Serving

                                         (Mt 20:20–28)

  35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You

to do for us whatever we ask.”†

  36And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

  37They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on
Your left, in Your glory.”

  38But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup
that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

  39They said to Him, “We are able.”

  So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I
am baptized with you will be baptized; 40but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not
Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”

  41And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.
42But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are
considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority
over them. 43Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among
you shall be your servant. 44And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45For
even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for
many.”†

                                  The Blind Man Believes

                                        (Lk 18:35–43)

 46Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great

multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.† 47And when he
heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have
mercy on me!”

  48Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have
mercy on me!”

  49So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.

  Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”

  50And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

  51So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

  The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”

  52Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately
he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

                                   The Triumphal Entry

                           (Mt 21:1–9; Lk 19:28–44; Jn 12:12–19)

                                      to Bethphagea and Bethany, at the Mount of
11 Now when they drew near Jerusalem,
                                 †2
     Olives, He sent two of His disciples;   and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite
you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat.
Loose it and bring it. 3And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has
need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”

  4So they went their way, and found thea colt tied by the door outside on the street, and

they loosed it. 5But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing
the colt?”

  6And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7Then they

brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8And many spread
their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them
on the road. 9Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

    “Hosanna!

    ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ a

    10
         Blessed is the kingdom of our father Dav id

    That com es in the nam e of the Lord!a

    Hosanna in the highest!”

  11And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all
things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

                                                         The Barren Fig Tree

                                                             (Mt 21:18, 19)

  12Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13And seeing
from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it.
When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.† 14In
response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”

  And His disciples heard it.

                                                        The Temple Cleansed

                                                       (Mt 21:12–17; Lk 19:45–48)

  15So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out
those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers
and the seats of those who sold doves.† 16And He would not allow anyone to carry wares
through the temple. 17Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be
called a house of prayer for all nations’?a But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”b

  18And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for

they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. 19When evening
had come, He went out of the city.

                                   The Fig Tree Withered

                                        (Mt 21:20–22)

  20Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.†
21And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has
withered away.”

  22So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23For assuredly, I say to you,
whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in
his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.†
24Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive
them, and you will have them.

  25“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that

your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26But if you do not forgive,
neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”a †

                                     By Whose Authority?

                                  (Mt 21:23–27; Lk 20:1–8)

  27Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief

priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him.† 28And they said to Him, “By what authority
are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”

  29But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me,

and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 30The baptism of John—was it from
heaven or from men? Answer Me.”
  31And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say,

‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32But if we say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people,
for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. 33So they answered and said to Jesus,
“We do not know.”

  And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these
things.”

                                             The Wicked Vinedressers

                                             (Mt 21:33–46; Lk 20:9–19)


12 Then He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge
   around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to
vinedressers and went into a far country.† 2Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the
vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers.
3And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4Again he sent them

another servant, and at him they threw stones,a wounded him in the head, and sent him away
shamefully treated. 5And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others,
beating some and killing some. 6Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him
to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7But those vinedressers said among
themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8So they
took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.

  9“Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the

vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. 10Have you not even read this Scripture:

    ‘The stone which the builders rejected

    Has become the chief cornerstone.

    11
     This was the Lord's doing,

    And it is marvelous in our eyes’?” a

  12And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had
spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

                                                 Taxes to Caesar
                                (Mt 22:15–22; Lk 20:20–26)

 13Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His

words.† 14When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and
care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in
truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”

  But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius
that I may see it.” 16So they brought it.

  And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar's.”

  17And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and
to God the things that are God's.”

  And they marveled at Him.

                             Jesus Explains the Resurrection

                                (Mt 22:23–33; Lk 20:27–40)

  18Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked

Him, saying:† 19“Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, and leaves his wife
behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his
brother. 20Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no
offspring. 21And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the
third likewise. 22So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also.
23Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had
her as wife.”

  24Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not

know the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25For when they rise from the dead, they neither
marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26But concerning the dead,
that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God
spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?a
27He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly
mistaken.”

                                               The Greatest Commandment

                                                          (Mt 22:34–40)

  28Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceivinga

that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”†

  29Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the L                      ORD   our
God, the L    ORD   is one. 30And you shall love the L           ORD   your God with all your heart, with all your
soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’a This is the first commandment.b
31And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’a There is no
other commandment greater than these.”

  32So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is

one God, and there is no other but He. 33And to love Him with all the heart, with all the
understanding, with all the soul,a and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as
oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

  34Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the
kingdom of God.”

  But after that no one dared question Him.

                                                      David's Son and Lord

                                                    (Mt 22:41–46; Lk 20:41–44)

  35Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes

say that the Christ is the Son of David?† 36For David himself said by the Holy Spirit:

    ‘The LORD said to my Lord,

    “ Sit at My right hand,

    Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ a

  37Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?”
  And the common people heard Him gladly.

                                    Beware of the Scribes

                                  (Mt 23:1–13; Lk 20:45–47)

  38Then He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in

long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, 39the best seats in the synagogues, and the
best places at feasts, 40who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers.
These will receive greater condemnation.”

                                  A Poor Widow Gives All

                                          (Lk 21:1–4)

  41Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the

treasury. And many who were rich put in much.† 42Then one poor widow came and threw in
two mites,a which make a quadrans. 43So He called His disciples to Himself and said to
them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have
given to the treasury; 44for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty
put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

                              The Destruction of the Temple

                                    (Mt 24:1, 2; Lk 21:5, 6)


13 Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what
   manner of stones and what buildings are here!”†

  2And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone
shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

                                 The Beginning of Sorrows

                                   (Mt 24:3–14; Lk 21:7–19)

  3Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and

Andrew asked Him privately, 4“Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign
when all these things will be fulfilled?”

  5And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you.† 6For

many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. 7But when you hear of
wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not
yet. 8For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be
earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles.a These are the
beginnings of sorrows.

  9“But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be

beaten in the synagogues. You will be broughta before rulers and kings for My sake, for a
testimony to them. 10And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11But when
they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditatea what you will
speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the
Holy Spirit. 12Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children
will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13And you will be hated by all
for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

                                  Tribulation in Jerusalem

                                 (Mt 24:15–28; Lk 21:20–24)

  14“So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’a spoken of by Daniel the prophet,b
standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea
flee to the mountains. 15Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor
enter to take anything out of his house. 16And let him who is in the field not go back to get
his clothes. 17But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in
those days! 18And pray that your flight may not be in winter. 19For in those days there will be
tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until
this time, nor ever shall be. 20And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would
be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

  21“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not

believe it. 22For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to
deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23But take heed; see, I have told you all things
beforehand.

                               The Coming of the Son of Man

                                    (Mt 24:29–31; Lk 21:25–28)

  24“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not

give its light; 25the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27And
then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the
farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.

                                     When Will He Return?

                                    (Mt 24:32–44; Lk 21:29–36)

  28“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender,

and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 29So you also, when you see these
things happening, know that ita is near—at the doors! 30Assuredly, I say to you, this
generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.† 31Heaven and earth
will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

  32“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but

only the Father.† 33Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34It is
like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to
each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35Watch therefore, for you do not
know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of
the rooster, or in the morning— 36lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37And what I
say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

                                The Conspiracy to Kill Jesus

                                      (Mt 26:1–5; Lk 22:1, 2)


14 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief
   priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to
death.† 2But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”
                                The Anointing at Bethany

                                  (Mt 26:6–13; Jn 12:1–8)

  3And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman
came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and
poured it on His head.† 4But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and
said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5For it might have been sold for more than three
hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.

  6But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.
7For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but

Me you do not have always. 8She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to
anoint My body for burial. 9Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the
whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

                                    Judas Betrays Jesus

                                  (Mt 26:14–16; Lk 22:3–6)

  10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them.†
11And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how
he might conveniently betray Him.

                              Preparations for the Passover

                                 (Mt 26:17–19; Lk 22:7–13)

  12Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His
disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the
Passover?”†

 13And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will

meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him.† 14Wherever he goes in, say to the master
of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover
with My disciples?” ’ 15Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared;
there make ready for us.”
  16So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to
them; and they prepared the Passover.

                                    The Last Supper: The Eucharist Instituted

                                           (Mt 26:20–35; Lk 22:14–38; Jn 13:1–38)

  17In the evening He came with the twelve. 18Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said,
“Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.”

  19And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, “Is it I?” And another

said, “Is it I?”a

  20He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish.†
21The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the

Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.”†

  22And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and

said, “Take, eat;a this is My body.”†

  23Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all

drank from it. 24And He said to them, “This is My blood of the newa covenant, which is shed
for many. 25Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that
day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

  26And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.†

  27Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night,a
for it is written:

     ‘I will strike the Shepherd,

     And the sheep will be scattered.’ b

  28“But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

  29Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.”

  30Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster
crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”

  31But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

  And they all said likewise.

                                             Gethsemane

                             (Mt 26:36–46; Lk 22:39–46; Jn 18:1)

  32Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples,

“Sit here while I pray.”† 33And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be
troubled and deeply distressed. 34Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful,
even to death. Stay here and watch.”

  35He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the

hour might pass from Him. 36And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You.
Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”†

  37Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping?

Could you not watch one hour? 38Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit
indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

  39Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. 40And when He returned,
He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer
Him.

  41Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is
enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of
sinners. 42Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

                                       Jesus Is Arrested

                           (Mt 26:47–56; Lk 22:47–53; Jn 18:2–12)

 43And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great

multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.†
44Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize
Him and lead Him away safely.”

  45As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi,
Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

  46Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him. 47And one of those who stood by drew

his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.†

  48Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with

swords and clubs to take Me? 49I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not
seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

  50Then they all forsook Him and fled.

  51Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked

body. And the young men laid hold of him,† 52and he left the linen cloth and fled from them
naked.

                                Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

                        (Mt 26:57–68; Lk 22:54, 63–71; Jn 18:13–24)

  53And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief

priests, the elders, and the scribes. 54But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the
courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.

  55Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to

death, but found none. 56For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did
not agree.

  57Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, 58“We heard Him say, ‘I
will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made
without hands.’ ” 59But not even then did their testimony agree.

  60And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer

nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 61But He kept silent and answered
nothing.

  Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the
Blessed?”

  62Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power,

and coming with the clouds of heaven.”†

  63Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of

witnesses? 64You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?”

  And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.

  65Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to

Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.a

                                      Peter's Denials

                   (Mt 26:58, 69–75; Lk 22:54–62; Jn 18:15–18, 25–27)

  66Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest

came.† 67And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also
were with Jesus of Nazareth.”

  68But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he
went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.

  69And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one

of them.” 70But he denied it again.

  And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for
you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.”a

  71Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!”

  72A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had
said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he
thought about it, he wept.
                                    Jesus Before Pilate

                      (Mt 27:1, 2, 11–26; Lk 23:1–25; Jn 18:28–19:16)


15 Immediately,  in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and
   scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him
to Pilate.† 2Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

  He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”†

  3And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.† 4Then
Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify
against You!”a 5But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.

  6Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they

requested.† 7And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels;
they had committed murder in the rebellion. 8Then the multitude, crying aloud,a began to
ask him to do just as he had always done for them. 9But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do
you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10For he knew that the chief priests had
handed Him over because of envy.

  11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to

them. 12Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him
whom you call the King of the Jews?”

  13So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”

  14Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?”

  But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”

  15So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered

Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.†

                                    Mocked by Soldiers

                                        (Mt 27:27–31)
  16Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together

the whole garrison.† 17And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns,
put it on His head, 18and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19Then they struck
Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him.
20And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on
Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

                                       The Crucifixion

                         (Mt 27:31–44; Lk 23:26–43; Jn 19:17–27)

  21Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and

Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.† 22And they
brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23Then they gave
Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. 24And when they crucified
Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should
take.

  25Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 26And the inscription of His
accusation was written above:

                                THE KING OF THE JEWS.†

  27With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left.†
28So the Scripture was fulfilleda which says, “And He was numbered with the

transgressors.”b

 29And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You

who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30save Yourself, and come down from the
cross!”

  31Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He

saved others; Himself He cannot save. 32Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from
the cross, that we may see and believe.”a

  Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.
                                         Jesus Dies

                         (Mt 27:45–56; Lk 23:44–49; Jn 19:28–37)

  33Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the

ninth hour.† 34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi,
lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”a †

  35Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!”
36Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to
Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.”

  37And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.†

  38Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.† 39So when the

centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last,a he
said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”†

  40There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary

the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome,† 41who also followed Him and
ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him
to Jerusalem.

                                         The Burial

                         (Mt 27:57–61; Lk 23:50–56; Jn 19:38–42)

  42Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before

the Sabbath, 43Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting
for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body
of Jesus.† ω 44Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he
asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45So when he found out from the centurion,
he granted the body to Joseph. 46Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped
Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled
a stone against the door of the tomb. 47And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses
observed where He was laid.
                                     The Empty Tomb

                            (Mt 28:1–8; Lk 24:1–12; Jn 20:1–10)


16 Now  when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and
   Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.† 2Very early in the
morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3And
they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for
us?” 4But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very
large.† 5And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on
the right side; and they were alarmed.

 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.

He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7But go, tell His disciples—and
Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”†

  8So they went out quicklya and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed.

And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.†

                                 The Risen Christ Appears

                         (Mt 28:9, 10; Lk 24:13–43; Jn 20:11–21:25)

 9Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary

Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.† 10She went and told those who had
been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11And when they heard that He was alive and had
been seen by her, they did not believe.

  12After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the

country.† 13And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.

                                  The Great Commission

                                (Mt 28:16–20; Lk 24:44–49)

  14Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief
and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had
risen. 15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.†
16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be

condemned. 17And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out
demons; they will speak with new tongues;† 18theya will take up serpents; and if they drink
anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will
recover.”†

                                      The Ascension

                                       (Lk 24:50–53)

  19So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat

down at the right hand of God.† 20And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord
working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.a
                                               L UK E
                                    Previous     Home   Next

Chapters in Luke
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Luke Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80

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Verses in Luke Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52

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Verses in Luke Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in Luke Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44

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Verses in Luke Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

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Verses in Luke Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49

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Verses in Luke Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

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Verses in Luke Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56

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Verses in Luke Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62

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Verses in Luke Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42

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Verses in Luke Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54

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Verses in Luke Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59

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Verses in Luke Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Luke Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Luke Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in Luke Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Luke Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in Luke Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43

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Verses in Luke Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48

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Verses in Luke Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47

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Verses in Luke Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in Luke Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71

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Verses in Luke Chapter 23
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56

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Verses in Luke Chapter 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53

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                                                                   The Book of Luke

  Author    —All the early sources emphasize that the third gospel was written by Luke, who
is mentioned in Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; and Philemon 24. By birth Luke was a
Gentile from Antioch, and by profession a physician. He was a fellow worker of Paul's:
the plural “we” (Acts 20:6ff.) indicates Luke was with Paul as he traveled the coast of
Asia Minor on his way to Jerusalem.

  Date   —In his preface to the gospel (1:1), Luke indicates knowledge of other written
sources. Most scholars believe he used Mark as a source. He probably wrote his gospel
either from Greece or from Asia Minor in AD 70–80.

  Major Theme         —The universality of the gospel message. Luke has been called an
“historian” because he dates biblical events by reference to secular history (2:1, 2; 3:1).
Since this is a gospel written for Christians of Gentile background, it emphasizes more
than the other gospels the challenge of mission and evangelization. Salvation is
described as “a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles” (2:32). At the end of the gospel,
the risen Lord instructs His disciples to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins
“to all nations” (24:47). Subthemes include:

1 . Prayer. The early chapters portray righteous m en and wom en at pray er (1 :1 0, 1 3 , 4 6 –55, 6 4 ; 2 :2 0, 2 8–3 2 ). Jesus is portray ed

   frequently at pray er (3 :2 1 ; 5:1 6 ; 6 :1 2 ; 9 :1 8, 2 8; 1 1 :1 ; 2 2 :3 2 , 4 1 ; 2 3 :4 6 ). The gospel ends with the disciples “continually in the tem ple

   praising and blessing God” (2 4 :53 ).

2 . The activity of the Holy Spirit. The inspirational work of the Holy Spirit is ev ident ev ery where in the gospel. Mary is “ov ershadowed” by the

   Spirit (1 :3 5). Jesus conducts His m inistry in the fullness of the Spirit (3 :2 2 ; 4 :1 , 1 8; 1 0:2 1 ). The disciples were to em bark upon their

   world m ission after receiv ing “power from on high” (2 4 :4 9 ), the gift of the Spirit.

3 . A deep concern for sinners. Luke reports Jesus’ concern and lov e for sinners, with a confident hope of their repentance and forgiv eness

   (5:1 –1 1 ; 7 :3 6 –50; 9 :51 –56 ; 1 0:2 9 –3 7 ; 1 9 :1 –1 0; 2 3 :3 9 –4 3 ).


  Background       —Luke's is the only gospel addressed to an individual. He wrote to reassure
Theophilus, a Gentile and a new believer, that God was still at work in the Christian
community founded by Jesus.

Outline

I. Introduction (1 :1 –4 )

II. Jesus’ Birth and Early Life (1 :5–2 :52 )
         A. The two annunciations (1 :5–3 8)

         B. Mary and Elizabeth wait together (1 :3 9 –56 )

         C. John's birth and early life (1 :57 –80)

         D. Jesus’ birth and early life (2 :1 –52 )

 III. The Messiah Manifested (3 :1 –4 :1 3 )

         A. The Forerunner's m essage: repentance and expectation (3 :1 –2 0)

         B. Jesus’ anointing as Messiah (3 :2 1 –4 :1 3 )

 IV. The Great Galilean Ministry (4 :1 4 –9 :50)

         A. The contrast of law and grace (4 :1 4 –6 :1 1 )

         B. The separation of law from grace (6 :1 2 –7 :50)

         C. The new kingdom is hidden from the old (8:1 –56 )

         D. A new Israel: new m anna, new glory rev ealed (9 :1 –50)

  V. Later Judean and Perean Ministries (9 :51 –1 8:3 0)

         A. The new rule for new Israel (9 :51 –1 1 :1 3 )

         B. The new critiques the old (Judean m inistry ) (1 1 :1 4 –1 3 :2 1 )

         C. Striv ing for the kingdom (Perean m inistry ) (1 3 :2 2 –1 7 :1 0)

         D. Waiting for the com ing kingdom (on to Jerusalem ) (1 7 :1 1 –1 8:3 0)

 VI. Holy Week: The New Cov enant Made (1 8:3 1 –2 4 :53 )

         A. Public fulfillm ent and rejection (1 8:3 1 –2 1 :3 8)

         B. Priv ate preparation and faithfulness (2 2 :1 –3 8)

         C. Christ's Passion: Passov er fulfilled (2 2 :3 9 –2 3 :56 )

         D. Resurrection (2 4 :1 –4 9 )

         E. Ascension (2 4 :50–53 )



                                                                         Preface


1 Inasmuch  as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which
  have been fulfilleda among us,ω 2just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses
and ministers of the word delivered them to us,† 3it seemed good to me also, having had
perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account,
most excellent Theophilus, 4that you may know the certainty of those things in which you
were instructed.

                                          John's Birth Announced to Zacharias

  5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the
division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.† ω
6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances

of the Lord blameless.† 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were
both well advanced in years.†

  8So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,†
9according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the

temple of the Lord. 10And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour
of incense. 11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the
altar of incense.† 12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

                                           MARY

                 “For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.”
                                           (Lk 1:48)

For two thousand years the Church has preserved the memory of the Virgin Mary as the
prototype of all Christians—the model of what we are to become in Christ. Mary was truly
pure and unconditionally obedient to God. The tradition of the Church holds that Mary
remained a virgin all her life (see note on Mt 12:46–50). While lifelong celibacy is not a
model for all Christians to follow, Mary’s spiritual purity, her wholehearted devotion to God,
is certainly to be emulated.

  Mary is also our model in that she was the first person to receive Jesus Christ. As Mary
bore Christ in her womb physically, all Christians now have the privilege of bearing God
within them spiritually. By God’s grace and mercy we are purified and empowered to become
like Him.

  The honor we give to Mary also signifies our view of who Jesus is. From early times the
church has called her Mother of God (Gr. Theotokos, lit. “God-Bearer”), a title which implies
that her Son is both fully man and fully God. As His Mother, Mary was the source of Jesus’
human nature; yet the One she bore in her womb was also the eternal God.

  Therefore, because of her character and especially because of her role in God’s plan of
salvation, Christians appropriately honor Mary as the first among the saints. The archangel
Gabriel initiated this honor in his address to her: “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is
with you; blessed are you among women!” (Lk 1:28). This salutation clearly indicates that
God Himself had chosen to honor Mary. Her favored status was confirmed when she went to
visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was then six months pregnant with John the Baptist.
Elizabeth greeted Mary with these words: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the
fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come
to me?” (Lk 1:42, 43). And Mary herself, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, predicted the
honor that would be paid her throughout history: “For behold, henceforth all generations will
call me blessed” (Lk 1:48).

  In obedience to God’s clear intention, therefore, the Orthodox Church honors Mary in
icons, hymns, and special feast days. We entreat her, as the human being who was most
intimate with Christ on earth, to intercede with her Son on our behalf. We ask her, as the first
believer and the Mother of the Church, for guidance and protection. We venerate her—but we
do not worship her, for worship belongs to God alone.

  In Matins, Vespers, and all the services of the hours of prayer, we sing this hymn, which
expresses Mary’s unique place in creation.

    It is truly right to bless you, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the
    Mother of our God. More honorable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond
    compare than the seraphim, without defilement you gave birth to God the Word:
    True Theotokos, we magnify you.


  13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your

wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.† 14And you will have joy
and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord,
and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even
from his mother's womb.† 16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their
God. 17He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the
fathers to the children,’a and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a
people prepared for the Lord.”†

  18And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my
wife is well advanced in years.”
 19And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of

God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20But behold, you will be
mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe
my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”†

  21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.
22But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a
vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

  23So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own

house. 24Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months,
saying,† ω 25“Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take
away my reproach among people.”

                           Christ's Birth Announced to Mary

  26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named

Nazareth,† 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.
The virgin's name was Mary.† 28And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly
favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”a †

  29But when she saw him,a she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of

greeting this was. 30Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found
favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and
shall call His name JESUS.† 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and
the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33And He will reign over the
house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

  34Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”†

  35And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the
power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born
will be called the Son of God.† 36Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son
in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37For with God
nothing will be impossible.”
  38Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your

word.” And the angel departed from her.†

                                        Elizabeth Praises Mary, Mother of God

  39Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of

Judah, 40and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41And it happened, when
Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was
filled with the Holy Spirit.† 42Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you
among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!† 43But why is this granted to me, that
the mother of my Lord should come to me?† 44For indeed, as soon as the voice of your
greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45Blessed is she who
believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

                                          Mary Exults in God: The Magnificat

  46And Mary said:

    “My soul m agnifies the Lord, †

    47
         And m y spirit has rejoiced in God m y Sav ior.

    48
         For He has regarded the lowly state of His m aidserv ant;

    For behold, henceforth all generations will call m e blessed.

    49
         For He who is m ighty has done great things for m e,

    And holy is His nam e.

    50
         And His m ercy is on those who fear Him

    From generation to generation.

    51
     He has shown strength with His arm ;

    He has scattered the proud in the im agination of their hearts.

    52
         He has put down the m ighty from their thrones,

    And exalted the lowly .

    53
         He has filled the hungry with good things,

    And the rich He has sent away em pty .

    54
         He has helped His serv ant Israel,

    In rem em brance of His m ercy ,

    55
         As He spoke to our fathers,
    To Abraham and to his seed forev er.”

  56And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

                                                         John Born and Named

  57Now Elizabeth's full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.
58When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they
rejoiced with her.

  59So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have

called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.† 60His mother answered and said, “No; he
shall be called John.”†

  61But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.

 63And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all

marveled. 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke,
praising God.† 65Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were
discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66And all those who heard them kept
them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was
with him.

                                               Zacharias's Song: The Benedictus

  67Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

    68
         “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,

    For He has v isited and redeem ed His people,

    69
         And has raised up a horn of salv ation for us

    In the house of His serv ant Dav id,

    70
         As He spoke by the m outh of His holy prophets,

    Who have been since the world began,

    71
     That we should be sav ed from our enem ies

    And from the hand of all who hate us,

    72
         To perform the m ercy promised to our fathers
    And to rem em ber His holy cov enant,

    73
     The oath which He swore to our father Abraham :

    74
         To grant us that we,

    Being deliv ered from the hand of our enem ies,

    Might serv e Him without fear,

    75
     In holiness and righteousness before Him all the day s of our life.

    76
         “And y ou, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;

    For y ou will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His way s,

    77
     To giv e knowledge of salv ation to His people

    By the rem ission of their sins,

    78
         Through the tender m ercy of our God,

    With which the Day spring from on high has v isiteda us;

    79
         To giv e light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

    To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

                                                              John's Growth

 80So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his

manifestation to Israel.†

                                               Christ Born in the City of David

                                                                 (Mt 1:18–25)


2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the
  world should be registered.† ω 2This census first took place while Quirinius was
governing Syria. 3So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

  4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of

David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be
registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,a who was with child. 6So it was, that while they
were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7And she brought forth her
firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there
was no room for them in the inn.†

                                                The Witness of the Shepherds
  8Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over

their flock by night.† 9And behold,a an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of
the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10Then the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
11For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And
this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a
manger.”

  13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God

and saying:†

    14
         “Glory to God in the highest,

    And on earth peace, goodwill toward m en!” a

  15So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds
said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass,
which the Lord has made known to us.” 16And they came with haste and found Mary and
Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17Now when they had seen Him, they made widelya
known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.† 18And all those who heard it
marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these
things and pondered them in her heart. 20Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and
praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.ω

                                                   The Naming of Jesus

  21And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child,a His name was

called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.†

                                          Jesus Dedicated in the Temple

  22Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed,

they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord† ω 23(as it is written in the law of
the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the L ”),a 24and to offer a
                                                                          ORD



sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young
pigeons.”a
                                             Simeon's Song: The Nunc Dimittis

  25And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was

just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.†
26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he

had seen the Lord's Christ. 27So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents
brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28he took Him
up in his arms and blessed God and said:†

    29
         “Lord, now You are letting Your serv ant depart in peace,

    According to Your word;†

    30
         For m y ey es hav e seen Your salv ation

    31
     Which You hav e prepared before the face of all peoples,

    32
         A light to bring rev elation to the Gentiles,

    And the glory of Your people Israel.”

  33And Joseph and His mothera marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.
34Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined

for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against† 35(yes, a
sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be
revealed.”†

                                                          Anna's Prophecy

  36Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.

She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37and
this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years,a who did not depart from the temple,
but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38And coming in that instant she
gave thanks to the Lord,a and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in
Jerusalem.†

                                                    Jesus’ Childhood in Nazareth

                                                               (Mt 2:19–23)

  39So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to
Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40And the Child grew and became strong in spirit,a filled
with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.†

                               Jesus in His Father's House

  41His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.† 42And when He
was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.
43When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in

Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mothera did not know it; 44but supposing Him to have been
in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and
acquaintances. 45So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
46Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of

the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.† 47And all who heard Him
were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48So when they saw Him, they were
amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father
and I have sought You anxiously.”†

  49And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My

Father's business?”† 50But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

                                       Jesus’ Growth

  51Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His

mother kept all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and
in favor with God and men.†

                            The Baptist's Call for Repentance

                             (Mt 3:1–12; Mk 1:1–8; Jn 1:19–28)


3 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of
  Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region
of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,† ω 2while Annas and Caiaphas were high
priests,a the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.† 3And he went
into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of
sins,† 4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:
    “ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

    Make His paths straight. †

    5
       Every valley shall be filled

    And every mountain and hill brought low;

    The crooked places shall be made straight

    And the rough ways smooth;

    6
        And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ” a

 7Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers!

Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Therefore bear fruits worthy of
repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say
to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.† 9And even now
the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is
cut down and thrown into the fire.”

  10So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”

  11He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has
none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

  12Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we
do?”

  13And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

  14Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”

  So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your
wages.”

  15Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John,

whether he was the Christ or not, 16John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with
water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He
will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.† 17His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He
will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the
chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”
  18And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. 19But Herod the tetrarch,

being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,a and for all the evils
which Herod had done,† 20also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.

                                     Jesus Is Baptized

                            (Mt 3:13–17; Mk 1:9–11; Jn 1:29–34)

  21When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and

while He prayed, the heaven was opened.† 22And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form
like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in
You I am well pleased.”†

                          Jesus: Son of David, the Son of God

                                         (Mt 1:1–17)

  23Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was

supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,† 24the son of Matthat,a the son of Levi, the son
of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, 25the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the
son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah,
the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, 27the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa,
the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28the son of Melchi, the son of
Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, 29the son of Jose, the son of
Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30the son of Simeon, the son of
Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, 31the son of Melea, the son of
Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32the son of Jesse, the son
of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33the son of Amminadab,
the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34the son of Jacob, the
son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35the son of Serug, the
son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36the son of Cainan, the son
of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37the son of Methuselah,
the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, 38the son of
Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.†
                                                      The Temptation

                                                   (Mt 4:1–11; Mk 1:12, 13)


4 Then  Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the
  Spirit intoa the wilderness,† 2being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days
He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.†

  3And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become
bread.”

  4But Jesus answered him, saying,a “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by

every word of God.’ ”b †

  5Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Hima all the kingdoms of the

world in a moment of time. 6And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and
their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7Therefore, if
You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

  8And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan!a Forb it is written, ‘You

shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”c

  9Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to

Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10For it is written:

    ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,

    To keep you,’ †

  11and,

    ‘I n their hands they shall bear you up,

    Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” a

  12And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the L   ORD   your
God.’ ”a

  13Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an

opportune time.†
                                                     Jesus’ Galilean Ministry Begins

                                                   (Mt 4:12; Mk 1:14, 15; Jn 4:1–4, 43–45)

  14Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out

through all the surrounding region. 15And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by
all.

                                                                Unbelief at Nazareth

 16So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He

went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.ω 17And He was handed
the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where
it was written:

       18
            “ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,

       Because He has anointed Me

       To preach the gospel to the poor;

       He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, a

       To proclaim liberty to the captives

       And recovery of sight to the blind,

       To set at liberty those who are oppressed;†

       19
            To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” a †

   20Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of

all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21And He began to say to them, “Today
this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the
gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph's son?”†
ω

 23He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself!

Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum,a do also here in Your country.’ ” 24Then He
said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. 25But I tell you
truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three
years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26but to none of
them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath,a in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a
widow. 27And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them
was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”

  28So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
29and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on

which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30Then passing
through the midst of them, He went His way.

                                  Power over a Demon

                                       (Mk 1:21–28)

  31Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the

Sabbaths.† 32And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.†
33Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried

out with a loud voice, 34saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of
Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

  35But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon

had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.† 36Then they were
all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and
power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37And the report about Him
went out into every place in the surrounding region.

                                   Power over Diseases

                                 (Mt 8:14–17; Mk 1:29–34)

  38Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon's house. But Simon's wife's

mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her.† 39So He
stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served
them.†

  40When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases

brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. 41And
demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ,a the Son of God!”

  And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.
                             Preaching Throughout Galilee

                                  (Mt 4:23; Mk 1:35–39)

  42Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought

Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; 43but He said to them, “I
must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been
sent.”† 44And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.a

                                 Four Fishermen Called

                                (Mt 4:18–22; Mk 1:16–20)


5 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by
  the Lake of Gennesaret,† 2and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had
gone from them and were washing their nets. 3Then He got into one of the boats, which was
Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the
multitudes from the boat.†

  4When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let

down your nets for a catch.”†

  5But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught

nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6And when they had done this,
they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.† 7So they signaled to their
partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so
that they began to sink. 8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying,
“Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”†

  9For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had

taken; 10and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with
Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”† 11So
when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

                                 Jesus Cleanses a Leper
                                   (Mt 8:1–4; Mk 1:40–45)

  12And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of
leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing,
You can make me clean.”†

  13Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

Immediately the leprosy left him. 14And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show
yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as
Moses commanded.”†

  15However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes

came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. 16So He Himself often
withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

                                    Jesus Forgives Sins

                                    (Mt 9:1–8; Mk 2:1–12)

  17Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and
teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and
Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.a † 18Then behold, men
brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before
Him. 19And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd,
they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst
before Jesus.

  20When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

  21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks
blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

  22But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you

reasoning in your hearts? 23Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say,
‘Rise up and walk’? 24But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to
forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed,
and go to your house.”

  25Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to

his own house, glorifying God. 26And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were
filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”

                             Jesus Invites Matthew, a Sinner

                                  (Mt 9:9–13; Mk 2:13–17)

  27After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax

office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” † 28So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.

  29Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax

collectors and others who sat down with them.† 30And their scribes and the Phariseesa
complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and
sinners?”

  31Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but

those who are sick. 32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

                                  When Does Jesus Fast?

                                  (Mt 9:14–17; Mk 2:18–22)

   33Then they said to Him, “Why doa the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and

likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?”†

  34And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the

bridegroom is with them? 35But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away
from them; then they will fast in those days.”

  36Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old

one;a otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does
not match the old. 37And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will
burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38But new wine must be
put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.a 39And no one, having drunk old wine,
immediatelya desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ”b †

                                  The Lord of the Sabbath

                                   (Mt 12:1–8; Mk 2:23–28)

   Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the firsta that He went through the
6 grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in
their hands.† 2And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful
to do on the Sabbath?”

 3But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he

was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4how he went into the house of God, took and
ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the
priests to eat?” 5And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

                                  Healing on the Sabbath

                                    (Mt 12:9–14; Mk 3:1–6)

  6Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught.

And a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7So the scribes and Pharisees watched
Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation
against Him.† 8But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand,
“Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. 9Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one
thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?”a 10And
when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man,a “Stretch out your hand.” And he
did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.b 11But they were filled with rage, and
discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

                                     The Twelve Chosen

                                   (Mt 10:1–4; Mk 3:13–19)

  12Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and

continued all night in prayer to God.† 13And when it was day, He called His disciples to
Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: 14Simon, whom He
also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;†
15Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16Judas
the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

                                                       Crowds Follow Jesus

                                                  (Mt 4:24, 25; 12:15, 16; Mk 3:7–12)

  17And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples
and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre
and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, † ω 18as well as those who
were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. 19And the whole multitude
sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

                                                     The Beatitudes, the Woes

                                                             (Mt 5:1–12)

  20Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:

    “Blessed are you poor,

    For y ours is the kingdom of God.

    21
     Blessed are you who hunger now,

    For y ou shall be filled.

    Blessed are you who weep now,

    For y ou shall laugh.

    22
         Blessed are y ou when m en hate y ou,

    And when they exclude y ou,

    And rev ile you, and cast out y our nam e as ev il,

    For the Son of Man's sake.

    23
         Rejoice in that day and leap for joy !

    For indeed y our reward is great in heav en,

    For in like m anner their fathers did to the prophets.

    24
         “But woe to y ou who are rich,

    For y ou hav e receiv ed y our consolation. †

    25
         Woe to y ou who are full,

    For y ou shall hunger.
    Woe to y ou who laugh now,

    For y ou shall m ourn and weep.

    26
         Woe to y ou a when all b m en speak well of y ou,

    For so did their fathers to the false prophets.

                                                             Love of Enemies

                                                              (Mt 5:38–48)

  27“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless

those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29To him who strikes you on
the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold
your tunic either. 30Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your
goods do not ask them back. 31And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them
likewise.†

  32“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love

those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to
you? For even sinners do the same. 34And if you lend to those from whom you hope to
receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much
back. 35But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your
reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful
and evil. 36Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

                                                               Be Merciful

                                                                (Mt 7:1–5)

  37“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.

Forgive, and you will be forgiven.† 38Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed
down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same
measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

  39And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall

into the ditch? 40A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained
will be like his teacher.† 41And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not
perceive the plank in your own eye? 42Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me
remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your
own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly
to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.

                                   Beware of Hypocrisy

                                         (Mt 7:15–27)

  43“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44For every
tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather
grapes from a bramble bush. 45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth
good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his hearta brings forth evil. For out of the
abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

  46“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?† 47Whoever

comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48He is
like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the
flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was
founded on the rock.a 49But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on
the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately
it fell.a And the ruin of that house was great.”

                                 A Gentile Soldier's Faith

                                         (Mt 8:5–13)


7 Now  when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered
  Capernaum. 2And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready
to die.† 3So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him
to come and heal his servant. 4And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly,
saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5“for he loves our nation, and
has built us a synagogue.”

  6Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the
centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not
worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7Therefore I did not even think myself worthy
to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8For I also am a man placed
under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to
another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

  9When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the
crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”
10And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been

sick.a

                                  A Widow's Son Is Raised

  11Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His

disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.† 12And when He came near the gate of the city,
behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow.
And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13When the Lord saw her, He had compassion
on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14Then He came and touched the open coffin, and
those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15So he who
was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.

  16Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up

among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” 17And this report about Him went throughout
all Judea and all the surrounding region.

                            John's Messengers Inquire of Jesus

                                          (Mt 11:2–19)

  18Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.† 19And John,

calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus,a saying, “Are You the Coming One, or
do we look for another?”

  20When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying,

‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ ” 21And that very hour He cured many
of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.

  22Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard:
that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
the poor have the gospel preached to them. 23And blessed is he who is not offended because
of Me.”

  24When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes
concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the
wind? 25But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who
are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26But what did you go out to
see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 27This is he of whom it is written:

    ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

    Who will prepare Your way before You.’ a

  28For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John

the Baptist;a but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”†

  29And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been

baptized with the baptism of John. 30But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God
for themselves, not having been baptized by him.†

  31And the Lord said,a “To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are

they like?† 32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,
saying:

    ‘We play ed the flute for y ou,

    And y ou did not dance;

    We m ourned to y ou,

    And y ou did not weep.’

  33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a

demon.’ 34The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a
winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35But wisdom is justified by all her
children.”†

                                          Forgiveness of a Sinful Woman

  36Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee's
house, and sat down to eat.† ω 37And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when
she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of
fragrant oil, 38and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet
with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and
anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this,
he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what
manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

  40And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

  So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

  41“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and

the other fifty. 42And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them
both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

  43Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”


  And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44Then He turned to the woman and said to
Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but
she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45You gave
Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46You
did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.
47Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to
whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

  48Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

  49And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who

even forgives sins?”†

  50Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

                                   Women Who Served Jesus


8 Now  it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching
  and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, 2and
certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene,
out of whom had come seven demons,† 3and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and
Susanna, and many others who provided for Hima from their substance.

                                                 Parable of the Sower

                                                 (Mt 13:1–23; Mk 4:1–20)

  4And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He

spoke by a parable:† 5“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the
wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.† 6Some fell on rock;
and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7And some fell
among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8But others fell on good
ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He
cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

  9Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”

  10And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but
to the rest it is given in parables, that

    ‘Seeing they may not see,

    And hearing they may not understand.’ a †

  11“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12Those by the wayside are the
ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they
should believe and be saved. 13But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear,
receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of
temptation fall away. 14Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have
heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to
maturity. 15But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word
with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

                                                Take Care How You Hear

                                                      (Mk 4:21–25)
  16“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it

on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17For nothing is secret that will not
be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18Therefore take
heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have,
even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

                                   Jesus’ True Kinsmen

                                 (Mt 12:46–50; Mk 3:31–35)

  19Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the

crowd.† 20And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are
standing outside, desiring to see You.”

  21But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the
word of God and do it.”

                                   Jesus Calms a Storm

                                 (Mt 8:23–27; Mk 4:35–41)

  22Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said

to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out.† 23But as
they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with
water, and were in jeopardy. 24And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master,
Master, we are perishing!”

  Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and
there was a calm. 25But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

  And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He
commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”

                                 The Gadarene Demoniac

                                  (Mt 8:28–34; Mk 5:1–20)

  26Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes,a which is opposite Galilee.† 27And
when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had
demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes,a nor did he live in a house but in the tombs.
28When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What
have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!”
29For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized
him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds
and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.

  30Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?”


  And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. 31And they begged Him
that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.

 32Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that

He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. 33Then the demons went out
of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the
lake and drowned.†

  34When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in

the country. 35Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found
the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his
right mind. And they were afraid. 36They also who had seen it told them by what means he
who had been demon-possessed was healed. 37Then the whole multitude of the surrounding
region of the Gadarenesa asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great
fear. And He got into the boat and returned.

  38Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with

Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39“Return to your own house, and tell what great
things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city
what great things Jesus had done for him.

                      Jairus’ Daughter Raised, a Woman Healed

                                 (Mt 9:18–26; Mk 5:21–43)

  40So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all
waiting for Him.† 41And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the
synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, 42for he
had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

  But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. 43Now a woman, having a flow of blood for
twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,†
44came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of
blood stopped.

  45And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”


  When all denied it, Peter and those with hima said, “Master, the multitudes throng and
press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”b †

  46But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.”
47Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down
before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched
Him and how she was healed immediately.†

  48And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer;a your faith has made you well. Go in
peace.”

  49While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house,

saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.”a

  50But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and

she will be made well.” 51When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go ina
except Peter, James, and John,b and the father and mother of the girl. 52Now all wept and
mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.” 53And they
ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.

  54But He put them all outside,a took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.”†
55Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given

something to eat. 56And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one
what had happened.
                                  The Twelve Sent Out

                                (Mt 9:35–11:1; Mk 6:7–13)


9 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all
  demons, and to cure diseases.† 2He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal
the sick. 3And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor
bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.

  4“Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5And whoever will not
receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a
testimony against them.”

  6So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing
everywhere.

   7Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because

it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,† 8and by some that Elijah had
appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. 9Herod said, “John I
have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?” So he sought to see Him.

                               Feeding the Five Thousand

                           (Mt 14:13–21; Mk 6:30–44; Jn 6:1–14)

  10And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took
them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.
11But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to

them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.† 12When the day
began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they
may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a
deserted place here.”

  13But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.”

  And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food
for all these people.”† 14For there were about five thousand men.
  Then He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of fifty.” 15And they did so,
and made them all sit down.

  16Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and

broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.† 17So they all ate and
were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.

                          Peter's Confession: Jesus is the Christ

                                    (Mt 16:13–20; Mk 8:27–30)

  18And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked

them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”†

  19So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that
one of the old prophets has risen again.”

  20He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”


  Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”†

                              First Prediction of the Passion

                                    (Mt 16:21–28; Mk 8:31–9:1)

  21And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one,† 22saying, “The Son
of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes,
and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

  23Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and

take up his cross daily,a and follow Me.† 24For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25For what profit is it to a man if he gains the
whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26For whoever is ashamed of Me and My
words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His
Father's, and of the holy angels.

  27But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see
the kingdom of God.”†

                                     The Transfiguration

                                    (Mt 17:1–9; Mk 9:2–10)

  28Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and

James and went up on the mountain to pray.† 29As He prayed, the appearance of His face
was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. 30And behold, two men talked with
Him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which
He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.† 32But Peter and those with him were heavy with
sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with
Him. 33Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it
is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and
one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

  34While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful

as they entered the cloud. 35And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved
Son.a Hear Him!” 36When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet,
and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

                                   The Unbelieving World

                                   (Mt 17:14–21; Mk 9:14–29)

  37Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a

great multitude met Him. 38Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I
implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. 39And behold, a spirit seizes him, and
he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from
him with great difficulty, bruising him. 40So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they
could not.”†

  41Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be

with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42And as he was still coming, the demon
threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child,
and gave him back to his father.
                            Second Prediction of the Passion

                                 (Mt 17:22, 23; Mk 9:30–32)

  43And they were all amazed at the majesty of God.

  But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples,
44“Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into

the hands of men.”† 45But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them
so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.

                                   Who Is the Greatest?

                                  (Mt 18:1–5; Mk 9:33–37)

  46Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.† 47And Jesus,

perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, 48and said to
them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me
receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

                              The Rights of Jesus’ Disciples

                                        (Mk 9:38–41)

  49Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your
name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.”

  50But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against usa is on ourb side.”

                           Kindness Toward the Inhospitable

  51Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He

steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 52and sent messengers before His face. And as
they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 53But they did not
receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. 54And when His disciples
James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down
from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”a
  55But He turned and rebuked them,a and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit

you are of. 56For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them.”a And
they went to another village.

                                 Undivided Commitment

                                        (Mt 8:18–22)

  57Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will

follow You wherever You go.”†

  58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of
Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

  59Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”

  But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

  60Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom
of God.”

  61And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell
who are at my house.”

  62But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit
for the kingdom of God.”

                                   The Seventy Sent Out


10 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also,a and sent them two
                                                                              †ω2
                                                                                 by two
      before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.         Then
He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.† 3Go your way; behold, I send you out as
lambs among wolves.† 4Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one
along the road. 5But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6And if a son
of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7And remain in the
same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his
wages. Do not go from house to house.† 8Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat
such things as are set before you. 9And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of
God has come near to you.’† 10But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go
out into its streets and say, 11‘The very dust of your city which clings to usa we wipe off
against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ 12Buta I
say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.

  13“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done
in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in
sackcloth and ashes.† 14But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than
for you. 15And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.a
16He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects

Him who sent Me.”ω

  17Then the seventya returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in
Your name.”

  18And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.† 19Behold, I give you
the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and
nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits
are subject to you, but rathera rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

                                     THE SEVENTY

In Luke 10:1–17, the Lord appoints seventy men to go out as missionaries—as apostles.
Though not so prominent as the Twelve, the Seventy carried out their missions with fervor
and enthusiasm. The Tradition of the Church confirms that the Seventy remained true to the
Lord and their calling, fulfilling a vital role in the spread of the gospel. These were not
random choices or accidental volunteers but true disciples, true apostles, whose labors
carried the message of their Lord throughout the Roman Empire and beyond.

  Though lists of the Seventy vary somewhat, all these men are remembered in the calendar
of the Church (see chart, “The Seventy,”). One day, January 4, is set aside to remember them
all, and the record of their work is preserved in accounts handed down through the centuries
from place to place, especially in those locations where they labored.
  To tell all the stories passed down in the Church concerning the Seventy would fill a book
of considerable size, but the stories of a few will convey the conviction and faith of this
illustrious body.

  Barnabas, a Jew of the tribe of Levi, was born in Cyprus of wealthy parents. He is said to
have studied under Gamaliel with Saul of Tarsus, who was to become Paul the apostle.
Originally named Joseph, he was called Barnabas (Son of Consolation) by the apostles (Acts
4:36) because he had a rare gift of comforting people’s hearts. He sought out Paul when
everyone else was afraid of him, bringing him to the apostles. It was Barnabas whom the
apostles first sent to Antioch with Paul. Their long association was broken only when
Barnabas was determined to take his cousin Mark, whom Paul did not trust just then, on a
missionary journey. The three were later reconciled (Col 4:10). Many ancient accounts say
Barnabas was the first to preach in Rome and in Milan, but he was martyred in Cyprus, then
buried by Mark at the western gate of the city of Salamis.

  Also among the more prominent of the Seventy was the apostle Titus, whom Paul called his
brother (2Co 12:18) and his son (Tts 1:4). Born in Crete, Titus was educated in Greek
philosophy, but after reading the prophet Isaiah he began to doubt the value of all he had
been taught. Hearing the news of the coming of Jesus Christ, he joined some others from
Crete who were going to Jerusalem to see for themselves. After hearing Jesus speak and
seeing His works, the young Titus joined those who followed Him. Baptized by the apostle
Paul, he worked with and served the great apostle to the Gentiles, traveling with him until
Paul sent him to Crete, making him bishop of that city. It is said that Titus was in Rome at
the time of the beheading of St. Paul and that he buried the body of his spiritual father before
returning home. Back in Crete, he converted and baptized many people, governing the Church
on that island until he entered into rest at the age of ninety-four.

  Many less prominent among the Seventy also labored for Christ unto death. Aristarchus,
whom Paul mentions several times (Acts 19:29; Col 4:10; Phm 24), calling him a “fellow
laborer,” became bishop of Apamea in Syria. Sosthenes (Acts 18:17; 1Co 1:1) became bishop of
Caesarea, and Tychicus (Acts 20:4; Eph 6:21; Col 4:7; 2Ti 4:12; Tts 3:12) succeeded him in
that city. Simeon (Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3), son of Cleopas (who was the brother of Joseph, the
betrothed of the Virgin Mary), succeeded James as bishop of Jerusalem. Aristobulus (Rom
16:10), the brother of the apostle Barnabas, preached the gospel in Britain and died peacefully
there.
  The lives of these few are quite representative of the Seventy, who were instrumental in
helping to plant the Church throughout the world. Many became bishops, but the names of
all are numbered in heaven in the Book of Life as faithful servants of the Lord, apostles and
foundations of the Church.


  21In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven
and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to
babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.† 22Alla things have been
delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who
the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”ω

  23Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the

things you see; 24for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you
see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”

                                   The Good Samaritan

  25And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do
to inherit eternal life?”

  26He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

  27So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all

your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’a and ‘your neighbor as
yourself.’”b

  28And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

  29But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

  30Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho,
and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving
him half dead.† 31Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw
him, he passed by on the other side.† 32Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came
and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed,
came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.† 34So he went to him and
bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought
him to an inn, and took care of him.† 35On the next day, when he departed,a he took out two
denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more
you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36So which of these three do you think was
neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

  37And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

  Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

                                            Mary and Martha

  38Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman

named Martha welcomed Him into her house.† ω 39And she had a sister called Mary, who
also sat at Jesus’a feet and heard His word. 40But Martha was distracted with much serving,
and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve
alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

  41And Jesusa answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled

about many things. 42But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which
will not be taken away from her.”

                                              How to Pray

                                              (Mt 6:9–13)


11 Now  it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of
   His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”†

  2So He said to them, “When you pray, say:

    Our Father in heav en, a

    Hallowed be Your nam e.

    Your kingdom com e. b

    Your will be done

    On earth as it is in heav en.

    3
     Giv e us day by day our daily bread.
    4
        And forgiv e us our sins,

    For we also forgiv e ev ery one who is indebted to us.

    And do not lead us into tem ptation,

    But deliv er us from the ev il one.” a

  5And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say

to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves;† 6for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey,
and I have nothing to set before him’; 7and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not
trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give
to you’? 8I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet
because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

  9“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will

be opened to you.† 10For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him
who knocks it will be opened. 11If a son asks for breada from any father among you, will he
give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12Or if
he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13If you then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to
those who ask Him!”

                                                        Jesus and the Devil

                                                     (Mt 12:22–24; Mk 3:22)

  14And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone

out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. 15But some of them said, “He casts
out demons by Beelzebub,a the ruler of the demons.”†

                                             Spiritual Power, Spiritual War

                                             (Mt 12:24–32, 43–45; Mk 3:23–30)

  16Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.† 17But He, knowing their
thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a
house divided against a house falls. 18If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his
kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. 19And if I cast out demons
by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
20But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon

you.† 21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.†
22But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all

his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. 23He who is not with Me is against Me,
and he who does not gather with Me scatters.†

   24“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and

finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’† 25And when he comes,
he finds it swept and put in order. 26Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits
more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is
worse than the first.”

  27And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised
her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed
You!”†

  28But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

                              Spiritual Perception: A Sign

                                       (Mt 12:38–42)

  29And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil
generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the
prophet.a † 30For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to
this generation. 31The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this
generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom
of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. 32The men of Nineveh will rise up in
the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of
Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

                         Spiritual Perception: A Light to See By

  33“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a

lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.† 34The lamp of the body is the eye.
Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is
bad, your body also is full of darkness.† 35Therefore take heed that the light which is in you
is not darkness. 36If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole
body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”

                                 The Pride of the Pharisees

  37And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat

down to eat. 38When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before
dinner.

   39Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish

clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness.† 40Foolish ones! Did not He who
made the outside make the inside also? 41But rather give alms of such things as you have;
then indeed all things are clean to you.

  42“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass
by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others
undone. 43Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings
in the marketplaces. 44Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!a For you are like
graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”

  45Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, “Teacher, by saying these things You
reproach us also.”

  46And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear,

and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47Woe to you! For you
build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.ω 48In fact, you bear witness
that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their
tombs. 49Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and
some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50that the blood of all the prophets which was
shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51from the blood
of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to
you, it shall be required of this generation.†

  52“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter
in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”

  53And as He said these things to them,a the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him

vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, 54lying in wait for Him, and
seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him.a

                                      Against Hypocrisy


12 Inthatthetheymeantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so
                  trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of
the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.ω 2For there is nothing covered that will not
be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3Therefore whatever you have spoken in the
dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be
proclaimed on the housetops.

  4“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that

have no more that they can do. 5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who,
after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!†

 6“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins?a And not one of them is forgotten before

God. 7But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of
more value than many sparrows.

  8“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will

confess before the angels of God. 9But he who denies Me before men will be denied before
the angels of God.

  10“And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to

him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.†

  11“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not

worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12For the Holy Spirit
will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

                                 Against Greed and Anxiety

  13Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance
with me.”†

  14But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15And He

said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness,a for one's life does not consist in the
abundance of the things he possesses.”

  16Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded

plentifully. 17And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to
store my crops?’ 18So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and
there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have
many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20But God
said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things
be which you have provided?’†

  21“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

  22Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what

you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.† 23Life is more than food, and the
body is more than clothing. 24Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have
neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the
birds? 25And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26If you then are
not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27Consider the lilies, how they
grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these. 28If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and
tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

 29“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious

mind. 30For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that
you need these things. 31But seek the kingdom of God, and all these thingsa shall be added to
you.

  32“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.† ω
33Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a
treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.
34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
                           Against Laziness and Forgetfulness

  35“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;† 36and you yourselves be like men
who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and
knocks they may open to him immediately. 37Blessed are those servants whom the master,
when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have
them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.† 38And if he should come in the second
watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.† 39But know
this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would
have watched anda not allowed his house to be broken into. 40Therefore you also be ready,
for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”†

  41Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”†

 42And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will

make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43Blessed is
that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44Truly, I say to you that he
will make him ruler over all that he has. 45But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is
delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink
and be drunk, 46the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him,
and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion
with the unbelievers. 47And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare
himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.† 48But he who did not
know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to
whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been
committed, of him they will ask the more.

                              Against Lack of Discernment

  49“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!† 50But I have a

baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!† 51Do you
suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.† 52For
from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three.
53Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and
daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law.”†

  54Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west,

immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. 55And when you see the south wind
blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56Hypocrites! You can discern the
face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?†

  57“Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? 58When you go with
your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he
drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into
prison.† 59I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.”

                             What Happens to the Unrepentant


13 There  were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood
   Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.† 2And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do
you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they
suffered such things? 3I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4Or
those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were
worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no; but unless you
repent you will all likewise perish.”

                              The Critical Time of Repentance

  6He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he

came seeking fruit on it and found none.† 7Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look,
for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does
it use up the ground?’ 8But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until
I dig around it and fertilize it. 9And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after thata you can cut it
down.’ ”

                              A Woman Healed on the Sabbath

  10Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.† ω 11And behold, there
was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no
way raise herself up. 12But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her,
“Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” 13And He laid His hands on her, and
immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

  14But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on
the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work;
therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”

  15The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite!a Does not each one of you on the

Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? 16So ought not
this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen
years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”† 17And when He said these things, all His
adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that
were done by Him.

                                Parables of the Kingdom

                                (Mt 13:31, 32; Mk 4:30–32)

  18Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19It is

like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a largea
tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”†

  20And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven, which

a woman took and hid in three measuresa of meal till it was all leavened.”

                                    Strive to Be Saved

  22And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
23Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”


  And He said to them, 24“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you,
will seek to enter and will not be able.† 25When once the Master of the house has risen up
and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord,
open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’†
26then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our
streets.’ 27But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from
Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see
Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves
thrust out. 29They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and
sit down in the kingdom of God. 30And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are
first who will be last.”†

                          Jesus Presses on Toward Jerusalem

  31On that very daya some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here,
for Herod wants to kill You.”

  32And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures

today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’† 33Nevertheless I must journey
today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside
of Jerusalem.

  34“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent
to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood
under her wings, but you were not willing! 35See! Your house is left to you desolate; and
assuredly,a I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is
He who comes in the name of the L !’ ”b
                                    ORD




                                A Man Healed on the Sabbath


14 Now  it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat
   bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely.† 2And behold, there was a certain
man before Him who had dropsy. 3And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees,
saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”a

  4But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. 5Then He

answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkeya or an ox that has fallen into a pit,
will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” 6And they could not answer Him
regarding these things.

                                          Be Lowly
  7So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best

places, saying to them:† 8“When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit
down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9and he who
invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with
shame to take the lowest place. 10But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest
place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then
you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11For whoever
exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

                                 Be Hospitable to the Lowly

  12Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not
ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you
back, and you be repaid.† 13But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame,
the blind. 14And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at
the resurrection of the just.”

                          Worldly Entanglements, Poor Excuses

                                        (Mt 22:1–14)

  15Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him,

“Blessed is he who shall eat breada in the kingdom of God!”†

  16Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many,† ω 17and sent
his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now
ready.’ 18But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have
bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’† 19And
another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have
me excused.’ 20Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21So
that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house,
being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and
bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’† 22And the servant said,
‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ 23Then the master said to the
servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house
may be filled. 24For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my
supper.’ ”

                                  The Cost of Discipleship

  25Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them,ω 26“If anyone
comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters,
yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.† 27And whoever does not bear his cross
and come after Me cannot be My disciple.† 28For which of you, intending to build a tower,
does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—† 29lest, after
he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
30saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31Or what king, going to
make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with
ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32Or else, while
the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33So
likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

  34“Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?† 35It is neither
fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him
hear!”
                                      The Lost Sheep

                                        (Mt 18:10–14)

     Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2And the
15 Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with
them.”† 3So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

  4“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the

ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?† 5And when
he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he comes home, he calls
together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my
sheep which was lost!’ 7I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one
sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

                                       The Lost Coin

  8“Or what woman, having ten silver coins,a if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp,

sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?† 9And when she has found it, she
calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece
which I lost!’ 10Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over
one sinner who repents.”

                                     The Prodigal Son

  11Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.ω 12And the younger of them said to his
father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his
livelihood.† 13And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a
far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14But when he had spent
all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15Then he went and
joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.†
16And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one
gave him anything.

  17“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have

bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!† 18I will arise and go to my father, and
will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19and I am no longer
worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

  20“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father

saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.† 21And the son
said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy
to be called your son.’

   22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bringa out the best robe and put it on him, and put a

ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.† 23And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let
us eat and be merry;† 24for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’
And they began to be merry.

  25“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he

heard music and dancing.† 26So he called one of the servants and asked what these things
meant. 27And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe
and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

  28“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with

him. 29So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you;
I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young
goat, that I might make merry with my friends.† 30But as soon as this son of yours came,
who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

  31“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32It was
right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again,
and was lost and is found.’ ”

                                     The Unjust Steward


16 He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an
   accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.† 2So he called him
and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you
can no longer be steward.’

  3“Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the
stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. 4I have resolved what to do,
that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’

  5“So he called every one of his master's debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do

you owe my master?’ 6And he said, ‘A hundred measuresa of oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take
your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7Then he said to another, ‘And how much do
you owe?’ So he said, ‘A hundred measuresa of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill,
and write eighty.’ 8So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt
shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of
light.

   9“And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you

fail,a they may receive you into an everlasting home. 10He who is faithful in what is least is
faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.†
11Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to

your trust the true riches? 12And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who
will give you what is your own?

  13“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or
else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

                                    Press for the Kingdom

  14Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they

derided Him. 15And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but
God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the
sight of God.†

  16“The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been

preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass
away than for one tittle of the law to fail.†

  18“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries

her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.†

                                  The Rich Man and Lazarus
  19“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared

sumptuously every day. 20But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who
was laid at his gate, 21desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fella from the rich man's
table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22So it was that the beggar died, and was
carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.† 23And
being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in
his bosom.

 24“Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he

may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’†
25But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and

likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26And besides
all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from
here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

  27“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's

house,† 28for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this
place of torment.’ 29Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear
them.’ 30And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will
repent.’ 31But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they
be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”†

                               Leadership Is a Stewardship

                                   (Mt 18:6, 7, 15; Mk 9:42)


17 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to
   him through whom they do come! 2It would be better for him if a millstone were hung
around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these
little ones.† 3Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you,a rebuke him; and if he
repents, forgive him. 4And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a
day returns to you,a saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”†

  5And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
  6So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree,

‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.† 7And which of
you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the
field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?† 8But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare
something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and
afterward you will eat and drink’? 9Does he thank that servant because he did the things that
were commanded him? I think not.a 10So likewise you, when you have done all those things
which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our
duty to do.’ ”†

                                 The Ten Cleansed Lepers

  11Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria

and Galilee. 12Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers,
who stood afar off.† 13And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on
us!”

  14So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it
was that as they went, they were cleansed.

  15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice

glorified God, 16and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a
Samaritan.

  17So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?†
18Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19And
He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

                               The Coming of the Kingdom

  20Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He

answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21nor will
they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’a For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”†

  22Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the

days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or
‘Look there!’a Do not go after them or follow them. 24For as the lightning that flashes out of
one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be
in His day. 25But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26And
as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:† 27They ate,
they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered
the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28Likewise as it was also in the days of
Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29but on the day
that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
30Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

  31“In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come
down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.
32Remember Lot's wife. 33Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his

life will preserve it. 34I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will
be taken and the other will be left.† 35Two women will be grinding together: the one will be
taken and the other left. 36Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other
left.”a

  37And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?”


  So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”†

                                   The Tenacious Widow

      Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,†
18    2saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
3Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from

my adversary.’ 4And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I
do not fear God nor regard man, 5yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest
by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”

  6Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7And shall God not avenge His own

elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8I tell you that He
will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith
on the earth?”†
                               The Pharisee and the Publican

  9Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous,

and despised others: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other
a tax collector.† ω 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that
I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.† 12I
fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13And the tax collector, standing afar off,
would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful
to me a sinner!’† 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the
other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be
exalted.”†

                              Receive the Kingdom as a Child

                                  (Mt 19:13–15; Mk 10:13–16)

  15Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples

saw it, they rebuked them.† 16But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children
come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17Assuredly, I say to
you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

                                     The Rich Young Man

                                  (Mt 19:16–26; Mk 10:17–23)

  18Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal

life?”†

  19So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’

‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”a

  21And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”

  22So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that
you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow
Me.”†

  23But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

 24And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those

who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25For it is easier for a camel to go through the
eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”†

  26And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”

  27But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

                              The Reward of Renunciation

                                (Mt 19:27–30; Mk 10:28–31)

  28Then Peter said, “See, we have left alla and followed You.”

  29So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or

parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30who shall not
receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

                           The Third Prophecy of the Passion

                                (Mt 20:17–19; Mk 10:32–34)

  31Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be
accomplished. 32For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and
spit upon. 33They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

  34But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they

did not know the things which were spoken.†

                            The Blind Man of Jericho Healed

                                       (Mk 10:46–52)
  35Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the

road begging.† 36And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37So they told
him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David,
have mercy on me!”

  39Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the
more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

  40So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come

near, He asked him, 41saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

  He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”

  42Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43And
immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people,
when they saw it, gave praise to God.

                                  Zacchaeus is Restored

                                                         † ω 2Now behold, there was a man
19 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
     named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.† 3And he sought to see
who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.† 4So he ran
ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.
5And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him,a and said to him,

“Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6So he made
haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7But when they saw it, they all complained,
saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

  8Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the

poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”†

  9And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son

of Abraham;† 10for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

                                 The Parable of the Minas

                                        (Mt 25:14–30)
  11Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near

Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.†
12Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a

kingdom and to return. 13So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas,a and
said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ 14But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation
after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’

  15“And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded
these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know
how much every man had gained by trading. 16Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your
mina has earned ten minas.’ 17And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you
were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18And the second came, saying,
‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five
cities.’

  20“Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a

handkerchief. 21For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did
not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I
will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did
not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23Why then did you not put my money in the
bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’

  24“And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has

ten minas.’ 25(But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26‘For I say to you, that to
everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be
taken away from him. 27But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign
over them, and slay them before me.’ ”

                                     The Colt Borrowed

                                    (Mt 21:1–7; Mk 11:1–7)

  28When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.† 29And it came to

pass, when He drew near to Bethphagea and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He
sent two of His disciples, 30saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you
will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31And if anyone
asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of
it.’ ”

   32So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33But
as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?”

                                                          The Triumphal Entry

                                              (Mt 21:8, 9; Mk 11:8–10; Jn 12:12–19)

  34And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” 35Then they brought him to Jesus. And they

threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36And as He went, many
spread their clothes on the road.

   37Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole
multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty
works they had seen, 38saying:

         “‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ a

         Peace in heav en and glory in the highest!”

   39And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your
disciples.”

   40But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones
would immediately cry out.”

                                                        Lament over Jerusalem

   41Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42saying, “If you had known,
even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are
hidden from your eyes.† 43For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an
embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side,† 44and level you, and
your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon
another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
                                   Cleansing the Temple

                               (Mt 21:10–17; Mk 11:11, 15–17)

  45Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it,a †
46saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house isa a house of prayer,’b but you have made it a

‘den of thieves.’ ”c

                                     Jesus’ Popularity

                                          (Mk 11:18, 19)

  47And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the

leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, 48and were unable to do anything; for all the
people were very attentive to hear Him.

                                What Is Jesus’ Authority?

                                (Mt 21:23–27; Mk 11:27–33)


20 Now  it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and
   preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders,
confronted Him 2and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these
things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”†

  3But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: 4The
baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”

  5And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why

thena did you not believe him?’ 6But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for
they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” 7So they answered that they did not know
where it was from.

  8And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

                             The Wicked Vineyard Tenants

                                 (Mt 21:33–46; Mk 12:1–12)
  9Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it

to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time.† 10Now at vintage-time he sent a
servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But
the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11Again he sent another
servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.
12And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out.

  13“Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son.

Probably they will respect him when they see him.’ 14But when the vinedressers saw him,
they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the
inheritance may be ours.’ 15So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore
what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and destroy those
vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.”

  And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!”

  17Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written:

    ‘The stone which the builders rejected

    Has become the chief cornerstone’?a †

  18Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to
powder.”

  19And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they

feared the peoplea —for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.

                                             Do We Pay Taxes to Caesar?

                                              (Mt 22:15–22; Mk 12:13–17)

  20So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might

seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.†

  21Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You

do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth: 22Is it lawful for us to
pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
  23But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test Me?a 24Show Me a
denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”

  They answered and said, “Caesar's.”

  25And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to
God the things that are God's.”

  26But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they
marveled at His answer and kept silent.

                                  The Mystery of Resurrection

                                   (Mt 22:23–33; Mk 12:18–27)

  27Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and

asked Him,† 28saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a
wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for
his brother. 29Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without
children. 30And the seconda took her as wife, and he died childless. 31Then the third took
her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children,a and died. 32Last of all the
woman died also. 33Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all
seven had her as wife.”

  34Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.
35But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead,

neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to
the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37But even Moses showed in
the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’a 38For He is not the God of the dead but
of the living, for all live to Him.”

  39Then some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” 40But
after that they dared not question Him anymore.

                                       Son of David, Son of God
                                                 (Mt 22:41–46; Mk 12:35–37)

  41And He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David?† 42Now
David himself said in the Book of Psalms:

    ‘The Lord said to my Lord,

    “ Sit at My right hand,

    43
     Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ a

  44Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?”

                                                      Beware of the Scribes

                                                     (Mt 23:1–36; Mk 12:38–40)

  45Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples,† 46“Beware of the scribes,
who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in
the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 47who devour widows’ houses, and for a
pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

                                                     Imitate the Poor Widow

                                                          (Mk 12:41–44)

         And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,† 2and He saw
21
         also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3So He said, “Truly I say to you that this
poor widow has put in more than all; 4for all these out of their abundance have put in
offerings for God,a but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

                                                         Signs of the End

                                                     (Mt 24:1–14; Mk 13:1–13)

  5Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and

donations, He said,† 6“These things which you see—the days will come in which not one
stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”

  7So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will
there be when these things are about to take place?”
  8And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name,

saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Thereforea do not go after them. 9But when
you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass
first, but the end will not come immediately.”

  10Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and

there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. 12But before all these things, they
will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and
prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.ω 13But it will turn
out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate
beforehand on what you will answer; 15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your
adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 16You will be betrayed even by parents and
brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17And you will be
hated by all for My name's sake. 18But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19By your
patience possess your souls.

                               The Destruction of Jerusalem

                                (Mt 24:15–28; Mk 13:14–20)

  20“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is

near. 21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst
of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22For these are the days of
vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23But woe to those who are
pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in
the land and wrath upon this people. 24And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led
away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of
the Gentiles are fulfilled.

                                        Cosmic Signs

                                (Mt 24:29–31; Mk 13:24–27)

  25“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth
distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26men's hearts failing
them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the
powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud
with power and great glory. 28Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up
your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

                                  The Time of His Coming

                                (Mt 24:32–36; Mk 13:28–32)

  29Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30When they

are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31So you
also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
32Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.
33Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

                                   Be Watchful and Pray

  34“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing,

drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35For it will
come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36Watch therefore,
and pray always that you may be counted worthya to escape all these things that will come to
pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

  37And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed

on the mountain called Olivet. 38Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the
temple to hear Him.

                                The Chief Priests and Judas

                            (Mt 26:1–5, 14–16; Mk 14:1, 2, 10, 11)

         the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.† 2And the
22 Now
   chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the
people.

  3Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.† 4So
he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him
to them. 5And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6So he promised and sought
opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

                                Preparation for the Passover

                                  (Mt 26:17–19; Mk 14:12–26)

  7Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.† 8And He
sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”

  9So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”

  10And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you

carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. 11Then you shall say
to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may
eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ 12Then he will show you a large, furnished upper
room; there make ready.”

  13So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

                                   The Eucharist Instituted

                         (Mt 26:20, 26–29; Mk 14:22–25; Jn 13:1–38)

  14When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelvea apostles with Him. 15Then He
said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I
suffer;† 16for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

  17Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among

yourselves;† 18for I say to you,a I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of
God comes.”

  19And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My

body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”†

                                    Deception and Betrayal
                         (Mt 26:21–25; Mk 14:18–21; Jn 13:21–30)

  20Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My

blood, which is shed for you. 21But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.†
22And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He
is betrayed!”

  23Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this
thing.

                                   Greatness Is Service

                               (Mt 20:24–28; Mk 10:35–45)

  24Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the

greatest.† 25And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and
those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26But not so among you; on
the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as
he who serves. 27For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he
who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

                              Christ Rewards His Servants

  28“But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29And I bestow upon you a

kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30that you may eat and drink at My table
in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”†

                                Peter's Denials Predicted

                        (Mt 26:30–35; Mk 14:26–31; Jn 13:36–38)

  31And the Lord said,a “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you

as wheat.† 32But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have
returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

  33But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
  34Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny
three times that you know Me.”

                                       A Time of Crisis

  35And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did
you lack anything?”

  So they said, “Nothing.”†

  36Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a

knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37For I say to you
that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the
transgressors.’a For the things concerning Me have an end.”

  38So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”

  And He said to them, “It is enough.”

                               Jesus Watches in the Garden

                          (Mt 26:30, 36–46; Mk 14:26, 32–42; Jn 18:1)

  39Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples

also followed Him. 40When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not
enter into temptation.”

  41And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and

prayed,† 42saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My
will, but Yours, be done.” 43Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening
Him.ω 44And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great
drops of blood falling down to the ground.a

  45When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping

from sorrow. 46Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into
temptation.”
                                            Arrest

                          (Mt 26:47–56; Mk 14:43–52; Jn 18:2–12)

  47And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one

of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48But Jesus said to him,
“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

  49When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall

we strike with the sword?” 50And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut
off his right ear.

  51But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed

him.†

  52Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come

to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53When I was with
you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of
darkness.”†

                                       Peter's Denials

               (Mt 26:57, 58, 69–75; Mk 14:53, 54, 66–72; Jn 18:13–18, 25–27)

  54Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. But

Peter followed at a distance. 55Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the
courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56And a certain servant girl, seeing
him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.”†

  57But he denied Him,a saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”

  58And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.”

  But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”

  59Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this
fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.”
  60But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!”


  Immediately, while he was still speaking, the roostera crowed. 61And the Lord turned and
looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him,
“Before the rooster crows,a you will deny Me three times.”† 62So Peter went out and wept
bitterly.

  63Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. 64And having blindfolded

Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him,a saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who
struck You?” 65And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.

                                    Before the Sanhedrin

                         (Mt 26:57–68; Mk 14:55–65; Jn 18:19–24)

  66As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came

together and led Him into their council, saying, 67“If You are the Christ, tell us.”

  But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will by no means believe. 68And if I also ask you,
you will by no means answer Me or let Me go.a † 69Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the
right hand of the power of God.”†

  70Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?”

  So He said to them, “You rightly say that I am.”

  71And they said, “What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from
His own mouth.”

                                        Before Pilate

                        (Mt 27:1, 2, 11–14; Mk 15:1–5; Jn 18:28–38)

       Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. 2And they began to
23
       accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting thea nation, and forbidding to pay
taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”†

  3Then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
  He answered him and said, “It is as you say.”

  4So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.”

  5But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all
Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.”

                                        Before Herod

  6When Pilate heard of Galilee,a he asked if the Man were a Galilean. 7And as soon as he
knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in
Jerusalem at that time. 8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had
desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he
hoped to see some miracle done by Him.† 9Then he questioned Him with many words, but
He answered him nothing. 10And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused
Him. 11Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him,
arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. 12That very day Pilate and
Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each
other.

                                     Jesus or Barabbas?

                         (Mt 27:15–26; Mk 15:6–15; Jn 18:39–19:16)

  13Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,†
14said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And
indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning
those things of which you accuse Him; 15no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him;a
and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. 16I will therefore chastise Him
and release Him” 17(for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).a

  18And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us

Barabbas”— 19who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and
for murder.

  20Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. 21But they shouted,
saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

  22Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no
reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”

  23But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices

of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.a 24So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as
they requested. 25And he released to thema the one they requested, who for rebellion and
murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

                               The Procession to Golgotha

                           (Mt 27:31–33; Mk 15:20–22; Jn 19:17)

  26Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was

coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.†

  27And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and

lamented Him. 28But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for
Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.† 29For indeed the days are coming in
which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never
nursed!’† 30Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills,
“Cover us!”’a 31For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”†

                                The Compassionate Christ

                         (Mt 27:33–43; Mk 15:22–32; Jn 19:17–29)

  32There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33And when they
had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the
right hand and the other on the left.† 34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do
not know what they do.”a

  And they divided His garments and cast lots.† 35And the people stood looking on. But even
the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the
Christ, the chosen of God.”†
  36The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, 37and saying, “If
You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”

  38And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:a


                             THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.†

                                 Two Thieves, Two Ways

                                    (Mt 27:44; Mk 15:32)

  39Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the

Christ,a save Yourself and us.”† ω

  40But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you

are under the same condemnation? 41And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of
our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said to Jesus, “Lord,a
remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

  43And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

                                   Darkness and Death

                         (Mt 27:45–56; Mk 15:33–41; Jn 19:28–30)

  44Now it wasa about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the

ninth hour. 45Then the sun was darkened,a and the veil of the temple was torn in two.†
46And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I

commit My spirit.’ ”a Having said this, He breathed His last.†

 47So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this

was a righteous Man!”†

  48And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat

their breasts and returned. 49But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him
from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

                                            Burial
                          (Mt 27:57–61; Mk 15:42–47; Jn 19:38–42)

  50Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man.†
51He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the

Jews, who himself was also waitinga for the kingdom of God. 52This man went to Pilate and
asked for the body of Jesus. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb
that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. 54That day was the
Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.

  55And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed

the tomb and how His body was laid.† 56Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant
oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

                             The Women Find the Tomb Empty

                              (Mt 28:1–8; Mk 16:1–8; Jn 20:1–18)


24 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other
   women with them,a came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.†
2But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.† 3Then they went in and did not find

the body of the Lord Jesus. 4And it happened, as they were greatlya perplexed about this, that
behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.† 5Then, as they were afraid and bowed
their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?† 6He
is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,
7saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified,
and the third day rise again.’ ”

  8And they remembered His words. 9Then they returned from the tomb and told all these

things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of
James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.† 11And their
words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12But Peter arose and
ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lyinga by themselves; and he
departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

                           Jesus Appears: The Road to Emmaus
                                       (Mk 16:12, 13)

  13Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which

was seven milesa from Jerusalem.† 14And they talked together of all these things which had
happened. 15So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and
went with them. 16But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.†

  17And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another

as you walk and are sad?”a

  18Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only
stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these
days?”

  19And He said to them, “What things?”

  So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty
in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how the chief priests and our rulers
delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21But we were hoping that it
was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since
these things happened.† 22Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb
early, astonished us. 23When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also
seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24And certain of those who were with us went
to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

  25Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the

prophets have spoken! 26Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into
His glory?”† 27And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the
Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

  28Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He

would have gone farther. 29But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward
evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

  30Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and
broke it, and gave it to them.† 31Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He
vanished from their sight.

  32And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us

on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”† 33So they rose up that very hour
and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered
together, 34saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35And they told
about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the
breaking of bread.

                              Jesus Appears to the Apostles

                                   (Mk 16:14; Jn 20:19–23)

  36Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to

them, “Peace to you.”† ω 37But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had
seen a spirit. 38And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in
your hearts?† 39Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a
spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

  40When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.a 41But while they still

did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42So they
gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.a 43And He took it and ate in their
presence.

                              Jesus Enlightens the Apostles

                                (Mt 28:16–20; Mk 16:15–18)

  44Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with
you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the
Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45And He opened their understanding, that they
might comprehend the Scriptures.

  46Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to

suffer and to risea from the dead the third day,† 47and that repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.† 48And you are
witnesses of these things. 49Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in
the city of Jerusalema until you are endued with power from on high.”†

                                     The Ascension

                                      (Mk 16:19, 20)

  50And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
51Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up

into heaven.† 52And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53and
were continually in the temple praising anda blessing God. Amen.b
                                               J O HN
                                    Previous     Home   Next

Chapters in John
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in John Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51

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Verses in John Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in John Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in John Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54

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Verses in John Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47

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Verses in John Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

71

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Verses in John Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53

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Verses in John Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59

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Verses in John Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41

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Verses in John Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42

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Verses in John Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57

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Verses in John Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

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Verses in John Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in John Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in John Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in John Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in John Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in John Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

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Verses in John Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42

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Verses in John Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in John Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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                                                           The Book of John

  Author   —According to tradition, St. John the Apostle (also called the Theologian because
of the profundity of his gospel) was assisted by St. Prochorus in writing this gospel.
John, “the beloved disciple” of Christ (13:23; 21:7, 20), served as the leading authority of
Ephesus for most of his ministry and wrote his gospel there. He was almost one
hundred years old when he died, c. AD 96–100.

  Date   —This gospel, written about AD 96, is usually considered the last of the four
gospels to be written, supplementing the other three.

  Major Theme     —The eternal Son of God has come in the flesh. The gospel was written “that
you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may
have life in His name” (20:31).

The Gospel of John has many theological themes. They include the following:

1 . The Trinity. In his gospel, John is quite explicit about the Persons of the Trinity and their relationships: They are three Persons in one

   nature. The Father is the Unbegotten, the Son is the Only Begotten (1 :1 8; 3 :1 6 , 1 8), and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father (1 5:2 6 ).

2 . Glory. The glory of God is preem inently m anifested in Christ's earthly m inistry —His Person, words, and works—but is also experienced by

   the Church in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Helper or Paraclete (1 4 :1 6 , 2 6 ; 1 5:2 6 ; 1 6 :7 ).

3 . The spiritual dimension. The m y stical, theological perspectiv e dom inates this gospel. The rev elation of div ine life and light is resisted by

   this age, resulting in great spiritual warfare: the kingdom of God v ersus “the world” as a fallen entity in rebellion against God.

4 . The sacramental dimension. John stresses the m y sterious and sacram ental presence and activ ity of God in the world, linking the sav ing

   work of Christ to baptism (3 :5) and the Eucharist (6 :52 –59 ).

5. The Church. The Gospel of John testifies to a strong sense of com m unity am ong the disciples, expressed through the plural “we” (1 :1 4 , 1 6 ).

   True disciples are those who believ e in Jesus as the incarnate Son of the Father, who are united with Him , and who here and now express

   the life of div ine lov e giv en by Christ.

6 . The Paschal Theme. Three Passov ers are specifically m entioned in John, hence the tradition that the public m inistry of Jesus encom passed

   a three-y ear period. During the final Passov er, Jesus, the Lam b of God (1 :2 9 , 3 6 ), leads His followers to a new Passov er through His Death

   and Resurrection.

7 . The Redemption of the World. In John's perspectiv e, the Div ine Word, the Son of God, cam e into the world to sav e the world and, through

   the life of the Church, to offer the whole world up to God. Christ and His Church begin this transform ation now.


Outline

I. The Witness, John the Baptist (1 :1 –51 )
         A. Prologue (1 :1 –1 8)

          B. The m ission of John the Baptist (1 :1 9 –51 )

  II. The Word Incarnate Transfigures Creation (2 :1 –1 0:4 2 )

         A. The new creation prefigured (2 :1 –2 5)

          B. Baptism m anifested (3 :1 –5:4 7 )

          C. The Eucharist m anifested: feeding of fiv e thousand (6 :1 –7 1 )

         D. The old creation transform ed (7 :1 –1 0:4 2 )

  III. The Word Incarnate Transfigures All Hum anity (1 1 :1 –1 7 :2 6 )

         A. Through death and resurrection: Lazarus (1 1 :1 –1 2 :1 1 )

          B. Through ascension into the kingdom : Palm Sunday (1 2 :1 2 –50)

          C. Through the m essianic banquet of the kingdom (1 3 :1 –1 7 :2 6 )

 IV. The Paschal Offering: Death and Resurrection (1 8:1 –2 1 :2 5)

         A. Death: the Passion of Christ (1 8:1 –1 9 :4 2 )

          B. Resurrection of Christ (2 0:1 –2 1 :2 5)



                                                              The Word Is God


1 In2 the beginning was the Word, and3 the Word was with God, and the Word was God.† ω
    He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him
nothing was made that was made.† 4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.† 5And
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehenda it.†

                                                         CHRISTOLOGY

The center of Christianity is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. In fact, He is the centerpiece of
all history. But the world struggles with His identity. Who is He? Is He God? Is He man?
Both? The Scriptures clearly answer these crucial questions.

  In his Gospel, John gives a specific and definitive explanation of who Christ is. “In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (1:1). John the
Baptist, the Forerunner of Christ, revealed God the Word as “the Light” (1:7). “The Word
became flesh and dwelt among us” (1:14). Who then is Jesus Christ?

  1 He is God, for He was with God from before all time. Clearly, the One born Jesus of
Nazareth did not have His beginning in His earthly birth. Rather, He is the eternal Son of
God, without beginning. There never was a time when the Son of God did not exist.
  2 He is also man, for He “became flesh.” He has become one of us, being like us in all
things, but without sin.

  3 He acts both as God and as man, doing what is appropriate for each nature in the unity
provided by His one divine Person. Never does divine nature and activity become changed
into human nature and activity. The two are in union without confusion. Christ does,
however, “energize” human nature with divine energy so that human nature is redeemed
from sin and death and brought into union with God. He thus “deifies” humanity.

  The miracle of these incomparable truths is known as the knowledge of Christ or
“Christology.” Many documents have expounded on Christology, but the definitive text is the
Nicene Creed, the outcome of the first and second Ecumenical Councils in the fourth century.
The Creed of Chalcedon (issued by the Fourth Ecumenical Council, AD 451) embodies other
truths concerning the Incarnation of the Word. These creeds set the doctrinal fences outside
of which we do not wander in our knowledge of Christ.

  The apostle John bears witness to Christ: “That which was from the beginning, which we
have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands
have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and
bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was
manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may
have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus
Christ” (1Jn 1:1–3).

  We, too, bear witness to Jesus Christ. For since God became man, and we are united with
Him in baptism, we experience His Incarnation in our lives. The miracle of Christology for us
is that, as the Son of God became man, we in turn may participate in God.


                           The Baptist's Witness to the Word

  6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.† 7This man came for a witness,

to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but
was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9That was the true Light which gives light to every
man coming into the world.a †

  10He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know
Him. 11He came to His own,a and His ownb did not receive Him. 12But as many as received
Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His
name:† 13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
of God.†

                     The Word Becomes Flesh to Reveal the Father

  14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of

the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.†

  15John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who
comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”

  16Anda of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.† 17For the law was given

through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has seen God at
any time. The only begotten Son,a who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.†

                                Who Is John the Baptist?

                               (Mt 3:1–6; Mk 1:1–6; Lk 3:1–6)

  19Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from

Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”†

  20He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

  21And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”

  He said, “I am not.”

  “Are you the Prophet?”

  And he answered, “No.”†

  22Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you say about yourself?”

  23He said: “I am
    ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

    “ Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ a

  as the prophet Isaiah said.”

                                                  Why Does John Baptize?

                                                       (Lk 3:15–18)

  24Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25And they asked him, saying, “Why
then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

 26John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you

whom you do not know.† 27It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose
sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”

  28These things were done in Bethabaraa beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

                                           The Baptist's Testimony to Christ

                                            (Mt 3:13–17; Mk 1:9–11; Lk 3:21, 22)

 29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God

who takes away the sin of the world!† ω 30This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man
who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 31I did not know Him; but that He should
be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”

 32And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and

He remained upon Him.† 33I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water
said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who
baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

                                         The Baptist's Disciples Follow Jesus

                                           (Mt 4:18–22; Mk 1:16–20; Lk 5:1–11)

  35Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.† ω 36And looking at Jesus as
He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
  37The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38Then Jesus turned, and
seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”

  They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You
staying?”

  39He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and
remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).

  40One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's

brother. 41He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the
Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42And he brought him to Jesus.

  Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah.a You shall be
called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).

  43The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him,

“Follow Me.”ω 44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip
found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also
the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

  46And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

  Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

  47Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed,

in whom is no deceit!”†

  48Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?”

  Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig
tree, I saw you.”†

  49Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King
of Israel!”

  50Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do
you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I
say to you, hereaftera you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and
descending upon the Son of Man.”†

                                  The First Sign at Cana


2 On  the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was
  there.† 2Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3And when they
ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”†

  4Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not
yet come.”

  5His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

  6Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification

of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.† 7Jesus said to them, “Fill the
waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8And He said to them, “Draw
some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9When the master of
the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but
the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.†
10And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the
guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

  11This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His

disciples believed in Him.†

  12After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples;
and they did not stay there many days.

                                  Cleansing the Temple

                          (Mt 21:12, 13; Mk 11:15–17; Lk 19:45, 46)

  13Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.† 14And He
found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing
business. 15When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with
the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.
16And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father's

house a house of merchandise!” 17Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal
for Your house has eatena Me up.”b

  18So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these

things?”†

  19Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it
up.”

  20Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it
up in three days?”

  21But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22Therefore, when He had risen from

the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them;a and they believed the
Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.

  23Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His

name when they saw the signs which He did.† 24But Jesus did not commit Himself to them,
because He knew all men, 25and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew
what was in man.

                            New Birth: Entering the Kingdom

   There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.† ω 2This man
3 came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come
from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

  3Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.”†

                                  THE NEW BIRTH

Early in His ministry, Jesus revealed the way to enter God’s eternal Kingdom. We must be
“born again” (3:3), a birth from above realized by water and the Spirit.
  In His conversation with Nicodemus, Christ states, “Unless one is born of water and the
Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (3:5). From the beginning, the Church has
recognized the “water” to be the water of baptism, “the Spirit” to be the Holy Spirit. Therefore,
the new birth consists of being joined to Christ in the water of baptism and receiving the Holy
Spirit through anointing or “chrismation.”

  Salvation, then, is more than forgiveness of sins, more than a mental acceptance of Christ
and His teachings. For in salvation we are given union with God through Christ, a right and
full relationship with the Holy Trinity, and the restoration of our full humanity. All these
things are accomplished through the Incarnation, the union of God and man in the Person of
Jesus Christ. Salvation, then, is founded on a substantial union of the believer with Christ in
His full humanity, a flesh-to-flesh relationship. Paul likens it to the joining of husband and
wife (Eph 5:23–32).

  Throughout their epistles, the apostles remind us the new birth is necessary for salvation.
We die to sin; then, buried with Christ and risen with Him, we are united to Christ and to His
body, the Church. We are cleansed, justified, and sanctified—all in baptism, “the washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Tts 3:5). Without our repentance and faith,
however, immersion in water would be of no effect.

  Some Christians bypass baptism and stress only faith. Why is the mystery of the water
necessary? Because just as Christ actually died on a cross, was buried, and rose again—all
through His faith and God’s grace—so we must actually be immersed in the sacramental
waters of baptism, made effectual through our faith and God’s grace.

  The basic form of baptism is simple. The person to be born again, joined to Christ, is
immersed in the water three times in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit (see Mt 28:19). The first-century Didache teaches, “If you do not have running water,
use whatever is available. And if you cannot do it in cold water, use warm. But if you have
neither, pour water on the head three times—in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

  In the new birth, a true mystery takes place. For in the sacrament of baptism, we die, going
down into the water to be mystically united to Christ in His death, and we live again, rising up
out of the water in His resurrected humanity. In short, we are born again.
  4Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second

time into his mother's womb and be born?”†

  5Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit,

he cannot enter the kingdom of God.† 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit.† 7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born
again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where
it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”†

  9Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”

                                   Life in the Kingdom

  10Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these

things? 11Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have
seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not
believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?† 13No one has ascended to heaven
but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.a 14And as
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,†
15that whoever believes in Him should not perish buta have eternal life. 16For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life.† 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn
the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.†

  18“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned

already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this
is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather
than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and
does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth
comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

                           The Preaching of John the Baptist

  22After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He

remained with them and baptized.† 23Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim,
because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 24For John had not
yet been thrown into prison.

  25Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about

purification. 26And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond
the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”†

  27John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him

from heaven. 28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have
been sent before Him.’ 29He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the
bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice.
Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.† 30He must increase, but I must decrease.† 31He who
comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He
who comes from heaven is above all. 32And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies;
and no one receives His testimony. 33He who has received His testimony has certified that
God is true. 34For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the
Spirit by measure. 35The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36He
who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not
see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”†

                                  The Samaritan Woman

                                 (Mt 4:12; Mk 1:14; Lk 4:14)


4 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and
  baptized more disciples than John 2(though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His
disciples), 3He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. 4But He needed to go through
Samaria.†

  5So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob

gave to his son Joseph.ω 6Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from
His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.†

  7A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8For His
disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
  9Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink

from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.†

  10Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to
you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living
water.”†

  11The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where

then do You get that living water? 12Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the
well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

  13Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14but
whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall
give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

  15The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to
draw.”

  16Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”†

  17The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.”


  Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18for you have had five
husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”

  19The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20Our fathers worshiped
on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to
worship.”†

  21Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this

mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22You worship what you do not know; we
know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23But the hour is coming, and now is,
when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking
such to worship Him. 24God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and
truth.”
  25The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When
He comes, He will tell us all things.”

  26Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”†

                                    The Harvest Is Ready

                            (Mt 4:13–17; Mk 1:14, 15; Lk 4:14, 15)

  27And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet

no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with her?”†

  28The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men,†
29“Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” 30Then
they went out of the city and came to Him.

  31In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”†

  32But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”

  33Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”

 34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His

work. 35Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I
say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!†
36And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows

and he who reaps may rejoice together.† 37For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and
another reaps.’ 38I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored,
and you have entered into their labors.”

 39And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the

woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40So when the Samaritans had come to
Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41And many more
believed because of His own word.

  42Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we

ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ,a the Savior of the
world.”†

  43Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee. 44For Jesus Himself

testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.† 45So when He came to Galilee, the
Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they
also had gone to the feast.†

                               A Nobleman's Son Is Healed

  46So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there

was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.† 47When he heard that Jesus had
come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his
son, for he was at the point of death. 48Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs
and wonders, you will by no means believe.”†

  49The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”†

  50Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that

Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51And as he was now going down, his servants met
him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”

   52Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday

at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53So the father knew that it was at the same hour in
which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.

  54This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

                                    A Paralytic Is Healed

    After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.† ω 2Now there is
5
    in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda,a having five
porches.† 3In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the
moving of the water. 4For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up
the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of
whatever disease he had.a 5Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight
years.† 6When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that
condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”†

  7The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water
is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

  8Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9And immediately the man was
made well, took up his bed, and walked.

  And that day was the Sabbath. 10The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the
Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”†

  11He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

  12Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”
13But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude

being in that place. 14Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you
have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”†

  15The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.†

                            Father and Son Work Together

  16For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him,a because He had done

these things on the Sabbath.† 17But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until
now, and I have been working.”ω

  18Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the

Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19Then
Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of
Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like
manner. 20For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and
He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21For as the Father raises
the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22For the Father
judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23that all should honor the Son
just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who
sent Him.
  24“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me
has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
25Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the

voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.† 26For as the Father has life in
Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27and has given Him authority to
execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28Do not marvel at this; for the hour is
coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29and come forth—those who
have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection
of condemnation. 30I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is
righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.†

  31“If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.† 32There is another who bears

witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33You have
sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34Yet I do not receive testimony from
man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35He was the burning and shining lamp,
and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36But I have a greater witness than
John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear
witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has
testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38But you
do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39You
search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which
testify of Me. 40But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

  41“I do not receive honor from men. 42But I know you, that you do not have the love of

God in you. 43I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes
in his own name, him you will receive. 44How can you believe, who receive honor from one
another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 45Do not think that I
shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust.
46For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47But if you do
not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

                              Feeding of the Five Thousand

                          (Mt 14:13–21; Mk 6:30–44; Lk 9:10–17)
        these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.† 2Then
6 After
  a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those
who were diseased.† 3And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His
disciples.

  4Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and
seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread,
that these may eat?”† 6But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.

  7Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that
every one of them may have a little.”

  8One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, 9“There is a lad here
who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

  10Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So

the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11And Jesus took the loaves, and when He
had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciplesa to those sitting
down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12So when they were filled, He said
to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13Therefore
they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves
which were left over by those who had eaten. 14Then those men, when they had seen the sign
that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”†

                                  Walking on Rough Seas

                                 (Mt 14:22–33; Mk 6:45–52)

  15Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to
make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

  16Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,† 17got into the boat, and
went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to
them. 18Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19So when they had rowed
about three or four miles,a they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and
they were afraid. 20But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21Then they willingly
received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

                                Work for Heavenly Bread

  22On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea

saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered,a and
that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone
— 23however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the
Lord had given thanks— 24when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His
disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25And when they
found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”

  26Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because

you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.† 27Do not labor for the
food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man
will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

  28Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

  29Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him
whom He sent.”

                                 Jesus, the Bread of Life

  30Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and

believe You? What work will You do? 31Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is
written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”a

  32Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread

from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is
He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

  34Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”

  35And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger,
and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36But I said to you that you have seen Me and
yet do not believe. 37All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to
Me I will by no means cast out. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will,
but the will of Him who sent Me.† 39This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He
has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40And this is the
will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have
everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

  41The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came

down from heaven.” 42And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and
mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

                               Eat His Flesh, Drink His Blood

  43Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. 44No
one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the
last day. 45It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’a Therefore
everyone who has heard and learnedb from the Father comes to Me. 46Not that anyone has
seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47Most assuredly, I say
to you, he who believes in Mea has everlasting life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your fathers
ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50This is the bread which comes down from
heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down from
heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My
flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”†

  52The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His
flesh to eat?”

  53Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the

Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.† 54Whoever eats My flesh and
drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For My flesh is food
indeed,a and My blood is drink indeed. 56He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides
in Me, and I in him. 57As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he
who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58This is the bread which came down from heaven
—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

  59These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

                                   The Words of Eternal Life

  60Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who

can understand it?”†

  61When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them,

“Does this offend you? 62What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was
before? 63It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to
you are spirit, and they are life. 64But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus
knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
65And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been
granted to him by My Father.”

  66From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67Then
Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

  68But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of

eternal life.† 69Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the
living God.”a

  70Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71He
spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of
the twelve.

                            Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles


7 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because
  the Jewsa sought to kill Him.† 2Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.† 3His
brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also
may see the works that You are doing.† 4For no one does anything in secret while he himself
seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5For even His
brothers did not believe in Him.
 6Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7The

world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8You go
up to this feast. I am not yeta going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.”
9When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.

   10But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as

it were in secret.† 11Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” 12And
there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”;
others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” 13However, no one spoke openly
of Him for fear of the Jews.

                                Jesus Teaches at the Feast

  14Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15And the
Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”

  16Jesusa answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17If
anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or
whether I speak on My own authority.† 18He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory;
but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in
Him. 19Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to
kill Me?”

  20The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?”

  21Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. 22Moses therefore
gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a
man on the Sabbath. 23If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of
Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well
on the Sabbath?† 24Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous
judgment.”

  25Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? 26But
look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is
trulya the Christ? 27However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes,
no one knows where He is from.”†

  28Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you
know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom
you do not know. 29Buta I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

  30Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour

had not yet come.† 31And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ
comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”

  32The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the

Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. 33Then Jesus said to them,a “I shall
be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me.† 34You will seek Me and
not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.”

  35Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not

find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?†
36What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you
cannot come’?”

                                The Promise of Pentecost

  37On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone

thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.† ω 38He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,
out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39But this He spoke concerning the Spirit,
whom those believinga in Him would receive; for the Holyb Spirit was not yet given, because
Jesus was not yet glorified.

                               Reaction to Jesus’ Teaching

  40Therefore manya from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the

Prophet.”† 41Others said, “This is the Christ.”

  But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee?† 42Has not the Scripture said that the
Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”
43So there was a division among the people because of Him. 44Now some of them wanted to
take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

  45Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have

you not brought Him?”†

  46The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”

  47Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? 48Have any of the rulers or

the Pharisees believed in Him? 49But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”

  50Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night,a being one of them) said to them,† 51“Does
our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”

  52They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no

prophet has arisena out of Galilee.”

  53And everyone went to his own house.a †

                         Jesus Restores the Adulterous Woman


8 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
  1 2Now earlya in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to

Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a
woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4they said to Him,
“Teacher, this woman was caughta in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses, in the law,
commandeda us that such should be stoned.b But what do You say?”c † 6This they said,
testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped
down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.a

  7So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself upa and said to them, “He who is

without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”† 8And again He stooped down and
wrote on the ground. 9Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience,a went
out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the
woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the
woman, He said to her,a “Woman, where are those accusers of yours?b Has no one
condemned you?”

  11She said, “No one, Lord.”


  And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go anda sin no more.”

                                 Jesus, Light of the World

  12Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me

shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”†

  13The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not

true.”†

  14Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true,
for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from
and where I am going. 15You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16And yet if I do
judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. 17It is
also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18I am One who bears witness
of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”

  19Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?”

  Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would
have known My Father also.”†

  20These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid
hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.

  21Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in

your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”†

  22So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?”

  23And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I

am not of this world. 24Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not
believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
  25Then they said to Him, “Who are You?”


  And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26I have
many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to
the world those things which I heard from Him.”

  27They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.

  28Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I

am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.†
29And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those

things that please Him.” 30As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

                              The Truth Shall Make You Free

  31Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My

disciples indeed.† 32And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”†

  33They answered Him, “We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to
anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”

  34Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of

sin. 35And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36Therefore
if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

                           Sons of the Devil Reject the Son of God

  37“I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word

has no place in you.† 38I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have
seen witha your father.”

  39They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”

  Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.
40But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God.

Abraham did not do this. 41You do the deeds of your father.”
  Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”

  42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth

and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.† 43Why do you not
understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44You are of your
father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the
beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks
a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.† 45But because I
tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the
truth, why do you not believe Me? 47He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do
not hear, because you are not of God.”

  48Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a

Samaritan and have a demon?”†

  49Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
50And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51Most assuredly, I
say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”

                                The Father Honors the Son

  52Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead,

and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ 53Are
You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You
make Yourself out to be?”

 54Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors

Me, of whom you say that He is youra God.† 55Yet you have not known Him, but I know
Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep
His word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

  57Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen
Abraham?”

  58Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”†
  59Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the

temple,a going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

                                 The Man Born Blind Sees

       as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.† ω 2And His disciples
9 Now
  asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

  3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God

should be revealed in him.† 4Ia must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the
night is coming when no one can work.† 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the
world.”†

 6When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and

He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.† 7And He said to him, “Go, wash in the
pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.†

  8Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blinda said, “Is
not this he who sat and begged?”

  9Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.”a

  He said, “I am he.”

  10Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”

  11He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to

me, ‘Go to the pool ofa Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”

  12Then they said to him, “Where is He?”

  He said, “I do not know.”

                          Those Who See, Those Who Do Not

 13They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14Now it was a Sabbath

when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15Then the Pharisees also asked him again
how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I
see.”

  16Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not
keep the Sabbath.”

  Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division
among them.†

  17They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your
eyes?”

  He said, “He is a prophet.”

  18But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his

sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19And they asked them,
saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”

  20His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was

born blind; 21but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do
not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22His parents said these things
because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that
He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23Therefore his parents said, “He is of
age; ask him.”

  24So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We

know that this Man is a sinner.”†

  25He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know:

that though I was blind, now I see.”†

  26Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”†

  27He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear
it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”

  28Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29We
know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”

  30The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not

know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31Now we know that God does not hear
sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32Since the
world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind.†
33If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

  34They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching
us?” And they cast him out.

  35Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him,

“Do you believe in the Son of God?”a

  36He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”

  37And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.”

  38Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

 39And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see

may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”†

  40Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him,
“Are we blind also?”

  41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’
Therefore your sin remains.

                               Jesus, the Good Shepherd


10 “Most  assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but
   climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.† 2But he who enters by the
door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his
voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.† 4And when he brings out his
own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5Yet they
will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of
strangers.” 6Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He
spoke to them.

                            Jesus Gives His Life for the Sheep

  7Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8All who ever came before Mea are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.† 9I
am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find
pasture.ω 10The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come
that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.†

  11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.† 12But a
hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming
and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13The
hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14I am the good
shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15As the Father knows Me, even
so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16And other sheep I have which
are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one
flock and one shepherd.†

  17“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.†
18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I
have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

  19Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. 20And
many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?”

  21Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the

eyes of the blind?”†

                          Jesus Gives Eternal Life to the Sheep

  22Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.† 23And Jesus walked

in the temple, in Solomon's porch. 24Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How
long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
                                 I and My Father Are One

  25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My

Father's name, they bear witness of Me.† 26But you do not believe, because you are not of My
sheep, as I said to you.a † 27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them

out of My hand. 29My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is
able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. 30I and My Father are one.”†

  31Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32Jesus answered them, “Many good
works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”

  33The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for
blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

  34Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’?a † 35If He

called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36do
you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’
because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe
Me; 38but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and
believea that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” 39Therefore they sought again to seize Him,
but He escaped out of their hand.†

   40And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at

first, and there He stayed. 41Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but
all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.” 42And many believed in Him there.

                                       Lazarus Dies


11 Now  a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister
   Martha.† ω 2It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His
feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3Therefore the sisters sent to Him,
saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

  4When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God,
that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”†

  5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6So, when He heard that he was sick,

He stayed two more days in the place where He was.† 7Then after this He said to the
disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”

  8The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going

there again?”†

  9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he

does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10But if one walks in the night, he
stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11These things He said, and after that He said to
them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”†

  12Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13However, Jesus spoke of
his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.

  14Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15And I am glad for your sakes that I
was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.”

 16Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we

may die with Him.”†

                            I Am the Resurrection and the Life

  17So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.† 18Now

Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two milesa away. 19And many of the Jews had joined the
women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.†

  20Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary

was sitting in the house.† 21Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my
brother would not have died.† 22But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will
give You.”

  23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”†
  24Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

  25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he

may die, he shall live. 26And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe
this?”

  27She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to
come into the world.”

  28And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her

sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.”† 29As soon as she heard that,
she arose quickly and came to Him. 30Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but wasa in
the place where Martha met Him. 31Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and
comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying,
“She is going to the tomb to weep there.”a

  32Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying

to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”†

  33Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He

groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34And He said, “Where have you laid him?”

  They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

  35Jesus wept.† 36Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

  37And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have
kept this man from dying?”

                                     Lazarus Is Raised

  38Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay

against it. 39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

  Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench,
for he has been dead four days.”†
  40Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory

of God?” 41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying.a
And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.† 42And I
know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that
they may believe that You sent Me.” 43Now when He had said these things, He cried with a
loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”† 44And he who had died came out bound hand and foot
with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and
let him go.”†

                            The Sanhedrin Plots to Kill Jesus

  45Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did,

believed in Him. 46But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things
Jesus did. 47Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall
we do? For this Man works many signs. 48If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe
in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”

  49And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing

at all,† 50nor do you consider that it is expedient for usa that one man should die for the
people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51Now this he did not say on his own
authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
52and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of
God who were scattered abroad.

  53Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. 54Therefore Jesus no longer
walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to
a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.

  55And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to

Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.† 56Then they sought Jesus, and spoke
among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to
the feast?” 57Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if
anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.

                              Jesus Anointed for His Burial
12 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had
   been dead,a whom He had raised from the dead.† ω 2There they made Him a supper;
and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3Then Mary
took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet
with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.†

  4But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 5“Why

was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denariia and given to the poor?” 6This he
said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and
he used to take what was put in it.

  7But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kepta this for the day of My burial. 8For the poor
you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

  9Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake

only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10But the
chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11because on account of him many of the
Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

                                             The Triumph of Palm Sunday

                                         (Mt 21:1–9; Mk 11:1–11; Lk 19:28–40)

  12The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus

was coming to Jerusalem,† 13took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and
cried out:

    “Hosanna!

    ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ a

    The King of Israel!”

  14Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:

    15
     “ Fear not, daughter of Zion;

    Behold, your King is coming,

    Sitting on a donkey's colt.” a

  16His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then
they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these
things to Him.

                                    Dying to This World

  17Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and

raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18For this reason the people also met Him, because
they heard that He had done this sign. 19The Pharisees therefore said among themselves,
“You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

  20Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast.†
21Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir,
we wish to see Jesus.”

  22Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

  23But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be

glorified. 24Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and
dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.† 25He who loves his life will lose
it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26If anyone serves Me,
let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him
My Father will honor.

  27“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for

this purpose I came to this hour.† 28Father, glorify Your name.”

  Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”†

                           Judgment of This World: The Cross

  29Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said,

“An angel has spoken to Him.”†

  30Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.
31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.† 32And I, if

I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33This He said, signifying by
what death He would die.

  34The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever;
and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

                                                        Become Sons of Light

  35Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have
the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is
going.† 36While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

                                             Who Has Believed Jesus’ Words?

  37But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him,
38that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:

    “ Lord, who has believed our report?

    And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” a

  39Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:

    40
         “ He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,

    Lest they should see with their eyes,

    Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,

    So that I should heal them.” a †

  41These things Isaiah said whena he saw His glory and spoke of Him.†

  42Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees

they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;† 43for they loved the
praise of men more than the praise of God.

                                               Jesus’ Words: From the Father

 44Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him

who sent Me. 45And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46I have come as a light into
the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47And if anyone hears
My words and does not believe,a I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but
to save the world.† 48He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which
judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49For I have not
spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I
should say and what I should speak. 50And I know that His command is everlasting life.
Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

                                 Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet


13 Now  before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that
   He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the
world, He loved them to the end.†

  2And supper being ended,a the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot,

Simon's son, to betray Him,† 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His
hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,ω 4rose from supper and laid
aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5After that, He poured water into a
basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He
was girded.† 6Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing
my feet?”†

  7Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you
will know after this.”

  8Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”

  Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

  9Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

  10Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean;

and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He
said, “You are not all clean.”

  12So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to

them, “Do you know what I have done to you?† 13You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say
well, for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to
wash one another's feet. 15For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have
done to you. 16Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he
who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17If you know these things, blessed are you if you
do them.

                               The Betrayer in Their Midst

                         (Mt 26:21–25; Mk 14:18–21; Lk 22:21–23)

  18“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture

may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Mea has lifted up his heel against Me.’b 19Now I
tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He.
20Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who
receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

  21When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said,

“Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22Then the disciples looked at one
another, perplexed about whom He spoke.

  23Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.†
24Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.

  25Then, leaning backa on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”

  26Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.”

And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.† 27Now after the
piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28But
no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29For some thought, because
Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the
feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.

  30Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.

                                 The New Commandment

  31So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is
glorified in Him.† 32If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and
glorify Him immediately. 33Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will
seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.
34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that

you also love one another.† 35By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love
for one another.”

                                 Peter's Denials Foretold

                         (Mt 26:31–35; Mk 14:27–31; Lk 22:31–38)

  36Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”

 Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow
Me afterward.”†

  37Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your
sake.”

  38Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to
you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

                                  The Way to the Father

     “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2In My Father's
14
     house are many mansions;a if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a
place for you.b † 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to
Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4And where I go you know, and the way you
know.”

  5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know
the way?”

  6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father

except through Me.†

  7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you
know Him and have seen Him.”

  8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?

He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?† 10Do
you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I
do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.†
11Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of
the works themselves.

  12“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also;

and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.† 13And whatever you ask
in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.† 14If you aska
anything in My name, I will do it.

                              The Coming of the Holy Spirit

  15“If you love Me, keepa My commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and He will give

you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—† 17the Spirit of truth, whom the
world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He
dwells with you and will be in you.†

                                     The Son's Presence

  18“I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

   19“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I

live, you will live also.† 20At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me,
and I in you.† 21He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And
he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

  22Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us,
and not to the world?”

  23Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My
Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24He who does
not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the
Father's who sent Me.

                                   The Son's Departure

  25“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26But the Helper, the
Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to
your remembrance all things that I said to you.† 27Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to
you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid.† 28You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you
loved Me, you would rejoice because I said,a ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is
greater than I.†

  29“And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may

believe.† 30I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he
has nothing in Me.† 31But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father
gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.†

                           Union and Communion with Christ

                                      is the vinedresser.† 2Every branch in Me that does
15 “I am the true vine, and My Father
                               a
     not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may
bear more fruit. 3You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the
vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

  5“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much

fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a
branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are
burned. 7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you willa ask what you desire, and it
shall be done for you. 8By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be
My disciples.

  9“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10If you keep My
commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments
and abide in His love.†

  11“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy

may be full. 12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.†
13Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14You are My

friends if you do whatever I command you.† 15No longer do I call you servants, for a servant
does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I
heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose Me, but I chose you
and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that
whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17These things I command you,
that you love one another. ω

                                    The World's Hatred

  18“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.† 19If you were of
the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you
out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A
servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If
they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21But all these things they will do to you for My
name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22If I had not come and spoken to
them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23He who hates Me
hates My Father also. 24If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they
would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25But this
happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me
without a cause.’a

  26“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of

truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.† 27And you also will bear witness,
because you have been with Me from the beginning.

          things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2They will
16 “These
   put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think
that he offers God service. 3And these things they will do to youa because they have not
known the Father nor Me. 4But these things I have told you, that when thea time comes, you
may remember that I told you of them.

  “And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

                                The Work of the Holy Spirit

  5“But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You

going?’ 6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.†
7Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go

away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.† 8And when He
has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:† 9of sin,
because they do not believe in Me; 10of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see
Me no more; 11of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

  12“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13However, when
He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His
own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.†
14He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15All things that

the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.a

                        Death, Resurrection, Ascension Foretold

  16“A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me,

because I go to the Father.”†

  17Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A
little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and,
‘because I go to the Father’?” 18They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little
while’? We do not know what He is saying.”

  19Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring
among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little
while, and you will see Me’? 20Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament,
but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
21A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she
has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being
has been born into the world.† 22Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and
your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

  23“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask

the Father in My name He will give you. 24Until now you have asked nothing in My name.
Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

  25“These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I

will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.†
26In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for

you;† 27for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that
I came forth from God. 28I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again,
I leave the world and go to the Father.”

  29His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of

speech! 30Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should
question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”

  31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now
come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not
alone, because the Father is with Me. 33These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you
may have peace. In the world you willa have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have
overcome the world.”

                                Christ's Prayer for Himself


17 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has
   come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,† ω 2as You have given Him
authority over all flesh, that He shoulda give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.
3And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom

You have sent.† 4I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have
given Me to do.† 5And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which
I had with You before the world was.
                             Christ's Prayer for the Apostles

  6“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world.

They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.† 7Now they have
known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8For I have given to them the
words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I
came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

  9“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for

they are Yours.† 10And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.
11Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy

Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me,a that they may be one as
We are.† 12While I was with them in the world,a I kept them in Your name. Those whom You
gave Me I have kept;b and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture
might be fulfilled.† 13But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they
may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14I have given them Your word; and the world has
hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.† 15I do not pray
that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
16They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them by Your truth.

Your word is truth.† 18As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
19And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

                             Christ's Prayer for the Church

 20“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who willa believe in Me through their

word;† 21that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may
be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22And the glory which You gave
Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23I in them, and You in Me;
that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me,
and have loved them as You have loved Me.

                                  Christ's Prayer for All

  24“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they
may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of
the world. 25O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and
these have known that You sent Me. 26And I have declared to them Your name, and will
declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”†

                               Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest

                        (Mt 26:47–56; Mk 14:43–52; Lk 22:47–53)


18 When  Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook
   Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.† 2And Judas,
who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.† 3Then
Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and
Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4Jesus therefore, knowing all
things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you
seeking?”†

  5They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”


 Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them.† 6Now
when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.†

  7Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”

  And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

  8Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go

their way,”† 9that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me
I have lost none.”

  10Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut
off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

  11So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which
My Father has given Me?”

                        Before the High Priests; Peter's Denials
                          (Mt 26:57–75; Mk 14:53–72; Lk 22:54–71)

  12Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested

Jesus and bound Him. 13And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law
of Caiaphas who was high priest that year.† 14Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that
it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

  15And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did anothera disciple. Now that disciple was

known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.† 16But
Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest,
went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17Then the servant girl
who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?”

  He said, “I am not.”†

  18Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold,
and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

  19The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.†

  20Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in

the temple, where the Jews always meet,a and in secret I have said nothing. 21Why do you
ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

  22And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with
the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

  23Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do
you strike Me?”

  24Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

  25Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not
also one of His disciples, are you?”

  He denied it and said, “I am not!”
   26One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did

I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster
crowed.†

                                     Jesus Before Pilate

                         (Mt 27:1, 2, 11–27; Mk 15:1–15; Lk 23:1–22)

  28Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they
themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat
the Passover.† 29Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring
against this Man?”

  30They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered
Him up to you.”

  31Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.”


  Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,”† 32that the
saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.†

  33Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the
King of the Jews?”

  34Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this
concerning Me?”

  35Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You

to me. What have You done?”†

  36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My
servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is
not from here.”

  37Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

  Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this
cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of
the truth hears My voice.”

  38Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the

Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.†

  39“But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you
therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

  40Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a
robber.

      So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.† 2And the soldiers twisted a crown of
19
      thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. 3Then they said,a
“Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.

  4Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that
you may know that I find no fault in Him.”

                                      Pilate's Judgment

                          (Mt 27:28–81; Mk 15:16–20; Lk 23:23–25)

  5Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to
them, “Behold the Man!”

  6Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify
Him, crucify Him!”

  Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”ω

  7The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to oura law He ought to die,

because He made Himself the Son of God.”†

  8Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, 9and went again into
the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

  10Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have
power to crucify You, and power to release You?”†

  11Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you

from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”†

  12From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this
Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

  13When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the

judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14Now it was
the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews,
“Behold your King!”†

  15But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!”

  Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”

  The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

  16Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away.a

                                          Crucifixion

                          (Mt 27:32–44; Mk 15:21–32; Lk 23:26–43)

  17And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called

in Hebrew, Golgotha, 18where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either
side, and Jesus in the center. 19Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the
writing was:

                      JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.†

  20Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near
the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

  21Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the
Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ”
  22Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

  23Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four
parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from
the top in one piece.† 24They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast
lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:

    “ They divided My garments among them,

    And for My clothing they cast lots.” a

  Therefore the soldiers did these things.

                                                  Care for Mary

  25Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife

of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.† ω 26When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple
whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27Then He
said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his
own home.

                                                   Jesus’ Death

                                      (Mt 27:45–50; Mk 15:33–37; Lk 23:44–49)

  28After this, Jesus, knowinga that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture

might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”† 29Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and
they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30So when
Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up
His spirit.†

                                                His Side Is Pierced

  31Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the
cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs
might be broken, and that they might be taken away.ω 32Then the soldiers came and broke
the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33But when they came to
Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34But one of the
soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.† 35And he
who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the
truth, so that you may believe. 36For these things were done that the Scripture should be
fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”a 37And again another Scripture says, “They
shall look on Him whom they pierced.”a

                                    The Burial of Jesus

                         (Mt 27:57–60; Mk 15:42–47; Lk 23:50–56)

  38After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the
Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission.
So he came and took the body of Jesus.† 39And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by
night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40Then
they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of
the Jews is to bury. 41Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the
garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42So there they laid Jesus, because of
the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

                                    The Tomb Is Empty

                            (Mt 28:1–8; Mk 16:1–8; Lk 24:1–12)


20 Now    the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was
   still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.† 2Then she ran
and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them,
“They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid
Him.”†

  3Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb.† 4So they

both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5And he,
stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6Then
Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying
there, 7and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths,
but folded together in a place by itself.† 8Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first,
went in also; and he saw and believed. 9For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He
must rise again from the dead.† 10Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

                           Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

  11But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and

looked into the tomb.† 12And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the
other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13Then they said to her, “Woman, why are
you weeping?”

  She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they
have laid Him.”†

  14Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did

not know that it was Jesus.† 15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are
you seeking?”

  She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell
me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

  16Jesus said to her, “Mary!”


  She turned and said to Him,a “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).†

  17Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to
My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God
and your God.’ ”†

  18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord,a and that He

had spoken these things to her.†

                             Jesus Appears to Ten Disciples

 19Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut

where the disciples were assembled,a for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst,
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”ω 20When He had said this, He showed them His
hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
  21So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”†
22And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy

Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any,
they are retained.”

  24Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.†
25The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

  So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into
the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

  26And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came,

the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27Then He said to
Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it
into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

  28And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

  29Jesus said to him, “Thomas,a because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are
those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

                               The Purpose of John's Gospel

  30And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not

written in this book;† 31but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

                                 Jesus Eats with the Eleven


21 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias,
   and in this way He showed Himself:† 2Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael
of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.
3Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”


  They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediatelya got into
the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4But when the morning had now come, Jesus
stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.† 5Then Jesus said to
them, “Children, have you any food?”

  They answered Him, “No.”

  6And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”

So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.†

  7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon
Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and
plunged into the sea. 8But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far
from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.† 9Then, as soon as they
had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10Jesus said to
them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”

  11Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-

three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.† 12Jesus said to them,
“Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—
knowing that it was the Lord.† 13Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and
likewise the fish.†

  14This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised
from the dead.

                         Jesus Restores and Commissions Peter

  15So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah,a do
you love Me more than these?”

  He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”

  He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”†

  16He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah,a do you love Me?”

  He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
  He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

  17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah,a do you love Me?” Peter was grieved
because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”

  And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

  Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger,
you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out
your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”† 19This He
spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said
to him, “Follow Me.”

                            The Beloved Disciple and His Book

  20Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had

leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”†
21Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”

  22Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow
Me.”

  23Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus
did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that
to you?”

  24This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know

that his testimony is true.†

  25And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by
one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Amen.†
                                               ACT S
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Chapters in Acts
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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Acts Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47

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Verses in Acts Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Acts Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37

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Verses in Acts Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42

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Verses in Acts Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Acts Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

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Verses in Acts Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

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Verses in Acts Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43

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Verses in Acts Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48

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Verses in Acts Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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Verses in Acts Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Acts Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52

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Verses in Acts Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Acts Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41

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Verses in Acts Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

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Verses in Acts Chapter 17
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34

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Verses in Acts Chapter 18
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Acts Chapter 19
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41

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Verses in Acts Chapter 20
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

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Verses in Acts Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

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Verses in Acts Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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Verses in Acts Chapter 23
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35

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Verses in Acts Chapter 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Acts Chapter 25
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Acts Chapter 26
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in Acts Chapter 27
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44

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Verses in Acts Chapter 28
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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                                                       The Book of Acts

  Author   —Traditionally, Acts is ascribed to Luke—“the beloved physician,” as Paul calls
him (Col 4:14); the “disciple of Paul,” as St. John Chrysostom describes him. It is a
continuation by Luke of the account given in his gospel (see note on 1:1).

  Date   —Acts was written about AD 75–85, some time after the composition of the Gospel
of Luke.

  Major Theme      —The spread of the gospel by the apostles from Jerusalem to the whole
world (1:8). The Book of Acts recounts the triumphant march of the Christian mission
from Jerusalem throughout the Roman empire. This achievement points to the work of
the Holy Spirit, who descended on the early Church, empowering the apostles and other
missionaries to carry the good news of salvation. At the same time, Acts narrates the
expansion of the Church by means of small congregations.

The primary subtheme of Acts is the same as the major theme of the Gospel of Luke:
Immanuel, God with us. In Luke's gospel, God is with us in His incarnate Son. In Acts,
the incarnate Son of God is yet present in the Church by the power of the Holy Spirit.

  Background     —The Acts of the Apostles is a spiritual and theological record of how the
Church developed, as seen through the actions of the early Christians. The book is not
to be read as a blueprint for reproducing the specific details and aspects of the Church
which we read there. However, it is of great importance for understanding the
organization and structure of the Church; its method of resolving controversies; the
role of apostles, bishops, priests (elders), and deacons; and the spiritual life of the
Church.

Outline

I. Introduction (1 :1 –3 )

II. The Birth of the Church (1 :4 –1 2 :2 4 )

       A. Preparation for the church (1 :4 –2 6 )

       B. Beginning of the church (2 :1 –4 :3 7 )

       C. Life in the church (5:1 –7 :6 0)

       D. Persecution and expansion of the church (8:1 –1 2 :2 4 )
  III. The Growth of the Church from Antioch: The Labor of Paul (1 2 :2 5–2 8:3 1 )

         A. Barnabas and Saul com m issioned (1 2 :2 5–1 3 :3 )

         B. The first m issionary journey (1 3 :4 –1 4 :2 8)

         C. The Jerusalem Council (1 5:1 –3 5)

         D. The second m issionary journey (1 5:3 6 –1 8:2 2 )

         E. The third m issionary journey (1 8:2 3 –2 1 :1 4 )

          F. Paul in Jerusalem (2 1 :1 5–2 3 :2 2 )

         G. The journey to Rom e (2 3 :2 3 –2 8:3 1 )



                                                      From Passover to Pentecost

    The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,†ω
1   2until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given

commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,†

                                   Days 1–39: Jesus’ Promise of the Holy Spirit

    3to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs,
being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of
God.†

    4And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from
Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from
Me;† 5for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not
many days from now.” 6Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying,
“Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”† 7And He said to them, “It is not
for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8But you
shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to
Mea in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

                                                        Day 40: The Ascension

  9Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud

received Him out of their sight.† 10And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He
went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11who also said, “Men of Galilee,
why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into
heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

                                         Days 40–49: Preparation for Pentecost

  12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem,

a Sabbath day's journey.† 13And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room
where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew
and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.
14These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,a with the women and Mary
the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

  15And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciplesa (altogether the number of

names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16“Men and brethren, this Scripture had
to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas,
who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus;† 17for he was numbered with us and
obtained a part in this ministry.”

  18(Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he

burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.† 19And it became known to all those
dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field
of Blood.)

  20“For it is written in the Book of Psalms:

    ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate,

    And let no one live in it’;a

  and,

    ‘Letb another take his office.’ c†

  21“Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went

in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken
up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

 23And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and

Matthias. 24And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which
of these two You have chosen 25to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which
Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” 26And they cast their lots, and
the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.†

                                     Day 50: Pentecost

       the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accorda in one place.†ω
2 When
  2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled
the whole house where they were sitting. 3Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as
of fire, and one sat upon each of them.† 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.†

                                    CHRISMATION

From earliest times the Church has practiced chrismation immediately following baptism. In
the sacrament of chrismation (Gr. chrismatis, “anointing”) the newly baptized person
receives the Holy Spirit through anointing with oil by the bishop or priest. The roots of this
sacrament are clear in both the Old and New Testaments and are especially brought to light
on the Day of Pentecost.

  Promises of the Holy Spirit from the Old Testament. In his sermon on Pentecost, St. Peter
quotes the well-known prophecy of Joel, “I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh” (2:17; see
Joel 3:1). This promise was significant because under the old covenant, the gift of the Spirit
had been given only to a few—the patriarchs, the prophets, and some of the judges. Certain
leaders of Israel were indwelt with the Holy Spirit to accomplish their tasks. Joel, however,
prophesied that the Holy Spirit would be given to all God’s people, “all flesh.” This was
fulfilled at Pentecost, for Peter exclaims, “this [outpouring of the Spirit] is what was spoken
by the prophet Joel” (2:16).

  Other Old Testament prophets who speak of this same promise of the Spirit include
Jeremiah (Jer 38:31–34) and Ezekiel (Ezk 36:25–27). In fact, the Ezekiel passage ties
together the water and the Spirit in a prophetic vision of baptism and chrismation.

  Jesus promises the Holy Spirit. Our Lord Jesus Christ repeatedly promised the gift of the
Holy Spirit to His disciples. Early in His public ministry He said, “ ‘If anyone thirsts, let him
come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will
flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit” (Jn 7:37–39). Jesus also
said, “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you
forever” (Jn 14:16).

  Christ promised the Holy Spirit would reveal truth to the Church. “When He, the Spirit of
truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority,
but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me,
for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (Jn 16:13, 14). Jesus says the Holy
Spirit will bring glory to Him, Christ. This gives us an excellent means of testing whether or
not acts attributed to the Holy Spirit do indeed belong to Him.

  The last words of Christ before His Ascension include a promise: “John truly baptized with
water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (1:5). This
word was fulfilled ten days later on the Day of Pentecost.

  How is the Holy Spirit given to us? The people who heard Peter speak at Pentecost asked
him how they might receive salvation. He answered, “Repent, and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit” (2:38). We repent (turn from our sins and toward Christ); we are baptized;
we are given “the gift of the Holy Spirit,” chrismation. That practice has never changed.

  In Acts 8, Philip, the deacon and evangelist, preached in Samaria (vv. 5–8). Many believed
and were baptized (v. 12). The apostles came and later confirmed these new believers with the
gift of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands (vv. 14–17). Here is the sacrament of
chrismation following Holy Baptism. Later, the apostle Paul met some disciples of John the
Baptist who had not been present when Peter spoke at Pentecost (19:1–7). They believed in
Christ, “were baptized” (v. 5), and “the Holy Spirit came upon them” (v. 6), again through the
hands of an apostle.

  The promise of God includes both our union with Christ in Holy Baptism and the gift of the
Holy Spirit at chrismation.


                                   Witness to the World

  5And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
6And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because

everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7Then they were all amazed and marveled,
saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8And how is it that we
hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9Parthians and Medes and Elamites,
those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and
Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and
proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful
works of God.” 12So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever
could this mean?”

  13Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

                                          Witness to the Jews: Peter's Sermon

  14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea

and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.† 15For these
are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

                                                      The Holy Spirit Has Come

  16But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:†

    17
     ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

    That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

    Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

    Your young men shall see visions,

    Your old men shall dream dreams.

    18
         And on My menservants and on My maidservants

    I will pour out My Spirit in those days;

    And they shall prophesy.

    19
         I will show wonders in heaven above

    And signs in the earth beneath:

    Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

    20
         The sun shall be turned into darkness,

    And the moon into blood,

    Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

    21
     And it shall come to pass

    That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
    Shall be saved.’ a

                                                        Jesus Is the Messiah

  22“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by
miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves
also know— 23Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God,
you have takena by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24whom God raised up,
having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
25For David says concerning Him:

    ‘I foresaw the LORD always before my face,

    For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. †

    26
         Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;

    Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.

    27
     For You will not leave my soul in Hades,

    Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

    28
         You have made known to me the ways of life;

    You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’ a

  29“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both

dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Therefore, being a prophet, and
knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to
the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,a 31he, foreseeing this, spoke
concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His
flesh see corruption. 32This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
33Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the
promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

  34“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

    ‘The Lord said to my Lord,

    “Sit at My right hand,

    35
     Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ a

 36“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus,

whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”†
                                    What Shall We Do?

  37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of

the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”†

  38Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of

Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.† 39For
the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord
our God will call.”

                                The First Converts Baptized

  40And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this

perverse generation.” 41Then those who gladlya received his word were baptized; and that day
about three thousand souls were added to them.

                                The Life of the First Church

  42And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking

of bread, and in prayers.† 43Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs
were done through the apostles. 44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in
common,† 45and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone
had need.

  46So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to

house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having
favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the churcha daily those who were being
saved.

                           Evangelism: A Lame Man Is Healed


3 Now  Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth
  hour.† 2And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid
daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered
the temple; 3who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4And
fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5So he gave them his attention,
expecting to receive something from them. 6Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have,
but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”†
7And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle

bones received strength. 8So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with
them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising
God. 10Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the
temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.†

                           Peter's Sermon at Solomon's Porch

  11Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran

together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed.† 12So when Peter
saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so
intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?† 13The
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom
you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
14But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
16And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and
know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the
presence of you all.

  17“Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18But
those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would
suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20and that
He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,a 21whom heaven must receive
until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy
prophets since the world began. 22For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The L your God will
                                                                             ORD



raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things,
whatever He says to you. 23And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet
shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’a 24Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel
and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretolda these days. 25You are
sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to
Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’a 26To you first,
God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of
you from your iniquities.”†

                                 Peter and John Arrested


4 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees
  came upon them,† 2being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in
Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody
until the next day, for it was already evening. 4However, many of those who heard the word
believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

                                   Before the Sanhedrin

  5And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6as well as
Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of
the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7And when they had set them in the
midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

  8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of

Israel: 9If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he
has been made well, 10let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by
Him this man stands here before you whole. 11This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you
builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’a 12Nor is there salvation in any other, for
there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”†

  13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were
uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with
Jesus.† 14And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say
nothing against it. 15But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they
conferred among themselves, 16saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a
notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we
cannot deny it.† 17But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten
them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”
  18So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of

Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of
God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.† 20For we cannot but speak the things
which we have seen and heard.” 21So when they had further threatened them, they let them
go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for
what had been done. 22For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing
had been performed.

                                                         Prayer and Power

  23And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief

priests and elders had said to them. 24So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God
with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and
all that is in them,† 25who by the mouth of Your servant Davida have said:

    ‘Why did the nations rage,

    And the people plot vain things?

    26
         The kings of the earth took their stand,

    And the rulers were gathered together

    Against the LORD and against His Christ.’a

  27“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius

Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28to do whatever
Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29Now, Lord, look on their
threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30by
stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name
of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

  31And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken;

and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.†

                                                    Giving for the Common Good

  32Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did
anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in
common.† 33And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34Nor was there anyone among them who lacked;
for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the
things that were sold, 35and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as
anyone had need.

  36And Joses,a who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of

Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37having land, sold it, and brought the
money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

                                   Ananias and Sapphira

   But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.† 2And he
5 kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part
and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to
lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4While it
remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why
have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

  5Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came

upon all those who heard these things. 6And the young men arose and wrapped him up,
carried him out, and buried him.

  7Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had

happened. 8And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”

  She said, “Yes, for so much.”

  9Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the
Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will
carry you out.” 10Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the
young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.
11So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

                                   Evangelism in the Spirit

  12And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the
people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch.ω 13Yet none of the rest dared
join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14And believers were increasingly added to
the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15so that they brought the sick out into the
streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might
fall on some of them.† 16Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem,
bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all
healed.

                                  The Apostles Arrested

  17Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the

Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 18and laid their hands on the apostles and
put them in the common prison. 19But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors
and brought them out, and said,† 20“Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the
words of this life.”

  21And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But
the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of
the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

  22But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and

reported, 23saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing
outsidea before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” 24Now when
the high priest,a the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they
wondered what the outcome would be. 25So one came and told them, saying,a “Look, the
men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

  26Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they

feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27And when they had brought them, they set
them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28saying, “Did we not strictly
command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your
doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!”

 29But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than

men.† 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.†
31Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel

and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy
Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

  33When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. 34Then one in the
council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the
people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.† 35And he said to
them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men.
36For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about
four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to
nothing.† 37After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away
many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38And now
I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of
men, it will come to nothing; 39but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be
found to fight against God.”

                                  Apostolic Evangelism

  40And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them,

they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41So they
departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer
shame for Hisa name.† 42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease
teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

                                    Deacons Ordained


6 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a
  complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists,a because their widows were neglected
in the daily distribution.†ω 2Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and
said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.† 3Therefore,
brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and
wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4but we will give ourselves continually to
prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

  5And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith
and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a
proselyte from Antioch,† 6whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they
laid hands on them.

  7Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in

Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.†

                                 Evangelism by the Deacons

  8And Stephen, full of faitha and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
9Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians,

Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.† 10And they were not
able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11Then they secretly induced men
to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”† 12And they
stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and
brought him to the council. 13They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not
cease to speak blasphemousa words against this holy place and the law; 14for we have heard
him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which
Moses delivered to us.”† 15And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his
face as the face of an angel.†

                                     Stephen's Defense


7 Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?”†
  2And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father

Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, 3and said to him, ‘Get out
of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’a 4Then
he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his
father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. 5And God gave him no
inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child,
He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. 6But God
spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would
bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years.† 7‘And the nation to whom
they will be in bondage I will judge,’a said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and serve
Me in this place.’b 8Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot
Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the
twelve patriarchs.†

  9“And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him
10and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of

Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11Now a
famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found
no sustenance. 12But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers
first. 13And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's family
became known to the Pharaoh. 14Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his
relatives to him, seventy-fivea people. 15So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and
our fathers. 16And they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham
bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.

  17“But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the

people grew and multiplied in Egypt 18till another king arose who did not know Joseph.
19This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them

expose their babies, so that they might not live.† 20At this time Moses was born, and was well
pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father's house for three months. 21But when
he was set out, Pharaoh's daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son. 22And
Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.

  23“Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the

children of Israel. 24And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who
was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. 25For he supposed that his brethren would
have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand.
26And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile

them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?’ 27But he who did his
neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28Do
you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’a 29Then, at this saying, Moses fled
and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he had two sons.

  30“And when forty years had passed, an Angel of the Lorda appeared to him in a flame of
fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai.† 31When Moses saw it, he marveled at the
sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him, 32saying, ‘I am the
God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’a And
Moses trembled and dared not look. 33‘Then the Lord said to him, “Take your sandals off
your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.† 34I have surely seen the oppression
of My people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver
them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.” ’a

  35“This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’a is the
one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in
the bush. 36He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt,
and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

  37“This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel,a ‘The Lord your God will raise up

for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’b

  38“This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to
him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to
us,† 39whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to
Egypt, 40saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us
out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’a 41And they made a calf
in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
42Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the
book of the Prophets:

    ‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness,

    O house of I srael?

    43
     You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch,

    And the star of your god Remphan,

    I mages which you made to worship;

    And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’ a

  44“Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed,

instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen, 45which our fathers,
having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles,
whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David, 46who found
favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. 47But Solomon built Him
a house.†

  48“However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet
says:

    49
         ‘Heaven is My throne,

    And earth is My footstool.

    What house will you build for Me? says the LORD,

    Or what is the place of My rest?

    50
         Has My hand not made all these things?’ a

  51“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit;

as your fathers did, so do you.† 52Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And
they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become
the betrayers and murderers, 53who have received the law by the direction of angels and have
not kept it.”

                                                     Stephen's Martyrdom

  54When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with

their teeth. 55But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of
God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,† 56and said, “Look! I see the heavens
opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

  57Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord;
58and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes

at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God
and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”† 60Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud
voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

                                               The First General Persecution


8 Now  Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the
  church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of
Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.† 2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and
made great lamentation over him.

  3As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and
women, committing them to prison.

                                     The Church in Samaria

  4Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5Then Philip

went down to thea city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.† 6And the multitudes with
one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and

many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8And there was great joy in that city.

  9But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and

astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,† 10to whom they all
gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11And
they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 12But
when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the
name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13Then Simon himself also
believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the
miracles and signs which were done.

                                 The Samaritan Pentecost

  14Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word

of God, they sent Peter and John to them,† 15who, when they had come down, prayed for
them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16For as yet He had fallen upon none of them.
They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.† 17Then they laid hands on them,
and they received the Holy Spirit.

  18And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit

was given, he offered them money, 19saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom
I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

 20But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of

God could be purchased with money! 21You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for
your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and
pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.† 23For I see that you are
poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

  24Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which
you have spoken may come upon me.”

  25So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to
Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

                                                  The Ethiopian Eunuch

  26Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along

the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27So he arose and went.
And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the
Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,†
28was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29Then the

Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”†

  30So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you

understand what you are reading?”†

  31And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up

and sit with him. 32The place in the Scripture which he read was this:

    “ He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;

    And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,

    So He opened not His mouth. †

    33
     I n His humiliation His justice was taken away,

    And who will declare His generation?

    For His life is taken from the earth.” a

  34So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this,

of himself or of some other man?” 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this
Scripture, preached Jesus to him.† 36Now as they went down the road, they came to some
water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”†
  37Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”


  And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”a

  38So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down

into the water, and he baptized him. 39Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of
the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way
rejoicing. 40But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities
till he came to Caesarea.

                                       Saul Converted


9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the
  high priest† 2and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he
found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to
Jerusalem.

  3As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from

heaven. 4Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you
persecuting Me?”†

  5And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”


  Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.a It is hard for you to kick
against the goads.”†

  6So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

  Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must
do.”

  7And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.
8Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they

led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.† 9And he was three days without sight,
and neither ate nor drank.

  10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said
in a vision, “Ananias.”

  And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

  11So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the

house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.† 12And in a vision he
has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might
receive his sight.”

  13Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm

he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.† 14And here he has authority from the chief priests
to bind all who call on Your name.”

  15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before

Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.† 16For I will show him how many things he must
suffer for My name's sake.”

  17And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said,

“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus,a who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me
that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18Immediately there fell
from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was
baptized.†

                                    Saul's First Preaching

  19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the
disciples at Damascus.

  20Immediately he preached the Christa in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

  21Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who
called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring
them bound to the chief priests?”

  22But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in
Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
  23Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.† 24But their plot became

known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25Then the disciples
took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.

                                    Saul in Jerusalem

  26And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all

afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and
brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road,
and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of
Jesus. 28So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. 29And he spoke boldly
in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill
him.† 30When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out
to Tarsus.

  31Then the churchesa throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were
edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were
multiplied.†

                                 Peter in Gentile Judea

  32Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came

down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.†ω 33There he found a certain man named Aeneas,
who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. 34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas,
Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately.† 35So all
who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.†

 36At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This

woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. 37But it happened in
those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an
upper room. 38And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was
there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39Then Peter
arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all
the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made
while she was with them. 40But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And
turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw
Peter she sat up.† 41Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the
saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and
many believed on the Lord. 43So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a
tanner.

                                    Cornelius's Vision


10 There  was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called
   the Italian Regiment,† 2a devout man and one who feared God with all his household,
who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.† 3About the ninth hour of
the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”†

  4And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”

  So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.
5Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6He is lodging with

Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.a He will tell you what you must do.” 7And when
the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and
a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.† 8So when he had
explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

                                       Peter's Vision

  9The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the

housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.† 10Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat;
but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11and saw heaven opened and an object like a
great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12In it
were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of
the air. 13And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

  14But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”†

  15And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not

call common.” 16This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.
  17Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant,
behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and
stood before the gate. 18And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was
Peter, was lodging there.

  19While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are

seeking you. 20Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent
them.”

  21Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius,a and said,
“Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

  22And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good
reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to
summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” 23Then he invited them in and
lodged them.

  On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied
him.

                                Peter Preaches to Gentiles

  24And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and

had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met
him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand
up; I myself am also a man.” 27And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who
had come together. 28Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man
to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should
not call any man common or unclean.† 29Therefore I came without objection as soon as I
was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

  30So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth houra I

prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,† 31and said,
‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.
32Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the
house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.a When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33So I sent to
you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before
God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”†

  34Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no

partiality.† 35But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by
Him.† 36The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus
Christ—He is Lord of all— 37that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all
Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38how God anointed
Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and
healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.† 39And we are witnesses
of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom theya killed
by hanging on a tree. 40Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41not
to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with
Him after He arose from the dead. 42And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to
testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43To
Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive
remission of sins.”

                                  The Gentile Pentecost

  44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard

the word.† 45And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came
with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46For
they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

  Then Peter answered, 47“Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who
have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48And he commanded them to be baptized in
the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.†

                                The Apostles in Jerusalem


11 Now   the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also
   received the word of God. 2And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the
circumcision contended with him,† 3saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with
them!”

  4But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: 5“I was in the city of
Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down
from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. 6When I observed it intently and considered,
I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 7And
I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing
common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ 9But the voice answered me again
from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ 10Now this was done
three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11At that very moment, three men
stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12Then the Spirit
told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me,
and we entered the man's house. 13And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his
house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter,†
14who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15And as I

began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16Then I
remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you
shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave
us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”†

  18When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then
God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

                               The Gentile Church: Antioch

  19Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as

far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.ω
20But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to

Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.† 21And the hand of the Lord was
with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

  22Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent

out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.† 23When he came and had seen the grace of God, he
was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the
Lord. 24For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people
were added to the Lord.

  25Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.† 26And when he had found him, he
brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and
taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.†

                                 Aid to Jewish Christians

  27And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.† 28Then one of them,
named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine
throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.† 29Then the
disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in
Judea. 30This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.†

                                    Jerusalem Shaken


12 Now  about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the
   church.†ω 2Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3And because he
saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the
Days of Unleavened Bread.† 4So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and
delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the
people after Passover.

  5Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constanta prayer was offered to God for him by the

church.† 6And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound
with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the
prison. 7Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and
he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off
his hands. 8Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did.
And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9So he went out and followed him,
and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a
vision.† 10When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron
gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and
went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
  11And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has
sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of
the Jewish people.”

 12So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John

whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.† 13And as Peter
knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14When she recognized
Peter's voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced
that Peter stood before the gate. 15But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she
kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.”†

  16Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were

astonished. 17But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how
the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and
to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.†

  18Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had

become of Peter. 19But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined
the guards and commanded that they should be put to death.

  And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

                                            Herod Dies

  20Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him
with one accord, and having made Blastus the king's personal aide their friend, they asked for
peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king's country.

  21So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to

them.† 22And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23Then
immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he
was eaten by worms and died.

  24But the word of God grew and multiplied.†

  25And Barnabas and Saul returned froma Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry,
and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.†

                            Antioch Sends Barnabas and Saul


13 Now  in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers:
   Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been
brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.† 2As they ministered to the Lord and fasted,
the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have
called them.”† 3Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them
away.†

                             Churches Established on Cyprus

  4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they

sailed to Cyprus. 5And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the
synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.†

   6Now when they had gone through the islanda to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a

false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7who was with the proconsul, Sergius
Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the
word of God. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them,
seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled
with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him† 10and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you
son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight
ways of the Lord? 11And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be
blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”†

  And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him
by the hand. 12Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being
astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

                                   The Church in Pisidia

  13Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and

John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.† 14But when they departed from Perga,
they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat
down.† 15And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent
to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say
on.”

 16Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear

God, listen:† 17The God of this people Israela chose our fathers, and exalted the people when
they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of
it.† 18Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. 19And
when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to
them by allotment.

  20“After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the

prophet. 21And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man
of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22And when He had removed him, He raised up for
them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said,‘I have found Davida the son
of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’b23/>From this man's seed,
according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus—a† 24after John had first
preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25And as
John was finishing his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold,
there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’ω

  26“Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God,

to you the word of this salvation has been sent.† 27For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and
their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are
read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.† 28And though they found no
cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29Now when they
had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid
Him in a tomb. 30But God raised Him from the dead. 31He was seen for many days by those
who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.
32And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33God
has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in
the second Psalm:

       ‘You are My Son,
    Today I have begotten You.’ a

  34And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken
thus:

    ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ a

  35Therefore He also says in another Psalm:

    ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’ a

  36“For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was

buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37but He whom God raised up saw no
corruption. 38Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached
to you the forgiveness of sins;† 39and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all
things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40Beware therefore, lest
what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:

    41
        ‘Behold, you despisers,

    Marvel and perish!

    For I work a work in your days,

    A work which you will by no means believe,

    Though one were to declare it to you.’ ” a

 42So when the Jews went out of the synagogue,a the Gentiles begged that these words

might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43Now when the congregation had broken up,
many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them,
persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

                                                     Apostles to the Gentiles

  44On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45But
when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and
blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.† 46Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold
and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you
reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
47For so the Lord has commanded us:

    ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,

    That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” a
  48Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord.
And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

  49And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 50But the Jews
stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up
persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51But they
shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52And the disciples
were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

                             The Church in Iconium, Galatia


14 Now  it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and
   so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.† 2But the
unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.†
3Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing

witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.†

  4But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the

apostles.† 5And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their
rulers, to abuse and stone them,† 6they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe,
cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7And they were preaching the gospel there.

                               In Lystra and Derbe, Galatia

  8And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his

mother's womb, who had never walked. 9This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him
intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight
on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. 11Now when the people saw what Paul had done,
they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us
in the likeness of men!”† 12And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was
the chief speaker. 13Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought
oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.

                                     ORDINATION

Sacraments (or mysteries) are holy actions of the Church by which spiritual life is imparted
to those receiving them. Ordination, which means “setting in place” or “selection by the
outstretched hand,” is one of several Orthodox sacraments. It is extended specifically to
bishops, presbyters (priests), and deacons, and generally to all through Holy Baptism.

  1 Bishops. Christ in His ministry ordained or “set in place” the Twelve, assuring them, “You
did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and
that your fruit should remain” (Jn 15:16).

  Both the New Testament and the church fathers recognize the Twelve as the first bishops
or overseers in the Church. When Judas had fallen away and the disciples were considering
his successor, Peter said, “Let another take his office” (Gr. episkopen, lit., “bishopric”; Acts
1:20). This bishopric was given to Matthias (Acts 1:25).

  The apostles—these first bishops—in turn ordained presbyters and deacons.

  2 Deacons. The account of the first ordination of deacons (Acts 6:1–6) is quite detailed.
“Seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and
wisdom,” the apostles said, “whom we may appoint [Gr. kathistemi, “to set down or ordain”]
over this business” (Acts 6:3). The manner of this appointment is clear: “they laid hands on
them” (Acts 6:6). The ordination of deacons in the Orthodox Church takes place in this same
manner today, through the laying on of hands by the bishop.

  3 Presbyters. The first account of the ordination of elders or presbyters is in Acts 14:23. The
apostles Paul and Barnabas “appointed [lit., “elected by stretching forth the hand”] elders in
every church, and prayed with fasting,” then “commended them to the Lord in whom they
had believed.” Similarly, Paul reminds his apostolic apprentice, Titus, “For this reason I left
you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint [set in
place, ordain] elders in every city as I commanded you” (Tts 1:5).

  The Titus passage brings to mind the first prayer the bishop prays over one being ordained
to the Orthodox priesthood: “The grace divine, which always heals that which is weak and
completes that which is lacking, elevates through the laying on of my hands this most devout
deacon to be priest.”

  The bishop continues to ask God to “fill with the gift of the Holy Spirit this man . . . that he
may be worthy to stand in innocence before Your holy altar, to proclaim the Gospel of Your
Kingdom, to minister the word of Your truth, to offer You spiritual gifts and sacrifices, to
renew Your people through the laver of regeneration.”

  A dramatic moment in the service of ordination comes when the candidate is led around
the altar three times, kissing or venerating the four corners of the altar each time. This
symbolizes his marriage to Christ, his death with Christ, and his willingness to serve the
Church sacrificially after the example of his Master.

  Ordination is seen as an eternal appointment, “for the gifts and the calling of God are
irrevocable” (Rom 11:29). It is in this spirit that during each Divine Liturgy the priest prays
for his bishop that “the Lord God remember him in His Kingdom always, now and ever, and
unto ages of ages.”

  Through the sacrament of ordination in His Church, Christ entrusts to the shepherd the
very salvation of His people’s souls.


  14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in

among the multitude, crying out 15and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We
also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these
useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that
are in them,† 16who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.
17Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain

from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 18And with
these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.†

  19Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes,

they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20However,
when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day
he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.†

                                        Return Visit

  21And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they

returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22strengthening the souls of the disciples,
exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations
enter the kingdom of God.”† 23So when they had appointed elders in every church, and
prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.† 24And
after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25Now when they had
preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

                                  Report Back to Antioch

  26From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God
for the work which they had completed.

  27Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God

had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28So they
stayed there a long time with the disciples.

                                 Circumcision in Antioch


15 And  certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are
   circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”† 2Therefore,
when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined
that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles
and elders, about this question.†

  3So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria,

describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 4And
when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the
elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5But some of the sect of
the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to
command them to keep the law of Moses.”

                                 The Council in Jerusalem

  6Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.† 7And when there had
been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a
good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of
the gospel and believe.† 8So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them
the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9and made no distinction between us and them,
purifying their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the
neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11But we believe
that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christa we shall be saved in the same manner as
they.”

 12Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many

miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 13And after they
had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:† 14Simon has
declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
15And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

    16
         ‘After this I will return

    And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;

    I will rebuild its ruins,

    And I will set it up;

    17
     So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD,

    Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,

    Says the LORD who does all these things.’ a

  18“Known to God from eternity are all His works.a 19Therefore I judge that we should not

trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20but that we write to them
to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,a from things strangled, and
from blood. 21For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in
every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

                                              The Decree: Early Canon Law

  22Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of
their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named
Barsabas,a and Silas, leading men among the brethren.†

  23They wrote this, letter by them:

    The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,

    To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Sy ria, and Cilicia:

    Greetings.

  24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words,
unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”a —to whom we
gave no such commandment—25it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to
send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have risked their
lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who
will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit,
and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:† 29that you abstain
from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.a
If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

    Farewell.

                             The Decree Received in Antioch

 30So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the

multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced over its
encouragement. 32Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and
strengthened the brethren with many words. 33And after they had stayed there for a time,
they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles.a

  34However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there.a 35Paul and Barnabas also remained
in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

                               Paul and Barnabas Separate

  36Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren

in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.”†
37Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.† 38But Paul insisted
that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and
had not gone with them to the work. 39Then the contention became so sharp that they parted
from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40but Paul chose Silas
and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41And he went through
Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

                                    The Call to Europe


16 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named
Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.† 2He
was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3Paul wanted to have
him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in
that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.† 4And as they went through the
cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and
elders at Jerusalem.† 5So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in
number daily.

  6Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden

by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.† 7After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go
into Bithynia, but the Spirita did not permit them. 8So passing by Mysia, they came down to
Troas. 9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded
with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10Now after he had seen the vision,
immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach
the gospel to them.†

                               The First European Convert

  11Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day

came to Neapolis, 12and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of
Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13And on the Sabbath
day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat
down and spoke to the women who met there.† 14Now a certain woman named Lydia heard
us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened
her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.† 15And when she and her household were
baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my
house and stay.” So she persuaded us.†

                                   Exorcism of a Spirit

  16Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of

divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.†ω 17This girl
followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High
God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18And this she did for many days.
                                  Paul and Silas Imprisoned

  But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of
Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. 19But when her masters
saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the
marketplace to the authorities.

  20And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews,

exceedingly trouble our city;† 21and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being
Romans, to receive or observe.” 22Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the
magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23And when
they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to
keep them securely. 24Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and
fastened their feet in the stocks.

                                     The Philippian Jailer

  25But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the

prisoners were listening to them.† 26Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the
foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and
everyone's chains were loosed. 27And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and
seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about
to kill himself.† 28But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are
all here.”

  29Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30And

he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”†

  31So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your

household.” 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
33And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately

he and all his family were baptized.† 34Now when he had brought them into his house, he set
food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

                                     The Apostles Released
  35And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.”

  36So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have
sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”

  37But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have
thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come
themselves and get us out.”†

  38And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they

heard that they were Romans. 39Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them
out, and asked them to depart from the city. 40So they went out of the prison and entered the
house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

                               The Church in Thessalonica


17 Now  when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to
   Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.† 2Then Paul, as his custom
was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,†
3explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and

saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” 4And some of them were persuaded;
and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul
and Silas.†

  5But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious,a took some of the evil men
from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the
house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6But when they did not find
them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who
have turned the world upside down have come here too. 7Jason has harbored them, and these
are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”† 8And
they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. 9So when
they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.†

                                   The Church in Berea

  10Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they
arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11These were more fair-minded than those
in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures
daily to find out whether these things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed, and also
not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 13But when the Jews from
Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there
also and stirred up the crowds.† 14Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the
sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there.† 15So those who conducted Paul brought
him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed,
they departed.

                                   The Church in Athens

  16Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he

saw that the city was given over to idols. 17Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the
Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened
to be there.† 18Thena certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some
said, “What does this babbler want to say?”

  Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them
Jesus and the resurrection.†

  19And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this

new doctrine is of which you speak? 20For you are bringing some strange things to our ears.
Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” 21For all the Athenians and the
foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some
new thing.

  22Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that

in all things you are very religious; 23for as I was passing through and considering the objects
of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:†

                                  TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

  Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24God,
who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell
in temples made with hands. 25Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed
anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26And He has made from one
blooda every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their
preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27so that they should seek the
Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each
one of us; 28for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets
have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we
ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by
art and man's devising. 30Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now
commands all men everywhere to repent, 31because He has appointed a day on which He will
judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance
of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

  32And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said,

“We will hear you again on this matter.”† 33So Paul departed from among them. 34However,
some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named
Damaris, and others with them.

                                   The Church in Corinth

                                                                          †2
18 After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a
   certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his
wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he
came to them. 3So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by
occupation they were tentmakers. 4And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and
persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

                                    Teaching in Corinth

  5When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit,

and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. 6But when they opposed him and
blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I
am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”† 7And he departed from there and entered
the house of a certain man named Justus,a one who worshiped God, whose house was next
door to the synagogue. 8Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with
all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

  9Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do

not keep silent; 10for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many
people in this city.” 11And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of
God among them.

                                  The Proconsul's Refusal

  12When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and

brought him to the judgment seat,† 13saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God
contrary to the law.”

  14And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter
of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you.
15But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do

not want to be a judge of such matters.” 16And he drove them from the judgment seat.
17Then all the Greeksa took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the
judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things.

                            Report to Jerusalem and Antioch

  18So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for
Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had
taken a vow.† 19And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the
synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.† 20When they asked him to stay a longer time with
them, he did not consent, 21but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this
coming feast in Jerusalem;a but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from
Ephesus.†

                              In Ephesus: Apollos Instructed

  22And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down

to Antioch. 23After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of
Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
  24Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in

the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.† 25This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord;
and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he
knew only the baptism of John. 26So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When
Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God
more accurately. 27And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the
disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed
through grace; 28for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures
that Jesus is the Christ.

                              Disciples of John the Baptist


19 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the
   upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples†ω 2he said to them, “Did
you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

  So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”†

  3And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”

  So they said, “Into John's baptism.”

  4Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people
that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”

  5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.† 6And when
Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues
and prophesied. 7Now the men were about twelve in all.

                                  Two Years in Ephesus

  8And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and

persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.† 9But when some were hardened
and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them
and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10And this continued
for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and
Greeks.

                                     Occultists Converted

  11Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,† 12so that even handkerchiefs
or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil
spirits went out of them. 13Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon
themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “Wea
exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a
Jewish chief priest, who did so.

  15And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

  16Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowereda them, and

prevailed against them,b so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17This
became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all,
and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18And many who had believed came
confessing and telling their deeds. 19Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought
their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of
them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20So the word of the Lord grew mightily
and prevailed.

  21When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed
through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must
also see Rome.” 22So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy
and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.

                                   A Greek Goddess Defended

  23And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. 24For a certain man

named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana,a brought no small profit
to the craftsmen. 25He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said:
“Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. 26Moreover you see and hear that
not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away
many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands.† 27So not only is this
trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess
Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed,a whom all Asia and the world
worship.”†

  28Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana

of the Ephesians!” 29So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater
with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's travel
companions.† 30And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow
him. 31Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he
would not venture into the theater. 32Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for
the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
33And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And

Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people.† 34But
when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours,
“Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

  35And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is
there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great
goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus? 36Therefore, since these things
cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. 37For you have brought these
men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of youra goddess.†
38Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are

open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39But if you have
any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly. 40For we are in
danger of being called in question for today's uproar, there being no reason which we may
give to account for this disorderly gathering.” 41And when he had said these things, he
dismissed the assembly.

                                 Return Visit to Greece


20 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and
   departed to go to Macedonia. 2Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged
them with many words, he came to Greece 3and stayed three months. And when the Jews
plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
4And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the

Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.†
5These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas.† 6But we sailed away from Philippi after the
Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven
days.

                               Back in Asia: Eutychus Raised

  7Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul,

ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.†
8There were many lamps in the upper room where theya were gathered together. 9And in a
window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was
overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was
taken up dead.† 10But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble
yourselves, for his life is in him.”† 11Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten,
and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12And they brought the young man
in alive, and they were not a little comforted.

                                  Paul's Farewell Address

  13Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on

board; for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot. 14And when he met us at
Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15We sailed from there, and the next day
came opposite Chios. The following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The
next day we came to Miletus. 16For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would
not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day
of Pentecost.†ω

  17From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.† 18And when
they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in
what manner I always lived among you, 19serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears
and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;† 20how I kept back nothing that
was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,
21testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord

Jesus Christ. 22And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things
that will happen to me there, 23except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that
chains and tribulations await me. 24But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life
dear to myself,a so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from
the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

  25“And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom

of God, will see my face no more. 26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of
the blood of all men.† 27For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
28Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has

made you overseers, to shepherd the church of Goda which He purchased with His own
blood.† 29For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not
sparing the flock.† 30Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things,
to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31Therefore watch, and remember that for three
years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

  32“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to

build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I have
coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.† 34Yes,a you yourselves know that these hands
have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35I have shown you in
every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of
the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

  36And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37Then

they all wept freely, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him, 38sorrowing most of all for the
words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to
the ship.

                            Palestine and Jerusalem: Don’t Go


21 Now   it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a
   straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.
2And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3When we had
sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship
was to unload her cargo. 4And finding disciples,a we stayed there seven days. They told Paul
through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. 5When we had come to the end of those days,
we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till
we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. 6When we had taken
our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home.

  7And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the

brethren, and stayed with them one day. 8On the next day we who were Paul's companionsa
departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one
of the seven, and stayed with him.† 9Now this man had four virgin daughters who
prophesied.† 10And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down
from Judea.† 11When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet,
and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns
this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”

  12Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him

not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and
breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the
name of the Lord Jesus.”

  14So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”

  15And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem. 16Also some of the disciples
from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early
disciple, with whom we were to lodge.

                                         In Jerusalem

  17And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.† 18On the

following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19When he had
greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through
his ministry. 20And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You
see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous
for the law; 21but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are
among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children
nor to walk according to the customs. 22What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for
they willa hear that you have come. 23Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who
have taken a vow. 24Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that
they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were
informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the
law. 25But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they
should observe no such thing, excepta that they should keep themselves from things offered
to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.”†

                               Temple Riot, Paul Arrested

  26Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the
temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering
should be made for each one of them.

  27Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the

temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28crying out, “Men of Israel, help!
This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place;
and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”†
29(For they had previouslya seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they
supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

  30And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him

out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. 31Now as they were seeking to kill
him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.† 32He
immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the
commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33Then the commander came near
and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was
and what he had done. 34And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another.

  So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be
taken into the barracks. 35When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers
because of the violence of the mob. 36For the multitude of the people followed after, crying
out, “Away with him!”†

  37Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I
speak to you?”

  He replied, “Can you speak Greek? 38Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred
up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”†

  39But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore
you, permit me to speak to the people.”

  40So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his
hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew
language, saying,

                              Paul's Defense at the Temple

      “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.”† 2And when they heard that
22 he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent.
  Then he said: 3“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at
the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous
toward God as you all are today.† 4I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering
into prisons both men and women, 5as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the
council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to
Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

  6“Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a

great light from heaven shone around me. 7And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying
to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And
He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

  9“And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid,a but they did not hear

the voice of Him who spoke to me. 10So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to
me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for
you to do.’ 11And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of
those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

  12“Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony
with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul,
receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. 14Then he said, ‘The God of our
fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the
voice of His mouth. 15For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and
heard. 16And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins,
calling on the name of the Lord.’†

  17“Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I

was in a trance† 18and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly,
for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ 19So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in
every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. 20And when the blood of
Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death,a and guarding
the clothes of those who were killing him.’ 21Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you
far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”†

                             An Appeal to Roman Citizenship

  22And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said,

“Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!” 23Then, as they cried out
and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air, 24the commander ordered him to be
brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he
might know why they shouted so against him.† 25And as they bound him with thongs, Paul
said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman,
and uncondemned?”

  26When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care
what you do, for this man is a Roman.”

  27Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?”

  He said, “Yes.”

  28The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.”

  And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”
  29Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the
commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had
bound him.

                                    Before the Sanhedrin

  30The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he
released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to
appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.†


23 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all
   good conscience before God until this day.”† 2And the high priest Ananias commanded
those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.† 3Then Paul said to him, “God will strike
you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you
command me to be struck contrary to the law?”†

  4And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God's high priest?”

  5Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written,

‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”a

  6But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried
out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the
hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”†

  7And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees;

and the assembly was divided. 8For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel
or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.† 9Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of
the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or
an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.” a

  10Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be
pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from
among them, and bring him into the barracks.

  11But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as
you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”†

                             The Murder Plot Against Paul

  12And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an

oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13Now there were
more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. 14They came to the chief priests and elders,
and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have
killed Paul. 15Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that
he be brought down to you tomorrow,a as though you were going to make further inquiries
concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

  16So when Paul's sister's son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and

told Paul. 17Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to
the commander, for he has something to tell him.” 18So he took him and brought him to the
commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young
man to you. He has something to say to you.”

  19Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it
that you have to tell me?”

  20And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council

tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him. 21But do not yield to
them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an
oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready,
waiting for the promise from you.”

  22So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you
have revealed these things to me.”

                              Paul Imprisoned in Caesarea

  23And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy

horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night;†
24and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”† 25He
wrote a letter in the following manner:
    26
         Claudius Ly sias,

    To the m ost excellent gov ernor Felix:

    Greetings.

  27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the

troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 28And when I wanted to know the
reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. 29I found out that he was
accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of
death or chains. 30And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man,a I sent him
immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against
him.

    Farewell.

  31Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to

Antipatris.† 32The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the
barracks. 33When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they
also presented Paul to him. 34And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he
was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, 35he said, “I will hear you when
your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium.†

                                              The Trial Before Felix


24 Now  after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain
   orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.†

  2And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that
through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your
foresight, 3we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few

words from us. 5For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the
Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.† 6He even tried to
profane the temple, and we seized him,a and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7But
the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands,
8commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all

these things of which we accuse him.” 9And the Jews also assented,a maintaining that these
things were so.

                                        Paul's Defense

  10Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I
know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully
answer for myself, 11because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I
went up to Jerusalem to worship.† 12And they neither found me in the temple disputing with
anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. 13Nor can they prove
the things of which they now accuse me. 14But this I confess to you, that according to the
Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are
written in the Law and in the Prophets.† 15I have hope in God, which they themselves also
accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead,a both of the just and the unjust. 16This
being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

  17“Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation,† 18in the midst
of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with
tumult. 19They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me.
20Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoinga in me while I

stood before the council, 21unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing
among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”

                                         The Decision

  22But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he
adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a
decision on your case.” 23So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have
liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.

  24And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent

for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25Now as he reasoned about
righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go
away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”† 26Meanwhile he also
hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him.a Therefore he sent
for him more often and conversed with him.
  27But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a
favor, left Paul bound.

                                   The Trial Before Festus


25 Now  when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea
   to Jerusalem. 2Then the high priesta and the chief men of the Jews informed him
against Paul; and they petitioned him, 3asking a favor against him, that he would summon
him to Jerusalem—while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him.† 4But Festus
answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly.
5“Therefore,” he said, “let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse
this man, to see if there is any fault in him.”

  6And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea.

And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. 7When he
had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious
complaints against Paul, which they could not prove,† 8while he answered for himself,
“Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I
offended in anything at all.”

  9But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go
up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”

  10So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews

I have done no wrong, as you very well know. 11For if I am an offender, or have committed
anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of
which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”†

  12Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to
Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”

                                          Festus's Plan

  13And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.†
14When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying:

“There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, 15about whom the chief priests and the elders
of the Jews informed me, when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him. 16To
them I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destructiona
before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself
concerning the charge against him.’ 17Therefore when they had come together, without any
delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in.
18When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I

supposed,† 19but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a
certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20And because I was uncertain
of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged
concerning these matters. 21But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of
Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.”

  22Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.”

  “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

  23So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered
the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus’ command
Paul was brought in.† 24And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all the men who are here present
with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at
Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer. 25But when I found that
he had committed nothing deserving of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus,
I decided to send him. 26I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore
I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the
examination has taken place I may have something to write.† 27For it seems to me
unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.”

                                      Paul's Defense


26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”
  So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: 2“I think myself happy, King
Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of
which I am accused by the Jews, 3especially because you are expert in all customs and
questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
  4“My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own

nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. 5They knew me from the first, if they were willing to
testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6And now I stand
and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. 7To this promise our
twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope's sake, King
Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 8Why should it be thought incredible by you that God
raises the dead?

  9“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of

Nazareth. 10This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having
received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote
against them.† 11And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to
blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign
cities.

  12“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from

the chief priests, 13at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than
the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 14And when we all had fallen
to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul,
why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15So I said, ‘Who
are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16But rise and stand on
your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness
both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17I
will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I nowa send
you, 18to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power
of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those
who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

  19“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20but declared
first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then
to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
21For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22Therefore,
having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying
no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— 23that the
Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light
to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

                                  The Tribunal's Reaction

  24Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside
yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

  25But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.†
26For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that

none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.† 27King
Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”†

  28Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

  29And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might
become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

  30When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice

and those who sat with them; 31and when they had gone aside, they talked among
themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”

  32Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed

to Caesar.”†

                                The Voyage to Rome Begins


27 And  when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some
   other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment. 2So,
entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia.
Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.† 3And the next day we landed at
Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive
care.† 4When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because
the winds were contrary. 5And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and
Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. 6There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship
sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.
  7When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not

permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone. 8Passing it with
difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

 9Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast

was already over, Paul advised them,† 10saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end
with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.”†
11Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the

ship than by the things spoken by Paul. 12And because the harbor was not suitable to winter
in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix,
a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.

                                   Storm and Shipwreck

  13When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting

out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. 14But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose,
called Euroclydon.a 15So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let
her drive. 16And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda,a we secured the skiff
with difficulty.† 17When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship;
and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtisa Sands, they struck sail and so were
driven.† 18And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the
ship.† 19On the third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands. 20Now
when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all
hope that we would be saved was finally given up.

  21But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said,
“Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this
disaster and loss. 22And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among
you, but only of the ship. 23For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I
belong and whom I serve, 24saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before
Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25Therefore take heart,
men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26However, we must run aground
on a certain island.”
  27Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic

Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land. 28And they
took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther,
they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29Then, fearing lest we should
run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to
come. 30And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the
skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, 31Paul said to the
centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”†
32Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.

  33And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the

fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. 34Therefore
I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the
head of any of you.” 35And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to
God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.† 36Then they
were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. 37And in all we were two hundred and
seventy-six persons on the ship. 38So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship
and threw out the wheat into the sea.

  39When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach,

onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. 40And they let go the anchors and left
them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the
wind and made for shore. 41But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship
aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken
up by the violence of the waves.†

  42And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and

escape. 43But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and
commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, 44and
the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped
safely to land.

                                        Winter at Malta
       when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta.†
28 Now
   2  And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all
welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.† 3But when Paul had
gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat,
and fastened on his hand.† 4So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand,
they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped
the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.”† 5But he shook off the creature into the fire and
suffered no harm. 6However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall
down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they
changed their minds and said that he was a god.

  7In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was

Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. 8And it happened
that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed,
and he laid his hands on him and healed him.† 9So when this was done, the rest of those on
the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10They also honored us in many
ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.

                                   From Malta to Rome

  11After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin

Brothers, which had wintered at the island.† 12And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three
days.† 13From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south
wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli,† 14where we found brethren, and were
invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. 15And from there, when
the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns.
When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

                                 Paul's Ministry in Rome

  16Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the

guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.†

  17And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So
when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done
nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner
from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18who, when they had examined me, wanted
to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. 19But when the Jewsa
spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to
accuse my nation. 20For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak
with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”†

  21Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have

any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. 22But we desire to hear
from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against
everywhere.”†

  23So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he
explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus
from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.† 24And some were
persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25So when they did not
agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke
rightly through Isaiah the prophet to oura fathers, 26saying,

    ‘Go to this people and say:

    “ Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;

    And seeing you will see, and not perceive;

    27
     For the hearts of this people have grown dull.

    Their ears are hard of hearing,

    And their eyes they have closed,

    Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,

    Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,

    So that I should heal them.” ’ a

  28“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles,

and they will hear it!” 29And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a
great dispute among themselves.a

  30Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to

him, 31preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus
Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.†
                                       RO M ANS
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Chapters in Romans
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Romans Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in Romans Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Romans Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in Romans Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Romans Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Romans Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Romans Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Romans Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

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Verses in Romans Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in Romans Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Romans Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

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Verses in Romans Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Romans Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Romans Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Romans Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in Romans Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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                                                      The Book of Romans

  Author   —While Pauline authorship of some epistles has been questioned, the Church
has universally accepted St. Paul as the author of Romans.

  Date   —Romans was probably written in AD 55–57 during the latter part of Paul's third
missionary journey (Acts 20:3–21:16), most likely while he was in Corinth.

  Major Theme      —God's righteousness revealed in Christ for our salvation (1:16, 17).
Righteousness is the basis of a faithful relationship between God and humanity. God
Himself freely offers this living and growing relationship to all through Christ.

Subthemes in Romans include:

1 . The natural mortality and actual sinfulness of all (1:18–3:20).

2 . Salvation through Christ apart from the Mosaic Law (3:21–4:25).

3 . New life in Christ through Holy Baptism (chs. 5–7).

4 . New life in the Holy Spirit through chrismation (ch. 8).

5. God's plan for Jews and Gentiles and their reconciliation in Christ (chs. 9–11).

6 . Christian life in the Church and in the world (chs. 12–16).


  Background     —Paul's logic in Romans proceeds largely from the use of dichotomies, in
which two concepts are placed in opposition to each other; and synergies, in which two
concepts work together. However, many modern commentators have seen opposition
between pairs of concepts where Paul intends cooperation. These pairs of concepts
include: law and grace; faith and works; Old Testament and New Testament; nature and
grace; spirit and body; reality and symbol; God's faithfulness and humanity's
faithfulness; secular and sacred; Church and state. The areas in which Paul truly sees
opposition are fewer and more fundamental: living faith versus dead faith; living works
versus dead works; good versus evil; righteousness versus unrighteousness; natural
versus unnatural; faithfulness versus unfaithfulness.

Romans is the most significant, the most logical, and the most doctrinally oriented of
Paul's epistles, and the only one he wrote to a church he had not yet visited.

Outline

I. Introduction: The Righteousness of God Av ailable for All (1 :1 –1 7 )
    II. God's Faithfulness to All: His Judgm ent and Salv ation (1 :1 8–4 :2 5)

           A. Judgm ent on all: the unfaithfulness of Jew and Gentile (1 :1 8–3 :2 0)

           B. Salv ation for all: through faith apart from the law (3 :2 1 –4 :2 5)

 III. Faithful Union Between God and Hum anity (5:1 –8:3 9 )

           A. Righteous liv ing through the reign of Christ (5:1 –2 1 )

           B. Resurrection life through union with Christ (6 :1 –7 :6 )

           C. Victorious life in the Spirit (7 :7 –8:2 7 )

           D. Eternal life in the Father's kingdom (8:2 8–3 9 )

 IV. God's Faithfulness to All: Jew and Gentile (9 :1 –1 1 :3 6 )

           A. Paul's personal agony (9 :1 –5)

           B. Paradox: unbelief of Jews, belief of Gentiles (9 :6 –1 0:2 1 )

           C. Destiny of Jews and Gentiles (1 1 :1 –3 6 )

    V. Liv ing Out a Faithful Relationship with God (1 2 :1 –1 5:7 )

           A. In the church (1 2 :1 –2 1 )

           B. With gov erning authorities (1 3 :1 –1 4 )

           C. Toward weaker Christians (1 4 :1 –1 5:7 )

 VI. Conclusion and Greetings (1 5:8–1 6 :2 7 )



                                                                       Greeting

    Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God†
1   2which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3concerning His

Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,† 4and
declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the
resurrection from the dead.† 5Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for
obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,† 6among whom you also are the called
of Jesus Christ;†

    7To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:


    Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.†

                                                             Desire to Visit Rome

    8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of

throughout the whole world.† 9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the
gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
10making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come

to you. 11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may
be established— † 12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith
both of you and me.

  13Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but
was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the
other Gentiles.† 14I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to
unwise.† 15So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome
also.

           The Theme: The Righteousness of God Through Faith in Christ

  16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,a for it is the power of God to salvation for

everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.† 17For in it the righteousness
of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”a†

                               Judgment of Sinning Humanity

  18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and

unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,† 19because what may
be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20For since the creation
of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are
made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,† 21because,
although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became
futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.† 22Professing to be wise,
they became fools, 23and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like
corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

  24Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor

their bodies among themselves, 25who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped
and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

  26For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the
natural use for what is against nature.† 27Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of
the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is
shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

  28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a

debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29being filled with all
unrighteousness, sexual immorality,a wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy,
murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,† 30backbiters, haters of God,
violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31undiscerning,
untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,a unmerciful; 32who, knowing the righteous judgment
of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but
also approve of those who practice them.

                              Judgment of Each Conscience


2 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you
  judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.† 2But
we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such
things.† 3And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and
doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4Or do you despise the riches of
His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads
you to repentance? 5But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are
treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment
of God, 6who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:a 7eternal life to those who by
patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8but to those who
are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
9tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the

Greek; 10but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first
and also to the Greek. 11For there is no partiality with God.

  12For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as

have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13(for not the hearers of the law are just in
the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14for when Gentiles, who do not
have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law
to themselves,† 15who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also
bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16in
the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

                               T H E B A S I S O F G O D’S
                                      JUDGMENT

Even as believing Christians, we must not take the outcome of God’s final judgment for
granted. In every Divine Liturgy Orthodox Christians pray, “For a good defense before the
dread Judgment Seat of Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord have mercy.” Romans 2:2–16
describes God’s judgment, showing how we can prepare ourselves for it. God’s righteous
judgment will be:

  1 According to truth (2:2, 3): Nothing is hidden from God. He sees everything and knows
the truth about each of us. One of mankind’s great self-deceptions is to say, “Who sees us?”
(Is 29:15) and think there is no judgment.

  2 According to impenitent hearts (2:4, 5): An unrepentant or hard heart despises God’s
goodness, treasuring up the wrath of God at the judgment. A repentant heart, on the other
hand, is grateful for God’s patience and abides in Christ, practicing a lifetime of repentance,
which produces confidence before Him at the judgment (1Jn 2:28).

  3 According to our deeds (2:6–15): The “doing good” referred to in 2:7 is not an attempt to
gain merit with God. Rather, it is the unity of intentions with actions, faith with works. Even
unbelievers are rewarded for good works, apart from spiritual understanding (2:14, 15). But
note the following:

   (a) “Doing good” means seeking God’s glory (2:10), not our own glory; God’s honor, not
      our own honor; the eternal reward of immortality, not reward here and now. “Doing
      good” is seeking first the Kingdom of God (Mt 6:33).

   (b) Good intentions alone, or faith without works, will not save (2:13). Simply to hear and
      not do is religion without reality. Those with true faith, “the doers” of the truth,
      practice virtue from pure and repentant hearts (Jam 1:21–27).

   (c) “By nature” (v. 14) people are inspired by and cooperate with God’s grace. Therefore,
      good deeds are natural to us, whereas evil deeds are contrary to nature. Because we all
      fail, we need God’s mercy (3:9–19). The presence of God’s law in our conscience (2:15)
      condemns anything we do contrary to true human nature. Therefore, even Gentiles—
      people not under the Law of Moses, those who do not know of Christ—have an
      internal law from God, the natural law written in their hearts, according to which God
      will judge them. Melchizedek, Job, and the Ninevites are Old Testament examples of
      non-Jews judged to be righteous. Jews, then, have two laws from God—the Law of
      Moses and conscience—and are accountable to Him for both (2:12).

   (d) Those who are condemned choose to reject God. There is no automatic, fated condem-
      nation: God’s just judgment of us is based on our exercise of free will. Although sin
      impairs our powers, it does not destroy God’s image in us or our free will.

   (4) By Jesus Christ (2:16): In the day of judgment we are not judged directly by God the
      Father, whom we cannot see, but by the incarnate Son whom we do see, Christ Jesus
      (Acts 17:31; see Jn 3:16–21, 35, 36). Christ will judge on the basis of the light He
      Himself has given to each of us (Jn 1:9) and our response to His light (Jn 3:16–21).
      “The secrets of men” (Rom 2:16) are “the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb
      4:12).


                                  Judgment of the Jews

  17Indeeda you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God,† 18and
know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,
19and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in

darkness, 20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge
and truth in the law. 21You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You
who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22You who say, “Do not commit
adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23You who
make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24For “the name
of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,”a as it is written.

  25For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the

law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.† 26Therefore, if an uncircumcised man
keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as
circumcision? 27And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you
who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? 28For he is
not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29but
he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the
letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.†

                                                 The Jews’ Unfaithfulness

                                                                          † 2Much in every
3 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
                                                                    3
   way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did
not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4Certainly not!
Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:

    “ That You may be justified in Your words,

    And may overcome when You are judged.” a†

  5But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is

God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) 6Certainly not! For then how will God
judge the world?

  7For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still

judged as a sinner? 8And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are
slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.

                                                       THE LAW

One key to understanding Romans is to distinguish properly between the several ways Paul
uses the word “law” in this epistle.

  1 The Mosaic Law (2:12, 13) was written by God on tablets of stone (2Co 3:3, 7) and given
to the Jews through Moses. This Law reveals God’s righteousness to prepare men for the
Messiah and for God’s grace. When Paul speaks of “the law,” he is most often referring to the
Mosaic Law.

  The Law is good, but cannot be kept. It is revelation from God, but not an end in itself. The
purpose of the Mosaic Law is (a) to reveal the difference between good and evil; (b) to make
the world accountable to God (3:19); (c) to manifest sin (3:20); and (d) to be a schoolmaster
to lead us to Christ (Gal 3:24). Though it is not opposed to the grace of God, the Law cannot
save us or make us righteous.

  2 The natural law (2:14, 15) has been “written” by God in the heart of every human who
has ever lived as the voice of conscience. It is a reliable guide to God’s righteousness for those
who are pure in heart; but it can be dulled or obscured completely by habitual sin.

  3 The law of works (3:27) is our attempt to establish righteousness before God on the basis
of keeping the natural law and/or the Mosaic Law. This law reveals human weakness and sin.

  4 The law of faith (3:27) is the synergy, the cooperation, of our faithfulness with God’s. It
alone is the means by which we attain the righteousness of God. God has been revealing His
righteousness by this law little by little since the time of creation, but now has revealed it
fully in Christ. As both the natural law and the Mosaic Law bear witness to this law of faith,
so those who become righteous by grace through faith fulfill in Christ both the natural and
the Mosaic Law.

  5 The law of sin (7:25; 8:2) is the power of the sinful passions in our mortal humanity.
Passions—desires for such things as food, sex, praise, possessions—are natural; their sinful
overindulgence is not. Carnal (physical) passions are especially strong. They aid the
unnatural domination of the body over the soul. Sometimes carnal passions overpower the
will. The law of sin coupled with the Mosaic Law breeds intense warfare between sin and
righteousness. Only God’s grace can bring victory for righteousness.

  6 The law of the Spirit (8:2) is also called “the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2) and “the law of
liberty” (Jam 1:25; 2:12). It is the power and life of the Holy Spirit active in those who by faith
in Christ live out their baptism and chrismation to the fullest possible degree. This makes the
righteousness of God gained by faith real in one’s life. Coupled with the law of faith, the law
of the Spirit defeats the law of sin and fulfills the natural and Mosaic Law. It orients one’s
innermost being toward God and restores the power of the spirit over the flesh, the soul over
the body.


                              Conclusion: All Are Unfaithful

  9What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews

and Greeks that they are all under sin.†

  10As it is written:
    “ There is none righteous, no, not one;†

    11
     There is none who understands;

    There is none who seeks after God.

    12
         They have all turned aside;

    They have together become unprofitable;

    There is none who does good, no, not one.” a

    13
         “ Their throat is an open tomb;

    With their tongues they have practiced deceit” ;a

    “ The poison of asps is under their lips” ;b

    14
         “ Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” a

    15
         “ Their feet are swift to shed blood;

    16
         Destruction and misery are in their ways;

    17
         And the way of peace they have not known.” a

    18
         “ There is no fear of God before their eyes.” a

  19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that

every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.† 20Therefore
by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge
of sin.†

                                           Righteousness in Christ Fulfills the Law

  21But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the

Law and the Prophets,† 22even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all
and on alla who believe. For there is no difference; 23for all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God,† 24being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus,† 25whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate
His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were
previously committed,† 26to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He
might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.†

   27Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of

faith.† 28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the
law. 29Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the
Gentiles also, 30since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the
uncircumcised through faith. 31Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not!
On the contrary, we establish the law.

                                                    Abraham, Model of Faith

   What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?a† 2For
4 if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for

righteousness.”a 4Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

  5But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is

accounted for righteousness, 6just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to
whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:†

    7
     “ Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,

    And whose sins are covered;

    8
        Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.” a

  9Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised

also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10How then was it
accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while
uncircumcised. 11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the
faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who
believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also,†
12and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also
walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

                                       Abraham's Children: Faithful Believers

  13For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed

through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.† 14For if those who are of the law
are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15because the law brings
about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

  16Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be
sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith
of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many
nations”a) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and
calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18who, contrary to hope, in hope
believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So
shall your descendants be.”a 19And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body,
already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb.
20He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith,

giving glory to God, 21and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able
to perform. 22And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”a

  23Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24but also for us. It
shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.†

                           Righteousness as a Living Reality

    Therefore, having been justified by faith, we havea peace with God through our Lord
5
    Jesus Christ,† 2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we
stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also glory in
tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4and perseverance, character;
and character, hope. 5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been
poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.†

  6For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.† 7For
scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even
dare to die. 8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we
shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10For if when we were enemies we were reconciled
to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved
by His life.† 11And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

                         JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

For most of church history, salvation was seen as comprehending all of life: Christians
believed in Christ, were baptized, and were nurtured in their salvation in the Church. Key
doctrines of the faith centered around the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation of the Son of God, the
atonement.

  In Western Europe during the sixteenth century and before, however, justifiable concern
arose among the Reformers over a prevailing understanding that salvation depended on
human works of merit, and not on the grace and mercy of God. Their rediscovery of Romans
5 lead to the slogan sola fides: justification by faith alone.

  This Reformation debate in the West raised the question for the Orthodox East: Why this
new polarization of faith and works? It had been settled since the apostolic era that salvation
was granted by the mercy of God to righteous men and women. Those baptized into Christ
were called to believe in Him and do good works. An opposition of faith versus works was
unprecedented in Orthodox thought.

  The Orthodox understanding of justification differs from the Protestant in several ways.

  1Justification and the new covenant. When Orthodox Christians approach the doctrine of
salvation, the discussion centers around the new covenant. Justification—being or becoming
righteous—by faith in God is part of being brought into a covenant relationship with Him.
Whereas Israel was under the old covenant, in which salvation came through faith as
revealed in the law, the Church is under the new covenant. Salvation comes through faith in
Christ, who fulfills the law. We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, leading us
to the knowledge of God the Father. Rather than justification as a legal acquittal before God,
Orthodox believers see justification by faith as a covenant relationship with Him, centered in
union with Christ (Rom 6:1–6).

  2 Justification and God’s mercy. Orthodoxy emphasizes it is first God’s mercy—not our
faith—that saves us. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in
which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom 5:1, 2). It is God who initiates
or makes the new covenant with us.

  3 Justification by faith is dynamic, not static. For Orthodox Christians, faith is living,
dynamic, continuous—never static or merely point-in-time. Faith is not something a
Christian exercises only at one critical moment, expecting it to cover all the rest of his life.
True faith is not just a decision, it’s a way of life. Thus, the Orthodox Christian sees salvation
in at least three aspects: (a) I have been saved, being joined to Christ in Holy Baptism; (b) I
am being saved, growing in Christ through the sacramental life of the Church; and (c) I will
be saved, by the mercy of God at the Last Judgment.

  Justification by faith, though not the major New Testament doctrine for Orthodox as it is
for Protestants, poses no problem. But justification by faith alone brings up an objection. It
contradicts Scripture, which says, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by
faith only” (Jam 2:24). We are “justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” (Rom 3:28),
but nowhere does the Bible say we are justified by faith “alone.” On the contrary, “faith by
itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (Jam 2:17).

  As Christians we are no longer under the demands of the Old Testament law (Rom 3:20),
for Christ has fulfilled the law (Gal 2:21; 3:5, 24). By God’s mercy, we are brought into a new
covenant relationship with Him. We who believe are granted entrance into His Kingdom by
His grace. Through His mercy, we are justified by faith and empowered by God for good
works or deeds of righteousness that bring glory to Him.


                                Reign of Sin, Reign of Grace

  12Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and

thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—† 13(For until the law sin was in the world,
but sin is not imputed when there is no law.† 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to
Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of
Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.† 15But the free gift is not like the offense. For
if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace
of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.† 16And the gift is not like that which came
through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in
condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.
17For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who
receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One,
Jesus Christ.)

  18Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in
condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men,
resulting in justification of life.† 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made
sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.†

  20Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace

abounded much more,† 21so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through
righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

                          Baptism: Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

    What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?† 2Certainly not!
6
    How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?† 3Or do you not know that as many of
us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?† ω 4Therefore we were
buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by
the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

  5For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be

in the likeness of His resurrection, † 6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him,
that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.† 7For
he who has died has been freed from sin.† 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we
shall also live with Him,† 9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no
more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10For the death that He died, He died to sin
once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.† 11Likewise you also, reckon
yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.†

  12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.†
13And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present
yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of
righteousness to God.† 14For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law
but under grace.

                                   HOLY BAPTISM

What is baptism? Simply put, baptism is our death, burial, and resurrection in union with
Jesus Christ. It is a rite of passage, given by Christ to the Church as an entrance into the
Kingdom of God and eternal life.

  The apostle Paul describes the promise of God in this “mystery,” as most Orthodox call it,
most succinctly when he writes, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into
death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4). To baptize (Gr. baptizo) literally means “to
immerse, to put into.” Historically, the Orthodox Church has baptized by triple immersion,
“in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19).

  In the Old Testament, baptism was pictured by the passage of God’s people with Moses
through the Red Sea (1Co 10:1, 2). John the Baptist, the last prophet of the old covenant,
baptized in water for repentance (Mk 1:4; Acts 19:4). Jesus received John’s baptism, thereby
transforming the water and baptism itself. In the new covenant, baptism is the means by
which we enter the Kingdom of God (Jn 3:5), are joined to Christ (Rom. 6:3), and are granted
the remission of our sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

  What results from baptism? From the start, the Church has understood baptism as:

  1 A first and second dying. Our first dying with Christ in baptism was our death with Him
on the Cross. In the fourth century, St. Cyril of Jerusalem instructed his new converts, “You
were led by the hand to the holy pool of divine baptism . . . and each of you was asked if he
believed in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And you made that
saving confession, you descended into the water and came up again three times. In the very
same moment you died and were born.”

  The second death of baptism is continual—dying to sin daily as we walk in newness of life.
St. Paul writes to the Colossians concerning baptism (Col 2:12) and concludes by saying,
“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness,
passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col 3:5).

  2 The resurrection of righteousness. This is our life in Christ, our new birth and entrance
into God’s Kingdom (Jn 3:3), our “newness of life” (Rom 6:4). It is our being joined to Christ
in His glorified humanity and indwelt by God Himself (Jn 14:23). Our relationship with God
is not something static, a legal fiction given to us by a Divine Judge. Rather, this is a dynamic
and real life in Christ, holding the promise of everlasting life. Our resurrection to new life
now forms a prelude to the resurrection of our body at Christ’s second coming.

  3 An intimate and continual communion with God. We are raised to new life for a purpose:
union and communion with God. In this sense, baptism is the beginning of eternal life. For
this reason, Peter writes that baptism now saves us (1Pt 3:21)—it is not the mere removal of
dirt from our bodies, but provides us with “a good conscience toward God.”

  Because of these promises, the priest prays for the newly baptized, thanking God, “who
have given us, unworthy though we be, blessed purification through holy water, and divine
sanctification through life-giving chrismation, and who now also have been pleased to bring
new life to Your servant newly illuminated by water and the Spirit, and granted remission of
sins—voluntary and involuntary.”


                        Baptism: Freedom from Sin Under Grace

  15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!†
16Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's
slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to
righteousness?† 17But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed
from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.† 18And having been set
free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.† 19I speak in human terms because of the
weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness,
and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of
righteousness for holiness.†

  20For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.† 21What fruit
did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is
death.† 22But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have
your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.† 23For the wages of sin is death, but the
gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.†

                   Baptism: Freedom from Law, Union with Christ


7 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has
  dominion over a man as long as he lives?† 2For the woman who has a husband is bound
by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the
law of her husband. 3So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will
be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no
adulteress, though she has married another man. 4Therefore, my brethren, you also have
become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to
Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5For when we were in
the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to
bear fruit to death.† 6But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we
were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of
the letter.

                        Sin Uses What Is Holy to Produce Death

  7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have
known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law
had said, “You shall not covet.”a† 8But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment,
produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. 9I was alive
once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10And the
commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11For sin, taking occasion by
the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. 12Therefore the law is holy, and the
commandment holy and just and good.

                      The Flesh Uses What Is Good to Produce Sin

  13Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear
sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment
might become exceedingly sinful.† 14For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal,
sold under sin. 15For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do
not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the
law that it is good. 17But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.† 18For I
know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but
how to perform what is good I do not find.† 19For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but
the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I
who do it, but sin that dwells in me.†

  21I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22For I

delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23But I see another law in my
members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin
which is in my members. 24O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of
death?† 25I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!†

  So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

                            The Spirit Defeats Sin and the Flesh

    There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,a who do not
8
    walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.† 2For the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do
in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of
sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,† 4that the righteous
requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but
according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the
things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.† 6For to
be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the
carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

   9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now

if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.† 10And if Christ is in you, the body
is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.† 11But if the Spirit of
Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will
also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

                            The Spirit Conveys Divine Sonship

  12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For
if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of
the body, you will live.† 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.†
15For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of

adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”† 16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our
spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs
with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.†

                         The Spirit Assists Us Through Suffering
  18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared

with the glory which shall be revealed in us.† 19For the earnest expectation of the creation
eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility,
not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21because the creation itself also
will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of
God.† 22For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together
until now. 23Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we
ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our
body. 24For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one
still hope for what he sees?† 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it
with perseverance.

  26Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should

pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for usa with groanings which
cannot be uttered.† 27Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is,
because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

                             The Father Ensures Our Destiny

  28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who

are the called according to His purpose.† ω 29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to
be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also
justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

                          The Father's Love Triumphs in Christ

  31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?† 32He
who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him
also freely give us all things? 33Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who
justifies. 34Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen,
who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written:
    “ For Your sake we are killed all day long;

    We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” a

  37Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I
am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things
present nor things to come,† 39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be
able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

                                Unbelief of the Jews Despite God's Blessings


9 IHoly
    tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the
         Spirit,† 2that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3For I could wish
that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymena according to the
flesh, 4who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving
of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5of whom are the fathers and from whom,
according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

                                              IS GOD FAITHFUL TO
                                                      I S R A E L?

In the early chapters of Romans (1—8), Paul expounds the gospel of God’s righteousness for
the salvation of all who believe in Christ, both Jews and Gentiles. In the middle chapters of
the epistle (9—11), he grapples with the perplexing theme of the Jews’ unbelief in their own
promised Messiah. This matter not only causes Paul great anguish, but also raises questions
about God’s faithfulness to the Jewish people.

  An accusation was circulating in the first century that God had not kept His promises to
Israel—that He had unjustly abandoned His chosen people in favor of idol-worshipping
Gentiles. Although many Jews believed in Christ, the majority of the Jewish people adhered
to their old leaders and traditions. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of Gentiles were
becoming Christians.

  How was one to view these developments? What was God’s plan for Jews and Gentiles in
this decisive period of the history of salvation? Why were most Jews unresponsive or
opposed to the gospel while Gentiles were becoming the majority in the young Church?

  Paul’s letter to the Romans indicates how important such questions were to Christians in
the sixth decade of the first century. Has God been fair to Israel? Paul’s conclusion is yes: He
has been faithful to Israel, and through them to the Gentiles. God’s unchanging faithfulness
is seen in several ways.

  1 Through Paul (Rom 9:1–3). God miraculously saved the Jewish zealot Saul (Acts 9:1–22),
who later, as Paul the Apostle, confesses, “I am indeed a Jew” (Acts 22:3). The faithfulness of
God to Israel and to the Gentiles is witnessed “in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 9:1) through Paul,
who is even willing to be “accursed from Christ” (9:3) if by that Israel could be saved.

  2 Through Providence (Rom 9:4, 5). God the Father shows His sovereign care for both
Israel and the Gentiles through bestowing on them His adoption, glory, covenants, law,
service (Gr. latreia, a reference to proper worship) and promises. The gospel itself came to
“the Jew first” (Rom 1:16) and then to the Gentile.

  3 Through the patriarchs (Rom 9:6–13). God has been faithful to Israel and thus to the
Gentiles through His servants Abraham (v. 7), Isaac (v. 10), and Jacob (v. 13). As Isaac’s birth
came by the promise of God (vv. 6–9), so the new birth comes to us by His promise. For just
as it was possible to be in the nation of Israel but not truly a child of God, so being born into a
Christian home, church, and culture does not de facto guarantee our faithfulness. We must,
like Isaac, be born of God’s promise. For the Christian this new birth comes from the watery
womb of baptism, with the injunction that we grow to serve the Lord with all our heart, mind,
and strength.

  4 Through the prophets (Rom 9:14–29). Beginning with Moses (v. 15) and including Hosea
(vv. 25, 26) and Isaiah (vv. 27–29), the prophets reveal God’s faithfulness in His sovereign
mercy and election of His faithful—Jew and Gentile alike. The “potter” has “power over the
clay” (v. 21) “that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy” (v.
23).

  We therefore conclude that God is faithful to Israel as He is to the Gentiles. But we also see
that to benefit from His faithfulness to us, we must be faithful to Him.


                            God Is Sovereign, Faithful to Israel

  6But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are

of Israel,† 7nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac
your seed shall be called.”a 8That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the
children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 9For this is the word
of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.”a

  10And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father

Isaac† 11(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the
purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12it
was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”a 13As it is written, “Jacob I have loved,
but Esau I have hated.”a

                                                      God Is Just in His Choice

  14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!† 15For He
says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have
compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”a 16So then it is not of him who wills, nor
of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For
this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My
name may be declared in all the earth.”a 18Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and
whom He wills He hardens.

  19You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?”†
20But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him

who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21Does not the potter have power over the
clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

 22What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with

much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,† 23and that He might
make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared
beforehand for glory, 24even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the
Gentiles?

  25As He says also in Hosea:

    “ I will call them My people, who were not My people,

    And her beloved, who was not beloved.” a†

    26
         “ And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them,
    ‘You are not My people,’

    There they shall be called sons of the liv ing God.” a

  27Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:a

    “ Though the number of the children of I srael be as the sand of the sea,

    The remnant will be saved.

    28
         For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness,

    Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth.” a

  29And as Isaiah said before:

    “ Unless the LORD of Sabaotha had left us a seed,

    We would have become like Sodom,

    And we would have been made like Gomorrah.” b

                                             Israel Pursues Self-Righteousness

  30What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained

to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith;† 31but Israel, pursuing the law of
righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.a 32Why? Because they did not
seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law.a For they stumbled at that stumbling
stone. 33As it is written:

    “ Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,

    And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” a


         Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israela is that they may be saved.†
10       2For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own

righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the
law for righteousness to everyone who believes.†

                                               God's Righteousness Is by Faith

  5For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those

things shall live by them.”a† 6But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say
in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ”a (that is, to bring Christ down from above)
7or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ”a (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But
what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”a (that is, the
word of faith which we preach): 9that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.† 10For with
the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation. 11For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”a†
12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all

who call upon Him. 13For “whoever calls on the name of the L shall be saved.”aORD




                                   Israel Rejects, Gentiles Receive the Gospel

  14How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they

believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?†
15And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

    “ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, a

    Who bring glad tidings of good things!” b

  16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “L , who has believed our
                                                                                    ORD



report?”a 17So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

  18But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:

    “ Their sound has gone out to all the earth,

    And their words to the ends of the world.” a

  19But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:

    “ I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation,

    I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” a

  20But Isaiah is very bold and says:

    “ I was found by those who did not seek Me;

    I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” a

  21But to Israel he says:

    “ All day long I have stretched out My hands

    To a disobedient and contrary people.” a

                                               God Elects a Remnant of Israel
11 Ithesayseed
           then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of
               of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.† 2God has not cast away His people
whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads
with God against Israel, saying, 3“L , they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your
                                                            ORD



altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”?a 4But what does the divine response say
to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to
Baal.”a 5Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of
grace. 6And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.a But
if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

  7What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the

rest were blinded. 8Just as it is written:

    “ God has given them a spirit of stupor,

    Eyes that they should not see

    And ears that they should not hear,

    To this very day.” a

  9And David says:

    “ Let their table become a snare and a trap,

    A stumbling block and a recompense to them.

    10
         Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see,

    And bow down their back always.” a

                                                      Gentiles Are Being Saved

  11I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall,

to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.† 12Now if their fall is riches
for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

 13For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my

ministry, 14if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some
of them. 15For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their
acceptance be but life from the dead?

                                                    God Will Yet Restore Israel
  16For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the

branches.† 17And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree,
were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the
olive tree, 18do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not
support the root, but the root supports you.

  19You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20Well said.
Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
21For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22Therefore
consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you,
goodness,a if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23And they
also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in
again. 24For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted
contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural
branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?†

  25For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you
should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the
fullness of the Gentiles has come in.† 26And so all Israel will be saved,a as it is written:

    “ The Deliverer will come out of Zion,

    And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

    27
     For this is My covenant with them,

    When I take away their sins.” a

  28Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they

are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
30For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their

disobedience,† 31even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy
shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32For God has committed them all to disobedience,
that He might have mercy on all.

                                               Doxology to God's Ways

  33Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How
unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
    34
         “ For who has known the mind of the LORD?

    Or who has become His counselor?” a

    35
     “ Or who has first given to Him

    And it shall be repaid to him?” a

 36For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.

Amen.†

                                                     Christian Renewal


12 Iliving
      beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a
           sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.† 2And do not
be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may
prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.†

                                               A Life of Unity in the Church

  3For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of
himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one
a measure of faith.† 4For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not
have the same function, 5so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually
members of one another. 6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to
us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7or ministry, let us
use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he
who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with
cheerfulness.

                                                 A Life of Mercy for All Men

  9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.† 10Be kindly
affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
11not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12rejoicing in hope, patient in

tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13distributing to the needs of the saints, given to
hospitality.

  14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice,
and weep with those who weep. 16Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your
mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

  17Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18If it is

possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19Beloved, do not avenge
yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”a
says the Lord.† 20Therefore

    “ I f your enemy is hungry, feed him;

    I f he is thirsty, give him a drink;

    For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” a

  21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

                                                          Duties to the State


13 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except
   from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.† 2Therefore whoever
resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment
on themselves. 3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be
unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4For he
is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword
in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.†
5Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.†
6For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to

this very thing. 7Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to
whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

                                                           Love of Neighbor

  8Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled

the law. 9For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,”
“You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,”a “You shall not covet,”b and if there
is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.”c† 10Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment
of the law.
                                                  “The Day” Is at Hand

  11And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our

salvation is nearer than when we first believed.ω 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand.
Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.† 13Let us
walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in
strife and envy. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to
fulfill its lusts.

                                           Christian Liberty in Serving God


14 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.3 † 2For
       one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not
him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who
eats; for God has received him. 4Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master
he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

  5One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be

fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord;a and he
who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the
Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives
God thanks. 7For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.† 8For if we live, we
live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are
the Lord's. 9For to this end Christ died and rosea and lived again, that He might be Lord of
both the dead and the living. 10But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show
contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.a 11For
it is written:

     “ As I live, says the LORD,

     Every knee shall bow to Me,

     And every tongue shall confess to God.” a

                                                 Loving Fellow Christians

  12So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13Therefore let us not judge one
another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our
brother's way.†

  14I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to

him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15Yet if your brother is
grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your
food the one for whom Christ died. 16Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
17for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in

the Holy Spirit. 18For he who serves Christ in these thingsa is acceptable to God and
approved by men.

 19Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one

may edify another. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed
are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21It is good neither to eat meat nor
drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.a
22Do you have faith?a Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn

himself in what he approves.† 23But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does
not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.a

                              Christian Unity for God's Glory


15 We  then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please
   ourselves.† 2Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3For
even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who
reproached You fell on Me.”a 4For whatever things were written before were written for our
learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.† 5Now
may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another,
according to Christ Jesus, 6that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

                            Christ's Priestly Work for Gentiles

  7Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us,a to the glory of God. 8Now I
say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to
confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His
mercy, as it is written:
    “ For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,

    And sing to Your name.” a†

    10
         And again he say s:

    “ Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!” a

    11
     And again:

    “ Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles!

    Laud Him, all you peoples!” a

    12
         And again, Isaiah say s:

    “ There shall be a root of Jesse;

    And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,

    I n Him the Gentiles shall hope.” a

  13Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may
abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

                                        Paul's Missionary Work to the Gentiles

  14Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of

goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.a† 15Nevertheless,
brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the
grace given to me by God, 16that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles,
ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable,
sanctified by the Holy Spirit.† 17Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things
which pertain to God. 18For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has
not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—† 19in
mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and
round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20And so I have made it
my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another
man's foundation,† 21but as it is written:

    “ To whom He was not announced, they shall see;

    And those who have not heard shall understand.” a

                                                  Paul's Plan to Visit Rome

  22For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. 23But now no
longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to
you, 24whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you.a For I hope to see you on my
journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a
while. 25But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26For it pleased those
from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints
who are in Jerusalem. 27It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the
Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in
material things.† 28Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit,
I shall go by way of you to Spain. 29But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the
fullness of the blessing of the gospela of Christ.

  30Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the

Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 31that I may be delivered
from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable
to the saints, 32that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed
together with you. 33Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

                                 Paul's Personal Greetings

               to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,† 2that
16 Iyoucommend
         may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in
whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of
myself also.

  3Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,† 4who risked their own
necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
5Likewise greet the church that is in their house.


  Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaiaa to Christ. 6Greet Mary, who
labored much for us.ω 7Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow
prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.†

  8Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and

Stachys, my beloved. 10Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the
household of Aristobulus. 11Greet Herodion, my countryman.a Greet those who are of the
household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
 12Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis,

who labored much in the Lord. 13Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with

them. 15Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints
who are with them.

  16Greet one another with a holy kiss. Thea churches of Christ greet you.

                            Warning About Divisive Teachers

  17Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the

doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.† 18For those who are such do not serve our Lord
Jesusa Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the
hearts of the simple. 19For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on
your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20And the
God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.

  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

                              Greetings from Paul's Friends

  21Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.

  22I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.†

  23Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of

the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. 24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
all. Amen.a

                                         Benediction

  25Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of

Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began†
26but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations,

according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— 27to God,
alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.a
                                  1 CO RINT HIANS
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Chapters in 1 Corinthians
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 2
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 4
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 6
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 15
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58

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Verses in 1 Corinthians Chapter 16
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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                                          The First Book of the Corinthians

  Author   —St. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles and the founder of the church at Corinth
(Acts 18:1–11), is the undisputed author of this epistle.

  Date   —First Corinthians was probably written from Ephesus around AD 55, during
Paul's third missionary journey (Acts 19:1–20:1).

  Major Theme      —Communion with God versus communion with darkness. We are created
for communion (Gr. koinonia) with God and with each other. Koinonia is concretely
experienced in the life of the Church, which is the Body of Christ and the temple of the
Holy Spirit. But communion is not automatic; we pursue it. And while we may
cooperate with evil, we are created to cooperate with God and with each other.

The subthemes of this epistle are found in the sections Paul writes to answer specific
problems or concerns in the church.

1 . Factionalism (1:10–3:23)

2 . Civil lawsuits (4:1–21; 6:1–8)

3 . Sexual immorality (5:1–13; 6:9–7:40)

4 . Meat sacrificed to idols (8:1–9:27)

5. Eucharistic theology and practice (10:1–11:34)

6 . Spiritual gifts (12:1–14:40)

7 . Resurrection life (15:1–16:24)


  Background     —There were a number of problems in the Corinthian church to which Paul
responds in this letter. These problems include: (a) Church disunity. Many Corinthian
Christians had broken into several factions based on improper loyalty to particular
Christian leaders (1:12). (b) Doctrinal speculations. Erroneous teaching thrived in
Corinth, particularly that of the gnostic variety. (c) Moral failure. The Corinthian
church, free from persecution, became spiritually weak and succumbed to the moral
failure the city was famous for. (d) Dealing with pagan religions. Christians in Corinth
could not agree about how to respond to idolatry. (e) Self-centeredness and spiritual
gifts. Corinth was brilliantly endowed with spiritual gifts, perhaps as the Holy Spirit's
counter to the hedonism there. But the self-centeredness of the gifted ones brought
dishonor to God.
  The internal evidence of 1 and 2 Corinthians indicates Paul originally wrote two
  additional letters to the Corinthians which have now been lost: one before 1 Corinthians
  (see 5:9–11) and one between 1 and 2 Corinthians (the “sorrowful” letter; see 2Co 2:4–
  11; 7:8). The problems in Corinth were not quickly or easily solved.

 Outline

   I. Introduction (1 :1 –9 )

         A. Greeting (1 :1 –3 )

          B. Thanksgiv ing for spiritual gifts (1 :4 –9 )

  II. Response to Reports Receiv ed (1 :1 0–6 :2 0)

         A. The church is one (1 :1 0–4 :2 1 )

          B. The church is holy (5:1 –6 :2 0)

  III. Response to Questions Asked (7 :1 –1 5:58)

         A. The church is catholic (7 :1 –1 4 :4 0)

          B. The church is apostolic: the Resurrection (1 5:1 –58)

 IV. Conclusion (1 6 :1 –2 4 )

         A. Collection for the Jerusalem church (1 6 :1 –4 )

          B. Paul's plans (1 6 :5–1 2 )

          C. Exhortations, greetings, and benediction (1 6 :1 3 –2 4 )



                                                                   Greeting


1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our
  brother,†

  2To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus,
called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both
theirs and ours:†

                                          Thanksgiving for God's Grace at Corinth

  3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.†

  4I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by

Christ Jesus,† 5that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all
knowledge, 6even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7so that you come short
in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,† 8who will also confirm
you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is
faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.†

                                     Reported Contentiousness in the Church

    10Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak
the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined
together in the same mind and in the same judgment.† 11For it has been declared to me
concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions
among you.† 12Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I
am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”†

                                            The Sacrament of Unity: Baptism

    13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
†

                                 The Message of Unity: Exaltation of the Cross

  14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,† 15lest anyone should

say that I had baptized in my own name.† 16Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas.
Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17For Christ did not send me to baptize,
but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of
no effect.†

    18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are

being saved it is the power of God.† ω 19For it is written:

      “ I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

      And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” a

 20Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God

made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through
wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to
save those who believe. 22For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;† 23but we
preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeksa foolishness, 24but
to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of
God.† 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is
stronger than men.

 26For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many

mighty, not many noble, are called. 27But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to
put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the
things which are mighty; 28and the base things of the world and the things which are
despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that
are,† 29that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who
became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
31that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the L .”a
                                                                    ORD




2 And  I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom
  declaring to you the testimonya of God. 2For I determined not to know anything among
you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much
trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of humana
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,† 5that your faith should not be in
the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

                                Understanding Unity: Wisdom of the Spirit

  6However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age,

nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.† 7But we speak the wisdom of God
in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8which
none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the
Lord of glory.†

  9But as it is written:

    “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

    Nor have entered into the heart of man

    The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” a†

  10But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things,

yes, the deep things of God.† 11For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of
the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we

might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.†

 13These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the

Holya Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man does
not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet
he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16For “who has known the mind of the L        ORD   that he
may instruct Him?”a But we have the mind of Christ.†


3 And  I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes
  in Christ.† 2I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to
receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3for you are still carnal. For where there are
envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4For
when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

                            Wisdom in the Apostolic Ministry

  5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the

Lord gave to each one? 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.† 7So then
neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8Now
he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according
to his own labor.

  9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.† 10According
to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the
foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11For no
other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if
anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each
one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire;
and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14If anyone's work which he has built
on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but
he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
  16Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in

you? 17If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is
holy, which temple you are.

                                Wisdom in Christ's Church

  18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him

become a fool that he may become wise.† 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with
God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;a 20and again, “The L ORD



knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”a 21Therefore let no one boast in men.
For all things are yours:† 22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death,
or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

                              Wisdom in Spiritual Fatherhood


4 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
  2Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 3But with me it is a very

small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court.a In fact, I do not even judge
myself.† 4For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who
judges me is the Lord. 5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who
will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts.
Then each one's praise will come from God.

  6Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your
sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be
puffed up on behalf of one against the other.† 7For who makes you differ from another? And
what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast
as if you had not received it?†

  8You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and

indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! 9For I think that God
has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a
spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.ω 10We are fools for Christ's sake, but you
are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are
dishonored!† 11To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and
beaten, and homeless. 12And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless;
being persecuted, we endure;† 13being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth
of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

                                    Appeal and Warning

  14I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.† 15For
though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers;
for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16Therefore I urge you, imitate
me. 17For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the
Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

  18Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.† 19But I will come to you
shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the
power. 20For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21What do you want? Shall I
come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

                             Incest: The Church Must Be Pure


5 Itimmorality
      is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual
               as is not even nameda among the Gentiles—that a man has his father's wife!†
2And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might

be taken away from among you.† 3For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have
already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4In the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power
of our Lord Jesus Christ,† 5deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that
his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.a†

  6Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?†
7Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are

unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.a 8Therefore let us keep
the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the
unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

  9I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.† 10Yet I
certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous,
or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11But now I
have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually
immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even
to eat with such a person.

 12For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those

who are inside?† 13But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from
yourselves the evil person.”a

                        Lawsuits: The Church Has Discernment


6 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and
  not before the saints?† 2Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the
world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?† 3Do you not
know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4If then
you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are
least esteemed by the church to judge? 5I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a
wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6But
brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!

 7Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another.

Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?† 8No,
you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9Do you not
know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,a nor sodomites,† 10nor thieves,
nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
11And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were

justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.†

                             Immorality: The Church Is a Temple

  12All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me,

but I will not be brought under the power of any.† ω 13Foods for the stomach and the
stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual
immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.† 14And God both raised up the Lord
and will also raise us up by His power.

  15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members

of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!† 16Or do you not know that he
who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one
flesh.”a 17But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

  18Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who

commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19Or do you not know that your body
is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not
your own?† 20For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your bodya and in your
spirit, which are God's.

                                   Concerning Marriage


7 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:
   It is good for a man not to touch a woman.† 2Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality,
let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3Let the
husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the

husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.† 5Do not deprive one
another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer;
and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-
control.† 6But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 7For I wish that all men
were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and
another in that.

  8But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I

am;† 9but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to
burn with passion.

  10Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her

husband. 11But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her
husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.†

  12But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and

she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13And a woman who has a husband
who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14For the
unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the
husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.† 15But if the
unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases.
But God has called us to peace. 16For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your
husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

  17But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk.

And so I ordain in all the churches.† 18Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not
become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.
19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of

God is what matters. 20Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.
21Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free,

rather use it. 22For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise
he who is called while free is Christ's slave. 23You were bought at a price; do not become
slaves of men. 24Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

                                   Concerning Virginity

  25Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as

one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. 26I suppose therefore that this is
good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is:† 27Are you
bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned.
Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

  29But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have

wives should be as though they had none,† 30those who weep as though they did not weep,
those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not
possess, 31and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is
passing away.

 32But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord

—how he may please the Lord. 33But he who is married cares about the things of the world—
how he may please his wife. 34There isa a difference between a wife and a virgin. The
unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and
in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her
husband. 35And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what
is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

  36But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the
flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them
marry.† 37Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has
power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin,a does
well. 38So then he who gives hera in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in
marriage does better.

                                 Concerning Widowhood

   39A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at

liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.† 40But she is happier if she
remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

                              Love Reigns Over Knowledge


8 Now  concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge
  puffs up, but love edifies. 2And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows
nothing yet as he ought to know. 3But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

  4Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing

in the world, and that there is no other God but one.† 5For even if there are so-called gods,
whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6yet for us there is
one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom are all things, and through whom we live.†

  7However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the
idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do

not eat are we the worse.ω

 9But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are

weak. 10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the
conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11And
because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12But when
you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
13Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my
brother stumble.

                              A Good Example: Paul's Rights


9 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not
  my work in the Lord?† 2If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For
you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.†

  3My defense to those who examine me is this: 4Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5Do
we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of
the Lord, and Cephas? 6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from
working? 7Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat
of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

  8Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9For it is

written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.”a Is it
oxen God is concerned about? 10Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no
doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope
should be partaker of his hope. 11If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if
we reap your material things?† 12If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not
even more?

  Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of
Christ. 13Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the
temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14Even so the
Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

                                      Paul's Obligations

  15But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be
done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting
void. 16For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me;
yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if
against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18What is my reward then? That
when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christa without charge, that I may not
abuse my authority in the gospel.

  19For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win

the more;ω 20and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are
under the law, as under the law,a that I might win those who are under the law; 21to those
who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God,a but under law
toward Christb), that I might win those who are without law; 22to the weak I became asa
weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all
means save some. 23Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

                                 Paul's Spiritual Discipline

  24Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in

such a way that you may obtain it.† 25And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate
in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
26Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
27But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I
myself should become disqualified.

                             A Bad Example: Israel's Apostasy


10 Moreover,   brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under
   the cloud, all passed through the sea,† ω 2all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and
in the sea,† 3all ate the same spiritual food, 4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they
drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5But with most of
them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.†

  6Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil

things as they also lusted.† 7And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is
written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”a 8Nor let us commit
sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9nor let
us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10nor
complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11Now alla
these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon
whom the ends of the ages have come.

  12Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13No temptation has
overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you
to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of
escape, that you may be able to bear it.

                                  Worship Is Sacramental

 14Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves

what I say. 16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of
Christ?† The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17For we,
though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

  18Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the

altar?† 19What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is
anything?† 20Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons
and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21You cannot drink
the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the
table of demons. 22Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

                               Offend No Man, Glorify God

  23All things are lawful for me,a but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me,b

but not all things edify.† 24Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.

  25Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake;† 26for
“the earth is the L 'S, and all its fullness.”a
                   ORD




 27If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat

whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 28But if anyone says to
you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for
conscience’ sake;a for “the earth is the L 's, and all its fullness.”b 29“Conscience,” I say, not
                                           ORD



your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience?
30But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?

  31Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33just as I
also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they
may be saved.


11 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
                                   The Conduct of Women

  2Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions

just as I delivered them to you.† 3But I want you to know that the head of every man is
Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4Every man praying or
prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5But every woman who prays or
prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her
head were shaved. 6For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful
for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 7For a man indeed ought not to cover
his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8For man is
not from woman, but woman from man. 9Nor was man created for the woman, but woman
for the man. 10For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head,
because of the angels. 11Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman
independent of man, in the Lord. 12For as woman came from man, even so man also comes
through woman; but all things are from God.

  13Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head

uncovered? 14Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a
dishonor to him? 15But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to
hera for a covering. 16But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do
the churches of God.

                                   Unity at the Eucharist

  17Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the

better but for the worse.† 18For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that
there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19For there must also be factions
among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20Therefore when
you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper.† 21For in eating, each one
takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22What! Do
you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame
those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise
you.

  23For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on

the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;† 24and when He had given thanks, He
broke it and said, “Take, eat;a this is My body which is brokenb for you; do this in
remembrance of Me.” 25In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This
cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of
Me.”

                                  THE EUCHARIST

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the
same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks [Gr.
eucharistesas], He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do
this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying,
‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance
of Me” (1Co 11:23–25).

  With these words—quoting the words of Christ in Luke 22:19, 20—St. Paul instructs the
Corinthians concerning the Eucharist, the giving of thanks. Some two thousand years after
Jesus gave Himself “for the life of the world” (Jn 6:51), there are in Christendom at least
three different interpretations of His words.
  For the first thousand years of Christian history, when the Church was visibly one and
undivided, the holy gifts of the Body and Blood of Christ were received as just that: His Body
and Blood. The Church confessed this was a mystery: The bread is truly His Body, that which
is in the cup is truly His Blood, but one cannot say how they become so.

  The eleventh and twelfth centuries brought on the scholastic era, the Age of Reason in the
West. The Roman Church, which had become separated from the Orthodox Church in 1054,
was pressed by the rationalists to define how the transformation occurs. They answered with
the word transubstantiation, meaning a change of substance. The elements are no longer
bread and wine; they are physically changed into flesh and blood. The sacrament, which only
faith can comprehend, was subjected to a philosophical definition. This second view was
unknown in the ancient Church.

  Not surprisingly, one of the points of disagreement between Rome and the sixteenth-
century reformers was this issue of transubstantiation. Unable to accept this explanation of
the sacrament, the radical reformers, who were rationalists themselves, took up the opposite
point of view: the gifts are nothing but bread and wine, period. They only represent Christ’s
Body and Blood; they have no spiritual reality. This third, symbol-only view helps explains
the infrequency with which some Protestants partake of the Eucharist.

  What do the Scriptures teach concerning the Eucharist?

  1 Jesus said, “This is My body . . . this is My blood” (Lk 22:19, 20). He never says these gifts
merely symbolize His Body and Blood. Critics have charged that Jesus also said of Himself, “I
am the door” (Jn 10:7), and He certainly is not a seven-foot wooden plank. The flaw in that
argument is obvious: at no time has the Church ever believed He was a literal door. But she
has always believed the consecrated gifts of bread and wine are truly His Body and Blood.

  2 In the New Testament, those who receive Christ’s Body and Blood unworthily are said to
bring condemnation upon themselves. “For this reason many are weak and sick among you,
and many sleep” (literally, “are dead”; 1Co 11:30). A mere symbol, a quarterly reminder, could
hardly have the power to cause sickness and death!

  3 Historically, from New Testament days on, the central act of worship, the very apex of
spiritual sacrifice, took place “on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together
to break bread” (Acts 20:7). The Eucharist has always been that supreme act of thanksgiving
and praise to God in His Church.


  26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till
He comes.

  27Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner

will be guilty of the body and blooda of the Lord.† 28But let a man examine himself, and so
let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.† 29For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy
mannera eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord'sb body.† 30For this
reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge
ourselves, we would not be judged.† 32But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord,
that we may not be condemned with the world.

  33Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.† 34But if
anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I
will set in order when I come.

                                         Spiritual Gifts


12 Nowaconcerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:† 2You know†
      that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.
3Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus

accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.†

  4There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.† 5There are differences of ministries,

but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works
all in all. 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:† 8for to
one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge
through the same Spirit,† 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by
the samea Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another
discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of
tongues. 11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one
individually as He wills.

  12For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body,
being many, are one body, so also is Christ.† 13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one
body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink intoa
one Spirit. 14For in fact the body is not one member but many.†

  15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not

of the body? 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it
therefore not of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If
the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18But now God has set the members,
each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19And if they were all one member, where
would the body be?

  20But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21And the eye cannot say to the

hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22No,
much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23And
those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater
honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24but our presentable parts have
no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
25that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same

care for one another. 26And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one
member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.†

                                  Love, Superior to Gifts

  27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.ω 28And God has appointed
these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then
gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.† 29Are all apostles? Are all
prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healings? Do
all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31But earnestly desire the besta gifts. And yet I
show you a more excellent way.


13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have
   become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.† 2And though I have the gift of prophecy,
and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could
remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.† 3And though I bestow all my goods to
feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,a but have not love, it profits me
nothing.†

  4Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed

up;† 5does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6does
not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
things, endures all things.

  8Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are

tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.† 9For we know in
part and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is
in part will be done away.

  11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but

when I became a man, I put away childish things.† 12For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but
then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

  13And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

                               Prophecy, Superior to Tongues

      Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.† 2For he
14 who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him;
however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.† 3But he who prophesies speaks edification and
exhortation and comfort to men. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who
prophesies edifies the church. 5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you
prophesied; fora he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless
indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

  6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I

speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? 7Even things
without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction
in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8For if the trumpet makes an
uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? 9So likewise you, unless you utter by the
tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be
speaking into the air. 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and
none of them is without significance. 11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the
language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to
me. 12Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the
church that you seek to excel.

  13Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a

tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What is the conclusion then? I
will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit,
and I will also sing with the understanding. 16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will
he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he
does not understand what you say? 17For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not
edified.

  18I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19yet in the church I would
rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten
thousand words in a tongue.

  20Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in

understanding be mature.ω

  21In the law it is written:

    “ With men of other tongues and other lips

    I will speak to this people;

    And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” a

  says the Lord.

  22Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but

prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.† 23Therefore if the whole
church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who
are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24But if all
prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is
convicted by all. 25And thusa the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his
face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.†
                                        Order in Worship

  26How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a
teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for
edification. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn,
and let one interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let
him speak to himself and to God. 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
30But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31For you can all

prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32And the spirits of the
prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For God is not the author of confusion but of peace,
as in all the churches of the saints.

  34Let youra women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but

they are to be submissive, as the law also says.† 35And if they want to learn something, let
them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

  36Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?
37If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things

which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.† 38But if anyone is ignorant, let
him be ignorant.a

  39Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with

tongues. 40Let all things be done decently and in order.

                               Witnesses to the Resurrection


15 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you
   received and in which you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that
word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

  3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins

according to the Scriptures,† 4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day
according to the Scriptures, † 5and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.† 6After
that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to
the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7After that He was seen by James, then by all the
apostles. 8Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

  9For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I

persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace
toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the
grace of God which was with me. 11Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so
you believed.

                            The Centrality of the Resurrection

  12Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among

you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?† 13But if there is no resurrection of the
dead, then Christ is not risen. 14And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and
your faith is also empty. 15Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have
testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not
rise. 16For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17And if Christ is not risen, your
faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ
have perished. 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most
pitiable.

                           The Resurrection and the Kingdom

  20But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have

fallen asleep.† ω 21For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the
dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.† 23But each one in
his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. 24Then
comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all
rule and all authority and power.† 25For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His
feet. 26The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27For “He has put all things under His
feet.”a But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all
things under Him is excepted. 28Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son
Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

 29Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all?

Why then are they baptized for the dead?† 30And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour?
31I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32If, in
the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the
dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”a†

  33Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34Awake to righteousness, and
do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

                              The Manner of the Resurrection

  35But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they

come?”† 36Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37And what you sow,
you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain.
38But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.

  39All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesha of men, another flesh of
animals, another of fish, and another of birds.

  40There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one,

and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41There is one glory of the sun, another glory of
the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.

                                The One Who Resurrects Us

  42So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in

incorruption. 43It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised
in power. 44It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and
there is a spiritual body. 45And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.”a
The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.†

   46However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47The

first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lorda from heaven. 48As
was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so
also are those who are heavenly. 49And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we
shall also beara the image of the heavenly Man.

                               The Time of the Resurrection
  50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor

does corruption inherit incorruption.† 51Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed— 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality.

                                         Hymn: Triumph Over Death

  54So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up
in victory.”a

    55
     “ O Death, where is your sting?a

    O Hades, where is your victory?” b

  56The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.† 57But thanks be to God, who
gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

  58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work

of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.†

                                          Collection for Jerusalem


16 Now  concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of
   Galatia, so you must do also:† 2On the first day of the week let each one of you lay
something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
3And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to

Jerusalem. 4But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.

                                                Paul's Plans

  5Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through

Macedonia). 6And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you
may send me on my journey, wherever I go. 7For I do not wish to see you now on the way;
but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.
  8But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9For a great and effective door has opened to
me, and there are many adversaries.

  10And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of

the Lord, as I also do. 11Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey in
peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren.

  12Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the
brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has
a convenient time.

                           Final Exhortations and Greetings

  13Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14Let all that you do be done with
love.

  15I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of

Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints— 16that you also
submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.

  17I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking

on your part they supplied.† 18For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge
such men.

  19The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with

the church that is in their house.† 20All the brethren greet you.

  Greet one another with a holy kiss.

  21The salutation with my own hand—Paul's.†

  22If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed.a O Lord, come!b

  23The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24My love be with you all in Christ
Jesus. Amen.
                                  2 CO RINT HIANS
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Chapters in 2 Corinthians
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in 2 Corinthians Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in 2 Corinthians Chapter 2
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in 2 Corinthians Chapter 3
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in 2 Corinthians Chapter 4
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in 2 Corinthians Chapter 5
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in 2 Corinthians Chapter 6
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in 2 Corinthians Chapter 7
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in 2 Corinthians Chapter 8
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in 2 Corinthians Chapter 9
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in 2 Corinthians Chapter 10
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in 2 Corinthians Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in 2 Corinthians Chapter 12
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in 2 Corinthians Chapter 13
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11, 12, 13, 14

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                                      The Second Book of the Corinthians

  Author   —St. Paul the Apostle is identified as the author in 1:1, and there is no reason to
doubt his authorship.

  Date   —Second Corinthians was written the same year as 1 Corinthians (c. AD 55) from
Macedonia, where Titus rejoined Paul with a report about the Corinthian church.

  Major Theme       —Reconciliation and communion. This theme is clearly seen in Paul's
attempt to be reconciled to the Corinthian church. Other aspects of this theme include:

1 . The communion of saints. The Church is the Body of Christ: a corporate unity of all m em bers in all things (see especially chs. 4 –6 ).

2 . Apostleship and the Church. The faith and authority of properly ordained and recognized apostles is essential to the life of the Church. The

   relationship between the apostles and the laity is a com m union of lov e.

3 . The unity of the Church. The collection for Jerusalem (chs. 8; 9 ) dem onstrates the lov e and unity between the Gentile and the Judaic

   elem ents in the Church—m anifested in sacrificial giv ing.

4 . The Church and the world. Christianity does not renounce and forsake the world, but renews it.


  Background      —For the historical setting of 2 Corinthians, see the Introduction to 1
Corinthians.

A major purpose of this second epistle is Paul's defense of his apostleship and his
polemic against false apostles in Corinth. Outsiders have shown up in Corinth calling
themselves “the most eminent apostles” (11:5; 12:11) or “super-apostles.” They claim to
be better than Paul, alleging that he does not measure up (13:5–7). They seek to prove
Paul an impostor, bringing all kinds of outrageous charges against him. In their
preaching they elevate themselves (4:5) and present a different gospel from Paul's
(11:4). They teach that Christians must have exalted spiritual experiences and lead
successful, painless lives, and should not be concerned about moral purity and holiness
(6:14–7:1).

Paul perceives all this false teaching as a vain, earthly show, having nothing to do with
God, the gospel, or the Kingdom (5:11–19). He reveals the false apostles as agents of
Satan (4:3, 4; 6:15; 11:3, 13–15).

Outline

I. Greeting (1 :1 , 2 )
  II. Paul's Reconciliation to the Corinthian Church (1 :3 –7 :1 6 )

         A. Thanksgiv ing for com fort in affliction (1 :3 –1 1 )

          B. Is Paul sincere? (1 :1 2 –2 :1 7 )

          C. Is Paul's com petent? (3 :1 –6 :1 0)

         D. Paul's plea to the Corinthians (6 :1 1 –7 :4 )

          E. Paul's confidence in the Corinthians (7 :5–1 6 )

  III. The Reconciliation of Gentile and Jew (8:1 –9 :1 5)

         A. The m otiv ation of m utuality (8:1 –1 5)

          B. The m eans: env oy s recom m ended (8:1 6 –9 :5)

          C. Results: a hom ily on cheerful giv ing (9 :6 –1 5)

 IV. Paul's Vindication from Enem y Charges (1 0:1 –1 2 :1 3 )

         A. Is Paul weak? (1 0:1 –1 1 )

          B. Is Paul am bitious? (1 0:1 2 –1 8)

          C. Is Paul as good as the false apostles? (1 1 :1 –1 5)

         D. Is Paul qualified to be an apostle? (1 1 :1 6 –1 2 :1 3 )

  V. The Resolution: Paul's Next Visit (1 2 :1 4 –1 3 :1 0)

 VI. Conclusion (1 3 :1 1 –1 4 )



                                                                        Greeting


1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
  To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

  2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

                                             Sharing Suffering, Sharing Comfort

   3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of

all comfort,† 4who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those
who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5For
as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
6Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for
enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your
consolation and salvation.† 7And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you
are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
                             Sharing in Adversity by Prayer

  8For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia:

that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.†
9Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in

God who raises the dead, 10who delivered us from so great a death, and doesa deliver us; in
whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11you also helping together in prayer for us, that
thanks may be given by many persons on oura behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

                         Paul's Pure Conscience Toward Corinth

  12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in
the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God,
and more abundantly toward you. 13For we are not writing any other things to you than what
you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end† 14(as also you
have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the
Lord Jesus.

                                 Paul Does Not Vacillate

  15And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second

benefit— † 16to pass by way of you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you, and
be helped by you on my way to Judea. 17Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it
lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be
Yes, Yes, and No, No? 18But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. 19For the
Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy
—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.† 20For all the promises of God in Him are Yes,
and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.† 21Now He who establishes us with you in
Christ and has anointed us is God,† 22who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our
hearts as a guarantee.

                                      Paul Is Merciful

  23Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to

Corinth.† 24Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy;
for by faith you stand.

   But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. 2For if
2 I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made
sorrowful by me?

  3And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those
from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.
4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you

should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.†

                              Restore the Penitent Offender

  5But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not

to be too severe.† 6This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such
a man, 7so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps
such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your
love to him. 9For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are
obedient in all things. 10Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have
forgiven anything, I have forgiven that onea for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11lest
Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

                              God Triumphs in His Apostles

 12Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to

me by the Lord, 13I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but
taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.

  14Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses

the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.† 15For we are to God the fragrance of Christ
among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16To the one we are
the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And
who is sufficient for these things? 17For we are not, as so many,a peddling the word of God;
but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

                            Paul's Letter of Recommendation
3 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of
  commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?† 2You are our epistle written
in our hearts, known and read by all men;† 3clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by
us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on
tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

                          Paul's Sufficiency: The Life-Giving Spirit

  4And we have such trust through Christ toward God.† 5Not that we are sufficient of

ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6who
also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit;a
for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

                               Paul's Ministry: The Glory of God

  7But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the
children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his
countenance, which glory was passing away,† 8how will the ministry of the Spirit not be
more glorious? 9For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness
exceeds much more in glory. 10For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect,
because of the glory that excels. 11For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is
much more glorious.

                                  Paul's Relationship with God

  12Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— 13unlike Moses,
who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of
what was passing away. 14But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil
remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in
Christ. 15But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16Nevertheless
when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.† 17Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where
the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.† 18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a
mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory,
just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
                               Paul's Faithfulness to the Gospel

    Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.†
4   2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor
handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending
ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3But even if our gospel is veiled, it is
veiled to those who are perishing,† 4whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not
believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should
shine on them. 5For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves
your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.† 6For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of
darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.

                                   The Power of an Apostle

 7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of

God and not of us.† 8We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed,
but not in despair;† 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10always
carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be
manifested in our body. 11For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that
the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12So then death is working in us,
but life in you.

  13And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and

therefore I spoke,”a we also believe and therefore speak, 14knowing that He who raised up
the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15For all things
are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to
abound to the glory of God.

                                      Seeing the Unseen

  16Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the

inward man is being renewed day by day.† 17For our light affliction, which is but for a
moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,† 18while we do
not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things
which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.†

                               The Hope of the Resurrection


5 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from
  God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.† ω 2For in this we groan,
earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3if indeed, having
been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4For we who are in this tent groan, being
burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be
swallowed up by life. 5Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has
given us the Spirit as a guarantee.†

  6So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent

from the Lord. 7For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, yes, well pleased rather
to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

                     Apostolic Motivation: Fearing and Loving God

  9Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the

things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.† 11Knowing,
therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also
trust are well known in your consciences.†

  12For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our
behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14For
the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him
who died for them and rose again.

                           Apostolic Vision: The New Creation

  16Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have

known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.† 17Therefore, if
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have
become new.

                                         Apostolic Ministry: Reconciliation

  18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and

has given us the ministry of reconciliation,† 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the
world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of
reconciliation.

  20Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we

implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21For He made Him who knew no sin to
be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

                                                  The Marks of Apostleship


6 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of
  God in vain.† ω 2For He says:

    “ I n an acceptable time I have heard you,

    And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” a

  Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

  3We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4But in all things
we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in
distresses, 5in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
6by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
7by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand

and on the left, 8by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet
true; 9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet
not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having
nothing, and yet possessing all things.

                                                        A Plea for Holiness

  11O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.† 12You are not

restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13Now in return for the same
(I speak as to children), you also be open.

   14Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has

righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?† 15And what
accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16And what
agreement has the temple of God with idols? For youa are the temple of the living God. As
God has said:

    “ I will dwell in them

    And walk among them.

    I will be their God,

    And they shall be My people.” b

  17Therefore

    “ Come out from among them

    And be separate, says the Lord.

    Do not touch what is unclean,

    And I will receive you.” a†

    18
         “ I will be a Father to you,

    And you shall be My sons and daughters,

    Says the LORD Almighty.” a



7 Therefore,  having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of
  the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.†

  2Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have

cheated no one. 3I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our
hearts, to die together and to live together. 4Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great
is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our
tribulation.

                                              Desire and Diligence

  5For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on

every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6Nevertheless God, who comforts the
downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and not only by his coming, but also by the
consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your
mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

  8For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I

perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9Now I rejoice, not
that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in
a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.† 10For godly sorrow produces
repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces
death. 11For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it
produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement
desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this
matter. 12Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done
the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight
of God might appear to you.

  13Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more

for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14For if in anything I
have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth,
even so our boasting to Titus was found true. 15And his affections are greater for you as he
remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.
16Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.

                                     Models to Imitate


8 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of
  Macedonia:† 2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep
poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3For I bear witness that according to their
ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4imploring us with much
urgency that we would receivea the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by

the will of God.† 6So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this
grace in you as well. 7But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in
all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.

  8I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence

of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for
your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.†

                                The Ideal of Mutual Giving

 10And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and

were desiring to do a year ago; 11but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as
there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.
12For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not
according to what he does not have.

  13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14but by an equality,
that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may
supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15As it is written, “He who gathered much had
nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”a

                            Accountability for This Collection

  16But thanks be to God who putsa the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
17For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his

own accord. 18And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel
throughout all the churches, 19and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to
travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and
to show your ready mind, 20avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift
which is administered by us— 21providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord,
but also in the sight of men.

  22And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many
things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you.
23If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if
our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24Therefore show to them, anda before the churches, the proof of your love and of our

boasting on your behalf.†


9 Now   concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;
  2for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia
was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. 3Yet I have sent the brethren,
lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready;†
4lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!)

should be ashamed of this confident boasting.a 5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort
the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which
you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a
grudging obligation.

                                            Cheerful Giving

  6But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows

bountifully will also reap bountifully.† 7So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not
grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace
abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an
abundance for every good work. 9As it is written:

    “ He has dispersed abroad,

    He has given to the poor;

    His righteousness endures forever.” a

  10Now maya He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply

the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11while you are
enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12For
the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is
abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13while, through the proof of this ministry,
they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your
liberal sharing with them and all men, 14and by their prayer for you, who long for you
because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

                                            Spiritual Warfare


10 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—
   who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.† 2But I
beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to
be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3For though we
walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.† 4For the weapons of our warfare are
not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,† 5casting down arguments and
every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into
captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6and being ready to punish all disobedience when your
obedience is fulfilled.

                                 Paul's Authority in Christ

  7Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in
himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ's,
even so we are Christ's.a† 8For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority,
which the Lord gave usa for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed—
9lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10“For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful,

but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” 11Let such a person consider
this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed
when we are present.

                                    The Sphere of Labor

  12For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend
themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves
among themselves, are not wise.† 13We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within
the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.
14For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you),

for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15not boasting of things beyond
measure, that is, in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we
shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16to preach the gospel in the regions beyond
you, and not to boast in another man's sphere of accomplishment.

  17But “he who glories, let him glory in the L .”a 18For not he who commends himself is
                                                 ORD



approved, but whom the Lord commends.

                              Paul Preaches the True Gospel

       that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me.† 2For
11 Oh,
   I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I
may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent
deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicitya that is in
Christ. 4For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you
receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have
not accepted—you may well put up with it!†

  5For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. 6Even though I
am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly
manifesteda among you in all things.

                                    Serving out of Love

  7Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the

gospel of God to you free of charge?† 8I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to
minister to you. 9And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for
what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept
myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. 10As the truth of Christ is in
me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11Why? Because I do
not love you? God knows!

  12But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those
who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.
13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of

Christ.† 14And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of
righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

                                Paul's Reluctant Boasting

  16I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I

also may boast a little.† 17What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were,
foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. 18Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I
also will boast. 19For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! 20For you
put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one
exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. 21To our shame I say that we were too weak for
that! But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.ω
                              Jewish and Christian Credentials

  22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham?

So am I.† 23Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more
abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24From the
Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods;
once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen,
in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in
perils among false brethren; 27in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and
thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28besides the other things, what comes
upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak?
Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

  30If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. 31The God and

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32In
Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with
a garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33but I was let down in a basket through a window in the
wall, and escaped from his hands.

                                          Paul's Visions

                   a not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of
12 It is doubtless
             †2
      the Lord:    I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do
not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up
to the third heaven. 3And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not
know, God knows— 4how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words,
which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not
boast, except in my infirmities. 6For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I
will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to
be or hears from me.

                                      A Thorn in the Flesh

  7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn
in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above
measure.† 8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart
from me. 9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect
in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs,
in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

                                       Paul's Miracles

  11I have become a fool in boasting;a you have compelled me. For I ought to have been
commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am
nothing.† 12Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all
perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. 13For what is it in which you were
inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this
wrong!

                                      A Love Rejected

  14Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you;
for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the
parents for the children. 15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though
the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.†

  16But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by

cunning! 17Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18I urged Titus,
and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same
spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

  19Again, do you thinka that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ.

But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 20For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not
find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be
contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings,
conceits, tumults;† 21lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I
shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness,
fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.
                                Resolution: A Coming Visit


13 This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses
   every word shall be established.”a 2I have told you before, and foretell as if I were
present the second time, and now being absent I writea to those who have sinned before, and
to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare— 3since you seek a proof of Christ
speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. 4For though He was
crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we
shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

  5Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know

yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.† 6But I trust that
you will know that we are not disqualified.

  7Now Ia pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you

should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. 8For we can do nothing
against the truth, but for the truth. 9For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong.
And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. 10Therefore I write these things being
absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord
has given me for edification and not for destruction.

                                Greetings and Benediction

  11Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in
peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

  12Greet one another with a holy kiss.†

  13All the saints greet you.

  14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy

Spirit be with you all. Amen.†
                                 G AL AT IANS
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Chapters in Galatians
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Verses in Galatians Chapter 1
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21, 22, 23, 24

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21

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Verses in Galatians Chapter 3
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31

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Verses in Galatians Chapter 5
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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in Galatians Chapter 6
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                                                       The Book of Galatians

   Author   —St. Paul the Apostle.

   Date   —The references to time and place in Galatians are unclear; therefore its exact
historical setting and date are uncertain.

   Major Theme          — The true gospel versus the false gospel. After initially believing in the
gospel of Jesus Christ as a gift of God, many in Galatia had turned to the teaching of the
Jewish legalizers, who claimed that Christians must also follow the laws of the Old
Covenant. Paul writes to call them back to “the grace of Christ” (1:6). Subthemes
include:

 1 . A defense of Paul's apostolic authority (1:1–2:21)

2 . The gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church (5:1–6:18)

3 . The Cross of Christ

4 . The life of faith


   Background      —St. Paul had established churches in a number of cities in the Roman
province of Galatia in Asia Minor. This is the only New Testament letter Paul addressed
to a group of churches (1:2).

Outline

 I. Introduction (1 :1 –1 0)

        A. Greeting (1 :1 , 2 )

        B. The true gospel v ersus the false gospel (1 :3 –1 0)

II. The Apostolic Authority of the True Gospel (1 :1 1 –2 :1 4 )

        A. The call to apostleship (1 :1 1 –2 4 )

        B. Apostles are guided by councils (2 :1 –1 0)

        C. Apostles are guided by conscience (2 :1 1 –1 4 )

III. The Content of the True Gospel (2 :1 5–4 :3 1 )

        A. Jesus Christ and faith (2 :1 5–2 1 )

        B. Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (3 :1 –1 4 )

        C. Jesus Christ and sonship (3 :1 5–4 :3 1 )

IV. Liv ing in the True Gospel (5:1 –6 :1 0)

        A. The liberty of the Spirit (5:1 –1 2 )
         B. Liv ing in the lov e of the Spirit (5:1 3 –6 :1 0)

  V. Concluding Rem arks (6 :1 1 –1 8)

         A. The rule of faith (6 :1 1 –1 7 )

         B. Benediction (6 :1 8)



                                                                 Greeting


1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the
  Father who raised Him from the dead),† 2and all the brethren who are with me,

  To the churches of Galatia:

                                     Warning: True Gospel versus False Gospel

  3Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,† 4who gave
Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will
of our God and Father, 5to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

  6I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of

Christ, to a different gospel,† 7which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and
want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any
other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9As we have said
before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have
received, let him be accursed.

  10For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased
men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

                                                    God's Call: Paul the Apostle

  11But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not

according to man.† 12For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came
through the revelation of Jesus Christ.†

 13For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of

God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.† 14And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of
my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of
my fathers.

  15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me

through His grace, 16to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I
did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who
were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

                           Paul's Gospel: That of the Twelve

  18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter,a and remained with him

fifteen days.† 19But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.†
20(Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

  21Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22And I was unknown by face to

the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23But they were hearing only, “He who formerly
persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24And they glorified
God in me.†

                       The Apostles in Jerusalem: One Doctrine


2 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus
  with me. 2And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I
preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I
might run, or had run, in vain.† 3Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was
compelled to be circumcised. 4And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in
(who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might
bring us into bondage),† 5to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the
truth of the gospel might continue with you.

  6But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference
to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something
added nothing to me.† 7But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the
uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter†
8(for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked

effectively in me toward the Gentiles),† 9and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to
be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right
hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised† . 10They
desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.†

                               True Apostles Are Correctable

  11Now when Petera had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be

blamed;† 12for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but
when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the
circumcision.† 13And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even
Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

                               The Source of Faith Is Christ

  14But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to
Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews,
why do youa compel Gentiles to live as Jews?b† 15We who are Jews by nature, and not
sinners of the Gentiles,† 16knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by
faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by
faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be
justified.†

  17“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is

Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!† 18For if I build again those things which I
destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.† 19For I through the law died to the law that I might
live to God.† 20I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in
me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave Himself for me.† 21I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes
through the law, then Christ died in vain.”†

                              The Life of Faith Is in the Spirit

                                                                                 a before
3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you shouldb not obey the†truth,
                                                                            2
   whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?             This only I
want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing
of faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by
the flesh? 4Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

                                   Faith Brings Sonship

  5Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it

by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— 6just as Abraham “believed God, and it
was accounted to him for righteousness.”a† 7Therefore know that only those who are of faith
are sons of Abraham. 8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by
faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be
blessed.”a 9So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

                                    Free from the Curse

  10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed
is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to
do them.”a† 11But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the
just shall live by faith.”a 12Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live
by them.”a†

  13Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is

written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”a),† 14that the blessing of Abraham might
come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit
through faith.†

                                 Sonship: Promise, Not Law

  15Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is

confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.† 16Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises
made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,”a who is
Christ. 17And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot
annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ,a that it should make the
promise of no effect. 18For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God
gave it to Abraham by promise.

                                     The Law Our Tutor
  19What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the
Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by
the hand of a mediator.† 20Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.†

  21Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law

given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22But the
Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given
to those who believe.† 23But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for
the faith which would afterward be revealed.ω 24Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us
to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after faith has come, we are no longer
under a tutor.

                                Sonship by Faith and Baptism

  26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.† 27For as many of you as were

baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.† 29And if
you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

                       Sons of God Through Christ and the Spirit


4 Now   I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though
  he is master of all,† 2but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the
father. 3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the
world.† 4But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, borna of a
woman, born under the law,† ω 5to redeem those who were under the law, that we might
receive the adoption as sons.

  6And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying

out, “Abba, Father!”† 7Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir
ofa God through Christ.

                                   The Danger of the Law

  8But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not
gods. 9But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you
turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
10You observe days and months and seasons and years.† 11I am afraid for you, lest I have
labored for you in vain.

   12Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me

at all. 13You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.†
14And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an

angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.† 15Whata then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear
you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to
me. 16Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

  17They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be

zealous for them. 18But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I
am present with you. 19My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is
formed in you, 20I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have
doubts about you.

                                        An Allegory: Slavery and Sonship

  21Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?† 22For it is written

that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.ω 23But he
who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman
through promise, 24which things are symbolic. For these are thea two covenants: the one
from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25for this Hagar is Mount
Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her
children— 26but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27For it is
written:

    “ Rejoice, O barren,

    You who do not bear!

    Break forth and shout,

    You who are not in labor!

    For the desolate has many more children

    Than she who has a husband.” a
  28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29But, as he who was born
according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is
now. 30Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for
the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”a 31So then,
brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.†

                                    Liberty of the Spirit

                                               Christ has made us free,a and do not be
5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which
                                          †2
   entangled again with a yoke of bondage.      Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become
circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3And I testify again to every man who becomes
circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4You have become estranged from
Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5For we through
the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.† 6For in Christ Jesus neither
circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.†

                                  Liberty of the Apostles

  7You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8This persuasion does not come

from Him who calls you. 9A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10I have confidence in you,
in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his
judgment, whoever he is.

  11And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the

offense of the cross has ceased. 12I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut
themselves off!

                                  War Against the Flesh

  13For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity

for the flesh, but through love serve one another.† 14For all the law is fulfilled in one word,
even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”a 15But if you bite and devour one
another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

  16I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.† 17For the
flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one
another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you
are not under the law.

  19Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,a fornication, uncleanness,

lewdness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish
ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21envy, murders,a drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of
which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such
things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

   22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness,ω 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24And those who are
Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us
also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one
another.†

                                        Do Good to All


6 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one
  in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.† 2Bear one
another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.† 3For if anyone thinks himself to be
something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4But let each one examine his own
work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5For each one
shall bear his own load.

  6Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.†

  7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
8For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit

will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due
season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do
good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

                                       The Rule of Faith

  11See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! 12As many as desire
to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that
they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.† 13For not even those who are
circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in
your flesh. 14But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whoma the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.† 15For in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.†

  16And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the

Israel of God.†

  17From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.†

                                        Benediction

  18Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
                                 E PHE SIANS
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Chapters in Ephesians
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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Verses in Ephesians Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Ephesians Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Ephesians Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Ephesians Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32

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Verses in Ephesians Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33

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Verses in Ephesians Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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                                                      The Book of Ephesians

  Author   —Some have cited differences in style, vocabulary, and doctrinal emphasis
between Ephesians and other Pauline epistles to dispute Paul's authorship of
Ephesians. However, the epistle itself claims to be written by Paul (1:1), and the Church
has recognized Paul as the author, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Because Paul dictated some of his letters, differences in content and style would be
expected.

  Date   —Paul probably wrote Ephesians from Rome during his imprisonment in AD 61–
63, as recorded in Acts 28:16–31.

  Major Theme      —The riches of Christ in the Church. The mystery of salvation in the Church,
the body of Christ, is not only for all mankind but for all creation, affecting this age and
the age to come. The body of Christ is the center and life of all. Subthemes include:

1 . The work of the Holy Trinity in our salvation (1:3–14, 17; 2:18, 22; 3:4, 5, 14–17, 20, 21; 4:3–6; 5:18–21)

2 . The blessings of Christ to the Church (1:1–3:21)

3 . Our response to God's grace (4:1–6:24)

4 . God's strength for spiritual warfare (1:19–2:10; 4:17–31; 6:10–18)


  Background      —Some of the early manuscripts do not have “in Ephesus” in verse 1. Further,
the content of Ephesians is general, which gives it the character of a book rather than a
letter. It includes no personal greetings, although it is addressed to a city where Paul
had spent two and a half years in the midfifties AD (Acts 19:8, 10; 20:17, 31). It is
probable, then, that this letter was intended not just for the Ephesians, but also for
circulation among the churches of western Asia Minor that Paul had founded from
Ephesus during his third missionary journey. It is possible Ephesians is the “letter to
the Laodiceans” mentioned in Colossians 4:16.

Outline

I. Greeting (1 :1 , 2 )

II. Praise of God's Plan for the World (1 :3 –2 3 )

       A. The creativ e sov ereignty of the Father (1 :3 –6 )

       B. The redem ptiv e adm inistration of the Son (1 :7 –1 2 )

       C. The perfecting faithfulness of the Spirit (1 :1 3 , 1 4 )
          D. A pray er for rev elation (1 :1 5–2 3 )

  III. Theology of Christ and His Church (2 :1 –3 :2 1 )

          A. Salv ation as a gift for all (2 :1 –1 0)

          B. The church as one household for all (2 :1 1 –2 2 )

          C. The apostles as faithful m essengers (3 :1 –1 3 )

          D. A pray er for the deification of the Church (3 :1 4 –2 1 )

 IV. Conduct of the Body of Christ (4 :1 –6 :2 0)

          A. As the body of Christ (4 :1 –1 6 )

          B. As children of God (4 :1 7 –5:5)

          C. As partakers of light (5:6 –2 1 )

          D. As fam ilies in the Church (5:2 2 –6 :9 )

          E. As soldiers of Christ (6 :1 0–2 0)

  V. Conclusion (6 :2 1 –2 4 )



                                                                     Greeting


1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
  To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:†

  2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                   The Sovereignty of the Father

  3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every

spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,† 4just as He chose us in Him before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,†
5having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good

pleasure of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in
the Beloved.

                                                  The Administration of the Son

   7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the

riches of His grace† 8which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
9having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He
purposed in Himself,† 10that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather
together in one all things in Christ, botha which are in heaven and which are on earth—in
Him. 11In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the
purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,† 12that we who
first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

                                The Faithfulness of the Spirit

  13In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation;

in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,† 14whoa is
the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the
praise of His glory.†

                                    Prayer for Revelation

  15Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the

saints,† 16do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17that
the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom
and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18the eyes of your understandinga being
enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the
glory of His inheritance in the saints,† 19and what is the exceeding greatness of His power
toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20which He worked in
Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly
places, 21far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that
is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.†

  22And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the

church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.†

                                  Transfiguration by Grace

      you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,† 2in which you once
2 And
  walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the
air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3among whom also we all once
conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the
mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

  4But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even
when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been
saved), 6and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ
Jesus, 7that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His
kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and
that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,† 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For
we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand that we should walk in them.

                          The Former Alienation of the Gentiles

  11Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision

by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—† 12that at that time you were
without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the
covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

                                   The Means of Union

  13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood

of Christ.†

 14For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle

wall of separation, 15having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of
commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the
two, thus making peace, 16and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body
through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17And He came and preached peace to
you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18For through Him we both have access
by one Spirit to the Father.

                                “W O R K S” I N P A U L’S
                                       WRITING

St. Paul uses the term “works” extensively in his letters, especially in Romans, Galatians, and
Ephesians. By this term, he means human activities which he generally classifies in two
categories:

  1 Dead works: These can be works that are evil, such as murder, adultery, idol worship, and
robbery—which the Scriptures also call “works of the flesh” (Gal 5:19) and obviously
condemn. But in addition, dead works can be works—even good works—done for the wrong
reasons. These are works that are good in themselves—such as fasting, giving money, and
feeding the poor—but are done to call attention to oneself or to gain standing in the
community. Selfish motivation turns good works into dead works. (The solution to this
problem is not to cease fasting, giving, or helping, but rather to turn from the sin of self-
glorification.)

  2 Living works: These are deeds that are both good in themselves and done for a good
purpose: the glory of God. Good works the Scriptures commend. Paul teaches they are an
outgrowth of our salvation when he writes, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph
2:10). They contribute to our faith, as James teaches, “You see then that a man is justified by
works, and not by faith only [or alone]” (Jam 2:24). When we do living works, we rely on the
strength and grace of God, and we seek to bring glory to Him and not to ourselves through
what we do.

  Some have erroneously interpreted Paul, particularly in Romans 4, to be condemning all
works. A careful reading of Romans, however, reveals Paul is not putting down works in
general, but dead works. St. Maximos the Confessor, writing in the seventh century, states
clearly the view of the Church concerning dead works:

    Many human activities, good in themselves, are not good because of the motive for
    which they are done. For example, fasting, vigils, prayer, psalmody [the singing of
    hymns], acts of charity and hospitality are by nature good. But when performed for
    the sake of self-esteem [vainglory, self-glorification] they are not good. In
    everything we do, God searches out our purpose to see whether we do it for Him or
    for some other motive . . . quite clearly He bestows blessings only when something
    is done for the right purpose. For God’s judgment looks not at the actions, but at the
    purpose behind them.

  Thus, the Christian actively cultivates a habit of doing good works for the glory of God, and
as a way of life. The writings of Paul are clear. If we are joined to Christ and cleansed from
the dishonor of the past, we become “a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master,
prepared for every good work” (2Ti 2:21). God sets us apart to Himself so we will be
productive and useful to Him.

  “Therefore, my beloved brethren,” Paul tells the Corinthians, “be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord”
(1Co 15:58).


                          The Unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ

  19Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the

saints and members of the household of God,† 20having been built on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21in whom the
whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22in whom you
also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

                                      Paul's Revelation

    For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—† 2if indeed you
3
    have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, † 3how
that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,† 4by
which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5which
in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the
Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:† 6that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the
same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,†

                                Paul's Apostolic Commission

  7of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the
effective working of His power.

  8To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should

preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,† 9and to make all see what is
the fellowshipa of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God
who created all things through Jesus Christ;b 10to the intent that now the manifold wisdom
of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly
places,† 11according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.† 13Therefore

I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.†

                                    Prayer for Deification

  14For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,a† 15from whom

the whole family in heaven and earth is named,† 16that He would grant you, according to the
riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17that
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and

height—† 19to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with
all the fullness of God.

                                   Doxology to the Father

  20Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,

according to the power that works in us,† 21to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to
all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

                                         Live in Unity


4 I,which
      therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with
          you were called,† 2with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing
with one another in love,† 3endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;† 5one

Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all,
and in youa all.

                                      THE CHURCH

One of the tragic aberrations of so-called modern religion is “Churchless Christianity.” The
assertion is that it is Christ who saves us, not the Church, so “all you need is Jesus.”

  Few who claim to be Christians would argue against the statement that it is Christ who
saves. For He is the eternal Son of God who has assumed human flesh, and has done so “for
us and for our salvation” (Nicene Creed). Thus Paul writes, “For there is one God and one
Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1Ti 2:5).

  But because this Mediator established the Church which is His body, we who are joined to
Him are joined to His Church as well. To say we love Christ, who is Head of the Church, and
at the same time reject His body is to deny New Testament teaching.

  The Gospel and Acts. The first use of the word “church” (Gr. ecclesia) in the New
Testament comes in the Gospel of Matthew, when our Lord gives His approval of Peter’s
confession of faith and promises, “I will build My church” (Mt 16:18). Jesus Christ builds,
and we cooperate with Him.

  The Book of Acts amplifies what Jesus meant in Matthew 16. When Peter’s sermon on the
Day of Pentecost concludes, those present ask for guidance toward salvation: “What shall we
do?” (Acts 2:37). Following Peter’s word, they are baptized and join with the other believers,
three thousand of them (Acts 2:38, 41).

  Having been joined to Christ and His Church, these baptized believers begin living as the
body of Christ. We find them looking after each other, using their personal resources for one
another’s care, continuing together in prayer and in the Eucharist (Acts 2:42–47). From this
point on “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47), and
throughout Acts, we see the Church being built as the Gospel of Christ spreads.

  The Epistles. Paul’s instructions in his letters to the churches throughout the eastern
Mediterranean clearly show what it means to be members of Christ: to be the Church and to
be in the Church. Nowhere in the New Testament is Paul’s teaching on the Church more fully
disclosed than in Ephesians 4. He instructs us that:

  1 The Church is one, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”
(4:3). There is one Church, one God, one doctrine, one baptism.

  2 The Church is people, men and women who are energized by the Holy Spirit. For “to each
one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (4:7). We are not all given
the same gifts, but together we are equipped to do God’s will.

  3 The Head of the Church is Christ, “from whom the whole body [is] joined and knit
together” (4:16).

  4 The Church is “the new man” (4:24), the new creation, made to be righteous and holy.
We are no longer alienated from God (4:18); we are being renewed together (4:23), “members
of one another” (4:25).

  The Church, then, is that place established by Christ where we each may become what we
are created to be, maturing and being perfected, while the Church receives what it needs from
each of us, so that it too is being perfected. The Church as the body of Christ carries us
beyond our petty and worldly personal concerns, stretching our vision to the eternal and the
heavenly as we ascend together to worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.


                                     Use the Spiritual Gifts

  7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.†
8Therefore He says:

    “ When He ascended on high,

    He led captivity captive,

    And gave gifts to men.” a†

  9(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also firsta descended into the

lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the
heavens, that He might fill all things.)

  11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some

pastors and teachers,† 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge
of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind

of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but,
speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies,
according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the
body for the edifying of itself in love.
                             Put Off the Old, Put On the New

  17This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest

ofa the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,† 18having their understanding darkened,
being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the
blindness of their heart; 19who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness,
to work all uncleanness with greediness.

  20But you have not so learned Christ, 21if indeed you have heard Him and have been

taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22that you put off, concerning your former conduct,
the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23and be renewed in the
spirit of your mind, 24and that you put on the new man which was created according to God,
in true righteousness and holiness.

                                      Be Children of God

  25Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,”a for

we are members of one another.† 26“Be angry, and do not sin”:a do not let the sun go down
on your wrath,† 27nor give place to the devil. 28Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather
let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him
who has need.† 29Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for
necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30And do not grieve the Holy
Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness, wrath,
anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.† 32And be kind to one
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.†

   Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2And walk in love, as Christ also has loved
5 us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling
aroma.†

                                  Separate from Darkness

  3But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you,

as is fitting for saints; 4neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are
not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.† 5For this you know,a that no fornicator, unclean
person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ
and God. † 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath
of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.† 7Therefore do not be partakers with them.

                                  Walk in Christ the Light

  8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light†
9(for the fruit of the Spirita is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ω 10finding out
what is acceptable to the Lord.

                                      MARRIAGE

The Bible and human history begin and end with marriages. Adam and Eve come together in
marital union in Paradise, before the Fall, revealing marriage as a part of God’s eternal
purpose for humanity in the midst of creation (Gn 2:22–25). History closes with the marriage
of the Bride to the Lamb (Rev 19:7–9), earthly marriage being fulfilled in the heavenly,
showing the eternal nature of the sacrament.

  Between these bookend events of history are the accounts of numerous other unions of
man and wife. In the centuries-old Christian wedding ceremony used to this day in the
Orthodox Church, several of these historic marriages are remembered: Abraham and Sarah
(Gn 11:29—23:20); Isaac and Rebecca (Gn 24); Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Virgin
Mary; and Zacharias and Elizabeth (Lk 1:5–58).

  The marriage most prominently featured in the wedding ceremony, however, is the one at
Cana of Galilee, described in the Gospel passage read at every Orthodox wedding (Jn 2:1–11).
In attending this wedding and performing His first miracle there, Jesus Christ, the Son of
God, forever sanctified marriage. As with all the Christian sacraments, marriage is
sacramental because it is blessed by God.

  Parenthetically, we note that it is at this wedding at Cana that Mary first intercedes with
Christ on behalf of others: “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3). Then she calls all humanity to obey
Him: “Whatever He says to you, do it” (Jn 2:5).

  In modern society, as well as in Christendom, a recurring debate concerns the tension
between equality of the partners in marriage and office or order in marriage. Often, this
tension has turned into a polarity between men and women, and sometimes even breeds
hostility. Two elements in the Orthodox service of marriage serve to heal such tension, while
making clear the teaching of the Church on the twin themes of equality and order concerning
husband and wife.

  As to equality, during the ceremony crowns are placed on the heads of the bride and groom.
This act is symbolic of their citizenship in the Kingdom of God, where “there is neither male
nor female” (Gal 3:28), and of their dying to each other (the crown is often a symbol of
martyrdom; see Rev 2:10). The words of St. Paul on marital equality are clear: “The wife does
not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does
not have authority over his own body, but the wife does” (1Co 7:4). Husband and wife belong
to each other as martyrs, they belong to God as royalty, and they are called to treat each other
accordingly.

  But within marital equality there is also order. The epistle passage read at the sacrament of
marriage is Ephesians 5:20–33, an exhortation to husbands and wives that begins with a call
to submit to each other (v. 21). The husband is to serve God as head of his wife, as Christ is
Head of the Church (v. 23). The wife is to be subject to her husband as the Church is subject
to Christ (v. 24). There is nothing here to suggest the wife is oppressed in marriage, any more
than one would call the Church oppressed in relationship to Christ. He who calls us “bretren”
(Heb 2:11) and “friends” (Jn 15:15) exhorts the husband to love his wife, to nourish and
cherish her as He Himself does the Church (vv. 28, 29).

  Thus, marriage is a sacrament—holy, blessed, and everlasting in the sight of God and His
Church. Within the bonds of marriage, husband and wife experience a union with one
another in love. We pray for them the fruit of children and one day the joy of grandchildren.
And within the bonds of marriage there is both a fullness of equality between husband and
wife and a clarity of order, with the husband as the icon of Christ and the wife as the icon of
the Church.


                                     Expose Darkness

  11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.†
12For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13But all
things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
14Therefore He says:
    “Awake, y ou who sleep,

    Arise from the dead,

    And Christ will giv e y ou light.”

                                           Walk in God's Will

  15See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,† 16redeeming the time,
because the days are evil.

                                         Be Filled with the Spirit

  17Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18And do not be

drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,† 19speaking to one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart
to the Lord,† 20giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, 21submitting to one another in the fear of God.a†

                                         The Mystery of Marriage

  22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.† 23For the husband is head of the

wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24Therefore, just
as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

  25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
26that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27that He
might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28So husbands ought to love their own
wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29For no one ever hated his
own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30For we are
members of His body,a of His flesh and of His bones. 31“For this reason a man shall leave
his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”a 32This
is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let each one
of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her
husband.

                                          Children and Parents
                                                             † 2“Honor your father and
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
                                                          3
   mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you
and you may live long on the earth.”a

  4And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training
and admonition of the Lord.

                                      Slaves and Masters

  5Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear

and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;† 6not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but
as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7with goodwill doing service,
as to the Lord, and not to men, 8knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the
same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

  9And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your

own Master alsoa is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.†

                                      Spiritual Warfare

  10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.†ω 11Put on

the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we
do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this age,a against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
places.

                                      Spiritual Weaponry

  13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand.

                                      Spiritual Readiness

   14Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of

righteousness, 15and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts
of the wicked one. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God; 18praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being
watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—† 19and for me,
that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the
mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak
boldly, as I ought to speak.

                               Commendation and Benediction

  21But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother

and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you;† 22whom I have sent to
you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your
hearts.

  23Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus

Christ.† 24Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
                                PHIL IPPIANS
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Verses in Philippians Chapter 2
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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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Verses in Philippians Chapter 3
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Philippians Chapter 4
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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                                                      The Book of Philippians

   Author   —The early Church unanimously agreed that Paul wrote Philippians. Paul
founded the church in Philippi, which was the first church in Europe, on his second
missionary journey, AD 50–51 (Acts 16:11–40). On his third missionary journey he
made two brief visits to Philippi, about AD 57–58 (Acts 20:1, 6).

   Date   —Paul probably wrote Philippians while he was under house arrest in Rome in
about AD 61–63 (Acts 28:16–31). At that time he was free to receive visitors and to
correspond by letter.

   Major Theme        —The dynamic of our life in Christ. Salvation is a dynamic, ongoing
experience that is not merely personal, but shared among believers. St. Paul urges the
believers in Philippi toward continued unity, humility, selfless generosity, and joy in
Christ. Subthemes include alerting of the Philippian church to:

1 . I nterference from self-serving evangelists (1:12–18)

2 . Persecution from the world (1:27–30; 2:14–18)

3 . Antagonism from heretics, particularly the legalistic Judaizers (3:1–11)


   Background      —The church in Philippi was noted for its generosity in support of the
apostolic ministry (1:5, 4:15, 16; Acts 16:15, 40). Recently, it had sent Epaphroditus to
visit Paul in prison with a financial gift for the apostle and with instructions that he
remain there with Paul. But Epaphroditus apparently was so devoted to his work that he
forgot his own physical health (2:30). The Philippian church heard this and was
concerned for him. In the meantime, Paul's trial had started (1:7) and he hoped for an
early release (1:25; 2:24). Thus, the apostle wrote this letter of thanks to Philippi with
the comforting word that he would send Epaphroditus home (2:25–30) and that he
would shortly dispatch Timothy to Philippi (2:19).

Outline

 I. Greeting (1 :1 , 2 )

II. Life in Christ Am idst Persecution (1 :3 –2 :3 0)

        A. Exem plary liv es of the Philippians and Paul (1 :3 –3 0)

        B. Exhortation to persev ere am idst persecution (2 :1 –3 0)

III. Life in Christ in the Face of Heresy (3 :1 –4 :9 )
          A. Exhortation to righteousness; warning against legalism (3 :1 –2 1 )

          B. Exhortation to unity ; warning against schism (4 :1 –9 )

  IV. Conclusion (4 :1 0–2 3 )

          A. Gratitude for financial help (4 :1 0–2 0)

          B. Greeting and benediction (4 :2 1 –2 3 )



                                                                 Greeting


1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,
  To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishopsa and deacons:†

  2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                            Thanksgiving

  3I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4always in every prayer of mine making

request for you all with joy, 5for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,†
6being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete

it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I
have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of
the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8For God is my witness, how greatly I long
for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

  9And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all

discernment,† 10that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere
and without offense till the day of Christ, 11being filled with the fruits of righteousness which
are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

                                                   Paul's Suffering in Prison

  12But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually

turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13so that it has become evident to the whole
palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14and most of the brethren in
the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word
without fear.
  15Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:
16The formera preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction

to my chains; 17but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the
gospel. 18What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is
preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

  19For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply

of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,† 20according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing
I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in
my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if
I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
23Fora I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ,

which is far better. 24Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25And
being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress
and joy of faith, 26that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my
coming to you again.

                                   Be Steadfast in Suffering

  27Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see
you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind
striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28and not in any way terrified by your
adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation,a and that from
God. 29For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also
to suffer for His sake,† 30having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in
me.

                                 Preserve Unity in Humility


2 Therefore  if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of
  the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the
same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3Let nothing be done through selfish ambition
or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.† 4Let each of
you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
  5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,†ω 6who, being in the form of God,

did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,† 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking
the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.† 8And being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even
the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name
which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in
heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

                                     Strive for Obedience

 12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now

much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;† 13for it is
God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

  14Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15that you may become blameless and
harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16holding fast the word of life, so that I may
rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

                               Apostolic Support for Philippi

   17Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your

faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.† 18For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice
with me.

  19But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be

encouraged when I know your state.† 20For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely
care for your state. 21For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22But
you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.
23Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24But I trust in
the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.

  25Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker,

and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26since he
was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27For
indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but
on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28Therefore I sent him the more eagerly,
that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29Receive him
therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30because for the work
of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your
service toward me.

                                    Beware of Judaizers


3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not
  tedious, but for you it is safe.

   2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!† 3For we are the

circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit,a rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence
in the flesh, 4though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may
have confidence in the flesh, I more so:† 5circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of
the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6concerning
zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

  7But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.† 8Yet indeed I also
count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I
have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be
found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is
through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;† 10that I may know
Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed
to His death, 11if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

                            Press Toward True Righteousness

  12Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay

hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.† 13Brethren, I do not count
myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and
reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14I press toward the goal for the prize of
the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
  15Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think

otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16Nevertheless, to the degree that we have
already attained, let us walk by the same rule,a let us be of the same mind.

  17Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a

pattern.† 18For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping,
that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:† 19whose end is destruction, whose god is
their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20For
our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ,ω 21who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body,
according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.


4 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the
  Lord, beloved.

                               Exhortation for Daily Living

  2I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.† 3Anda I
urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with
Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.†

  4Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!†ω

  5Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.†

   6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,

let your requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

  8Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things
are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good
report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
9The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God
of peace will be with you.

                                 Gratitude for Assistance
  10But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again;

though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11Not that I speak in regard to need,
for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:† 12I know how to be abased, and I
know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be
hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13I can do all things through Christa who
strengthens me.

  14Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15Now you Philippians
know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church
shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16For even in Thessalonica you
sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that
abounds to your account. 18Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from
Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well
pleasing to God. 19And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by
Christ Jesus. 20Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

                                Greetings and Benediction

  21Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22All the
saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar's household.

  23The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.a Amen.
                                CO L O SSIANS
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Verses in Colossians Chapter 1
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Colossians Chapter 2
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23

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Verses in Colossians Chapter 3
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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Verses in Colossians Chapter 4
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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                                                        The Book of Colossians

  Author   —All early Church testimony credits Paul with the authorship of Colossians.
Some of the vocabulary is unusual for Paul because he is combating first-century
gnosticism using its own terminology—thereby deepening his own understanding of
Christ.

  Date   —Colossians was written at the same time as Ephesians and Philemon. These
letters, along with Philippians, were most likely composed during Paul's Roman
captivity, about AD 61–63 (see 4:3, 10, 18; Eph 3:1; 4:1; 6:20; Phm 9, 10, 13).

  Major Theme      —Living by the will of God versus dying by false human schemes. The
primary purpose of this epistle was to combat a form of gnosticism that was taking hold
in the Colossian church. Paul preaches the true gospel to the Colossians once more,
emphasizing those aspects the prevalent heresy disputed (see below).

  Background      —The Colossian heresy was a local blend of Jewish (perhaps Essene) and
Oriental ideas. The heretics thought they were “supplementing” apostolic Christianity,
which they saw as primitive, with greater knowledge and better access to spiritual
things. They imagined that (a) the hierarchy of celestial powers (the “angels” in some
Jewish thought) was supreme, rather than Christ; (b) Christ was not unique in His
divine nature nor in His actions, for He was not God but one of several mediators; (c)
sin resulted from a lack of knowledge (Gr. gnosis), a particular sort of knowledge in
which the heretics were specialists; and (d) salvation consisted in having this gnosis
imparted by a series of rituals and ascetic practices (among which Jewish rites were
prized, but Christian baptism was considered a mere low-level initiation).

Outline

I. Introduction (1 :1 –1 4 )

       A. Greeting (1 :1 , 2 )

       B. Thanksgiv ing for the Colossians’ growth (1 :3 –8)

       C. Pray er for continued growth and v ictory (1 :9 –1 4 )

II. Apostolic Christology : The Basis for Liv ing in God's Will (1 :1 5–2 :2 3 )

       A. Christ is suprem e ov er all (1 :1 5–2 :3 )

       B. Christ is sufficient for all (2 :4 –2 3 )
  III. Apostolic Spirituality (3 :1 –4 :6 )

          A. Baptism al spirituality (3 :1 –1 7 )

          B. In relationships between Christians (3 :1 8–4 :1 )

          C. For the world (4 :2 –6 )

 IV. Conclusion (4 :7 –1 8)

          A. Com m endations (4 :7 –9 )

          B. Greetings (4 :1 0–1 5)

          C. Instructions (4 :1 6 –1 8)



                                                                  Greeting


1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
  2To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse:


  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.a

                                              Thanksgiving for Abundant Growth

  3We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,†
4since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5because of
the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the
truth of the gospel, 6which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing
forth fruit,a as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in
truth; 7as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister
of Christ on your behalf, 8who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

                                                Petition for Continued Growth

  9For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask
that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding;† 10that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in
every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11strengthened with all might,
according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12giving thanks
to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the
light.† 13He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom
of the Son of His love, 14in whom we have redemption through His blood,a the forgiveness of
sins.

                             Apostolic Christology: A Hymn

  15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.† 16For by Him all
things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and
for Him.† 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18And He is the head of
the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He
may have the preeminence.†

  19For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,† 20and by Him to
reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having
made peace through the blood of His cross. †

                               Salvation with Perseverance

  21And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now

He has reconciled 22in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and
blameless, and above reproach in His sight—† 23if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded
and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which
was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

                                 Paul's Sacrificial Service

  24I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the

afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,† 25of which I became a
minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the
word of God,† 26the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but
now has been revealed to His saints.† 27To them God willed to make known what are the
riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: whicha is Christ in you, the hope of
glory. 28Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we
may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29To this end I also labor, striving according
to His working which works in me mightily.
                            Paul's Concern for Their Salvation


2 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for
  as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2that their hearts may be encouraged,
being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding,
to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father anda of Christ, 3in whom are
hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.†

  4Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5For though I am
absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the
steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

                                   Against False Theology

  6As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7rooted and built

up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in ita with
thanksgiving.

  8Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the

tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.†ω
9For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;† 10and you are complete in Him,
who is the head of all principality and power.

  11In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting

off the body of the sinsa of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,† 12buried with Him in
baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who
raised Him from the dead. 13And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision
of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
14having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary

to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15Having disarmed
principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.†

                                 Against False Spirituality

  16So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or

sabbaths,† 17which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18Let no
one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels,
intruding into those things which he has nota seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by
joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

   20Therefore,a if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though

living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21“Do not touch, do not taste,
do not handle,” 22which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the
commandments and doctrines of men? 23These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom
in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against
the indulgence of the flesh.

                                 Spirituality in the Church


3 Ifsitting
       then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is,
            at the right hand of God.† 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the
earth. 3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is our life
appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.†ω

  5Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness,

passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.† 6Because of these things the wrath
of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7in which you yourselves once walked when
you lived in them.

  8But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy

language out of your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man
with his deeds, 10and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to
the image of Him who created him,† 11where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor
uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

  12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness,

humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if
anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
14But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15And let the peace

of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.† 16Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17And
whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
the Father through Him.

                                  Spirituality in the Home

  18Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.†

  19Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

  20Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

  21Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

  22Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice,

as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23And whatever you do, do it heartily,
as to the Lord and not to men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of
the inheritance; fora you serve the Lord Christ. 25But he who does wrong will be repaid for
what he has done, and there is no partiality.


4 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a
  Master in heaven.

                                 Spirituality for the World

  2Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;† 3meanwhile praying
also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for
which I am also in chains, 4that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

  5Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6Let your speech
always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each
one.

                                Greetings and Instructions

   7Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you

all the news about me.† 8I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that hea may know
your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother,
who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

 10Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about

whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11and Jesus who is called
Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the
circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.

  12Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring

fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and completea in all the will of God.
13For I bear him witness that he has a great zeala for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and

those in Hierapolis. 14Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. 15Greet the brethren
who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in hisa house.

  16Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the

Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.† 17And say to Archippus,
“Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

  18This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.
                            1 T HE SSAL O NIANS
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11, 12, 13

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Verses in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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                                           The First Book of the Thessalonians

   Author  —The greeting identifies Paul as the author and also mentions Silvanus (Silas)
and Timothy. They were co-workers with Paul in establishing the church in
Thessalonica on his second missionary journey (Acts 17:1–9).

   Date   —First Thessalonians was written in Corinth in AD 50–51, about six months after
the church in Thessalonica was founded. It is probably the first of Paul’s New
Testament epistles, and perhaps the first of all the twenty-seven New Testament books
to be written.

   Major Theme     —A holy life leads to eternal life. Paul calls believers to be holy (3:13; 4:3;
5:23), with particular calls to (a) continue as examples to others (1:7), (b) walk worthy
of God’s calling (2:12), (c) stand fast in the faith (3:8), and (d) maintain moral purity
(4:3).The letter closes with instruction and comfort concerning the Second Coming of
Christ (4:13—5:11), along with other exhortations concerning the spiritual life.

   Background    —The church in Thessalonica was founded in the summer of AD 50 during
Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 15:36—18:22). Built on the Aegean Sea,
Thessalonica was the most prominent city in the Roman province of Macedonia and
served as a naval and commercial center. While many of the early churches were
composed primarily of Jews who believed in Christ, the Thessalonian believers were
mostly Gentiles, former idol worshipers (1:9).They experienced persecution by fellow
citizens, stirred up by the Jews (1:6; 2:14; Acts 17:5–9), and had difficulty adhering to
Christian values in a pagan setting.

Outline

 I. Introduction: Greeting and Thanksgiv ing (1 :1 –1 0)

II. The Power of the Gospel in Paul’s Behav ior (2 :1 —3 :1 3 )

       A. Paul’s past work prepared them to endure persecution (2 :1 –1 6 )

        B. Paul’s present relationship with them is unchanged (2 :1 7 —3 :1 3 )

III. The Power of the Gospel in the Church’s Behav ior (4 :1 —5:2 2 )

       A. Power for holiness (4 :1 –1 2 )

        B. Power for right belief, catholic and apostolic (4 :1 3 —5:1 1 )

        C. Power for unity (5:1 2 –2 2 )
 IV. Concluding Pray er and Instructions (5:2 3 –2 8)



                                               Greeting and Thanksgiving


1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
  To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:



  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.a †

  2We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,†
3remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our

Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,† 4knowing, beloved brethren, your
election by God. 5For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in
the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you
for your sake.

  6And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much

affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,† 7so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and
Achaia who believe.† 8For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in
Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that
we do not need to say anything. 9For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of
entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
10and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who

delivers us from the wrath to come.†

                                              Defense of Paul’s Past Work

                                                                                †2          a
2 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. But even
  after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were
bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.† 3For our exhortation did
not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

  4But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak,

not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.† 5For neither at any time did we use
flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6Nor did we seek
glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as
apostles of Christ. 7But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her
own children.† 8So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not
only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9For you
remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a
burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

  10You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved

ourselves among you who believe; 11as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and
chargeda every one of you, as a father does his own children,† 12that you would walk worthy
of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

                   Fruit of Paul’s Work: They Endured Persecution

  13For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word
of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in
truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 14For you, brethren,
became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also
suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,†
15who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they

do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that
they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon
them to the uttermost.

                     Paul’s Present Relationship with Thessalonica

  17But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in

heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. 18Therefore we wanted to
come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.† 19For what is our hope,
or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His
coming?† 20For you are our glory and joy.

                              Timothy’s Visit in Paul’s Stead
3 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens
  alone,† 2and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the
gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,† 3that no one
should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
4For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just

as it happened, and you know. 5For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to
know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in
vain.

                               Timothy’s Report, Paul’s Joy

  6But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith
and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we
also to see you—† 7therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted
concerning you by your faith. 8For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

  9For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for

your sake before our God, 10night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and
perfect what is lacking in your faith?

  11Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.
12And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as

we do to you, 13so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God
and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.†

                             Reminders Concerning Holiness


4 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound
  more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;†
2for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

  3For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual

immorality; 4that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification
and honor,† 5not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6that no one
should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the
avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7For God did not call us to
uncleanness, but in holiness. 8Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God,
who has also givena us His Holy Spirit.

  9But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you

yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10and indeed you do so toward all the
brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and
more; 11that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with
your own hands, as we commanded you,† 12that you may walk properly toward those who are
outside, and that you may lack nothing.

                        Who Will Participate in Christ’s Return

  13But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep,

lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.†ω 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.a

  15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until

the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16For the Lord
Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the
trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we
shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.

                                How to Await His Coming


5 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write
  to you.† 2For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in
the night. 3For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon
them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4But you, brethren,
are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5You are all sons of light
and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6Therefore let us not sleep, as
others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who
get drunk are drunk at night. 8But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the
breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9For God did not appoint
us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us, that
whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

  11Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

                                 Reminders Concerning Unity

  12And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in

the Lord and admonish you,† 13and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.
Be at peace among yourselves.

  14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted,

uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but
always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.†

  16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18in everything give thanks; for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus for you.

   19Do not quench the Spirit.† 20Do not despise prophecies. 21Test all things; hold fast what

is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.

                                    Prayer and Instructions

  23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit,

soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.† 24He who
calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

  25Brethren, pray for us.

  26Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

  27I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holya brethren.†

  28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
                            2 T HE SSAL O NIANS
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11, 12

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Verses in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2
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                                      The Second Book of the Thessalonians

   Author   —Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy are named with the author, Paul (as they are at
the opening of 1 Thessalonians), because they were his co-laborers in establishing the
Thessalonian church (see Acts 17:1–9).

   Date   —This epistle was written in AD 51, probably from Corinth.

   Major Theme      —Stand fast by means of apostolic teaching. Some of the Thessalonians had
been shaken in their faith by speculations on Christ’s return; some even said the day of
the Lord had already come (2:2). As a result, these people had lost holiness of life. Paul
counters such traditions of men with apostolic tradition (2:15; 3:6). Subthemes include
Paul’s gratitude for the people’s faithfulness (1:3; 2:13) and for God’s faithfulness to His
people (3:3).

   Background      —Paul had not paid a return visit to Thessalonica since the establishment of
the church a year earlier. St. John Chrysostom observes he was “filling up by his
writings what was lacking of his presence.” But a few months after writing 1
Thessalonians, Paul received another report. The Thessalonians’ faith amidst
persecution was still firm, but speculations concerning the Second Coming were
increasing, claiming to be based on Paul’s teaching (2:2). Some became so excited about
the end times that they abandoned their jobs and lived off the charity of the church
(3:6–13). Others grew despondent and wavered in hope (2:13–17). Paul writes to
encourage them to stand fast.

Outline

 I. Greeting (1 :1 , 2 )

II. Apostolic Tradition Regarding the Second Com ing (1 :3 —2 :1 7 )

        A. Exem plified in the persecution of the Church (1 :3 –1 2 )

        B. The controv ersy concerning the Second Com ing (2 :1 –1 2 )

        C. Encouragem ent to stand fast in the faith (2 :1 3 –1 7 )

III. Other Apostolic Traditions (3 :1 –1 5)

        A. The apostolic m inistry : Pray for and obey them (3 :1 –5)

        B. Holiness: Practice orderliness by hard work (3 :6 –1 3 )

        C. Unity : Adm onishing the disobedient (3 :1 4 , 1 5)
 IV. Benediction and Farewell (3 :1 6 –1 8)



                                                     Greeting


1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
  To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

  2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

                                              The Present Persecution

  3We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith

grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,† 4so that
we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your
persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5which is manifest evidence of the righteous
judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also
suffer; 6since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,
7and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven

with His mighty angels, 8in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God,
and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9These shall be punished
with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those

who believe, abecause our testimony among you was believed.

  11Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this
calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with
power,†12that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him,
according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

                                      False Teaching on the Second Coming


2 Now,  brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering
  together to Him, we ask you, 2not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit
or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christa had come.

                                      True Tradition on the Second Coming
  3Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away

comes first, and the man of sina is revealed, the son of perdition,†4who opposes and exalts
himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as Goda in the temple
of God, showing himself that he is God.

  5Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6And now

you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7For the mystery of
lawlessness is already at work; only Hea who now restrains will do so until Heb is taken out
of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the
breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9The coming of the
lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive

the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this reason God will send them
strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12that they all may be condemned who did
not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

                                   Stand Fast in the Faith

  13But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord,
because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit
and belief in the truth, 14to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory
of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you
were taught, whether by word or our epistle.†

  16Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and

given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17comfort your hearts and establish
you in every good word and work.

                                          Pray for Us


3 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified,
  just as it is with you, 2and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men;
for not all have faith.

  3But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4And we
have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we
command you.

  5Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

                                      Be Industrious

  6But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw

from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which hea
received from us.†7For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not
disorderly among you; 8nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor
and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9not because we do not
have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

  10For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work,

neither shall he eat. 11For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly
manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12Now those who are such we command and
exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

                                      Preserve Unity

  13But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.†14And if anyone does not
obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he
may be ashamed. 15Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

                                        Benediction

  16Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with
you all.

  17The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.†

  18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
                                  1 T IM O T HY
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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21

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                                           The First Book of Timothy

  Author   —The apostle Paul. St. Ignatius, Polycarp, Tertullian, and St. Clement of
Alexandria are all among the early Church writers who speak of St. Paul's authorship.

  Date   —Probably AD 64–65. The Pastoral Epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, appear to
have been written after the events of Acts 28. If so, 1 Timothy was written before Paul's
second imprisonment in Rome, perhaps from Macedonia (1:3).

  Major Theme      —Pastoral care of the faithful. The Church is to manifest the kingdom of
God on earth. Therefore, how the Church is run relates to both apostolic doctrine (1:1–
20; 3:14–4:5) and worship (2:1–15). Subthemes include:

1 . The role of clergy

2 . Com bating heresy

3 . Care for wom en, widows, and slav es

4 . Money and m inistry


  Background      —First Timothy is both personal and pastoral. Whereas most of Paul's letters
are addressed to the Church in a particular location, the pastoral epistles are written to
instruct specific leaders—in this case Timothy, Bishop of Ephesus. Paul speaks as an
experienced mentor instructing his student, his “son,” as apostle to younger apostle or
bishop to youthful bishop.

   In Ephesus, some church members were promoting a variety of theological opinions
—from the irrelevant to the dangerously heretical (1:3–7; 4:1, 2, 7; 6:3–5). These
heterodox ideas were a mosaic of Jewish (1:4, 7), ascetic (4:1–5), gnostic (4:4, 5), and
docetic (2:5; 3:16; 6:13) thought. The Church was also dealing with external pressures of
Hellenistic piety, the mystery religions, which made much use of the terms “salvation”
and “savior,” and with the cult of emperor worship, according to which Caesar is “Lord.”

   These letters hold incomparable insight into the historical workings of the early
Church as guided by the Holy Spirit and are a foundational source for pastoral theology,
for clergy and their relationship to the Church.

Outline

I. Greeting (1 :1 , 2 )
  II. Faithful Ministry in Doctrine and Worship: Church Order (1 :3 –2 :1 5)

         A. Faithful doctrine (1 :3 –2 0)

          B. Faithful worship (2 :1 –1 5)

  III. Faithful Ministry in Conduct and Care: Pastoral Care (3 :1 –6 :1 9 )

         A. Faithful clergy (3 :1 –1 6 )

          B. Faithful care (4 :1 –6 :1 9 )

 IV. Conclusion: Keep the Tradition! (6 :2 0, 2 1 )



                                                                   Greeting


1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord
  Jesus Christ, our hope,†

  2To Timothy, a true son in the faith:

  Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

                                             Opposing Speculations with Faith

  3As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge

some that they teach no other doctrine, 4nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.† 5Now the purpose of the
commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

                                               Opposing Legalism with Grace

  6from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7desiring to be teachers

of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.†

  8But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,† ω 9knowing this: that the law is
not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and
for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers,
for manslayers, 10for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if
there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11according to the glorious gospel
of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

                                             Paul's Example: Salvation by Grace
  12And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful,

putting me into the ministry,† 13although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an
insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14And the grace of
our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15This is a
faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners, of whom I am chief.† 16However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first
Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on
Him for everlasting life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is
wise,a be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

                              Timothy Called to Faithfulness

  18This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made

concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19having faith and a good
conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20of
whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to
blaspheme.†

                                   Faithfulness in Prayer


2 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of
  thanks be made for all men,† ω 2for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3For this is good and acceptable in the
sight of God our Savior,† 4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of
the truth. 5For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ
Jesus,† 6who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,† 7for which I was
appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christa and not lying—a
teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

                             Faithful Lives Fitting for Prayer

  8I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and

doubting;† 9in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10but,
which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11Let a woman learn in
silence with all submission. 12And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over
a man, but to be in silence.† 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not
deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15Nevertheless she will be
saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.†

                                 T H E F O U R “O R D E R S”
                            IN CHURCH GOVERNMENT

The New Testament teaches that all four “orders” which form the government of the Church
—laity, deacons, presbyters, and bishops—are necessary to the proper functioning of the body
of Christ. All four are clearly visible in Paul’s first letter to Timothy.

  1 The laity are also called “saints” (Rom 1:7; 2Co 1:1; 1Ti 5:10), the “faithful” (Eph 1:1), and
“brethren” (Col 1:2). The laity (Gr. laos) are the people of God, the “priesthood” (1Pt 2:4–10).
Technically, the term “laity” includes the clergy, though in our day the word usually refers to
those in the Church who are not ordained. It is from among the laity that the other three
orders emerge.

  2 The deacons, literally “servants,” are ordained to serve the Church and must meet high
qualifications (1Ti 3:8–13). The apostles were the first to take on the service tasks of deacons,
and when the workload became too great they called for “seven men of good reputation, full
of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business” (Acts 6:3). Besides
serving the material needs of the people, deacons occupy a crucial role in the liturgical life of
the Church.

  3 The presbyters, or elders, are visible throughout the New Testament. Their ministry from
the start was to “rule,” “labor in the word,” and teach true “doctrine” (1Ti 5:17) in the local
congregation. Paul “appointed elders in every church” (Acts 14:23) and later instructed his
apostolic apprentice, Titus, to do the same in Crete (Tts 1:5). From the word “presbyter” came
the shorter form “prest,” which finally became “priest.” In no way is the ordained Christian
priesthood seen as a throwback to or a reenacting of the Old Testament priesthood. Rather,
joined to Christ who is our High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb 5:6, 10),
the Orthodox priest is likewise a minister of a new covenant that supersedes the old.

  4 The bishop is the “overseer” of the congregation and clergy in a given area. Often the
terms “bishop” and “elder” are used interchangeably in the New Testament (Acts 20:17, 28),
with the bishop being the leader of the elders. The qualifications for bishop listed in 1
Timothy 3:17 and Titus 1:7–9 underscore this role. Nonetheless, the bishopric is a specific
office both in the New Testament and in the early Church. The Twelve were the first to hold
this office (in Acts 1:20 “office” could literally be translated “bishopric”) and they in turn
consecrated other bishops to follow them. For example, Timothy and Titus are clearly of a
separate order from that of elder (see 1Ti 5:17–22; Tts 1:5). Early records show James was
bishop of Jerusalem by AD 49 and functioned accordingly at the first council there (Acts
15:13–22). Peter is on record as the first bishop of Antioch prior to AD 53, and later first
bishop of Rome, where he was martyred about AD 65.

  Perhaps the strongest early reference outside the New Testament to the presence of the
four orders in church government occurs in the writings of Ignatius, bishop of Antioch from
AD 67–107, the very heart of the New Testament era. To the church at Philadelphia (see Rev
3:7–13) he writes of “Christians [laity] at one with the bishop and the presbyters and the
deacons” (italics added).

  In the Orthodox Church, authority is resident in all four orders, with the bishop providing
the center of unity. His authority is not over the Church, but within the Church. He is an icon
of Jesus Christ, “the Shepherd and Overseer [lit., bishop] of your souls” (1Pt 2:25). Church
leadership does not consist of one or more of the orders functioning without the others.
Rather the Church, with Christ as Head, is conducted like a symphony orchestra, a family, the
body of Christ, where all the members in their given offices work together as the dwelling
place of the Holy Trinity.


                                Qualifications for Bishops


3 This is† 2a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop,a he desires a good
   work.   A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-
minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;† 3not given to wine, not violent, not
greedy for money,a but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4one who rules his own house
well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5(for if a man does not know how
to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6not a novice, lest being
puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7Moreover he must
have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare
of the devil.
                                         Qualifications for Deacons

  8Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not

greedy for money,† 9holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10But let these
also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11Likewise, their
wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.† 12Let deacons be
the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13For those who
have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the
faith which is in Christ Jesus.ω

                                 The Guide for Faithfulness: An Early Creed

  14These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15but if I am delayed, I
write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is
the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.† 16And without controversy
great is the mystery of godliness:

    Goda was m anifested in the flesh,

    Justified in the Spirit,

    Seen by angels,

    Preached am ong the Gentiles,

    Believ ed on in the world,

    Receiv ed up in glory . †

                                         False Teachers, False Rules


4 Now  the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving
  heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2speaking lies in hypocrisy, having
their own conscience seared with a hot iron,† 3forbidding to marry, and commanding to
abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe
and know the truth.†

                                 Orthodox Doctrine, Orthodox Spirituality

  4For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with

thanksgiving; 5for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.†
  6If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ,
nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.
7But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.† 8For bodily
exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life
that now is and of that which is to come. 9This is a faithful saying and worthy of all
acceptance. 10For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach,a because we trust in the
living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11These things
command and teach.

                                 Self-Discipline in Ministry

  12Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in

love, in spirit,a in faith, in purity. 13Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to
doctrine.† 14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with
the laying on of the hands of the eldership.† 15Meditate on these things; give yourself
entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16Take heed to yourself and to the
doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear
you.

                                    General Pastoral Care

   Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2older
5 women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.
                                       Care for Widows

   3Honor widows who are really widows.† 4But if any widow has children or grandchildren,

let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good anda
acceptable before God. 5Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and
continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6But she who lives in pleasure is dead
while she lives. 7And these things command, that they may be blameless. 8But if anyone does
not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and
is worse than an unbeliever.

  9Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has
been the wife of one man, 10well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if
she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if
she has diligently followed every good work.

  11But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ,

they desire to marry, 12having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith.
13And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle

but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14Therefore I desire
that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the
adversary to speak reproachfully. 15For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16If any
believing man ora woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be
burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

                                        Care for Elders

  17Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who

labor in the word and doctrine. 18For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it
treads out the grain,”a and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”b † 19Do not receive an
accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20Those who are sinning
rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

  21I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe

these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. 22Do not lay hands on anyone
hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure.

  23No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your

frequent infirmities.†

  24Some men's sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men

follow later. 25Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are
otherwise cannot be hidden.

                              Insubordinate Christian Slaves


6 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all
  honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2And those who
have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve
them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these
things.

                                     Ministers of Greed

  3If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of

our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4he is proud,
knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come
envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5useless wranglingsa of men of corrupt minds and
destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw
yourself.b

  6Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into this world,

and it is certaina we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and clothing, with these we
shall be content. 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into
many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the
love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their
greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

                                Pursue Spirituality Instead

  11But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,

patience, gentleness.† 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you
were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.†
13I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who

witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14that you keep this commandment
without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, 15which He will manifest in
His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
16who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or

can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.†

                             Warning to Wealthy Christians

  17Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in
uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18Let them do
good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19storing up for
themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

                                     Keep the Tradition

  20O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle

babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—† 21by professing it some
have strayed concerning the faith.

  Grace be with you. Amen.
                                 2 T IM O T HY
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Verses in 2 Timothy Chapter 1
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in 2 Timothy Chapter 2
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in 2 Timothy Chapter 3
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in 2 Timothy Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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                                                  The Second Book of Timothy

    Author   —St. Paul the Apostle. By the second half of the second century the whole
  Church accepted 2 Timothy as Pauline and canonical.

    Date   —AD 65–67. This letter was written from Rome (1:17) when Paul was chained,
  suffering, and near his execution.

    Major Theme        —Overcoming hardship in the ministry. Ordained ministers use their
  spiritual gifts in the Church to keep and pass on her living tradition (1:13, 14; 2:2, 8, 11–
  13, 15; 3:14–17; 4:3). Through living tradition—the Bible and the ongoing life of the
  Holy Spirit in the body of Christ—the Church remains essentially as she was at her
  inception.

    Background      —Paul has been a prisoner in Rome for some time. Although no one stood
  with him at his first hearing, he successfully defended himself and “was delivered out of
  the mouth of the lion” (4:16, 17). Nonetheless, he has no hope for acquittal. He knows
  his end is at hand (4:6–8). Worse, friends have turned against him (1:15; 4:16–18); only
  Luke is assisting him. Paul longs to see Timothy once more.

  This is probably Paul's last letter. He knows his martyrdom is near and looks forward to
being with the Lord (4:8). Paul was martyred under Emperor Nero about AD 67.

 Outline

  I. Greeting (1 :1 , 2 )

  II. Ministry : Exhortation to Strength (1 :3 –2 :1 3 )

         A. To the bishop, Tim othy : be bold! (1 :3 –1 8)

         B. To other faithful m en (2 :1 –1 3 )

 III. Orthodoxy : Exhortation to Faith and Practice (2 :1 4 –4 :8)

         A. Against false teachers (2 :1 4 –2 6 )

         B. In the face of persecution (3 :1 –4 :8)

 IV. Conclusion (4 :9 –2 2 )

         A. Fellow workers and ev il workers (4 :9 –1 5)

         B. Paul's first defense (4 :1 6 –1 8)

         C. Greetings and benediction (4 :1 9 –2 2 )
                                          Greeting

  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christa by the will of God, according to the promise of life which
1 is in Christ Jesus,
  2To Timothy, a beloved son:

  Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

                                Thanksgiving for Timothy

  3I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without

ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4greatly desiring to see you, being
mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5when I call to remembrance the genuine
faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I
am persuaded is in you also.

                            Timothy's Gift, the Power of God

 6Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of

my hands.† 7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound
mind.†

  8Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but

share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9who has saved
us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own
purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,† 10but has now
been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,† 11to which I was appointed a
preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.a 12For this reason I also suffer these
things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded
that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

                               Fidelity in Spite of Desertions

 13Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love

which are in Christ Jesus.† 14That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy
Spirit who dwells in us.

  15This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are

Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he
often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; 17but when he arrived in Rome, he
sought me out very zealously and found me. 18The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy
from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to mea at
Ephesus.†

                                       Transmitting the Faith

       therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.ω 2And the things
2 You
  that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who
will be able to teach others also.†

                            Strengthening Others: Discipline and Suffering

  3You therefore must endurea hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.† 4No one engaged
in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted
him as a soldier. 5And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he
competes according to the rules. 6The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the
crops. 7Consider what I say, and maya the Lord give you understanding in all things.

  8Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to

my gospel,† 9for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the
word of God is not chained. 10Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they
also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

  11This is a faithful saying:

    For if we died with Him,

    We shall also liv e with Him.

    12
     If we endure,

    We shall also reign with Him.

    If we deny Him,

    He also will deny us.
    13
     If we are faithless,

    He rem ains faithful;

    He cannot deny Him self.

                                Apostolic Teaching vs. Error

  14Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to

no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a
worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.† 16But shun
profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.† 17And their message
will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort,† 18who have strayed
concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the
faith of some. 19Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord
knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christa depart from
iniquity.”

                                Apostolic Conduct vs. Error

   20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and

clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.† 21Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from
the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for
every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with
those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes,
knowing that they generate strife. 24And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle
to all, able to teach, patient,† 25in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God
perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26and that they may
come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to
do his will.

                               Moral Decline in the Last Days

      know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:† 2For men will be lovers of
3 But
  themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, 3unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers
of good, 4traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having
a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!† 6For of this sort
are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with
sins, led away by various lusts, 7always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of
the truth. 8Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men
of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;† 9but they will progress no further, for
their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

             The Pastor's Defense Against Apostasy: Loyalty to Tradition

  10But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith,

longsuffering, love, perseverance,†ω 11persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at
Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord
delivered me. 12Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
13But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing

from whom you have learned them,† 15and that from childhood you have known the Holy
Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus.

  16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for

correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work.

             The People's Defense Against Apostasy: Orthodox Preaching


4 Ithecharge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and
        dead ata His appearing and His kingdom: 2Preach the word! Be ready in season and
out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3For the time
will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires,
because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4and they will turn
their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5But you be watchful in all
things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

                                         Paul's Example

  6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at
hand.† 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.† 8Finally,
there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will
give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

                                  Request to See Timothy

  9Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this

present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.†
11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for

ministry.† 12And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at
Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

 14Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his

works. 15You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

                                    Paul's First Defense

  16At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged
against them.

  17But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached
fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth
of the lion. 18And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His
heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

                                             Farewell

  19Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20Erastus stayed in Corinth,
but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

  21Do your utmost to come before winter.


  Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.†

  22The Lord Jesus Christa be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
                                       T IT US
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1, 2, 3

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Verses in Titus Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Titus Chapter 2
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Titus Chapter 3
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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                                                          The Book of Titus

   Author   —The greeting (1:1) and Holy Tradition both affirm that St. Paul is the author.

   Date   —AD 63–65. The circumstances, content, and organization of Titus are similar to
those of 1 Timothy. The two books were probably written about the same time. Paul's
work with Titus on Crete does not fit into the time covered by the Book of Acts, so it
probably occurred after Paul's release from his first imprisonment in Rome.

   Major Theme       —Overseeing the Church according to the true faith. As the Church grew, it
naturally developed theology and structure and encountered heresy and sub-Christian
behavior among its members, as had been prophesied. Paul here advises Titus as he
faces these issues.

   Background      —Titus was a Gentile converted to Christ by St. Paul (1:4). After Paul was
released from prison in Rome about AD 63, he and Titus visited Crete (1:5). When Paul
moved on, he appointed Titus as apostolic overseer there. After Paul left Titus in charge
of consolidating and organizing the church on the island of Crete, he found theological
problems there similar to those being confronted by Timothy in Asia Minor: elements
of Judaism binding Christians, and early gnosticism. But the native culture of Crete was
more vicious than those found in Asia Minor. Further, whereas Timothy was restoring
order in established churches, Titus was establishing order in young churches.

Outline

 I. Greeting (1 :1 –4 )

II. Godly Gov ernm ent (1 :5–1 6 )

        A. Organization: ordination of sound presby ters (1 :5–9 )

         B. Danger and urgency concerning false teachers (1 :1 0–1 6 )

III. Godly People (2 :1 –3 :1 1 )

        A. Right behav ior in the church and in the hom e (2 :1 –1 0)

         B. The purity of the eternal kingdom (2 :1 1 –1 5)

         C. Right behav ior toward the gov ernm ent and society (3 :1 , 2 )

        D. Salv ation by grace in baptism and chrism ation (3 :3 –8)

         E. Discipline of heretical and schism atic m em bers (3 :9 –1 1 )

IV. Conclusion: Requests, Greetings, and Benediction (3 :1 2 –1 5)
                                           Greeting


1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's
  elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,† 2in hope of
eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, 3but has in due time
manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the
commandment of God our Savior;

  4To Titus, a true son in our common faith:


  Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christa our Savior.

                               Ordination of Sound Elders

  5For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking,

and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—† 6if a man is blameless, the husband
of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7For a
bishop a must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not
given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8but hospitable, a lover of what is good,
sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9holding fast the faithful word as he has been
taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who
contradict. †

                               Opposition to False Teachers

   10For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the

circumcision,† 11whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching
things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12One of them, a prophet of their
own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13This testimony is true.
Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14not giving heed to
Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. 15To the pure all things
are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind
and conscience are defiled. 16They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being
abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
                        Sound Doctrine Produces Proper Behavior

    But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:† 2that the older men
2
    be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3the older women
likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers
of good things—† 4that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their
children, 5to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the
word of God may not be blasphemed.

                               THE SECOND COMING
                                        OF CHRIST

The Orthodox understanding of the second coming of Christ is clear: The Lord Jesus Christ
truly will return. His second advent is not a myth nor an empty promise, nor is it a metaphor.
In fact, each time the Divine Liturgy is celebrated, the priest makes a proclamation to the
Father that reveals how the Church responds not only to the second coming of Christ, but to
all of His work.

     Remembering this saving commandment [Jesus’ command to eat His flesh and
     drink His blood] and all that has been done for us—the Cross, the Tomb, the
     Resurrection on the third day, the Ascension into heaven, the sitting at the right
     hand, and the second and glorious coming—we offer You Your own, from what is
     Your own, on behalf of all and for all.

  Orthodox Christians also believe the New Testament revelation of the second coming of
Christ is meant to stimulate our preparation for it, not our speculation about it. This explains
the relative simplicity with which the Nicene Creed, the most universal confession of faith in
all of Christendom, addresses Christ’s return: “He . . . will come again, with glory, to judge the
living and the dead, whose Kingdom shall have no end.” The emphasis of historic Orthodoxy
is that Jesus will come again, not when He will come again.

  Thus, St. Paul writes, “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing
of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us
from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good
works” (Tts 2:12–14).
  There are signs of Christ’s coming, to be sure. Jesus prophesied many events that would
take place in the world prior to His return (Mt 24; Lk 21:7–36). But even these Gospel
passages close with Jesus’ exhortation to virtue, righteousness, and preparation for the
Judgment. Christ and His apostles issue severe warnings, implicit and explicit, against
second-guessing the time of His coming (Mt 24:3–8, 36, 43, 44, 50; Lk 21:7–9, 34; Acts 1:7;
1Th 5:1–3; 2Pt 3:8–10).

  Much of modern Christendom has succumbed to divisive speculation regarding Christ’s
return. We are divided into premillennial, postmillennial, and amillennial camps. Breaking it
down even further, there are pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, and post-tribulation adherents.
Christians part ways and new denominations spring up around interpretations of events that
have not yet even come to pass!

  Throughout history the Orthodox Church has steadfastly insisted on the reality of the
second coming of Christ as a settled belief, but has always granted liberty on the question of
when it will occur. In the last chapter of Revelation, Jesus speaks the words, “I am coming
quickly,” three different times (22:7, 12, 20). His coming will occur on a day and at an hour
when it is not expected. The apostle John, the author of Revelation, concludes his book with a
warning:

    For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone
    adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;
    and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall
    take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things
    which are written in this book (Rev 22:18, 19).

  To confess the return of Christ is to stand squarely within the apostolic tradition. To add
“when” to the promise of His coming is warned against in the Scriptures. As members of the
Bride of Christ, let us attend instead to being ready.


  6Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7in all things showing yourself to be

a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, a 8sound
speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having
nothing evil to say of you.a

  9Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things,
not answering back, 10not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the
doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

                       Proper Behavior Supports Sound Doctrine

  11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,† 12teaching us that,
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the
present age, 13looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior Jesus Christ,† 14who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless
deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

  15Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

                                 Kindness Toward All Men


3 Remind  them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good
  work, 2to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

                                    God's Kindness to Us

  3For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and

pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4But when the kindness
and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,ω 5not by works of righteousness which
we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration
and renewing of the Holy Spirit,† 6whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus
Christ our Savior, 7that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according
to the hope of eternal life.†

  8This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who
have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and
profitable to men.

                           Heretical and Schismatic Members

  9But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they

are unprofitable and useless. 10Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,†
11knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
                                        Conclusion

  12When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I

have decided to spend the winter there. 13Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey
with haste, that they may lack nothing. 14And let our people also learn to maintain good
works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

  15All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

  Grace be with you all. Amen.
                                 PHIL E M O N
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Chapters in Philemon
Introduction

1

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Verses in Philemon Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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                                                   The Book of Philemon

   Author   —St. Paul. Paul often used an assistant to whom he dictated his letters (Rom
16:22; 1Co 16:21; Gal 6:11; Col 4:18; 2Th 3:17), but he wrote Philemon with his own
hand (v. 19).

   Date   —AD 61–63. Philemon was written at the same time as Colossians, most likely
from Rome during Paul's first Roman captivity.

   Major Theme      —No longer slaves, we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

   Background      —Philemon (Gr. “affectionate”) had been converted by Paul (v. 19) and was a
member of the church in Colosse (Col 4:9). Onesimus (Gr. “useful”) had been an
“unuseful” slave of Philemon, for he had run away, providing for his needs from the
stolen treasury of his master—an offense punishable by death. Somehow Onesimus
reached Paul, who brought him to Christ. He then became “useful” to Paul.

    According to Roman law, Onesimus still belonged to Philemon. So Paul sent
Onesimus back to Colosse with this letter under the care of Tychicus, who was also
carrying the letters to the Colossians and the Ephesians. Paul urges Philemon to receive
Onesimus with forgiveness as a brother in the Lord, and hints that he would not be
displeased if Philemon released Onesimus from bondage in order to free him for service
to Paul.

    According to ancient tradition, Philemon was consecrated bishop of Colosse and later
martyred. Onesimus may be the same Onesimus whom Ignatius mentions as bishop of
Ephesus, forty years after this incident.

Outline

 I. Greeting (v v . 1 –3 )

II. Com m endation of Philem on (v v . 4 –7 )

III. Plea for Onesim us (v v . 8–2 1 )

IV. Conclusion: Request, Greetings, and Benediction (v v . 2 2 –2 5)



                                                                Greeting
  1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,


  To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer,† 2to the beloveda Apphia, Archippus
our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

  3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

                              Commendation of Philemon

   4I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5hearing of your love and

faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,† 6that the sharing of
your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in youa
in Christ Jesus.† 7For we havea great joyb and consolation in your love, because the hearts of
the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.†

                                    Plea for Onesimus

  8Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting,† 9yet for
love's sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner
of Jesus Christ— 10I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my
chains,† 11who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.†

  12I am sending him back.a You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13whom I
wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the
gospel. 14But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be
by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.†

  15For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,
16no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how
much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

  17If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18But if he has wronged

you or owes anything, put that on my account.† 19I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I
will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.† 20Yes,
brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.
  21Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more

than I say.† 22But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your
prayers I shall be granted to you.

                     Personal Request, Greetings, and Benediction

  23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24as do Mark, Aristarchus,
Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

  25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
                                      HE BRE W S
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Chapters in Hebrews
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Hebrews Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Hebrews Chapter 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Hebrews Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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Verses in Hebrews Chapter 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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Verses in Hebrews Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Hebrews Chapter 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Hebrews Chapter 7
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Hebrews Chapter 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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Verses in Hebrews Chapter 9
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Verses in Hebrews Chapter 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

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Verses in Hebrews Chapter 11
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

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Verses in Hebrews Chapter 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Hebrews Chapter 13
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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                                                        The Book of Hebrews

  Author   —In the early centuries of the Church, several differing opinions circulated as to
who wrote Hebrews. By the fourth century most witnesses ascribed Hebrews to St. Paul,
including St. John Chrysostom (d. AD 407) and St. Athanasius (d. AD 373). Church
historian Eusebius (d. c. AD 340) included Hebrews in his list of Paul's epistles, but
noted that Rome rejected the letter because it was not Pauline. A Council at Carthage
(AD 397) canonized Hebrews as one of fourteen epistles of Paul. All Orthodox
lectionaries introduce Hebrews with “the reading from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle
Paul to the Hebrews.” Nevertheless, most biblical scholars today agree authorship of the
letter is uncertain.

  Date   —The content of the epistle and the witness of the early Church argue for some
time near AD 70.

  MajorTheme      —Persevering faith in the incarnate Son. Jesus Christ is superior to the
prophets, angels, Moses, and Aaron. He offers a better priesthood, sanctuary, and
sacrifice, for in His worship we enter heaven. Therefore, we must faithfully hold fast to
Him.

  Background     —Hebrews seems to be written to Greek-speaking Jewish Christians, perhaps
in Palestine, who were being drawn back to Judaism. Indeed, some had returned to
their roots, partly because of a low view of Jesus. Hence the subthemes: the superiority
of Christ and His sacrifice over Judaism, and encouragement to continue in the
Christian faith.

Outline

I. The Superiority of Christ (1 :1 –1 0:1 8)

       A. Introduction: the suprem e rev elation (1 :1 –4 )

       B. Christ's authority is superior to the angels’ (1 :5–2 :1 8)

       C. Christ's rest is superior to Moses’ (3 :1 –4 :1 3 )

       D. Christ's priesthood is superior to Aaron's (4 :1 4 –7 :2 8)

       E. Christ's worship is superior to Moses’ (8:1 –1 0:1 8)

II. Persev ering Toward the Entrance and Rest (1 0:1 9 –1 3 :1 9 )

       A. Persev ering in worship (1 0:1 9 –3 9 )
          B. Persev ering in faith (1 1 :1 –4 0)

          C. Persev ering in discipline (1 2 :1 –2 9 )

          D. Persev ering in holiness (1 3 :1 –1 9 )

  III. Conclusion (1 3 :2 0–2 5)



                                     The Supreme Revelation of the Son of God

                                                       T H E P R I E S T H O O D—
                                             EARTHLY AND ETERNAL

A major theme of the Book of Hebrews is the contrast between the earthly, or Levitical,
priesthood and the eternal priesthood of Melchizedek, which is fulfilled in Christ.

  The Levitical priesthood, established by Aaron of the tribe of Levi, is limited simply
because those who fill it are ordinary human beings. The Levitical priests carry out God’s
instructions and assist the people in their worship, but they cannot ultimately reconcile
people to God.

  The mysterious figure of Melchizedek, on the other hand, represents an entirely different
kind of priesthood. Melchizedek appears in Genesis 14:18–20, long before the establishment
of the Levitical priesthood. He is given no genealogy, and nothing is said of his death. He
receives tithes from Abraham, implying he is superior to Abraham in rank—and by extension,
superior to Abraham’s descendants, the Levites. Melchizedek is not only a priest but a king as
well. In this dual office he is able to reconcile the justice of God (the business of a king) with
His mercy (the business of a priest). His name means “King of Righteousness,” and his title
“King of Salem” means “King of Peace.” He maybe a theophany—a preincarnate appearance of
Christ; at the very least he is a type of Christ, as the author of Hebrews explains in detail.

  There are several specific points of contrast between the Levitical priesthood and the
priesthood of Melchizedek, which is fulfilled in Christ.

                                                   THE PRIESTHOOD OF LEVI

  1 Genealogical requirement: The Leviti-cal priesthood is limited to one tribe. It cannot
transform mortal and corrupt humanity because it consists of mere men.

  2 Ordination: The power given at ordination is incomplete. The Levitical priesthood is
weak, its sacrifices have to be repeated, and it cannot perfect the worshipers. It cannot
reconcile people to God nor give them the inner power to obey. The ordination is without
direct confirmation from God.

  3 Term of office: The Levitical priesthood is temporary. Since it is composed of mortal
men, it requires many members.

  4 Moral and spiritual requirements: These must be less than perfection, for the Levitical
priests are all created beings subject to sin.

                          THE PRIESTHOOD OF MELCHIZEDEK

  As Melchizedek was without earthly genealogy, so is Christ by virtue of His virgin birth. He
is God incarnate, immortal and sinless, and therefore His priesthood is able to transform
humanity.

  The power given at ordination is strong and effective. The power of Christ’s priesthood is
perfect and draws us near to God. His sacrifice is offered once for all. The Father Himself
ordains the Son.

  Since Christ is immortal, the priesthood of Melchizedek needs only one, eternal priest.

  The requirement of perfect holiness is met in Christ, the only sinless One. He is more than
mere man—He is the Son of God.



1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the
  prophets,† ω 2has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir
of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;† † 3who being the brightness of His
glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power,
when He had by Himselfa purged ourb sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on
high, 4having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a
more excellent name than they.†

                              Christ's Dominion Over Creation

  5For to which of the angels did He ever say:

    “ You are My Son,
  Today I have begotten You” ?a

And again:

  “ I will be to Him a Father,

  And He shall be to Me a Son” ?b†

6But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:

  “ Let all the angels of God worship Him.” a†

7And of the angels He says:

  “ Who makes His angels spirits

  And His ministers a flame of fire.” a

8But to the Son He says:

  “ Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;

  A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. †

  9
      You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;

  Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You

  With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” a

                                     Christ Without Beginning, Creator of All

10And:

  “ You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,

  And the heavens are the work of Your hands. †

  11
      They will perish, but You remain;

  And they will all grow old like a garment;

  12
       Like a cloak You will fold them up,

  And they will be changed.

  But You are the same,

  And Your years will not fail.” a

13But to which of the angels has He ever said:

  “ Sit at My right hand,

  Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ?a

14Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit
salvation?††

                                                   Beware of Willful Negligence


2 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift
  away.† 2For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression
and disobedience received a just reward,ω 3how shall we escape if we neglect so great a
salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those
who heard Him, 4God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various
miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

  5For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.† 6But
one testified in a certain place, saying:

    “ What is man that You are mindful of him,

    Or the son of man that You take care of him?†

    7
     You have made him a little lower than the angels;

    You have crowned him with glory and honor, a

    And set him over the works of Your hands.

    8
        You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” a

  For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him.
But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9But we see Jesus, who was made a little
lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by
the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.†

                                                         Why God Became Man

  10For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in
bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings.† 11For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one,
for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,ω 12saying:

    “ I will declare Your name to My brethren;

    I n the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.” a

  13And again:
    “ I will put My trust in Him.” a

  And again:

    “ Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.” b

  14Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise
shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death,
that is, the devil,† 15and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime
subject to bondage.† 16For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the
seed of Abraham. 17Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He
might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation
for the sins of the people.† 18For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able
to aid those who are tempted.

                                         Christ Is Faithful in a Superior Office


3 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High
  Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,† 2who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as
Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3For this One has been counted worthy of more
glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house.†
4For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5And Moses indeed
was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be
spoken afterward, 6but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold
fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.a

  7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

    “ Today, if you will hear His voice, †

    8
        Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

    I n the day of trial in the wilderness,

    9
        Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,

    And saw My works forty years.

    10
         Therefore I was angry with that generation,

    And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,

    And they have not known My ways.’

    11
        So I swore in My wrath,
    ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ” a

                                                    Beware of Faithlessness

  12Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from

the living God;† 13but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we have become partakers of Christ if we
hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,† 15while it is said:

    “ Today, if you will hear His voice,

    Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” a

 16For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by

Moses?† 17Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned,
whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18And to whom did He swear that they would not enter
His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19So we see that they could not enter in because of
unbelief.

                                                        Entering God's Rest


4 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to
  have come short of it.† 2For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but
the word which they heard did not profit them,a not being mixed with faith in those who
heard it. 3For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

    “ So I swore in My wrath,

    ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” a


  although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4For He has spoken in
a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all
His works”;a 5and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.”a

                                                    Christ's Rest Is Superior

  6Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first

preached did not enter because of disobedience,† 7again He designates a certain day, saying in
David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:

    “ Today, if you will hear His voice,
    Do not harden your hearts.” a

  8For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another

day.† 9There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.† 10For he who has entered His
rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

                                      Work to Enter His Rest

  11Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same

example of disobedience.† 12For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.† 13And there is no creature hidden
from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give
account.

                                      Our Merciful High Priest

  14Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus

the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.† ω 15For we do not have a High Priest who
cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without
sin.† 16Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and
find grace to help in time of need.†

                        Qualifications for Priesthood: Aaron and Melchizedek


5 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to
  God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.† 2He can have compassion on
those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.
3Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for

sins. 4And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron
was.ω

  5So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to
Him:

    “ You are My Son,

    Today I have begotten You.” a†
  6As He also says in another place:

    “ You are a priest forever

    According to the order of Melchizedek” ;a

                                                Beware of Immaturity

  7who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with
vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard
because of His godly fear,† 8though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things
which He suffered.† 9And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation
to all who obey Him, 10called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”
11of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.†

  12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again
the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
13For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is

a babe. 14But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of
use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.†


6 Therefore,  leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to
  perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith
toward God,† 2of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead,
and of eternal judgment.† 3And this we willa do if God permits.

   4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly

gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,†† 5and have tasted the good word of God
and the powers of the age to come,† 6if they fall away,a to renew them again to repentance,
since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.††

  7For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for

those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;† 8but if it bears thorns and briers,
it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

                                       Pursue the Promise with Persistence

  9But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany
salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10For God is not unjust to forget your work and
labor ofa love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the
saints, and do minister.† 11And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the
full assurance of hope until the end, 12that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those
who through faith and patience inherit the promises.†

                          God Confirms the Promise by an Oath

 13For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater,

He swore by Himself,† ω 14saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will
multiply you.”a 15And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16For
men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all
dispute. 17Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the
immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18that by two immutable things, in
which it is impossible for God to lie, we mighta have strong consolation, who have fled for
refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.†

  19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters

the Presence behind the veil,† 20where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having
become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.†

                          Priestly Orders: Levi and Melchizedek


7 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham
  returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,† 2to whom also Abraham gave
a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem,
meaning “king of peace,” 3without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither
beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

                             The Rules of the Priestly Orders

  4Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth

of the spoils. 5And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have
a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their
brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6but he whose genealogy is not
derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.ω 8Here mortal men receive

tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9Even Levi, who
receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10for he was still in the loins of his
father when Melchizedek met him.

  11Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people
received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to
the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?† 12For the
priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13For He of whom
these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the
altar.

  14For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing

concerning priesthood.a 15And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek,
there arises another priest 16who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly
commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17For He testifies:a

     “ You are a priest forever

     According to the order of Melchizedek.” b

  18For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its

weakness and unprofitableness, 19for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there
is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

  20And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21(for they have become
priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:

     “ The LORD has sworn

     And will not relent,

     ‘You are a priest forevera

     According to the order of Melchizedek’ ” ), b

  22by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

  23Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.
24But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25Therefore He is
also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives
to make intercession for them.

  26For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from

sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;ω 27who does not need daily, as those high
priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did
once for all when He offered up Himself. 28For the law appoints as high priests men who
have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has
been perfected forever.

                           The Old Worship, an Earthly Shadow


8 Now   this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who
  is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,† 2a Minister of the
sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

  3For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is

necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4For if He were on earth, He would not
be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5who serve the
copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about
to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern
shown you on the mountain.”a 6But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry,
inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better
promises.†

                          The Old Covenant Pleads for a New One

  7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a

second. 8Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the
L , when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—
 ORD


9not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them
by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My
covenant, and I disregarded them, says the L . 10For this is the covenant that I will make
                                                ORD



with the house of Israel after those days, says the L : I will put My laws in their mind and
                                                      ORD



write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11None of
them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the L ,’ for all shall
                                                                              ORD



know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12For I will be merciful to their
unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deedsa I will remember no more.”b

  13In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is
becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

                           The Earthly Sanctuary and Liturgy


9 Then  indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly
  sanctuary.†ω 2For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand,
the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary;† 3and behind the second veil, the
part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4which had the golden censer and the
ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the
manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;† 5and above it were the
cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in
detail.†

  6Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part

of the tabernacle, performing the services.† 7But into the second part the high priest went
alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins
committed in ignorance; 8the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All
was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9It was symbolic for
the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who
performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— 10concerned only with foods and
drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

                          The Heavenly Sanctuary and Liturgy

  11But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come,a with the greater and more

perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.† 12Not with the blood of
goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having
obtained eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer,
sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14how much more shall the
blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse
your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?†

                         The New Covenant: The Blood of Christ

  15And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the
redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may
receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.†

  16For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator

lives. 18Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. 19For when
Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of
calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and
all the people, 20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded
you.”a 21Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the
ministry.† 22And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without
shedding of blood there is no remission.

                          The New Worship Is Heavenly Reality

  23Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be

purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.†
24For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true,

but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25not that He should
offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of
another— 26He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but
now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
27And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28so Christ was
offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a
second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

                      The New Worship Accomplishes God's Will


10 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the
   things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year,
make those who approach perfect.† 2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For
the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.† 3But in those
sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls
and goats could take away sins.

  5Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

    “ Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,

    But a body You have prepared for Me.

    6
        I n burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin

    You had no pleasure.

    7
     Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—

    I n the volume of the book it is written of Me—

    To do Your will, O God.’ ” a

  8Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did

not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law),† 9then He
said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.”a He takes away the first that He may
establish the second. 10By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body
of Jesus Christ once for all.

                                               The New Worship Gives Boldness

  11And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices,

which can never take away sins.† 12But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins
forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13from that time waiting till His enemies are
made His footstool. 14For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being
sanctified.†

  15But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

  16“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the L : I will put
                                                                                    ORD



My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”a 17then He adds, “Their sins
and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”a 18Now where there is remission of these,
there is no longer an offering for sin.

                                               Continue to Enter and Draw Near
  19Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20by a

new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21and
having a High Priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies
washed with pure water.† 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for
He who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and
good works,† 25not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,
but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.†

                                                 The Danger of Apostasy

  26For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer

remains a sacrifice for sins,† 27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery
indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies
without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29Of how much worse
punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God
underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing,
and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will
repay,”a says the Lord.b And again, “The L                ORD   will judge His people.”c 31It is a fearful thing to
fall into the hands of the living God.

                                                  Continue to Persevere

   32But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great

struggle with sufferings:† 33partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and
tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34for
you had compassion on mea in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your
goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.b
35Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36For you have need
of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

    37
     “ For yet a little while,

    And Hea who is coming will come and will not tarry.

    38
         Now thea just shall live by faith;
    But if anyone draws back,

    My soul has no pleasure in him.” b

  39But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the
saving of the soul.

                                                  Faith's Hope

     Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.† 2For by
11 it the elders obtained a good testimony.
  3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things
which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

                                         Faith from Creation to the Flood

  4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he
obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being
dead still speaks.

  5By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because

God had taken him”;a for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that
He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

  7By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear,
prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and
became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

                                         Faith from Abraham to Joseph

  8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would

receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.† 9By faith he
dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob,
the heirs with him of the same promise;ω 10for he waited for the city which has foundations,
whose builder and maker is God.

  11By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a childa when
she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from
one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—
innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

  13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off

were assured of them,a embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims
on the earth. 14For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
15And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they

would have had opportunity to return. 16But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly
country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for
them.

  17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the

promises offered up his only begotten son, 18of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall
be called,”a 19concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which
he also received him in a figurative sense.

  20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

  21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped,

leaning on the top of his staff.†

  22By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of
Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

                                Faith from Moses to Joshua

  23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because
they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command.

  24By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's

daughter,ω 25choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the
passing pleasures of sin, 26esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures
ina Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

  27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing
Him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who
destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

  29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians,
attempting to do so, were drowned.

  30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31By
faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received
the spies with peace.

                                   Faith of Other Israelites

  32And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and

Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33who through faith
subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,ω
34quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made

strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35Women received
their dead raised to life again.

  Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better
resurrection. 36Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and
imprisonment. 37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted,a were slain with
the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted,
tormented—† 38of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and
mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.†

                                      Faith's Perfection

  39And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the

promise, 40God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made
perfect apart from us.†

                                        Look to Jesus


12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay
   aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us,† 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and
has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.†

                                          Do Not Despise God's Chastening

  3For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you

become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4You have not yet resisted to bloodshed,
striving against sin.† 5And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

    “ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,

    Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

    6
        For whom the LORD loves He chastens,

    And scourges every son whom He receives.” a

  7Ifa you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a

father does not chasten? 8But if you are without chastening, of which all have become
partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9Furthermore, we have had human fathers
who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection
to the Father of spirits and live? 10For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed
best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11Now no
chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields
the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

   12Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13and make

straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.†

  14Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:†
15looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness

springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16lest there be any fornicator or
profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17For you know that
afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for
repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

                                                  The Heavenly Jerusalem
  18For you have not come to the mountain thata may be touched and that burned with fire,

and to blackness and darknessb and tempest,† 19and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of
words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them
anymore. 20(For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast
touches the mountain, it shall be stoneda or shot with an arrow.”b 21And so terrifying was
the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”a)

  22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly

Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,† 23to the general assembly and church of
the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men
made perfect, 24to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling
that speaks better things than that of Abel.

  25See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him
who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks
from heaven,† 26whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet
once more I shakea not only the earth, but also heaven.”b† 27Now this, “Yet once more,”
indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that
the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

                           The Purity of Christian Community

  28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace,

by which we maya serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.ω 29For our God is a
consuming fire.†


13 Let brotherly love continue.† 2Do not forget
                                            3
                                                to entertain strangers, for by so doing
     some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with
them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

  4Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers
God will judge.

  5Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For

He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”a 6So we may boldly say:
    “ The LORD is my helper;

    I will not fear.

    What can man do to me?” a

                                  Remember Those Who Rule Over You

   7Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose

faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.† ω 8Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, today, and forever.†

                                Loyalty to Orthodox Doctrine and Worship

  9Do not be carried abouta with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart
be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been
occupied with them.†

  10We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.† 11For
the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for
sin, are burned outside the camp.† 12Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people
with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the
camp, bearing His reproach.† 14For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to
come. 15Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the
fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.† 16But do not forget to do good and to share, for
with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

                                       The Holy Life Summarized

  17Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as
those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be
unprofitable for you.ω

  18Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to

live honorably. 19But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the
sooner.

                                              Conclusion
  20Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great

Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,† 21make you complete
in every good work to do His will, working in youa what is well pleasing in His sight, through
Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

  22And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to

you in few words. 23Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see
you if he comes shortly.

  24Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

  25Grace be with you all. Amen.
                                       J AM E S
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Chapters in James
Introduction

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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Verses in James Chapter 1
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in James Chapter 2
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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Verses in James Chapter 3
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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                                                          The Book of James

    Author  —The author identifies himself as “James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord
 Jesus Christ” (1:1). Early Church tradition ascribes this letter to James, the “brother” or
 kinsman of our Lord and first bishop of Jerusalem, known as James the Just.

    Date   —AD 55–60. James the Just was martyred about AD 62. Some consider his letter
 the first New Testament book, written after the martyrdom of Stephen and the
 dispersion of Christians from Jerusalem (Acts 8:1).

    Major Theme     —The harmony of faith and works. The letter has many direct parallels with
 the Sermon on the Mount. James does not teach we are saved by works, but he does
 teach that a dead faith, one without works, does not save. This is an early polemic
 against invisible religion, wherein salvation by faith has no visible works, and against
 antinomianism, the teaching that moral behavior is irrelevant to salvation. James is
 clear: the human will is not bypassed in salvation; grace does not nullify personal
 responsibility.

    Background     —Unlike most New Testament letters, James does not address a particular
 church, or even a geographical region, but “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad”
 (1:1). Though James was a Jewish Christian and assumes the recipients are familiar
 with the Old Testament, the letter is written in elegant Greek. There is no indication
 that it addresses only Jewish Christians. The people James addresses are experiencing
 various trials: persecution, deception, economic injustice and poverty, apostasy and
 personal fragmentations in the Church. James uses his authority as bishop to rekindle
 true living faith and encourage repentance, patience, and self-control.

Outline

  I. Greeting (1 :1 )

 II. Trials and Endurance: Lov e God! (1 :2 –2 7 )

III. Faith and Works: Lov e Your Neighbor! (2 :1 –2 6 )

IV. The Power of the Tongue (3 :1 –1 8)

 V. Quarreling and Hum ility (4 :1 –1 2 )

VI. Greed Versus Contentedness (4 :1 3 –5:1 2 )

VII. Healing and Restoration (5:1 3 –2 0)
                                            Greeting


1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
  To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

  Greetings.†

                                     The Purpose of Trials

  2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,† 3knowing that the testing

of your faith produces patience. 4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be
perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

                                      Wisdom for Trials

  5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without

reproach, and it will be given to him.† 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who
doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.† 7For let not that man suppose
that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his
ways.

   9Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,† 10but the rich in his humiliation, because as

a flower of the field he will pass away. 11For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat
than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich
man also will fade away in his pursuits.

                                           Temptations

  12Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will

receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.† 13Let no one
say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does
He Himself tempt anyone.† 14But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own
desires and enticed.† 15Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it
is full-grown, brings forth death.

  16Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow
of turning.† 18Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a
kind of firstfruits of His creatures.†

                                The Corrective: Hear and Do

  19So then,a my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to

wrath;† 20for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

  21Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness

the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.†

  22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23For if anyone is a
hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
24for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful

hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.†

  26If anyone among youa thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives

his own heart, this one's religion is useless.† 27Pure and undefiled religion before God and
the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted
from the world.

                                         The Law of Love


2 My  brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with
  partiality.† 2For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine
apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3and you pay attention to
the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the
poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4have you not shown partiality
among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

  5Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith

and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?† 6But you have
dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7Do they
not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
  8If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor

as yourself,”a you do well;† 9but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by
the law as transgressors. 10For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one
point, he is guilty of all. 11For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,”a also said, “Do not
murder.”b Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a
transgressor of the law. 12So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of
liberty. 13For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy
triumphs over judgment.

                                      Faith that Works

  14What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?

Can faith save him?† 15If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16and one of
you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the
things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17Thus also faith by itself, if it does
not have works, is dead.

  18But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without

youra works, and I will show you my faith by myb works. 19You believe that there is one God.
You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!† 20But do you want to know, O foolish
man, that faith without works is dead?a 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works
when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22Do you see that faith was working together
with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23And the Scripture was fulfilled which
says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”a And he was
called the friend of God. 24You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith
only.

  25Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the
messengers and sent them out another way?

  26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.†

                     The Work of Faith: Controlling What We Say
3 My   brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a
  stricter judgment.† 2For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in
word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3Indeed,a we put bits in horses’
mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4Look also at ships: although
they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder
wherever the pilot desires. 5Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

  See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The
tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the
course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and
creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8But no man can tame the
tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our God and Father, and
with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10Out of the same
mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11Does a
spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12Can a fig tree, my
brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and
fresh.a

                                        Godly Counsel

 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his

works are done in the meekness of wisdom.† 14But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in
your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15This wisdom does not descend from
above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion
and every evil thing are there. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and
without hypocrisy. 18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make
peace.

                   Lack of Faith and Works: Quarrels in the Church


4 Where  do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for
  pleasure that war in your members?† 2You lust and do not have. You murder and covet
and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yeta you do not have because you do not ask. 3You ask
and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
4Adulterers anda adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity
with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of
God. 5Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns
jealously”?

  6But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

     “ God resists the proud,

     But gives grace to the humble.” a

  7Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God
and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you
double-minded. 9Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and
your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

                                             Criticizing Others

  11Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges
his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a
doer of the law but a judge.† 12There is one Lawgiver,a who is able to save and to destroy.
Whob are you to judge another?c

                                           Being Overly Confident

  13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we willa go to such and such a city, spend a

year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;† 14whereas you do not know what will happen
tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then
vanishes away. 15Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or
that.” 16But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

  17Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

                                         Warning to Rich Oppressors

    Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!† 2Your
5
    riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3Your gold and silver are
corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire.
You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed
your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached
the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.a 5You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you
have fattened your hearts asa in a day of slaughter. 6You have condemned, you have
murdered the just; he does not resist you.

                                         HEALING

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over
him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick,
and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (5:14, 15).

  One of the great prophetic themes of the Old Testament concerning the promised Messiah
is that the Father would send His Son “to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the
captives and recovery of sight to the blind” (Lk 4:18; see also Is 49:8; Is 61:1). The ministry of
Christ was one of numerous healings of “all kinds of sicknesses and all kinds of disease” (Mt
4:23). In addition, Jesus healed darkened hearts and minds as He released people from
demonic oppression.

  Like their Master before them, the early apostles participated in God’s work of healing as
well, attributing their miracles to the risen and ascended Christ. “Jesus the Christ heals you,”
Peter told a newly restored man who had been bedridden for eight years (Acts 9:34). St. Paul
identified healing as a gift of the Holy Spirit (1Co 12:9). Thus, the New Testament foundation
was established for the healing ministry to be a part of the sacramental life of the Church
(Jam 5:14, 15).

  Healings throughout history. The Orthodox Church has never believed or behaved as
though the gifts of the Spirit or the healing miracles of Christ have somehow passed away.
Did not Jesus promise, “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and
greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (Jn 14:12)?

  St. Ireneaus, writing at the close of the second century, speaks of miracles in his day:
“Some drive out devils . . . some have foreknowledge of the future . . . others heal the sick
through the laying on of hands . . . and even the dead have been raised up before now and
have remained with us for many years.” The writings of other Church Fathers speak often of
miracles within the Church.

  Quite widely known are the supernatural healings Christ performs through St. Seraphim of
Sarov, an eighteenth-century Russian monk. He was blessed with the gift of healing during
his lifetime, and even after his departure many people have been restored to wholeness at his
graveside.

  The practice of the Church today. To this day, the Orthodox practice of prayer for the sick
follows the New Testament instruction of St. James. The Orthodox Church has a special
service of healing, which may be performed at any time. The presbyter prays for the ill
person, anointing him with oil and saying, “O Lord Almighty, Healer of our souls and bodies,
who put down and raise up, who chastise and heal also, visit now in Your mercy our brother
or sister, N., who is ill. Stretch forth Your arm, which is full of healing and health, and raise
(him/her) up from this bed, and cure this illness. Put away the spirit of disease and every
malady and pain and fever. And if (he/she) has committed sins and transgressions, grant
remission and forgiveness, because You love mankind.”

  As Orthodox Christians we pray, neither commanding God to heal nor doubting His ability
to heal, but pleading for His promised mercy on all who are ill.


                            Encouragement to the Oppressed

  7Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for
the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter
rain.† 8You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

  9Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.a Behold, the

Judge is standing at the door! 10My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of
the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.†ω 11Indeed we count them blessed who
endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—
that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

  12But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other

oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.a †

                                The Work of Faith: Healing
  13Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.†
14Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over

him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer of faith will save the
sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16Confess your trespassesa to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.† 17Elijah was a man with a
nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land
for three years and six months. 18And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the
earth produced its fruit.

                                         Restoration

  19Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,†
20let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soula from
death and cover a multitude of sins.
                                       1 PE T E R
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Verses in 1 Peter Chapter 1
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21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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21, 22

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Verses in 1 Peter Chapter 4
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                                                      The First Book of Peter

   Author   —After Peter had helped to establish the church in Antioch, he preached to Jews
and converts to Judaism throughout northern Asia Minor (1:1). Later, in Rome, hearing
the churches of Asia Minor were being persecuted, he wrote them this letter of
encouragement.

   Date   —First Peter was composed at Rome (5:13) sometime in AD 50–67. The exact date
Peter arrived in Rome is unclear; tradition says he was martyred there later in Nero's
reign, c. AD 67.

   Major Theme      —Rejoice in sharing the sufferings of Christ. The First Epistle of Peter is an
exhortation for Christians suffering persecution to remember and live in their baptism.
As baptism is a death and a resurrection, so Christians must enter into unjust suffering
with a spirit of death and resurrection. Our goal is the fulfillment of baptism—heaven.
This requires unwavering commitment now to (a) holiness (1:3–2:10), (b) submission
in the roles we have in life (2:11–3:12), (c) patient suffering in this age as we prepare for
the age to come (3:13–4:19), and (d) disciplined unity in the Church (5:1–11).

   Background      —The dispersion of which Peter speaks (1:1) is unknown. After the
martyrdom of Stephen (c. AD 33), many Christians fled from persecution in Jerusalem.
Or Peter may be speaking more generally, of Christians at large, who were often ill-
treated and forced into exile because of their faith. We are told these Christians live in
five provinces of Asia Minor (1:1), located in the central and northern segments of the
peninsula.

Outline

 I. Greetings (1 :1 , 2 )

II. Practical Meaning of Baptism (1 :3 –3 :1 2 )

        A. A life of faith and hope (1 :3 –1 2 )

        B. A life of holiness (1 :1 3 –2 :1 0)

        C. A life of honor (2 :1 1 –3 :1 2 )

III. Persecution and Suffering (3 :1 3 –5:1 1 )

        A. Persecution for being righteous (3 :1 3 –2 2 )

        B. The persecution of m ockery (4 :1 –1 9 )
         C. Suffering and the church (5:1 –1 1 )

 IV. Conclusion (5:1 2 –1 4 )



                                                          Greeting


1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
  To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,† 2elect
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for
obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

  Grace to you and peace be multiplied.†

                                                   Born to a Heavenly Hope

  3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant
mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead,† 4to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away,
reserved in heaven for you,† 5who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time.†

                                                   Tested for Genuine Faith

  6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved

by various trials,† 7that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold
that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the
revelation of Jesus Christ, 8whom having not seena you love. Though now you do not see
Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,† 9receiving the end of
your faith—the salvation of your souls.

  10Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of

the grace that would come to you,† 11searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of
Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ
and the glories that would follow. 12To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to
usa they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those
who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which
angels desire to look into.†

                                                                Be Holy

  13Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the

grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;† 14as obedient children,
not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15but as He who called
you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16because it is written, “Be holy, for I am
holy.”a†

  17And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work,

conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;† 18knowing that you were
not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received
by tradition from your fathers,† 19but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot. 20He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world,
but was manifest in these last times for you 21who through Him believe in God, who raised
Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

                                                             Love Each Other

  22Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirita in sincere

love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23having been born again,
not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides
forever,a† 24because

     “ All flesh is as grass,

     And all the glory of mana as the flower of the grass.

     The grass withers,

     And its flower falls away, †

     25
      But the word of the LORD endures forever.” a

  Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

                                                              Desire Christ

    Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,† 2as
2
    newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,a† 3if indeed
you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

                                                    The New Priesthood

  4Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and

precious,† 5you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood,
to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.† 6Therefore it is also
contained in the Scripture,

    “ Behold, I lay in Zion

    A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,

    And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” a

  7Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,a

    “ The stone which the builders rejected

    Has become the chief cornerstone,” b

  8and

    “ A stone of stumbling

    And a rock of offense.” a

  They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

  9But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people,
that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous
light;† 10who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained
mercy but now have obtained mercy.

                                  All Men and Women: Bondservants of God

  11Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war

against the soul,† 12having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they
speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God
in the day of visitation.

  13Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to

the king as supreme,† 14or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment
of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15For this is the will of God, that by
doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16as free, yet not using
liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17Honor all people. Love the
brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

                                             Servants: Submissive to Masters

  18Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle,

but also to the harsh.† 19For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one
endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your
faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is
commendable before God. 21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,a
leaving usb an example, that you should follow His steps:

    22
     “ Who committed no sin,

    Nor was deceit found in His mouth” ;a†

  23who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not

threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24who Himself bore our
sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—
by whose stripes you were healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but have now
returned to the Shepherd and Overseera of your souls.†

                                             Wives: Submissive to Husbands


3 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the
  word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,† 2when they
observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3Do not let your adornment be merely
outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4rather let it be the
hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is
very precious in the sight of God. 5For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who
trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6as Sarah
obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid
with any terror.

                                             Husbands: Honor Your Wives
  7Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to
the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not
be hindered.

                                                          Christians: Bless Others

  8Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be

tenderhearted, be courteous;a† 9not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the
contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10For

    “ He who would love life

    And see good days,

    Let him refrain his tongue from evil,

    And his lips from speaking deceit.

    11
     Let him turn away from evil and do good;

    Let him seek peace and pursue it.

    12
         For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,

    And His ears are open to their prayers;

    But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” a

                                                   Suffering for Righteousness

  13And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?† 14But even
if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their
threats, nor be troubled.”a 15But sanctify the Lord Goda in your hearts, and always be ready
to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear;† 16having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers,
those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17For it is better, if it is the
will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.†

                                                  Involved in Christ's Suffering

  18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring usa to

God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,† 19by whom also He went
and preached to the spirits in prison, 20who formerly were disobedient, when once the
Divine longsuffering waiteda in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which
a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21There is also an antitype which now
saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,† 22who has gone into
heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made
subject to Him.

                                     Crucifying Passions


4 Therefore, since Christ suffered for usa in the flesh, arm yourselves
                                                                †2
                                                                        also with the same
   mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,        that he no longer should
live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3For we have
spent enough of our past lifetimea in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in
lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4In
regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of
dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the
living and the dead. 6For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that
they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.†

                              Prepare for Heaven by Serving

  7But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.†
8And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of

sins.”a 9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10As each one has received a gift,
minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11If anyone speaks,
let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability
which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom
belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

                             Prepare for the End by Suffering

  12Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though

some strange thing happened to you;† 13but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's
sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14If you
are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests
upon you.a On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15But let none of
you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.
16Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this

matter.a

   17For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us

first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?† 18Now

    “ I f the righteous one is scarcely saved,

    Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” a

  19Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in
doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

                                                  Suffering as the Church


5 The  elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the
  sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:† 2Shepherd the
flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly,a not
for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being
examples to the flock;† 4and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of
glory that does not fade away.

  5Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be
submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

    “ God resists the proud,

    But gives grace to the humble.” a†

  6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due

time,ω 7casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

  8Be sober, be vigilant; becausea your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,

seeking whom he may devour.† 9Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same
sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10But maya the God of all grace,
who called usb to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect,
establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and
ever. Amen.
                                   Farewell and Greeting

  12By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly,
exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

  13She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.†
14Greet one another with a kiss of love.


  Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.†
                                       2 PE T E R
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1, 2, 3

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Verses in 2 Peter Chapter 1
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in 2 Peter Chapter 2
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in 2 Peter Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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                                                    The Second Book of Peter

     Author   —While the Orthodox Church is clear on the canonicity of 2 Peter, some modern
  scholars consider the letter to be pseudonymous, that is, written by someone else based
  on what Peter taught. However, internal evidence supports Peter's authorship.

     Date   —Given Peter's authorship, the date is likely AD 63–67, during Peter's
  imprisonment in Rome.

     Major Theme       —True knowledge versus false knowledge. Though the world disbelieves,
  deceives and mocks, Christians must maintain apostolic doctrine and an orthodox
  Christian way of life. We are to grow continually in holiness and virtue and pursue an
  entrance into “the everlasting kingdom” (1:11) which is to come.

     Background      —Of the 27 New Testament books, the canonicity of 2 Peter has been
  questioned most. However, there is unmistakable evidence it was known and used in
  the early Church, and its canonicity was settled in the fourth century.

  Peter apparently wrote his second epistle from Roman imprisonment. The people
addressed know the author (1:16) and seem to be Gentiles, former pagans, in territory
evangelized by Paul (2:18, 20–22; 3:15, 16).

  The Church has been infiltrated by gnostic-sounding, antinomian (lit., “against the law”)
teachers, who taught that faith saves apart from repentance, works, or virtue. They deny that
the Second Coming is a physical, historical event and that morality is irrelevant to salvation.
The whole Church is threatened, especially the new converts; some have already fallen away.

 Outline

   I. Greetings (1 :1 , 2 )

  II. True Knowledge Deifies Us (1 :3 –2 1 )

          A. Deification: partaking of God (1 :3 –1 1 )

          B. True knowledge of God (1 :1 2 –2 1 )

  III. False Knowledge Destroy s Us (2 :1 –2 2 )

          A. The m ethods of false teachers (2 :1 –3 )

          B. The end of false teachers (2 :4 –9 )

          C. The character of false teachers (2 :1 0–1 9 )
         D. The tragedy of apostasy (2 :2 0–2 2 )

 IV. The Doctrine at Issue: The Second Com ing (3 :1 –1 7 )

         A. Certainty of the Second Com ing brings com fort (3 :1 –1 0)

         B. Expectation of the Second Com ing produces v irtue (3 :1 1 –1 7 )

  V. Concluding Doxology (3 :1 8)



                                                                  Greeting


1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
  To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and
Savior Jesus Christ:†

                                             Partakers of the Divine Nature

  2Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,† 3as
His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the
knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,† 4by which have been given to us
exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the
divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.†

  5But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue

knowledge,† 6to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance
godliness, 7to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8For if these
things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of
our Lord Jesus Christ.† 9For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and
has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.†

  10Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you

do these things you will never stumble;ω 11for so an entrance will be supplied to you
abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.†

                                                               Pursue God

  12For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you

know and are established in the present truth. 13Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this
tent, to stir you up by reminding you,† 14knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as
our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always
have a reminder of these things after my decease.

                                     DEIFICATION

Deification is the ancient theological word used to describe the process by which a Christian
becomes more like God. St. Peter speaks of this process when he writes, “As His divine power
has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness . . . you may be partakers of the
divine nature” (1:3, 4).

  What does it mean to partake of the divine nature, and how do we experience this? To give
an answer, let us first address what deification is not, and then describe what it is.

  What deification is not. When the Church calls us to pursue godliness, to be more like God,
this does not mean that human beings become divine. We do not become like God in His
nature. That would not only be heresy, it would be impossible. For we are human, always
have been human, and always will be human. We cannot take on the nature of God.

  St. John of Damascus makes a remarkable observation. The word “God” in the Scriptures
refers not to the divine nature or essence, for that is unknowable. “God” refers rather to the
divine energies—the power and grace of God that we can perceive in this world. The Greek
word for God, theos, comes from a verb meaning “run,” “see,” or “burn.” These are energy
words, so to speak, not essence words.

  In John 10:34, Jesus, quoting Psalm 81:6, repeats the passage, “You are gods.” The fact that
He was speaking to a group of hypocritical religious leaders who were accusing Him of
blasphemy makes the meaning doubly clear: Jesus is not using “god” to refer to divine
nature. We are gods in that we bear His image, not His nature.

  What deification is. Deification means we are to become more like God through His grace
or divine energies. In creation, humans were made in the image and likeness of God (Gn
1:26) according to human nature. In other words, humanity by nature is an icon or image of
deity: The divine image is in all humanity. Through sin, however, this image and likeness of
God was marred, and we fell.

  When the Son of God assumed our humanity in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary, the
process of our being renewed in God’s image and likeness was begun. Thus, those who are
joined to Christ, through faith, in Holy Baptism begin a process of re-creation, being renewed
in God’s image and likeness. We become, as St. Peter writes, “partakers of the divine nature”
(1:4).

  Because of the Incarnation of the Son of God, because the fullness of God has inhabited
human flesh, being joined to Christ means that it is again possible to experience deification,
the fulfillment of our human destiny. That is, through union with Christ, we become by grace
what God is by nature—we “become children of God” (Jn 1:12). His deity interpenetrates our
humanity.

  Historically, deification has often been illustrated by the example of a sword in the fire. A
steel sword is thrust into a hot fire until the sword takes on a red glow. The energy of the fire
interpenetrates the sword. The sword never becomes fire, but it picks up the properties of
fire.

  By application, the divine energies interpenetrate the human nature of Christ. When we are
joined to Christ, our humanity is interpenetrated with the energies of God through Christ’s
glorified flesh. Nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ, we partake of the grace of God—
His strength, His righteousness, His love—and are enabled to serve Him and glorify Him.
Thus we, being human, are being deified.


                               The Apostles’ Report Is True

  16For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power

and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.† 17For He
received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the
Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18And we heard this
voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

                                   Interpreting Prophecy

  19And so we have the prophetic word confirmed,a which you do well to heed as a light that

shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;†
20knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,a 21for

prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of Goda spoke as they were moved by
the Holy Spirit.

                           The Deceptions of False Teachers


2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers
  among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who
bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.† 2And many will follow their
destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3By covetousness
they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle,
and their destruction doesa not slumber.

                              The Doom of False Teachers

  4For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered

them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;† 5and did not spare the ancient
world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood
on the world of the ungodly; 6and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes,
condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live
ungodly; 7and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
8(for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to

day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9then the Lord knows how to deliver the
godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of
judgment,

                            The Depravity of False Teachers

  10and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and
despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of
dignitaries, 11whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling
accusation against them before the Lord.

  12But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the

things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,† 13and will
receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the
daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast
with you, 14having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable
souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15They
have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor,
who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb
donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

  17These are wells without water, cloudsa carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the

blackness of darkness forever.b

                                 The Tragedy of Apostasy

  18For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of

the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escapeda from those who live in
error. 19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by
whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.† 20For if, after they
have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than
the beginning. 21For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of
righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
22But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own

vomit,”a and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

                                  Where Is His Coming?


3 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds
  by way of reminder), 2that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by
the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us,a the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
3knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own

lusts, 4and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all
things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”† 5For this they willfully forget:
that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in
the water, 6by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7But the
heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until
the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

  8But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand
years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as
some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,a not willing that any should perish but
that all should come to repentance.†

                                    Purified by Waiting

  10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass
away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the
works that are in it will be burned up.a† 11Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved,
what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12looking for and
hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved,
being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to
His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.†

                            The Truth of Apostolic Teaching

  14Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in

peace, without spot and blameless; 15and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is
salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has
written to you,† 16as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are
some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own
destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.†

  17You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from

your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;† 18but grow in the grace
and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

  To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
                                       1 J O HN
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Verses in 1 John Chapter 2
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in 1 John Chapter 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in 1 John Chapter 4
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in 1 John Chapter 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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                                                      The First Book of John

   Author   —John the Apostle (author of the Gospel of John). First John is so similar to the
Gospel of John in language, style, and theology that few have ever disputed that the two
books were written by the same man.

   Date   —The letter cannot be dated with certainty. Its similarity to John's Gospel, the
presence among the recipients of a Christianized form of gnosticism, and the apparent
age of its author suggest a time late in John's life, about the same time as he wrote his
gospel (AD 90–95).

   Major Theme      —Tests of true Christian life. Jesus Christ, the Incarnate God, reveals the
light (1:5–7), love (4:7–11), and life (5:11–13) of the Father, as contrasted with the
darkness (1:6), hatred (2:9–11), and death (5:12) of the present world. First John is a
commentary on the reality of baptism, chrismation, and the Eucharist in our lives.
Subthemes include:

1 . Our com m union with God and with each other

2 . The close relationship of faith, lov e, obedience, and life

3 . The close relationship between lov e of God and lov e of others

4 . The crucial im portance of holding true faith

5. A stark, eschatological contrast between the children of God and the children of the world


   Background      —First John is a polemic against two identifiable groups: (a) false teachers
with a gnostic bent; and (b) former members of the Church who were a threat to the
faith of those remaining (2:27; 3:7). The polemic is mostly pastoral and positive, to
protect God's people. While the addressee is not mentioned, this may be an encyclical to
John's diocese of Asia.

Outline

 I. Introduction: The Apostolic Witness to the Incarnation (1 :1 –4 )

II. Liv e in the Light (1 :5–2 :2 7 )

        A. Walk in the light of confessed sin (1 :5–2 :2 )

        B. Keep Christ's com m ands of lov e (2 :3 –1 7 )

        C. Rem ain in the true teaching about Christ (2 :1 8–2 7 )

III. Liv e as God's Children (2 :2 8–4 :6 )
          A. Be righteous (2 :2 8–3 :9 )

          B. Lov e one another (3 :1 0–2 4 )

          C. Confess that Jesus is God in the flesh (4 :1 –6 )

  IV. Liv e in Lov e and Faith (4 :7 –5:1 3 )

          A. God's lov e becom es our lov e (4 :7 –5:3 )

          B. Faith brings strength and life (5:4 –1 3 )

  V. Sum m ary : Liv e in God (5:1 4 –2 1 )

          A. Pray according to God's will (5:1 4 –1 7 )

          B. Separate from sin and ev il (5:1 8, 1 9 )

          C. Liv e in Jesus Christ (5:2 0, 2 1 )



                                                   Introduction: The Incarnation


1 That  which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our
  eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of
life—† 2the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that
eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—† 3that which we have seen
and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our
fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.† 4And these things we write to
you that youra joy may be full.††

                                                   Walk in the Light: Confession

  5This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light

and in Him is no darkness at all.† 6If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in
darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.† 7But if we walk in the light as He is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us
from all sin.

  8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we
confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is
not in us.

                                              Keep God's Commandments of Love
2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins,
  we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2And He Himself is the
propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

  3Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.† 4He who says,
“I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that

we are in Him. 6He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

                                     CONFESSION

Perhaps the most misunderstood sacrament of the Christian Church is confession. How did it
originate? What role does a priest play? Is there a special procedure for confession? The
Scriptures hold answers to these questions.

  Concerning our sins, God’s Word gives a marvelous promise: “If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1:9). The
faithful are to bring their sins to God in repentance and receive cleansing and forgiveness.

  The early Christian community had a specific practice in this regard. People would stand
and confess their sins to God in the presence of the whole congregation! Had not Jesus
encouraged His followers to walk in the light together, to confront problems corporately, to
“tell it to the church” (Mt 18:17)? Thus, James writes, “Confess your trespasses to one
another” (Jam 5:16). But as time went on and the Church grew in numbers, strangers came to
visit and public confession became more difficult. Out of mercy, priests began to witness
confessions of sin privately on behalf of the Church.

  Jesus gave His disciples the authority to forgive sin. “If you forgive the sins of any, they are
forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (Jn 20:23; see also Mt 16:19).
From the beginning, Christians understood that the grace of ordination endowed the
shepherd of the flock with the discernment and compassion to speak the words of remission
on behalf of Christ regarding the sins of those who confess and turn from sin. For God has
promised to remove sin from us “as far as the east is from the west” (Ps 102:12).

  “You did not choose Me,” Jesus told the Twelve, “but I chose you and appointed [ordained]
you” (Jn 15:16). To these same disciples He promised, “It is not you who speak, but the Holy
Spirit” (Mk 13:11). Whom God calls, He equips. Paul writes to Timothy, “Stir up the gift of
God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2Ti 1:6). It is the grace of the Holy
Spirit that enables the priest to serve God and the people.

  Thus, the Church has encouraged her faithful: If you know you have committed a specific
sin, do not hide it but confess it before coming to the Holy Eucharist. St. Paul wrote, “Let a
man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1Co 11:28), and
“If we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged” (1Co 11:31).

  King David learned a lesson regarding his sin that is recorded for our benefit. For about a
year, he had hidden his sins of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband (2Kg
11:1—12:13). Then, confronted by Nathan the prophet, David repented from his heart and
confessed his sin in a psalm that is used for general confession to this day (Ps 50). The joy of
salvation was restored to him.

  People ask, “Can’t I confess to God privately?” Certainly, though there is no clear biblical
basis for it. Even general confession occurs in the Church. In His mercy, God provides the
sacrament of confession (more properly called the sacrament of repentance) to give us
deliverance from sin and from what psychologists call denial. It is easy to pray in isolation yet
never come clean. It is far more effective to confess aloud to God before a priest and benefit
from his guidance and help.

  Thus, we come before the holy icon of Christ, to whom we confess, and are guided by our
spiritual father in a cleansing inventory of our lives. When we tell God all, naming our sins
and failures, we hear those glorious words of freedom that announce Christ’s promise of
forgiveness of all our sins. We resolve to “go and sin no more” (Jn 8:11).


  7Brethren,a I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you
have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the
beginning.b 8Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in
you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

  9He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10He who

loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11But he who
hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going,
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
    12
     I write to y ou, little children,

    Because y our sins are forgiv en y ou for His nam e's sake. †

    13
     I write to y ou, fathers,

    Because y ou hav e known Him who is from the beginning.

    I write to y ou, y oung m en,

    Because y ou hav e ov ercom e the wicked one.

    I write to y ou, little children,

    Because y ou hav e known the Father.

    14
         I hav e written to y ou, fathers,

    Because y ou hav e known Him who is from the beginning.

    I hav e written to y ou, y oung m en,

    Because y ou are strong, and the word of God abides in y ou,

    And y ou hav e ov ercom e the wicked one.

  15Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of

the Father is not in him.† 16For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.† 17And the world is passing
away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

                                                    The Truth: Jesus Is God

  18Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that thea Antichrist is coming,

even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.† 19They
went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have
continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them
were of us.†

  20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.a† 21I have not
written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is
of the truth.

  22Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the

Father and the Son.† 23Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who
acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

  24Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard
from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.† 25And
this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

  26These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27But the
anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone
teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not
a lie, and just as it has taught you, you willa abide in Him.

                           Practice Righteousness: Do Not Sin

  28And now, little children, abide in Him, that whena He appears, we may have confidence

and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29If you know that He is righteous, you know
that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.


3 Behold  what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called
  children of God!a Therefore the world does not know us,b because it did not know Him.†
2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but

we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.† 3And
everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

  4Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.† 5And you know

that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6Whoever abides in
Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

 7Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as

He is righteous. 8He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
9Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin,
because he has been born of God.

                                     Love One Another

  10In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not

practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11For this is the
message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12not as Cain
who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because
his works were evil and his brother's righteous.†

  13Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed

from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brothera abides in
death. 15Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has
eternal life abiding in him.†

  16By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay

down our lives for the brethren. 17But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in
need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

  18My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19And by

this we knowa that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20For if our
heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21Beloved, if our
heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22And whatever we ask we
receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing
in His sight. 23And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son
Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave usa commandment.

  24Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we
know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

                         The Spirit's Witness: The Incarnation


4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because
  many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you know the Spirit of God:
Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3and every spirit
that does not confess thata Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the
spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.†

  4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is

greater than he who is in the world. 5They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the
world, and the world hears them. 6We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not
of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.†
                                 God Redeems Us in Love

  7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God

and knows God.† 8He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9In this the love
of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world,
that we might live through Him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us
and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.† 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also
ought to love one another.

                                     God Abides in Us

  12No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love

has been perfected in us.†ω 13By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because
He has given us of His Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son
as Savior of the world. 15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him,
and he in God. 16And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love,
and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

                                  Love Overcomes Fear

  17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of

judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect
love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made
perfect in love. 19We love Hima because He first loved us.

                             Love of God Means Love of Others

  20If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not

love his brother whom he has seen, how cana he love God whom he has not seen? 21And this
commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

                                Faith Overcomes the World


5 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him
  who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.† 2By this we know that we love the
children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3For this is the love of
God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.† 4For
whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the
world—oura faith. 5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is
the Son of God?

                                  God Validates Our Faith

  6This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water

and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.† 7For there are
three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three
are one. 8And there are three that bear witness on earth:a the Spirit, the water, and the blood;
and these three agree as one.

                                 Faith Brings Eternal Life

 9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of

God whicha He has testified of His Son. 10He who believes in the Son of God has the witness
in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the
testimony that God has given of His Son. 11And this is the testimony: that God has given us
eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have
the Son of God does not have life. 13These things I have written to you who believe in the
name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,a and that you may
continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.†

                                Pray According to God's Will

  14Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His

will, He hears us. 15And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have
the petitions that we have asked of Him.

  16If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He
will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to
death. I do not say that he should pray about that.† 17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is
sin not leading to death.

                                     Separate from Sin
  18We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God

keeps himself,a and the wicked one does not touch him.

  19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

                                      Live in Christ

  20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we
may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is
the true God and eternal life.

  21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.†
                                       2 J O HN
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Chapters in 2 John
Introduction

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Verses in 2 John Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13

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                                                       The Second Book of John

     Author   —John the Apostle. Although some in the third and fourth centuries doubted
  John's authorship, the early witnesses favor John and express no alternative.

     Date   —There is no firm evidence for fixing a date. The epistle's similarities to the Gospel
  of John, 1 John and 3 John suggest a date of composition close to that of these other
  books (AD 90–95).

     Major Theme       —Tests of true Christian care. The love of our Incarnate God brings
  promised victory over the antichrist.

     Background     —The epistle is addressed to “the elect lady” (v. 1), most likely a church under
  John's oversight. The Church, a feminine word in Greek, elsewhere is called the “bride”
  of Christ the Lord (kyrios), and thus she is easily called kyria, the feminine of kyrios.

      John is warning his readers against the “deceivers” (v. 7), heretics who deny the
  Incarnation of the Son of God. These false apostles visited various churches, posing as
  true disciples and taking advantage of Christian hospitality.

 Outline

   I. Greeting and Benediction (v v . 1 –3 )

  II. Follow the Law of Lov e (v v . 4 –6 )

  III. Beware of Deceiv ing Heretics (v v . 7 –1 1 )

 IV. John's Plans and Farewell (v v . 1 2 , 1 3 )



                                                       Greeting and Benediction

  1The Elder,

 To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those
who have known the truth,† 2because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us
forever:

  3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with youa from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus

Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.†
                                  Follow the Law of Love

  4I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received

commandment from the Father.† 5And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a
new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one
another. 6This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the
commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

                              Beware of Deceiving Heretics

  7For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as

coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.† 8Look to yourselves, that wea do
not lose those things we worked for, but that web may receive a full reward.

 9Whoever transgressesa and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He

who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.† 10If anyone comes to
you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;† 11for
he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

                                John's Plans and Farewell

  12Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I
hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

  13The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.†
                                       3 J O HN
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Chapters in 3 John
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Verses in 3 John Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14

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                                                   The Third Book of John

   Author   —Third John has the same author as 2 John. The language and style are the
same. Both are closely related to 1 John and both are written by “the Elder,” a name by
which John the Apostle was known in Asia Minor in his old age.

   Date   —As with 2 John, there is no firm evidence for fixing a date. It is probable that all
of John's letters were written about the same time (AD 90–95).

   Major Theme        —Genuine leadership versus false leadership. Third John exhorts the
Church to persevere in the true faith which they have received. True Christian leaders
will adhere to that faith and respect those who passed it on to them.

   Background      —One of the churches under John's oversight is having a jurisdictional
dispute. Evangelists sent out by John have reported back to their home church,
probably Ephesus, testifying that Gaius—full of love and loyalty—had liberally
supported their mission. On the other hand, Diotrephes, apparently the local bishop or
aspiring to be so, has vigorously opposed them and lorded over the church instead of
leading it. He was resistant to apostolic oversight (v. 9) and forbade the welcoming of
missionaries from John. It may be that Demetrius (v. 12) is another missionary whom
John is intending to send that way and who also will be in need of hospitality. Thus,
John writes to Diotrephes’ church, but he does not trust Diotrephes with his letter (v.
9).

Outline

 I. Greeting to Gaius (v v . 1 –4 )

II. Com m endation of Gaius (v v . 5–8)

III. Condem nation of Diotrephes (v v . 9 –1 1 )

IV. Recom m endation of Dem etrius (v . 1 2 )

V. Farewell (v v . 1 3 , 1 4 )



                                                     Greeting to Gaius

1The Elder,


To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth:†
  2Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul

prospers. 3For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you,
just as you walk in the truth.† 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in
truth.a

                                 Commendation of Gaius

  5Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren anda for strangers,† 6who
have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey
in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, 7because they went forth for His name's sake,
taking nothing from the Gentiles.† 8We therefore ought to receivea such, that we may
become fellow workers for the truth.†

                               Condemnation of Diotrephes

  9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them,

does not receive us.† 10Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does,
prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not
receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

  11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, buta
he who does evil has not seen God.

                             Recommendation of Demetrius

  12Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear

witness, and you know that our testimony is true.†

                                           Farewell

  13I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; 14but I
hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face.

  Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
                                       J UDE
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Chapters in Jude
Introduction

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Verses in Jude Chapter 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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                                                         The Book of Jude

   Author   —Jude, a relative of Jesus (called the “brother” of the Lord in Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3)
and the brother of James the Just. This is not the Jude who was one of the Twelve, also
called Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus (v. 17; see Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:16; Acts 1:13).

   Date   —The date of the letter is uncertain, but sometime in the period AD 60–80 seems
reasonable.

   Major Theme      —Contending earnestly for the faith. Jude is a polemic directed against false
teachers within the Church who are jeopardizing the salvation of many. Jude bases his
attack on examples from the Old Testament and the tradition of God dealing harshly
with those who assault His people.

   Background      —To whom Jude writes is difficult to discern. Some scholars have suggested
that the addressees are Christians from a Hellenistic Jewish background. The heresy
Jude opposes seems to be an early form of gnosticism. These heretics are still members
of the Church (vv. 4, 12, 22, 23), carrying on an aggressive campaign of propaganda and
subversion. Jude's mode of attack is more ad hominem, that is, a censure of persons,
than theological: We will know them by their fruits, he says. These heretics are
obviously bad trees; they are not to be honored with a theological rebuttal.

Outline

 I. Greeting (v v . 1 , 2 )

 II. The Presence of False Teachers (v v . 3 , 4 )

III. The Judgm ent of Such False Teachers (v v . 5–7 )

IV. The Character of False Teachers (v v . 8–1 6 )

V. Resistance to False Teachers (v v . 1 7 –2 3 )

VI. Doxology (v v . 2 4 , 2 5)



                                                             Greeting

1Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,


To those who are called, sanctifieda by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:†
  2Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

                             The Presence of False Teachers

  3Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I
found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was
once for all delivered to the saints.† 4For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago
were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into
lewdness and deny the only Lord Goda and our Lord Jesus Christ.†

                         The Judgment of Such False Teachers

  5But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the

people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.† 6And the
angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in
everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7as Sodom and
Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves
over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering
the vengeance of eternal fire.

                             The Character of False Teachers

  8Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of

dignitaries.† 9Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed
about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The
Lord rebuke you!”† 10But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they
know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.† 11Woe to them!
For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and
perished in the rebellion of Korah.†

  12These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only

themselves. They are clouds without water, carried abouta by the winds; late autumn trees
without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;† 13raging waves of the sea, foaming up their
own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.†

  14Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold,
the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,† 15to execute judgment on all, to convict all
who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an
ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

                                                Resistance to False Teachers

  16These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth

great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.† 17But you, beloved, remember the
words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18how they told
you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own
ungodly lusts. 19These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.†

  20But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy

Spirit,† 21keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
unto eternal life.

  22And on some have compassion, making a distinction;a 23but others save with fear,

pulling them out of the fire,a hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

                                                                  Doxology

    24
         Now to Him who is able to keep y ou a from stum bling,

    And to present you faultless

    Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy , †

    25
     To God our Sav ior, a

    Who alone is wise, b

    Be glory and m ajesty ,

    Dom inion and power, c

    Both now and forev er.

    Am en.
                                         RE V E L AT IO N
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 1
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 2
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21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 3
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21, 22

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 4
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11

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 5
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11, 12, 13, 14

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 6
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 7
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 8
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11, 12, 13

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 9
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21

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 10
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11

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 11
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Verses in Revelation Chapter 12
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 13
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 14
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 15
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Verses in Revelation Chapter 16
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 17
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 18
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 19
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 20
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

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Verses in Revelation Chapter 22
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

21

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                                    The Book of the Revelation

  Author   —Traditionally, the Revelation (also called the Apocalypse) has been attributed
to the apostle John.

  Date   —The vast majority of scholars hold that Revelation was composed during the
fierce persecution in the latter part of the reign of Domitian (AD 81–96), when John
was in exile on the Isle of Patmos.

  Major Theme       —Faithfulness in tribulation. “Revelation” (Gr. apokalypsis) means the
uncovering of something that has been previously hidden, in this case the final triumph
of the kingdom of God. Since this final triumph is assured, our faithfulness now—
before its full revelation—will lead to ultimate victory. Subthemes include (1) divine
judgment of human wickedness and (2) the symbolic presentation of most major New
Testament teaching concerning eschatology, the study of the last things.

  Background      —The early Church was convinced the Second Coming was near (Acts 2:16,
17; Heb 1:1; 1Jn 2:18). John's vision was first of all a reminder from God to the churches
not to give in to their adversaries, but to hold fast to their faith. The book can also be
seen as prophecy addressing a time far distant from its era of composition, predicting
actual future events; or as an exposition of the ongoing relationships and conflicts
between God and His kingdom, humanity, and Satan. These three approaches are not
contradictory but complementary; all are valid.

  While seen as canonical and inspired by God, the Revelation is the only New
Testament book not publicly read in the services of the Orthodox Church. This is partly
because the book was only gradually accepted as canonical in many parts of
Christendom. In addition, in the second and third centuries Revelation was widely
twisted and sensationally misinterpreted, and the erroneous teachings brought
troublesome confusion to Christians—a trend that continues to this day.

Outline

I. Prologue (1 :1 –3 :2 2 )

       A. Introduction (1 :1 –3 )

       B. Greeting (1 :4 –8)
          C. John's v ision of the Son of Man (1 :9 –2 0)

          D. The sev en letters (2 :1 –3 :2 2 )

  II. Warnings of the Com ing Judgm ent (4 :1 –1 6 :2 1 )

          A. The sev en seals (4 :1 –8:1 )

          B. The sev en trum pets (8:2 –1 4 :2 0)

          C. The sev en bowls (1 5:1 –1 6 :2 1 )

  III. The Judgm ent of Baby lon, the Beast, and Satan (1 7 :1 –2 0:1 5)

          A. Baby lon destroy ed by a great angel (1 7 :1 –1 9 :1 0)

          B. Powers of ev il destroy ed (1 9 :1 1 –2 0:1 0)

          C. The Last Judgm ent (2 0:1 1 –1 5)

  IV. The New Order (2 1 :1 –2 2 :5)

          A. A new creation: heav en, earth, and city (2 1 :1 –8)

          B. The New Jerusalem : bride of the Lam b (2 1 :9 –2 2 :5)

  V. Conclusion (2 2 :6 –2 1 )



                                                      Introduction and Blessing


1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which
  must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,†
2who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that

he saw.† 3Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep
those things which are written in it; for the time is near.†

                                                   Greeting to the Seven Churches

  4John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:

  Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the
seven Spirits who are before His throne,† 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the
firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.

  To Him who loved us and washeda us from our sins in His own blood,† 6and has made us
kingsa and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.
Amen.†

  7Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.
And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

  8“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,”a says the Lord,b “who is and

who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”†

                            Vision and Commission of Christ

  9I, John, botha your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience
of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the
testimony of Jesus Christ.b 10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a
loud voice, as of a trumpet,† 11saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the
Last,”a and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in
Asia:b to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to
Laodicea.”†

  12Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden

lampstands, 13and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed
with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.† 14His head
and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;† 15His feet
were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;†
16He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and

His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.† 17And when I saw Him, I fell at
His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me,a “Do not be afraid; I am the
First and the Last.† 18I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19Writea the things which you have seen,
and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.† 20The mystery of
the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven
stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you sawa are the
seven churches.†

                                    Ephesus: Loveless


2 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
  ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst
of the seven golden lampstands:† 2“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that
you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and
are not, and have found them liars;† 3and you have persevered and have patience, and have
labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. 4Nevertheless I have this against
you, that you have left your first love. 5Remember therefore from where you have fallen;
repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand
from its place—unless you repent. 6But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the
Nicolaitans, which I also hate.†

  7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who
overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”
’†

                                     Smyrna: Persecuted

  8“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,


  ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:† 9“I know your
works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who
say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.† 10Do not fear any of those
things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into
prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown of life.†

  11“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes
shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

                                   Pergamos: Compromising

  12“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,


  ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:† 13“I know your works, and
where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My
faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you,
where Satan dwells.† 14But I have a few things against you, because you have there those
who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the
children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.† 15Thus
you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.a 16Repent,
or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.†

  17“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who
overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and
on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’†

                                                          Thyatira: Corrupt

  18“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,

  ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine
brass:† 19“I know your works, love, service, faith,a and your patience; and as for your works,
the last are more than the first. 20Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you
allowa that womanb Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seducec My
servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.† 21And I gave her
time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.a 22Indeed I will cast her into
a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent
of theira deeds.† 23I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I
am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to
your works.

  24“Now to you I say, anda to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who

have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I willb put on you no other burden.† 25But
hold fast what you have till I come. 26And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the
end, to him I will give power over the nations—

    27
     ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;

    They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels’ a—


  as I also have received from My Father; 28and I will give him the morning star.†

  29“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

                                                               Sardis: Dead
3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
 ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your
works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.† 2Be watchful, and
strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works
perfect before God.a† 3Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and
repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know
what hour I will come upon you. 4Youa have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled
their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.† 5He who
overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book
of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.†

  6“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

                                  Philadelphia: Faithful

  7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

  ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who
opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:a† 8“I know your works. See, I have set
before you an open door, and no one can shut it;a for you have a little strength, have kept My
word, and have not denied My name.† 9Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan,
who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before
your feet, and to know that I have loved you.† 10Because you have kept My command to
persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world,
to test those who dwell on the earth.† 11Behold,a I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you
have, that no one may take your crown. 12He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the
temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and
the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from
My God. And I will write on him My new name.†

  13“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

                                   Laodicea: Lukewarm

  14“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceansa write,
  ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation
of God:† 15“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold
or hot.† 16So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,a I will vomit you out
of My mouth. 17Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of
nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—† 18I
counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white
garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed;
and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone
hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with
Me.† 21To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame
and sat down with My Father on His throne.†

  22“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

                          Heavenly Temple, Heavenly Worship


4 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first
  voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I
will show you things which must take place after this.”†

  2Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the

throne.† 3And He who sat there wasa like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and
there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4Around the throne
were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in
white robes; and they had crownsa of gold on their heads.† 5And from the throne proceeded
lightnings, thunderings, and voices.a Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne,
which are theb seven Spirits of God.

                              LITURGY IN THE NEW
                              TESTAMENT CHURCH

  Virtually all students of the Bible realize there was liturgical worship in Israel. Immediately
after the giving of the Ten Commandments (Ex 20:1–17), instructions for building the altar
were set forth (Ex 20:24–26). Then comes instruction concerning keeping the Sabbath (Ex
23:10–13), the annual feasts (Ex 23:14–19), and the various offerings and furnishings in the
sanctuary (Ex 25:1–40). Following this, chapters 26—30 deal with such matters as the design
of the tabernacle, the altar, and the outer court, the priests’ vestments and their consecration,
and instructions for daily offerings.

  Liturgical worship is also found in heaven, which is to be expected, since God instructed
Moses to make the earthly place of worship as a “copy and shadow of the heavenly things”

  (Heb 8:5; see Ex 25:40). Heavenly worship is revealed in such passages as Isaiah 6:1–8,
where we see the prophet caught up to heaven for the liturgy, and Revelation 4, which
records the apostle John’s vision of heaven’s liturgy.

  The key to comprehending liturgy in the New Testament is to understand the work of the
High Priest, our Lord Jesus Christ, who inaugurates the new covenant. Christ is “a priest
forever” (Heb 7:17, 21). It is unthinkable that He would be a priest but not serve liturgically:

  “forever” suggests He serves continually, without ceasing, in the heavenly tabernacle.
Further, He is called not only a priest but a liturgist: “a Minister [Gr. leitourgos, lit.,
“liturgist”) of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected” (Heb 8:2).
Christian worship on earth, to be fully Christian, must mirror the worship of Christ in
heaven.

  Moreover, Christ is “Mediator of a better covenant” (Heb 8:6). What is that covenant? In
the words of the Lord, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood” (1Co 11:25). Just as the
blood of bulls and goats in the old covenant prefigured Christ’s sacrifice to come, so the
eucharistic feast brings to us the fullness of His new covenant offering, completed at the
Cross and fulfilled in His Resurrection. This once-for-all offering of Himself (Heb 7:27)
which He as High Priest presents at the heavenly altar is an offering in which we participate
through the Divine Liturgy in the Church. This is the worship of the New Testament Church!

  Given this biblical background, a number of New Testament passages take on new
meaning.

  1 Acts 13:2: “As they ministered to the Lord [lit., “as they were in the liturgy of the Lord”]
and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul.’ ” We learn that (a)
these two apostles were called by God during worship, and (b) the Holy Spirit speaks in a
liturgical setting.
  2 Acts 20:7: “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break
bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them.” Communion was held each Sunday.

  3 Romans 16:16: “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” A kiss of greeting was common in
this ancient culture. The “holy kiss,” however, was an element of the Christian liturgy that
signified the people of God were reconciled to one another, so that they might receive the
Body and Blood of Christ in peace.

  4 Ephesians 5:14: “Awake, you who sleep, / Arise from the dead, / And Christ will give you
light.” This is an ancient baptismal hymn, already in use by the time Ephesians was written.
Other examples of creeds and hymns of New Testament times are seen in 1 Timothy 3:16 and
2 Timothy 2:11–13.

  5 Hebrews 13:10: “We have an altar” reveals the continuation of the altar in New
Testament worship.

  6 Revelation 1:10: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.” Many scholars believe John saw
his vision of Christ during the Sunday liturgy, as the Lord appeared to him “in the midst of
the seven lampstands” (Rev 1:13). Lampstands would be found in the Christian sanctuary just
as they were in the Hebrew temple.


  6Before the throne there wasa a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne,

and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.† 7The first
living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature
had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8The four living
creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest
day or night, saying:

    “Holy , holy , holy , a

    Lord God Alm ighty ,

    Who was and is and is to com e!” †

  9Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the

throne, who lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on
the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the
throne, saying:†
    11
     “You are worthy , O Lord, a

    To receiv e glory and honor and power;

    For You created all things,

    And by Your will they exist b and were created.” †

                                                  The Lamb Opens the Scroll


5 And  I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on
  the back, sealed with seven seals.† 2Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud
voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”† 3And no one in heaven or on
the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

   4So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and reada the scroll, or to look

at it. 5But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah,
the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loosea its seven seals.”

  6And I looked, and behold,a in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and
in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and
seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.† 7Then He came
and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

  8Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders
fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are
the prayers of the saints.† 9And they sang a new song, saying:

    “You are worthy to take the scroll,

    And to open its seals;

    For You were slain,

    And hav e redeem ed us to God by Your blood

    Out of ev ery tribe and tongue and people and nation, †

    10
         And hav e m ade usa kingsb and priests to our God;

    And wec shall reign on the earth.”

  11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living
creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and
thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice:

    “Worthy is the Lam b who was slain
    To receiv e power and riches and wisdom ,

    And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

  13And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as
are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

    “Blessing and honor and glory and power

    Be to Him who sits on the throne,

    And to the Lam b, forev er and ev er!” a

 14Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-foura elders fell down and

worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.b

                                                 Seal One: The Conqueror

    Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals;a and I heard one of the four living
6
    creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.”† 2And I looked, and behold, a
white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out
conquering and to conquer.†

                                                Seal Two: Conflict on Earth

  3When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and

see.”a† 4Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take
peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a
great sword.

                                               Seal Three: Scarcity on Earth

  5When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I

looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.† 6And
I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quarta of wheat for a
denarius,b and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

                                               Seal Four: Widespread Death

  7When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying,

“Come and see.”† 8So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it
was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the
earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

                                Seal Five: Cry of the Martyrs

   9When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been

slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.† 10And they cried with a
loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on
those who dwell on the earth?” 11Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was
said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow
servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

                              Seal Six: Cosmic Disturbances

  12I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold,a there was a great earthquake; and

the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moonb became like blood.† 13And the
stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty
wind. 14Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island
was moved out of its place. 15And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the
commanders,a the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves
and in the rocks of the mountains, 16and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and
hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17For
the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

                                      Angels Visit Earth


7 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the
  four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any
tree.† 2Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God.
And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth
and the sea, 3saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the
servants of our God on their foreheads.” † 4And I heard the number of those who were
sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were
sealed:†

                                   Sealing God's Servants
    5
    of the tribe of Judah twelv e thousand were sealed;a

    of the tribe of Reuben twelv e thousand were sealed;

    of the tribe of Gad twelv e thousand were sealed;

    6
        of the tribe of Asher twelv e thousand were sealed;

    of the tribe of Naphtali twelv e thousand were sealed;

    of the tribe of Manasseh twelv e thousand were sealed;

    7
    of the tribe of Sim eon twelv e thousand were sealed;

    of the tribe of Lev i twelv e thousand were sealed;

    of the tribe of Issachar twelv e thousand were sealed;

    8
        of the tribe of Zebulun twelv e thousand were sealed;

    of the tribe of Joseph twelv e thousand were sealed;

    of the tribe of Benjam in twelv e thousand were sealed.

                                              Final Ingathering and Worship

  9After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of
all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb,
clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,† 10and crying out with a loud
voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11All
the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on
their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying:

    “Am en! Blessing and glory and wisdom ,

    Thanksgiv ing and honor and power and m ight,

    Be to our God forev er and ev er.

    Am en.”

  13Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes,
and where did they come from?”

  14And I said to him, “Sir,a you know.”

  So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore they are before the
throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne
will dwell among them.† 16They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun
shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will
shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.a And God will wipe away every
tear from their eyes.”

                           Seal Seven: Prelude to the Trumpets

    When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.†
8   2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven

trumpets.† 3Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was
given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden
altar which was before the throne.† 4And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the
saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand. 5Then the angel took the censer, filled it
with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings,
lightnings, and an earthquake.†

  6So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.†

                              Trumpet One: Vegetation Struck

  7The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were

thrown to the earth.a And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned
up.†

                              Trumpet Two: The Seas Struck

  8Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire

was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.† 9And a third of the living
creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

                          Trumpet Three: Fresh Waters Struck

   10Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and

it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.† 11The name of the star is
Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water,
because it was made bitter.

                           Trumpet Four: The Heavens Struck
  12Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon,
and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not
shine, and likewise the night.†

  13And I looked, and I heard an angela flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a
loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of
the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

                          Trumpet Five, Woe One: The Locusts


9 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him
  was given the key to the bottomless pit.† 2And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke
arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened
because of the smoke of the pit. 3Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to
them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.† 4They were commanded
not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do
not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5And they were not given authority to kill them,
but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when
it strikes a man.† 6In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to
die, and death will flee from them.

  7The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns

of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.† 8They had hair like
women's hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9And they had breastplates like
breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many
horses running into battle. 10They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their
tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. 11And they had as king over them the angel
of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name
Apollyon.†

  12One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.

                          Trumpet Six, Woe Two: The Plagues

  13Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar
which is before God,† 14saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four
angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15So the four angels, who had been
prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.
16Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the

number of them. 17And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had
breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were
like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone.† 18By these
three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone
which came out of their mouths. 19For their powera is in their mouth and in their tails; for
their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.

  20But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the
works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass,
stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.† 21And they did not repent of their
murders or their sorceriesa or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

                                 Mighty Angel, Little Book


10 Irainbow
      saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a
              was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.† 2He
had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the
land, † 3and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders
uttered their voices.† 4Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices,a I was about to
write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me,b “Seal up the things which the seven
thunders uttered, and do not write them.”

  5The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his handa to heaven†
6and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in
it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there
should be delay no longer, 7but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is
about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the
prophets.

                                     John Eats the Book
  8Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little

book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”†

  9So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.”

  And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as
sweet as honey in your mouth.”

  10Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey

in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11And hea said to me, “You
must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

                                    The Two Witnesses


11 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood,†a2saying, “Rise and
     measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.       But leave out the
court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles.
And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3And I will give power to
my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed
in sackcloth.”†

  4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the Goda of the

earth.† 5And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their
enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.† 6These have
power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power
over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they
desire.

 7When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will

make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.† 8And their dead bodies will lie in the
street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also oura Lord was
crucified.† 9Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead
bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allowa their dead bodies to be put into graves.† 10And
those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one
another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
  11Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they

stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.† 12And theya heard a loud
voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud,
and their enemies saw them. 13In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of
the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid
and gave glory to the God of heaven.

  14The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

                                   Trumpet Seven: The Kingdom Proclaimed

  15Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The

kingdomsa of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He
shall reign forever and ever!”† 16And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their
thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God,† 17saying:

    “We giv e You thanks, O Lord God Alm ighty ,

    The One who is and who was and who is to com e, a

    Because You hav e taken Your great power and reigned.

    18
         The nations were angry , and Your wrath has com e,

    And the tim e of the dead, that they should be judged,

    And that You should reward Your serv ants the prophets and the saints,

    And those who fear Your nam e, sm all and great,

    And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

  19Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenanta was seen in
His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

                                     The Woman, Her Child and the Dragon


12 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon
   under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.† 2Then being with child, she
cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

                                                              The Child

  3And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads
and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.† 4His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven
and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give
birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5She bore a male Child who was to rule all
nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.† 6Then the
woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed
her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.†

                                      War in Heaven

  7And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the

dragon and his angels fought,† 8but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for thema in
heaven any longer. 9So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and
Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out
with him.

  10Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the
kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren,
who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11And they overcame
him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their
lives to the death. 12Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the
inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath,
because he knows that he has a short time.”

                                       War on Earth

 13Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman

who gave birth to the male Child.† 14But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle,
that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and
times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15So the serpent spewed water out of
his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the
flood. 16But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up
the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17And the dragon was enraged with
the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the
commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.a†
                               The Beast Against the Saints

     Then Ia stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having
13
     seven heads and ten horns,b and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a
blasphemous name.† 2Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the
feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his
throne, and great authority. 3And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded,
and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4So
they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast,
saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”†

  5And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given

authority to continuea for forty-two months.† 6Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy
against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.† 7It was
granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given
him over every tribe,a tongue, and nation. 8All who dwell on the earth will worship him,
whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world.

  9If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he
who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of
the saints.†

                                       The Deception

  11Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb

and spoke like a dragon.† 12And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his
presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose
deadly wound was healed. 13He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down
from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.† 14And he deceives thosea who dwell on the
earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who
dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
15He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast
should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be
killed. 16He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark
on their right hand or on their foreheads,† 17and that no one may buy or sell except one who
has the mark ora the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

  18Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it

is the number of a man: His number is 666.†

                                The Lamb and the 144,000


14 Then I looked, and behold, aa Lamb standing
                                           b
                                               on Mount Zion, and with Him one
     hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their
foreheads.† 2And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the
voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.† 3They sang as it
were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no
one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed
from the earth. 4These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemeda from
among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.† 5And in their mouth was found no
deceit,a for they are without fault before the throne of God.b

                                  Proclamation of Angels

  6Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to

preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—† 7saying
with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come;
and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

  8And another angel followed, saying, “Babylona is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because

she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”†

  9Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast

and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand,† 10he himself shall also
drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His
indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels
and in the presence of the Lamb. 11And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever;
and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever
receives the mark of his name.”

                              Harvest of Blessing: The Martyrs

  12Here is the patience of the saints; here are thosea who keep the commandments of God

and the faith of Jesus.†

  13Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me,a “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in
the Lord from now on.’ ”

  “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

                               Harvest of Wrath: The Grapes

  14Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man,

having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.† 15And another angel
came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your
sickle and reap, for the time has come for Youa to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”
16So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

  17Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp
sickle.

  18And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a
loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the
clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.”† 19So the angel thrust his sickle
into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the
wrath of God. 20And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the
winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.† †

                                 The Liturgy of Preparation


15 Then   I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven
   last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.†

  2And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory

over the beast, over his image and over his marka and over the number of his name, standing
on the sea of glass, having harps of God.† 3They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God,
and the song of the Lamb, saying:

    “Great and m arv elous are Your works,

    Lord God Alm ighty !

    Just and true are Your way s,

    O King of the saints!a

    4
        Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your nam e?

    For You alone are holy .

    For all nations shall com e and worship before You,

    For Your judgm ents hav e been m anifested.”

  5After these things I looked, and behold,a the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in

heaven was opened.† 6And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues,
clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. 7Then one of
the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God
who lives forever and ever. 8The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and
from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven
angels were completed.†


16 Then  I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out
   the bowlsa of the wrath of God on the earth.”†

                                               Bowl One: Loathsome Sores

  2So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore

came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.†

                                         Bowl Two: The Sea Turns to Blood

  3Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead
man; and every living creature in the sea died.

                                    Bowl Three: Fresh Waters Turn to Blood

  4Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they

became blood. 5And I heard the angel of the waters saying:
    “You are righteous, O Lord, a

    The One who is and who was and who is to be, b

    Because You hav e judged these things. †

    6
        For they hav e shed the blood of saints and prophets,

    And You hav e giv en them blood to drink.

    For a it is their just due.”

  7And I heard another froma the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and
righteous are Your judgments.”

                                               Bowl Four: Men Are Scorched

  8Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to

scorch men with fire.† 9And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the
name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.

                                               Bowl Five: Darkness and Pain

  10Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom

became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain.† 11They
blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of
their deeds.

                                               Bowl Six: Euphrates Dries Up

  12Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was

dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.† 13And I saw three
unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the
beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.† 14For they are spirits of demons,
performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth anda of the whole world, to gather
them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.†

  15“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest

he walk naked and they see his shame.”†

  16And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.a†

                                           Bowl Seven: Earth Utterly Shaken
  17Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the

temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”† 18And there were noises and
thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great
earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19Now the great city was
divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered
before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20Then every
island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21And great hail from heaven fell upon
men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague
of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

                             The Great Harlot and Her Beast


17 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying
   to me,a “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many
waters,† 2with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the
earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”†

  3So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a

scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.† 4The
woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and
pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her
fornication.a† 5And on her forehead a name was written:

       MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE
                       ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.†

  6I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of
Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

                        The Meaning of the Harlot and Her Beast

  7But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman

and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. 8The beast
that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition.
And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of
Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet
is.a†

 9“Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the

woman sits. 10There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet
come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11The beast that was, and is not, is
himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

  12“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but

they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.† 13These are of one mind, and
they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14These will make war with the Lamb,
and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who
are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

  15Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples,

multitudes, nations, and tongues.† 16And the ten horns which you saw ona the beast, these
will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17For
God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their
kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18And the woman whom you saw
is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

                                 The Judgment of Babylon


18 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great
   authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.† 2And he cried mightilya with a
loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of
demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!† 3For all
the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have
committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through
the abundance of her luxury.”

  4And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you

share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.† 5For her sins have reacheda to heaven,
and God has remembered her iniquities. 6Render to her just as she rendered to you,a and
repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.
7In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her
torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not
see sorrow.’ 8Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine.
And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judgesa her.

                              The World Mourns for Babylon

 9“The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will

weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning,† 10standing at a distance
for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one
hour your judgment has come.’

  11“And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their

merchandise anymore:† 12merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine
linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory,
every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13and cinnamon and
incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep,
horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. 14The fruit that your soul longed for has
gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you,a and you
shall find them no more at all. 15The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will
stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that
great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and
precious stones and pearls! 17For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every
shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a
distance 18and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this
great city?’

  19“They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas,
alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in
one hour she is made desolate.’

  20“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostlesa and prophets, for God has avenged

you on her!”†

                               The Finality of Babylon's Fall
  21Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea,
saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be
found anymore.† 22The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be
heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the
sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. 23The light of a lamp shall not shine
in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore.
For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were
deceived. 24And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain
on the earth.”

                                Litany of Triumph in Heaven

      After these things I hearda a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia!
19
      Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lordb our God!† 2For true and
righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth
with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.”†
3Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!”† 4And the twenty-four
elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne,
saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” 5Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all
you His servants and those who fear Him, botha small and great!”

  6And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as

the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For thea Lord God Omnipotent reigns!†
7Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and

His wife has made herself ready.” 8And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean
and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

  9Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of

the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” † 10And I fell at his feet
to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant,
and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”†

                                   The Word and His Army
  11Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called

Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.† 12His eyes were like a
flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He hada a name written that no one knew
except Himself. 13He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The
Word of God.† 14And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,a followed
Him on white horses.† 15Now out of His mouth goes a sharpa sword, that with it He should
strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the
winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.† 16And He has on His robe and on
His thigh a name written:

                             KING OF KINGS AND L      ORD   OF L S.
                                                               ORD




                         Defeat of the Beast and False Prophet

  17Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the
birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great
God,a† 18that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men,
the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, freea and slave,
both small and great.”

  19And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make

war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20Then the beast was captured,
and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those
who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast
alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.† 21And the rest were killed with the sword
which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled
with their flesh.

                                    The Millennial Age


20 Then  I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit
   and a great chain in his hand.† 2He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is
the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;† 3and he cast him into the
bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations
no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for
a little while.†

  4And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I
saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of
God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their
foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for aa thousand years.†
5But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the

first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such
the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign
with Him a thousand years.

                                   After the Millennium

  7Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison† 8and
will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog,
to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9They went up on
the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire
came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10The devil, who deceived them, was
cast into the lake of fire and brimstone wherea the beast and the false prophet are. And they
will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

                           The Great White Throne Judgment

  11Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and

the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.† 12And I saw the dead, small
and great, standing before God,a and books were opened. And another book was opened,
which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things
which were written in the books.† 13The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and
Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to
his works.† 14Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.a
15And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

                                      A New Creation


21 Now  I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had
   passed away. Also there was no more sea.† 2Then I, John,a saw the holy city, New
Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her
husband.† 3And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is
with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be
with them and be their God.† 4And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall
be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things
have passed away.”

                            THE ETERNAL KINGDOM

Few saints have been blessed with a vision of heaven while still in this life. Isaiah saw heaven
(Is 6:1–8), as did Ezekiel (Ezk 1:1–28), and the apostle John saw a new heaven—God’s
eternal Kingdom revealed as a city (Rev 21:1—22:5).

  When we read these passages, we note an abundance of mystical, apocalyptic imagery. But
the strong similarities between these passages suggests an inspired consistency of reporting
on the visions. The living creatures, the light, the cherubic beings, the throne, and the glory of
the Lord all work together to unveil a Kingdom of celestial majesty and splendor.

  While confessing with the prophet Isaiah and the apostle Paul that “eye has not seen, nor
ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for
those who love Him” (1Co 2:9), we nonetheless find, taking the Scriptures as a whole, that
certain things can be said about the eternal Kingdom.

  1 The saints who inhabit God’s Kingdom live in active fulfillment of His eternal plan. In
the Kingdom, humanity becomes all it is meant to be. There is nothing at all in Scripture to
suggest that eternal life means people passively afloat on huge white clouds strumming harps
unto the ages of ages.

  Originally created to inhabit Paradise, our first parents chose to sin against God and were
expelled from the Garden. The Kingdom of God was closed to mankind (Gn 3:24). But God in
His love called His creation back to Himself, speaking to us through the law and the prophets
and ultimately through His incarnate Son. Through new life in Jesus Christ, we are brought
back by God’s mercy into the new creation, His everlasting Kingdom. As kings and priests we
will reign with Him forever (Rev 1:6).

  2 We experience a foretaste of the Kingdom in the Church. The very first words of the
Divine Liturgy spoken by the priest are, “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.” The Church at worship enters or
ascends to the heavenly Kingdom. For it is in the Church that we are seated “together in the
heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6) and are raised to “where Christ is, sitting at the
right hand of God” (Col 3:1).

  In worship we join the heavenly hosts—the saints and the angels—in giving praise to our
God. As the body of Christ, we participate with that “great cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1)
surrounding us as we come to “the throne of God” (Heb 12:2). We come liturgically “to the
city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the
general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge
of all” (Heb 12:22, 23). With this heavenly vision, the Orthodox Church each Sunday
remembers not only those in the parish but “all those who in faith have gone on before us to
their rest.”

  3 Knowledge of the Kingdom motivates us to live in complete devotion to Christ. In this
life, we have a foretaste of the Kingdom that inspires us to seek its fullness. In Paul’s words,
“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face” (1Co 13:12). Worship is not a
solitary act. Rather it is the Bride of Christ, the one Church—those on earth joining with
those in heaven—giving thanks to our God and King, who has made us citizens of His
magnificent domain.

  The apostle John writes, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been
revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we
shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is
pure” (1Jn 3:2, 3).


  5Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me,a
“Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

  6And He said to me, “It is done!a I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the

End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.† 7He who
overcomes shall inherit all things,a and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8But the
cowardly, unbelieving,a abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and
all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the
second death.”
                                    The New Jerusalem

  9Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues

came to mea and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's
wife.”b† 10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me
the great city, the holya Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,† 11having the glory
of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12Also
she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names
written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:† 13three
gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the
west.

  14Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the namesa of the

twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the
city, its gates, and its wall.† 16The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its
breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length,
breadth, and height are equal. 17Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four
cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18The construction of its wall
was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19The foundations of the wall of the
city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the
second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth sardonyx, the sixth
sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the
eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each
individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent
glass.

                                   Healing of the Nations

  22But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.†
23The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it,a for the gloryb of God

illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.† 24And the nations of those who are saveda shall walk in
its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.b 25Its gates shall not
be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26And they shall bring the glory and the
honor of the nations into it.a 27But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or
causesa an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

                                     Paradise Regained


22 And he showed me a purea river† 2of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the
      throne of God and of the Lamb.      In the middle of its street, and on either side of the
river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month.
The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.† 3And there shall be no more curse,
but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4They
shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.† 5There shall be no night there:
They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall
reign forever and ever.†

                                   The Angel's Testimony

  6Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holya
prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.

  7“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this

book.”†

  8Now I, John, saw and hearda these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to

worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.†

                                     Christ's Testimony

  9Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. Fora I am your fellow servant, and of
your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
10And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at

hand.† 11He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he
who is righteous, let him be righteousa still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”

  12“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one

according to his work.† 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First
and the Last.”a
  14Blessed are those who do His commandments,a that they may have the right to the tree

of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.† 15Buta outside are dogs and sorcerers
and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

  16“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root

and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”†

                                 The Church's Testimony

  17And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let

him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.†

  18Fora I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone

adds to these things, God will addb to him the plagues that are written in this book;† 19and if
anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take awaya his part
from the Bookb of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this
book.

  20He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”


  Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!†

                                        Benediction

  21The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.a Amen.†
                                     FOR PRAYER,
                                      READING
                                     AND STUDY

The Bible: God’s Revelation to Man

How to Read the Bible

Lectionary

Glossary

Morning Prayers

Evening Prayers

Index to Annotations

Index to Study Articles

The Seventy
                                     THE BIBLE: GOD’S
                                   REVELATION TO MAN

       By The Right Reverend JOSEPH, Bishop of Los Angeles and the West

For the Christian of true worship, the Bible is the greatest source of truth, virtue, and moral
ethics. It is invaluable as a source of teaching doctrine and holiness. We call it the “Book of
Life,” for in its pages we find the closest expression we have of the Inexpressible. From
generation to generation, the books that make up the canon of Scripture have communicated
to us the lessons God has taught and still is teaching His people. It is open to all, and should
be read by all: men and women, clergy and laity, children and adults, believers and
unbelievers.

                                   The Bible Reveals God

  From the beginning, God has revealed Himself to mankind. He never ceases to reach out to
His creation with abundant blessings, desiring all to freely partake of the personal
communion He offers. The Bible also establishes that it was humanity who rejected Him,
following after the selfish desire to be as God. Certainly humanity has afflicted itself with this
delusion. Even so, the human race, even in its fallen state, is unable to deter God’s unceasing
ministry to His people. The Scriptures record this ongoing spiritual struggle between the
loving truth of God and man’s deluded expression of pride.

  Once the truth of God is accepted, and a person surrenders his pride and his denial of
reality, his eyes become open to Christ our God, whose divine Light invisibly enters in. This is
what we call holiness, and therefore only in genuine holiness can we begin to understand the
Bible and experience God revealed in it. The Scriptures and the histories of the martyrs bear
witness to the glory of God as it enters us. They also witness to us the terrible price that
people pay when they refuse to acknowledge the presence of the Lord.

                                The Bible Reveals Our Need

  The Old Testament establishes the way of thinking of the one who has “seen” God. He now
sees the misery of fallen humanity. He discerns how, in our wretched state, we bring ruin
upon ourselves with the lies our pride fabricates for us. In the pages of the Bible, we see how
even good men can fail. And we see and hear the warning for us that, just as surely as sunset
brings night, the disobedience of mankind brings death and destruction.
  The Bible is not a document for individuals seeking to feel self-justified and full of wisdom.
Rather, it is a mirror in which each person can see his own weakness without God and his
need for Him. One who reads the Scriptures and does not fall down praying for God’s mercy
has not really read them. He may have read the words on the pages, but he is still a man of
the world, a prisoner of his blinded intellect and fleshly desires. Perhaps such a person would
do better with a technical manual or a history book. The Bible is neither of these. It is a
spiritual tool, the greatest of all, designed to change us. It overcomes all boundaries of human
time and transcends all cultures.

                                The Bible Reveals Salvation

  The one who reads the Bible and repents of his own sinfulness, recognizing no good in his
life without God, opens the door to a new life. He is transformed by encountering the Person
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son and Word of God. He is the One whom the prophets
proclaim would save us from sin and the sting of death which we brought upon ourselves.
When we read with a repentant heart, the words we read in the Bible are not lifeless rules and
interesting stories, but insights into a world beyond expression. These words are doors
through which to walk, so we may come to know God. The Bible challenges us to emerge
from our own personal self-centered and illusory world, and to enter rather into the Kingdom
of God. Then every word of the Bible is a window to heaven, to Paradise, and to Perfection.

  Just as someone cannot “birth” himself, neither is a man “reborn” by himself. His personal
faith in our Lord Jesus Christ will not be fulfilled outside of the Church. For it is there that
we enter into a Tradition, a dynamic history of men and women—saints—who honored what
they received from God and passed it on intact to the next generation. This embodiment of
Faith is found in the Incarnate Word of God, Jesus Christ, the Head of the Body which is His
Holy Orthodox Church. Within the Church, the repentant man, woman or child is born anew
through the life-giving waters of Holy Baptism. Here, the passions of the individual begin to
die and transformation is initiated.

  Truly the fullness of the Scriptures cannot be obtained outside the mind of the Church.
Heretics and unbelieving intellectuals may to read the words of Scripture, but they cannot
understand it as does a spiritual man or woman within the Holy community of the Church.
Without the gift of the Holy Spirit to reveal within us the truth of God, the Bible is but raw
data. Certainly the Holy Spirit has whispered truth into the ears of people not in the Church,
but the place where He speaks the fullness of the Faith is within the Church where He dwells.
  Only with the teachings of His Church—the Church that proclaims the Truth found in the
Bible—can we begin our true work of breaking out of the self-imposed imprisonment of self-
idolatry. When we submit our lives to Christ in repentance and humility, the Holy Spirit
comes to us through the Holy Mysteries and lifts us up. Therefore, it becomes our joyful duty
to ceaselessly knock on the door of the Scriptures, asking God to reveal the truth to us
through His Word, that we might walk through the gates and grow into an ever greater
appreciation and experience of Him and His Heavenly Kingdom.

  Simply put, the Bible must be read with serious and humble prayer, a genuine desire for
God’s mercy, along with sound instruction from the Church and the very presence of the
Holy Spirit within us. Our Lord Jesus Christ left Himself within this Holy Book, that He
might be found by those who genuinely seek Him. May you find Him today!
                               HOW TO READ THE BIBLE

               By The Right Reverend KALLISTOS, Bishop of Diokleia

                         “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2Ti 3:16)




“If an earthly king, our emperor,” says Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk (1724–83), “wrote you a
letter, would you not read it with joy? Certainly, with great rejoicing and careful attention.”
But what, he asks, is our attitude towards the letter that has been addressed to us by no one
less than God Himself? “You have been sent a letter, not by any earthly emperor, but by the
King of Heaven. And yet you almost despise such a gift, so priceless a treasure.” To open and
read this letter, Saint Tikhon adds, is to enter into a personal conversation face to face with
the living God. “Whenever you read the Gospel, Christ Himself is speaking to you. And while
you read, you are praying and talking to Him.”

  Such exactly is our Orthodox attitude to the reading of Scripture. I am to see the Bible as
God’s personal letter sent specifically to myself. The words are not intended merely for
others, far away and long ago, but they are written particularly and directly to me, here and
now. Whenever we open our Bible, we are engaging in a creative dialogue with the Savior. In
listening, we also respond. “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears,” we reply to God as we read
(1Kg 3:10); “Here am I” (Is 6:8).

  Two centuries after Saint Tikhon, at the Moscow Conference held in 1976 between the
Orthodox and the Anglicans, the true attitude towards Scripture was expressed in different
but equally valid terms. This joint statement, signed by the delegates of both traditions, forms
an excellent summary of the Orthodox view: “The Scriptures constitute a coherent whole.
They are at once divinely inspired and humanly expressed. They bear authoritative witness to
God’s revelation of Himself in creation, in the Incarnation of the Word, and in the whole
history of salvation, and as such express the word of God in human language. We know,
receive, and interpret Scripture through the Church and in the Church. Our approach to the
Bible is one of obedience.”

  Combining Saint Tikhon’s words and the Moscow statement, we may distinguish the four
key characteristics which mark the Orthodox “Scriptural mind.” First, our reading of Scripture
is obedient. Second, it is ecclesial, in union with the Church. Third, it is Christ-centered.
Fourth, it is personal.

                             Reading the Bible with Obedience

  First of all, then, we see Scripture as inspired by God, and so we approach it in a spirit of
obedience. The divine inspiration of the Bible is emphasized alike by Saint Tikhon and by the
1976 Moscow Conference. Scripture is “a letter” from “the King of Heaven,” says Saint
Tikhon; “Christ Himself is speaking to you.” The Bible, states the Conference, is God’s
“authoritative witness” of Himself, expressing “the word of God in human language.” Our
response to this divine word is rightly one of obedient receptivity. As we read, we wait on the
Spirit.

  Since it is divinely inspired, the Bible possesses a fundamental unity, a total coherence, for
it is the same Spirit that speaks on every page. We do not refer to it as “the books” in the
plural, ta biblia, but we call it “the Bible,” “the Book,” in the singular. It is one book, one Holy
Scripture, with the same message throughout—one composite and yet single story, from
Genesis to Revelation.

  At the same time, however, the Bible is also humanly expressed. It is an entire library of
distinct writings, composed at varying times, by different persons in widely diverse situations.
We find God speaking here “in many and various ways” (Heb 1:1). Each work in the Bible
reflects the outlook of the age in which it was written and the particular viewpoint of the
author. For God does not abolish our created personhood but enhances it. Divine grace co-
operates with human freedom: we are “fellow-workers,” “co-operators” with God (1Co 3:9). In
the words of the second-century Letter to Diognetus, “God persuades, He does not compel;
for violence is foreign to the divine nature.” So it is precisely in the writing of inspired
Scripture. The author of each book was not just a passive instrument, a flute played by the
Spirit, a dictation machine recording a message. Every writer of Scripture contributes his or
her particular human gifts. Alongside the divine aspect, there is also a human element in
Scripture, and we are to value both.

  Each of the four Evangelists, for example, has his own particular standpoint. Matthew is
the most “ecclesiastical” and the most Jewish of the four, with his special interest in the
relationship of the Gospel to the Jewish Law, and his understanding of Christianity as the
“New Law.” Mark writes in less polished Greek, closer to the language of daily life, and
includes vivid narrative details not found in the other Gospels. Luke emphasizes the
universality of Christ’s love, His all-embracing compassion that extends equally to Jew and
Gentile. The Fourth Gospel expresses a more inward and mystical approach, and was aptly
styled by Saint Clement of Alexandria “a spiritual Gospel.” Let us explore and enjoy to the full
this life-giving variety within the Bible.

  Because Scripture is in this way the word of God expressed in human language, there is a
place for honest and exacting critical enquiry when studying the Bible. Our reasoning brain is
a gift from God, and we need not be afraid to use it to the utmost when reading Scripture. We
Orthodox Christians neglect at our peril the results of independent scholarly research into
the origin, dates and authorship of the books of the Bible, although we shall always want to
test these results in the light of Holy Tradition.

  Alongside this human element, however, we are to see always the divine aspect. These texts
are not simply the work of the individual authors. What we hear in Scripture are not just
human words, marked by a greater or lesser skill and perceptiveness, but the uncreated Word
of God Himself, the Father’s Word “coming forth from silence,” to use the phrase of Saint
Ignatius of Antioch, the eternal Word of salvation. Approaching the Bible, then, we come not
merely out of curiosity, to gain historical information. We come with a specific question:
“How can I be saved?”

  Obedient receptivity to God’s word means above all two things: a sense of wonder and an
attitude of listening. (1) Wonder is easily quenched. Do we not feel all too often, as we read
the Bible, that it has become over-familiar, even boring? Have we not lost our alertness, our
sense of expectation? How far are we changed by what we read? Continually we need to
cleanse the doors of our perception and to look with new eyes, in awe and amazement, at the
miracle that is set before us—the ever-present miracle of God’s divine word of salvation,
expressed in human language. As Plato remarked, “The beginning of truth is to wonder at
things.”

  Some years ago I had a dream that I still remember vividly. I was back in the house where,
for three years as a child, I lived in boarding school. A friend took me first through the rooms
already familiar to me from the waking life of my childhood. But then in my dream we
entered other rooms that I had never seen before—spacious, elegant, filled with light. Finally
we came to a small, dark chapel, with golden mosaics gleaming in the candlelight. “How
strange,” I said to my companion, “that I have lived here for so long, and yet I never knew
about the existence of all these rooms.” And he replied, “But it is always so.” I awoke, and
behold, it was a dream.

  Should we not react in the presence of the Bible with exactly the same surprise, the same
feeling of joy and discovery, that I experienced in my dream? There are so many rooms in
Scripture that we have never as yet entered. There is so much for us still to explore.

  (2) If obedience means wonder, it also means listening. Such indeed is the literal meaning
of the word for “obey” in both Greek and Latin—to hear. The trouble is that most of us are
better at talking than at listening. An incident in the “Goon Show,” which I used to follow
eagerly on the radio in my student days, sums up our predicament all too well. The telephone
rings, and one of the characters picks it up. “Hello,” he exclaims, “hello, hello.” His volume
rises. “Who is speaking? I can’t hear you. Hello, who is speaking?” A voice at the other end
says, “You are speaking.” “Ah,” he replies, “I thought the voice sounded familiar.” And he puts
the receiver down.

  One of the primary requirements, if we are to acquire a “Scriptural mind,” is to stop talking
and to start listening. When we enter an Orthodox Church, decorated in the traditional way,
and look up towards the sanctuary, we see there in the apse the figure of the Mother of God
with her hands raised to heaven—the ancient Scriptural manner of praying that many still use
today. Such is also to be our attitude to Scripture—an attitude of openness and attentive
receptivity, our hands invisibly outstretched to heaven.

  As we read our Bible, then, we are to model ourselves in this way on the Blessed Virgin
Mary, for she is supremely the one who listens. At the Annunciation, listening to the angel
she responds obediently, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). Had she not first
listened to God’s word and received it spiritually in her heart, she would never have borne the
Word of God bodily in her womb. Receptive listening continues to be her attitude throughout
the Gospel story. At Christ’s nativity, after the adoration of the shepherds, “Mary kept all
these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19). After the visit to Jerusalem when Jesus
was twelve years old, “His Mother kept all these things in her heart” (Lk 2:51). The vital
importance of listening is also indicated in the last words attributed to the Theotokos in Holy
Scripture, at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2:5), she
says to the servants and to each one of us.

  In all this the Virgin serves as a mirror and living icon of the biblical Christian. Hearing
God’s word, we are to be like her: pondering, keeping all these things in our hearts, doing
whatever He tells us. We are to listen in obedience while God speaks.

                     Understanding the Bible through the Church

  In the second place, as the Moscow Conference affirms, “We know, receive, and interpret
Scripture through the Church and in the Church.” Our approach to the Bible is not only
obedient but ecclesial. The words of Scripture, while addressed to us personally, are at the
same time addressed to us as members of a community. Book and Church are not to be
separated.

  The interdependence of Church and Bible is evident in at least two ways. (1) First, we
receive Scripture through and in the Church. It is the Church that tells us what is Scripture.
In the first three centuries of Christian history, a lengthy process of sifting and testing was
needed, in order to distinguish between that which is authentically “canonical” Scripture,
bearing authoritative witness to Christ’s person and message, and that which is
“apocryphal”—useful perhaps for teaching, but not a normative source of doctrine. It is thus
the Church that has decided which books form the Canon of the New Testament. A book is
not part of Holy Scripture because of any particular theory about its date and authorship, but
because the Church treats it as canonical. Suppose, for example, that it could be proved that
the Fourth Gospel was not actually written by Saint John the beloved disciple of Christ—in
my view, there are in fact strong reasons for continuing to accept John’s authorship—yet,
even so, this would not alter the fact that we regard the Fourth Gospel as Scripture. Why?
Because the Fourth Gospel, whoever the author may be, is accepted by the Church and in the
Church.

  (2) Secondly, we interpret Scripture through and in the Church. If it is the Church that tells
us what is Scripture, equally it is the Church that tells us how Scripture is to be understood.
Coming upon the Ethiopian as he read the Old Testament in his chariot, Philip the Apostle
asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” “How can I,” answered the Ethiopian,
“unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:30, 31). His difficulty is also ours. The words of
Scripture are not always self-explanatory. The Bible has a marvelous underlying simplicity,
but when studied in detail it can prove a difficult book. God does indeed speak directly to the
heart of each one of us during our Scripture reading—as Saint Tikhon says, our reading is a
personal dialogue between each one and Christ Himself—but we also need guidance. And our
guide is the Church. We make full use of our private understanding, illuminated by the Spirit;
we make full use of biblical commentaries and of the findings of modern research. But we
submit individual opinions, whether our own or those of the scholars, to the judgment of the
Church.

  We read the Bible personally, but not as isolated individuals. We say not “I” but “we.” We
read as the members of a family, the family of the Orthodox Catholic Church. We read in
communion with all the other members of the Body of Christ in all parts of the world and in
all generations of time. This communal or catholic approach to the Bible is underlined in one
of the questions asked of a convert at the reception service used in the Russian Church: “Do
you acknowledge that the Holy Scripture must be accepted and interpreted in accordance
with the belief which has been handed down by the Holy Fathers, and which the Holy
Orthodox Church, our Mother, had always held and still does hold?” The decisive criterion of
our understanding of what Scripture means is the mind of the Church. The Bible is the book
of the Church.

  To discover this “mind of the Church,” where do we begin? A first step is to see how
Scripture is used in worship. How, in particular, are biblical lessons chosen for reading at the
different feasts? A second step is to consult the writings of the Church Fathers, especially St.
John Chrysostom. How do they analyze and apply the text of Scripture? An ecclesial manner
of reading the Bible is in this way both liturgical and Patristic.

  To illustrate what it means to interpret Scripture in a liturgical way, let us consider the Old
Testament lessons at Vespers for the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25) and at Vespers on
Holy Saturday, the first part of the ancient Paschal Vigil. At the Annunciation there are five
readings:

   (1) Genesis 28:10–17: Jacob’s dream of a ladder set up from earth to heaven.

   (2) Ezekiel 43:27—44:4: the prophet’s vision of the Jerusalem temple, with the closed gate
       through which none but the Prince may pass.

   (3) Proverbs 9:1–11: one of the great Sophianic passages in the Old Testament, beginning
       “Wisdom has build her house.”

   (4) Exodus 3:1–8: Moses at the Burning Bush.

   (5) Proverbs 8:22–30: another Sophianic text, describing Wisdom’s place in God’s eternal
       providence: “Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.”
  In these passages from the Old Testament, then, we have a series of powerful images to
indicate the role of the Theotokos in God’s unfolding plan of salvation. She is Jacob’s ladder,
for by means of her God comes down and enters our world, assuming the flesh that she
supplies. She is both Mother and Ever-Virgin; Christ is born from her, yet she remains still
inviolate, the gate of her virginity sealed. She provides the humanity or house which Christ
the Wisdom of God (1Co 1:24) takes as His dwelling; alternatively, she is herself to be
regarded as God’s Wisdom. She is the Burning Bush, who contains within her womb the
uncreated fire of the Godhead and yet is not consumed. From all eternity, “ages ago . . . before
the beginning of the earth,” she was forechosen by God to be His Mother.

  Reading these passages in their original context within the Old Testament, we might not at
once appreciate that they foreshadow the Saviour’s Incarnation from the Virgin. But, by
exploring the use made of the Old Testament in the Church lectionary, we can discover layer
upon layer of meanings that are far from obvious at first sight.

  The same thing happens when we consider how Scripture is used on Holy Saturday. Here
there are no less than fifteen Old Testament lessons. Regrettably in many of our parishes the
majority of these are omitted, and so God’s people are starved of their proper biblical
nourishment. This long sequence of readings sets before us the deeper significance of
Christ’s “passing over” through death to resurrection. First among the lessons is the account
of the creation (Gn 1:1–13): Christ’s resurrection is a new creation (2Co 5:17; Rev 21:5), the
inauguration of a new age, the age to come. The third lesson describes the Jewish ritual of the
Passover meal: Christ crucified and risen is the new Passover, the Paschal Lamb who alone
can take away the sin of the world (1Co 5:7; Jn 1:29). The fourth lesson is the Book of Jonah
in its entirety: the prophet’s three days in the belly of the whale foreshadow Christ’s
resurrection after three days in the tomb (Mt 12:40). The sixth lesson recounts the crossing
of the Red Sea by the Israelites (Ex 13:20—15:19): Christ leads us from the bondage of Egypt
(sin), through the Red Sea (baptism), into the promised land (the Church). The final lesson is
the story of the three Holy Children in the fiery furnace (Dan 3), once more a “type” or
foreshowing of Christ’s rising from the tomb.

  How can we develop this ecclesial and liturgical way of reading Scripture in the Bible study
circles within our parishes? One person can be given the task of noting whenever a particular
passage is used for a festival or saint’s day, and the group can then discuss together the
reasons why it has been so chosen. Others in the group may be assigned to do homework
among the Fathers, relying above all upon the biblical homilies of St. John Chrysostom,
which are available in English translation in the series Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers,
reissued by Eerdmans. Initially, we may be disappointed: the Fathers’ manner of thinking
and speaking is often strikingly different from our own today. But there is gold in the
Patristic texts, if only we have the persistence and imagination to discover it.

                               Christ, the Heart of the Bible

  The third requirement in our reading of Scripture is that it should be Christ-centered. If we
agree with the 1976 Moscow Conference that the “Scriptures constitute a coherent whole,”
where are we to locate their wholeness and coherence? In the person of Christ. He is the
unifying thread that runs through the entirety of the Bible, from the first sentence to the last.
Jesus meets us on every page. It all ties up because of Him. “In Him all things hold together”
(Col 1:16).

  Much study of Scripture by modern western scholars has adopted an analytical approach,
breaking up each book into what are seen as its original sources. The connecting links are
unravelled, and the Bible is reduced to a series of isolated units. Recently there has been a
reaction against this, with Biblical critics in the West devoting much greater attention to the
way in which these primary units have come to be joined together. This is something that we
Orthodox may certainly welcome. It is important to see the unity of Scripture as well as the
diversity, the all-embracing end as well as the scattered beginnings. Orthodoxy prefers for the
most part a “synthetic” rather than an analytical style of hermeneutics, seeing the Bible as an
integrated whole, with Christ everywhere as the bond of union.

  Such, as we have just seen, is precisely the effect of reading Scripture within the context of
the Church’s worship. As the lessons for the Annunciation and Holy Saturday make clear,
everywhere in the Old Testament we find signposts and waymarks pointing to the mystery of
Christ and His Mother Mary. Interpreting the Old Testament in the light of the New, and the
New in the light of the Old—as the Church lectionary encourages us to do—we discover how
the whole of Scripture finds its point of convergence in the Saviour.

  Orthodoxy makes extensive use of this “typological” method of interpretation, whereby
“types” of Christ, signs and symbols of His work, are to be detected throughout the Old
Testament. Melchizedek, for example, the priest-king of Salem who offered bread and wine to
Abraham (Gn 14:18), is regarded as a “type” of Christ not only by the Fathers but equally in
the New Testament itself (Heb 5:6; 7:1–19). The rock that flowed with water in the wilderness
of Sinai (Ex 17:6; Nm 30:7–11) is likewise a symbol of Christ (1Co 10:4). Typology explains
the choice of lessons, not only on Holy Saturday, but throughout the second half of Lent.
Why are the Genesis readings in the sixth week dominated by the figure of Joseph? Why read
from the Book of Job in Holy Week? Because Joseph and Job, who both suffered innocently,
foreshadow the redemptive suffering of Christ on the Cross.

  We can discover many other correspondences between the Old and New Testament by
using a Biblical concordance. Often the best commentary of all is simply a concordance, or an
edition of the Bible with well-chosen marginal cross-references. Only connect. It all ties up.
In the words of Father Alexander Schmemann, “A Christian is the one who, wherever he
looks, finds everywhere Christ, and rejoices in Him.” This is true in particular of the Biblical
Christian. Wherever he looks, on every page, he finds everywhere Christ.

                                   The Bible as Personal

  According to Saint Mark the Monk (“Mark the Ascetic,” fifth/sixth century), “He who is
humble in his thoughts and engaged in spiritual work, when he reads the Holy Scriptures,
will apply everything to himself and not to his neighbor.” We are to look throughout
Scripture for a personal application. Our question is not simply, “What does it mean?” but
“What does it mean for me?” As Saint Tikhon insists, “Christ Himself is speaking to you.”
Scripture is a direct, intimate dialogue between the Saviour and myself—Christ addressing
me, and my heart responding. That is the fourth criterion in our Bible reading.

  I am to see all the narratives in Scripture as part of my own personal story. The description
of Adam’s fall is equally an account of something in my own experience. Who is Adam? His
name means simply “man,” “human”: it is I who am Adam. It is to me that God says, “Adam,
Where are You?” (Gn 3:9). We often ask, “Where is God?” But the real question is the one
that God puts to the Adam in each one of us: “Where are you?”

  Who is Cain, the murderer of his brother? It is myself. God’s challenge, “Where is Abel
your brother?” (Gn 4:9), is addressed to the Cain in each of us. The way to God lies through
love for other people, and there is no other way. Disowning my sister or brother, I replace the
image of God with the mark of Cain, and deny my essential humanity.

  The same personal application is evident in the Lenten services, and above all in the Great
Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. “I am the man who fell among thieves,” we say (Lk 10:30); “I
was Your younger son, and wasted the wealth that You gave me . . . and now I am starved and
hungry” (Lk 15:11–14). “Who are the sheep, and who are the goats?” the Desert Fathers of
Egypt used to ask (Mt 25:31–46). “The sheep are known to God,” they replied. “As for the
goats—that means me.”

  There are three steps to be taken when reading Scripture. (1) First, we reflect that what we
have in Scripture is sacred history: the history of the world from the Creation, the history of
God’s chosen people, the history of God Himself incarnate in Palestine, the history of the
“mighty works” (Acts 2:11) after Pentecost. We are never to forget that what we find in the
Bible is not an ideology, not a philosophical theory, but a historical faith.

  (2) Next, we observe the particularity, the specificity, of this sacred history. In the Bible we
find God intervening at specific times and in particular places, entering into dialogue with
individual humans. We see before us the distinctive calls issued by God to each different
person, to Abraham, Moses and David, to Rebekah and Ruth, to Isaiah and the prophets. We
see God becoming incarnate once only, in a particular corner of the earth, at a particular
moment and from a particular Mother. This particularity we are to regard not as a scandal but
as a blessing. Divine love is universal in its scope, but always personal in its expression.

  This sense of the specificity of the Bible is a vital element in the Orthodox “Scriptural
mind.” If you really love the Bible, you will love genealogies and details of dating and
geography. One of the best ways to enliven your study of Scripture is to go on pilgrimage to
the Holy Land. Walk where Christ walked. Go down near the Dead Sea, climb the mountain
of the Temptation, scan the desolation, feel how Christ must have felt during His forty days
alone in the wilderness. Drink from the well where Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman.
Take a boat out on the Sea of Galilee, have the sailors stop the engine, gaze in silence across
the water. Go at night to the Garden of Gethsemane, sit in the dark under the ancient olives,
and look across the valley to the lights of the city. Taste to the utmost the characteristic
“isness” of the historical setting, and take that experience back with you to your daily
Scripture reading.

  (3) Then we are to take a third step. After reliving Bible history in all its particularity, we
are to apply it directly to ourselves. We are to say to ourselves, “These are not just distant
places, events in the remote past. They belong to my own encounter with the Lord. The
stories include me.”

  Betrayal, for instance, is part of the personal story of everyone. Have we not all betrayed
others at some time in our life, and have we not all known what it is to be betrayed? And does
not the memory of these moments leave deep, continuing scars on our psyche? Reading,
then, the account of Saint Peter’s betrayal of Jesus and of his restoration after the
resurrection, we can see ourselves as each an actor in the story. Imagining what both Peter
and Christ experienced at the moment immediately after the betrayal, we make their feelings
our own. I am Peter; in the situation of betrayal, can I also be Christ? Reflecting likewise on
the moment of reconciliation—seeing how the risen Saviour with a love utterly devoid of
sentimentality restored the fallen Peter to fellowship, seeing how Peter on his side had the
humility and courage to accept this restoration—we ask ourselves: How Christ-like am I to
those who have betrayed me? And, after my own acts of betrayal, am I able to accept the
forgiveness of others, am I able to forgive myself?

  Take, as another example, the “woman who was a sinner,” who emptied the flask of
ointment over Christ’s feet (Lk 7:36–50), and whom some identify with Saint Mary
Magdalene, although that is not the usual Orthodox interpretation. Can I see her mirrored in
myself? Do I share in her generosity, in her spontaneity and loving impulsiveness? “Her sins,
which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.” Or am I calculating, mean, timid—holding
myself back, never willing to commit myself fully to anything, either good or bad? As the
Desert Fathers say, “Better someone who has sinned, if he knows he has sinned and repents,
than a person who has not sinned and thinks of himself as righteous.”

  A personal approach of this kind means that in reading the Bible we are not simply
detached and objective observers, absorbing information, taking note of facts. The Bible is not
merely a work of literature or a collection of historical documents, although certainly it can
be approached on that level. It is, much more fundamentally, a sacred book, addressed to
believers, to be read with faith and love. We shall not profit fully from reading the Gospels
unless we are in love with Christ. “Heart speaks to heart”: I enter into the living truth of
Scripture only when my heart responds with love to the heart of God.

  Reading Scripture in this way—in obedience, as a member of the Church, finding Christ
everywhere, seeing everything as part of my own personal story—we shall sense something of
the power and healing to be found in the Bible. Yet always in our biblical voyage of
exploration we are only at the very beginning. We are like someone launching out in a tiny
boat across a limitless ocean. But, however great the journey, we can embark on it today, at
this very hour, in this very moment.
  At the high point of his spiritual crisis, wrestling with himself alone in the garden, Saint
Augustine heard a child’s voice crying out, “Take up and read, take up and read.” He took up
his bible and read; and what he read altered his entire life. Let us do the same: Take up and
read.




  “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my paths” (Ps 118:105).
                                       LECTIONARY

Please note: This lectionary is intended strictly as a rough guide for personal reading for
those who wish to follow the church calendar through the year. It is not intended for
liturgical use. Because the Paschal cycle occurs at a different time each year while other
feasts are fixed on a certain calendar date, there is considerable overlap between the two
cycles, which affects what scriptures are actually read on any given day of a particular year.
Variations also occur between jurisdictions of the Church, and decisions are sometimes
made at the parish level concerning which saints’ days to celebrate with the accompanying
readings. For an accurate lectionary for a particular year, consult one of the many Orthodox
calendars available that list scripture readings for each day, or consult your parish priest
for the readings used in your parish. For another plan for reading through the complete
Bible, go to www.thomasnelson.com/orthodoxreadingplan.

  Dates, where applicable, are listed according to the New, or Gregorian, Calendar, with the
Old, or Julian, Calendar date following.

  The church year officially begins on September 1/14, but for the purposes of this lectionary
it is more convenient to begin with the Paschal cycle.

TRIODION AND GREAT LENT

  The Triodion refers to the weeks leading up to Great Lent. The beginning of the Triodion
falls on a different date each year.



Fourth Week Before Lent

  Monday

    1 Peter 2:21—3:9; Mark 12:13–17

  Tuesday

    1 Peter 3:10–22; Mark 12:18–27

  Wednesday

    1 Peter 4:1–11; Mark 12:28–37
  Thursday

    1 Peter 4:12—5:5; Mark 12:38–44

  Friday

    2 Peter 1:1–10; Mark 13:1–8

  Saturday

    2 Timothy 2:11–19; Luke 18:2–8

Fourth Sunday Before Lent: Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee

    2 Timothy 3:10–15; Luke 18:10–14

Third Week Before Lent

  Monday

    2 Peter 1:20—2:9; Mark 13:9–13

  Tuesday

    2 Peter 2:9–22; Mark 13:14–23

  Wednesday

    2 Peter 3:1–18; Mark 13:24–31

  Thursday

    1 John 1:8—2:6; Mark 13:31—14:2

  Friday

    1 John 2:7–17; Mark 14:3–9

  Saturday

    2 Timothy 3:1–9; Luke 20:45—21:4
Third Sunday Before Lent: Sunday of the Prodigal Son

    1 Corinthians 6:12–20; Luke 15:11–32

Meatfare Week

  Monday

    1 John 2:18—3:10; Mark 11:1–11

  Tuesday

    1 John 3:11–20; Mark 14:10–42

  Wednesday

    1 John 3:21—4:6; Mark 14:43—15:1

  Thursday

    1 John 4:20—5:21; Mark 15:1–15

  Friday

    2 John 1:1–13; Mark 15:22–25, 33–41

  Saturday

    1 Corinthians 10:23–28; Luke 21:8, 9, 25–27, 33–36

  Commemoration of the Departed

    1 Thessalonians 4:13–17; John 5:24–30

Second Sunday Before Lent: Sunday of the Last Judgment (Meatfare Sunday)

    1 Corinthians 8:8—9:2; Matthew 25:31–46

Cheesefare Week

  Monday
    3 John 1:1–14; Luke 19:29–40; 22:7–39

  Tuesday

    Jude 1:1–10; Luke 22:39–42, 45—23:1

  Wednesday

    Joel 2:12–26; Joel 3:12–21

  Thursday

    Jude 1:11–25; Luke 23:2–34, 44–56

  Friday

    Zechariah 8:7–14; Zechariah 8:19–23

  Saturday

    Romans 14:19–23; 16:25–27; Matthew 6:1–13

Sunday Before Lent: Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare Sunday)

    Romans 13:11—14:4; Matthew 6:14–21

GREAT LENT

First Week of Great Lent

  Monday

    Isaiah 1:1–20; Genesis 1:1–13; Proverbs 1:1–20

  Tuesday

    Isaiah 1:19—2:3; Genesis 1:14–23; Proverbs 1:20–33

  Wednesday

    Isaiah 2:3–11; Genesis 1:24—2:3; Proverbs 2:1–22
  Thursday

    Isaiah 2:11–22; Genesis 2:4–19; Proverbs 3:1–18

  Friday

    Isaiah 3:1–14; Genesis 2:20—3:20; Proverbs 3:19–34

  Saturday

    Hebrews 1:1–12; Mark 2:23—3:5

First Sunday of Great Lent: Sunday of Orthodoxy

    Hebrews 11:24–26, 32—12:2; John 1:43–51

Second Week of Great Lent

  Monday

    Isaiah 4:2–6, 5:1–7; Genesis 3:21—4:7; Proverbs 3:34—4:22

  Tuesday

    Isaiah 5:7–16; Genesis 4:8–15; Proverbs 5:1–15

  Wednesday

    Isaiah 5:16–26; Genesis 4:16–26; Proverbs 5:15—6:3

  Thursday

    Isaiah 6:1–12; Genesis 5:1–24; Proverbs 6:3–20

  Friday

    Isaiah 7:1–14; Genesis 5:32—6:8; Proverbs 6:20—7:1

  Saturday

    Hebrews 3:12–16; Mark 1:35–44
Second Sunday of Great Lent: Commemoration of St. Gregory Palamas

    Hebrews 1:10—2:3; Mark 2:1–12

Third Week of Great Lent

  Monday

    Isaiah 8:13—9:7; Genesis 6:9–22; Proverbs 8:1–21

  Tuesday

    Isaiah 9:9—10:4; Genesis 7:1–5; Proverbs 8:32—9:11

  Wednesday

    Isaiah 10:12–20; Genesis 7:6–9; Proverbs 9:12–18

  Thursday

    Isaiah 11:10—12:2; Genesis 7:11—8:3; Proverbs 10:1–22

  Friday

    Isaiah 13:2–13; Genesis 8:4–21; Proverbs 10:31—11:12

  Saturday

    Hebrews 10:32–38; Mark 2:14–17

Third Sunday of Great Lent: Adoration of the Holy Cross

    Hebrews 4:14—5:6; Mark 8:34—9:1

Fourth Week of Great Lent

  Monday

    Isaiah 14:24–32; Genesis 8:21—9:7; Proverbs 11:19—12:6

  Tuesday
    Isaiah 25:1–9; Genesis 9:8–17; Proverbs 12:8–22

  Wednesday

    Isaiah 26:21—27:9; Genesis 9:18—10:1; Proverbs 12:23—13:9

  Thursday

    Isaiah 28:14–22; Genesis 10:32—11:9; Proverbs 13:20—14:6

  Friday

    Isaiah 29:13–23; Genesis 12:1–7; Proverbs 14:15–26

  Saturday

    Hebrews 6:9–12; Mark 7:31–37

Fourth Sunday of Great Lent: Commemoration of Saint John of the Ladder

    Hebrews 6:13–20; Mark 9:17–31

Fifth Week of Great Lent

  Monday

    Isaiah 37:33—38:6; Genesis 13:12–18; Proverbs 14:27—15:4

  Tuesday

    Isaiah 40:18–31; Genesis 15:1–15; Proverbs 15:7–19

  Wednesday

    Isaiah 41:4–14; Genesis 17:1–9; Proverbs 15:20—16:9

  Thursday

    Isaiah 42:5–16: Genesis 18:20–33; Proverbs 16:17—17:17

  Friday
    Isaiah 45:11–17; Genesis 22:1–18; Proverbs 17:17—18:5

  Saturday

    Hebrews 9:24–28; Mark 8:27–31

Fifth Sunday of Great Lent: Commemoration of Saint Mary of Egypt

    Hebrews 9:11–14; Mark 10:32–45

Sixth Week of Great Lent

  Monday

    Isaiah 48:17—49:4; Genesis 27:1–41; Proverbs 19:16–25

  Tuesday

    Isaiah 49:6–10; Genesis 31:3–16; Proverbs 21:3–21

  Wednesday

    Isaiah 58:1–11; Genesis 43:26–31; 45:1–16; Proverbs 21:23—22:4

  Thursday

    Isaiah 65:8–16; Genesis 46:1–7; Proverbs 23:15—24:5

  Friday

    Isaiah 66:10–24; Genesis 49:33—50:26; Proverbs 31:8–31

  Lazarus Saturday

    Hebrews 12:28—13:8; John 11:1–45

The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem: Palm Sunday

  Philippians 4:4–9; John 12:1–18

HOLY WEEK
  Holy Monday

    Matthew 24:3–35

  Holy Tuesday

    Matthew 24:36—26:2

  Holy Wednesday

    Matthew 26:6–16

  Holy Thursday

    1 Corinthians 11:23–32; Matthew 26:1–20; John 13:3–17; Matthew 26:21–39; Luke
    22:43–45; Matthew 26:40—27:2

  Holy Friday

    VESPERS: (1) Exodus 33:11–23; (2) Job 42:12–16; (3) Isaiah 52:13—54:1; 1 Corinthians
    1:18—2:2; Matthew 27:1–38; Luke 23:39–43; Matthew 27:39–54; John 19:31–37;
    Matthew 27:55–61

  Holy Saturday

    VESPERS: (1) Genesis 1:1–13; (2) Isaiah 60:1–16; (3) Exodus 12:1–11; (4) The Book of
    Jonah; (5) Joshua 5:10–15; (6) Exodus 13:20—15:19; (7) Zephaniah 3:8–15; (8) 1 Kings
    17:8–24; (9) Isaiah 61:10—62:5; (10) Genesis 22:1–18; (11) Isaiah 61:1–9; (12) 2 Kings
    4:8–37; (13) Isaiah 63:11—64:5; (14) Jeremiah 31:31–34; (15) Daniel 3:1–23 and the
    Song of the Holy Children (Apocrypha). LITURGY: Romans 6:3–11; Matthew 28:1–20

PASCHA

The Resurrection of Christ (Easter)

    Acts 1:1–8; John 1:1–17

Bright Week

  Bright Monday
    Acts 1:12–17; 21–26; John 1:18–28

  Bright Tuesday

    Acts 2:14–21; Luke 24:12–35

  Bright Wednesday

    Acts 2:22–36; John 1:35–51

  Bright Thursday

    Acts 2:38–43; John 3:1–15

  Bright Friday

    Acts 3:1–8; John 2:12–22

  Bright Saturday

    Acts 3:11–16; John 3:22–33

Second Sunday of Pascha: Thomas Sunday

    Acts 5:12–20; John 20:19–31

Second Week of Pascha

  Monday

    Acts 3:19–26; John 2:1–11

  Tuesday

    Acts 4:1–10; John 3:16–21

  Wednesday

    Acts 4:13–22; John 5:17–24

  Thursday
    Acts 4:23–31; John 5:24–30

  Friday

    Acts 5:1–11; John 5:30—6:2

  Saturday

    Acts 5:21–33; John 6:14–27

Third Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women; Joseph of Arimathea and
Nicodemus

    Acts 6:17; Mark 15:43—16:8

Third Week of Pascha

  Monday

    Acts 6:8—7:5, 47–60; John 4:46–54

  Tuesday

    Acts 8:5–17; John 6:27–33

  Wednesday

    Acts 8:18–25; John 6:35–39

  Thursday

    Acts 8:26–39; John 6:40–44

  Friday

    Acts 8:40—9:19; John 6:48–54

  Saturday

    Acts 9:19–31; John 15:17—16:2

Fourth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Paralytic
    Acts 9:32—42; John 5:1–15

Fourth Week of Pascha

  Monday

    Acts 10:1–16; John 6:56–69

  Tuesday

    Acts 10:21–33; John 7:1–13

  Wednesday

    Acts 14:6–18; John 7:14–30

  Thursday

    Acts 10:34–43; John 8:12–20

  Friday

    Acts 10:44—11:10; John 8:21–30

  Saturday

    Acts 12:1–11; John 8:31–42

Fifth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

    Acts 11:19–26, 29–30; John 4:5–42

Fifth Week of Pascha

  Monday

    Acts 12:12–17; John 8:42–51

  Tuesday

    Acts 12:25—13:12; John 8:51–59
  Wednesday

    Acts 13:13–24; John 6:5–14

  Thursday

    Acts 14:20–27; John 9:39—10:9

  Friday

    Acts 15:5–34; John 10:17–28

  Saturday

    Acts 15:35–41; John 10:27–38

Sixth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Blind Man

    Acts 16:16–34; John 9:1–38

Sixth Week of Pascha

  Monday

    Acts 17:1–15; John 11:47–57

  Tuesday

    Acts 17:19–28; John 12:19–36

  Wednesday

    Acts 18:22–28; John 12:36–47

  Thursday: The Ascension of Our Lord

    Acts 1:1–12; Luke 24:36–53

  Friday

    Acts 19:1–8; John 14:1–11
  Saturday

    Acts 20:7–12; John 14:10–21

Seventh Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council

    Acts 20:16–18, 28–36; John 17:1–13

Seventh Week of Pascha

  Monday

    Acts 21:8–14; John 14:27—15:7

  Tuesday

    Acts 21:26–32; John 16:2–13

  Wednesday

    Acts 23:1–11; John 16:15–23

  Thursday

    Acts 25:13–19; John 16:23–33

  Friday

    Acts 27:1–44; John 17:18–26

  Saturday

    Acts 28:1–31; John 21:15–25

PENTECOST (Seventh Sunday after Pascha) Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Disciples
(Trinity Sunday)

  Acts 2:1–11; John 7:37–52; 8:12

First Week after Pentecost

  Monday: Day of the Holy Spirit
    Ephesians 5:9–19; Matthew 18:10–20

  Tuesday

    Romans 1:1–7, 13–17; Matthew 4:25—5:13

  Wednesday

    Romans 1:18–27; Matthew 5:20–26

  Thursday

    Romans 1:28—2:9; Matthew 5:27–32

  Friday

    Romans 2:14–29; Matthew 5:33–41

  Saturday

    Romans 1:7–12; Matthew 5:42–48

First Sunday after Pentecost: Sunday of All Saints

    Hebrews 11:33—12:2; Matthew 10:32–33, 37–38; 19:27–30

Second Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    Romans 2:28—3:18; Matthew 6:31–34; 7:9–11

  Tuesday

    Romans 4:4–12; Matthew 7:15–21

  Wednesday

    Romans 4:13–25; Matthew 7:21–23

  Thursday
    Romans 5:10–16; Matthew 8:23–27

  Friday

    Romans 5:17—6:2; Matthew 9:14–17

  Saturday

    Romans 3:19–26; Matthew 7:1–8

Second Sunday after Pentecost

    Romans 2:10–16; Matthew 4:18–23

Third Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    Romans 7:1–13; Matthew 9:36—10:8

  Tuesday

    Romans 7:14—8:2; Matthew 10:9–15

  Wednesday

    Romans 8:1–13; Matthew 10:16–22

  Thursday

    Romans 8:22–27; Matthew 10:23–31

  Friday

    Romans 9:6–19; Matthew 10:32–36; 11:1

  Saturday

    Romans 3:28—4:3; Matthew 7:24—8:4

Third Sunday after Pentecost
    Romans 5:1–10; Matthew 6:22–33

Fourth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    Romans 9:18–33; Matthew 11:2–15

  Tuesday

    Romans 10:11—11:2; Matthew 11:16–20

  Wednesday

    Romans 11:2–12; Matthew 11:20–26

  Thursday

    Romans 11:13–24; Matthew 11:27–30

  Friday

    Romans 11:25–36; Matthew 12:1–8

  Saturday

    Romans 6:11–17; Matthew 8:14–23

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

    Romans 6:18–23; Matthew 8:5–13

Fifth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    Romans 12:4–5, 15–21; Matthew 12:9–13

  Tuesday

    Romans 14:9–18; Matthew 12:14–16, 22–30
  Wednesday

    Romans 15:7–16; Matthew 12:38–45

  Thursday

    Romans 15:17–29; Matthew 12:46—13:3

  Friday

    Romans 16:1–16; Matthew 13:4–9

  Saturday

    Romans 8:14–21; Matthew 9:9–13

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

    Romans 10:1–10; Matthew 8:28—9:1

Sixth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    Romans 16:17–24; Matthew 13:10–23

  Tuesday

    1 Corinthians 1:1–9; Matthew 13:24–30

  Wednesday

    1 Corinthians 2:9—3:8; Matthew 13:31–36

  Thursday

    1 Corinthians 3:18–23; Matthew 13:36–43

  Friday

    1 Corinthians 4:5–8; Matthew 13:44–54
  Saturday

    Romans 9:1–5; Matthew 9:18–26

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

    Romans 12:6–14; Matthew 9:1–8

Seventh Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    1 Corinthians 5:9—6:11; Matthew 13:54–58

  Tuesday

    1 Corinthians 6:20—7:12; Matthew 14:1–13

  Wednesday

    1 Corinthians 7:12–24; Matthew 14:35— 15:11

  Thursday

    1 Corinthians 7:24–35; Matthew 15:12–21

  Friday

    1 Corinthians 7:35—8:7; Matthew 15:29–31

  Saturday

    Romans 12:1–3; Matthew 10:37—11:1

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

    Romans 15:1–7; Matthew 9:27–35

Eighth Week after Pentecost

  Monday
    1 Corinthians 9:13–18; Matthew 16:1–6

  Tuesday

    1 Corinthians 10:5–12; Matthew 16:6–12

  Wednesday

    1 Corinthians 10:12–22; Matthew 16:20–24

  Thursday

    1 Corinthians 10:28—11:7; Matthew 16:24–28

  Friday

    1 Corinthians 11:8–22; Matthew 17:10–18

  Saturday

    Romans 13:1–10; Matthew 12:30–37

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

    1 Corinthians 1:10–18; Matthew 14:14–22

Ninth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    1 Corinthians 11:31—12:6; Matthew 18:1–11

  Tuesday

    1 Corinthians 12:12–26; Matthew 18:18–22; 19:1–2, 13–15

  Wednesday

    1 Corinthians 13:4—14:5; Matthew 20:1–16

  Thursday
    1 Corinthians 14:6–19; Matthew 20:17–28

  Friday

    1 Corinthians 14:26–40; Matthew 21:12–14, 17–20

  Saturday

    Romans 14:6–9; Matthew 15:32–39

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

    1 Corinthians 3:9–17; Matthew 14:22–34

Tenth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    1 Corinthians 15:12–19; Matthew 21:18–22

  Tuesday

    1 Corinthians 15:29–38; Matthew 21:23–27

  Wednesday

    1 Corinthians 16:4–12; Matthew 21:28–32

  Thursday

    2 Corinthians 1:1–7; Matthew 21:43–46

  Friday

    2 Corinthians 1:12–20; Matthew 22:23–33

  Saturday

    Romans 15:30–33; Matthew 17:24—18:4

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
    1 Corinthians 4:9–16; Matthew 17:14–23

Eleventh Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    2 Corinthians 2:4–15; Matthew 23:13–22

  Tuesday

    2 Corinthians 2:14—3:3; Matthew 23:23–28

  Wednesday

    2 Corinthians 3:4–11; Matthew 23:29–39

  Thursday

    2 Corinthians 4:1–6; Matthew 24:13–28

  Friday

    2 Corinthians 4:13–18; Matthew 24:27–33, 42–51

  Saturday

    1 Corinthians 1:3–9; Matthew 19:3–12

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

    1 Corinthians 9:2–12; Matthew 18:23–35

Twelfth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    2 Corinthians 5:10–15; Mark 1:9–15

  Tuesday

    2 Corinthians 5:15–21; Mark 1:16–22
  Wednesday

    2 Corinthians 6:11–16; Mark 1:23–28

  Thursday

  2 Corinthians 7:1–10; Mark 1:29–35

  Friday

    2 Corinthians 7:10–16; Mark 2:18–22

  Saturday

    1 Corinthians 1:26–29; Matthew 20:29–34

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

    1 Corinthians 15:1–11; Matthew 19:16–26

Thirteenth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    2 Corinthians 8:7–15; Mark 3:6–12

  Tuesday

    2 Corinthians 8:16—9:5; Mark 3:13–19

  Wednesday

    2 Corinthians 9:12—10:7; Mark 3:20–27

  Thursday

    2 Corinthians 10:7–18; Mark 3:28–35

  Friday

    2 Corinthians 11:5–12; Mark 4:1–9
  Saturday

    1 Corinthians 2:6–9; Matthew 22:15–22

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

    1 Corinthians 16:13–24; Matthew 21:33–42

Fourteenth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    2 Corinthians 12:10–19; Mark 4:10–23

  Tuesday

    2 Corinthians 12:20—13:2; Mark 4:24–34

  Wednesday

    2 Corinthians 13:3–13; Mark 4:35–41

  Thursday

    Galatians 1:1–10, 20–24—2:5; Mark 5:1–20

  Friday

    Galatians 2:6–10; Mark 5:22–24, 35—6:1

  Saturday

    1 Corinthians 4:1–5; Matthew 23:1–12

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

    2 Corinthians 1:21—2:4; Matthew 22:1–14

Fifteenth Week after Pentecost

  Monday
    Galatians 2:11–16; Mark 5:24–34

  Tuesday

    Galatians 2:21—3:7; Mark 6:1–7

  Wednesday

    Galatians 3:15–22; Mark 6:7–13

  Thursday

    Galatians 3:23—4:5; Mark 6:30–45

  Friday

    Galatians 4:8–21; Mark 6:45–53

  Saturday

    1 Corinthians 4:17—5:5; Matthew 24:1–13

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

    2 Corinthians 4:6–15; Matthew 22:35–46

Sixteenth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    Galatians 4:28—5:10; Mark 6:54—7:8

  Tuesday

    Galatians 5:11–21; Mark 7:5–16

  Wednesday

    Galatians 6:2–10; Mark 7:14–24

  Thursday
    Ephesians 1:1–9; Mark 7:24–30

  Friday

    Ephesians 1:7–17; Mark 8:1–10

  Saturday

    1 Corinthians 10:23–28; Matthew 24:34–44

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

    2 Corinthians 6:1–10; Matthew 25:14–30

Seventeenth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    Ephesians 1:22—2:3; Mark 10:46–52

  Tuesday

    Ephesians 2:19—3:7; Mark 11:11–23

  Wednesday

    Ephesians 3:8–21; Mark 11:23–26

  Thursday

    Ephesians 4:14–19; Mark 11:27–33

  Friday

    Ephesians 4:17–25; Mark 12:1–12

  Saturday

    1 Corinthians 14:20–25; Matthew 25:1–13

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
    2 Corinthians 6:16—7:1; Matthew 15:21–28

Eighteenth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    Ephesians 4:25–32; Luke 3:19–22

  Tuesday

    Ephesians 5:20–26; Luke 3:23—4:1

  Wednesday

    Ephesians 5:25–33; Luke 4:1–15

  Thursday

    Ephesians 5:33—6:9; Luke 4:16–22

  Friday

    Ephesians 6:18–24; Luke 4:22–30

  Saturday

    1 Corinthians 15:39–45; Luke 4:31–36

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

    2 Corinthians 9:6–11; Luke 5:1–11

Nineteenth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    Philippians 1:1–7; Luke 4:37–44

  Tuesday

    Philippians 1:8–14; Luke 5:12–16
  Wednesday

    Philippians 1:12–20; Luke 5:33–39

  Thursday

    Philippians 1:20–27; Luke 6:12–19

  Friday

    Philippians 1:27—2:4; Luke 6:17–23

  Saturday

    1 Corinthians 15:58—16:3; Luke 5:17–26

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

    2 Corinthians 11:31—12:9; Luke 6:31–36

Twentieth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    Philippians 2:12–16; Luke 6:24–30

  Tuesday

    Philippians 2:17–23; Luke 6:37–45

  Wednesday

    Philippians 2:24–30; Luke 6:46—7:1

  Thursday

    Philippians 3:1–8; Luke 7:17–30

  Friday

    Philippians 3:8–19; Luke 7:31–35
  Saturday

    2 Corinthians 1:8–11; Luke 5:27–32

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

    Galatians 1:11–19; Luke 7:11–16

Twenty–First Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    Philippians 4:10–23; Luke 7:36–50

  Tuesday

    Colossians 1:1, 2, 7–11; Luke 8:1–3

  Wednesday

    Colossians 1:18–23; Luke 8:22–25

  Thursday

    Colossians 1:24–29; Luke 9:7–11

  Friday

    Colossians 2:1–7; Luke 9:12–18

  Saturday

    2 Corinthians 3:12–18; Luke 6:1–10

Twenty–First Sunday after Pentecost

    Galatians 2:16–20; Luke 8:5–15

Twenty–Second Week after Pentecost

  Monday
    Colossians 2:13–20; Luke 9:18–22

  Tuesday

    Colossians 2:20—3:3; Luke 9:23–27

  Wednesday

    Colossians 3:17—4:1; Luke 9:44–50

  Thursday

    Colossians 4:2–9; Luke 9:49–56

  Friday

    Colossians 4:10–18; Luke 10:1–15

  Saturday

    2 Corinthians 5:1–10; Luke 7:1–10

Twenty–Second Sunday after Pentecost

    Galatians 6:11–18; Luke 16:19–31

Twenty–Third Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    1 Thessalonians 1:1–5; Luke 10:22–24

  Tuesday

    1 Thessalonians 1:6–10; Luke 11:1–10

  Wednesday

    1 Thessalonians 2:1–8; Luke 11:9–13

  Thursday
    1 Thessalonians 2:9–14; Luke 11:14–23

  Friday

    1 Thessalonians 2:14–19; Luke 11:23–26

  Saturday

    2 Corinthians 8:1–5; Luke 8:16–21

Twenty–Third Sunday after Pentecost

    Ephesians 2:4–10: Luke 8:26–39

Twenty–Fourth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    1 Thessalonians 2:20—3:8; Luke 11:29–33

  Tuesday

    1 Thessalonians 3:9–13; Luke 11:34–41

  Wednesday

    1 Thessalonians 4:1–12; Luke 11:42–46

  Thursday

    1 Thessalonians 5:1–8; Luke 11:47—12:1

  Friday

    1 Thessalonians 5:9–13, 24–28; Luke 12:2–12

  Saturday

    2 Corinthians 11:1–6; Luke 9:1–6

Twenty–Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
    Ephesians 2:4–22; Luke 8:41–56

Twenty–Fifth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    2 Thessalonians 1:1–10; Luke 12:13–15, 22–31

  Tuesday

    2 Thessalonians 1:10—2:2; Luke 12:42–48

  Wednesday

    2 Thessalonians 2:1–12; Luke 12:48–59

  Thursday

    2 Thessalonians 2:13—3:5; Luke 13:1–9

  Friday

    2 Thessalonians 3:6–18; Luke 13:31–35

  Saturday

    Galatians 1:3–10; Luke 9:37–43

Twenty–Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

    Ephesians 4:1–6; Luke 10:25–37

Twenty–Sixth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    1 Timothy 1:1–7; Luke 14:12–15

  Tuesday

    1 Timothy 1:8–14; Luke 14:25–35
  Wednesday

    1 Timothy 1:18–20, 2:8–15; Luke 15:1–10

  Thursday

    1 Timothy 3:1–13; Luke 16:1–9

  Friday

    1 Timothy 4:4–8, 16; Luke 16:15–18, 17:1–4

  Saturday

    Galatians 3:8–12; Luke 9:57–62

Twenty–Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

    Ephesians 5:9–19; Luke 12:16–21

Twenty–Seventh Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    1 Timothy 5:1–10; Luke 17:20–25

  Tuesday

    1 Timothy 5:11–21; Luke 17:26–37

  Wednesday

    1 Timothy 5:22—6:11; Luke 18:15–17, 26–30

  Thursday

    1 Timothy 6:17–21; Luke 18:31–34

  Friday

    2 Timothy 1:1, 2, 8–18; Luke 19:12–28
  Saturday

    Galatians 5:22—6:2; Luke 10:19–21

Twenty–Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

    Ephesians 6:10–17; Luke 13:10–17

Twenty–Eighth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    2 Timothy 2:20–26; Luke 19:37–44

  Tuesday

    2 Timothy 3:16—4:4; Luke 19:45–48

  Wednesday

    2 Timothy 4:9–22; Luke 20:1–8

  Thursday

    Titus 1:5—2:1; Luke 20:9–18

  Friday

    Titus 1:15—2:10; Luke 20:19–26

  Saturday

    Ephesians 1:16–23; Luke 12:32–40

Twenty–Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

    Colossians 1:12–18; Luke 18:35–43

Twenty–Ninth Week after Pentecost

  Monday
    Hebrews 3:5–11; Luke 20:27–44

  Tuesday

    Hebrews 4:1–13; Luke 21:12–19

  Wednesday

    Hebrews 5:11—6:8; Luke 21:5–7, 10–11, 20–24

  Thursday

    Hebrews 7:1–6; Luke 21:28–33

  Friday

    Hebrews 7:18–25; Luke 21:37—22:8

  Saturday

    Ephesians 2:11–13; Luke 13:18–29

Twenty–Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

    Colossians 3:12–16; Luke 17:12–19

Thirtieth Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    Hebrews 8:7–13; Mark 8:11–21

  Tuesday

    Hebrews 9:8–10, 15–23; Mark 8:22–26

  Wednesday

    Hebrews 10:1–18; Mark 8:30–34

  Thursday
    Hebrews 10:35—11:7; Mark 9:10–16

  Friday

    Hebrews 11:8, 11–16; Mark 9:33–41

  Saturday

    Ephesians 5:1–8; Luke 14:1–11

Thirtieth Sunday after Pentecost

    Colossians 3:12–16; Luke 18:18–27

Thirty–First Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    Hebrews 11:17, 27–31; Mark 9:42—10:1

  Tuesday

    Hebrews 12:25, 26, 13:22–25; Mark 10:2–12

  Wednesday

    James 1:1–18; Mark 10:11–16

  Thursday

    James 1:19–27; Mark 10:17–27

  Friday

    James 2:1–13; Mark 10:23–32

  Saturday

    Colossians 1:3–6; Luke 16:10–15

Thirty–First Sunday after Pentecost
    1 Timothy 1:15–17; Luke 18:35–43

Thirty–Second Week after Pentecost

  Monday

    James 2:14–26; Mark 10:46–52

  Tuesday

    James 3:1–10; Mark 11:11–23

  Wednesday

    James 3:11—4:6; Mark 11:23–26

  Thursday

    James 4:7—5:9; Mark 11:27–33

  Friday

    1 Peter 1:1, 2, 10–12, 2:6–10; Mark 12:1–12

  Saturday

    1 Thessalonians 5:14–23; Luke 17:3–10

Thirty–Second Sunday after Pentecost

    1 Timothy 4:9–15; Luke 19:1–10

  NOTE: In years when there are fewer than thirty–two weeks after Pentecost and before the
Triodion, some readings are omitted. In years when there are more than thirty–two weeks
between Pentecost and the Triodion, some readings may be repeated. Refer to the yearly
calendar for your diocese for details.

MAJOR FIXED FEASTS

  The readings for these feasts supersede those of the Pentecost cycle.
The Meeting of Our Lord Jesus Christ (February 2/15)

    Hebrews 7:7–17; Luke 2:22–40

The Annunciation to the Theotokos (March 25/April 7)

    Hebrews 2:11–18; Luke 1:24–38

The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ (August 6/19)

    2 Peter 1:10–19; Matthew 17:1–9

The Dormition of the Theotokos (August 15/28)

    Philippians 2:5–11; Luke 10:38–42; 11:27, 28

The Nativity of the Theotokos (September 8/21)

    Philippians 2:5–11; Luke 10:38–42; 11:27, 28

The Exaltation of the Precious and Life–Giving Cross (September 14/27)

    1 Corinthians 1:18–24; John 19:6–11, 13–20, 25–28, 30–35

The Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple (November 21/December 4)

    Hebrews 9:1–7; Luke 10:38–42; 11:27, 28

NATIVITY CYCLE

  The Nativity cycle begins two Sundays before December 25/January 7. The number of
weeks after Pentecost and before Nativity varies from year to year. The Nativity and
Theophany readings supersede those of the Pentecost cycle, which picks up again following
the Sunday after Theophany and runs until the week before the beginning of the Triodion.
(In years when Pascha is early, there may be little or no lapse of time between the two.)

Sunday of the Holy Ancestors of Christ (Two Sundays before Nativity)

  Colossians 3:4–11; Luke 14:16–24

Saturday before Nativity
  Galatians 3:8–12; Luke 13:18–29

Sunday before Nativity: Sunday of the Holy Fathers

  Hebrews 11:9–10, 17–23, 32–40; Matthew 1:1–25

Eve of the Nativity of Christ (December 24/January 6)

    VESPERS: (1) Genesis 1:1–13; (2) Numbers 24:2, 3; 5–9, 17, 18; (3) Micah 4:6, 7; 5:2–4;
    (4) Isaiah 11:1–10; (5) Baruch 3:36—4:4; (6) Daniel 2:31–36; 44, 45; (7) Isaiah 9:6–7; (8)
    Isaiah 7:10–16; 8:1–4, 8–10; LITURGY: Hebrews 1:1–12; Luke 2:1–20

The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (December 25/ January 7)

  Galatians 4:4–7; Matthew 2:1–12

Saturday after Nativity

  1 Timothy 6:11–16; Matthew 12:15–21

Sunday after the Nativity

  Galatians 1:11–19; Matthew 2:13–23

THEOPHANY CYCLE

Saturday before Theophany

  1 Timothy 3:14—4:5; Matthew 3:1–11

Sunday before Theophany

  2 Timothy 4:5–8; Mark 1:1–8

Eve of the Theophany (January 5/18)

VESPERS: (1) Genesis 1:1–13; (2) Exodus 14:15–18, 21–23, 27–29; (3) Exodus 15:22–27; 16:1;
(4) Joshua 3:7, 8, 15–17; (5) 2 Kings 2:6–14; (6) 2 Kings 5:9–14; (7) Isaiah 1:16–20; (8)
Genesis 32:1–10; (9) Exodus 2:5–10; (10) Judges 6:36–40; (11) 1 Kings 18:30–39; (12) 2
Kings 2:19–22; (13) Isaiah 49:8–15. LITURGY: 1 Corinthians 9:19–27; Luke 3:1–18.
BLESSING OF WATER: (1) Isaiah 35:1–10; (2) Isaiah 55:1–13; (3) Isaiah 12:3–6; 1
Corinthians 10:1–4; Mark 1:9–11

The Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ (January 6/19)

  Titus 2:11–14, 3:4–7; Matthew 3:13–17

Saturday after the Theophany

  Ephesians 6:10–17; Matthew 4:1–11

Sunday after the Theophany

  Ephesians 4:7–13; Matthew 4:12–17

LESSER FIXED FEASTS

  These readings supersede those of the Pentecost cycle.

The First and Second Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist (February 24/March 9)

  2 Corinthians 4:6–12; Matthew 11:2–15

The Third Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist (May 29/June 7)

  2 Corinthians 4:6–12; Matthew 11:2–15

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 4/July 7)

  Romans 13:11—14:4; Luke 1:1–15, 57–68, 76, 80

The Holy Leaders of the Apostles, Peter and Paul (June 29/July 12)

  2 Corinthians 11:21—12:9; Matthew 16:13–19

The Beheading of St. John the Baptist (August 29/ September 11)

  Acts 13:25–32; Mark 6:14–30.

The Conception of St. John the Baptist (September 23/October 6)

  Galatians 4:22–31; Luke 1:5–25
The Protection of the Theotokos (October 1/14)

  Hebrews 9:1–7; Luke 10:38–42; 11:27–28

Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and All the Bodiless Powers (November 8/21)

  Hebrew 2:2–10; Luke 10:16–21

The Conception of the Theotokos (December 9/21)

  Galatians 4:22–27; Luke 13:10–17

OTHER SPECIAL AND GENERAL FEASTDAYS

  These feasts may be celebrated for certain saints at the discretion of the local parish.

Holy Monks

  Galatians 5:22—6:2; Matthew 11:27–30

Holy Nuns

  Galatians 3:23–29; Matthew 25:1–13 or Luke 7:36–50

Holy Confessors

  Ephesians 6:10–17; Luke 12:8–12

Holy Martyr

  2 Timothy 2:1–10 or Acts 12:1–11; Luke 12:1–12 or John 15:17—16:2

Holy Martyrs

  Romans 8:28–39; Matthew 10:16–22 or Luke 21:12–19

Hieromartyr

  Hebrews 13:7–16; Luke 12:32–40

Hieromartyrs
  Hebrews 5:4–10 or Philippians 3:20—4:3; Luke 6:17–23, Luke 10:22–24 or Luke 14:25–35

Monk Martyr

  1 Timothy 1:8–18; Mark 8:34—9:1

Monk Martyrs

  Romans 8:28–39; Matthew 10:32–33, 37, 38; 19:27–30 or Luke 12:8–12

Female Martyrs

  2 Corinthians 6:1–10 or Galatians 3:23–29; Matthew 15:21–28 or Mark 5:24

Holy Unmercenary Healers

  1 Corinthians 12:27—13:8; Matthew 10:1, 5–8.

Prophets

  1 Corinthians 14:20–25, Hebrews 6:13–20 or James 5:10–20; Matthew 23:29–39 or Luke
11:47–54

Hierarch

  Hebrews 7:26—8:2; John 10:9–16

Hierarchs

  Hebrews 13:17–21; Matthew 5:14–19; John 10:9–16 or Luke 6:17–23

Commemoration of the Departed

  Monday

    Romans 16:6–9; John 5:17–24

  Tuesday

    1 Corinthians 15:39–57; John 5:24–30

  Wednesday
  2 Corinthians 5:1–10; John 6:35–39

Thursday

  1 Corinthians 15:20–28; John 6:40–44

Friday

  1 Corinthians 15:47–57; John 6:48–54

Saturday

  1 Thessalonians 4:13–17; John 5:24–30
                                         GLOSSARY

Words appearing in CAPITAL LETTERS have their own entries elsewhere in the glossary.

A

ABBA     The Aramaic term of intimacy used in addressing one’s father, somewhat equivalent
to the English “Papa.” Christ uses Abba in addressing God the FATHER (Mk 14:36). St. Paul
tells believers that their relationship with God through the HOLY SPIRIT is so personal that
they too may speak to Him as intimately as to their own father (Rom 8:15).

ABED-NEGO         The name given by Nebuchadnezzar to Azariah, a Hebrew youth who was a
prisoner along with Daniel the prophet and two others. A famous PRAYER by Azariah is
recorded in Daniel 3:25–45. The Seventh and Eight Odes of canons chanted in Matins and
other services are based on the Song of the Three Young Men.

ABSOLUTION         The PRAYER offered by a BISHOP or PRESBYTER for the FORGIVENESS
of sins. Following His glorious RESURRECTION, Christ breathed on His apostles and said,
“Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain
the sins of any, they are retained” (Jn 20:22, 23). This gift of proclaiming God’s forgiveness of
sins remains forever in the CHURCH. It is exercised in the sacraments of BAPTISM and
CONFESSION—the RECONCILIATION to the Church of Christian believers who have sinned
and repented. The priest or bishop is the WITNESS who bears testimony to the
REPENTANCE; only God forgives sins. (See article, “Confession,” at 1Jn 1.)

ADVENT       A forty-day period of PRAYER, REPENTANCE, and FASTING in preparation for
Christmas. The word stems from the Latin word for “coming.” During the fast the faithful
prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas, and also anticipate His SECOND COMING.
See also FASTING, NATIVITY.

AGAPE       Greek for the self-sacrificial love which God extends to His people. Agape also
designates a communal meal connected to the EUCHARIST which was a practice of the early
CHURCH (1Co 11:20–34).

ALEXANDRIA          A city in Egypt founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BC and prominent
in the books of the Maccabees.

ALLEGORY        A story filled with symbolism illustrating a spiritual reality beyond the actual
historical event being described. It is possible for a story to be both historical and allegorical.
Some Church Fathers combined both elements in interpreting the Bible. (See Lk 15:4–7; Gal
4:21–26.) See also TYPE.

ALLELUIA         The Greek form of the Hebrew word Hallelujah, which means “praise God.”
Orthodox Christians sing a chorus of Alleluias interspersed with verses from the Psalms prior
to the Gospel reading at the Divine Liturgy. See also PRAISE.

ALMS         Works of MERCY or monetary gifts given to help the poor. Throughout the
Scriptures, God’s people are called to help those less fortunate than themselves. (See Mt
25:31–46.)

ALPHA AND OMEGA             The letters which begin and end the Greek alphabet, and symbolize
the beginning and the end. “The Alpha and the Omega” is used as a title of Christ (Rev 1:8).

AMEN         “So be it” in Hebrew. Amen is said or sung at the close of a PRAYER or hymn,
showing the agreement of the people to what has been said (Dt 27:15–26; 1Co 14:16).

AMOS         A PROPHET of the Lord and author of the OT book of prophecy in which he
announced judgment against the nations and condemned the sins of Israel. He also foretold
many blessings to come. (See Am 9:11–15.)

ANGELS         Bodiless powers created before the CREATION of the physical universe. The
English word “angel” comes from the Greek word for “messenger.” Throughout the Scripture,
angels are messengers who carry the WORD OF GOD to earth (e.g., Gabriel’s visit to Mary,
Lk 1:26–38). The Orthodox Church recognizes nine “choirs” or groups of angels as found in
the Scriptures: Angels, Archangels, Powers, Authorities, Principalities, Dominions, Thrones,
Cherubim, and Seraphim. (See Gn 3:24; Is 6:2; Eph 1:21; Col 1:16; 1Th 4:16; 1Pt 3:22.)

ANNUNCIATION            The visit of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary to announce to
her that she had been chosen to bear Christ, the Son of God. The Feast of the Annunciation is
celebrated exactly nine months before Christmas on March 25. Mary’s Son was no ordinary
child, but God’s divine Son and Word in human flesh. (See article, “Mary,” at Lk 1; Is 7:14; Lk
1:26–38; Jn 1:1–14.)

ANTICHRIST         Literally; “against Christ” or “instead of Christ.” Antichrist is used by John
to refer to (a) the opponent of Christ who will arise at the end of this age, and (b) the “many
antichrists” who stand against the Son of God (1Jn 2:18, 22; 4:3).

ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES                The Greek King of Syria who persecuted the JEWS for many
years in the second century BC. (See 1Mc 6, 2Mc 2, and 4.)

APOSTASY         Literally, “turning away.” This sin is committed when a Christian or body of
believers rejects the true faith of Christ (1Ti 1:5–7; 4:1–3).

APOSTLE        Literally, “one who is sent.” Apostle is used as a title for the Twelve Disciples
who formed the foundation of the NT CHURCH, replacing, symbolically, the twelve tribes of
Israel. In order to maintain this symbolism, Matthias was elected to replace Judas (Acts 1:15–
26). The word is also used of The Seventy (or 72) sent by Christ, as well as of Paul, the
repentant persecutor whom the risen Christ sent as “apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom 11:13).
Great missionaries in the Church, such as Mary Magdalene (the “apostle to the apostles”),
Thekla, Nina, Vladimir, and Innocent of Alaska are often called “equal to the apostles.” The
extension of the apostolic ministry in the Church today is in the EPISCOPACY. See also
BISHOP.

ARK OF THE COVENANT               The chest with two cherubim on the lid in which Israel kept
the tablets of the COVENANT (the Ten Commandments) and other holy items. Stored at first
in the TABERNACLE and later in the Most Holy Place of the Jerusalem TEMPLE, it was later
lost to the Israelites. (See Ex 25:10, 16; Dt 10:8; 3Kg 8).

ASCENSION         The return of Christ, the Son of God in the flesh, to heaven following His
RESURRECTION (Lk 24:50, 51; Acts 1:9–11). Christ’s Ascension completes the union of God
and man, for a Man who is God now reigns in Heaven.

ASCETICISM         (from Gr. askesis, “athlete”) A spiritual struggle—the CRUCIFIXION of the
desires of the flesh––through a life of PRAYER, FASTING, and self-denial. Through
asceticism the Christian fights temptation to sin and thereby grows in spiritual strength. Such
spiritual classics as The Philokalia and The Ladder of Divine Ascent give directions for the
ascetic life. (See Lk 9:23; Gal 5:24.)

AUTHORITY         The rule of God over the world and the legitimate authority given by God to
those ORDAINED to shepherd the faithful (Heb 13:17). Also, one of the nine choirs of angels.
See also ANGELS.
B

BAAL      The (male) god worshiped by the Canaanites and other heathen faced by Israel in
the OT. Sometimes Israelites turned from WORSHIP of the Lord God to worship Baal. This
false god is often associated with immorality. (See especially the books of Judges, Numbers,
and Kings.)

BALAAM        A PROPHET who predicted the coming Messiah in his very last prophecy “A Star
shall rise out of Jacob; and a Man shall rise out of Israel” (Nm 24:17).

BAPTISM         (from Gr. baptizo, “to be plunged”) The SACRAMENT whereby one is BORN
AGAIN, buried with Christ, resurrected with Him and united to Him. In baptism, one
becomes a Christian and is joined to the CHURCH. Through Christ’s baptism, water was set
apart unto God as the means by which the HOLY SPIRIT would bring to us new life and
entrance into the heavenly Kingdom. (See article “Holy Baptism,” at Rom 6; see also Mt 3:13–
17; 28:19; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38, 39; Rom 6:3; Col 2:12; 1Pt 3:21.)

BEATITUDE Literally, “exalted happiness” or “blessing.” The ninefold blessing of Christ in
the Sermon on the Mount is called the Beatitudes (Mt 5:3–12).

BELIEF        The acceptance of the truths of the gospel. More than a mental assent, belief as
used in the NT includes relying upon or trusting in God from the HEART. Such belief results
from (1) hearing the WORD OF GOD (Rom 10:17) and (2) a gift of the HOLY SPIRIT (Eph
2:8). But faith without action (that is, a distinct movement of the will to follow Christ) is
hollow and void of the RIGHTEOUSNESS that brings us SALVATION. (See article,
“Justification by Faith,” at Rom 5; Mt 7:21; Jn 3:16; Jam 2:14–26.)

BENEDICTION           Literally, “good word.” Benedictions were given by Christ (Lk 24:50, 51)
and by the APOSTLES (2Co 13:14), and are given by the BISHOP or PRIEST at the close of
every Divine Liturgy. (Other biblical benedictions include: Nm 6:24–26; Eph 3:20, 21; and
Heb 13:20, 21.)

BISHOP         (Gr. episkopos, “overseer.”) A bishop is the leader of a local community of
Christians. In the New Testament there is often no clear distinction between the offices of
bishop and elder (PRESBYTER), both of which function as leaders of the community. How
ever, by the mid to late first century, the CHURCH began to reserve the title bishop for the
men of spiritual qualification who were consecrated to follow the apostles in their office of
oversight. (See article, “The Four ‘Orders’ in Church Government,” at 1Ti; Acts 1:15–26;
14:23; 1Ti 3:1–7.)

BORN AGAIN           Literally, “born from above.” A person is born again to new life in Christ to
enter God’s eternal Kingdom. This new birth takes place through the SACRAMENT of
BAPTISM (Jn 3:16; Rom 6:3, 4; Gal 3:27). Spiritual life begins by receiving the HOLY SPIRIT
in baptism and CHRIS-MATION, and is a dynamic process which continues throughout life.
(See article, “The New Birth,” at Jn 3.)

BROTHERS OF THE LORD                St. James, the first BISHOP of Jerusalem, Joses, Simon, and
Judas are referred to as brothers of Christ (Mt 13:55). In the ancient Middle East one’s close
relatives were frequently referred to as brothers and sisters. For example, Lot is clearly
Abram’s nephew (Gn 14:12), but Lot is also called “his brother” (Gn 14:14). There is an
ancient TRADITION that the “brothers and sisters” of Christ were actually children of St.
Joseph from an earlier marriage; they are never in Scripture called the children of Mary and
Joseph. Thus, these references to siblings of Christ do not contradict the belief of the historic
CHURCH—East and West—that the Virgin Mary was a virgin before, during, and after the
birth of Christ. The absence of blood brothers is strongly reinforced by Christ’s act of
entrusting Mary to the care of the apostle John (Jn 19:26, 27), which would have been against
the Mosaic Law had she had other natural children.

C

CANON       Literally, “a rule.” It describes (1) the inspired Books of the Bible—the Canon of
Scripture; (2) the rules and decrees issued by the early Church (see Acts 15:23–29) and by
Ecumenical Councils—Canon Law; and (3) certain parts of worship, such as the Liturgical
Canon or the Canon of MATINS.

CHRISMATION             The sacrament completing BAPTISM, whereby one receives the gift of
the HOLY SPIRIT through anointing with the Chrism, a specially prepared oil which must be
consecrated by a BISHOP. In Acts, a baptized Christian received the gift of the Holy Spirit
through the laying on of the hands of an APOSTLE. (See Acts 8:14–17; 19:6.) Chrismation is a
continuation of this ancient practice in the Church. (See article, “Chrismation,” at Acts 2.)

CHURCH        (Gr. ekklesia, the “called out,” the “assembly.”) The faithful are called out of the
world to be the Church: the body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, the New Israel, the ark of
SALVATION, the assembly of believers. Through the Church, Christians are united to Christ
and to each other. In this community, the believer receives the GRACE of God through the
sacraments and hears the truth of the gospel. This mystical transformation of people into one
body in Christ takes place in the EUCHARIST. Because Christ is Head of the Church, the
Church is a reflection of His INCARNATION, with both human and divine qualities. (See Mt
16:18; 1Co 10:16, 17; Gal 6:16; Eph 4:12; 5:22–32.)

CLOUD       A “pillar of cloud” (Ex 13:21) was sent by God to help Israel find its way in the
wilderness when the people left Egypt.

COMMANDMENT             The Law of God, given first to Moses in the Ten Commandments on
Mt. Sinai, and completed or fulfilled by the teaching of Christ (Ex 20:1–17; Mt 5:1–7:27; Jn
15:12).

COMMUNION           (Gr. koinonia) A common union of the most intimate kind, enjoyed by
Christians with God and with each other in the CHURCH. This communion is especially
realized in the mystery of the EUCHARIST (Jn 6:56; 1Co 10:16, 17). See also KOINONIA.

CONFESSION         (1) The avowal or verbal witness of faith in Christ, leading to SALVATION
(Rom 10:9). (2) The SACRAMENT of the FORGIVENESS of sins, whereby the repentant
sinner confesses his sins to Christ in the presence of the priest, who pronounces God’s
ABSOLUTION of those sins. (See article, “Confession,” at 1Jn; Jn 20:22, 23; 1Jn 1:9.)

CONVERSION         The beginning of SALVATION, occurring when a person repents, believes
the gospel, and enters into a personal union and relationship with Christ. Conversion is not
merely a change of belief but the beginning of a new life in Christ (2Co 5:17), which is a
process of growth into the image and likeness of God. Our salvation is the working together
of conversion, JUSTIFICATION and SANCTIFICATION throughout life.

CORNERSTONE           The stone which ties together walls meeting at right angles, especially
the one establishing the stability of a building. (See Ps 117:22; Ps 2:6–8; Is 28:16 and 1Pt 2:6–
8.)

CORRUPTION           The state of mortality and sinfulness, the universal condition of fallen
humanity. All people are born into a world suffering the consequences of the Fall, the sin of
Adam and Eve. These consequences include physical suffering, death, lack of perfection and a
propensity to sin. (See Ps 52:4; Is 53:6; Rom 3:23; 1Jn 5:19.)
COSMOS       The universe or world, created by God from nothing. It is controlled by God; He
is the life of the world. Sin has corrupted the entire cosmos, and the rule of evil will not be
abolished until the SECOND COMING of Jesus Christ. The universe will finally be redeemed
by Christ when He comes again to transform the cosmos into a new heaven and a new earth.
(See Gn 1:1; Rom 8:19–22; Rev 21:1.)

COUNCIL        A group of Christians gathered to deliberate and ask for the guidance of the
HOLY SPIRIT to administer the CHURCH and decide various doctrinal, moral, and liturgical
questions. The Orthodox Church is conciliar (operating by councils) on all levels, from a
parish to a worldwide council. While councils are not seen as infallible, their decisions
become part of Church life when they are received by the entire Church. Besides the
Jerusalem Council recorded in Acts 15, the Church counts Seven Ecumenical Councils in her
history, from AD 325 to 787.

COVENANT        An agreement or testament between men or between God and His people. In
the OT, God chose the people of Israel, ending with John the Baptist, to prepare the way for
the coming of His Only Begotten Son. Through Christ, the covenant was perfected, and the
promises of God to Abraham and the Jews are fulfilled through the CHURCH, the New Israel,
the new covenant people of God. (See Gn 13:14–16; Gal 3:6–9; 1Pt 2:9, 10.)

CREATION        Everything made by God. The term creation is applied to the COSMOS in
general and to mankind in particular. Our regeneration in Christ and the RESURRECTION of
the dead are both often called the “new creation” (2Co 5:17; also Rev 21:1). Creation has no
existence apart from God, but is nevertheless distinct from God. (That which is not created,
such as divine GRACE, the divine energies, belongs to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.)

CREED      A statement of belief. Creeds in their earlier forms were used by the apostles, and
many are recorded in the NT (Eph 5:14; 1Ti 3:16; 2Ti 2:11–13). The Creed used throughout the
CHURCH was adopted at the COUNCIL of Nicea in AD 325 and expanded at the Council of
Constantinople in AD 381. This Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, commonly called the
Nicene Creed, is used at baptisms, in the Divine Liturgy, and in personal daily prayers.

CRUCIFIXION        A form of execution of criminals used by the ancient Romans in which the
offender was nailed through his wrists and ankles to a cross. A crucified person usually died
from suffocation after becoming too exhausted to pull himself up in order to breathe. Besides
Christ Himself (Mt 27:35–50), the apostles Peter, Andrew, James the Less, and Simon were
also crucified.

CURSE       (Gr. anathema) To “cut off,” “separate”; the opposite of blessing. A divine curse is
God’s judgment. Christ delivers believers from the curse caused by their inability to live by
the law of God. (See Gn 3:14–19; 9:25; Mk 11:21; Gal 3:10–14.)

CYRENE          A colonial city in today’s Libya established by the Greeks as a regional center in
North Africa (1Mc 15:23). Simon, who carried Jesus’ Cross, was “a man of Cyrene” (Mt
27:32).

D

DARKNESS            A symbol of sin and rejection of God, who is LIGHT and whose followers
walk in the light of RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jn 1:5; Rom 13:12).

DAY OF ATONEMENT               The one day each year when the OT high priest offered sacrifices
for the sins of the people; on this day (and on no other) the high priest entered the Most Holy
Place of the TEMPLE to sprinkle blood on the ARK OF THE COVENANT, the mercy seat, to
reconcile Israel with God.

DEACON          Literally, “servant.” Originally seven deacons were ordained to assist the apostles
with the temporal affairs of the CHURCH (Acts 6:1–7). St. Paul writes of the qualifications
for deacon (1Ti 3:8–13). This established office has continued in the CHURCH Deacons help
in the Church and assist the BISHOP and priest in liturgical services, but cannot preside over
the EUCHARIST, give blessings or pronounce ABSOLUTION. In the NT (Rom 16:1) and the
early Church, women also served as deacons or deaconesses, assisting others but not serving
liturgically.

DEIFICATION           The GRACE of God through which believers grow to become like Him and
enjoy intimate COMMUNION with the FATHER through the Son in the HOLY SPIRIT. (See
article, “Deification,” at 2Pt 1; 2Co 3:18; 5:17; 2Pt 1:2–4.)

DEPARTED            The dead. Following death and judgment, those who have accepted God’s
truth and love as fully revealed in Christ and the HOLY SPIRIT inherit eternal life in heaven.
Those who have rejected His gift inherit eternal darkness. (See Mk 16:16; Lk 16:19–31; Heb
9:27.)

DEVIL      Satan, the leader of the fallen angels. Called by Jesus the “father of lies” (Jn 8:44),
Satan tempts the faithful to join his rebellion against God. The Greek word for devil means
“separator”; he seeks to steal people away from God (Jn 10:10). Although not evil by
NATURE, the devil turned by his free choice from what was according to nature to what was
against it (Is 14:12–15). At the end of time, Christ will judge the devil and his followers and
cast them into hell. (See Mt 25:41; Lk 10:18; 1Pt 5:8.)

DISCIPLESHIP         The life of learning, growing, self-sacrifice, and commitment required of
every Christian. A Christian not only believes in Christ but leaves everything to follow Him.
(See Mt 4:18–22; 7:21–23; Lk 9:23; Gal 5:24.)

DOCTRINE The teaching of the Church, called variously the doctrine of Christ (2Jn 9), the
apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42), or sound doctrine (Tts 1:9; see 2Ti 3:16; Rom 16:17).

E

EASTER       The Feast of the RESURRECTION of Christ, also known as PASCHA (from the
Hebrew word for PASSOVER). St. Paul calls Christ “our Passover” who “was sacrificed for us”
1Co 5:7). Orthodox Christians celebrate Pascha or Easter according to the decree of the
COUNCIL of Nicea in AD 325: the first Sunday following the first full moon following the
spring equinox following the Jewish Passover. Thus, Orthodox Easter is sometimes one, four,
or five weeks after the Roman Catholic Easter—which Protestants also follow.

EDOMITES         Descendants of Esau. They warred against Israel during the days of the
Maccabees. Edomites are also known as Idumeans. The name Idumea was used by both the
Greeks and Romans for the country of Edom. (See 1Mc 5:65.)

ENERGY       Used theologically, that which radiates from the hidden ESSENCE or NATURE of
God. The energies of God, such as GRACE, are not created, and allow the believer to enter
into a personal relationship with God whose essence always remains hidden from humanity.
Moses was permitted to see the GLORY of God, His energies, but was forbidden to gaze on
the face of God, His hidden essence. (See Ex 33:18–23; 2Pt 1:2–4.)

EPIPHANY        Literally, “a breaking through from above.” The word means a manifestation
or THEOPHANY of God. Examples of epiphanies are the burning bush (Ex 3:1–6) and the
TRANSFIGURATION of Christ (Mt 17:1–13). Twelve days after Christmas, the Church
celebrates the Feast of Epiphany to honor the manifestation of the Holy TRINITY at the
BAPTISM of Christ (Mk 1:9–11).
EPISCOPACY            The order of bishops in the Church (from Gr. episkopos, “overseer”). See
also BISHOP.

ESCHATOLOGY             The study of the last days. According to the Holy Scriptures, Christ will
come again at the end of time to judge the living and the dead, destroy the power of evil, and
fully reveal the everlasting Kingdom (Mt 25:31–46; Rev 20:10–21:1). See also SECOND
COMING.

ESSENCE        Also called “substance,” “NATURE” or “form.” God the FATHER, the Son, and
the HOLY SPIRIT are “of one essence.” Jesus Christ is “of one essence” with God the Father
and the Holy Spirit in His divinity, and “of one essence” with all human beings in His
humanity. God’s essence is beyond the understanding and comprehension of His creatures.
God can be known by humans through the divine energies and operations of the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit (Ex 33:18–23). See also ENERGY.

EUCHARIST        Taken from a Greek word meaning “THANKSGIVING,” Eucharist designates
Holy COMMUNION, the central act of Christian WORSHIP At the Last Supper Christ gave
thanks (Mt 26:27; 1Co 11:24), and embodied in the communion service is our own
thanksgiving. The word came into use very early, and appears in the late first century
document, The Didache (“Now concerning the Eucharist. . . .” Did. 9:1) and also the letters of
St. Ignatius of Antioch (Ign. Phil. 4:1) written about AD 107.

EVANGELIST            One who preaches the gospel; used especially of Matthew, Mark, Luke and
John, who wrote the four NT Gospels. It is also one of Christ’s gifts (Eph 4:11).

EXCOMMUNICATION                 Literally, “out of communion.” This judgment is pronounced
usually by the BISHOP of the CHURCH on willfully heretical, immoral, or divisive persons
who refuse to repent of their sins, excluding them from the sacramental life of the Church
(1Co 5:1–5). Excommunication is not viewed as eternal damnation but as temporal discipline.
It is administered for the SALVATION of the excommunicated person, with the hope the
sinner will repent.

F

FAITH     Belief and trust in Christ as one’s Savior, or a reference to Orthodox Christianity as
“The Faith.” The effects of this faith are freedom from the power of the DEVIL, the growth
and maturity in VIRTUE, and progress toward perfection and union with God. One is saved
by faith through GRACE—a living faith manifested by a righteous life. (See article,
“Justification by Faith,” at Rom 5; see also Rom 3:28; Gal 2:1; Eph 2:8; Jam 2:14–17.)

FASTING      An exercise or discipline whereby one typically gives up certain foods as a means
of disciplining the body and stilling human PASSION. Fasting is a part of the practice of
ASCETICISM in the Church and a sign of REPENTANCE Orthodox Christians fast on most
Wednesdays and Fridays (in memory of the betrayal and CRUCIFIXION of Christ) and
during four fasting seasons: (1) ADVENT, the forty days before Christmas; (2) Great Lent,
forty days before Palm Sunday and the week before Easter; (3) two weeks before the Feast of
Ss. Peter and Paul (June 29); and (4) two weeks before the Feast of the Falling Asleep of the
Virgin Mary (Aug. 15). (See Mt 6:16; Rom 13:14; Gal 5:16, 17.)

FATHER       (1) God the Father is the “fountainhead” of the Holy TRINITY, for God the Son is
eternally begotten of God the Father, and God the HOLY SPIRIT proceeds eternally from God
the Father. (See Mt 28:19; Jn 3:16; 14:10; 15:26.) (2) “Father” is also a title given to one’s
spiritual father based on the custom of the Jews, who spoke of their father Abraham or their
father David, and on the words of St. Paul, who called himself the father of his flock. (See Lk
1:73; 16:24; 1Co 4:15.)

FELLOWSHIP          (Gr. koinonia) Literally, “COMMUNION”; the unity of believers through
Christ based on the fellowship of the FATHER, Son, and HOLY SPIRIT. Christians are united
into a special fellowship through their love for one another and common union with Christ
(Acts 2:42; 1Jn 1:3, 7). See also COMMUNION.

FILIOQUE        A Latin word meaning “and the Son.” Roman Catholic and, later, Protestant
churches have added words to the Nicene Creed: “I believe in the HOLY SPIRIT . . . who
proceeds from the FATHER and the Son.” The filioque is judged by the Orthodox Church as
error because it is contrary to what Jesus taught (Jn 15:26). Thus, the filioque confuses the
true belief concerning the Holy Trinity. The addition of the filioque was a major factor
contributing to the Great Schism in the eleventh century.

FORGIVENESS:          The remission of sin and guilt through the love of Christ. Forgiveness is
given originally in BAPTISM; forgiveness for continuing sin is reclaimed through
REPENTANCE As God has forgiven the sins of believers, so are Christians to forgive those
who have sinned against them (Mt 6:14, 15; 18:21–35; 1Jn 1:9).

FORNICATION          (Gr. porneia); from which we get the word “pornography.” It is the sin of
sexual immorality. Fornication is strongly condemned in Scripture. (See 1Co 6:16–18; Gal
5:19; Col 3:5.)

FREE WILL         The freedom to choose between good and evil. Free will is one aspect of
human NATURE created in God’s image. According to Orthodox teaching, sin stains the
image of God but does not destroy it. Human beings have the right to accept or reject the
gospel, but must accept the consequences of their decision. (See Gn 3:22, 23; Rev 3:20.)

G

GABRIEL       Literally “man of God.” An archangel who explained to Daniel the meaning of a
vision (Dan 8:16 and following). Later, he also told Daniel the meaning of a prophecy (Dan
9:21–27). In the NT we see Gabriel announcing first the conception of John the Baptist (Lk
1:11–22) and sometime later the conception of our Lord Jesus Christ (Lk 1:26–38).

GENTILE       A non-Jew. Christ and His apostles first preached the gospel to the JEWS, those
chosen by God to prepare the way for the Messiah. But because Christ Himself died for all,
Jew and Gentile, SALVATION is therefore offered to all, both Gentile and Jew. Those Gentiles
(and Jews) who believe in Christ become the true sons of Abraham. (See Acts 11; 15:1–29;
Rom 1:16; Gal 3:6–9.)

GIFTS     Charismatic or spiritual gifts are blessings and abilities given by the HOLY SPIRIT
to believers for the building up of the Body of Christ. (See Rom 12:6–8; 1Co 12; 13; 1Jn 3:24.)

GLORY         The divine splendor of God, or a specific manifestation of God’s presence,
frequently likened to a CLOUD, smoke, or brilliant LIGHT. To serve and WORSHIP God is to
glorify Him. Through the HOLY SPIRIT, Christians are being changed to be like God and to
reflect His glory. (See Ex 19:9, 16–18; Is 60:1; Lk 2:9; Rom 8:16–18; 2Co 3:18; 4:6.) See also
SHEKINAH.

GLOSSOLALIA           Literally, “speaking in tongues.” St. Paul used the term to describe a
spiritual gift in the early CHURCH, not an emotional experience (1Co 12:10). At PENTECOST
the gift was given to allow those present to hear the gospel in their native language (Acts 2:6).
In Corinth, the gift was an ecstatic utterance (1Co 14:2). The APOSTLE warned against too
much emphasis on this experience, urging instead that believers seek to manifest love (1Co
13:1) and communicate the gospel intelligibly (1Co 14:19). Glossolalia has never played a
significant role in historic Orthodox spirituality. (See 1Co 12–14.)
GNOSTICISM A very complex ancient heresy that was manifested in many different forms
and beliefs. The Gnostics taught that Christ had imparted secret knowledge (Gr. gnosis) to a
select few, who in turn transmitted hidden truths to an elite. Central to Gnosticism is the
denial of the goodness of matter, leading to a denial of the reality of the INCARNATION of
the Son of God and of His bodily RESURRECTION. Several schools of Gnosticism taught that
SALVATION consisted of liberation from the physical body and of growth to a higher,
nonphysical, spiritual level of existence. Orthodoxy has always rejected Gnosticism, teaching
that the world and man were created good and will be redeemed by Christ and transformed at
the end of this age (Gn 1:1–31; Rom 8:19–22; 1Co 15:35–55; Rev 21:1).

GOSPEL       Literally, “the good news.” The term comes from the ancient word announcing
the ascension of a new ruler to the throne. The Christian gospel is summarized in the
statement, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Mt 3:2; 4:17).

GRACE       The gift of God’s own presence and action in His creation. Through grace, God
forgives sins and transforms the believer into His image and likeness. Grace is not merely
unmerited favor—an attitude of God toward the believer. Grace is God’s uncreated ENERGY
bestowed in the sacraments and is therefore truly experienced. A Christian is saved through
grace, which is a gift of God and not a reward for good works. However, because grace
changes a person, he or she will manifest the effects of grace through righteous living. (See
Jn 1:17; Rom 5:21; Eph 1:7; 2:8; 2Th 1:12; 1Pt 5:5.)

H

HADES       A Greek word equivalent to the Hebrew Sheol—the realm of the dead. Following
His burial and before His glorious RESURRECTION, Christ liberated the righteous dead in
Hades, enabling them to enter PARADISE because He had destroyed sin and death by His
life-giving death (1Pt 3:18–20).

HANANIAH         Jewish name of one of the three youths held by Nebuchadnezzar along with
Daniel. Hananiah’s name in exile was Shadrach (See Dan 1:6, 7, 11). He is described as one
whose faith saved him from fire (1Mc 2:59).

HANUKKAH           The Jewish festival of lights that commemorates the rededication of the
Jerusalem TEMPLE to more traditional modes of Jewish worship by JUDAS MAC-CABEUS
around 164 BC after its desecration by the Seleucid King ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES.
HEART        In scriptural terms, the spiritual center of one’s being. The heart is the seat of
divine presence and GRACE and the source of moral acts. The ongoing transformation of the
heart is the major work of God’s saving grace. (See Mt 5:8; 6:21; 22:37; Lk 6:45; Jn 7:38; Rom
2:29; 10:9, 10; Heb 13:9.)

HERESY       Following one’s own choice or opinion so as to cause division among Christians.
Heresy is a system of thought contradicting the true teachings of the CHURCH. It is false
teaching, which true Christians must reject (Mt 7:15; 2Pt 2:1).

HOLINESS          is the goodness of God Who alone is good (Mt 19:17). Holiness is manifested
in people being renewed and transformed by the HOLY SPIRIT, who seek to become holy as
God is holy (Rom 12:1; 1Pt 1:14–16; 2:9).

HOLY SPIRIT         One of the Holy TRINITY, sometimes referred to as “The Spirit of the Lord
God” (Is 61:1).

HOPE An expectation of something desired through faith (Heb 11:1). Hope for Christians is
to “look forward to the RESURRECTION from the dead and the life of the world to come”
(The CREED). (Jn 16:20–24, 33; Rom 5:2; 8:24, 25; 2Th 2:16).

I

ICON      A transliterated Greek word meaning “IMAGE” (Col 1:15). Icons of Christ and His
saints depict the reality of the INCAR-NATION: because the Son of God became Man, He can
be imaged. Orthodox Christians honor or venerate icons, but never WORSHIP them, for
worship is due the Holy TRINITY alone. The honor given to icons passes on to the one
represented on the icon, as a means of THANKSGIVING for what God has done in that
person’s life.

IDOL     A statue or other IMAGE of a false god, such as the “golden calf” (Ex 32:4–8). Also,
anything that is worshiped in place of the one true God. Money, possessions, fame, even
family members can become idols if we put them ahead of Christ our God. (See Lv 26:1; Col
3:5.)

ILLUMINATION “Enlightenment.” In the Bible, DARKNESS is often used as an image of
sin and death. To be illuminated is to be shown the true path of RIGHTEOUSNESS in God,
thereby being led out of the darkness of sin and death. BAPTISM is called illumination,
because in it we are delivered from sin and death and regenerated by the HOLY SPIRIT. (See
2Ez 9:8; Ps 12:4; 18:28; Dan 5:11, 14; Tb 12:15–22; Eph 1:18.)

IMAGE       (Gr. eikon) The Bible teaches that man was created in the image and likeness of
God. Men and women reflect the divine image by their ability to reason and to choose freely.
Through Christ, the image of God is renewed in fallen man as believers are renewed and
transformed by the GRACE of the HOLY SPIRIT. (See Gn 1:26; Rom 8:29; 2Co 3:18.) See
ICON.

IMMANUEL         “God with us,” a title of Christ Who is God in the flesh (Is 7:14; Mt 1:22, 23).

INCARNATE        From Latin, meaning “to become flesh.” Christ is God Incarnate: He became
flesh, that is, a Man. Thus, Jesus Christ is perfect God and perfect Man in one Divine
PERSON (Lk 1:26–38; Jn 1:1–14; Php 2:5–7).

INCENSE        The sap of the frankincense tree, or other aromatic substances, dried and
burned in honor of God. The offering of incense has been associated with the WORSHIP of
God since God commanded Moses to burn incense to Him in the TABERNACLE (Ex 30:1–8).
The WORD OF GOD came to the PROPHET Malachi (1:11) predicting, “among the Gentiles
[the Church] . . . incense shall be offered to My name . . .” The Magi offered frankincense to
the infant Christ (Mt 2:9–11). Incense manifests the prayers of the saints as they ascend to
heaven (Ps 140:2). It is found in OT and NT accounts of the worship of God in heaven (Is 6:4;
Rev 5:8).

INFANT BAPTISM            There are numerous biblical passages which support the ancient
Christian practice of infant baptism, which was universal in the CHURCH until the
Anabaptist reaction after the Protestant Reformation. Among these are: “Let the little
children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt
19:14); the BAPTISM of whole households and families, presumably including children (Acts
16:14, 15, 25–33); and Paul’s comparison of circumcision—given to infant boys—to baptism
(Col 2:11, 12; see also Jn 3:3–6; Rom 6:3, 4; Gal 3:27; 1Pt 3:21)

INTERCESSION         Supplication to God in behalf of another person. Christ intercedes before
God the FATHER in behalf of the repentant sinner, and God’s people intercede for one
another. (See Is 53:12; Jer 27:18; Dan 9:3–19; Rom 8:34.)

J
JEWS      Originally, God’s chosen people who followed the COVENANT given by the Lord to
Moses. In the OT, the Jews are (1) citizens of Judah, (2) the postexilic people of Israel, or (3)
the worshipers of Yahweh. God chose the Jews to prepare the way for the coming of the
Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God. Through Christ the distinction between
Jew and GENTILE has been overcome, and all who truly follow Him have become the chosen
people of God. (See Acts 22:3; Rom 1:16; 2:28, 29; Gal 3:28; 1Pt 2:9.)

JUDAS MACCABEUS              Son of Mattathias. Called “Maccabeus” (Hammer) because of his
sturdy defense of the Israelites in the face of those who wished to destroy them. (See 1Mc
2:4.)

JUDGES         The period of the Judges ruling Israel was between the conquest of the
Canaanites (Jdg 1:1) and the establishment of the monarchy under Saul (1Kg 10:17–24) when
the Israelites were settling the land of Canaan. The Book of Judges contains the stories of
several individual judges.

JUSTIFICATION           In BAPTISM (Rom 6:1–6), God forgives one’s sins and begins to
transform him or her into a righteous person. (See article, “Justification by Faith,” at Rom 5;
also Rom 5:1, 2; Gal 2:16; Php 2:12, 13; Jam 2:24.)

K

KINGDOM OF GOD            God’s rule and reign. This Kingdom, revealed by Christ, is present in
the world through the CHURCH. The fullness of the Kingdom will come when Christ returns
to judge the living and the dead, creating a new heaven and earth. (See Mk 1:15; Jn 3:3–5;
Rom 8:20, 21; 1Co 6:9, 10; Rev 21:1—22:5.)

KISS OF PEACE        A kiss given by one believer to another. It is a sign of Christian unity and
fellowship. (See 1Co 16:20.) In the Divine Liturgy, the clergy and in some Churches, also the
laity, exchange the kiss of peace before saying the Nicene CREED.

KOINONIA           A Greek word meaning COMMUNION or intimate fellowship. This
relationship exists between Christians who are united by love into one body in Christ. (See
Acts 2:41, 42; 2Co 13:14; 1Jn 1:1–7.)

L

LAMB OF GOD          Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, offered Himself as a perfect SACRIFICE
for the sins of the world (Jn 1:29). In the Preparatory Service of the Orthodox Church, the
bread and wine are made ready to be consecrated in the EUCHARIST. The priest cuts out the
center section of the loaf, called “the Lamb,” for use in COMMUNION as the Body of Christ.
(See the OT prophecy in Is 53:7–8.)

LAST JUDGMENT            The judgment that takes place after the SECOND COMING of Christ
and the final RESURRECTION from the dead. (See Mt 25:31–46; 16:8–11; Rev 20:11–15.)

LIGHT      The Bible frequently uses light as a symbol of God and of that which is good, that
which overcomes the DARKNESS of sin and death. Candles are used in the CHURCH to
symbolize the light of Christ. Christians are to be lights shining in the world to show the way
of RIGHTEOUSNESS and SALVATION (Mt 5:14; Jn 8:12).

LITURGY       The work or public service of the people of God, which is the WORSHIP of the
one true God. The Eucharistic service of the Orthodox Church is called the “Divine Liturgy.”

M

MAGNIFICAT         The PRAYER or hymn sung by the Virgin Mary when she visited Elizabeth,
the mother of John the Baptist, shortly after the ANNUNCIATION (Lk 1:46–55). This hymn
is sung frequently during MATINS in the Orthodox Church, and takes its title from the Latin
for the beginning phrase, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” (See also 1Kg 2:1–10.)

MAN     (Gr. Anthropos) Frequently used in the Bible in the generic sense for both man and
woman. Man is the pinnacle of God’s CREATION, for only he among the creatures was made
in the IMAGE and likeness of God. (See Gn 1:26, 27; Lk 4:4.)

MARTYR        (Gr. martyria) Literally, “a WITNESS.” The term is used to describe those who
give their lives for Christ, both in life and in death. (See Jn 1:6–8; Acts 6:8—7:60.)

MATINS      The early morning PRAYER service in the Orthodox CHURCH.

MEDIATOR        One who intervenes on behalf of another. Jesus Christ mediates on behalf of
the faithful before God the FATHER (1Ti 2:5).

MERCY      The compassionate, steadfast love of God for sinners. Christians reflect the mercy
of God by caring for others. The most frequent PRAYER in Orthodox WORSHIP is “Lord,
have mercy.” (See Mt 5:7; Eph 2:4–7; Tts 3:4–7.)
MESSIAH        The Christ, the anointed one of God. Jesus Christ is the Messiah, fulfilling all
the promises made by God to His chosen people. (See Is 7:14; 9:6; Mt 16:13–17.)

MIRACLE       A sign whereby God supersedes the laws of nature in a MYSTERY. Jesus Christ
performed many miracles, showing His mastery over NATURE, while other miracles
demonstrated His POWER over sin, disease, and death. The apostles continued to manifest
the power of God through miracles in Jesus’ name. Healings, weeping icons, and other
contemporary miracles show His power and presence in the CHURCH today. (See Mt 8:1–34;
Jn 11:1–44; Acts 3:6–9.)

MISSION       A task given by God to His people. Christ sent The Seventy on a mission (Lk
10:1–24). St. Paul went on three missionary journeys to preach the gospel (Acts 13:1—14:28;
15:36—18:22; 18:23—21:16). The mission of the Church today is to proclaim Christ to the
world (Mt 28:18–20).

MYSTERY        The ways of God, especially God’s plan for SALVATION, cannot be known with
the rational, finite human mind. It can only be experienced by the revelation of God. The
Orthodox Church also uses the term mystery for the sacraments of the Church. (See Mk 4:11;
1Co 2:7, 8; Eph 5:32.) See also SACRAMENT.

N

NATIVITY       The birth of Christ according to the flesh. (See note for Matthew 2:11; notes for
Lk 1:8; 2:1–3; 2:7.) This holy day is also called “Christmas.”

NATURE       The sum of the qualities shared by individuals of the same type. (The qualities
which distinguish individuals of a type from another make up the “PERSON.”) The Holy
TRINITY is one Divine Nature in three Persons. Humanity is one human nature in the image
of God. Although stained by sin, human nature is good, having been created in the IMAGE of
God. Through GRACE, the SPIRIT restores the nature of the believer to its true, uncorrupted
state, so that he or she may grow into union with God. (See Gn 1:26–31; 2Co 3:18; 5:17.)

NETHINIM         Temple servants in the OT. In the LXX, the word is transliterated from the
Hebrew and usually appears as “the Nethinim,” and never in the singular.

NEW JERUSALEM              The center of the KINGDOM OF GOD which will be established
following the SECOND COMING of Christ and the LAST JUDGMENT (Gal 4:26; Rev 3:12;
21:2).

NEW MAN          One who is being transformed or deified by the HOLY SPIRIT into a new
creature in COMMUNION with God (2Co 5:17; Gal 6:15).

O

ORDINATION          The sacramental act setting a man apart for the ministry of the CHURCH
by the laying on of hands of a BISHOP. The original meaning of ordination includes both
election and imposing of hands. (See article, “Ordination,” at Acts 14; Acts 6:1–6; 14:23; 1Ti
4:14.)

ORIGINAL SIN         The fact that every PERSON born comes into the world facing mortality:
we die. With REDEMPTION in Christ, however, comes new life in Him. Original sin does not
carry guilt, for a person is guilty only of his or her own sins, not of those of Adam. Therefore,
the Orthodox CHURCH does not believe that a baby who dies unbaptized is condemned to
hell. (See Gn 3:1–24; Rom 5:12–16.)

P

PARABLE A story told to illustrate a greater truth through familiar examples related to the
daily lives of the hearers. Christ’s teaching is filled with parables. (See article, “Parables,” at
Mt 13; Mt 13:1–54; Lk 8:9–15.)

PARADISE        The place of rest for the DEPARTED in Christ. The original Paradise, (see Gn
2:8–14) will be restored in its fullness following the SECOND COMING of Christ. (See 2Ez;
Lk 23:43; 2Co 12:4; 2Pt 3:13; Rev 2:7; 21:1.)

PARALEIPOMENON—see definition from fr. Peter.

PASCHA       Greek for “PASSOVER.” Originally Pascha designated the. Jewish Passover; now,
it is the Feast of the RESURRECTION of Christ, also called “Easter.” Christ is the LAMB OF
GOD whose SACRIFICE delivers the faithful from death, as the sacrifice of the Passover
Lamb delivered the ancient JEWS from slavery and death in Egypt (Ex 12; 13; 1Co 5:7, 8).

PASSION        (1) A term used to describe the SACRIFICE of Christ on the Cross. (2) Holy
Week is often called Passion Week, describing Christ’s struggle and suffering in Jerusalem.
(3) In addition, there are blameless passions including human appetites or urges—such as
hunger, the desire for pleasure and sexual drives—which can become a source of sin when
not controlled or directed by submission to the will of God. (See Rom 1:26; 7:5; Gal 5:24; Col
3:5.)

PEACE        (Heb. shalom) Tranquillity, harmony with God, self, and other people made
possible through Christ, who unites the faithful to God and to each other. (See Rom 14:17;
Gal 5:22; Eph 2:13–16; Php 4:6, 7.)

PENTATEUCH           Refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (The Old Testament)
traditionally attributed to Moses. The JEWS call these books the “Torah.”

PENTECOST           Originally an OT harvest festival celebrated fifty days following the
PASSOVER. In time, Pentecost became the commemoration of the giving of the Law to Moses
on Mt. Sinai. Pentecost took on a new meaning with the descent of the HOLY SPIRIT on the
apostles at the time of Pentecost. Through the SACRAMENT of CHRISMATION, Orthodox
Christians experience their own personal Pentecost. Every Divine Liturgy becomes a
Pentecost through the descent of the Holy Spirit on the faithful and the gifts (the bread and
wine), transforming them into the Body and Blood of Christ. (See Ex 23:14–17; Lv 23:15–21;
2Mc 12:32; Acts 2:1–41.)

PERSON       (Gr. prosopon; Lat. persona) Regarding the Holy Trinity, there are three Divine
Persons: God the FATHER, Son, and HOLY SPIRIT. The Person of God the Son became Man,
Jesus Christ, “for us and for our SALVATION” (The CREED; see also Mt 28:19).

PHARISEES         One of the parties of first-century Judaism. The Pharisees favored strict
legalistic application of traditional interpretations of the Law stemming from oral Jewish
traditions. Unlike the SADDUCEES, they believed in ANGELS and in the RESURRECTION of
the dead. The Pharisees were generally hostile to the mission of Christ, who condemned their
legalism and their preoccupation with outward forms, ignoring true RIGHTEOUSNESS of the
HEART. (See Mt 3:7; 12:14; 22:34; 23:13–36.)

PILGRIM       One who makes a journey to a religious shrine or a spiritual journey from sin
and suffering in this life to eternal life with Christ in heaven. (See Ps 41:4–5; Heb 11:13; 1Pt
2:11.)

POWER        (1) A divine attribute or energy (Mt 6:13; Lk 1:35; Rom 1:16). (2) The authority
and ability to act (Mt 9:6). (3) A category of angelic beings (Eph 1:21).
PRAISE      To glorify and give thanks to God or to speak highly of someone or something
(Jdg 5:3; Ps 9:1–12; Ps 20:14; Ps 88:6; Ps 118:164; Rom 15:11). See ALLELUIA.

PRAYER          COMMUNION with God through words of PRAISE, THANKSGIVING,
REPENTANCE, supplication, and INTERCESSION. Prayer is “raising up the HEART and
mind to God” (St. John of Damascus). Usually prayer is verbal. However, prayer of the heart
or in the Spirit, the highest form of prayer, is without words. (See Tb 8:4–8; Dan 4:34, 35; Mt
6:5–13; 21:22; Rom 8:26; Php 4:6; 1Th 5:17.)

PRESBYTER        Literally, “elder;” now generally called “priest.” Presbyter is one of the three
orders of the ordained ministry of the CHURCH: BISHOP, presbyter and DEACON. (See
article, “The Four ‘Orders’ in Church Government,” at 1Ti; Acts 14:23; 15:4–23; 1Ti 5:17–19;
Tts 1:5.)

PROCEED         “To come forth from” or “come to.” The HOLY SPIRIT proceeds from the
FATHER, the fountainhead of the Holy TRINITY (Jn 15:26).

PROPHET        Descriptive title given to accepted spokespersons of God (or their opposites,
“false prophets”); a PERSON who speaks in the name of God. One who proclaims the will of
God and/or foretells the future, especially the coming and mission of Christ, through the
inspiration of the HOLY SPIRIT. (See Dt 18:18; Acts 28:25.)

PROPITIATION              An offering that results in atonement, REDEMPTION, and
RECONCILIATION. Christ offered Himself on the Cross as a propitiation for our sins, to
liberate humanity from sin and death. (See Rom 3:21–26; Heb 2:17; 1Jn 2:2; 4:10.)

PROSELYTE        Literally, “one who comes toward.” A proselyte is a convert to faith, usually
from another religion. In the NT, the word usually refers to a GENTILE convert to Judaism.
(See Dt 29:10–13; Is 56:3–8; Ru 1:16; Acts 2:10; 13:43.)

PROVIDENCE         God’s sovereign care in governing His CREATION, especially His care for
the faithful. (See Ps 144:17; Rom 8:28.)

PURIFICATION         The OT rite whereby one is cleansed of ritual impurity caused by such
things as contact with leprosy, a dead body or sexual acts. This cleansing consists of making a
SACRIFICE or being sprinkled with “water of purification” (Nm 19:9). Christ liberated the
faithful from these rites. Christians are purified by the sacraments and by their spiritual
struggle towards transforming their passions. (See Lv 12:6; Nm 19:9–21; Mt 15:11; Lk 2:22–
33; Acts 10:9–16; 15:1–29.)

R

RAPHAEL        Archangel sent to help Tobit and his son, and Sarah who became the wife of
Tobiah. (See Tb 3:1–17 and references to Raphael throughout.)

RECONCILIATION           Making peace between enemies, especially the removal of hostility
and barriers between humans and God, and between individuals, accomplished by Christ.
(See Rom 5:11; 2Co 5:18, 19.)

REDEMPTION          The deliverance of humanity from sin and death by Christ, who took on
human NATURE by His INCARNATION, conquering sin and death by His life-giving death
and glorious RESURRECTION. Redemption releases those who are in captivity to the evil
one, and unites humanity to God by Christ’s ASCENSION. (See Dt 7:8; Gal 3:13; Heb 9:15.)
See also DEIFICATION and SALVATION.

REMEMBRANCE               (Gr. anamnesis) Making present by means of recollection.
Remembrance of the COVENANT was crucial for Israel (Ex 2:24; 13:3). The EUCHARIST is
not merely a calling to mind but a remembrance of and mystical participation in the very
SACRIFICE of Christ, His RESURRECTION, His ASCENSION, and His SECOND COMING
(1Co 11:23–26).

REMISSION         The FORGIVENESS and putting aside of sins. As the faithful are released
from their sins through the sacramental life of the CHURCH, they in turn are called to remit
the sins of any who have offended them. (See Mt 26:28; Jn 20:23; Acts 2:37, 38.)

REPENTANCE         Literally, “a change of mind” or attitude, and thus of behavior. God is the
author of repentance, which is an integral part of BAPTISM, CONFESSION, and ongoing
spiritual life. Repentance is not simply sorrow for sins but a firm determination to turn away
from sin to a new life of RIGHTEOUSNESS in Jesus Christ. (See Ezk 18:31; Mt 4:17; 2Pt 3:9;
1Jn 1:9.)

RESURRECTION          The reunion of the soul and body after death which will revitalize and
transform the physical body into a spiritual body. Jesus Himself is the firstfruits of perfect
resurrection; He will never again be subject to death. Because He conquered death by His
Resurrection, all will rise again: the righteous to life with Christ, the wicked to judgment.
(See Is 26:19; Jn 5:28, 29; 1Co 15:35–55.)

RIGHTEOUSNESS            Being good, just, and blameless. All are called to a life of humble
obedience to God. Righteousness is the fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT, and the way in which
Christians respond with living faith to God’s gift of SALVATION. (See WSol 5:6, 18; Is 11:5;
46:13; Mt 5:6, 20; Rom 4:3; Gal 5:22; Jam 2:14–26.)

RITES    Forms of WORSHIP, music, vestments, and architecture. Most Orthodox Christians
follow the liturgical practice of the ancient Churches in the East (Antioch, Jerusalem, and
Alexandria), the rite commonly known as the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. However, some
Orthodox follow a Western Rite, forms that developed in the West before the separation of
Rome from the Orthodox Church (see 1Co 11:23–26).

RITUAL     Ceremonies and texts used in the WORSHIP of the CHURCH. Having her roots in
the TEMPLE and SYNAGOGUE, the Church has employed ritual in her worship from the very
beginning. See also LITURGY.

S

SABBATH         Saturday, the seventh day of the week, originally a day of rest, for after
CREATION “He rested on the seventh day” (Gn 2:2). Since Christ rose from the dead on the
first day of the week, Sunday, the CHURCH gathers on this day instead of the seventh to
worship God. Sunday is also called “the Lord’s Day” and “the eighth day,” because it
transcends the Sabbath and is seen as being a part of heavenly time rather than earthly time.
(See Ex 20:8–11; Acts 20:7.)

SACRAMENT         Literally, a “MYSTERY”. A sacrament is a way in which God imparts grace
to His people. Orthodox Christians frequently speak of seven sacraments, but God’s gift of
GRACE is not limited only to these seven—the entire life of the CHURCH is mystical and
sacramental. The sacraments were instituted by Christ Himself (Jn 1:16, 17). The Seven
Mysteries are: BAPTISM (Mt 28:18–20; Rom 6:4; Gal 3:27), CHRIS-MATION (Acts 8:15–17;
1Jn 2:27), the EUCHARIST (Mt 26:26–28; Jn 6:30–58; 1Co 10:16; 11:23–31), CONFESSION
(Jn 20:22, 23; 1Jn 1:8, 9), ORDINATION (Mk 3:14; Acts 1:15–26; 6:1–6; 1Ti 3:1–13; 4:14),
Marriage (Gn 2:18–25; Eph 5:22–33), and Healing or UNCTION (Lk 9:1–6; Jam 5:14, 15).

SACRIFICE       To offer something up to God. In the old COVENANT, God commanded His
people to sacrifice animals, grain, or oil as an act of THANKSGIVING, PRAISE,
FORGIVENESS, and cleansing. However, these sacrifices were only a foreshadowing of the
one perfect sacrifice—Christ. He, the Eternal Son and the WORD OF GOD became Man,
giving His life as a sacrifice on the Cross to liberate humanity from the CURSE of sin and
death. In the EUCHARIST, the faithful participate in the life-giving once for all sacrifice of
Christ. (See Lv 1:1–7:38; 1Co 11:23–26; Php 2:5–8; Heb 9:1–10:18.)                    See   also
REMEMBRANCE.

SADDUCEES        A party in Judaism at the time of Christ. The Sadducees steadfastly held to a
literal interpretation of the Law contained in the first five books of the Old Testament (the
PENTATEUCH or Torah), and rejected traditional interpretations favored by other groups of
JEWS, especially the PHARISEES. Sadducees came from the priestly class and rejected the
RESURRECTION of the dead and the existence of ANGELS. Christ condemned these Jewish
leaders for their preoccupation with outward forms, ignoring or neglecting true
RIGHTEOUSNESS of the HEART. (See Mt 16:1–12.)

SAINT     Literally, “a holy person.” With God as the source of true HOLINESS, all Christians
are called to be saints. (See Rom 16:2; 1Co 1:1, 2). But from the earliest times, the CHURCH
has designated certain outstanding men and women who have departed this life and reached
DEIFICATION as worthy of veneration and canonization as saints or holy persons.

SALVATION       is the FORGIVENESS of sin and reunion with God and His Kingdom through
Jesus Christ our Lord (Jn 3; Rom 6). (See articles, “The New Birth,” at Jn 3; “Justification by
Faith,” at Rom 5; and “Deification,” at 2Pt 1.) See also DEIFICATION, JUSTIFICATION,
KINGDOM OF GOD, REDEMPTION and SACRAMENT.

SANCTIFICATION           Literally, “being set apart” to God. The process of growth in Christ
whereby the believer is made holy as God is holy, through the HOLY SPIRIT. (See article,
“Deification,” at 2Pt 1; Rom 6:22; 15:16.) See also DEIFICATION, JUSTIFICATION and
SALVATION.

SANCTUARY          The Holy of Holies or Most Holy Place. The place in the Old Testament
TABERNACLE or TEMPLE containing the ARK OF THE COVENANT, the dwelling place of
God. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place and only on the DAY OF
ATONEMENT. When the early Christians built Churches, they followed the general pattern
of the temple, and the altar area is often called the sanctuary. (See Ex 26:31–35; 40:34, 35; Lv
16:1–5; 1 Kin. 6:1–38; 8:1–11.)

SATRAP A governor or ruler in ancient Babylon, as mentioned in numerous OT passages.

SECOND COMING           At the end of the ages, Christ will come again to judge the living and
the dead. Following the LAST JUDGMENT, a new heaven and new earth will take the place of
the old earth, which has been scarred by sin. Because Christ is already present through the
CHURCH, Christians enter into the KINGDOM OF GOD through their participation in the
sacramental life of the Church as they await the coming of the Lord. (See article, “The Second
Coming of Christ,” at Tts 2; Mt 25:31–46; Rom 8:18–21; 1Th 4:16, 17; Rev 20:11–22:5.) See
also RESURRECTION.

SHEKINAH        The GLORY of God, frequently revealed in the symbols of fire and CLOUD in
the OT. Although Christians experience the energies of God, including His GLORY, they
never penetrate beyond the cloud to the inner ESSENCE of God, which remains hidden. (See
Ex 13:21; 24:15–18; 33:18–23; 40:34, 35; 2Ch 7:1; Mt 17:1–5.) See also ENERGY.

SIN      (Gr. hamartia) Literally, “missing the mark.” This word in ancient Greek could
describe the action of an archer who failed to hit the target. All humans are sinners who miss
the mark of perfection that God has set for His people, resulting in alienation from God. (See
Mt 5:48; Rom 3:23; 6:23; 1Jn 1:8.)

SOJOURNER         A stranger or foreigner. Because the CHURCH exists in a sinful world that
has rejected God, Christians—citizens of the KINGDOM OF GOD—are strangers in a foreign
land. Therefore, faithful sojourners are on guard, lest they adopt the ways of the fallen
society in which they live. Abraham and Jacob were sojourners before us (Gn 12:10; 32:4);
Israel was sojourning in Egypt (Gn 47:4); Naomi was a sojourner in Moab (Ru 1:1).
Christians, too, are sojourners (1Pt 2:11; 1Jn 2:15–17).

SON OF MAN        An important messianic title of Christ, who is perfect God and perfect Man.
The Gospels reveal that Jesus often applied this title to Himself. In Christ, the Second Adam,
God assumed and perfected sinful humanity, freeing those who follow Him from the
consequences of the rebellion of the first man, Adam. (See Mk 2:28; 9:31; Rom 5:12–21; 1Co
15:21, 22, 45–49.) See also INCARNATION.

SORROW             The Scriptures distinguish between godly sorrow, which produces
REPENTANCE, and ungodly sorrow, the sadness of being found out, which produces death
(Mt 5:4; 2Co 7:9, 10).

SOUL     A living substance, simple, bodiless, and invisible by NATURE, activating the body to
which it brings life, growth, sensation and reproduction. The mind is not distinct from the
soul but serves as a window to the soul. The soul is free, endowed with will, and the POWER
to act. Along with the body, the soul is created by God in His IMAGE. The soul of man will
never die (Gn 1:26; 2:7; Mt 10:28).

STEWARD(SHIP)            A steward is one who manages property belonging to another. All that
a Christian has belongs to God. Thus, the Christian gives back to God out of the material
blessings he has received from Him for the work of the CHURCH. In the OT, God
commanded the faithful to give a TITHE or ten percent of their goods to God; though not
under law, St. John Chrysostom teaches Christians should give that much and more.
Christians are also stewards of the spiritual knowledge which God has entrusted to us. We
must preserve the heritage of apostolic DOCTRINE intact for future generations. (See Gn
14:18–20; Lv 27:30–33; 1Co 4:1, 2; 2Co 9:6–8; 1Pt 4:10.)

SPIRIT     (Gr. pneuma) Literally, “breath”; that which is living but immaterial. Spirit is used
in three ways in Scripture: (1) the HOLY SPIRIT is one of the three Persons of the TRINITY
(Jn 4:24; 20:22); (2) the ANGELS are called spirits (Ps 103:4); and (3) and the human spirit
possesses the intuitive ability to know and experience God (Rom 8:16; 1Co 2:10–12).

SPIRITUALITY             The ascetic and pious struggle against sin through REPENTANCE,
PRAYER, FASTING, and participation in the sacramental life of the Church. (See Gal 5:16–
26; Php 2:12, 13.) See also SYNERGISM.

SYMBOL        In Orthodox usage, the manifestation in material form of a spiritual reality. A
symbol does not merely stand for something else, as does a “sign”; it manifests the actual
presence of its subject. Names of things are often symbols (Is 7:3, 14). The dove, for example,
is the symbol which brought to Jesus the descent of the HOLY SPIRIT (Mt 3:13–16).

SYNAGOGUE         A “gathering” or “assembly.” The synagogue appears in Judea as a result of
the Babylonian exile, as it continues today as the main center of Jewish communal worship.
(See 1Mc 2:42; Lk 4:16; 8:41; Acts 18:4; Rev 2:9.)

SYNAXIS       Literally, “gathering” or “assembly.” Synaxis is the word used for the ancient
Greek senate. The first part of the Divine Liturgy is called the synaxis because the faithful
gather to sing, pray, hear the Scriptures read, and to hear the homily. The saints’ days are also
called a synaxis, such as the Synaxis of St. Michael and all ANGELS.

SYNERGISM         (from Gr. syn: same, together; ergos: energy, work.) Working together; the
act of cooperation. In the NT synergism is the idea of being “workers together with” God (2Co
6:1), or of working “out your own salvation . . . for it is God who works in you” (Php 2:12, 13).
This is not a cooperation between equals, but finite man working together with Almighty
God. Man responds to Christ’s SALVATION through cooperation with God’s GRACE in living
by faith, righteous works and rejection of evil (Jam 2:14–26). See also FREE WILL and
PASSIONS.

SYNOPTIC        (From Gr. syn: same, together; optic: eye, vision.) The books of Matthew,
Mark, and Luke, which hold essentially the same viewpoint and are similar are called the
“Synoptic Gospels.”

T

TEMPLE      Ancient Israel had many temples, located throughout the country, but the temple
in Jerusalem eventually became the central and only authorized place to WORSHIP the Lord.
The first one was built by King Solomon around 950 BC. It was destroyed by the Babylonian
King Nebuchadnezzar in 587 BC. It was rebuilt about 70 years later, but it was destroyed by
the Romans in AD 70. More recently, temple has come to be used synonymously with
SYNAGOGUE. (See 3Kg 6; 4Kg 25:9–17; 2Ez 1:1–4; 3:3–13; 1Mc 4:37–39; 4:48–51.)

TEMPTATION            The seductive attraction of sin. Those united to Christ are given His
POWER to withstand temptation through patience, courage, and obedience. (See Mt 4:1–11;
1Co 10:13; Heb 2:17, 18; Jam 1:12.)

THANKSGIVING            To be grateful, to offer thanks, especially to God for His love and
MERCY. The Eucharistic prayer is called The Thanksgiving. (See 1Th 5:18.) See also
EUCHARIST.

THEOPHANY          A manifestation of God in His uncreated GLORY. It refers also to Christ’s
RESURRRECTION appearances. The revelation of the Holy TRINITY at the BAPTISM of
Christ (Lk 3:21, 22) is the greatest theophany; it is celebrated in the Orthodox Church on
EPIPHANY (Jan. 6). Other theophanies are found throughout the Bible. For example, God
appeared to Abraham (Gn 18:1–15), and to Jacob in a dream (Gn 28:10–17).
THEOTOKOS          God-bearer, birth-giver, frequently translated “Mother of God.” Because
Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, Mary is called the Mother of God to profess our faith
that in the INCARNATION, God was in her womb. Elizabeth called Mary “blessed” and “the
mother of my Lord” (Lk 1:42, 43). At the Council of Ephesus in AD 431, the Church
condemned Nestorius and other heretics who refused to call the Virgin Mary the Theotokos.
For if it was not God in Mary’s womb, there is no SALVATION for mankind. (See article,
“Mary,” at Lk 1; Lk 1:26–43; Jn 1:1–14.)

TITHE      A tenth of one’s income. It is first revealed in Genesis 14:18–20 when Abraham
paid a tithe to Melchizedek, centuries before the Law was given to Moses. Abraham’s
grandson, Jacob, told the Lord he would give Him a tithe (Gn 28:22; see also Lv 27:30, 32;
Mal 3:8–12; WSir 35:3; Lk 18:12).

TRADITION        That which is handed down, transmitted. In the NT, there are two types of
tradition: (1) the “tradition of men” which Christ strongly condemns (Mk 7:6–8), and (2)
holy or apostolic tradition which St. Paul calls us to steadfastly follow (2Th 2:15). Holy
Tradition is the life of the HOLY SPIRIT in the CHURCH. He leads the Church “into all
truth” (Jn 16:13) and enables her to preserve the truth taught by Christ to His APOSTLES.
The Scriptures are the core of this Tradition, as interpreted through the writings of the
Fathers, the Ecumenical Councils, and the WORSHIP of the Church. Together, these
traditions manifest the faith of the ancient undivided Church. (See also Jn 21:25; Acts 15:1–
29; 2Th 3:6.)

TRANSFIGURATION            A change or transformation. Christ was transfigured on Mt. Tabor,
showing He is God in the flesh (Mt 17:1–8). Christians are called to be transformed by the
HOLY SPIRIT into the IMAGE and likeness of God (Rom 12:1, 2). (See article, “The
Transfiguration,” at Mt 17.) See also DEIFICATION.

TRANSGRESSION              Lawlessness, as in “He will not clear the guilty, visiting the
lawlessness of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the
fourth generation” (Ex 34:8; see also Dt 17:2–5; Nm 14:41; Jos 7:11; Job 13:38; Pr 17; Mic 6:7;
Lk 15:29; Rom 4:15; 1Ti 2:14).

TRIBULATION         The Scriptures reveal that much trouble and violence—great tribulation—
will engulf the world before the SECOND COMING of Christ (Mt 24:4–29). See also
ESCHATOLOGY.
TRINITY        God the FATHER and His Son and His HOLY SPIRIT: one in ESSENCE and
undivided. God revealed the MYSTERY of the Trinity at Christ’s BAPTISM (Mt 3:13–17), but
even before that event, numerous OT references pointed to the Trinity. For example, the
frequent use of plural pronouns referring to the one God (Gn 1:26); the three angels who
appeared to Abraham (Gn 18:1–16); and the Thrice Holy hymn sung by the angels in Isaiah’s
vision (Is 6:1–4) all suggest one God in three Persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Mt
28:19).

TRISAGION         Literally, “Thrice Holy.” The biblical Trisagion, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” is the
hymn of the ANGELS before the throne of God (Is 6:1–3; Rev 4:8), and is one of the most
important hymns of the Divine Liturgy. In the TRADITION of the CHURCH, this hymn has
been amplified into the Trisagion frequently sung during services and said during prayers:
“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.” The biblical use of “Holy”
three times reveals the three Persons in the Godhead.

TYPE      An historical event that has a deeper meaning, pointing to our SALVATION in Christ.
For example, the three days that Jonah spent in the belly of the fish is a type of the three days
that Christ would spend in the tomb (Mt 12:40). The serpent that Moses lifted up on the staff
is a type of the lifting up of Christ on the Cross (Jn 3:14–16). The burning bush, aflame but
not consumed, is a type of the Virgin Mary, who carried the incarnate God in her womb but
was not consumed by His presence (Lk 1:26–38). Noah’s ark, which saved Noah and his
family from death in the flood, is a type of BAPTISM, which brings the believer from death to
life (1Pt 3:18–22). See also ALLEGORY.

U

UNCTION        Anointing of the sick with blessed oil, for the healing of body and SOUL. The
gift of healing is bestowed by the HOLY SPIRIT through the anointing, together with the
prayers of the Unction service. (See article “Healing,” at Jam 5.) See also SACRAMENT.

UNLEAVENED BREAD             Bread baked without yeast. The JEWS used unleavened bread for
the PASSOVER to symbolize the fact they had no time to wait for the yeast to rise in the
bread (Ex 12:1–20). By contrast, the bread of the new COVENANT is leavened.

V

VESPERS       The evening prayer service in the Orthodox Church.
VICE      A particular immoral, depraved, or degrading habit, as contrasted with VIRTUE.
Christians are called to flee from the vices and to preserve their personal purity (Rom 13:13;
Eph 4:17–24). See also PASSION.

VIRTUE      A righteous characteristic such as self-control, patience, or humility; the opposite
of VICE or PASSION. As a PERSON grows spiritually, he or she grows in virtue while the
passions are conquered by the GRACE of God. (See WSol 4:1, 2; 5:13; Php 4:8 2Pt 1:2–7.

W

WISDOM (OF GOD)           A name for God’s Son and Word; Christ is the Wisdom of God. Also,
wisdom is given to the CHURCH as a gift of the HOLY SPIRIT. (See Ex 31:3; 3Kg 3:16–28; Pr
9:10; Dan 1:17; WSir 1:9; Jn 1:1; 1Co 2:6–8; Col 3:16.)

WITNESS       (Gr. martyria) One who makes known the GRACE and GLORY of the Lord by
word and deed. In the NT, the word is also rendered “MARTYR,” a reference to those who give
their lives for the gospel of Christ. The HOLY SPIRIT bears witness to the spirits of those
who believe in Christ, that they belong to Him. (See Dt 31:19–21, 26; Rom 8:16; Heb 10:15;
12:1; 1Jn 5:6–12; Rev 11:3–12.)

WONDERS        Miracles and the attitude of mankind toward them. (See Ex 11:10; Ps 106; Dan
4:3; 6:27; 1Ch 16:8, 9, 12; Job 37:13–19; Acts 2:22–36; 6:8; 14:3; 2Co 12:12.)

WORD OF GOD          (Gr. Logos) The Son of God, who from the MYSTERY of His eternal birth
is called the Word of the FATHER. The “Word became flesh” (Jn 1:14) for the SALVATION of
the world. The Holy Scriptures are also called the Word of God, for they reveal the truth of
God (Jn 1:1–14; 2Pt 1:19–21). See also INCARNATION.

WORSHIP         Literally, “to bow down.” Commanded for God’s people (1 Ch 16:29). In the
Christian sense worship is the adoration of God through participation in the services of the
CHURCH, the highest act of a Christian (Jn 4:19–24). See also LITURGY.

WORTHY        (Gr. axios) Describes those who act in a manner befitting one who is a follower
of Christ. No one is worthy of SALVATION in and of himself, but all are made worthy
through Christ (1Th 2:10–12) In the Church, when a newly-ordained man is being vested, the
faithful shout out, “Axios!”

WRATH OF GOD             His anger and its consequences (Nm 32:10–13). His wrath can be
caused by sympathy with evil (Lv 10:1–6), by APOSTASY (2Ch 34:24, 25), by association with
evil (Jn 3:36), and it can be displayed to demonstrate the greatness of His GLORY (Rom
9:22–26).

Z

ZEAL    Devotion; enthusiastic obedience to God; a quality of divine diligence or fervor. Zeal
is shown by Moses (Ex 32:19–35), Joshua (Jos 24:14–16), David (1Kg 17:26–51), Elijah (3Kg
19:10, and Timothy (Php 2:19–22). Christians are (1) called to follow Christ with enthusiasm
and zeal (Acts 18:25; Rom 12:10, 11) and (2) warned against misguided enthusiasm, a zeal
“not according to knowledge” (Rom 10:2).
                                     MORNING PRAYERS

                                  The Trisagion Prayers

  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

  Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

  O Heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who are in all places and fill all things,
the Treasury of good things and the Giver of life: Come and abide in us, cleanse us from every
stain, and save our souls, O Good One.

  Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (three times).

  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of
ages. Amen.

  O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon
our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your Name’s sake.

  Lord, have mercy. (three times).

  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of
ages. Amen.

  Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our
trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil.

  For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

                           Morning Prayer to the Holy Trinity

  Arising from sleep, I thank You, O Most Holy Trinity, that, for the sake of Your great
kindness and longsuffering, You have not had indignation against me, for I am slothful and
sinful. Neither have You destroyed me in my transgressions. But You have shown Your
customary love toward mankind, and have raised me up as I lay in heedlessness, that I might
sing my morning hymn and glorify Your sovereignty. Do now enlighten the eyes of my
understanding, open my ears to receive Your words, and teach me Your commandments.
Help me to do Your will, to sing to You, to confess You from my heart, and to praise Your All-
Holy Name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages
of ages. Amen.

                                      The Nicene Creed

  I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things
visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-Begotten,
begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not
made; of one essence with the Father; by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and
for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin
Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered
and was buried; the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into
heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge
the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son
together is worshiped and glorified, Who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in One Holy
Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look
for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

                                         The Psalms

                        Sunday                   Psalm 5
                        Monday                   Psalm 89
                        Tuesday                  Psalm 1 00
                        Wednesday                Psalm 3
                        Thursday                 Psalm 6 2
                        Friday                   Psalm 1 02
                        Saturday                 Psalm 5

                                    The Gospel and Epistle

  Referring to the Lectionary in the back of The Orthodox Study Bible, you may, as time
permits, read the Gospel and Epistle for this day.

                                     Intercessory Prayers

  Remember, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Your mercies and lovingkindnesses, which have
been from everlasting, and for the sake of which You did become man and deign to endure
crucifixion and death for the salvation of all who rightly believe in You. You rose from the
dead and ascended into heaven, and sit at the right hand of God the Father, and regard the
humble prayers of all who call upon You with their whole heart. Incline Your ear and hear the
humble entreaty of me, Your unprofitable servant, who offers it for an odor of spiritual
fragrance for all Your people.

  And first of all remember Your Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church which You have
purchased with Your precious blood. Confirm and strengthen it, enlarge and multiply it, keep
it in peace, and preserve it unconquerable by the gates of hell forever. Heal the schisms of the
churches, quench the ragings of the heathen, speedily undo and root out the growths of
heresies, and bring them to naught by the power of Your Holy Spirit.

  Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon all world rulers, on our president (name), on (names),
and on all our civil authorities. Speak peace and blessing in their hearts for Your holy Church
and for all Your peoples, in order that we may live a calm and peaceful life, in all godliness
and dignity.

  Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon patriarchs, metropolitans, archbishops, priests,
ministers and deacons, and the whole clergy of Your Church, which You have established to
feed the flock of Your word, and by their prayers have mercy upon me, and save me, a sinner.

  Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon my spiritual father (name) and by his holy prayers
forgive me my transgressions.

  Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon my parents (names), my spouse (name), my brothers
and sisters (names), my children (names), my kinsmen after the flesh and my friends, and
grant them Your blessings both here and hereafter.

  Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon the old, the young, the needy, the orphans and the
widows, and on all that are in sickness and sorrow, in distress and affliction, in oppression
and captivity, in prison and confinement. More especially have mercy upon Your servants
who are under persecution for Your sake and for the sake of the Orthodox faith at the hands
of heathen nations, of apostates, and of heretics: remember them, visit, strengthen, keep and
comfort them, and make haste to grant them, by Your power, relief, freedom and deliverance.

  Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon all who are sent on duty, all who travel, our fathers,
brothers and sisters, and upon all true Christians.
  Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon those who envy and affront me, and do me mischief,
and do not let them perish through me, a sinner.

  Those who depart from the Orthodox faith, dazzled by destroying heresies, do enlighten by
the light of Your holy wisdom, and unite them to Your Holy, Apostolic, Catholic Church.

                          Prayer for the Beginning of the Day

  O Lord, grant me to greet the coming of the day in peace, help me in all things to rely upon
Your holy will. In every hour of the day reveal Your will to me. Bless my dealings with all who
surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of soul
and with firm conviction that Your will governs all. In all my deeds and words, guide my
thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by You. Teach
me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me strength
to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring. Direct my will, teach me to
pray. And, Yourself, pray in me. Amen.

                                         Benediction

  It is truly right to bless you, O Theotokos, ever blessed and most pure, and the Mother of
our God. More honorable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the
seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos, we magnifiy
you.

  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of
ages. Amen.

  Lord, have mercy. (three times)

  Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us
and save us. Amen.
                                     EVENING PRAYERS

                                   The Trisagion Prayers

  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

  Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

  O Heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who are in all places and fill all things,
the Treasury of good things and the Giver of life: Come and abide in us, cleanse us from every
stain, and save our souls, O Good One.

  Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (three times).

  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of
ages. Amen.

  O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon
our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your Name’s sake.

  Lord, have mercy. (three times).

  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of
ages. Amen.

  Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our
trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil.

  For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

                                  Prayer of Thanksgiving

  Now that the day has come to a close, I thank You, O Lord, and I ask that the evening with
the night may be sinless; grant this to me, O Savior, and save me.

  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
  Now that the day has passed, I glorify You, O Master, and I ask that the evening, with the
night may be without offence; grant this to me, O Savior, and save me.

  Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

  Now that the day has run its course, I praise You, O Holy One, and I ask that the evening
with the night may be undisturbed; grant this to me, O Savior, and save me.

  Lord, have mercy. (twelve times)

                                  Prayer for Forgiveness

  O Lord our God, if during this day I have sinned, whether in word or deed or thought,
forgive me all, for You are good and love mankind. Grant me peaceful and undisturbed sleep,
and deliver me from all influence and temptation of the evil one. Raise me up again in proper
time that I may glorify You; for You are blessed with Your Only-begotten Son and Your All-
holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

                                     The Nicene Creed

  I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things
visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-Begotten,
begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not
made; of one essence with the Father; by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and
for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin
Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered
and was buried; the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into
heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge
the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son
together is worshiped and glorified, Who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in One Holy
Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look
for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

                              Prayer for the End of the Day

  O Christ our God, who at all times and in every hour, in heaven and on earth, are
worshipped and glorified; who are long-suffering, merciful and compassionate; who love the
just and show mercy upon the sinner; who call all to salvation through the promise of
blessings to come; O Lord, in this hour receive our supplications and direct our lives
according to Your commandments. Sanctify our souls, hallow our bodies, correct our
thoughts, cleanse our minds; deliver us from all tribulation, evil and distress. Encompass us
with Your holy Angels that, guided and guarded by them, we may attain to the unity of the
faith and to the knowledge of Your unapproachable glory, for You are blessed unto ages of
ages. Amen.

  It is truly right to bless you, O Theotokos, ever blessed and most pure, and the Mother of
our God. More honorable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the
seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos, we magnifiy
you.

  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of
ages. Amen.

  Lord, have mercy. (three times).

  Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us
and save us. Amen.

  Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my soul and my body. Bless me, have mercy upon me,
and grant me life eternal. Amen.
                                  INDEX TO ANNOTATIONS

    This is a thorough, but not exhaustive, index to topics and names discussed in the
annotations and articles of the Orthodox Study Bible. For further information on topics, see
the Glossary and the Index to Articles. Entries that cover several verses may refer to two or
more annotations within a passage of Scripture.

    In addition to the usual book name abbreviations, the abbreviation “Dan-Sus” refers to the
story of Susanna found at the beginning of the Book of Daniel, which is not numbered as a
chapter. The abbreviation “Dan-Bel” refers to the story of Bel and the Serpent, found at the
end of the Book of Daniel and also not numbered as a chapter.

A

Aaron, Gn 14:18–20; Ex 17:12; 25:10; 29:5; 38:1; Lv 1:5; 8:2–30; 9:22; 16:4, 8; Nm Intro; 3:6–
9; 12:1–3; 16:3, 4; 17:2–26; 19:1, 2; 20:28; 1Ch 6:1–38; WSol 18:20–25; WSir 45:7—46:2; Heb
Intro; 3:1; 9:4

Abortion, Lv 18:1–3; Ps 138; Lam 1:11; Lk 1:43

Abraham, Gn 12:1—25:8; Ex 23:26; Lv 1:2; Dt 2:4; Jos 5:2–8; 3Kg 17:14–16; 1Ch 1:10–15; 3:1–
9; 2Ez 3:7; Jdt 5:8; 16:19; Job Intro; 1:1; 42:7–9; Ps 104—106; WSir 44:21; Hab 1:12; Mal 3:8–
12; Is 51:1, 2; 57:3; Mt 1:1, 2; 20:1–16; 22:23–33; Lk 2:22–24; 3:8; 13:6–8; 16:22–26; 19:9; Jn
8:37–44; 15:14, 15; Acts 7:8; 13:26; Rom 4:1–18; 9:6–13; Gal 2:16—4:31; Heb 1:2, 3; 6:13–15;
11:8–12; 13:1–3; Jam 2:20–24

Adam, Gn Intro; 2:7; 3:8–24; 4:1–25; 5:3; Lv 20:9–27; Nm 21:9; Jos 7:1–26; 3Kg 20:25; 1Ch
Intro; 1:1–4; 9:1, 2; WSol 7:1; 10:1–21; Ezk 18:1–32; Mt 1:2; 4:4; 20:1–16; Mk 15:40, 41; Lk
3:38; 15:12–14; 22:56; Jn 18:17; Acts 5:30; Rom 5:12–19; 1Co 15:22–49; 2Co 11:1–3; 1Pt 1:2

Adoption, Dt 32:6, 18; Mt 1:16; 3:6–9; 6:9; 25:34; Lk 2:48; 3:22–38; Jn 1:12, 13; 3:3; Rom
3:26; 8:14–17; Gal 4:4–7; Eph 1:4–6; 2Pt 1:4; see also Children of God

Adultery, see Divorce; Sexual immorality

Affliction, Job 19:5; 23:1–3; 40:8; Ps 76; SS 2:2; WSir 29:11–13; 34:15–17; 35:24; Is 4:4; 26:16;
30:20–23; 33:2; 38:1–6; 43:1–4; Rom 8:28–30; 16:7; 2Co 1:3–11; 2:4; 4:17; 1Th 1:6; 1Pt 1:6, 7;
see also Suffering; Tribulation
Ahab and Jezebel, 3Kg 18:3–18; 20:3–25; 22:10; 4Kg 9:1–3; 2Ch 17:1–19; WSir 48:1; Hos 1:4;
Rev 2:20

Almsgiving, Ex 23:15; Tb 4:7; 12:8, 9; Pr 3:4–38; 15:30; 19:17; 21:26; 22:8; WSir 7:10, 11; 12:1–
7; 29:11–13; 35:2; 40:24; Mt 25:1–13; Mk 12:41–44; Acts 10:2; 24:17; Col 2:16–23; 1Jn 2:16

Altar, Gn 12:8; 13:14–18; 26:25; 33:19, 20; Ex 20:24–26; 24:4–8; Lv 1:9; 2:2; 3:8; 4:6, 17; 8:7–
24; 9:16; 21:17; Nm 7:2–84; 8:6–19; 17:2–15; Dt 27:5–8; Jos 22:30–34; 1Kg 23:9; 2Kg 24:18–
25; 2Ez 3:2–6; 8:28, 29; 2Mc 1:9; 6:2–5; 15:30; Ps 25; 43; Pr 9:2; WSol 9:8; WSir 47:2; Joel
2:17; Is 6:1–7; 60:6–9; Ezk 40:39–48; 41:21; 43:13–27; Mt 5:23, 24; 27:51; Lk 1:11; 18:13; Jn
7:2; 10:16; Acts 17:22–31; Gal 6:14; Heb 9:1–7; 13:10; Rev 4:2, 3; 6:9–11; 9:13–16; 10:5–7;
14:18; 16:1–7; 19:3–5

Ambrose of Milan, St., Gn 19:24; Ex 3:2–5; 7:1; 12:22; 14:22; 15:2–25; 16:13, 14; 17:6–11; 19:4;
20:2–17; 23:21; 24:15; 28:17–20; 29:14; 33:7–22; Nm 23:10; Dt 4:24; 8:4; 29:4; 33:9; Jos 2:18;
7:21; 8:17–20; 9:9–21; 14:7–10; Jdg 4:4; 6:11–27; 1Kg 28:7–25; 3Kg 3:27; 17:10, 11; 19:4; 4Kg
6:17; 23:21–25; 1Ch 21:14; Job 9:5; 10:8–12; 15:20; 21:16; 24:14–16; 27:3; 33:4; 38:36; 39:1–4;
Ps 1; SS 8:5–10; WSir 20:5–8; 24:3; 29:10–13; 31:8–11; Am 5:14, 15; Hag 2:20–23; Zec 9:9,
10; Is 55:1; 61:1, 2; 66:10–14; Jer 29:1, 2; Ezk 37:1–14; Lk 1:2, 3; 2:17–20; 4:31; 5:4; 6:1–13;
7:11–50; 9:46–50; 12:5–20; 13:16; 14:18–20; 15:2–29; 19:3, 4; 22:30–62; 23:8, 9; Rev 4:8

Ambrosiaster, 1Kg 28:7–25

Angel of the Lord, see God the Son (pre–incarnate), appearances of

Angels, Gn 18:1–3, 22; 19:1–18; 32:2; Ex 25:18; Dt 4:26; 32:43—33:2; Jos 5:13–15; 2Kg 24:10–
17; 4Kg 6:17; 1Ch 11:20—12:29; 14:13–17; Tb 3:16, 17; 5:3–17; 6:16–18; 9:1–6; 11:1–12; 12:8–
20; 2Mc 3:26–34; 3Mc 6:2–18; Job 1:6; 38:7; 40:19–22; Ps 75; 90; 98; 102; 103; 137; Pr 27:1;
SS 2:7; 3:4; 6:5; WSir 42:17; 48:18–22; Zec Intro; 1:11–13; 2:17; 3:2; 4:1, 2; 5:5—6:8; 8:23; Mal
Intro; Is 6:2–7; 8:19; 30:31–33; 31:8; 49:1; 62:6; Jer 30:8; EJer 6; Ezk 1:5–9; 10:17, 18; Dan
7:9–12; 10:5; Mt 1:20; 13:31–33; 18:10–12; 24:36; 26:52–54; 28:2–6; Mk 12:18; 14:1; 16:7; Lk
1:11 –80; 2:13–28; 15:4; 17:37; 24:4–10, 51; Jn 1:51; 5:2–4; 12:29; 20:16; Acts 8:29; 10:30;
12:15; 23:8; Rom 8:38, 39; 1Co 2:6, 7; 6:2, 3; 2Co 5:18–21; 10:4–6; Gal 1:6–10; Eph 1:21–23;
3:10–12; Col Intro; 1:16, 22; 2:9–15; Heb Intro; 1:4—2:18; 12:1–29; 1Pt 1:12; 5:8, 9; 2Pt 2:4–
10; 1Jn 3:4–9; Jude 5–13; Rev 1:4—3:5; 4:6–8; 5:8–14; 8:2–6; 9:1–16; 10:1—11:13; 12:3–16;
13:4–6; 14:9–18; 15:5–7; 16:1–7; 18:1; 19:10; 20:1; 21:15–21; 22:8, 9
Anger, Gn 4:8; Ex 4:14; 24:18; Nm 16:22–24; Jdg 8:1–3; 3Kg 18:19, 20; 19:10; 20:4; Neh 3:36;
Est 5:17–21; Ps 98; Pr 12:18; 14:17; 15:1, 19; 18:14; 26:18–29; 27:3; Am 6:12; Jer 44:15; Mt
5:5–47; Mk 3:5; Jn 7:17; Eph 4:26–32; Jam 1:19, 20; 1Jn 3:15

Annunciation, Feast of, Jdg 6:36–38; Ps 95; Lk 1:31–43

Anthony of Egypt, St., Jos 24:23

Antichrist, Dan 7:8–25; 8:10–26; 9:27; 11:21—12:13; Mt 13:30; Jn 17:12; 2Th 2:3–12; 1Jn 2:18;
4:3; 2Jn Intro; Rev 13:1, 2; 13:6; 17:8–18; 19:17, 18

Aphrahat the Persian, St., 1Kg 2:6; 4Kg 1:9–15; Dan 7:1–8

Apostasy, Jdg Intro; 13:1; 19:4; 1Kg 1:11–15; 2Mc 4:17; 7:14; WSol Intro; 10:7; Hos 11:8, 9; Mal
Intro; Jer 3:6–10; 4:22; Lam 4:7, 8; 2Th 2:3–12; Heb Intro; 3:12; 6:4–6; 10:26, 27; 1Jn Intro

Apostles, Nm 1:50; Acts Intro; 1:16–26; 3:1–26; 4:31; 5:19–21; 6:2–6; 9:35; 11:17–30; 14:18–
23; 15:13–21; 16:4; 20:16; 2Co Intro; Gal 1:11—2:14. “The Seventy” at Lk 10. See also Disciples.

  false, 2Co Intro; 11:16–21; 1Jn 1:1; 2Jn Intro

  preaching of, Acts 2:14–40; 3:1–10; 11:17–19; 13:5–39; 14:22; 19:8–10; 28:31; 1Co 2:4, 5;
1Th 2:11

  prefigured in OT, Ex 15:27; Dt 16:10; Jos 4:1–24; 22:1–9; 3Kg 5:29—6:2; 4Kg 2:15; 4:32–25;
1Ch 27:1–34; 2Ch 9:19; 29:12–30; 2Ez 3:8–11; 7:12–26; 8:7, 8; Neh 11:1, 2; Job 9:8; 38:32–41;
SS 3:3; 4:16; 5:7; 7:12–14; 8:11, 12; Am 9:12; Joel 1:8; 3:5; Jon 1:1, 2; 4:11; Nah 2:1; Zec 12:10–
14; Mal 3:5; Is 8:17, 18; 9:3; 11:11–16; 24:14–17; 27:12, 13; 32:1; 40:9; 41:8–20; 45:25; 52:5–
15; 54:11–15; 66:19; Jer 3:15–18; 36:10; Ezk 23:1–49; 40:2–27; 47:1–23

Arianism, Jn 17:1–25

Ark

  Noah’s, Gn 6:14—7:1; 1Ch 1:1–4; Is 54:9, 10; Jer 28:27

  of testimony, Ex 25:10; 38:1; Jos 3:1–17; Jdg 20:18; 1Kg 1:3; 4:3–18; 5:11—7:2; 2Kg 6:1–19;
7:1–3; 15:24–29; 3Kg 8:1–11; 1Ch 13:1–8; 15:1–29; 2Ch 5:2–13; 2Mc 2:5; Ps 95; SS 2:5; Zec
8:1–3; Lk 3:21, 22; Jn 1:14; Heb 9:2–4
Arrogance, Gn 4:6; Ex 5:2; 7:23; 8:18; 32:1–6; Lv 4:2; Nm 35:1–8; 2Mc 9:8; Job 32:1–22;
36:22; Ps 30; 35; 100; 143; 151; Pr 1:23; 3:23–38; 6:17–25; 11:2; 13:11; 14:3; 26:18–29; 28:28;
WSir 16:7–9; Hos 8:1–14; Ob Intro; 2–4; Hab 2:5, 6; Is 9:8—10:4; 23:7–9; 25:10–12; 28:1; Lk
18:15–17; Rom 9:14–18; 1Co 4:6; 13:4–8; Jam 1:9–11; 4:1–16; 2Pt 2:1–3; Jude 11; Rev 18:4–8

Ascension of Christ, 1Ez 3:6; Ps 11; 20; 46; 67; 107; SS 8:13, 14; Am 9:1–15; Is 32:15; 63:1; Jer
23:5; Ezk 1:10; Lk 24:51; Jn 7:33, 35; 8:21; 13:1; 20:17; Acts 1:9–11; Heb 4:14

Asceticism, Mt 3:4; 11:16–19; Lk 7:31–34; 10:7, 8; 1Co 7:5; 9:24–27; Col Intro; 2:16—3:17; 1Jn
2:16

Assyria/Assyrians, 4Kg 16:1—17:41; 18:28–35; WSir 50:25, 26; Hos 2:3; Am Intro; 5:27; Joel
2:20; Jon 1:2; Nah Intro; Zep Intro; Is Intro; 10:5–27; 17:1–3; 18:1–5; 20:1; 21:9; 22:1–5;
30:31–33; 31:8; 36:1—37:22; 44:7–10; 48:5; Ezk 31:2–9; Dan 7:1–8

Athanasius the Great, St., Gn 1:3; 2:8–17; 5:4–28; 6:6; 12:1–7; 14:21–24; 16:7; 18:14; 19:24;
21:17; 22:1, 2; 24:7; 31:11; 32:24–31; 35:9; 42:22; 43:14; 46:2; 48:3–16; 49:3–15; Ex 3:2, 14;
12:2, 11; 15:1; 20:3; 21:1–16; 23:26; 24:1, 2; 29:5; 31:15; 32:34; 33:3–22; Lv 17:8, 9; Nm 28:2;
Dt 4:7–35; 6:4, 14; 7:8; 9:1–3; 12:11, 12; 14:1; 16:1; 21:15; 28:66; 32:4–50; 33:16; Jos 1:6; 10:12,
13; 3Kg 1:5; 18:15, 16; Pr 8:23; Ecc Intro; SS 5:2; 8:1; Is 53:3, 4; 59:3, 4; Jer 6:16; 9:1; Jn 4:20–
24; Acts 19:2–4; Eph 1:4–6; Heb Intro

Atonement, Ex 30:10; Lv 1:4; 3:16; 5:6–26; 14:48; 16:3–33; 17:1–11; 18:5; 25:9; Nm 17:6–15;
Mal 1:9, 10; Ezk 45:1–25; Lk 1:13; Heb 12:22–24

  Day of, Lv 16:1–33; 25:9; WSir 50:21; Mt 9:14–17; Lk 1:8–10; Acts 27:9; Rom 3:25; Heb
9:6–28; 13:11, 12; 1Pt 1:2; Rev 16:1

Augustine of Hippo, St., 1Kg 2:5; 15:11–26; 28:7–25; Ps 1; Ecc Intro; SS 2:2; WSir 17:23; 18:3–
6; 19:1; 36:1–4; 46:20; Hab 3:2–4; Hag 2:6–9; Is 56:4, 5; 58:2–5; Dan 2:35; 12:7

Aurelius, 4Kg 2:23–25

Authority

  of apostles, Mt 16:19; 18:18–20; 21:21; Lk 22:30; Jn 20:21–23; Acts 1:20–26; 11:22

  of Jesus, Mt 5:1–22; 8:20; 9:18–26; 14:14–27; 19:3–9; 20:20–23; 21:23–27; 23:2, 3; 26:64–
66; 28:18; Mk Intro; 2:1–12; 14:62; Lk 4:32; 5:14; 7:11–17; 20:2; 23:34; Jn 2:18–21; 4:49–53;
7:30; 8:58; 11:21–43; Acts 1:9–11

Avarice, see Greed; Love of money; Riches

B

Babylon, Ru 1:20, 21; 4Kg 24:1; 25:1–7; 2Ch 36:7–29; 2Ez 1:5; 2:1; 7:10; Tb 1:3; Est Intro; Ps
64; Joel Intro; 1:4; 2:20; 4:1, 4; Ob Intro; Hab Intro; 2:16; Hag Intro; Zec Intro; 5:5–11; Mal
Intro; Is 13:1–22; 14:4; 21:9; 22:1–5; 41:2–20; 44:28; 47:1; Jer Intro; 8:1–18; 13:4; 16:16; 21:2;
26:1; 27:1—28:60; 36:3; 39:6–12; 42:2; 50:10; 52:1–27; Bar Intro; 2:24, 25; EJer Intro; Lam
Intro; 1:1–7; 5:2; Ezk 8:1–4; 21:23–25; Dan Intro; 1:4; 2:31—3:18; 7:1–8; 9:24–27; Dan-Bel 3

    as symbol of Rome, 1Pt 5:13; Rev 14:8; 17:1; 17:5; 18:2–24

Balaam, Nm 22:22—25:2; 31:8–16; Hab 1:7; Mt 2:1; 2Pt 2:12–17; Jude 11

Baptism, Lv 18:6–18; Nm 23:10; Dt 11:8, 9; Am 9:1–15; Is 61:10, 11; Mt 3:1–11; 19:13–15;
20:20–23; 22:11–13; Lk 1:59; 3:3–22; 4:1; 9:11–17; 10:34, 35; 14:21–23; 15:22; 22:19, 20;
24:47; Jn Intro; 1:13—2:12; 3:3–12; 5:2–4; 9:1–38; 13:6–10; 19:34; Acts 2:14–40; 8:16–39;
9:8–18; 10:44–48; 16:15–18; 19:2–6; Rom Intro; 6:3–22; 7:18–23; 8:1–17; 1Co 1:15–17; 2Co
1:21, 22; Gal 3:26, 27; Eph 1:7, 8; 4:4–6; 5:11–14; Col 2:11–14; Tts 3:5–8; Heb 6:2; 1Pt Intro;
1:3; Rev 4:6, 7. “The New Birth” at Jn 3; “Holy Baptism” at Rom 6. See also Sacraments.

    for the dead, 1Co 15:29

    of Christ, Lv 8:12; 16:4; Jos 3:1–17; Ps 28; 41; 73; 113; WSol 19:1–9; Ezk 1:1; Mt 3:15–17; Lk
3:21, 22; 4:18; Jn 1:29–32; 13:2

    OT types of, Gn 6:14–21; 30:6; Ex 12:22–48; 13:22; 15:25; Lv 1:4; 8:6; 11:2–47; 12:1–3;
13:46; 15:13–29; 16:4; Nm 19:9–17; 25:7, 8; 31:21–24; 33:8; Jos 1:11; 3:1–17; 4:1–24; 5:2–9;
21:46; Jdg 3:10, 11; Ru 3:3, 4; 1Kg 7:6; 3Kg 8:1–11; 18:30–39; 4Kg 2:6–14; 5:1–27; 6:4–7; 1Ch
1:1–4; 11:15–19; 14:11; 2Ch 4:2–6; 29:12–30; 1Ez 4:16, 17; Est 5:2; Job 29:19; 40:23; Ps 22; 26;
31; 35; 80; 81; 83; 92; 113; Ecc 9:7, 8; SS 1:3–14; 4:2; WSol 5:17–20; WSir 15:16; Mic 7:18, 19;
Joel 2:22–24; Jon 1:1, 2; 2:3; Nah 1:1–10; 2:6–9; Is 4:4; 32:20; 33:16; 40:3–5; 54:9, 10; Jer
4:4; 6:10; 15:18; Ezk 16:4–10; 29:1–21; 47:1–23; Dan-Sus 7–9

Basil the Great, St., Gn 1:22; 19:24; Ex 12:13; 13:22; 14:27, 28; 15:6, 12; 20:19; 23:1; 25:9, 22;
31:3; 33:21; Dt 1:16, 17; 10:20; 12:13, 14; 32:12; 1Kg 28:7–25; Job 38:7; Am 3:12; 6:1–6; 8:11; Is
27:1; 60:18–21; Jer 5:4; 17:1, 2; Lk 12:20; Acts 8:16, 17; 1Co 12:4–7; 13:1

Bathsheba, 2Kg 11:1–27; 12:7–25; 3Kg 1:15–21; 2:20; Mt 1:3

Bede, Venerable, 2Pt 3:4; 1Jn 2:3–11; 3:1; Jude 19

Bethlehem, Ru 1:19–21; Mic Intro; 5:1–14; Zec 1:1; Jer 38:15; Mt 2:17, 18; Mk 6:14; Lk 2:1–3;
9:7–9; Jn 7:27–43; Acts 7:19; 13:1; 25:13

Bishops, Gn 14:14; Ex 38:11, 12; Nm 3:6–9; 6:22–26; 17:2; 2Ez 8:28, 29; Acts 1:20; 12:17;
15:13–21; 20:17–25; 1Co 12:28–31; Php 1:1; 2:19–30; 1Ti Intro; 3:1, 2; 1Pt 2:25; Rev
1:4“Ordination” at Acts 14; “The Four ‘Orders’ of Church Government” at 1Ti 2. See also
Clergy;Ordination.

Bitterness, Dt 29:17, 18; Am 6:12; Acts 8:22–24; Heb 12:14–17; Jam 1:9–11

Blasphemy, 4Kg 18:28–35; 2Ch 28:1–27; Is 36:4—37:20; Dan 11:30–35; Lk 23:8, 9

  against the Holy Spirit, Mt 12:32; Lk 12:10

  Jesus accused of, Mt 26:61—27:2; Mk 14:62; Jn 4:26; 10:30–33; 19:7–12

Blessing, Gn 2:8–17; 9:1, 26; 14:19, 20; 27:7—28:4; 30:13; 43:28; Ex 14:22; 39:23; Lv 2:1; 25:8;
26:3; Nm 6:22–26; Dt 28:1–13; Jos 24:16–22; 1Kg 1:17; 2Kg 6:6–23; 2Ch 4:7, 8; 2Ez Intro;
Neh 5:19; Tb 11:16, 17; Jdt 13:18–20; 3Mc Intro; Job 8:11–13; 32:1–22; 34:37; 42:11; Ps 67;
108; Pr 3:4–10; 5:15–19; WSol 16:24–29; 17:1—18:8; WSir 1:10, 11; 7:32; 16:1–3; 35:10;
40:12–27; 7:32; 16:1–3; 35:10; 40:12–27; Hag 2:10–19; Mal 3:8–12; Dan Intro; 2:49; Mt 6:33;
Lk 2:7–24; 5:33–39; 6:24–38; 9:16–50; 16:10–12; 23:29; Jn 14:2; Acts 3:26; Rom 1:29–32;
2Co 13:14; Gal 2:16—4:31; Eph Intro; 1:3; Heb 12:14–17; 1Pt 1:6, 7; Rev 1:3

Blood

  of Christ, Gn 14:18; Ex 12:7–27; 14:22; 17:6; 24:4–8; 26:31; 29:5; 30:10; 38:5; Lv 1:5; 2:2;
3:8; 4:6–21; 5:6; 6:16–23; 7:19–22; 8:15–30; 9:2–21; 15:31; 16:16–33; 17:11; 22:1–16; Nm 4:5–
7; 8:6–19; 13:17–25; 15:3–16; 17:6–15; Dt 17:1; 27:5–8; Jos 2:18; 3:16; 3Kg 8:1–11; 4Kg 2:13;
Job 16:18; Pr 9:2–6; WSir 24:21; Hos 13:14; Mal 3:2, 3; Mt 5:9; 26:26–29; 27:25; Mk 14:1; Lk
10:34, 35; 22:19, 20; 24:51; Jn 2:9; 6:1–71; 10:11–15; 19:34; Acts 10:14, 15; 20:28; Rom 3:25;
1Co 10:2–17; 11:23–30; Eph 1:7, 8; Heb 9:11–14; 12:22–24; 13:11–21; 1Pt 1:2–19; 2Pt 1:4; 1Jn
1:6—2:11; 5:6–12; Rev 7:9–14; 19:13, 14
    ritual significance of, Ex 29:14; 30:10; Lv 1:5; 3:8–16; 4:6–21; 8:15–24, 30; 16:16, 27; 17:11;
23:5; Mt 9:18–26; Lk 8:43, 44; Acts 15:13–21; Rom 3:24, 25; Heb 9:6–28; 13:11, 12; 1Pt 1:2;
Rev 6:9–11; 16:1

Boaz, Ru Intro; 2:1—3:15:; 4:7 –11; Mt 12:46–50

Book of Life, Rev 3:5; 20:12

Bread of life, Ex 16:4, 33; 38:1; Lv 2:1; 7:16–18; 25:1; Jos 5:10–12; Job 6:5–7; WSol 16:20; Am
8:11; Is 33:16; Mt 6:11; Lk 9:11–17; Jn 6:1–71

Brothers of Jesus, Gn 29:15; Mt 12:46–50; Mk 14:51, 52

C

Caesarius of Arles, St., Am 4:7

Cain and Abel, Gn 4:1–16; Heb 12:22–24; 1Jn 3:12; Jude 11

Calling of God, Gn 25:23; Ex 2:12; Jdg 13:25; 1Kg 27:8–12; 2Ch 21:1–20; Est 4:13, 14; Hos
Intro; Jon 1:1, 2; Jer 1:5; 20:7–18; Ezk Intro; Mt 19:10–12; Rom 8:28–30; Gal 1:13,–17; 2Th
1:11, 12; 2Ti 1:9; Heb 3:1

Canaan/Canaanites, Gn 13:1–5; 26:3; 48:21; Ex 6:4; 13:19; Lv 18:1–3; 20:1, 23; Nm 10:29;
13:1–33; 28:1—29:39; 33:1; Dt Intro; 3:28; 11:8, 9; 28:1–13; Jos Intro; 1:10, 11; 9:9–33; 11:23;
16:10; Jdg Intro; 1:1, 2; 3:1–6; 20:48; Ru 2:8–10; 1Kg 1:16; 5:2; WSol 12:3–11; Hos 1:2; Mic
Intro; Zec 14:21; Jer 29:1, 2; Mt 15:29–31; Heb 3:7–11; 4:8

Captivity of Israel/Judah, 4Kg 18:1–8; 21:1, 2; 24:10–17; 25:27–30; 2Ch Intro; 36:22–29; 1Ez
Intro; 2Ez Intro; 2:1; Neh Intro; 1:2; Jdt 16:10; Ps 64; 136; WSir 41:18; 49:8, 9; Hos 2:3; 8:1–
14; Am Intro; Joel Intro; 4:1, 2; Hab 1:9; Hag Intro; Zec Intro; 1:12—2:10; 5:3, 4; 6:9—7:12;
8:6–15; Is Intro; 27:10, 11; 41:8–20; 60:4; Jer Intro; 7:2; 16:1; 17:15–23; 24:1–10; 28:60;
35:10; 36:10; 48:5–8; Bar Intro; 1:15; 4:9–37; EJer Intro; Lam Intro; 1:1–7; Ezk 3:15; 8:1–4;
12:1–3; 17:1; 27:1; 30:1–18; Dan Intro; 9:24–27; Mt 2:17, 18

Cassian, St., Lk 10:7, 8

Cassiane, St., Lk 2:1–3
Cassiodorus, St., Ps 1

Celibacy/virginity, Jer 16:1; Mt 19:10–12; 1Co 7:1; Rev 14:4

Children

  and parents, Dt 24:16; 1Kg 2:27–29; 8:1–5; Job 1:5; WSir 3:1, 2; Eph 6:1–4

  Jesus’ attitude toward, WSir 1:12; Mt 18:1–6; 19:13–15; 21:15, 16; Lk 18:15–17

  of God, Gn 7:2–15; 21:2, 10; 25:1–23; 29:34, 35; Ex 20:2; Dt 2:4; 32:5–21; 34:4; Ps 48; Ob
12–14; Mal 2:10; Is 1:2, 3; Mt 5:10; Lk 11:23; Jn 1:12; 14:9; Gal 2:16—4:31; Eph 4:25—5:5; 1Jn
3:1; see also Adoption

Chrismation, Ru 3:3; 1Kg 10:1–10; Ecc 9:7, 8; Joel 2:22–24; Is 61:7; Mt 19:13–15; Lk 10:34,
35; Jn 3:5; Acts 2:38, 39; 8:16, 17; 10:48; 19:5, 6; Rom Intro; 2Co 1:21, 22; Eph 1:13, 14; Tts
3:5–8; 1Jn 2:20, 21; Rev 9:3, 4 “Chrismation” at Acts 2. See also Holy Spirit; Sacraments.

Christ, see also God the Son (pre–Incarnate); Incarnation of Christ; Jesus; Messiah

  appearances of, “Theophanies of Christ” at Dan 3

  as Bridegroom, Ps 18; SS throughout; Is 1:23; 62:3–5; 66:10–14; Ezk 40:6–9; Am 5:2; Joel
1:8; Mt 9:14–17; 22:1–14; 25:1–13; Jn 3:29; Eph 5:22–33; Rev 3:20; 16:15; 19:6–9

  as Firstfruit, Lv 23:15–21

  as High Priest, Gn 14:18; 29:34, 35; Ex 19:4; 29:5; 30:10; Lv 1:5; 4:3; 5:6; 8:2–24; 13:9, 10;
16:4, 33; 21:1; 22:17–33; 25:9; Nm 3:6–9; 17:6–15; 20:28; 1Kg 2:35; 1Ch 6:1–38; Job 38:36;
42:7–9; Ps 24; 25; 60; 109; WSol 9:8; Zec Intro; 1:12, 13; 3:1–10; 6:9–15; Is 45:6; 61:6; Ezk
9:2; Mt 17:24–27; Lk 1:20; 20:2; Jn 13:31; 17:1–26; 20:21–23; Heb Intro; 2:17—3:1; 4:16—5:11;
7:1—10:18; 13:11, 12; 1Pt 2:4–10; 2Jn 7; Rev 1:6–13. “Jesus Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King”
at Dt 18; “The Priesthood—Earthly and Eternal” at Heb 7.

  as King, Lv 21:1; Nm 3:11–51; 4Kg 15:20; 1Ch 6:1–38; 2Mc 13:4; Ps 2; 17; 19; 20; 23; 46; 47;
60; 62; 73; 88; Ecc 10:15–17; SS 3:6, 7; Is 6:5; 32:1; Ezk 26:7; Mt 1:6; 2:2–11; 21:8; 27:11–31;
Mk 15:2; Lk 1:20; 9:20; 19:28–40; 23:38; Jn 19:19–22; Acts 13:23, 24; 17:7; Heb 2:5–18; 5:5–
11; 10:11, 12; 12:1; Rev 19:11–16. “Jesus Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King” at Dt 18.
  as Passover, “Christ Our Passover” at Ex 12

  as Prophet, Lv 21:1; Dt 18:15–19; 34:10; Mt 1:6; Mk 6:15; Lk 1:20; 9:20; Jn 1:21; 4:16–24;
6:14, 15; 7:40. “Jesus Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King” at Dt 18

  as Suffering Servant, Job 42:7–9; Is 43:5–15; Acts 3:12–16; 1Pt 2:18–24

  deity of, Mt 7:21, 22; 8:23–27; 9:2–8; Lk 2:49–51; 7:11–17; 20:41–44; Jn 1:1–18; 4:16–19;
5:16–30; 10:30–33; 17:1–26; Php 2:6–8; Tts 2:13; Heb 1:2–14; 2Jn 9; Rev 1:8, 14; 3:14
“Christology” at Jn 1

  genealogy of, Gn 5:4–32; 6:8; 9:26—10:31; 11:10–31; 25:19; 2Kg 5:13–17; 3Kg 2:20; 1Ch
Intro; 1:1—9:44; 1Ez 4:13; Zec Intro; Mt 1:1 –17; Lk 3:23–38

  meaning of title, Mt 1:1

  Peter’s confession of Jesus as, Mt 16:13–20

  return of, “The Second Coming of Christ” at Tts 2

  superiority of, Heb Intro; 1:4–14

Chrysostom, St. John, see John Chrysostom, St.

Church, Mt 16:18; Acts Intro; Eph 2:19–22; 1Ti Intro; 2:5

  as body of Christ, 3Kg 3:1–3; 2Ch 15:8–15; Job 2:7; Ps Intro & throughout; 1Co 3:21–23;
12:12–31; Eph 1:21–23; 5:22–33; Col 1:18. “The Church” at Eph 4

  prefigured in OT, Gn 2:18–25; 3:15; 6:14–21; 8:10–21; 11:6; 12:8; 14:14; 15:5; 16:1; 17:2–4;
22:17; 24:27; 26:4, 25; 27:7; 28:3–22; 29:34, 35; 30:6; 31:45—32:2; 33:19, 20; 48:4; Ex 1:12;
11:3; 12:13; 13:1; 15:21; 16:4; 19:4–6; 23:22; 24:4–8; 25:40; 35:31–35; 40:1–38; Lv 2:1, 2; 3:8;
4:13–21; 11:2–47; 17:1–8; 18:6–18; 21:14; 23:5–21; Nm 1:2—2:2; 3:6–9; 4:1–29; 8:6–19; 9:3–
9; 23:24; 27:5–17; Dt 4:12–18; 25:4; 33:26; Jos 2:3; 6:5, 6; 15:13–19; 17:14–18; Jdg 6:11; 1Kg
1:13; 2:5; 3Kg 5:29—6:36; 1Ch 1:1–4; 3:1–9; 6:16–66; 11:4–9; 12:1; 16:1—17:24; 22:8–10; 2Ch
2:16; 3:5–14; 4:7, 8; 6:2; 7:5; 13:4–20; 22:11, 12; 31:1—32:1; 1Ez 1:1—2:4; 3:10–12; 2Ez 2:63—
3:7; 5:7—6:10; 7:12–28; Neh 11:1—12:44; Job 15:1–6; 16:18; 24:8; 29:1—30:31; 38:38–41;
39:5–12; 42:7–11; Pr 9:1; 31:10–30; SS throughout; WSol Intro; 6:24; 7:7–14; 8:1, 2; 19:22;
WSir 36:13–17; 44:21; 47:13; Hos 1:2; Am 9:1–15; Mic Intro; 1:6—2:2; Joel 1:9–13; 2:22–32;
4:2; Zep 2:7–11; Hag 2:7–9; Zec 4:1–5; 8:19–23; Mal 1:11; Is 2:2, 3; 14:1, 2; 16:1–5; 18:4; 23:17,
18; 24:14–17; 25:1; 27:12, 13; 32:15—33:16; 41:5–16; 42:10–12; 43:5–15; 45:25; 54:1–15; 56:6,
7; 58:12; 60:4–21; 61:6—62:12; 66:7–21; Jer 2:13; 3:15–18; 37:15—38:34; Bar Intro; 2:14, 15;
5:1–9; EJer 4; Ezk 5:5, 6; 11:17–25; 14:2–14; 17:22–24; 20:33–44; 30:1–18; 34:1–31; 36:8–38;
40:2–48; 41:7; 45:1—48:35; Dan-Sus 1–9; Dan 2:31–49; 7:8–25; 9:24–27; 12:7–11

  relationship to the world, Mt 5:13–16; 1Co 6:2, 3; 2Co Intro; Eph 5:15–17; 1Ti Intro; 4:3–5;
1Pt 1:1; 2:9; 3:8–17; 1Jn 3:4–9; Rev 1:6; 18:4–8; see also World

  unity of, Gn 11:6; 29:14; 2Ch 5:2–13; 2Ez 3:1; Jn Intro; 1Co 1:2; 3:6–17; 11:17–22; 2Co Intro;
Eph 4:2–6; 2Jn 1. “The Four ‘Orders’ Church Government” at 1Ti 2

Circumcision, Gn 17:10–14; Ex 12:38–48; Lv 12:1–3; Jos 5:2–9; 21:46; Hab 2:4; Zec 1:7—6:17;
Jer 4:4; 6:10; 9:25; Lk 1:59; 2:21; Acts 11:2; 15:2; 16:3; 25:19; Rom 2:25–27; 4:11, 12; Php 3:2, 3

Clean and unclean, Lv 5:2, 3; 7:19–22; 11:2–47; 12:1–3; 13:3–10; 14:3–10; 15:13–30; 16:4–6;
Mt 8:1–4; Mk 7:15–23; Acts 10:14, 15

Clement of Alexandria, St., Jdt 4:14; WSir 26:9–12; 1Ti Intro; 1Jn 1:1; Rev 13:13–15

Clergy, Lv 1:4, 5; 6:16; 9:16; 16:6; Nm 1:47–50; 8:6–19; 35:1–8; Dt 25:4; Ezk 48:1–35; Mt
23:2, 3; Lk 9:11–17; Jn 8:31; 13:12–20; Acts 6:5, 6; 11:30; 20:33–35. “Ordination” at Acts 14;
“The Four ‘Orders’ of Church Government” at 1Ti 2. See also Bishops; Deacons; Ordination;
Presbyters;Priesthood.

Commandments, Gn 2:8–17; 3:1–7; Ex 12:3; 20:1–17; 22:20; 25:10; 38:1, 5; Lv 5:15–25; Dt
4:2–13; 8:1–5; 11:8, 9; 18:15, 16; 22:12; 30:11; Jos 3:3; 16:10; 22:1–9; 3Kg 5:11; 12:49; 13:7–25;
4Kg 18:1–8; 2Ch 3:5–14; 26:1–23; 1Ez Intro; 2Ez 9:11, 12; Pr 4:1–8; 5:1–6; 6:17–40; 7:1–6;
14:28; SS 2:3; WSol 6:10; WSir 1:23–27; 6:32–37; Hab 1:1; Zec 5:3, 4; 8:23; Is 8:20–22; 48:17,
18; Bar 4:1; Lam Intro; Ezk 40:10–12; Mt 5:19; 7:12; 15:3–6; 19:20; 22:35–40; 24:42–44;
25:40; 28:19; Mk 7:1–13; Lk 13:16; 15:29; Jn 8:5, 6; 13:34; 14:30; 15:10–15; Acts 10:14, 15; 1Co
7:17–28; Eph 1:15; 4:25—5:5 ; 2Th 2:15—3:6; 1Ti 1:7; Heb 9:5; Jam 1:25; 2:8–13; 1Jn 2:3–11;
5:3; Rev 12:17; 22:14, 15

Communion

  among Christians, 1Co Intro; 10:16, 17; Php 1:5; 1Jn Intro; 1:3
  with God, 1Co Intro; 1Jn Intro; 1:1–4; 2:24–27; Rev 2:17

Compassion, see Mercy

Complaining, Ex 16:2, 8; Nm 11:1–3; Lk 10:38–42; Jn 5:6, 7; Rom 9:19–21; Heb 12:4–17; Jude
16

Conceit, see Arrogance; Pride

Confession of sin, Lv 5:6; 16:21; Nm 5:7; 14:39–45; Jos 7:20, 21; 1Kg 15:24–26; 21:1–6; 2Ez
10:1–4; Neh 9:1–3; Est 2:12; Job 7:11; Ps 50; WSol 12:19; WSir 8:17–19; Hos 14:3; Joel 2:12–
17; Nah 1:3; Hag 2:10–19; Bar Intro; 1:19, 20; Lam Intro; Dan 3:26–45; Mt 3:1–8; Lk 15:29; Jn
13:6–10; Acts 2:38, 39; 1Co 11:28; 2Co 7:1; Eph 5:11–14; Jam 5:13–18; 1Jn 1:6—2:2
“Confession” at 1Jn 1See also Sacraments.

Conversion, Mt 5:4; Lk 23:47; Acts 3:12–26; 8:36–39; 10:1, 2; 13:11, 12; 16:25–30; 19:26 “The
New Birth” at Jn 3.

Councils, Church, Pr 24:7; Acts 15:2–29; Gal 1:11—2:14; 1Ti 3:16

  First Ecumenical, Gn 14:14; Mt 19:10–12; Jn 17:1–26

  of Ancyra, Heb 6:4–6

  of Carthage, Heb Intro

  of Jerusalem, Mt 16:19; Acts 15:6–29

  Second Ecumenical, Rev 20:2

  Sixth Ecumenical, Jn 6:38; 1Ti 3:2

Courage, Jos 2:24; 1Kg 17:4–33; 3Kg 18:15, 16; Est 4:15–17; Pr 1:20, 21; 3:23–38; 6:17–25;
10:4; 11:15; 12:4; 13:4; 15:21; 19:15; 21:29; Mt 26:41; 1Th 2:1–16; 2Ti 1:7; 2Pt 1:3–7

Covenant

  Abrahamic, Gn 17:2–21; Ex 2:24; Jos 24:33; WSir 36:7; Zec 1:7—6:17; Mal 1:2–4; Mt 20:1–
16; Lk 13:6–8; Rom 4:11, 12; Gal 3:15–18; Jam 2:20–24. “God’s Covenants with His People” at
2Kg 7.
  Davidic, 2Kg 23:1–7; 1Ch Intro; 2Ch Intro; 1Ez Intro; WSir 47:11; Hab 1:9. “God’s
Covenants with His People” at 2Kg 7.

  Joshua’s, Jos 24:1–33; Jdg 2:1–22; 6:3–8; 8:14–16; 18:5, 31; 19:24–30; 20:48; 21:3 Mosaic,
Gn 17:2–4; Lv 2:13; Dt Intro; 7:1–3; Jos 9:3–8; 3Kg 8:1–11; 1Ez Intro; WSir 16:22, 23; Hos
Intro; Am Intro; Mic 6:1–5; Zec 5:3, 4; 14:18–20; Mt 20:1–16; Lk 13:6–8. “God’s Covenants
with His People” at 2Kg 7.

  Noahic, Gn 9:8–16; WSir 44:17; Is 54:9, 10; Mt 20:1–16; Rev 4:2, 3. “God’s Covenants with
His People” at 2Kg 7.

  Old vs. New, Gn 16:1; Ex 12:7; 30:10; 34:29–35; Lv 1:2–5; Lv 3:3–5; 4:13–21; 5:2–11; 6:9,
16; 7:19–30; 8:7–12; 9:16–24; 16:33; 17:11; 19:1–3; Nm 8:6–19; Dt 17:7–12; 20:8; 28:47; Jos
24:1–33; Jdg 16:23–30; Ru 1:22; 1Ch 3:1–9; 7:20–29; 15:25; 1Ch 28:6; 29:10–12; 2Ch 3:5–14;
35:28; 1Ez 3:17—4:12; Neh 10:1; 12:28–37; Ps 24; 80; 83; 88; 102; Ecc 1:8–11; WSir 33:7–9;
36:10; Am 9:1–15; Mic Intro; 3:8; Hab 3:2; Zep 1:1–11; Hag 2:6; Zec 1:3; Is 49:7, 8; 66:8, 9; Jer
Intro; 2:13; 38:33, 34; 39:40, 41; Bar 2:35; Lam 5:5; Ezk 1:27; 15:1, 2; 44:6–9; Dan 3:1–23; Mt
Intro; 1:2, 22; 3:6; 4:16; 9:14–17; 11:11; 20:1–16; 22:4; 26:26–28; Mk 1:14, 15; 11:20, 21; Lk
5:39; 6:1–5; 7:28; 12:53; 13:6–8; 22:15; Jn 2:3–6; 3:30; 4:20–24; 5:2–4; 6:1–71; 13:1; Acts
7:38; 10:14, 15; 20:7–12; Rom 3:24; 8:15; 12:1; 1Co 7:14; 2Co 3:2–18; 11:1–3; Gal Intro; Eph
2:13–18; 5:18–20; Tts 1:1; Heb 1:1–14; 6:1; 7:11—10:18; 12:1–29; 13:10–21; 1Pt 1:2; Rev 4:4;
21:10. “God’s Covenants with His People” at 2Kg 7.

Covetousness, Ex 16:20; Nm 31:21—32:7; Dt 31:6–8; Jos 7:21; 3Kg 21:1–3; Am 3:6; Rom 1:29–
32

Creation, Gn Intro; 1:1; 5:1, 2; 7:2–5; Ex 23:10–12 ; Lv 14:48; Dt 4:39; 34:4; Jos 3:1–17; 3Kg
21:23; 4Kg 2:8–22; 1Ez 3:1–5; Neh 8:18; Ps 92; 93; 96; 103; 148—150; Ecc 10:1; WSol 11:9—
12:2; 13:1–19; 16:24–29; 19:1–9; WSir 1:4; 16:22, 23; 17:1–8; 42:15—43:26; Am 9:1–15; Mic
4:10; Joel 4:21; Jon 1:14–16; Mal 3:5; Is 24:1–6; 44:7–17; 49:3–6; 55:12, 13; 60:1; Jer 15:3;
Dan 3:52–90; Mt 2:2; 3:16; 8:23–27; Mk 6:13; Lk 2:7; 8:33; 12:32; 15:4; 23:55, 56; 24:51; Jn
1:1; 1:19—2:12; 9:6; 15:18–25; 17:1–26; 20:1; Acts 5:15; 7:33; 14:15–17; 19:11–19; Rom 1:20, 21;
1Co 2:6, 7; 14:34–36; 15:24–28; Eph Intro; 1:9, 10; 3:10–15; 4:8–10; 5:15–17; Col 1:15–20;
Heb 1:2–14; 2:5–18; Jam 1:17, 18; 1Pt 1:12; 1Jn 2:15, 16; Rev 1:8–10; 3:12–14; 4:6, 7; 5:9–14;
12:1–12; 17:5; 18:21–24. “Creation” at Gn 1.

  new, Lv 23:39; 25:9; Mt 1:22; 3:16; Lk 4:31; 23:55, 56; Jn 1:1; 1Co 14:34–36; 2Co 5:16, 17;
Gal 6:15; Col 1:15–20; Tts 2:11–15; Rev 1:10; 21:1

Creed, Nicene, Gn 1:1, 2; 2:7; 12:1–7; 13:6–9; 15:7; 16:13; 17:7; 19:24; 20:1; 22:2; 24:3–7; 25:7,
8; 26:3; 30:6; 31:13; 35:1; 41:13–52; 47:9; 48:15, 16; 49:1; 50:24, 25; Ex 3:3; 7:1; 12:11; 13:19;
34:6, 7; Nm 9:21; 23:7; 27:12; Dt 4:7; 5:6, 9; 8:4; 18:19; 29:4–28; 34:4; 3Kg 12:14; Ps 2; 5; 9; 11;
14; 15; 21; 26; 27; 29; 31; 32; 35; 36; 38; 39; 49; 51; 56; 64; 72; 74; 81; 83; 96; 109; 114; 115; Pr
8:23–25; SS 1:3; WSir 1:4; Lk 10:33; Jn 15:26; Rom 16:25–27; 1Co 12:3; 2Co 3:16–18; Heb
1:2–5

Cross, see also Crucifixion; Exaltation of the Cross, Feast of

  of believers, Mt 10:35–39; 16:24; Mk Intro; 15:21; Lk 9:23; 23:26; Rev 2:7

  of Christ, Gn 3:15; 30:7; Ex 1:10, 12; 4:2–17; 15:25; 17:11, 12; 33:7; 38:1–5; Lv 3:8; 5:24–26;
17:6–26; 20:11, 12; 21:9; Dt 21:22, 23 ; 27:26; 28:66; Jos 8:17–20; 10:12, 13; 24:25–27; Jdg
6:11; 4Kg 6:4–7; 2Ch 7:5; Job 2:8; 7:20, 21; 16:18; Ps 27; 30; 53; 54; 59; 68; 73; 98; WSol 14:6,
7; 15:4–19; 16:6–12; 33:14, 15; 35:24; Hos 13:14; Mic 2:3–5; Joel 2:22–24; Zep 1:1–11; Is 11:11,
12; 13:1–22; 20:2–4; 25:10–12; 49:14—50:3; 62:10–12; 65:2; 66:19; Jer 38:12; Ezk 1:10; 37:15–
28; 41:21; 43:18–27; Mt 11:12; 20:17–23; 24:30; 25:31–46; 27:50; 28:5, 6; Mk Intro; Lk 2:35;
7:11–17; 9:31, 44; 15:23; 22:15; 23:28, 47; Jn 1:14; 3:14; 6:53–56; 7:30; 8:28; 12:20–33; 16:21;
17:1–26; 18:32; 19:11–22; Acts 5:30; 20:28; Rom 4:25; 6:3, 4; 12:19–21; 1Co 1:13–24; 2Co
10:4–6; Gal Intro; 5:6–12; 6:14; Eph 1:19; Php 2:7, 8; 3:18–21; Col 2:15; Heb 2:9–11; 6:6;
11:21; 12:2, 3; Rev 2:7; 5:2–5; 19:13; 20:2; 22:2, 3

  sign of, Lv 9:22; Nm 6:22–26; Dt 25:17–19; Jos 5:2–8; 3Kg 18:19, 20; Is 65:16; Gal 6:14

Crucifixion, Ps 21; 53; Pr 1:11–19; Am 6:12; 8:8–10; Joel 3:3, 4; Nah 1:3–5; Zec Intro; 12:10–
14; Is 50:6, 7; 52:13–15; 53:12; Jer 15:9; 38:8; Mt 20:20–23; 27:46; Lk 12:10; Mk 15:27, 28; Jn
18:32; 19:14; Gal 2:20; 1Pt 2:22; see also Cross

Cyprian of Carthage, St., Gn 14:18; Lv 20:3, 7; 1Kg 1:13, 22; 2:3; 16:7; 2Mc 7:1; SS 6:8, 9; WSir
17:20–23; 20:3; 27:5; 28:24; Jer 4:4; 15:18; Dan-Bel 7

Cyril of Alexandria, St., Ps 1; Hos 2:14; 4:5–9; 5:7; 9:4; 10:13; 11:3, 4; 14:3; Joel 1:1; 2:4, 5; Lk
4:39; 5:14; 6:24–40; 7:49; 10:31, 32; 15:25–28; 23:47; 2Pt 1:4

Cyril of Jerusalem, St., Ex 31:3; Jos 2:11; 3:1; 6:24; 4Kg 13:21; Job 9:8; 10:9–12; 29:16; 41:24–
26; Is 28:1; 53:12; 57:1, 2; 60:4; Jer 12:7, 8
D

Daniel, Hab Intro; EJer 3; Ezk Intro; 14:12–14; Dan Intro; Dan-Sus 1, 2, 45; Dan 1:8; 2:25–49;
5:2—6:19; 9:3–5; 10:2, 3; Dan-Bel 5–42; Mt 24:15; Rev 1:13–16; 11:1, 2

D Darkness, symbolism of, Mt 4:16; 8:11, 12; Jn 1:5; Eph 5:6–20

David, Dt 32:30; Jdg 13:5; Ru Intro; 4:12–15; 1Kg Intro; 1:3; 13:13; 15:24–26; 17:4—27:12;
29:9—30:25; 2Kg Intro; 1:1—24:25; 3Kg 1:1–22; 2:46–59; 11:30, 31; 12:49; 15:3; 1Ch Intro; 2:3
—3:9; 5:2; 11:1—22:10; 28:6; 29:10–14; 2Ch Intro; 1Ez Intro; Ps Intro; 3; 7; 9; 17; 50; 53; 95;
100; 109; 142; 143; 151; SS 1:14; 2:5; 4:4; WSir 47:1–22; Hos 3:5; Hag 2:20–23; Zec 9:6; Is
11:1; 29:1; Jer 23:5; 37:9; 52:26, 27; Ezk 34:23; Mt 1:1–17; 9:27–33; 12:3–5; 15:21–28; 20:30—
21:11; 22:41–46; Mk 10:46–52; Lk 1:27; 6:1–5; 20:41–44; Acts 13:23, 24; Rom 1:3; 4:6–8; 1Ti
1:12–17; Heb 1:8; 4:8; Rev 3:7; 5:2–5

Day of the Lord, Am 5:8–20; Joel 1:15; Ob 15–18; Zep 1:1–11; Zec 9:1–8; Mal Intro; 3:19; Jer
32:20; Eph 1:13, 14; 2Th Intro; 2:3–12; 2Ti 1:18; 2Pt 3:4; Rev 6:12–17; 16:14, 15; 20:11; see also
End of the age; Last days

Deacons, Ex 38:11, 12; Nm 3:6–9; Zec 8:23; Acts Intro; 6:2–6; Rom 16:1, 2; 1Th 3:2; 1Ti 2:12;
3:11; 1Pt 5:3; Rev 2:6; 16:5–7; 19:3–5. “Ordination” at Acts 14; “The Four ‘Orders’ of Church
Government” at 1Ti 2. See also Clergy;Ordination.

Death, Gn 3:1–20; 5:4–28; 23:8; 25:27–33; 27:2; 46:30; 50:26; Ex 1:6; 4:2–8; 12:13–33; 14:13,
14; 18:3, 4; 23:26; Lv 1:4; 15:13–29; 21:1–3; 24:10–15; Nm 1:2, 3; 14:12; 20:28; 21:9; 23:10–24;
25:7, 8; Dt 24:16; 27:26; 32:49, 50; Jos 1:6; 2:13; 6:5, 6; 7:1–26; Jdg 2:1–22; Ru 4:3–6; 3Kg
17:20, 21; 4Kg 2:1; 1Ch 1:1–4; 21:9–25; 2Ch 35:28; 2Mc 15:26; 3Mc 4:4; Job 6:10—7:21; 12:22;
31:1, 2; 38:15–19; Ps 8; 12; 15; 17; 22; 23; 26; 27; 29; 38; 39; 45; 48; 54—58; 63; 65; 67; 68; 70;
72; 87; 90; 103—106; 114; 115; 118; 138; Pr 2:7–23; 5:1–6; 7:25–27; 8:35; Ecc 1:3–7; 2:16–26;
SS 4:6; WSol 16:13; WSir 14:12; 17:23; 22:11; 28:6; 38:16–23; 41:1; 46:19; Hos 13:14; Am 3:6;
5:8–20; Joel 2:17; 4:9–12; Jon 2:3–6; Hab 2:10; Zec 1:5; Is 20:2–4; 25:8; 53:6–10; 63:12–14;
Jer 2:23; 44:15; Ezk 18:1–32; Dan 3:86–92; Mt 9:18–26; 14:1–12; 16:18–23; 20:20–23; 25:1–
13; 26:17–66; 27:50, 51; 28:2–18; Mk 5:25–29; 6:17–29; 14:1; Lk 2:7–32; 4:22–30; 9:31; 11:5–
8; 12:5; 16:1–31; 22:1; 23:46–56; Jn Intro; 1:29; 3:14; 5:2–25; 8:7–58; 9:4; 10:17, 18; 11:4–55;
12:24–36; 13:1–31; 14:6–19; 16:16; 17:1–26; 19:14–34; Acts 5:30; 7:19; Rom 5:12—8:13; 1Co
15:56; 2Co 5:1–4; Heb 2:15; Rev 20:13–15. “Life after Death” at Job 14.
Deborah, Jdg 4:4–9; 5:7; Acts 21:9

Dedication, Feast of, Jn 10:22

Deification, Gn 3:1–7; 1Ez 6:1—7:15; WSol 7:22–30; Mt 5:48; Jn 1:12–16; 10:34–36; Rom 4:11,
12; 8:14–17; 2Co 4:16; Gal 4:6–19; Eph 1:4–6; 3:14–21; 6:10–17; 2Pt 1:4; 1Jn 3:2. “Deification”
at 2Pt 1.

Deliverance, Jos 2:13; 3:1–17; 15:13–19; 24:1–15; Jdg Intro; 2:1–22; 5:1–31; 6:11; 13:3–5; 1Kg
7:9–13; 12:6–25; 3Kg 21:1–23; 4Kg 7:1, 2; 2Ch 12:5–8; 2Ez Intro; Est 4:1–3; 8:12; 9:25; 1Mc
Intro; 2Mc Intro; 1:9; 3Mc Intro; 6:31; Ps 6; 7; 11; 17; 22; 48; 70; 80; 84; 90; 104—106; 114;
117; 139; 143; WSol 10:1; Hos Intro; Mic Intro; Joel 1:19; Ob 15–18; Jon Intro; 1:1, 2; 2:3; Zec
14:18–20; Is 37:1–4; 52:3; 59:20, 21; Jer 16:15; Bar 4:9; Lam Intro; Dan-Sus 1, 2; Dan 3:26–
45, 91–92; 7:8–25; Mt 26:17–19; Lk 22:1–15; Jn 1:29; Acts 18:18; 1Co 5:6–8; Gal 1:3–5; Php
1:19–21; Jude 5–7; Rev 19:6–9

Demons, Jos 10:14; 12:1; 1Kg 28:7–25; 4Kg 21:3; Tb 6:1–18; 8:2–4; Job 20:12–14; Ps 3; 6; 7;
10; 15; 20; 26; 27; 55; 62; 67; 70; 75; 90; 91; 95; 100; 139; Pr 29:10; SS 4:8; Hos 5:7; Am 1:3—
2:3; 9:1–15; Nah 1:1; Is 13:19–22; Ezk 27:1—29:21; Mt 8:28–34; 9:34; 12:22–45; 17:14–21; Mk
Intro; 16:18; Lk 8:33; 11:24–26; Acts 16:16–18; 1Co 10:19–22; 12:2; Eph 6:10–17; Rev 3:10;
9:3–21; 13:6–17; 16:14; 18:2; 20:1

Desires, see Passions

Devil, Gn 3:1–15; 6:5; Ex 1:10, 15; 4:2, 3; 14:27—15:1; 18:3, 4; 24:18; 32:10, 32; Nm 1:2, 3;
23:24; 25:7, 8; Dt 8:15; 13:1–4; 25:17–19; Jos 5:10–12; 12:1; 2Kg 24:1–9; 4Kg 21:1, 2; 1Ch
10:1–13; 23:12–15; 2Ez 5:5; Est 4:17; 7:4; 2Mc 15:26; Job 1:6–12; 2:2–7; 18:1–21; 29:17;
40:24–29; 41:4–15; Ps 7; 10; 12; 15; 17; 20; 26; 27; 55; 57; 62; 63; 70; 75; 79; 90; 91; 100; 111;
139; 142; Pr 27:1; 30:11–35; Ecc 9:14; WSir 15:11, 12; 36:25–27; Joel 1:6, 7; Zec 3:1, 2; Jer
50:1–4; Lam 4:3; Ezk 27:1—29:21; 38:1—39:29; Dan 6:5, 6; Mt 4:1–10; 5:39–42; 6:13; 9:34;
10:28; 13:24–30; 16:21–23; 25:41; 27:16; Lk 4:4; 17:6; 23:13–25; Jn 8:44; 13:2; 14:30; Acts
2:38, 39; 14:11–13; Rom 1:29–32; 8:31–39; Eph 4:26, 27; 1Th 2:18; 2Th 2:3–12; Heb 2:14; Jam
1:14, 15; 1Pt 5:8, 9; 1Jn 2:12–14; 3:4–9; Jude 9; Rev 20:3–10; see also Satan

Dionysius, St., 4Kg 21:1, 2; 2Ch 33:13

Discernment, Jos 2:24; 7:20, 21; 1Kg 15:17–22; 2Kg 2:1–36; 3Kg 3:9–13; 4Kg 3:12; 2Ez 8:21–
23; Neh Intro; Est 4:13, 14; Job 17:4; Ps 91; Pr throughout; SS 7:2–10; WSol 1:5; 6:15; 7:6, 7;
Lk 12:35, 36; 1Co 6:12; Col 1:9–14; 1Th 5:12–22; Heb 4:12, 13; Rev 1:14–16

Disciples of Christ, Jon 1:1, 2; Mt Intro; 4:18–22; 5:13–16; 9:9–38; 10:1–39; 13:11–33; 14:19–
33; 15:23–28; 16:5–12; 17:14–21; 19:10–26; 20:17–23; 24:15; 26:6–54; 28:13–19; Mk Intro;
11:20, 21; Lk Intro; 8:22–33; 9:11–50; 12:37–48; 18:34; 22:17–38; 23:55, 56; 24:21–43; Jn
Intro; 1:19—2:12; 6:1–71; 8:31; 11:44; 12:3–29; 13:1, 2; 14:19–31; 15:14, 15; 18:8–19; 19:25–39;
20:21–23; 21:8–23; Acts 1:2–6; 6:2–7; 7:51; 8:1; 11:26; 14:20–22; see also Apostles

Discipleship, Mt Intro; 6:19–21; 10:35–39; 18:1–4; Mk Intro; 1:20; 4:13; 8:34, 35; 10:29–38;
13:9–11; Lk 9:57–62; 14:26–33; Jn 11:16

Discipline

    Church, Dt 17:7–12; Job 39:5–12; Mt 18:15–20; 2Co 1:23—2:11

    of God, 2Mc 6:12–16; Job 31:3–6; Pr 3:11–22; 12:1; WSol 12:22; WSir 30:1–13; Hos 5:2; Is
7:23–25; 23:17, 18; Jer 8:21; 26:26; Lam 1:8; Lk 1:20; Heb 12:4–11

    spiritual, Pr 1:1, 2; 13:3–20; 16:14; 17:9; 29:1–19; WSol 1:5; WSir 20:5–8; 31:19; Mt 3:8; 6:1;
1Co 6:12, 13; 9:24–27; 1Th 5:16–18; 1Ti 4:3–5; 2Ti 2:3–6; Heb 5:11–14; see also Almsgiving;
Asceticism; Fasting; Prayer

Divine Liturgy, see Liturgy, Divine

Divorce, Dt 24:1–4; WSir 25:25; Mal 2:13–16; Mt 5:31, 32; 19:3–9; 1Co 7:11

Doctrine

    false, Lv 10:1, 2; Nm 16:22–24; Dt 21:15; 24:16; Job 4:13–21; 11:1–20; 24:2–6; 30:1–12; Am
1:3—2:3; Dan 5:2; 1Ti Intro; 2Ti 2:17–23; Heb 13:9; 2Pt Intro; 1Jn Intro; 2Jn 7; Jude 20, 21

    true, 2Ez 6:1–3; Ps Intro; Pr 24:13; SS 5:7; Is 1:22; Jn 14:26; Acts 16:4; 2Co 11:4–12; 1Ti
Intro; 1Pt 2:2, 3; 2Pt Intro; 3:17, 18

E

Egypt/Egyptians, Gn 13:1–5; 26:2; 37:28; 41:52; 45:5–9; Ex Intro; 1:12; 2:11; 7:5; 8:15–18;
11:3; 12:30, 33; 14:13–24; 16:3; 18:3, 4; 20:1; 40:1–38; Lv 18:1–3; 23:5; Nm Intro; 33:1; Dt 5:9;
6:23; 24:16; 34:10; Jos 2:1; 5:9; 4Kg 11:1–20; 2Ch 36:7–16; 2Ez Intro; 1:5; 4:17–24; 2Mc Intro;
1:1–10; 3Mc Intro; 2:25; 3:8; 5:31; Job 42:18; Ps 80; 113; WSol 12:23–27; 17:1—18:8; Hos 11:1;
Joel 4:19; Zec 14:18–20; Is 10:24–27; 11:11–16; 17:9—18:3; 19:1—20:4; 30:2–5; 36:4–6; Jer
16:15; 26:1—27:1; 49:7—51:35; Bar Intro; 1:19, 20; EJer Intro; Lam Intro; Ezk 29:1—30:18;
32:1–32; Dan 7:1–8; 8:5–14; 11:5–35; Mt 2:14–18; 12:43–45; 26:17–19; Mk 14:1; Lk 12:20;
22:1; Jn 6:1–71; 13:1; Acts 21:38; 1Co 10:2–4; 2Ti 3:8; Heb 3:7–11; 4:8; 1Pt 1:2; Jude 5–7; Rev
8:7–12; 9:3, 4; 11:5–8; 12:13–16; 15:2–4; 16:10–13; 19:6–9

Elders, see Presbyters

Elias the Presbyter, St., Jos 2:1

Elijah, 3Kg 17:1–21; 18:2—19:18; 4Kg 1:3—2:13; 4:1–44; 1Ez 3:6; 2Mc 15:14; WSir 48:1–12;
Hab 3:2; Mal 3:22; Dan 9:27; Dan-Bel 33–39; Mt 11:13, 14; Mk 1:6; 6:15; Lk 1:17; 4:22–30;
24:51; Rom 11:1–10; Rev 11:3–11; 16:16; 20:7–10

Elisha, 4Kg 2:8–25; 4:1—5:27; 6:17; 8:1–19; 13:21; Jdt 16:19; WSir 48:7–14; Am Intro; Lk
4:22–30; Jn 6:5–9

Elizabeth, Jdg 13:3; Lk 1:6–80

End of the age, Mt Intro; 5:25, 26; 7:13, 14; 24:1–15; 25:10–13; 28:20; Mk 12:18; 13:1–32; Lk
14:16, 17

End, the (Christ as), Ps 4; 5; 9; 10; 12; 18—21; 29; 30; 38; 40; 41; 44—46; 48; 51; 52; 54—61;
63—69; 74—76; 79; 80; 83; 84; 87; 108; 138; 139

Endurance, Mk Intro; Heb 12:1–3; 1Pt 1:5; Rev 2:7; 21:6–8

Energy, divine, Ezk 10:4; Jn 1:14; 5:30; Acts 2:3; 22:17; Rom 1:20; Eph 6:10–17; Col 1:9–14;
Tts 2:11–15; Heb 1:2, 3; 2Pt 1:3, 4; 1Jn 1:5; Rev 22:4

Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple, Feast of, 1Ch 13:1–8; Hab 3:3; Ezk 44:1–4

Ephraim the Syrian, St., Gn 1:2; Jdg 14:5–9; 1Kg 28:7–25; 4Kg 2:11; WSir 23:1–6; Am 7:7; Joel
1:4; Ezk 37:15–28; Dan 6:17–25

Esau, Gn 25:23–33; 26:34, 35; 27:34; Ob Intro; 1, 21; Mal 1:2–4; Jer 30:1; Ezk 35:1–15; Rom
9:6–13; Heb 12:14–17
Essence, divine, Gn 14:14; 19:24; Ex 3:14; 15:6, 12; 20:21; 25:22; 28:17–20; 33:20–23; Nm
27:16; Dt 4:7–35; 6:4; 7:8; 14:1; 29:28; Ps 19; 20; 39; SS 6:5; Mt 9:18–26; Jn 1:18; 10:30–33;
14:10, 28; Col 1:15; Jam 1:18; 2Pt 1:4; Rev 22:4

Eucharist, WSol 6:10; Jer 39:35; Jn 20:17; see also Sacraments

  images of, Mt 14:14–21; 22:4; Lk 9:13–16; 15:23; 24:30–35; Jn Intro; 2:9; 6:2–14; 19:34;
21:13; Rev 3:20

  in early Church, Acts 2:42; 10:48; 11:26; 20:7–12; Rom 15:16; 1Co 11:20–34; Eph 1:7, 8

  institution of, Mt 26:26–29; Lk 22:19, 20

  OT types of, Gn 14:18; Ex 12:11–48; 14:22; 16:4; 17:6; 26:31; 30:10; Lv 2:2; 3:8; 6:16–23;
7:12–30; 25:1; Nm 4:7; 13:17–25; 15:3–16; 27:5–8; Jos 3:16; 5:10–12; Jdg 3:7; Ru 2:14; 1Kg
21:1–6; 2Kg 9:1–13; 3Kg 8:1–11; 1Ch 16:1–42; 21:26; 29:22; 2Ch 2:14; 1Ez 3:1, 2; 4:16, 17; 2Ez
2:63; 3:1–6; 6:19–21; Job 42:11; Ps 22; 33; 115; 119—133; Pr 9:2–6; Ecc 2:24–26; 9:7, 8; SS 5:1;
6:11; 8:2; WSol 16:1–21; WSir 7:29–31; Am 9:1–15; Joel 1:9–13; 2:22–24; Zec 2:17; Is 6:6, 7;
62:8, 9; Jer 16:7; Dan 10:16; Mt 12:3–5; 1Co 10:2–4

  theology of, Jn 6:51–59; 10:16; 1Co Intro; 10:16–22; 11:23–28; 2Pt 1:4; 1Jn Intro; Rev 22:17.
“The Eucharist” at 1Co 11.

Eusebius, Lv 4:3; Is 16:4, 5; 28:1; 60:6–9; Dan 2:31–49; Acts 6:5; 2Ti 4:21; Heb Intro; Rev
13:13–15

Eustathius of Antioch, St., Ps 1

Evagrius of Pontus, 1Kg 28:7–25

Evangelists, four, Ezk 1:5–10; Rev 4:6, 7; see also John; Luke; Mark; Matthew

Eve, Gn Intro; 3:1–8; 4:1–25; 5:3; Ex 1:15; 3Kg 20:25; Job 2:9; 31:1, 2; Ecc 7:26–29; WSol
10:1; WSir 42:13; Dan-Sus 7; Mk 15:40, 41; Lk 1:28–38; 22:56; Jn 18:17; Rom 5:12; 2Co 11:1–3

Exaltation of the Cross, Feast of, Ps 21; 73; 98; Lk 9:31

Exile, Babylonian, see Captivity of Israel/Judah
Ezekiel, WSir 49:8, 9; Ezk Intro; 3:22—4:17; 8:1–4; 11:1; 24:15–27; 33:21–33; 37:15–28; Dan
Intro; Dan-Bel 33–39; Mt 27:52, 53; Lk 7:11–17; Jn 11:44; Rev 4:8; 10:8–11; 11:1, 2; 21:10–21

Ezra, 1Ch Intro; 9:1, 2; 2Ch Intro; 36:30, 31; 1Ez Intro; 8:1—9:42; 2Ez Intro; 7:10—8:18; 9:1–
12; Neh Intro; 9:6–38; Est Intro

F

Factionalism, 1Co 1:13

Faith, Ex 2:4; 6:4; 9:17–21; Nm 13:4–33; 14:6–38; Dt 1:26–45; 2:4–7; 28:58; 32:20, 21; Jos
2:3–18; 4:19–24; 6:5–24; 24:1–27; 1Kg 1:18; 3Kg 17:8–13; 4Kg 2:1–8; 18:7; 23:21–25; 2Ch
24:1–27; 35:1–6; 2Ez 7:27, 28; Neh 5:19; 2Mc 7:1; 3Mc Intro; 2:32; Job 1:21; 23:1–3; 42:5; Ps
115; 116; Pr 1:22; Ecc 4:12; Mic 6:8; Joel 1:1; Hab 2:1; Hag 2:7; Is Intro; 55:1–9; Ezk 42:13, 14;
Mt 17:19–21; 21:21; Heb 11:1–40; 13:7, 8

    and doubt, Jam 1:6–8

    and righteousness, Gn 7:1–15; 30:33; Dt 30:11–14; Ps 142

    and works, Jam Intro; 1:26, 27; 2:14–26; 1Jn 1:6—2:2; Rev 14:12, 13

    living by, Rom 1:17

    of Abraham, Gn 12:8; 13:1–13; 14:14; 15:6; 17:2–4; 20:2; 21:2–18; 22:3; 24:12; 25:1–33;
27:34; 28:17; Ex 2:2–4; Dt 2:4; 1Ch 1:10–15

    of David, 1Kg 17:4–33

    of Isaac, Gn 26:20–22; 27:2 of Jacob, Gn 30:33; 33:5–11 of Moses, Ex 2:11; Nm 11:17–29

    role of in healing, Lv 15:25–30; Mk 6:5, 6; 10:46–52; Lk 8:45

    role of in salvation, Ex 2:24; Lv 18:5; Dt 14:2; Hab 2:4; Mt 9:2–8; Acts 8:22–24; Rom 1:5;
3:21—5:1; 9:30–33; 10:5–13; Gal 2:16—4:31; Eph 2:8–10; Php 3:9–11; Heb 3:14–19; Jam
2:14–19

    testing of, Ex 5:22, 23; Nm 33:2–14; Dt 8:2–5; 18:15, 16

Faithfulness
  God’s, Lv 5:6; 17:7; Dt 31:6—32:4; Jos Intro; 24:1–27; Jdg 13:1; 3Mc Intro; Job 42:11; Hos
Intro; Joel Intro; Is 38:7, 8; 52:1–3; Lk 11:5–8; Jn 1:14; Rom Intro; 2Th Intro

  man’s, Dt 31:6—32:4; 1Kg 2:21; 2Ch 31:1—32:1; 2Ez Intro; 2:68–70; 9:1, 2; Neh 7:6–73; Tb
1:6–8; Est 2:20–23; 2Mc Intro; Job 38:1; Ps 31; Pr 15:30; WSir 1:23–27; 19:1; 35:1; Mal 1:9,
10; Jer Intro; 2:2, 3; 5:1; 39:41; Mk 15:40, 41; Rom Intro; 5:1; 11:25–27; 2Th Intro; Rev Intro;
2:10, 11; 3:10; 14:4; 22:7

Fall of Man, Gn 3:1–20; 6:3–5; Eph 1:4–6; 1Jn 2:15

Family, Lv 18:6–18; 20:25, 26; Mt 10:35–39; 19:29; Lk 14:26; 15:22; 1Co 7:14; Col 3:18—4:1

Fasting, Ex 24:18; 1Kg 1:7; 21:1–6; 2Kg 12:15–23; 1Ez 8:68–92; 2Ez 8:21–23; Neh 1:4; 9:1–3;
Tb 12:8, 9; Jdt 8:6; Est Intro; 2:12; 4:15–17; 3Mc 6:38; Pr 25:4; WSir 7:10, 11; 34:23–26; Joel
1:14; 2:12–17; Jon 3:5–9; Zec 7:1–14; 8:19–23; Is 58:1–5; Jer 48:5–8; Dan 1:8; 3:19–23; 6:19;
10:2, 3; Mt 4:2–10; 6:1–18; 9:14–17; 17:19–21; Lk 10:7, 8; 18:11, 12; Acts 13:2; Rom 14:1; 1Co
6:13; 11:33, 34; Col 2:16–23; 1Ti 4:3–5; Heb 13:9; Jam 1:26, 27; 2:8–13; 1Jn 2:16

Father as title for Church leaders, Mt 23:8–10

Fatherhood of God, see God the Father

Fear of God, Gn 42:18–22; Ex 9:20, 21; 19:14, 15; Dt 1:29–33; 18:15, 16; 25:17–19; 28:58; Jos
4:14; 1Kg 21:1–6; 3Kg 18:3–12; 4Kg 17:24–41; Neh 5:14, 15; Est 2:20; Job 13:17–28; 42:5; Ps
33; 46; 85; 110; 113; 144; Pr Intro; 1:7–21; 2:3–6; 3:4–10; 9:1; 10:30; 15:30; 19:23; 22:4;
23:16–19; 30:1; WSir Intro; 1:10–12; 10:20–23; 15:19; 19:18–27; 26:20—27:3; 40:27; Mal
3:16–20; Is 8:11–15; Dan 4:5; Mt 10:28; Lk 12:5; Acts 10:2, 35; 13:26; 17:4; 18:1–5; Rom 8:15;
1Co 13:1; 2Co 6:11—7:1; Eph 5:19–21; 2Th 1:3–10; Heb 12:26–28; 1Pt 1:17; 3:15; 1Jn 2:18

Feasts, Lv 23:1–39; WSir 33:7–9; Mk 14:1; Lk 11:27, 28; Acts 18:21; Gal 4:10; Heb 9:1–7; see
also names of individual feasts

Fig tree, symbolism of, Mt 21:19; Mk 11:13–21; Lk 13:6–8

Firstborn, Gn 25:27–33; 27:7—28:4; Ex 4:22; 13:1; Nm 3:11–51; Dt 21:15; 4Kg 2:9; Ps 88; Mk
14:1; Lk 2:7; 22:1; Jn 13:1; Col 1:15–18; Heb 1:6; 12:22–24; Rev 1:5

Fish, symbolism of, Jn 21:13
Flesh, Rom 7:5, 6; 8:3–8; 1Co 5:5; Gal 2:20; 5:16; see also Passions

Flood, symbolism of, 1Pt 3:18–22

Foreknowledge of God, Gn 18:17–19; 24:14; 25:23; 3Kg 19:18; Pr 17:3; 27:1; WSir 23:20; Jer
1:5; Mk 14:21; Lk 13:32–35; Jn 1:48–50; 18:32; Rom 8:28–30; 1Pt 1:2

Forgiveness, Gn 42:18; 50:21; Ex 23:21; Lv 5:6; 16:1; 17:11; 1Kg 7:9–13; 1Ch 21:18–25; 2Ch
19:4–11; 33:13; Job 42:7–9; Ps 31; WSir 21:1–3; 28:2, 3; Is 52:1–3; 59:12, 13; Jer Intro; 41:8–
11; Lam Intro; Mt 3:6; 5:23, 24; 6:12–15; 9:2–8; 12:32; 18:21–35; Mk Intro; 2:1–12; 8:22–26;
16:7; Lk Intro; 5:29; 6:37, 38; 7:36–50; 12:10; 15:29; 18:14; 22:19, 20; 23:34; Jn 12:47, 48;
19:34; 20:21–23; Acts 3:12–26; 7:59, 60; 13:38, 39; Rom 4:6–25; 1Co 6:7; 15:12–56; 2Co 2:5–
11; 5:18–21; Eph 1:7, 8; Phm Intro; 21; Heb 6:4; 8:6–13; 10:26, 27; 12:22–24; Jam 5:13–15; 1Pt
5:14; 1Jn 1:6—2:2; Rev 3:17, 18; 19:13; see also Confession; Repentance

Fornication, see Sexual immorality

Free will, Gn 1:31; 3:1–7; 24:8–58; Ex 4:21; 8:28; 9:20, 21; 10:3; Ex 20:1; 21:5, 6; 25:1; 35:5–
29; 36:2–7; Lv 1:2; 20:9–27; Dt 2:7; 7:1–3; 8:17, 18; 9:4–6; 13:1–4; 31:16, 17; 3Kg 20:20–25;
4Kg 8:12–19; Ps 35; 94; Pr 13:11; 14:6—15:25; 21:6–10; 22:20; WSir 15:11, 12; Zec 1:6; Is 6:9–
13; 24:21–23; Ezk 5:7; Mt 4:3; 26:24, 25; Mk 14:21; Lk 8:10; 15:12–14; Jn 3:17, 18; 7:27; 8:37–
40; Rom 6:1–14; 8:28–30; Gal 2:17; Eph 1:4–6; 1Pt 1:2

Freedom in Christ, Gn 16:1; Ex 20:2; Lv 25:8, 9; Mt 5:7–47; 6:19–32; Mk 2:1–12; 5:25–29;
14:1; Lk 23:46; Jn 8:32; 13:1; Rom 3:24; 6:3–22; 7:1–4; 1Co 6:11; 2Co 3:17, 18; Gal 5:1–12; Heb
2:15; Jam 1:25; 2Pt 2:19M

Friday, Holy, Ps 2; 13; 21; 34; 37; 40; 54; 108; 139; Mic 6:3–5; Lk 24:5–7

G

Galilee, Mt 4:15; Mk 5:1–20; Jn 2:1–11; 7:50–52

Garments, white, Rev 3:4, 5; 6:9–11; 7:9–14; 16:15; 19:6–9

Genealogy of Christ, see Christ, genealogy of

Gentiles, Gn 15:5, 6; 17:5; 22:17; 26:4; 28:3, 14; 29:34, 35; 32:12; Ex 6:4; 23:22; Lv 11:2–47;
15:3–16; Dt 32:21; Jos 1:12–18; 5:2–9; 9:3–8; 22:10–29; Ru Intro; 1:14–22; 2:15, 16; 3:9; 3Kg
2:3, 4; 17:8, 9; 1Ch 14:1, 2; 1Ez 2:1–4; 2Ez 6:19–21; Neh 12:28–37; Tb 13:13; Jdt 14:10; Job
42:11; Ps 17; 44; 59; 65; 66; 68; 86; 95; 97; 101; 116; 137; Ecc 9:4; SS 7:1; 8:5–8; WSir 17:9–19;
36:1–4; Am 9:12; Mic Intro; 2:4–7; Hab 2:4; Zep 2:7–11; Hag 2:7; Zec 9:9, 10; Mal 1:11; Is 2:2,
3; 11:11, 12; 14:1, 2; 16:4, 5; 28:16; 32:20; 41:5–7; 49:7–18; 54:1–3; 56:6, 7; 66:19–21; Jer 3:15–
19; 6:18; 9:25; 10:20, 21; 12:14–16; 16:19–21; 17:15–23; 38:5; 45:7–13; Ezk 11:1–25; 15:1, 2;
17:22–24; 36:16–38; 40:20–28; 47:1–23; Dan 3:1–18, 91–92; Mt Intro; 1:1–3; 2:1–11; 3:9;
4:15, 16; 6:32; 8:5–12; 12:21; 15:21–28; 20:1–16; 21:2; 22:1–14; 27:54; Mk 5:1–20; 11:20, 21;
15:39; Lk Intro; 1:2, 3; 3:8; 7:2–10; 8:33; 14:18–23; 20:9–16; 22:24–27; Jn 2:1–11; 7:35; 10:16;
12:20–23; Acts 9:1, 2; 10:1–44; 11:2–26; 13:9–45; 14:15–17; 15:7–12; 16:3; 17:4–32; 19:8–10;
21:17–28; 22:21, 22; Rom Intro; 2:14–16; 3:1–31; 4:11–18; 5:14; 9:22–33; 10:14–21; 11:11–36;
15:9–27; 1Co 5:1; 2Co Intro; 8:1—9:15; Gal 2:2–15; 4:21–31; Eph 1:9–14; 2:11–18; 3:1–13; 1Th
Intro; Tts Intro; Jam 1:1; 2Pt Intro; Rev 8:10, 11; 11:1, 2; 12:17; 14:20

Gifts, spiritual, Gn 18:17–19; Ex 35:31–35; Is 61:7; 1Co 12:1–10; 13:8—14:37; Eph 4:7–16; see
also Tongues

Glory of God, Gn 47:9; Ex 5:21; 33:23; 34:29–35; 40:1–38; Lv 8:7–9; 9:23, 24; Nm 14:21; Dt
4:19; 2Ch 5:13—6:2; 1Ez 4:16, 17; 3Mc 2:16; Job 8:11–13; Ps 16; 18; 49; 71; 96; 112; Pr 15:38; SS
2:3; 6:5–10; WSir 42:17; Zec Intro; Is Intro; 6:5; 33:17; 42:8; 49:3–6; 66:17–24; Jer 9:22; Bar
4:24; Ezk 8:1–4; 10:4–18; 40:16; 41:16; 43:1–12; Jn Intro; 1:14; 12:28; 13:31; 17:1–26; Acts
6:15; Rom 3:23 8:18; 1Co 1:24; 2:8; 2Co 3:17, 18; Heb 1:2, 3; Rev 1:17, 18; 4:11

Gluttony, Ex 16:2–3; Nm 11:4–34; WSir 31:12—32:13; 37:29–31; Am Intro; Jer 28:13; 1Co
11:20–22

Gnosticism, Col Intro; 1:19, 20; 2:3–23; Tts Intro; 2Pt Intro; 1:2, 9; 1Jn Intro; 1:6—2:11; 2Jn
10, 11; Jude Intro

God the Father, Gn 12:1–7; 15:7; 16:7–13; 18:14; 19:24; 22:14, 15; 31:11–13; 32:30, 31; 35:1–13;
49:3–12; Ex 3:2–14; 6:2–9; 8:15; 14:19, 24; 15:6, 12; 20:3, 21; 23:20–25; 28:17–20; 29:5;
32:34; 33:3–22; 34:5–14; 40:1–38; Lv 1:9; 2:1; 8:14–26; Nm 23:7; Dt 4:7; 7:8; 10:20; 18:18, 19;
32:6–18; 3Kg 12:30; Ps Intro & throughout; Pr throughout; Mal 2:10; Is 1:2, 3; Jer 3:19; Mt
4:3; 6:9; 9:18–26; 12:46–50; 22:1–14; 23:1–39; 26:39–66; 27:16–50; Mk 14:36, 62; Lk 2:48–
51; 3:22–38; 4:22–30; 9:16; 15:2–20; 20:2–44; 22:41–44; 23:46; 24:51; Jn Intro; 1:1–14; 3:3,
12; 4:20–34; 5:16–47; 7:27; 8:12–58; 9:7; 10:11–18; 11:41–43; 12:28, 29; 13:31; 14:6–28;
15:14–26; 16:25–28; 17:1–26; Acts 1:4; Eph 3:15
  as Creator, Gn 1:1–30; Ps 32; Pr 8:23–31; Is 45:9, 10

God the Son (pre–incarnate), Gn 12:1–7; 26:5; 49:3; Ex 7:1; 8:15; 15:6, 12; Nm 10:10; Dt 4:7;
7:8; 14:1; 21:15; 32:12; 3Kg 12:30; Pr Intro & throughout; Ecc 1:17, 18; see also Christ;
Incarnation of Christ; Jesus; Messiah

  appearances of, Gn 14:21–24; 15:4–8; 16:7–13; 17:1; 18:1–33; 19:13–24; 21:17—22:15; 24:7;
25:11; 26:2–25; 30:33—32:31; 35:1–13; 46:2; 48:3–16; Ex 1:6; 3:2–14; 6:2–7; 19:17–21; 20:21;
21:1; 23:20–25; 28:17–20; 29:5; 30:10; 32:34; 33:3–22; 34:5–14; Nm 1:1; 9:6–9; 12:5–7; 13:1–
3; 14:6–11; 19:1, 2; 20:13–16; 22:22—23:5; 28:1—29:39; Dt 1:3; 5:5; 18:17; 32:21—33:16; Jos
1:6; 8:17–20; 10:12, 13; Jdg 6:18–27; 13:3, 25; 3Kg 3:4; 9:1–9; 12:20; 17:2–9; 18:1–12; 19:13;
Zec 1:12, 13; Is 37:36–38; Ezk 10:1–4; Dan 3:91, 92; 10:5; Acts 7:30–38; Gal 4:14–19

  role in Creation, Gn 1:3–30; Ps 8; 23; 32; 73; 101; Pr 3:11–22; 8:23–30; WSir 1:7; Jn 1:3;
9:6; Heb 1:2, 3

Godliness, Job Intro; Ps 1; 9; 11; 36; Pr 1:7, 8; 9:1; WSir 10:20–23; 2Ti 3:5

Gods

  false, Ex 7:1; 8:4–18; 20:3–23; Dt 4:39; 6:12–14; 32:12, 39; Jdg 10:1–7; 19:2; Ru 1:14, 15;
1Kg 5:2–11; 2Kg 5:21–25; 12:26–28; Ps 95; 113; WSol 13:11–16; 14:8—15:19; Hos Intro; Joel
1:19; Is 11:11, 12; 21:9; 42:8; Jer 2:23; 5:19; 7:17; 8:17; 10:7; 19:2; 27:2; 39:35; EJer 34–73; Lam
5:2; Dan 11:7–9; Dan-Bel 3–42; Acts 19:37; 1Co 8:4–13; Eph 4:25—5:5; 1Jn 5:21

humans as (in name only), Gn 3:1–7; Ex 7:1; Ps 81; Jn 1:16; 10:34–36; Eph 1:4–6; 2Pt 1:4; see
also Deification

Gospel, Rom 1:1–4; 1Co 2:6, 7 true vs. false, Gal Intro; 1:3–10; 2:16—4:31

Grace, Gn 2:7–17; 3:8; 4:13; 6:3–13; 7:1; 30:33; 43:14–34; 47:29; Ex 11:3; 15:23; 24:1–18;
35:5–29; Lv 2:1; Nm 10:29; Dt 7:1—8:18; 13:1–4; 22:8; 27:26; Jos 1:2; 7:1–26; 12:1; 1Kg 12:6–
25; 3Kg 19:18; 2Ez 9:8; Job 9:5; 12:15; 27:3; Ps 45; 100; Pr 3:4–10; 8:34; 12:2; 22:1; 30:7, 8; SS
2:3–5; WSir 3:18; 20:19; 24:16, 17; 37:21; Am 7:14, 15; Hag 2:7–19; Is 63:7–10; Ezk 1:3, 4;
18:1–32; 41:7; Mt 3:11; 5:9–22; 10:28; 12:35; 15:26–28; 19:23–26; Mk 6:5–52; 16:18; Lk 1:28–
63; 7:36–50; 9:46–50; 10:13–16; 11:5–8; 13:16; 19:2; Jn 1:13–16; 2:6; 3:12–30; 4:10–14; 5:2–
4; 6:53–56; 10:10–36; 12:20–23; 21:15–17; Acts 5:15; 19:11–19; Rom Intro; 4:11, 12; 5:1–19;
6:1–23; 8:14–17; 9:14–18; 10:11–13; 11:1–10; 1Co 1:3–24; 2Co 8:9; Gal Intro; 1:6—2:14; Eph
2:8–10; Heb 4:16. “The Grace of Christ and the Law of Moses” at Ex 20.

Greed, Mt 23:1–39; 26:14–16; Mk 14:10; Lk 12:13–15; 18:11, 12; 12:3–8; Rom 1:29–32; 1Co
6:7; Eph 4:25—5:5; 2Ti 3:5; Jam 1:9–11; 2Pt 2:1–3; Jude 11; see also Love of money;Riches

Gregory of Nazianzus, St., Job 33:4; 37:9, 10; 40:8; Hag 2:6; Is 53:7; Jer 3:6–10

Gregory of Nyssa, St., Ex 3:2; 14:15–28; 15:21; 16:18; 20:3, 20; 32:34; 33:3–20; Nm 25:7, 8; Dt
32:30; Jos 4:1–10; 1Kg 28:7–25; 3Kg 18:30–39; 4Kg 5:1–27; SS 1:2–16; 4:12–15; Is 60:6–9;
Mt 3:15; Heb 6:4–6; Rev 3:5

Gregory of Sinai, St., 3Kg 19:11, 12

Gregory Palamas, St., 2Ch 9:17

Gregory the Dialogist, St., SS 4:8

Gregory the Great, St., 1Kg 15:17–22; 24:17–23; 4Kg 20:12–21; 2Ch 19:1–3; Job 1:6–13; 2:2–
15; 3:20—7:11; 8:11–13; 9:8–15; 10:20–22; 12:15–22; 13:17—15:6; 16:18—19:5; 20:12–14; 22:1
—23:3; 24:1—26:14; 27:6—29:17; 30:1–12; 31:1—33:3; 34:37; 38:1; 38:41—39:12; 40:1–29;
41:4–15; 42:4–15; Pr 21:26; Am 1:3—2:3; 7:14, 15; Ezk 1:1—2:10; 4:1; 10:1, 2; 38:1—40:33;
43:13–17; Lk 22:41–44

Gregory the Theologian, St., Ex 3:2; 12:7; 14:15; 17:11, 12; 19:13; 20:21; 31:3; Lv 3:3–5; Nm
21:9; Dt 4:24–35; 23:4; 27:5–8; Jos 6:22; Is 52:1–3

Grief, WSir 38:16–23; Joel 1:9–13; Lk 2:35; Jn 11:35; 16:6; 1Co 5:2

Grumbling, see Complaining
H

Hagar, Gn 16:1–13; 21:10–18; 25:1–11; Rom 9:6–13; Gal 4:21–31

Hannah, Jdg 13:3; 1Kg 1:2—2:21; Lk 1:7, 46–56

Hanukkah (Feast of Lights), 1Mc Intro; 4:52–59; 2Mc Intro; 1:1–18

Healing

    by disciples, Mt 10:5–10; Jn 14:12; Acts 3:1–10; 5:15; 8:5–13; 9:34; 19:11–19

    by Jesus, Mt 8:14–17; 9:2–33; 15:23–31; 17:14–21; Mk Intro; 2:1–12; 5:24; 6:13; 8:22–26;
Lk 4:31; 5:14; 7:11–17; 8:45; 9:11–17; 22:51; Jn 4:46–54; 5:6–12; 9:1–38

    sacrament of, Jer 40:6; Mk 6:13; Acts 3:1–10; Jam 5:13–15. “Healing” at Jam 5. See also
Sacraments

Heart

    hardness of, Ex 4:21; 7:23; 8:11, 28; 10:1–27; 34:29–35; Dt 2:7; 4:9; 24:1–4; Jos 2:12, 13;
11:20; Ps 94; WSir 3:24–27; 16:10; Am 4:10–12; Mic 1:1–7; Is 63:17; Bar Intro; Mt 12:32; 16:1–
3; Mk 3:5; Lk 5:39; 15:25–28; Acts 4:16; 7:1

    purity of, Jos 2:1; 3Kg 18:15, 16; Ps 50; Mt 5:8; 6:3, 4; 15:1–20; Lk 1:11; Jn 1:47; 4:20–24

    state of toward God, Gn 4:3–13; 13:6–9; 50:21; Ex 5:21; 6:9; 10:16, 17; 12:7; 33:19; 35:5–29;
Lv 11:2–47; 18:5; Nm 22:22–27; 26:64, 65; 33:2; Dt 1:26–33; 5:29; 6:12; 8:2–5; 20:8; 26:16–
19; 28:47; 29:1–3; 30:14; Jos 24:23; 1Kg 1:13; 7:9–13; 10:1–10; 15:24–26; 16:7; 3Kg 15:3; 19:11,
12; 4Kg 20:12–21; 1Ch 29:6–9; 2Ch 11:1–4; 15:8–15; 25:1–4; 29:34; 30:1–21; 34:14–28; 2Ez
7:10; Job 22:1–30; Ps 33; 38; 69; 72; 118; Pr 2:1, 2; 14:31–34; 17:3; 22:12; 25:5; 27:23; Ecc 2:1–
3; SS 5:2; WSol 6:12; WSir 1:23–27; 42:13, 18; 51:21; Am 5:14, 15; 7:14, 15; Joel 1:14; 2:12–17;
Zec 7:4–12; Mal 3:24; Is 11:2–5; 29:13; 30:18; 58:1; Jer Intro; 4:4–14; 5:23–28; 6:10; 17:5;
23:16, 17; 38:33; Ezk 41:7; Mt 3:1–3; 12:35–45; 21:15, 16; Mk 4:24; 6:52; Lk 17:2; 18:11, 12;
22:30; Jn 15:14, 15; Acts 10:7

Hell, Mt 5:21, 22; 10:28; Lk 16:24–26; 2Pt 2:4–10; Rev 19:20; 20:4–15

Hellenists, Acts 6:1; 9:29; 11:20
Heresy/heretics, Gn 14:14; Ex 21:16; Dt 23:4–7; 29:28; 32:30; 3Kg 21:23; Job 10:9–12; 15:1–6;
30:1–12; SS 5:7; Joel 4:2; Zec 1:3; Is 58:2–5; Jer 23:16; EJer Intro; 4; Dan 5:2; Mt 13:24–30;
Lk 1:1–33; 14:18–20; Jn 1:1; 17:1–26; 1Co 11:27; 15:29; Php Intro; Col Intro; 1:15–22; 2:3; 3:1–
7; 1Ti Intro; 2Ti 2:16–23; Tts Intro; 2Pt 1:19–21; 2:1–10; 1Jn 1:1–4; 2:18; 2Jn Intro; 7–11; Jude
Intro; 20, 21; Rev 2:2–5; 3:1

Herod, Ru 1:20, 21; 3Kg 2:3, 4; 1Ch 15:27–29; 2Mc 9:9; WSir 47:13; Is 11:16; Mt 2:4–22; 14:1–
13; Mk 6:14–29; 12:13–17; Lk 1:5; 3:19; 9:7–9; 23:8, 9; Acts 7:19; 12:1–23; 13:1; 23:35; 25:13

Hesychius, St., Job 1:20; 2:2, 9; 7:12; 9:9–13; 10:20–22; 13:1; 16:8

Hilary of Poitiers, St., Gn 1:26–30; 12:1–7; 16:7; 19:24; 21:1; 32:24–31; 35:1; Ex 7:1; 19:17–21;
Dt 6:4; 32:31–39; 33:16; 1Kg 13:13; Jn 6:53–56

Hippolytus. St., 1Kg 28:7–25; Pr 1:1, 2; 4:19–28; 6:32, 33; 7:25–27; 11:29; 24:13; Dan-Sus 7–9;
Dan 2:31–49; 3:46–92; 7:1–8; 8:26; 9:24–27; 10:5–12; 12:11

Holiness, Gn 39:20; Ex 2:11; 22:20; Lv 3:3–5; 6:17–23; 17:1–8; 19:1–3; 20:3–7; Nm 31:21–24;
Dt 8:2–5; 14:2; 17:7–12; Jos 5:2–9; 24:14, 15; 1Kg 6:19; 7:6; 21:1–6; 2Kg 6:6–11; 1Ch 15:1, 2;
21:8–10; 29:34; 1Ez 4:43–45; 3Mc 6:2–5; Job 1:5; 2:15; 13:1; 40:27, 28; Ps 1; 14; 92; Pr 21:14;
29:10; Hos 1:2; Hag 2:10–19; Zec Intro; Is Intro; 35:8, 9; Jer 6:18; 2Co 6:11—7:1; 1Th Intro;
4:1–12; 1Pt 1:16; 2:1; 2Pt 1:9; 3:10–12

Holy places, Acts 7:33

Holy Spirit, Lk Intro; Acts 2:3; Rev 1:4

  at Christ’s baptism, Lv 8:12; Is 11:2–5; Mt 3:16; Lk 4:18; Jn 1:32

  blasphemy against, Mt 12:32

  comes to disciples, Nm 1:50; Am 1:1; Joel 2:22—3:5; Is 32:15; 44:3; 59:20, 21; Jer 38:34;
Ezk 47:1–23; Lk 24:49; Acts 2:3–40

  given to believers, Gn 2:7; Dt 4:13; Ps 138; 142; Ecc 4:1–3; 7:1; Is 61:7; Lk 11:9–13; Jn Intro;
4:10–14; Acts 1:4; 10:44; Rom 7:5, 6; see also Chrismation

  in the OT, Gn 1:2–30; 2:7; 8:10, 11; 12:1–7; 19:24; 41:13–37; 48:15—49:1; 50:24, 25; Ex 1:6;
6:7; 8:15; 13:22; 15:8–10; 20:3, 21; 24:1, 2; 31:3, 18; 33:21; 35:31–35; 40:28; Lv 2:1, 13; 8:12–
30; 23:15–21; Nm 11:17–29; 15:3–16; 23:7—24:2; 27:18; 31:21–24; Dt 12:13, 14; 32:13; 34:9;
Jdg 3:10, 11; 11:28; 13:25; 1Kg 10:1–10; 3Kg 7:1, 2; 8:1–11; 15:29—16:42; 18:30–39; 19:11, 12;
1Ch 17:1–24; 21:26; 2Ch 4:2–6; 1Ez 3:17–24; 2Mc 7:22; Job 33:4; 38:7; Ps 2; 32; 35; Pr 1:24–
35; 8:29, 30; 9:1; SS 1:3; 4:12–16; WSir 21:13; Joel Intro; Jon 1:14–16; 3:6; Nah 1:1–5; Zec 4:6;
Is 10:5–20; Ezk 38:1—39:29; 40:6–9

  procession of, Jn 15:26; Rom 8:9

  work of, Am 7:14, 15; Zec 5:7–9; Jn 14:16–26; 16:8–11; Acts 4:31; 16:6, 7

  works through the Church, Acts 13:3; 15:28; 2Pt 1:19–21

Homosexuality, Lv 18:1–3; Jdg 19:24–30; WSir 16:8, 9; Rom 1:26, 27

Hospitality, Gn 18:4–8; Jos 2:3; 6:22–24; 3Kg 17:14–16; 4Kg 4:8–10; WSir 12:1–6; Lk 7:36–
50; 10:7, 8; 16:22; Jn 13:5; Phm 1; Heb 13:1–3; 2Jn Intro; 3Jn Intro

Humility, Gn 4:6; 40:8; Ex 7:23; 10:3; Nm 16:3, 4; 27:14; 35:1–8; Jos 6:22; 9:9–33; 10:11; Jdg
6:15; Ru 2:2; 1Kg 1:17; 12:1–5; 30:7; 3Kg 1:5, 49; 12:5–7; 13:6; 4Kg 2:23—3:12; 4:8–10; 6:1–7;
19:1–7; 1Ch 1:10–15; 4:9, 10; 2Ch 12:5–8; 34:14–28; Neh 8:6; Jdt 9:1; 2Mc 14:15; Job 1:20;
9:15; 14:5; 26:14; Ps 6; 8; 33; 50; 85; 114; 143; 151; Pr 11:2; 15:1; 16:1–17; 29:23; SS 2:1; WSol
4:1; WSir 1:23–27; 3:18; 28:2; 35:17; Am 7:14, 15; Mic 6:8; Is 38:1–6; 58:2–5; Dan 2:48; Mt
5:39–42; 6:5–8; 8:8, 9; 15:26–28; 17:14–16; 18:1–20; Lk 1:46–56; 7:2–10; 14:7–17; 18:11–14;
Jn 3:30; 13:12–30; Acts 2:4–8; 11:25; 18:24–28; Rom 4:6–8; 12:3–8; Eph 4:2, 3; Php Intro;
2Ti 4:10; Jam 4:1–10; 1Pt 5:5–7

  of Christ, Gn 30:6; Ex 1:12; 20:21; Ps 30; 49; 98; Zec 2:17; Is 53:2; Mt 21:1–11; 24:30; Jn
1:14; 13:5; Php 2:5–11; Heb 2:5–18

Hymns, Jdg 6:36–38; 1Kg 2:1; 1Ch 13:1–8; 16:1–42; 2Mc 7:20; Ps Intro; Am 9:11; Jon Intro;
Nah 1:4; Hab Intro; 3:3; Zec 2:17; Is 5:1; 6:1–6; 12:1–6; 25:5, 6; 59:20—60:1; Ezk 40:5–7;
41:11, 12; 44:1–4; Dan 3:19–25, 52–90; Mt 2:11; 6:5–16; 21:15, 16; 25:1–13; 26:14–16; 28:5, 6;
Mk 14:10, 26; Lk 1:31–56; 2:1–28; 5:10; 9:31; 24:10; Jn 1:9–11; 11:44; 17:1–26; 20:24–29;
21:8; Acts 16:25; 1Co 2:9; Gal 3:26, 27; Eph 5:11–21; Php 2:5–11; Col 1:15–20; 3:15–17; 1Ti
3:16; 2Ti 2:8–13; 4:10; Heb 12:22–24; Rev 4:8; 5:9–14; 15:2–4; 20:12

Hypocrisy, Lv 10:1, 2; Dt 4:6; 16:1; Jos 24:16–22; Job 4:3–6; 20:12–14; Am 1:3—2:3; Mal
Intro; 1:1; 2:13–16; Is 66:17–24; Ezk 8:6; Mt 6:2–18; 16:1–12; 23:8–10; Mk 8:15; Acts 23:3–5;
Gal 1:11—2:14; 6:17; Jam 3:1–12

I

I AM

    as name of God in OT, Ex Intro; 3:14; 23:20; 33:3–17; Lv 19:1–3; Nm 10:10; Dt 5:6–9;
34:10; Jdg 6:18; Is 41:4–7; 52:5–7

    statements of Jesus, Mk 14:62; Jn 4:26; 8:58

Icons, Gn 28:12; Ex 20:4, 23; 25:9; 38:6; Nm 3:6–9; 22:22–27; Dt 4:12–18; 3Kg 6:22–36; 2Ch
3:5–14; WSol 10:1; 15:4–19; Mt 3:8; 18:1–4; 20:20–23; Lk 2:7; 8:45; 24:10, 51; Jn 11:39, 40;
21:24; Acts 1:9–11; Rom 8:18; Heb 9:5; Jam 1:17; Rev 1:17, 18; 4:6, 7. “Images and Imagery” at
Ex 21.

Idolatry, see Worship of idols

Idols, see Demons; Gods, false; Worship of idols

Ignatius, St., Dan-Sus 45; Mt Intro; 18:1–4; Jn 10:3–16; 1Th 1:6; 1Ti Intro; Phm Intro; Jam
1:26, 27; 1Jn 2:18; Rev 1:10; 2:2–8; 3:7; 5:6, 7

Immanuel, Mt Intro; 1:23; Acts Intro

Impartiality of God, Rom 3:27–31; Jam 2:5–7

Imputation, Rom 4:11, 12

Incarnation of Christ, prefigured in OT, Gn 2:18–25; 3:15, 24; 4:25; 5:29–32; 6:14–21; 8:10,
11; 9:8–16; 12:17; 14:18; 15:5; 17:2–4; 22:12–17; 26:4; 27:7; 28:3–18; 30:6–24; 37:28; 45:1—
46:1; 48:4, 5; 49:8–12; 50:26; Ex 1:10–15; 2:4; 3:2, 3; 8:18; 11:3; 12:2–46; 13:1; 14:13–24; 15:2;
16:4, 33; 17:6, 12; 19:4, 13; 20:2–23; 21:13; 23:22–25; 25:10, 40; 26:31; 28:17–20; 30:10; 33:7,
22; 34:29–35; 38:1, 13; 40:1–38; Lv 1:2–9; 2:1–5; 3:1, 8; 4:6–35; 5:24–26; 6:9; 8:2–30; 12:1–
3; 14:3–48; 15:13–29; 16:3–33; 17:1–11; 18:5–18; 19:1–3; 21:1–17; 22:1–33; 23:5–39; 24:1–4;
Nm 1:1; 2:2, 3; 3:6–51; 4:5—5:4; 20:11, 12; 23:10—24:17; 27:17; Dt 1:29–33; 3:28; 4:12–18; 5:5;
15:1–11; 16:1; 17:1; 18:15–19; 26:16–19; 27:26; 32:13; 34:10; Jos 1:1–11; 2:18—3:17; 4:14; 5:10–
15; 6:24; 7:6–15; 9:3–8; 10:12, 13; 13:1—14:10; 15:13–19; 18:1–10; 20:1—21:46; 23:1—24:33;
Jdg 1:11–26; 6:11–38; 14:5–9; Ru Intro; 2:1–10; 3:12, 13; 4:3–15; 1Kg 1:22; 13:13; 2Kg 9:1–13;
15:30–37; 3Kg 1:5; 2:3, 4, 59; 8:1–25; 11:30, 31; 17:8–21; 21:23; 4Kg 2:6–25; 4:11–17; 5:10, 11;
6:6; 11:1–20; 18:7; 19:31; 1Ch 1:1–15; 7:20–29; 10:1–13; 12:41; 15:27—17:24; 19:1—20:3;
21:14–26; 22:8–10; 28:6, 20; 2Ch 1:1–17; 3:8—5:1; 5:13—6:2; 9:18; 29:1–11; 30:1–21; 1Ez 1:1—
3:12; 4:13–42; 2Ez 3:8–11; 4:17–24; 5:1, 2; 7:12; 10:19; Neh 1:4; Tb Intro; Jdt 2:8, 9; 3:8—4:4;
6:6–9; 8:12; 2Mc 1:9; 5:6; 7:9; 10:5; 3Mc 2:16; 6:15; Job Intro; 2:8; 4:3–6; 9:2–5; 10:1–3;
23:1–3; 24:8; 29:1–6; 36:22; 38:15–41; 40:8–29; 41:4–15; 42:7–11; Ps Intro & throughout; Pr
Intro & throughout; Ecc 4:13–17; SS Intro & throughout; WSol Intro & throughout; WSir
Intro & throughout; Hos 1:11; 3:2–5; 11:1; Am 1:1; 2:6; 4:13; 5:8–20; 6:12—7:7; 9:1–15; Mic
Intro; 1:1—2:2; 4:10—5:7; Joel 1:1, 8; 2:22–27; 4:21; Jon 1:1–9; 2:1; Nah Intro; Hab Intro; 3:4;
Zep 1:1–12; 3:1–13; Hag Intro; 2:6–23; Zec Intro; 1:1, 4; 3:1–10; 8:6–23; 14:3–21; Mal Intro;
3:1–24; Is Intro; 6:1; 8:11—9:5; 11:1–16; 13:1–22; 18:1—19:1; 20:2–4; 23:7–9; 25:1–8; 26:19—
27:9; 28:4–16; 29:23; 32:1—34:4; 35:4–9; 36:21; 38:7, 8; 40:9–11; 41:2—45:6; 48:15—57:15;
59:20—60:2; 61:1—66:21; Jer Intro; 2:2–13; 3:15–18; 8:12; 11:18—12:16; 16:1–15; 18:18; 23:4–
6; 33:14, 15; 36:5–14; 37:8—38:34; Bar 2:35—3:38; 4:9–37; Lam 4:20; Ezk 1:1—6:3; 9:2—10:4;
12:25; 14:12—15:2; 19:1–14; 20:33–44; 29:1–21; 34:1—37:14; 40:2—48:35; Dan-Sus 1, 2; Dan
2:25–49; 3:91, 92; 6:17–25; 7:8–25; 9:24–27; see also Christ; God the Son (pre-incarnate);
Jesus; Messiah

Incense, Lv 2:1, 13; Nm 17:3–15; Tb 8:2–4; Ps 44; 140; 141; SS 4:6; WSir 39:14; Mal 1:11; Is
6:1–6; Mt 2:11; Rev 5:8; 8:3

Irenaeus of Lyons, St., Lv 10:1, 2; Jdg 16:23–30; 1Kg 15:22; 4Kg 5:14; 6:6; WSir 35:8; Is 53:2;
Jer 6:20; 15:9; Ezk 37:1–14; Dan-Bel 1–42; Jn 9:6; 14:26; 2Ti 4:21; 2Pt 1:19–21; Rev 9:20, 21;
13:13–15

Isaac (patriarch), Gn 12:17; 15:4; 17:19–21; 18:14; 22:2–12; 24:14–63; 25:11–19; 26:2–25; 27:2,
7; Dt 2:4; Lk 2:22–24; Rom 9:6–13; Gal 4:21–31; Heb 12:14–17; Jam 2:20–24

Isaac the Syrian, St., Dt 28:58; Job 42:5; Is 59:1, 2

Isaiah, 4Kg 15:1–5; 18:28—20:11; 2Ch 26:1—27:9; WSir 48:18–25; Hos Intro; Am Intro; Mic
Intro; Joel Intro; Is Intro; 1:1; 6:1—7:4; 8:1; 20:2–4; 25:1; 26:20, 21; 37:1–9; 38:1–6; 58:1; Lk
2:28; 4:18; Jn 1:4, 18; 12:40, 41; Acts 21:9; Heb 11:37; Rev 4:8

Ishmael/Ishmaelites, Gn 16:1; 17:1; 21:17, 18; 25:1–4; Is 60:6–9; Jer 30:22

Isidore, St., Joel Intro
Israel (in NT), Mk 11:20, 21; Rom 9:6–13; 10:14—11:27; 1Co 10:18; 11:23–26; Php 3:2, 3; Heb
1:1, 2; Rev 7:4–8; 12:1–17. “Is God Faithful to Israel?” at Rom 9—11.

J

Jacob, Gn 25:1–23; 28:3—29:15; 30:33—33:20; 35:1—37:4; 43:14–28; 45:27; 46:2—49:3; Dt
2:4; 1Ch 4:1—5:2; Ob Intro; 1, 8–11; Hab 1:12; Zec 9:9, 10; Mal 1:2–4; Mt 1:19; 2:17, 18; Lk 1:5;
Jn 1:51; 4:6–14; Rom 9:10–13; Heb 11:21; 12:14–17; Rev 4:4

Jeremiah, 3Kg Intro; 4Kg Intro; 2Mc 15:14; WSir 49:6, 7; Ob Intro; Nah Intro; Hab Intro; 1:12;
Jer Intro; 1:1–6; 8:21—9:1; 10:20—13:7; 15:1—16:7; 18:18; 20:1–18; 33:14–16; 35:10; 36:10–
24; 42:3; 43:2–32; 45:7—47:6; 49:1—50:7; 51:16–35; Bar Intro; 1:1; EJer Intro; Lam Intro; Ezk
Intro; Dan 9:24–27

Jerome, St., 1Kg 15:35; 28:7–25; Est 7:9, 10; Hos 2:19; 3:1; 5:2, 15; 7:8, 11; 13:14; Am 5:2; Joel
Intro; 1:1; Zep 1:12; Hag 2:11; Is 7:13–16; Jer 6:1; Ezk 10:13; 20:29; 44:1–4; 47:1–23; Dan 3:91,
92; 5:2; 8:10–26

Jerusalem

    in the OT, Dt Intro; 12:11, 12; 1Kg 1:3; 2Kg 5:1–17; 6:1–19; 7:1–3; 15:24–29; 24:10–25; 3Kg
14:1–4; 4Kg 24:10—25:17; 1Ch 3:1–9; 2Ch Intro; 1Ez Intro; 4:43–45; 2Ez Intro; 1:3–5; 7:12;
Neh Intro; 1:2–11; 2:4–18; 3:1–32; 6:1–5; 7:1–73; 11:1–21; Est Intro; 1Mc 1:20–24; 2Mc Intro;
1:1–21; 2:5; 12:31; 14:4; 3Mc Intro; 2:9; Job 42:18; Ps 64; 119—133; 146; 147; SS 1:6; 5:7; WSir
Intro; 48:18—49:7; 50:1–4; Mic 1:1–7; 3:12; Joel 4:2; Ob Intro; Hab Intro; 1:9; Zep 1:12; Hag
Intro; Zec Intro; 1:12–15; 2:1–17; 7:2, 3; 8:1–23; 9:9, 10; 14:1–21; Mal Intro; Is 3:16; 10:5–27;
14:1, 2; 22:1–20; 27:9–11; 29:1; 30:6, 31–33; 36:1—37:22; 42:25; 44:28; Jer Intro; 3:15–18; 5:1;
7:30; 17:15–23; 39:1–12; 42:2; 44:7–10; 48:1; 52:1–27; Bar Intro; 1:2–7; 2:3; 4:9–30; EJer
Intro; Lam Intro; 1:1–18; 4:1; Ezk 5:5, 6; 11:1; 12:1–12; 15:1, 2; 21:23—22:7; 24:1–14; 27:1;
33:21–33; 40:2, 3; Dan 8:5–14; 9:24–27; 11:16–24

    fall of to Rome, Mt 24:1–15; Mk Intro; 13:1, 2; Lk 19:42–44; Rev 11:1, 2

    famine relief for, Acts 24:17; 2Co 8:1—9:15

    Jesus’ entry into, 1Ch 29:23–25; Mt 21:1–11; Lk 19:28–40; see also Palm Sunday

    New, Gn 2:18–25; 16:1; Ex 33:7; 2Ch 1:1–17; 2Ez 1:3; Tb 13:17, 18; Ps 115; SS 4:4; WSir
36:17; 40:1; 47:13; Joel 4:16, 17; Zec 8:6–8; Is 60:18–21; Ezk 10:17, 18; 48:35; Rev 21:2—22:5

Jesus, see also Christ; God the Son (pre–incarnate); Incarnation of Christ; Messiah

  as fulfillment of OT prophecy, Mt Intro; 1:22; 2:2; 5:17; 9:27–33; 11:5; 12:16–21; 16:4;
26:64–66; Mk 14:26; 15:3–5; Lk 1:5; 2:1–24; 4:22–30; 5:10; 7:11–17; 8:5–15; 12:53; 23:33;
24:26, 27; Jn 1:21, 51; 4:20–24; 6:1–71; 7:41–43; 12:41; 17:6; 21:8; Acts 2:14–40; 3:12–26;
10:34–43; 13:17–41; Rev 1:13. “Jesus Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King” at Dt 18.

  as fulfillment of OT type, Jn 3:14; 6:1–71; 1Co 10:2–4

  as fulfillment of the Law, Ex 25:10; Jos 9:5; Mt 5:17

  meaning of name, Mt 1:1

  relationship to the Father, Mt 4:3; Jn Intro; 1:1–18; 5:30; 6:38; 8:19, 42; 11:41, 42; 14:6–28;
Acts 2:36; 1Co 15:24–28; Heb 1:2–14; 2Jn 3

  two natures of, Is 7:13–16; 9:5; 11:1; 43:1–4; 49:2–6; 53:3, 4; Mt 4:3; 26:39; 27:32–46;
28:18; Lk 1:31–33; 2:40; 22:41–44; 24:51; Jn 1:14–16; 4:16–19; 6:38; 11:35; Rom 1:3; Gal 3:20;
Php 2:7, 8; Col 1:15; 1Jn 1:1

  virginal conception of, WSir 1:4; 24:9; Hag 2:6; Is Intro; 7:13–16; Dan 6:17–25; Mt 1:23

John Cassian, St., Gn 42:1; Ex 16:3; 20:1; 21:24; 23:23; Lv 26:3; Nm 25:1, 2; Dt 7:1–24; 8:17,
18; 9:4–6; 13:1–4; 16:10; 1Kg 15:17–35; 25:22–34; 3Kg 13:7–25; 4Kg 20:1–6; Job 40:6–14; Pr
24:17; 26:18–29; Am 4:10–12; Dan 3:19–23; 1Jn 3:15

John Chrysostom, St., Gn 1:26–30; 3:2; Ex 4:30, 31; 9:14, 16; 10:3; 12:3–46; 14:15–21; 15:16;
16:3–29; 17:12; 18:14; 19:8; 20:1–14; 21:1; 23:3–15; 32:10, 32; 33:19, 20; 34:29–35; Lv 4:3;
18:5; Nm 3:11–51; 27:14; 35:1–8; Dt 4:9–26; 5:9; 7:7,, 8; 8:15; 10:12–15; 14:2; 17:7, 12; 18:19;
21:22, 23; 22:1–4; 23:20, 21; 24:1–16; 25:4; 27:26; 28:1–13; 30:14; 33:9–16; Jos 1:2; 5:10–12;
9:9–33; 1Kg 28:7–25; 3Kg 2:32; 3:9–13; 13:6; 17:12–16; 18:19, 20; 19:18; 4Kg 2:8–14; 4:11–17;
5:10–27; 6:4–7; 2Ch 33:13; Job 1:1–22; 2:9; 28:1–3; 31:16; 33:1–3; 35:13; 37:6—38:8; 40:8;
42:6, 18; Ps 1; Pr 16:1, 31; 20:9; 27:1; WSir 22:22; 25:1–15; 31:1, 2; 35:8; Am 3:1, 6; 6:12; 9:11;
Mic 4:10; Is 7:13–16; 61:10, 11; Jer 4:14; 10:7; 11:13; 17:5; 44:15; Mt 5:1, 2; 6:6–18; 10:23;
11:12; 12:32; 13:52; 15:29–31; 16:18, 19; 17:19–21; 18:10–20; 19:21, 29; 20:1–23; 21:44; 22:7;
23:2–33; 24:14, 36; 26:6–13; 27:25; Mk 11:22–24; 13:32; Lk 8:10–21; 9:13–16; 11:24–26;
12:10, 20; 16:22, 31; 20:17, 18; 23:29; Jn 1:29–50; 3:12, 36; 4:35–45; 5:5–14; 6:53–56; 7:17—
8:40; 9:4; 10:1–36; 12:40–43; 14:20, 31; 16:6; 17:17; 18:28; 19:25–34; Acts Intro; 6:1; 8:29–35;
11:26; 13:9; 14:11–13; 15:13–21; 16:6, 7; 19:26; 20:9; 23:2–8; 27:41–44; 28:4–6; Rom 2:14–16;
3:27–31; 6:6; 9:19–21; 14:22, 23; 16:1–7; 1Co 1:18, 28; 6:15; 7:4; 14:1, 2; 15:29; 2Co 4:8–12;
8:5; Gal 4:21–31; Eph 4:26–32; 5:4; Php 1:1; 2Th Intro; 1:3–10; 1Ti 1:4; 3:2; Heb Intro; Rev
3:5

John Climacus, St., Php 2:3

John of Damascus, St., Gn 3:1–7; 5:3; 16:7; Ex 3:2–14; 4:21; 14:13, 14; 19:14, 15; 24:18; 25:9;
Lv 8:26; Dt 4:24–35; 6:4; 25:5, 6; 31:16, 17; 32:7; 33:16; Jos 5:2–8; 3Kg 18:30–39; 2Ch 5:2–
13; 9:17; Jdt 10:9; Pr 1:1, 2; Is 60:1; 66:1, 7; Lk 24:10; Rom 8:28–30

John the Baptist, St., Jdg 13:5; 1Kg 1:11; Ps 36; 63. “John the Baptist” at Mk 1.

  as return of Elijah, 4Kg 1:8; Mal Intro; 3:1–7; Mt 3:4; 11:13, 14; Mk 1:6; Lk 1:15–17

  baptism of, Mt 3:6

  martyrdom of, Mt 14:1–12; Mk 6:17–29

  ministry of, Lk 1:80

  prefigured in OT, Jos 1:10, 11; 24:23; Jdg 16:23–30; 1Ch 15:27–29; Am 1:1; Is 40:3–5; 57:14;
Ezk 3:15–27; 33:21–33

  questions Jesus, Mt 11:3; Lk 7:18–23

John the Evangelist, St., Mk 14:51, 42; Jn Intro; 21:20–23; 2Jn 10, 11; Rev 1:9

Jonah, 3Mc 6:8; Am Intro; Jon Intro & throughout; Jt 16:4; Lk 11:29–32; Jn 7:50–52

Joseph (foster father of Jesus), Dt 25:5, 6; 4Kg 11:1–20; Est 2:7; SS 1:10; Hos 11:1; Is 11:16;
19:1; Mt 1:16–25; 2:11–22; 12:46–50; 27:56; Lk 1:27; 2:22–48; 3:23–38; Rev 12:13–16

Joseph (patriarch), Gn 30:23, 24; 37:3—46:30; 48:5–21; 50:21–25; Ex 1:6; 13:19; Jos 24:33;
1Ch 7:20–29; Est Intro; WSol 10:13, 14; WSir 49:14, 15; Am 5:6; Lk 12:20; Heb 11:21

Josephus, 1Ez Intro; 1Mc 1:8–64; 4:52–59; 7:1–49; 9:35–42; 13:23–32; 16:23, 24; Am Intro;
Acts 5:36, 37; 21:38; 24:25
Joshua, Ex 24:18; Nm 13:4–33; 14:6–9; 27:17; Dt Intro; 3:28; Jos Intro; 1:1–6; 2:1; 3:1; 4:14;
5:13–15; 6:14, 24; 7:6–15; 8:17—9:21; 10:6—11:20; 14:7–10; 18:1–10; 21:46; 23:1—24:27; Jdg
Intro; 1:1, 2; 1Kg 1:3; 3Kg 16:42; 1Ch 7:1–40; 28:20; WSir 46:1–4; Is 28:21; Heb 4:8

Joy, Gn 43:34; Ex 30:10; Dt 27:5–8; 28:47; 1Ch 15:25–29; 2Ch 30:23–27; 2Ez 3:12, 13; Ps 12;
19; 29; 34; 41; 42; 46; 74; 84; 89; 91; 94; 96; 99; 117; 143; Pr 5:15–19; 21:14; 29:6; Ecc 3:1–22;
4:13–17; 5:14–16; WSir 35:10; Mic 4:10; Joel 1:12; 2:21–23; Zec 8:19–23; Is 35:7; 61:7; Mt 5:4;
9:14–17; 11:16–19; 22:1–33; 25:14–30; Lk 5:29–39; 7:11–34; Acts 3:26; 16:25; Eph 5:18–20;
Php 4:4, 6

Judah

  kingdom of, 3Kg Intro; 11:10–31; 4Kg Intro; 18:16; 1Ch 9:1, 2; 2Ch Intro; 11:1–4; 12:1; 18:1–
3; 19:4–11; 28:1–27; 30:1–21; 36:1–29; 2Ez 3:8–11; Neh 1:2; 1Mc Intro; WSir 47:23–25; Hos
Intro; 5:10; 8:1–14; Mic Intro; Joel 4:1; Ob Intro; 19–21; Nah Intro; Hab Intro; 1:9–11; Zep
Intro; Zec Intro; 1:12–15; 2:1–4; 7:2, 3; 8:19–23; 9:1–17; 10:1–3; Is Intro; 36:1–6; Jer 1:16;
5:19; 13:4–19; 15:1; 19:2–9; 23:6; 26:26; 32:1; 47:1–6; 48:2–5; 50:1–4; Bar Intro; Ezk 19:1–14;
23:1–49; 33:21–33; 41:17–19; Rom 2:29

  tribe of, Gn 29:34, 35; Nm 2:3; Jdg 1:21; 2Kg 2:4–11; 5:1–5; 19:3–9; 19:41—20:10; 1Ch
Intro; 2:3; 4:1—5:2; 6:1–38; Hag 2:20–23; Zec Intro; Is Intro; Dan Intro; Lk 1:5; 20:2; Rev
5:2–5

Judas Iscariot, 2Mc 14:6–10; Job 16:8; Ps 40; 53; 54; 108; Pr 1:11–19; 27:6; WSol 5:5, 6; Am
2:6; Hab 1:7; Zec 11:12–14; Is 28:1; Mt 26:14–28; 27:3–5; Mk 14:10–45; Lk 22:3–23; Jn 12:3–
8; 13:2–31; 17:12; 18:2–5; 19:11; Acts 1:16–18

Judgment

among Christians, Lk 22:30; 1Co 6:1–7

  as virtue, Gn 18:17–19; Dt 1:16, 17; 3Kg 3:9–13; Pr 4:19–28; 12:5; 21:14; 28:5; Jn 7:17

  of God, Gn 7:16–24; 19:24; 27:34; Dt 18:19; Jos 2:12, 13; 10:11; 11:20; 20:1–9; Jdg 1:7; 1Kg
Intro; 3:18; 15:11; 16:7; 4Kg 17:1–23; 2Ch 20:10–12; 36:22–29; Job 1:13; 7:8; 9:9–13; 12:5, 6;
21:7–14; 40:6–28; Ps 9; 35; 49; 71; 72; 74; 93; 100; Ecc 3:14–17; WSol 4:20; 5:5, 6; 12:3–27;
16:1–21; 17:1—18:8; WSir 11:24, 25; 16:12–14; 18:18–20; 28:6; 46:3; Hos 1:4; Am 1:1—2:3;
5:27; Mic 1:1–16; 3:8; Joel 1:15; 2:12–17; 4:1–17; Ob Intro; 8–11, 15–20; Nah Intro; 3:4–7;
Hab Intro; 1:1–12; 2:11–16; Zep Intro; 1:1–11; Zec Intro; 5:1–4; 12:1—14:21; Is 1:24–31; 4:4;
9:8—10:4; 13:1–22; 24:1–6; 42:13–17; 50:3; 63:7–10; 66:15, 16; Jer 10:20, 21; 14:1–10; 32:1–
20; 37:15–20; Lam Intro; 2:5—3:17; Ezk Intro; 2:9, 10; 3:17–19; 5:1–4; 6:1—7:6; 21:3–5; 24:1—
27:35; 29:1–21; 36:1–7; Dan 3:26–45; 12:7; Mt Intro; 3:10–12; 7:21, 22; 8:28–34; 13:24–50;
21:44; 24:20–41; 25:1–46; Mk 11:20, 21; Lk 2:34; 3:16, 17; 10:13–16; 11:29–32; 12:47–58;
13:1–8; 16:27–32; 17:34–36; 20:17, 18; Jn 5:16–30; 9:39–41; 12:31–33; 16:8–11; Acts 1:18;
18:6; 24:25; Rom 1:29—2:1; 2Co 5:10–15; 2Th 1:3–10; Heb 2:1–4; 1Pt 4:17–19; 2Pt 2:4–10;
Jude 5–7; Rev 2:10, 11; 6:1–17; 8:6; 11:15; 19:15; 20:11, 12. “Basis of God’s Judgment” at Rom
2.

     of others, Mt 7:2; 23:1–39; Lk 6:37, 38; 18:11, 12; Jam 2:1–4

Justice, divine, Job Intro; 1:10–22; 6:2; 42:7; Am 5:7; 6:12; Joel Intro; Nah Intro; Hag 2:20–
23; Mal 2:17; Is 66:5, 6; Mt 27:50; Lk 13:1–5; 23:46; Rev 18:20

Justification, Lk 18:14; Acts 8:22–24; 10:35; 13:38, 39; Rom 3:24—5:17; Gal 2:16; Jam 2:20–
24. “Justification by Faith” at Rom 5. See also Redemption; Salvation

Justin Martyr, St., 1Kg 28:7–25; Zec 9:9, 10; Jer 9:25; Ezk 33:10–20; Lk 22:19, 20; Rev 9:20,
21; 13:13–15

K

Kingdom of God/heaven, Lv 20:24; 23:15–39; 25:8; 26:3; Nm 1:2, 3; 10:29; 13:17–25; 14:12;
24:7; 33:1, 2; Dt 4:24; 5:29; 6:23; 12:11, 12; 20:8; 28:1–13; Jos 2:1; 5:2–8; 11:23—12:1; 24:23;
Ru Intro; 3Kg 5:11; 12:5–7; 4Kg 23:26–37; 2Ch 4:7, 8; 9:22–28; 2Ez 7:10; Neh 8:14–18;
12:28–37; Est 2:23; Job 21:16; 39:5–12; 42:18; Ps 9; 22; 23; 48; 75; 93; 115; Pr 11:22; Ecc
10:15–17; SS 4:6; 8:9, 10; WSol 6:17–20; WSir 13:14–17; Zec 4:6; 12:1—14:21; Mal Intro; Is
33:17; Jer 3:15–18; 36:5–10; 38:8; 41:8–11; Dan 2:31–49; 6:5, 6; 7:8–25; 8:10–26; Mt Intro;
3:4–8; 4:8–25; 5:6–10; 6:11–33; 7:13, 14; 8:21, 22; 9:37, 38; 11:12–30; 13:11, 52; 16:19–28;
18:1–4; 19:10–15; 20:20–23; 21:1–11; 22:1–14; 25:1–13; 26:17–29; Mk 4:26–29; 9:1; 10:46–
52; 11:13, 14; Lk 4:1–43; 7:28; 8:10–21; 9:27; 10:9; 12:56; 14:18–26; 16:1–9; 17:21; 18:15–17;
19:28–40; 22:1–30; 24:51; Jn Intro; 1:51—2:11; 3:3; 10:10; 13:1; 14:2; 17:14, 15; 19:19–22; Acts
1:6; 5:41; 7:38; 10:14, 15; 17:7; 28:31; Heb 12:1–29; Rev Intro; 11:16–18; 21:23–27. “The
Eternal Kingdom” at Rev 21.
Knowledge of God, Job 42:5; Ps 38; SS 7:1; WSol 8:4; WSir Intro; Hos 2:14; Is 11:6–9; Jer
Intro; 38:34; Ezk 40:10–12; Jn 17:3; Eph 3:18, 19; Tts 1:1; 2Pt 1:2, 8

L

Laity, Ex 38:11, 12; Lv 1:4; Nm 1:47–50; 8:6–19; 16:1, 2; 17:2; 35:1–8; Jdg 5:9; 4Kg 23:1–3;
Acts 6:2–6; 2Co Intro; Eph 4:11–16; Php 2:19–30; 1Pt 3:15; 5:3; Heb 13:10. “The Four ‘Orders’
of Church Government” at 1Ti 2.

Lamb of God, Lv 1:2; 22:17–33; 23:5; Is 53:7; Jer 11:18; Ezk 4:4–11; 46:1–24; Lk 1:13; 2:22–
24; Jn Intro; 1:29; 11:55; 19:14; 1Co 5:6–8; Rev 5:6, 7; 16:5–7

Last days, Gn 49:1; Joel 3:1; 4:1–21; Jn 17:12; 2Ti 3:1–9; Rev 11:3; see also Day of the Lord;
End of the age

Law, the (Mosaic), Gn 16:1; 17:2–4; 49:8–12; Ex 12:2; 16:29; 20:1; 21:1–24; 25:1; 30:10;
34:29–35; 35:5–29; 38:5; Lv 4:2; 8:6; 11:2–47; 18:4, 5; 19:1–18; 20:9–27; 26:3; Nm 1:1; 6:2;
9:3–9; 19:1, 2; Dt 1:5; 5:12–29; 8:1; 11:8, 9; 12:11, 12; 18:19; 21:22, 23; 22:8, 12; 26:16–19;
27:26—28:66; 30:11; Jos 1:2; 5:2–8; Law, the (Mosaic), (continued) 9:5; 22:10–29; Jdg 17:1–
6; 19:1; Ru 3:12, 13; 4:3–8; 1Kg 21:1–6; 3Kg 2:3, 4; 5:11; 4Kg 2:12; 4:29–31; 22:11–13; 1Ch
21:14; 22:8–10; 2Ch 30:1–21; 34:14–28; 1Ez Intro; 8:1–92; 9:42–55; 2Ez Intro; 7:10–26; 9:11,
12; Neh 1:4; 7:6–73; 2Mc Intro; 4:17; 3Mc 1:12; Job 9:5; 12:22; Ps 118; 142; SS 5:7; Mic 3:8;
Hab 2:4; Hag 2:6, 11; Zec 5:3, 4; 7:8–12; 8:23; Mal Intro; 3:8–24; Is 5:8–25; 8:16–22; 28:4–6;
48:17, 18; 65:3–8; Jer 13:17; 21:8; 39:41; 41:9; 42:18, 19; Ezk 23:1–49; 40:10–12; 42:1–14;
44:6–9; Mt 1:19; 3:7, 11; 5:13–32; 7:12; 8:1–4; 9:14–17; 11:11; 12:1–8; 14:1–21; 15:1–39; 22:35–
40; 23:1–39; 26:26–28; 27:2; Mk 5:1–29; 7:1–13; 12:18; 15:1, 15; Lk 2:13–24; 3:3; 6:1–7; 7:36–
50; 10:31, 32; 13:16; 14:18–20; 18:10; 19:8; 22:17, 18; 23:55, 56; Jn 2:6; 3:30; 5:1–15; 7:50–52;
8:5–11; 18:19–32; 19:7–12; Acts 6:11; 9:18; 10:14, 15; 11:2–19; 13:38, 39; 15:2–21; 16:3; 21:17–
25; 23:3–5; Rom 2:17–24; 3:19–22; 4:13–18; 5:13–20; 6:15, 16; 7:1–17; 8:3, 4; 9:30–33; 10:4–
13; Gal Intro; 2:16—4:31; 1Ti 1:7, 8. “The Law” at Rom 3.

Leadership, Dt 1:13; Acts 6:5, 6

    godly, Ex 16:2–8; 18:14; Nm Intro; 12:1–3; 14:1–4; Dt 1:13–17; 16:2–8; Jos Intro; 6:7–14;
22:30–34; Jdg Intro; 5:9; 4Kg 23:1–3; Neh 5:7–11; 6:9; SS 4:12–15; Zec 4:11–14; Is 3:1–7; Mt
16:19; Jn 10:3–5; 21:11–17; Acts 20:17–38; Php 2:19–30; 1Th 1:6; 5:12–22; Heb 13:7–19; 1Pt
2:13–17; 5:1–4; 3Jn Intro
  ungodly, Lv 4:22–26; Jdg 19:1; 1Kg 24:7, 8; 2Kg 13:1; 3Kg 5:11; Est 1:1–6; WSir 10:17; Mic
3:2, 3; Joel 1:13, 14; Zec 10:1–3; 11:1–17; Is 9:8—10:4; Jer 4:22; Mt 9:36; 21:19; 23:1–39; Lk
20:9–16; Jn 10:1–18; Tts 1:10–16

Leaven as symbol of evil, Lv 2:4, 5; 7:16–18; 8:26; Mt 16:5–12; Mk 8:15; 1Co 5:6–8

Legalism, Lv 19:1–3; Nm 19:1, 2; Am 5:21–27; Mic 1:1–7; Mal Intro; Mt 12:1, 2; Lk 6:7; Rom
2:29; 1Co 11:28; 2Co 3:2, 3; Gal 5:6–12; Php Intro; Heb 13:9

Lent, Great, Mt 6:16–18; Rom 14:1; Jam 1:26, 27; 2:8–13; Rev 3:5; 16:1

Leprosy, Ex 4:7, 8; Lv 13:2—14:57; Nm 5:2–4; 12:10; 4Kg 5:1–27; 8:1–6; 15:1–5; 2Ch 26:1–23;
Am Intro; Mt 8:1–4; 9:34; 26:6; Lk 5:12–14

Levites, Ex 38:11, 12; Nm 1:47–50; 2:2; 3:6–51; 7:2–84; 8:6–19; 16:1, 2; 17:2; 35:1–8; Jdg
17:7–13; 1Ch 6:16–66; 15:1, 2; 2Ch Intro; 29:12–34; 2Ez 3:8–11; Neh 13:1–31; Ezk 48:1–35; Lk
10:31, 32; 1Pt 5:3

Life

  begins at conception, Gn 4:1, 2; Job 10:9–12; Ps 138; WSol 8:19, 20; see also Abortion

  eternal, Lv 2:2; 19:18; 26:3; Nm 4:5–7; Dt 11:8, 9; 22:1–4; 28:1–66; Jos 1:11; Ru 1:12; 1Ch
1:1–4; 17:16; 2Ch 35:28; 2Mc 7:9–14; Job 6:5–7; 27:3; Ecc 6:1–12; WSol 1:13, 14; 11:4–8; 15:3;
Is 45:6; 53:10; Ezk 4:12–17; Dan 12:1–3; Mt 6:11; 15:26–28; 19:20; 25:1–13; 26:29; Lk 10:34,
35; Jn 4:10–14; 6:53–56; 10:1–18; 13:1; 17:3; Rom 3:23, 24; 5:14–18; 6:5–23; 2Co 4:16; 5:11–
15; 7:9–11; Eph 2:1–7; Php 1:19–21; 3:7–16; Col 1:18; 1Th Intro; 1Ti 4:7, 8; Heb 6:5; 1Pt 1:6–8;
1Jn 5:13; Rev 2:7–28; 3:5; 6:9–11. “Life after Death” at Job 14.

  spiritual, Col 1:9–14

Light, symbolism of, Ex 38:13; Lv 24:1–4; Mt 5:13–16; Jn 1:4–11; 8:12; 9:1–38; 12:35, 36; Eph
5:6–20; 1Jn 1:5; Rev 2:28; 21:23–27

Liturgy, Divine, Lv 1:5; 6:17–23; Nm 4:5–7; 1Ch 16:1–42; 29:14; 2Ez 6:8–10; Neh 9:6–38;
12:28–37; Job Intro; 42:11; Pr Intro; WSol 6:10; WSir 36:13; Hos 6:6; Zec 2:17; Ezk 40:39–48;
46:1–24; Mt 10:12, 13; 26:26–28; Lk 9:11–17; 22:19, 20; Acts 8:32, 33; 20:7–12; Rom 15:16;
1Co 1:3; 11:23–26; 14:25–36; Col 2:16–23; 3:15–17; 1Th 5:23–27; Heb 12:1–29; 13:11–19; 1Pt
5:14; Rev 1:6; 4:8–11; 5:9–14. “Liturgy in the New Testament Church” at Rev 4. See also
Worship.

Longinos, St., Mt 27:54

Lot (patriarch), Gn 13:10–18; 18:23—19:24; Jdg 19:22, 23; Mt 12:46–50

Lot’s wife, Gn 19:26

Love, Ecc 4:12; 1Co 13:1–8; 14:1; 2Co 8:24; Gal 5:6–12

  of God, Gn 2:1–25; 4:7; 14:21–24; 37:3, 4; Ex 3:7; 4:30, 31; 20:5; 21:1; 23:10–12; 24:3; Lv
1:9; 19:18; Nm 14:11–20; 33:2, 14; Dt Intro; 7:7, 8; 10:12–15; 13:1–4; 16:1; 22:8; Jos 7:14–18;
20:1–9; 24:14, 15; 1Kg 20:17; 2Kg 7:18–29; 9:1–13; 1Ch 21:15, 16; Job 13:17–28; Ps 30; 37; 87;
96; 103; 114; 144; Pr 1:9; 3:11–22; 8:4–21; 16:12; 28:14; SS Intro; 1:7; 2:4; 4:9; 8:6, 7; WSol
6:17–20; 11:9—12:2; WSir 7:29–31; 15:19; 24:15–17; Hos Intro; 3:1; 10:13; 11:8, 9; 14:5; Am
5:21–27; Mic 6:8; Hab 1:1; Zec 1:2–15; 8:1–3; Mal Intro; 1:2–4; Mt 5:7–48; 6:9; 23:13; Mk
12:28–31; Lk Intro; 2:25, 26; 5:29; 7:2–10; 13:32–35; Jn Intro; 3:16; 12:28; 13:5; 14:9; 15:10–
25; 17:26; 18:27; 21:6–17; 1Jn Intro

  of money, Gn 37:26, 27; Ex 20:17; Lv 5:11; Nm 31:8–24; Dt 15:1–11; 23:20, 21; Jos 7:21; 4Kg
5:27; Pr 15:30; 16:12; 22:8; 23:1–4; 26:18–29; WSir 21:1–11; Hab 2:10; Lk 16:10–15; Jn 12:3–
8; see also Greed; Riches

  of neighbor, Gn 2:18–25; 4:7; 14:21–24; 37:3, 4; 42:18; Ex 22:20; 23:10–12; 32:10, 32; Lv
5:15–26; 19:18; Nm 14:13–20; 35:1–8; Dt 15:1–11; 16:1; 22:8; 1Kg 20:17; 2Kg 9:1–13; 19:1; Ps
14; Pr 5:15–19; WSir 29:10–13; Ob 8–11; Mt 5:44–47; 7:12; 15:22–28; 18:1–4; 22:39; 25:40;
Mk 12:28–31; Jn 13:34; 1Co 10:23–33; Jam 2:8–13; 2Pt 1:5–7; 1Jn Intro; 2:3–11; 4:12—5:2

  in marriage, SS Intro; 6:11; 7:2–10; WSir 9:1; 25:1–15; 40:19–23; Eph 5:22–33; 1Pt 3:1–7

Luke the Evangelist, St., Lk Intro; Acts Intro; 16:10

Lust, Ex 20:13, 14; 4Kg 2:11; Jdt 12:12; Pr 7:25–27; Mt 5:27, 28; Lk 18:11, 12; Eph 5:4; see also
Sexual immorality; Passions

M

Magi, see Wise men
Man, see also Nature, human

  creation of, Gn 1:26–31; 2:7

  in the image of God, Gn 1:26–31; Job 42:11; Ps 92; WSir 17:1–8; Hag 2:20–23; Is 44:21–23;
Ezk 18:1–32; Mt 22:39; Lk 15:8; 20:20–26; Jn 14:10; Rom 7:17; 2Co 3:17, 18; Col 1:15; 3:10;
1Jn 3:2

  three types of, 1Co 2:10—3:4

Mark the Evangelist, St., Mk Intro; 14:51, 52; Acts 12:12

Manna, Ex 16:13–33; 25:10; 38:1; Dt 8:3; Jos 3:3; 5:10–12; WSol 16:1–21; Mt 4:2–10; Jn 6:1–
71; Heb 9:4; Rev 2:17

Marriage, see also Divorce; Love in marriage

  and celibacy, Mt 19:10–12; 1Co 7:4–40

  as mystery of Christ and the Church, Gn 2:18–25; Lv 18:6–18; 21:14; Jdg 1:11–15; Ru 4:11;
1Ez 4:14–20; Tb 9:1–6; Pr 31:10–30; SS Intro & throughout; Mt 22:1–14; 25:1–13; Jn 2:1–11;
Rom 7:5, 6; Eph 5:22–33; Rev 19:6–9. “Marriage” at Eph 5.

  ceremony of, Ps 11

  eternal nature of, Mt 5:31, 32; 19:3–9

  honorable, Gn 2:18–25; Lv 12:1–3; 18:6–18; Dt 22:13–28; 24:1–4; Tb 8:7; Pr 5:15–19; Mal
2:13–16; Mt 14:1–12; Jn 2:1–11; 1Co 7:4–40; 1Pt 3:1–7

  institution of, Gn 2:18–25

  laws concerning, Lv 18:6–18; 20:25, 26; Dt 25:5, 6; 2Ez 9:1–12; Mt 1:16; 2Co 6:14

  roles in, WSir 25:21; 1Co 7:4; Eph 5:22–33; 1Pt 3:1–7

Martyrdom, 3Kg 19:3; 2Mc 7:1, 24–31; Ps 36; 43; 63; 78; 93; WSol 3:1–9; Jer 20:13; 36:10;
37:15–20; Mt 2:17, 18; 14:1–12; 20:20–23; 26:2; 28:13; Mk 6:17–29; 13:5–23; Lk 1:80; 22:35–
38; Jn 4:28–30; 11:16; 13:36; 18:8; 21:15–19; Acts 7:55–58; 8:1; 12:1–17; 23:11; Rev 1:2; 6:9–
11; 20:4–6
Mary of Egypt, St., Jn 7:53—8:11; 1Ti 1:12–17

Mary the Mother of God, Ex 13:1; 1Kg 1:11; 4Kg 11:1–20; Ps 2; 18; 24; Pr Intro; SS 2:4; 3:11;
8:5; WSir 1:4; 7:18; 24:9; Am 4:13; Hag 2:6; Is 25:5, 6; Jer 51:17; Ezk 40:5–7; 46:1–24; Dan
3:19–23; Lk 1:28–56; 2:35; Gal 4:4–31; Heb 9:1–7; Rev 12:1–16. “Mary” at Lk 1.

  as mother of the Church, Jdg 5:7; Jn 19:25–27

  ever–virginity of, Gn 29:15; Ex 4:22; Est 2:7; Ezk 44:1–4; Mt 1:20, 25; Jn 19:25–27

  feasts of, Ps 18; 115; 119—133; Lk 11:27, 28; Heb 9:1–7; see also names of individual feasts

  Jesus’ relationship with, Lk 11:27, 28; Jn 2:3–5; 19:25–27

  prefigured in the OT, Gn 6:14–21; 8:10, 11; 28:12, 17; Ex 3:2; 15:21; 16:33; 25:10, 40; 38:1;
40:1–38; Nm 1:1; 13:17–25; Dt 1:29–33; Jos 3:1–17; Jdg 6:36–38; 1Kg 1:22—2:1; 6:14; 2Kg
13:18, 19; 3Kg 8:1–11; 4Kg 4:11–17; 1Ch 13:1–8; 15:1–29; 2Ch 5:2–13; 9:17; Jdt 13:18–20; Job
23:12; Ps 42; 44; 67; 93; 95; Pr 9:1; WSol 7:22–30; Hos 11:1; Am 9:11; Zec 12:10–14; Is Intro;
7:13–16; 11:1, 16; 12:4–6; 19:1; 49:1; 66:7; Jer 16:1; 38:4; Ezk 1:25; 40:31—41:12; 43:1—44:4.
“Types of Mary in the Old Testament” at Ezk 43.

Matthew the Evangelist, St., Mt Intro; 9:9–13; Lk 5:27

Maximus the Confessor, St., Jos 10:14; Pr 1:1, 2; Jam 2:14–19; 4:1–10

Meekness, Nm 12:1–3; Mt 5:5; 11:28–30

Melchizedek, Gn 14:18–10; Mal 3:8–12; Lk 20:2; Heb 5:5–11; 7:1–10; see also Priesthood of
Melchizedek

Melito of Sardis, St., 1Kg 15:11; SS 2:8; Rev 3:1

Mercy, Gn 19:16; 24:12; 47:29; Ex 9:14, 16; 21:1; 23:10–12; 33:19; Jos 2:12, 13; 8:21–28; 16:10;
Jdg 10:11–16; 20:26; 21:6, 7; 1Kg 7:9–13; 11:11–15; 21:1–6; 25:22–34; 30:21–25; 3Kg 13:6; 4Kg
17:1–23; 20:1–6; 21:1, 2; 2Ch 19:4–11; 33:13; 1Ez 8:68–92; Tb 8:15–17; Est 4:15–17; 2Mc 7:20;
3Mc 5:50, 51; Job 7:8; 10:8–12; Ps 6; 12; 22; 32; 35; 50; 58; 84; 88; 89; 91; 99; 100; 104—106;
116; 117; 134; 135; 146; Pr 12:10; 13:10; Ecc 2:1–3; WSol 11:9—12:18; WSir 17:24; 18:8–10;
35:24—36:8; 50:22–24; Hos 2:19; 12:5; Mic 6:8; Jon Intro; 4:1–11; Zec 1:12, 13; Is 1:24–31;
23:17, 18; 30:18; 51:17–23; 56:1, 2; 59:1, 2; 63:7–10; 64:4; Jer 5:1; Bar 2:14, 15; Lam 3:22–62;
Ezk Intro; 7:1–6; 14:2–14; 16:4–10; Dan 3:26–45; 4:5; Mt 1:19; 5:7; 9:9–13; 10:40–42; 11:16–
19; 12:6–32; 20:30; 25:1–46; 26:6–13; 27:25; Mk 6:13; Lk 6:7–38; 7:36–50; 15:29; 18:13; Jn
1:14; 8:5–11; 12:47, 48; 15:18–25; 18:8; Acts 9:35; Rom 3:25; 4:6–8; 9:14–24; 11:30–32; 2Ti
1:18; Heb 12:22–24; Jam 1:26, 27; 2:8–13; 4:11, 12; 1Pt 1:17; Rev 4:2, 3; 20:12

Messiah, Mt 1:1; see also Christ; God the Son (pre–incarnate), Incarnation of Christ; Jesus
Jesus hailed as, Mt 21:9

  messianic secret, Mt 12:16–21; Mk Intro; 10:46–52; Lk 5:14; 9:21

  signs of, Mt 2:2; 8:23–27; 9:27–34; 13:3–9

  suffering, Mt 16:21–23; Mk Intro

Methodius, St., Lv 2:13

Mind, transformation of, Mt 6:22, 23; Rom 8:5–8; 12:2

Ministry, Christian, 2Co 3:4–6; Eph 4:11–16; 1Th 3:2; 2Ti Intro; 2:3–13; Heb 13:7; 1Pt 5:1–4;
3Jn Intro; 8

Miracles, WSol 10:1–21; Is 9:1; see also Signs

  feeding of 4,000, Mt 15:32–39

  feeding of 5,000, Mt 14:14–21

  healing of two blind men, Mt 20:30

  in the OT, Ex Intro; 4:17; Nm 14:11; Jdg 6:36–38; 15:18, 19; 1Kg Intro; 4Kg 4:1–44; 2Mc
1:20; 3Mc Intro; WSir 46:4; Is 38:7, 8; Ezk 11:1; Dan-Bel 33–39

  performed by disciples, Is 8:17, 18

  raising of Lazarus, Jn 11:1–45

  turning water into wine, Jn 2:1–11

Miriam, Ex 2:4; 15:21; Nm Intro; 12:1–10; Jdg 4:4; 4Kg 11:1–20; Lk 5:14; Acts 21:9
Monasticism, Neh 11:1, 2; WSol 4:1; WSir 18:22; Lam 4:7, 8; Mt 3:4; 5:39–42; Rev 4:6, 7

Money, see Love of money

Moses, Gn Intro; 12:1–7; Ex Intro; 1:6–10; 2:2–22; 3:2–5; 4:2–21; 5:21–23; 7:1; 11:3; 14:15–
22; 17:11—18:14; 19:17–21; 20:19—21:1; 23:20; 24:1–18; 32:10–32; 33:7–23; 34:9–35; 39:23;
40:1–38; Lv Intro; 4:3–21; 8:6, 12; 18:5; 19:1–3; Nm Intro; 1:1; 10:29; 11:17–29; 12:1–7; 13:1–
16; 14:13–20; 16:1–24; 19:1, 2; 20:11, 12; 27:12—29:39; 30:1; 32:5–7; 33:14; Dt Intro; 1:1–5;
4:2–5, 35; 5:5—6:4; 18:15–18; 32:43—33:4; 34:4–10; Jos 1:1, 2; 5:13–15; Jdg 5:1–31; 6:18; 3Kg
17:2–5; 4Kg 2:12; 11:1–20; 18:4; 2Mc 3:20; 15:14; Job 42:7–9; Ps Intro; WSol 10:1–21; 18:5–
19; 19:1–9; WSir 45:1–4; 46:1, 2; Hab 1:12; 3:2; Zec 3:2; Mal 3:22; Is 41:4–7; 63:12–14; Jer 1:6;
10:16, 17; Bar 1:19, 20; Dan-Bel 33–39; Mt 20:1–16; 22:1–14; 23:2, 3; Mk 6:15; Lk 3:21, 22;
5:14; 13:6–8; Jn 1:4–21; 3:14; 4:16–19; 5:31–47; 6:1–71; 7:40; 8:58; 10:8; Acts 7:19; Rom 5:13;
1Co 10:2–4; 2Co 3:7–9; Gal 2:21; 1Ti 1:12–17; 2Ti 3:8; Tts 1:1; Heb Intro; 1:8; 3:1–6; 8:6–13;
1Pt 1:2; Jude 9; Rev 4:1; 8:3; 11:3–11; 15:2–8; 16:5–7; 19:6–9

    Law of, see Law, the (Mosaic)

Mourning, Jewish customs concerning, Jn 11:19, 20

Murder, Gn 4:8; 20:13, 14; Dt 24:1–4; Jdg 9:1–5; 20:1–3; 2Kg 11:14–21; 12:1–6; 3Kg 20:4; 2Ch
25:11–14; Ps 50; 138; Mt 5:21, 22; Acts 15:13–21; Rom 1:29–32; 1Jn 3:15; Jude 11; Rev 14:8;
18:21–24

Music/musicians, liturgical, 1Ch 6:16–33; 16:1–42; 25:1–31; 2Ch Intro; Neh 12:28—13:31; Ps
Intro; WSir 47:9, 10; Rev 16:5–7

Myrrhbearing women, Hos 6:3; Is 8:19; Mk 16:1; Lk 24:10; Jn 3:1, 2; 20:2

Mystery, Mt 7:6; 11:25; 13:11; 26:29; Lk 1:20; 5:4; 7:36–50; 8:10; 22:15; 23:8–34; 24:51; Jn
Intro; 1:14, 51; 3:8–12; 6:60–66; 13:2; Rom 16:25–27; Eph 1:9, 10; Rev 11:15

Mysticism, Col 2:16—3:17

N

Name of God, Gn 4:25, 26; 11:8; 12:8; 13:1–5; 16:13; 19:24; 22:16; 31:13; 35:1; Ex Intro; 3:14;
7:1; 23:21; 28:17–20; 34:5; Lv 20:3–7; 24:10–15; Nm 6:22–26; 14:13–20; Dt 4:24–35; 5:6–9;
33:29; 3Kg 14:1–4; 17:1; 3Mc 2:9; Jn 17:6; Rev 22:4
Nativity, Feast of, Jdg 6:36–38; Ps 2; 18; 44; 45; 71; 76; 86; 109; 110; 119—133; Am 9:11; Hab
Intro; 3:3; Zec 2:17; Dan 3:19–23; Mt 2:11; Lk 2:1–7

Nature, see also Deification; Jesus, two natures of

    divine, Gn 1:26–31; Jn Intro; 1:18; 5:16–30; 8:19; 10:30–33; 14:10, 28; 15:26; 1Co 8:6;
15:24–28;

    Gal 3:20; Php 2:6–8; Col Intro; Tts 2:13; Heb 9:5

    human, Gn 1:26–31; Ps 35; Pr 8:35; 25:4; Ezk 18:1–32; Mt 4:4; 5:27, 28; Mk 5:25–29; 7:34;
10:46–52; Lk 23:46; Jn 1:14–16; 11:44; Rom 1:21; 5:18, 19; 6:2–13; 7:17, 25; 8:3, 4; 12:1, 2; 1Co
15:22, 50; 2Co 3:7–9; Gal 2:20; 3:19–29; 5:1–16; Eph 1:4–6; Col 1:18–20; 2:9, 10; Heb 2:10–
18; 8:6–13; 9:15–23; 1Pt 1:2; 1Jn 3:1, 2; 5:3; see also Man

Nazirites, Jdg 13:4–7; 1Kg 1:11; Lam 4:7, 8; Mt 2:23; Acts 18:18

Nehemiah, 1Ez Intro; Neh Intro; 1:1—2:20; 3:36; 4:7, 8; 5:7–15; 6:1–9; 7:1–3; 13:1–31; Est
Intro; 2Mc 1:20–24; Dan Intro

Neilos, St., Jos 7:20, 21

Nero, Emperor, Dan 11:30–35 Mk Intro; Jn 4:28–30; 21:18, 19; 2Ti Intro; 1Pt Intro; Rev 13:1–
18; 17:8–11

Nicene Creed, see Creed, Nicene

Nicetas, St., Lv 3:3–5

Noah, Gn 5:29–32; 6:8, 9; 1Ch 1:1–4; WSol 14:6, 7; WSir 44:17; Is 54:9, 10; Ezk 14:12–14; Mt
20:1–16; Lk 3:22; 1Pt 3:18–22; 2Pt 2:4–10

O

Obedience/disobedience, Gn 2:8–17; 3:1–20; 6:3–9; 7:1; 19:26; 22:3; 26:5; Ex 6:9; 9:14, 16;
15:26; 19:8; 23:22, 25; 24:18; 39:23; Nm Intro; 14:39–45; 20:11, 12; Dt Intro; 1:5–28; 8:2–5;
18:15, 16; 28:1–66; Jos Intro; 6:5, 6; 16:10; Jdg Intro; 1:1–21; 2:1–22; 7:15; 11:38, 39; 1Kg
Intro; 2:21; 15:22; 2Kg 5:21–25; 3Kg 2:3, 4; 5:11; 13:7–25; 4Kg 17:1–23; 22:1, 2; 23:4–9; 1Ch
15:1, 2; 21:18–25; 2Ch 35:1–6; 2Ez Intro; 7:25, 26; Neh 1:4; 6:10–12; 7:6–73; Jdt Intro; 2Mc
Intro; 4:17; Job 1:7; 10:1–3; Ps 16; Pr 2:1, 2; 3:1–10; 4:1–28; 8:4–9; 13:1; 15:25; 29:19; WSir
1:23–27; 15:19; 35:1; 47:23–25; Am 3:4; Joel 1:9–13; Hag Intro; Zec 1:6; 7:8–12; Is 1:23; 7:23–
25; 25:1; 63:17; Jer 5:23–28; 7:2–22; 9:1; 15:1; 17:15—18:10; 41:9; 42:18, 19; Bar Intro; Lam
1:18; 4:20; Ezk 42:1–8; Mt 12:46–50; 14:1–12; 15:3–6; 18:1–4; Lk 1:38; 9:23–50; Jn 10:17, 18;
15:10–15; Acts 4:19; 10:7; Rom 1:5; 3:21, 22; 9:19–21; 16:25–27; Heb 4:6; 1Jn 2:3–11

  of Christ, Rom 5:19; Heb 5:8, 9; 1Pt 1:2

Offering, Lv 14:10; 15:13–29; 21:17; 23:5–21; Nm 28:1—29:39; 1Ch 21:26; Hos Intro; 9:4; Joel
1:9–13; Mal 1:9, 10; 2:3; 3:2–12; Is 53:10; see also Sacrifice

  drink, Nm 15:3–16

  freewill, Ex 35:5–29; 36:6, 7; Lv 1:2–5; 2Ez 2:68–70; 3:7

  grain, Lv 2:1–13; 6:12–16; 9:2–21; Ezk 46:1–24

  improper, Lv 10:1, 2

  peace, Lv 3:1; 7:15–18; 9:2–21; Dt 27:5–8; 3Kg 2:3, 4; SS 2:5; WSir 35:1; 47:2

  sin, Ex 29:14; Lv 4:2–35; 5:15–25; 6:17–23; 9:2–21; 16:5–33; 25:9; Hos 4:8; Mal Intro

  trespass, Lv 5:15–26; 2Ez 10:19

  whole burnt, Gn 22:2; Lv 1:9; 6:9–16; 9:2–21; 16:5; Nm 7:2–84; 15:3–16; 19:9–17; Dt 12:13,
14; 27:5–8; 1Ch 16:1–42; 2Ez 3:2–6; Ezk 43:18–27

Oil, symbolism of, Gn 28:18; Lv 2:1, 13; 8:12, 30; Nm 15:3–16; Dt 32:13; Joel 2:22–24; Is 61:7;
Ezk 16:4–10; 46:1–24; Dan-Sus 7–9; Mt 25:1–13; Mk 6:13; Lk 8:45; 10:34, 35; Jam 5:13–15;
Rev 9:3, 4

Omniscience of Christ, Mk 13:32; 14:20; Jn 4:16–19

Ordination, Jn 20:21–23; Acts 13:3; 14:23; 1Ti 4:14. “Ordination” at Acts 14. See also Bishops;
Clergy; Deacons; Presbyters; Sacraments

Origen, 1Kg 28:7–25; Am 1:1
P

Palm Sunday, 2Mc 10:7; Ps 8; 97; 114; 117; Zec 9:9, 10; Mt 21:1–16; Lk 13:32–35; Jn 7:10;
11:1–45; see also Jerusalem, Jesus’ entry into

Parables, Pr 1:6; Ecc 4:8; 8:15; Hos Intro; Ob 12–14; Is 32:2; Ezk 12:21–28; 15:1, 2; 16:44–46;
17:1; 24:1–14; Mk 4:33. “Parables” at Mt 13.

    of the good Samaritan, 2Ch 28:9–15; Lk 10:30–35

    of the Good Shepherd, Jn 10:1–16

    of the great supper, Lk 14:16–23

    of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Lk 18:10–13

    of the prodigal son, Ru 1:6; Ps 136; Hos 14:5; Jon 4:1–7; Hag 2:10–19; Lk 15:12–29

    of the rich man and Lazarus, 1Kg 28:7–25; Lk 16:22–31

    of the talents, Mt 25:14–30

    of the unforgiving servant, Mt 18:21–35

    of the unjust steward, Lk 16:1–12

    of the virgins, Is 26:7, 8; 62:3–5; Mt 25:1–13

    of the wedding banquet, Est 1:12

    of the wheat and tares, Mt 13:24–30

    of the wicked vinedressers, Lk 20:9–16

    of the workers in the vineyard, Mt 20:1–16

Paradise, Gn 2:8–17; 3:24; 6:3; 50:26; Lk 23:39–43; 2Co 12:1–6; Rev 2:7; 21:3, 4; 22:2, 3

Passion of Christ, Jos 2:18; Jdg 6:25, 26; Job 6:18; 14:14; 19:7–19; 30:13–31; 40:29; Ps Intro;
34; 37; 40; 68; 139; Zec 9:1—11:17; Is 13:1–22; 63:2, 3; 65:2; Mt 5:18; 12:38; 16:21–23; 17:22,
23; 20:17–19; 26:2–28; Mk 9:30–32; 10:32–34; Lk 4:22–30; 9:21–44; 12:50; 13:6–35; 18:34;
22:1; 23:47; Jn 10:11–39; 14:29; 16:21; 18:2–8; 20:24–29; Acts 7:19; 12:3; Rom 1:4; 3:25; Heb
10:1

Passions, Gn 4:5–13; 34:2–8; 42:1; Ex 4:14; 13:22; 20:5–14; 34:14; Lv 18:1–3; 24:10–15; Nm
1:2, 3; 11:4–34; 13:26–33; 25:1–8; Dt 7:21–24; 9:1–3; Jos 2:1; 5:2–9; 11:6—12:1; 15:13—16:10;
3Kg 18:19, 20; 19:11, 12; 21:1–3; 4Kg 21:1, 2; 2Ch 26:1–32; Jdt 12:12; Job 31:1, 2; 41:4–15; Ps
Intro; 6; 12; 17; 143; 151; Pr 3:1–38; 4:19–28; 6:17–33; 9:5, 6; 12:13; 15:19; 21:14–24; 22:5;
24:17; 25:4–7; 28:13–30; 29:6; 30:11–15; SS 1:8; WSir 8:10; 16:6; 47:19–25; Am 3:4; Joel 1:6,
7; Zec 1:2; Dan 3:19–23; Mt 4:4; 5:5; 6:13–18; 16:24; Lk 18:11, 12; 19:3, 4; Jn 7:17; Rom 6:7, 12;
7:5–17; Gal 2:20; Col 3:5–14; 1Ti 4:3–5; Jam 4:1–10; 1Jn 2:16; see also Flesh

Passover/Pascha, Ex 12:2–48; Lv 23:5; Nm 9:3–9; Ru 1:22; 4Kg 23:21–25; 2Ch 30:1–21; 35:1–
6; 1Ez 1:1–31; 3:1, 2; 2Ez 6:19–21; Tb 2:1; 2Mc 12:31; 15:26; WSol 18:6; Is 26:16; 60:1; Jer
38:8; 44:15; Ezk 45:1–25; Mt 26:17–19; Mk 14:1–26; Lk 22:7–18; Jn Intro; 2:23; 6:1–71; 11:55
—12:1; 13:1; Acts 12:3; 18:21; 1Co 5:6–8; 1Pt 1:13. “Christ Our Passover” at Ex 12.

  services of, Ps 23; 65—67; 76; 101; 117; Mic 1:4

Patience, Ex 5:22, 23; 21:24; Neh Intro; Job 40:8; Ps 89; 93; Pr 14:17; 16:30; Mt 22:7; Jn 5:5;
Rom 15:4; 1Th 1:3; 2Ti 2:24–26; Heb 11:8–12; Jam Intro; 1:19, 20; 5:7–12; 1Jn 2:18; Rev 6:9–
11; 14:12, 13

Paul, St., Mk Intro; Lk Intro; Acts Intro; 5:34; 7:55–58; 9:1–18; 12:12; 13:2—14:17; 15:7—
16:37; 17:7–32; 18:6–21; 19:1–26; 20:4–35; 21:17–25; 22:1—23:23; 24:1—28:31; Rom Intro;
1:1–16; 9:1–5; 15:20–24; 16:1–22; 1Co Intro; 1:1–18; 4:3–20; 5:9; 15:3; 16:21; 2Co Intro; 1:8;
11:22–33; 12:1–10; Gal Intro; 1:1–20; 2:2–7; 4:13; 6:17; Eph Intro; 3:1–13; Php Intro; 1:1–29;
2:17–30; Col Intro; 1Th Intro; 2Th Intro; 1Ti Intro; 1:12–17; 2Ti Intro; 4:10, 11; Tts Intro; Phm
Intro; Heb Intro; Rev 2:1–5; 3:14

Peace, Jos 18:1–10; 3Kg 14:10; 4Kg 23:26–37; 2Ch 19:1–3; Ps 64; 71; 84; Pr 3:1–22; 12:22;
16:4; SS 1:1, 15; 7:1; WSir 16:22, 23; Mic Intro; Nah Intro; 2:1; Hag 2:9–23; Zec Intro; 6:2–8;
8:9, 10; 14:1–21; Is 48:17, 18; 49:2; 53:5; Mt 5:9; 10:12, 13; Jn 14:27; 1Co 1:3

  kiss of, Mt 5:23, 24; 1Co 1:3; 2Co 13:12; 1Th 5:23–27; 1Pt 5:14

Pentecost, Lv 23:15–21; Dt 16:10; Jos 22:1–9; 3Kg 14:1–4; 4Kg 19:31; 1Ch 21:26; 2Ch 7:1;
30:23—32:1; 2Ez 3:1; Tb 2:1; 2Mc 13:32; Job 29:19; 38:32–41; Ps 20; 31; 32; 76; 92; 103; 119—
133; 142; WSir 33:7–9; Joel Intro; 2:22–32; 3:1–5; Is 32:15; 41:14–16; 44:3; 59:20, 21; 66:8, 9;
Jer 17:15–23; Ezk 48:1–35; Mt 27:25; Lk 5:10; Jn 4:20–24; 5:1–15; 21:8; Acts 1:6; 2:1–21;
18:21; 20:16; Eph 1:13, 14. “The Feast of Weeks—Pentecost” at Lv 23.

Perception, Pr 1:7–23; 2:3–6; 5:1–6; 10:15; 11:8; 12:1, 25; 14:6–18; 15:8–15; 18:15; 19:25;
23:12; 24:3–5; see also Discernment

Permission, divine, Ex 4:21; Dt 31:16, 17; Job 1:7; Jam 1:2; Rev 13:6

Persecution, 1Mc 5:1–8; 3Mc Intro; Job 2:15; 30:13–31; Ps 13; 43; 63; 82; 93; SS 1:5, 6; Mic
Intro; 2:1, 2; Joel 4:2; Ob 12–14; Is 41:8–20; Jer Intro; 9:10; 20:13; 33:20–23; Ezk 1:3, 4; 38:1
—39:29; Dan 8:10–26; 11:30–35; Mt 5:11, 12; 10:23–26; 19:29; 20:20–30; 24:14; 28:13; Mk
Intro; Jn 15:18–25; Acts 5:41; 8:1; 12:1–9; 14:20, 21; 16:25; 20:19; Rom 16:7; 1Co Intro; 15:32;
2Co 1:8; Php Intro; 1Th Intro; 2:14, 15; 2Th Intro; 1:3–10; 2Ti 3:10–13; Heb 11:1; Jam Intro;
1Pt Intro; 4:17–19; 5:8, 9; Rev Intro; 1:2; 2:9–11; 3:10; 6:9–11; 7:15–17,; 12:7–12; 13:5–10;
17:2–12; 19:2–9; 20:3; see also Suffering; Tribulation

Peter the Apostle, Nm 3:11–51; Ezk 4:12–17; Mt 16:13–20; 14:66–72; Lk 22:56–62; Jn 18:17;
21:11–19

Pharaoh, Gn 41:37; Ex 1:10, 15; 4:21; 5:2; 7:23—10:17; 14:22; 18:3, 4; Jos 11:20; 2Ch 36:7–16;
Est Intro; 3Mc 6:21; Job 40:23; Hab 1:7; Bar 1:19, 20; Ezk 17:1; 29:1–21; 31:2—32:32; Mt 2:16;
Jn 6:1–71; Acts 7:19; Rom 9:14–18; 1Co 5:6–8; Rev 15:2–4

Pharisees, Lv 19:1–3; Jos 6:14; 1Kg 21:1–6; Neh 2:19, 20; Jdt 12:2; Am 5:10; Is 28:1; Ezk 13:10,
11; Mt 3:7; 23:1–39; Mk 3:7; 8:15; 12:18; Lk 7:31–49; Jn 7:50–52

Photini, St., Ps 44; WSir 50:25, 26; Is 12:3; Jn 4:8–30; Acts 8:5–13; 1Ti 1:12–17

Polycarp, St., 1Ti Intro; Rev 2:8

Poverty/the poor, Lv 5:11–25; Dt 23:20, 21; Job 21:23–26; Ps 24; 49; Pr 6:7–16; Mt 6:20;
25:31–46; 26:6–13; Mk 12:41–44; Lk 12:20; 16:10–12; 19:8, 9; 21:1–4; 1Co 4:10; 11:20–22;
13:3; Gal 2:10; Jam Intro; 1:26, 27; 2:1–13; Rev 2:9

  in spirit, Mt 5:3; 18:6; Mk 9:42; Rev 18:11–19

Power of God, Gn 19:21; Ex 6:2, 3; 9:14, 16; 14:21; 28:17–20; 40:1–38; Nm 20:13–16; Dt 30:14;
Jdg 7:2–8; 3Kg 17:20; 4Kg 2:11; 7:1, 2; 13:21; 2Ez 7:12; 8:21–23; 3Mc 7:13; Job 4:7; 37:6, 7; Ps
54; 65; 96; 144; Pr 1:1, 2; WSol 18:15; Mic 3:8; Jon 1:14–16; Nah 2:14; Zec 4:6; Jer 20:13; Mt
Intro; 3:11; 4:6; 5:4; 9:2–26; 10:1–10; 11:28–30; 14:14–21; 16:1–3; 24:30; 26:41–66; 28:19; Mk
Intro; 6:5, 6; 14:62; Lk 3:16, 17; 5:8; 7:11–17; 8:45; 9:31; Jn Intro; 1:3, 14; 4:46–54; 5:1–15;
8:58; 11:39, 40; 18:6; Acts Intro; 2:3; 3:12–26; 4:13; 5:15; 9:35; 10:34–43; 19:2–4; Rom 1:18–
20; 7:5, 6; 8:1; 1Co 1:18–24; 2Co 3:17, 18; 4:7–12; Gal 2:16—4:31; Eph 1:3–14; 3:20, 21; Heb
1:2, 3; 4:16; 2Pt 1:4; Jude 19; Rev 1:14–16; 4:11; 5:6, 7

Praise, Gn 8:21; 40:23; Ex 15:21; Nm 16:3, 4; Dt 12:13, 14; Jos 6:22; Jdg 5:7; Ru 4:11; 1Ch
29:10–12; 2Ch 5:13; 7:3; Neh 9:6–38; Jdt 13:14; 15:13; Est 4:17; 3Mc 2:1; 5:35; 7:13; Ps Intro;
8; 20; 29; 41; 43; 60; 92; 94; 104—106; 110—112; 115; 119—133; 144; 147—150; Pr 27:2, 22; Ecc
4:13–17; WSir 25:1–15; Is 12:4–6; 25:1–3; Dan 3:26–45; Mt 21:15, 16; Mk 7:36; Lk 16:15; Acts
4:24–30; 12:21–23; 14:11–13; 16:16–18; Rom 2:29; Heb 10:8–10; 13:15–19; 1Pt 2:9; Rev 1:6;
2:1; 4:4–8; 19:1–5

Prayer, Gn 24:27; Ex 23:15; Lv 2:1, 13; 20:3–7; 1Kg 1:13; 2:1, 9; 21:1–6; 3Kg 8:20—9:9; 19:11,
12; 1Ch 17:16; 29:10–12; 2Ch 7:14–16; 30:1–21; 1Ez 8:68–92; Neh 3:36; 9:1–38; Tb 3:11–17;
8:2–4; 12:8–14; 13:1; Est Intro; 2:12; 4:17; 2Mc Intro; 10:38; 12:42–45; 13:12; 3Mc Intro; 1:16
—2:1; 6:1; Job 9:15; Pr 25:4; WSir 7:10, 11; 23:1–6; 35:13—36:4; 38:9–11; 39:14; 48:1:9; 63:15;
Jer 10:20—11:13; 15:19–21; Bar 2:14, 15; Lam 5:19–22; Dan 3:25–50; Lk Intro; Jn 14:13–17;
16:26–28; Rom 8:26; 1Ti 2:8

  intercessory, Jos 7:6–15; 1Kg 7:8; 23:9; 30:7; 3Kg 13:6; 4Kg 6:17; 20:11; Neh 1:4–11; 2:4–5;
2Mc 3:20; Job 42:7–9; Ps Intro; 15; 24; 25; 37; 54; 100; 101; WSol 18:20–25; Is 65:3–8; Jer
15:1; Bar 1:11–15; 3:4; Dan 9:3–5; Lk 16:27–31; 23:34; Jn 2:3–5; 16:26–28; 17:1–26; Acts 12:5;
Eph 1:15–23; 1Th 5:23–27; 1Ti 2:1, 2; Phm 1–7; Jam 5:16–18; 1Pt 2:9

  Jesus’ practice of, Mk 1:35

  Jesus’ teaching on, Lv 25:1; Ps 1; 69; Ob 15–18; Mt 6:5–8; Lk 11:1–8

  liturgical, 2Mc 14:35, 36; Ps Intro & throughout; Dan 3:26–45; Acts 2:42; 3:1; 4:24–30;
10:3, 9; 1Co 11:2; Eph 1:15–23

  perseverance in, Mt 26:41; Lk 18:1; Php 4:4, 6; 1Th 5:16–18

  power of, Ex 14:21; 17:11; 4Kg 4:32–35; 20:1–6; Mt 21:21

Preaching, see Apostles, preaching of
Predestination, see Free will

Presbyters, Ex 38:11, 12; Acts 11:30; 14:23; 20:17–38; Gal 4:14–19; Tts 1:5–9; 2Jn 1.
“Ordination” at Acts 14; “The Four ‘Orders’ of Church Government” at 1Ti 2. See also
Clergy;Ordination; Priesthood.

Presentation in the Temple, Feast of (Christ’s), Ps 97; SS 1:10; Lk 2:22–24

Pride, Nm 16:3, 4; Jdt 11:6; Est 3:13; 5:17–21; 2Mc 4:26; Job 2:2; 21:16; 22:2; 33:31–33; 38:1;
42:7; Ps 143; 151; WSir 10:9; Am 1:3—2:3; 3:6; Ob 2–4, 15–18; Jon 4:1–7; Hab 2:5–16; Is 9:8—
10:4; 36:4–6; 38:1–6; Jer 13:7–17; Ezk 27:1; 31:10–14; Dan 2:31–49; 4:5; Mt 12:22–30; 20:1–
16; Lk 18:11–14; Jn 8:37–40; 10:1–18; Acts 2:4–8; 14:11–13; 1Co 4:6, 7; Gal 3:28, 29; Col
2:16–23; Php 2:3; Jam 3:13–18; 4:1–12; 1Jn 2:16; Jude 11

Priesthood, 2Ch 15:3; see also Clergy; Ordination;Presbyters

  in the Church, Lv 4:3; 6:16; 9:16, 22; 16:6; Nm 3:6–9; 6:22–26; 1Ch 6:16–33; 15:1, 2; 2Ez
8:28, 29; WSir 45:7–16; Is 66:20, 21; Lam 4:16. “The Priesthood, Hebrew and Christian” at Ex
28.

  Levitical, Gn 14:18–20; 29:34, 35; Ex 29:5; 30:10; 38:11, 12; Lv 1:4, 5; 4:3–21; 6:16; 9:16, 22;
13:9, 10; 14:3; 16:6; 21:1–17; 22:1–33; Nm 3:6–9; 6:22–26; 17:2; 20:28; 1Ch 6:1–38; 15:1, 2;
2Ch 22:11—24:27; 29:12–34; 1Ez 3:6; 2Ez 2:63; 3Mc 6:2–5; WSol 18:20–25; WSir 7:29–31;
Joel 1:9–13; 2:17; Hag 2:11; Mal Intro; 1:7—2:7; Is 40:1, 2; Lam 4:16; Ezk Intro; 42:13, 14; Heb
5:1–4; 7:1—10:12. “The Priesthood, Hebrew and Christian” at Ex 28.

  of believers, Lv 6:16; 1Ch 6:16–33; 1Pt 2:9; 3:8–17; 5:3; Rev 1:6; 21:12–14

  of Christ, see Christ as High Priest

  of Melchizedek, Gn 14:18–20; 29:34, 35; Nm 17:2; Ps 109; Heb 5:5–11; 7:1–10. “The
Priesthood, Hebrew and Christian” at Ex 28.

Priests, see Presbyters

Promise

  land of, Gn 13:1–5; 24:7; 26:3–22; Ex 23:23; 33:3–17; 34:9, 11; Nm 9:21; 10:29; 13:17–33;
14:6—15:16; 20:11, 12; 26:64, 65; 27:5–12; 33:1; Dt 2:7; 6:23—7:3; 8:1; 34:4; Jos Intro; 1:2; 2:1;
5:13–15; 11:20; Jdg 2:1–22; 1Ch 28:20; 2Mc 1:9; Ps 113; Zec 9:1–8

    of God to Abraham, Gn 12:17; 13:1–5; 14:21–24; 15:4, 6; 21:1–2; 22:17; 25:1–23; 26:2–24;
28:3; Dt 2:4; Jos 11:20; Is 51:1, 2. “Is God Faithful to Israel?” at Rom 9—11.

Prophets/prophecy, see also Jesus as fulfillment of OT prophecy

    false, Nm 31:8–16; Dt 13:1–4; 1Kg 28:7–25; 31:4–6; 3Kg 13:7–25; 18:3–20; 22:10; 4Kg
18:28–35; Neh 6:10–12; Mic 3:8; Zec 13:1–9; Jer 20:1; 23:16, 17; 34:7–14; 51:17; Ezk 13:1–5;
Mt 13:24–30; Acts 21:38; 1Co 12:2; 2Pt 2:12–17; Rev 2:20–23; 13:11, 12; 14:9–11; 16:10; 17:15–
18; 19:20, 21; 20:7–10; 21:6–8

    of God, Gn 12:1–7; 14:21–24; 24:7; 41:13, 37; 42:9; 48:15—49:1; 50:24, 25; Ex 1:6; 40:1–38;
Nm 23:7; 24:17; Dt 18:15–19; 33:2; 34:10; Jos 6:7–14; Jdg 4:4; 6:3–8; 13:5; 1Kg Intro; 1:28;
3:7–20; 9:9; 13:13; 3Kg Intro; 2:3–27; 3:1–3; 12:30; 15:29—17:1; 18:17, 18; 22:10; 4Kg 2:12–15;
4:8–10; 6:1—7:2; 8:11—9:3; 18:36—19:31; 23:16–20; 2Ch 26:1—27:9; 2Ez 5:1, 2; 6:14; Neh 1:4;
Job 9:5; 42:18; Ps Intro & throughout; SS 3:3; WSir 36:17; 47:13; 48:1—49:9; Books of Hos,
Am, Mic, Joel, Ob, Jon, Nah, Hab, Zep, Hag, Zec, Mal, Is, Jer, Bar, Lam, Ezk; Dan 4:27; 7:1—
8:27; 9:24–27; 11:1—12:11; Mt 1:6; 2:17–23; 3:4; 5:11, 12; 9:37, 38; 10:12, 13; 11:11; 13:24–30;
20:20–23; 21:19; 22:1–14; 24:1–44; 25:31–46; 27:27–31; Mk 1:6; 6:15; 11:20, 21; 13:1–30; Lk
1:20–79; 2:28; 4:32; 7:28?; 11:24–26; 20:9–16; Jn 1:21; 4:16–38; 7:35–52; 10:11–15; 11:16–52;
12:40; 13:36; 17:12; 18:32; 19:19–22; 21:18, 19; Acts 1:16; 2:3–40; 6:14; 7:51; 11:27; 15:13–21;
21:9–11; 23:11; 25:11; 27:41–44; Rom 9:25–29; 10:11–21; 13:2; 1Co 14:25–36; Eph 1:9, 10; 1Th
5:12–22; Tts Intro; 1:1; Heb Intro; 6:2; Jam 5:10, 11; 1Pt 1:10, 11; 2Pt 1:19–21; 1Jn 2:20, 21;
Rev Intro; 11:3–9; 13:5; 18:2–24; 21:2–27; 22:8–16. “The Prophets” at Jer 1.

Propitiation, Rom 3:25

Providence of God, Ex 2:4, 15; Est Intro; 3Mc Intro; 4:17, 18; Rom 8:28–30

Psalms (recorded outside the Book of Psalms), Jdg 5:1–31; WSir 51:1; Lam Intro

Purity, Jam 1:26, 27; 2Pt 2:19; Jude 5–7; see also Heart, purity of

R

Rachel, Gn 30:6; Mt 1:19; 2:17, 18; Lk 1:7

Rahab, Jos 2:3–18; 6:22–24; Ru 2:1; 4Kg 11:1–20; Mt 1:3; 1Ti 1:12–17
Reasoning, human, Dt 30:11–14; Mt 1:20; 16:13–20; 1Co 2:10—3:4; 2Co 10:4–6

Rebekah, Gn 24:14, 58; Jdg 13:3; Lk 1:7

Reconciliation, Rom 5:10; Eph 2:13–18; 3:10; Heb 9:23–28

Redemption, Jos 2:18; Jdg 6:25, 26; Ru Intro; 1:6; 3:12–15; 4:7, 8; Job 10:20–22; 42:13–15; Ps
8; 25; Ecc 3:1–11; WSir 1:4; 36:8; 39:32–35; 50:22–24; Hos 3:2; 13:14; Mic 4:10; Hag 2:20–
23; Mal 3:2, 3; Is Intro; 44:21–23; 52:1–3; Jer 2:2, 3; 27:34; Mt 4:8–10; 8:14–17; 26:17–19;
27:25; Lk 2:38; 24:51; Jn Intro; 17:1–26; Rom 3:24; Eph 1:4–8. “The New Birth” at Jn 3;
“Justification by Faith” at Rom 5. See also Justification; Salvation.

Relics, 4Kg 13:21; WSir 48:13, 14; Rev 6:9–11

Remembrance of God, Gn 8:1—9:1; Ex 2:24; 12:14; Lv 2:2; Jdg 3:7; Neh 9:6–38; 2Mc 7:20;
3Mc 2:1; Ps 76; Pr 1:11–19; Is 26:16; Mk 9:49; Jn 17:1–26; Acts 4:24–30; 1Co 11:23–26; Eph
6:9

Repentance, Gn 3:8; 4:6–13; 6:3–13; 27:34; Lv 4:2; 5:6–26; Nm 5:7; Jos 2:11–18; 6:22; 7:14–
21; 11:20; Jdg 2:1–22; 4:1–3; 1Kg 12:1–5; 15:11–26; 26:12; 27:1; 2Kg Intro; 12:15–23; 3Kg 15:3;
4Kg 21:1, 2; 22:1, 2; 2Ch 12:5–8; 32:24–33; 33:13; 36:22–29; 1Ez 8:68–92; 2Ez 10:1–10; Neh
9:1–3; Est 4:17; 2Mc 7:37, 38; 9:11–18; 3Mc 6:23; Job 2:8; 4:7; 42:5; Ps 9; 12; 50; 89; 93; 118;
Pr 1:23; 14:15; 17:14; 19:1; 24:16–37; 28:14; 30:1; SS 4:2; WSol 5:5, 6; 11:9—12:19; WSir 17:20–
23; 21:1–3; 38:9–11; 41:18; 45:1–4; 48:18–22; Hos 14:5; Am Intro; 1:1; 5:8–20; Mic 1:6, 7;
Joel Intro; 1:8, 14; 2:1–17; Jon 1:14–16; 2:3; 3:5–9; Nah Intro; 1:1–3; Hab 1:9; Zep Intro; Hag
2:10–19; Zec 1:3–7; 7:8–12; 12:10–14; Mal 1:9, 10; Is 1:24–31; 25:2, 3; 30:9–11; 51:17–23;
59:1–13; Jer Intro; 16:19–21; 27:4, 5; Bar Intro; 1:3–7; Lam Intro; Ezk 2:9, 10; 3:15; 11:1;
16:59–63; 33:10–20; 42:1–8; Dan 3:19–23; 7:8–25; 9:3–5; Mt 3:1–8; 4:17; 5:4; 7:2; 12:32–45;
18:15–20; 22:7–13; 27:3–25; Mk 1:14, 15; Lk Intro; 3:3–8; 11:29–32; 12:10; 15:23–28; 19:3, 4;
22:61, 62; 23:34; Jn 1:19—2:12; 8:7–11; 9:4; 12:35–48; 13:6–10; Acts 2:14–40; 3:12–26; 9:35;
13:11, 12; 14:5; 17:22–31; 19:2–4; Rom 3:20; 4:6–8; 5:20; 6:10; 7:7–12; 8:1–8; 11:11–15; 2Co
7:9–11; Heb 6:4–6. “Confession” at 1Jn 1. See also Confession; Forgiveness.

Rest

  for man, Gn 2:1–3; 5:29–32; Ex 23:10–12; Lv 23:39; 25:1, 8; Dt 3:28; 25:17–19; 2Ch 15:8–
15; Est Intro; Job 21:16; Ps 64; 91; 94; 114; WSir 22:11; Joel 2:22–32; Zec 6:2–8; Ezk 40:15;
Mk 6:31; Lk 24:49; Rev 13:18

  God’s, 1Ez 3:6; Is 11:10; Heb 3:7—4:14 Resurrection

  general, Gn 20:1; 22:12; 23:8; 48:21; 50:24, 25; Ex 3:3; 13:19–22; Lv 1:4; 23:5; Dt 8:4; 16:10;
29:4; 34:4; 4Kg 6:6; 2Mc 7:9–29; 12:43, 44; 15:14; Job 42:11–18; Ps 15; 26; 29; 38; 43; 56; 64;
72; 96; 114; 115; WSir 41:1; 46:12–19; 48:11; 49:10–15; Hos 1:11; Is 26:19; Ezk 37:1–14; 40:6–
9; Dan 12:1–3; Mt 22:23–33; 27:52, 53; 28:2; Mk 12:18; Jn 11:23–27; Rom 6:5–8; 8:21; 1Co
15:12–54; 2Co 5:1–4; Php 3:18–21; Heb 12:22–24; 1Pt 1:24, 25; Rev 20:4–6

  of Christ, Gn 2:7; 4:25; 5:4–28; 22:2–12; 49:8–12; 50:24, 25; Ex 12:22; 25:10; Lv 2:1; 14:10;
15:13–29; 18:5; 21:1–3; Nm 11:1–3; 24:17; 31:21–24; Jos 1:3–5; Ru 1:22; 1Kg 2:6; 3Kg 8:1–11;
17:20, 21; 4Kg 6:6; 13:21; 1Ch 21:18–25; 1Ez 1:1–31; 2Ez 5:1, 2; 6:15; Tb 2:1; Est 5:1; 2Mc
13:12; 3Mc 6:7, 8; Job 7:20, 21 14:7–11; 19:23–27; 33:4; Ps 2; 4; 11; 19—21; 23; 27; 29; 39; 40;
45; 53; 56; 65—67; 73; 81; 87; 88; 101; 104—106; 117; 119—133; WSol 9:15; 10:1; WSir 50:22–
24; Hos 6:2, 3; Jon Intro; 2:3; Zep 1:1–11; 3:1–13; Is Intro; 8:19; 13:1–22; 25:9; 51:1, 2; 52:13–
15; 63:1; Jer 16:5–7; 23:5; Ezk 1:10; 45:1—46:24; Dan 6:17–25; Mt 28:2–19; Mk 16:4–12; Lk
24:26–43; Jn 11:44; 20:1–8; Acts 2:14–40; Rom 1:4; 6:5–8; 1Co 15:3–20; Col 2:15; Rev 1:17,
18

Riches as obstacle to salvation, Job 21:23–26; 31:25; Ps 48; Lk 16:1–26; Jam 1:9–11; 2:5–7;
Rev 18:11–19; see also Greed; Love of money

Righteousness, Gn 6:9–13; 7:1; 15:6; 18:17–19; 26:20–22; 30:33; 39:21; Ex 38:5; Lv 3:3–5;
8:6; 18:5; Nm 2:3; 23:10; Dt 9:4–6; 11:8, 9; 26:16–19; 30:11–14; Jos 2:24; 6:22; 1Kg 12:6–25;
15:22; 2Kg 23:1–7; 4Kg 23:26–37; 2Ch 22:11, 12; Neh 5:19; Tb 2:14—3:2; 12:8, 9; 2Mc 7:20;
Job 1:5–7; 6:11—8:4; 9:15; 19:5; 21:7–14; 22:23—23:3; 27:6; 29:14, 15; 31:3–6; 40:6–28; 42:11;
Ps 22; 35; 51; 70; 74; 91; 111; 142; Pr throughout; Ecc 7:16; WSol 1:5; WSir 18:8–10; Hos
10:13; Am 5:7–20; Mic 6:8; Hab 2:11, 12; Is 1:21; 48:1, 2; 62:8, 9; 64:4, 5; Jer 23:6; Bar 5:2;
Ezk 3:20; 9:2; 18:1–32; 33:10–20; Dan-Sus 7; Dan 3:86–92; 10:12; Mt 1:19; 5:6–20; 6:33;
19:20; 25:1–46; Lk 1:6; 15:22; 16:22; 19:9; Jn 16:8–11; Acts 10:35; Rom Intro; 1:17; 3:21—5:6;
9:30—10:10; Gal 2:16—4:31; Eph 4:17–24; Php 3:7–9; Tts 2:11–15

Rome

  Christians in, Mk Intro
    prophecies concerning, Is 42:25; Jer 16:16; Dan 2:31–49; 7:1–8; 9:24–27; 11:30–35; Rev
14:8; 17:1, 5; 18:2–24

Ruth, Ru Intro; 1:14–22; 2:2–16; 3:3—4:15; 2Ez 9:1, 2; Mt 1:3

S

Sabbath

institution of, Gn 2:1–3; Ps 91; 92

Jesus and, Gn 2:1–3; Dt 16:8; Jos 6:14; 1Kg 21:1–6; Ezk 46:1–24; Mt 12:1–8; Lk 4:31; 6:1–7;
23:55, 56; Jn 5:10–15; 20:1. “Sabbath Day, Sunday, and the Eighth Day” at Dt 5.

rules concerning, Ex 16:29; 23:10–12; 24:18; 31:15; Nm 28:1—29:39; Dt 16:8; Neh 13:1–31;
1Mc 2:32–41; 2Mc 5:25; 6:11; 8:26, 27; 15:1, 2; Jer 17:15–23

Sacraments, Mt 7:6; Lk 10:34, 35; Jn Intro; 19:34; Acts 7:33; 10:48; Heb 6:4; 1Jn 5:6–12; see
also Baptism; Chrismation; Confession; Eucharist;Healing; Marriage; Ordination

    OT types of, Gn 8:10, 11; Lv 8:30; Jos 3:16; Ps 146; Joel 2:22–32

Sacrifice, Gn 4:3–5; 8:21; 22:2; Ex 12:3–27; 29:14; 30:10; 35:5–29; 36:6, 7; Lv 1:2–9; 3:8; 6:9–
23; 7:12–22; 8:14–26; 9:16; 16:6–8; 17:8–11; 20:1, 23; 22:1–33; Nm 15:3–16; Dt 12:11–14;
17:1; Jdg 5:9; 6:19–27; 10:1–7; 1Kg Intro; 6:14; 15:22; 2Kg 24:18–25; 3Kg 18:30–39; 1Ch 6:1–
38; 16:1–42; 21:14; 2Ch 7:5; 2Ez 3:2–6; 6:8–10; 8:16–18; Neh 4:13, 15; 8:1; 1Mc 1:41–64;
2:15–18; 2Mc 1:9; 3Mc 6:2–5; Job 1:5; 42:7–11; Ps 53; 115; Pr 16:3; 17:1; WSir 7:29–31; Hos
Intro; 4:8; 9:4; Joel 1:13; 2:17; Zep Intro; 1:1–11; Mal Intro; 1:7, 8; Is 1:11–15; 52:1–3; 60:6–9;
66:20, 21; Jer 6:20; 7:30–32; 11:18; 17:15–23; 39:35; Bar 2:3; Ezk 1:10; Dan 8:5–14; 9:24–27;
Mt 8:28–34; 9:9–13; 10:35–39; 19:21; 21:12, 13; 22:4; Mk Intro; 9:49; Lk 2:22–24; 6:24–26;
15:20–23; Jn 5:2–4; 6:1–71; 7:2; 17:1–26; Rom 3:24, 25; 12:1; 1Co 8:4–13; 10:19–22; Eph 4:25
—5:33; Php 2:12–17; 1Th 2:7, 8; 2Ti 4:6; Heb Intro; 2:17, 18; 5:1–11; 9:6–23; 10:2–27; 13:10–
19; Jam 2:20–24; 1Pt 2:4–10; Rev 1:6; 5:2–7; 12:7–12; 13:1, 2; 14:4; 16:1–7; 19:13–21; 22:5.
“Sacrifice” at Lv 16. See also Offering.

Sadducees, Mt 3:7; 22:23–33; Mk 12:18

Saints, Ex 7:1; 21:24; Dt 4:12–18; 12:13, 14; Jdg 6:11; 1Kg 24:7, 8; 2Kg 22:36; 3Kg 19:3; 4Kg
2:8–14; 13:21; 1Ch 19:1–6; 2Ch 9:19; 2Mc 15:14; Job 39:5–12; 40:15; Ps 2; 15; 32; 35; 42; 82;
92; 100; 111; 115; Pr 9:7–24; Ecc 4:1–3; SS 1:3; 2:7; 3:6, 7; 4:10; 5:3; WSol 5:5, 6; 15:4–19;
WSir 11:24, 25; 42:17; 45:1–4; Hos 1:11; Joel 1:2, 3; Mal 3:5; Is 11:10; 18:4; 25:1; 33:5; 57:15;
Jer 8:1, 2; Bar 3:4; Ezk 40:39–48; Dan 12:7; Mt 2:17, 18; 5:11, 12; 18:10; 21:21; 24:37–41; 26:2;
27:52, 53; Lk 16:24–26; 17:34–37; Jn 15:14, 15; Acts 9:32; 19:11–19; Rom 1:7; 5:19; 1Co 6:2, 3;
2Co Intro; 1:3–11; Eph 3:18, 19; Php 3:17; Heb 12:1–29; Jam 5:10, 11. “Saints of the Old
Testament” at 2Mc 7.

Salt, symbolism of, Lv 2:13; Mt 5:13–16; Mk 9:49

Salvation, Gn 4:26; 7:1–15; 8:1; 9:1; 17:19–21; 25:23; 45:5; Ex 1:12; 2:24; 9:20, 21; 10:3; 15:2;
16:33; 18:3, 4; 19:14, 15; 33:3–17; Lv 8:15–24; 18:5; Nm 5:7; 27:14; Dt 3:28; 10:12–15; 30:14;
Jos Intro; 1:1; 2:3–11; 3:1–17; 8:21–28; 9:9–33; 14:7–10; 24:1–29; Jdg 2:1–22; Ru 2:15, 16;
3Kg 13:6; 21:23; 2Ch 15:2; 20:15–22; 1Ez 3:6; 8:68–92; Tb Intro; Jdt Intro; 14:10; Est 4:13, 14;
6:1; 7:1; 3Mc 6:38; Job 2:4; Ps 3; 6; 11; 17—20; 27; 41; 52; 68; 69; 73; 79; 90; 91; 97; 101; 113;
115—117; Pr 8:23; 16:1; WSol Intro; 6:15, 24; 7:6, 7; 9:17—10:21; 18:20–25; 19:22; WSir 17:9–
19; 39:32–35; Hos Intro; 4:5; Am 3:12; Joel 1:15; Jon 1:14–16; 2:3; 4:1–7; Hab Intro; Zec 1:3;
Is 1:1; 11:11, 12; 12:3; 32:20; 35:4–6; 40:3–5; 43:1–4; 44:21–23; 49:14–22; 51:3–5; 52:5–7;
60:2; 61:10, 11; 66:19; Jer 11:13; 16:1; Bar 4:36, 37; Ezk 14:12–14; Mt 1:3; 3:15; 5:20; 8:28–34;
9:2–8; 13:24–30; 14:1–12; 19:23–26; 26:52–54; 27:52, 53; Mk 1:1; 4:26–29; 6:17–29; Lk
Intro; 1:7; 2:29–32; 6:46–49; 9:23; 17:7; 22:51; Jn 3:12, 36; 4:20–24, 48; 8:37–40; 12:31–33;
15:26; Acts Intro; 4:12; 10:38; 11:2; 19:2–4; Rom Intro; 6:22; 1Co 6:11; 2Co 4:16; 5:18–21; Php
2:12, 13; 3:12–16; 1Ti 2:3–5; Jam 1:18; Rev 2:7. “The New Birth” at Jn 3; “Justification by
Faith” at Rom 5. See also Endurance; Faith; Justification;Redemption.

Samaria/Samaritans, 3Kg 16:24; 2Ch 28:9–15; 2Ez Intro; WSir 50:25, 26; Hos 8:1–14; Am
Intro; Mic Intro; 1:1–7; Jer 38:5; 48:5; Ezk 23:1–49; Jn 4:9–19

Samaritan woman, the, see Photini, St.

Samuel, Jdg Intro; 13:5; 1Kg Intro; 1:11–22; 2:11; 3:7–20; 7:3—8:18; 10:1–10; 12:1–25; 19:18–
24; 28:7–25; 2Kg Intro; 1Ch 6:16–66; WSir 46:20; Mt 1:6; Heb 1:8

Sanctification, Ex 13:1; Lv 6:18; 20:24; 23:1–21; Nm 28:1—29:39; Ob 15–18; Is 10:5–20; Lk
3:21, 22; 8:45; 23:46; Jn 17:17; Acts 7:33; 9:32; Rom 15:16; 1Co 1:2; 5:4; 6:11; Eph 4:4–6; 1Th
4:1–12; Heb 10:14–18; 1Jn 3:2; Rev 7:15–17. “Deification” at 2Pt 1.

Sarah, Gn 12:17; 16:1; 17:19–21; 18:14; 21:1–2; 23:1, 8; Jdg 13:3; 1Ch 3:1–9; Is 51:1, 2; Lk 1:7;
Gal 4:21–31; Heb 11:8–12

Satan, 2Kg 24:1–9; 4Kg 15:20; 2Ez 4:12–16; Tb 3:8; Job 1:10–12; 2:7–9; 3:8; 40:15–28; WSir
21:27; 28:25, 26; Zec 14:1–21; Is 9:3; 14:4–14; 27:1; Ezk 27:1; Mt 4:1–10; 10:34; Lk 4:4–11;
10:18; 22:31, 32; Jn 12:31–33; Acts 5:1–5; 1Co 5:5; 2Co 2:5–11; 11:13–15; Eph 2:1–7; 1Jn 3:4–
9; Rev 9:1, 2; 12:3–17; 13:4–12; 14:9–11; 20:1–10; see also Devil

Saturday, Holy, Ps 43; 81; 118; Jon Intro; Ezk 37:1–14; Lk 23:55, 56; 24:5–7; Jn 20:1; Rev
15:2–4

Saul (apostle), see Paul

Saul (first king of Israel), Jdg 13:5; 1Kg Intro; 10:1—12:5; 15:11–35; 18:6—19:24; 22:20–23;
24:7, 8; 26:12—27:1; 28:7–25; 30:7; 31:4–6 2Kg Intro; 1:1–27; 2:4–10; 3:1–21; 4:1–12; 6:20–
23; 9:1—10:5; 16:5–14; 20:1, 2; 21:1–14; 1Ch 8:1—10:13; Est 3:1–9; Ps 17; SS 1:14; WSir 46:20

Scribes, Lv 19:1–3; Mt 2:4; Mk 12:28–31

Scripture, Holy

  authority of, 2Ez 5:7–17

  benefit of reading, Lv 2:13; Dt 32:7; 2Ch 34:14–28; Neh 8:1–8; Pr 23:16–19; WSir Prologue;
18:3–6

  interpretation of, Dt 29:28; Pr 24:7; Zec 1:8–10; Jer 33:20–23; Ezk 1:14—2:10; Dan 5:2; 2Pt
1:19–21; 3:16

Second Coming of Christ, Ex 12:7; Lv 25:9; Nm 11:1–3; 3Kg 2:27; 1Ch 29:23–25; Ps 49; 89; 97;
Pr 24:10–12; Zec 12:1—14:21; Mal 3:2, 3; Is 61:2; 66:15, 16; Jer 32:20; Dan 7:13, 14; 8:10–26;
12:1–3; Mt 24:27–44; 25:31–46; Mk Intro; 12:18; 13:5–32; Lk 17:21–37; 1Co 1:7; 7:26–35; 1Th
Intro; 4:13—5:11; 2Th Intro; 2:3–12; 2Pt Intro; 1:16–18; 3:4; Rev Intro. “The Second Coming
of Christ” at Tts 2.

Seed as prophecy of Christ, Gn 3:15; 9:8–16; 15:5; 22:17; 26:4; 28:4, 14; 32:12; 48:4; Dt 34:4;
Ru 4:12–15; 2Kg 7:18–29; Ps 88

Self-control, Jos 2:24; Pr 3:23–38; 6:17–25; 10:9–20; 11:8–24; 14:3; 16:30; 20:1; 21:10; WSir
18:29—19:1; Mt 9:14–17; Acts 24:25; 1Th 4:4; Jam Intro
Self-denial, Mt 16:16–24; 2Ti 2:3–6

Self-exaltation, Ex 9:17; Nm 16:3, 4; 3Kg 1:49; Pr 27:2, 22; Rev 17:5

Self-mutilation, Mk 16:18

Self-righteousness, Mt 23:1–39; Rom 2:1

Serpent, Gn 3:1–15; Ex 1:10; 4:2, 3; Nm 21:9; Dt 8:15; 4Kg 18:4; Is 27:1; Jer 9:10; Lam 4:3;
Dan-Bel; Mt 10:16; Mk 16:18; Jn 3:14

Seventy, “The Seventy” at Lk 10.

Sexual immorality, Gn 38:24—39:9; Ex 20:13, 14; Lv 17:7; 18:6–18; 20:1, 23; Jdg 19:1, 2; 1Kg
1:16; 2Kg 11:1–21; 12:1–6; Ps 50; Pr 5:1–23; 6:1–40; 7:1–27; 23:21; WSir 9:3–9; 26:9–12;
42:14; 47:1; Hos 1:2; 2:3, 19; 3:1; Am 3:6; Mal 3:5; Jer 3:6–10; Mt 5:31, 32; 7:6; Lk 18:11, 12; Jn
7:53—8:11; Acts 24:25; Rom 1:29–32; 1Co Intro; 5:1; 6:13–15; 10:5–8; 11:27; 2Co 6:11—7:1;
Eph 4:25—5:5; Jam 4:1–10; Rev 2:6; 8:10, 11; 14:4

Signs

  demanded by people, Mt 12:38; 16:1–4; Lk 11:16; Jn 4:48

  in the OT, Ex 4:30; 5:21; 7:9–23; Nm 17:3–26; Dt 28:66; Jdg 7:15; Is 7:13–16; 11:11, 12; Dan
6:20–25

  seven in Gospel of John, Jn 2:1–11; 4:46–54; 5:1–15; 6:2–21; 9:1–38; 11:1–45

Sin, Gn 1:31; 6:6; 49:7; Ex 2:11; 4:2–8; 14:13, 14; Ex 16:2–3; 18:3, 4; 20:1; 24:18; 29:5, 14;
32:1–32; Lv 2:4, 5; 4:2–35; 5:6; 8:26; 13:2–52; 14:6–57; 15:31—16:33; 17:11; 18:5; 20:1–27;
Nm 5:2–4; 12:10; 13:26–33; 16:3–24; 23:24; 25:7, 8; Dt 4:24; 18:15, 16; 24:16; Jos 2:1; 6:5, 6;
7:1–26; 10:14; Jdg 1:21; 2:1–22; 4:1–3; 7:24, 25; Ru 1:6; 4:3–6; 1Kg 7:9–13; 15:24–26; 2Kg
9:1–13; 11:6–13; 13:1–6; 3Kg 20:20–25; 4Kg 17:1–23; 20:12–21; 2Ch 12:9–12; 28:1–27; 30:1–
21; 32:24–33; 33:13; 1Ez 4:43–45; 2Ez Intro; 9:7; 10:1–19; Neh 1:4; 9:1–3; 2Mc 5:15–20; 3Mc
2:13; Job 1:1–5; 2:8–15; 4:7; 14:17; 22:1–30; 27:6; 31:1, 2; Ps 31; 35; 37; 50; 57; 74; 84; Pr 1:1,
2; 5:7–23; 6:1–6; 8:35; 13:10–23; 14:28; 15:13, 37; 16:14; 19:1; 20:9, 22; 24:16–37; 27:17; Ecc
8:11, 12; 10:1; SS 1:5; 4:6; 5:3; WSol 12:22; WSir 5:1–8; 15:11, 12; 18:26; 21:1–3; 27:27; 42:13,
14; Hos 4:8; Am Intro; 9:12; Mic 1:1–7; 3:8; 7:18, 19; Joel 1:8–14; 4:2; Ob 12–18; Zep 1:1–11;
Zec 1:2; Mal 3:24; Is 3:10; 4:4; 5:8—6:13; 13:19–22; 21:6–12; 27:9; 40:1, 2; 44:21–23; 51:17–
23; 52:3–7; 64:4; Jer 1:16; 2:36—3:10; 8:12; 13:26; 15:3; 19:9; 38:30; Bar 1:19–22; Lam Intro;
3:22–62; Ezk 3:15; 4:12–17; 7:1–6; 18:1–32; 33:10–20; Dan 7:8–25; 9:3–11; 10:5; Mt 1:3–6;
3:1–15; 4:2–10; 5:4–32; 6:13; 7:2–14; 8:1–4; 9:2–36; 11:20–24; 12:32; 16:19; 18:8–20; 23:2, 3;
25:32; 26:17–39; 27:25–44; Mk Intro; 2:1–12; 3:5; 5:25–29; 8:22–26; 10:46–52; 14:1–10;
15:15–41; 16:18; Lk Intro; 1:8–13; 3:3–22; 5:12–39; 6:40; 7:36–50; 8:33; 10:13–35; 12:10–53;
13:1–5; 15:2–29; 18:10–13; 19:1–4; 20:17, 18; 22:1–38; 23:28–46; 24:47; Jn 1:14, 29; 3:14;
5:14; 6:1–71; 8:5–32; 9:3–38; 11:55; 13:1–10; 14:30; 16:6–11; 19:11, 34; 20:21–23; Acts 2:38,
39; 3:12–26; 5:1–5; 8:1; 10:14, 15; 13:38, 39; 19:2–4; 22:16; Rom 5:12—8:13; 1Co 15:56; Heb
2:15; 10:26, 27; 1Pt 2:22; 1Jn 3:4–9. “Ancestral Sin” at Gn 3.

Slavery, two kinds of, Rom 6:16–22

Slaves and masters, WSir 33:30–33; Eph 6:5–9

Sodom, Gn 13:10–18; 18:22—19:24; Jdg 19:22, 23; WSir 16:8, 9; Lam 4:6; Jude 5–7; Rev 11:8;
14:9–11; 18:9, 10

Solomon, 1Kg Intro; 8:9–18; 2Kg 5:13–17; 7:4–17; 12:24, 25; 24:18–25; 3Kg Intro; 2:20–49;
3:1–13; 5:11; 7:38; 8:20–56; 9:1—11:31; 1Ch Intro; 3:1–24; 17:1–24; 22:1–10; 28:6–21; 29:23–
25; 2Ch Intro; 1:1–17; 5:1—6:2; 7:5; 9:17–28; 12:9–12; 2Mc 2:5; Ps 71; Pr Intro; 1:1, 2; Ecc
Intro; SS Intro; 1:1; 3:6–11; 4:9; 7:1; 8:5–12; WSol 7:4, 5; 8:1, 2; 9:5, 6; WSir 47:19–25

Son of Man, Is 40:10; 61:1, 2; Dan 7:13, 14; Mt 8:20; Jn 1:51; Rev 1:13

Sorrow, Gn 4:6; 1Kg 15:35; Ps 12; Ecc 4:1–3; WSir 30:21–25; Joel Intro; Mt 5:4; Jn 16:6; 2Co
7:9–11

Sovereignty of God, Dan Intro; 4:10–17; Rom 9:10–33

State, Christians’ relationship to, Lv 4:22–26; Mt 22:15–22; Lk 20:20–26; Acts 4:19; Rom
13:5; 1Pt 2:13–17 1Pt 2:13– Suffering

  of believers, Gn 3:7; 39:20, 21; 47:9; Ex 3:7; 5:21; 6:9; 21:24; Lv 26:3; Dt 28:47; Jos 24:16–
22; Jdg 2:1–22; 1Ch 19:1–6; 3Mc 2:31; Job Intro; 2:16–18; 4:7; 10:1–20; 21:7–14; 40:8; 42:11;
Ps 11; 41; 43; 54; 78; Pr 11:30; WSol 3:1—5:23; WSir 18:8–10; 27:5; 35:13; Mic 4:10; Hab 2:3,
4; Is 53:5; Lam Intro; Mt 5:4–7; 15:22; 16:24; 26:26–28; 27:46; 28:13; Mk Intro; 5:25–29;
7:34; Lk 23:28; Jn 9:3; Acts 5:41; Rom 8:18–24; 2Co 1:3–11; Eph 3:13; Php 1:29; 1Th 1:6; Jam
1:2; 1Pt Intro; 1:6, 7; 4:12, 13; see also Persecution; Tribulation

    of Christ, Ex 1:12; 19:13; Lv 14:3; 16:4–33; Est 4:1–3; Job Intro; 10:1–3; Ps 53; 54; 88; 117;
139; Hos 13:14; Mic Intro; Is Intro; 40:6, 7; Jer 12:7, 8; Mt 4:8–10; 5:7; 16:21–23; 20:17–19;
27:32–44; Mk Intro; Lk 9:31; 23:46; Jn 7:30; 16:21; Heb 2:10, 11

Sunday, significance of, Lk 24:1; Jn 20:1; Acts 20:7–12; Rev 1:10

Symeon the New Theologian, St., Job 30:25

Synergy (between man and God), Gn 39:23; Ex 36:2–7; Dt 13:1–4; Neh 4:7, 8; SS 1:4; Zec 4:6;
Mt 7:7–11; Rom Intro; 1Co 3:9; Gal 2:16—4:31; Eph 3:20, 21; Php 2:12, 13; Rev 3:20

T

Tabernacle, Mosaic, Ex 25:9, 10; 33:7; 35:31–35; 36:2, 3; 40:1–38; Lv Intro; 3:8; 9:2–21;
15:31; 17:8, 9; Nm 1:1, 50–53; 2:2, 3; 4:1–29; 7:2–84; 9:21; Dt 4:12–19; Jos 18:1–10; Jdg 17:1–
13; 1Kg 1:3–9; 2Kg 6:12—7:3; 1Ch 9:17–27; 2Ch 4:7, 8; 2Mc 2:5; 3Mc 2:16; Ps 42; 95; SS 2:4;
WSol 9:8; Am 9:11; Zec 5:1, 2; Is 54:2, 3; Jer 10:16, 17; Heb 9:1–7. “The Tabernacle” at Ex 35.

Tabernacles, Feast of, Lv 23:39; 2Mc 1:9; 10:6; Ps 119—133; Ecc Intro; Zec Intro; 14:18–20; Mt
21:9; Jn 7:1–39; 8:12; 9:7; 10:1–18

Tax collectors, Mt 9:9–13

Teachers, false, Acts 20:17–38; 2Ti 2:24–26; Tts 1:10–16; 2Pt Intro; 2:1–17; 1Jn Intro; 2Jn 4–
6; Jude Intro; 12, 13

Temple, Dt 12:11, 12; 1Kg 1:9; 2:35; 8:9–18; 2Kg 7:1–29; 24:18–25; 3Kg 3:1–3; 5:29—7:38;
8:25–64; 4Kg 11:1—12:3; 16:1–20; 18:16; 23:4–9; 24:10–17; 25:8–17; 1Ch 9:17–27; 17:1—18:17;
22:1—23:4; 26:1–32; 28:6; 29:1; 2Ch Intro; 3:5–14; 5:1; 7:5; 22:11, 12; 1Ez Intro; 2:1–4; 4:13–
45; 6:1—7:15; 2Ez Intro; 1:7–11; 3:2—4:5; 5:1, 2; 6:8–15; 7:27, 28; Neh 9:38—10:39; 12:41–44;
13:1–31; Tb 13:11; 14:5; 1Mc Intro; 1:20–54; 4:52–59; 2Mc Intro; 1:9; 2:5; 5:15—6:5; 15:18–
30; 3Mc Intro; 1:9—2:1; 2:15, 16; Ps Intro; 27; 47; SS 1:5; WSir 47:13; 50:1–21; Mic 3:12; Hab
Intro; 1:9; Zep 1:12; Hag Intro; 2:7–19; Zec Intro; 1:7—6:17; 7:2, 3; 8:1–10; 13:1–9; 14:21; Mal
Intro; Is 14:1, 2; 41:2–7; 42:25; 44:28; Jer Intro; 7:10; 10:16, 17; 33:1, 2; Bar Intro; Lam Intro;
Ezk 8:6; 10:17, 18; 41:1–6; Dan 8:5–26; 9:24–27; 11:20–35; Mt 17:24–27; Mk 13:1, 2; 23:37–
39; 24:1–15; 26:61; 27:51; Mk 13:1, 2; Lk 2:22–24; Jn 1:14; 5:2–4; 9:7; Acts 6:14; 9:54; 7:47–
50; Rev 11:1, 2; 15:5–8; 21:10, 22

  cleansing of, Mt 21:12–27; Jn 2:18–21

Temptation, Gn 6:5; Ex 32:1–6; Nm 13:26–33; Job 15:20; WSir 2:1; Joel 1:6, 7; Mt 5:27, 28;
6:13; 26:41; Lk 1:80; 4:4; 8:22–25; 11:5–8; 12:38; 22:56; Jam 1:12–15; 1Pt 5:8, 9

  of Christ, Zec 3:2; Mt 4:1–11; Lk 23:35–37

Tertullian, 1Kg 15:11; 28:7–25; Hos 6:3; 1Ti Intro; Heb 6:4–6

Thanksgiving, Gn 30:6; 31:42; 50:21; Lv 7:12–15; Nm 20:1–5; Dt 1:5; 28:47; Tb 11:16, 17; Ps
22; 29; 43; 53; 85; 91; 94; 96; 99; 110; 117; 119—133; 137; 139; WSol 16:24–29; Hos 14:3; Is
12:1–6; 33:2; Mt 14:19; 26:26–28; Lk 9:16; 17:17–19; 22:19, 20; Jn 5:14; 6:2–14; 16:8–11; Acts
27:35; Eph 5:18–20; Col 3:15–17; 1Th 1:2

Theodoret of Cyrrus, St., 1Kg 28:7–25; SS 3:6, 7; Hag Intro; Is 23:17, 18; 52:3; 57:1, 2; 59:12–
21; 65:2–8

Theophany, Feast of, Ps 26; 28; 35; 41; 73; 92; 113; Nah 1:4; Mt 3:16; Lk 3:22; Rev 1:17, 18.
“Transfiguration” at Mt 17.

Theophylact, Blessed, Hos 1:1; 6:1; Mt 4:23–25; 11:25; 13:31–33; 14:13; 19:13–15; 20:17–19;
21:21; 27:56; Mk 7:36; 16:7; Lk 1:38; 3:22; 6:12, 13; 9:11–50; 13:16, 30; 14:18–20; 16:10–12;
18:15–17; 19:3, 4

Theotokos, see Mary Mother of God

Three Holy Youths, 3Mc 6:6, 32; Dan 1:8; 2:49—3:92

Throne of God, Rev 4:2, 3; 20:11, 12; 22:1

Tithe, Gn 14:19, 20; 28:22; 2Ez 3:7; Tb 12:1–5; WSir 18:22; 35:8–10; Mal 3:8–12; Mt 23:23–
33; Lk 18:11, 12; Heb 7:1–10

Tomb of Christ, Lk 23:50–53

Tongue, controlling, Jam 1:26, 27; 3:1–12

Tongues, speaking with, Mk 16:17; Acts 2:4–8; 1Co 14:2–33; see also Gifts, spiritual
Tradition

    apostolic, Jn 17:6; 1Co 11:2; 15:3; Gal 1:11, 12; Col Intro; 2Th Intro; 2Ti 1:13, 14

    holy, Dt 4:2; 1Ch 28:11–19; 2Ch 11:13–17; 13:4–20; 2Ez 6:1–3; Jer 10:16, 17; Mk 7:1–13; 1Co
3:1–4; 11:23–26; 2Th 2:15; 3:6; 2Ti 2:2

    of men, Dt 4:2; Mk 7:1–13; 2Th 2:15; 3:6

Transfiguration of Christ, Nm 1:1; 3Kg 17:2–5; 18:2; Ps 14; 83; 88; Ecc 8:1–5; Nah 1:3–5; Hab
3:2; Mal 3:22; Mt 16:28; Mk 9:1; Lk 9:27–31; Jn 1:4; Heb 1:2–5; 2Pt 1:16–18; 1Jn 3:2; Rev
1:16–18; 11:3. “Transfiguration” at Mt 17.

Tree of life, Gn 3:24; Rev 2:7; 22:2, 3

Tribulation, 3Mc Intro; Job 1:7–12; Dan 7:25; 11:31—12:13; Mt 24:3–31; Mk 13:5–23; Lk 18:1;
1Co 7:26; Eph 3:13; 2Th 1:3–10; 1Pt 4:12, 13; 5:13; Rev Intro; 3:10; 7:9–14; 8:6; 12:7–12; 19:14;
see also Persecution; Suffering

Trinity, Holy, Gn 1:3–30; 5:3; 11:6–7; 12:1–7; 17:7; 48:15, 16; Ex 20:3; 23:20, 23; 40:28; Lv
8:12–22; 19:1–3; Nm 10:10; 11:17–29; 23:7; 27:16–18; Dt 4:35; 6:4; 10:20; 23:4; 29:28; 32:39;
3Kg 14:1–4; 17:21—18:21; 1Ch 15:1, 2; 29:10–12; 1Ez 3:4–12; 4:1–12; Ps 28; 32; 60; 92; 147—
150; Pr 8:29, 20; WSol 9:17, 18; WSir 48:5; 51:10; Mic 3:12; Joel 1:15; Zec 1:3; Is 42:1; 48:16;
65:16; Ezk 40:10–12; Mt 3:15–17; 6:9; 22:41–46; Lk 1:35; 3:21, 22; Jn Intro; 5:30; 14:28;
16:26–28; 17:20; Acts 8:16, 17; 10:38; Rom 1:1–4; 1Co 12:4–6; 15:24–28; 2Co 3:16–18; Gal
4:6, 7; Eph 2:13–18; 3:14–19; 4:4–6; 1Pt 1:2; 1Jn 3:2; Rev 1:4; 13:11–18; 22:1. “The Holy
Trinity” at Gn 1.

Truth, Gn 24:27; 47:29; Ex 28:17–20; Dt 13:1–4; 32:30; 3Kg 1:11–22; 1Ez 1:1—2:4; 3:10–12;
4:33–40; Job 6:5–7; 30:1–12; 32:1–22; Ps 1; 35; 42; 88; 91; 99; 116; Pr 8:7, 8; 18:19; 19:21;
WSol 5:5, 6; Zec 8:16, 17; Is 30:20–23; 48:1, 2; Ezk 5:5, 6; 33:1–9; Dan 4:27; Mt 5:10; 7:7–11;
13:24–30; Mk 4:33; Lk 1:31–33; 4:4–18; 12:51; 22:51; 23:31; Jn 1:5, 14; 4:20–24; 8:32, 48;
14:6–26; 15:18–25; 16:13; 20:24–29; Acts 5:1–5; 9:5; 1Ti 3:15; 2Ti 2:24–26; Tts 1:1; Jam 1:18;
5:12; 1Pt 1:8; 1Jn 1:5—2:2; 3Jn 3, 4

Types, “Typology” at Nm 21; “Types of Mary in the Old Testament” at Ezk 43.

U
Unbelief, Gn 31:29; Ex 4:30, 31; 10:21; 16:2, 8; Nm 14:1—15:2; 20:11, 12; 26:64, 65; Dt 1:26–
45; 2:7; 4:9; 4Kg 7:1, 2; Job 10:8–12; Ps 13; 68; 108; Pr 15:30; WSir 2:12–14; 16:15–21; 43:27–
33; Mt 8:10; Mk 6:5, 6; Lk 8:22–25; Rom 9:6–33; 11:1–27; Heb 3:7–19; Rev 21:6–8

Uncleanness, see Clean and unclean

Understanding, Gn 42:18; Ex 35:31–35; Dt 1:13; 4:6; 34:9; 3Kg 3:9–13; 7:1, 2; 2Ch 1:1–17; 2Ez
8:16–18; Job 9:5; 20:1–3; Ps 31; 41; 46; 73; 77; 88; 110; Pr 1:7, 8; 2:1–6; 8:9–21; 9:1–6; 10:6;
12:8, 25; 13:16, 17; 16:20, 21; 17:30; 18:15; 19:6, 25; 21:10; 23:1–4; 24:3–5; Ecc 1:17, 18; WSir
34:9–12

Unleavened Bread, Feast of, Ex 12:16; Dt 16:8; Mk 14:1; Acts 12:3

V

Vainglory, see Pride

Vanity, Ps 143; Pr 22:8; Ecc Intro; 1:2, 14; 2:1–3; 12:8

Vengeance, 3Kg 2:32–49; 4Kg 9:1–3; 1Ch 21:14–16; Neh 3:36; 3Mc Intro; Ps 93; Is 42:13–17;
Rom 12:19–21; Heb 12:22–24; Rev 6:9–11; 8:5; 16:1

Vice, Nm 14:1–4; Jos 24:23; Ps 10; Pr throughout; WSir 25:15; Hab 2:5; Jer 4:14; Mt 10:34; Lk
6:24–26; Php 2:3; 1Pt 4:1–5; Rev 18:21–24

Vincent of Lérins, St., Pr 22:30

Vine, symbolism of, Jn 15:1–6

Virtue, Gn 12:17; 13:6–9; 18:4–19; 30:33; Nm 14:6–20; 31:21–24; Dt 8:3; 14:2; 16:1; 31:16, 17;
Jos 2:24; 9:9–21; 10:14; 11:6–9; 14:7–10; 24:23; Ru 2:11; 3Kg 2:36; 3:9–13; 18:15, 16; 19:10;
1Ez 3:6; Job 4:3–6; 40:1–5; Ps 1; 7; 10; 11; 91; 100; Pr throughout; Ecc 4:12; SS 4:7; 6:11; WSol
4:1; 6:17–20; WSir 9:10; 12:1–6; 18:28; 25:15; 33:13; 36:13; Joel 1:6, 7; Is 58:2–5; 60:6–9; Ezk
1:10–22; Mt 5:8–47; 7:6, 15; 10:34; 13:31–33; 15:26–28; 18:1–4; 22:11–13; 24:3–44; 25:1–13;
Lk 6:31; 12:20–49; 16:24–26; 19:3, 4; 22:3–8; 23:31; 24:38–43; Jn 8:32–40; 10:1–18; 12:3–
48; Rom 1:5–32; 6:11; 8:28–30; 12:1; 1Co 7:8, 9; 2Co 7:1; Eph 4:2–6; Php 2:3; Col 1:9–14; 1Th
1:3; 1Ti 3:2; Jam 4:1–10; 1Pt 1:13; 5:5–7; 2Pt Intro; 1:1–9; 1Jn 1:5; 2:16

Vows, Lv 27:1; Nm 6:2; Pr 20:20; WSir 18:22; 23:9; Acts 18:18
W

Warfare, spiritual, Ex 17:11; Nm 1:2–49; Is 59:17; Jn Intro; 2Co 10:4–6; Eph 2:1–7; 6:10–20

Water, symbolism of, Ex 15:27; Jn 4:10–14; Rev 21:6–8; 22:1

W Wealth, see Greed; Love of money; Riches

Widows, Acts 6:2–4; 1Co 7:39, 40; 1Ti Intro; 5:3–16; Jam 1:26, 27

Will

  of God, Gn 18:14; 19:21, 22; 24:8; 39:23; Ex 3:2; 32:34; 33:3–17; 36:2–7; Nm 13:1–3; Dt
22:12; Jos 14:7–10; 2Kg 15:30–37; 4Kg 22:1, 2; 1Ez 4:45; 2Ez 2:63; Neh 2:19, 20; 3:36; 6:15,
16; Jdt 13:16; Ps 15; 39; Pr 15:33; 21:1; Ecc 1:14; SS 5:5; Hag 2:20–23; Is 46:10; Jer 49:1–6; Mt
5:17; 7:7–22; 8:28–34; 12:46–50; Lk 1:38–79; 2:1–3, 49–51; 4:22–30; 8:33; Jn 1:3; 4:31–34;
5:16–30; 7:17; 10:16–18; 14:13, 14; Acts 1:26; 4:12; 10:7; 21:9; 27:41–44; Rom 1:13; 8:28–30;
9:14–33; 1Co 1:1; 3:9; Gal 1:3–5; Eph 1:4–6; Php 2:12, 13; Col Intro; 1:9–14; 1Th 4:1–12; 1Ti
4:5, 6; Heb 10:8–10; 12:2, 3; Jam 1:18; 4:11, 12; Jude 11; Rev 4:8; 5:1

  of man, Gn 3:1–8; 6:5; 39:23; 49:7; Pr 21:1–3; 27:20, 21; Mt 5:8; 6:22, 23; 12:35; Rom 5:19;
6:12; 7:18–23; 2Co 10:4–6; Gal 5:16; Eph 1:4–6; Col 3:5–14; Jam Intro; 1Pt Intro; see also
Free will

  two, of Christ, Mt 4:3; 26:39; Lk 22:41–44; Jn 1:14; 5:30; 6:38; 11:41, 42; Rom 5:19; Gal
1:3–5; Php 2:7, 8; Heb 5:8, 9

Wisdom, Gn 18:17–19; 19:21; 30:33; Ex 1:10, 15; 6:2, 3; 21:16; 28:17–20; 35:31–35; Dt 1:13–
17; 4:6; Jos 18:1–10; Jdg 8:1–3; 1Kg 25:3; 3Kg 2:36; 3:27; 7:1, 2; 18:3–12; 2Ch 1:1–17; 1Ez 3:7;
Neh 2:11–16; Job Intro; 34:1–3; Ps 45; 110; 144; Pr Intro & throughout; Ecc 1:8—2:26; 6:1–12;
7:16; 8:1–5; 9:1; SS Intro; 4:11; WSol Intro & throughout; WSir Intro & throughout; Hag
2:20–23; Bar 3:12—4:1; Dan 2:1; 1Co 1:17–25; 2:10—3:20; Jam 1:5; 3:13–18

Wise men, Nm 24:17; Mt 2:1; 2:11

Women, see also individual names

  as prophets, Jdg 4:4; Acts 21:9
  at Crucifixion and Resurrection, Zec 12:10–14; Mt 28:5, 6; Mk 15:40, 41; 16:1–4; Lk 8:2;
22:56; 23:55, 56; 24:10; Jn 18:17; 20:2–18

  equality of, Nm 27:5–7; Dt 22:5; Lk 2:38

  in early Church, 1Co 14:34–36; 1Ti 2:12

  in genealogy of Jesus, Jos 2:3; Ru Intro; Mt 1:3

  in the OT, Ex 1:15; Nm 27:5–7; Jdg 4:4; 11:38, 39; 1Ez 4:14, 15

  Jesus’ dealings with, Mt 9:18–26; 15:21–31; 26:6–13; Mk 5:25–29; Lk 7:36–50; 8:2–47;
10:38–42; 11:27, 28; Jn 2:3–5; 4:6–27; 7:53—8:11; 11:4–40

Word, Christ as, Jn 1:1–4; 1Ti 4:5, 6; Heb 4:12, 13; Rev 1:2; see also God the Son (pre–
incarnate)

Works

  and salvation, Gn 25:23; Lv 6:12–16; Ezk 42:1–8

  dead, Lv 13:2; Rom 3:27—4:5; Heb 6:1. “ ‘Works’ in Paul’s Writing” at Eph 2.

  of the Lord, Gn 11:7; Ex 10:2

World, the, Lv 13:46; 18:6–18; Dt 6:23; Jdg 3:10, 11; Mt 4:1; Jn Intro; 1:5–11; 15:18–25; 17:9–
15; Rom 12:2; Col 2:8–23; 1Jn Intro; 2:15, 16; Rev 21:1; see also Church, relationship to the
world

World to come, Gn 13:6–9; 20:1; 23:1; 25:7, 8; 26:2, 3; 28:4; 31:3; 33:5–11; 41:52; 47:9—48:4;
Ex 2:11, 22; 3:3; 6:4; 13:19–22; 16:13, 14; 18:3, 4; 23:23; Lv 12:1–3; 21:17; 23:15–21; 25:8; Nm
10:29; 13:17–33; 14:21–38; Dt 8:4; 28:1–13; 29:4; 34:4; Jos 11:23—12:1; 3Kg 19:4; 4Kg 2:6; Ps
5; 14; 15; 26; 27; 29; 32; 33; 36; 38; 51; 56; 64; 71; 72; 74; 78; 83; 96; 114; 115; 144; Pr 2:7–23;
11:6; 1Pt 1:1; 1Jn 3:4–9

Worship, Gn 4:3, 7; 12:8; Ex 20:4–26; Lv 1:2; 3:8; 6:9; 9:16–24; 15:31; 17:8, 9; Nm 1:47—2:3;
17:2; Dt Intro; 4:12–19; 10:20; 27:5–8; Jos 24:16–22; Jdg 7:15; 20:26; 1Kg 1:3–9; 6:14; 2Kg
12:15–23; 3Kg 14:2–4; 4Kg 18:1–8; 1Ch 29:6–22; 2Ch Intro; 3:5–14; 11:13–17; 13:4–20;
29:12–30; 1Ez Intro; 2Ez Intro; 2:68–70; 3:2–6; 8:16–18; Neh 8:6; Jdt Intro; Est 5:2; 2Mc
6:11; 3Mc 2:28–31; 6:26; Job 42:7–9; Ecc 7:5–10; WSir 15:19; 38:9–11; Hos 6:6; Mic 3:12; Zec
8:19–23; 14:18–20; Mal Intro; 1:11–14; Is 16:4, 5; 66:20, 21; Jer 6:20; 10:16, 17; Ezk 40:39–
48; 46:1–24; 48:1–35; Dan 3:1–18; 7:9–12; Dan-Bel 5; Mt 2:11; 5:8–24; 6:5–8; 14:33; 24:27;
Mk 16:17; Lk 17:17–19; 24:1, 51; Jn 4:9–24; Acts 6:7; 20:7–12; Rom 12:1; Php 2:17; 10:1, 25;
12:1–29; Rev 1:10; 5:9–14; 19:10; 22:8, 9

    liturgical, Ex 24:4–8; 25:9, 40; 38:6–12; 39:23; 40:1–38; Lv Intro; 1:3, 5; 6:17–23; 8:7–9;
Nm 1:50; 3:6–9; 4:1–29; 7:2–84; 8:6—9:3; 9:21; 28:1—29:39; Jdg 17:7–13; 1Kg 2:11; 1Ch 15:1,
2; 16:1–42; 23:30; 28:11–19; 2Ch 7:3; Neh 1:4; Jdt 4:14; Est 1:22; 2:12; Ps Intro & throughout;
Joel 2:12–17; Is 6:1–6; Ezk 45:1–25; Lk 18:13; Acts 2:42; 13:2; 20:7–12; Col 3:15–17; 1Th
5:23–27; 1Ti 4:13; Heb 6:10; 10:8–10; Rev 4:8; 15:2–4; 19:1; 22:20. “Liturgy in the New
Testament Church” at Rev 4.

    of idols, Gn 20:2; Ex 20:24–26; 25:9; 34:14; Lv 17:1–8; 18:1–3; 20:2–24; Nm 24:25—25:2;
31:8—32:7; Dt 4:12–19; 32:17; Jos 24:1–22; Jdg Intro; 1:1, 2; 2:1—3:6; 7:1; 10:1–7; 17:1–6; 1Kg
1:16; 7:3; 3Kg 3:1–3; 5:11; 11:1–31; 12:49; 18:19–21; 4Kg 17:1–41; 2Ch Intro; 3:5–14; 17:1—
18:4; 25:11–14; 2Ez 9:11, 12; 1Mc 1:41–53; 2Mc 4:10, 33; 3Mc 2:28; 5:20; WSol 14:8—15:13;
WSir 46:3; 47:23–25; 50:25, 26; Hos 1:2; 2:5–13; 3:1; 5:7; 8:1–14; 9:4; 10:1, 2; Am 1:3—2:3;
7:7; Mic Intro; 1:1–7; Nah Intro; 1:1; 2:6–9; Zep Intro; 1:1–11; Zec 1:14, 15; Mal Intro; 2:10–12;
Is 2:8; 16:1–5; 17:8; 27:9; 44:7–17; 48:5; 49:23; 66:17–24; Jer 1:16; 5:19; 6:20; 7:30; 31:13;
51:8; Bar 4:7; EJer Intro; 48–73; Ezk 6:1–3; 8:6; 20:29; Dan Intro; 3:1–18; Dan-Bel 5; Mt
12:22–30; 1Co 8:4–13; 10:19–22

Wrath of God, 4Kg 15:1–5; Ps 84; WSir 49:8, 9; Am Intro; Hab 1:11; 2:16; Zec 1:2–15; 7:8–12;
14:18–20; Is 9:8—10:4; 13:1–22; 64:4; 65:3–8; Jer 27:25; Rom 1:18; Rev 14:9–11

Year of Remission, Lv 25:8, 9; Nm 28:1—29:39

Z

Zeal, Nm 13:26–33; 25:7, 8; Dt 9:1–3; 32:7; Jdg 11:38, 39; 4Kg 2:1–8; 23:21–25; 3Mc 1:22, 23;
Ps 1; Am 3:6; Zep Intro; Zec 1:14, 15; 8:1–3; Dan 3:19–23; Mt 26:6–13; Lk 22:7, 8; Rom 10:1–
3; 2Co 7:9–11; 9:3; Php 3:4–16

Zion, Mount, as symbol of the Church, Ps 2; 47; 52; 147; WSir 36:13–17; Mic 4:10; Joel 2:21–
23; 4:21; Zec 1:14, 15; 8:1–3; Is 1:21; 14:32; 16:1, 2; 33:5; 49:16–18; Heb 12:1–29; Rev 14:1
                               INDEX TO STUDY ARTICLES

  Bold type indicates the title of a study article. Regular type gives the subject of an article,
but not the precise title. In both cases the location of the article by page number is provided.

   Article/Subject

   Ancestral Sin

   Apocalyptic Literature

   Baptism, Holy

   Baptist, John the

   Basis of God’s Judgment, The

   Birth, The New

   Chrismation

   Christ Our Passover

   Christ, The Second Coming of

   Christ, Theophanies of

   Christology

   Church Government, The Four “Orders” in

   Church, The

   Coming of Christ, The Second

   Confession

   Covenants with His People Israel, God’s

   Creation

   Death, Life after
Deification

Eighth Day, The Sabbath Day, Sunday, and

Eternal Kingdom, The

Eucharist, The

Faith, Justification by

Feast of Weeks—Pentecost, The

Four “Orders” in Church Government, The

God’s Covenants with His People Israel

God’s Judgment, The Basis of

Government, The Four “Orders” in Church

Grace of Christ and the Law of Moses, The

Healing

Holy Baptism

Holy Trinity, The

Images and Imagery

Is God Faithful to Israel?

Israel, God’s Covenants with His People

Israel?, Is God Faithful to

Jesus Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King

John the Baptist

Judgment, The Basis of God’s
Justification by Faith

Kingdom, The Eternal

Law of Moses, The Grace of Christ and

Law, The

Life after Death

Literature, Apocalyptic

Liturgy in the New Testament Church

Marriage

Mary

Mary in the Old Testament, Types of

Mount, The Sermon on the

New Birth, The

New Testament Church, Liturgy in the

Ordination

Parables

Passover, Christ Our

Pentecost, The Feast of Weeks—

Priesthood, Hebrew and Christian, The

Priesthood—Earthly and Eternal, The

Prophets, The

Sabbath Day, Sunday, and the Eighth Day, The
Sacrifice

Saints of the Old Testament

Second Coming of Christ, The

Sermon on the Mount, The

Seventy, The

Sin, Ancestral

Sunday, and the Eighth Day, The Sabbath Day,

Tabernacle, The

Theophanies of Christ

Transfiguration, The

Trinity, The Holy

Types of Mary in the Old Testament

Typology

“Works” in Paul’s Writing
                                                   THE SEVENTY

NAME                       COMMEMORATED                                NT REFERENCE(S)

Achaicus .......................June 15 ..............................1Co 16:17

Agabus..........................Apr. 1; May 26..................Acts 11:28; 21:10

Amplias..........................Oct. 31 ...............................Rom 16:8

Ananias .........................Oct. 1 ................................Acts 9:10–17; 22:12

Andronicus ..................May 17; July 30 ...............Rom 16:7

Apelles .........................Sept. 10; Oct. 31 ...............Rom 16:10

Apollos .........................Mar. 30; Dec. 8.................Acts 18:24; 19:1; 1Co 1:12; 3:4–22; 4:6;
16:12; Tts 3:13

Aquila............................July 14 ..............................Acts 18:2, 18, 26; Rom 16:3; 1Co 16:19; 2Ti
4:19

Archippus ....................Feb. 19; July 6 ..................Col 4:17; Phm 2

Aristarchus...................Apr. 15; Sept. 27...............Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2; Col 4:10; Phm 24

Aristobulus ..................Mar. 16; Oct. 31 ...............Rom 16:10

Artemas .........................Oct. 30 ..............................Tts 3:12

Asyncritus ....................Apr. 8.................................Rom 16:14

Barnabas ........................June 11 ............................Acts 4:36; 9:27; 11—15; 1Co 9:6; Gal 2:1, 9,
13; Col 4:10

Caesar..............................Mar. 30; Dec. 8

Carpus ............................May 26 ............................2Ti 4:13

Clement...........................Sept. 10.............................Php 4:3
Cephas.............................Mar. 30; Dec. 8

Cleopas............................Oct. 30 ............................Lk 24:18; Jn 19:25

Crescens .........................July 30 ............................2Ti 4:10

Crispus ............................Oct. 4 .............................Acts 18:8; 1Co 1:14

Epaphras...........................Jan. 4 .............................Col 1:7; 4:12; Phm 23

Epaphroditus ..................Mar. 30; Dec. 8...............Php 2:25; 4:18

Epaenetus .......................July 30 .............................Rom 16:5

Erastus.............................Nov. 10.............................Acts 19:22; Rom 16:23; 2Ti 4:20

Euodias............................Sept. 7...............................Php 4:2

Fortunatus .....................June 15 .............................1Co 16:17

Gaius ...............................Nov. 5 ..............................Acts 19:29; 20:4; Rom 16:23; 1Co 1:14; 3Jn 1

Hermas.............................Mar. 8; Nov. 5.................Rom 16:14

Hermes.............................Apr. 8; May 31................Rom 16:14

Herodion..........................Mar. 28; Apr. 8; Nov. 10.......Rom 16:11

James, brother of
the Lord ..........................Nov. 23..............................Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3; Acts 12:17; 15:13; Epistle
of James

Jason ...............................Apr. 22...............................Acts 17:5–9

Justus...............................Oct. 30 ...............................Acts 1:23; 18:7; Col 4:11

Linus ...............................Nov. 5 ................................2Ti 4:21

Lucius..............................Sept. 10.............................Acts 13:1; Rom 16:21

Luke the Evangelist .......Oct. 18 .............................Col 4:14; 2Ti 4:11; Phm 24
Mark the Evangelist
(called John)............Apr. 25.............................Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37–39; Col 4:10; 2Ti 4:11;
Phm 24; 1Pt 5:13

Mark....................................Sept. 27; Oct. 30

Narcissus..............................Oct. 31 ...................................Rom 16:11

Nicanor ...............................July 28 ....................................Acts 6:5

Olympas ..............................Nov. 10...................................Rom 16:15

Onesimus.............................Feb. 15 ...................................Col 4:9; Phm 10

Onesiphorus ........................Sept. 7; Dec. 8 ........................2Ti 1:16; 4:19

Parmenas .............................July 28 ....................................Acts 6:5

Patrobus ..............................Nov. 5 .....................................Rom 16:14

Philemon .............................Feb. 19; July 6; Nov. 2............Phm 1

Philip the Deacon ................Oct. 11 ...................................Acts 6; 8; 21:8

Philologus............................Nov. 5 .....................................Rom 16:15

Phlegon ...............................Apr. 8......................................Rom 16:14

Prochorus ............................July 28 ....................................Acts 6:5

Pudens.................................Apr. 15....................................2Ti 4:21

Quadratus............................Sept. 21

Quartus ...............................Nov. 10...................................Rom 16:23

Rufus...................................Apr. 8......................................Mk 15:21; Rom 16:13

Silas (Silvanus) .....................July 30 ....................................Acts 15:22–40; 16:19–40; 17:4–15;
18:5; 2Co 1:19; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1; 1Pt 5:12
Simeon, son of Cleopas .......Apr. 27....................................Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3

Sosipater ..............................Apr. 28; Nov. 10 .....................Rom 16:21

Sosthenes.............................Mar. 30; Dec. 8.......................1Co 1:1

Stachys.................................Oct. 31 ...................................Rom 16:9

Stephen the Archdeacon ......Dec. 27 ...................................Acts 6:5—7:60; 8:2; 11:19; 22:20

Tertius .................................Nov. 10; Dec. 30 ....................Rom 16:22

Thaddaeus ...........................Aug. 21...................................Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18

Timon .................................July 28; Dec. 30......................Acts 6:5

Timothy...............................Jan. 22 ....................................Acts 16:1; 17:14, 15; 18:5; 19:22; 20:4;
Rom 16:21; 1 and 2 Timothy

Titus ....................................Aug. 25...................................2Co 2:13; 7:6–14; 8:6–23; 12:18; Gal
2:1–3; Epistle to Titus

Trophimus...........................Apr. 15....................................Acts 20:4; 21:29; 2Ti 4:20

Tychicus ..............................Dec. 8 .....................................Acts 20:4; Eph 6:21; Col 4:7; 2Ti 4:12;
Tts 3:12

Urbanus...............................Oct. 31 ...................................Rom 16:9

Zenas...................................Sept. 27...................................Tts 3:13
                               Illustrations




The Hospitality of Abraham, also known as The Holy Trinity, by the hand Tatiana
Romanova-Grant




The Prophet and King David
Courtesy of the Icon Studio of the Convent of St. Elizabeth, Etna, California
(www.sisqtel.net/~cse)
The Three Holy Youths in the Furnace. Wall-painting in the principal church of the
Holy Great Monastery of Vatopaidi, Mount Athos, Greece. AD 1312.




Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World, by the hand of Father Gregory
Courtesy of St. George Cathedral, Wichita, Kansas, and Dormition Skete, Buena Vista,
Colorado
Mother of God, by the hand of Jan Isham.




The Nativity of Our Lord, by the hand Tatiana Romanova-Grant
St. John the Forerunner, by the hand of Father Gregory
Courtesy of Dormition Skete, Buena Vista, Colorado.




The Baptism of Christ, by the hand of Father Luke Dingman
The Transfiguration of Christ, by the hand of Photios Kontoglu
Courtesy of Dormition Skete, Buena Vista, Colorado




The Resurrection of Christ, by the hand of Robin Armstrong
Pentecost: The Coming of the Holy Spirit, by the hand of Constantine Youssis
Courtesy of the Department of Religious Education, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North
and South America.




John Dictating the Gospel, by the hand of Demetrios Doukas
Courtesy of the Department of Religious Education, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North
and South America.
Endnotes
1:1   God the Father made heaven and earth. “I believe in one God the Father Almighty,
  Maker of heaven and earth” (Creed).
1:2   The Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit (BasilG; EphS). He proceeds from the Father, and is
  “the Lord and Giver of Life” (Creed). Since He is Lord, He is coequal with the Father, and
  is His Coworker in making heaven and earth.
1:3 God the Father spoke to His Word and Only-begotten Son, through whom He made the
  light (AthanG). Since the Son, too, is Lord, He is coequal with the Father, and is His
  Coworker in making heaven and earth.
    The Holy Fathers teach that the Father made heaven and earth through the Son and in
  the Holy Spirit. Thus, the Holy Trinity made heaven and earth, and the Church sings, “We
  glorify the Father, we exalt the Son, and we worship the Holy Spirit—the indivisible
  Trinity who exists as One—the Light and Lights, the Life and Lives, who grants light and
  life to the ends of the world” (CanonAnd).
1:4-25 Since the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit made heaven and earth, They also
  made everything mentioned in these verses.
1:26-30    The Holy Trinity also made man. God the Father is speaking to God the Son
  (JohnChr), and He uses the personal pronouns Us and Our. These pronouns indicate
  three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as noted in 1:1–3.
     The word image is in the singular, and shows the three distinct Persons of the Holy
  Trinity are one in nature and undivided. For it does not say, “Our images” (HilryP).
  Therefore, the Holy Trinity is one undivided nature in three distinct Persons.
     Man is not one in nature with the Holy Trinity. But He was made in the image and
  likeness of the Holy Trinity; and he was made male and female. Therefore, the dignity of
  each man and each woman is this image and likeness.
1:31   Everything God made, including man, is very good, because God is good. Nothing He
  made is therefore evil in itself. So then, human nature is good in itself. But sin is a free
  choice of man's will, and it is contrary both to God's nature and human nature.
2:1-3     God finished the making of heaven and earth for man's sake. He rested from His
  creative activity on the seventh day to show His love and providential care for man, and to
  invite man to enjoy this Sabbath-rest. For as Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man,
  and not man for the Sabbath” (Mk 2:27).
        Man failed to keep this Sabbath-rest. But Jesus fulfilled it for man by resting in the
  tomb on Great and Holy Saturday, after He said on the cross, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30).
  For He destroyed sin and death, and rose again on the first day of the week. Through His
  saving work on man's behalf, He is man's Sabbath-rest, and He now invites all to find rest
  in Himself (Mt 11:28–30).
2:4   Here the Book of Genesis refers to itself by name.
2:7   God formed Adam's body out of dust from the ground. The breath of life is the
  grace of the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life (the Creed). God breathed the breath of life into
  man's body, and he became a living soul. Therefore, Adam was a living soul because he
  possessed a body, a soul, and the grace of the Holy Spirit.
      After He rose from the dead, Jesus breathed on His disciples, and said, “Receive the
  Holy Spirit” (Jn 20:22). For man failed to keep the grace of the Spirit, but through His
  Resurrection Jesus supplies His disciples abundantly with the life-giving grace of the
  Spirit. A disciple's responsibility is to live by this grace.
2:8-17 God gave man a place and a law (AthanG). The place was Paradise, and the law was
  the commandment given in 2:16, 17. Man was to obey this commandment through the
  grace of God the Word. If he was obedient, he would enjoy the blessings of Paradise. But
  if he were to disobey the commandment, he would die and his body would decay in the
  grave (“die by death,” AthanG).
2:18-25 God, not man, established the law of marriage; therefore, marriage is holy. In the
  marriage union, the husband and wife become one flesh (v. 24), which St. Paul calls “a
  great mystery” (Eph 5:32). This mystery is so great and wonderful that a man will leave
  his father and mother with their blessing, and be joined to a woman in marriage. In this
  joining, he will be devoted to her with sacrificial love and devotion, and she to him.
     This great mystery points to the greater mystery: the marriage of Christ and His Bride,
  the Church (Eph 5:22–33). For He left His Father and became Man to seek a Bride. He
  loved His Bride and gave Himself for her. And in his divine vision of the new heaven and
  earth, the apostle John saw this Bride, the “New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven
  from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev 21:1, 2).
3:1-7 The serpent is the devil (2Co 11:3; Rev 12:9), and he tempted Eve. He contradicted
  God's commandment (2:16, 17) by denying death and decay in the grave as the penalty for
  disobedience (you shall not die by death). He also tempted Eve with the promise of
  deification (you will be like gods, knowing good and evil). But deification comes
  through obedience to God, not through disobedience. Nevertheless, Eve was deceived,
  and thus disobeyed God. She, in turn, gave the fruit to her husband, and he ate. In his
  disobedience, he willed contrary to the will of God, and thus ate. His free will was the first
  thing to suffer in the Fall, and thus is the first thing that needs healing in man (JohnDm).
3:8   Adam and Eve now had a fallen will and tried to hide from God. Fallen man now has a
  fallen will, thus he has a tendency to run away from God. But the grace of Christ heals the
  will of those who return to Him through repentance, so they might freely pursue God and
  do His will.
3:15   The woman's seed is first Christ, and second His Church (Gal 3:16, 26). The serpent's
  seed are those who reject Christ and follow the devil (1Jn 3:8–10). Christ destroyed the
  devil through the cross (bruise your head).
3:17-20   Adam's disobedience cursed the ground and placed mankind under toil and
  labor until his end in death and decay in the grave (return to the ground). For death
  and decay in the grave entered the world through him (Rom 5:12).
3:24   Because of Adam, man is born outside Paradise. The tree of life prefigures Christ,
  through whom man regains Paradise.
4:1, 2 Cain and Abel came into existence through God and through Adam and Eve. Each
  came into existence at the moment of conception (she conceived) and was born nine
  months later. God brings every human being into existence in the womb of the mother at
  the moment of conception. His creative activity is simultaneous with conception.
4:3, 4   Both Cain and Abel worshiped the Lord and brought sacrifices to Him. The Lord
  accepted Abel and his gifts, because Abel had a good and discerning heart. He discerned
  through faith the Lord's coming Incarnation and His sacrifice as a lamb for the salvation
  of the world. (See also Mt 23:35; Lk 11:51; Heb 11:4; 12:24).
4:5   The Lord rejected Cain and his gifts. Why? The inward state of his heart was not right
  with God. As 1Jn 3:12 says of him, “who was of the wicked one.” His passions are
  described in Jude 11 as “the way of Cain.”
4:6   Cain's way was characterized by his sinful passions that dominated him. One of these
  was extreme sorrow, made manifest in his fallen countenance. His arrogant worship was
  rejected, and he fell into the opposite condition of extreme sorrow. Whereas godly sorrow
  leads one to humility and repentance, extreme sorrow nullifies both.
4:7 Because the Lord loved Cain, He sought to bring him to repentance (did you not sin).
  He commended him for having the right worship (brought it rightly), but reproved him
  for not having a right heart (did not divide it rightly). He commanded him to still his
  heart (be still) through repentance, for it was filled with turbulence because of the
  passions. He also commanded him to be his brother's keeper, as this is what is meant by
  the words recourse and rule. As the eldest, he was responsible for Abel's welfare. As
  Cain's parents looked out for his welfare, he too should show the same love to his
  younger brother.
4:8   However, Cain refused to deal with his passions through repentance, and his anger led
  to hate and murder.
4:9   Cain rejected the notion that he was his brother's keeper and thus responsible for his
  welfare.
4:13   Cain used his guilt as an excuse to avoid repentance, for he did not believe in the
  grace of God. He willfully allowed his passions to blind his heart.
4:16   The name Nod means “one who wanders away from God.” Such was Cain's state.
4:25   The name Seth signifies that God compensated Adam and Eve by raising up Seth in
  the place of Abel—out of death comes life. As such, Seth is a type of Christ's Resurrection,
  which overcomes the way of Cain and compensates the faithful for the ills they have
  undergone. Christ's genealogy is traced through Seth to Adam, showing that the true God
  became incarnate as true Man in order to compensate all who call upon His Name (Lk
  3:38).
4:26   In contrast to Cain's offspring, Seth's offspring, Enosh, hoped in the Lord and called
  on His name. For this is the way of salvation. “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord
  shall be saved” (Joel 2:32; Rom 10:13).
5:1, 2 Here, the Book of Genesis refers to itself a second time. In 2:4 it calls itself “the book
  of the genesis of heaven and earth.” Here it is the book of the genesis of mankind.
  Creation has a beginning of existence and an end. This does not mean creation in itself
  will come to an end. Rather, its beginning points to its end purpose—the Incarnation of
  God the Word. Man's very existence foreshadows His coming in the flesh to draw to the
  Father all who will come.
5:3   Seth was begotten from Adam and Eve. This threefold relationship illustrates, to a
  certain extent, the Holy Trinity. Adam had no human father. He was begotten by no one.
  Thus, he was unbegotten. Seth was begotten from Adam. Eve was neither unbegotten nor
  begotten. Instead she proceeded from Adam (2:21). Therefore, Eve and Seth were related
  to the unbegotten Adam, but each in a unique manner—Eve proceeded from Adam, but
  Seth was begotten from him. Each person had his or her own distinct and unique
  properties—unbegotten, begotten, and proceeding—but all three possessed the same
  human nature.
      Similarly, the manner in which these three existed images the Holy Trinity. God the
  Father is Unbegotten; God the Son is Begotten from the Father; and God the Holy Spirit
  proceeds from the Father. These distinct and unique properties—unbegotten, begotten,
  and proceeding—distinguish each of the individual Persons of the Holy Trinity from each
  other; yet, They are one in nature (JohnDm).
5:4-28   This passage focuses on the genealogy of Christ (Lk 3:23–38) and the reality of
  death and decay in the grave—the debt man owed to the broken commandment in the
  Garden of Eden. The Word became flesh to abolish death and decay through His death
  and Resurrection, and to release man from the debt he owed (AthanG).
5:29-32    Noah is born into incarnational history, and he is a key ancestor in Christ's
  genealogy (Lk 3:36), for the next several chapters focus on him and his family.
    Lamech named his son Noah, and as 5:29 points out, this name means “to give rest.”
  For he would give them rest from our work and the toil of our hands, because of
  the ground the Lord God cursed. In this meaning, Noah is a type of Christ, who said,
  “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).
6:3   In his disobedience and expulsion from Paradise, man lost the grace of the Holy Spirit
  (My Spirit shall not remain). Nevertheless, His grace was always available to man, but
  man continually refused it (for they are flesh). So God gave them a grace period of one
  hundred and twenty years to come to repentance.
6:5   Without the grace of the Holy Spirit, man is easily overcome by the devil, for his
  willpower alone is incapable of resisting the devil's temptations. Furthermore, his will
  was weakened through his disobedience and expulsion from Paradise. But he willfully
  refused God's helping grace (every intent . . . was only evil continually).
6:6   So God was grieved over man's condition. Murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts,
  and every manner of sin were rampant everywhere. The human race was in danger of
  disappearing from the face of the earth (AthanG).
6:7   God was grieved over these people He created, and swore to blot them out . . . from
  the face of the earth. Yet He gave them a grace period of one hundred and twenty years
  to respond to the grace of the Holy Spirit. Their refusal brought judgment upon
  themselves, for they had no excuses for not responding to the grace of God.
6:8   But Noah was different from the rest, for he discovered the grace of the Holy Spirit.
  Because of this discovery, God would preserve a remnant, through which God the Word
  would become Man. For He would become Man through Noah's “genealogy” (vv. 9, 10; Lk
  3:36).
6:9   Noah was a righteous man because he found the grace of the Holy Spirit, through
  which man becomes righteous. He was perfect because through the grace of the Holy
  Spirit he obeyed everything God told him to do (6:22). His righteous living was well-
  pleasing to God.
6:11-13   The earth was corrupt . . . and filled with unrighteousness because of
  man's willful refusal to become righteous through the grace of the Holy Spirit
  (corrupted their way on the earth). Their unrighteousness was their own fault
  (through them), for they had every opportunity to come to repentance.
6:14-21 The ark was a type of the Mother of God with Christ and the Church in her womb
  (Akath). The floodwaters were a type of baptism, in which we are saved (1Pt 3:18–22).
7:1   The Lord God made Noah righteous through faith, by which he pleased God (Heb 11:6,
  7). Through the grace of the Holy Spirit he obeyed everything God commanded him to do.
  So he and his family entered the ark, which typified salvation.
7:2-15 Noah's faith also saved the animals. The whole creation will be saved through the
  children of God (Rom 8:18–22).
7:16-24 The Lord God closed the door of the ark, for He is the Judge and determines who
  is in and who is out. The people on the outside were going about their usual manner of
  life—buying, selling, eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage—but they were
  indifferent to God and His grace. The Flood caught them unawares, but it was too late for
  them to respond. So it will be in the Day of Judgment (Mt 24:37–39; Lk 17:26, 27; 2Pt 2:4,
  5).
8:1   God remembered Noah and saved him from the floodwaters, for He made a wind
  that caused the waters to subside. Noah was saved because God remembered him. This
  remembrance is salvation. Many Scriptures speak of God remembering man in salvation.
  For example, Ps 24:6, 7: “Remember Your compassion, O Lord, / And Your mercy, for
  they are from of old. / Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor of my ignorance; / But
  remember me according to Your mercy, / Because of Your loving-kindness, O Lord.” The
  thief on the cross said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your
  kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in
  Paradise” (Lk 23:42–43).
8:10, 11 The dove foreshadowed the Holy Spirit (Mt 3:16), who caused the Holy Virgin to
  conceive Christ in her womb, and the olive leaf speaks of the Virgin herself (Lk 1:35;
  Akath). The olive leaf was also a token of man's reconciliation to God and foreshadowed
  the fulfillment of grace in the Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) of the Church (Service of
  Baptism).
8:20   “God remembered Noah” (8:1), but Noah also remembered God. Remembrance in
  salvation is a two-way street. As the Psalmist said, “I remembered Your name in the
  night, O Lord, / And I kept Your law” (Ps 118:55). This Noah did, and he built an altar
  to God.
8:21   Noah's sacrifices were a sweet aroma to the Lord God. The Church, likewise, has an
  altar on which she offers the sweet aroma of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord (Heb
  13:10, 15).
8:22   The earth will remain with its regular cycles until the new heaven and the new earth
  come (Rev 21:1).
9:1   God not only “remembered” Noah (8:1), He also blessed him. Remembrance is
  salvation and so is blessing. Many Scriptures speak to this. For example, the Psalmist
  said, “He shall receive blessing from the Lord, / And mercy from the God of his salvation”
  (Ps 23:5).
9:8-16 Noah's seed is Christ (Lk 3:23, 36), and the everlasting covenant (v. 16) is the
  new covenant God established in Him. God's rainbow in the clouds is His sign of the
  covenant.
9:26   Not only did the Lord God bless Noah (9:1), but Noah blessed Him. Many Scriptures
  speak to this. For example, the Psalmist said, “For my foot stands in uprightness; / In the
  churches I will bless You, O Lord” (Ps 25:12; Vesting Service). Noah blessed God because
  of Shem, through whom Christ would come to save the world (Lk 3:36).
10:1   This chapter continues Christ's genealogy through Shem after the flood.
10:21-31   Christ's genealogy is traced from Shem down to Peleg (Lk 3:35, 36). His name
  means division, for in his days the earth was divided (v. 25). This division is
  described in the history of 11:1–9.
11:6   Mankind was united as one race and one language. But this unity existed without
  the Holy Trinity, for man's true unity is union and communion with the Father, the Son,
  and the Holy Spirit. The Church is “the race of Christians” (Kairon Service), “a holy
  nation” (1Pt 2:9), and glorifies God “with . . . one mouth” (Rom 15:6). In the Great Litany,
  the Church prays “for the union of all men,” a union based in the Holy Trinity.
11:7   The pronoun Us refers to the Holy Trinity. The words go down are a figure of
  speech, for the Trinity is everywhere present and fills all things. The words “came down to
  see” (v. 5) are also a figure of speech, for the Trinity is not ignorant of anything. God
  condescends to our weakness that we might understand something about Him and His
  works.
11:8   The Lord divided this false unity for the sake of man's salvation, that man might seek
  and find Him (Acts 17:26–28). For they sought to build their unity by making a name for
  themselves (v. 4). They cared nothing for the name of the Lord God, by which man is
  saved.
11:10-31 The genealogy of Shem carries Christ's genealogy down to Abraham, for the true
  unity of the human race is Christ Himself.
12:1-7      “The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophets” (Creed). He spoke through the
  prophet Moses, who wrote this Scripture. Thus, St. Paul said, “And the Scripture,
  foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham
  beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed’” (Gal 3:8). Thus the Holy
  Spirit preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham.
     The Holy Spirit inspired Moses to write in v. 1 that the Lord said to Abram this
  scripture. Who is this Lord? He is God the Father, as St. Paul indicated in Gal 3:8: “God
  would justify the Gentiles by faith.” Thus, the Father preached the gospel beforehand to
  Abraham.
     In v. 7, the Holy Spirit inspired Moses to write that the Lord appeared to Abraham
  and spoke to him. Who is this Lord who appeared? The Holy Spirit identified Him in 15:1
  as the Word of the Lord whom Abraham saw in a vision, and He identified Him as the
  Angel of the Lord in 16:7, 9, 10, 11, and 13. This Word is the Son of God (AthanG) and the
  Angel is also the Son of God, for He was no created angel (HilryP). “He is called Angel
  because He alone reveals the Father” (AthanG). Thus, the Son also preached the gospel
  beforehand to Abraham, for the Father always speaks through His Word.
         Therefore, where one Person of the Trinity is present and working, the other two
  Persons are also present in one and the same working for the salvation of man. The
  Father works through the Son and in the Spirit.
12:8    Abraham is the father of all the faithful (Rom 4:11). Since he built an altar of
  worship, therefore an altar is part of his faith. Bethel means “house of God,” which
  foreshadows the Church as the house of God. The altar is central to worship. At the altar,
  the Church calls on the name of the Lord, as did Abraham.
12:17   The Lord protected Sarah's virtue, and also the Incarnation. For Abraham and Sarah
  begot Isaac, through whom the promise in Christ was made (Rom 9:7).
13:1-5 Canaan, not Egypt, was the land of promise. While in Egypt, Abraham never lost his
  focus on God's promise in the gospel of salvation, for he returned to Bethel, the house of
  God, and called on the name of the Lord (v. 4). Similarly, those who possess
  Abraham's faith keep their focus on this same gospel.
13:6-9 Abraham was a peacemaker, and “Blessed are the peacemakers, / For they shall be
  called sons of God” (Mt 5:9). He was looking for his eternal inheritance in “the world to
  come” (Creed; see also Heb 11:9–11). Although he was very rich, he was a man of virtue.
  For in his heart he was detached from his wealth and also from the love of land. Thus he
  overcame strife (v. 7) and made peace with Lot. Therefore, virtue characterized the faith
  of Abraham. It will also characterize his spiritual children.
13:10-13 Lot, on the other hand, was attached to the beauty of the landscape. It looked like
  the Garden of Eden. Unlike Abraham, he walked by sight, and not by faith (2Co 5:7).
  Thus, he chose wrongfully, not because of the beauty itself, but because of his immature
  faith. His poor judgment landed him with the people of Sodom. They were exceedingly
  wicked and sinful before God (v. 13)—beautiful scenery but an extremely depraved
  environment. Their godless behavior oppressed and tormented his righteous soul every
  day (2Pt 2:7, 8).
13:14-18   Lot “pitched his tent” in Sodom (v. 12), but Abraham built an altar (v. 18)—a
  notable difference in the two men. One trapped himself in the environment of this fallen
  world; the other focused himself on the Lord. However, the Lord would eventually deliver
  righteous Lot from Sodom (2Pt 2:9).
14:14   The 318 bishops of the Orthodox Church at the Council of Nicea were likened to
  these trained servants of Abraham. As Abraham's servants overcame insurmountable
  odds, so the bishops, the trained servants of the Church, defeated the arguments of the
  many heretics who denied that the Son of God is coeternal and one in essence with the
  Father. These servants defended Abraham's faith, handed down in the Church.
14:18   Melchizedek brought out bread and wine to Abraham. His priesthood typified
  the High Priesthood of Christ, who gives His precious body and blood to the faithful in
  the bread and wine of the Eucharist (CypC).
     Christ's priesthood is called “the order of Melchizedek” (Ps 109:4; Heb 5:6), and it is
  superior to the order of Aaron in the Mosaic Law (Heb 7:11). The Book of Hebrews gives
  numerous reasons for this superiority.
14:19, 20 Two of the many reasons for the superiority of the order of Melchizedek are: (1)
  Melchizedek blessed Abraham. Aaron was a descendant of Abraham through Levi. Thus,
  in blessing Abraham, Melchizedek also blessed Levi and Aaron. It is always the greater
  who blesses the lesser. (2) Abraham paid a tithe to Melchizedek, and in this act, so did
  Levi and Aaron (Heb 7). Therefore, salvation comes through the superior order.
14:21-24 Abraham showed his complete detachment from earthly wealth, because (1) he
  knew that God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth (v. 22) had given him
  everything he possessed, and (2) he loved God supremely, and not the wealth God gave
  him. He also loved his neighbor as himself, for he saw to the needs of Aner, Eshcol, and
  Mamre. Thus, Abraham was, so to speak, heaven-bound. The king of Sodom, on the other
  hand, was earthbound. Faithful people follow Abraham's example.
15:1-3 The Word of the Lord is the Word of the Father (AthanG). He is also the Son of
  God. Abraham saw God the Word in a vision. Thus, he saw Him before He became
  incarnate, as did the other Old Testament prophets. Abraham was fearful the promise
  God had given him in 12:1 would not be fulfilled, for he had no heir.
15:4   The Voice of the Lord is also the Word of the Father. He reassures Abraham that
  his heir will come from your own body. This refers to the birth of Isaac, based on
  God's promise. For man is saved by this promise through faith in Christ (Rom 4:17–25;
  9:7, 8).
15:5   The seed is first Christ, then His Church (Gal 3:16; Rom 4:16). The stars are a type
  of all the members of His body (Php 2:15). Their number is countless, and consists of
  both Jews and Gentiles (Eph 2:11–16).
15:6   Abraham believed the promise in 12:1, and he continued to believe it in 15:5. For
  Abraham's faith was living and growing—something dynamic. He was made righteous by
  this faith. So are both Jews and Gentiles. Righteousness is the gift of God through Jesus
  Christ (Rom 5:17).
15:7   God the Word said to Abraham, “I am the God who brought you out of Ur of
  the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.” Thus, He identifies Himself as
  God. The Creed calls Him “True God of True God.” For He is the Only-begotten of the
  Father, through whom the Father speaks and reveals Himself.
15:8    Abraham calls the Word his own Master and Lord, and thus recognizes His
  divinity. The Church does the same thing.
16:1   In Gal 4:21–31, St. Paul uses Hagar and Sarah as an allegory, representing two
  covenants. Hagar and Ishmael represent the old covenant of the Law, which “gives birth
  to bondage.” Sarah and Isaac represent the new covenant, which gives birth to freedom.
  The Jerusalem below is made up of those under the bondage of the Law, but the
  Jerusalem above is the Church, those under the freedom of God's grace.
16:7   The Lord is the Father, and the Angel is His Son (HilryP). And the prophet Isaiah
  calls Him “the Angel of Great Counsel” (Is 9:5). “The Son is called Angel because He
  alone reveals the Father” (AthanG).
16:8   The Lord asked Hagar questions, not because He was ignorant, but for Hagar's sake
  and for ours. After He became Man, He also asked questions in the four Gospels, not
  because He was ignorant, but for the sake of the immediate listeners and of the faithful.
  For He is God in the flesh, and therefore, never ignorant of anything (JohnDm).
16:9   Since He is God, the Angel commanded Hagar. She obeyed (v. 15). This Angel is the
  Word of God.
16:10   This statement by the Angel could not have been made by a created angel, for only
  God can say, “I will surely multiply your seed exceedingly, that it may not be
  counted because of its multitude.” No created angel can do this. The Angel is God
  the Son.
16:11   The Angel then spoke to Hagar concerning the Father and said, “The Lord has
  taken notice of your humiliation.”
16:13 Hagar called the Angel who appeared to her both Lord and God. The Church knows
  Him as the Only-begotten of the Father (Jn 1). As the Father's Only-begotten, He is “true
  God of true God” (Creed).
    One meaning of the name God is, You are the God who sees me. The Only-begotten
  sees everything. So do God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
17:1   Thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael (16:16), the Lord appeared to Abram
  again and identified Himself as God, for He said to him, “I am your God.” This
  appearance is another of the personal appearances of the Son of God to Abraham.
17:2-4 The covenant is that established “in Christ” (Gal 3:17). God established it before the
  Mosaic covenant. Therefore, the Law of Moses, which came later, could not cancel it.
  Abraham's faith is multiplied exceedingly in the Church. For he is the father of
  many nations (see also Rom 4:16, 17).
17:5   Abram's name (meaning “exalted father”) was changed to Abraham (“father of
  many”). This very name change proves the gospel of salvation is for many nations, the
  Gentiles as well as the Jews.
17:7   The God of the everlasting covenant is the Holy Trinity, for the Son is God of God,
  the Only-begotten of the Father. The Holy Spirit is also God of God, for He “proceeds
  from the Father” (Creed).
17:10-14    The rite of circumcision was not the covenant itself. It was a sign of the
  covenant (v. 11). It was a temporary sign, because it applied only to Abraham's
  genealogy (v. 12), that is, to Abraham's physical lineage, and also to those born in his
  house or bought with his money. Thus, the rite did not apply to the “many nations,” or
  Gentiles, to be made righteous by faith in the gospel (v. 3; see also Rom 4:9–17). Christ
  Himself fulfilled this rite and brought it to an end when He was circumcised on the
  eighth day after His birth from the Virgin (Lk 2:21).
17:19-21   God's covenant with Abraham was established in Isaac, because his birth was
  based on the promise of God (Rom 9). It was not based on physical lineage, for Abraham
  and Sarah were past the age of childbearing at the time. Therefore, salvation is based on
  the promise of the Word of God, and not on Abraham's physical descendants, such as the
  Ishmaelites or the Jews, or on any of the other physical offspring of Abraham, such as the
  Midianites (25:1, 2).
18:1-3 The Holy Spirit says through the prophet Moses that God appeared to Abraham.
  This is another personal appearance of the Son of God to him. He saw three men standing
  before him, but he worshiped only one of them as Lord, for He is Lord and God. The
  other two are called “angels” (19:1). The Son of God is the Lord of all the angels.
18:4-8   The hospitality of Abraham was a virtue that should be shared by his spiritual
  children.
18:9   The Lord was not ignorant of Sarah's location. He asked the question for Abraham's
  sake and for that of those who read the Scriptures. He also asked questions for the same
  reason after He became incarnate, for example, concerning the location of Lazarus's grave
  (Jn 11:34).
18:14   The Lord speaks of God the Father, who does not will everything He can do, but He
  can do everything He wills. For nothing is impossible with Him. Likewise, nothing is
  impossible with His Son, for the Father works all things through the Son. As St.
  Athanasius the Great said, “He is the Will of the Father.” Therefore, the Son would
  strengthen Abraham and Sarah, and Sarah would conceive to bear Isaac, the child of
  promise.
18:17-19   The Lord possesses foreknowledge (for I know). Abraham and his spiritual
  children would be characterized by righteousness and judgment, because they know
  the Lord and keep His ways. Righ-teousness and judgment are the gifts of the Lord to the
  faithful. These are two of the four general virtues of wisdom that produce all the other
  virtues (see the notes at Pr 1:2b–5).
18:22   One of the three men was the Lord, and Abraham remained before Him. The
  other two men, who were the Lord's angels, went toward Sodom (see also 19:1).
18:23-32    Abraham interceded for the righteous in Sodom, but actually the city was so
  morally depraved that Lot was the only righteous person in the entire place. Abraham's
  intercession delivered him. The Lord delivered Lot, but He allowed Abraham to
  participate in the work.
18:33 Abraham returned to his home, but the Lord went on to Sodom.
19:1   The Holy Spirit through the prophet Moses calls two of the three men angels. When
  they arrived in Sodom, they met Lot at the city gate.
19:2   Lot paid the angels due respect by calling them lords, but he did not worship them,
  for they were created beings.
19:13   The third man was the Lord, the Son of God, and he sent the other two to Sodom to
  destroy it.
19:16   He also came to Sodom after He finished talking to Abraham. By His mercy (the
  Lord being merciful), His two angels seized the hands of Lot, his wife, and two
  daughters and brought them outside the city.
19:18   Lot spoke to all three men, but prayed to the Lord in particular.
19:21   The Lord granted his request (I have acquiesced to you) to escape to a small city,
  called Zoar. The Son is the Will of the Father; thus He said, “I will not overthrow this
  city.” The Son is also the Word, Wisdom, and Power of the Father (Jn 1:1–3 and 1Co
  1:24).
19:22   The Lord can do anything He wills to do. But He would not will to destroy Sodom
  before Lot arrived in Zoar.
19:24 The Lord rained brimstone and fire . . . from the Lord out of heaven, that is,
  the Son rained brimstone and fire from the Father (AthanG, BasilG, AmbM, and HilryP).
  Both have the name “Lord” because of Their equality and oneness of lordship. For in
  Their essence, the Two are One and undivided (Creed). The Holy Spirit, who spoke this
  Scripture through the prophet Moses, is also one in lordship with the Father and the Son,
  for as the Creed says, “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord . . . who proceeds from the
  Father.”
     The destruction of Sodom and the adjoining city of Gomorrah is a warning to the
  ungodly concerning the Day of Judgment (2Pt 2:6, 9; Jude 7).
19:22-24 During Great Lent, the Church sings, “O my soul, flee like Lot to the mountain,
  and take refuge in Zoar before it is too late. Flee from the flames, my soul, flee from the
  burning heat of Sodom, flee from destruction by the fire of God.”
19:26   In Lk 17:28–33, the Lord commanded us to remember Lot's wife, for she lost her
  life because she turned back in disobedience to the Lord.
20:1   Abraham was a sojourner because he waited for “the city which has foundations,
  whose builder and maker is God” (Heb 11:10). The Creed calls this city “the world to
  come.” Abraham believed he would be raised from the dead to dwell in his true city.
20:2    The city of Gerar was not Abraham's true city, for it was given to idolatry. The
  Gerarites worshiped the god Dagon (3Kg 5:2) and the goddess Ashtaroth (3Kg 31:10). But
  when the Son of God became incarnate, and the word of the gospel went out to Gerar,
  idolatry in that place was destroyed. A church and a monastery were established there.
  One of its bishops, Marcian, attended the Fourth Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon in AD
  451. Truly, the city embraced the faith of Abraham.
21:1   The Son of God visited Sarah and fulfilled the promise He had given in 18:10
  (HilryP). Abraham and Sarah would have a son in their old age.
21:2   Thus, Sarah conceived, based on the word of promise. She did not conceive based on
  the power of the flesh, for both she and Abraham were past the time of childbearing.
  Therefore, it is not the children of the flesh—that is, Abraham's offspring through
  procreation—who are the children of God. Rather, the children of this promise are
  counted as Abraham's seed (Rom 9:8). These children are those who embrace Abraham's
  faith through the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal 3:16).
21:10     Hagar was cast out to show that it is not Abraham's children according to
  procreation who are God's children. For example, Abraham's children according to the
  flesh are such peoples as the Jews, the Ishmaelites, the Edomites, and the Midianites. But
  none of these are the children of God because of their fleshly relationship. Rather, God's
  children are any and all who embrace Abraham's faith through the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal
  4:22–31).
21:17   The Angel of God is the Son of God. He told Hagar that God, that is, God the Father,
  had heard Ishmael's crying. “The Son is called Angel because He alone reveals the Father”
  (AthanG).
21:18   The Angel told Hagar He Himself (I will make) would make a great nation of
  Ishmael. Therefore, this Angel is God (see also vv. 19, 20), for God alone could do such a
  thing. This Angel is not a created angel, but the Son of God Himself. And why would He
  make a great nation of Ishmael? Because after His Incarnation, Ishmael's descendants
  would embrace Abraham's faith based on the word of promise.
22:1   God the Word tested Abraham (AthanG).
22:2   The Word is the Son of God, and by calling Isaac Abraham's beloved son, He is
  teaching Abraham concerning His eternal birth from God the Father (AthanG). For He is
  “the Only-begotten from the Father” (Creed). He is also teaching Abraham that He
  Himself would be offered up as a whole burnt offering for the world's salvation, and
  be raised from the dead.
22:3   Abraham's faith was tested, and he obeyed the Son of God. Such faith and obedience
  made Abraham righteous and a friend of God (Jam 2:22–23).
22:12   Abraham received Isaac back alive. This prefigured the Resurrection of Christ and
  the future resurrection from the dead, in which Abraham believed (Heb 11:19).
22:14, 15 The Angel of the Lord is the Son of God, and He appeared to Abraham. The
  Lord is God the Father.
22:16   Abraham and Abimelech counseled together and swore by the greater, namely, by
  the name of God (21:23, 24). The seven ewe lambs confirmed the oath, and Abraham
  named the place the Well of Oath. So they were reconciled. However, God cannot swear
  by anyone greater; therefore, He swore by Himself. He confirmed the oath by His Lamb,
  the Son of God, through whom God's eternal covenant is established (Heb 6:13–20). The
  Well of Oath foreshadows the reconciliation of man to God through Jesus Christ.
22:17    Abraham's seed would be as the stars of heaven and as the sand on the
  seashore. These are Abraham's seed based on the word of promise. This seed is Christ
  and His Church begotten from Him (Gal 3:16). It does not refer to Israel according to the
  flesh. It refers to both Jews and Gentiles who are the children of the promise.
23:1   The days of Sarah's life were numbered. She knew this because she was a woman of
  faith. She did not know when she would die, but knew she would. For she saw herself as a
  sojourner and stranger passing through this life to the world to come (Heb 11:11–16).
23:4   Abraham describes himself as a sojourner and a stranger living in this present
  world. As a sojourner, he was passing through this world to the one to come (Heb 11:8–
  10). As a stranger, he saw himself as a foreigner in this world, which was not his true
  home.
23:8   Abraham calls Sarah my dead. He does not say “my corpse,” as though Sarah's dead
  body no longer had meaning and value. For he buried Sarah believing her body would be
  raised from the dead.
23:19   Abraham buried Sarah his wife. He buried a person, for a person consists of both
  body and soul. It requires both natures to be a person, and at death one does not cease to
  be a person. Therefore, Sarah's dead body was her dead body. It was part of her person,
  awaiting the resurrection from the dead. In the resurrection her soul would be reunited
  with her body, which would then become immortal.
24:3   Abraham believed in one God, whom he called the Lord, the God of heaven and
  the God of the earth. This Lord is God the Father, as the Creed says: “I believe in one
  God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.”
24:7   The Lord's Angel is the Son of God. The word angel also means messenger. In this
  meaning it is also akin to the term word. The Son of God is called both Angel and Word,
  for “He alone reveals the Father” (AthanG). Both names emphasize that the Son is the
  Will of God the Father. Thus, God spoke to Abraham through His Will, and told him to
  leave his father's house for the land of promise. The words He will send His Angel
  before you were prophesied by Abraham to his servant. He spoke these words by the
  Holy Spirit, as the Creed says: “I believe in the Holy Spirit . . . who spoke by the prophets.”
24:8   Neither the Lord nor Abraham would force the woman to follow Abraham's servant
  to become Isaac's wife. Both honored free will.
24:12    Abraham's servant also embraced Abraham's faith. He, too, was a child of God
  according to the word of promise. He also knew the mercy of God.
24:14   The Lord appointed Rebekah to be Isaac's wife. However, this appointment was
  based on His foreknowledge, for He knew beforehand how she would respond. Her free
  will was not forced. Similarly, election to salvation is based in the same foreknowledge.
  As St. Paul said, “whom He foreknew, He also predestined” (Rom 8:29).
24:27      Abraham's servant knew how to pray, for he began, “Blessed is . . .” This is the
  way the services of the Church begin. In his prayer he recognized the Lord's
  righteousness and truth. The Lord makes people righteous through Abraham's faith, and
  this faith is based in the truth. The Church is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1Ti
  3:15).
24:58    Rebekah went with Abraham's servant of her own free will. She freely submitted
  her will to the Lord's will.
24:62, 63 At the Well of the Vision, the Son of God appeared to Hagar (16:7–14). Isaac
  was meditating on this vision.
25:1-4 The children of God are not Abraham's children according to the flesh. If this were
  so, the six children of Abraham by Keturah would be the children of God. So also would
  be the Jews, the Ishmaelites, and the Edomites, by right of birth. For the Jews came from
  Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. The Ishmaelites sprang from Hagar, Abraham's
  concubine. The Edomites were the offspring of Esau, Jacob's twin brother. But the
  children of God are any and all who embrace the faith of Abraham through the word of
  promise.
25:5-7 Abraham sent all the children of Keturah away from Isaac, who was born according
  to the word of promise. He sent them away to emphasize that the children of God are
  born according to this word.
25:7, 8   Abraham died in a good old age, old and full of days; that is, he died full of
  faith and blessing from God. He was added to his people, that is, to the children of
  God. These children are awaiting the resurrection from the dead and the life of the world
  to come (Creed).
25:11   Isaac dwelt at the Well of the Vision, where the Son of God appeared to Hagar
  (16:7–14). He knew the Son of God.
25:19   Christ came through the genealogy of Isaac (Mt 1:2).
25:23   This prophecy shows that God's purpose in salvation stands on the basis of His
  calling, and not on the basis of works, either good or bad (Rom 9:11). For God foreknew
  which of the two sons would believe the word of promise given to Abraham. Jacob
  embraced the faith of Abraham, whereas Esau rejected it. Both were called, but Jacob
  alone responded to the call through faith. The Jews came from Jacob, and those who
  respond to God's calling, as did Jacob, are the children of God. For the Jews who do not
  embrace Abraham's faith are like Esau.
25:27-33 Esau was the older son, so the right of the firstborn was his. This right taught the
  firstborn to embrace Abraham's faith. But he despised this faith, because of his fear of
  death (v. 32). He despised the very faith that could save him from death (Heb 12:16, 17).
26:2   The Word, who is the Son of God, appeared to Isaac and told him not to go down to
  Egypt, but to live in the land promised to Abraham. For Egypt was a type of the fallen
  world, whereas the land promised to Abraham was a type of the world to come. It
  reminded Isaac to keep his focus on Abraham's faith.
26:3     The Word also told Isaac to sojourn in this land. A sojourner is one who sees the
  world to come as the land of promise (Creed). The land of Canaan was only a land in
  which to sojourn. Like his father, Abraham, he saw the world to come as his true
  inheritance. “By faith he [Abraham] dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country,
  dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he
  waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb 11:9,
  10).
26:4    The phrase your seed includes both Jews and Gentiles (all the nations) who
  embrace the promise given to Abraham. The phrase “in your seed” is a reference to Christ
  (Gal 3:16). For both Jews and Gentiles who believe are joined together as one body in
  Christ, that is, in Christ and His Church.
26:5   All who believe are blessed with Abraham, because he obeyed the voice of God the
  Son and kept what He commanded him to do. The faithful are those who obey the voice
  of the Son of God (Jn 10).
26:20-22 The names of the two wells, Injustice and Enmity, show the opposition between
  righteousness and unrighteousness. Isaac was righteous through faith, but the herdsmen
  of Gerar were representatives of this fallen world. Isaac was a man of peace, but they
  were men of war, who fought against the righteous man. The well called Room shows
  that the Lord makes room for the righteous in this world, in order to increase their
  number. These will inherit the land of promise to come.
26:24   God the Son appeared to Isaac at the Well of Oath and swore to him concerning the
  promise made to Abraham. This swearing emphasized the unchangeableness of the Lord's
  will and purpose (Heb 6:17, 18). The Lord will fulfill His purpose in the world to come and
  give it to the heirs of promise. Isaac laid hold of this oath and the hope it gave him (Heb
  6:19, 20).
26:25    Isaac worshiped the Son of God at the altar he built. At the altar, the Church
  worships the Son, and together with Him, the Father and the Spirit.
26:34, 35 The wives of Esau represent those who contend with Christ and His Church.
27:2   Isaac did not know the day he would die, nor does any man. But he was a man of
  faith, and he looked to the day he would die. He faced this reality by faith and prepared
  himself for it.
27:7    The Lord is present everywhere and fills all things. Thus, Isaac would give the
  blessing of the firstborn in His presence. The blessing of the firstborn gave the eldest son
  a double portion of his father's inheritance. He would also become the ruler and head
  over his brethren upon his father's death, and be responsible for the welfare and
  administration of the family. All this foreshadowed the Lord's Incarnation as the
  Firstborn of the Father and the ruler and head over the Church. Through His Incarnation,
  He would secure the Church's eternal inheritance (Rom 4:13; 8:29; Gal 3:3, 18, 29; 4:7;
  Eph 1:11, 14, 18; 3:6; Col 1:12, 15, 18; 3:24; Tts 3:7; Heb 1:2, 4, 6; 6:17; 9:15; 11:7–9; Jam
  2:5; 1Pt 1:4; 3:7; 12:23; Rev 1:5).
27:34    The blessing of the firstborn was denied Esau because he despised the faith of
  Abraham. Because of this, he could find no place of repentance in order to inherit the
  blessing of the firstborn son (Heb 12:16, 17). Likewise, in the Day of Judgment, people
  who in this life reject the offer of the future inheritance will be unable to find repentance
  in that day.
28:4   The blessing of Abraham was given to Jacob, as noted in v. 3. The seed is first
  Christ, then His Offspring, the Church (Gal 3). The land is a type of the world to come,
  which will be this present world redeemed (Rom 8). This present world is the land of
  your sojourning. In the world to come, it will be the permanent home of those who
  inherit it.
28:12   The ladder that reached to heaven speaks of the Mother of God and of the Son
  of God born of her. The icon in the apse of the church is called the Platytera, which
  means wide, broad, spacious. It reveals Christ in her womb, and she connects heaven and
  earth through Him for our salvation.
28:17 The house of God speaks of the Church, and the gate of heaven is the Mother of
  God (Kairon and Akathist Services). Because the Son was conceived in her womb, she
  opened the gate of heaven to those who embrace the faith of Abraham.
28:18   The stone is Christ, the foundation stone of the Church (Mt 21:42–44; Mk 12:10;
  Lk 20:17, 18; Acts 4:11; Rom 9:32, 33; 1Co 3:10, 11; 1Pt 2:4–8). The oil signifies Christ,
  whose human nature was anointed by the Holy Spirit (Mt 1:18; 3:16; Heb 1:9).
28:22   God's house speaks of the Church. Jacob gave a tithe of all God gave him. A tithe
  is ten percent given to the Church.
29:14    Laban called Jacob my bone and my flesh, for they were blood relatives. In
  contrast to this, the Church is not based on blood relationships. It is based on the life-
  giving flesh of Christ, by which those who embrace Him in faith become “members of His
  body, of His flesh and of His bones” (Eph 5:30). The members of His body are closer in
  relationship than blood relations.
29:15   Laban called Jacob my brother. Technically, Jacob was Laban's nephew. Therefore,
  the title brother does not necessarily mean a son of the same father or mother. In Mt
  13:55 and Mk 3:31, Jesus is said to have brothers. These are not sons of Mary His mother.
  They are simply close relatives. The Church calls Mary Ever-virgin. This belief is a dogma
  of the Church, for she bore only one Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
29:27    One week in this case equals seven years. Thus, each week in Daniel's prophecy
  equals seven years (Daniel 9), to the coming of Christ in the Incarnation.
29:34, 35   Levi was the forefather of the levitical priesthood, also known as the order of
  Aaron, for Aaron came from Levi (Heb 7:11). But the Christ could not be part of this order,
  because He would descend from Judah (Heb 7:14). However, the prophecy said Christ
  would be the High Priest of the order of Melchizedek (Ps 109:4). Thus, both orders cannot
  coexist as the way to be perfected. The order of Aaron became obsolete because Levi and
  his offspring are still dead, whereas Christ is alive from the dead. Therefore, Jews are not
  made children of God through the order of Aaron. Both Jews and Gentiles become the
  children of God only through the order of Melchizedek, in the one body of Christ, the
  Church, which is also called “the Israel of God” (Gal 6:16).
30:6   The names of the sons of Jacob reveal things concerning the Incarnation of the Son
  of God. For example, Rachel speaks of Dan's birth in relation to God as Judge; Christ
  “shall come to judge the living and the dead” (Creed). Also, Reuben's birth relates to
  humiliation (29:32); the Son humbled Himself to become Man for man's salvation (Php
  2:7). Simeon's birth emphasizes hatred (29:33); Christ was hated without cause (Jn
  15:25), and sometimes, so is the Church (Jn 15:18). Levi's birth speaks of union, for “on
  my side” speaks of union (29:34). Christ unites His Church to Himself in baptism (Rom
  6:5). Judah's birth relates to thanksgiving (29:35); Christ established the Eucharist,
  which means Thanksgiving.
30:8   Naphtali's birth emphasizes victory; Christ prevailed over death by triumphing over
  it through the cross (Col 2:14, 15).
30:11   Gad's name speaks of good fortune, or prosperity. Christ's Incarnation is man's true
  prosperity and health (3Jn 2, 3).
30:13   Asher relates to blessing. Christ's Incarnation blesses His own with every spiritual
  blessing in the heavenly places (Eph 1:3).
30:18   Issachar's name speaks of wages or reward. Christ will bring His reward, to give
  each one according to his works (Rev 22:12).
30:20    Zebulun's name emphasizes endowment. Zebulun is a haven for ships ( 49:13).
  Christ is our endowment as a haven from the stormy sea of life.
30:23, 24   Joseph's name relates to the bearing of reproach, and he bore the reproach of
  his brothers when they sold him into Egypt. Christ bore our reproach (Rom 15:3).
30:33    Jacob was made righteous by faith, as were his father Isaac and grandfather
  Abraham. This righ-teousness is a gift of God's grace, one of the four general virtues of
  Wisdom (see notes on Pr 1:2b–5). Jacob lived out this righteousness in his behavior
  toward his uncle Laban.
31:3   The Lord is the Word and Son of God. He told Jacob to return to the land of his
  father, for this land was a type of the world to come. Laban's country was not Jacob's
  permanent residence (Heb 11:14–16, 21).
31:11   The Word is also called the Angel of God, because it is He alone who reveals the
  Father, and also because when the Son is beheld, so is the Father, for He is the Father's
  Radiance; therefore, the Father and the Son are one (AthanG).
31:13 In verse 11, the name “God” refers to the Father. But in this verse, the Angel is called
  the God who appeared. Thus, the Son is “true God of true God” (Creed).
31:24   The Son of God came to Laban in a dream, and warned him to do Jacob no harm.
31:29   Laban calls the Word the God of Jacob's father, that is, the God of Isaac. Laban's
  problem was his unbelief, for he did not believe in the very One who appeared to him in a
  dream.
31:42    Jacob believed in the Son of God and thanked Him for rebuking Laban for his
  injustice. Laban was a liar and a cheat, for he had changed Jacob's wages ten times (v. 7).
  In all this, Jacob, so to speak, had stepped aside and allowed the Lord to fight his battles
  over the twenty-year period (v. 38).
31:45   The stone set up as a pillar was a type of the Incarnate Son, for He is the foundation
  stone and pillar of the Church (1Co 3:11).
31:46   These stones are types of the living stones in the Church (1Pt 2:4, 5).
31:48, 49 The pillar and the stones were called This-Heap-Witnesses and The Vision.
  This vision was the vision of God the Word who appeared to both Laban and Jacob (vv. 11,
  24). The pillar and stones foreshadow the Incarnation and the Church.
32:12   Your seed is a reference to Christ (Gal 3:16), and together with Him, the Church,
  composed of both Jews and Gentiles. It is not a reference to the Jews based on physical
  lineage.
32:24   The man who wrestled with Jacob was the Son of God, who appeared to him as a
  weak man (AthanG and HilryP). When He became incarnate, He assumed the weakness
  of human flesh for man's salvation.
32:28   Jacob's name was changed to Israel, which means “God prevails.” In this meaning,
  Jacob was a type of the Son of God, who became Man and prevailed as God and Man for
  man's salvation.
32:30, 31   The Form of God was the Son and Word of God, who revealed Himself to
  Jacob (AthanG and HilryP). He is the Radiance of the Father who reveals the Father in
  Himself, for as He said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:9). The rising
  and radiating of the sun on Jacob illustrated this relation of the Son to the Father.
33:5 Gen 33:5, 9, 11: Jacob acknowledged that God gave him all his possessions. For he was
  a man of faith who looked to the world to come (Heb 11:13–15, 21). Esau, on the other
  hand, did not glorify God for the possessions God gave him, for he was an unbeliever.
33:19, 20 Jacob bought a small piece of land, set up an altar, and called on the true God.
  The Church does the same.
34:2   Shechem was a ruler of the land, but not a ruler of his passions. His lack of self-
  control would cost him his own life and the lives of his countrymen.
34:8   The passionate love Shechem had for Dinah was not true love. It was a sinful passion
  —its true name.
34:31   The sons of Jacob repaid evil for evil, for they, so to speak, took the law into their
  own hands. Furthermore, the punishment did not fit the crime. They turned out to be
  worse sinners than Shechem.
35:1   God speaks, and it is God of whom He speaks. Two distinct Persons own the same
  name, God. For the Father who is true God speaks of His Son who is also true God, for
  the Son is begotten from the Father as true God (Creed). Thus, the God who appeared to
  Jacob at Bethel was the Son, who is true God of true God (HilryP).
35:9   The God who appeared to Jacob again is true God of true God, that is, the Son of the
  Father. In Him the Father is revealed, for He alone reveals the Father (AthanG).
35:11   The God who appeared to Jacob also calls Himself Jacob's God, for He is true God of
  true God, the Only-begotten of the Father. It was He who changed Jacob's name to Israel.
35:13   The Only-begotten appeared to Jacob temporarily as a man, then ascended from
  him. After He became incarnate in the Mother of God, He ascended to the Father.
37:3, 4 Israel's love was partial, for he loved Joseph more than his other sons. Such love
  divided his family and opened the door to hatred. Thus Jacob was not yet perfected in
  love, for perfect love is impartial. But Christ loves all equally, and died for all.
37:8   Joseph's brothers were blinded by their hatred for him, and therefore, could not
  understand the things of God.
37:26, 27 Joseph's brothers were motivated by the love of money and possessions, for they
  did not know the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
37:28   Joseph's brothers cast him into a pit (v. 24), then lifted him out and sold him as a
  slave into Egypt. However, he ultimately became the lord of all Egypt. Similarly, Jesus
  was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, was killed and buried in His grave. But He rose
  again, and became the Lord of all (Acts 2:36; 10:36).
38:24   Those who reported to Judah viewed fornication and adultery as one and the same
  sin. For some say fornication is sin committed by single people, whereas adultery is
  committed by married people. Both fornication and adultery, however, are one and the
  same sin.
39:9   Joseph viewed adultery and/or fornication as great wickedness and sin against God.
  But people who treat such sin lightly simply do not know God.
39:20    Joseph's holiness cost him his freedom. “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in
  Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2Ti 3:12).
39:21   Joseph suffered for righteousness' sake; therefore, the Lord was with him. Truly, he
  was a blessed man (Mt 5:10).
39:23 Joseph's authority speaks of his human will, and the Lord was with him speaks
  of God's will. This shows that Joseph's will was in submission to the will of God. Both
  wills, therefore, worked in synergy.
40:8   Joseph glorified God and not himself. This is humility in the truest sense.
40:23   Since the cupbearer forgot Joseph, he also forgot the true God who delivered him
  from prison. His position as the king's favorite caused him to forget, for he loved the
  praise of men more than the praise of God.
41:13   Joseph was a true prophet, and the Holy Spirit prophesied through him (Creed). His
  short-term prophecies came to pass in a matter of three days (40:12, 18). This proved that
  his long-term prophecies concerning Jacob and his family would also come to pass (ch.
  37). All God's prophets are judged on this basis: if their short-term prophecies come to
  pass, then their long-term ones are to be believed. Otherwise, they are false prophets.
41:37   Although Pharaoh was an idolater, he recognized the Spirit of God speaking in the
  prophet Joseph (Creed).
41:52   Joseph calls Egypt the land of my humiliation. Such is this fallen world to those
  who look for their inheritance in the world to come (Heb 11:13–16, 22; Creed).
42:1   Jacob's sons were lazy, and lazy people are unruly (2Th 3:6–12). Such people lack
  reverence, lack self-control in speech, and are quick to abuse others (JohnCas). These
  sinful passions characterized Jacob's sons when they sold Joseph into Egypt.
42:9   Joseph was a true prophet, for the Holy Spirit spoke by him. Thus, his prophecies
  concerning Jacob and his sons came to pass. His long-term prophecy concerning the
  general resurrection will also come to pass (50:25; Heb 11:22). Therefore, his prophecies
  are trustworthy.
42:18   Joseph feared God. “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and those who
  practice it have a good understanding” (Pr 1:7). Joseph's fear and good understanding
  enabled him to love his brothers and to forgive them for their abuse of him.
42:22   Joseph's brothers did not fear God; therefore, they would not listen to wise counsel
  when they sinned against him. So they ended up with a guilty conscience (AthanG).
43:14   Jacob knew the grace of God, which enabled him to accept whatever the outcome
  would be in the case of Simeon and Benjamin. St. Paul also said, “By the grace of God I
  am what I am” (1Co 15:10). And St. Athanasius the Great said that man fell into death
  because he abandoned the grace of God the Word.
43:18   Their guilty consciences regarding their previous abuse of Joseph also led them into
  vain imaginations in this circumstance. Their imaginings, so to speak, ran wild, causing
  them great anxiety.
43:23 In spite of their guilty consciences, the grace of God was abundant toward them and
  delivered them from anxiety. Both God and Joseph loved them, for both cared about
  them.
43:28   Joseph honored his father Jacob by blessing him in God, which also showed he
  knew God's grace. In honoring Jacob he honored God.
43:34   God's grace in people leads to great joy in their midst.
45:1   Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Jesus makes Himself known to His
  own brethren (Jn 10:4, 14; Heb 2:11).
45:5   Joseph's brothers sold him into Egypt, but God sent him there. The brothers sold
  him for profit, but God sent him to save lives. God overcame their sinful purpose with His
  saving purpose. Christ died for our sins, and thus overcame all injustices for man's
  salvation.
45:9   God made Joseph lord of all Egypt, but He made Jesus Lord of all the world (Acts
  2:36; 10:36).
45:1-16   This passage, coupled with 43:26–31, is read during Wednesday Vespers in the
  sixth week of Great Lent.
45:27   Jacob's spirit revived when he realized Joseph was alive; our spirit revives when we
  realize Jesus is risen from the dead.
46:1   The Well of Oath foreshadowed the reconciliation of man to God through the Word
  of God, the Lord Jesus Christ (see note at 22:16).
46:2   God spoke to Israel in and through His Word and Son, for He alone reveals the
  Father (AthanG). Therefore, Israel's vision was a personal appearance of the Son of God
  to him. The Son is also called the Angel of God. As He spoke to Abraham and said,
  “Abraham! Abraham!” (22:11), so now He speaks to Jacob, saying, “Jacob, Jacob!”
  Therefore, Jacob went to Egypt by divine revelation from the Father through the Son.
46:30   Israel could die in peace because Joseph was alive. Even so, we can die in peace
  because Jesus is risen from the dead, and we believe in Him.
47:9   Jacob described himself and his fathers, Abraham and Isaac, as sojourners, for he
  embraced Abraham's faith and thus “looked for the resurrection of the dead and the life
  of the world to come” (Creed; Heb 11:13–16, 21). And although he had suffered much in
  his life, he saw this as nothing compared to the glory to be revealed (Rom 8:18).
47:29   Jacob sees grace as synonymous with mercy and as coupled with truth. The apostle
  John said that the Word of God who became flesh is “full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14).
47:30   Jacob wished to be buried with his fathers because he looked to the inheritance of
  the world to come.
48:3   The God who appeared to Jacob at Luz was the Son and Word of God, also called the
  Angel of God. It was He who blessed Jacob, for no created angel could do this (AthanG).
48:4    God the Word speaks of His Incarnation, by which the Church (a gathering of
  nations) would be established. He would give His Church the world to come (this land
  as an everlasting possession). Jacob's seed would be Christ, and with Him, His Church
  (Gal 3).
48:5   Ephraim and Manasseh were born to Joseph as his natural sons, born from his
  nature. So too, the Son and Word is the natural Son and Word of the Father, born from
  His nature (AthanG).
48:8     Joseph recognized his sons as gifts from God, for they belonged to God more than to
  him.
48:15, 16 The Holy Spirit spoke by the prophet Jacob (Creed), who identified the Angel as
  God. He is the Son and Word of God. For no created angel could redeem Jacob from all
  evil (AthanG). Therefore, the Holy Trinity is revealed to a certain extent in the Old
  Testament, and fully in the New.
48:21   The Holy Spirit spoke by Jacob and predicted that God would bring Joseph back to
  Canaan. Joseph's bones were later taken to Canaan, prefiguring the resurrection from the
  dead (Heb 11:22).
49:1   The Holy Spirit prophesies by Jacob concerning the last days (Creed). These last days
  are those between the two comings of Christ, and all these prophecies refer to these last
  days.
49:3   Reuben is called the firstborn and the beginning of Jacob's children; therefore, he
  was Jacob's natural son, as were all his brothers. But he was not a work of Jacob's, as for
  example, when he took care of his sheep. So too, the Son and Word of God is begotten
  from the nature of the Father; therefore, He is not a work of the Father (AthanG).
49:7   Simeon and Levi, as well as their brother, Reuben (v. 3), were hardened in their self-
  will. For their injustice was chosen freely (v. 5). Therefore, sin is a matter of will and
  choice. It is not a matter of nature, for they were good by nature, but evil by choice. The
  same is true of all who sin.
49:8-12 This prophecy relates to Christ in numerous ways, two of which are as follows: He
  would rise from the dead (who shall rouse Him, v. 9), and He would be the Lawgiver
  (v. 10). For every law of God the Father given to man, including the Mosaic Law, is given
  in and through Him.
49:14, 15 Issachar rested between the inheritances of both the Old and New Testaments,
  and he farmed them by hard work (AthanG).
50:21   Joseph spoke to the heart of his brothers, for the heart has spiritual eyes to see the
  things of God (Eph 1:18). If their eyes were clear, they would be able to see God's
  forgiveness expressed through Joseph (v. 17), and that He worked their evil for good, in
  order to save many people alive (v. 20). They would also be thankful to God for providing
  for their welfare (v. 21). Truly, God is good!
50:24, 25    The Holy Spirit spoke two prophecies by the prophet Joseph (Creed): the
  Exodus of Israel from Egypt and the resurrection from the dead. For the burial of his
  bones in Canaan prefigures “the resurrection from the dead and the life of the world to
  come” (Creed).
50:26    The life that began in Paradise (2:8) ended in a coffin in Egypt. For Adam's sin
  brought mortality and death into the world. But Christ came, trampled down death by
  death, and opened the gates of heaven to us.
1:6   Death continued to reign. Joseph and all his generation died. Nevertheless, the
  appearances of the Son of God to the prophets and the Holy Spirit speaking through them
  —especially in relation to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—laid the beginnings of His future
  plan for the overthrow of death. These beginnings will continue as the Son reveals
  Himself to Moses and the Holy Spirit speaks through him.
1:10   The deceitfulness of Pharaoh ties this story to two others. First to the account of the
  serpent, who was “more cunning than all the wild animals the Lord God made on the
  earth” (Gn 3:1); and second, to a later pharaoh's attempt to outwit Moses. This early verse
  of Exodus introduces a major motif of this book, namely, the matching of wits—the
  wisdom of the serpent again encounters the wisdom of God. Similarly, when the Son of
  God became incarnate, He easily outwitted the devil and destroyed him and death
  through His Cross (Col 2:15; Heb 2:14, 15).
1:12   The Egyptians severely humbled the children of Israel, but the more they persecuted
  them, the more their numbers multiplied. For the Lord preserved Israel so that He might
  become incarnate through them for man's salvation. When He became Man, He suffered
  the extreme humiliation of the Cross; nevertheless, through the Cross His Church grew
  and multiplied in great numbers.
1:15   Shiphrah and Puah outmaneuvered Pharaoh, for they feared God, who gave them
  wisdom. And whereas the enemy outsmarted Eve at the beginning of Genesis, these
  women at the beginning of Exodus outwit the enemy. God's plan for the Incarnation
  cannot be stopped.
2:2   Moses' parents were Amram and Jochebed (6:20; Nm 26:59). They hid Moses for
  three months because they embraced the faith of Abraham (Heb 11:8–15; 23). Thus, they
  were not afraid of the king's commandment.
2:4   Miriam, Moses' sister, was watching from a distance to learn what would become of
  Moses. She, too, was a woman of God whose faith led to learning. She would learn
  through observing the divine providence in the situation (Acts 7:20). And we can learn
  how easy it is for the Lord to keep incarnational history in motion in the midst of great
  opposition.
2:9   Jochebed may be the only woman in history to be paid for nursing her own child.
2:11   Moses went out to see his brethren because he refused to be called the son of
  Pharaoh's daughter. Why? Because of his faith, for he chose the Lord and holiness over
  the riches of Egypt and the passing pleasures of sin. He had his eyes on the world to come
  (Heb 11:24–26).
2:12   Moses was forty years old at this time, and he knew he was Israel's deliverer. Thus,
  he defended an Israelite and killed the Egyptian. He supposed the Israelites would
  understand his calling from God, but they did not (Acts 7:23–28). That generation never
  would.
2:15    This is another instance of divine providence preserving Moses' life. He fled to
  Midian, where he lived for forty years (Acts 7:29, 30).
2:22   Moses named this son Gershom, which name relates to sojourning in a foreign land.
  As a man of God, he looked to the reward (Heb 11:26), which is the world to come. For
  this world is a foreign land to people of faith.
2:24   God remembered His covenant, for His remembrance is salvation. This covenant is
  the New Testament in Christ. It is called the covenant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to
  instruct the Jews and all mankind that salvation comes through faith in the Lord Jesus
  Christ.
3:2 God the Word revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush to forecast His coming
  Incarnation (JohnDm, AthanG, JohnChr, GrgTheo, AmbM). He is called the Angel of
  the Lord because He is the Angel or Messenger of the Father who reveals the Father's
  will. For He is the Will of the Father (AthanG). He is the Only-begotten God because He
  is begotten from the Unbegotten Father before all time and ages (GrgNy). Isaiah the
  prophet called the Son “the Angel of Great Counsel” (Is 9:5).
     The bush was on fire but was not consumed, for the Son of God became Man to save
  man and not to consume him. He became Man in the womb of the Mother of God, for the
  bush itself typifies her.
3:3   Moses was shown this great sight of the Lord's coming Incarnation because he was
  detached from the fleeting pleasures of this world (JohnDm, AmbM). For he was looking
  to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come (Creed).
3:4   The Angel is called Lord and God, for He is the Speaker. Since He is begotten from
  the Father before all time and ages, He is therefore the Only-Begotten God.
3:5   Moses was to remove his sandals. This indicates that nothing dead is to stand between
  God and man, for He is the God of the living (AmbM).
3:6   The Angel also called Himself the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the
  God of Jacob. For the Son is true God of true God, and He reveals the Father in
  Himself. He who sees the Son also sees the Father. He who sees the Only-begotten God
  also sees the Unbegotten Father.
3:7   The Lord loves His people and knows their pain and suffering, and His Incarnation is
  the remedy for all their sorrows.
3:14   The name I AM the Existing One is the name for the Essence of God, which is one
  and undivided (AthanG, JohnDm). This Essence is like a boundless sea, containing all
  things yet not contained by anything. The Son is eternally begotten from the Essence of
  the Father. When Jesus said He was the Existing One, the Jews who were listening took
  up stones to stone Him, for they knew this passage in Exodus (Jn 8:57–59). He is
  acknowledged as the Existing One in every Vespers service of the Church.
4:2, 3 The rod was Moses' staff as a shepherd. It was a type of the Cross (Jn 3:14), which is
  the antidote to the serpent's bite. The devil poisoned man with sin and death, but the
  Lord destroyed all three enemies by His Cross.
4:7, 8 Leprosy was a type of sin and death. The Cross heals man of his leprosy.
4:14   God is dispassionate; therefore, He does not possess passion in His nature. He is said
  to be very angry by way of analogy with man's anger. In this sense, the Lord was
  displeased with Moses, but He Himself is without such passion.
4:17   The Son of God worked miracles through the instrument of Moses' staff. Having
  become incarnate, He now works miracles through the Cross.
4:21   It is customary for Holy Scripture to call God's permission His action (JohnDm).
  Therefore, when the Lord said to Moses, I will harden his heart, this hardness was by
  way of divine permission. For Pharaoh hardened his own heart through his free choice.
4:22   The Lord calls Israel His firstborn son. The use of the term firstborn in this verse,
  therefore, cannot imply other offspring born afterward. Similarly, Jesus is called the
  “firstborn” of the Virgin Mary (Mt 1:25). Therefore, no one can claim this necessarily
  implies she had other children, for in truth He was her only offspring.
4:30, 31 The people believed, rejoiced, and worshiped because they saw the signs, but did
  they love the Lord? No, for later on these same people would die in the wilderness
  because of their unbelief. Similarly, when Jesus did signs before the people, they
  believed; however, He would not commit Himself to them, for they did not love Him (Jn
  2:23–25). Moreover, people who ask for signs are tempters, for those who love Christ
  have no need for signs (JohnChr).
5:2   Pharaoh asked perhaps the most important question in human history: “Who is the
  Lord?” But in his arrogance he boldly said, “I do not know the Lord.” His ignorance
  stemmed from his arrogance, for he was his own lord. Shortly, he would know Him to be
  the Lord of all the earth, but he would still refuse to obey Him.
5:21   A short time before, the clerks had believed, rejoiced, and worshiped the Lord along
  with the people when they saw the signs. But now they were unwilling to suffer for His
  sake, although believing and suffering belong together as a privilege (Php 1:29). For
  suffering on the Lord's behalf results in eternal glory (2Co 4:17). But they condemned
  Moses. So although they gave mental assent to belief in the Lord, they actually had no
  heart for Him.
5:22, 23   Moses asked the Lord, “Why have You brought trouble on this people?”
  The answer is, “To test their faith” (see Jam 1:2–4), for such testing produces patience in
  those who pass the test. And Moses, along with the people, needed such patience.
6:2, 3 The Son of the Father appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as their God. He told
  Jacob, for example, that He was the Lord (Gn 28:13), but He did not show him the power
  He had over all the earth. Now He was about to reveal His almighty power in relation to
  the Egyptians, for He is the Wisdom and Power of the Father (1Co 1:24). After He became
  incarnate, and in many places of the New Testament, He is now called the Lord Jesus
  Christ.
6:4       The land of Canaan is called the land of their [Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob's]
  sojourn, in which they were strangers. They did not see Canaan as their permanent
  home, for they “waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is
  God,” and “they desired a better, that is, a heavenly country” (Heb 11:10, 16). The Jews
  who embraced this faith had the same vision, as do the Gentiles who do the same. For
  Canaan was a type of the world to come. But the Jews who came out of Egypt and did not
  embrace this faith saw the Canaan of this world as their true home, a false vision on their
  part.
6:7   The Son of the Father is speaking, and the Jews were to know that He was the Lord
  their God, together with His Father and the Holy Spirit. When He became incarnate, He
  revealed the Father and the Holy Spirit to the Jews in full measure.
6:9   The children of Israel had a heart problem—they were willing to believe, but not to
  suffer for the Lord's sake. Therefore, they were fainthearted and disobedient because of
  their cruel bondage.
7:1   The Lord made Moses a god to Pharaoh, but it is one thing to be made a god and
  another to be God (HilryP). The Scripture uses the name god in three ways: (1) gods in
  name only, as are Moses and the saints; (2) false gods, as are the demons and idols; and
  (3) the true God, as is the Father (AmbM). Moses was god in name only, but not in
  nature. But the Son is True God of True God (Creed), because He is God both in name
  and in nature. For before all time and ages, He is begotten from God to be God. He is
  begotten, not made (Creed).
7:5   The Egyptians would learn that the Lord is the Lord of all, not only of the Hebrews.
7:9   Thus, signs are for unbelievers (1Co 14:22).
7:23   Pharaoh's heart was not moved by the signs toward faith in the Lord. He was too
  arrogant to humble himself.
8:4   In 5:2, Pharaoh refuses to acknowledge the Lord, saying, “Who is He, that I should
  obey His voice?” But now he asks for intercessory prayer to the Lord on his behalf and
  that of his people. However, he still worships the gods of Egypt; the Lord is only another
  god to add to his list.
8:6   The Lord is the Lord of all, and Pharaoh needed to realize this. He is not one among
  others.
8:11   Pharaoh still refused to forsake his idols and believe in the Lord. So he hardened his
  heart (see note at 4:21).
8:15   The finger of God is the Holy Spirit (Mt 12:28; Lk 11:20). The operation of the Spirit
  brought the lice upon Egypt, for the Father works through the Son and in the Spirit.
8:18   Egypt's gods were lords of Egypt, but the Lord is the Lord of all the earth. Therefore,
  the gods of Egypt were not lords in any sense, but Pharaoh was too arrogant to
  acknowledge the true Lord. After the Lord became incarnate, His parents took Him to
  Egypt, where as a baby He destroyed the idols of Egypt and brought the nation to Himself
  (Is 19:1, 18–22).
8:28   Pharaoh hardened his own heart through free choice (see also note at 4:21).
9:14-16   The Lord of all the earth used Pharaoh to declare His mighty power throughout
  the earth, for He shows compassion to whom He will, and He shows mercy to whom He
  will (Rom 9:17, 18). We should never inquire into why God does what He does, nor even
  raise any questions about it. Our response should be obedience to Him (JohnChr).
9:17 Pharaoh's problem was self-exaltation, which opposes faith in the Lord.
9:20, 21   Some among Pharaoh's servants believed in the Lord, for faith produces fear of
  the Lord. But some did not believe the Lord's word. Thus, some exercised their free will to
  believe and some did not. However, all had the opportunity to know the Lord through
  faith, for He desires that all be saved.
10:1   Ex 10:1, 20, 27: Both Pharaoh and his servants hardened their hearts (see note at
  4:21).
10:2     Future generations are instructed by the Lord's works as to how easy it is for the Lord
  to do what He does. Recounting His works helps these generations know the true Lord of
  all.
10:3   Humility is to know the Lord and to humble oneself before Him. Pharaoh refused to
  humble himself through his own free choice. Humility is the beginning and end of
  salvation (JohnChr).
10:16, 17   Pharaoh's confession was not from his heart, for it was motivated by self-
  interest. He wanted death removed from him, but he still refused to glorify the Lord.
10:21   The soul also feels the darkness caused by unbelief.
11:3   The Lord gave Israel grace in the sight of the Egyptians, for as the Only-begotten of
  the Father, He is full of grace and truth (Jn 1:14). And as Moses became great in their
  sight, similarly, the Incarnate Son became great in their sight when He established His
  Church throughout that land.
12:2    The Law of Moses commanded that Pascha (or Passover) be celebrated in the
  beginning of months . . . the first month of the year. But the Lord came down “at
  the end of the ages” (Heb 9:26), and He is “the end of the law” (Rom 10:4); therefore, He
  established a different day (AthanG).
12:3   The Lord's commandment through Moses was the type, for a lamb was commanded
  to be sacrificed. But the incarnate Lord did not command any such thing, for He became
  the command itself by offering Himself as the Sacrifice to the Father (JohnChr).
12:7   The two doorposts speak of our heart and its vision and action with regard to the New
  Covenant made in Christ's Blood, that we might be crucified with Him and rise up to be
  glorified and reign with Him, both now and at His Second Coming (GrgTheo).
12:10-46   Not a bone of Christ's Body was broken (Jn 19:33, 36), which fulfilled this
  commandment concerning Pascha (see also Nm 9:12). We see the strong connection
  between the type and the reality (JohnChr).
12:11   The haste in eating the Lord's Pascha speaks of sojourning. Likewise, we are to
  eat the Lord's Eucharist as sojourners (JohnChr), for we “look for the resurrection of the
  dead and the life of the world to come” (Creed). Originally, Passover was called “the
  Lord's Pascha,” but later it was called “the Jews' Pascha” (see Jn 6:4), because they denied
  the Lord who fulfilled the type (AthanG).
12:13   Death would not touch Israel because of the blood. Christ's Blood destroyed death
  and delivers His Church from the same (Heb 2:14, 15). The firstborn were preserved by
  God from being touched by the destroyer to show that we who were made alive in Christ
  no longer die in Adam (BasilG).
12:14   This eternal memorial is fulfilled in Christ, who said the Eucharist is to be eaten “in
  remembrance of Me” (1Co 11:24, 25; JohnChr).
12:16   Servile work: the things necessary to life done during the course of the Feast of
  Unleavened Bread. But now we are to keep the feast our whole life long: “Therefore let us
  keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but
  with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1Co 5:8). For this is necessary to life
  (JohnChr).
12:22     The hyssop speaks of Christ's garments that were whiter than snow in the
  Resurrection, and of the purity bestowed by the remission of sins in baptism (AmbM).
  See also Ps 50:9.
12:23   Ex 12:23, 26, 27: Christ's Paschal sacrifice saves us from death, for He trampled
  down death by His death and bestowed life on those in the grave. In the eucharistic cup,
  His precious Blood saves us from death.
12:30   A great cry arose throughout Egypt because they had no hope beyond this life and
  were without God in this world (Eph 2:12).
12:33 The Egyptians lived under the fear of death (Heb 2:15).
12:38-48 A mixed multitude of Gentiles also went with Israel because they believed. But
  those who wished to partake of Pascha had to be circumcised. Similarly, baptism is the
  door to the Eucharist.
13:1   The sanctification of the firstborn foreshadows the Incarnation of the Son of God. For
  He is the Firstborn of the Mother of God (Mt 1:25; Lk 2:7). The Church of the Firstborn
  are His brethren, whose names are registered in heaven (Heb 2:11, 17; 12:23).
13:22    The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night speak of baptism, the
  sacrament of illumination or enlightenment (1Co 10:1, 2). The cloud itself is a
  foreshadowing of the Holy Spirit, who in baptism cools the flame of the sinful passions
  (BasilG). As one walks in his baptism, the Holy Spirit enlightens him on the pathway to
  the resurrection from the dead and the life of the world to come.
14:15   Moses cried out to the Lord with inward tears in the silence of his heart, and the
  Lord answered him (GrgTheo; JohnChr; GrgNy).
14:19-24 The Angel of God the Father is the Lord, who looked down through the pillar of
  fire and cloud. He is the Only-begotten God, because He is begotten from the Unbegotten
  Father before all time and ages (GrgNy). Thus, the Son of God troubled the army of the
  Egyptians.
14:21   Moses accomplished what he did through prayer and as a servant of Christ, but
  Christ Himself walked on the Sea of Galilee by His own absolute power (Mt 14:25). Job
  9:8 prophesied of Christ, “who walks on the sea as on firm ground” (JohnChr).
14:22   Based on their own nature, the waters of the sea could not form walls on either side
  of Israel as they walked through. But through the prophetic office of Moses, the sea's
  nature was changed. This shows that the power of blessing is greater than that of nature,
  for Israel was blessed with deliverance. Similarly, the power of blessing is greater than
  nature when the bread and wine of the Eucharist become in a mystery the Body and
  Blood of Christ (AmbM).
14:27, 28 Pharaoh and his servants are types of the devil and his angels, whom the Lord
  destroyed on the Cross and in the waters of baptism (BasilG; GrgNy).
15:1   The Egyptians were thrown into the sea. Their opposition to Israel was instigated
  by the devil (AthanG).
15:2   The verb translated became means “to make.” Thus, in what sense was the Lord
  made? In the sense of His Incarnation (AmbM). For He “became flesh” (Jn 1:14) to
  become man's helper and shield in salvation. This prophecy also acknowledges the
  Incarnate Lord as God (my God and my father's God).
15:6-12 The right hand of God is the Son of the Father (BasilG; AmbM). As the hand is
  one in essence with its body, similarly, the Son is one in essence with the Father.
15:8-10 The Spirit is the Holy Spirit (AmbM).
15:16   The Lord gave the enemy a spirit of fear, in contrast to the spirit “of power and of
  love and of a sound mind” that He gives the faithful (2Ti 1:7; JohnChr).
15:21   Miriam was a type of the Mother of God (GrgNy) and of the Church (AmbM). The
  Mother of God leads the Church in songs of praise to the Lord.
15:22-1 These verses are read during the Feast of the Precious and Life-giving Cross.
15:23   The waters of Marah were called Bitterness, which describes man's condition apart
  from the grace of Christ.
15:25   The tree cast into the waters made them fit for the people to drink. This tree speaks
  of the Cross of Christ and baptism (AmbM). For the Cross is baptism, and baptism is the
  Cross. The Cross is in the baptismal water, and the baptismal water is in the Cross. This is
  why baptism saves man (1Pt 3:21).
15:26   God heals those who hear His voice and obey Him.
15:27   Israel camped by twelve fountains of water and seventy palm trees. Similarly,
  the Twelve Apostles of Christ were twelve fountains of spiritual water, which quenches
  the thirst of those who seek the true God. Also, Christ sent forth the Seventy to provide
  heavenly shade from desert heat.
16:2-8   The entire congregation complained against the godly leadership, but they were
  actually complaining against God. This sin arose from the sins of gluttony and unbelief.
  These sins led them into rebellion against the Lord and His appointed leadership, and
  their complaining ultimately caused their destruction in the desert (Heb 3:7–11).
  Similarly, the Church suffers when its members complain (1Co 10:10).
16:3    The Egyptians were gluttons (pots of meat), and the Hebrews followed their
  example (JohnChr). They refused to renounce this sin (JohnCas). The New Testament
  also warns against the sin of gluttony (Php 3:19).
16:4   The Lord rained bread out of heaven for them. It was a type of Christ, “the bread
  of life” (Jn 6:48–51). In the Church, He gives Himself and His life to the Church in the
  Eucharist (Jn 6:53–58).
16:13, 14   Israel saw the quail and the manna with their physical eyes, but these things
  were limited to this present life. The future life in the world to come is seen by those who
  walk in the Spirit (1Co 2:9, 10; AmbM).
16:18   Each one gathered what he needed. This shows the need for moderation in relation
  to the body (GrgNy).
16:20   Some of them left the manna over until the next morning because they were
  covetous. The leftovers bred worms and stank. Covetousness is a foul-smelling sin
  (JohnChr).
16:29   Every man was to remain in his house on the Sabbath. Yet the Jewish leaders left
  their houses, contrary to the Law of Moses, to plot against Jesus (Mt 27:62–66;
  JohnChr). They broke the Law to plot against the Lawgiver.
16:33   Manna was a type of Christ as the Bread of Life, and the golden pot a type of the
  Mother of God. For Christ became the Bread of Life in her holy womb for the salvation of
  the world.
17:6   The rock was a type of the Son of God (1Co 10:4; AmbM). He stood on the rock in
  Horeb and caused it to pour forth water. Rocks do not pour forth water by nature, but in a
  mystery this rock did. It remained a rock but simultaneously became a fountain.
  Similarly, bread and wine are not by nature the Body and Blood of Christ, but in a mystery
  they become so. They remain bread and wine, but simultaneously are Christ's Body and
  Blood.
17:11   Although Moses was silent, he was crying out to God, and although he was at ease,
  he was triumphing (AmbM; GrgTheo). His body was still, but he was actively engaged in
  spiritual warfare. Triumph in spiritual warfare comes through stillness in prayer and
  through the victory of the Cross.
17:12   Moses' hands were outstretched by Aaron and Hur, which was a type of the Cross.
  However, Christ alone outstretched His hands in triumph over the enemy (JohnChr;
  GrgTheo).
18:3, 4 The names of Moses' two sons summarize two aspects of salvation. One aspect is
  deliverance from Pharaoh and the Egyptians, who were a type of sin, death, and the devil.
  Another aspect is sojourning in a foreign land: this world was not Moses' true home, for
  he looked to the reward of the world to come (Heb 11:26).
18:14   Although Moses had done mighty works in God, he was still only a man and needed
  wise counsel. Similarly, wise leaders in the Church seek the godly counsel of others, for
  they are not dictators. Rather, they are counselors who seek the wise counsel of others
  (JohnChr).
19:4   The Son of God brought Israel to Himself from Egyptian bondage. This prefigures His
  Incarnation, by which He brings the Church to Himself as the Great High Priest (AmbM).
19:6   The children of Israel were to be a holy nation and a royal priesthood. These things
  were fulfilled in the Church (1Pt 2:4–10).
19:8   They said they would obey but did not, “for not the hearers of the law are just in the
  sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified” (Rom 2:13; JohnChr).
19:14, 15    The washing of clothes and refraining from wives speak of spiritual seed
  conceived through the love and fear of God in the spiritual womb, travailing and bringing
  forth the spirit of salvation (JohnDm).
19:17 Ex 19:17, 20, 21: Moses brought out the people to meet with God, that is, with God
  the Son. He is the Lord who came down on Mt. Sinai, and He is God, for it was He who
  spoke to Moses on the mountain (HilryP).
19:19      The Jews acknowledged that God spoke to Moses, but said concerning Jesus they
  did not know where He was from (Jn 9:29). Yet it was He who spoke to Moses on Mt.
  Sinai.
20:1   All these words refers to the Ten Commandments. But what need was there for
  these to be written? For God implanted all His laws in man's nature when He created
  him. It was necessary because of free will and man's corruption through sin (JohnCas;
  see also Rom 2:14, 15). However, the written law is a lower standard than the law of
  nature (JohnChr), for these commandments in the Old Testament condescend to man's
  weakness and thus refer only to keeping the body pure. But in the New Testament, the
  law of Christ elevates man to be pure in both body and soul.
20:2   It is not enough to be brought out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage into
  freedom. Far greater than this, Christ gave Himself for us to free us from our sins and to
  lead us into the true freedom of the children of God (Rom 8:21; AmbM).
20:3 The Lord our God is the true Son of the true Father; thus we do not worship any false
  god (GrgNy). However, false gods do not exist in themselves, for this commandment
  refers to the future, and what is in the future does not yet exist (AthanG). But the Son is
  true God of true God; therefore, He exists eternally with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
  We worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, our one God.
20:4-23 An idol, or image, depicts some god as having a form or shape, but the true God
  has no form or shape. Why therefore did Israel use images in their worship? Because all
  these foreshadowed the Incarnation of the Son of God, whom we worship both as God
  and Man. Also, icons used in Church worship do not depict the divine nature. They draw
  attention to the Incarnation.
20:5   God is without passion, but He condescends to call Himself a jealous God to show
  the intensity of His love for man. Therefore, let us love Him with intensity, for this is very
  pleasing to Him (JohnChr).
20:12     God offers no rewards in the prohibitions of the Ten Commandments. God's
  promise of reward is offered to those who keep the positive ones. For example, to honor
  one's father and mother is the first commandment in the Ten to promise a reward,
  namely, a long and spiritually prosperous life on earth (Eph 6:1, 2; JohnChr).
20:13, 14   All sinful passions are evil, but murder is listed before adultery because it is
  worse than lust (JohnChr).
20:17   Evil desire is an ancient vice, especially the love of money, and this commandment
  was given to check it (AmbM).
20:19   Moses was a mediator between God and the people, and they believed him. In this
  sense, he was a type of Christ, the Mediator between God and man (1Ti 2:5; BasilG).
20:21    The Son of God humbled Himself to allow Moses to see and talk with Him
  (GrgTheo), and He humbled Himself to the extreme by becoming Man to be crucified for
  us. He, the Father, and the Holy Spirit dwell in the thick darkness, that is, They cannot
  be comprehended in Their nature or essence. We cannot know God in His essence; we
  can only know Him through the revelation of the Son.
20:24-26   Man is not to worship before idols. Israel worshiped the true God at an altar.
  The Church also worships the true God at an altar (Heb 13:10).
20:24-26   Man is not to worship before idols. Israel worshiped the true God at an altar.
  The Church also worships the true God at an altar (Heb 13:10).
21:5, 6 The Law honored free will, for the permanent relationship of servant to master was
  based on it. Similarly, our service to the Lord Jesus Christ is based on free will.
21:13   The Word of the Father appointed cities of refuge, and when He became incarnate,
  He also commanded, “When they persecute you in this city, flee into another” (Mt 10:23;
  AthanG).
21:16   The Law imposed the death penalty for cursing one's father or mother. Similarly, the
  heretics curse the Holy Fathers and the teachings of the Church. They constantly change
  their own teachings, because they cannot find Christ, the Wisdom of God (AthanG).
21:24   The Law allowed vengeance to be taken on one's enemy, but the saints in the Old
  Testament did not fulfill this law. They went beyond it and suffered all kinds of
  deprivation from their enemies (Heb 11:37, 38). The law of Christ would have our
  patience proved by the injuries and blows offered to us being redoubled, and bids us be
  ready to endure twice as much damage (Mt 5:38, 39; JohnCas).
22:20     The children of Israel were to be a holy people in their behavior toward one
  another. Holiness in personal relationships was to be motivated by one commandment:
  “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” and this applied to both fellow Israelites and
  resident aliens (Lv 19:18, 34). All the ordinances given Israel regarding neighbors are
  summed up in this one commandment (Rom 13:9).
23:1   One should never accept a report that belittles someone without investigating its
  validity, for the Holy Spirit warns against circulating a false report (BasilG).
23:2   The majority are not always right. Sometimes they pervert justice.
23:3   If a poor man is not to be shown partiality, much less the rich. This holds true not
  only for judges in the courts but also for all men, for justice is to be kept pure (JohnChr).
23:4, 5 If we are to return an enemy's domestic animal that is straying, how much more
  are we to return his soul and that of our friends to God (JohnChr).
23:10-12 Love of God and neighbor also includes love of creation, for the land needs rest.
  And this benefits both the poor and the wild animals. Then too, man is refreshed, for the
  Sabbath is made for man and creation, and not man and creation for the Sabbath.
23:15   When you appear before God, do not appear before Him empty-handed. This applies
  to almsgiving, for when you enter before God to implore mercy, you must first show
  mercy. Make God your debtor, then offer your prayers. Lend to Him, then ask for a
  return, and you will receive it with interest (JohnChr).
23:20 This is the Angel who said to Moses, “I AM the Existing One” (3:14). He is the Only-
  begotten God, because He is begotten from the Unbegotten Father before all time and
  ages. He is called Angel to distinguish Him from the Father. The word angel means
  messenger, and this Angel reveals the will of the Father to man. Moses believed in the
  Holy Trinity (GrgNy). Thus, “My” refers to the Father, and “Angel” refers to the Son.
23:21   This Angel has the authority to forgive sins, for the Father's name is in Him. The
  Father's name is the Lord; therefore, the Son is also called by this name (AmbM). When
  He became incarnate, He also forgave sins. But the Jews challenged His authority in vain,
  because they did not believe He was the Son of God (Mt 9:1–7).
23:22   Israel was to be a royal priesthood and a holy nation based on obedience to
  the Lord. The Lord speaking to Israel was the Word, and when He became Incarnate, the
  nation disobeyed Him. Therefore, He took the kingdom away from Israel and gave it to a
  nation bearing the fruits of it (Mt 21:43). This nation consists of the obedient in the
  Church, both Jews and Gentiles (1Pt 2:9, 10).
23:23   Again, My Angel is the Son of the Father. He led Israel into the land of promise
  (JohnCas). He also became incarnate to lead us into the world to come. Moses believed in
  the Holy Trinity and in the Incarnation.
23:25   The Word commanded them to serve the Lord their God, who is the Father. The
  Word incarnate now draws all who obey Him into the service of His Father.
23:26   The Lord promises to fulfill the number of our days if we truly serve Him. Those
  who do so will not die before their service is completed. Abraham was an example of this
  (Gn 25:8), and the Psalmist prays, “Take me not away in the midst of my days” (Ps
  101:25; AthanG).
24:1, 2 Moses alone could draw near to God because he had the unquenchable grace of the
  Spirit. St. Paul also said, “Do not quench the Spirit” (1Th 5:19), for so shall we be
  partakers of Christ if we hold fast to the end the Spirit given to us at the beginning. By
  quenching the Spirit, he did not mean the Spirit is placed in the power of men and is able
  to suffer anything from them. Rather, evil and unthankful people are such who wish to
  quench Him (AthanG).
24:3   The people said they would do all the Lord's words, but saying is one thing and
  doing another. So the Apostle John said we are to love “in deed and in truth” (1Jn 3:18).
24:4-8 Moses' activity prefigured four things involved in worship: Scripture, the altar, the
  Church (the twelve stones), and the Blood of Christ (Heb 9:19–24).
24:12-18    These verses are read as the first reading during the Feast of the Holy
  Transfiguration.
24:15   Joshua, too, was covered by the sacred cloud, for he had the grace of the Spirit
  (AmbM).
24:18   Moses broke the law regarding the Sabbath, which requires rest but not fasting. Yet
  he was guiltless in spite of journeying on the mountain and fasting for forty days and
  nights. He directed his whole desire toward God, and his anger against the enemies of
  God. This foreshadowed grace, in which the Sabbath Day would be fulfilled. Under grace,
  we no longer serve God one day a week, but we are to direct our whole desire toward God
  and our anger toward the devil throughout our life. We also cause our bodies to cease
  from sin and urge them forward to assist our obedience to the divine precepts (JohnDm).
25:1   The Law of Moses honored free will.
25:9   The use of icons in the Church is not idol worship. For God commanded Israel to use
  icons in their worship. These icons were the pattern of the tabernacle and the
  pattern of all its furnishings. The honor given the icons in the Church passes over to
  the prototype (JohnDm; BasilG).
25:10     The first thing made for the tabernacle was the ark of testimony, because it
  foreshadows the Mother of God with Christ in her womb (Akathist). Christ in her womb
  is typified by the contents eventually placed in the ark: the pot of manna, Aaron's rod that
  budded, and the Ten Commandments (Heb 9:4). For He is the heavenly manna, His death
  and Resurrection are life-giving, and He is the Lawgiver and the fulfiller of the Law He
  gave.
25:18   The holy angels are members of the Church.
25:22   God does not make Himself known in His essence, for no creature can know this.
  God makes Himself known in intimate communion (BasilG).
25:40    The pattern shown Moses on the mountain speaks of true worship in the
  heavenly holy of holies (Heb 8:5). The pattern speaks of Christ, the Mother of God, and
  the Church.
26:31     The veil was a type of the life-giving flesh of Christ (Heb 10:20; Jn 6:51). In a
  mystery, the bread and wine of the Eucharist become the Body and Blood of Christ, which
  give life to the faithful.
28:17-20   The twelve stones speak of twelve names of Christ by which our holy faith is
  built up. They reveal His oneness of essence with the Father and the fact that He is
  undivided from Him. He is called God and Word (Jn 1:1), Son and Only-begotten (Jn
  1:18), Brightness and Impress (Heb 1:3), Mirror (Jn 14:9) and Image (Col 1:15), Wisdom
  and Power (1Co 1:24), and Truth and Life (Jn 14:6; AmbM).
29:5   Aaron was not born a high priest, but when God willed, he became one. And when
  God willed, the Word became flesh, and as High Priest He offered Himself to the Father
  to cleanse us from all sin by His precious Blood (AthanG).
29:14   The flesh of the sin offering was burned outside the camp. Similarly, no one placed
  amid the evil of this world can lay aside sin, nor is his blood acceptable to God, unless he
  put away the defilement of the body (AmbM).
30:10   The Law of Moses was a type and shadow of the New Covenant made in Christ. For
  example, the high priest could only go into the holy of holies once a year with the blood of
  atonement. By this the Holy Spirit was indicating that the way into the heavenly holy of
  holies was not yet manifested. For external gifts and sacrifices under the Law could not
  cleanse and perfect the conscience of the worshipers. But Christ our Great High Priest
  entered the holy of holies once for all, and His precious blood cleanses and perfects the
  conscience of the worshipers. The blessing of a cleansed conscience is unspeakable joy,
  and in the Eucharist the faithful enter the heavenly holy of holies to partake of this
  cleansing and perfection (Heb 9).
31:3 The divine Spirit is the Holy Spirit (BasilG; GrgTheo; CyrJer).
31:15   The penalty for breaking the Sabbath was death. Yet the Jewish leaders did not rest
  on the Sabbath (Mt 27:62–66), but were running around and seeking to keep Christ in the
  tomb (AthanG).
31:18   The finger of God is the Holy Spirit (Mt 12:28; Lk 11:20).
32:1-6   These words were written to warn everyone to beware of spiritual arrogance, for
  anyone can fall into sin if he fails to guard against temptation (1Co 10:6–12).
32:10-32 Moses performed many great wonders and signs, but nothing made him as great
  as the love he showed in these statements. For he looked to the interest of his neighbors.
  He distinguished between God's work and the devil's work, for he loved them as God's
  handiwork while hating their evil behavior. He did not despise them, but only their sin.
  He chose rather to perish with them than to be saved without them. He would rather
  perish with them than have the honor of a great nation (JohnChr).
32:34   My Angel is the Only-begotten God and Son of the Father. He is called “Angel” (or
  “Messenger”) because He reveals the Father's will to man (GrgNy). For He is the Will of
  the Father (AthanG).
33:3 Ex 33:3, 12–17: My Angel is the Son of the Father, and He sent Him to lead Israel to
  the promised land (GrgNy). “Angel” means “messenger,” for the Son is the Will and Word
  of the Father (AthanG). He is the Angel who appeared to Moses in Exodus 3 and said, “I
  AM the Existing One” (3:2, 14). The Father also sent Him to become incarnate for the
  salvation of the world (1Jn 4:14).
33:7   Moses pitched the tabernacle outside the camp, far from the camp. Everyone
  who sought the Lord went outside the camp. When the Lord became incarnate, He
  suffered on the Cross outside Jerusalem. Those who wish to find Him must leave the
  earthly Jerusalem to find Him in the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 13:12–14; AmbM).
33:19   The Lord has mercy and compassion on whom He wills, because He alone knows
  the secrets of the heart and who is worthy and who is not (JohnChr).
33:20   No man can see the essence of the Father (“My face”), either in this world or in the
  one to come (JohnChr; GrgNy). The Apostle John also said the same thing: “No one has
  seen God at any time” (Jn 1:18). But the Son is one in essence with the Father, and
  therefore fully sees and knows the Father's essence (AthanG; JohnChr).
33:21   A place refers to the Holy Spirit, for He is often called the place of those being
  sanctified. Moses as well gained some knowledge of God by the Spirit (BasilG).
33:22   The Son of the Father is the rock and the hand. The rock reveals the mystery of
  the Incarnation (1Co 10:4; AmbM). The hand reveals the oneness in essence of the Son
  with the Father. For as the hand is one in essence with the body, similarly, the Son is one
  in essence with the Father (AthanG). Therefore, He reveals the Father and makes Him
  known to man.
33:23   My back refers to the glory of God, for man can see His glory if his heart is pure.
  For Moses saw His glory to the extent he was capable, as is the case with any man. This
  glory is also called His energy. Man can know God in His energy, but not in His essence.
34:5   The Lord who descended in the cloud is the Only-begotten Lord, and He called
  upon the name of the Lord, who is the Father. Thus, the Son speaks of the Father.
34:6, 7 The Lord proclaimed the Lord, that is, the Son and Word proclaimed the Father
  and revealed things concerning Him. For example, the Father is true, that is, he is the
  True God. The Son and Word is “True God of True God” (Creed).
34:9-11   Moses requested that the Lord Himself lead Israel to the promised land, and his
  prayer was answered. The Lord is the Angel of the Father, mentioned in previous
  chapters. “Angel” means “messenger,” for the Son is the Word of the Father. He
  interpreted the Father's will through Moses to Israel.
34:14    The Word calls His Father a jealous God. He does not mean the Father has
  passion in His nature. He uses “jealous” by way of analogy with human nature. For
  example, as a loving father is intolerant toward bad things happening to his children, so
  the loving Father is intolerant of the evil things that happen to His children when they go
  astray to worship other gods.
34:29-35 The glory of the Law that shone on Moses' face was to point the Jews to Christ.
  But their hearts were hard; therefore, they were unable to look upon this glory. The Law
  was not the problem. The problem was their hardness of heart, which prevented them
  from seeing Christ in the Law. When, therefore, either a Jew or Gentile now turns to
  Christ, he sees His glory not only in the Law, but also in the New Covenant (2Co 3;
  JohnChr).
35:5 Ex 35:5, 21, 22, 26, 29: The offering was to be made from a willing heart, for the Law
  did not force anyone to serve the Lord. The same is true under grace in the New
  Testament, for the Lord never forces anyone against his will.
35:31-35 The Holy Spirit filled Bezalel and Aholiab with the effects or gifts of His energies:
  wisdom, understanding, knowledge, skill, and the ability to teach. By the Holy
  Spirit they were able to build the tabernacle of testimony. By the Holy Spirit's variety of
  gifts in the New Testament, the Church as the Body of Christ is being built (1Co 12).
36:2, 3 Great things were accomplished when the children of Israel freely submitted their
  will to the will of God. Two wills worked in synergy to build the tabernacle—the human
  will of the people freely willing the same thing as the divine will. Great things are also
  accomplished in the Church when both wills work in synergy (Php 2:13).
36:6, 7   When the will of the people works freely in synergy with the will of God, the
  offerings exceed the needs. God loves this kind of giving (2Co 9:7).
38:1   The ark was a type of the Mother of God (Akathist). Inside the ark would be placed
  the jar of manna, a type of Christ as the Bread of Life. Also within would be Aaron's rod
  that budded, a type of the Life-giving Cross, and the Ten Commandments, which spoke of
  Christ as the Lawgiver. Christ was conceived in the Virgin's womb to give life to the world.
38:5   The mercy seat was a type of the Cross and the shed blood of Christ by which He
  makes people righteous (Rom 3:25). Those cleansed by His precious blood are made
  righteous immediately. The unbelieving Jews, however, hoped to obtain righteousness by
  keeping the commandments of the Law, but this was an impossibility. They failed to see
  what the mercy seat was teaching them, namely, that Christ is the mercy seat for their
  sins and “the end of the law for righteousness” (Rom 10:4).
38:6   The cherubim were icons or images of two angels. These were not idols, yet they
  were part of Israel's worship. Similarly, icons used in the Church are not idols. These are
  venerated, and the honor paid to them passes to the ones they image.
38:11, 12 Worship in Israel was liturgical. Liturgy means “the work of the people.” Israel's
  worship included four orders: the high priest, the priests, the Levites, and Israel in
  general. Similarly, Church worship is liturgical and includes four orders: the bishop (high
  priest), the priests, the deacons (Levites), and the laity. These orders are essential to
  liturgical worship.
38:13 The lampstand was a type of Christ as the Light of the world (Jn 8:12).
39:23    In six months, what was required for the liturgical worship was completed and
  brought to Moses (vv. 13–22). Moses blessed them to show the end of willing obedience
  to the Lord is blessing.
40:1-38 Here the Lord directs Moses to set up the tabernacle for liturgical worship on the
  first day of the first month—one year after Israel came out of Egypt (v. 15). Now the Lord
  manifested His presence in a cloud by day and in fire by night. The tabernacle was filled
  with the Lord's glory (vv. 28–32). Both these items speak of type and prophecy. For
  the physical manifestations of cloud and fire typify His human nature. The glory typifies
  His divine nature—both of which are united in His one Person. And the Lord—the
  source of the glory—is the Father. Thus when He became incarnate, the Cloud and the
  Fire “tabernacled” or dwelt among us (Jn 1:14). And just as some Israelites in the Old
  Testament could see the cloud and the fire—but not the glory within it—so too, some saw
  Jesus in the flesh, but did not see the glory of His divinity. They failed to see Him as the
  very Lord God who spoke to Moses and directed him in establishing the tabernacle of
  Testimony.
     At His conception, the Son of God (“the Power”) “overshadowed” the Virgin Mary and
  became a Man in her womb (Lk 1:35). When He overshadowed the tabernacle, this
  became a type of His overshadowing Mary at His conception. And as He led Israel by the
  cloud and the fire (vv. 30–32), the Incarnate Lord now leads His Church. For the Church
  hears His voice and follows Him, as Israel did when they heard His voice speaking in and
  through Moses.
40:28   The tabernacle was a type of the Mother of God, and the cloud was the presence of
  the Holy Trinity. When God the Word was conceived in her womb, the Holy Spirit came
  upon her, and the Power of the Highest overshadowed her (Lk 1:35). The Power was the
  Son and the Highest was the Father. The Son became incarnate, but all three Persons
  were actively involved.
1:2 The statement, If a man among you should offer gifts to the Lord, emphasizes
  the freewill characteristic of any offering. God never forces anyone to worship Him.
     Offering animal sacrifices to the Lord was not new and was well known in antiquity.
  Both Abel and Abraham offered animal sacrifices to the Lord (Gn 4; 22). What are newly
  introduced are (1) the specific instructions about the sacrifices, (2) the enumeration of
  them, and (3) laws governing where, how, and by whom they were to be offered.
     God gave these instructions for the benefit of both Israel and those under the new
  covenant, for their purpose was to lead mankind to Christ. St. Paul says, “Therefore the
  law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith
  has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Gal 3:24, 25).
    Only domesticated animals could be offered to God—animals dependent on the people,
  who in turn depended on them. These sacrificial animals were a type of Christ, “the Lamb
  of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).
1:3    All such animals were to be without blemish to be acceptable to God. These
  unblemished animals were types of Christ: “How much more shall the blood of Christ,
  who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your
  conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb 9:14).
1:4   In the Levitical liturgy of worship, the people participated in the worship. They were
  not passive observers who watched while the priests did all the work, for the word liturgy
  means the work of the people. Both priest and people were actively involved. Similarly, in
  the new covenant liturgy of worship, both laity and clergy actively participate in the
  worship.
      Here, the worshiper placed his hand on the head of the animal and killed it, and in so
  doing was united with the offering; for the animal's death became the death of the
  offerer. Similarly, in baptism, the worshiper is united with Christ, for Christ's death
  becomes in the mystery of baptism the very death, burial, and resurrection of the one
  baptized (Rom 6:3, 4).
      In the Levitical liturgy of worship, the burnt offering was accepted as an atonement on
  behalf of the worshiper. Atonement is reconciliation to God. Similarly, in the new
  covenant liturgy of worship, Christ's offering of Himself is accepted as the worshiper's
  means of reconciliation to God (Rom 5:10, 11; 2Co 5:18).
1:5 Aaron, the high priest, and his sons were types of the new covenant clergy. Under the
  new covenant, Jesus Christ is the Great High Priest. As High Priest, He is both the one
  who offers and the one who is offered as the sacrifice. Prior to the Great Entrance in the
  Divine Liturgy, the priest prays, “For Thou art He who offers and is offered.” Without
  Him to offer, no offering can be made. Apart from Him, no sacrifice is acceptable to God.
  This relationship will be seen often throughout Leviticus, and much will be gained by
  careful observation of Israel's Old Testament service of worship.
     A life was given to God and that life was in the blood of the animal offered. It was
  acceptable to God as atonement for the offerer. Its fulfillment is made known in Heb
  9:11–22. Verse 14 clearly shows the role of the blood of Christ in giving people access to
  the Holy Trinity: “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
  Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to
  serve the living God?”
1:9 The whole burnt offering was totally consumed on the altar—an unmistakable picture
  of complete commitment to God. The Church displays this spirit of commitment in its
  responsive prayers: “Let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto
  Christ our God.”
     The burnt offering was a sweet aroma to the Father. This aroma speaks of the love of
  Christ in giving Himself as an offering and sacrifice for us, for no aroma is sweeter to the
  Father than this. When we walk in this love, we, too, are a sweet aroma to Him (Eph 5:2).
2:1 Offerings were gifts in order to gain the grace of the one to whom the gift was offered
  (Gn 32:13–21). So it was imperative that the offering be acceptable to the one receiving it.
  Likewise in Leviticus, gifts acceptable to God were carefully prescribed to Israel.
     The grain offering of cultivated wheat milled into fine flour was offered as the fruit of
  the people's labor. As the animals offered were not wild but domestic, so wild grains were
  not offered. The grain offering pictures Christ as the totally acceptable grain offering to
  God—He who offers all His works as an acceptable offering to the Father. In Jn 12:24, He
  says of Himself, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the
  ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” Jesus Himself is
  the grain of wheat that died and rose again as man's true spiritual food—the living bread
  that came down out of heaven to give life to the world (Jn 6:41–51).
      The grain offering also pictures the faithful of the Church who offer to God for His
  blessing the works of their hands as co-laborers with Him. As St. Paul wrote, “We are
  God's fellow workers” (1Co 3:9).
     Oil added to the flour typifies the work of the Holy Spirit. Christ offered Himself to the
  Father through the Holy Spirit (Heb 9:14). The Holy Spirit also helps us co-labor with
  God that our labors might be acceptable to Him (Acts 1:8; Eph 5:18).
     Frankincense was also added to the various grain offerings. It typified the prayers of
  the Church. In Vespers, the Church sings, “Let my prayer arise in Your sight as incense.”
  Co-laboring with God must be accompanied by prayer.
2:2   The priest placed the grain offering on the altar as a memorial. This memorial speaks
  of Christ when He established the Eucharist on Great and Holy Thursday. He said, “Do
  this in remembrance of Me” (Lk 22:19). Remembrance of Him is more than the memory
  of Christ's death on the cross in history. It also includes the sprinkling of His precious
  blood in heaven when He ascended on high (Heb 9:23, 24). Thus, in partaking of His body
  and blood in the Eucharist, the Church eats and drinks eternal life, for His flesh is life-
  giving.
2:4, 5   The grain offering baked in the oven was to be without either leaven or honey (v.
  11). As used here, leaven and honey typify sin and its corruption. Thus, concerning leaven,
  St. Paul writes, “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven
  of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1Co
  5:8). Christ was without sin (Jn 8:46; Heb 7:26–28), and we are to cleanse ourselves from
  all sin; for sin has no place in the Christian way of life.
2:13    Salt, a symbol of an indissoluble covenant, was added to this offering. The oil
  symbolized the Holy Spirit, and incense was a symbol of prayer. Further, “In Leviticus,
  every gift, unless it is seasoned with salt, is forbidden to be offered as an oblation to the
  Lord God. Now the whole spiritual meditation of the Scriptures is given to us as salt
  which stings in order to benefit, and which disinfects, without which it is impossible for a
  soul, by means of reason, to be brought to the Almighty; for ‘ye are the salt of the earth,’
  said the Lord to the apostles” (Meth).
3:1   The peace offering was not new, but the laws governing it were new—the how, by
  whom and where it was to be offered. Gn 31:54 provides background for the peace
  offering: “Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brethren; and
  they ate bread and drank and stayed all night on the mountain.” They dined together in
  peace. Lv 7:11–34; 19:5–8; 22:21–25 also provide more details concerning the peace
  offering. Christ Himself is our peace offering (Eph 2:14; Col 1:20), and through Him we
  are reconciled to God and one another in peace. Through Him we also offer our entire self
  —body and soul—to God, with whom we find peace (Rom 5:1, 10).
3:3-5   Portions of the animal were offered as a burnt offering to God, but in the new
  covenant we are to offer all the members of our body to Him in the service of
  righteousness and holiness (Rom 6:19; 12:1; GrgTheo; Nic).
3:8   The sacrificial animal was to be killed before the doors of the tabernacle of
  testimony. The blood was then sprinkled all around on the altar. Both statements
  show the close connection between the altar and the tabernacle of testimony. The altar
  speaks of the cross, and the tabernacle speaks of heaven. Thus, the cross is connected to
  heaven, for after Jesus ascended to the Father, He sprinkled His blood on the heavenly
  altar (Heb 9:11–24).
      The Church worships in heaven, for worship is heaven on earth. Thus, the bread and
  wine of the Eucharist become in a mystery the body and blood of Christ, His very blood
  sprinkled on the heavenly altar.
3:16   Anyone eating the fat portions of the offered animal was cut off from his people. The
  fat was considered the best, and the best was to be reserved for the Lord alone. As to the
  blood, it was never to be eaten. God's response is strong: “I will set My face against that
  soul who eats blood and will utterly destroy him from among his people” (17:10). Not
  only is the life of the flesh in the blood, but the blood has been given by God to make
  atonement for the soul (17:11; see notes on 17:11).
4:2   The sin offering only covered sins committed involuntarily, that is, sins committed in
  ignorance of the Law (v. 13). In the Law of Moses, no provision was made for willful sins,
  which are called sins of arrogance: “But the soul who may do something with a hand of
  arrogance, whether he is native-born or a resident alien, that one is provoking God; and
  he shall be utterly destroyed from among His people” (Nm 15:30). Willful sins were sins
  committed with knowledge of the Law. But in Christ all sins are remitted—voluntary sins,
  involuntary sins, and sins in thought, word, and deed—if there is appropriate repentance.
4:3 A Levitical priest is called the anointed priest. Anointed is the word from which the
  name Christ is derived. “Moses was the first to make known the name Christ as being
  especially august and glorious. When he delivered types and symbols of heavenly things,
  and mysterious images, in accordance with the oracle which said to him, ‘Look that you
  make all things according to the pattern shown you in the mount,’ he consecrated a man
  high priest of God, in so far as that was possible, and him he called Christ. And thus to
  this dignity of the high priesthood, which in his opinion surpassed the most honorable
  position among men, he attached for the sake of honor and glory the name of Christ”
  (Eusb).
     The involuntary sin of some individual may have been detrimental not only to himself
  but also to others. This was especially true of a priest who sinned. “Wishing to show that
  sins receive more serious punishment by far when they occur in the case of the priest
  than in the case of the laity, Moses enjoins as great a sacrifice to be offered for the priest
  as for the whole people, and this amounts to a proof on his part, that the wounds of the
  priesthood need more assistance, that is, as great as those of all the people together”
  (JohnChr). The sins of the priesthood under the new covenant also carry as much guilt as
  those of the entire Church. The priesthood therefore has the awesome responsibility of
  living a holy life.
4:6-17 The blood was also treated differently in the variations of the sin offering—those for
  the anointed priest, the whole congregation, etc. In the case of the priest and the whole
  congregation, the blood was sprinkled (1) before the veil in the Holy Place, (2) on the
  horns of the altar of incense, and (3) at the altar of burnt offering. We see this type
  fulfilled in Jesus, who went into the very heavenly holy of holies with His own blood, and
  presents it before God continually (Heb 8:1–6; 9:11–13). No one can get closer to God
  than that.
4:12-21   The sin offering for the priest and all the people had to be burned outside the
  camp. When any blood was taken into the holy place, the remains of the animal of the sin
  offering had to be completely burned outside the camp. Regarding Jesus, this point is
  precisely made in Hebrews: “For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into
  the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus
  also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate”
  (Heb 13:11, 12). Jesus said, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he
  wrote about Me” (Jn 5:46). Thus, according to His own words, the sin offering in
  Leviticus is about Himself.
4:13-21 There is such a thing as corporate sin. Here, the whole congregation of Israel sins
  (see also Nm 15:22–26). This typified the Church in the new covenant. Why? Because
  God holds his people accountable—individually and corporately—and even if unknown,
  sin will still have consequences. When sin becomes known, there must be an offering,
  because the people of God have a responsibility to represent God to the world. Thus, their
  failure is a disaster to the world around them. Paul says of Israel, “For ‘the name of God
  is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you’” (Rom 2:24).
4:22-26   There was a distinction of accountability between a private individual's sin and
  the sin of the political leader or ruler. And though there may be no awareness of sins
  committed, consequences remain, and ignorance is not an legitimate excuse. Therefore, it
  is good to pray for “the president and all civil authorities,” a prayer said in most all our
  church services, for at the day of judgment, they will be accountable before God for their
  sins and the consequences of them for those they governed. This is equally true for all
  nations, even for a democracy. As St. Paul indicates, rulers are appointed by God, not by
  the people: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no
  authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore
  whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God” (Rom 13:1, 2).
4:27-35 Though the common people are less accountable before God for their sins, more is
  said about their individual offerings than those of priest, the entire congregation together,
  or a ruler. The sin offerings of the individuals make up the greater part of all sin offerings
  made. Thus, provision must be made for all, even the poorest (see also Nm 15:27–29).
    The type here reveals Christ the sinless One as being the offering for sin: “For He made
  Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in
  Him” (2Co 5:21). He is accessible to all as an offering—to priest, congregation, ruler, or
  any individual. One's station in life or wealth is no issue.
5:2, 3   Under the Law of Moses, to touch any unclean thing—the carcass of an unclean
  animal, or an animal killed by a wild animal, or unclean carcasses of creeping things, or
  the unclean carcasses of cattle, or any human uncleanness—was sin. This uncleanness
  was a type of uncleanness relating to both soul and body. Rom 1:23–32; Gal 5:18–21; Eph
  5:3–5 list examples of such uncleanness.
     Under the new covenant, to live an unclean life in body and soul is contrary to the
  teachings of Christ (Eph 4:19, 20). Therefore, we must not touch what is unclean, but if
  we do, we must cleanse ourselves to be acceptable to the Father (2Co 6:17–7:1).
5:6    Involuntary sin committed contrary to the Mosaic Law—such as failing to give
  testimony regarding an oath heard (v. 1), any uncleanness (vv. 2, 3), sinning with the
  tongue (v. 4)—required confession, which includes knowledge of the sin and genuine
  repentance. Under the new covenant, any sin of thought, word, or deed, whether
  voluntary or involuntary, is to be confessed to God, and He is faithful and righteous to
  forgive and cleanse the confessor. If we genuinely confess our known sins, He even
  forgives and cleanses the unknown ones as we walk in the light (1Jn 1:7–9).
      The priest would make atonement for the sinner, that is, reconcile him with God. This
  speaks of Christ, our Great High Priest, who is now in the heavenly holy of holies
  reconciling the repentant sinner through His precious blood. He cleanses and remits the
  sins of the repentant.
5:11   Under the Law of Moses, poverty was no hindrance to attaining the remission of sins.
  Under the new covenant, Christ became poor for our sakes, for poverty cannot keep a
  person from Him and His salvation (2Co 8:9). But love of riches does (Mt 6:24).
5:15   Lev 5:15, 21, 25: The sin offering and the trespass offering were similar in that both
  were offered for transgressing the Lord's commandments. They were distinct in that the
  trespass offering also included offerings for transgressions committed against one's
  neighbor. But no special provisions were made for the poor in their transgressions against
  a neighbor, as was the case with the sin offering. Everyone, whether rich or poor, was on
  equal footing in this regard. The poor had no more excuse for infringing on the rights of
  others than the rich.
       In this modern era, some believe the poor have the right to steal from the rich, but
  poverty is no justification for sinning against a neighbor. Nor do the rich have any excuse
  for transgressions. But God's law is fulfilled through love of neighbor, whether they are
  rich or poor.
5:24-26 Full restoration was to be made, with one-fifth more added to it. This restoration
  evidenced at least two things on the part of the offender. It showed genuine repentance
  toward God and love toward neighbor. With these two things in place, the trespass
  offering was then brought and the sin atoned for.
     Zacchaeus made full restitution to his neighbors, which showed genuine repentance
  and love on his part. Thus, the Lord said of him, “Today salvation has come to this house”
  (Lk 19:9). Jesus also, for His part, made full restitution for sins and trespasses plus one-
  fifth more, through the cross.
6:9   The fire on the bronze altar was to burn continually. The priests were to be sure the
  fire never went out. Here it was a type of the perpetual offering of Christ in heaven. For
  Israel, it was the sign of uninterrupted worship of God, based on an animal offered for a
  burnt offering. In the new covenant, it is the same—the same open door for uninterrupted
  worship of God and fellowship with Him—but now based on the sacrifice of Christ for our
  sins as its fulfilled foundation.
6:12-16 The grain offering to be baked is offered as integral to the burnt offering (see ch.
  2). The daily morning and evening offerings—both the burnt and grain offerings—were
  offered together. This action was a type of the work of our hands being offered and made
  acceptable to God because of the burnt-offering offered with it. God accepts our works,
  done in the name of the Holy Spirit and because of the work of Christ—but never apart or
  disunited from His offering of Himself to God as our “burnt offering.”
6:16 The people brought their gifts to God through the priest. The priest often received a
  portion of what was given by the people to God—in this case the grain offering. The priest
  did not directly receive from the people what was theirs. He received back something
  prescribed by God of what had been given to God. Even when the priest eats of the
  offering, he partakes of something belonging to God.
     In the new covenant, this is true of the clergy and of all the people of the Church—
  themselves members of the royal priesthood—when they partake of the food of God, the
  eucharistic feast. The bread and the wine are given to God and given back to the people as
  the body and blood of Christ.
6:17-23   Instructions were given regarding specific parts of the sin offering. These were
  important (1) as types of aspects of our eucharistic worship, and (2) as types of the
  sanctity with which the eucharistic gifts themselves are treated. At the Divine Liturgy the
  celebrant proclaims, “The holy things for the holy.” It is the eucharistic gifts—the body
  and blood of Christ—to which he is referring. In response, the people proclaim, “One is
  holy, One is the Lord Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.” He is the
  ultimate holy sacrifice, and all of this is pictured in Leviticus.
     How meticulous was the care for holy things—so important if we are to keep a clear
  sense of the holy. In the offering of Christ in the Divine Liturgy, detailed care is taken
  with every part of the body of Christ, with every drop of the blood of Christ. If the animal
  offered in the sin offering of the Old Testament was considered so holy, how much more
  the offering of the Lord Jesus Christ.
6:18   Touching what is holy affects our holiness—our very sanctification. Here we see a
  profound biblical concept whereby contact with what is holy offers holiness—and to the
  unworthy, possible condemnation.
       This issue deeply affects our understanding of how one is affected by the holy
  Eucharist, holy icons, holy water, holy oil, holy bread, and all things holy in the life of the
  Church. Our participation in these things is not merely a remembrance of an historical
  event, but in spirit and in truth, God works through them to effect a healing within us—a
  reconciliation to Him and to our neighbor.
7:12, 13 In thankfulness of heart and spirit, we offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving—
  one made worthy because Jesus is our acceptable offering of thanks to God. The word
  Eucharist means Thanksgiving. In the Divine Liturgy we sing, “A mercy of peace, a
  sacrifice of praise.”
7:15   The flesh of the peace offering of thanksgiving was to be eaten by the priest. This
  typified eucharistic Communion, in which the worshiper participates in the sacrifice, the
  sacrifice being Christ Himself. He invites us to eat of Himself: “Take, eat, this is My body
  broken for you.”
7:16-18   No flesh of the peace offering was allowed to remain beyond the third day. To
  prevent corruption, anything left was totally burned with fire. But in Jesus there is no
  fear of corruption, for He is the living bread. Thus, having leaven in the bread of the
  Eucharist is no longer feared.
7:19-22 Cleansing was an essential condition for eating the sacrifice. In the new covenant,
  the blood of Christ in the Eucharist cleanses those who walk in the light with God: “If we
  walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood
  of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1Jn 1:7).
7:29, 30 The offerer himself was to offer up the gift from the peace offering. In the new
  covenant, Christ Himself is both the offerer and the gift offered on behalf of the Church.
  He also accepts the gift of Himself and distributes it to the faithful in the Eucharist: “For
  Thou Thyself art He who offers and is offered, who accepts and is distributed” (Prayer of
  the Cherubic Hymn).
8:2   Aaron did not take this honor to himself to be the high priest, but was called by God
  (Heb 5:4). “So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but . . . [was]
  called by God as High Priest ‘according to the order of Melchizedek’” (Heb 5:5, 10).
8:6     Moses washed Aaron the high priest with water to prepare him for the high
  priesthood. This washing was a type of baptism. However, Jesus was not baptized because
  He needed it, but “to fulfill all righteousness” (Mt 3:15), for He fulfilled the righteousness
  required by the Mosaic Law. Therefore, He was baptized for our sake, “that we might
  become the righteousness of God in Him” (2Co 5:21).
8:7-9   Vestments were made for Aaron “for honor and glory” (Ex 28:2). For they were
  patterned after the Great High Priest in His heavenly honor and glory (Ex 25:40; Heb
  8:5). Similarly, vestments are essential to worship under the new covenant, for they
  speak of the Great High Priest in His glory. This is why the vestments of the priest are so
  grand and beautiful, for they refer to our Great High Priest ministering on our behalf at
  the heavenly altar.
8:12   Moses anointed the head of Aaron with oil to sanctify him for the high priesthood.
  This oil typified the Holy Spirit under the new covenant. However, Jesus did not need the
  anointing of the Holy Spirit to qualify Him as the Great High Priest, for He Himself
  anoints others with the Holy Spirit. Then why was He anointed with the Holy Spirit at His
  baptism (Mt 3:16)? First, to identify the Holy Spirit as One of the Holy Trinity, and
  second, for our sakes, that He might anoint us with the Holy Spirit when we are baptized.
8:14 Lev 8:14, 18, 22: Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the heads of these offerings.
  This typified Christ, the Great High Priest, who both offered and was offered for our
  reconciliation with God (Heb 10:12). For since He is God, He offered Himself. He was
  also offered by the Father (Heb 9:28) and by the Holy Spirit (Heb 9:14). Therefore,
  although Christ alone was the sacrifice, the Holy Trinity was involved in the
  reconciliation of man.
8:15 Lev 8:15, 19, 23, 24: The blood of the sacrifices was connected with the altar of whole
  burnt offering and the priests themselves. This typified the Great High Priest, who took
  His own blood into the heavenly sanctuary to sanctify it for our salvation (Heb 9:23, 24).
8:26   The unleavened bread speaks of Christ as our sinless sacrifice (Heb 7:26). But since
  He is sinless, in what sense was He made sin for us (2Co 5:21), made a curse (Gal 3:13),
  forsaken by the Father (Mt 27:46), and made subject to Him (1Co 15:28)? By
  appropriation and in a relative sense. “For neither as God nor as Man was He ever
  forsaken by the Father; neither was He made sin or a curse, nor did He need to be subject
  to the Father. For as God He is equal to the Father and in no way at variance with Him or
  subject to Him, while as Man He was never at any time so deaf to His Begetter that He
  should stand in need of subjection. So it was in appropriating our appearance and classing
  Himself with us that He said these things. For it was we who were subject to sin and
  curse, because we were disobedient and unhearing and thus forsaken” (JohnDm).
8:30   The anointing oil and the blood were sprinkled on the vestments of Aaron and his
  sons. This typified the connection between the blood of the Incarnate Son and the Holy
  Spirit. The entire work of the Holy Spirit is accomplished in and through the Incarnation,
  for He never bypasses the Incarnation in His workings. Moreover, both the works of
  Christ in His Incarnation and the works of the Holy Spirit are in the sacraments of the
  Church. This is why the sacraments save us.
9:2-21 Four offerings were prescribed by the Lord to initiate the tabernacle service: a sin
  offering, a whole burnt offering, a grain offering, and a peace offering, all in that order.
  The sin offering speaks of reconciliation with God (Rom 5:10); the whole burnt offering,
  of the full surrender of a life to God (Rom 12:1, 2); the grain offering, of the works of our
  hands (Jn 14:12); and the peace offering, of intimate communion with God in which we
  eat and drink the body and blood of Christ (Jn 6:53–58).
9:16 Worship in the old covenant was to be done according to the prescribed manner.
  No creativity whatsoever with regard to sacrifice was allowed. Nothing was to be done
  haphazardly. Quite to the contrary, creativity was prohibited and even punished, as seen
  in the next chapter. God, not man, set the rules for worship. Communion with God was
  approached on His terms, not man's. Thus, a priesthood was initiated in Israel, and only
  those ordained were to officiate at an altar, and not just any willing and able Israelite.
    So too in the new covenant. The worship is to be accomplished “decently and in order”
  (1Co 14:40). Priests (clergy) are to be ordained to officiate at the altar. But amazingly, we
  live in a day when many professing Christians, claiming to be guided by the Bible, spurn
  order, even mock it, as though it were ungodly. They even call an order of worship dead.
  Spontaneity and creativity are exalted as if they were truly life. However, there is no
  biblical basis for such worship, for this kind of worship is dead in the eyes of the true
  God.
9:22   Aaron blessed the people using his hand. Priests in the new covenant also bless the
  people with their hand, using a motion in the form of the cross, for they bless them in
  Christ's name.
9:23, 24 The glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, and fire came out from
  the Lord. Therefore, liturgical worship was not a dead worship, for the Lord's glory and
  fire were seen. Neither is liturgical worship in the new covenant dead. Only people are
  dead, if they are in sin. But if they are alive in Christ, liturgical worship as prescribed by
  the Church fills them with the Lord's glory and fire.
10:1, 2   Nadab and Abihu died because they offered strange fire before the Lord,
  which He had not commanded them. Offerings not prescribed by the Lord are
  considered by Him to be worthy of death.
    “Wherefore it is incumbent to obey the priests who are in the Church, those who, as I
  have shown, possess the succession of the episcopate, have received the certain gift of
  truth, according to the good pleasure of the Father. But it is also incumbent to hold in
  suspicion others who depart from the primitive succession, and assemble themselves
  together in any place whatsoever, looking upon them either as heretics of perverse minds,
  or as schismatics puffed up and self-pleasing, or again as hypocrites, acting thus for the
  sake of lucre and vainglory. For all these have fallen from the truth. And the heretics,
  indeed, who bring strange fire to the altar of God—namely, strange doctrines—shall be
  burned up by the fire from heaven, as were Nadab and Abihu” (Iren).
11:2-4 Lev 11:2–4, 47: At least two issues relate to the animals: the nature of animals and
  eating only clean animals. The nature of all animals is good in itself because the Creator
  is good. He did not create anything evil in itself. This also applies to man, whose nature is
  good in itself. As Gn 1:31 says, “Then God saw everything He made, and indeed, it was
  very good.”
     The Lawgiver said that foods going into the stomach cannot defile a man; rather, the
  evil proceeding from his heart defiles him (Mk 7:15–23). He said this when the Law of
  Moses was still in effect. Why then did He declare through Moses that certain animals
  were clean and others were unclean, and only the clean ones were to be eaten? Whatever
  various answers may be given, one seems to stand out as especially important: the eating
  of clean animals forecasts the cleansing of both Jews and Gentiles in baptism to form
  them into one body, the Church.
      Peter's vision in Acts 10:9–16 indicates the inclusion of Gentiles into the Church
  through baptism: “The earth, then, this is what the linen sheet denotes, and the wild
  animals in it are those among the Gentiles, and the command: ‘Kill and eat,’ denotes that
  Peter must go to them also; and the linen sheet being let down three times denotes
  baptism” (JohnChr).
12:1-3 Marriage, conception, and birth are honorable in every way: “Marriage is honorable
  among all, and the bed undefiled” (Heb 13:4). Since these things are true, in what sense
  do conception and birth relate to uncleanness in the Mosaic Law?
     They were symbolic of the meaning of baptism. The water of baptism is the womb into
  which the old life of sins is buried, as indicated by the seven days (v. 2). The eighth day
  (v. 3) speaks of the renewal of man's nature in baptism by the Holy Spirit into the world
  to come. Circumcision on this day is typical of the cutting away of sins by the
  circumcision of Christ, effected in baptism (Col 2:11, 12).
13:2   Leprosy was the primary type, or symbol, of sin in the Old Testament. Sin does to the
  soul what leprosy does to the body. As leprosy defiles the body, so similarly, sin defiles
  the conscience with dead works.
13:3   A person with leprosy was pronounced unclean. Similarly, all sin is unclean in the
  eyes of God. “God did not call us to uncleanness, but to holiness” (1Th 4:7).
13:9, 10 A person with a leprous infection was brought to the priest for examination.
  This examination could only determine whether or not he had the disease of leprosy; the
  priest could not effect a cure. Christ, our Great High Priest, not only examines our
  uncleanness, but also provides the cure: “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but
  all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb
  4:13), and, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
  offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve
  the living God?” (Heb 9:14).
13:46   Leprosy forced the leper into a way of life outside the camp. This way became a
  camp to itself. Similarly, the fallen world is a camp to itself, with its own way of life. This
  way of life is described as the “old man” (Rom 6:6). This old man was crucified with
  Christ in baptism, and the one baptized is raised up with Christ to walk in newness of life
  (Rom 6:3, 4). “Newness of life” is described in Eph 4:24 as “the new man which was
  created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
13:52   Just a little spot of contamination on a garment necessarily caused the whole of the
  garment to be destroyed. Radical action had to be taken with respect to leprosy. The same
  is to be said of anything contaminated by sin. Jude, the Lord's brother, writes, “And on
  some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out
  of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh” (Jude 22, 23). He seems to have
  the matter of leprosy in mind, but applies it to sin and its contagion.
14:3   The person desiring cleansing from his leprosy cannot come to the priest. The priest
  must go outside the camp to the one so diseased and sick. So too, Christ went outside the
  camp for us: “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood,
  suffered outside the gate” (Heb 13:12).
14:6, 7   This was to be done for the one to be cleansed of leprosy. Leprosy may be what
  King David had in mind when he prayed, “Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be
  cleansed.” David was praying for purification from his sin. Perhaps he understood leprosy
  as a type of sin, as one possible explanation of the reference to the hyssop in Ps 50.
14:10    The cleansing of the leper—his restoration to fellowship with God and the people—
  was completed on the eighth day. On that day for the cleansed leper, many of the
  offerings previously prescribed in Leviticus were offered. Here again is a type of Christ—
  our perfect offering—who bore our infirmities and was raised from the dead on the eighth
  day. For the leper, Christ is the fulfillment of all that was done and offered on that day.
  Christ is the one who cleanses all mankind—if man is willing—from the leprosy of sin and
  all its effects.
14:48   Note that nonliving matter could be redeemed, for atonement could be made for it.
  Consider again the power of Christ's victory over sin: “the creation itself also will be
  delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God”
  (Rom 8:21).
14:54-57   This summarizes chapters 13 and 14. Note here the critical issue in separating
  what was infected—person or object—from the rest of the people. Obviously this had to
  do with protecting the people from the disease.
     Leprosy as a type of sin—and its noted consequences—must not escape us. There is
  good cause for being separated from those who live in willful sin: “A little leaven leavens
  the whole lump” (1Co 5:6). Clearly, if one chooses to get really close to sin, to tolerate or
  ignore it, and acts as if it isn't there, one may “catch” it. Though leprosy is not the most
  contagious of diseases, what a disease with which to gamble!
15:13 Lev 15:13, 14, 28, 29: Cleansing from emissions seven days after the cessation of the
  discharge came with the washing with water. On the eighth day, an offering was brought
  to the Lord. Here again was a type of the washing of water in baptism and the offering of
  Christ—raised from the dead on the eighth day. In Christ, there is cleansing. And in
  Christ, the curse of death is overcome. On the eighth day, He trampled down death by
  death, upon those in the tombs bestowing life.
15:25-30   In light of this passage, consider the account of the woman with the issue of
  blood, who, though unclean—but because of her faith in Christ—dared to touch the Lord
  as He allowed it (Mk 5:25–34).
15:31    The tabernacle was the abode of God. No impurity would be tolerated there.
  Similarly, we are cleansed of sin's impurity by the blood of Christ so as to worship God in
  the heavenly holy of holies.
16:1   The Day of Atonement was inaugurated, as the text says, after the deaths of the
  priests Nadab and Abihu (ch. 10). After the sin of these two sons of Aaron, the people had
  a great need to see God's provision for forgiveness displayed before them.
16:2   This description seems to be the reason Nadab and Abihu died.
16:3    Here begins the description of the annual Day of Atonement, the single most
  important day in the calendar of ancient Israel. Virtually every detail of this day was a
  type of the work of Christ and His atonement for our sins. It is rewarding to give careful
  attention to the specific details of this day.
16:4   Aaron was to thoroughly wash himself in water. Here was not only a type of baptism
  in general, but also of the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Jesus
  said to John the Baptist, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all
  righteousness” (Mt 3:15). The true High Priest was preparing to go into the holy of holies
  for the sins of the whole world. He only is without sin, so it was not for His own sins that
  He was baptized, but for the uncleanness of the people for whom He would suffer.
16:5   Five animals were offered on this day, a bull for a sin offering for himself, a ram for a
  burnt offering, two male goats as a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. Each
  animal offered provided types of the work of Christ.
16:6   An offering must be made for the priest and his household before he could carry out
  his duties of the day. So too, the clergy of the Church should never assume they do not
  need cleansing, for they too—and their households—sin as do others. The role of the
  clergy is unique, but they are still sinners in need of a sacrifice. It is not only the people
  who confess themselves to be chief of sinners at every Divine Liturgy—the clergy do as
  well.
16:8 Both goats together are one sin offering. Aaron cast lots over the two goats. The one
  on which the lot fell was for the Lord, and was to be slain. The other would be the
  scapegoat, to be let go into the wilderness. It takes both goats to make clear as one picture
  what was happening.
     Theodoret writes regarding these two goats, “I will however mention the sacrifice in
  which two goats were offered, the one being slain, and the other let go. In these two goats
  there is an anticipative image of the two natures of the Savior; in the one let go, of the
  impassible Godhead, and in the one slain, of the passible manhood.”
16:16   Blood from the young bull was sprinkled seven times on the east side of the mercy
  seat—the symbol of completion. This was to cleanse the holy of holies—to make
  atonement for the holy of holies itself, because of the impurities of the sons of Israel.
  Similarly, Christ sprinkled His own blood in the heavenly holy of holies so we might enter
  there in worship (Heb 9:23, 24).
16:21 The high priest laid his hands on the head of the live goat. In doing so, he laid the
  sins and transgressions of the sons of Israel on the head of that goat. The goat, an
  innocent victim, bore on itself all the iniquities of the people. The goat, taken by a
  designated person, was then sent off into the wilderness.
       The picture is clear. As the goat goes into the wilderness, so do the sins and
  transgressions of the people—never to be seen again. This reminds us of the Psalmist's
  words, “As far as the east is from the west, / So He removes our transgressions from us”
  (Ps 102:12). This marvelous reality is part of the foundation of what the Orthodox priest
  says in the Sacrament of Confession: “And now, having no further care for the sins you
  have confessed, go in peace.”
16:27   The bull of the sin offering and the goat, the blood of which was taken into the holy
  of holies, both were taken outside the camp and burned. Another type of Christ: “For the
  bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for
  sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people
  with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside
  the camp, bearing His reproach” (Heb 13:11–13).
16:33 The atonement granted this day to the people of Israel could picture only in a limited
  way—as is true of all types—what Christ would do in His suffering and death. This old
  covenant offering could not make the conscience of the worshiper perfect (Heb 9:8, 9),
  though it did cleanse from all sin.
     But our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, entered the heavenly holy of holies, where He
  sprinkled His sacrificial blood to deal fully with our sins. Today is the Day of Atonement.
  Today is the eighth day—the day after which there are no more days. In the old covenant,
  the high priest went into the holy of holies once every year, and necessarily came back
  out immediately. Not so of Christ. He went into the heavenly holy of holies with His own
  blood to atone for our sins, and thus to reconcile us with God.
17:1-8   Why this strict law regarding the slaying of domestic animals? It was to prevent
  Israel from succumbing to the idolatry of the peoples around them—to keep them holy
  and separate from idolatry. It was quite common among ancient people to offer animal
  sacrifices to their idols. But Israel was a nation set apart for God alone. Her people were
  to be a holy people living in fellowship with the true and living God. Idolatry, more
  quickly than any other cause, would turn them away from God. There was and is but one
  true God, and He revealed Himself to Israel and gave them instruction regarding their
  relationship to Him.
     Here also is a type of the uniqueness of Christ. At Matins, Orthodox Christians sing,
  “God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us. Blessed is He who comes in the name of
  the Lord.” That revelation is Christ Himself. He alone is the atonement for our sins,
  reconciling us to God. He alone is the Savior. Israel was a type of the Church—the new
  people of God—and this type expresses how the Church is to be separate from the world.
17:7   Israel had a history of habitually straying into the worship of idols, often labeled by
  the prophets as spiritual fornication, showing their unfaithfulness to God.
       Here is a type of the faithfulness Christians are to have to Christ. The Church is the
  Bride of Christ. Jesus is the Groom—so noted on Great and Holy Thursday—to whom the
  Church sings, “The Groom of the Church is fastened with nails . . .” To turn from the
  Groom to seek union or communion with anyone or anything else is spiritual fornication.
17:8-9   Any Israelite who refused to bring his sacrifice to the tabernacle of testimony to
  offer it there would bring about his own destruction. Likewise, anyone who refuses to
  worship the Word made flesh—for He tabernacled in the flesh—destroys himself. For we
  worship His holy body (AthanG).
17:11 Because of the supreme importance of blood in atonement for sin, it was imperative
  that blood be treated with unique respect. According to this passage, the life was in the
  blood. If blood was shed, a life was given, and the sacrifice was genuine. Not that blood
  has inherent power to forgive. Rather the blood, with its inherent life, is God's gift to
  mankind to make atonement for sin. The necessity for atonement was the sacrifice of the
  innocent life of an animal.
    But what was important—lest Israel should become careless about atonement—was not
  only the blood of the innocent animals sacrificed, but that all animal blood be regarded
  with respect. All life was sacred and to be respected.
     Of course, this understanding concerning blood in the old covenant was but a type of
  the blood of Christ, which initiated the new covenant. On the night of the Last Supper,
  Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you” (Lk 22:20).
  St. Paul says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
  according to the riches of His grace” (Eph 1:7). Also St. John says, “But if we walk in the
  light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus
  Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1Jn 1:7).
17:13-14 Game animals were another story. They could be killed and eaten anywhere, but
  still the blood was not to be eaten.
18:1-3 Israel was commanded not to live according to the way of life of Egypt and Canaan,
  nor to walk in their ordinances. The way of life in Egypt and Canaan was fallen,
  characterized by sinful passions, especially idolatry. The Scriptures describe this way of
  life as the “old man” (Rom 6:6), and for the Church, this way of life was crucified with
  Christ in baptism.
     Nor was Israel to walk in their ordinances, for many of these were unjust and ungodly.
  Examples of these are given in vv. 19–30, for instance the perversion of homosexuality (v.
  22) and sodomy (v. 23). In our modern era, laws are being passed favoring homosexuality
  and abortion. But laws of this kind are an abomination to God (v. 30).
18:4   Israel was to walk in the ordinances of the Mosaic Law. The Church, on the other
  hand, is to walk in the Law of Christ, a higher standard than the Mosaic (Rom 8:1–4).
18:5   Israel was to keep all the ordinances of the Law of Moses. In so doing they would
  attain to righ-teousness, but if they should offend in one point, they would be guilty of
  breaking the whole of it (Jam 2:10). There was no other way of attaining righteousness
  under this Law than by fulfilling the whole of it. However, they failed to attain the
  righteousness required by the Law (Rom 9:31), for such an attainment was an
  impossibility (Acts 15:10). Their failure required atonement for sins and reconciliation
  with God.
       Christ atoned for their sins and those of the entire world. Through His death and
  Resurrection He made possible the attainment of righteousness by faith in Him. “Moses
  showed us the righteousness required by the Law, what kind it is. So what kind is it and
  in what does it consist? ‘The man who does these things shall live by them,’ Moses said.
  There was no other way of becoming righteous in the Law except by fulfilling the whole
  of it. But this was not possible for anyone, and therefore this righteousness failed them. . .
  . For that required the fulfillment of all things (for when you do all, then you shall live);
  but the righteousness of faith does not say this, but what does it say? ‘If you confess with
  your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you
  shall be saved, for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth
  confession is made unto salvation’ (Rom 10:9, 10). . . . There is no long journey to go on,
  no seas to sail over, no mountains to pass, to get saved. But if you be not minded to cross
  so much as the threshold, you may even while you sit at home be saved. For ‘in your
  mouth and in your heart’ is the source of salvation” (JohnChr).
18:6-18   As with most of Leviticus, there are two levels of interpretation to this passage.
  First, there is the immediate meaning for the people of Israel. Second, there is the type
  presented in the matter at hand, to be fulfilled later. First then, there were the laws
  regarding unlawful sexual intercourse (uncover nakedness). The immediate meaning
  relates to family integrity—the thread on which family members are strung, as jewels, in
  the relationship of husband and wife as “one flesh” (Gn. 1:24). The laws set forth here
  were not arbitrary. They clearly reflected the essential created character of marriage and
  family relationships.
    Secondly, at least two types are made clear in looking toward the new covenant. One is
  that Israel is understood as the wife of God and thus as a type of the Church—as the bride
  of Christ. The second is that the earthly husband and wife were also a type of Christ and
  the Church. The relationship between Christ and his people is a substantial union—a
  union of our human nature with His resurrected and glorified human nature. This is not
  merely a moral union, a kind of pleasant fellowship with Christ. Baptism into Christ
  produces a dynamic union of substance with Him. This relationship must be guarded and
  nurtured with the utmost care. The union must not be corrupted by adding to it that
  which is foreign. One cannot have a commitment to union with both God and the world
  and its attachments, as Christ said: “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Mt 6:24).
  Nothing should be introduced into the relationship of oneness that would in any way
  profane it or make it common.
19:1-3 The repeated formula, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy, is
  of vital importance. First, this is the point of this whole Law. That God is holy does not
  mean He is a rule-keeper or enforcer. There is no legalism with God. Israel was to be
  what He is. His people were to be holy as He is. Rule-keeping was not the end in view;
  being like God was.
    This is also the goal of the new covenant. However, in the new covenant things are seen
  more clearly, because Jesus Christ is the supreme definition of holiness. This huge
  difference in the understanding of the Law was the source of great conflict between the
  scribes and Pharisees and Jesus. He was holy. They were rule-keepers who had lost the
  Rule-giver, and thereby lost their holiness.
     The expression, “I am the Lord,” “I am the Lord your God,” or “I am the Lord their
  God,” appears approximately fifty times in Leviticus. The “I Am” is of critical importance.
  It is the absolute foundation of the covenant treaty formula used here. Everything in the
  relationship between God and Israel depended on it. It identified the old covenant Maker.
  The “I Am” identified Him uniquely as God. At the burning bush, the Lord introduced
  Himself to Moses as the “I Am” (Ex 3:6, 14).
     In Jn 8:58, the identity of the Speaker in Leviticus is made known to be Jesus, who
  says to the Jews, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” He is the Son
  and Word of God, one of the three Persons of the All-Holy Trinity.
19:18 The exhortation, you shall love your neighbor as yourself, here makes its first
  appearance in the Bible and its only appearance in the Old Testament. It is a summary of
  what was required in the Law of Moses.
     In the time of Jesus, the religious Jews understood this statement to be crucial to
  understanding the Law. Lk 10:25–37 shows this. A lawyer questioned Jesus about the
  means of acquiring eternal life. Jesus asked him what was his reading of the Law. The
  lawyer replied, “‘You shall love the L
                                       ORD   your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
  with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself’” (v. 27).
  The lawyer further asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with the parable of the
  Good Samaritan, giving us an understanding of this passage in Leviticus.
20:1-23    The material in this chapter deals with penalties for sins approved by the
  Canaanites but which God considered abominable—human sacrifice, psychic practices,
  cursing of parents, unlawful sexual relationships, as well as other matters. Verse 23 gives
  us the key to understanding this: You shall not walk in the ordinances of the
  nations I am casting out before you; for they commit all these things, and
  therefore I abhor them.
20:2-5   Idolatry was the single greatest danger to the people of God. The first of the Ten
  Commandments is, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Idolatry was often the
  downfall of Israel.
20:3-7 God's holy things must not be profaned, for this profanes His name. With this in
  mind, we pray in the Lord's Prayer, “Hallowed by Thy name.” St. Cyprian writes, “After
  this, we say: ‘Hallowed be Thy name,’ not that we wish for God to be hallowed by our
  prayers, but to beseech Him that His name be hallowed in us. But by whom is God
  sanctified, since He Himself sanctifies? Well, because He says: ‘Be ye holy, even as I am
  holy,’ we ask and entreat, that we who were sanctified in baptism may continue in that
  which we have begun to be.”
20:9 Lev 20:9, 11, 12, 16, 17, 19, 27: The Law of Moses taught that man is only guilty before
  God by free choice, but not by nature. For man is good by nature; otherwise, we would be
  imputing guilt to God (Gn 1:31). Thus, man does not possess a sinful nature, for all sins
  are committed by personal choice. No one can claim he sins out of necessity. All sins
  therefore are contrary both to God and to nature. The Law also refuted the false notion
  that man is guilty before God because of Adam's sin. Adam was guilty of his own
  transgression, as is true of any and all.
20:24   The heart of the issue in all of these laws was the sanctification of the people of
  God, in distinction to those around them. Why? Because God is the Lord their God, their
  King. Israel was to be a theocratic kingdom—one ruled over by a gracious and loving God
  who knew perfectly what was best for His subjects. This is why Israel was to be so
  separate from all the kingdoms around her and why idolatry was punishable by death, for
  it was high treason against the kingdom of God.
20:25-26 The violations of God's law here were (a) against God, (b) against the nation—
  the theocracy, and (c) against the units that made up the theocracy, namely the family,
  which included marriage. The nation and the family were God-given, for people to live by
  and in. If they should turn from God's ways, the inhabitants would suffer greatly. These
  laws are contrary to the current direction of ideas and legislation regarding the family.
21:1       Jesus Christ holds the offices of prophet, priest, and king, at the same time and
  forever. The Old Testament is filled with types of Christ with respect to these three
  aspects of His ministry. In this chapter sundry rules for the Aaronic priesthood are given,
  along with instructions for the high priesthood. Types of Christ abound throughout, and
  the priest was a type of Him. Therefore, a higher standard was set for him than for the
  laity.
21:1-3 The defilement referred to here was the ceremonial defilement of a person resulting
  from contact with a dead body. The priest was permitted to touch the dead bodies only of
  certain of his immediate kin. The priest, as a type of Christ, must not be unduly affected
  by death, since Christ is the One who overcame death. Jesus wept at Lazarus' tomb, but
  He is the One who overcame the death of Lazarus and who overcame death for all in His
  Resurrection.
21:14   The high priest was allowed to marry only a virgin, and she had to be from his own
  people—an Israelite woman. He serves as a significant type of Christ, who is the Groom of
  the Church. The Church is forever His virgin bride. Christ and the Church form the
  perfect marriage; thus the types in the Old Testament foreshadow that perfection.
21:17   To serve in the priesthood, one had to be free of physical defects. This was a type of
  the ultimate offerer, the sinless and spotless Jesus, who Himself is the sinless and
  spotless offering. Thus, the animal to be offered was to be without spot or blemish. The
  physical was a type and symbol of the spiritual, and both are important. And lest it be
  considered cruel or unfair that the deformed were not allowed to offer the gifts of his
  God, to serve at the altar, let it be understood, quite to the contrary, that hope is given
  here for all. The priesthood in the Church in the age to come will be open to all in Christ.
  No one will be deformed, for any deformed in this life will be made completely whole in
  the world to come. All will participate in the priesthood forever. “To Him who loved us
  and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His
  God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Rev 1:5, 6).
22:1-16   Rules regarding the priests eating certain portions of some of the offerings may
  appear stringent to the casual reader. However, when the sacrifices mentioned here are
  recognized as types of Christ, the One who is the perfect sacrifice and makes Himself
  available to be eaten, these rules make perfect sense.
    They offer significant insight into the work of Christ. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say
  to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in
  you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up
  at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My
  flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him” (Jn 6:53–56). This eating of the
  sacrifice is not to be done casually or carelessly. Christ is the life and salvation of the
  world. He is not to be partaken of in any profane manner.
22:17-33 More rules are given for the sacrifice. At every Divine Liturgy in the Church, the
  priest prays a prayer that includes the following words regarding Christ: “For You
  Yourself are He who offers and is offered, who accepts and is distributed, O Christ our
  God.” Jesus is not only the perfect priest—as the One who offers—but He is also the
  perfect sacrifice. Thus, the rules in Leviticus for qualifications of either priests or animals
  offered to God are important as types of Christ.
     The animals offered were types of Christ as the once-for-all perfect sacrifice. John the
  Baptist spoke of Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn
  1:29). In these Levitical regulations, the people are being tutored ultimately to recognize
  the Messiah—the Christ—when He would come to be both the offerer and the offered.
  The rules also speak to the perfection of the sacrifice of Christ. He would be perfect and
  holy—separated to God alone.
23:1-4   The account that follows is not the entire Jewish calendar. These are the “fixed
  feasts,” where a convocation—a coming together of the people—was required. They
  focused attention on the Lord by means of the sanctification of time and life. Ex 31:13
  says in this regard, “You shall direct the children of Israel, saying, ‘See to it that you keep
  My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you
  may know I am the Lord who sanctifies you.’”
23:5    Pascha (or Passover) sanctified Israel's time and life as a sign pointing them to the
  coming Incarnation of the Lord. In this feast they were to remember Him and what He
  did for them in delivering them from Egyptian bondage. But more importantly, it pointed
  them to His coming in the flesh. They were to know Him in the blood of a slain lamb, a
  sign pointing to Him as the Lamb of God. Yet when He became incarnate as this Lamb,
  they did not recognize their own Lord who had delivered them from Egypt (Jn 1:11).
       Pascha also sanctifies the time and life of the Church each year, but not as a sign. For
  the Church is sanctified by the fulfillment of the sign. Great Lent, Holy Week, and Easter
  define this fulfillment, as the Church is sanctified by the death and Resurrection of
  Christ. Thus, spiritual life is deepened, and God's people come to know the Incarnate
  Lord more intimately.
23:15-21 The Feast of Pentecost also sanctified the time and life of Israel as a sign pointing
  to the coming of the Holy Spirit and the harvesting of the Church. It was precisely seven
  full Sabbaths (forty-nine days) plus one day after Pascha, and marked the completion of
  the grain harvest. Here, the offering was not a sheaf of grain, but rather baked loaves,
  signifying the Church.
     Thus, Pentecost also sanctifies the time and life of the Church each year, but not as a
  sign. For Christ is the sheaf, the firstfruit. The loaves are the many from the harvest,
  those from Christ and in Christ—in the Church. In Jn 12:24 Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I
  say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if
  it dies, it produces much grain.” This grain is the Church, harvested by the Holy Spirit.
  Hence, the ancient Feast of Pentecost prophetically prefigures the birth of the Church
  through Christ and the Holy Spirit.
     At the same time, it also signifies the beginning of the end of the age. On the Day of
  Pentecost, fifty days after the Resurrection of Christ, the apostle Peter quoted the prophet
  Joel to explain what was taking place, “‘It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, /
  That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh’” (Acts 2:17). The gifts of the Spirit for the age
  of God's kingdom are given to the people of God while still living in this age, as a foretaste
  of the world to come.
23:39 There was a feast on the eighth day after Tabernacles began. It was the end date—
  the leave-taking of the Feast of Tabernacles. It completed the feasts of the seventh month
  as well. This final day was the consummation, or great high point, of the feast. It was the
  eighth day—the first day of the season of rest. The day itself was to be a day of complete
  rest; no work whatever was to be done. The planting, the cultivating, and the harvesting
  had all been accomplished. Now it was time to rest.
    That eighth day was a type of the new creation—the day that never ends—the day “when
  all our labors and trials are over.” It is the day of the establishment of the eternal
  kingdom of God in its fullness. All is completed. All is renewed. All is at rest. The true
  New World has begun. It is the fulfillment of the work of Christ for us.
24:1-4 The pure oil was for the golden lampstand that stood in the holy place along with
  the table of the presence and the altar of incense. Only the priests were to be in the holy
  place to perform their duties by the light of this lampstand. The pure oil for the
  lampstand, however, was to be brought by the people. Thus, they and the priests were
  involved with this light.
    Christ is the Light of the world, for He enlightens all. Twice Jesus said He was the light
  of the world—in Jn 8:12 and 9:5—but He also told His followers they, too, were the light
  of the world (Mt 5:13).
24:10-15   In the heat of passion, this man reviled and denounced the Lord. “Out of the
  abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Mt 12:34). He reviled the Lord God of Israel
  and died as the penalty. We must take this situation carefully and seriously to heart. The
  Lord God of Israel, the Lord Jesus Christ, has a name above every name (Php 2:9, 10).
  Reviling Him will lead one to much more than physical death. It will lead him to eternal
  death. Nevertheless, our age is witnessing more and more of this reviling of Jesus as
  Lord.
25:1    The land was to be left at rest every seventh year. Crops were not to be sown or
  cultivated. This was a reminder that “man shall not live by bread alone” (Dt 8:3; Mt 4:4).
       The person who, without rest, pursues the temporal bread of this life will not pursue
  the eternal Bread of Life as he or she ought. Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our
  daily bread,” so as to remember that our toil alone does not give us bread. Only with the
  blessing of God do we partake of daily bread and the Bread of Life, which is eaten in the
  Eucharist. The land needs rest and man needs rest that he might pursue the true Bread.
25:8     The property a Jew possessed was not his own. It was God's land, given to the
  individual only as a stewardship (see 25:23). And to preserve this spirit, every fiftieth year
  the land reverted back to its original owners—rural houses returned to their original
  families, and people were freed from bondage into which for one reason or another they
  had come. In this way, no one family could amass great and permanent fortunes in the
  land, to be passed down from century to century. Everything and everyone belonged to
  God. The Year of Remission occurred after every seventh sabbatical year, or every fifty
  years.
       The Year of Remission foreshadowed the ultimate fullness of God's kingdom. It was
  actually the eighth year after the seventh of the sevens, making it the first year of the new
  cycle. It looked forward to that ultimate “eighth year” after which there is no first again.
       Here is the rich foreshadowing of the kingdom of God, wherein all are freed and there
  is no more bondage. No longer are there any poor or disenfranchised. All are free in
  Christ. Everyone and all things are at rest. “There remains therefore a rest for the people
  of God” (Heb 4:9). Some blessings of the coming kingdom are experienced in this age, but
  all these blessings will be available in the world to come, wherein all things are restored
  unto the ages of ages (Acts 3:19–21).
25:9 The Year of Remission began on the Day of Atonement when the priest came out of
  the holy of holies, having sprinkled the blood of the sin offering before the Lord. What a
  remarkable picture! Restoration and freedom began when atonement was made and the
  priest came out.
     When Jesus our Great High Priest comes forth from the heavenly holy of holies and
  the last trumpet shall sound at His glorious second coming, then His own will have
  eternal restoration and freedom from any bondage. Even the earth and all creation shall
  be renewed. Rev 21:1, 5 says, “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first
  heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. . . . Then He who
  sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for
  these words are true and faithful.’”
26:3   The Law of Moses could only promise blessings pertaining to the comforts of this
  present life. But the Law of Christ promises in the midst of sufferings on His behalf the
  blessings of eternal life in the kingdom of God (JohnCas).
27:1 The subject matter of this chapter is quite different from the rest of the book. It deals
  with voluntary vows made to God not called for in the Law. However, such vows were not
  prohibited. One could choose to make vows, and if he did, there were terms and
  conditions governing them.
     There is likely little typological value in these vows. Further, no vows are called for in
  the new covenant. However, some choose to make vows to God. These are not forbidden,
  though it is important we not imagine that we curry grace with God by making them.
  Perhaps above all, we must be aware that if we should make a vow to God, we must
  follow through in keeping it: “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; / For
  He has no pleasure in fools. / Pay what you have vowed. / Better not to vow than to vow
  and not pay” (Ecc 5:4, 5).
1:1   The Lord who conversed with Moses in the tabernacle was the Word and Son of God,
  for He was the Lawgiver. Moses, in turn, gave His laws to Israel. The tabernacle was a
  type of the flesh the Son assumed in the womb of the Mother of God when He became
  incarnate (Jn 1:14). After His Incarnation, He also conversed with Moses on the Mount of
  Transfiguration (Mt 17:4). This conversation on the Mount calls to mind the talks
  between the two in the tabernacle. Although the Jews claimed He taught and worked
  contrary to the Law (Jn 8:5, 6; 9:29), the presence of Moses with Him on the Mount
  refutes this charge.
1:2-3   The Lord commanded a census to be taken in Israel to draft an army for war. This
  census shows the militant nature of Israel in warfare. Israel was a type of the Church,
  “the Israel of God” (Gal 6:16; see Rom 2:28, 29), and the Church is also militant.
  However, the warfare of the Church is spiritual and evangelistic in nature (Eph 6:10–20).
  The spiritual enemies are the sinful passions, death, and the devil. Evangelism is to bring
  as many as will come into the kingdom of God and is to continue up to the end, when the
  kingdom will be fully established (Mt 24:14).
1:47-49 The ministry of the Levites also shows the militant nature of Israel in worship, for
  they were Israel's “clergy.” All other Israelites were “laity.” However, both were to be
  militant in worship, for no one was excused from worshiping the true God. The Levites
  had their assigned responsibilities in the worship, as did the people. The various
  responsibilities of both are described in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
      The Church also has ordained clergy, and both clergy and laity are to be militant in
  worship, for no one is excused from worshiping the true God. The clergy have their
  assigned duties, and the laity as well. The various responsibilities of both are described
  throughout the Holy Tradition of the Church.
1:50 The Levites were ordained to minister liturgically, for divine worship is liturgical in
  nature; this liturgical nature is mentioned about forty-five times throughout Numbers.
  The word liturgy means “the work of the people.” In Israel, this included the Levites and
  the twelve tribes, that is, all “the children of Israel” (v. 49), with the Levites having their
  special liturgical service in the tabernacle.
     The worship of the Church is also liturgical in nature and includes both clergy and laity.
  The apostles were ministering liturgically in Acts 13:2 when the Holy Spirit spoke to
  them. The same word is used here as in the Book of Numbers. This same word is also
  used numerous times in Hebrews to describe the liturgical worship of the Church as the
  fulfillment of Israel's liturgical worship (Heb 1:7, 14; 8:2, 6; 9:21; 10:11).
1:53   The Lord was present in the midst of Israel's liturgical worship, as He is in the Divine
  Liturgy of His Holy Church. Spontaneity in worship has no biblical precedent.
2:2   The twelve tribes camped around the four sides of the tabernacle, facing it, in groups
  of three tribes; the Levites camped around the tabernacle proper (v. 17), for they were its
  caretakers and guards. So the Lord and His worship were to be the central focus of every
  Israelite's life. The Son of God became incarnate and is the central focus of the Church.
  Thus, at the end of the Great Litany, the Church prays, “Let us commend ourselves and
  each other and all our life unto Christ our God.”
2:3 The tribe of Judah camped on the east side of the tabernacle, and Christ would come
  from that tribe (Heb 7:14). The word east is a synonym of the word orient, from which the
  word orientation is derived. The prophet Zechariah prophesied that Christ would be
  called “the East” or “the Orient” (Zec 3:9). The prophet Malachi said He would rise up
  from the east, and thus, calls Him “the Sun of Righteousness” (Mal 4:2). Therefore, every
  Israelite was to orient his life around Christ, the Orient.
     Likewise, every Church member is to orient his life around Christ; otherwise, he will
  become “disoriented.” The Church whenever possible worships toward the east, “looking
  unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:2).
3:6-9 The tribe of Levi was presented to Aaron and his sons to minister liturgically with
  them. The service of the priests and the Levites was on behalf of the children of Israel.
  Aaron's sons were priests, but Aaron himself was the high priest. The other Levites
  assisted in the liturgical worship.
     The liturgical service of the priests and Levites was a type of liturgical service in the
  Church. The high priest was a type of Christ, our Great High Priest and “the Shepherd and
  Overseer [Bishop] of our souls” (1Pt 2:25). The bishops are living icons of Christ, the high
  priests of the Church. Similarly, the priests in the Church are also icons of Christ and
  serve liturgically with the bishop under whom they are assigned as his spiritual sons.
     The Levites served liturgically with Aaron and his sons, as their assistants. They were
  types of the deacons, who assist the bishop in the liturgical worship; and when the bishop
  is not present, they assist the priest.
3:11-13 Num 3:11–13, 40–51: The Lord ransomed the firstborn sons of Israel in Egypt with
  the blood of a lamb; therefore, the firstborn sons belonged to Him. Fourteen months later
  in the Wilderness of Sinai (1:1), He accepted the males in the tribe of Levi (a month old
  and above—22,000 in number) as a ransom payment for the firstborn of the twelve tribes.
  Thus an exchange took place in which the Levites became the Lord's liturgical ministers
  of the tabernacle. However, the census among the firstborn of the twelve tribes revealed
  the number of Israel's firstborn sons to be 22,373. Therefore, a ransom payment was
  owed to the Lord for this excess number of 373 of Israel's firstborn males. These males
  were required to ransom themselves by paying the Levites a redemption tax which totaled
  1365 shekels (v. 50). This redemption tax became a tradition in Israel. The firstborn
  males were required to pay this tax in their hometowns.
    Jesus' hometown in His adulthood was Capernaum. So on one occasion in Capernaum,
  Peter was asked if his teacher paid this tax (Mt 17:24–27). Peter replied, “Yes.” However,
  Jesus had no obligation to pay the tax because He is the Son of the King, the heavenly
  Father, and Jesus, too, is King. Kings exact tax payments from their subjects, not from
  their sons. Nevertheless, to avoid offense, Jesus told Peter to catch a fish, and it would
  have money in its mouth to pay the tax—not only for Himself, but also for Peter. For
  Peter, too, was a firstborn son. So this tax payment from the mouth of the fish
  demonstrated Jesus to be the Lord and King over creation and the eternal Son of the
  heavenly King, the Father (JohnChr). This also demonstrated it was the Son of God, the
  King Himself, who ordered the redemption tax to be paid when Israel was in the
  Wilderness of Sinai.
4:1 Num 4:1, 16, 29: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari were the sons of Levi (Ex 6:16). Their
  lineage, in turn, would be assigned as the liturgical ministers of the tabernacle. The
  Scripture refers to the tabernacle and its liturgical service of worship by various words, all
  of which show the temporal nature of this worship. These Scripture passages are as
  follows:
    Ex 25:40 (also quoted in Heb 8:5): “See to it that you make [all things] according to the
  pattern shown you on the mountain.” Heb 8:5: “[The priests] serve the copy and shadow
  of the heavenly things.” Heb 9:23: “Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the
  things in the heavens should be purified with these.” Heb 9:9: “It was symbolic for the
  present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered.” Heb 9:24: “For Christ has not
  entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven
  itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Heb 10:1: “For the law, having a
  shadow of the good things to come . . .” Heb 11:19: “. . . from which [Abraham] also
  received [Isaac] in a figurative sense.”
     The various words therefore are “pattern,” “copy,” “shadow,” “figure,” and “symbol,” all
  of which carry the same meaning, namely, one level of reality that represents and is
  fulfilled in another and greater level. Therefore, the Old Testament liturgical service of
  worship was temporal in nature, and is fulfilled in the greater reality of the Church's
  liturgical worship. Liturgical worship in the Church is called “heaven on earth,” for it
  fulfills the types.
4:5   The overshadowing veil was a type of the life-giving flesh of Christ (Heb 10:20). For
  Christ is God in the flesh; therefore, His holy body and blood give eternal life to those
  joined in union and communion with Him. In the Divine Liturgy, the Church offers up
  the bread and wine of the offertory to Him, and He gives these back to the Church as His
  precious body and blood.
4:7 The table of presentation was located in the holy place of the tabernacle. Among its
  furnishings were the bowls for pouring the drink-offerings of wine (see 15:5, 7, 10)
  and the perpetual loaves of bread.
     The bread and the wine on the table of presentation were types of Christ's body and
  blood in the Eucharist. (A type is one level of reality that represents and is fulfilled in
  another and greater level, which is called the antitype.) Thus, the bread and wine on the
  table of presentation represented and are fulfilled in Christ's body and blood in the
  Eucharist.
5:2-4 Leprosy was a type of sin. Jesus went out of the camp and became a leper on our
  behalf. He Himself was not a leper, for He knew no sin, but He took pity on us lepers and
  became a disgrace for our sakes.
5:7   Confession of wrongs to a neighbor must be accompanied by restitution. Zacchaeus
  went beyond this law and made restitution fourfold, plus he gave half his goods to the
  poor. Thus, he “bore fruits worthy of repentance” (Mt 3:8). So Jesus said to him, “Today
  salvation has come to this house” (Lk 19:9).
6:2   An extraordinary vow was a vow not required by the Law of Moses. It was strictly
  voluntary, and when such a vow was made, the one making it was held accountable to
  fulfill it (Ps 49:14; Ecc 5:4).
6:22-26 These verses describe the blessings by the priests upon the people: the purpose is
  to put the Lord's name on them. The blessing itself is contained in vv. 24–26. Bishops and
  priests in the Church also put the Lord's name on people when they bless them with their
  hands in the form of the cross.
7:2-5 Num 7:2–5, 84: The twelve rulers brought gifts, including sacrificial animals, to the
  Lord for the dedication of the altar of whole burnt offering. These gifts would be used in
  the liturgical service of the Levites in the tabernacle. In the new covenant liturgical
  service of worship, we are to offer our whole lives as whole burnt offerings to God. Rom
  12:1, 2 describes this offering: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
  that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your
  reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
  renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect
  will of God.”
8:6   Num 8:6, 7, 19: In the liturgical service of worship, the children of Israel could not
  draw near the holy things, for their bodies were not purified by the water of
  purification, as were the Levites. Under the new covenant, the Levites are the clergy of
  the Church who officiate at the altar. However, in the liturgical service of worship, both
  clergy and laity draw near the heavenly holy of holies by the blood of Jesus. The
  conditions for entering the heavenly holy of holies are “a true heart in full assurance of
  faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with
  pure water” (Heb 10:22).
9:3   Pascha, or Passover, was to be kept according to its rule and practice. Its “rule
  and practice” refers to its liturgical order of service and worship. This was spelled out very
  carefully in the Law of Moses. In the Church, the rule and practice of Pascha is also
  carefully spelled out in Holy Tradition as the Church moves through its liturgical order of
  service and worship in Great Lent, Holy Week, and the Easter season.
9:6-9 The Law of Moses could not cover every situation that might arise regarding Pascha.
  For this law did not exist in a vacuum to itself. Rather, it was ever united to the Lawgiver,
  the Son of God, who speaks to His people. Similarly, the Holy Tradition of the Church
  cannot cover every situation that might arise. The Good Shepherd speaks to His Church,
  and those who have ears to hear follow Him (Jn 10:27).
9:21    When the cloud ascended from the tabernacle, Israel would break camp and move
  toward the promised land. Therefore, their liturgical worship was to be dynamic and not
  static. They had an objective to achieve. Psalms 120–133 are called “Odes of Ascent.”
  These odes reveal aspects of the dynamic and living nature of liturgical worship.
       Similarly, the Lord ascended into heaven to teach the Church the dynamic and living
  nature of worship. For liturgical worship is like an ascent in which the worshipers draw
  near and enter the heavenly holy of holies. The final objective is “the resurrection from
  the dead and the life of the world to come” (Creed).
10:10   The Son of God is the I Am, the Lord God of Israel (Jn 8:58; Ex 3:14). He is one of
  the three Persons of the Holy Trinity.
10:29   Moses informed his brother-in-law of the purpose for breaking camp. It was to
  head for the place the Lord spoke of. This place was Canaan, the land of promise. For
  the Church, the land of promise is the kingdom of God, the fullness of which will be
  realized in the world to come. As the Church passes through this present world, she
  partakes of the kingdom to the extent of the grace she experiences and expresses. In this
  sense, the Church is God's kingdom in this world, and she will be His kingdom in the
  fullest sense in the new world.
10:29   Moses informed his brother-in-law of the purpose for breaking camp. It was to
  head for the place the Lord spoke of. This place was Canaan, the land of promise. For
  the Church, the land of promise is the kingdom of God, the fullness of which will be
  realized in the world to come. As the Church passes through this present world, she
  partakes of the kingdom to the extent of the grace she experiences and expresses. In this
  sense, the Church is God's kingdom in this world, and she will be His kingdom in the
  fullest sense in the new world.
10:33-36 Rise up, O Lord was a foreshadowing of Christ's Resurrection, and return, O
  Lord, of His second coming.
11:1-3 This place was called Burning (v. 3) because the Lord hates grumbling, which is an
  expression of ingratitude. This was written to admonish us not to grumble, complain, and
  murmur about things we may not like (1Co 10:10, 11). Grumbling is one of the sins that
  undermines spiritual stability: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he
  fall” (1Co 10:12). We are to do all things without grumbling; otherwise, our lights will not
  shine in the midst of the fallen world (Php 2:14, 15).
11:4-34   This place was called Graves of Lust (v. 34) because the desires of the people
  were out of control (hungered exceedingly, v. 4). Thus, many of them died.
     In itself, desire is a blameless passion. But if it is not controlled, it can go astray and
  become a sinful passion—for example, gluttony. Now the children of Israel and the
  Gentiles who came with them out of Egypt were grumbling about food, which, in turn,
  caused them to lose control of their desires. This resulted in gluttony (v. 32). Their belly
  became their god (Php 3:19). Grumbling and gluttony are an evil combination.
11:16 Num 11:16, 17, 24–29: This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of Pentecost.
11:17 Num 11:17, 25, 26, 29: The Spirit is the Holy Spirit, one of the three Persons in the
  Holy Trinity. Therefore, Moses believed in the Trinity, and those who claim him as a
  forefather should also embrace his faith.
12:5-7 The Lord who descended is the Son of God. He is over the house, whereas Moses
  was a faithful servant within His house (v. 7; Heb 3:1–6).
12:10   Miriam's contentious and bitter spirit caused her to become leprous. Leprosy was a
  type of sin, and sins, such as a contentious spirit, eat away at the soul.
13:1-3   The pre-incarnate Lord spoke to Moses and commanded that twelve spies, one
  leader from each tribe, be sent to spy out the land of Canaan, for the Word was the
  Commander and Moses the obedient servant. The Lord promised to give them this land,
  for the world belongs to Him and He gives it to whom He wills, when He wills, for as long
  as He wills. He is the sovereign Lord of all.
13:4-16 The names of twelve men are given, two of whom were Caleb (v. 6) and Hoshea (v.
  8), whose name Moses changed to Joshua (v. 16). Caleb's name means “bold,” or
  “confident,” and Joshua's, “savior.” Both names together signify two aspects of faith—
  confident faith and saving faith. Both men knew the Lord, and their faith in Him was of
  both aspects.
13:17-25 The twelve men spied out the land for forty days (v. 25), all the way up to Rehob,
  near the Valley of Hamath (v. 21). In their journey, Hebron (v. 22) is singled out for
  notice. Here, in the Valley of Eshcol, the spies cut a cluster of grapes and named the place
  Valley of Eshcol—or “Cluster.” This cluster confirmed the Lord's word that the promised
  land was one of milk and honey.
     This cluster of grapes was a type of the Mother of God, for God the Word derived His
  body and blood from her. Moreover, in the Eucharist, the wine of the grapes becomes, in
  a mystery, His body and blood. The Church's participation in this mystery is a foretaste of
  the land of promise—the world to come, the eternal kingdom of God.
13:26-33   The spies returned to Israel and showed them the fruit of a land flowing with
  milk and honey (vv. 26, 27). But there was a barrier—there were well-armed and
  strategically prepared people in the land: the Amalekites, the Hittites, the Jebusites, the
  Amorites, and the Canaanites, along with the descendants of Anak, who were giants (vv.
  28, 29, 33). This problem overcame the seeing-is-believing kind of faith, as ten out of the
  twelve spies gave a bad-news report (vv. 30, 31). Yes, the land flowed with milk and
  honey, but using only human reason, they concluded that victory against such obstacles
  was impossible. Thus, their faulty reasoning and unnatural fear destroyed what little faith
  they possessed. But Joshua and Caleb possessed a bold and saving faith in the Lord, for
  their faith was beyond the seeing-is-believing kind. They saw Him who is invisible.
     The various tribes of Gentiles listed here are types of the sinful passions, which at
  times seem impossible to overcome. But those possessing a boldly confident and saving
  faith will be zealous like Joshua and Caleb, knowing the Lord Jesus Christ is able to help
  them overcome their temptations and sins. Such faith propels them toward the land of
  promise—the world to come.
14:1-4 Unbelief produced vices in the congregation. They were depressed and melancholy
  (cried and wept that night, v. 1). They rebelled against their godly leadership (against
  Moses and Aaron, v. 2). They were cowards (fall in war, v. 3). Their thinking was
  irrational (wives and children shall be plundered; return to Egypt, v. 3). They
  made an irrational choice (select a ruler and return to Egypt, v. 4). Unbelief toward
  the Lord produces many vices—especially irrational choices, for unbelief is contrary to a
  rational mind.
14:6-9 But Joshua and Caleb were strong in faith, which produced virtues in them. They
  desired the land of promise (extremely good land, v. 7). They believed the Lord was
  with them in the fight (bring us into this land, v. 8). They stood against unbelief (do
  not apostatize, v. 9). They were willing to be martyrs (stone them with stones, v. 10).
  The Son of God stood with them (appeared in the cloud, v. 10).
14:11   The Lord asked two questions to show us His opposition to unbelief. Even the
  miracles He performed could not bring the people to faith. Neither did the miracles He
  performed after His Incarnation win them over (Jn 10:38). Nevertheless, out of His love
  for them, He gave them every opportunity to believe. Unbelief is a deep-seated evil.
14:12   Unbelief leads to death and self-destruction. For there is no remedy for unbelief. It
  ultimately led them to the loss of God's kingdom (Mt 21:43), as it does for all (Rom
  11:22).
14:13-20 Moses' major concern was the Lord's name, for he loved Him with all his heart.
  He also loved his neighbor as himself, for he was also concerned for the people. The Lord
  revealed Moses' virtues as an example of true faith for all to see.
14:21   The earth will be part of the world to come, for it shall be filled with the glory of
  the Lord.
14:22-38   Just as unbelief kept the children of Israel from the land of promise, so it will
  keep us from the promise of the world to come if we fail to live by faith (Heb 3; 4).
14:39-45   Their confession of sin was empty, for they did not amend their ways. Their
  confession did not lead to obedience, for unbelief ruled them (you transgress the word
  of the Lord, v. 41).
15:1, 2   The Lord's word would not fail, for Israel would inherit the land of promise, but
  without the unbelievers. Even their unbelief could not nullify the promises of God (Rom
  3:3, 4).
15:3-16 Once in the land of promise, Israel was to offer two additional sacrifices together
  with their whole burnt offerings (vv. 3–12). One was to consist of fine flour mixed with
  oil, and the other of wine as a drink offering.
    The fine flour was a type of the bread in the Eucharist. And fine speaks of Christ's body
  as being pure. The fine flour, when mingled with oil, was a type of the Holy Spirit, who is
  called down at the epiclesis in the Divine Liturgy. The wine of the drink offering was a
  type of the blood of Christ in the Eucharist. These types were fulfilled by the Lord on
  Great and Holy Thursday when He established the Eucharist with His disciples.
     In Israel, the same sacrificial laws governing the native-born Jews also applied to the
  resident aliens, who were Gentiles (vv. 13–16). This reveals the Eucharist in the new
  covenant would be both for Jews and Gentiles.
16:1, 2 Korah rose up before Moses. Scripture calls this “the rebellion of Korah” (Jude
  11). He was a Levite, and therefore a member of the “clergy.” He also influenced two
  hundred fifty “laity,” who were rulers of the congregation, chosen members of the
  council and men of note. This was no small-time rebellion.
16:3-4 The rebels accused Moses and Aaron of self-exaltation, the very sin of which they
  themselves were guilty. Self-exaltation is vainglory, the root of all sins. Moses, on the
  other hand, fell on his face, for he was the most humble man in all the earth.
     It is fine to be praised by another, but not by oneself: “Let your neighbor praise you,
  and not your own mouth, / A stranger, and not your own lips” (Pr 27:2). However, one is
  tested when praised by others: “But a man is tested by the mouth of those who praise
  him” (Pr 27:22). Korah, however, failed this test, for he “loved the praise of men more
  than the praise of God” (Jn 12:43).
16:22-24 Moses raised a crucial question before the Lord: “If one man sinned, will the
  Lord's anger be on all the congregation?” The Lord's answer was clear: “Withdraw
  from around Korah's company.” In other words, the Lord's answer was, “No.”
  Furthermore, Korah's sons were not guilty because of their father's sin, for they did not
  perish with him (26:11).
     Moses' question, the Lord's answer, and the longevity of Korah's sons refute the false
  doctrine of original sin. This evil doctrine teaches that Adam's offspring (all mankind) are
  guilty before God because of their father's transgression. This teaching is false, because
  each man is guilty before God for his own transgressions.
17:2 Strange fire was unauthorized worship. Korah was a Levite but not a priest, and only
  priests of the Aaronic priesthood were authorized to offer worship on behalf of Israel. Nor
  were the two hundred fifty “laity” so authorized.
     The priests and bishops of the Melchizedek priesthood in the Church are the only ones
  authorized to offer up the holy gifts in the Divine Liturgy on behalf of the Church. These
  holy gifts become the body and blood of Christ in a mystery.
17:3-5 The two hundred fifty copper censers were beaten into plates and sanctified by the
  altar of whole burnt offering to which they were attached. They were fastened there as a
  sign and a memorial for the children of Israel. A sign is a visible seal of some truth
  revealed in a memorial. In this case, the copper plates fastened to the altar were the sign,
  and the memorial was the truth revealed in the sign. Thus, the memorial in this sign was
  that no outsider who is not of Aaron's seed should put incense before the Lord
  and be like Korah and his insurrection.
    Israel had a short memory, for the next day after the copper plates were fastened to the
  altar, they rebelled again (v. 6).
17:6-15   The high priest Aaron took his censer, put hot coals in it, threw incense on the
  coals, then censed the people. This action made atonement for them, and the plague
  ceased. Christ our Great High Priest offered His life-giving body on the cross (the hot
  coals from the altar). The smoke of incense ascends, and Christ the Great High Priest
  ascended into the heavenly holy of holies, and sprinkled the life-giving blood of His cross
  on the heavenly altar.
17:16-26    The Lord gave Israel another sign (v. 25) to cure their rebellion. Aaron's rod
  sprouted and put forth buds, and had produced blossoms and yielded ripe
  almonds (v. 23). These buds, blossoms, and almonds speak of life and fruits. The life-
  giving rod was a type of the life-giving cross.
19:1, 2   The Son of God, the Lord, spoke both to Moses and Aaron. He spoke of the
  injunction of the law, whatever the Lord ordered. Therefore, the Son of God and
  His law must always be seen as being connected. They should never be thought of as
  disconnected, which is legalism, the disconnection between the law and the Lawgiver.
19:9-17 The ashes of the burnt offering of purification were placed in a vessel, and running
  water was poured over them. Thus, the ashes and the water were mixed together, and this
  became water of purification, a type of the Sacrament of Baptism.
20:1-5 The Desert of Sin was characterized as a place where nothing is sown, neither
  figs nor vines nor pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink (v. 5). The
  people had the opportunity to respond in one of two ways: be thankful or be frustrated.
  They chose frustration.
20:11-12 Moses struck the rock in unbelief, and this action would keep him from leading
  Israel into the land of promise. It is unbelief to disobey the Lord's direction, for He told
  Moses to take the rod and speak to the rock (v. 8). However, he struck the rock twice. So
  he violated the type.
     This rock represented the spiritual Rock, Christ Himself, for it was He who ordered
  Moses to speak to the rock (1Co 10:4). After His Incarnation, He would be smitten once,
  not twice, for the sins of the world (Rom 6:10). From His life-giving cross would come the
  waters of life, “springing up into everlasting life” (Jn 4:14).
20:13   This event in vv. 1–12 was called the Water of Contention for two reasons: first,
  because of Israel's scoffing, and second, because the Lord was sanctified among them.
  In spite of Israel's scoffing, Christ in His power gave them water to drink.
20:16   His Angel is the Word and Son of God, for it was He who brought Israel up out
  of Egypt with His almighty power.
20:28     Aaron's death revealed the weakness and temporary nature of the Aaronic
  priesthood, for it could not overcome death. But Christ destroyed death by His death;
  therefore, His priesthood continues unto ages of ages (Heb 7:23–25).
21:9     The people who looked on the copper serpent on the signal pole lived. They lived
  because the motionless copper serpent signaled that the power of the venom in them was
  now dead.
       The serpent bit Adam in the Garden of Eden, and his venom eventually caused him to
  die physically and decay in the grave: “So all the days Adam lived were nine hundred and
  thirty years, and he died” (Gn 5:5). Death also came into the world through him (Rom
  5:12).
       When Christ hung motionless on the cross (Jn 3:14), His dead body signaled the end of
  death's reign over man's body, for “He trampled down death by His death, upon those in
  the tombs bestowing life” (sung by the Church at Easter). The copper serpent “saved
  those who looked upon it, not because it lived, but because it was killed, and killed with it
  the powers that were subject to it, being destroyed as it deserved. And what is the fitting
  epitaph for it from us? ‘O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory’ (1Co
  15:55). You are overthrown by the cross; you are slain by Him who is the Giver of life; you
  are without breath, dead, without motion, even though you keep the form of a serpent
  lifted up on high on a pole” (GrgTheo).
22:22-38 The Angel is the Word and Son of God. He warned Balaam to speak only what
  He told him to speak: “Only the word I may speak to you, this you must be
  careful to speak” (v. 35). Later, Balaam told Balak he could only speak whatever
  word God may put in my mouth, this I must speak (v. 38). Thus, Balaam called the
  Angel “God.”
22:22-27    The donkey knew his Master and Creator, for she saw Him. However, Balaam
  could not see Him because of his darkened heart. Likewise, when this Angel, who is the
  Word, became flesh, neither Israel nor the world at large knew Him (Jn 1:10, 11), but the
  donkey and the ox knew Him at His birth in the cave.
    In the Christmas icon, the donkey stands nearest Christ in the cave, and next to it the
  ox, for they knew their Master and Creator, but Israel did not know Him, as Isaiah
  prophesied (Is 1:3, 4).
23:5   God the Word put a word in Balaam's mouth, just as He said He would in 22:35.
23:7   The Spirit is the Holy Spirit, and God is God the Father. The Holy Spirit spoke by
  the prophet Balaam (“the Holy Spirit . . . who spoke by the prophets”—Creed). Therefore,
  the Holy Trinity is revealed in vv. 5 and 7, for where One of the Persons is present,
  present also are the other Two.
23:10   Speaking by the Spirit of God, Balaam could wish the greatest possible good for
  himself, namely, for his soul to die with the souls of the righteous, for in this wish
  there is no fear of death. For he who dies in Christ is made a partaker of His
  righteousness in baptism. (AmbM)
24:2 Num 24:2, 3, 5–9, 17, 18: This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of the Nativity of
  the Lord.
24:7   The Man is the Word become flesh (Jn 1:14). He is true Man and true God. He
  became Man to bring man into His kingdom, if they willingly follow Him there.
24:9   In His burial, this Man was like a lion resting in a cave. Those who bless this Man are
  blessed, but those who curse Him bring a curse on themselves.
24:17   Christ is the Star (Mt 2:2) and the Man who rose from the dead (rise out of
  Jacob and out of Israel). The three wise men of the East knew this prophecy, and when
  they saw His star, they followed it to the cave where He was born.
24:25   Balaam taught Balak “to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat
  things sacrificed to idols” (Rev 2:14; see Nm 31:16). Soon afterward, the Israelites killed
  Balaam with the sword when they killed the kings of Midian (31:8; Jos 13:22).
25:1, 2 Balaam counseled Israel through Balak to commit fornication and to worship idols
  (31:16; Rev 2:14). For he perceived the weakness in the souls of the Israelites. What was
  that weakness? Their souls were subject to their desires, rather than the opposite. For
  when desires control the soul, it easily falls into fornication and idolatry (JohnCas).
25:7-8 The spear speaks of baptism, which kills corrupt desires in those who walk in their
  newness of life. “When we are aware of the devil's attacks, we should repeat to ourselves
  the apostolic words: ‘As many of us as were baptized into Christ were baptized into His
  death’ (Rom 6:3). Now if we have been conformed to His death, sin henceforth in us is
  surely a corpse, pierced through by the spear of baptism, as that fornicator was thrust
  through by the zealous Phinehas” (GrgNy).
26:64-65    The first census of the men of war was 603,550 (1:46). From this massive
  number, only two survived to enter the land of promise! Why? Because they always went
  astray in their heart and did not know the Lord's ways (Ps 94:10; Heb 3:10). Their hearts
  were blinded by rebellion against the Lord, who said of them, “They shall surely die in
  the desert.” Therefore, we, too, are admonished, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any
  of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” (Heb 3:12). This evil
  heart of unbelief is equated with the sin of rebellion, which is inexcusable.
27:5-7 The daughters of Zelophehad would have their share in the inheritance when Israel
  entered the land of promise. Therefore, Christ saw these faithful women as coequal with
  the men. They were not, so to speak, “second-class citizens” in His sight. Equality in
  Christ also holds true in the Church, for both men and women are “heirs together of the
  grace of life” (1Pt 3:7).
27:12   Moses would see the land of promise, but he could not possess it. But this was no
  great loss to him compared to his true vision. For he saw “the resurrection of the dead
  and the life of the world to come” (Creed; see Heb 11:26). He waited eagerly to possess
  this inheritance.
27:14   Moses' failure to sanctify the Lord at the Water of Contention did not disqualify him
  from his true inheritance. In spite of his sin, he was the most humble man on the earth,
  and humility is “the beginning and the end of salvation” (JohnChr).
27:16   Moses acknowledged Christ as the God of the spirits of all flesh, and therefore,
  so are the Father and the Holy Spirit. For the three Persons are one in essence and
  undivided.
27:17   Joshua was the new shepherd of Israel. Both he and Moses were types of Christ,
  “the great Shepherd of the sheep” (Heb 13:20). For as they were over the house of Israel,
  so He is over the Church. However, there are multitudes without this Shepherd;
  therefore, He commanded us to pray that He “send out laborers into the harvest” (Mt
  9:36–38).
27:18   The Spirit is the Holy Spirit. Truly, Moses believed the one God to be the Father,
  the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
28:1-39 The Son of God spoke to Moses, and the things He spoke on this occasion cover
  chs. 28 and 29. These two chapters form a comprehensive, complete, and well-ordered
  arrangement of Israel's liturgical worship in any given calendar year. These liturgics,
  given in various places in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, are here brought together as
  one unified whole. And once Israel completed their conquest of Canaan, these could be
  put into effect.
     Israel's liturgical worship existed for the sanctification of the time and life of every
  Israelite. It sanctified time and life, because it was arranged around the number seven. Its
  beginning point and center was in the seventh day of the week—the Sabbath day. And the
  number seven was regulated according to the divisions of time established at Creation
  (Gn 1–11)—into days, weeks, months, years, and periods of years.
     Thus, the liturgical worship ascended from (1) the daily offerings (Ex 29:38–42; Nm
  28:3–8), to (2) the weekly offerings (Ex 20:8–11; Lv 23:3; Nm 28:9, 10), to (3) the
  monthly offerings (Nm 28:11–15), to (4) the yearly offerings (Ex 12:1–20; 23:15, 16;
  34:22; Lv 16:1–34; 23:1–44; Nm 28:16–29:38), to (5) the sabbatical year (Ex 23:10, 11; Lv
  25:1–7), and eventually to (6) the Year of Remission (Lv 25:8–55; 27:17–25).
     Israel's liturgical worship was designed to sanctify time and all life. This sanctification
  would make the offerings to be a sweet aroma to the Lord (28:2). For the Lord was
  well-pleased when the Israelites were sanctified to the extent possible under Old
  Testament worship.
28:2   When Israel offered what the Lord commanded, they were only returning to Him
  what was His in the first place. The same is true of our offerings in the Church. “When we
  make a return we give nothing of our own, but those things which we have before
  received from Christ, this being especially of His grace, that He should require, as from
  us, His own gifts. He bears witness to this in Numbers when He says: ‘My gifts, My
  presents, My burnt offerings, you shall take care to offer Me as a sweet aroma in my
  feasts.’ That is, those things you give Me are yours, as having received them from Me, but
  they are the gifts of God. Let us offer to the Lord every virtue, and that true holiness
  which is in Him, and in piety let us keep the feast to Him with those things He hallowed
  for us” (AthanG).
30:1   Moses' greatness lay in the fact that he passed on to Israel everything the Son of
  God—the Lord—commanded. For He was “over His own house,” whereas Moses was His
  faithful servant “in all His house” (Heb 3:5, 6). We also are in His house, “if we hold fast
  the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” (Heb 3:6).
31:8-16 Balaam had prophesied in the Lord's name (chs. 22–24), but he caused Israel to
  worship idols and commit fornication (25:1–3; Rev 2:14). He became a false prophet and
  in the end was killed for his actions, because he despised the Lord's word and taught
  Israel to do the same. He replaced love for the true God with love for money. His false
  love then led him to worship Baal and to commit fornication. As St. Paul said, “The love of
  money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1Ti 6:10). Money in itself is not the root of all evil.
  The love of money is, for as the Lord said, “You cannot serve God and mammon [riches]”
  (Mt 6:24). The love of money is idolatry (Col 3:5).
    Today, “many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1Jn 4:1). They “run greedily
  in the error of Balaam for profit” (Jude 11). “They have forsaken the right way and gone
  astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of
  unrighteousness” (2Pt 2:15). Like Balaam, they have “eyes full of adultery and that cannot
  cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices,
  and are accursed children” (2Pt 2:14). They “secretly bring in destructive heresies, even
  denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction” (2Pt 2:1).
31:21-24   The Midianites were corrupted by the love of money, idolatry, and fornication;
  therefore, everything taken from them had to be purified either by fire or water. Fire
  speaks of the Holy Spirit, and the water of purification foreshadows the waters of
  baptism. For in the baptismal waters, the Holy Spirit cleanses us with His fire, and we are
  born anew in union with Christ in His death, burial, and Resurrection. The old man of
  covetousness, idolatry, and fornication is crucified with Christ, and the new man is
  renewed to live in virtue and holiness (Rom 6:3–5; Jn 3:3–5; Mt 3:11).
32:5-7 The armies of Israel secured the lands east of the Jordan, which were suitable for
  cattle. The sons of Reuben and Gad requested these lands as their inheritance, without
  the necessity of crossing the Jordan to help their brothers fight for theirs. So they
  appealed to Moses as the arbitrator and judge. But Moses called these sons “a body of
  sinful men” (v. 14). They coveted what they saw at the expense of their brothers. This
  covetous spirit eventually led them into idolatry and into captivity in Assyria (1Ch 5:25,
  26).
     A man from the crowd asked Jesus to make his brother divide the inheritance with
  him, but Jesus declined, because He did not come to be a judge or arbitrator like Moses.
  Then He went on to say to this man, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life
  does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Lk 12:15). Jesus came to
  save the world, but we cannot be saved if we are covetous.
33:1   A stage was a particular place Israel camped during their forty-year journey from
  Egypt through the wilderness to Canaan. Thirty-eight stages are mentioned in this
  chapter. At the thirty-eighth stage, they “camped west of Moab by the Jordan opposite
  Jericho” (v. 48). From this location, they would soon cross over the Jordan for their
  conquest of Canaan, the land of promise. Life is a journey from this fallen world (Egypt
  and the wilderness) to the kingdom of God (the land of promise).
33:2     The Lord led Israel the entire way in their journey. He tested them with harsh
  experiences “to know what was in their heart” (Dt 8:2, 15; see also 29:4; 32:12, 16; Ps
  76:21; 77:14, 52, 53; 106:7).
       God's people are tested with harsh experiences, which bring out what is in the heart.
  These tests reveal whether we truly love God or not. If we pass them, they help prepare us
  for entrance into the kingdom of God (1Pt 1:3–7).
33:8   Many things that happened to Israel serve as types for us and for our instruction and
  learning (Rom 15:4; 1Co 10:6, 11). For example, Israel's passage through the Red Sea was
  a type of baptism (1Co 10:1, 2).
33:14   Israel was tested at Rephidim, but they abused Moses and tempted the Lord (Ex
  17:1–7). They failed this test, which proved they did not love God. Someone may say, “I
  love God,” but testing will prove whether or not his statement is true.
34:6   The Great Sea is the Mediterranean Sea.
35:1-8 The tribe of Levi was to be supported by the twelve tribes. These gifts enumerated
  here would teach love to the twelve, for Levi served them in the liturgical service of the
  tabernacle. Therefore, it was only fitting the twelve should show loving support to Levi
  with money and possessions. On the other hand, their love would teach the Levites
  lowliness of mind, so their liturgical service might not puff up the Levites with arrogance,
  as being above “the laity.”
      Likewise, in the New Testament, “the Lord commanded that those who preach the
  gospel should live from the gospel” (1Co 9:14). The case regarding the Levites laid a
  foundation for this. For since the dignity of a teacher sometimes elates him, the necessity
  of requiring monetary aid from those to whom he ministers helps keep him humble. On
  the other hand, those who show this love to their teacher also learn to love others as well.
  Humility, love, and gentleness are engendered on both sides (JohnChr).
1:1   The statement, these are the words, refers to the words Moses spoke in Exodus,
  Leviticus, and Numbers. They were spoken in the desert during the thirty-nine–year
  period after Israel left Egypt.
1:3   In the eleventh month of the fortieth year, Moses spoke the contents of Deuteronomy,
  “beyond the Jordan in the land of Moab” (v. 5). He spoke the words the Lord gave him to
  speak. The Lord is the Son of God, “who built the house” (Heb 3:3). Moses was “faithful
  in all His house as a servant,” but the Son is “over His own house” (Heb 3:5, 6).
1:5   In Deuteronomy, Moses began to explain the Law he had already given in the
  previous three books. The word Deuteronomy means “a second law.” The book contains
  no new set of laws. It is called “a second law” because it especially emphasizes the spirit
  of the Law, so as to stress the importance of Israel's obedience and thankfulness to God
  from the heart.
1:13   The chosen leaders were to be wise, understanding, and knowledgeable. These
  three traits should also characterize leaders in the Church: “Remember those who rule
  over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the
  outcome of their conduct” (Heb 13:7).
1:16-17 These leaders were to judge righteously by being impartial in their judgments.
  They were not to be partial to the first testimony they might hear. Impartial judgment
  means hearing all sides before judging the case. Judgment should be made with “wisdom,
  understanding, and knowledge” (v. 13); otherwise, the judgment made would be
  prejudiced.
      St. Basil the Great made reference to v. 17 in writing to a certain bishop who had
  formed a prejudiced judgment against him: “But truly, you have suffered the fate of all
  who fail to inquire into the nature of the circumstances and into the truth. You showed
  partiality by forgetting the exhortation: ‘You shall not show partiality in judgment.’”
1:26-28    Israel disobeyed the Lord's word because they revolted in their heart and
  murmured in their tents. The Law was not the problem, nor the cause of their
  rebellion. An unbelieving heart was the cause (Heb 3:7–11, 19). They judged by outward
  appearance (we saw the sons of giants there), rather than by faith in the Lord and His
  word. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2Co 5:7).
1:29-33 Their unbelieving heart was not to be cowardly (terrified or afraid). The fear of
  God produces courage, but the generation that came out of Egypt feared what they saw—
  taller and physically stronger people, large fortified cities, and even sons of giants (v. 28).
  Yet the Lord provided abundant evidence to encourage their faith, such as leading them
  with the fire by night and the cloud by day (v. 33).
     The fire and the cloud foreshadowed the Incarnation of the Son. For the cloud speaks
  of the Mother of God, and the fire of the Son conceived in her womb. The Church believes
  in the Incarnate Son and in His holy Mother. This faith is the rock on which the Church
  stands, and against which “the gates of Hades shall not prevail” (Mt 16:18).
1:41-45 The generation that came out of Egypt did not believe the Lord when He said to go
  up and take the land, nor did they believe Him when He said not to go up. They rejected
  enlightened faith, but accepted blind faith. Such is the deceitfulness of unbelief.
2:4    Esau was the twin brother of Jacob. Both were sons of Isaac, the son of Abraham.
  Therefore, the sons of Esau were called Israel's brethren. They were brethren according
  to the flesh.
      Being brethren according to the flesh qualified neither the sons of Israel (Jacob) nor
  the sons of Esau to be the children of God. “For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,
  nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham” (Rom 9:6, 7). Both Jacob
  and Esau were the seed of Abraham according to the flesh. But this did not mean they
  were the children of God.
      On what basis are people the children of God? The basis is “the word of promise” (Rom
  9:9). The promise was the word of faith given Abraham concerning the birth of Isaac,
  which word he believed, for he was strong in faith, giving glory to God (Rom 4). But those
  among the children of Israel or the children of Esau who rejected this faith would not be
  the children of God.
2:7 The generation that died in the desert had no excuse for not believing the Lord, nor did
  the new generation about to enter the land of promise. For the Lord blessed them over
  the forty-year period in spite of their unbelief. They lacked nothing.
     God's gracious promise in the Gospel of Christ either saves people or makes them hard
  and stubborn. Yet this hardness and stubbornness is of their own free will, for He never
  forces anyone to respond in faith. But He does make them the offer of peace.
3:28 The name Joshua in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament was translated into
  the Greek language as Jesus. This was true in the Greek Old Testament as well as in the
  New. This name means, “The Lord is salvation.”
    Thus, the Jesus or Joshua of the Old Testament was a type of Jesus in the New. He was
  a type of Jesus in that he will cause them to inherit the land of Canaan. But Joshua
  was unable to give Israel rest in their souls (Heb 4:8). However, the Lord Jesus said,
  “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My
  yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find
  rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Mt 11:28–30). Therefore,
  the Lord Jesus is salvation.
4:2    This statement by Moses is a commandment regarding God's commandments—a
  warning not to add to or take from them. This commandment is a warning against the
  traditions of men. In themselves, traditions are good, but the traditions of men are those
  that contradict and nullify the teachings of Scripture. Isaiah prophesied about the Jews of
  Jesus' day, who would “teach as doctrines the commandments of men” (Is 29:13; Mt
  15:1–9). Jesus called these “the tradition of men” (Mk 7:8). But the traditions handed
  down in the Church by Christ and the apostles are to be kept and honored (1Co 11:2; 2Th
  2:15; 3:6).
4:5   God's commandments in the Old Testament were to be taught and acted upon. Moses
  acted upon them, then taught them to others. This is the proper order: first keep them,
  then teach them. Those taught are then responsible to do them, for learning but not doing
  contradicts the teachings themselves. The same order holds in the New Testament
  commandments. For in the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord said that whoever “does and
  teaches” His commandments “shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:19).
  Therefore, “does and teaches” is the proper order.
4:6   He who “does and teaches” has wisdom and understanding, which will convert the
  Gentiles to the true God. To teach but not do would be hypocrisy in their sight, and
  rightly so.
4:7   God was near to Israel, which is proper to say in the relationship between the Creator
  and the creatures to whom He is near. But such a statement could never be made
  regarding the Son in relation to the Father. God is never said to be “near Him,” for as He
  said to the apostle Philip, “I am in the Father, and the Father in Me” (Jn 14:10). He is “in,”
  not “near to.” Therefore, the Son is not a creature (AthanG). Rather, he is “God of God”
  and “one in essence with the Father” (Creed). Both His words and His works proved this
  (Jn 14:11).
4:9   The children of Israel were to diligently guard their soul, lest their hearts should
  depart from the Lord's commandments. The generation that came out of Egypt let down
  their guard and fell into unbelief. Consequently, they died in the desert.
      The Scripture says, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Heb
  4:7). The word “today” indicates that as long as we are alive, we have the hope of
  recovering from our fall (JohnChr).
4:12 Deut 4:12, 15–18: The divine nature has no form; only creatures have form. Therefore,
  no form was to be made by Israel as representing God's essence. To worship any form
  that supposedly depicted God's nature would be idolatry. But the nations that surrounded
  Israel worshiped forms as though they were God.
      The Lord did instruct Israel to use certain forms in worship; however, these forms,
  such as those in the tabernacle, were not objects of worship. They did not depict the
  divine nature in any sense. Rather, they were honored as holy because they foreshadowed
  the Incarnation and the Church. Similarly, the Church uses images or icons in worship,
  but neither do these depict the divine nature. They are not objects of worship. Rather,
  they speak of the Incarnation and the angels and saints. The honor paid to these images
  passes to the ones honored.
4:13   The Ten Commandments were written on stone tablets. But now the Holy Spirit
  writes His commandments on the tablets of our hearts (2Co 3:1–3).
4:19   Nor was Israel to worship the forms in the heavens, such as the sun, the moon,
  and the stars. For the Lord assigned these to all the nations under heaven for
  their well-being. These things reveal the glory of God and “His eternal power and
  Godhead” (Rom 1:20). But the nations turned them into objects of worship, and thus fell
  away from the truth into all kinds of sin and corruption.
4:24   One meaning of the name God is “burning” (GrgTheo; JohnDm). Thus, He is called
  a consuming fire (see also Heb 12:29), and He burns up sin and corruption in the
  repentant. He cleanses them with His purifying fire (AthanG). He also gives them His
  water of life, which quenches their thirst that once burned with sins, but now yearns for
  Him and His kingdom (AmbM).
4:26   The witnesses in heaven are the holy angels (AthanG; JohnChr; GrgTheo).
4:35   There is only one God, because there is only one divine essence or nature, which is
  undivided. For God is a name indicating the divine essence (GrgTheo; JohnDm; AthanG).
  This undivided essence exists in three Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
  Moses believed this, and so does the Church.
4:39   Since God is in heaven above and on the earth beneath, that is, in all creation,
  no other god could possibly exist. For He is everywhere present and fills all things. There
  is no room for another, because He is uncircumscribed. The true God exists outside
  creation, for nothing can contain Him; rather, He contains all things in Himself, and is
  present everywhere.
5:5   The Son of God on Mt. Sinai was “a consuming fire” (4:24; Heb 12:29). His divine fire
  purified Moses from all materialistic attachments; therefore, he was able to go up on the
  mountain in the midst of this fire. The children of Israel had no access to Him because
  they were materialistic; that is, they were attached to the physical objects of this world.
  But when the Son of God became incarnate, all Israelites had easy access to Him. He even
  ate and drank with sinners (Mt 9:10–13), for He was their friend (Mt 11:19). This contrast
  between Mt. Sinai and the Incarnation is described in Heb 12:18–29.
5:6-9 The divine names Lord and God relate to I Am, because this, too, is a divine name:
  “I AM the Existing One” (Ex 3:14). He is the eternal God, without beginning or end, the
  Only-begotten of the Father; “true God of true God” (Creed). Thus, Jesus said to the Jews,
  “Before Abraham was, I AM” (Jn 8:58).
5:9   The statement, repaying the sins of the fathers upon the children to the third
  and fourth generation of those who hate Me, is not universal in application, but is
  spoken about certain ones who came out of Egypt. For after they saw the Lord's signs and
  wonders in Egypt, they committed worse sins than their forefathers who saw none of
  these things (JohnChr).
5:12   The Law of Moses was given to the children of Israel to check their rebellious spirit
  and to threaten them with divine vengeance if they persisted: “knowing this: that the law
  is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless” (1Ti 1:9). But it was also given to
  lead them to Christ, “the end of the law” (Rom 10:4; Gal 3:24).
5:29   The Law was not the problem; Moses was not the problem. For he had a heart to fear
  the Lord and to guard His commandments. The problem among the children of Israel was
  a heart problem. Their heart was attached to this world, rather than to the Lord. This
  same problem persists in many today, but the door to the kingdom remains open to those
  who are willing to be detached from materialism and turn their hearts to Him (2Co 3:16).
6:4   “By Moses saying ‘one Lord’, we understand the simple, blessed and incomprehensible
  essence of God” (AthanG). Moses is not saying the one Lord is one solitary person
  (HilryP). Rather, he is saying He is one undivided essence or nature. For person and
  nature are not the same thing (JohnDm). The divine nature exists undividedly in three
  distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Son is begotten before all
  time and ages from the essence of the Father, but His begetting does not divide the
  Father's essence. The Holy Spirit proceeds before all time and ages from the Father, but
  His procession does not divide the Father's essence. The Persons are distinct or different,
  but the essence is one and undivided. Therefore, we believe in the Holy Trinity, our one
  God and Lord.
6:12   Israel's attachment to this world often led them to forget the one true God and to go
  after other gods. We, too, need to guard our hearts, lest we do the same thing.
6:14   These different gods do not exist, although they are called gods (AthanG).
6:16   The Temptation refers to the incident in Ex 17 (see notes in that chapter).
6:23   The Lord brought them out of Egypt that He might bring them in to the land of
  promise. Similarly, He brings us out of our attachments to this world and into attachment
  to the kingdom of God.
7:1-3 The Lord would bring Israel into the land of promise by grace, which was His role in
  the covenant. Israel's role, in part, was to make no covenant with them (v. 2), nor to
  intermarry with them. It was within their power not to do these things. Therefore, God's
  grace does not cancel out free will. “And by this testimony we can clearly see what we
  ought to ascribe to free will, and what to the design and daily assistance of the Lord, that
  it belongs to divine grace to give us opportunities of salvation and prosperous
  undertakings and victory; but that it is ours to follow up the blessings God gives us with
  either earnestness or indifference” (JohnCas).
7:7-8 Since they were chosen because of God's love for them and His oath to their fathers,
  it is obvious they were not chosen because of their own deeds, but by the grace of God.
  Therefore, they had no basis for boasting in themselves, nor do we (Rom 4:1–8).
  (JohnChr)
7:8   “The Lord's ‘mighty hand’ is the Son” (AthanG). As the hand is of the same essence as
  its body, similarly the Son is the same in essence with the Father. Furthermore, as the
  Holy Fathers teach, things having the same might also have the same essence. Thus,
  since the Son's might is the same as the Father's, They are one in essence.
7:21-24 The nations speak of the sinful passions and how we are to war against them. We
  are to take them on one at a time by the grace of God, until we have gained the victory
  over all of them. “But when the main purpose of our heart has singled out one passion as
  the special object of its attack, we shall pray about it more earnestly, and with special
  anxiety and fervor shall entreat that we may be more especially on our guard against it
  and so succeed in gaining a speedy victory. For Moses himself in this passage teaches us
  that we should follow this plan in our conflicts and not trust in our own power”
  (JohnCas).
8:1   Under the Law of Moses, every commandment was to be kept if the people were to live
  and prosper in the land of promise. Great care was to be exercised in keeping them. How
  much more is this true under the Law of Christ in the New Testament. We are
  responsible through His grace to keep all His commandments.
8:2-5 The Lord dealt harshly with Israel in the desert as a test, for testing under pressure
  has a way of revealing what is in the heart. The test in each case reveals obedience or
  disobedience to His commandments. This revelation was not for the Lord's acquisition of
  knowledge, for He knows all things before they take place. Instead, it would let each of
  them know the condition of his own heart. All chastening is for our benefit, that we might
  partake of the Lord's holiness (Heb 12:5–11).
8:3   The Lord allowed them to go hungry in the desert and fed them with simple food:
  manna, of which they grew sick. Nevertheless, the Lord was teaching them the road of
  virtue, namely, that man's primary food is the word of God, and obedience to that word.
  But they failed to learn this lesson, and many of them died in the desert.
8:4   The clothes on their backs and the shoes on their feet never wore out during those
  forty years in the desert. This foreshadows the resurrection from the dead (AmbM). It
  also foreshadows “the life of the world to come” (Creed).
8:15   The biting serpent and scorpion speak of the devil and his angels, whom we are
  not to fear (JohnChr). For the Lord Jesus Christ, the Rock of living water, is with us (1Co
  10:4).
8:17-18   We should never think that our free will and energy gained us victory over the
  spiritual enemy, for victory is only by the grace of God (JohnCas).
9:1-3   The sons of Anak were giants, and their physical stature speaks of the sinful
  passions that seek to wreak havoc in both soul and body. By the Lord's consuming fire
  we are able to overcome them. “For a servant of the Lord should be diligent and careful,
  yes, moreover, burning like a flame, so when by a zealous and burning spirit, he destroys
  all fleshly sin, he may be able to draw near to God, who, according to the expression of
  the saints, is called ‘a consuming fire’” (AthanG).
9:4-6   A stiff-necked people (v. 6) are those who claim their victories over the enemy
  were based on their own righteousness and upright heart. “To those who have their eyes
  opened and their ears ready to pay attention, does this not plainly say, ‘When your
  struggle with fleshly faults goes well for you, and you see you are free from the filth of
  them, and from the fashions of this world, do not be puffed up by the success of the
  conflict and victory and ascribe it to your own power and wisdom, nor fancy you gained
  the victory over spiritual wickedness and fleshly sins through your own exertions and
  energy, and free will’? For there is no doubt in all this you could not possibly have
  succeeded, unless you were fortified and protected by the help of the Lord” (JohnCas).
10:12-15 “God needs nothing we have to give Him, and this especially proves sincere love,
  when one who needs nothing and is not in any necessity, does everything for the sake of
  being loved by us. So when He bids you to love Him, He then most of all shows He loves
  you. For nothing secures our salvation more than loving Him” (JohnChr).
10:20   To serve the Lord means to worship Him. But how can we worship the Father if we,
  so to speak, sever the Son and the Holy Spirit from Him? “Well, how will you worship
  Him only, tell me, when you have severed Him from His intimate union with His own
  Only-begotten and His own Spirit? This worship is simply Jewish” (BasilG).
11:8-9 The reward for keeping all the Lord's commandments under the Law of Moses was
  prosperity in the land of Canaan. The Law was not given for the attainment of
  righteousness before God. The Law could not impart eternal life (Gal 3:21). It was merely
  a tutor or guardian until the coming of Christ, the Giver of Life, through whom we are
  made righteous before God (Gal 3:22–25). This righteousness is imparted in baptism
  (Gal 3:26–29).
12:11-12 After the Jews settled in their land, they were to go to the city chosen by God to
  offer their sacrifices; they were not to offer their sacrifices anywhere else. But after the
  coming of Christ, they were unable to do this, for Jerusalem was destroyed along with the
  temple. This destruction was proof enough that the Law had come to an end, for it was
  only a shadow of the kingdom to come (AthanG).
12:13-14 The whole burnt offering was a type of “the sacrifice of praise to God . . . giving
  thanks to His name” (Heb 13:15). “Now what is a spiritual whole burnt offering? It is ‘the
  sacrifice of praise.’ In what place do we offer it? In the Holy Spirit. Where have we
  learned this? From the Lord Himself in the words, ‘The true worshipers shall worship the
  Father in spirit and in truth.’ This place Jacob saw, and said: ‘The Lord is in this place.’ It
  follows that the Spirit is truly the place of the saints, and the saint is the proper place for
  the Spirit, offering himself as he does for the indwelling of God, and is called God's
  temple” (BasilG).
13:1-4 The truth does not allow room for human tradition to change it, either by addition
  or by subtraction. False prophets arise among the people of God, and the Lord permits
  this in order to allow our free will to operate and to show our love for God (JohnCas). For
  we are not robots in which the grace of God operates against the devil apart from synergy
  on our part.
14:1   The Scriptures speak of children in a twofold sense: one in which children are chosen
  to be children, as in this verse; and the other, in which children are the natural offspring
  of their parents, such as Isaac of Abraham, Jacob of Isaac, and the twelve patriarchs of
  Jacob. Which of these two senses relates to the Son of God? The second, for He is the
  natural Offspring of His Father, and therefore one in essence with Him (AthanG).
14:2   When men choose something for themselves, they choose the best. Similarly, God
  chooses the holy, for He first makes us holy; then we are to continue to be holy in our
  manner of life. For one is not saved by faith alone, but by faith plus a holy manner of life
  (JohnChr). Thus, we must add virtue to our faith (2Pt 1:5–11).
15:1-11   A remission of debts was to be granted to poor brothers in the land every seven
  years. Debts were to be dismissed and, so to speak, blotted out of the books. The Lord
  accepted this remission as an act toward Himself (for the Lord your God, v. 2), for He
  loves the poor. When He became incarnate, He was very poor, for He had “nowhere to lay
  His head” (Mt 8:20). By this He taught us not to be attached to money and possessions,
  and to show our love for the poor.
16:1   The month of new corn was a type of becoming new creatures in Christ (2Co 5:17),
  bearing the good fruits of virtue by casting away all hypocrisy, deceit, and arrogance, and
  putting on love for God and neighbor through the Holy Spirit (AthanG).
16:8 The seventh and final day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was a Sabbath on which
  Israel was to do no work . . . except what must be done for life. Therefore, the
  Sabbath was not a total cessation of all work; work essential to life might be done.
    Jesus cured a paralytic on the Sabbath, and this cure was obviously essential to his life.
  Yet the Jews accused Him of breaking the Sabbath, and even tried to kill Him (Jn 5:16).
  But these same Jews would take care of their animals on the Sabbath, even if one should
  fall into a ditch. So Jesus asked them, “Of how much more value then is a man than a
  sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” (Mt 12:11, 12). Furthermore, He
  also said, “The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mt 12:8), and “The Sabbath was
  made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mk 2:27).
16:10   On the Day of Pentecost, the bread of the firstfruits was offered before the Lord.
  This was a type of the preaching of the apostles to the Jews in the Book of Acts, when
  three thousand believed in the Lord. Thus, these Jews were consecrated to the Lord as the
  firstfruits of the Resurrection (JohnCas).
17:1   No animal was to be sacrificed having any blemish or defect, for that is an
  abomination to the Lord your God. These animals were a type of Christ, who
  “without blemish and without spot” redeemed us by His precious blood (1Pt 1:19). His
  precious blood applied to our hearts enables us to be offered to God “without blemish”
  (Eph 5:27). Through His precious blood we are able to live a holy life, but anyone who
  excuses sinful behavior or advocates such a lifestyle for others “is an abomination to the
  Lord.”
17:7-12   The statement, “You shall put away their evil from among you,” is quoted
  by St. Paul in 1Co 5:13 in relation to church discipline. This shows the close kinship
  between the old and new covenants, and one and the same Lord and Lawgiver (JohnChr).
  The punishments were different, but the objective was the same, namely, a holy people to
  the Lord.
18:15-16 The words of the people, “Let us not hear again the voice of the Lord our
  God, nor let us see this great fire any more, lest we die,” were spoken to Moses in
  Ex 20:19 at the giving of the Ten Commandments from Mt. Sinai. But Moses said nothing
  at this time about the coming of a Prophet like himself. Rather, his response to the people
  at that time was, “Be of good courage, for God is come to test you, that His fear may be
  among you, so you may not sin” (Ex 20:20). Thus, it was first necessary for them to be
  tested, so as to fear the Lord and not sin, for they were too dull of hearing to hear about
  another Prophet to come. However, they failed the test and died in the desert, because
  they would not obey the prophet Moses.
18:17   Forty years later Moses spoke to them of the prophecy concerning the Prophet to
  come. For at Mt. Sinai the Lord also spoke to him the words recorded in vv. 18–22. The
  new generation was now ready to hear this prophecy.
18:18   The Prophet to come would be like Moses, in that Moses' short-term prophecies
  came to pass; therefore, his long-term ones were to be believed. This was the mark of a
  true prophet (vv. 21, 22), and the same would be true of the Prophet to come.
    The Prophet to come would speak all the Father commanded Him. This indicates He is
  the Word made flesh (Jn 1:14), for no other prophet, including Moses, would ever speak
  in such a manner. They were mere men, whereas the Prophet to come would be God in
  the flesh. Thus, the prophet Isaiah prophesied concerning this Prophet that the people
  would be “taught by God,” that is, by God in the flesh (Is 54:13; Jn 6:45).
18:19 The Prophet to come would speak in the Father's name, for no other prophet could
  speak in such a manner. Why? Because no other prophet could call the Father “My
  Father” (Jn 5:43; 10:25). Everyone else must address the Father as “Our Father” (Lord's
  Prayer), for the Son is the Father's Only-begotten. He is God of God and one in essence
  with the Father (Creed).
     Therefore, the Father says He would judge anyone refusing to listen to His Prophet (I
  will require it of him). St. Peter interprets the words “will require” as meaning “utterly
  destroy” (Acts 3:22, 23). St. John Chrysostom also interprets “utterly destroy” as meaning
  the putting away of the Law of Moses: “Do you see how the Law itself showed how it is
  done away in Christ? For this Prophet, that is, Christ according to the flesh, whom Moses
  commanded them to hear, made to cease both Sabbath and circumcision and all other
  things.”
     When Jesus multiplied the five loaves and the two fish to feed the five thousand men,
  the people said afterward, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world” (Jn
  6:14). A few minutes later these same people “complained about Him” (Jn 6:41) because
  of what He taught, and consequently deserted Him (Jn 6:66).
19:15-19   Based on this law, the false witnesses against Jesus should have been put to
  death, for they wanted Him to die (Mt 26:59–66).
20:8       This word concerning the fearful and fainthearted is spoken in a mystery
  concerning those to come under the new covenant, namely, that one cannot fight the
  Lord's battles with a double heart. For as Jam 1:8 says, “a double-minded man [is]
  unstable in all his ways.” One cannot, so to speak, have one foot in the world and one in
  the kingdom of God. “No one can serve two masters,” that is, “God and mammon” (Mt
  6:24).
21:15   In the statement, the firstborn son is of her, the verb is literally means “come
  into existence.” In the fourth century, the heretics applied this verb to the Son of God, for
  they claimed He had a beginning of existence. But the birth of this son would be from
  parents who had a beginning of existence; therefore, their offspring would have a
  beginning. However, the Son of God is the Offspring of the Father, and He is without
  beginning; therefore, His Son, too, is without beginning. These heretics therefore
  condemned themselves by their false application of the verb in this verse (AthanG).
21:22-23     Under the Mosaic Law, there were two kinds of curses. One was the curse of
  capital punishment by hanging, and the other of being cursed for transgressing the Law
  (26:26).
     The first applied to Christ when He redeemed us by hanging on the cross. St. Paul
  quoted v. 23 when he said, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having
  become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’)” (Gal
  3:13). He was the Innocent One who took the place of us, who were the guilty.
    However, the second curse in no way applies to Christ, for He never sinned, as St. Peter
  also said of Him by quoting Is 53:9: “Who committed no sin, / Nor was deceit found in
  His mouth” (1Pt 2:22). (JohnChr)
22:1-4 If a brother's young bull or donkey fallen on the road was to be helped, how much
  more should a man's soul be helped on the road to eternal life (JohnChr).
22:5   The dignity and distinction between male and female were not to be obscured, for in
  the beginning man was created male and female, and God blessed both (Gn 1:26, 27). To
  be male is not better than to be female, or vice versa, for God pronounced both “very
  good” (Gn 1:31). Therefore, a man should not try to be a woman, nor a woman a man.
22:6, 7    The dignity and protection of motherhood, even among birds, was to be
  maintained. As then, so now as well.
22:8    When a man builds a house, love of neighbor must be in his mind. For love of
  neighbor is the summary of the Law (Lv 19:18; Rom 13:9). Under the Law one was to love
  his neighbor “as himself.” Under Grace one is to love his neighbor more than himself, for
  Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved
  you, that you also love one another” (Jn 13:34). Jesus loved mankind more than Himself,
  and He even died for His enemies (Rom 5:6–8).
22:9-11   Each distinct thing God created has its own dignity, for God declared everything
  He made to be “very good” (Gn 1:31).
22:12   The commandment concerning tassels was first given in Nm 15:37–41. These were
  constant reminders to keep all the Lord's commandments. For the Israelites, as is true of
  all men, had a tendency to follow their own mind and will, rather than the will of God
  (Nm 15:39). The fault was not with the Law of Moses but with their own tendencies.
22:13-28   These laws were designed to protect both virginity and marriage, for both are
  “very good” in the eyes of God, for He created both (Gn 1:31).
23:4   The Ammonite and the Moabite speak of those heretics who employ subtle and
  deceitful arguments against the Blessed and Holy Trinity. For they pry into the Son's
  incomprehensible generation from the Father, and the Holy Spirit's incomprehensible
  procession from the Father. They try to explain the unexplainable, and twist the truth
  with their sophistry (GrgTheo).
23:7 There is no peaceful coexistence or good wishes for heretics or heresy.
23:20-21 Charging interest (usury) was a subtle form of greed, for it used the pretense of
  relieving a need to gain a profit. This was a subtle device to extort money from a poor
  brother in the name of doing him good. It relieved poverty to make a gain from poverty. It
  used another's need as an occasion to become wealthy (JohnChr).
24:1-4   These laws regarding divorce were given to protect the wife from being murdered
  by the husband, for hate leads to murder; and hardhearted husbands in Israel would kill
  the wives they hated. Another reason the laws were given was to prevent wife-swapping,
  which would have destroyed the sanctity of marriage. Therefore, divorce was allowed by
  the Lawgiver to prevent greater evils from occurring. For hardhearted husbands would
  not hesitate to murder and commit other atrocities if they thought it was to their
  advantage (JohnChr).
24:16    Parents could not be punished because of their children's sins, nor vice versa. The
  prophet Ezekiel also confirmed this: “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of
  man, what is the meaning of this proverb among the sons of Israel, which says: The
  fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? As I live, says the
  Lord, you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of
  the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die” (Ezk 18:1–4).
  Therefore, each one is accountable for his own sins.
    What then is the meaning of 5:9, “repaying the sins of the fathers upon the children to
  the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me”? This was not meant as a universal
  saying. It only referred to the children of those who sinned in Egypt, and who committed
  the same sins as their fathers. Anyone who reads the Scriptures regarding Israel's
  deliverance from Egypt will find this to be true (JohnChr).
        This understanding also refutes the doctrine of original sin, which claims that all
  mankind is guilty before God for Adam's sin. Adam was guilty for his own transgression.
  His transgression brought physical death upon all mankind, but not guilt before God
  (Rom 5:12). Each individual is accountable before God for his own sins.
25:4   The mystery hidden in this statement refers to teachers in the Church (1Ti 5:18; Lk
  10:7). Those who labor like an ox in the field are worthy of receiving wages to meet their
  needs, for the ox worked very hard under great toil and stress. As St. John Chrysostom
  said concerning teachers in the Church, “Unless he is as the ox treading out the corn, and
  bearing the yoke, in spite of heat and thorns, and does not cease his labors until he carries
  the corn into the granary, he is not worthy.”
25:5-6 This law explains how Joseph (the foster father of Jesus) could have two fathers, as
  recorded in the two genealogies of Jesus. In Luke's record of the genealogy, Joseph's
  father was Heli (Lk 3:23). Heli was his legal father, for he died childless. Jacob, his
  brother by the same mother, raised up seed for him. This seed was Joseph, according to
  Matthew's genealogy (Mt 1:16). Thus, Jacob was Joseph's natural father (JohnDm).
25:17-19 Remember Amalek. Do not forget. For he is a coward who does not fear God, and
  he attacks from behind when you are tired and weary. He is the devil. But overcome him
  with the sign of the cross, and you will enjoy rest in the Lord Jesus Christ, through whom
  you will overcome this enemy, even in your weakest moments.
26:16-19   Israel promised to keep the Law of Moses with all their heart and with all
  their soul. This was a genuine possibility from the standpoint of the Law itself, but it was
  an impossibility when considering their heart and soul. They simply did not have the
  heart to follow through, for man's willpower alone could not fulfill the Law's
  requirements. Therefore, the fault for not keeping it made them guilty. Furthermore, the
  Law itself had an inherent weakness. It could not give them divine power to help their
  willpower fulfill it. So the Law pointed them to Christ as the solution to their dilemma,
  for He is “the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Rom 10:4).
  Those under the Law who believed in this “end” would be made complete by His
  Incarnation (Heb 11:39, 40).
27:5-8   Aspects of true worship are foreshadowed in these verses. Worship involves an
  altar (see Heb 13:10). There is no artificiality in genuine worship (whole stones), and
  silence is part of it (shall not use an iron tool—GrgTheo). In true worship, one's whole
  life should be committed to God (whole burnt offerings). In the Eucharist (peace
  offerings), we eat and drink Christ's precious body and blood, and are filled with joy
  before the Lord.
27:26 Under the Law, cursed is every man who does not abide in all the words of
  this law to do them. But under grace and truth (Jn 1:17), “Come to Me, all you who
  labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28), and, “Christ has redeemed
  us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us” (Gal 3:13). (JohnChr)
     No one has ever continued in or kept the whole Law of Moses; therefore, we come
  under the guilt imposed by this curse. But Christ never transgressed the Law, and
  therefore could not come under such a curse. So He exchanged our curse for the one in
  21:23. Since He was crucified on the cross, the curse of being hanged on a tree freed us
  from our curse for transgressing the Law. An innocent Man's death delivered us from the
  curse, for by dying He delivered us who were dying (JohnChr).
28:1-13 Every blessing promised to the obedient in vv. 3–13 relates to life in this present
  world, for the Law of Moses could not promise eternal life to anyone obeying it. The best
  it could offer was physical blessings in the land of Canaan. But it could not make one
  immortal, or righteous, or a child of God, or heir of the kingdom of God in the world to
  come. For these are spiritual blessings in Christ, as St. Paul said in Eph 1:3: “Blessed be
  the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual
  blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (JohnChr).
28:47    The Law of Moses cannot be blamed for Israel's failure to serve the Lord. The
  failure was traceable to the heart of those who did not obey Him with joy and a good
  heart. Nor were these thankful for the abundance of everything. However, under the
  new covenant, the faithful serve Him with thanksgiving, even in the midst of suffering
  and persecution, “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our
  Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:20).
28:58   The beginning of faith is to fear the Lord (IsaacS).
28:66   This is a prophecy concerning the Crucifixion. On the cross, the Lord hung before
  the eyes of Israel, yet the nation did not believe in Him. They did not believe in their
  Life, for the cross is life-giving (AthanG). Whereas the Law of Moses cannot give eternal
  life, the cross does to those who believe. For Christ is God in the flesh; therefore, His
  death in the flesh gives eternal life to those who obey Him.
29:1-3   The children of Israel saw with their physical eyes the Lord's signs and great
  wonders He did for them in Egypt. However, they could not see them with the eyes and
  ears of their heart. Why then did He not give them such eyes and ears? Because they were
  unwilling to receive illumination. He was willing, but they were not. He would not
  commit Himself to them, because they would not commit themselves to Him.
29:4   Their clothes and shoes did not wear out during the forty-year period in the desert.
  This was a type of “the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come” (Creed;
  AmbM).
29:17-18    Gall and bitterness is likened to a root that springs up and defiles others. It
  begins when one flatters himself in the deceptions (wanderings) of his own heart.
  Bitterness of spirit results, and this causes one to “fall short of the grace of God” (Heb
  12:15).
29:28     We gladly own whatever things the Lord is pleased to reveal to us in the Holy
  Scriptures. But we avoid prying into the secret things of the Lord, for this leads to
  heresies that destroy the soul. Questions are sometimes asked, “How can these things be?
  How is the Son begotten from the Father before all time and ages? How can the Holy
  Spirit proceed from the Father? What is the essence of God?” These and other questions
  of this kind are secrets only known by the Holy Trinity. Therefore, the Creed begins with,
  “I believe.”
30:11      This commandment is the commandment regarding the attainment of
  righteousness before God through faith. In vv. 11–14, Moses tells us how to become
  righteous in the eyes of God through faith. To do so is not too burdensome. But the
  multitude of commandments in the Law of Moses were “too burdensome” for the people
  to be able to become righteous in God's sight. As St. Peter said, “neither our fathers nor
  we were able to bear” them (Acts 15:10).
30:11-13   Far off means in heaven or beyond the sea. By describing “far off” in this
  manner, Moses shows how we attain righteousness before God through faith. We attain it
  by casting out the questions, “Who will ascend into heaven for us?” and “Who will
  go over the sea for us?” These questions are another way of asking, “How can these
  things be?” as Nicodemus asked Jesus (Jn 3:9). These questions raise supposed
  impossibilities based on human reasoning, but “the things which are impossible with
  men are possible with God” (Lk 18:27), and, “Is anything impossible with God?” (Gn
  18:14). How then are these questions based on human reasoning cast out? Moses gives
  the answer in v. 14.
30:14 The word is the word concerning the attainment of righteousness before God. It is
  the word that casts out human reasoning and the supposed impossibilities raised by it.
  This word is so very near a person that it is in one's very mouth, heart, and hands.
  One does not need to ascend to heaven to find it, nor cross the sea. It is God's word sown
  in a believing heart, confessed with the mouth, and worked out with the hands. It is
  righteousness through faith. It is the faith of Abraham, who cast out all human reasoning
  and the impossibilities raised by it, and left all to the power and glory of God (Rom 4:19–
  22).
    In Rom 10:6–8, St. Paul refers to vv. 11–14, saying Moses commandment speaks of “the
  righteousness of faith” and “the word of faith.” He also shows it was the Lord Jesus Christ
  who made this faith possible (Rom 10:9, 10). “What does the phrase mean, ‘The word is
  near you’? It means, ‘It is easy.’ For in your heart and on your tongue is your salvation.
  There is no long journey to go on, no seas to sail over, no mountains to climb, to get
  saved. But if you have such a heart, you may even be saved while you sit at home. For ‘in
  your mouth and heart’ is the source of salvation. On another score, Paul also makes the
  word of faith easy, and says, ‘God raised Him from the dead.’ For just reflect upon the
  worthiness of the Worker, and you will no longer see any difficulty in the thing”
  (JohnChr).
31:6-8   These words inspired the words in Heb 13:5, 6, “Let your conduct be without
  covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will
  never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The L ORD   is my helper; I will not
  fear. What can man do to me?’” The Lord will never forsake His people—a faithful and
  bold promise. Faithfulness and boldness on our part to believe Him will bring about
  contentment in us, and will deliver us from covetousness and the fear of man.
31:16-17 Why does the Lord say, “I will forsake them,” when He said in vv. 6–8 that He
  would not forsake them? Because it is customary in Scripture to call God's permission
  His action. He permits people to forsake Him because man has free will, and virtue is not
  forced (JohnDm).
32:4   God is faithful because He is trustworthy; we are faithful because we believe and
  obey Him (AthanG).
32:5   Blameworthy children are not His because they are God's children in name only.
  True children are blameless, because they are His children in substance as well as in
  name.
32:6-18 When the Scriptures wish to signify a son, it uses the term beget, rather than the
  terms make and create (AthanG). God the Father made man by bringing him from
  nonexistence into existence, but He begets him as a son by adoption. He adopts him
  through His Only-begotten Son and His Life-giving Spirit (Jn 1:12–14; Rom 8:14–16; Jam
  1:18). But Moses warns God's children not to abandon the God who begot them, nor
  to forget the God who nourished them.
32:7   We remember the days of old and consider the years of many generations
  when we search the Scriptures tirelessly. Let us ask God the Father their meaning, and
  also the Holy Fathers of the Church (your elders). “Wherefore, let us knock at that very
  fair garden of the Scriptures, so fragrant and sweet and blooming, with its varied sounds
  of spiritual and divinely-inspired birds ringing all round our ears, laying hold of our
  hearts, comforting the mourner, pacifying the angry and filling him with joy everlasting,
  bearing us up to the Only-begotten Son and bringing us through Him to the Father of
  Lights. But let us not knock carelessly at the door of the Scriptures but rather zealously
  and constantly, lest knocking we grow weary. For thus it will be opened to us. If we read
  once or twice and do not understand what we read, let us not grow weary, but let us
  persist, let us talk much, let us inquire. ‘For ask your Father and He will tell you, and your
  elders and they will tell you.’ Let us draw from the fountain of the garden continual and
  pure waters springing up to eternal life. Here let us be in luxury, let us revel to the full,
  for the Scriptures possess inexhaustible grace. But if we are able to pluck anything
  profitable from outside sources, there is nothing to forbid that” (JohnDm).
32:12    Moses does not use the word alone to divide the Son and the Spirit from the
  Father. Rather, this word is said in relation to any foreign god with them, for the
  division is between the Lord and false gods (BasilG).
32:13   The rock speaks of Christ, and the oil of the Holy Spirit, and the honey of the
  spiritual food, for Christ gives us His Holy Spirit (1Co 10:3, 4; Rom 8:9).
32:17   To worship anything but the true God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—is
  to worship demons (BasilG).
32:20   Sons in whom is no faith are children in name only, but true sons are children
  both in name and in substance. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
  evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1).
32:21    This is a prophecy concerning the Gentiles who would become God's children
  through faith in Christ, thus provoking the Jews to jealousy (Rom 10:19). The Speaker in
  this prophecy (vv. 20, 21) is the Word and Son of God (AthanG; HilryP).
32:30 This is a prophecy concerning warfare against heresy. Thus, how could one chase
  a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight? By using David's simple sling
  against Goliath's boastful arguments of logic. It is no detriment to use our simple and
  plain statements of truth against the falsehood of logicians. For the truth exhibits Goliath
  as a headless trunk. It is the task of truth not only to cut off the head of false logic, but
  also to show that it is indeed cut off (GrgNy).
32:39   This statement could be made not only by the Father, but also by the Son or the
  Holy Spirit. Each could say, “There is no God besides Me.” For the statement is made
  in contrast to false gods (AthanG; BasilG; HilryP). It is not a contrast between the
  Persons of the Holy Trinity, our one God.
32:43   This prophecy is quoted in Rom 15:10 and Heb 6:2, to show that both men and
  angels are to worship God Incarnate, the Son of God, for He is their Maker. Moses also
  worships Him.
32:49-50 Moses had no fear of death, but rejoiced to depart to be with the Lord (AthanG).
33:2   The Lord who appeared to Israel was the Son of God. He revealed Himself many
  times to the prophets throughout the Old Testament. Angels sometimes appeared with
  Him, as did the two angels in Gn 19:1.
33:3-4 The Son of God was the Lawgiver who gave Moses His words, and Moses, in turn,
  gave them to Israel.
33:5   The Ruler is the Lord Jesus Christ.
33:7 The voice of Judah is the Lord Jesus Christ, who visited His people.
33:9   Commitment to the Lord takes precedence over commitment to family (Mt 10:37–
  39; JohnChr; AmbM).
33:16   The One revealed in the Bush was the Son of God. In this revelation, He
  foreshadowed His coming Incarnation (JohnDm; HilryP; JohnChr; AthanG).
33:26   The God of the Beloved is the Lord Jesus Christ, and “the Beloved” is His Church.
33:29   A people saved by the Lord are those who call upon His name (Rom 10:12, 13).
  His name is the Lord Jesus Christ.
34:4    The Lord swore to give the land Moses saw to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as an
  inheritance. Yet they never received it, nor did Moses. Therefore, what is this land, and
  when will they receive it, and who is the seed? The seed is Christ and those who believe
  in Him (Gal 3:16). The land is “the world to come” (Creed; Rom 4:13). They, and those of
  like faith, will receive this world at “the resurrection of the dead” (Creed; Heb 11). The
  world to come is this present creation redeemed along with the children of God (Rom
  8:21, 22).
34:9   The Spirit of understanding is the Holy Spirit, one of the Persons of the Holy
  Trinity.
34:10   There was no prophet in Israel like Moses, until the coming of Christ, the Prophet.
  He was like Moses, but Moses was not like Him, for Christ is God in the flesh. The Lord
  who sent Moses was the Son of God, who is the I AM (Ex 3). He sent Moses to Egypt to
  deliver Israel.
1:1 The name Joshua, which means, “the Lord is salvation,” is Yeshua in Hebrew, Iesous in
  Greek, and Jesus in English.
      Joshua's original name was Hoshea, but Moses changed his name to Joshua (Nm
  13:16). This name change was prophetic, for it made Joshua a type of Jesus Christ.
1:2   Moses, the lawgiver, could not bring Israel into the promised land, which shows that
  the Law of Moses cannot save the people. But Joshua brought them in, and in this he was
  a type of Jesus Christ, who brings His own into heaven through grace (JohnChr).
1:3-5 The enemy will be trampled under Joshua's feet. In a similar way, Christ will trample
  down sin, death, and the devil by His death and Resurrection.
1:6   The Lord who spoke to Joshua was the Son and Word of God. He told Joshua to be
  strong and courageous in the face of war and death. Therefore, when the Word
  became incarnate, how could He Himself fear death when He stood before Herod and
  Pilate? How could He who said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body” (Lk 12:4),
  and who said to Abraham, “Do not fear” (Gn 14:1; 26:24), fear the terror of death? No, He
  did not fear death, but destroyed it by His cross (AthanG).
1:10-11   As the scribes prepare the people to enter Canaan, St. John the Forerunner will
  precede Christ, declaring to the people, “Prepare the way of the L ” (Is 40:3–5; Lk 3:4).
                                                                   ORD
1:11   Christ will be three days in the tomb, thus opening the way to paradise, that the
  faithful might cross the sanctified waters of baptism and possess their inheritance of
  eternal life.
1:12-18    Two-and-a-half tribes will eventually return to settle on the east side of the
  Jordan, an area called Gilead (22:9). The faithful among them will become witnesses of
  the truth (22:34) to the Gentiles until Christ is revealed. All the faithful of the Church are
  called to be witnesses of the true faith in a foreign land.
2:1   Joshua spied out the land, which represents dispassion or purity of heart. To achieve
  this purity, one first leaves Egypt, which stands for the actual committing of sin. Then he
  crosses the Red Sea, which indicates detachment from material things. Thirdly, he dwells
  in the desert, which lies between the impulse to sin and the outward fulfillment of these
  impulses. Only then can he spy out the promised land of dispassion and then enter it to
  partake of the milk and honey (Ex 3:8), which refer to the spiritual riches of God's
  kingdom (ElPres).
2:3   The Holy Fathers agree that Rahab was a type of the Church, for by her hospitality and
  faith she secured salvation for herself and her family. She is also an ancestor of Christ
  (Mt 1:5).
2:11   Although Rahab was a prostitute, she was saved through repentance, which is how
  anyone gains salvation (CyrJer).
2:12-13   God's previous judgments on His enemies inspire fear in Rahab and her family,
  but theirs was a fear that produced repentance and faith, not hardened hearts. Jericho
  faced God's impending judgment, yet Rahab and her household were the only ones in
  Jericho who asked the Lord to be merciful.
2:13 Christ destroyed death by His death, to deliver mankind from death.
2:18   The scarlet cord was a type of the Lord's Passion, of His mystical blood which
  would redeem the world. Rahab understood something of this mystery; therefore, her
  repentance and faith saved her (AmbM).
3:1   Joshua began to rule in Israel when he crossed the Jordan River. Similarly, Jesus
  Christ began to preach the Gospel after He was baptized, for crossing the Jordan was a
  type of His Baptism, and thus of ours as well (CyrJer).
3:3   The ark of the covenant was a box overlaid with gold on all sides. On top of the ark
  was the mercy seat, overshadowed by the cherubim of glory. Inside the ark were the
  golden pot with the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablet of the Ten
  Commandments (see also Heb 9:4, 5). The ark was a type of the Ever-virgin Mary with
  Christ conceived in her holy womb. The articles inside the ark speak of Christ. Thus, God
  the Son became incarnate in Mary for our salvation, and therefore she is the Mother of
  God (the Theotokos).
3:16   The waters stopped flowing because the Lord changed the laws of nature to allow
  Israel to cross the Jordan. This crossing was a type of the sacraments, or mysteries, of the
  Church. For in the sacraments, the laws of nature are overcome to allow the faithful to
  partake of the Lord's salvation. In baptism, for instance, the water in the baptismal font
  becomes in a mystery the very Baptism of Christ, by which we attain the forgiveness of
  sins. Also, in the Eucharist, the bread and wine become in a mystery the very body and
  blood of Christ. In both cases, the laws of nature are overcome so as to bring about our
  salvation.
3:1-17 This passage is a picture of God's plan of salvation for the world. The ark prefigures
  Christ's conception in the holy womb of the Ever-virgin Mary. The feet of the priests in
  the water (v. 13) prefigure Christ's feet in the very same river at His Baptism (Mt 3:13),
  which will drive the powers of darkness out of creation (v. 10). Since Christ's Baptism is
  also our baptism, we are united to Him in the sanctified waters, and through Him are
  delivered from the powers of darkness (see also Acts 2:38; 26:18).
4:1-10 The twelve stones prefigure the twelve apostles of Christ (GrgNy). The Lord gave
  them the authority to baptize all nations in the name of the Holy Trinity (Mt 28:18–20).
4:14   The nation of Israel feared Joshua as long as he lived in her midst. Since they
  feared the type, how much more should we fear the One who fulfilled the type, namely,
  Jesus our Lord and God. Joshua eventually died, but the risen Lord lives among us
  forever.
4:19-24 The crossing of the Red Sea and the Jordan by the children of Israel foreshadowed
  holy baptism, and the twelve stones speak of the twelve apostles of Christ. Christ's
  teachings are handed down in the Church through these apostles, to whom Christ gave
  the authority to baptize all nations. This apostolic teaching is the true faith, also known as
  the Orthodox faith.
5:2-8 Circumcision was given first to Abraham after he was declared righteous before God
  through faith in the promise of the Gospel (Gn 17:9–14). This was a sign for the Gentiles
  among whom he lived concerning the Gospel, which separated him and his household
  from them. The children born during Israel's sojourn in the desert had no need to be
  circumcised, because Israel did not live among the Gentiles during this time. But now
  Israel was again living among the Gentiles; therefore, Joshua instituted a second law of
  circumcision (JohnDm).
     Circumcision was also a type of baptism. For as circumcision cut off a useless member
  of the body, so baptism cuts off sinful desires and pleasures from one's life through the
  cross. We also sign ourselves with the cross to express our faith; however, we do this not
  to separate ourselves from the unbelievers among whom we live, but to separate
  ourselves from an unholy manner of life. We thus direct our lives with holy desires and
  faithfulness (JohnDm).
        Furthermore, Christ was circumcised to fulfill the Law of Moses; therefore,
  circumcision is now contrary to baptism, because it was done away in Christ. Moreover,
  when Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit descended on Him, the kingdom of God and
  the law of Christ were proclaimed from that time. Now we live a holy life through Him
  and before the world in which we live (JohnDm).
5:9    The disgrace of Egypt was the unholy life of sinful desires and pleasures the
  Egyptians lived, and the influence this life had on the Israelites who disobeyed the Lord.
5:10-12   Manna was a type of Christ as the bread of life. So was the unleavened and
  new wheat. We now eat this bread of life in the mystery of the Eucharist. This life is the
  divine life of God, which sets on fire those who partake of the bread in a proper manner.
  Those who do so leave the Eucharist breathing the fire of divine life, which is terrible to
  the devil and his angels (JohnChr).
5:13-15 The chief captain, whom tradition holds to be the Archangel Michael, will lead
  them to complete victory so they might possess the land. Joshua's vision surpasses that
  of Moses (Ex 3:1–10), who saw a burning bush on Mount Horeb yet hid his face, for he
  was afraid to look upon God. Here, in the Promised Land, Joshua actually sees the form
  of a man. Both of these visions will be fulfilled in the Man, Christ Jesus.
6:5-6 Israel, which prefigures the Church, has been made ready. Now the people must act
  in faith and obedience. The Lord Himself will bring down the walls, which speak of sin
  and death. He will destroy the enemies and lead the faithful to safely inhabit a world once
  held captive by darkness.
6:7-14   The priests with their sacred trumpets can be seen as representing the Old
  Testament prophets, who foretell the coming of Christ in Holy Scripture while the rest of
  the world waits in silence. They are Israel's spiritual leaders, called to uphold the law and
  bear witness to God's covenant promises until Christ appears.
6:14   Israel walked around the walls of Jericho for seven straight days. One of these had to
  be the Sabbath Day. Thus, the Israelites broke the Sabbath but were guiltless, for they
  obeyed Joshua (or Jesus) in doing a good thing. But when Jesus (the true Joshua) healed
  on the Sabbath, the Pharisees accused Him of breaking the Sabbath and wanted to kill
  Him. Then He said to them, “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” (Mt 12:12).
6:22   Rahab the harlot was counted as righteous before God for one reason: namely, her
  hospitality, a demonstration of her genuine faith. But she received no praise for the rest
  of her behavior. Similarly, the publican was counted as righteous because of his humility,
  though he received no testimony for anything else. Therefore, one should not fall into
  despair over failures and shortcomings before God, but demonstrate in some way a
  genuine repentance and faith (GrgTheo).
6:24   Joshua, a type of Jesus Christ, saved Rahab the harlot because of her hospitality,
  which demonstrated a genuine faith. But the true Jesus said to the chief priests and
  elders who opposed Him, “tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before
  you” (Mt 21:31). (CyrJer)
7:1-26   Like an infectious disease, the sin of Achan affected the entire community with
  death. It breached the walls of heavenly grace that surrounded the people at Jericho. But
  in a more sweeping way, Adam's transgression breached the grace of God and plunged the
  entire world into mortality (Rom 5:12).
7:6-15   Joshua and the elders intercede before the Lord on behalf of all the people, thus
  reversing their defeat. Similarly, Christ's humility and intercession will reverse the
  process of sin and death, but the people must respond by working with Him to purge evil
  from their midst.
7:14-18 Step by step, God reveals the source of sin. God's love is like a fire that consumes
  sin until only what is good remains. But without repentance, nothing good will remain.
7:20-21   To follow a man like Achan and to believe he made a right choice would be like
  using a blind man as a judge of color, or a deaf man as a music critic. For those whose
  spiritual discernment is crippled are truly blind or deaf, since they lack the basic ability to
  distinguish between the important and the trivial. Achan buried his spiritual discernment
  under the attraction of material things (a beautiful, multicolored garment, two
  hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of fifty shekels of gold), thus yielding to
  whatever happened to catch his fancy (Neilos). Achan's confession was not repentance.
  He only confessed because he got caught.
7:21   The love of money is an ancient vice, and in Ex 20:17, a law was given to check it:
  “You shall not covet” (AmbM).
7:24-26     Achan's death by stoning applies to all who will not heed Christ's words
  concerning Himself: “And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it
  falls, it will grind him to powder” (Mt 21:44).
8:17-20 The Lord who spoke to Joshua was the Son of God (AmbM). Joshua's spear was
  a type of the cross, that weapon of peace through which Christ and His Church win in
  battle.
8:21-28 We should remember that all the inhabitants of Ai, and in fact all the inhabitants
  of the cities conquered by Joshua, were killed because none of them asked for mercy or
  desired to be saved. God always provides both the warning and the opportunity, but He
  will not force people to seek salvation.
9:3-8   Joshua and the people reaffirm their covenant with the Lord according to Moses'
  instructions (see Dt 27:1–8). Everything in this passage points to Christ, who will unite
  all people, both resident aliens and those born among them (v. 6), Jew and Gentile,
  sinner and saint.
9:5   The term second law is noteworthy, because Deuteronomy is not an additional law to
  the Law of Moses. Rather, it emphasizes the spiritual side of his law. In this sense, Christ
  is the “second” Law, for He will not only come after the “first” Law of Moses, He will also
  fulfill it (Mt 5:17).
9:9-21 Although Joshua made a mistake by not inquiring of the Lord before he made the
  covenant with the Gibeonites, nevertheless, his virtuous character is shown by his
  innocence in believing them (AmbM).
9:9-33 The Gibeonites are descendants of Noah's son, Canaan, about whom he prophesied
  in Gn 9:25, “Cursed be Canaan; / A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers”
  (JohnChr). These Canaanites prefigure the sinners and outcasts who will humble
  themselves before Christ and receive salvation. The torn and patched condition (v. 11) of
  the Gibeonites' belongings describes the state of the soul that seeks salvation in God.
10:6-10 The people of Gibeon sent word, and Joshua mustered all his men of war to
  rescue them and rout the enemy. So it is with all those who are held fast in the hands of
  the Lord. In the words of the Lord Jesus Himself, “And I shall give them eternal life, and
  they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (Jn 10:28).
10:11   Because the Gibeonites humbled themselves before the Lord, His judgment against
  their fleeing oppressors is even more fierce than it was against Jericho and Ai. The
  hailstones . . . from heaven speak of the Last Judgment.
10:12-13   The Word and Son of God caused the sun to stand still. He it was also who
  rebuked the sea, and on the cross caused the sun to be darkened (AthanG). So this
  passage would be fulfilled and even surpassed on the day of Christ's Crucifixion. On that
  day, He would show His Lordship over creation (Lk 23:45) as He stretched out His all-
  pure hands upon the cross, trampling down His enemies and bringing “salvation in the
  midst of the earth” (Ps 73:12).
10:14   According to Ecc 1:5, “The sun rises, and the sun goes down.” Likewise, Christ, the
  Sun of Righteousness, appears sometimes as risen and sometimes as set. This depends on
  one's manner of life and spiritual status in the pursuit of virtue and search for spiritual
  knowledge. Blessed is a man like Joshua who keeps the true Sun from setting in himself
  throughout the whole day of this present life, not allowing this Sun to be blotted out by
  the dusk of sin and ignorance. By doing this, he will be able to defeat the deceitful
  demons who rise up against him (MaxCon).
11:6-9 The kings who warred against Israel represent the sinful passions that war against
  us. But the Lord Jesus Christ encourages us, as He did Joshua, “Fear not before their
  presence.” He also said, “I will . . . put them to flight.” Joshua and his army also
  warred against the kings in Canaan. Therefore, the Lord fights, and we fight against our
  passions. This spiritual war is called asceticism. Its purpose is to subdue the passions so
  that the God-endowed virtues within the soul may express themselves in a natural way.
11:20   As it was with Pharaoh in Moses' day, so it is with the kings in Joshua's day. Over
  time, their hearts had become so hardened by sinful passions they no longer had the
  possibility of repentance. Israel waited four hundred years from the time God promised
  the land to Abraham until they were able to possess it, because the sins of the Amorites
  were not yet complete (Gn 15:16). Even to this day, God in His longsuffering is
  withholding judgment on the earth until all mankind has had every opportunity to repent
  and believe in Jesus Christ.
11:23   The land of Canaan was a type of God's kingdom in the world to come, when the
  land will rest from war. But until then, one needs to guard his heart against his
  passions and “wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience” (1Ti 1:18, 19).
12:1   The kings of the land represent not only the sinful passions, but also the devil and
  his angels, who are the authors of these passions. These angels are called “principalities,”
  “powers,” “rulers of the darkness,” and “spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
  places” (Eph 6:12). But Christ the Conqueror, together with the faithful and the heavenly
  hosts, will prevail over them all. By the grace of Christ, those who put to death these
  kings will inherit the land of God's kingdom in the world to come. “He who overcomes
  shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son” (Rev 21:7).
13:1-7   Some of these cities will not come into Israel's possession until much later, and
  some will never become part of Israel's earthly kingdom. Yet again, this passage points to
  events far in the future, when Christ will be given the ends of the earth as His inheritance
  (Ps 2:8).
14:7-10   Caleb and Joshua preferred virtue rather than safety, but the other ten spies
  preferred safety to virtue (AmbM). The Lord Jesus Christ preferred our salvation rather
  than His own life, for He gladly gave Himself for us. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He
  prayed to the Father and said, “Let this cup pass from Me” (Mt 26:39). By this request He
  showed He was fully Man, for He possessed the God-endowed desire for self-preservation
  in His human nature. But He also said, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” In
  this He revealed the submission of His human will to His divine will within His one
  Person. Thus, His divine will was a higher law than the law of safety within His human
  will; therefore, He voluntarily and joyfully gave His human life for our sakes. The holy
  martyrs also preferred the divine will to their own safety.
15:13-19 The sons of Anak (v. 14) were known as Anakim, and they were giants in size
  (Dt 2:10, 11). Othniel was the nephew of Caleb and also had his spirit. Thus, he subdued
  the Anakim. He would also be the first to deliver Israel in the time of the Judges (Jdg
  3:9), and therefore was a type of Christ. Achsah, his wife, was Caleb's daughter, and Caleb
  gave her the upper and lower springs of water (v. 19; see also Jdg 1:13–15). She was a
  type of the Church with its springs of water, the divine life of Christ. Therefore, through
  Christ and His life in the Church, one is able to fight against the giants of the passions
  and to live a God-honoring manner of life.
16:10   The Lord commanded Israel through Moses to utterly destroy all the inhabitants of
  the land and to show them no mercy (Dt 7:1, 2; Jos 9:24). But the tribe of Ephraim did not
  fully obey this command; therefore, the Canaanites dwell among Ephraim to this
  day. Similarly, when we show mercy to some of our sinful passions and allow them to
  operate within us, they eventually corrupt our obedience to Christ, as the Canaanites
  corrupted Ephraim. We are to show no mercy to these passions, but are to put them “to
  death” (Col 3:5).
17:14-18 Note how the tribe of Joseph refers to itself first in the plural (us) and then in
  the singular (I, me). Israel is one in belief, purpose, and worship, yet it is divided into
  twelve tribes, each of which receives its own inheritance. So the Church is one body, the
  body of Christ (Eph 1:22, 23); yet it is composed of a great many people of every
  nation, tongue, and tribe (Rev 5:9; 14:6).
18:1 Josh 18:1, 9, 10: Israel set up the tabernacle in Shiloh, where it remained for about
  four hundred years. Thus, Shiloh, located about twenty-five miles north of Jerusalem,
  was the capital of the nation during this time. The name Shiloh means “peace”; therefore,
  it was an appropriate place for the tabernacle, both of which speak of Christ the Lord.
  Joshua gained wisdom from Him (before the Lord, v. 10) that he might know how to
  divide the remaining land among seven tribes in a peaceable manner. We, too, need His
  peace to rule in our hearts so as to know how to live peaceably and wisely (Col 3:15).
19:9   Judah's share was too much for them; therefore, they shared their inheritance
  with the children of Simeon. So we must learn to share our abundance with those who
  need it. Similarly, we should not “forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices
  God is well pleased” (Heb 13:16).
20:1-6    Cities of refuge were established to protect slayers who killed someone
  involuntarily (v. 3). They were protected from the avenger of blood until a judgment
  could be rendered in each case. This system of protection demonstrated the love and
  forbearance of God (Rom 2:4), who does not punish before judgment is rendered as to
  innocence or guilt. Thus, He provided a place of refuge. God also set forth Christ as a city
  of refuge where one is protected until he is proven innocent or guilty at the Day of
  Judgment, when He “will render to each one according to his deeds” (Rom 2:6).
21:46   Joshua put the stone knives (with which he had circumcised the sons of Israel
  born during the days of Israel's wanderings in the desert) in the town he built, Timnath
  Serah. The name of this town means “image of the sun.” Christ is the Sun of
  Righteousness, and we are to be “conformed to [His] image” (Rom 8:29; 2Co 3:18). The
  stone knives speak of holy baptism, by which “the sins of the flesh” are cut away (Col
  2:11, 12).
22:1-9 The two-and-a-half tribes who go back to dwell on the east side of the Jordan are
  like the apostles, who will spread out to other lands after Pentecost and bring the gospel
  to the nations. Be very careful to do the commandments (v. 5) is a timeless
  admonition to all believers everywhere.
22:10-29 The misunderstanding between the tribes is not unlike the trouble that will arise
  between Christians over the keeping of Jewish law and the conversion of Gentile
  believers (see Acts 11:2; 15:1; Gal 2:12).
22:30-34    Because the leaders and the people listened and acted wisely, the altar by the
  Jordan, which had threatened to divide Israel, will now be a witness (v. 34) to their unity
  before all.
23:1-16   Consider the ways in which Joshua's address is fulfilled in Christ's high priestly
  prayer in Jn 17. For example: Joshua says, “I am old” (v. 2); Christ prays, “the hour has
  come” (Jn 17:1). Joshua says, “you shall inherit their land . . . therefore . . . love the
  Lord” (vv. 5, 11); Christ prays, “this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true
  God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (Jn 17:3). Joshua says, “I am going . . . not
  one word has failed” (v. 14); Christ prays, “I have finished the work . . . none of them is
  lost” (Jn 17:4, 12).
24:1-15   Note the emphasis the Lord, through Joshua, is placing on being led out (v. 3)
  from among the idolatry and oppression on the other side of the river (v. 2), and on
  crossing over the Jordan (v. 11) to salvation. In other words, God is saying, “I have
  delivered you (v. 10) and given you a great inheritance so that you might worship Me in
  righteousness (v. 14). Your part has been, and is now, to follow Me. If you don't, you
  will destroy yourselves.” The Incarnate Christ will preach this same message, only He will
  tell the whole world.
24:14-15 God always intended for man to serve Him and to love Him freely; for accepting
  the salvation that is freely offered is the most natural thing for human beings, made in
  His image, to do. Joshua, having long ago chosen holiness, now declares the same for his
  house.
24:16-22    The people, immature and prone to idolatry, must continually be reminded to
  choose between serving the Lord or other gods. Here they declare they have chosen
  God; but they will soon turn away (v. 36). Joshua warns them that their hypocrisy is
  worse than not worshiping Him at all, for all blessings come from God, and refusing to
  accept them will be the very cause of their suffering.
24:23   To make your heart straight toward the Lord God of Israel means to return
  the soul to its natural state, as it was when the Lord made it. John the Baptist meant the
  same thing when he said, “Make His paths straight” (Mt 3:3). For if we abide as we have
  been made, we are in a state of virtue. When God made our soul, it was beautiful and
  exceedingly honest, but if we turn aside from our natural state to morally depraved
  thoughts, we shall be living in vice. Therefore, let us willingly return to the virtue
  endowed by God within our nature, for we have no need to leave our homes or cross the
  sea for the sake of God's kingdom, to find virtue outside ourselves. All we need is a
  willing heart, for the moral integrity of the soul consists in its spiritual part being in its
  natural state as it was created. If this is the case, the Lord will recognize His work as
  being the same as when He made it (AntEg).
24:25-27 The large stone is a type of Christ, who will be an everlasting witness of the
  covenant made between God and man under the tree, that is, the cross.
24:1-27 Joshua reminds the people of the Lord's faithfulness to Israel since Abraham (v.
  3) and challenges their faith. Just as Israel's entire history to this point has led up to the
  covenant about to be established by Joshua (vv. 25–27), so Israel's history from that
  point forward will lead up to the new covenant that Christ will establish with His Church.
24:29     The Book of Joshua looks ahead to Christ's victory over His enemies and the
  salvation of the world.
24:33   The bones of Joseph (Gn 50:24, 25; Ex 13:19) are buried . . . at Shechem. Thus,
  God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Joseph comes full circle and begins anew with
  the covenant established by Joshua (v. 25). All the Old Testament covenants, of course,
  will be completely fulfilled in Christ and His Church.
1:1, 2   Once Joshua died (recorded both in Jos 24:30–32 and Jdg 2:7–9), the question
  became, “Who will lead Israel in the fight against the Canaanites?” This represents the
  transition from the people under Joshua generally obeying God and experiencing victory
  to their lapsing into idolatry and disobedience under the judges. Judah is a reference to
  the tribe.
1:7   What I have done gives pause to remind us of the Last Judgment. Those who abuse
  others bring judgment on themselves.
1:11-15 As Othniel conquered the City of Letters (or Books) to win Achsah as his wife, so
  Christ the Incarnate Word will come to conquer the mind and heart of mankind with His
  Gospel to win His Bride, the Church.
1:21   Note the disobedience of Benjamin in contrast with the obedience of Judah and
  Simeon. If we do not secure victory over the enemies of sin and darkness in our lives, like
  the Jebusites they will remain to trouble us.
1:22-26    Bethel means “house of God.” Luz means “light,” and represents the light of
  Christ, which will spread to the Gentiles (Is 9:2).
1:27-36   This passage is a preview of much of the Book of Judges: the chronicle of a job
  half done. The tribes of Israel would enter into battle against their enemies, but not drive
  them out completely (v. 28).
2:1-22 Gilgal (v. 1) signifies God's covenant with Israel (see Jos 5:2–9). Just as He left the
  foreigners in the land of promise “that He might test Israel” (3:1), so God allows sin,
  suffering, and death to continue for a time in the world that He might test, strengthen,
  and draw the repentant soul to Himself. And as He raised up judges (v. 16) to deliver
  Israel, so He provides salvation in Christ for all who turn to Him. Those who continue in
  sin and would not listen (v. 17) fall into the hands of the enemy, but God delivers the
  faithful out of hardship (see note on 3Kg 22:23). This pattern will repeat itself: (1) God
  disciplines Israel for idolatry and disobedience; (2) Israel cries out in repentance for
  God's help; (3) God provides another judge for deliverance.
3:1-6 A list of enemy nations that remained in Canaan. Note that Israel intermarried with
  them and ultimately served their gods (v. 6).
3:7   They forgot the Lord: Without constant remembrance of the Lord in all thoughts,
  words, and deeds, man allows himself to become most vulnerable to the deceptions and
  accusations of the enemy. Of the Eucharist, Jesus said to do this “in remembrance of Me”
  (1Co 11:25).
3:9   The word savior is a synonym for “judge.”
3:10-11   The Spirit of the Lord strengthens Othniel, and there is peace for forty years.
  Similarly, Christ strengthens His Church and His people through baptism, sealed by the
  Holy Spirit. Those who look to the Lord God will gain victory over this fallen world.
3:12-13    Moab is east of the Jordan near the Dead Sea. Ammon and Amalek were
  neighboring tribes, historically at odds with Israel. The City of Palms is Jericho.
3:20 The upper summer chamber is a well-ventilated room on the flat roof.
4:1-3 Israel did evil, was oppressed, and cried out to the Lord. Sin brings all men under the
  heavy yoke of oppression and hardship—but this can also result in repentance. After
  twenty years Israel finally cried out to God for relief.
4:4   St. Ambrose comments on the story of Deborah, Barak, and Jael: “And so according to
  history, that the minds of women might be stirred up, a woman became: a judge, a
  woman who set all in order; a woman who prophesied; a woman who triumphed; and
  joining in battle array, taught men to war under a woman's counsel. But in a mystery, it is
  the battle of faith and the victory of the Church.” Deborah is one of three prophetesses
  mentioned in the Old Testament, the other two being Miriam (Ex 15:20) and Huldah
  (2Kg 22:14).
4:9   Deborah prophesied victory, but warned Barak not to take credit, for the Lord will sell
  Sisera into the hand of a woman.
5:1-31   As was often the custom after Israel's victories, a song or psalm (v. 3) was sung,
  recalling the details of the conflict. This is the lengthiest and most elaborate of the Old
  Testament victory songs, but perhaps the most famous is Moses' song in Ex 15:1–18
  celebrating deliverance from Egypt.
5:7   Just as Deborah was a mother . . . in Israel, so Mary, Mother of God, is also mother of
  the Church. They both sang songs of praise to the Lord (see Lk 1:46–55).
5:9   A great tribute to the leaders and the volunteers who freely sacrifice in service to
  Israel. In the Divine Liturgy we likewise give thanks to God “for those who serve and
  those who sing.” For the people of God, the leaders and the laity, are called to work
  together, never independently.
5:28   A touching look at the mother of a fallen warrior—in this case an enemy of God's
  people.
5:31   One of a multitude of biblical passages contrasting the destiny of the enemies of the
  Lord will those desiring Him.
6:1, 2 The Midianites are nomadic people who oppressed Israel for seven years.
6:3-8   Israel cried out to the Lord (v. 6) after seven years of ongoing invasion of the
  Midianites, particularly at the time of harvest (v. 4). The Lord sent them a prophet (v. 8),
  reminding them of His covenant with Israel (Ex 20:1).
6:11   St. Ambrose sees the terebinth tree as a type of the cross, the winepress as the
  Church, the wheat as the saints. He writes, “For these elect, as though trained with the
  rod of truth (Rev 19:15), laying aside the old man together with his deeds, are gathered in
  the Church as in a winepress . . . for from her wells forth the juice of the heavenly vine.”
  Gideon prefigures Christ as a deliverer of those in bondage.
6:15   I am the smallest: Gideon's humility reflects the Christlike character of those who
  love God (5:31), for His “strength is made perfect in weakness” (2Co 12:9).
6:18   I am tells us this is the One who spoke to Moses (Ex 20:2). I will wait echoes words
  recorded by the prophet Isaiah (Is 30:18).
6:19-27 St. Ambrose writes that Gideon's sacrifices foreshadow the Incarnation. “The meat
  of the kid refers to sins of deed, the broth to the enticements of desire. . . . That the Angel
  then stretched forth His staff and touched the rock from which fire went out, shows that
  the flesh of the Lord, being filled with the Divine Spirit, would burn away all the sins of
  human frailty.”
6:25-26 St. Ambrose writes that by sacrificing the two bulls, Gideon “showed that after the
  coming of the Lord all Gentile sacrifices should be done away, and that only the sacrifice
  of the Lord's Passion should be offered for the redemption of the people. For that second
  bull was, in a type, Christ, in whom, as Isaiah said, dwelt the fullness of the seven gifts of
  the Spirit.”
6:32   Jerubbaal means “May Baal plead.” This was Gideon's new nickname, but he did not
  give honor to Baal (see 7:1).
6:36-38    The hymns of the Orthodox Church reveal the dewy fleece as symbolic of Mary
  conceiving the Son of God in her womb. On the Feast of the Annunciation we sing, “He
  shall come down as rain upon the fleece.” In the first Nativity Canon we hear, “As dew
  upon the fleece, You have descended into the womb of the Virgin, O Christ.”
     The word translated fleece usually means “clippings of grass”; here, it is clippings of
  wool. Gideon put out the fleece, asking God to send dew on the fleece only, not on the
  ground. Why? So Gideon would know it was God's intention to save Israel by my hand (v.
  37). Thus, there is meaning beyond the miracle itself: the dew is the Son of God; the
  fleece is Mary; the result is the Incarnation, through which Israel—and all men—can be
  saved.
7:2-8   Gideon originally gathered about 32,000 volunteers (v. 3) to encamp opposite the
  Midianites and the Amalekites. But the Lord knows men's hearts. In victory, He did not
  want Israel to credit themselves. God demonstrates His commitment to victory for our
  sake, while also making clear that His strength does not lie in numbers—a total of only
  three hundred men (v. 7) in three units—but in His own power.
7:15   Gideon worshiped before the promise had been fulfilled, and prepared himself to act
  in obedience to the Lord without first needing a sign from Him.
7:24-25   Earlier in Judges, God's army was satisfied with partial victories (1:27–34) and
  paid the consequences. Here and in the next chapter, Gideon makes sure the conquest is
  complete—a sure lesson for those who seek victory over sin.
8:1-3 The men of Ephraim had been excluded from the battle. Gideon showed the wisdom
  of not arguing in the face of their anger; instead he encouraged them tactfully, based on
  their own accomplishments (Rom 12:3–6).
8:4-9 The men of Succoth (v. 5) and Penuel (v. 8) refused to give bread to Gideon's men,
  questioning his victory over Midian. Their refusal to help God's servant was costly (see
  Mt 25:41–46).
8:10   The name Zebah means “slaughter, sacrifice,” a name given to create a sense of great
  fear. But here, it foreshadows his destiny. Before Gideon, the servant of the Lord, Zebah
  became the one slaughtered.
8:13-17 The men of Succoth (v. 5) and Penuel (v. 8) refused to give bread to Gideon's men,
  questioning his victory over Midian. Their refusal to help God's servant was costly (see
  Mt 25:41–46).
8:14   Gideon would not kill haphazardly. The covenant was broken and due punishment
  was to be exacted, but he killed only those directly involved.
8:16   There can be consequences if one chooses to break a covenant. Here the promised
  punishment is fulfilled.
8:23   Gideon refused their offer, though later his son Abimelech would try to keep his
  father's house in power.
8:27    Gideon's idea of making an ephod, a priestly vestment, and a memorial in his
  hometown, commemorating his victory, became a thorn. The lesson: it is unwise for
  God's people to unduly celebrate a victory over enemies.
9:1   Jerubbaal is Gideon (see note at 6:32).
9:1-5 Soon after Gideon died, the crafty Abimelech, his son by a concubine, with help from
  the men of Shechem, murdered seventy of his father's legitimate heirs. Only Jotham
  escaped.
9:7   Mount Gerizim, previously used for the offering of blessings (Dt 11:29), is now used by
  Jotham to pronounce a parable of warning and a curse to the people.
9:8   These words speak to the mockery of kingship not anointed by God.
9:25   These robberies kept the king from collecting taxes from traveling merchants.
9:26-57   The punishment of which Jotham warned fell on Abimelech (v. 56). Those who
  live apart from the guidance of God face ultimate destruction.
9:37 Elonmaonenim can be translated “terebinth tree of the diviners.”
9:46   Bethelberith means “the house of Berith,” a temple of a local deity (see also v. 50).
10:1-7   Tola saved (judged) Israel, and Jair helped sustain the forty-five years of peace
  Israel enjoyed. But Israel fell into idolatry and evil again, and the Lord, for their sake,
  delivered them into the hands of the Philistines, later to be invaded by the Ammonites (v.
  7). The false gods Israel served included Ashtoreth of Sidon (3Kg 11:5, 33), Baal-peor and
  Chemosh of Moab (Nm 21:29; 25:3; 3Kg 11:7, 33), Melek (Molech, Milcom) of Ammon
  (Lv 18:21; 3Kg 11:5, 7, 33), and Dagon and Beelzebub, gods of the Philistines (16:23; 1Kg
  5:2–7; 4Kg 1:2–3). Molech was particularly known as a god requiring human sacrifice (Lv
  18:21; 20:2–5; 2Kg 23:10; Jer 32:35).
10:11-16 A powerful account of God extending not judgment but mercy to sinners. His soul
  was grieved (see Gn 6:6; Mk 14:34).
11:1-3 Not being the son of Gilead's wife or even a concubine, Jephthah is thrown out of
  his home as the son of another woman in violation of the law regarding the fatherless (Dt
  10:18; 14:29; 16:11; 24:17).
11:10   Mizpah was the place where Jacob and Laban made a covenant (Gn 31:44–49). This
  shows the elders of Gilead took seriously Jephthah's appointment to lead them.
11:11-27   A debate between Jephthah's messengers and the sons of Ammon over a three-
  hundred-year-old land dispute (v. 25). It is not resolved (v. 27), and a war will result.
11:28   The Spirit of the Lord descended on Jephthah to do battle against Ammon, making
  him one of the few Old Testament heroes indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
11:38-39   Jephthah's daughter was an inspiration to the women of Israel, showing her
  zealous obedience to the Lord in life and in death.
12:1, 2   Again (see notes at 8:1–3) the men of Ephraim are bypassed in battle, this time
  against the sons of Ammon. Jephthah asks, “Where were you when we needed you
  against the Ammonites?” (see 10:9). Ephraim has no answer, and war ensues.
12:5-6 The men of Gilead give a language test to the Ephraimites, and they fail. The word
  stachys here is Greek for the Hebrew “shibboleth”; both mean “ear of corn.” It was the
  “sh” sound the Ephraimites could not pronounce.
13:1   Despite God's continued faithfulness, the sons of Israel still apostatize, a pattern
  repeated throughout the Book of Judges.
13:3   After forty years of bondage for Israel, God made known His plans through His Angel
  to deliver Israel by means of a special son born to a barren woman—as also happened
  with Sarah (Gn 16:1), Rebekah (Gn 25:21), Hannah (1Kg 1:2–28), and Elizabeth (Lk 1:7).
13:4-7   Nazirite is derived from the Hebrew nazir, “consecrated,” “dedicated.” The one
  making a Nazirite vow (see Nm 6:2; Am 2:11, 12; 1Kg 1:11; Lk 1:15) refrains from strong
  drink, eating unclean things, and cutting the hair.
13:5   Samson was a Nazirite unto God from the womb, as were the prophet Samuel (1Kg
  1:11) and John the Baptist (Lk 1:15). Samson would begin to deliver Israel from the
  Philistines, a work carried further by Samuel, Saul, and King David.
13:25   Not only does the Angel of the Lord prophesy Samson's birth and calling, but the
  Spirit of the Lord attends his life.
14:1-5 Samson's desire to marry a woman of the Philistines bore ill fruit. The woman was
  more faithful to her own people than to him (see vv. 15–18).
14:5-9 St. Ephraim the Syrian writes that Christ, prefigured in Samson, also “tore the lion,
  an image of death . . . and caused to go forth from his bitterness the sweetness of life for
  men.”
14:18   As with many riddles, once the answer was given it was obvious (Ps 19:10; 118:103;
  Pr 30:30).
15:1-3   I will do mischief among them (v. 3) signals the beginning of the back-and-forth
  revenge in this chapter of “an eye for an eye” (see Ex 21:23–25). Samson finally prevails
  over the Philistines.
15:18-19 For all Samson's strength, he nearly died of thirst. Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts,
  let him come to Me and drink” (Jn 7:37). Even the strong are utterly dependent on God,
  who by a miracle provided water.
16:2-3 Since the gate of the city was locked by night, the Gazites assumed all was well until
  dawn. Samson awoke at midnight, tore down the doors, and carried them to Hebron—a
  distance of over thirty miles.
16:4   Alsorech is the valley of Sorek. Delilah, though we are not told, presumably was a
  Philistine. Samson's love for her for a time proved stronger than his call from God to
  deliver Israel (13:5), and brought him down (16:15–17).
16:23-30 St. Irenaeus writes on this passage: “The lad who guided Samson by the hand (v.
  26) typifies John the Baptist, who showed to the people the faith in Christ. And the house
  in which they were assembled signifies the world, in which dwell the various heathen and
  unbelieving nations, offering sacrifice to the idols. Moreover, the two pillars are the two
  covenants. Samson leaning himself upon the pillars indicates this: that the people, when
  instructed, recognized the mystery of Christ.”
16:25   The phrase let him play before us likely refers to their request that he do tricks only
  a strong man could do.
17:1-6 Through the mother of Micah we see that the overall importance of the tabernacle
  and the Law of God it upheld was almost forgotten at this point in time. This is confirmed
  by the words everyone did what was right in his own eyes (v. 6). The impression is
  reinforced by the mother having a carved and molten image or idol (v. 4), as well as by
  Micah, who stole from his own mother, anointing one of his own sons as priest and
  clothing him with an ephod (v. 5), believing his own home was a house of God.
17:7-13   The young Levite gives indication of the diminished state of the tribe of Levi. It
  was scattered, no longer centered in the tabernacle, and likely not keeping the rule of
  worship, including the sacrifices and offerings.
18:1, 2 The tribe of Dan was unsuccessful in controlling its inheritance. So five spies went
  out to search for a place to settle. The reference to no king indicates Dan no longer
  honored the Lord as their King. They went off on their own to take land, even if they had
  to steal it from other tribes of Israel.
18:3   The spies recognized the voice of the priest. Perhaps they knew the young Levite
  from Bethlehem (17:1) or recognized his dialect.
18:5   The use of the word God instead of Lord shows awareness of the covenant—and their
  violation of it.
18:6   Without the Lord's guiding Spirit, Micah's priest was an easy target, unaware of the
  looming dangers.
18:11   The six hundred men shows the military weakness of the family of Dan.
18:19-20   The priest was not forced or coerced. He was glad to be moving on to a larger
  assignment.
18:26   The thief Micah had been outdone by the greater thieves of Dan.
18:31   No longer obeying the covenant or having contact with God's people, they set up for
  themselves their own experimental worship.
19:1   The people of Israel had fallen far in these days when there was no king. There was
  sexual perversion (19:22–28). The commandments of the Law were forgotten or
  overlooked (17:6; 21:25). Their leadership was failing.
19:2   To “play the harlot” or take a concubine was an expression typically used to paint a
  prophetic picture of people following false gods, often Baal, whose followers often
  became involved in extreme sexual misconduct (Hos 4:1–6; Jer 3:1, 8; Ezk 16:41; 23:44).
19:4   The people of Israel, even in apostasy, still believed they had sacred obligations
  toward anyone they considered their guest.
19:11   This city of the Jebusites was not considered part and parcel of Israel, and yet a
  person from Israel might find safety here.
19:22-23   The sons of lawlessness in the Hebrew text is “sons of Belial,” which means
  “worthless men” (see 2Co 6:15, and Rom 1:26–27). This gruesome account is similar to
  that of Lot and the men of Sodom (Gn 19:1–4).
19:24-30    So vile were homosexual acts in this culture, the concubine was offered. The
  woman met an obscene death, a tragic breach of the covenant. The twelve pieces of her
  remains were likely sent, one each, to the twelve tribes of Israel.
20:1-3   The children of Israel came together as one man to stand before the Lord. They
  gathered at Mizpah, “a place of watching” (1Kg 7:5, 16; 10:17). The purpose of the
  gathering was to confront the wicked deed of rape and murder (19:25–28).
20:8-11    The verdict was by council, unanimous, and they carried out their decision in
  unity.
20:12-13     The Benjamites were offered the opportunity to turn over the sons of
  lawlessness in order to avoid war and to put away the evil from Israel (Dt 17:12), but they
  refused.
20:18   They traveled to Bethel (Gn 28:19–22) to inquire of God because the ark of the
  covenant had been moved there (v. 27).
20:26     This second defeat awakened the sons of Israel. All now came to the central
  sanctuary at Bethel to weep, worship God, and seek His mercy. They prayed, fasted, and
  wept because of their two costly losses at the hands of Benjamin.
20:28    The Lord repeats His earlier answer, but this upcoming third battle came with a
  promise of victory. Even so, “the battle was fierce” (v. 34). Despite God's promises of
  victory to us, Jesus warns, “in the world you will have tribulation” (Jn 16:33).
20:48   For about four months, Israel carried out against Benjamin the things God declared
  should be done to the Canaanites (Dt 7:2; 20:16–18)—for Benjamin had become like the
  Canaanites. It was prescribed punishment for violating the covenant and rejecting God's
  authority in Israel.
21:3   Even in the face of victory, the Israelites wept that one tribe should be missing, that
  is, Benjamin. Even toward their opponents in war, they retained that loyalty of covenant.
21:6, 7   With Israel's victory came their desire to have mercy and restore those who
  escaped to the Rock of Rimmon (20:47).
21:8-24    Those of Jabesh Gilead failed to answer the call against Benjamin, and the
  congregation directed Israel to strike them down. Only the virgins were spared as a way to
  restore the tribe. Further, the Benjamite men were allowed to take wives from among the
  daughters of Shiloh.
21:25   This daunting statement reveals that the problems in Israel still went unsolved.
1:1-5 Moab was an enemy of Israel, and the Jews were forbidden to have dealings with the
  Moabites (Dt 23:3–6). Even in time of famine, one is to trust in the Lord rather than flee
  to the enemy. Elimelech, whose name means “My God is King,” has forsaken God and left
  the covenant community. He exemplifies the faithless Jews, and he died without leaving
  offspring in Israel.
1:6   Naomi, representing the faithful Jews who will accept redemption in Christ, returned
  from the country of Moab to receive the Lord's bread (see Jn 6:48). The notion of
  arising from a state of sin and returning to a loving Father is echoed in Christ's parable of
  the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11–32).
1:11   Naomi's question, “Why do you desire to go with me?” is intended not to prevent
  them from following her to the Lord, but to challenge their sincerity (see Jn 6:26, 27).
1:12   Childbearing was seen as necessary to perpetuate one's life beyond death, and is
  symbolic of eternal life. Naomi had grown too old for childbearing.
1:14-15   Orpah had declared her intention to follow Naomi to the Lord (v. 10), but being
  confronted with the realities of that life, she returns to her people and her gods (see Jn
  6:66). Her kiss is metaphorically a kiss of betrayal. By contrast, Ruth followed her,
  forsaking all she knew and accepting the Lord. In doing so, Ruth prefigures the Gentile
  Church and all who would be saved.
1:19   The separation between Jew and Gentile would one day be abolished in Jesus Christ
  (Eph 2:14). The unbreakable alliance of Naomi and Ruth as the two of them went
  until they came to Bethlehem prefigures that day.
1:20-21 Lamenting in Bethlehem over the loss of her children in Moab, Naomi prefigures
  Rachel, who would later lament over the loss of her children to Babylon (Jer 31:15) and
  over the children slain by Herod (Mt 2:16–18). See 4:11.
1:22   The beginning of barley harvest was in April. It would have occurred at about the
  time of the Passover, and thus of the crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ. Jesus
  Himself refers to the new covenant as a time of harvest (Mt 9:37, 38; Jn 4:35). Ruth is
  accepted at this time, showing that the Gentiles would be received into the Church.
2:1   Boaz prefigures Christ. Here he is introduced as a relative of both a faithless Jew
  (Elimelech) and, through marriage, a faithful one (Naomi). Boaz also had Gentile
  ancestry, for his mother was Rahab (Mt 1:5).
2:2   In humble acceptance of her position as foreigner, Ruth is willing to glean the Jews'
  leftover grain. The New Testament reminds all Gentile believers to imitate her humility
  (Rom 11:19–21; Eph 2:11, 12).
2:8-10 Like the Canaanite woman in Mt 15:21–28, Ruth acknowledges that she does not
  deserve Boaz's favor because she is a stranger. Like Christ, Boaz blesses her with his
  favor and protection.
2:14   Ruth is rewarded for her dedication by an invitation to eat with Boaz. This meal
  prefigures the eucharistic Supper.
2:15-16 In Christ, Gentiles are grafted to the tree of salvation (see Rom 11), and they share
  equally in the reception of grace. Here Boaz issues an order to his servants ensuring that
  Ruth, a Gentile, is given equal treatment and an equal share of grain. There is a
  significant difference between the Masoretic Text and the LXX in v. 16. The former has
  Boaz merely instruct his servants to let extra grain fall from their bundles, distorting the
  underlying meaning of his order.
2:20 Naomi blesses Boaz with words applicable to Christ.
2:22   A call to remain in the community of faith. To wander in another field is to go
  beyond the protection of Boaz and to be subject to all manner of danger (see vv. 8, 9).
3:3    As Ruth must wash and anoint herself and put on a new garment for her
  encounter with Boaz, believers are washed in baptism, anointed in chrismation, and
  clothed in the garment of salvation in their encounter with Christ.
3:4   Where Boaz lies down, Ruth will lie down with him, and Boaz will instruct her.
  Likewise, as Christ was buried, the believer is also buried with Him in baptism, and thus
  learns how to live (Rom 6:3–11).
3:9   Take your maidservant under your wing: Ruth declares her desire to be accepted
  as wife by Boaz, and prophesies the acceptance of the Gentiles by Christ.
3:10   Boaz blesses Ruth because she did not go after young men, which is to say she
  did not pursue the cares and fleeting security of this world.
3:12-13   The kinsman is Ruth's relative who is unwilling to redeem her (4:1–6). This
  unnamed man represents the Old Testament Law, which was incapable of redeeming
  mankind. Boaz will allow this kinsman the first opportunity to redeem Ruth; if he will not
  do it, Boaz himself will. For in Jewish tradition, the brother or closest relative marries his
  deceased brother's widow (Dt 25:5–10). In the same way, God Himself redeemed His
  people when the Law had failed.
3:15   The gift of barley is a sign of his promise to redeem Ruth. The number six indicates
  an incomplete action, which would be completed only when the promise was fulfilled. See
  4:15.
4:3-6   Because of sin, the Law led to death and lacked the power to bestow life. This is
  illustrated when the unnamed relative is willing to accept the field from the dead man
  Elimelech, but he is not willing to take Ruth, the ancestor of Christ.
4:6   The unnamed kinsman unwittingly speaks the truth when he acknowledges that
  marrying Ruth would ruin his inheritance.
4:7-8 The passing of a sandal represented the transfer of responsibility. In the case of the
  unnamed close relative passing his sandal to Boaz, we see the passing of the Law and
  the advent of redemption in Christ.
4:11   As Naomi was like Rachel in her grief (1:20, 21), Ruth will be like Rachel in her
  building up of Israel. The praise of Boaz is reminiscent of the exaltation of the messianic
  groom in Psalm 44.
4:12-15   The seed which the Lord will give you from this young woman initially
  refers to their son Obed and to the prominent figure of King David. More importantly, it
  declares the coming of Christ, who is the true restorer of life.
4:15    The number seven indicates a complete action, and shows that Ruth fulfills in
  herself the promise of Boaz. See 3:15.
1:1   Elkanah means “God created.”
1:2   Hannah means “graciousness.” In the Old Testament, barrenness was a sign that God
  had withdrawn His blessing.
1:3   Since the time of Joshua, Shiloh had been the political and religious center for the
  people of Israel. The tabernacle and the ark of the covenant were kept there until David
  conquered Jerusalem, making that city the new place of Israel's worship.
1:7   Rather than containing the grief over her barrenness, Hannah expresses her heart to
  the Lord through fasting and tears.
1:9   The word temple is used rather than “tabernacle,” although this was the movable
  tabernacle built under the leadership of Moses. The word “temple” suggests a more
  permanent structure that people came to in order to worship God.
1:11   Lowly state is the same phrase the Virgin Mary prays in Lk 1:48. Hannah's promise
  to God is that her child would fulfill the Nazirite vow, which was a type of ancient ascetic
  vow found first in Nm 6. In every instance of this vow in Scripture, it is prescribed before
  birth—for Samson, Samuel, and probably John the Baptist (Lk 1:13–15).
1:13   St. Cyprian sees the praying Hannah as a type of the Church pouring her heart out in
  prayer silently and modestly, “within the very recesses of her heart . . . with manifest
  faith.”
1:16   Hannah defends herself to Eli against being a daughter of corruption. Drunkenness
  and sexual immorality were common hallmarks of pagan Canaanite worship.
1:17 The priest recognizes Hannah's humility and gives her his blessing.
1:18   This is a great display of Hannah's faith, in that she trusts in God's answer before
  receiving it.
1:20   Samuel means “the name is God (godly)” or “the descendant of God,” a name
  suggesting he was a child given from God.
1:22   Hannah is a type of Mary, as Samuel is a type of Christ, because as St. Cyprian states,
  “Samuel [was born] not according to the order of generation, but according to the mercy
  and promise of God.”
1:28   Hannah is not only fulfilling her promise, but her words are prophetic of Samuel's
  life of service to God.
2:1   The prayer of Hannah has become a beloved hymn of the Church and is one of the
  biblical odes. This prayer has been used in the Matins service, and is the basis for many of
  the Church's hymns. There are also many similarities between this prayer and the prayer
  of Mary in Lk 1:46–55. The word horn had become a symbol for strength, honor, and
  power.
2:3 We must boast in nothing, since nothing is our own (Cyprian).
2:5   Were made empty means literally “to be made less” or “inferior.” Those who were
  once full and satisfied are now beginning to be emptied. St. Augustine sees this whole
  verse as a prophecy of the decline of Israel and the rise of the Gentile Church.
2:6   This verse foreshadows the resurrection and is likely a picture of the Lord's own
  descent into Hades and His Resurrection. Aphrahat uses this passage among many to
  demonstrate that the belief in the resurrection existed even in the Old Testament.
2:9   It is God who ultimately fills the heart with prayer.
2:11   Samuel did not merely help Eli with the menial tasks of the tabernacle, but actually
  participated in the liturgical worship of God.
2:21    God blessed Hannah with five more children because of her faithfulness and
  obedience.
2:27-29 The prophet condemns Eli because he excuses the conduct of his sons (3:13). The
  prophet declares Eli has honored his sons more than he has honored God. Even pious
  parents can be passive in the raising of their children: a warning to all who desire godly
  offspring.
2:35   Lactantius states, “And since Christ was the builder of this great and eternal temple,
  He must also have an everlasting priesthood in it; and there can be no approach to the
  shrine of the temple, and to the sight of God, except through Him who built the temple.”
3:1   God's word had become very precious because of the absence of a clear, concise, and
  distinct vision from Him.
3:7   Samuel had not yet become a prophet, because this was the first time God had allowed
  Himself to be known by him.
3:13-14 God reveals to Samuel what he had already revealed to Eli through another man of
  God, confirming Samuel as a true prophet of the Lord.
3:18    Eli accepts God's judgment even though it means his destruction. Despite the
  judgment, Eli still did nothing to correct his sons' behavior.
3:19-20 Samuel was confirmed as God's prophet not merely because he heard God's voice,
  but because he was willing to proclaim God's word even when it was unpleasant or
  uncomfortable.
4:1   The word Philistines is not used only to describe Israel's enemies; it is also a more
  generic term designating “foreigner” or “Gentile.”
4:3-4 The people did not realize that their defeat came from the hand of God. But rather
  than discovering why God allowed them to be defeated and repenting of their
  unfaithfulness, they think that having the ark with them will ensure that God is with
  them.
4:7-10   The Philistines were afraid of the presence of the ark, but conducted themselves
  like men and handed Israel a stunning defeat.
4:18   The loss of the ark and his sons brought the loss of Eli's own life.
5:2   Dagon was the chief god of the Canaanites and was referred to as the father of Baal in
  Canaanite mythology. Dagon was represented by a figure that had the torso and head of a
  man, but the body of a fish. The name Dagon is derived from a word meaning “little fish.”
  The house or temple is mentioned later in 1Mc 10:83, 84.
5:4   The destruction of their idol was a sign to the Philistines that the God of Israel could
  not be possessed and subjected to their pagan beliefs.
5:8   The Philistine government was a loose confederacy of five cities, each ruled by a type
  of warlord. Each city was considered a seat of power. The fives cities were Ashkelon,
  Ashdod, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza (6:17). They were sometimes referred to as the Philistine
  Pentapolis.
5:11   The Philistines had moved the ark to three of their five cities, hoping that eventually
  it would be subjected by a local deity.
6:1   God will not be manipulated by man. To attempt to do so brings curse rather than
  blessing.
6:2-12 The Philistines devised a test to see whether the God of Israel was truly the source
  of their tribulation. The cows should have naturally come home to their offspring rather
  than walking away toward the land of Israel. Yet God had promised to remain with His
  people, and He guided the ark back to Israel.
6:14   The people's natural response to the return of God's presence was to worship God
  with sacrifices. The focus of the worship was not on the ark, but on the presence of God
  that the ark contained. In the Church, the ark is understood typologically as the person of
  the Virgin Mary. Honoring the Theotokos as the Mother of God who bore the Savior of
  our souls draws the heart to worship Him, together with His Father and the Holy Spirit.
6:19   Once again, the people begin mishandling that which is holy by trying to investigate
  that which is improper to man.
7:2   The ark was not brought back to Shiloh, where it had been abused by the sons of Eli,
  but was taken to a new place, where the people of Israel kept their eye firmly fixed upon it
  so it might not depart again.
7:3   Throughout the period of the Judges and Kings, the problem of idolatry continued to
  plague Israel. Samuel was not asking for a partial commitment to God, but for the people
  to completely remove any trace of idolatry from their lives and serve God only.
7:6   Samuel's act of pouring water as an offering to the Lord is a type of baptism, and a
  symbol of the cleansing that people needed as they repented over their attitude toward
  God and His holy objects.
7:8   Samuel had proven himself a committed intercessor for the people, and they relied on
  him once again to pray on their behalf.
7:9-13 The Philistines are a type of sin and its dominion over those who do not follow the
  Lord with all their heart. When God's people are far from Him, sin reigns over them. Yet
  when they draw near to God and cry out for mercy and forgiveness, He delivers them
  from the enemy.
8:1-5   Unfortunately, Samuel did not learn a lesson from Eli in rearing his own children.
  Just as Eli's children departed from the ways of God, so did Samuel's sons. It was the
  wickedness of these judges, Samuel's sons, that prompted the people to ask for a king to
  rule over them.
8:7   God tells Samuel that their rejection of him as judge is a rejection of God Himself; yet
  God will answer their cry for a king.
8:9-18 God is willing to give the people what they want, but He warns them of the dangers
  of a monarchy. These warnings which Samuel gave the people were fulfilled during the
  days of the good king, Solomon. Solomon taxed the people heavily so that he might build
  the temple.
9:9   The ministry of prophet includes the ability to see into the future, as well as to read
  the hearts of men.
10:1-10 Saul's anointing as king by Samuel is a type of the Sacrament of Chrismation. The
  anointing brought with it the descent of the Holy Spirit upon his life, giving Saul
  another heart (v. 9).
10:9   The Spirit of God always brings transformation wherever He is present.
11:11-15   Saul's initial act as king was to defend the defenseless against cruel oppressors.
  Even in this early battle he displays his military genius, and also the mercy he has on
  those who initially rejected his kingship. The people of Jabesh were forever indebted to
  him, and even after his slide into apostasy, they were the only people willing to care for
  his remains after his death.
12:1-5   Before Samuel begins exhorting the people, he seeks their support. The people
  proclaim his innocence in the face of his humility and willingness to repent for any
  wrongdoing. He then calls on the Lord and Saul, His anointed, as witnesses to his
  uprightness.
12:6-25   Samuel's sermon expounds on the grace and deliverance of God in the life of
  Israel. Though a king in Israel was a concession from God, Samuel encourages them that
  the monarchy will work if both they and the king continue in God's righteousness.
13:13   Hilary of Poitiers sees David's commendation by God as a man after His own
  heart as a glimpse into the prophetic ministry of David. Although David lived under the
  Mosaic Law, he prophetically grasped the fullness of the Gospel fulfilled ultimately in
  Christ.
15:11   Melito of Sardis calls the repentance of the Lord a “change of His procedure” with
  man. Tertullian views God's regret as a judgment against the character of Saul rather
  than as a self-incriminating repentance of wrongdoing. Augustine clarifies this even
  further by explaining that God's repentance does not negate His foreknowledge, but is a
  change in how man expects God to act. In this sense, God is always acting in ways
  contrary to man's expectations.
15:17-22   John Cassian uses this example of Saul's undoing to promote the need for
  discernment and discretion in the spiritual life. Watchfulness over one's own soul
  protects against all manner of evil and undoing. Gregory the Great also uses this example
  of Saul as a warning against human pride.
15:22   Irenaeus points out that God did not command sacrifices for His own benefit, but
  for the benefit of man, in order to train him in righteousness and obedience.
15:24-26   Saul seems to repent, yet God does not accept his confession as He did that of
  David after David's sin. St. Augustine notes that mere outward confession of sin is not
  what God desires, but an inward change of heart. One only has to look at the lives of Saul
  and David to see that one truly repented and the other did not.
15:35    Jerome and John Cassian both note that godly men have wept over the sins of
  others. Jerome states, “Good men have always sorrowed for the sins of others. Samuel of
  old lamented for Saul because he neglected to treat the ulcers of pride with the balm of
  penitence.” Rather than rejoicing in the failures of others, godly sorrow is in order.
16:7   According to Cyprian, God's judgment will not be merely of outward appearances, but
  will penetrate much deeper into the heart of man: He sees the heart and mind of every
  person, and He will judge not only our deeds, but even our words and thoughts.
17:4   Goliath is over nine feet tall.
17:4-33 This familiar story reminds us of the courage in men's hearts when their faith is
  placed completely in God. Goliath taunts David, but David's faith becomes evident when
  he does not cower under the threats, but instead warns Goliath with the hand of God. The
  armor he rejected represents the strength of man; David chose the armor of God (see Eph
  6:10–17).
18:6-12 David had been a comforting force in Saul's life; but now Saul sees him as a threat
  to his power. Saul seeks to kill David by sending him into battle against a thousand
  Philistines, but David's success threatens Saul all the more.
19:1-17 Saul, unable to kill David indirectly, commands his servants and even his own son
  Jonathan to murder him. His deceit continues as he lies to his own son about saving
  David's life.
19:18-24   Saul again tries to kill David after he flees to the presence of Samuel. Saul's
  messengers come to capture David, as does Saul himself, but they are overwhelmed by
  the presence of God among Samuel and the prophets. God's miraculous presence does
  not redeem Saul.
20:17 Jonathan expresses the greatest level of love one person can express for another. He
  is willing to die so David might live. Jesus displayed such love for all mankind, and calls
  for such love from His disciples (Jn 15:13).
21:1-6   Only the priests were allowed to eat the holy bread; the uneaten portions were
  offered as a sacrifice to God. Jesus refers to this story when confronting the Pharisees
  about their own legalistic attitude toward the Sabbath—which held firmly to the
  externals, yet rejected the inner mercy and compassion of the Law (see Mt 12:1–8). In
  this passage, the priest has compassion on David and his men, but out of holy fear he
  questions their righteousness and purity before he permits them to partake of this bread
  reserved for priests. The bread of the Presence was a prefiguration of the bread of the
  Eucharist, the body of Christ. Just as David was required to be holy, each Christian
  approaching Communion must be prepared through prayer, fasting, and confession.
  Indeed, the holy things are for the holy.
21:12-16   Although David knows he is anointed and will one day be king, he realizes it is
  not yet God's time and goes to extreme measures to stay anonymous.
22:20-23 Saul has just ordered the priests to be killed, and David gives refuge to the last
  survivor of the priestly massacre.
23:9   The ephod was a garment worn by the priests whenever they approached the altar in
  order to intercede with God. David trusted the priest to give him a sure answer from the
  Lord.
24:7-8 Saul had become a tyrannical leader, obsessed with killing the man of God David.
  Saul had threatened to kill his own son and had massacred over 300 priests. Despite
  Saul's sin, David still honored him as the Lord's anointed and spared him. A lesson hard
  to learn: throughout the history of the Church, there have been ungodly leaders, but true
  saints have taken up David's example, refusing to come against God's anointed. Instead,
  they trusted God to vindicate them.
24:17-23   In praising David's attitude of a servant, Gregory the Great notes he was more
  upright in servitude than when he came to his kingdom (v. 18). As a servant, he feared to
  smite his adversary. When he was king, through lasciviousness, he willfully put to death a
  devoted soldier (2Kg 11:17).
25:3   Nabal means “fool,” which describes his behavior. This passage shows the contrast
  between the wisdom of Abigail and the folly of Nabal.
25:22-34   John Cassian takes this story of David as an example of how compassion can
  overtake our own strong determination. David allowed compassion to alter his vengeful
  oath.
26:12   David again has an opportunity to kill Saul, but he refuses to lay a hand on the
  Lord's anointed (see note at 24:7, 8). God put the camp into a deep sleep so David could
  escape unharmed. Saul has one more chance to repent, yet he squanders this opportunity
  with mere words and no actions.
27:1   David's statements display his conviction that Saul will not repent, regardless of his
  remorseful posturing.
27:8-12   Although David was living in exile among the Philistines, he still defended and
  expanded the borders of his native land. Despite his circumstances, he never forgot his
  calling to uphold and protect the people of God, and he did not let outward events thwart
  this mission.
28:7-25 This passage created great controversy among the Fathers of the Church. In fact,
  at least three distinct interpretations can be found.
    1. The woman called Samuel forth from the dead (Justin Martyr, Origen, Ambrose, and
  Augustine).
     2. Whether it was Samuel or a demon, it appeared at God's bidding and not by some
  magic of the woman (Chrysostom, Theodoret).
    3. The entity was a demon who deceived Saul and gave him a false prophecy (Tertullian,
  Hippolytus, Ephrem the Syrian, Evagrius, Basil, Jerome, Ambrosiaster, & Gregory of
  Nyssa).
      The third interpretation seems to be held by the greatest number of Fathers, and
  Gregory of Nyssa wrote a specific treatise on the subject. He defends this view by citing
  the impassible chasm in the Lazarus parable (Lk 16:26). The apparition appeared only to
  the woman; she told Saul whom it resembled. The Greek word translated medium in
  this passage is literally the word for “ventriloquist.” Also, Saul had been plagued by evil
  spirits for years and was easily deceived by them.
29:9   Even an unbelieving Philistine was able to recognize the godly character of David.
30:7   Once again David trusts in the intercession of the priest before God, that he may
  follow God's will rather than his own. What a contrast between his use of the ephod and
  Saul's use of the medium! David approached God with humility through the means He
  had established. Saul sought to manipulate his future through the powers of darkness.
30:21-25 David displays his generosity and compassion for the weak by sharing the spoils
  with all the people—the strong and weak alike.
31:4-6 In this passage, the ultimate deception of the witch is made manifest. The prophecy
  given was that Saul and his sons would die. After seeing the death of his sons, Saul may
  have despaired, deceived by the words of the prophecy.
1:1-12   David learns of Saul's death after his return to Ziklag from defeating the
  Amalekites. Torn clothing and earth upon the head of the messenger are a sign of
  mourning. The man is an Amalekite who claims to have killed the wounded Saul at his
  request. He brings both Saul's crown and his bracelet (v. 10) to David. There were
  either two stories concerning the death of Saul, or else this man seeks David's favor by
  “confessing” to Saul's death (see 1Kg 31:1–6).
1:13-16 David turns upon the messenger, rebukes him for killing the Lord's anointed, and
  orders his execution.
1:17-27 The Lamentation, vv. 19–27, lauds both Saul and Jonathan.
2:1-3   David seems able to inquire directly of the Lord, as no mention is made of the
  ephod or other means of discernment, such as Urim and Thummim. The Lord instructs
  David to go to Hebron.
2:4   David is anointed by the elders of Judah as their king in Hebron. They also report
  Saul's burial.
2:5-7 David commends the burial of Saul as something right, inasmuch as he, too, was the
  Lord's anointed. He uses this as the opportunity to invite the people of Jabesh Gilead
  to accept his kingship over Judah.
2:8-10   However, a rival kingdom is established by Abner, Saul's commander-in-chief.
  Ishbosheth, Saul's son, reigns two years over Israel, but not over Judah.
2:11   David's reign over Judah is seven and one-half years.
2:12-32 A contest is staged between twelve Benjamites loyal to Abner and Ishbosheth, and
  twelve men loyal to David, led by Joab. This results in a blood feud.
3:1-5 War continues between the houses of David and Saul, though David's house grows
  continually stronger. Thus, also the emphasis on the number of sons begotten by him
  at Hebron and the listing of the wives who bore them, underscoring the political alliances
  that are growing.
3:6-21    After a dispute with Ishbosheth over the accusation of having taken Saul's
  concubine, Rizpah (Respha), Abner is indignant. He goes to seek a league with David.
  David agrees, on condition that his wife Michal be returned to him (v. 13; see 1Kg 25:44).
  The effect would be to restore his relationship to the house of Saul.
3:22-30 Joab returns from a raid to hear of the league between David and Abner. He is
  suspicious of Abner's motives: the blood feud has continued. He slays Abner exactly as
  Asahel was slain, stabbed in the loins. Since Joab has breached the peace proclaimed
  between Abner and the house of David, David declares that the blood of Abner will be a
  curse upon the house of Joab. Otherwise the word of the king would be worthless in
  future alliances.
3:31-39 The general mourning for Abner underscores David's guiltlessness in his death. A
  comparison is made to the death of Nabal, who had deserved his fate.
4:1-12   Hearing of the death of Abner, two of Saul's captains, Baanah and Rechab, slay
  Mephibosheth. But David is not impressed with their treachery, though they try to
  impress him with their deeds. He reminds them of what he did to the messenger who
  reported Saul's death. (Note: There are two men named Mephibosheth in this chapter.
  The one who is killed is Saul's son. The other is Jonathan's son (4:4), Saul's grandson.)
     Once again, the constant theme of not touching the Lord's anointed is reasserted by
  David. It bolsters his position as king as well as showing respect for the house of Saul and
  the anointing the Lord gave him.
5:1-5 David is anointed king over all Israel. His kingship is now accepted by Israel as well
  as Judah. His total reign will be forty years: seven (and one-half) from Hebron over
  Judah, and thirty-three over Judah and Israel. He became king over Judah at age thirty.
5:6-10 David comes to take the stronghold of Jerusalem, a fortress so easy to defend that
  the lame and the blind withstand him. Hence, they are to be destroyed when the city is
  taken.
5:11-12 Hiram's building David's house is a sign of diplomatic recognition by the king of
  Tyre.
5:13-17   This list of wives and concubines further details the establishing of David's
  dynasty. A number have been taken from Jerusalem, thus further cementing his
  control. Note the naming of Solomon in this list, as well as Nathan, who is the ancestor
  of Christ in Luke's genealogy (see Lk 3:31). Matthew lists Solomon as Christ's ancestor
  (Mt 1:6).
5:18-20    The Philistines mount another attack against the Hebrews, this time with
  David as king over all Israel and Judah. David inquires of the Lord as to His battle
  strategy each time.
5:21-25   The Philistines leave their idols behind because of the rout. David's removal of
  them underscores the victory of God over the Philistines' gods. God instructs David to
  wait until He Himself has joined the battle. The victory is so extensive because David has
  obeyed God's commands in this matter.
6:1-5 The ark is now to be brought up to Jerusalem from Gibeon (see 1Ch 13:1–14). It has
  been in the care of Eleazar (see 1Kg 7:1). This will help unify Judah and Israel by
  establishing Jerusalem as the primary sanctuary.
6:6-11   Contact with the holy was fatal. When Uzzah placed his hand on the ark to
  steady it, he died. David is fearful lest the ark enter Jerusalem. Instead, it is placed in the
  house of Obed-Edom (Abedarra), a Philistine loyal to David, for three months. Obed-
  Edom means literally, “servant of Edom” (see 1Ch 3:13, 14). His house and all his
  possessions are blessed by the presence of the ark.
6:12-19 Having seen that the ark has brought blessing to the house of a Philistine, David is
  willing to have it enter Jerusalem after all (see 1Ch 15:25–29). Greeting the ark with
  dancing is perhaps an import from Canaanite practices. A tabernacle (“tent of meeting”)
  is pitched for the ark in Jerusalem. The distribution of the offering, and thus the blessing
  associated with it, is made from Dan to Beersheba (v. 19), the geographical boundaries
  of Israel at the height of David's rule.
6:20-23    David returns to bring the blessing into his home, only to be reproached by
  Michal, who is childless. Thus, there is no continuation of Saul's lineage by means of
  their marriage.
7:1-3 David has united the tribes under his kingship, established Jerusalem as his capital,
  and lives in a house paneled with cedar. The ark, though now brought up to the city,
  remains in the tabernacle he pitched for it, a tent. He seeks advice from Nathan the
  prophet, who instructs him to build a temple for the ark.
7:4-17   In a dream, God informs Nathan that David is not to build the temple. His
  descendant, Solomon, will build it. This serves to remind Nathan and David that God
  Himself is in charge and will issue the instructions. Indeed, God Himself will establish
  the throne and house and kingdom forever (see v. 23; Ps 88:28ff: Is 55:3).
7:18-29 Having received divine intervention, David speaks of God's love towards his house
  and his family, and is humbled by it. The house to be established forever will not be one
  established by human hands, the earthly temple, but the One established through David's
  seed. This is a prophecy of Christ, the Messiah of Israel.
8:1, 2   Having consolidated his power, David now exercises this strength against both the
  Philistines and Moab, the latter becoming a vassal-state. It was not uncommon for a
  portion of a conquered people to be executed, as David does with Moab, so as to exert his
  strength.
8:3-12    David expands his territory to the Euphrates, subjugating Hadadezer and
  ultimately drawing Syria into the fight. A garrison is stationed near Damascus, possibly
  to guarantee trading rights, so another state is secured. Toi, king of Hamath, an enemy
  of Hadadezer, seeks to secure his favor with David by gifts of metal vessels.
8:13-17   David made himself a name expanding his presence and his territory. This
  expansion is blessed and ordained by God, and David reigns over all Israel. Joab serves
  as commander of the armies and Jehoshaphat as the official recorder, the highest civil
  office. Zadok, first mentioned here, becomes head of the legitimate line of priests. The
  text should probably read “Abiathar, son of Ahimelech” (see 1Kg 22:20).
9:1-13     This chapter reflects the abiding love that David had for Jonathan.
  Mephibosheth is his sole survivor, but lame in both feet. He is brought to David's court,
  cared for by Ziba, Saul's servant, and fed at David's table, as though he were one of
  David's sons. David, a type of Christ, extends grace to one disabled, and invites him to
  dine—a picture of God's love extended to those crippled by sin, restoring them in the
  Eucharist.
10:1-5   The Ammonite king Nahash dies. Since Saul had defeated the Ammonites at
  Jabesh Gilead (see 1Kg 11:1–11), it was wise that David send his emissaries to his son
  Hanun, son of Nahash.
10:6-8   The Ammonites hire men from four Syrian principalities, the two mentioned
  previously in 8:3–7 as well as from Amalek and Istob, into a confederation against David.
10:9-14   Joab's successful strategy is to divide his forces into two and attack with both
  simultaneously.
10:15-19 The resulting victory for David leaves the Syrians afraid to help the Ammonites in
  the future.
11:1   This prologue sets the stage for the story of David's adultery with Bathsheba, the wife
  of Uriah the Hittite. The king should be leading the armies and commanders into battle,
  but David has stayed behind.
11:2-5 The roofs of the houses were typically flat and allowed a cool place to relax in the
  evening. David spies Bathsheba bathing atop her house and is smitten by her beauty. He
  has her brought to him for the express purpose of adultery. Bathsheba conceives and
  sends David word of her pregnancy.
11:6-13   David calls for Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, to be brought home from battle so
  that he will have intercourse with his wife, hoping to cover his own sin in this fashion.
  Uriah, however, refuses to have intercourse with Bathsheba, as soldiers in battle were
  prohibited from doing so (see Lv 15:18; 1Kg 21:5) “To wash one's feet” is a comprehensive
  euphemism, but intercourse is implied.
11:14-21 His first plan having failed, David arranges for Uriah to be sent forth to the front
  lines for battle and then to retreat from behind him, virtually ensuring his death. David's
  second plan to conceal his adultery has succeeded through Uriah's murder on the
  battlefield.
11:22-25   Joab sends a messenger to tell David his progress in battle. Fearing David's
  anger, Joab instructs the man to hold back the fact that Uriah has been killed until the
  end of the report. Joab is correct in his suspicions.
11:26-27     Hearing of the death of her husband, Bathsheba mourns. Following the
  mourning period, David takes her as his wife and she gives birth to a son. It is clear
  David's actions were evil in God's sight.
12:1-6 It is the Lord Himself who sends Nathan the prophet to rebuke David for his sins
  of adultery and murder. David listens to Nathan's parable and then pronounces the
  sentence on his own head.
12:7-14 Nathan then prophesies to David, you are the man in the parable. There will be a
  twofold punishment: warfare from without all the rest of David's days, and rebellion from
  within. Additionally, the child born to Bathsheba will die.
12:15-23 The child falls ill and dies after seven days. During the illness, David fasts and
  lies upon the ground, entreating God to spare the child (v. 22). Once the child dies, David
  washes and clothes himself properly and goes into the house of the Lord to worship.
  David has confounded the elders of Israel by reversing the usual customs of mourning.
  Out of his contrition for these sins comes David's greatest psalm of repentance, Ps 50,
  which is recited daily in Orthodox devotional practice.
12:24-25 David comforts Bathsheba, who then conceives another child, Solomon, also
  called Jedidiah, “beloved of Yahweh.” This name is used only here.
12:26-28   Joab has taken the capital city of the Ammonites, Rabbah (modern Amman,
  Jordan). But it is a token capture. David is invited to go forth and take it in person, and
  does so. He takes the crown of Melchol, the Ammonite god, as part of the spoils, and
  puts the Ammonites under forced labor.
13:1   Nathan's prophecy of strife and struggle in David's house (12:10) begins to unfold
  with incest, fratricide, and rebellion. David's family and the kingdom will be afflicted for
  the rest of his days—and beyond—because of his sins of adultery and murder. The unholy
  conduct of leaders, as well as of parents, produces unholiness in the nation or the family.
  The sins of a father or mother can thus be visited upon their descendants. For those in
  spiritual leadership, this can be the case for their spiritual children (see 1Ti 3; Rev 2:18ff).
13:1-6   God's punishment of David for his sins (12:7) now begins to unfold. David's son
  Amnon falls in love with his half-sister Tamar. She is the full sister of Absalom.
  Jonadab, their cousin, advises Amnon to pretend to be ill in order to have Tamar
  come and cook for him.
13:7-14   Tamar refuses Amnon's advances, although she suggests that marriage would be
  possible, should he ask the king. Instead, he rapes her.
13:15   Completely revolted by his own deeds, Amnon sends Tamar away.
13:18-19   The variegated robe was worn by virgins. It is the same type of robe as
  described in Ps 44:13, 14, a psalm typifying the Virgin Mary. Tamar observes the
  mourning tradition for the loss of her virginity by placing ashes on her head and
  rending the garment. Absalom cautions her to remain quiet as he shelters her in his
  house.
13:21-29 Although David is grieved by his son's action, he does nothing. Amnon is the
  heir. Absalom bides his time, seeking to avenge his sister's rape. His vengeance takes
  place after two years at sheep-shearing (see 1Kg 25:2–4). Amnon is killed and all his
  brethren flee.
13:30-33 The first reports to David have him believing that Absalom has killed all of his
  sons. Interestingly, it is Jonadab, the cousin who had helped Amnon in his plot to
  seduce Tamar, who tells the king that only Amnon is dead.
13:34-36 Absalom flees with a band of men, while the sons of David return to Jerusalem
  and a general mourning takes place for Amnon.
13:37-39   Geshur is the home of Absalom's mother. He stays there three years until the
  king's grief over Amnon has abated.
14:1-3   Joab is aware the king has softened in his heart toward Absalom. He sends a
  woman of Tekoa to act the part of a widow before David to effect a reconciliation
  between the king and his son.
14:4-17   The woman's story of a blood feud between her sons parallels David's (see Nm
  35:19–21 re the law of blood revenge). She presses the king to absolve this blood feud,
  which he does, indicative of the king's power as judge.
14:18-20 David is suspicious that Joab is somehow involved in her telling the tale.
14:21-24   Absalom is recalled from his exile by David through Joab, but not allowed to
  live in the palace or see the king's face.
14:25-27 Absalom is described as handsome, with a full head of long hair, which he had
  cut every year. Absalom's daughter, Tamar, is named here, unusual in Hebrew
  genealogies, because she will marry Rehoboam, her cousin, the son of Solomon and
  future king.
14:28-33 Absalom resents his restrictions, unable to obtain an audience with his father
  the king after two years. Joab even refuses to come at his request until Absalom has
  Joab's barley field set on fire to force his presence. At last, Absalom is called to his
  father's court, where he does obeisance to him and is kissed by the king, a sign of
  reconciliation.
15:1-6     Absalom plays on the disaffection of those seeking judgment from the king who
  could get no audience. The implication is that David has begun to neglect his duties as
  judge.
15:7-12 After four years (the LXX has “forty”), Absalom is ready for open revolt. He uses
  the excuse of having made a vow that needs to be fulfilled and goes to Hebron. The
  paying or fulfilling of vows was looked upon as a sacred obligation. Thus, David does not
  stand in his son's way. The irony is, Absalom claims that this vow had been made in hope
  of his restoration to Jerusalem.
15:13-16 The messenger's news, although perhaps exaggerated, disturbs David enough to
  cause him to flee the city. The departure is described in great detail. Ten concubines (v.
  16) are left behind (see 16:21).
15:18   A review of the foreign troops loyal to David (see 8:18; 1Kg 30:14).
15:19-14   A chronicle of personal encounters with David, indicating those on whom he
  could still depend for support. The notable exception will be Shimei, 16:5–8.
15:19-23 David's despair is obvious. He tells Ittai to return and remain with the king,
  Absalom. He has only recently been joined to Israel. Ittai confesses his loyalty to David.
  The Brook Kidron is only a short way from the city (v. 23).
15:24-29 Zadok and the Levites are following the king with the ark. David sends them
  back for two reasons: The ark is not to leave Jerusalem, and they are to act as spies for
  David.
15:30-37   David is distraught at the defection of Ahithophel. He hears this news as he
  weeps and prays on the Mount of Olives, seeking God's will. Compare this with Christ
  weeping on the Mount of Olives, knowing full well God's will, as His betrayer approaches
  (Mk 14:32–35).
16:1-4   Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant (see 9:1ff), comes to meet David with a large
  quantity of food for him. Upon learning that his master has remained in the city in the
  hope that the uprising will restore the kingdom of his father, Jonathan, David responds
  by giving Ziba all of Mephibosheth's property.
16:5-14 As David continues in retreat, Shimei of the house of Saul comes out cursing the
  king and throwing stones at him for Saul's death. For Shimei, the revolt is happening
  because David has reigned in the place of Saul. David refuses to let his men take action,
  seeing God working in Shimei's rebuke that he might benefit from it. He reflects that as
  his own son has rebelled against him, how much more might one of the tribe of
  Benjamin, Saul's tribe.
16:15-19    Hushai has returned to Jerusalem offering Absalom feigned obeisance,
  according to David's plan. When Absalom questions him, Hushai replies that this is only
  right because the Lord, this people, and all Israel have chosen him king.
16:20-23 Ahithophel counsels Absalom to have intercourse with the ten concubines
  his father has left behind as a symbol of his conquest.
17:1-4 Ahithophel's next plan involves a sneak attack on the weary, retreating David with
  the intent to kill only him and return the rest of the people back to Jerusalem.
17:5-14   Hushai is able to counter this plan, arguing that David is a great warrior, who
  perhaps even now lies in wait to attack Absalom's implicitly inferior forces. Rather,
  Absalom should seek as many men as possible to take with him. Hushai assures him that
  all of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, is with him. The effect of this maneuver will be to
  allow David time. Absalom heeds Hushai's advice.
17:15-22 Hushai reports to Zadok and Abiathar what has transpired. The detail of the
  sequence of events of the maid and the messengers suggests an eyewitness account.
  David is forewarned and able to escape.
17:23 Ahithophel's suicide, a rarity in the Old Testament, is a strategic loss for Absalom.
17:24-29   David goes to Mahanaim, once the home of Ishbosheth, and is welcomed by
  Israelites and non-Israelites alike. Absalom leaves for Gilead.
18:1-5 David divides his forces into three companies, commanded by Joab, Abishai, and
  Ittai. The king heeds their request that he not go into battle with them, and he
  commands them to spare Absalom's life.
18:6-8   The thicket of Ephraim is described as a rough, boulder-strewn woods, thick
  with trees.
18:9-18 Despite the king's order (v. 5), Joab takes it into his own hands to kill Absalom
  as he is suspended in the boughs of a great oak tree.
18:19-23 Ahimaaz wishes to run and tell David, but Joab discourages him from bringing
  bad news to the king. Instead, he sends Hushai, the foreigner and friend of the king.
  Unable to restrain Ahimaaz further, Joab relents and Ahimaaz outruns Hushai.
18:28-30 Ahimaaz tells the king only about the battle victory.
18:31-33 Hushai is left to tell the king of Absalom's death.
19:1   David's lament is the most poignant in all the Old Testament writings: Would God I
  had died for you, Absalom my son, my son! It reveals David's deep love for his son in
  spite of his treachery and rebellion.
19:3-9   David's grief for his son delays his return to the city, though the people begin
  returning on their own. Joab is politically and militarily astute. He implores David to
  return for the sake of his kingship. David sits in the gate, but Israel has fled to its tents.
  The tension between Judah and Israel is quite evident once more.
19:10-15   Israel evidences a willingness to have David as king once more, though they
  have been in rebellion. By giving Amasa the post of commander of the army, David
  seeks not only to cement an alliance with the northern tribes but to repay Joab for his
  killing of Absalom. This is the post Amasa held under Absalom.
19:16-23    Shimei rushes to curry favor with the king (see 16:5–14), helping ferry the
  king's household across the River Jordan along with Ziba. He begs for the king's
  forgiveness, and the king seems to forgive him. David admits he is not sure if he is king
  again over Israel.
19:25-30 Mephibosheth comes to see David once he has returned to Jerusalem. He is
  unwashed and unshaven, as though in mourning. When David asks him why he did not
  flee with him, Mephibosheth says that his servant, Ziba, had deceived him (see 16:1–4).
  Who was lying? David seems to give Mephibosheth the benefit of the doubt. Ziba had
  certainly sought to benefit from having taken possession of Saul's property.
19:32-38    Barzillai of Gilead, eighty years old, has previously supported David in
  Mahanaim (see 17:27–29) and is a representative of the tribes across Jordan. David
  offers to care for him in Jerusalem in return for his aid. Barzillai prefers to return to his
  city, by the tomb of his father and mother, but asks that David care for his servant
  (possibly his son) Chimham.
19:41-43    Tension between Judah and Israel mounts. The accusation, “We have ten
  shares in the king; therefore we are first over you,” reflects the fact Judah was a
  latecomer to the confederacy, as well as that the northern tribes were more numerous. At
  this point, Judah prevails.
20:1, 2   Every man to your tents, O Israel (see 3Kg 12:16) is the rallying cry of the
  northern tribes at various times in Israel's history, reflecting the independence of
  nomadic life. There is not merely animosity between Benjamin and Judah, the houses of
  Saul and David, but between Judah and all the northern tribes.
20:3   David takes care not to have his concubines defiled again, nor does he resort to
  them himself (see 16:21–22).
20:4-10 David summons Amasa, the new commander, to muster troops of Judah within
  three days. But Amasa delays, and this concerns David, lest Sheba do more harm
  than Absalom.
20:11-13 Joab resumes leadership of David's cause.
20:14-22   The search for Sheba leads them to a walled city, Abel and Beth Maachah.
  Siege is laid against it, meaning it would be destroyed along with its inhabitants. A wise
  woman entreats Joab to spare the city, a mother city, implying that villages were
  dependent on it. The siege is lifted and Joab returns to Jerusalem.
20:23-26     Officials in David's court (see commentary on 8:13–17). Adoram is also
  Adoniram, under Solomon (see 3Kg 4:6). Ira, possibly the Ithrite of 23:38, serves as
  David's private or personal priest.
21:1   There follow several accounts which are appendices, set at various times during
  David's reign. Together they comprise chapters 21–24.
21:1-14 The three-year famine is interpreted as God's punishment, for Saul had violated
  an oath made to those in Gibeon. However, Saul's actions (vv. 1–3) are unknown
  otherwise. The famine would have happened during the early part of David's reign. To
  eliminate the blood-guilt, David allows for seven of Saul's descendants to be hanged. He
  spares Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, instead delivering two of Saul's sons (one also
  named Mephibosheth) and five of his grandsons, sons of Michal.
21:15-22 Again, this is set in the early years of David's kingship, when he was still at war,
  perhaps either 5:18–21 or 5:22–26. Regarding giants, see Gn 14:5. The lamp of Israel
  (v. 17) refers to the royal lineage (see 14:7).
22:1-5 Except for minor differences, this chapter is identical to Ps 17.
23:1-7 The theme is common to wisdom literature: the righteous prosper and the ungodly
  perish. God has made an everlasting covenant (v. 5) with David (see ch. 7).
23:8-12 These three men form a special band (see 1Ch 11:11–14).
23:13-17 The three here are perhaps the same as in vv. 8–12.
23:18-39 The thirty is a round number (v. 24). The text says there are thirty-seven (v.
  39).
24:1-9   Despite the protestations of Joab, David decides to take a census of the people.
  According to the narrator, the Lord has incited David to do this. However, in 1Ch 21:1, it
  is Satan who has done this. Certainly, the Lord can use the devil to do His bidding. Joab
  might be concerned about using a census to levy taxes on the people.
24:10-17   Gad the prophet (see 1Kg 22:5; 1Ch 21:9ff; 2Ch 29:25) gives David a choice of
  one of three penalties for taking the census: (1) three years of famine; (2) three
  months of flight from enemies; (3) three days of death in the land. David chooses
  the third, and a plague afflicts Israel from Dan to Beersheba. At the point of the
  destruction of Jerusalem, God says enough! David beseeches the angel to afflict him and
  his father's house, but not his sheep, the flock of Israel.
24:18-25 Gad instructs David to set up an altar and offer sacrifice. The purchase of the
  threshing-floor of Orna the Jebusite and the oxen begins the offering of sacrifices
  in Jerusalem. This story is intended to reflect the origin of sacrifices there. Solomon
  later will use the threshing-floor as the site for his temple (see 1Ch 22:1; 2Ch 3:1).
    David's court history is concluded in chapters 1 and 2 of 3 Kingdoms.
1:1   As to the historical timeline of the kings of Israel, this account picks up from 2Kg
  20:22. King David was seventy years old here, shortly before his death (see 2Kg 5:4).
1:5   Adonijah, David's oldest living son, exalted himself to be king, but his father
  should have rebuked him. Jesus also exalted Himself as God and King, and as coequal
  with the Father (Jn 5:23; Mt 27:11), yet His Father did not rebuke Him (AthanG). Quite to
  the contrary, He said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17).
  Moreover, although Adonijah refused to humble himself before David, who was a type of
  Christ, we should humble ourselves before our God and King. If we do, He will “exalt us
  in due time” (1Pt 5:6).
1:11 3Kingd 1:11, 14, 22: Once again, Nathan the prophet speaks the truth to the house of
  David (see 2Kg 12:1–15). Sometimes “speaking the truth in love” (Eph 4:15) costs a
  friendship, but for Nathan it cemented a lifelong relationship with the king.
1:15-21 Bathsheba bowed to her husband the king. A beautiful insight into respect for
  authority. Rather than coming with demands, she simply reviewed what the king had
  sworn, underscoring the importance of his successor: the eyes of all Israel are on you
  (v. 20). Her request was granted.
1:49   The “reign” of Adonijah was short-lived. Not only did his guests head home, so did
  he (v. 53). Indeed, self-exaltation is short-lived, for “whoever exalts himself will be
  humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Mt 23:12).
2:3-4 The continual reign of kings in Israel was conditional on their obedience to the Law
  of Moses. Disobedience would eventually lead to the collapse of the kingly throne when
  a Jew would fail to sit on the throne. This failure occurred when Herod the Great sat
  on the throne, for he was not a Jew, but a Gentile from Edom (or Idumea). According to
  the prophecy of Gn 49:10, the presence of a Gentile king on the throne of Judah would
  indicate the presence of Christ in Judea. Indeed, “Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea
  in the days of Herod the king” (Mt 2:1). The name “Shiloh” in the prophecy means
  “peace,” for Jesus Christ is the peace that unites and reconciles Jews and Gentiles in one
  body, the Church (Eph 2:14).
2:20   Bathsheba's petition was not a small one, as she intimated; thus Solomon did not go
  back on his word to fulfill her request. It was not a small one because Christ the King was
  to come through Solomon, and not Adonijah (Mt 1:6). So this petition was a threat
  against the coming of the promised Messiah.
2:27   No prophecy of Scripture can fail to be fulfilled. 1Kg 2:31 prophesied the end of the
  priestly house of Eli. It came to an end about 150 years after that, for Abiathar was the
  last priest from Eli's house. Therefore, we should pay close attention to prophecies yet to
  be fulfilled, especially concerning the Second Coming of Christ.
2:32   Joab took vengeance into his own hands when he killed Abner and Amasa (2Kg
  3:27; 20:9, 10). By doing this, Joab destroyed himself, for the one who exacts his own
  vengeance becomes worse than the one on whom he takes vengeance (JohnChr).
  “‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Rom 12:19; see also Lv 19:18; Dt 32:35).
  The vengeance taken on Joab by Solomon was at the Lord's direction, but we should avoid
  taking our own vengeance at all costs.
2:36   Discernment is the crown of the virtues and a fruit of wisdom. Wisdom is Christ
  Himself, for He gave Solomon his wisdom (1Co 1:24).
2:46-49   David the prophet prophesied the death of Shimei; therefore, the vengeance
  taken on him by Solomon was also at the Lord's direction.
2:59   This is a prophecy regarding the eternal reign and rule of Christ over His kingdom,
  for the promise God gave David was established in the Son of David.
2:64   Thermae means “hot baths.”
3:1-3 This passage speaks prophetically to our times. Solomon loved the Lord, yet because
  there was no house built—no temple—the king and his subjects burned incense on the
  high places, that is, to false gods. Today, there are those who say they love Christ but stay
  outside the Church, and their destiny is to lapse into error.
3:4   The Lord who appeared to Solomon was the Son of God, for He is the Word of
  God the Father.
3:9-13 Solomon did not ask for long life, or riches, or the life of his enemies, for such
  things are of this world; therefore, God readily heard his prayer (JohnChr). Rather, he
  asked for virtues such as understanding and judgment, which belong to the crown of
  the virtues. These virtues enable one to “discern both good and evil” (Heb 5:13, 14).
3:27 Wisdom and justice go together, for there cannot be one without the other (AmbM).
5:11   The Mosaic Law commanded the sons of Israel not to marry foreign women (Ex
  34:16; Dt 7:1–4). This commandment also prophesied the ultimate result of such
  marriages—namely, that these women would turn these sons to idolatry. Solomon
  transgressed the commandment by marrying the daughter of Pharaoh, and she, along
  with his many other foreign wives, ultimately turned his heart away from the Lord to
  serve other gods (ch. 11). Thus, disobedience to a seemingly minor commandment made
  him guilty of breaking the whole Law (Jam 2:10). Regardless of how wise a leader may be,
  all kingdoms in this world are only temporary, and will end because of some weakness in
  the leadership. Only the kingdom of Christ will endure forever.
5:29   It took three years to prepare the stones and the trees for building the temple.
  Similarly, the Lord spent three years preparing His apostles and people to form His
  Church.
6:2   The house was a type of the Church. The foundation stones speak of the twelve
  apostles, and Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone (Eph 2:19, 20).
6:5   The completion of the house was according to every word and mandate of the
  king. Likewise, the completion of the Church is based on “every word that proceeds from
  the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4). His people live by these words.
6:11   The temple was built with stones finished at the quarry. When they brought
  them to the temple site, they fit. Speaking of the Church, St. Paul writes, “the whole
  building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord” (Eph 2:21).
  Similarly, “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house” (1Pt 2:5). Christ
  Himself fashions these stones and brings them together.
6:19-21   The temple was made beautiful not as a show of riches, but because the Lord
  dwelled there (8:25; 9:3). St. Paul calls the Church “a dwelling place of God in the Spirit”
  (Eph 2:22).
6:22-36   Just as there were holy images in the temple, so in the churches from the
  earliest days, there were images or icons of Christ and His saints. We must not confuse
  the warning against idol worship (Ex 20:4, 5) with the presence of holy images in the
  Church and in the temple.
7:1, 2   As Hiram was filled with skill, wisdom, and understanding to offer his bronze
  work in the temple, so also the Holy Spirit gives His gifts to the Church for the “edifying
  of the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12).
8:1-11   The ark was a type of Mary, the Mother of God, and the tablets of the covenant
  within the ark were a type of Christ. For He was conceived in her holy womb by the Holy
  Spirit. In this conception, He took His life-giving flesh from her. His holy flesh is life-
  giving because He united it to His Divine Nature within His one Person. In baptism, we
  are united to His life-giving flesh in His death and Resurrection, and in the Eucharist we
  partake of His life-giving body and blood.
8:1 3Kingd 8:1, 3–7, 9–11: This passage is read on November 20 at Vespers for the Feast of
  the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple.
8:20-52   The New Testament counterpart of Solomon's prayer is the prayer of our Lord
  Jesus Christ in Jn 17, before His Passion, presenting the Church to His Father.
8:25   Solomon asked, But will God indeed dwell with men on earth? He answered in
  the negative only in relation to temples made with hands. However, the positive answer
  relates to the Incarnation, for God the Son was made flesh for our salvation: “The Word
  became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14).
8:39-41 Does God hear the prayer of those not of His people when they come and pray in
  the temple? The answer is clear here, as it is in Acts 10:2–4, when the Lord hears the
  prayers of the not-yet-baptized Cornelius.
8:56   As he blesses the people, Solomon borrows from the promise in Dt 31:6, which is
  also repeated in Heb 13:5: May He not leave us nor forsake us.
8:64   The temple, open for worship, found the people eating, drinking, and rejoicing
  before the Lord. After the day of Pentecost, the people were again “in the temple,”
  eating their food “with gladness and simplicity of heart” (Acts 2:46).
9:1-9 The Lord who appeared to Solomon was the Son and Word of God. This was His
  second appearance to him. (The first appearance was in 3:4–13.) In this second
  appearance, He gave Solomon a twofold message. First He gave an assurance: I have
  done for you everything in your prayer (v. 3). Everything the king asked for was
  given. But secondly came a warning: If you or your sons turn from Me (v. 6), I will
  cast from My sight this house (v. 7). While we come “boldly to the throne of grace”
  (Heb 4:16), we also confess, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”
  (Heb 10:31). When we proclaim God's promises, we must also proclaim His warnings.
10:1-13 The coming of the queen of Sheba is a pinnacle for the children of Israel as the
  chosen people of God. This account illustrates perfectly what God had intended for Israel:
  to be a shining light among the nations, to draw all the surrounding heathen nations to
  itself for conversion, because of the manifestation of the righteousness and wisdom of
  God (see Gn 12:2; Ps 2:8). Sheba was a tribe of northern Arabs, descendants of Abraham
  (Gn 25:3), who had raided property owned by Job's son (Job 1:15). The queen challenged
  Solomon with hard questions and received satisfactory answers. She could see the
  Lord loved Israel, and she and Solomon exchanged numerous gifts.
10:23   All the stunning gold utensils and appointments described in this chapter were
  made possible from the outcome of the trading which Solomon carried on.
10:24   A tribute is a tax.
11:1-7   Solomon's downfall was his love for women. He had twice as many wives as
  concubines, many of them likely political marriages. God had clearly warned Israel not
  to intermarry with foreign women (Ex 34:16; Dt 7:1–4) for just the reason that defeated
  Solomon: he turned after their idols. At the height of his reign, he fell into evil in the
  sight of the Lord (v. 7).
11:10-12 In His displeasure, the Lord divided the kingdom, leaving Solomon with one
  tribe, Judah, later joined by Benjamin. These two tribes were commonly called the south
  or southern kingdom.
11:13   Two old enemies of Israel, Hadad of Edom and Rezon of Damascus, rose up
  against Solomon.
11:27-29 The prophet Ahijah tore his garment into twelve pieces for the twelve tribes
  of Israel. Jeroboam would receive ten (the northern kingdom). Rehoboam, Solomon's
  son and successor, would receive two (the southern kingdom).
11:30-31   Solomon's idolatry divided his kingdom because the worship of false gods
  destroys unity. However, the southern kingdom was left for the sake of the Incarnation,
  for David's true Son would reign forever over His own unified kingdom.
12:5-7   The elders advised Rehoboam to be a servant to the people, but he rejected
  their counsel (v. 12) and accepted that of the young men (v. 13). This acceptance divided
  his kingdom, for Rehoboam would rather be a dictator than a servant. However, when
  Jesus the King took the form of a servant (Php 2:7), He taught us that the one who
  governs must be as one who serves (Lk 22:26). Godly service unites, for genuine humility
  characterizes the kingdom of God.
12:14   The Holy Spirit, “who spoke by the prophets” (Creed), spoke by the prophet
  Ahijah.
12:20   The word of God is the Son and Word of the Father, who spoke to the man of
  God. The prophet Shemaiah calls Him “the Lord” in v. 22, for He is one in essence and
  coequal with the Father.
12:23   The numbers here contradict those given in 14:1. According to some scholars, this
  was likely due to the error of a copyist.
12:24   In 11:23, Jeroboam's mother was said to be “a widow,” but here she is said to be a
  prostitute. Apparently she was both.
12:30   The word of the Lord was with the prophet Ahijah. “The word” is the Son, and
  “the Lord” is the Father. Therefore, what is said by the prophet is from both the Father
  and the Son.
12:49   In 11:35, the Lord promised Jeroboam his kingdom would endure if he rejected
  idolatry and obeyed the Lord's commandments, as David had done. But Jeroboam
  deliberated and came to the wrong judgment. He feared the ten tribes would “return to
  the house of David” (v. 47). Deceived by his reasoning, he then rejected the Lord's
  promise and set up idolatrous worship. But unlike him, let us meditate and deliberate day
  and night in the Lord's commandments, and let us keep them so as to prosper (Ps 1).
13:6   Jeroboam humbled himself before the man of God and begged him to intercede
  before the Lord on his behalf. So the Lord honored his humility and restored his hand.
  Salvation begins and ends with humility (JohnChr), but Jeroboam's humility was short-
  lived; for he failed to worship the very Lord who showed him such mercy.
13:7-25 The man of God could not be enticed by the king's reward, because the Lord's
  commandment was clear that he was not to dine in that place, nor return the way he
  came. But the word of the old prophet clearly contradicted the Lord's commandment (v.
  18). Deceived by this word, he followed the old prophet home (v. 19). His disobedience
  would cost him his life (vv. 22–25). This was an example of Heb 12:6: “For whom the
  Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives” (JohnCas). He was
  chastened so as not to “be condemned with the world” (1Co 11:32). However, Jeroboam,
  knowing all this, “did not turn from his evil way” (v. 32); thus he was condemned with the
  world.
14:1   The Lord chose to place His name in the city of Jerusalem (see also 8:14, 42;
  11:33), where He first established His Church at Pentecost. The name He established
  there in the Church was that of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the name into
  which we are baptized (Mt 28:18–20).
14:2-4 Rehoboam and other kings like him in Judah and in Israel built other places of
  worship because they did not respect the Lord's name, which He established in
  Jerusalem. They were disobedient conspirators. They did not know the true God: Father,
  Son, and Holy Spirit.
14:10   Rehoboam and Jeroboam never knew peace, only war, for they did not know
  and obey the Author of peace, the Lord God of Israel.
15:3   David's heart was perfect toward the Lord his God because his heart was
  characterized by repentance when he sinned (Ps 50), and because he did everything the
  Lord commanded him (v. 5). However, Abijam's heart was not perfect toward the Lord
  his God because he was neither repentant toward Him nor obedient to Him.
15:28   The Lord who spoke by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite is the Holy Spirit.
16:7 3Kingd 16:7, 12, 42: The Lord who spoke by the prophets Jehu and Joshua is again
  the Holy Spirit.
16:24   Omri built Samaria, and eventually Gentiles inhabited the area and intermarried
  with the Jews. When Jesus lived in Palestine, Samaria was located between Judea and
  Galilee, but the Jews of Judea and Galilee would “have no dealings with Samaritans” (Jn
  4:9). But Jesus did, for He revealed Himself as the Christ to the woman at the well (Jn
  4:25, 26), and His story about the Good Samaritan is now very famous (Lk 10).
16:42   The Holy Spirit spoke by the prophet Joshua and warned against rebuilding the
  city of Jericho (Jos 6:16). Whoever would rebuild the city would lose his oldest and
  youngest sons. In Hiel's case, it was his sons Abiram and Segub. Thus we see Hiel's
  folly in disobeying the prophecy of Scripture (see also 2Pt 1:20, 21).
17:1   When prophets like Elijah prophesied, they did so in the Lord's name, for the Lord
  revealed the prophecy to them. However, when Jesus prophesied, He said, “I say to you,”
  for He Himself is the Lord who revealed Himself to the Old Testament prophets.
17:2-5   The word is the Word and Son of God. It was He who commanded the ravens,
  and it was He whom Elijah obeyed. It was He with whom Elijah and Moses appeared on
  the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt 17:4).
17:10-11   Elijah was very poor, but he made others rich, “for it is better to be rich for
  others than for oneself” (AmbM). While Elijah became poor to make the widow rich,
  Jesus became poor for the sake of many (2Co 8:9).
17:12-13 The woman was threatened not only by poverty but by death itself, not only for
  herself but also for her son. But her faith in the Lord would overcome both (JohnChr).
17:14-16 The woman was greater in hospitality than Father Abraham. For he ran to his
  herd to fetch a calf and provided from his wealth. But this woman had nowhere to run to
  provide for the prophet (JohnChr). Neither the flour nor the oil ran out, because the
  Lord multiplied these things for the woman and her children. So too, when this same
  Lord multiplied the fish and the loaves, the multitude should have connected this with
  what He did for the widow (Mt 14; 15).
17:20   Elijah did not command the child to return from the dead. Rather, he cried out to
  the Lord to restore him. This same Lord also demonstrated His power over death after
  He became incarnate, especially when He trampled down death by His death and
  Resurrection (1Co 15:54, 55).
17:21   Elijah in a mystery stretched himself over the child three times, for the number
  three is a sacred number. It points to the Blessed and Holy Trinity and to the death,
  burial, and Resurrection of Christ. We are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the
  Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and we are united to Christ in His death, burial and
  Resurrection.
18:1-12 The word is the Son of God, and the Spirit is the Holy Spirit. The Lord (v. 12) is
  the Father, for the Word is the Word of the Father, and the Spirit is the Spirit of the
  Father. Moreover, the Word is a Person, as indicated by the pronoun I, for the Word says,
  I will send rain on the earth; and this statement indicates the Word's divinity. Then
  too, “the Spirit” is a Person, which is indicated by the phrase, shall carry you.
18:2       So Elijah went, for he obeyed the Word and Son of God. Also after “the Word
  became flesh” (Jn 1:14), Elijah appeared with Him on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt
  17:3).
18:3-12 The beginning point of wisdom in any person is the fear of the Lord (Ps 110:10; Pr
  1:7). Obadiah feared the Lord from his youth, and he learned to fear the Lord greatly.
  Thus, he was well experienced in the Lord, and he feared the Lord more than he feared
  Ahab and Jezebel, which is shown by his hiding a hundred of the Lord's prophets (v. 4).
18:7   Obadiah's fear of the Lord is also shown by his deep respect for the prophet Elijah.
  We, too, show this same respect when we venerate his icon and the icon of the
  Transfiguration. Many Orthodox churches are named after St. Elijah, also known as St.
  Elias.
18:12-14   Obadiah is not showing cowardice when he says, “But he will kill me.” For he
  risked his life when he hid the hundred prophets of the Lord. Rather, his statement
  shows we should not put ourselves in harm's way needlessly. This was also true of the
  Lord Jesus: “After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in
  Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him” (Jn 7:1).
18:15-16   Both Elijah and Obadiah were brave and courageous in the Lord. Elijah had no
  fear of appearing in the presence of Ahab, because he always stood in the presence of One
  greater than Ahab, namely, “the Lord of hosts.” “For he was always eager to make himself
  fit to appear before God with a pure heart, and to submit to His will, and His will alone”
  (AthanG). Obadiah as well had no fear of telling Ahab that Elijah wanted to see him.
  Their courage is one of the four general virtues that produce all the other virtues.
18:17-18   Elijah and Ahab obviously present two contradictory judgments. Which one
  was actually troubling Israel? It was time to settle things. For which is the true God in
  the eyes of Israel, the Lord or Baal? Was Elijah the true prophet, or were the 850
  prophets of Baal? The answers would soon become evident (vv. 20–40).
18:19-20 The 450 prophets were called prophets of shame because of their anger and
  wrath. For their worship was filled with passion (v. 28). But Elijah was free from this
  shame. “Let us free ourselves of this demon [of wrath]. At its first beginning, let us
  quench it. Let us put the sign of the cross on our breast, as it were a curb. Wrath is a
  shameless dog, but let it learn to hear the law of Christ” (JohnChr).
18:21   The people were indecisive about the true God, and their double-mindedness was
  destroying their souls. Is the true God Baal or the Lord? Baal was the name of a
  presiding deity in a community of deities; therefore, the worship of Baal included that of
  many gods. But if the presiding deity were overcome, so would all the rest be. The people
  would soon discover anew that the Lord is the one true God.
18:30-39   Fire and water are obviously opposed to one another. So if the Lord makes
  them operate in harmony and friendly cooperation, He is clearly the true God. The water
  filled the furrow, then the fire fell from heaven. In all this, Elijah proclaimed Christian
  baptism. “Now in this, by that marvelous sacrifice, Elijah clearly proclaimed to us the
  sacramental rite of Baptism that would be instituted by Christ. For the fire was kindled by
  water, poured out three times upon the sacrifice. Thus, it is clearly shown that where the
  mystic water is, there is the kindling, warm, and fiery Spirit of God, who burns up
  impurity, and illuminates the faithful” (GrgNy).
19:4   Elijah was not attached to this transient life, for his vision was life in the world to
  come. “Holy men have often lamented their lengthy dwelling here” (AmbM). St. Paul also
  longed to depart to be with Christ (Php 1:21–24).
19:10   The children of Israel forsook the Lord because an angry and wrathful temper
  took hold of them, for God cannot be known in that kind of disposition. He can only be
  known in and through the virtues, such as gentleness.
19:11-12 The Holy Spirit (a great and powerful wind) manifests His grace in a variety
  of ways in prayer. In some He “rends the mountains” of sinful passions and “shatters the
  rocks” of hardened hearts. In others He is like “an earthquake,” which is an inward sense
  of jubilation or exultation. Yet again in others, He is a nonmaterial fire. Finally, in others
  He is “a gentle breeze,” which occurs when Christ comes to dwell in the heart, as St. Paul
  said in Eph 3:17 (GrgSinai).
19:13   The Son of God (a Voice) came to Elijah, who called Him “the Lord Almighty” (v.
  14) and “the Lord” (v. 15) Elijah was obedient to Him (v. 19).
19:18   Although God's promises were made to the whole nation of Israel, only a remnant
  of seven thousand were saved in Elijah's day. St. Paul calls these “a remnant according
  to the election of grace” (Rom 11:2–5). The apostle also points out that election is based
  on foreknowledge (Rom 8:29; 11:2), for the Lord knows ahead of time those who are
  worthy. “By saying ‘election,’ Paul showed their approval, and by saying ‘grace,’ he
  showed the gift of God” (JohnChr).
20:3     Naboth was a man of discernment, righteousness, courage, and self-control;
  therefore, he rejected Ahab's request.
20:4   Ahab's spirit was disturbed because his desire to purchase Naboth's vineyard was
  frustrated. His frustrated desire produced anger and depression in him, and ultimately
  murder, for he lacked those virtues seen in Naboth.
20:20     Ahab sold himself to do evil, which he committed by his own free will, for he was
  not forced to sin by any necessity imposed on him by his human nature. Truly, like Ahab,
  we sell ourselves to commit sins by our own free choice, as St. Paul points out in Rom
  7:14.
20:25   Nor did Ahab's wife Jezebel force Ahab to sin, although she led him astray. For
  Ahab followed his wife's advice because he willed it of his own free choice. In this choice,
  he was like Adam of old, who ate from the forbidden tree because he was deceived by Eve.
21:1-3 The son of Hadad the king of Syria was an icon of covetousness: Your silver
  and your gold are mine; your wives and your children are mine; therefore, the
  Lord was opposed to him. But only the Lord can deliver us from king covetousness (v. 13).
  Covetousness is one of the sinful passions that defiles a person (Mk 7:22, 23). In another
  place, Jesus warns, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist
  in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Lk 12:15).
21:23   The king of Syria was an icon of a heretic, for his servants convinced him, saying,
  The God of Israel is a god of the mountains, and not a god of the valleys. For
  they believed God was circumscribed, and therefore limited and contained within
  creation. To refute this reasoning, the Lord delivered Israel from the king (v. 28). Thus,
  the Lord is at war with heresy because it opposes the salvation of mankind. He
  circumscribes His creation, yet He is present within it, seeking to save the lost. For
  although He is uncontained by creation, He became incarnate to save it.
22:10   The king of Israel and the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, but the
  Lord was also sitting on His throne, reigning over the affairs of men (v. 19). All the host of
  heaven were also around His throne. The Lord then sent “a deceiving spirit” (v. 22) to
  deceive Ahab through all his false prophets. But there was only one true prophet among
  them, Micaiah. Likewise, throughout Church history there have been many false prophets
  and a few true ones: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether
  they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1Jn 4:1).
  Since biblical times, the true prophets are the Holy Fathers of the Church, who have
  handed down the true teachings of the Holy Scriptures to us.
1:3-4   The prophet Elijah teaches us that God can step into the lives and condition of His
  people any time He pleases.
1:8   The outward appearance and spirit of Elijah are recognizable in John the Baptist, “the
  second Elijah” (Mt 3:4).
1:9-15    “Two princes and a hundred who were with them were burned, because they
  approached the mountain on which Elijah was sitting, who ascended in a chariot of fire to
  heaven. . . . Accordingly, beloved, the righteous shall be tried by the fire, like gold and
  silver and goodly stones, and the wicked shall be burned in the fire like straw and reed
  and stubble, and the fire shall have power upon them and they shall be burned” (AphP).
1:10   Elijah's word brought the consuming fire down from heaven, the same consuming
  fire made known in Nm 11:1 and spoken of by the apostles (Lk 9:54).
2:1   As Enoch (Gn 5:24) was translated to heaven without experiencing his own death, so
  too was Elijah—thus making known to us that God alone has the keys of life, death, and
  the grave.
2:6   The Jordan River is a type of baptism, a crossing over from this fallen world to our
  promised inheritance—life in the world to come. Christ fulfills this promise through His
  Incarnation and His baptism (Mk 1:9).
2:1-8   The name Gilgal speaks of faith and hope in God as opposed to faith in the fallen
  world. This is where Joshua's men, in obedience and love of God, were circumcised to cut
  themselves off from this earthly realm. Gilgal literally means “a rolling,” for the Lord had
  rolled away Israel's reproach in Egypt (Jos 5:9). Thus, Elijah leaves the place of rolling,
  Gilgal, and in zeal and faith enters into Bethel, the “house of God”—the heavenly realm.
2:8-14   Moses foreshadowed baptism when he parted the Red Sea (Ex 14:16–23). Joshua
  parted the River Jordan with the ark of the covenant (Jos 3:13–17), and so did Elijah and
  Elisha when they struck the River Jordan with Elijah's mantle. “O how great is the virtue
  of the Saints! Not only their words; not only their bodies, but even their very garments
  are always esteemed venerable by the whole creation. The sheepskin of this man divided
  the Jordan!” (JohnChr).
2:11   The manner of Elijah being separated from Elisha shows the power and authority of
  God. “Because Elijah restrained the desire of the body, he withheld rain from the
  adulterous; because he kept his body under control, he withheld dew from the
  whoremongers, who let their fountains be loosely poured out. Because the hidden fire of
  the lust of the body did not rule in him, to him the fire from on high was obedient. And
  since he subdued on the earth the lust of the flesh, he went up there where holiness
  dwells and is at peace” (EphS).
2:12   He saw Elijah no more: Like Elijah, Moses also disappeared, for “no one knows his
  grave to this day” (Dt 34:6). The ministries or offices of Moses and Elijah, representing
  the law and the prophets of God, are fulfilled in Christ (Mt 17:3).
2:13   “For Elijah left a sheepskin [mantle] to his disciple, but the Son of God ascending
  left to us His own flesh! Elijah indeed, cast off his mantle, before he went up; but Christ
  left it behind for our sakes; and yet retained it when He ascended. Let us not then be cast
  down. Let us not lament, nor fear the difficulty of the times, for He who did not refuse to
  pour out His blood for all, and has suffered us to partake of His flesh and of His blood
  again, what will He refuse to do for our safety?” (JohnChr).
2:15   The sons of the prophets show proper reverence in the presence of the holy prophet
  Elisha, a foreshadowing of apostolic succession.
2:19-22   As the Lord healed the waters of Jericho with salt, so the incarnate Christ brings
  renewal to all of creation.
2:23-25   Like Elisha before the youths, Christ will also be mocked (Lk 18:32). “For what is,
  ‘Go up!’? ‘Crucify Him! Crucify Him!’ For childhood is set before us to imitate humility,
  and . . . to beware of foolishness” (Aur).
3:18   What is impossible for us is easy for the Lord (Lk 1:37).
4:1-44   In this chapter, Elisha experiences the double portion of Elijah's spirit (2:9) in
  performing five miracles: multiplying the poor widow's oil (vv. 1–7); providing a son to
  the good Shunammite in her old age (vv. 8–17); raising the lifeless child to life (vv. 18–
  27); healing the death in the pottage (vv. 38–41); and feeding a hundred men with twenty
  small loaves (vv. 42–44).
4:1-7   This account demonstrates the wondrous acts of Christ's charity made manifest
  through those faithful to Him and in whom His goodness is magnified (see also Mt 14:20;
  18:25).
4:11-17   This account of a miraculous birth to one who has found favor with God helps
  prepare the nation Israel for the coming miraculous birth of the Savior from one also
  favored by God (Lk 1:30). “For, because no one would easily have believed that a virgin
  could bear a child, barren women first did so, then such as were not only barren, but aged
  also . . . to prepare the way for belief in the Virgin's travail” (JohnChr).
4:29-31   Elisha's staff, which failed to raise the child, is like the law. Neither of them,
  apart from the Word, can save mankind.
4:32-35    Here displayed is the power of fervent prayer from the heart of one who loves
  God and his neighbor (Mt 6:6). It is this same power that is given to Christ's apostles
  (Acts 20:10).
4:37 See Heb 11:35.
4:42-44   This is similar to Christ's miracle of the loaves of barley found in Jn 6:9–14.
5:1   Regarding Naaman the stranger (Gentile) from Syria, see Lk 4:27.
5:10-11   “Elisha did not so much as see Naaman for though he perceived that Naaman was
  offended at his not coming out and touching him—observing the strictness of the law—he
  abides at home, and sends Naaman to the River Jordan to wash. Whereas the Lord—to
  signify that He heals not as a servant but as absolute master—doth also touch (Mt 8:2, 3).
  For His hand did not take on the uncleanness of the leprosy, but instead the leprous body
  was rendered clean and renewed by His holy hand. For as we know, He came not to heal
  bodies only, but also to lead the soul unto self-control” (JohnChr).
5:14   “It was not for nothing that Naaman of old, when suffering from leprosy, was purified
  upon his being baptized, but [it served] as an indication to us. For as we are lepers in sin,
  we are made clean by means of the sacred water and the invocation of the Lord” (Iren).
5:15-19   See Jn 9, and compare Naaman's experience to that of the blind man.
5:1-27   “Yes, and yet again his disciple Elisha, when Naaman the Syrian, who was diseased
  with leprosy, had come to him as a suppliant, cleanses the sick man by washing him in
  the Jordan, clearly indicating what should come, both by the use of water generally, and
  by the dipping in the river in particular. For Jordan alone of rivers, receiving in itself the
  first-fruits of sanctification and benediction, conveyed in its channel to the whole world,
  as it were from some fount in the type afforded by itself, the grace of Baptism. These then
  are indications in deed and act of regeneration by Baptism” (GrgNy).
5:27   “Though he took not by violence, yet he did a wrong; for to get money by deceit is a
  wrong” (JohnChr).
6:1-7   The sons of the prophets were humble and impoverished, indicated by the borrowed
  ax.
6:4-7 St. John Chrysostom indicates the water was a type of baptismal water, the ax head a
  type of one who is baptized, and the stick, a type of the cross. We who were drowning like
  iron in sin and death rise to new life in baptism through the cross of Jesus Christ and
  begin a journey to heaven.
6:6   “This event is an indication of the fact that when the holy soul of Christ descended [to
  Hades], many souls ascended and were seen in their bodies. For just as the wood, the
  lighter body, was submerged in the water, so the iron, the heavier one, floated. Thus,
  when the Word of God became one with flesh, by a physical and hypostatic union, the
  heavy and terrestrial body, having been rendered immortal, was borne up into heaven by
  the divine nature, after the resurrection” (Iren).
6:8-23    The Syrian king believed wrongly that the power of his earthly kingdom could
  contain and control the prophet of God.
6:17   Through the intercession of the prophet (Heb 1:14), the eyes of his newly tested
  servant, whose faith was yet easily shaken, became opened to the divine presence
  surrounding him. In the Divine Liturgy, immediately before the Gospel, we pray, “Open
  the eyes of our mind to the understanding of Your Gospel teaching.” St. Ambrose writes
  that Elisha's servant saw “numberless hosts of angels.”
7:1, 2   In the midst of man's unbelief, the Lord brings a promise of deliverance. Those who
  doubt God's power and authority will witness the fulfillment of the promise given, but
  will not participate in it. The prophecy comes to pass in 7:18–20.
7:15-16   The word of the Lord proves true and lasting, while the kingdoms of this fallen
  world pass away (Mt 24:35; 1Co 1:9; 1Th 5:24; 1Pt 1:25).
8:1-6   By following the warning of the Lord through Elisha, the Shunammite woman and
  her household were not only protected from danger, but their place was kept intact for
  seven years. This passage may not be in chronological order, for Gehazi had been
  stricken with leprosy earlier (5:27).
8:11   As did His prophets, the Lord Himself wept tears over the lost condition of His people
  (Lk 19:41).
8:12-19   Hazael freely wills to fulfill Elisha's prophecy, because his heart is evil. But God
  will use this evil for good by oppressing Israel to curb their sins (v. 19), so they might not
  completely destroy themselves (13:22).
9:1-3   Jehu is made king over Israel to cleanse the land and prepare it for restoration.
  He will avenge God's prophets (v. 7) and righteous Naboth (v. 26), kill the evil kings of
  Judah and Israel (vv. 24, 27), fulfill Elijah's prophecy against Jezebel (vv. 30–37; see 3Kg
  20:23) and Ahab (10:17; see 3Kg 20:21), and destroy Baal from Israel (10:28).
11:1-20   Jehosheba hides young Joash in the house of the Lord until he can take his
  place as the leader of his people (v. 12). So, too, Miriam hid Moses (Ex 2:3); Rahab hid the
  spies (Josh 2:4); and Joseph and Mary hid the Christ-Child in Egypt (Mt 2:13) until the
  proper time.
12:2-3   While under the guidance of the priest Jehoiada, who made a covenant with the
  Lord (11:17), Joash did what was right before God. And though persuaded not to
  remove the high places, he did order the repair of the house of the Lord and did so with
  trust and honor (v. 15; Mt 24:45).
13:5   A savior was given by the Lord to renew and recreate what was before (Lk 1:11),
  because Israel called out to Him.
13:21   There are those who struggle with the idea of keeping relics of saints, doubting they
  have any special significance. Here, the bones of a departed saint bring a dead man back
  to life. St. Cyril comments, “Is a dead man raised to life on touching the bones of Elisha,
  and is it not much easier for the Maker of mankind to be raised by the power of the
  Father? Well then, He truly rose, and after He had risen was seen again of the disciples . .
  . are you still incredulous in regard to His Resurrection?” (See also Jn 5:25, 28, 29.)
14:8    The idiom look one another in the face means going to battle, as shown by 14:11,
  12.
14:26-27   Though Israel had turned from the Lord and become bitter, nonetheless He
  kept His promise to never blot them out. Similarly, the Lord has promised His Church, “I
  am with you always” (Mt 28:20).
15:1-5   Uzziah, contemporary of the prophet Isaiah (Is 6:1), was arrogant in his self-rule
  and brought upon himself the wrath of the Lord, who struck him with leprosy.
15:20   Menahem is an evil king who uses money as a means to keep the enemy from
  striking; but Israel's destruction is imminent. In contrast, the Lord Jesus Christ, the
  righteous King, gives Himself as a ransom to save mankind (Mt 20:28), thereby crushing
  the head of His enemy, Satan.
15:30   Through conspiracy and murder, Hoshea fulfilled his desire to become king over
  Israel (9:14; 11:1, 14; 12:21; 14:19; 15:10, 25). He was the last king to reign in Israel.
16:1-20    Ahaz the king of Judah would openly turn his back on both God and Israel in
  order to form an alliance with a known enemy of God and His people, the king of
  Assyria (v. 7). He took treasure from the house of the Lord (v. 8) and compromised its
  altar and its priest (vv. 14, 15).
17:1-23   Israel's destruction was at hand, with Assyria being the final enemy power. The
  kings and the people long ago had freely given themselves over to idolatry and sin (v. 17).
  The generations that passed from the first king of the divided Israel (3Kg 12:23–31) to
  Hoshea, the last (17:6), are a testimony to the long-suffering mercy of God, who held off
  judgment until this time. The Jews knew the pathway to the one true God, but secretly
  they forsook Him, choosing to walk apart from His statutes (v. 13), disobey Him (v. 14),
  and turn to idolatry (v. 6).
17:24-41   The Gentile nations—the Assyrians and others—though idolaters, still came to
  fear the Lord (v. 28).
18:1-8   Hezekiah is the first king since David to keep the Lord's commandments (v. 6),
  to restore right worship for the people, and to honor Him as True God. Even so, he was
  unable to prevent the captivity foretold to him in his later days (20:18), accepting it with
  trust in the Lord.
18:4   The spiritual reality of the bronze serpent made by Moses (Nm 21:9) is lost and its
  meaning worthless.
18:7   The Lord was with Hezekiah, for in faith He waited on the Lord and the promise of
  His Incarnation (Mt 1:22, 23).
18:13-19   This account is also recorded in Isaiah 36:1–39:8.
18:16   Hezekiah's priority is not the temple gold but the preservation of the remnant in
  Judah (19:4).
18:28-35    Rabshakeh's words are those of a false prophet and a blasphemer (see 19:6). He
  accuses King Hezekiah of the deceit he himself practices, and tempts the people with
  false promises that twist the promises of God. Well does Isaiah describe Assyria's role in
  the history of Israel (Is 10:5–14).
18:36   The command echoes Isaiah's prophecy, “He opened not His mouth” (Is 53:7).
19:1-7   Hezekiah is a humble man who calls on the Lord and seeks His direction by way
  of His prophets. The Lord turned back the immediate threat of the enemy (v. 7).
19:19   See Ps 82:18.
19:31   Isaiah's prophecy regarding the remnant will find its fulfillment and completion in
  the Incarnation of the Word of God and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts
  2).
20:1-6     The Lord overturns His words spoken to Hezekiah by Isaiah because of
  Hezekiah's prayers and heartfelt tears. “What can be clearer than this proof that out of
  consideration for mercy and goodness the Lord would rather break His word, and instead
  of the prearranged limit of death, extend the life of him who prayed, for fifteen years,
  rather than be found inexorable because of His unchangeable decree?” (JohnCas).
20:11   Here the Lord, to answer the prayer of Isaiah for the sake of Hezekiah, overcomes
  the laws of nature by turning back time (v. 11), as measured on the sun dial.
20:12-21   When the heart “is estranged from the business of self-examination, it does not
  even consider the losses it is suffering, or know how great they are. For neither did
  Hezekiah believe himself to be sinning when he showed his treasures to the strangers.
  When in heart we transgress, what we are doing within ourselves is hidden from men. Yet
  in the eyes of the Judge, we sin” (GrgGt).
21:1, 2   As long as Manasseh was “free” to live according to his passions, he remained in
  bondage to them. But when the Lord allowed him to be taken into captivity, he found
  repentance and was restored to his kingdom (2Ch 33:13). “Now if, considering the
  magnitude of his own iniquities, he had despaired of restoration and repentance, he
  would have missed all which he afterwards obtained. But as it was, looking to the
  boundlessness of God's tender mercy instead of the enormity of his transgressions, and
  having broken in sunder the bonds of the devil, he rose up and contended with him, and
  finished the good course” (Dion).
21:3   Here, all the host of heaven is not the saints and the angels to which this phrase
  usually refers. Rather, these are the fallen hosts, as is clear in 23:5.
22:1, 2    Josiah is a model for all who seek through repentance and obedience to God to be
  cleansed, renewed, and restored. By not turning aside to the right or to the left, Josiah
  stayed in the center of God's will, not attempting to test the outer limits of His love and
  grace.
22:11-13   When Josiah heard the words of the Book of Law, he immediately realized
  his kingdom had strayed from God, and took steps to bring reform. According to St. Paul,
  “the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ” (Gal 3:24), “for by the law is the knowledge
  of sin” (Rom 3:20).
23:1-3   How do we bring renewal to God's people? The King Josiah began by exposing
  them to the hearing and learning of God's word. He gathered to himself all the elders
  and all the people, for both the leaders and the laity must live by God's revelation.
23:4-9    A second step in renewal is to bring out of the temple . . . all the articles
  made for Baal. Following the Lord includes both hearing and obeying His word and
  intentionally rejecting darkness.
23:16-20    Josiah fulfills a prophecy spoken by a prophet of the Lord more than three
  hundred years earlier (3Kg 13:2, 3).
23:21-25   “Love faith. For by his devotion and faith Josiah won great love for himself from
  his enemies. For he celebrated the Lord's Passover . . . as no one had done it before him.
  As then in zeal, he was superior to those who went before him. So do you, my sons, show
  zeal for God. Let zeal for God search you through, and devour you, so that each one of you
  may say, ‘The zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up’” (AmbM).
23:26-37    Even though Josiah was Judah's most righteous king (v. 25), the kings who
  succeeded him lapsed back into evil. In Israel of old, as in the Church today, the work of
  renewal is never finished. True and lasting peace and righteousness will come only
  through the reign of Christ in His everlasting kingdom.
24:1   The Chaldeans are the people of the south of Babylon.
24:10-17    The totality of the siege of Jerusalem is remarkable. The king and his family
  and court are imprisoned (v. 12), the temple and the king's house are dismantled (v. 13),
  and the army is in captivity (v. 14).
24:18   Zedekiah, the new king of Judah, was more like a prince or regent, serving under
  his father.
25:1-7   The physical siege of Jerusalem is completed, and the king is blinded and
  removed to Babylon.
25:8-17   Once the city is captured, the temple, the house of the Lord, is cleaned out and
  laid bare. In Jerusalem every house was burned. The tall pillars of the temple were
  torn down. The capital (v. 17) is the top or dome of the pillar.
25:27-30    Even after the murder of Gedaliah (25:25), the book ends on a note of hope.
  Jehoiachin is freed from prison and given a measure of freedom as God's people
  remain in exile.
1:1-44 The first nine chapters of this book are genealogies. They run from Adam to Noah
  (1:1–4); Noah to Abraham (1:5–15); Abraham to Jacob or Israel (1:16–22); Israel to
  David (2:1–15); and from the sons of David through the sons of Solomon (3:1–24).
  Then follow the genealogies of the twelve tribes (4:1–8:40); of the remnant who will
  return to Jerusalem after the captivity (9:1–24); and of Saul (9:35–44). Genealogies are
  hidden treasures which should not be passed over, for they serve to remind us of two all-
  encompassing truths: (1) the reality of our inheritance from Adam: that we live, suffer,
  have children, and die. We cannot save ourselves (Rom 5:14), and need a Savior; and (2)
  that God created us in His image, He loves His creation, and He is endlessly interacting in
  history in order to restore creation to Himself.
1:1-4   In these verses Adam and Noah typify Christ, the “Beginning and the End” (Rev
  22:13). Adam, the first man, brought death into the world; but Christ's death will destroy
  death (1Co 15:45–47). By faith Noah built the ark and saved his household from the flood
  (Heb 11:7); likewise Christ will build His Church, beginning with His twelve apostles,
  through which He will bring all who are baptized into new and eternal life.
1:10-15 Nimrod: See Gn 10:8–12. The genealogy from Shem to Abraham, like that from
  Adam to Noah (vv. 1–4), again points to Christ, “the First and the Last” (Rev 22:13). Like
  Christ, Shem, Noah's youngest, is first because of his humility (see Gn 9:24–27); and
  Abram, because of his faith, will become Abraham (v. 15), the “father of us all” (Rom
  4:16).
2:3   The genealogy of Judah establishes King David's ancestry (v. 15). Christ's genealogy
  in the New Testament books of Matthew and Luke will complete David's royal lineage by
  showing Him to be both Son of God and Son of Man (see Mt 1:3–6; Lk 3:31–33).
3:1-9 Note that the sons of David born in Hebron (vv. 1–4) are listed separately from his
  sons born in Jerusalem (vv. 5–9). Since Abraham and Sarah lived and were buried there
  (Gn 25:10), Hebron can be seen as a type of the old covenant, Jerusalem a type of the
  new, heavenly city. Thus, just as David's long reign in Jerusalem surpassed his shorter
  reign in Hebron, and just as Solomon surpassed Absalom (2Kg 18:15–18), so Christ's
  eternal reign with His Church, the “city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb
  12:22), will surpass the old covenant under Abraham.
3:10-24   The genealogy of the sons of Solomon. Note how the lineage is given in few
  words, compared to the listing of the kings of Edom (1:43–54), where each king “died,”
  and another “reigned in his place.” In spite of personal faults, Christ's royal ancestors
  point directly to Him.
4:1-23 The genealogy of Judah is the first given from the twelve tribes of Israel, as Jacob's
  promise was on Judah's head (Gn 49:8–12). Christ, the Son of God, will be born from
  Judah's line.
4:9, 10   The story of Jabez affirms the message hidden in the surrounding genealogies:
  God gives grace to the humble and humbles the proud (1Pt 5:5) in order to save man from
  pain (sin, suffering, and death).
5:1-24 Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh inhabited Gilead (vv. 9, 10) on the
  east side of the Jordan (later called Decapolis). These will be among the first people to
  receive the gospel (Mt 4:25; Mk 5:20).
5:2   The phrase from him came a ruler confirms that the promise made to Judah by his
  father Jacob (Gn 49:8–10) came to pass in King David.
5:25-26 The faithful must be vigilant and continue to trust in God. It is when we think we
  can stand on our own through God's blessing in the past that the enemy is able to bring
  us down.
6:1-38    The priests who offer sacrifices are directly descended from Levi and Aaron
  through Eleazar. Aaron's other sons, Nadab and Abihu, died because of their sins (Lv
  10:1–3; Ex 3:2); and Ithamar's line was cut off because of the sins of Eli's sons (1Kg 3:10–
  14). Just as Judah's line is fulfilled in Christ the King, so the Levitical line is fulfilled in
  Christ, the “High Priest” (Heb 8:1).
6:16-33    Those descended from Levi but not through Aaron are listed. The prophet
  Samuel (v. 13) and the musicians (vv. 16, 17) are from this lineage (v. 13). This Old
  Testament picture continues in the Church today. The priests serve at the altar. But all
  the faithful together form a “royal priesthood” in service to the Church.
6:39-66 Just as the rest of the tribes must give part of their inheritance to the Levites, so
  the faithful today are called to give of themselves to the work of the Lord.
7:1-40   The genealogies of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, and Asher
  include the numbers of men fit for battle, while the genealogy of Ephraim ends with
  Joshua (v. 27), the greatest warrior of all.
7:20-29   Ephraim receives new hope when his wife conceives after his other sons are
  tragically murdered. Ephraim, Joseph's second son, is seen as a type of the new covenant
  in Christ (see Gn 41:51–52). Note that Joshua, the Old Testament's powerful type of
  Christ, comes from Ephraim's line (v. 27).
8:1-40   A more detailed genealogy of Benjamin is given, probably because Saul comes
  from this line (v. 33).
9:1, 2   The phrase those to whom permission had been given almost certainly deals
  with those who returned after the exile (Neh 11). Thus, the genealogies of Israel from
  Adam until Ezra's time are completed, and the stage is set to start anew with an overview
  of the history of Judah, beginning with the death of Saul.
9:17-27   Just as the gatekeepers stood guard at the doors of the tabernacle, so we in the
  Church are called to guard the truth of our faith and to keep watch over the living temples
  of our souls.
10:1-13 The genealogy ends, and the history of Israel continues with a brief description of
  Saul's defeat and death at the hands of the Philistines. The Philistines think they have
  won the victory against Israel by displaying Saul's head in their idolatrous temple.
  Similarly, when Christ descends into hell, the devil will think he has won when in fact he
  has lost.
11:1-9 Recognizing David as the true deliverer and king, the people witness him anointed
  king. This event is described as being according to the word of the Lord, showing
  that they are at last choosing the better way.
11:4-9   These events foreshadow the establishment of the Church of Christ, which is
  “Mount Zion . . . the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb 12:22).
11:9, 10 David grew ever stronger because he was not alone: the Lord Almighty and his
  mighty men were with him.
11:15-19    In this account, David represents all mankind. The powers of darkness,
  represented by the Philistines, hold the world captive. David's longing is like the
  thirsty soul that cries out for God. As always, water symbolizes baptism from death into
  life through the “living water,” that is, the Holy Spirit whom Christ sends (Jn 7:37–39).
11:20-29   David's mighty warriors are earthly types of the angelic hosts, who lead the
  battle against the powers of darkness (Dan 4:35).
12:1   David's soldiers, helpers in the war, symbolize the Church in battle, a force against
  which the gates of hell “shall not prevail” (Mt 16:18; see also Eph 6:10–18).
12:39   Israel had a loyal heart to make David king. The same is true among the faithful
  in the Church, as the apostle Paul writes, “having the same love, being of one accord, of
  one mind” (Php 2:2).
12:41   Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali refer to the areas where the light of Christ is
  revealed to those “who walked in darkness” (Is 9:1, 2).
13:1-8 In the Orthodox Church, the ark of God is seen as a type of the Virgin Mary, also
  called the Theotokos, the God-bearer, because she gave birth to the Son of God. Just as
  David and the people honor the ark with singing, so Christ and His Church honor the
  Mother of God with hymns of love and devotion: “More honorable than the cherubim and
  more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim, without defilement you gave birth to
  God the Word. True Theotokos, we magnify you!” On the Feast Day of the Entrance of the
  Theotokos into the Temple, the faithful sing, “As you are a living temple of God, let no
  impure hand touch you, O Theotokos!”
14:11   Here is a foreshadowing of baptism. David is remembering the cave of Adullam,
  where “the three broke through the camp of the Philistines” and brought him a drink of
  water (11:15–19).
14:13-17   The encircling of the pear trees is a powerful image, revealing to believers that
  angelic hosts are real, tangible forces who win the battle even before the earthly conflict
  has begun.
15:1, 2 The ark is carried to the City of David in the manner prescribed by Moses: on the
  shoulders of the Levites (Nm 4:11–15), who symbolize holiness. Because of her holy
  obedience, the Virgin Mary will become the living fulfillment of the ark. She will be the
  temple of Christ, who will be conceived in her. The Levitical priests prefigure the
  Christian clergy, who are ordained to minister, or serve, at the altar while the faithful
  worship the Holy Trinity.
15:25   Obed-Edom (lit. “red”) is symbolic of humanity enslaved to the flesh under the old
  covenant, but set free when joy, Christ Himself, enters the world.
15:26   The number seven in the Scriptures usually emphasizes the completion of the old
  and the beginning of the new.
15:27-29   Like David dancing before the ark, which contains the covenant, the unborn
  John the Baptist will leap for joy in the presence of Mary, whose womb will contain
  Christ Himself (Lk 1:41). Compare Michal, who despised David for his celebration
  before the Lord, to Herodias and her daughter, who danced before Herod despising the
  truth, and had John beheaded (Mt 14:3–12).
16:1-42 The worship described in this chapter bears many striking parallels to the Divine
  Liturgy; as St. Paul writes, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
  songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all
  things” (Eph 5:19, 20). Christ's eternal sacrifice fulfills the burnt offerings; and David's
  blessing, along with the bread, prefigures the Eucharist. The musical instruments are
  fulfilled in the Church in the voices of the faithful, enabled in Christ to worship with
  clean hearts.
17:1-24 Just as the temple will not be built until David dies and Solomon is anointed king,
  so the Church will not be established until Christ our King ascends into heaven and sends
  the all-wise Holy Spirit. God's promises to David will never be completely fulfilled in the
  earthly Israel; but all of them will be fulfilled in the holy Church, the new Israel.
17:16   You have loved me forever: Although he may not fully comprehend it, David's
  prayer foreshadows God's promise of eternal life in Christ (Jn 3:16).
18:1-17   David attacks and subdues his enemies, expanding his kingdom and amassing
  wealth to be used in preparation for the building of the temple.
19:1-6   David's messengers were shaved at the hands of the unbelieving Ammonites,
  foreshadowing not only Christ's humiliation at the hands of the Gentile soldiers, who
  mocked Him, stripped Him, and divided His garments (Mt 27:27–35), but also the
  sufferings of His apostles and saints.
20:2-3   David, who in the previous chapter showed kindness to the people of Ammon
  and was rejected, ends up wearing their king's crown. Christ's crown of victory is the
  crown of thorns (Mt 27:29), given by those to whom He extended divine kindness.
20:4-8 The lesson that God “exalts the humble with salvation” (Ps 149:4) continues when
  Goliath's offspring, the last of whom was even bigger than Goliath (v. 6), are killed.
  David's great deed as a youth, accomplished with a mere sling and a stone (1Kg 17:40–
  50), is surpassed by his followers.
21:2   Beersheba to Dan means all of Israel from south to north.
21:9-13 David's three options can be seen as metaphors for the choices available to sinful
  man: (1) famine: man may choose spiritual starvation; (2) defeat: man may choose to
  remain captive to sin, suffering, and death; or (3) the sword of the Lord: man may
  decide that death with hope in God's mercies is better than death with no hope at all.
  David's choice shows that he has once again placed his hope in God.
21:14   Under the Law, death is the just sentence for all mankind (Rom 6:23); however,
  seventy thousand, a number suggesting completion, indicates hope that the Law will be
  overruled and death will end. Ambrose of Milan writes of this Hope, which is Christ
  Himself, “He who when He could take vengeance, chose instead to be sacrificed.”
21:15-16    The Lord . . . relented because His love overrules the law of death. At
  Jerusalem, the Lord Jesus also said “It is enough” to His disciples concerning the use
  of the sword (v. 16) for vengeance (Lk 22:38). The threshing floor represents Calvary,
  the place where Christ will trample down sin, suffering, and death once for all.
21:18-25 Just as David in obedience pays the full price, so the incarnate Christ will offer
  himself in order to end death. His death and Resurrection will create the conditions for
  man to receive forgiveness of sins, to die to himself, and to be raised up to newness of
  life.
21:26   Fire from heaven prefigures both Pentecost (Acts 2:3) and the Eucharist. In all
  three, the offering rises, and the Holy Spirit descends.
22:1-5 God's plan for David is to make preparations for the building of a house for the
  Lord under Solomon (chs. 17; 29).
22:8-10 David, a man of great wars, is a type of humanity under the Law, for God uses
  the law to subdue men and bring them to Christ (Gal 3:24, 25). Solomon, a man of rest,
  prefigures Jesus Christ, who is both Son of Man (David) and Son of God. The house for
  My name prefigures the Church, in which Christ's throne, the hearts of the faithful, will
  be established forever.
23:1-4 The Levites who will serve in the temple are numbered and their genealogy listed
  through v. 23.
23:30    The worshipers stood morning and evening before the Lord. Continuing this
  tradition, many Orthodox faithful throughout the world stand every day at Matins and
  Vespers, and during the other services.
24:1, 2 See text and note at 6:1–31.
25:1-31   The list of those who use their musical talents to serve the Lord fills an entire
  chapter. (See text and note at 16:1–42.)
26:1-32   Just as gatekeepers in David's time were needed to protect the temple and its
  treasury, so the faithful must constantly stand guard to keep the temple of their souls
  safe from the passions of the flesh.
27:1-34   These men can be seen as a type of the twelve apostles who follow Jesus. Note
  that the men are numbered in twelves and multiples of twelve. Even Judas is prefigured
  in Ahithophel and Joab, (v. 34), both of whom betray their king.
28:6   Just as David lays the groundwork for the work Solomon is to carry out, so the old
  covenant under the Law prepares the world for the new covenant in Christ. Like Solomon,
  Christ is both David's son and the Son of God. Having revealed God as Father, He will
  make Himself the very cornerstone of the house of God.
28:11-19   The dedicated things (v. 12): The articles used in worship and presented to
  Solomon represent Holy Tradition, beginning with the pattern for worship given to Moses
  (Ex 25:40), which was given in writing (v. 19) as Holy Scripture, and is fulfilled in the
  Church even to this day.
28:20    The Lord spoke these exact words to Joshua just before Israel crossed over the
  Jordan into the Promised Land (Jos 1:9). Joshua and Solomon are both types of Christ.
28:21   Like those who are appointed to serve Solomon, Christ's faithful followers will be
  with Him in service, using their talents to carry out His will.
29:1   God sometimes chooses the young and inexperienced (see 1Ti 4:12) to carry out
  the work of building his temple.
29:6-9   The worship described here foreshadows Orthodox Christian worship, where the
  faithful will offer themselves willingly and with their whole heart.
29:10-12    David's praises bear a striking resemblance to the Lord's Prayer (Mt 6:9–13).
  Under the old covenant, David cannot see the Trinity fully, for the Trinity has not yet
  been revealed. In Christ's Church, the faithful will be able to worship the Triune God “in
  spirit and truth” (Jn 4:24).
29:14    At one point in the Divine Liturgy, the deacon elevates the holy gifts while the
  bishop or presbyter speaks words very similar to David's: “Your own of Your own we offer
  unto You, in behalf of all and for all.”
29:15    The faithful are still strangers and sojourners on this earth, but are now in
  Christ, who has given us strength to run “the race that is set before us” (Heb 12:1–3).
29:21   A thousand is often a sign of abundance.
29:22   Ate and drank prefigures Communion, for the culmination of worship is partaking
  of the Holy Eucharist.
29:23-25    When Solomon was first made king, he prefigured Christ's entrance into
  Jerusalem. Now, upon the throne, he foreshadows the second and glorious coming of
  Christ.
1:1-17 Like Solomon, Christ will be established and magnified (v. 1); and like the king
  before the old altar (vv. 3–6), Christ will break bread with His disciples for the last time
  on earth (Lk 24:33–42). He will impart to them His own wisdom and understanding
  (v. 10; Lk 24:45). He will bear witness (v. 13) to them of His divinity. Then, He will
  ascend (Lk 24:50–53) into the heavenly Jerusalem (v. 13; Heb 12:22), bringing all
  creation with Him.
2:14   The wheat, barley, oil, and wine foreshadow the Eucharist.
2:16   The foreigners are types of the faithful from every nation who will be brought into
  the Church.
3:1   Threshing floor: See text and notes on 1Ch 21.
3:5-14 Neither in Israel nor in the Church was the second of the Ten Commandments (Ex
  20:4) ever viewed as prohibiting images in worship. The warning is against false images
  or idols—like the golden calf. The carved (v. 7) and woven (v. 14) icons in the temple
  foreshadow icons in the Orthodox Church. Under the old covenant, all images in the
  temple are earthly except the cherubim (v. 7; see Is 37:6; Heb 9:5), which signify God's
  inconceivable majesty. When Christ brings heaven and earth together in His Church, the
  things of heaven are more clearly depicted. Until Christ comes again, icons will be used in
  worship as windows into heaven, for as St. Paul writes, “For now we see in a mirror,
  dimly, but then face to face” (1Co 13:12).
3:8   Christ will fulfill the most holy place when He brings earth to heaven.
4:2-6 Christ, who is called the “lily of the valleys” (v. 5; SS 2:1), is also the sea of bronze;
  and the Holy Spirit is represented by the water. All who are cleansed in the basins or
  lavers of baptism have identified themselves with Christ's death, and have been raised up
  in Him into newness of life; partaking indeed of “living water” (Jn 4:10), they have “put
  on Christ” (Gal 3:27).
4:7-8   The lampstands and the bowls symbolize Christ and His Church. In the old
  tabernacle, there was one laver and one lampstand with six bowls (Ex 25:31–39); now
  there are ten of each and one hundred golden bowls. This signifies the “great
  quantity” (v. 18) of blessings in Christ's kingdom.
5:1   Solomon's finished work on the temple will be fulfilled in Christ.
5:2-13 This passage foreshadows the falling asleep of the Theotokos, the Mother of God:
  “The Ark of God departed from Mount Zion for the heavenly country, borne on the
  shoulders of the apostles. Angels overshadowed it with their wings, accompanying it,
  together with the whole assembly of the Church. . . . So is it now with the dwelling-place
  of the true ark, no longer of the testimony, but the very substance of God the Word. The
  new Solomon, the Prince of peace, the Creator of all things in the heavens and on the
  earth, assembled together today the supporters of the new covenant, that is the apostles,
  with all the people of the saints in Jerusalem, brought in her soul through angels to the
  true Holy of Holies” (JohnDm).
5:13 As one: In His High Priestly Prayer, the Lord prays for the faithful, “that they all may
  be one in Us” (Jn 17:21). Hence at Divine Liturgy the faithful pray, “And grant us with one
  mouth and one heart to glorify and praise Your all-honorable and majestic Name.”
5:13-2   The glory of the Lord represents the divine nature of Christ, which is joined to
  His human nature, the house or temple of His body, in the Incarnation.
6:2   Just as Solomon built a house, so Jesus proclaimed, “I will build My church” (Mt
  16:18).
7:1   Fire came down from heaven: this foreshadows Pentecost (see 3Kg 18:30–38; 1Ch
  21:26).
7:3   Here, and throughout the history of Israel and the Church, God's people worshiped
  and praised Him liturgically.
7:5   Solomon's huge sacrifice in the house symbolizes the power of the cross to save not
  only the Jews, but all humanity through the Church.
7:14-16 God's promise is to hear from heaven the prayers of His people.
9:17   Solomon's throne is a type of the Virgin Mary. “Thou art the royal Throne which
  angels surround, seeing upon it their very King and Lord” (JohnDm). “She is not merely a
  companion but she also stands at God's right hand, for where Christ sat in the heavens,
  that is, at the ‘right hand of majesty’ (Heb 1:3), there too she also takes her stand, having
  ascended now from earth into the heavens. Not merely does she love and is loved in
  return more than every other, according to the very laws of nature, but she is truly His
  Throne, and wherever the King sits, there His Throne is set also. And Isaiah beheld this
  Throne amidst the choir of cherubim and called it ‘high’ and ‘exalted’ (Is 6:1)” (GrgPal).
9:18   The six steps symbolize the completeness of Christ's work in overcoming the flesh.
9:19   The lions symbolize the apostles, saints, and martyrs.
9:22-28 Christ's heavenly kingdom is foreshadowed in Solomon's earthly kingdom.
10:1-11 Rehoboam's foolishness was used by the Lord for His purposes (v. 15).
11:1-4   God allowed the schism between Judah and Israel so that He might gather
  together and strengthen all those in Israel whose heart was set towards Him (16:9).
11:13-17 Those with right worship were rejected (v. 14) by Jeroboam because they served
  and worshipped God according to the traditions established by God through their
  fathers (v. 16). St. Paul speaks of the importance of holding steadfastly to “the traditions
  which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle” (2Th 2:15).
12:1   Note that Rehoboam and all Israel turned away from God (v. 1), but Judah is not
  mentioned (see v. 12).
12:5-8   Although the people forsook God, after they repented He did not destroy them,
  but rather allowed them to be brought under servitude by the enemy (v. 8). Only Christ,
  who alone is righteous (v. 6), will be able to bring complete deliverance to all who
  humble themselves before Him.
12:9-12 The gold shields are now bronze, a symbol of how the proud glory of Solomon's
  kingdom has been reduced by sin in just one generation.
13:4-20   Abijah testifies that those who keep the command of the Lord (v. 11) are
  those who hold fast against the enemy, and do not cease to worship God according to the
  ways and traditions of those who came before. True worship of God will be realized in the
  Church, for as Christ says, “the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and
  truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (Jn 4:23).
13:5   A covenant of salt: Salt is a symbol of an indissoluble covenant (see note on Lv
  2:13).
14:7-10 Asa was outnumbered by the Ethiopians almost two to one, but he knew the Lord
  could give him victory with the many or with the few.
15:2   From the time Adam first walked the earth (Gn 2:16, 17), God has been laying out the
  conditions for salvation: He will be found by all who seek Him.
15:3   In Israel and in the Church, the teaching ministry of the priest is of utmost
  importance (see Eph 4:11). Without it, the people will not know the true God.
15:7   The prophet admonishes Asa to be strong in the Lord, for His “strength is made
  perfect in weakness” (2Co 12:9).
15:8-15   The great numbers represent those who seek God with all their heart and
  soul, for they will find rest (v. 15) in Him, just as He promised, in the “city of the living
  God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb 12:22), which is His body, the Church.
16:1-10   Asa holds a valuable lesson for all believers. After trusting in the Lord for a
  decisive victory over the Ethiopians (14:7–10), he now seeks victory over Syria by
  taking silver and gold from the temple to buy off the Syrian king. “Are you so foolish?
  Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Gal 3:3).
17:1-19   Jehoshaphat, like his father Asa (15:1–19), starts out well. He resists Israel,
  which is steeped in idolatry, and he took delight in the Lord. But he forms an alliance
  with King Ahab (18:1). This will lead to tragic consequences that will almost destroy the
  Davidic line (4Kg 11:1).
18:1-3 Assuming that ethnic rather than spiritual ties make the people one, Jehoshaphat
  allies Judah with Israel.
18:4     Though he doesn't seem to realize the depth of idolatry and darkness that has
  overtaken Israel, Jehoshaphat's conscience is sending up warning flags that will later save
  his life (v. 31).
19:1-3 “When we are unwarily joined in friendship with the wicked, we are bound in their
  sins. . . . Those who are at peace are to be admonished not to be afraid of disturbing their
  temporal peace, if they break forth into words of rebuke. And again they are to be
  admonished to keep inwardly with undiminished love the same peace which in their
  external relations they disturb by their reproving voice” (GrgGt).
19:4-11 God helped and saved Jehoshaphat because even though he acted foolishly, he
  has also shown he wants to do what is good (v. 11). Jehoshaphat finds mercy and
  forgiveness in God, who then inspires him to spearhead a spiritual revival in Judah.
20:3   Earlier, Jehoshaphat allied himself with evil because his pride had blinded him
  (18:1); but now he has learned to put his trust in God.
20:10-12    The sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir represent the powers of
  darkness, which are being allowed by God to remain in the world until the Last
  Judgment. These enemies bring hardships to men in order that through them God might
  strengthen the faithful and humble the proud. As the Lord Jesus says, “in the world you
  will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).
20:15-22 The Lord is with you (v. 17): This is the key to salvation (see Eph 6:13). For
  the faithful, every spiritual battle has already been won by God the Father in His Son
  through the Holy Spirit.
21:1-20   The account of Jehoram serves to warn the Jews, and indeed all men, not to
  reject God's calling.
21:8-10 Edom revolts under Jehoram. Under Jehoshaphat, whose heart was towards God,
  Edom was kept under control (4Kg 3:12). Libnah, which means “white tree,” is a
  Levitical city in Judah (Jos 21:13). Its revolt against Jehoram reveals how holiness is
  repelled by the presence of evil.
21:18-20 The tragic demise of a sinful man.
22:1-9 Ahaziah's is yet another story of a life without God.
22:10-12     As a usurper of power, Athaliah reigned six years but receives only brief
  mention.
22:11-12   Joash was raised up in the house of God under the influence of the priests,
  and thus escaped the evil influence of his parents. In a similar way, God intends for
  righteousness in the heart to grow and mature within the Church.
23:1-11   Jehoiada the priest and those who help him are obedient to God, though evil
  around them would seem to be insurmountable. In the end, they prevail.
23:12-15   Athaliah is overthrown. Once again, Holy Scripture portrays the enemy being
  defeated by trickery, reminding us the devil is unfaithful even to his own.
24:1-27   Joash was faithful to the Lord until the priest Jehoiada died. The passage
  suggests that Joash relied on the faith of Jehoiada, but did not make that faith his own.
25:1-4 Amaziah . . . did what was right insofar as he followed the letter of the law (v.
  4), but he did not love the ways of the Lord with a loyal heart. Note how he spares the
  children of those who killed his father, according to Dt 24:16, yet sets a bad example for
  his own son Uzziah, who, like his father, will one day lift up his heart in pride (26:16).
25:11-14    Amaziah falls into sins of greed, murder and idolatry. He believes he has
  defeated the Edomites, when in fact, their false gods have defeated him and taken his
  disloyal heart captive.
26:1-23    Uzziah . . . did what was right by following the commandments, and he
  sought the Lord with the help of the prophet. But like his father before him, he turned
  away from God, and he was stricken with leprosy. He was a contemporary of the prophet
  Isaiah (Is 6:1).
27:1-9 Prophecy is restored under Jotham, for Isaiah receives his heavenly vision at the
  beginning of his reign (see Is 6:1). Though the king was righteous, the people acted
  corruptly. The phrase he did not enter the temple most likely means he did not enter
  there to burn incense as his father had wrongly done (26:16–20).
28:1-27   Ahaz and the people of Judah have allowed themselves to be taken spiritually
  captive by their own sins (v. 19; Is 5:13). Therefore, in order to deter their blasphemy,
  God delivered them physically into the hands of the kings of Syria and Israel (v. 5).
28:9-15 Righteous men from Samaria treat the captives of Judah with kindness. Note
  the striking parallels in this passage (see v. 15) to the story that Jesus told of the Good
  Samaritan (Lk 10:30–37).
29:1-11   Hezekiah prefigures Christ, who opened the doors (v. 3) to heaven, gathered
  the faithful, and set the captives free (see 4Kg 18:1–8).
29:12-30    The Levites (v. 12) and priests (v. 16) prefigure the apostles and evangelists,
  who will restore right worship under Christ's leadership. The Brook Kidron (v. 16) is a
  type of baptism, which will sanctify (v. 17) the faithful.
29:34   The desire of the Levites to be sanctified exceeds that of the priests, showing that
  it is the state of the heart, not the office held, which determines true holiness.
29:36   God had prepared the people: Christ warns His followers to watch, for you do
  not know when the master of the house is coming—lest coming suddenly, he find you
  sleeping (Mk 13:35, 36; see also Mal 3:1).
30:1-21 Because Judah had fallen deeply into sin, the first week of the Passover feast was
  not kept to the letter of the law (vv. 3, 17–19). Yet God heard Hezekiah's prayer, gave the
  people singleness of heart (v. 12), and healed them (v. 20). Hezekiah prefigures Christ,
  who will do the same for all who follow Him with contrite hearts in the midst of a broken
  world.
30:23-27 Great joy: The second seven days of the feast foreshadow Pentecost.
31:1-1   After the feasting comes the work. The events described in this chapter will be
  fulfilled by the faithful of the Church, who have been hard at work since Pentecost, each
  called to his or her appointed task according to his or her abilities, performing deeds of
  faithfulness (32:1) in service to the Lord.
32:24-33    Hezekiah's sickness, the sign he was given, his subsequent sin, and his
  repentance are discussed at length in 4Kg 20 and Is 38:1–39:8.
33:1-20 Manasseh is a king who began as evil and ended as good.
33:13   Manasseh prayed to Him. “The Lord God for a while punished him that was
  addicted to idols, and had slain many innocent persons; and yet He received him when he
  repented, and forgave him his offenses, and restored him to his kingdom. For He not only
  forgives the penitent, but reinstates them in their former dignity” (JohnChr).
    “Now if, looking to the magnitude of his own iniquities, he had despaired of restoration
  and repentance, he would have missed all which he afterwards obtained: but as it was,
  looking to the boundlessness of God's tender mercy instead of the enormity of his
  transgressions, and having broken in sunder the bonds of the devil, he rose up and
  contended with him, and finished the good course” (Dion).
34:1-13 True reform has to do with both the purging of what is false and evil (vv. 3–7) and
  the repairing of what is true and good (vv. 8–13). Josiah did both.
34:14-28 The Book of the Law here discovered is likely the whole Pentateuch, and it is
  unclear where it had been. Significantly, when parts of it were read to the king, his heart
  was turned and he humbled himself before the Lord (v. 27). The Scriptures are indeed
  “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2Ti
  3:16).
34:29-33 Not only does the king attend to the reading of the Book of the Covenant, but
  he makes sure the priests and the Levites and all the people hear it as well. As a
  result, the hearers make a commitment to follow the Lord.
35:1-6 That Josiah kept the Passover shows not only his obedience to the Lord, but also
  his solidarity with the instruction of David (v. 4) and the writings of Moses (v. 6). This
  is a veritable rebirth of faith for the people.
35:28   The Jews mourned for Josiah because their righteous king was a victim of the
  finality of death under the old covenant. But Christ will fulfill the old covenant of death
  with a new covenant of love, forgiveness, and eternal life.
36:1-6 Judah's downfall is imminent with the brief ascension of the evil King Jehoahaz
  to the throne.
36:7-16 The Pharaoh of Egypt establishes the evil king Jehoiakim as ruler of Judah. He
  is then carried off to Babylon (v. 14) by King Nebuchadnezzar and briefly replaced
  by his son Jehoiachin.
36:22-29   God's judgment on Judah is justified, for the priests and the people have
  gone beyond the point of no return and will not repent (see 4Kg 25:8–21). Seventy years
  (v. 29) is the approximate time of the exile in Babylon (see also Jer 25:9–12; 27:6–8;
  29:10; Lv 26:34–43).
36:30-31 These verses parallel the opening verses of Ezra. Although he is a Gentile, Cyrus
  is called by God to look after His people.
1:1-31 The Passover under Josiah and the account of his death (vv. 26–31). Josiah was
  the last king of Judah to seek truth (v. 21). As such, he is a figure of Christ, who is the
  embodiment of truth (Jn 14:6). From Exodus 12 we learn that the Feast of the Passover is
  an OT type of the NT paschal feast (1Co 10:23–26), in which the Church celebrates the
  death and Resurrection of Christ.
2:1-4 Just as Josiah was the last Jewish king to seek the truth of God, so Cyrus was the
  first Gentile king to find truth in the Lord of Israel. And just as God used Cyrus, a
  Gentile king of Persia, to rebuild the physical temple and set the Jews free, so He will use
  Christ, King of the Jews, to build His Church and set the Gentiles free.
3:1, 2 This great banquet is also an icon of creation, which is itself a symbol of Christ's
  work in His Incarnation. The Feast of Passover described in 1 Ezra also images the
  heavenly banquet (Rev 19:7–9), and both are experienced today in the Holy Eucharist. As
  the psalmist writes, “But God is our King before the ages; / He worked salvation in the
  midst of the earth” (Ps 73:12).
3:4-5 These three young men who speak as one are, like the three men at the trees of
  Mamre (Gn 18:2), another OT symbol of the Holy Trinity. Their role as the king's
  bodyguards illustrates the way in which the unknowable, inconceivable God reveals
  Himself in His creation as Triune.
3:6   Purple denotes royalty and equality with the king (see note on Est 6:6–9); the gold
  cups symbolize Christ's cup of salvation; sleep in a gold bed foreshadows His rest in
  the tomb; the chariot—like Elijah's chariot of fire (3Kg 2:11)—foreshadows the
  Ascension; the linen head covering points both to the OT priesthood and to the linen in
  which Christ's body was wrapped (Jn 20:7); and the necklace symbolizes virtue (Pr 3:3,
  22; 6:21; SS 1:10; see also Dan 5:7).
3:7   Christ is the personification of wisdom. He sits next to the Father and is called His
  Son, His kinsman.
3:10-12   Wine, the king, and women, which prevail, and the truth, which conquers,
  are all illustrations of the divine attributes of God revealed in Christ and His Church. As
  these are explained to the king's court by the three bodyguards (3:15–4:41), so Christ, full
  of the Holy Spirit and in obedience to the Father, will reveal the three Persons of the
  Godhead when He is manifest to the world.
3:17-24 The strength of wine symbolizes the “new wine” of the new covenant (Mt 9:15–
  17): the Holy Spirit uniting with and dwelling within men. St. Paul writes, “And do not be
  drunk with wine . . . but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18).
4:1-12   The second man's speech about the king illustrates the manner in which God
  revealed Himself to man under the old covenant. He was known as their master (v. 3), a
  God who is to be obeyed by his people and his army (v. 10). The phrase one man (v.
  7) is notable because the God of Israel is “One God,” who did not reveal Himself as
  Trinity until the advent of Christ.
4:13   The third, named Zerubbabel, is the only one of the three bodyguards who is
  named. He is of Christ's lineage (Mt 1:12), a leader in the rebuilding of the temple, and a
  figure of Christ.
4:14-15   Women prevail, for women fulfill man's purpose. God intended for men and
  women to be united in love, just as Christ and His Church are united in love (Eph 5:22,
  23). Thus, as Zerubbabel describes women, we see Christ describing His relationship with
  His Bride.
4:16-17 Vineyards and wine (v. 16) symbolize the Eucharist, and clothing (v. 17) points
  to being clothed with Christ in baptism. As woman is the glory of man (1Co 11:7), so the
  Church is the glory of Christ (Eph 5:21).
4:20   This is a paraphrase of Gn 2:24. According to St. Paul, the union of man and wife in
  marriage is an image of Christ and His Church (Eph 5:30–32; see note at 4:14, 15).
4:29-31 The concubine is often an OT figure of fallen humanity. She has received God's
  crown, that is His divine image and likeness, on her own head in creation (Gn 1:26).
  On the other hand, she has struck the king—indeed, killed him—that she might be
  reconciled with him, that is, with Christ.
4:33-34 God and man looked at one another when Christ revealed Himself in truth to
  men.
4:35-40 Note especially the striking resemblance between this passage concerning truth
  and St. Paul's discourse on love (1Co 13). This passage is quoted extensively by the
  Fathers.
4:41   Echoing the voices of all the people in the king's court, the faithful sing at the end
  of the Divine Liturgy, “We have found the true faith, worshiping the undivided Trinity,
  who has saved us!”
4:42   Ask what you will: As the Father gives all things to the Son, so Christ gives all
  things to those who ask according to His will (Mt 21:22; Jn 14:14; 1Jn 5:15).
4:43-45    The request of Zerubbabel, echoed in the prayer of the repentant thief (Lk
  23:42), reveals the will of God for the world: rebuild Jerusalem, that is, “the city of the
  living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb 12:22). Send back all the vessels (v. 44) and
  rebuild the temple (v. 45) in a spiritual sense means to restore holiness in the hearts of
  men, which have been laid waste by sin.
6:1-15   This passage chronicles the completion of the temple under the leadership of
  Haggai and Zechariah. The building of the earthly temple is a type of our deification—
  becoming like God by His grace (1Co 6:19).
8:1-7 Ezra was one appointed by God to study and know the Law of Moses (v. 3), that he
  might teach it to others.
8:65-67   The law reveals the truth about the sins of the people, and transgression of the
  law is punishable by death (8:24).
8:68-92 Ezra is seen to be a man of prayer who repents for the sins of the people. Seeing
  his piety (v. 89), the leaders call a fast, and the people begin to repent and pray with one
  voice, for without repentance there can be no mercy (v. 75) and no salvation. Thus, as
  through one man's prayers Israel is saved, so through Christ's prayer (see Jn 17) the
  world is saved and the law fulfilled.
9:3-4 This was a compulsory gathering where the people would listen to Ezra's exhortation
  (v. 7).
9:6-15 The cold weather prompts the people to request that dealing with the problem of
  foreign wives (v. 9) be handled in the local settlements.
9:42   Ezra read the law from a judgment seat, a place of authority erected for him (see
  3:14).
9:55   That the hearers of the law were inspired by the words of the Scriptures brings to
  mind the response of the disciples (“Did not our heart burn within us?”) as the Lord
  Jesus Christ opened to them the Holy Scriptures (Lk 24:32).
1:1   The word of the Lord came in fulfillment of Jer 29:10.
1:3      He is the God . . . in Jerusalem: Deities were generally seen as belonging to a
  specific location, yet this statement is also prophetic in that it points as well to the New
  Jerusalem, the eternal city over which God reigns and in which all nations will dwell (Rev
  21).
1:1-4 The kings of the earth, who receive authority from the Lord (Jn 19:11; Rom 13:1–7),
  are used by God to fulfill His plan.
1:5   Unlike the exodus from Egypt, in which all Jews fled bondage, only those Jews whose
  spirits God stirred up fled from Babylon. Because life had become relatively
  comfortable, many were content to forsake Jerusalem and live under foreign rule.
1:7-11 The return of the sacred vessels was to furnish the temple. The water basins and
  wine bowls look ahead to the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist.
2:1    Judea was a province of Babylon. Though most of the people taken in the
  Babylonian Captivity had died in Babylon, still there was an effort by their descendants to
  return every man into his city of Judea.
2:63   This command prefigures the New Testament Eucharist, of which none may partake
  without the presence of the bishop or his priest. The Lights and Perfections are the
  Urim and Thummim, part of the high priest's vestments used to discern God's will.
2:68-70   Freewill offerings for the house of God are an indication of faithfulness and
  show that worship was a high priority for the Jews who had returned.
3:1   The people assembling as one person is fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:1) and in the
  Church when we assemble in unity for the Eucharist as the one Body of Christ.
3:2-6 Just as the burnt offerings of the Jews were offered on the altar at all the Jewish
  festivals, so in the Church, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is commemorated at the Eucharist
  throughout the liturgical year. Notice the priorities these faithful Jews had in their
  restoration project. First, they established their worship (v. 6). Second, they built their
  temple (6:1). Last, they rebuilt the city.
3:7   Starting with Abraham (Gn 14:18–20), the tradition of God's people for giving money
  to the Lord is to give a tithe (Mal 3:8–12) plus freewill offerings. This is how the temple
  was built, and also how the Church is built.
3:8-11 The young Levites together with the sons of Judah begin to lay the foundation
  for the temple. This is fulfilled through Jesus Christ and His apostles in the building of
  the Church (Mt 21:42; 1Co 3:9–17; Eph 2:19–22).
3:12-13 The beginning of the temple restoration was a time of bright sadness. Some wept
  with a loud voice while others were shouting for joy. The sadness was over the loss of
  the first temple—Solomon's glorious temple—and the memory of the sin that led to its
  downfall. The joy was in the hope of the completion of the temple's foundation.
4:1-5 “He who is not with Me is against Me,” said Christ (Mt 12:30), and the neighbors of
  the Jews turned quickly against their efforts to rebuild God's house. When we serve the
  Lord, we can be almost certain to meet opposition.
4:12-16   The claim that the work of God is rebellion and harmful to kings whom God
  Himself has established is a standard ploy of Satan in his attempts to destroy God's
  obedient ones (Est 3:8, 9). This culminates in the charge that would be leveled against
  Christ Himself (Jn 19:12).
4:17-24    The discontinued work under Artaxerxes is reminiscent of the temporary
  captivity of Israel in Egypt when a new king arose who did not know the goodness of the
  people of God (Ex 1:8).
5:1, 2   The prophets of God constantly speak of the restoration of the house of God,
  just as the prophets throughout the Old Testament collectively point to the Resurrection
  of Christ. In this way, the restoration of the temple is itself a type of Christ (Jn 2:19–22).
5:5   Unless He allows it, the purpose of God cannot be stopped by earthly authorities or by
  the devil (Mt 16:18).
5:7-17   The appeal to search the king's treasure house to find the king's decree
  parallels the Church's readiness to search the Scriptures (Jn 5:39; Acts 17:11). Appealing
  to the Scriptures is how Jesus and His apostles demonstrated His genuine claim to be the
  Christ, the incarnate Son of God (Lk 24:27; Acts 17:2, 11; 18:28). Interestingly, the appeal
  to the Scriptures was also one of the ways Jesus' enemies tried to malign Him (Mt 4:6; Jn
  7:52). In both cases, the reliability and authority of what has been written, accepted, and
  handed down as Holy Scripture is unquestioned.
6:1-3 The decree of Darius affirms the authority of the earlier decree by King Cyrus.
  In the same way, within the Church, the traditions of the faith and true doctrine are
  reaffirmed in every generation (2Th 2:15).
6:8-10    God's house will be built at the expense of even His enemies, for His glory, in
  order that they may offer sacrifices to God for the benefit of all the people. At each
  Divine Liturgy we re-present the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ “on behalf of all and for
  all.”
6:14   The earthly kings and Zechariah fulfill the prophecies of Haggai.
6:15   The restoration of the temple on the third day of this month certainly suggests the
  resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day (Jn 2:19–22).
6:19-21 The unity at the Passover meal between the children of Israel and those who
  would seek the Lord from the nations points forward to the Eucharist, to which all
  people, both Jew and Gentile, are called.
7:1   After these things: Over one hundred years elapsed between the events of ch. 6 and
  those of ch. 7.
7:10   Ezra's journey and mission were the product of a faithful heart. His process was to
  (1) seek the Law, (2) do it, and (3) teach it. Though the Jews had protection and
  economic security in Babylon, Ezra led many to a future that was uncertain by earthly
  standards, but divinely protected. In the same way, Christian believers are called to
  escape the fleeting security of this world in order to build up the kingdom of Jesus Christ
  (Mk 8:34–38; 10:28–31).
7:12   Artaxerxes, using the title king of kings, becomes a picture of Christ, sending Ezra
  to rebuild Jerusalem. The Lord would later send His apostles to build the Church. Just as
  Artaxerxes gave all the articles needed (vv. 15–22), so Christ provides the grace of the
  Holy Spirit and His power to His disciples (Acts 1:8).
7:25-26    Ezra is commanded by the king to appoint magistrates and judges to
  determine the people's obedience to the law of . . . God, just as Peter and the other
  apostles would be given authority to bind and loose the sins of the people (Mt 16:19; Jn
  20:23). Ezra is further commanded to teach the uninformed, just as the apostles would
  be commanded to do (Mt 28:18–20).
7:27-28   Ezra is encouraged by the way a pagan king would expend his resources to
  beautify the house of the Lord. If an unbeliever has enough faith to build the Lord's
  house, all the more is the believer called to offer of himself or herself to build up the
  Church of Jesus Christ!
8:16-18      Ezra recruits men of understanding and servants in order that a proper
  sacrifice may be offered, for the worship was the highest priority of the returning Jews
  (3:2–6).
8:21-23 A fast by the faithful has tremendous power in helping to discern the right way
  of God, and in securing His power against the enemy (Est 4:16; Joel 2:12–17; Mt 17:17–
  21).
8:28-29    When a priest is ordained in the Orthodox Church, the bishop hands him a
  precious vessel called a diskos, on which is a portion of the eucharistic bread, and he is
  sent behind the altar. He is charged by the bishop to watch and keep the sacrament in
  holiness until the day he gives account for his priesthood before the throne of Christ.
9:1, 2 Mixed marriages had not always been prohibited (e.g., Boaz and Ruth), but were now
  seen as detrimental to the purity of the Jewish people. St. Paul warns, “Do not be
  unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2Co 6:14). The imagery of marriage is one of
  faithfulness between God and His people. Marriage between a Jew and a practicing pagan
  was seen as a serious violation of that faithfulness, as shown by Ezra's reaction and
  subsequent solution of putting away all pagan wives (10:3).
9:7   Defeat by the enemy was seen as being the result of sin. God had warned the Jews not
  to be led astray by foreign wives or they would face quick destruction (Dt 7:3, 4).
9:8   Here is the Gospel in foretaste. Grace has been shown to undeserving people (Rom
  5:8).
9:11-12 This specific commandment has a source outside the Scriptures. It is not found in
  the Law of Moses, which warns not against taking a foreign wife per se, but against
  marrying a foreigner who will not convert from idols to the Lord (Dt 7:3, 4). This latter
  situation is what Ezra was facing (v. 14).
10:1-4   Repentance is more than confession of sin and even weeping over it. It is also
  taking the necessary steps to put away the sin.
10:10   Unlike a one-time sin for which a person might readily repent, taking pagan wives
  is making a way of life in opposition to God. For the Jew and for the Christian, it is a
  complete and utter compromise with the world.
10:19   The ram as a trespass offering prefigures Christ, who will take away the deepest
  sins and guilt of man.
1:1   Nehemiah means “comforted of God.” Shushan is Susa, a provincial capital in
  Persia, its most prominent city and winter residence of King Artaxerxes (Est 1:2). Chislev
  is late November/early December. The twentieth year is that of the reign of Artaxerxes
  I, dating this account at 445 BC.
1:2   Hanani, a presumed blood brother of Nehemiah, is later made ruler of Jerusalem
  (7:2). He accompanies some men from Judah on an 800-mile journey to Persia to tell
  Nehemiah the status of (a) the survivors of the captivity now back in Judah and (b) the
  city of Jerusalem.
1:3   The returned exiles are in great distress, for the wall and gates of Jerusalem are
  destroyed. Addressing these two problems—the wall and the gates—is key to
  understanding the Book of Nehemiah.
1:4    Nehemiah, as would Christ (Mt 23:37), laments prayerfully for the people of
  Jerusalem, acknowledging they were guilty of sin and disobedience. Moreover, though a
  layman, he stands with the prophets in interceding with God for the sake of the chosen
  people and striving to renew the people's obedience to the Law. Throughout Scripture,
  fasting and praying go together. For Orthodox Christians, the Church offers additional
  services of worship and intercession during seasons of fasting, especially Lent and
  Advent.
1:5-11 No indeed is Nehemiah's way of saying, “I'm not putting up with the damaged state
  of the walls and gates of Jerusalem.” Nehemiah's prayer reflects his devotion to the words
  of Scripture. The phrase great and awesome God is from Dt 7:21. Verses 8 and 9 quote
  Dt 30:1–5. This man . . . the king is Artaxerxes I, under whom Nehemiah held the office
  of cupbearer (v. 11). He it is who would grant Nehemiah's request to return to
  Jerusalem (2:6–8).
2:1   In ancient times, a ruler's demise was often brought about through the poisoning of
  his food or wine. So before King Artaxerxes was served, Nehemiah would first sample
  his food and drink. Typically, a cupbearer was in the king's presence more than any of his
  other subjects and often was held in high confidence. On this day, no one else was
  present but his queen (v. 6).
2:3   May the king live forever! was the common way to greet a king (see Dan 2:4; 5:10;
  6:7, 22), in the same spirit as greeting the bishop with “Many years to you, O Master,” or,
  “Master, bless.”
2:4   Nehemiah continues in prayer, silently and in brief, to the God of Heaven, for
  Artaxerxes had decreed that Jerusalem not be rebuilt unless by his order (2:19).
2:5   Nehemiah moves from intercessor to mediator. It was crucial for him both to be
  prayerful and to act.
2:7-8   Sensing there would be opposition, Nehemiah asks for letters to give him safe
  passage and timber to complete the work of rebuilding the wall and the gates of
  Jerusalem. The good hand of God had touched the heart of the king, who came to
  understand the benefits of a loyal Jewish ally in Judah.
2:10   Sanballat and Tobiah, together with Geshem the Arab (v. 19), will be Nehemiah's
  constant detractors throughout the rebuilding of the wall. According to an ancient
  papyrus, Sanballat later became governor of Samaria.
2:11-16   Jesus warned His servants to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Mt
  10:16). Being a man of wisdom, Nehemiah secretly inspects the wall of Jerusalem by
  night (v. 13). Not even the sentries knew what he was up to (v. 16).
2:17-18 I said to them: With the survey completed and the mission now clear, Nehemiah
  calls together the officials of Jerusalem and the workers (v. 16). Here he moves from
  mediator (2:5) to motivator: Let us rise up and let us build (v. 18).
2:19-20 Whenever God's will is being carried out, expect the critics to step forward. Jesus
  had the scribes and Pharisees, St. Paul had Demas and Alexander the coppersmith (2Ti
  4:9–15), and Nehemiah had Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, who laughed at the
  project. The prophet, not arguing, said, “God . . . will . . . prosper us” (see Ex 14:14;
  1Th 5:24).
3:1-32 The work to rebuild Jerusalem and restore Israel within the land God promised to
  their ancestors begins at once. The laborers are a veritable “Who's Who” of Jerusalem and
  the surrounding communities. They include the high priest and the priests (v. 1), and
  the men of Jericho (v. 2), who are likely returned exiles from that city. The Tekoites
  (v. 5), from Amos' hometown of Tekoa (Am 1:1), did repair work (their nobles probably
  sided with Sanballat), along with the sons of other district leaders (vv. 12, 14, 16) and
  some Levites (v. 17)—the cooperation is stunning. The Nethinim (v. 26) are a group or
  order of temple servants. Even the merchants took part (v. 32).
3:36   Nehemiah's response to those openly opposed to God's will is not anger but prayer,
  that God will bring vengeance against them (see Gn 12:1–3; Jos 1:5; Dt 32:35; Rom
  12:19).
4:1-3   Not only verbal ridicule, but here also armed conspiracy becomes a tool of those
  opposed to God.
4:7-8 A wonderful picture of synergy—working together with God. Nehemiah strategically
  positioned men to fight, while promising the people that God will fight for them.
4:10   Judah is the people in general. Note how half played offense, doing the work, and
  half played defense, protecting the project.
4:13-15 As with these workers, we often need to endure sacrifice and discomfort not only
  to complete God's work but also to sustain over time the project God gives us to do
  (12:27, 28).
5:1-5 The great outcry was over grain shortages (vv. 2, 3), having to borrow money to
  pay the king's tax (v. 4), and having to sell children into slavery (v. 5).
5:7-11 After serious thought shows yet another facet of Nehemiah's brilliant leadership.
  Not acting impulsively, he prays, plans, and thinks things through before issuing his
  rebuke. Usury, the charging of interest, is permitted, but not when both parties are Jews
  (Ex 22–25; Lv 25:35–38). This rebuke, including the touchy issue of slavery (v. 8),
  worked. The nobles and rulers were speechless.
5:14-15 Typically the governor lived at taxpayer expense, but not Nehemiah. Because of
  the fear of God he provided for himself, as did St. Paul hundreds of years later (1Co 9:1–
  18), setting a servant example for others.
5:19   Those with a sincere faith in God who act with righteous motives may seek a
  blessing from Him (Dt 28:1–14; Mk 10:29, 30).
6:1, 2   The plain of Ono is near Judah's border with Samaria, a two-day journey. In
  meeting there Nehemiah would not only risk his own life, but would jeopardize the
  rebuilding of Jerusalem.
6:5    Having previously failed to thwart him, Sanballat delivers an open letter to
  Jerusalem to discredit Nehemiah and through rumor bring dissension among the faithful.
6:7 The king who would get this report is the King of Persia, Artaxerxes (2:1).
6:9   With great leaders, the more people say the job will not be done, the greater the
  leaders' resolve becomes. With God's help, Nehemiah's hands only get stronger!
6:10-12 Shemaiah, an apparent prophet whom Tobiah and Sanballat had hired (v. 12),
  was revealed as a false prophet, for his words were in disobedience to God. The reference
  to Noadiah (v. 14) indicates others had been hired as well.
6:15-16 The enemies lost out and God's will prevailed as the wall was finished in just
  fifty-two days—less than two months! Disheartened, even Sanballat and Tobiah were
  forced to admit the work was done by . . . God.
6:17-19   Though defeated, the well-connected Tobiah continued his letters of assault.
  Jesus called this kind wolves “in sheep's clothing” (Mt 7:15).
7:1-3   With the wall rebuilt, Nehemiah, as governor, appoints his brother Hanani, who
  feared God, as ruler of Jerusalem. Hananiah became the leader of the citadel (or
  fortress). This helped ensure the safety and well-being of Jerusalem.
7:6-73 This list of names confirms the remnant Jews who, due to their faithfulness to God
  and steadfast obedience to the Mosaic Law, were allowed to return to Jerusalem.
8:1   The public proclamation of the Scriptures—the reading and preaching of the Word of
  God—is essential to the evangelical mission of the Church. The sacrifices were offered
  only in the temple, but here the message of the Book is heard in the open square.
8:2   This assembly gathered on the first day of the seventh month because it was the
  Feast of Trumpets, or Jewish New Year.
8:5   All the people stood up for the reading of the Scriptures. To this day in the
  Orthodox Church the people stand for the reading of the Gospel.
8:6   They bowed their heads: A symbol of humility and reverence in worship.
8:7-8    The foundations of apostolic ministry are found in helping the people to
  understand the Scriptures and in building them up in the knowledge of the Lord. (See
  Acts 2:37–39; 8:30, 31.)
8:10   True feasting includes caring for the poor (see Est 9:21), those for whom nothing
  is prepared.
8:14-17 Living in booths is a reminder that the faithful are but sojourners in this world,
  moving toward a true home in God's kingdom (see Lv 34–42).
8:18    The assembly on the eighth day points us to the Kingdom of heaven. In the
  Church, the seven-day week reflects God's creation and work in this world, while the
  eighth day is the day without end, the day beyond this world when all is fulfilled.
9:1-3 Having heard the word of God, the faithful are convicted of their sins and moved to
  repentance, fasting, confession, and prayer. Note they confessed not privately, but in
  the midst of those assembled together (see Jam 5:16).
9:6-38   The prayer of Ezra follows the classic biblical pattern of praise, remembrance of
  God's works, and petition. This same pattern is followed in the eucharistic prayers of the
  Divine Liturgy.
9:38   The sure covenant, recorded in ch. 10, is a pledge to “not neglect the house of our
  God” (see 10:39).
10:1   Those who sealed (signed) this covenant to protect God's house were the priests (v.
  8). Later (vv. 29, 30) the covenant was accepted by the people. This prefigures the New
  Covenant of Jesus Christ, affirmed by the apostles and accepted by the Church.
10:29   The curse was an agreement to accept punishment on oneself if the oath was
  broken.
10:39   The oath or covenant is summed up in the words, we will not neglect the house
  of our God.
11:1, 2 The majority sent to dwell in other cities could be seen to prefigure the apostles
  being sent out to evangelize the nations. These may also be understood to image those
  called to live faithfully in this world, while the blessed minority remaining in Jerusalem
  signify men and women who can accept the monastic life of serving God in separation
  from this world.
11:3-21   These inhabitants of Jerusalem are grouped as follows: the laypeople (vv. 3–9);
  priests (vv. 10–14); Levites (vv. 15–17); and gatekeepers (v. 18). In the Church, there is
  also a great variety of God's servants (1Co 12:4–6).
12:28-37 A description of antiphonal singing, which is still the traditional way the Psalms
  are sung during the Orthodox Liturgy in many countries of the world. The two
  thanksgiving choirs that went to meet each other in the house of God (v. 37)
  prefigure the two covenants which are united in Jesus Christ. In this way, the choirs also
  serve as a type of the unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ. The two choirs can also be
  understood as the departed faithful (the Church triumphant) and the living faithful (the
  Church militant) being united in the Kingdom of heaven.
12:41-44   As in the temple, so in the Church, faithful servants of God are appointed to
  assume responsibility for detailed tasks.
13:1-31 This could be called “the chapter of hard choices.” Nehemiah reminds his readers
  that it is better to be pure than popular. (a) After hearing the Scriptures read, the people
  gained the courage to separate the heathen, the mixed multitude (v. 3), from the
  congregation of Israel (vv. 1–3). (b) Nehemiah tossed . . . all the household goods of
  Tobiah (v. 8) out of his rooms in the temple. Why did Eliashib the priest (v. 4) move
  him in? In 13:28, we find that Eliashib has family ties to Sanballat, the co-conspirator to
  stop the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem (vv. 4–9). (c) Nehemiah put the Levites
  and the singers (v. 10) back on the payroll. He confronted the rulers of the temple and
  set them in their place (v. 11). (d) The people of Judah had secularized the Sabbath
  (v. 15), making it a day of commerce and not a day of rest. Nehemiah makes an unveiled
  threat to the merchants (vv. 20, 21) and appoints guards to sanctify the Sabbath day
  (v. 22). (e) Finally, Nehemiah put a stop to Israelites marrying pagans (vv. 23–27).
13:30 This verse could be Nehemiah's epitaph: I cleansed them of every pagan thing.
1:1   Tobit means “the Lord is good.”
1:2   Thisbe is in modern-day Lebanon (ancient Phoenicia), north of the Sea of Galilee.
  Naphtali (v. 1) was led captive to Assyria under the predecessor of Shalmaneser
  (4Kg 15:29).
1:3   Nineveh is on the east bank of the Tigris River, which is in ancient Babylon and
  modern-day northern Iraq. Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria.
1:6-8   Tobit reminds us to be faithful to the Lord even when it is inconvenient. The
  everlasting ordinance (v. 6) is recorded in Dt 12:11–14.
1:9   Anna means “grace.”
1:10-11   The bread of the Gentiles is described in Dt 14:3–21 as unclean food for the
  people of God.
1:14   Media was an area south of the Caspian Sea, part of modern-day Iran.
1:17   Not to bury the dead was seen as a curse, the ultimate in disrespect (4Kg 9:10; Jer
  8:2; see also 2:3–8).
1:22   Ahikar, the nephew of Tobit, carries the name of a hero popular in ancient
  literature. He becomes second in command under the new king.
2:1   The Jewish Feast of Pentecost (lit. “fifty”) comes seven weeks or fifty days after
  Passover. These events are fulfilled (1) in the death, burial, and Resurrection of “Christ
  our Passover” (1Co 5:7) and (2) at the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
2:6   See Amos 8:10.
2:11   Some scholars speculate Anna was a weaver.
2:14   Anna reproaches Tobit, suggesting his acts of charity and his righteous deeds
  have failed him. This is similar to the rebuke by Job's wife (Job 2:9).
3:2   Having had his own works judged (2:14), Tobit confesses it is the Lord who is
  righteous, as are His works.
3:6   In his pain, Tobit asks that he might die and enter into the eternal place.
3:7 Ecbatana is the capital of Media (see note at 1:14).
3:8   Asmodeus means “the destroyer.” Jesus said of Satan, “The thief does not come
  except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (Jn 10:10).
3:11   Blessed are You, O Lord: These are the opening words of numerous Jewish and
  Christian prayers. Many services in the Orthodox Church begin with, “Blessed is the
  Kingdom” or “Blessed is our God.”
3:16-17   God answered the prayer of both Tobit and Sarah, sending the Archangel
  Raphael (meaning “God heals”) to heal them.
4:5   A father could not give a son better counsel.
4:7   The word almsgiving is used repeatedly throughout the Book of Tobit. It simply
  means to give of oneself above and beyond what is due (see also 4:16).
4:12   In Jewish tradition, to take a foreign woman as a wife was seen as an offense to
  God (Ezra 10:2).
4:20      Tobias is sent by his father to Gabael in Rages (near modern-day Teheran, Iran) to
  retrieve ten talents of silver held by him for safekeeping. Tobit even has the receipt! (See
  5:3.)
5:3-6 Raphael is hired to accompany Tobias on his journey to Rages. But the archangel
  identifies himself as Azarias (meaning “God helps”), a relative of Tobit (5:13).
5:17   May His angel journey with you: Tobit is unaware that his request has already
  been granted (see also 5:22). Tobias's dog goes with them, and commentators puzzle over
  its significance.
6:1-9 The fish not only provided food (v. 5), but its liver and heart (v. 7) were set aside to
  cast out a demon (v. 8). Gall is bile used as a medicine; it would later bring a cure to
  Tobit's eight years of blindness (11:11–14).
6:13   According to the rule of Moses is likely a reference to Nm 36:8 (though there is
  no mention there of a death penalty), in which it is stated that a daughter with an
  inheritance must marry within her father's tribe.
6:14-15 Tobias is concerned that Sarah's first seven husbands all died on their wedding
  night. He knows his death, as the only child, would bring grief and sorrow to his
  parents.
6:16-18 The angel appeals both to (1) the words of Tobit to take a wife from their tribe
  (Naphtali) and (2) to the merciful God who will cause the demon to flee (see Jam 4:7).
7:3-6 Though Raguel and Edna knew of Tobit, it appears they did not know of Tobias.
7:10-13 Raguel is honest about the fate of Sarah's seven previous husbands, but blesses
  Tobias to receive her.
8:2-4   The demon is exorcized both by the incense and by prayers to the Lord. The
  psalmist connects these two actions when he writes, “Let my prayer be set forth before
  You as incense” (Ps 140:2).
8:6   See Gn 2:18.
8:7   Though they are young, Tobias prays that he and his bride will grow old together. In
  the Orthodox wedding service, the priest prays over the bridal pair: “Grant them to lead
  an upright and blameless life even unto a ripe old age.”
8:10-14 During the night Raguel rose up and dug a grave for Tobias, fearing he may
  have died. This was not the case.
8:15-17 Raguel is careful to bless God for His abundant mercy in sparing Tobias' life.
8:19-21 Normally a wedding feast lasted seven days (see 11:18). Raguel also contributes
  half of his possessions as his gift.
9:1-6   Tobias entrusts Raphael to find Gabael and bring him and the silver to the
  wedding feast. Likewise, at the end of the ages, the hosts of heaven will call the faithful
  to “the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev 19:9).
10:1-7 The extended fourteen days of the wedding feast (v. 7) cause friction between
  Tobit and Anna because Tobias has not returned home. They try to hush each other up
  (vv. 6, 7).
10:8-10   Raguel wants the newlyweds to stay even longer, but Tobias prevails. They
  depart with a blessing.
10:13   Edna's request to see your children from my daughter Sarah is echoed by the
  Orthodox priest at the crowning service, praying that the wedded couple will “see your
  children's children.”
11:1-3 Raphael and Tobias decide to leave Sarah at the city gate of Nineveh see (11:16)
  and run ahead to meet the worried parents.
11:11-12 Following Raphael's instructions (11:7), Tobias dabbed the gall on the eyes of
  his father. Tobit was healed of his blindness.
11:16-17 Tobit did four things en route to the gate of Nineveh which are instructive for
  all fathers, and for all believers: (1) he rejoiced, as St. Paul so often encouraged the
  Philippians to do; (2) he blessed God for his son's new bride; (3) he publicly gave
  thanks for his restored eyesight; and (4) he blessed his family. God loves a grateful
  servant.
12:1-5 Note the spirit of generosity in Tobit and Tobias. Whereas many modern believers
  hesitate to return even ten percent to God, these men offered God's servant half of
  everything they brought!
12:8-9 The Archangel Raphael's exhortation is remarkably similar to one section of Jesus'
  Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6, Jesus spoke of fasting (6:16–18), almsgiving
  (6:1–4), prayer (6:5–13), and righteousness (6:33).
12:12-14   Raphael's ministry to Tobit's family is that of a guardian angel. Note he carries
  Sarah's prayer before the Holy One, he is present with those he serves, and he is
  sent by God to bring healing. “Angel” means “messenger.”
12:15   Raphael reveals himself to Tobit and Tobias as one of seven holy angels who
  appear before the glory of the Holy One (see Rev 1:4). These seven are also called
  archangels. The names of four of them are revealed: Raphael, Gabriel (Dan 9:21; Lk 1:19,
  26–38), Michael (Dan 10:21; Jude 9) and Uriel (2 Esdras 4:1).
12:20 Raphael is ascending to God to appear “before His throne” (Rev 1:4).
13:1   As with many Old Testament prayers, the prayer of Tobit resembles many of the
  psalms.
13:2   Blessed is the kingdom is how we begin the Sunday worship of the Church.
13:3 The nations are the Gentile nations where God's children are scattered.
13:6   This promise is repeated to Israel throughout the Old Testament.
13:11   His tabernacle is the temple in Jerusalem.
13:13   The author of Tobit understands that one day many Gentiles will come to the
  King of heaven and that generations of generations of them will worship in what
  will be called the One Holy Church (see Jn 1:12).
13:17-18 This passage also has in view the New Jerusalem (see Rev 21:1–3, 10, 11).
14:4   Scholars agree that Nineveh was overthrown in 612 BC. Jonah warned of the fall
  (Jon 3:3, 4) and Nahum, in his book, records it.
14:5   The temple will be rebuilt, but not as it was before. The second temple, not as
  glorious, was completed in approximately 515 BC (see Hag 1:1–15).
14:10 Ahikar: See 1:21.
14:11   Almsgiving and righteousness: See 12:8, 9.
1:1    This opening verse is anachronistic in that the father of Nebuchadnezzar,
  Nebopalassar, destroyed Nineveh in about 607 BC.
1:2-5   These verses are a parenthetical description of the massive fortifications of
  Ecbatana, which in turn implies the great power of Arphaxad, with whom
  Nebuchadnezzar waged war (v. 5).
1:6   The sons of Chaldea are the central power of the alliance that defeats the great army
  of Arphaxad (1:13). The irony is that these “sons” will prove powerless before a “daughter
  of the Hebrews” (10:12). The Euphrates, the Tigris, and the Hydaspes (a river in
  India) alludes to a large territory ruled by Artaxerxes (see Est 1:1).
1:10   From Ethiopia to the Hydaspes (v. 6) gives the full breadth of Nebuchadnezzar's
  proclaimed authority.
1:11   Building on 1:6, the author here introduces the supreme irony of this story: “the lord
  of all the earth” (Nebuchadnezzar) (2:5) will be shown as but one man, and “men
  confident in their strength” (2:5) will be sent away empty-handed and dishonored.
1:12   The borders of the two seas is parallel to the “boundaries of Ethiopia” (1:10).
  Great rivers are sometimes called seas in ancient Hebrew literature.
1:15   The mountains of Ragau are some two hundred miles east of Ecbatana and away
  from the direction of attack; thus Arphaxad was captured while fleeing from defeat.
1:16   They returned to Nineveh.
2:1   The first month is Nisan (March–April) and the twenty-second day is the day after
  the end of the Feast of Unleavened Bread on the Hebrew calendar.
2:5   The titles the great king and lord of all the earth are further claims of divinity by
  Nebuchadnezzar (see Jos 3:11; Ps 47:3).
2:7   Prepare the earth and water “after the manner of the kings of Persia to whom
  earth and water were ceremonially given by custom as acknowledgment that they were
  lords of land and sea” (Herodotus 6:48, 49). This may be an indication of surrender.
2:8-9 Just as Christ “descended into the lower parts of the earth” (Eph 4:9) to defeat the
  enemy of His people, the captives, so Judith will descend to the valley to defeat the
  enemy of her people (10:10).
2:12   It is not Nebuchadnezzar's hand that will be decisive in the end, but Judith's (8:33;
  13:14).
2:17   The Pharisee-like piety of the author is demonstrated here by his inclusion of only
  clean animals as part of the food supply of the Assyrians, who were notable for their
  unclean preferences (Hos 9:3).
2:20-21    The journey here covers some three hundred miles in only three days, an
  impossible accomplishment given the size of the army and its composition. This
  hyperbole, along with the simile, like a swarm of locusts (v. 20), calls to mind the
  dramatic words of another prophet (Joel 2:4, 5).
2:24   The region intended here is uncertain, but perhaps it refers to Upper Mesopotamia
  towards Ararat and Lake Van.
2:26   These are the Ishmaelite Midianites (Gn 37:27, 28), who were nomads of the desert
  northeast of the Jordan valley (Jdg 6:33; 7:25).
2:27   The time of the wheat harvest would have been about June, a short span of only
  three months for such an expansive campaign.
3:6   For their surrender, the people of the seacoast are given favorable treatment, though
  their traditions and gods will be put down (3:8).
3:7   These garlands would have been crowns of leaves or flowers (see WSol 2:8) with
  dancing and timbrels in the fashion of Jephthah's daughter (Jdg 11:33).
3:8   To cut down their sacred groves strips them of their gods, thereby asserting the
  supremacy of Nebuchadnezzar over the land and the people.
3:9   Ridge is literally “saw,” which suggests a serrated horizon (see 1Kg 14:4, 5). Also
  Esdraelon, a valley, “saws” the mountain range of Judea in two.
4:4   Samaria was returned to Judea by Demetrius I Soter (reigned 162–150 BC; see 1Mc
  10:30, 38) and annexed by John Hyrcanus in 107 BC. Its inclusion here as part of Judea
  suggests this story was written sometime during the reign of John Hyrcanus (135–104
  BC).
4:6    Bethulia and Betomesthaim are unknown places and appear only in Judith.
  Bethulia is a word-play on Bethuel (a city of Simeon). Both are consistent with our
  Simeonite heroine (see 9:2) and the Assyrian messengers who bring this assault on Israel
  (see 1:11; Is 37:24). Betomesthaim (Hebrew: Beth-Moutemah) means “house of enmity”
  and is likely a scornful allusion to the city of Samaria.
4:11   Casting ashes on their heads is a sign of contrition and lamentation.
4:14   Served here is a liturgical term (see also Lk 1:23, “service”; Acts 13:2, “ministered”;
  Heb 8:6, “ministry”). St. Clement writes, “We ought to do all those things the Master has
  ordered us to perform at the appointed times. He has commanded sacrifices and services
  to be performed. . . . Thus, to the high priest has been appointed his proper services, to
  the priests, their own place assigned, upon the Levites their proper duties imposed; and
  the layman is bound by the rules for laymen.” We see here in Judith the oft-repeated
  practice of God's people gathering together in worship and prayer to seek divine mercy
  and grace.
5:1   These barricades consisted of camouflaged pits containing sharply pointed stakes
  meant to lame horses or impale infantry.
5:3-4 Canaan is used here in its archaic sense (see Gn 10:15–19) and includes all those
  dwelling in the west (v. 4).
5:5-21 The Protomartyr Stephen gave an account (Acts 7) similar to this.
5:6, 7   The Chaldeans were a Semitic people (Gn 10:21–31) who settled the area just
  north of the Persian Gulf (Gn 10:30). Ur of the Chaldeans (Gn 11:27, 28) was just outside
  of Mesopotamia (Greek for “between the rivers”) just south of the Euphrates River. The
  Chaldean city of Ur was the site of a major temple of the moon-god Sin. Such was the
  Chaldean penchant for worshiping the heavens, and the name became a proverbial term
  for astrologers (see Dan 2:2).
5:8   Had come to know is an active-voice verb in Greek: knowing God requires that we
  diligently seek Him (Pr 8:17; Heb 11:6). Abraham came to know the God of heaven by
  looking beyond the heavens to seek his Creator. He thereby received the true inheritance
  (Heb 11:8–10, 16). That the Chaldeans cast them out we find only at this place in
  Scripture, and in Jewish tradition.
6:2   The mention of mercenaries is an allusion to Is 28:1.
6:9   Holofernes is now exalting himself as equal with King Nebuchadnezzar, and even with
  God Himself.
6:15   Since Uzziah is of the tribe of Simeon, as is Judith (11:2), apparently we are
  meant to understand the entire city as being of Simeon, a noted avenger of Israel (Gn
  34:25–27; 49:5).
6:21   This feast would have been a solemn occasion in order to call on the God of Israel
  (see Joel 1:14; 2:15–17).
7:3   Knowing the locations of Dothan and Esdraelon, the description given here points
  to the entire valley of Jezreel being occupied by the allies (7:1).
7:6   The point of bringing forth all his cavalry against the Israelites, who had no such
  forces, is to intimidate them.
7:11   Ironically, the one man who will fall is Holofernes himself (13:4–8).
7:20-21   Their water containers would be those which were usually filled at the now
  inaccessible springs. The cisterns went dry, leaving the people with rationed water.
7:24-32    These verses form the foil of faithlessness against which the faith of Judith will
  stand.
8:1   A genealogy such as this establishes one as a legitimate member of a community, in
  this case Israel. It is significant the author leaves out Judith's tribal affiliation. The
  message is to all Israel and not only to one person, city, or tribe.
8:5   A tent . . . on the rooftop provided Judith with solitude from the daily activities of a
  household (see Pr 21:8).
8:6   Judith's fasting every day of her widowhood does not mean she practiced complete
  abstinence. Rather, according to Jewish tradition, she would have abstained from
  morning until evening, eating a meal only after sundown.
8:10   Judith wisely calls the elders of the city to her home to avoid publicly shaming
  them for their unwise decision.
8:17 This is the crux of the author's message in this book.
8:32    Hear me means, “Give heed to what I have said.” Judith's speech here is the
  foundation for her decisions that follow.
9:1   That Judith uncovered the sackcloth in which she was clothed after the elders had
  left (8:36) demonstrates her true humility: she did not present herself with a sad
  countenance.
9:2   See Gn 34 for the account of this tragic incident.
9:12   Heaven, earth, and waters comprise the visible world and thereby express the full
  scope of the rule of the Creator and King.
9:13   Judith wisely understands that the intent of the enemy is the removal of the religion
  of Israel.
9:14   This is the purpose for Judith's story.
10:2   Judith arose from being prostrated in prayer (9:1).
10:4   This short list of feminine jewelry is comparable to the longer list in Is 3:16–23.
10:7-8 This passage brings to mind the words of Pr 31:28.
10:9   Judith bowed down to God before them, for in such veneration “God is honored,
  as a king is honored through the honor given to a beloved servant. They are honored as
  servants in attendance upon their Master, as valued friends, but not as the king”
  (JohnDm).
10:12     Judith identifies herself as a daughter of the Hebrews since foreigners
  commonly identified Israelites as Hebrews (see 1Kg 4:6; Acts 6:1).
10:21   Holofernes' canopy, worthy of a great king (see Est 1:6 and SS 3:7, 9, 10), reveals
  his inflated opinion of himself.
11:4   Although no one will harm Judith, she will be the destruction of Holofernes (9:13).
11:5-8   In considering the deceitful flattery of Judith's words, the author is following an
  ancient standard of morality: there are no rights for an alien enemy (Dt 23:3–6). Christ,
  however, has called us to a more perfect way: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse
  you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and
  persecute you” (Mt 5:44).
11:6   Judith's words are deliberately ambiguous. Holofernes pridefully understands my
  lord to refer to himself, but Judith is actually saying, “my Lord shall not fail in His
  pursuits.”
11:17   Night and day reflects the ancient method of reckoning time in which a new day
  begins at sunset (Gn 1:5).
11:23   There is betrayal in Holofernes' vow, your God will be my God, because he
  acknowledges King Nebuchadnezzar as god (3:8; 6:2).
12:2   Judith's polite but firm refusal to eat from the table of Gentiles is akin to the piety
  later found among the Pharisees (Gal 2:12).
12:5   The morning watch is from about two a.m. until dawn.
12:7   That Judith washed in the water from the spring was ceremonial, not merely
  practical. Jewish places of prayer were usually located near water (Ps 136:1; Ezk 1:3; Acts
  16:13).
12:10 The officers were excluded so as to limit the feast to a private household affair.
12:12   Passions (in this case, lust) can affect moral judgment to the point that evil is
  considered good (Is 5:18–23). Holofernes is so enmeshed in his passion he considers it a
  disgrace if we do not seduce her.
12:14     Again, Judith's words are deliberately ambiguous (see 11:6, note). Bagoas
  understands my lord to refer to Holofernes, but Judith means “my Lord.”
12:15   Holofernes' intent upon Judith had been made plain by the lambskins. They were
  used for bedding, not to recline on to eat a meal.
12:16   Ravished does not mean filled with joy. Rather, it here indicates a violent seizing of
  one's senses which results in senselessness, even insanity.
13:2-3    Holofernes' being unconscious from the wine explains why Bagoas
  unquestioningly accepts Judith's words that she would go out to pray. Of course, she
  was preparing for her unhindered departure.
13:4-5   Judith prayer was said in her heart to keep this final petition for blessing
  between herself and the Lord and away from prying ears.
13:6, 7 Holofernes' sword and Judith's plea O Lord . . . strengthen me brings to mind
  Ps 36:15, 17, 39.
13:13   Her return was incredible to them because, in their weakness of faith, they
  thought her departure had meant her certain death.
13:14   Praise God contains an allusion to the etymology of the name Judith, which means
  “Jewess” or “praise” (see Gn 49:8).
13:15    That Holofernes died by the hand of a woman emphasizes the shame
  associated with his being so weak as to have succumbed to such a death.
13:16   Judith here offers evidence that her act was consistent with God's will.
13:18-20   This blessing is a prototype of the blessing and veneration the Church gives to
  the Theotokos.
14:1   This public display of the head (or body) of a fallen enemy leader was done to reveal
  his disgrace (Dt 21:22, 23).
14:5   The canopy (13:15) is a single witness to the identity of the head. Achior is a former
  ally of Holofernes who provides confirmation of the identity of the head.
14:10   For an Ammonite to be membered with the house of Israel is in contradiction
  to the law (Dt 23:4, 5). So also is the salvation of all Gentiles.
15:8    They would have greeted her with words similar to St. Paul's salutation to the
  Thessalonians, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.
  The Lord be with you all” (2Th 3:16), a typical Jewish greeting.
15:13 The songs of praise would likely have included the Psalms of Ascent (120–134).
16:2   This verse alludes to Ps 17:48.
16:3   The mountains of the north was the typical path of advance against Israel by the
  kingdoms of the east in order to avoid a march across the Arabian desert.
16:5-6 See Is 57:13.
16:6   The Titans' sons are likely Goliath and his kin (2Kg 21:18–22).
16:10   The Persians and the Medes are a reminder that this story is set in the time after
  the return from captivity.
16:14   This verse is a paraphrase of Ps 32:6.
16:19   In imitation of Abraham (Gn 14:22, 23), and Elisha (4Kg 5:16), Judith took nothing
  for herself, but dedicated all the property to the Lord.
16:22   Judith maintained her widowhood until the end of her life, a common practice in
  Israel (Lk 2:36, 37) and in the Church (1Co 7:8, 39, 40; 1Ti 5:5). The phrase was buried
  with his people is indicative of the Hebrew practice of burying succeeding generations
  of the family in a common grave site (Gn 49:29).
1:1a-1r   These verses occur only in the Greek LXX manuscripts and appear there as an
  addition to the Book of Esther.
1:1d-1j   The dream (which is interpreted in 10:1-3k) prepares Mordecai for the test he will
  face and reveals that God is behind the course of human events.
1:1m-1r   This plot, recounted in 2:21–23, serves to describe the animosity between Haman
  and Mordecai.
1:1-6   Artaxerxes is imperfect, passionate, and self-indulgent. Nevertheless, by virtue of
  his office and by reigning over many nations, he functions as a figure for God. The dignity
  of an earthly office is not diminished by the failings of the person holding it (see Jn 11:51;
  Acts 23:1–5).
1:7 The various cups were likely plunder from conquered nations.
1:12   Queen Vashti's refusal to attend the king's festival, being preoccupied with her own,
  serves as a warning to those who see themselves as followers of the King but whose heart
  is self-centered, as in Christ's parable of the wedding feast (Mt 22:1–14; Lk 14:15–24).
1:16   As with Queen Vashti, our actions may have consequences that go far beyond
  ourselves.
1:22   Note that the king's decree was distributed to all people according to their own
  language, so that all could understand and follow. This is why in the Orthodox Church
  throughout the world it is imperative that the gospel be preached (Acts 2:4–11) and the
  liturgy be celebrated (1Co 14:1–25) in the language spoken by the people (see also 3:12).
2:1   After these words: The events in this chapter take place about four years after those
  in ch. 1 (compare 1:3 with 2:16). A war against Greece, in which Persia was soundly
  defeated, took place during this span of time.
2:7   Mordecai's relation to Esther is that of both guardian and husband, a necessary social
  and legal arrangement and not unusual at the time. This would also be the relationship
  between Joseph and the Virgin Mary. In this situation, there was no sexual relationship,
  as demonstrated by Esther's virginity.
2:12    The twelve months were days of preparation and training. If these are the
  preparations to visit an earthly king, all the more should the faithful prepare to meet
  Christ the King through prayer, fasting, and confession as we encounter Him in the
  services of the Church.
2:18   Granted a release indicates a national holiday and a remission of taxes (see 10:1).
  The coronation banquet of seven days for a new queen would raise morale after the
  defeat in war.
2:20   Though in a pagan palace, Esther did not change her manner of life nor cease
  to fear God. God calls us to faithfulness in whatever situation He places us.
2:23   The good will of Mordecai was recorded, but not yet rewarded. Faithfulness to
  God is never forgotten by the Lord, even if it appears to go unnoticed (Heb 6:10). The true
  reward is glorification, not in this life, but in the Kingdom to come (Heb 11:39, 40).
3:1-9 The extreme animosity between Haman and Mordecai quite possibly is rooted in
  an old tribal feud. Mordecai was a Benjamite (1:1a). According to the Hebrew text, Haman
  was a descendant of Agag, whose nation was utterly destroyed by King Saul (1Kg 15:8),
  also a Benjamite. Haman sees the situation as an opportune time not only to destroy
  Mordecai, but to vengefully destroy all the Jews (v. 6).
3:7   The month of Adar was eleven months away. Delays occur frequently in this book,
  giving time for the divine plan of God to unfold.
3:8   They disregard the king's laws: Haman's accusation against the Jews is the same
  as the authorities' accusation would be against Jesus (Lk 6:6, 7) and His followers (Acts
  6:11–14).
3:13a-13g    These verses do not occur in the Hebrew manuscripts, but only in the Greek
  LXX, and are considered by many to be an addition to the Book of Esther. The demonic
  pride of Haman is evident in the letter. As author of the letter (v. 12), Haman attempts
  to glorify himself in the name of the king, while slandering the people of God.
4:1-3 Mordecai is consistently seen by the fathers as a Christ-figure (see 8:12m, where he
  is referred to as “deliverer and constant benefactor” to the Jews). Consistent with this
  typology, Mordecai leaves the courtyard of the king, removes his fine garments, and goes
  out among his people to share in their sufferings (see Php 2:5–7).
4:4   In Esther's attempt to help Mordecai, she tries to take his sackcloth away and give
  him new garments, but he would not accept them. This is fulfilled when Peter would
  try to dissuade Jesus from accepting the Cross (Mt 16:22). Because His mission was to
  completely identify with His people, Jesus also would not be dissuaded.
4:13-14   God's plan of salvation involves the cooperation of His people. If someone God
  calls is unwilling to cooperate, two things will happen: (1) God will find willing
  participants elsewhere, for God's plan can never be thwarted; and (2) those who were
  not willing will perish with the unfaithful (see Mt 21:41). Mordecai's question, who
  knows whether it is for this occasion you reign as queen? is a call to all believers
  to courageously discern the will of God for their particular moment in life in order to
  fulfill God's plan. Note Mordecai's unswerving trust in God in spite of the seemingly
  hopeless circumstances.
4:15-17 Esther's fast and her courageous act of mercy for her people reveal her resolve and
  her character. This fast of Esther and the whole community marks the turning point in
  the events of the story and the beginning of the downfall of Haman.
4:17a-17x   These verses do not occur in the Hebrew manuscripts.
4:17a-17h   Mordecai's prayer, not included in the Hebrew text, follows a classic pattern of
  praise, remembrance of God's works, and petition.
4:17e   One of the devil's unsuccessful temptations of the Lord was to try to lure Christ to
  bow down before him (Mt 4:9, 10).
4:17j-17x   The prayer of Queen Esther includes repentance on behalf of the people and
  rejection of the glories of this world. Faithful Jews realized that inevitably, the evils
  inflicted on their nation resulted from their abandoning God's way. Their difficulty was
  overcome only through genuine repentance.
5:1   Esther comes forth from her chamber on the third day, giving a resurrectional tone
  to her subsequent victory over Haman.
5:2   Appealing to the all-seeing God and Savior: Esther's apparel is appropriate not
  only for the king, but for her Almighty King and God. Thus, we understand there is
  appropriate dress for coming before the Lord in worship. Likewise, our baptismal
  garment is given by the Lord and is the only garment worthy of the King's palace (see Mt
  22:11–14).
5:3   Esther's heart shrank with fear because the lives of her people were at stake. St.
  Paul admitted to the people of Corinth, “I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much
  trembling” (1Co 2:3).
5:11   Up to half my kingdom: A figure of speech. This royal courtesy magnifies the
  generosity of the king and gives opportunity for the petitioner to appear modest when
  the actual request is made (see Mk 6:23).
5:12    Esther's request is most noble—she asks to be permitted to serve the king. This
  stands in contrast to Vashti, who prepared a banquet for herself and those who would
  serve her (1:9).
5:16   The delay until tomorrow allows events to unfold in which the Lord will not only
  save the Jews, but will bring down Haman (see note at 3:7).
5:17-21 Haman's pride will not allow him to be content. His rage towards another person
  prevents him from continuing in all the blessings from the king.
5:22    Hanged on the tree: A gallows tree was used for various means of public
  execution, including hanging, impaling, and public display of a corpse. This was the
  Persian precursor to Roman crucifixion. Fifty cubits is approximately 75 feet (23
  meters), and indicates Haman's intention to put Mordecai to death with extreme
  humiliation.
6:1   The Lord made it difficult for the king to sleep: The fathers understand this
  verse to show that it is the Lord who directs the plan of salvation, even through
  unbelievers.
6:6-9 Haman unwittingly defines the honor of his enemy. The honor of being clothed with
  the royal robe the king wears makes the recipient, Mordecai, share in the royalty of
  the king himself, just as Christ fully shares in the divinity of the Father (see also Is 63:1–
  5).
6:11   This is Mordecai's second journey through the city. The first journey was in sackcloth
  and ashes (4:1), but this one is in glory and honor.
7:1   Not everything we need must be gained immediately! In this case a crucial deadline is
  approaching, but the queen is patient, awaiting the right time to gain the desired result,
  literally the salvation of her people.
7:4   Accuser (lit. “devil”): The unambiguous identity of Haman.
7:9, 10 St. Jerome writes, “Haman was burned in the fire of his own kindling.”
8:5-8 With Haman executed and Mordecai and Esther delivered, there is still an edict in
  force for the destruction of the Jews throughout the kingdom. Esther asks the king to
  revoke the death sentence against them. However, an order of a Persian king was
  irrevocable (see 1:19). Such an order can, however, be superseded with a new decree (v.
  8), which is actually to the Jews' advantage. If the first decree could have been revoked,
  the Jews would have been saved, but their enemies would also have lived on to persecute
  them another day. This new decree makes possible the final destruction of these enemies.
8:12a-12k    This section is in the Greek LXX text; it does not appear in the Hebrew
  manuscripts.
8:12c   They undertake to plot against their own benefactors: To plot against the
  Jews, from whom the Savior of the world would come, is to plot against hope for oneself.
  The same can be said of persecutors of the Church, where the Savior dwells.
8:12r   This new decree gives royal authority to the Jews to destroy those under Haman's
  influence and those who would destroy the Jews (see Eph 6:12).
8:12s Est 8:12s, 12t: Victory is already assumed, and deliverance will be received by both
  the Jews and the well-inclined Persians.
8:16   And there was light and gladness: This recalls the prophetic dream of Mordecai
  (1:1j).
8:17   Gentiles were circumcised: It is remarkable how much power of persuasion there
  is in the works of God!
9:1-16 What is done in secret is shouted from the housetops (Lk 12:3). Haman's plot was
  made in secret, but now the bodies of his sons are exposed (v. 13) as was his secret plot
  (see also Lk 8:17).
9:19   It is often noted that the Hebrew version of Esther never mentions the name of God.
  Since the story was copied and sent to the Jews, both near and far, the name of God
  would inevitably be omitted, for this name was too sacred to write. It follows that the
  account Mordecai wrote in a book would not necessarily be worded the same as letters
  that were widely circulated. Furthermore, with the help of Mordecai, Esther wrote down
  her own account of the events (v. 30). Thus, there were at least three distinct accounts of
  this story.
9:25   These days were called Purim—on account of the lots (because in their
  language they are called pur): In 3:7, Haman casts lots to determine the day for the
  Jews to be massacred. The word pur is not a Hebrew word in origin. It comes from the
  Persian or Assyrian and means lot. Thus, it was Haman's lot that established the date for
  the great Jewish celebration of Purim, which commemorates the deliverance recorded in
  this book.
10:3a-3k   Mordecai interprets his dream recorded in the introduction to ch. 1. This dream
  was likely on his mind continually as the circumstances unfolded, for not one detail of
  them has failed (v. 36).
10:3k   This indicates the source of the Greek translation of this passage. The fourth year
  of the reign of Ptolemy would date the translation of this passage from Hebrew to
  Greek around the year 114 BC.
1:1   Alexander is Alexander the Great.
1:8-9   According to the historian Josephus, Alexander's generals divided his empire into
  several dynastic houses: Ptolemy in Egypt, Seleucis in Babylon, Lysimachus in
  Hellespont, Cassander in Macedonia, and Antigonus in Asia.
1:11-15 Those sons of Israel who wanted to introduce Greek culture into Jewish life were
  called Hellenists. They sought to overthrow the legitimate high priest Onias III and
  succeeded in having one of their own, Onias' brother Jason, appointed high priest by
  Antiochus IV (2Mc 4). Jason built a gymnasium where young Jews competed alongside
  the Greeks. Many Jewish men underwent painful operations to hide their circumcision.
1:16-19   Antiochus IV campaigned against Ptolemy IV (reigned 180–145 BC) in Egypt
  from 170 to 168 BC.
1:20-24 Antiochus entered Jerusalem, pillaging the temple to pay his war debts.
1:29-35 Apollonius the Mysarch, a commander of Mysian mercenaries, erected a citadel
  (v. 33) known as the Acra (lit. “Acropolis”) on the temple mount, just north of the temple
  itself, where he installed a Phrygian named Philip as governor (Josephus).
1:41-53 Antiochus the king abandoned his dream of rebuilding Alexander's kingdom for
  the more modest goal of consolidating his own empire. He decreed that the Jews were to
  abandon their religion (v. 42) because it was considered politically disruptive. Any Jew
  who refused to sacrifice to the Greek gods on behalf of the emperor (vv. 44–49) was
  tortured and killed (v. 50).
1:54   Inside the temple, Antiochus erected the abomination of desolation (Dan 9:27),
  either a statue of Zeus sculpted in the likeness of the emperor or some cultic stones. Until
  that time, the temple had been the focal point of the Jewish nation and faith. Jews made
  three pilgrimages there each year, at the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.
1:62-64   Unclean food involved the sacrifice of swine to Zeus. Josephus the historian
  notes that while the Jews were being persecuted, their Samaritan neighbors lied to
  Antiochus, calling themselves a colony of Medes and Persians, not Jews. He reports they
  even went so far as to have their temple on Mount Gerizim dedicated to Jupiter
  Hellenius.
2:1-5 Mattathias of the House of Hashmon fled the Hellenizing evils of Jerusalem with
  his five sons (later known as the Hasmoneans). They moved to Modein, a rural town
  seventeen miles northwest of Jerusalem. It was common for Jews of the time to have
  both a Jewish and a Greek name. Judas was also called Maccabeus, hence the family
  was called “the Maccabees.”
2:15-18   The king's officers sought to induce Mattathias to sacrifice first. They reasoned
  that the others from Israel would surely follow his lead.
2:24-26    Elsewhere in Israel, Jews had either been compliant or faced death willingly
  (1:63), so it is very possible Mattathias and his allies surprised and overcame a small
  troop of Antiochus' soldiers. Their sense of security as an occupying force may have made
  them careless; and they certainly did not expect a rebellion from the “docile” Jews.
2:27-28 Mattathias and his sons fled to a retreat in the Gophna mountains, located in
  southern Samaria. In this way, they avoided the jurisdiction of the Seleucid commander
  of Judea and could remain unmolested for a time.
2:32-38 It was forbidden for Jews to fight on the Sabbath (Ex 31:12–18), and Antiochus'
  soldiers took full advantage of this fact (v. 38).
2:39-41 Mattathias and the Jews realized they would be slaughtered if they chose not to
  defend themselves on the Sabbath. In a truly radical statement for their day, the
  Maccabees foreshadowed Jesus' words, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for
  the Sabbath” (Mk 2:27).
2:42-48       The Hasideans were Jews who strictly upheld the law. Together with
  Mattathias they began cleansing Israel of impurity, attacking both Gentiles and Jewish
  traitors.
2:65-68    Mattathias designated his son Judas Maccabeus as his military successor.
  Judas had likely developed a natural instinct for guerrilla warfare while hunting and
  herding in the Judean hill country.
3:32-41   Lysias sent three generals (v. 38) to camp at Emmaus (v. 40—today's Imwas,
  next to Latrum) where they could send out spies to avoid Judah's traps.
3:42-44   In addition to his hand-picked soldiers, Judas operated a large militia system,
  whereby men could be called from their everyday tasks through an intricate network of
  runners. These “spies” also kept him informed as to the words of the king and the
  whereabouts of the Seleucid army.
4:8-11 Beyond his military prowess, Judas was the spiritual leader of his people as well.
4:52-59 Judas and his followers celebrated the first Festival of Rededication, which the
  historian Josephus calls the “Festival of Lights.” The celebration lasted eight days,
  beginning on the twenty-fifth of Chislev (December). Today the festival is called
  Hanukkah (lit. “dedication”) and is celebrated with the lighting of the Hanukkah lamp.
  According to the Babylonian Talmud, the Hasmoneans found only one undefiled
  container of oil left in the temple. Miraculously, it lasted for eight full days.
5:1-8 Judas and company marched out to rescue those Jews under heavy persecution by
  the Seleucid sympathizers in Judea. For consolidation purposes, Judas waged war on the
  Idumeans at Acrabattene, the sons of Baean, the Amalekites under Timothy, and the
  people of Jazer.
5:28-34 Judas encountered Timothy again, struck him a great blow, and captured his
  engines of war. Later, Judah used the siege equipment to tackle the Acra fortress.
5:55-62    Joseph and Azariah failed because they did not belong, nor were they
  divinely sanctioned members of the Hasmonean family (v. 62). Instead of following God's
  appointed leaders, they proudly sought their own glorification (v. 57).
6:1-4   Antiochus tried to steal the famed temple treasures of the Alexandrians but was
  thwarted by the men of Elymais, the part of Elam not controlled by the Seleucids. He
  was after his hero Alexander the Great's armor, said to be housed in the temple.
6:34-37 Lysias chose elephants not only for their innate ability as fighters, but for use in
  frightening the Jews, who had not encountered them before. In v. 35, phalanxes are
  heavily armed troops marching in close array, and coats of mail refers to flexible armor
  consisting of a mesh of interlinked metal rings used defensively in battle.
6:43-46   Eleazar bravely tried to kill Antiochus and overcome the Jews' fear of the
  elephants.
6:53   Some of the Jewish forces remaining in Judea barely held out for lack of food. God
  had commanded them to leave the earth fallow every seventh year (Ex 23:10, 11), so
  they had little surplus.
7:1-4 Demetrius I (reigned 162–150 BC), the son of emperor Seleucus IV (assassinated
  by Antiochus IV), was sent to Rome under the Treaty of Apamea and kept there by the
  Senate after they repeatedly refused to let him return home (Polybius). He escaped to the
  Syrian coast with the help of Polybius and his friend Menyllus, an envoy of Ptolemy VI
  Philometer of Egypt. Once in Tripolis, Demetrius set himself up as the true Seleucid
  emperor (Josephus).
7:5   High priest Alcimus was accepted by the Hasidic Jews for his Aaronic background and
  elected by Demetrius (or possibly earlier by Lysias) for his Hellenistic sympathies.
7:23 Judas refused to recognize a high priest appointed by Demetrius.
7:26-49    Nicanor was one of those who had escaped from Rome with Demetrius
  (Josephus). His death occurred on the thirteenth day of Adar (v. 49; roughly March) in
  161 BC and is still observed as the Day of Nicanor.
8:1-16 Polybius (c. 160 BC) claimed that by his time the Romans had cleared the people
  of Gaul (Celtic migrants) from the Po valley up to the Alps. Rome then assumed the
  domain of Alexander the Great following their victory over Philip of Macedonia (v. 5) at
  Cynoscephalae in 197 BC, and his son Perseus at Pydna in 168 BC. Under Scipio, the
  Romans took Spain from the Carthaginians after the Second Punic War (202 BC) and
  the final defeat of Hannibal.
9:28-30    The Jews elected Jonathan as their new military leader in 159 BC. When
  Bacchides found out about the election, he tried to have Jonathan assassinated (v. 32).
  When that failed, he marched after the Jews on the Sabbath, thinking that he would take
  them by surprise (v. 34).
9:35-42    One of the remaining brothers, John, was killed by the sons of Jambri,
  apparently a local tribe, while journeying to the Nabateans in the Transjordan (Josephus).
9:54    The wall of the inner court of the temple had multiple functions. First, it
  separated the priests from the laity. Secondly, it divided the men from the women. Lastly
  and most importantly, it kept Gentiles from entering the sacred areas of the temple.
9:71   Bacchides finally realized that the Maccabees were the controlling force in Judean
  politics, so he made peace with them.
10:84   Dagon (lit. “a fish”) was one of the gods of the Philistines, a seafaring people, and
  was represented by a man's torso with the tail of a fish. Dagon had two temples
  mentioned in the Bible, one at Gaza (Jdg 16:21–30) and one at Ashdod (1Kg 5:5; 1Ch
  10:10).
10:88-89    Alexander recognized Jonathan as an equal—a far cry from the Jews' rebel
  days in the Gophna hills.
11:67-74 The foreign army was from a conglomerate of tribes trying to take advantage of
  the struggle Jonathan faced against Demetrius.
13:1-11 The last of the original Maccabees, Simon was elected to take Jonathan's place as
  military and spiritual leader of Judea.
13:12-19   When Simon learned that Jonathan was still alive—they had thought he was
  dead—and being held captive, he negotiated with Trypho, who double-crossed him.
13:22   A providential snow storm stopped Trypho short of crushing the Maccabees.
13:23-30 Jonathan was killed at Bascama in 142 BC (Josephus). Simon recovered the
  body and buried it at Modein with the rest of their family.
13:31-32   Trypho was the first king not of the Seleucid house. According to Josephus,
  Trypho had his physicians tell the public Antiochus had died during surgery while they
  were trying to remove “a stone.”
13:42   Historians consider Simon the first ruler of the Hasmonean dynasty. After years
  of warfare, the Jews were finally freed from the yoke of the Seleucids.
13:43-53 Simon defeated Gazara and set up his son, John, as commander of forces (v.
  53) and as high priest (16:24) from 134–104 BC. The citadel garrison, half starved, also
  gave in to Simon, who entered triumphantly (vv. 49, 50). This fortress was the final
  Seleucid stronghold, and its overthrow symbolized the hard-won freedom of the Jewish
  people.
14:26    The bronze tablets served as a national declaration of independence for the
  Jewish nation and as a kind of constitution for the Hasmonean government.
16:1-3 John was the third son of Simon. He reigned from 134–104 BC.
16:21   Ptolemy tried to kill John as well, but John's informers reached him first.
16:23-24 Later, after Antiochus besieged Jerusalem, he and John struck a treaty of peace.
  During the siege, Antiochus became known as “the pious” when he halted the war with
  the Jews for seven days and sent two adorned bulls into the city during the Feast of
  Tabernacles (Josephus).
1:1   Greek letters normally began with greetings, and Jewish letters began with the word
  peace. Though written entirely in Greek, 2 Maccabees employs both words. This is a
  letter from Jews in Jerusalem to Jews in Egypt concerning the celebration of
  Hanukkah.
1:7 The date refers to the year 143 BC (see 1Mc 10:67).
1:9   The true Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths) was an autumn event wherein water and
  wine were added to altar sacrifices commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egypt and
  then finding a homeland given by God. The feast commemorating Judas Maccabeus's
  restoration of the temple (10:3) is joined to that one. Today the feast is called Hanukkah
  or the Feast of Lights. During this feast torches were lit in the temple, and around them
  the people sang and danced. It was the feast (see Jn 7:2) at which Jesus stood and said, “I
  am the light of the world” (Jn 8:12). The date identified is 124 BC.
1:10   The section that follows (1:11–2:18) is a second letter from the Jews in Jerusalem to
  the Jewish teacher and scholar Aristobulus, who lived in Egypt.
1:13 Nanea is a pagan goddess, probably Aphrodite.
1:16   The author sees justice in divine retribution (3:27, 28; 9:28; 15:32, 33; see also 9:2
  and 1Mc 6:1–4).
1:18   It is noteworthy that an eighth day was added to this celebration (see Neh 8:13–18).
  This section of 2 Maccabees is referring to the feast of Hanukkah, which celebrates fire
  and light (see note at 1:9).
1:20   The liquid is probably naphtha. Regardless, the story of the fire does not appear in
  Nehemiah, but in the rabbinical writings there is an account of a miracle wherein a
  small amount of oil burned for an extended period.
1:21    The prophet Nehemiah was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem that had been
  destroyed by fire (Neh 2:11–18).
1:24   This begins the prayer of Nehemiah (1:24–2:18). See also Neh 1:5–11.
2:1   These records are unknown today.
2:5   According to 3Kg 8:4, Solomon brought the ark as well as the tabernacle (or the
  tent) and its contents to Jerusalem. Afterward, there is no further mention of the tent in
  Scripture. There is a tradition in which Jeremiah took the ark from Jerusalem and hid it
  when the temple was destroyed in 587 BC.
2:10 The two incidents are recorded in Lv 9:23, 24 and 2Ch 7:1.
2:19-23   2 Maccabees is a shortened version of five books of Jewish history written by
  Jason of Cyrene (v. 23), which have been lost. This section explains the purpose of the
  book.
2:29-32 An apologetic for the brevity of narrative (v. 31) or short summary of Jason's
  five books (2:19–23) by the author.
3:1   Onias III was high priest before 175 BC. He is mentioned in WSir 50:1.
3:2   Throughout the book, the place is the temple.
3:3 Seleucus IV ruled from 187–175 BC. The events of 3:1–4:6 take place under his reign.
  During this period, there is a complicated political struggle involving Egypt and Syria and
  the family of the high priest.
3:5   Another famous son of Tarsus is the Apostle Paul (Acts 11:25, 26).
3:18   Onias probably had withheld tax money, and the time of relative peace was drawing
  to an end. The entire city was being pulled into the turmoil.
3:20   The people stretched out their hands to pray. Perhaps the earliest account of the
  lifting of hands for intercession is in Moses' role in Israel's victory over Amalek (Ex 17:8–
  13). St. Paul instructs the Church to pray “lifting up holy hands” (1Ti 2:8).
3:25   The scene calls to mind the rider in Rev 6:2.
3:26   This is reminiscent of the two angels in dazzling apparel in Lk 24:4 and Acts 1:10.
3:34   The angel in Acts 5:19, 20 gives similar instructions.
4:7   Seleucus is replaced by Antiochus, who rules from 175–164 BC. Epiphanes means
  “god is manifest.”
4:8   A talent is a weight, here in silver, equal to approximately 3000 shekels, or about
  $385.
4:10 The Greek way of life included the worship of pagan gods.
4:12   This particular Greek cap is linked to the Greek god Hermes.
4:13    Jason no longer kept the Mosaic Law, but instead foreign customs. Ethnic
  tradition must never take precedence over apostolic tradition in the Church.
4:17   God gave the Law to Moses, and for a Jew not to obey divine laws was ungodly,
  equivalent to apostasy.
4:22    Phoenicia is on the Mediterranean coastline just north of modern-day Beirut,
  Lebanon. The ancient ruins of this kingdom still exist there.
4:26   Evil divides. It picks allies only for the moment and is undermined when pride
  causes new rifts. Thus, Jesus warns, “Every city or house divided against itself will not
  stand” (Mt 12:25).
4:33   In ancient days a safe place was provided for people in certain religious sites. This
  particular haven is a pagan temple dedicated to Greek gods. Daphne was a suburb
  outside of Antioch, Syria.
4:38   Being stripped before being put to death added to the humiliation.
5:2   Forty days is a biblical number of completion or fullness. The Flood lasted forty days
  and nights (Gn 7:12); Jonah declared Nineveh would be destroyed in forty days (Jon 3:4).
5:6   One is reminded of Herod's destruction of the innocent children without mercy at
  the time of the birth of Jesus (Mt 2:16–18).
5:11   The city here is Jerusalem.
5:15-20      Antiochus was permitted by God to carry out this insane desecration of the
  most holy temple because of the sins of the people. It was not just because Antiochus
  was bent on destruction, but because the Lord allowed it for the good of His people (vv.
  17, 18).
5:19   Because the Lord chose the nation Israel, the place (the temple) was located
  there.
5:25   Jews did not work or take up arms on the Sabbath.
6:2-5 A pagan statue or altar (v. 5) was erected in the temple in Jerusalem and a sexual
  fertility cult was instituted. In addition, swine and other unfitting things (v. 4) were
  sacrificed in the temple.
6:7 Dionysus is the pagan god of wine who rules over a celebration of drunkenness.
6:11   This is another example of the Jews piously keeping the seventh day, the Sabbath.
  In the same spirit, Christians are urged to assemble for worship (Heb 10:25).
6:12-16 This short treatise on divine discipline is very similar to the teaching, “whom the
  Lord loves He chastens,” in Heb 12:5–11. (See also Is 54:7, 8.)
6:24-31   Eleazar is willing to die for God's holy laws (v. 28). This is a mystery to the
  pagan-minded, who only see blind fanaticism in the righteous. St. Paul explains why
  unbelievers do not understand (1Co 2:14).
7:1   Like 6:18–31, ch. 7 bears a likeness to the early Christian accounts of the deaths of
  martyrs for Christ. The details of each death serve to portray the depths of faith in the
  story of the seven brothers and their mother. St. Cyprian, in a letter designed to
  strengthen one who was on the verge of martyrdom, wrote extensively of the martyrdom
  of each of these seven men and their mother.
7:6   Shortly before his death, Moses sings to Israel in Dt 32. The quote here is from Dt
  32:36.
7:9   The King of the world is the Son of God, who is the source of resurrection and
  eternal life for those who follow His commandments.
7:14   In the Gospel of St. John, Jesus speaks of two paths for the resurrected: eternal life
  for those who have done good and condemnation for those who have done evil (Jn 5:29).
7:20   A basic hymn and prayer of the Orthodox Church is “Memory Eternal”—that the
  righteous departed will be kept in God's memory for all eternity. The mother and the
  seven brothers bring to mind the fullness of God's mercy and love.
7:22   It is the Spirit of God who gives breath and life to all people who come into the
  world (see Gn 2:7).
7:24-31   The tactics of Antiochus were often used by executioners to tempt Christian
  martyrs to reject Christ.
7:28   That God created the universe out of nothing is a fundamental teaching of the
  Holy Scriptures (Gn 1:1; also see Heb 11:3).
7:29   The mother clearly confesses the bodily resurrection from the dead.
7:37-38 While condemning King Antiochus' actions, the youngest brother also hopes that
  he will eventually repent and confess that He alone is God.
8:1-7 The lowest point of the book has been reached, and now the people of Israel begin to
  revolt against the Gentiles under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus.
8:16   The revolt gains momentum and the early successes attract six thousand Jews, who
  form an army in order to enter full-scale warfare against the Gentiles.
8:23   The outmanned army of Jews with its watchword is not unlike the army of the
  Emperor Constantine, who fought in the name of Christ to defeat a superior foe in the
  early fourth century.
8:26-27 Even in the heat of battle, keeping the Sabbath took precedence over all else.
9:8   There is a song of peace in Isaiah wherein no one but the Lord can weigh the high
  mountains (Is 40:12); but Antiochus is so absorbed in superhuman arrogance he is
  seen as making himself equal to God (see 9:12).
9:9   Note that Herod was inflicted with a similar condition (Acts 12:23).
9:11-18 Antiochus' repentance is a classic case of too little too late. “It is a fearful thing to
  fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb 10:31).
10:5   The twenty-fifth of Chislev on the Hebrew calendar corresponds with December
  25, bringing to mind the coming of the Son of God in the flesh for the purification of
  mankind.
10:6   The Feast of Tabernacles is a September Jewish feast, mentioned in Lv 23:43 as
  the Feast of Booths, when the Jews would live in booths constructed out of palm
  branches.
10:7 The scene is reminiscent of Palm Sunday (Jn 12:13).
10:10   Antiochus Eupator inherits the kingdom in 9:25. He is a young boy who reigns
  for only two years before being murdered (see 14:1, 2; 1Mc 7:34).
10:29   See Rev 9:17.
10:38   The Jews begin (10:16) and end their task in prayer.
11:3   It was a pagan Greek practice to sell the high priesthood annually in order to raise
  money for the government.
11:8   See 3:25.
11:16   The name of Judas Maccabeus is conspicuous in its absence from these letters, an
  obvious snub by Lysias.
11:21   December, 164 BC.
12:2   Timothy: See 8:30–33.
12:8   Jamnia is just south of Joppa.
12:15   See Jos 6:1–21.
12:22   A manifestation of God, who sees all things.
12:31   This is a wheat harvest feast celebrated seven weeks after Passover when men were
  required to be present in Jerusalem.
12:32   Pentecost is used here as another name for the Feast of Weeks.
12:40 These tokens are pagan charms that are idolatrous to the Jews.
12:42   This is a clear statement that the righteous Jews prayed for the departed so that
  the sin they had committed might be blotted out.
12:43-44 It is hope in the resurrection of the departed that forms the basis for prayers
  for them. In Christ all are alive. The power of these verses clearly indicates the depth of
  belief the Jews had in both the resurrection and the power of prayer for those gone before
  us to their rest.
12:45   Judas Maccabeus leads the Jews in praying for the release of their compatriots who
  had sinned.
13:4   The King of kings is the Eternal Son and Word of God ( see Rev 19:13, 16).
13:12   To pray in a prostrate position was a sign of great need to be freed from acts of
  sacrilege (see 3:15; 10:4). The fact that they made prostrations for three days and
  then arose reminds us of the third-day resurrection of Jesus Christ.
14:1   This is about the year 161 BC. The invaders kill both Antiochus and Lysias (see 1Mc
  7:2–4).
14:4   By offering the crown of gold Alcimus concedes that Demetrius is the new king,
  and the palm branch is an emblem of his victory. Our Lord is offered palm branches in
  Jerusalem emblematic of His Kingship (Jn 12:13).
14:6-10   The parallels between Alcimus and Judas Iscariot are noteworthy. Alcimus
  attempts to destroy Judas Maccabeus as Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus.
14:15   Sprinkling earth on the head is a sign of humility and a recognition of God the
  Creator (see Gn 3:19 and also Jos 7:6).
14:33   Since the Jews had recent memory of the cult of Dionysus, this oath would have
  had profound impact (see 6:7).
14:35-36 This petition reflects the traditional patterns of Jewish liturgical prayer.
15:1   Nicanor was aware the Jews would not fight on the Sabbath.
15:2   These Jews were conscripted into Nicanor's army and wished to keep the Sabbath
  (see Ex 20:8–11).
15:12   Onias is the high priest recorded in 3:1–4:1.
15:14   The Jews believed departed saints like Jeremiah were alive before the general
  resurrection. This is clearly revealed in the New Testament when Moses and Elijah
  appear with Christ on Mt. Tabor (Mt 17:1–4).
15:18   The Jews' main concern is to protect the temple (see 14:33).
15:22   See 4Kg 19:35.
15:26   One of the prayers the Jews may have used in battle is Ps 68, the verses of which
  the Orthodox Church uses to begin Paschal Matins, Liturgy, and Vespers. They announce
  Christ's defeat of death and the devil.
15:30   This is Nicanor's right arm, which he used to point at the temple sanctuary and
  threaten to level the altar and erect a shrine to Dionysus (see 14:33; 15:32).
15:39   Delights the ears indicates this work was meant to be read aloud.
1:1   Philopator is Ptolemy IV (see 3:12). The battle near Raphia is dated by most at 217
  BC. Arsinoe was the sister of Philopator, who married her and later had her murdered.
1:2   Theodotus had led the Egyptian army into Syria.
1:4   Antiochus III ruled Syria in the years 223–187 BC.
1:9   The Almighty God can also be rendered “God Most High” (1:16; see also 4:16) or
  even “the Greatest God.” The place is a reference in late Jewish antiquity to the temple
  (v. 10) at Jerusalem.
1:10-11   Inner sanctuary is a reference to the holy of holies. For a Gentile to enter this
  area would ritually defile it and be a great offense against God. Israel and especially the
  priests would be held accountable.
1:12   Evidently, Ptolemy thought the Jews were making up the law to keep him out. They
  read him the law to try to convince him (Ex 30:10; Lv 16:2, 11, 12, 15, 34). The king feels
  slighted and sees the high priest as beneath him.
1:13 The other shrines are various places in the temple.
1:16   The response of the Jews to Ptolemy's plan is telling. The priests, caring nothing for
  appearance, immediately supplicate God Most High for help, and do so loudly with
  cries and tears. The priests were fully vested for sacrifice and thanksgiving; sackcloth
  and ashes were for penitence.
1:17 This is an activity repeated in 2Mc 3:20–30.
1:20 Mothers and nurses caring for infants left them to entreat God for protection from
  Ptolemy's sin.
1:22-23   Aggressive citizens is likely a reference to young men filled with zeal for the
  Lord and the traditions of their fathers. They were barely restrained by the older and
  wiser men who prevailed over them. The older men convinced the younger to join in
  prayer instead, knowing their uncontrolled fervor would result in the slaughter of all
  present.
1:25   The elders were Ptolemy's guides in the temple as well as his advisors.
1:27 Even those accompanying the king now joined together in prayer to God.
1:28   The cacophony is so intense that it seems even the temple walls themselves rebel
  against such blasphemous action.
2:1   Simon was the son of Onias II and high priest from 219–196 BC. According to
  Sirach, he was a great spiritual leader of the Jews who repaired and fortified the temple at
  Jerusalem (WSir 50:1–21). His prayer follows Jewish tradition, beginning with praise
  and doxology, glorifying God as the ruler of the universe. Then follows a commemoration,
  calling to remembrance God's past mighty deeds on behalf of His people. A fervent
  petition for divine favor and action punctuates its closure.
2:2   References to God as King of the heavens include Dan 4:37; 1Ez 4:46, 58; Jdt 9:12;
  Tb 13:7, 11.
2:5   Sodom: See Gn 13:13; Dt 29:23; WSol 10:6–8; 2Ez 2:8; Lk 17:29; 2Pt 2:6; Jude 1:7.
2:6   Punishment on . . . Pharaoh: See Ex 5–12; Rom 9:17.
2:7 The sea: See Ex 14:21–28.
2:9   Chose this city: Jerusalem is specifically mentioned throughout the Old Testament
  as having been the city God has chosen for His name (see 3Kg 8:44, 48; 11:32, 36; 14:21;
  4Kg 23:27; 2Ch 6:34, 38; 12:13; WSir 49:6).
2:13   Simon does not excuse the Israelites' responsibility for their current situation, but
  rather acknowledges their plight is the result of their manifold sins. Israel is lying in
  helplessness if they face Ptolemy without God's help.
2:15   The heaven of the heavens is a superlative indicating the true dwelling place of
  God is beyond the temple, in the highest of all heights, the most heavenly heaven.
2:16   Your glory is a reference to the shekinah, or the manifest glory of God to Israel,
  who dwells in the tabernacle and the temple, showing His presence among the people.
  For Christians, the manifest glory of God to Israel is none other than our Lord Jesus
  Christ, who before His Incarnation made Himself present among the Israelites (Ex 24:16,
  17; 40:34, 35; Lv 9:23; 2Ch 5:14; 7:1–3).
2:18   The final indignity to a defeated people was to destroy their houses of worship.
2:22   Ptolemy, because of his arrogance before God, shook and became as powerless as
  the idols of vanity (see also 2Mc 3:27–29 for God's similar treatment of Heliodorus).
2:24   Ptolemy slinks away, humiliated but unrepentant.
2:25   Returning to Egypt only served to strengthen Ptolemy's resolve to get revenge on
  the Hebrews.
2:28   The battle lines are drawn in this unseen warfare. The Jews must not worship their
  God, and everyone in Alexandria must sacrifice to Dionysus. (For a similar battle of
  powers, see Dan 3.) The census is of slaves and servant classes, seemingly unique to
  Alexandria. The Jews are effectively becoming the property of the state.
2:29   Those registered are those who willingly comply. They will be branded, and this
  mark of allegiance will be permanent. Some people in ancient times would mark or brand
  themselves with the symbol of their god, here the ivy leaf. St. John predicts a similar
  mark of the beast (Rev 13:16, 17) in the end times.
2:31   Worshipping the one true God was fine, but not if it involved suffering.
2:32   Like Jacob, who struggled with God and prevailed (though he did not “win” the
  fight with the angel), the Jews are prevailing because they will not abandon their faith.
  They also paid bribes to save their lives.
2:33   These dissenters have not only denounced their God, but are considered betrayers
  to the whole nation of Jews.
3:1   King Ptolemy IV was well known for his profanity and rage.
3:2   The pretext for destroying the Jewish nation will be their alleged oppression of
  others—which is also an excuse set forth by those opposing Christians today.
3:8   The Greeks in Egypt understood that if the Jews, who had done nothing wrong, have
  fallen under tyranny, surely no one else is safe either. They act honorably to defend the
  Jews and aid them.
3:11    King Ptolemy IV is living off his father's political and material capital and reveling in
  it.
3:12-29 The king's anger and spite are clear from the self-justifying style of the letter.
3:21   For many years, Jews had been entrusted with positions of authority, influence, and
  management in Alexandrian society because they were trustworthy and honest
  fulfillers of their duty. Many faithfully manned the fortresses that guarded Ptolemy's
  kingdom (see 6:25).
3:23   Citizenship in Alexandria could not be purchased, as could later Roman citizenship,
  but instead was granted as a royal favor.
3:25   The king is calling for the destruction of fathers.
3:27 Now genocide is being advocated, and Ptolemy expects the cooperation of his people.
3:30   Rather than putting forth an exact copy of the actual letter, the author states this is a
  paraphrase, containing the manner and tone of the original letter.
4:1   A public ceremony was held in Ptolemy's typical style, allowing inhabitants to drink
  heavily and revile the Jews.
4:4    Death and the great fragility of human life carries a spiritual, emotional, and
  psychological uncertainty for men (WSir 7:36).
4:5   The easiest Jews to identify and arrest would be the elders with gray hair, who were
  to be led away first.
4:7-8   The Jews cannot even protect their newlyweds from seizure and arrest, a terrible
  disgrace. The whole scene gives the impression of incredible despair.
4:11   Schedia is a small peninsula not far from Alexandria, about three miles. There are so
  many Jews, they must be interred in the enormous hippodrome or stadium at the east
  gate of Alexandria.
4:13 Up until now, the Jews of Alexandria have been spared such shameful treatment.
4:14   Such an unusual command can only demonstrate Ptolemy's irrational rage at the
  Jews. Recall that at the time of the Nativity of Christ, the Jews were called to be
  registered and enrolled, each with his own tribe (Lk 2:1–4).
4:15   Forty days: A traditional time of preparation, mentioned with great frequency and
  rich symbolism in Holy Scripture.
4:17-18 The job was too big to complete. This failure was due to God's providence (4:21).
5:1   War elephants usually were associated closely with their trainers, and watching over
  this group would be the master trainer, Hermon.
5:2   Five hundred elephants would ensure that not one Jew in the hippodrome would
  escape a frightful death. Ancient war elephants were specimens of extraordinary size and
  power. They were used not only for battle, but also as beasts of burden. Wine in ancient
  times was thick and potent, like a syrup, which was mixed with water to give it a
  drinkable consistency. Frankincense was a medical remedy for poisoning. To keep the
  elephants healthy, Ptolemy ordered that they be given this antidote to the wine so they
  might not later suffer the effects of inebriation.
5:7 References to God as Father exist several times in the Old Testament (2:21; Ps 88:26;
  Tb 13:4; WSol 2:16; WSir 23:4; 2Ez 1:29).
5:11   According to WSir 31:20, healthful sleep depends on moderate eating. This deep
  sleep is a godsend for the Jews and a blessing for Ptolemy.
5:13 Their execution should have taken place in the morning.
5:14   This would be 4:30 p.m. The king has slept away the entire day.
5:20   Phalaris was the ruler of sixth-century BC Agrigentum. His savagery and cruelty
  were legendary. The godless Jews were those who did not sacrifice to the official gods
  of Greek or Roman cities. They were considered atheists by the locals.
5:22     Ptolemy's friends are preparing to revile those whom the king clearly wants
  destroyed in order to gain his favor.
5:24   Even the pitiful sight of a horrific death is still entertainment for pagans of the
  ancient world.
5:27-30 Through riotous feasting, Ptolemy is not only still drunk, but he cannot recall his
  former commands. The king is exhibiting more than his characteristic impulsiveness.
  God is at work, first bringing the king sleep and now removing his memory of his vicious
  orders.
5:31   The king himself declares the Jews innocent. He has not forgotten the loyalty they
  have shown as faithful citizens of Egypt for generations.
5:34   Ptolemy's drinking friends have no desire to stay and bear the brunt of his anger.
  The party is over, and one by one they take leave.
5:35   Someone reports to the Jews what is happening. They give praise to God.
5:36   The king has sobered up enough to begin the whole cycle of revelry as before.
5:39-41   Finally, the royal family administrators speak up, warning that the city is in
  chaos. These episodes of Ptolemy's are riling up the growing crowds.
5:43   Ptolemy is now adding his characteristic promises to utterly destroy his enemies. It
  borders on royal hyperbole because he never fulfills his threats.
5:50-51 The Jews have bade each other farewell (v. 49), but still call on the Lord for help
  even against all odds and cry out for mercy. In the Gospels, there are seven instances of
  someone calling on Jesus for mercy (Mt 9:27; 15:22; 17:15; 20:30, 31; Mk 10:47, 48; Lk
  17:13; 18:38, 39). In every case, they receive it.
6:1   The name Eleazar means “God has helped.” His prayer follows the pattern of Simon's
  earlier prayer (see notes on 2:1–20).
6:2-5 Eleazar likens Israel to that portion of the sacrifices which was set aside for Aaron
  and his sons (the priests) as their perpetual due from Israel (Lv 7:34, 35; Nm 18:8–18).
  The Jews have become the inheritance of the Lord (Ps 27:9; 32:12; Is 19:25). More than a
  chosen nation, they have been set apart for holiness. Sennacherib (v. 5) was the king of
  Assyria during the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah. The episode noted is the occasion
  when, at the supplication of Israel, God sent an angel who in one night slew 185,000 of
  Sennacherib's forces, sending him home to Nineveh in humiliation and defeat. He was
  assassinated shortly afterwards (4Kg 18:13; 19:35–37; WSir 48:18–21).
6:6   Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (their pagan names were Shadrach, Meshach, and
  Abednego) are the three young men in the fiery furnace recorded in Dan 3.
6:7 The deliverance of the Prophet Daniel here is a type of the Resurrection.
6:8   Jonah is well known as a typological prophecy of the Resurrection of Christ. For the
  Lord, upon His Resurrection, was given back to His people, His disciples, His kin, and His
  mother.
6:15   The statement You are with us (Is 8:10) is of such importance that it is repeated at
  Great Compline services. The ultimate experience of this reality is Immanuel, “God with
  us,” our Lord Jesus Christ.
6:18   Almighty in Greek is pantocrator. In Orthodox theology the title Pantocrator is
  reserved for Christ, the Ruler of all Creation. Manifested in Greek is epifanas, from
  which we get the English word “epiphany.” The heavenly doors open to reveal angels or
  heavenly mysteries. These angelic powers are usually arrayed for battle. They terrify the
  enemy and strike with impunity those adversaries God sent the angels to destroy (see
  2Mc 3:25, 26; 10:29, 30).
6:21   The fate intended for the Jews has been visited upon their enemies, just as it was
  with Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea.
6:23    A great number of Ptolemy's armed men were slain. Ptolemy has repented of
  attacking the innocent Jews, not of his cruel and arbitrary behavior.
6:26   They differed in that they worship only the one true God.
6:31   The Jews are being given the seat of honor at feasts in honor of their deliverance.
6:32   Ode of their fathers: Undoubtedly a psalm or the song of the three young men in
  the fiery furnace (Dan 3:23–91). This would have become a regular feature in Jewish
  liturgical practice. How much more appropriate at such a celebration—and everyone
  would know the words!
6:35   See Col 3:16; Jam 5:13.
6:38   The number forty represents a period of preparation, exercise, and readiness. Here
  the Jews were waiting for their salvation. In light of this pattern, both Advent (Nativity
  fast) and Great Lent (Paschal fast) are periods of forty days, in preparation respectively
  for the Incarnation and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
6:41   Unlike the previous letter (3:12–29), which was paraphrased in content and tone,
  the author states that this letter has been copied.
7:2   The children are Ptolemy's family and friends at court. Ptolemy had only one child
  and heir.
7:3   Though changed, Ptolemy still does not take full responsibility for his own actions,
  perhaps in order to make his previous royal order not seem ridiculous.
7:5   The Scythians were infamous for their savagery and brutality.
7:9   God the most High: Another ancient way of referring to the God of Israel, and one
  frequently used in localities where non-Jews abound (see Gn 14:19–22; Dan 3:26; Mk 5:7;
  Lk 8:28; Acts 16:17).
7:10 While living under Gentile dominion, the Jews had to ask permission of the king to
  enforce their own laws with regard to putting someone to death (see Jn 18:31).
7:13   Alleluia is the Greco-Roman version of the Hebrew hallelujah, meaning “praise the
  Lord.” Even after aggrandizing the king, the Jews give praise to God for all that He in His
  power has accomplished on their behalf.
7:14   The Jews now seek out, punish, and publicly humiliate the apostate Jews who dared
  to receive the branding mark of Dionysus (see note at 2:29).
7:17    The coastal city of Ptolemais, southwest of modern-day Cairo, was an easily
  defensible harbor on the Egyptian coast and a popular anchorage for the Alexandrian
  fleet. (There were many cities named Ptolemais, one near Thebes in Egypt and even one
  in Israel, the modern city of Akko on the Mediterranean Sea, on the north coast of the
  Bay of Haifa.)
7:20   A column: A common commemorative to memorialize a military victory or other
  exceptionally significant event.
7:22   In their absence, their possessions were plundered. No one expected them to be
  reclaimed. This was unprecedented.
1:1 The Man in Ps 1 is the Lord Jesus Christ (JohnChr, AmbM, Eust, CyrAl, Aug, and Cass).
  Thus, the Incarnation sets the tone of Psalms, and in the Psalms the Incarnate Lord
  teaches His Church how to pray. This is why Psalms is the prayer book of the Church.
     Ps 1 presents how Jesus lived His life in this world by showing the contrast between
  His godly life and the life of the ungodly. The Church, then, is to follow His example: His
  behavior in relation to the ungodly (v. 1); His zeal for the truth (v. 2); and His holy and
  virtuous life (v. 3).
2:1   The Lord in Ps 2 is God the Father, and Jesus is called His anointed (v. 2), which
  means “His Christ.” Jesus is also called King (v. 6), which is declared by the Father's
  eternal decree. Jesus is King without beginning and without end, and He is King over
  His holy hill of Zion, which is the Church. Jesus is also the Son of God the Father (v.
  7), for He was begotten from the Father outside of time and “before all worlds” (Creed).
  He was also begotten in these last times by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, “for us
  men and for our salvation” (Creed). Then again, He was begotten in the sense of His
  Resurrection from the dead (Acts 13:32, 33). But Jesus is also the King over the nations
  (v. 8), which in due time, He will shatter like a potter's vessel (v. 9) when He restores
  heaven and earth, and reigns eternally with His saints in “the world to come” (Creed).
  Therefore, the rulers of the nations are called to serve this King, or they will be judged;
  but blessed are all who trust in Him (v. 12).
3:1 The historical account in Ps 3 is that of King David fleeing from his son, Absalom (2Kg
  15–18). But prophetically, Ps 3 is speaking of Jesus as the Son of David according to the
  flesh (Mt 1:1; Rom 1:3). Thus, Jesus is praying to the Lord, who is God the Father (vv. 2,
  4, 5, 6, 8, 9). And the many . . . who rise up against me (v. 2) are the fallen angels, of
  whom Absalom and his army were a type. These angels, which number ten thousands
  (v. 7), always lie in their denial of man's salvation through Christ (v. 3). But just as Jesus
  always rejected their lies (vv. 4–9), so He is teaching His Church to do the same.
4:1 Ps 4 emphasizes the End (vv. 1, 2). Christ “is the end of the law for righteousness to
  everyone who believes” (Rom 10:4), and He is “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning
  and the End” (Rev 1:8). He exhorts people not to be slow of heart, and not to love vain
  things, nor to seek after lies (v. 3). Rather, they should realize that the Lord, who is
  the Father, has made His Holy One, who is Christ, to be wondrous (v. 4) in His death
  and Resurrection (v. 9).
5:1 Ps 5 is similar to Ps 4, again emphasizing the End (v. 1). Christ is the End concerning
  the inheritance (v. 1), which is the Church and the world to come (Creed). For Christ
  and His inheritance are the end to which God's eternal purpose is moving (Eph 3:11). And
  in His prayer to the Father, whom He calls Lord and King and God (vv. 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11,
  13), He is teaching the Church how to pray and worship in her morning prayers (v. 4) as
  she travels through this present lawless world (vv. 5–13).
6:1 Ps 6 teaches the Church the spirit of humility the faithful should have when they pray,
  “Lord, have mercy,” for this petition is repeated again and again in the services of
  worship. This spirit of humility is characterized by (1) a request for mercy, rather than a
  stern reproof and discipline because of our sins (v. 1); (2) a recognition of the weakness
  and frailty of our mortal nature (vv. 3, 4); (3) a request for deliverance and salvation (vv.
  5, 6); (4) a contrite spirit, characterized by tears and the need for help with respect to
  sinful passions (vv. 7, 8); and (5) a firm stand against the fallen angels and the Lord's
  needed help in this warfare (vv. 9–11).
7:1 The historical background of Ps 7 is Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David.
  This history is found in 2Kg 14–18. King David and his army prefigure Christ and the
  Church, whereas Absalom and his army represent the devil and his angels.
     Thus, Ps 7 teaches the Church how to pray in this warfare: (1) The faithful place their
  hope in God for deliverance from the enemy, that is the devil, called a lion (v. 3; see also
  1Pt 5:8). (2) Personal virtue in the Church is essential for successful warfare against this
  enemy (vv. 4–17). (3) The credit for any victory achieved goes to the Lord (v. 18).
8:1   Ps 8 speaks of the Incarnate Lord: (1) His name is wondrous . . . in all the earth,
  and He is exalted far beyond the heavens (v. 2; see also Php 2:9–11). (2) He brings
  forth praise from His humble people, who are likened to little children (v. 3; see also Mt
  18:1–4; 21:15, 16). (3) He is the Creator of the universe (v. 4; see also Heb 1:10–12). (4)
  He remembered man and his mortal nature, for example, his fall into death and decay in
  the grave, and thus, became incarnate to redeem him from death and to crown him
  with glory and honor (vv. 5–9; see also Heb 2:6–10). (5) Because of the things
  mentioned above, the incarnate Lord's name is wondrous in all the earth.
9:1   At Ps 9 the numerical divergence begins between the Septuagint (LXX) and the
  Masoretic Text. In the LXX, Ps 9 and 10 are combined.
      Ps 9 is concerning the hidden things of the Son. Now this Son is the Only-
  begotten Son of the Father, and He is the judge of all mankind. As the Creed says, “He
  shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” And at the End, that is, in the
  coming judgment, He shall reveal “hidden things.” Thus, the theme of judgment runs
  throughout the psalm (vv. 5, 8, 9, 17, 20, 26, and 39), and things now hidden will be
  revealed, some of which are prophesied by David in this psalm. For example, all the deeds
  of the ungodly will be remembered, exposed and judged (vv. 32–35), for everything will
  be brought into the light. However, the godly now give thanks to the Lord with a
  repentant and grateful heart (vv. 1, 2), for they know the Lord will reign over His kingdom
  forever (v. 37). For His “kingdom shall have no end” (Creed).
10:1   Ps 10 shows what it means for the Church to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 1), for
  He is the End. (1) Trusting in the Lord overcomes cowardice (Flee to the mountains
  like a sparrow, v. 1). (2) Trusting in the Lord overcomes the devil and his angels (vv. 2,
  3; see also Eph 6:16). (3) Trusting in the Lord makes the Church a dwelling place of God
  (v. 4a; see also 1Co 3:16, 17; Eph 2:21, 22). (4) Trusting in the Lord keeps one poor in
  spirit (v. 4b; see also Mt 5:3). (5) Trusting in the Lord helps one love virtue and hate vice
  (vv. 5–7; see also Heb 1:9; 1Pt 3:10–12).
11:1 Ps 11 presents a contrast between the godly who live in light of Christ (the End, v. 1)
  and the eighth day (v. 1), that is, “the coming of Christ, the resurrection from the dead
  and the life of the world to come” (Creed); and the ungodly, who walk in a circle (v. 9),
  that is, who live only within the confined vision of their seven days each week. And as the
  godly journey through this present world, (1) they pray for deliverance from the
  ungodliness around them (vv. 2, 3); (2) they ask the Lord to destroy the ungodly attitudes
  and behavior around them (vv. 4, 5); and (3) they groan to the Lord in the midst of their
  suffering (v. 6a). And because of their prayers and groaning in this way, the Lord, through
  His Resurrection (I will arise, v. 6), (1) boldly establishes them in salvation (v. 6); (2)
  purifies them in virtue with His words (v. 7); (3) guards and preserves them from the
  ungodly generation (v. 8); and (4) through His Ascension (exaltation, v. 9b), highly
  exalts His godly ones (v. 9b; see also Php 2:9–11; Eph 2:6, 7).
12:1 Ps 12 teaches the Church how to attain to an exceedingly joyful heart in singing to the
  Lord (v. 6b), who is the End (v. 1): (1) by godly sorrow and repentance over sins
  committed, lest the devil and sinful passions (my enemy) be victorious (vv. 3, 5; see also
  2Co 7:10); (2) by petitioning the Lord to enlighten the eyes of the heart, lest the sleep in
  death overtake one (v. 4; see also Eph 1:18; 5:14); and (3) by hoping in the Lord's mercy
  (v. 6a).
13:1 Ps 13 describes both Jews and Gentiles who say in their hearts, “There is no God”
  (v. 1; see also Rom 3:9–18). For although they may claim to know God, nevertheless, they
  are actually denying He exists, because of (1) their total involvement in a state of moral
  depravity (vv. 1, 3); (2) their refusal to seek God (v. 2); (3) their persecution of God's
  righteous people (vv. 4–6); and (4) their denial of the Incarnate God, the Lord Jesus
  Christ (v. 7).
14:1   Ps 14 teaches the Church the transfigured life the faithful are to live (v. 1), as they
  “look for the resurrection from the dead and the life of the world to come” (Creed). They
  are (1) to be holy inwardly and outwardly (v. 2); and (2) to love their neighbor (vv. 3–5).
  And those who live this way shall never be shaken (v. 6), either in this world or in the
  world to come.
15:1 Ps 15, similar to Ps 14, teaches the Church the transfigured life in the Person of God
  Incarnate, who assumed the weakness of mortal flesh (but without sin) for the sake of
  the inheritance (vv. 5, 6), which is “the world to come” (Creed). And as Man, He
  interceded to the Father on behalf of the Church, (1) to preserve those who hope in the
  Father (v. 1, 2); (2) to magnify His will in them amid the fallen world (vv. 3, 4); (3) to
  enlighten them (v. 7); (4) that they should keep their eyes on the Father (v. 8); (5) that
  they should hope in the resurrection from the dead, because the soul of Jesus was not left
  in Hades, nor did His body decay in the grave, and therefore, they should not fear death
  (vv. 9, 10; see also Acts 2:25–31; 13:35–37); for He was raised from the dead for the sake
  of their life (v. 11) “in the world to come” (Creed).
16:1     Ps 16 was prayed by the Lord Jesus to the Father, to teach the Church to pray
  righteously and not with deceitful lips (v. 1); for the Lord gives ear to those praying in
  truth (vv. 1, 6). And we (1) see things the way the Lord sees them (v. 2); (2) pass the test
  in the furnace of obedience to the Lord's words (vv. 3–5); (3) hope in the Lord in the face
  of adversity (v. 7); (4) experience protection from enemies, such as the devil and his
  angels (vv. 8–14); and (5) are satisfied by beholding the Lord's face, that is, His glory (v.
  15).
17:1 Ps 17 is set in the historical background of David's deliverance from the hand of all his
  enemies and from the hand of Saul (1Kg 19–31). However, this psalm is forecasting and
  magnifying the salvation (v. 51) of the Father's King, who is called Christ (His
  anointed) and David, for He is the Son of David. The seed of the Son of David is the
  Church.
     Man's enemies were death and the decay of the body in the grave, Hades, and the devil.
  And these held man in great fear and dread and in bondage to sinful passions (vv. 1–6;
  see also Heb 2:14, 15). But in His Incarnation, Christ descended from heaven (v. 10)
  and destroyed these enemies (vv. 7–16), and brought everything into the light (v. 29; see
  also 2Ti 1:10). He ascended on high and called the Gentiles (vv. 17–50).
18:1 Ps 18 reveals God the Word (the End, v. 1) becoming Man in the womb of the most
  holy Mother of God. For on His Nativity, all creation bore witness to the glory of God
  revealed in His Incarnation (vv. 1–5). And in His birth from the womb of the Virgin, He
  was likened to the sun rising from the east, to a bridegroom coming from his chamber,
  and to a strong man ready to run a race, to bring salvation to the world (vv. 6–15).
19:1 Ps 19 is a royal psalm, for it is a prophecy made on behalf of Jesus Christ the King (v.
  10), who is the End (v. 1). Also, v. 7 identifies Jesus as God's Christ (His anointed) and
  as His right hand. For the name “Christ” shows the Father anointed the human nature
  of Jesus with the Holy Spirit (see Heb 1:9; Lk 1:35; Is 61:1); and the names “right hand”
  and “King” show Jesus is one in essence with the Father and coequal with Him.
     This prophecy is first a prayer to the Father, who is called the Lord and the God of
  Jacob (v. 2). Numerous petitions are made on Christ's behalf (vv. 2–5), one of which
  regards His death and Resurrection (vv. 4, 7; see also Heb 5:7). Secondly, the prophecy
  reveals the response of the Church to His salvation (vv. 6–10), one element of which is
  great joy (v. 6).
20:1 Ps 20 is also a royal psalm, because it is a prophecy of the King's triumphal Ascension,
  in which He is also the End.
     The Father is identified as the Lord (vv. 2, 8) and as the Most High (v. 8); and the
  King is also called the Lord (v. 10), who is exalted (v. 14) in His Ascension, as well as
  the Father's hand and right hand (v. 9). In being called by these names, Jesus is shown
  to be one in essence and coequal with the Father.
     Jesus asked the Father to raise Him from the dead and to enthrone Him at His right
  hand for the sake of our salvation (vv. 1–8; see also Heb 5:7–9). And in His death,
  Resurrection and Ascension, He destroyed all the enemies, namely, the devil and his
  angels (vv. 9–13). So, in response to all the Lord's mighty deeds, the Church sings and
  praises Him (v. 14).
21:1 Ps 21 is a prophecy of the Lord's death and Resurrection, and of His Church. Thus, this
  psalm may be outlined as follows: (1) the Resurrection (v. 1); (2) the Crucifixion (vv. 2–
  22); (3) the Church (vv. 23–33).
     (1) Christ is the End, and He was resurrected early in the morning (v. 1; see also Mk
  16:2; Lk 24:1). (2) The New Testament quotes several verses from this psalm in relation
  to the Crucifixion: for example, v. 2, quoted in Mt 27:46 and Mk 15:34; v. 9, quoted in Mt
  27:43; and v. 19, quoted in Mt 27:35. (3) The New Testament also quotes v. 23 in Heb
  2:12, referring to the “one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church” (Creed).
22:1 Ps 22 is the Church speaking about the Lord Jesus (vv. 1–3) and to the Lord Jesus (vv.
  4–6). In speaking about the Lord, the Church (the sheep; see also Jn 10:1–5) identifies
  Him as my shepherd (v. 1; see also Jn 10:14), thus indicating a close relationship with
  Him. And in this relationship of Shepherd and sheep, the Church lacks nothing, for
  example, the green pastures of kingdom life (v. 2; see also Jn 10:10); the still waters
  of baptism (v. 2; see also Jn 3:5); and the conversion of the soul to the paths of
  righteousness (v. 3; see also Jn 10:3, 4, 7). And in speaking to the Lord, the Church is
  grateful to Him (1) for deliverance from the fear of death (v. 4; see also Heb 2:14, 15); (2)
  for the Eucharist (v. 5; see also Lk 22:14–20); and (3) for a lifetime of mercy (v. 6; see
  also Lk 1:50, 54).
23:1 Ps 23 is a prophecy of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (the first day of the
  week, v. 1; see also Mt 28:1; Mk 16:2; Lk 24:1; Jn 20:1).
    His Resurrection proves (1) He is the Creator of the world, which He owns (vv. 1, 2); (2)
  He is worthy to ascend on high as the Forerunner of the Church (vv. 3–6; see also Heb
  6:19, 20; 7:26; 9:24); (3) He is the King of glory, who destroyed death and Hades (vv. 7–
  10; see also Rev 1:18; 4:8–11).
24:1   Ps 24 is a priestly intercession by the Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of His Church,
  which is the Israel of God (v. 22; see also Gal 6:16). He identifies Himself as only-
  begotten and poor (v. 16), for He was the Virgin Mary's only Child, and He was born
  into poverty. And although He was hated unjustly (v. 19), nevertheless, He established
  the New Testament (His covenant, vv. 10, 14). So in His New Testament, He intercedes
  for the Church in prayer, and by lifting up His soul to the Father (v. 1), He also lifts up
  the Church to Him in priestly intercession (see also Heb 7:25). And because of His
  intercession, the Church is taught the ways of the Father (vv. 2–21).
25:1 Ps 25 is a priestly intercession of Jesus Christ to the Father at the heavenly altar (v.
  6; see also Heb 7:25) on behalf of His churches (v. 12). And since this Priest is innocent
  (Heb 7:26), He intercedes on behalf of His churches, so they, too, will be innocent
  through God's merciful redemption (v. 11), as they worship around His altar (vv. 1–11).
26:1 Ps 26 is a prophecy concerning baptism, which is a declaration of war (v. 3) against
  the devil and his angels. This war is declared by the Church in the prayers at the reception
  of catechumens. In this psalm, these fallen angels are called the wicked (v. 2), my
  enemies (vv. 2, 6, 11), an army (v. 3), and unjust witnesses (v. 12). And in this war, St.
  Paul describes them as “principalities,” “powers,” “the rulers of the darkness of this age,”
  “spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12).
     Therefore, in baptism, the Lord Jesus Christ becomes my light, my savior, and my
  defender in relation to this war (v. 1). And with the Lord's help, these enemies are
  overcome in battle (weakened and fell, v. 2). So as a result, the fruit borne in the
  Church is freedom from the fear of death (my heart shall not be afraid, v. 3; see also
  Heb 2:14, 15); a strong relationship with the Lord (vv. 4–12); and an earnest expectation
  for the land of the living (vv. 13, 14), which is “the resurrection from the dead and the
  life of the world to come” (Creed).
27:1   Ps 27 is a prophecy concerning the death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
  and the inheritance He won for Himself (v. 9), which is the Church. Thus, in His death
  on the cross, Jesus destroyed death and Hades (the pit), for He is God the Word, to
  whom the Father was not silent (v. 1). And on the cross, the Lord's outstretched hands
  were lifted up toward the Father's holy temple (v. 2), which is the inheritance. Also,
  His death destroyed the devil and his angels (vv. 3–5). Therefore, blessed is God the
  Father (v. 6) for raising Christ (His anointed, v. 8) from the dead (my flesh revived, v.
  7), and for protecting the salvation of His people (v. 8), and also for shepherding them
  in this world and resurrecting them into the world to come (forever, v. 9; see also
  Creed).
28:1     Ps 28 is a prophecy concerning the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River,
  celebrated in the services of Theophany (Epiphany). Both words, epiphany and
  theophany, mean “manifestation” or “revelation,” and theophany has the additional
  meaning, “revelation of God.” The God who is revealed in Christ's Baptism is God the
  Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thus this event also reveals that Jesus Christ (the
  Son) is one of the Trinity.
       Ps 28 reveals the Father as the voice speaking from heaven at Jesus' Baptism (vv. 3–5,
  7–9; see also Mt 3:17; Mk 1:11; Lk 3:22). It also reveals the Son (His beloved, v. 6) and
  the Holy Spirit (fiery flames, v. 7; see also canticles four and five of Compline in the
  Forefeast of Theophany). Unicorns (v. 6) are often symbols of purity.
29:1 Ps 29 speaks of the Resurrection of Christ, who is the End (v. 1), and together with
  Him, the resurrection of the Church. Man's dilemma is the death and decay of his body in
  the grave (v. 10) and the dwelling of his soul in Hades (v. 4). As a result, these enemies
  rejoiced over him (v. 2), and his life was filled with weeping (v. 6), trouble (v. 8),
  lamentation and sackcloth (v. 12), and sadness (v. 13). But through Christ's
  Resurrection (lifted me up, v. 2), (1) the Church will be healed (v. 3), that is, the body
  will be raised in beauty and power (v. 8) to immortal life forever (vv. 7, 13) at “the
  resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come” (Creed); (2) the souls of the
  righteous in Hades were brought out from there at His Resurrection (v. 4); and (3) the
  Church is filled with praises (vv. 5, 13), thanksgiving (vv. 5, 13), great joy (v. 6),
  dancing and gladness (v. 12).
30:1   Ps 30 is a revelation (ecstasy, vv. 1, 23) of Christ (the End, v. 1) in relation to the
  extreme humiliation (v. 8) He suffered before the Father on the cross for mankind. For
  example, v. 6 is quoted by Him as His last words to the Father on the cross just before He
  died (Lk 23:46). Verses 2–23 describe this humiliation, and vv. 24, 25 emphasize the fruit
  His humiliation bears in the Church, e.g., love for the Father. And v. 24 also speaks of
  those who act with great arrogance, that is, who reject the Lord's extreme humiliation
  with their extreme arrogance.
31:1    Ps 31 is a prophecy concerning enlightenment (understanding, vv. 1, 8), which is
  fulfilled in the Sacrament of Baptism. For this sacrament is known as the Sacrament of
  Enlightenment, in which sins are forgiven (vv. 1, 5). And on the Day of Pentecost, St.
  Peter urged those listening to “be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
  of sins” (Acts 2:38). Thus, the Creed also says, “I acknowledge one baptism for the
  remission of sins.”
       Verses 1, 2 emphasize the blessings of baptism; vv. 3–7, the responsibility of the one
  baptized; and vv. 8–11, Christ's response to the faithfulness of the one baptized. This
  explains why Ps 31 is read when the newly baptized are brought up out of the water and
  given their white garments.
32:1 Ps 32 is a prophecy revealing the Trinity as the Creator of the world. The Lord refers
  to the Father (vv. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 20, and 22). The Word of the Lord is
  the Son of the Father (vv. 4 and 6), and the Holy Spirit is the breath of His mouth (v.
  6). Therefore, the Father created the world through His Son and His Spirit, who are His
  coequals. And v. 9 reveals that the Father spoke and commanded the words in Gn 1, and
  the Son and the Holy Spirit fulfilled that which was commanded.
     Therefore, the saints (righteous ones) worship the Trinity (vv. 1–3) as the Creator of
  the world (vv. 4–17), and they hope in the Trinity to raise them from the dead in the
  world to come (vv. 18–22; see also Creed).
33:1   Ps 33 is a prophecy teaching how Holy Communion (v. 9) is to be received in the
  Church: (1) with a gentle spirit (v. 3); (2) as a sojourner in the world (v. 5); (3) with a
  poor, broken, and humble spirit (vv. 7, 19); (4) with the fear of God (vv. 8, 10, 12); (5)
  with hope in the world to come (vv. 9, 23); (6) with clean lips and a peaceful heart (vv.
  13–17; see also 1Pt 3:10–12).
34:1   Ps 34 is a prophecy regarding the Lord's sufferings and death on the cross in Holy
  Week. For example, v. 11 refers to the false witnesses at the Lord's trial. He endured these
  things on behalf of and with His Church in mind (My only-begotten, v. 17; the great
  church and a mighty people, v. 18). And His people greatly rejoice and magnify Him
  (v. 27) because of what He did for them.
35:1 Ps 35 reveals the right and wrong uses of free will and the fruits that result in either
  case. First, it shows that sin or evil is an action of man's free will (says within himself,
  v. 2; acts deceitfully, lest He discover, v. 3; is unwilling, v. 4; devises, sets himself,
  and does not abhor, v. 5). Therefore, sin or evil is not a part of human essence or
  nature, for God created human nature good in itself. Sinning is altogether the wrong use
  of free will, and the most dangerous wrong use is arrogance, which often comes against
  the saints (v. 12). But such a wrong use ultimately brings down the lawless (fall there
  and unable to stand, v. 13).
     Second, this psalm reveals the proper use of free will, which is to seek out and hope (v.
  8) for God's mercy (vv. 6, 11), His truth (v. 6), His righteousness (vv. 7, 11), and His
  judgments (v. 7). Also with free will, the upright in heart (v. 11) may be intoxicated
  by drinking the abundant water (v. 9) that flows from the fountain and by seeing
  the light which is in light (v. 10). The fountain is the Father, and the Son is the water,
  the light, and the life that goes forth from this fountain. Those who willingly drink of this
  water in baptism, and who see this light, partake of life and light (see also Jn 1:4), and
  also become intoxicated with the Holy Spirit (the fatness, v. 9; see also Jn 7:37–39;
  Acts 2:13–17; Eph 5:18).
36:1   Ps 36 shows why the martyrs were willing to die (v. 32): they were “looking for the
  resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come” (Creed). The world to come is
  the theme throughout this psalm (vv. 3, 9, 11, 18, 22, 27, 28, 29, 34, 39, 40). Prior to their
  martyrdom, the martyrs lived a godly life in light of the new world (vv. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11,
  16, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, 37). Therefore, they are the best examples to
  encourage God's people to live the Christian life in the same anticipation of the world to
  come. But the ungodly shall not inherit that world (vv. 2, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 22,
  28, 34, 35, 36, 38).
37:1 Ps 37 reveals the great love of Christ for mankind in His sufferings and death on the
  cross, especially v. 18: For I am ready for wounds, and my pain is continually
  with me. And although He was “separate from sinners” (Heb 7:26) and “knew no sin”
  (2Co 5:21), yet out of His great compassion for sinners, He prays this prayer in a relative
  sense as though He were one of them. Thus, He takes the place of sinners as one of them,
  and intercedes to the Father for their salvation in the midst of His sufferings and death
  on the cross.
38:1   Ps 38 reminds the Church of its pilgrim status in the present world (a sojourner
  and a stranger, v. 13; see also 1Pt 1:1). For God's people are “to look for the resurrection
  of the dead and the life of the world to come” (Creed). For Christ is the End (v. 1).
  Meanwhile, (1) the tongue is to be kept from sinning (vv. 2, 3); (2) the heart is to be on
  fire with meditation on the things of God (v. 4); (3) man, made by God (v. 10), is to
  grow in divine knowledge, so as not to lack (v. 5) or be deadened (v. 3) by
  transgressions (vv. 9, 12). Rather, he is to revive before he departs in death (no
  longer here, v. 14). A handbreadth (v. 6) is an ancient unit of measure of about 4–1/2
  inches, here used to show the brief span of our lives.
39:1    Ps 39 is a prophecy of the Incarnation (vv. 7–9; see also Heb 10:5–7). In His
  Incarnation, the Lord assumed a mortal body (v. 7) and a rational soul. But here the body
  is emphasized, because man's body is mortal and subject to death and decay in the grave
  (a miserable pit, v. 3). So by His death in the body, Christ destroyed death, and by His
  Resurrection (brought me up and a rock, v. 3), He overcame the decay that held man's
  body in the grave. He was able to do all this because of the two wills in His one Person.
  For He willed (v. 9) by His human will and energy. And the phrase Your will (v. 9)
  shows that He possessed within Himself the same will and energy as God the Father,
  because He is “one in essence” with Him (Creed). Therefore, by means of His two wills
  and energies, He destroyed death and decay, and put a new song in the mouth of the
  Church (v. 4).
40:1   Ps 40 is a prophecy of Christ (the End) and of His death and Resurrection, which
  brings healing to the Church (from sickness to wholeness, v. 4, and heal my soul, v.
  5). When the Lord Jesus says, for I have sinned against You (v. 5), He is taking our
  part, although He Himself is sinless (innocence, v. 13; see also Heb 7:25, 26).
       Verse 10 speaks of the betrayal by Judas (see also Jn 13:18); vv. 6, 9 of Christ's
  sufferings and death; and vv. 2, 3, 11–14 of His Resurrection.
41:1 Ps 41 speaks of Christ (the End, v. 1) and His Baptism in the Jordan (from the land
  of the Jordan and Hermon, v. 7). His Baptism is celebrated in the Church as the Feast
  of Theophany. It is celebrated as a festival with great joy and praise (v. 5). His
  Baptism in the Jordan is our salvation (vv. 6, 12), which produces (1) a longing and thirst
  for union and communion with God (vv. 2, 3); (2) tears of joy in the midst of suffering
  (vv. 4–6, 10–12); and (3) enlightenment (understanding, v. 1) concerning the
  unsearchable riches of Christ (vv. 8, 9; see also Rom 11:33; Eph 3:8).
42:1   Ps 42 is a prayer of Christ on behalf of His Church for enlightenment in the midst of
  the ungodly (an unholy nation, v. 1; my enemy afflicts me, v. 2). For He Himself is
  light and truth (v. 3), who was sent into the world in His Incarnation (see also Jn 8:12;
  14:6). Thus He guides (v. 3) the Church to the heavenly holy of holies (the altar of
  God, v. 4). So this enlightenment puts joy in one's face (v. 5). In hymns of the Church,
  Your holy mountain and Your tabernacles (v. 3) are seen as referring to the Mother
  of God and to the saints.
43:1 Ps 43 describes (1) the daily praise and thanksgiving (v. 9) the Church offers God in
  the midst of sufferings and persecution (vv. 2–17); the steadfastness of the Church in the
  midst of sufferings and even martyrdom itself (vv. 18–26; see also Rom 8:36); and (3) the
  Church's hope in the Lord to be raised from the dead at the general resurrection (v. 27).
44:1   Ps 44 is a prophetic description of the Word Incarnate, the Lord Jesus Christ (the
  End), and His Church, composed of both Jews and Gentiles. The Beloved One is the
  Word Himself, and His Incarnation brought about changes (things that shall be
  changed, v. 1). For He established His Church (the peoples), and even changed His
  enemies into friends (v. 6). Thus, vv. 2–9 describe Him (see also Heb 1:8, 9); and vv. 10–
  18 describe His Mother, the Mother of God, who is both His queen (v. 10) and His
  daughter (vv. 11, 14). These verses also describe the Church begotten from her
  (daughters, v. 10; the daughters of Tyre, v. 13—the Gentiles; the virgins, v. 15; sons,
  v. 17). Myrrh and stacte (v. 9) are sweet-smelling fragrances or incense. Cassia was
  used in ancient medicines, a reference to healing.
45:1   Ps 45 is about hidden things concerning the End, who is Christ. These hidden
  things are “the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ” (Col 2:3), which are now
  revealed in His Incarnation and made known among the Gentiles (Col 1:26, 27). Here,
  before His Incarnation, the earth was troubled with fear (vv. 3, 4, 7), which was the fear
  of death. But after His Incarnation, the Church no longer fears death (v. 3), because His
  works (v. 9), that is, His death and Resurrection (early in the morning, v. 6), opened up
  the torrents of the river of God's grace to the Church (v. 5). Thus, hatred (wars)
  ceased among the Gentiles to the ends of the earth, and the Church was established
  among them. For stillness in prayer replaced the tumult of hostility between them (vv.
  10–12).
46:1 Ps 46 is a prophecy of Christ (the End) and His ascension to the Father (v. 6). And
  the Man who ascended is called God (vv. 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10), Lord (vv. 3, 6), Most High (v.
  3), and King (vv. 3–5, 7, 8–10); therefore, Jesus Christ is coequal with the Father. Also,
  the ascended Christ is worshiped by the Church both as God and Man (vv. 2, 7, 8), and
  with joy (rejoicing, v. 2), with fear (fearsome, v. 3) and with intelligence
  (understanding, v. 8).
47:1   Ps 47 is a prophecy of the Church as heaven on earth (see also Heb 12:22, 23). In this
  respect she is described as a city (vv. 2, 3, 4, 9, 14), as Mount Zion (vv. 2, 3, 12, 13), and as
  a temple (v. 10). And Jesus Christ is called Lord (vv. 2, 9, 12), King (v. 3), and God (vv.
  2, 4, 9, 10, 11, 15).
48:1 Ps 48 is a prophecy that presents a contrast between the children of the body and the
  children of the kingdom (prayers at the reception of catechumens). Children of the body
  live under the reign of death and the fear it instills in them; therefore, in an attempt to
  overcome this fear, they become occupied with objects of the senses, especially wealth
  and the power it brings with it (v. 7). But their riches cannot redeem their souls and
  bodies from the grave and decay, and from death and Hades (vv. 8, 9, 11–15, 18–21).
  Therefore, all peoples should hear this and give ear (vv. 2–5) to the End (v. 1), who is
  Christ our God. For He became incarnate to ransom mankind from slavery to sense
  objects and to the reign and fear of death (v. 16). However, by way of contrast, the
  children of the kingdom are delivered by Him from this slavery (vv. 6, 10, 17).
49:1   Ps 49 is a prophecy of the awesome Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the
  Day of Judgment. It is awesome, as emphasized in the phrases beauty's splendor (v. 2),
  a fire and a mighty storm (v. 3), and it is awesome because heaven and earth will be
  present (vv. 1, 4). But most of all it will be awesome because Christ's divinity will be fully
  shown to the universe (openly, v. 2). In contrast to this, at His First Coming, He did not
  show Himself “openly” but remained hidden by His humility, as for example, He lived in
  poverty and lowliness. However, the full splendor of His glory will be seen by all at His
  “coming to judge the living and the dead” (Creed). For He will come as God in the flesh
  (vv. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 16, 22, 23) and judge all, including the Jews (vv. 7–22).
50:1 Ps 50 teaches the nature of genuine repentance, which is the reason it is used so often
  in the services of the Church. Historically, King David committed the sins and
  transgressions of adultery and murder (vv. 1, 2; see also 2Kg 11; 12). However, He
  obtained mercy from God because of his repentance. Yet many fall into sins but never
  come to repentance; therefore, no one can use David's sins as an excuse to sin. For sins
  and transgressions in themselves do not draw down the mercy of God. Genuine
  repentance, however, does attract His mercy, for He sees it and responds accordingly (v.
  3). So genuine repentance is characterized by such things as confession to God (vv. 4–8);
  inward purity (vv. 12–16); and inward humility (vv. 17–21).
51:1   Ps 51 reveals who will be in “the world to come” (Creed), which belongs to Christ (the
  End, v. 1). It is also called the land of the living (v. 7), that is, the land occupied by the
  resurrected righteous ones (vv. 8–11). And that world is also said to be forever and
  unto ages of ages (vv. 10, 11). But the unrighteous, such as Doeg, will not be there (vv.
  2–7).
52:1   Ps 52 revolves around two questions, both of which relate to Christ (the End, v. 1).
  The first question asks: Do all the workers of lawlessness not know? (v. 5), and the
  second, Who will grant from Zion the salvation of Israel? (v. 7). The answer to the
  first question is yes, for they willfully reject Christ as God, and therefore are fools (v. 1).
  But, in answer to the second question, their rejection cannot prevent Him from granting
  salvation to the Church (“Israel,” v. 7; see also Gal 6:16).
53:1 Ps 53 is a prophecy concerning the betrayal of Christ. For just as the Ziphites betrayed
  David (see 1Kg 23:15–21), so also Judas and the Jewish leaders betrayed Christ. These
  leaders are called strangers and the powerful (v. 5). Nevertheless, Christ's sufferings
  and sacrifice on the cross were voluntary (v. 8), for no one could take His life from Him
  without His consent (see also Jn 10:18; 18:6). And He thanked the Father (O Lord, v. 8)
  for His Resurrection (v. 9), to teach us to do the same.
54:1   Ps 54, similar to Ps 53, is a prophecy concerning the betrayal of Christ, who is the
  End. In the midst of His sufferings and betrayal by Judas (vv. 13–15), He prays on behalf
  of the Church. For within the Church there is suffering and betrayal, sometimes even to
  death. For example, when He prayed, And the terror of death fell on me (v. 5), He
  was not saying this because He Himself feared death. Rather, He intercedes for us, for
  our fear of death fell on Him, that we might not fear it. Therefore, when death fell on Him
  on the cross, He, in turn, destroyed it once for all by the power of His divinity.
55:1   Ps 55 describes the war between Christ (the End) and the devil (he, v. 2). Christ
  fought and won this war as a Man on behalf of the Church, and this victory is inscribed
  like a pillar in the Church's memory (v. 1). Through this inscription, the Church is able
  to wage a successful war against this same enemy. (This same phrase, pillar
  inscription, is used to introduce Ps 55–59, in v. 1 of each.) Now this war is not only
  against the devil but also against his angels (those who war against me from on
  high, v. 3; see also Eph 6:12). Verses 4–14 tell the Church how to fight the enemy; for
  example, the faithful will not fear death when facing the enemy (vv. 4, 5, 12, 14).
56:1   Ps 56 prophesies the death and Resurrection of Christ (the End, v. 1). He did not
  corrupt (v. 1), that is, His holy body did not decay in the grave (the cave, v. 1; see also Ps
  15:8–11; Acts 2:25–32; 13:34–37). Verses 2–12 give the Church the hope of “the
  resurrection from the dead and the life of the world to come” (Creed).
57:1   Ps 57 concerns Christ (the End). It underscores the reality that Christ's holy body did
  not corrupt in the grave (v. 1). For with His incorrupt body, He destroyed death, the devil,
  and sin (vv. 2–10). Realizing these things, the Church is glad and bears fruit for God (vv.
  11, 12).
58:1   Ps 58 is also concerning Christ (the End, v. 1). For the Church remembers that
  Christ's holy body did not decay in the grave (corrupt not, v. 1), and the Father raised
  Him from the dead (vv. 2, 3, 10, 11, 14, 17, 18). In contrast to the Lord's sinless life, which
  is the reason He was raised up by the Father (vv. 4, 5), those who work lawlessness are
  not shown mercy (vv. 6–9, 12–16).
59:1   Ps 59 is also concerning Christ (the End, v. 1). For the Church remembers the
  changes (things yet to be changed, v. 1) brought about by the cross (a sign, v. 6), and
  the teaching (for teaching, v. 1) it brings to the Church. For the Incarnation brought
  about the mystery hidden before time, namely, that Christ would burn down (he
  burned, v. 1) the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile (vv. 1–14), and form them into
  one body (Eph 3).
60:1 Ps 60 reveals Christ (the End, v. 1) as the King (v. 7) and Great High Priest leading
  the Church in hymns of praise to the Father, and therefore, to the Trinity (see also Heb
  2:12, 13).
61:1   Ps 61 is a prayer of Christ (the End, v. 1). He is praying this prayer on behalf of the
  Church, which is His body (congregation of people, v. 9; see also Eph 1:22, 23). He is
  encouraging His members to be submissive to God (vv. 2, 6), and the psalm gives
  numerous good reasons to do so.
62:1 Ps 62 is a prayer of Christ the King (v. 12), instructing His Church in morning prayers.
  For this world is like the desert of Judea (v. 1), which is desolate, impassable, and
  waterless (v. 2). And the soul that remembers God during the night on his bed will
  also learn to meditate on Him in the morning (v. 7). Such a soul will be filled (v. 6) and
  cannot be injured by the devil and his angels (they, v. 10).
63:1   Ps 63 is a prayer of Christ (the End, v. 1), instructing the members of His Church
  how to wage a good warfare against the devil and the fear of death (fear of the enemy,
  v. 2) in times of persecution and martyrdom.
64:1 Ps 64 is a prophecy concerning Christ (the End, v. 1) and concerning His Church in
  relation to the theme of sojourning in this world (the situation of the sojourners,
  when they were about to depart, v. 1). See 4Kg 24 for the historical background, when
  Jerusalem was carried away captive to Babylon. These two cities focus attention on the
  theme of sojourning, for the Church is, so to speak, sojourning in the city of Babylon.
  Babylon means confusion, as can be seen from Gn 11, for the Church is sojourning in a
  confused world. But Jerusalem means peace, for the Church is looking for the
  resurrection from the dead and the life of the world to come (Creed). For peace will
  inhabit the new world, and this psalm instructs the Church in how to sojourn in
  anticipation of this world to come.
65:1 Ps 65 prophesies the Resurrection of Christ (the End, a psalm of resurrection, v.
  1). All the earth is invited to worship the risen Christ (vv. 1–4). All are invited to come
  and see the works of God (v. 5), which He wrought in abolishing death and rising
  again from the dead, as typified by the Exodus in Israel's history (v. 6). And His
  Resurrection demonstrates that He will rule in His power forever (v. 7) over His
  Church, consisting of both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Him (vv. 7–20).
66:1   Ps 66 prophesies the Resurrection of Christ (the End, v. 1). Verses 3 and 5 in
  particular emphasize the incorporation of the Gentiles into the Church through the
  Resurrection.
67:1   Ps 67 prophesies the Resurrection of Christ (the End, v. 1) and His Ascension into
  heaven (v. 19; see also Eph 4:8). In hymns of the Church, the mountain of God (v. 16)
  is seen as referring to the Mother of God. Throughout the psalm, the blessings given the
  Church by the Resurrection are enumerated. For example, Christ trampled death (v. 21)
  and crushed the satanic hordes of fallen angels (v. 22).
68:1 Ps 68 prophesies the Passion of the Lord Jesus Christ (the End, v. 1) and the changes
  it would bring about (concerning things that shall be changed, v. 1). The changes
  His Passion would bring are noted throughout the psalm. Examples are: (1) the Church
  would become a house of prayer for all peoples (v. 10; see also Jn 2:19; Mt 21:13; Mk
  11:17; Lk 19:46); (2) the cross would bear our reproaches against God (v. 10; see also Rom
  15:3); (3) the cross would destroy death (gall and vinegar, v. 22; see also Mt 27:34, 48;
  Mk 15:23, 36; Lk 23:36; Jn 19:28–30); and (4) the Jews would be rejected for their
  unbelief, and the believing Gentiles brought to salvation (vv. 23, 24; Rom 9:9–11).
69:1 Ps 69 is a prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ (the End, v. 1). Prayer is the ascent of the
  heart and mind to God (in remembrance, v. 1). In this ascent, prayer focuses a person
  on the Lord and His salvation (that the Lord may save me, v. 1). The early Desert
  Fathers used v. 2 as a text of ceaseless prayer (O God, make haste to help me, v. 2),
  thereby living out the exhortation of St. Paul in 1Th 5:17 to “pray without ceasing.” Also,
  this prayer, “O God, make haste to help me,” is often seen as the precursor to the Jesus
  Prayer: “O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” Verses 3–6 show
  some results of receiving God's help.
70:1     Ps 70 teaches the Church about deliverance from captivity (taken captive, v. 1) to
  the devil and his angels (my enemies, v. 10; see also Eph 6:12). For these enemies
  ensnared mankind in the fear of death and the lifetime of bondage it engendered (see
  Heb 2:15). But from birth to death, we are delivered by the Lord Jesus Christ from this
  fear (from birth, v. 6; to old age and to my last breath, v. 18). For we are delivered
  and set free in His righteousness (v. 2), on which we meditate . . . all the day long v.
  24).
71:1   Ps 71 is a prophecy concerning Solomon, who is Christ Himself, the King of Peace,
  for the name “Solomon” means “peace.” And the Father (God) gave all judgments to
  Him (v. 1; see also Jn 5:22), and in the world to come (forever and unto ages of ages),
  all the earth shall be filled with His glory (v. 19).
72:1   Ps 72 teaches the upright in heart (v. 1) not to be jealous of people who prosper in
  this life but who have no vision of “the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world
  to come” (Creed). For their vision of life is limited to this present world, and they have no
  upward gaze of the judgment hanging over them at their death (v. 4). But the upright
  have a vision of God in their heart (O God of my heart) and of the world to come
  (forever, v. 26). Therefore, they cling to God and put their hope in the Lord (v. 28).
73:1   Ps 73 is a prophecy for understanding (v. 1). An understanding of what? That all
  human history is incarnational in nature. Therefore, human history may be called “the
  history of the Incarnation of the Word.” For this history, from the beginning (v. 2) to
  the end (vv. 1, 3, 10, 11, 19), speaks of the Word of God Incarnate and His lordship
  throughout history. And this Incarnate God is our King before the ages (v. 12) and
  the Creator of the world (You created, v. 16). He worked salvation in the midst of
  the earth (v. 12) through the cross, and crushed the heads of dragons (vv. 13, 14) at
  His Baptism. He also arose from the dead (Arise, O God, v. 22).
74:1   Ps 74 is a prophecy concerning the Judgment Seat of Christ (the End, v. 1; see also
  2Co 5:10, 11). Therefore, all men are commanded not to corrupt (v. 1), that is, do not
  transgress the law, nor exalt yourselves in sin (v. 5). For God Incarnate is judge
  (God is judge, v. 8), and the Lord's cup of judgment is in His hand (vv. 8, 9). Then the
  horns of corrupt men shall be crushed, but those of the righteous man shall be
  exalted (v. 11). And this man shall greatly rejoice forever in the world to come (v. 10;
  see also Creed).
75:1   Ps 75 is a prophecy contrasting two opposing kingdoms. The Assyrian (v. 1) is the
  devil, who leads his kingdom: the fallen angels (v. 4; see also Col 2:15) and fallen people
  (vv. 6–9, 13). The End is God Incarnate (vv. 2, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13), who leads His kingdom:
  the holy angels (vv. 5, 9) and holy people (vv. 3, 10, 11, 12). The final outcome in this
  battle is obvious: Who shall stand against You? (v. 8).
76:1   Ps 76 is Christ (the End, v. 1) teaching the importance of using the memory,
  especially in the day of affliction (v. 3). For one is to remember God (v. 4), the
  eternal years (v. 6), and the Lord's works (v. 12). Verses 5–21 describe the numerous
  benefits of this remembrance.
77:1   Ps 77 concerns understanding (v. 1). What needs to be understood is that Christ is
  speaking to His Church (vv. 2, 14; see also Mt 13:34, 35; 1Co 10:4, 14), called children
  yet to be born (v. 6), His sanctuary . . . founded forever on the earth (v. 69), and
  His people . . . His inheritance (v. 71). The content of His instruction is the entire
  psalm itself, an overview of the history of Israel.
78:1   Ps 78 is a prophecy concerning the suffering and martyrdom (vv. 1–4) that would face
  the Church in this present age (to the end, v. 5; from generation to generation, v.
  13). It also shows the Church's response to all this (vv. 5–12), because the Church knows
  herself to be the people of God and the sheep of His pasture, and also has her eyes on the
  world to come (forever and “from generation to generation,” v. 13).
79:1   Ps 79 is a prophecy of the Incarnation and the changes (things that shall be
  changed, v. 1) that it would bring about. For Christ (the End, v. 1), who sits upon the
  cherubim (v. 2), will reveal Himself (vv. 2, 3, 4, 8, 20) in the Incarnation for our
  salvation (v. 3), and establish His vineyard, the Church (vv. 9–17). This vineyard would
  consist of those who are changed through conversion to Him (vv. 4, 8, 15, 20) and who
  are saved from the Assyrian (v. 1), who is a wild swine and a solitary wild beast (v.
  14)—that is, the devil.
80:1   Ps 80 is a psalm regarding Christ (the End) and His Church (the winepresses, v.
  1). For His Church is the new wine (the new covenant), formed in the Sacrament of
  Baptism (Mt 9:16, 17; 1Co 12:13). And Israel's deliverance from Egypt (vv. 1–11) is a type
  of baptism (1Co 10:1, 2). However, after baptism, the Christian is to be careful to walk in
  God's ways and heed His voice (vv. 12–17).
81:1 Ps 81 reveals Christ God as present and judging in the midst of His Church (v. 1). This
  prophecy calls church members gods, which is the same thing as calling them sons of
  the Most High (vv. 1, 6). For they were made gods and the sons of God by the new birth
  in baptism. However, these gods are warned by their God to take care of the poor and
  needy (vv. 2–7). For Christ rose from the dead (v. 8), and “He shall come again with glory
  to judge the living and the dead” (Creed).
82:1   Ps 82 prophesies that all who hate Christ (v. 3) will also persecute His saints (vv. 4–
  9; see also Jn 15:18; 2Ti 3:12). Various nations mentioned (vv. 7–9) represent the kinds of
  persecutors who seek to destroy the Church. Even avowed enemies find a common
  ground of unity in order to persecute the Church (v. 6). But the Church is taught how to
  pray in times of persecution (vv. 10–19), and even some of these enemies are converted
  to the Lord (v. 17).
83:1   Ps 83 regards Christ (the End) and His Church (the winepresses, v. 1). For His
  Church is the new wine (the new covenant), formed in the Sacrament of Baptism. And
  those who keep their baptism (walk in innocence, v. 12) long to see God and the world
  to come (vv. 2–9). As the Creed says, “I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life
  of the world to come.” For one day in this new world and its life is better than a lifetime
  (a thousand) in this present fallen world (the tents of sinners, v. 11).
84:1   Ps 84 is a prophecy of the Incarnation (the End, v. 1). His Incarnation (vv. 10–14)
  gives His holy ones (v. 9) deliverance from captivity (v. 2), the remission of sins (v. 3),
  deliverance from God's wrath (vv. 4–6), joyous life (v. 7), mercy (v. 8), and peace (v. 9).
85:1   Ps 85 reveals the prayerful spirit of a servant of God (vv. 2, 4, 16), for the Lord will
  incline His ear and hear him (v. 1). This spirit is characterized by humility (v. 1), hope
  (v. 2), ceaseless prayer (v. 3), a lifting up of the soul to the Lord (v. 4), the glorification of
  God (vv. 5–10), godly fear (v. 11), and thanksgiving with one's whole heart (vv. 12–17).
86:1 Ps 86 is a prophecy regarding the meaning of the Nativity. This connection is found in
  the Incarnation of the Most High (v. 5) and the City of God (vv. 2, 3). The city's
  inhabitants, consisting of both Jews and Gentiles, are those who were born again in her
  (vv. 4–7).
87:1   Ps 87 is a prophecy concerning Christ (the End) and His death, burial, and
  Resurrection (v. 14) on man's behalf. The prophecy focuses especially on His burial, for
  when He was buried, His body was placed in a grave, and His soul descended into Hades
  (v. 4). Both the grave and Hades are described as the pit (v. 5), the dead (vv. 5, 11), the
  grave (vv. 6, 12), the lowest pit, the shadow of death (v. 7), darkness, a forgotten
  land (v. 13), and despair (v. 16). From all this, Christ, in His great love for man, saves all
  who respond to Him and understand (v. 1) what He did for them.
88:1 Ps 88 concerns understanding the Lord's mercy and truth (vv. 2, 3, 6, 9, 15, 25, 29, 34,
  50). This mercy and truth is in the new covenant He made with the Church (vv. 4, 6, 29,
  35, 40). In His Incarnation, the Lord is called “the seed of David” (see vv. 4, 21, 50; see
  also Mt 1:1), the Lord God (vv. 7, 8, 9; see also Jn 20:28), the Firstborn of God the Father
  (vv. 27, 28; see also Heb 1:6), and the King (v. 19; see also 1Ti 6:15). His throne is
  established in the Church through the works of His Incarnation—for example, through
  His Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor (vv. 6–19), through His sufferings and death (vv. 39–
  46), and through His Resurrection (vv. 47–52).
89:1   Ps 89 is a morning prayer (vv. 5, 6, 14) designed to keep one focused on the Lord
  rather than on this temporal life and its hopelessness (vv. 5–11). For He exists outside
  time, and is therefore our only refuge (vv. 1, 2). Every morning is an opportunity to return
  to Him in repentance (Return, you sons of men, v. 3), and He is very patient, because
  a thousand years in His sight are like yesterday, which passed, and like a watch in
  the night (v. 4; see also 2Pt 3:8). He is very patient, because He does not will that
  anyone should perish (2Pt 3:9). Therefore, when we focus on the Lord every morning, we
  look for His return at the Second Coming (v. 13), and for His mercy, joy, enlightenment,
  and prosperity throughout each day (vv. 14–17).
90:1 Ps 90 describes the intensity of spiritual warfare the Church wages against the devil
  and his angels, both in life and in death. These enemies are called hunters (v. 3), things
  moving in darkness, mishaps, demons of noonday (v. 6), sinners (v. 8), evils,
  scourges (v. 10), asps, lions, and dragons (v. 13). They seek to ensnare us with every
  troubling word (v. 3). These words are like arrows that try to pierce the soul with
  unnatural fears (v. 5), especially the fear of death. Their numbers are many (a
  thousand and ten thousand, v. 7).
     Success in this warfare is called salvation (v. 16), which comes through God and our
  hope in Him (My God and I will hope in Him, v. 2). God is called the Most High (vv.
  1, 9), the God of heaven (v. 1), and the Lord (vv. 2, 9). He also commands His angels to
  help us (vv. 11, 12; see also Heb 1:14). His salvation is described as help (v. 1), shelter
  (vv. 1, 14), protection, refuge (v. 2), freedom (v. 3), overshadowing (v. 4), the shield of
  truth (v. 4), deliverance (v. 14), glorification (v. 15), and satisfaction (v. 16).
91:1 Ps 91 concerns the Sabbath day (v. 1), which speaks of rest. In this psalm, the rest is
  that of the soul. The Lord offers us this kind of rest (Mt 11:28–30). What then is our part
  in achieving such rest? Our part is to give thanks day and night for God's mercy and
  truth (vv. 2, 3), and to greatly rejoice in God's works in both creation and salvation (vv.
  4–6). God the Father wrought these works by His two hands (v. 5), that is, by His Son
  and His Spirit.
     But who does not experience such rest of soul? People without discernment (v. 7),
  who work lawlessness (vv. 9, 10). What are the fruits of a soul at rest? Divine exaltation
  and rich mercy, especially in old age (v. 11); victory over enemies and evildoers (the
  devil and his angels, v. 12); and the flourishing, multiplication, blossoming, increasing,
  and prospering of the virtues of righteousness in one's life as one grows older (vv. 13–
  15).
92:1 Ps 92 concerns the day before the Sabbath, when the earth was settled (v. 1).
  The Sabbath is Saturday, the seventh day of creation. The day before this is Friday, the
  sixth day of creation. On this sixth day, the Holy Trinity created numerous living
  creatures, but especially man himself (“when the earth was settled,” v. 1; see also Gn
  1:25–27). God created man in His image and likeness. But man fell away from God, and
  Ps 92 is about the renewal of this image and likeness. Thus, this psalm is the praise of
  an ode concerning this renewal (v. 1).
    The Lord reigns . . . from of old; . . . from everlasting (vv. 1, 2). In His Incarnation
  (clothed and girded Himself, v. 1), He prepared His throne in the hearts of the
  faithful (v. 2). At Pentecost, He sent the Holy Spirit (the rivers, vv. 3, 4; see also Jn 7:37–
  39) to renew us with the living waters of baptism. In these living waters the saints lift up
  their voices in praise of the Holy Trinity. They also believe the Lord's testimonies (the
  Scriptures) and live in holiness, which things are proper to His house, the Church (v.
  5).
93:1 Ps 93 is a psalm for the fourth day of the week (v. 1), which is Wednesday, the fourth
  day of creation in Gn 1:14–19. On this day, God created the sun, the moon, and the stars
  to give light on the earth and to rule over the day and the night. The sun speaks of Christ;
  the moon, of the Mother of God; and the stars, of the Church (Php 2:15; Rev 12). The light
  of the sun, the moon, and the stars speaks of the light given the fallen world by Christ
  through the Mother of God and the Church. This light enlightens the fallen world
  concerning the eternal kingdom of God.
     However, evil people in the fallen world oppose and persecute Christ, the Mother of
  God, and the Church (vv. 5–7). Throughout Church history, many martyrs have suffered
  for the faith. Thus, the question arises: “How long, O Lord, will this continue?” (see vv. 3,
  4). The answer is, the God of vengeance (v. 1) will bring persecution to an end when
  He judges the fallen world in righteousness (vv. 8–23; see also Acts 17:31), at which time
  He will repay their lawlessness to them (v. 23). Meantime, He is patient with people,
  giving them the opportunity to turn to Christ and the Church in repentance and faith
  before the Great Day of Judgment (v. 15).
94:1 Ps 94 is an invitation to worship (come, vv. 1, 2, 6). This worship is called the praise
  of an ode (v. 1). An ode emphasizes great joy (v. 1), and praise is offered with
  thanksgiving (v. 2). The object of our worship is the Lord (vv. 1, 3, 6), God (vv. 1, 3, 7),
  and the King (v. 3). This Lord, God, and King is God the Father. His hand is the Son,
  who holds the ends of the earth (v. 4) and the people and sheep of the Father's
  pasture (that is, the Church, v. 7). The Father created the world by His two hands, that
  is, by the Son and the Holy Spirit (v. 5). Therefore, Ps 94 is an invitation to worship the
  Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
     But those who refuse this invitation will never find rest for their souls (v. 11; see also
  Mt 11:27–30; Heb 3; 4). For those who hear this invitation (hear His voice, v. 7) but
  refuse it are like Israel during their forty-year wanderings in the desert (vv. 8–10). They
  hardened their hearts in rebellion by their own free will (v. 8), and we are warned not to
  harden our hearts (v. 8).
95:1 Ps 95 is a prophecy about the building of the house after the captivity (v. 1). The house
  is the Church, which includes the Gentiles (vv. 3, 5, 7, 10). The Gentiles were the captives
  of the demons (v. 5). The Lord (vv. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13) is the Lord Jesus Christ, who
  freed the captives. These former captives now worship Him (v. 9), and He will come again
  to judge the world and its gods in righteousness and truth (v. 13).
     This psalm was composed and sung by King David when he placed the ark of God in the
  tabernacle he set up (1Ch 16). This ark was a type of the Mother of God with Christ in her
  womb. For the Lord was conceived in her womb at the Annunciation for our salvation (Lk
  1). Thus, v. 2b is sung as a refrain in the First and Third Antiphons of the Divine Liturgy
  at the Feast of the Annunciation, celebrating the freedom of the captives.
96:1   Ps 96 is a prophecy concerning the restoration of the earth (v. 1), when the Lord
  Jesus Christ returns to raise the dead and establish the world to come (Creed). Virtually
  everything in this psalm points to this restoration, which reveals Christ as the all-
  powerful Lord and universal Ruler over all things (vv. 1, 5, 8, 9). Creation will be restored,
  the dead will be raised to see His glory, His enemies will be destroyed, and the righteous
  will rejoice exceedingly (vv. 1–9). In light of this coming restoration, we should love the
  Lord, hate evil, be glad, and give thanks (vv. 10–12).
97:1   Ps 97 prophesies the first and second comings of Christ to save both Jews and
  Gentiles in His Church (vv. 2, 3). This salvation will cause a new song (vv. 1, 4–6) to be
  sung to the Father (the Lord, v. 1). It would be accomplished through the First Coming
  of Christ, who is called the Father's right hand and His holy arm (v. 1). He is also
  called the Father's salvation and righteousness (v. 2), and His mercy and truth (v.
  3). At His Second Coming, He will come to judge the world in righteousness and
  uprightness (vv. 7–9).
98:1   Ps 98 prophesies the enthronement of the Lord Jesus Christ at the Father's right
  hand to reign over mankind both as God and Man. Man's anger cannot alter this (v. 1). He
  also reigns over the angels, the highest order of which is the cherubim (v. 1). However,
  before His enthronement, He humbled Himself in becoming Man and going to the cross
  (Php 2:8). Now He is highly exalted (vv. 2, 6, 9; see also Php 2:9, 10). Before His
  Incarnation, He also reigned over Israel as their God (vv. 6–8). Now He is reigning both
  as God and Man at the Father's right hand, and the Church worships at His footstool (v.
  5), which is the cross.
99:1 Ps 99 is a psalm of thanksgiving to the Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 1, 4). We thank Him
  for the privilege to serve Him with gladness and great joy (v. 2). We thank Him that
  He is our God, and that He created us and made us the sheep of His pasture (v. 3). We
  thank Him for His goodness, mercy, and truth (v. 5).
     This psalm is popular for devotional reading, but has no special liturgical use apart
  from its place in the weekly psalm cycle.
100:1   Ps 100 is simply called a psalm by David. It is a morning prayer, and the key to
  understanding this psalm is the statement, O Lord, I will sing to You of mercy and
  judgment (v. 1). We need the Lord's mercy and judgment each morning that we might
  give Him glory all the day. The Lord's mercy is His helping grace, and His judgment is His
  discernment, the crown of the virtues. We need both to fight against the devil and his
  angels. These enemies are identified as those who commit transgressions (v. 3), the
  evil man (v. 4), slanderers (v. 5), arrogant, insatiable, and unjust (vv. 5, 7), and the
  sinners of the earth (v. 8). We need the Lord's mercy and judgment to slay them each
  morning (v. 8). We also need the saints (the faithful of the earth, v. 6) to intercede for
  us.
101:1   Ps 101 is about a a poor man, when he was depressed and poured out his
  supplication before the Lord (v. 1). This Man is Jesus, who became poor for our sakes
  and interceded with the Father for our salvation (see also 2Co 8:9; Heb 5:7). The Lord to
  whom He prays is the Father (v. 2), and vv. 3–12 describe Jesus' extreme anguish for us
  (see also Mt 26:38). He also rose again for our salvation, for He is the Lord over death
  (when You rise up, v. 14). He is the Creator of the world (vv. 26–28; see also Heb 1:10–
  12), and He also created the Church (vv. 19, 23, 29), composed of Gentiles as well as Jews
  (v. 16).
102:1   Ps 102 begins and ends with, Bless the Lord (vv. 1, 22). Verses 2–14, 19 give us
  many reasons why the Lord should be blessed, and vv. 15–21 explain who is to bless Him.
  Man is to bless Him (vv. 15–18), and His angels as well (vv. 20, 21). Man is to bless Him
  for His covenant (v. 18), and the angels, for the privilege to be His ministers (v. 21).
103:1 Ps 103 opens and closes with, Bless the Lord, O my soul (vv. 1, 35). Everything in
  between gives many reasons why the Lord is to be blessed. He is to be blessed because He
  is the lover of man, of angels, and of creation. His care runs through all creation, which is
  filled with His goodness (v. 28). But the visible creation fell into death and decay (return
  again to their dust, v. 29); however, He sent forth His Spirit at Pentecost to renew man
  and creation (v. 30).
104:1-1 Ps 104, 105, and 106 form a trilogy, each with the heading, Alleluia, which means
  “praise the Lord.” This heading emphasizes praising the Lord and giving Him thanks for
  His works of mercy (104:1–3; 105:1, 2; 106:1, 2). These works are traced in great detail
  from Abraham on, and are fulfilled in the coming of Christ to save mankind: He sent His
  word and healed them, and delivered them from their corruptions (106:20). The
  Father sent His Word, who crushed the gates of bronze and shattered the bars of
  iron (106:16). He trampled death by His death and Resurrection, bestowing life on those
  in the tombs (those sitting in the darkness and shadow of death, bound in
  poverty and fetters, 106:10; He brought them out of darkness and the shadow
  of death, and broke their chains to pieces, 106:14).
      The response of those who are wise and shall keep these things, and shall
  understand the mercies of the Lord (106:43) is “Alleluia.”
107:1   Ps 107 is a prophecy concerning the ascension and enthronement of Christ at the
  Father's right hand (Be exalted above the heavens, O God, v. 6; I shall be exalted,
  v. 8). From this enthronement He is now singing to the Father in the midst of His Church
  (vv. 2–4).
108:1    Ps 108 is for the End (v. 1), who is Christ Himself. It speaks of the unbelieving
  Judas, who betrayed Him to the unbelieving Jews. Judas the son of perdition is lost (Jn
  17:12), fulfilling this Scripture. Verse 8 is quoted in Acts 1:20 as referring to Judas, who
  loved cursing and rejected blessing (v. 17). He cursed Christ and rejected His blessing.
  This was the ultimate betrayal, described especially in vv. 6–19. But the Father raised His
  Son from the dead, and He now leads the Church in praise of the Blessed Trinity (vv. 30,
  31).
109:1     Ps 109 is a prophecy concerning the Melchizedek Priesthood of the Lord Jesus
  Christ, which explains the true meaning of the Nativity. In Gn 14:18–20, Melchizedek is
  called the king of Salem and priest of the Most High God (see also Heb 7:1). His
  priesthood was not based on genealogy (Heb 7:3). It was based on himself alone, for no
  one preceded him in priesthood, nor succeeded him (Heb 7:8). On this basis he was a type
  of Christ, whose priesthood is based in His endless life, for He rose again from the dead
  (Heb 7:16).
    The Lord [the Father] said to my Lord [Christ], “Sit at My right hand” (v. 1). For
  Christ is not only Man, but also the Lord God, coequal and one in nature with the Father.
  For He is begotten from the Father before all time (before the morning star, v. 3), and
  is therefore His eternal Son (v. 3; see also Creed). He is the Son of David according to the
  flesh (Mt 1:1), but He is also the Lord of David according to His divinity (see also Mt
  22:41–45).
        At the Father's right hand, this Melchizedek Priest rules and reigns over all things,
  including His enemies (vv. 1, 2, 5–7), and leads His Church in heavenly worship of the
  Blessed Trinity (v. 3).
110:1 Ps 110 has the heading, Alleluia (v. 1), which emphasizes praise and thanksgiving to
  the Lord with one's whole heart (vv. 1, 3, 10). The Church (the assembly, v. 1) praises
  and thanks Him for all His works (vv. 2, 3, 6, 7), especially those related to His eternal
  covenant (vv. 5, 9). The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord because of all
  His works. Those who practice this fear have a good understanding (v. 10) and
  therefore will offer continual praise to God.
111:1   Ps 111 is another Alleluia or praise psalm (v. 1) that blesses the Lord Jesus Christ
  and His Church. He is the Man who is blessed. His seed, the generation of the
  upright, and his house refer to the Church (vv. 2, 3). He gives the gift of his
  righteousness to the Church (v. 3) and teaches the Church by example how to live in
  this righteousness (vv. 1, 4, 9). But the sinner, the devil, is angry with Christ and His
  Church; therefore, the desire of this sinner and the desire of sinners like him shall
  perish (v. 10).
112:1   Ps 112 is an Alleluia psalm that continually praises the risen, ascended, and
  enthroned Lord (vv. 1–3). Verses 4–9 give a series of reasons He is to be praised and
  blessed: (1) He is high above all the nations, and His glory is above the heavens
  (v. 4); (2) All created things in heaven and earth are humble compared to Him (vv. 5, 6);
  (3) He exalts the poor in spirit (vv. 7, 8); and (4) He is establishing His Church and her
  children (v. 9).
113:1    Ps 113 speaks of Israel's history in their exodus from Egypt across the Red Sea and
  the Jordan River into the promised land (vv. 1–11). The lifeless idols of the nations in this
  land could neither will nor do anything to stop Israel (vv. 12–16). By contrast, the
  believers in Israel were those who feared the Lord and hoped in Him (vv. 17–26).
  Therefore, the history of believing Israel was the history of their salvation.
        More importantly, Israel's exodus from Egypt and crossing the Jordan River speak of
  Christ's Baptism and our subsequent Christian baptism. For Christian baptism is Christ's
  Baptism. He was baptized in the Jordan River for our sake. He was also the rock from
  which we drink the waters of salvation (v. 8; see also 1Co 10:1–11).
114:1   Ps 114 speaks of the person who loves the Lord because the Lord loves him by
  hearing his prayers (v. 1; see also 1Jn 4:19). The love of God matures in this believer
  through (1) answers to prayer (vv. 1, 2); (2) deliverance from the fear of death and the
  dangers of Hades (vv. 3–5); (3) humility and rest in the Lord (vv. 6, 7); and (4) looking for
  the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come (vv. 8, 9; see also Creed).
115:1 Ps 115 speaks about “the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come”
  (Creed). St. Paul interprets the psalm in this manner in 2Co 4:13–18. The psalmist
  recognizes the futility of this life (every man is a liar, v. 2). But by the vision (ecstasy,
  v. 2) of faith, we wait for the resurrection of the dead and our future life in the kingdom
  of God. Our faith is the reason the death of His holy ones is precious to God (v. 5). The
  bonds (v. 6) of death are broken apart by our resurrection, and we will offer a sacrifice
  of praise (v. 7) in the world to come (O Jerusalem, v. 9). By way of foretaste, we now
  take up the cup of salvation (v. 4) in the Eucharist, and offer it as a sacrifice of
  praise (v. 7) to God.
116:1 Ps 116 is the shortest of all the psalms. It is quoted by St. Paul in Rom 15:11 to show
  that the Gentiles are included in the promises made to Israel (Rom 15:8). It also reveals
  that our salvation is based in the Lord's mercy and truth. God's mercy rules over those
  who walk by faith, and His truth is the substance of faith that endures forever (v. 2) in
  them.
117:1   Ps 117 sets forth the theme, Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His
  mercy endures forever (vv. 1–4, 29). Verses 5–28 are rich in teaching and give many
  reasons we are to give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation He provided us
  through His sufferings, death, and Resurrection (v. 28). The following verses are some of
  the reasons for thanksgiving: (1) v. 6 (quoted in Heb 13:6) emphasizes deliverance from
  the fear of man; (2) vv. 22, 23 (quoted in Mt 21:42; Mk 12:10, 11; Lk 20:17; Acts 4:11),
  show the Lord becoming the Chief Cornerstone of the Church; (3) v. 24 reveals the
  exceeding joy of the Resurrection; and (4) vv. 25, 26 (quoted in Mt 21:9; Mk 11:9; Lk
  19:38) refer to the original Palm Sunday.
118:1 Ps 118 is the longest of all the psalms, and its headings are the letters of the Hebrew
  alphabet. The key to its understanding is vv. 1 and 2, for they explain who are the blessed
  people. These people are those who are blameless; who walk in the law of the Lord; who
  search out His testimonies; and who search for Him with their whole heart. The
  statements describe a dynamic spiritual life and set the stage for progressing through all
  the truths revealed in vv. 3–176: that with God's help and by continual repentance, a
  blameless walk with Him is possible. This blameless walk is the way for one to prepare
  for the day of his death. Christ Himself lived and died this way; and through Him, we who
  believe are to live and die in this way also.
119:1-1 Ps 119–133 are called odes of ascents. These are also known as “graduals.” In her
  services of worship, the Church ascends by degrees to the heavenly holy of holies, for
  worship is an ascent of the heart and mind to the Holy Trinity in adoration, praise, and
  thanksgiving. For example, the word Eucharist means thanksgiving. The climax of the
  Church's ascent is when the celebrating priest says in the Divine Liturgy, “Let us give
  thanks unto the Lord,” in offering up the body and blood of Christ. Historically in Israel,
  these songs were sung by the faithful as they walked from great distances up to
  Jerusalem for the Feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. From this usage, the
  principal liturgical use in the Church comes as we progress through Lent toward Pascha.
  For these are the psalms sung each Wednesday and Friday at the Presanctified Liturgy as
  we make our pilgrimage to the Resurrection of Christ our Passover.
134:1-1   Ps 134 and 135 go together both in content and in use. In the Church, they are
  called the Polyeleos, or “Many Mercies.” Ps 134 is similar in content to Ps 113, rehearsing
  the salvific history of Israel. Ps 135 is a responsive psalm, with the choir and the people
  singing antiphonally or alternately; it is an Old Testament “Great Litany.”
136:1   Ps 136 was sung in exile in the Old Testament, while Israel was in captivity in
  Babylon. In the Church, it is prayed by the Christian community as being in exile in this
  world.
137:1 Ps 137 shows worship to be heaven on earth, for the Church sings to the Lord in the
  presence of angels (v. 1). Heaven and earth are united in Christ; therefore, the Church
  is heaven on earth. The Church consists of believing Gentiles as well as believing Jews (v.
  4), singing and giving thanks with all their heart (v. 1).
138:1   Ps 138 is for the End (v. 1), who is Christ. He is God in the flesh, and as Man He
  descended into Hades (v. 8), trampling death by His death on our behalf. He also arose
  from the dead (v. 18) that we might be led in the way everlasting (v. 24). Therefore, we
  do not fear death, for His Holy Spirit is present with us (v. 7), and we are not separated
  from Him even in death.
138:1   Verses 13–16 reveal the sanctity of life of an unborn child and explain why, both in
  ancient Israel and in the Church, aborting a babe in the womb is seen as the sin of
  murder.
139:1   Ps 139 is for the End (v. 1), who is Christ. He prayed this prayer during His
  sufferings and death on behalf of the Church. In so doing, He delivered and rescued us
  from the evil man and the unjust man (v. 2). This man is the devil, and the unjust
  men (v. 5) are his angels. We are in a continual war with these fallen angels (v. 8), but
  our victory of thanksgiving is through the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 14).
140:1-1   Ps 140 and 141 are the psalms of the evening incense. These two psalms are both
  sung at Vespers. Ps 141:2 was sung in Israel, and now in the Church, during the offering
  of incense to God. As Rev 5:8 teaches, incense is the visible sign of the prayers of all
  God's people. The prophet Malachi foretold its continued use in every place, including in
  the offering of worship by the Gentiles (Mal 1:11). Incense was brought to Christ as a gift
  at His birth, and it has been used in the worship of the Church from her very beginning.
142:1   Ps 142 teaches God's righteousness (vv. 1, 11) in contrast to man's futile efforts to
  attain righteousness based on the Law (v. 2). For the enemy (v. 3), who is the devil,
  overcomes my feeble efforts at righteousness (vv. 3–5). But with the gift of God's
  righteousness through faith, the Holy Spirit guides me in the land of uprightness (v.
  10). King David knew God's righteousness through faith, and so do all who walk by faith
  in our Lord Jesus Christ.
143:1   Ps 143 describes our war against Goliath the giant (v. 1). Goliath was arrogant and
  vainglorious against the Lord and Israel; David slew him and cut off his head. This is a
  picture of our war against the powerful sinful passions, especially arrogance and
  vainglory, the most destructive of sins. This psalm sets forth arrogance and vainglory in
  their true light, for the arrogant and vainglorious man is become like vanity, his days
  like a passing shadow (v. 4), and he speaks empty things (v. 8). But the truly joyous
  and blessed people are those who bless the Lord with a humble spirit (vv. 1, 15). And the
  Father sent forth His Hand [the Son] from on high to deliver us from the great
  waters of arrogance and vainglory that destroy the soul (v. 7).
144:1 Ps 144 describes the Church's blessing and exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 1–
  3). The Church (generation and generation, v. 4; and His kingdom of all the ages,
  v. 13) blesses and exalts the Son of God for all His works in the Incarnation and the power
  of his deeds (vv. 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 13, 17). We fear and love Him for all His works on our behalf
  (vv. 19, 20). We bless His name every day and will bless and exalt Him into the world to
  come (vv. 1, 2, 13, 21).
145:1 Ps 145 praises the Lord, the Creator, for His eternal reign in the Church (vv. 1, 2, 6,
  10). For He is our helper, our hope, our freedom, our restorer, our wisdom, and our
  keeper (vv. 5, 7–9). No earthly rulers can provide these things, for death overtakes them
  (vv. 3, 4).
146:1   Ps 146 describes a psalm as a good thing and as something sweet to God the Father
  (v. 1). This is true because He is building Jerusalem (v. 2), which is the Church. He is
  doing this through His Son, whom He sent to renew His people and His creatures (vv. 2–
  11). For example, through the sacraments of the Church, He heals the brokenhearted,
  and He binds up all their wounds (v. 3). He is pleased with those who fear Him,
  and with those who hope in His mercy (v. 11).
147:1   Ps 147 exhorts the Church (O Jerusalem and O Zion, v. 1) to praise God the Father
  for sending His Son to earth (vv. 4, 7). His wind is the Holy Spirit, and from Him the
  waters shall flow (v. 7). Thus, the Church glorifies the Blessed Trinity in her worship.
148:1-1   Ps 148–150 are called “the Praises,” and they form the conclusion to the Psalter.
  These three psalms exhort all creation to praise the Blessed and Holy Trinity. The climax
  of the Psalter is reached in Ps 150, where humanity and creation, everywhere and in all
  circumstances, are called upon to make this doxology to the Father, the Son, and the Holy
  Spirit, our one God.
151:1 Ps 151 is outside the number of the Psalter, but written with David's own hand
  (v. 1). It concerns the slaying of the giant Goliath. Historically, David slew him as
  recorded in 1Kg 17. He slew him through humility (I was small, v. 1) and through the
  Lord (v. 3).
     From a spiritual standpoint, Goliath stands for the sinful passions of arrogance and
  vainglory (see also Ps 143). Thus, with the Lord's help, we slay these giants with humility.
1:1   Job was originally called Jobab (42:19). Thanks to the LXX text he is no longer the
  mystery man “from the land of Uz.” He is from the land of Ausitis, which was located
  on the borders of Edom and Arabia (42:19). He is also a descendant of Abraham through
  Esau, and his first wife was an Arab (42:20). This makes him a Gentile, and Esau the
  unbeliever was his forefather. St. John Chrysostom, quoting Ecc 7:21, notes that the text
  qualifies Job as blameless, that is, “just,” but that it did not say, “without sin.” Only
  Christ was without sin (Heb 4:15).
1:6   Heaven is inaccessible to the devil; yet he came with them because he is an angel
  with a nature similar to the angels of God. However, writes St. Gregory, “He was in the
  Lord's sight, but the Lord was not in his sight. When a blind man stands in the sun, he is
  bathed with the sun's rays, but he still does not see the light by which he is lit.” And St.
  John Chrysostom teaches that “‘he came with them’ means nothing else but that [the
  devil] too is dependent upon God.”
1:7   The devil accuses the righteous before God “day and night” (Rev 12:10). With God's
  permission, he pummels our minds with evil thoughts and weakens our bodies with pain
  and illness, ever seeking to influence us towards evil. But through hardship, the righteous
  are clothed in the “whole armor of God” (Eph 6:13). We are called to “glory in
  tribulations” (Rom 5:3), knowing that we are to walk in obedience to Christ's commands
  (Mt 5:10).
1:10-12 St. John Chrysostom remarks that Satan's will is his own, but he derives his power
  from God, who does not allow him to act except with justice. He cannot bring harm to the
  faithful, and even profits those who wage war against him, “for tribulation makes the
  strong man stronger.” Jesus conversed with evil spirits and even granted their request to
  be sent into a great herd of swine (Lk 8:32, 33).
1:13     St. Gregory compares the elder brother to the Jews, and the rest of Job's sons and
  daughters to the Gentiles. The collapse of the house (v. 19) points to the Final Judgment,
  when we will either be crushed by Christ the Rock or take refuge in Him (see Lk 17:26–
  30).
1:20   Job did these acts, according to St. Hesychius, less as a sign of mourning than to get
  rid of what possessions were left with him, thus leaving the enemy no means by which he
  could further test him. “He wanted to strip down, nude to nude, with his enemy, and he
  fell to the ground to humble himself before God.”
1:22   Job did not charge God with injustice for the evils that had befallen him (see Ps
  22:2). “It is not the events, but the perversity of thoughts, that makes us suspect God of
  meanness” (JohnChr).
2:2   St. Gregory comments that since the devil has already been defeated, the Lord is
  chiding him for the impotence of his pride. St. Hesychius teaches that the devil cannot
  even speak without first receiving permission from God.
2:4   The devil was unable to understand how Job could seek salvation over saving his own
  skin—that is, his life.
2:7   St. Gregory remarks that from the beginning, Satan has been working to destroy the
  Body of Christ, inflicting wounds on God's people throughout the history of the Jews, and
  continuing in his fury until he came to the very Head of the Church.
2:8   Job in his misery is an image of Christ on the Cross. He came “in the likeness of sinful
  flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom 8:3). “With a shard,
  therefore, the pus is scraped, when sin is defeated by the flesh.” St. Gregory also notes
  that the repentant sinner, like Job, looks “unflinchingly upon the stains of sin by which
  he is covered.”
2:9   St. Hesychius teaches that Satan “recruited” Job's wife, as he had done with Eve. St.
  John Chrysostom asks, “What are you saying, woman? When God needs to be . . .
  propitiated, you are, rather, preparing to provoke Him! For if it is God who has caused
  these bad things, He needs to be invoked, not blasphemed.” And Jesus said, “He who
  endures to the end will be saved” (Mt 10:22).
2:15   Job did not sin with his lips: “When holy men undergo persecution . . . they not
  only never transgress in injurious expressions against God, but they never launch words
  of reviling against their very adversaries” (GrgGt).
2:16-18 Job's three friends came to comfort him, but the contrary took place, because
  they imagined they understood the reason he suffered such things.
3:1-3 Job cursed his day of birth, but as a pious man he never said he could not endure
  his pain.
3:8   The sea-monster is identified as Satan (3:8; 7:12; 9:13; 26:12; 41:1; Ps 74:13, 14; 87:4;
  89:10; 104:26; 148:7; Is 27:1; 30:7; 51:9; Ezk 29:3; 32:2; Jon 1:17).
3:20     “The heart of the just knows its own bitterness because it understands how
  troublesome is its exile here, where it lies wounded and cast out” (GrgGt).
3:21   St. Gregory writes that those who seek to die to themselves are like those who dig for
  treasures. “The closer they come to their goal, the more eager they become for the
  work.”
4:3-6 In his hypocrisy, Eliphaz begins to mock Job for the very virtues he had been praised
  for. Christ was mocked and reviled in a similar way (Lk 23:35–37).
4:7   Eliphaz could not understand why God would allow a righteous man to suffer. The
  Fathers give four reasons why God allows suffering: (1) as a means of punishment, when
  there is no hope for rehabilitation (see Jer 30:14, 15 and notes); (2) to bring the sinner to
  repentance (see Jn 5:14); (3) to prevent future sins (see 2Co 12:7); and (4) “that the
  power of God might be made known” (Jn 9:2, 3).
4:13-21   St. Gregory comments that Job's friends typify teachers of false doctrines, who
  pretend to hear hidden words from God in order to confuse the weak and to “cast a veil of
  reverence” over their preaching.
5:1-27 St. Gregory remarks that Eliphaz' words would have been true, had they not been
  delivered against the patience of so great a man. Like the Hebrews, Eliphaz knew the acts
  of the Lord, but he did not know His ways (Ps 102:7).
6:2   Christ is the scale. He “came to weigh the merit of our life, and brought down with
  Him both justice and lovingkindness together” (GrgGt).
6:5-7   God is the Source of both physical and spiritual food. Christ is the bread that
  satisfies, and His words, being “salted with truth,” give eternal life.
6:10   Having placed his hope in the Lord, Job faced the grave with peace of soul. It was
  Eliphaz who had lied about the holy words of . . . God.
6:11-13 “The strength of the righteous is to subdue the flesh, to love the hardships of this
  world for the sake of eternal rewards, to count the allurements of prosperity as nothing,
  and to overcome the dread of adversity in our heart” (GrgGt).
6:18   Job's lament gives voice to Christ in His Passion, summed up when He cried out, “My
  God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Ps 21:1; Mt 27:46).
7:8   I am no more speaks of death and judgment, for believers know that they “will be
  lost if they are judged apart from mercy, for even this very life that we seem to live
  righteously is sin” (GrgGt).
7:11   St. Gregory remarks that we are to approach confession with Job's frame of mind.
7:12   St. Hesychius comments that a guard refers to the enemy, who is allowed to afflict
  the righteous with hard trials.
7:20-21   Christ also asked “why?” while hanging on the Cross (Mt 27:46). Job looked to
  death for relief (v. 21), but Christ's death purged our lawlessness (Jn 1:29), and His
  Resurrection in the morning (Ps 5:3) brought a new covenant of life and hope.
8:1-4 How long? The unjust cannot bear the edifying words of the righteous, but speak
  even well-known truths boldly and with big words so they will appear learned.
8:11-13 Bildad's images, which rightly describe all who forget the Lord, are wasted on
  Job. In speaking of those who have forgotten God, St. Gregory writes that while they
  accept God's gifts and blessings, “they do not seek His glory, but their own applause.”
9:2   Job's question is answered in Christ, the only truly righteous One.
9:5   St. Ambrose sees in the mountains a type of the Old Testament and the Prophets.
  “The Jew grew old; grace was renewed.” Christ “overturned” the understanding of the Law
  (2Co 5:17) and established the comprehension that is of the Spirit.
9:8   St. Gregory the Great sees in heaven a type of the preaching of the apostles and
  evangelists. St. Cyril notes that this is the same Lord who, as Man, walked on the sea as
  on firm ground (Jn 6:19).
9:9-13 St. Hesychius sees v. 9 as denoting all of God's great works, and compares v. 10 to
  Jn 21:25. God goes beyond us (v. 11) when He defers judgment, and passes by when He
  visits us.
9:15    “All human righteousness is proved unrighteous if it is judged in strict rules”;
  therefore we must be strenuous in prayer, so that our righteous deeds may be seasoned
  by humility (GrgGt).
10:1-3    Here we see Job growing weaker, calling on God's help lest he give heed to the
  enemy. Job, like Christ, “learned obedience through the things which He suffered” (Heb
  5:8).
10:8-12 St. Ambrose writes that Job, knowing no one is immune from falling, rejects what
  comes from unholiness and confesses what comes from weakness. To act in an unholy
  way is not part of the human condition; rather, it comes from the “poison of unbelief.”
  Man's pardon lies in God's mercy and not in man's power.
10:9-12    From his conception, man is shaped by God. St. Cyril writes, “None of the
  members of the body as formed from the beginning is polluted. Let the mouths of all
  heretics be stopped who slander their bodies, or rather, Him who formed them” (see 1Co
  6:19).
10:20   The righteous ask that their trials might be over, says St. Hesychius, so that many
  around them might not stumble as a result of seeing so much suffering and sorrow.
10:20-22   St. Hesychius writes that this land refers to hell: “Man should fear going into
  these places.” St. Gregory remarks, “But what advantage is it for us to foreknow these
  things, if it is not our lot to escape them?” Indeed, Job knew he would be redeemed
  (19:25). Therefore, as the Lord says, “Walk while you have the light, lest darkness
  overtake you” (Jn 12:35).
11:1-20   Unlike Job, Zophar had all the answers and no questions. Zophar is incorrect in
  asserting that if a man does all the “right” things, God will bless him; when in fact, man's
  will cannot force God to act. The intellectual demands of men like these are satisfied with
  their manmade theories and doctrines. They are more anxious to appease an inaccessible
  God than to trust in a God who loves them.
12:5-6   The appointed time also speaks of the Day of Judgment, when the innocent
  One will judge those who provoked Him.
12:15   St. Gregory the Great interprets water to mean the grace of the Holy Spirit. “If the
  grace of the Holy Spirit is withdrawn from the hearer's mind, the sense is immediately
  dried up.”
12:22   The shadow of death is the Law, which makes all sinners liable to punishment by
  death; but Christ brought light to the shadows (GrgGt).
13:1   God reveals His mysteries to the ones He has found to be holy (Hesych).
13:17-28 Job's is the voice of mankind, “eagerly desiring to advance from fear to love. . . .
  He seeks the very presence of his Creator, familiarly, in the flesh,” that he might both
  hear and be heard (GrgGt).
14:5   God sets bounds to our spiritual attainments. We learn humility by the things we are
  unable to master, that we may not be exalted by those things we have the power to do
  (GrgGt).
14:7-11 Christ was cut down in His death, but would sprout again in His Resurrection
  (see Ps 1:3) and send out tender shoots—“the faithful being multiplied by His
  Resurrection grew out far and wide” (GrgGt).
14:14   Will man live again: “Our Lord, when He was near His passion, took up the voice
  of those who were weak in Himself, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass
  from Me’ (Mt 26:39); and that He might remove their fear, He took it in Himself”
  (GrgGt).
14:17   As a mortal man, Job has transgressed unwillingly, that is, “sin not leading to
  death” (1Jn 5:16, 17). But “one day it may also come forth out of the bag of secrecy into
  the publicity of the Judgment” (GrgGt).
15:1-6   “Blessed Job bears a type of the Holy Church universal, and his friends bear the
  likeness of heretics” (GrgGt).
15:20   “With their feeble insight, [Job's friends] did not perceive that the Lord had given
  him over to be tempted so that, like an athlete of Christ, he might be fashioned by the
  temptations and attain to the crown of a greater glory” (AmbM).
16:8   St. Hesychius compares this verse to Christ's betrayal at Judas's hands (Jn 13:21; Mt
  26:25).
16:17 Compare this verse to 1Pt 2:22 and Lk 23:24.
16:18   The earth did not cover Christ's blood shed on the Cross; rather His blood has
  covered the earth, for the Church has preached the gospel of salvation in all parts of the
  world (GrgGt).
17:4   A stunning example of God's enemies lacking discernment shows up in St. Paul's
  commentary in 1Co 2:7, 8 on those who crucified Christ.
18:1-21 St. Gregory sees Bildad's words as being unwittingly directed against the devil.
19:5    Job's friends, seeing his affliction and knowing his righteousness, should have
  bewailed their own miserable condition. “With what vengeance did they deserve to be
  smitten, who had not served like him?” (GrgGt).
19:7-19 The Fathers note clear parallels between this passage and Christ's Passion (see Mt
  27:40; Jn 18:23; Mt 27:26, 27, 29; Is 53:2, 3).
19:23-27 “No one since the days of Christ speaks so openly concerning the Resurrection as
  he did before Christ” (Jerome).
20:1-3 Zophar's so-called superior understanding blinded him to the truth.
20:12-14   St. Gregory comments that the hypocrite hides his evil intentions behind soft
  words inspired by demons, but the faithful hide the “honey and milk” of heaven under
  their tongue (SS 4:11).
21:7-14   Some, seeing the righteous suffer and the sinner prosper, assume that God's
  judgment is not just. But although the ungodly may prosper on this earth, they cannot
  escape judgment when they die. Christ will say to all who reject Him, “depart from Me”
  (Mt 25:41; Lk 12:47, 48).
21:16   “Let us pray together to undergo toil here, so that we may deserve to gain the
  consolation of eternal rest in the kingdom of heaven. For prosperity and abundance
  constitute a powerful inducement to do wrong; they exalt a man to pride and induce him
  to forget his Creator” (AmbM).
21:23-26 Riches should not lift up the soul, nor should poverty disturb it.
21:29   Those who do not pass through the present life as if it were a road to that which is
  to come are unable to comprehend those who do.
22:1-30 Eliphaz went from a dead heart to idle words, and from idle words to the sin of
  lying, and from lying to insults and abuse. These are the descents of increasing sin
  (GrgGt).
22:2   When prideful people know they are going to lose the argument, they often repeat
  what is already known, “lest, by holding their tongue, they should appear to be defeated”
  (GrgGt).
22:23    Eliphaz failed to realize that it was because of Job's righteous deeds that he was
  afflicted in the first place (1:12).
23:1-3 In the midst of affliction, the righteous know God by faith, but long all the more to
  see His form. Christ will take the form of fallen men and fulfill Job's desires (GrgGt).
23:12   Similarly, the Virgin Mary has hidden many things in her heart (Lk 2:19).
24:1   We are wrapped up within the divisions of time, since we are created beings. But God,
  Creator of all things, encompasses our times by His eternity (GrgGt).
24:2-6   The ungodly here denote false teachers, who lead others away from the right
  way of salvation (GrgGt).
24:8   “The showers of the mountains are the words of the learned” (GrgGt). The rock is
  Christ and His Church, to whom the afflicted ones flee.
24:14-16 “Everyone who avoids the light loves darkness, seeking to be hidden, though he
  cannot be hidden from God” (AmbM).
25:4   “Every just man is just by illumination from God, not by comparison with God”
  (GrgGt).
26:1, 2 Is it possible for a man to help God? St. Gregory gives a qualified “yes.” Relating
  this passage to 1Co 3:7, he writes, “For to ‘plant’ and to ‘water’ is to ‘help,’ both of which
  would be only a void ministration if God does not give the increase in the heart.”
26:14    “If we can hardly endure the wonders of His humility, with what nerve do we
  encounter the loud and dreadful advent of His Majesty?” (GrgGt; see Ps 49:3).
27:3   “He signifies here the nostrils of his inner man, with which he gathered the odor of
  eternal life, and drew in the grace of the heavenly ointment by a twofold sense, as it were”
  (AmbM).
27:6    How can Job say that he has not done anything wrong, considering that he
  accuses himself of having sinned (7:20; 9:20)? Because even righteous men find it
  difficult to avoid involuntary sin (see 14:17–22 and note; Rom 7:13–25 and notes). “For
  what man's heart, bound up with this corruptible flesh, does not slip in ill-bent thought? .
  . . But when there is a resisting of the thought, the soul is freed from being confounded.
  And so the mind of the righteous, even though it is free from bad practice, yet sometimes
  falls to the ground in bad thinking” (GrgGt).
27:12   Compare with Jam 4:17.
28:1-3 God's order is plainly seen in things like silver and gold, but “the design of God
  Himself is invisible” (JohnChr).
29:1-6 St. Gregory interprets this passage in the light of Christ and His Church. The lamp
  denotes Holy Scripture (2Pt 1:19; Ps 118:105); my house is “the dwelling place of the
  mind”; and butter (v. 6) is the “holy preachers, filled to the full with the fatness of good
  works.”
29:14-15   I put on righteousness: Compare to Gal 3:27. The preaching of the Church
  enlightens the blind man, who does not know where to go, and supports the lame man,
  who “does not have the power to go to the place he sees.”
29:16   St. Cyril notes that it is not only the natural father who is called father (see 1Co
  4:15), “for Paul was father of the Corinthians, not by having begotten them after the flesh,
  but by having taught and begotten them again after the Spirit.”
29:17    “Oh what a spoil did the Church take from the mouth of the devil, when, by
  converting, she carried off Saul himself, the spoiler!” (GrgGt; see Acts 9:1–12).
29:19   An image pointing to the waters of baptism and the coming of the Holy Spirit, who
  would settle on the apostles at Pentecost.
29:20-25 An image pointing to the growth of the Church.
30:1-12 St. Gregory sees these younger men, along with the fathers who taught them, as
  heretics. But they also can be seen more universally to illustrate those who teach, and
  those who follow, false doctrines. They are in want and famine (v. 3) because they are
  lost and spiritually malnourished. Salty herbs, says St Gregory, means they “observe the
  least precepts and disregard the greater ones.” They no longer understand the truth, but
  are content to chew its roots. The thieves are those who would steal the faithful away
  from the Church. Indeed, the true Church is taunted by her critics, while the name of the
  Lord Jesus Christ is used as a byword (v. 9) by these sons of fools (v. 8), who misuse
  and exploit it as they pursue every “wind of doctrine” (Eph 4:14).
30:13-31 This passage carries several voices: (1) that of Blessed Job; (2) that of Christ in
  His Passion; (3) that of the Church in the midst of persecution; and (4) that of the
  faithful in the midst of their struggle.
30:25   “Who then are the ‘merciful’ (Mt 5:7)? Those who give money or feed the poor? No.
  But who are they? Those who have become poor for the sake of Him who became poor for
  our sakes (see 2Co 8:9)” (SymNew). These have nothing material to give, yet they
  constantly weep with compassion over the man in distress.
31:1, 2 St. Gregory writes that Eve sinned and “came to death” because she allowed desire
  to enter her soul through the “windows” of her eyes. He warns the faithful to be careful
  that we not even look on what is forbidden. “If I defile my mind in thought, I can never be
  the inheritance of Him who is the Author of purity” (see Mt 5:27, 28; 1Pt 1:13).
31:3-6 “The righteous man is scourged and corrected by the rod of discipline, because he is
  being prepared for the Father's estate of inheritance. But the unjust man is let go in his
  own pleasures because temporal good things are supplied to him to the same degree that
  eternal ones are denied him. . . . So let the righteous weigh well the evils that await the
  wicked, and never envy their passing happiness” (GrgGt).
31:6   He knows: “It is not that the Creator of the periods of time learned anything from
  time, but His ‘knowing’ is His affording the knowledge to us by the example of each
  particular case as it emerges” (GrgGt).
31:16   “That does not mean, ‘yes’ for this need, and ‘no’ for that one; but ‘yes’ to every need
  without distinction, even if it is perilous, very costly, or risky” (JohnChr).
31:25   St. Gregory the Great comments that the righteous have not rejoiced in great
  earthly wealth; rather, it is seen as a burden, because they have to “carry so many things”
  on their journey to their heavenly inheritance. All things belong to God; therefore we
  must strive to share all we have with our needy neighbor (Gal 2:10).
32:1-22 Elihu, puffed up with arrogance, represents those who profess truth with the lips,
  but despise truth in the heart. St. Gregory says arrogance is manifested in four ways: (a)
  when the proud think they possess any goodness of themselves; (b) when they believe
  they can earn God's blessings by their own merit; (c) when they boast of possessing
  something they do not have; and (d) when, despising others, they wish to be the sole
  possessors of what they have.
33:1-3 Where St. Gregory sees in Elihu few admirable qualities, St. John Chrysostom gives
  Job's young friend credit for wanting Job “to be declared as righteous” (33:32), while his
  other friends desired only to condemn him.
33:4   St. Ambrose writes that this verse shows the divine Spirit “to be both divine and
  Creator.” St. Gregory of Nazianzus writes that “this Spirit shares with the Son in working
  both the Creation and the Resurrection” (also see Ps 103:30).
33:31-33   Elihu has uttered great and powerful words, yet immediately follows up with
  pride and foolishness. He is like those who “preach Christ even from envy and strife . . .
  not sincerely, supposing to add affliction” to the suffering of another (Php 1:14–17).
34:1-3 Elihu, sad to say, did not preach in order to make men wise, but to display his own
  superior wisdom.
34:5-8 Job did not say this. Elihu added to and twisted Job's words to strengthen his own
  argument.
34:37   Elihu accused Job of having deserved his scourges, and of having sinned after the
  scourges. But the Lord judged otherwise, asserting that he was scourged without reason
  (2:3), and blessing him doubly afterwards (GrgGt).
35:13   “Not only does the Lord not countenance wrongs, but He does not even wish to look
  on them” (JohnChr; see Hab 1:13).
36:22    Even while offending Him with his arrogance, Elihu prophesies Christ, the Mighty
  One.
37:5   The Mighty One (v. 5) will indeed thunder out of a whirlwind (38:1), and Elihu and
  Job's friends will be silenced.
37:6, 7   God uses the random winter storms and the rain and snow to show man his
  weakness in the face of God's overwhelming power. Indeed, Christ taught this lesson to
  His disciples when he calmed the storm (Mt 8:23–27). “He has created man to be weak,
  and yet man thinks himself to be strong; and thereby he becomes even more feeble”
  (JohnChr).
37:9, 10 “What scientific laws, pray, can you lay down concerning thunder and lightning, O
  you who thunder from the earth, and cannot shine with even little sparks of truth?”
  (GrgNa).
38:1   Out of the whirlwind: It was as if God wanted to place heaven itself above Job, as
  if He had brought His throne near to him (JohnChr). Had Job been about to die, the Lord
  would have praised him for his faithfulness. But since he is about to be doubly restored,
  the Lord reproved him, “lest his victory itself should lay him low with the sword of pride”
  (GrgGt).
38:3 This verse was intended to restore and encourage a discouraged Job (JohnChr).
38:7   Before the stars were made, the angels praised the Lord. “All the unspeakable
  harmony of the highest heavens, both in the service of God and in the mutual concord of
  the celestial powers, can therefore only be preserved by the direction of the Spirit”
  (BasilG).
38:8    “As if it were being born, the sea is first poured out, then takes its form, and is
  ‘gathered together into one place’” (JohnChr; see Gn 1:9).
38:14   The power of speech was given to man alone.
38:15-19 Christ descended to the very gates of hell and death and opened them, so that
  by dying, He might overcome their strength and bring light to the darkness.
38:32-34 The “father” (v. 28) brought forth the Morning Star (i.e., Mazzaroth), which is
  Christ (Rev 22:16), “when the fullness of the time had come” (Gal 4:4). The Lord lifted up
  His voice (v. 34) when the apostles, having been immersed in the rain of the Holy Spirit
  at Pentecost, preached the gospel to the world (see 1Kg 8:10, 11; Ps 93:3).
38:36   St. Ambrose quotes this verse in speaking of Christ the High Priest's woven bridal
  garment, “adorned with precious stones” (see Ex 35:27 and note).
38:38-41 The dust represents sinners, who were hardened into stone when Christ built
  His Church. The lion denotes the apostles, who “waited” until Pentecost, and the raven
  denotes the Gentiles (GrgGt).
39:1-4   St. Gregory the Great and St. Ambrose see in the begetting of young by the wild
  goats and the deer a type of the “labors of fathers who beget spiritual children” (see Gal
  4:19, 20).
39:5-12 St. Gregory sees in the wild donkey a type of the saints who seek the kingdom of
  heaven, far removed from earthly cares, and who pay no heed to the blame (v. 7) of the
  evil one. He sees in the wild ox a type of the proud nations which were tamed by the
  gospel. The manger is understood to be Holy Scripture, and the ropes are the precepts
  of discipline in the Church. The seed is the word of preaching (Mt 13:3), and the
  threshing floor is the Church itself (Mt 3:12).
39:18-25 The horse and rider are like the body and soul of the righteous, who fight the
  adversary fearlessly, waiting for the sound of the trumpet and to hear the words “Well
  done!”
40:1-5   St. Gregory remarks that God is saying to Job, “You were considering your own
  loftiness, but you were ignorant of that of others. Having heard of the virtues of others,
  answer Me, if you can, concerning your own.”
40:6-14   God chastens the righteous “in order to raise them to a higher state of purity,
  and delivers them over to various trials that He may purge away all their unclean
  thoughts . . . and may thus transmit them like pure gold to the judgment to come”
  (JohnCas).
40:8   The Lord at last tells Job why he has suffered. “This is the balm for Job's wounds.
  This is the crown of the contest. This is the reward for his patience” (GrgNa). St. John
  Chrysostom writes that all that has gone before is now justified. Indeed, Job's remaining
  righteous in the midst of affliction perfectly demonstrates Christ, who suffered without
  sinning in His humanity that He might be made known in His divinity.
40:15   The wild animals described to Job are seen by some Church Fathers as a type of
  Satan, the ancient enemy. Having been shown the “lofty aspirations and works of the
  saints,” Job is now being shown the wiles and snares of the adversary who afflicted him.
40:19-22    Satan was created first among all the angels and was exalted as ruler of
  creation (see Ezk 28:12, 13; Is 14:12).
40:23   Here one is reminded of Pharaoh, who did not notice the waters of the Red Sea
  rushing over him until it was too late (Ex 14:23–28). The Jordan, says St. Gregory,
  signifies those who have been sealed with the sacrament of baptism.
40:24-26    Christ brought the strategies of the devil to naught by overcoming them, thus
  taking away his power. The devil “seized the bait that was His Body,” and the “sharp sting
  of His Godhead pierced him through” (GrgGt).
40:27-28    The enemy, says St. Gregory, is against God in His holiness, “but does not
  disagree with His judgment,” for he always seeks to tempt righteous men. “Yet the Lord
  permits this, either mercifully or righteously.” This, then, is a kind of covenant between
  God and Satan wherein the wishes of both parties are fulfilled. “Each attains what it
  desires and terminates its quarrels by the desired result.”
40:29   To the Lord, writes St. Gregory, the devil is as irrational as an unclean animal, as
  malicious as a snake, and as harmless as a caged bird. The Lord played with him when, in
  Christ's Passion, “He showed Him the bait, but concealed the snare.”
41:1-3 Even the very powers that oppose God by their evil doings are subservient to Him.
41:4-15 The enemy had power over the “deep” (v. 24), which is the earth, until Christ, his
  antagonist, pierced his impenetrable armor. St. Gregory the Great writes that the doors
  of his face (v. 6) are “wicked teachers” who lead their students straight to hell, and his
  stony skin illustrates hardened sinners mutually shielding each other so that no breath
  of life can reach them. Lights come from his mouth (v. 11) “because they inflame the
  minds of the hearers to love unbelief, and from seeming to shine by wisdom, they surely
  burn with wickedness.” The smoke is “darkening doubt,” and coals are earthly desires,
  kindled to flame by pride, envy, lust, and avarice.
41:24-26 God allows the enemy to live for two reasons: that he might disgrace himself the
  more in being conquered by the weaker; and that mankind might be crowned with victory
  in overcoming him (CyrJer).
42:4   Hear me, O Lord: Speaking to God is not so much what we say with our mouths,
  but rather “to long for Him with eager desires” (GrgGt).
42:5   Now my eye sees You: The gift of spiritual knowledge—that is, when we begin to
  perceive the hidden things of God—is conferred on us through repentance and the fear of
  God, which gives birth to a deeper faith. “This is called ‘the faith of divine vision.’ Until
  then, hearing, but now divine vision. But vision is more certain than hearing” (IsaacS).
42:6   Job was still in physical torment, yet having seen God, he was undone, and asks for
  nothing more. “Because Job has condemned himself, God has justified him” (JohnChr;
  see 40:8).
42:7   Note that Elihu is not mentioned. There are many like Elihu in the Church who
  refuse to proclaim properly the truths they believe, and whose swollen pride makes them
  unacceptable to God. “Sacrifice does not restore him, because he already believes what he
  should believe, but heavenly justice drives him away on account of his flood of words”
  (GrgGt).
42:7-9 Job images Christ as suffering servant, High Priest, and Intercessor on behalf of
  all. St. Gregory writes that he also images the Church. Job's intercession is echoed by
  Abraham and Moses (see Gn 18:22–33; Ex 32:32) and fulfilled by Christ (Lk 23:34). As
  we worship during Divine Liturgy, we offer up ourselves and, because Christ offered
  Himself first for our sake, we receive acceptance and forgiveness through Him.
42:11   Job's righteousness and God's faithfulness were indeed demonstrated to all through
  his suffering, according to the Lord's word (40:8). St. Gregory the Great comments that
  Job's double blessings point to the general resurrection, when the Church will receive
  “that which is hers twofold: having received the Gentiles in full number, all Judea shall
  then also be found to agree to run to her faith” (see Rom 11:25, 26; Is 61:7; Rev 6:11) “on
  the preaching of Elijah” (see Mt 17:11). They ate food and drank with Him images the
  eucharistic supper. As uncoined gold is shaped into a coin, so the faithful, having been
  made in God's image, are being shaped into His likeness through participation in Him.
  The lamb points to the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ offered up during Divine Liturgy.
42:13-15 St. Gregory comments that Job had the same number of children as before (1:2),
  “in order that those who had been destroyed might be shown to be alive.” The daughters'
  names designate the redeemed human race, which shines forth like the day, spreads a
  sweet spiritual fragrance like cassia, and overflows with abundance like a horn of
  plenty.
42:18     He will rise: Job is, after all, a book about resurrection from the dead—the
  continual hope of the Old Testament prophets. Job's physical healing was only a foretaste
  of what he will experience in God's kingdom. The final verses serve to establish Job in
  history, as an historical person. St. John Chrysostom remarks that the exiled Jews in
  Egypt included this section because they knew they would soon return to Jerusalem, “and
  desiring this, they could find in the history of Job a significant brazier with which to
  rekindle their piety.”
1:1, 2 The Book of Proverbs was written that one might know Christ, the Wisdom of God.
  As St. Paul pointed out, Christ is “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1Co 1:24).
  St. Hippolytus also said, “These are the proverbs of Solomon, that is to say, the
  peacemaker, who, in truth, is Christ the Savior.”
     It was also written that one might partake of the virtues Wisdom begets in those who
  obey Him. Thus, although the human author of this book is King Solomon, the Author
  behind the author is Wisdom Himself, the Son and Word of God.
     Wisdom instructs those who know Him. The word instruction incorporates several
  aspects: teaching, correction, discipline, reproof, learning, education, and training.
  Wisdom and His instruction in the virtues are emphasized throughout the Book of
  Proverbs. The purpose of correcting and disciplining oneself is to remove the deceptions
  of sin, so the God-given virtues in one's nature can manifest themselves (MaxCon,
  JohnDm).
1:6      Proverbs is characterized by parables, hidden sayings, wise words and riddles.
  And as Wisdom gives one discernment regarding these, he is able to understand
  Wisdom's instruction. Parables are illustrations used to teach the virtues. Christ, the
  Wisdom of God, also used parables extensively when He taught as recorded in the Four
  Gospels. Hidden sayings and riddles can only be understood by illumination. Wisdom
  illuminates those who know and are taught by Him. Wise words are like a door that leads
  into the inner sanctuary of Wisdom. If Wisdom opens this door to the earnest seeker
  after the virtues, this seeker will find Wisdom and partake of His virtues (see also Mt 7:7,
  8.).
1:7-8 Wisdom begets the fear of God in “the simple” (v. 4). The simple are beginners on
  the spiritual path. This fear is the beginning of wisdom, godliness toward God, and
  the beginning of perception. As these beginners practice this fear, they grow in good
  understanding of Wisdom and His virtues. The ungodly are those who despise
  Wisdom and His instruction. They may claim to believe in God, but they do not know
  Wisdom nor live a virtuous life. Consequently, they do not truly believe in God.
1:9   My son is a form of address used throughout Proverbs. Wisdom is like a father and a
  mother to His children, for He has deep love and affection for them. He instructs them
  out of such parental tenderness.
1:11-19   When Wisdom became a righteous Man in His Incarnation, He allowed His
  enemies to crucify Him (unjustly, v. 12), and to bury Him in a tomb (hide Him in the
  earth, v. 12). Their objective was to take away his remembrance from the earth (v.
  13); however, He is now remembered all over the world. But His enemies are forgotten.
  Judas Iscariot cast his lot with the enemies of Wisdom and acquired a common bag
  and purse with them (v. 15). For he sold Him for thirty pieces of silver. Consequently,
  they took away their own soul in ungodliness (v. 19).
1:20-21 Wisdom is present everywhere and is in all things. He moves about boldly in the
  public streets and squares, seeking to draw all to Himself, and through Him to God the
  Father. When He became incarnate, He also exhibited this courage in public places. And
  He imparts this same courage, one of the four general virtues, to those who believe in
  Him and walk in the fear of God.
1:22   The simple are beginners in the life of virtue. Because of their faith, Wisdom gives
  them the gift of righteousness—one of the general virtues of Wisdom. As long as they
  hold fast to this righteousness, they shall not be ashamed.
1:23   Perception is one of the general virtues of Wisdom, and the crown of the virtues.
  But those without discernment . . . become ungodly because of their arrogance,
  the worst of vices. Wisdom reproves them in hopes they will return to Him through
  repentance.
1:24-35 Wisdom sends forth His Holy Spirit (my breath) to teach the wise His word (v.
  24). Those who pay no attention to this teaching shall eat the fruits of their own way
  (v. 33). But those who obey Wisdom shall dwell in hope, and shall be at rest
  without fear from every evil (v. 35).
2:1, 2 A loving son receives the words of Wisdom and hides them in his heart. Such a son
  becomes an obedient listener to Wisdom and inclines his heart to understanding.
2:3-6 Christ, the Wisdom of the Father, places the crown of the virtues (understanding
  and perception) on a son who seeks Him as intensely as people seek monetary gain
  (silver and treasure). Such a son will understand godly fear and come to know God the
  Trinity.
2:7-23 There are two roads on which mankind is traveling: the evil road of the vices and
  the good road of the virtues. Each of these two is addressed many times in this passage
  (vv. 7–17). The evil road leads to death and Hades, from which there is no return (vv. 18,
  19). The good road leads to the world to come (the land, vv. 21–23).
3:1-38   This chapter may be divided into three sections, each section beginning with the
  address, My son. And each deals with three vices or sinful passions and their cure:
  forgetfulness (v. 1), rebelliousness (v. 11), and carelessness (v. 23).
3:1, 2    Forgetfulness is the forgetting of Wisdom's laws concerning virtue, and the
  beginning of its cure is obedience from the heart to Wisdom. Such obedience is the road
  to life and peace.
3:4-10   Faithfulness in almsgiving (v. 3) is a manifestation of obedience to Wisdom
  from the heart, and helps one not to forget His laws. For one who forgets the laws of
  Wisdom exalts his own wisdom (v. 5), stumbles on the straight path (v. 6), relies on
  his own discernment (v. 7), and turns to evil passions (v. 7). But almsgiving is part of
  the golden chain around one's neck (v. 3; see also 1:10). For one attached to his material
  possessions will soon forget and forsake Wisdom and His laws (v. 3).
3:11-22    Rebellion is an offspring of forgetfulness and is characterized by a heart that
  despises and faints under Wisdom's instruction—one aspect of which is reproof (v. 11).
  For Wisdom instructs and chastises His children, because He loves them (v. 12; see
  also Heb 12:5, 6); otherwise, they would forget God and fall into rebellion against Him.
  But Wisdom's education leads to discernment (v. 13) and righteousness (v. 18).
     Those who know Christ will find Him to be the true riches (vv. 14, 15, 17), and no
  honor given Him is worthy of Him (v. 16). To travel His good road brings one peace (v.
  19), life (v. 20), and security (v. 20). Then too, they come to know Him as the Lord (v.
  20) and the Creator of the world, for God the Father founded the world through Him
  (vv. 21, 22).
3:23-38    One who forgets Wisdom becomes careless (v. 23). Such carelessness is
  characterized by fearfulness (v. 27), intimidation (v. 28), unfaithfulness in almsgiving
  (vv. 30, 31), betrayal (v. 32), quarrelsomeness (v. 33), lawlessness (vv. 34, 35), the curse
  of God (v. 36), arrogance (v. 37), and dishonor (v. 38). And the cure for carelessness
  (v. 25) is the grace of the virtues: discernment, righteousness, courage, and self-control
  (grace around your neck, v. 24).
4:1-28 This chapter may be divided into three sections, in which Christ, the Wisdom of the
  Father, addresses His children. Verses 1–8 emphasize obedient thinking. Verses 9–18
  speak of the paths of Wisdom. Verses 19–28 show the various senses of body and soul
  involved in the paths of Wisdom.
4:1-8   Obedient thinking, firmly planted in the heart, guards and does not forget,
  disregard, or forsake the commandments of Wisdom (vv. 5, 6). Such thinking also
  loves, secures, and honors His commandments (vv. 6, 7). When this is the case,
  Wisdom, in turn, cleaves to (v. 6), keeps (v. 6), exalts (v. 7), and embraces (v. 7) His
  children. In so doing, He puts a crown of graces and delight on their heads (v. 8).
4:9-18 The paths of Wisdom are life (vv. 9, 12), uprightness (v. 10), conducive to freedom
  (v. 11), energetic (v. 11), are light and give light (v. 17); and they reject the paths of the
  ungodly and lawless (vv. 13–16), for their paths are dark and full of stumbling (v. 18).
4:19-28 The paths of Wisdom involve the senses, both of body and soul: the ear (v. 19),
  the heart and its fountains (vv. 20, 22), the mouth and lips (v. 23), the eyes and
  eyelids (v. 24), the feet (vv. 25, 26), and the hands (v. 27). Such involvement brings
  healing and wholeness (v. 21).
     Concerning 4:24, St. Hippolytus writes, “He looks straight forward who has thoughts
  free of passion, and he has true judgments, who is not in a state of excitement about
  external appearances. When he says, ‘Let your eyes look straight forward,’ he means the
  vision of the soul.”
5:1-6 Wisdom is twofold. It is Christ Himself, and secondly, it is His words or teachings
  (v. 1). His children who incline their ear to Him and His teachings will guard good
  thinking, which is called perception (v. 2). Perception is the crown of the virtues. And
  the good thinking in this case revolves around Wisdom's command concerning
  fornication vs. marriage. Moreover, His teaching regarding this matter is called a
  command, because it is not subject to change. His command is to stay away from sex
  outside marriage, for this path will lead to Hades and death (vv. 3–6).
5:7-14 Prostitution here refers to engaging in sex outside marriage, which may or may not
  involve the payment of money. The sons of Wisdom need to obey Him and His teachings,
  and stay away from sex outside marriage (vv. 7, 8). For the perils are many.
      In fornication, a man becomes one flesh with numerous women, which in the end
  brings regret and a totally dissipated life (vv. 9–11; see also St. Paul's teaching in 1Co
  6:15–20). Such a son will regret hating the instruction and reproofs of Wisdom (vv.
  12, 13). Furthermore, little by little, this lifestyle leads to other sins, which are evident
  not only to God but to the church (v. 14).
5:15-19   Marriage is sacred, here called waters which are pure, for it was ordained by
  Wisdom (v. 15; see also Gn 2:23, 24). But adultery spills these waters and damages the
  marriage bond (v. 16). However, faithfulness in marriage is called wide places, because
  it is filled with blessings from Wisdom (vv. 16–18). For within it, both husband and wife
  rejoice together (v. 18), and the wife's love and companionship make her husband
  great (v. 19).
5:20-23   In conclusion, the eyes of God keep close watch on a man (vv. 20, 21). For a
  man who embraces a woman not his wife may do so in the dark, but what he does is fully
  exposed before God. And although a lawless woman may ensnare a man, the man also is
  responsible for chaining himself with his own sins (v. 22). For he refuses Wisdom's
  crown of discernment, and is finally destroyed with the rest of the undiscerning (v. 23;
  see also Heb 13:4).
6:1-40 This chapter warns against four vices or sinful passions: a careless tongue (vv. 1–6),
  laziness (vv. 7–16), a lawless spirit (vv. 17–25), and unlawful sexual intercourse (vv. 26–
  40).
6:1-6 Assuming debt for a friend in this instance refers to a son of Wisdom pledging with
  his lips to join with a friend in his evil undertakings (v. 1). As St. Paul said, “Evil company
  corrupts good habits” (1Co 15:33). With such a pledge, a man's tongue becomes his worst
  enemy (v. 2). Wisdom speaks to His son, commanding him to save himself (v. 3), for this
  son cannot save his friend before he saves himself. And he certainly cannot save him
  while participating with him in his sins (v. 3).
     So Wisdom commands His son to cease being a coward (Do not be faint, v. 4), to
  reject his careless pledge to his friend, and to provoke his friend to change as well.
  Furthermore, this son is to awake from his spiritual slumber and move forward quickly
  with this matter, that he may save himself, like a gazelle from the snares and a bird
  from a trap (vv. 5, 6; see also Eph 5:14, 15).
6:7-16    Laziness, both of body and soul, leads to poverty (vv. 13–15). But Wisdom
  commands His son to be diligent (v. 16). To achieve this, he must mark the behavior of
  two created things: the ant and the honeybee. Outwardly they appear insignificant (v. 8)
  and weak (v. 12), but one who discovers their habits will also find the Word and Wisdom
  of God, who is Christ Himself. And when he imitates their way of life through the grace of
  Christ (vv. 7, 9, 10, 11), his laziness will be cured.
6:17-25 A lawless spirit is a person who rejoices in everything the Lord hates (v. 20).
  His soul is incurable as long as he continues on this path (v. 19). His vices or sinful
  passions are characterized by a haughty eye (arrogance), an unrighteous tongue,
  hands that shed innocent blood, and feet that run to evil (vv. 21, 22)—a troublemaker
  in the community (vv. 17, 18, 23).
       But a child of Wisdom can avoid a lawless spirit by guarding the laws and
  commandments of Wisdom, and by fastening them to his soul like a collar around the
  neck (vv. 24, 25). This collar is the golden chain (1:10) of the general virtues, associated
  with the crown of discernment. This crown and chain are the virtues of discernment (and
  its synonyms), righteousness, courage, and self-control, which together beget all the
  other virtues of Wisdom.
6:26-40   Unlawful sexual intercourse is sex outside the bonds of marriage. And when a
  man walks about (v. 26) and is tempted, the commandments of Wisdom fastened to his
  soul will keep him from this vice or sinful passion. These commandments will also guard
  him while he sleeps (vv. 27–29). But a man who lets down his guard and succumbs to
  this passion will ultimately destroy himself (vv. 30–40).
6:32-33 “Desire is a fire, and the flesh is like a garment. The latter is an easy prey, and the
  former is a tyrant. And when anything harmful is not only taken within, but also held
  fast, it will not go forth again until it has made an exit for itself. Figuratively speaking, he
  keeps a fire in his breast who permits an impure thought to dwell in his heart. And he
  walks upon coals who, by sinning in act, destroys his own soul” (Hippol).
7:1-27 This chapter contrasts two sons: one with the crown of discernment (vv. 1–6), and
  the other without it (vv. 7–24). A summary regarding both concludes this chapter (vv.
  25–27).
7:1-6   Christ, the Wisdom of the Father, begets discernment, the crown of the virtues, in
  His children. This passage explains how a son of Wisdom may gain the crown of
  discernment as a friend (v. 5), that Wisdom's commandments may keep him from
  unlawful sexual intercourse. Thus, he makes discernment his friend when he guards His
  commandments (vv. 1, 3), hides them in himself (v. 1), honors them (v. 2), and fears
  them (v. 2). This means a son should value Wisdom's commandments as he would the
  pupils of his eyes (v. 3) and the fingers on his hands (v. 4). He writes these commands
  across his spiritual heart (v. 4) and confesses that they are like a sister to him (v. 5). For
  just as a brother treats his sister with purity, the commandments of Wisdom will keep
  His son from an adulteress (v. 6).
7:7-24 An adulteress easily captures the son without the crown of discernment (v. 10) and
  leads him to destruction. He is likened to an ox led for slaughter (v. 22), a dog tied up
  (v. 23), a deer pierced with an arrow (v. 23), or a bird that is trapped (v. 24).
7:25-27   The summation regarding the two sons is as follows. The wise son wearing the
  crown of discernment holds fast to Wisdom's teachings (v. 25), and thus prevents his
  heart from turning aside to the ways of the adulteress (v. 26). But those without
  discernment are walking on the road to Hades and the chambers of death, and they
  are innumerable (vv. 26, 27).
    “You have seen her mischief. Do not wait to admit the rising of lust; for her death is
  everlasting. And for the rest, by her words and arguments, she wounds, and by her sins
  she kills those who yield to her. For many are the forms of wickedness that lead the
  foolish down to Hades” (Hippol).
8:1   Wisdom is Christ Himself, and we are to proclaim Him to mankind. Discernment
  is the crown of the virtues, and it obeys the one who possesses it. This means the
  individual person is superior to the discernment he possesses, and he uses it in the
  proclamation of Christ.
8:1-35   This chapter has been called, “The Divine Wisdom Manifest in Creation Offers
  Himself to Mankind.” It may be outlined as follows: Introduction (8:1); Wisdom's
  relationship to mankind (8:2–21); Wisdom's relationship to the Father (8:22–30); and
  Conclusion (8:31–35).
8:2-3 Wisdom is omnipresent and fills all things.
8:4-6 Wisdom speaks to every human being (O men and the sons of men, v. 4). Before
  they know Him, they are simple and uninstructed (v. 5). If they obey Wisdom out of
  love for Him, He will give them astuteness (vv. 5, 6). Astuteness is the crown of the
  virtues (14:25).
8:7-8 Wisdom is the truth of the Father and only speaks the truth (vv. 6b, 7). Since He is
  the truth, He only speaks what is righteous; there is nothing unrighteous in His words.
  His righteousness is one of the general virtues that begets all the other virtues. In Jn 14:6,
  He said, “I am the truth.”
8:9   All things are the “sacred things” of v. 6. These things are evident to those who have
  the crown of understanding through knowing Wisdom and obeying Him.
8:10-21 Silver, gold, and precious stones are not worthy to compare with the value of
  pursuing Wisdom and His virtues. These virtues are such things as counsel, knowledge,
  understanding, discernment, and righteousness. They are likened to fruits (v. 19) that
  are produced by Wisdom within those who love Him (v. 17).
8:22   Wisdom knows all things.
8:23 The Lord is the Father, and created in this statement means the Father established
  Wisdom over His works; for the Father made all things through Wisdom (AthanG).
  “Created” as used here does not mean the Father made Wisdom Himself, for the next
  clause shows the Father established Wisdom over His works in the beginning before
  time. Therefore, “created” is used in this verse as a synonym of established, for
  Wisdom, who is the Word and Son of the Father, is not a creature. He is “begotten from
  the Father before all time” (Creed; see also v. 25).
     The beginning of His ways means two things. It means the Father made all things
  through Wisdom, and it also refers to the Incarnation, when the Wisdom and Word of the
  Father became flesh (see also Jn 1:14). The phrase for His works refers both to the
  works of creation and to those accomplished by Christ for our salvation, which are
  outlined in the Creed. “In the beginning before time” is the same as “In the beginning was
  the Word” in Jn 1:1. For the Father “established” Wisdom “before time.” Therefore Christ,
  the Wisdom and Power of God, is not a creature (1Co 1:24).
8:24-25    The word before occurs five times in these verses, and it emphasizes that
  Wisdom Himself exists outside creation. The words begot me show the relation of
  Wisdom to the Father. Wisdom is the Son of the Father, begotten from Him before and
  outside all time and ages (see also Creed).
8:26-28    Wisdom, the Son of the Father, was present (v. 27) with the Father when He
  made the world; therefore, the Son exists with the Father outside creation. The Father is
  not a creature; therefore, neither is His Son.
8:29-30   The Son also created the world, for He was working beside the Father. The
  Father is the Creator, and the Son is the Creator. How so? Because the working is one
  working. They are two distinct Persons, but the work of creation is one work. Although
  He is not mentioned here by name, the Holy Spirit was also present and working, for He,
  too, is the Creator (see Gn 1:2). Three distinct Persons created the world with one
  working. This one working is emphasized in the statement: “The Father made the world
  through the Son in the Spirit.” Therefore the Holy Trinity, our one God, made the world
  with one working, and They rejoice in one another (v. 30).
8:31   When the Father completed creation, He rejoiced in it. He also rejoices in the sons
  of men. Those who respond to the Father's joy, in turn, rejoice in Him.
8:32-33   The conclusion to 8:1–31 is this: Heed the Wisdom of the Father, and the man
  who does so is blessed. Such a man will keep his eyes on Him at all times.
8:34   The true issues of life center in Christ, the Wisdom of the Father. Those who center
  their life in these issues will experience the grace of the Father, the Lord.
8:35   People who sin against Wisdom act contrary to their own God-given nature (souls).
  For human nature is good in itself, but those who behave contrary to their nature act
  ungodly toward their own souls. Those who do so love death.
9:1   Wisdom is Christ, and He built His house. This house is first the Virgin Mary, the
  Mother of God, for He was conceived in her womb. Secondly, His house is the Church
  (Heb 3:1–6). This house is built on Christ, on the Mother of God, and on the apostles and
  prophets. Christ Himself is the Chief Cornerstone (Eph 2:19–22).
      The seven pillars of the Church is the Holy Spirit, who is called “the seven Spirits of
  God” (Rev 3:1). These seven spirits are the graces of the Holy Spirit that rested on Christ,
  summarized in Is 11:2, 3: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, godliness,
  and the fear of God. These are the “seven pillars” by which the Church is supported
  through Christ.
9:2   Christ shed His precious blood (sacrifices) and offers it in the wine of the Eucharist
  at the Holy Altar (table).
9:3 Christ sends His servants to invite people to Christ and His Eucharist.
9:4   Christ, the Wisdom of the Father, gives those who turn aside to Him the crown of
  the virtues, which is discernment.
9:5-6 Wisdom invites mankind to eat my bread, which is His body, and drink the wine,
  which is His blood in the Holy Eucharist. Those who accept His invitation and forsake
  their vices or sinful passions (lack of discernment) will find life in His Eucharist (see
  also Jn 6). Those who seek Wisdom's discernment (the crown of the virtues) will keep
  straight their understanding with knowledge.
9:7-24 Wisdom's discernment, seen in the counsel of saints (v. 10), manifests itself in
  holy behavior, seen in a wise and righteous man (vv. 8, 9).
9:25   Holy behavior is conducive to long life.
9:1-25 This chapter may be outlined as follows: Introduction (v. 1); Wisdom's invitation to
  mankind (vv. 2–6); Wisdom's discernment in those who accept His invitation (vv. 7–24);
  and conclusion (v. 25).
10:1   A wise son knows Wisdom and His virtues. But a son without discernment is a
  grief, for he lives in vice.
10:2   Lawless rich men do not benefit from their wealth, for their vices lead them to
  death and Hades. But righteousness, one of the general virtues of Wisdom, delivers
  one from such an end.
10:3   Wisdom, who is the Lord, will not let the soul of the righteous man starve, for
  He will enrich it with the fruits of righteousness. But He overthrows the life of the
  ungodly, because He allows them to eat the fruits of their own vices.
10:4   The Lord allows a man's vices to humble his soul. Perhaps he will turn from them.
  But courage is one of the general virtues begotten by Wisdom. Courageous people
  enrich others in virtue.
10:6   Understanding is the crown of the virtues, and when the heat of temptations and
  trials comes at this son, he is kept safe. But a son without the fruits of the virtues
  (harvest time) is dried up by the wind of his vices (lawless).
10:9    A wise man is a virtuous man, and he is virtuous because he receives the
  commandments of Wisdom. Self-control is one of the general virtues. A wise man is
  able to control his tongue through Wisdom (see also Jam 3). But an unwise man cannot
  control his tongue (unguarded in speech), which overthrows him in his
  perverseness.
10:13   The general virtues of Wisdom produce love, but their absence causes men to
  become hateful and lovers of strife.
10:15   Perception is one of the general virtues. With perception coupled with self-control, a
  man is able to keep his mouth under check. But the mouth of a rash man is unchecked,
  and therefore, approaches destruction.
10:20      Discreet lips reveal the presence of self-control and the general virtues.
  Forbearance is a fruit of these virtues.
10:24   Evil things with laughter are the fruits of men without discernment. But
  Wisdom, who is Christ, gives birth to discernment in a man.
10:29   A virtuous man lives in the gladness of hope, but the hope of a man of vice
  perishes.
10:30   A holy man is one who knows Wisdom and His virtues. To such a man, the fear
  of the Lord is a stronghold.
11:2     Humble people meditate on Wisdom and His teachings concerning virtue. But
  arrogant people pay no attention to Wisdom, and this leads them to dishonor before
  Him.
11:4   Righteousness, one of the general virtues, cuts a straight path through this fallen
  world. Those who travel this path are blameless, but ungodliness is characterized by a
  crooked path.
11:6   A righteous life produces hope in a man, for his hope is in the world to come. But the
  ungodly boast only in this life, which is perishing.
11:8   The ungodly do not exercise self-control over their mouth, for they know nothing of
  the general virtues of Wisdom. But those who know and love Wisdom partake of His
  general virtues, two of which are perception and righteousness. Such people benefit
  others.
11:10   A man with discernment, the crown of the virtues, has his mouth under control, for
  he knows how to be quiet. Self-control is a “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal 5:19–23). But the
  mouth of a man in need of discernment is out of control and treats others with
  contempt.
11:15   Lazy people do not pursue Wisdom and His spiritual riches. But courage is one of
  the general virtues, and courageous people support themselves with these virtues.
11:17   Righteousness is one of the general virtues of Wisdom. These virtues beget all the
  other virtues, called seed. Wisdom endowed human nature with this seed, which grows,
  develops, and bears good fruit in those who obey Him.
11:22   Both good and evil desires are motivated by hope for fulfillment. The righteous
  hope for fulfillment in the kingdom of God; therefore, every desire is energized by this
  hope. But the desire of the ungodly is energized by hoping in this fallen world. Since this
  world is perishing, its hopes perish with it.
11:24   Every sincere soul is blessed because sincerity is a fruit of self-control, one of
  the general virtues of Wisdom. But an angry soul is out of control, and therefore is not
  graceful.
11:29   “The fruit of righteousness and the tree of life is Christ. He alone, as man, fulfilled
  all righteousness. . . . But the souls of the unrighteous meet an untimely expulsion from
  the presence of God” (Hippol).
11:30    The apostle Peter quotes this verse in 1Pt 4:18. The righteous man suffers
  according to the will of God, but this verse encourages him constantly to commit his soul
  to God and His faithfulness. For the persecutor will receive his recompense in due time.
12:1   Wisdom's instruction incorporates several aspects, one of which is correction.
  Perception is the crown of the virtues, and a perceptive man loves to be corrected. But a
  man without discernment hates correction.
12:2   No one can live a virtuous life without the grace of God. As Wisdom said, “Without
  Me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). Thus he who finds the Lord's grace and lives by it
  becomes better, that is, bears the fruits of virtue. But His grace passes by the lawless
  man in silence.
12:4   A courageous wife is one who possesses the general virtues; therefore, she is a
  crown to her husband. But a wife without these virtues is like a worm in a tree, for
  her evildoing gradually destroys him.
12:5   Upright judgment is the crown of the virtues, and, together with righteousness, is one
  of the general virtues. But the judgments of the ungodly are deceitful.
12:8    Understanding is the crown of the virtues, and coupled with righteousness,
  courage, and self-control, it helps one to use his mouth in a praiseworthy manner. But a
  slothful man does not know these virtues. His mouth is undisciplined; thus he brings
  contempt upon himself.
12:10   Compassion is a fruit of righteousness. Thus in man's dominion over every living
  thing (Gn 1:28), he is to express this dominion in compassion. But the ungodly evidence
  no such affections, for they know nothing of mercy, even toward animals.
12:13   The desires of the ungodly are not rooted in the general virtues of Wisdom;
  therefore, their desires pursue the sinful passions. But the roots of the godly are in
  the strongholds of these virtues.
12:15   Gentleness is a fruit of the general virtues, and it manifests itself even in one's eyes.
  But contention is a fruit of vice, which causes others to suffer.
12:18   Astuteness is the crown of the virtues (see also 14:25), and with it, together with
  righteousness, courage, and self-control, a man keeps his anger under control. But a man
  without this crown (without discernment) and these other virtues proclaims his
  wrath through his mouth.
12:19    Honesty is a fruit of righteousness and the other general virtues. But an
  unrighteous man lives in deceit.
12:20   The tongues of the wise heal others, because they possess the general virtues of
  Wisdom. But the tongues of the unwise are like swords that wound as they speak.
12:22     Peace is a fruit of the general virtues, for people who possess them are
  peacemakers. But a man with a deceitful heart knows nothing of this.
12:25   Understanding and perception are two aspects of the crown of the virtues. But
  undiscerning people bring curses on themselves.
12:31   The fruit of righteousness is life-giving to others, for a righteous man does not
  remember wrongs done to him. But the ways of remembering wrongs are death-
  giving to others, for these ways destroy personal relationships.
13:1   Astuteness is the crown of the wise (see also 14:25). Obedience is a fruit of this
  wisdom, but disobedience evidences a lack of such wisdom. Obedience is the right use of
  the will, according to God and human nature. But disobedience is a use of the will
  contrary to God and nature. For human nature is good in itself (Gn 1:31), and obedience
  to God is in harmony with it.
13:2   Man's soul is good by nature, and the fruits of righteousness manifest themselves
  naturally from the soul. But lawlessness is willful and prevents these natural fruits from
  showing themselves. Unless this man corrects himself, he will destroy his own good
  nature.
13:3   He who guards or disciplines his own mouth allows the natural virtues of the soul
  to manifest themselves. But lack of this discipline dismays the soul, because these
  virtues are frustrated.
13:4   Courage is one of the general virtues of Wisdom. Courage keeps a man from being
  idle in his desire for the natural virtues to show themselves.
13:8   The wealth of the soul is the virtues with which Wisdom endows it. As these virtues
  manifest themselves through Wisdom, they ransom the soul. But this poor man is one
  who by his vices prevents his virtues from showing themselves. Thus, he cannot
  withstand the threat of these vices.
13:10   The deceptions of sin lead the soul astray in vice. But the righteous correct and
  discipline themselves, and their souls manifest the natural fruits of righteousness, such
  as compassion and mercy.
13:11   An evil man is not evil by nature. For if he were, he could not correct and discipline
  himself. He does evil things by the wrong use of his free will, which is often energized by
  arrogance, one of the worst of the vices. Those who know themselves know they are
  good by nature, and they will use this God-given wisdom to remove the deceptions of sin.
13:15   A deceitful son is one who lives in the deceptions of sinful vice. The good in his
  nature cannot manifest itself in goodness (nothing good). But a son is also a servant,
  and if he is wise, he will remove these deceptions and obey Wisdom, and live according
  to nature. In this way Wisdom will prosper his deeds.
13:16   The law of the wise is to live in harmony with Wisdom and human nature. But a
  man without understanding will die in this condition through the snares and
  deceptions of vice, unless he corrects and disciplines himself.
13:17   A good understanding is the crown of the virtues, and it manifests itself in
  gracious behavior toward others. Such understanding evidences a good mind and a
  knowledge of Wisdom's law. But scorners of Wisdom behave in destructive ways
  toward others.
13:18   Astuteness is the crown of the wise (see also 14:25), and an astute man acts with
  knowledge. But a man without this crown (without discernment) spreads his evil
  because he is deceived by sin.
13:20 Instruction by Wisdom removes the poverty and dishonor of a man caused by
  the deceptions of his own sin. For by this instruction, a man learns to correct and
  discipline himself with regard to these deceptions. And he who heeds Wisdom's
  rebukes will be glorified by Him.
13:23   A sinner is sinful not by nature, but by the wrong use of his will. Evil things will
  overtake this wrong use. But good things overtake the righteous, because they obey
  Wisdom, and with His help live according to their good nature.
13:26   The rod is the gentle rod of rebuke, and the father who does not use it hates his
  own son. But he who loves his son educates him carefully in his natural and God-given
  virtues.
14:1   Wise women build up their families when they possess the general virtues of
  Wisdom: discernment, righteousness, courage, and self-control. But those without
  discernment destroy them.
14:3   A man without discernment is one who does not possess the general virtues of
  Wisdom. Such a man is energized by arrogance; thus he beats people with the harsh
  rod of his mouth. But the lips of wise men are self-controlled, because they possess
  the general virtues of Wisdom.
14:6   Evil men are evil not by nature but by choice. They have chosen not to know
  Wisdom and His instruction. Therefore, wisdom cannot be found among them. But
  perception and discernment are two aspects of the crown of the wise, for they choose to
  know Wisdom and His instruction.
14:7   Everything pertaining to Wisdom and His instruction is contrary to a man without
  discernment. But perception, the crown of the virtues, is a good weapon on the lips of
  the wise.
14:8   Astute men are wise men who know their ways because they are not deceived by
  vice. But unwise men are those without the crown of discernment who therefore live in
  the folly of their own deceptions.
14:12   People deceived by the vices believe they are on the right road of life. But in truth
  their road leads to the depths of Hades.
14:14   A bold-hearted man in this case is bold in his vices (filled with his own ways).
  A good man is good both in nature and in choice, and his thinking is sound.
14:15   A simple man is easily deceived (believes in every word), but an astute man
  has the discernment to remove the deceptions of sin through repentance.
14:17   A quick-tempered man behaves in a reckless manner because he is taken with
  anger. But a man with discernment, the crown of the virtues, is patient and thus can
  handle what comes his way.
14:18   Men without discernment share in evil because they choose to do so. But astute
  men take hold of perception, the crown of the wise, and thus choose the good.
14:22   Deceivers are self-deceived by their vices, and thus devise evil things by choice.
  But good men are good both by nature and choice, and thus bring forth mercy and
  truth.
14:25   The crown of the wise is astuteness, one of the general virtues of Wisdom. In
  their astuteness, by the grace of Wisdom, the wise choose goodness. But the undiscerning
  know neither Wisdom nor His virtues; thus they spend their time choosing vices.
14:28   The Lord's commandments are a fountain of life, because He is the life of those
  who obey Him. Those who know this life are able to remove from themselves the
  deceptions of sin (the snare of death).
14:30   Longsuffering is a fruit of discernment and the general virtues, but cowards (the
  fainthearted) are devoid of these virtues.
14:31   A gentle spirit is a fruit of the general virtues, and such a man heals his own
  heart. But a sensual heart is the moth of the bones, because this heart is overcome
  with the cares of the fallen world.
14:34   A good heart is good both by nature and choice. Such a man knows Wisdom and
  His virtues. But He and His virtues are unknown in the heart of those without
  discernment.
15:1   Even men of discernment lose their discernment if they respond in kind to the
  anger of others. For this response clouds their ability to understand a matter. But a
  humble answer manifests a calm spirit and allows truth to penetrate the situation.
15:3   The eyes of the Lord are in every place, because He fills all things. He observes
  both the evil and the good. The evil are good by nature but evil by choice, and He sees
  these choices. The good are good by nature and by choice, and He also sees this.
15:4   The Spirit of Wisdom is the Holy Spirit. He is everywhere present and fills all things.
  Those who partake of His fullness use their tongues to heal others, and are a tree of
  life to them.
15:8   Perception is the crown of the wise, and it helps them to control the use of their lips.
  But the hearts of those without discernment are not safe to others, because their
  mouths are out of control.
15:13   An uninstructed man does not know Wisdom and His instruction; thus, he will
  not love those who reprove him. Nor will he keep company with wise people,
  because he chooses to live in the deceptions of his own sins.
15:15   An upright heart is one that knows Wisdom and His virtues. Thus, he chooses to
  seek these virtues, such as perception, one of the general virtues. But the
  uninstructed are those who live in the deceptions of their own vices (know evil
  things).
15:19   In itself, anger is a blameless passion, useful in turning one away from vice. But if
  this passion is out of control, it turns one to contention. Longsuffering, however, is a
  fruit of the general virtues, and uses anger to turn away from this vice. Longsuffering
  calms rising quarrels.
15:21   Idle men are cowards, because they have no courage to deal with their problems
  (thorny plants). But courage is one of the general virtues, and courageous men
  confront their thorny issues and smooth them out.
15:22-25 This passage, coupled with 16:1–9, is read during Wednesday Vespers in the fifth
  week of Great Lent.
15:25   Evil men are good by nature but evil by choice. They refuse to obey counsel, because
  it contradicts their choices. They especially refuse to obey any counsel for the common
  good of others.
15:30   Almsgiving and faithfulness are fruits of the general virtues of Wisdom. These
  fruits cleanse the sins of love of money and unbelief. These fruits are also evidence of
  fear of the Lord, by which people turn aside from choosing vice (evil).
15:33 God is far from the ungodly, not in place but in will. The will of God and the will
  of the ungodly are far apart. But He hears the prayers of the righteous because their
  will and His will are in harmony.
15:37   He who rejects Wisdom's instruction refuses to correct the sins that deceive him.
  Such a man hates his good soul and the virtues Wisdom implanted within it. But he
  who gives heed to Wisdom's reproofs loves his soul, because he removes the
  deceptions of sin that prevent his soul from growing in the God-implanted virtues.
15:38   A man who fears God receives Wisdom's correction and instruction in the virtues.
  Such a man begins and continues to understand the glory of God.
16:1   Salvation begins and ends with humility (JohnChr). Humility is a fruit of the general
  virtues of Wisdom, and it manifests itself in works. The Lord sees these works and is
  pleased. But people are ungodly because they lack humility; thus their works are
  unacceptable to the Lord. The evil day indicates the destructive road they are traveling
  in life.
16:1-9 This passage, coupled with 15:22–25, is read during Wednesday Vespers in the fifth
  week of Great Lent.
16:3   Righteousness is one of the general virtues of Wisdom. These virtues launch one on
  the good road to travel throughout life. This road is characterized by the good fruits of
  righteousness, one of which is humility (the beginning of a good way). Sacrifices are
  acceptable, but the virtues of Wisdom are more acceptable to God.
16:4   The Lord is the Author of the virtues (knowledge with righteousness). Man
  cannot have the Lord without the virtues, nor can he have the virtues without the Lord.
  Therefore, when man seeks the Lord and finds Him, he will also find the virtues of
  which He is the Author. Those who seek the Lord with this in mind (rightly) will also
  find the peace He authors.
16:7   Righteousness is one of the general virtues Wisdom begets in those who know and
  love Him. This virtue is the standard (weight of a scale) by which the Lord does His
  works. Thus, His righteousness is also the standard by which man does works acceptable
  to Him.
16:1-9 This passage, coupled with 15:22–25, is read during Wednesday Vespers in the fifth
  week of Great Lent.
16:12   Man lives in one or the other of two abodes. These abodes are mutually exclusive.
  Thus man has a choice. He may choose Wisdom, who is Christ, or he may choose gold.
  He may love Christ, or he may love money, but he cannot love and live in both abodes
  simultaneously.
16:14   Wisdom's instruction incorporates several aspects: teaching, correction, discipline,
  reproof, learning, education, and training. Thus, he who receives this instruction shall
  be in good things. And He rebukes those who love Him, for this is part of His
  instruction. These rebukes help us to remove the deceptions of sin, for these deceptions
  stand in the way of one's growth and development in the virtues of Wisdom.
16:17   Gentleness and humility are fruits of the general virtues of Wisdom. Wise people
  place more value on these fruits than on anything associated with the arrogant (spoils).
  For such spoils go before destruction (v. 16).
16:20    Understanding is the crown of Wisdom's virtues, and it is a fountain of life to
  those who possess it. But without discernment one is led away from this fountain of
  life to evil or false fountains of instruction.
16:21   The spiritual heart of a wise man is the abode of understanding. It has the eyes to
  see and the ears to hear Wisdom and His instruction (see also Eph 1:18). Such a man
  carries knowledge upon his lips.
16:29   Certain people can grow old with great dignity. Who are these? Those who have
  followed the general virtues of Wisdom, one of which is righteousness.
16:30   Self-control is one of the general virtues, and these produce all the rest, two of
  which are patience and control of the temper. These virtues are far superior to the
  military strength necessary to capture a city.
16:31   The unrighteous are those who do not know and love Wisdom and His virtues. Thus
  they live in vice (all evil things). But all the virtues (all righteous things) have their
  source in the Lord. “Nothing is purer than virtue; nothing more unclean than vice; for the
  one is brighter than the sun, the other more stinking than mire” (JohnChr).
17:1   A morsel is a small amount, and it indicates the need to avoid extremes (a house
  full of many good things). Possessions are good in themselves, but too much of a good
  thing can weigh one down. These excesses lead to quarreling, which robs enjoyment in
  peace and even engenders unacceptable worship (unrighteous sacrifices).
17:3   The Lord chooses those He foreknows (see also Rom 8:29). He saw the chosen
  before He created them. He saw their spiritual hearts and the furnace of testing they
  would endure in their faith. For as silver and gold are refined and purified in a
  furnace, so are the hearts of the elect.
17:4   An evil man is righteous by nature but evil by choice. For he heeds the tongue of
  the lawless. But a righteous man is righteous by God, nature, and choice. Thus he pays
  no attention to false lips, for he chooses to live according to God and nature.
17:9   Wisdom's instruction consists of teaching, correction, discipline, reproof, learning,
  education, and training. Thus, it awards benefits to those using it and prospers
  them.
17:14   Vice (evil) cannot be removed from anyone or from his house as long as he
  repays evil for good. To choose to live contrary to God and nature is to repay evil for
  good, for He is good, and human nature is good. Such an individual cannot be removed
  from his vices unless he comes to repentance.
17:16   People who live contrary to God and nature conjure up false judgment. They become
  so deceived they judge unrighteousness as righteousness, and righteousness as
  unrighteousness. Such judgment is the ultimate of uncleanness and of becoming
  abominable before God.
17:19   True friends and brethren are begotten by Wisdom, who is Christ. One who has
  such true friends and brethren is rich indeed, for they help him on every occasion and
  in necessities.
17:22   A changeable man in this case is a heart without discernment, for he does not
  experience the stability of Wisdom's general virtues. Thus, he easily falls into evils with
  his tongue and into grief.
17:29    He who refrains from uttering a harsh word is intelligent, because this
  restraint shows he possesses the general virtues of Wisdom and thus has his tongue
  under control. He also has longsuffering, a fruit of discernment, one of the general
  virtues.
17:30   A man without understanding who asks Wisdom for wisdom will receive it, for
  understanding is the crown of the wise. It enables one to hold his peace rather than
  lose his temper. And one who holds his peace will seem to have discernment, the
  crown of the wise.
18:1   A pretext is an excuse a man rationalizes when he wishes to separate from his
  friends. After this pretext is accomplished, and when his friends discover it, probably
  after the fact, they no longer trust him. But they reproach what he did at every
  opportunity.
18:4   A word is Wisdom's instruction in the virtues, and when it is in the heart of a
  man, it is deep water. Wisdom's virtues in a man are like a river and a fountain, for
  life springs up from them.
18:7   A man's mouth ruins him because he is without discernment and the general
  virtues. Such a mouth snares his soul. His soul is good by nature, but the soul of this
  man is incapable of manifesting its natural virtues, for his vices block them out.
18:8   Unnatural fear, such as the fear of death, destroys slothful men, because they are
  too lazy to seek Wisdom and His virtues. These men are cowardly, although their souls
  hunger. Their souls, good by nature, are starving to be fed with Wisdom and His virtues.
18:10    The righteous are trained by Wisdom to run to the name of the Lord, for
  example, by praying, “Lord, have mercy.” The righteous focus on His name and find great
  strength there.
18:14     Discouragement, or depression, is more difficult to cure than anger, for
  discouragement is hopelessness. At least an angry person still has fight left in him,
  although his anger is misdirected. And a servant with discernment is able to calm this
  anger. But who can support a discouraged man? The answer comes in 18:15.
18:15   Discernment, perception, and understanding are three aspects of the crown of the
  wise. This wise person seeks to understand from Wisdom how to cure the hopelessness
  of the man in 18:14, provided he is willing to be cured.
18:19   A brother aided by his brother fights for the truth. The two together are like a
  strong and fortified city and a well-founded palace. The Church is this city and
  palace. And the Fathers of the Fifth Ecumenical Council, quoting this verse, said, “There
  is no other way in which the truth can be made manifest when there are discussions
  concerning the faith, since each one needs the help of his neighbor.”
18:21   The use of one's tongue is capable of imparting spiritual life to people, but it is also
  capable of killing them spiritually. But those who rule over it by the general virtues of
  Wisdom will enjoy the fruits of its wise use.
19:1   Man is good by nature, but he maltreats himself and his goodness when he does not
  seek Wisdom and His general virtues (lack of discernment). But in his heart, he has
  the audacity to blame God for what he does to himself. This blame is caused by the
  deceptions of his own sins. He needs to accept responsibility and remove these
  deceptions through repentance. Then his good nature will manifest itself through
  Wisdom.
19:6   Understanding and discernment are two aspects of the crown of the wise. Through
  Wisdom, a man will discover them increasingly.
19:8   There is a proper love of oneself. It is to love one's good nature and the virtues
  implanted in it by Wisdom. He who loves himself in this way will also love the Wisdom
  who created him. From Wisdom, he will increasingly gain more discernment about
  himself and find good things implanted there.
19:15   Man is not cowardly by nature, for Wisdom implanted courage in human nature.
  But when a man chooses to be idle, he is too lazy to seek Wisdom and His virtues. Thus,
  his soul starves because the natural virtues are unable to grow and develop in him
  through Wisdom.
19:17   Mercy on the poor is almsgiving, which is lending to God. And He will repay
  him according to his gift means we cannot out-give God.
19:21   The heart of man is deep, and it entertains many thoughts. But these thoughts are
  useless and harmful unless they are grounded in the counsel of the Lord. This counsel
  is the truth of Wisdom and His virtues. One grounded in this counsel will abide forever.
19:23   There are two kinds of fear in this verse. One is the fear of the Lord, which
  nourishes spiritual life in a man. The other is fear in places where knowledge is not
  examined. What place is this where Wisdom's knowledge is not examined? In this fallen
  world where many refuse to examine such knowledge. Failure to examine Wisdom's
  knowledge nourishes unnatural fear in man and brings on the darkness of spiritual
  ignorance.
19:25   A pestilent man is a troublemaker and scoffer who refuses to be corrected by
  Wisdom. But when he is punished by his own disobedience, a man without
  discernment may see this, and be motivated to seek Wisdom and His astuteness. On the
  other hand, a discerning man is one who accepts reproof from Wisdom. Thus, he gains
  more understanding and perception.
19:29    Lashes and punishments are prepared to teach those without restraint and
  those without discernment their need for Wisdom and His virtues. For as Heb 12:6, 7
  says, “‘For whom the LORD   loves He chastens, / And scourges every son whom He receives.’
  If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a
  father does not chasten?”
20:1   Wine and strong drink are not evil in themselves. Wine is intemperate in those who
  drink too much of it. The same is true of strong drink when people commingle with it.
  Too much of either militates against Wisdom and His virtues. Lack of self-control and
  violence to oneself, and perhaps to others, are the results.
20:5   Counsel is the virtues of Wisdom implanted as deep water in the heart of a
  man. And discernment, the crown of the wise, is able to draw out these virtues.
20:9    Two questions are asked in this verse. In the first question, a man denies any
  possibility of having a pure heart, and uses this as an excuse not to pursue one. In the
  second question, a man denies any possibility of being cleansed from the sins he
  committed, and thus uses this as an excuse to sin more. “To fall is not so grievous as to lie
  where we have fallen; nor to be wounded so dreadful as after wounds to refuse healing”
  (JohnChr).
20:15   The Lord made the ear and the eye. This refers to the soul as well as the body. For
  the eyes and ears of the spiritual heart see and hear from Wisdom, if they are healthy.
20:17   Those who open their spiritual eyes to see Wisdom will be filled with His bread
  of virtues, for Christ is the Bread of life (Jn 6).
20:20    A vow made to God is voluntary and not a requirement. But if a man vows too
  quickly to set apart (sanctify) to God something he owns, but afterwards changes his
  heart, this becomes a snare to his relationship with God. For example, this would be true
  of monetary commitments made to the Lord's work.
20:22   The light of the Lord is man's true breath. As healthy breathing of air in the lungs is
  good for a man, more so is the healthy breathing of the Lord's light in his soul. For this
  light searches the inner man, which is the soul of man. As a man breathes the fresh air
  of God's light in his soul, he is purified and cleansed from his sins.
20:25    When a man refuses to breathe the fresh air of the Lord's light (v. 22) in his soul
  (inner man), he does evil things. These things bruise and fracture his soul, and cause
  him choke to death spiritually for lack of air.
21:1   A flow of water indicates the movement of the will in the heart. This movement is
  a free movement of the king toward God. God's will inclines the king's will in the
  proper direction. Thus, the two wills move in the same direction, with the king's will in
  willing submission to the will of God.
21:3   Righteousness is one of the general virtues of Wisdom implanted in those who know
  and love Him. To do righteous things shows the free movement of the will in one who
  lives according to Wisdom and His virtues. To speak the truth also shows the free
  movement of the will in one who declares the knowledge Wisdom imparts to him.
21:6   The ungodly are those who move their free will in the wrong direction. This
  movement is away from Wisdom and His virtues. Therefore they are not willing to do
  righteous things.
21:10   The intemperate man is one example of a man who moves his free will in the
  wrong direction, the lack of self-control. The punishment he receives is his own fault. The
  simple man is one who is beginning to move his will toward Wisdom and His virtues.
  Astuteness is the crown of the wise (see also 14:25), one of the general virtues.
  Understanding is another aspect of this crown. Therefore, when the simple man truly
  observes the punishment the intemperate brings on himself, he becomes wiser.
21:14   Upright judgment is one aspect of the crown of Wisdom's virtues. This judgment,
  coupled with righteousness, produces joy. Such people are holy. Evildoers are those
  who willfully pursue vice or sinful passions. Since they rationalize righteousness to be
  unrighteousness, they see a holy man as unclean.
21:21   A wise man is one who knows and loves Wisdom and His virtues. He assaults the
  fortified cities of his own sinful passions and pulls down the stronghold, likely the
  opinions of the ungodly.
21:24   Desires are blameless passions that need to be kept under control. But a slothful
  man refuses to control his desires. He chooses not to do anything about his spiritual
  laziness; therefore, his desires control him.
21:26   “The alms that please the eyes of our Redeemer are not those gathered in unlawful
  ways and from lawlessness. . . . We are plainly warned by Holy Scripture not to get
  anything by sinning under the pretext of almsgiving” (GrgGt).
21:29   The ungodly choose to live contrary to Wisdom and His virtues of courage and
  counsel. Their negative choice shuts them out from these virtues.
22:1   A good name to be chosen more than much wealth is the name Christian (see
  Acts 11:26). For Wisdom is Christ, and those who follow Him are known by this name.
  And His good grace is worth more than silver and gold, for by His grace Christians
  live according to His virtues implanted within them.
22:4   The fear of the Lord is the offspring of Wisdom, who is Christ. He is the begetter
  of all the virtues, described as riches and glory and life (see Jn 10:10).
22:5   The crooked are those who choose to live contrary to God and human nature, for in
  itself the soul is straight, not crooked. Thorns and snares are sinful passions. But he
  who guards his own soul will keep away from them. He is able to do this through
  Wisdom and His virtues.
22:8   A cheerful man is one free from the love of money and the vainglory it produces.
  He is very generous in almsgiving, and blessed by God. The vanity of his works refers
  to those done for one's own glory. But since the cheerful man is blessed by God, his
  almsgiving is free from vanity and done for God's glory.
22:12   Holy hearts belong to those who live according to Wisdom and His virtues. The
  Lord's love manifests itself in blameless hearts, and He sees these spiritual hearts which
  are acceptable to Him.
22:16    A lawless man is one who willfully rejects Wisdom and His virtues. His mouth
  becomes a deep pit of lawlessness. The Lord's hate for this man and his ways is hate in
  the sense of rejection. It is not the passion of hatred, for He is dispassionate.
22:20    When the spiritual heart inclines its ears to hear Wisdom (my word) and the
  words of His wise people, it becomes established. This inclination is the free movement
  of the will toward Wisdom, and the intent to obey Him.
22:27    St. Paul said in agreement with this verse, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company
  corrupts good habits’” (1Co 15:33).
22:30   The eternal landmarks refers to the Orthodox faith handed down in the Church.
  These landmarks must not be removed. “I cannot sufficiently wonder at the madness of
  certain men, at the impiety of their blinded understanding, at their lust of error, such
  that, not content with the rule of faith delivered once for all, and received from the times
  of old, they are every day seeking one novelty after another, and are constantly longing to
  add, change, and take away, in religion” (VincLer).
23:1-4   Understanding is one of the general virtues of Wisdom. He who has this virtue
  understands true life. A false life (v. 3) is the love of riches and gourmet dining. Poor
  people should never measure themselves by rich people. A false life is one of deception.
23:12   The source of instruction is Wisdom, who is Christ our Teacher. If one gives his
  spiritual heart and ears to Him, he will be instructed by Him with words of perception,
  the crown of the virtues.
23:16-19 Wisdom addresses His son (v. 19), and encourages him to spend time with His
  words (v. 16). The Book of Proverbs is an example of His words of Holy Scripture. These
  words are like a door that leads into the inner sanctuary of Wisdom (see also Mt 7:7, 8). If
  he does this, his thoughts will be directed aright (v. 19). He will also learn to fear the
  Lord the whole day long (v. 17), and other virtues of Wisdom, such as hope (v. 18), will
  be like offspring in him.
23:21   This verse seems to summarize vv. 20–36. Drunkenness, fornication, and spiritual
  slothfulness are an unholy combination. These things leave one with tattered and
  ragged garments and “more naked than ground meat” (v. 31).
24:3-5   Understanding, perception, and discernment are three aspects of the same
  thing, known as the crown of the virtues. A house is a man, and Wisdom is the builder of
  the house, that is, He builds a man into a wise man of strength. Such a man considers
  Wisdom and His virtues to be superior to a man who has a large estate.
24:7   Wisdom is the Lord. Councils are the gates of the wise. Within these gates the
  wise deliberate together concerning the true interpretations of Scripture (the mouth
  of the Lord). These interpretations are the good thinking that results from their
  deliberations. The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Church are examples of these
  councils.
24:10-12 Evangelism rescues those being led into death, and saws off their bonds,
  and does not spare them help. The evangelist has no need to know a man before he
  evangelizes him. For the Lord knows the hearts of all, since He formed every breath
  and knows all things. At His Second Coming, He will render to each man
  according to his works.
24:13   Honey is the teaching of Wisdom, and when it is eaten, it sweetens the soul. “He
  uses ‘honey’ figuratively, meaning divine doctrine, which restores the spiritual knowledge
  of the soul” (Hippol).
24:16-37 Righteousness is one of the general virtues of Wisdom, who makes righteous a
  man who believes in Him. This man is not yet perfect, but will always repent and
  choose instruction (v. 37) when he falls into sin. But the ungodly shall weaken in
  evils, because he chooses to be weak and evil, and has no interest in repentance or
  instruction.
24:17   The enemy is some sinful passion one has overcome, but he should not rejoice in
  this victory, nor be puffed up (exalt yourself). Rather, he should rejoice in Wisdom,
  who helped him gain the victory. “We can do nothing against our faults without the help
  of God. . . . And we ought not be puffed up by victories over them . . . lest He see your
  arrogant heart . . . and you begin to be forsaken by Him, and troubled once more by that
  passion, which by God's grace you had previously overcome” (JohnCas).
24:31   Pr 24:31, 32, 35, 36: A man without the discernment of Wisdom is like a dried-up
  and barren field and vineyard. The evangelist first prepares his own soul with the virtues
  (works). Then he walks behind Wisdom in the fields to water the dry and barren
  vineyards.
25:4   Silver shines unless it is covered with dross, the waste material that comes off in
  something. Human nature is good in itself, and would shine if it were not covered with
  the deceptions (“dross”) of the sinful passions. These deceptions are removed by spiritual
  athleticism (beat drossy silver), such as prayer and fasting. When these are removed,
  the natural sheen of the virtues shines from one's nature (made entirely clean).
25:5     The King's throne is a spiritual heart established in the virtues of Wisdom
  (established in righteousness). When the sinful passions (the ungodly) are slain,
  this throne is established in the heart.
25:6, 7   When we conquer a sinful passion, we are told not to brag on ourselves in the
  presence of the King. For it was by His helping grace that we gained the victory.
  Rather, we boast in Him alone. Otherwise, He will humble us by allowing the passion to
  return and overcome us.
25:8   The eyes are those of the spiritual heart. When we see the spiritual riches of Christ,
  then we may speak of them (see also Eph 1:18).
25:18   This saying is for those who try to be too spiritual too fast. Divine teaching (honey)
  should be swallowed a little at a time, and not treated like a gourmet table on which to
  gluttonize. For it will turn sour in the spiritual stomach, and be vomited up, and no longer
  be sweet to the taste.
25:24-25    The Lord rewards those who love their enemies (see also Mt 5:43–45; Rom
  12:19, 20).
25:31   A man who is his own spiritual director (a man who does something without
  counsel) is like an unfortified city whose walls are broken down.
26:1-13   These verses describe the condition of a man without discernment. Such a
  man is spiritually bankrupt. But discernment is the crown of Wisdom's virtues, and the
  man who possesses it is spiritually rich.
26:14-17 These verses describe the condition of a slothful man. His condition is akin to
  that of the man without discernment, for he, too, is spiritually bankrupt. But he is so
  deceived, he actually believes he is wise.
26:18-29   These verses describe the condition of a divisive man. He has seven vices in
  his soul (v. 26). St. John Cassian in his treatise on the vices speaks of eight of them:
  gluttony, unchastity, avarice, anger, dejection, listlessness, self-esteem, and arrogance.
  The man without discernment, the slothful man, and the divisive man exhibit such vices.
27:1   The Lord alone has foreknowledge. Neither men nor angels have foreknowledge. Men
  and angels, including the devil and his angels, can only guess about the future. Men and
  angels know the future only if the Lord reveals it to them. Therefore, no one should
  boast about tomorrow, for no one knows what the next day will bring forth (see
  also Jam 4:13–16). Furthermore, one may be dead tomorrow. “Hold fast then to virtue.
  For even so, if you depart young, you will depart in safety; if you come to old age, you will
  reach it safely” (JohnChr).
27:2   It is acceptable for neighbors and strangers to praise a person, provided he does
  not seek praise from them. If he seeks and obtains it, he will praise himself with his own
  lips. This kind of praise is self-exaltation, a destructive passion.
27:3   A man without discernment is a man without Wisdom and His virtues. This is
  serious enough (heavy). But add wrath to his foolishness, and his treatment of others
  becomes unbearable, like the weight of a heavy stone and cumbersome sand.
27:6   Judas Iscariot betrayed the Lord Jesus with a voluntary kiss, and He said of him:
  “It would have been good for that man if he had never been born” (Mk 14:21).
27:17   Iron is a dull metal, but it glistens when sharpened. Man's nature is like iron that
  becomes dull through the deceptions of sin. It is good underneath, but in need of
  sharpening that it may glisten and show its true nature. Similarly, true friends sharpen
  one another so the God-given virtues may develop and shine on the countenance.
27:20-21 A fixed eye indicates an unbendable will, which refuses to be instructed in the
  virtues of Wisdom. It never stops sinning, for example, in its intemperate use of its
  tongue. The sinful appetite (insatiable) of such a will is comparable to the appetite of
  Hades and destruction.
27:22     A man praised by others faces a dangerous crossroad, where few survive
  spiritually. One road leads to self-exaltation and thence to destruction. The other leads
  into a furnace of fire in which the silver and gold of one's nature is purified by Wisdom
  and His virtues.
27:23 A lawless heart is one which voluntarily turns away from Wisdom and His virtues;
  thus it seeks the vices (evil things). But an upright heart voluntarily seeks Wisdom
  and His general virtues and their fruits.
27:25   See Jn 10:27, 28.
28:1   An ungodly man is one who lives contrary to God and his God-given nature. He
  lives in the unnatural fears of his own imaginations (when no one is pursuing). Thus,
  he lives in unreality and cowardice. But a righteous man lives in the reality of Wisdom
  and His virtues, in which he is confident as a lion.
28:2   It is sometimes said, and rightly so, “Condemn no man, and you will be saved.” An
  astute man knows Wisdom and His virtues; thus in himself he condemns no one. His
  demeanor also helps quench condemnations when they arise.
28:5    Evil men are those who voluntarily live in vice, for they do not have upright
  judgment, one of Wisdom's general virtues. But those who seek the Lord and
  possess His virtues understand upright judgment in everything.
28:9   Wisdom, who is Christ, is the Lawgiver, and His law teaches virtue. Therefore, he
  who turns away his ear so as not to hear the law makes his prayer repulsive to
  the Lawgiver.
28:13   The righteous are those made righteous by Wisdom. When they help one another
  conquer their sinful passions, great glory arises, that is, God is glorified. But in places
  where ungodly people influence others, men are conquered by the vices.
28:14   An unwise man hides his own ungodliness; thus he cannot prosper spiritually.
  But a wise man takes the initiative to remove his deceptions of sin through repentance
  (leads his own rebuttal). Such a man prospers in the love of God.
28:20     God's grace makes a man righteous and helps him walk righteously. But a
  transgressor walks in crooked ways, which entangle him. “Crooked ways” are the
  sinful passions.
28:28   A man without discernment is a man without Wisdom and His virtues. This
  man trusts in an arrogant heart. How foolish and lost this man is! But he who
  walks in Wisdom and His virtues, such a man shall be saved.
28:30   The places of the ungodly refers to this fallen world. The righteous live in the
  world, but they lament its condition. For “blessed are those who mourn” (Mt 5:4). When
  the righteous convert the ungodly, sinful passions are destroyed (in their destruction).
  Thus, righteous people increase.
29:1   A reproving man is one who first reproves himself. Afterwards he is able to help
  others discipline themselves in spirituality. An obstinate man is one who rejects
  Wisdom and His virtues, and pursues vice. But when his vices suddenly consume him,
  he cannot be cured (no remedy).
29:6   The vices, or sinful passions, are a great snare to a man. But a righteous man is
  one who loves Wisdom and His virtues; thus he lives in joy and gladness.
29:10   Bloodthirsty men are first of all the demons, and secondly, those influenced by
  them. They hate a holy man and are out for his blood. But the upright seek him out
  to learn how to increase in holiness.
29:19   Wisdom's instruction incorporates several aspects: teaching, correction, discipline,
  reproof, learning, education, and training. A stubborn servant is one who intends not to
  obey instruction, even though he may understand something of what is taught.
29:23   The Lord allows a man's arrogance to humble him, so, if possible, he might learn
  humility. But the Lord only supports the humble-minded with the glory of His
  virtues.
29:25-26   The fear and awe of men trip up growth in the virtues. Such fear and awe
  constitute ungodliness that causes a man to stumble. But he who trusts in the
  Master fears Him, and rejoices in salvation.
29:27   Righteousness is the Lord's righteousness. Man is not its source. For example,
  leaders cannot impart righteousness to those who serve them. But the Lord easily and
  freely imparts righteousness to those who serve Him.
30:1   Those who believe in God will fear His words, and this fear will lead them to
  repentance.
30:2-3 One cannot know God through worldly wisdom, which God considers foolishness
  (see also 1Co 1:20, 21).
30:4   This verse asks six questions. The answer to the first five is “Christ.” The answer to
  the sixth is “Christian” (the name of His children).
30:5-6 See Rev 22:18, 19.
30:7-8 One of the two things asked relates to the means of living a virtuous life, namely,
  the grace of God. For apart from His grace no one can live a virtuous life. O Lord, do not
  take away grace from me before I die. The second request is for the necessities of life
  (v. 8).
30:11-15 Evil offspring are the sinful passions, and the devil is their father (Jn 8:43, 44).
  But this also applies to evil offspring in a family.
30:16-35   Numerous animals are mentioned: the leech, the raven, the eagle, the serpent,
  the ant, the rabbit, the locust, the lizard, the lion's cub, the cock, and the he-goat. These
  animals and the other situations described emphasize the opposition of Wisdom and His
  virtues to the sinful passions. For example, the sinful passions are like the leech (v. 16),
  for these, so to speak, drain the blood out of one's spiritual life. But the wise are like the
  rabbit (v. 28), for their home is Wisdom, who is Christ (the rocks).
31:1, 2 God is the Author of the Book of Proverbs, and His words are to be kept by His
  children.
31:10-30   A courageous wife is one who knows Wisdom and His virtues. Her value is
  priceless to her husband. She is an icon of the Church, the Bride of Christ. For she is to
  her husband what the Church is to Christ.
1:1    Words can be best understood as “collected sayings” (see 12:9–11). The word
  ecclesiastes comes from the Greek root word ecclesia, meaning “assembly,” which is also
  used to refer to the gathering of Christians in the New Testament. Thus, ecclesia is
  translated “church” in the English language, and is used to refer to both the gathering and
  the building where the people gather.
1:2   All, that is, everything in life that is apart from the purpose for which God created us,
  is vanity (see Rom 8:20).
1:3-7 We labor that we may profit, but labor loses its meaning (see Mt 16:26) when it has
  no eternal purpose. From generation to generation, we inherit death (Job 14:10). But
  Christ, the Sun of Righteousness (Mal 4:2), gives meaning to our labor and raises us up
  from death to life.
1:8-11   Even the human quest for knowledge and wisdom proves fruitless, because man
  cannot remember what he learned. Nothing new (v. 9) contrasts with the OT prophets
  who proclaim a new covenant (Jer 38:31; Is 65:27) created in Christ.
1:12-13 The Preacher is about to explain why he has come to this conclusion.
1:14   The choice of one's spirit means that we freely choose vanity or evil deeds as
  opposed to doing God's will. This tells us that man is not sinful by nature, but rather
  sinful by choice. This same phrase is also used in 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6, 16; 6:9.
1:15   Despite his pessimism, the Preacher knows that God is indeed at work in the world,
  and only He can make the crooked . . . straight (Is 40:4).
1:17-18 True wisdom is Christ, whose mysteries are far beyond our understanding.
2:1-3 The Preacher spoke in his heart because the heart is the center of our true self. It is
  the center of good or vanity, affection and coldness, mercy and hardness, wisdom and
  folly, reason and confusion.
2:13 Man can choose wisdom or foolishness, light or darkness, good or evil.
2:16   No matter whether we walk in the light of wisdom or in the darkness of folly,
  everyone suffers and dies without remembrance. It is for this reason that Christ has
  come to trample down death by dying that we might live eternally in Him. Thus, we are
  bold to sing, “Memory eternal!”
2:24-26 Earthly food and drink still ends in death, but the eternal food of the Eucharist
  (Jn 6:55) imparts good—that is, wisdom, knowledge, and gladness (v. 26)—to those
  who labor for God.
3:1-11 The eternal Word—the beginning and the end (v. 11; Rev 22:13)—came into time
  and redeemed all things. He turned our weeping into joy, our mourning into dancing, our
  hatred into love, and our time into eternity.
3:14-17   That men would fear before Him expresses the Preacher's understanding of
  why the world is the way it is. God uses the world to turn us to Himself, for at the end of
  the age, the time will come for judgment (see 5:7; 7:15; 8:11, 12; 11:9; 12:14).
3:22   This is a reminder that we are to rejoice in the simple satisfaction of accomplishing
  the works God has given us to do.
4:1-3 Job expressed a similar sentiment of being oppressed when he wished that he had
  never been born to see such sorrow (Job 3:10–16). But Christ has sent a comforter, the
  Holy Spirit (Jn 14:16), to wipe away all tears. Verse 2 speaks of the communion of the
  saints.
4:8   Our Lord spoke of this kind of person in the parable of the rich fool (Lk 12:16–21).
4:10 What a marvelous picture of encouragement in the Church!
4:12   The threefold cord may be linked to the virtues of faith, hope, and love (1Co 13:13).
4:13-17 In a striking reverse parallel, Christ stands in contrast to the old and senseless
  earthly king while also fulfilling him, for He was born poor and was raised up from
  the house of prisoners to be made king. Yet those who come afterward do indeed
  rejoice in him, bringing right sacrifices of praise into His house.
5:14-16 A description of life for a man who has no hope, whose labor is only to satisfy his
  hunger, who labored for the wind. But in the light of Christ we have hope, joy, health,
  and peace of mind.
6:1-12 Life is no more than a shadow (v. 12). No matter what we achieve on this earth, we
  cannot take it with us when we die. At the same time, the Christian may rejoice, for true
  Wisdom is Christ. The soul that labors for the food of immortality is covered not in
  darkness but in light, and lives not a thousand years twice (v. 6), but forever (Jn
  6:55–58).
7:1   Good olive oil symbolizes here the acquisition of earthly wealth, but in the new
  covenant, it symbolizes the acquisition of the Holy Spirit.
7:5-10   In Christ, the song of senseless men has been turned into the worship of the
  faithful, and the latter days, not the former days, are better (v. 10). So much for “the
  good old days”!
7:16   The overly righteous are like the Pharisee who “went up to the temple to pray” (Lk
  18:10), and the overly wise may be likened to the wise of this world (1Co 1:18). St. Paul
  writes, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1Co 10:12).
7:18   See Rom 8:28.
7:20   In the Orthodox funeral service we say, “For there has never been a man who has
  lived and has not sinned.”
7:26-29 We are all vulnerable and easily led astray by anyone with evil intentions, be it a
  man or a woman. But on a deeper level, the woman who is a snare speaks to the
  fallen Eve, and through her to all humanity, for she is our mother. There is indeed only
  one man that God made upright, and that one Man is Christ our God, who broke the
  curse of death and freed us from our sins.
8:1-5 Christ's “face shone like the sun” on Mount Tabor (Mt 17:2). The faithful also shine
  with His ineffable light, as Christ Himself said, “You are the light of the world” (Mt 5:14).
  Therefore, let us work to acquire the wisdom that is Christ our king, that we might
  shine as lights “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation” (Php 2:15).
8:8   Only Christ has authority in the day of death; and it is His power that releases
  and delivers us from that war.
8:11-12 Intentional sins are not a one-time event; the consequences continue for a long
  time.
8:15   This trilogy of words, eat, drink, and be merry, is also used by Jesus in the parable
  of the rich fool (Lk 12:19).
9:1   There are two ways to go through life. Those righteous and wise are in the hand of
  God; unregenerate man is on his own.
9:4   The living dog is an image of the Gentile believers (Mt 15:26, 27), and the dead lion
  images the nation of Israel.
9:7-8 Here is an OT image of the Eucharist, baptism, and chrismation.
9:11   The victory in both race and battle belongs to the faithful.
9:14   The little city is the world, and the great king is the devil who besieged it.
10:1   When we say, “There's a fly in the ointment,” the saying comes from this verse (oil
  can be translated “ointment”). This image illustrates how sin affects creation.
10:4   Do not leave your place: The wise man must not stray from his determination to
  glorify God.
10:15-17 The city can be seen as an image of the Kingdom of heaven, ruled by Christ the
  king and His princes (v. 16), the faithful. Christ calls the scribes and Pharisees fools (v.
  15) for being too blind to see the truth (Mt 23:17, 19).
11:1-10 This chapter teaches we are not to hold onto that which we have been given, but
  give it away.
12:1   The days of your youth reminds us to follow the Lord from the earliest years of
  our lives.
12:5   The caper plant grows on rocky cliffs, stone walls, and in cracks and crevices of
  rocks in the Middle East.
12:8    Though the Preacher ends on a negative note, with all is vanity, the positive
  message of this book is contained in 12:6: “Remember your Creator.” Or as Proverbs
  teaches us, “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom” (Pr 1:7).
1:1   The Song of Songs: The title in the superlative indicates this song, in the biblical
  idiom, is the greatest of all songs, just as the Holy of Holies (Heb 9:3, RSV) means the
  holiest of all places. The author is Solomon, whose name means “Peace.” This is
  significant because the greatest song belongs to One who Himself is the “Prince of Peace”
  (Is 9:6, NKJV). Thus, Solomon is a type of the King of Peace, Christ, throughout this
  allegory. Christ Himself is portrayed by the Bridegroom (Is 62:5), and the song is that of
  the marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:7–9).
1:2   Let him kiss me speaks not of the kiss of reverence, but of that of intimacy. The Holy
  Church, long awaiting the Lord's coming, proclaims here her desire for intimacy with
  God. “The more abundantly she is filled up with His beauty, the more vehemently her
  longings abound” (GrgNy). The Lord sent angels, patriarchs, and prophets to Israel, all of
  whom brought spiritual gifts, but far better than the gifts or their bearers is the Giver
  Himself. The Bride seeks these heralds no longer, but the presence of her true Love
  Himself, the Son of God in His Incarnation.
1:3   The Holy Spirit is Himself the ointment of the Lord. In the Nicene Creed, Christ
  “became incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary” (whose name means “myrrh”).
  The smells of His ointments are the gifts of the Spirit. Likewise, the saints in their
  virtues have this fragrance of Christ, according to St. Paul (2Co 2:15–17). The young
  maidens are Christ's chosen ones, born again through holy baptism.
1:4   The Church here is in the plural we because she is made up of a multitude of faithful
  souls. This is a clear statement of the principle of synergy: we will run after Christ,
  something which He Himself helps us to do, for apart from Him we can do nothing (Jn
  15:5). However, we run wholeheartedly (1Co 9:24). The Church is the house of a king, a
  vast palace, but those who enter into her mysteries are those who have been brought into
  the inner chamber (2Co 12:4).
1:5   The Fathers interpret the blackness of the Church as resulting either from sin or from
  persecution. “When we were sinners and dark, God made us full of light and lovely by
  shining on us with His grace” (GrgNy). Kedar means dark or black. Bedouin tents, the
  tents of Kedar, are made from the hides of black goats. Kedar was the second son of
  Ishmael (Gn 25:13), and in other references Kedar is a place of trouble (Ps 119:5). The
  curtains of Solomon, the curtains of the temple, were lavish in their opulence and
  beauty.
1:6    The Church suffered terrible persecution from the sons of my mother, the
  inhabitants of Jerusalem who despised Christ. There was one vineyard immediately
  after the Resurrection: Jerusalem, the city of peace. But after the martyrdom of St.
  Stephen, the Church scattered throughout the world, planting new vineyards
  everywhere she went.
1:7   The Bride awaits the Bridegroom, seeking intimate communion with Him. The One
  whom my soul loves is the true Spouse of the human soul, Jesus Christ, the
  shepherd.
1:8   The Church has become the crown jewel of creation, the fairest maiden, just as the
  soul through holy baptism is made most lovely among the souls of men. The young
  goats are carnal stirrings and nascent passions. We tend them, but do not feed them!
1:10   The Bridegroom is flattering His Bride. The cheeks are the virtue of modesty. The
  turtledoves symbolize fidelity, for they mate once for life and live in high and lofty
  places. Turtledoves were the prescribed offering for the poor (Lv 5:7; 12:8). St. Joseph,
  with the Christ Child and His mother, brought two turtledoves to the temple at the time
  of purification after His birth (Lk 2:22–24).
1:12   This prophetic verse was fulfilled by Mary of Bethany's anointing of the Lord with
  spikenard for His burial while He was at the table (Mt 26:6, 7; Mk 14:3; Lk 7:37, 38; Jn
  12:3).
1:13   This passage was fulfilled by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea (Jn 19:39–41)
  when the Lord was anointed again after his death, covered with myrrh and bundled in
  linen. He will take rest in the Church.
1:14   En Gedi was an oasis on the west coast of the Dead Sea. It is a symbol for baptism.
  David encamped here when he fled from Saul (1Kg 24:1).
1:15   Doves are birds of peace, not birds of prey. Peace makes one's eyes beautiful to
  behold.
1:16   The shaded bed is the Church, the place man continues to meet in intimate
  “communion with the Divine” (GrgNy).
1:17    Both cedars and cypress wood are well known for their distinct odor, their
  incorruptible nature, and their ability to repel pests and vermin.
2:1   The Bridegroom has become a flower, that is a mortal, a reference to the Incarnation.
  The Son of God becomes man not in exalted splendor, as a lily of the mountaintops, but
  in humility, a lily of the valleys, the lowest places.
2:2   The Bride, the Church, is a lily among thorns, the afflictions of this life. “In the
  midst of a wicked people, there is a good people that receives the mercy of God” (Aug).
2:3   The Bride now speaks, exalting the Bridegroom. Of all the trees of the woods, the
  apple tree gives nourishment with sweet fruit. In Scripture, the apple is a symbol of favor
  (Dt 32:10; Ps 16:8; Zec 2:12). Christ the beloved far surpasses in glory the sons, the
  righteous, for they become by grace what He is by nature. His commandments are sweet
  to those who thirst for the living Word (Ps 118:103).
2:4   The house of wine is the Church filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18–21). The Bride
  desires God's love, to be overshadowed by the Presence of the Lord—not unlike the
  tabernacle in the Old Testament (Ex 40:35) and the Theotokos, the living tabernacle of
  the New Testament (Lk 1:35).
2:5   Cakes of raisins were given to the people of Israel after King David completed the
  burnt offerings and peace offerings to God before the ark of the covenant (2Kg 6:16–19;
  1Ch 16:1–3, NKJV). They, together with the apples, symbolize the sweetness of God's
  grace bestowed on believers.
2:6    This is the embrace of the tender and attentive lover. The right hand of God
  indicates His royal favor (Ps 15:11; 16:7; Heb 8:1).
2:7   The Bridegroom addresses the faithful as daughters of Jerusalem. The powers
  that assist us are the angelic hosts and even the saints. The field, according to the Lord,
  is the world (Mt 13:38) we live in. St. Paul takes the metaphor one step further, calling us
  “God's field” (1Co 3:9).
2:8   The soul responds to the voice of the Lord. The image of the coming of the incarnate
  Word of God, leaping down from heaven, skipping over the hills, is from another of
  Solomon's works, foretelling the Incarnation (WSol 18:15, 16). Melito of Sardis calls the
  Incarnation “the transition of the Lord—His assumption of our flesh, through which by
  His birth, His death, His resurrection, His ascent into heaven, He made transitions, so to
  say.”
2:9   The gazelle or young stag, smaller than other deer, shows that among humans the
  Lord appeared as a humble man, servant of all. Bethel means the “house of God,” which
  is the Church.
2:11   St. Paul writes similarly to the Christians in Rome (Rom 13:12).
2:12    The flowers tell us spring (a symbol of resurrection) is here. The Lord has
  commanded a time of pruning that we might bear more spiritual fruit (Jn 15:2).
2:13   The fig tree is a figure of Israel, God's people before the Incarnation (Hos 9:10; Mt
  21:19–21; Mk 11:13, 20, 21; Lk 13:6, 7). But the figs are young and immature, like those
  believers who have not grown in their faith (1Co 3:1). The true vine is Christ (Jn 15:1–5),
  and the vines are the Church, the New Israel. We are the fragrance of Christ to God the
  Father (2Co 2:15).
2:14   And come: The Lord commands the sleeper to arise and join Him (Eph 5:14). The
  dove is a symbol of fidelity and chastity. The rock is Christ (1Co 10:4). It is the voice of
  Christ that is heard in the Church.
2:16    The Bridegroom belongs to the Bride and no other. The Bride belongs to the
  Bridegroom and no other. St. Paul writes of this mystery (Eph 5:32), comparing the
  relationship between Christ and the Church with marriage.
2:17   This is the dawning of the eternal day, and the shadows of ignorance and error
  depart in the radiance of Christ's glory (Rom 13:12).
3:2   There are those who seek God in the wrong places. The marketplaces and streets
  are symbols of the world, but God is found in His Church.
3:3   The watchmen are the prophets, apostles, and evangelists who proclaim the Word of
  God and bear witness to the Incarnate Christ. The Church holds their writings, the Holy
  Scriptures, in the highest honor.
3:4   The Bride will not rest until her mother's house, Israel from whom the Church was
  born, recognizes Christ as their God and Savior. Mary Magdalene fulfilled this prophecy.
  After searching for the resurrected Christ, she was found by angels. Hearing He had risen,
  she departed from them and found him.
3:6, 7 The daughters of Jerusalem, the predecessors of the Gentile Church, marvel at the
  coming of the king from the desert. This is the wedding procession of Solomon and
  his bride. The Church will meet her King at His return. The bed is the “palanquin” (v. 9),
  a portable couch enclosed in a framework of poles and canvas, carried on the shoulders of
  mighty men, symbolic of the dwelling place of the King who rests in His saints forever.
  “Frankincense is allotted to God, while myrrh is . . . for the dead. . . . The Bride . . . is
  likened to the vapor of incense, namely, because she worships” (Theod).
3:8   These warriors hold a sword, which speaks of the living and written Word of God
  (Eph 6:17, 18).
3:9, 10 This palanquin is made of the same precious materials used in the construction
  of the temple (see note at 3:6, 7). Solomon is a type of Christ the King.
3:11   Solomon is a type of Christ. The crown with which His mother, the Theotokos and
  Ever-Virgin Mary, crowned him is His immaculate flesh, which He assumed from her
  and brought to the right hand of the Father (Heb 2:9; 8:1). In the Orthodox wedding,
  crowns are placed on the heads of both bride and groom.
4:1   The veil speaks of the hidden mysteries of God in the Church. According to Scripture,
  Mount Gilead had exceptionally good pasture (Nm 32:1), again looking ahead to the
  Church.
4:2   The bride's teeth, made clean by washing (baptism and repentance), are the gateway
  to receiving nourishment, the meat or “solid food” of the Word (1Co 3:2). The bride is
  fruitful, bearing twins.
4:3   In the Church, our lips proclaim the Gospel of Christ in a manner of speech which
  is pleasant. St. Paul calls this “speaking the truth in love” (Eph 4:15).
4:4   The tower of David would be the impregnable fortress in David's Jerusalem. The
  Church is the New Jerusalem, and this fortress is the immovable confession of Christ, the
  Gospel, against which even hell itself has no power (Mt 16:16–18). A thousand shields
  refers to small bucklers, a piece of defensive armor, speaking of God's protection of those
  in warfare.
4:5   The breasts symbolize both the beauty of Solomon's bride and the beauty of Christ's
  Church.
4:6   The dawning of the eternal day of the Lord will mean that the shadows of sin and
  death will depart from us forever (see Rev 21:3–5). The mountain of myrrh is likely a
  reference to the fragrance of God's eternal Kingdom and the presence there of holy
  incense (Rev 8:3, 4).
4:7   The Bridegroom calls his chosen Bride beautiful and also extols her virtues, saying
  that she is without blemish, as emphasized by St. Paul (Eph 5:26, 27).
4:8   The bride from Lebanon reminds us the Church is not only for Jews. Senir and
  Hermon are the ridges of Judea and Cilicia, known to be the dwelling places of wild
  beasts and predators, including lions and leopards—which, according to St. Gregory the
  Dialogist, are symbols of demons. Thus, we serve Christ in a fallen world.
4:9   As Solomon was taken with his bride, so Christ is ravished or wounded in His heart
  by His love for the Church. His calling His Bride sister means Christ is our brother (Heb
  2:11), reminding us that He assumed our humanity in His Incarnation.
4:10   The garments of the Church, and therefore of the saints, are her righteous deeds
  (Rev 19:8, 14), better than all spices, for they fill the world with the fragrance of Christ
  Himself (2Co 2:14, 15).
4:11   Milk signifies teachings acceptable for children and immature Christians (Heb 5:12).
  Honey signifies wisdom (Pr 24:13), food for the mature believer.
4:12-15   In this passage, the bride is called a garden, which speaks of (1) the beauty of
  the plants and the fountain and (2) the fragrance of the fruit. The living and
  rushing water (v. 15) is a phrase used by Jesus (Jn 7:38), speaking of the work of the
  Holy Spirit in believers. St. Gregory of Nyssa, in urging Christians to seek out godly
  leaders, quotes 4:12: “But, employing the lamp of the Spirit for the search, you should, as
  far as is possible, seek for ‘a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed.’”
4:16   The wind being called upon to blow upon the garden can be likened to the Holy
  Spirit, the strong wind that blew on the Apostles beginning in the upper room (Acts 2:2).
5:1   Milk and honey together signified the overabundance of delights in the Promised
  Land (Ex 3:8, 17; 13:5; 33:3; Lv 20:24; Jos 5:6; Jer 11:5, 39:22; Ezk 20:6, 15), but bread
  and wine comprise the image of the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9), the Holy
  Eucharist. In the Church, friends and brothers are invited to eat and drink.
5:2   The Bridegroom knocks at the door of the heart when He says, “Behold, I stand at
  the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him
  and dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev 3:20). Although omnipotent, like a gentle and
  unyielding lover the Lord enters only when invited. “If they open to Him, He enters in,
  but if they delay and will not, He departs from them” (AthanG).
5:3    The Lord washed the feet of His disciples (Jn 13:5) after they returned from
  preaching, showing that even the greatest saints cannot keep completely free of sin
  without His help (Jn 15:5).
5:5   The Bride arose to open the door for her beloved. This is a powerful image of the
  Church working together with God to do His will. St. Paul is bold to say, “We are God's
  fellow workers” (see text and notes, 1Co 3:9).
5:6   I . . . did not find him is a solemn reminder that our Bridegroom cannot be found
  unless He chooses to reveal Himself (see Mt 16:15–17).
5:7   The apostles and preachers of the faith are the guards of the walls, the keepers of
  the New Jerusalem. They guard the Church by the true teaching of the doctrine of Christ
  and protect the city from charlatans, Christ-peddlers, heretics, and schismatics. The veil
  remains on those who know only the Mosaic Law (2Co 3:14–18).
5:10-16   In the richness of poetic language, the bride extols the beauty and grace of her
  beloved. Applying these words to Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church, we see that He
  is: (1) a shining . . . light (v. 10), “the light of the world” (Jn 8:12); (2) chosen from
  countless thousands (v. 10): “Therefore, peoples shall give thanks to you / Forever and
  unto ages of ages” (Ps 44:18); (3) like refined gold (v. 11), “on His head a golden crown”
  (Rev 14:14); (4) seen with eyes . . . like . . . doves (v. 12): “The eyes of the Lord are in
  every place” (Pr 15:3); (5) revealed with glorious cheeks and lips (v. 13): “His voice as
  the sound of many waters” (Rev 1:15); (6) beautiful in hands and stomach (v. 14):
  “Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him” (Mt 8:3); (7) strong of legs and feet (v.
  15): “His feet were like fine brass” (Rev 1:15); (8) altogether desirable (v. 16), “more
  beautiful than the sons of men” (Ps 44:3).
6:1   The daughters of Jerusalem, the companions, now inquire where they can find such a
  Bridegroom. Those who are wise still seek him.
6:2   His garden is the Church.
6:5   The Bridegroom warns His Bride against trying to somehow see His Divine Essence,
  for no one shall see Him and live (Ex 33:20). The angels, even the mighty seraphim, veil
  their faces before His glory (Is 6:2).
6:8-9 There is little patristic commentary on this passage. The queens appear to represent
  the souls of those who reign with Christ through their watchfulness and their evangelical
  way of life. The concubines may give praise to the bride (v. 9) but expend their energy
  on worldly attachments. Both the queens and concubines approach the King's throne, but
  only the queens rule with Him. Seeing the Church as mother (v. 9), St. Cyprian of
  Carthage writes, if one “resists and withstands the Church, can he still be confident that
  he is in the Church?” Despite the multiplication of religious sects, each offering its own
  brand of revelation, salvation, or enlightenment, there is but one Bride of Christ.
6:10   The Bride, the Church, is beautiful as the moon because she is illumined by the
  Sun of Righteousness (Mal 3:20) and reflects the light of His glory.
6:11   Here, the Bride goes down to the orchard when she inspects the fruits that grow
  there, an act of self-examination. The Church is called to examine her spiritual progress,
  watching for those who still need assistance in bringing forth virtue (see 2Co 13:5). On
  the subject of married love, King Solomon wrote concerning one's wife, “Rejoice together
  with the wife of your youth” (Pr 5:18). The wife gives her body to her husband, and he
  gives himself to her (1Co 7:4). This is a powerful picture of our intimacy with God at the
  Holy Eucharist, for marriage is an icon of the Church (Eph 5:25–28).
7:1   Shulamite means “peace,” the feminine form of Solomon. The Church, replete with
  Gentiles of every nation, beckons with fervor the Shulamite, who represents the Jewish
  people, and calls her to return to the knowledge of her Redeemer (see Rom 11:28, 29).
7:2-10   Just as the Bride praised the beauty of the Bridegroom (5:10–16), so here the
  Bridegroom extols the beauty of the Bride. The beauty of her feet (v. 2) calls to mind the
  beauty of the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace (Is 52:7; Rom 10:15). The
  nose (v. 5) is the organ of scent, the most discriminating of the senses and the one most
  closely linked to memory. This discernment forms a part of the living memory of the
  Church. The king is taken with the head and the hair of his bride (v. 6), and also with
  her stature and her breasts (v. 8). St. Paul teaches that “Christ also loved the church and
  gave Himself for her” (Eph 5:25). At the marriage of Cana, Jesus saved the good wine (v.
  10) until last (Jn 2:10). All of these things are symbolic of the love between husband and
  wife or between Christ and the Church.
7:11   This is a paraphrase/repeat of 2:16 and 6:3. The Bride again declares her full devotion
  to the Bridegroom and no other.
7:12-14   The Bride beckons the Bridegroom that they may go forth together into the
  field. Jesus taught, “The field is the world” (Mt 13:38). This, together with words like
  villages (v. 12), rise early (v. 13), the vine has flowered (v. 13), aroma (v. 14) and
  fruits . . . new and old (v. 14), suggests a prophetic description of evangelism by the
  apostles and the Church.
8:1   Some Orthodox commentators see the Bride calling the Bridegroom a brother who
  could nurse at my mother's breasts as a veiled reference to the Incarnation of the Son
  of God. For the Lord addressed His followers, saying, “Here are My mother and My
  brothers” (Mk 3:34). St. Athanasius, in his Paschal Letter of 329, writes concerning 8:1,
  “The God of all, the Maker of times and seasons, who knows our affairs better than we do
  . . . so also does He send [Christ] not unseasonably, but seasonably.” St. Paul teaches that
  Christ came in “the fullness of the time” (Gal 4:4).
8:2   My mother's house is symbolic of the “house of the Lord” (Ps 22:6). God's house
  has “many mansions” or dwellings (Jn 14:2), and these chambers are the intended home
  of all humanity. In the spiced wine we see in mystery the mixed wine consecrated in the
  Eucharist.
8:5   Jesus told His disciples, “the fields . . . are already white for harvest” (Jn 4:35), a
  picture of the Gentile Church. St. Ambrose supports this understanding, seeing she who
  comes up as “the Church; for Solomon chose her, whose hidden love he had discerned.”
  Further, he sees the mother as “Mary, whose soul God pierces and divides” (see Lk
  2:35).
8:6   “Christ is the seal . . . in the heart that we may always love Him, and a seal on the
  arm, that we may always do His work. Therefore let His image shine forth in our
  profession of faith, let it shine forth in our love, let it shine forth in our works and deeds
  so that, if it is possible, all His beauty may be represented in us. . . . Christ is our love . . .
  since [love] has offered itself to death for transgressions” (AmbM).
8:7   Storms, water, and surging rivers cannot quench “the love of God which is in
  Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38, 39).
8:8   The companions are concerned for their little sister, who has no breasts—she is
  immature. Yet one day she will be spoken for in marriage. This is perhaps a picture of
  the fledgling Gentile Church, initially small in number but with potential for growth.
  Interestingly, throughout the twenty-five years of the Acts of the Apostles (AD 33–58),
  many Gentiles came to the Church, but nowhere do they yet preach or teach.
8:9, 10 The wall is the bride, the Church, and Ambrose also sees it as the believer's soul.
  In either case, the goal is to build upon what is there. The Lord calls Himself a door (Jn
  10:9), for we cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven but through Him (Jn 14:6). Neither can
  we know Him fully apart from the Church; hence the Bride is herself likened to a door.
  Cedar panels are both aromatic and pleasing to the sight.
8:11, 12   The location of Baal Hamon is unknown, a hidden mystery. The Lord's
  vineyard is likewise a mystery to the world, though present everywhere. The keepers
  are the Holy Apostles and those who follow them. My vineyard reminds us that the
  Church belongs first to Christ, though both leaders (Solomon) and faithful together
  keep its fruit.
8:13, 14   The conversation between Bridegroom and Bride is coming to a close. The
  Bridegroom speaks across time and space to those who dwell in the gardens of the
  Church to give heed to her voice. Many see escape, my beloved as a prophetic
  encouragement of the Ascension, after which Christ will come again to receive us to
  Himself (Jn 14:3).
1:1, 2 Jesus promised, “Seek, and you will find” (Mt 7:7), just as is promised here.
1:4   According to St. Paul, Christ is “the wisdom of God” (1Co 1:24).
1:5   A spirit of discipline brings with it honesty, discernment, and righteousness.
1:7   This passage brings to mind the prayer, “O Heavenly King,” in which we confess, “the
  Spirit of Truth . . . is everywhere present and fills all things.”
1:13, 14 God intends for man to have eternal life. Evil and death are not of God's making
  (see Jam 1:12–18).
2:1-11 This worldview of the ungodly has not changed markedly in the roughly 3000 years
  that have passed since these lines were penned. Compare Lk 12:16–21.
2:12-22 Many church fathers see this passage on disdain for the righteous man as being
  fulfilled in the life of Christ.
2:18   Compare Mt 27:43.
3:1-23 The question, “Why do the just suffer?” is answered in this section.
3:9   Truth, love, grace and mercy are fulfilled in Christ and in His faithful in the
  Church.
3:1-9 The Church sees the lives of the martyrs reflected in these verses. See also Dt 33:3;
  Job 12:10; Ps 117:15.
3:10-12   Tragically, the ungodly do not jeopardize only their own salvation, but their
  wives and children are affected as well. See also 3:16–19; 4:6.
3:13   A touching promise for the single woman and for married couples that cannot have
  children.
4:1   Virtue, more than anything else, attracts the gift of immortality. The Church sees in
  this verse a commentary on the splendor of virginity and the worthiness of the monastic
  calling. The seven great virtues are humility, liberality, chastity, mildness, temperance,
  happiness, and diligence. See also Acts 24:16.
4:2   See 1Co 11:1; Heb 6:12.
4:10-15 Though he is not named in this passage, this is a specific reference to Enoch, who
  was taken up to be with the Lord and made perfect (Gn 5:18–24).
4:17   A repeated theme in this book is that the ungodly do not understand the ways of
  the wise (see 1Co 2:14).
4:20   The day of reckoning is the final judgment, when the unjust will see their
  lawless deeds.
5:5-6 The way of truth refers to the path of wisdom exemplified in the lives of the sons
  of God, the saints. Like Judas, the ungodly have a sense of regret but not repentance as
  they face judgment, a theme that continues through 5:14.
5:17-20   The full armor of God represents His holy attributes realized in Christ and in
  those who are baptized into Christ (Gal 3:27). St. Paul lists similar spiritual armor in Eph
  6:11–17.
6:1-10 A word of exhortation to kings, judges, and rulers: their source of power is from
  the Lord (v. 3). St. Paul agrees in Rom 13:1–6.
6:10    Holy things here are God's commandments and wise instruction, which are
  taught to the faithful. In the Divine Liturgy, “holy things” refers to the Body and Blood
  of Christ received in Holy Communion.
6:12   Wisdom will be easily perceived and found when she is the sole desire of the
  heart (see also Jam 1:5).
6:15     Everything necessary for our salvation is contained in the perfection of
  discernment which is embodied in Christ (see 7:22–24).
6:16   God knows our every thought and meets us when our every thought is fixed on
  Him (see also Pr 8:20; WSir 15:1).
6:17-20 Desire for wisdom leads from instruction to love to virtue to God's everlasting
  kingdom.
6:24   The prudent king is fulfilled in Christ. In this light, the wise men can be seen to
  foreshadow His Church, which brings salvation to the world.
7:1   The first-formed man is Adam.
7:2   Ten months: The months of the Jewish year were four weeks long. Human gestation
  is forty weeks.
7:4-5   Solomon is a type of Christ, who was also born a king (see Is 9:6; Mt 2:2) yet
  wrapped in swaddling cloths (see Lk 2:7, 12).
7:6, 7 Here is the story of salvation. Man realizes that his life has no real purpose and will
  end in death. He prays and is enlightened with discernment: only God can save him. He
  calls on God, who sends wisdom—that is, Christ—and His Spirit.
7:7-14   This passage is fulfilled in Christ and His Church, to which nothing earthly can
  stand in comparison (v. 8). She is the unfailing treasure for men (v. 14; see Lk
  12:32–34).
7:22-30 The Fathers agree that this passage illustrates the divine attributes of Christ, who
  is “the image [v. 26] of the invisible God” (Col 1:15). One may also recognize here many
  of the qualities the Church sees in the Virgin Mary, who bore God the Son in her womb.
  From these verses we are reminded that through deification or becoming like God,
  humanity is given the capacity to share in the uncreated energies of God—His power,
  purity, light, and goodness.
7:27   Through the wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, we can be made friends of God (see
  Jn 15:15).
8:1, 2 The multitude said of Christ, “He has done all things well” (Mk 7:37). As Solomon
  loved and sought wisdom, so Christ loves and seeks His bride, the Church (see Mt
  25:1–13; Eph 5:22–32).
8:4   The mysteries of the knowledge of God are later revealed to the Apostle John (Jn
  15:15), who is also called the Theologian, the Knower of God.
8:7   Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Mt 6:33). The
  virtues here are similar to those in Gal 5:22, 23.
8:8   Wisdom brings to the believer great experience and adventure. There is a personal
  joy and excitement that comes from an understanding of the things of God.
8:10-11 He who is Wisdom, Christ our God, found honor in the presence of the elders
  in the temple at the young age of twelve (Lk 2:42–47).
8:14   A description of the King of kings.
8:19-20   Orthodox theology teaches that the body is the outer covering or “tent” of the
  soul (2Pt 1:13), and that together they comprise the human person. The soul is
  inherently good and comes into being at the time of conception (see Zec 12:1).
8:21   Wisdom is a gift from God; yet we are called to search for her diligently.
9:1, 2   Word and wisdom are synonymous; both are a reference to Christ. This entire
  chapter anticipates the Incarnation of the Son of God.
9:5   Like Solomon, Christ is God's servant and the son of His maidservant. Unlike
  Solomon, Christ is perfect man and is eternal.
9:6   In his prayer, Solomon foresees one who is perfect among the sons of men.
9:8   As High Priest, our Lord Jesus Christ serves at heaven's altar in the true tabernacle
  after which the earthly tabernacle and temple were patterned (see Heb 8:1, 2).
9:15   Through His death and Resurrection, Christ made the corruptible body to be
  immortal (see 1Co 15:47–49).
9:17-18 The presence of the Holy Trinity is unveiled here. Your counsel refers to God the
  Father, who gives His Son, wisdom, and sends His Holy Spirit to reveal the knowledge
  of salvation to mankind.
10:1   That Wisdom delivered Adam—and Eve—from their transgression is beautifully
  captured in numerous Orthodox icons of the Resurrection of Christ.
10:7   St. Jude chooses a similar word picture in describing apostates: “late autumn trees
  without fruit” (Jude 12). The pillar of salt is a reference to Lot's unbelieving wife (Gn
  19:26).
10:10   Our lives are a combination of hardships and the successes of increased . . .
  fruit from our labors. Wisdom helps us through both. St. Paul encouraged Timothy to
  “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2Ti 2:3).
10:13-14 When Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and in a pit in Egypt, wisdom did
  not abandon him (Gn 39–45). To His righteous followers, Jesus promises, “I will never
  leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5).
10:17-20   Solomon has in mind the Song of Moses (v. 20), which is also sung in heaven
  and begins, “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty!” (Rev 15:3, 4).
10:1-21 This historical overview from Adam to Moses shows the active role that the Word
  of God (Wisdom) takes in salvation history. St. Peter records a similar history (2Pt 2:4–
  9). Verse 21 prophesies Christ's miracles (Is 35:5, 6; Mt 11:5).
11:4-8     In the first of seven antitheses, or comparisons (see 16:1–21; 17:1–18:4; 18:5–19;
  19:1–9), God is seen both to punish His enemies and to show kindness to His people by
  the same means—in this case, with sweet and defiled water (see also 11:13). The rock is
  a symbol of Christ (Lk 20:17; 1Co 10:4) and the water is symbolic of eternal life (see Jn
  4:14).
11:9-2 According to the Fathers, God could destroy the world in a single breath (v. 20).
  But in His mercy and love, and recognizing the good inherent in man at creation, God will
  correct those who have fallen away little by little (12:2), desiring their repentance (v.
  23).
11:22   See Is 40:15.
11:24   With His creation complete, “God saw everything He had made, and indeed, it was
  very good” (Gn 1:31).
11:25   In Christ “all things consist” (lit. “hold together”; Col 1:17).
12:2   God gives us every opportunity to believe in Him.
12:3-11 The inhabitants of the holy land were the Canaanites, who were very unholy.
  Here again, as in 12:2, the Lord could have destroyed them by one severe word (v. 9),
  but instead He judged them little by little, giving them a chance for repentance (v.
  10). Jesus taught the Most High God “is kind to the unthankful and evil” (Lk 6:35).
12:12-18 The Almighty God is utterly sovereign and merciful. He will not judge unjustly
  (v. 13; Gn 18:25). He rules over us with great forbearance (v. 18).
12:19    For God's children, the sacrament of confession, or repentance, makes us
  hopeful.
12:22   Note how God's chastening fits the sin.
12:23-27   Another description of the judgment of God (v. 26) on the Egyptians. The
  Apostle Mark brought the gospel to Egypt, and the fruit of his labor remains to this day.
13:1-19   All men are encouraged to look beyond the beauty of creation to its source and
  inspiration, Almighty God, and to know Him who exists (v. 1).
13:3 See Ps 8:5, 6.
13:5   St. Paul uses this same reasoning in Rom 1:20.
13:6   On Mars Hill, St. Paul preached to those who while seeking God had gone astray
  (see Acts 17:26, 27). We find Him in His Holy Church, in the Scriptures, and in our
  prayers to Him.
13:8-9 As in 13:5, St. Paul teaches why they are not to be excused in Rom 1:20, 21.
13:11-16 Solomon explains the length to which a carpenter goes to make a false image
  (v. 16).
14:1-5 Wisdom mercifully provides safe passage for man.
14:6, 7 These verses refer to the time of Noah (Gn 6) and also foreshadow Christ and the
  saving wood of the Cross.
14:8-21 Man's creation of godless idols (v. 12) separates him from that loving union with
  God for which he was created. Idolatry is a trap for the feet of fools (v. 11).
14:22-29      Every form of depravity (v. 25) flourishes in a society where idols are
  worshipped as deities. A sense of moral order in such a culture is impossible (see Rom
  1:26–30).
14:26   See Acts 15:20.
15:3 To know God is immortality—eternal life (see Jn 17:3).
15:4-19   Idols are evil images that entice the worshipper away from the True God and
  towards nothingness. Holy images or icons, such as the cross and images of Christ and
  His living saints, help keep us from idols.
15:7   St. Paul also teaches that the potter makes vessels for honor and dishonor from
  the same clay (Rom 9:21). We choose to live either in light or in darkness.
15:10 See Is 44:20.
15:11   God, who formed us and breathed life into us, has a rightful claim on our soul!
15:13 There is hope for a practicing idolater because he knows that he sins.
15:15   Compare with Dt 4:28.
16:1-21   God again uses similar means both to save His people and to judge His enemies
  (see also 11:4–8; 17:1–18:4; 18:5–19; 19:1–9). The food of angels (vv. 20), or manna,
  was both food for Israel and a symbol of the Eucharist (Jn 6:31, 32).
16:2   God sending His people quails as food is described in lively detail in Nm 11.
16:5   Related passages are Nm 21:6; Dt 32:24; 1Co 10:9.
16:6-12   The holy fathers see in the bronze serpent (Nm 21:9) a symbol of the healing
  power of the Cross. See also Jn 3:14.
16:10 See Dt 32:33.
16:13 Christ the Savior descended into Hades and exercised His authority over life and
  death to release those in prison (see Eph 4:9, 10).
16:15-18 This event is recorded in Ex 9:22–26.
16:20   In Jn 6:31–34, Jesus makes it very clear that He Himself is the true bread from
  heaven. Unfortunately, many modern Christians fail to commune regularly with Christ
  in the Eucharist. Jesus warns, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His
  blood, you have no life in you” (Jn 6:53).
16:24-29    God works through His creation to teach man that it is not creation but the
  word of His Wisdom that preserves them (v. 26). Just as God used fiery hail to destroy,
  so He uses the rays of the sun to defrost the crops. So then, man should arise at sunrise
  to thank God, for God's blessing will leave the one who is unthankful just as quickly as
  the rising sun melts frost (see 2Ti 3:2).
17:1-4   As seen earlier (see text and notes at 11:4–8; 16:1–21; 18:5–19; 19:1–9), God uses
  similar means both to judge His enemies and to bless His people. Here God is seen to
  send darkness (v. 2) to terrify the Egyptians and light (18:1) to guide the Israelites. This
  is the same darkness of Hades (v. 13) into which Christ descended (1Pt 3:19).
17:3 See Ex 10:22, 23.
17:7 See 2Ti 3:8, 9.
17:9, 10 See Jer 26:22, 23.
17:11   See Rom 2:15.
18:1-4 Great light (see Is 42:6) points to Christ, who is the fulfillment of the law (v. 4)
  and the light of the world (Jn 8:12).
18:3 See Ex 13:21.
18:5-19 The sixth means is presented by which God both blesses His people and punishes
  His enemies (see 11:4–8; 16:1–21; 17:1–18:4; 19:1–9). Here we see God punishing the
  Egyptians' murder of the Israelite children by slaying their firstborn (Ex 1:9–16), while
  protecting and glorifying the Jews (v. 8). The one child (v. 5) is Moses, who prefigures
  Christ.
18:6   That night (see Ex 12:42, 43) marks the first Passover Feast.
18:8   Here again is the case of God's punishing the Egyptian enemies being coupled with
  His blessing of His people (see 18:5–19 note).
18:12   This event is recorded in Nm 33:4.
18:15   The Red Sea crossing was such a miraculous event in the history of Israel that
  Solomon describes it with these words: Your all-powerful Word leaped from
  heaven. The Son of God is a warrior, saving His people (see Ex 15:3; Rev 19:13).
18:20-25 Once again salvation in Christ is foreshadowed when the high priestly prayers of
  the blameless man, Aaron, are said to cut off (v. 23) death. Aaron's vestments, his
  long robe (v. 24), like the vestments of Orthodox bishops and priests, symbolize Christ
  in His intercession for the world (v. 24).
19:1-9   Here, in a seventh and final antithesis (see 11:4–8; 16:1–21; 17:1–18:4; 18:5–19),
  God effectively works through His creation, using the Red Sea both to save His people
  and to destroy His enemies (vv. 6, 7). This event is seen in the Church to foreshadow
  Christ's Baptism in the Jordan, when He drove out the powers of darkness and sanctified
  all creation. Verse 9, Praising You, O Lord, is a reference to the Song of Moses (Ex
  15:1–18).
19:22   The conclusion of the Wisdom of Solomon is a doxology. God, through His Wisdom,
  has providentially exalted and glorified His chosen people, Israel, granting them
  salvation. With the coming of Christ, Israel becomes the Church of the Gentiles, the new
  “Israel of God” (see Gal 6:16; 1Pt 2:9), and Christ, the Wisdom of God, becomes her Head.
  (See also 12:20; 18:8; Lv 26:44; Ps 125:3.)
1:1   Forever tells us Wisdom is without beginning. He is Christ, the power and wisdom of
  the Father (1Co 1:24).
1:4   The statement Wisdom was created before all things is a prophecy concerning the
  Incarnation of Wisdom, who was slain from the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8); for
  He became incarnate for us men and for our salvation (Creed). “Created” refers to His
  human nature which He assumed at His conception in the Ever-virgin Mary. “All things”
  refers to all creation, which Christ came to redeem along with the children of God (Rom
  8:21–23; Eph 1:10; Col 1:15–17). From eternity also shows that Christ is without
  beginning.
1:6   This verse is left out of some ancient manuscripts but included in others. It very
  possibly was taken out following the Bar Kochba rebellion of AD 135, when Jewish rabbis
  made a strong effort to purge the LXX of references that could be interpreted as referring
  to Christ as Messiah. This was done to stem the tide of Jewish conversions to
  Christianity, which had brought near total destruction to the Jewish nation.
1:7   Again, created wisdom refers to the Incarnation (see 1:4), while wisdom poured . . .
  out on all His works reminds us the Father created all things through His Son.
1:10-11 The fear of the Lord brings blessing both to life and to death.
1:12   The capacity to fear the Lord and thus to believe in Him is joined with the infant
  in the womb. This would explain why the Lord Jesus Christ speaks of the special faith of
  nursing babes (Lk 18:15–17).
1:23-27   To gain wisdom we must be obedient to the commandments, maintain
  faithfulness and humility, and come to God with an undivided heart.
2:1   One who determines to serve the Lord will be tested and face temptation (see 1Co
  10:13). Thus, we prepare our soul for this challenge to our fidelity.
2:12-14   Faintheartedness, the loss of endurance, and double-mindedness are forms of
  unbelief and bring great instability (see Jam 1:8).
3:1, 2 Ben Sirach implores children to listen to the wisdom of their father and mother.
  Verses 1–16 contain timeless counsel for children concerning their parents.
3:18    Humility is essential to true spiritual works and opens the door to God's
  immeasurable grace.
3:20-23 Ben Sirach's word on mental health.
3:24-27 A hard heart is a great spiritual danger, warned against in the OT and NT. There
  is no healing for the man afflicted by this disease (v. 26; see also Mk 8:17; Heb 4:7).
4:10   The care of the poor, the needy, and the orphan is nothing short of Christlike: you
  will be like a son of the Most High.
4:11-19 Gaining wisdom is not passive or automatic. Note the action verbs: seek (v. 11);
  loves (v. 12); come (v. 12); holds fast (v. 13); serve (v. 14); obeys (v. 15); gives heed
  (v. 15); trusts (v. 16).
5:1-8   Looking to possessions and being independent from God is dangerous to one's
  soul. To assume that God is unwilling or unable to deal with our sins and therefore we
  can escape the consequences of our deeds is also dangerous. Thus, Ben Sirach's
  exhortation: Do not delay to turn to the Lord (v. 7).
5:9-1   The double-tongued man is one who “talks out of both sides of his mouth” and
  brings shame and disgrace (6:1).
6:2-4 In ancient agrarian societies where fences were few, a young bull would be forced
  from his herd and would wander about looking for a herd where he was strong enough to
  assert dominance. But in doing so he was in danger of encountering stronger bulls and
  being torn in pieces. So is a man who looks only to himself for counsel and wisdom.
  One Orthodox saint teaches, “He is a fool who has himself as his spiritual father.”
6:5-17 There are also those who are fair-weather friends and appear to be especially close
  when one is prosperous. But if things turn for the worse, these false friends will become
  enemies (v. 13). Faithful friends are a great treasure (v. 14). Such friendships are
  beyond worth (v. 15) and are like a good and healing medicine (v. 16).
6:18-19     Lifelong instruction is essential to gaining wisdom. As a farmer patiently
  plows and sows in order to produce good fruit, so is the one who gains the fruit of
  wisdom.
6:20   To the undisciplined and spiritually ignorant, the gaining of wisdom seems to be
  harsh and overly demanding. But the person seeking wisdom will gladly continue with
  her because of the great good she will bring into his or her life.
6:32-37    The requirements for gaining wisdom: (1) be willing to be taught—have a
  teachable spirit; (2) love to listen (v. 33) rather than persistently talking; (3) attach
  ourselves (v. 34) to those older and wiser; (4) listen carefully to divine narrative and
  wise proverbs (v. 35); (5) continuously practice the commandments (v. 37) of the
  Lord. As we do these things, He will grant our desire for wisdom. Remember, the early
  church fathers saw the Wisdom of the Proverbs and Sirach as speaking of the
  preincarnate Christ. We find in Him the complete personification of Wisdom.
7:1-3   Wisdom requires we avoid all forms of evil things. For if we participate in
  wrongdoing, we reap its bitter fruit sevenfold.
7:10-11   Be bold in prayer and alms, or deeds of mercy. The Lord through His Church
  both humbles and exalts us by providing special seasons of fasting, prayer, and
  almsgiving to the needy, especially during Lent and Advent.
7:18   Ophir, likely in southwestern Arabia, was a famous source for gold in the ancient
  world. The queen at Christ's right hand (Ps 44:10), the Theotokos, is arrayed in gold from
  Ophir.
7:20-21 The wise employer places high value on a worker who is intelligent and devoted
  to his job. In ancient times this meant repaying the servant with his freedom. In our
  times it means providing just compensation and job security.
7:22   Because they are God's creation, we take care of animals we own.
7:24-25 The father arranged the marriage of his daughter, and until then he protected
  her chastity.
7:29-31 Love for God and honor for His priests go hand in hand. The OT laws required
  that part of each sacrifice to God be given to the priests for their support. Here, following
  give them their portion as commanded, the Syriac version of the LXX includes what
  some believe to be an emendation by an early Christian copyist. It reads, “the bread of
  oblations and the firstfruits of the hands.” Orthodox Christians would understand this to
  be the prosphora bread to be used in the Eucharist.
7:32   God has always promised blessing to those who give to the poor.
8:1-3 The application for us is this: Only join battles worth winning.
8:6-9 Valuable counsel for our youth-oriented culture.
8:10 To kindle the coals is to arouse the passions.
8:17-19 Ben Sirach warns us not to reveal our thoughts to just anyone. In the Church, the
  priest vows that all confessions will be kept confidential.
9:1   A warning against marrying a woman and then becoming jealous of her. Instead, love
  her and encourage her to use her gifts.
9:3-9 Up-to-date ancient advice on a man's behavior toward women. A courtesan (v. 3) is
  a prostitute of noblemen. A wise man is not to gaze at a virgin (v. 5), that is, any young
  unmarried woman. To do so could tempt the couple to immoral relations, which in
  Jewish society carried a strong penalty (see Dt 22:28, 29). The beauty of a married
  woman belongs only to her husband (v. 8). It is especially important for a man to avoid
  dining and drinking alone with a married woman lest they fall into sin and destruction
  (v. 9).
9:10 Loyalty to an old friend is a great virtue. A new friend cannot take his place.
9:15   The strongest friendships are based on a relationship with the Most High God!
10:4-5   Since the Lord has authority over all, He will raise up rulers for His purposes
  and in His time.
10:9   A very humbling passage. One could almost call it crude, except that God is forcing us
  to face our utter lack of a basis for personal pride.
10:14-15 This theme echoes Pr 3:37 and is repeated by St. Peter (1Pt 5:5, 6).
10:17   When the faithful die in Christ, we sing, “Memory eternal!” By contrast, the Lord
  puts an end to the memory of unworthy rulers (v. 14) and nations (v. 16).
10:20-23    All are to fear the Lord—the rich and the poor. A poor man with true
  godliness and spiritual wisdom must be honored.
10:28-29    All human beings should humbly recognize the immense value and glory of
  their own soul. The Lord Jesus Christ may have had this passage in mind when He spoke
  the words of Mt 16:26.
11:2-9   This section deals with the age-old tendency to judge matters merely by external
  appearance. Woven in are warnings about boasting of a present possession or position.
11:10   We are to work faithfully and devotedly, but if we become involved in too many
  things they can overwhelm us. Rushing about to fulfill our obligations, we will keep
  falling further behind.
11:16-17   As with 10:28, 29, one wonders if our Lord did not have this passage in mind
  when He spoke the parable in Lk 12:16–21.
11:22   Being independent in terms of freedom from a dictatorship or oppression is a
  blessing. Here, however, is a spirit of independence from God, the “I've-got-it-made”
  syndrome.
11:24-25   At the end of our life we will be judged for the whole of it. And those who
  remain watch for the revelation of the works of the departed. This helps explain why
  the Church waits long to glorify her saints.
12:1-6   Christians extend hospitality, but not indiscriminately (see Ps 140:4, 5; 2Ti 3:6).
  Almsgiving—giving to the needy—has always been a godly virtue. The Wisdom of Sirach
  teaches when one practices this virtue to wisely choose a godly recipient. The man who
  does not give alms is classed with those who persist in evil (v. 3).
12:4-7   These verses reflect the view of ancient societies, including the Hebrews and
  Greeks, that one should extend grace or do good mainly to one's family or to one who is
  godly. Few believed in doing good to one's enemies until Jesus Christ strongly taught us
  to do so (see Mt 5:38–48; Lk 6:27–36). St. Paul sums up the Christian view of almsgiving:
  “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of
  the household of faith” (Gal 6:10).
12:7-18 In a fallen world the godly will always have enemies—either human or demonic, or
  both. Ben Sirach warns us of fair-weather friends (vv. 8, 9). An enemy is like rust, which
  ruins metal (v. 10). Be on guard and never trust your enemy (v. 10).
13:3-4 When a rich man falls, he has many helpers. But when a poor man is wronged,
  often even his friends push him down further.
13:14-17 Everything in creation loves its like! Thus, we have nations, tongues, and tribes
  (see Rev 5:9), and that is natural. But for Christians, we do not first identify ourselves as
  Greek or Russian or American. Rather our allegiance is first to “a holy nation” (1Pt 2:9),
  which is the Kingdom of God.
14:2   See 1Jn 3:21.
14:3-7 A small-minded, stingy man is not fit to be wealthy, for he will not help others.
  Such a person only does good accidentally (v. 7).
14:12   Death makes no contract or covenant with anyone to come at the time we might
  prefer. (See 14:17, and also Gn 2:17; 3:19 for the eternal covenant of death.)
14:20-1 The pursuit of wisdom is portrayed, with many vibrant metaphors, as the primary
  goal of life—keeping in mind that wisdom is ultimately and fully embodied in Christ.
15:2   Wisdom is for those who will seek her with the love of a mother seeking her child,
  or of a groom being received by his young wife.
15:11-12 It is not rational to say God led me astray into sin. (Nor is it Orthodox to give
  the excuse, “The devil made me do it.”) In His creation of mankind, God gave us the
  freedom to choose good or evil. Without that freedom we could neither be held
  accountable for our evil deeds nor rewarded for our good works.
15:16   Fire and water represent extreme opposites. One could allegorize: we can choose
  between condemnation and baptism.
15:19   The fear of God is reverential awe, the foundation for worship, love, and obedience
  to Him (see Dt 30:15–20).
16:1-3 A multitude of children is seen in Scripture as a blessing from God (Gn 24:60; Ps
  127:3–6). But God forbid they be useless or ungodly.
16:6   A fire will be kindled and wrath is kindled are references to the stirring up of
  sinful human passions.
16:7 The ancient giants are mentioned in Gn 6:4; WSol 14:6; Bar 3:26; and 3Mc 2:4.They
  are described as expert men of war, arrogant, insolent, foolish, mighty, and trusting in
  their own strength. They were destroyed by God in the flood.
16:8-9 The men of Sodom are referred to here. In Ezk 16:49, 50 God declares the people of
  Sodom were arrogant and had abundant food and wine, but were unconcerned for the
  poor and needy. They also committed “acts of lawlessness” before God, which are
  described in Gn 19: homosexual acts of incredible disgust. The Sodomites were so
  “haughty” they had to be dealt with by God in extreme harshness.
16:10   During their sojourn in the wilderness, God allowed the 600,000 foot-soldiers of
  Israel to die because of their hardness of heart.
16:12-14 The OT and NT teach us that God holds all mankind accountable and will judge
  us according to our works (see Ps 61:13; Pr 24:12; Mt 25:31–46).
16:15-21   Ben Sirach understands well the mind of the skeptic who refuses to believe in
  God. Because the unbeliever does not admit that outside his limited realm of finite
  wisdom God could exist, the author calls him diminished in heart, without
  discernment and deceived (v. 21).
16:22-23    Ben Sirach here offers one of the finest evangelism lessons in the OT. His
  premise: A teachable person will receive precise and accurate knowledge from God.
  How? He will recognize God has created everything in exactness of order, and the way to
  find harmony and peace in life is to find our place in His plan and order. The author also
  gives instruction on (1) the creation of the world (16:24–28), (2) the creation of man
  (17:1–8), (3) God's revelation through His covenant (17:9–19), and (4) how to return to
  God (17:20–27).
17:1-8 In the previous verses Ben Sirach briefly sets forth the order and majesty of God's
  creation of the world. Now he begins a discourse on the grandeur of man made in the
  image of God. Consequently man is given authority and dominion and power over all
  the earth.
17:9-19 God intended Israel (v. 14) to be a tight-knit, unified nation. But He also intended
  her to have open and honorable relations with every nation (v. 14), that is, the Gentiles,
  ultimately becoming the instrument of their salvation. However, as a nation they did not
  fulfill this divine intent. Their unity became centered in their ethnicity rather than their
  relationship with God. They even grew to despise the Gentiles with no concern for their
  salvation. It is extremely important for us within the Church, the new Israel, not to fall
  into this same sin and incur the same judgment (see Rom 11:11–36). For the fulfillment
  of God's promises to Israel in the Church, see the following passages: Rom 4:9–16; 9:6, 8,
  23–27; 11:7; 1Co 10:18; Gal 6:16; 1Pt 2:4–12; Rev 3:12; 21:2, 10.
17:20-23 This marvelous passage on repentance forms the basis for many of the prayers,
  litanies, and services of the ancient Church. This passage was used and paraphrased in
  the third-century treatise attributed to St. Cyprian entitled “Exhortation to Repentance.”
17:23 This verse emphasizes the temporal existence of man. Death is seen as the destroyer
  of earthly praise to God. Augustine translated thanksgiving as “confession.”
17:24    The mercy and atonement from the Lord anticipates the coming of the Son of
  God.
17:26   On earth nothing is brighter than the sun, yet even it can be eclipsed. So with
  mankind, the best of us can be darkened by evil.
18:3-6   The works and wonders of the Lord are of such magnitude and majesty, it is
  impossible to enumerate them all or to plumb their depths. Augustine has a long and
  moving sentence on the depth and beauty of Scripture in which he says that if one had a
  long lifetime to study it at leisure, he could never fathom it all. He concludes by quoting a
  portion of v. 6: When a man completes his search, then he starts over.
18:8-10   Man's inability to consistently practice righteousness, the brevity of even the
  longest life, and human suffering all move God to be compassionate and merciful.
18:15-16   A friendly word often brings more comfort than does a gift. However, a
  gracious person will give both comforting words and fitting gifts.
18:18-20     These serious admonitions apply to one's health and daily life, but their
  ultimate application is to prepare the soul for the final judgment.
18:22   Making a vow to the Lord can be as simple as promising Him to give a tithe of
  one's income, or as all-encompassing as monastic vows (see Nm 6:5; Acts 18:18).
18:24   God teaches us that we must use our wealth to help those in need.
18:26   Times are changing. In these days of sin, when the culture takes an evil turn, the
  wise man will be even more careful to guard against wrongdoing.
18:28   As one labors to be wise, that virtue will spread to others.
18:29   Interestingly, the heading Self-Control appears in the Greek text.
19:1   One who has self-control will not dissipate his wealth in drunkenness, nor will he be
  careless about small things. “Faithfulness in small things is no small thing” (Aug).
19:8   The one exception to not passing on hearsay is when keeping quiet is a sin.
19:13-17 These verses urge careful examination. The KJV uses “admonish” for the Greek
  elegzon, which we have rendered question. Some would render it “reprove” or
  “examine.” However, true friendship requires that we gently and tactfully ask a friend or a
  neighbor about a potential false charge or hurtful statement. We always give the benefit
  of the doubt to our neighbor or friend, remembering that we all slip and sin with our
  tongue far more often than we realize (v. 16).
19:18-27   This passage affirms the nature of true wisdom by contrasting it with false
  wisdom. All wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord (v. 18).
19:26-27 Outward appearance can be an indicator of wisdom.
20:3   The martyr Cyprian (200–258), in a passage attributed to him calling this book by its
  nickname “Ecclesiasticus,” meaning “Church Book,” places Sirach on a par with all other
  Scripture. Many church fathers also quoted from Sirach. In his treatise, Cyprian quotes
  first from 17:24–26 and then from 20:3. This document includes a great many Scripture
  quotes, mostly from the LXX but also a few from the NT, and is worthy to be studied by
  all Christians.
20:4    A eunuch is a castrated man who serves as an attendant to a sovereign in his
  bedchamber or harem. The analogy here is that a man who uses senseless violence to
  bring about justice is impotent in producing justice.
20:5-8 The church fathers insist that the most difficult discipline for most of us is learning
  to keep silent. “Now what ought we to learn before everything else, but to be silent, that
  we may be able to speak? Lest my voice should condemn me, before that of another
  acquit me, it is written: ‘By thy words thou shalt be condemned’” (AmbM).
20:9-12 These verses employ contrasting terms to show that things are not always as they
  appear to be.
20:14-15 Beware of fools bearing gifts!
20:16-17    The foolish man awash in self-pity complains about being friendless and
  unappreciated. His world revolves around himself, and he becomes a laughingstock to all.
20:19    This definition of a fool as a man without grace serves as a reminder to
  Christians to rely on the grace of God in their speech instead of merely on their own
  understanding.
21:1-3 A simple and powerful summary of the attitude of the repentant believer. If one has
  sinned, he is not to continue in it. Rather, he is to pray urgently for forgiveness. The
  humble believer must view all sin as dangerous, as much as a poisonous snake. St. Paul
  follows this exhortation when he says, “Flee sexual immorality” (1Co 6:18).
21:3   Lawlessness is any form of rebellion against the duly constituted authority over us.
  God calls it “every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes” (Dt 12:8).
21:11-28   This passage is a brilliant series of comparisons and contrasts of wisdom and
  folly.
21:13   The guidance of a wise man flows abundantly from his lips because it comes
  from the Holy Spirit (see Mk 13:11).
21:16   Literally, “the exegesis of a fool.”
21:17 St. Paul speaks of “the word of wisdom” (1Co 12:8).
21:27   Jude 9 also warns against rebuking Satan, instead instructing us to say, “The Lord
  rebuke you!” (See also Zec 3:2.)
22:1   A powerful condemnation of laziness. The filthy stone was used like toilet paper—
  which explains 22:2.
22:3-6 Because the father is ultimately responsible for the discipline of children, St. Paul
  issues a helpful word in Eph 6:4.
22:11    The concept of rest for the dead suggests a life after death, not a cessation of
  existence.
22:13    Close contact with a fool can defile a person, and his influence is an exhausting
  irritation.
22:22   St. John Chrysostom has a lengthy discourse on friendship in which he quotes from
  this verse, listing the evil actions that destroy friendship: “reproaching . . . and revealing
  of a secret, and a treacherous wound.” He goes on to say, “For there is nothing good
  without friendship . . . so let there be a man having ten thousand talents and another a
  hundred friends: the latter is more rich in resources than the former.”
22:27 This passage amplifies Ps 140:3, which is sung at Vespers.
23:1-6 It appears this prayer may have formed the basis for the Prayer of St. Ephraim the
  Syrian, the prayer of repentance which Orthodox Christians pray repeatedly throughout
  Great Lent, though that prayer is simpler and shorter.
23:9   Ben Sirach's warning reflects the serious matter of making vows and not fulfilling
  them. To break a vow made in the name of the Holy One would be to take God's name
  in vain (Ex 20:7).
23:20 This verse is very clear on God's foreknowledge: all things are known to Him.
24:1   This chapter is a poetic discourse on Wisdom, which can only find its fulfillment in
  Christ, and thus is viewed by the early church fathers as being Christological. The Greek
  word sophia (wisdom) is feminine in gender, and therefore the pronouns associated with
  it are translated in the feminine. The preincarnate Christ is revealed as the eternally
  begotten Son, God of God, co-equal with the Father. Also, Wisdom, the preincarnate Son,
  is exalted above all. Perhaps St. Paul had this passage in mind when he penned Php 2:5–
  11, which many believe is an early Christian hymn.
24:3   “Observe the peculiar attribute of the Divine Generation, that the Son doth not seem
  to have come forth out of any place, but as God from God, a Son from a Father, nor to
  have a beginning in the course of time, having come forth from the Father by being born,
  as He Himself who was born said: ‘I came forth from the mouth of the Most High’”
  (AmbM).
24:8   Created me is a prophecy concerning the incarnation of Wisdom. He is Christ, the
  power and wisdom of the Father (1Co 1:24). The phrases a place to live, a tent in
  Jacob, and an inheritance in Israel also emphasize the Incarnation.
24:9   The phrases before the age, from the beginning, and in the age to come show
  that Wisdom is without beginning. The statement He created me is prophetic of the
  Incarnation as well. For Christ, the power and wisdom of the Father, assumed a human
  nature at His conception in the womb of the Mother of God, the Ever-virgin Mary.
24:16-17 St. Paul teaches that in Christ we find a superabundance of the riches of grace
  (Eph 1:7, 8).
24:21   Though the Christian finds true nourishment in the Body and Blood of Christ, he
  will always hunger and thirst for more of Christ in all aspects of life.
25:1-15 Though these verses primarily describe those worthy of praise, they also include a
  denunciation of the unworthy (v. 2). It is interesting that one of the great celibate monks
  of the Church, St. John Chrysostom, should say of v. 1: “For there is no relationship
  between man and man so close as that between man and wife, if they be joined together
  as they should be . . . nothing whatever is more precious than to be . . . loved by a wife and
  to love her.”
25:7      The Christian must love and pray for his enemies while rejoicing at the downfall of
  evil.
25:15   Ben Sirach continues his diatribe on the evil wife (vv. 15–25, and again in 26:5–12).
  Following each of these passages are sections praising a good wife (26:1–4, 13–18). Both
  vice and virtue are fair game for this outspoken author!
25:21       Historically, it was seen as disgraceful for a wife to financially support her
  husband. When necessity calls for the husband to stay at home with the children and
  keep the house while the wife earns the income, be aware of these warnings of Ben
  Sirach.
25:24   Just as neglecting a crack in a reservoir could cause a flood, so also an emboldened
  evil wife can produce a torrent of wicked deeds.
25:25   The OT rules concerning divorce were less strict than those given by Jesus.
26:1-4 A good wife brings her husband happiness (vv. l, 2, 4), long life ( v. 1), and peace
  (v. 2).
26:5-6   After listing three fears, Ben Sirach declares the fourth to be the wife who is
  jealous over another woman. The implication is that her jealousy is unfounded.
26:9-12 This passage warns of the sin of sexual promiscuity. Clement of Alexandria says of
  v. 9, “But languishing looks, and ogling, which is to wink with the eyes, is nothing else
  than to commit adultery with the eyes” (ClemA).
26:13-18 This passage makes many of the same observations as 1Pt 3:1–6.
26:20-3 Business-related scandals are not new. Unless a merchant holds steadfastly to
  the fear of the Lord, the work of his hands will be overturned.
27:4-7   Jesus Christ must be the Lord of our reasoning process (v. 6), keeping our
  motives pure.
27:5   Cyprian of Carthage (martyred AD 258) sees this passage as the basis of St. Paul's and
  all Christian sufferings. “This, in short, is the difference between us and others who know
  not God, that in misfortune they complain and murmur, while adversity does not call us
  away from the truth of virtue and faith, but strengthens us by its suffering.”
27:8   The Lord Jesus Christ confirmed and amplified this truth in His fourth Beatitude (Mt
  5:6).
27:13-14 Trash talk and swearing may make a man look tough, but Ben Sirach is right: it
  is offensive and gains no respect from others.
27:27   Moses told the children of Israel the same thing in different words: “You will know
  your sin when evils overtake you” (Nm 32:23).
28:1   This concept is recorded in Dt 32:35, and is affirmed by St. Paul in Rom 12:19.
28:2   The Lord Jesus Christ echoed this truth in His Sermon on the Mount (Mt 6:14, 15). It
  is not that God's grace and forgiveness are somehow purchased or earned by our first
  forgiving others. Rather, our unforgiveness prevents us from having the humility to
  receive God's mercy and forgiveness.
28:3   It is well known that those who are filled with wrath and discontent develop serious
  diseases. Forgiveness of others promotes our spiritual and physical healing.
28:4   One of the most powerful of Christ's parables greatly amplifies this common human
  failing (Mt 18:23–35).
28:6   The church fathers often urge us to ponder our death and the great judgment seat of
  Christ in order that we stand fast in a state of preparation for that awesome day.
28:24    Some see possessions as referring to the tongue, which is to be guarded as
  carefully as silver and gold. Cyprian, apparently quoting the Vulgate, renders this verse
  as, “Hedge thine ears with thorns, and hearken not to a wicked tongue.”
28:25-26 The Church teaches us to weigh our words and to pray, “Set a watch, O Lord,
  before my mouth” (Ps 140:3). He who lies in wait is Satan, who desires to capture our
  soul.
29:1   Christ expands on this in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:42).
29:10-13 “What is so likely to win favor as gratitude? . . . What [is] more natural than to
  love one who loves us?” (AmbM). Thus, we are urged to give our money to help a
  brother and friend (v. 10).
29:11-13 This passage is a precursor to Christ's words in Mt 6:19–21. Since the Sermon on
  the Mount is the heart of the Lord's teachings, and since it rings with many words and
  concepts from Sirach, it is easy to see why the early Church gave the book the nickname
  “Ecclesiasticus” (Church Book). Verses 12 and 13 instruct us to keep an alms fund in a
  safe place so it will be available when we meet a needy person. One who is generous to
  the poor will be protected from affliction and his enemy. Perhaps following the Old
  Latin, some fathers read v. 12 as, “Store up your alms in the heart of the poor man.”
30:1-13   God believes in discipline! Heb 12:5–10 reveals how the Lord disciplines His
  children, and asks the question, “What son is there whom a father does not chasten?” (v.
  7).
30:16   May we thank God for health of body and joy of heart!
30:19   In the “Bel and the Serpent” section of Daniel, they tried offering food and drink
  to an idol; Daniel laughed, and they failed.
30:21-25   Ben Sirach teaches that sorrow does not simply sneak up on us and take over.
  Instead, we give ourselves over to it (v. 21), or we can put it far away. How? By
  rejoicing (v. 22), loving our soul, and comforting our heart (v. 23).
31:1, 2 Among the great problems caused by wealth and its accumulation are anxiety and
  sleeplessness. “Why enviest thou the rich man? Is it because he has subjected himself to
  many cares? . . . Because he is bound like a dog, with ten thousand chains—namely his
  riches? . . . As though at enmity with ourselves, we have devised a tyranny more powerful
  than natural want of rest—the sleeplessness which comes of wealth” (JohnChr).
31:8-11 Rare is the individual who is rich but does not love money. Such a person can do
  great good in the world. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which
  some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through
  with many sorrows” (1Ti 6:10). “What is greater than the man that knows how not to be
  excited at the thought of money, and has contempt for riches, and looks down as from a
  lofty vantage-ground on the desires of men? Men think that one who acts thus is more
  than a man” (AmbM).
31:12-13 This passage gives attention to righteous conduct at dinner parties. Issues such as
  moderation in food and drink, good manners, proper conversation, and even stinginess
  are addressed.
31:14   Eating everything in sight is not new! Ben Sirach calls for restraint.
31:16    Even during Lent, when dining elsewhere, the fathers say to eat what is set before
  you.
31:19   A small helping of food is sufficient for those with discipline. This is not written
  just for monks, but for all Christians.
31:25-31   Throughout Scripture, wine is seen as a good gift from God if we drink it in
  moderation to bring gladness of soul (v. 28).
32:1, 2 In ancient times, hosting a banquet was a magnificent honor. Ben Sirach reminds
  the host to be as one of them and to take care of them—that is, be the servant of your
  guests.
32:3-6   This banquet is complete with a concert of dinnertime music (v. 5) and
  delicious wine (v. 6). Looking ahead, imagine the grandeur of the “marriage supper of
  the Lamb” (Rev 19:9).
32:7-13 Banquet behavior for a young man.
32:17 A wise man is correctable; a sinful man is not.
32:23 We are called to trust the Lord in every work we do, not just in religious work.
33:2   The analogy of a hypocrite being like a ship in a storm indicates he is in grave
  mortal danger.
33:5   The mind of a fool moves in circles. His reasoning reveals a state of confusion.
33:7-9 God is the author of holy days, seasons, and feasts. This is clear both in the OT
  and in the NT: for example, people gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost (Acts 2:1, 5).
  Human beings are created to experience some days as sanctified, some as ordinary, as
  we live within time (v. 9). The fact that some feast days became abused in the Old
  Covenant does not mean we are not to have them in the New. The Church as the new
  Israel (Gal 6:16) has the authority of Christ to mark her holy days and seasons.
33:13   The same theme found in this pivotal verse is found throughout the OT (Is 45:9;
  64:7; Jer 18:6). Complete submission to the will of our Creator is the highest of virtues.
33:14-15 The cross of Christ is the preeminent example of good coming out of evil.
33:16-18   These verses are autobiographical. The author speaks of himself as coming on
  duty following the other OT authors. But after great effort, laboring like a grape-picker,
  he gathered many sayings of wisdom into one large collection. With God's blessing, his
  word became the greatest of his time. He takes pleasure that his labor has not been for
  himself alone, but for all who seek instruction.
33:30-33 To enslave another human being is fundamentally wrong. However, in ancient
  societies it was common, as it still is in many parts of the world. In Israel's history, slave-
  owners were taught to treat their slaves humanely, as these verses clearly show. In fact,
  the faithful servant was to be treated as a brother.
34:1, 2 The foolish person gives himself to false hopes and dreams.
34:6   From ancient times the Most High God has revealed Himself in dreams and visions
  to godly people whose hearts were prepared to receive them.
34:9-12   One who has had an easy, limited, untested life knows little. By contrast, he
  who has traveled about is broadened by that experience, tested by the dangers of
  intensive travel. He has given himself to serve others in or by his travels, and will have
  more understanding and wisdom about life than he can put into words.
34:15-17 Once we have learned to fear the Lord and hope in Him, then we can love Him
  with our whole being. We find Him our constant support and protection. He lifts up
  our souls, fills our countenance with light, and brings healing to our afflictions.
34:18-19 When money we donate is ill-gotten gain, the Most High is not pleased.
34:23-26    This litany of questions highlights the continuous struggle between good and
  evil. The person who fasts and then commits the same sins all over again (v. 26)
  profits nothing.
35:1   Ben Sirach declares that he who keeps the law does the equivalent to making a
  peace offering. Faithfulness to God's revelation requires obedience. Jesus said, “If you
  love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn 14:15).
35:2   The traditional meaning of alms is “charity” or “a gift of anything needed by the
  poor.” Almsgiving is equivalent to a praise offering. The Scriptures and the church
  fathers place a striking emphasis on almsgiving.
35:8   St. Paul writes, “God loves a cheerful giver” (2Co 9:7). The tithe is the giving of ten
  percent of our income. Is the tithe only for Israel? St. Irenaeus wrote in the second
  century, “Thus the Jews consecrated tithes of their goods to Him, but those who have
  received liberty [in Christ] set aside all their possessions for the Lord's purposes.” In
  other words, giving ten percent is minimal. St. John Chrysostom wrote in the fourth
  century, “If there was a danger then [under the Old Covenant] in omitting tithes, think
  how great it must be now!”
35:10 If we give our tithe, the Lord has promised to repay us sevenfold. How? Perhaps by
  making us more wise in the management of our money. Or He may prosper our work so
  that we have even more to give. Or both! Even better, He always enriches the generous
  giver with joy and many spiritual blessings.
35:13   Simply being poor does not mean that one will receive God's special compassion,
  for many are poor due to laziness or unwillingness to work. But for those who have been
  wronged and thus are poor, God hears their prayers and will compensate for their
  suffering, either in this life or the next. God is on the side of those who suffer through no
  fault of their own: the orphan, the widow, the oppressed.
35:17   The devout, humble man knows God has heard his prayer because he is
  comforted by the Lord.
35:19   Ben Sirach assures us the Lord will not delay in answering our prayers. The first
  half of ch. 36 is a prayer for Israel.
35:24   Through Christ's affliction on the Cross, we receive mercy.
36:1-4   Ben Sirach prays for mercy for us (Israel); that all the nations (the Gentiles)
  would fear Him; and that God would let them see Your power. Rom 9:24–10:4 is one
  of many biblical passages that explain how God has answered this prayer. Augustine said
  of v. 4, “We see this prophecy in the form of a wish and prayer fulfilled through Jesus
  Christ.”
36:7 Here oath refers to the covenant God made with Abraham (Gn 17:21).
36:8   Though God has shown Himself as a “consuming fire” in history, His preference is to
  redeem and save His enemies, for He is a God of mercy and grace.
36:10   The tribes of Jacob include all those of the true Israel, in both the Old and New
  Covenants (see Rom 2:26–29).
36:13   The new Zion, the Church, holds a celebration every Sunday, the Divine Liturgy.
  In it, the Body and Blood of Christ, the full expression of all virtue, is given to the
  people of God.
36:17 Though this prayer was for Israel, it was also for all on earth. Thus, the Church has
  become the New Jerusalem, the new Zion, the new nation in which the OT prophecies are
  fulfilled (see Rom 3:29–31; 4:13–16; Gal 4:21–31; all of Hebrews but especially 12:18–29;
  1Pt 2:4–10; Rev 21:9–27).
36:21-23 Women of ancient times often had little or no choice concerning the man they
  would accept to marry. As with Isaac and Rebekah, for example (Gn 24:1–67), marriages
  were often arranged by parents or someone in authority. It is worth noting, however, that
  some sociological studies indicate there was not the unhappiness arising from this
  practice that we moderns are prone to imagine, and certainly not the divorce rate! The
  Scriptures laud a woman who is beautiful, both outwardly (v. 22) and inwardly (v. 23).
36:24   See Pr 31:10–30.
36:25-27 A good marriage protects both husband and wife from the snares of the devil.
37:1-6 Avoid one who is a friend in name only. To have trusted a friend who becomes an
  enemy is a great grief.
37:7-10 Though there is safety in many counselors, be sure to know beforehand what the
  agenda is.
37:21   If we do not heed God's wisdom, we will not experience His grace.
37:29-31 Gluttony is not only sinful, it is dangerous to one's health.
38:1, 2 It is godly to honor the hard-working physician, who is seen in Scripture as a gift
  from God. Since God is the true Healer, it is He that gives the physician healing skills.
  Kings kept physicians in their retinue and often gave them lavish gifts when they had
  successfully treated the king or his family.
38:4   The ancients understood the healing power of plants and minerals, all created by
  the Lord.
38:5   This is a reference to Ex 15:23–25.
38:6-8   God gives healing skills to druggists and pharmacists for the benefit of all
  mankind.
38:9-11 There is a direct link from prayer, repentance of sin, and worship to healing.
38:14-15 How blessed are those whose physician is a faithful, praying Christian.
38:16-23    Proper mourning for the dead is essential to the healing of our grief. An
  honorable burial for the departed was considered a great work of mercy in the ancient
  Church. Each parish had its volunteers who washed and dressed the body, making
  preparation for burial. We are warned not to allow our hearts to be grief-stricken (v. 18)
  so grief overpowers us, for some have even died from grief. Thus, St. Paul says we grieve,
  but not as those “who have no hope” (1Th 4:13).
38:23 The exodus of his spirit implies life after death.
38:24   From here to the close of the chapter, Ben Sirach reveals the wisdom of the scribe
  (v. 24), the plowman (v. 25, 26), the craftsman (v. 27), the blacksmith (v. 28), the
  potter (vv. 29, 30), and other laborers who work with their hands (v. 31).
38:25   The goad is a cattle prodder.
39:1-11   Those who study the Scriptures are described here. A modern-day equivalent
  would be the seminarian who learns the Old and New Testaments. The ancients would
  include the apostles and church fathers.
39:4-11 This sounds like the biography of St. Paul.
39:14     Incense has been an important aid to prayer and praise of God from time
  immemorial. King David wrote, “Let my prayer be set forth before You as incense” (Ps
  140:2). The prophet Malachi predicted incense would be used in worship and prayer
  among the Gentile nations (Mal 1:11). This continues to be fulfilled in the Church. One of
  the gifts brought to the baby Jesus by the wise men was frankincense.
39:15-16 As fallen humans, many tend to see things as bad. God sees them as good. It is
  our unbelief that clouds our outlook.
39:17 The waters in a heap refers to the oceans being separated from the land at creation
  (Gn 1:9, 10).
39:19-20 Nothing takes the all-knowing God by surprise!
39:24-25 Those who by virtue of God's work are holy see all of God's ways and works as
  good.
39:26-27 The basic needs of human beings are ever the same.
39:32-35 Here, Ben Sirach inserts a brief autobiographical comment. God's great work is
  redemption and salvation, which He accomplishes through His Eternal Son.
40:1   Knowing the heavy yoke we bear, Jesus promised, “My yoke is easy” (see Mt 11:28–
  30). St. Paul called the heavenly Jerusalem “the mother of us all” (Gal 4:26).
40:12-17 This passage contains a dialectic demonstrating that in the midst of surrounding
  evil, deeds and attitudes of the righteous shine and produce grace and blessing (v. 17).
40:19-23   The Scriptures from start to finish consistently glorify married love between a
  faithful husband and wife.
40:24      Almsgiving can be translated “merciful giving.” One who gives alms should make
  it a lifetime habit. Almsgiving includes deeds of love and kindness, not just monetary
  gifts.
40:27 The reverential awe or fear of the Lord brings a paradise of blessing in this life
  as well as in the life to come.
41:1   The coming of Christ changed everything. Ben Sirach rightly calls death a bitter
  memory. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though
  he may die, he shall live” (Jn 11:25).
41:5-7 Tragically, the children of the ungodly usually follow their parents' path.
41:12-13     The Wisdom Literature of the OT is replete with admonitions to establish and
  maintain a good name. Pr 22:1 declares, “A good name is to be chosen more than much
  wealth.”
41:18   From the birth of the synagogues during the Babylonian captivity until the mid-20th
  century, if one openly sinned in the Jewish community one was called before the
  assembly to give an account and express repentance. This was practiced in many
  Christian churches as well.
41:26   We cannot always control what we hear. We can absolutely control telling others
  what we've heard and revealing secrets.
42:1, 2 In according with this teaching, St. Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of
  Christ” (Rom 1:16).
42:5   There is no shame in making a profit or in the discipline of children to keep
  order at home while the merchant is away. The reference to the evil servant seems
  harsh, yet wicked servants if left unpunished could destroy one's home or business (see
  notes on 33:30–33).
42:8     This would seem to refer to a leader in the synagogue who must instruct and
  arbitrate. The old man judging the young reminds us the “generation gap” has its roots
  in antiquity.
42:9-11 This passage expresses the universal concerns that any moral father would have
  for his daughter. It does not contain all of a father's concerns, nor does it reflect the
  deep affection that good fathers feel for their daughters.
42:13   Moth larvae are hatched from eggs laid by moths within the fabric of garments.
  The analogy is that wickedness comes from within the heart, as Christ taught (Mt 15:19).
  Ben Sirach had in mind the fall of Eve, thus sin from a woman.
42:14   There is a subtle contrast here that can easily be missed. Whereas the churlish
  baseness of evil male conduct can be vulgar and obscene, the flirtatious seductiveness of
  a woman can lead to the even more serious sins of fornication or adultery.
42:15   Any works done by God begin with His Word. He decrees it and it is done. Though
  the Greek for “words” here is plural, the Christian knows the Eternal Word (Logos), the
  Second Person of the Godhead, was and is eternally active in all creation (see Jn 1:1–18).
42:16-25 It is likely St. Paul had this passage in mind when he wrote Rom 11:33–36.
42:17   Not even the greatest of saints or angels can declare all the wonders of God that
  stand firm as a testimony to His glory.
42:18     The word abyss means “a bottomless pit” and speaks of the infinite and
  unfathomed reaches of earth, space, and all creation. The human heart is placed
  alongside the abyss since it too contains a universe that only the Most High can know
  and fathom.
42:20 The Lord Jesus Christ elaborated on this thought (Mt 12:31–37).
43:1    In the Greek this verse is comprised of all nouns except for one preposition: a
  challenge to translate. It is a unique doxology to the beauty of the earth and heavens.
43:2-5 A similar teaching on the sun appears in Ps 18:5–7.
43:11-12   The rainbow is like a jewel that adorns creation. In Revelation, a rainbow
  appears “like an emerald” around the throne of God (Rev 4:3).
43:13-26   Note the action words that describe how God relates to His creation: By His
  command (v. 13); at His appearing and by His will (v. 16); He sprinkles (v. 18); He
  pours (v. 19); He consumes (v. 21); by His reasoning (v. 23); by His Word (v. 26).
  Natural phenomena do not “just happen.”
43:26   St. Paul makes a similar statement (Col 1:17). By the Living Word all things were
  created, and in Him all things hold together, or consist.
43:27   This verse declares the great truth of God's supreme omnipresence. He permeates
  everything, but also transcends everything. He is in everything but is above everything.
  Literally, He is the all is “The all is He.”
43:27-33   We have a choice: Either we give glory to God for all His works, or we shrink
  back in unbelief. King David wrote, “The fool said in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Ps
  52:1).
44:1   This begins a section of Sirach that continues to the end of ch. 50, giving honor to the
  famous men of the OT in the same spirit as Heb 11.
44:3-15 The author of Heb 11:34–38 perhaps borrowed his thoughts from this passage of
  Sirach.
44:17   Noah by his righteous life became a propitiation for the whole human race. That
  is, a special mercy was given by God in the form of a covenant: He would never again
  destroy the human race by a flood.
44:21   This oath by God to bless the seed of Abraham is fulfilled in and through the
  Church. The Church embraces all nations and fulfills the role of ancient Israel in the
  prophecies of the OT (see note on 36:17; Mt 23:38; Lk 21:20–24). The River is the
  Euphrates.
45:1-4   Moses, of blessed memory, is honored among the saints. He brings great
  encouragement to all believers because on many occasions he stumbled (Ex 4:13–15;
  5:22, 23; Nm 20:11, 12 are but a few instances), yet he repented, persevered, and followed
  God. The Lord honored him (v. 3) and sanctified him (v. 4).
45:7-13     Aaron was vested with an adornment of glory (v. 7). Similarly, the Christian
  priesthood in the Church is vested. Why? To perpetuate the law? Not at all, for the
  Levitical priesthood has passed away. Rather, the priest is vested because he represents
  the King of kings. He is to be the image of Christ, no longer common but ordained (Jn
  15:16).
45:15-16 Only if one understands the Church as set forth by the apostles can these verses
  be completely fulfilled. Thus, the seed of Aaron continues in the priesthood of the Church
  in the same way that all true believers are the seed of Abraham.
45:22    This passage has encouraged the hearts of God's servants down through the
  centuries. Most have served with low pay and many died in poverty. But the eternal
  promise is that the Lord Himself will be their true inheritance.
45:26   Here Ben Sirach pauses to pray a benediction on God's priests as they serve His
  people.
46:1, 2     It is probable that Ben Sirach is speaking of the incident in Ex 17:8–13 when
  Joshua defeated the Amalekites. Joshua prevailed in battle as long as Moses lifted up
  his hands, holding the rod of God in them. Due to Moses' fatigue, it became necessary
  for Aaron and Hur to support his arms until the battle ended. The name Joshua means
  savior.
46:3 These enemies were idol-worshipping tribes that engaged in evil practices such as the
  sacrifice of babies. They were worthy of God's judgment. Thus, Joshua led the wars for
  the Lord.
46:4   The sun being held back refers to the miracle of the sun moving from east to west
  being interrupted in a supernatural manner until the battle led by Joshua could be fought
  to a successful conclusion (see Jos 10:12, 13).
46:6   For the battle at the descent of Beth Horon, see Jos 10:11.
46:12    Such passages as this and 49:10 make it clear that Sirach reflects a widely held
  ancient belief in the resurrection. Since 49:10 is in the section on Ezekiel, it would seem
  clear Ben Sirach had in mind Ezk 37:1–14, which predicts the resurrection of the faithful
  of Israel.
46:19   The Christian concept of death is that the body will sleep until the resurrection, but
  the spirit, or the soul, is present with the Lord.
46:20    Blessed Augustine, in an article entitled “Why We Repudiate Arts of Divination,”
  refers to Samuel speaking to Saul through the medium of En Dor (1Kg 28:3–19). He calls
  such things as consulting mediums “delusions,” “pernicious error,” and “fornication of
  the soul.”
47:1   The prophet Nathan reproved King David for his adultery with Bathsheba and for
  having her husband killed in battle (2Kg 12:1–15).
47:2   This is called both the thank offering and peace offering described in Lv 3. The fat
  of the offering was to be burned on the altar; the breast and right shoulder of the lamb or
  goat were to be given to the priest.
47:6   See 1Kg 18:2 for this occasion when the women sang this refrain after the defeat of
  the Philistines, when David killed Goliath.
47:8   Undoubtedly these practices of David are what made him a man “after His (God's)
  own heart” (1Kg 13:13).
47:9, 10 The renowned musical and liturgical abilities of David are clearly seen here.
47:11   The covenant God made with David (2Kg 7:16) is that He would establish the
  throne of David forever. This promise is fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the
  seed of David according to the flesh and the eternal King of heaven.
47:13   This sanctuary or temple, which had been rebuilt and refurbished by King Herod,
  was standing at the time of Christ. But Jesus predicted it would be utterly destroyed and
  not one stone would be left upon another (Mt 24:2). This prophecy was fulfilled by the
  Roman invaders in AD 70. The sanctuary that will last forever, and which replaces the
  former one, is the New Jerusalem, the Church of the Living God (see also Mt 23:38, 39).
47:19-22     After being given great wisdom, fame, and wealth by God, Solomon
  compromised and brought disgrace (v. 20) on it all by his enslavement to sexual
  passions. But God, in His great mercy, did not abandon (v. 22) David's lineage.
  Ultimately, Christ was born of the seed of David (v. 22).
47:23-25    Due to his passions, and in direct disobedience to God, Solomon took many
  foreign wives who worshipped idols. Thus he planted seeds of rebellion and disobedience
  in his son Rehoboam. The same is true of his former-servant-turned-enemy,
  Jeroboam. Their disobedience to God caused the division of the Hebrew kingdom (see
  3Kg 11:1–13:42). Sometimes the Northern Kingdom of Israel, made up of ten tribes, is
  also called Ephraim. The Southern Kingdom was called Judah and included the tribe of
  Benjamin. Jeroboam led Israel into great sin through the worship of idols (see 3Kg
  12:46–54). The result of this evil was the total ruin of the ten tribes of the northern
  kingdom. These people were never heard from again, and became known as the ten lost
  tribes of Israel.
48:1   Elijah was a great prophet, a powerful man of faith and prayer. His great fault was
  his fear of the wicked Jezebel—most remarkable since he had been so fearless with her
  evil husband, King Ahab (see 3Kg 18:1–19:10).
48:5   This raising of the dead refers to the son of the widow of Zarephath (see 3Kg 17:1–
  24). Note in that passage Elijah stretched himself upon the child three times, crying out
  to the Most High for the child's life to be restored. Orthodox Christians see in this a
  foreshadowing of prayer to the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
48:6   Apparently a reference to King Ahaziah (see 4Kg 1:2–17).
48:7-8 The kings anointed by Elijah were Hazael and Jehu (see 3Kg 19:15, 16). The only
  prophet anointed by Elijah who is mentioned by name is Elisha. But since there were at
  least 100 prophets who had been protected by Obadiah from the massacre carried out by
  Jezebel, it can be assumed that Elijah anointed several or all of them (see 3Kg 18:3, 4).
48:11   Ben Sirach is saying that since Elijah did not die but was caught up into heaven by a
  whirlwind, then all who fell asleep in the love of God since Elijah's time will yet live. As
  Christians, we know our resurrection is possible only because of Christ, who rose from
  the dead.
48:12    Elijah was covered by the whirlwind: “Was covered by” also means “was
  enshrouded by,” and thus could be translated “disappeared in.”
48:13-14 Elisha's dead body prophesied in the sense that it worked the miracle of a dead
  man being restored to life when he was hastily placed in the tomb on Elisha's bones (see
  4Kg 13:21). The Bible teaches there is power in holy relics.
48:17   In addition to cisterns, Hezekiah had a tunnel constructed through hard rock to
  allow the water of the Gihon spring to flow into the pool of Siloam. Archeologists have
  discovered Hebrew words carved in the wall of the tunnel, celebrating its completion in
  the time of Hezekiah's reign as king (see 2Ch 32:2–4).
48:18-22   Rabshakeh (v. 18) was an Assyrian title, probably meaning “chief of staff” or
  “governor.” Sennacharib, (v. 18) king of the Assyrians (v. 21), was encamped at
  Lachish and sent the insolent Rabshakeh to demand that Hezekiah surrender the city of
  Jerusalem to him. Hezekiah turned to the Lord in repentance and sent for guidance from
  Isaiah. They were rescued from Sennacharib, who ultimately died (see 4Kg 18:13–
  19:37). The angel (v. 21) destroyed 185,000 of Sennacharib's soldiers (see 4Kg 19:35).
48:23 See 4Kg 20.
48:25   Isaiah's prophecies concerning the coming of Messiah and the rise of the Church
  are more precise than those of any other prophet of the OT.
49:6, 7 The sad prophecies of Jeremiah were a great burden to him. On one occasion he
  determined not to speak them, but could not hold them back (Jer 20:9). His prophecies
  about the destruction and burning of Jerusalem were completely fulfilled (see Jer 38:14–
  39:10; 52:12, 13; 4Kg 25:1–21).
49:8-9    In spite of the hardships and sorrows of living with his people during the
  Babylonian captivity, Ezekiel had visions of great glory to come and the restoration of
  the people of Israel to their land. Verse 9 likely refers to Ezk 38:22, which prophesies God
  pouring out wrath upon the attackers of a restored Israel. God will do good to those who
  walk in the right paths.
49:14-15 Enoch's being taken up from the earth by God certainly plants the seed of the
  doctrine of the resurrection. One could argue that Joseph's concern for the removal of his
  bones from Egypt (v. 15) to the Promised Land connotes a hope for a future resurrection.
50:1   Simon II was high priest in about 220–196 BC and would have been known to Ben
  Sirach.
50:1-4 Simon supervised major renovations to the temple and the increase in height of
  the security wall surrounding it. Other important projects, such as building a huge water
  cistern and strengthening the city of Jerusalem against siege, were the products of his
  leadership.
50:5   This refers to processions around the temple by the people during high holy feasts.
  The same is practiced in the Orthodox Church to this day. Coming from behind the veil
  refers to the high priest coming out of the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement.
50:15   The Greek word for King of all is found nowhere else in the LXX.
50:16   The trumpets of hammered work would signify finely made trumpets of expert
  craftsmanship.
50:21   This concludes the description of the Day of Atonement service, which points to
  Simon's strong liturgical skills and the beauty of this service in the temple. As this
  account was obviously written by one who observed this service in person, we conclude
  that the author was a personal acquaintance of Simon. This would also explain why so
  much space in the book is devoted to a high priest who did not hold the same rank and
  prestige in Hebrew history as the famous men mentioned in chs. 44–49.
50:22-24 This benediction beautifully expresses the mercy of God and the gladness of
  heart He gives us. Finally we see hope for redemption (v. 24). The word redeem means
  “to bring forth a ransom” or “to release on payment of a ransom.” This age-old Jewish
  hope is accomplished through the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ (see Eph
  1:7–14; Rom 8:22, 23).
50:25-26   The mountain is a district in the Edomite Mountains on the east side of the
  Jordan, beginning slightly north of and running southward parallel to the Dead Sea. The
  three peoples mentioned—the Samaritans, the Philistines, and those in Shechem—
  were ancient enemies of Israel. The Samaritans were probably called not a nation (v.
  25) because they were a mixture of peoples brought in by the Assyrians. They were called
  a foolish people (v. 26) because they were primarily idol-worshippers. They have a
  temple on Mt. Gerizim until this day. Shechem, modern Nablus, was the small town
  where Jesus encountered the woman at the well known to us as St. Photini (see Jn 4:1–
  43).
50:27-29 This is a brief biographical reference to the author of the Wisdom of Ben Sirach;
  Jesus, son of Sirach, son of Eleazar of Jerusalem. These words were added by the
  grandson of Jesus, the translator of Sirach. (See the Prologue for additional comments of
  the translator.)
51:1   This begins two closing psalms: (1) a prayer of thanks (vv. 1–12); (2) a poem
  expressing the author's love of Wisdom (vv. 13–30).
51:5-6   Apparently the unclean and unrighteous tongue refers to someone who lied
  about Ben Sirach to the king, nearly causing his death. Thus, this prayer is largely
  devoted to thanking God for saving him.
51:10   The ancient Church saw the Father of my Lord as God the Father, and my Lord
  as Jesus Christ. Similarly, the Holy Spirit inspired King David to write, “The Lord said to
  my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, / Until I make Your enemies the footstool of Your feet’”
  (Ps 109:l). In quoting this the apostle Peter declared “my Lord” referred to Christ (Acts
  2:34, 35).
51:15   From blossoms to ripening grapes indicates that Ben Sirach's ardent search for
  wisdom began early in his youth and continued to the time of this writing, when he was
  mature in age.
51:18   Though uncreated wisdom is seen by the Church Fathers as the preincarnate Son
  of God, the Logos, nevertheless wisdom exists as a created attribute of man as well as a
  gift from God. Thus, Ben Sirach prayed for and received the gift of wisdom.
51:21   When one is stirred to search for God and His good gifts with a sincere heart, one
  will never be disappointed.
51:25-26 Wisdom is near to us because Christ is near to us.
1:1   “But the word came to Hosea as a teacher of God, softly speaking to the disobedient
  and making them return through what he says and does” (Theoph).
1:2   A wife of fornication is a woman given to prostitution. It also suggests Gomer was
  one of Baal's worshippers. Likely Hosea's wife was a young Israelite woman who before
  marriage was involved in the Canaanite rites of initiation prescribed for future brides,
  intended to ensure their fertility. “From these people God will build the Church, which
  will be made holy through its union with the Son of God, as this woman was made holy
  by her union with the prophet” (Iren). The unbelieving wife is made holy by her believing
  husband (1Co 7:14).
1:4   Jezreel means “God sows” (judgment), and here it designates the place (today the
  Arab village of Zerin) where King Jehu of Israel killed Queen Jezebel along with King
  Ahab's royal house (4Kg 9; 10).
1:6   Lo-Ruhamah means “Unpitied” or “No Mercy.”
1:9   Lo-Ammi means “Not My People.”
1:11   They shall come up out of the land: They will live the life of the saints as well, for
  great shall be the day of Jezreel. Indeed, great is the day of Christ, when He will raise
  to life all the dead.
2:2   This prophetic saying was probably issued in the years following the Syro-Ephraimite
  war of 733 BC, during which the two Israelite kingdoms were in a state of enmity.
2:3    Strip her naked: An act of humiliation preceding capital punishment of an
  adulteress (Ezk 16:39, 40; Lv 20:10; Dt 22:22). Perhaps this means Israel would
  experience humiliation during the Assyrian exile, beginning in 722 BC.
2:5-7   I will go after my lovers refers in a historical setting to the Israelites' frequent
  forays into idolatry.
2:13   Baalim refers to various manifestations of the god Baal rather than to many deities
  named Baal. Days of Baalim points to the festivals listed in v. 11. Originally consecrated
  to God, these festivals became tainted by Baalism. Similarly, today's world secularizes
  Christmas and Easter as best it can.
2:14   I will lead her astray: “Having received the light of the knowledge of God in mind
  and heart . . . she is no longer able to find her old path” (CyrAl).
2:19   “How great is God's mercy! A prostitute fornicates with many lovers, and because of
  her offense is handed over to the beasts. After she returns to her husband, she is said not
  at all to be reconciled to him but rather to be betrothed. Now notice the difference
  between God's union and that of men. When a man marries, he turns a virgin into a
  woman—that is, a non-virgin. But when God joins with prostitutes, He changes them into
  virgins” (Jerome).
3:1   Chapter 3, written in autobiographical style, should not be read as another version of
  ch. 1, a biography, or as referring to Hosea's second marriage to a woman other than
  Gomer. Instead, ch. 3 describes events which occurred after the facts of ch. 1. “Again
  means that he [Hosea] has previously loved a whore, who now is an adulteress”
  (Jerome). Hosea is an icon of God's unconditional love. The Lord loves the children
  of Israel in spite of their constant acts of idolatry.
3:2   Hosea had to pay to redeem his wife for himself. Likewise, in order to redeem sinful
  humanity, Christ had to pay with His own precious life.
3:5   The object of this seeking is twofold: the Lord their God and David their king,
  showing this text to be a messianic prophecy. At some time Israel, once rejected, “will be
  called, and by faith she will return and know the God of all and David along with Him,
  that is, the One who is from the seed of David, Christ according to flesh, the Lord and the
  King of all” (CyrAl).
4:1   The second part of Hosea's book (chs. 4–11) consists of prophetic sayings and begins
  with an assessment of the moral status of northern Israelite society as a whole.
4:5   “One says that Israel will be weak not forever but for days. For it has been reserved
  for her a time of salvation and a return to faith” (CyrAl). See also Rom 10:1; 11:26, 27.
4:8   “They used to sacrifice goats for sin; for this reason the sacrifice was called sin. . . .
  They eat the sins of My people means they (the priests) eat the offerings brought for
  sins” (CyrAl).
4:9    “Seemingly he calls ways the walking in works and counsels the faults from
  outrageous thoughts” (CyrAl).
5:2   I will be your instructor: The accent falls here on correction or instruction rather
  than on punishment. “I am your master, or rather instructor, who wishes to correct,
  rather than to punish; to save, rather than to lose” (Jerome).
5:7    “‘Strange children,’ he says, are those who, from the womb, and from their
  swaddling-clothes, were dedicated to the worship of idols, perhaps when the fathers
  offered the thanksgiving and sacrifices for births to the demons. Therefore, ‘strange
  children’ are the ones who are not in God. Or, according to another interpretation, the
  ones from the foreign wives” (CyrAl; see Dt 7:3, 4).
5:10   The princes of Judah, the military leaders, are guilty of moving the boundaries.
  This may be an allusion to the Judean advance into the Benjamite territory in 733 BC. But
  Judah's princes do not stop at Benjamin; they begin to pluck portions out of the
  Ephraimite territory, which never belonged to the Southern Kingdom. This wrongdoing is
  compared with the crime of those who move the boundary markers (Dt 19:14; 27:17; Pr
  22:30).
5:15   “By My place we have to understand God's place, His splendor and majesty”
  (Jerome).
6:1   “These may refer to those among the Hebrews who afterward came to believe in
  Christ. In such a thirst and long captivity they will seek the face [5:15], namely, the Son”
  (Theoph).
6:2     The Church understands this text as a messianic prophecy regarding Christ's
  Resurrection: two days refers to the time the body of Jesus lay in the tomb; the third
  day points to His glorious Resurrection, promising we shall rise with Him. St. Paul
  writes that Jesus “rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1Co 15:4), most
  likely alluding to this passage from Hosea.
6:3 Among the Church's early writers, Tertullian (ca. AD 160–225) is the first to relate this
  passage to the Resurrection of Jesus, and more precisely to the myrrhbearing women
  who went at daybreak (Lk 24:1) to their Master's tomb to anoint His body.
6:6   God does not reject worship as a whole, but He criticizes the way Israel perceives it.
  Instead of a means to enter into a relationship with God and to foster community ties, the
  worship gradually becomes a goal in itself (Am 5:21ff.; Mic 6:6ff.). This applies also to
  Orthodox people who see the liturgy as “boring.”
7:8   “The kingdom of the ten tribes has become like any other nation because they went
  away from the Lord. And he [Ephraim] is like a bread beneath the ashes that is not
  turned, that is, he does not repent” (Jerome).
7:11   “Why was Ephraim compared with a dove and not with other birds? The other birds
  hurry to protect their offspring even at the risk of life. And when they see a bird of prey,
  snake, raven or crow approaching their nest, they . . . attack with their beak, and wound
  with their claws, and with a crying voice show the parent's suffering. Only the dove does
  not grieve for or miss [its] robbed offspring. Ephraim is rightly compared with this bird
  because he does not suffer for his devastated people but is indifferent to their salvation”
  (Jerome).
8:1-14   Here God is addressing Hosea immediately after the conclusion of the Syro-
  Ephraimite war (733 BC). He charges Ephraim (vv. 10, 11) with unfaithfulness. Idolatry,
  political plots, and lack of trust in Him with respect to foreign relations—all these make
  the inhabitants of Samaria (vv. 5, 6) consider God's instructions a strange thing. For this
  reason, His punishment is near: Israel, the worthless vessel (v. 8), will be brought into
  captivity. Judah will experience the same fate because of her arrogant attitude toward
  God.
8:12   A multitude of statutes: This saying is one of the earliest evidences that by the
  eighth century BC the Torah (“instruction” or “law”; Ex 24:12; 34:1) was circulated, at
  least partially, in a written form.
9:4   “Having collected the fruit of the vine into the wine vats, they offered the firstlings as
  a libation to the demons, and not to the God who gave them. They also offered loaves of
  bread as first fruits of the harvest—except that the sacrifice will become for them defiled
  and impure, he says, and the offerings will be considered as mourning bread (that is,
  disgusting, impure and odious). For what reason? For the law considered unclean anyone
  who approached a dead body either by blood relationship or rather by the very touching of
  the body. . . . Therefore the mourning bread is that bread which was at hand as food for
  those who were mourning for the dead; for those who strive to avoid contamination with
  a dead body it is considered terrible even to taste this bread” (CyrAl).
10:1, 2   “Having good shoots and fruit-bearing branches, she [Israel] produced many
  clusters, and the abundance of the grapes equaled the great number of the branches. But
  she who before was of such a kind offended God afterward, turning the abundance of the
  fruits into a great number of offenses. The more people she had, the more altars she
  built, and she overmatched the abundance of the land by the number of idols” (Jerome).
10:13   “They ate the fruit of deception, namely, they had a useless and senseless hope.
  For the true fruit is the one that can save and help, the love toward God and the glory of
  righteousness. On the contrary, the false fruit would reasonably be considered impiety,
  for in the end it altogether descends to what is abominable” (CyrAl).
11:1   The New Testament application of this passage in Mt 2:15 concerns the return of
  Jesus, Mary, and Joseph from Egypt. Matthew did not use the Septuagint version (his
  children), but rather a Hebrew manuscript which had the singular “my son.”
11:3-4   “I bound the feet of Ephraim, that is, the whole Israel . . . although he was
  awkward. God Himself declares why this is so: ‘I will take them in My arms.’ This image
  is from child raising. Those who take infants in their arms are those who bind their feet,
  bringing their feet together. For it is necessary, I think, that the thighs and knees of
  anyone who sits down should be drawn together. And in fact this is so. ‘I bound the feet’
  as, for instance, it was written about Abraham, who bound his son Isaac when he thought
  to bring him as a sacrifice to God. One must note that the Hebrew version and other
  versions do not have ‘I bound the feet’ but rather ‘I became as one who nourishes
  Ephraim’” (CyrAl).
11:8-9   Here, as in numerous other places in Scripture, God speaks as though He were a
  man. He condescends to communicate in our terms. In this dilemma, it is the infinite,
  overwhelming love of God that triumphs. His heart turned against His just decision to
  punish the apostate people (10:8, 14, 15).
12:5   They wept and entreated Me: The only choice Israel has is to beg God for mercy.
13:14   “Moreover the Lord liberated everyone, and redeemed them through the suffering of
  the Cross and the shedding of His blood, when His soul descended into Hades, and He
  did not experience corruption to His flesh; and He speaks of the death itself as well as
  Hades: ‘I will be your death, O Death!’ For that reason I have died so that you may die
  through My death. ‘I will be your sting, O Hades’ for you devoured all with your throat”
  (Jerome).
14:3   “Become rich in supplies of goods, promise to bring to Him the gifts of the lips, the
  thank-offering songs and confession. For such things as these are the fruits of the
  tongue” (CyrAl).
14:5   Israel's return to the Lord may be compared with the repentance of the prodigal son
  (Lk 15:11ff.). God responds generously to repentance. In the parable, the father sees the
  repentant child and runs to meet him. In Israel's case, God also begins the healing as
  soon as Israel shows the first signs of repentance. If love unconditionally flows from God
  upon Israel, it means that love is His foremost attribute. Hosea may be considered the
  spiritual forerunner of John the Evangelist, who gave one of the most beautiful
  definitions of God when he wrote, “God is love” (1Jn 4:8).
1:1   Amos preached repentance during a time of spiritual drought that preceded judgment
  (Lk 3:1, 2); indeed, Christ's Advent was an earthquake that shook the world (Mt 28:2),
  and the coming of the Holy Spirit a judgment by fire (vv. 4, 7, 10, 12, 14; 2:2, 5).
1:3-3   These judgments are clearly against God's spiritual enemies: demonic powers,
  idolatry, false teaching, pride, hypocrisy, etc. Gregory the Great sees Gilead, which
  means “heap of testimony” (see Gn 31:47, 48; Jos 1:12–18 and note), as showing forth the
  witness of the faithful; and the saw made of iron as being “the sword of error,” or false
  teaching, which leads the people astray. “When therefore, we endeavor to instruct these
  people not to entertain perverse views, we must first admonish them not to seek their
  own interests. For if the root of pride is cut away the branches of false assertions become
  withered.”
2:6   In the ultimate perversion of good, Judas sold Christ for thirty pieces of silver (Mt
  26:15).
3:1   The Lord accused the Israelites more severely “and showed that they deserved greater
  punishment, because they sinned after receiving the honors that he had bestowed on
  them” (JohnChr).
3:4   As a lion will not roar in a forest that has no prey, so the passions will not attack the
  believer who brings “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2Co 10:5).
3:6   John Chrysostom writes on the question of whether God is the author of evil: “Now
  evil is a many-faceted thing. . . . There is evil, which is really evil: fornication, adultery,
  covetousness, and the countless dreadful things, which are worthy of the utmost reproach
  and punishment. Again there is evil, which rather is not evil but is called so: famine,
  pestilence, death, disease, and other of a similar nature. . . . These were evils intended to
  become the sources of good to us, chastening our pride, goading our sloth and leading us
  on to zeal, making us more attentive.”
3:12   “If there are but two legs or a piece of an ear, leap back from him who has
  wounded you. . . . Do not despair of salvation. . . . The Lord does not wish the death of the
  sinner, but that he return and live” (BasilG).
4:7   “We ought to strive with great care that we may not be that city upon which the rain
  of the Word of God either does not come at all, or, at least, only late and rarely. Without
  any doubt, if the dew or rain of the Word of God is provided too late, the fruits of souls
  will be the same as earthly fruits which do not receive rain” (Caes).
4:10-12   “In their hardness of heart and with their frequent habit of sinning, they are
  beyond the purgation of this very brief age and the punishment of the present life”
  (JohnCas).
4:13   As both God and Man, Christ, the Anointed One, holds the thunder of His divinity
  within His humanity. His very breath was created “in the midst of the earth” (Ps 73:12;
  see Zec 12:1) when He was conceived by the uncreated Spirit in the womb of the Virgin.
5:2   “God can do all things, but the virgin who has fallen will not be raised up. . . . Such
  are evil virgins in the flesh, not in the spirit; foolish virgins, who, having no oil, are shut
  out by the Bridegroom” (Jerome). Israel is a “fallen virgin” not because she is chaste, but
  because she has never experienced the joys of marriage; therefore she will be struck down
  without leaving a legacy. It will be as though she had never existed.
5:6   House of Joseph refers to Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Gn 46:20)
  and their descendants, who were the main tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. By
  extension, it refers to all of Israel.
5:7 Justice and righteousness are perfectly fulfilled in Christ.
5:8-20   The Sun of Righteousness rises in the morning and transforms (v. 8) the
  repentant soul from death into life. But on the day of the Lord, those who flee God will
  be plunged into the very darkness (v. 20) that they love so much (see Jn 3:19–21).
5:10   Christ, the upright word Incarnate, was hated for publicly rebuking the scribes and
  Pharisees in the gates (Mt 21:45, 46; Lk 11:45–12:1; 13:14–17; Jn 7:7; 8:20; see also Pr
  9:8).
5:14-15   “For when a man rules his own self—and that counts for more than to govern
  others—his heart is in the hand of God, and God turns it where He wills. If He turns it to
  the good, perfect goodness is His. And so let us be in the hand of God that we may seek
  the good . . . that you may live, and so the Lord God Almighty will be with you” (AmbM).
5:21-27   Those who adhere to the “propriety” of religious practice, but whose hearts are
  rebellious, will be judged harshly; while those who may not follow the “proper” rules, but
  who love God as far as they are able, will be accepted by Him.
5:27    Beyond Damascus points to Assyria as the nation that will conquer and exile
  Israel, bringing about the Lord's judgment. This prophecy was fulfilled in 722 BC (4Kg
  17:5, 6).
6:1-6 Basil the Great, quoting this passage, comments that it is shameful when we spend
  our time running about “searching for anything not demanded by real necessity but
  calculated to provide a wretched delight and ruinous vainglory.”
6:12   Justice was overturned when Pilate, having declared that Christ was innocent,
  submitted to the anger of the Jews and allowed Him to be crucified (Lk 23:13–25).
  Chrysostom remarks further that bitterness was hell's response when Christ entered.
7:2   Like all true prophets, Amos grieves and intercedes on behalf of his people.
7:7   Adamant is a stone of unbreakable substance. Ephraim the Syrian writes that this
  “stone” is Christ, set in the midst of the people. “The leaders of the people were
  gathered together against Him and wanted His downfall because His teaching did not
  please them. But He said, ‘It will crush and destroy whomever it falls upon’ (Mt 21:44),
  because He had resisted idolatry, among other things.”
7:14-15 Gregory the Great writes on the work of grace in the life of the humble: “What a
  skilled worker this Spirit is. There is no question of delay in learning what the Spirit
  teaches us. No sooner does the Spirit touch our minds in regard to anything than we are
  taught; the Spirit's very touch is teaching. The Spirit changes the human heart in a
  moment, filling it with light. Suddenly we are no longer what we were; suddenly we are
  something we never used to be.”
8:8-10   The day of Christ's Crucifixion was indeed a day of mourning (v. 10). The earth
  quaked (Mt 27:50–53), and the sun was darkened at midday (Mk 15:33). In a more
  immediate sense, this prophecy may also have been fulfilled on June 15, 763 BC, when a
  total solar eclipse occurred in Palestine.
8:11   Basil the Great writes that when the people “put to death the bread of life, a hunger
  for the bread came upon them.”
9:1-15   This prophecy is fulfilled in Christ and His Church. In the Incarnation, He shook
  the gateway of humanity under the Old Covenant; destroyed demonic powers with the
  sword of the Spirit; descended into Hades (v. 2); sanctified creation in the river (v. 5) of
  baptism; made his ascent to the heaven (v. 6); and established His Church on the
  earth (Acts 1:8, 9; 2:1–11). He restored the faithful remnant (v. 12); brought in the
  nations (v. 12); and planted His Church among them. Drink wine (v. 14) foreshadows
  the Eucharist.
9:11   At Nativity services in the Church we sing this hymn to the Mother of God, who is
  typified by the tabernacle: “Fulfilled is the prophecy of him that cried aloud, saying, ‘I
  will raise up the tabernacle of holy David that is fallen.’ You, O Undefiled, did prefigure
  His words, through whom the dust of man has been wholly refashioned into a body for
  God.” Chrysostom writes on the fallen tabernacle of our human nature, “For it was not
  possible to raise it up otherwise, unless He who fashioned it in the beginning stretched
  out a hand to it and formed it again from above by the regeneration of water and the
  Spirit. Behold the awesome and ineffable character of the mystery. He dwells always in
  this tabernacle, for He put on our flesh, not to put it off again but to have it always with
  Him. If this were not so, He would not have deemed it worthy of His royal throne.”
9:12   This verse points to the Gentile believers, who had been dead in their sins, but now,
  through the apostles' universal preaching, are called by His name (see Acts 2; 11:26;
  15:13–19).
1:1-7   Give heed, O earth: Micah's oracle announces judgment not only for a specific
  place and time, but for all time and for all people. The physical cities of Samaria and
  Jerusalem, with their rebellious and sinful inhabitants, are icons of mankind. Some, like
  those in Jerusalem, practice “right religion” in God's house, but with sinful hearts.
  Others, like those in Samaria, have forgotten how to worship God and have turned to
  idols (v. 7) of their own making. Though God's immediate judgment on Samaria and
  Jerusalem is destruction, His universal judgment is Christ Himself, who will come
  down (v. 3) in the Incarnation and destroy sin, death, and the devil (see Is 31:4).
1:4   Like wax before the fire echoes Ps 67:2, which is used in the Resurrection services
  in the Orthodox Church.
1:6, 7   Samaritans were among the first to repent and receive the gospel (Jn 4:1–42).
  Therefore, this prophecy is ultimately fulfilled in the Church, Christ's vineyard.
1:7   The city embodies all the sins of the people. The images used in worship at Samaria,
  the wealth gathered in her sanctuaries, are referred to contemptuously as the price of a
  harlot.
1:8   Barefoot and naked: See Ezk 24:17–23; Is 20:2; 2Kg 15:30.
1:10-16   Though this passage is often considered one of the most difficult in the book,
  some clarity emerges when it is viewed with the understanding that the Old Testament
  inevitably points to and is fulfilled in Christ and His Church. As God used the Gentiles to
  strike the Jews in judgment (v. 11), so in the Incarnation He came down to cut off (v.
  16) Israel's heritage because of their ungodliness and to save His inheritance: His Bride,
  the Church.
2:1, 2 A universal indictment against those who work evil in the earth against the poor and
  needy for their own gain. The passage can also be taken as a description of those who
  persecute Christ (a man) and His Church (his house . . . his inheritance).
2:3-5 Ultimately, the evils are the Cross, which bent the neck of the proud and powerful
  like a yoke.
2:4-7 The Jews who provoked the Spirit (v. 7) will lose their inheritance, which will be
  taken away (v. 4) and given to the Gentiles.
2:11   This verse is regarded by scholars as difficult at best and corrupted at worst.
3:1   He will say: This rendering in the third person (as found in the LXX) is opposed by
  the Hebrew text, which consistently reads in the first person (“I will say” or “I said”). The
  third person form is thought to be the more original.
3:2   You who hate good and love evil: The negative form of an idea articulated in Am
  5:15, “‘We hated evil and loved good.’ And restore justice in the gate.”
3:2-3 The closest parallel to this passage is the charge against the shepherds in Ezk 34:2, 3:
  “O shepherds of Israel who feed themselves, should not the shepherds feed the sheep? 3
  Behold, you drink the milk and clothe yourselves with the wool. You slay the fatlings, but
  do not feed My sheep.”
3:8   Micah is a true prophet of God, as opposed to the false prophets of v. 5. Note that
  Micah's prophecy against sin under the Law emphasizes the Spirit's judgment and
  power; while Isaiah's parallel prophecy (see Is 61:1, 2), which is fulfilled in the New
  Covenant, emphasizes healing and liberty in Christ (Lk 4:17–21).
4:10    St. John Chrysostom, in his sermon on Jn 16:21, 22, sees Christ's words echoing
  those of the Prophets (see also Hos 13:13; Is 13:8; Jer 4:31). He writes, “Now, He was
  making use of a comparison frequently employed by the Prophets, also, when they
  compared their sufferings to the excessive pain of birth pangs. What He meant is
  something like this: ‘Suffering as keen as birth pangs will take possession of you.
  However, the pain of childbirth becomes a cause of joy.’” Indeed, the daughter of Zion
  will “give birth” to a new creation when she has been redeemed by Christ (see note at Jn
  16:21, 22).
5:6, 7   The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations: This phrase does not
  necessarily imply the scattering of Israel, but rather a focal point for the gathering of the
  nations together in Christ, as in 4:1–3 and 4:6, 7.
6:1-5   A covenantal “lawsuit,” filed by the Lord against Israel. Here the prophet functions
  like an “attorney” in God's lawsuit against His people.
6:3-5 This passage recalls the liturgical themes that run through the services of Great and
  Holy Week, especially Orthros of Great and Holy Friday (Service of the Twelve Gospels).
6:8   The classical definition of true religion: Micah in one verse knits together the basic
  themes of the books of Amos (righteousness—to do justly), Hosea (steadfast love—to
  love mercy), and Isaiah (humility and faith—to be ready to walk [or “to walk
  humbly”] with the Lord your God).
7:6   This verse is quoted by Christ in Mt 10:35, 36 and Lk 12:53.
7:18-19   All our sins will be cast into the depths of the sea: The Fathers agree that this
  phrase foreshadows baptism.
1:1 Cyril of Alexandria interprets ch. 1 as a prophecy of the coming of Christ, when the Jews
  would revile and reject Him and incur the curses mentioned, understood spiritually. But
  Cyril is optimistic about the full restitution of the Jews, noting the solution found in v. 20
  —they need only to look up to God in faith.
     The book begins in a manner similar to the other prophets, describing the advent of the
  Word of God to Joel. This is not merely a formula (see Jer 1:2; Ezk 1:3; Hos 1:1), but is
  God's way of arresting our attention, beckoning us to read the work not merely as
  literature, but as Holy Scripture. The advent of the word of the Lord to the prophet should
  lift our minds to Christ, the eternal Word of God.
      Joel the son of Pethuel: The prophet's patronymic is included since Joel was a
  relatively common name (see 1Ch 4:35; 5:4, 8, 12; 6:13, 18, 21; etc.). Furthermore, the
  meanings of names in the ancient world were considered far more significant than they
  are today, and the overtones of Joel and Pethuel resonate throughout the text. The
  meanings of these names are ambiguous, although Jerome understood Joel to mean
  “God is” or “God is setting out,” and Pethuel to mean “God is opening.”
1:2-3 Both the past and the future are called on to testify to the magnitude and weight of
  the coming destruction. Not only does this mark out the special nature of the coming
  onslaught, but it reminds us of the way persons in the past and the future participate in
  the present.
     Scripture memorializes two types of events. On the one hand, the righteous exploits of
  God working through His saints (e.g., Ps 104) are held up as examples to be followed. On
  the other hand, there are the mistakes of the people of God and their consequences (e.g.
  Ps 105). Joel begins with the latter, while finishing with a promise of the former.
     Elders . . . all of you inhabiting the land: Not only does the prophet call for the
  attention of the elders and the general population, but by formulating his petition in this
  manner, he indicates that his message is to be read by both the spiritual (the elders) and
  the carnal (the inhabitants of the land). The message of Joel is fitted to each person
  according to his spiritual fitness and place in his journey towards God, yet all should pay
  attention.
1:4   Caterpillar, grasshopper, locust, red blight: Exactly what creatures these words
  signify, whether in the Greek or in the Hebrew, we cannot say for certain. While some
  have suggested the four words describe four kinds of insect, others claim they refer to
  different stages in the lifecycle of the locust. Both are educated guesses.
      On the metaphorical level, the text can be seen as four different waves of assault
  against the land. While Ephraim of Syria saw this as a reference to four different
  Mesopotamian kings, subsequent fathers accepted this verse as a prophecy of the four
  major conquests of Israel: the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans
  (see Dan 2).
1:5    Joel addresses the people of Israel as if they were all drunkards. Drunkenness
  represents the general proclivity of Israel to satisfy their pleasures. The prophet addresses
  people who are using good things to excess, drinking not to quench their thirst but to
  become drunk. Christ used this same theme when He warned those who were making
  merry in His own day (Lk 6:24–26).
1:6, 7 Here the prophet not only begins to describe what is in store for his wayward people,
  but he phrases this eight-line poem as if it were a dirge to lament the occupation of the
  land. Joel composes it both to shame Israel and to draw attention to the gravity of the
  situation.
      Lion: The prophet turns from the locust metaphor to that of a lion to describe the
  conquering enemy, highlighting their powerful inhumanity. The first targets are the
  grapes and the figs, i.e., the juice and the sweetness of the land, representing the
  livelihood and wealth of Israel. This is the same manner in which the devil and the
  passions assault our own spiritual life. When we succumb to the temptations of the flesh,
  the powers of evil enter into our land and first attack the virtues of our character and our
  good deeds.
1:8   The bride weeps, presumably, for the death of her betrothed. In this same manner the
  apostles, in the days of Christ's betrayal and death, were like virgins girded with
  sackcloth, lamenting the death of their bridegroom. Indeed, in our own time, when God
  judges His People for their sins, we should assume this same demeanor, repenting, being
  cleansed by our tears, and awaiting the return of Christ our Savior.
1:9 Joel 1:9, 10, 13: The meat-offering and the drink-offering (v. 9); grain-offering
  and drink-offering (v. 13): The grain-offering is of bread, and the drink-offering is of
  wine. Joel, by reemphasizing the loss of bread and wine in the land, not only recalls the
  image of agricultural plague but anticipates the future life of the Church. We have before
  us the image of the Church stripped of the eucharistic sacraments through the
  disobedience of the community. In this situation, the priests are called to lament the
  plight of the land and intercede for their wayward people (see 2:17).
1:11   By calling the farmers to mourn, Joel not only includes landowners in the national
  calamity, but also reinforces vv. 9, 13. For just as the priests are to mourn over the people
  they tend, so the farmer is to weep over his care—his crops. The loss of property is, in the
  sight of God, a rather insignificant matter. More importantly, the prophet calls us to go
  beyond and grieve over the destruction of other people, and of the sins which ravage our
  souls.
1:12   They put to shame the delight of the sons of men: The phrase, a Hebraism,
  literally translates “have shamed their joy.” That is to say that joy, a good thing in and of
  itself, was being abused and defiled by the Israelites.
1:13   For the loss of the sacrificial rite, see note at vv. 9, 10. It would be a mistake to read
  this as an anticlerical passage, for the prophet neither upbraids the priests nor questions
  the importance of the priesthood. Rather, Joel calls the spiritual leadership of the land to
  fulfill their proper role in times of national distress.
1:14   See Is 58:4, 5. This is but one more reason for fasting in the life of the Church—to
  repent of the sins of the community. The leaders and elders of the land are called to
  change their luxury into sackcloth (v. 8) and to cry out incessantly and fervently to God.
  Fasting without contrition of heart is nothing.
1:15   The threefold woe is the appropriate response in this disaster since the Holy Trinity
  has been offended. This reminds us as well that the Day of the Lord is not the visitation
  of Christ alone, but is a judgment that involves the participation of all three Persons.
       The day of the Lord could suggest a day either of punishment or of reward. As it
  turns out, Joel uses the term here and in 2:1, 11 to refer to a day of judgment, but as he
  turns to the promised salvation of God, the day of the Lord becomes a day of restitution
  for the people of God (2:31; 3:14, 18).
1:19   The prophet interrupts his narrative with a prayer, reminding us that our deliverance
  from disaster comes not from any other so-called gods, but from the Lord Himself.
1:20   Just as all the beasts look to God to give them their food in due season (Ps 103:27),
  so they do here, since He will fill them with every good thing by His hand (Ps 103:28).
2:1-11   In this chapter the prophet switches to the future tense. While ch. 1 appears to
  discuss a plague that has already occurred, ch. 2 warns of yet another imminent plague.
  Furthermore, Joel moves from agricultural images to military ones. The repentance of
  the Church is the aim of the passage. Joel depicts the coming disaster in a number of
  ways, but he emphasizes throughout that God's sovereign plan is ultimately at work.
2:4-5 St. Cyril notes that nothing was more warlike than the fully equipped horse, which
  “leaps over the earth in such a way that, I suppose, it mimics the clatter of chariots. And
  they gallop over any mountain crest, and fly down every hill, and produce the crackle of a
  flame devouring a reed.”
2:12-17   Repentance is an ascetic effort. Joel emphasizes the inner state of the heart,
  bidding us to rend not our clothes but our hearts. This does not mean that the prophet
  opposed physical expressions of repentance. The penitent is to fast, weep, and mourn, all
  physical acts. Everyone in Israel was to gather to call upon the Lord, a physical and
  liturgical act. These acts, done in the right manner, only assist our repentance. If, in fact,
  we are justified simply by confessing our sins (1Jn 1:9), how much more so when our
  repentance is expressed physically, through our bodies and the community?
      Interestingly, the prophet never tells us of what Israel was guilty. His emphasis
  remains on the coming judgment and the need to repent.
2:17 Between the porch and the altar: The altar represents the animal sacrifices which
  were offered to the Lord, while the porch refers to the people. So while the altar became a
  place of life through the death of the sacrificial animal, the porch was also a place for the
  dying who sought life. The priests, by placing themselves between the porch and the altar,
  were to mediate this life to the people. Because of the sacrifice of Christ, the porch and
  altar have been united. Christ's death brings life to us.
2:17-18 These two verses form the center of the book. The passage summarizes all that has
  been written so far and introduces the rest of the book, which presents God's promises
  and explores the eschatological hope of Israel.
2:20   Army from the north refers to the Assyrian or Babylonian forces, since locust
  plagues generally came from the east or southeast. Nevertheless, this northern adversary
  will be driven by the Lord into a dry land, referring to the deserts from which locust
  plagues would come. The eastern sea and western sea refer to the Dead Sea and
  Mediterranean Sea, respectively.
2:21-23     The prophet calls on the land, the beasts of the field, and the children of
  Zion to rejoice. Just as the prophet distinguishes between two types of people earlier in
  the book (see note on 1:2, 3), so he does here, as well. The beasts refer to the more carnal
  Israelites while the children of Zion refer to the spiritual. The land refers to both of these
  groups.
2:22-32    The prophet now turns his gaze towards the final rest of the people of God,
  prophesying the coming of Christ and the descent of the Holy Spirit. These eleven verses
  are fulfilled ultimately in Christ, the sacramental life of the Church, and Pentecost.
2:22-24 The trees bear their fruit: In this verse Joel foreshadows the cross of Christ,
  the tree which bore the greatest fruit of all. The vine and the fig tree refer to the
  establishment of the Church (see Rom 11:17–24; Jn 15:1; Lk 13:6–9). Rain, wheat,
  wine, and oil refer to the food that is right for you, namely the sacraments of Holy
  Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit.
3:1   When Peter quotes this verse, he changes after this to “in the last days” (Acts 2:17),
  one of several modest modifications of the verse. Peter's adaptation of Joel indicates that
  he understood the passage to be eschatological. Your sons and daughters shall
  prophesy: The gift of prophecy was to be given to both men and women without
  distinction (see Acts 21:9).
3:5   There shall be proclamation of the good news: The Greek can also be translated
  “and there shall be heralds of the gospel,” suggesting a prophecy of the missions of the
  Twelve and the Seventy Apostles, all of whom were appointed by Christ.
4:1   In this chapter Joel deplores the mistreatment of Israel and prophesies the coming
  judgment of God on all the nations. While on one level the prophecy can be read as a
  promise of the restoration of Israel after the exile, the images go beyond this. Making use
  of apocalyptic imagery, Joel also refers to the last days of humanity, in which Israel will
  be spiritually restored and become the source of life for the rest of the nations. Captivity
  of Judah and Jerusalem: This prophecy refers to the restoration of Judah from the
  exile in Babylon. The Hebrew version does not mention the exile.
4:2 The judgment of all nations can be understood in one or more of three different ways.
  It may, on the one hand, refer to the attempted siege of Jerusalem during the building of
  the wall (see 2Ez 4). There is a strong case for this interpretation because of the earlier
  reference to the restoration from exile. Secondly, the passage may refer to the age of the
  Church, in which God deals with the persecutors or heretics who attempt to assail her.
  Thirdly, this may be understood as the final judgment of all people for their sins. In any
  case, God is dealing with nations who are willingly attacking His people.
      The Valley of Jehoshaphat most likely refers to the Kidron Valley, just east of
  Jerusalem. The triumph of God over His enemies in a valley is echoed in 1 Enoch 53; 54,
  but here the valley is fiery. This image was retained in the New Testament, where Christ
  refers to a valley in which trash was burnt, Gehenna (translated “hell”), as a symbol of
  judgment.
4:4   All the coast of Philistia refers to the non-Jewish nations that lived in Galilee and
  its environs. Under Babylonian and Persian administration, many non-Jewish peoples
  moved into the northern regions of Israel.
4:6   The slave trade was widespread in antiquity. The abduction of Israelites for sale into
  slavery is attested as late as the Maccabean period (1Mc 3:41; 2Mc 8:11).
4:9-12   This passage is sarcastic in tone. God does not desire the death of a sinner (Ezk
  18:23, 32), but knowing that the nations will attack Israel, He goads them on. He is well
  aware that their attack will come to no avail, but he uses the assault as an opportunity to
  bring them into judgment.
4:10   Spears: The Greek word used here indicates a special kind of spear. It was a barbed
  pole used to probe for concealed pits into which an advancing soldier might fall.
4:13    While the nations turn from farming to warfare, the Lord does the opposite,
  attending to agriculture, harvesting grain, and treading wine. While the treading of grapes
  is typically an image of the massacre of enemies, Joel emphasizes the moral aspects of
  the image. The runoff of the grapes is not simply blood, but the result of the abundance of
  evil in the nations (see Rev 14:17–20).
4:16-17 The language used by Joel is reminiscent of descriptions of the last days found in
  the New Testament. In the final judgment the Lord shouts out (1Th 4:16) and establishes
  an incorruptible Jerusalem (Rev 21:9–27).
4:19   In previous verses, God deals with the Mesopotamian army. Here He promises to
  dispense with Israel's other enemies, Egypt and Edom.
4:21   The Lord shall dwell in Zion: Joel closes his book in fitting manner, pointing to
  the final state in which God will abide among His people. Although this verse was
  fulfilled in Christ, only in the last days will it be completely fulfilled in the restoration of
  all Creation.
1:1   The Old Testament contains twelve references to men named Obadiah. Of this
  prophet we know little except that his name means “Servant of the Lord.” The people of
  Edom, descendants of Jacob's elder twin, Esau (see Gn 25:19–26), often stood in conflict
  with Israel (see 3Kg 11:14–17). Throughout this short book, Edom and Esau are employed
  interchangeably as titles for an actual kingdom and as general examples of rebellious
  humanity.
1:2-4   Edom is made . . . least among the nations, that is, humbled in response to its
  arrogance of heart and boasting. The clefts of the rocks mentioned in v. 3 are likely
  an allusion to the Edomite fortress of Sela, also called Teman and Petra, surrounded by
  cliffs rising up to 2,000 feet in height. Rebellious Edom here typifies the extent of human
  pride and arrogance with its seemingly boundless scope, yet still brought under the yoke
  of God.
1:4-7   Obadiah proclaims the destruction of Edom as thorough and complete: whereas
  thieves steal only what they need or desire, and grape-gatherers leave gleanings behind
  (see Lv 19:9; 23:22), Edom will be wholly and completely cast down.
1:8-11   Edom's indictment for the slaughter and ungodliness committed against its
  brother Jacob is primarily centered on their failure to protect Israel from the foreigners
  who oppressed it, rather than any specific oppression on the part of the Edomites (though
  they were not entirely innocent in this regard; see v. 13). In failing to protect Israel, Edom
  incurred the guilt of a good undone, of a lack of fraternal love and responsibility. Perhaps
  the severity of this crime gives rise to the fact that the judgment against Edom is here
  pronounced before the full indictment against the nation is proclaimed (it follows in vv.
  12–14), rather than after as is usually the case in prophetic literature.
1:12-14   This whole passage is stirringly anticipatory of Jesus' parable of the sheep and
  goats (Mt 25:31–46) and His proclamation that actions done or left undone to the
  children of God are done directly to Christ (Mt 25:40, 45). In addition to the historical
  events undoubtedly referred to in these verses, Edom is also taken up once again as a
  typification of sinful human attributes: lack of benevolence and pleasure in another's
  misfortune (v. 12); passivity and the desire for profit from another's loss (v. 13); the
  hindering of another's escape from undue persecution (v. 14).
1:15-18     Those who would engage in acts such as those described in vv. 12–14 are
  reminded, as you have done, it shall be done to you—a connection between action and
  consequence that is maintained by Christ in His model prayer: “Forgive us our debts, / As
  we forgive our debtors” (Mt 6:12). The day of the Lord, that is, His judgment, will come
  upon all the nations. Such people may rage in their pride and deceit (the likely meaning
  of so too shall all the nations drink wine), but eventually they shall have their
  comeuppance and it will be as if they never existed. The faithful of the Lord, however,
  shall be delivered and sanctified (v. 17), preserved even through the destruction of those
  hardened in sin (v. 18).
1:19-20   This passage, which delineates the possessions of the land as they will be found
  after God's judgment of Edom, may well be an addition to the original prophetic oracle.
  The Greek text is confusing (as is the text in the Hebrew) as to the precise geographic
  extent of the lands delineated, but the general thrust of the proclamation is clear: Judah,
  oppressed by Edom and its allies, will inherit the land of its oppressors at their defeat.
1:21   The final proclamation of the prophecy is hopeful both in a political sense, inasmuch
  as Judah shall exact vengeance on the mountain of Esau, and in a more
  eschatological sense: the divided people shall again be one (kingdom is in the singular),
  and rather than existing under the tumultuous leadership of judges or kings, the kingdom
  shall be the Lord's.
1:1, 2 Jonah's calling is set apart from that of the other prophets because he is commanded
  to preach not to his own people, the Jews, but to the Ninevites. The Book of Jonah points
  to Christ's Great Commission (Mt 28:19, 20) in four ways: (1) Arise and go to Nineveh
  parallels Christ's words, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.” (2) Jonah's
  deliverance from the belly of the whale foreshadows the baptism of which Christ speaks
  in the same passage: “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
  Holy Spirit.” (3) Jonah's preaching to Nineveh foreshadows the apostles' preaching to the
  nations in obedience to Christ's command: “teaching them to observe all things that I
  have commanded you.” (4) God's protection of Jonah is echoed in Christ's words, “and lo,
  I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
1:2   Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire. See Tb 14:4, 8; 3Mc 6:8.
1:5   Hold means literally “belly,” as it is translated in 2:1, 3 (see note at 2:3).
1:9   In Jonah's weaknesses we see our own fallen humanity, but as he turns towards God,
  we begin to see a figure of Christ emerge. To be called by His name, we must first become
  His servant.
1:5-11 Christ and His disciples had a very similar experience on a boat in a storm (see text
  and note at Mt 8:24–26).
1:14-16   God's power in nature, combined with Jonah's witness, persuade the sailors to
  convert to the God of Israel. Later, the Spirit's presence in Jonah will convince the
  Ninevites to repent and seek salvation. Similarly, God's presence in creation (Rom 1:20),
  combined with the presence of the Holy Spirit in believers (Acts 2:38–41), draws men to
  God.
2:1   Three days and three nights is a prophetic type of Christ's three-day sojourn in the
  “heart of the earth [Sheol]” (Mt 12:40; see also Mt 16:4; 1Pt 3:19: “He [Jesus] went and
  preached to the spirits in prison [Sheol or Gr. Hades]”).
2:2   Jnh 2:2, 3, 7: His God . . . my God: The pronouns “his” and “my” emphasize a
  personal relationship with God.
2:3   Belly of Hades: The word translated “belly” can also be used to mean “womb.”
  Jonah's deliverance—first, out of the “belly of the ship” (1:5, 6) and now from the whale—
  is a type both of deliverance from death and of spiritual rebirth in the waters of baptism.
  Just as Jonah's “rebirth” makes possible the repentance and salvation of the Ninevites, so
  our Lord's Resurrection from the dead makes possible our salvation. In the Old
  Testament, Hades (Heb. Sheol) was the place of all the dead, a place of shadowy
  existence, of being cut off from the presence of God. It is used especially in poetic
  passages as a synonym for death. Hades held all the righteous dead before the crucifixion
  and Resurrection of Christ.
2:5-6 To the Hebrews, the sea was a frightening place, full of chaos and death. To be cast
  into the sea was to sink down into Hades. See Ps 87:7, 8.
2:3-10   Jonah's prayer echoes the language and imagery of the Psalms. See especially Ps
  17:5, 7; 30:23; 41:8; 49:14; 68:2, 3; 119:1.
3:2   According to the message I previously spoke to you: A reminder to Jonah that
  the message and the mission had not changed.
3:5-9   In an amazing response to Jonah's preaching, the Ninevites show us the true
  meaning of repentance in the following ways: (1) By the ancient practice of fasting, which
  implied a total fast. (2) By wearing sackcloth and ashes. Sackcloth was a rough,
  uncomfortable cloth made of goat or camel hair, used for making grain bags. It was worn
  as a sign of mourning (see Gn 37:34; Est 4:3; 1Mc 2:14; Mt 11:21). Putting ashes on one's
  head also symbolized mourning or repentance (see 2Kg 13:19; Is 58:5; Jer 6:26). (3) By
  prayer. (4) By changing their behavior. True repentance is not just feeling sorry, but
  involves both the heart and actions.
3:6   The king acted after the people. This was a spontaneous, popular movement, not
  imposed by the crown but inspired by the Holy Spirit.
4:1-7   Once again, Jonah's weakness controls him. Here Jonah's excessive nationalism is
  expressed in his disappointment at God's mercy. He knew God's character, and
  anticipated what would happen; yet, like the proud brother in the story of the Prodigal
  Son (Lk 15:11–32), he hoped to see the Ninevites destroyed. “After all,” he might have
  said, “why would God want to save foreigners?” The gourd that is damaged by the worm
  is an icon of this attitude, which is personified in the unbelievers who allow pride and
  jealousy at the salvation of others to enter their hearts. Many like these will put Christ to
  death, thus bringing about their own destruction.
4:4   The Lord's question to Jonah is rhetorical and a rebuke. The tone of the Greek implies
  that, in fact, Jonah does not have the right to feel the way he does.
4:11   The people of the nations live in spiritual darkness until the light of the gospel is
  brought to them by God's messengers: the apostles, preachers, and all the faithful, who
  bear equal responsibility to “make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). And many
  livestock: The Lord's compassion extends to all He has created, including the animals.
1:1   The burden: See Hab 1:1 and note. Nahum's prophecy takes on its deepest meaning
  when Nineveh is seen as an icon of sinful humanity. The “good tidings” (2:1) of the
  gospel turn the hearts of men away from idolatry (1:14–2:2); while the fire of the Holy
  Spirit (2:5) and cleansing in the waters of baptism (2:7–9) destroy demonic powers,
  purging and renewing the repentant heart.
1:3 The Church teaches concerning Holy Confession that unless one is sincerely repentant,
  the priest's prayer for absolution is meaningless and ineffective.
1:4   He threatens the sea and makes it dry: At the Great Blessing of Water on
  Theophany we sing, “The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and were afraid.
  The Jordan turned back, seeing the fire of the Godhead descending bodily and entering its
  stream. The Jordan turned back, beholding the Holy Spirit coming down in the form of a
  dove and flying about You. The Jordan turned back, seeing the Invisible made visible, the
  Creator made flesh, the Master in the form of a servant. The Jordan turned back and the
  mountains skipped, looking upon God in the flesh; and the clouds gave voice, marveling
  at Him who has come, the Light of Light, true God of true God.”
1:3-5   This Old Testament imagery of the earthquake (also see 1Kg 4:5; 3Kg 19:11; Ps
  103:32) was fulfilled ultimately at the Crucifixion (Mt 27:51). Clouds symbolize the Holy
  Spirit (see Ex 13:21, 22; 24:12–18 and notes). A cloud was at Christ's feet at His
  Transfiguration (Lk 9:34); and He Himself says He will come again in a cloud (Lk 21:27).
1:8-10 The overwhelming flood is fulfilled in baptism.
2:1   The good tidings are the gospel of peace, preached by the apostles. See Rom 10:15.
2:5   As torches of fire: See Jdg 7:16. The specter of the universal ravager, fire, is invoked
  to suggest an image of total destruction.
2:6-9 Nineveh was situated on the Tigris and Khoser Rivers, and ancient sources such as
  Xenophon and Diodorus note that the city was destroyed by flooding. Nineveh
  worshipped the goddess Ishtar, which would be led away by those who captured the city.
  This passage also points to the destruction of God's enemies in the waters of baptism.
2:11   A picture of the few terrified survivors, looking sadly on the ruins of their once-
  magnificent city.
2:14   The power of the lions, which represent the enemies of God, would be destroyed by
  the more powerful sword of the Spirit, “for all who take the sword will perish by the
  sword” (Mt 26:52).
3:4-7   The final judgment against the great harlot, an image of all that is evil, is found in
  Rev 17–18.
1:1   Prophets frequently describe prophetic oracles as “burdens” (Heb. massa I: “burden,
  carrying” and massa II: “pronouncement, prophecy,” both deriving from a verbal root
  nasa, “to carry”) from the Lord, possibly because the oracles nearly always spell out heavy
  judgment from God (Jer 23:33). In contrast, Jesus describes his burden as “light” (Mt
  11:30). John says that because of all God's love has done for us, keeping His
  commandments is not burdensome (1Jn 5:3).
1:2   Habakkuk laments the seeming silence of God in response to the rampant injustice
  and violence in the nation. When God reveals to Habakkuk the horrors in Judean society
  from His point of view, the prophet is horrified. He cries for God to act, but there is no
  answer from God. “How long?” is a familiar refrain among the Old Testament prophets
  (Zec 1:12) and the psalmists (Ps 12:1) when God appears silent, remote, and powerless (Is
  63:15). God hates violence on the earth and will judge severely the cruel treatment of
  humans by other humans (Gn 6:5–7; Ps 10:6; Rev 6:10).
1:5   God frequently responds to humans in surprising ways. But God's “answer” to
  Habakkuk's lament is beyond belief.
1:7   The Chaldean standard for judgment is not God's righteous law, but their own
  purposes of conquest. Despite their evil, God can still use ungodly people and sometimes
  unwilling servants to accomplish His purposes, as in the cases of Pharaoh, Balaam, and
  Judas.
1:9    Violence will be punished with violence. God will use the Chaldeans to inflict
  punishment upon the evildoers of Judah. Israel's history showed that God was willing to
  use other nations to punish Israel. The cycle of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness,
  punishment, repentance, and subsequent restoration is amply described in Judges and 3
  & 4 Kingdoms. What is new and surprising to Habakkuk is the extent of Judah's
  punishment, for God hints at their exile and utter destruction as a nation. The nation of
  Judah falsely believed that their fickle repentance (Hos 6:1–3) as well as God's covenant
  with David and the presence of the temple in Jerusalem would protect them forever (Jer
  7:3) from God's unrelenting anger. They were sadly mistaken.
1:11   In a moment of self-recognition, even the godless Chaldeans realize they are not a law
  unto themselves. Although they are the vessels of God's wrath upon Judah, they are still
  answerable to God for their crimes against humanity.
1:12   With surprising boldness, Habakkuk questions God's judgment. Here Habakkuk is
  like many other biblical prophets: Abraham (Gn 18:23ff.), Moses (Ex 32:11ff.), Jeremiah
  (20:7), or Amos (7:1ff.). Throughout the Bible, men and women wrestle mightily with
  God and His will, like Jacob with God at the River Jabbok (Gn 32:22).
1:14   Habakkuk complains that the Chaldeans, God's chosen vessels, show absolutely no
  respect for human dignity.
2:1    Despite his questions, Habakkuk displays his stubborn faith in God's ultimate
  purposes. While waiting for what surely will be God's reprimand, Habakkuk is already
  marshaling his strength to answer back.
2:2   Habakkuk hears and sees God's response (1:1)! God's answer must be written so
  clearly that its readers can take immediate action.
2:3-4   During tumultuous times, God first commands Habakkuk to wait patiently for His
  vision to arrive, despite all contrary appearances or delays. Heb 10:37, 38 quotes these
  verses from Habakkuk to exhort its hearers to endure suffering boldly as we await the
  fulfillment of God's promises.
2:4   Against those Judaizing Christians who wanted to bind the entire Law (particularly
  circumcision) upon Gentile converts, Paul quotes Habakkuk to show that we are justified
  by faith, not by the works of the Law (Gal 3:11; Rom 1:17).
2:5   Pride is the fountain of all vices. In the following verses, Habakkuk describes the
  profile of the arrogant individual with whom God is not pleased (2:4). His increasingly
  ravenous appetites are indeed hellish and deadly.
2:6   The Bible warns that the arrogant man will surely be destroyed for his evil.
2:10   Man has a relentless hunger for material gain, which he thinks will insulate him
  from misfortune; but wealth is false security. This deluded quest for self-sufficiency is
  described elsewhere as virtual atheism (Ps 11:4, 5). The yield is not security but death and
  destruction. There is no security other than in God.
2:11-12   While the powerful engage in empire building, the truth of God's ultimate
  judgment over the proud is known by the smallest and the numerically insignificant. The
  city built by bloodshed and conquest will ultimately be destroyed. Only the city built with
  righteousness will endure.
2:14   Elsewhere, Hosea describes the fundamental human problem as lack of knowledge of
  God (Hos 4:1, 6; 6:6). This ignorance unfortunately is self-inflicted because men suppress
  the truth about God (Rom 1:18–32).
2:16   The proud man, for his debauchery and violence, will ultimately drink the wine of
  God's wrath. The Book of Revelation describes the eschatological judgment upon the
  “great Babylon” in terms of God giving her to drink of “the cup of the wine of the
  fierceness of His wrath” (Rev 16:19).
2:20   The mystery of God is best honored with silence. When God revealed Himself out of
  the whirlwind, Job too was found speechless (Job 40:5; 42:3).
3:2   St Augustine believes the two living creatures are either the two testaments, the two
  thieves, or Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.
3:3   This verse is quoted in Orthodox hymnology (in the Festal Menaion) on the Entry of
  the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple (Nov. 21) and on Christmas.
3:4   Augustine believes this verse refers plainly to Jesus.
1:1-11 The revival that occurred in the days of Josiah prefigured the coming of the gospel
  in Christ, which will culminate on the final Day. Christ was the final sacrifice (v. 7),
  whose death and Resurrection was, and is, the ultimate judgment against sin in the earth.
  Indeed, with His stretched-out hand (v. 4), which was pierced through on the Cross, He
  destroyed idolatry, punished the proud princes of darkness, and cut down the Old
  Covenant.
1:12   St. Jerome writes that this verse was fulfilled when Christ went to Jerusalem (Mk
  11:11). He was looking at everything in the temple “as though He were searching with a
  lantern . . . but He did not find what He wanted. . . . The Savior searched; the Apostles
  searched; in the temple they found nothing, so they left it.”
2:7-11 All the islands of the nations (v. 11): A prophecy that is fulfilled in the Gentile
  Church.
3:1-13   Christ gathered the nations together and judged them with the fire (v. 8) of the
  Holy Spirit. The day of My rising up is a clear prophecy of the Resurrection.
1:14   Zerubbabel: See 2:23 and note.
2:6   I will shake heaven and earth: “There have been two remarkable transformations
  of the human way of life in the course of the world's history. These are called two
  ‘covenants,’ . . . two ‘shakings of the earth’ [Heb 12:26; Mt 27:51]. The first was the
  transition from idols to the Law; the second, from the Law to the gospel. The gospel also
  tells of the third shaking, the change from this present stage of things to what lies
  unmoved, unshaken, beyond” (GrgNa; see Heb 12:28). Indeed, writes Augustine, Christ
  moved heaven and earth when He was born of a Virgin; and moved the sea and dry
  land when He made His name known throughout the whole world.
2:7   The choice things of all the nations shall come in: Augustine remarks that this
  phrase prophesies the building of the Church from those chosen from among the
  Gentiles. These are Christ's “living stones” (1Pt 2:5), renewed by faith and empowered by
  grace, building a house far more glorious than any earthly temple.
2:9   I will give peace: “Since the restored temple signified the Church, which Christ was
  to build, those words can mean only ‘I will give peace in that place (the Church) which
  this place (the rebuilt temple) prefigures.’ . . . Not, however, until the House of the New
  Testament receives its final consecration will its greater glory in relation to the house of
  the Old Testament be made perfectly clear” (Aug).
2:10-19 This is Haggai's third discourse, intended to teach that the people must depend on
  God's grace for life and for holiness, and not on themselves or even on God's temple. God
  is good to us, says Haggai, not because we deserve it, not even because His presence
  makes us holy, but simply because He has chosen to bless us. God offers us an
  opportunity to return to Him through repentance and confession, as is illustrated in the
  parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11–32), recounted to us just two weeks prior to the
  Great Fast of Lent.
2:11   Ask the priests concerning the law: “For such is the important function of the
  priesthood to give answers to those who question them concerning the Law” (Jerome).
2:20-23 The oracle is private, addressed to Zerubbabel only. Note that he is addressed
  not as a descendant of David but as being from the tribe of Judah, implying that the
  Davidic kingship is not about to be reestablished. Official, royal acts in the ancient world
  were authenticated by the use of the monarch's signet. In designating Zerubbabel as his
  signet, the Lord was, in effect, stating that Zerubbabel would be acting as His vicegerent,
  charged with carrying out His supreme rule and divine will. On a deeper level, this is a
  strong messianic prophecy. “When our soul becomes peaceful . . . then she will receive
  Christ like a signet ring upon her, for she is the image of God. Then she will be according
  to that image, because heavenly is the heavenly man. And we need to bear the image of
  the heavenly one, that is, peace. . . . I wish the Lord Jesus may say to you, ‘Put me as a
  seal upon your arm’ [SS 8:6]. May peace glow in your heart, Christ in your works, and
  may there be formed in you wisdom and justice and redemption” (AmbM).
1:1   Zechariah records an exact date when his visions began. The eighth month is a
  reference to the Hebrew calendar, while the second year of Darius is a Persian rendering
  of time. Zechariah is the son of Berechiah and grandson of Addo the prophet. The
  identity of the prophet and the time of the prophecy are not merely historical references;
  they are eternally significant because the revelation of God came to Zechariah at this
  time.
      The word of the Lord is an action of God in His graceful self-disclosure. The word of
  the Lord comes to Zechariah veiled, but when the Messiah comes in Bethlehem of Judea
  five centuries later, He comes in the flesh. Indeed, the language of the LXX here parallels
  the language used by John to describe the Incarnation (see Jn 1:1–18). The Word who
  comes to Zechariah is truly the eternal Son of God, the Word of God, the Second Person
  of the Holy Trinity who becomes flesh as Jesus Christ.
1:2 Zechariah informs the people of God's wrath against them. In the Bible, God is a God of
  wrath as well as of love. Indeed, the wrath and love of God are not contradictions within
  Him but are manifestations of His One Being. A God who was not angered over the sins
  of His creatures would be a God who did not care.
       The issue of impassibility is also raised here. For the Church Fathers, God is
  impassible. This means that the nature of God does not change. God is not controlled by
  passions, desires, emotions that change unpredictably and radically as in man. God is
  consistent, pure, and simple. Impassibility, however, does not mean that God does not
  care. His wrath shows that He cares deeply. God loves His creation perfectly. His love and
  wrath are not changing, inconsistent, impure, or unreliable. God is not like man. His
  wrath and love are not like human wrath and love.
1:3   The dichotomy between the Old and New Testaments held by the arch-heretic Marcion
  and by many modern heretics as well is shown to be wrong since the God of the Old and
  New Testaments is the Holy Trinity. In the Old Testament, God has wrath and love just as
  He does in the New Testament. Zechariah delivers the same message of repentance later
  preached by Christ Himself. Repentance is necessary for salvation. There is no right
  relationship with God without turning from sin to God.
1:4   Zechariah warns the people not to become like your fathers. The prophets warned
  the former generation, calling them to turn away from their evil ways. Sadly, God notes,
  they did not listen. There is continuity between the message of the previous prophets and
  the message of Zechariah. This message is the same precisely because it is from the lips
  of God. The message of the prophets is fulfilled by Jesus Christ (Mt 5:17).
1:5   Zechariah asks a question that plagues humanity: Where are your fathers and the
  prophets? He reminds them of their own mortality by reminding them of the death of
  their fathers and the prophets. The prophets and their fathers are dead and buried in
  Mesopotamia because they did not repent. Zechariah is also presenting a contrast
  between men, who are transient and mortal, and God, who is immortal and transcendent.
  The previous generation is dead and gone, but God lives and remains the same. As Paul
  exclaims, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8).
1:6   God commands His people to receive My words and My ordinances. God does not
  force His way upon mankind. He honors free will. He wants human obedience, fidelity,
  and fellowship. He calls people to repentance, but He never circumvents human free will.
1:7   The first vision occurs between mid-January and mid-February, 520 BC, three or four
  months after Zechariah delivers the initial call to repentance.
1:7-17   Zechariah unveils eight visions promising the restoration of the temple. All eight
  visions follow a pattern: (1) vision, (2) questions, and (3) answer. Eight is the number of
  re-creation in Holy Scripture. Jewish males were circumcised on the eighth day. Thus, the
  eight visions indicate a renewal of the covenant with the people of God.
1:8-10 Zechariah sees the vision, then asks the angel talking to him for an interpretation.
  Even the prophet must have guidance to understand the Word of God. The meaning of
  God's self-disclosure is not self-evident. This is why the Church, and not any mere
  individual, is the interpreter of Holy Writ.
1:11   The horsemen are angelic hosts, that is, angels in the armies of heaven. These
  particular angels are scouts. They have traveled around the world and found everything
  peaceful.
1:12-13 The Angel of the Lord intercedes for the exiled Jews, pleading for mercy toward
  Jerusalem and Judah. The Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament is often a type of
  Christ, sometimes referred to as “Christ in the Old Testament.” In this case, we have a
  type of the first and second Persons of the Godhead. The eternally begotten Son
  intercedes for the people of God before the eternal Father. Zechariah thus foreshadows
  the High Priesthood of Christ.
     The Jews have been in exile seventy years (586–519 BC). The Lord replies with kind
  and comforting words, a comfort to the people, no doubt.
     The holy angels serve before God, minister to men, and also intercede for men. The
  Church teaches the faithful to pray to the angels to intercede on behalf of mankind and
  the people of God. This is one instance in Holy Scripture of the dialogue of prayer
  occurring between a holy man and the angels.
1:14-15 Zechariah is enjoined to cry out the good sayings and comforting words of God to
  the people. God is jealous for both Jerusalem and Zion with great jealousy. This
  is a Semitic construction meaning that God is really jealous. The Greek word rendered
  “jealous” is the origin of the English word “zeal.” It means “jealous,” but also means “to
  strive after,” “eagerness,” and “admiration.” “For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God”
  (Ex 20:5) is the explanation for God's commandment against idolatry. It may sound
  strange to modern ears to hear God speak of His holy jealousy, yet what husband would
  not be jealous in a positive sense for his wife? One would question a husband's love for
  his wife if he did not care whom she had conjugal relations with, spent time with, gave
  money to, or heaped devotion upon. Love does not preclude a zeal for the beloved or a
  protective, positive, proper jealousy. God is jealous for His people against all falsehood
  that destroys His creation.
    The source of God's jealousy here is the foul way the enemies of the Jews treated them
  in the exile. God was angry with His people and directed these nations against Judah as
  divine punishment. These enemies, however, went farther than God intended. God uses
  evil for good and evil men for good purposes, but this does not excuse the evil or ascribe
  divine authorship to it. The wrath of God against His people does not justify the violence
  and wickedness of those who are instruments of it.
2:1-4   The vision of the four horns and four craftsmen is a message of hope and
  comfort for the people of God. Horns symbolize power in the Old Testament. The four
  horns are the hostile armies that carried first Israel, then Jerusalem and Judah into exile.
2:5-17   The vision of the measuring line pushes the promise of 2:1–4 further. The
  destructive work of the four horns now being completed, the way is clear for the heavenly
  surveyors to survey Jerusalem for rebuilding.
2:10   God calls the exiled back to the land of promise in a second exodus, promising to
  bring back His people from across the globe.
2:17   Let all flesh fear before the presence of the Lord: This phrase calls to mind the
  cherubic hymn of the ancient Liturgy of St. James (sometimes sung as a carol in Western
  Christmas celebrations): “Let all mortal flesh be silent, and stand with fear and trembling,
  and meditate nothing earthly within itself: For the King of kings and Lord of lords, Christ
  our God, comes forward to be sacrificed and to be given for food to the faithful; and the
  bands of angels go before Him with every power and dominion, the many-eyed cherubim
  and the six-winged seraphim, covering their faces and crying aloud the hymn, Alleluia,
  Alleluia, Alleluia.” This is the proper approach to the presence of God in our lives, in the
  liturgy, and most especially during Communion. The prophet speaks of the divine
  humility and self-emptying of Christ for us. We are likewise called to humble and empty
  ourselves in His presence for Him.
3:1 The Hebrew name Joshua (Greek Jesus; Aramaic Yeshua) means “Savior” or “He who
  saves.” It is a common name in the Old Testament (Joshua son of Nun, Jesus son of
  Sirach, Joshua the high priest here, among others) and at the time of Christ. Many
  cultures around the world today name children Jesus.
     The scene opens with the high priest Joshua standing in the presence of God being
  opposed by the devil. Satan is the accuser who opposes the people of God (see Job 1; 2).
3:2   St. Michael the Archangel would not dispute with the devil over the body of Moses, but
  said, “The Lord rebuke you” (Jude 9). Even more astoundingly, Jesus Christ (the Lord)
  says, “The Lord rebukes you.” This is fulfilled in the temptation of Christ, when He
  relies upon the written word of Holy Scripture rather than His own power as Son of God
  to rebuke Satan and resist temptation (Mt 4:1–11; Mk 1:12, 13; Lk 4:1–13).
3:3-5   Joshua the high priest wears the filthy garments of the Jews of his time, while
  Jesus Christ the Great High Priest wore them in the Incarnation for all people. Jesus our
  Lord took the flesh of a servant, wore our filthy rags, bore our sins, and was accused on
  our behalf before God and by man unjustly.
3:10 This promise is for peace, safety, luxury, blessing, and paradise.
3:1-10 The LXX makes the Christological typography of the fourth vision crystal clear. Paul
  calls Jesus the High Priest who supersedes the high priest in the Jerusalem temple (Heb
  3:1, 2; 7:21). The high priest in the Old Testament is also a type of Christ, as is the case
  here. This includes the Jewish high priest contemporary with Christ and the apostles
  (Heb 9).
4:1, 2   Awakened from a dream by an angel, Zechariah asks him to explain its meaning.
  Zechariah sees a golden lampstand, a seven-branched candlestick called a menorah. The
  menorah is a symbol for Israel. It appeared in Solomon's temple and appears still in the
  Jewish synagogue. St. John the Theologian saw Christ in the midst of seven lampstands
  (Rev 1:12–20), which are seven churches.
4:3-5   Zechariah also saw two olive trees. He does not know what they mean. The two
  olive trees may be either Israel and the Church (the old and new Israel) or the Old and
  New Testaments.
4:6   The word of the Lord declares to Zerubbabel through Zechariah, ‘Not by mighty
  power nor by strength, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. The power of
  God, not human power, will rebuild the Jerusalem temple (see Ps 126:1). The divine and
  human synergy is thus affirmed here. Human labor is necessary, for God will not make
  the temple appear magically. Even so, the human efforts of the attempt to rebuild the
  temple thirteen years previously failed because the people did not depend on the Holy
  Spirit. Human efforts alone achieve nothing in the Kingdom of God. Human efforts under
  the power of God the Holy Spirit yield everything God wills.
4:11-14 Zechariah asks twice more about the olive trees. He is finally told, “These are the
  two sons of richness who stand beside the Lord of all the earth.” They represent
  the two powers or functions held by the two men, Zerubbabel (political leadership) and
  Joshua the high priest (sacerdotal leadership).
5:1, 2 The sickle is “scroll” in Hebrew. Both are indicative of judgment. The sickle is huge,
  of roughly the same dimensions as the tabernacle in the wilderness (see Ex 26:15–28) or
  the porch of Solomon's temple (see 3Kg 6:6, 7).
5:3-4   The seventh and third commandments are given here as representative of the first
  and second tablets of the Law (see Ex 20:1–17). The first tablet of the Law addresses the
  relationship between God and man; the second tablet speaks of the relationship between
  man and man. Covenant-breakers are excluded from the covenant. Israel is forewarned
  not to forsake the covenant with God again. The same judgment that led to the exile
  seventy years previously awaits them should they fail to be faithful.
5:5-11   This is a vision of a measuring basket or ephah (a measuring bucket for grain)
  going forth with a woman named lawlessness in it. The angel puts a lead weight in
  the mouth of the basket to keep her in it. Two angelic women whisk the measure off to
  Babylon, where it is placed on a prepared foundation. This passage assures the people of
  God that paganism will be destroyed. Good will overcome evil.
5:7-9 The activity of the Holy Spirit is often accompanied by activities of the wind or breath
  throughout the Bible.
6:1-15 The concluding vision of four chariots brings to mind the first vision (1:7–17). The
  four horsemen in the first vision were angelic warriors, since chariots were used by such
  soldiers in the ancient world.
6:2-8   The heavenly chariots span the four directions of the compass. Peace, rest, and
  security are given to the Lord's land. This reminds us of God's providential care of us
  through the activities of the angels.
6:9-15   Zechariah is commanded by the word of the Lord to collect gifts from the rulers
  and useful men of captivity into the house of Josiah and place these gifts of gold,
  silver, and crowns at the feet of Joshua the high priest. The promise is made that the
  crown goes to the one who endured. Others then shall come to rebuild the temple. In the
  New Testament, crowns are cast at the feet of Jesus Christ the Great High Priest (Rev
  4:10). St. Paul promises crowns to believers who endure (1Co 9:24–27).
6:12   The word is variously rendered “Dayspring,” “Sunrise,” and “Orient.” The Hebrew
  reads “Branch.” This verse provides the backdrop for the hymn sung during the wedding
  service as the bride and groom circle the analogion and at the ordination of a priest as he
  is led around the altar: The Lord's redemptive work takes place in the family and in the
  Church.
7:1   This date would be mid-November to mid-December, 518 BC.
7:2-3 The authorities ask whether to continue the fasts associated with the fall of Judah
  and the Babylonian Captivity. The fourth-month fast commemorated the fall of
  Jerusalem. The seventh-month fast commemorated the murder of Gedaliah. The tenth-
  month fast commemorated the siege of Jerusalem. The fifth-month fast remembered the
  burning of the temple.
7:4-7 As He often does in the Scriptures, God replies with a series of rhetorical questions
  designed to arouse the contemplation of one's inward disposition. During these fasts over
  the past seventy years of exile, the outward disposition was maintained but the hearts of
  the people were not devoted to God.
7:8-12     The people failed to live justly in relation to their neighbors. They were
  disobedient to God's Law and Spirit given in Moses and the prophets. This brought
  great wrath from God. The result was the exile.
      Nowhere is fasting condemned here. In fact, fasting continued as part of Israel's
  practice. Jesus Christ fasted. The apostles and early Church did, too. Fasting is an integral
  practice of the Church through the ages. The prophet is not saying, “Your heart is not in
  it, so stop the fast.” Instead, he calls for repentance so that the heart and life are cleansed
  by proper fasting. Proper fasting involves the heart in right relationship to God and man.
  The prophet calls for his hearers to fast rightly, not to stop fasting because they are living
  wrongly.
7:13-14 These verses spell out the cost of refusing to listen to God: God will not listen to
  them in their time of need.
7:1-14   Chapters 7 and 8 are a unit representing a single prophecy. The question about
  fasting raised in 7:1–14 is addressed again in 8:19, showing the literary unity of the two
  chapters.
8:1-23   Chapter 8 contains ten sections, each beginning with Thus says the Lord
  Almighty.
8:1-3   God's zeal is a protective love that does not wish to see His people degraded and
  harmed. God's zeal here is for Jerusalem and the temple mount specifically. God will
  return to Zion, to the temple, to dwell between the cherubim on the mercy seat of the ark
  of the covenant in the holy of holies. Jerusalem will once again be what she was intended
  to be, the True City, the Mountain of the Lord Almighty, the Holy Mountain.
8:4-5   The picture of security includes elderly men and women sitting in the open
  squares of Jerusalem while children are playing (see Is 65:19, 20).
8:6-8   God will bring the exiles back. They shall be to Me a people and I will be to
  them a God in truth and in righteousness: This is a type of Christ in the
  Incarnation, in which God tabernacles with man (Jn 1:14), and of the New Jerusalem in
  the Eschaton (Rev 21:3).
8:9, 10   Zechariah exhorts the people to find strength to rebuild the temple. Jerusalem
  shall not have economic and political peace until that is accomplished. When man puts
  his own interests above the spiritual, moral, and liturgical things of God, prosperity is
  fleeting.
8:11-15   The exile curse is lifted. The postexilic blessing is on the way. Thus, the prophet
  exhorts, be of good courage!
8:16-17 God demands that His people speak the truth, judge with truth, and avoid false
  oaths (Mic 6:8). Truth is essential for the people of God in every aspect of life: religious,
  personal, social, judicial, and political.
8:19-23   The matter of fasting which began this lengthy section (7:1–8:23) is addressed
  again. Fasting becomes joy, gladness, and feasting. Jerusalem will become a place for
  universal worship of God among all peoples (Is 2:3). Restored Judah has a mission to be
  light to the nations. This mission is fulfilled in Christ and now belongs to the Church.
8:23   The hem of the Jewish man's garment refers to the prayer shawls worn by Jewish
  men, which had tassels representing all the commandments of the Law. The Hebrew text
  has “wings” instead of “hem.” The Orthodox deacon's stole represents angelic wings.
  When the deacon holds the right half of the stole up, this represents angelic activity.
  When he lets it down, it represents angelic rest.
9:1-21 The second half of the Book of Zechariah consists of two burdens or oracles. Both
  burdens are related to the Messianic Age. The first burden (9:1–11:17) focuses on the
  Passion of Christ, while the second burden (12:1–14:21) focuses on the Second Coming of
  Christ.
9:1-8   The cities mentioned here are pagan cities of Syria and Philistia falling within the
  limits of the promised land (Gn 15:18–21; Ex 23:31). This prophecy may point to
  Alexander's conquests after 333 BC. The destruction of Judah's enemies precedes the
  Messianic Age. The restoration, Messianic Age, and coming day of the Lord are the
  themes of chs. 9–14.
9:9, 10 The Triumphant Entry of Christ into Jerusalem is foretold here (see Mt 21:1–9; Mk
  11:1–10; Lk 19:28–38; Jn 12:12–19). Matthew and John cite v. 9 (Mt 21:5; Jn 12:15).
  Rather than riding proudly on a warrior's chariot in victory, the Messiah-king rides
  humbly on a donkey, notes St. Ambrose. Justin Martyr comments, “Jacob predicted that
  Christ would ride upon an ass [Gn 49:11] and Zechariah confirmed it.” He views the
  unharnessed colt as signifying the Gentiles and the harnessed donkey as symbolizing the
  Jews.
9:11   The fathers typically see this verse as a reference to Christ's descent into Hades to set
  the captives free.
10:1-3 Zechariah condemns the spiritual leaders (shepherds) who fleece the flock of God
  by false visions and false dreams using Semitic idols. God will punish them as well as
  deliver Judah.
11:1-17 The Good Shepherd (see Jn 10) is contrasted with the bad shepherds of 10:1–12. He
  replaces the bad shepherds Himself.
11:12-14 The Good Shepherd is betrayed. Matthew cites this passage in his Gospel (26:15;
  27:9). The pieces (or shekels) of silver are the price for a slave (Ex 21:32).
12:10-14   This mourning may also apply to the apostles, the women, the Mother of God,
  and others who mourned Christ at His crucifixion. It may also refer to repentance as a
  result of beholding the Crucified, seeing who He is and why He is dying and turning to
  Him in faith and obedience.
13:7   Smite the shepherds and draw out the sheep is “Strike the shepherd and the
  sheep will be scattered” in the Hebrew text. Jesus cites this verse in Mt 26:31 concerning
  the falling away of the disciples upon His arrest. As it appears in the LXX, the passage
  matches vv. 1–8, continuing the warning against the false prophets and the promise of
  the people's delivery.
13:8-9 The people of God are tried. Two thirds of the people shall die but the third part will
  remain. This trial is compared to the way silver and gold are purified by fire. In the end,
  God calls those who are purified by His Name, and in turn they call Him their God.
14:1-21   The prophet foresees the nations gathered in battle against Jerusalem, God's
  delivery of His people, and the establishment of a secure, peaceful land (see Is 66:15–23;
  Ezk 38–40; Joel 4:9–21; Mk 13:7–27; Rev 20–22). In the New Testament, this is to be
  accomplished at the Second Coming of Christ and the last battle between God and Satan.
14:3-4   The Lord's feet will stand on the Mount of Olives in this reference to the
  Messianic Age. This applies both to the Incarnation and the Second Coming of Christ.
  Jesus and the disciples stayed on the Mount of Olives during Holy Week (Lk 21:37), and,
  of course, Jesus spent the night on the Mount of Olives when He was betrayed (Mt
  26:30). Whether or not Christ will touch down upon the Mount of Olives at His Second
  Coming is another question. The eschatological imagery here, however, indicates
  judgment in the presence of God.
14:8-11   Christ is the living water (Jn 4:10–14). In the Apocalypse, a river runs through
  the Holy City (Rev 22:1–5). The Garden of Eden was at the headwaters of four great rivers
  (Gn 2:10–15). In the garden of Paradise, Christ is the living water who sustains, refreshes,
  and gives life to the inhabitants.
14:18-20 The grotesque imagery of the destruction of the enemies of Jerusalem reminds
  the reader of the utter seriousness of God's judgment. The passage warns that those who
  do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King (who is the Lord) are destined for the
  same fate. Sometimes we look at the judgment of God upon wicked figures and think
  ourselves safe from wrath because our evil is small by comparison. The fact that we are
  not murderers of millions does not make us safe. The standard of God's judgment is
  whether we worship Him in Spirit and in truth (Jn 4:21–24).
    Zechariah concludes with a condemnation of Egypt and all nations that do not come to
  Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (also called the Feast of Booths; see
  Lv 23:33–36). This feast was associated with covenant renewal and the deliverance of
  Israel. Christ is the eternal Word of God who, in the Incarnation, “dwelt [or tabernacled]
  among us” (Jn 1:14). So then, all who reject Christ and do not enter the Church to
  celebrate and serve Him are condemned.
14:21   The Canaanite is a merchant. The connotation appears to be that merchants will
  no longer be necessary or allowed in the Lord's house. The cleansing of the temple by
  Christ comes to mind in this regard (see Mt 21:12, 13; Mk 11:15–19; Lk 19:45–48; Jn
  2:13–17). One is also reminded how easily God's house is turned into a bartering place
  and how churches can be used for profits rather than prophecy. The booming industry of
  Christian items today is alarming. It has always been easy to confuse piety and profits in
  relation to the Lord's house. The day is coming in the Kingdom of God when this shall be
  neither permitted nor necessary. Indeed, the coming age is one when God Himself shall
  supply every need of His children. Buying and selling will no longer be necessary.
1:1   Malachi means “my messenger.” A burden or oracle is a prophetic poetic message in
  the form of a question and answer dialog between God and the people. Malachi is a long
  oracle rebuking the hypocrisy of the people of God. Take it to heart is good advice for
  reading any of the prophets.
1:2-4 In what way have You loved us? God declares His love for His people, but they
  reply coldly. God reminds them of the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob I
  have loved, but Esau I have hated is a Semitic way of emphasizing God's choice of
  Jacob, not of indicating hatred for the unchosen (see Gn 25:23; Lk 14:26; Rom 9:10–13).
1:7-8   The priests offered defiled bread, as well as blind, lame, and sick animals, as
  sacrifices contrary to Mosaic directives. Malachi observes that they do not treat their civil
  ruler with such contempt.
1:9, 10   The Lord calls the people to make atonement and to pray. He will not, however,
  accept an offering favorably while the priests and people continue their liturgical
  misdeeds. When liturgical actions are void of repentance and faithfulness, the clergy and
  people simply go through the motions.
1:11   A remarkable and clear prophecy that the Gentiles, in their worship of God, in every
  place or church will burn incense before Him—as Israel had done. To this day, incense
  is offered in nearly every service of the Orthodox Church.
1:12-14   In Malachi's day people complained that worship brings on weariness. Today,
  people complain that worship is “boring.” Worship was not designed by God as
  entertainment, but for His people to have communion with Him.
2:3   The word here is dung (Gr. anaustrov). The Hebrew text also reads “dung.” The offal
  of offerings was removed from the sanctuary and burned (see Ex 29:14; Lv 4:11, 12). God
  detests false offerings so intensely that He threatens to rub dung on the faces of the
  priests and take them out to the dung heap as refuse. This passage was so disturbing that
  later Targums translated it, “I will make visible on your faces the shame of your crimes.”
  In this instance, Malachi delivers an angelic message with an earthy tongue,
  demonstrating the severity of the priestly misdeeds.
2:4-6 Malachi reminds the priests of the Levitic covenant and what they are meant to be
  and do (see Nm 25:12, 13; Dt 10:8, 9).
2:7 A stunning job description of the priest serving Christ today.
2:10   Christians call God Father because Jesus Christ, the eternally begotten Son of God,
  revealed Him as Father (Mt 3:17; 6:9), and He has made us the children of God (Jn 1:12).
2:10-12 Sons of Israel profaned the holy things of the Lord. Too often they followed
  foreign gods through intermarriage with pagan women, which was prohibited (see Ex
  34:11–16; Dt 7:1–4). St. Paul echoes this truth in saying, “Do not be unequally yoked
  together with unbelievers” (2Co 6:14).
2:13-16 In this passage, God says I hate two things: hypocrisy (v. 13) and divorce (vv. 14–
  16). Regarding divorce, the husband is held accountable, for he has forsaken his wife.
  We learn that (1) marriage brings companionship—an intimate relationship and
  partnership between husband and wife; (2) marriage is a covenant between the Lord
  and the husband and wife, not to be broken—which is why the historic Church sees it as a
  sacrament which is permanent; and (3) marriage produces the fruit of offspring—we
  pray in the wedding service, “And let them behold their children's children.” Thus, God's
  final word to husbands: do not forsake her (v. 16).
2:17   The people weary the Lord, accusing Him of blessing evil doers and withholding
  justice. The truth is that their own evil acts cause their troubles.
3:1-7 My messenger: The Lord will send John the Baptist to prepare the way (see Is
  40:3) as forerunner of the Messiah. Our Lord Jesus Christ verifies this prophecy about
  John in Mt 11:10, 14.
3:2-3   As with many prophecies of Christ in the Old Testament, the first and second
  comings of Christ are not separated. The Lord comes as both Savior and Judge. As Savior,
  He redeems the creation from sin, death, and the devil. As Judge, He will both purify and
  terrify: And who can withstand His appearance? The offering is the body and
  blood of Christ.
3:5   Sorcerers, adulterers, and those who swear falsely indicate practices deeply
  destructive to the soul and to society. Sorcery or witchcraft is an attempt to manipulate
  creation for one's own ends. Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse or with the
  spouse of another. Swearing falsely by God's name is lying and perjury, taking God's
  name in vain.
      This list of those who exploit wage-earners . . . oppress widows and afflict
  orphans . . . pervert the justice due foreigners, and do not fear Me demonstrates
  the biblical concern with social as well as personal morality. The Old Testament prophets,
  Christ Himself, the New Testament apostles, and the saints of the Church all address
  social matters. Creation is a singular reality and cannot be arbitrarily divided into
  personal and social categories.
3:6, 7   God has not changed and does not change. The Scriptures (Heb 13:8) and the
  Church Fathers apply this verse to Christ.
3:8-12 How have we insulted you? God answers this self-righteous question pointedly:
  they have withheld tithes and offerings. A tithe is a tenth of one's income; offerings are
  additional gifts. Some modern Christians reject tithing, claiming it is a part of the Law not
  applicable today. But they forget that Abram (Abraham) tithed to Melchizedek five
  hundred years before the Law was given to Moses (Gn 14:18–20). And Melchizedek is a
  type of Christ (Heb 6:19–7:6). To those who tithe, God promises a blessing until it is
  overflowing.
3:13-15 Speaking against God is the heart of the problem. They call people who serve God
  foolish and accuse Him of blessing the wicked, thereby attempting to put Him on trial.
3:16-18   Contrast such people with those who feared the Lord and reverenced His
  name. Their names are in a book of remembrance (Ex 32:32–34; Is 4:3; Dan 7:10).
3:19    For all who do wickedly, the day of the Lord, the last judgment, shall burn them
  up.
3:20   For those who fear the Lord, Christ the Sun of Righteousness, He shall bring
  healing.
3:22   Elijah the Tishbite and Moses were present with the Lord at His Transfiguration (Mt
  17:1–13).
3:24   The Giver of the Law of Moses will soon become incarnate, writing His laws on our
  hearts and minds and remembering our sins and lawless deeds no more (Heb 10:16, 17).
1:1   Isaiah in Hebrew means “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.”
1:4-6   The image of Israel is that of an entire body covered with wounds and sores—a
  body that not only refuses treatment, but will not even recognize that it is sick.
1:9   God will not allow His people to be completely wiped out. One good seed will still
  yield much fruit, and a few will listen to the words of the prophet.
1:11-15 God will not forgive (v. 14) false religious piety, but He will accept the sacrifice of
  “a broken spirit, / A broken and humbled heart” (Ps 50:19).
1:21   Righteousness is God's presence, which lodged in Zion, but the people forsook
  Him.
1:22   Silver is worthless: the words of the prophets have been corrupted with bad
  interpretations. They mix wine with water: correct doctrine has been watered down by
  human reason.
1:23   The people are orphans because they have become disobedient to their heavenly
  Father. The widow has rejected the Bridegroom.
1:24-31 God's judgment, tempered by His mercy, will humble and establish order as it
  was at the beginning for those who repent.
2:2-3 The mountain is a symbol of the Church, which will proclaim God's way to all
  the Gentiles (see Mic 4:1–4).
3:10 Their sin is made worse because they hand over those who are righteous.
3:16   Daughters of Zion are the wealthy women of Jerusalem who lived near the royal
  palace and the temple during Isaiah's time. Their humiliation is a metaphor for the
  coming humiliation of Jerusalem.
4:4   The Spirit of judgment: God will send a flood of affliction on the people to wash
  away their sin, and the Spirit of burning will be like a purifying fire to purge them of
  their guilt. These two images of water and fire also prefigure the washing of regeneration
  in baptism.
5:1   The song of the vineyard is similar to Jewish harvest songs used on feast days. In Jn
  15:1–6, Christ calls Himself “the true vine”; His Father “the vinedresser”; and those who
  are grafted, “the branches.”
5:8-25    The prophet Isaiah describes their sins: greed (v. 8); love of pleasure (v. 11);
  indifference to God (v. 12); intentional evil acts (v. 18); mocking God (v. 19); perversion
  of truth (v. 20); vanity and conceit (v. 21); dishonesty (v. 23); and finally, rejecting God's
  law and despising His word (v. 24).
5:26-30 These verses describe the historical consequences of the sins laid out in vv. 8–23.
6:1   The year King Uzziah died: Certain biblical scholars date this event at 734 BC. The
  Fathers teach that the sins of the king caused prophecy to cease for a time (see 2Ch
  26:18ff).
6:6, 7   A live coal touching the mouth: Isaiah experiences a symbol of the Eucharist,
  which is taken from the altar to be served to the faithful. In fact, after an Orthodox priest
  receives communion, he quietly quotes the seraphim's proclamation (v. 7).
6:1-6   Isaiah's vision has strongly influenced the development of Orthodox Christian
  worship. For the Church, like heaven, has an altar, a throne, smoke from the incense,
  and believers singing “Holy, holy, holy,” the Thrice-Holy Hymn.
6:9-13   People sin by choice, not by nature, volitionally stopping their ears and closing
  their eyes.
7:3-4 The Hebrew phrase Shear-Jashub means, “A remnant shall return.” Thus, Isaiah's
  son is a symbolic confirmation to King Ahaz of the Lord's promise to heal and save a
  remnant. The firebrands are an expression of contempt for the kings of Israel and Syria,
  but they will do no permanent damage.
7:13-16 The sign was not given to Ahaz, who had doubted the earlier prophecy, but to all
  the Hebrew people (JohnChr). This messianic prophecy is fulfilled when the virgin Mary
  gives birth to Christ. The Hebrew word almah, “unmarried woman,” designates “a hidden
  virgin, shut off from the occasional sight of men” (Jerome). The Greek word used in the
  LXX is parthenos, which means “virgin.” Immanuel, meaning “God with us,” refers to
  Christ's divine nature. Messiah coming as a Child (v. 16) refers to His human nature.
7:23-25    The Jews should have been rich and fruitful, but in their rebellion and
  disobedience they became barren. Nevertheless, after God has chastised them, He will
  restore them to good pasture.
8:1   Here God uses three different methods to declare His prophetic warning to the people:
  the book, the two witnesses, and Isaiah's son. The prophetess is Isaiah's wife.
8:11-15 Those who fear God will not know Christ as a stumbling stone when He comes,
  but those who succumb to the enemy will fall and be broken against Christ, the
  “precious cornerstone” (see 28:16; Rom 9:33).
8:16   The law given to Moses will be closed with the teachings of the apostles.
8:17-18   The children are interpreted as Christ's apostles and disciples, who performed
  many signs and wonders.
8:19   Compare the prophet's question, Why do they seek the dead on behalf of the
  living? to the angel's triumphant statement to the myrrhbearing women in Lk 24:5:
  “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
8:20-22 God gave men and women a natural law within them—the ability to choose the
  good and avoid the evil—but they chose selfishness. Then God gave the law of Moses, and
  it too was broken. Great darkness falls upon the soul that is without the light of the
  commandments.
9:3   The day of Midian refers to the defeat of the Midianites by Gideon and his men
  without the use of weapons (see Jdg 7:9–25). These men prefigure the apostles, who
  spread the gospel throughout the world with only “the weapons of peace,” the preaching
  of the Cross.
9:5   A Child is born speaks of Christ's human nature; and a Son is given unites His two
  natures in one Person. The Son of God is also the Son of the Virgin.
9:8-4 The prophet warns of God's judgment against Israel's pride and arrogance (9:8);
  its elder and prophet who teaches lawlessness (9:14, 15); its self-destruction
  through civil conflicts (9:18–20); and its judicial leaders (10:1, 2). This section is laid out
  in four stanzas separated by the refrain repeated in 9:11, 16, 20, and 10:4: “His anger is
  not turned away.”
10:5-20   Isaiah predicts the coming attack by the Assyrians and their defeat during the
  siege on Jerusalem. He also reminds the people that God, not Assyria, controls history
  (v. 14). The Light of Israel (v. 17) that will sanctify God's people speaks poetically of the
  Holy Spirit.
10:24-27 The Assyrian king attempted to attack Egypt by way of the coastline and failed.
  In this way, the yoke that was threatening Jerusalem was destroyed.
11:2-5 At the Baptism of Christ, the Holy Spirit . . . shall rest upon Him (see Mt 3:16).
  The righteous and faithful Messiah will judge people by what is in their hearts; His
  teachings shall strike the earth; and His breath—a metaphor for the Holy Spirit—will
  destroy the ungodly.
11:6-9   The uncreated Son of God will assume created human flesh, restoring the
  relationship with Him that mankind lost as a result of the Fall (see Rom 8:19–23). The
  whole world shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.
11:10 His resting place is interpreted by some of the Fathers to be the tomb of Christ, an
  honorable place of veneration. It is also true that Christ finds His “rest” in His saints, in
  whom He dwells.
11:11-12 Salvation will come first to the Jewish remnant, and then to Gentiles . . . from
  the four corners of the earth (see Acts 1:8; Rom 1:16). The teaching of the apostles
  will spread like a mighty wind, destroying idols and correcting error, even into Egypt. The
  Cross is the sign. Our Lord said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all
  peoples to Myself” (Jn 12:32).
11:16   The highway that once led Israel out of captivity in Egypt will later be opened for
  Mary and Joseph to bring the Child there for protection from Herod, and for the apostles
  to return there with the Gospel of Christ.
12:4-6 Compare this song of praise to the Song of Mary in Lk 1:45–55.
13:1-22 This passage has several layers of meaning: (1) It prophesies the ultimate downfall
  of Babylon; (2) it prophesies Christ's Passion and Resurrection, when Christ will be lifted
  up on the cross and the hosts of heaven will gather to battle the powers of darkness
  (compare vv. 9–13 to Mt 27:51–54; Lk 23:44, 45); (3) it describes the anger of Christ at
  the Last Judgment.
13:19-22    Babylon was a glorious city which will be utterly destroyed. It is also a
  metaphor for sin. Demons who will dance in the desert present a stark image of hell,
  the ultimate place of rebellion. (See also 14:23; 34:14; Rev 18:2.) The donkey-centaurs,
  from Greek mythology, are from the waist up a man, from the waist down a horse, and
  they often function as symbols of rebellion against divine order and hostility to
  civilization. The phrase is usually translated “wild beast” and is likely a symbol for
  demons.
14:1, 2   In 586 BC, Cyrus of Persia allowed Israel to return home in their land and
  rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The sojourner—the Gentiles—will be added to
  Israel, the Jews, when the Church is established (see Rom 11:23).
14:4   The king of Babylon is compared to Lucifer (v. 12) or Satan.
14:12-14 Note the five times Lucifer says I will in this passage. In this five-step process,
  he fully intends to take the place of the One True God! Likely the mountains toward
  the north are those to the north and east of Jerusalem.
14:32   God accomplishes these things in history to show the nations that Zion, symbolic
  of the Church, has been established by the God of Israel as a place of refuge where the
  humble of His people shall be saved.
15:1   The night is a metaphor for spiritual blindness, and Moab is a metaphor for souls
  lost in a land of darkness.
16:1, 2 The idolaters of Moab who mocked the God of Israel have now been taken away,
  while Mount Zion is a protected rock.
16:4-5   The Moabite outcasts are a type of the Gentiles who will abandon their idols to
  worship Christ. Eusebius interprets the tabernacle of David as the Church of Christ
  established in Moab, which is modern-day Jordan.
17:1-3 Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria conquered Damascus in 732 BC (see 4Kg 16).
17:8   Their trees is a reference to the cult of Asherim, which worshiped wooden poles.
17:9   The Amorites and the Evites were the indigenous peoples of Palestine who lost
  their land when the Hebrews came up out of Egypt.
18:1-3   The king of Damascus sent ships with messengers to Egypt and Ethiopia to
  appeal for help against the Assyrians. A Christological interpretation may be applied: The
  first messengers to bring Christ to this region were the Holy Family (see Mt 2:13–15).
  Tradition holds that the Evangelist Mark established churches there.
18:5   Before the . . . harvest, God will use the Assyrians as sickles to force the vine to
  produce grapes. The branches that are cut off will be discarded (see Jn 15:1–8).
19:2-15 This prophecy was fulfilled historically a few years later in 714 BC, when Piankhi's
  25th Dynasty rose to power, causing widespread domestic strife in Egypt.
20:1   Tartan was the official title of the leader of the armies of Assyria. Sargon captured
  Ashdod in 711 BC.
20:2-4   Isaiah's shame is a sign of the greater shame that will befall Egypt and Ethiopia,
  and it also prefigures the Messiah to come. The Son of God, taking the form of a servant,
  humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death (see Php 2:8). Christ
  ministered on earth three years and fulfilled all by hanging naked on the Cross—the
  shameful death that put death to shame.
21:6-12 A watchman is appointed to guard a city. Similarly, a Christian must remain ever
  vigilant to guard the soul against the onslaught of sin.
21:9   When the Assyrians conquered Babylon in 689 BC, they smashed the idols of the
  Babylonians. This verse can be interpreted to mean that God uses even adversity to
  destroy sin.
22:1-5 A prophetic scene of anarchy unfolds: the people wander in the Valley of Zion (v.
  5). Panic, fear, cowardice, and chaos overtake them. They refuse to seek refuge in Mount
  Zion and run to worthless houses instead (v. 1). Jerusalem fell to the Assyrians, and
  the people were taken captive into Babylon in 587 BC.
22:12-13 The enemy is at Jerusalem's gates, yet the people answer the call of the Lord of
  hosts for repentance by throwing a drunken feast. “For the kingdom of God is not eating
  and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17).
22:15   Shebna was likely a Hebrew priest who had neglected his priestly duties because of
  his pride.
22:20    Eliakim replaced Shebna before the attack on Jerusalem. Yet, by the end of his
  administration, Eliakim too would fall (v. 25).
23:1-4   Tyre and Sidon were the leading coastal cities of Phoenicia (modern Lebanon).
  Carthage, a city in North Africa, was founded by Tyre and maintained commercial
  relations with them and with the Citaeans (Cyprus).
23:7-9 The Lord will judge Tyre and Sidon (v. 4) because of their arrogance. Eventually,
  the Light of Christ will come to Tyre and Sidon, and multitudes from there will follow
  Him (see Mk 3:8).
23:17-18 Seventy years: Even though the people of Tyre had been sinning against God
  for “a multitude of generations,” God, in His mercy, will limit His chastisement to one
  man's lifetime (Theod). This prophecy was fulfilled in full when the Church was
  established in Tyre (see Acts 21:3–5).
24:1-6   The Fathers associate this chapter with the end of this present age. At the Last
  Judgment, the inhabited earth in its desolate state will, in effect, be turned right side
  up, for “the last will be first, and the first last” (Mt 20:16). The curse has alienated all of
  creation from the Creator. God intended for man to offer up creation to Him, but instead,
  man has plundered the world (v. 3; see also Rom 8:18–22).
24:14-17   This passage is also a picture of the Book of Acts, where the apostles will cry
  aloud, proclaiming the name of the Lord wherever they go. The islands are the
  churches that will be established in the midst of the sea of lost humanity, rejecters of
  the natural law written on their hearts (see Rom 2:14, 15).
24:18   God will shake the heavens and the earth “that the things which cannot be shaken
  may remain” (Heb 12:26, 27).
24:21-23 At the end of the age, God will bring His hand upon those who will not be
  humbled of their own free will.
25:1   An ancient and true counsel: Isaiah praises God for “the mystery which has been
  hidden from ages” (Col 1:26)—a mystery that the prophet knows will someday be revealed
  in full, which is Christ in His saints, the Church. And Isaiah responds with total
  obedience: So be it, O Lord.
25:2-3   God stops the ungodly not simply to punish sinners but to bring them to
  repentance. The poor and wronged, not the strong and proud, will bless and praise
  Him.
25:8   Humanity's rebellion against God has given death the power to prevail, but Christ
  will destroy death and then wipe away every tear (see Rev 21:4).
25:9    This is our God: The Apostle Thomas fulfills this prophecy when he sees the
  resurrected Christ and cries out, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28).
25:10-12   The King of Glory will spread forth His hands upon the cross in order to
  humble the arrogance of all men.
26:5-6 Compare with what Virgin Mary sings in her hymn: “He has put down the mighty
  from their thrones, / And exalted the lowly” (Lk 1:52).
26:7-8   The godly are being prepared to follow Christ when He comes. Compare to
  Christ's parable of the virgins (see Mt 25:1–13).
26:16   Hard circumstances are seen by the righteous as a reason to remember the Lord.
  The holy prophet calls them a small affliction; or as St. Paul writes, “our light affliction,
  which . . . is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2Co 4:17).
26:19   The dead shall rise up: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by
  death, and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life” (Paschal Troparion; see also 1Co 15).
26:20-21   Isaiah is a powerful “prophet of doom,” but he is also a good shepherd to his
  people. After spending the night in prayer, he consoles them with these words.
27:1   The sword is Christ, the Incarnate God, who will slay the dragon, Satan. “He who
  follows the serpent shows that his life is crooked, uneven, and filled with contrariness;
  but he who follows after the Lord makes his paths straight and his footprints right”
  (BasilG).
27:6   Those who are left will bud and bear fruit. These are the true children of Jacob.
27:9    King Hezekiah destroyed the idols in Jerusalem temporarily (see 2Ch 31:1; 4Kg
  18:4); but Christ will permanently destroy the idolatry of sin for all mankind.
27:10-11 This prophecy concerns Jerusalem's captivity.
27:12-13   The sons of Israel are symbolic of the apostles, who will blow the great
  trumpet of truth, gathering Christ's scattered sheep together in a single flock on the
  holy mountain, the Church.
28:1   This passage is interpreted by Eusebius and Cyril as relating to the downfall of the
  Pharisees and chief priests, who are the crown of arrogance, and to the specific
  treachery of Judas, who was descended from the tribe of Ephraim.
28:4-6 Just as the the fig replaces the fading flower, Christ will supersede the fading law
  and become the crown of hope, woven of glory.
28:16   As a cornerstone unites two walls, Christ will unite Jew and Gentile believers (see
  1Pt 2:6).
28:21   The reference is to the battle of Joshua against the Gibeonites, during which God
  destroyed the enemy with large hailstones (see Jos 10).
29:1   Ariel, which means “Lion of God,” is Jerusalem. After David was anointed king over
  Israel, he besieged Jerusalem and took it (see 2Kg 5:3–7).
29:13   A right heart before God in prayer is even more important than right words, for God
  hears our “groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom 8:26; see also Mk 7:6, 7).
29:15   The wisdom and counsel of the proud is but foolishness in God's eyes.
29:23 Godly works will help identify the Messiah when He comes.
30:2-5 Those who trust in Egypt or in any human government will labor in vain. “It
  is good to trust in the Lord / Rather than to trust in man” (Ps 117:8).
30:6   Jerusalem is the desert, which will be devastated by the nation of Nebuchadnezzar.
  The quadrupeds are the foolish and rebellious people.
30:9-11 When God's children refuse to listen to the prophets, they are attempting to stop
  the very mouth of the Holy One of Israel, Christ Himself.
30:15   Return and groan: After warning them of their imminent destruction, the Lord
  exhorts the people to repent and be saved. Still, they did not will to listen.
30:18   God will wait for His people, testing their hearts, and giving immediate grace and
  mercy to those who abide in Him.
30:20-23 Affliction is given by the Lord, the Physician of souls, to open blind eyes and
  deaf ears to the truth.
30:31-33 The king of the Assyrians thought he would reign over Jerusalem, but because
  of Hezekiah's prayers the angel of the Lord slew Sennacherib's army (ch. 37).
31:1, 2   The people continue to trust in horses and chariots rather than in God. The
  prophet Isaiah says He wisely sends evil to them (see Pr 3:11, 12).
31:4   God watches over His people as a young lion watches over his prey.
31:8   God will deal an invisible blow against the Assyrian army when it is overthrown by an
  angel of the Lord (37:36).
32:1   According to the Fathers, a righteous King prefigures Christ, and rulers prefigure
  the apostles.
32:2    Christ will hide His words by speaking in parables to the multitudes, but will
  explain Himself in private to His disciples, for out of their hearts will flow a glorious
  river of living water (see Jn 7:38).
32:15   After Christ ascends to heaven, the Holy Spirit will come upon the believers at
  Pentecost, and the Church, a fruitful field, will be established.
32:20    Those who sow are those who teach salvation. All waters prefigure holy
  baptism. The Church will be formed from both Jew (the ox) and Gentile (the donkey).
33:1   The enemy may distress the believer physically, but not finally. In Christ the enemy
  will be conquered by his own treachery.
33:2   The faithful offer a prayer of thanksgiving for what the Lord has done, for through
  affliction they have learned to put their trust in God.
33:5   According to the Fathers, the saints, who dwell with God in the heights, have also
  become the dwelling place of God (1Co 3:16). Zion here represents the Church.
33:14   Who will tell you a fire is burning?: Christ Himself will tell His people about
  the eternal place of torment for the lawless and ungodly.
33:16   The mighty rock is a symbol of the Church, which will offer Christ, the bread of
  life, to the believers. And in the Church, the water of baptism into Christ will be
  plentiful.
33:17 Eyes set on the kingdom of heaven will behold Christ in His glory (Mt 24:30).
33:22   A marvelous summary of how God reveals Himself to His people.
34:1-4 These verses are echoed in Christ's teaching about the end times (see Mt 24:7–29).
34:11    Reference to the measuring line is also found in Lk 6:38: “With the same
  measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
35:8-9 The dispersed will walk the holy way—a highway of holiness, carrying the Light
  of Christ to the world.
36:1   An ancient Assyrian account of the events surrounding the siege of Jerusalem affirms
  that forty-six fortified cities in Judah had already been taken by Sennacherib.
36:3 Shebna and Eliakim are mentioned in ch. 22.
36:4   The Rabshakeh was a chief officer in the Assyrian army.
36:4-6 The Rabshakeh warns that the time for diplomacy has passed, and that Egypt, weak
  as a broken reed, will be more likely to hurt than help Judah. The situation for
  Jerusalem seems hopeless. But Assyria's pride in its own power, mockery against God's
  people, and blasphemy against God will be met with a punishment equal to the sin
  (37:36–38).
36:21   Just as Christ remained silent before His accusers, Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah made
  no reply to the Rabshakeh's blasphemous claims against God.
37:1-4   When King Hezekiah went into the Temple, he did not pray for deliverance,
  despite his distress. Instead, he asked Isaiah to pray that God rebuke the enemy's
  blasphemy, and to pray for the remnant in Jerusalem.
37:8-9 Isaiah's prayers are answered when, for the time being, the king of Assyria halts
  the siege on Jerusalem in order to deal with the threat from the Ethiopians.
37:10-20 Even from a distance, the enemy continues to blaspheme the God of Israel. But
  note how Hezekiah's attitude has changed. This time (in contrast to 37:1–4), he prays
  directly before the Lord, asking Him to secure Jerusalem so that all the kingdoms will
  see and know that the God of Israel is Lord of all (v. 20).
37:22    The mighty King of Assyria will be laughed . . . to scorn by vulnerable
  Jerusalem, because she is God's daughter.
37:36-38 The Angel of the Lord steps in. God will utterly annihilate the enemy without
  a weapon, and the king will die at the hands of his own sons.
38:1-6   At the time of his physical affliction, Hezekiah had also become afflicted with
  pride (see 2Ch 32:25, 26). By telling him of his imminent death, the Lord revealed
  Himself to Hezekiah, who wept loudly. He humbled himself and prayed, and
  immediately, Isaiah was given a new word for the king: healing and another fifteen
  years of life.
38:7-8 This miracle of the sun moving back . . . ten steps is a sign for Hezekiah of God's
  faithfulness. But it also prefigures Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. He will turn
  shadow into day and darkness into light, for the turning back of the human heart from
  death to life is His greatest miracle of all (see vv. 16, 17).
39:1-4 Hezekiah put his entire nation at risk by parading all the treasures and wealth of
  his house before the foreign king.
39:5-8   Showing no apparent concern for his people and their posterity, King Hezekiah
  seems concerned only for peace and righteousness during his own times.
36:1-8    The Fathers agree that the prophet adds these narratives (which are almost
  identical to 4Kg 18:13–20:19) in order to emphasize that his prophecies are from God, as
  evidenced by their fulfillment in history.
40:1, 2   God raises up priests to comfort and strengthen the people, whose hearts are
  weighed down by sin, which is pardoned.
40:3-5 This passage is a prophecy of John the Baptist, who will be the voice proclaiming
  the coming of salvation through baptism into Christ our God (see Jn 1:23).
40:9   You who bring good tidings prophesies the preaching of Christ and His Apostles.
40:10   This prophecy is fulfilled in Christ: “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of
  His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works” (Mt
  16:27).
40:11   Christ's own words bear witness to the fulfillment of this prophecy in Himself: “I
  am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and am known by My own” (Jn 10:14).
40:22    Over 2000 years before science proclaimed the earth was round and revolved
  around the sun, Isaiah spoke of the circle of the earth.
41:2-7   This is a messianic prophecy, but it also may refer to Cyrus of Persia, who will
  conquer Babylon in 539 BC, allowing the captive Jews to return and rebuild the temple.
  Cyrus is named in 44:28 and 45:1.
41:4   I Am, repeated twenty-seven times in chs. 41–49, means “I am the existing One.”
  This phrase is traditionally written in Greek in Christ's halo on Orthodox icons (OWN).
  This is how the Son and Word of God revealed Himself to Moses (Ex 3:14).
41:5-7 When I Am becomes incarnate in Christ, the Gentiles will recognize the truth, and
  they shall not be moved. The Church will be put together well, for “unless the Lord
  builds the house, / Those who build it labor in vain” (Ps 126:1).
41:8-20 This prophecy will be fulfilled not only at the fall of Babylon and the return of the
  Jews from exile, but also through the Apostles and the Church, which will prevail against
  every type of persecution.
41:14-16   Israel, few in number: This also looks ahead to the Church, established at
  Pentecost with just twelve apostles.
41:20   The Lord's hand (or “arm”) is Christ Himself (see 26:11; 52:10; 53:1; 59:1; 66:1,
  2).
42:1   I put My Spirit upon Him mentions all three Persons of the Holy Trinity. “I” and
  “My” speak of the Father; “Him” is the Son; “Spirit” is the Holy Spirit.
42:8   Christ does not share His glory with another, whether it be carved images or
  people who take personal credit for things God has done.
42:10-12 In Christ, the glorified Church will sing . . . a new song (see Rev 5:9).
42:13-17 This passage prophesies Christ's mighty acts of vengeance against His enemies
  at the Judgment. He will turn darkness into light (v. 16) for the faithful.
42:25   Fire all around: This prophecy was fulfilled historically when the Romans sacked
  Jerusalem and destroyed the temple in AD 70.
43:1-4 The Lord names His people you are Mine because He, together with His Father
  and the Holy Spirit, created man and will assume human nature. Christ will pass
  through every affliction with us: taking sin, suffering, and death on Himself;
  overthrowing our adversaries; and offering us His salvation.
43:5-15   God will gather His Church from all nations. Christ is the Servant (v. 10),
  chosen by the Father to bear witness to all mankind (Jn 8:18).
44:3   God promises to put My Spirit on Israel's seed, the Apostles, at Pentecost (see Acts
  2:17).
44:6    Christ declares in the Book of Revelation, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
  Beginning and the End” (Rev 1:8).
44:7-17   St. Paul writes that God has declared Himself since creation. But men hide
  themselves from God, making and worshiping idols, changing “the glory of the
  incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed
  animals and creeping things” (Rom 1:22, 23).
44:21-23 Here again is the message of salvation: God formed man in His own image, but
  we strayed from Him. Christ blotted out our sins, that we might return to Him. His
  promise to us is, I will redeem you. And thus we, His people, will be glorified.
44:28     Around 539 BC, Cyrus will conquer Babylon and send the Jews back to
  Jerusalem, where they will rebuild God's holy house, the temple.
45:1, 2 Cyrus's work will be temporary; Christ's will be eternal.
45:6   Christ Himself echoes this promise in His High Priestly Prayer: “And this is eternal
  life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent”
  (Jn 17:3).
45:9, 10 What are you making: The lesson here is clear: like clay which is molded by
  the potter, we do not demand an accounting from our Creator.
45:25   The children are the blood descendants of Israel, but the apostles and the Church
  are their seed. It is the seed who shall be made righteous and glorified.
  Interestingly, the Masoretic Text omits the phrase “the seed of.”
46:3-4 An encouraging promise to believers in old age, reminiscent of Ps 70:17, 18.
46:10   There is no greater prayer than “Thy will be done,” for God does all things for our
  good (Rom 8:28), and His counsel (or will) shall stand.
47:1   The virgin daughter of Babylon is an image of a nice person without God:
  comfortable and prosperous on the outside, empty on the inside, and full of shame.
48:1, 2   The people, called by the name of Israel, “having a form of godliness but
  denying its power” (2Ti 3:5), cannot lay claim to a true inheritance of truth or
  righteousness. This is also a warning to the Church never to be Christians in name
  only.
48:5   Not only did God make it well known the people must not worship idols, He also
  warned the people against blaming the idols when things went wrong, saying, My idols
  did them.
48:15   I have spoken: In Christ, the Word is made man.
48:16   The Lord and His Spirit have sent Me: A reference to all three Persons of the
  Holy Trinity, in which the Son reaffirms the prophecy made in 9:5, naming Him “the
  Angel of Great Counsel.”
48:17-18    The way in which the people were called to walk is the law, God's
  commandments. To do so brings peace . . . like a river.
49:1   The promise of the coming of the Messiah will stand for a long time, until it is
  fulfilled when He is revealed from His mother's womb in the Incarnation. For the
  angel Gabriel said to the Virgin, “You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son,
  and shall call His name J ” (Lk 1:31).
                          ESUS
49:2   Christ will come, not to “bring peace, but a sword” (Mt 10:34). In some patristic
  writings, the chosen arrow is a metaphor for the divinity of Christ, and the quiver a
  metaphor for His humanity.
49:3-6   In Christ's divinity, the Father will be glorified on earth (v. 3); and in Christ's
  humanity, those who are brought back to Him will be joined to Him and know His
  strength. In this way, creation will be reconciled to God.
49:16-18 The walls of the earthly Zion, the Jewish nation, will be laid . . . waste, but the
  heavenly Zion, the Bride of Christ, will be rebuilt quickly by both Jewish and Gentile
  believers on Zion's desolate foundation.
49:22   The message of the cross will be set up as the signal of salvation.
50:6, 7   The Word became flesh and gave Himself over to violent suffering so that He
  might take our suffering and destroy it. This remarkably detailed prophecy was written
  over 700 years before the Crucifixion.
51:1, 2 The promise given to Abraham and Sarah will be fulfilled when the resurrected
  Christ bursts out of the tomb hewed from a rock.
51:3-5 The prophecy of comfort for God's people promises that salvation will go forth
  from God through His Incarnate Son, who is the Messiah of Israel and the light of the
  Gentiles.
51:5   Christ is often referred to in Scripture as the arm of the Father.
51:6-8 This promise is echoed in Christ's teaching found in Mt 24:35: “Heaven and earth
  will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
51:12-16 The people are fearful of mortal man, but forgot the God who made them.
51:17-23 Christ said, “I did not come to judge the world but to save the world” (Jn 12:47).
  God judges sin and shows mercy to those who repent. The cup of destruction is God's
  chastisement.
52:1-3    The people are called for the third time to awake (see 51:9, 17). Note the
  progression: (1) awake and remember God's faithfulness (51:9–16); (2) awake, for you
  have been forgiven (51:17–22); (3) awake, for you shall be redeemed (52:1–3). Only
  Christ is able to redeem the soul. Christ will offer Himself as a sacrifice, paying the price,
  so to speak, to “reality itself” (GrgTheo).
52:3   “It is due to their sins that they have been sold, but it is by the benevolence of God
  that they have obtained deliverance” (Theod).
53:2   He had no form or beauty: “He sat upon the foal of an ass; He was despised
  among the people and humbled Himself even unto death” (Iren).
53:3-4 God became dishonored, for Christ assumed a true human nature. “O marvel at
  the loving kindness of the Word, that for our sakes He is dishonored, that we may be
  brought to honor” (AthanG).
53:5   Christ, who was free from sin, took our chastisement and gave us peace. By His
  bruise we are saved from an eternity of suffering and estrangement from God.
53:6   The Lord, God the Father, delivered Him, God the Son, to die for our sins. This
  is the message St. Paul proclaims in 2Co 5:21.
53:7   “The shepherd of Israel, and now of the whole world also” (GrgNa) became “the
  Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).
53:8   Christ was led to death, yet death could not hold His perfect, sinless body (see Acts
  2:24).
53:9   He committed no lawlessness: See Heb 4:15.
53:10   The Lord, God the Father, cleansed Him, God the Son, of His wound because
  His body could not remain subject to corruption and death. The offering made by Christ
  enables man to receive the same healing and eternal life.
53:12   He was considered among the lawless is a reference to “the robbers who were
  crucified with Him. . . . Both of them were before this transgressors, but one was so no
  longer” (CyrJer).
54:1   The Gentiles were once barren and desolate, but the Church of the Gentiles will
  give birth in the Spirit to many more . . . children than Israel has in the flesh.
54:2-3 Enlarge and spread out further suggests that the Church of the Gentiles will
  be much greater and larger than the tabernacle constructed by Moses.
54:9, 10 God's covenant with Noah was made on behalf of the whole world, and God will
  no longer be angry so as to cause another flood. Noah's Flood prefigures the waters
  of baptism, and the ark, not mentioned here, is a type of the Church.
54:11-15 According to some of the Fathers, choice stones represent those who lead holy
  lives filled with virtuous deeds. The foundations are the prophets, apostles, and
  evangelists.
55:1   Eat and drink without money: “Christ does not ask money, but faith—which is
  more valuable than money” (AmbM; see also Rev 21:6, 7).
55:8-9 Neither are your ways My ways: See 40:13 and 1Co 16. Reason alone will never
  bring us to God. Rather, we confess that we are finite; He is infinite. Thus we come to
  Him by faith.
55:10-11 My word is the gospel of Jesus Christ, which will accomplish God's will. There
  are times the preaching of the Gospel seems to bear no fruit, but God is at work whether
  or not we see visible results.
56:1, 2 My mercy shall be revealed: God's word to the prophet reveals the future, but
  also interprets the past.
56:4-5 The righteous eunuchs will have an eternal name in heaven (v. 5), better than
  an earthly family. “They will pass from the old shadows of time into the new lights of
  eternity” (Aug).
56:6, 7 The foreigners are the Gentiles, who are welcome at God's holy mountain, the
  Church.
57:1, 2 The righteous is Christ (Cyr, Theod).
57:3    The lawless people are no longer considered children of Abraham, but of the
  prostitute (see 1:21).
57:14   This prophecy is fulfilled in John the Baptist (see 40:3).
57:15   God is at once the Lord Most High, inconceivable and unknowable, and the Holy
  One who dwells among His saints and strengthens the fainthearted.
58:1   God calls Isaiah to rebuke the people loudly, like the trumpet that was traditionally
  blown when a fast was called (Joel 2:15). The people display an outward religious piety
  that hides the wickedness in their hearts.
58:2-5 Fasting and other ascetic acts do not necessarily indicate virtue. Blessed Augustine
  reminds us that even heretics fast! God will not see these actions if we mistreat others.
  God chooses rather that we humble our own soul. “A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit”
  (Ps 50:19).
58:7-8   The gospel is both social and redemptive. First, the physical needs must be met,
  and then the spiritual needs can be satisfied.
58:9     I am here: God is instantaneous in answering the prayers of the righteous.
  Sometimes He will reveal His presence through circumstances, and sometimes with a
  still, small voice, but always He will help us to know He dwells with us.
58:11   Generations of generations: The inheritance of the faithful will never be cut off.
58:12   Just as Israel was called to be built on unchanging ancient foundations, so is
  the Church. What makes the Orthodox Church orthodox is its commitment to remain
  faithful and unaltered from generation to generation.
59:1, 2   God is able to save, but He will not have mercy where there is no repentance.
  “Remember God at all times, and He will remember you whenever you fall into evils”
  (IsaacS).
59:3-4   “For persevering with delight in wicked actions, they hasten thereto without
  turning back, even treading under foot the commandment with regard to neighbors, and
  instead of loving them, desire evil against them” (AthanG).
59:12-13 This passage offers the words that can be spoken to show repentance and receive
  forgiveness from God (Theod).
59:17 Paul uses this verse in his passages on spiritual warfare (Eph 6:13–17; 1Th 5:8).
59:20-21 Christ who delivers will come to Zion, “the lost sheep of the house of Israel”
  (Mt 15:24). Turn back ungodliness: Then the Holy Spirit will be given to the Church
  at Pentecost, and the proclamation of the Gospel will be established forever. “Since we
  too delight in this grace, let us therefore celebrate in our hymns Him who is the
  dispenser” (Theod).
60:1   This is the hymn we sing at Pascha (Easter) in the liturgical services. “On this day,
  the whole creation rejoices and exults, for Christ is risen and Hades despoiled”
  (JohnDm).
60:4   For St. Cyril, this passage refers not only to the return of the Jews from exile, but
  also to the assembling of the Church from all nations.
60:6-9 Midian, Kedar, and Ephah are nations of nomads descended from Ishmael, and
  Sheba is an Ethiopian tribe. Eusebius sees these nations, along with their camels,
  sheep, rams, and wealth, as metaphors for the spiritual gifts and sacrifices which will be
  offered on God's altar. In this way, His house of prayer, Christ's Church, will be
  glorified. Gregory of Nyssa comments that “virtue is a light and buoyant thing,” and
  those who live virtuous lives fly like clouds (v. 8).
61:1, 2   It is this passage to which Jesus referred in Lk 4:16–21 when He stood in the
  synagogue and read from the prophet Isaiah. He told the people, “Today this Scripture is
  fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus made it very clear that He is the Lord God of whom
  Isaiah wrote. “Christ said: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me.’ And rightly did He say
  ‘upon Me,’ because He was speaking as the Son of Man. For as the Son of Man, He was
  anointed and sent to preach the Gospel” (AmbM).
61:3   Many in Zion awaited the Messiah, glory instead of ashes. One thinks of the aged
  Simeon (Lk 2:22–35), who was “waiting for the Consolation of Israel,” and the prophetess
  Anna (Lk 2:36–38), “who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
61:7   Eternal gladness or joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22, 23). The “seal of
  the gift of the Holy Spirit” is given to the believer at chrismation, which is also called the
  “oil of gladness” (v. 3).
61:10-11 St. John Chrysostom teaches that the garment of salvation is Christ Himself,
  as do others of the Fathers. This explains why St. Paul wrote that in baptism we “put on
  Christ” (Gal 3:27).
62:3-5 Christ's crown of beauty is those who keep themselves pure, like the wise virgins
  waiting for the bridegroom (Mt 25:1–13). Christ rejoices over His bride, the Church
  (see Eph 5:22–33).
62:6   The guards, according to some Fathers, are the priests. Others see them as angels
  who continually guard and watch over the Church.
62:7   The prophecy refers to the Incarnation, when the Son of God takes on human flesh,
  becoming like us. Similar passages are Ex 15:11; Ps 85:8; Jer 10:6, 7.
62:8-9   Grain and wine are the fruits of righteousness, given to the faithful—both
  righteous Jews and foreigners—in the Holy Eucharist.
62:10-12   The standard for the Gentiles is the Cross, the Savior is Christ, and the
  redeemed of the Lord are the Church.
63:2-3   Christ is clothed in the flesh of His humanity and stained with the blood of His
  Passion. Having been crushed by His enemies in His death, He in turn has crushed them
  under His feet.
63:7-10   Judgment and mercy are bound together, but by God's grace, “mercy triumphs
  over judgment” (Jam 2:13). God so loved the world that the Lord Himself saved
  them. But note how their rebellion grieved His Holy Spirit, causing Him to turn
  against them.
63:11   Note how this verse parallels Heb 13:20: “Now may the God of peace who brought
  up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep . . .”
63:12-14   Moses prefigures Christ, for just as Moses was raised up to lead the people
  through the Red Sea, Christ passed through death and was raised up into life, that He
  might lead all His people from death to life.
63:15   Isaiah begins his prayer for God to remember the inheritance (v. 17) promised to
  His people long ago with the word return, which is echoed in the final words of
  Revelation: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20).
63:17   God hardened their hearts with His patience. He allowed them to continue in
  their disobedience. Thus, when the chastisement comes, it will be fully justified.
64:1-3 If God's presence causes His adversaries to be troubled, how much more will
  His mercy help those who wait for Him? (See also 1Co 2:9.)
64:4   God is angry because sin has caused us to go astray. He will meet with mercy
  those who do true righteousness and remember Him (v. 4).
64:5   The filthy rag is a woman's soiled menstrual cloth. And note it is representative not
  of our unrighteousness, but of our righteousness! (See also Rom 3:10 and Tts 3:57.)
65:2   I stretched out My hands: This phrase points to “the salvific Passion on the Cross
  on which He extended His hands” (Theod).
65:3-8 The people violate the law deliberately and continually, and therefore deserve God's
  anger (v. 5); yet because of the intercession of even one, God declares that He will not
  destroy them all (v. 8). “If, within the cluster, a single mature seed is found, it is a
  cause for saving the entire cluster for the purpose of offering the first fruits to God”
  (Theod).
65:16   Orthodox faithful bless themselves with the sign of the cross of Christ, in the name
  of the true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
65:17-25 This prophecy is partially fulfilled in this age, where those who have been united
  to Christ are a “new creation” (2Co 5:17); but it will be fulfilled completely in the age to
  come, when Christ comes again with a new heaven and a new earth (see Rev 21:1–4).
66:1   “God, then, being immaterial and uncircumscribed, has no place. For He is His own
  place, filling all things” (JohnDm; see also Jn 4:20–24).
66:5-6 Believers are reminded that even those who hate them are still brethren, for God
  alone repays His enemies with justice.
66:7   According to the Fathers, this prophecy is fulfilled first in the Virgin Mary, and also
  in the Church. “He who was of the Father, yet without mother, was born of a woman
  without a father's cooperation. . . . For, as pleasure did not precede it, pain did not follow
  it” (JohnDm).
66:8-9 The Church will indeed be born in one day, at Pentecost (see Acts 2:41; 4:4), and
  she will in turn give birth to a nation, whereas the old covenant of the law will be
  sterile.
66:10-14    Christ the Bridegroom is describing the glorious union of Himself with His
  Bride, the Church. Regarding verse 12, St. Ambrose says, “The Holy Spirit is the river.”
66:15-16 Here the Second Coming of the Lord and the Last Judgment are depicted.
66:19   The cross is the sign of salvation which the apostles shall declare . . . among the
  Gentiles (see Mt 8:19).
66:20-21 Worship, sacrifices with psalms, will be open to both Gentiles and Jews, and
  Christ will choose priests to serve His Church from the Gentile believers.
1:1   Jeremiah means “God appoints or exalts.” Anathoth is his hometown, within the
  land of Benjamin.
1:2-3 Jeremiah prophesied during the reigns of Josiah, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah.
1:5   God's foreknowledge and His calling are here woven together.
1:6   Like Moses before him (Ex 4:10), Jeremiah claims he does not know how to speak.
  As with all the prophets, God put His words in Jeremiah's mouth (v. 9).
1:16   Note the three sins of Judah, and of all mankind: (1) forsaking God; (2) false worship;
  and (3) preoccupation with themselves.
2:2-3   This is ironic, since Israel never was committed entirely to the Lord. Yet in the
  faithfulness of the patriarchs and prophets, Israel can be said to have been faithful.
  Ultimately, however, the passage depicts God's relationship with all nations. Although
  they were taken over by enemies, God redeemed them through the Holy One of Israel,
  who is Christ.
2:10 Chettim is Cyprus and other Greek islands; Kedar is a region in northern Arabia.
2:13   In both the old covenant and the new, the problem is the same: people forsake God,
  the living water, and damage the cisterns or containers, the places of God's dwelling.
  As Orthodox believers, therefore, we adhere both to Christ and His Church.
2:23   Baal was the idol-god of neighboring nations, and the unfaithful Jews became his
  disciples. Following this or any false god leads to death, a common burial place.
2:36   Repeat your ways is literally “redouble your path.” When we sin, we usually do the
  same things over and over again.
3:6-10 Israel's apostasy from God is described as fornication (v. 7), adultery (v. 8), and
  being faithless (v. 10). These words are those of the Lord (v. 6). This is not only bodily
  sin, “but any sin you have committed” (GrgNa).
3:15-18   This is the first great messianic prophecy of Jeremiah. It finds its fulfillment in:
  (1) faithful shepherds (v. 15), the apostles; (2) the Holy One of Israel (v. 16), our Lord
  Jesus Christ; (3) Jerusalem the Throne of the Lord (v. 17), which looks ahead to the
  eternal Kingdom (Rev 21:2; 22:1); and (4) the inclusion of the Gentiles (v. 17), which
  speaks of the Church.
3:19    The God of Israel is here prophetically called God of the Gentiles, who is the
  Father. Thus, when the disciples ask Jesus how to pray, His answer begins with “Our
  Father” (Lk 11:1, 2).
4:4   Circumcise . . . your heart: St. Cyprian tells us “the first circumcision of the flesh is
  made void, and the second circumcision of the spirit is promised instead” (see Col 2:11).
  He further notes, “Then, because that sign did not avail women, but all are sealed by the
  sign of the Lord” (that is, Holy Baptism).
4:14   Wash the vices from your heart: “It is not the filth of the body, but the impurity
  of the soul, to which God is averse” (JohnChr).
4:22   The Lord specifies that those most responsible for Israel's apostasy are her leaders.
  What is wrong? They do not know Me. Throughout Christian history there have been
  many secular and religious leaders open to the same charge. St. Paul advises, “from such
  people turn away!” (2Ti 3:5).
5:1   The implication is, there are none to be found in Jerusalem seeking faithfulness to
  whom the Lord can be merciful.
5:4   Poor . . . do not know the way of the Lord: “The poor man is . . . he who lacks the
  great doctrines, as is the view also of the prophet” (BasilG).
5:10   The foundations . . . belong to the Lord: Despite her faithlessness, still the
  foundations of the city are established by God.
5:13   Our prophets were as wind: In modern idiom, they were full of hot air! St. Jude
  called them “clouds without water” and “autumn trees without fruit” (Jude 12).
5:19   Foreign gods: The Greek word used to describe false gods suggests “strangeness” or
  “an alien disposition.” Here, the Lord uses that meaning to promise Judah that the kinds
  of gods they worship will determine the kind of life they live. This is true for all people,
  not just Judah.
5:23-28    When God's people have an inattentive and disobedient heart (v. 23), they
  not only miss the good things He offers (v. 25), they neglect the orphan and the
  widow (v. 28). When dedication to the Lord is compromised, social justice is not to be
  found.
6:1   Beth Haccerem: St. Jerome taught this was located between Tekoa, Amos' birthplace,
  and Jerusalem.
6:5   Destroy her foundations: The ancient method of leveling a city was to uproot its
  very foundations.
6:9   See Lam 1:22. To glean a vine is to strip it of all its fruit, leaving it desolate, as is
  promised with the coming attack on Israel.
6:10   As in 4:4, circumcision was always understood to be a spiritual act. Without a
  circumcised heart, circumcision is in vain—just as an unbaptized heart pollutes our
  baptism.
6:16   St. Athanasius connects this passage with Jn 14:6, where Jesus says, “I am the way,
  the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
6:17   The watchmen are the prophets, as distinguished from the shepherds who led the
  communities.
6:18   Ironically, the call to holiness is heard outside Israel, pointing to the opening of
  Israel to the Gentiles.
6:20   Although sacrifice to God was still practiced in Israel, it was compromised by their
  idolatry, just as our worship is polluted if we participate in the liturgy, yet habitually do
  what it forbids. “For it was not because He was angry, like a man, as many venture to say,
  that He rejected their sacrifices; but out of compassion to their blindness” (Iren).
7:2   The captivity of Judah was not fated, but was God's appropriate response to the freely
  made decisions of a disobedient people.
7:10   Jesus cited this verse when cleansing the temple (Mt 21:13), suggesting that while in
  Jeremiah's day the question of the temple being a den of robbers was preposterous, by
  Christ's time it was a sad fact.
7:17   Cake dough: the Hebrew word chavon is transliterated into Greek. These were
  sweet breads dedicated to pagan gods, the host of heaven.
7:21-22 The Lord highlights their obedience as more important than adhering to the letter
  of the command.
7:30   Tophet: The place where children were being sacrificed to Molech (4Kg 23:10). The
  sad end of this child sacrifice will be cannibalism, effected during the siege of Jerusalem
  (Bar 2:3).
7:32   The places of pagan sacrifice are prophesied to become a killing field.
8:1, 2   This desecration of the graves of the patriarchs and kings was executed by the
  Babylonians. The drying here refers to the heat of the sun. Although the saints whose
  bones were exposed were in no way to be worshiped, God desired that their exposure to
  the elements would finally convince Israel of her error.
8:8   These are apparently popular sayings, widespread among the people.
8:12   Gall to drink: Unsanitary water, the only kind to be had then in the city. While this
  was a proper corrective response to Israel's sin, they went far beyond this, later in time,
  by giving Christ, who knew no sin, “wine mingled with gall” (Mt 27:34).
8:17 Vanities is another term for idols.
8:18    The seasons of the siege, carried through the summer, not only match well the
  chronology of the Babylonian invasion (probably that of 597) but highlight how
  devastating a siege can be. No crops could be grown and harvested that year, while all the
  inhabitants of the greater territory crowded into the city walls to be saved from the
  terror.
8:20   Balm: A resin of mastix or terebinth, used for perfumes, medicines, and ointments.
  Gilead is sometimes a symbol for Israel, an area east of the Jordan River bordered by
  desert.
8:21   Jeremiah's tears remind us that God's punishments were not without purpose. God
  deeply cares for all whom He disciplines (Heb 12:5, 6), and He sends His rebuke to
  correct and transform us.
9:1    Jeremiah seeks to withdraw from his people since he is exasperated by their
  disobedience. “Thus, for wickedness and falsehood, and for deeds, in which they
  [proceed] from iniquity to iniquity, he reproves their practices; but, because they knew
  not the Lord, and were faithless, he charges them with unrighteousness” (AthanG).
9:10   Dwelling place of serpents: An especially diabolical image, given the habit of
  dragons or serpents to persecute the saints (Rev 12:7–9).
9:22   Boasting in oneself and one's capabilities is here forbidden. In our devotion to God,
  we are called to boast only in the glory of God or, in the words of the Apostle Paul, “Christ
  . . . crucified” (1Co 2:2).
9:25   “And to show how those from among the Gentiles were foretold as more true and
  more believing, we will cite what was said by [Jeremiah] the prophet; for he spoke as
  follows: ‘Israel is uncircumcised in heart, but the Gentiles are uncircumcised in the
  flesh’” (Justin).
10:7   The gods that did not make heaven: “For ‘by Him were all things made, and
  without Him was not anything made that was made,’ which His Father also everywhere
  by the Prophets declares to be especially characteristic of His own Essence. And the
  Prophets are continually busy on this kind of demonstration, not only of itself, but when
  they contend against the honor shown to idols; ‘Let the gods perish,’ says one, ‘who have
  not made heaven and earth’” (JohnChr).
10:8   The inhabited world: The Greek term oikoumene refers to the extent of the world
  that was civilized, not necessarily everywhere people lived. God is therefore the One who
  makes possible political stability, education, and other blessings of life.
10:16-17   My tabernacle . . . is ruined: Mourning the loss of right worship, the Lord
  depicts His house in terms of the ancient tabernacle instead of Solomon's temple, which
  is about to be destroyed. Led by foolish shepherds who no longer seek Him, the people
  had shunned the pattern of worship that God had given to Moses on the mountain long
  ago (Ex 25:40). Those who would worship God “in spirit and truth” (Jn 4:24) must not
  neglect the gift of Holy Tradition handed down in the Scriptures and the Church, lest we
  be led astray and scattered.
10:20-21   This prayer of Jeremiah is ultimately to be answered at the Judgment. But for
  now, Jews and Gentiles alike are invited to call upon the name of the Lord.
11:13   “Wherefore to Jeremiah also He said, ‘Pray not for this people, for I will not hear
  thee,’ not as wishing to stop his praying (for He earnestly longs for our salvation), but to
  terrify them: and this the prophet also seeing did not cease praying” (JohnChr).
11:18       Jeremiah here, as elsewhere, serves as a foreshadowing of Christ, the truly
  innocent lamb who was sacrificed by those who planned to exterminate His entire
  legacy.
11:20 Anathoth: See 1:1. This explains, in part, Christ's saying regarding the rejection of a
  prophet in his hometown (Lk. 4:24).
12:1   Here Jeremiah takes up a theme dealt with far more extensively in Job (see, for
  example, Job 12:6).
12:5   If we grow weary in the trials of ordinary life, how do we expect to handle swift
  horses or floods? The answer is, through Christ.
12:7-8   The suffering of the Incarnate God. “Look with awe then at the Lord who was
  judged. He suffered Himself to be led and carried by soldiers. Pilate sat in judgment, and
  He who sits on the right hand of the Father, stood and was judged” (CyrJer).
12:14-16 Jeremiah quickly changes his audience to the Gentiles, promising them inclusion
  among the people of God should they learn to worship Him. The full reality of this was
  not encountered until the coming of Christ.
13:1   A linen sash was used as a loincloth.
13:4    The Euphrates: Although residing in Judah, Jeremiah is commanded to go to
  Babylon to hide the sash, then return later to uncover it. Although it is feasible Jeremiah
  took such a trip before the destruction of the city, it is more likely that God transported
  him. Whether this happened in the body or in the spirit is unclear.
13:7   Behold: The surprise is ironic. Jeremiah knew very well the cloth would be rotted,
  just as he knew Judah would be ruined by her pride. The rotten sash is a picture of Judah
  (vv. 10, 11).
13:17   This passage may be alternately translated, “If you will not hear it secretly, your soul
  will weep for your pride.” That is, if you do not read the Law and the covenants spiritually,
  your soul will be left barren.
13:19   This verse suggests that Judah was so completely conquered, she provided a classic
  example of how a country would be deported from that time on.
13:26   I will uncover your backside to your face: Physically speaking, this is an
  impossibility—and therefore we must take it as a spiritual warning. Our backside is
  uncovered to our face when we become aware that our sins and faults are seen by the
  whole world!
14:1-10 The prophecy of a drought can refer to either a period without rain (v. 4) or the
  judgment of God (v. 10), or both.
14:13   Their prophets: Jeremiah identifies here a group of prophets who generally told the
  ruling class what they wanted to hear. Their prophets, not “our” prophets, suggests
  distance between them and the Lord.
14:22   Returning to the theme of the drought, Jeremiah identifies God with the coming of
  the rain, which He made.
15:1   God refuses Jeremiah's intercession, but this is not to suggest His punishment was
  irreversible, since Judah herself, by obeying the Lord, could have averted her own
  destruction.
15:3   Four ways: See Ezk 14:21. The inclusion of beasts highlights the fact that when the
  Creator is incensed against sinners, not even creation itself can hold back from rising
  against them.
15:9   The sun set . . . at noonday: “ . . . plainly announced that obscuration of the sun
  which at the time of [Christ's] crucifixion took place from the sixth hour onwards, and
  that after this event, those days which were their festivals according to the law, and their
  songs, should be changed into grief and lamentation when they were handed over to the
  Gentiles” (Iren).
15:18   Deceitful water: St. Cyprian calls this “the resemblance of baptism,” done under “a
  shadowy pretense.” Presumably, this is a reference to baptisms performed by those who
  stand outside of communion with the Church.
15:19-21   God answers Jeremiah's prayer (vv. 15–18) for protection from his persecutors
  very graciously: I am with you to save you (v. 20).
16:1   Here Jeremiah serves as a model for virginity, a virtue to be fully enshrined in Christ
  and His Mother. While in the case of Jeremiah, the virginity undertaken highlights the
  imminence of captivity, in Christ's time it revealed the imminence of salvation.
16:5-7   Mourning and consolation are forbidden to Jeremiah. But whereas this was
  commanded to Jeremiah because of the disgrace of the nation, in Christ we will cease to
  mourn because of the glory of the Resurrection.
16:7   It is in light of the glory of the Resurrection that we Christians mourn the dead in
  Christ with the bread and cup of the Eucharist.
16:15     The Lord promises a restoration to the house of Israel that would eclipse the
  Exodus from Egypt. In like manner, our delivery from sin by the work of Christ eclipses
  both!
16:16   The fishermen and the hunters are the Babylonians and the Romans.
16:19-21 The repentance of the Gentiles is here foretold, a constant theme in the Book of
  Jeremiah.
17:1, 2 The shrub here is the tamarisk. St. Basil the Great notes, “it is an aquatic plant [it
  needs water], and yet it covers the desert. Thus Jeremiah compares it to the worst of
  characters—the double character.” Later, St. James would write, “a double-minded man
  [is] unstable in all his ways” (Jam 1:8).
17:5   The heart is deep beyond all things: St. John Chrysostom labors the point that
  only God can know men's hearts, citing Ps 7:9; 1Kg 16:7; C2hr 6:30; and Mt 9:3, 4.
17:15-23   Jeremiah delivers the word of the Lord that Israel should stop violating the
  Sabbath. The reward for obedience is a gathering of the nations into Jerusalem to offer
  sacrifice (vv. 21, 22). Although this was done after the exile, it was not completely fulfilled
  until the Gentiles joined the procession on the Day of Pentecost.
18:1-10   This is the passage referred to by St. Paul in Rom 9:21, and it highlights the
  Apostle's intention. The ability of the potter to do what he wants with his pots is always
  present. But God, as the good potter, does with His vessels according to the obedience or
  disobedience of the vessels. He makes good vessels, but vessels can choose evil and
  crumble in His hands without His intervention. But out of the rubble, the potter is able to
  recreate something beautiful.
18:18   As the Jews sought to devise a plan against Jeremiah to strike him down, so
  they also plotted against Christ, to destroy Him (Mk 3:6).
19:2   Graveyard: So called because the Israelites had offered their children to Baal and
  Molech there (vv. 4, 5). Also, this is the place where the people of Judah were to be buried
  after the siege.
19:9   The sin of cannibalism was later confessed by the people of Judah (7:31; Bar 2:3).
20:1   Pashhur: A priest and the first civil authority to try to coerce Jeremiah into giving
  false prophecy.
20:7-18 This is the song of complaint that Jeremiah offers to God from prison. Although
  tempted to neglect his call as a prophet, Jeremiah cannot help but act on it (v. 9).
20:13   A burst of exaltation in the midst of depression. Jeremiah exemplifies the attitude
  of hope found among martyrs. In facing evil persecution, the saints were always aware of
  the overwhelming power and authority of God.
20:15   Who brought the good news: This is the same concept as expressed in the NT
  when a boy was born, that is, the gospel.
20:17   Unending conception: Jeremiah wishes that his mother had simply carried his
  fetus with her to the grave.
21:1   Pashhur: A priest; a different Pashhur from the one mentioned in 20:1.
21:2   King of Babylon: Although rarely named in the LXX, Nebuchadnezzar is the one
  referred to.
21:8    The declaration of two paths of life and death was to remind Israel they had
  abandoned the Law, which also set forth these two ways for the people of Israel (Dt
  30:15).
21:13 Sor: The same people who were the recipients of Ezekiel's prophecy in Ezk 26.
22:6    Gilead/Lebanon: The former was famous for its spices (8:20); the latter was
  renowned for its fine cedars.
22:11   Shallum: An alternative name for Jehoahaz. The custom of calling one person by
  different names is found throughout Scripture.
22:12   In the place: Egypt (4Kg 12:31–34; C2hr 36:1–4).
22:15   They: Not only Ahaz, but all the deceased kings.
22:19   The type of death he incurred is recounted in C2hr 36:6.
22:30 Zedekiah, the successor to Jeconiah, was his kinsman (C2hr 36:10).
23:3   God promises the increase of His flock without the assistance of the negligent
  shepherds.
23:4   This verse was fulfilled only in Christ, who puts an end to all fear and terror. He is
  love, and in perfect love there is no fear (1Jn 4:18).
23:5   Behold, days are coming: This phrase indicates the next prophecy deals with a
  great future event. Raise up for David the Righteous Orient: Christ is the Orient, the
  perfect light from the East whose Incarnation, death, descent, Resurrection, and
  Ascension rises to David. We sing of Christ at the sacraments of marriage and ordination,
  “Orient is His name.”
23:6   The Lord our Righteousness is Jesus Christ, who will come that Judah and all
  people will be saved.
23:16   Speak from their own heart: The ultimate hallmark of a false prophet is that he
  is the source of his own “divine teaching,” just as heretics are the human inventors of
  their own novelties.
23:17 Error of his heart is literally, “things they want,” emphasizing that the fault lies in
  the decisions of the false prophets, not in some outside, compulsory force.
24:1-10   By distinguishing two baskets of figs, the Lord makes it clear that not every
  single person in the land was to be taken away into captivity, but only the worst. In fact, it
  seems that as some were to be deported, others of those already exiled were brought back.
  It may have been in light of this passage that our Lord Jesus Christ commanded us to
  judge a tree by its fruit (Mt 7:16–20).
25:1   Fourth year: 606/605 BC.
25:3 Thirteenth year: 605/604 BC. Twenty-third year: 595/594 BC.
25:14   Here begins the series of prophecies delivered against various nations surrounding
  Judah. Elam: A country east of Babylon.
25:18   My throne: Generally, the throne of a foreign power, but here the throne of God
  when He comes to include Elam in His inheritance.
26:1   By the River Euphrates: This took place when the army of Egypt came against
  Babylon, but was later defeated in Syria in the fourth year, or 606/605 BC.
26:7   Hoping to imitate the river Nile, the king of Egypt planned to cover the earth with
  Egyptian power.
26:8   Ethiopia/Libya/Lydians: Vassals and allies of Egypt.
26:13 Migdol/Memphis: Cities in Egypt. Migdol is on the northeast border of Egypt near
  the delta; Memphis is close to modern-day Cairo.
26:14   Apis is the bull god or chosen calf of Memphis.
26:15   Greek sword: Interestingly, the LXX translators deemed it right to use an image of
  their own time (200 BC) to convey the meaning behind the Hebrew term (600 BC) for a
  “fierce army.” This sword symbolized the swift ferocity of any ruler who would be
  comparable to Alexander the Great.
26:24   Ammon is the chief god of Thebes, located in upper Egypt.
26:26   God does not discipline His children without purpose, but does so with healing in
  view. Although most of the Book of Jeremiah deals with Judah's punishment, God always
  points out that it is righteous and purposeful correction.
27:1   This chapter and the following are the longest in Jeremiah and fall at the center of
  the book. Thus, the promises of the destruction of Babylon evenly split the warnings to
  Israel, showing that the Book of Jeremiah is not about the destruction of the people of
  God, but their restoration; not about the triumph of God's enemies, but their demise.
  After dealing with Egypt, which exiled Jehoahaz, Jeremiah deals with Babylon, which
  conquered Egypt.
27:2   Bel and Merodach are two famous Babylonian deities or idols.
27:3   Just as destruction came on Israel from the north, Babylon also falls at the hand of
  a power from the north: Persia.
27:4-5 The demise of Babylon comes in the repentance of the children of Israel. In like
  manner, when we repent, our enemy and his demonic forces are routed.
27:25   The vessels of His wrath are political powers with whom God is angry, yet whom
  He nevertheless uses to accomplish His will on earth. It is in this sense that the same
  phrase is used by the apostle Paul in Rom 9:22, likely reflecting on the way God used
  Babylon.
27:34   Redemption is carried out by the Lord Almighty, so it should be no wonder that
  Christ, our Redeemer, is Lord and God.
27:39   The islands are either the colonies of Babylon in the Mediterranean, or a reference
  to her ultimate expansive size.
28:11   King of the Medes: possibly King Cyaxares, later conquered by Cyrus the Great in
  500 BC.
28:13   Babylon's fall comes through her own gluttony, a reminder to us all that we place
  our end in the things we crave, whether God or material goods.
28:27    Ararat is an area in modern-day Turkey, where the ark rested (Gn 8:4). The
  Ashkenaz are the Scythians, a people then located in modern-day Armenia.
28:55   Fourth year: 593 BC. Quartermaster: Literally, “governor of the gifts.”
28:60   Just as he did with Judah, God sends His messenger to Babylon, about to sink or
  be destroyed, which dramatizes the threat.
29:1, 2   The Philistines were also called “foreign tribes” who inhabited the land of
  Canaan. This descriptive title foreshadows the eventual gathering of all nations, tongues,
  and tribes as the people of God. St. Ambrose reminds us that calling the Philistines by
  this name teaches us to love our enemies, since there were far worse names an enemy
  could be called.
30:1   Teman was a grandson of Esau (Gn 36:15).
30:2   Dedan: A town in the desert toward the Arabian peninsula.
30:8   Messengers may also be translated “angels.” Either is appropriate, given that the
  struggle of war was occurring on the spiritual level as well as the political.
30:22   Kedar: The descendants of the son of Ishmael (Gn 25:13). The sons of Kedem
  were associated with the Ammonites (see Ezk 25:4, 10).
30:28   Hamath is where King Zedekiah would be sentenced by Nebuchadnezzar (52:27).
30:32   Ben-Hadad is a king in Damascus who plundered Israel (4Kg 13:3).
31:12   Horns are a dual symbol of power and of a wine cup. God intends to put an end to
  both their power and their merriment.
31:13 Bethel is a reference to the golden calf set up as an idol in Israel (3Kg 12:29).
31:18   Although once entrenched in glory and security, Moab will soon be entrenched in
  a damp place, likely a swamp.
31:33 This shout is a cry of dismay made by workers at the winepresses.
32:1   Here Jeremiah sums up the previous six chapters, the natural place for such a
  passage. God's judgment is prophesied for all the nations, including Israel and Judah.
32:20      The day of the Lord comes at the end of the age, when judgment is
  accomplished. This passage must therefore be understood prophetically, since there has
  never been a time in history when the Lord has judged His people completely over all the
  earth. Every sin will be slain, every demon vanquished, at the final coming of Christ our
  King.
33:1, 2 This prophecy was given before the destruction of the Temple, the house of the
  Lord.
33:14-15 Here Jeremiah foreshadows Christ, who was also unjustly slandered, yet allowed
  the wicked and unjust to have their way with Him and shed innocent blood.
33:16   Rulers: This is the first indication in the book that the leadership is beginning to
  hear Jeremiah's message.
33:18   This refers to the prophet Micah (Mic 1:1). The prophecy in question comes from
  Mic 3:12.
33:20-23     Micah's example of fair treatment is now contrasted with the case of an
  otherwise unknown prophet who was persecuted to the ends of the earth. As we listen to
  the prophets of Israel, we likewise read the writings of the Fathers of the Church who
  faithfully proclaimed God's oracles, interpreting rightly the Holy Scriptures.
34:7   This is sound advice for those who give heed to the fortune tellers, false prophets,
  and cult leaders of our day.
34:14   This does not mean that the vessels will never be returned, for they were (Bar 1:8).
  The false prophets were delivering a false word.
35:1   Fourth year/fifth month: 593 BC.
35:10   Hananiah symbolizes an early return of the exiles by breaking Jeremiah's yokes
  or shackles. Implied here as well is that he freed Jeremiah from his confinement, an act
  that was calculated to win Jeremiah's support. The true prophet, unlike Hananiah,
  refuses to heed the flattery and vain promises of men.
36:1   The words of the letter: A similar letter was sent by Jeremiah in the Epistle of
  Jeremiah.
36:3   King Zedekiah could send this letter safely since he was essentially a vassal of
  Babylon at that time.
36:5-7 This passage beautifully summarizes the Christian struggle in this life. We live in a
  dry and barren land, in exile from our true homeland, which is Christ's holy kingdom.
  But we learn to live within our exile, enlarging the Church and becoming a blessing even
  to those hostile to us. The gardens are literally “paradises.” Hence, the passage
  admonishes planting and cultivating a life that resembles heaven on earth.
36:10    Seventy years: Jeremiah speaks both historically and mystically. There was a
  return of exiles under Cyrus after seventy years. During His earthly ministry, Christ chose
  seventy men to be heralds of the Gospel (Lk 10:1–20). These seventy lived a godly life of
  obedience to Christ, suffering martyrdom and spreading the Kingdom—the true
  regathering from exile in the world.
36:14      A prophecy of the Incarnation, when God the Son truly will appear to us in His
  flesh.
36:24   The suggestion seems to be that Jeremiah had Zephaniah read aloud his very own
  rebuke.
37:8   This, of course, never happened to fleshly Israel. Only with the coming of Christ were
  God's people liberated from the control of foreigners.
37:9   David their king is a reference to the Messiah, both the Lord God and the final king
  of David's line.
37:15-20 A prophecy of the coming of Christ and His judgment. The children (v. 17) are
  the faithful who enter the Church. Testimonies (v. 17) translates the Greek word
  martyria, pointing to the martyrs of Christ.
38:1-14 An extended prophecy of the compassion of Christ for the Church.
38:4   O virgin of Israel: The renewal of Israel includes moral purity, pointing to the
  Virgin who truly sanctified Israel by giving birth to Him who is the source of true purity,
  Christ our God.
38:5   The vineyard in Samaria speaks of the establishment of the gospel among the
  Gentiles.
38:8   The Passover, later to be known as Pascha or Easter. This is an explicit prophecy of
  the crucifixion of Christ, which happened on the Passover, thereby bringing a great
  multitude into the kingdom of God.
38:12   The fruitful tree speaks of the cross.
38:15      Here we are reminded of the slaughter of the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem (Mt
  2:18).
38:22   The new planting is the Church, the new Israel, as well as the New Testament
  (1Co 3:6–8).
38:30    In the gospel it is made clear that no one person will be guilty of the sins of
  another, only of his own sin.
38:33 The implanting of the new covenant, the law in the heart, was clearly effected with
  the coming of Christ (2Co 3:3; Heb 10:15–18).
38:34   The prophet points to the giving of the Holy Spirit to the Church so that knowledge
  of and communion with God can be for all men, not just for holy prophets and kings as in
  the old covenant.
39:1   Tenth year: 587 BC, the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem.
39:6-12   This incident reveals that the prophet had hope in the field he purchased, even
  though he was aware of the impending disaster. But the purchase took place outside of
  Jerusalem in an unprotected area, revealing that the Jews were to leave Jerusalem and
  become servants in Babylon.
39:35    The Greek word translated to offer has a sacrificial connotation, the exact word
  used in the anaphora of the Eucharist. This makes the deed all the more horrible, that
  Israel saw the death of their children to be an acceptable sacrifice to a god.
39:40   Everlasting covenant: After this prophecy, only the covenant of Jesus Christ was
  of an eternal nature.
39:41     Jeremiah emphasizes that the new covenant will be made on the basis of
  faithfulness, not the letter of the Law.
40:6   Christ alone brings healing for our wounds. The service of healing is a sacrament
  in the Church (see Jam 5:14–16).
41:5   The LXX transliterates a generic Semitic word for lord to prevent any confusion
  resulting from a use of the Greek word kurios, translated “Lord,” a reference to God.
41:8-11 Jeremiah reiterates the prophecy of the coming destruction of the land, linking it
  this time to slavery and servitude. For Christians, this is a lesson in forgiveness and
  becoming the servants of others. For, if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us
  (Mt 6:14, 15). If we want to become great in the kingdom of God, we must become
  servants to others (Mk 10:43, 44).
41:9   Setting his servant free comes in obedience to the Law (Dt 15:12–15).
42:2   The Rechabites were a nomadic people who had been forced by the approaching
  Babylonian troops to enter Jerusalem, meaning they would endure the siege of the city.
42:3    This Jeremiah is different from the prophet, who was commanded not to marry
  (16:1, 2).
42:18-19 God promises to bless those who obey their father, a point which highlights the
  apostle Paul's reflection on those who live without the Mosaic Law, yet nevertheless have
  a law of their own (Rom 2:14, 15).
43:1   Fourth year: 606/605 BC.
43:2   This chapter chronicles the writing of the words of the Lord that came to Jeremiah
  on a scroll. This event came early in Jeremiah's ministry.
43:4    Jeremiah enlists Baruch as his scribe to record the words of the Lord on the
  scroll.
43:5-6   For a reason not known, Jeremiah was not permitted to enter the house of the
  Lord. Thus, he asked Baruch to read the scroll in his stead.
43:14-15 Sometime after the scroll was read to the people, it was read by Baruch to the
  rulers of Judah.
43:16-19 Upon hearing the message from the scroll, the rulers' response was twofold: (1)
  they wanted the king to hear the message; (2) they sent Baruch and Jeremiah into
  hiding.
43:23   The message troubled the king to the extent that he cast the scroll into the fire
  page by page.
43:27-32 Jeremiah conscripts Baruch to rewrite the scroll, using the occasion to predict
  the death of King Jehoiakim.
44:1   Zedekiah replaces Jehoiakim as ruler in Judah.
44:7-10   The image here plays off the earlier deliverance of Jerusalem under Hezekiah,
  when 185,000 Assyrians were killed (4Kg 19).
44:12   Buy: Probably the purchase of property mentioned in 39:6–25.
44:15    The Greek word here translated embittered is identical to that found in the
  famous Paschal sermon of St. John Chrysostom: “It [death] was embittered!” From the
  vantage point of those familiar with that homily, we see the embitterment of death
  foretold in the anger of the rulers.
45:7-13   Interestingly, it is a Gentile, not a Jew, who pulls Jeremiah from the pit.
  Throughout the OT we see the willingness of the Gentiles to respond to a servant of the
  Lord.
45:14-28 Zedekiah is eager to receive Jeremiah's secret counsel, but whatever gratitude he
  has is not enough to free Jeremiah from prison (v. 28).
46:1-3 Ninth year: 588 BC. These verses are a summary of 52:2–20.
46:4   Jeremiah is released from prison in the custody of Gedaliah, the newly appointed
  governor of Judah.
46:5-8 Ebed-Melech is rewarded for his service to Jeremiah (see 45:7–13).
47:1-6   Freed from prison, Jeremiah is allowed to remain in Judah among the people
  who were left there (v. 6). Mizpah, a town seven miles to the north of Jerusalem,
  becomes headquarters for Gedaliah's regime.
47:13-14   Johanan warns Gedaliah that Ishmael seeks his life, but the governor does
  not believe him.
48:1   Seventh month: Probably the same year Jerusalem was sacked, 586 BC.
48:2-3     The death of Gedaliah will mark the end of the five-year stay of the Jews in
  Judah.
48:5   Shechem, Shalem, and Samaria: Three areas near Israel in the north of Judah,
  which had already changed in ethnic composition after the Assyrian deportation.
48:5-8 Hence, Ishmael killed seventy men. Gedaliah himself was mourned by the exiles
  for those seventy years of exile by an annual fast (Zec 7:5).
49:1-6 Just as Jeremiah was sought out for guidance and to seek God's will, so today the
  faithful in Christ are encouraged to seek spiritual direction. It appears that at this point,
  Johanan and his group were serious: We will heed the voice of the Lord our God.
49:7   After ten days, the prophet received the word of the Lord, and it was clear: Do
  not go to Egypt (v. 19).
50:1-4   It appears that in the ten days that elapsed between their question (49:3) and
  Jeremiah's answer (49:7), Johanan and his followers had decided not to stay in Judah.
  For as soon as Jeremiah ceased speaking, they said, That is a lie. Recall that in Gn
  3:1, the devil called God's direction into question.
50:7   Tahpanhes is an Egyptian city bordering Sinai. Johanan and his followers took
  Jeremiah with them (v. 6) and entered Egypt.
50:10   The mention of Nebuchadnezzar puts Johanan and his followers on notice that
  even Egypt is not a safe haven from the king of Babylon.
51:8       Not only are Jews disobedient to God for entering Egypt, now they revert to
  worshiping other gods, namely the “queen of heaven” (the goddess Ishtar; see v. 17 and
  note).
51:16   The rebellion of those in Egypt reaches its lowest ebb when they announce to
  Jeremiah, We will not listen to you.
51:17   Just as the Scriptures speak of “false christs and false prophets” (Mk 13:22), here we
  have a counterfeit queen of heaven (see note at v. 8). The true queen of heaven is the
  Mother of God, seated at the right hand of her Son and King (Ps 45:9).
51:24-30 This is Jeremiah's final warning to those in Egypt, and it is not good news. The
  Lord makes a promise to them: I will visit you for evil (v. 29).
51:30 Hophra was an Egyptian king who reigned 589–570 BC.
51:31-35 Like Jeremiah, Baruch was evidently taken to Egypt against his will. The Lord
  assures him, I will give you life (v. 35).
52:1   This chapter is a summary of the rise and fall of Zedekiah (vv. 1–9), the destruction
  of Jerusalem (vv. 10–20), the captives in Babylon (vv. 21–24), and the release of
  Jehoiachin from prison (vv. 25–28). It parallels almost verbatim 4Kg 24:18–25:30.
52:2   These dates place the siege of Jerusalem in early January, 587 BC.
52:21   The two priests were Seraiah and Zephaniah (4Kg 25:18).
52:25   Thirty-seventh year: Spring 560, in anticipation of the Babylonian new year.
  Jehoiachin was then 55 years old. Evil-Merodach was the successor (562–560 BC) to
  Nebuchadnezzar.
52:26-27     Although told that no successor would occupy David's throne (22:30),
  Jefhoiachin is treated kindly by the Babylonians. This event occurred more than 25
  years after the sack of Jerusalem.
1:2   The LXX dates put this event at 581 BC, five years after the Chaldeans sacked
  Jerusalem. Most scholars believe the Book of Baruch was written about him, not by
  him, at a time much later than the events the book describes, to honor him.
1:3-7 All the people (v. 4), from noblemen on down, when they heard the words of this
  book (v. 3), not only experienced repentance, but took up a collection for those who
  remained in Jerusalem.
1:9   The exile in Babylon is noted in Jer 24:1.
1:10 The money was for offerings (see also Jer 17:25; 48:5).
1:11   God's people have always been called to pray for the . . . king and all who are in
  authority (see Jer 27:6–8; 36:4–7; Rom 13:1–7; 1Ti 2:1, 2).
1:15   The prayer that begins here and goes through 3:8 is quite similar to a prayer in Dan
  9:7–15. This prayer is offered by those who stayed behind in Judah (see also 2:4).
1:19-20 Out of . . . Egypt: Though over 1000 years had passed since the children of Israel
  under Moses escaped from Pharaoh and crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, this
  miraculous event was a benchmark in their history. Here, the descendants of the fathers
  of the Exodus confess their national sins since that point in time.
1:22    One of the consequences of sin is evil imaginations. In 2Co 10:4–6, St. Paul
  instructs us to cast them down and bring our thoughts captive to Christ our God.
2:3   The cannibalism admitted here includes the children the Jews ate when Jerusalem
  was besieged; they also sacrificed children to the god Molech (see Jer 7:31; 19:9; Lam
  2:10; 4:10; Ezk 5:10; 4Kg 23:10; Dt 28:53).
2:5   See Dt 28:13.
2:9   The Lord brings calamities upon us in His righteousness for our good, that we
  might turn back to Him.
2:14-15   When Israel—and the Church—receive God's mercy, the news spreads quickly
  (see Acts 17:4, 12). The prayer for the whole earth is a prayer for the Church to know . .
  . the Lord our God.
2:24-25    Bones . . . carried out, prophesied in Jer 8:1–2, suggests the Babylonians
  desecrated the reliquaries of the patriarchs.
2:24-25    Bones . . . carried out, prophesied in Jer 8:1–2, suggests the Babylonians
  desecrated the reliquaries of the patriarchs.
2:26   God allows His house to be laid to waste as part of His sinful people's punishment
  and their restoration (see Jer 7:13–14).
2:35   The everlasting covenant is fulfilled in Christ and His new covenant (Jer 32:38–
  41; Ezk 36:26–29; Am 9:15; Heb 13:20).
3:4   The prayer of the dead of Israel suggests the intercessions of the departed saints
  with the Lord (see Lk 16:22–31).
3:12   The fountain of wisdom is a likely reference to God the Father (see Jer 2:13, where
  the Father and Son are together depicted as a fountain and living water). In WSir 1:5, the
  Word is described as the fountain of wisdom (see Lk 2:40, 52; 21:15; Jn 4:13, 14).
3:17-18 Christ alludes to these truths in Mt 6:26–34.
3:20 The young have seen the light, i.e., have been born alive (see Job 3:16).
3:24-25 Here the cosmos is the house of God.
3:26-28 Giants: See Gn 6:4; WSir 16:7.
3:29-36 This is a description of the Wisdom of God (1Co 1:24).
3:29-36 This is a description of the Wisdom of God (1Co 1:24).
4:9    Here a song begins, continuing through v. 29. Jerusalem appeals to the exiles to
  endure the punishment until God delivers them from Babylon, symbolizing the coming of
  Christ “your Savior” (v. 22).
4:24   The Eternal One: Although the immediate object of this prophecy is the return
  from exile, the only glory and radiance that are eternal are those of Christ Himself (see
  Is 61:1–3).
4:30   He who named you: Scripture does not describe a precise naming of Jerusalem;
  this refers to the renaming described in 5:4 (see Is 60:14; 62:4; Jer 33:16; Ezk 48:35).
4:35   See Is 13:19–21; Jer 51:58; Rev 18:2.
4:36-37 Verse 36 describes the salvation of God as coming from the east, symbolizing the
  coming of Christ. Verse 37 refers to the return of the exiles.
5:1-9 This discourse points to the glory of the Church in every nation under heaven (v.
  3).
5:2   Double robe of righteousness: God's righteousness comes to those living in shame
  (see 2:6).
5:7 See Is 40:4, 5; Eph 5:21–33.
1:1   The city is Jerusalem, once full of people but now in captivity in Babylon.
1:5   During Lent we pray, “O Lord and Master of our lives . . .” Here, the oppressors have
  become the master. This captivity is the result of the ungodliness of God's people. A
  stark picture of life outside of fellowship with God.
1:7   Jerusalem remembers tells us the author is looking back to the fall of the city and
  the grief of her people as they endured deportation to Babylon.
1:8   Jerusalem sinned grievously sums up the cause of God's discipline of His people.
1:11   Tragically, the phrase the objects of their desire for food is a reference (as in 2:4)
  to the eating of their own children to stay alive. We ask incredulously, how could they
  possibly do that? But remember: in our time, we do not eat them; we abort them.
1:18   I provoked His mouth is a reference to breaking the laws God spoke to Moses and
  thus to His people. From 1:18–22, the “I” is the city of Jerusalem, and the warning for her
  disobedience was issued and recorded in Dt 28:15–68.
2:2   He brought them down: The Greek word suggests a violent smashing.
2:5   The Lord became like an enemy is a warning of the gravity of the dread judgment
  seat of Christ.
2:9   When God's people turn on Him, her prophets see no vision from the Lord.
  Bluntly, heaven shuts its mouth (see Pr 29:18).
2:12   This verse is likely another reference to cannibalism (see 1:11; 2:20, 4:10).
2:15   See Jer 33:16 and Bar 5:4.
2:22   In God's judgment, no one will escape.
3:2-17   These verses either start with or contain the word He, a direct reference to God.
  There is no doubt in the writer's mind: judgment comes from God, and He is not passive.
3:22-62   Here we see an abrupt change in tone which acknowledges the goodness (v. 22)
  and mercy (v. 28) of God. The message: No matter the gravity of our sins, or what our
  enemies have planned for the demise of our souls, our hope is always in the love and
  mercy of God.
4:1   Chapter 4 returns to the distress of Jerusalem. The gold has lost its brightness.
4:3   A powerful contrast: Even the serpents, symbolic of the devil and his hosts, nurse
  their young, but captive Israel is cruel.
4:6   Here, Israel is worse than Sodom.
4:7-8 Not only did the people apostatize, the Nazirites became blacker than soot. The
  Nazirites (Nm 6:2, 19, 20) were the “monks” of Israel who never cut their hair, refused
  wine, and devoted themselves entirely to God. By this we see that Israel was utterly
  desolate.
4:13-14   The theme of desolation continues. The prophets, the priests, and the
  watchmen have all forsaken God.
4:16   A barometer of indifference toward God, in both Israel and the Church, is lack of
  respect for the priests and disdain for the elders.
4:20   The Greek word for Anointed is Christos. Christ is symbolized as a victim of the
  destruction of God's people brought on by their disobedience.
4:21-22 For the punishment of Edom, see Jer 30:1–16.
5:1   What happened to Israel can happen to Christians who disgrace themselves in the
  sight of God.
5:2   The foreigners are not just the Babylonians, but could also be a reference to idols
  (Jer 5:19).
5:5   In the old covenant and in the new, when we depart from God's will we have no rest.
5:19-22   This prayer offers a glimmer of hope to close the Book of Lamentations. The
  phrases turn us back to You and we shall be converted tell us this is not merely the
  request of an individual, but that of a nation.
1:3   This verse describes a pagan religious procession such as someone like Daniel would
  daily witness (see Dan 3:1–7).
1:4   Israel must keep her identity pure and distinct. In the same way, the Church, the new
  Israel, is called to separate herself from the heretics or those willfully estranged from
  Christ (see 2Co 6:14–17).
1:6   This verse describes the important role of the guardian angel, who watches and guides
  us through the day. For other examples, see Ex 23:20–23; 32:34; Ps 90:11.
1:34-37    The idols are said to be unable to do the very things that the Gospels show Christ
  doing.
1:38   Plated is a reference to wood overlaid with silver and gold.
1:43-44    The petty rivalries and jealousy show that this is just common prostitution
  masked by false religion.
1:45-46   These verses portray the irony of a mortal creature fashioning his own gods.
1:48-49   These verses portray the irony of powerless gods being saved by the priests who
  pray to them for blessings and protection.
1:55   Revealing the foolishness of their faith, the priests will sacrifice their gods to save
  their own lives.
1:59-64    Being real and serving a practical purpose makes everything from a king to a
  pillar to a forest fire superior to a false god and idols that do nothing.
1:68   Compare note on vv. 48, 49.
1:72   Purple: Valuable dyed cloth that was a sign of wealth or power.
1:73 The one who is righteous turns from idolatry (see 1Jn 5:21).
1:1   St. Gregory the Great comments that after establishing the time and place in history,
  the Prophet Ezekiel mystically “shows forth the Lord,” for in Christ's thirtieth year He
  was baptized and the heavens were opened (see Mt 3:17).
1:3-4   St. Gregory writes that Ezekiel recognized the Incarnation of the Only Begotten
  when he saw the hand of the Lord. The amber signifies Christ, who “tempered” His
  divinity by taking on humanity, that humanity by grace might take on divinity. “Like
  amber in the fire, God is made man in persecution.”
1:5-9 Ezekiel identifies the four living creatures as cherubim (10:9–16), the guardians
  of the throne of God (Ex 25:10–22; 3Kg 6:23–28). Like those of St. John's vision (see Rev
  4:6–9), they are seen by the Fathers to typify the Four Evangelists, while their unity in
  the spirit (vv. 12, 20) illustrates the spread of the gospel.
1:10   St. Gregory the Great comments that the man is Matthew, because he begins his
  Gospel with Christ's genealogy (Mt 1:1). The lion is Mark, “because of the crying in the
  wilderness” (Mk 1:1). The ox is Luke, “because he started with a sacrifice” (Lk 1:8). The
  eagle is John, who “stretched toward the very substance of divinity” (Jn 1:1). Gregory
  also sees in them types of Christ, who became a man in the Incarnation, an ox on the
  Cross, a lion in the Resurrection, and an eagle in the Ascension. Finally, says Gregory,
  they symbolize “every one of the elect, who are perfect in the way of God,” whose virtues
  are reason, self-sacrifice, fortitude, and contemplation of heavenly things.
1:13   The burning coals (v. 13), writes St. Gregory, are “holy men” (see Is 6:6 and note).
  The lamps signify the light of the gospel (see Jdg 7:16).
1:14-21 The wheels signify Holy Scripture, and the wheel within a wheel illustrates that
  “the New Testament lay hidden by allegory in the letter of the Old Testament” (GrgGt).
1:22   St. Gregory sees in the wings an image of the virtues of the righteous.
1:25   The man on the sapphire . . . throne prefigures the Incarnation of the Son of God
  from the Virgin Mary.
1:27 The rainbow images the new covenant (see Gn 9:13–15).
2:9, 10 The roll of a book signifies Holy Scripture, which Christ unrolled (Mk 4:34; Lk
  24:25). Scripture “is written within by allegory, and without by history; within through
  spiritual understanding, but without through the plain sense of the letter still befitting
  the weak” (GrgGt). Lamentation and mourning indicate repentance, while woe
  points to the Final Judgment (Lk 6:25).
3:1-3   For the faithful, the taste of Christ the Word in our mouth is even sweeter than
  honey (see Ps 18:10; 118:103; Jer 15:16; Zec 5:1–4; Rev 10:8–11).
3:6   Israel rejected Christ, but the Gentiles received Him (Lk 11:29–33).
3:13 The gospel spread first by preaching the sound, and later by the Holy Scriptures (the
  wheels).
3:15    The captivity is an icon of the world held captive to sin. Here the prophet
  foreshadows John the Baptist preaching repentance and baptizing the Jewish faithful at
  the Jordan. Seven days signifies a time of completion.
3:17-19   The watchman must warn the lawless of the coming judgment, or he will be
  held accountable for his silence.
3:20   The righteous man images the Old Testament faithful, who heeded the prophets'
  warning and recognized Christ when He came.
3:22-27   After the gospel was preached to the Jews, it was taken to the plain, i.e., the
  whole world. Ezekiel's being shut up and put in chains points to the cutting off of
  prophecy to make way for Christ. Note that John the Baptist, the last Old Testament
  prophet, was put in prison (Mk 1:14); and his father, Zacharias, had his tongue bound
  (Lk 1:20).
4:1   St. Gregory the Great comments that the Prophet is called son of man so that when
  he is exalted, he might remember his fallen state.
4:4-11 Ezekiel lying bound on his side images the death of Christ, the Lamb of God, who
  bore the acts of unrighteousness of all humanity.
4:12-17   It would have been unthinkable for Ezekiel to carry out this command as first
  given. The Apostle Peter made a similar protest (see Acts 10:9–16). But in a striking
  reverse parallel, Christ made Himself to be sin for our sakes (2Co 5:21), so that all who
  waste away in their wrongdoings (v. 17) might partake together of the bread of
  heaven and the water of eternal life.
5:1-4   The hair and its destruction by fire, sword, and wind all point ultimately to the
  final judgment (compare Job 1:13–22; Is 7:20). The hair sewn into the garment
  illustrates the faithful remnant who have bound themselves to Christ.
5:5-6 Jerusalem is the Church, which was indeed put . . . in the midst of the nations
  that she shall speak the gospel of truth.
5:7   Even the nations that did not know God had ordinances. This verse points to the
  presence of the natural law, or free will, in man. See Rom 2:14, 15.
6:1-3 The final fulfillment of this judgment was carried out in the Incarnation, when Christ
  came to wield the sword of the Spirit against all idolatry.
7:1-6   The Lord's judgment against sin is to withhold mercy, thus allowing the
  abominations of sin.
8:1-4   Scholars date this Sept. 17, 592 BC. It takes place in exile, in Ezekiel's house near
  Babylon. His vision of God gives us a heavenly perspective of the glory of the Lord.
8:6   The remainder of this chapter concerns great acts of lawlessness done on temple
  grounds. Present are idolatry (v. 10), hypocrisy (v. 12), preoccupation with Tammuz, a
  false god (v. 14), and lastly, sun worship (v. 16). God's verdict? No mercy (v. 18).
9:2   These men are messengers of God, and the one man among them prefigures Christ
  our High Priest, clothed in vestments of righteousness, carrying out the command (v. 11)
  of the Father.
10:1, 2 As the man in the long robe went between the wheels, so Christ permeates all
  of Holy Scripture, the Old and New Testaments alike. St. Gregory the Great sees in the
  coals a type of holy men. See Is 6:6, 7.
10:4   The brightness of the Lord's glory refers to His uncreated energies, in which He
  reveals Himself. These Old Testament theophanies (see Ex 40:34; 3Kg 8:11) are fulfilled
  and perfected in the glory of the divinity of Christ (Jn 1:14).
10:8-17 See ch. 1 and notes.
10:13     Wheel translates the word Gelgel, used in the LXX as a proper noun, a
  transliteration of the Hebrew glgl. In the Vulgate, St. Jerome translates it “turnings.”
10:17-18   As the glory of the Lord passed from the house to the cherubim, so God's
  glory departed from the earthly Israel to the heavenly Jerusalem, over and above
  them.
11:1   Ezekiel's miraculous prophetic appearance in Jerusalem must have given Israel's
  princes quite a shock; even so, they refused to repent. Indeed, Pelatiah dropped dead
  on the spot (v. 13). Ananias and Sapphira met a similar fate in the New Testament (Acts
  5:10). The apostle Philip was transported in a similar way, but this time his audience, a
  Gentile eunuch, listened and was converted (Acts 8:26–39).
11:17-25 I will give them the land: This prophecy is being fulfilled in the New Israel,
  which is the Church, composed of both believing Jews and Gentiles (the nations).
12:1-3   Jerusalem was destroyed and its inhabitants taken into captivity in 586 BC,
  about six years after this prophecy was given.
12:12    The ruler is Zedekiah, who ruled from 598–587. He fled Jerusalem by night
  through a break in the city wall; then he was taken captive and his eyes put out (see 4Kg
  25:7 and note).
12:18-19 Compare to Gn 3:17–19.
12:21-28 Christ echoes this passage in His parable of the good steward (Lk 12:42–48).
12:25   I, the Lord, shall speak My words points to Christ, the logos of God.
13:1-3 Israel's false prophets in reality see nothing at all.
13:4-5   Self-appointed prophets have no firm foundation of truth, but run after “every
  wind of doctrine” (Eph 4:14). True prophets discern when a message is from God and not
  “from their hearts” (v. 3).
13:10-11 Christ condemns the Pharisees with similar language, calling them “whitewashed
  tombs” (Mt 23:27), while Paul calls the high priest Ananias a “whitewashed wall” (Acts
  23:3).
14:12-14       God sometimes uses evil to bring good. For instance, God will cut off the
  supply of food so that hardship might bring His people back to Him. None but the likes
  of righteous Noah, Daniel, and Job—all of whom typify Christ—would listen. Yet in
  His mercy, the Lord leads “sons and daughters” (v. 22), who typify the Church, to
  salvation.
15:1, 2 Chapters 15–17 reveal the passing away of the old covenant and the coming of the
  new covenant in Christ. Chapters 15 and 17 are parables, while ch. 16 speaks of God's love
  for lawless Jerusalem. The vine is an image of Israel under the old covenant, which was
  replaced when Christ, the “true vine,” came (see Jn 15:1–6). The branches in the forest
  typify the Gentile nations from which believers will be “grafted into” the vine (see Rom
  11:17–25).
16:4-10 A moving account of God's mercy upon a people stricken with perversity of . . .
  soul (v. 5). Water, oil, and fine linen are Old Testament images pointing to baptism.
16:44-46 Like mother, like daughter! A sobering parable of how ungodly parents beget
  lawless children.
16:59-63 Though we have dishonored God, still He will remember us when we turn to
  Him. This calls to mind the repentant thief who called out to Christ, “Remember me
  when You come into Your kingdom” (Lk 23:42).
17:1   This parable was fulfilled historically when Israel went into the Babylonian captivity.
  Some scholars say that the first great eagle is Nebuchadnezzar (v. 3), the second (v. 7)
  Pharaoh.
17:22-24   As the branches were planted on Israel's mountain, so the Gentile Church
  (the humble tree) grew out of earthly Israel (the high tree).
18:1-32 This chapter deals with our relationship with God. The soul who sins, he shall
  die (v. 4): Each person is guilty only of his or her own sins. Man inherited death and a
  tendency to sin from Adam (Rom 5:12); but human nature, though stained by the fall,
  remains in the image of God (v. 19). A man may turn away from righteousness (v. 24),
  but he is also capable of seeking God's grace and experiencing a new heart and a new
  spirit (v. 31; see 11:17–25).
18:32   See 1Ti 2:4.
19:1-14 The mother lion refers to Judah. The two young lions (v. 5) are Jehoahaz and
  Jehoiachin, the last kings to reign in Judah (4Kg 23:34; 24:12). The lamentation is
  taken up because the Davidic line, through which the Messiah was to come, was feared to
  end. But the faithful Jews would have found renewed hope in this amazing prophecy, for
  it had been promised long ago by their father Jacob that the rod of strength, the scepter
  (vv. 11, 14), would not depart from Judah until the Messiah came (Gn 49:9–12).
20:1-4 This is the introduction to a chapter that describes Israel's history of lawlessness.
20:29    Bamah: There is a play on words here: abamah means “high place” in Hebrew;
  bema in Greek means the same. St. Jerome translates this as excelsum (“the exalted
  place”), reflecting this connection. But Israel used this high place for idolatry (v. 28) and
  abominations (v. 30).
20:33-44    A prophecy fulfilled ultimately in the Church. The scepter (v. 37) promises
  Christ, a new king for the people of God. Those who revolted (v. 38) will be culled out,
  while those who know . . . the Lord will find the way (v. 44).
21:8    To be sure that Israel understands, the Lord restates His warning to the
  unrighteous and lawless, saying I will draw my sword.
21:23-25   The king of Babylon is Nebuchadnezzar, who will use his sword against
  Rabbath, the main city of Ammon, and against Jerusalem.
22:1   The city of blood is Jerusalem, an especially tragic description since the literal
  meaning of Jerusalem is “possession of peace.”
22:7   From here to v. 12, seven times the phrase within you is used, underscoring not
  only the grievous sins, but the fact that these were committed in the Holy City.
23:1-49   These two sisters image all who turn from God to satisfy their own desires.
  Oholah (i.e., Samaria) is like those who do not have the Law (Rom 1:23), yet despise the
  natural law within them (Rom 1:32). Oholibah (i.e., Judah) is like those who have the
  Law, yet “dishonor God through breaking the law” (Rom 2:23). The righteous men (vv.
  45–49) typify the apostles, who preached to both Jew and Gentile (Rom 3:30).
24:1-14   This parable speaks the coming judgment of Jerusalem, the house which
  provokes.
24:15-27   Ezekiel's loss of his wife (v. 18) speaks of the passing away of Israel, whose
  husband was the Lord (Is 54:5). See 33:21–33 and note.
25:1-35 These chapters describe God's judgment on five Gentile nations: Ammon, Moab,
  Edom (all in modern-day Jordan); Tyre (Lebanon), and the Cretans (Crete). The gospel
  of Christ was later brought to these places, and the Church is present in these countries
  to this day.
26:7   Nebuchadnezzar may be king of kings, but Jesus Christ is KING OF KINGS (Rev
  19:16).
27:1   Some Church Fathers interpret this lamentation (through 28:26) as imaging the fall
  of Lucifer and his angels (also see Is 14:12) and the overthrow of pride by the preaching of
  the gospel. King Hiram of Tyre had been friendly with Israel (3Kg 5); yet by the time of
  the captivity Tyre was set against Jerusalem (26:2). Christ began to fulfill this judgment
  when He cast the demon out of the Syro-Phoenician's daughter (Mk 7:24–30). After
  Pentecost, the gospel spread rapidly to this region (Acts 21:3–5).
29:1-21 The judgment against Pharaoh and Egypt illustrates the destruction of demonic
  strongholds through baptism. As the rivers (v. 3) belonged to Pharaoh, so the dragon (v.
  3), the devil, held sway on the earth until Christ destroyed him in the waters of the
  Jordan (see also Ex 14:27–30). The horn (v. 21) is a symbol for Christ.
30:1-18   In the days of the Captivity, Egypt and Ethiopia stood against God's purposes.
  But after Pentecost, these nations were blessed with the establishment of the Church
  among the Gentiles. Indeed, the Ethiopian eunuch confessed that “Jesus Christ is the Son
  of God” when Philip appeared to him (Acts 8:26–39).
31:2-9   These verses are a description of Pharaoh, set forth as a tall tree in Lebanon.
  Some scholars believe that Assyria is a copying error, and that this word should be
  “cedar,” as the two words are very similar in Hebrew.
31:10-14   Pharaoh's sin was pride (he was exalted), and the ruler of the nations is
  Nebuchadnezzar.
32:1-32    The lamentation primarily for Pharaoh comes first (vv. 1–16); the lament
  primarily for Egypt in her descent into the pit closes this chapter (vv. 17–32).
33:1-9 Ultimately the trumpet is the preaching of the gospel and the watchman is the
  preacher. Those who know the truth and do not warn others will be judged more harshly
  than those who die in their lawlessness because they have not heard.
33:10-20   “For the goodness and the loving-kindness of God, and His boundless riches,
  hold righteous and sinless the man who, as Ezekiel tells, repents of sins; and reckons
  sinful, unrighteous, and impious the man who falls away from piety and righteousness to
  unrighteousness and ungodliness. Wherefore also our Lord Jesus Christ said, ‘In
  whatsoever things I shall take you, in these I shall judge you’” (Justin; compare Jn 12:47,
  48).
33:21-33 Ezekiel's mouth was opened (v. 22) when Jerusalem was taken captive, while
  the kingly line of Judah went silent until the coming of Christ (see Gn 49:9–12). St.
  Zacharias, the priest who was made mute because of his unbelief, was given back his
  voice when his son John the Baptist was born (Lk 1:5–20, 57–79). Also see 3:22–27;
  19:1–14 and notes.
34:1-31 It is appropriate that immediately after regaining his voice, the prophet condemns
  the false shepherds and prophesies the coming of the Good Shepherd, Christ, and the
  establishment of His sheep (v. 31), the Church. Compare Jn 10; Lk 15:4–7; 19:17.
34:11-16 Here is an image of Christ shepherding His sheep.
34:17-22     Compare Mt 23:32, 33, where Christ echoes His own words given here to the
  prophet.
34:23 My servant David clearly images Christ the Good Shepherd.
35:1-15 Mount Seir is Edom (v. 15), where Esau, brother of Jacob, settled (Gn 36:8). See
  Dt 2:1–6 and note.
36:1-7 The judgment continues against Edom, which today is southern Jordan.
36:8-15 This prophecy is ultimately fulfilled in the Church, which is the New Israel.
36:16-38    The earthly Israel is also representative of fallen humanity, which has
  desecrated God's holy name (v. 21). But the Lord will gather (v. 24) both Jew and
  Gentile from among the nations, and with them establish His Church.
37:1-14   This passage is the Great Doxology read at Matins on Great and Holy Saturday.
  The Fathers teach that it prophesies the Final Resurrection. “Great is the lovingkindness
  of the Lord, that the prophet is taken as a witness of the future resurrection, that we, too
  might see it with his eyes. . . . We notice here how the operations of the Spirit of life are
  again resumed; we know after what manner the dead are raised from the opening tombs. .
  . . And finally, he who has believed that the dead shall rise again ‘in a moment, in the
  twinkling of an eye, at the last trump (for the trumpet shall sound). . . . shall be caught up
  among the first in the clouds to meet Christ in the air’; he who has not believed shall be
  left, and subject himself to the sentence by his own unbelief” (AmbM).
    “As we at once perceive that the Creator (Demiurgo) is in this passage represented as
  vivifying our dead bodies, and promising resurrection to them, and resuscitation from
  their sepulchers and tombs, conferring upon them immortality also (He says, ‘For as the
  tree of life, so shall their days be’), He is shown to be the only God who accomplishes
  these things, and as Himself the good Father, benevolently conferring life upon those
  who have not life from themselves” (Iren).
37:15-28   “Ezekiel put together the sticks, the two in one: in the two beams of the Cross,
  their staves have ceased. The two sticks, as it were wings, bore the people: lo! his two
  staves were broken, even as his wings. The bosom and wings of the Cross, He opened in
  mercy: its pinions bowed and bore the nations, to go to Eden. It is akin to the Tree of Life,
  and unto the son of its stock: it leads its beloved that on its boughs, they may feed on its
  fruits” (EphS).
38:1-29    The names of these nations are not meant to lead us to specific historical
  circumstances or places, whether past, present, or future; rather, they should be viewed
  as representing all the enemies of God, which have been persecuting His Church since
  the beginning. Indeed, St. Gregory the Great remarks that, where that which comes from
  the south is taken to be a symbol for the warmth of the Holy Spirit, that which comes
  from the north is taken to mean the devil, “because the former loosens with heat and the
  latter constrains with cold.” The Church takes the biblical term the last days (38:16) to
  mean the time since Pentecost, the Church age, though there will be a final battle at the
  end of the age, after which Satan will be cast into the abyss forever (Rev 20:10). Gog and
  Magog: See Rev 20:8–10 and note.
40:2-3 St. Gregory the Great sees Christ in both the high mountain and the man. The
  city is the heavenly Jerusalem, the Church (Heb 12:22). The builder's cord symbolizes
  the truth taught by the apostles. The measuring rod signifies Holy Scripture. Christ
  stood at the gate “because in His humanity He appeared visible, and in His divinity He
  remained unseen” (GrgGt). Compare Rev 21:9–27.
40:5-7 St. Gregory the Great sees in the wall a type of the Incarnation in the womb of the
  Virgin (see Is 26:1); indeed, Church hymns to the Theotokos call her “a wall unshaken.”
  Six cubits represent the active life, “because God completed all His works on the sixth
  day.” A handbreadth, which is “from the seventh, but falls short,” signifies the
  contemplative life.
40:6-9    St. Gregory the Great interprets the meaning of the gates in four ways: as
  signifying Christ (Jn 10:1, 2), the preachers of truth (Rev 21:21), the Scriptures, and the
  faith. The seven stairs (v. 6) signify the “sevenfold grace of the Holy Spirit” (see Is 11:2,
  3). The chambers are “the hearts of those whose soul is joined through love with the
  Unseen Bridegroom.” The length, he writes, signifies longing for God, and the breadth is
  love for neighbor. Five cubits (v. 7) signifies the five outer senses. Eight cubits (v. 9)
  signifies spiritual perfection and the final day of resurrection. Two cubits illustrates a
  life that is “led daily through charity to love of God and neighbor alike.”
40:10-12 Three . . . chambers on each side signifies that the hearts of both Old and New
  Testament faithful are “kindled with the love of the Trinity” (GrgGt). The ten cubits (v.
  11) points to the perfection of the Law as seen in the Ten Commandments, while the
  thirteen cubits (v. 11) illustrates the increased knowledge of the Trinity revealed in
  Christ.
40:15   Fifty (seven squared plus one) signifies eternal rest, “because our every perfection
  will be in the contemplation of the One in the vision of whom there will be for us no lack
  of salvation and joy. Hence the Jubilee, i.e., the fiftieth year, was also given for rest”
  (GrgGt; see Lv 25 and notes).
40:16   Hidden windows, like icons, provide glimpses of heavenly glory, which enlighten
  the soul through contemplation; while palm trees signify the rewards of victory (Jn
  12:13; Rev 7:9).
40:20-28     St. Gregory sees the north gate as being for the Gentiles, beginners, and
  repentant sinners; while the south gate is for believing Jews who had the Law, as well as
  “the fervent in spirit who, kindled by the heat of the Holy Spirit, grow up in virtues as in
  the noonday light.”
40:27   St. Gregory sees the outer gates as imaging the Old Testament prophets, and the
  inner gates as imaging the Holy Apostles.
40:31-33 The east gate signifies Christ's entrance into the world through the womb of the
  Theotokos (see 44:1–4 and note). Eight steps “signify the mysteries of that life which
  the perfect understand in their secret hearts; those who already know how mentally to
  transcend all temporal things; who wholly despise the present life which turns through a
  cycle of seven days; who feed on inward contemplation” (GrgGt).
40:39-48     Here the vision concerns the heavenly altar (v. 46), imaged in the Divine
  Liturgy, where the saints offer their whole being to God in praise and worship. See Heb
  13:10–19 and notes. The court is the foursquare fullness of the Church, which operates
  in faith, hope, charity, and good works.
41:1-6 The prophet is brought into the inner sanctuary, which is an image of the human
  soul. The temple is a type of the Theotokos, who held God the Word in her womb. For
  more on this imagery, see Heb 9. The untouched wall also images the Theotokos. See
  40:5–7; 43:1–3 and notes.
41:7   The side chambers that became wider as they went up illustrate the heart that
  grows by grace into the likeness of God, as well as the growth and unity of the Church
  united in Christ.
41:11-12 North . . . south: See 40:20, 27 and notes. The light is the light of Christ present
  in every human being (Jn. 1:9). The open space within the house brings to mind a hymn
  we sing to the Theotokos: “Your womb is more spacious than the heavens.”
41:16   The shaded light illustrates that the light of Christ's glory is revealed to man as far
  as he is able to bear it; for while we are on this earth, we see as in a mirror dimly (1Co
  13:12). Compare the term fishnet to 47:10; Jn 21:3–6. The wood panels point to
  Christ's humanity (see Ex 25:10, 11 and note).
41:17-19 The two faces of the cherubim signify Christ as man and as lion of Judah (see
  Gn 49:9–12 and note).
41:21   The wooden altar is symbolic of the Cross.
42:1-8   Five halls in the outer court, to the east, illustrate the five human senses
  directed toward Christ. The halls of ten (i.e., the Law) by one hundred (i.e., perfection)
  cubits, together with the upper walkways, illustrate a lifetime of obedience, good
  works, and repentance leading upward to heaven. Fifty: See 40:15 and note.
42:9, 10   Christ is the Door, the Orient (east), the light, the head, and the way for all
  who enter the heavenly places.
42:13-14 Under the Law, the holy place was accessible only to the priests, but in Christ,
  all who draw near in faith and love may partake of the most holy things.
42:15-20 He measured the house all around: Compare Rev 21:9–27.
43:1-12 The prophet was led . . . out from the east gate, the glory of the Lord entered,
  and then the gate was shut (44:1). According to the Fathers, this passage, together with
  44:1–5, foreshadows the Incarnation, when the Holy Spirit overshadowed the Virgin in
  the Temple and the Son of God was conceived in her womb (Lk 1:26–38). The sound of
  many voices (v. 2) is echoed by the “multitude of the heavenly host” announcing the
  Advent of Christ to the shepherds (Lk 2:13).
43:13-17 The altar here, as well as the altar in the Church, images the heavenly altar. The
  altar is “the soul of the righteous man, which lays upon itself before His eyes as many
  sacrifices as it has done good deeds. And what is the drain of the altar but the patience of
  good men, which, while it humbles the mind to endure adversities, shows it to be placed
  low down after the manner of a ditch? . . . Well, too, this same trench is directed to be of
  one cubit, because, if patience fails not, the measure of unity is preserved” (GrgGt). The
  great mercy seat is clearly a type of Christ.
43:18-27 The Levites typify the clergy who serve at the altar in the Church (see Nm 8:5–
  25 and note). The burnt offerings point to Christ's sacrifice on the Cross for our
  salvation (v. 27).
44:1-4   The eastern outer gate is seen by the Fathers as the womb of the Virgin, which
  was shut because the Lord God had entered by it. The Church sees this passage as
  describing the ever-virginity of Mary. Though many modern denominations reject this
  doctrine, it was held to be true by Luther, Calvin, and John Wesley. St. Jerome writes that
  the east gate images the Virgin Mary, whose womb is “always shut and always shining,
  and either concealing or revealing the Holy of Holies; and through her ‘the Sun of
  Righteousness,’ our ‘high priest after the order of Melchizedek,’ goes in and out.” At the
  Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple we sing, “Today the house of God receives the
  Gate through which no one may pass; so it has brought an end to the worship
  commanded by the shadow of the Law.” See 43:1–12 and note.
44:6-9   The Law was broken by the Jews, but under the New Covenant, foreign sons—
  uncircumcised Gentiles (v. 7)—became baptized Christians.
45:1-25     These physically impractical divisions of the land and the instructions
  concerning liturgical worship make sense only in the light of their fulfillment in Christ
  and His Church. The one sheep (v. 15), the young bull (v. 18), and the prince (v. 16)
  are all types of Christ, our possession (v. 8), who made atonement (v. 18) for His
  Church. The Paschal Feast (v. 21), or Passover (see Nm 28:16 and note), is fulfilled
  whenever we celebrate Christ's Resurrection.
46:1-24   With the Resurrection of Christ, the Sabbath, which was the seventh day, has
  become the day of rest and preparation for the Eighth Day, or Sunday (see Acts 20:7).
  During the Divine Liturgy, the people gather to worship (v. 9) the Lord and to make a
  grain offering in the form of bread and wine. The oil (v. 14) signifies the presence of
  the Holy Spirit. In response, Christ the Prince (v. 8), the Lamb of God, enters and is in
  our midst (v. 10). Just as the Prince goes in and out (v. 8) by the east gate, so Christ
  came into the world by taking His flesh from His Mother, the Most Holy Theotokos (see
  44:1–4 and note).
47:1-23 A vision applying to holy baptism, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the preaching of
  the apostles (compare v. 10 to Jn 21:6), and the growth of the Church from both Jew and
  Gentile believers (resident aliens, vv. 21–23). “In the vision of the prophet Ezekiel there
  is seen above the cherubim a crystal stretched forth, that is, the compressed and denser
  waters. The first living beings come out of the waters; and believers soar out of the laver
  with wings to heaven [1:22–25]. . . . In Eden a garden is planted, and a fountain in the
  midst of it parts into four heads [Gn 2:10]. This is the same fountain which Ezekiel later
  on describes as issuing out of the temple and flowing towards the rising of the sun, until
  it heals the bitter waters and quickens those that are dead” (Jerome).
47:12   See Rev 22:2.
48:1-35   This chapter has been and continues to be fulfilled since Pentecost, when the
  Church was established and began to “inherit the land,” growing with Christ in its center
  (v. 10) until it fills the earth on the final day. The Levites typify the clergy of the Church,
  and the workers (v. 19) are the faithful. These cultivate the land by good works,
  bringing the firstfruits of their labor into the Lord's house whenever we gather together
  to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
48:35   The name of the city is the New Jerusalem (Rev 3:12), the Church, which has
  been and is now “continuing” (Heb 13:14) from the day on which Christ took His
  place in her midst. On the final day, when the Lord comes for His Bride, those who
  overcome will receive a “new name” (Rev 2:17)—the name of Christ revealed—on their
  foreheads (Rev 22:4).
1:1, 2   Susanna, like so many other Old Testament heroines, can be seen to typify the
  Church, and Daniel (v. 44), her deliverer, typifies Christ. The two elders (v. 5) are like the
  powers of darkness, which seek to lead the godly astray.
1:7   Susanna in the garden echoes Eve in the Garden of Eden, but her righteousness
  surpasses Eve's because she resists temptation.
1:7-9   St. Hippolytus of Rome sees Susanna as a type of the Church, the Bride of Christ,
  persecuted by the two elders, representing the Jews and the pagans. In his commentary
  on Daniel he writes, “And [Susanna] said to her maids, ‘Bring me oil.’ Indeed, faith and
  love prepare oil and cleansing unguents for those who are washed. But what were these
  unguents if not the commands of the Holy Word? And what the oil, if not the power of
  the Holy Spirit? It is with these, after the washing [that is, baptism], that believers are
  anointed as with a sweet-smelling oil. All these things were prefigured through the
  blessed Susanna for our sakes, so that we of the present time who believe in God might
  not regard as strange the things which are now done in the Church, and that we might
  believe that all of them have been set forth in figures by the patriarchs.”
1:34   The elders played the role of witnesses and laid their hands on the head of the
  accused in accordance with the Torah (Lv 24:14).
1:45   St. Ignatius argues from this passage that the age of a bishop is immaterial; a young
  bishop must be reverenced like an older one, since Daniel was given a holy spirit at
  only twelve years of age, enabling him to convict the elders of false witness and of lusting
  after the beauty of another man's wife.
1:1   The third year in the rule of Jehoiakim puts this book at 606 BC.
1:4    The Gentiles in Daniel's time taught the Jews their Babylonian language and
  literature that they might serve Nebuchadnezzar.
1:8   The Church takes note that the Hebrew youths were blessed by God through holy
  fasting. During Great Lent we sing, “What quenched the fire [see 3:21–27]? What stopped
  the mouths of the wild beasts [see 6:16–23]? It was fasting that delivered the children
  from the furnace and Daniel the prophet from the jaws of the lions. Brethren, let us also
  fast like them.”
1:21   King Cyrus's first year of reigning over the Persians is 538 BC.
2:1   Second year: 604 BC. Nebuchadnezzar's dreams could not be told or interpreted by
  the Chaldean sorcerers, just as man's wisdom can neither tell nor interpret the mystery of
  his own existence.
2:25-28 Daniel, who both tells and interprets the dream, is a figure of Christ, who alone is
  able both to reveal and to solve man's predicament.
2:31-49 Both Hippolytus and Eusebius see parallels between Nebuchadnezzar's dream and
  Daniel's vision (see ch. 7). Eusebius comments that it is fitting for a proud, earthly-
  minded king to “compare the life and substance of all men to a great image.” The dream
  was given to teach him to “lay aside his pride in himself, that he might understand that
  there is nothing stable among men, but only that which is the appointed end of all things
  —the kingdom of God.”
    According to the Fathers, the golden head (v. 32) was Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon. The
  silver chest and arms (v. 32) represent the 245-year supremacy of the Medo-Persians,
  beginning with Cyrus in 539 BC. The stomach and thighs of copper (v. 32) represent
  Alexander the Great and his Greek empire, established about 330 BC. Next came the
  brutal Roman Empire, represented by the legs of iron (v. 33). According to Hippolytus,
  the feet of iron and clay (v. 33) correspond with the “ten horns” in Daniel's vision, and
  represent ten nations after Rome (see 7:8, 24, 25 and note). Just as the stone struck the
  feet and overtook these governments, so the gospel spread to all the nations of the
  Gentiles (vv. 34, 35). Finally this stone, the Church, becomes a great mountain as the
  gospel fills the earth.
2:35   Blessed Augustine writes that the mountain which grew out of a small stone is the
  kingdom of God, present in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. The Church's
  beginnings were indeed small, yet the Church has spread throughout the world.
2:46   St. Hippolytus sees in Daniel a type of Christ. “How great is the power of God,
  beloved, that one who a little before was doomed to death with the other wise men of
  Babylon, should now be worshiped by the king, not as a man but as God!”
2:48   Like Christ's, Daniel's humility (v. 30) brings him favor with God and men.
3:1-18 This passage contains a striking reverse parallel. Under the Old Covenant, the whole
  world (represented by Babylon), except for the Jewish faithful (represented by the three
  youths), was filled with idolatry, but under the New Covenant, the Gentile nations will
  come to worship the one true God of Israel.
3:19-23 A Nativity hymn in the Church reveals the profound typology in this passage: “The
  children of the Old Covenant who walked in the fire, yet were not burnt, prefigured the
  womb of the Maiden, which remained sealed when she gave birth in fashion past nature.”
  St. John Cassian likens the furnace (v. 19) to the passions of our flesh, which constantly
  threaten to destroy us; however, these flames can be extinguished through zeal for God,
  continual repentance, and fasting.
3:25   In the LXX, the Prayer of Azariah and the Hymn of the Three Young Men are placed
  after 3:24. Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael are the original Hebrew names of Shadrach,
  Meshach, and Abednego (1:6, 7).
3:26-45     This prayer is liturgical in nature and includes verses and phrases from
  throughout the Old Testament. It includes praise to God (v. 26), acknowledgment that
  God's judgment is true (vv. 27, 28), confession of sin (vv. 29, 30), request for deliverance
  in remembrance of the covenant (vv. 34–36), a plea for mercy (vv. 38–43), and for victory
  over enemies (vv. 44, 45).
3:46-50    This brief commentary between the Prayer and the Hymn is repeated and
  expanded in vv. 91–97. “See how even the fire appears intelligent, as if it recognized and
  punished the guilty. For it did not touch the servants of God, but it consumed the
  unbelieving and impious Chaldeans” (Hippol).
3:52-90   A fragment from the Fathers remarks that we may marvel at the Hymn of the
  Three Young Men, “how they enumerated all created things, so that not one of them
  might be reckoned free and independent in itself. But, summing up and naming them all
  together, both things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, they
  showed them to be all the servants of God, who created all things by the Word, that no
  one should boast that any of the creatures was without birth and beginning.”
3:86    The spirits and souls of the righteous dead continue to give praise to God
  forever, throughout the ages.
3:91-92 St. Hippolytus writes that the king's recognition of the fourth man in the furnace
  was a sign that the Gentiles would recognize the Incarnate Word when He came. “The
  three youths he thus called by name. But he found no name by which to call the fourth.
  For He was not yet that Jesus born of the Virgin.” St. Jerome comments that the presence
  of the Son of God in the furnace is a type of Christ's descent into Hades, where the souls
  of the dead were imprisoned, that He might deliver the righteous faithful by breaking the
  chains of death.
4:5    Both Nebuchadnezzar's dream and his experience that follows reveal how God
  humbles the proud and then raises him up again. Fear and terror can be seen as God's
  mercy, for the “fear of God is the beginning of wisdom” (Pr 1:7).
4:10-17   This passage brings great comfort to believers: The Most High God reigns over
  the affairs of rulers and nations, for the tree to be cut down is the king (see v. 25).
4:27   The mark of a true prophet is that he tells the unadulterated truth at the risk of his
  own discomfort and his very life.
4:34-37 The king's change of heart is encouragement to intercede “for kings and all who
  are in authority” (1Ti 2:2).
5:2   St. Jerome remarks that “vice always glories in defiling what is noble.” He sees in
  Belshazzar's blatant misuse of the holy vessels a type of the misuse and twisting of
  Scripture by heretics for the purpose of drawing others into false doctrine and worship.
6:2-3   Governors were provincial rulers, often despotic. Daniel was one of three
  administrators above these who reported directly to Darius.
6:5-6   The enemies of God historically have stopped at nothing to try to overthrow His
  kingdom and His servants. St. Paul calls such schemes “the wiles [strategies] of the devil”
  (Eph 6:11).
6:17-25   St. Ephraim of Syria writes that both the OT Daniel and the NT Lazarus (see Jn
  11:1–45) illustrate Christ in His tomb. “A type of You therefore was Daniel, and also
  Lazarus; one in the den, which the Gentiles sealed up, and one in the sepulchre, that the
  people opened. Lo! their signs and their seals reproved them. Their mouth would have
  been open, if they had left Your sepulchre open. But they went away because they had
  shut Your sepulchre and sealed it, and closed up their own mouths. Yes, they closed it,
  and when they had senselessly covered Your sepulchre, all the slanderers covered their
  own heads. But in Your Resurrection You persuaded them concerning Your Birth; since
  the womb was sealed, and the sepulchre closed up; being alike pure in the womb, and
  living in the sepulchre. The womb and the sepulchre being sealed were witnesses unto
  You.”
6:19   Note how a pagan king kept vigil and fasted while his friend Daniel was in danger.
6:20-25 Signs are performed by God among unbelieving peoples so that the worship and
  word of the one true God may be proclaimed with power, as shown by Darius's new
  decree (vv. 26, 27).
7:1-8   St. Aphrahat comments that the great sea (the Mediterranean Sea) is symbolic of
  the world, and “these four great beasts (v. 3) are the four kingdoms signified above” (see
  text and notes at 2:25–49). The lioness with eagle's wings (v. 4) is the Babylonian
  Empire; the bear rose up on one side (v. 5) because when the kingdom of Media and
  Persia arose, it arose in the east. Hippolytus sees the three ribs as being the Medes, the
  Assyrians, and the Babylonians. They are also often identified with Lydia, Babylon, and
  Egypt, all of which were conquered and reduced to a single realm by the Persians under
  Cyrus and his son, Cambyses. The Fathers agree the leopard is Alexander the Great, and
  the four wings and four heads (v. 6) are his four generals (see 8:5–14 and note). The
  fourth beast (v. 7) is seen to be the Roman Empire, which subdued the world with its
  strength. Note that the four heavenly beasts of St. John's vision far surpass these
  temporary, earthly beasts (see Rev 4:6, 7 and note; see also Ezk 1:5, 21). Some of the
  Fathers say that the ten horns prophesy nations that will rise up in the last days.
7:8 Dan 7:8, 24, 25: The little horn is seen to be the antichrist, an eleventh king who shall
  appear suddenly in the midst of the ten horns, seizing power through magic and sorcery.
  He will exalt himself as God and make war on the Church (v. 11). But Christ will deliver
  the Church and establish God's everlasting kingdom. The Orthodox response to the
  prophetic teaching of the Scriptures is not to fear, or to try to second-guess God's
  timetable, but rather to practice repentance and watchfulness against sin and to engage in
  spreading the gospel.
7:9-12   Daniel's vision is similar to several aspects of St. John's Revelation, including the
  thrones (see Rev 4:2–6 and notes), the multitude of worshipping angels and other
  creatures (see Rev 5:11), and the books (v. 10; see also Rev 20:12 and note).
7:13-14   Daniel's vision of the Ancient of Days is that of the Second Coming of Christ,
  the Son of Man, in glory.
7:25   A time, times, and half a time refers to the “short time” (three and a half years) of
  tribulation that will befall the faithful just prior to the end of the age (see 12:7 and note;
  Rev 12:7–16 and notes).
8:1-27   Daniel's vision occurred about 551 BC. The ram (v. 3) represents Darius and the
  rule of the Medes and Persians (v. 20), which ended with the death of Belshazzar in
  538. The male goat (v. 5) represents the conquests of the Greeks (v. 21) up until the
  time of the Romans, about 64 BC.
8:5-14 When Alexander's rule was broken (v. 8) when he was only 33, his four generals
  divided up his empire among themselves: Ptolemy I in Egypt; Seleucus I in Asia;
  Lysimachus in Asia Minor; and Cassander in Macedonia. The strong horn (v. 9) is seen
  to represent Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who took the Seleucid kingdom in 175 BC. He put
  an end to temple sacrifice and set up a statue of Jupiter in the holy temple in Jerusalem.
8:10-26   The temple was cleansed (v. 14) under Judas Maccabeus after he had led the
  Jews to victory over the Syrians. St. Jerome says that most church commentators see a
  partial fulfillment of these events in the persecution of Antiochus, but that the passage
  also points to the antichrist, the king who shall arise (v. 23). The antichrist is himself a
  type of all those who raise themselves up against Christ. Thus, his downfall at Christ's
  Second Coming symbolizes the final destruction of all evil and the realization of Christ's
  eternal kingdom (see 2Th 2:3–12 and note).
8:26   Seal the vision: “The things, therefore, which of old were sealed, are now by the
  grace of God the Lord all open to the saints, for He was Himself the perfect Seal, and the
  Church is the key. . . . But to Christ it was not said ‘seal,’ but ‘loose’ the things bound of
  old; in order that, by His grace, we might know the will of the Father, and believe upon
  Him whom He has sent for the salvation of men, Jesus our Lord” (Hippol).
9:3-5   We sinned: In the spirit of true intercessory prayer, Daniel takes on himself the
  sins of the people and repents before the Lord, begging His mercy for their sakes.
9:8-11     This is as clear in defining sin as any passage in the Scriptures. St. Paul offers a
  summary of Daniel's words: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom
  3:23).
9:24-27 The Epistle of Barnabas (ch. 16) observes that this passage was fulfilled when the
  temple (the sanctuary, v. 26) was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. But Barnabas also
  points out that a true temple remains, the Body of Christ, a spiritual temple in which God
  truly dwells. Seventy weeks is interpreted to mean seventy weeks of years, or 490 years
  (seventy times seven years). This prophecy applies also to Jeremiah's “seventy years” (see
  9:2; Jer 25:11, 12; 29:10).
     According to Hippolytus, Daniel's vision concerned the time when the temple would be
  rebuilt, as well as the time of the coming of the Messiah. First, the Jews would return and
  resume sacrifice after seventy years of captivity. “Having mentioned therefore seventy
  weeks, and having divided them into two parts, in order that what was spoken by him to
  the prophet might be better understood, he proceeds thus, until Messiah the Prince there
  shall be seven weeks, which make forty-nine years. It was in the twenty-first year [of
  Nebuchadnezzar's reign] that Daniel saw these things in Babylon. Hence, the forty-nine
  years added to the twenty-one, make up the seventy years, of which the blessed Jeremiah
  spoke” (Jer 25:11). Second, Jesus the Messiah would be crucified in AD 30, about 490
  years (seventy weeks) after Artaxerxes commissioned Ezra to rebuild Jerusalem in 458
  BC (2Ez 7:7, 8).
9:27   Hippolytus comments that after “Christ is come, and the gospel is preached in every
  place, the times being then accomplished, there will remain only one week, the last, in
  which Elias will appear, and Enoch. And in the midst of it the abomination of desolations
  will be manifested, that is, Antichrist, announcing desolation to the world. And when he
  comes, the sacrifice and oblation will be removed, which now are offered to God in every
  place by the nations” (see Mt 24:15 and note).
10:1   The third year of Cyrus was 533 BC.
10:2-3 Daniel's season of fasting and mourning is echoed by the faithful during the time
  of Great Lent, a season of “bright sadness.”
10:5    St. Hippolytus writes that the Father “sent His own Word to show what should
  happen by Him. And that took place, indeed, by the great river. For it was meet that the
  Son should be manifested there, where also He was to remove sins.” Other commentators
  see this figure as the Archangel Gabriel (9:21).
10:12   “Behold how much the piety of a righteous man avails, that to him alone, as to one
  worthy, things not yet to be manifested in the world should be revealed” (Hippol).
10:16    As with Isaiah's vision (Is 6:7), the phrase touched my lips has eucharistic
  overtones.
11:1   Daniel's prophecies in this chapter were fulfilled with astonishing power and
  strength in the centuries after he lived.
11:1, 2 Four kings indeed arose in Persia after Cyrus: Cambyses, Smerdis III, Darius IV,
  and Xerxes, who led the Persians against the Greeks in about 485–465 BC.
11:3-4   After his death in 320 BC, the kingdom of Alexander the Great was divided
  among his four generals.
11:5   Ptolemy I Soter was the king of the south, or Egypt. One of his rulers may refer
  to Ptolemy's son, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, or else Seleucus Nicator, another of
  Alexander's generals, who allied with Ptolemy I Soter and later gained power over him.
11:6   This verse prophesies Bernice, daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphus. She could not
  retain her power when her father died, and was assassinated along with those who
  strengthened her. It was under Ptolemy II Philadelphus, king of Egpyt from 287–247
  BC, that the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament was begun.
11:7-9   Her root refers to Bernice's brother, Ptolemy III Evergetes. He avenged her by
  killing her assassin, Seleucus Callinicus, king of the north, after which he carried their
  Syrian gods back to Egypt.
11:10 The sons of Seleucus Callinicus of the north were Seleucus Ceraunus and Antiochus
  III. They did indeed assemble . . . great forces, but it was Antiochus who passed
  through and invaded the south.
11:11-14 Enraged, Ptolemy IV Philopator did fight with the king of the north in about
  218 BC, but he did not gain supremacy. Antiochus III of Syria in the north, having
  mustered a greater army, did defeat the forces of his infant son, Ptolemy V Epiphanes, in
  204 BC, with the help of troublemakers among the Jews.
11:16   Antiochus III took Judea in battle with Scopus of the south. This included a siege of
  Scopus' garrison at Jerusalem. Thus, Antiochus III did indeed stand in the Land of
  Beauty.
11:17   In an effort to ally himself with Egypt, Antiochus III married off his child daughter,
  Cleopatra, to seven-year-old Ptolemy V Epiphanes, but in the end, they did not remain
  with him.
11:18-19 Having assailed the coasts and islands of Asia Minor, and having later met with
  several defeats, Antiochus III could not be found. He disappeared and was not heard
  from again.
11:20    Antiochus's root most likely refers to one of his sons, Seleucus Philopator. He
  confiscated treasures from the temple in Jerusalem, but performed no great deeds and
  died without fighting a single battle.
11:21-24   These verses prophesy Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–164 BC), another son of
  Antiochus III. The Fathers see in him a type of the antichrist who will arise at the end of
  the age. Antiochus overcame the Ptolemies by feigning clemency, that is, by intrigue. He
  reigned in Syria for eleven years after Seleucus, and he seized Judea as well. He defiled
  the temple in Jerusalem, thus provoking war with the Maccabees, who fought for Jewish
  self-rule. The ruler of the covenant (v. 22) prophesies Judas Maccabeus. Antiochus
  was able to take over Egypt as well as Syria with only a small force of men, enabling him
  to do what neither his fathers or forefathers have done (v. 24).
11:30-35   The Romans came against Antiochus and made him leave Egypt in 168 BC.
  Enraged, he began his persecution of the Jews and his desecration of the temple. Help
  (v. 34) came from the Maccabean revolt, led by Mattathias and Judas Maccabeus. Many
  early Christians also saw the destruction of the temple by the Roman general, Titus, in
  AD 70, as well as the persecutions of Christians by the Roman emperor Nero, as
  fulfillments of these verses. Indeed, Daniel's prophecies have been fulfilled many times
  over the course of history, as God's people have endured persecution and testing at the
  hands of those who blaspheme God in their pride.
11:31-13 This passage concerns the future time of the antichrist, the Great Tribulation, and
  the end of the world.
12:1-3 At Christ's Second Coming, the antichrist will be crushed, the tribulation will end,
  and all the dead will awake (v. 2). Resurrection to everlasting life is the destiny of
  those who have endured to the end. Resurrection to everlasting shame is the destiny of
  those who, in the end, are found outside of Christ.
12:7   “But he who reads this passage, even half asleep, cannot fail to see that the kingdom
  of Antichrist shall fiercely, though for a short time, assail the Church before the last
  judgment of God shall introduce the eternal reign of the saints. For it is patent from the
  context that the time, times, and half a time, means a year, and two years, and half a year,
  that is to say, three years and a half” (Aug). See also 7:25 and note; Rev 12:7–16 and
  notes.
12:11   Hippolytus writes that this prophecy concerns the three and a half years —“the one
  thousand two hundred and three score days (the half of the week) during which the
  tyrant is to reign and persecute the Church.”
1:1-42    These verses comprise the final section of Daniel concerning Bel and the Serpent.
  “He unquestionably made it clear, that He who spake to Moses out of the bush, and
  declared Himself to be the God of the fathers, He is the God of the living. For who is the
  God of the living unless He who is God, and above whom there is no other God?” (Iren).

1:1   Cyrus began his reign in Persia in 538 BC.
1:3 Historians describe Bel as chief among the Babylonian gods.
1:5   “He said that what we are able to speak and to answer is given to us in that hour from
  heaven, and supplied; and that it is not then we who speak, but the Spirit of God our
  Father, who, as He does not depart nor is separated from those who confess Him, Himself
  both speaks and is crowned in us. So Daniel, too, when he was required to worship the
  idol Bel, which the people and the king then worshiped, in asserting the honor of his God,
  broke forth with full faith and freedom, saying, ‘I worship nothing but the Lord my God,
  who created the heaven and the earth’” (Cyp).
1:7 Daniel smiled: It is indeed very humorous that a king or anyone could believe an idol
  of clay and bronze could eat (see also v. 19).
1:10-21    How could seventy priests and their families—and a king—indulge in such
  blatant deception? St. Peter gives the answer concerning the allure of the false teachers:
  “Many will follow their destructive ways” (2Pt 2:2).
1:23-24   In contrast to the clay and bronze statue of Bel, this idol lives, eats, and drinks!
1:26   Likely, the king gave permission because he saw the serpent as an immortal god.
1:33-39   The prophet Habakkuk, for whom the OT book is named, had lived a century
  earlier. So there would be three miracles here: (1) being carried by the hair, as Ezekiel was
  (Ezk 8:3); (2) being translated from one place to another, as Philip was (Acts 8:39, 40);
  and (3) being brought back from the dead, as Moses and Elijah were (Mt 17:3).
1:40-42   Once again, Daniel is vindicated.
1:1   Jesus means “O Lord, save,” referring to His role as Savior (v. 21). Christ means
  “Anointed One,” the Messiah, the One who is filled with the Holy Spirit (see Jn 1:33).
  Though the Son alone became Man, God the Father and the Holy Spirit work in Jesus
  Christ to save us.
      Jesus became Man as a Jew, from the lineage of Abraham, the father of all Jews, and
  of David, Israel's greatest king and the prototype of the royal Messiah. This genealogy
  reveals that the Son of God so identifies with the human condition that He takes it all on
  Himself and becomes part of it. Christ's ancestry includes both righteous and wicked
  people, faithful kings and murderers, Jews and Gentiles, kings and peasants.
1:2   While Luke's genealogy runs from Jesus back to Adam (Lk 3:23–38), Matthew's list
  descends from Abraham, with whom God established the Old Covenant of circumcision,
  to Jesus, the author of the New Covenant. God promised to bless all the tribes of the
  earth in Abraham (Gn 12:3; 28:14); this promise is fulfilled in Abraham's greatest Son,
  Jesus Christ.
1:3    Jewish genealogical lists normally included only men. The mention of women
  (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba) is unusual. Each one was either a Gentile or a
  sinner. The inclusion of these women declares God's graciousness and prefigures the
  calling of Gentiles into the Church. It also underscores the role of women in God's plan of
  salvation and anticipates the special place of the Virgin Mary in that plan.
1:6   Through anointing by Samuel, David was made king. Through his psalms, David was
  revealed as a great prophet. Thus, David foreshadows both the royal and the prophetic
  nature of Jesus Christ (Ps 109). As an adulterer and a murderer, David also functions as a
  type for all repentant sinners.
1:16   Joseph can be named as Jesus' immediate predecessor since OT marriage laws
  confer hereditary rights on adopted as well as biological sons. The church fathers teach,
  Mary also was descended from David; of whom is feminine in Greek, referring only to
  Mary. Thus, Jesus is shown to be born of Mary, and not begotten of Joseph. (See also
  note on Lk 3:23–38.)
1:17   Christ's ancestors are arranged in three groups of fourteen generations. Fourteen is
  the numerical equivalent of the consonants in the name David, underlining Jesus'
  descent from David. This also shows the division of the leadership of the Jews, being
  under judges until David, under kings until Babylon, and under priests until Christ.
1:19   The righteousness of Joseph consisted of a mercy that transcends the Law (Hos 6:6).
  Joseph showed this mercy by his unwillingness to expose Mary's supposed sin, even
  though he was obliged by the Law to do so. Her husband: The Bible calls engaged
  couples husband and wife before their marriage (Rachel was called the wife of Jacob
  before marriage by virtue of their engagement in Gn 29:21; see also Dt 22:23, 24). Thus,
  Joseph is called the husband of Mary, and Mary is called his wife (vv. 20, 24). In the
  Church, Joseph is remembered as the Betrothed, pointing out Mary's ever-virginity. (See
  also note on Est 2:7.)
1:20    An angel (or “messenger”) of the Lord dispels Joseph's false reasoning by
  announcing the utterly unreasonable: the pregnancy of the Virgin is by the Holy Spirit.
  Being born of a virgin proves Christ's divinity; only a revelation by God could serve as
  adequate evidence of this miracle.
1:22    Matthew repeatedly uses the formula that it might be fulfilled which was
  spoken (see 2:15, 23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:35; 21:4; 26:56; 27:35). This underscores the
  intervention of God throughout history, demonstrates the continuity between the Old
  and New Covenants, and indicates the beginning of the new creation.
1:23    The conception of Jesus fulfills Is 7:14, where we are told that a virgin would
  conceive and bear a Son. He who is conceived in Mary is not a new Person coming into
  existence but the eternal Son of God now using her womb as His throne. Both the virginal
  conception by means of the Holy Spirit and the name Immanuel, God with us declare
  Christ's divinity.
2:2    The star proclaims the extraordinary birth of Christ. To ancient pagans, a star
  signified a god, a deified king (Nm 24:17). Christ being born under this star fulfills the
  prophecy in Ps 109:3 and shows all of creation participating in the Incarnation. (See also
  Pss 18:2; 148:3.)
2:4   Herod had to summon the Jewish leaders because he knew little about the Jewish
  Messiah and he feared losing his throne to this newborn King. The chief priests were
  the political and religious leaders of the Jews, and the scribes were high cabinet officers.
  They knew where the Messiah was to be born, but in spite of all the signs being in place,
  they had no idea that He had come (see 16:3).
2:11   Into the house: Whereas the Jewish shepherds worshiped the Savior in the cave on
  the day He was born (Lk 2:8–20), the Gentile magi came to worship Him some time later.
  By then, Joseph and Mary had found a house in which to dwell. This indicates that Christ
  first came to the Jews and then afterward was worshiped by the Gentiles. The significance
  of the Magi's gifts is revealed in a hymn sung at Compline of the Nativity: “Gold is for
  the King of ages. Frankincense is for the God of all. Myrrh is offered to the Immortal
  One, who shall be three days dead.”
2:14   Egypt is where Israel once took refuge; as Joseph of the OT once saved God's people
  by bringing them to Egypt (Gn 39–47), now Christ's stepfather Joseph finds safety for the
  Savior in Egypt. It is probable that the gifts of the magi paid for this journey.
2:15   Out of Egypt I called my Son refers first to Israel being brought out of captivity
  (Hos 11:1). In the OT, “son” can refer to the whole nation of Israel. Here Jesus fulfills this
  calling as the true Son of God by coming out of Egypt.
2:16   The cruelty of Herod was prefigured by Pharaoh, who, in an attempt to destroy the
  power of Israel, commanded the death of all the newborn Jewish boys (Ex 1:16, 22).
2:17-18   Jeremiah recorded the people of Jerusalem being led away to exile (Jer 38:15).
  On their way to captivity, they passed Ramah, which was near Bethlehem, where Jacob's
  wife Rachel lay buried. In his prophecy, Jeremiah saw Rachel, even from the grave,
  moved with compassion for the fate that had befallen her descendants. Here Rachel is
  again weeping for her children, showing that the saints in heaven have awareness and
  compassion for those yet on earth. These slaughtered children are regarded as saints and
  martyrs in the Church and are known as the Holy Innocents. Just as Rachel was told that
  her children would return from exile in Babylon (Jer 38:16, 17), so Jesus will return from
  His exile in Egypt.
2:19   According to historical records, Herod the Great died in 4 BC. The date of Christ's
  birth on which our current AD (Anno Domini, Latin for “year of the Lord”) calendar is
  based is off by four years.
2:22    Augustus Caesar banished Archelaus for his cruelty in AD 6. This cruelty was
  revealed as a warning to Joseph; hence the detour to Nazareth (v. 23). This town was in
  Galilee and was governed by another son of Herod the Great, whose name was Herod
  Antipas (see Lk 3:1).
2:23   The prophecy here cannot be exactly identified. It has been taken as a reference to
  the rod (Heb. neser) in Is 11:1, and to the Nazirite (Heb. Nazir) of Jdg 13:5. Matthew may
  also have been alluding to passages in which the Messiah was despised, since Nazareth
  did not have a good reputation (Jn 1:46).
3:1-3 The wilderness of Judea is the barren region descending from Jerusalem to the
  Dead Sea. The preparation for the Savior's ministry begins with John the Baptist's call to
  repent. Repentance, which accompanies faith, is a total about-face. The word in Greek
  literally means to change one's mind, or more generally, to turn around. Repentance is a
  radical change of one's spirit, mind, thought, and heart, a complete reorientation of the
  whole of one's life. It is the necessary first step in the way of the L   ORD   . It is accompanied
  by the confession of sins and the act of baptism (v. 6), and is followed by a life filled with
  fruits worthy of this change (v. 8).
3:4   John's ascetic life conformed to that of the Jewish sects such as the Essenes, who lived
  in the wilderness and whose purpose was to prepare for the coming Kingdom of God.
  John's clothing was typical of a prophet (4Kg 1:8). The monastic movement in the early
  Church was patterned after John's manner of life.
3:6   The confession of sins is essential to baptism under both the Old Covenant and the
  New. John's baptism, however, was a sign of repentance and the forgiveness of sins only.
  It did not confer the power of total regeneration nor adoption as a child of God as does
  Christian baptism (v. 11).
3:7   Sadducees were members of the high-priestly and landowning class who controlled
  the temple and the internal political affairs of the Jews. They denied the resurrection of
  the dead and had no messianic hope beyond this life. The Pharisees formed a lay
  religious movement centered on the study of the Law and on strict observance of its
  regulations. They believed in the resurrection of the dead and cherished a messianic
  hope, but taught that righteousness is attained on the strength of one's works according
  to the Law, and that the Messiah would be merely a glorious man. John's title for them,
  brood of vipers, is later used by Jesus (12:34; 23:33). It indicates their deception and
  malice and their being under the influence of Satan.
3:8   Repentance, confession, and baptism lead to fruits worthy of repentance, a way of
  life consistent with the Kingdom of God (see Gal 5:22–25). If a fruitful life does not
  follow, sacramental acts and spiritual discipline are useless. Thus in many icons of the
  Baptism of Christ, an ax is pictured chopping a fruitless tree (v. 10).
3:9   The warning that from these stones (Heb. 'ebanim) God can raise up children (Heb.
  banim) is a play on words. God will not admit fruitless children into His house, but
  adopts other children from the Gentiles.
3:11    Christ baptizes in the fire of the Holy Spirit, the power and grace of God divinely
  poured out on all believers at baptism. (See also fire in v. 10; note at Lk 3:16, 17.)
       In John's culture, a slave would carry the king's sandals; thus John declares himself to
  be even lower than a slave of Jesus. John's inability to carry Christ's sandal has a second
  meaning, for carrying another's sandal once meant taking someone else's responsibility
  (Ru 4:7). Here it shows that John could not have carried the responsibility that Christ
  carries, and that the Law could not redeem the world as Christ has come to do.
3:12    Winnowing the threshed grain from the chaff is a metaphor for the divine
  judgment, which will separate good from evil.
3:15   Jesus does not need purification. By making the purification of humanity His own,
  He would wash away humanity's sin, grant regeneration, and reveal the mystery of the
  Holy Trinity. Thus, His baptism was necessary for the fulfillment of God's righteous plan
  of salvation. “Jesus enters the filthy, sinful waters of the world and when He comes out,
  brings up and purifies the entire world with Him” (GrgNy; see also note on Lk 3:21).
3:16   The Spirit of God hovered over the water at the first creation (Gn 1:2). Now, the
  Holy Spirit comes in the form of a dove to anoint the Messiah, the Son of God, at the
  beginning of the new creation. Jesus does not become the Son of God this day; rather, He
  is revealed to all as the Son of God on this day. The Holy Spirit has always rested on Him.
  The feast day of Epiphany (a manifestation or revelation) or Theophany (a manifestation
  of God), celebrated on January 6, commemorates this day and points to the age to come.
3:17   This quotation is from Ps 2:7, “You are My Son, / Today I have begotten You.” Note
  how the Baptism of Jesus reveals the great mystery of the Trinity: the Father speaks; the
  Holy Spirit descends; the Incarnate Son is baptized.
4:1   To be tempted is to be tested in fundamental areas of faith. As in Mark, the Spirit
  leads, or “throws,” Jesus into the wilderness after His Baptism to be tested by a struggle
  with the devil. We who are baptized in Christ need not be defeated by temptations
  because we too are aided by the Holy Spirit. The wilderness is a battleground, an image of
  the world, both the dwelling place of demons and a source of divine tranquility and
  victory.
4:2-10 Jesus reverses Israel's falling to temptation in the wilderness. The Israelites were
  tested forty years in the wilderness and proved disobedient and disloyal. God humbled
  them by first letting them go hungry and then feeding them with manna to help them
  learn to be dependent on Him (Dt 8:2–5). Here, Jesus is tested with hunger for forty
  days, but He does not sin. His answers to Satan are from Deuteronomy, and all call for
  loyalty to God.
      Jesus fasted to overcome temptation, giving us an example of our own power and
  limitations in the face of temptation. The hunger of His flesh does not control Him;
  rather, He controls His flesh. Our Lord's fast of forty days is the foundation of the
  Church's forty-day Lenten fast before Holy Week and of the fast before Christmas.
4:3   The devil challenges Christ's relationship to the Father. If You are the Son of God
  calls into question the Father's declaration at Christ's Baptism (3:17). The devil wants
  Jesus to act independently and to detach Himself from the will of the Father. In His
  divine nature, Christ shares one will with the Father and the Holy Spirit; He can do
  nothing of Himself (Jn 5:30), apart from the Father. But in His humanity, He possesses
  free will and at all times must choose to remain obedient to the divine will of the Father.
4:4   By rejecting the first temptation, Jesus rejects an earthly kingdom and shows us not to
  pursue earthly comfort in the “food which perishes” (Jn 6:27). While Adam disregarded
  the divine word in order to pursue the passions of the body (Gn 3), the New Adam—
  Christ— conquers all temptation by the divine word, giving human nature the power to
  conquer Satan.
4:5   The holy city is Jerusalem.
4:6   Seeing that Christ had defeated him through the power of the Scriptures, Satan vainly
  tries to use the Scriptures to put God's power of protection to the test. (See also 2Pt 1:19–
  21.)
4:7             Trials and temptations come on their own; we should never intentionally expose
  ourselves to danger in order to test or prove God's protection. To do so is to tempt the
  L   ORD   .
4:8-10   God's Kingdom is not one of earthly power and possessions. In the devil's test,
  Jesus was being asked to choose worldly power over the Kingdom of God. The devil is the
  “ruler of this world” (Jn 12:31), “the god of this age” (2Co 4:4), because the whole world is
  in his power (1Jn 5:19). Jesus refuses the road of earthly glory, which would lead Him
  away from His suffering and death for the redemption of the world.
4:15   The term Galilee of the Gentiles indicates that many non-Jews lived in the region.
  Having a mixed population, it was not considered a genuinely Jewish land, even though
  many Gentile residents had converted to Judaism during the Maccabean period. Because
  many of the Jews there had been influenced by the Greek culture and its customs, they
  were generally considered second-class citizens by the Jews of Judea.
4:16   Darkness means ungodliness. Here it represents the Gentiles' unawareness of God
  and the Jews being under the shadow of the Old Covenant. To sit in darkness means to be
  overcome by spiritual ignorance. The great light is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
4:18-22 These first disciples had already heard the preaching of John the Baptist and were
  prepared to accept Christ immediately. Though illiterate and unlearned in religion,
  these “people of the land” whom Jesus calls will be revealed at Pentecost to be the wisest
  of all.
4:23-25 Note that the crowds do not swarm Jesus when He commands repentance (v. 17),
  but only when He begins to heal and work miracles. This fact shows that the people
  misunderstand the true nature of His Kingdom. It also shows Christ's concession “to give
  credibility to what He teaches” among the fickle multitudes (Theoph).
5:1, 2 In the OT, only a select few were chosen to hear God directly (see Ex 19:3–13). Here,
  God Incarnate speaks to the multitudes face to face. The mountain is a place where
  divine action enters human history, the place where God reveals Himself to man (17:1;
  Gn 22:2; Ex 3:1; 19:2; 3Kg 18:20). Seated is the traditional Jewish position for teaching
  with authority. Some early Christian preachers (for example, St. John Chrysostom) sat
  while the people stood. Matthew mentioning that Jesus opened his mouth emphasizes
  this teaching is “one-way,” that Jesus has come to speak with authority (7:29), and the
  disciples are there not to discuss or debate, but to listen.
5:3   Blessed in this context indicates heavenly, spiritual exaltation rather than earthly
  happiness or prosperity. In Hebrew, “poor” means both (1) the materially poor and (2) the
  faithful among God's people. The poor in spirit are those who have the heart of the
  poor, the same attitude as the poor, and are totally dependent on God.
5:4   Those who mourn sorrow over the sufferings of this life (9:23), the sufferings of
  others (Jn 11:35), the state of the world (Lk 19:41), and their own sins (Lk 7:36–38). All of
  these are comforted by the power of God both in this world and in the age to come. Holy
  sorrow is part of repentance, conversion, and virtuous action, and is the firstfruit of
  infinite joy. It is to be distinguished from ungodly sorrow, a sadness that leads to despair
  (see 2Co 7:10).
5:5   Meekness is an attitude of being content with both honor and dishonor. It is an
  imitation of Christ, who said, “Learn from Me, for I am gentle [meek] and lowly in heart”
  (11:29). The meek are God-controlled and have mastery over their passions, especially
  anger. Meekness is not passive weakness, but strength directed and under control. The
  earth that the meek will inherit is not power or possession in this world, but the new
  earth, which is everlasting (Rev 21:1).
5:6   Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness see the presence of God and His
  Kingdom as the most important thing in life. They have a desperate craving for what is
  right before God, comparable to a starving person's craving for food (see 6:33).
5:7   Mercy is love set in motion, expressed in action. God's mercy in taking our sufferings
  on Himself in order to grant us His Kingdom sets us free from captivity to the evil one. In
  view of God's mercy to all, we in turn are to be merciful to all.
5:8   “Pure” means unmixed with anything else. The pure in heart are completely devoted
  to the worship and service of God and accept no compromises. With the aid of the Holy
  Spirit, those who achieve purity practice all virtue, have no conscious evil in themselves,
  and live in temperance. This level of spirituality is attained by few, but all may strive for
  it. When the soul's only desire is God, and a person's will holds to this desire, then that
  person will indeed see God everywhere.
5:9   Being the source of peace, Christ found no price sufficient for peace other than
  shedding His own blood. In doing so, Christ reveals Himself to us as the Reconciler, the
  Prince of peace (Is 9:6; Eph 2:14–16). The Holy Spirit gives peace to those who imitate
  Christ. Thus, peacemakers share God's peace with those around them, imitating
  Christ's sacrificial love and participating in His work. By God's grace, peacemakers
  become sons of God themselves.
5:10   Children of God uphold truth, refuse to compromise with the ways of the world, and
  give themselves to no other (6:24, 33; see 1Co 6:19, 20). Like Jesus, these will be
  persecuted for righteousness' sake (see Jn 15:18–20). Christ's kingdom is the
  crown awaiting the righteous.
5:11-12 Those who suffer persecution for Christ walk the road of the prophets, saints, and
  martyrs. The Greek for be exceedingly glad means to “leap exceedingly with joy.” (See
  Acts 5:40, 41.)
5:13-16 Salt and light illustrate the role of disciples in society. Because of its preservative
  powers, its necessity for life, and its ability to give flavor, salt had religious and sacrificial
  significance (Lv 2:13; see also Nm 18:19; 2Ch 13:5). To eat salt with someone meant to be
  bound together in loyalty. As the salt of the earth, Christians are preservers of God's
  covenant and give true flavor to the world.
     God is the true and uncreated Light. In the OT light is symbolic of God (Is 60:1–3), the
  divine Law (Ps 118:105), and Israel in contrast to all other nations. In the NT, the Son of
  God is called “light” (Jn 1:4–9; 8:12; 1Jn 1:5). Light is necessary both for clear vision and
  for life itself. Faith relies on this divine light, and believers become “sons of light” (Jn
  12:36; 1Th 5:5) who shine in a perverse world (Php 2:15). In many parishes, the Pascha
  (Easter) Liturgy begins with a candle being presented and the invitation to “come receive
  the Light which is never overtaken by night.”
5:16   Christian virtues have both a personal and a public function, for our virtue can bring
  others to glorify the Father.
5:17   Jesus fulfills the Law in Himself, in His words, and in His actions by: (1) performing
  God's will in all its fullness (3:15); (2) transgressing none of the precepts of the Law (Jn
  8:46; 14:30); (3) declaring the perfect fulfillment of the Law, which He was about to
  deliver to them; (4) granting righteousness—the goal of the Law—to us (Rom 3:31; 8:3, 4;
  10:4). He fulfills the Prophets by both being and carrying out what they foretold.
5:18 Assuredly (Gr. amen) means “truly,” or “confirmed,” or “so be it.” Jesus uses it as a
  solemn affirmation, a form of oath. Christ's use of this word at the beginning of certain
  proclamations (rather than at the end) is unique and authoritative: He declares His words
  affirmed before they are even spoken.
    Ajot (Gr. iota) is the smallest letter in the Greek alphabet; a tittle is the smallest stroke
  in certain Hebrew letters. Thus, the whole of the Law is affirmed as the foundation of
  Christ's new teaching. All is fulfilled refers to the Passion and Resurrection of Christ.
5:19   Righteousness according to the Law is a unified whole. The observance of all the
  least commandments is to observe the whole Law, while the violation of the least
  commandment is considered a violation of the whole Law.
5:21-22   The repeated formula but I say to you is a statement of total, divine authority
  (7:29). As the Creator of man and the Author of the Law, Christ can speak with this
  authority. While there is anger which is not sinful (Ps 4:5; Mk 3:5), here Jesus forbids
  sinful anger, identifying it with murder. The council is the supreme legal body among
  the Jews. Hell (Gr. Gehenna; see 10:28 and note) is the final condition of sinners who
  resist God's grace.
5:23-24 Peace with other believers is a requirement for worship (Mk 11:25). The liturgical
  “kiss of peace” at the beginning of the eucharistic prayer is a sign of reconciliation and
  forgiveness, preparing the faithful to offer the holy gifts at the altar (1Co 16:20; 1Pt
  5:14).
5:25-26 Luke places this teaching in the context of the end of the age (Lk 12:57–59); here
  it is in the context of reconciliation surrounding the Liturgy. Delay in reconciliation
  allows for the spread of animosity and other evils (Eph 4:26, 27).
5:27-28 The issue here is not the God-given mutual attraction of men and women, but the
  selfish promptings of lust. Sin does not come out of nature, but out of the distortion of
  nature for self-indulgence. Thoughts that enter the mind involuntarily are not sins, but
  temptations. They become sins only when they are held and entertained.
5:31-32   In contrast to the easy access to divorce under the Mosaic Law, and because of
  the misuse of divorce in that day, Jesus repeatedly condemns divorce (19:8, 9) and
  emphasizes the eternal nature of marriage. The possibility of divorce on the grounds of
  sexual immorality shows that marriage can be destroyed by sin. While recognizing
  divorce as a serious sin, the Orthodox Church allows divorce and a second marriage as a
  concession to human weakness and as a corrective measure of compassion when a
  marriage has been broken. A third marriage is permitted only under specific, limited
  circumstances, and a fourth marriage is never permitted.
5:34-37   Trust cannot be secured by swearing an oath by things that are not in man's
  possession anyway, but only by simple integrity.
5:39-42 In contrast to the OT (Ex 21:24; Lv 24:20; Dt 19:21), Jesus warns us not to resist
  violence with more violence. Evil can only be overcome by good, which keeps us free
  from compromise with the devil and can bring our enemy under the yoke of God's love. A
  saint of the desert once found his hut being looted of its paltry possessions, and he knelt
  in the corner praying for the bandits. When they left, the monk realized they had not
  taken his walking stick. This monk pursued them for many days until he was able to give
  them the stick as well. Seeing his humility, the bandits returned everything to him and
  were converted to Jesus Christ.
5:44-47   Freed from hate, sadness, and anger, we are able to receive the greatest virtue:
  perfect love. The love of enemies is not merely an emotion, but includes decision and
  action. It is to treat and see our enemies as the closest members of our own family. (See
  1Jn 4:7–21.)
5:48   The summary statement of all that has preceded. The Christian can indeed grow in
  the perfection of the Father (Eph 4:13; see also the article, “Deification,” at 2Pt 1), which
  is shown by imitating His love and mercy (compare Lk 6:36).
6:1   In this chapter, Jesus presents the three most basic aspects of spiritual living: (1)
  charitable giving (vv. 1–4), (2) prayer (vv. 5–15), and (3) fasting (vv. 16–18). These three
  disciplines relate directly to God's righteousness.
6:2    The original meaning of “hypocrite” was “actor.” Hypocrites are play-actors
  practicing piety for show, desiring to please men rather than God. Wearing masks of
  compassion, inwardly they are heartless. Their reward is the applause of men and
  nothing more.
6:3-4      God is not impressed with what others think of us, nor by what we think of
  ourselves. God will reward good deeds when they are based on pure motives of the
  heart.
6:5-8    The hypocrites miss the spirit of prayer, which is an intimate, personal
  communion with God that leads to the vision of His glory (1Co 2:9). Hypocrisy blocks out
  this communion and this vision. Vain repetitions cannot establish this communion, for
  God does not need our “babble.” To partake of this communion, both silence and words
  are necessary. Therefore, we pray always (Lk 18:1) and without ceasing (1Th 5:17).
    Christ does not condemn the use of many words per se, but teaches that words must
  express the desire for communion with God. Jesus gives us specific words to repeat (vv.
  9–13). It is not repetition itself that is condemned, but vain repetition. Many psalms,
  prayers, and hymns of the Church have been repeated for countless generations in the
  worship of God “in spirit and truth” (Jn 4:23).
    True prayer is not telling God what He already knows and then telling Him what to do
  about it, nor is it appearing pious in front of others. True prayer is (1) humble (go into
  your room, v. 6), (2) personal (pray to your Father, v. 6), and (3) sincere (do not use
  vain repetitions, v. 7).
6:9   The Father-Son relationship within the Trinity reveals our potential relationship with
  God. Christ, the Son of God, grants us the privilege of calling God Our Father by the
  grace of adoption (Gal 4:4–7). As a “son of God,” the Christian is called to love, trust, and
  serve God as Christ does the Father. We must note that God is not our Father simply
  because He created us. He is only Father to those in a saving and personal relationship
  with Him, a communion that only comes by the grace of adoption (see Jn 1:13; Rom
  8:14–16).
6:11   Daily is a misleading translation of the Greek epiousios, which is literally “above the
  essence,” or “supersubstantial.” The expression daily bread indicates not merely bread
  for this day, for earthly nourishment; it is the bread for the eternal day of the Kingdom of
  God, for the nourishment of our immortal soul. This living, supersubstantial bread is
  Christ Himself. In the Lord's Prayer, then, we are not asking merely for material bread for
  physical health, but for the spiritual bread of eternal life (Jn 6:27–58).
6:12   The request to be forgiven is plural, directing us to pray always for the forgiveness of
  others. The term debts refers to spiritual debts (see 18:21–35; also note on v. 14).
6:13   God tempts no one to sin (Jam 1:13); temptations are from the evil one, the devil.
  Temptations are aimed at the soul's giving in to the sinful passions of the flesh (Rom
  7:5). No one lives without encountering temptations, but we pray that great temptations,
  tests beyond what we can bear (1Co 10:13), should not come to us.
6:14-15   Jesus insists on mutual forgiveness between people as a precondition of God's
  forgiveness. Those who do not forgive are not forgiven—period. This teaching is repeated
  in the parable of the unforgiving servant (18:21–35), which concludes with the same
  teaching. To not forgive others is to willfully flee from the forgiveness of God for
  ourselves.
6:16-18   Keeping a sad countenance to show off one's fasting is mere external display.
  Jesus rejects such hypocrisy. For the one who fasts, the compassion of God outshines the
  physical discomfort. During the fasting seasons of the Church, the hymns call the faithful
  to wash and anoint their faces (thus, there is no “Ash Wednesday” in the Orthodox
  Church). Fasting is for spiritual growth and the glory of God, not to be seen by those
  around us.
    Fasting also is not merely abstinence from food, but consists of self-denial in all areas
  of life in order to escape the control of the passions. On the eve of Great Lent, we sing,
  “Let us abstain from passions as we abstain from food.” St. John Chrysostom writes,
  “What good is it if we abstain from eating birds and fish, but bite and devour our
  brothers?”
6:19-21 By attaching themselves to treasures on earth, people cut themselves off from
  heavenly treasures. They become slaves to earthly things rather than free in Christ. The
  heart of discipleship lies in (1) disentangling ourselves from the chains of earthly things,
  and (2) attaching ourselves to God, the true treasure (v. 21).
6:22-23 The mind (Gr. nous) is the spiritual eye of the soul; it illuminates the inner man
  and governs the will. Keeping the mind wholesome and pure is fundamental to the
  Christian life.
6:24   As slaves serving two masters, people attempt to maintain an attachment to both
  earthly and heavenly things. But this is impossible, since both demand full allegiance.
  Jesus calls mammon (“riches”) a master not because wealth is evil by nature, but
  because of the control it has over people.
6:25-27   Jesus is warning against anxiety, not against thoughtful planning. Our physical
  well-being is directly dependent on God, and only indirectly on food, drink, and
  clothing. Anxiety over earthly things demonstrates a lack of faith in God's care.
6:32   Because the Gentiles served pagan idols, they remained consumed by dependence
  on earthly things. Those who follow God can be freed from this dependence.
6:33     The kingdom of God is the central theme of Jesus' teaching, and His
  righteousness is the subject of the Sermon on the Mount. Calling us to be free from
  anxiety about earthly things, Jesus directs us to look to heaven, secure in the faith that
  God will provide needed earthly blessings.
7:2   We will be judged with our own level of judgment because we are guilty of the very
  things we judge in others (Rom 2:1). We ourselves have failed in repentance and in
  fleeing from sin. To pass judgment is to assume God's authority. The second part of this
  verse is found in Mk 4:24 and in Lk 6:38, each in a different context, as Jesus no doubt
  repeated this particular message many times.
7:6   Dogs and swine refer to heathen peoples (Php 3:2; Rev 22:15), but would also include
  Jews who do not practice virtue. According to the Fathers, dogs are those so immersed in
  evil that they show no hope of change, while swine are those who habitually live immoral
  and impure lives. The pearls are the inner mysteries of the Christian faith, including
  Christ's teachings (13:46) and the great sacraments. These holy things are restricted from
  the immoral and unrepentant, not to protect the holy things themselves, for Christ needs
  no protection. Rather, we protect the faithless people from the condemnation that would
  result from holding God's mysteries in contempt (see note on Lk 23:8, 9).
7:7-11 The verbs ask, seek, and knock are present progressives: “be asking,” “be seeking,”
  “be knocking.” Note the synergy: our effort is commanded, but never apart from the
  immediate help of God. We ask in prayer; seek by learning God's truth; and knock by
  doing God's will.
7:11   Man is called evil not to condemn the whole race, but to contrast the imperfect
  goodness that is in people (that is, our goodness is mingled with sin) with the perfect
  goodness of God (see 19:16, 17). If imperfect and even wicked people can do some good,
  all the more will God work perfect good.
7:12   The “Golden Rule” fulfills the demands of the Law and the Prophets and is a
  practical application of the commandment to love one's neighbor as oneself (22:39, 40). It
  is a first step in spiritual growth. The negative form of the Golden Rule (“Don't do to
  others what you don't want them to do to you”) was well known in Judaism. Jesus' form
  is positive: this is the action that begins to draw us toward God (see note at Lk 6:31).
7:13-14 The description of the two ways was widespread in Judaism (Dt 30:15–20; Ps 1; Pr
  4:17, 18; 12:28; 15:23; WSir 15:17) and in early Christian writings (Didache, Barnabas).
  Luke's version (Lk 13:24–30) is more eschatological, referring to the end of the age.
  Because we wrestle against sins and human weaknesses as well as spiritual forces of evil
  (Eph 6:12), entering the Kingdom is the more difficult way.
7:15   Because they can easily deceive others, those who put on a show of virtue or religion
  are more dangerous than those who are evil outright. Thus, we must be all the more
  cautious among those who are outwardly virtuous.
7:19   John the Baptist made the same statement in 3:10.
7:21-22   A threefold testimony of the deity of Christ: (1) He calls Himself Lord—which
  refers to the divine name “Yahweh” of the OT; (2) He speaks of the will of My Father,
  which He fully knows and shares; (3) as judge, Christ is revealed as God, for only God can
  execute true judgment. In that day refers to the final judgment.
8:1-4   The biblical law concerning leprosy is found in Lv 13; 14. Dt 24:8 describes the
  purification of lepers and leprous houses, which was a duty entrusted to the priests.
  Leprosy was considered a direct punishment for sins, and as lepers were unclean, they
  were not permitted to live in the community or to worship in synagogues or the temple.
  Touching the unclean was forbidden (Lv 7:21), yet Jesus touched the leper, showing His
  compassion, and showing that He is not subject to the Law but over it. To the clean,
  nothing is unclean. (See also note at Lk 5:14.)
8:5   A centurion (a Gentile) commanded 100 men in a Roman legion. Jesus is the Savior
  of all, and in Him ethnic distinctions are void.
8:7   I will come has been read as a question by many Greek scholars: “Shall I come?”
  Regardless, Jesus is ready to deal graciously with this Gentile and even to enter his
  house, which would make Him unclean in the eyes of the Jews.
8:8-9   The centurion expresses unusual faith in calling Jesus, who is a Jew, Lord. The
  statement, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof,” is
  frequently quoted in liturgical texts as an ideal expression of humility.
8:10   Twice in the gospels it is said of Jesus that He marveled: (1) at the unbelief in His
  hometown of Nazareth (Mk 6:6), and (2) at the belief of this foreigner.
8:11-12   Here Jesus nullifies any ideas of ethnic superiority. The rejected sons of the
  kingdom are both the Jews who deny Christ and those raised in the Church who do not
  live their faith; outer darkness and weeping and gnashing are descriptions of the
  state of the unrighteous dead in Sheol (Hades) in the Jewish tradition (Enoch 103:8).
  They are common expressions in Matthew (13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30), and also occur
  in Luke (Lk 13:28).
8:14-17    This passage and 1Co 9:5 (where Peter is called Cephas) indicate Peter was
  married. Our Lord's healing miracles are diverse. In this case, He heals by touch; in v. 13,
  He healed by a word. This healing is immediate and complete; others are gradual (Mk
  8:22–25) or require the cooperation of the person healed or of his loved ones (Lk 8:54,
  55). As the quotation in v. 17 indicates, all of Christ's miracles manifest His redemption of
  ailing humanity.
8:20   Since the term Son of Man refers to the Messiah (Dan 7:13), it expresses both His
  humanity and His divinity. Here it refers to Christ's human condition; in 25:31–33 it
  describes His divine authority.
8:21-22 Jesus is not negating the command to honor parents, but is teaching us to put the
  things of the Kingdom as the highest priority. Those who ignore this priority are
  spiritually dead.
8:23-27   The Lord's mastery over creation is another sign that He is the Messiah and is
  divine. Commands to the sea and waves (v. 24) can only be issued by God (Job 38:8–11;
  Ps 65:5, 6; 106:29). Jesus was asleep because, as a man, he needed rest. In His
  Incarnation, He assumed all the natural actions of the flesh, of which sleep is one. The
  image of Christ and His disciples in a boat is traditionally used to illustrate the Church.
  God both permits storms and delivers us through them, so that we can see His protection
  more clearly. Christ's rebuke of the storm is also an illustration of His calming the
  tempests in the human soul.
8:28-34 The demons, recognizing Jesus as the Son of God, are surprised that their power
  is being terminated before the time of the last judgment. Though the malice of the
  demons is great, they can do nothing against the will of God, and thus can only enter the
  swine at Christ's command. The immediate destruction of the herd shows that the men
  had been protected by God's care; otherwise, they would have perished under the
  demonic influence. Further, it reinforces that swineherding was not lawful for the Jews,
  and shows the incomparable value of human beings, whose salvation is worth every
  sacrifice.
9:1   Jesus' own city is Capernaum (4:13).
9:2-8   As shown by the healing of the paralytic, faith is an indispensable condition for
  salvation. Faith is collective as well as personal, for the faith of the paralytic's friends
  helped in his healing (v. 2). Three signs of Jesus' divinity are shown: (1) He knows the
  secrets of hearts (see 1Kg 16:7; 2Ch 6:30); (2) He forgives sins, a power which belongs to
  God alone; and (3) He heals by the power of His word.
9:9-13 Matthew is also named Levi (Mk 2:14). Roman overlords assigned specific areas to
  Jewish tax collectors, who were free to collect extra revenues for their own profit. Their
  collaboration with the occupying Romans, their fraud, and their corruption caused other
  Jews to hate them and to consider them unclean (11:19). Jesus dining with them and
  accepting a tax collector as a disciple (“Follow Me”) offends the Pharisees, yet Christ's
  defense is simple: He goes where the need of the physician is greatest. “I desire mercy
  and not sacrifice” (v. 13; Hos 6:6) is not a rejection of sacrifice per se, but shows that
  mercy is a higher priority (see Ps 50).
9:14-17    The Jews typically fasted twice a week (Lk 18:12), on Monday and Thursday. In
  addition, public fasts were regularly observed or occasionally proclaimed (2Ch 20:3; 1Ez
  8:49, 50; Est 4:16; Joel 2:15), especially on the Day of Atonement (Lv 16:31–34) and in
  times of mourning (Zec 7:5; 8:19). But the Jews saw the day of the Messiah as a wedding
  feast—a time of joy and gladness. Jesus here proclaims that day, declaring Himself to be
  the Messiah/Bridegroom. For Christians, fasting is not gloomy but desirable, a bright
  sadness, for by fasting, they gain self-control and prepare themselves for the Wedding
  Feast.
    The old garment and old wineskins stand for the Old Covenant and the Law, viewed
  as imperfect and temporary; the new wineskins are the New Covenant and those in
  Christ. The new wine is the Holy Spirit dwelling within renewed people, who cannot be
  constrained by the old precepts of the Law.
9:18-26    Authority over life and death is in the hand of God alone (Dt 32:39; 1Kg 2:6).
  Being of one essence with the Father, Jesus has this authority (Jn 5:21). The healing of
  this woman demonstrates Christ's power to cleanse and heal (see 8:1–4). In the OT,
  hemorrhage caused ceremonial defilement, imposing religious and social restrictions, for
  contact with blood was strictly prohibited (Lv 15:25). This suffering woman, accounting
  herself unclean, nevertheless approaches Jesus secretly and with great faith. In v. 22,
  Jesus (1) brings her good cheer because of her faith; (2) corrects her thinking, for
  neither could she hide her touch from Him, nor is she excluded from Him because of her
  illness; and (3) exhibits her faith to all, so that they might imitate her.
9:27-33   According to Isaiah, the messianic age is signified when “the eyes of the blind
  shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall hear” (Is 35:5). These healings are a sign
  that Jesus is the awaited Messiah, as is the use of the title Son of David by the blind
  men, which expresses their faith in this truth.
9:34   To cast out demons by the ruler of demons is impossible, for the aim of the devil
  is to consolidate power, not destroy it. Further, Jesus cleansed lepers, raised the dead, and
  remitted sins—works demons could not perform.
9:36    Jesus does not condemn sinners, but sees them as lost sheep to be found and
  brought home. Compassion means “suffering with.” The illustration of sheep having
  no shepherd, drawn from the OT (Nm 27:17; 3Kg 22:17; Ezk 34:5), is an accusation
  against the Jewish leaders who, charged with the duty of shepherds, acted as wolves.
9:37-38     The harvest suggests the abundance of those who are ready to accept the
  Kingdom. Jesus is both the Sower and the Lord of the harvest. His disciples are sent
  not to sow, but to reap what He had sown by the prophets (see note at Jn 4:36–38). How
  many are sent to harvest is less important than with what power they go into the harvest
  (10:1).
10:1-4 Disciples (v. 1) and apostles (v. 2) are often used interchangeably for the twelve.
  Disciple means “learner,” and apostle means “one sent out.” Jesus gave them power to
  perform miracles, while He performed them by His own power. The names of the Twelve
  are not the same in all lists, as many people had more than one name. The names here
  are given in pairs, suggesting who may have traveled together on this “first missionary
  journey,” as Mark reports they were sent out two by two (Mk 6:7).
10:5-10   The disciples' mission is like Christ's: to preach (v. 7) and to heal (v. 8). Note
  that Jesus sends them only to the Jews. Christ's earthly ministry was focused on the Jews
  (15:24) so that, after the Resurrection, the Jews could not blame the disciples for going
  “to uncircumcised men” (Acts 11:3). Jesus prepares them to be single-minded in their
  mission to preach and heal: (1) He reminds them that His power is free—a gift from God
  (v. 8); and (2) He instructs them to carry no money (v. 9) so that they could not be
  accused of greed, and so they would learn dependence on God.
10:12-13 Christ commissions His servants to give a greeting of peace, the same peace that
  was proclaimed by the prophets (Is 52:7), that He would offer to the disciples (Jn 14:27;
  20:19), and that would be revealed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). To this day,
  Christ's peace is offered to the faithful in the Liturgy with the words, “Peace be to all.”
10:16   Jesus instructs the disciples to be wise as serpents so that they might not be
  unnecessarily wounded and that they might take all advantage in the spread of the gospel.
  He also tells them to be as harmless as doves so that they should not retaliate against
  those who do them wrong, and should be blameless in their witness of the gospel.
10:23   Persecution must not cause the disciple to quit, but simply to move forward in his
  mission. According to St. John Chrysostom, before the Son of Man comes is not a
  reference to the Second Coming, but merely means that before the disciples could visit all
  the cities in Palestine, Christ would rejoin them, thus more quickly ending the hostility
  they would encounter.
10:26   Them: persecutors of the disciples (see v. 17). Do not fear is repeated three times
  (vv. 26, 28, 31) to embolden the witness of the gospel in the face of adversity. Christian
  believers, then and today, must neither be intimidated by persecution nor fail in their
  mission to preach.
10:28   That there is no need to fear the killing of the soul shows the immortality of the
  human soul, which is ours by grace. Fear Him is a command to fear God (Pr 9:10; Lk
  1:50; 23:40; Acts 10:2; Col 3:22; 1Pt 2:17), for only God has the power to judge the soul.
  Christians are instructed to resist the devil (Jam 4:7), but not to fear him.
    Hell is literally “Gehenna.” In Jewish history, Gehenna (the Valley of Hinnom) became
  a place of forbidden religious practices (2Ch 28:3; Jer 39:35). King Josiah put an end to
  these practices (4Kg 23:10). By Christ's time, the valley had become a garbage dump that
  smoldered ceaselessly. Because of these associations, Gehenna acquired the connotation
  of eternal punishment in the afterlife.
10:34    Just before His most violent death on the Cross, Christ promised peace to His
  disciples. But the existence of evil necessitates spiritual warfare. The earth to which
  Christ came was under the authority of Satan (Jn 12:31; 2Co 4:4). It is therefore essential
  that Christ wage war against the leader of vice with weapons of virtue (Eph 6:11–18). See
  also note at Lk 12:51.
10:40-42    Apostles are ambassadors who represent the Lord. Therefore, all who extend
  help to them are showing mercy directly to Christ and will receive God's reward (see
  25:40).
11:3 According to the Church Fathers, John the Baptist asks this question in order to guide
  his own disciples to Jesus. Undoubtedly, John's own faith was also strengthened through
  Christ's response (vv. 4–6).
11:5   Isaiah predicted that these signs would accompany the coming of the Messiah (Is
  61:1). Jesus performed these miracles in the presence of John's disciples (Lk 7:21) so they
  could see with their own eyes works that only the Messiah could do.
11:11   In terms of the OT Law, John the Baptist is the greatest prophet. The New
  Covenant is of such incomparable value that those who share in the New Covenant are
  greater than John was without it (see note at Lk 7:28).
11:12   Several interpretations have been given to the idea that the kingdom of heaven
  suffers violence. Some say that it refers to the Jewish opposition to the gospel. Others
  have said that it refers to the Kingdom breaking into the world “violently,” that is, with
  great power and force. Still others have said that the Kingdom of heaven refers to Christ
  Himself, who has been incarnate since the days of John the Baptist, and who will
  suffer the violence of the Cross. According to St. John Chrysostom, the violent who take
  the Kingdom by force are those who have such earnest desire for Christ that they let
  nothing stand between themselves and faith in Him.
11:13-14   John does not ascribe to himself the role of Elijah (Jn 1:21), but Jesus does.
  John fulfilled the mission of Elijah (Lk 1:17, 76) and his destiny was similar. Yet John is
  honored over Elijah (v. 11) because John prepared the way for the advent of Christ
  Himself.
11:16-19 A reference to a game played among Jewish children who would divide into two
  groups: those pretending to play musical instruments or singing, and the others
  responding in a manner opposite of what would have been expected. Christ draws a
  parallel to the Jewish leaders who responded wickedly both to John the Baptist as being
  too ascetic (v. 18) and to Christ as being too liberal in mercy and joy (v. 19).
11:20-24 It is a far greater sin to have seen Christ's works and rejected Him than never to
  have known Him at all.
11:25   Blessed Theophylact notes that God has hidden the mysteries from the wise of the
  world, not out of malice toward His creatures, but because of their own unworthiness; it
  was they who chose to trust their own fallen wisdom and judgment rather than God.
  Furthermore, it is out of love that God withholds this revelation from those who would
  scorn it so that they do not receive an even greater condemnation (see notes for vv. 20–
  24; Lk 8:10).
11:28-30 Jesus' yoke is submission to the Kingdom of God. A yoke could be seen as a sign
  of hardship, burdens, and responsibilities (3Kg 12:1–11; Jer 34:1–11; WSir 40:1), but in
  Christ, the yoke is easy, for the power of God works in each person. Furthermore, the
  reward is infinitely greater than any effort man puts forth. Gentle (v. 29) is literally
  “meek” (see note on 5:5).
12:1, 2   The Pharisees are rigid in their legalism. While the Law allowed plucking a few
  heads of grain in a neighbor's field (Dt 23:25), they consider it “reaping” and therefore
  unlawful on the Sabbath.
12:3-5        Providing OT examples of blameless “violations” of the Sabbath, Jesus
  demonstrates the law is not absolute over human need or service to God. The partaking
  of the showbread by David and his men (1Kg 21:5–7) prefigures the Eucharist, which
  in the OT was forbidden to anyone except the priests, but in Christ is given to all the
  faithful.
12:6-8   As the Author of the Law, Jesus is Lord over all of it. As Lord, He teaches that
  mercy takes precedence over regulations, ordinances, and ritualistic observances.
12:16-21 Our Lord's refusal to fully disclose His identity as Messiah is foreseen by Isaiah
  (Is 42:1–4). The reasons for secrecy include: (1) the growing hostility of the Jewish
  leaders; (2) the people's misunderstanding of the Messiah as an earthly, political leader;
  and (3) our Lord's desire to evoke genuine faith not based solely on marvelous signs. The
  Servant (v. 18) refers first to Christ, and by extension to all who follow Him.
12:21   The mission to the Gentiles after Pentecost was foreseen by Isaiah (Is 42:4).
12:22-30 Beelzebub, or Baal, was the prince of “the dung heap” or lord of “the flies”—a
  god worshipped by the Philistines (4Kg 1:2–16). Here, he is called ruler of the demons
  (v. 24). The impossibility of demons fighting against themselves illustrates the irrational
  pride and envy of the Pharisees in their opposition to Jesus.
12:32 Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is blasphemy against the divine activity of the
  Spirit, blasphemy against pure goodness. A sin against the Son of Man is more easily
  forgiven because the Jews did not know much about Christ. But blasphemy against the
  Spirit, whose divine activity they knew from the OT, will not be forgiven because it comes
  from a willful hardness of heart and a refusal to accept God's mercy.
     The Fathers are clear that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not an “unforgivable
  sin”; nor does Jesus ever call this sin “unforgivable.” St. John Chrysostom teaches that
  blasphemy against the Holy Spirit would be forgivable if a person were to repent of it.
  Jesus makes this declaration knowing that those who blaspheme the Spirit are calling
  pure, divine goodness “evil,” and are beyond repentance by their own choice.
12:35   The heart in Scripture refers to the center of consciousness, the seat of the intellect
  and the will, and the place from which spiritual life proceeds. When God's grace
  permeates the heart, it masters the body and guides all actions and thoughts. On the
  other hand, when malice and evil capture the heart, a person becomes full of darkness
  and spiritual confusion.
12:39   Adulterous generation echoes the illustration used for Israel by the prophets
  when Israel was unfaithful to God (Jer 2; Hos 2:2–13).
12:43-45   When the Israelites were delivered out of Egypt, they did not repent of their
  impure ways, and an unclean spirit took up residence in their hearts (Dt 31:20; Ps
  105:34–39). Thus, we guard our hearts. Unless there is full repentance and the Holy
  Spirit dwells in a person, an expelled demon will return with others and reoccupy its
  abode.
12:46-50 Christ's relatives have not yet understood His identity and mission. He points to
  a spiritual family based on obedience to the will of My Father (v. 50).
      In Jewish usage, brother can indicate any number of relations. Abram called his
  nephew Lot “brother” (Gn 14:14); Boaz spoke of his cousin Elimelech as his “brother” (Ru
  4:3); and Joab called his cousin Amasa “brother” (2Kg 20:9). Christ Himself had no blood
  brothers, for Mary had but one Son: Jesus. The brothers mentioned here were either
  stepbrothers, sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, or cousins. Indeed, Jesus commits
  His mother to the care of John at the Cross (Jn 19:25–27), which would have been
  unthinkable if Mary had had other children to care for her.
13:3-9 In the OT, metaphors of sowing and harvesting are common (Ps 125:5; Jer 38:27–
  30; Hos 2:21–23; Joel 3:12–14), as this was a part of daily life. Here, Jesus reveals
  Himself as the promised Messiah, the sower in the earth, who had been foretold in Is
  55:10–13.
13:11   The mysteries of the kingdom are not merely obscure concepts or some religious
  truths only for the elite, nor is the understanding of the parables simply an intellectual
  process. Even the disciples find the message hard to understand. While Jesus taught the
  same message to all, it is the simple and innocent who are open to its message.
13:24-30   This parable builds on the previous parable of the sower. Here Christ gives
  attention to the enemy who has sown his seed among the seed of Christ. As falsehood
  came after truth and false prophets came after the true prophets, so the Antichrist will
  come after Christ. Just as the weeds first appear similar to wheat, so the devil fashions
  his lies to resemble the truth. That the devil sows while men slept indicates that heresy
  and lies creep in when people are apathetic.
     This parable also explains why the Church neither condemns nominal members, nor
  judges those outside the Church (1Co 5:12, 13). Just as wheat would be destroyed in
  weeding out the tares, so also, many people who might ultimately find salvation would
  otherwise be lost if condemned before Christ's judgment.
13:31-33   The mustard seed and the leaven represent the disciples who, according to
  Theophylact, began as just a few men, but “soon encompassed the whole earth.” These
  also stand for faith entering a person's soul, which causes an inward growth of virtue.
  This soul will become godlike and can receive even angels.
13:44-46     The parable of the treasure hidden in a field illustrates those who
  unintentionally stumble onto Christ and His Church, yet receive Him with great
  eagerness. The parable of the pearl of great price illustrates those who have been
  searching in their hearts for Him and finally find Him and His Church. The other pearls
  represent all the various teachings and philosophies of the world. These treasures are
  hidden in that they are neither recognized nor valued by those immersed in worldliness.
  In both parables, receiving the treasure requires that everything else must be sold, that
  is, a person must surrender all things in order to receive Christ.
13:47-50 The image of the fishing net gathering the good and wicked together is similar to
  the parable of the wheat and the tares (vv. 36–43). This parable further emphasizes that
  even those gathered into the Church are subject to judgment.
13:52   St. John Chrysostom notes that Jesus does not exclude the OT, but rather praises it
  as a treasure. Those who truly write or speak of the kingdom of heaven will draw
  from the unity of the new and old Testaments, for both are holy, with the New being the
  fulfillment of the Old. This indeed is how Matthew composed his gospel (see note 1:22).
14:13   According to Theophylact, when Jesus heard it refers not to John's death, but to
  Herod's comment that Jesus was John raised from the dead (v. 2), since the account of
  John's death is given parenthetically.
14:14-21   This miracle, reported by all four evangelists, shows Jesus feeding a great
  multitude of His people as He fed the Israelites in the desert (see Ex 16). The Church
  Fathers see in this an image of the Eucharist, an idea made clear in Jn 6. In 15:32–39,
  another miracle is mentioned in which Jesus feeds four thousand people with seven
  loaves and a few small fish. While certain modern scholars have attempted to say that
  these are merely the same story, the witness of the gospel is clear that they are two
  distinct accounts, with Christ Himself referring to both of them separately (16:8–10).
  Moved with compassion is used frequently concerning the Lord (20:34; Mk 1:41; 6:34;
  Lk 7:13), showing that His power and authority are extended to those who suffer.
    A spiritual interpretation given by the Fathers teaches that the five loaves indicate the
  five books of the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), which are broken open in Christ
  and thus feed the universe. The two fish represent the Gospel Book and the Epistle
  Book, the teaching of the fishermen. The gathering of the leftovers by the apostles (v. 20)
  shows that the teachings the faithful are unable to grasp are nevertheless held in the
  consciousness of the Church.
14:19   Jesus shows us that we should never eat without first giving thanks to God. The
  terminology points to the Last Supper (26:26) and leads to a eucharistic interpretation of
  this miracle. Just as the disciples distribute the bread to the multitudes, so also Christ
  feeds the Eucharist to His flock through the hands of His bishops and presbyters.
14:22-33 Only God has dominion over nature; thus, this miracle confirms the divinity of
  Christ. See also the notes at 8:23–27 and Lk 8:22–25.
14:27   This is the second time Christ permits His disciples to be caught in a storm (see
  8:23–27). The first time He was with them; here He had left them alone. In this way,
  Christ strengthens their faith that He will always be with them in the midst of the storms
  of life. It is I is literally translated “I Am,” which is the divine Name of God (see Jn 8:58);
  Christ reminds the fearful disciples of His absolute and divine authority over their lives.
14:28-30 Peter's faith allows him to walk on the water. Note that Peter does not ask to
  walk on water per se, but to come to Jesus; his desire is not to perform miracles but to be
  with the Lord. Peter is able to participate in this divine miracle as long as he keeps his
  focus on Christ. As soon as he is distracted, he begins to sink.
14:31   The Greek term for doubt here means “wavering” or “hesitation.” The cause of
  Peter's sinking was not the storm, but the doubt; thus Christ does not rebuke the wind,
  but Peter.
14:33   This is the first time the disciples confess that Jesus is the Son of God. Knowing
  that only God can be worshiped, they confess Christ's divinity by worshiping Him. The
  boat is symbolic of the Church.
14:36   Christ permits miracles through touch to show that His very body is life, and that
  contact with His flesh is life-creating (see 9:20–22).
15:1-20   The tradition of the elders (v. 2) refers to the interpretations of the Law by
  Jewish teachers. Jesus refutes their views that ritual purity depends on outward actions.
  Rather it is the state of the heart (v. 8) that determines a person's purity.
15:3-6   Christ shows that the commandment of God cannot be superseded by man's
  religious traditions. Devotion to God includes both obedience to His commandments and
  service to others—these two cannot be separated (see also Jam 2:14–18; 1Jn 4:7–21).
15:21-28 The story of ministry to this Gentile woman illustrates the Jewish orientation of
  Matthew's gospel. This account is also mentioned in Mk 7:24–30, but with two major
  differences: (1) Matthew records Christ's words concerning the lost sheep of the
  house of Israel (v. 24), while Mark does not, and (2) Matthew records the woman using
  the title Son of David, a Jewish term for the Messiah, while Mark does not. Christ went
  to the Gentile cities not to preach, but to withdraw from the faithless Pharisees. This is
  confirmed in Mark's gospel, where we read that Christ “wanted no one to know” He was
  there, and here, where Christ says that He was only sent to the house of Israel.
15:22   This woman shows immeasurable love—she so identifies with the sufferings of her
  daughter that she cries “Have mercy on me,” for she sees her daughter's well-being as
  her own and her daughter's sufferings as her own.
15:23   Christ refuses to answer, not only because she is a Gentile and His ministry before
  His Passion is first to the Jews, but also to reveal this woman's profound faith and love.
  Several of the Fathers see the disciples' request to send her away as an attempt to
  persuade Jesus to heal the daughter, as if to say, “Give her what she wants so that she will
  leave.” Christ's response indicates this interpretation is correct, for He again refuses to
  heal the daughter.
15:26-28    Having evoked this woman's love and persistent faith, Christ now reveals her
  humility. She accepts her place beneath the Jews, who were the chosen people of God, yet
  still desires a share in God's grace. Christ's hesitancy was not a lack of compassion, but a
  conscious means of revealing the virtues of this woman, both to the disciples and for her
  own sake.
    Her ultimate acceptance by Christ also points to the gathering of the Gentiles into the
  Church after Pentecost, no longer as dogs, but as children who are invited to eat the
  bread of eternal life.
15:29-31   Christ's healing of the multitudes here shows that these Jews actually had less
  faith than the Canaanite woman (vv. 21–28). Christ healed the woman “with much delay,
  but these immediately, because she is more faithful than they. He delays with her to
  reveal her perseverance, while here He bestows the gift immediately to stop the mouths
  of the unbelieving Jews” (JohnChr).
15:32-39 This second feeding of a multitude should not be confused with the first (14:22–
  33), for they are two distinct miracles (see 16:8–10). The variance in the number of loaves
  is significant. In the first instance, there were five loaves, symbolizing the Law, while
  here, there are seven (v. 34). Seven symbolizes completeness and here indicates spiritual
  perfection. Thus, in the first instance, Christ reveals Himself as fulfilling the Law, while
  here He shows that it is He who grants spiritual perfection. Note also these crowds had
  been with Christ for three days (v. 32), the number of days He would rest in the tomb.
  Participation in His perfection can only come through being united to Christ's death (see
  Rom 6:3–5).
16:1-3   A sign from heaven means a spectacular display of power. The time of the
  Messiah among the Jews was expected to be accompanied by signs, but these hypocrites
  have not recognized the signs already being performed because their hearts were
  hardened, and they ignored the works happening all around them.
16:5-12 The leaven of the Pharisees (v. 6) is their doctrine (v. 12) and their hypocrisy
  (Lk 12:2). The reason the disciples are painfully slow to understand is that they have such
  little faith (v. 8); they would not fully grasp Christ's teachings until Pentecost, when the
  Holy Spirit was given.
16:13-20 “Who do you say that I am?” (v. 15) is the greatest question a person can ever
  face, for it is the question that defines Christianity. Peter's correct answer to this question
  prevents the Christian faith from being seen as merely another philosophical system or
  path of spirituality, for it names Jesus as the one and only Son of the living God. This
  position excludes all compromise with other religious systems. Peter's understanding
  cannot be achieved by human reason, but only by divine revelation through faith (1Co
  12:3). Christ means “Anointed One,” and is equivalent to the Hebrew title “Messiah.”
    Note that Christ first draws out erroneous opinions about Himself (vv. 13, 14). He does
  this to identify these incorrect ideas, as a person is better prepared to avoid false
  teachings when they are clearly identified.
16:18    Peter/rock is a play on the word for “rock” in both Aramaic and Greek
  (petros/petra). This rock refers not to Peter per se, but to “the faith of his confession”
  (JohnChr). The true Rock is Christ Himself (1Co 10:4), and the Church is built on the
  faithful confession of Christ.
    Gates of Hades: powers of death. In the OT, gates suggest a fortified city (Gn 22:17;
  24:60; Is 14:31). By shattering its gates, Christ opens the stronghold of death to set free
  the souls of the righteous. So also, the Church shall not be stopped in her proclamation of
  salvation.
     The term church is mentioned only twice in all the gospels, here and in 18:17. This
  Church is the true Israel and the Body of Christ; her citizenship is heavenly.
16:19 Keys of the kingdom refers to a special authority that will be given to both Peter
  and the other apostles after the Resurrection (see 18:18; Jn 20:23). Peter was not a leader
  over the others, but among them. This truth was confirmed at the Council of Jerusalem
  (Acts 15) where the apostles and presbyters met as equals, and where Peter advised, but
  James presided. Papal claims in later centuries must not be confused with the NT witness
  regarding Peter, nor should the role of Peter be diminished in opposition to these claims.
       Binding and loosing is a reference primarily to the authority “to absolve sins”
  (JohnChr; see Jn 20:23), but it also includes all the teaching, sacramental, and
  administrative authority of the apostles. This authority was in turn transmitted to the
  bishops of the Church and continues in effect to this day.
16:21-23   After Peter's confession, Jesus reveals the true nature of His messiahship: the
  mystery of His Passion. It was expected that the Messiah would reign forever, so the idea
  that Christ would die was perplexing to Peter and remained scandalous to the Jews even
  after the Resurrection (1Co 1:23). Peter unwittingly speaks for Satan, as the devil did not
  want Christ to fulfill His mission and save mankind through suffering and death.
16:24     The cross, a dreaded instrument of Roman punishment, is also a symbol of
  suffering by Christians in imitation of Christ. We practice self-denial for the sake of the
  love of God and the gospel. Accepting this suffering is not a punishment, nor is it an end
  in itself, but a means to overcome the fallen world for the sake of the Kingdom and to
  crucify the flesh with its passions and desires (Gal 5:24).
16:25   The central paradox of Christian living is that in grasping for temporal things, we
  lose the eternal; but in sacrificing everything in this world, we gain eternal riches that are
  unimaginable (1Co 2:9).
16:26   What will a man give in exchange for his soul? This question emphasizes the
  utter foolishness of accumulating worldly wealth or power, for none of this can redeem
  man's fallen soul, nor benefit a person in the life to come.
16:28   This is a reference to those who would witness the Transfiguration (17:1–9), as well
  as those in every generation who will experience the presence of God's Kingdom.
17:1   A high mountain is often a place of divine revelation in Scripture (5:1; Gn 22:2; Ex
  19:3, 23; Is 2:3; 2Pt 1:18).
17:2   See the article, “The Transfiguration”; see also note at Lk 9:31.
17:14-16   Sickness in Scripture is often connected to demonic activity. By kneeling, this
  father shows humility, but he lacks faith. While the disciples also lacked faith (v. 20),
  Christ rebukes the man for placing the blame on the disciples when it was his greater lack
  of faith that prevented the boy's healing. In effect, Jesus defends His disciples in front of
  the multitudes but later rebukes them privately (vv. 19–21), teaching us that we ought
  first to correct people in private (see 18:15–17).
17:19-21 St. John Chrysostom notes this rebuke is directed at the nine disciples who could
  not cast out the demon, whereas “the pillars” of faith—Peter, James, and John (Gal 2:9)—
  were not included in the rebuke, as they had been on the mountain with Christ (v. 1).
      This kind (v. 21) refers to all powers of darkness, not simply those that cause a
  particular illness. The banishment of demons requires faith (v. 20), prayer, and fasting
  (v. 21), for there is no healing and no victory in spiritual warfare without all three.
  Beginning with the Didache, the Fathers have taught that both the person in need of
  healing and the person performing the healing must believe, pray, and fast. On moving a
  mountain, see note at 21:21.
17:22-23 Jesus predicts His death and Resurrection a second time (see 16:21) to show that
  He is going to His Passion freely and not being taken against His will.
17:24-27 The temple tax was an annual head tax on all male Jews (except the priests)
  over twelve years of age for the maintenance of the temple (see Nm 3:43–51). Since Jesus
  is the Son of God, He is both High Priest and “proprietor” of the temple, and thus is
  exempt from the tax. Nevertheless, He pays it anyway, both to avoid unnecessary offense
  and to show that He has totally identified Himself with mankind.
18:1-4 This question indicates a selfish interest in worldly power. Pointing to a little child
  as the model of true discipleship, Jesus emphasizes the virtues required for entrance into
  the kingdom of heaven: humility, dependence, lowliness, simplicity, obedience, and a
  willingness to love and be loved. In Orthodox iconography, St. Ignatius of Antioch is
  depicted as this child. In certain legends of saints, he is the boy who gave the loaves and
  fishes (Jn 6:9).
18:6   Little ones include all who have childlike humility and simplicity, all who are poor
  in spirit.
18:8   See also 5:29. The reference to mutilation is an illustration of decisive action to avoid
  sin and does not advocate literal amputation. This also refers to harmful relationships
  that must be severed for the salvation of all parties (see Lk 14:26; 1Co 5:5).
18:12   Unlike earthly shepherds, Christ sees such value in one sheep that He will leave the
  others at risk to save it. The ninety-nine sheep represent the righteous who remain
  faithful to God (Lk 15:7). According to certain Fathers, this is also an image of the
  Incarnation in which the ninety-nine represent the angels in heaven; Christ descended
  from heaven to pursue the one sheep—man—who had fallen into corruption on earth.
18:15-20   Church discipline is based on mutual correction in three expanding stages. Sin
  and correction are to remain private unless the offender refuses to repent. All correction
  must be done with great care and humility, with the highest concern being the salvation
  of the offender (see 1Co 5:5; Gal 6:1). Nevertheless, correction must take place so that the
  sin does not spread to others as well.
18:17 Church: See the glossary.
18:18-20 The authority to bind and loose sins is given to the apostles and transmitted to
  the bishops and presbyters they ordained. This authority is given for the sake of the
  salvation of the sinner. The sinner, “seeing that he is not only cast out of the Church, but
  that the bond of his sin will remain in Heaven, he may turn and become gentle”
  (JohnChr).
18:21-35     Seventy times seven: Symbolic of an unlimited amount. This parable
  illustrates the need for unlimited forgiveness. Ten thousand talents (v. 24) is an
  impossible sum, more than a laborer could earn in several lifetimes. A hundred denarii
  (v. 28) is a significant amount from an earthly perspective (about three months' wages),
  yet it is a pittance when compared to the debt owed the king. God not only stays the
  punishment we deserve, but forgives us the entire debt as well (v. 27). Because God
  forgives us, we in turn are required to grant the gift of forgiveness to others.
18:25   Certain Fathers give a spiritual interpretation to the punishment described here.
  The man represents the soul, the wife represents the body, and the children represent a
  person's deeds. Thus, the body and the deeds are given over to slavery, that is to Satan, so
  that the soul might possibly be saved (see 1Co 5:5).
19:10-12 Christ steers the disciples toward understanding the holiness of virginity, not as a
  rejection of marriage, but as a special calling for those to whom it has been given.
  Eunuchs were men who had been castrated, whether by birth defect, disease, or
  mutilation, and were often employed to guard women of nobility. Here, Jesus uses the
  term figuratively for those who freely choose lifelong celibacy for the sake of the
  kingdom of heaven. This consecrated virginity is not to be confused with self-
  mutilation, which the Church condemned at the First Ecumenical Council (AD 325). See
  also 1Co 7:7, 25–38.
19:16-17 This man does not come to test Jesus, but to seek advice from one he considers
  no more than a good Teacher. Christ's response (v. 17) does not deny that He is God,
  but is designed to lead the rich man to this knowledge.
19:20   Formal observance of commandments does not make one righteous before God.
  This man had an earnest desire for eternal life and sensed that he still lacked something;
  thus, he continues to press Jesus for the answer.
19:21   To be perfect, one must willingly sacrifice all and follow Christ. Nothing is gained
  unless this sacrifice is given freely. The specifics of how one follows Christ will be
  different for each person. Because wealth had such a grip on this rich man, his only hope
  was to sell and give away all his possessions. St. John Chrysostom tells us that giving
  away possessions is the least of Christ's instructions here; following Him in all things is a
  far greater and more difficult calling.
19:23-26    Various interpretations have been suggested for the impossible image of a
  camel going through the eye of a needle: e.g., that the word was not camel, but “rope”;
  or that the eye of a needle was a city gate through which a camel might barely squeeze if it
  were first unloaded of all its baggage, symbolizing wealth. Even the Talmud uses the
  expression “for an elephant to go through the eye of a needle.” Whatever the phrase
  refers to, it displays the impossibility of salvation for those who are attached to riches.
  This is clearly evidenced by the disciples' response, “Who then can be saved?” Yet by
  God's grace, even what is impossible to man can come to pass.
19:29    Christ is not commanding believers to divorce spouses and abandon children.
  According to St. John Chrysostom, this refers to keeping faith under persecution even if it
  means to lose one's family. It also means to accept that unbelieving family members may
  cut off ties because of the believer's faith (see 1Co 7:12–16). Believers are promised a
  hundredfold of houses and relatives not in an earthly sense, but in a spiritual sense—
  the fathers and mothers of the Church, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and houses of
  worship and fellowship.
20:1-16 In this parable, the vineyard is life in this world. The day refers both to the span
  of a single person's life and to the whole of human history. The laborers are all the
  people in every nation. Each hour can refer to times in a person's life, whether infancy,
  youth, adulthood, maturity, or old age. It also has a second meaning in the span of
  history, referring to those called during the covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham,
  Moses, and finally Christ.
     God's generosity provides equal reward for both early and late comers. Jesus teaches
  that the former should not be proud of their long service nor resent those called at the
  eleventh hour. To the latecomers, He teaches that it is possible even in a short time or
  at the end of one's life to recover and inherit everything.
     In the early Church, this message applied specifically to the Jews (the first-called) and
  the Gentiles (those called later). In our day, it can be applied to those raised in the
  Church and to those who find the Church later in life, both of whom receive an equal
  reward. St. John Chrysostom's renowned paschal sermon is based on this parable,
  applying it to the preparations of each person in approaching the paschal Eucharist.
20:17-19      Christ's repeated prediction of His Passion was meant to encourage and
  strengthen the disciples for the terrifying events they would face. It is as if Christ were
  saying, “Think on all these [words and miracles], so that when you see me hanging on the
  Cross, you will not imagine that I am suffering because I am powerless to do otherwise”
  (Theoph).
20:20-23 This quest for temporal power and glory is unfitting for a disciple and shows an
  earthly misunderstanding of the Kingdom of God. Matthew reports that the mother of
  Zebedee's sons requested this honor, but John's and James' own involvement is
  revealed by the plural you in v. 22, and in Mk 10:35.
    Christ calls His Crucifixion a cup and His death a baptism. The Cross is a cup because
  He drank it willingly (Heb 12:2). His death is baptism, for He was completely immersed
  in it, yet it cleansed the world (Rom 6:3–6). Christ's prophecy of John and James
  participating in the same cup and baptism shows the life of persecution and martyrdom
  they would lead after Pentecost.
     Christ declaring that the places of honor in the Kingdom are not His to give does not
  mean that He lacks authority. Rather, it means that they are not His to give arbitrarily.
  Instead, He will give them to those for whom God has prepared them. Note also that with
  regard to sitting as equals on the right and left hand of Christ in His Kingdom, St. John
  Chrysostom teaches that no one could possibly occupy such a position. With regard to the
  highest places of honor that can be given to man, the icons of the Church universally
  depict the Virgin Mary (the most blessed among women—Lk 1:28) and John the Baptist
  (the greatest born of women—11:11) holding these places.
20:30 The two blind men greet Jesus as Lord, the common title for God, and Son of
  David, a title deeply associated with the Messiah. Even though Jesus knows what we
  want before we ask, He calls us to ask freely so that we might learn of His mercy.
     The Fathers also give a spiritual interpretation to this miracle, with the blind men
  symbolizing future generations who would come to faith only by hearing, without the
  benefit of seeing Christ in person (see Jn 20:29). Those who tried to silence the blind
  men are persecutors and tyrants who, in every generation, try to silence the Church.
  Nevertheless, under persecution, the Church all the more confesses Jesus Christ.
21:1-11   Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem is celebrated by the Church on Palm
  Sunday. By Christ's time, Jewish nationalism had led to the expectation of a political
  Messiah to deliver them from Roman control and to reestablish David's kingdom. In
  humility, Jesus shows that He has not come to establish an earthly kingdom. He does not
  ride on a horse nor in a chariot, but on a donkey—a sign of humility and peace (Zec 9:9).
  This entrance into the Holy City declares the establishment of the Kingdom of God. It is
  also a promise of Christ's final entrance into the heavenly Jerusalem with all believers
  and of His accepting the New Jerusalem as His pure Bride (Rev 21:2).
21:2   Matthew reports a colt as well as a donkey. The Fathers see the two animals as
  representing the faithful Jews and the Gentiles who are brought together in the Kingdom.
  At Vespers of Palm Sunday, we sing, “Your riding on a foal prefigured how the untamed
  and uninstructed Gentiles would pass from unbelief to faith.”
21:8   The people who spread their clothes before Jesus did so as paying reverence to a
  King. It is spiritually interpreted as our need to lay down our flesh, and indeed our very
  lives, for Christ.
21:9   This cry comes from Ps 117:25, 26, which was associated with messianic expectation.
  It was recited daily for six days during the Feast of Tabernacles, and seven times on the
  seventh day as branches were waved. Hosanna means, “Save, we pray!”
21:12-13   Those who bought and sold were trading in live animals to be used for
  sacrifices. The money changers traded Roman coins for Jewish coins since Roman
  coins, which bore the image of Caesar, were considered defiling in the temple. The
  cleansing of the temple also points to the necessity that the Church be kept free from
  earthly pursuits. As each person is considered a temple of God (1Co 3:16; 6:19), it is also a
  sign that our hearts and minds must be cleansed of earthly matters.
21:15-16   “Keep the feast with the children, and holding branches in your hands, sing
  ‘Hosanna’”—so we declare at Vespers of Palm Sunday. Many liturgical hymns of this day
  emphasize the perfect praise of the children, which unlike that of the adults, was
  innocent, fitting, unashamed, and from hearts of pure love. We are called to glorify Christ
  in the same spirit (see 18:1–4). In contrast, the adults' praise carried earthly expectations
  and agendas which, when left unfulfilled, led them to rebel against Jesus just five days
  later (27:20–23).
21:19   The fig tree, a symbol of prosperity and peace, withers because it is fruitless. This is
  a prophetic act directed toward the Jews, since after three years of Christ's preaching,
  teaching, and healing, both the leaders and the crowds were destitute of spiritual fruit. He
  curses the tree also to warn those in every generation of what will befall anyone who fails
  to listen to His message.
21:21   While it is not recorded that an apostle literally moved a mountain, the Fathers are
  clear that they had this authority if the need had arisen (certain saints did make crevices
  appear in mountains). Furthermore, not everything the apostles accomplished was
  written down. Beyond the literal meaning, this promise is also an illustration of the
  power of faith and prayer in all areas of life. “Whatever we ask, without hesitation and
  believing in God's power, we shall receive” when we ask for spiritually profitable things
  (Theoph).
21:23-27 Since Christ is not a Levitical priest, the chief priests and the elders challenge
  His authority to cleanse the temple. As Christ is careful not to reveal Himself to
  scoffers, He confounds them with a different question about John. Both the elders'
  question and Christ's question require the same answer, and thus would lead a person to
  confess that Jesus has come from heaven. By not answering them directly, Christ teaches
  us not to answer people who come asking about holy things with a malicious intent.
21:31   Using their own principles, the elders convict themselves in their answer to Christ's
  parable.
21:44   This stone is Christ. According to St. John Chrysostom, this saying illustrates the
  two ways of destruction. Those falling on the stone are people who suffer the
  consequences of their sins while yet in this life, whereas those on whom the stone falls
  are unrepentant people suffering utter destruction in the final judgment.
22:1-14 Like the preceding parables, this one also proclaims the transfer of the Kingdom
  from the faithless Jews to the Gentiles. It is set as a joyful wedding banquet (v. 2; see
  25:1–13), for Christ is often called the “Bridegroom” (9:15; Jn 3:29), and St. Paul uses a
  marriage analogy for the Kingdom (Eph 5:21–33).
      The repeated sending out of servants shows the Father's great desire to have His
  people with Him in the Kingdom. The first group (v. 3) is interpreted to be Moses and
  those with him, while the second group (v. 4) is composed of the prophets. These groups
  call those initially invited—the Jews. The third group (v. 9) represents the apostles sent to
  the Gentiles, those not initially invited, but now called.
22:4    The oxen represent the sacrifices of the Old Covenant, while the fatted cattle
  represent the eucharistic bread of the New Covenant. (Fatted is better translated “wheat-
  fed,” or even more literally “formed from wheat”; see note at Lk 15:23.) Thus, both the
  Old and New Covenants are fulfilled at the wedding of Christ and His Church.
22:7   Burned up their city: St. John Chrysostom teaches that Christ is prophesying the
  destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70, and thus attributes this destruction to
  an act of God rather than simply to that of men. Nevertheless, God showed His patience
  by waiting some 40 years from the time of Christ, giving the entire generation a chance to
  repent.
22:11-13 The wedding garment would have been provided by the king, and therefore the
  man had no excuse for not wearing one; thus he is speechless. His refusal to wear the
  garment that was provided is an illustration of those who refuse God's hospitality, or who
  want His Kingdom on their own terms. Specifically, the garment refers to the baptismal
  garment, and by extension, a life of faith, repentance, virtue, and charity. Without these, a
  person will ultimately be cast into outer darkness.
22:23-33 You are mistaken (v. 29): Christ confirms that there will be a resurrection, but
  not of the sort the Sadducees are imagining. They consider the resurrection to be a
  continuation of earthly life (including earthly marriage), and thus mock such a doctrine
  with an absurd scenario. However, they are ignorant of the Scriptures, which reveal a
  complete transfiguration of life in the resurrection, making such earthly questions
  irrelevant. Furthermore, they fail to understand how Abraham and his sons can be alive
  in God even if they are physically dead. It is the clear teaching of Christ that the souls of
  the faithful who have departed this life are sustained before the face of God in
  anticipation of the final joy of the resurrection.
22:35-40    The Pharisees had found 613 commandments in the Scriptures and debated
  about which one was central. Jesus sets forth the first and the second, which constitute
  the grand summary of the Law. Though the lawyer has come with malice to test the
  Lord, we know from St. Mark's account that this man is converted by Christ's answer (Mk
  12:28–34).
22:39   This second commandment must be understood as written: You shall love your
  neighbor as yourself, or more clearly, “as being yourself.” It is often misinterpreted,
  “You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself,” which destroys the force of the
  statement. How much we love ourselves is not the standard by which Christ is calling us
  to love others. Rather, we are called to love our neighbor as being of the same nature as
  we ourselves are, as being created in God's image and likeness just as we are. As the
  Fathers teach, we find our true self in loving our neighbor.
22:41-46   Christ asks this question to lead the Pharisees to the only logical conclusion:
  that He is God incarnate. They supposed the Messiah to be a mere man, and therefore
  reply that the Messiah would be a Son of David. David, as king of Israel, could not and
  would not address anyone as “Lord” except God. Yet in Ps 109:1, David refers to the
  Messiah as “Lord.” Therefore, the Messiah must be God. The only possible conclusion is
  that the Messiah is a descendant of David only according to the flesh, yet is also truly
  divine, sharing His Lordship with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees do
  not answer because they realize the implications and are afraid to confess Jesus to be
  the Son of God. See also note at Lk 20:41–44.
23:1-39 Jesus spoke His final public sermon, a grand critique of the ways of the scribes
  and Pharisees. Several themes include: (1) The Jewish leaders have God-given authority
  and teach God's Law, but are personally ungodly and cold-hearted. Their teaching is to be
  honored, but they are not to be imitated (vv. 2–7). (2) God is our true Father and Teacher.
  A teacher or father on earth is one who leads people to God. The scribes and Pharisees do
  the opposite, placing themselves in God's position (vv. 8–12). (3) In His eightfold
  indictment of the scribes and Pharisees (vv. 13–36), Jesus charges them with inverting
  God's values and with being mean-spirited, judgmental, greedy, ambitious, absorbed in
  externals, and blindly self-righteous. While these charges were directed against the
  Jewish leaders of the day, every word applies equally to those in the Church who behave
  in this way.
23:2-3   To sit in Moses' seat means to hold the succession of office down from Moses
  himself. In the synagogue, the teacher spoke while seated as a sign of this authority. St.
  John Chrysostom notes that the scribes were depraved in thought and in heart, yet Jesus
  still upholds the dignity of their office, for they speak not their own words but God's.
  Likewise within the Church, the clergy are to be shown respect because they hold the
  apostolic office, even though they too are sinners. Furthermore, the sins of the clergy do
  not relieve the people from their responsibilities before God.
23:5   Phylacteries are small leather pouches containing passages of Scripture worn on
  the arm or forehead. The idea was to keep God's Law always in mind (see Ex 13:9), but
  the Pharisees had used them as a show of false piety, making them increasingly larger
  and more noticeable.
23:8-10 Christ's warning against calling hypocrites father and teacher is not an absolute
  prohibition against using these terms, as some teach. These terms are applied to men
  many times in the NT, all of which usages are inspired by God. Teacher is used in Jn 3:10;
  Acts 13:1; 1Co 12:28; Eph 4:11; and 2Ti 1:11. Father is used in Lk 16:24; 1Co 4:15; and Col
  3:21. Since the very early days of the Church, bishops and presbyters have been called
  “father” not because they take the place of God, but because in their fatherly care for their
  flocks, they lead people to God, and they exercise fatherly authority within the
  community.
23:13   Because the example of a leader can be so influential, leaders who do not love God
  can hinder others from finding Him as well. Thus, leaders are held to a higher standard
  (Jam 3:1).
23:23-33 These warnings are especially important to Orthodox Christians. The Church has
  maintained the ancient practices of tithing (These you ought to have done, v. 23; see
  also St. John Chrysostom's homily on Eph 2 and ch. 9 of the Didascalia Apostolorum);
  sacred vessels (v. 25); holy rites (v. 27); and following the tradition handed down from
  our fathers. These practices can be expressions of deep faith, lead a person to deeper
  commitment to God, and safeguard our life in Christ, or they can be observed without
  ever taking them to heart and lead to condemnation.
23:24   The Pharisees would attach strainers to the mouths of decanters in order to avoid
  accidentally consuming a ritually unclean substance.
23:37-39   God's deepest desire is the reconciliation of His people, yet most do not want
  Him. The desolate house (v. 38) refers both to the temple and to the nation itself, for
  house can be used to mean “family” or “tribe” (see Ps 113:20; 134:19). Both the temple
  and the nation will be without God's presence once Christ departs.
24:1, 2   Christ's prophecy of the destruction of the temple was fulfilled in AD 70, when
  the temple was destroyed by the Romans (see note at 22:7).
24:3-31    The Scriptures describe the end times in a variety of ways, so that no precise
  chronology can be determined (see Dan 7–12; Mk 13; Lk 21; 1Co 15:51–55; 1Th 4:13–17;
  2Th 2:1–10; and the Book of Revelation). The Lord's emphasis is on watchfulness and the
  practice of virtue rather than on constructing timetables of things that have not yet
  happened. In Matthew's account here, the end is described as encompassing (1) the initial
  sorrows (vv. 4–14), (2) the great tribulation (vv. 15–28), and (3) the coming of the Son of
  Man (vv. 29–31). The period of the great tribulation includes the entire Christian era and
  is not limited to the final years before Christ's return.
24:4-5    The warnings against deception are given the most emphasis. Of particular
  importance is the warning against following a false Christ, which Jesus stresses again in
  vv. 11, 23–27.
24:6   The wars here refer first and foremost to the Roman destruction of Jerusalem, but
  certainly include subsequent wars. Wars are not a sign of the imminent end, but of the
  opposite—that the end is not yet (see 1Th 5:1–3).
24:14   All these calamities and all this opposition cannot stop the spread of the gospel,
  and indeed, persecutions against the Church often increase the number of souls being
  converted. St. John Chrysostom marvels that while the Romans subdued countless Jews
  in a political uprising, they could not prevail over twelve Jews unarmed with anything
  except the gospel of Jesus Christ.
24:15   Daniel's prophecy of the abomination of desolation (Dan 9:23) was fulfilled in
  AD 70, when the Roman general Titus entered the Most Holy Place and had a statue of
  himself erected in the temple before having the temple destroyed. The Lord's phrase
  when you see indicates that many of the disciples would still be alive at that time. The
  words whoever reads, let him understand are commonly understood to be inserted
  by Matthew into Christ's address as an encouragement to his early Christian flock, who
  may have witnessed this event.
24:20    The severity of winter weather or respect for the Sabbath would prevent many
  faithful from fleeing quickly in a time of desperation. A spiritual interpretation given by
  the Fathers sees the Sabbath as symbolizing idleness with regard to virtue, and winter as
  indicating fruitlessness with regard to charity. Thus, the person who departs this life in
  such a spiritual state will suffer judgment.
24:27    In what manner will Christ come back? The event will be unmistakable to the
  whole world. If there is any question or doubt, that alone is evidence that He has not
  returned. As Christ's return will shine from the east, so Orthodox Christians whenever
  possible worship facing eastward in symbolic hope and anticipation of His second and
  glorious coming.
24:29   According to the Fathers, the sun will not be destroyed, but darkened in relation
  to the glory of Christ. In other words, the sun will appear to be dark by comparison when
  Christ returns in the fullness of His splendor.
24:30   The sign of the Son of Man is the Cross, which will be revealed as the standard
  for Christ's impending judgment. While at His first coming, Christ came in humility and
  mortality, at His second coming, He will be revealed in power and great glory (see
  note at Est 6:6–9).
24:31   They will gather: See 1Th 4:13–18.
24:34   This generation refers to all believers at all times, the generation of the Church,
  and not merely to those alive at the time of Christ.
24:36 According to St. John Chrysostom, Christ tells of the angels being unaware of the
  exact day of His return “so that men should not seek to learn what angels do not know,”
  and to forbid them not only from learning the day, but from even inquiring about it.
     According to Mk 13:32, and in Chrysostom's Matthew text, Jesus declares that the Son
  also does not know the day of His own return. Chrysostom teaches this is not to be
  understood literally, but is a figure of speech meaning that Christ, though He revealed all
  the signs that will accompany His return, will not reveal the exact day to anyone, and that
  believers should not be so brazen as to inquire of Him.
24:37-41   The second coming of Christ will entail a sudden revelation of judgment. One
  will be taken to heaven and the other left for eternal condemnation. This separation of
  the saints from the wicked will occur at the coming of the Son of Man (v. 39), and
  not, as some teach today, at a certain time before His second coming.
24:42-44 The Lord's purpose in this discourse is not to make people experts on end-time
  prophecy. Rather, it is so they may watch (v. 42) and be ready (v. 44), continuing in
  virtue and obeying Christ's commandments. This warning is illustrated in the parable of
  the returning master (vv. 45–51).
25:1-13    This parable illustrates the need for being spiritually prepared while the
  bridegroom—Christ—is delayed in His return (v. 5). The Kingdom is often portrayed as
  a marriage (see 22:1–14 and note) between Christ and His Church. The marriage will be
  consummated at the end of the age when the Bridegroom returns to escort His Bride—the
  Church—into the eternal wedding banquet.
    This parable is primarily about the virtue of charity and almsgiving, as oil and “mercy”
  have the same root in Greek. The wise virgins are those who practice charity and mercy
  in this life, while the foolish are those who squander God's gifts on themselves.
     The fact that all the virgins slumbered and slept indicates death: in this world the
  virtuous will die alongside the wicked. The cry at midnight indicates the Second
  Coming, when the wicked will arise with the righteous for judgment. The inability of the
  righteous to share their oil is not to be interpreted as a lack of generosity. Rather, it is an
  illustration of (1) the impossibility of entering heaven without one's own faith and virtue,
  and (2) the impossibility of changing one's state of virtue after death (see Lk 16:26).
    The themes of this parable and the one before it (24:45–51) are woven together in the
  liturgical hymns of Holy Week, particularly in the troparion hymn for Holy Monday,
  Tuesday, and Wednesday, which begins, “Behold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight, and
  blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching.”
25:14-30   This parable illustrates the use of gifts given by God. Even one talent was a
  great sum of money; here it represents the goodness God has bestowed on each person.
  The amount each receives is based on that person's abilities (Rom 12:4–7). God does not
  show partiality in the ultimate reward, for all are invited to share the same joy (vv. 21,
  23).
    The wicked and lazy servant (v. 26) could not evade responsibility for ignoring his
  talent, for idleness is as much a rejection of God as outright wickedness. Burying the
  talent in the ground (v. 18) is an illustration of using one's God-given gifts for earthly
  pursuits. The bankers (v. 27) represent other faithful people to whom the man could
  have turned to help him use his talents wisely. Since help was available to him in the
  Church, the man has no excuse.
25:31-46 Here is the majestic climax of the discourse, which is not simply a parable, but a
  prophecy of the universal judgment that will indeed come. Since the Cross is now near to
  Him, Jesus raises the hearer to the sight of the glory of the Son of Man on His judgment
  seat and the whole world before Him.
     The standard of judgment is uncalculated mercy toward others. The works produced by
  faith are emphasized, for saving faith always produces righteous works. What we do
  reflects our true inner state. The least (v. 40) refers to all the poor and the needy. The
  needs described in this parable include both physical and spiritual needs. Thus, the
  hungry or thirsty (v. 44) are not only those who need food and drink, but also those
  who hunger and thirst for the hope of the gospel.
25:32    Christ uses sheep to illustrate the righteous, for they follow His voice and are
  gentle and productive. Goats indicate the unrighteous, for they do not follow the
  shepherd and they walk along cliffs, which represent sin.
25:34   Inherit is a term used with regard to sons and daughters rather than strangers or
  servants, for the righteous become children of God by adoption (Gal 4:4–7).
25:40   To see Christ in everyone is the fulfillment of the great commandment to love your
  neighbor as yourself (22:39).
25:41   That the fire was prepared for the devil shows that God did not create hell for
  man; rather, people choose this torment by their coldness of heart.
26:2   Jesus is delivered up to His Passion by His accusers, yet He goes willingly. Unless
  Christ had willed to go, His accusers could never have taken Him. After His Resurrection,
  many saints imitated Christ by willingly going to martyrdom.
26:6-13 Jesus accepts this honor from the woman in her newly found faith. In particular,
  He accepts it as a sign of His coming burial (v. 12). Nevertheless, according to St. John
  Chrysostom, the disciples were not wrong in principle: mercy shown to the poor is
  more fitting than outward signs shown even to God (25:40; Jam 1:27). However, they did
  not understand that once the gift had been given, it was a greater mercy to accept it with
  love. “If anyone had asked Christ before the woman did this, He would not have approved
  it. But after she had done it, He looks only to the gift itself. For after the fragrant oil had
  been poured, what good was a rebuke? Likewise, if you should see anyone providing a
  sacred vessel or ornament for the walls of the church, do not spoil his zeal. But if
  beforehand he asks about it, command him to give instead to the poor” (JohnChr).
26:6   Simon the leper must have been healed by Jesus earlier, for lepers were forbidden
  to live in towns.
26:13    Because of her fervent faith, Jesus promises perpetual public memory of this
  woman. There is no consensus among the Fathers as to her identity in relation to
  accounts of similar events in Mk 14:3–9; Lk 7:36–38; and Jn 12:1–8. Some Fathers say
  that there were three different women in these four accounts, others that there were only
  two.
26:14-16    Judas on his own initiative seeks to betray Jesus. His motives have been
  debated, but the Fathers and the liturgical hymns declare that greed was his primary
  motive. This is revealed in Jn 12:4–6, where Judas was particularly upset about the
  “waste” of myrrh in the preceding story because he was a thief (see also 1Ti 6:10).The
  phrase one of the twelve is not used so much to identify Judas, who was already known
  by Matthew's hearers, but to emphasize the depth of the betrayal—that it was one of
  Christ's closest followers.
26:17-19 The Passover commemorates God's deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt
  to the Land of Promise. It prefigures the Passion of Christ, the new Passover (Gr.
  Pascha), God's redemption of all humanity from sin and death, and entrance into the
  promised Kingdom. Whether the first day of the Feast was Passover or the day before
  Passover is debated among the Fathers (see also note at Jn 19:14). What is certain is that
  Jesus regarded the meal with the disciples to be the Passover meal.
26:24-25 That it is written of Him does not cancel Judas' responsibility. God foresees
  but does not cause the evil actions of humans, who always have free will (see also note at
  Lk 22:3). Jesus lets Judas accuse himself, yet even hearing that Christ knew of his
  deception, Judas does not repent.
26:29   The Fathers teach that Jesus also drinks the cup of His own Blood. This He does to
  lead all believers into participation in His heavenly mysteries. In My Father's kingdom
  relates to the time after His Resurrection, when Christ will eat and drink to show the
  reality of His victory over death (Lk 24:41–43). Furthermore, it points to the eternal
  banquet of the Kingdom in the age to come.
26:39   This cup refers to Christ's impending death. According to His divine nature, Jesus
  willingly goes to His death. As a man, He wishes He could avoid it, for it is the mark of
  humanity to abhor death. He prays if it is possible that it be taken from Him, thus
  giving abundant proof of His human nature. Nevertheless, Jesus is without sin and
  completely subjects and unites His human will to the Father's divine will.
26:41      Watch and pray: The key to Christian spirituality and our struggle against
  temptation. By this, the Lord's human soul is strengthened, and He faces death with
  divine courage. In contrast to our Lord's vigilance, the disciples sleep. Since body and soul
  are united, the spirit is paralyzed by a lethargic body. A willing spirit, recognizing the
  weakness of the flesh, struggles against its weakness, relying on God's presence and
  power.
26:52-54    Jesus rebukes Peter (identified in Jn 18:10) for using the sword, for he still
  does not understand that Christ is going to His death willingly, that salvation for mankind
  might be fulfilled. A legion is 6,000 soldiers, so twelve legions equal 72,000 angels.
  That this death was foretold in the Scriptures served to strengthen the disciples at their
  hour of greatest test.
26:61   The people misunderstand the Lord's words reported in Jn 2:19–21. Some Jews
  believed the temple would be destroyed and a new one built by the Messiah.
26:64-66 Quoting from Ps 109 and Dan 7:13, Jesus confesses that He is the Messiah, both
  fully Man and fully God, for only a divine One could sit at the right hand of the
  Power, sharing authority with the Father. This statement was clearly understood by the
  high priest to be a claim of equality with God the Father (v. 65). For a mere man to
  claim this was punishable by death (Lv 24:16), but Christ is no mere man, and thus this
  declaration of equality is not blasphemy.
27:2   While the religious Law dictated the death penalty for blasphemers (Lv 24:16), under
  Roman occupation, the Jews were prohibited from carrying out an execution. Thus, they
  had to get permission from the governor.
27:3-5 In contrast to Peter, who repented in his sorrow (26:75), Judas is remorseful but
  does not repent. Suicide is not a sign of repentance but of being self-absorbed. Two
  accounts of Judas' suicide are given in the NT, here and in Acts 1:16–19.
27:11-14 The chief priests hide their real charge against Jesus—the claim of equality with
  God—because this would not persuade the governor to sentence Him to death. Instead,
  they present a charge of treason—that Jesus called Himself the King of the Jews. This
  crime would carry the death penalty, for it was a challenge to Roman rule.
27:16   Jesus is the true Son of the Father, yet the name Barabbas means “son of the
  father.” Ironically, the crowds must choose between one Son of the Father and the other.
  By influencing the crowds to choose Barabbas (v. 20), the chief priests indicate to which
  father they belong—the devil (Jn 8:44).
27:25   This verse has been used by certain groups to try to justify persecuting Jews, which
  is a grave and terrible sin. What was seen by many as a curse is in fact a blessing invoked
  unwittingly, for the Lord's blood is the source of their redemption. Furthermore, these
  words are implicitly spoken by anyone who sins. St. John Chrysostom teaches that even
  though these Jews “acted with such madness, so far from confirming a sentence on them
  or their children, Christ instead received those who repented and counted them worthy of
  good things beyond number.” He then notes the thousands who were converted in
  Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41) as evidence of Christ's mercy.
27:27-31    Every king is proclaimed by his soldiers. Even though the intention was
  mockery, it is prophetic that Jesus should be crowned and hailed as King by soldiers of
  the governor (see also Jn 11:49–51, where Caiaphas unwittingly prophesies of Christ's
  redemptive work). This mockery shows Jesus as the One despised and rejected by men
  who bears the iniquity of us all (see Is 53:3–9). Jesus is clothed in scarlet, representing
  both His royalty and the sins of humanity which He has taken upon Himself.
27:32-44 Jesus accepts mockery and endures the weakness of our body in His own to take
  upon Himself our sufferings. This He accomplishes by uniting His divine nature to our
  human nature. His humanity is indeed our humanity. Although He has no sin, He was
  made to be sin for us, that through His flesh He might condemn sin itself (Rom 8:3; 2Co
  5:21; Heb 2:9). Two robbers (v. 38): Although one would later repent (Lk 23:39–43), at
  first both criminals mock Jesus (v. 44).
27:45   Darkness: See Zec 14:6, 7; Am 8:9.
27:46   Jesus prays Ps 21, which foretold the very details of the Crucifixion. Taken without
  the rest of the psalm, His cry of “Why have You forsaken me?” could be
  misinterpreted as a cry of despair. Since He took on our nature, Jesus experiences our
  alienation from God in His humanity, knowing our suffering and distress, yet He does not
  despair. He speaks these words in the name of humanity, completely identifying with us
  in our condition, for in His divinity, He is never forsaken by the Father.
27:50   Yielded up His spirit: Christ's death was voluntary to the very end, for even on
  the Cross, His life could not be taken from Him against His will. Christ accepts death on
  the Cross neither to receive the Father's punishment on our behalf, nor to satisfy the
  Father's need for blood-justice (as if God would demand such things), but so that by
  entering death as the divine Son of God, He can destroy this last enemy, which is death
  itself (1Co 15:20–28; see note at Lk 23:46).
27:51   The veil that separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the temple was a
  symbol of the separation between God and man. Christ's death opens the way into the
  presence of God for all people, giving people access to that which is the most holy of all:
  God Himself. In many Orthodox churches, there is a curtain between the altar and the
  nave which is drawn open during liturgical services to emphasize that communion with
  God, which was at one time sealed off from humanity, is now available to all who
  approach in faith.
27:52-53 The completeness of the salvation won by Christ is signified in the resurrection
  of the saints from the OT. This guarantees the promise given to Ezekiel that God can
  and will one day open the graves of all mankind (Ezk 37:1–14). The saints entering the
  holy city is an icon of resurrected humanity entering the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 11:10;
  12:22, 23; Rev 21:2–22:5).
27:54   The centurion, a Gentile, realizes Jesus has dominion over nature, and therefore
  acknowledges Him as the Son of God. Tradition knows this soldier as St. Longinos.
27:56   Mary the mother of James and Joses: Most Fathers teach this was the Virgin
  Mary, being in fact the stepmother of James and Joses (see 13:55; compare Mk 15:40, 47).
  Theophylact summarizes the teaching of the Fathers in this way: “James and Joses were
  sons of Joseph by his first wife. And since the Theotokos was called the ‘wife’ of Joseph,
  she is rightly called the ‘mother’ of his children, meaning ‘stepmother’.”
27:57-58 To ask for the body of Jesus is a bold public act for this wealthy man, showing
  that his faith has overcome any fear.
27:60   He is buried in a new tomb so that no suspicion might later arise that another had
  risen instead of Christ.
28:2   The earthquake is a sign of our Lord's great victory over death, foreshadowing the
  general resurrection of all humanity. Note that the angel does not roll back the stone
  to let the Lord out, for in His glory, Christ could pass through solid rock (see Jn 20:19).
  Rather, this allows the witnesses in to see that He has already risen.
28:5-6    These women are the first witnesses of the supreme event in all history: the
  Resurrection of Christ and the destruction of death. The angel refers to Christ as the One
  who was crucified, teaching us not to shy away from His death, but to glory in the
  Cross (1Co 2:2; Gal 6:14), which is the weapon Christ used to destroy death and the
  trophy of His victory. At the liturgical services of Pascha (Easter), Orthodox Christians
  sing the following hymn hundreds of times: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling
  down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.” As St. Paul says, “If
  Christ is not risen, your faith is futile” (1Co 15:17).
28:13    This lie is absurd, in that His disciples were afraid and had gone into hiding.
  Furthermore, most of them went on to suffer terrible persecution and martyrdom. It is
  unthinkable that they would willingly endure such sufferings over a known fallacy.
28:18   All authority has been given to Me: Christ declares that the authority that was
  His by nature in His divinity is now also possessed by His glorified human nature. This
  human nature has now trampled the final enemy—death (1Co 15:20–28).
28:19    This Great Commission—our Lord's final commandment given on earth—is to be
  lived out in the Church until He returns again. Making disciples cannot be done in the
  strength of man, but only in the power of God. The power of the Resurrection is not only
  for Jesus Himself, but is given to all believers for Christian life and mission.
28:20     Christ Himself is present in each believer and in the Church always, both
  personally and in the Holy Spirit, for neither can be separated from the other. To the
  end of the age does not by any means imply that we will be separated from Him at the
  end of the world. He is with us now, and forever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
1:6   John is clothed in a manner similar to that of Elijah (4Kg 1:8), which helps to show
  that he fulfills the prophecy of Elijah's return (see article “John the Baptist”).
1:14-15   Mark's written emphasis on John being put in prison before Jesus begins
  preaching reveals that a key purpose of the old covenant—to prepare the people for
  Christ—had been completed (Gal 4:1–5). Once Christ came, the time of preparation was
  fulfilled. To repent is to do a total “about-face.” The word in Greek literally means to
  “change one's mind.” Repentance is a radical change of one's spirit, mind, thought, and
  heart—a complete reorientation to a life centered in Christ.
1:16-20 On the calling of the first disciples, see notes at Mt 4:18–22.
1:21   The word immediately occurs almost forty times in Mark's Gospel, nearly all of
  them before our Lord's entrance into Jerusalem. The sense of urgency and purpose as
  Christ journeys toward Jerusalem to fulfill His mission of redeeming the world helps
  make Mark's account not only the shortest but also the most direct of the four Gospels.
1:35   Jesus sets forth for us an example of spiritual life. Though God incarnate, He prayed
  continually, often finding a solitary place to be free from distraction, despite the
  multitude's need of Him. Our Lord's ministry comes forth from His communion with the
  Father and the Holy Spirit and flows to people in their needs. His praying in the
  morning teaches us that we must put as first priority our commitment to God, and only
  then will we be equipped to serve others.
1:40-45 On the cleansing of the leper, see notes at Mt 8:1–4 and Lk 5:12–16.
3:5   Righteous anger is a natural human emotion experienced in the face of sin. While
  there is anger that is certainly sinful (Mt 5:22), there is also anger that is God-given and
  proper to humanity (Ps 4:4). Christ's anger here is in response to people professing God,
  yet having such hardness in their hearts that they could not rejoice in the healing of
  one of their brothers.
3:7   Jesus withdrew both because the Pharisees were planning to destroy Him (though it
  was not time for Him to die) and in order to preach in other places.
3:13-19 On the twelve disciples, see note at Mt 10:1–4.
3:28-30 On the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, see note at Mt 12:32.
4:2   Parables: See the article “Parables” at Mt 13.
4:13-20 In this parable, our Lord reveals Himself as the promised Messiah, the sower,
  who had been foretold in Is 55:10–13. See also note at Lk 8:5–15.
4:24   This is a call to attentive listening and discriminating response. We must not only
  hear, but hear properly. More will be given to those who respond to Christ with open
  hearts; they will grow in understanding. “Do the good you know, and what you do not
  know will be revealed to you” (MkAsc). See also note at Mt 7:2.
4:26-29 This parable occurs only in Mark. The kingdom refers to the whole span of God's
  dispensation or plan of salvation. The man is Christ, and the seed is the gospel (see vv.
  13–20). His sleep indicates Christ's death, from which He will rise. That the man does
  not know how the seed grows shows Christ does not manipulate man's response to the
  gospel, but each person is free to receive it and to let it grow in his own heart. The
  harvest indicates the Second Coming, when all will be judged on their reception of the
  gospel.
4:33   To unbelievers, the parables remain bewildering. To those with simple faith, these
  stories using common images reveal truth in ways they can grasp, as they were able.
5:1-20 The country of the Gadarenes was in Galilee, an area with many Gentiles living
  among the Jews (see also note at Mt 4:15). Gentile influence on the Jews caused many of
  them to take on Gentile practices, such as raising swine (v. 11), forbidden by the Law (Dt
  14:8). For more on this miracle, see notes at Mt 8:28–34 and Lk 8:33.
5:25-29    A spiritual interpretation of this encounter given by the Fathers is that this
  woman symbolizes human nature in general. Humanity is in constant suffering and
  subject to death, symbolized by the flow of blood. The physicians who could not cure
  her stand for the various religions of the world, as well as the OT Law, which were unable
  to grant life to humanity. Only through Christ are we freed from suffering and bondage to
  sin.
5:41   On Christ raising the dead, see note at Lk 7:11–17.
6:5-6 Jesus could do no mighty work there, not because He lacked power, but because
  of the unbelief of all but a few in Nazareth. While grace is always offered to all, only
  those who receive it in faith obtain its benefits.
6:13   Anointing the sick with oil has not only medicinal value but sacramental value as
  well. As God's healing power is bestowed through creation (5:27; Nm 21:8, 9; 4Kg 13:21;
  Jn 9:6, 7; Acts 5:15; 19:11, 12), so oil is a vehicle of God's mercy and healing in the Church
  (Jam 5:14).
6:14   This King Herod was the son of the one who slew the infants in Bethlehem (Mt
  2:16). Though he was technically a governor, he was popularly called king. Knowing that
  John the Baptist had worked no miracles while living, Herod now believes John was
  raised from the dead (v. 16), thinking powers are at work in him. Thus, he fears John
  more dead than alive.
6:15   Elijah was expected to return and work signs before the second coming of the Lord
  (Mal 4:5). The Prophet is interpreted by some to be a reference to the Messiah, the One
  whom Moses foretold (Dt 18:15), while others interpret it as simply meaning a new
  prophet had arisen.
6:17-29   This account is given parenthetically, explaining John's earlier death so hearers
  would understand why Herod would think that John had risen from the dead. After this
  flashback, v. 30 picks up where v. 13 left off. The beheading of St. John is remembered in
  the Church on August 29 with a day of fasting. As part of God's plan of salvation, John's
  martyrdom allowed the coming of the Messiah to be announced to the souls in Hades, for
  John was the forerunner of Christ there as well as on earth. At Matins on this day we
  sing, “Your tongue, which constantly speaks of God, has preceded Christ into death and is
  sent to preach Him to those in Hades.”
6:20   That Herod, with his wealth and soldiers, feared John, a man who lived in poverty
  and was clothed in camel's hair (1:6), is a testament both to the power of personal
  holiness and integrity, and also to the people's perception of John, for they held him in
  the highest esteem (11:32).
6:30   This verse picks up where v. 13 left off, as the story of the beheading of St. John is
  given parenthetically (see note at 6:20).
6:31   Christ gives rest to His disciples to show those engaged in preaching and teaching
  that they must not labor continuously, but must also take rest.
6:52   Knowing Christ is a matter of the heart, not merely the intellect. When our hearts
  are illumined by faith in God, they are open to receive His presence and grace. In the
  ascetic writings of the Church, the heart is known as “the seat of knowledge.”
6:56   Christ permits miracles through touch to show that His very body is life-giving (see
  also 5:25–29).
7:1-13 The issue here is not the observation of Jewish customs or traditions, which Jesus
  certainly does not prohibit (Mt 5:17–19; 23:23). At issue is setting human tradition
  contrary to the tradition of God (v. 8). The tradition of the elders (v. 3) is a body of
  interpretations of the Law, which for the Pharisees and the scribes (v. 1) was as
  authoritative as the Law and often superseded it. According to this tradition, offerings
  (called Corban, v. 11) could be promised to God in such a way that property or earnings
  could still be used for oneself, but not for anybody else, including one's parents.
  Secondary traditions such as this obscure the primary tradition of the Law, which is
  contained in God's commandments.
7:15-23   Food cannot defile a person because it is created by God and is therefore pure.
  Evil things (v. 21) are not from God, and these are what defile a person.
7:34   He sighed: a sign of divine compassion for the sufferings of our fallen human
  nature.
7:36   Here, our Lord shows us we must not seek acclaim or praise when we do good to
  others. Interestingly, Theophylact upholds those who disobey Christ in this situation,
  seeing them as a good example, that we should proclaim those who have done good to us
  even if they do not want us to.
8:15   The leaven of the Pharisees is their doctrine (Mt 16:12) and their hypocrisy (Lk
  12:1). In Scripture, leaven is used both positively (as in Mt 13:33) and negatively, as it is
  here. In either case, leaven symbolizes a force powerful enough (and often subtle
  enough) to permeate and affect everything around it (see 1Co 5:6–8).
8:22-26 The people of Bethsaida were unbelieving (Mt 11:21); thus, Jesus leads the blind
  man out of the town to heal him, so that the people would not scoff at the miracle and
  bring upon themselves greater condemnation. That the blind man was healed in stages
  (vv. 23–25) shows that he had only a small amount of faith, for healing occurs according
  to one's faith (6:5, 6); yet this little faith was enough, and it increased with the touch of
  Christ. Christ's command not to return to the town (v. 26) symbolizes that we must not
  return to our sins once we have been forgiven.
9:1   This is a reference to those who would witness the Transfiguration (vv. 2–13), as well
  as to those in every generation who will experience the presence of God's kingdom.
9:2-13 On the Transfiguration, see note at Lk 9:31, and the article “The Transfiguration” at
  Mt 17.
9:13 Elijah: See Mt 17:13.
9:30-32 Jesus predicts His death and Resurrection a second time (see 8:31) to show He is
  going to His Passion freely, and not being taken against His will.
9:42   Little ones include all who have childlike humility and simplicity, all who are poor
  in spirit.
10:32-34    Christ's repeated predictions of His Passion were intended to encourage and
  strengthen the disciples for the terrifying events they would face. They also confirms that
  Christ was going to His death of His own will and choosing.
10:45   The phrase for many is an Aramaic expression meaning “for all.”
10:46-52    The restoration of sight to the blind (vv. 51, 52) was a sign expected to be
  performed by the Messiah (Is 29:18; 35:4, 5), a power God had reserved for Himself
  (compare Jn 9:32). Son of David (vv. 47, 48) was a messianic title, showing that
  Bartimaeus (v. 46) had faith that Jesus was the Christ.
    The Fathers give a spiritual interpretation to this miracle as well. Jericho was a low-
  lying city associated with sin (Lk 10:30; 19:1); here it symbolizes fallen humanity. Christ
  passing through Jericho is an image of His Incarnation. The Lord restoring sight to
  Bartimaeus parallels His restoring humanity to glory. Having been made whole by Christ,
  human nature can now follow Christ on the road to the Kingdom (v. 52), symbolized by
  our Lord's subsequent entrance into Jerusalem (11:1–11).
11:13-14 It was not the season for figs means that this fig tree had sprouted an early
  full foliage, indicating a first crop, but without bearing any fruit. Jesus, finding not even
  one fig, condemns it. In Scripture a fig tree is often a symbol of Israel (Hos 9:10). Her
  fruitfulness has ceased, so the Kingdom will be taken from her and given to another
  people, who are called to bear spiritual fruit (see Mt 21:43; Gal 5:22, 23; see note at Mt
  21:19).
11:20-21    The cursing and withering of the fig tree is a prophetic act signifying the
  judgment of Israel. The disciples need to learn that the old covenant with Israel is
  becoming “obsolete” and will “vanish away” (Heb 8:13). They will establish His Church,
  ultimately to be filled with Gentiles and Jews, and need assurance that they are following
  His will. The fig tree will be an indelible image in their minds.
12:41-44 According to the Fathers, the Lord accounts the value of a gift not by how much
  is given, but by how much is kept back. Thus the poor widow is counted to have given a
  great gift, having kept nothing for herself. Those who give out of their abundance (v.
  44) but keep plenty for themselves are counted by God to have given very little. In the
  conversion of Cornelius, we learn that God takes note of our giving (Acts 10:4).
13:1, 2 Christ's prophecy of the destruction of the temple was fulfilled in AD 70, when the
  temple was destroyed by the Romans.
13:30   This generation refers to all believers at all times (i.e., the generation of the
  Church), and not merely those alive at the time of Christ. Christ's prophecy is that the
  Church will continue to thrive until His return, regardless of how desperate things may
  sometimes appear.
13:32   Though Jesus declares that the Son does not know the day of His own return, St.
  John Chrysostom teaches that this is not to be understood literally, but as a figure of
  speech. The meaning is simply that Christ will not reveal the exact day to anyone, and
  that believers should not be so brazen as to inquire of Him.
14:1   The Feast of Unleavened Bread begins with the Passover meal on the evening of
  15 Nisan (on the Jewish calendar) and lasts seven days (Ex 12:12–20). Together, these
  feasts commemorate Israel's liberation from slavery in Egypt. The word Passover refers
  to the angel of death “passing over” Hebrew homes when killing the firstborn of the
  Egyptians, for the Jews had put lamb's blood on their doorposts (Ex 12:13). Unleavened
  bread is a reminder of the haste with which the Hebrews left Egypt (Ex 12:39). This
  Passover was fulfilled in Christ, whose blood was shed to free humanity from bondage to
  sin and death.
14:10   Judas on his own initiative seeks to betray Jesus. His motives have been debated,
  but the Fathers and the liturgical hymns declare that greed was his underlying motive.
  This is revealed in Jn 12:4–6, where Judas was particularly upset about the “waste” of
  myrrh in the preceding story because he was a thief (see also 1Ti 6:10). The betrayal by
  Judas is remembered specifically on Holy Wednesday, as many of the liturgical hymns
  contrast his greed with the woman's generous anointing of Christ (v. 3). It is a tradition
  dating back to the first century (see the Didache) that Orthodox Christians fast on most
  Wednesdays of the year in remembrance of the ways in which we, like Judas, betray our
  Savior through our sinfulness.
14:13 The two disciples are Peter and John (Lk 22:8).
14:20   Christ emphasizes both that His betrayer is one of the twelve and that he is one
  who dips with Me in the dish not so much to identify the person as to emphasize the
  level of betrayal, that this was one of His closest friends (see Ps 54:13–15).
14:21   Divine foreknowledge of the betrayal takes away neither Judas' moral freedom nor
  his accountability. For God, all things are a present reality; He foresees all human actions,
  but does not cause them.
14:26   This hymn is a psalm from a group of psalms traditionally sung after the Passover
  meal (Ps 114–117).
14:36   Abba in Aramaic is the familiar form for Father, equivalent to “Papa,” indicating
  Christ's intimacy with God the Father. See also note at Mt 26:39.
14:51-52   To flee naked is a great shame and humiliation (Ezk 16:39; Am 2:16). Some
  teach this young man was James, the brother of the Lord (Gal 1:19), while others say
  that it was the apostle John, the youngest of the twelve. Most others believe this was
  Mark, the author of this Gospel, as it was a common literary device for a writer not to give
  his own name (see Lk 24:13; Jn 21:24). The other evangelists do not report this incident.
  They would not have been inclined to humiliate Mark, whereas Mark would have been
  more likely to relate such an event concerning himself.
14:62   I am (Gr. ego eimi) is the divine Name of God; its use indicates a theophany, or
  revelation of God Himself. The use of this Name by a mere man was considered
  blasphemy and was punishable by death (Lv 24:16; see Jn 8:58). However, because Jesus
  is fully God, His use of this Name cannot be blasphemy, but reveals His unity with the
  Father and the Holy Spirit. Only in Mark's account is Christ's answer so direct. To sit at
  the right hand of the Power means to share authority with the Father. This statement
  was clearly understood by the high priest to be a claim of equality with God (v. 64).
15:1   While the Jewish religious law dictated the death penalty for blasphemers (Lv 24:16),
  under Roman occupation the Jews were prohibited from carrying out an execution. Thus,
  they had to get a sentence issued by Pilate, the Roman governor.
15:2   Pilate's question, “Are You the King of the Jews?” comes from the political
  charges made against Jesus. Since Pilate would not execute a man over religious matters,
  the chief priests had to come up with a political crime that would guarantee the death
  penalty. Thus, they accused Jesus of making Himself an earthly king, which would be
  treason (see note at Jn 19:7–12).
15:3-5 That the Savior answered nothing fulfills the prophecy of Is 53:7, which portrays
  the Messiah being silent as He is led “as a sheep to the slaughter.”
15:15   Pilate's sin was less than that of the Jewish leaders who delivered Christ to him (Jn
  19:11), for the Jews had the Law and the prophets to instruct them, and Pilate did not.
  Pilate was not without sin, however, for in his desire to gratify the crowd, he
  knowingly sent an innocent Man to death.
15:21   Mark mentions Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus because they
  were likely still living, and possibly even known to Mark's hearers. The spiritual message
  is that we, like Simon (whose name means “obedience”), are not only called to carry the
  cross Christ sets on us, but seeing Christ in others, we are called to bear each other's
  burdens as well (Gal 6:2).
15:27-28 Christ being crucified between two robbers not only fulfills the Scripture (v.
  28; Is. 53:12), but shows He is completely identifying with sinful humanity.
15:33 Darkness: See Zec 14:6, 7; Am 8:9.
15:39   The centurion, a Gentile, realizes Jesus has dominion over nature, and therefore
  acknowledges Him as the Son of God. Tradition knows this soldier as St. Longinos.
15:40-41   The faithfulness of the women shows that in Christ, divine order is being
  restored to the fallen world. Whereas Eve was created to complete Adam (Gn 2:18), but
  instead led him to sin (Gn 3:6), now the women disciples remain faithful while the men
  flee and hide. It is the women who bring the message of the Resurrection to the men
  (16:9–11; Lk 24:9–11), thus restoring that which had been broken through sin.
16:4   The stone had been rolled away not to accommodate the Lord's exit from the
  tomb, for in His resurrected body, He needs no such accommodation (Jn 20:19). Rather,
  this was to allow the witnesses—and us—to look in and see that the tomb was empty.
16:7   The specific mention of Peter reveals a special care for the one who had denied
  Christ. In the words of Theophylact, Peter would have said of himself, “I denied the Lord,
  and therefore am no longer His disciple.” The angel's command is a promise that Peter is
  forgiven.
16:8   They said nothing to anyone does not mean the women never said anything, but
  that they kept silent until Jesus appeared to them (vv. 9–11).
16:9-20 Two early manuscripts do not contain these verses as part of Mark's Gospel, while
  nearly all other manuscripts ever discovered have them. They are canonized Scripture and
  are considered by the Church to be inspired, authoritative, and genuine.
16:12   Another form: Our Lord's resurrected body transcends not only physical space and
  time, but appearance as well. He was sometimes recognizable to His disciples, while at
  other times He was not.
16:17   New tongues refers to the ability to speak in languages that one has not learned in
  order to edify others in worship (1Co 14) and to preach the gospel (Acts 2:1–11).
16:18   To take up serpents refers primarily to spiritual battle against demons (Lk 10:19).
  Thus, Christ is promising to deliver believers from the powers of sin. Furthermore, this
  would include certain physical protection as well. St. Paul was bitten by a serpent and
  suffered no harm (Acts 28:3–6), and according to tradition, Barsabas Justus (Acts 1:23)
  was forced by unbelievers to drink poison and survived. Nevertheless, while God's grace
  can protect believers from both physical and spiritual harm, to test God by deliberately
  committing harmful acts against oneself is a grave sin (Dt 6:16; Mt 4:7).
1:2-3 Luke was not a disciple from the beginning, yet he has perfect understanding of the
  gospel because his sources were the apostles themselves, the eyewitnesses of Christ.
  Luke wrote his Gospel to Theophilus, a prominent Gentile who had received Christian
  instruction (see also Acts 1:1). St. Ambrose notes that Theophilus can simply mean any
  “lover of God,” and therefore he writes, “If you love God, it was written to you.”
1:5   Herod ruled Judea from 37–4 BC. He was a great builder but a cruel leader. Luke
  mentions Herod to pinpoint the historical date of the birth of Jesus Christ. An ancient
  prophecy of Jacob indicated the Messiah would come when a king ruled who was not
  from the tribe of Judah (Gn 49:10). As Herod was a non-Jew calling himself the king of
  Judea, the coming of Christ was surely at hand. See also the note on v. 20.
1:6     Zacharias and Elizabeth are righteous before God, not merely in outward
  appearance, but to the core of their being. The holiness of John the Baptist came in part
  through the faith and piety of his parents.
1:7   To be barren was a public reproach (v. 25), but like Sarah (Gn 16:1), Rebekah (Gn
  25:21), Rachel (Gn 29:31), Hannah (1Kg 1:2), and Anna, the mother of the Virgin Mary,
  Elizabeth's temporary barrenness was in fulfillment of God's plan for the salvation of His
  people.
1:8-10   Each priest was assigned to a division (see 1Ch 23:3–11; 28:13). There were
  twenty-four divisions in all, each serving a week at a time in rotation. The responsibilities
  in the division were decided by lot; Zacharias is here assigned the duties of the high
  priest. This event takes place at the time of the Atonement, when the high priest would
  enter the temple and make offerings for the sins of the people.
1:11   Angels minister continually at the altar of the Lord, though usually unseen. Those
  priests of pure heart, such as Zacharias, are occasionally chosen by God to witness this
  angelic liturgy (see also Is 6; Rev 7:9–17).
1:13   As high priest, Zacharias prayed not for a son, but for the atonement of the sins of
  Israel (Heb 9:7). Gabriel's (v. 19) announcement reveals both that Zacharias' prayer for
  atonement will be answered and that Elizabeth will conceive a son. This atonement
  will be announced by John, who will identify Christ as “the Lamb of God who takes away
  the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).
1:15   He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb:
  See v. 41.
1:17 Elijah is expected to reappear from heaven as the forerunner of the second coming of
  the Lord (Mal 4:5). John the Baptist fulfills the spirit of Elijah as he is the forerunner of
  the Lord's first coming (see Mt 11:14).
1:20   You will be mute: Zacharias is disciplined for his lack of faith, yet this also serves
  as proof that Gabriel's announcement (v. 19) is true. The silencing of the high priest also
  reveals a deeper mystery. The Messiah was expected to fulfill three crucial roles held by
  various people in the OT: prophet, priest, and king. Only Jesus Christ can be said to have
  fulfilled all three offices perfectly. He is the true Prophet (Dt 18:15–18), the true King
  (23:3; Is 9:6; Mic 5:1), and the true High Priest (Ps 109:4; Heb 4:14). In preparation for
  Christ's coming, God had silenced the prophets for many years (see note for v. 24), and
  also permitted an illegitimate usurper to occupy the position of king of Judea (see note
  for v. 5). Here, in the last days before Christ's coming, the high priest is also silenced.
  With these three roles vacant, illegitimate, and silent, all is ready for the Son of God to be
  revealed as Prophet, King, and Priest.
1:24     Elizabeth conceived: The conception of St. John the Baptist is celebrated
  liturgically on September 23, confirming the sanctity of marital relations for those past
  childbearing years. Hid herself: Since the time of Malachi, God had not sent a great
  prophet to Israel (see 1Mc 9:27). This silencing of the prophets served to heighten the
  anticipation of the Messiah and to make it all the more evident when He came. As John
  the Baptist was the prophet preparing the way for Christ, he was kept hidden until Christ
  was conceived. Once Christ was conceived, John was revealed through the prophetic act
  of leaping in Elizabeth's womb (v. 41). See also the note for v. 20.
1:26     In the sixth month means the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy with John (v.
  36).
1:27   The name Mary means “exalted one.” When Joseph is referred to as of the house of
  David, it reveals Mary also was descended from David's royal lineage, for a righteous
  man would usually marry within his own tribe (see note at 3:23–38). Twice in this verse,
  and again by implication (1:34), Luke calls Mary a virgin.
1:28   While Eve brought forth children in sorrow (Gn 3:17), Mary, being the new Eve, will
  rejoice in bringing forth her Son; as Eve had been cursed, so now Mary is blessed.
  Highly favored (Gr. charitou) can also be translated “full of grace.” Mary is the most
  blessed woman who has ever lived because of her complete willingness to receive God's
  grace, or in the words of her Son, to “hear the word of God and keep it” (11:28).
1:31-33 Gabriel's announcement emphasizes two truths: (1) you will conceive in your
  womb: the Lord Jesus took His flesh—His human nature—from Mary herself; and (2)
  this is the divine Son of the Highest in Mary's womb. Thus the one Person, Jesus, the
  eternal Son and Word of God, is both fully human and fully divine. This truth was crucial
  in the defeat of the heretic Nestorius, who taught that Mary conceived a mere man who
  was later joined by the divine Son of God. The Church's true teaching is proclaimed in the
  festal hymn of Annunciation, which declares, “The Son of God becomes the Son of the
  Virgin as Gabriel announces the coming of grace.”
1:34   Mary's question, “How can this be?” does not indicate a lack of faith, as Zacharias'
  question did (v. 18). Rather, she is merely inquiring into the manner in which something
  so extraordinary would happen.
1:35   Holy One is a messianic title (see Ps 15:10). Note the revelation of the Holy Trinity:
  The Father (the Highest), the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
1:38   Mary's faithful response is that of highest obedience to God. The Incarnation is not
  only the work of God, but it involves the free response of mankind in the person of Mary.
  Whereas Eve once disobeyed, Mary now obeys; whereas Eve closed herself to God, Mary
  opens to His will. Mary's response says, “I am a tablet; let the Writer write whatever He
  desires on it” (Theoph).
1:41   Because Christ is now incarnate, prophecy resumes in Israel (see note on v. 20). The
  blessed John prophesies of the presence of Christ by leaping in the womb of Elizabeth.
  As he is God's prophet, John's recognition of Christ fulfills what was spoken of Jeremiah:
  “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jer 1:5).
1:42   Mary receives veneration from both angels and humans. As Gabriel had done (v. 28),
  so now Elizabeth declares Mary to be blessed among women.
1:43   Mary is confessed as the mother of My Lord. This confession, and others like it
  within the Church (“Theotokos,” “Mother of God,” etc.), confirm that the One in the
  womb of Mary is both human and divine—the very Son of God Himself. At Vespers of
  Annunciation we declare, “It is the Word of God who dwells within her.” Note that even
  though His physical body was not yet fully formed, Jesus is nevertheless fully and truly
  the Son of God incarnate, and Mary is already recognized as being His mother. This truth
  deals a fatal blow to the idea that abortion is justifiable because the fetus is not yet a
  person.
1:46-56   This passage, called the “Magnificat” from the first word of the song in Latin,
  comes from the heart of Mary, inspired by the song of Hannah (1Kg 2:1–10). It is
  normally sung at Matins in the liturgical cycle. From this inspired hymn, we are taught:
  (1) Christian believers for all time will honor and venerate the Virgin Mary, for she
  prophesied that all generations will call me blessed (v. 48); (2) it is impossible to
  believe in the inspiration of Scripture and not bless the Mother of God; (3) Mary ascribes
  the miracle of the Incarnation to God, and not to herself, showing both deep humility and
  the knowledge that God is the source of all grace (v. 49); (4) through the Incarnation, God
  reigns over all (vv. 50–55).
1:59   Circumcision was a sign of Israel's covenant with God and the means by which a male
  became a member of God's community (Gn 17:10–14; Lv 12:3). In Christ, circumcision is
  fulfilled in baptism (see Col 2:11 and the article, “Holy Baptism,” at Rom 6).
1:60-63     John means “grace of God.” By insisting on the name God chose for her son,
  Elizabeth affirms God has called John to a specific mission (see also 1:31; Gn 17:5, 15;
  32:28).
1:64-79    When Zacharias assented to God's will, his mouth was opened. Just as
  prophecy is restored at the Incarnation of Christ (see note on v. 24), so Zacharias, as high
  priest, can speak again now that the Savior and His forerunner have come (see note v.
  20). Note Zacharias immediately declares Christ (vv. 68, 69), and secondly declares the
  role of his own son as prophet of the Highest (v. 76).
1:80   Dwelling in the desert, away from the stains and wickedness of the masses, John is
  able to fight temptation and grow strong in spirit. According to the tradition of the
  Church, John was brought to the deserts by Elizabeth when Zacharias was martyred,
  and there was ministered to by angels.
2:1-3   God uses earthly rulers to accomplish His will. This census enabled Christ to be
  born in Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy of Micah (Mic 5:1). In the hymn by St.
  Cassiane sung at Vespers of the Lord's Nativity, Augustus ruling as the only emperor
  over many scattered cities is an icon of our one Lord gathering the scattered pagans of the
  world. Christ being registered in the fallen world enables the faithful to be registered in
  the name of God.
2:7   The term firstborn does not imply Mary had additional children, but only that no
  child was born before Jesus. The firstborn son is traditionally the primary heir and
  recipient of blessings. Christ is the firstborn over all creation, and thus the firstborn from
  the dead (Col 1:15, 18). In Orthodox icons of the Nativity, Christ's swaddling cloths are
  depicted as burial wrappings, affirming that one purpose of His coming was to endure
  death. The manger, or feed trough, would have been in a cave where animals were kept,
  thus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah: “The ox knows its owner and the donkey its
  master's crib” (Is 1:3).
2:8   Shepherds are chosen to hear the first announcement of the Nativity, as they are
  symbols of Christ the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11). Unlike the Pharisees, the shepherds
  were without guile and had simple faith.
2:13-14 The message of the first angel is confirmed by the multitude, fulfilling the Law
  in which every word is established with two or three witnesses (Dt 19:15). Christ Himself
  is our peace who has come to earth; in Him, man is no longer estranged from God (see
  Eph 2:14–16).
2:17-20 The shepherds are also images of the bishops and presbyters of the Church, who
  proclaim Christ to the world. St. Ambrose writes that Mary's own faith was strengthened
  by the news from the shepherds, and he asks, “If Mary herself learns from the shepherds,
  why do so many refuse to learn from the presbyters of the Church?”
2:21    Because Christ has come to perfectly fulfill the Law, He receives circumcision
  under the Law (see note on 1:59). In the Orthodox Church, it is ancient tradition to name
  a child eight days after birth, with a special blessing.
2:22-24 The Presentation of Christ (also called the Meeting of the Lord) is celebrated in
  the Church on February 2. Mary fulfills the law (Lv 12) by bringing Jesus to the temple
  on the fortieth day. (In the Orthodox Church, mothers and newborn children also receive
  a special blessing on the fortieth day.) The law required that an offering of an
  unblemished lamb be brought, or if the mother is not able to bring a lamb, then she
  brings a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons (Lv 12:6–8). Not only do Mary
  and Joseph offer turtledoves, but as Christ is the unblemished Lamb of God, they
  perfectly fulfill the precepts of the Law by offering Him as well. This also fulfills the
  prophecy spoken when Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac and said, “God will provide for
  Himself the sheep for a whole burnt offering” (Gn 22:8).
2:25-26   Simeon represents humanity in waiting for the Consolation of Israel. He
  fulfills Ps 90:16, in which God makes a promise to the one who loves Him: “With length
  of days I will satisfy him, / And show him My salvation.”
2:28   The hymns of the Church compare Simeon's reception of Christ to Isaiah's reception
  of the burning coal from the angel (Is 6:6, 7). In both cases, a prophet receives the life-
  giving fire of the offering—Isaiah received the type, and Simeon receives the fulfillment.
2:29-32 The Canticle of Simeon is sung daily at Vespers. Since salvation (v. 30) has been
  born into the world, all peoples can embrace death (see Php 1:23). For the Christian,
  death is no longer frightful, but a gateway to everlasting peace (v. 29).
2:34   The second coming of the Lord will be the reckoning of the world. For the believer, it
  will be a resurrection to life; for the unbeliever, it will be a falling into judgment (Jn
  5:29).
2:35   The sword refers to the anguish that Mary will experience in witnessing her Son's
  death on the Cross. Her soul will be pierced in grief.
2:38   Both men and women are called to proclaim Christ's redemption, and women are
  the first to proclaim His Resurrection (24:9).
2:40   That Jesus grew and became strong in spirit does not imply that He was lacking
  divine perfection at any time. Rather, it indicates that in emptying Himself and assuming
  human nature (Php 2:7), He freely subjected Himself to human development and
  expression (see also v. 52).
2:41   Pilgrimages to Jerusalem on holy days like Passover were customary for Jews;
  often entire clans or villages would travel together.
2:46   In appearing to be lost for three days, Christ prefigures His rest in the tomb.
2:48   Joseph is honored with the title father for his care and upbringing of his adopted
  Son. This title further prefigures our adoption by God, whom by grace we call “Father”
  (Gal 4:4–7).
2:49-51 Christ's eternal generation from the Father is divine, while his maternal ancestry
  is human. Accordingly, Jesus was first obedient to the will of His Father, and then is
  willingly subject to His mother and father.
3:2   High priests: Caiaphas was now the sole high priest, but people also recognized the
  continuing power of his father-in-law Annas, a previous high priest deposed by the
  Romans.
3:3   The call to repentance was traditional for prophets. John's baptism did not grant
  remission of sins once and for all, but prefigured and prepared people for the baptism
  of Christ which was to come (see Rom 6:3–11). John is a figure of the Law in that, like the
  Law, he denounced sin but could not remit (lit. “put away”) sin. Both John and the Law
  point to the One who can remit sin.
3:4-6 The voice: John ascribes to himself this role in Jn 1:23.
3:8   While parents and ancestors help impart piety and holiness (see note on 1:6), ancestry
  itself does not make one worthy of God. Each person in every generation must bear
  fruits worthy of repentance. Stones symbolize the Gentiles who would become
  children to Abraham through faith in Christ (Rom 4:16–18).
3:16-17 Fire in this context has the primary meaning of the gift of the Holy Spirit, which
  is given to the world at Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4). It further declares the judgment of Christ,
  in which the faithless will burn (see 2Th 1:6–10; 2:8). Note that this fire is one. It is the
  same Power and the same Spirit which both enlivens the faithful and destroys the
  faithless.
3:19   His brother Philip's wife: Herod had divorced his own wife and married Philip's
  wife Herodias while Philip was still living.
3:21-22 Jesus Himself does not need baptism. In being baptized, our Lord accomplished
  several things: (1) He affirmed John's ministry; (2) He was revealed by the Father and
  the Holy Spirit to be the Christ, God's beloved Son; (3) He identified with His people
  by descending into the waters with them; (4) He prefigured His own death, giving
  baptism its ultimate meaning; (5) He entered the waters, sanctifying the water itself; (6)
  He fulfilled the many types given in the OT, as when Moses led the people from bondage
  through the Red Sea (Ex 14) and when the ark of the covenant was carried into the Jordan
  so the people could enter the Promised Land (Jos 3; 4); and (7) He opened heaven to a
  world separated from God through sin.
3:22    The Baptism of Christ is celebrated on January 6 and is known commonly as
  Epiphany, or more properly, Theophany, which means “God revealed.” The Son is
  revealed by the descent of the Holy Spirit and by the voice of the Father. This is the
  greatest and clearest public manifestation of God as Trinity in human history, as we sing,
  “The Trinity was made manifest.”
       The words spoken by the Father also apply to everyone who is baptized and lives
  faithfully, as sonship is bestowed by adoption (Gal 4:4–7). The Holy Spirit appearing as a
  dove is not an incarnation, but rather a visible sign for the people. This appearance
  further fulfills the type prefigured at the Flood: “Just as a dove announced to Noah that
  God's wrath had ceased, so too the Holy Spirit announces here that Christ has reconciled
  us to God by sweeping sin away in the flood waters of baptism” (Theoph).
3:23-38 The genealogy follows Joseph's ancestry, even though Jesus was only supposed
  to be the son of Joseph but was in fact humanly descended from Mary only. This is
  explained in two complementary ways: (1) Joseph was a righteous man and would have
  married within his tribe—thus Mary and Joseph would have largely shared a common
  lineage; (2) Jesus was born to bring all mankind into adoption by the Father, and thus He
  affirms that a lineage of adoption is as binding and receives the same inheritance as a
  lineage of blood (Gal 4:4–7).
3:38   Adam means “man”; thus Christ is declared to be both the “Son of Man” and the
  “Son of God.”
4:1    This exodus of Jesus into the wilderness following His baptism has a dual
  symbolism: (1) it fulfills the OT type, in which Israel journeyed in the wilderness for forty
  years after its “baptism” in the Red Sea; and (2) it prefigures our own journey through the
  fallen world after baptism as we struggle towards the Kingdom.
4:2-12 On the temptation of Christ, see notes at Mt 4:1–11.
4:4   Note each time Christ rebukes the devil, it is with the truth and power of Scripture.
  This teaches the faithful to become immersed in Scripture in order to resist and drive
  away every temptation (see Ps 118:11).
4:10-11   Satan vainly tries to use the Scriptures (as do the Pharisees in Jn 7:52), but
  understands neither their truth nor their power. Knowing and quoting Scripture without
  true understanding is worthless at best and ultimately condemnable. Without true
  understanding through the Holy Tradition of the Church, the Scriptures are robbed of
  their authority (see also 2Pt 1:19–21).
4:13 Opportune time: See 22:40–46; 23:35; Mt 16:21–23.
4:18   Being the eternal Son of God, Christ did not become the world's anointed Savior, but
  has always been our Savior from before the foundation of the world. It was Christ
  speaking through Isaiah who said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me” (Is 61:1). Note He
  does not say, “The Spirit has come upon Me.” When the Spirit of the L    ORD   descended on
  Jesus at His baptism (see 3:22), this was a sign revealing an eternal, not temporal, truth
  to the people.
4:19   Acceptable year: The time of the Incarnation, when the Kingdom of heaven has
  come to earth (see 2Co 6:2).
4:22-30 This double response of marveling (v. 22) and rejection (v. 29) occurs frequently
  in those who encounter Christ (see 11:14–16; Jn 9:16). His being rejected in His own
  country fulfills the rejection of the OT prophets such as Elijah (v. 26) and Elisha (v.
  27), and foreshadows His rejection by the whole Jewish nation at His trial before Pilate
  (Jn 19:14, 15). Christ accepts death according to the Father's will, not at the will of the
  Jews. Here, the hour of His Passion has not yet come (see Jn 8:20).
4:31   Christ begins preaching and healing on the Sabbaths to show that “the new
  creation began where the old creation ceased” (AmbM).
4:32   With authority: Unlike the prophets of old and the teachers of His day who taught
  in the third person (“The Lord says”), Christ taught in the first person (“I say to you”). See
  also Mt 5.
4:39    Rebuked the fever: “That which was rebuked was some living thing unable to
  withstand the influence of Him who rebuked it, for it is not reasonable to rebuke a thing
  without life and unconscious of the rebuke. Nor is it astonishing for there to exist certain
  powers that inflict harm on the human body” (CyrAl).
4:43 Christ's primary mission was to preach the kingdom. Miracles and healings testify
  both to the truth of the message and the identity of the Teacher (see 5:24). This same
  pattern holds true in the Church (Acts 4:29, 30).
5:1   The Lake of Gennesaret is also known as the Sea of Galilee. It is about 13 miles long
  and 7 miles wide.
5:3 Sitting was the traditional position for a teacher (see note at Mt 5:1).
5:4   Launch out into the deep: St. Ambrose sees the spiritual meaning of this command
  as an invitation to give one's life over to the deep mystery of the knowledge of the Son of
  God.
5:6   The Lord draws people to Himself by things that are familiar to them. As He drew the
  Magi with a star (Mt 2:2), as He would draw tax collectors by a tax collector (5:29), here
  He draws the fishermen with fish (see 1Co 9:19–23).
5:8   Peter's cry in the face of divine power is not a rejection of Jesus (contrast 8:37).
  Rather, being suddenly cast in the light of Christ, holy people such as Peter become
  keenly aware of their own unworthiness (compare Is 6:5; Rev 1:17).
5:10   The great catch of fish (v. 9) is an image of the apostles bringing mankind to the
  knowledge of Jesus Christ, and it fulfills the prophecy of Jer 16:16. In the festal hymn of
  Pentecost we sing to Christ, “Through the fishermen, You drew the world into Your net.”
5:12     Leprosy was one of the most dreaded diseases of the time. It brought great physical
  suffering as well as total banishment and isolation from society. It is also a symbol of our
  sin.
5:14   Show yourself to the priest: Christ gives this command in order to convince the
  priests by a tangible miracle that He is superior to Moses (CyrAl). The priests hold Moses
  to be greater than Christ, yet Christ heals a leper immediately and with His own divine
  authority. However, when Miriam was struck with leprosy, Moses had to seek mercy from
  above, and still she was only healed after seven days (Nm 12:10–15).
5:27   Levi (Matthew) answers Christ's call, “Follow Me,” and leaves his occupation to
  become a disciple. From the beginning of His ministry Christ has been a friend of tax
  collectors and sinners, which is one of the Pharisees' complaints against Him (v. 30). Levi
  may also have been one of the tax collectors prepared for Christ by John the Baptist
  (3:12).
5:29   This feast expresses Matthew's joy and gratitude. The guest register is a stirring
  demonstration of the fruit of Jesus' love and forgiveness.
5:33-39 Jesus' earthly life is a time of joyous blessings. But there will come a time when
  His followers will practice the fast (see notes on Mt 9:14–17; Mk 2:20).
5:39   This saying occurs only in Luke's account, and illustrates (1) the difficulty with which
  the Jews would accept the new covenant, (2) the inner resistance a person faces in
  turning from a sinful way of life, and (3) the general stubbornness of the human heart.
6:1-5   Second Sabbath after the first: This term was used when a Jewish feast
  immediately followed the normal Sabbath, for a feast was also known as a Sabbath.
  According to St. Ambrose, the term “second Sabbath” serves as an image of the new
  covenant and the eternal resurrection: the first Sabbath indicates the Law, while the
  second Sabbath indicates the gospel that follows it. Under the new covenant, the food
  which was at one time not lawful for anyone but the priests to eat is now freely given to
  all by the Lord of the Sabbath (v. 5). David prefigured this when he gave the
  showbread . . . to those with him (vv. 3, 4).
6:7   According to certain traditions that the scribes and Pharisees had built up around
  the Law, healing was considered work, and thus was not permissible on the Sabbath.
  They believed they served God by zealously keeping these peripheral traditions, but this
  legalism made them insensitive to God's mercy.
6:12-13 Jesus, being the Son of God, does not pray as if to obtain grace or revelation from
  the Father. Rather, as the Son of Man, He prays as the Advocate for humanity (AmbM;
  see 1Jn 2:1). Jesus spent all night in prayer before selecting the twelve apostles to
  teach us that before choosing a candidate for any spiritual ministry, we should pray that
  God will reveal to us the one suited for the task (Theoph).
6:24-26 Luke reports four “woes” not found in Matthew's account. Woe is an indication
  not merely of sorrow, but of unspeakable destruction (Is 5:18–24; Am 5:18, 19; Rev
  12:12). Those who prize the vices listed here are liable to the “utmost misery”; however,
  they find hope when they sacrifice their earthly blessings in showing mercy to others
  (CyrAl).
6:31   This “Golden Rule” is a minimum of Christian virtue, as it places man's desire for
  goodness (“the natural law of self-love,” CyrAl) as a basic standard of how to treat others.
  It is but the first step on the path to the perfection of virtue; this perfection is found in v.
  36, where God's mercy, rather than man's desire, is the standard.
6:37-38   Mercy precludes human judgment. Good measure, pressed down, shaken
  together, and running over are descriptions of how an honest and generous merchant
  would measure bulk goods. Flour pressed down, for example, would yield a more
  generous amount than flour fluffed up. The blessings God intends to put into our hearts
  are more generous than we can possibly contain, yet this also depends on the spirit in
  which we ourselves give and forgive.
6:40   Christ does not judge anyone (Jn 8:15; 12:47). Therefore, “if the Teacher does not
  judge, neither must the disciple, for the disciple is guilty of worse sins than those for
  which he judges others” (CyrAl).
6:46-49   Hearing the gospel alone is not enough, for salvation is based not on hearing
  alone, nor on faith alone, but also on doing the things spoken by Christ (see Jam 2:24).
7:2-10   This centurion, a Roman Gentile, is unusual in his devotion to the Jews. His
  characteristics are notable: compassion (v. 2); love for God and His people (v. 5); humility
  (v. 6); and great faith (vv. 7–9).
7:11-17 This is one of three resurrections performed by our Lord as recorded in the Gospels
  (see also 8:41–56; Jn 11:1–44). They confirm the promise given to the prophet Ezekiel
  that God will one day open the graves and raise all the dead (Ezk 37:1–14). Many people
  have exercised authority over the living; only the Son of God “has power over both the
  living and the dead” (funeral service). While Christ has power through His word alone (Jn
  11:43), here He also touched the coffin to show that His very body is life-giving. This
  event also prefigures Christ's own Resurrection. As Mary would weep for Jesus at the
  Cross, yet her tears would be turned to joy by the Resurrection, here a widow's only son
  is raised from the dead, putting an end to her weeping (AmbM).
7:18-23   John the Baptist was imprisoned soon after Jesus was baptized (Mk 1:14).
  Though John directed his disciples to follow Christ (Jn 1:29–31, 35–37), some remained
  with him. While John's own faith was undoubtedly strengthened by the signs Christ
  performed, the Fathers universally see this encounter as a means John used to convince
  his remaining disciples that Jesus was indeed the Coming One.
7:28   Though he was the greatest prophet, John's earthly life and ministry remained in
  the period of the old covenant. The new covenant so far surpasses the old that the least
  in the kingdom is greater than the greatest outside it. This does not imply John will
  not be resurrected to the Kingdom, but merely that his life on earth came before
  something far superior.
7:30 See Mk 11:27–33.
7:31-34 Children would play this game in two groups. One group would mimic musicians,
  while the other group refused to respond appropriately to the type of music being played.
  The Pharisees were so rigid in their religion that they were unable to respond to and
  engage the world around them. Thus, they rejected John as being too mournful and
  ascetic, and Christ as being too merciful and joyous.
7:35   In spite of being rejected by the Pharisees, both John and Christ are justified, not by
  the opinions of men, but by their children, those who would come to believe and be
  faithful.
7:36-50   This Pharisee was intrigued by Christ, as evidenced by his invitation, but he
  clearly does not believe in Him, as shown by his reaction to Christ's mercy (v. 39) and by
  his lack even of common hospitality (vv. 44–46). The encounter with the sinful woman
  is an icon of the grace found only in the Church. Through her, “the Church is justified as
  being greater than the Law, for the Law does not know the forgiveness of sins, nor the
  mystery in which secret sins are cleansed; therefore, what is lacking in the Law is
  perfected in the Gospel” (AmbM).
7:49   That a man could forgive sins was beyond the bounds of the Law as the Pharisees
  understood it (see 5:21). Yet Christ was not a mere man, but the very Lawgiver Himself.
  “Who could declare things that were above the Law, except the One who ordained the
  Law?” (CyrAl).
8:2   These women were faithful to Christ to the end (23:49, 55), and were the first to
  receive and proclaim the news of His Resurrection (24:1–10). In the Scriptures, the
  number seven often symbolizes totality and completeness, indicating that Mary called
  Magdalene had been thoroughly given over to darkness before her healing.
8:4   Parable: See the article “Parables” at Mt 13.
8:5-15 As the sower in this parable, Christ fulfills the prophecy in Is 55:10–13. Note that
  while some might teach a person is permanently saved at the moment he professes faith
  —a view never held by the historic Church—the teaching of Jesus is clear that it is
  possible to believe for a while and then fall away (v. 13).
8:10   Mysteries are not obscure intellectual concepts, but the presence of the Kingdom of
  God which cannot be defined. A person's unwillingness to understand Christ's parables is
  due to a rejection of His Kingdom. “If the blindness were natural, it would have been
  proper for God to open their eyes; but because it was a voluntary and self-chosen
  blindness, He does not overthrow their free will.” Doing so would have been not only to
  “no advantage for them, but an even greater condemnation” (JohnChr).
8:22-25 Christ deliberately permits the windstorm to arise while He is sleeping in order
  to perfect the disciples' faith and rebuke their weaknesses, so they would eventually be
  unshaken by life's temptations. Here their faith is still mixed with unbelief. They showed
  faith when they came to Him, but unbelief when they said, “We are perishing.”
8:33    Some teach that the presence of swine indicates a Gentile population. However,
  since our Lord forbade His disciples to go to the Gentiles (Mt 10:5) and was Himself
  reluctant to seek out the Gentiles (Mt 15:24), likely these were Jews engaged in a sinful
  occupation (see also the note at Mt 4:15).
       The destruction of the entire herd reveals: (1) while animals are a venerable part of
  creation, man is of far greater value; (2) Christ removes a source of sin, for swine herding
  was an abomination to the Jews (Dt 14:8); (3) demons have no power over creation, but
  are subject to the will of God—they could only enter the swine at Christ's command; (4)
  people are protected under God's providence—otherwise, the demon-possessed man
  would have come to the same end as the swine; (5) the magnitude of the economic loss
  would remain as a sign for the hardhearted people who fled that region (v. 34).
8:43-44    For the Jews, contact with blood caused defilement and led to religious and
  social isolation (Lv 25). The woman displays bold faith by approaching both Christ and a
  ruler of the synagogue (v. 41) in a crowd, potentially defiling all of them and subjecting
  herself to ridicule.
8:45    “Who touched Me?” does not simply mean a physical touch, but rather, “Who
  touched me in faith?” Just as “the temple sanctifies the gold” (Mt 23:17), so also matter is
  sanctified by Christ's Incarnation, and the power of Christ works through even His
  garment. To touch Christ's garment in faith is to touch Him. In the Church, we touch
  Christ through icons, oil, water, bread, wine, etc. When this is done in faith, the power of
  Christ is received.
8:47   Jesus calls the woman forward both to take away her fear and trembling and to
  strengthen Jairus for the forthcoming news of his daughter's death (v. 49).
9:7-9 This is the same Herod to whom Pilate would send Jesus during His trial (23:7). He
  is the son of the Herod who slew the innocent infants in Bethlehem (Mt 2:16). The
  incident of the beheading of St. John is found in Mk 6:14–28.
9:11-17 Theophylact sees a liturgical parallel with the feeding of the five thousand. Here
  Christ first healed and spoke of the gospel, and then fed the multitude with the
  miraculous bread by the hands of His disciples. In the Church, a person is first healed
  through baptism; then at the Liturgy, the gospel is preached and the bread of life and the
  cup are received from the hands of the ordained clergy.
9:13   You give them something to eat: This commission is a type and preparation for
  the apostolic ministry the disciples will perform after Christ's Resurrection. They will
  feed the world with the word of God and with the Eucharist. Five loaves and two fish:
  Christ is the same Creator “of both the earth and the sea, who in the beginning brought
  fruit from the earth and life out of the water” (JohnChr).
9:16   Christ looked up to heaven “not as receiving power from elsewhere, but as honoring
  the Father who begot Him.” That Christ blessed and broke the bread teaches us “not to
  touch any meal until we have given thanks to Him who gives us food” (JohnChr). This
  blessing also presents a clear eucharistic image and directs us to pursue spiritual food
  greater than that which is earthly (see Jn 6:26, 27).
9:18-19   As in every generation, what the crowds have to say about Jesus is usually
  unpredictable and misguided.
9:20    Who do you say that I am? is the ultimate question in Scripture and in all
  theology. How this question is answered defines the universe. Christ (Heb. Messiah)
  means “Anointed One.” The declaration of Peter that Jesus is the Christ of God reveals
  Jesus is not merely another anointed king or prophet, but the long-awaited Savior.
9:21   Jesus desires to keep His identity as the Christ hidden to avoid popular political and
  theological misunderstandings. Only after His Passion and Resurrection can His identity
  as Messiah be understood (see note on Mt 12:16–21).
9:23   Note two things: (1) Each person must take up his own cross. The burden in this
  world is different for each person, and each has been chosen by God to bear certain
  struggles for his own salvation and the salvation of those around him. (2) The cross is to
  be taken up daily. Commitment to following Christ is not just a one-time event. Rather,
  it is the continual practice of faith and obedience, even to the point of being shamed and
  persecuted by the world.
9:27   This is a reference to those who will witness the Transfiguration (vv. 28–36), as well
  as to those in every generation who experience the presence of God's Kingdom.
9:28-36 See the article “The Transfiguration” at Mt 17.
9:31    Christ's decease (Gr. exodus, lit. “departure”) refers to His death. Christ's death is
  intimately connected to the glory of the Transfiguration, for Christ is glorified through
  His death (Jn 12:23). In the liturgical cycle, the Feast of the Transfiguration (Aug. 6)
  comes forty days before the feast of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14), showing the connection
  between Christ's glory and His Cross. The term exodus reveals that Christ's Passion is a
  fulfillment of the OT Passover and is the true exodus from enslavement into salvation.
       This revelation of divine power also confirms Christ's upcoming death was not imposed
  on Him by outside forces, but was a voluntary offering of love, for no arresting soldier
  could withstand such glory if Christ had not consented (Mt 26:53). In a festal hymn
  (called the kontakion) of Transfiguration, we sing, “Your disciples beheld Your glory as
  far as they could bear it, so that when they saw You crucified, they would understand that
  Your suffering was voluntary.”
9:40-41 While the disciples' faith was incomplete (Mt 17:19, 20), Christ's rebuke is also to
  the crowds, whose faith was weaker still (see Mk 9:22–24).
9:44   Christ's repeated prediction of His Passion was meant to encourage and strengthen
  His disciples for the terrifying events they would face, and to assure them that Christ was
  not powerless but went to the Cross willingly.
9:57-62   I will follow You: There is a cost to discipleship. Jesus reveals three: (1) The
  disciple relinquishes personal or earthly security—if the Lord has nowhere to lay His
  head, neither will the disciple. (2) Nothing, not even the honor due to parents, can be an
  obstacle to serving the Lord. (3) A disciple cannot delay in accomplishing the good that
  Christ demands.
10:1   Seventy: See the article “The Seventy” in this chapter.
10:2   We are to pray not only for the harvest of converts to Christ, but also for the
  laborers who will reach them.
10:3   Lambs speak of the sacrificial life of the apostles and of all followers of Christ. The
  wolves are those who seek to frighten and devour those who follow the Lord (Jn 15:18).
10:7-8 Twice here Christ commands the apostles to eat whatever is offered to them. This
  has a twofold significance: (1) the apostles must be content with whatever is offered, even
  if the food is little and simple; and (2) the gracious reception of others' hospitality takes
  precedence over personal fasting or dietary disciplines.
     St. Cassian the Desert Father notes that when he visited a monastery, the fast was
  always relaxed to honor him as a guest. When he asked why, the elder responded,
  “Fasting is always with me, but you I cannot always have with me. Fasting is useful and
  necessary, but it depends on our choice, while the law of God demands charity. Thus
  receiving Christ in you, I serve you with all diligence, and when I have taken leave of you,
  I resume the rule of fasting again.” In this way the ascetics would obey Christ's command
  here and His command that we not “appear to men to be fasting” (Mt 6:18; see also Rom
  14:2–6; 1Co 10:27; Heb 13:2).
10:9   The gospel message is not simply that there is a Kingdom in the future, but that this
  kingdom of God has come near.
10:13-16 Judgment is severe for those who reject Christ after experiencing His grace. In
  contrast, those who have never known Christ due to genuine ignorance are without sin in
  that regard (Jn 15:22–24), and are instead judged by their God-given conscience (Rom
  2:12–16).
10:18    I saw Satan fall describes an event that took place before the creation of the
  world. Five times Satan set his will against God (Is 14:12–15; see also Rev 12:7–12).
10:21   Babes: People of simple faith and open hearts (see 18:15–17).
10:30   Jerusalem is the place of peace, symbolic of communion with God. Jericho, on
  the other hand, was renowned as a place of sin (see 19:1). Falling among thieves speaks
  to the natural consequence of journeying away from God toward a life of sin (see Jn
  10:10).
10:31-32   Titles and positions are meaningless in God's sight when good deeds do not
  accompany them: “The dignity of the priesthood means nothing unless he also excels in
  deeds” (CyrAl). That the priest and the Levite do not help the man also indicates the
  failure of the OT Law to heal the consequences of sin.
10:33   The Samaritan, while a despised foreigner, is an image of Christ (Jn 8:48), for He
  “came down from heaven” (Creed) to save even those in rebellion against Him.
10:34-35    The bandages, oil, and wine are sacramental images for (1) the garment of
  baptism, which delivers us from the wounds of sin; (2) the oil of chrismation, which gives
  us new life in the Holy Spirit; and (3) the communion of the divine Blood, which leads to
  eternal life. His own animal indicates Christ bearing our sins in His own body, and the
  inn reveals the Church in which Christ's care is received. He pays the price for that care
  (1Co 6:20; 7:23).
10:38-42 Mary and Martha are the sisters of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead
  (Jn 11:1). Martha is not rebuked for serving, but for complaining and for being
  distracted, worried, and troubled. In following Christ, we serve in order to facilitate
  the spread of the gospel (see Acts 6:1–4).
11:1   Teach us to pray expresses a universal longing to be in communion with God. For
  notes on the Lord's Prayer, see Mt 6:9–13.
11:5-8   This parable demonstrates God's faithfulness to those who are in need and who
  pray with persistence (v. 8). The Fathers interpret midnight as both the time of our
  death and a time of great temptation. The friend is Christ, who, as our only source of
  grace, provides everything we need.
11:9-13 In Greek, the verbs rendered ask, seek, and knock imply a continuing action and
  are better translated, “keep asking,” “keep seeking,” and “keep knocking.” God responds
  when we persistently ask for things that are good. Bread, fish, and an egg are all
  images of life and symbolize the gift of the Holy Spirit (see Jn 14:13, 14; Jam 4:3).
11:15   Beelzebub: A pagan god, derided by the Jews as “the Lord of the Flies.” Here it is a
  direct reference to Satan (v. 18).
11:16   A sign is never given to those whose motive is merely to test God (see 4:9–12).
11:20 Finger of God: the Holy Spirit (Mt 12:28).
11:21-22 The strong man is Satan, who holds sway over the fallen human race, while the
  stronger is Christ (see 1Jn 4:4).
11:23 It is the work of Christ to gather the children of God, while those who scatter are in
  direct opposition to Him. Those who work in opposition to Christ are different from those
  who work in good faith toward His purpose but are not yet united to the Church (see
  9:46–50 and note). Only “good deeds done for Christ's sake bring fruit,” and thus deeds
  done for any other purpose, “even if they are good, are deeds that scatter abroad”
  (SerSar).
11:24-26 The unclean spirit refers to the rebelliousness cast out of the Jews by the OT
  prophets to prepare them to receive Christ. Those who refuse to receive Him are left open
  to the wickedness of seven other spirits or demons (JohnChr).
11:27-28   These verses are read on most feasts of the Virgin Mary. Jesus corrects the
  woman from the crowd, not by denouncing his mother, but by emphasizing her faith.
  People are blessed in God's eyes if, like Mary, they hear the word of God and keep it.
  The Greek word menounge, here rendered more than that, is translated “Yes indeed” in
  Rom 10:18. This word corrects by amplifying, not by negating.
11:29-32   The sign of Jonah is (1) the fact that the rebellious Ninevites were willing to
  repent at Jonah's preaching, and (2) that Jonah coming out of the great fish prefigures
  Christ rising from the tomb (Mt 12:40). In contrast to the Ninevites' repentance, the Jews'
  failure to repent at something far greater—Christ's preaching and Resurrection—will
  result in their judgment. Queen of the South: See 3Kg 10:1–10.
11:51   Zechariah: Some of the Fathers teach this was the prophet at the time of Joash the
  king (2Ch 24:20–22), while others say it refers to the father of St. John the Baptist, who,
  according to tradition, was also murdered in the temple.
12:5   Whom you should fear refers to God (Pr 9:10). The body will die eventually, one
  way or another. St. Ambrose even states that the death of the body is not itself a
  punishment, but rather it marks the end of earthly punishments. The soul continues for
  all eternity; since God is the judge of the soul, our efforts in this world are to please Him
  alone.
12:10   To say a word against the Son of Man is to reject Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus
  seemed to be a mere man to many people before their conversion. The scandal caused by
  the Incarnation and Crucifixion of the Son of God (1Co 1:23) makes this sin more easily
  forgiven. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is without bodily form and invisibly works
  divine goodness. According to St. John Chrysostom and many other Fathers, the
  blasphemy against the Holy Spirit would be forgivable if a person were to repent of it.
  Jesus never calls the sin itself “unforgivable.” Jesus makes this declaration knowing that
  those who blaspheme the Spirit are calling pure, divine goodness “evil,” and are beyond
  repentance by their own choice.
12:13-15   It was a custom for respected rabbis to arbitrate personal disputes. However, a
  dispute over an inheritance is detrimental to salvation. This greed is pure idolatry (Col
  3:5) and unfitting for anyone who knows God. Notice how incompatible this question is
  with what the Lord had just finished saying.
12:20     Whose will those things be which you have provided? is the key to
  understanding the saving up of material goods. St. John Chrysostom writes that the only
  barns we need we already have: “the stomachs of the poor.” St. Basil the Great taught that
  the bread in our cupboard belongs to the hungry man; the coat hanging unused belongs
  to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in our closet belong to the one who has no
  shoes; and the money we hoard belongs to the poor. St. Ambrose teaches, “The things
  which we cannot take with us are not ours. Only virtue will be our companion when we
  die.” Even when Joseph stored up grain in Egypt (Gn 41), it was for the benefit of the
  whole nation. These teachings apply to parishes as well as to each person.
12:32    Do not fear is a recurring theme in this discourse. Little flock refers to all
  believers. They are little in two ways: (1) they are insignificant in the eyes of the world,
  and (2) they are small in number when compared to the earthly and heavenly creation.
12:35-36 A call to be vigilant, echoing the imagery of the parable of the wise and foolish
  virgins (Mt 25:1–13). Your waist be girded: Be ready for virtuous action. Lamps
  burning: Have spiritual discernment.
12:37-48 See also Mt 24:45–51. The mark of a true disciple is vigilance in performing the
  work and exemplifying the virtue of the master.
12:38   Second and third watch is between 9:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m., interpreted as hours
  of heightened temptation. Thus, the servants are most blessed who remain faithful
  during the night.
12:40   It is not the place of anyone to try to predict the time of the return of the Son of
  Man, but rather to remain faithful and to be ready at every hour.
12:41   The previous parable (vv. 35–40) is to all people, while the following parable (vv.
  42–48) is to the apostles and their successors, the rulers (v. 42) and teachers of the
  Church. The exhortations to principles of virtue and the warnings against corruption
  apply specifically to those entrusted with spiritual leadership.
12:47-48 The judgment of the teachers of the Church will be strict (Jam 3:1). The many
  stripes given to those who are willfully and knowingly disobedient symbolize
  condemnation. The few stripes are for those disobedient out of ignorance and indicate
  chastisement or correction.
12:49   Fire references the proclamation of the gospel and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This
  fire both enlivens the faithful and judges the faithless; it purifies virtue and destroys sin
  (see 3:16; 1Co 3:12–15).
12:50 Baptism refers to Christ's Passion (see note at Mt 20:20–23).
12:51   There are two kinds of peace. False peace, to which Christ refers here, is a shallow
  harmony that results from ignoring issues of truth. Genuine peace is reconciliation to
  God through faith in Christ and surrender to truth. Genuine peace has division as a
  byproduct because not everyone wants truth. In the fallen world, divisions are necessary
  for truth to be manifest (see 1Co 11:18, 19).
12:53   This fulfills the prophecy of Mic 7:6. In addition to its literal meaning, which has
  been experienced in the Church since the time of Christ, the older generation being
  divided from the younger generation also symbolizes (1) the rejection of the new
  covenant by followers of the old covenant, and (2) the spiritual struggle between our old,
  sinful state and our renewal in Christ (see Eph 4:20–24).
12:56       This time: The revelation of the Kingdom of God in the first coming of Jesus
  Christ.
12:58   Just as a guilty person would attempt to reconcile with his opponent before facing
  an earthly judge, even more so should one be reconciled to God in Christ before facing
  His dread judgment.
13:1-5   These two historical incidents (vv. 1, 4) are only reported in Luke. The slain
  Galileans were probably Zealots, Jewish nationalists, who triggered some disturbance
  against the Romans. The collapse of the tower in Siloam, whether by accident or
  sabotage, was believed to be divine justice on sinners. Christ denies this suffering was
  God's judgment; instead, He uses these events as illustrations for those who perish
  because they will not repent.
13:6-8    The fruitless fig tree is universally interpreted in the Church to be fallen
  humanity. The three years represent God's covenants with His people through
  Abraham, Moses, and Christ, all of which are rejected, as well as the three-year earthly
  ministry of Christ. The keeper of the vineyard is Christ Himself, who intercedes on our
  behalf that He should suffer His Passion and send the Holy Spirit to us before the final
  judgment takes place.
13:16   Think of it: The Fathers see this command as directing us to a spiritual meaning
  for the eighteen years. As the Greek expression is literally translated “ten and eight
  years,” both St. Ambrose and Theophylact see ten as representing the Ten
  Commandments and eight as representing grace, for the day of Resurrection is often
  called the “eighth day.” Thus humanity is lifted up by faith in Christ, who fulfills both law
  and grace.
13:19   The mustard plant grows to a height of about 10 feet in Palestine (see note at Mt
  13:31–33).
13:25-27 Neither verbal confessions (Lord, Lord; v. 25) nor sacramental experiences (v.
  26) avail anything unless we also do the works of faith (see 6:46–49).
13:30   Theophylact sees the first who becomes last as not only faithless Jews, but those
  in the Church who “from infancy have put on Christ and have been taught the Word, but
  who become last by transgressing against it.”
13:32-35 This passage shows (1) Christ voluntarily going to His Passion, (2) His great love
  for Jerusalem in spite of its continual state of rebellion, and (3) His foreknowledge of
  how He will be received on the first Palm Sunday.
14:7-17   These parables are directed toward guests (vv. 7–11) and hosts (vv. 12–14). In
  imitation of Christ, perfect humility is expected of guests, and boundless charity is
  demanded of hosts (see Jam 4:6).
14:12-14 This instruction is based on the manner in which God treats us, even though not
  one of us could possibly repay Him (see 6:30–36). You shall be repaid: See 10:34, 35.
14:15   This man unwittingly declares the ultimate beatitude. The truth behind his words
  can come only through understanding the bread to be eternal communion with God.
14:16-17 This parable operates on two levels, illustrating both the first and second coming
  of Christ, who is the servant sent to gather many. Supper indicates evening, the end of
  the age. The people invited are first the Jews, then all mankind.
14:18-20 The Fathers see the three excuses as having both a literal meaning, that many
  are too attached to worldly cares to accept the Kingdom of God (v. 26; 18:29), and
  spiritual meanings. St. Ambrose sees the three excuses of I cannot come representing
  the Gentile, the Jew, and the heretic. The Gentile's devotion to earthly wealth is
  represented by the piece of ground, the Jew's enslavement to the five books of the Law
  by the five yoke of oxen, and the heretic's espousal of error by the man refusing on
  account of his wife. Theophylact more generally associates the excuses with people
  devoted to earthly matters, to things pertaining to the five senses, and to all pleasures of
  the flesh.
14:21-23   Those in the streets and lanes indicate (1) the Gentiles who accepted Christ
  after the faithless Jews rejected Him, and (2) those outside the Church replacing those
  within who have rejected their own baptism.
14:26    The command to hate one's kindred and his own life also is not to be taken
  literally. Rather we are to hate the way our relationships with others can hinder our total
  dedication to the Kingdom of God, which takes precedence even over family ties.
14:28   Build a tower: See 1Co 3:10–15.
15:2-12 Fellowship with sinners defiled pious Jews. The three parables in this chapter are
  Christ's answer to the Pharisees and scribes. The man (v. 4), the woman (v. 8), and
  the father (v. 12) are seen as representing Christ, the Church, and God the Father.
  “Christ carries the sinner, the Church seeks and intercedes, and the Father receives”
  (AmbM).
15:4   In the Fathers' spiritual interpretation, the hundred sheep represent all rational
  creation. The one sheep who goes astray symbolizes mankind, while the ninety-nine
  represent the angelic realm (see also note on Mt 18:12).
15:8   Ten silver coins comprise a single necklace worn by a married woman, a bride,
  which is an image of the Church (Eph 5:32). The lost coin (Gr. drachma), which carried
  the image of the king, symbolizes mankind who, though bearing the image of God, fell
  from grace. Through the Church, Christ enlightens the world, sweeps away sin, and finds
  His lost creation.
15:12-14 The son's request for his portion of goods (Gr. ousia, lit. “essence”) indicates
  man receiving his free will and his rational mind from God. As Adam did in Eden, the
  younger son uses these possessions to rebel against his father. The far country
  represents life in exile from God.
15:15   Feeding swine could rightly be called “Jewish Skid Row.” He could not sink much
  lower.
15:17   Came to himself: A person immersed in sin is living outside his true self (Rom
  7:17–20). The prodigal realizes his hopeless condition. The bread symbolizes Christ, who
  is known through the Scriptures and the Eucharist.
15:20    Though it was considered unseemly in Jewish culture for an old man to run, the
  father did not passively stand by waiting for his son to return. He ran to him. This self-
  humiliation for the sake of the lost indicates the way in which our Father, through
  Christ's sacrifice, actively seeks those who stray.
15:22   The significance of the robe is righteousness granted by baptism (Is 61:10), the
  signet ring is family identity (Hag 2:23), and the sandals refer to walking according to
  the gospel (Eph 6:15).
15:23   Fatted calf is more closely translated “wheat-fed bull-calf,” or even more literally
  “a bull-calf formed from wheat.” This animal is a male calf raised on wheat in preparation
  for use as a religious offering. As the reconciliation of the prodigal son was not complete
  without the sacrifice of the calf, so man's reconciliation to God is not by his repentance
  alone, but by Christ offering Himself on the Cross. The festive dining on an animal
  offering “formed from wheat” is a clear reference to our partaking of the eucharistic bread
  (see also note at Mt 22:4).
15:25-28    The resentful older son illustrates the hardheartedness of the Pharisees to
  whom Christ was telling this parable (vv. 2, 3). God requires His followers to rejoice when
  even the most blamable man is called to repentance (CyrAl).
15:29    I never transgressed your commandment at any time: The failure of the
  older son to recognize his own sins leads to his self-righteous and merciless attitude.
  Contrast this with the contrition of the younger son (vv. 18, 19). “The one who seems to
  himself to be righteous, who does not see the beam in his own eye, becomes angry when
  forgiveness is granted to one who confesses his sin and begs for mercy” (AmbM). The
  older son's ingratitude is also apparent in his charge you never gave me a young goat
  to his father, who has given him all he has (v. 31).
16:1-9 A steward is responsible for managing his master's property and looking after the
  welfare of his servants. The point of this parable is that the unrighteous are better at
  using money to make friends in the world than believers are at using money to make
  friends for the Kingdom of God—which is accomplished by spending it on the needy. At
  death (when you fail) the needy will welcome their benefactors into the everlasting
  home (v. 9).
16:10-12   The test as to whether God will bestow heavenly blessings (true riches) on a
  person is directly related to how that person spends his money. The money we consider
  our own is actually another man's, that is, belonging to God, or at least to the poor. The
  Fathers universally see a person's failure to give money to God's work as stealing:
  “nothing less than embezzlement of money belonging to someone else” (Theoph).
16:15    The things which are highly esteemed among men include money, power,
  position, and praise.
16:22   Abraham's bosom means heaven. Abraham is mentioned among all the righteous
  because, in stark contrast to the rich man, Abraham showed hospitality to strangers (Gn
  18:1–8). The rich man . . . was buried: The Fathers see this as illustrating the state of
  his merciless soul, buried by the pleasures of the flesh. He was already buried in life by
  “couches, rugs, furnishings, sweet oils, perfumes, large quantities of wine, varieties of
  food, and flatterers” (JohnChr). That the rich man remains unnamed indicates that he is
  ultimately forgotten (see Ps 9:6).
16:24-26 The rich man's appeal to Abraham as a spiritual father is not rejected. Rather,
  Abraham accepts this role, calling the rich man son and showing himself to be
  compassionate even towards the most wretched of men. The great gulf is not a
  geographical divide, but the complete separation between virtue and wickedness, a
  separation that cannot be overcome after death. Note that torments have not changed the
  rich man's heart, as he still sees Lazarus as a servant existing for the sake of his own
  comfort. Finally, this account by Christ reveals the communion of the saints: a man, not
  even a believer, calls out from Hades and converses with Saint Abraham!
16:27-31   Some Fathers see this parable being set after the final judgment, citing the
  punishment and reward being received by the two men respectively. Others see this
  parable set at a time after death but before the second coming of Christ, as evidenced by
  the man interceding on behalf of his brothers who are still living. The torment he is
  experiencing would be but a foretaste of his final state. From this perspective, we learn
  that souls of the departed have awareness of and concern for the state of those still alive
  on earth (see 9:30, 31; 2Mc 15:12–16; Mt 2:18), but also that the intercessions of a wicked
  man are heard, but avail nothing (contrast Jam 5:16).
16:31   “The ignorance of Scripture is a great cliff and a deep abyss. It is impossible for
  anyone to be without benefit if he reads continually and with attention” (JohnChr).
  Furthermore, the rebellious were not persuaded even when people did rise from the
  dead (Mt 28:11–15; Jn 12:9–11).
17:2   Little ones refers primarily to children, and by extension to anyone whose heart is
  humble and dependent on God (see notes at Mt 18:1–4, 6).
17:6   Here, the mulberry tree is symbolic of the devil's works. It is on the leaf of this tree
  that silkworms feed, worms being an image of hell (Mk 9:42–48). This patristic
  interpretation is confirmed by numerous scriptural images of evil being destroyed in the
  sea (8:33; Ex 14:27; Mt 21:21; Rev 20:10).
17:7 The servant plowing is mentioned first and the one tending sheep second, showing
  that one must first work out his own salvation (Php 2:12) before he can become a
  shepherd of others.
17:10   Unprofitable (lit. “without merit”) does not mean without intrinsic value. Rather,
  it means everything we have comes from God and is owed back to Him. There is nothing
  we can offer God that is not already His.
17:17-19   Where are the nine? Christ came to heal all of fallen humanity, yet only a
  small portion receive Him in faith and thanksgiving to give glory to God (v. 18). Thus,
  “many are called, but few chosen” (Mt 20:16). The lesson for Orthodox Christians is that
  worship is the number one priority.
17:21   The kingdom of God is a spiritual reality present within the Christian believer and
  within the community of the Church. Within you can also be translated “among you” or
  “in your midst.”
17:26-30 The warning not to be preoccupied with worldly matters applies both to believers
  and to parishes.
17:34-36 Christ's second coming will entail a sudden revelation of judgment. One will be
  taken to heaven and the other left for eternal condemnation. The separation of the
  saints from the wicked will occur on “the day when the Son of Man is revealed” (v. 30)
  and not, as some speculate today, at an event that occurs before His return.
17:37 The body refers to Christ, while the eagles refer to the angels and the saints.
18:1   Persistent (v. 7) and faithful (v. 8) prayer is the remedy for the tribulation just
  described (17:22–37; see also 1Th 5:16–18 and note).
18:8   Will He really find faith on the earth? The Lord often uses this form of question
  when speaking of characteristics that are rarely found (see 11:11; 12:42).
18:10   The Pharisee is highly respected and a careful observer of the details of the Law,
  whereas the tax collector is despised as a sinner who collaborates with the occupying
  Roman forces, betraying and cheating his own people.
18:11-12   The practices of this Pharisee are worthy examples to follow. His good deeds
  (fasting and giving tithes) are the primary weapons against the passions of lust and greed
  (adultery and extortion). However, without a humble and repentant heart, these outward
  practices are worthless and lead only to pride and judgment of others. Note that he prays
  with himself, for God is absent where there is boasting.
18:13   The tax collector shows by his posture an awareness of the state of his soul,
  standing far from the altar of sacrifice with eyes cast downward. His prayer, God, be
  merciful to me a sinner, is the foundation of the Jesus Prayer (see note on 1Th 5:16–
  18), as is the refrain “Lord have mercy” that permeates Orthodox worship and personal
  prayer.
18:14   Justified means forgiven and set right with God, for inward humility is blessed
  while pride in outward deeds is condemned.
18:25-27 See 19:8–10.
18:34     The saying was hidden not by God, but because the disciples could not
  comprehend its meaning until the events of the Passion had taken place.
19:1   Jericho was notorious as a place of iniquity and is commonly associated with sinful
  living (see 10:30).
19:2    He was rich: See 18:24–27. This encounter between Christ and Zacchaeus
  demonstrates that grace can accomplish that which is impossible to man.
19:3-4 Many spiritual interpretations express the universal significance of this encounter.
  Theophylact sees the crowd symbolizing sins: “Crowded in by a multitude of passions and
  worldly affairs, he is not able to see Jesus.” St. Ambrose sees several parallels: (1)
  Zacchaeus being short is indicative of his being short on faith and virtue; (2) that
  Zacchaeus must ascend a tree shows no one attached to earthly matters can see Jesus;
  and (3) the Lord intending to pass that way reveals that Christ will approach anyone
  willing to repent and believe.
19:8   Zacchaeus uses the term give for his free and generous offering to the poor, and
  restore for what he owes those he had cheated, as this was not a gift but required by the
  Law (Ex 22:1). By doing both, Zacchaeus not only fulfills the Law, but shows his love of
  the gospel.
19:9   The title son of Abraham indicates Zacchaeus had become like this patriarch of
  Israel: he was counted righteous by his faith, he became generous toward the poor, and
  he was united to the people of God. Early records tell us he went on to be a bishop of the
  Church.
19:42   Jerusalem means “foundation of peace.” Only faith in Christ brings true peace—a
  truth hidden from a city that will soon rebel against its Savior (see note on 12:51).
19:43-44    The destruction of Jerusalem that Jesus foretells would occur in AD 70. This
  also describes the spiritual end of every person who lacks faith.
20:2   These things refers to Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem as Messiah (19:35–
  38), the cleansing of the temple (19:45), and His preaching (20:1). The elders confront
  Jesus since it was the duty of the priestly descendants of Levi to manage the temple.
  While Christ was descended from Judah (3:33), yet He is the High Priest “according to
  the order of Melchizedek” (Ps 109:4), a priestly line far greater than that of Levi, for His
  authority is from the Father.
20:9-16 In this parable, the man represents God the Father, and the vineyard refers to
  God's people. The vinedressers are the leaders of the Jews entrusted to care for the
  people. Each servant (vv. 10–12) sent by the owner stands for an OT prophet who comes
  to call people back to God, while the beloved son (v. 13) refers to Christ Himself. When
  the Son is cast out of the vineyard (v. 15) to be killed, this is understood on two levels:
  (1) that Jesus was killed outside Jerusalem; and (2) that Jesus was crucified by foreign
  soldiers, not by those of His own vineyard. The others (v. 16) who later receive the
  vineyard are the Gentiles brought into the Church.
20:17-18 That stone is Christ. This saying illustrates the two ways of destruction. Those
  falling on the stone are people who suffer the effects of their own sins while yet in this
  life, whereas those on whom the stone falls are unrepentant people who become
  powder in the final judgment (JohnChr).
20:20-26    This question on taxation is designed to trap Jesus: a “yes” would turn the
  Jewish people against Him, while a “no” would bring a charge of treason by the Romans.
  His answer defeats their cunning and shows that a believer can render the state its due
  while serving God (Rom 13:1–7). As the coin bears the image of the emperor and is
  properly paid to him, so each person bears the image of God and therefore belongs to
  Him. Conflict arises only when the state demands that which is contrary to God.
20:41-44    The first reference to the L   ORD   applies to God the Father, while the term my
  Lord refers to Christ. This question is answered in that Christ is the Son of David in His
  humanity and David's Lord in His divinity (see note at Mt 22:41–46).
21:1-4 According to the Fathers, the Lord accounts the value of a gift not by how much is
  given, but by how much is kept back. Thus, the poor widow is counted to have given a
  great gift, having kept nothing for herself. Those who give out of their abundance but
  keep plenty back for themselves are counted by God to have given very little.
22:1   The Passover (Gr. Pascha) is the celebration of the destruction of the firstborn of
  Egypt and the deliverance of God's people from bondage (Ex 12–14). In remembrance of
  this, the Jews would slaughter an unblemished lamb and partake of it with unleavened
  bread. This prefigures Christ's Passion, in which the only-begotten Son of God is slain in
  order to deliver His people from their bondage to sin and death, and then is raised to lead
  them into the eternal Kingdom. Thus, Pascha is the primary term by which we refer to
  the death and Resurrection of Christ, known in the West as Easter.
22:3   Satan does not enter a man except by the man's consent. The reason Satan chose
  Judas and none of the others is that Judas had a place for Satan in his heart, while the
  others did not. Luke's mention of Judas being numbered among the twelve
  emphasizes the depth of the betrayal and shows that religious position is worthless if not
  accompanied by faith and virtue.
22:15   Christ has a fervent desire for this Passover because this meal will impart the
  mysteries of the new covenant to His followers, and because this event will inaugurate
  the great deliverance of humanity from sin through the power of the Cross.
22:17-18 This first cup concludes the OT Passover meal Christ eats with His disciples to
  fulfill the Law. Until the kingdom of God comes means until Christ's Resurrection; at
  that time He will again eat and drink with His disciples (24:43; Acts 10:41).
22:19-20 Gave thanks has at its root the Greek word eucharist, which immediately came
  to refer to both the Liturgy and the sacrament of Holy Communion. Before the end of the
  first century, a manuscript called the Didache refers to the celebration of the Liturgy as
  “the Eucharist,” and in the year AD 150, St. Justin says of Holy Communion, “This food
  we call ‘Eucharist,’ of which no one is allowed to partake except one who believes that the
  things we teach are true, and has received the washing [holy baptism] for forgiveness of
  sins and for rebirth, and who lives as Christ commanded us.” This is My body: The
  Orthodox Church has always accepted Christ's words as true, “that the food consecrated
  by the word of prayer which comes from Him is the flesh and blood of that incarnate
  Jesus” (Justin). See Jn 6:51–66 and notes, and the article “The Eucharist” at 1Co 11.
22:21-23   Judas too is invited to the table for the mystical supper, Jesus seeking by all
  means to save him. His unworthy participation leads to his utter destruction (see 1Co
  11:27–30; compare Est 7).
22:24-27 This small-minded dispute is out of place in the context of the mysteries Christ
  has just revealed. He corrects the disciples by first comparing them to the power-hungry
  Gentiles, whom they themselves considered an abomination, and contrasting them to
  Himself, who serves us even though He is Lord of all.
22:30    “Christ judges by discerning the heart, and not by examining deeds. So also the
  apostles are being shaped to exercise spiritual judgment concerning faith, and in rebuking
  error with virtue” (AmbM). The apostles will judge not with earthly judgment, but by the
  witness of their own lives. Since God's kingdom begins with the Resurrection of Christ,
  the authority of judgment has already been given to the apostles and their successors in
  the journey of the Church on earth (Mt 16:19; Jn 20:23).
22:31-32 The form of you in v. 31 is plural, indicating Satan asked for all the disciples,
  while the you in v. 32 is singular, indicating Jesus prayed especially for Simon Peter.
  Because Peter's faith was the strongest, he would be tested the most. When you have
  returned to Me: See Jn 21:15–17. Strengthen your brethren refers not only to the
  other disciples, but to all the faithful until Christ returns.
22:35-38    The sword (v. 36) is not to be understood literally (compare vv. 49–51), but
  refers to the living word of God in the battle against sin (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12). St. Ambrose
  adds an additional meaning: that giving up one's garment and buying a sword refers to
  surrendering the body to the sword of martyrdom. Because the disciples were thinking of
  swords literally, Jesus abruptly ends the discussion with the words, “It is enough,” or
  better translated, “Enough of this!” (see Dt 3:26; Mk 14:41).
22:41-44 Christ's agony (v. 44) was the product of His human nature. In asking that the
  cup be taken away, He reveals His human will. By submitting His human will to the
  Father, Christ reveals His divine will to be one with the Father's, and further shows that
  each person must submit his own will to God's will (11:2). Christ willingly takes in
  Himself the voice of weak humanity, thereby conquering weakness: “The words of
  weakness are sometimes adopted by the strong in order that the hearts of the weak may
  be strengthened” (GrgGt).
22:51   This healing is recorded only by St. Luke the physician. It indicates the manner in
  which we are to treat our enemies. The Fathers see a spiritual meaning in that it is Christ
  who gives people the ability to hear the truth and thereby come to salvation (see 8:8;
  14:35).
22:53 Darkness: See Jn 3:19–21; 13:30.
22:56   A girl being the first to test Peter is an icon of the temptation of Adam by Eve (Gn
  3:6). Our fallen state is overcome in Christ when women are the first to hear, believe, and
  proclaim the Resurrection (24:1–10).
22:61-62   Peter is so overcome with fear that neither Christ's prediction (v. 34) nor the
  crowing of the rooster calls him to repentance, but only the Lord's gaze causes him to
  weep bitterly. Nevertheless, “through tears, what cannot be defended can be purged, for
  tears wash away the offense which is shameful to confess out loud” (AmbM).
22:68   Jesus asked many questions of the Jewish leaders which they refused to answer
  because doing so would have meant confessing Him as the Christ (20:4–7; Mt 22:41–46;
  Mk 3:4).
22:69   By this claim, Jesus declares Himself to be equal with God.
23:2-4 The religious accusations against Jesus (22:66–71) would not be enough to justify a
  death sentence under Roman occupation. Therefore, the chief priests invent false
  (20:20–26), politically charged accusations in order to persuade Pilate to put Jesus to
  death. Pilate's question (v. 3) is more a mockery of the accusation itself than of Jesus, as
  he clearly does not take the political charges seriously (v. 4). Christ's answer, “It is as
  you say,” can also be translated with a more ambiguous, “You say so.”
23:8-9   Herod sees Jesus as a novelty. Christ's silence is an act of compassion, for
  revealing divine mysteries in the face of such blasphemy would have brought Herod even
  greater condemnation. St. Ambrose sees Herod as a figure representing all unrighteous
  people who, if they do not recognize Jesus as the Christ, will never understand His words
  nor recognize His miracles.
23:13-25 Three times Pilate attempts to release Jesus (vv. 16, 20, 22), and three times the
  chief priest and the rulers incite the people to demand He be put to death. In the end,
  they demand the release of a rebel like themselves. Barabbas means “son of the father”
  and indicates to which father these rulers belong—the devil (Jn 8:44).
23:26   Simon means “obedience”; this faithful man stands for all who desire to follow
  Christ and carry the cross He places on them (9:23; 14:27).
23:28   Weeping is not appropriate for the One who redeems the world through the Cross,
  but is suited for one's own sins and for the sufferings of others.
23:29   The blessing on the barren women is an acknowledgment of the overwhelming
  pain a mother endures seeing her children suffer (illustrated by the “woe” in Mt 24:19).
  “Mothers are held by the tie of feeling for their children, but cannot save them. How can
  one escape the bonds of nature? How can she who nurses ever overlook the one she has
  borne?” (JohnChr).
23:31   The green wood is Christ, full of virtue and truth. The dry stands for the Jews,
  barren of all life and of all righteousness. If the Romans eagerly destroy the righteous,
  what horrifying things await the unrighteous?
23:33 Calvary: lit., “the skull.” Being crucified between the two criminals shows Christ's
  complete identity with fallen humanity and fulfills the prophecy of Is 53:9–12.
23:34   This intercession is not only for those who sentenced and crucified Jesus, but for all
  of humanity—a people who have no insight into the profound mystery of God's salvation.
  Jesus speaks these words not as a request, but with divine authority. Their great sin
  would still have been forgiven them had they repented. Indeed, one of the soldiers did
  repent (v. 47) and is considered a saint of the Church.
23:35-37    Save Yourself: The continuing temptation of Satan to deter Jesus from
  completing His mission (see 4:9–13).
23:38     An inscription: What was intended as an accusation and a mockery became
  instead a triumphant symbol that all nations would come under the reign of Jesus the
  King.
23:39-43 The first of the criminals wanted to use Jesus to avoid responsibility for his
  actions, while the other accepts his sentence and asks simply to be remembered. This
  latter way is the path to Paradise. Today: To be reconciled to Christ is to be in paradise
  immediately. Furthermore, the souls of the departed are in the presence of God and
  experience a foretaste of His glory before the final resurrection.
23:46   Jesus does not have His life taken from Him, but will voluntarily commit it to the
  Father. His was the first human soul not to be taken to Hades; instead it was freely given
  into the hands of God. Thus, Christ frees all of humanity from death's grip. His death
  reconciles mankind to God, not by satisfying the Father's need for blood-justice as some
  might teach, but by causing every aspect of our corrupt human nature to be transformed,
  for whatever divinity touches is healed. Christ accepts human nature in order to sanctify
  human nature; He accepts our weakness in order to make us strong; He takes on our sin
  in order to free us from sin; He suffers in order to transfigure suffering; and He enters
  death in order to destroy it (1Co 15:20–28; see note at Mt 27:50).
23:47    Reflecting on the conversion of the centurion, St. Cyril of Alexandria notes,
  “Observe that no sooner had Christ endured the Passion on the Cross for our sakes than
  He began to win many unto knowledge of the truth.”
23:50-53    If the apostles had buried Christ, doubters could claim His body was simply
  hidden away. Joseph being both a council member and a good and just man refutes
  any possibility that the Lord's body was deceptively hidden by the apostles. The spiritual
  significance of a tomb where no one had ever lain before is that Christ died a death
  unlike any person had ever died: a death without corruption, a death leading to victory
  over the grave itself.
23:55-56    His rest in the tomb fulfills the image of His birth in a cave (see 2:7) and
  reveals the ultimate purpose of His coming. The faith of the women, while stronger than
  that of the hiding disciples, was still imperfect in that they prepared for the corruption
  of Christ's body. Sabbath: As God rested from His work of creation on the original
  Sabbath (Gn 2:1–3), so now Christ rests from the work of the new creation on the
  Sabbath. Thus He gives the Sabbath its ultimate meaning and fulfills the Law even in
  death. At Matins of Holy Saturday we sing, “This is the most blessed Sabbath on which
  Christ sleeps in order to rise on the third day.”
24:2   See Mt 28:2. The stone is rolled away not to let the all-powerful Lord out, but to
  let us witness His Resurrection.
24:4   These men . . . in shining garments were angels.
24:5-7   In order to dispel any doubt, the angel confirms his message by recalling Christ's
  own words. In calculating the third day, the first day is Friday, the day on which Christ
  died before sundown. The second is Saturday, the Sabbath on which Christ rested in the
  tomb. The third day, which begins after sundown on Saturday, is the day of Resurrection,
  Sunday.
24:10   Certain Fathers teach that Mary the mother of James was the wife of Alphaeus,
  and this James was one of the Twelve (6:15). Most, however, hold that this is the Virgin
  Mary, being in fact the stepmother of a different James, “the Lord's brother” (see Mt
  13:55; compare Mk 15:40, 47). The Virgin Mary appears in certain icons of the
  Myrrhbearing Women, and in a hymn by St. John of Damascus, we sing, “The angel cried
  to the lady full of grace, ‘Rejoice, O pure Virgin: your Son is risen from His three days in
  the tomb.’”
24:13   The two of them are Cleopas (v. 18) and, according to tradition, Luke himself. It
  was a common literary device for a writer not to give his own name (see Mk 14:51; Jn
  21:24).
24:16   The nature of the resurrected body is so different from its previous state that it is
  not immediately recognizable (Jn 20:14; 21:4, 12; see 1Co 15:35–44). It is also able to take
  different forms, which is what occurs here (see Mk 16:12 and note). Their eyes were
  restrained: Christ intentionally prevents them from recognizing Him in order to expose
  their doubting thoughts and then cure them by means of the OT Scriptures (v. 27).
24:21     The disciples' hope for redemption was still imbedded in a foolish (v. 25)
  misunderstanding of the Messiah as a political savior or deliverer. With Christ's death,
  this earthly hope had been dashed.
24:26-27 It is partial faith to believe either in a Messiah who only suffered or one that
  would only reign in His glory. Complete faith sees the Messiah encompassing both, for
  all of this was foretold in the Law and the Prophets (see also note for v. 16).
24:30-35    The Lord breaks bread in the same manner as at the Last Supper (22:19),
  imaging the Eucharist of the NT Church. All who commune with the Lord in His risen
  Body in faith have their eyes opened (v. 31) to know Him, for the Lord is known most
  perfectly in the breaking of bread (v. 35).
24:32   Did not our heart burn within us: The inescapable effect of hearing the Holy
  Scriptures taught correctly and with faith (see 2Ti 2:15). This burning is the conviction
  that the words and promises are true.
24:36   Peace to you: This resurrectional greeting of Christ is proclaimed by the priest or
  the bishop frequently in Orthodox worship services.
24:38-43 Christ eats not because He in His resurrected body needs food, but to prove to
  the disciples that He is truly risen in the flesh. The spiritual significance assigned to the
  fish is active virtue, and the honeycomb is the sweetness of divine wisdom.
24:47 Remission of sins refers to the putting away of sins in baptism, which is preached
  by St. Peter at Pentecost (see Acts 2:38).
24:49    Are endued with is literally “have put on” (the same verb found in Eph 6:11),
  indicating the complete protection of spiritual armor. Tarry is literally “sit down,” and is
  an instruction not only to stay in place, but also to take rest and prepare attentively before
  a great and difficult task (compare Mk 14:32). The Promise of My Father is the Holy
  Spirit (see Acts 1:4).
24:51   The Ascension of Christ is celebrated forty days after the Resurrection (Acts 1:3).
  This event fulfills the type given when Elijah ascended in a fiery chariot (4Kg 2:11) and
  marks the completion of Christ's glorification and lordship over all creation. At the
  Incarnation, Christ brought His divine nature to human nature. In the mystery of the
  Ascension, Christ brings human nature to the divine Kingdom. He reigns with the Father
  and the Holy Spirit in His glorified body, revealing His glorified human nature—indeed,
  human flesh—to be worshiped by the whole angelic realm. At Vespers of Ascension we
  sing, “The angels were amazed seeing a Man so exalted.” In some icons of the Ascension,
  Christ's white robes are tinted red to indicate the shedding of His blood for the
  redemption of the world and the ascent of that life-giving blood into heaven (Is 63:1–3;
  see also Ps 23:7–10).
1:1 In the beginning recalls the creation story of Genesis, but speaks more clearly of the
  Creator Himself. Furthermore, while Genesis spoke of the first creation, this “Prologue”
  of John (vv. 1–18) reveals the new creation in Christ.
      Was the Word (Gr. logos): The Word is the eternal Son of God. Was indicates
  existence without reference to a starting point and emphasizes the Word's eternal
  existence without beginning. Logos can mean “wisdom,” “reason,” and “action” as well as
  “word,” all of which are attributes of the Son of God. The Word was with God: With
  shows that the Word—the Son of God—is a distinct Person from the Father and that He is
  in eternal communion with the Father. The Word was God: The Word—the Son of God
  —is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father; He Himself is God with the same divinity as
  the Father. Some twist and mistranslate this phrase “the Word was a god” in order to
  propagate their heresy that the Son of God is a created being, a creature not fully divine.
  Such a translation is unsupportable, false, dishonest, and deceptive.
1:3   The Word is the co-Creator with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Gn 1; Ps 32:6, 9; Heb
  1:2) and not merely an instrument or servant used by the Father. Will, operation, and
  power are one in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thus, the heavens and the earth are the
  works of the One who made them, while the Son was not made but is eternally begotten
  of the Father.
1:4   Only God has life in Himself. Thus, the Word, being God, is the source of life, together
  with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The life was the light of men: John now
  introduces mankind as receiver of the divine light. By participating in the life of the Son,
  believers themselves become children of the light (12:36; Eph 5:8; 1Th 5:5). Moses saw
  the divine light in the burning bush (Ex 3:2); the whole nation saw it at the Red Sea (Ex
  13:21); Isaiah saw it in his heavenly vision (Is 6:1–5); and three apostles saw it at the
  Transfiguration (Mt 17:1–5).
1:5   Darkness indicates both spiritual ignorance and satanic opposition to the light. Those
  who hate truth prefer ignorance for themselves and strive to keep others ignorant as well
  (3:19). The word translated comprehend means both “understand” and “overcome.”
  Thus, darkness can never overpower the light of Christ, nor can it understand the way of
  love.
1:6   This John is John the Baptist, not the author of this Gospel.
1:9-11   Christ offers light to every person, but the world and even many of His own
  refuse to receive Him; thus, they can neither know nor recognize Him. Those who
  accept Him have His light. In a hymn sung at the end of Liturgy, after hearing the Gospel
  and receiving communion, we sing, “We have seen the true light, we have received the
  heavenly Spirit.”
1:12   Right also means “authority” and indicates a gift from God, not an inalienable right.
  Those who receive Christ become children of God by adoption (Gal 4:4–7) and by grace
  inherit everything Christ is by nature (see the article “Deification” at 2 Peter). To believe
  in His name means to believe and trust in Him who in His humanity took the name
  Jesus as Word, Son, Messiah, and Savior.
1:13   Adoption as a child of God is not a matter of ethnic descent (of blood) as it was in
  the OT; nor are we children of God simply by natural birth (the will of the flesh), nor
  by man's own decision (the will of man). Becoming a child of God is a spiritual birth by
  grace, through faith, and in the Holy Spirit. This is accomplished and manifested in the
  sacrament of Holy Baptism (3:5–8; see Tts 3:4–7).
1:14    The Word became flesh clarifies the manner in which the Son and Word of God
  came to His people (vv. 9–11), pointing specifically to His Incarnation. The Word became
  fully human without ceasing to be fully God. He assumed complete human nature: body,
  soul, will, emotion, and even mortality—everything that pertains to humanity except sin.
  As God and Man in one Person, Christ pours divinity into all of human nature, for
  anything not assumed by Christ would not have been healed.
       Dwelt among us: In the OT, God's presence dwelt (“tabernacled”) in the ark of the
  covenant and later in the temple. Here, the eternal Word comes to dwell in and among
  humanity itself. His glory refers both to His divine power shown by His signs and
  wonders (2:11; 11:4, 40), and to His humble service to mankind, shown most perfectly on
  the Cross (12:23–32; 13:31). In both ways, Christ reveals that He is the One sent from the
  Father.
       Only begotten of the Father: The Son has no beginning, but has the Father as His
  source from eternity. He is called only begotten because there is no other born from the
  Father. (The Holy Spirit exists eternally from the Father through another mystery called
  “procession”; see 15:26.)
       Full of grace and truth: This phrase qualifies both the Word and His glory. Grace is
  Christ's uncreated energy given to us through His love and mercy. Truth includes His
  faithfulness to His promises and covenants and to the reality of His words and gifts.
1:16   In saying we have all received of His fullness, the Scriptures confirm that God's
  grace can fill human nature to the extent of actually deifying it (see the article
  “Deification” at 2 Peter). In Christ, God's children become gods by grace (10:34, 35)
  without ceasing to be human. As metal thrust into fire takes on properties of fire (such as
  heat and light) without ceasing to be metal, so human nature permeated by God takes on
  properties of the divine nature. Grace for grace is a Semitic expression signifying an
  overabundance of grace.
1:18   No one has seen God at any time: No one can see the nature, or essence, of God,
  for to see God is to die (Ex 33:20). Only One who is Himself divine can see God, and thus
  the Son is the only One who can declare Him. This revelation of God's energies can be
  received by the faithful. Moses saw the “back” of God (Ex 33:21–23); Isaiah saw His glory
  (see Is 6:1; John 12:41).
1:19-12 Here the theological Prologue has concluded with 1:18, and the focus shifts to the
  beginnings of Christ's ministry: the witness of John the Baptist (1:19–34); the calling of
  the first apostles (1:35–51); Christ's first sign at Cana (2:1–11); and His rest at
  Capernaum (2:12). Just as John began his Gospel similarly to the opening of Genesis (“In
  the beginning”—v. 1; see Gn 1:1), so he parallels Genesis in this opening account, which
  covers seven consecutive days.
       (1) The first day (1:19–28)—John the Baptist bears witness to the Light—the Christ—
  in the presence of the Jews. This parallels the creation of light on the first day in Gn 1:3–
  5.
        (2) The second day (1:29–34)—John the Baptist declares that Christ baptizes with
  the Holy Spirit, which is greater than his own baptism of repentance, performed with
  water on earth. This parallels the separation of water above from the water below on the
  second day in Gn 1:6–8.
       (3) The third day (1:35–42)—John the Baptist sends two disciples to Christ whom
  Christ gathers to be His own, one of whom He declares to be the foundation of the
  Church (v. 42; see Mt 16:18). This parallels the gathering of the waters and the
  establishment of growth on the land on the third day in Gn 1:9–13.
       (4) The fourth day (1:43–51)—Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael, who see Christ as
  the true Light, the One who was revealed in the OT, a lesser light. This parallels the
  establishment of the lesser and greater lights governing the night and the day respectively
  on the fourth day in Gn 1:14–19.
       (5) The sixth day (2:1–11)—John does not include the events of the fifth day, but jumps
  to the sixth. The phrase on the third day is an expression meaning “two days later,” for
  it includes the current day in the calculation (see 2:1 and note). On this sixth day, the
  wedding in Cana occurs, which parallels the creation of man and woman in Gn 1:26–31.
         (6) The seventh day (2:12)—Jesus rests at Capernaum with His mother, His
  brothers, and His disciples, which parallels God resting on the seventh day in Gn 2:1–
  3.
1:21   John the Baptist is a prophet but not the Prophet, the Messiah, whose coming
  Moses foretold (Dt 18:15–19).
1:26   On John's baptism, see notes at Lk 3:3 and 3:16, 17.
1:29   John's declaring Jesus as the Lamb of God recalls Isaiah's “Servant of God” who
  dies for the transgressions of His people (Is 53:4–12). Christ, the true Paschal (Passover)
  Lamb, offers Himself for our deliverance from darkness and death (1Pt 1:18, 19). St. John
  Chrysostom teaches that Jesus came to John this second time in order for John to make
  this declaration and thus stop anyone from thinking that Jesus needed baptism to wash
  away sins.
1:32   That the Spirit remained upon Him was a sign that Christ possesses the Spirit in
  His fullness from all eternity. Christ did not receive the Holy Spirit at His Baptism; rather,
  this vision that John saw revealed the truth that the Holy Spirit has always rested on
  Christ.
1:35-45   The Lord's first disciples had been followers of John the Baptist. They were
  Andrew (v. 40); Simon, who was also known as Peter, or Cephas (vv. 41, 42); Philip
  (v. 43); Nathanael (v. 45), who was also known as Bartholomew; and an unnamed
  disciple (vv. 35–40), who some Fathers say was John, the author of this Gospel. It was a
  common literary device for a writer not to give his own name (see Lk 24:13).
1:47 No deceit means both having a pure heart and being straightforward with others.
1:48-50    What exactly occurred under the fig tree is not stated. St. John Chrysostom
  teaches this was the meeting place of Philip and Nathanael (vv. 45, 46), and that Jesus
  was praising Nathanael for being so diligent and careful in His search for the Messiah.
  Christ's foreknowledge and His ability to see into Nathanael's heart stir him to this
  confession of faith (v. 49).
1:51   The title Son of Man is a title of the Messiah that had a level of mystery in its
  meaning, indicating a man of heavenly origin who would usher in the Kingdom of God
  (Dan 7:13, 14). In an OT prophecy, Jacob dreamed of a ladder connecting earth to heaven,
  upon which the angels of God were ascending and descending (Gn 28:12–15).
  Jesus is this “ladder” who unites earth to heaven, and therefore is this Son of Man.
2:1-11     The wedding in Cana is the setting for the first of the seven signs (v. 11)
  performed by Jesus in the Gospel of John. John uses the term signs to show that these
  miraculous actions point beyond themselves to the truth that the Kingdom of God has
  come among us in the Person of Jesus Christ. The seven signs are (1) changing water into
  wine (2:1–11); (2) curing the nobleman's son (4:46–54); (3) healing the paralytic (5:1–
  15); (4) feeding the five thousand (6:1–14); (5) walking on water (6:15–21); (6) opening
  the eyes of a blind man (9:1–41); and (7) raising Lazarus from the dead (11:38–44).
    The setting here is significant. In the OT, marriage feasts symbolized the union of God
  with His Bride, Israel. Jesus begins His ministry at Galilee, which had a large Gentile
  population; this was a sign of the spread of the gospel to all the world. That this wedding
  took place on the third day sets a resurrectional tone, showing that the marriage of God
  and His Church will be fulfilled in Christ's Resurrection. Other parallels between the
  marriage here and the Resurrection account in 20:1–18 are that both involve a woman
  named Mary who makes an appeal, and in both passages the disciples are invited to
  witness the event. Furthermore, the Resurrection account (20:11–18) has a striking
  similarity to SS 3:1–5, again showing the unity between marriage and our Lord's
  Resurrection.
         By His presence at this wedding, Jesus further declares marriage to be holy and
  honorable (Heb 13:4); therefore, this passage is read at Orthodox weddings, and these
  images are incorporated into many prayers in the wedding service.
2:3-5 Here is an example of Mary's gift of intercession. Even now, Mary continually speaks
  to her Son on our behalf and is our preeminent intercessor before His Throne. This is
  declared in the words of an Orthodox prayer: “The intercessions of a mother have great
  effect to win the favor of the Master.” This is confirmed as Jesus grants her request here.
     In this passage, wine is symbolic of life, and thus there are two levels of meaning to
  Mary's statement, “They have no wine”: (1) a marriage is not complete without the
  presence of Christ; and (2) the old covenant was unable to bestow life even on the most
  faithful people.
     Contrary to certain modern usages, Woman is a sacred title in Scripture, an address
  conveying deep respect and distinction (4:21; 8:10; 19:26; 20:13; compare to Gn 2:23).
  What does your concern have to do with Me? is more literally, “What is that to Me
  and to you?” This answer is not a refusal of Mary's intercession, but a declaration that the
  time had not yet come for Christ to be revealed. That Christ fulfills Mary's request
  teaches several things: (1) Christ is Lord over hours and seasons and is not subject to
  them. (2) The wedding party needed to be aware of their lack of wine first so that they
  might learn that it is Christ who fulfills all needs. (3) We need to have perseverance in
  our petitions before God (Mt 15:21–28). (4) The intercessions of the righteous have great
  power (Jam 5:16).
2:6      Waterpots were made of stone because, according to rabbinical teaching, stone
  would not contract ritual impurity. That there are six (one less than the perfect seven)
  indicates that the Law, illustrated by water being reserved for Jewish purification, was
  incomplete, imperfect, and unable to bestow life. This water is changed into wine,
  symbolizing the old covenant being fulfilled in the new, which is capable of bestowing
  life. The overabundant gallons of wine illustrate the overflowing grace Christ grants to
  all.
2:9   The Fathers see this transformation as prefiguring the transformation of bread and
  wine into the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist.
2:18-21    Since Jesus is not a Levitical priest, His authority to cleanse the temple is
  challenged. The term Jews in John's Gospel often refers specifically to the leaders; in
  this case, it refers to the chief priests and the elders (see Mt 21:23). As Christ is careful
  not to reveal Himself to scoffers, He answers in a hidden way: the ultimate sign will be
  His death and Resurrection.
2:23   John reports three Passover feasts between our Lord's Baptism and Passion (see
  also 6:4; 11:55), showing that His earthly ministry lasted three years.
3:1, 2 Nicodemus believed Jesus was from God (v. 2), but his faith was still weak, as he
  was afraid of his peers and thus came to Jesus by night (v. 2). Following this
  conversation, Nicodemus's faith grows to the point of defending Jesus before the
  Sanhedrin (7:50, 51) and finally making the bold public expression of faith of preparing
  and entombing our Lord's body (19:39–42). His memory is celebrated on the third
  Sunday of Pascha (Easter) along with the Myrrhbearing Women and Joseph of
  Arimathea. According to some early sources, Nicodemus was baptized by Peter and
  consequently was removed from the Sanhedrin and forced to flee Jerusalem.
3:3   Born again: The word again can also be translated “from above” and clearly refers to
  the heavenly birth from God through faith in Christ (1:12, 13). This heavenly birth is
  baptism (v. 5) and our adoption by God as our Father (Gal 4:4–7). This new birth is but
  the beginning of our spiritual life, with its goal being entrance into the kingdom of
  God.
3:4   Nicodemus misunderstands, questioning the possibility of a second physical birth.
  Misunderstandings occur frequently in John's Gospel (see 2:19–21; 4:10–14, 30–34; 6:27;
  7:37–39; 11:11–15). Christ uses these opportunities to elevate an idea from a superficial or
  earthly meaning to a heavenly and eternal meaning.
3:5   This birth of water and the Spirit is a direct reference to Christian baptism and the
  gift of the Holy Spirit given at chrismation.
3:8   A play on words: the Greek word pneuma means both wind and Spirit. The working
  of the Holy Spirit in the new birth is as mysterious as the source and destination of the
  blowing wind. Likewise, the Spirit moves where He wills and cannot be contained by
  human ideas or agendas.
3:12   According to St. John Chrysostom, earthly things refer to grace and baptism given
  to man. These are earthly, not in the sense of “unspiritual,” but only in the sense that
  they occur on earth and are given to creatures. The heavenly things involve the
  ungraspable mysteries of the eternal generation of the Son from the Father; they relate to
  His eternal existence before all time and to God's divine plan of salvation for the world. A
  person first must grasp the ways in which God works among mankind before he can even
  begin to understand things that pertain to God Himself.
3:14   Moses lifted up an image of a serpent to cure the Israelites from deadly bites of
  poisonous snakes (Nm 21:4–9). This miracle-working image prefigured Christ being lifted
  up on the Cross. As believers behold the crucified Christ in faith, the power of sin and
  death is overthrown in them. Just as the image of a serpent was the weapon that
  destroyed the power of the serpents, so the instrument of Christ's death becomes the
  weapon that overthrows death itself.
3:16   To show the reason the Son must be crucified (“lifted up”—v. 14), Jesus declares
  God's great love not only for Israel, but for the world. This single verse expresses the
  whole of the message of John's Gospel, and indeed, of salvation history.
3:17-18 While Christ came to save and not to condemn, man has free will. Thus, he can
  reject this gift, and he becomes condemned by his own rejection.
3:22   Baptized: See 4:2.
3:26   He is baptizing: See 4:2.
3:29   John the Baptist is called the friend (the “best man”), while Christ Himself is the
  bridegroom. The bride is the Church, the people of God. John confesses his role in the
  coming of the Messiah—that he is witness to the wedding of Christ and His people, and
  thus he rejoices in that celebration.
3:30   John expresses a humility that serves as an example for all believers. He renounces
  all earthly glory and reputation for the sake of Christ. By allowing Christ to increase in
  him, John himself finds true glory. This statement further indicates the end of the old
  covenant. As the law vanishes, the grace of Jesus Christ abounds. John's declaration is
  revealed in the liturgical calendar, wherein his birth is celebrated at a time when the sun
  begins to decrease in the sky (June 24), while Christ's birth is celebrated when the sun
  begins to increase (Dec. 25).
3:36   John echoes the teaching of Christ Himself (v. 18). Note the absence of the word
  “alone” in this statement of faith. “We do not from this assert that faith alone is sufficient
  for salvation; the directions for living that are given in many places in the Gospels show
  this” (JohnChr). See also Jam 2:14–24.
4:4   Samaria was the region to the north of Jerusalem, between Judea and Galilee.
4:6, 7   The OT does not mention Jacob's well, though Jacob did dwell in the area (Gn
  33:19). Wells were significant because of their rarity and their value in desert life.
  Therefore, wells came to symbolize life itself (Ps 35:9, 10; 45:4; Is 55:1). This particular
  well is maintained as a shrine to this day, and pilgrims can drink from it. Jesus is
  wearied from His journey, showing His complete humanity. The sixth hour is
  noontime. This woman is identified in church tradition as St. Photini (see note at 4:28–
  30).
4:9   The Samaritans were a mixed race and traditional enemies of the Jews. Although
  they worshiped the God of Israel and were also awaiting the Messiah, they accepted only
  the first five books of the OT (the Pentateuch) as their Scriptures. They had built their
  own temple on Mt. Gerizim, which the Jews destroyed in 128 BC.
4:10-14 Living water in the ordinary sense means fresh, flowing water, from a stream or
  spring rather than from a pond or cistern. Christ uses the term to mean the grace of the
  Holy Spirit that leads to eternal life (7:37–39). This gift not only remains in a person, but
  is so abundant it overflows to others. The woman misunderstands Christ and asks, “Are
  You greater than our father Jacob?” In the Scriptures, Jacob is a type of Christ, for
  he received the vision of the divine ladder (Gn 28:12), which Christ fulfills. Furthermore,
  just as Jacob gave this well for earthly life, now Christ gives the well of the Holy Spirit for
  eternal life.
4:16-19 Since Jesus perceived she was living with a man without being married, and as He
  knew of her string of husbands, the woman perceives He is a prophet. As the Samaritans
  did not accept any prophets after Moses, the only prophet they expected was the Messiah
  whom Moses foretold (Dt 18:15–18). Christ's insight into people's hearts, reported many
  times in the Gospels, underscores His divine nature.
4:20-24    If Jesus was indeed the expected Prophet (see previous note), then He could
  settle the historical argument about where worship was to take place. Jesus refuses to
  answer such an earthly question and elevates the discussion to the manner in which
  people ought to worship. Even more importantly, He turns the attention to the One we
  worship: God Himself. The Father is worshiped in spirit—that is, in the Holy Spirit—
  and in truth—that is in Christ Himself (14:6) and according to Christ's revelation. God is
  Spirit: God cannot be confined to a particular location. Those who receive the Holy Spirit
  and believe in Jesus Christ can worship God the Father with purity of heart.
    Salvation is of the Jews (v. 22): The Lord affirms that true revelation comes from
  Judaism. “The commonwealth of Israel was the school of the knowledge of God for all the
  nations” (AthanG). More importantly, Jesus is testifying that the Messiah, who was
  prophesied among the Jews, has risen from among the Jews. While the gift of salvation in
  Christ is to all nations, it has come from within Judaism. The hour (v. 21) refers to the
  death and Resurrection of Christ and to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost,
  which inaugurates the worship of the new covenant.
4:26   I who speak to you am He is literally translated “I AM [Gr. ego eimi], who speak
  to you.” “I AM” is the divine Name of God; its use indicates a theophany, or revelation of
  God Himself. The use of this Name by a mere man was considered blasphemy and
  punishable by death (see 8:58; Mk 14:62). However, as Jesus is divine, His use of this
  Name reveals His unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit; indeed, He is God Incarnate.
4:27    They marveled not only that Jesus spoke with a Samaritan, but that He was
  speaking with an unaccompanied woman, which was potentially scandalous. For further
  instances of the Lord's dealings with women, see 7:53–8:11; 11:20–33; 20:11–18 (see also
  Lk 8:1–3).
4:28-30   The Samaritan woman becomes an early evangelist, testifying to the advent of
  Christ and bringing others to Him (v. 39). According to an early tradition, after the
  Resurrection she was baptized with the name Photini, “the enlightened one.” Along with
  her two sons and five daughters, she went to Carthage to spread the gospel. She was later
  martyred with her family under the emperor Nero by being thrown into a well. The
  Church remembers her on March 20 and on the fourth Sunday of Pascha.
4:31-34 On misunderstandings in John's Gospel, see note at 3:4. Christ fulfills His role as
  Messiah by doing the will of the Father; therefore this is His food. This also teaches us
  we are to perform the will of God in our lives without being distracted by earthly cares
  (6:27; see also Mt 4:4; 6:25–33).
4:35   Behold: According to St. John Chrysostom, this command to look was given because
  the townspeople were approaching, ready and eager to believe in Jesus. Christ compares
  these foreigners (relative to the Jews) to fields ready for harvest. This command is also
  to all believers to look to those around us and to share the gospel with anyone wanting to
  hear it, regardless of race or ethnicity.
4:36-38        St. John Chrysostom teaches those who sow and those who reap are the
  prophets of the OT and the apostles, respectively. The prophets sowed in preparation for
  the coming of the Messiah, but did not see His coming and thus did not reap. The
  apostles did not do the preparation, but would draw thousands to Christ in their own
  lifetimes.
4:42   That these foreigners are among the first to recognize Jesus as the Savior of the
  world shows the gospel is for all people in every nation.
4:44   His own country is Galilee (1:46; 2:1; 7:42, 52; 19:19).
4:45   Galileans were present at Jerusalem during the Passover (2:13–25), when Jesus
  performed many signs. While the Galileans received Christ having seen His signs, St.
  John Chrysostom gives greater credit to the Samaritans for accepting Christ based on
  words alone without the accompanying signs (see also 20:29).
4:46-54   This is the second sign (v. 54) reported in John's Gospel (see note at 2:1–11).
  Having revealed He can see into the hearts of people from a distance (1:45–48), the Lord
  now demonstrates He can heal from a distance, showing His divine power knows no
  earthly limits. While there are certain similarities between this sign and the miracle
  recorded in Mt 8:5–13, there are many crucial differences; these are clearly two different
  encounters.
4:48   Christ is admonishing the people in general (you in this verse is plural both times)
  and not merely the nobleman. Faith based on miraculous works alone is insufficient for
  salvation; this kind of incomplete faith quickly turns to scorn should the miracles cease
  (19:15).
4:49-53 The nobleman's concern is clearly for his child, though his faith in Christ is weak.
  He does not understand that Christ is Lord over illness even from a distance, nor does he
  grasp that Jesus would have the power to heal even if the child were to die. Finally, he
  inquires about the timing of the healing (v. 52), still not completely trusting the Lord's
  authority. Only after all is confirmed do he and his whole household believe (v. 53).
  Thus, in healing the child from a distance, Jesus heals not only the body of the child, but
  the soul of the nobleman.
5:1-15 This healing is the third sign in John's Gospel (see note at 2:1–11) and exemplifies
  the divine power to restore a person to wholeness. The Fathers teach this feast is the OT
  Pentecost (also called the “Feast of Weeks”), which celebrates the giving of the Law on
  Mt. Sinai. The references to the Law of Moses later in this chapter confirm this
  interpretation.
5:2-4 This double-basin pool, believed to have curative powers, has been discovered about
  100 yards north of the temple area, near the Sheep Gate. The water for this high-
  ground pool came from underground springs and was used to wash down the sacrificial
  lambs before they were slain.
     The pool functions as a type of Christian baptism. Under the old covenant, a great
  multitude (v. 3) waited to enter the water for physical healing after an angel touched it
  (v. 4). The waters were special in that they were a way of indirectly participating in the
  animal sacrifices of the temple, since the animals were washed in the same water. Yet the
  grace was limited to the first person to enter. Under the new covenant, baptism is given
  to all nations as a direct participation in Christ's own sacrificial death (Rom 6:3–6)
  without the mediation of angels. Baptism thus grants healing of the soul and the promise
  of eternal resurrection of the body, and its grace in inexhaustible.
5:5   According to St. John Chrysostom, Jesus singled out the man who had waited for
  thirty-eight years in order to teach us to have perseverance, and as a judgment against
  those who lose hope or patience in much lesser troubles lasting a far shorter time.
5:6, 7 The Lord's question is relevant for many reasons. (1) It made public the fact that the
  sick man kept his faith even in a situation that was seemingly hopeless, for how could a
  paralytic ever be the first into the water? (2) The Lord draws attention away from the
  water and toward the need we have for a man to help us. This is fulfilled in Christ
  Himself, who became Man to heal all. (3) Not everyone who is ill actually desires healing.
  Sadly, some may prefer to remain infirm in order to have license to complain, to avoid
  responsibility for their lives, or to continue exciting the pity of others.
5:10-12 Although the Law itself does not specifically forbid the carrying of burdens on the
  Sabbath, this is prohibited in Jer 17:23 and explicitly forbidden in rabbinical teachings.
  That Christ is Lord over the Sabbath is made clear by His command (v. 8) and by the
  man's obedience (v. 9; see also Mt 12:1–8 and notes). As is often the case in John's
  Gospel, the term Jews here refers to the leaders and not to the people in general (see
  note at 2:18–21). Notice the malice of these leaders, for they focus solely on the Sabbath
  violation, asking the man, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed’?”
  but ignoring altogether the miraculous healing.
5:14 That the man was found in the temple shows his great faith, for he had gone there
  directly to thank God for his cure rather than departing to someone's home or to the
  marketplace.
     Sin no more: While there is a general connection between sin and suffering (Rom
  6:23), this connection is not always one-to-one, for the innocent often suffer, and the
  guilty are often spared earthly sufferings (see also 9:1–3). Nevertheless, sometimes our
  sins lead directly to our own suffering in this world; according to St. John Chrysostom,
  this was the case with this paralytic. Christ's warning here, however, is that the sins that
  destroy the soul lead to a far worse result than an affliction of the body. The only hope is
  to flee from sin altogether.
5:15   The man does not report Jesus to the leaders of the Jews in a malicious way, but as
  a witness to Christ's goodness. For even though these leaders were only interested in the
  violation of the Sabbath (v. 12), the healed man emphasizes that it was Jesus who had
  made him well, saying nothing about carrying his bed.
5:16-30      When Jesus declares God to be My Father, the Jews clearly understand this
  implies absolute equality (vv. 17, 18). That the Son can do nothing of Himself (v. 19)
  proves that His every act and word is in complete unity with the Father and the Holy
  Spirit. This discourse reveals that the Father and the Son are completely united in nature,
  will, and action. Thus, the Son fully shares the divine attributes of both giving life and
  executing judgment. Christ's judgment (v. 22) is based on both faith (v. 24) and works
  (v. 29).
5:25   The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the
  Son of God: The dead refers both to the spiritually dead, who will find life in Christ, and
  to the physically dead, who will rise in the general resurrection. Christ confirms this
  statement by raising Lazarus from the dead (11:38–44) before going to His own death.
  Verses 24–30 are read at the Orthodox funeral service, confirming the same reward for
  those who fall asleep in faith.
5:30   The divine will is common to the three Persons of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy
  Spirit—for all fully share the same divine nature. When the Son is said to obey the
  Father, this refers to His human will, which Christ assumed at His Incarnation. Christ
  freely aligned His human will in every aspect with the divine will of the Father (see note
  at 6:38), and we are called to do likewise.
5:31-47 How could Christ's witness ever be untrue? It cannot (see 8:14). Rather, Jesus is
  anticipating the argument and speaking the thoughts of the Jewish leaders (he does the
  same thing in Lk 4:23). In Jewish tradition, a valid testimony requires two witnesses (Dt
  17:6). Jesus offers four witnesses to confirm His identity as Messiah and as Son of God:
  (1) God the Father (vv. 32, 37, 38); (2) John the Baptist (vv 33–35); (3) His own works (v.
  36); and (4) the OT Scriptures, through which Moses and others gave testimony (vv. 39–
  47).
6:1-71 This chapter parallels the story of the Passover and Exodus of Israel from Egypt in
  several important ways.
     (1) In the Exodus account (Ex 11–17), God first performed His signs against Pharaoh,
  then gave instructions on how to be saved at the time of the Passover (Ex 11:1–12:14). In
  this passage, the multitudes follow Christ because of His signs (v. 2), and this too takes
  place at Passover (v. 4).
      (2) In the Exodus, the Jews were said to eat unleavened bread because they were
  hastily driven out of Egypt and had brought no provisions for themselves (Ex 12:39).
  Here, Jesus feeds the multitudes with earthly bread because they had brought no
  provisions, having rushed out to see Him (vv. 2–14).
    (3) In the Exodus, Moses leads the people across the Red Sea, walking on dry ground in
  the midst of the water (Ex 14:15–31). Here, Christ sends His disciples across the sea (v.
  17) and then walks on the sea (v. 19) as if it were dry ground.
     (4) In the Exodus, God fed His people manna and gave them drink from a miraculous
  water source (Ex 16:1–17:7). Here, Christ declares Himself to be the true food and drink,
  the true bread that has come down from heaven (vv. 48–58).
    These parallels show that Christ our God is the fulfillment of the old covenant, and that
  the breaking of His body and the shedding of His blood, which free mankind from the
  slavery of sin, fulfill the sacrifice of the Passover lambs (1:29), which brought the people
  out of slavery into the Promised Land.
6:5-9    Christ tests Philip to increase his faith (v. 5), for Philip needed help in
  understanding Him (14:8–10). Two hundred denarii corresponds to over six months'
  wages for a laborer. Andrew has greater faith than Philip: knowing the prophet Elisha
  had multiplied bread for 100 men (4Kg 4:42–44), he offers the food brought by a certain
  lad. Nevertheless, Andrew is still weak in faith, questioning what a mere five loaves
  could do for the number of people there (v. 9).
6:14-15   Though Jesus had performed greater signs than this, these crowds were so
  desirous of an earthly Messiah that they declared Jesus to be the expected Prophet (Dt
  18:15–19) only when they were filled with earthly things (see v. 26). Because of this
  misunderstanding, Jesus departed from them.
6:16-21   This is the fifth sign recorded by John (see note at 2:1–11). On the parallel
  between this sign and Israel's crossing of the Red Sea, see note on 6:1–71. See also note at
  Mt 14:27.
6:53-56 Christ was crucified in the flesh and His blood was shed on the Cross, and on the
  third day He was raised in a glorified state. We receive the grace of Christ's sacrificial
  offering by coming to Him in faith (v. 35) and by receiving Holy Communion in faith. In
  Communion, we truly eat His flesh and drink His blood, and this grants the faithful
  eternal life (v. 54), with Christ abiding in us and us in Him (v. 56). “There is no room
  left for any doubt about the reality of His flesh and blood, because we have both the
  witness of His words and our own faith. Thus when we eat and drink these elements, we
  are in Christ and Christ is in us” (HilryP).
7:1    This section (7:1–10:21) tells of our Lord's visit to Jerusalem for the Feast of
  Tabernacles (v. 2); the entire section covers eight days. At this festival during the last year
  of His earthly life, Jesus taught in the temple and attracted a great deal of public
  attention. Some thought Him mad (v. 20); others believed Him to be the Messiah (vv. 31,
  40); and still others (such as the Sadducees and the Pharisees) considered Him to be a
  threat (vv. 32, 45–52). The Jews who sought to kill Him (v. 1) are the religious leaders
  and not the people in general.
7:2   The Feast of Tabernacles (Heb. succoth) is an eight-day autumn harvest festival
  commemorating the time when Israel wandered in the wilderness of Sinai and the people
  lived in tents, or tabernacles. Along with Passover and Pentecost, this was one of the
  three most important festivals of the ancient Jews; it included numerous sacrifices and
  celebrations (Lv 23:33–43). In later times, the final day of this feast also included
  drawing water from the pool of Siloam to be mixed with wine and poured at the foot of
  the altar, both as a purification and in remembrance of the water flowing from the rock
  that Moses struck (Ex 17:1–7). It further included the lighting of great lamps in the outer
  court of the temple (see notes for vv. 37–39; 8:12; see also 2Mc 10:5–9).
7:10 Not openly means not with a grand, public entrance as on Palm Sunday (12:12–16).
7:17   The simple desire to know and follow God's will is the key to understanding it.
  Spiritual blindness comes from unwillingness to know God or to recognize His authority.
  St. John Chrysostom paraphrases Christ in this way: “Rid yourselves of wickedness: the
  anger, the envy, and the hatred which have arisen in your hearts, without provocation,
  against Me. Then you will have no difficulty in realizing that My words are actually those
  of God. As it is, these passions darken your understanding and distort sound judgment. If
  you remove these passions, you will no longer be afflicted in this way.”
7:27   We know where this Man is from: The crowds are mistaken, both in an earthly
  sense and in a divine sense. Humanly speaking, they think of Jesus as being from
  Nazareth of Galilee; they are not aware that He was actually born in Bethlehem (v. 42; see
  Lk 2:1–7). Beyond this, they cannot comprehend that He has come from the Father in
  Heaven, eternally begotten before all ages, and thus His divine “origin” remains unknown
  to them as well.
7:30   His hour is the time of His suffering and death. Christ is the Lord over time, an
  authority possessed by God alone. He comes to His Cross of His own free will and in His
  time, and not according to the plots of men (see 8:20; 10:39).
7:33-34     This statement refers to the Lord's death, Resurrection, and Ascension into
  heaven.
7:35   Among the Greeks means among the Gentiles. This unwitting prophecy points to
  the time after His Ascension when Christ's name will be preached among the Gentiles by
  the apostles.
7:37-39   The last day, that great day of the feast was the eighth day of the Feast of
  Tabernacles. The ceremony of the drawing of water (see note for v. 2) provides the
  context for the Lord's words, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” The
  living water (v. 38) is the gift of the Holy Spirit (v. 39) and the new life that
  accompanies this gift.
7:40   The Prophet refers to the expected Messiah, the Savior Moses foretold would come
  (Dt 18:15–19).
7:41-43   Bethlehem was the town from which the Christ was expected to come (Mic
  5:2; see note for v. 27).
7:45-49 The chief priests had sent officers of the temple to arrest Jesus in the middle of
  the Feast (v. 32). By the time the last day had arrived (v. 37), no arrest had been made,
  because these officers had been converted by the Lord's teaching. The Pharisees and the
  scribes who had “witnessed the miracles and read the Scriptures derived no benefit” from
  either. These officers, on the other hand, even though they could claim none of this
  learning, were “captivated by a single sermon.” When the mind is open, “there is no need
  for long speeches. Truth is like that” (JohnChr).
7:50-52 Nicodemus had spoken with Jesus (3:1–21) and had increased in faith (see note
  for 3:1, 2). Yet his defense of Christ was still based on our law and was not yet a public
  profession of faith (see 19:38, 39). According to the law, Jesus must be given a hearing
  before He can be judged (Ex 23:1; Dt 1:15–17).
     No prophet has arisen out of Galilee: The Pharisees show their blind hatred and
  their ignorance of the Scriptures, for the prophet Jonah came from Galilee, from the town
  of Gath Hepher, which was only three miles from Nazareth (4Kg 14:25).
7:53-11   This story of the woman caught in adultery is not found in several ancient
  manuscripts, nor is it covered in the commentaries of St. John Chrysostom and certain
  other Fathers. However, it is still sealed by the Church as inspired, authentic, canonical
  Scripture, and it bears the same authority as all other Scripture. It is read on one of the
  two days when St. Mary of Egypt, a reformed prostitute, is commemorated.
8:5-6 The law dictated the death penalty for adulterers (Lv 20:10). This ordinance was not
  observed to the letter in the days of Jesus; the Pharisees brought this particular woman
  because they saw an opportunity to test Him. If Christ objected to the punishment, He
  could be accused of opposing the Law; if He upheld the punishment, then He could be
  accused of showing no mercy to sinners.
     This is the only place in the NT where our Lord wrote something. Several theories
  exist as to what He wrote. Some say He wrote out the Ten Commandments, which all the
  accusers had violated at least once. Others say He wrote the names of the accusers who
  had themselves committed adultery.
8:7-11   Christ's answer confounds the Pharisees, for He upholds a great principle of the
  Law—that the wages of sin is death (Gn 2:17; Rom 6:23)—without neglecting its greater
  aspect of mercy (Dt 13:17; Ps 116:2–117:4; Hos 6:6). This mercy is offered freely to all
  repentant sinners. In order for us to receive this gift, we must in turn flee from sin (v. 11).
8:12   I am the light of the world: Jesus spoke these words in the context of the great
  lamps being lit at the conclusion of the Feast of Tabernacles (see note at 7:2). Thus He
  declares Himself to be the fulfillment and the divine object of all celebrations of light. In
  the Scriptures, God the Father Himself is light (1:4–9; 1Jn 1:5), an attribute He bestows
  on His followers (Mt 5:14; Php 2:15). Our Lord confirms His claim by performing the
  great sign of opening the eyes of a man born blind (9:1–7; see especially 9:5).
8:19   Because the Son and the Father share the same divine nature, one cannot be
  known apart from the other (14:7–11).
8:21   Going away refers to Jesus' death, Resurrection, and Ascension into heaven.
8:28   Lift up has the double meaning of being nailed to the Cross and of being exalted by
  His Father upon the completion of His work.
8:31   Jesus expects all who follow Him to be disciples, that is, learners. Abiding in His
  word is the responsibility of all believers, not only of the clergy or of an elite class of
  zealots.
8:32   The truth refers both to the virtue of truth and, more importantly, to Christ Himself
  (14:6). Being free refers to the freedom from darkness, confusion, and lies, as well as the
  freedom from the bondage of sin and death.
8:37-40 To be a child of Abraham, it is not enough to be simply related by blood; rather,
  Abraham's true children share his faith and virtue (Lk 3:8). St. John Chrysostom
  teaches that our Lord wanted to detach the Jews from racial pride and to teach them no
  longer to place their hope of salvation in being of the race of Abraham's children by
  nature, but to come to faith by their own free will. Their idea that being a descendant of
  Abraham was enough for salvation was the very thing that prevented them from coming
  to Christ.
8:42   Proceeded refers not to the Son coming eternally from the Father, but to Christ
  being sent from the Father to His Incarnation on earth.
8:44   Just as being a child of Abraham is based on sharing his attributes (see note for vv.
  37–40), likewise, those who reject Christ share the same attributes as the devil (in
  particular, a hatred for truth), and thus are rightly called the devil's children.
8:48    Unable to defeat Christ through logic or truth, these enemies resort to personal
  insult (see also 9:34).
8:58   I AM (Gr. ego eimi) is the divine Name of God in the OT, first revealed to Moses at
  the burning bush (Ex 3:13–15). To the Jews, this was a direct, explicit, and unmistakable
  claim to perfect equality with God, as evidenced by their reaction (v. 59; see also Mk
  14:62–64). John places special emphasis on the use of this Name to clearly reveal Christ
  as God. This divine claim illuminates Christ's authority even over death (v. 52), a power
  belonging only to God the Father.
9:1-38   This healing is the sixth sign in John's Gospel (see note on 2:1–11). Of all the
  miracle stories in the Bible, this is the only one in which the person was blind from
  birth (see v. 32). The blind man is symbolic of all humanity: all need illumination by
  Christ, the Light of the world. This sign is an illustration of baptism, which is also called
  “holy illumination.” As Pascha (Easter) is the traditional day to receive catechumens into
  the Church, the lessons following Pascha reflect a baptismal theology. Thus, this passage
  is read on the sixth Sunday of Pascha.
9:3   The Savior rejects the assumption (common in the ancient world) that all troubles and
  maladies are necessarily the consequence of personal sin or even the sins of one's
  parents (see Ex 20:5; Dt 5:9; contrast Ezk 18:19–21). Though suffering can be the direct
  result of personal sin, this is certainly not always the case (see note at 5:14). In this
  instance, the man's blindness provided the occasion for the works of God to be
  revealed; it was not related directly to the man's personal sins.
9:4   The work that people do consists of faith (6:29), good deeds (5:29), and repentance
  (12:40). The night that comes refers both to the time after a person's death and to the
  age to come, when there is no longer an opportunity to express faith. On that day there
  will not be faith, but all will submit, whether willingly or unwillingly (JohnChr).
9:5   The unprecedented healing of the man born blind confirms Christ's claim that He is
  the light of the world (see 8:12 and note).
9:6   St. Irenaeus sees in this mixture of clay and saliva a type of the creation of humanity
  from the earth (Gn 2:7). Christ reveals His divinity by restoring part of creation using the
  same material with which He created humanity in the beginning.
9:7   The pool of Siloam was on the outskirts of Jerusalem, a considerable distance from
  the temple. From this pool water was taken for the rites connected with the Feast of
  Tabernacles (see note at 7:2). Siloam, translated, Sent, symbolizes Christ, the One sent
  by the Father (5:36; 20:21). Just as the healing of the blind man confirmed Christ's claim
  to be the light of the world (8:12), so also, His making use of the pool of Siloam confirms
  that He is the true purification of the temple and those who worship in it.
9:16   Just as the Pharisees had ignored the healing of the paralytic and focused only on
  the perceived violation of the Sabbath (5:10–16), here many of them cannot see the
  glory of God through their own prejudices.
9:24   With Jesus not present, the Pharisees call Him a sinner, but earlier when He asked
  them face-to-face, “Which of you convicts Me of sin?” (8:46), they evaded the question.
  Give God the glory! was an oath formula used before giving testimony. Nevertheless,
  the healed man will indeed give God glory (v. 38). The more he is pressed, the more
  fervent his faith becomes, while the Pharisees lapse into deeper darkness.
9:25   This healed man becomes a model of Christian witness. Many people do not bear
  witness to Christ because they fear they will be asked questions they cannot answer. This
  man's answer to people much more educated than he provides the solution: he admits
  what he does not know, but follows up with what he does know. The formula, “That I
  don't know, but what I do know is this,” is foundational to witnessing one's faith to
  others.
9:26-38 Having opened the blind man's eyes, the Lord also opens his heart and illumines
  his spirit. The man moves from knowing almost nothing about Christ (v. 25), through the
  conclusion that Jesus could not possibly be a sinner (v. 31), through confessing that Jesus
  must be from God (v. 33), to finally seeing Him as the divine Son of God and
  worshiping Him (v. 38). The Pharisees again cannot refute this man's logic nor the truth
  of what he reveals, and thus they resort to personal insult (v. 34; see 8:48).
9:32   The unprecedented nature of opening the eyes of one who was born blind is a
  confirmation of Christ's divinity. This was one of the signs of the coming Messiah (Is
  35:5; 42:7) and a prerogative belonging solely to God (Ps 145:8).
9:39-41 Our Lord's coming brought judgment to the world, not because He came to judge
  (12:47, 48), but because of man's accountability to Him. Those who see and hear Him
  but do not believe are judged by their own faithlessness.
10:1-18   Jesus' conversation with the Pharisees continues, as there is no break between
  9:41 and 10:1. All of this is taking place at the conclusion of the Feast of Tabernacles (see
  note at 7:1). Christ is contrasting their leadership with His own. They have failed as
  pastors of God's people (“pastor” comes from the Latin word for “shepherd”). Their
  leadership has been marked by deceit and pride and has lacked compassion. Christ, on the
  other hand, fulfills all virtue.
       According to St. John Chrysostom, the door is God's Word, meaning both the
  Scriptures and our Lord Himself (vv. 7, 9), since the Scriptures reveal God the Word. The
  one who tries to lead in a way that is neither in Christ nor according to the teaching of the
  Scriptures is a thief and a robber. Rather than using this door so all can see His works
  openly, these false shepherds use underhanded means to control, steal, and manipulate
  people, ultimately destroying their souls (v. 10). In contrast, those pastors who lead
  according to Christ will find eternal life (v. 9).
10:3-5   As Christ has intimate knowledge of every person, so also true pastors in the
  Church strive to know their people by name, that is, personally. These pastors endeavor
  to understand each person's situation and needs, from the greatest to the least,
  possessing Christlike compassion for each one (Heb 4:15). In return, the people will
  respond to a true leader, trusting he is a follower of Christ. “Where the bishop is present,
  there the people shall gather” (IgnAnt). Indeed, the response of the faithful can be a
  better indicator of who is a true shepherd than the claims of leaders (7:47–49).
10:8   The phrase all who ever came before Me does not refer to Moses or genuine
  prophets, but to people claiming to be the Messiah both before and after Christ, such as
  Judas of Galilee and Theudas (Acts 5:36, 37).
10:10 The ultimate thief is Satan, who spreads lies and heresies among the people of God,
  luring away both leaders and people. Life means living in God's grace here on earth,
  while the more abundant life indicates the Kingdom to come.
10:11-15 Christ reveals Himself as the good shepherd: (1) He enters by the door (v. 2),
  that is, He fulfills the Scriptures concerning Himself; (2) He knows and is known by the
  Father (v. 15); (3) He knows His people personally, and therefore is known by them (vv.
  3, 14); and (4) He gives His life for the sake of His people (v. 11), which is a direct
  prophecy of His coming Passion.
10:16    Other sheep are the Gentiles, who will be brought into the one flock with the
  Jews under the one shepherd. Thus, for example, the Church transcends ethnic and
  racial lines. It has been the Orthodox teaching from the beginning that there be one
  bishop serving a city (Canon 8 of I Nicea), a principle affirmed in every generation.
  Writing in the early second century to a Church that held separate liturgies for Jewish
  and Gentile Christians, St. Ignatius taught, “Be careful to observe a single Eucharist, for
  there is one Flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup of His Blood that makes us one,
  and one altar, just as there is one bishop. . . . This is in line with God's will.”
10:17-18 I lay down My life: The Lord is clear that His life-giving death will be voluntary.
  He does nothing apart from the will of His Father. As He laid down His life for us, we lay
  down our lives for Him and for the sake of others.
10:21   Those who respond in faith are not merely impressed by the signs, but perceive the
  holiness of His words.
10:22   The Feast of Dedication took place approximately three months after the Feast of
  Tabernacles (7:1–10:21) and was known as the “Festival of Lights” (also called
  Hanukkah). It commemorates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem after the
  Seleucid King Epiphanes desecrated it in 167 BC (see 1Mc 1–4). At this festival, the
  leaders of Israel's past were commemorated, many of whom were themselves shepherds.
10:25   Both what Christ told them and the works He had done have already answered
  their question. Only the Messiah could open the eyes of the blind (see note 9:32) or
  perform these miracles that bear witness to Him. Likewise, only the Messiah could
  speak to the hearts of people as Christ had (7:46; 9:21).
10:26   As I said to you indicates these are the same Pharisees whom Christ addressed
  three months earlier (10:1–5).
10:30-33 Responding to their question (v. 24), Jesus reveals Himself to be fully God: One
  means one in nature or essence. He is God before all ages, and He remains God after the
  Incarnation and for all eternity. The plural verb are indicates two distinct Persons, while
  confirming a continuous unity. The Jews clearly recognize this claim of divinity (v. 33)
  and thus accuse Him of blasphemy.
10:34-36 You are gods: People who receive God's grace in faith will partake of His divine
  nature (2Pt 1:4) and can rightly be called gods (see article “Deification” at 2 Peter). Christ
  is effectively saying, “If those who have received this honor by grace are not guilty for
  calling themselves gods, how can He who has this by nature deserve to be rebuked?”
  (JohnChr).
10:39   Because Christ is going to His Passion voluntarily and according to His own will (vv.
  17, 18), His accusers cannot arrest Him until He is ready (7:30; 8:20; see Lk 4:28–30).
11:1-45   The resurrection of Lazarus is the seventh sign in John's Gospel (see note 2:1–
  11), the sign that sealed the Jewish authorities' decision to put Jesus to death (vv. 47–50).
  This event is celebrated liturgically on Lazarus Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday.
  Bethany is on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, about two miles from Jerusalem
  (v. 18). Lazarus is the same name as “Eleazar” (lit. “God helps”).
11:4   This message is sent back to Mary and Martha to strengthen them so that when
  Lazarus dies, they may take confidence in Christ's words. The Son of God being
  glorified must not be understood to be the cause of Lazarus dying; instead, this indicates
  Christ will be glorified as a result of his death (which occurred from a natural illness)
  and his being raised from the dead.
11:6   The Lord delays in order for Lazarus to be dead long enough that the corruption of his
  body could set in (v. 39). Thus, no one could doubt the miracle, and the might of the Lord
  would be clearly seen by all.
11:8   See 10:29–39.
11:11   Sleeps: Compare to Acts 7:60; 1Co 11:30; 15:6.
11:16   Thomas's statement is an unwitting prophecy of his own future martyrdom. It also
  illustrates the path that all believers must take—that we die daily to the world for the
  sake of following Christ (Lk 9:23, 24).
11:17   There existed a rabbinical opinion that the soul lingered about the body for three
  days, but after four days resuscitation would be impossible.
11:19   Mourning began on the day of a person's death. Weeping and wailing lasted three
  days; lamentation lasted one week; and general mourning lasted 30 days.
11:20   Not unlike the incident of Lk 10:38–42, the two sisters react differently to Christ's
  arrival. Martha, being inclined to active service, rushes out to meet Jesus, while Mary
  remains in mourning until called by Christ (vv. 28, 29). Sitting was the traditional
  posture when mourning and receiving other mourners (Job 2:8, 13; Ezk 8:14).
11:21-22     While Martha possesses great faith, her statements indicate a lack of
  understanding about Christ. In saying, “if You had been here, my brother would
  not have died,” Martha reveals she does not fully see that Christ is God, thinking He
  needed to be present to effect healings (contrast 5:46–54). By saying, “whatever you
  ask of God, God will give You,” she shows her lack of understanding that Christ
  possesses full divine authority to act as He wills.
11:23-27   I am the resurrection and the life: To correct Martha's misunderstanding
  (see note above), Christ declares His divine authority to raise the dead at the last day (v.
  24) as well as here in this world. Such is the power of these words that Martha is
  immediately led to her great confession of faith (v. 27). Do you believe this? is a
  question directed not only to Martha, but to all of us.
11:32   Mary approaches Christ with the identical words Martha used (v. 21). While Jesus
  engaged Martha with words, here He engages Mary with deeds—the raising of her brother
  from the dead (vv. 38–44).
11:35   John emphasizes that Jesus wept and groaned in spirit (vv. 33, 38) to show He had
  fully taken on human nature and was subject to grief as any man would be. Weeping is
  the natural response to the tragedy of death. At Compline of Lazarus Saturday, we sing,
  “Shedding tears by Your own choice, You have given us proof of Your heartfelt love.”
11:39-40   Though Martha's faith had increased (vv. 23–27), she still understood neither
  Christ's will nor His power. The spices and oils used to anoint a dead body would only
  hold the stench of decomposition at bay for a short time (see note at 11:6). Many icons of
  the raising of Lazarus show bystanders covering their noses, illustrating both the reality
  of his corrupted flesh and the fact that many did not believe Christ could raise the dead.
11:41-42 To show His divine will was one with the Father's, and that His human will was
  freely subject in every way to the Father's, Christ prays aloud for the sake of the people.
11:43   See 5:28, 29. Christ calls Lazarus forth, not in the name of the Father, but by His
  own authority. This shows the people that while Christ came from the Father, He fully
  possesses divine authority in Himself.
11:44   That Lazarus came out bound in his graveclothes is seen by many Fathers as an
  indication that he will need them again—that his resurrection continues an earthly life
  which will again end in death. The Savior's graveclothes, by contrast, would be left in the
  tomb (20:5–7). Unlike Lazarus's, Christ's Resurrection transfigures human nature; He
  will never die again.
    This sign not only prepared the disciples to believe in Christ's Resurrection, but in the
  words of the hymn for the day, it also “confirmed the universal resurrection,” proving
  Christ has the power to fulfill the promise given to Ezekiel that all the dead will one day
  rise (Ezk 37:1–13).
11:49-52 Caiaphas, being high priest, is given the authority to speak prophetically. The
  failings and even wickedness of the officeholder do not diminish the grace of the office
  itself. Here, Caiaphas means only that the death of Christ will spare the Jews from
  Roman intervention. God's meaning, however, is that all people will be saved through
  the death of the Son.
11:55   Because Jesus is the Lamb of God (1:29), the connection between the Passover,
  when lambs were slaughtered to save the Jews from death (Ex 12:1–13), and the death of
  Jesus, which saves mankind from sin and death, is continually emphasized.
12:1   This Passover is the third mentioned in John (see 2:13; 6:4) and is the setting for the
  last week of Christ's earthly ministry, which is narrated in careful detail. Jesus had
  already been glorified through His signs and words; it remained for Him to be glorified
  through His death and Resurrection (see note at 1:14).
12:3-8 The other disciples said the same thing Judas said (v. 5), but with a very different
  motive (see Mt 26:6–13 and note). Judas spoke from greed, while the others spoke from
  the virtue of charity. That Jesus put a thief in charge of the money shows that by every
  means He attempted to save Judas: He fulfilled Judas' lust for money; He allowed Judas
  to exercise apostolic authority (6:11; see also Mk 6:7); He washed Judas' feet with the
  other disciples (13:5); and He allowed him to partake at the table of the Mystical Supper
  (13:26). Yet Judas could never overcome his greed (see note at Mt 26:14–16).
12:12-18 The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem: See Mt 21:1–11 and accompanying notes.
12:20-23 These Greeks were Gentiles who believed in the God of Abraham, having come
  to participate in the Passover feast. That they were still called Greeks shows they were
  not yet full proselytes (converts). Since Jesus had taught His disciples not to go to the
  Gentiles (Mt 10:5; 15:24), the disciples approach Him before bringing these inquirers.
  Glorified (v. 23) refers to the Savior's death on the Cross. Christ's obscure response
  indicates two things: (1) the answer these Greeks are seeking will not be found in words,
  but in the Cross; and (2) the Cross will be the event that opens all manner of grace to the
  Gentiles.
12:24   The image of the grain of wheat dying in order to bear fruit signifies that Christ's
  death will give life to the world. In many Orthodox churches, boiled wheat that is
  sweetened and spiced is served at memorial services for the departed faithful to affirm
  God's promise that those who have died in Christ will rise again to life.
12:28   The Father's name is an extension of His Person. The Son's death completes the
  purpose of the Father and shows His love for all, thus glorifying Him. Christ is in effect
  saying, “Father, lead Me to the Cross.” This is the Lord's divine response to the human
  prompting to avoid the Cross (v. 27). The Father's response refers to the signs already
  performed by Christ and to the death and Resurrection to come.
12:29   Though the Father spoke clearly, some people heard indistinct sounds like thunder
  because they lacked faith. Those with a little faith heard the words but did not know the
  source, thinking it was an angel. The disciples knew the Father Himself had spoken
  (see v. 30).
12:31-33 Lifted up (v. 32) is a reference to Christ being hung on the Cross (see also 3:14,
  15; 8:28). This death will bring salvation to all peoples, while at the same time
  rendering judgment on the faithless and destroying once for all the power of Satan, the
  ruler of this world.
12:35-36 The light refers to Christ (1:4–9; 8:12). His teaching here has several facets of
  meaning. First, He will be completing His public ministry shortly. Further, our lives are
  very limited; we have but a short time to repent and believe in Christ before death.
  Finally, the second coming of Christ is but a little while when compared to eternity.
12:40   According to St. John Chrysostom, Isaiah's prophecy does not mean God causes
  spiritual blindness in people who would otherwise have been faithful. This is a figure of
  speech common to Scripture revealing God as giving people up to their own devices (as in
  Rom 1:24, 26). What is meant by He has blinded is that God has permitted their self-
  chosen blindness (compare Ex 8:15, 32 with Ex 10:20, 27). They did not become blind
  because God spoke through Isaiah, but rather Isaiah spoke because he foresaw their
  blindness.
12:41   Isaiah . . . saw His [Christ's] glory in about 700 BC (Is 6:1) and spoke of Him in
  many places throughout his lengthy prophecy.
12:42-43   These rulers, according to St. John Chrysostom, are in reality the worst of
  slaves in that they are enslaved by the opinions of men. This keeps them from leading as
  God would have them lead.
12:47-48 Christ does not judge with favoritism or partiality. He has spoken the words of
  life, words of love, forgiveness, repentance, virtue, and mercy. His words will be the
  unbending standard by which all people are judged on the last day.
13:1   John's account of our Lord's discourses during the Last Supper is contained in chs.
  13–17. The feast of Passover commemorated God's passing over the Israelites when He
  killed the firstborn of the Egyptians (Ex 12). It is also linked with Israel's “crossing over”
  the Red Sea (Ex 14) from slavery to freedom. In Christ, we escape death and pass over
  from this world, which is enslaved to sin, and into the Kingdom of God. When Jesus had
  eaten the Passover supper with His disciples (v. 2), He made a new covenant in which
  eternal life is granted. His hour: the time of Christ's death, Resurrection, and Ascension
  into heaven.
13:2     Supper: This account does not directly mention the Eucharist (which is clearly
  reflected in 6:51–59). John omits the specifics of both the Eucharist and our Lord's
  Baptism (see 1:19–36; 3:1–36), accounts with which his hearers would have been familiar
  by the time John wrote his Gospel (about AD 90). Instead, he focuses on the significance
  of these events. Our Lord's discourses and actions at the Last Supper reveal the mystery
  of His Incarnation, service, and mission to and in the world. He emphasizes in turn the
  disciples' own mission to the world.
       There are two main ways the devil influences the human heart: (1) through ideas or
  thoughts; and (2) through conceptual images, as taught in 2Co 10:5. Satan influenced
  Judas in both areas. Christians are called to reject the thoughts and images suggested by
  the devil the moment they occur. Judas cooperated with the devil's will, not only by
  entertaining these thoughts, but then by carrying them out. Far from being a helpless
  victim, Judas was the devil's willing co-conspirator.
13:5   The foot-washing is an act of love and humility. It was a common expression of
  hospitality in the ancient Middle East, but was normally done by slaves or house-
  servants. Peter's response (vv. 6, 8) shows his shock at seeing the Master performing the
  duties of a slave.
13:6-10 If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me (v. 8) shows the cleansing
  power of Christ's death and Resurrection, for only by participating in Christ's death can
  we be raised with Him (Rom 6:3–11).
     He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet (v. 10): This foot-washing also
  serves as an image of the sacrament of confession. Those who have completely bathed,
  that is, have been baptized, have no need ever to be baptized again, for baptism is
  indelible. The sins the believer assumes during his life must still be washed through
  ongoing repentance, just as the feet of a person returning from the public bath must be
  washed before entering the house. As Christians, we are bathed by Christ in baptism and
  have periodic washings in the sacrament of confession.
13:12-20   The command to wash one another's feet (v. 14) symbolizes that humble
  service is to be shown to all people. If Christ, who is Lord of all, humbly served not only
  His servants but even the traitor among them, then we must certainly do the same not
  only to our fellow servants, but also to our enemies. Within the Church, the clergy are
  seen first and foremost as servants of their flocks. To this day, the bishops of the Church
  (and in some places the presbyters) wash the feet of the faithful on Holy Thursday.
13:26-30 In the upper room, all was light, because Christ was present (12:46). Judas' exit
  from the Last Supper at night (v. 30) symbolizes his entrance into all-encompassing
  spiritual darkness (3:19).
13:31   After Judas had gone out, our Lord presents the final teachings of His earthly
  ministry (often called the “Farewell Discourse”) and offers His High Priestly Prayer (ch.
  17). Calling His death “glorification” (vv. 31–33), Christ shows that He does not fear death
  and that He accepts it willingly. The Father and the Son are glorified through the death
  of Christ because His death destroys all powers of darkness.
13:34   Many religions and philosophies teach people to love one another. What makes
  this commandment new is the measure required of our love: we must love as Christ
  has loved us, laying down His life not only for His friends, but even for His enemies.
13:36   This is a prophecy of the martyrdom of Simon Peter, which he would suffer for the
  sake of Christ by being crucified upside down in Rome in about AD 67 (see 21:18, 19).
14:2    Many mansions is a word-picture of an abundance of living accommodations
  around a central courtyard. Mansions also speaks of the multitude of blessings that await
  those who enter the Kingdom of God.
14:6    The way, the truth, and the life: The way we reach the Father is forever
  established in the Person and work of the Son. The Son is the truth because He is the
  unique revelation of the Father. Christ is the life who became Man so we might have life,
  and as He is our life, not even death can hinder us from coming to Him. Only in Christ
  can one come to know the Father, for only in Christ is the way of all truth and all life
  found.
14:9   He who has seen Me has seen the Father: Our response to Christ determines
  our relationship with the Father. If we reject Christ then we will never find the Father;
  but if we believe in Christ and follow Him, then we ourselves will become “children of
  God,” living eternally in the love of the Father (1:12).
14:10    While human beings are made in God's image (Gn 1:26), the Incarnate Son is
  Himself the exact image of the Father (Col 1:15). Christ did not say, “I am the Father,”
  for He is not. Rather, He declares that He and the Father are one in essence and
  undivided in nature while being distinct Persons in the Godhead.
14:12   The greater works indicate that Christ's working through mere humans after
  Pentecost is greater than His performing signs and wonders directly. These works,
  attested to in the Book of Acts, include spreading the gospel throughout the world,
  miraculous healings, and raising the dead.
14:13-14   To pray in Christ's name does not simply mean to attach the phrase “in Jesus'
  name we pray” to the end of prayers. Rather, to pray in His name means to pray according
  to His will. Just as an emissary of a king can only be said to be speaking in the king's
  name if he says what the king would want him to say, so also we can only be said to be
  praying in the name of Christ when we pray according to what He wants. The purpose
  here is not to get God to do our will, but for us to learn to pray properly, according to
  God's will (Mt 6:10).
14:16   Helper (Gr. parakletos) refers to the Holy Spirit. This title also means “Comforter,”
  “Counselor,” and “Advocate.”
14:17   The Spirit of truth is in each believer, and we are called to know Him. The Holy
  Spirit prays in us and for us when we do not know how to pray, enabling us to pray in
  Christ's name (14:13, 14; Rom 8:26) and giving us words of witness when we speak the
  gospel (Mk 13:11).
14:19   The brief separation of Jesus from the disciples at His death will lead to a deeper
  mystical union after the Resurrection and to the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
14:20   That day refers to Pentecost, for as St. John Chrysostom notes, it is “the power of
  the Holy Spirit that taught them all things.”
14:27   Peace was the customary Jewish word of both greeting and farewell. Perfect peace
  is brought by Christ, who reconciles humanity to God (Eph 2:14). Peace is part of the
  traditional greeting of Christians to each other (Rom 1:7; 1Co 1:3), and the greeting “Peace
  be to all” is offered many times during the liturgical services of the Church.
14:28   My Father is greater than I does not mean greater in nature or essence, for the
  Father and the Son share one divine nature. Nor does it mean the Son is created, for the
  Son is begotten from all eternity. Rather, it means that the Father, as the Fountainhead of
  the Trinity, is the eternal cause of the Son.
14:29    Before it comes refers to our Lord's Passion. Telling these events beforehand
  strengthened the disciples' faith.
14:30   The ruler of this world is the devil, who dominates the realm of those who do
  not love Christ or keep His commandments. Jesus said the devil has nothing in Me
  because there can be no compromise between Christ or His followers and the devil. Jesus
  became Man, but was never stained with sin.
14:31   Arise, let us go from here: Christ takes His disciples to another room or location
  to complete His discourse in order to gain their undivided attention. According to St. John
  Chrysostom, their current location was susceptible to intrusions, and the disciples were
  likely to be distracted from fear.
15:1-6   The vine is a symbol of Israel (Is 5:1–7; Jer 2:21). In contrast to disobedient and
  unfruitful Israel, our Lord calls Himself the true vine, which together with the
  branches constitutes a new and fruitful people of God: the Church. At the Divine
  Liturgy, the bishop prays that the Lord will visit and confirm the vineyard, the local body
  of Christ, which He planted with His own right hand (Ps 79:15, 16).
    To abide in this vine is to abide in Christ and His Church. The figure of the vine and
  the branches shows (1) our union with Christ is intimate and real; (2) life flows from the
  vine to the branches—abiding in Christ is dynamic and vitalizing; and (3) the fruit we bear
  is both good works and mission (v. 16; 17:18).
15:10   One cannot love God and disobey His commandments. To love God is to obey
  Him (14:15).
15:14-15 Friendship is higher than servanthood. Servants obey their masters out of fear
  or a sense of duty; friends obey out of love and an internal desire to do what is good and
  right. Abraham was called a “friend of God” (Jam 2:23) because he obeyed God out of the
  belief of his heart. The disciples, and indeed all the saints, are honored as friends of
  Christ because they freely obey His commandments out of love. Those who have this
  spirit of loving obedience are open to receive and understand the revelations of the
  Father.
15:18-25   The term world is used in several distinct ways in Scripture. In some cases, it
  refers to all that is glorious, beautiful, and redeemable in God's creation (3:16). Other
  times, it refers to that which is finite in contrast to that which is eternal (11:9; 18:36). In
  still other instances, as here, it indicates all that is in rebellion against God (see also
  8:23).
     The rebellion of the world against God reveals several things: (1) While union with
  Christ brings love, truth, and peace, it also brings persecution, because the world hates
  love and truth (v. 19). (2) The world hated Christ; therefore, it will hate all who try to be
  Christlike (v. 20). (3) The world hates Christ because it neither knows nor desires to
  know the Father (vv. 21–24). (4) Hatred for Jesus Christ is irrational and unreasonable,
  for Christ brings love and mercy; thus, Christ is hated without a cause (v. 25).
15:26   With respect to God's working salvation in the world, the Son sends the Holy Spirit
  from the Father. With respect to the divine nature, the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds
  from the Father alone. In other words, the Holy Spirit receives His eternal existence
  only from the Father. In conformity with Christ's words, the Nicene-Constantinopolitan
  Creed confesses belief “in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from
  the Father.” While the Son is begotten of the Father alone, the Holy Spirit proceeds from
  the Father alone; the source, the Fountainhead, of both Persons is the Father.
16:6   Sorrow here means “extreme grief leading to despondency or despair,” which is a
  sinful passion. “Great is the tyranny of despondency” (JohnChr). This sin is constantly
  referred to in the writings of the Desert Fathers. When the world persecutes the believer
  or when God seems to be absent, Christians are called to fight against this despondency,
  taking comfort from the presence of the Holy Spirit (vv. 5–15).
16:8-11 Through the illumination brought by the Holy Spirit, the world will be convicted,
  that is, proven wrong. It will be convicted concerning (1) its sin, the ultimate of which is
  denying Jesus Christ; (2) righteousness (v. 10), which it failed to accept from Christ
  with faith and thanksgiving; and (3) judgment (v. 11), for all who reject Christ will
  receive the same penalty that Satan, the ruler of this world, has already received (see Mt
  25:41).
16:13   Because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, and because this Spirit abides in the
  Church, the Church is the guardian of all truth.
16:16   The first little while refers to Christ's arrest, death, and burial. The second is His
  time in the tomb until His Resurrection.
16:21   No longer remembers does not imply the faithful are to forget the Passion and
  Cross of Christ, any more than a woman “forgets” labor. Rather, we now see these
  sufferings in light of the victory of the Resurrection, and this victory transfigures our
  perception of sufferings. Christ's victory allows us to rejoice in anguish because of the
  infinitely greater good that comes from it (Rom 5:3–5; Php 3:10).
16:25   The time when Christ would speak plainly about the Father was during the 40
  days following the Resurrection (Acts 1:3).
16:26-28 We know prayer is offered in the name of God the Father, for Christ taught us to
  pray that way (Mt 6:9), and He Himself prayed to the Father (11:41; 12:28; 17:1). In Christ,
  we have direct access to the Father, and thus we pray in the name of the Son as well (see
  note at 14:13, 14). After Pentecost, we learn the Holy Spirit Himself “makes intercession
  for us” (Rom 8:26), and we are instructed to pray always “in the Spirit” (Eph 6:18).
  Therefore, as Orthodox Christians, we pray continually and with confidence to all three
  Persons of the Trinity, “in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
17:1-26    Christ's prayer is often called the High Priestly Prayer, as it contains the basic
  elements of prayer a priest offers to God when a sacrifice is about to be made:
  glorification (vv. 3–5, 25), remembrance of God's works (vv. 2, 6–8, 22, 23), intercession
  on behalf of others (vv. 9, 11, 15, 20, 21, 24), and a declaration of the offering itself (vv. 1,
  5).
    The passage that includes vv. 1–13 is read on the seventh Sunday of Pascha (Easter), a
  day remembering the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council (Nicea I) in AD 325. At this
  council the heresy of Arianism was condemned. This heresy taught that the Son of God
  was created by the Father and that there was a time when the Son of God did not exist.
  We find our Lord's words here bearing witness to His divinity and to His filial
  relationship with the Father. This testimony is sufficient in itself to dismiss Arianism.
        The hour has come signifies Christ is Lord over time. “He voluntarily willed to
  ascend the Cross in the flesh” (hymn of Orthodoxy Sunday). Glorify refers to the
  redemption of all creation that will be accomplished through the Cross and Resurrection
  —the purpose for which Christ was sent into the world. In this redemption, the Father
  and the Son are glorified. This is why the Cross, which is a sign of death, is glorified in the
  Church as “life-giving” and the “weapon of peace.”
17:3   The knowledge of the only true God is far more than intellectual understanding. It
  is participation in His divine life and in communion with Him. Thus, eternal life is an
  ongoing, loving knowledge of God in Christ and the Holy Spirit.
17:4   Christ's work can never be separated from who He is. This verse is a statement each
  believer can make at the end of life, no matter how long or short that life may be.
17:6 The men whom You have given Me are the apostles. They are the ones through
  whom God's word comes to us. This handing down of God's word to successive
  generations is called apostolic tradition.
    Isaiah prophesied that in the days of the Messiah, the knowledge of the Name of God
  would be revealed (Is 52:6). Your name: In the OT times, the phrase “the Name” was
  reverently used as a substitute for God's actual Name “Yahweh,” which was too sacred to
  pronounce. The fuller revelation of the Name was given to those who believe in Christ,
  for Christ manifested the Name not only by declaring the Father, but by being the very
  presence of God and sharing the Name with Him.
17:9   Christ first prayed for Himself (vv. 1–5) and secondly for them, the apostles (vv. 6–
  19). Only then does He pray for those whom You have given Me—all who will come
  to believe in Him (vv. 20–26). Here the world is the portion of humanity in rebellion
  against God, those who prefer darkness to His light.
17:11   Holy Father is echoed in the eucharistic prayer of Didache 10:2: “We give you
  thanks, Holy Father, for Your holy name which You have made to dwell in our hearts.”
17:12   The son of perdition (“destruction”) is Judas Iscariot (6:70, 71). OT prophecy
  alludes to Judas (Ps 40:10; 108:2–13; Zec 11:12, 13), and Judas becomes a type for all who
  will fall away in the last days (see 2Th 2:3, where “son of perdition” refers to the
  Antichrist).
17:14-15   Inasmuch as Christ is from heaven, those who are joined to Him become like
  Him. Thus, all believers attract the world's hatred. The second-century Letter to
  Diognetus (6:3) states, “Christians dwell in the world but do not belong to the world.”
  Reborn in Christ, Christians have their citizenship in the Kingdom of God (3:1–5), yet
  their vocation is in the world, where they are protected by God against the evil one.
17:17   Sanctify: To consecrate, make holy, separate, set apart from the world, and bring
  into the sphere of the sacred for God's use. St. John Chrysostom interprets this verse as
  saying, “Make them holy through the gift of the Spirit and by correct doctrine.”
17:20   Those who will believe: The Church in every generation participates in the life
  and glory of the Trinity. Christians enjoy two kinds of unity: with God and with one
  another, the latter being rooted in the former.
17:26   The ultimate goal of Christ's prayer, and indeed of life itself, is for the love of the
  Father to dwell in each person.
18:1   This garden was at the Mount of Olives (Mk 14:26).
18:2   That Christ intentionally came to the place known to His betrayer Judas, one of
  His disciples, shows He was going to His Passion willingly and voluntarily. It reveals
  Christ went to find Judas rather than Judas finding Christ.
18:4   That Jesus spoke first without waiting for them shows that in every step toward His
  arrest, He is Lord and in control (see vv. 8, 35).
18:5   That Judas . . . stood with them shows his allegiance to the priests and Pharisees
  (v. 3).
18:6   I am He is literally “I AM” (Gr. ego eimi), the divine Name (see note at 8:58). The
  power of this Name drives all His accusers to the ground. Even so, they do not repent.
18:8   Notice Jesus is giving commands at His own arrest, and they are being obeyed,
  showing He is Lord of His own Passion (see vv. 4, 35). The obedience of Christ's captors is
  particularly striking in that Peter was not arrested when he attacked the high priest's
  servant with a sword (v. 10). The command to let the disciples go their way also
  indicates His mercy toward them, as they were not yet strong enough to face martyrdom.
  God does not allow a burden beyond a person's spiritual strength (1Co 10:13).
18:13   Annas was the previous high priest and remained a force of power behind the
  religious establishment (see note at Lk 3:2). Caiaphas was high priest the year of
  Jesus' Crucifixion, holding the office from AD 18–36.
18:15   This other disciple is John, the author of this Gospel. It was a common practice for
  an author to conceal his name in the details of his story (see 13:23; compare Mk 14:51, 52;
  Lk 24:13, 18).
18:17   A girl being the first to test Peter is an icon of the temptation of Adam by Eve (Gn
  3:6). This fallen state is overcome in Christ, when a woman is the first to hear, believe,
  and proclaim the Resurrection (20:1, 11–18).
18:19   The questioning of the high priest tries to uncover subversive activity that would
  not only violate the Law of Moses, but be reason enough to accuse Jesus of a political
  crime before Pilate. Note the two points of question put to Jesus concern His disciples
  and His doctrine, two essential components of Christ and His Church.
18:27   After his three denials, Peter will be restored through his three affirmations of love
  following the Resurrection (21:15–17).
18:28        St. John Chrysostom notes the irony that Christ's accusers did not fear being
  defiled by condemning an innocent Man to death, but would not set foot into a court of
  justice.
18:31   Since the chief priests of the Jews had no actual crime with which to make an
  accusation against Jesus (vv. 29, 30), Pilate refused to pass judgment. When the chief
  priests say, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” they are not referring to
  the Law of Moses, but to the laws of Roman occupation, for the Romans reserved the
  right to execute people. Thus, the chief priests relied on Pilate to sentence Jesus to death.
18:32    The Jewish law prescribed stoning as the usual means of execution. However,
  Christ had prophesied He would be killed by being lifted up on the Cross (3:14; 8:28;
  12:32, 33), having foreknowledge that He would die, not at the hands of the Jews, but by
  the Roman method of crucifixion.
18:35   It is unheard of that the accused would have to name the charges against himself in
  any court, since the captors would be the ones to name the crime. That Pilate has to ask
  Jesus what the charges are shows that the chief priests could name no crime He might
  have committed (vv. 29, 30). And more importantly, it shows Jesus was Lord over the
  events of His death (see vv. 4, 8). For even the governor has to come to Him in order for
  the trial to proceed.
18:38-40 Though Pilate knows Christ to be innocent of any crime, he attempts to strike a
  compromise with the Jews by declaring Christ guilty, but freeing Him on account of
  Passover. Thus, the chief priests would have an official declaration of guilt and Christ
  would not be unjustly punished.
19:1-6   Having failed to reach a compromise that would have released Jesus without
  punishment (18:38–40), Pilate has Him scourged (v. 1) and mocked (vv. 2, 3; see note
  at Mt 27:27–31). Scourging was a severe punishment using a whip that had bits of bone or
  metal imbedded at the tips. Pilate does all this in hopes of moderating the wrath of the
  chief priests so he does not have to execute a Man he knows to be innocent (v. 4). Instead
  of subsiding, the rage of the chief priests increases, and they begin demanding Pilate
  crucify Him (v. 6).
19:7-12   The chief priests finally reveal that their true charge against Christ is blasphemy
  (v. 7), which was not a crime under Roman law. According to Jewish Law, however, it
  deserved death (Lv 24:16). Under Roman law, the Jewish leaders could not put anyone to
  death. Since Pilate alone had the power to enforce the death penalty, he had to be given a
  serious political accusation. Therefore the Jews changed their charge from blasphemy (v.
  7) to treason (v. 12), saying Jesus speaks against Caesar.
19:10    Pilate again looks to Christ to give him a way to avoid having to condemn Him.
  Once more, this shows Jesus is the true Lord over the events taking place (see 18:4, 8,
  35), a truth Jesus states with perfect clarity (v. 11).
19:11    Since Pilate had been given authority from above, he shares in the sin of
  condemning Jesus. However, as he had no previous knowledge of Christ, nor was He a
  Jew with the advantage of the Law and the prophets, Pilate's sin was less. While the one
  who delivered Christ can refer either to Judas (18:3) or to Caiaphas (18:28), it also
  refers to all mankind, for all of us sin against Christ, and thus all of us have participated
  in delivering Him to the Cross.
19:14   While the synoptic Gospels date the Crucifixion on the first day of Passover, John
  dates it on the Preparation Day, the day before Passover. Thus, in the synoptic
  tradition, the Last Supper is the Passover meal, while in John's Gospel, Jesus, as the
  Lamb of God (1:29), dies at the exact time the Passover lambs are being slain in the
  temple. While it is impossible to determine which is historically accurate, both traditions
  are theologically accurate—the Mystical Supper is the fulfillment of the Passover meal
  (the synoptic tradition), and Christ's death is the fulfillment of the Passover lambs being
  slain (John's tradition).
19:19-22   A title: What was intended as an accusation and a mockery became instead a
  triumphant symbol. Pilate's act is prophetic, showing the Jews had risen against their
  own King, and that the cross was the means by which Christ established His Kingdom.
19:23    The tunic is interpreted as representing Christ's body in two ways. That it is
  woven from the top shows Christ came down from heaven; that it is without seam is
  a sign of the unity of the Church.
19:25-27 We see here several important truths concerning Christ's mother: (1) In calling
  Mary “Woman” (v. 26), Jesus is using a term of dignity and affection. Contrary to certain
  modern usages, this is a sacred title in Scripture, an address conveying deep respect and
  distinction (2:4; 4:21; 8:10; 20:13; compare to Gn 2:23). (2) In saying to John, “Behold
  your mother!” (v. 27), our Lord symbolically establishes Mary's role as mother of all
  faithful disciples in every generation. (3) If Mary had other children, Jesus would not
  have placed her in the care of John, for her own children would have cared for her. Thus
  the apostolic teaching that Mary remained ever-virgin is confirmed by His action. (4)
  Christ also demonstrates we must “even to our last breath show every care for our
  parents” (JohnChr).
19:28   I thirst: The Son of God assumed our human need for water in order that we might
  be delivered from spiritual thirst (4:13, 14; 7:37, 38). The Scripture refers to Ps 21:16.
19:30   Finished is better translated “accomplished” or “fulfilled”—not meaning Christ's
  life is ended, but showing His divine plan of salvation has now been completed. Bowing
  His head, He gave up His spirit: St. John Chrysostom writes that Christ did not die
  first, with His head falling as a result of death. Instead, as Lord even of His own death,
  Jesus first bowed His head, and then willingly gave up His spirit (see note at Lk 23:46).
19:34   The blood and water from Christ's body show the reality of the great sacraments.
  The water speaks of our baptism, which is participation in Christ's life-giving death (Rom
  3:6–11). In Communion, we receive His life-giving Blood, “drinking from His very side”
  (JohnChr). It is literally the forgiveness of sins and the regeneration of mankind that
  poured out from our Lord's side.
19:38-39 Joseph of Arimathea was a hidden disciple, one who believed in Jesus but had
  made no public acknowledgement of faith. Nicodemus had come to Jesus by night (3:2)
  and later defended Him before the Pharisees (7:50–52). By burying Him, both show their
  devotion to our Lord publicly, in stark contrast to the fearful disciples, who had scattered.
  See also note at Lk 23:50–53.
20:1   The first day of the week is Sunday, or the Lord's Day. The remembrance of this
  day in Christian tradition does not replace the Sabbath, but completes it. Saturday still
  remains the Sabbath, the blessed day on which Christ rested in the tomb, just as He
  rested when He completed the creation of the universe (Gn 2:2). Because of the
  Resurrection, Sunday is also known in the Church as the eighth day, which symbolizes
  eternity, a day without end.
20:2   Though John does not mention the other myrrhbearing women (Mk 16:1; Lk 24:10),
  Mary's use of we indicates they were present.
20:3-8    The response of Peter and John (the other disciple) reveals each one's
  disposition. John's reaching the tomb first indicates his faith is lofty and full of
  understanding, and indeed, he is the first to have believed (v. 8). Peter's faith, on the
  other hand, is more direct and bold, shown by his immediate entrance into the tomb (v.
  6).
20:7   The details John gives concerning the linen cloths confirm the Resurrection, for if
  thieves had taken away Christ's body as Mary initially thought (v. 2), they would not have
  taken the time to strip the body, nor to fold and place each piece carefully and separately.
20:9   The Scripture had foretold Christ could not remain dead (Ps 15:10).
20:11-18 The encounter between the risen Lord and Mary is reminiscent of the encounter
  between the bride and her beloved in the Song of Solomon (SS 3:1–4). This parallel
  teaches that through the Resurrection, Christ has taken the Church to be His eternal
  Bride (see note at 2:1–11; Eph 5:31, 32; Rev 21:9, 10).
20:16   That Mary turned again (see v. 14) shows she had been looking back and forth
  between the angels (v. 12) and her Lord, sensing the awe of the angels in the presence of
  their Ruler, but not yet recognizing Jesus herself. Through Christ calling Mary by name,
  her eyes and heart are opened, and she recognizes Him (see 10:3, 4). Rabboni is an
  affectionate term meaning “my dear Teacher.”
20:17 Do not cling to Me: Christ does not prohibit the touching of His resurrected flesh,
  for we commune with His flesh in the Eucharist, and He even commands Thomas to
  touch Him (v. 27). Here, Christ is instructing Mary to understand and accept that His life
  is not merely continuing in the same state as before, and that He will not remain with her
  as He did in the past, but is pressing forward to His Ascension to the Father.
20:18   Mary Magdalene, having remained faithful to Christ to the end, is the first person
  sent to proclaim the risen Lord, and thus is the first apostle of the Resurrection. She is
  known in the Church as “the apostle to the apostles.”
20:21-23    Christ commissions the disciples to continue His mission on earth, granting
  them the Holy Spirit (v. 22) and the authority to forgive the sins of others (v. 23).
  (See the articles “Ordination” at Acts 14 and “Confession” at 1Jn 1.) Through this direct
  consecration and through apostolic continuity, Christ's own Priesthood is communicated
  to the bishops and presbyters of the Church.
20:24-29 The doubt of Thomas is described in the Church hymns as “blessed,” for it was
  not a doubt of resistance to truth, but one that desperately desired a truthful answer—a
  “doubt which gave birth to faith” when the answer was revealed. In hymns of the Church,
  Christ says to Thomas, “Your doubt will teach My Passion and Resurrection to all,” and
  we affirm that his doubt “brought the hearts of believers to knowledge.” The conversion
  of Thomas' doubt into faith led him to the clearest confession of Christ's divinity,
  addressing Jesus as my Lord and my God (v. 28).
21:1   The Sea of Tiberias is another name for the Sea of Galilee. Because Christ's
  resurrected body was transfigured and incorruptible, it was not visible unless He willingly
  showed Himself. His resurrected body is indeed human, but it is glorified in every
  respect and illustrates the kind of body each believer will have in the general resurrection
  (see 1Co 15:42–49).
21:6, 7   This is the second time Christ provided a multitude of fish for these men (Lk
  5:4–6). Jesus often revealed Himself after the Resurrection through words and acts that
  were familiar (20:16; Lk 24:35). It is through this familiar grace that our Lord is
  recognizable to all His followers (see also note at Lk 5:6). John, the beloved disciple, is
  the first to perceive that the Man on the shore is the Lord, showing that love for Christ
  brings spiritual insight. Peter plunging into the sea demonstrates the boldness of his
  faith (see note at 20:3–8).
21:8    The great catch of fish is an image of the disciples bringing mankind to the
  knowledge of Jesus Christ, and it fulfills the prophecy of Jer 16:16. In the festal hymn of
  Pentecost we sing to Christ, “Through the fishermen, You drew the world into Your net.”
21:11   Peter takes the initiative in dragging the net to land, an act symbolic of his
  leadership in the early Church. That the net was not broken shows the invincibility of
  the Church, while the number one hundred and fifty-three symbolizes all nations of
  humanity.
21:12   The disciples' inner desire to ask Christ, “Who are You?” shows His form was
  altered in a way that amazed them. Yet they did not ask because they knew even though
  His appearance was altered, it was the Lord.
21:13   This meal is reminiscent of the feeding of the five thousand and carries the same
  eucharistic significance (see note at 6:2–14). The fish became a symbol of identity for
  early Christians. The initials of the phrase “Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior” in Greek form
  the acronym ICHTHYS, which is Greek for “fish.”
21:15-17 That Christ singles out Simon Peter has a twofold significance: (1) Peter was the
  leader among the disciples, and thus had to be the first to confess his love for the risen
  Lord. (2) Peter had denied Christ three times (18:17, 25–27), and here Christ restores
  Him with a threefold confession of love.
     It is important to note that the first two times Christ inquires of Peter, “Do you love
  Me?” He uses a form of the word agape, which denotes the highest form of sacrificial and
  self-emptying love, the kind of love God has for man and that man can develop only
  through maturing in God's grace. Each time, however, Peter is unable to claim such a
  lofty love. When Peter answers, “You know that I love You,” he uses the term philo,
  which is a lesser form of love, akin to brotherly affection. When the Lord asks the third
  time, “Do you love Me?” He has changed to the term philo, condescending to Peter's
  weakness and accepting whatever love Peter is able to offer. Nevertheless, Christ knows
  that Peter will develop agape love for Him, as Peter will eventually accept martyrdom for
  His sake (vv. 18, 19). Peter was grieved both that the Lord had to condescend to his level
  of love and that this was a clear, though gentle, reference to his three denials.
21:18-19   This is Christ's second prophecy of Peter's martyrdom (see 13:36), which Peter
  would suffer under Nero in about AD 67 by being crucified upside down.
21:20-23 This disciple is John, the author of this Gospel. St. John lived a long life, dying
  at about the age of 100 (c. AD 98–108). Early Christians marveled at his longevity, and
  some thought he would not die before the return of Christ. John corrects this assumption
  by clarifying that Jesus did not say to him that he would not die.
21:24      John's use of we indicates he had an assistant. Tradition holds John used a scribe
  named Prochorus who wrote down his words and teachings; this scribe is shown in many
  icons.
21:25   Acknowledging his Gospel contains only a fraction of Christ's life, John has written
  his book to bring his hearers to faith (20:31). While the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and
  Luke contain many more miracles and parables, these too are far from exhaustive. This
  verse not only emphasizes the holiness of what was written, but also points to the
  ongoing oral tradition within the Church (see 2Th 2:15).
1:2   During the Last Supper, Jesus promised to teach His disciples through the Holy
  Spirit (Jn 16:13). After His Resurrection, His promise is fulfilled.
1:3 Forty is a number indicating completion or fulfillment.
1:4   The Promise of the Father is the gift of the Holy Spirit (v. 5), which the Jews had
  been expecting to accompany the messianic age (see Joel 3:1).
1:6   That the disciples are still fixated on the establishment of an earthly kingdom shows
  that the Holy Spirit has not yet been given, for only after Pentecost do the disciples
  receive the full understanding of the Kingdom of God. Here, the disciples are asking the
  wrong question, for Christ will not restore the kingdom to Israel, but will rather
  restore Israel and the world to the Kingdom.
1:9-11 Christ's Ascension is His enthronement in the fullness of divine authority and glory.
  Icons of the Ascension represent Christ in such a way that one cannot tell whether He is
  going to heaven or coming again to earth. This captures the profound truth that we are
  already living under His reign while awaiting His return. Thus, the icon shows Christ
  being taken up (v. 11), coming again in like manner (v. 11), and yet continually present
  (Mt 28:20). Believers are not to stand idly gazing up into heaven, but rather are called
  to virtuous faith and action in this world until Christ's return.
1:12   A Sabbath day's journey is the distance the Jews could travel without breaking the
  Sabbath rest—something under a mile.
1:16    Because the apostles had been enlightened by Christ to understand the OT as
  pointing to Him and His works (Lk 24:27), Peter now sees these two prophetic psalms (v.
  20) as foretelling the fate of Judas.
1:18   See Mt 27:3–5. Though the accounts may seem to differ, Luke's report here is merely
  a more detailed account of Judas' end. This should also be understood in a spiritual sense,
  that the heart and soul of the rebellious or faithless person will be spilled out in the final
  judgment.
1:20   The Greek word episkope, here rendered office, is literally “bishopric” and refers to
  the apostolic position of overseer. Thus, we learn the apostles were the first bishops of
  the Church. The authority of overseeing the life of the Church continues in the bishops
  who stand in their succession.
1:26   Casting lots to discern the will of God has been practiced since ancient times (Jos
  18:6–10; Neh 11:1; Jon 1:7) and continues in various places in the Church to this day. This
  should not be misunderstood as surrendering all authority to random chance. The
  authority of the apostles is shown by their offering of specific names (v. 23).
  Nevertheless, the final outcome is left to God.
2:1   The Day of Pentecost, also called the Feast of Weeks in the OT (see Lv 23:16), comes
  50 days after Passover and is a celebration of the first fruits of harvest. As Jesus was
  crucified at Passover, the events of ch. 2 occur 50 days after His death. On the first
  Christian Pentecost, the unity of assembling with one accord (or purpose) in one
  place provides the environment in which the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us.
2:3   The Holy Spirit coming in the appearance of divided tongues, as of fire fulfills the
  prophecy of John the Baptist that Christ would “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”
  (Lk 3:16). This fire is a manifestation of the uncreated energy of God. Because God is
  wholly uncreated, His power or energy is also uncreated.
2:4-8    This is a fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel 3:1 and a divine reversal or
  recapitulation of the events at the Tower of Babel (Gn 11:1–9). In the account of Babel,
  pride was shown to possess the awesome power to divide; here, the humble reception of
  the Holy Spirit is shown to have the overwhelming power to unite, even in diversity. A
  key lesson of Pentecost is that the people hear the gospel in their own language.
2:14-40 Peter's sermon focuses on two prophetic themes: (1) the promised coming of the
  Holy Spirit (vv. 14–21); and (2) the Resurrection of Christ (vv. 22–40). This pattern of
  showing the OT prophecy being fulfilled in Christ is the central means by which the
  apostles preached the gospel (see 8:35). This method of preaching led directly to the
  multitude's repentance, baptism, and reception of the Holy Spirit (vv. 38, 39).
2:16-21   On Pentecost, the first part of Joel's prophecy (vv. 17–19) was fulfilled with the
  outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The second part (vv. 19–21) will be fulfilled at the Second
  Coming of Christ.
2:36   The term made refers to Christ's Incarnation and works as a Man, and not to His
  eternal existence as Lord and God.
2:37   Peter's listeners were cut to the heart because they understood and had been
  prepared by the OT. Almost half of Peter's message is a quotation of OT scriptures. The
  evidence that Jesus fulfills these prophecies is overwhelming to them.
2:38-39 Peter's answer defines Christian life within the Church. We must (1) repent, (2)
  be baptized, and (3) receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The baptismal service of the
  Orthodox Church reflects this way of life. Candidates first repent, confess their sins, and
  renounce the devil. Second, they are baptized by immersion. Third, they are given the gift
  of the Holy Spirit through chrismation.
2:42   Central elements of worship that were present from the very beginning continue in
  the Orthodox Church to this day: apostolic doctrine being taught in the fellowship of a
  common assembly, the breaking of the eucharistic bread, and specific liturgical prayers.
  Prayers is literally “the prayers” in Greek, referring to specific liturgical prayers. The Jews
  had practiced liturgical prayer for centuries, the preeminent prayers being the Psalms.
  Because the Psalms point so clearly to Christ, Christians immediately incorporated them
  into NT worship.
2:44-45 Having all things in common was practiced as a necessity, for many of the new
  converts were far from home. While such communal living is not a mandate for all
  Christians, it is still practiced in various monasteries. Furthermore, it continually
  reminds us that all things belong to God and are for the benefit of all mankind.
3:1   At the hour of prayer, the ninth hour: The apostles were observing regular Jewish
  hours of prayer, just as believers had done for centuries (Ps 54:18; Dan 6:11). The practice
  of praying at the first (6:00 a.m.), third (9:00 a.m.), sixth (12:00 noon), and ninth (3:00
  p.m.) hours of the day carried over into the Church from the start. This practice continues
  to this day in the Orthodox Church in private prayers, in monasteries, and in some
  parishes. (See also 10:3, 9, 30.)
3:1-10 The apostles participate not only in preaching and teaching but in healing as well.
  The sacrament of healing manifests God's presence in the Church and confirms the
  message of the gospel.
3:11   Solomon's porch is in the temple area.
3:12-26   Peter's sermon clarifies several key truths concerning Jesus: (1) He reveals the
  identity of Jesus, by whose power the lame man was healed. He is God's Suffering
  Servant (v. 13), the Holy One (v. 14) of God, the Prince of life (v. 15), the Christ
  foretold by the prophets (v. 18). (2) As prophesied, Christ was rejected, for the leaders had
  Him killed (v. 15). But God raised Him, and the apostles are witnesses to that
  Resurrection (v. 15). (3) The rejection of Christ shows profound ignorance of God's
  saving activity (vv. 18–20). (4) The only saving response the people can make is to
  repent and be converted (v. 19), which is a thorough change of mind and heart. (5) The
  rewards of conversion include forgiveness of sins, renewal, and confidence in the glorious
  Second Coming of Christ (vv. 19–26).
3:26   Repentance always bring blessings from the Lord. Some fear turning away from sin
  makes life hard to bear. Instead, through repentance, life that was merely existence is
  transformed into real living—that is, living in faith, love, joy, and confident hope.
4:1, 2 Sadducees: See 23:8.
4:12   The name of Christ is not simply a verbal pronunciation, but indicates His will, His
  life, His person, His very presence. Salvation in the name of Christ indicates salvation in
  His eternal being. As Christ is the one and only Son of God, salvation can only be found in
  Him.
4:13   Uneducated and untrained refers specifically to religious education. This lack of
  religious training stands in contrast to the expertise of the Sanhedrin. The wisdom and
  power of the Holy Spirit transcend earthly religious training, for God works in the humble
  and simple as well as in those who are formally educated or influential.
4:16   The admission of a notable miracle without a faithful response illustrates the
  hardness of the human heart where there is no repentance.
4:19   While God commands our obedience to governing authorities (Lk 20:25; Rom 13:1–
  7), obedience to God comes first. When the two are in conflict, the believer must follow
  God and be willing to accept the consequences.
4:24-30   This prayer follows a traditional liturgical formula of praise, remembrance of
  God's works, and petition. Note that signs and wonders (v. 30) are requested, not as
  ends in themselves, but in order to give boldness to the preachers and to confirm the
  word they speak (v. 29).
4:31   While the Holy Spirit continually abides in the Church, His presence is experienced
  again and again in liturgical assemblies and in recurring pentecostal outpourings. Note
  how quickly the petition of the apostles (vv. 29, 30) was answered.
5:1-5 Ananias and Sapphira are accountable for allowing Satan to fill their hearts with
  lies, and for breaking the trust and integrity of the Church. Their sin is not only keeping
  back possessions but deception (v. 4). Lying to the Church is equal to lying to the Holy
  Spirit (v. 3), the Spirit of truth.
5:19-21 Signs and wonders are given by God, not as ends in themselves, but to encourage
  and strengthen the apostles to preach the gospel (see 4:24–31).
5:30   Christ's Cross is often referred to as a tree, both because it is made of wood and
  because trees were often used to crucify criminals. There is also a deeper meaning in this
  term, for just as a living tree brought death to mankind through Adam (Gn 2:17), now a
  dead tree brings life to mankind through Jesus. See also Dt 21:23; Gal 3:13.
5:34   Gamaliel was a famous rabbi under whom Paul studied (22:3).
5:36-37   Theudas and Judas of Galilee were two of many who made false messianic
  claims. They raised the sword of rebellion against Rome and were crushed, as reported by
  the Jewish historian Josephus.
5:41   Rejoicing: See Lk 6:22, 23. Suffering is not necessarily a sign of God's displeasure,
  as thought by many Jews (see Lk 13:1–4; Jn 9:1–3). Rather, Christians accept persecution
  joyfully, knowing that the rewards of the Kingdom far outweigh any sufferings on earth.
  See also Rom 5:3–5.
6:1   The Hebrews here are Jewish Christians in Jerusalem who spoke Aramaic. The
  Hellenists were Greek-speaking Jewish Christians from other parts of the Hellenized
  world who had settled back in Jerusalem. St. John Chrysostom notes that this complaint
  shows a lack of order among the multitude of believers, even though the neglect was not
  malicious. Thus, the difficulties facing the Church arose not only from outside, but also
  by dissension from within.
6:2-4   The term disciples in Acts generally refers to all believers, and not only to the
  twelve apostles. While the ministries of the word and of serving widows are both
  important, they cannot be performed by the same people and still receive the proper
  attention. Thus, the Church develops diversified ministries. In the Orthodox Church to
  this day, the bishops and presbyters are called to focus on prayer and the ministry of
  the word, with the other ministries being accomplished by the deacons and the laity.
  Note that the servants to be chosen must not only be spiritual, but full of the wisdom
  necessary to manage the business they are called to do (v. 3).
6:5-6 While the multitude submitted the names of the seven deacons (v. 5), the apostles
  were the ones to ordain them (v. 6). Thus, the synergy between laity and clergy is
  demonstrated in the selection of Church leaders. It should be noted that there is
  disagreement among the Fathers as to whether these men held the liturgical office of
  deacon, or whether this diaconate was more service-oriented. In either understanding,
  they nevertheless received this office by ordination.
6:7   The number of disciples multiplied greatly: This growth only happens when
  three great pillars of church life are fully in place. These pillars are (1) worship (v. 4), (2)
  evangelism (v. 4), and (3) charity (v. 3). Furthermore, this growth happens after the
  external and internal struggles have been addressed. The priests here were Christian
  converts who had been Jewish priests; they had not necessarily been ordained to the
  priestly ministry within the Christian Church after their conversion.
6:9   Freedmen were Jews who had been formerly held captive under the Romans, often
  because of rebellion.
6:11   This charge is brought against Stephen because in Christ, the liturgy and Law of the
  OT are fulfilled, and are thus changed and transformed (Heb 7:12). To those who do not
  believe in Christ, these changes are blasphemous.
6:14   The charge that Jesus would destroy the temple was leveled against Him at His trial
  (Mt 26:61) by false witnesses. This was a misinterpretation of two of His sayings: (1)
  “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (Jn 2:19)—referring to His own
  body; and (2) His prophecy of the destruction of the temple (Lk 21:6, 20). This prophecy
  was fulfilled in AD 70, when the Romans destroyed the temple as punishment for a
  Jewish rebellion.
6:15   Those who become one with Christ receive this divine radiance revealed in Stephen's
  face. This is a preview of the glory all believers will share in the age to come (2Co 3:18).
  See also Ex 34:29–35.
7:1   Stephen does not answer the high priest directly, but uses the charges as the context
  for his preaching. As with Peter's sermon on Pentecost (2:14–40), Stephen preaches Jesus
  Christ based on the OT, showing how the Jews consistently missed the purpose of God's
  dealings with them due to their hardness of heart (v. 51).
7:6   Foreign land: Egypt (See Ex 1–12).
7:8   Circumcision identified each male as being adopted into the community of Israel,
  and as being a true descendant of Abraham.
7:19   Pharaoh's order to destroy the Hebrew babies (Ex 1:22) prefigured Herod's attempt
  to kill Christ by destroying all the infants in Bethlehem (Mt 2:16). As Moses was
  preserved from death in order to deliver Israel from bondage, so also Christ was
  preserved in order to save the world through His Passion and Resurrection.
7:30   This Angel of the Lord is the Son of God Himself, before He became Man. Angel
  means “messenger” and is a term used for the pre-eternal Christ as the Word of God, the
  One who speaks to the people (see Is 9:6). Note that this Angel speaks with the voice of
  the Lord (v. 31) and declares Himself to be God (v. 32).
7:33   The place of God's revelation is holy ground, for God's presence makes creation to
  be holy. Church buildings are included in this sanctified space because God's revelation
  comes to the faithful there, and God's presence is experienced through the sacraments
  there.
7:38   The congregation of Israel under the Old Covenant was a type or picture of the
  New Covenant Church. Just as the Israelite congregation journeyed with the Angel, now
  the Church journeys toward the Kingdom in the presence of Christ.
7:47-50 The Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands: This does not
  mean that God was not present in the temple. Rather, it indicates that God's presence is
  not limited to a specific temple, but dwells in every soul that receives Him.
7:51    Israel resisted the Holy Spirit by neither accepting God's plan for them nor
  receiving His correction through the prophets. The contemporary Jewish leaders
  continued to resist the Holy Spirit in their opposition to Jesus and to His disciples.
7:55-58 Stephen's vision of the enthroned Christ is seen by his opponents as the ultimate
  blasphemy, which carried the penalty of stoning (Lv 24:16). Saul, a participant in
  Stephen's martyrdom, was a great persecutor of the early Christians. He would later be
  called by Christ to be His apostle and would become the great Christian missionary, Paul
  of Tarsus (see 9:1–22).
7:59-60 In imitation of his Savior (Lk 23:34), Stephen offers his soul to God and prays for
  the forgiveness of his enemies.
8:1   In the Liturgy of St. Basil, we proclaim God as one who “makes the evil to be good.” In
  other words, God uses the sins of man for good and holy results. Here, the scattering of
  the disciples during this persecution led to the spread of the gospel to other areas. St.
  Stephen is sometimes called the Protomartyr (or “first martyr”), as he is the first believer
  to be killed in the name of Christ.
8:5-13 Philip the deacon (6:5) is the first to evangelize Samaria with the gospel of Jesus
  Christ, bringing both teachings and healings. The eager reception by the people (v. 12) is
  due in part to the foundation laid by St. Photini, the Samaritan woman of Jn 4, who
  brought news of the Messiah before His crucifixion (see Jn 4:39).
8:9   Being a sorcerer and dazzled by Philip's healings, Simon converted for reasons other
  than faith. He would later try to buy the power to work miracles (vv. 18–24), and
  according to tradition, he afterwards returned to his magical arts and was a bitter enemy
  of the Church.
8:14   The unity of the Church is shown by new communities being under the authority of
  and in communion with the church of Jerusalem. In the Church to this day, all
  communities in a given area are united under the authority of a local bishop, who is in
  communion with all the other bishops of the Orthodox Church.
8:16-17   Baptism and chrismation (lit. “anointing for the reception of the Holy Spirit”)
  were considered two distinct sacraments from the beginning. The phrase baptized in
  the name of the Lord Jesus should not be understood to mean that the Trinity was
  not mentioned at the time of baptism. “Do not imagine that because the names of the
  Father and the Holy Spirit are sometimes omitted when the Apostle speaks of baptism
  that the invocation of their names has been omitted” (BasilG). Sometimes the Bible
  speaks of baptism in the Holy Spirit and sometimes of baptism in Christ to emphasize
  certain points. Always “we are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
  Spirit” (BasilG; see Mt 28:19). Specific reference to baptism in Jesus Christ was not
  intended to neglect the Trinity, but to distinguish Christian baptism from John's baptism
  of repentance (see 19:1–5).
8:22-24   Faith must be accompanied by a total change of life or it is worthless. Simon
  believed on a certain level (v. 13), but he was not justified, because he was poisoned by
  bitterness and bound by iniquity.
8:27    Eunuchs were men who were castrated, whether by birth defect, disease, or
  mutilation, and were often employed to guard women of nobility. This eunuch had a
  thorough knowledge of Judaism and was likely a Jewish proselyte (convert).
8:29   Only those who are mature in faith can hear and discern the promptings of the
  Spirit (JohnChr). Those of lesser faith are prompted more directly by words and angels.
8:30-31   Because the Scriptures have a specific, God-given meaning (2Pt 1:20, 21), it is
  impossible to truly understand them apart from the Church, for apostolic interpretation
  is held in the consciousness of the Church.
8:32-33 This passage from Isaiah is prayed by the presbyter as he prepares the bread for
  the Divine Liturgy.
8:35   Again, the OT is the foundation for proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ (see 2:14–
  40; 7:1–53). Such is the power of the OT that if anyone “would apply himself to the study
  of the prophets, he would need no miracles” (JohnChr).
8:36-39 From the beginning, baptism in water (v. 36) and faith in Christ (v. 37) are both
  essential for entrance into the NT Church. The apostolic pattern of conversion in Christ is
  hearing, believing, and baptism.
9:1, 2   Saul persecutes Christians under the legal structure of Judaism; as such, he is
  charged to arrest Jewish Christians, but has no authority over Gentile Christians.
  Christianity became known as the Way based on Christ calling Himself “the way” (Jn
  14:6), and on the fact that following Christ is not simply a momentary decision or the
  observance of outward religious practices, but a whole way of life.
9:4   To persecute either Christians individually or the Church generally is to persecute
  Christ Himself, for they cannot be separated (see Mt 25:40; Eph 5:23, 30).
9:5    Goads are spikes used to prod farm animals. The term is sometimes used as a
  metaphor for the wisdom or promptings of God (Ecc 12:11, “pointed sticks”). Here Christ
  is declaring the futility of fighting against divine truth.
9:8   Saul's blindness illustrates Christ's teachings on spiritual blindness (Jn 9:39). As long
  as Saul saw things from his own perspective, he was spiritually blind. Only by having his
  earthly vision taken away does Saul become capable of truly seeing Christ in glory and
  truth. This action also drives Saul to submit to the Church for baptism.
9:11   The Orthodox Church of Antioch continues an unbroken succession to this early
  Damascus Church and to this day is headquartered on the street called Straight.
9:13   Ananias was likely one of Saul's targets for arrest in Damascus. He served as first
  bishop of that city.
9:15   That Saul was God's chosen vessel does not mean that he had no free will in the
  matter. Rather, it indicates that God had selected Saul, knowing that he would freely
  accept and be capable of doing the work set before him.
9:18   Note that even though Saul had a direct revelation of Christ and believed in Him, he
  still submitted to baptism in the Church. The scales falling from Saul's eyes illustrate
  that those under the Law remain ultimately blind until they encounter and receive Jesus
  Christ.
9:23-25 The former persecutor is now persecuted (see also 5:41).
9:29   These Hellenists were not Christians, but Greek-speaking Jews who rejected Christ
  (contrast 6:1).
9:31   This is the first mention in the Book of Acts of churches in the plural, showing that
  the Church is not invisible, but consists of visible local communities united in faith,
  doctrine, worship, and authority.
9:32   The term saints refers to all Christian believers, for all who believe in Jesus Christ
  with their whole heart and are sanctified by the Holy Spirit are by definition saints. The
  later use of the term saints for holy people who lived particularly exemplary lives and
  who are canonized (or glorified) by the Church does not undo this primary meaning.
  Lydda is about 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem.
9:34   Peter brings Christ's healing to a paralytic in a manner similar to Jesus healing the
  paralytic in Jn 5:1–15. The healing power of Jesus the Christ continues in His Church
  to this day.
9:35   Sharon was a region north of Lydda along the Mediterranean seacoast. The signs
  the apostles worked convinced many people who turned to the Lord. These signs prove
  the mercy and power of God, thus confirming the gospel and leading people to
  repentance.
9:40   Peter's raising of Tabitha from the dead parallels Christ's raising of the synagogue
  ruler's daughter (Mt 9:22–25).
10:1   With this chapter, a whole new period in church history begins. Initially composed of
  Jews and then Samaritans (8:5–25), with the conversion of Cornelius the Church begins
  its dramatic growth among the Gentiles.
10:2   “Fearer of God” was a formal designation for a Gentile who followed precepts of the
  Jewish religion but had not yet become a proselyte, or full convert. Two things
  characterized the devotion of Cornelius: he gave alms generously and he prayed. His
  devotion did not make Him a Christian, but His prayers and alms were accepted by God
  (v. 4) and prepared him for conversion to Jesus Christ at the preaching of Peter. Even
  good people need Christ!
10:3   The ninth hour is 3:00 p.m., one of the traditional hours for liturgical prayer for
  both Jews and early Christians. These hours of liturgical prayer were prayed by both the
  Jewish Christians (e.g., Peter in v. 9) and Gentile Christians (e.g., Cornelius here). This
  practice continues in the Orthodox Church today (see 3:1 and note).
10:7   Cornelius's obedience to God shows the true state of his heart, for it is those who not
  only hear but also do the will of God that are the true believers (Mt 7:21; Rom 2:13; Jam
  1:22).
10:14-15   Peter's resistance shows the difficulty with which the Jews let go of the Law.
  God's commandment here is first a declaration that the Old Covenant dietary laws are
  fulfilled and thus no longer in effect (see Mk 7:19). More importantly, this vision revealed
  that the Gentiles, who were considered unclean by the Jews, are cleansed by the blood
  of Christ and are equal partakers of the Kingdom (see v. 28). This vision thus prepared
  Peter to receive Cornelius (vv. 17–48). Finally, this also teaches us that God desires to
  receive everyone into His Church, regardless of heritage, social class, or past sins, for all
  are one in Christ.
10:33   Cornelius and those with him are eager to hear, for “faith comes by hearing” (Rom
  10:17), and faithful and devoted people still need to hear the gospel.
10:34-43   Peter's focus is on the saving work and power of Jesus Christ, His death and
  Resurrection, and how He fulfilled the word spoken by the OT prophets (v. 43).
10:35    Justification is not merely a one-time event, but a dynamic, ongoing process. In
  addition to faith, two conditions are given here: God accepts whoever fears Him and
  works righteousness. This does not deny justification by faith, but demonstrates
  clearly that justification is not by faith alone (Jam 2:24).
10:38    It was in His humanity that Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit, for Christ
  possessed the Holy Spirit from all eternity before the Incarnation. Note also the core faith
  in the Trinity: God the Father, together with His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit, are co-
  operational in the salvation of mankind.
10:44   The giving of the Holy Spirit prior to baptism is something the Church had not
  seen before (v. 45). This unusual occurrence is a sign that God has accepted the Gentiles,
  and that baptism is not to be denied them.
10:48     To be baptized is of monumental importance. Even after the household of
  Cornelius had believed and received the Holy Spirit, baptism was still essential. The Book
  of Acts clearly teaches the crucial importance of the great sacraments—baptism (see also
  2:38, 41; 8:12, 36–38; 9:18; 16:15, 33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16); chrismation, or the sacramental
  reception of the Holy Spirit (2:38; 8:17; 9:17; 19:6); the Eucharist (2:42, 46; 20:7; 27:35);
  and ordination (6:6; 13:3; 14:23).
11:2   Those of the circumcision were Jewish Christians who insisted that circumcision
  and the rest of the OT Law must continue to be observed even by Christians in order to
  receive salvation (see 15:1; Gal 2:12). These Jewish Christians also advocated separation
  from Gentiles.
11:13   Call for Simon: The need to be received into the apostolic Church is indisputable.
  Even those who have direct revelations of Christ in the Holy Spirit are invariably directed
  to the apostolic Church (see also 9:6–18; 11:22). For it is in the Church that the unity and
  fullness of Christ are experienced, and the words of salvation (v. 14) are proclaimed
  without alteration.
11:17-19   The evangelization of the Gentiles brought a significant amount of conflict to
  the early Church. Even though Christ had commanded the apostles to preach the gospel
  universally (1:8), it took a while for this to be put into practice. Much debate would come
  over what requirements from the OT Law, if any, these Gentile Christians would have to
  follow (see ch. 15).
11:20   Hellenists here refers to actual Greeks, not to Hellenistic Jews (contrast 6:1). The
  Church in Antioch was instrumental in bringing numerous Gentiles to the Lord Jesus.
11:22    Two key truths are revealed in Barnabas being sent out to Antioch: (1) an
  apostle is sent, but does not work in isolation from the Church (v. 23); and (2) the church
  in Antioch needed the seal of apostolic authority to be integrated into the universal
  Church (see note at v. 13).
11:25   In seeking help Barnabas reveals humility, a recognition of his own limitations, and
  his communion with and dependence on the other apostles.
11:26   Two key elements of early church practice included (1) the eucharistic assembly and
  (2) the teaching of the gospel. That the disciples were first called Christians in
  Antioch is more than just historical fact. It demonstrates that Christ's command to
  preach the gospel among the Gentiles was first fully realized in Antioch. “It was there for
  the first time that men were accounted worthy of that name” (JohnChr).
11:27   These prophets are Christian believers within the Church who have the gift of
  prophecy (see 1Co 12:29; 14:3, 29; Eph 4:11).
11:28-29 This great famine took place in AD 44–51, beginning in Judea and spreading to
  Greece and Italy. The principle of giving, each according to his ability, is one that
  continues in the Church to this day.
11:30    The elders (lit., “the bearded ones”) are the presbyters, or priests; they are the
  clergy ordained and put in charge of the local churches by the apostles who established
  them (see 14:23). As to the orders of the ministry, bishops (the apostles) are first
  mentioned in 1:20 (see note). Deacons appear in 6:2–6. Here is the first reference to
  presbyters or priests.
12:1-9   Herod Agrippa is the grandson of Herod the Great, who tried to kill Jesus as an
  infant (Mt 2:16). Herod Agrippa ruled as king in Palestine under Rome in AD 41–44. The
  dates of his reign determine the period in which James was killed (v. 2) and Peter was
  imprisoned (v. 3). James was the first of the twelve apostles to be martyred. This event
  reveals that by the year AD 44, there was growing popular displeasure against Christians.
12:3    The Days of Unleavened Bread mark the Passover period, and thus the
  commemoration of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ.
12:5   The power of intercessory prayer by the church on behalf of its leaders is evidenced
  by Peter's release from prison (v. 10).
12:9-11   Peter's initial confusion (v. 9) and subsequent understanding (v. 11) about his
  release from prison show that God's works are not always clear to us while they are
  unfolding. But in hindsight His purpose often becomes clear.
12:12   John whose surname was Mark is St. Mark the Evangelist, who would compose
  the Gospel of Mark. He would later become a coworker with Paul and Barnabas (v. 25;
  Col 4:10) and still later with Peter (1Pt 5:13).
12:15   It is his angel shows not only that the early Christians believed in angels, but that
  each person is assigned one. To this day in the Liturgy of the Orthodox Church, we pray
  “for an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies.” (See Mt
  18:10.)
12:17 This James is the “brother” of the Lord (Gal 1:19; see also note at Mt 12:46–50), not
  the apostle of the twelve, for that James had already been martyred (v. 2). By this time,
  James is bishop of Jerusalem (see 15:13; 21:18). The brethren are the Christians of the
  Jerusalem Church.
12:21-23 The death of Herod reveals a deeper spiritual meaning: all who seek or accept
  unworthy praise are taking that which rightly belongs to God alone.
12:24   The enemies of God cannot stop the spread of the word of God.
13:1   Manaen was raised with Herod Antipas (39–4 BC), the Herod who slaughtered the
  infants in Bethlehem (Mt 2:16). Manaen was one of the early Christians with noble
  family connections.
13:2   Ministered (Gr. leitourgounton) literally means “performed liturgical acts.” It is the
  same root word from which “liturgy” is derived. This phrase would be more accurately
  translated, “as they performed the liturgy to the Lord and fasted.” Liturgical worship did
  not originate in Antioch. Its roots are in ancient Israel. Saul and Barnabas, who came
  from Jerusalem, taught the Antiochian Christians—among other things—true worship
  (11:22–26). Note too that fasting and liturgy are inseparable. It is in the midst of this
  liturgy that the Holy Spirit speaks. Separate means “to set apart for special service.”
13:3   Laid hands on them is a reference to the sacrament of ordination (see note at
  10:48). While contemporary Orthodox practice is usually to ordain no more than one
  person to a specific rank at a given liturgy, here was a case of multiple ordinations. Note
  that even Saul (Paul), who had a direct call to serve from Jesus Christ (9:1–6; 2Co 12:1–
  4), still had to experience ordination in the Church.
13:9   This is the first use in Acts of the name Paul for Saul. No particular significance is
  stated, but it was not the result of his conversion as many have suggested, for he is still
  called Saul for quite some time after his conversion. Paul is a Roman name, and Saul is a
  Hebrew name. Many Jews of this time had two names, one Jewish and another Greek or
  Roman. Paul may have begun to favor his Roman name out of humility (Paul means
  “little”), or because his ministry was now becoming more focused on the Gentiles. St.
  John Chrysostom suggests that the name change was the result of ordination (vv. 2, 3),
  just as Christ gave Simon the new name Peter (Mt 16:17, 18; Jn 1:42).
13:11-12 The hand of the Lord acts not to inflict punishment for punishment's sake, but
  to bring repentance and conversion—which proves fruitful in this case of the proconsul.
  This is the first recorded instance of conversion to Christ of a high Roman official.
13:14   Antioch in Pisidia was in Galatia, and should not be confused with Antioch of
  Syria, from which Paul and Barnabas had just been sent.
13:17-41   Paul preaches Christ based on His fulfillment of OT events and prophecies (see
  note at 8:35).
13:23-24    The heart of Paul's message is: (1) Christ is the promise and therefore the
  fulfillment of the Jewish faith; (2) Jesus is the seed of David, and thus fulfills his office
  as the true King of Israel; and (3) Jesus is the One John the Baptist preached.
13:26   The family of Abraham refers to the Jews, while those who fear God refer to
  Gentile believers; thus, salvation is proclaimed to all mankind.
13:27   Paul consistently presses the point that if the OT is properly understood, it is clear
  Jesus is the Messiah. Even the Jewish leaders' rejection of Jesus fulfilled these
  prophecies (Ps 2:1, 2; 118:22, 23; Is 53:1–9).
13:38-39 In addition to Christ's death and Resurrection, two recurring themes in apostolic
  preaching are (1) the forgiveness of sins (v. 38) and (2) no one is justified by the law
  of Moses (v. 39).
13:45-46 Many of the Jews reject the teaching that salvation is for all people, so Paul and
  Barnabas now turn to the Gentiles. This pattern continues throughout Acts: the gospel
  is preached first to the Jews, God's chosen people, then to the Gentiles (Rom 1:16).
14:1   Iconium: The capitol of Lycaonia in Asia Minor between Antioch and Lystra. An
  interesting second-century account tells of a man from Iconium who went to meet St.
  Paul. Paul had been described to him as being “a small man in size with meeting
  eyebrows, a rather large nose, bald, bow-legged, but strongly built, full of grace, who at
  times seemed to have the face of an angel” (from The Acts of Thekla).
14:2   Unbelieving could also be translated “disobedient.” It is from the common Greek
  verb apeitheo, meaning “to disobey.”
14:4   See Mt 10:34–36.
14:5   The inner resistance to repentance is so strong that many would rather deny the
  wonders of God (v. 3) and destroy His messengers than look inward and change.
14:11-13 This unfitting praise by the people was “a contrivance of the devil” (JohnChr),
  an attempt to lead the people to a new idolatry and to tempt Paul and Barnabas to pride.
14:15-17 While Paul preached Christ to the Jews using the OT (13:17–41), here he presents
  the Lord to these Gentiles from the perspective of creation (see also 17:22–26). In this
  way, he uses a starting point most accessible to his hearers.
14:18-19 The people's immediate change from worshipping these apostles to persecuting
  them shows a mob mentality, and that a faith based solely on the miraculous (vv. 8–11) is
  fickle, weak, and easily shattered.
14:20-21   Leaving town in the face of persecution shows wisdom, not lack of faith (Mt
  10:23). The short reference to Derbe does not imply a short stay, for many disciples
  were made before these apostles departed again.
14:22   Part of the apostolic calling is making new disciples, while an equally important part
  is strengthening those who already believe. It would be an empty gesture for the Church
  to convert someone and then leave him to struggle on his own. Instead, the believers'
  souls must be guarded and continually nurtured.
14:23   Elders are presbyters (priests) ordained by the apostles to nurture and lead the
  churches they established (see note for v. 22). The word translated appointed (Gr.
  cheirotoneo) means “to ordain by the laying on of hands.”
15:1   See 11:2; Gal 2:12.
15:2     This brewing dispute concerning the relationship between the OT Law and
  Christianity (v. 1) came to a head and had to be settled before it divided the Church
  completely. The Church has never been free from disputes and dissensions, but
  nevertheless has maintained a way to resolve them: in council. The meeting of bishops in
  council, with the participation of elders (presbyters) and knowledgeable laymen,
  continues to guide the Church to this day.
15:6-29     This is the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem, about AD 49, a precedent of
  tremendous importance for the government of the Church. The Orthodox Church is
  sometimes known as “the Church of the Councils,” for it continues the practice of solving
  disputes and coming to a consensus through councils. This council progresses through
  the stages of assembly (v. 6), testimony (vv. 7–12), decision (vv. 13–21), and adoption (vv.
  22–29).
15:7-12   Peter gives his testimony after much dispute (v. 7); he stresses how God has
  worked among the Gentiles, and then Paul and Barnabas do the same. The emphasis of
  all three apostles is that God has already shown them the answer and He must not be
  opposed.
15:13-21   Note that even though Peter is present, James, being bishop of Jerusalem,
  presides at this council (see note at 12:17). He interprets the testimony in light of the
  Scriptures and finds that Simon Peter's testimony is in agreement with the OT prophets
  (v. 15). Thus, James makes his decision by recognizing the consensus of the apostles in
  light of the Holy Scriptures. When James declares, I judge (v. 19), he does not mean “I
  think” or “In my opinion”; rather, he is making the final decision. Nevertheless, this
  verdict is not merely his own opinion, but a summary of the testimony of the council.
    The four prohibited acts (v. 20) reflect both qualities of Christian behavior and minimal
  requirements of the OT Law. Some interpreters understand blood to mean eating blood
  (Lv 17:14); others, such as St. John Chrysostom, understand this to mean murder, the
  shedding of blood.
15:22-29 While James makes the definitive decision, it is not valid until it is adopted by
  not only the council, but the whole church. This apostolic letter is an early form of
  church canon.
15:28   It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us does not indicate an equality
  between God and man. Rather, it emphasizes the unity between God and the Church and
  the way in which the Holy Spirit works in and through holy councils. The Church strives
  to limit canons to only those that are truly essential, in order to lay upon the faithful no
  greater burden than . . . necessary.
15:37-40 The one who had departed: See 13:13. This dispute shows that Christians can
  be plagued with disagreements concerning details and can even separate physically
  without falling from communion with one another. This particular dispute was eventually
  resolved, and John Mark later rejoined Paul (see 2Ti 4:11).
16:1   This Timothy would become one of the chief co-workers of Paul, would be the
  recipient of two of Paul's epistles, and would later follow the apostle John as bishop of
  Ephesus.
16:3     Since Timothy is partly of Jewish heritage, Paul has him circumcised to
  accommodate Jewish sensibilities. In the case of Titus, a Gentile, Paul refuses to do this
  on dogmatic principles, reaffirming that believers do not receive salvation through the
  Law (Gal 2:3).
16:4   Decrees translates the Greek word dogma, which includes not only decrees but
  official teachings. The Church preserves her dogmas, or doctrines, as delivered by the
  apostles, and these essential teachings are never up for negotiation.
16:6, 7 Though no indication is given in the Scriptures why Paul was forbidden by the
  Holy Spirit to preach in these places, St. John Chrysostom likens this to the way a
  hunter will underfeed his dogs before a hunt in order to increase their hunger for the
  prize. Likewise, these people were not yet hungry for the gospel, and thus God delays the
  gospel being preached in their presence until a desire for Him can be cultivated.
16:10   The use of we indicates that Luke (the author of Acts) has joined Paul, Silas, and
  Timothy in Troas. This is the first of several uses of we in Acts, indicating that Luke was
  an eyewitness to many of the events he recorded.
16:13   The place for prayer was usually a synagogue, though in Philippi there were few
  Jews. Thus, this may have been a private home or gathering place by the riverside for
  lack of an actual synagogue.
16:14   Paul is the church planter par excellence, and his work remains the model for
  building churches. He starts with people already attuned to God and expounds for them
  the fullness of the gospel message (see note at 8:35). Lydia, the first convert in Europe,
  was a well-to-do businesswoman with a large home sufficient to host the Christian
  missionaries.
16:16-18   Exorcisms in the name of Christ are part of apostolic ministry. Notably, every
  baptismal service in the Orthodox Church begins with an exorcism to expel Satan from
  having any further influence over the new believer. Though the demon declared the truth
  through this slave girl, nevertheless, she needed to be free to accept Christ on her own,
  and Paul could not endure to see her tormented any longer. Furthermore, impure praise
  from God's enemies is not acceptable (WSir 15:9; see note at Lk 4:41).
16:20   Paul's accusers here care little for religion, but they use religious prejudice against
  the Jews to retaliate for their financial loss.
16:25   Being persecuted unjustly for Christ leads Paul and Silas to joy rather than sorrow
  (Lk 6:22, 23). Their praying and singing hymns prepares the other prisoners for
  conversion later than night.
16:27   Was about to kill himself: A jailer who let prisoners escape would be subject to
  cruel torture and execution.
16:30   The jailer's question, “what must I do to be saved?” implies he has already heard
  his prisoners proclaiming “the way of salvation” (v. 17) and their praying and singing (v.
  25). The miraculous earthquake (v. 26) and Paul's concern for the jailer's life (v. 28)
  strengthen his faith and lead to his conversion.
16:33   All his family would include not only his wife and children, but any servants as
  well (see note at v. 15).
16:37    Note that Paul does not appeal to his Roman citizenship in order to escape
  punishment for Christ, which he could easily have done. Rather, he uses his citizenship to
  have additional opportunities to proclaim the gospel (see also 22:22–30).
17:1    The largest and most important city in Macedonia, Thessalonica was very
  cosmopolitan, possessing an excellent harbor and superior commerce. With the flow of
  goods, communication, and people to and from the city, word of what was happening
  there spread quickly, and the church there became highly influential (1Th 1:8).
17:2-3   Reasoned (Gr. dialegomai) does not mean engaging in rational debate, for the
  proclamation of the gospel is not about winning intellectual arguments. Rather, this term
  indicates speaking or conversing about truths, ideas, or things that have been witnessed
  (note how this term is used in 20:9). The English word “dialogue” comes from the same
  root. The Scriptures are the OT writings (see notes at 8:35; 13:17–41).
17:4   Devout as used here is a synonym of “God-fearing.” It was used to designate a
  Gentile who followed the precepts of the Jewish religion, but had not yet become a
  proselyte or full convert (see 10:2).
17:7     The trumped-up charge that Christians claimed another king—Jesus is
  reminiscent of the charges brought against Jesus of being a political king. Instead, Paul
  was proclaiming the Kingdom of God, with Jesus as King (see 14:22; 19:28; 20:5).
17:9   Security: A deposit of money held as a bond to encourage Jason to uphold public
  peace in the future.
17:13   Though unwilling to search the Scriptures to see if Paul's message is true, as the
  Jews in Berea did (v. 11), the Jews from Thessalonica were willing to travel the 60
  miles to Berea to stir up the crowds against Paul.
17:14   Brethren: The new Christians.
17:17   In freethinking Athens, Paul moves beyond the synagogue and makes open
  contact with Gentiles in the marketplace.
17:18   Both the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers believed that fulfillment could be
  achieved in this life through emotional calm and impassivity. However, they pursued this
  aim differently. The Epicureans pursued pleasure, while the Stoics renounced it.
17:22-31 Paul consistently preaches Christ from a starting point familiar to his hearers. To
  the Jews, he preaches from the OT (vv. 2, 3). To these Gentiles, he uses one of their own
  altars to proclaim Christ (v. 23) and emphasizes: (1) God is Creator of all; (2) God is the
  giver of life; (3) God desires all people to seek Him; (4) repentance is a way toward God;
  (5) God is Judge of all; and (6) God raised Jesus from the dead. (See also note at 14:15–
  17.)
17:32   The resurrection of the dead is the point at which some Gentile philosophers
  react negatively, while the other aspects of Paul's speech go unchallenged (see previous
  note). This rejection is due to the Platonic view that the body was a prison for the soul
  and unworthy of salvation.
18:6   Shaking out his garments was a sign of God's judgment. Quoting the OT (2Kg 1:16;
  Ezk 18:13), Paul declares the fulfillment of his responsibility and these Jews' own
  accountability for their rejection of the gospel message.
18:12   Gallio was governor of Corinth and Achaia in AD 51–52, which firmly dates Paul's
  first visit to Corinth.
18:18   The vow Paul makes is likely a form of the Nazirite vow (Nm 6:1–21) given in
  thanksgiving for deliverance from danger.
18:21    God willing underscores Paul's constant reliance on God and the continual
  submission of his own plans to God's (see Jam 4:13–17). The coming feast was either
  Passover, which became the Christian celebration of Christ's Resurrection, or Pentecost,
  which became the celebration of the descent of the Holy Spirit (see 20:16). Note there
  was already a budding liturgical “calendar” among the apostles, revealing their deep
  desire to gather in remembrance of the great Christian feasts.
18:24-28 Two outstanding qualities characterize Apollos: (1) He is fervent in spirit, and
  (2) he is humble. A fervent person can be useful to God even if he is not yet well taught.
  Apollos apparently was not yet in the Church, but still spoke boldly in the synagogue
  (v. 26). His humility is shown in that he submits to correction by two tentmakers, one of
  whom was a woman—offensive to most educated men in his culture. Aquila and
  Pricilla displayed great decency and wisdom: they did not correct Apollos publicly, but
  rather took him aside privately.
19:1   Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor, a large, magnificent
  city. Paul remained there for at least two years and three months (vv. 8–10). Because of
  this city's influence, churches were formed in almost every neighboring city and town
  within those three years. The seven churches in Revelation 2; 3 are all in this area.
19:2-4   Repentance (v. 4) is good, but apart from Christ Jesus, it does not secure
  salvation. Repentance is enough to stay people from sin, but it cannot restore us from
  corruption. Only the Incarnation of the Son of God has the power to overthrow both sin
  and its subsequent corruption (AthanG). Thus, a person needs to be joined to Christ in
  baptism and the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit.
19:8-10     On the term reasoning as it occurs in vv. 8, 9, see note at 17:2, 3. Again Paul
  follows the pattern of first preaching to the Jews and then moving to the Gentiles (see
  13:45).
19:11-19    The miracles performed here follow those performed by Christ and show that
  Christ lives and works through His followers. Of particular significance is the way
  physical objects (handkerchiefs and aprons, v. 12) become instruments of grace when
  touched by people of great faith. That God works wonders both through His saints and
  through created objects shows that creation itself is being renewed. (For other examples
  of objects bestowing grace, see 5:15; Nm 21:8, 9; 4Kg 13:20, 21; Mk 6:12, 13; Lk 8:41–48;
  Jn 9:6, 7.)
19:26    Being dynamic and vital, the Church has an impact on every culture in which it
  exists, bringing both conversion and opposition. Note that Paul, a man without wealth or
  political status, influenced almost all Asia by his simple proclamation of the gospel. St.
  John Chrysostom emphasizes that this fact alone demonstrates God's hand was upon
  him.
19:27   The temple of . . . Diana (Gr. Artemis), goddess of the hunt, was one of seven
  wonders of the ancient world because of its size and exquisite beauty. In the center of the
  temple was a statue of Diana, which the people there believed Zeus had sent down from
  heaven (see v. 35).
19:29    Gaius, from Asia Minor (20:4) is perhaps the same person mentioned in Rom
  16:23 and 1Co 1:14. Aristarchus is a Thessalonian (20:4; Col 4:10).
19:33-34   Alexander, who was a Jew, attempted to prevent the Jews from associating
  with the Christians and to turn the anger of the crowds against them.
19:37   Apostolic preaching does not blaspheme other people's gods. Instead, as simply as
  possible, it presents the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
20:4   Paul never took missionary journeys alone, but always a team accompanied him
  and together they raised up local leaders.
20:7-12   The first day of the week was Sunday, the Lord's Day of Resurrection, the
  Church's customary day to celebrate the Eucharist. Worship on the Sabbath ceased with
  the passing of the old covenant. To break bread means to celebrate the eucharistic
  Liturgy. While teaching and preaching are vital, the weekly Eucharist is always the
  culmination of the Lord's Day assembly.
    Note the unified order of liturgical worship here. After gathering on the Lord's Day, the
  first part of the Liturgy focuses on the proclamation of the word, with Paul giving his
  lengthy sermon (v. 7). The second part of the Liturgy consists of breaking the bread, or
  Holy Communion (v. 11), followed by the agape feast, or community meal and fellowship.
  This pattern of liturgical worship continues in the Church to this day.
20:9   St. John Chrysostom upholds Eutychus as an example for young believers. While
  some young people stay up into the night for the purposes of entertainment,
  drunkenness, or immorality, this young man tried to remain awake in order to hear
  Paul preach the gospel.
20:10 See 4Kg 4:34.
20:16   That Paul desired to be with the other apostles in Jerusalem for Pentecost shows
  that a liturgical calendar based on sacred days was already being kept in the early Church.
  In that tradition, the Orthodox Church to this day keeps a calendar of special feasts, fasts,
  and celebrations (see 18:21 and note).
20:17-38    From this meeting, we learn: (1) the Church in Ephesus is living and growing;
  (2) it has already developed a permanent pattern of sacramental leadership in the elders
  (lit. “presbyters”; v. 17) and the overseers (lit. “bishops,” v. 28); and (3) the threat of
  false teachers and heresies arising both within and without the Church is already present
  (vv. 29, 30).
20:19   Paul reminds his hearers of the tears and trials he faced in Ephesus in order to
  strengthen them for what is to come. Paul's persecutions in Ephesus (Asia Minor) were
  among the worst he faced (1Co 15:32; 2Co 1:8).
20:26   Innocent of the blood does not mean that Paul has no responsibility to others.
  Rather, it means he has fulfilled his responsibility with regard to preaching the gospel,
  and their rejection of Jesus Christ is their own. (See 18:6 and note; see also note for v. 28
  below.)
20:28   Blood in biblical language signifies life. Christ shed His own blood on the Cross to
  redeem His people and establish His Church.
20:29-32 Because trials come from both outside (v. 29) and inside (v. 30) the Church, the
  only protection is with God Himself (v. 32). It is in God and not in man that the Church is
  sustained and thrives.
20:33-35 While St. Paul teaches the clergy should be supported materially by the faithful
  (1Co 9:1–23), he has not required this for himself from the communities he established.
  This allowed Paul to preach all the more freely and took away any opportunity for others
  to question his motives (compare with Neh 5:14–19; 13:10–13). The quotation from
  Christ (v. 35) is not recorded in the four Gospels (see Jn 21:25).
21:9   Prophecy is the gift of the Holy Spirit to speak the will of God authoritatively. This
  gift is given to both men and women (see 1Co 11:4, 5), and many holy women were
  prophets, including Miriam (Ex 15:20, 21), Deborah (Jdg 4:4), Huldah (4Kg 22:14),
  Isaiah's wife (Is 8:3), the Virgin Mary (Lk 1:46–55), and Anna (Lk 2:36–38).
21:10-11 This same Agabus is mentioned in 11:28. Here he prophesies in the style of the
  OT prophets, using an ordinary object to illustrate his message (see Is 20:2; Jer 13:1).
21:17-25 Paul meets with James, the bishop of Jerusalem, who reports that many Jews
  have set themselves against Paul. While neither Jews nor Gentiles find salvation through
  the Law, James encourages Paul to demonstrate his compliance with the Law in order to
  gain the trust of the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem.
21:25   See 15:1–29 and notes.
21:28   For a Gentile to enter prohibited precincts of the temple area was a serious offense
  punishable by death.
21:31   Since Jerusalem is under Roman occupation, disturbances like this were held in
  check here by the Roman commander.
21:36   Away with him was the same cry shouted against Jesus at His trial (Jn 19:15).
21:38   The Egyptian, according to Josephus the historian, claimed to be a prophet and
  led a group of 30,000 to the Mount of Olives, telling them the walls of the city would fall
  at his word. Felix, the Roman governor, attacked the rebels and killed thousands of them,
  but this false prophet and some of his followers fled into the wilderness.
22:1   Brethren and fathers is a respectful form of address (7:2), showing that Paul treats
  even his enemies with courtesy.
22:3-21   Again, Paul begins at a point with which his listeners would be familiar, first
  identifying with his hearers before trying to bring them to a new understanding (see note
  at 14:15–17). Paul is careful to mention his relationship with important Jews (Gamaliel,
  v. 3; Ananias, v. 12) both to calm and to identify with this crowd at the temple.
22:16   In apostolic understanding, being baptized is directly equated with the cleansing of
  sins (see notes at 8:36–39; 10:48).
22:17 Trance means a religious ecstasy or a direct vision of God's divine energy.
22:21-22    In spite of Paul's attempts to moderate the wrath of these Jews, the mere
  mention of Gentiles sets them off against him, demanding his death.
22:24-29    Scourging was a form of punishment in which prisoners were bound in a
  stooping position with their hands tied behind their backs, and whipped with leather
  lashes that had bits of bone or metal in them. This punishment could be inflicted on non-
  citizens either to extract a confession or as a penalty for a crime. For Roman citizens, it
  could only be used if the person had been found guilty of a crime.
22:30    God often works through secular leaders (see 23:23). Here, the civil authority
  wants to interrogate Paul more thoroughly, which allows Paul all the more opportunity to
  proclaim faith in the Resurrection.
23:1   This council is the Jewish Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish governing body.
23:2   Ananias was high priest during AD 47–59. He was a hard and violent man who
  was later assassinated by his own people at the start of the Jewish war against the
  Romans (AD 70). Paul has thus far said nothing offensive to the Jews, and St. John
  Chrysostom calls the order to strike Paul “shameless” and without cause.
23:3-5 Paul accuses Ananias of the ultimate hypocrisy: violating the Law while posing as
  one who judges according to the Law. Paul nevertheless shows great respect for the holy
  office of the high priest even though the officeholder himself was contemptible.
23:6    Knowing that his interrogators will not hear him impartially, Paul intentionally
  divides the council against itself by bringing up the heart of the Christian faith: the
  resurrection of the dead.
23:8    The Pharisees confess both: Why is the word both used when three things are
  mentioned? According to St. John Chrysostom, angel and spirit refer to one entity or
  concept. Thus both refers to belief in the resurrection and belief in a realm of angels or
  spirits.
23:11   Paul receives comfort from the Lord in the face of the impending plot on his life
  (vv. 12–16), and a prophecy of both his preaching and his subsequent death at Rome. For
  the word witness can also refer to martyrdom.
23:23   God often works through secular leaders (see also 22:30). Here the commander (v.
  19) protects Paul from assassination, which allows God's plan to unfold for Paul to preach
  in Rome (v. 11). The third hour of the night is 9:00 p.m.
23:24   Felix was the Roman governor from AD 52–59.
23:31    Antipatris was a town halfway between Jerusalem and Caesarea which had a
  military outpost.
23:35   Herod's Praetorium was a palace and fortress built decades earlier by Herod the
  Great. It was later taken over by the Roman governors as their official residence.
24:1   The presence of the high priest indicates the vigor with which the Jewish leaders
  sought Paul's destruction.
24:5   Since Paul has broken no Roman law, Tertullus the prosecutor tries to present Paul
  as a social agitator who could stir up trouble at any time. Roman authorities were very
  particular about keeping peace and order.
24:11   Twelve days: Part of Paul's defense is that he had not been in Jerusalem long
  enough to gather people and start a riot.
24:14   Paul again affirms the unity between Christianity (the Way) and God's promises in
  the OT (see 8:35; 13:17–41).
24:17   This is the only time Paul reveals that bringing alms was the main reason he came
  to Jerusalem, showing that charity is to be performed without drawing attention to
  oneself (Mt 6:1–4; see also Rom 15:25–28; 1Co 16:1–4; Gal 2:10).
25:3-4 Though Paul has now been in prison for two years (24:27), his Jewish opponents
  are still determined to kill him. Festus denies their request for a trial in Jerusalem, not
  so much to protect Paul as to underscore his own authority by having the trial at his
  headquarters in Caesarea.
25:7 Compare Mk 14:56, 59.
25:11     Perceiving that Festus might yield to the Jewish authorities, Paul appeals to
  Ceasar. It was the right of Roman citizens to be tried before the imperial tribunal in
  Rome. This course of events allows the Lord's prophecy that Paul would preach in Rome
  to be fulfilled (23:11).
25:13   King Agrippa is Herod Agrippa II, ruler of Galilee. He is the son of Herod Agrippa
  I (12:1–23), who beheaded James and imprisoned Peter, and a grandson of Herod the
  Great (Mt 2:1), who slaughtered the infants in Bethlehem. Bernice is Agrippa's sister.
25:18   As I supposed: Because of the turmoil and the pressure being placed on him by
  the whole Jewish council, Festus assumed that Paul must have committed some
  staggering crimes.
25:23    Again, the course of events allows for a large group of influential people to be
  exposed to the gospel message (see 26:2ff).
25:26-27 Paul's trial here is strikingly unusual in that there are no actual charges against
  him, yet there is already an appeal. As Festus would look incompetent sending a man to
  Caesar on appeal without any charges, this hearing has to be held in order to come up
  with a legal accusation (compare Jn 18:29–35).
26:10-18    This is the third account in Acts of Paul's conversion (see 9:1–8; 22:1–21 and
  notes).
26:25    The Greek word for reason (sophrosune) would be better translated “good
  judgment.”
26:26   This thing was not done in a corner: A proverb meaning something was done
  publicly and was widely known, here a reference to the Resurrection of Christ (v. 23).
26:27   Agrippa was of Jewish blood and familiar with the OT (v. 3). If he believed in the
  OT writings, he would have to take Paul's proclamation seriously.
26:32   Though not legally necessary at this point, Paul's appeal serves the advancement of
  the gospel in two ways: (1) it protects him from his enemies, and thus a teacher of the
  gospel is kept alive; and (2) it allows the gospel to be preached in Rome (23:11).
27:3 The term friends here refers to other Christian believers.
27:9    The Fast refers to the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), which falls in late
  September or early October.
27:10   I perceive: Paul gave a personal opinion (rather than a prophecy), in contrast to
  the professional opinion of the helmsman (v. 11), so that the others would listen to him
  later when the ship was being torn up (vv. 21–25). The fact that the voyage did not result
  in the loss of lives does not mean that Paul was wrong; rather, it indicates that if the
  natural order of things had not been superseded, men would have died. Instead, God
  intervenes, and the people are spared (vv. 30–34).
27:16    The skiff: A small boat or dinghy pulled by the ship, which could be used for
  expeditions to land.
27:17 The Syrtis Sands: A sandbank on the north coast of North Africa.
27:18   Lightened the ship means throwing the most expendable cargo overboard to
  compensate for having taken on water in a storm.
27:31   Since Paul's earlier words had proven true (see v. 10 and note), the centurion was
  now inclined to trust Paul, resulting in all the people on board being saved.
27:35   Paul's actions express both the Jewish and Christian practice of giving thanks to
  God before a meal. This expression of thanks in the midst of a terrible storm teaches us
  to be thankful to God even when circumstances appear hopeless. It also helped those on
  the ship to have confidence in Paul and to be more inclined to listen to him. Note the high
  level of trust they placed in Paul, for even though there were so many people (v. 37), they
  threw out the rest of the food based on his words.
27:41-44   According to St. John Chrysostom, the destruction of the ship serves several
  purposes. It shows: (1) the severity of the danger, and thus the power of Paul's prophecy
  (v. 22); (2) that people are ultimately to depend on God rather than earthly things, for
  God saved the men when the ship was unable to; and (3) the importance of having holy
  people dwell among us, for they guide us to safety according to the will of God.
28:1   Malta is a small island south of Sicily.
28:2   Natives is literally “barbarians,” which simply means they were not cultured and did
  not speak Greek.
28:3 The apostle Paul does not cease to be a servant of others.
28:4-6   Though their understanding of God is flawed, these natives are deeply spiritual
  and on some level recognize God as being present everywhere, directing the course of
  human events. According to St. John Chrysostom, they have a far better understanding of
  God than worldly philosophers.
28:8-10   The natural kindness of the residents of Malta (v. 2) increased all the more as
  they saw the works of God being done among them.
28:11   The Twin Brothers of Greek mythology were sons of Zeus and were considered
  protectors of sailors.
28:12   Syracuse was a major seaport in Sicily.
28:13-14   Brethren are Christians. By AD 60, there were numerous churches scattered
  throughout the empire, including one in Puteoli. From this point, Paul's company
  traveled on foot.
28:16-17   The Jews had a strong and well-organized community in Rome. As was his
  custom in every city, Paul spoke first to the Jewish leaders concerning the gospel of
  Jesus Christ (see 13:45).
28:20   The hope of Israel means the resurrection, which Paul has made central in his
  preaching (see 23:6). This chain refers to his imprisonment under house arrest.
28:22     That Christianity was spoken against everywhere shows the tremendous
  influence it had already in Rome. The Jews in Rome were more open to the gospel than
  the Jews in Judea.
28:31   Paul's preaching finishes here where it began: proclaiming(1) the Kingdom of God
  and (2) things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. These two interrelated subjects are
  still the content of the preaching and teaching of the Orthodox Church. No one
  forbidding him: Imprisonment did not stop Paul from bearing witness to Jesus Christ,
  for the gospel cannot be hidden (Mt 5:14). The story of the Acts of the Apostles continues
  through their successors in the Church to this day.
1:1-4 St. Paul is a bondservant, a slave to Jesus Christ. Apostle: one who is sent. The
  gospel of God: the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. This gospel fulfills what God
  promised in the OT (v. 2), which is realized in the Incarnation of the Son of God (v. 3).
  This gospel also reveals the Trinity, for it is from God the Father (v. 1), it concerns His
  Son (v. 3), and it is according to the Spirit (v. 4).
1:3   Jesus Christ is one Person with two natures: human and divine. His divine nature is
  from all eternity and is revealed in that He is both God's Son and the Lord. His human
  nature is revealed in His being born of the seed of David according to the flesh: He
  was conceived and born of the Virgin Mary while never ceasing to be God.
1:4   Christ's resurrection did not make Him the Son of God, but rather declared Him
  to be so. The truth of His divinity, which had been veiled from the world, is revealed fully
  in His Passion and Resurrection.
1:5   Obedience to the faith can mean either acceptance of the gospel of Christ itself, or
  the virtue of obedience practiced by those who believe in His name.
1:6   New believers are called by the Church to a life of faith. It is not up to us to create the
  Church, for the Church existed before us. Rather, we are called to enter the living historic
  Church of Jesus Christ as she exists today.
1:8-12 St. Paul shows a pastoral concern for the Roman Christians even though he was not
  the founder of the church at Rome. He thanks God for them (v. 8), prays always for
  them daily (v. 9), and longs to see them (v. 11).
1:11   Paul had not yet visited Rome when he wrote this letter. This epistle contains the core
  of apostolic doctrine essential for the foundation of a local community. For this reason,
  the Church reads Romans immediately following Pentecost, the season in which we
  celebrate the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the world.
1:13   Paul was hindered in coming to Rome because of his missionary work among the
  other Gentiles. Though Paul's personal desire was to go to Rome, he submitted to God's
  will by first accomplishing what God had planned for him in these other places.
1:14   Barbarians are literally “alien people,” here those not culturally Greeks (see Acts
  28:2).
1:16   St. Paul is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, thus setting an example for all
  believers (see Lk 9:26).
1:17 The righteousness of God is to be in a continuous state of communion with Him.
  This state of being right with God originates with God and is accepted by mankind in
  faith. From faith to faith: We first receive Jesus Christ by faith and then live in Him by
  that faith.
    “The just shall live by faith” is one of the passages of the OT (Hab 2:4) most quoted
  in the NT. It shows the harmony between both testaments and summarizes the theme of
  Romans: faith is a way of life. The righteous (just means “righteous”) are those who not
  only believe, but live righteously in accordance with their faith.
1:18   The wrath of God is His righteous and holy judgment. It is not a loss of temper or
  self-control, but the revelation of His divine truth, love, and power confronting those who
  reject Him (see Mt 25:41–46; 2Th 1:6–10; 2:8).
1:20   All humanity can recognize “natural revelation,” that is, God's energy or power and
  His transcendence (Godhead), by simply observing the glories of creation. Thus, the
  rejection of God cannot be excused by the claim of ignorance, for even “the heavens
  declare the glory of God; / The firmament shows the creation of His hands” (Ps 18:2).
1:21   Humanity by nature worships. Some seek to worship the Creator, while others
  worship the creation. A brief definition of being fully human is giving glory and thanks to
  the true God. Those who refuse to worship Him become darkened in their hearts.
1:26-27   Homosexual behavior, men with men, is a vile rejection of God's order for
  creation. These passions are against nature and therefore spiritually devastating.
  Error means “delusion.”
1:29-32     While sexual immorality is not the only way man is given over to
  unrighteousness, it is often more destructive than other sins and thus receives specific
  attention here (see 1Co 6:12–20). Those who focus only on sexual sins fail to see that all
  sin separates man from God and leads to destruction. Covetousness is a sinful passion
  directly opposite the virtue of thankfulness—it is being unsatisfied with the blessings
  already received and having an insatiable desire for more. Murder also includes hatred
  towards another (Mt 5:21, 22). Whisperers are people who gossip. Inventors of evil
  things are those who cooperate with the devil to discover new forms of wickedness.
  Those who approve (v. 32) of sins such as homosexual behavior, greed, and rebellion
  against parents are as guilty as those who commit them.
2:1   Not only will the unrighteous experience God's judgment (1:18–32), so also will the
  self-righteous.
2:2-16 See the article, “The Basis of God's Judgment” in this chapter.
2:14-16   A Gentile is counted as a Jew—as one of God's people—when his conscience
  leads him to righteousness the way the law leads a virtuous Jew.
     The law written in their hearts (v. 15) refers to a person's conscience. Because
  man's conscience is God-given, it has the same power to lead a person to God as the law
  does. According to St. John Chrysostom, those who are able to follow their conscience to
  God are more virtuous than those with the law, for they do not have the advantage of
  concrete instructions yet still desire to please God (however, see 3:1, 2).
2:17-24 Many Jews relied on knowing the law for their righteousness, when in fact they
  did not obey it. Knowing the law does not make one a guide to the blind (v. 19); it is
  keeping the spirit and heart of the law that makes one a guide to others.
2:25-27 Circumcision is an outward sign of the law, valuable only when accompanied
  by interior conversion and love for God. Those who are uncircumcised but virtuous will
  judge the circumcised.
2:29   The name Jew comes from “Judah,” which means “the Lord be praised.” A true Jew
  is one who seeks praise . . . not from men but from God. The goal of the legalist is to
  have praise from men; the goal of the spiritual person is to please God.
3:1, 2 While the Gentiles can find God through their conscience (2:14–16, 25–29), they are
  not better off than the Jews. The Jews have the advantage of the oracles of God (that is,
  the Law and the Prophets) to lead them all the more to God. The advantage to the Jew is
  pedagogical; they are taught more thoroughly and more precisely about God.
  Nevertheless, this advantage does not make the Jew any more righteous than the Gentile,
  for all are under sin (vv. 9, 23).
3:4   Let God be true but every man a liar means God remains faithful to His word and
  to His creation, while man is continually unfaithful to God.
3:10-18 These quotations from the OT speak to the questions Paul asks in vv. 1–9.
3:19   Since the law reveals sin, all the world is accountable before God by the very
  presence of the law.
3:20    The law cannot justify a person (that is, bring them into an ongoing state of
  communion with God) because that is not the purpose of the law, nor does it have that
  power. The purpose of the law is to reveal the knowledge of sin—that we have fallen
  from communion with God—in order to turn our hearts to repentance.
3:21-22 The law may be kept by obedience (Lv 18:5) and by faith (Dt 30:14). Obedience
  without faith cannot bring anyone to righteousness. Yet faith, even apart from the
  law, can bring a person to righteousness, because Jesus Christ supersedes the law.
3:23   The ultimate purpose of man's existence is to attain the glory of God. Even if a
  person were to keep the whole law, he would still fall short of that glory, because he
  would still be bound by death. The glory of God is both eternal righteousness and eternal
  life. Jesus Christ alone lived in completed righteousness, and He alone was resurrected
  from the dead. Therefore, He alone is the fullness of the glory of God, and we receive that
  glory in Him (see Jn 14:6).
3:24   Being justified refers to an ongoing state of righteousness and not merely to a one-
  time event. This justification requires a redemption: a sacrificial offering capable of (1)
  setting us free from sin and death, and (2) uniting us eternally with righteousness and
  life. In the OT, this sacrificial offering was prefigured by blood sacrifices—the killing of
  physically perfect animals for the temporal remission of sins (see Heb 9). Under the new
  covenant, Christ is the sacrificial offering that once for all eternally frees us from sin and
  death (Heb 10:14) and by His grace unites us with righteousness and life.
3:25   To propitiate means “to cover” or “to conciliate.” Propitiation refers to the mercy
  seat in the tabernacle where God was enthroned among His people (Ex 25:17–22). Once a
  year, on the Day of Atonement, the blood of the sacrifice was liturgically sprinkled on the
  mercy seat in the holy of holies. This prefigured the covering of our sins and our
  reconciliation to God that was to come in Jesus Christ. Heaven holds the true mercy seat
  (Heb 9:23–26; 10:19–22), and Christ's blood was taken to heaven through His Passion,
  Resurrection, and Ascension, thus reconciling us to God once and for all.
3:26     Ongoing faith in Jesus is the way mankind receives God's righteousness.
  Justification (being made righteous) by faith is not a one-time “not guilty” verdict, as
  some may teach. Rather, it is Christ living in us, and we in Him (Gal 2:20). Thus, to be
  justified is to be in communion with Jesus Christ in an ongoing, dynamic, and growing
  life with Him. The relationship between God and His people is one of Shepherd to sheep,
  Master to servant, and Father to an adopted child.
3:27-31   The law teaches us that: (1) Attaining righteousness through works alone is
  impossible (v. 27). (2) Righteousness is attained by faith and is a gift from God (vv. 27,
  28). (3) God is impartial—Jews and Gentiles are justified on the same basis of ongoing
  faith in Jesus Christ (vv. 29, 30). There is “no difference” (JohnChr) between the terms
  by faith and through faith (v. 30). (4) By teaching justification by faith in Christ,
  Christians establish (or uphold) the law (v. 31), because Christ Himself fulfills the law
  (Mt 5:17).
4:1-5 Even Abraham experienced righteousness in the sight of God through faith, and
  this completely apart from works of the law, for the law had not yet been given. If this
  holds true for the Jews' founding father, it is true for all Jews. Because Abraham
  responded in faith to God's promise (Gn 15), he was accounted righteous, or justified
  (see note at 3:24). Only through faith in God can the ungodly be justified (v. 5).
4:6-8   Faith not only predated the law, it remained active during the time of the law. As
  revealed in Ps 31, David discovered what Abraham had known: being forgiven comes by
  God's mercy through repentance, faith, and humility, not by works of the law.
4:11-12 Because Abraham was circumcised as a sign of God's covenant, he is father to all
  Jews. Yet Abraham was living by faith when he was 75, but was not circumcised until he
  was 99 (Gn 12:4; 17:24). During this time of being uncircumcised, he was still righteous
  before God by faith; thus he is also the father of uncircumcised believers, the
  Gentiles. Imputed (v. 11) means “reckoned” or “rendered.” This term does not refer to a
  mere legal standing, but indicates that God's righteousness is actually given to mankind
  by grace. This righteousness transforms the whole person, internally and externally.
  Those who say God's righteousness is merely an external declaration or fiat that does not
  really become ours experientially miss the point and fall short of the truth. God's
  righteousness is a gift that indeed becomes our own, leading us to godliness (see article,
  “Deification” at 2 Peter).
4:13-18   Righteousness does not come through genetic or ethnic ancestry. Though the
  law requires one to become a Jew, this law only brings about wrath (v. 15). Why? Its
  purpose is not to save, but to make man aware of his sin or transgressions. True
  righteousness is based on God's promise (v. 14) and is received by faith. The righteous
  are those who receive God's promise in faith and not those of the law (v. 14), that is,
  those who are merely physical offspring of Abraham. The true descendants of
  Abraham are the believers, for he is the father of all who believe, whether Jew or Gentile.
4:25   Jesus died for the forgiveness of our offenses. If He had been a sinner, the law
  would have condemned Him as it did everyone else. But He is and has perfect love, and
  He is without sin. Thus, He perfectly fulfilled both the letter and the heart of the law, and
  the offering of Himself on the Cross is our justification (see note at 3:24).
5:1   Faith in Christ makes us justified, an ongoing state of communion with Him (see
  note at 3:24). Because of this ongoing communion, we have peace with God which is
  also ongoing. The Greek word pistis, here translated as faith, can also be rendered
  “faithfulness.” Faith is more than the conviction that something is true (Jam 2:19).
  Genuine faithfulness is continuous loyalty and obedience to God. Such faithfulness
  justifies a person through God's grace.
5:5   Christians ask, “How can I experience the love of God and pass it on to others?” St.
  Paul offers the answer here.
5:6   The ungodly are all of us. Because of sin, everyone stands in alienation from God,
  and we do not have the capacity to become righteous on our own. Because of God's love,
  Christ died for our sins to bring us the gift of righteousness.
5:10    Those who accept and appropriate Christ's love are reconciled to God, being
  restored to peace and communion with Him. God has not ceased to be our Friend, for He
  is unchangeable. We are the ones who have changed and thus need changing. So while we
  were still rebellious enemies of God, God was working in His love to restore us.
5:12   For Adam and Eve, sin came first, and this led to death. This death then spread to
  all men. The rest of humanity inherits death, and then in our mortal state, we all sin.
  Thus, all mankind suffers the consequences of Adam's “original sin.” However, the
  Orthodox Church rejects any teaching that would assign guilt to all mankind for Adam's
  sin. We indeed suffer the consequences of others' sins, but we carry guilt only for our
  own sins.
5:13   Until the law came, sin worked freely in the world. From Adam to Moses, people
  suffered from mortality and committed all manner of sin. They were accountable to God
  for their sin under natural law (1:18–21; 2:14–16). But without the written law, the
  seriousness of their sin often remained clouded. God gave the law to Moses to expose the
  magnitude of man's sin (see note at 4:13–18).
5:14   After Adam, our sin could not be said to be in the likeness of his sin, because only
  Adam's sin brought mortality to our race. Yet the law of sin and death reigned because
  man overwhelmingly continued to sin in rebellion against God. However, among both
  Jews and Gentiles, some kept the law of nature and the law of Moses on the basis of
  inner faith. Yet these still suffered the death that reigned over humanity. Adam is a type,
  a prefiguring or a foreshadowing of Christ as the head of humanity. As the first man,
  Adam caused death to reign in the human race. As the new and perfect Man, Christ brings
  eternal life to humanity.
5:15-17 Just as immortality is far superior to mortality, so also the grace of Christ exceeds
  the death we inherited from Adam. For by grace, not only is Adam's sin covered, but the
  sins of the whole world are covered as well. In other words, justification in Christ far
  exceeds condemnation through Adam (v. 16). As we all inherited Adam's mortality (v.
  15), we shall all inherit Christ's immortality. This saving gift (v. 15) must be received
  through faith. Though all will be raised, some will be raised to eternal life while others
  will be raised to eternal judgment (Jn 5:28, 29).
5:19     Many were made sinners refers to man's subjection to mortality and becoming
  prone to sin. It does not mean that man inherits the guilt of Adam's sin, nor does it mean
  that our sinning is completely inevitable. However, the first thing damaged in Adam's
  nature was his will, and in our corrupted state, this weakened will is prone to falling into
  sin.
       Christ has two wills, one human and one divine. His human will is totally and willingly
  subject to the divine will. Through Christ's obedience, healing is brought to man's human
  will. Therefore, many are made righteous and are able by grace to participate in God's
  righteousness. Indeed, many saints become so filled with grace that they pass extensive
  periods of time without sinning, for they allow the healing power of Christ to fill their
  human will.
5:20 The law was given as a temporary measure on God's part to reveal sin and to lead us
  to repentance and faith (Gal 3:23–25). Instead of decreasing under the law, sin
  abounded even more. This increase of sin amplifies our awareness of our fallen state
  and serves as an impetus to “bring us to Christ” (Gal 3:24).
6:1-14 Opponents of St. Paul twisted his summary of God's past dealings with humanity,
  and instead applied it to individuals. They accused him of saying, “Sin increases grace, so
  let us increase sin!” (3:8 paraphrased). This argument misses the fact that a person must
  be allied with one side or the other. If one is willfully living in sin, he cannot experience
  union with God. Even if grace is increasing, he is destroying himself, and for that he is
  responsible. Increase of grace honors God when its power leads us to become dead to sin.
6:2   To have died to sin does not mean our human nature has died. Rather, it means we
  are no longer held captive by it. We are to be immovable towards sin as something dead
  would be.
6:3-4 Freedom from sin is grounded in the sacrament of holy baptism. Ignorance of what
  happens when we are baptized is a great enemy. Through this ignorance, many are
  defeated in their battle against sin. What Christ accomplished on the Cross—an actual
  death to sin—baptism accomplishes in us: an actual death to sin and our liberation from
  its power. Because our baptism into Christ gives us power over sin, it is an exact
  likeness of His death. Baptism does not merely “stand for” this truth, but is itself our
  death to sin.
6:5   United together with Christ refers to being planted and growing together in Him,
  clearly implying the expectation of fruit. In the likeness of His death means baptism
  causes a real unity with Christ's death. We also shall be in the likeness of His
  resurrection is literally translated, “we shall be of the resurrection,” referring both to
  the new life of baptism in this world and to eternal life in the age to come.
6:6   Knowing this refers to our understanding that baptism is a reality, not merely an
  outward symbol. Old man does not refer to human nature as such, but to the power of
  sin in fallen man that once held sway over us. The body of sin is not the human body,
  but all iniquity. “Just as he calls the whole sum of wickedness ‘old man,’ again the
  wickedness which is made of the different parts of iniquity he calls ‘the body’” (JohnChr).
  Thus, it is sin itself that is crucified with Him, and not some kind of “sinful nature,” for
  sin is what we do, not what we are.
6:7 A physical body, once it is dead, makes no response to its environment. So we who died
  with Christ in baptism must not respond to the promptings of sin, for we are freed from
  sin.
6:8   When bondage to sin has died, it must be replaced with something else. For those
  who are baptized, the replacement is Christ's resurrected life. We shall also live with
  Him means both a righteous life on earth after baptism and eternal life in the Kingdom
  to come.
6:10   Christ was never under the control of death or sin, yet He chose voluntarily to die to
  sin for our sake. In Christ, we too can voluntarily die to sin through baptism. As Christ's
  death is once for all, so also for us there is never a second baptism. Constant repentance
  renews our baptism as we grow in our relationship with God.
6:11   A shift in emphasis comes here, from what Christ has done for us (vv. 1–10) to our
  response to Him (vv. 11–14). Reckon is an action verb, relating to faith: we lay hold of
  our union with Christ and thereby lay hold of every virtue.
6:12      The command to not let sin reign proves that sin's power over man is not absolute.
  Rather, it is something we allow by our free will. Man's will was the first aspect of human
  nature damaged through sin, and therefore it is the first thing Christ heals. His healing
  allows us to make true choices against sin. While sin continues to plague humanity, those
  who are baptized into Christ have the power to overcome sin through their union with
  Him. Lusts refers to all the passions of the flesh and spirit that make demands on the
  will. In Christ, a person can resist and defeat these lusts through righteous exercise of the
  will.
6:13       Instruments (lit. “weapons of war”) are in this case various aspects of human
  nature, especially the body. Though God created our members good, we may use them to
  serve either of two rulers, sin or God. For those who live out their baptism, the choice is
  clear.
6:15    Having completed his references to baptism, Paul initiates another discussion:
  Christians are no longer to sin as those who sinned during the period of the law. Those
  under law did not have the power of baptism. The law exhorted people to battle sin; the
  grace of baptism gives people the power to battle sin and win.
6:16   Though we choose our master freely, we are always a slave to someone or something.
  Only obedience to God leads us to righteousness, making us heirs of salvation rather
  than slaves of sin (8:14–17).
6:17   Baptism frees us from being slaves of sin if we continue in obedience to God. The
  form of doctrine refers to the apostolic teachings of the Church (see 2Ti 1:13).
6:19   Human terms are the images of slavery by which Paul expresses the fallen human
  condition, for God does not want us as slaves but as children (see 8:14–17). If previously
  we served sin so well, certainly we are now empowered to serve righteousness even
  more effectively.
6:21   While one is enslaved to sin, one does not know enough even to be ashamed of it.
  But having received the gospel, one realizes how shameful the life of sin is and can clearly
  see its end: death.
6:22   Slavery to God, initiated by baptism, is actually freedom (see note at v. 19). Only this
  freedom can bear the fruit of holiness and everlasting life.
6:23   Wages are something earned; thus death is earned by man through his sins. Eternal
  life is never earned, but is a gift. No human actions, no matter how good or noble they
  may seem, can earn eternal life, for it is only through the grace and love of God that life
  everlasting is given to us.
7:1-4   Paul has affirmed that justification, our ongoing communion with God, comes by
  faith in Christ and not by following the works of the law. These verses use examples
  from the law to prove our ultimate need to be free from the law. Under the Law of
  Moses, only death releases a person from marriage (v. 2), while divorce does not (v. 3).
  Likewise, Christ's death brings about our death to the law so that we can be married to
  another, that is, to Christ (v. 4).
7:5-6   Flesh here refers to unredeemed man under the power of sin and death. In this
  condition, sinful passions are awakened when man faces the demands of the law (see
  vv. 7–10). Aroused by is more properly translated “aroused through.” The law merely
  brings to light our bondage to sin; it does not cause us to sin.
    Christian believers, on the other hand, live in a new mode of existence by the power of
  the Holy Spirit. As we have been liberated from the ways of the flesh, in our marriage to
  Christ (v. 4) we bear fruit to God. Letter (v. 6) refers to the Mosaic Law.
7:7-12 The law was intended to reveal the depth of humanity's sin so that we would turn
  to Christ in repentance and faith. The law also had the effect of increasing rebellion and
  sin in many people. This is not because the law itself is bad, but because unredeemed
  humanity craves to do what is forbidden.
7:13-17   The passions driving us to sin get even stronger when we fight against them on
  our own, and the clarity of right and wrong found in the law increases the passions all
  the more. Only Christ's healing power can save us in this battle.
7:17 Man is not sinful by nature. The Orthodox Church rejects any teaching that man has a
  “sin nature” or that man's nature is depraved to the core. This passage clearly shows that
  sin is something distinct from our nature. Because we are created in the image of God
  (Gn 1:26), there is an indelible goodness in our nature that can never be undone. While
  we can become immersed in sin, we know that it is still not part of our nature, but a
  foreign force that dwells in us. Thus, sin is what we do, not what we are. See also v. 20.
7:18-23 Paul clarifies the distinction between the will of the soul and the will of the flesh.
  Because the soul is reborn in baptism, it can strive to follow the law of God (v. 22). Yet
  our flesh remains corrupt in this world, and it often fights against our will to do good.
7:24   This question is answered in 8:1–4. The term body of death refers to our corrupted
  state in this world; it does not imply that the body is evil, for the body is good. In this
  world, however, it remains in need of final redemption.
7:25   The conclusion is far from hopeless, for the final blame is not to be found in man's
  nature, nor in the law, but in sin itself.
8:1   Repentant sinners will have no condemnation if they remain in Christ Jesus
  through faith and baptism and if they walk in the power of the Spirit.
8:3-4 The law of Moses failed because of the weakness of human nature. The term sinful
  flesh does not imply our nature is inherently sinful, but that our flesh has become
  corrupt and given over to all manner of sin (see 7:17). Christ fulfilled both the law and
  human nature by becoming flesh Himself. Christ did not sin, for He came in the
  likeness of our sinfulness, but did not succumb to it. In doing so, He condemned sin
  itself, destroying its power over mankind. In Christ, human nature has final victory over
  sin.
8:5-8       The mind here is far more than intellectual capacity. It is the highest knowing
  faculty of the soul (Gr. nous), the spirit and understanding behind all we think and do.
  Thus, it follows that repentance literally means to have a “change of mind,” a change not
  only of intellect but of all our being.
     To be carnally minded (v. 6) means to choose to have one's whole being captivated
  by sin. This decision against God puts us at enmity with Him (v. 7), and thus we have no
  lasting peace. To be spiritually minded means to accept liberation by the Spirit, so
  that one's whole being—body, mind, and soul—becomes directed by and is led to the Holy
  Spirit.
8:9   The Spirit of Christ declares the intimacy between the Son and the Holy Spirit. The
  Son becomes incarnate by the Holy Spirit (Mt 1:20) and in turn sends the Holy Spirit
  from the Father into the world (Jn 15:26; 16:7).
8:10   Though the body is dead (it is mortal) because of sin, the Holy Spirit gives new
  life, both now in this world and in the promised final resurrection.
8:13   The gift of new life requires the reception and cooperation of the believer through
  faith and obedience to God. We are His children (v. 14) as He leads us by the power of the
  Spirit. In this new life, the body becomes the follower, not the leader. In choosing the
  way of the Holy Spirit, we put to death sinful passions expressed through our thoughts,
  words, and deeds.
8:14-17 Christians are adopted as children of God (v. 16) and therefore heirs (v. 17) of
  the same Kingdom Christ inherited when He ascended in the flesh into heaven. This
  standing is given by grace; what Christ inherited by His own nature, we receive as a gift.
  Our adoption (v. 15) is a fact of our baptism. Yet it rests on us to receive the love of this
  adoption by continuing in faith and turning constantly toward God. The experience of this
  adoption allows us to address God with the intimate term Abba, which means “Papa” (v.
  15; see Gal 4:5–7).
8:15   The spirit of bondage refers to a return to the law. Israel feared God as a slave
  would fear a strong master. Under the new covenant, we are no longer slaves but by
  adoption are part of God's family, the Church.
8:17 Joint heirs with Christ reveals that everything Christ is by nature, the Father gives
  to us by grace. See the article, “Deification” at 2 Peter.
8:18   Note the contrast between sufferings and glory. As Christians, we have God's glory
  in us, though His glory is not fully revealed (see also Col 3:3, 4). In the Orthodox
  Church, the icon of the Incarnation, the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, is on the
  left side of the door to the altar, while the icon of Christ as Ruler is placed on the right
  side. Thus we proclaim that Christ has come first in the Incarnation and will come again
  in glory as Ruler and Judge. We learn that we live in a tension between our present and
  future experience of the Kingdom, one marked by both sufferings and glory.
8:21   Glorious liberty is the resurrected life the children of God will experience in the
  age to come. Then our wills, free from the corruption of the flesh, will be at liberty to
  follow God completely.
8:24   Hope is more than wishful thinking, more than optimism. It is settled confidence
  concerning things to come. This hope is so sure that we can patiently endure suffering in
  anticipation of Christ's Kingdom.
8:26    Believers do not know how to pray effectively. The guidance of the Spirit in
  prayer aids in overcoming our weaknesses by teaching us how to pray and by
  interceding directly for us when our own prayers are inadequate. The Fathers identify
  three stages of prayer: (1) saying the words of prayers; (2) saying the words with meaning
  and concentration; (3) praying without the words, when one is so filled with the Holy
  Spirit that human words become inadequate, the highest form of prayer.
8:28-30     The Scriptures and man's experience both bear witness that all things work
  together for good to those who love God. Setbacks and difficulties there will be, but
  God turns them into “light affliction” (2Co 4:17, 18; 12:9, 10). God has foreknowledge of
  all things.
    Predestined must not be understood as overpowering man's free response, for man's
  free will is a gift from God. Nor does the term apply to individuals. Rather this term
  (which can also be translated “preordained”) means that God has a specific calling for His
  people from before the beginning of the world. “God does not will evil to be done, nor
  does He force virtue” (JohnDm). Based on His foreknowledge, God assures, or
  predestines, that those who will choose to love Him will be conformed to the image of
  His Son, that is, glorified.
8:31-39    These verses summarize all that has preceded in the Epistle to the Romans.
  Because of (1) God's love for us, (2) His victory over sin and death, and (3) our life in His
  Kingdom, we can withstand all the assaults of the world and the devil and arise from
  these attacks as more than conquerors (v. 37). We conquer sin not by our own
  strength, but only through God.
8:38-39     Angels, principalities, and powers are spirit beings of various angelic ranks.
  While nothing external can separate us from the love of God, we can choose to reject
  Him by our own free will. Nevertheless, even those who remain in eternal rebellion
  against God are still loved by Him. Even our rejection of God cannot take away His love
  for us.
9:1-5   St. Paul had many opponents who accused him of failing to love his fellow
  Israelites.
9:6-13    Jewish unbelief is illuminated by Paul's description of a twofold Israel: one
  spiritual and the other physical. God is faithful to all Israel, but the issue is this: Who is a
  true child of Abraham?
     It is not Abraham's children of the flesh (v. 8), his natural or biological offspring,
  who are his true children. If this were the case, the children of Hagar (Gn 16:4, 15) and of
  Keturah (Gn 25:1–4) would be Israelites. Furthermore, not all those in Isaac's line are
  Israelites; otherwise Esau and the Edomites would be. Abraham's true children are the
  children of the promise (v. 8), that is, those who are in Isaac (v. 7), which means
  faithful believers. Because Isaac was miraculously conceived through God's promise,
  which Abraham believed (Gn 18:10–15; 21:1–7), it is those who continue in this faith who
  are Abraham's true offspring.
9:10-13   Both Jacob and Esau were born of Isaac and Rebecca, yet only Jacob is
  considered the seed of Abraham. Jacob's position is clearly not the result of mere human
  lineage, but is secured because he is the child of the promise. Both Jacob and Esau were
  called to salvation, for God loves all equally. Esau I have hated (v. 13): This does not
  mean God did not love Esau. Rather, God foresaw the wickedness Esau would choose and
  hated it. Likewise, God foresaw Jacob's faith and obedience and knew Jacob would serve
  His purposes.
9:14-18 At Mt. Sinai, some of the idolatrous Jews perished while others survived (Ex 32;
  33), though God does not explain why He made this distinction. Likewise, Pharaoh
  opposed God, and thus God used his arrogance to accomplish the divine will. The actions
  of God's will are neither capricious nor vindictive, but are based in divine mercy and
  compassion. Even though mankind does not understand the basis of God's decisions
  (see Is 55:8, 9), we trust His grace and righteousness, upon which our salvation rests.
9:19-21   Man can have no complaint against God's sovereignty any more than clay can
  question the potter about how he fashions it. When we recognize our standing before
  God, the objections vanish (see Job 38:1–42:6). It is not only impossible to answer
  questions of this kind (vv. 22–24), but it is presumptuous to raise them (JohnChr).
9:22-24    After first instructing his hearers how presumptuous it is to question God's
  sovereign will (vv. 19–21), Paul nevertheless gives an answer. The proof that God's
  judgment is based in mercy is shown by how long He endured with much
  longsuffering those who were in rebellion against Him. In other words, God gave his
  enemies every benefit and every opportunity to repent, though they deserved none. In
  this way, His wrath is justified and the glory He grants believers is complete. Vessels
  of wrath are unbelieving Jews and rebellious foreign nations (see vv. 14–17). The
  vessels of mercy are believing Jews and Gentiles.
9:25-29   The OT prophets had foreseen God's sovereignty and man's salvation in several
  ways: (1) He makes the outcasts (Gentiles) to be His people and sons (vv. 25, 26); (2)
  He saves only a remnant of the Jews (vv. 27, 28); and (3) He forbears to utterly destroy
  the unbelieving Jews on account of the faithful remnant (v. 29).
9:30-33   The first answer to the question of Jewish unbelief was from God's standpoint:
  His sovereign will (vv. 6–29). Here, Paul gives the second part of the answer, which is
  man's free response: faith. The Gentiles who had been unconcerned with righteousness
  now attain it through faith in Christ. God mercifully overlooks their former
  unrighteousness because it was practiced in ignorance (Acts 17:30). By contrast, the Jews
  fail to attain even the righteousness of the law, for they do not pursue the law by
  faith but by works (v. 32). Because they only saw the letter of the law, they missed both
  its spirit and its profession of Christ, the Lawgiver, who was to come. Because they saw
  the letter of the law as being greater than its fulfillment, Christ becomes their stumbling
  stone (v. 32).
10:1-3 Paul wishes nothing but good for Israel, but their zeal is not based in truth. If they
  had merely been ignorant in their rejection of Christ, then their offense would certainly
  be pardonable. However, theirs was more than ignorance, for it was not that they simply
  did not know Christ, but they were bent on establishing their own righteousness
  rather than submitting to the righteousness of God. In other words, they trusted in
  themselves and their works and rejected the way of faith when it was presented to them.
10:4   Christ has always been the way of salvation in both testaments. The law prepared
  people for Him, while His coming was the end of the law and the fulfillment of God's
  righteousness.
10:5-13 The way of the law and the way of faith are contrasted. Whereas mere obedience
  to the law has always failed, faith in Christ brings salvation. Faith does not doubt (vv. 6,
  7), but trusts in Christ. Faith makes God near to the believer (v. 8). Faith transforms the
  whole person, heart, soul, mind, and body (vv. 9, 10).
10:9, 10   This confession and belief are more than simply mental acknowledgment that
  something is true. Rather, this belief refers to placing one's whole trust in the resurrected
  Christ and living with Jesus as one's Lord. Only the giving of the whole self to Christ is
  belief unto righteousness.
10:11-13 Belief and confession (vv. 9, 10) were both OT themes, Isaiah emphasizing the
  faith of the heart (v. 11), and Joel emphasizing the confession of the mouth (v. 13).
  Both prophets teach that grace and faith are universally offered to all people.
10:14-21 From 9:1–10:13, Paul left the Jews with no excuse for rejecting the gospel. Paul
  insists that God fulfilled His part completely, giving the Jews extraordinary opportunities
  to come to faith. God sent His message throughout all creation; Israel heard but did not
  believe (vv. 16, 18, 21). Therefore, God turned to the Gentiles, who heard and believed (vv.
  19, 20). The Jews demanded signs, yet God had given them the continual sign of fulfilled
  prophecy.
11:1-10   Jewish unbelief in Christ raises the question of whether or not God cast away
  His people. The answer is, Certainly not! If He had done so, not one would have been
  saved. But Paul himself was being saved (v. 1), and there is a remnant (v. 5) of Jews who
  believed. Elijah prefigured this remnant when he thought that he alone followed God
  (vv. 2–4). As only a few heeded Elijah in his day, so only a few heed Jesus and His
  apostles. God's grace saves the willing. Israel is not willing, for she seeks (v. 7)
  righteousness on her own terms through works of the law and not through faith in Christ.
  God has given them a spirit of stupor (v. 8) as a result of their refusal to believe, not
  as the cause of it.
11:11-15   Though Israel has stumbled by her refusal to believe in Christ, it is not
  necessarily inevitable that she should fall permanently. The jealousy she feels toward
  the Gentiles has the potential to lead Israel to repentance and faith. Furthermore,
  Israel's fall has led to the conversion of the Gentiles, thus renewing the opportunity for
  Israel's own salvation.
11:16-22 Paul addresses the Gentile believers, reminding them not to be puffed up against
  the Jews, for (1) Israel's heritage is holy (v. 16); (2) the Gentiles have been grafted in to
  an existing tree, and thus owe gratitude toward the Jews (vv. 17, 18); and (3) the Gentiles
  are just as much at risk of falling away from grace through unbelief as the Jews (vv. 20,
  21).
11:24   The tree which is wild by nature refers to the pagan and godless ways of the
  Gentiles before their encounter with Christ. The cultivated olive tree refers to the
  nation of Israel, which had been prepared for Christ through the law, and the remnant of
  the Jews that believed in Him.
11:25-27 The mystery which explains the unbelief of so many Jews is that the Gentiles
  are now being united to the remnant of the faithful Jews, and thus this body of believers
  together form the true Israel. (In Gal 6:15, 16, St. Paul calls those “in Christ Jesus” the
  “Israel of God,” which is the Church.) This true Israel is not based on biological ancestry
  but on faithfulness to God's Deliverer, the Messiah. In this understanding, all Israel
  will be saved (v. 26).
11:30-32 Paul reminds the Gentiles that they have no superiority over the Jews, for both
  Jew and Gentile were subject to disobedience, and both receive salvation only through
  God's mercy.
11:36    This benediction ends the first part of Romans, which has laid the theological
  foundation of our communion with God in Christ and clarified the relationship between
  Jew and Gentile in Christ. From this point forward, Paul uses this doctrinal base to
  address pastoral issues facing believers in Rome in their attempts to live out this faith in
  daily life. Forever is literally “unto ages of ages.”
12:2     A faithful relationship to God changes our relationship to the world. To be
  conformed to this world is to stand for and pursue the world's values and pleasures.
  Mind (Gr. nous) here is more than the intellect; it is the highest faculty of human
  nature, encompassing the mind and heart. With this faculty one sees and comprehends
  God.
12:3-8 We live out our faithful relationship to God in the Church, the body of Christ, with
  humility (v. 3), sober thoughts (v. 3), and proper use of spiritual gifts (vv. 4–8).
  Ministry requires functioning together in diversity. The seven gifts mentioned here (vv.
  6–8) should not be understood to be exhaustive; rather these gifts represent all the
  infinite gifts God has given to us.
12:9-16 While a believer is justified by faith (see article, “Justification by Faith” at ch. 5),
  this faith is intimately united to good works, which are genuine expressions of true faith.
  Faith and works cannot be separated.
12:19-21   Vengeance is perfect and righteous judgment, which only God is capable of
  carrying out. Evil is overcome only by good, which the Son of God Himself
  demonstrated on the Cross and which believers are called to emulate.
13:1-3   To defy the civil government is to defy God, for God works in and through the
  governing authorities. This principle holds true so long as the civil ordinance is not
  in opposition to God, but promotes good works. When civil rulers are in direct
  opposition to God, the believer must follow God (see Acts 4:19; 5:29).
13:4   Because the civil government is established by God, St. Paul calls a civil authority
  God's minister. He is responsible to protect those who are good and to execute
  punishment on those who practice evil.
13:5   Believers are commanded to be subject to civil authorities not only for fear of
  earthly punishment (because of wrath), but because they know that in obeying the
  authorities, they are obeying God (for conscience' sake).
13:12   The night is life in this world, and especially life under the influence of sin and
  evil. The day refers to the presence of Christ's Kingdom, both in the Church now at
  hand and fulfilled completely in the age to come.
14:1 In Orthodox Christianity, there are things that cannot be compromised, and there are
  areas of flexibility. God is gracious and allows diversity in doubtful things (v. 1),
  matters not related to essential doctrines and moral teachings. The weak in the faith
  are people who assign primary importance to secondary matters. The two examples of
  flexible areas given here involve food restrictions (v. 2) and the observance of liturgical
  calendars (v. 5), things which the weak might try to use to judge others or to divide the
  Church. In both cases, we are commanded to give flexibility to others, just as God
  Himself does (v. 3).
     This passage is read on the eve of Great Lent, reminding the faithful that the main
  focus of the season is not on the details of fasting restrictions, but rather on overcoming
  passions of the soul (13:14).
14:7-10 Because we are the Lord's, we have no business judging others' practices based
  on our own ideas, prejudices, or cultural heritage. These things cause us to lose sight of
  the fact that we are united in Christ, who is our one Lord and Judge.
14:13-21 A mature conscience in Christ knows that no food is unclean of itself, and also
  knows it must use discretion so as not to be a stumbling block to others. We behave
  righteously to be (1) acceptable to God and (2) approved by men (v. 18).
14:22-23 Those who have strong faith can follow their conscience before God and avoid
  sin. According to St. John Chrysostom, those who are weak in faith may sin, not because
  the action is wrong in itself, but because in their hearts they think they are betraying God
  and proceed anyway. This action is sin because it does not come from that person's faith.
15:1-3 Bear with does not mean “to put up with,” but rather “to carry together” (see Gal
  6:2). It is in imitation of Christ, who bore all of humanity's weaknesses, that the strong
  in faith lovingly and joyfully identify with the weaker believers.
15:4   The bounty of mankind's hope can be found in the Scriptures. It is through the
  witness of the Scriptures that we learn of the patience not only of Israel and the Church,
  but of God. Likewise, it is through the promises, victories, and spiritual struggles
  recorded in the Scriptures that we find true comfort.
15:9-12   From the OT Scriptures, Paul demonstrates the unity in Christ between Jew and
  Gentile that was foretold.
15:14-16   Paul recognizes that his lengthy letter to Rome—a church he did not found—is
  bold in teaching and counsel. He seeks to soften possible offense by expressing
  confidence in the Romans' own gifts, and by referring to his special commission from
  God to be the apostle to the Gentiles, including those at Rome (see 1:13–15; Acts 23:11).
15:16   Minister is literally “liturgist” (Gr. leitourgos); ministering is doing the work of a
  priest. Offering (Gr. prosphora) is a reference to the eucharistic liturgy, in which bread
  is sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Paul uses this imagery to speak of the Gentiles
  themselves, who are being offered to God as the Body of Christ and are sanctified through
  that offering, just as the bread is sanctified in the liturgy.
15:18   The fulfillment of both preaching and faith is righteous works done by those
  obedient to God.
15:20-24   Paul's missionary work involved preaching mostly in virgin territories (v. 20).
  While the Church in Rome had been flourishing for some time, Spain (v. 24) was
  unevangelized.
15:27   The Jewish Christians have passed on to the Gentiles the great gift of the gospel.
  In return, the Gentiles are bound to share their material things with them (1Co 9:11).
16:1, 2 Phoebe was a leading Christian woman who was both a deaconess (servant here
  is lit. “deaconess”) and involved in missionary work. St. John Chrysostom notes that Paul
  holds her in the highest esteem, as he names her first. “He has added her rank by
  mentioning her being ‘deaconess,’” and he recognizes “her as being a saint.”
16:3   Priscilla and Aquila were a married couple, Jewish business people, and Paul's
  coworkers (see Acts 18:18, 26).
16:7     Prisoners: We know of no imprisonment of Paul in Corinth, where Romans was
  likely written. According to St. John Chrysostom, Paul is not referring to literal
  imprisonment, but to his subjection to all kinds of persecution and afflictions (2Co 6:4–
  10).
16:17-19 Those who serve their own belly are either selfish people or those who caused
  divisions over dietary rules (see 14:1–6). Simple (Gr. akakos; vv. 18, 19) does not mean
  unintelligent, but rather innocent, trusting, and truthful.
16:22    While Paul is the author of this epistle (1:1), Tertius wrote it down as Paul's
  secretary. Paul frequently dictated his epistles to a scribe (1Co 16:21; Col 4:18; 2Th 2:17;
  Phm 19).
16:25-27 Dismissals in Orthodox services are patterned after scriptural benedictions such
  as this one by Paul. Mystery here refers to God's plan of salvation revealed in Jesus
  Christ. Obedience to the faith is essential for all believers. Before the celebration of
  the Eucharist, the Creed is recited by all the faithful to demonstrate a unity of faith.
  Forever (v. 27) is literally “unto ages of ages”—a frequent refrain in Orthodox prayers
  and liturgy.
1:1   Since Paul is called to be an apostle by the will of God, men cannot remove him as
  some were trying to do. A Sosthenes is also mentioned in Acts 18:17 as the ruler of the
  synagogue at Corinth. Probably this is he: there are stories of his spectacular conversion
  in early records, which also report that Sosthenes became bishop of Caesarea.
1:2   Despite disorder, disunity, and error among the Corinthians, the apostle still calls
  them the church of God, sanctified in Christ, and saints, those set apart to God.
  Baptized into Christ, united with Him, this Church by His mercy is one with the faithful
  everywhere.
1:3   Grace is God's unlimited, unconditional, uncreated love, freely given to those who do
  not deserve it. Peace is our reconciliation with God and with each other. “Peace to you,”
  found repeatedly in the OT, is the common everyday greeting then and now throughout
  the Middle East. “Peace be to you” in the Orthodox Divine Liturgy is connected to the
  reading of the Gospel, the kiss of peace, and the Lord's Prayer. Jesus gave to the disciples
  the gift of peace, which is the presence of the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:27; 20:19).
1:4   Nothing is so acceptable to God as our thankfulness for His grace, both to us and to
  others.
1:7   Revelation implies that although He is not seen, yet the Lord Jesus Christ is
  present even now, and then shall appear in glory. The Second Coming of Christ is a main
  point in Paul's teaching, for then our salvation will be clearly revealed and fully known.
1:4-9 Though he will later rebuke this church severely, Paul's assurance concerning their
  gifts and calling is sincere. For God's grace is given to the Church in every place, even in
  Corinth.
1:10   Here for the first time Paul rebukes the Corinthians, pleading with them in the name
  of the Lord to put away divisions and maintain unity in the church.
1:11   Chloe was a prominent woman who hosted the Corinthian church in her home and
  who faithfully reported these contentions to Paul.
1:12   Apollos was a learned Jew from Alexandria, Egypt, “mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts
  18:24). Originally a follower of “the baptism of John” (Acts 18:25), he was taught more
  fully about Christ by Priscilla and Aquila at Ephesus, and he later preached at Corinth,
  where some saw him as a rival to Paul. Tradition tells us Apollos became the first bishop
  of Crete (see Tts 3:13). Paul makes it plain that he and Apollos are partners in apostolic
  work and that Apollos would not approve of the factionalism in Corinth (3:4–6; 4:6;
  16:12).
1:13   Is Christ divided? Or is the Church? The answer to all questions in this passage is
  no. One can leave the Church, but not divide it! Factionalism, however, brings great harm
  to the Church, for it seeks to give to the apostle a place only Christ should occupy (vv. 13–
  17). Many looked upon the apostles as teachers of philosophy rather than preachers of the
  Cross (1:18–2:5). The factious do not accept true wisdom, which is bestowed by the Spirit
  (2:6–3:4), and they misrepresent the apostles as rivals to each other rather than as fellow
  workers with Christ (3:5–23).
1:14   Crispus had been the ruler of the synagogue at Corinth (Acts 18:8). Converted
  through the preaching of Paul, then baptized, he was apparently succeeded as ruler by
  Sosthenes (Acts 18:17). Gaius was a resident of Corinth with whom Paul was staying
  when he wrote the Epistle to the Romans (Rom 16:23). The third epistle of John (see 3Jn
  1) seems to have been directed to this same Gaius.
1:15-17 Paul's denial does not degrade baptism; he is simply emphasizing that baptizing is
  not his primary role. As an apostle, Paul's primary job is to preach the gospel (v. 17),
  teaching those seeking God to be baptized. The one who performs a baptism is God's
  instrument; the convert's loyalty must be to God alone.
1:17-25   Wisdom of words (v. 17) refers especially to philosophical thought and
  rhetorical devices. Such human wisdom by itself does not promote salvation or an
  understanding of how God works in the world and what He wishes us to do.
1:18   Why is the message of the cross . . . foolishness to unbelievers? “It is a mark of
  them that perish not to recognize the things which lead to salvation” (JohnChr). We who
  bear witness to Christ must not be discouraged when those outside of Him mock, for so
  did once even Paul himself. Being saved, present tense, refers to the process by which
  the Cross transforms us with the power of God.
1:22   To those who request a sign, the Church offers one: the Cross! The Cross is to be
  adored, for wherever the sign may be, there Jesus will be.
1:24   Since Christ is the power and wisdom of God the Father—the brightness of the
  Father's glory (Heb 1:3), the substantial and perfect Image of the invisible God—where
  He is, there is the uncreated and saving grace of God. His Cross restores man to
  immortality and stirs up desire for the things of heaven.
1:28   The base things of the world are “those persons who are considered to be nothing
  because of their great insignificance” (JohnChr). There is no such thing as a “no-account”
  Christian (v. 27; 2Co 12:9).
2:4-5 Great preaching is not with “swelling words” (2Pt 2:18) but with (1) the anointing of
  the Holy Spirit and (2) the dynamic of God's power.
2:6, 7   The mature (Gr. teleioi) are the “spiritual” (Gr. pneumatikoi) of v. 15. Mystery
  here is the gospel of the Kingdom (see Rom 16:25; Eph 3:3, 4, 9; 6:19; Col 4:3; 1Ti 3:9, 16),
  which neither angels nor any other creature knew before it was revealed by Christ, even
  though the Incarnation of the Son was God's plan from eternity for transforming
  creation. Moreover, that Gospel is hidden from those who perish (2Co 4:3). Those who
  will not believe do not grasp what is clear to the faithful.
2:8   The Lord of glory demonstrates that the dignity and honor of Jesus is that of God
  the Father Himself (Ex 24:16–18). The incarnate Son of God, who clothes Himself “with
  light as with a garment” (Ps 103:2), stood naked before human judges, receiving blows
  from hands which He had formed. The Lord of Glory, the Son of the Father, was crucified
  in His humanity (Acts 2:36). They crucified God!
2:9   Paul seems to have collected phrases from several passages (Is 52:15; 64:3; 65:17; Jer
  3:16; WSir 1:10), though this may have come from an early hymn.
2:10-4 We come to know God's wisdom through the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit knows
  the things of God (v. 11), just as the spirit of the man knows what is in man. Note
  Paul's threefold classification of humanity:
       (1) The natural man (lit. “soulish”; v. 14) is one not yet joined to Christ,
  unenlightened and unregenerate. For such people, divine things appear to be
  foolishness because they inquire into divine things by human and natural reasoning
  rather than receiving these by faith.
     (2) The spiritual man (2:15) is filled with the Holy Spirit given at chrismation and is
  maturing in his knowledge of Christ.
    (3) The carnal man (lit. “fleshly”; 3:1) is the person who, while in the Church, has his
  mind set on earthly things, still trying to satisfy personal wants and selfish desires.
    We reveal our spiritual condition by our relationships with other Christians. The lesson
  is plain: Growth in our fellowship with God demands living in the overcoming strength of
  the Holy Spirit, who brings unity to the Church and great victory over petty, egocentric
  squabblings.
2:12-15 Enlightenment from God in itself is beyond all words, and even beyond evaluation
  by other men (v. 15). Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit speaks through spiritual people words
  that truly reflect the unspeakable knowledge of faith. This language of faith in turn leads
  spiritually minded people to know God better, although it baffles the natural man (v.
  14).
2:16   The mind of Christ is enlightenment by the Holy Spirit (v. 10). He brings those
  chrismated into communion with Christ and others of like mind in His Body, the Church.
  The mind of Christ, then, is not private but is given to all: it is the mind of the Church.
3:1-4   Note the gospel was first communicated through the spoken word of the apostles.
  Since   God   inspires   both   oral   (apostolic   preaching)   and   written   (scriptural)
  communication of His Word, oral and written Tradition form a seamless whole.
3:6-17 The Church is an organic whole: it is (1) planted (vv. 6–9), (2) a building (vv. 9–
  11), (3) a temple (vv. 16, 17). In vv. 16, 17 you is plural and refers to the whole Church.
  One who would break this unity would desecrate a sacred place.
3:9   Fellow workers (Gr. synergoi) refers to the biblical concept of synergism, shown
  here by the way the apostles work together with God in carrying out the ministry. So too,
  we as God's fellow workers cooperate with Him to do His will. By this cooperation or
  synergy with God, we do not mean a working together of equals, or a so-called fifty-fifty
  arrangement. Rather we mean that He is the Lord, and we His servants are called to
  participate obediently in His work.
3:18-20   The wisdom of this world (v. 19) is attractive and reasonable, and on the
  surface appears to be true. But such earthly wisdom denies God and leads us away from
  Him—not to fulfillment, but to death. True wisdom and life are found only in Christ, in
  our total abandonment to the love of God and neighbor.
3:21-23   Yours and you here are plural. They refer not to the individual but to the
  corporate Church. The Church possesses the whole, all things, because the Church is the
  Body of Christ—His perfect and glorified humanity—and Christ is God. Individual opinion
  in doctrine and private interpretation of Scripture that stand apart from those of the
  Church, or outside of apostolic tradition, are marks of worldly wisdom.
4:3   Here, as in 2:15, judge (Gr. anakrinein) is difficult to render in English. Anakrinein is
  comparable to the investigation that takes place before and during a trial and preceding
  judgment; krinein (v. 5; Mt 7:1), to rendering of a verdict. Many Corinthians prejudged
  Paul as an unfaithful steward; some denied his apostolic authority (see Introduction to 2
  Corinthians). For Paul it is improper for them, or even for himself, to prejudge his life, for
  Christ is the Judge.
4:6   In the expression, beyond what is written, most likely Paul refers to the whole OT,
  reminding the Corinthians that all Scripture urges us not to be proud or contentious.
  Puffed up in Greek suggests the swollen inflammation around an infected wound; it
  may be rendered “arrogant” (vv. 18, 19; 5:2).
4:7   Paul directs a series of sharp questions to the Corinthians to deflate their pride.
  Nothing justifies thinking ourselves better than or above anyone else.
4:10   Irony and sarcasm are bitter medicine, and Paul uses them here (vv. 8–13) with full
  force. The three parallel statements we are fools, we are weak, we are dishonored
  are heaped upon each other in a stinging series. The relative comfort of the Corinthian
  Christians is contrasted with the persecuted, poverty-stricken and uncertain life of the
  apostles (vv. 11–13; see Mk 6:4; 9:35; 10:31).
4:12-13   The apostles have endured all kinds of humiliation, being treated as filth, and
  instead of fighting back have responded with love toward their persecutors—all for the joy
  of serving Christ and reconciling the world to God.
4:14-16 Paul soothes the soreness of his rebuke by reminding them of his fatherhood (see
  the note on Mt 23:9, 10). As in a family, so in the Church, maturing children need
  parental guidance. The apostle to the Gentiles—thus to most Christians—writes imitate
  me because he imitates Christ (11:1).
4:18-20 Paul will soon visit Corinth and face those who prejudge him to see if any power
  (Gr. dunamis) lies behind their word. Citizenship in the kingdom of God, discovered
  in the Church, does not consist in mere talk, but is manifested in a growing life of grace.
5:1   Sexual immorality (Gr. porneia, from which we get “pornography”) originally meant
  prostitution, later immorality in general. In this case of incest, his father's wife is not
  the man's own mother, but a stepmother. Even so, this sin is grievous among Jews and
  Gentiles alike.
5:2   The Greek word for mourned (pentheo) is also used in the Septuagint to refer to (1)
  grieving for the dead, and (2) sorrow over unrepentant sinners (see Neh 8:9; Is 24:4; Dan
  10:2; Am 8:8). Taken away from among you refers to excommunication.
5:4   My spirit (Gr. pneuma) is Paul's human spirit, which is being sanctified by the Holy
  Spirit.
5:5   In the Church there is protection from the destructive power of Satan (Mt 16:18). This
  protection is here removed through excommunication in the hope that, having
  experienced the difference between God's rule and Satan's, this offender may repent and
  in the end be saved. The flesh (Gr. sarx) is not synonymous with “body” (Gr. soma; see
  v. 3). Paul is calling for the destruction not of the body but rather of the lusts of the
  flesh.
5:6-8 The Israelites were to remove the leaven (v. 7) from their houses in preparation for
  Passover (Ex 12:1–30), the remembrance of their freedom from Pharaoh's bondage.
  Christ, crucified and risen, is our Paschal lamb, our Passover. United to Him in baptism,
  our life becomes an unending deliverance from evil. Since our life in Christ includes
  keeping the feast (v. 8), Passover fulfilled in Eucharist, the old leaven of malice and
  wickedness must be continually removed from us personally and corporately.
5:9   My epistle to which Paul refers is apparently lost. There is evidence Paul wrote letters
  which were lost and not incorporated in the NT canon (see Col 4:16).
5:12-13 Those . . . who are outside is an ancient Semitic expression for those outside
  the community of God (see WSir, Prologue; Mk 4:11; Col 4:5; 1Th 4:12; 1Ti 3:7).
6:1   Before the unrighteous refers to judges of secular courts at Corinth. Paul asks, why
  seek justice before the unjust and not before the saints, their fellow Christians? This is
  the biblical basis for church courts.
6:2-3 Saints will judge the world (v. 2) and angels (v. 3) because in Christ, Christians
  share in His authority to judge (see Mt 19:28; Jn 5:22, 27; 2Pt 2:4; Jude 6; Rev 20:4). This
  being so, how much more are we able to judge the everyday concerns of this life (v.
  3)?
6:7   Love of litigation is a love of greed, hatred, and retaliation. Christians ought to be
  possessed of generosity, mercy, and forgiveness. To let yourselves be cheated is to
  turn the other cheek (see Mt 5:39).
6:9, 10 As to those who will not inherit the kingdom of God, see 15:50; Gal 5:19–21;
  Eph 5:5; Rev 21:7, 8; 22:15.
6:11   Salvation includes being washed in Holy Baptism, sanctified through the giving of
  the Holy Spirit in the oil of chrismation, and justified through our faith. Such were
  some of you shows that in Christ we can be set free from the very worst of sins (see vv.
  8–10).
6:12   All things are lawful for me may be a statement Paul made in Corinth sometime
  earlier (perhaps regarding the Mosaic cleanliness code) which the libertines took out of
  context as their slogan. The apostle sets the record straight: without discipline and
  discernment through obedience to Christ, freedom from law is slavery to sin.
6:13   The libertines in Corinth—as some do today—argued that illicit sex (adultery and
  fornication) is as necessary for the body as eating, and both are irrelevant to the spiritual
  life. Paul contends the body belongs to God, and everything is relevant to the spiritual
  life. Therefore, dealing with sin means controlling our bodies. This is why in the
  Orthodox Church abstinence from foods is the first discipline of the Fast, which also
  includes prayer and charitable giving.
6:15   When Paul calls our bodies members of Christ (see 12:12; Rom 6:13; 12:4, 5), he is
  reminding us of our union with Christ in baptism (see Rom 6:3–10). Fornication is
  therefore a sin to be fled in horror, for it joins Christ to harlots. “We have many improper
  wishes, but we must repress them, for we can” (JohnChr).
6:19   Temple here refers to the individual Christian as a dwelling place of the Spirit.
7:1   Paul's personal preference is for celibacy, but he knows this is a “gift from God” (v. 7)
  that is not given to all.
7:4   The mutuality of marriage, the equality of commitment, that Paul enjoins here is
  unprecedented in his era. Speaking of husband and wife, St. John Chrysostom teaches
  neither “is master of himself . . . they are servants to each other.”
7:5   While periodic ascetic practices, including temporary abstinence from sexual relations
  for the sake of prayer, are good, sexual abstinence by married people for other reasons
  and at other times is usually unwise.
7:8-9 It is wise to consider marriage rather than to insist upon the virtue of chastity and
  fight a losing battle against sexual passion.
7:11    If a Christian couple cannot stay together, the two alternatives are to remain
  unmarried, that is, separated, or be reconciled. Divorce is hated by God (Mal 2:16), a
  last measure, a great calamity. Paul forbids remarriage while the first spouse is still living
  (v. 39).
7:14   In Judaism the family was joined to the covenant through the father. But in the
  Church, the family is holy if either spouse is a believer (see also 2Ti 1:5). This does not
  mean that all are saved, but all are affected by the faith of a Christian spouse. The family
  is a spiritual unit: if one member is a Christian, the whole family is set apart by God's
  grace.
7:17-28   When the Lord has called (v. 17) us into His salvation, we do not change our
  ethnic identity (vv. 18, 19) or our occupations (vv. 20–23), and we certainly do not rush
  out and get married or divorced (vv. 25–28)—though Paul's counsel is a preferred option,
  not a command. Keeping the commandments of God is what matters (v. 19).
7:26   The present distress probably refers to the trials and tribulations of life just before
  the glorious coming of Christ, which Paul perceived as imminent (vv. 29–33).
7:29-35   Paul expects an imminent end of this age. The time is short; it is better to
  minimize obligations in this age—without being irresponsible—in order to be prepared for
  the age to come.
7:36-38 It is not clear whether any man is the father or the fiancé of the virgin, but in
  any case the option of her marriage is left open.
7:39-40 Though Paul once again recommends the unmarried state, he affirms the holiness
  of marriage and gives the widow a choice: to be married . . . in the Lord (v. 39), that is
  to another Christian, or to remain as she is (v. 40).
8:4-13 Throughout the Roman Empire, animals were sacrificed to pagan “gods” at feasts
  and public occasions. Part of each offering was used in a ceremonial meal or went to the
  donor; the remainder was often sold in public meat markets. Christians had a dilemma.
  Should they eat meat that had been offered before idols? The Jews had prohibitions, but
  the Christians believed an idol is nothing. Paul answers they are correct in principle (v.
  8), but they must think about other people's consciences (vv. 9, 10). Love of God and of
  fellow Christians compels Paul not to eat such meat (v. 13).
8:6    Of whom and through whom do not speak of the divine nature, but of the
  relationship of the Father and the Son to us.
9:1   Paul's apostleship is under attack; in this chapter he defends it.
9:2   The effectiveness of the clergy is certified by the spiritual condition of the sheep.
9:11   Clergy must be given material support to be free to sow spiritual things. God saw
  to this under the Old Covenant (vv. 8, 9), and Paul implies that most Christian pastors are
  similarly supported (vv. 5, 6).
9:24-27 Using contemporary terms from the sports of running (vv. 24, 25) and boxing (vv.
  26, 27), Paul shows the proper use of ascetic practices in the life of faith. They are
  valuable not in themselves, but for the sake of the goal of salvation. As training prepares
  an athlete, so spiritual discipline prepares a Christian to exercise faith and enter the
  Kingdom.
10:1   Paul often uses I do not want you to be unaware or a similar formula (Rom
  11:25; 12:1; 2Co 1:8; Col 2:1; 1Th 4:13) to introduce a matter vital to the Christian faith.
10:2-4 Israel's liberation from Egypt by Moses prefigures our liberation from sin by Christ.
  The cloud is a symbol of the Holy Spirit; the sea, of water and baptism; the Rock (v. 4),
  of the body of Christ, His humanity; and the spiritual drink, of Christ's blood. Jesus
  Himself linked these events of the Passover with the Eucharist when He established it
  (Mt 26:17–29).
10:5-8 In spite of her baptism in the Red Sea (v. 2) and her spiritual eating and drinking
  (vv. 3, 4), Israel still fell into idolatry and sexual immorality.
10:6   The lessons of the OT, here those surrounding the Passover (vv. 1–5), are examples
  for us, that we might not repeat the same mistakes.
10:16-17   The English word communion (Gr. koinonia) is the correct translation; the
  alternative, “fellowship,” is too weak. For at Communion, at the Eucharist, there is a real
  participation in the body and blood of Christ. Just as Christ's human body is united to
  Him, so we are united to Him. As many grains become one loaf, those who take this
  communion become one in Christ.
10:18   Israel after the flesh is the Israel of Judaism as contrasted to the true Israel,
  which is the Church, the Israel of God (see Gal 6:16).
10:19-22 All worship is sacramental, even false worship. To genuinely offer a sacrifice is to
  unite spiritually with the object of that offering. An idol (v. 19) by itself is nothing, but
  behind them lurk demons (v. 20) waiting for someone to partake of them. The Christian
  offering is the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We are not to engage in any worship
  contrary to or in competition with the Eucharist of Christ.
10:23-24 Christians are obligated to obey only one law: the law of Christ, the law of love.
  This obligates us to what is helpful (v. 23) and edifying to the other's well-being (v.
  24). We therefore continually seek the good of others in every way.
10:25-33    Since God created everything, everything is clean (v. 26), even what was once
  used in idolatrous worship (vv. 25, 27). However, offending a fellow Christian in
  nonessential matters breaks the law of love, the bond of unity (vv. 28–30). If we say that
  it affects no one but ourselves, yet we must do what is to the glory of God (v. 31), or
  else we offend God. The salvation of all is more important than the rights of the
  individual (v. 33). A right is never inalienable if it alienates us from others. Note that Paul
  assumes Christians say a prayer at meals (v. 30).
11:2   Remember is primarily a word of liturgical prayer: The Corinthians constantly pray
  for their apostle in their corporate prayers. Delivered (Gr. paredoka) refers to the
  passing on of authentic apostolic tradition. Keep the traditions refers to obedience to
  what has been delivered—God-given oral tradition, from which Paul taught. He makes no
  distinction between the authority of his written and his oral instruction.
11:17-19   When the Corinthians come together (v. 17) as the Church, they reveal the
  world, not heaven. For divisions (v. 18, Gr. schismata) and factions (v. 19, Gr.
  haireseis) are contrary to the Church, which is one and indivisible. Paul finds only one
  good thing in this ungodly disorder: God's approved (v. 19) faithful are shown to be
  trustworthy.
11:20-22 The agape meal held before or after the Lord's Supper (see vv. 33, 34; also 2Pt
  2:13; Jude 12), was intended to build and unify the community in Christ. It gave the rich
  opportunity to serve the poor, for everyone brought food and shared it—an ancient
  potluck supper. When the Corinthians come together, however, they experience
  drunkenness and gluttony, not Christ and His Body, manifesting not God's love (Gr.
  agape) but self-love.
11:23-26   Received (Gr. parelabon) and delivered (v. 23) refer to the transmission of
  Holy Tradition. These words were part of the eucharistic celebration in the first century
  just as they are today. Remembrance (vv. 24, 25; Gr. anamnesis) is far more than
  thinking back about something; it is participation in it. In the Eucharist we participate in
  Christ's human nature, His body and His blood. The Jews were permitted to eat meat
  but not blood, for the life is in the blood (Lv 17:11), and life belongs to God. Now the
  Israel of God, the Church, breaks this fast and feasts, as it were, by eating Christ's body
  and drinking His blood in the Divine Liturgy. We proclaim the Lord's death till He
  comes (v. 26), for we presently celebrate the Eucharist in Christ's invisible presence,
  though one day we will feast with Him face to face in His Kingdom.
11:27   To receive Christ's body and blood in an unworthy manner means coming to
  Him with hidden immorality (6:18–20), disunity (v. 18), doctrinal heresy (v. 19), or
  disorder (vv. 21, 22), failing to see the gifts of God as holy things for holy people.
11:28   We prepare for the Eucharist by examining ourselves. This includes confessing our
  sins and being reconciled to one another in the sacrament of repentance (Mt 5:23–26). In
  the Orthodox Church this confession before God is done in the presence of a priest, who
  visibly represents Christ (Mt 16:19; 18:18–20; Jn 20:23), and in general prayers of
  confession. Being “worthy” does not mean being sinless, but being cleansed. It is not
  legalism but commitment to walk in righteousness before God.
11:29-30 There is such power in the body and blood of Christ communicated to us in the
  eating and drinking of His gifts (Jn 6:54–56) that to do so in willful disregard of the Lord
  could result in sickness and even death.
11:31-32 God's promise is that if we judge ourselves we will not be condemned with
  the world (v. 32).
11:33-34 The agape meal, connected to the Eucharist, was conducted with the same dignity
  as the Eucharist. While the Corinthian church ate before Communion and present-day
  Orthodox Christians fast, the spirit of their eating was the same as our fasting:
  preparation.
12:1   The Corinthians were ignorant not of the spiritual gifts but of how they were to be
  used in service to God.
12:2   It is possible to get carried away and led into error. For not all gifts are from the
  Holy Spirit. Demons lurk behind dumb idols (v. 2), speaking evil prophecies through the
  religious ecstasies of their priests (see Acts 16:16). Religious ecstasy or enthusiasm is no
  proof of spirituality.
12:3 The sign of the Holy Spirit speaking is when Christians say from the heart, Jesus is
  Lord. Every time we say the Nicene Creed sincerely at the Divine Liturgy, for example,
  we are gifted by the Holy Spirit to do so.
12:4-6 Every true gift and ministry in the Church manifests the Holy Trinity: the Spirit (v.
  4), the Son, the Lord (v. 5) Jesus Christ, and the Father, God (v. 6). While the working
  out of our chrismation is primarily the grace of the Holy Spirit, it is the work of the
  Trinity as well. Note there are diversities or differences of gifts and activities; no two
  Christians are alike.
12:7   The purpose of spiritual gifts is the growth of the whole Church. “A charism is a gift
  of the Holy Spirit given for the benefit of others. But no person possesses all the gifts”
  (BasilG).
12:8-10 This list of nine gifts is not exhaustive (see 14:1–5; Rom 12:6–8; Eph 4:7–12).
12:12-13 Paul here moves from the gifts in the Church to the members of the one body
  of Christ. Note how the many members are to work as one.
12:14-18 A remarkable passage that leaves no room for a spiritual inferiority complex (see
  also vv. 22–24). Every member of Christ's body is important to the overall life and work
  of the Church.
12:26   There is no such thing as an “individual” Christian. Being “knit together in love”
  (Col 2:2), we are called in Christ to suffer together, be honored together, and rejoice
  together.
12:28-31 There is a hierarchy of honor in the Church of the NT as there is in the Church
  today. The apostolic work, that of the bishop, sets the pace for all the rest. When the
  oversight is in order, the rest of the Church is free to function at the optimal level. But
  even with all the gifts in place and operative, there is something more excellent (v. 31).
  It is the love of God, the true sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit.
13:1   St. Basil the Great teaches there are three reasons, all biblical and all God-given, that
  people follow the Lord: (1) fear (Pr 1:7); (2) obedience, a recognition that because He is
  God we must follow Him (Acts 5:29); and (3) love (1Jn 4:19). And while we must aim to
  do all things out of love, we also must not cease fearing God and obeying Him. To a
  church preoccupied with tongues, Paul teaches the ultimate gift: love.
13:2    Love outshines prophecy and all faith. It is of far greater value than the
  miraculous ability to remove mountains.
13:3   Jesus urges us to “give to the poor” (Mt 19:21) and to lay down our lives for others
  (Jn 15:13). But even such a selfless act done without love profits us nothing.
13:4-8    How do we know we are acting with love (v. 4)? This passage gives specific
  characteristics of love: (1) it suffers long, is patient (1Th 5:14); (2) it is kind, gentle,
  especially with those who hurt (Eph 4:32); (3) it does not envy, is not jealous of what
  others have (Pr 23:17); (4) it does not parade itself, put itself on display (Jn 3:30); (5)
  it is not puffed up, arrogant, proud (Gal 6:3); (6) it does not act rudely, brashly,
  mean-spiritedly, insulting others (Ecc 5:2); (7) it does not seek its own way, act pushy
  (10:24); (8) it is not provoked or angered (Pr 19:11); (9) it thinks no evil, does not
  keep score on others (Heb 10:17); (10) it rejoices not in iniquity, takes no pleasure when
  others fall into sin (Mk 3:5); (11) it rejoices in the truth, is joyful when righteousness
  prevails (2Jn 4); (12) it bears all things, handles the burdensome (Gal 6:2); (13) it
  believes all things, trusts in God no matter what (Pr 3:5); (14) it hopes all things,
  keeps looking up, does not despair (Php 3:13); (15) it endures all things, “puts up with
  everything” (JohnChr), does not wear out (Gal 6:9); (16) it never fails. The only thing
  love cannot do is fail (16:14).
13:8-13 The gifts of the Spirit, wonderful as they are, are temporary and incomplete. They
  are for this age, while we are “children” (v. 11). But love continues into the age to come: it
  is eternal, complete, and fulfilling.
13:11   The Scriptures differentiate between being dependent on God, or childlike (Mt 18:3),
  and being childish or immature.
14:1   We are to desire or want the gifts of the Spirit, but pursue the love of God. St. John
  Chrysostom notes the difference. “Chase” love, he writes. “Make every effort” to retain
  her. To find this love one “strains himself, and leaves not off until he lay hold of it.”
14:2   In the Orthodox Church, what about one who speaks in a tongue? Historically,
  God judged the builders of the Tower of Babel (Gn 11:1–9), dividing their unity by
  confusing their language. At Pentecost Vespers we hear, “Of old there was confusion of
  tongues because of the boldness of the tower builders.” Then, “God condemned the
  infidels.” But at Pentecost, “the Spirit of Christ illuminated the fishermen.” At Babel,
  there was “confusion of tongues.” At Pentecost, “the vision of tongues has been renewed.”
  In the Church, as in the NT, the gift of tongues is last on the list of the gifts (12:10, 28),
  temporary (13:8), primarily for the edification of the one who speaks (v. 4), and difficult
  to understand (vv. 11, 14). St. John Chrysostom concludes that tongues are “neither
  altogether useless, nor very profitable.”
14:22-23 Spiritual gifts are for all men, Christians and non-Christians. But tongues do not
  edify most Christians and fail to convert unbelievers (v. 22), instead repelling them and
  suggesting that Christians are out of their mind (v. 23).
14:25-33 This is a compassionate exhortation to the one who claims to possess the gift of
  tongues. This passage explains why the practice of tongues is not a part of the Divine
  Liturgy, which is to be entered into as God's living word. In worship we know God is
  truly among us (v. 25) because we have His prophetic word in our ears and upon our
  lips. Paul is here guiding a church that is severely out of balance. God is not the author
  of confusion (v. 33), and the truly spiritual can control themselves (v. 32). True
  spirituality is manifested in preparedness, propriety and order, courtesy, and control. If
  the Spirit is truly moving, there is peace. This is already a tradition of the Church (v. 33).
14:34-36   An early tradition in the Church is that women shall keep silent and not talk
  during the Liturgy. While they are permitted to prophesy (11:5) they are not allowed to
  simply converse (see also 1Ti 2:12). With the spiritual gifts (12:12–27), all are equal in
  Christ, while the order of the original creation remains in the new creation.
14:37   One can picture Paul as he writes thinking back over his hard sayings in chs. 12–14.
  He is clear: this is God's word, not man's.
15:3   Paul delivered an apostolic tradition of Christ's Resurrection which is unchanging
  and sufficient for salvation (v. 2). How had Paul received his gospel? By direct
  experience with the risen Lord (v. 8), confirmed by his interactions with the original
  apostles (Gal 2:2–10) and the whole Church. It is impossible to decipher what he learned
  where; in Paul's mind, his gospel forms a seamless whole. “To receive” designates the
  passing on of tradition (see 11:2, 23; Gal 1:9; Php 4:9; 1Th 2:13; 4:1).
15:3-4 This concise statement of the gospel is probably part of an early creed or catechism.
  (See Ps 16:9–12; Gal 1:4; 1Jn 2:2; 4:10.)
15:5-8   Paul lists those who would testify to the truth of the Resurrection, from the first
  witnesses to Paul himself.
15:12-19 What is Christianity without the resurrection—both Christ's and ours? His death
  does us no good without it. What use is forgiveness if we remain dead? His disciples were
  transformed by His Resurrection, and this they preached above all. On Easter morning
  Orthodox Christians sing, “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death,
  and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.”
15:20    As the firstfruits in the OT were consecrated to God as the representative and
  promise of later fruits (Ex 23:16), so the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the first
  offering of the resurrection of all who are His (v. 23).
15:22    All people share the same human nature, but Christians have two fathers: first
  Adam, who became the father of mortality and earthly life, and now Christ, the father of
  immortality and spiritual life.
15:24-28   The end is the consummation of the Kingdom when Christ's lordship over all
  will be fulfilled and He will offer creation up to God the Father (see Rom 8:19–23, 32–
  39). Although the Son (v. 28) shares the same divine nature and dignity as the Father,
  He is subject to the Father because only the Father is the source of divinity. God being
  all in all refers to the common lordship of the Trinity over all things, not to pantheism.
15:29   The meaning of baptized for the dead is much disputed. Many understand this as
  vicarious baptism of baptized Christians for deceased catechumens. St. John Chrysostom
  considered it a derisive comment about the practices of the Marcionite heretics.
  Epiphanius says it refers to a practice of the followers of Cerinthus, another gnostic
  teacher.
15:32   Fighting with beasts at Ephesus may refer to persecutions there (16:8, 9; Acts
  19:21–31).
15:35-54 How will the dead rise? What is the resurrection body like? Paul's most basic
  contrast is that between the natural (lit. “soulish”; Gr. psychikon) and the spiritual
  (Gr. pneumatikon, v. 44), that is, between the present body and the deified body. Other
  contrasts are corruption vs. incorruption (v. 42), dishonor vs. glory (v. 43),
  weakness vs. power (v. 43), living “soul” (literal translation) vs. life-giving spirit (v.
  45), of the earth vs. from heaven (v. 47), of dust vs. heavenly (v. 48), the mortal vs.
  the immortal (v. 54). This present body is only a seed (v. 38) of the body to come. The
  “spiritual” body is not a pale shadow of the material world we now know; the opposite is
  true. The resurrection body is the fulfillment of what God intends for our present body. It
  is the material fulfilled, not dematerialized.
15:45-49 Whose body is this? As our present body is Adam's, so the resurrection body is
  that of the last Adam, Christ.
15:50    Flesh and blood refers to human nature in its present weak and imperfect
  condition.
15:56    Our basic mortal condition is manifested in sin. We are born mortal; we then
  become sinful. Thus does death “sting” us before we die. Being a Christian is more than
  having one's sins forgiven or being good; it is being alive. The law is not sinful, but it
  exposes sin. And, since it does not provide the power to obey it, it increases sinfulness in
  unchanged humans (Rom 3:20; 4:15; 5:13, 20; 7:7; Gal 3:19–22).
15:58   The doctrine of the resurrection has a practical consequence: It is to move us to do
  the works that God would have us do, the work of the Lord.
16:1-4 See 2Co 8; 9.
16:17-18   These men apparently were the carriers of the letter Paul answers in chs. 7–15
  (7:1). Paul's displeasure with Corinth does not affect his joy for certain Corinthians.
16:19   Aquila and Priscilla were Jews who had been among those expelled from Rome
  by Claudius in AD 49–50. They had resided in Corinth for a while (Acts 18:2) and then
  moved to Ephesus (Acts 18:26).
16:21   Paul often dictated his letters to a secretary. The proof that he composed this letter
  is his closing signature.
1:3-11 The source of afflictions is the sin of humanity. The purpose of afflictions, if we use
  them properly, may be our comfort and salvation, as the Father Himself preserves us
  through them (v. 3). The means of facing our afflictions is a hope in God that allows us to
  enter into the afflictions of others in actual, experiential knowledge. In this case, this
  means people empathizing with their apostle's trials. The communion of saints, spiritual
  solidarity, is to begin now in the pains of this life.
1:6   The godly suffer, in part, so that having experienced God's comfort they in turn can
  comfort others. Thus, Paul shows the fallacy in his opponents' idea that Christians should
  never suffer and should be concerned only with their own salvation.
1:8   What this trouble is for Paul is not clear—perhaps a physical malady or persecution.
  But whatever its nature, it makes him more aware of death and of his dependence on God
  (v. 9)—and more appreciative of the fellowship of other Christians and of the power of the
  Church's corporate prayer (v. 11).
1:13    Paul was accused by the dissidents/schismatics in Corinth of speaking murkily,
  indirectly, by allusion and not by clear, direct statement.
1:15   Paul has changed his travel plans. (1) In his earlier letter, he planned to travel to
  Corinth, passing through Macedonia in northern Greece (1Co 16:5–7). (2) When he felt
  compelled to go to Corinth immediately, the “sorrowful visit,” he planned to visit Corinth
  twice (vv. 15, 16); but he actually came only once. (3) In the “sorrowful” letter (now lost),
  written after that visit, he stated his plan to travel directly from Ephesus to Corinth.
  Instead, he traveled up through Macedonia (2:12, 13). This was perceived as vacillation by
  some in Corinth.
1:19   Silvanus is Silas, Paul's longtime coworker (Acts 15:40).
1:20   Christ is Yes. He affirms and fulfills God-given promises, though His ways may at
  times seem strange to men. Therefore, the Church may always affirm Amen to Him—
  which explains the repeated use of that response in liturgical practice.
1:21-22   Note again the NT roots of Orthodox sacramental life. We are established in
  Christ (v. 21) through baptism and are anointed and sealed (v. 22) in the Spirit
  through chrismation.
1:23-24   The real reason for Paul's change in itinerary is graciousness: to spare them a
  confrontation. The purpose of church discipline is never for the leader to exercise
  dominion or harsh authority; rather it is to call for repentance, reconciliation with the
  Church, and renewal in the joy (v. 24) of the Spirit.
2:4      True pastoral correction brings both agony for the overseer—affliction, anguish of
  heart, many tears—and abundant love to the one being disciplined (see Heb 12:5, 6,
  11).
2:5-11 Church discipline must not be too severe; that is, it must not go farther than the
  sin. And not to forgive and comfort (v. 7) the one who repents is itself a sin. Undue
  separation from the Church through excessive and prolonged discipline increases tension
  (too much sorrow, v. 7) and even division. This pleases Satan (v. 11), the author of
  strife and discord; it does not please God.
2:14-17   Our triumph in Christ (v. 14), taken in an ancient Roman context, suggests a
  magnificent picture of unwilling captive soldiers paraded before the victorious
  commander's chariot while fragrant flowers are strewn along the way in celebration. The
  victor is Christ; the captives are the powers of darkness; His fragrance (v. 15) is the
  apostolic ministry, especially its preaching (v. 17). Christians are the winning forces who
  triumph through the hearing of the word of God (v. 17) and lead the great procession of
  thanksgiving leading to life (v. 16).
3:1   The outsiders who came to Corinth as prominent apostles demanded evidence of Paul's
  sincerity. They themselves carried forged epistles of commendation—letters Paul
  could not match. They maintained Paul was not a genuine apostle.
3:2-3   Paul does not need a commendation in ink (v. 3), for the Corinthians have all
  experienced the fruit of his ministry; this fruit is of more value than any written epistle.
  Paul compares the difference between sterile epistles and living spiritual fruit to the
  difference between the Old Covenant, written on tablets of stone, and the New, written
  on tablets . . . of the heart. The impostors in Corinth are lifeless legalists. Paul is
  ministering Christ through the Spirit of God.
3:4-6 This passage holds great hope for the Christian ministry. “Who is sufficient for these
  things?” (2:16)—the one who places trust through Christ in God (v. 4). The minister
  gives his all in study and service, but ultimately human power is not sufficient for
  ministry or for salvation: we must depend utterly on God.
3:7-9 The Old Covenant was external, temporary, and powerless. Under it God was present,
  and it was glorious with the presence of God. But it was imperfect and imparted a
  ministry of death because men were unable to keep the Law. Israel had access to God
  but generally failed to apprehend it. The inner veil of the temple and the veil over the
  face of Moses spoke of the veil over the hearts of fallen human nature: men could
  neither adequately approach nor adequately see God. Many even fail to see the Godhead
  veiled in Jesus' flesh. By contrast, the New Covenant is internal, eternal, and powerful.
  Under it God is fully present as an unlimited, life-giving glory (v. 9), through the
  ministry of the Spirit (v. 8) and of righteousness (v. 9). Christians have bold access
  to God, for there is no veil to separate us (v. 16). The New Covenant is therefore more
  glorious (v. 8).
3:16-18 The Lord here is a title. In the NT Lord usually refers to the Son. The Father is
  sometimes called Lord (Mt 11:25; 22:44; Lk 1:32; 4:12, 18; 10:21; Acts 3:22; 4:26; Rev
  11:15; 21:22), and the Spirit is referred to as Lord here (v. 17) and in the Nicene Creed: “I
  believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life.”
     There is difference of opinion as to which of the Divine Persons the Lord refers to in
  each usage here. But Orthodox interpreters all agree that: (1) The Father, the Son, and the
  Holy Spirit are in no way confused here—Paul has in mind one Person or another. The
  Son, for example, cannot be the Holy Spirit. (2) The Spirit is a Divine Person, not an
  impersonal force—though elsewhere in the NT “spirit” occasionally refers to a realm or
  way of existence. (3) This title here describes how God reigns in the world. It does not
  describe the eternal relationship of the Persons of the Trinity: the Spirit, for instance,
  does not proceed from the Son.
     Paul is transforming the Old Covenant understanding of one God, the Lord, into Jesus'
  New Covenant revelation of one God in three Persons, each of whom is Lord. So when
  one turns to the Lord (v. 16) he turns not just to the Father but also to the incarnate
  Son (v. 16), in the power of the Holy Spirit (v. 17).
3:17-18   The work of the Holy Spirit brings liberty (v. 17), freeing us to behold God and
  have open access to Him. Created as the image of God, we see His uncreated image, the
  Son, the glory of the Lord (v. 18; see 4:4–6), in two ways: (1) through the Son's deified
  humanity (see 1Co 13:12; Jam 1:23–25) and (2) in the power of the Spirit. As we behold
  Him, we become what we were created to be. God is infinite; therefore, growing in His
  image and glory has no limits. We shall ever see God more clearly and ever be
  transformed into His likeness.
4:1     In the face of numerous onslaughts, challenges to his apostleship, and his
  responsibility “for all the churches” (11:28), Paul still writes, we do not lose heart (see
  v. 16). For he is preoccupied with the glories of the ministry of Christ and the mercy by
  which it is given to him.
4:3-4 The veil is not over the gospel or the apostle, but over the hearts and minds of those
  who will not believe.
4:5   The goal in preaching is not to glorify ourselves, but Christ.
4:7   The treasure is the light of God's glory in Christ (v. 6); earthen vessels refers to our
  humanity. As this light shines in and through us, people will see that the power is of
  God and not of man.
4:8-12   This is victorious, but not trouble-free, Christianity. These trials “show both the
  power of God and, more, disclose His Grace” (JohnChr).
4:16   The Orthodox Faith teaches that salvation in Christ includes: (1) a passage from
  death to life, from darkness to light (Jn 3:1–6; Col 1:13, 14), through repentance, faith,
  and baptism (“I have been saved”); (2) a process of spiritual growth and maturation (2Pt
  1:2–8) through ongoing repentance, faith, and communion, often called deification (“I am
  being saved”); and (3) a promise of eternal life (5:9–11; Jn 14:1–6), calling us to
  perseverance and righteousness (“I shall be saved”). It is this second element, the process
  of our salvation, that Paul describes here, saying that our inner life is being renewed
  day by day.
4:17   Despite Paul's hardships (vv. 8–12), he sees God's everlasting glory and calls his
  trials light affliction.
4:18   As part of our inner renewal in Christ (v. 16) we gain the gift of seeing the unseen,
  the things which are . . . eternal.
5:1-4 Fear of death is overcome by hope in the resurrection, faith in the Holy Trinity (vv. 5,
  7), and the love of Christ and our union with Him (v. 14). Our earthly house (v. 1) is
  our present mortal body. The building from God, the one which is from heaven (v.
  2), is the immortal, deified body we shall have in heaven (see 1Co 15). The soul is naked
  (v. 3), or unclothed (v. 4), when it departs the body, that is, when one dies. Paul longs
  not for death but for resurrection; he knows God created us not to die, but to be
  transformed from mortality to life (v. 4; see v. 5). So he speaks not of the bliss of the
  soul without a body, but of the union of the soul with the glorified body.
5:5-8 Being always confident (v. 6) in the resurrection means we are being prepared by
  God the Father and the Spirit (v. 5) to join the Lord (v. 8), Jesus Christ.
5:10   Following his discourse on suffering, death, and resurrection (4:16–5:8), Paul now
  turns to the judgment. We must all appear, not only the unbelievers, to be judged
  according to what we have done. For Christians, right belief gives power and motivation
  for right behavior. Here again, the NT unifies faith and works.
5:11-15 In his gospel, Paul seeks to persuade men (v. 11) on two fronts: (1) by the terror
  of the Lord (v. 11), the possibility of judgment to eternal death; and (2) by the love of
  Christ (v. 14), the divine invitation to live for Christ (v. 15), to eternal life. The heart of
  Paul's gospel is baptism, where life and death meet: Christ died and rose for us that we
  might die and rise in Him.
5:16-17 Paul did not know “the historical Jesus” as He voluntarily took on our mortality,
  lived on earth, and was known according to the flesh (v. 16). Nobody knows Jesus that
  way after His Ascension, for his mortal flesh has been transformed into an immortal
  body. Even so, our old bodies are transformed into a new creation (v. 17) in Christ.
  Because God created all things through Christ, He will transform and reunite all things
  —material as well as spiritual—to Himself through Christ.
5:18-21 How was Christ made to be sin for us? He, the incarnate Son of God, voluntarily
  assumed the consequences of our sin—corruption and death—without sinning Himself.
  And He submitted to unjust suffering because of the sinful passions of men and of
  angels. This means salvation is far more than forgiveness of sins. It is new life: our
  reconciliation to God (vv. 18–20) and our becoming new creatures (v. 17), participants in
  the very righteousness of God (v. 21). This means our salvation is not just juridical
  (the static, legal pronouncement of a judge), but personal and relational (the dynamic,
  sacrificial love of a father for his child).
6:1-10   Here is an authentic apostle! His life demonstrates the paradox of God's strength
  working in human weakness, of renouncing the world in order to master it. The day of
  salvation is now (v. 2), always the present moment in the period before Christ's return.
6:11-1 This passage is the spiritual perspective of the New Covenant holiness code: Love of
  God and His Church requires a spurning of immorality and false religions, and a devotion
  to perfecting holiness in the fear of God (7:1).
6:14   One important application of this passage is that the Church calls us to marriage
  between those of like faith.
6:17    This verse extends an invitation from God to come out of the world and false
  religion.
7:1   An escape from filthiness requires more than thinking repentant thoughts. For we are
  enmeshed in a spiritual war zone, entrenched in patterns of sin that become habitual.
  Often, darkness becomes imprinted in our souls and bodies so that even our wills are
  bypassed and we sin automatically. To cleanse ourselves means that by the promises
  of God, we embark on a sustained struggle for holiness. This cleansing includes genuine
  sorrow for our sins, confession, and repentance. It means a willful avoidance of sin-
  arousing situations, reconciliation with those we have wronged, the resolute practice of
  Christian virtue, and cleaving to God through faith and prayer. It calls us to participation
  in the holy sacraments. Is this too difficult for us humans? Yes. Thus it is the Holy Spirit,
  who cleanses us from every stain and heals our infirmities, who empowers us to live this
  life of peace with God and repentance before Him.
7:9-11   Feeling sorry is not enough. Heartfelt, godly sorrow produces repentance and
  diligence (v. 11). True repentance cleanses us from sin and alienation, and diligence
  zealously pursues holiness and reconciliation. We hereby continue on the path of
  salvation to eternal life. The sorrow of the world (v. 10) is feeling sorry we were
  caught. It centers on ourselves, on our embarrassment over the predicament we find
  ourselves in. It stops short of repentance and reconciliation to God.
8:1-15 The subject of this passage is a collection from the churches in Asia Minor for the
  church in Jerusalem. Beyond the material help Jerusalem needs, for Paul this appears to
  be an important theological matter as well. It (1) relates to the unity of Jew and Gentile in
  the Church, (2) underscores the messianic age as having indeed come in Christ, and (3)
  demonstrates that the charismatic effects of Pentecost are continuing and maturing in
  the Church.
     Paul had given the Corinthians the same instruction he gave to Galatia, to contribute
  systematically to the fund (1Co 16:1–4). Titus is to make sure they actually have begun to
  do so (8:6). Paul has told the Macedonians that Corinth was exemplary in giving (9:2),
  but he has his doubts. So he sends Titus to Corinth to be sure the Corinthians will comply
  (9:3–5). Some in Corinth feel pressure, saying that Paul is “crafty”; he gets his way “by
  cunning” (12:16). Paul encourages the Corinthians by holding up the generosity of the
  poorer Macedonians as an example (8:1–5). The Corinthians actually do contribute to the
  fund, and Paul is pleased with them (Rom 15:25–28).
8:5   Note the progression: they first gave themselves to the Lord (“They offered up
  themselves”—JohnChr) and then to us, to the Church, to the apostles. If our lives are
  an offering to God, they will be an offering to His people as well.
8:9   What was Christ's poverty? He emptied Himself (Php 2:5–8) of His heavenly glory to
  join our humanity to His divinity, and to suffer and die on our behalf. He did not owe this
  to us, but did so by His grace, that we might become rich in His salvation.
8:24   The proof of God's love for us is that He gave us His Son through His Incarnation
  and death (Rom 5:8). The proof of our love for God is in the giving of our gifts to Him
  and the churches.
9:3   Paul has stuck his neck out. The Corinthians' “zeal” had caused many in Macedonia to
  give to Jerusalem (v. 2). Yet, to make sure Corinth will stay zealous, Paul has sent the
  brethren.
9:6-15 Here is Paul's landmark teaching on Christian stewardship. The metaphor is not the
  giving of money but the sowing of seed for a harvest. And where does the seed come
  from? God Himself (v. 10).
10:1     Paul replies to the charges of his opponents: far from being weak, he is
  extraordinarily strong. But strength in spiritual warfare sometimes appears as weakness
  to the world. The meekness and gentleness of Christ is sometimes communicated in
  a lowly or humble fashion, and sometimes boldly (see vv. 10, 11).
10:3 In the flesh refers to fallen human nature.
10:4-6    The battlefield of spiritual warfare includes entrenched spiritual fortresses
  (strongholds), human reason (arguments, v. 5), human and angelic powers (every
  high thing that exalts itself), ideas (thought), and the will (obedience). Our
  weapons include the Cross, prayer, and the Word of God. Both our thoughts (v. 5) and
  our actions (v. 6) are to be submissive to Christ. The Church is God's fortress, marching
  against the strongholds of disobedience.
10:7-8   Some teachers in Corinth had claimed a special knowledge of or an esoteric
  relationship to Christ. Paul here counters their claim by boasting somewhat more of his
  authority—not because he wants to boast (11:1, 16–19; 12:1, 11), but because the
  boastfulness of his enemies must be shown to be not only empty, but ruinous for those
  who believe them.
10:12-18   Paul's opponents had stepped into his sphere (v. 13) after he had evangelized
  and established the church in Corinth. They then claimed they were responsible for
  raising up this church and commended themselves (v. 18) for doing so.
11:1-3 Paul compares the reality of the New Covenant to the Garden of Eden, where Christ
  is Adam and the Church is Eve, and where Satan is up to his same craftiness (v. 3).
  Paul's desire is to present a pure Church, a chaste virgin (v. 2), to Christ at the Second
  Coming.
11:4-6 The first element of a “chaste virgin” (v. 2) is the purity of orthodox doctrine. Not
  human persuasiveness (v. 6) but apostolic content is important. Paul is a part of the
  apostolic college (v. 5), which continues in line with the original twelve apostles.
11:7-12 Pure doctrine is taught out of pure motives. A mark of apostolic authenticity is the
  refusal of excessive money. The clergy draw their living from the Church, but not to the
  point of getting rich (see 1Co 9:4–18; 1Ti 6:3–10; Tts 1:11). Paul's opponents dared not
  make this claim.
11:13-15   Although Satan (v. 14) imitates the Kingdom of God, telltale signs such as
  nonapostolic doctrine (vv. 4–6) and a lucrative ministry (vv. 7–12) reveal his sham.
11:16-21   The Corinthians thought they were wise (v. 19) enough to evaluate church
  leaders. They had become enamored with false apostles who championed themselves
  using the methods and values of the world, full of outward show and crafty talk. They
  disparaged Paul, seeing him as a weakling without credentials. As a result they were in
  bondage (v. 20), defrauded and even brutalized. Paul, playing the devil's advocate, takes
  up the methods of these false apostles to show them as fools (v. 19). He satirizes them in
  the hope the Corinthians will thereby see through their charade.
11:22-33    Using his opponents' level of argument, Paul lists his Jewish and Christian
  credentials. If genealogy means anything, which it does to the Jews, Paul has it (v. 22). If
  “Christian experience” means anything, no one can compare with him in his sufferings
  (vv. 23–27), his compassionate, involved concern for his people (vv. 28, 29), or even his
  bizarre adventures (vv. 30–33).
12:1-6   Paul's opponents probably boasted of visions and revelations (v. 1), for Paul
  mentions one of his. Fourteen years ago would date the event before his missionary
  journeys. Paul employs two terms used by Jews to describe heavenly realms: the third
  heaven (v. 2) is the highest heaven; Paradise (v. 4), where God is surrounded by the
  assembly of the just, is the City of God.
12:7-10   Unlike his opponents, who publicly proclaimed their own greatness in their
  mystical experiences, Paul sees his thorn in the flesh (v. 7) as given to him precisely
  so he might not be exalted. What was this thorn? Perhaps a chronic physical problem, or
  deluded Christian leaders, or hard-hearted Israelites. Nevertheless, for Paul, his
  weakness (v. 9; see v. 5), not his mystical experiences (vv. 2–4), is the means of the
  power of Christ remaining in him.
12:11-13 By signs of an apostle (v. 12; see Rom 15:19; 1Co 2:4; 4:20; 12:28, 29; Heb 2:4)
  Paul seems to be referring to miracles that lead men to God and the Church, for with
  these signs and wonders (v. 12) the Corinthians are greatly impressed.
12:15   This is the experience through history of the godly shepherd.
12:20-4 Paul is more impressed with the miracle of unity and harmony than with physical
  miracles. He fears he may have to exercise the supreme apostolic power, that of excluding
  people who have not repented (v. 21) from the Church.
13:5   In this context, the test of being in Christ is a humble, virtuous life lived in
  communion with the Church.
13:12   The holy kiss, the kiss of peace, is an established liturgical tradition. Perhaps the
  final test of whether one is a Christian is whether one can give this kiss with an
  uncondemning conscience.
13:14   This Trinitarian blessing is also an ancient and contemporary liturgical practice.
1:1, 2   The Judaizers invading Galatia argued that Paul was not a true apostle. Paul
  introduces himself with a threefold defense: (1) The source of his apostleship is God (v.
  1). (2) He has witnessed the resurrected Christ (Acts 9:27), just as the eleven have. (3)
  His apostleship is confirmed by all the brethren (v. 2) with him. An additional proof of
  Paul's apostleship is that he founded the churches of Galatia (v. 2).
1:3-5   Paul's greeting encapsulates the true gospel, which he is defending in this epistle.
  Several points may be drawn from this greeting: (1) The true gospel comes from God
  Himself (v. 3). (2) Christ gave Himself for our sins not only in His death, but in every
  phase of His Incarnation, from conception to Ascension (see 2:20). (3) Christ delivers us
  from this present evil age (v. 4) to enter the age to come. (4) This deliverance is
  accomplished according to the will of our God (v. 4), the Son in His human nature
  cooperating with the divine will (Jn 5:30; 6:38). The Father's will is done by Jesus, and
  then by us, “on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:10).
1:6-10 Different (Gr. heteros, v. 6) means different in kind, whereas another (Gr. allos,
  v. 7) means another of the same kind. Paul is saying that the teaching the Galatians are
  listening to is not a harmless variation of the truth, but a completely different, false
  gospel. This “gospel” (1) is a turning away from the grace of Christ (v. 6); (2) brings
  trouble to the faithful; (3) will pervert the gospel of Christ (v. 7)—it is a distortion of
  the truth, a mixture of truth and falsehood; (4) is accursed or anathematized by the
  Church (v. 8); and (5) is intended to please men (v. 10), not God.
     Paul's warning about we, or an angel from heaven is not hypothetical. Angels can
  and have delivered the gospel to us: they announced Christ's conception (Lk 1:26–38),
  birth (Lk 2:9–15), Resurrection (Mt 28:5–7), and Ascension (Acts 1:9–11). But angelic
  messages are not necessarily true; they may come from fallen angels, who are accursed.
1:11-14      The true gospel is taught by true apostles, but many declare themselves to be
  apostles. How can we know true apostles from false?
     (1) True apostles are called by God. They learn the gospel by revelation, either directly
  from the risen Son, as did the original apostles (1:11, 12), or by the revelation of apostolic
  tradition (2Ti 2:2). They are called by grace, not according to works or a “proper”
  background (1:13–17). A true apostle brings glory to God, not to himself (1:18–23).
    (2) True apostles form one church government, holding the same doctrine and working
  by agreement reached in council (2:6–10).
      (3) True apostles stand firm in matters of conscience and are correctable when
  mistaken (2:11–14). Thus, Paul rebukes Peter sharply in public for his hypocritical ethnic
  elitism.
1:11-12   Apostolic tradition is grounded in divine revelation from Jesus Christ. Just as
  the Twelve were called by Christ, so was Paul (v. 1). Just as the Twelve received the gospel
  directly from Christ, so did Paul (Acts 9:3–6; 26:13–18). Just as the Twelve stood together
  as one, so Paul entered their unity in consensus and mutual submission.
1:13-17 People are called by God not according to former conduct (v. 13)—good or bad—
  but by God's grace (v. 15). Paul, whom God called in mercy, received grace from Ananias'
  hands and the waters of baptism (Acts 9:10–19). Separated me from my mother's
  womb (v. 15) refers not to Paul's physical birth but to God's calling Paul to apostolic
  ministry before he was born (see Ps 138:15, 16; Is 49:1; Jer 1:5; Lk 1:35, 43, 44, 48). As
  with Paul, God's intentions for a person may lie hidden for years.
1:18-20 As a true apostle, Paul submits himself to the Church and her apostles rather than
  elevating himself. Paul knows his encounter with Christ, instruction in the gospel, and
  call to apostleship are highly unusual—in a private revelation, the only other witness is
  God (v. 20). But he also knows he must teach the same gospel as the other apostles.
1:19   James is James the Just, the first bishop of Jerusalem and author of the Epistle of
  James. Brother also means cousin or close relation (see the Introduction to the Epistle
  of James).
1:24   Glory goes to God, not to the apostle.
2:2     Communicated (Gr. anatithemai) means “laid before” or “submitted.” Paul
  submitted to the apostles James, Peter, and John (v. 9) what he had been teaching
  among the Gentiles so that he might not run in vain, that is, teach error. He did so
  privately because the Judaizers were slandering him, giving apostolic honor only to
  those they considered of reputation, the original apostles.
2:4-5   The false brethren are not those “of reputation” (v. 2) in the Church, but the
  Judaizers, whom no one had recognized as apostolic.
2:6   Seemed to be something is more correctly translated “were of reputation,” as in v.
  2. To the Judaizers, only the original apostles had valid authority. But the Judaizers were
  wrong. Paul is not putting down the Twelve; rather he is saying that it makes no
  difference that all his fellow apostles were formerly “blue collar” workers, not scholars
  like Paul himself. God does not show personal favoritism. As for correcting Paul's
  gospel, they added nothing to his teaching.
2:7   Peter and Paul were each responsible to reach one segment of the population in the
  central part of the Roman Empire: Peter the circumcised (Jews), Paul the
  uncircumcised (Gentiles). The others of the Twelve also did evangelistic work, as did
  the Seventy (see article, “The Seventy,” at Luke 10).
2:8   One God gave one gospel through two apostles to two different ethnic groups.
2:9   The right hand of fellowship indicates consensus, not merely friendship. The
  apostles are united in preaching the same gospel.
2:10   Apostles are also united in caring for the poor, which in this case probably refers to
  the Jerusalem church (see Acts 11:27–30).
2:11   No individual apostle (or bishop or patriarch) is infallible. Even when he speaks
  officially (ex officio), he is correctable. Unchecked, Peter could have caused a schism.
2:12-13 The men who came from James were probably trying to force the culture of the
  Jerusalem church on the Gentiles—and they were not necessarily representing James.
  Jerusalem was Jewish, but to impose that culture on Gentiles was hypocrisy (v. 13). And
  to mistake culture—any culture—for the gospel is even worse. God had already shown
  that Jewish dietary laws were obsolete (Acts 10:11–16), for the law is fulfilled in Christ.
2:14-21 Paul recounts the speech he gave in Antioch when he confronted Peter.
2:15   Gentiles were considered sinners by the Jews.
2:16    What does it mean to be justified? See the article, “Justification by Faith,” at
  Romans 5. Faith in Jesus Christ is grammatically parallel to the works of the law
  and should be translated “the faith of Jesus Christ.” The faith of Christ is the gospel. As
  the source of works is the law, so the source of faith is Christ. It is the faith of Christ—
  His beliefs, His trust, His obedience—that justifies us, not our faith as such. Christ's faith
  is seen in His entire life on earth, not in just a few of His crucial works.
2:17   By Christ should be “in Christ.” Justification is not merely legal but actual—effected
  by our real, personal union with Christ in His glorified human nature. That we could be
  found sinners shows this union never takes away our free will, and explains how some
  defected to Judaism.
2:18   Those things which I destroyed are “the works of the law” (v. 16). Paul destroyed
  them in the sense of proving their ineffectiveness for salvation. The real transgressor
  here is one who tries to reinstitute the Jewish Law.
2:19   We die through the law, not bypassing or dishonoring it, but by recognizing that it
  is holy; that we deserve its consequence, death; and that we voluntarily die to the law
  through our death with Christ. Being crucified with Christ through baptism, we come
  alive to the law of the Spirit, which perfects the intention of the OT law. There is no
  contradiction between law and gospel. The law is “holy and just and good” (Rom 7:12).
  However, the law is “weak” (Rom 8:3) and “obsolete” (Heb 8:13), for it is fulfilled in the
  gospel, in Christ Himself.
2:20 I have been crucified with Christ means our sinful “passions and desires” (5:24)
  have been crucified. This is not the crucifixion of human nature, but of the flesh, the
  corruption into which human nature has fallen. This crucifixion must be willingly and
  freely accepted, just as Christ freely accepted His death. Living in the flesh (Gr. en sarki)
  is contrasted with living “in the faith” (Gr. en pistei), translated here by faith. Just as
  living in the flesh involves the whole person, body and soul, so living “in the faith”
  involves the whole person. Justification therefore constitutes substantial union with
  Christ, not just an abstract position of the believer with respect to God.
    While it is no longer I who live under the dominion of sinful passions and desires, I
  do live a crucified life in Christ. As we are not saved by works alone, nowhere does the NT
  say we are saved by faith alone. We are saved by faith, but not faith alone.
2:21   Set aside the grace of God is what Peter and Barnabas had done (vv. 12, 13). The
  faith of Christ is not opposed to the works of the law, but it is opposed to using works to
  justify oneself before God. As Moses himself looked ahead to Christ (Heb 11:26), so the
  law is a shadow, an icon, pointing toward Christ Himself, who brings us life.
3:1-5 The Galatians had believed in Jesus Christ (v. 1) and received the Spirit through
  the hearing of faith (v. 2). But they are foolish because they have rejected ongoing life
  in Christ and the Spirit, teaching instead that we are made perfect by the flesh (v. 3)—
  circumcision. Paul argues they do not understand righteousness, nor how men have
  always participated in it.
3:6-9 Who are the sons of Abraham? Those who are of faith (v. 7)—true Christians.
  Jews saw Abraham as their father. Paul shows that Abraham's righteousness (v. 6) does
  not consist in keeping the law, but in believing God (v. 9). Righteousness is a heart-
  centered belief in and obedience to God, with the blessing of the Holy Spirit.
     Accounted (v. 6) in our day suggests keeping the books, ledgers, CPAs. To “account”
  here (Gr. logizomai) refers rather to faithful participation. When God “accounted”
  Abraham righteous, Abraham was participating with God in the fruit of the Holy Spirit
  and faith (v. 5).
     With believing Abraham (v. 9) is literally “in the faith of Abraham,” that which he
  believed and did. This shows that Jesus' words, “If you were Abraham's children, you
  would do the works of Abraham” (Jn 8:39), underscore the fact that separating faith from
  works is impossible. To justify (v. 8) means to make righteous and so to be righteous.
  Therefore, to be blessed (v. 9) in Abraham is to participate with him, body and soul, in
  communion with God and His goodness.
3:10   While the works of the law are good, those who are of the works of the law are
  cursed because they cannot become righteous by keeping the law. Even on their own
  premise they fail, for no one has kept all the law.
3:12   The law is not of faith because the law came before the true faith (v. 23). This is
  not to say that no one believed before Christ, or that the law cannot be obeyed out of
  faith. Abraham is the father of faith! But his faith was a type of the faith of Christ, for his
  faith is perfected in the faith of Christ.
3:13   Christ perfectly obeyed the law and accepted its curse. In Christ, we are redeemed
  from the curse and participate in His perfect faith and obedience.
3:14     How is God's promised blessing obtained? The Judaizers believed they were
  progressing toward perfection by obeying the law. Paul argues by contrast that the
  blessing comes through the promise of the Spirit through faith, a participation in
  the very life of God.
3:15-18   The Jews were blinded by the multitude of details of the law. They failed to see
  that their sonship was founded on God's promises (the covenant) made to Abraham
  (v. 16). Since a covenant that was confirmed (v. 17) cannot be added to, changed, or
  annulled, the law, which comes later (v. 17), cannot alter the covenant's promise (v. 15).
  The Jews thought they were sons of Abraham (seeds) through physical genealogy. They
  overlooked the fact that Seed (v. 16) is singular, referring to Christ.
3:19   Why was the law given then? Because Israel was transgressing what they knew of
  God's law through conscience and nature. So God put it in writing! The law was never a
  savior, but a tutor (v. 24) to convict Israel of transgressions and to lead her to Christ.
3:20   For Christ to be the mediator between God and man (see also 1Ti 2:5), He had to
  be both God and man. God is one is a reference to the one divine nature and does not
  deny the existence of three divine Persons. (Priests, by the way, are not seen as mediators
  between God and man; their role is to lead people to the Mediator.)
3:22-25 Faith in (v. 22) should be translated “faith of.” Two faiths are cooperating: first
  and foremost, Christ's faith; secondarily, the faith of those who believe. While OT
  people had faith, they could not participate in Christ's faith, for Christ had not yet come.
3:26-27 Paul directly relates saving faith (v. 26) and being baptized, connecting them as
  the most intimate of friends. Verse 27 is the ancient hymn perhaps already being sung at
  Christian baptisms during the procession of the newly regenerated into the assembly—
  and sung at every Orthodox baptismal service to this day.
3:28-29    We share one human nature in Christ. Therefore, valuing people based on
  opinions and ethnicity (neither Jew nor Greek), pride and social status (neither slave
  nor free), or gender (neither male nor female) has no place in the Church. All are
  one in nature, and so all are equal in dignity.
4:1, 2   Child refers not to age but to understanding. Guardians and stewards provide
  the special discipline and protection required for growth. Slave refers to one under the
  rule of a taskmaster, in this case, the law.
4:3   The elements of the world are the philosophies and traditions developed by
  humanity without regard to God (Col 2:8).
4:4-5 Son refers to Christ as God by nature. God, then, is born of a woman, and so Mary
  is rightly called the mother of God (Theotokos). Since Jesus is born under the law, He
  can redeem those under the law. Jesus fulfilled the law as an infant by being circumcised
  on the eighth day and being presented in the temple forty days after His birth. Both of
  these events are remembered in the liturgical cycle of the Orthodox Church.
     Why does God redeem those who were under the law? To fulfill His promise to
  Abraham. God owes no one anything—He certainly does not owe us salvation.
     Whereas the Son is God by nature, we become sons of God by adoption. We cannot
  become members of the Godhead by nature because we are human by nature. But we do
  become members of His family by grace. In adoption we become everything God is,
  except that we do not share His nature. Because we are given new life, adoption is also
  called a new birth, being born again.
4:6, 7 The ongoing growth into adoption, being an heir of God (v. 7), is called deification
  (see the article, “Deification,” at 2 Peter). This means we are becoming by grace what God
  is by nature. Each Person of the Trinity, Spirit, Son, and Father (v. 6), is involved in
  this process of transformation. Therefore, to become sons of God by grace, we must
  believe in and know the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
4:10   The Judaizers were making their holy-day calendar an end in itself. Although God
  gave Israel her holy days, they point beyond themselves to Christ and His Kingdom. The
  OT holy days are fulfilled in the great feasts of the Church. Passover becomes Easter,
  while Pentecost, the celebration of the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai, becomes the
  descent of the Holy Spirit—a renewed calendar for a renewed creation.
4:13   The nature of Paul's physical infirmity is not known. Perhaps it was simply the
  sufferings of his work for the gospel.
4:14-19 The angel of God in the OT was a pre-incarnate appearance (theophany) of the
  Son, whom we know as Christ Jesus. A priest in the Church is called to be a
  manifestation of Christ and is to be received as Christ, but he is neither identical with
  Christ nor a mediator between a Christian and Christ. He must both win the love of his
  people (v. 15) and adamantly confront bad behavior and wrong belief (vv. 16–18). A true
  priest seeks spiritual growth, deification, for his people (v. 19), even if his people do not
  want the truth (v. 16).
4:21-31 By saying that Abraham's two sons and related events are symbolic (v. 24, Gr.
  allegoreo), Paul is not implying that they are not historical. Rather he asserts that OT
  history is announcing something far greater than itself. Hagar and Mount Sinai
  symbolize earthly Jerusalem and the Jews under the law (v. 25). Sarah, the
  freewoman (vv. 22, 23), symbolizes the heavenly Jerusalem, that is, the Church (v. 26).
  The desolate are those in the Church, especially the Gentiles; she who has a
  husband is Israel (v. 27). Furthermore, Sarah is a type of Mary, the Mother of God, for
  Sarah's son was born through promise (v. 23), the promise of God.
      Isaac “was the issue of bodies that were dead, and of a womb that was dead. His
  conception was not by the flesh, nor his birth by the seed, for the womb was dead both
  through age and barrenness. But the Word of God fashioned him. . . . He that was not
  according to the flesh was more honorable than he that was born after the flesh.
  Therefore let it not disturb you that you were not born after the flesh. For from the very
  reason that you are not so born, are you most of all Abraham's kindred” (JohnChr).
2:16-31 In this section, Paul gives the content of the true gospel by contrasting it with the
  false gospel, that of the Judaizers.
     (1) The source of justification is faith, not the works of the law (2:16–21). (a) Works of
  the law deal with man in his fallen state, in his corruption; faith “crucifies” man's corrupt
  condition and deals with the new man in Christ. (b) Works of the law begin with the
  action of man; faith begins with the action of God. Every work of faith is the action of
  both God and man, a cooperation (synergy) between the divine and human wills. This
  faith and these actions find their source and fulfillment in God-made-Man, Christ. We
  experience them through our union with Christ brought about in baptism.
     (2) The Holy Spirit gives us power for the ongoing life of righteousness in Christ, the
  life of blessing (3:1–14). (a) Father Abraham is the father of faith and of the blessing of
  the Spirit. (b) But Judaizers, who have based their righteousness on the works of the law,
  have received a curse, not the blessing of the Spirit.
      (3) The status conferred by righteousness is sonship. We become children of God
  through union with God incarnate (3:15–4:31). (a) The source of sonship is God, not
  humanity; divine promise, not human deeds; faith, not works. (b) God introduced the
  works of the law to protect mankind until the time of divine sonship, the time when our
  union with the Son of God became possible. (c) The purpose of sonship is for us to
  become like God and to enter heaven.
5:1-5     The yoke of bondage is the law. It mistakes the lesser reality, its rules and
  regulations, its externals, for the greater reality, God, who produced the law and to whom
  the externals point. The law in this sense includes: (1) the initiatory requirement to be
  circumcised (v. 2); (2) an obligation to perfectly obey the whole law (v. 3); (3) being
  justified by law—trying to establish one's own righteousness under the law (v. 4); (4)
  continuing bondage to sin (v. 1); (5) dependence on the “flesh,” corrupt human nature;
  (6) alienation from Christ and from grace (v. 4), which Christ calls “labor” and being
  “heavy laden” (Mt 11:28).
        By contrast, Christ's yoke is life in the Spirit, which includes: (1) the regeneration of
  baptism (3:27), the renewal of the entire human nature in Christ, the circumcision of the
  heart; (2) obedience to Christ and growth in perfection (Mt 5:48); (3) being justified by
  grace, God's righteousness which becomes ours; (4) freedom or liberty (v. 1) from the
  power of sin; (5) dependence upon the Spirit (v. 5) and access to the perfect and
  glorified human nature of Christ; (6) union with Christ and the grace of God. Christ calls
  this yoke “rest,” for it is “easy” and “light” (Mt 11:30).
5:5   The hope of righteousness is the Kingdom of God.
5:6-12 To believe in Christ involves faith working through love (v. 6). Those who stop
  short of love, hindered by legalism (v. 7), miss the message of the Cross (v. 11). For by
  His death Christ abolished the law, and by His Resurrection He granted us sonship with
  God. For those who trouble you (v. 12) with circumcision, Paul wishes they would cut
  themselves off—referring to complete castration. Why does he speak so strongly? Christ
  broke the bonds of the law, not that our standard might be lowered, but that it might be
  exalted. We who are free from the law must not return to its bondage.
5:13-15 The way of life in the Spirit, the way of faith and love, is expressed through service
  to God and one another (v. 13). We must avoid at all costs competitive comparisons of
  each other's deeds.
5:16   By the flesh, Paul does not mean the body. The flesh here is a general term for evil
  actions, the depraved will, the earthly mind, the slothful and careless soul—things that
  are under one's control, not part of human nature. This flesh is crucified with Christ (v.
  24). It is not human nature that is mortified, but its evil deeds.
5:25   A walk in the Spirit comes from life in the Spirit.
6:1   To be able to administer correction with gentleness is a spiritual gift.
6:2   Paul admonishes us to bear one another's burdens. But moments later, he notes
  that “each one shall bear his own load” (v. 5). Both are true. We are called to initiate
  caregiving in the Church, and not to be needless burdens to others.
6:6   See Nm 31:47; 35:1–8; 1Co 9:14. The teacher and the taught form a bond, and the
  sharing here is in material blessings.
6:12   The legalizers choose to offend God that they may please human beings.
6:14   How does one boast . . . in the cross? Throughout the history of the Church,
  Christians have preached the Cross, displayed the Cross in their homes and altars,
  venerated the Cross in the liturgy, and signed themselves with the Cross in worship of the
  Holy Trinity and during times of fear or temptation.
6:15   The new creation is our way of life in Christ Jesus.
6:16   Paul calls the Church Israel.
6:17   Paul is no hypocrite or coward. He has persevered through much for what he is
  teaching, and he bears in his body the marks to prove it.
1:1, 2   Saints and faithful are biblical and historical references to Christian believers.
  Here, God (v. 2) refers to the Father, Lord (Gr. kyrios) refers to the Son. Early Christian
  usage of these words indicates an identity of nature but distinction of Persons between
  the Father and the Son.
1:3   God blesses and so is blessed. The Christian life is a response to God's initiative,
  especially that of the Father but also that of the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
  Spiritual blessing is primarily the work of the Spirit. The heavenly places, where the
  risen and ascended Christ reigns, are experienced in Christ, that is, by the life that is
  begun when one is joined with Christ in baptism (see Rom 6:3–5).
1:4-6     Everything comes from God, and everything should be drawn back to Him. God's
  original intent for the Incarnation was not redemption from the Fall but adoption as
  sons of God (v. 5), that is, deification. For when God contemplated creating the world, He
  planned on bringing it into union with Himself through the Incarnation of His Son, that
  is, through the Son's union with human nature. That is why St. Athanasius can say, “God
  became man that man might become god.”
        The Father chose us (v. 4) in Him, the Son. Christ, who is God by nature, became
  Man by choice. If we choose Him, we, who are human by nature, become “gods” by grace.
  If we are in Christ, the Son of God, we are sons of God. Paul is not addressing individuals
  as such but us, the community, the Church. And he is not addressing the issue of human
  will in salvation but the will of God, which is that all are chosen (see Rom 11:32; 1Ti 2:4;
  2Pt 3:9). But being predestined (v. 5) by God does not nullify human will: in everything,
  God is the originator, the initiator; we merely respond, but our response is necessary.
  Becoming a Christian is not so much inviting Christ into one's life as getting oneself into
  Christ's life. What is true of Christ must become true of one who is in Him.
1:7-8   The sacraments of baptism (redemption) and the Eucharist (His blood) are
  alluded to as the necessary foundation for drawing near to God. Redemption has a
  technical meaning relative to the freeing of slaves. Here, the bondage is to sins; the act of
  releasing is forgiveness; the price of redemption is blood—the human life of Christ
  given over to death for the sake of new life. This beginning of life in Christ is not merely
  legal, nor instantaneous, but living and dynamic.
1:9, 10 The mystery is the plan of salvation, the gospel, the Kingdom of God, the Church.
  This mystery centers on Christ Himself (Col 2:2), from the Incarnation (1Ti 3:16), to the
  Cross (1Co 2:8), to the restoration and culmination of all things (v. 10). It is the fullness
  (v. 10) of all, not only for humanity but for the whole creation. Although it was
  announced by the prophets (Rom 16:25, 26), God revealed it through Christ, and it is
  made known to us through the apostles (3:1–5; 1Co 2:6, 7, 10–16; 4:1). The mystery is
  made manifest in history by the fact that Gentiles and Jews compose one body (3:6; Col
  1:26–28). The mystery is experienced in the sacraments of the Church, which are called
  the “mysteries.”
1:11-14 The gospel unites all humanity: the Jews (vv. 11, 12) and the Gentiles (vv. 13, 14).
  The Jews, especially those who trusted in Christ (v. 12)—one of whom was Paul, hence
  the use of we (v. 11)—were the first witnesses to the coming of the Messiah. In “the
  fullness of the times” (v. 10) they were joined by the Gentiles.
1:13-14   The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was an evidence that the last times, the day of
  the Lord, had come. Hence, Pentecost was a proof to the Jews that Jesus indeed was the
  Messiah. And the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles (Acts 10:44–48) was a
  proof they were equal to the Jews in this final age. After baptism one is sealed with the
  Holy Spirit, called “chrismation.” (The word “seal” is repeated by Orthodox Christians as
  the priest or bishop anoints the newly baptized with oil.)
    The guarantee (v. 14) is a first installment in kind, a down payment or earnest of what
  is later to be completed: we both are redeemed and shall be redeemed.
1:3-14    In the original Greek, this is all one sentence. Paul's opening theme is the
  preeminence of God's initiative. We say, simply, “Blessed is the Father, and the Son, and
  the Holy Spirit.” Paul's doxology is more detailed: The Father has all power (vv. 3–6); the
  Son, all rule (vv. 7–12); the Spirit, all caretaking (vv. 13, 14).
1:15   This is a way of restating the two great commandments: love God and love man.
1:18   Understanding should be translated “heart.” The prayer that Orthodox Christians
  pray before the reading of the Gospel begins, “Illumine our hearts, O Master who love
  mankind, with the pure light of Your divine knowledge.”
1:21-23 Principality, power, might, and dominion (v. 21) are orders of angelic beings.
  Because Christ transcends all (v. 21), everything submits to Him (v. 22). Because He is
  intimately united with the church (v. 22) as a head to its body (v. 23), the Church has
  the greatest glory of all creation. The Church is God's masterpiece (v. 23). Since Christ as
  God is infinite, the Church never ceases becoming “full.”
1:15-23 This is an intercessory prayer that Paul prayed often and repetitiously (v. 16). He
  asks that his hearers might understand the redemption he outlined in vv. 3–14. Like vv.
  3–14, this section is also one long sentence in Greek.
2:1-7 Two unequal kingdoms are at war. Each is spiritual in nature; each stamps its image
  on its subjects and requires strict obedience. Yet they are opposites. The king of the lesser
  realm is a created being, Satan. His domain is of the air (v. 2), neither fully of earth nor
  of heaven. He is the author of disobedience (v. 2), rebellion. The beginning of his rule is
  spiritual death (v. 1). The desires of his subjects are lustful, of the flesh and of the
  mind (v. 3). Their deeds are trespasses and sins (v. 1). The result of his rule is wrath
  (v. 3), and hence eternal death.
     The King of the other Kingdom is uncreated, God the Father (v. 4). His realm is the
  heavenly places (v. 6). He rules by mercy and love (v. 4). The beginning of His rule is
  redemption to eternal life (v. 5). The desires of His subjects are thankfulness and
  glorifying God. Their deeds are righteous, as is proper to those who reign with Christ. The
  result of His rule is exceeding riches and kindness (v. 7), and hence eternal life.
2:8-10   How can one get from the one kingdom to the other (vv. 1–7)? By the unity of
  grace, faith, and works (v. 9). Not that these are equal, for grace is uncreated and
  infinite, whereas our faith is limited and can grow; good works flow out of authentic faith.
  Works cannot earn us this great treasure—it is a pure gift—but those who receive this gift
  do good. We are not saved by good works, but for good works (v. 10).
2:11-12   Since salvation involves the renewal of all mankind in Christ, the old distinction
  between Jew and Gentile no longer exists. This ethnic distinction was based on the flesh
  (v. 11), the Gentiles being uncircumcised and the Jews being circumcised. While Israel
  was especially blessed by God (v. 12), both Jews and Gentiles had to become true Israel
  (see vv. 13–18).
2:13-18    Man's brokenness was twofold: man was separated from man, that is, Gentile
  from Jew (vv. 13–15); and man was separated from God (vv. 16–18). The healing is
  likewise twofold: the creation of a unified humanity, the Church, and the raising of this
  unified humanity to God. The Incarnation of the Son of God accomplished the former;
  His death and Resurrection did the latter. The whole Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
  act together (v. 18; see v. 22).
     The middle wall of separation (v. 14) probably refers to the barrier in the temple
  separating the Court of the Gentiles from the Court of the Jews. This barrier manifested
  the limitations of the Old Covenant. It did not heal humanity's self-alienation; it actually
  increased human hostility. Now that this wall is broken down, both Gentiles and Jews
  are reconciled and one in Christ.
2:19-22 The Church, humanity unified and renewed through union with the incarnate Son
  of God (vv. 11–18), is built on a foundation of Jesus Christ and the apostles and
  prophets (v. 20). From this foundation come the Scriptures and all doctrine. In 4:11
  these gifts are implied to be a continuing reality in the Church. And the spiritual building
  is one: the Church is designed to be united.
3:1-13   How does Paul fit into the cosmic plan described in 1:3–14 and 2:1–22? God has
  revealed this plan to him (vv. 1–6) so that he can reveal it to all, especially to the Gentiles
  (vv. 7–13).
3:1, 2 Prisoner (Paul is in prison in Rome as he writes this letter) is a title of honor and a
  mark of apostleship (Lk 21:12; 2Co 6:4, 5). Paul is not only an apostle (see v. 5), but one
  with a special role, a special dispensation (v. 2, Gr. oikonomia). All NT leaders,
  “apostles and prophets” (v. 5; 2:20), know the doctrine of the unity in the Church of
  Christ; Paul has received the special commission to extend this Church to the Gentiles (v.
  8).
3:3   God's revelation to Paul began on the road to Damascus (Acts 22:3–21). God was
  gracious to Paul not for his own sake but for others (see Acts 9:15, 16).
3:5   The apostolate is the special bearer of divine revelation necessary for the life of the
  Church in this age.
3:6   This is the content of the revelation mentioned in v. 3: that through the gospel the
  Gentiles should be united with the Jews, so that a united and renewed humanity is
  brought to God.
3:8   Why did God choose a Jew to preach to the Gentiles? Because if God can redeem Saul,
  the persecutor of the Church and hater of Gentiles, then God can certainly redeem the
  Gentiles through Saul.
3:10   Not only did men not know of God's mystery (v. 5), neither did the angels. They hear
  of it from men. How can this be? Because the church affects all elements of creation,
  from the material to the immaterial. The united, renewed humanity made possible by
  Christ is the basis of the reconciliation of the heavens and the earth. Therefore, the
  Church ascends above the angels, the principalities and powers. The basis of such an
  astounding work by men is Christ's Resurrection and exaltation (v. 11).
3:12   The wonder of the mystery of God, surprising even to angels, is that mere humans,
  earthly creatures, can have boldness and confident access to God the Father.
3:13   Paul sees that even his sufferings are a part of his apostolic work. His tribulations
  are for you, that is, for the Church, for us. So our sufferings can be for others.
3:14-19 Paul picks up where he left off in v. 1, beginning a prayer for his hearers. I bow
  my knees shows his special earnestness, since standing would have been a more
  common posture for prayer. The whole Trinity is involved in our deification: Father (vv.
  14, 15, 19–21), Son (vv. 14, 17, 19, 21), and Holy Spirit (v. 16).
3:15   Family or clan (Gr. patria) is a group descended from one ancestor. God the Father
  (Gr. pater, v. 14), is the ultimate source of every living being. As there is only one
  uncreated Father, so the whole of creation is called to form one family under the
  fatherhood of God.
3:18-19 How do we comprehend (v. 18) and know (v. 19)? It is something other than a
  scientific fact or intellectual awareness. It is (1) a revelation, a divine gift that illumines
  and transforms our intellect; and (2) a reciprocal encounter, a personal bond with the
  personal God, who reveals Himself to us through communion with Him. This revelation
  and personal communion, this faith, is best known (1) with all the saints (v. 18), that is,
  in personal communion with the corporate Church; and (2) through an experience of the
  great gift of grace, the love of Christ (v. 19). Theological knowledge is first personal and
  experiential, and then thought out and verbalized. A theologian witnesses to what he
  knows through experience.
3:20-21 A benediction that falls in the middle of the epistle acknowledges that God's work
  goes far beyond what we envision, above all that we ask or think. The goal of
  deification, “that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (v. 19), is accomplished by
  the working together, the synergism, of our faith and love with God's power and Spirit in
  us (v. 20).
4:1   Paul implores his hearers to realize what has been given to them and to be in practice
  what they are in Christ. So he turns the focus of his letter from what God does for us to
  what we are to do in response. How you believe must affect how you live; creed must
  influence conduct.
4:2-3   The basic characteristics of Christians are the virtues that contribute to unity:
  though we are many persons, we share one new nature. Though we are members of the
  most exalted body, the greatness is of God, not of ourselves. Even the cohesiveness of this
  body is God's work in the Spirit (v. 3). So there is no place for quarreling. To live in the
  heavenlies we are to walk in solidarity and humility on earth. Note that the one virtue
  listed not common to Greco-Roman philosophy is lowliness, taught in word and in deed
  by Jesus Himself.
4:4-6   Here is the manifold unity of the Church. Christian morality is not based on ideas
  but on a living reality: the life of the Holy Trinity in the Church. Paul combines the three
  Persons of the Trinity (one Spirit . . . one Lord . . . one God) with the Church, the
  sacrament of baptism (v. 5), and the theological virtues of hope (v. 4) and faith (v. 5)
  into one grand reality, the concrete basis for holy living. Each Person of the Trinity
  sanctifies, but the sanctification is one, because the baptism is one, and the grace of the
  sacrament is one.
4:7-16   While the Church is one in essence, it is diverse in gifts and function. Unity does
  not mean uniformity. Each member is unique before God, with gifts and roles granted by
  Him. Diversity in operation is (1) based on the ascent of the Son and the descent of the
  Spirit (vv. 8–10), (2) guided by specially gifted people (v. 11), and (3) for the sake of the
  maturity and stability of the body (vv. 12–16).
4:8-10   Paul's rabbinic way of intertwining the Ascension of Christ (He ascended) with
  the descent of the Spirit (gave gifts) reveals the relationship between the body of Christ
  and the gifts of the Spirit. The lower parts of the earth is either the earth itself,
  referring to the Incarnation; or burial or Hades, the place of the dead, referring to Christ's
  death and descent into hell (1Pt 3:19). Only Christ, as God and Man, can fill all things
  (v. 10), that is, reign over the unification and fulfillment of creation.
4:11-16 The gifts listed in v. 11 are limited to those who lead the Church. The Holy Spirit
  extends gifts to each person at chrismation, but the “ministry gifts” listed here form one
  leadership group responsible for equipping the laity for the work of ministry (v. 12).
     Why is there a diversity of persons and giftings in the Church? For unity of service (vv.
  12, 13), for the preservation of truth (v. 14), and for the operation of love (vv. 15, 16), the
  primary quality of Christian growth. The Church, in which Christian life develops, is not
  primarily an organization, but an organism whose parts or members receive their edifying
  power from Christ to grow up into Christ. Paul does not look at the Christian as an
  isolated individual walking toward perfection, but as a member of the body, striving to
  reach the perfect faith and full knowledge of the Son of God. Thus unity of faith cannot be
  separated from knowledge of the Son of God.
4:17-24   The process of Christian growth requires our free will commitment to walk in
  righteousness and holiness (v. 24). A child of the light can no longer act as a child of
  darkness. A change of lifestyle is possible because of Christ, the original new man (v.
  24). So Christ must be learned (v. 20), and relationship with Him must be renewed (v.
  23), a process implying intimate relationship. Further, Christ must be put on (v. 24), a
  clothing metaphor, an allusion to baptism and the baptismal robe. While spiritual grace
  makes man heavenly, righteousness is both a gift and a goal, a present reality and a
  promise to be striven for.
4:25   Lying hurts the entire body of the Church. It is as if the eye were to see a trap and
  not tell the foot, or the tongue to taste poison and not spit it out.
4:26-27 “If you fail to master your anger on the first day, then on the next day and even
  sometimes for a whole year you will still be dragging it out. . . . Anger will cause us to
  suspect that words spoken in one sense were meant in another. And we will even do the
  same with gestures and every little thing. . . . Be angry with the devil and not your own
  member. This is why God has armed us with anger. Not that we should thrust the sword
  against our own bodies, but that we should baptize the whole blade in the devil's breast”
  (JohnChr).
4:28   We are to work, not for personal gain and luxury, but in order to serve.
4:31-32 “Cut off clamor and you will clip the wings of anger. . . . There is but one thing in
  which it is useful to cry aloud—in preaching and in teaching” (JohnChr).
4:32   We cannot be content only to root out the weeds mentioned in v. 31; we must plant
  good fruit as well.
5:2-15 “Walk worthy of the calling,” Paul says in 4:1 (see 2:10). Here he defines this walk:
  Walk in love (v. 2); walk in light (v. 8); walk in wisdom (v. 15). Walk implies a slow,
  steady pace; a daily effort; a marathon, not a sprint.
5:4   “Just as clamor was the fuel of wrath, so foul talk is the fuel of lust” (JohnChr).
4:25-5 The way we live affects our relationship not only with God but also with each other
  —for in Christ we are members of one another (4:25). The moral standard for the new
  humanity is the life appropriate to a child of God (5:1)—of the Father (4:32–5:1), the Son
  (5:2), and the Holy Spirit (4:30). Such a child fulfills the two great commandments: (1)
  love of man, demonstrated in self-sacrificing service (given Himself for us, 5:2); and
  (2) love of God, manifested in worship (an offering and a sacrifice to God).
     Paul especially emphasizes that Christians must avoid sexual immorality, not just the
  act but thinking and talking about it also (5:4); and greed, which treats things as if they
  were gods (5:5). Ungodly thoughts as well as behavior can keep believers out of the
  Kingdom.
5:6, 7   Paul's sharp contrast between the two ways, the way of darkness and the way of
  light, begins here. The animosity between the two ways is in thoughts, words (vv. 6–10),
  and actions (vv. 8–12).
5:8-10 We must judge what the world says is reasonable on the basis of what God says is
  true.
5:11-14 Besides separating from darkness, Christians are also to expose (v. 11) it. But we
  must first come out of hiding in order to be exposed ourselves. That is, we must confess
  our sins and repent of them (see Jn 3:19–21). Orthodox Christians do this before baptism,
  before the Eucharist, and also in a separate sacrament of repentance. The hymn in v. 14 is
  an early baptismal hymn: baptism is illumination (see Acts 26:18; 2Co 4:6; Heb 6:4;
  10:32). To walk in the light is to walk in one's baptism.
5:15-17 The goal is not to abandon the world, but to keep oneself in Christ and salvage as
  much as possible from the evil world. Christians renounce the fallenness of the world,
  not creation itself.
5:18-20 Following repentance, a surge of life and joy wells forth. A distinctive spirit, a kind
  of elation, energizes both darkness and light. For those in darkness, this spirit is like
  drunkenness, artificial and temporary. For Christians, it is the Holy Spirit (v. 18), and the
  joy is New Covenant worship of the Holy Trinity, the Eucharist (giving thanks, v. 20): to
  the Father, through the Son incarnate (Lord in v. 19; Lord Jesus Christ in v. 20), in the
  Spirit (v. 18). He who is made drunk with wine totters and sways, but he who is inebriated
  with the Holy Spirit is rooted in Christ and gloriously sober.
5:19-21   Quoting Scripture and singing hymns are not spiritual if there is not also true
  humility, submission, and the fear of God (v. 21).
5:21-9 Verse 21 is a transition to the theme of the next section, where Paul applies the idea
  of mutual submission to the most basic human relationships—those in the household.
5:22-33 The model is Christ and the church (v. 32), which is then applied to marriage.
  Yet Christian marriage helps us to understand the mystery of the Church.
    (1) For wives, concerning headship (vv. 22–24): In both the Church and marriage, there
  is one who acts as head, who leads. As Man, Christ is first among equals, not superior to
  us in nature; yet He alone is the head of the church (v. 23). Likewise, wives are called
  to submit to their husbands as equals.
    (2) For husbands, concerning sacrificial love (vv. 25–31): Paul writes three sentences to
  wives, but writes at greater length to impress on husbands that they should love their
  wives. Just as the wife's submission is to accept the headship of the husband, the
  husband's submission to his wife is to sacrifice himself for her. In ancient Israel, the
  bride would bathe and dress and be escorted to the bridegroom by his friends. In the
  Church, baptism is that bathing and dressing in which we put on Christ (v. 26), and the
  groom Himself, Christ, escorts us (v. 27). In the Church, the baptized are one humanity,
  one flesh with Christ; in marriage, husband and wife are one flesh with each other.
6:1-4 Children are expected to obey and respect their parents. The meaning of the Greek
  word for obey (hupakouo) begins with the idea of listening attentively. The caution
  regarding the fathers puts a restraint and a requirement of godly instruction on the
  parent.
6:5-8   As with marriage, Paul does not seek to alter the existing social structure. But he
  does insist that both marriage and the master-slave relationship (nowadays, employer-
  employee) are different when Christians are involved. The expectations for the slave are
  similar to those for a wife and for children: sincere obedience. Paul, however, unlike the
  culture around him, insists that, in God's eyes, the good done by a slave is the same as
  that done by a free man. Before Christ they are equal.
6:9    Masters are curtly warned against intimidation. They must remember their own
  Master, who is not biased in their favor just because they are earthly masters.
6:10-17 All who stand for good must wage a constant battle with the forces of evil. For the
  demons still have power in the world (v. 12) until Christ comes again in glory. This is
  clearly acknowledged in the prayers at the conclusion of Orthodox baptism. Christians
  fight back with God's arms, that is, His uncreated divine energy, given to us (1:19–23;
  3:16–21) and actively used by us. The Christian has “put on” (4:24) at baptism all the
  qualities listed as armor in vv. 14–17. These qualities must be exercised in the conflict of
  growth: no struggle, no deification.
6:18-20    Just as important as spiritual armor is a Christian's readiness and alertness:
  diligent prayer and watchfulness in submission to the Holy Spirit (see 1:16; 3:14–21;
  5:20). Those on the “front lines,” apostles and evangelists in this case, require the backup
  power of a praying Church.
6:21-22 Tychicus presumably was the bearer of the letter.
6:23-24 This final benediction parallels the greeting (1:3–14).
1:1   This is the only epistle in which St. Paul includes the clergy, the bishops and
  deacons, in his address. St. John Chrysostom says this is because it was the clergy in
  Philippi who collected the funds Paul so badly needed, and sent them to him by
  Epaphroditus. Bishops are the leading presbyters. By the time this letter was written,
  around AD 63, not only were bishops present in Philippi, but James was presiding over
  the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13) and tradition reveals that Peter was bishop in
  Antioch—and later in Rome. (Tradition sometimes refers to the men Peter designated his
  successors in those places as the “first” bishops, affirming the difference between the
  apostles and the overseers they appointed.) Paul's pastoral epistles outline the
  qualifications for the office of bishop (1Ti 3:1–7; Tts 1:7–9).
1:5   Fellowship, the Greek word koinonia, is central to this epistle and to Orthodox
  Christianity in general. It implies true communion, a more fundamental community of
  life and worship than is usually conveyed by the word “fellowship.”
1:9-11   And this I pray: This prayer of Paul shows his love and pastoral care for the
  Philippians. Their behavior makes him confident that God will continue to perfect them—
  and those who follow in their footsteps.
1:19-21   Our witness for Christ goes beyond the words of our mouths to the way we live
  and the way we die: the totality of what we are and do. St. Paul expects deliverance (v.
  19), though not necessarily for his body (v. 20). His expectation and hope (v. 20) is of
  eternal life.
1:29   To suffer for His sake is a repeated theme in this epistle. Suffering not only bears
  witness to others, as Paul's chains have done (see vv. 7, 13), but also can serve to increase
  our faith. Suffering is a gift from Christ, as is faith: it is a participation in His grace.
2:3   Conceit, or vainglory, is a common and fatal vice. It hinders spiritual growth, for
  conceit causes us to despise those who have a different way of life, thinking we are better
  than they. “The spirit of despair exults at the sight of mounting vice, the spirit of
  vainglory at the sight of the growing treasures of virtue” (JohnCli). To be conceited is a
  form of idolatry. It captures those who say they want to please God, but secretly wish to
  please other people more.
2:5-11   This passage is a hymn already in use in the Church, quoted here by St. Paul
  because it calls us to ponder the humility of Christ, a truth necessary for suffering
  Christians to understand and live out. The passage has been incorporated into many
  hymns of the Orthodox Church. Christ is He who, being in the form of God, is also in
  the form of a bondservant (v. 7), in our likeness (see Gn 1:26), and is voluntarily
  subject to death. He who has died, God has exalted and given the name Lord (v. 11), a
  name God the Son shares with God the Father from all eternity.
2:6   The form (Gr. morphe) of God, a concept parallel with “the image [Gr. eikon] of
  God” (Col 1:15), refers to the Son's sharing in full the divine nature. Robbery (Gr.
  harpagmon, lit. “prize” or “booty”) refers to an object stolen and tightly clutched. Christ
  has equality with God not by seizure but by nature, and with absolute security. There is,
  therefore, no threat, loss, or any change in the divine nature of the Son of God when He
  takes our humanity to Himself and offers us salvation.
2:7-8 Made Himself of no reputation (v. 7; lit. “emptied Himself”) deals with the Son's
  will, not His nature. He emptied Himself not by laying down His divine nature or setting
  it aside, but by voluntarily taking on our human nature. To human beings He looks just
  like another human being, for being truly incarnate, He is fully man by nature. He took
  the form of a bondservant, voluntarily sharing our human condition except for one
  thing: sin. In His humanity, He showed the fullness of humility by His obedience to the
  death that has enslaved humanity. To die on a cross, the death of a criminal, was
  repulsive to the Romans and considered a curse by the Jews. But His death brings life to
  all who are joined to Him.
2:12-13 Therefore, because of Christ's sacrifice, we are to take hold of what God offers,
  accepting His grace and working toward becoming mature in Christ. Note the
  cooperation: we work out our own salvation (v. 12) while it is God who works in us
  to do His will (v. 13).
2:17 Service is literally “liturgy.” St. Paul sees himself being poured out as an offering, a
  participation in Christ's sacrifice, for he also participates in Christ's sufferings. In all
  this, we see the attitude that prevailed throughout the entire early Church: there is no
  separation between worship and life. They are one. To worship Christ is to live for Him
  and in Him.
2:19-30 These verses portray the leadership and the laity in the primitive Church working
  together. Paul is confident of his authority to send Timothy (v. 19) to Philippi, which
  demonstrates Paul's apostolic or episcopal role. Timothy is an apostle as well, sent to care
  for this church. Epaphroditus is a fellow worker and fellow soldier (v. 25) who
  earns high praise. Early tradition tells us Epaphroditus later became bishop of Philippi
  and died a martyr.
3:2-3 The Judaizers were teaching that Christians needed to submit themselves to the Law
  of Moses, especially emphasizing the rite of circumcision (v. 3). Paul boldly tags them
  with the name they gave to Gentiles—dogs (v. 2)—and compares their circumcision to
  the self-inflicted mutilation (v. 3) of some pagan cults. True Israel, the Church, does not
  rely on outward observance of the law. She is the mystical body of Christ Jesus,
  composed of those who worship God in the Spirit (v. 3).
3:4-6   Though Paul could boast concerning his ancestry, his circumcision, his keeping of
  the law (v. 5)—he is a more zealous Jew than they are—he knows this is not true
  righteousness.
3:7-9   True righteousness is the knowledge of Christ Jesus (v. 8). He is the “pearl of
  great price” and eternal life (Jn 17:3). A faith that obeys Christ is the very content and
  meaning of life, and it is for this that we suffer the loss of all things (v. 8) and deny
  ourselves. Everything about us must be subordinated to Christ and His Kingdom (see Mt
  6:19–34; 24:36–25:46).
3:9-11   Faith is the name of the relationship that gives us full participation in the life of
  Christ and in His resurrection (v. 10). Faith includes our assent to articles of belief, but
  it is also our openness to God's action in our lives. The meaning of our suffering comes in
  sharing in Christ's suffering and death, becoming like Him. Why? So that we may be with
  Him in glory.
3:12-16   What is the goal (v. 14) of the maturing Christian? For Paul it is that we be
  engaged in the struggle of faith, confident that Christ has made us His own, but knowing
  we are not yet perfected. Thus, we are zealous to press on (v. 12) toward the
  completion of our salvation, the prize of the upward call of God (v. 14)—the
  resurrection to eternal life.
3:17   Because St. Paul and other saints set an example for us, a pattern for us to follow,
  we do follow in their steps (tradition) and honor them in the process (veneration).
3:18-21 The enemies of the cross of Christ (v. 18) is a reference to those made captive
  to dietary laws, circumcision, and discipline. Christian spirituality, by contrast, is based in
  the age to come, knowing we have no glory in this age. The passage from humiliation to
  exaltation that Christ experienced (2:5–11) is promised to those Christians who follow
  Him in perseverance. Transform our lowly body (v. 21) implies a change not in
  substance but to His glorious body, a change from corruption to incorruption.
4:2   Euodia and Syntyche are two women who assisted Paul in his ministry in Philippi.
4:3   It is most likely this Clement, a disciple of Paul, who later became the bishop of
  Rome. A long letter, still in existence, to the Corinthian church is attributed to him.
4:4-6 Paul often uses the word always in relation to prayer. Rejoicing always is a fruit of
  perseverance in daily prayers (see 1Th 5:16–18).
4:5-9 How do we handle the daily pressures of life? By (1) faith that the Lord is at hand,
  present with us (v. 5); (2) refusing to worry, being anxious for nothing (v. 6); (3)
  prayer (v. 6); (4) thanksgiving . . . to God (v. 6); (5) meditation on that which is
  virtuous (v. 8); and (6) imitating the godly (v. 9).
4:11-13 Here is the secret of contentment.
1:3-8   Giving thanks for the church in Colosse, Paul commends them with his faith,
  hope, love trilogy (vv. 4, 5). Note the gospel is the same in Colosse as in all the world
  (v. 6), indicating the catholic (universal) nature of the faith in the first century. Elements
  of this gospel include: (1) faith in Christ Jesus alone, no other (v. 4); (2) love for all
  the saints (v. 4); (3) hope in the Kingdom of heaven (v. 5); (4) true preaching (v. 6);
  and (5) godly ministry, as established by Epaphras (vv. 7, 8).
1:9-14 A summary of progress in a truly spiritual life: from discernment of God's will (v.
  9) to doing God's will (v. 10) with divine energy and virtue (v. 11), within the Church, the
  baptized and eucharistic assembly. In the apostolic tradition, this life is open to all the
  saints, not just to a few.
1:12-13 Being a Christian goes beyond changing masters from Satan to God, to a change of
  kingdoms as well—from that of darkness to the kingdom of the Son.
1:15   No clear distinction is made between Christ as God and Christ as Man, but the point
  of the verse is obvious. As God, Christ is eternally and consubstantially (of one essence)
  the image (Gr. eikon, “icon”) of the Father. As Man, Christ is the image in which man
  was made and toward which man is moving. In both natures, He fully represents and
  manifests the Father. As God, Christ is the firstborn over all creation in that the
  Father created everything through Him, as the Only Begotten Son of God. As Man, Christ
  is the firstborn over all creation in that He has authority over creation. In either case,
  creation is fully subject to Him. Contrary to the Colossian heresy, in which He was
  considered one of the created mediators, Christ is the only Mediator and Lord of all.
1:16   Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers are ranks of angels. Christ is
  not only the source (through Him) of creation—of all things, on earth and in heaven—
  but also its goal (for Him; see Eph 1:10).
1:18   The head and the body have one and the same nature. In this case the body comes
  from, submits to, and continues to exist in the head, so the one nature is the glorified
  humanity of Christ. As Christ has supreme and life-giving authority (the firstborn) over
  the original creation, where life is temporary, so He has supreme and life-giving authority
  over the new creation, where life is eternal. But now He is Head through the body, the
  church. The Church, then, is the source of the restoration and fulfillment of creation in
  Christ.
1:19-20 The fullness was a term used by the gnostic heretics to describe all the spiritual
  beings and forces they saw as intervening between man and God. Of these, Jesus was
  seen as but one mediator in one level of existence with one force. Paul differs, saying
  Christ is Himself the fullness. Jesus is everything, God in all fullness; and in His human
  nature, resurrected and ascended, He is the created and glorified Head of all creation.
  Jesus Christ ends the alienation between God and creation, bringing creation as a
  sacrament into a living union with God.
1:15-20 This passage is an ancient christological hymn, perhaps expanded upon by Paul, in
  two stanzas: (1) Christ the Head of creation (vv. 15–17) and (2) Christ the Head of the
  new creation (vv. 18–20). This hymn may have been part of the early baptismal liturgy; if
  so, Paul could be using it to bring the Colossians back to their original profession.
1:22   The body of His flesh is the mortal (capable of dying) humanity of Christ before
  His Resurrection. The heretics' angels cannot save us because they have not become one
  of us. We cannot be saved unless we become one with Christ by being united with Him in
  His death. Through His death, we die with Him.
1:24   Christ and the Church are so intimately united that, as we suffer and die with Him
  (beginning at baptism), so Christ suffers with us in our work of reconciliation. (See Mt
  25:40; Lk 10:16; Jn 15:18–21; Acts 9:1, 4, 5; Rom 8:17; 2Co 1:5; 4:10; Php 1:20; 3:10.)
1:25   The Colossian church is bound not only to its confession of faith (vv. 15–20) but also
  to its divinely appointed apostle.
1:26   Mystery: See Eph 1:9, 10 and note; see also Glossary.
2:3   For those who seek the secrets of the universe, a desire the Colossian heretics fed
  upon, Paul assures us Christ knows everything. Most of this is hidden to us, so we must
  seek Christ alone, who is God's Wisdom. In the Incarnation He became for us a Servant,
  taking on our weak and mortal existence, but He always remains Lord of all.
2:8   The basic principles of the world include (1) the basic elements of matter; (2) the
  laws that regulate the universe, including those conditioning fallen human life, such as
  death, sin, the flesh, and the Mosaic Law; (3) the spirits who use these conditions to
  oppose Christ and are at the core of the pagan cults and systems of knowledge; and (4)
  human traditions opposed to God's tradition.
2:9, 10 See Jn 1:14. Do we need to rise through manifold levels of being to get to God? No!
  The incarnate Christ is fully God and fully Man—He fulfills human nature, and all levels
  of being submit to Him. Do we need to rise slowly through a humanly conceived spiritual
  bureaucracy to God? No! We go directly through Christ, for He is the sovereign power,
  the head over angelic beings.
2:11-14   Do we need to perform manmade rituals and works in order to gain a hearing
  before the Redeemer? No! We come through God's work, Holy baptism, to be joined to
  Christ. For Jesus Christ triumphs over the conditions of fallen existence—sin, death, the
  flesh, the law, and evil spirits—by His death and Resurrection. In the OT rite of
  circumcision only a small piece of flesh is removed; in the circumcision of Christ, our
  baptism, we die to the flesh and live to God.
2:15   Don't the dark powers still have the ability to take power over us? No! All of these
  created principalities and powers, the angels who are the hidden powers behind fallen
  human existence, are defeated by the Resurrection. Even the law has been fulfilled and
  thus transcended (v. 14). Christ triumphs, and He rides in triumphal procession, leading
  out the prisoners of war in chains before Him, while He follows behind in His glorious
  shining victor's chariot, the Cross.
2:16-23   Here Paul speaks against false worship (vv. 16, 17), false mysticism (vv. 18, 19),
  and false asceticism (vv. 20–23). He says, let no one judge you (v. 16) and do not
  submit to the basic principles of the world (v. 20; see v. 8 and note). For man does
  not live by shadow, the law, but by the substance (lit. “body”) that produces the
  shadow (v. 17), which is the body of Christ, the Church. Man-centered superstitious
  ritualism is deadly. The fulfilling liturgy is that of the body of Christ, culminating in the
  Eucharist. (For Paul on liturgical worship, see 1Co 11–14.) Mystical experiences are not
  wrong in themselves, but we must beware of deception, pride, schism, and a mind
  controlled by passions and the body. (For Paul on mystical experiences, see 2Co 12; Eph 1;
  3.) Ascetic practices—prayer, fasting, almsgiving—are taught by God (Mt 6), but enemies
  lie along that path as well. Submitting to created realities, heeding human traditions, the
  deception of feeding the flesh when you think you are denying it, are false asceticism and
  condemned as pride. (For Paul on asceticism, see 1Co 9; 1Ti 6:12; 2Ti 2:3–6).
3:1-17 Using baptism as his backdrop, Paul counters the practices of the heretics in Colosse
  (2:16–23) with the practices of the apostolic Church: true mysticism (vv. 1–4), true
  asceticism (vv. 5–14), and true liturgical experience (vv. 15–17).
3:1-4   True mysticism: Christians both have received Christ's exalted resurrection life in
  baptism, and need to keep on seeking the ultimate and spiritual glories of the age to
  come. Remember your baptism! Live according to His Resurrection! Seek your true life in
  Christ, awaiting the heavenly and glorious final revelation!
3:5-14   True asceticism: As baptized Christians, we are becoming in practice what we are
  already in spirit. As we died with Christ, so we must will to experience death daily by
  “killing” old sinful and disintegrating passions (vv. 5–9). As we were raised with Christ, so
  we must will to experience life daily by the virtuous and unifying desires of the new man
  we all are in the body of Christ (vv. 10–14).
3:10   The new man grows from one stage of perfection to another, becoming the image
  of Jesus Christ and throughout eternity remaining the image of Him who created him.
3:15-17 True liturgical experience: Note how the liturgy of worship can be experienced as
  divine through the unity and holiness of the Church—the one New Man in Christ.
  Worship is experienced in the word of Christ, including the Scriptures and their
  exposition; the hymns and spiritual songs; the Eucharist (giving thanks to God).
3:18-1   Life in the home is in the Lord; the family is a little church and is to live in the
  baptismal and eucharistic life of the Church. Duties are reciprocal, everyone having the
  same standing before the same Master. All authority is for the sake of loving service (all
  authority is humbling) and all submission is to God (all submission is glorious).
4:2-6 Paul expects the church to be at corporate prayer often. Not only are the apostles to
  speak the mystery of Christ, but every member of the church is to have speech . . .
  with grace so as to answer those seeking the true faith.
4:7-9   Tychicus is the courier for this letter as well as for those to the Ephesians (Eph
  6:21) and to Philemon.
4:16   Paul expected his letters to be read aloud to the churches and at least sometimes to
  be sent on to neighboring churches. (Colosse and Laodicea are less than 15 miles apart.)
  Paul's letter coming from Laodicea probably is the one we know as Ephesians.
1:1, 2   As with all of Paul's epistles, 1 Timothy begins with the traditional Greco-Roman
  format of greeting—addressed not to a church, but to a true son in the faith, Timothy.
  (The disciple of a rabbi was called his “son.”) This relationship supports Paul's title
  “father” (1Co 4:15) and, by application, the use of “Father” for priests.
     God the Father is called Savior (see 2:3; 4:10; Tts 1:3; 2:10; 3:4), for every work of the
  Trinity is the work of all three Persons in which each Person participates.
1:4   Paul's faithful are plagued by Jewish fables and endless genealogies, energetic
  disputation over myth and human tradition for argument's sake. “The Jews wasted their
  whole course on these unprofitable points [for] historical knowledge and research”
  (JohnChr).
1:7   The law is the Old Covenant Mosaic Law, not the commandments of Christ in the
  Gospels or the canons of the Church.
1:8   The law is good because God gave it (Rom 7:16). It was a schoolmaster for God's
  chosen people, to confront and control their sin until the Incarnation of His Son fulfills it;
  and a guide to lead all people to Christ.
1:12-17   Paul, as a former rebel toward God and persecutor of the Church (Acts 9:1–3),
  gives glory to God for his calling as an apostle. Throughout the OT and NT and church
  history, the greatest sinners have often become most notable saints (Moses, Rahab,
  David, Photini—the woman at the well, Matthew, Paul, St. Mary of Egypt).
1:15   Used in Orthodox liturgical prayer and said by all approaching the chalice for Holy
  Communion.
1:20   If Paul is a recipient of God's grace, here are two who rejected this grace and stand as
  a warning to all.
2:1, 2 Intercessory prayers are to be offered for all without partiality, but special attention
  is given to prayer for those in authority. Thus, Orthodox Christians repeatedly pray for
  “all civil authorities.”
2:3-5 The religions of the Greek world were pluralistic and elite. In contrast, Paul teaches
  that there is one Savior, one God and one Mediator (v. 5). And God offers salvation
  equally to all, for He created us to share in His goodness, and for this end He became a
  Man like us.
2:5   Some who are opposed to the established Church use this verse to claim that “all you
  need is Jesus—not the Church, her clergy, and her sacraments.” But the Son became the
  one Mediator by becoming Man through the Holy Spirit and a virgin—that is, through
  God and men. He “built” His humanity not from Himself alone but from another, the
  Virgin Mary. Likewise, as the Mediator He says, “I will build My church” (Mt 16:18); He
  establishes her leaders and her worship. As Mary gives us Christ in His humanity, the
  Church introduces us to Him, who alone is our Mediator.
2:6   Regarding ancient slaves, a ransom did not so much purchase them as free them
  from their bondage to experience liberty.
2:8   Prayer must be united with quiet and godly behavior. Does this contradict praying
  secretly, not to be seen by men (Mt 6:5, 6)? No. The warning is against spiritual
  showmanship, not congregational prayer. The secret “room” (Mt 6:6) is a person's
  innermost being, perfectly consistent with praying everywhere. In contrast to the
  Jewish emphasis on one primary earthly place for prayer (the temple in Jerusalem),
  Christians experience the fullness of prayer wherever they may be.
2:12    The Church's greatest saint is a woman, the Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Some
  women, including Mary Magdalene, are called “Equal to the Apostles,” others serve as
  deacons (Rom 16:1). While sharing full equality in Christ, women are not ordained to the
  offices of bishop and presbyter.
2:15   If salvation is holistic, involving all of one's life, then women who have children are
  saved, in part, by motherhood, if they persevere in godliness. Our God-given role in life is
  the place of our salvation.
3:1   Bishop means “overseer,” an elder (4:14; 5:17). Later in the first century bishop came
  to designate a presiding elder.
3:2    St. John Chrysostom on blameless: “Every virtue is implied in this word. [The
  bishop's] life should be unspotted so that all should look up to him, and make his life the
  model of their own.” In the early Church, a bishop could be married. Today married men
  may be ordained to the Orthodox priesthood. The Sixth Ecumenical Council (681)
  sanctioned celibate bishops, but only as a special dispensation relative to the feeling that
  it was not acceptable for a bishop to live with a woman. Married bishops are in
  accordance with the general teaching of Orthodox canon law.
3:8   For qualifications for the first deacons, see Acts 6:1–6.
3:11   Wives: Or perhaps “women,” referring to deaconesses.
3:15   While the Scriptures are the inspired truth of God in human words (2Ti 3:15–17), the
  Church is the pillar and ground of that truth.
3:16   Paul quotes an ancient Christian creed or hymn that is especially clear about the
  divinity of Jesus Christ. Another such creed is found in 2Ti 2:11–13. (See also 6:15, 16;
  Eph 1:3–14; 5:14; Php 2:6–11; Col 1:15–20.) Thus, when the early Councils met and
  issued creeds, they were well within the mark of biblical precedent.
4:2   A conscience seared with a hot iron describes the reality that repeated willful sin
  blunts our sensitivity to good and evil. A grim warning to all Christians to reject evil in all
  forms and thereby maintain a softness of heart toward God.
4:3-5 Whereas sexual abstinence and fasting are important factors in spiritual discipline,
  we control our passions not because the material world is evil, but because we are corrupt
  and tend to sin. Sex and food are not unclean, but willful disobedience, an unthankful
  disposition, and uncontrolled desires are. The Church is here to bring the whole world
  back to God.
4:5-6   The word (Gr. logos) of God is the Son (Jn 1:1; Heb 4:12; 1Pt 1:23; 1Jn 1:1; Rev
  19:13). A word of God in the NT can be God's creative will (2Pt 3:5, 7), the OT (Mk 7:13), a
  blessing using God's name (as here), the gospel itself (Acts 4:31; 6:7; 13:5, 26; 15:7, 36;
  1Th 2:13), or a special message from God. The Son is the ultimate reference for every
  other word of God. Sometimes it is difficult to tell whether “word” refers to Christ
  Himself or words about Him (Col 1:25). To spread the word of God is to spread Christ
  Himself. (The Greek rema is identically translated as “word” whether it refers to the
  gospel [Heb 6:5; 1Pt 1:25], a message from God [1Pt 1:25], or an act of God [Heb 11:3].)
  Words of faith (v. 6) means speech consonant with the gospel. Doctrine, or “teaching,”
  is the content of the gospel. Thus, the rich and manifold speech concerning salvation
  serves our communion with Christ, the Word of God. He is the reason these words are
  vital and powerful. Using words without the Word is vain.
4:7-8   Paul is no stranger to physical exercise and its benefits (see 1Co 9:24–27), but he
  prefers spiritual exercise, for it leads to life eternal.
4:13   Give attention to reading, whether personal reading or the public reading of
  Scripture during worship, is tied with exhortation (preaching) and doctrine (teaching).
  The early Christians had a liturgical worship structure—including the reading of Scripture
  and the homily—the roots of which were in the synagogue.
4:14   This refers to Timothy's ordination as presbyter (priest), which was conferred by the
  apostles, as it is by the bishop today (2Ti 1:6; see Acts 6:6). In 5:22 Paul gives Timothy
  instructions for ordination. In continuity with the NT, Orthodox ordination to the
  diaconate and priesthood comes through the laying on of hands by the bishop.
5:3-16 Specific advice on caring for widows. If there are no family members to do this, care
  belongs to the parish, for a widow has God as her guardian (Dt 10:18; Ps 67:6; Ps 145:9). A
  “real” widow (vv. 3, 5, 16), however, in turn cares for the parish through prayer (v. 5) and
  works of compassion (v. 10) while maintaining a pure and holy life (vv. 6, 7, 11–16).
  Special qualifications are given for those who are on the register of widows (vv. 9, 10);
  perhaps this was an “order” for charitable service. Widows have from the start constituted
  a definable group within the Church (Acts 6:1; 9:39, 41).
5:18   The laborer is worthy of his wages (Mt 10:10; Lk 10:7) may be the first use of the
  Gospels as Scripture.
5:23   Timothy's physical problems—perhaps from strict water-fasts—are not miraculously
  overcome, and Paul does not suggest breaking the fasts, only decreasing their rigor.
6:11   The beginning of repentance is to flee from sin and to abstain from passions.
6:12   Confessed the good confession is a reference to Timothy's words at his baptism
  or ordination.
6:11-16 A remarkable challenge for all who serve God, especially the ordained clergy.
6:20   The faith and worship of the Church is a sacred trust, to be preserved intact, without
  personal-preference changes and without personal gain.
1:6   The gift of God is the grace of the Holy Spirit, or charism, given Timothy at his
  ordination. This grace fills up what is lacking and gives authenticity to the priesthood. But
  it is not automatic. We must stir up and rekindle it.
1:7   While any Christian may be persecuted (Jn 15:20; see Mt 5:11, 12 and note), we reject
  feelings of fear or timidity. We do not “quench the Spirit” (1Th 5:19), but act with power
  and courage (2:12; see Mt 10:33; Lk 9:26).
1:9   Our salvation and calling are based on His grace and love, not on anything we have
  done to merit God's favor (Eph 2:8–10; Tts 3:5, 6).
1:10    “He submitted [to suffering] so that he might break the power of Death and
  demonstrate the resurrection from the dead—thus it was necessary for him to be
  manifested in flesh. Also [he submitted] so that he might fulfill the promise to the
  fathers and, while he was preparing the new people for himself and while he was still on
  earth, to prove that after he has brought about the resurrection he will judge” (Barn 5:6,
  7).
1:13-14 The pattern of sound words (v. 13) is oral apostolic tradition which you have
  heard. It holds the same weight as written apostolic tradition (see 2:2; 2Th 2:5). Oral or
  written, this Holy Tradition is rooted in Christ Jesus (v. 13) and kept by the Holy
  Spirit who dwells in us (v. 14).
1:18    Perhaps Onesiphorus is dead. The Church has never hesitated to pray for her
  departed that they may find mercy from God on the Day of the Lord. (The first Lord
  in the verse refers to the Son, the second to the Father.)
2:2   Paul establishes a clear chain of witnesses to oral tradition. Christian tradition is for
  all believers; it is “catholic,” belonging to the whole Church, and needs to be passed down
  to others unhindered. This stands in clear contrast to the elitism of the major religions of
  the first-century Roman world, including gnosticism and the various mystery religions.
2:3-6 Faithful ministry requires discipline: obedience, self-denial, and struggle. Our icons
  (examples) here are the soldier (vv. 3, 4), the athlete (v. 5), and the farmer (v. 6).
2:8-13   Verses 11–13 may be an early baptismal hymn. Ministry is based on union with
  Christ and immovable loyalty to Him. The end, for the minister and his hearers, is life
  with Christ in the eternal Kingdom.
2:15   The last phrase of this verse is quoted in an Orthodox liturgical prayer for the
  bishops.
2:16   Profane and idle babblings (like nonsense syllables) is an apt description of
  heresy.
2:17-18   What is the heresy of Hymenaeus and Philetus? Perhaps a superspiritual
  interpretation of the resurrection (v. 18) as affecting only the soul and not the whole
  person (Greek philosophy thought bodily resurrection absurd); thus resurrection is
  thought to be already past, having occurred at baptism. They use the language of
  baptism but in a non-Orthodox way. Let us not be naive: this sort of novel doctrine can
  spread through the community like cancer (v. 17).
2:20-23    Heresy corrupts: bad theology leads to bad behavior. The Church on earth is a
  mixture of wheat and tares sown together (vv. 19–21). Membership in the Church
  guarantees nothing—even the baptismal confession (quoted in v. 19) acknowledges the
  necessity of struggle.
2:24-26    Good theology helps us along the path to good behavior. Although the truth
  stands firm and unalterable and cannot tolerate the false (see 1Co 5:1–13; 2Co 6:14–18),
  it instills a reasonable patience and gentleness toward all, especially toward false teachers
  —while not losing sight of the fact that they are enemies and to be avoided (3:5).
3:1-9 While technically we have been in the last days since Christ walked the earth, the
  Church has seen this and other warnings as a reference to the days just before His
  coming again. A great decay in morals (see Mt 24; Mk 13; 2Th 2; 2Pt 2; compare Rom
  1:28–32) will even infiltrate the Church (v. 5; see Mt 7:15–27; 1Co 5:1–5; 1Ti 4:1–11). Like
  the prominent men of Cain's city (Gn 4:16–24), these offenders willfully reject law and
  morals out of love of self and love of pleasure.
3:5   The form and power of godliness are intended to be inseparable. We normally do
  not have the power of godliness without the form. Charismatic power, however, can be
  twisted for evil and greed (Acts 8:9–20). Outward forms, even of liturgical worship, can
  be carried on without power or conviction (see Mt 7:15; 24:4, 5, 24). As faith without
  works is a form without substance (Jam 2:26), so is religion without power. This is a
  stern warning to those of us committed to proper form.
3:8   In Jewish tradition, Jannes and Jambres are the Egyptian magicians who opposed
  Moses in Ex 7.
3:10-13    Paul's life exhibits what the Lord taught: In this world, godliness elicits
  persecution (see Jn 15:20).
3:14-17 Having exhorted Timothy with the example of his own steadfastness (vv. 10–13),
  Paul now issues a reminder of the depth of Timothy's training, which combined both oral
  and written instruction (see Mt 28:16–20; 1Co 11:2; 2Th 2:15; 3:6). A part of this tradition
  is Scripture. Paul, of course, speaks of the OT, since the NT did not yet exist.
4:6    A drink offering is a wine, water, or oil offering poured over animal or grain
  sacrifices at the conclusion of both Jewish and pagan rites.
4:7   The race is the life and work that God gave Paul. The comparison of the spiritual life
  to an athletic contest (see 1Co 9:24–27) is common in the writings of the ascetic Fathers.
4:10   Demas provides a sobering footnote to Paul's ministry. He was Paul's companion in
  Rome, his co-laborer in apostleship, and a close friend of Luke (Col 4:14; Phm 24). Yet
  Demas—after these great and glorious years of service with the Apostle—forsook Paul,
  having loved this present world. It is in the face of tragedies such as this that the
  Scriptures, the Fathers, the prayers and hymns of the Church together call us repeatedly
  to a life of humility and repentance—that we should not think of ourselves more highly
  than we ought.
4:11   Paul is now reconciled with (John) Mark (see Acts 15:37–40). The sharp contention
  between Barnabas and Paul is forgotten, and the true love of Christ reigns.
4:21   “The blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, having founded and established the Church of
  Rome, handed over the office of bishop to Linus—of whom Paul makes mention in his
  second letter to Timothy” (Iren). Eusebius, writing in the fourth century, says the same.
1:1   In the Roman world, a bondservant (Gr. doulos) was in an unenviable position: he
  had no name, rights, will, or even time of his own. But in the world of the OT, a
  bondservant was often the king's right-hand man—one of the most honored titles. Moses
  and other OT prophets were the bondservants of the Lord. Paul, of course, knew of both
  usages. An apostle, “one sent out,” was a New Covenant equivalent to a bondservant.
      Acknowledgment (Gr. epignosis) is deeper than mental knowledge; it is experiential,
  not theoretical. Knowledge (the truth) and action (godliness) are a unity; knowledge
  that does not change one's life does not save.
1:5   When Paul evangelized an area, he did not leave it unattended (1Co 3:6–10; Col 1:7).
1:5-9     All Christians are priests in Christ. Candidates for eldership, that is, for the special
  priesthood inside the general priesthood of all, should exhibit a wholesome and united
  family life (v. 6), control over passions and emotions (v. 7), loving and righteous relations
  with others (v. 8), and careful adherence to tradition (v. 9; see also 1Ti 3:1–16; 5:21; 2Ti
  2:2).
1:10-16 False leaders also exhibit certain characteristics. They upset rather than reconcile
  (v. 11), have an eye for personal profit (v. 11), lack discipline and integrity (vv. 12, 13),
  misjudge reality—here setting up external laws when the uncleanness is internal (vv. 14,
  15), and are immoral. Bad theology leads to bad behavior (v. 16).
2:1-10 Good theology helps lead us to good behavior. Various classes, distinguished here
  primarily by age and sex, have characteristic problems and responsibilities.
2:3-5 Note the opportunity for older women in the Church to be role models and teachers
  for young wives and mothers.
2:11-15 While Christian ethical teaching often appears similar to other systems—Paul uses
  both Roman and Jewish ethical terms—the basis of Christian ethics is unique. Christians
  are good not merely out of obedience to law or harmony with nature, or in order to gain
  immortal bliss for the soul. Rather, they are righteous in anticipation of the age to come,
  the eschaton, the age of the fullness of creation in the incarnate Son of God. Grace (v. 11)
  is the uncreated energy of God, the gift of the Holy Spirit, through which He gives His
  gifts to man in tender mercy and good will. It is a formative power, the rule of life of the
  eschaton, requiring our determined participation. To belong to God is to become like God.
  To be ransomed, or “owned,” by God (v. 14) is not simply legal and static, but means to
  live in solidarity with Him: a blessed, victorious struggle.
2:13 The Church Fathers regard our great God and Savior Jesus Christ as a landmark
  statement of the divinity of Christ (see Rom 9:5; 2Pt 1:1). In Paul's thought, “God” refers
  usually to the Person of the Father, not to the divine nature.
    As Paul grew older, it seems his sense of the difference between this age and the age to
  come deepened. In his earlier letters, he emphasized the present realization of God's
  power; now he speaks more of our future transfiguration.
3:5    The washing of regeneration, baptism, and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
  chrismation, form a unity in our salvation, clear throughout the NT. Jesus taught we are
  born from above through “water and the Spirit” (Jn 3:5); Peter preached salvation in
  Christ through being “baptized” and receiving “the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
  Now Paul calls us to the washing of the water and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.
3:7-8 While Paul is painfully aware we are awaiting the consummation of the age to come
  (2:13), he knows we already participate in the eschatological community. Baptism and
  chrismation are the beginning, the rite of passage toward a progressive life of renewal in
  Christ (see 2Co 3:16–18).
3:10-11 A divisive person is one who “picks” or “chooses from” the whole truth. A sect is a
  group that follows its own choices, independent of holy tradition. Incomplete or
  erroneous beliefs result in immoral behavior.
1:1   It is not known whether Philemon was yet ordained as a presbyter/bishop; he is
  recognized for his kindness, hospitality, and gracious spirit.
1:5   Love and faith go together. As true faith includes works, so true faith includes love.
  We cannot believe in God without loving others.
1:6   Faith unites a person not only to Christ but to all who are in Him—including those
  who have greatly wronged us, as Onesimus had wronged Philemon.
1:1-7    Paul's apostolic spirit is manifest in his affection, benevolence, and regular
  intercessions for his fellow laborers.
1:8-9   Paul appeals not to his own apostolic authority (v. 8; see 2 Corinthians). Instead he
  appeals to his age, to his being a prisoner of Jesus Christ (v. 9)—for whom we should
  be quick to do all that we can, and to Philemon's Christian conscience (see v. 14).
1:10   Paul became Onesimus's spiritual father by convincing him of the truth of Christ (see
  1Co 4:15; Gal 4:19).
1:11-13   Paul sees to it that Onesimus fulfills his legal responsibilities by returning him to
  his master, concerns about the justice of slavery notwithstanding.
1:14-17     While the master-slave relationship continues, it is transcended by brotherhood in
  Christ.
1:18   Onesimus stole from or otherwise wronged Philemon when he ran away. Put that
  on my account is reminiscent of how Christ has taken away our sins that we might go
  free (2Co 5:21; 8:9).
1:19   Paul had also brought Philemon to Christ.
1:21   Perhaps Paul hopes Philemon will not only receive Onesimus with forgiveness, but
  will also free him and return him to Paul.
1:1-4   These verses provide an introductory summary to 1:1–10:18. The new covenant is
  superior to the old, for the old is incomplete and preparatory whereas the new is complete
  and final. In the new man enters into the heavenly realm through Christ and is glorified
  (see Php 2:5–11 for a close parallel).
1:2-3 Through whom also He made the worlds (v. 2; see Jn 1:3) and upholding all
  things by the word of His power (v. 3; see Col 1:16, 17): These two phrases reveal the
  Son as God acting in the world. The Lord Jesus Christ is (1) the One who created the
  universe, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and is therefore (2) the One who
  sustains the Creation and has absolute authority over it. It is natural, then, that the Son,
  as both God and Man, is heir of all things (v. 2). If the sons of Abraham hoped to be
  heirs of the promised land, the sons of Christ can hope to be heirs of the whole universe.
     The first half of v. 3 is quoted verbatim in the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great. The
  brightness of His glory expresses the Son's nature, His origin from and identity of
  nature with the Father. He is the Father's brightness because He is begotten from the
  Father beyond time and without change. Thus, the Nicene Creed speaks of “Light of
  Light.” As the sun does not exist without radiating light, so the Father does not exist
  without His Son.
     Thus, the Son reflects His Father's glory in this world. The unapproachable light of
  divinity, the divine energy (1Ti 6:16; 1Pt 2:9; 1Jn 1:7), is approachable only in the
  incarnate Christ (Jn 12:36). God's brightness, though it had been experienced at the
  burning bush (Ex 3:2–4), known by Israel (Ex 10:23; 13:21), and spoken of by the
  prophets (Ps 35:10; 103:2; Is 9:1; 10:17; Hab 3:4), is especially revealed in Christ's birth
  (Lk 1:79; 2:32; Jn 1:4–9), the Transfiguration (Mt 17:2) and the Resurrection.
     The express image of His person (Gr. hypostasis) expresses the Son's Person as
  being distinct from the Father. The Son is the perfect and eternal “icon” of the Father.
  Thus, the personal distinction of God as Trinity is known only through Him (see Jn 14:9).
  No one knows the Father but through the Son.
      Having conquered sin and death, the Son sat down at the right hand of the
  Majesty on high, a reference to the Father, showing Christ's exaltation as Man.
1:1, 2 In time past and to the fathers (v. 1) are contrasted with in these last days and
  to us (v. 2). In OT times God spoke constantly through the Holy Spirit in the Law and
  the prophets, leading His people into greater truth. Now He speaks directly, through His
  own incarnate Son. The fathers are the leaders of Israel and representative of all the
  spiritual ancestors of New Israel.
1:4   Having become so much better than the angels, with regard to their role in the
  old covenant, refers to Christ's human nature, not to His divine nature. The name
  inherited is an open declaration that this Man is the Son of God. In Hebrews this name is
  “Son”; in Php 2:11 it is “Lord.”
1:5   Christ is superior to the angels. They are, in some Judaic thought, only “the sons of
  God,” whereas Christ is the Son of God. (The LXX at Dt 32:43, which Hebrews
  paraphrases in v. 6, literally reads “sons of God,” not “angels of God.”) While Christ is
  recognized as God's eternal Son at His Baptism and the Transfiguration, it is His
  enthronement in heaven that settles the matter (v. 4; see Rom 1:4). Begotten is a
  reference to the Son in His divine, eternal nature. The Nicene Creed states He is
  “begotten, not made, begotten from the Father before all time.” Today is eternity. There
  never was a time when God the Son did not exist.
1:6   Christ is the firstborn (1) of God, in that He is His one and only eternal Son; (2) of
  all creation, in that He is the image (icon) by which creation was made and toward which
  creation is to move; and (3) of man, in that Christ incarnate is the model for man's
  creation and the goal of man's existence. The angels . . . worship Him because He is
  God.
1:8   Ps 44 (quoted in 1:8, 9) celebrates a royal enthronement and wedding. The groom is a
  king who has conquered for righteousness and is called “god” (Elohim), though the king
  is distinct from God. This celebration is fulfilled with the messianic enthronement and
  wedding in the Kingdom of God. The OT gives the title “god” to Moses, Samuel,
  descendants of David, and angels, but it is primarily the Messiah who embodies this title.
  Here, God the Father calls the Son “God.”
1:10-12 In this quotation from Ps 101:26–28, God the Father (v. 9) is addressing Another
  as “Lord,” that is, as God.
1:14   The role of angels is to minister for those who will inherit salvation. During
  the NT era, many Jews believed angels mediated the old covenant. Certainly they served
  the Angel of the Lord, the Son of God. In the new covenant, they serve Him in His
  humanity. Instead of ruling over man, angels are partners in service with us, our guardian
  angels.
1:5-14   Much of first-century Judaism believed angels were present at creation and had
  mediated the old covenant. By using the rabbinic method of demonstration, Hebrews
  proves to lovers of Judaism that even the OT argues for the superiority of the Son.
2:1-4 An admonition against willful negligence and carelessness by a slow process, a drift
  (v. 1), of attrition. If (v. 2) and how (v. 3) suggest a conditional statement or question. If
  Israel was expected to obey the words of created angels or suffer punishment, how much
  more must we heed what God Incarnate has said through His apostles—especially when
  the word has been confirmed (v. 3) by many miracles (v. 4) of the Spirit, proof that the
  Kingdom has come upon us? When we ask in the liturgy for “pardon and remission of our
  sins and transgressions” and a “good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ,”
  we affirm there is a just reward (v. 2) or retribution, a very real judgment.
2:5-18   The Jews expected the Messiah to be an earthly, conquering king—a political
  success story, not a failure. They would naturally ask, if Jesus is superior to the angels—
  indeed, a divine Being, as portrayed in ch. 1—why did He die, especially in such a
  degrading way? Hebrews answers that Christ's humiliation is only temporary (v. 9), it is
  the only means of redeeming mortal man (vv. 14–16), and it reestablishes man's God-
  intended dominion over all creation, including the angels (vv. 5–8).
2:6-8 Hebrews applies the discussion in Ps 8 about man to Jesus Christ, the perfect man.
2:9       See especially Php 2:5–11. Made a little lower than the angels refers to the
  Incarnation, the Son becoming Man. Christ's suffering and death have highly exalted
  Him. The Cross, which should have brought shame and reproach, has brought Christ
  glory and honor. All of this is not something God has owed to man; it is by the grace
  of God, His gift. Taste death means to experience it fully, to know it intimately. Christ's
  death was a real death. He died for everyone, for the whole world, not for the faithful
  only.
2:10-11    To make . . . perfect through sufferings does not suggest there was
  imperfection in Christ before the cross. Rather He voluntarily took on human nature (all
  of one nature, v. 11), which can be saved and perfected only by the suffering of death.
  Christ is the pioneering captain of the narrow path to God in His suffering for sin, death,
  descent into hell, Resurrection, and Ascension. In salvation we take on Christ's way of
  sufferings. Our perfection requires a growth that is manifested in suffering.
2:14   In the Incarnation, God did not come in appearance only; He truly assumed flesh
  and blood from the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and became the same as we are so
  that He could truly enter death and bring us salvation. Christ destroyed the devil's power
  by using the devil's strongest weapon—death itself.
2:15   There is a relationship between sin and death: each one leads to the other. Sin causes
  death, and the fear of death leads one to sin and thus to bondage (Rom 5:12). Christ
  sets us free from this bondage of sin and death.
2:17-18   In all things He had to be made like His brethren—Christ was even
  tempted—for what is not assumed is not healed, and what is united to God is saved. The
  Son is like us in His human nature; we do not become like Him in His divine nature.
  Hebrews moves without transition from Christ as sacrifice to Christ as High Priest, for
  He is the Offering and Offerer. He is merciful in behalf of those He serves and faithful
  in His ministry to God.
3:1   Christians are holy brethren; to be in Christ is a heavenly calling, one that
  separates those in Christ from those who have not heeded His call. As Apostle and High
  Priest, Christ is both God's representative to man and man's mediator before God. In
  Him the offices of prophet and priest—of Moses and Aaron—are combined.
3:3-6   The glory of the building goes to the architect rather than to the structure itself.
  Thus, Moses (v. 5) glorifies Christ, and the Church is consecrated to the glory of God,
  whose house we are (v. 6).
3:7-11 This reference is to the rebellion of those who left Egypt during the Exodus. Due to
  their unbelief, the whole generation (v. 10) was forbidden to enter into Canaan, the
  promised land, and thus could not enter God's rest (v. 11). Rest (Gr. sabbatismos)
  literally means a Sabbath rest or Sabbath observance.
     There are three types of God's rest known to the Jews: (1) the Sabbath rest, the day on
  which God rested from His works (Gn 2:2, 3); (2) the rest from Egyptian bondage, which
  the Israelites coming out of Egypt experienced in Canaan; (3) the rest in the kingdom, the
  ultimate Sabbath rest in heaven established by Messiah. Hebrews uses this OT quote (Ps
  94:7–11) concerning Canaan to refer to the rest in the Kingdom of heaven. Significantly,
  we experience this rest now as we ascend to God in worship (4:4–11).
3:12   Those in Christ are not immune to turning away from God. There is a temporary
  attractiveness in sin, which leads to a hardened heart and ultimately apostasy. We must
  take constant daily care not to be deceived and thus fall away (see Mk 4:5, 6, 16, 17).
3:14   Union with Christ belongs to those who persevere in their faith to the end, not to
  those who stop with a one-time profession of faith.
3:16-19    The five questions in this text demonstrate the consequences of Israel's
  disobedience and her failure to believe God in the wilderness. Once again, faith (v. 19)
  and works (v. 18) are distinguished but not separated. As the fundamental component of
  entering God's rest (v. 18) is faith, so the primary cause of failing to enter (v. 19) is
  unbelief.
4:1   Fear: Keep constant watch.
4:6   Faith (3:19) and obedience are inseparable. Lack of one is lack of the other. Lack of
  either bars entrance to rest.
4:8   Joshua and Caleb were the only two men who left Egypt and entered into Canaan (Nm
  14:28–32; Dt 1:34–40). They had not participated in the disobedience of Egypt. The
  possession of Canaan under Joshua, though, was not the promised rest. Otherwise,
  David would not have spoken centuries later of a rest still remaining for us.
4:9   Rest here is a reference to the third type of rest (see note on 3:11), the perfect, final
  rest of the Kingdom of heaven.
4:11   Man must labor to enter the rest of God, for rest implies prior work.
4:12-13   The word of God and the sword here are living and powerful. The phrase
  His sight (v. 13) tells us this reference is not to the written word, Holy Scripture, but to
  the Word of God Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ (see Jn 1:1–18). Nothing is able to escape
  the discernment of Christ, the Word of God.
4:14   Passed through the heavens refers to the Ascension of Christ. It is seen in the
  context of the Son sitting “at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (1:3). Christ has
  accomplished His work on earth and has entered into His Sabbath rest.
4:15   Christ's empathy with sinners rests on His being tempted in every way we are.
4:16   Christ, enthroned at the right hand of the Father, sits on a throne of grace rather
  than of judgment, granting mercy and grace to help in time of need. The normal
  position for a priest is standing, not sitting. There is significant power in our enthroned
  Priest, for He has accomplished and fulfilled the sacrificial offering.
5:1-4 To qualify as priest in the OT one must (1) be taken from among men (v. 1), i.e.,
  be fully human; (2) be appointed for men (v. 1), specifically for liturgical service; (3)
  offer sacrifices (v. 1); (4) have compassion (v. 2); and (5) be called by God (v. 4). In
  the Aaronic priesthood a priest identified himself with humanity and had sympathy for
  his fellow men because he sinned as other men sinned. The sacrifices were vicarious
  offerings of animals.
5:5-11 Christ assumes and fulfills the OT priesthood (see 5:1–4): Like Melchizedek (v. 6;
  see 7:1–21; Gn 14:18–20), Jesus is both Priest and King. He does not sin; His sacrifice is
  the human sacrifice of Himself, and His perfect priesthood continues in the Church to
  this day.
5:7   Cries and tears is likely a reference to our Lord's agonizing prayer in the Garden of
  Gethsemane (Mt 26:36–46; Mk 14:32–42; Lk 22:39–46).
5:8-9    Christ learned obedience in His human will, which continually and freely
  submitted to the divine will. In the agony of injustice and in physical pain He submits to
  the will of the Father. This perfecting of human activity in communion with God shows
  Christ alone to be the Savior (v. 9).
5:11-20 How can one understand and enter into the message of the Book of Hebrews? By
  (1) repenting of laziness (5:11; 6:12); (2) exercising one's spiritual senses, especially in
  doctrinal matters (5:12–6:8); (3) diligently doing good in all things, especially in loving
  service to others (6:9–12); and (4) firmly believing in Christ and the access He provides to
  God (6:13–20).
5:11-14   When Christians are not growing spiritually, doctrine is difficult to explain to
  them. Let us repent of being dull of hearing (v. 11)—a constant criticism Christ and the
  prophets had of God's people—and habitually and vigorously exercise ourselves in
  spiritual matters. The primary spiritual exercise is the study and knowledge of the
  Scriptures (JohnChr).
6:1   Perfection is Christian maturity, the result of spiritual growth. Dead works are
  done without God's grace and without faith. Works of the Law are dead to those who
  know the new covenant. Good works are done in faith toward God.
6:2   Baptisms are all the rites of washing, including those of the OT and of John the
  Baptist, fulfilled by Christ in the sacrament of holy baptism. Laying on of hands has
  several uses in the NT, such as for healing, prophetic commission, ordination, and
  reception of the Holy Spirit (chrismation).
6:4   The basic sacraments are crucial to salvation: One is once enlightened in baptism,
  which is unrepeatable and called the sacrament of illumination (see Eph 5:14). Tasted
  the heavenly gift (see 1Pt 2:3) may refer to the grace of baptism—Chrysostom says this
  gift is especially the forgiveness of sin experienced in baptism—and it most certainly
  refers to the Eucharist. Become partakers of the Holy Spirit refers to the fruit of
  chrismation, the experience of knowing the Holy Spirit.
6:1-4 A glimpse at some features of oral apostolic tradition.
6:5   Besides the sacraments (v. 4), belief and life experience are also essential: tasted the
  good word of God refers to the message of the gospel and the true doctrine of the
  Church, especially the confession of faith. The powers of the age to come are
  manifold: incorruption and eternal life, the presence of the future Kingdom here and
  now, and also miracles and spiritual gifts (Mt 7:22, 23; 12:28).
6:6   Those who revert to Judaism crucify Christ again—they become like those who hung
  Christ on the Cross, who denied His deity and His saving power. They put themselves in a
  position of needing to be baptized again, which is impossible, for baptism is death and the
  dead cannot be put to death. To deny one's baptism is to mock Christ's death. Such may
  not be renewed again to repentance.
6:4-6   This refers to those who have apostatized, that is, those who, after being baptized,
  have rejected Christ and His saving power. Historically, these verses have been used
  extensively in discussions of repentance. For example, Tertullian, the Montanists and
  other ancient schismatics used these verses to argue there is no repentance from
  apostasy. The Church holds that those who apostatize may repent and be brought back
  into the Church after a period of repentance (see Canons VIII, X, and XIV of I Nicea,
  Canon II of St. Gregory of Nyssa, and the Canons of the Council of Ancyra (AD 314).
  Nevertheless, such “second conversions” are difficult and rare—thus this sober warning.
6:7-8 These verses are reminiscent of John the Baptist's and Jesus' images and parables of
  trees and their fruit (Mt 3:8–10; 7:16–20; 12:33; 21:19).
6:10   To minister is to serve someone else's will. It has a liturgical dimension. In part,
  ministry flows out of liturgical worship (see 2Co 9:12, where “the administration of this
  service” is more literally translated “the service of this worship”). Prayer leads to action:
  the supreme NT example is the collection for the church in Jerusalem (Rom 15:25, 31;
  2Co 8:4).
6:12   For examples, see vv. 13–15 and ch. 11.
6:13-15   The promise made to Abraham was a son, an heir through whom God would
  greatly multiply (v. 14) him.
6:18   The two immutable things are God's promise and God's oath (v. 17).
6:19   Behind the veil (see the note on 9:1–5) is heaven.
6:20 Melchizedek: The author picks up the argument from 5:10.
7:1-10     Persecuted Christians are encouraged not to apostatize to Judaism because the
  founding father of Christ's priesthood, Melchizedek, is superior to the OT priesthood of
  Levi.
         Note the importance of the tithe: The desire to enter into the ministrations of a
  priesthood is fulfilled when such a liturgical offering is made. Throughout the OT,
  Israelites showed their continuing desire for God's priesthood by continuing to give a
  tenth of all they received.
7:11-28 Not only is the founder of the new covenant priesthood superior to that of the old
  covenant, the rules of the new covenant's priestly order are also superior. Priesthood is so
  intertwined with a covenant that if the priesthood is changed, so is the covenant (vv. 11–
  15).
8:1   Majesty is a biblical name for God the Father. A high priest sitting on the right hand
  of majesty would have to be both human and divine. Seated: No one but an equal sits in
  the presence of a king—much less in the presence of God.
8:6-13 Christ's covenant solves the problems that Moses' could not. Both covenants come
  from God's grace and require man's willed response. However, Moses' covenant (1) is
  external to man and cannot solve the root of man's problem, sin and death; (2) cannot
  reunite and reintegrate man's soul; (3) is learned by teaching; (4) is heeded with fearful
  compliance; and (5) gives imperfect forgiveness. Christ's covenant (1) is internal—it heals
  our nature; (2) unifies the inner man—heart and mind are joined in union with God; (3)
  is therefore grasped intuitively; (4) is heeded with willing cooperation (synergy); and (5)
  gives perfect forgiveness, even of those sins the old covenant was powerless to deal with.
9:2-3 A most important detail in Hebrews is the inner veil, the second veil. It separates
  the holy place (v. 2, the sanctuary) from the most holy place (v. 3, the Holiest of All),
  which contains the ark of the covenant and into which only the high priest can enter and
  only once a year.
     The inner veil forms the locus of the liturgical practice of the old covenant (vv. 6–10)
  and reveals its imperfection. The people could not draw near to God (see especially v. 8).
  At His death, Christ solved this alienation (Mt 27:51).
9:4   The ark of the covenant contained the relics, as it were, of Israel: the pot of
  manna, Aaron's rod, and the tablets of the Law.
9:5   God is enthroned upon the cherubim; hence, God's throne in Israel's midst, the
  mercy seat, has a cherub on each side (the Orthodox Christian altar is flanked by
  cherubim). These representations, along with the pictures of cherubim on the inner veil
  (Ex 26:31) and the beauty and detailed workmanship of everything made for the
  tabernacle, serve as the icons of the OT. This, and numerous other passages, held put to
  rest the fear that the Second Commandment (Ex 20:4–6) prohibits all imagery. God
  cannot be represented because divine nature is unknowable and hence cannot be
  depicted. However, when the Son becomes Man, the human nature of God the Son can
  be, and is, imaged.
9:6-10 While priests entered the holy place daily, only the high priest could enter the most
  holy place and only once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). He entered with
  the animal blood of the atonement sacrifice, which was offered first for his own sins and
  then for the sins of the people. This annual sacrifice reveals the imperfect, temporary
  status of the old covenant, for (1) only one man can enter God's presence; (2) that man
  cannot enter continually; (3) he must enter occasionally to repeat the sacrifice for sins, a
  sacrifice good only for a limited time; (4) this sacrifice deals entirely with materials from
  this age, which are imperfect and impermanent—it cannot begin a participation in the age
  to come (v. 10, the time of reformation); (5) it deals mainly with the outer man—it is
  superficial and cannot purify man's heart and mind, let alone restore fallen human
  nature.
9:11-14 Christ, in contrast to the OT high priest (see note on 9:6–10), is high priest of the
  new covenant. He enters the heavenly sanctuary once for all (v. 12)—Christ's one
  sacrifice covers all sins by all people for all time—with the blood of Christ (v. 14), His
  own human blood, which heals our corrupt humanity (v. 13, the flesh), restores us to
  our proper relationship to God, pure (v. 14, cleanse your conscience) and holy, and
  draws us near to God in liturgical worship (v. 14, serve the living God). Dead works
  (see 6:1) are human activity in and of this age, participating in mortality and corruption
  (and normally even in sin). Liturgically, dead works are the actions of old covenant
  worship.
9:14   Eternal Spirit: Proof the Holy Spirit is fully God.
9:15-23   Hebrews contrasts the Day of Atonement (once every year for forgiveness) with
  the covenant ceremony (once at the beginning to establish the covenant). In Christ's one
  sacrificial offering, He effects what all the sacrifices of the old covenant did not. He even
  covers those saints departed under the old covenant, that they might enter God's presence
  as they had been promised.
     The Greek word diatheke means both covenant (vv. 15, 18–20) and last will and
  testament (vv. 16, 17). As with a testament, a death (vv. 16, 17) is required to initiate its
  conditions. This death is a death to sinning; the new condition initiated by the testament
  is that of the resurrection, the reformation of our nature. As with a covenant, sprinkling
  with blood (v. 21) is necessary to consecrate all dedicated things into the covenantal
  reality. The locus of life is blood (Lv 17:11). So blood, our mortal life, is offered to God,
  who is life, and establishes us in a new relationship with Him (vv. 19–21).
9:21-23 Why was the earthly sanctuary sprinkled with consecrated blood? Because it had
  to be cleansed, being of this mortal and corrupt realm, and it needed to be consecrated to
  God. The heavenly sanctuary, of course, never was unclean, but it did need worship to be
  inaugurated there.
9:23-28 Hebrews moves back to the sacrificial act of the Day of Atonement (from vv. 11–
  14). The blood sprinkled here brings the life of the covenantal people into God's presence:
  it reconciles God and man. The final reconciliation, the eternal one, is the presentation of
  Christ's sacrificial blood (12:24) to God in heaven.
10:1   Worship in shadow has no power because it has no substance of its own and does
  not participate directly in the spiritual reality. Orthodox worship, however, is the very
  image (Gr. eikon—from which “icon” is derived) of the things. It is united with eternal
  realities and participates in the Kingdom to come. It does so by participating in the
  voluntary Passion and exaltation of the incarnate Son (v. 10), the only release from our
  mortal and corrupt existence.
10:2-7    Although OT sacrifices prefigured Christ's sacrifice, they were powerless in
  themselves. An effective sacrifice requires a body . . . prepared (v. 5), a righteous
  human being who voluntarily obeys the Father (v. 7).
10:8-10    A common prophetic theme throughout the OT (see 1Kg 15:22; Ps 50:8–15; Is
  1:10–17; Jer 7:21–26; Hos 6:6). This is not in opposition to liturgical, sacramental
  worship, but a statement of priority: obedience comes before praise. Sacrifice pleasing to
  God requires voluntary human sacrifice, not the slaughter of dumb animals. The primary
  instance of this is Christ, who did God's will in a liturgical, sacramental act (v. 10).
10:11-12   A priest stands; a king sits. Christ is both. OT priests stand daily and vainly
  repeat ineffectual sacrifices. Christ offers His one perfect sacrifice (v. 12) and sits. His
  work is completed. The Church repeatedly does certain things, but she does not repeat
  Christ's sacrifices; she participates in Christ's once-for-all sacrifice.
10:14-18 The completeness of Christ's sacrifice establishes the prophesied new covenant:
  Sacrifice for sin is complete, sanctification is perfect.
10:22    Full assurance of faith: With no doubts or second thoughts. Sprinkled . . .
  washed: A reference to a single action in the past, to baptism.
10:24   Love and good works go hand in hand, as attitude and action. They are almost
  synonymous.
10:25    Assembling: The assembly in the OT (Heb. koheleth) is translated ekklesia in
  Greek, which we translate as “church.” God instructs the faithful not to forsake
  assembling as the church. Corporate worship on a daily basis, such as morning prayers or
  Matins, increases our expectation of the Day, the coming of the Kingdom.
10:26-27   While many sins are willful, to sin willfully is defiant sin or a deliberate
  repudiation of God (see 5:2; 6:4–6). Christ is the offering for all sin—voluntary and
  involuntary—which demonstrates God's incomparable grace toward us. But if we
  deliberately and with full knowledge reject the sacrifice of Christ—which is all-
  encompassing and final—then where can we possibly turn to obtain forgiveness?
10:32   Illuminated: Illumination, or enlightenment, refers to baptism (see 6:4; Rom 6:4;
  Eph 5:14).
11:1   This is not so much a definition of faith as it is a description of how faith works,
  especially during hard times. It encourages Jewish Christians discouraged by persecution.
  Things hoped for and not seen, a vision of the future, have encouraged the people of
  God throughout history: the invisible is often more real than the visible. In the past,
  mighty works of faith were done by those whose faith was unfulfilled. How much more
  should those persevere who have inherited the promise, knowing God under the new
  covenant (vv. 39, 40)?
11:8-12      Faith is simple, but it becomes many-splendored in our lives. For Abraham and
  Sarah it became a venturesome action (v. 8); obedience (v. 8); patience (vv. 9, 10); trust
  (v. 11); and confidence (v. 11). Faith moves from the impermanence and discomfort of
  living in tents made by man (v. 9) to the permanence and solace of the city built by God
  (v. 10).
11:21   Jacob prefigured the Cross when he venerated the top of the staff of Joseph (Gn
  47:31) and when he blessed Joseph's sons with his hands crossed (Gn 48:14).
11:37   Sawn in two: Some traditions say that Isaiah was killed in this manner by
  Manasseh. (See the pseudepigraphal Martyrdom of Isaiah; see also 2Ch 24:20–22; Jer
  33:20–23; 2Mc 6:18–31; Mt 23:29–36.)
11:38   Caves: See 2Mc 6:11; 10:6.
11:40    See 9:15. Christ's Incarnation and all that He accomplished for us in the flesh
  redeems the OT saints, who by faith participate in His Resurrection and His Kingdom.
12:1   The cloud of witnesses includes not only the OT saints mentioned in ch. 11, but
  also the saints and martyrs of the Lord in all ages. If they made it, so can we. We
  persevere by getting rid of sin, the weight which keeps us from heeding the truth;
  setting as our destination the heavenly city, running the race of faith; and keeping our
  attention focused on Jesus Christ our Lord and King (12:2). This race is not a sprint but a
  marathon of endurance: it does not end until we fully enter the age to come (see 1Co
  9:24–27).
12:2-3   Christ is both the author, that is, the initiator, and the finisher, that is, the
  perfecter of faith. His joy was to do God's will. He endured the cross in that He
  voluntarily accepted humiliation and death. We are to imitate His determination and
  perseverance.
12:4-11   Unpleasant circumstances, which tempt us to complain, may be the chastening
  of the L   ORD   (v. 5). If the loving discipline of our human fathers brought us to respect
  them, how much more deserving of respect is the discipline of the Father of spirits (v.
  9), our Creator, whose breath gives us life (Gn 1:26; 2:7)?
12:13     Straight paths is a theme found throughout both the OT and the NT. See
  especially Is 40:3; Mt 7:13, 14.
12:14-17 An especially heavy “weight” (v. 1) is bitterness, a spirit of habitual complaining.
  Bitterness refuses God's chastening and defiles us before God. Esau became bitter about
  Jacob's easy, favored life in contrast to his own life of difficulty. Bitterness blinded him to
  what is truly valuable. It cut off his endurance, so he traded his family honor, his
  birthright, for one small meal (Gn 25:27–34). For this Esau is called a fornicator (v.
  16), being unfaithful to God and uniting his spirit to this temporary age. Later, when he
  changed his mind, his father Isaac would not change his. Esau missed his blessing (Gn
  27:30–40). Thus, our two clear choices for life are bitterness or blessing.
12:18-21   The mountain (v. 18) of the new covenant, Mt. Zion, is the fulfillment of the
  mountain of the old covenant, Mt. Sinai. Sinai is remembered as the place where God first
  called Israel to meet Him (Ex 19:9–23; 20:18–21; Dt 4:11, 12; 5:22–26). It was a place of
  fear, a place not to be approached and touched, out in the desert where Israel could not
  live permanently. Israel met God, and God spoke, but Israel could not fully enter into
  God's holiness.
12:22-24    We are encouraged to approach and touch the heavenly mountain, for we
  already participate in the Kingdom and dwell there. It is more like Mount Zion and
  Jerusalem (v. 22) than like Sinai (popular Jewish images at that time), for Jerusalem
  was a habitable place and Zion a place of God's holy presence. This Kingdom is not
  earthly but heavenly, inhabited by angels (v. 22) as well as men. There is an unending
  assembly (v. 23), the divinely instituted gathering of God's people of all ages, in which
  they know themselves as church. There everyone is firstborn (v. 23) and has inherited
  all. There blood (v. 24) cries not for vengeance and further death—as did Abel's (see 11:4;
  Gn 4:10)—but for mercy, forgiveness, atonement, and unending life. This is the blood of
  Christ given to us in the Eucharist.
    Heaven is not a place of the separation of the soul from the body. There, soul and body
  together are transformed into a better (v. 24) reality. For the spirits of just men are
  made perfect (v. 23; see 11:40) in unity with their bodies: glorified, divinely energized,
  without the limitations we now experience. This passage is quoted in hymns for both the
  Trisagion and funeral services of the Orthodox Church. The blood of sprinkling (v. 24)
  is that of Christ, which effects the new covenant—real blood, effective for the physical
  people.
12:25   He who speaks from heaven is Christ at the right hand of the Father.
12:26-28    What can be shaken (v. 27) is that which is created: temporal, impermanent,
  imperfect—except for the final consummation of the kingdom (v. 28), which is
  unshakable. There, life is a eucharistic liturgy. Grace (v. 28) is gratefulness that leads to
  serving God and worshiping Him in an acceptable way, with proper reverence and
  godly fear.
12:1-29 This entire passage (beginning with 10:19) is a progressive discourse imploring us
  to seek God's Kingdom first. Under the new covenant, we can ascend to this heavenly
  place in worship and in prayer. Christians experience this heavenly dimension
  fundamentally in the Divine Liturgy. We ascend to that place where we are surrounded by
  a great . . . cloud of witnesses (v. 1) This is not a physical place (v. 18) but a spiritual
  place, Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (v. 22),
  inhabited by God, the angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect (v. 23). Here,
  communion of the saints is established in the NT.
     In 9:11, 12 we saw Christ come to the greater and more perfect tabernacle, obtaining
  eternal redemption for us. In 12:22 this tabernacle is that same spiritual place, showing
  that we enter the holy place with Christ by virtue of our union with Him (10:19, 20). This
  is done fundamentally in corporate worship (10:25), by faith (11:1–3), and in order to
  show gratitude to God (12:28, 29). The content of this worship includes remembering the
  departed righteous (11:4–40; see also Ps 111:1–6; Pr 10:8).
13:1-3 Practical brotherly love is to be shown toward all Christians, but especially for the
  lowly, the powerless, and the victims of injustice. Strangers (v. 2) are travelers in need
  of hospitality. Abraham's hospitality is recalled (Gn 18:1–8; also 19:1–3). Prisoners (v.
  3) are to be prayed for and aided if possible, for all those in the body of Christ, the
  Church, are members of one another (1Co 12:12–27).
13:7    Those who rule are especially the leaders of the sacraments (bishops and priests).
  These Christian leaders are not only to be prayed for (see v. 3) but followed as models of
  Christian life as well. The faith of Christian leaders is that faith they both teach and live
  by.
13:8   Such a faith does not disappoint. Since Christ is God and does not change, His gospel
  does not change. If Christians in the past attained the eternal Kingdom through faith, so
  can we. Thus, the Church strives to keep her doctrine pure and without change.
13:9     Strange doctrines are “foreign” ones, those not coming from the One, Holy,
  Catholic, and Apostolic Church. In this case, the outside teaching is Jewish and legalistic.
  Kosher laws dealing with food do no spiritual good if grace is not at the heart of one's
  actions. Such has always been the teaching of the Church with regard to fasting (see 9:9,
  10).
13:10   In the OT, priests were given part of most sacrifices for food, but lay people had no
  right to eat this food. Under the new covenant, all Christians may eat the food of the
  altar.
13:11-12 On the only day of the year when the holy of holies could be entered, the Day of
  Atonement, only the high priest could come in, and then only with the blood of sin
  offerings. The bodies of these animals were not eaten but burned outside the camp.
  Christ identified with this supreme sacrifice of the OT in that He suffered and died
  outside the gate (v. 12). His blood was not carried into the temple in Jerusalem by
  another human, however. Rather, He carried His own blood into the heavenly most holy
  place in the eternal “today.” This great entrance of Christ shows the Divine Liturgy is
  eternal and for all under the new covenant. We being members of our High Priest, Jesus
  Christ, may always enter in.
13:13-14   The camp here is the old covenant, Israel and all its institutions and worship.
  The city (v. 14) is the earthly Jerusalem as the temple city of the Jews (see 11:10, 13–16;
  12:22). One cannot follow both the new covenant and the old covenant. The early Church
  in Jerusalem (AD 30–70) retained its Jewish customs, even the religious traditions, but it
  was under only the new covenant and so bore the ire of Jews still under the old covenant.
  Likewise, every Christian must be prepared to bear men's scorn and see himself as in
  exile in this life. The heavenly city we seek is the one to which we have already come
  (12:22): such a tension is no problem for the author of Hebrews.
13:15-19 A summarizing exhortation: (1) We experience the heavenly city and the heavenly
  most holy place when we sacrifice our whole being, body and soul, in the Divine Liturgy
  —a mystery in which our part is that of praise consistent with true doctrine (vv. 15, 9–14).
  (2) Good works and life in community (to share, Gr. koinonias) must be united with
  worship (vv. 16, 1–6). (3) Priests and spiritual leaders must be respected and obeyed (vv.
  17, 7, 8), a reference to “spiritual fatherhood” in the Church. They will give account of
  their ministry at the judgment. The author sees himself among the leaders and asks for
  prayer that he may live an exemplary life (see v. 7).
13:20-21   The benediction notes: (1) The sufficiency of the blood of Christ is realized in
  His Resurrection as Christ offers His blood in the eternal sanctuary and thereby
  inaugurates a new, everlasting covenant. (2) The everlasting covenant makes us
  complete as we cooperate with God (synergy) in all things and progress toward
  sainthood.
1:1   James establishes his authority—not as a brother of Christ or bishop of Jerusalem—but
  as a bondservant (self-indentured slave) of God. For the Jews, God is the only ruler,
  and true honor comes from Him. God refers to the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ
  to the Son of God incarnate. Scattered abroad (Gr. diaspora) refers to Jews in exile,
  but James applies it to the Church—Jewish and Gentile Christians alike—on pilgrimage.
1:2   Trials, the world's oppression, take place by God's permission. The issue is not trials
  but our response to them. Properly received, trials reveal where our hearts are. They are
  food for faith, which must grow or die. The godly reaction to trials is joy and perseverance
  (Mt 5:11, 12; Acts 5:41; Rom 5:2, 3; 8:18; Heb 12:11; 1Pt 2:19). Though unkind
  circumstances are from the evil one, to get angry at circumstances is to get angry at God,
  who permits them.
1:5   Wisdom, the practical and spiritual knowledge required for skilled living, comes to
  those who ask of God, who pray to Him. While James loves God's law, for him faith is
  not found in rules, as with the Pharisees, but in a relationship with God.
1:6-8 Prayer as petition is effective when it is done in faith, with no doubting (v. 6). We
  need an unquestioning loyalty to God along with the confidence that comes from a life
  stable in all its ways (v. 8). While James teaches the necessity of works, for him works
  demonstrate a living faith. By contrast, doubting (v. 6) means questioning God. Double-
  mindedness (v. 8) speaks of one who has two loyalties, love of the world competing with
  love for God (see Mt 6:24). Such unstable life deadens our conscience and turns us aside
  from the truth.
1:9-11   Note the reversal of the order of the world. The lowly (v. 9), those who have the
  least here, will have the most in the Kingdom of heaven (see 2:5; Mt 5:3; Lk 1:52), but
  they are tempted to be bitter and envious. The rich (v. 10) may perceive their goods as
  passing, but they are tempted to be greedy and arrogant and may thereby lose true wealth
  (see 5:1–12).
1:12   We are to rejoice even in temptations. They reveal whether or not we are prepared for
  heaven (see 1Co 9:25).
1:13   James has discussed outward trials (vv. 1–11). He now turns to inward temptations,
  which deceive us and lead us into sin. God tries us, but He never tempts us.
1:14-15 The immediate origin of a temptation is our own sinful passions, which the devil
  energizes. Temptation begins with desires or lusts, then progresses to being conceived,
  a fixation on or delight in sinful desires, and ends as birth to sin, a consent to or acting
  out of sinful desires. We fall to temptation because we allow ourselves to do so. Neither
  God nor circumstances force us to yield.
1:17   As Father of lights, God reigns over both the visible and invisible creation. He is
  Creator of all and the giver of spiritual gifts. The first part of this verse is used in the
  Divine Liturgy, in the prayer before Christ's icon.
1:18   God provides our salvation of His own will, not of necessity. Brought us forth:
  He “begot” us, a reference to baptism, by which we become children of God by grace. The
  word of truth is the Gospel, the precious, unchanging doctrines of the faith. We are the
  firstfruits of His creatures: In salvation we benefit not by taking on the essence or
  nature of God, but by putting on a new humanity consecrated to God (as with firstfruits
  in the OT). Humanity is preeminent over all creation, and through our salvation all
  creation is likewise being changed. The first half of this verse appears in the Divine
  Liturgy in the prayer of thanksgiving after the faithful receive Communion.
1:19-20    The wrath of man is unjust, ungracious, and severe. It proceeds from
  uncontrolled anger, not from God's judgment. For us to discern the righteousness of
  God requires patience, graciousness, and controlled passions.
1:21   While the word was implanted in baptism, Christians continue to receive Him
  throughout their lives.
1:25     James takes the Jewish notion of freedom—obedience to the Law—and applies it to
  Christ's law, His commandment to love others as He loved us. James uses the OT form in
  2:8.
1:26-27 Here are three examples of the relationship between faith and works. (1) Mastery
  over speech: What proceeds out of the mouth flows from the heart, for sooner or later
  our tongue will reveal the quality of our faith in God. (2) Ministry to the needy: Faithful
  Christians must be the guardians of the poor, especially of those orphans and widows
  who have lost their natural guardians. “Do not let the widows be neglected; after the Lord,
  you must be their guardian” (IgnAnt). (3) Moral purity in thought and deed: A
  traditional indicator of a working faith. “Let us make haste to wash away through fasting
  the filth of our transgressions, and through acts of mercy and compassion to the needy let
  us enter into the bridal chamber of the Bridegroom Christ, who grants to us great mercy”
  (Vespers, week before Lent).
2:1-4   Unjustly judging others is an example of fainthearted faith being manifested in
  unjust works. Favoring the rich over the poor is contrary to true faith. A person's dignity
  and worth come from God, not from fellow humans. So we must not judge others by the
  earthly standards of rank, wealth, attainments, and appearance.
2:5-7 God is not partial to anyone. The poor are more likely to repent and renounce this
  world for the sake of the kingdom, for they more easily see the emptiness of earthly
  things. The rich (v. 6), on the other hand, tend to prize earthly things, desire material
  things, and even hurt others to gain them (see Lk 6:21–25; 1Co 1:26–28). They may mock
  Christians for the name by which (v. 7) they are called, the name invoked at baptism.
2:8-13   The corrective standard of judgment is perfect faith manifested in perfect works.
  The royal law (v. 8), the law of liberty (v. 12; 1:25), is the second great commandment
  of Christ: love for neighbor (Jn 13:34). The standard by which we judge is that by which
  we will be judged; the mercy we give will be the mercy we receive. “God has shown mercy
  to us. Let us in our turn show mercy: let us feed the poor, and with the divine water of
  fasting let us wash the defilement from our souls. . . . O heavenly angels, entreat the
  Giver of good to accept in His infinite mercy our poor and mean repentance” (Matins,
  Friday before Lent).
2:14-19 The faith that saves is a complete faith, not just the mind and the tongue but the
  whole man trusting in the living God. This means our faith and our relationship with God
  —our justification—are dynamic and living. Our faith grows and affects our actions, or it
  dies. “Faith alone” (by itself, v. 17), static faith, does not save. We must nurture our faith
  in God and love for Him through our works. “Do not say you are the temple of the Lord,
  writes Jeremiah [see Jer 7:3]; nor should you say that faith alone in our Lord Jesus Christ
  can save you, for this is impossible unless you acquire love for Him through your works.
  As for faith by itself, ‘the devils also believe, and tremble’” (MaxCon).
2:20-24 The faith of Abraham is living and active.
     (1) In Gn 12:1–3, when Abraham is 75 years old, he receives a call to forsake all and
  follow God.
    (2) In Gn 15:6, when Abraham is almost 85, after he has proven his faith through years
  of renouncing his land, family, property, and privileges, God promises him that he will
  ultimately regain everything he has given up. Abraham's faith in God's promise is
  “accounted to him for righteousness.” God fulfills Abraham's faith by making a covenant
  with him, an OT liturgical and sacramental act.
     (3) In Gn 22:1–19, Abraham is at least 110. He has been tested for years concerning
  God's promise of a son. Now, after the covenant sacrament of initiation (circumcision)
  has been given in Gn 17, comes Abraham's supreme test: the sacrifice of Isaac, his son of
  promise (Gn 15:6).
     James reveals that Gn 15:6 is fulfilled in Gn 22. This is a crucial lesson for us in our
  understanding of justification by faith. Neither Abraham's faith nor his justification is
  merely momentary, static, or once-and-for-all. It is dynamic, a growth process that finds
  its natural and normal realization in good works. Far from being just point-in-time,
  Abraham's justification covered at least 25 years after God first declared him just. It is
  living and active faith that saves!
2:26   This summary of the organic relationship of faith and works (see Mt 7:21; 25:31–46;
  Jn 14:15; Gal 5:6) shows that only God can save.
3:1-12   What we say reveals what we are. If we can control what we say, we can control
  what we do (vv. 2–8). For James, this is a prime example of the relationship between
  faith and works, and a major locus of spiritual warfare. James even warns against
  becoming a Christian teacher (v. 1) and expresses astonishment at how hypocritical and
  contradictory our speech can be (vv. 9–12).
3:13-18 James is also leery about us counseling others, for what is offered as wisdom can
  be based on pride and other sinful passions. Self-centered faith will manifest itself in self-
  centered works, in this case “helping” others. True wisdom comes from God and proves
  itself by action (v. 13). Sensual (v. 15; Gr. psychike) means unspiritual, not possessing
  the spirit of God.
4:1-10 Wars and fights in the Church are another example of the result of faith without
  works. Such disputes come from desires for pleasure that war in our members,
  passions that bring disruption in the body of Christ. These passions are fragmenting (v.
  1), self-centered (v. 3), of this world (v. 4), energized by Satan (v. 7), and therefore at
  enmity with God (v. 4). God does not answer prayers for our selfish desires (v. 3).
  Adulterers and adulteresses: The image of unfaithfulness in marriage is common
  throughout the OT for the faithlessness of God's people.
      How do we conquer arrogant pleasure-seeking? (1) Stop praying for self-centered
  pleasures (vv. 2, 3). (2) Renounce the world and build a friendship with God (v. 4). (3)
  Yield to the Holy Spirit who dwells in us through chrismation (v. 5). In seeking the
  Holy Spirit we gain the Holy Trinity! (4) Be humble, recognizing that God resists the
  proud (v. 6). (5) Resist (be insubordinate to) Satan and submit to God (v. 7). (6)
  Approach God in worship (draw near). Take special care to cleanse your hands and
  purify your hearts through repentance in preparation for worship (vv. 8, 9). Never
  laugh off God's call to mourn for sin.
     “The rewards for the toils of virtue are dispassion and spiritual knowledge. For these
  are the mediators of the kingdom of heaven, just as passions and ignorance are the
  mediators of eternal punishment. It is because of this that he who seeks these rewards
  for the sake of human glory and not for their intrinsic goodness is rebuked by the words
  of Scripture: ‘You ask, and do not receive, because you ask wrongly’” (MaxCon).
4:11-12 Belittling criticism of others is another case of pride coming out in what we say. It
  is a lack of faith united with evil works, an offense both to the person criticized and to
  God. God's will is to love others (2:8) with humility and mercy, even if they are in the
  wrong (see 3:13–18).
4:13-16   True faith depends completely on God and seeks ways to do good works. But to
  plan as if we knew exactly what will happen is arrogance.
5:1-6 The terrible fate of the unjust rich is that their wealth will condemn them.
5:7-12 The early and latter rain (v. 7) refers to the pattern of rainfall—at planting time
  and just before harvest—in Palestine. We are to put away grumbling at each other, and we
  must not demand that life be “fair.” Patience, forbearance, and a right vision of the
  ultimate Judge are true works of living faith.
5:10-11 The faithful prophets, true saints of God, are models or examples to us in how to
  practice suffering and patience. Consequently, Christians from the NT era even till
  today have honored or venerated the prophets—indeed, all the saints—counting them
  blessed.
5:12   A polemic against a bad custom stemming from bad faith: the common practice of
  swearing by God or something that signifies God (as if swearing were a proof of
  truthfulness). We may swear when required to, but the solution to lack of trust is good
  faith—our integrity, truthfulness between a person and God. See Mt 5:33–37.
5:13-15 The sick person is to call for the elders (presbyters) for prayer. Salvation deals
  with the whole person, for each human being is a unity, body and soul. Hence, this
  sacrament has a double purpose: not only for healing but for forgiveness also. The
  presbyter (shortened form: priest) is given certain gifts of the ministry at ordination, the
  laying on of hands (see 1Ti 4:14). Prayer is combined with olive oil—not only the primary
  medicine of ancient times, but also a symbol of the Holy Spirit in the Church—in a single
  sacrament that effects a healing for the whole person. Thus, the elements of the
  sacrament of healing include (1) the presbyter or priest (v. 13); (2) the prayer of (the)
  faith that will save (v. 15), connected with (3) the work of Christ Himself, for the Lord
  will raise us up, and (4) the Holy Spirit, manifested in the oil; and (5) confession of sins
  just prior to the anointing with oil, which explains why James writes if he has
  committed sins, he will be forgiven (v. 15). In the Orthodox Church, this sacrament
  is granted anyone who is sick, whether in danger of dying or not.
5:16-18 Some allege that confessing sins to God before a priest is not biblical. The ancient
  Christian custom was to confess your trespasses to one another (v. 16). When a
  Christian was guilty of sin, the matter was confessed before the whole Church as an act of
  repentance. As the Church grew, and those not part of the community came to observe,
  the pressure in such public confession became so great that the priest, instead of the
  entire community, heard the confession, representing the people. What is not taught in
  Scripture is a private confession only to God, which refuses to acknowledge sin to the
  community (1Jn 1:8, 10). Thus, the Church has effected healing through such works of
  faith as confession of sins and the power of intercessory prayer.
5:19-20 The work of faith in restoring the apostate.
1:1   Pilgrims, or “sojourners,” are aliens, those who stay for a while in a strange place with
  no intention of permanently residing there. This is said of God's people in this world (see
  2:11; Gn 23:4; Ps 38:13; Heb 11:13), for they are citizens of the heavenly world to come
  (Php 3:20).
1:2 Note the apostle's clear reference to all three divine Persons of the Holy Trinity.
     God's foreknowledge does not preclude or bind human will. Rather, it has to do with
  His Providence, His sovereign control of history. Sanctification: See Glossary. The
  sprinkling of the blood connects OT sacramental rites with Christ and the New
  Testament. Through the blood sprinkled on the doorposts of their homes, the people of
  Israel escaped the power of Satan and death in Egypt (Ex 12:13). When the covenant
  between God and the Israelites was made at Sinai, Moses sprinkled the blood of the
  covenant upon the people, thereby empowering Israel to participate in the life of God (Ex
  24:8). On the Day of Atonement, the blood of a goat was sprinkled on the mercy seat of
  the tabernacle (Lv 16:15). As people of the New Covenant, we enter into God's life more
  intimately: “Unless you . . . drink His blood, you have no life in you” (Jn 6:53). Through
  Christ's blood communicated to us in the Holy Eucharist (1Co 11:25), we are united with
  Him in His incorrupt human nature.
     We are to be in obedience to Jesus Christ because of the obedience of Jesus Christ.
  In contrast to the disobedience of the first Adam, the second Adam, Christ, fulfilled the
  Law completely and performed all righteousness. Through His obedience, corrupt human
  nature will be transformed into incorrupt human nature.
1:3   We are begotten . . . again to a living hope in baptism. As Jesus told Nicodemus,
  we enter the Kingdom of God by being “born of water and the Spirit” (Jn 3:5). This new
  birth in baptism unites us with Christ and His resurrection (Rom 6:3). The words and
  actions of Peter also confirm this sacramental reality (see Acts 2:37, 38, 41; 10:43, 47, 48;
  see also the “washing of regeneration” in Tts 3:5, where baptism and God's mercy are
  coupled). Here the sacrament of baptism (vv. 3–6) is the power by which we suffer
  faithfully (vv. 7–9). Being regenerated, given new life in Christ, we have a hope by which
  to live. This grace of God sustains us in the trials of life. (Verses 3–12 in the original
  constitute one long sentence.)
1:4   Note the home for which we yearn, our inheritance, is also described in the context of
  baptism (1:3).
1:5   The incorruptible inheritance is reserved for those who have true faith, the faith that
  by God's grace perseveres to the end.
1:6, 7 To reach the joy and blessing of eternal life in Christ, we first experience the sadness
  of the passing world, along with the afflictions we must face here (see also Jam 1:1–12).
  To the watching world, the perseverance of the faithful during affliction appears foolish
  and even contemptible. But Peter shows that faith under trial is precious indeed, bearing
  more glory and honor as it continues to stand under trial (see Mt 25:31–46; 1Co 3:10–15).
1:8   Peter knew by experience the failure to perceive the truth until he saw it with his eyes
  (see Lk 24:8–12; Acts 10:39–43). Here he addresses those who believe Him whom they
  have not seen. This is the faith of baptism and the faith of eternal life.
1:10-11   The prophets had supernatural knowledge of the events to come—even so far as
  the glories that would follow the sufferings of Christ, His Resurrection, Ascension,
  and Second Coming.
1:12   Even the angels desire to deepen their vision both of the uncreated glory and of what
  God has in store for creation (see 1Co 2:8). The angels beheld and worshipped Christ in
  His divine nature; what is new and amazing to them is His human nature.
1:13   The Israelites ate the original Passover with loins girded, that is, with their long
  outer garments tucked into their belts so as to free their legs for movement. Similarly,
  Christians are to live always in the spirit of Passover, prepared for the journey of
  obedience and virtue.
1:17   Why should we pray in fear? Because the Father we serve will judge us according
  to each one's work. While being certain of God's mercy, we conduct ourselves with
  care.
1:18-19 Our salvation has been purchased by the infinitely precious blood of Christ (v.
  19). We are not our own and are to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the price
  paid for our redemption (see 1Co 6:19, 20).
1:24-25 This passage from Is 40:6–8 sets in sharp contrast the difference between human
  and divine seed. Our present human condition will have an end, of course, as witnessed
  by the ever-presence of corruption, and will meet that end in death. But in the glorified,
  incarnate Son, the word of the L   ORD   (v. 25), we gain incorrupt and immortal humanity,
  both in body and in soul.
2:1   The duty, the necessity, for Christians to be holy in their conduct is the issue pursued
  in this passage. The apostle Paul has written that new (indeed, all!) Christians are to put
  off the old manner of life, corrupted by evil and deception (Eph 4:22). Similarly, those
  addressed here are to turn from the same.
2:2-3 The pure milk of the word is apostolic doctrine (Acts 2:42), the basic teaching of
  the Church—both written (1:10–12) and spoken (1:25). These lead us to the meat of the
  word (1Co 3:2), the sacraments of the Church, and continual growth in the Christian life.
  We have tasted that the Lord is gracious and should long for this spiritual
  nourishment.
2:4-10    Peter likens the growth of the Church to the OT temple with its attending
  priesthood and its sacrifice and worship, Christ Himself being the fulfillment of this
  imagery. Thus, in Christ we become living stones, a spiritual house, a royal
  priesthood (v. 5; see Ex 19:5, 6), the people of God who have obtained mercy (v. 10;
  see Eph 2:19–22; 1Co 3:16, 17; 2Co 6:16). This is salvation in all its fullness.
2:5   In the true temple, one sacrifice is offered, the unrepeatable sacrifice of Christ. But in
  Him, in baptism, we also are sacrificed, “a living sacrifice” (Rom 12:1) acceptable to
  God. Our whole life is to be lived in this baptism as an offering to Christ our life. This is
  the spiritual offering of the Church in the Eucharist, the offering by which she lives.
2:9   In the true Temple there is one offerer, one priest, who, again, is Christ. In baptism we
  all are anointed with grace as priests in the Kingdom of God; for the spiritual Kingdom is
  also the spiritual priesthood. Moreover, as the body of Christ, we have a priestly ministry
  to the world, fulfilling the very priesthood and intercession of the Lord Himself, so that to
  the whole universe we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of
  darkness into His marvelous light.
2:11   To this point Peter has been addressing the whole of the Church, describing the
  benefits and challenges of salvation. Now he speaks to various groups of Christians—
  citizens, servants, wives, husbands, pastors—exhorting all to forsake sinful passions and
  to live as true sojourners and pilgrims in the world.
2:13-17 (See also Rom 13:1–7; Mt 22:21; Tts 3:1.) Peter urges his readers to be obedient to
  civil government. While Christians serve a higher authority, God Himself, it is God who
  calls us to submit to earthly leaders for the Lord's sake (v. 13). This is not a call to
  “separate” Church from state, but rather a call to cooperate with and enhance the state—
  realizing that at times Church and state have been at great odds. When ultimate loyalty
  and obedience to Christ and His gospel are at stake, Peter's actions show that we are to
  obey God rather than man, even to the point of prison or death (Acts 4:19, 20).
2:18-24 This advice to servants is applicable to all who are employed by another. Christ is
  our example for service and for our response to mistreatment. He is shown to be the
  Suffering Servant, offering Himself on our behalf, by whose stripes you were healed
  (v. 24; see Is 53).
2:22   No washing away of sins was necessary for Christ, who did no sin. His washing was
  done for us, who do sin. We should live, then, for Him who did not spare His own Son,
  that in His body He might crucify our passions. For Christ died for us that we might live
  in His renewed body.
2:25   Peter—according to tradition the first bishop of Antioch, the guiding church of the
  mission to the Eastern Mediterranean, and later of Rome, the leading church of the
  mission to the Western Mediterranean—the one charged by Christ to tend His sheep (Jn
  20:16), sees all of us as sheep under the care of Christ, our universal Shepherd and
  Overseer (lit., “bishop”). Peter calls himself “a fellow elder” in 5:1, for bishops and
  priests are not two different orders in the NT.
3:1-7   A stunning call to contentment in Christian marriage, whether we live in the first
  century or the twenty-first. The dignity and modesty of a woman—and her good conduct—
  have the power to call her husband to faith and devotion. Husbands are not to take
  advantage of this superior conduct on the part of their wives, but are to reciprocate,
  indeed to give honor. Peter's image of marriage is one of sacramental union, not merely
  of legal contract. Contrary to the inheritance customs of the time, husband and wife are
  heirs together of the grace of life (v. 7). Failure to live with understanding with
  one's spouse even affects one's relationship with God (see Eph 5:22–33).
3:8-12   Our behavior today has consequences for the future. The Church as a corporate
  priesthood is to express God's graciousness to the entire world. As we have been blessed,
  so must we bless (see Mt 7:12).
3:13-17 As the royal priesthood follows Christ in His obedience and His mercifulness, so it
  follows Him in His suffering.
3:15   A challenge to all—clergy and laity alike—to answer when asked about our hope in
  Christ with meekness and fear.
3:17 Not all our suffering comes about because we have been righteous.
3:18-20 As Noah preached righteousness, suffered unjustly, and rescued those who were
  with him, so also does Christ. Christ descended to those in darkness and death that light
  might shine on them and He might deliver them from death. As Christ fearlessly faced
  His tormentors, death, and hell, so we through Him can confidently face mockers and
  tormentors—and, yes, bring His light to them.
3:21-22 The Flood is an OT mystery of salvation of the human race. Noah was saved from
  a godless society—not so much saved from the water, as through the water from evil. For
  through the water of baptism the resurrected Christ, having taken His place in heaven
  itself, gives us a clean conscience.
4:1-5 Though Peter refers here to specific activities and vices prevalent in that day in Asia
  Minor—where excessive drinking along with unspeakable practices took place in
  connection with the worship of various deities—there can be no doubt of the direct
  application of this passage to our own day and the condition from which many of us have
  come into the Kingdom.
4:6   The dead are most likely those preached to “in prison” in Hades (3:19).
4:7-11 Whatever gifts God has given to His people are to be used for the glory of God and
  in a spirit of love (see Rom 12:4–10; 1Co 12–14).
4:12-13 The fiery trial is the suffering of tribulations that tempt us to unfaithfulness, to
  the ruin of our faith. God's people have always suffered unjustly, but in baptism the
  sufferings in which we partake are those of Christ Himself, which will ultimately bring
  great joy (v. 13).
4:17-19 Slander and persecution purify the Church for judgment, but persecutors and the
  ungodly (v. 18) are heaping up condemnation for themselves. The severity of the present
  judgment of the righteous is evidence that the ungodly face a fearsome fate. Christians
  who suffer can always be confident that God is faithful (v. 19) and good.
5:1-4   (See Jn 21:15–17.) From Christ Himself and throughout the history of the Church,
  these words have been delivered in exhortation to the shepherds or leaders of the flock
  (v. 2). Pastoral work is to be undertaken willingly and cheerfully, with neither financial
  gain nor power in mind. For faithful service is rendered on behalf of Christ, the Chief
  Shepherd (v. 4), and awaits an eternal crown of glory.
5:3   (See Mk 10:42–45; 2Co 4:5.) Those entrusted to you (Gr. kleron) means those who
  have “the inheritance”; the word is the source of the English “clergy.” In the OT the
  Levites were the kleros; their inheritance was the Lord. In the NT all are kleros, a royal
  priesthood, equally inheriting the Lord. While there are “orders” of clergy in the Church—
  bishops, presbyters, deacons—a separation or isolation between priests and laity is
  unknown in the NT.
5:5-7   Humility is the foundation of virtue; it is learned through submission and
  obedience to godly elders. In submitting to one another, we humble ourselves under
  the mighty hand of God (see 1Th 5:12, 13; Heb 13:7, 17).
5:8-9 The devil and his angels do explore us individually, looking for our weaknesses. The
  enemy offers appealing visions to our eyes, music to our ears, to each of our senses
  setting forth whatever might tempt us to sin. He arouses our tongues to speaking evil
  about others and urges our hands to injure them. He sets forth profits to be earned by
  shady and immoral means and holds out earthly honors and false values to be preferred
  to heavenly ones. When he is unable to tempt us, he brings forth a threat of persecution
  so that fear may cause us to betray the faith. Thus we are always alert for his many-
  faceted attacks, ready to resist him at every turn.
5:13   Babylon here is almost certainly a reference to ancient Rome, like the more ancient
  Babylon (itself of no significance in the days of the early Church) a source of confusion
  and tribulation for the people of God. Peter himself was martyred in Rome.
5:14    The kiss of love, or of peace, is here already a liturgical practice. In St. John
  Chrysostom's liturgy, the kiss of peace occurs between the Great Entrance and the Creed;
  historically the entire Church took part in it. This embrace signifies forgiveness,
  reconciliation, and banishment of every remembrance of injury. It recalls the command
  of Christ, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has
  something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be
  reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Mt 5:23, 24).
1:1   Whereas, 1 Peter introduces the author simply as “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,” 2
  Peter adds Simon, the pre-Christian name of Peter, and a bondservant. God refers to
  Jesus Christ (as in Tts 2:13). What Peter teaches in this letter is apostolic consensus: like
  precious faith with us. He reminds and exhorts his hearers to full Christian belief and
  virtue.
1:2    Gnostics, who were infiltrating the church, taught they had access to a special
  knowledge, unknown by ordinary people. Peter teaches the true knowledge of God, and
  it is in the Church this knowledge is found.
1:3   Peter assures us we have no need for anything other than what we have received. For
  God has given us His energy (life) and His personal presence (godliness, or piety,
  devotion), both of which we may grow in. Virtue (Gr. arete) may also be translated as
  “excellence” or “power.” It is spiritual and moral excellence attained by vigorous and
  courageous faith.
1:4   Being renewed by God's power, we become partakers of the divine nature. This
  does not mean we become divine by nature. If we participated in God's essence, the
  distinction between God and man would be abolished. What this does mean is that we
  participate in God's energy, described by a number of terms in scripture, such as glory,
  life, love, virtue, and power. We are to become like God by His grace, and truly His
  adopted children, but never become God by nature. According to some church fathers,
  this especially occurs through the Eucharist, for when Christ's Body and Blood become
  one with ours, we become Christ-bearers and partakers of the divine nature.
      “We that are made worthy to participate in Him [the Holy Spirit] through faith in
  Christ are brought to perfection as participants of the divine nature, and are said to be
  born of God, and on that account are given the title gods, not flying up to the glory above
  us by grace alone, but as already having God indwelling and taking lodging in us,
  according to what is set forth in the Prophet, ‘I shall dwell among them and walk about in
  their midst’ (Lv 26:12; 2Co 6:16)” (CyrAl).
1:5-7 How do we who know Christ grow in our participation in the divine nature through
  grace? By the cultivation of a progression of spiritual realities. As in v. 3, virtue refers to
  the vigor and courage behind attaining moral excellence. Love (v. 7) is adjoined to
  brotherly kindness (affection among Christians), for love of God cannot be perfected
  except through love of one's neighbor (see 1Jn 4:20).
1:8   This knowledge (Gr. epignosis, as also in v. 1) is not primarily mental but spiritual
  and personal. It is experienced as we have faith and bear good fruit in the Lord Jesus
  Christ.
1:9   Gnostics claimed to know God without becoming godlike. Peter makes it plain this is
  not Christian, for we reach participation with God through the increase of spiritual
  virtues, not the absence of them. Here, as with all eschatological warnings in the NT,
  admittance to God's Kingdom is conditioned by a faith that exhibits perseverance and
  holiness.
1:11   The primary truth with which Peter is dealing (which he has only indirectly touched
  upon to this point) is the second coming of Christ and His everlasting kingdom.
1:13   People live in a tent when on a journey or at war. As long as we are in this body, we
  live in “tents,” which bear witness to the long journey of life and to the ongoing battle
  against enemy forces of darkness.
1:16-18   Peter has been an eyewitness to the majesty of Christ in many ways—and here
  reminds us especially that he was one of those present with the Lord on the Mount of
  Transfiguration (Mt 17:1–8). What Peter is going to repeat about the second coming is the
  common apostolic tradition, which is buttressed by the eyewitness testimony of the
  apostles. It is not an elaborate scheme of fables, such as the Gnostics propounded. In all
  the Gospel accounts, the Transfiguration is a proof and foretaste of the coming of Christ
  in glory.
1:19-21 The testimony of the apostles both confirms prophetic word (v. 19) concerning
  the second coming and shows us how to interpret prophecy. Just as Scripture (v. 20)
  was not written by the mere volition of men but by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (v.
  21), so Scripture is to be interpreted by holy men guided by the Holy Spirit. Heretics (ch.
  2) and unstable Christians (3:16) interpret incorrectly. The apostles (the we of v. 19) are
  guided by the Holy Spirit, trusting in the promise of true interpretation (Jn 16:13). The
  Church, founded by the apostles, likewise receives the Holy Spirit. “For the apostles, like
  a rich man in a bank, deposited with her [the Church] most copiously everything which
  pertains to the truth. And everyone who wishes, draws from her the drink of life. For she
  is the entrance to life, while all the rest are thieves and robbers. That is why it is surely
  necessary to avoid them, while cherishing with the utmost diligence the things pertaining
  to the church, and to lay hold of the tradition of truth” (Iren).
2:1-3    Peter now reaches his main concern: false teachers who are unholy and
  communicate heresy. They are arrogant, sensual, and greedy (he deals with them in much
  the same way as does Jude) but they deny accountability in their lives. Isolating
  themselves from apostolic doctrine concerning Christ, they hold their own “private
  interpretations,” misconstruing doctrines about the second coming and the ultimate
  authority of Christ over us. But as deceivers, they teach as though they possess true
  apostolicity.
2:4-10   God's past judgments indicate what awaits the heretics: He will divide the holy
  from the unholy in the life to come. We already have the example of the angels who
  sinned (v. 4), imprisoned in the lowest part of hell (Gr. tartarus) while awaiting the
  final judgment. Verse 10 repeats the two main sins of heretics: (1) immorality, (2)
  disdain for authority, especially that of Christ.
    Noah is a preacher of righteousness (v. 5), in part because by doing righteous deeds
  he showed to all who saw him how life ought to be lived (see Heb 11:7).
2:12-17 False teachers are condemned for both their words and their actions. Those who
  are natural cannot understand spiritual things (1Co 2:14) and will be destroyed, as
  false prophets have been in the past. For the story of Balaam (v. 15), see Nm 22:1–25:9;
  31:8, 16; Dt 23:4, 5; Jos 13:22; Jude 11.
2:19   A common misunderstanding of liberty or freedom is to see it as standing apart
  from all moral restraints, to say there is no such thing as sin. But this results in slavery of
  the worst kind, bondage to egotistic and sensual passions. True Christian freedom
  begins with freedom from sin, freedom from immoral activity. A Christian is called to live
  in purity in an impure world.
3:4   “It is clear to all who love His coming that the mind must be controlled rather
  moderately in this conjecture. We must surmise neither that the aforesaid day of the Lord
  is near and will come quite quickly, nor again that it is coming too slowly. But we should
  be diligent in seeing to this alone: that whether it comes sooner or later, it may find us
  ready when it does come” (Bede).
3:9   These words are not just for the false teachers, but for us all. We are granted more
  time primarily to grant us fuller repentance. (See v. 15; 2Co 7:9, 10.)
3:10-12 Because this world will pass away, we ought to be holy (v. 11) and godly, living as
  citizens of the new heaven and earth. Christians can actually hasten the coming of that
  day. How? Through evangelism (Mt 24:14; Mk 13:10), prayer (especially the Lord's
  Prayer, “Thy Kingdom come”), holy living (1Pt 2:12), and repentance and obedience (Acts
  3:19–21).
3:13    Not other heavens and earth, but the same ones transfigured for the better. For a
  beautiful prophetic description of the new heaven and earth, see Rev 21–22 and Is 65:17–
  25.
3:15   Longsuffering can be salvation only if our salvation in Christ includes a lifelong
  process of maturing.
3:16   The author knows of a collection of Paul's letters and regards it as equal in authority
  to Scripture, that is, to the OT. This is the first indication of the collection of an NT canon.
3:17-18 The danger of deception is high for everyone. The defense against deception is to
  stay connected to the true apostles (v. 17) and to their doctrines, which encourage our
  growth in the knowledge of our Lord . . . Jesus Christ (v. 18).
1:1   We means the apostles. Their testimony is true, not that of the false apostles. While
  John makes a distinction between divine revelation (which was from the beginning,
  the Word of life) and human sensory perception (heard, seen, looked upon,
  handled), he has no problem connecting them. Note John's clarity of teaching on
  Christ's two natures: divine (from the beginning, the Word of life) and human (heard,
  seen, handled) (see Lk 24:39; Jn 1:14; 20:27, 28).
      “When [John] says: ‘which was from the beginning,’ he touches upon the generation
  without beginning of the Son, who is coexistent with the Father. ‘Was,’ therefore,
  indicates eternity without beginning, just as the Word Himself, the Son, being one with
  the Father in regard to equality of substance, is eternal and uncreated. That the Word
  always existed is signified by the words: ‘In the beginning was the Word [Jn 1:1]’”
  (ClemA).
1:2   The divinity of Jesus was manifested in His life, especially His teaching and His
  miracles (see Jn 2:11).
1:3   Koinonia (Gr.) is far more than fellowship. It is our personal participation with other
  believers in the life of Christ. Fellowship with us refers to communion—especially
  eucharistic communion—within the apostolic Church. It is inconceivable to John that the
  Church not be one and united (see Jn 17:11, 20, 21) or that fellowship not be founded on
  doctrine (the theological implication of with the Father and with His Son Jesus
  Christ) and on sacrament (the liturgical implication of koinonia).
1:1-4   Contrary to heretics, who claim communion (koinonia) directly with God through
  “spiritual” (non-material) means, John teaches communion with God through the
  Incarnate Son. Especially in view here is the Eucharist, where the physicality of Christ is
  repulsive to the heretics.
1:5   For John, light is divine energy manifested as truth (true doctrine), virtue and
  holiness (true behavior), and communion with God in the Church (true spirituality). The
  strongest of all weapons against darkness is our love for God, a strong, vibrant
  relationship with Him.
1:6-2    John addresses three false gnostic teachings on light. Their intertwined errors are
  that (1) union with God is indifferent to sin (vv. 6, 7); (2) sin does not exist (vv. 8, 9); and
  (3) one in union with God cannot sin (1:10–2:2).
        John answers: (1) Faith must be evidenced by works, that is, must produce purity
  (practice the truth, v. 6, where truth is a right relationship with God manifested in a
  holy and righteous life). And faith must seek forgiveness and cleansing for sin (the
  blood of Jesus Christ . . . cleanses us from all sin, v. 7). (2) Sin does exist, and the
  practice of confession is the established basis for growth toward righteousness (v. 9). (3)
  Though we do sin, we should strive not to. Salvation in Christ is a process, in part toward
  not sinning (v. 7).
2:3-11   The ancient gnostics held two false teachings on God's light: knowledge of God
  requires neither (1) obedience (vv. 3–8) nor (2) love of others (vv. 9–11). John answers:
     (1) To know God is to obey Him. His commandments (vv. 3, 4) are not a legal code
  but life in Christ, the way of love (vv. 5, 6). Those outside of Christ will not become
  partakers of His life unless they, by God's grace, practice what He says. “In vain do we
  applaud Him whose commandments we do not keep” (Bede; see also Lk 9:23; Jam 2:19).
  The new commandment is Christ's (v. 7), that we love as Christ loved (Jn 13:34; 15:12,
  17).
    (2) To love God (to be in the light, vv. 9, 10) is also to love each other. “Anyone who
  comes hating his brother to the font of life where he is to be reborn, to the cup of that
  precious blood whereby he is to be redeemed, even though he may think he is
  enlightened by the Lord, is still in darkness. He cannot in any way have put off the
  darkness of his sins when he did not take care to put on the fundamentals of love” (Bede).
2:12-14   In this poem of comfort and encouragement, John addresses three stages of
  Christian growth. (1) Little children are the newly converted (see Lk 10:21), who see
  clearly that their sins are forgiven (v. 12) and who know the Father (v. 13). (2)
  Fathers, the mature in understanding, have known Him who is from the
  beginning (vv. 13, 14). (3) Young men are those who war against the devil (vv. 13, 14),
  who are strong (v. 14) and who have the word of God (v. 14) living in them.
2:15   The world here is creation after the fall and under the dominion of Satan. It is
  creation no longer oriented toward God, but temporary and dominated by inordinate
  passions (see Mt 6:24; Lk 16:13; 1Co 7:29–31).
2:16   The world distorts every realm of God's good creation (see Jam 1:13, 14). There are
  (1) sensual pleasures of the flesh (physical passions), (2) intellectual attainments and
  capacities of the eyes (the soul's passions), and (3) inordinate possessions, power, and
  honors of life (the pride of human spirit). Biblical ascetic practices—prayer, fasting,
  almsgiving (see Mt 6:1–18)—help us overcome these distortions and live lives of virtue.
2:18   The last hour is the era of the New Covenant, the “eleventh hour” (Mt 20:6). The
  deceptions at hand, not a specific prediction of the end of the world, are in view. Many
  antichrists are the heretics, through whom the Antichrist of the end times (see 2Th 2)
  is doing his spadework.
       Very early in the second century, on his way to martyrdom in Rome, Ignatius of
  Antioch wrote, “These are the last times [see 1Co 7:29]. Let us then be ashamed and fear
  God's patience so that it may not become condemnation for us. We should either fear the
  wrath to come or love the grace which is present, one of the two, just so that we may be
  found in Christ Jesus for true life [see Acts 17:30; 1Th 1:10]. Nothing should seem fitting
  to you apart from him in whom I bear my bonds as spiritual pearls. May I rise again in
  them by your prayer, in which I may always participate so that I may be found in the lot
  apportioned to the Ephesian Christians, who have always agreed with the apostles by the
  power of Jesus Christ.”
2:19   Being on the roll of the Church, even receiving the sacraments, is not enough. We
  must continue in our belief and manifest the fruit of faith.
2:20-21   Anointing (Gr. criso, hence “chrismation”) recalls the coronation of kings and
  the ordinations of priests and prophets in the OT, which activated the spiritual gifts and
  energies needed for their offices. The NT anointing is the ongoing reality of the presence
  of the Holy Spirit, who works in every member of the Church to preserve her in the truth
  (Jn 14:26; 16:13–15). You is plural. Anointing is not for independent action but for the
  one holy Church.
2:22-23 Theologically, the issues are: (1) Does God the Father have a consubstantial Son?
  (2) Is the Man Jesus the same Person as God the Son? These, of course, are the two basic
  issues of Christology: that Jesus Christ is one divine Person in two natures.
2:24-27    To abide in Christ involves not only mental assent to the doctrine of the
  Incarnation. It is a sacramental union with Him, effected in baptism and nourished in the
  Eucharist (Jn 6:53–59; 15:1–8). For John, apostolic teaching and writing (vv. 24–26) is
  identical with being taught of God (v. 27). Without both the work of the Spirit and
  apostolic doctrine, we would remain in darkness.
3:1   Bede says that at the Judgment, the people of the world “will say to one another,
  groaning and repenting, ‘These are they whom we once held in derision and, as it were, a
  byword for taunts; witless we judged their life madness and their end without honor.
  How have they been numbered among the children of God, and is their lot among the
  saints?’” Christians, of course, are children of God by grace while remaining human by
  nature.
3:2   Made in God's image and likeness, we are fulfilled by becoming like Him, a process
  called sanctification or deification. Being “partakers of the divine nature” (2Pt 1:4), we are
  “transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2Co 3:18). When we see Him as
  He is, in the fullness of His glory at the last day, this process will be supremely
  magnified. John had seen the foretaste of this glory on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt
  17:1–9; Mk 9:2–9; Lk 9:28–36).
      How shall we see Him? Through our likeness to Him; our human nature will be
  glorified with the glorified humanity of the Son (see Col 3:3, 4) and through a knowledge
  of all three Persons of the Trinity. (Note Paul's expressions, “face to face” and “with
  unveiled face” in 1Co 13:12; 2Co 3:18).
3:4-9 John is talking in general terms, contrasting this world with the world to come. The
  Christian, though sinful, does not sin (v. 9; lit., “does not keep on sinning”) as the world
  does. The Church lives under God's influence; the world, under Satan's lawlessness (v.
  4), is living without law, in a hardened enmity to God. The devil (v. 8; lit., “slanderer” or
  “opposer”) is a creature, a fallen archangel. From the beginning (v. 8) refers to Satan's
  ceaseless sinning since his fall.
3:12    We are to give our attention to deeds, not just to words. Abel showed himself
  righteous, a child of faith and love; Cain showed himself evil, self-centered and envious
  (see Gn 4:4, 8; Heb 11:4; 12:24).
3:15   “If then we wish to receive the Lord's blessings we should restrain not only the
  outward expression of anger, but also angry thoughts. More beneficial than controlling
  our tongue in a moment of anger and refraining from angry words is purifying our heart
  from rancor and not harboring malicious thoughts against our brethren. The Gospel
  teaches us to cut off the roots of our sins and not merely their fruits. When we have dug
  the root of anger out of our heart, we will no longer act with hatred or envy. ‘Whoever
  hates his brother is a murderer’ (3:15), for he kills him with the hatred in his mind.
  The blood of a man who has been slain by the sword can be seen by men, but blood shed
  by the hatred in the mind is seen by God, who rewards each man with punishment or a
  crown not only for his acts but for his thoughts and intentions as well. As God Himself
  says through the Prophet: ‘Behold, I am coming to reward them according to their actions
  and their thoughts’ [cf. WSir 11:24]; and the Apostle says: ‘And their thoughts accuse or
  else excuse them in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men’ [Rom 2:15, 16]. The
  Lord Himself teaches us to put aside all anger when He says: ‘Whoever is angry with his
  brother shall be in danger of judgment’ [Mt 5:22]. This is the text of the best
  manuscripts; for it is clear from the purpose of Scripture in this context that the words
  ‘without a cause’ were added later. The Lord's intention is that we should remove the root
  of anger, its spark, so to speak, in whatever way we can, and not keep even a single pretext
  for anger in our hearts. Otherwise we will be stirred to anger initially for what appears to
  be a good reason and then find that our incensive power is totally out of control”
  (JohnCas).
4:3   Antichrist is anyone who does not confess that the Son of God became man while
  remaining God.
4:6   We is the apostles and their followers.
4:7-11   God is love (v. 8) is not a definition of who God is, but rather describes His
  relationship to us as our Father. As the only begotten Son (v. 9) sacrificially gave
  Himself that we might live through Him (v. 9), so we are to give ourselves to Him
  and one another (v. 11).
4:10 What a statement of God's mercy and grace! (See also 4:19.)
4:12-16 How can we know God lives in us? John gives a fourfold answer: (1) if we love
  one another (v. 12); (2) if we have been given His Spirit (v. 13); (3) if we can confess
  Jesus is the Son of God (v. 15); and (4) if we abide in the love of God (v. 16).
5:1, 2 Who is it that truly believes that Jesus is the Christ? Those who live in the way
  Christ commanded, who love others.
5:3    How is it that God's commandments are not burdensome? We live these
  commandments by faith and in God's love, which makes them light on our fallen nature.
  They are hard and rough only to those who are living a sinful life. That the Kingdom of
  heaven belongs to those who suffer makes even suffering sweet.
5:6-12   By water and blood (v. 6) is a reference both to the constancy of the Incarnate
  Son throughout His life and to the mingled water and blood that poured from Jesus' side
  (Jn 19:34), which is a type of baptism. Similarly the Spirit, the water, and the blood
  (v. 8) refers to the unity of the basic sacraments: chrismation, baptism, and the Eucharist.
5:13   When we know we have been given the gift of eternal life, we are to continue to
  believe and follow the Son of God.
5:16   What about those Christians who are not living righteously? Sin leading to death
  is willful, continual disbelief in the grace of the Holy Spirit toward us. (See Mt 12:28, 31,
  32; Heb 6:4–6; 10:26–31.)
5:21   Idols are either false gods or things that turn us away from God (Col 3:5).
1:1   John calls himself the elder, or presbyter, which confirms that in the NT there is not
  always a distinction between bishops and presbyters. He is confident those who stand
  against the apostolic Church are in the minority. He assumes the Church is one, a true,
  concrete unity, and that it follows one rule of faith, whereas the unorthodox agree mainly
  in their rejection of this common Faith.
1:3   Calling Christ the Son of the Father strongly refutes the deceivers and gnostics.
  Jesus is the Son; the Son is by nature what His Father is, and He does what His Father
  does (see Jn 5:19).
1:4-6   False teachers were introducing new, nontraditional practices and breaking the
  covenant of unity based on God's love—the heart of new covenant life.
1:7   The heretics here deny either Jesus' full humanity or His full divinity (or the full
  divinity of the Holy Spirit). The Jews were denying Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. All
  these deny Jesus is our Archpriest in His human nature, and that He will come in His
  glorified human body to judge the dead and the living.
1:9   The Orthodox doctrine of the Incarnation (the doctrine of Christ) is, according to
  John, necessary for knowledge and communion with God. God is synonymous with the
  Father, but, according to the doctrine of Christ, the Son, Christ, is also God.
1:10-11   It is reported that one day John went into a public bathhouse and found there the
  well-known gnostic heretic, Cerinthus. The apostle ran out, crying, “Let us get out of here,
  for fear the place falls in, now that Cerinthus, the enemy of the truth, is inside.” (See Tts
  3:10, 11.)
1:13 The children of your elect sister most likely refers to the church from which John
  is writing, namely Ephesus.
1:1   This is probably not the same Gaius mentioned in Rom 16:23 and 1Co 1:14, 15.
1:3-4   Truth for John here is not doctrine or thought, but the Christian's manner of life.
  Like all good fathers, John finds his greatest pleasure in seeing his children walk in truth.
1:5   Strangers are probably the missionaries sent by John.
1:7   The missionaries went forth for the specific purpose of preaching the gospel of the
  Lord Jesus Christ.
1:8   One way we may participate in ministry is by giving material help to those with
  spiritual gifts. The donor becomes a coworker in spiritual things (see Mt 10:41).
1:9, 10   Diotrephes means “nursed or nourished by Zeus.” Early Christians kept their
  original name after their baptism. Diotrephes loved being preeminent—not the first
  among equals but peerless, with a passion for personal aggrandizement. This sin results
  in insubordination: Diotrephes slanders John, the last of the twelve apostles, by refusing
  to accept him as either an apostle or a presbyter. By rejecting John's missionaries he
  rejects John himself. And he disdains the apostolic, catholic ways of the Church, setting
  himself up as a petty tyrant.
1:12   Demetrius is either a member of Diotrephes' church, one of the emissaries already
  sent by John, or yet another emissary from John—perhaps the carrier of this letter.
1:1   Preserved in Jesus Christ is a promise of God to all faithful. But not all are so
  faithful, as Jude will relate in this letter (see Jn 10:27–30; 2Ti 1:12; Heb 12:2).
1:3   Jude had intended to write a more general letter on salvation, but the danger of false
  teachers caused him to write a polemic instead. There is one salvation which is the same
  for all the elect, our common salvation. And this salvation is set in apostolic tradition
  once for all delivered to the saints; it cannot be changed.
1:4   This condemnation involves body and soul (see Jn 5:29). Only Lord God is better
  translated “only Sovereign” (Gr. despotes).
1:5-7    The recipients of this letter once knew this (v. 5), the mysteries of the faith,
  because the totality of that faith had already been delivered to them (v. 3). Jude gives
  three arresting examples of the danger of departing from truth and righteousness:
    (1) In the Exodus from Egypt (v. 5), all were saved through the baptism of the Red Sea,
  but not all responded to their deliverance with ongoing deeds of repentance and godliness
  (Nm 14:26–37; see 1Co 10:1–13). The lesson for us as Christians is to keep walking in our
  union with Christ.
        (2) The proper domain of the angels is in their likeness and proximity to God.
  Their own abode is heaven, though they may serve elsewhere. Those who left their
  proper place are confined far from God, having become bound to spiritual darkness. They
  await the judgment (see 2Pt 2:4), when bonds with God will be demolished forever. The
  lesson for Christians is that their proper domain is in being children of God by grace, and
  their own abode is in the one holy Church.
    (3) The men in the plains around Sodom and Gomorrah lusted after angels because
  of their sin of immorality and homosexuality (Gn 19:1–29). The lesson for Christians is to
  live under God's call to a chaste and pure life.
1:8   Authority (lit., “lordships”; also translated “dominion”; see Eph 1:21; Col 1:16) and
  dignitaries (lit., “glories”) refer to angels, perhaps in this case to fallen angels (see the
  parallel in 2Pt 2:10). Although, they are hostile to God, they are nonetheless to be treated
  dispassionately.
1:9   Apparently from the apocryphal book The Assumption of Moses (see Dt 34:5, 6 for the
  possibility of the assumption of Moses; also Zec 3:1, 2). The people of God are defended
  by holy angels. This is also a gracious warning to believers concerning vehement
  accusations against God's enemies: Let God judge. The archangel Michael showed this
  restraint (Zec 3:2) even though he was dealing with the devil himself.
1:10   Know naturally: That is, they know by their own natural instincts, apart from any
  specific revelation of the Holy Spirit. God has given all persons a measure of “common
  sense.”
1:11   A threefold woe or warning of great sorrow, using a triad of Israel's most famous
  offenders: (1) Cain (Gn 4:3–24) sinned by faithlessness and envy, especially over an
  honor given to another. His sin led to murder (Gn 4:16–24). (2) Balaam (Nm 22–24)
  sinned by greed, which led to lying and an all-out assault upon the truth, which he knew
  as well. (3) Korah (Nm 16:1–35) sinned by ambition, pride, and arrogance, grasping for
  leadership against God's will. His sin led to blatant rebellion against God.
1:12    Jude has a gift for using graphic word pictures. Spots should be rendered “hidden
  reefs,” those razor-sharp underwater growths that can damage and sink great ships. The
  love feast, or “agape,” was a liturgical banquet tied to the Eucharist. Designed to be a
  peaceful, joyful meal, it was sabotaged by the false teachers, the hidden reefs in this
  peaceful ocean of loving friendship. Clouds without water are spiritually dry teachers
  who do not possess what they claim to have. Carried about by the winds is the effect
  of listening to the suggestions of invisible spirits and obeying their own passions. Twice
  dead means they were dead before they believed and dead a second time after they
  turned their backs on Christ.
       If barrenness is worthy of being cast into the fire (Mt 3:10), how much worse is bearing
  rotten fruit (Mt 7:17–19). In contrast to the saints, who are firmly rooted in Christ (Eph
  3:17; Col 2:7), the false teachers are pulled up by the roots and so cannot remain with
  Christ or in His Church (Mt 13:24–30; Jn 15:6).
1:13     Raging waves are perverse teachers—restless, dark, bitter, destructive, and
  persistent (Is 57:20, 21)—who are casting up as foam as they hit the breakwater of the
  Church. The higher they raise themselves, the more disorderly and dissipated they
  become: they crash and perish. In astronomy a wandering star is either (1) a planet that
  never rises or sets in the same place or (2) a “shooting star,” an asteroid, which shines
  brilliantly but only briefly and then burns out in darkness. These are likely fallen angels,
  for in the Book of Enoch and other late Jewish apocalyptic literature, “star” often means
  “angel.”
1:14-15   Thus, has God always judged the wicked who dwell among the righteous.
1:16   Those who are consistently grumblers and complainers are often telegraphing a
  deeper problem, that is, walking according to one's own lusts. The more a person
  truly desires the fullness of life in Christ, the easier it becomes to renounce those things
  that are contrary to godliness.
1:19   Sensual (Gr. psychikoi) means operating by the powers of the human soul alone
  without the indwelling power of the Spirit, that which makes one “spiritual” (see 1Co
  2:13–15; 15:44–46). Cause divisions: Having separated themselves from the way of the
  righteous and the life of the Spirit, the divisive “do not have the glue of charity” (Bede).
1:20-21   Our chief safeguards against heresy are (1) growing in the faith of the Church—
  vital dependence upon God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and (2)
  maintaining faith by praying.
1:24-25   Jude is quoting an ancient Christian benediction or doxology probably taken from
  an early liturgical tradition.
1:1   Revelation or Apocalypse (Gr. apokalypsis) means literally to unconceal, unveil, or
  reveal. It was used anciently of a coded message that must get through without falling
  into the wrong hands. God Himself is the ultimate source of all revelation (see Dan 2:28,
  29, 45), but it is the Son, Jesus Christ—who revealed Himself to the prophets of the OT
  before He became flesh and now is made flesh—who mediates this unveiling (see Jn 1:18;
  4:19–23; 7:16; 8:26, 40; 12:49; 15:15; 17:8). This revelation concerns not only the age to
  come, but certain things from the past and from this present age as well. Things which
  must tells us this is not a haphazard presentation. Shortly take place indicates God's
  time, which is always imminent. It may take a lot of earth's time.
1:2   The word of God refers to the Son of God. Testimony of Jesus means a witness
  concerning Jesus. It is John testifying of Christ (see 4:21), not Jesus testifying of Himself.
  Bore witness (from Gr. martyreo, a verb) and testimony (from Gr. martyria, a noun)
  are forms of the word from which we obtain “martyr.” Persecution is the consequence of
  witnessing. The martyrs (see Heb 12:1) are those who testify or bear witness, sealing it
  with their blood in death.
1:3   A blessing is promised to those who read and hear (see Lk 11:28). This is the first of
  the seven beatitudes of the Revelation, found also in 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14.
  Blessed here are both the reader and the hearers (the assembled faithful), provided they
  heed what is read—for faith and works are inseparable. Time (Gr. kairos) means here an
  eschatological decisive moment—a time of judgment, a critical moment, the time when
  all is fulfilled.
1:4 Church tradition maintains St. John dwelt and was bishop in Ephesus, in an area where
  the seven churches were located along a major roadway. The number seven signifies
  fullness, suggesting the entire Church is also in view.
    The doxology is Trinitarian, involving the Father (vv. 4, 6), the Spirit (v. 4), and the Son
  (vv. 5, 6). This initial greeting (lit., “the Existing, the Was, and the Coming”) may express
  the Father, the one who is (Ex 3:14); the Son, who was (Jn 1:1); and the Holy Spirit,
  who is to come (Acts 2) at Pentecost and shall always be present. Or it may denote the
  character of the Holy One, who is eternally present and exercises lordship throughout
  history (see Heb 13:8). God reveals the meaning of the present in light of the past and the
  age to come. This title may be a paraphrase of the Tetragrammaton, YHWH (“I Am”), of
  Ex 3:14.
     Seven is the number of fullness or completion. The seven Spirits of God most likely
  refers to the Holy Spirit and His several gifts, as this phrase is included in the blessing
  with the Father and the Son. Alternately the term could refer to the seven archangels
  who, according to Jewish tradition, stand before the throne of God (Tb 12:15; see also 1En
  20:1–8; 90:21, 22; TLev 8:2).
1:5   Jesus Christ is presented as the Risen Savior, Lord of all (see Zec 12:10), giving hope to
  the early Christians that the Church will not always be dominated by a cruel state. Instead
  of washed, many Greek texts read “freed.” The term witness (Gr. martys), used only
  here and in 3:14 in the entire NT, refers to Christ, the authentic witness of all divine
  revelation; all that God has revealed is summed up in His life, witness, Passion,
  Resurrection, and exaltation. He has inaugurated the new age, for He is firstborn from
  the dead in His humanity and has achieved a universal sovereignty by His death,
  Resurrection, and revelation of His Kingdom for the world's salvation.
1:6   Those joined to the body of Christ in baptism comprise the messianic royal priesthood
  promised of old (see Ex 19:5, 6; Is 61:6; 1Pt 2:9; and the Anaphora of the Liturgy of St.
  Basil). This priestly ministry is to offer the world back to God in a sacrifice of praise and
  thanksgiving—eucharistically—as in the Orthodox Church's Divine Liturgy. The universe
  itself thus becomes hallowed, transfigured, and sacramental. Amen is Semitic. It
  signifies ratification: an acknowledgment of something trustworthy.
1:8    Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, along with
  Beginning and End signify the eternality of God, who is the origin and destiny of all
  things. Its attribution to the Son proves His divinity. History—in fact, all of creation—
  begins and is completed in the Creator (Is 44:6). Almighty (Gr. Pantocrator) is used
  throughout the OT and is found ten times in the NT—nine of which are in Revelation. The
  inscription that adorns the central dome of a properly appointed Orthodox temple bears
  the words of this verse; the fresco depicts the Lord Jesus, since He is the One who shows
  us the Father, and since He has used the title “Alpha and Omega” for Himself (22:13).
1:10   In the Spirit may mean John received the revelation in a visionary ecstasy (see Ezk
  3:12), but more probably that he was in the worship (“in Spirit and in truth”) of the Lord.
  The Lord's Day is the earliest reference to the Christian name for Sunday. The Didache
  and St. Ignatius of Antioch show this name was used very early for the day when
  Christians gathered to celebrate the Resurrection in the Holy Eucharist. As a fulfillment
  of the first day of the week of the old creation, Sunday becomes the “eighth day,” the “first
  day of the new creation.” The term “eighth day” is seen in 2En 33:1 and inaugurates the
  first day of the timeless age to come. The loud voice, as of a trumpet is a traditional,
  eschatological, apocalyptic introduction describing an appearance of the Lord (see Ex
  19:16, 19; Mt 24:31; 1Co 15:52; 1Th 4:16).
1:11-12 The glorified Christ introduces himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the First
  and the Last, thus identifying Himself with God the Father (v. 8; 22:13). His position
  amidst the seven lampstands signifies His presence in the Church (see Mt 5:14). The
  seven golden lampstands, a fusion of the great menorah of the temple with its seven
  lamps (see Ex 25:31–37; Zec 4:2; Heb 9:2) and the golden lampstands of Solomon's
  temple (3Kg 7:35), represent the fullness of God's presence. Also symbolized are the
  seven Asian churches that receive the letters of chs. 2; 3. This reference prompts some
  scholars to suggest John was in the church in a liturgical setting during the Revelation.
1:13   One like the Son of Man recalls Daniel's messianic figure (Dan 7:13—repeated by
  Stephen at his martyrdom, Acts 7:56). Christ called Himself Son of Man (see especially
  Mt 24:30ff.), for He is the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy. Additional parallels may be
  seen in both the Old and New Testaments (Dan 10:6; Mt 17:2; Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12). We
  also see Him vested in high-priestly garments (see Ex 28:4; 29:5; Lv 16:4; WSol 18:24;
  Zec 3:4, 5). The gold with which He is girded is both royal (1Mc 10:89) and priestly.
1:14-16   Further, Christ is here described as God, His hair (v. 14) being that of Daniel's
  vision of God as the “Ancient of Days” (7:9; see also 1En 46:1). His eyes signify
  knowledge; His feet (v. 15), permanence and stability; His voice, authority or teaching;
  His right hand (v. 16), power; His two-edged sword, complete discernment. This
  imagery continues throughout Revelation to affirm the preexistence and eternal divinity
  of the Son of Man (see also Jn 1:1–18). Thus, in Christ man (v. 14) and God (vv. 15, 16)
  are united.
1:15   Dan 2:31–44 indicates this mysterious metal foundation not only provides stability
  but has the ability to forcibly crush all opposition as well. These images are contrasted
  with the feet of clay found in Dan 2:33, 43: the kingdoms of this world are not permanent,
  nor ultimately triumphant.
1:16   The Lord holds the stars that represent the seven churches (1:20), and hence, the
  Church. For Christ is Lord of the Church. In His just judgment, the sword He wields is
  the Word of God, which cuts effortlessly to the very marrow and heart of humanity (see
  2:16; 18:15; Is 11:4; 49:2; WSol 18:15; Eph 6:17; 2Th 2:9; Heb 4:12). The brilliance of His
  face recalls the Uncreated Light John saw radiating from the Savior at the Transfiguration
  on Mount Tabor.
1:17-18   Mortal humanity cannot bear the revelation of divine glory, a frequent biblical
  theme (see Ex 19:21; 33:20; Is 6:5). Just as he fell prostrate at Mount Tabor (Mt 17:6), so
  also does John here, in the presence of the glorified Savior (see Ezk 1:27; Dan 10:7–9; see
  also 1En 14:24). Do not be afraid is a revelatory formula from the OT. As a signal for
  the theophany, it was carried over into the NT (see the Annunciation, Lk 1:30; Jesus
  walking upon the water, Mt 14:27—“Fear not, I AM”; the Transfiguration, Mt 17:7). In the
  OT God was called “the first and the last” (Is 44:6; 48:12), and so, too, is the Messiah.
  Some early heresies (e.g. Docetism) held that Jesus only seemed to die. But the Lord
  Himself testified, I . . . was dead, affirming the authenticity of His death; alive
  forevermore, His Resurrection—the power of which effects His lordship over death and
  its realm. The Orthodox icon of the resurrected Christ depicts Him with these keys (v.
  18) in hand, standing triumphantly on the open gates of Hades.
1:19   John's visions have to do with both the present (things which are) and the future.
1:20   The angels of the seven churches have been variously interpreted as being (1)
  the guardian angels of the church communities; (2) the pastoral leadership of these local
  churches; (3) a personification of the prevailing spirit of the given congregations; or (4)
  simply the messengers responsible for delivering the letters. The term “angel” (heavenly
  or earthly messenger) is used over 60 times in Revelation.
2:1 The letters to the seven churches all follow a standard format: (1) John is commanded
  to write to the angel of the church. (2) A short introduction of Christ with a
  descriptive title follows. (3) The state of the church is summarized, beginning with Jesus'
  saying, “I know,” followed by praise or rebuke. (4) Exhortations are given. (5) The
  message concludes with, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” and a special promise to
  him who “overcomes.”
     Ephesus, the provincial Roman capital for Asia Minor, was a populous, prosperous city
  located on important trade routes. Besides the official cults of Artemis (Diana) and the
  emperor, various occult practices flourished there (see Acts 19). The church had been
  founded by Paul about AD 53–56, and according to tradition, both John the Apostle and
  the Virgin Mary (whom Christ committed to John's care at His crucifixion) lived in
  Ephesus.
2:2-5     The Ephesian church had persevered in orthodox faith and moral uprightness, but
  had left its first love (v. 4), presumably for God and each other. False apostles were a
  serious problem in the early Church (see 2Co 11:13–23), and Paul warned they would
  ravage the church of Ephesus (Acts 20:29). However, in the early second century, St.
  Ignatius of Antioch praised the Ephesians for their continuing resistance to heresy. The
  lampstand (v. 5) is probably the Ephesian church's honor as the metropolitan church of
  Asia.
2:6   Most scholars believe the Nicolaitans to be an early gnostic sect that tolerated
  idolatry and encouraged fornication. Some of the church fathers held the founder of this
  sect to be an apostate Nicholas, one of the original seven deacons (Acts 6:5).
2:7   The message of the Spirit to the churches is explicitly a message to all Christians. In
  Hebrew, “conquering” and “saving” are synonymous: Salvation is victory. He who
  overcomes does so by participating in Christ's victory, which is salvation. In contrast to
  the false Nicolaitan sect, “overcomers” remain faithful to Christ until the end, in spite of
  all obstacles. Further, they fulfill the original destiny of man by partaking of the tree of
  life (Gn 2:9). To eat of this tree is to receive eternal life (vv. 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7; Jn
  16:33; 2Co 4:7–18). The fruit of the tree is the spiritual food of 1Co 10:3, the “medicine of
  immortality.” Tree of life is also an allusion to the Cross, upon which all Christians must
  be co-crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20), partaking in the death of Christ in order to
  participate in His Resurrection. The Paradise of God is heaven (Lk 23:43; 2Co 12:2–4);
  the city of God, the New Jerusalem (see 21:1–22:5), contrasted to the original earthly
  paradise.
2:8   Smyrna (Izmir in modern Turkey) was, like Ephesus, a beautiful and prosperous city,
  maintaining a strong allegiance to Rome. A large and influential Jewish population
  actively opposed Christianity there. St. Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, was one of the first of
  the early hierarchs to be martyred: he was burned to death on a pyre, confessing he had
  served Christ faithfully “for 86 years.” Polycarp was probably a youth in Smyrna when
  John addressed the letter to the church there. St. Ignatius of Antioch also wrote to the
  Smyrnans—and to Polycarp, as well.
2:9   The Smyrnan church was poor, perhaps because of the persecution, but spiritually
  rich, the opposite of Laodicea. The Jews of the synagogue of Satan may be either Jews
  in name only (see Rom 2:28, 29) who were insincere in their profession of Judaism and
  compromising in their beliefs (Jn 8:31–47); or Jews who refused to embrace the Messiah
  and His Church (Rom 2:28; Gal 6:15).
2:10-11 The persecution will be completed in ten days, a limited time likely not meant to
  be taken literally, and some may undergo martyrdom. Christ encourages faithfulness to
  the end. The crown of life, an allusion to the wreath awarded to a victor in an arena
  (Php 3:14; 2Ti 2:5; 1Pt 5:4), is the reward of eternal life granted to those who conquer in
  Christ. The second death (v. 11) indicates eternal damnation, the “lake of fire,” wherein
  sinners will receive their reward of final and lasting estrangement from God (20:6, 14, 15;
  21:8).
2:12   Pergamos (modern Bergama), northeast of Smyrna, was a distinguished city built on
  top of a thousand-foot-high hill 10 miles inland from the Aegean Sea. It boasted an
  outstanding library (the word “parchment” is derived from its name). Four important
  pagan cults were centered there, and emperor worship was popular. The sharp two-
  edged sword is the Lord's two-edged message of terror to some and joy to others, the
  just judgment of God (see note on 19:1–3).
2:13   Satan's throne refers to the city as a seat for idol worship: Pergamos was the first
  city in Asia to build a temple dedicated to the worship of a living emperor. Hence, Satan's
  throne, where he holds court, can also indicate the altar where Caesar was worshiped as
  lord, and/or where the Roman governor sat in his judgment seat, dealing out capital
  punishment by the “law of the sword.” According to tradition, the early martyr Antipas
  was bishop of Pergamos and was martyred in AD 92 by being burned to death in a heated
  bronze bull, having witnessed before the Roman governor that Jesus is Lord.
2:14    A group in this church holds the doctrine of Balaam. Balaam is the biblical
  prototype of all corrupt teachers and religious compromisers. He encouraged immorality,
  idolatrous feasting, and infidelity against the Lord (Nm 22–24; 25:1–3; 31:16; 2Pt 2:15;
  Jude 11).
2:16   The sword of My mouth is simply the Word of the Lord, the very articulation of
  which is just and righteous judgment.
2:17   Hidden manna is an allusion to the bread of heaven (or the bread of angels), the
  bread of the Almighty (Ex 16:4; Ps 77:24, 25; Jn 6:31–35, 48–51). To eat it is to partake of
  the messianic banquet in the Kingdom (Lk 22:28–30), the Eucharist of the age to come.
  In sharp contrast to communion with the pagan cult, it restores our original communion
  with God. The white stone on which a new name is inscribed indicates a new identity
  with Christ. Unlike pagan amulets inscribed with mysterious formulae, the new name of
  Christ is received by His faithful at their baptismal rebirth.
2:18    Thyatira lay southeast of Pergamos and was a commercial city known for its trade
  guilds (Acts 16:14). Guild meetings frequently included cultic meals in their patronal
  temples, a problem for Christian tradesmen, for the meetings involved idol worship and
  sexual debauchery. Christ's eyes and feet allude to the vision of the Son of Man in Dan
  10.
2:20   The false prophetess is called Jezebel after Ahab's queen, who vigorously promoted
  idolatry in Israel (3Kg 18; 4Kg 9). The church in Thyatira has allowed a new Jezebel (a
  member of the Nicolaitan sect) to exert an influential “prophetic” leadership in the
  community, leading many of the faithful astray.
2:22-23 Those who commit adultery (v. 22) are those who accept the teaching of the
  false prophetess; her children (v. 23) are her followers.
2:24   The depths of Satan: The infidels claimed to know deep spiritual things, but Christ
  labels their claims satanic delusion.
2:28   The morning star is none other than Christ (22:16). He is the Daylight from on
  high (Lk 1:78; see 2Pt 1:19), the true Light which enlightens all who come into the world
  (Jn 1:9). The phrase may also refer to eternal life and a share in the reign of Christ.
3:1   Sardis, 30 miles southeast of Thyatira, was known for its wealth and unassailable
  fortifications. It was an ancient city, once very powerful, fallen into decline. The church
  there was also in decline, not falling into heresy or immorality, but into death. For the
  church in Sardis had so completely compromised with the surrounding pagan world that
  although it appeared to be alive, it was spiritually dead (Mt 21:19). There is irony in
  Christ's accusation. Sardis boasted of a venerable temple to the Asiatic mother-goddess
  Cybele, purportedly able to restore the dead to life. In the letter to Ephesus (2:1–7), the
  seven stars represented the angels that guided the churches. The seven Spirits of God
  is either an expression indicating the fullness of God's powerful presence in the Church,
  or an allusion to the sevenfold operation of the Spirit of God spoken of by Isaiah (11:2), a
  connection proposed by St. Justin. The earliest recorded interpreter of Revelation, St.
  Melito, was bishop of Sardis c. 190.
3:2   Christ's exhortation to vigilance would be especially relevant to the citizens of Sardis.
  Though its fortress was considered impregnable, the city was overconfident and had twice
  fallen because of its guards' failure to be watchful.
3:4-5   White garments: Basic vestment for priests, a symbol of the resurrected body.
  They allude to spiritual purity, victory, and love; immersion or baptism into new life in
  Christ; immortality; a glorified body; and a place at the messianic wedding banquet (Mt
  22:11–14).
3:5   The Book of Life (13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; Ex 32:32; Ps 68:29; Dan 12:1; Lk 10:20; see
  also 1En 47:3) is God's register naming all who will inherit eternal life. By the fourth
  century, at the beginning of Lent the names of the catechumens were enrolled in a church
  record book termed “The Heavenly Book,” or “The Book of the Church” (see TheoMop,
  JohnChr and GrgNy). The Son speaks of His Father and His angels but He also calls
  them His own angels (Mt 13:41; 24:31), showing His equality with the Father.
3:7   Philadelphia (modern Alashehier) was a smaller and newer city than the other six,
  situated 30 miles southeast of Sardis. The key of David (Is 22:22, Hebrew text) is a
  messianic reference to the One who may judge in God's Name and admit or exclude from
  the City of David, the New Jerusalem (see Eph 1:22). St. Ignatius calls Christ the Door to
  the Father.
3:8   The Philadelphians had probably been excommunicated from the local synagogue,
  hence Christ's assurance of an open door to His Kingdom.
3:9   Worship is better translated “bow down.” Jesus will force the unbelieving Jews to
  humble themselves before the Philadelphian Christians, not literally to worship them.
3:10   To those faithful to Him, the Lord Jesus will in turn be faithful during the hour of
  trial that will come to the whole world by preserving them during that trial (see Jn
  17:15) and protecting them from demonic assaults. Although the faithful will not be
  rescued from sufferings, persecution, and martyrdom, they will be sustained and
  supported so as to persevere in their faithfulness. The hour of trial is an apocalyptic
  image (Dan 12:1; Mt 6:13; Mk 13:4; Jn 17:6, 15; 2Th 2:1–12), referring to the testing and
  tribulation (chs. 8; 9; 16) preceding the manifestation of the eternal Kingdom of God.
  Those who dwell on the earth is a commonly used term for the ungodly.
3:12   The coming down of the New Jerusalem represents the union of heaven and earth
  and the liberation of all creation from bondage. Pillar indicates permanence; the new
  name is Christ's full revelation at His second and glorious coming.
3:14   Laodicea (modern Eski-hisar) was 40 miles southeast of Philadelphia on the same
  road. It was the most prosperous city of the area, boasting a special type of wool, a large
  banking industry, and a famous medical school. Many Jews lived there. Paul wrote a
  letter to Laodicea (which no longer exists, unless it was identical to what we know as
  Ephesians) to be exchanged with the Colossians (see Col 4:16).
       Amen is a divine title applied here to Christ, who is the final ratification and
  accomplishment of the promise of God (2Co 1:19, 20). It affirms His sureness and
  steadfastness, amplified by Faithful and True Witness. The word beginning (Gr.
  arche) has been seized upon by ancient Arians and modern Jehovah's Witnesses, who
  attempt to prove Christ is created, thus denying His eternal existence. However, the term
  is more accurately translated as “source” or “origin,” signifying He is the Master of all.
  Christ the Beginning is the principle, the source of God's creation (see Pr 8:23; Jn 1:3;
  1Co 8:6; Col 1:16, 17; Heb 1:2), the creative Word and Wisdom of God.
3:15-16   Six miles from Laodicea, hot springs at Hierapolis gave forth water that became
  lukewarm (v. 16) by the time it reached Laodicea. It was contaminated with many
  minerals, impossible to drink and nauseating. The Laodiceans were lukewarm in spiritual
  fervor and good works; their lack of commitment is revolting to the Lord, who would have
  them go one way or the other.
3:17-18 Preoccupation with material wealth and comfort have deadened the fervor of the
  Laodiceans, who have fallen into a complacent self-satisfaction denounced by the
  Physician of our souls and bodies. Christ counsels them to seek spiritual wealth,
  forgiveness and resurrection life, and enlightenment, offering a loving chastisement that
  can bring about true healing, true and lasting riches. Gold, white garments, and eye
  salve (v. 18) correspond to the three leading Laodicean industries.
3:20   I will . . . dine with him if there is cooperation, the synergy of an open door. God
  does not force anyone to cooperate with Him. He keeps knocking, awaiting a response.
  This promise looks toward both the messianic banquet, the wedding supper of the Lamb
  of God (19:9; Lk 22:30), and the Holy Eucharist, which is a foretaste of the heavenly feast.
  Faithful disciples are promised they will eat and drink at table with Him (Lk 22:28–30) in
  the ultimate reality of the Kingdom of heaven. Note the parallels with the parable of the
  bridegroom (Mt 25:1–13) and with the teaching about those who will shut themselves out
  of the feast of the Kingdom (Lk 13:25–30).
3:21   The one who cooperates with God overcomes, or conquers. Those who heed God's
  rebuke and chastening (v. 19) conquer lukewarmness and become “hot” in their spiritual
  lives (vv. 15, 16). Those who share Christ's trials will share His table and His throne in
  His Kingdom (4:4; 20:4–6; 22:3–5; Lk 22:30; 2Ti 2:12).
4:1   After this does not refer to a chronological order within the text of chs. 1–4, but
  instead connects this next sequence with the initial vision, a vision that beholds past,
  present, and future as one whole. St. John writes, as it were, from inside the eye of an
  apocalyptic tornado, recording glimpses of the eschatological events that whirl by. The
  single open door through the vaulted firmament (see Gn 1:7, 8) allows vision into the
  depths of all mysteries, the celestial throne. Since earthly events have their origin in
  heaven, true insight into history can be attained only from that vantage point (see Gn
  28:17; Ezk 1:1; Mk 1:10; Acts 7:56; see also 1En 14:14; TLev 5:1). Come up, reminiscent of
  Moses' invitation from God to ascend Mt. Sinai (Ex 19:24), is a command with liturgical
  overtones: to enter God's sanctuary, His “high place.”
4:2-3   God is seen in biblical visions as sitting on a throne, a symbol of His sovereign
  lordship (3Kg 22:19; Ps 46:9; Is 6:1; Ezk 1:25–27; Dan 7:9; Mt 5:34; 23:22; see also 1En
  14:18, 19). The image of this throne occurs over 40 times in Revelation and is further
  described as “a great white throne” (20:11), a throne of judgment. But here His throne is
  surrounded by a rainbow (v. 3), the sign of God's everlasting covenant according to
  which He will not judge man again as He did at the Flood (Gn 9:12–17). Mercy triumphs
  over judgment (Mt 9:13). Thus, in the Orthodox Church, the altar table is sometimes
  called “the throne.”
4:4    The twenty-four elders are usually interpreted to be elders of the old and new
  covenants: the twelve sons of Jacob and the twelve apostles, the fullness of both
  covenants. They are the foundation of the people of God in both covenants (7:4; Mt
  19:28). These elders continually fall down before God in worship (5:14; 11:16; 19:4), in
  adoration and praise (4:11; 5:9, 10; 11:17, 18; 19:4).
4:6, 7 The sea of glass (Ezk 1:22–26) surrounds God's throne, for God is approached by
  fallen men only through waters of death that produce life. As Israel journeyed through
  the Red Sea as if on hard ground, so Christians pass through the waters of baptism,
  entering into Christ's death and Resurrection. If the sea is not of glass, there is death, not
  new life. Also, God is vast and overpowering, as a sea of light would be. The hosts of
  angels surround Him (Dan 7:10) as a sea of purity.
     The four living creatures are angelic beings adapted from Ezk 1:4–20 and Is 6:2.
  Their number is that of the whole world, the cosmos, and thus they portray creation,
  beasts, men, and angels as the Kingdom of God. Traditional iconography depicts them as
  symbols for the four evangelists. Their worship of God is unceasing, an ideal inspiring the
  round-the-clock services of Orthodox monastic communities.
4:8 The six wings (Is 6:2; Ezk 1:6) may symbolize the swiftness with which God's will is
  enacted in His world. Full of eyes around and within (see the wheels of Ezk 1:18)
  indicates the absolute vigilance of these creatures. They do not rest day or night
  suggests the essence of their ceaseless activity: to praise God (the very liturgy which the
  whole cosmos is called to serve) and to pray without ceasing (Ps 102:20–22; 148; 150; 1Th
  25:17).
     Their hymn, “Holy, holy, holy,” like that of Isaiah's seraphim (Is 6:3), praises God,
  who is Lord of history and fills heaven and earth with His glory. Isaiah's doxology was
  part of synagogue worship and was incorporated into the worship of the Church (1Clem
  34:6). Another form of this hymn, the Trisagion (“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy
  Immortal, have mercy on us!”) reverberates throughout the services of the Orthodox
  Church. Ambrose wrote a similar hymn, the “Te Deum.” The eucharistic prayer of the
  Divine Liturgies of Ss. John Chrysostom, Basil, and James refers to the perpetual thrice-
  holy hymn of the “cherubim and the seraphim,” thus blending the visions of Ezekiel,
  Isaiah, and St. John, and underscoring that the Divine Liturgy on earth is one with the
  heavenly liturgy of the angels and glorified saints.
4:10   The elders participate in the heavenly worship by the physical acts of prostration (see
  3Kg 18:42) and casting their crowns. Prostration, a significant feature of historic
  Christian worship, is based in Scripture and signifies humility before God. The casting of
  crowns shows that the honor and glory of the saints derives from and belongs to God.
4:11   This doxology (glorification of God) is typical of many in the Apocalypse. It is offered
  to the Father and to Christ. Doxologies are a prominent aspect of Orthodox liturgy,
  ascribing glory, honor, and power to God.
5:1   The scroll contains the secret decrees of God concerning the judgment and salvation
  of humanity (see Ezk 2:9, 10; Ps 138:16; see also 1En 81:1, 2). Included is the greatest of
  all mysteries, God's will concerning the events marking the end times (see Dan 10:21),
  sealed up and hidden in profound security (with seven seals) until the time it will be
  revealed and implemented. In the twenty-three references to scrolls in Revelation there
  are five types: (1) the unsealed letters to the churches of Asia; (2) the unsealed Book of
  Life (13:8ff.); (3) the unsealed books of judgment (20:12); (4) the little open scroll that is
  eaten (10:8–10); and (5) the present sealed scroll.
5:2-5 Who can know the mysteries of the scroll and the seals? Who but Christ, the Son
  of God Himself, can understand the greatest of all mysteries and how God deals with man
  in history? The Lion . . . of Judah and Root of David are messianic titles with
  parallels in the OT and apocryphal books (see Gn 49:9, 10; Is 11:1–10). The One who has
  conquered Satan decisively, once and for all, in His self-sacrifice on the Cross and in His
  Resurrection, is alone worthy to open the scroll of destiny, reveal its message, and carry
  out its words.
5:6, 7 Jesus is called the Lamb of God in Jn 1:29. Isaiah compares the Messiah's voluntary
  self-sacrifice to a lamb being led to slaughter (Is 53). The central theme of Revelation is
  victory through sacrifice. This Lamb stands between the throne, the four living
  creatures, and the elders. St. Ignatius refers to the bishop standing at the center of his
  flock as an image of both the Father and the Son. In the development of episcopal
  vesture, the bishop's outer garment was for a time woven of wool. Seven horns and
  seven eyes represent the fullness of Christ's power and knowledge; through Him also
  the Holy Spirit (the seven Spirits of God) is sent on His mission to the world.
  Intertestamental Jewish apocalyptic literature portrayed the Messiah as a horned lamb
  who would fight for His people and conquer the forces of evil. The Jews, however, never
  expected this warrior-lamb to suffer and die, and did not consider Him to be God. The
  warrior-lamb is both with God (in the midst of the throne) and with man (in the midst
  of the elders), for He is the union of God and man without the merging of the two
  natures.
5:8   The four angelic beings, the four living creatures, and the glorified saints of all
  ages represented by the twenty-four elders worship Jesus, thus recognizing His deity,
  by elevated thanksgiving (each having a harp). And by elevated prayer (golden bowls
  full of incense) they present to God the prayers of the saints still on earth,
  manifested in the incense (8:3, 4; see Ps 140:2; Tb 12:15). In the ancient world, incense
  was used in both secular and liturgical life. God, people, and objects were censed as a sign
  of honor and dedication. And in the services of the Church, incense is also a symbol of
  prayer.
5:9-14 Three doxologies are sung by ever-increasing choruses. (1) The elders with the most
  eminent angels sing a new song, more perfect than any hymn before, to the Lamb
  (Christ), for He has inaugurated the new age (21:1, 5; Is 42:10). (2) The Church joined by
  all the holy angels—much as the priests are followed by the choir and then by the entire
  church—sends up to the Lamb a fullness of divine ascriptions in a sevenfold doxology
  (5:12). (3) All creation, the whole cosmos, joins in a hymn of glory addressed to the
  Father and to the Son. As heaven's angels sing to God, so do “we who represent the
  cherubim.” The Church has always been first and foremost a worshiping community; the
  Divine Liturgy empowers and inspires evangelism, social service, instruction, and all else.
6:1-17 With the Lamb's opening of the seals, John begins a description of the signs of the
  end, much of it already set forth by Jesus in the Gospels (Mt 24; Mk 13; Lk 21). The seals
  are consequences of man's condition, an overview of conditions manifest since the birth
  of the Church, which will continue until Christ's second coming. The four horsemen (see
  Zec 1:8–17; 6:1–8 for the model of this imagery) personify the scourges which, through
  the prophets, God has threatened as judgment on the faithless: war, famine, plague,
  natural disasters.
6:2   The first rider (on the white horse, carrying a bow) represents the spirit of conquest,
  reminiscent of fierce divine judgment in the OT, usually wrought through the military
  power of adversaries (Jer 27:29; Ezk 5:15). Jesus taught “nation will rise against nation”
  (Mt 24:7). The figure here probably represents liberators of the oppressed people of God.
6:3-4   The second rider represents war, violent bloodshed, and death—removal of peace
  from the earth, the result of the conquests of the first rider. Jesus predicted there will
  be “wars and rumors of wars” (Mt 24:6).
6:5-6 The third rider represents famine and inflation, frequent accompaniments of war.
6:7-8   The fourth horseman represents widespread human death, pale green being the
  color of rotting flesh. Pestilence and starvation follow the famine of warfare.
6:9-11 The cry of the martyrs for vengeance is not vindictive; they are pleading with God to
  hasten the end of persecution and the consummation of His plans for the world. In the
  interim, the martyrs are consoled by the white robe (v. 11)—a Jewish symbol of
  resurrection from the dead. Elsewhere it is a symbol of blessedness, good deeds,
  innocence, victory, purity, new and eternal life, transfiguration, a resurrected and
  glorified body, vesting in Christ, and the wedding garment of salvation (3:5; 7:9, 13–17;
  19:8, 9; Is 61:10; Dan 10:5; Mt 22:1–4; Gal 3:27; see also 1En 62:16). The martyrs are
  called to have patience until the fullness of their number is complete. The vision of the
  souls of the martyrs under the altar (v. 9) derives from the OT practice of pouring the
  blood (the physical manifestation of the life of the soul) of sin offerings at the base of the
  altar of burnt offering. It is a basis for the historic Christian practices of building church
  buildings over tombs of martyrs, placing relics of saints in the altar when a church is
  consecrated, and burying baptized people under the altar. Thus, in the Divine Liturgy
  Orthodox Christians remember “those who lie asleep here and in all the world.”
6:12-17    The sixth seal represents the cosmic disturbances that often accompany
  descriptions of “the day of the Lord,” the return of Christ (Joel 3:3, 4; Mt 24:29, 30; and
  parallels). People in rebellion against God (v. 15) are terror-stricken before God's
  judgmental wrath.
7:1-17 The seventh (and final) seal will yet be opened (8:1). The visions here of the faithful
  Church form an interlude wherein the Lord's faithful are “sealed” against His wrath.
  “Who is able to stand?” (6:17). The faithful, who will be sealed and will then assemble for
  worship.
7:1-3   The four winds are symbolic “winds of judgment,” as in Jewish apocalyptic
  literature (Jer 25:16; Zec 2:10; Dan 8:8; Mk 13:27; see also 1En 76:1–4). They are
  restrained until God's servants (Is 44:5; 2Co 1:22; 2Ti 2:19) are sealed (v. 3), that is,
  given a special protection from the ensuing judgments (Ezk 9:1–11).
7:4-8   The servants of God are sealed (v. 4) by the Holy Spirit. Extensive debates have
  taken place regarding the 144,000. Some regard the number as symbolizing the entire
  faithful Church as the new Israel (12 tribes times the churches of the 12 apostles times
  1000—a number which means “a great amount”). Thus, the contention is that the number
  simply stands for completeness and perfection—twelve times twelve equals the perfect
  square. Slightly differently, some see the 144,000 as the Church militant, the Church on
  earth, and the white-robed multitude (vv. 9, 10) as the Church triumphant.
7:9-14   The scene shifts to heaven, where an innumerable multitude from all nations
  worships before the throne of God. Their white robes and palm branches (v. 9)
  symbolize purity and victory. The vast multitude represents either the entire faithful
  Church—which lives in the spirit of its baptism (washed . . . in the blood of the Lamb,
  v. 14)—or the righteous from all nations who were not members of the “12 x 12 x 1000,”
  old covenant Israel and the Church. These pass victoriously through the great tribulation
  to inherit the Kingdom. See also note on 22:14.
7:15-17 The heavenly life is pictured as one of unending worship, day and night (v. 15),
  from which all suffering has been banished. Here we have the ultimate sanctification of
  time, the consecration of all life to the service and worship of God, carried out along with
  the heavenly hosts. Is 49:10 inspires the statement of v. 16. John's descriptions of the
  victorious Church and the blessings of heaven were written to encourage and console
  Christians of the first century who faced severe persecution for their faith—in which the
  faithful of all generations may find consolation.
8:1-4 The silence (v. 1), trumpets (v. 2), and offering of incense (vv. 3, 4) were features
  of the Jewish temple liturgy. The half-hour silence (v. 1) dramatically indicates profound
  awe at the opening of the seventh seal.
8:2   The seven angels receive the seven trumpets. These bodiless powers represent the
  OT priests, who also sounded their trumpets during the temple liturgy (see Jos 6:12; 1Ch
  16:6; Ps 97:6).
8:3   Incense is present in heaven (see 5:8). It symbolizes the prayers of all the saints.
  Incense is: (1) commanded by God to Moses for use in Israel's worship (Ex 25:6; 20:18;
  24:16; Lk 1:9–11); (2) used throughout Israel's history under the old covenant (1Ch
  23:13); (3) prophesied by the Lord Himself concerning its use in the Church: incense will
  be offered “in every place . . . among the Gentiles” (Mal 1:11); (4) brought by the Magi as a
  gift to Jesus (Mt 2:11); and (5) used in Christian worship from the beginning even till
  today, in both East and West.
8:5   The casting of the censer to earth (v. 5) shows that the prayers of the saints for
  vengeance (6:9–11) have been heard. The thunderings and earthquake signify that the
  judgment of God is imminent.
8:6 The seven angels with the seven trumpets form a double image of the old covenant
  temple liturgy and the fall of Jericho.
     The interrelationship of the “seal judgments” (5:1–8:1), “trumpet judgments” (8:2–
  11:19), and “bowl judgments” (15:1–16:21) in Revelation is complex. There is some
  repetition and summarizing. The trumpets and bowls also give increasing specificity to
  God's judgments. They may not describe a chronological unfolding of events or even
  actual events. The trumpets speak of God's final warning to the world, especially seen in
  the “one-third” formula, calling the world to repentance before utter destruction comes.
  This stage of judgment can be seen to be the prelude—manifested in the natural world—
  to the great tribulation (Mt 24:15–22), playing a role much like that of the ten plagues of
  Exodus; the end itself is “not yet.” The Church is not mentioned until ch. 11, where the
  calamities of earth are overcome by the Kingdom of God (11:15–19).
8:7   Only vegetation is affected. The seventh plague in Egypt is recalled (Ex 9:22–26; see
  also Ezk 5:12; Zec 13:8, 9). The reference to blood most likely comes from Joel (3:3; see
  Acts 2:19). A mixture of hail, fire, and blood is a typical apocalyptic picture of judgment.
8:8-9   As in the first plague of Egypt (Ex 7:14–25), the sea, marine life, and maritime
  commerce are affected.
8:10-11   Reminiscent of the first Egyptian plague, this judgment affects fresh waters.
  Wormwood, an extremely bitter plant that would make water undrinkable, symbolizes
  the bitter fruits of idolatry and sorrow to those who pursue adulterous liaisons with the
  heathen Gentiles (see Jer 9:12–16; 23:15).
8:12   A three-day period of darkness was the ninth Egyptian plague (Ex 10:21–29). An
  unnatural darkness is one of the signs of the end of days (Mk 13:24). Darkening of the
  sun, moon, and stars portends cosmic catastrophe. The darkness is partial to indicate it
  is a warning.
9:1, 2   While the star may refer to an angel, the same angel as the one of 20:1 (such
  symbolism was known in Judaism: see Job 38:7; also 1En 21:6), it may also represent the
  fallen world powers (see Jude 13), a fallen angel (Lk 10:18), or Satan himself (9:11; Is
  14:12–15). His “fall” may mean “descent”: an angel is sent from heaven by God to unlock
  the bottomless pit, the abyss below the earth, the place of confinement for evil spirits
  (11:7; 17:8; 20:1–3; also Lk 8:31). The smoke from the pit causes a darkness on the earth;
  this may symbolize the spiritual darkness covering the earth during the last times.
  Compare with 1:18, in which the key to death and Hades is given to the Risen One.
9:3-4 These new plagues are again reminiscent of the plagues on Egypt (see the eighth and
  ninth plagues in Ex 9; 10). From the smoke come locusts, representing demonic entities
  who rise from the pit to torture those who do not belong to God's Kingdom. The seal of
  (the name of) God on their foreheads is given to the 144,000 servants (5:4; 7:2–4;
  14:1; 22:3, 4 in contrast with 13:16–18) for their spiritual identity. At chrismation,
  Orthodox Christians receive “the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit” through holy oil placed
  on their foreheads.
9:5-6 The period of torture is limited; it is likened to the sting of the scorpion, one of the
  most painful known to man. Because of its intensity, the afflicted will seek death, but it is
  not permitted to them.
9:7-10 A terrifying picture of the demonic oppression of sinners in the last times.
9:11   In Hebrew, Abaddon refers to destruction (Job 28:22 and 31:12, Hebrew text).
  Apollyon is the masculine Greek form for “destroyer.” There may be an allusion here to
  the Greek god Apollo, with whom the emperors Caligula, Nero, and Domitian claimed a
  special relationship.
9:13-16   The four-horned altar is based on the OT prototype (Ex 27:2). The voice is a
  command from God allowing the four angels (v. 14) to create the spiritual conditions
  for the destruction of a third of mankind (v. 15). The Euphrates (v. 14) was the border
  of the empire beyond which fierce and menacing peoples were often feared to dwell. The
  number two hundred million (v. 16) makes it unlikely any earthly army is in view; as
  with the locusts, another infernal, demonic host is probably envisioned.
9:17-19 The description given is for horse and rider combined. Some may imagine modern
  armaments, but this would have been completely foreign to the communities for whom
  the book was written. The various features are intended to present an awesome spectacle
  of the horrific plagues visited on those who resist God.
9:20-21 Unfortunately, humanity is so addicted to sin that even these terrifying plagues do
  not cause the survivors to repent (see 1Co 8:4). Paul (1Co 10:20, 21) and early fathers
  such as Justin Martyr and Irenaeus also connected idol worship with the worship of
  demons.
10:1-13 A parenthesis between the sixth and seventh trumpets. The passage consists of two
  visions: (1) the angel with the book; (2) the two witnesses. Dan 12 provides many of the
  images.
10:1, 2   John once again beholds from earth the angel's descent. God's message comes to
  him in a little book (v. 2) or scroll. The descriptive features of the angel are common
  symbols for divine glory (Ezk 1:26, 27; Mt 17:2). His feet on the sea and land (v. 2) show
  his immensity and his authority to speak to the whole earth.
10:3-4   The angel's voice, like a lion's roar, reminds us of God readying Himself for
  judgment (Jer 27:44; Am 1:2; Joel 4:16). The seven thunders probably refer to the
  divine voice (Ps 28:3–9; Jn 12:27–33), a fullness of terror, power, and magnificence. In
  Dan 12:4, God tells the prophet to seal up (v. 4) what has been written in his book. So,
  too, St. John is told, regarding what the seven thunders have revealed. This command not
  to write down the utterance shows John's revelation does not exhaust divine decrees for
  humanity: undisclosed mysteries remain (2Co 12:4).
10:5-7 The angel, lifting his hand in the form for taking an oath (see Gn 14:22; Dan 12:7),
  swears that the fullness of time has arrived and God's plan for history (the mystery of
  God, v. 7) is to be completed. This recalls Ps 118:126, proclaimed by the deacon at the
  beginning of the Divine Liturgy: “It is time for the Lord to act!” as an answer to the
  question of the martyrs dwelling under the altar (6:10–11). Lives forever and ever (v.
  6) is literally “unto ages of ages,” the closing phrase of most Orthodox Christian prayers.
10:8-11 The voice of God directs John to take the book. The symbolism of eating refers
  to receiving a revelation from God: John's account has many parallels to the
  commissioning of Ezekiel (Ezk 2:8–3:3; see also Ps 118:103). The contrast between
  sweetness in the mouth and bitterness in the stomach shows the sweetness of receiving
  God's revelation (announcing God's victory for His people) as opposed to the bitterness of
  its message of woe (announcing God's terrible judgments, as well as sufferings for His
  faithful ones).
11:1, 2   The measurement of the temple recalls Ezekiel's vision (Ezk 40–42). Here the
  measurement indicates the preservation of the temple, not restoration. Commentators
  variously interpret the temple as (1) a literal temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem in the
  future, (2) a symbol of the Church (see Eph 2:19–21; 1Pt 2:5), or (3) the Jewish-Christian
  Church of the first century. The holy city (v. 2) shows the setting to be Jerusalem. The
  Synoptic Gospels also taught that Jerusalem would fall (Mt 24; Mk 13; Lk 21); Luke
  mentioned specifically that the Gentiles would trample Jerusalem for a period (21:24). In
  patristic tradition the second interpretation is preferable. The court outside (v. 2) is for
  both Jews and Gentiles. It will not be measured because of the large number of
  Christians.
     The forty-two months (v. 2) is three and a half years, one-half of seven, symbolizing
  what is not full or final but temporary, incomplete. It derives from Daniel's “a time, two
  times, and half a time” (12:7), the three-and-a-half-year period when the temple was to be
  profaned (Dan 9:27). John affirms the true temple, the Church, will be preserved during
  this Gentile onslaught. “Temple” is a frequent NT symbol for the Church (1Co 3:16, 17;
  2Co 6:16; Eph 2:19–22).
11:3   The identity of the two witnesses is much disputed. The most common opinion of the
  church fathers is that they represent Elijah and Enoch, who were believed to have
  ascended to heaven. In Jewish tradition, Moses is frequently substituted for Enoch on the
  basis of the tradition that he, too, ascended to heaven. It was Moses who appeared with
  Elijah at the Transfiguration of Jesus. John most likely drew on the Jewish tradition that
  Elijah would return to preach in the last days (Mal 3:22; Mt 4:5). Although Jesus
  identified the Elijah figure with John the Baptist, many continued to believe in an actual
  appearance of Elijah before the end. Sackcloth was the ancient garb of penitence (see
  Jer 4:8; Mt 11:21). The prophecy of the two witnesses will continue for 1,260 days (42
  months or 3–1/2 years; see Dan 7:25; 12:7). This period may be interpreted as “fullness”
  (i.e., seven) arrested halfway, imperfect, impermanent, not necessarily to be taken in a
  numerically literal manner.
11:4   These two olive trees and the two lampstands who stand before . . . God are the
  eschatological agents of God at work on earth. This symbolic description of the witnesses
  is derived from Zechariah's vision concerning Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the
  high priest, who are described as standing “beside the Lord of all the earth” (Zec 4:14).
11:5-6   These features are reminiscent of Elijah's ministry (3Kg 17) and the plagues God
  visited upon the Egyptians through Moses (Ex 7–11).
11:7 The beast is either the Antichrist or the Roman Empire (see 13:1–10; Dan 7).
11:8   The great city . . . where also our Lord was crucified, is clearly Jerusalem
  (which kills the prophets; Lk 13:34). Like Sodom and Egypt, Jerusalem becomes self-
  sufficient and rebels against God.
11:9    The peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations represent the whole world in
  rebellion against God. They rejoice at the sight of the dead prophets because the
  prophets' preaching had tormented the rebels' consciences.
11:11    The breath of life is a biblical term for the animating life-force manifest in the
  breath. The resurrection of the witnesses is conceivable because of the traditions
  regarding the ascensions of Enoch, Elijah, and Moses (see, as well, the dry bones of Ezk
  37).
11:15   These heavenly voices, which introduce an interlude with the scene shifting back to
  heaven, provide for us the pivotal verse of the whole of Revelation. Once again (as in
  10:5–7) the proclamation is made that the fullness of time has arrived: the kingdoms of
  this world are subject to the Kingdom of God. This is the mystery of mysteries alluded
  to in 10:7, which our Lord Himself mentioned, as recorded in Jn 12:31: the judgment of
  the world and the casting out of Satan is effected by the crucifixion. The voices state this
  has already occurred once and for all, at Calvary. Up to this point, Revelation has recorded
  only the prelude to God's judgment. From now on, the book records the judgment of God
  in all its power.
11:16-18 The twenty-four elders concelebrate the consummation of God's Kingdom in
  the heavenly liturgy. This carries a message of consolation to the Church. Those who
  destroy the earth (v. 18) are the morally wicked, not merely the ecologically
  irresponsible—however, ecological irresponsibility is moral wickedness. Perhaps the
  pagan Roman Empire is in view.
12:1   These verses begin an extensive parenthesis in the center of Revelation dealing with
  the conflict between the Church and the powers of evil (12:1–14:20). The great sign in
  heaven, the woman, is either the Theotokos or true Israel, the Church (Is 7:14).
  Orthodoxy sees the Theotokos as the perfect symbol of Israel and the Church. She is the
  antithesis of the harlot of ch. 17, for she is a radiant bride (SS 6:4, 10) adorned with
  splendor. The twelve stars indicate the twelve tribes (and possibly the twelve apostles)
  and the moon under her feet symbolizes her preeminent role over creation. Her birth-
  giving (“a male Child,” v. 5) is that of the Messiah, and she bears other offspring as well
  (12:17), a likely reference to the Church.
12:3-4 The dragon is clearly identified as Satan (12:9). A third of the stars of heaven
  (v. 4) is usually interpreted to mean that Satan drew a third of the angels with him when
  he fell. His intention is to destroy the Messiah.
12:5   True Israel brings forth Christ, who, after completion of His saving work, ascends to
  heaven (Ps 2:7–9; 46:6).
12:6     The flight of the woman may refer to the flight of the Jerusalem Church
  (embodying true Israel) to Pella before the outbreak of the Roman war. It illustrates
  there is no place for the Church in this age. The 1260 days, or three and a half years, is
  the classic period of apocalyptic woe (see 11:2): as bad as it is, it is temporary, not the end
  of things.
12:7-12 This passage begins an interlude describing Satan's role in stimulating persecution
  of the Church. The war with Michael and the good angels is usually interpreted to
  picture an event before the creation of the world. However, the context places it just
  before the end of the world. Satan has been accusing the brethren (v. 10), the Christians,
  and his downfall (see Lk 10:18) presages the consummation of the Kingdom (v. 10). Satan
  is overcome by Christ's self-sacrifice and that of the martyrs (v. 11)—those who did not
  love their lives to the death. The short time (v. 12) Satan has is the period of
  tribulation just prior to the end.
12:13-16 Satan hates Christ and His mother. The Virgin Mary was saved by the inspiration
  of the angel who told Joseph to run into Egypt. Likewise, Satan hates Christ and the
  Church (Jn 15:21) and attacks the one through the other, since they are identified. One of
  his first activities is to persecute true Israel. The wings of a great eagle (v. 14) refers to
  the original Exodus (Ex 19:4; see Dt 32:11), as the flood (vv. 15, 16) may also be the
  threat of drowning in the Red Sea. However, Satan is unable to prevail. The Jewish
  Church safely completes its exodus and is preserved during its apocalyptic period. And the
  Church in general will be preserved: the gates of hell cannot prevail against her (Mt
  16:18). For Jesus' warnings about this flight, see Mt 24:15–21.
12:17   Satan then turns his attention to the rest of true Israel's offspring, obviously the
  Gentile Church, which has inherited from her both the commandments of God and
  faith in Christ.
13:1, 2 The beast (monster) rising up out of the sea, a composite of the four beasts of
  Dan 7, is the epitome of worldly kingdoms opposed to God and His Kingdom. For John,
  this was the Roman Empire: a monstrous creature with ten horns (very powerful),
  seven heads (the emperors), ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name
  (emperors who assumed titles of divinity such as “Lord and God,” “Savior,” “Son of God,”
  etc.). In a parody of 5:12–14, where the sacrificed Lamb is enthroned, the beast is given
  power, not to bless the Church but to persecute it. One of the heads of this monster was
  “as though it had been slaughtered to death” (the Greek text), and is another parody of
  the Lamb, which was standing even though it had been slain (5:6).
     The deadly wound might refer to the mad emperor Nero's death (inflicted by a slit
  throat in the manner of temple sacrifice). For despite his death in AD 68, the empire lived
  on, revived under Vespasian. Many believed Nero himself would rise from the dead.
  Domitian (AD 81–96, the emperor at the time of the writing of Revelation) was
  considered to be “Nero reincarnate” because his cruelty surpassed Nero's. Christian
  tradition has also seen the beast as an image of the Antichrist, the false messiah who
  presents himself in the last times as God incarnate and is accepted by the world (see Jn
  5:43; 2Th 1:12; 1Jn 2:18). Since there are “many antichrists” (1Jn 2:18), there may be
  more than one application of the beast figure.
13:4   People worshiped the dragon (Satan), for it had given authority to the beast (a
  reference to emperor worship, which Domitian ruthlessly enforced). “Who is like the
  beast?” is an allusion to Michael the Archangel, whose name means “Who is like God?”
  It is also a parody of God, the incomparable (Ex 15:11; Ps 88:7). Citizens are awed by the
  power and authority of the empire.
13:5   Forty-two months is the final period of apocalyptic conflict. It is one-half of seven
  years, not the final end of things. Thus, the nations trample over the holy city for three
  and a half years (11:2); the two witnesses prophesy for three and a half years (11:3); they
  are left unburied for three and a half days (11:9, 11); the woman is protected in the
  wilderness for three and a half years (12:6, 14). Nero's persecution lasted approximately
  forty-two months.
13:6   The beast, the Roman Empire, utters blasphemy against God, for the emperor
  came to see himself as god. Domitian demanded to be called divine, and on Roman coins
  divine titles were associated with the likenesses of deceased emperors. The tabernacle is
  God's Church; those who dwell in heaven, the angels and glorified saints. Christians
  saw emperor worship as worship of Satan (v. 2; 2:13); it is the ultimate offense against
  God that His creatures would worship earthly authority, itself under demonic rule.
  Nevertheless, by God's permission, the Antichrist rules over the whole earth and
  apparently vanquishes the Church.
13:10    Better rendered “he who is destined for captivity,” “he who is destined for the
  sword,” directed to Christians facing persecution (see Jer 15:2).
13:11-12 The beast which rose out of the earth with two horns (power) like a lamb
  (Christ, gentle and giving), and which spoke like a dragon (Satan, whose speech is
  seductive), is worldly religion. Its minister of propaganda, so to speak, mimics John the
  Baptist and the Holy Spirit: a false prophet (see 16:13; 19:20; 20:10; Dan 7:8) calling all to
  worship the first beast (false divinity). This monster completes the unholy triumvirate:
  dragon (Satan, false god), beast from the sea (worldly authority and power, false
  incarnation), and beast from the earth (worldly religion, false prophet): a blasphemous
  parody of the Holy Trinity.
13:13-15   With a parody of Pentecost, this monstrous cult leader is able to make fire
  come down from heaven on the earth by means of deception and sorcery (see Mt
  24:24; Acts 13:6–12; Didache 16:3–4)—luring people into making an image to the beast
  (v. 14; the goddess of Rome or the emperor). Statues were often “brought to life” by
  sorcery. Irenaeus, Clement, Justin, and Eusebius note that the sorcerer Simon Magus
  (Acts 8:9–24) used illusion and occult practices to make idols seem alive. This beast is
  able to enforce the sentence of death on those who will not worship him (see
  Nebuchadnezzar's statue in Dan 3).
13:16-17 A parody of God's seal of 7:3, even alluding to the Hebrew phylactery of Dt 6:8—
  where God's Law is kept on the forehead and the left hand—and to chrismation (but not
  the same word as “sealed”). The mark is gained by worshiping the beast (v. 17); it
  signifies the beast is the owner of those who wear it—their protector and the one to whom
  they owe their livelihoods. This mark is not necessarily a visible and physical mark on the
  person, but it is required to do business. There is then an economic bias against those
  who do not bear the beast's mark (the faithful who will not render demonic worship to
  the state).
13:18    The letters of the alphabet were used as numbers in ancient times (Roman
  numerals). Thus, the numerical value of names could easily be calculated. “The name of
  the beast” (v. 17) is the numerical equivalent of the letters of the name of a man (some
  texts read “616” instead of the well-known 666). John may be purposefully enigmatic,
  using a secret code to protect against a charge of sedition.
    This is a predictably misunderstood passage, for the text itself says it requires wisdom
  and understanding. In the Bible, the number six stands for falling short,
  incompleteness, imperfection; seven, for perfection, fullness, completion; eight, for
  eschatological perfection, a superabundance of fullness (see 2En 33:1). The sixth day,
  Friday, is the day of preparation; the seventh, the Sabbath, Saturday, a picture of the rest
  to come; the eighth day, Sunday, the day of the Resurrection, the final establishment of
  God's Kingdom. The numerical equivalent of “Jesus” in Greek is 888. The numerical
  equivalent of “Nero Caesar” transliterated from Greek into Hebrew is 666, meaning the
  epitome of created inadequacy. The numerical equivalent of “Nero Caesar” transliterated
  from Latin into Hebrew is 616. If John were referring to Domitian, whom some
  considered to be Nero reincarnated, it would be safer to refer not to the present
  persecutor but to the one long gone. Some believe that “666” is a symbol rather than a
  cryptogram, falling short of perfection in each of its digits: failure upon failure upon
  failure, an evil trinity which always falls short of the Holy Trinity (“777”). Many have
  attempted to identify “666,” but writing only one hundred years after John, St. Irenaeus
  had no idea to whom John was referring!
14:1   Mount Zion, the location of the temple in Jerusalem, is the Church (Heb 12:22). It
  is where the Lamb of God and His one hundred and forty-four thousand faithful
  (see 7:4) assemble. Instead of the mark of the beast (13:16–18) they have the “mark” of
  the Father (see 7:3).
14:2-3 The voice from heaven that made the voice of many waters, loud thunder,
  and harps recalls the sounds of the temple liturgy. This voice sings a new song (v. 3;
  see 5:8–10; Ex 15:1–18; Ps 32:3; 98:1; 149:1; Is 42:10) which only the redeemed faithful
  from the earth are able to learn.
14:4    Virgins: In the OT, prostitution and adultery symbolize idolatry, and virginity
  signifies faithfulness to God. Thus, the 144,000 have kept themselves pure from the
  idolatrous worship of the beast. Instead, they are faithful and follow the Lord wherever
  He goes (Ru 1:16, 17) as sheep follow a shepherd (and here, the Shepherd is the Lamb),
  unlike adulterous Israel (Hos 3:1). These martyred faithful who love not their lives even
  unto death are the firstfruits offered to God from among humanity: the faithful
  remnant. They are truthful (having nothing to do with the father of lies) and
  unblemished (a technical term in OT temple sacrifice; see Ex 12:5; Eph 5:25–27; 1Pt 1:19).
  We shall later encounter them as the bride of the Lamb (19:8; 21:2).
14:6, 7 A universal summons to worship the one true God in the face of His approaching
  judgment.
14:8   Babylon the Great, Rome, has fallen (Jer 28:8), an anticipation of the dirge over
  Babylon in 18:1–19:4 (see Is 21:9). Rome has made the nations, peoples of the empire,
  subservient through drinking the wine of her fornication, the sensual, unholy
  eucharist of her idolatry and self-divinization. This wine is intoxicating and results in the
  wrath of man: corruption, anger, and murder, including the shedding of the blood of the
  saints (5:20).
14:9-11   The wrath of God (v. 10) shall be poured out like wine, full strength
  (unmixed, with no water to dilute it), to be drunk by those who compromise with the evil
  one. Like a smoldering hotpot, this cup is agonizing, the same bath of fire and
  brimstone (the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, Gn 19:24) reserved for Satan, the beast,
  and the false prophet (19:20; 20:10; 21:8). Even the presence of God, the Lamb, and His
  good servants, the holy angels, is a torment (see the townspeople in Lk 8:37). And, as
  the refuse piles in the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna) smoldered unceasingly outside
  Jerusalem, this agony continues forever and ever, an eternal contrast to the never-
  ending joy of the worship of God (9:8).
14:12, 13   Christians, when persecuted, must exercise patience and faith, with labors
  and good works (v. 13)—the unity of faith and works. The alternative, eternal damnation,
  is too horrible (vv. 9–11).
14:14   The Son of Man, royal conqueror (golden crown) and judge (sharp sickle; see
  Mt 3:12), appears, seated on a cloud (see Mk 13:26), and reaps the harvest of the
  earth, the beginning of the final judgment (see Mt 13:24–30, 36–43; Mk 4:26–29).
14:18   The angel . . . from the altar with power over fire (see see also 1En 60:11–21)
  recalls 6:9; 8:3–5; and 11:1, 18. The prayers of the martyrs under the altar and the saints
  on earth for a hasty destruction of the destroyers are answered.
14:20    The trampling of the wicked who were gathered outside the city recalls the
  bloodshed (the crucifixion, Heb 13:12; the martyrdom of Stephen, Acts 7:58–60) that took
  place outside the walls of Jerusalem. The whole world is judged as the Jews would judge
  the Gentiles (Joel 4:2, 12; Zec 14:2–12; see also 1En 5:31). The absurdly large amount of
  blood (one thousand six hundred furlongs is about 184 miles) suggests the severity
  and completeness (1600 = 4 x 4 x 100) of God's judgment.
14:14-20    Two images of judgment, a grain harvest (vv. 14–16) and a grape harvest,
  complete with the treading of a winepress (vv. 17–20).
15:1   An introduction to the bowl plagues, the culmination of God's judgment of the earth.
15:2-4   The victory celebration for those who refuse to submit to Antichrist, perhaps a
  hymn used in the liturgy of the early Church. In contrast to the idolatry of the beast, this
  hymn emphasizes the worthiness of the true God. The song of Moses and the Lamb (v.
  3) is prefigured in the hymns of Ex 15:1–18 and Dt 32:1–43, where victory over the
  oppression of Pharaoh and the Egyptians is celebrated. The Jews incorporated these into
  the Sabbath liturgy, and the Church also sings them at various times of the year (for
  example, in Matins, and in the Vespers of Holy Saturday). The Church sings this song of
  the Lamb in baptism and at the Great Blessing of Water.
15:5-7 The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony is the heavenly prototype of the
  earthly “tabernacle of testimony” (Nm 17:7), containing the witness of God's covenant,
  the tablets of the Law brought down from Mt. Sinai by Moses (Ex 32:15)—which was
  itself the archetype of the temple of Jerusalem (see Ex 25:9, 40; Heb 8:5; 9:11; 13:10; Acts
  7:44). Seven angels (v. 6) appear out of the temple in priestly vesture (Ezk 9:2; Dan
  10:5; Heb 1:14; Rev 1:13; 19:14). They are given golden bowls (see the vessels used by
  the priests in the Jerusalem temple, 5:8; Ex 27:3; Nm 7) by one of the living creatures
  (v. 7; see 4:6). God's judgment is meted out within the framework of this apocalyptic
  liturgical theophany.
15:8   The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God (see Is 6:4; Ezk 10:3,
  4), so that no one was able to enter the temple (see Ex 40:29, where Moses was
  unable to enter the tabernacle; and 3Kg 8:10, 11 where the priests were unable to enter
  the temple for the same reason). None may enter to intercede for the earth or to divert
  the coming catastrophe of God's sworn judgment.
16:1 Although they are quite similar, the trumpet plagues are partial, a warning and call to
  repentance, whereas the bowl judgments are final and total. The difference is that
  dreadful step from the “beginning of sorrows” to final judgment. This chapter, like ch. 15,
  contains many elements foreshadowed in Joel 4:9–17, which is read in the Church on the
  Wednesday before Great Lent.
     The loud voice from the celestial temple is presumably God's voice. Pour out is a
  liturgical term (Lv 4:7, 18, 25, et. al.) referring to the blood and the wine poured out with
  the offering of the daily sacrifice and the Feast of Dedication. On the Day of Atonement,
  blood was sprinkled seven times towards the inner veil, more was then smeared upon the
  horns of the altar, and the remainder was poured out at the altar's base. Here, the seven
  angelic priests pour out the bowls of God's wrath as a ritual answer to the cry of the
  martyrs (from under the altar) for vengeance (see Ps 68:25; Jer 10:21; Zep 3:8).
16:2-4 The first bowl is poured out, and the mark of the beast breaks out on those who
  received it in foul and loathsome sores, like the sixth plague of Ex 9:8–11. The second
  (v. 3) and third (v. 4) bowls are like the first plague (Ex 7:20–21; see Rev 8:8–11).
16:5-7 This judgment becomes the occasion for a doxology to God from the angel of the
  waters, the element just affected by God's wrath (vv. 3, 4). In biblical thought, spiritual
  or angelic powers have charge of the physical realm; all elements of the material world
  have angelic guardians. In response, the altar itself (the voice of the martyrs? —see 6:9;
  8:3–5; 9:13) proclaims that God's judgments are true and righteous (v. 7).
     There is a parallel here with “the song of Moses” (15:3, 4). Indeed, there is a parallel
  here with the musical interlude in the Jerusalem temple liturgy between the preparation
  and the offering of the sacrificed lamb. It is their just due (v. 6) is literally “they are
  worthy [axios],” the antithesis of the worthiness of the Lamb sung about in 3:4; 5:9, 12.
  At the ordination of a deacon, priest, or bishop, the assembly sings “Axios” as an assent to
  the candidate's worthiness (see WSol 3:5).
16:8, 9 The spiritually hardened followers of the beast cannot repent, but only blaspheme
  at the judgments of God. In contrast to Dan 3:22–24, 46–50, where the holy youths who
  refuse to worship Nebuchadnezzar's image are not even singed by the furnace's heat, here
  those who worship the beast and its image are scorched with great heat (v. 9).
16:10   The plague of darkness is similar to the ninth Egyptian plague (Ex 10:21–29). Here
  the throne is Rome (in contrast to 2:13), and the kingdom is the empire. Satan has
  shared his dominion with “the beast from the land,” the false prophet (13:2).
16:12   In 9:13–21 the Parthian Empire threatened the Roman Empire, as it had Israel. In
  this verse, the historical setting of ch. 9 is clarified: Rome will lose its natural defensive
  line (the Euphrates) and be punished by the kings from the east, the Parthians (see
  also 6:2; 17:12, 13). The OT miracles of crossing over a river on dry land (Ex 14:21, 22; Jos
  3:17) are repeated (see also Is 11:15; Jer 28:36; Zec 10:11).
16:13 An allusion to the second Egyptian plague (Ex 7:26–8:11). The unclean spirits (see
  1Ti 4:1; 1Jn 4:3) are like frogs.
16:14   Spirits of demons, performing signs are attested by our Lord (Mk 13:22; see
  also Acts 13:6; 2Th 2:9). The great day of God Almighty (6:17, foreshadowed in Joel
  2:11; Zep 1:14; graphically described in 2Pt 3:12) is the eschatological Day of the Lord.
16:15   In a parenthetical comment, we are told that this Day of the Lord will see Him
  coming unexpectedly as a thief in the night (see 3:3; Mt 24:42–44; 1Th 5:2). Like the
  wise virgins who stand in readiness for the bridegroom who comes at midnight, the Lord
  exhorts His blessed faithful here to remain vigilant as well. It is said that the officer on
  duty at the Jerusalem temple was to see that his night guards kept awake during their
  watch. If they were caught asleep, they were beaten. If caught a second time, they were
  stripped of their garments, their vesture, then and there (see Mk 14:51). A Christian's
  garment is his white baptismal robe, “the garment of righteousness,” the putting on of
  Christ.
16:16   Decisive battles in Israel's history were fought in the strategic pass near Megiddo
  (see 4Kg 9:27). Armageddon—the word is found only here in Scripture—means “the hill
  of Megiddo”; the nearest hill to Megiddo is Mt. Carmel, where Elijah confronted the
  prophets of Baal (3Kg 18:19–40). In the final conflict at Armageddon, evil spirits (vv. 13,
  14) lead apostate mankind against God. This battle is more fully recorded in 20:7–10,
  foreshadowed in Ezk 39 and Joel 4.
16:17-21 The last bowl is a conclusive act of judgment; a loud voice from God's throne
  declares, “It is done!” (repeated at 21:6; see Jn 19:30). Cosmic signs of God's presence
  are manifest—evoking Mt. Sinai and other theophanies (see 4:5; 8:5; 11:10), quite similar
  to those of the last trumpet (11:19)—especially great earthquakes, causing worldwide
  destruction (v. 20). Yet even 75-pound (the equivalent of one talent) hailstones (v. 21)
  fail to induce repentance. The great city (v. 19) is probably Jerusalem (see 11:8) in that
  Rome is mentioned separately as great Babylon.
17:1   The great harlot is Rome, the empire with its claims of divinity, sovereignty, and
  eternity (see vv. 9, 18), opposed to God and the Church: symbolic of all evil rule. In the
  Bible, harlotry frequently symbolizes apostasy and idolatry (see Is 1:21; 23:15; Jer 13:25–
  27; Ezk 16; Hos 4:12; Nah 3:4). The many waters on which the harlot is seated portray
  both the waters of Babylon—the canals and tributaries of the Euphrates (Ps 136:1; Jer
  28:12, 13)—and the waters of Rome, the seas surrounding Italy. They symbolize the
  nations who submit to the harlot's rule (v. 15).
17:2   Fornication, committed by the kings of the earth with this harlot, is a metaphor
  for infidelity to the Lord (Jer 3:1–5; Ezk 23; Hos 2). The vassal kingdoms within the
  Roman Empire have accepted the cults of Rome and her emperors and have solidified
  their obeisance with political and economic obligations—and have fallen into moral
  decadence. The wine of this fornication has made the inhabitants of the earth to
  become drunk, seduced and stupefied by a hideous eucharist of death, focused on the
  persecution and martyrdom of Christians (v. 6; see Jer 28:7).
17:3   The woman's position on the beast shows the Roman system supported by the
  Antichrist-emperor. The names of blasphemy may be the divine titles assumed by the
  emperors.
17:4   The harlot is arrayed in abominable luxury: purple (an extremely expensive and
  rare dye from the murex shellfish of Phoenicia), scarlet, gold, precious stones, and
  pearls. Contrast this with the pure linen in which the bride is arrayed in 21:2. The
  harlot's cup contains the spiritual pollutions by which she contaminates humanity. In
  Jer 28:7, Babylon is pictured as a golden cup in the hand of the Lord which makes all the
  earth madly intoxicated.
17:5   Roman law stated harlots must wear headbands exhibiting their name. This great
  harlot bears the mysterious name of BABYLON . . . MOTHER OF HARLOTS. For the
  late-first-century Christians, Babylon was incarnate in Rome (see 1Pt 5:13), but it is
  primarily a spiritual reality, a “mystery,” transcending concrete manifestations. For
  Babylon has always stood for rebellion against God (see Gn 11): self-exaltation and
  idolatry. She is the mother OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH (lit.,
  “detestable things”), the prostitution of God's creation. And she finds her life in a
  perverse eucharist, the death of those united with Life Incarnate.
17:8-11 The beast that was, and is not, and yet is represents the Roman Empire or the
  hellish Antichrist, who seems to have been destroyed only to resurrect, in imitation of the
  true Christ. The seven mountains or hills (v. 9) was a well-known description of Rome
  herself. Numerous interpretations have been given of these verses. A likely historical
  explanation is that the beast is Nero, who was expected to return to life after he died; the
  five who have fallen (v. 10) are Augustus through Nero; Vespasian is the one who is;
  and the beast who is himself also the eighth (v. 11) is Domitian, seen as Nero revived.
  But, again, the reality seems to be transcendent as well. Certainly, at least, the eighth—the
  number eight signifying complete abundance—is a type of the final Antichrist.
17:12   The ten kings may be symbolic of all the nations allied with Antichrist in his war
  against the Church. They completely give themselves over to the beast, but the authority
  they receive is of very short duration (symbolically, one hour). Though they join the
  beast in his persecution fury, ultimately Christ and his faithful triumph (19:11–21). As the
  seal on the eucharistic bread, from which is taken the mystical “Lamb” (v. 14), reads:
  “Jesus Christ Victor.”
17:15-18   The peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues represent the diversity of
  the Roman Empire (see v. 18). Reaping what she sows, Rome will be conquered as she
  has conquered. That the ten horns (vassal kings) and the beast (false prophet) will rise
  up against the harlot (v. 16) indicates the self-destructiveness of evil (see Ezk 23:11–35).
  The Antichrist proves himself (in contrast to the true Christ, v. 14) the traitor of traitors.
  Rome will be stripped, devoured, and burned (see Lv 21:9, where death by fire is
  prescribed for a harlot who is the daughter of a priest).
18:1   As God is light (4:3; Ps 103:2; 1Ti 6:16), so the angel coming down from heaven
  exudes a lingering radiance (see Moses in Ex 34:29–35).
18:2    This dirge over fallen Babylon is inspired by Is 13:19–22; 34:11–15, where the
  prophet speaks of the total destruction of the enemies of God's people. The city is a haunt
  of demonic, foul, and hateful spirits.
18:4-8    God's people are called to come out of her so as not to partake of her
  punishment, destruction, and devastation (see Nm 33:51–56; Is 52:11; Jer 27:8; 28:6, 46).
  Separation from this world is spiritual, not necessarily a physical move but a refusal to
  participate in the works of darkness (2Co 6:14–18). As Babylon (Rome) has proclaimed
  her own sovereign greatness, sitting as queen (v. 7), so her sins have reached to
  heaven (v. 5), recalling the Tower of Babel (Gn 11:4), a symbol of excessive arrogance.
  God's judgment will be swift, in one day (v. 8). In Hebrew day denotes not so much a
  chronological period as a completed act.
18:9, 10 The kings of the earth who committed fornication will mourn (but from a
  distance), stunned by the judgment of Rome and the specter of their own economic loss,
  when they see her devastation (see Ps 75:13; Nah 3:4–7). What happened to Sodom (Gn
  19:28) and Edom (Is 34:6–10) is befalling Rome.
18:11-19 Like the political leaders (vv. 9, 10), the economic leaders, the merchants, stand
  astonished at Rome's sudden destruction and their own loss of revenues. Verses 11–13
  list luxury items in Rome's flow of trade (see Ezk 27:12–25).
     It was said by the rabbis that “ten measures of wealth came down into the world; Rome
  received nine and all the world received one.” These goods together with their profit made
  Rome queen (v. 7) of the world. While worldly possessions are not in themselves good or
  bad, their misuse leads to sin, complacency, and a fatal lack of poverty of spirit (see 3:17–
  20). Therefore, excessive wealth easily conflicts with authentic Christian discipleship (see
  Mt 6:24). The last item in this list, bodies and souls (v. 13), refers to slaves sold at
  auction as human livestock for domestic service, prostitution, and gladiatorial
  amusements.
18:20 The opposite reaction (see vv. 9–19) in heaven: Justice has prevailed!
18:21-24    The great millstone thrown into the sea recalls Babylon's disasters and
  annihilation (Jer 28:59, 60; Nah 3:4–7). Her spell of idolatry, vice, and murder bound the
  whole civilized world with a bewitching belief that she was immortal and secure. But as
  her influence was total, so her destruction is total. No signs of life are seen or heard; an
  eerie silence pervades. In her was found the blood of prophets and saints (v. 24)
  here alludes directly to the massacres of Christians under such as Nero and Domitian.
  However, Babylon as the center of opposition to God and self-deification of creation
  continues beyond the immediate incarnation to be seen in the Roman Empire.
19:1   In contrast to the song of doom for Babylon (ch. 18), the scene returns to the
  heavenly liturgy with an outburst of celestial triumph. Alleluia, appearing in the NT only
  here (vv. 1, 3, 4, 6), is from the Hebrew for “Praise the L .” It was used in the Great
                                                              ORD



  Hallel (Praise) of the Jerusalem temple liturgy (Ps 104–106; 110–117; 134–135; 145–150)
  and in the synagogue as a response by the people (see Tb 13:18; 3Mc 7:13). Within
  Christendom, the Alleluia has been a part of liturgical and private prayers since earliest
  times.
19:2   The judgments of God are righteous, in contrast to the slander of the “accuser of
  the brethren” (2:9; 12:10), which resulted in persecution of Christians.
19:3-5 Her (the harlot, Rome) smoke rises up forever and ever (contrast 4:9; 15:7), in
  contrast to the ascent of incense (5:8; 8:4) in eternal heavenly worship. The Church on
  earth is united with this liturgy in heaven; a deacon calls from the altar, as it were, for all
  to praise our God (v. 5).
19:6   For the use of the term Omnipotent (Gr. pantokrator), see 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7,
  14; 19:15; 21:22, as well as Hos 12:6; Am 4:13. It is used in the NT only in Revelation and
  once in 2Co 6:18, in a quote from the OT. The word means “almighty, all-powerful.”
19:6-9 At the Passover, deliverance from Egypt—the “Babylon” of Moses' day—was united
  with the theme of Israel's betrothal to the Lord (for further nuptial imagery, see Song of
  Songs; Hos 2:19; Rom 7:1–6). For marriage is a symbol of the union of God with His
  people (see Is 54:1–8; Ezk 16:7–14; Hos 2:1–23), of Christ with His Church (Mt 22:1–14;
  2Co 11:2; Eph 5:22–32). This union is fulfilled in the rest of Revelation: Jesus, the
  Passover Lamb (1Co 5:7) whose death has ransomed the New Israel, is also the divine
  Bridegroom (Mt 22:2; 25:1–13).
     A wedding in the Middle East consisted of two parts: the betrothal and the wedding
  proper. The wedding itself began with the procession of the groom to the bride's home
  and concluded with the procession of all back to the bridegroom's home for the wedding
  supper. By analogy, the Church is now betrothed to Christ by faith. She awaits the coming
  of the Bridegroom for the marriage supper of the Lamb (v. 9), the final eschatological
  union of Christ and His Church.
       The recompense to the faithful for having remained steadfast and pure under
  persecution (see Mt 5:12; 1Pt 4:13) is to be clothed with fine linen, clean and bright
  (v. 8; see 3:4, 5; 7:14)—the clothes of grace, holiness, and incorruption—and to participate
  in this mystical supper both as guest (v. 9) and as bride (in apocalyptic literature it is not
  uncommon to find mixed images). This supper has already begun in the Eucharist, a
  foretaste of the Kingdom (see Mt 26:29; Lk 13:29; 22:30). The Orthodox sing on Pascha
  (Easter): “Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem; the glory of the Lord has shone on you. . . .
  Grant that we may evermore perfectly partake of You in the never-ending Day of Your
  Kingdom.”
19:10   Orthodoxy makes a strict distinction between the veneration proper to saints and
  angels (Gr. doulia) and the worship (Gr. latria) due to God alone (see 22:8, 9).
19:11-16 Heaven is opened: A standard revelatory formula (4:1; Ezk 1:1; Mt 3:16; Jn 1:51;
  Acts 7:57). Christ is presented as the Warrior-Messiah, a triumphant King. In Semitic
  thought, name expressed being. Some of the names of the rider are understandable:
  Faithful and True (see 3:13), Word of God (v. 13; see Jn 1:1, 14), KING OF KINGS
  (v. 16; see 17:14) AND LORD OF LORDS (see Dt 10:17; 1Ti 6:15). But He also has a
  secret name only He can understand (v. 12; see 2:17; Dan 2:47), for He is God, and only
  God can comprehend God (Jn 1:18).
19:13   His robe dipped in blood (see Gn 49:11; Is 63:1–6) unites Christ's sacrifice on the
  Cross, granting forgiveness of sin and fulfilling all righteousness, with His making war “in
  righteousness” (v. 11), judging sin (see the reaping of the harvest of 14:14–20; Ps 44:3–7;
  WSol 18:15, 16; Jn 12:31).
19:14   The armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen are likely the 144,000 faithful
  (14:4) who, having survived the great tribulation in purity, have washed their robes in the
  blood of the Lamb (7:14).
19:15   The sharp sword from the mouth is judgment, the prophetic word fulfilled (1:16;
  2:12; 11:6; Is 11:4); the rod of iron (2:27; 12:5; Ps 2:9) is rule. He treads the
  winepress, executing God's wrath on earth (14:19, 20; Is 63:3; Lam 1:15).
19:17, 18 A graphic portrayal of the triumph of Christ over Antichrist, forming a macabre
  contrast with the wedding supper of the Lamb of God (v. 9; 2:17; 3:20). The destruction is
  total (see Is 34:1–7; Ezk 39:17–20; Mt 24:28).
19:20, 21   Worldly authority and worldly religion are overthrown. The first beast (false
  deity) and the second beast (false prophet) of 13:11–15 are captured and cast alive
  into the lake of fire, hell. Hell is pictured in Gehenna, the noxious, smoldering garbage
  dump just outside Jerusalem in the Valley of Hinnom. In the past, pagan rituals,
  including child sacrifice, had occurred in this valley. It came to be associated with the
  abode of the wicked dead, either awaiting final judgment or actually experiencing eternal
  torment (see Mt 18:9). Brimstone, a yellow sulphurous substance that burns easily,
  exuding a foul odor, is found in the Dead Sea region. The rest were killed (v. 21) so as
  to await the final judgment.
20:1    The bottomless pit (abyss) is the great nether regions (Ps 87:7) where the
  disobedient are confined awaiting final judgment. The demons fear it (see Lk 8:31; Jude
  6). It is reached through a chasm, the key to which is in the hand of the angel. The great
  chain binds Satan (Mk 5:3).
20:2   Though most did not, a few early Fathers and writers believed in a literal thousand
  year binding of Satan and reign of Christ and the saints on earth (vv. 2–7). The Church,
  however, authoritatively rejected this teaching (called chiliasm) at the Second
  Ecumenical Council. In apocalyptic literature, numbers have symbolic significance.
  “Thousand” is often used in the Scriptures to denote a long period of time, a great
  quantity, completion, perfection, thoroughness (Job 9:3; 2Pt 3:8). Here, a thousand years
  (vv. 2–7) is interpreted as the Church age, when Jesus reigns on earth in those who
  believe. It is that era between the first and second comings of Christ, also called the “last
  times,” when Satan's effectiveness at deceit is restricted through the Cross and
  Resurrection of Christ, and the saints share in Christ's earthly reign through the Church.
  For these persecuted Christians threatened by martyrdom, this is a consoling hope.
20:3   The devil is thrown into the pit, which is shut and sealed for a thousand years—
  meaning a long period of time—to allow the Church to be planted, to grow and to
  overcome, even in times of persecution and trial. The word “millennium” is synonymous
  with thousand years, and carries with it no connotations of peace and prosperity. The
  Bible teaches that Satan was bound at the completion of Christ's saving work (Mt 12:28,
  29; Lk 10:17, 18; Jn 12:31, 32; Col 2:15). He is not totally inactive (Acts 5:3; 1Co 5:5; Eph
  6:11), but he cannot deceive the nations by keeping the gospel from them. At the close
  of the millennium or Church age, Satan will be released for a little while (vv. 7, 8).
20:4-6    Those who have died for their witness to Jesus are in heaven living and
  reigning with Him (5:9, 10; Mt 19:18; 2Ti 2:12) as royal priests (1:6; 5:9, 10; Is 61:6; 1Pt
  2:9, 10) while the Church serves Him here on earth. The first resurrection (v. 6) is the
  heavenly life of souls who have died in Christ before His Second Coming. Those not in
  Christ who die are in Hades awaiting the resurrection of the body at His coming. For the
  righteous saints with Christ, the second death has no power (v. 6). These righteous
  spirits (Heb 12:23) await only the reuniting of soul and body after the final judgment,
  when all things are made new (21:1). Hell or Hades (Sheol), where sinners' souls are
  separated from their bodies, will give up its dead to Gehenna (vv. 13, 14), the lake of fire
  that burns with sulphur (21:8), which is eternal damnation (Mt 25:41). Sinners will be
  excluded from the blessedness of the age to come. Hell cannot harm the victorious in
  Christ (2:11).
20:7-10   The lengthy millennial period of Satan's binding and the saints' heavenly reign
  (vv. 1–6) is concluded by the release of Satan and the final battle of history (probably the
  same as that of 16:12–16; 19:14–21). Gog and Magog (v. 8; see Ezk 38; 39) are nations
  hostile to God's people, gathered for one final assault directed against the beloved city
  (v. 9), Jerusalem as the Church. As Elijah called down fire . . . out of heaven on his
  persecutors (4Kg 1:10–12), so here God sends a consuming fire (see Gn 19:24; 3Kg 18:38;
  Ezk 38:22; 39:6). The devil joins the beast and the false prophet in the lake of fire,
  the second death of eternal damnation, and is no longer a threat to the world.
20:11   God executes judgment from the great white throne (see Dan 7:9; see also 1En
  18:8). The One who sits on the throne in Revelation is God the Father (4:2–9; 5:1, 7, 13;
  6:16; 7:10; etc.). However, in the rest of the NT Christ is the judge on the throne (Mt
  25:31–46; Jn 5:22; Acts 10:42; 17:31; 2Co 5:10). John is about to show their unity: “the
  throne of God and of the Lamb” (22:1). Earth and heaven flee away (Mt 24:35; 2Pt
  3:10–13) in terror, a cosmic sign of the great Day of the Lord and the coming of the new
  heaven and earth (21:1).
20:12     Standing before God at His throne at the final judgment, the dead are
  confronted with their works. The books of judgment (Dan 7:10) contain a record of
  men's deeds; their own works will judge them (Ps 61:13; Jer 17:6). This judging of
  believers' works is a common NT theme (Mt 16:27; Rom 2:6; 2Co 5:10; 1Pt 1:17; see also
  the Anaphora of the Liturgy of St. Basil and the hymns for the Sunday of the Last
  Judgment). In contrast is the Book of Life. It contains the names of all saved by grace
  (see Ex 32:32; Is 4:3; Dan 12:1, 2)—not that they have no works, but that God's mercy is
  far greater in comparison. The Orthodox liturgy thus petitions God for a “good account
  before the dread judgment seat of Christ.”
20:13-15   The sea, Death, and Hades—the powers that held men captive—show all the
  dead are judged. That Christ has the keys to death and Hades (1:18) expresses not His
  power to put men to death, but His trampling of death by death. He is victorious over
  death. The sea as a symbol of turbulence, chaos, and the unknown will be no more (21:1).
  Death, the “last enemy that will be destroyed” (1Co 15:26), and Hades, the intermediate
  state between death and resurrection, will end. They are cast into hell, the lake of fire
  (vv. 14, 15), along with all who reject the grace of God.
21:1   The NT teaching that the present world will pass away (see Mt 5:18; Mk 13:31; 1Co
  7:31; 2Pt 3:10–13; 1Jn 2:17) does not mean the present creation will be utterly destroyed.
  It will be totally renewed (5:9; 21:5; Is 65:17–25; Rom 8:19–22; 2Co 5:17; 2Pt 3:13): freed
  from corruption, purified, transfigured, glorified. The first cosmos will pass away.
21:2   The holy city, New Jerusalem is the city built by God (Heb 11:10). It is the
  perfected Church, the bride ready for her husband, Christ, the abode of the righteous
  eternally. The OT prophesied a restored and exalted Jerusalem (Is 2:1–4; 54:11–15; 60:1–
  22; 62:1–12; 65:17–25; Ezk 40–48).
21:3, 4   The OT also prophesied that God would dwell with His people. The Immanuel
  prophecy (Is 7:14; see also Ps 45:5–8) is fulfilled in the Incarnation (Jn 1:14; 17:22), but
  comes to completion in the messianic age, when God will fully dwell (lit., “in-tent”) with
  His people, restoring the paradise of old (Gn 2; Lv 26:11, 12; Ezk 37:26, 27; Jer 38:33; 2Co
  6:16). Therefore joy displaces sorrows and sufferings, a great consolation for persecuted
  believers.
21:6-8   The water of life (“living water,” Jn 4:10–14; 7:37–39, or “living fountains of
  waters,” Rev 7:17) is the grace of the Holy Spirit, bestowed along with baptism in
  chrismation. Only the one who thirsts will be given the water forever (v. 6). And,
  repeating the concluding exhortation of each of the seven letters (chs. 2; 3), only those
  who overcome (v. 7), who persist in their allegiance to God, inherit, becoming
  permanent sons of God. Those who fall away through cowardice or unbelief face instead
  the lake of fire (v. 8). They lose God's inheritance, receiving instead the damning
  recompense of sin and death (see 20:15; 22:15), along with Satan, the beast, the false
  prophet, Death, and Hades.
21:9   In stark contrast to the harlot arrayed in gaudy finery (17:3), the messianic bride
  comes from God and so reflects God's splendor.
21:10   Like Ezekiel's, John's vantage point is a high mountain (Ezk 40:2); the perfected
  Church he sees resembles Ezekiel's new temple (Ezk 40–42). The New Jerusalem
  descends out of heaven from God, for God Himself completes the reunion of heaven
  and earth. She completes and fulfills the old Jerusalem just as the new covenant fulfills
  the old.
21:12-14   The splendor described is fitting for the place where God will dwell with His
  people (vv. 3, 7). As the breastplate of the high priest was adorned with twelve jewels
  corresponding to the twelve tribes (Ex 28:15–21), so the Church is founded on the twelve
  precious foundation stones of the apostles (v. 14): Heaven is fundamentally priestly. All
  who are espoused to Christ, who feast at the wedding supper, and who dwell in the Holy
  City, are members of the royal priesthood (1:6; 5:10; 20:6; 1Pt 2:9).
21:15-21 As in Ezekiel's vision, the angel measures the city (Ezk 40–42): a colossal cube
  (12 x 1,000 stadia = 1,500 miles square), recalling the shape of the holy of holies (3Kg
  6:19, 20; Ezk 41:4) and symbolic of its perfection: the multiples of 12 symbolize the
  people of God, and 1000 shows its greatness. The precious stones portray its glory. As the
  priests in the Jerusalem temple walked on pavements of gold (3Kg 6:29), so the new,
  royal priesthood will walk on a street of pure gold (v. 21).
21:22   There is no temple in the old sense in the New Jerusalem (Jn 4:21). Its temple is
  the presence of God in all (v. 22; 1Co 15:28; Col 3:11; 1Pt 2:4–10). The Church itself is the
  temple.
21:23-27 The OT prophecies concerning the glorification of Jerusalem are fulfilled in the
  eternal Kingdom (see Is 60). Created light is unnecessary. For the everlasting Uncreated
  Light will illumine all (Ps 35:10) with true and clear vision to see things as they really are.
  The true Light, the Light of the world (Jn 8:12), was incarnate (Jn 1:9), and even while on
  earth He shone with Uncreated Light (Mk 9:2–8; 2Pt 1:16–18). As prophesied, all the
  earth will stream to the Holy City to honor it (Is 55:5; Jer 16:19–21; Tb 13:13; see also 1En
  10:21; 48:4, 5)—it has no enemies—but only the pure will live within it (Mt 5:8).
22:1 The river of water of life manifests the Giver of Life, the Holy Spirit (see 21:6; also
  Ezk 47:1–12; Zec 14:8; see also 2En 8:5). The OT Feast of Tabernacles, the festival of the
  Messianic Kingdom, emphasized light and water. As in his Gospel, so here John shows
  these themes are fulfilled by Christ and His Church. Christ is the Light of the World
  (21:23–26; 22:5 with Jn 8:12); the Holy Spirit is the Water of Life (22:1, 2; 21:6 with Jn
  7:37–39). The Church is the Messianic Kingdom.
      God the Father and the Lamb, the Son incarnate, share one throne, for they are
  consubstantial and one worship is offered them. With the Spirit proceeding from the
  throne, the entire Trinity is here.
22:2, 3 The tree of life, a symbol of Christ Himself, gives immortality. It fulfills the tree
  of life in Paradise (Gn 3:22) and the other tree of life, the Cross of the Savior, the tree of
  obedience (1Pt 2:24), a tree of curse (Gal 3:13). But there is no more curse (v. 3) in the
  Holy City: a reversal of the curse of Gn 3:16–19. The fruits and leaves of the tree are
  completely and universally therapeutic, reversing the effects of the fruit of the tree of
  disobedience (Gn 3:6).
22:4   The face of God is that of the glorified Christ (see Jn 14:9; 1Jn 3:2). The face which
  cannot be seen is the hidden essence of God (Jn 1:18; 1Ti 6:16). Normally, even to see
  His energy is not possible in this life (Ex 33:20–23; Mt 5:8; Jn 1:18; 1Co 13:12; Heb 12:14;
  1Jn 3:2). But in the age to come the faithful, who bear Jesus' name . . . on their
  foreheads, may see Him ceaselessly. In the OT only the high priest bore the unspeakable
  name of God on his forehead, and that he did externally, on a golden headband around
  his turban (Ex 28:31–33; see Ezk 9:4–6; Rev 3:12; 7:3). In the NT, all who believe are
  granted His name.
22:5   The Lord God gives them light perfects the priestly blessing of Nm 6:23–26, a
  concluding benediction of the daily morning and evening sacrifices of the OT temple.
  When you have God's uncreated light, there can be no night (see 21:23; Is 60:19, 20).
22:7    Keeping the words . . . of this book refers to repentance, faithfulness, and
  steadfastness, no matter the circumstances of life. The “overcomers” are blessed.
22:8, 9 John repeats his error of attempting to worship the angel (see 19:10). The fact is,
  even mature Christians and leaders sometimes err. But we press on to change and to
  continue with Christ. The command to John is, “Worship God” (v. 9). The angel affirms
  John is a brother of the prophets (v. 9).
22:10, 11 The command not to seal the words of the prophecy is a reversal of 10:4 and
  Dan 8:26; 12:4, 9. For the time is now, the message is for the contemporary
  communities John is addressing. Some are unable to repent: those who still persist in
  their wickedness (see Is 6:9, 10; Ezk 3:27; Dan 12:10; Mk 4:12); the righteous are
  encouraged to be steadfast.
22:12, 13   For the divine titles, see notes on 1:8 (see also 1:17; 2:8; 21:6; Is 41:4; 43:10;
  44:6; 48:12). Divine recompense (Is 40:10; Jer 17:6) will be visited on the earth soon (v.
  12).
22:14, 15 A clear distinction is drawn between the eternal state of the blessed and that of
  the damned (see 21:8). Many texts read “wash their robes” (see 3:4; 7:14; 16:15) rather
  than do His commandments. The point is the same: it is the pure in Christ who enter
  the Kingdom. Dogs (v. 15) refers to the impure (Dt 23:18, 19; Php 3:2; 2Pt 2:22).
22:16   Jesus confirms this is His message. It fulfills the intent of OT prophecy, for He
  Himself is the prophesied Messiah.
22:17   A liturgical dialogue, a reflection of eucharistic theology. The Church as bound to
  God, the bride in union with the Holy Spirit, invites Christ to “Come!” We plead for
  His return (see His answer in v. 20). Those who desire God (21:6; Ps 41:2, 3; 63:1; Is 26:8,
  9; Jn 6:35; 7:37) but who are not yet overcoming the world are in turn invited to come to
  Christ.
22:18, 19 This severe warning refers to the Book of Revelation, not to the Bible as a whole,
  and admonishes those in the communities addressed not to distort its message. To do so
  is to threaten one's very salvation (see Dt 4:2; 12:32; Gal 1:8, 9).
22:20   A liturgical benediction to the book. The bride, recognizing the voice of her Beloved
  as He testifies to His advent, runs “out to meet Him” (Mt 25:6) and in her joy proclaims,
  Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! This echoes maranatha (“O Lord, come!” in 1Co
  16:22), which was part of the eucharistic dialogue of the early Church.
22:21   An appropriate final benediction, considering the book was to be read aloud in all
  seven churches.
Prologue This introduction was written by the grandson of Jesus ben (son of) Sirach, who
  translated his grandfather's book from the original Hebrew to Greek in about 132 BC,
  some fifty years after the book was written. Note how God's gift of wisdom is closely
  connected with the reading and learning of the Holy Scriptures.
1:1 In the first-century Greek world, there was a general pattern by which all letters were
  begun: name of sender(s), the addressee(s), the greeting itself. As with most of Paul’s
  epistles, this pattern is followed here but Christianized.
1:2   Give thanks in NT Greek is eucharisto, from which we get our English word
  “Eucharist.” A spirit of thanksgiving constantly pervades the prayers of Paul, as here
  when he specifically remembers the Christians in Thessalonica.
1:3   Remembering and without ceasing describe effective prayer (see 2:13; 5:16–18).
  Faith, hope, and love are three Christian virtues Paul links together in other letters
  (1Co 13:13; Col 1:4, 5). These virtues are connected to actions: faith works, love labors,
  hope produces patience, showing that salvation goes beyond attitudes to action.
1:6 Followers (lit. “imitators”) of Christ also imitate spiritual leaders—pastors, bishops, in
  this case the apostles—even in their suffering. “Let [others] be instructed by you, at least
  by your deeds. With their wrath you be mild, with their boastful speech you be humble-
  minded, with their abuse you offer prayers, with their deceit you be firm in faith, with
  their cruelty you be gentle, not eager to imitate them” (IgnAnt). The joy of the Holy
  Spirit is not an easy emotional high, but comes with the struggle proper to spiritual life,
  including persevering through affliction. The one who suffers is the one who is
  comforted.
1:7–10 What a tribute to the Thessalonian believers. People everywhere were speaking of
  them!
1:10   The early Christians expected Christ to return in their lifetime. This hope helped
  purge their lives of sin.
2:1–16   Paul defends his apostolic work, claiming he has served with courage (vv. 1, 2),
  humility (vv. 3–6), love (vv. 7, 8), financial integrity (v. 9), and godly authority (vv. 10–
  12). Following this example, the Thessalonians can manifest similar holiness amidst
  hostility (vv. 13–16).
2:2 Christians are repeatedly challenged in the NT to be bold in confessing Christ before
  others (see Acts 4:29–31; Rom 1:16).
2:4–6 Paul has been accused of seeking his own glory, but he knows God does not share
  His glory with any other (Is 48:11). As His servants, we must step outside the circle of
  world-pleasers and into the arena of pleasing God, whatever the cost.
2:7, 8 Spreading the gospel means putting our lives on the line for those we seek to reach,
  as a mother sacrifices herself for her children. Thus, the holy martyrs gave their lives with
  great joy for Christ and His Church.
2:11    Note the three verbs Paul uses to describe his apostolic preaching to the
  Thessalonians: (1) exhorted, which can also mean encouraged; (2) comforted; and (3)
  charged or implored. These elements are just as important for preaching today!
2:14, 15 While the persecution in Thessalonica comes primarily from Greeks, Paul, a Jew,
  is frank concerning his countrymen of that day who reject their Messiah, noting that they
  (1) killed . . . the Lord Jesus (v. 15), (2) killed their own prophets, (3) persecuted
  the apostles, (4) do not please God, and (5) act with hostility to all men. This is a
  strong indictment. But Paul’s love for the Jews never wavers. He wishes himself to be
  cursed if that could cause his fellow Jews to turn to Christ for salvation (Rom 9:3; 10:1).
2:18 Though unable to prevail against the Church (Mt 16:18) or overcome the faithful (Eph
  6:11–13; Rev 12:11), the enemy at times is permitted to hinder faithful Christians. It is
  here that we enact God’s promise: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (Jam 4:7).
2:19, 20   This passage shows that all the trials and disappointments of the Christian life
  and ministry are worthwhile.
3:1–5 As healthy as the Thessalonian church is, Paul takes nothing for granted. Even well-
  grounded, deeply committed Christians need constant encouragement, instruction, and
  prayer.
3:2 Minister is from the Greek diakonon, from which we get “deacon.” Fellow laborer is
  Greek synergon, from which we get “synergy.” As ministers, we not only represent God,
  we work together with Him and our fellow Christians.
3:6 Always and remembrance probably speak of prayer life.
3:13 Paul’s goal here is for all Christians.
4:1–12 Holiness includes sexual purity (vv. 3–8), mutual love (vv. 9, 10), and honest labor
  (vv. 11, 12). As for knowing God’s will, this passage comes through in brilliant simplicity.
  God’s will is our sanctification (v. 3), our being set apart to the Lord as His special
  possession. We are being sanctified as we walk with Him in faith and obedience.
4:4 His own vessel speaks of the entire human being (Rom 9:20–23; 2Co 4:7; 2Ti 2:20,
  21)—probably one’s own self, perhaps one’s wife (or husband). In either case one’s vessel
  must be possessed with purity, self-control, and chastity.
4:11   The bedrock practicality of the Scriptures: In Paul’s time and ours, we are to live
  quietly, mind our own business, and work hard.
4:13–18     One of the clearest NT passages on the Second Coming of Christ. The first-
  century document, The Didache, lists three signs that will mark the return of the Lord: (1)
  “the sign spread out in the heavens”—Christ and His hosts; (2) “the sign of the trumpet”;
  and (3) “the resurrection of the dead.” For the righteous, the return of Christ is a comfort
  (v. 18), not a threat.
5:1–11 The Thessalonian Christians had been speculating about the return of the Lord and
  making their own predictions. Paul tells them, you have no need (v. 1) for that kind of
  information (indeed, it is not available!). Does a thief in the night (v. 2) announce his
  coming? The disciples had gotten the same kind of answers to their questions on the
  Second Coming from Christ Himself (Mt 24:36; Acts 1:6, 7). And suppose we know the
  end; what is this to us? Christians are called not to set dates but to make themselves
  ready to meet the Lord by being watchful and sober (v. 6). Our place is to be ceaselessly
  aware of the primacy of God’s Kingdom and to have full control over our spiritual
  faculties.
5:12–22      The requirements of harmonious life in community include the honoring of
   sacramental leadership (vv. 12–14), pursuit of good works (v. 15), continual prayer and
   thanksgiving in worship (vv. 16–18), and proper regard for the prophetic gift and spiritual
   discernment (vv. 19–22).

5:12 The Greek term for over you has a liturgical connotation. It refers to the leader of the
congregation in the eucharistic assembly. To recognize is a weaker translation of “to know”
(see 4:5). In a healthy church, the people recognize their pastor as their leader in Christ and
willingly follow his admonitions.
5:15 When is it proper to return evil for evil? From the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:44)
   to the end of the NT, the answer is, “Never.”

In Paul’s writings, words such as rejoice, always (v. 16), without ceasing or “constantly”
(v. 17), and give thanks (v. 18) refer primarily to prayer. The spiritual Fathers of the Church
teach that unceasing prayer is a proper goal, for spiritual growth comes through such
discipline. For centuries, Christian people have used the “Jesus Prayer” as a way to pray
unceasingly from the heart: “O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
5:19–22   The Holy Spirit is to be actively present in the life of the Church. But there is
  constant need of discernment and testing so as to avoid being misled (see 1Co 12—14).
5:23–27 Note the liturgical overtones with regard to the corporate meetings. There is (1)
  the benediction (v. 23), (2) intercessory prayer (v. 25), (3) the kiss of peace (v. 26), and
  (4) the public reading of the Scriptures (v. 27). The practice of a holy kiss (v. 26)very
  early became a part of the worship liturgy (see Rom 16:16; 1Co 16:20; 2Co 13:12; 1Pt 5:14).
  Just prior to Communion, the faithful would exchange the kiss of peace, on one cheek
  and then the other, to show their reconciliation in Christ. Thus, Christ is in our midst and
  ever shall be!
5:27 The Bible is to be read aloud during corporate worship.
1:3–10     This passage on God’s judgment teaches that (1) suffering is redemptive for the
   Christian (v. 5); (2) God promises to return tribulation to our enemies (vv. 6, 8); (3)
   punishment of the wicked is everlasting (v. 9); and (4) God’s glory will be displayed in His
   saints (v. 10), for as Christ was transfigured, so will be His faithful (see Mt 13:43; Col
   3:4).

Why does God reveal His dread judgment and His glory to us? To help us toward
righteousness. “If the fear of an earthly king withdraws us from so many evils, how much
more the fear of the King Eternal!” (JohnChr). How we bear up under unjust persecution
now is manifest evidence (v. 5) of how we will stand at the final judgment.
1:11, 12 Some say Paul and James contradict each other, but here is the essence of James
  2. Paul teaches that God’s calling and the work of faith are a unity through our
  cooperation with God’s power.
2:3–12 While we are warned against predicting the Day of the Lord (Mt 24:36; Acts 1:7; 1Th
   5:1), there will be signs preceding His Coming. Paul instructs the Thessalonians
   concerning two such signs: (1) a general falling away (v. 3; apostasy) from Christ and
   the Church and (2) the revealing of the man of sin, the son of perdition (v. 3), who is
   the Antichrist of 1 and 2 John, similar to the Dragon and the Beast of Rev 13. This lawless
   one is described in the OT (Dan 7:25; 8:25; 11:36), mentioned by Christ (Mt 24:15), and
   discussed by Paul on his first visit to Thessalonica (v. 5). The devil incites divisions
   among people so they will readily receive the Antichrist when he comes. The man of sin is
   a counterfeit messiah with a counterfeit kingdom. He (1) exalts himself above God (v. 4),
   (2) performs deceptive miracles and wonders through satanic power (v. 9), (3) will fool
   the unrighteous into following him (vv. 10–12), and (4) will be removed from power by
   Christ Himself at His Second Coming (v. 8).

Paul instructs that when the world gets worse, Christians must not be distressed or deceived
(vv. 11, 12), but rather persevere as good stewards (vv. 13–17).
2:15; 3:6 In the NT we read of two types of traditions: (1) The tradition of men (Mt 15:1–
  9; Col 2:8) is soundly condemned. Jesus (quoting Is 29:13) describes this as “teaching as
  doctrines the commandments of men” (Mt 15:9). (2) The tradition of the apostles or
  “Holy Tradition,” by contrast, is to be preserved by the Church, for God is its source. Holy
  Tradition is that which Jesus taught to the apostles, and which they in turn taught the
  Church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in (a) their instructions as they visited the
  churches and (b) their writings. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit we adhere to Holy
  Tradition as it is present in the apostles’ writings and as it is resident in the Church to
  which the truth is promised (Jn 16:13).
3:6 See 2:15.
3:13 A warning filled with great wisdom. While sin is burdensome, we can also grow tired
  and fatigued by doing good. Paul, as our spiritual director, cautions us not to cease or
  tire of good works.
3:17 Paul’s authorship is emphasized here because of the fraudulent letters mentioned in
  2:2.
1:1-3 This passage is read during Vespers on Great and Holy Saturday.

1:1-13 This passage is read during Monday Vespers in the first week of Great Lent. It is also
  read on the Eve of the Feast of the Nativity, during Vespers at the Feast of Theophany
  (Epiphany), and at Vespers for Great and Holy Saturday.
1:14-23 This passage is read during Tuesday Vespers in the first week of Great Lent.
1:24-3 This passage is read during Wednesday Vespers in the first week of Great Lent.
2:4-19 This passage is read during Thursday Vespers in the first week of Great Lent.
2:20-20 This passage is read during Friday Vespers in the first week of Great Lent.
3:21-7 This passage is read during Monday Vespers in the second week of Great Lent.
4:8-15 This passage is read during Tuesday Vespers in the second week of Great Lent.
5:1-24 This passage is read during Thursday Vespers in the second week of Great Lent.
5:32-8 This passage is read during Friday Vespers in the second week of Great Lent.
6:9-22 This passage is read during Monday Vespers in the third week of Great Lent.
7:1-5 This passage is read during Tuesday Vespers in the third week of Great Lent.
7:6-9 This passage is read during Wednesday Vespers in the third week of Great Lent.
7:11-3 This passage is read during Thursday Vespers in the third week of Great Lent.
8:4-21 This passage is read during Friday Vespers in the third week of Great Lent.
8:21-7 This passage is read during Monday Vespers in the fourth week of Great Lent.
9:8-17 This passage is read during Tuesday Vespers in the fourth week of Great Lent.
9:18-1 This passage is read during Wednesday Vespers in the fourth week of Great Lent.
10:32-9 This passage is read during Thursday Vespers in the fourth week of Great Lent.
12:1-7 This passage is read during Friday Vespers in the fourth week of Great Lent.
13:12-18 This passage is read during Monday Vespers in the fifth week of Great Lent.
14:14-20 This passage is read during the Feasts of the Holy Fathers.
15:1-15 This passage is read during Tuesday Vespers in the fifth week of Great Lent.
17:1-9 This passage is read during Tuesday Vespers in the fifth week of Great Lent.

17:1   Gen 17:1, 2, 4–8, 9–12, 14: These verses are read at the Feast of the Circumcision of
  Our Lord Jesus Christ.
18:20-33 This passage is read during Thursday Vespers in the fifth week of Great Lent.
22:1-18 This passage is read during Friday Vespers in the fifth week of Great Lent.
27:1-41 This passage is read during Monday Vespers in the sixth week of Great Lent.
28:10-17   This passage is read on the Feasts of the Theotokos: the Annunciation (March
  25); the Dormition (August 15); and the Nativity (September 8).
31:3-16 This passage is read during Tuesday Vespers in the sixth week of Great Lent.
32:1-10 This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of the Theophany of the Lord.
43:26-31   This passage, coupled with 45:1–16, is read during Wednesday Vespers in the
  sixth week of Great Lent.
45:1-16   This passage, coupled with 43:26–31, is read during Wednesday Vespers in the
  sixth week of Great Lent.
46:1-7 This passage is read at Thursday Vespers during the sixth week of Great Lent.
49:1 Gen 49:1, 2, 8–12: This passage is read during Saturday Vespers in the sixth week of
  Great Lent.
49:33-26 This passage is read during Friday Vespers in the sixth week of Great Lent.
1:1-20 This passage is read during Monday Vespers in Passion Week.
2:5-10 This passage is read during Tuesday Vespers in Passion Week and at Vespers of the
  Feast of the Theophany of the Lord.
2:11-22 This passage is read during Wednesday Vespers in Passion Week.
3:1-8   These verses are read as the first reading in the Liturgy during the Feast of the
  Annunciation.
12:51   Ex 12:51; 13:1–3, 10–12, 14–16; 22:29: These verses are read as the first reading of
  the Feast of the Meeting of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ.
13:20-19 This passage is read on Great and Holy Saturday.
14:15-18   Ex 14:15–18, 21–23, 27–29: This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of the
  Theophany of the Lord.
19:10-19 This passage is read on Holy Thursday, the Thursday before Pascha (Easter).
33:11-23 Ex 33:11–23; 34:4–6, 8: These verses are read as the second reading during the
  Feast of the Transfiguration.
40:1-5 Ex 40:1–5, 9, 10, 16, 34, 35: These verses are read during the Feast of the Entry of
  the Most Holy Mother of God into the Temple.
3:7 Josh 3:7, 8, 15–17: This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of the Theophany of the
  Lord.
5:10-15 This passage is read on Great and Holy Saturday.
6:36-40 This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of the Theophany of the Lord.
17:8-24 This passage is read on Great and Holy Saturday.
18:30-39 This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of the Theophany of the Lord.
19:3-9 3Kingd 19:3–9, 11–13, 15, 16: This passage is read on August 6, the Feast of the Holy
  Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
2:6-14   This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of the Theophany of the Lord.
2:19-22   This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of the Theophany of the Lord.
4:8-37 This passage is read on Great and Holy Saturday.
37:1   Prayer of King Manasseh The Prayer of King Manasseh is chanted during the
  service of Great Compline.
2:1 The Church includes Ps 2 in the Nativity (Christmas) Eve and Good Friday services. On
  Nativity Eve it is used in the refrain (called the prokeimenon or gradual) before the
  Epistle is read in the Divine Liturgy. On Good Friday, the entire psalm is part of the First
  Hour prayers.
3:1 Ps 3 is the first of the six psalms in the Orthros (or Matins) service. The other five are
  37, 62, 87, 102, and 142.
4:1   The Church in her prayers uses Ps 4 as a prokeimenon at Vespers on Mondays. It is
  also one of the psalms for Great Compline during Great Lent.
5:1   Thus, the Church uses Ps 5 as one her fixed psalms in the First Hour, and the clergy
  often pray vv. 8, 9 upon entering the church just prior to the services.
6:1   Ps 6 is used in Great Compline, and v. 2 is a frequently repeated refrain in liturgical
  hymnography throughout the church year.
8:1 Ps 8 is the communion hymn on Lazarus Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday, and it
  is also sung at Palm Sunday Orthros (Matins).
11:1 Ps 11 is a regular prokeimenon in the Sunday Liturgy, and it is also chanted before the
  Gospel reading in the marriage ceremony, as a prayer for the preservation of the union of
  husband and wife.
12:1 Ps 12 is an evening prayer, used in Great Compline and in the services of Great Lent.
13:1 Ps 13 is used in the Ninth Royal Hour of Great and Holy Friday, the hour of Christ's
  death on the cross. Portions of vv. 1 and 3 form the prokeimenon before the reading from
  Jeremiah.
14:1 Ps 14:1 is used in Orthros for the Feast of the Transfiguration.
15:1 Ps 15:3 is often used in the services of the Church to honor the saints.
16:1 Ps 16 is used in the Third Hour Prayers of the Church.
17:1   Verses 46–50 are sung on appointed Sundays immediately before the reading of the
  Holy Gospel, announcing the word of Christ, who is victor over death and the One who is
  our life.
18:1 Verses 2, 3 are sung as the Alleluia before the Gospel reading in the Divine Liturgy on
  Nativity. And v. 6 is sung in the second canon of canticle five during Orthros for the Feast
  of the Nativity of the Mother of God.
20:1   Verses 1–6, 14 are used in the Divine Liturgy on Pentecost Sunday, on which the
  ascended and exalted Lord sent the Church His Holy Spirit.
21:1 Ps 21 is used throughout Great and Holy Friday, in Orthros, in the First Hour, and in
  Great Vespers. It is also used in the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
22:1   Ps 22 is used in the service of preparation for Holy Communion, and as the
  prokeimenon in Vespers for Tuesdays.
23:1 Verses 7–10 are proclaimed as the priest knocks on the door of the church on Pascha
  (Easter) morning, signaling our triumphant entrance into the kingdom of heaven through
  Christ's glorious Resurrection. This same action takes place at the consecration of a
  church building throughout the Orthodox Christian world. Also, verse 1 is said at the
  grave of the newly departed faithful, when earth is scattered in the form of a cross over
  the resting place.
24:1 Ps 24 is read in Great Compline and in the Third Hour Prayers.
25:1   Verses 6–12 are prayed by an Orthodox priest as part of the vesting service as he
  washes his hands before serving the Divine Liturgy.
26:1 Verse 1 is the prokeimenon before the Epistle reading in the Sacrament of Baptism,
  before the Isaiah readings at the Ninth Royal Hour and Great Vespers on the Eve of
  Theophany (Epiphany), and before the Epistle reading in the Great Blessing of the
  Waters. Verses 1–14 are also read as one of the psalms in the First Royal Hour on the Eve
  of Theophany.
27:1 Verse 9 is sung repeatedly in various services of the Church, and it is also woven into
  numerous hymns.
28:1   Verse 3 is used as the prokeimenon in the following places in the services of
  Theophany: before the Isaiah readings in the First, Third and Sixth Royal Hours; before
  the Gospel reading in the Great Blessing of the Waters; after Ps 37 and within the first
  canon of canticle four in Orthros; and before the Gospel reading in the Divine Liturgy.
  And in addition to this, vv. 1–11 are read as one of the psalms in the Third Royal Hour.
29:1    Ps 29 is viewed by numerous early Church Fathers as fulfilled in Christ's
  Resurrection.
30:1 Ps 30 is used as one of the psalms in Great Compline.
32:1 Verse 1 is a communion refrain, sung on days of commemorating great saints of the
  Church. Also, verse 6 is sung on Pentecost Sunday in glorification of the Trinity. Then too,
  verse 22 is a favorite Orthodox prayer asking the Trinity for continued mercy. The
  abysses (v. 7) are deep, immeasurable places.
33:1   Ps 33 is both historically and liturgically the favorite psalm of the Church to
  accompany the receiving of Holy Communion. And v. 9 is seen throughout the Church as
  describing the act of receiving the body and blood of Christ. Also, in present Orthodox
  practice, Ps 38 is sung, with 33:9 as the refrain, during the receiving of Communion at the
  Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in Great Lent.
34:1 Ps 34 is prayed in the Third Royal Hour on Great and Holy Friday.
35:1 Verses 10, 11 are used in the Great Doxology, sung at the close of Sunday Orthros, and
  v. 10 is used repeatedly in the Forefeast of Theophany, identifying Christ as “the river of
  delight,” who was baptized in the Jordan. Also in the Creed, the Son is called “Light of
  light,” a phrase derived from this psalm.
36:1 Verses 30, 31 are used in the Church to commemorate St. John the Baptist and other
  followers of Christ who endured martyrdom.
37:1 Ps 37 is the second of the six psalms (3; 37; 62; 87; 102; 142) in Orthros, and v. 18 is
  the prokeimenon used before the Isaiah reading in the Third Royal Hour on Great and
  Holy Friday.
40:1 Ps 40 is used liturgically on Great and Holy Thursday and Great and Holy Friday.
41:1   Verse 7 is used on all days during the Forefeast of Theophany, and is prayed at the
  Third Hour on the feast itself.
43:1      Ps 43 is prayed at the Orthros of Great and Holy Saturday, and v. 27 is sung as the
  prokeimenon before the reading of Ezekiel's prophecy regarding the dry bones coming to
  life.
44:1 Verses 4, 5 are prayed by a priest as he vests for the Divine Liturgy, and v. 10 is recited
  in honor of the Mother of God as he prepares the holy gifts. Also, v. 18 is quoted in Lk
  1:48 as part of the Magnificat, which is also sung in Orthros. Then too, this psalm is
  prayed in the First Royal Hour on Nativity Eve, and vv. 4, 5, and 8 are sung on the Sunday
  of the Samaritan Woman (see also Jn 4).
45:1 Ps 45 is prayed during the First Royal Hour on Nativity Eve.
46:1 Ps 46 is used in the services of the Feast of Ascension.
48:1 Ps 48 is used on feast days of the great fathers of the Church, for they exemplify what
  it means to be children of the kingdom.
50:1 Ps 50 is used daily in the services of Orthros, the Third Hour, and Compline, and it is
  also recited in every Divine Liturgy by the priest as he censes before the Great Entrance.
53:1   Ps 53 is prayed daily at the Sixth Hour, the hour of the Crucifixion, and v. 3 is also
  used as the prokeimenon for Wednesday Vespers.
54:1 Ps 54 is prayed daily at the Sixth Hour and, in part, on Great and Holy Thursday and
  Friday.
56:1   Verse 6 is prayed by the priest at the end of the Divine Liturgy when he censes the
  holy gifts after Communion.
59:1 Verse 6 is the inspiration for many Orthodox hymns concerning the cross of Christ.
60:1 Ps 60:6 is prayed as the evening prokeimenon of Sunday Vespers during Great Lent.
62:1 Ps 62 is the third of the Six Psalms (3; 37; 62; 87; 102; 142) in Orthros.
63:1   Verse 11 is used in the Church's commemoration of St. John the Baptist and all
  martyrs.
64:1 Verse 5 is used often in prayers for the departed and for their rest in the new city of
  peace. Also, verse 12 is incorporated into a hymn in the service of supplication on the first
  day of the church year, September 1.
65:1 Ps 65 forms a unit with 66 and 67, which are used throughout the services of Pascha
  and Bright Week.
66:1 Ps 66 forms a unit with 65 and 67, which are used throughout the services of Pascha
  and Bright Week.
67:1 Ps 67 forms a unit with 65 and 66, which are used throughout the services of Pascha
  and Bright Week. And vv. 2–4 are sung all through the paschal season with the refrain,
  Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the
  tombs bestowing life.
68:1 Verses 18, 19 are used in the service of Forgiveness Sunday to usher in the season of
  Great Lent.
69:1 Ps 69 is read in both Little Compline and Great Compline.
71:1 Ps 71 is used all through the Nativity services.
73:1   Verse 12 is used at the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and vv. 13–15 on the Eve of
  Theophany.
76:1 Verses 14b, 15a are sung as a refrain in Vespers at Pascha, Pentecost, and Nativity.
79:1   Verses 15, 16 (Look down from heaven and behold, and visit this vineyard
  which your right hand planted, and perfect it) are sung by the bishop in the
  Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, as he blesses his people.
81:1 Ps 81 is sung on Holy Saturday at the Liturgy of St. Basil, and again at Great Vespers,
  with v. 8 repeated as a refrain after each verse. Verse 6 is also quoted by Christ in Jn
  10:34.
83:1 Ps 83 is read in the Ninth Hour each day, and also at the Feast of the Transfiguration.
84:1 Ps 84 is read at the Ninth Hour each day.
85:1 Ps 85 is read each day at the Ninth Hour.
86:1 Verse 5 is used as the prokeimenon before the Isaiah reading at the Ninth Royal Hour
  on Nativity Eve. Also, the verses of the entire psalm are used as refrains before the Isaiah
  11 reading in Great Vespers.
87:1 Ps 87 is prayed in the Service of Lamentations in Holy Week. It is also one of the six
  psalms of Orthros. The other five are 3; 37; 62; 102; 142.
88:1 Verse 13 is sung both in Great Vespers and in the Divine Liturgy of the Feast of the
  Transfiguration.
89:1 Ps 89 is read daily at the First Hour.
90:1 Ps 90 is read at the Sixth Hour each day, along with 53 and 54. It is also read in Great
  Compline and in the funeral service.
91:1 Verses 2, 3, 5 are sung as the First Antiphon (psalm sung responsively) on a regular
  Sunday.
92:1 At every Great Vespers service (including the Feast of Theophany), v. 1 is sung. Ps 92
  is also read in the Ninth Royal Hour of the Feast of Theophany.
94:1 Ps 94 is sung responsively in the Third Antiphon of the Divine Liturgy.
97:1 Verses 2 and 3 are sung at the Feast of Christ's Presentation in the Temple, and other
  portions of the psalm are sung on Palm Sunday. Both feasts emphasize the two comings
  of Christ.
98:1   Thus, this psalm is sung at the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and this
  feast identifies the cross as His footstool.
100:1 This psalm is read daily in the morning at the First Hour, along with Ps 5 and 89.
101:1 Verse 14 is quoted in the Divine Liturgy on Pascha morning before the reading of the
  Holy Gospel.
102:1 This psalm is the fifth of the six Matins psalms (3; 37; 62; 87; 102; 142). It is often
  used in the First Antiphon of the Divine Liturgy. Verses 20, 21 are also used on days when
  angels are honored in the Church.
103:1 This psalm is the great psalm of Vespers. Because of v. 30, this psalm is also used on
  the Day of Pentecost.
107:1   Verse 6 is used on Ascension Day, and is also said by the priest after Holy
  Communion is served.
108:1 Ps 108 is prayed at the Third Royal Hour on Great and Holy Friday.
109:1 Verse 3 is used throughout the services of the Nativity season.
110:1 Verse 9 is used as a Communion hymn in the Divine Liturgy on Nativity.
111:1   This psalm is the most popular song in the Church for use on days of the
  commemoration of saints. Verses 6b and 7a make up the Communion Hymn for most
  saints' days.
112:1 Verse 2 is sung at the close of the Divine Liturgy.
113:1 This psalm is used in the celebration of the Feast of Theophany, and at other feasts
  as well.
114:1 This psalm is used on Palm Sunday with reference to the resurrection of Lazarus the
  day before. His resurrection forecasts the resurrection of us all.
115:1 This psalm is one of several Communion hymns in the Eucharist. Verse 5 is sung at
  the feasts of the Mother of God and of the saints.
116:1 This psalm is used liturgically each day at Vespers.
117:1 This psalm is rich in the liturgical usage of the Church. For example, v. 24 is sung on
  Pascha; vv. 25, 26a are sung on Palm Sunday; and vv. 26, 27a are sung daily at Orthros.
118:1 This psalm is prayed in its entirety at the Lamentations of Orthros on Great and Holy
  Saturday, when the Church assembles around the tomb of Christ. Further, this psalm is
  the core of the Church's funeral service.
119:1-1 In addition, Ps 129 is a daily vesperal hymn. Ps 131, a messianic psalm, is used at
  Nativity and for the feasts of the Mother of God. Verse 11 of this psalm shows that God
  the Son became Man in her womb.
134:1-1 These two psalms form the core of Orthros for the great feast days of the Church.
136:1 In this context of exile, it is used in the Orthros service beginning just before Great
  Lent on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son (the exile returning home), and throughout the
  Lenten Season in the Matins services.
137:1 This psalm is used on feast days honoring the angels.
139:1   This psalm is the last of the Passion psalms used in the Church. It is sung at the
  Sixth Royal Hour on Great and Holy Friday.
142:1 This psalm is the last of the Six Psalms of Orthros. The other five are 3; 37; 62; 87;
  102. Verse 10b is used in the Church at the Feast of Pentecost.
144:1   Verse 2 of this psalm is part of the Great Doxology sung at the close of Sunday
  Orthros.
145:1   In many Orthodox churches, this is the ordinary Second Antiphon (psalm sung
  responsively) in the Divine Liturgy.
148:1-1 These psalms are sung every morning in the Church as the Praises of Orthros.
1:1-12 This passage is read on Holy Monday, the Monday before Pascha (Easter).
1:13-22 This passage is read on Holy Tuesday, the Tuesday before Pascha (Easter).
2:1-10 This passage is read on Holy Wednesday, the Wednesday before Pascha (Easter).
38:1-25 This passage (with 42:1–5) is read on Holy Thursday, the Thursday before Pascha
  (Easter).
42:1-5 This passage (with 38:1–25) is read in the church at Vespers on Holy Thursday.
42:12-17 This passage is read on Holy Friday, the Friday before Pascha (Easter).
1:1-20 This passage is read at Monday Vespers in the first week of Great Lent.
1:20-35 This passage is read at Tuesday Vespers during the first week of Great Lent.
2:1-23 This passage is read during Wednesday Vespers in the first week of Great Lent.
3:1-20 This passage is read during Thursday Vespers in the first week of Great Lent.
3:11-18 This passage is read on September 13 at Vespers for the Feast of the Exaltation of
  the Holy Cross.
3:21-36 This passage is read during Friday Vespers in the first week of Great Lent.
3:37-21 This passage is read during Monday Vespers in the second week of Great Lent.
5:1-15 This passage is read during Tuesday Vespers in the second week of Great Lent.
5:15-23   This passage, including 6:1–3, is read during Wednesday Vespers in the second
  week of Great Lent.
6:3-24 This passage is read during Thursday Vespers in the second week of Great Lent.
6:24-40 This passage is read during Friday Vespers in the second week of Great Lent.
8:1-21 This passage is read at Monday Vespers in the third week of Great Lent.
8:22-30    This passage is read on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation of the
  Theotokos.
8:32-35 This passage is read at Tuesday Vespers in the third week of Great Lent.
9:1-11   This passage is read at the feasts of the Mother of God, for the consecration of a
  church, and at the Feast of Mid-Pentecost.
9:12-18 This passage is read during Wednesday Vespers in the third week of Great Lent.
10:1-22 This passage is read during Thursday Vespers in the third week of Great Lent.
10:32-10 This passage is read at Friday Vespers in the third week of Great Lent.
12:8-22 This passage is read during Tuesday Vespers in the fourth week of Great Lent.
12:24-31 This passage is read during Wednesday Vespers in the fourth week of Great Lent.
13:22-6 This passage is read during Thursday Vespers in the fourth week of Great Lent.
14:15-26 This passage is read during Friday Vespers in the fourth week of Great Lent.
14:28-4 This passage is read during Monday Vespers in the fifth week of Great Lent.
15:8-21 This passage is read during Tuesday Vespers in the fifth week of Great Lent.
16:13-8 This passage is read during Thursday Vespers in the fifth week of Great Lent.
17:19-5 This passage is read during Friday Vespers in the fifth week of Great Lent.
19:16-25 This passage is read during Monday Vespers in the sixth week of Great Lent.
21:3-20 This passage is read during Tuesday Vespers in the sixth week of Great Lent.
21:22-30 This passage is read during Wednesday Vespers in the sixth week of Great Lent.
23:15-5 This passage is read during Thursday Vespers in the sixth week of Great Lent.
31:10-30 This passage is read during Friday Vespers in the sixth week of Great Lent.
4:6   Mic 4:6, 7; 5:1–3: This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of the Nativity of the
  Lord.
5:1-3 This passage is read on the Eve of Feast of the Nativity of the Lord.
2:23-5 This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of Pentecost.
3:8-15 This passage is read on Great and Holy Saturday.
3:14-19 This passage is read at Great Vespers in the Sixth Week of Great Lent.
9:9-15   This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of the Entrance of the Lord into
  Jerusalem (Palm Sunday).
11:10-13 This passage is read on Holy Friday, the Friday before Pascha (Easter).
14:1 Zec 14:1, 4; 8–11: This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of the Ascension of the
  Lord.
1:16-20 This passage is read on January 5, the Eve of the Feast of Theophany.
2:1-3 This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord.
6:1-12 This passage is read on Thursday of the second week of Great Lent and on February
  2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple.
7:10-16 This passage is read on the Eve of Feast of the Nativity of the Lord.
8:1-4     Is 8:1–4, 8–10: This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of the Nativity of the
  Lord.
9:5, 6 This passage is read on the Eve of Feast of the Nativity of the Lord.
11:1-10 This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord.
12:3-6   This passage is read on January 5, the Eve of the Feast of Theophany and on the
  Feast Day, January 6.
19:1-5   Is 19:1–5, 12, 16, 19–21: This passage is read on February 2, the Feast of the
  Presentation of the Lord in the Temple.
35:1-10 This passage is read on January 5, the Eve of the Feast of Theophany and on the
  Feast Day, January 6.
49:8-15 This passage is read on January 5, the Eve of the Feast of Theophany.
50:4-11 This passage is read on Holy Thursday and Holy Friday, the Thursday and Friday
  before Pascha (Easter).
52:13-1 This passage is read on Holy Friday, the Friday before Pascha (Easter).
55:1-13 This passage is read on the Feast of the Theophany of the Lord.
60:1-16 This passage is read on Great and Holy Saturday.
60:11-16 This passage is read on September 13 at Vespers for the Feast of the Exaltation of
  the Holy Cross.
61:1-9 This passage is read on Great and Holy Saturday.
61:10-5 This passage is read on Great and Holy Saturday.
62:10-9 This passage is read at Vespers of the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord.
63:11-5 This passage is read on Great and Holy Saturday.
11:17-5 Jer 11:17–12:5, 9–11, 14, 15: This passage is read on Holy Thursday and Holy Friday.
3:36-4 This passage is read on the Eve of Feast of the Nativity of the Lord.
2:31-36 Dan 2:31–36, 44–45: This passage is read in Church on Christmas Eve.
3:1-90 This passage is read on Great and Holy Saturday.
1:1-25 This passage is read on the Sunday before Christmas, called the Sunday of the Holy
  Fathers.
2:1-12   This passage is read on December 25, the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus
  Christ (Christmas).
2:13-23 This passage is read on December 26, the Synaxis of the Theotokos.
3:13-17   This passage is read on January 6, the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus
  Christ (Theophany).
5:14-19 This passage is read on days commemorating holy hierarchs.
6:14-21 This passage is read on the Sunday before Great Lent, called Cheese Fare Sunday
  or Forgiveness Sunday.
7:12-21 This passage is read on days commemorating holy monks.
9:9-13 This passage is read on November 16, the Feast of the Apostle Matthew.
9:36 Mt 9:36; 10:1–8: This passage is read on June 30, the Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles.
10:1 Mt 10:1, 5–8: This passage is read on days commemorating holy unmercenary healers.
10:16-22 This passage is read on days commemorating holy martyrs and on August 1, the
  Feast of the Procession of the Cross.
10:32   Mt 10:32, 33, 37, 38; 19:27–30: This passage is read on the first Sunday after
  Pentecost, called Sunday of All Saints.
11:2-15   This passage is read on February 24 and May 29, the two feasts commemorating
  the Finding of the Head of John the Baptist.
11:27-30 This passage is read on days commemorating holy monks.
15:21-28 This passage is read on days commemorating female martyrs.
16:13-19 This passage is read on June 29, the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.
17:1-9 This passage is read on August 6, the Feast of the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord
  Jesus Christ.
18:10-20 This passage is read on the Monday after Pentecost, called the Day of the Holy
  Spirit.
23:29-39 This passage is read on days commemorating holy prophets.
24:3-35 This passage is read on Holy Monday, the Monday before Pascha (Easter).
24:36-2 This passage is read on Holy Tuesday, the Tuesday before Pascha (Easter).
25:1-13 This passage is read on days commemorating holy nuns.
25:31-46 This passage is read on the second Sunday before Great Lent, called Meat Fare
  Sunday, or Sunday of the Last Judgment.
26:1, 2   This passage is read on Holy Wednesday and Holy Thursday of the week before
  Pascha (Easter).
27:1-61 This passage is read at Vespers of Great and Holy Friday, the Friday before Pascha
  (Easter).
27:62-66 This passage is read at Matins of Great and Holy Saturday, the Saturday before
  Pascha (Easter).
28:1-20 This passage is read on Great and Holy Saturday.
1:9-11 This passage is read on January 5, the Eve of the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord
  Jesus Christ (Theophany).
2:1-12 This passage is read on the second Sunday of Great Lent, called the Sunday of the
  Paralytic and Commemoration of St. Gregory Palamas.
6:14-30 This passage is read on August 29, the Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist.
8:34-1 This passage is read on the third Sunday of Great Lent, called the Adoration of the
  Holy Cross.
9:17-31   This passage is read on the fourth Sunday of Great Lent, on which is
  commemorated St. John of the Ladder.
9:42-1 This passage is read on December 17, the Feast of the Prophet Daniel.
15:43-8   This passage is read on the third Sunday of Pascha, on which is commemorated
  the Myrrhbearing Women, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.
1:1-15 Lk 1:1–15, 57–68, 76, 80: This passage is read on June 24, the Feast of the Birth of
  John the Baptist.
1:5-25   This passage is read on September 23, the Feast of the Conception of John the
  Baptist.
1:24-38   This passage is read on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin
  Mary.
2:1-20      This passage is read on December 24, the Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus
  Christ.
2:20 Lk 2:20, 21, 40–52: This passage is read on January 1, the Feast of the Circumcision
  of Christ.
2:22-40 This passage is read on February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in
  the Temple.
3:1-18 This passage is read on the Eve of the Feast of the Baptism of Christ (Theophany).
4:16-22 This passage is read on September 1, the beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year.
4:22-30 This passage is read on July 20, the Feast of the Prophet Elias.
6:17-23   Lk 6:17–23; 10:22–24; 14:25–35: This passage is read on days commemorating
  hierarchs, hieromartyrs and monks.
7:36-50 This passage is read on days commemorating holy nuns.
10:1-15 This passage is read for the commemoration of apostles.
10:16-21 This passage is read on April 25, the Feast of the Apostle Mark, and on November
  8, the Commemoration of Holy Archangels.
10:22-24 This passage is read for the commemoration of hieromartyrs.
10:38-42 Lk 10:38–42; 11:27, 28: This passage is read on the several feasts of the Virgin
  Mary, on September 8, October 1, November 21, the Friday after Pascha, and August 15.
11:47-54 This passage is read on days commemorating holy prophets.
12:1-12 This passage is read on days commemorating a holy martyr.
12:32-40 This passage is read on days commemorating a priest martyr.
13:10-17   This passage is read on December 9, the Feast of the Conception of the
  Theotokos.
14:16-24 This passage is read on the second Sunday before Christmas, called the Sunday
  of the Holy Ancestors of Christ.
14:25-35 This passage is read for the commemoration of hieromartyrs.
15:11-32 This passage is read on the third Sunday before Great Lent, called the Sunday of
  the Prodigal Son.
18:10-14 This passage is read on the fourth Sunday before Great Lent, called the Sunday of
  the Publican and the Pharisee.
19:1-10     This passage is read on the fifth Sunday before Great Lent, called Zacchaeus
  Sunday.
21:12-19 This passage is read on days commemorating holy martyrs.
22:43-45 This passage is read on Holy Thursday, the Thursday before Pascha (Easter).
23:39-43    This passage is read at Vespers of Great and Holy Friday, the Friday before
  Pascha (Easter).
24:36-53 This passage is read on the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:1-17 This passage is read on the Feast of Pascha (Easter), the day of the Resurrection of
  Christ.
1:29-34 This passage is read on January 7, the Feast of the Synaxis of St. John the Baptist.
1:35-52 This passage is read on November 30, the Feast of the Apostle Andrew.
1:43-51   This passage is read on the first Sunday of Great Lent, called the Sunday of
  Orthodoxy, and on November 14, the Feast of the Apostle Philip.
3:1-5 This passage is read on January 4, the Synaxis of the Holy Apostles.
4:5-42   This passage is read on the fifth Sunday of Pascha, called the Sunday of the
  Samaritan Woman.
5:1-15   This passage is read on the fourth Sunday of Pascha, called the Sunday of the
  Paralytic.
5:17-30   Jn 5:17–30; 6:35–44, 48–54: This passage is read on days commemorating the
  departed.
7:37-52 Jn 7:37–52; 8:12: This passage is read on Pentecost (Trinity Sunday), the seventh
  Sunday after Pascha (Easter).
9:1-38 This passage is read on the sixth Sunday of Pascha, called the Sunday of the Blind
  Man.
10:9-16 This passage is read on days commemorating a holy hierarch.
11:1-45 This passage is read on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, called Lazarus Saturday.
12:1-18 This passage is read on Palm Sunday, the Feast of the Entrance of Our Lord into
  Jerusalem.
13:3-17 This passage is read on Holy Thursday, the Thursday before Pascha (Easter).
15:17-2 This passage is read on days commemorating a holy martyr.
17:1-13 This passage is read on the Feast of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council.
19:6-11 Jn 19:6–11, 13–20, 25–28, 30–35: This passage is read on September 14, the Feast
  of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
19:25-27   Jn 19:25–27; 21:24, 25: This passage is read on September 26, the Feast of St.
  John the Theologian.
19:31-37 This passage is read on Great and Holy Friday, the Friday before Pascha (Easter).
20:19-31 This passage is read on the second Sunday of Pascha, called Thomas Sunday.
1:1-8 This passage is read on Holy Pascha (Easter).

1:1-12 This passage is read on the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord.
2:1-11 This passage is read on the Feast of Pentecost (Trinity) Sunday, the seventh Sunday
  after Pascha (Easter).
5:12-20 This passage is read on the second Sunday of Pascha, called Thomas Sunday.
6:1-7   This passage is read on the third Sunday of Pascha, which commemorates the
  Myrrhbearing Women, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.
9:32-42    This passage is read on the fourth Sunday of Pascha, called the Sunday of the
  Paralytic.
11:19-30   This passage is read on the fifth Sunday of Pascha, called the Sunday of the
  Samaritan Woman.
12:1-11 This passage is read on days commemorating a holy martyr.
13:25-32     This passage is read on August 29, the Feast of the Beheading of John the
  Baptist.
16:16-34 This passage is read on the sixth Sunday of Pascha, called the Sunday of the Blind
  Man.
19:1-8 This passage is read on January 7, the Feast of the Synaxis of St. John the Baptist.
20:16-18 This passage is read on the Feast of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council.
6:3-11   This passage is read on Great and Holy Saturday, the Saturday before Pascha
  (Easter).
8:28-39 This passage is read on days commemorating martyrs and monk martyrs.
13:11-4 This passage is read on the Sunday before Great Lent, called Cheese Fare Sunday
  or Forgiveness Sunday, and on June 24, the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist.
16:6-9 This passage is read on days commemorating the departed.
1:18—2:2     This passage is read at Vespers of Great and Holy Friday, the Friday before
  Pascha (Easter).

1:18-24 This passage is read on September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.
4:9-16 This passage is read for the commemoration of apostles.
6:12-20 This passage is read on the third Sunday before Great Lent, called the Sunday of
  the Prodigal Son.
8:8-2   This passage is read on the second Sunday before Great Lent, called Meat Fare
  Sunday, or Sunday of the Last Judgment.
9:19-27 This passage is read on January 5, the Eve of the Feast of Theophany.
10:1-4 This passage is read on January 5, the Eve of the Feast of Theophany.
12:27-8 This passage is read on days commemorating unmercenary healers.
14:20-25 This passage is read on days commemorating prophets.
15:20-28      1Cor 15:20–28, 39–57: This passage is read on days commemorating the
  departed.
5:1-10 This passage is read on days commemorating the departed.
6:1-10 This passage is read on days commemorating female martyrs.
11:21-9 This passage is read on June 29, the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul.
3:23-29 This passage is read on days commemorating nuns and female martyrs.
4:4-7 This passage is read on December 25, the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord.
4:22-31 This passage is read on September 23, the Feast of the Conception of the John the
  Baptist, and on December 9, the Feast of the Conception of the Theotokos.
5:22-2 This passage is read on days commemorating holy monks.
5:9-19 This passage is read on the Monday following Pentecost, called the Day of the Holy
  Spirit.
6:10-17 This passage is read on days commemorating holy confessors.
2:5-11   This passage is read on the Feasts of the Theotokos: Nativity (September 8) and
  Dormition (August 15).
3:20-3 This passage is read on days commemorating hieromartyrs.
4:4-9   This passage is read on the Feast of the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem, also
  called Palm Sunday.
2:8-12 This passage is read on January 1, the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ.
3:4-11   This passage is read on the second Sunday before Christmas, called the Sunday of
  the Holy Ancestors of Christ.
1:8-18 This passage is read on days commemorating monk martyrs.
2:1-7 This passage is read on September 1, the beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year.
3:13-5 This passage is read on January 4, the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles.
2:1-10   This passage is read on days commemorating a martyr and for the Finding of the
  Head of John the Baptist (February 24 and May 29).
3:10-15 This passage is read on the fourth Sunday before Great Lent, called the Sunday of
  the Publican and the Pharisee.
3:4-7 Ti 3:4–7, 11–14: This passage is read on January 6, the Feast of the Theophany of the
  Lord.
1:1-12 This passage is read on December 24, the Eve of the Nativity of the Lord.
2:2-10 This passage is read on November 8, the Synaxis of Michael and All Angels.
2:11-18 This passage is read on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation to the Theotokos,
  and on December 26, the Synaxis of the Theotokos.
4:14-6   This passage is read on the third Sunday of Great Lent, called the Sunday of the
  Adoration of the Cross.
5:4-10 This passage is read on days commemorating hieromartyrs.
6:13-20 This passage is read on days commemorating prophets.
7:7-17 This passage is read on February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the
  Temple.
7:26-2 This passage is read on days commemorating a hierarch.
9:1-7   A description of the Mosaic tabernacle, which prefigures the heavenly altar. This
  passage is read during feasts of the Virgin Mary and Advent to describe the mystery of the
  Incarnation of the Son of God. Mary's womb was prepared to be Christ's tabernacle, the
  very dwelling place of God.
9:1-7 This passage is read on November 21, the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into
  the Temple.
11:9   Heb 11:9, 10, 17–23, 32–40: This passage is read on the Sunday before Christmas,
  called the Sunday of the Holy Fathers.
11:24-26   This passage is read on the first Sunday of Great Lent, called the Sunday of
  Orthodoxy.
11:33-2 This passage is read on December 17, the Feast of the Prophet Daniel; on August 1,
  the Procession of the Cross; and on the first Sunday after Pentecost, called the Sunday of
  All Saints.
12:28-8 This passage is read on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, called Lazarus Saturday.
13:7-16 This passage is read on days commemorating hieromartyrs.
13:17-21 This passage is read on days commemorating hierarchs.
5:10-20 This passage is read on days commemorating prophets.
5:6-14 This passage is read on April 25, the Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist.
1:10-19 This passage is read on August 6, the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
4:12-19 This passage is read on September 26, the Feast of St. John the Theologian.
4:13–17 This passage is read on days commemorating the departed.
1:7a NU-Text reads Asaph.
1:10a NU-Text reads Amos.
1:25a NU-Text reads a Son.
3:11a M-Text omits and fire.
3:16a Or he
4:10a M-Text reads Get behind Me.
5:22a NU-Text omits without a cause.
5:27a NU-Text and M-Text omit to those of old.
5:32a Or fornication
5:44a   NU-Text omits three clauses from this verse, leaving, “But I say to you, love your
  enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
5:47a M-Text reads friends.
5:47b NU-Text reads Gentiles.
6:4a NU-Text omits openly.
6:6a NU-Text omits openly.
6:13a NU-Text omits For Yours through Amen.
6:18a NU-Text and M-Text omit openly.
7:14a NU-Text and M-Text read How . . . !
8:15a NU-Text and M-Text read Him.
8:28a NU-Text reads Gadarenes.
8:31a NU-Text reads send us.
9:8a NU-Text reads were afraid.
9:13b NU-Text omits to repentance.
9:14a NU-Text brackets often as disputed.
9:35a NU-Text omits among the people.
9:36a NU-Text and M-Text read harassed.
10:3a NU-Text omits Lebbaeus, whose surname was.
10:4a NU-Text reads Cananaean.
10:8a NU-Text reads raise the dead, cleanse the lepers; M-Text omits raise the dead.
10:25a NU-Text and M-Text read Beelzebul.
11:2a NU-Text reads by for two of.
11:19a NU-Text reads works.
11:23a NU-Text reads will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be.
12:8a NU-Text and M-Text omit even.
12:15a NU-Text brackets multitudes as disputed.
12:22a NU-Text omits blind and.
12:24a NU-Text and M-Text read Beelzebul.
12:35a NU-Text and M-Text omit of his heart.
13:15a NU-Text and M-Text read would.
13:33a Greek sata, approximately two pecks in all
13:51a NU-Text omits Jesus said to them.
13:51b NU-Text omits Lord.
13:52a Or for
13:55a NU-Text reads Joseph.
14:24a NU-Text reads many furlongs away from the land.
14:30a NU-Text brackets that and boisterous as disputed.
14:33a NU-Text omits came and.
14:34a NU-Text reads came to land at.
15:6a NU-Text omits or mother.
15:6b NU-Text reads word.
15:8a NU-Text omits draw near to Me with their mouth, And.
15:39a NU-Text reads Magadan.
16:3a NU-Text omits Hypocrites.
16:4a NU-Text omits the prophet.
16:8a NU-Text reads you have no bread.
16:19a Or will have been bound . . . will have been loosed
17:4a NU-Text reads I will.
17:11a NU-Text omits first.
17:15a Literally moonstruck
17:20a NU-Text reads little faith.
17:22a NU-Text reads gathering together.
17:24a NU-Text reads Capharnaum (here and elsewhere).
17:27a Greek stater, the exact amount to pay the temple tax (didrachma) for two
18:19a NU-Text and M-Text read Again, assuredly, I say.
18:29a NU-Text omits at his feet.
18:29b NU-Text and M-Text omit all.
18:35a NU-Text omits his trespasses.
19:4a NU-Text reads created.
19:9a Or fornication
19:16a NU-Text omits Good.
19:17a NU-Text reads Why do you ask Me about what is good?
19:17b NU-Text reads There is One who is good.
19:20a NU-Text omits from my youth.
19:29a NU-Text omits or wife.
20:6a NU-Text omits idle.
20:22a NU-Text omits and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.
20:23a NU-Text omits and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.
21:1a M-Text reads Bethsphage.
21:4a NU-Text omits All.
21:7a NU-Text reads and He sat.
21:12a NU-Text omits of God.
22:13a NU-Text omits take him away, and.
22:30a NU-Text omits of God.
23:3a NU-Text omits to observe.
23:8a NU-Text omits the Christ.
23:17a NU-Text reads sanctified.
23:21a M-Text reads dwelt.
23:25a M-Text reads unrighteousness.
24:6a NU-Text omits all.
24:7a NU-Text omits pestilences.
24:33a Or He
24:36a NU-Text adds nor the Son.
24:42a NU-Text reads day.
24:48a NU-Text omits his coming.
25:6a NU-Text omits is coming.
25:31a NU-Text omits holy.
25:44a NU-Text and M-Text omit Him.
26:3a NU-Text omits the scribes.
26:26a M-Text reads gave thanks for.
26:28a NU-Text omits new.
26:42a NU-Text reads if this may not pass away unless.
26:52a M-Text reads die.
26:59a NU-Text omits the elders.
26:60a NU-Text puts a comma after but found none, does not capitalize Even, and omits
  they found none.
26:60b NU-Text omits false witnesses.
27:2a NU-Text omits Pontius.
27:16a NU-Text reads Jesus Barabbas.
27:24a NU-Text omits just.
27:34a NU-Text omits sour.
27:41a M-Text reads with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders.
27:42a NU-Text reads He is the King of Israel!
27:42b NU-Text and M-Text read we will believe in Him.
27:56a NU-Text reads Joseph.
27:64a NU-Text omits by night.
28:2a NU-Text omits from the door.
28:19a M-Text omits therefore.
28:20a NU-Text omits Amen.
1:2a NU-Text reads Isaiah the prophet.
1:10a NU-Text reads out of.
1:14a NU-Text omits of the kingdom.
1:27a NU-Text reads What is this? A new doctrine with authority.
2:2a NU-Text omits Immediately.
2:16a NU-Text reads of the.
2:17a NU-Text omits to repentance.
3:5a NU-Text omits as whole as the other.
3:14a NU-Text adds whom He also named apostles.
3:15a NU-Text omits to heal sicknesses and.
3:16a NU-Text reads and He appointed the twelve: Simon. . . .
3:32a NU-Text and M-Text add and Your sisters.
4:4a NU-Text and M-Text omit of the air.
4:9a NU-Text and M-Text omit to them.
4:40a NU-Text reads Have you still no faith?
5:1a NU-Text reads Gerasenes.
5:3a NU-Text adds anymore.
5:13a NU-Text reads And He gave.
6:11a NU-Text reads whatever place.
6:15a NU-Text and M-Text omit or.
6:33a NU-Text and M-Text read they.
6:36a NU-Text reads something to eat and omits the rest of this verse.
6:44a NU-Text and M-Text omit about.
7:2a NU-Text omits when and they found fault.
7:19a   NU-Text ends quotation with eliminated, setting off the final clause as Mark's
  comment that Jesus has declared all foods clean.
7:24a NU-Text omits and Sidon.
8:14a NU-Text and M-Text read they.
8:17a NU-Text omits still.
8:26a NU-Text reads “Do not even go into the town.”
9:23a NU-Text reads “‘If You can!’ All things. . . .”
9:29a NU-Text omits and fasting.
9:40a M-Text reads against you is on your side.
10:24a NU-Text omits for those who trust in riches.
10:29a NU-Text omits or wife.
11:1a M-Text reads Bethsphage.
11:4a NU-Text and M-Text read a.
11:10a NU-Text omits in the name of the Lord.
12:4a NU-Text omits and at him they threw stones.
12:28a NU-Text reads seeing.
12:33a NU-Text omits with all the soul.
12:42a Greek lepta, very small copper coins worth a fraction of a penny
13:8a NU-Text omits and troubles.
13:9a NU-Text and M-Text read will stand.
13:11a NU-Text omits or premeditate.
13:14b NU-Text omits spoken of by Daniel the prophet.
13:29a Or He
14:22a NU-Text omits eat.
14:24a NU-Text omits new.
14:27a NU-Text omits because of Me this night.
14:65a NU-Text reads received Him with slaps.
14:70a NU-Text omits and your speech shows it.
15:4a NU-Text reads of which they accuse You.
15:8a NU-Text reads going up.
15:32a M-Text reads believe Him.
15:39a NU-Text reads that He thus breathed His last.
16:8a NU-Text and M-Text omit quickly.
16:18a NU-Text reads and in their hands they will.
1:1a Or are most surely believed
1:28a NU-Text omits blessed are you among women.
1:29a NU-Text omits when she saw him.
1:78a NU-Text reads shall visit.
2:5a NU-Text omits wife.
2:9a NU-Text omits behold.
2:14a NU-Text reads toward men of goodwill.
2:17a NU-Text omits widely.
2:21a NU-Text reads for His circumcision.
2:33a NU-Text reads And His father and mother.
2:37a NU-Text reads a widow until she was eighty-four.
2:38a NU-Text reads to God.
2:40a NU-Text omits in spirit.
2:43a NU-Text reads And His parents.
3:2a NU-Text and M-Text read in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas.
3:19a NU-Text reads his brother's wife.
4:1a NU-Text reads in.
4:4b NU-Text omits but by every word of God.
4:5a NU-Text reads And taking Him up, he showed Him.
4:8a NU-Text omits Get behind Me, Satan.
4:8b NU-Text and M-Text omit For.
4:18a NU-Text omits to heal the brokenhearted.
4:23a Here and elsewhere the NU-Text spelling is Capharnaum.
4:26a Greek Sarepta
4:41a NU-Text omits the Christ.
4:44a NU-Text reads Judea.
5:17a NU-Text reads present with Him to heal.
5:30a NU-Text reads But the Pharisees and their scribes.
5:33a NU-Text omits Why do, making the verse a statement.
5:36a NU-Text reads No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old one.
5:38a NU-Text omits and both are preserved.
5:39a NU-Text omits immediately.
5:39b NU-Text reads good.
6:1a NU-Text reads on a Sabbath.
6:9a M-Text reads to kill.
6:10a NU-Text and M-Text read to him.
6:10b NU-Text omits as whole as the other.
6:26a NU-Text and M-Text omit to you.
6:26b M-Text omits all.
6:45a NU-Text omits treasure of his heart.
6:48a NU-Text reads for it was well built.
6:49a NU-Text reads collapsed.
7:10a NU-Text omits who had been sick.
7:19a NU-Text reads the Lord.
7:28a NU-Text reads there is none greater than John.
7:31a NU-Text and M-Text omit And the Lord said.
8:3a NU-Text and M-Text read them.
8:26a NU-Text reads Gerasenes.
8:27a NU-Text reads who had demons and for a long time wore no clothes.
8:37a NU-Text reads Gerasenes.
8:45a NU-Text omits and those with him.
8:45b NU-Text omits and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’
8:48a NU-Text omits be of good cheer.
8:49a NU-Text adds anymore.
8:51a NU-Text adds with Him.
8:51b NU-Text and M-Text read Peter, John, and James.
8:54a NU-Text omits put them all outside.
9:23a M-Text omits daily.
9:35a NU-Text reads This is My Son, the Chosen One.
9:50a NU-Text reads you.
9:50b NU-Text reads your.
9:54a NU-Text omits just as Elijah did.
10:1a NU-Text reads seventy-two others.
10:11a NU-Text reads our feet.
10:12a NU-Text and M-Text omit But.
10:15a NU-Text reads will you be exalted to heaven? You will be thrust down to Hades!
10:17a NU-Text reads seventy-two.
10:20a NU-Text and M-Text omit rather.
10:22a M-Text reads And turning to the disciples He said, “All . . .”
10:35a NU-Text omits when he departed.
10:39a NU-Text reads the Lord's.
10:41a NU-Text reads the Lord.
11:2a NU-Text omits Our and in heaven.
11:4a NU-Text omits But deliver us from the evil one.
11:11a NU-Text omits the words from bread through for in the next sentence.
11:15a NU-Text and M-Text read Beelzebul.
11:29a NU-Text omits the prophet.
11:44a NU-Text omits scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites.
11:53a NU-Text reads And when He left there.
11:54a NU-Text omits and seeking and that they might accuse Him.
12:6a Greek assarion, a coin of very small value
12:15a NU-Text reads all covetousness.
12:31a NU-Text reads His kingdom, and these things.
12:39a NU-Text reads he would not have allowed.
13:9a NU-Text reads And if it bears fruit after that, well. But if not, you can cut it down.
13:15a NU-Text and M-Text read Hypocrites.
13:19a NU-Text omits large.
13:21a Greek sata, approximately two pecks in all
13:31a NU-Text reads In that very hour.
13:35a NU-Text and M-Text omit assuredly.
14:3a NU-Text adds or not.
14:5a NU-Text and M-Text read son.
14:15a M-Text reads dinner.
15:8a Greek drachma, a valuable coin often worn in a ten-piece garland by married women
15:22a NU-Text reads Quickly bring.
16:6a Greek batos, eight or nine gallons each (Old Testament bath)
16:7a Greek koros, ten or twelve bushels each (Old Testament kor)
16:9a NU-Text reads it fails.
16:21a NU-Text reads with what fell.
17:3a NU-Text omits against you.
17:4a M-Text omits to you.
17:9a NU-Text ends verse with commanded; M-Text omits him.
17:21a NU-Text reverses here and there.
17:23a NU-Text reverses here and there.
18:28a NU-Text reads our own.
19:5a NU-Text omits and saw him.
19:13a The mina (Greek mna, Hebrew minah) was worth about three months' salary.
19:29a M-Text reads Bethsphage.
19:45a NU-Text reads those who were selling.
19:46a NU-Text reads shall be.
20:5a NU-Text and M-Text omit then.
20:19a M-Text reads but they were afraid.
20:23a NU-Text omits Why do you test Me?
20:31a NU-Text and M-Text read the seven also left no children.
21:4a NU-Text omits for God.
21:8a NU-Text omits Therefore.
21:36a NU-Text reads may have strength.
22:14a NU-Text omits twelve.
22:18a NU-Text adds from now on.
22:31a NU-Text omits And the Lord said.
22:57a NU-Text reads denied it.
22:60a NU-Text and M-Text read a rooster.
22:61a NU-Text adds today.
22:64a NU-Text reads And having blindfolded Him, they asked Him.
22:68a NU-Text omits also and Me or let Me go.
23:2a NU-Text reads our.
23:6a NU-Text omits of Galilee.
23:15a NU-Text reads for he sent Him back to us.
23:23a NU-Text omits and of the chief priests.
23:25a NU-Text and M-Text omit to them.
23:38a NU-Text omits written and in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.
23:39a NU-Text reads Are You not the Christ?
23:42a NU-Text reads And he said, “Jesus, remember me.”
23:44a NU-Text adds already.
23:45a NU-Text reads obscured.
23:51a NU-Text reads who was waiting.
24:1a NU-Text omits and certain other women with them.
24:4a NU-Text omits greatly.
24:12a NU-Text omits lying.
24:13a Literally sixty stadia
24:17a NU-Text reads as you walk? And they stood still, looking sad.
24:42a NU-Text omits and some honeycomb.
24:46a NU-Text reads written, that the Christ should suffer and rise.
24:49a NU-Text omits of Jerusalem.
24:53a NU-Text omits praising and.
24:53b NU-Text omits Amen.
1:5a Or overcome
1:9a Or That was the true Light which, coming into the world, gives light to every man.
1:16a NU-Text reads For.
1:18a NU-Text reads only begotten God.
1:28a NU-Text and M-Text read Bethany.
1:42a NU-Text reads John.
1:51a NU-Text omits hereafter.
2:17a NU-Text and M-Text read will eat.
2:22a NU-Text and M-Text omit to them.
3:13a NU-Text omits who is in heaven.
3:15a NU-Text omits not perish but.
4:42a NU-Text omits the Christ.
5:2a NU-Text reads Bethzatha.
5:4a NU-Text omits waiting for the moving of the water at the end of verse 3, and all of
  verse 4.
5:16a NU-Text omits and sought to kill Him.
6:11a NU-Text omits to the disciples, and the disciples.
6:19a Literally twenty-five or thirty stadia
6:22a NU-Text omits that and which His disciples had entered.
6:45b M-Text reads hears and has learned.
6:47a NU-Text omits in Me.
6:55a NU-Text reads true food and true drink.
6:69a NU-Text reads You are the Holy One of God.
7:8a NU-Text omits yet.
7:16a NU-Text and M-Text read So Jesus.
7:26a NU-Text omits truly.
7:29a NU-Text and M-Text omit But.
7:33a NU-Text and M-Text omit to them.
7:39a NU-Text reads who believed.
7:40a NU-Text reads some.
7:50a NU-Text reads before.
7:52a NU-Text reads is to rise.
7:53a The words And everyone through sin no more (8:11) are bracketed by NU-Text as not
  original. They are present in over 900 manuscripts.
8:2a M-Text reads very early.
8:4a M-Text reads we found this woman.
8:5a M-Text reads in our law Moses commanded.
8:5b NU-Text and M-Text read to stone such.
8:5c M-Text adds about her.
8:6a NU-Text and M-Text omit as though He did not hear.
8:7a M-Text reads He looked up.
8:9a NU-Text and M-Text omit being convicted by their conscience.
8:10a NU-Text omits and saw no one but the woman; M-Text reads He saw her and said.
8:10b NU-Text and M-Text omit of yours.
8:11a NU-Text and M-Text add from now on.
8:38a NU-Text reads heard from.
8:54a NU-Text and M-Text read our.
9:4a NU-Text reads We.
9:8a NU-Text reads a beggar.
9:9a NU-Text reads “No, but he is like him.”
9:11a NU-Text omits the pool of.
9:35a NU-Text reads Son of Man.
10:8a M-Text omits before Me.
10:26a NU-Text omits as I said to you.
10:38a NU-Text reads understand.
11:18a Literally fifteen stadia
11:30a NU-Text adds still.
11:31a NU-Text reads supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
11:41a NU-Text omits from the place where the dead man was lying.
11:50a NU-Text reads you.
12:1a NU-Text omits who had been dead.
12:7a NU-Text reads that she may keep.
12:41a NU-Text reads because.
12:47a NU-Text reads keep them.
13:2a NU-Text reads And during supper.
13:18a NU-Text reads My bread.
13:25a NU-Text and M-Text add thus.
14:2a Literally dwellings
14:2b   NU-Text adds a word which would cause the text to read either if it were not so,
  would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? or if it were not so I would
  have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
14:14a NU-Text adds Me.
14:15a NU-Text reads you will keep.
14:28a NU-Text omits I said.
15:2a Or lifts up
15:7a NU-Text omits you will.
16:3a NU-Text and M-Text omit to you.
16:4a NU-Text reads their.
16:15a NU-Text and M-Text read He takes of Mine and will declare it to you.
16:33a NU-Text and M-Text omit will.
17:2a M-Text reads shall.
17:11a NU-Text and M-Text read keep them through Your name which You have given Me.
17:12a NU-Text omits in the world.
17:12b NU-Text reads in Your name which You gave Me. And I guarded them; (or it;).
17:20a NU-Text and M-Text omit will.
18:15a M-Text reads the other.
18:20a NU-Text reads where all the Jews meet.
19:3a NU-Text reads And they came up to Him and said.
19:7a NU-Text reads the law.
19:16a NU-Text omits and led Him away.
19:28a M-Text reads seeing.
20:16a NU-Text adds in Hebrew.
20:18a NU-Text reads disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” . . .
20:19a NU-Text omits assembled.
20:29a NU-Text and M-Text omit Thomas.
21:3a NU-Text omits immediately.
21:15a NU-Text reads John.
21:16a NU-Text reads John.
21:17a NU-Text reads John.
1:8a NU-Text reads My witnesses.
1:14a NU-Text omits and supplication.
1:15a NU-Text reads brethren.
1:20c Greek episkopen, position of overseer
2:1a NU-Text reads together.
2:23a NU-Text omits have taken.
2:30a NU-Text omits according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ and completes
  the verse with He would seat one on his throne.
2:41a NU-Text omits gladly.
2:47a NU-Text omits to the church.
3:20a NU-Text and M-Text read Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before.
3:24a NU-Text and M-Text read proclaimed.
4:25a   NU-Text reads who through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father, Your
  servant David.
4:36a NU-Text reads Joseph.
5:23a NU-Text and M-Text omit outside.
5:24a NU-Text omits the high priest.
5:25a NU-Text and M-Text omit saying.
5:41a NU-Text reads the name; M-Text reads the name of Jesus.
6:8a NU-Text reads grace.
6:13a NU-Text omits blasphemous.
7:14a Or seventy (compare Exodus 1:5)
7:30a NU-Text omits of the Lord.
7:37b NU-Text and M-Text omit Him you shall hear.
8:5a Or a
9:5a NU-Text and M-Text omit the last sentence of verse 5 and begin verse 6 with But arise
  and go.
9:17a M-Text omits Jesus.
9:20a NU-Text reads Jesus.
9:31a NU-Text reads church . . . was edified.
10:21a NU-Text and M-Text omit who had been sent to him from Cornelius.
10:30a NU-Text reads Four days ago to this hour, at the ninth hour.
10:39a NU-Text and M-Text add also.
12:5a NU-Text reads constantly (or earnestly).
12:25a NU-Text and M-Text read to.
13:6a NU-Text reads the whole island.
13:17a M-Text omits Israel.
13:23a M-Text reads for Israel salvation.
13:42a   Or And when they went out of the synagogue of the Jews; NU-Text reads And
  when they went out, they begged.
15:11a NU-Text and M-Text omit Christ.
15:18a   NU-Text (combining with verse 17) reads Says the Lord, who makes these things
  known from eternity (of old).
15:20a Or fornication
15:22a NU-Text and M-Text read Barsabbas.
15:24a NU-Text omits saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law.”
15:29a Or fornication
15:33a NU-Text reads to those who had sent them.
16:7a NU-Text adds of Jesus.
17:5a NU-Text omits who were not persuaded; M-Text omits becoming envious.
17:18a NU-Text and M-Text add also.
17:26a NU-Text omits blood.
18:7a NU-Text reads Titius Justus.
18:17a NU-Text reads they all.
18:21a NU-Text omits I must through Jerusalem.
19:13a NU-Text reads I.
19:16a M-Text reads and they overpowered.
19:16b NU-Text reads both of them.
19:24a Greek Artemis
19:27a NU-Text reads she be deposed from her magnificence.
19:37a NU-Text reads our.
20:8a NU-Text and M-Text read we.
20:24a NU-Text reads But I do not count my life of any value or dear to myself.
20:28a M-Text reads of the Lord and God.
20:34a NU-Text and M-Text omit Yes.
21:4a NU-Text reads the disciples.
21:8a NU-Text omits who were Paul's companions.
21:22a NU-Text reads What then is to be done? They will certainly.
21:25a NU-Text omits that they should observe no such thing, except.
21:29a M-Text omits previously.
22:9a NU-Text omits and were afraid.
22:20a NU-Text omits to his death.
23:5a Exodus 22:28
23:9a NU-Text omits last clause and reads what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?
23:15a NU-Text omits tomorrow.
23:30a NU-Text reads there would be a plot against the man.
24:9a NU-Text and M-Text read joined the attack.
24:15a NU-Text omits of the dead.
24:20a NU-Text and M-Text read say what wrongdoing they found.
24:26a NU-Text omits that he might release him.
25:2a NU-Text reads chief priests.
25:16a NU-Text omits to destruction, although it is implied.
26:17a NU-Text and M-Text omit now.
27:14a NU-Text reads Euraquilon.
27:16a NU-Text reads Cauda.
27:17a M-Text reads Syrtes.
28:25a NU-Text reads your.
1:16a NU-Text omits of Christ.
1:29a NU-Text omits sexual immorality.
1:31a NU-Text omits unforgiving.
2:17a NU-Text reads But if.
3:22a NU-Text omits and on all.
4:1a Or Abraham our (fore)father according to the flesh has found?
5:1a Another ancient reading is, let us have peace.
8:26a NU-Text omits for us.
9:3a Or relatives
9:28a NU-Text reads For the L
                            ORD   will finish the work and cut it short upon the earth.
9:29a Literally, in Hebrew, Hosts
9:31a NU-Text omits of righteousness.
9:32a NU-Text reads by works.
10:1a NU-Text reads them.
10:15a NU-Text omits preach the gospel of peace, Who.
11:22a NU-Text adds of God.
11:26a Or delivered
13:9a NU-Text omits “You shall not bear false witness.”
14:9a NU-Text omits and rose.
14:10a NU-Text reads of God.
14:18a NU-Text reads this.
14:21a NU-Text omits or is offended or is made weak.
14:22a NU-Text reads The faith which you have—have.
15:7a NU-Text and M-Text read you.
15:14a M-Text reads others.
15:24a NU-Text omits I shall come to you (and joins Spain with the next sentence).
15:29a NU-Text omits of the gospel.
16:5a NU-Text reads Asia.
16:11a Or relative
16:16a NU-Text reads All the churches.
16:18a NU-Text and M-Text omit Jesus.
1:23a NU-Text reads Gentiles.
2:1a NU-Text reads mystery.
2:4a NU-Text omits human.
2:13a NU-Text omits Holy.
4:3a Literally day
5:1a NU-Text omits named.
5:5a NU-Text omits Jesus.
5:7a NU-Text omits for us.
6:20a NU-Text ends the verse at body.
7:34a M-Text adds also.
7:37a Or virgin daughter
7:38a NU-Text reads his own virgin.
9:18a NU-Text omits of Christ.
9:20a NU-Text adds though not being myself under the law
9:21a NU-Text reads God's law.
9:21b NU-Text reads Christ's law.
9:22a NU-Text omits as.
10:11a NU-Text omits all.
10:23a NU-Text omits for me.
10:23b NU-Text omits for me.
11:15a M-Text omits to her.
11:24a NU-Text omits Take, eat.
11:24b NU-Text omits broken.
11:27a NU-Text and M-Text read the blood.
11:29a NU-Text omits in an unworthy manner.
11:29b NU-Text omits Lord's.
12:2a NU-Text and M-Text add when.
12:9a NU-Text reads one.
12:13a NU-Text omits into.
12:31a NU-Text reads greater.
13:3a NU-Text reads so I may boast.
14:5a NU-Text reads and.
14:25a NU-Text omits And thus.
14:34a NU-Text omits your.
14:38a NU-Text reads if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
15:39a NU-Text and M-Text omit of flesh.
.:1Cor.15:47"a NU-Text omits the Lord.
15:49a M-Text reads let us also bear.
15:55b NU-Text reads O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?
1:10a NU-Text reads shall.
1:11a M-Text reads your behalf.
2:10a NU-Text reads For indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did
  it.
2:17a M-Text reads the rest.
6:16a NU-Text reads we.
8:4a NU-Text and M-Text omit that we would receive, thus changing text to urgency for
  the favor and fellowship. . . .
8:16a NU-Text reads has put.
8:24a NU-Text and M-Text omit and.
9:4a NU-Text reads this confidence.
9:10a NU-Text reads Now He who supplies . . . will supply. . . .
10:7a NU-Text reads even as we are.
10:8a NU-Text omits us.
11:3a NU-Text adds and purity.
11:6a NU-Text omits been.
12:1a NU-Text reads necessary, though not profitable, to boast.
12:11a NU-Text omits in boasting.
12:19a NU-Text reads You have been thinking for a long time. . . .
13:2a NU-Text omits I write.
13:7a NU-Text reads we.
1:18a NU-Text reads Cephas.
2:11a NU-Text reads Cephas.
2:14a NU-Text reads how can you.
3:1a NU-Text omits that you should not obey the truth.
3:1b NU-Text omits among you.
3:17a NU-Text omits in Christ.
4:7a NU-Text reads through God and omits through Christ.
4:15a NU-Text reads Where.
4:24a NU-Text and M-Text omit the.
5:1a NU-Text reads For freedom Christ has made us free; stand fast therefore.
5:19a NU-Text omits adultery.
5:21a NU-Text omits murders.
1:10a NU-Text and M-Text omit both.
1:14a NU-Text reads which.
1:18a NU-Text and M-Text read hearts.
3:9a NU-Text and M-Text read stewardship (dispensation).
3:9b NU-Text omits through Jesus Christ.
3:14a NU-Text omits of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4:6a NU-Text omits you; M-Text reads us.
4:9a NU-Text omits first.
4:17a NU-Text omits the rest of.
5:5a NU-Text reads For know this.
5:9a NU-Text reads light.
5:21a NU-Text reads Christ.
6:9a NU-Text reads He who is both their Master and yours.
6:12a NU-Text reads rulers of this darkness.
1:1a Literally overseers
1:23a NU-Text and M-Text read But.
1:28a NU-Text reads of your salvation.
3:3a NU-Text and M-Text read who worship in the Spirit of God.
3:16a NU-Text omits rule and the rest of the verse.
4:3a NU-Text and M-Text read Yes.
4:13a NU-Text reads Him who.
4:23a NU-Text reads your spirit.
1:2a NU-Text omits and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:6a NU-Text and M-Text add and growing.
1:14a NU-Text and M-Text omit through His blood.
1:27a M-Text reads who.
2:2a NU-Text omits both of the Father and.
2:7a NU-Text omits in it.
2:11a NU-Text omits of the sins.
2:18a NU-Text omits not.
2:20a NU-Text and M-Text omit Therefore.
3:24a NU-Text omits for.
4:8a NU-Text reads you may know our circumstances and he may.
4:12a NU-Text reads fully assured.
4:13a NU-Text reads concern.
4:15a NU-Text reads Nympha . . . her house.
1:17a NU-Text reads to the only God.
2:7a NU-Text omits in Christ.
3:1a Literally overseer
3:3a NU-Text omits not greedy for money.
3:16a NU-Text reads Who.
4:10a NU-Text reads we labor and strive.
4:12a NU-Text omits in spirit.
5:4a NU-Text and M-Text omit good and.
5:16a NU-Text omits man or.
6:5a NU-Text and M-Text read constant friction.
6:7a NU-Text omits and it is certain.
1:1a NU-Text and M-Text read Christ Jesus.
1:11a NU-Text omits of the Gentiles.
1:18a To me is from the Vulgate and a few Greek manuscripts.
2:3a NU-Text reads You must share.
2:7a NU-Text reads the Lord will give you.
2:19a NU-Text and M-Text read the Lord.
4:1a NU-Text omits therefore and reads and by for at.
4:22a NU-Text omits Jesus Christ.
1:4a NU-Text reads and Christ Jesus.
1:7a Literally overseer
2:7a NU-Text omits incorruptibility.
2:8a NU-Text and M-Text read us.
1:2a NU-Text reads to our sister Apphia.
1:6a NU-Text and M-Text read us.
1:7a NU-Text reads had.
1:7b M-Text reads thanksgiving.
1:12a NU-Text reads back to you in person, that is, my own heart.
1:3a NU-Text omits by Himself.
1:3b NU-Text omits our.
3:6a NU-Text omits firm to the end.
4:2a NU-Text and M-Text read profit them, since they were not united by faith with those
  who heeded it.
6:3a M-Text reads let us do.
6:10a NU-Text omits labor of.
6:18a M-Text omits might.
7:14a NU-Text reads priests.
7:17a NU-Text reads it is testified.
8:12a NU-Text omits and their lawless deeds.
9:11a NU-Text reads that have come.
10:9a NU-Text and M-Text omit O God.
10:30b NU-Text omits says the Lord.
10:34a NU-Text reads the prisoners instead of me in my chains.
10:34b NU-Text omits in heaven.
10:38a NU-Text reads My just one.
11:11a NU-Text omits she bore a child.
11:13a NU-Text and M-Text omit were assured of them.
11:26a NU-Text and M-Text read of.
11:37a NU-Text omits were tempted.
12:7a NU-Text and M-Text read It is for discipline that you endure; God . . . .
12:18a NU-Text reads to that which.
12:18b NU-Text reads gloom.
12:20a NU-Text and M-Text omit the rest of this verse.
12:26a NU-Text reads will shake.
12:28a M-Text omits may.
13:9a NU-Text and M-Text read away.
13:21a NU-Text and M-Text read us.
1:19a NU-Text reads Know this or This you know.
1:26a NU-Text omits among you.
2:18a NU-Text omits your.
2:18b NU-Text omits my.
2:20a NU-Text reads useless.
3:3a NU-Text reads Now if.
3:12a NU-Text reads Neither can a salty spring produce fresh water.
4:2a NU-Text and M-Text omit Yet.
4:4a NU-Text omits Adulterers and.
4:12a NU-Text adds and Judge.
4:12b NU-Text and M-Text read But who.
4:12c NU-Text reads a neighbor.
4:13a M-Text reads let us.
5:4a Literally, in Hebrew, Hosts
5:5a NU-Text omits as.
5:9a NU-Text and M-Text read judged.
5:12a M-Text reads hypocrisy.
5:16a NU-Text reads Therefore confess your sins.
5:20a NU-Text reads his soul.
1:8a M-Text reads known.
1:12a NU-Text and M-Text read you.
1:22a NU-Text omits through the Spirit.
1:23a NU-Text omits forever.
1:24a NU-Text reads all its glory.
2:2a NU-Text adds up to salvation.
2:7a NU-Text reads to those who disbelieve.
2:21a NU-Text reads you.
2:21b NU-Text and M-Text read you.
3:8a NU-Text reads humble.
3:15a NU-Text reads Christ as Lord.
3:18a NU-Text and M-Text read you.
3:20a NU-Text and M-Text read when the longsuffering of God waited patiently.
4:1a NU-Text omits for us.
4:3a NU-Text reads time.
4:14a NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
.:1Pet.4:16"a NU-Text reads name.
5:2a NU-Text adds according to God.
5:8a NU-Text and M-Text omit because.
5:10a   NU-Text reads But the God of all grace . . . will perfect, establish, strengthen, and
  settle you.
5:10b NU-Text and M-Text read you.
1:19a Or We also have the more sure prophetic word.
1:20a Or origin
1:21a NU-Text reads but men spoke from God.
2:3a M-Text reads will not.
2:17a NU-Text reads and mists.
2:17b NU-Text omits forever.
2:18a NU-Text reads are barely escaping.
3:2a NU-Text and M-Text read commandment of the apostles of your Lord and Savior or
  commandment of your apostles of the Lord and Savior.
3:9a NU-Text reads you.
3:10a NU-Text reads laid bare (literally found).
1:4a NU-Text and M-Text read our.
2:7a NU-Text reads Beloved.
2:7b NU-Text omits from the beginning.
2:18a NU-Text omits the.
2:20a NU-Text reads you all know.
2:27a NU-Text reads you abide.
2:28a NU-Text reads if.
3:1a NU-Text adds And we are.
3:1b M-Text reads you.
3:14a NU-Text omits his brother.
3:19a NU-Text reads we shall know.
3:23a M-Text omits us.
4:3a NU-Text omits that and Christ has come in the flesh.
4:19a NU-Text omits Him.
4:20a NU-Text reads he cannot.
5:4a M-Text reads your.
5:8a NU-Text and M-Text omit the words from in heaven (verse 7) through on earth (verse
  8). Only four or five very late manuscripts contain these words in Greek.
5:9a NU-Text reads God, that.
5:18a NU-Text reads him.
1:3a NU-Text and M-Text read us.
1:8a NU-Text reads you.
1:8b NU-Text reads you.
1:9a NU-Text reads goes ahead.
1:4a NU-Text reads the truth.
1:5a NU-Text adds especially.
1:8a NU-Text reads support.
1:11a NU-Text and M-Text omit but.
1:1a NU-Text reads beloved.
1:4a NU-Text omits God.
1:12a NU-Text and M-Text read along.
1:22a NU-Text reads who are doubting (or making distinctions).
1:23a NU-Text adds and on some have mercy with fear and omits with fear in first clause.
1:24a M-Text reads them.
1:25a NU-Text reads To the only God our Savior.
1:25b NU-Text omits Who . . . is wise and adds Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1:25c NU-Text adds Before all time.
1:5a NU-Text reads loves us and freed; M-Text reads loves us and washed.
1:6a NU-Text and M-Text read a kingdom.
1:8a NU-Text and M-Text omit the Beginning and the End.
1:8b NU-Text and M-Text add God.
1:9a NU-Text and M-Text omit both.
1:11a NU-Text and M-Text omit I am through third and.
1:11b NU-Text and M-Text omit which are in Asia.
1:17a NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.
1:19a NU-Text and M-Text read Therefore, write.
1:20a NU-Text and M-Text omit which you saw.
2:15a NU-Text and M-Text read likewise for which thing I hate.
2:19a NU-Text and M-Text read faith, service.
2:20a NU-Text and M-Text read I have against you that you tolerate.
2:20b M-Text reads your wife Jezebel.
2:20c NU-Text and M-Text read and teaches and seduces.
2:21a   NU-Text and M-Text read time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her
  sexual immorality.
2:22a NU-Text and M-Text read her.
2:24a NU-Text and M-Text omit and.
2:24b NU-Text and M-Text omit will.
3:2a NU-Text and M-Text read My God.
3:4a NU-Text and M-Text read Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis.
3:8a NU-Text and M-Text read which no one can shut.
3:11a NU-Text and M-Text omit Behold.
3:14a NU-Text and M-Text read in Laodicea.
3:16a NU-Text and M-Text read hot nor cold.
4:3a   M-Text omits And He who sat there was (which makes the description in verse 3
  modify the throne rather than God).
4:4a NU-Text and M-Text read robes, with crowns.
4:5a NU-Text and M-Text read voices, and thunderings.
4:5b M-Text omits the.
4:6a NU-Text and M-Text add something like.
4:8a M-Text has holy nine times.
4:11a NU-Text and M-Text read our Lord and God.
4:11b NU-Text and M-Text read existed.
5:4a NU-Text and M-Text omit and read.
5:5a NU-Text and M-Text omit to loose.
5:6a NU-Text and M-Text read I saw in the midst . . . a Lamb standing.
5:10a NU-Text and M-Text read them.
5:10b NU-Text reads a kingdom.
5:10c NU-Text and M-Text read they.
5:13a M-Text adds Amen.
5:14a NU-Text and M-Text omit twenty-four.
5:14b NU-Text and M-Text omit Him who lives forever and ever.
6:1a NU-Text and M-Text read seven seals.
6:3a NU-Text and M-Text omit and see.
6:12a NU-Text and M-Text omit behold.
6:12b NU-Text and M-Text read the whole moon.
6:15a NU-Text and M-Text read the commanders, the rich men.
7:5a In NU-Text and M-Text were sealed is stated only in verses 5a and 8c; the words are
  understood in the remainder of the passage.
7:14a NU-Text and M-Text read My lord.
7:17a NU-Text and M-Text read to fountains of the waters of life.
8:7a NU-Text and M-Text add and a third of the earth was burned up.
8:13a NU-Text and M-Text read eagle.
9:19a NU-Text and M-Text read the power of the horses.
9:21a NU-Text and M-Text read drugs.
10:4a NU-Text and M-Text read sounded.
10:4b NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.
10:5a NU-Text and M-Text read right hand.
10:11a NU-Text and M-Text read they.
11:1a NU-Text and M-Text omit And the angel stood.
11:4a NU-Text and M-Text read Lord.
11:8a NU-Text and M-Text read their.
11:9a NU-Text and M-Text read nations see . . . and will not allow.
11:12a M-Text reads I.
11:15a NU-Text and M-Text read kingdom . . . has become.
11:17a NU-Text and M-Text omit and who is to come.
11:19a M-Text reads the covenant of the Lord.
12:8a M-Text reads him.
12:17a NU-Text and M-Text omit Christ.
13:1a NU-Text reads he.
13:1b NU-Text and M-Text read ten horns and seven heads.
13:5a M-Text reads make war.
13:7a NU-Text and M-Text add and people.
13:14a M-Text reads my own people.
13:17a NU-Text and M-Text omit or.
14:1a NU-Text and M-Text read the.
14:1b NU-Text and M-Text add His name and.
14:4a M-Text adds by Jesus.
14:5a NU-Text and M-Text read falsehood.
14:5b NU-Text and M-Text omit before the throne of God.
14:8a NU-Text reads Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, which has made; M-Text reads
  Babylon the great is fallen. She has made.
14:12a NU-Text and M-Text omit here are those.
14:13a NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.
14:15a NU-Text and M-Text omit for You.
15:2a NU-Text and M-Text omit over his mark.
15:3a NU-Text and M-Text read nations.
15:5a NU-Text and M-Text omit behold.
16:1a NU-Text and M-Text read seven bowls.
16:5a NU-Text and M-Text omit O Lord.
16:5b NU-Text and M-Text read who was, the Holy One.
16:6a NU-Text and M-Text omit For.
16:7a NU-Text and M-Text omit another from.
16:14a NU-Text and M-Text omit of the earth and.
16:16a M-Text reads Megiddo.
17:1a NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.
17:4a M-Text reads the filthiness of the fornication of the earth.
17:8a NU-Text and M-Text read and shall be present.
17:16a NU-Text and M-Text read saw, and the beast.
18:2a NU-Text and M-Text omit mightily.
18:5a NU-Text and M-Text read have been heaped up.
18:6a NU-Text and M-Text omit to you.
18:8a NU-Text and M-Text read has judged.
18:14a NU-Text and M-Text read been lost to you.
18:20a NU-Text and M-Text read saints and apostles.
19:1a NU-Text and M-Text add something like.
19:1b NU-Text and M-Text omit the Lord.
19:5a NU-Text and M-Text omit both.
19:6a NU-Text and M-Text read our.
19:12a M-Text adds names written, and.
19:14a NU-Text and M-Text read pure white linen.
19:15a M-Text adds two-edged.
19:17a NU-Text and M-Text read the great supper of God.
19:18a NU-Text and M-Text read both free.
20:4a M-Text reads the.
20:10a NU-Text and M-Text add also.
20:12a NU-Text and M-Text read the throne.
20:14a NU-Text and M-Text add the lake of fire.
21:2a NU-Text and M-Text omit John.
21:5a NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.
21:6a M-Text omits It is done.
21:7a M-Text reads overcomes, I shall give him these things.
21:8a M-Text adds and sinners.
21:9a NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.
21:9b M-Text reads I will show you the woman, the Lamb's bride.
21:10a NU-Text and M-Text omit the great and read the holy city, Jerusalem.
21:14a NU-Text and M-Text read twelve names.
21:23a NU-Text and M-Text omit in it.
21:23b M-Text reads the very glory.
21:24a NU-Text and M-Text omit of those who are saved.
21:24b M-Text reads the glory and honor of the nations to Him.
21:26a M-Text adds that they may enter in.
21:27a NU-Text and M-Text read anything profane, nor one who causes.
22:1a NU-Text and M-Text omit pure.
22:6a NU-Text and M-Text read spirits of the prophets.
22:8a NU-Text and M-Text read am the one who heard and saw.
22:9a NU-Text and M-Text omit For.
22:11a NU-Text and M-Text read do right.
22:13a NU-Text and M-Text read the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
22:14a NU-Text reads wash their robes.
22:15a NU-Text and M-Text omit But.
22:18a NU-Text and M-Text omit For.
22:18b M-Text reads may God add.
22:19a M-Text reads may God take away.
22:19b NU-Text and M-Text read tree of life.
22:21a NU-Text reads with all; M-Text reads with all the saints.
1:1a NU-Text omits from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2:2a NU-Text and M-Text omit even.
2:11a NU-Text and M-Text read implored.
4:8a NU-Text reads who also gives.
4:14a Or those who through Jesus sleep
5:27a NU-Text omits holy.
1:10a NU-Text and M-Text read have believed.
2:2a NU-Text reads the Lord.
2:3a NU-Text reads lawlessness.
2:4a NU-Text omits as God.
2:7a Or he
2:7b Or he
3:6a NU-Text and M-Text read they.
16:22a Greek anathema
16:22b Aramaic Maranatha
.:1Pet.2:25"a Greek Episkopos
6:6a Greek choinix; that is, approximately one quart
1:6a   Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original
  Greek.
1:23a   Isaiah 7:14. Words in oblique type in the New Testament are quoted from the Old
  Testament.
2:6a Micah 5:2
2:15a Hosea 11:1
2:18a Jeremiah 31:15
3:3a Isaiah 40:3
4:4a Deuteronomy 8:3
4:6a Psalm 91:11, 12
4:7a Deuteronomy 6:16
4:10b Deuteronomy 6:13
4:16a Isaiah 9:1, 2
5:21a Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17
5:27b Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18
5:38a Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21
5:43a Compare Leviticus 19:18
8:17a Isaiah 53:4
9:13a Hosea 6:6
10:36a Micah 7:6
11:10a Malachi 3:1
12:7a Hosea 6:6
12:21a Isaiah 42:1–4
13:15b Isaiah 6:9, 10
13:35a Psalm 78:2
15:4a Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16
15:4b Exodus 21:17
15:9a Isaiah 29:13
17:21a NU-Text omits this verse.
18:11a NU-Text omits this verse.
18:16a Deuteronomy 19:15
19:4b Genesis 1:27; 5:2
19:5a Genesis 2:24
19:19a Exodus 20:12–16; Deuteronomy 5:16–20
19:19b Leviticus 19:18
20:7a NU-Text omits the last clause of this verse.
20:16a NU-Text omits the last sentence of this verse.
21:5a Zechariah 9:9
21:9a Psalm 118:26
21:13a Isaiah 56:7
21:13b Jeremiah 7:11
21:16a Psalm 8:2
21:42a Psalm 118:22, 23
22:32a Exodus 3:6, 15
22:37a Deuteronomy 6:5
22:39a Leviticus 19:18
22:44a Psalm 110:1
23:14a NU-Text omits this verse.
23:39a Psalm 118:26
24:15a Daniel 11:31; 12:11
25:13a NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
26:31a Zechariah 13:7
27:10a Jeremiah 32:6–9
27:35a NU-Text and M-Text omit the rest of this verse.
27:35b Psalm 22:18
27:46a Psalm 22:1
28:9a NU-Text omits the first clause of this verse.
1:2b Malachi 3:1
1:3a Isaiah 40:3
4:12a Isaiah 6:9, 10
6:11b NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
7:7a Isaiah 29:13
7:8a NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
7:10a Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16
7:10b Exodus 21:17
7:16a NU-Text omits this verse.
9:44a NU-Text omits this verse.
9:46a NU-Text omits the last clause of verse 45 and all of verse 46.
9:48a Isaiah 66:24
9:49a NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
10:6a Genesis 1:27; 5:2
10:8a Genesis 2:24
10:19a Exodus 20:12–16; Deuteronomy 5:16–20
11:9a Psalm 118:26
11:17a Isaiah 56:7
11:17b Jeremiah 7:11
11:26a NU-Text omits this verse.
12:11a Psalm 118:22, 23
12:26a Exodus 3:6, 15
12:30a Deuteronomy 6:4, 5
12:30b NU-Text omits this sentence.
12:31a Leviticus 19:18
12:36a Psalm 110:1
13:14a Daniel 11:31; 12:11
14:19a NU-Text omits this sentence.
14:27b Zechariah 13:7
15:28a Isaiah 53:12
15:28b NU-Text omits this verse.
15:34a Psalm 22:1
16:20a    Verses 9–20 are bracketed in NU-Text as not original. They are lacking in Codex
  Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, although nearly all other manuscripts of Mark contain
  them.
1:17a Malachi 4:5, 6
2:23a Exodus 13:2, 12, 15
2:24a Leviticus 12:8
3:6a Isaiah 40:3–5
3:24a This and several other names in the genealogy are spelled somewhat differently in
  the NU-Text. Since the New King James Version uses the Old Testament spelling for
  persons mentioned in the New Testament, these variations, which come from the Greek,
  have not been footnoted.
4:4a Deuteronomy 8:3
4:8c Deuteronomy 6:13
4:11a Psalm 91:11, 12
4:12a Deuteronomy 6:16
4:19a Isaiah 61:1, 2
7:27a Malachi 3:1
8:10a Isaiah 6:9
9:55a NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
9:56a NU-Text omits the first sentence of this verse.
10:27a Deuteronomy 6:5
10:27b Leviticus 19:18
11:2b NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
13:35b Psalm 118:26
17:36a NU-Text and M-Text omit verse 36.
18:20a Exodus 20:12–16; Deuteronomy 5:16–20
19:38a Psalm 118:26
19:46b Isaiah 56:7
19:46c Jeremiah 7:11
20:17a Psalm 118:22
20:30a NU-Text ends verse 30 here.
20:37a Exodus 3:6, 15
20:43a Psalm 110:1
22:37a Isaiah 53:12
22:44a NU-Text brackets verses 43 and 44 as not in the original text.
23:17a NU-Text omits verse 17.
23:30a Hosea 10:8
23:34a NU-Text brackets the first sentence as a later addition.
23:46a Psalm 31:5
24:40a   Some printed New Testaments omit this verse. It is found in nearly all Greek
  manuscripts.
1:11a That is, His own things or domain
1:11b That is, His own people
1:23a Isaiah 40:3
2:17b Psalm 69:9
6:31a Exodus 16:4; Nehemiah 9:15; Psalm 78:24
6:45a Isaiah 54:13
7:1a That is, the ruling authorities
7:39b NU-Text omits Holy.
8:59a NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
10:34a Psalm 82:6
12:5a About one year's wages for a worker
12:13a Psalm 118:26
12:15a Zechariah 9:9
12:38a Isaiah 53:1
12:40a Isaiah 6:10
13:18b Psalm 41:9
15:25a Psalm 69:4
19:24a Psalm 22:18
19:36a Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20
19:37a Zechariah 12:10
1:20a Psalm 69:25
1:20b Psalm 109:8
2:21a Joel 2:28–32
2:28a Psalm 16:8–11
2:35a Psalm 110:1
3:23a Deuteronomy 18:15, 18, 19
3:25a Genesis 22:18; 26:4; 28:14
4:11a Psalm 118:22
4:26a Psalm 2:1, 2
6:1a That is, Greek-speaking Jews
7:3a Genesis 12:1
7:7a Genesis 15:14
7:7b Exodus 3:12
7:28a Exodus 2:14
7:32a Exodus 3:6, 15
7:34a Exodus 3:5, 7, 8, 10
7:35a Exodus 2:14
7:37a Deuteronomy 18:15
7:40a Exodus 32:1, 23
7:43a Amos 5:25–27
7:50a Isaiah 66:1, 2
8:33a Isaiah 53:7, 8
8:37a   NU-Text and M-Text omit this verse. It is found in Western texts, including the
  Latin tradition.
10:6a NU-Text and M-Text omit the last sentence of this verse.
10:32a NU-Text omits the last sentence of this verse.
13:22a Psalm 89:20
13:22b 1 Samuel 13:14
13:33a Psalm 2:7
13:34a Isaiah 55:3
13:35a Psalm 16:10
13:41a Habakkuk 1:5
13:47a Isaiah 49:6
15:17a Amos 9:11, 12
15:34a NU-Text and M-Text omit this verse.
24:6a NU-Text ends the sentence here and omits the rest of verse 6, all of verse 7, and the
  first clause of verse 8.
28:19a That is, the ruling authorities
28:27a Isaiah 6:9, 10
28:29a NU-Text omits this verse.
1:17a Habakkuk 2:4
2:6a Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:12
2:24a Isaiah 52:5; Ezekiel 36:22
3:4a Psalm 51:4
3:12a Psalms 14:1–3; 53:1–3; Ecclesiastes 7:20
3:13a Psalm 5:9
3:13b Psalm 140:3
3:14a Psalm 10:7
3:17a Isaiah 59:7, 8
3:18a Psalm 36:1
4:3a Genesis 15:6
4:8a Psalm 32:1, 2
4:17a Genesis 17:5
4:18a Genesis 15:5
4:22a Genesis 15:6
7:7a Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21
8:1a NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
8:36a Psalm 44:22
9:7a Genesis 21:12
9:9a Genesis 18:10, 14
9:12a Genesis 25:23
9:13a Malachi 1:2, 3
9:15a Exodus 33:19
9:17a Exodus 9:16
9:25a Hosea 2:23
9:26a Hosea 1:10
9:27a Isaiah 10:22, 23
9:29b Isaiah 1:9
9:33a Isaiah 8:14; 28:16
10:5a Leviticus 18:5
10:6a Deuteronomy 30:12
10:7a Deuteronomy 30:13
10:8a Deuteronomy 30:14
10:11a Isaiah 28:16
10:13a Joel 2:32
10:15b Isaiah 52:7; Nahum 1:15
10:16a Isaiah 53:1
10:18a Psalm 19:4
10:19a Deuteronomy 32:21
10:20a Isaiah 65:1
10:21a Isaiah 65:2
11:3a 1 Kings 19:10, 14
11:4a 1 Kings 19:18
11:6a NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
11:8a Deuteronomy 29:4; Isaiah 29:10
11:10a Psalm 69:22, 23
11:27a Isaiah 59:20, 21
11:34a Isaiah 40:13; Jeremiah 23:18
11:35a Job 41:11
12:19a Deuteronomy 32:35
12:20a Proverbs 25:21, 22
13:9b Exodus 20:13–15, 17; Deuteronomy 5:17–19, 21
13:9c Leviticus 19:18
14:6a NU-Text omits the rest of this sentence.
14:11a Isaiah 45:23
14:23a M-Text puts Romans 16:25–27 here.
15:3a Psalm 69:9
15:9a 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49
15:10a Deuteronomy 32:43
15:11a Psalm 117:1
15:12a Isaiah 11:10
15:21a Isaiah 52:15
16:24a NU-Text omits this verse.
16:27a M-Text puts Romans 16:25–27 after Romans 14:23.
1:19a Isaiah 29:14
1:31a Jeremiah 9:24
2:9a Isaiah 64:4
2:16a Isaiah 40:13
3:19a Job 5:13
3:20a Psalm 94:11
5:13a Deuteronomy 17:7; 19:19; 22:21, 24; 24:7
6:9a That is, catamites
6:16a Genesis 2:24
9:9a Deuteronomy 25:4
10:7a Exodus 32:6
10:26a Psalm 24:1
10:28a NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
10:28b Psalm 24:1
14:21a Isaiah 28:11, 12
15:27a Psalm 8:6
15:32a Isaiah 22:13
15:45a Genesis 2:7
15:54a Isaiah 25:8
15:55a Hosea 13:14
4:13a Psalm 116:10
6:2a Isaiah 49:8
6:16b Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27
6:17a Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34, 41
6:18a 2 Samuel 7:14
8:15a Exodus 16:18
9:9a Psalm 112:9
10:17a Jeremiah 9:24
13:1a Deuteronomy 19:15
2:14b Some interpreters stop the quotation here.
3:6a Genesis 15:6
3:8a Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14
3:10a Deuteronomy 27:26
3:11a Habakkuk 2:4
3:12a Leviticus 18:5
3:13a Deuteronomy 21:23
3:16a Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 24:7
4:27a Isaiah 54:1
4:30a Genesis 21:10
5:14a Leviticus 19:18
4:8a Psalm 68:18
4:25a Zechariah 8:16
4:26a Psalm 4:4
5:30a NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
5:31a Genesis 2:24
6:3a Deuteronomy 5:16
1:16a NU-Text reverses the contents of verses 16 and 17.
5:18a Deuteronomy 25:4
5:18b Luke 10:7
6:5b NU-Text omits this sentence.
1:5a Psalm 2:7
1:5b 2 Samuel 7:14
1:6a Deuteronomy 32:43 (Septuagint, Dead Sea Scrolls); Psalm 97:7
1:7a Psalm 104:4
1:9a Psalm 45:6, 7
1:12a Psalm 102:25–27
22:44a Psalm 110:1
2:7a NU-Text and M-Text omit the rest of verse 7.
2:8a Psalm 8:4–6
2:12a Psalm 22:22
2:13a 2 Samuel 22:3; Isaiah 8:17
2:13b Isaiah 8:18
3:11a Psalm 95:7–11
3:15a Psalm 95:7, 8
4:3a Psalm 95:11
4:4a Genesis 2:2
4:5a Psalm 95:11
4:7a Psalm 95:7, 8
5:5a Psalm 2:7
5:6a Psalm 110:4
6:14a Genesis 22:17
7:17b Psalm 110:4
7:21a NU-Text ends the quotation here.
7:21b Psalm 110:4
8:5a Exodus 25:40
8:12b Jeremiah 31:31–34
9:20a Exodus 24:8
10:7a Psalm 40:6–8
10:16a Jeremiah 31:33
10:17a Jeremiah 31:34
10:30a Deuteronomy 32:35
10:30c Deuteronomy 32:36
10:38b Habakkuk 2:3, 4
11:5a Genesis 5:24
11:18a Genesis 21:12
12:6a Proverbs 3:11, 12
12:20b Exodus 19:12, 13
12:21a Deuteronomy 9:19
12:26b Haggai 2:6
13:5a Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5
13:6a Psalm 118:6
2:8a Leviticus 19:18
2:11a Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18
2:11b Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17
2:23a Genesis 15:6
4:6a Proverbs 3:34
1:16a Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7
1:25a Isaiah 40:6–8
2:6a Isaiah 28:16
2:7b Psalm 118:22
2:8a Isaiah 8:14
2:22a Isaiah 53:9
3:12a Psalm 34:12–16
3:14a Isaiah 8:12
4:8a Proverbs 10:12
4:18a Proverbs 11:31
5:5a Proverbs 3:34
2:22a Proverbs 26:11
5:13a NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
2:27a Psalm 2:9
3:7a Isaiah 22:22
7:3 See note at 4:21.
7:14 See note at 4:21.
7:22 See note at 4:21.
9:7 Ex 9:7, 12, 34, 35: See note at 4:21.
11:10 See note at 4:21.
14:4 Ex 14:4, 8, 17: See note at 4:21.
9:22   The Burning, the Temptation, and the Graves of Lust are recorded respectively
  in Nm 11:1–3; Ex 17:1–7; and Nm 11:4–34. See notes at these places.
2:11   The virtue of abandoning one's former life for the sake of the Lord is a prominent and
  recurring theme. See note on 1:14, 15.
14:1, 2 Hiram king of Tyre is the first foreign ruler to support David rather than fight him.
  He may be seen as prefiguring the Gentile believers who will help build . . . a house.
  (See note at 3Kg 5:29.)
18:4-34 See note on 3Kg 22:10.
20:35-37 The ships were wrecked: See note on 19:1–3.
22:5   Hazael: See note on 4Kg 8:12–19.
22:7-9 Jehu: See note on 4Kg 9:1–3.
8:31   He delivered us: See note on 8:21–23.
3:33-35   A fox could destroy the wall: As critics of God's work are prone to do, they use
  ridicule in an effort to distract. (See note on 2:19, 20.)
8:5   See note for 3:11.
14:6   The Gentiles: See note at 13:3.
8:9   According to their own language: See note at 1:22.
8:12m Our deliverer and constant benefactor: See note at 4:1–3.
8:15   Royal raiment: See note at 6:6–9.
5:42    A Phalaris: See note on 5:20. The firm oath is undoubtedly to Dionysus, the
  patron of Alexandria at that time. Hades is the abode of the dead, not hell in the
  Christian understanding of a place of torment for sinners.
8:3 See note at 2:6.
8:4   See note at 2:7.
4:6   See note at 3:10–12.
49:10    See notes for 46:12 and 48:11 on the doctrine of the resurrection. Their place is
  their burial place.
3:1-5 The Apostle Peter quoted this prophecy on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17–21; see Jn
  20:22), when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Christian believers, fulfilling the
  prophecy. Although this section forms a separate chapter, this passage should be
  understood as the culmination of the longer preceding prophecy. See note on 2:22–32.
4:15   Changes in the sky are a result of the war between God and his enemies. See note on
  2:30, 31.
23:7, 8 See note on 16:15.
26:10 Gilead/balm: See note on 8:20.
27:16   See note on 26:16.
28:7 See note on 27:25.
35:3 Vessels: See note on 34:14.
39:39, 40 See note on 38:33.
1:14   See note on Bar 4:7. See also Jer 10:3–5.
1:25   The use of the word till does not imply that Joseph had marital relations with Mary
  after the Savior's birth. In the Bible, this word (sometimes translated “to”) is often used
  to express a situation that actually continues after the event mentioned (see 28:20; Gn
  8:7; Dt 34:6; 2Kg 6:23). The witness of the entire Church throughout history is that Mary
  remained a virgin for life. Firstborn: See note on Lk 2:7.
2:1   Herod: See note on Lk 1:5. The wise men, or magi, who come from the East (most
  likely Persia), were the scholars of their time. In the OT, Balaam (Nm 23; 24) was one of
  their predecessors, a Gentile who anticipated the Messiah. These foreigners prefigure the
  Church, in which membership is determined by faith and not by ethnic lineage.
3:10   See note at 3:8. Fire here refers to divine judgment (see Is 33:11; 66:24; Ezk 38:22;
  39:6; 2Th 1:6–9). See also fire in v. 11.
4:17   Christ's first word, like that of John the Baptist, is “Repent.” (See note on 3:1–3.)
  The kingdom of heaven is present wherever Christ is.
5:20   Righteousness that leads to salvation must exceed that of the Pharisees because
  theirs was an outward, works-based righteousness. The righteousness of salvation is the
  communion of the heart, soul, mind, and body in Jesus Christ. (See notes on Rom 1:17;
  3:26.)
5:29   This imagery is not to be taken literally, but refers to decisive action to avoid sin and
  to continue in purity. (See note for 18:8.)
7:24-27 See note on Lk 6:46–49.
10:35-39    See note at Lk 12:53. To carry his cross, a true disciple must be ready, if
  necessary, to sacrifice even family relationships.
12:34   Brood of vipers: See note on 3:7. Brood means “offspring.”
12:38    After so many signs, the Pharisees show their wickedness by demanding yet
  another. Jesus does not cater to those who demand a sign out of wicked intent. The only
  sign to them will be His Passion and Resurrection. (See note at Lk 23:8, 9.)
13:13-15 See note at Jn 12:40.
13:36-43 See note on vv. 24–30.
13:54-58 See note at Lk 4:22–27.
13:55   Brothers: See note at 12:46–50.
14:1-12 See note at Mk 6:17–29. The Beheading of St. John the Baptist is remembered in
  the Church on August 29 with a day of fasting. As part of God's plan of salvation, John's
  martyrdom allowed the coming of the Messiah to be announced to the souls in Hades, for
  John was the forerunner of Christ there as well as on earth. At Matins on this day we
  sing, “Your tongue which constantly speaks of God has preceded Christ into death, and is
  sent to preach Him to those in Hades.”
      St. John is further remembered for his obedience to the Law in general, and as a
  defender of marriage in particular, in condemning Herod's unlawful marriage to his
  brother's wife (vv. 3, 4). St. John's obedience to God was one that preferred death over
  compromise. At Vespers on this day, we sing, “When your head was cut off, you revealed
  to us the Law of God, abolishing man's disobedience to the Law.”
16:4   Adulterous generation: See note on 12:39. Jesus refuses to prove Himself in a
  spectacular way, for a sign is never given to those whose motive is to test God. See also
  4:5–7. The sign of the prophet Jonah is a veiled prediction of Christ's death and
  Resurrection (12:40), the ultimate sign that Jesus is the Christ.
18:10   Little ones: See note for v. 6. Angels: St. John Chrysostom teaches that not only
  the saints, but all people have guardian angels. However, the angels of humble people
  have greater boldness and greater honor before the face of God because of the humility
  of the person they guard. It is not the nature of God, but the weakness of men, that
  requires the angels' service.
19:3-9   The basis of the Pharisees' test is Dt 24:1–4. God's condescension, or allowance
  for human weakness, does not override the original principle of permanent monogamous
  marriage as revealed in Gn 1; 2. With authority, Christ adds His own clear prohibition
  against divorce in vv. 6 and 9. (See note at 5:31, 32; Mal 2:15, 16.)
19:9   The permissible reasons for divorce were expanded in the ancient Church to include
  threat to a spouse's or child's life and desertion, in all cases acknowledging the spiritual
  tragedy of such a situation. See note at 5:31, 32.
19:13-15   The disciples rebuked the mothers for bringing little children to Christ both
  because their manner was “unruly” and because they thought children “diminished His
  dignity as Teacher and Master” (Theoph). Christ rejects this thinking, setting little
  children as an example of those who inherit the kingdom of heaven. Therefore,
  children are invited (even as an example to adults) to participate in the Kingdom through
  prayer, worship, baptism, chrismation, and Communion. See note at Lk 18:15–17.
19:28   Judging: See note at Lk 22:30.
20:24-28 See note at Lk 22:24–27. For many (v. 28) is an Aramaic expression meaning
  “for all.”
21:33-43 See note at Lk 20:9–16.
21:41   Again, the Jewish leaders convict themselves. See note for 21:31.
22:14   For many: See note at 20:24–28.
22:15-22   See note at Lk 20:20–26. The distinction between things that are Caesar's
  and things that are God's does not imply the division of a believer's life into the secular
  and the sacred. Rather, God is Lord over all of life, including the secular. We do, however,
  fulfill governmental requirements that do not conflict with our first responsibility to God
  (Rom 13:1–7; contrast Acts 4:19; 5:29). Paying taxes and similar civil duties are not
  detrimental to holiness.
23:35   Zechariah: See note at Lk 11:51.
24:19   See note at Lk 23:29.
24:28   See note at Lk 17:37.
26:26-28 Jesus institutes the Eucharist, the long-awaited messianic banquet, to which He
  admits even Judas (compare Est 7), seeking by all means to save Him. Because of his
  wicked heart, Judas' participation leads to his condemnation (1Co 11:27–30).
     Christ's words are repeated in the Divine Liturgy, inviting the faithful to receive His
  body and blood. In Holy Communion, we are truly united to Christ. (See note at Lk
  22:19, 20.) He gave thanks (from the Greek word for “eucharist”) to teach us (1) how we
  are to celebrate this sacrament, (2) that He comes willingly to His Passion, and (3) to
  accept sufferings with thankfulness, knowing that God can use sufferings for ultimate
  good.
     The Old Covenant was sealed with the blood of bulls and goats. The New is sealed by
  the gift of Christ, who shed His own blood to conquer sin and death and to reconcile us
  with God. Christ calls it the blood of the new covenant, which is God's promise and
  the fulfillment of the Law. By new, He means this covenant brings immortality and
  incorruptible life; this covenant will always have the quality of newness. For many: See
  note at 20:24–28.
26:69-75 See notes at Lk 22:56, 61.
27:17-26 See note at Lk 23:13–25.
1:1-8     See notes on Mt 3:1–12; Lk 3:1–18.

1:1     Gospel (lit. “good news” or “good tidings”) refers not to Mark's writings per se, but to
  the story of the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the good news of our
  salvation. Beginning points to the opening events of Christ's public ministry, namely the
  preparation by His forerunner, St. John the Baptist, and Christ's encounter with him.
1:9, 10 See notes at Mt 3:15–17 and Lk 3:21, 22.
1:13 See notes at Mt 4:1–10 and Lk 4:1–13.
1:34   He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him: See note at
  Mt 12:16–21.
1:21-39 See notes for Lk 4:31–43.
2:1-12 See note at Mt 9:2–8. Note that one purpose of Christ's coming into the world is to
  forgive sins (v. 10), freeing humanity from its bondage. Forgiving sins is a greater power
  than physical healing, for, as the scribes correctly note, God alone can forgive sins (v. 7).
  Thus, the easier task (v. 9) is to grant physical healing. Though Christ is fully God and
  holds the authority to forgive, He condescends to those gathered and heals this man in
  order to draw people to God, whom they glorified.
2:13-17 See note at Mt 9:9–13.
2:18-22 See note at Mt 9:14–17.
2:23-28 See note at Lk 6:1–5.
3:1-6 See note at Lk 6:7.
3:12   See note at Mt 12:16–21.
3:20-27 See note at Mt 12:22–30.
3:31-35 See note at Mt 12:46–50.
4:10-12 See note at Jn 12:40.
4:30-32 See note at Mt 13:31–33.
4:35-41 See notes at Mt 8:23–27 and Lk 8:22–25.
5:21-34 See notes at Mt 9:18–26.
6:1-3   This double response of being both astonished (v. 2) and offended (v. 3) occurs
  frequently with those who encounter Christ (Lk 11:14–16; Jn 9:16). Christ's rejection in
  his own country foreshadows His rejection by the whole Jewish nation at His trial
  before Pilate (Jn 19:14, 15). Brother: See note at Mt 12:46–50.
6:7-13 See notes at Mt 10:1–15.
6:37-44 See notes at Mt 14:14–21.
6:45-52 See note at Mt 14:27.
7:24-30 See notes at Mt 15:21–28.
8:1-9 See note at Mt 15:32–39.
8:11   See note at Mt 16:1–3.
8:27-30 See note at Mt 16:13–20.
8:31-33 See note at Mt 16:21–23.
8:34-38 See notes at Mt 16:24–26.
9:14-29 See notes at Mt 17:14–21.
9:33-37 See note at Mt 18:1–4.
9:38-40 See note at Lk 9:46–50.
9:43-48 See note at Mt 18:8.
9:49   Being seasoned with fire means being tested to see if one's faith and works are
  genuine (see 1Co 3:11–15). In saying every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt, Jesus
  is quoting Lv 2:13, in which salt stands for the remembrance of God's covenant with His
  people. See note at Mt 5:13–16.
10:2-12 See notes at Mt 5:31, 32, 19:3–9.
10:13-16 See note at Mt 19:13–15.
10:17-27 See notes at Mt 19:16–26.
10:28-30 See note at Mt 19:29.
10:35-40 See note at Mt 20:20–23.
11:1-11 See notes at Mt 21:1–11.
11:15-19 See note at Mt 21:12, 13.
11:23-25 See note at Mt 21:21.
11:26   See note at Mt 6:14, 15.
11:27-33 See Lk 7:29, 30. See note at Mt 21:23–27.
12:1-12 See note at Lk 20:9–16.
12:13-17   The Herodians were Jewish political supporters of the ruling house of Herod
  the Great and thus willing servants of Rome. See note at Mt 22:15–22.
12:18   The Sadducees represent landowners and other wealthy families in Jerusalem.
  They held many high offices in Israel, controlling the temple and the Sanhedrin. They
  differed from the Pharisees in that they were politically prudent and adapted to the
  presence of the Romans. The Sadducees interpreted the law even more rigidly than the
  Pharisees and, unlike them, rejected belief in angels and in the resurrection from the
  dead at the end of the age. The Sadducees completely disappeared after the destruction of
  Jerusalem. (See notes on Mt 22:23, 29).
12:28-31   In His response to one of the scribes, Jesus quotes Dt 6:4, 5, the greatest
  Jewish confession of faith, called the shema' (meaning “hear,” the first word of the
  confession). In v. 31, He quotes Lv 19:18, combining what is already present in the OT to
  create a new understanding: love of neighbor is an expression of love of God. See notes
  at Mt 22:35–40.
12:35-37 See note at Mt 22:41–46.
13:5-23 See notes at Mt 24:3–31. The account of the end times is given here in a reverse
  parallel (or chiastic) form, in which the topics mentioned in the first half of the passage
  are repeated and amplified in reverse order in the second half. Thus, the passage both
  begins and ends with a warning to take heed about false christs (vv. 5, 23). The second
  warning is about wars (v. 7), while the second-to-last warning is about tribulation (v.
  19). The third warning concerns being delivered up to councils (v. 9), while the third-to-
  last warning is also about being delivered up, this time by family members (v. 12). At the
  center of this discourse is the prophecy that the gospel must first be preached to all
  the nations (v. 10), which is at the heart of the apostolic ministry and mission of the
  Church (Mt 28:19, 20).
14:3-9 See note at Mt 26:6–13.
14:12   When they killed the Passover lamb: See note at Jn 19:14.
14:22-25 See note at Lk 22:19, 20.
14:32   Gethsemane, meaning “oil press,” is an orchard of olive trees at the foot of the
  Mount of Olives. See note at Jn 18:2.
14:43-45 One of the twelve: See note for v. 20. The fact that a kiss is needed to signal
  the mob is a commentary on those who comprised that mob. The Jewish leaders and even
  the most common people would have recognized Him. This shows these soldiers were
  mercenaries, dispatched by the chief priests and the scribes and the elders, a group
  which according to John's Gospel included Romans (Jn 18:3). Orthodox Christians pray
  at every Liturgy for the strength not to kiss Jesus in betrayal as did Judas.
14:47 See note at Mt 26:52–54.
14:66-72 See notes at Lk 22:56, 61.
15:6-11   The chief priests stirred up the crowd (v. 11): Pilate was hoping to release
  Jesus, a Man he knew to be innocent (vv. 10, 14; Jn 18:38; 19:4, 6). Thus, he turns to the
  crowd for support, hoping they will ask for Jesus in spite of the chief priests. Barabbas:
  See note at Mt 27:16.
15:16-20 See note at Mt 27:27–31.
15:26   The inscription: See note at Jn 19:19–22.
15:34   See note at Mt 27:46.
15:37 See note at Mt 27:50.
15:38   Veil: See note at Mt 27:51.
15:43-46 See note at Lk 23:50–53.
16:1   Because Christ died so close in time to the Sabbath, the burial customs of the Jews
  could not be completed. Therefore, these faithful women went as early as possible to
  complete the rites of burial. Mary the mother of James: See note at Lk 24:10. Many
  teach that Salome was the wife of Zebedee and the mother of James and John.
16:15   See note at Mt 28:19.
16:19   See note at Lk 24:51.
2:52   See note at 2:40.
3:1   See note at 1:5.
4:35   Be quiet: See note on Mt 12:16–21.
4:38   See note on Mt 8:14–17.
5:17-26 See note at Mt 9:2–8.
6:14-16 See note at Mt 10:1–4.
6:17-49 See the notes at Mt 5–7. This Sermon on the Plain (level place, v. 17) is similar in
  content to the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5–7), though not as extensive. Jesus repeated
  many of His teachings over a period of three years (see note at Jn 2:23).
8:19-21   See note at Mt 12:46–50. It was not Christ's will to deny His mother and
  brothers. Rather, Jesus is correcting both them and His hearers “to the right idea
  concerning Himself,” that the family of His Kingdom “is not by nature but by virtue”
  (JohnChr; see also 11:27, 28).
8:26-39 See note on Mt 8:28–34.
8:40-56 See note on Mt 9:18–26.
8:54   See note at 7:11–17.
9:1-5 See note at Mt 10:1–4.
9:46-50    Little child: See note on Mt 18:1–4. Theophylact sees John's comment as a
  regret, his conscience having been pricked by what Christ said about the least and the
  great. St. Ambrose, on the other hand, sees John as expecting full obedience to
  accompany such blessings. In either interpretation, Christ's response shows those acting
  in good faith are not excluded, even if they are not currently numbered among the
  disciples. “See how divine grace is at work even in those who are not His disciples”
  (Theoph; see also Nm 11:24–30). On those using Christ's name without good faith, see
  11:23; Acts 19:13–16.
11:33 See note at Mt 5:13–16.
11:34-36 See note at Mt 6:22, 23.
11:39-52   See notes at Mt 23:13–24. Woe: A term indicating complete and devastating
  destruction (6:24–26; see Is 5:18–24; Am 5:18, 19; Rev 12:12).
12:22-31 See notes on Mt 6:25–33.
13:10-17 Healing on the Sabbath: See note at 6:7.
13:24   See note on Mt 7:13, 14.
14:1-6 On the Sabbath: See note at 6:7. Jesus' illustration builds on His words in 13:15.
14:27 See note on 9:23.
14:34   Salt: See note at Mt 5:13–16.
16:17 See note at Mt 5:18.
16:18   See note at Mt 5:31, 32.
17:4   See note at Mt 18:21–35.
17:12-14 See notes on 5:12, 14.
18:15-17 Infants are the standard of faith by which adults receive the kingdom of God,
  and not the other way around. “A little child is not arrogant, he does not despise anyone,
  he is innocent and guileless. He does not inflate himself in the presence of important
  people, nor withdraw from those in sorrows. Instead, he lives in complete simplicity”
  (Theoph). See note at Mt 19:13–15.
18:18-30 See notes at Mt 19:16–29.
18:22   See note at Mt 19:21.
18:35-43 See note at Mt 20:30.
19:11-27 See note at Mt 25:14–30.
19:28-40 See notes at Mt 21:1–11. The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem marks the public
  acclamation of Jesus as Messiah. However, the crowd's understanding of the Messiah is
  flawed in that they are expecting a political leader, a king, whereas Christ comes to
  establish a Kingdom “not of this world” (Jn 18:36).
19:45   See note at Mt 21:12, 13.
20:27-40 See note at Mt 22:23–33.
20:45-47 See notes at Mt 23:1–39.
21:5-36 See notes at Mt 24:1–44.
22:7, 8   See note at v. 1. The term Passover (Gr. Pascha) can refer to the original event
  itself, the celebration of that event, the food that is eaten, or the lamb that is slain.
  According to the Fathers, Peter represents zeal and John represents spiritual
  understanding, the virtues with which we are to partake of the Lord's Supper.
23:45   The veil of the temple was torn in two: See note at Mt 27:51.
24:1   The first day of the week was the day after the Sabbath—Sunday—which in the
  Christian tradition is called the Lord's Day, the day of worship (Acts 20:7). Spices: See
  note at 23:55, 56.
24:46   See note for vv. 26, 27.
2:11   Glory: See note at 1:14.
2:13-17 See note on the cleansing of the temple at Mt 21:12, 13. In the synoptic Gospels
  (Matthew, Mark, Luke), this event occurs at the end of Christ's ministry, while John
  places it at the beginning. Certain Fathers teach Christ performed this act twice.
3:6   See note for 1:13.
6:2-14 The feeding of the multitude is the fourth of our Lord's signs reported by John (see
  note 2:1–11) and is recorded in all four Gospels. On the parallel between this sign and the
  story of Israel's Exodus, see note 6:1–71 above. The description of Christ as He took the
  loaves, gave thanks (Gr. eucharisto), and distributed them (v. 11) prefigures the
  celebration of the Eucharist. See notes at Mt 14:14–21.
6:26   See note on 6:14, 15.
6:38   My own will: Since Christ has two natures, He has two wills—the divine will and a
  human will. The Sixth Ecumenical Council, held at Constantinople (AD 680–681),
  proclaims these two wills of Christ do not work contrary to one another, but rather “His
  human will follows, not resisting nor reluctant, but subject to His divinity and to His
  omnipotent will.” See notes at 1:14; 5:30.
6:51-59 The eucharistic significance of this passage is indisputable. Our Lord's declaration
  that He is Himself the living bread that gives life reveals the Mystical Supper of the NT
  Church. John never reports the details of the Last Supper (such as the “words of
  institution” recorded in Lk 22:19, 20); instead, he reveals the significance and truth of
  these events (events that were already known to his hearers) by reporting here Christ's
  own words. See notes at Mt 26:26–28 and Lk 22:19, 20.
6:60-66    Even His disciples took Christ's teaching on His Body and Blood as a hard
  saying (v. 60), and many walked with Him no more (v. 66). To this day, there are still
  those who reject Christ's own words concerning the sacramental eating of His Body and
  drinking of His Blood, and thus do not walk in His teaching. Because of the difficulty of
  grasping the depth of this Mystery, many attempt either to define its nature rationally or
  to explain away Christ's words altogether, giving them a purely metaphorical meaning.
  Either extreme is dubious; to reject this sacramental teaching is to reject the witness of
  the Scriptures and the unanimous teaching of the Church throughout history. See note at
  Lk 22:19, 20.
6:68, 69 See note at Mt 16:13–20 and Lk 9:20.
7:3 Brothers: See note at Mt 12:46–50.
7:23 Sabbath: See note at Mt 12:3–5.
8:13-18 Your witness: See note at 5:31–47.
8:54   See note for 5:31–47.
11:28   See note at v. 20.
12:27 See notes at Mt 26:39 and Lk 22:41–44.
13:23 See note at 18:15.
14:26   Helper: See note at 14:16. We have confidence in the apostles' doctrine (Acts 2:42)
  because the Holy Spirit is their Teacher; He brings to remembrance not only Christ's
  words, but also their meaning. We have confidence in the Church because the Holy Spirit
  is our Instructor as well from Pentecost until today, leading us into all truth (16:13).
  “Where the Church is, there is the Holy Spirit and the fullness of grace” (Iren).
15:12   See note on 13:34.
16:7 Helper: See note at 14:16.
20:13 Woman: See note at 2:3–5.
20:14   See note at Lk 24:16.
20:30 Signs: See note at 2:1–11.
21:4   See note at Lk 24:16.
1:1   The former account is the Gospel of Luke (see Lk 1:3). The Gospel covers over 30
  years of Christ's earthly life; Acts covers over 30 years of early Church life. Theophilus:
  See note at Lk 1:3.
2:25-32 See notes at Ps 15.
3:6   In the name: See note at Jn 14:13, 14.
4:32-37 See note at 2:44, 45. The mandate for the Church is not communal living per se,
  but to be willing to do what is necessary for the good of the community. Barnabas (v.
  36) is highlighted as an example of Christian generosity.
5:15   The power of God rests in His Church. While many people had great faith, Peter is
  given a particular grace to heal in order to draw people to the unity of the Church (see
  also Jn 14:12). Furthermore, this passage reveals how God works through physical
  creation, for even light and shadow are given divine power. See note at 19:11–19.
5:29   See note at 4:19.
10:9   The sixth hour is 12:00 noon, a traditional hour of liturgical prayer. See note at v. 3.
10:28   See note at 10:14, 15.
10:30 The ninth hour: See note at v. 3. A man . . . in bright clothing signifies an angel.
12:25   See note at v. 12.
13:5   The synagogues were the initial places of Christian preaching, for Christianity
  arose from Judaism, and the Jews had been prepared through the OT for the Christ.
  John: See note at 12:12.
13:13   John: See note at 12:12. His departing from them became the cause of great
  strife with Paul, and also between Paul and Barnabas (15:37–40). But God's work still
  flourishes.
13:16   You who fear God: See note at 10:2.
14:3 See note at 4:24–30.
15:36   See note at 14:22.
16:15   Again, faith leads immediately to baptism not only of the adults, but of the entire
  household, including children and servants. See note at 8:36–39.
18:1-5   See notes at 8:35; 16:14. These Greeks were “God-fearers,” those who accepted
  Judaism but had not yet fully converted.
18:19   Entered the synagogue: See note at 16:14.
19:5, 6 Baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus: See note at 8:16, 17. The laying on of
  hands for the reception of the Holy Spirit (chrismation) is a distinct sacrament from
  baptism, though always united to it. In the Church today, chrismation can be
  administered not only by the bishop, but also by presbyters who anoint with a special oil
  consecrated by the bishop.
20:5   Us: See note at 16:10.
21:8   We: See note at 16:10. This Philip the evangelist is one of the seven deacons
  whose selection was recorded in 6:5, not the apostle of the twelve.
24:25    Reasoned: See note at 17:2, 3. Felix was afraid: According to the historian
  Josephus, Felix had an adulterous marriage and was prone to accepting bribes (v. 26), and
  thus he responds negatively to Paul's teachings about righteousness, self-control,
  and the judgment to come. Paul does not back off from proclaiming the truth, even
  though it means remaining in prison.
27:2   We: See note at 16:10.
28:23 See notes at 8:35; 13:17–41.
1:7   Called to be saints refers to the present time; it is not something limited to the
  future. In the NT, all who are true Christians are saints even while they live (see note at
  16:1, 2; see also Eph 1:1; 3:8; Php 1:1; Col 1:2; 2Th 1:10; Jude 3). From among all the
  saints, meaning those “set apart to God,” the Church canonizes or glorifies certain
  exemplary saints as having lived such dedicated and faithful lives that they are worthy for
  us to follow and imitate (1Co 11:1). See note at Acts 9:32.
3:9   See note for vv. 1, 2.
5:18   One Man's righteous act refers primarily to Christ's death and Resurrection, but
  also to His incarnate life as a whole, which reunites human nature with God.
  Justification: See notes at 3:24; 5:1.
6:18   Set free from sin: See vv. 1–14 and notes. Slaves of righteousness: See note for
  v. 16.
6:20 Free: See note on v. 16.
7:20 See note for v. 17.
12:1     See note for 11:36. Service (Gr. latreia, lit. “bow down”) refers to liturgical service
  and is better translated “worship” (see 1:9, 25; Heb 9:14). Just as man's failure to worship
  God led to his downfall (1:20–25), so now true worship is the first expression of
  mankind's renewal. This true worship is:
        (1) Physical: We are called to present our bodies for worship, meaning both the
  physical aspect of our nature and our whole human nature in general.
       (2) Living: A contrast to the old covenant, under which sacrifices were put to death.
  Under the new covenant, to die sacrificially means also to be resurrected. Thus true
  worship is a living, dynamic expression of both the believer's faith and the community's
  faith.
       (3) Holy: True worship is set apart from the world, both in its form and its expression.
  Worship that is acceptable is patterned after the Kingdom of Heaven (see Is 6:1–7; Heb
  8:5) and filled with virtue that transcends earthly existence.
       (4) Reasonable (Gr. logike): This term means more than “logical.” As Jesus Christ is
  the Logos of God (Jn 1:1), true worship must be “Logos-like,” which means it must be in
  Christ and according to Christ (see Jn 4:24). True worship is filled with the wisdom and
  truth of the Son of God, the Word made flesh. To worship reasonably means both to
  worship and to live according to Christ.
13:9   See Mt 22:39, 40.
1:16     See Mt 5:48. The cleanliness code (Lv 11–15) instructed Israel how to prepare for
  worship (Lv 1–10).
       Holiness belongs to God, and we, who cannot attain holiness on our own but receive it
  from Him, are called to live a holy life before Him. Indeed, Christians are called to
  holiness in every area of their lives. In the Lord's Prayer we say, “Hallowed be Your
  Name.” It is not that we want God's name to be made holy by our prayers, but that His
  name may be made holy in us.
1:23    See Jn 1:12, 13. The Lord's suffering and death is incorruptible and abides
  forever, and is the foundation of our baptism through which we are born again (see Jn
  3:1–6; Rom 6:3–5).
1:4   See Jn 15:11; 16:24; 17:13; Php 2:2.
1:9b   Patmos: A small rocky island 40 miles off the western coast of modern Turkey, fifty
  miles south of Ephesus, to which the Romans exiled criminals. John's preaching must
  have been considered a seditious threat to the public interest if he was indeed a prisoner
  there.
6:6b This was approximately one day's wage for a worker.
3:6a Or spirit
4:4a Or made
6:14a Or by which (the cross)
6:6a Or and have fallen away
10:37a Or that which
